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The bank announced Tuesday its Blueprint for Housing Opportunity plan, a five-year commitment dedicated to increasing the supply of housing. View the full article

LLMs and their influence on traffic to a brand’s website are a major topic in our client conversations. Everyone wants to know what’s happening, how they can do better, and what the best practices are. My recommendation to brands right now is to start with the data and focus on what they can know for sure. To glean insights into how LLM traffic is influencing key metrics, we analyzed our dataset of LLM prompt referral traffic in Google Analytics across our customer base over the last 13 months (Jan. 1, 2025 to Feb. 7, 2026). We focused on traffic from various LLM models to brand sites and the conversion events closest to true business outcomes. In some cases, that’s a purchase. In others, it’s a generated lead. When we look at this dataset, four major findings rise to the surface: LLM referral traffic is still small. LLM traffic is growing fast. The sources referenced in responses are shifting. LLMs convert at a very high rate compared to other channels LLM referral traffic is still small LLM referral traffic accounts for less than 2% of total referral traffic on average, according to our dataset. In other words, fewer than 2 out of 100 visitors to a site come from an LLM referring source. The range is 0.15%-1.5% of referral traffic coming from various LLMs, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude. So while this is a major topic of conversation, it isn’t the highest priority for near-term bottom-line impact for many businesses. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with LLM traffic is growing fast LLMs, as a referral source, are growing quickly, according to our data. Comparing the first half of 2025 with the second half, we saw an average growth rate of 80% in LLM referral traffic. There was a wide range across the dataset. Some companies saw just 10% growth, while others experienced 300% increases. Below is the aggregate referral traffic by month in 2025. It shows a steady month-by-month increase, building to 3x referral traffic growth from January to December. That means it’s not enough to understand your volume of LLM traffic. You also need to monitor the velocity of that growth. LLMs are expanding as consumer adoption grows, and prompt algorithms keep changing. Between those two variables, you can see dramatic swings that you need to monitor. Dig deeper: LLM optimization in 2026: Tracking, visibility, and what’s next for AI discovery Sources referenced in responses are shifting The sources cited in LLM responses are changing quickly. Here’s a look at our dataset since September of last year. The data comes from monitoring more than 5,000 prompts and their responses across various LLM APIs, including Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. YouTube links and citations have increased over the last 30 days. Reddit saw similar growth, though that traffic recently leveled off. These shifts in citations and links will affect the traffic that eventually reaches your site, and they may also influence your ad and content strategies. If you don’t monitor this data, you won’t see these changes. LLMs don’t provide this information directly — you can only access it through a third-party tool. LLMs convert at a very high rate compared to other channels This is likely the most interesting and important finding. When you compare conversion rates alongside the total percentage of traffic, the contrast becomes clear. LLM referrals are the highest-converting traffic source across our customer base, with an approximate 18% conversion rate. That’s higher than any other tactic, including paid shopping, SEO, and PPC. However, they account for the lowest percentage of total traffic to a brand’s website, about 25 times less than SEO or direct. Dig deeper: How to better measure LLM visibility and its impact Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. What brands should do next Based on these findings, you should take the following actions to prepare for the evolving LLM landscape. 1. Establish dedicated monitoring While LLM traffic volume is still low, its growth rate and volatility, including shifts between sources like YouTube and Reddit, make monitoring essential. Track velocity: Don’t just look at volume. Monitor the rate of growth in LLM referrals to understand when this channel crosses a meaningful threshold for your business. Monitor citation sources: Use available third-party tools to understand which LLMs and which types of platforms, including forums, videos, and news, are driving the most citations and subsequent traffic. 2. Capitalize on high-value traffic An 18% conversion rate suggests LLM-referred users are highly qualified. They often arrive with clear intent or after their query has already been answered or validated by the LLM. Analyze high-converting journeys: Review the user journey for LLM referrals. What content are they landing on? What queries are being answered that lead to conversion? Optimize for intent: Focus content and landing page optimization on the high-intent needs reflected in the LLM’s citation context. Treat this traffic as a premium audience. 3. Plan for future growth Given rapid LLM adoption, today’s low traffic volume won’t last. Develop a content strategy for AI: Build a strategy that anticipates how LLMs summarize, cite, and reference your material. This isn’t traditional SEO. It’s about being the authoritative source LLMs choose to link to. Allocate budget: While this may not drive immediate bottom-line impact, dedicate a small budget to tools and resources focused on understanding and optimizing the LLM referral channel. This space is evolving fast. Hopefully, this dataset shows how things are progressing and motivates action within your organization. This is a time of change. If you innovate, stay focused, and use data, you have a clear opportunity to outperform your competition. Dig deeper: LLM consistency and recommendation share: The new SEO KPI See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with From emerging channel to strategic signal LLM referral traffic is still a small share of overall volume, but it’s growing fast, shifting where it cites, and driving strong conversions. Don’t overreact. Monitor the trend lines, understand where citations come from, and watch how this audience behaves once it lands. This space is moving fast, and if you stay close to the data, you’ll be better positioned as it evolves. View the full article

A reader writes: A new grad (“Eva”) joined our team about six months ago. She had previously interned with us and had really impressed us with her knowledge, efficiency, and proactive approach. As a seasoned member of the team, I went out of my way to be kind, helpful, and patient with Eva as she learned the ropes. She had tons of questions, which is to be expected at first. However, things started to sour when she began messaging me non-stop about things unrelated to work and excessively badmouthing another coworker, even calling him vulgar names (on the company’s internal messaging platform!). I began to feel that Eva’s messages were crossing a major line and asked her to stop with the name-calling, but she didn’t. Even after several months on the job, she was still calling me three to four times per hour with questions which she could easily look up with company-wide resources. I started lying and saying I was busy on another line, which I hoped would nudge her towards more independent problem-solving, but to no avail. I also asked my other coworkers if they were having similar experiences with Eva, but they all said she barely interacted with them except when absolutely necessary. At this point, I intentionally started to make myself less available. I would ignore most messages Eva sent me at work, as well as her frequent attempts to contact me outside of work via text. She didn’t get the hint and started trying to get my attention by telling me random work-related anecdotes that were outrageously false and completely unrelated to anything we were working on at the time. It was really confusing and just … odd. Recently we were assigned a week-long project, which required us to work in the same room with a few other coworkers instead of in our separate offices. I noticed on the first day that she kept walking behind me to look at my computer screen and read my messages. They were strictly work-related so I had nothing to hide, but it made me uncomfortable. About halfway through the week, she once again tried to strike up a conversation by making a wildly untrue assertion about our workplace closing on certain days (we’re open 24/7). I couldn’t contain my bewilderment at this point, and messaged another coworker across the room, “Why is she telling me about this?” Unbeknownst to me, Eva unfortunately saw that message. Over the next few days, she started having seemingly unprovoked violent outbursts, slamming things on her desk and yelling profanities at other coworkers and even some of our vendors. One coworker was so concerned about this work environment that he brought it to our manager’s attention. Finally, the coworker who I had messaged about Eva’s random anecdote (who I’ve been close with for many years and who had shared his own frustrations about Eva with me before) told me that Eva was telling everyone she saw the message and was calling me “two-faced.” Now she’s requesting a formal face-to-face meeting with me, moderated by our manager, to address it. What is the best way to approach this meeting with a coworker who seems to be showing obsessive tendencies towards me? Won’t it just reinforce her belief that she’s entitled to my time and attention? Given the nature of her outbursts, would it be unreasonable to tell my manager I’m concerned for my own well-being at this point? It would not be unreasonable to tell your manager that you’re concerned for your safety. Eva is displaying what sounds like obsessive behavior toward you, and it’s turning aggressively hostile now that she feels you don’t like her. Talk to your manager privately, before this meeting with Eva happens. Tell her that Eva has been calling you three to four times per hour, texting you outside of work with obviously false anecdotes, and generally paying you an uncomfortable and unwelcome amount of attention, and in the last week it’s transitioned to violence outbursts and yelling profanity. Let her know other coworkers and even your vendors have witnessed this. Tell her you don’t feel safe around Eva, definitely aren’t comfortable participating in a formal meeting with Eva to address her feelings and worry it will exacerbate things further, and in fact are asking your manager to intervene because this has gone beyond anything you can field on your own, and Eva is making everyone’s work environment feel volatile and unsafe. The post my obsessive, volatile coworker is demanding mediation with me appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Google Discover runs on a structured, multi-stage pipeline with hard publisher blocks, strict image requirements, freshness decay, and heavy experimentation shaping what users see, according to new SDK-level research by Metehan Yesilyurt. Why we care. Google Discover can drive massive traffic, but it often feels unpredictable. This research gives you a clearer view of how your content qualifies, gets ranked, or gets blocked — and where things can break before ranking even begins. The details. Yesilyurt analyzed observable signals in Google’s Discover app framework and mapped a nine-stage flow. Google: Crawls and understands your content. Reads key meta tags like your image and title. Classifies your content type (e.g., breaking news or evergreen). Checks whether you’re blocked. Matches your content to user interests. Applies a server-side click-through rate prediction model. Builds the feed layout. Delivers your content. Records user feedback. One key finding. The publisher-level block happens before interest matching and ranking. If a user blocks you, your content never reaches the ranking stage. Publisher blocking is powerful. One “Don’t show content from this site” action can suppress your entire domain. There’s no similar sitewide “boost” mechanism. The ranking model. Your title, image quality, and engagement history are part of the evaluation process. The system uses a predicted click-through rate (pCTR) model on Google’s servers to estimate how likely someone is to click. The model isn’t visible, but the app shows which signals are sent to Google before ranking decisions, including: Your page title (from og:title). Your image size and quality. How new your content is. Past click and impression data for your URL. Whether your images load successfully. Freshness matters. Google Discover groups content into time windows: 1 to 7 days old: strongest boost. 8 to 14 days: moderate visibility. 15 to 30 days: limited visibility. 30+ days: gradual decline. There’s a separate classification for strong evergreen content, but by default, newer content has an advantage. Image and meta tag requirements. Google Discover reads six key page-level tags, including og:image and og:title. No image means no card. To qualify for large, prominent cards, your images must be at least 1200px wide. Smaller images typically appear as thumbnails and often earn fewer clicks. If certain tags are missing, Google Discover looks for backups — for example, it will try the Twitter title tag or the HTML title if og:title isn’t present. Two specific meta tags — “nopagereadaloud” and “notranslate” — can stop your page from entering Google Discover entirely. Personalization layers. Google Discover personalizes content using: Google’s broader interest data tied to user behavior. Publisher signals, including Publisher Center registration. Individual actions like follows, saves, and dismissals. Engagement signals, such as time spent reading. If a user dismisses your story, the system stores that action permanently for that specific URL. It won’t resurface. Experiments everywhere. During one observed session, about 150 server-side experiments were running simultaneously. Another 50+ feature controls affected how cards were displayed. That means two similar users could see noticeably different feeds simply because they’re in different experiment groups. Real-time feed updates. Google Discover isn’t static. The system can add, remove, or reorder content while someone is browsing, without a refresh. The big takeaways. Success in Google Discover depends less on tricks and more on eligibility, trust, strong visuals, and sustained engagement — in a system that can filter you out before ranking even starts. Publisher blocks happen before ranking. Freshness is built into the system. Strong images and clear titles are essential. User dismissals are permanent. Heavy experimentation makes volatility normal. The research. Google Discover Architecture: Clusters, Classifiers, OG Tags, NAIADES – What SDK Telemetry Reveals View the full article

Franchising can be a smart choice for those looking to start a business. It offers significant advantages, such as a lower risk of failure compared to independent startups. With ongoing support from franchisors, you benefit from operational guidance and effective marketing strategies. Furthermore, established brand recognition can improve customer loyalty and drive sales. Curious about how these factors can impact your potential success? Let’s explore the seven key advantages you should know. Key Takeaways Franchises have a significantly lower failure rate (10-20%) compared to independent startups (50%) within five years. Ongoing support from franchisors includes training, marketing guidance, and operational assistance to boost franchisee success. Established brand recognition provides built-in customer loyalty, resulting in faster profitability for new franchisees. Franchisees benefit from collective buying power, leading to better pricing and cost efficiencies on supplies. Higher profit potential and easier access to financing make franchising a more attractive business model compared to independent ventures. Reduced Risk of Failure Franchising offers a significant advantage regarding reducing the risk of failure for new business owners. One of the main advantages of franchising is the benefit of an established brand name, which lowers the risk associated with starting a business. With a proven business model, franchisees often experience lower failure rates compared to independent startups. Research shows that franchises typically have a failure rate of about 10-20%, whereas independent businesses face a staggering 50% failure rate within the first five years. Furthermore, franchisees can see profits more quickly because of existing customer loyalty and brand recognition. In the end, comprehending what’re three advantages of franchising can empower you to make informed decisions in your entrepreneurial expedition. Ongoing Business Support When you become a franchisee, one of the key benefits you’ll experience is ongoing business support from your franchisor. This support includes extensive initial assistance, such as help in securing premises and designing store layouts for a successful launch. Franchisors provide long-term operational support through ongoing training for you and your staff, ensuring high standards are maintained. They additionally guide you in marketing strategies, allowing you to leverage brand recognition effectively. Customized support is customized to your specific needs, addressing challenges unique to your location. Here’s a quick overview of the support you can expect: Type of Support Description Benefit Initial Assistance Securing premises and layouts Successful launch Ongoing Training Staff training Maintain high standards Marketing Guidance Strategy development Attract and retain customers Customized Support Customized assistance Relevant help for challenges Franchise Network Knowledge sharing Improved operational efficiency Market Expertise When you choose to franchise, you gain access to invaluable industry insights that can shape your business decisions. Franchisors provide operational best practices and informed decision-making support, drawing from years of market experience. This guidance helps you navigate complex market dynamics and positions your franchise for success in a competitive environment. Industry Insights Provided Access to market expertise is one of the key advantages franchisees enjoy, as franchisors provide valuable insights into current trends and consumer behavior. This support enables you to make informed decisions in a competitive environment. Franchisors often conduct extensive market research before entering new territories, allowing you to benefit from data-driven strategies customized to local demands. Furthermore, through established networks, you gain access to best practices and industry benchmarks that can improve your operational efficiency and profitability. Franchisors typically share successful marketing strategies and promotional tactics proven to drive sales and customer engagement across various markets. By leveraging the franchisor’s experience and expertise, you can navigate industry-specific challenges more effectively, reducing the learning curve associated with starting from scratch. Operational Best Practices Franchisors equip you with operational best practices that streamline your business processes and improve efficiency. By leveraging valuable market expertise, they provide insights into industry trends and consumer behavior, helping you make informed decisions. Established best practices minimize operational challenges, allowing you to focus on growth. With the franchisor’s reputation and brand recognition, you can access existing customer loyalty, facilitating quicker market penetration. Regular training and updates guarantee you stay competitive and informed about market conditions. Moreover, collaboration with other franchisees cultivates innovation, enabling the entire network to adapt swiftly to market demands. Informed Decision-Making Support Informed decision-making is crucial for your success as a franchisee, especially when you leverage the extensive market expertise offered by your franchisor. Franchisors provide thorough market analysis and insights, allowing you to make decisions based on current industry trends and consumer behavior. This access to established market expertise helps you quickly adopt best practices, saving you time and effort that might otherwise be spent on trial and error. You can benefit from their experience in maneuvering competitive environments, leading to more effective marketing strategies. Furthermore, the knowledge shared by your franchisor enables you to improve product offerings and service enhancements. Brand Recognition & Loyalty When you join a franchise, you tap into an established brand that already has a loyal customer base, making it easier for you to attract customers right from the start. This built-in recognition often leads to increased traffic upon opening, as consumers are more likely to visit a familiar name. As a franchisee, you benefit from this brand loyalty, which can markedly boost your sales and reduce your marketing efforts. Built-in Customer Base A built-in customer base is one of the key advantages of franchising, allowing new business owners to tap into the loyalty and recognition that established brands offer. By leveraging a brand’s existing customer relationships, you can reduce your marketing costs and enjoy quicker profitability. Research shows that customers prefer recognizable names, which boosts foot traffic and increases sales. The established credibility of a franchise can greatly shorten the time needed for customer acquisition. Here’s a summary of some benefits: Benefit Description Immediate Sales Access to a loyal customer base leads to quicker revenue generation. Reduced Marketing Costs Established brands often require less promotional spending. Increased Trust Familiarity nurtures trust, making customers more likely to buy. Repeat Customers Many franchisees report high revenue from returning patrons. Improved Brand Loyalty Strong brand identity encourages customer retention and loyalty. Increased Traffic Upon Opening Opening a franchise often leads to increased customer traffic right from day one, primarily due to the strong brand recognition associated with well-known franchises. Studies show that franchises benefit from a built-in customer base, which can result in up to 20% higher initial sales compared to independent startups. This brand loyalty encourages customers to choose familiar names, leading to increased foot traffic. In fact, about 70% of consumers are more likely to visit a known brand’s location upon opening. Moreover, as a franchisee, you can leverage the franchisor’s marketing strategies and promotional campaigns particularly designed to attract customers. This combination of brand recognition and strategic marketing greatly boosts your initial traffic and customer engagement. Increased Buying Power Franchisees gain considerable advantages in purchasing influence, as they can tap into the collective buying strength of the entire franchise network. By leveraging this collective volume, you can secure better pricing and terms from suppliers, which isn’t typically available to independent businesses. Participating in bulk purchasing agreements often leads to discounts, improving your overall cost structure. The economies of scale achieved through franchising can greatly reduce operational costs, allowing you to pass savings onto your customers. Additionally, franchise systems usually negotiate favorable contracts with suppliers, giving you access to higher-quality products at lower prices than non-franchised competitors. As part of a larger organization, you likewise enjoy improved negotiation leverage, leading to better supplier relationships and advantageous contract terms. Higher Profits One of the most notable advantages of owning a franchise is the potential for higher profits compared to independent businesses. Franchised businesses often achieve profitability within their first year, thanks to established customer bases and brand recognition. Recognizable franchises typically generate profits that exceed those of independent startups, benefiting from proven business models and operational efficiencies. Research shows that franchise systems can experience average annual sales per unit considerably higher than independent businesses, creating greater revenue opportunities. Moreover, franchisees usually face lower marketing costs because of their franchisor’s established brand presence, attracting customers more effectively. The economies of scale in purchasing and operations further improve profit margins for franchisees, reinforcing the financial stability of franchised locations. Better Chance of Finance Achieving higher profits isn’t the only advantage of owning a franchise; securing financing is another significant benefit. Lenders often view franchise businesses as lower risk due to their established brand recognition and proven business models. This perspective leads to a higher likelihood of you securing financing. You may find it easier to access loans since financial institutions are usually more confident in franchises with documented success rates. Moreover, the structured support from franchisors can help you present a solid business plan to potential lenders, increasing your chances of obtaining financing. Many franchisors likewise offer financing assistance or partnerships with lenders, simplifying the funding process. Overall, franchise businesses typically enjoy quicker access to capital, allowing you to focus on growth and operational needs. Frequently Asked Questions What Are Some of the Major Advantages of Franchising? Franchising offers several major advantages. You gain access to an established brand, which can considerably reduce the time needed to build customer loyalty. With a proven business model, your chances of success increase, as around 90% of franchises succeed. You’ll receive ongoing support and training, helping you navigate operational challenges. Furthermore, collective purchasing agreements can lower your costs for supplies, and securing financing is often easier owing to perceived lower risks associated with franchises. What Are the 4 P’s of Franchising? The 4 P’s of franchising are crucial for your business strategy. First, focus on Product, ensuring it meets brand standards and customer expectations. Next, set your Price competitively as you adhere to franchisor guidelines. Then, choose the right Place for your franchise to maximize customer access and sales. Finally, implement effective Promotion strategies to communicate your brand message and offers, often utilizing resources provided by the franchisor for greater impact. What Is Franchising and Why Is It Important? Franchising is a business model where you operate under a franchisor’s established brand and system. This setup’s important as it gives you access to a proven business framework, ongoing support, and a customer base, which can lead to faster profitability. Furthermore, franchisors can expand their brand without considerable debt, as you invest your own capital. Overall, franchising contributes markedly to economic growth and job creation in the U.S. economy. What Are the Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning a Franchise Compared to Starting an Independent Business? When you consider owning a franchise versus starting an independent business, you’ll find clear advantages and disadvantages. Franchises typically offer established brand recognition and support, reducing your risk of failure. Nevertheless, they come with fees and less operational control, limiting your ability to innovate. Conversely, independent businesses provide greater autonomy but often face higher risks and challenges in securing funding and achieving profitability. Balancing these factors is essential in your decision-making process. Conclusion In conclusion, franchising presents numerous advantages that can greatly improve your entrepreneurial expedition. By reducing the risk of failure, providing ongoing support, and leveraging established brand recognition, you position yourself for success. The increased purchasing strength and potential for higher profits further contribute to a favorable business environment. With proven business models and easier access to financing, franchising offers a solid pathway for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build a stable and profitable venture. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Key Advantages of Franchising You Should Know" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an era where customer engagement is crucial, small businesses often seek innovative ways to capture their audience’s attention. Threads, a platform designed for real-time engagement, has introduced a powerful new feature called “Dear Algo.” This AI-driven tool aims to refine social media feeds based on users’ immediate preferences—an opportunity small business owners should be quick to explore. Dear Algo allows users to customize their content experience directly. By simply typing “Dear Algo” followed by their content preferences in a public post, users can tailor their Threads feeds to stay aligned with their current interests. For instance, a café owner might request, “Dear Algo, show me more posts about local food trends,” encouraging greater visibility of relevant content within their community. This new feature is not only about personalizing experiences for consumers; it holds actionable potential for small business owners. By leveraging Dear Algo, businesses can better connect with their target audience. If an owner runs a bookstore, engaging with posts that reflect literary challenges, author interviews, or genre trends can drive discussions that enhance foot traffic and online sales. The benefits extend beyond direct engagement. With Dear Algo, businesses can observe which topics resonate most during key moments—such as local events or holidays. They could create content that aligns with these real-time interests, refining their marketing strategies to optimize customer engagement. Availability for Dear Algo has been confirmed in the US, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, with plans for broader distribution in the future. This means small businesses in these regions can act now to tap into an evolving market. However, while the advantages of Dear Algo are clear, small business owners should also be aware of potential challenges. The algorithmic nature of the feature may create an overwhelming influx of new content that could detract from established communication strategies. This aspect requires careful monitoring to align both social media presence and business messaging without overwhelming audiences. “Dear Algo aims to make Threads feel more personal—whether you’re following trending topics or exploring niche interests,” provided a company spokesperson. “It’s another way we’re helping you find the latest conversations that are relevant to you.” This personalization aspect can enhance customer loyalty, yet businesses need to maintain a careful balance between light-hearted engagement and informative content. Moreover, the three-day timeframe for feed adjustments could be a double-edged sword; while it enhances relevance for current trends, it may also create pressure to produce timely updates. For small businesses, maintaining a steady stream of content aligned with shifting preferences can be resource-intensive, especially for teams operating with limited staff. In addition, there could be implications regarding audience analytics. As preferences change rapidly, businesses may find it more challenging to gather consistent data on audience trends. This necessitates the implementation of strategies to gather audience feedback or insights continually, ensuring that efforts remain aligned with customer interests. Small businesses willing to adopt Dear Algo can enhance their online presence, offering tailored experiences that resonate with their clientele. As they explore this dynamic feature, collaboration with audience preferences may lead to more meaningful interactions, setting these businesses apart in a crowded digital landscape. As small business owners adapt to the evolving landscape of social media, it is essential to stay ahead of such developments. Leveraging features like Dear Algo from Threads can be a valuable part of a broader strategy aimed at increasing customer engagement and staying relevant in a fast-paced marketplace. For detailed information about this feature, visit the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Threads Introduces AI Tool “Dear Algo” for Personalized Feeds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The web has strong opinions about what “AI-written” content looks like, and even stronger ones about what’s supposedly wrong with it. Scroll any content marketer’s LinkedIn feed, and you’ll find confident claims that em dashes and other AI “tells” signal bad, automated writing. The problem with these debates is that they often confuse taste with performance. What counts as “bad writing” will always be subjective. But if the goal for content marketers is to communicate clearly and compete in the information marketplace, the practical question should be: which LLM habits actually turn readers off? To find out, we analyzed a large dataset of content marketing pages to identify which AI writing “tics” we see most often called out to understand which are turning off readers — and the ones we may be calling out for no reason. How we built our ‘AI tics’ study At this point, you’ve probably all seen them, too: “In today’s fast-paced digital landscape…” “It’s important to note that…” “Not only… but also” (repeated over, and over and over…) “In conclusion” (even when nothing has been concluded) The second you notice them, it’s hard not to see them everywhere an LLM has helped produce copy. Many readers report hating these LLM patterns. But how exactly are they impacting user engagement? To find out, we gathered a list of the most common AI writing tells we and others have noticed. These include: “Not only… but also” constructions: “Not only does X do Y, but it also does Z.” Sentence starts with “then,” “this,” or” that”: “Then you should…” “Then the system…” “This shows…” “This means…” Introductory filler: “In this article,” “We’ll explore,” and “Let’s take a look”. “Conclusion” starters: “In conclusion,” or other AI equivalents of clearing your throat. Em dashes: The most infamous punctuation mark in today’s content marketing. From there, we built a dataset of: 10 domains of varied site size and monthly traffic, in a wide array of industries including tech, ecommerce, healthcare, education, analytics, and more 1,000+ content marketing URLs, built from a mix of workflows including posts that were either fully human-written, written collaboratively by humans and AI, or completely AI-generated. Then we standardized our dataset by: Aligning shorter posts and cornerstone content by standardizing every writing tic as occurrences per 1,000 words. Since longer articles naturally contain more of, well, everything, a 3,000-word guide would otherwise look “worse” than a 600-word post simply because it has more sentences. Excluding any page under 500 words. Very short pages don’t give enough room for stylistic patterns to emerge, and their engagement metrics are likely driven more by intent than by engagement alone. Prioritizing engagement rate as the primary performance metric. Engagement rate best captures a reader’s first real decision: “Do I stay, or do I leave?” GA4 registers an engaged session as any lasting 10 or more seconds. While 10 seconds may sound brief to assess whether a post is AI, it’s long enough for a user to skim an introduction, notice awkward or repetitive writing patterns, and scan headings to decide whether the content feels worth continuing. Dig deeper: A smarter way to approach AI prompting Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with Why tracking total AI tics wasn’t enough Our first instinct was to average the number of AI tics per 1,000 words and compare the pages’ performance. At a glance, this seemed like a clean way to separate human writing from AI-influenced writing. But the picture quickly got complicated by one tic in particular — the infamous em dash — which dominated the dataset and heavily skewed the averages. The issue pointed to a larger problem: AI tics are messy by definition. AI is trained on human writing. So if certain patterns show up frequently, that doesn’t mean they’re uniquely “AI.” It may just mean they’re common in English prose. To compare, we ran the same tic counter on two known controls: a novel I published in 2021 (which I could guarantee was written without ChatGPT, Grammarly, or other AI-assisted tools). This scored a startlingly above-average 6.9 tics per 1,000 words. Next, we scored “Hamlet,” the famous Shakespearean play, which scored an even higher ≈11.4 tics per 1,000 words. Shakespeare, it turns out, is more “AI-coded” than many AI-generated blog posts. Ultimately, we assessed that this is almost entirely due to the em dash, which is likely to appear in droves in many human writers’ prose as well as AI-produced copy. With this in mind, we analyzed each “tell” individually, still standardizing per 1,000 words. The story became much clearer — and far more useful for writers trying to decide what’s actually worth avoiding. Dig deeper: How to make your AI-generated content sound more human Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The AI tics impacting performance Not all posts are the same, and many different factors impact the success or failure of any page of content marketing. That’s perhaps why our data showed that most AI “tells” didn’t correlate strongly with performance or non-performance. Anything smaller than plus/minus .1 correlation is statistically insignificant. However, there were a handful worth noting with a larger impact than others. ‘Not only’ and ‘not just’ structures may be driving users away Phrases built around “not only…” or “not just…but also” stood out with larger-than-average negative correlations with engagement rate. While these constructions, when used occasionally, can add emphasis, the data shows that frequent use is associated with high user bounce rates. AI-assisted writers and editors should take note, as many of the AI-generated posts we reviewed tripped over themselves with these constructions. In one instance, we found a single blog post that used “not only” and “but also” 12 separate times. Starting headers with ‘conclusion’ was the strongest negative signal The strongest negative correlation in the entire dataset was observed in sentences beginning with “Conclusion,” typically section headers preceding a call to action. The clearest AI stylistic red flag we found, posts with headers starting with “Conclusion” had the largest negative correlation (≈ -0.118) with post engagement rate. Since this tic traditionally comes at the conclusion of a post, it’s clear readers may quickly scroll down over the entirety of these posts before bouncing — or else that posts with these final headings tend to be lower-quality on average. Em dashes correlated slightly positively Em dashes were by far the most common stylistic tic in the dataset. They also produced one of the most surprising results: a slight positive correlation with engagement rate. Despite widespread online chatter treating em dashes as an “AI artifact,” this data suggests they’re not hurting performance, and they may even align with better engagement. (As someone who genuinely likes em dashes — this was deeply validating.) A plausible explanation may be that writers who use em dashes tend to write more explanatory, nuanced sentences rather than short, flat declarations. Those kinds of sentences often appear in longer, more thoughtful content that many readers actually engage with. That said, this doesn’t mean em dashes cause engagement. Too much of a good thing is still too much of a good thing. But it does challenge the idea that em dashes are the bugbear content marketers make them out to be. Dig deeper: An AI-assisted content process that outperforms human-only copy 3 practical takeaways for content teams Here’s what content marketers can act on today. 1. Don’t over-optimize for AI detection Google doesn’t issue SEO rankings like a monotonic punishment score for “AI style.” Most phrases we looked at didn’t correlate with engagement at all. Don’t rewrite content just because someone declared a phrase “AI writing.” Write for reader usefulness and clarity above all. 2. Be mindful of how you wrap up Explicit conclusion blocks aren’t bad — but generic, formulaic patterns are likely turning readers away. Consider blending conclusions into analysis, using subtler transitions, or adding new value with headers, instead of signposting obvious structure. 3. Use the punctuation that makes sense If your style calls for em-dashes? In this dataset, they were actually associated with better reader engagement. Use them. Don’t miss the forest for fake plastic trees AI is likely here to stay in content workflows. But the issues with “bad” AI writing aren’t limited to linguistic tics and punctuation. While we all have our stylistic opinions, we should be careful about turning stylistic hot takes into editorial law. Write valuable writing. Think about readers first. And don’t panic every time someone on Twitter or LinkedIn decrees that “X phrase = AI.” View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...View the full article

Anthropic updated its crawler documentation this week, clarifying how its Claude bots access websites and how you can block them. Anthropic’s document explains what each bot does, how it affects AI training and search visibility, and how to opt out through robots.txt. Why we care. If you publish or own content, you want control over how AI systems use it. Anthropic separates training crawlers, user-triggered fetches, and search indexing. Blocking one bot doesn’t block the others. Each choice carries different visibility and training trade-offs. The robots. Anthropic uses three separate user agents: ClaudeBot collects public web content that may be used to train and improve Anthropic’s generative AI models. If you block ClaudeBot in robots.txt, Anthropic said it will exclude your site’s future content from AI training datasets. Claude-User retrieves content when a user asks Claude a question that requires access to a webpage. If you block Claude-User, Anthropic can’t fetch your pages in response to user queries. The company says this may reduce your visibility in user-directed search responses. Claude-SearchBot crawls content to improve the quality and relevance of Claude’s search results. If you block Claude-SearchBot, Anthropic won’t index your content for search optimization, which may reduce visibility and accuracy in Claude-powered search answers. How to block them. The bots respect standard robots.txt directives, including “Disallow” rules and the non-standard “Crawl-delay” extension, Anthropic said. To block a bot across your entire site: User-agent: ClaudeBot Disallow: / You must add directives for each bot and each subdomain you want to restrict. IP blocking may not work reliably because its bots use public cloud provider IP addresses, Anthropic said. Blocking those ranges could prevent the bot from accessing robots.txt. The company doesn’t publish IP ranges. The document. Does Anthropic crawl data from the web, and how can site owners block the crawler? View the full article

President Donald The President started in sales mode, using his State of the Union address to deliver an upbeat vision of the U.S. economy. But that portrayal collides with the sentiment of Americans who remain anxious about their finances and feel they haven’t benefited from The President’s policies. He took the high road to honor the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team and a war hero before pivoting abruptly to a darker tone as he ridiculed Democrats. Here are takeaways from the speech. The President’s ‘roaring’ economy is at odds with sour public sentiment Much of the nation is worried about the direction of the economy, but The President says the good times are here, insisting repeatedly that rising costs are no longer a problem. “The roaring economy is roaring like never before,” he said. He cheered the lower cost of gasoline, mortgage rates, prescription drug prices and the rising stock market: “Millions and millions of Americans are all gaining.” Such optimism, as so many Americans are feeling economic strains, risks painting The President as out of touch. Just 39% of U.S. adults approved of The President’s handling of the economy in February, according to AP-NORC polling. Still, the president focused much of the first hour of his speech on the economy, something Republicans had urged him to do as they head into the midterm elections. The President wraps himself in the flag For a president who always seems to be spoiling for a fight, The President also tried to summon Americans’ innate patriotic impulses. In addition to the hockey team, he singled out war heroes and those who had taken brave stands in other countries, using the moment to bestow numerous presidential medals in an effort to give the address a more positive gloss. It underscored the president’s media savvy and understanding that even if a moment isn’t appreciated completely in real time, it can have an afterlife in the days following speech, especially on social media. Yet in one revealing moment, The President lamented why he couldn’t give a congressional medal to himself. Taking aim at Democrats Tributes to the Olympic hockey team and a World War II veteran didn’t unify the room for long. The Republican president soon took aim at Democrats and blamed them for many of the nation’s ills. The President said rising health care premiums are “caused by you,” suggested Democrats “are not protecting” Social Security and blamed them for the nation’s affordability crunch. “You caused that problem. You caused that problem,” The President said as he glared at the Democratic side of the room. He seemed to get angrier as the speech progressed. “These people are crazy, I’m telling you, they’re crazy,” he said. “Democrats are destroying this country.” The President’s MAGA base loves such aggression. It’s unclear, however, if the rest of the country feels the same. The Supreme Court’s ‘unfortunate’ decision By The President’s standards, he held his tongue when it came to the Supreme Court. After the court struck down his tariff policy last week, The President said the justices who voted against one of his signature issues were an “embarrassment to their families.” By Tuesday, he simply called the ruling “unfortunate.” The President sought to treat the ruling with indifference, insisting that tariff revenues were “saving” the U.S., ignoring the fact that the levies haven’t made a significant dent in government debt. He said the tariffs were paid by foreign countries even as virtually every study concludes that costs have been paid by U.S. firms and consumers. At one point, he seemed to take the long view that history would ultimately vindicate him even if the Supreme Court would not. “As time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern day system of income tax, taking a great burden off the people that I love,” he said. That is unlikely. The federal income tax is authorized by the 16th Amendment to the Constitution and the power to collect revenue is ultimately defined by Congress, not the president. The President vows action on election ‘cheating’ The president also used the speech to reprise his attack on the integrity of U.S. elections. “Cheating is rampant in our elections,” The President said. The President has made such claims for years, focused on his 2020 election loss, claims rejected by dozens of courts and his own attorney general at the time. But the timing of Tuesday’s prime-time claims, less than nine months before voters across America are scheduled to decide control of Congress, was noteworthy. So, too, was The President’s suggestion that he would take action to address a problem that doesn’t appear to exist. “They want to cheat. They have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat,” The President said of Democrats. “And we’re going to stop it. We have to stop it.” The President is calling on Congress to pass a bill requiring voters to show a photo ID before casting ballots. But he also recently vowed to enact an executive order to address the issue, although the White House has not clarified what it might entail. No mention of Minneapolis Sometimes what’s not said is as notable as what is. The President has highlighted immigration since the very first speech in which he announced his 2016 presidential campaign. And on Tuesday night, he revived much of the same language he’s used throughout the past decade, blasting “criminal aliens” and warning of “drug lords, murderers all over our country.” What he didn’t mention: the most aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that threatened to bring the U.S. to the brink earlier this year. He didn’t mention the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month at the hands of federal agents. Indeed, it was Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who shouted that “Alex wasn’t a criminal,” referring to Alex Pretti, one of the U.S. citizens killed in Minneapolis. During her Democratic rebuttal, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said law enforcement must work to build trust in communities and said The President “every minute spent sowing fear is a minute not investigating murders.” The President said nothing of his administration’s shift in tactics, including a drawdown of agents in the Twin Cities. And he made no acknowledgment of the broad concerns in the U.S. about The President’s approach on immigration, as demonstrated by the 60% of U.S. adults who disapproved of his handling of the issue in February, according to AP-NORC polling. Drumbeat for war gets louder The President has already built up the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East in decades. And in his speech, he outlined a rationale for using those forces to launch a major military strike against Iran. The president said that Iran and its proxies have “spread nothing but terrorism, death and hate,” adding that its leaders killed at least 32,000 protesters in recent weeks, which is at the further end of estimates over the death toll. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency has so far counted more than 7,000 dead and believes the death toll is far higher. Iran’s government offered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. The President also warned that the nation has developed missiles that can threaten Europe and is working on missiles “that will soon reach” the U.S. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are, by far to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.” On brand, the speech was the longest SOTU ever The president, ever mindful of records that allow him to say he was the first, the best or had done the most, succeeded clearly on one thing: he beat his own record for the longest, clocking in at just under 1 hour, 48 minutes. By STEVEN SLOAN and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press View the full article

It’s no secret that fast casual restaurants have struggled in recent years, with some companies turning to cheaper options as a way to lure customers back. The latest chain to do so is Panera Bread, which just announced its first-ever value menu. It includes 10 items that are each $4.99. Customers must pick at least two items to use the menu and will get the typical free side of an apple, chips or bread. Anyone who has been to Panera will recognize it as a scaled-down version of the long-standing You Pick Two deal. There are four half sandwiches, three half salads, and three cups of soup. There will be a rotating seasonal item, but to start Panera’s value menu will include: Sandwiches Toasted Italiano Toasted Caprese Focaccia Bacon Turkey Bravo Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Salads Fuji Apple Chicken Ranch Parm BLT Caesar Soups Creamy Tomato Homestyle Chicken Noodle Bistro French Onion Panera’s value menu follows similar offerings that have popped up from restaurant chains like Taco Bell, McDonalds, and more. They’ve come as high inflation caused fast food menu prices to shoot up and customers to revolt. In 2024, McDonalds released its $5 value meal, a move that has proved successful in increasing sales, The New York Times reported earlier this month. Panera has also faced controversies and layoffs of late Alongside changing spending trends, Panera has also been rocked by controversies. In 2023, the company faced multiple lawsuits over deaths allegedly related to its high-caffeine Charged Lemonade drinks. Two deaths were due to cardiac arrest. Panera has since settled the lawsuits and removed the Charged Lemonade drink from its menu, NBC reported. Panera also laid off 72 employees last year after shutting down a production facility in Missouri, USA Today reported. It follows the shutdown of four other facilities in the United States. View the full article

If you order a new smartphone to be delivered to your home, you may be a target for scammers. Fraudsters are impersonating representatives from mobile carriers, calling customers and claiming that they've been sent the wrong device and need to return it. Obviously, if you follow through, scammers get to keep your phone—they may either to sell it or activate it using your information to perpetrate identity fraud. Scams centered on stealing high-value tech aren't anything new. In addition to regular porch pirating, thieves have been known to knock on doors, posing as couriers or company representatives attempting to recover a "wrongly delivered" item. Fraudsters have also used fake Find My alerts to gain access to lost or stolen iPhones. How the phone return scam worksAs an editor at ZDNET experienced, the scam begins shortly after your new phone is delivered. You may receive a call from a spoofed number, and someone claiming to represent your carrier will have specific information like your name, address, and device model. They'll tell you that there's been a mix-up and you need to send your phone back so you can receive a replacement. They may give you instructions to scan a QR code, print a label, and take the package to a shipping drop-off point. In some cases, targets have been promised gift cards for the inconvenience. If you hesitate, scammers may employ a number of pressure tactics to get you to act. They'll tell you that delaying the return could cause issues with your device activation, billing, or warranty. They may continue to call with threats. Like many scams, this one relies on social engineering: it manipulates emotions and instincts to get you to act against your best interest. Fraudsters impersonate a trusted brand and use detailed information about you to make their story more believable. They use timing to their advantage and promote a sense of urgency. The phone return scam also has similarities to the brushing scam, in which victims receive a package containing merchandise they didn't order so that scammers can write a verified review or boost sales numbers or collect personally identifiable information once you scan a QR code (an added component known as quishing) to learn more about the item. What to do if you get a call about your new phoneThe solution here is to simply hang up. If you are concerned about your account or device, call your carrier directly (use the customer service number from a previous bill or go through the official app) and confirm the mix-up. Don't engage with QR codes or any instructions provided on unsolicited calls. It may be alarming that a scammer has specific details about your order and calls right after your new phone is delivered. Unfortunately, a lot of your personal information is out in the open and available to bad actors, whether as the result of a data breach or some other form of compromise (such as malware that can read notifications). This is a good reason to keep an eye out for other indicators of identity theft and act quickly if you find anything suspicious. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Getting started with outdoor security cameras can get expensive fast. The refurbished Blink Outdoor 4 (two-pack) with Sync Module 2 keeps things simple and affordable. Right now, this “like-new” bundle is $62.99 on Amazon, down from $164.99, and price trackers show this is its lowest price yet. For context, buying new costs $179.99 for just the cameras without the Sync Module. These units are part of Amazon’s certified refurbishment program, so they’ve been tested and inspected before resale. PCMag gave the Blink Outdoor 4 an “excellent” rating, and our own writer called it a worthwhile entry-level wireless camera. Like-New Blink Outdoor 4 (2-pack) with Sync Module 2 $62.99 at Amazon $164.99 Save $102.00 Get Deal Get Deal $62.99 at Amazon $164.99 Save $102.00 Installation is simple and fully wire-free. Each camera runs on two AA lithium batteries that Blink says can last up to two years, depending on usage. You mount it on a porch, fence, or even indoors, connect it to wifi in the app, and you're set. The cameras record in 1080p, with daytime footage clear enough to recognize faces. Plus, it has a 143-degree field of view, so it captures a wide area of your yard or entryway without needing multiple units for basic coverage. Infrared night vision handles low light, and two-way audio lets you speak to a visitor or delivery driver through the app. Motion alerts are sent straight to your phone, and you can access live view for up to five minutes at a time without a subscription. Storage options are flexible. The included Sync Module 2 supports local video storage through a USB drive (sold separately) and can manage up to 10 Blink cameras at once. Cloud storage is available if you prefer remote backups. Person detection and extended video history require a Blink subscription, with the Basic plan priced at $40 per year for one device and the Plus plan at $120 per year for unlimited cameras. The system integrates well with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT, so you can pull up live feeds on an Echo Show or Fire TV easily. It does not support Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. Still, for someone building a basic, outdoor security camera setup on a budget, this refurbished two-pack offers long battery life, local storage, and easy installation at a low upfront cost. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $157.90 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $329.00 (List Price $349.00) Google Pixel 10a 128GB 6.3" Unlocked Smartphone + $100 Gift Card — $499.00 (List Price $599.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base — $299.99 (List Price $599.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Gray) — $379.99 (List Price $499.99) Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 (List Price $119.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Generative search engines like ChatGPT have successfully used SEO as part of their growth strategy, even as the echo chambers of the web claim they’re killing this powerful marketing channel. Let’s take a look at how ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude fare in SEO, and why ChatGPT’s investment in the strategy is paying off. Directional SEO ROI forecast A $600,000 annual SEO investment could generate outsized returns for generative AI platforms. Using Semrush-reported monthly organic traffic — 76.5 million visits for ChatGPT, 908,000 for Claude, and 1.7 million for Perplexity — plus a conservative 0.5% conversion rate and a $20/month entry price, projected returns range from approximately $92 million in annual revenue for ChatGPT (15,200% ROI) to 82%-240% ROI for Claude and Perplexity. OpenAI’s investment in SEO and content for ChatGPT’s growth OpenAI understands the value of SEO to drive growth. It was offering $310,000-$393,000 to hire a content strategist with SEO experience. It then launched a second job search for a growth role focused on SEO, CRO, and web strategy. Looking at SEO-focused growth role salaries in the U.S. ($100,000 to $295,000), we can estimate OpenAI invested between $410,000 and $600,000 for two SEO roles, not including benefits and other expenses. SEO has more lives than an agile alley cat because it leverages human behavior. Searching is core to our survival. When we were cave dwellers needing food or shelter, we searched for it. Search engines amplify this behavior. ChatGPT is expanding search behavior and increasing Google searches in certain use cases. However, there’s a 20% decline in overall Google search volume from 2024 to 2025. That shift makes visibility even more critical. As the search landscape evolves — and as Google’s AI Overviews take clicks away — increasing your website’s ability to be found through SEO becomes more important, not less. The OpenAI team understands this. That’s why it built SEO into ChatGPT’s foundation and continues investing in it. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with Evaluating the SEO foundations of ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity I conducted a brief analysis of how ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude use SEO to grow. The goal was to uncover the good, the bad, and the ugly so brands can apply what works and discard the rest. Using Semrush for competitive keyword analysis, I examined domain authority, brand versus non-brand keyword distribution, and total keyword rankings. Brand authority and demand ChatGPT’s website has an authority score of 99, followed by Perplexity’s 81 and Claude’s 75. Building a strong product and brand, then leveraging public relations, news, and social media, is the best way to grow your website’s authority. The branded term “ChatGPT” gets 45.5 million searches monthly, while Perplexity gets 1 million and Claude gets 500,000. That’s an enormous demand; they use SEO to convert into traffic, signups, and revenue. Paid and organic search All brands spend money on Google Ads, but SEO drives most of their search traffic. None are integrating search, which is a big opportunity. Integrated search is the practice of targeting highly valuable, often expensive, keywords with both SEO and PPC. It increases conversions, lowers Google Ads cost per click, and helps you take up more real estate on the search engine results pages, pushing competitors lower. Keyword rankings ChatGPT: ~287,800 keywords. Perplexity: ~184,800 keywords. Claude: ~36,000 keywords. ChatGPT leveraged user-generated content to build a massive indexable surface area. Perplexity focused on financial, stock-driven content pages. Claude uses blog articles targeting high-intent professional audiences. Neither can match ChatGPT’s kinetic energy from branding efforts and SEO built into its technical foundation. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The 3Cs SEO and AI optimization framework Below, I applied our agency’s 3Cs SEO and AI optimization approach: code (technical foundation), content strategy and optimization, and conversions. Code For this section, I focused on indexability, or how well search engines can find important website content. This is important to rank in traditional search, including Google and Bing, and LLMs like ChatGPT. Robots.txt ChatGPT has a highly optimized robots.txt file that includes multiple sitemaps, location recommendations, and blocks for certain crawlers while allowing others. Perplexity’s robots.txt file isn’t as optimized or detailed. Claude was missing a robots.txt but added it recently. Not having a robots.txt file or having it return a 404 can be detrimental to your rankings. Note that ChatGPT and Claude block each other from crawling their websites via robots.txt. Recommendation: Optimize your robots.txt, include all sitemaps, block pages you don’t want indexed, and allow LLM crawlers like ChatGPT to crawl your site. URL structure According to Google representative John Mueller, keywords in a URL are a “very, very small ranking factor.” That said, we can see a clear performance difference between ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity because they include keywords in their URLs. Including keywords in a URL is an important way to give search engines, LLMs, and users information about what the page is about. Imagine you went to a restaurant and wanted a burger. You say, “I want a burger,” and you’ll get a burger. If you said, “I want 2387d2e3,” you’d only get frustration from your waiter. That’s what happens with LLMs and traditional search engines. Yes, search engines can look at other elements of the page to understand what it’s about, but you win when you check all the boxes. That’s the difference between ChatGPT and Claude’s URLs below. ChatGPT uses the name of what a user creates and shares in the URL, which helps it rank better for those words. Claude doesn’t. Its public artifacts don’t have words built into them. Recommendation: Use short URLs with keywords in them. I’ve seen this have major ranking impacts, even though Google and others say it’s a minor ranking factor. Changing this is hard after the fact. Semantic URLs are also important to rank in LLMs like ChatGPT. Content All of the LLM websites use content for marketing, including use cases, partnerships, target industries, and more. Claude’s blog has highly targeted articles for professionals. Perplexity has a discovery hub with timely, useful content. However, the content isn’t optimized for SEO. Meta titles, descriptions, URLs, and canonical tags aren’t optimized, which confuses search engines. Some pages aren’t even indexed on Google as a result. Their blogs don’t optimize images either. Image names should be descriptive, like “perplexity-deep-research.webp,” to improve ranking ability. Perplexity is giving itself death by a thousand optimization cuts. Even though Claude and Perplexity target highly relevant keywords, an analysis of the top 50,000 keywords each website ranks for shows ChatGPT winning with sustained month-over-month growth. Recommendation: Build SEO into your technical foundation. Fully optimize blog articles. Leverage user-generated content through forums or community hubs. Conversions All these brands understand SEO needs to drive conversions, not just traffic and rankings. There are two types of conversions: free conversions for people not ready to buy and paid conversions for people ready to buy. ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude all give users a trial of their product, then ask them to convert or sign in. Recommendation: Convert as much website traffic as possible. Use AI coding platforms to build interactive content for conversion, as Google AI Overviews take traffic away. If OpenAI bets on SEO, should you? OpenAI is spending up to $600,000 on SEO talent to grow ChatGPT, not including staff benefits and other costs. This analysis breaks down how ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude use SEO to fuel growth. If disruptive technology companies like OpenAI are doubling down on SEO and content to drive growth, you should include it in your growth strategy as well. It works. View the full article

Where should you invest paid media dollars in 2026? Here's a data-driven look at reach, targeting depth, and automation across 10 major ad platforms. The post The 10 Best PPC Ad Networks appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

When creating a return policy template, it’s important to include several key components to guarantee clarity. Start with eligibility criteria, outlining acceptable item conditions and specific time frames for returns. You’ll additionally need to detail required documentation, the return process, and refund options. Don’t forget to address shipping fees and any exchange policies for defective items. Comprehending these elements is essential, as they can greatly impact customer satisfaction and retention. What else should you consider? Key Takeaways Clearly outline the time frame for returns, typically within 30 days from purchase or delivery. Specify eligibility criteria, including conditions for acceptable items and any exclusions. Detail the refund process, including types of refunds and time frames for processing. Include instructions for initiating returns and exchanges, including required documentation and customer communication channels. Communicate any applicable shipping fees, restocking fees, and conditions surrounding these charges. Overview of the Return Policy When you purchase an item, comprehending the return policy is vital, as it outlines the specific conditions under which you can return items. Your return policy overview should clearly specify the time frames for returns, eligibility criteria, and the condition of acceptable items. For instance, you might include whether customers can expect full refunds, partial refunds, or store credit as options, helping to manage expectations effectively. It’s important to indicate if proof of purchase, such as a receipt, is required and clarify any documentation needed for processing returns. Providing a clear timeline for how long customers have to initiate returns and how quickly refunds will be processed improves transparency. Furthermore, mentioning any exclusions, such as non-returnable items, can prevent misunderstandings. Using a refund policy template can guide you in creating a thorough return and refund policy example that meets customer needs and protects your business interests. Eligibility Criteria for Returns When considering a return, it’s vital to understand the eligibility criteria that apply. You’ll need to make certain that items are unused, in their original condition, and include all packaging for a successful return. Furthermore, be aware of any time frame limitations and specific exclusions, such as sale items or certain categories that aren’t eligible for return at all. Condition of Items To be eligible for a return, items must be unused and in their original condition, ensuring they can be resold or reused. This is essential for any return policy on clothes, as it maintains product integrity. Original packaging is typically required, as it protects the item during transit and preserves its resale value. Certain products, like opened personal care items or custom-made goods, may not qualify for returns because of hygiene regulations or specific safety concerns. Furthermore, you’ll need proof of purchase, such as a receipt or order confirmation, to process returns effectively. When drafting your product return policy template, be clear about these conditions to avoid confusion and improve customer satisfaction, referencing a return and refund policy sample for guidance. Time Frame Limitations Establishing a clear return window is vital for your return policy, as it sets expectations for customers regarding when they can initiate a return. A standard practice is to implement a 30-day return policy, starting from the date of purchase or delivery. During this period, customers can return eligible items, provided they’re unused and in original condition with all packaging intact. It’s important to specify that certain items, like sale or clearance products, may not be eligible for returns, ensuring transparency. Moreover, customers must present a receipt or proof of purchase within this timeframe to facilitate the return process. Communicating any limitations, such as issues with damaged or missing parts, further clarifies your return policy for online purchases. Exclusions and Exceptions Even though many items are eligible for return, certain exclusions and exceptions apply that you should be aware of. Under most return policies, items must be unused and in their original condition, including packaging. Personal care products, undergarments, and custom-made goods typically fall under no refund policy because of hygiene and safety regulations. Furthermore, sale items often aren’t eligible for refunds or exchanges, so it’s vital to clarify this in your return policy. You’ll likewise need to provide a receipt or proof of purchase to initiate any return. If items are damaged or missing parts upon return, they may be deemed ineligible for refunds, highlighting the significance of maintaining product integrity throughout the return process. Time Frame for Returns When considering a return, it is crucial to be aware of the specific time frame allowed for initiating the process. A well-defined return policy can greatly impact customer satisfaction. Typically, you’ll find that most online return policies permit returns within 30 days of delivery, even though some businesses extend this to 60 or even 90 days. Here’s a quick reference table for typical return time frames: Time Frame Common Practices 14 Days Standard for many retailers 30 Days Commonly used by most businesses 60 Days Customer-friendly extension 90 Days Rare, but improves satisfaction Clearly communicating the time frame in your return refund policy template helps set expectations and minimizes confusion. It is advisable to display this information prominently on your website and in purchase confirmations to make sure your customers are informed before completing their transactions. Required Documentation Returning items typically requires specific documentation to guarantee the process goes smoothly. A well-structured return policy template should clearly state that customers need to provide a receipt or proof of purchase to initiate a return or refund. This validates claims are legitimate and traceable. Although some businesses may allow exchanges without a receipt, having clear documentation is essential to streamline the return exchange policy and maintain inventory accuracy. In your product return policy sample, specify acceptable formats for documentation, such as email confirmations or order numbers. This clarity helps prevent fraudulent claims and facilitates faster processing of returns and refunds. Return Process Steps To start the return process, you’ll first need to submit a return request, usually by contacting customer support for authorization. After your return is approved, the item will undergo an inspection to verify it meets the eligibility criteria. Once everything checks out, you can expect your refund to be processed within a week after the returned item arrives back at our facility. Return Request Submission How can you guarantee a smooth return process? Start by following your online store return policy. First, contact customer service via email or phone to initiate your return request. They’ll guide you through the necessary steps and may provide a return authorization number, which is crucial for processing. Confirm the product is in original condition, securely packaged, and includes all original documentation. Depending on your product refund policy, you might receive a return shipping label, or you may need to cover the shipping costs yourself. After sending the item, you’ll receive an email notification regarding the approval or rejection of your return, outlining the next steps in the refund process. Item Inspection Procedure Once you’ve notified the business of your intent to return an item, the next step involves an inspection process to verify if the returned product meets the eligibility criteria outlined in the return policy. This item inspection procedure is essential in ensuring that returns are handled effectively. Here’s what you can expect: Condition Check: The item must be unused and in its original packaging. Documentation Review: Proof of purchase should accompany the return. Acknowledgment: You’ll receive a confirmation email upon receipt of the item. Decision Notification: If approved, expect your refund within 7-14 business days; if not, you’ll be informed of the rejection and options available under the ecommerce return policy. Refund Processing Timeline The refund processing timeline begins after the seller receives and inspects the returned item, which typically takes up to 7 business days. Once the inspection is complete, you’ll receive an email notifying you of your refund approval or rejection within a few days. If approved, the refund will be processed back to your original payment method within 3 to 5 business days, depending on your Bank of America or credit card company. If there are delays, you should follow up with customer service to track your refund status. It’s important to note that some policies may include a refund policy no refunds clause, so always consult the refund or exchange policy in your ecommerce return policy template to understand your rights clearly. Refund Information When considering a refund, it’s important to understand the specific criteria and processes involved. Clear refund information is essential for your store return policy and can improve customer satisfaction. Here are key points to remember: Processing Time: Refunds are typically processed within 7 to 14 business days after receipt and inspection of the returned item. Eligibility Criteria: Items must be unused, in original condition, and accompanied by a receipt or proof of purchase for a refund. Types of Refunds: You may offer full refunds, partial refunds for opened items, or store credit for returns outside the standard policy. Deductions: Be transparent about any deductions, such as shipping costs or restocking fees, to set clear expectations. Exchange Policy Details Comprehending the exchange policy is important for ensuring a smooth process if you receive a defective or damaged item. Your exchange policy details need to be precise, stating that only defective or damaged items qualify for an exchange. To initiate the process, customers must email your designated contact, which helps keep communication organized. Specify the address where items should be sent for exchanges to prevent any confusion. It’s essential to clarify that exchanges will only be for the same item, ensuring customers know they can’t swap for different products. Furthermore, emphasize that items not meeting these criteria—such as those that are used or lack original packaging—will not be eligible for an exchange. This clarity helps maintain a consistent retail return policy and can be effectively included in your store policy template, ensuring customers understand the rules and procedures for exchanges. Shipping and Handling Fees Grasping shipping and handling fees is crucial for maneuvering the return process effectively. Your shipping and return policy should be transparent about these costs to avoid confusion. Here are four key points to include: Return Shipping Costs: Clearly state whether customers are responsible for paying return shipping fees. This impacts their decision to return an item. Non-refundable Shipping Fees: Indicate if shipping fees are non-refundable, meaning they’ll be deducted from any approved refund amount. Restocking Fees: Mention any applicable restocking fees, detailing the conditions under which these charges will apply. Exchange Shipping Costs: Clarify if customers will need to pay for shipping on replacement items during exchanges. Frequently Asked Questions What to Include in a Return Policy? To create an effective return policy, start by specifying the eligibility criteria for returns, like requiring items to be unused and in original packaging. Clearly define the return window, typically around 30 days. Outline the refund process, including how customers will be notified and the expected timeline for refunds. Don’t forget to mention any non-returnable items and provide detailed instructions on how customers can initiate a return. What’s the Big 5 Return Policy? The Big 5 Return Policy includes crucial components that guarantee a smooth return experience for customers. It typically outlines eligibility criteria, stating items must be unused and in original condition within a specified timeframe, often 30 days. It details the return process, including required documentation like receipts, and clarifies refund timelines. Furthermore, it specifies non-returnable items and who covers return shipping costs, which improves transparency and builds customer trust. How Do You Write a Simple Return Policy? To write a simple return policy, start by stating the timeframe for returns, typically 30 days from purchase. Specify eligibility criteria, such as items needing to be unused and in original packaging. Provide clear instructions on how customers can initiate returns, like contacting support or filling out a form. Mention any exclusions, like sale items or personal care products, and outline the refund process, including who covers return shipping costs. What Is an Example of a Return Policy? A return policy example might allow returns within 30 days of purchase, requiring items to be unused and in original condition. You’ll need to provide the receipt for processing returns. The policy should specify that refunds are issued to the original payment method, with notifications sent upon approval or rejection. Furthermore, clarify which items are non-returnable, such as personal care products or sale items, to set proper expectations for customers. Conclusion In conclusion, a well-crafted return policy template is vital for any business. It should clearly outline eligibility criteria, time frames, and required documentation to streamline the return process. Furthermore, detailing refund options, exchange policies, and shipping fees guarantees transparency for customers. By incorporating these elements, you create a clear framework that not just protects your business but also improves customer trust and satisfaction. An all-encompassing return policy eventually promotes a positive shopping experience for everyone involved. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What to Include in a Return Policy Template?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When creating a return policy template, it’s important to include several key components to guarantee clarity. Start with eligibility criteria, outlining acceptable item conditions and specific time frames for returns. You’ll additionally need to detail required documentation, the return process, and refund options. Don’t forget to address shipping fees and any exchange policies for defective items. Comprehending these elements is essential, as they can greatly impact customer satisfaction and retention. What else should you consider? Key Takeaways Clearly outline the time frame for returns, typically within 30 days from purchase or delivery. Specify eligibility criteria, including conditions for acceptable items and any exclusions. Detail the refund process, including types of refunds and time frames for processing. Include instructions for initiating returns and exchanges, including required documentation and customer communication channels. Communicate any applicable shipping fees, restocking fees, and conditions surrounding these charges. Overview of the Return Policy When you purchase an item, comprehending the return policy is vital, as it outlines the specific conditions under which you can return items. Your return policy overview should clearly specify the time frames for returns, eligibility criteria, and the condition of acceptable items. For instance, you might include whether customers can expect full refunds, partial refunds, or store credit as options, helping to manage expectations effectively. It’s important to indicate if proof of purchase, such as a receipt, is required and clarify any documentation needed for processing returns. Providing a clear timeline for how long customers have to initiate returns and how quickly refunds will be processed improves transparency. Furthermore, mentioning any exclusions, such as non-returnable items, can prevent misunderstandings. Using a refund policy template can guide you in creating a thorough return and refund policy example that meets customer needs and protects your business interests. Eligibility Criteria for Returns When considering a return, it’s vital to understand the eligibility criteria that apply. You’ll need to make certain that items are unused, in their original condition, and include all packaging for a successful return. Furthermore, be aware of any time frame limitations and specific exclusions, such as sale items or certain categories that aren’t eligible for return at all. Condition of Items To be eligible for a return, items must be unused and in their original condition, ensuring they can be resold or reused. This is essential for any return policy on clothes, as it maintains product integrity. Original packaging is typically required, as it protects the item during transit and preserves its resale value. Certain products, like opened personal care items or custom-made goods, may not qualify for returns because of hygiene regulations or specific safety concerns. Furthermore, you’ll need proof of purchase, such as a receipt or order confirmation, to process returns effectively. When drafting your product return policy template, be clear about these conditions to avoid confusion and improve customer satisfaction, referencing a return and refund policy sample for guidance. Time Frame Limitations Establishing a clear return window is vital for your return policy, as it sets expectations for customers regarding when they can initiate a return. A standard practice is to implement a 30-day return policy, starting from the date of purchase or delivery. During this period, customers can return eligible items, provided they’re unused and in original condition with all packaging intact. It’s important to specify that certain items, like sale or clearance products, may not be eligible for returns, ensuring transparency. Moreover, customers must present a receipt or proof of purchase within this timeframe to facilitate the return process. Communicating any limitations, such as issues with damaged or missing parts, further clarifies your return policy for online purchases. Exclusions and Exceptions Even though many items are eligible for return, certain exclusions and exceptions apply that you should be aware of. Under most return policies, items must be unused and in their original condition, including packaging. Personal care products, undergarments, and custom-made goods typically fall under no refund policy because of hygiene and safety regulations. Furthermore, sale items often aren’t eligible for refunds or exchanges, so it’s vital to clarify this in your return policy. You’ll likewise need to provide a receipt or proof of purchase to initiate any return. If items are damaged or missing parts upon return, they may be deemed ineligible for refunds, highlighting the significance of maintaining product integrity throughout the return process. Time Frame for Returns When considering a return, it is crucial to be aware of the specific time frame allowed for initiating the process. A well-defined return policy can greatly impact customer satisfaction. Typically, you’ll find that most online return policies permit returns within 30 days of delivery, even though some businesses extend this to 60 or even 90 days. Here’s a quick reference table for typical return time frames: Time Frame Common Practices 14 Days Standard for many retailers 30 Days Commonly used by most businesses 60 Days Customer-friendly extension 90 Days Rare, but improves satisfaction Clearly communicating the time frame in your return refund policy template helps set expectations and minimizes confusion. It is advisable to display this information prominently on your website and in purchase confirmations to make sure your customers are informed before completing their transactions. Required Documentation Returning items typically requires specific documentation to guarantee the process goes smoothly. A well-structured return policy template should clearly state that customers need to provide a receipt or proof of purchase to initiate a return or refund. This validates claims are legitimate and traceable. Although some businesses may allow exchanges without a receipt, having clear documentation is essential to streamline the return exchange policy and maintain inventory accuracy. In your product return policy sample, specify acceptable formats for documentation, such as email confirmations or order numbers. This clarity helps prevent fraudulent claims and facilitates faster processing of returns and refunds. Return Process Steps To start the return process, you’ll first need to submit a return request, usually by contacting customer support for authorization. After your return is approved, the item will undergo an inspection to verify it meets the eligibility criteria. Once everything checks out, you can expect your refund to be processed within a week after the returned item arrives back at our facility. Return Request Submission How can you guarantee a smooth return process? Start by following your online store return policy. First, contact customer service via email or phone to initiate your return request. They’ll guide you through the necessary steps and may provide a return authorization number, which is crucial for processing. Confirm the product is in original condition, securely packaged, and includes all original documentation. Depending on your product refund policy, you might receive a return shipping label, or you may need to cover the shipping costs yourself. After sending the item, you’ll receive an email notification regarding the approval or rejection of your return, outlining the next steps in the refund process. Item Inspection Procedure Once you’ve notified the business of your intent to return an item, the next step involves an inspection process to verify if the returned product meets the eligibility criteria outlined in the return policy. This item inspection procedure is essential in ensuring that returns are handled effectively. Here’s what you can expect: Condition Check: The item must be unused and in its original packaging. Documentation Review: Proof of purchase should accompany the return. Acknowledgment: You’ll receive a confirmation email upon receipt of the item. Decision Notification: If approved, expect your refund within 7-14 business days; if not, you’ll be informed of the rejection and options available under the ecommerce return policy. Refund Processing Timeline The refund processing timeline begins after the seller receives and inspects the returned item, which typically takes up to 7 business days. Once the inspection is complete, you’ll receive an email notifying you of your refund approval or rejection within a few days. If approved, the refund will be processed back to your original payment method within 3 to 5 business days, depending on your Bank of America or credit card company. If there are delays, you should follow up with customer service to track your refund status. It’s important to note that some policies may include a refund policy no refunds clause, so always consult the refund or exchange policy in your ecommerce return policy template to understand your rights clearly. Refund Information When considering a refund, it’s important to understand the specific criteria and processes involved. Clear refund information is essential for your store return policy and can improve customer satisfaction. Here are key points to remember: Processing Time: Refunds are typically processed within 7 to 14 business days after receipt and inspection of the returned item. Eligibility Criteria: Items must be unused, in original condition, and accompanied by a receipt or proof of purchase for a refund. Types of Refunds: You may offer full refunds, partial refunds for opened items, or store credit for returns outside the standard policy. Deductions: Be transparent about any deductions, such as shipping costs or restocking fees, to set clear expectations. Exchange Policy Details Comprehending the exchange policy is important for ensuring a smooth process if you receive a defective or damaged item. Your exchange policy details need to be precise, stating that only defective or damaged items qualify for an exchange. To initiate the process, customers must email your designated contact, which helps keep communication organized. Specify the address where items should be sent for exchanges to prevent any confusion. It’s essential to clarify that exchanges will only be for the same item, ensuring customers know they can’t swap for different products. Furthermore, emphasize that items not meeting these criteria—such as those that are used or lack original packaging—will not be eligible for an exchange. This clarity helps maintain a consistent retail return policy and can be effectively included in your store policy template, ensuring customers understand the rules and procedures for exchanges. Shipping and Handling Fees Grasping shipping and handling fees is crucial for maneuvering the return process effectively. Your shipping and return policy should be transparent about these costs to avoid confusion. Here are four key points to include: Return Shipping Costs: Clearly state whether customers are responsible for paying return shipping fees. This impacts their decision to return an item. Non-refundable Shipping Fees: Indicate if shipping fees are non-refundable, meaning they’ll be deducted from any approved refund amount. Restocking Fees: Mention any applicable restocking fees, detailing the conditions under which these charges will apply. Exchange Shipping Costs: Clarify if customers will need to pay for shipping on replacement items during exchanges. Frequently Asked Questions What to Include in a Return Policy? To create an effective return policy, start by specifying the eligibility criteria for returns, like requiring items to be unused and in original packaging. Clearly define the return window, typically around 30 days. Outline the refund process, including how customers will be notified and the expected timeline for refunds. Don’t forget to mention any non-returnable items and provide detailed instructions on how customers can initiate a return. What’s the Big 5 Return Policy? The Big 5 Return Policy includes crucial components that guarantee a smooth return experience for customers. It typically outlines eligibility criteria, stating items must be unused and in original condition within a specified timeframe, often 30 days. It details the return process, including required documentation like receipts, and clarifies refund timelines. Furthermore, it specifies non-returnable items and who covers return shipping costs, which improves transparency and builds customer trust. How Do You Write a Simple Return Policy? To write a simple return policy, start by stating the timeframe for returns, typically 30 days from purchase. Specify eligibility criteria, such as items needing to be unused and in original packaging. Provide clear instructions on how customers can initiate returns, like contacting support or filling out a form. Mention any exclusions, like sale items or personal care products, and outline the refund process, including who covers return shipping costs. What Is an Example of a Return Policy? A return policy example might allow returns within 30 days of purchase, requiring items to be unused and in original condition. You’ll need to provide the receipt for processing returns. The policy should specify that refunds are issued to the original payment method, with notifications sent upon approval or rejection. Furthermore, clarify which items are non-returnable, such as personal care products or sale items, to set proper expectations for customers. Conclusion In conclusion, a well-crafted return policy template is vital for any business. It should clearly outline eligibility criteria, time frames, and required documentation to streamline the return process. Furthermore, detailing refund options, exchange policies, and shipping fees guarantees transparency for customers. By incorporating these elements, you create a clear framework that not just protects your business but also improves customer trust and satisfaction. An all-encompassing return policy eventually promotes a positive shopping experience for everyone involved. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What to Include in a Return Policy Template?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple users tend to collect chargers: one for the iPhone, one for the Apple Watch, maybe another for AirPods. The Anker MagSafe MagGo UFO 3-in-1 15W Qi2 Wireless Charging Pad is built to replace that pile with a single foldable stand. It’s currently $39.99 on Woot, down from $89.99, with three days left on the deal or until it sells out. The same charger is selling for $76.99 on Amazon, and price trackers show it has dipped to $55.99 in the past, but not this low. Prime members get free standard shipping, while others pay $6. The box includes the charging pad, a 40W wall adapter, and a 5-foot USB-C to USB-C cable, and this wireless charger comes with a two-year Anker limited warranty. Anker MagSafe MagGo UFO 3-in-1 15W Qi2 Wireless Compact Foldable Travel Charging Pad $39.99 at Woot $89.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $39.99 at Woot $89.99 Save $50.00 This is a Qi2-certified three-in-one wireless charger, designed mainly for Apple gear. It can charge an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and a pair of AirPods at the same time. The main magnetic pad delivers up to 15W to compatible iPhones, including the iPhone 15 lineup, which is double the speed of older 7.5W MagSafe chargers. Anker says it can bring an iPhone 15 Pro to 20% in about 15 minutes. The Apple Watch charger also supports fast charging, getting a Series 9 to around 30% in 22 minutes. In everyday use, that means you can top off your phone and watch while you shower or get ready for work and leave with a noticeable boost. Part of the appeal is the design: It folds down to roughly the size of a baseball, making it easy to toss in a bag for travel. Open it up, and it works as a small stand that supports Apple’s StandBy mode in landscape, so your iPhone can double as a bedside clock or widget display. This is not a universal solution for Android users—it's best suited to someone already invested in the Apple ecosystem. At $39.99 with the power adapter included, it is a practical upgrade for an Apple-heavy setup at home or on the road. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $157.90 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $329.00 (List Price $349.00) Google Pixel 10a 128GB 6.3" Unlocked Smartphone + $100 Gift Card — $499.00 (List Price $599.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base — $299.99 (List Price $599.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Gray) — $379.99 (List Price $499.99) Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 (List Price $119.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Competitive credit could offer nine-figure cost benefits, according to a study VantageScore cited. Meanwhile, FICO added a tool to help borrowers qualify. View the full article

A social media content calendar template is a structured framework that helps you plan and manage your online content effectively. It includes crucial details like publication dates, content types, and post titles, ensuring that your messaging aligns with marketing objectives. By organizing your content in this way, you can improve team collaboration and maintain a consistent brand voice. Comprehending how to create and utilize this tool can greatly impact your social media strategy moving forward. Key Takeaways A social media content calendar template organizes and strategizes your online presence for upcoming posts across various platforms. It specifies essential details like publication dates, content types, links, and media to streamline posting. The template helps maintain consistent posting aligned with your marketing goals and brand voice. It enhances collaboration among team members and ensures quality control, avoiding last-minute rushes. By using a content calendar, you can make data-driven decisions for future content strategies and engagement tracking. Definition and Purpose of a Social Media Content Calendar Template A social media content calendar template serves as a vital tool for organizing and strategizing your online presence. This template helps you outline upcoming posts across various platforms, specifying publish dates, content types, and important details like links and media. By utilizing a social media content calendar template, you can plan and schedule content effectively, ensuring consistent posting that aligns with your marketing goals. This consistency improves your brand’s visibility. In addition, these templates save time and boost collaboration among team members, providing a clear overview of content across multiple channels. Many templates likewise include features for tracking performance and managing approval workflows, allowing you to optimize your social media campaigns based on audience engagement and performance metrics. Key Components of an Effective Content Calendar Creating a well-structured content calendar involves several key components that contribute to its effectiveness. A solid calendar template should include: Content Types: Specify the formats, like images or videos, to diversify your posts. Post Titles and Links: Clearly define what you’re sharing and where to find it for easy reference. Publication Dates: Schedule when each piece will go live to maintain consistency. Target Audience: Identify demographics to tailor your content for better engagement. Additionally, include sections for content approvals, notes for team collaboration, and metrics for tracking performance. These elements guarantee a cohesive strategy, streamline communication, and allow for data-driven adjustments, optimizing your overall effectiveness. Benefits of Using a Social Media Content Calendar Using a social media content calendar brings numerous benefits that can greatly improve your marketing efforts. It streamlines the planning process, allowing you to organize posts by publish date, platform, and content type, enhancing overall efficiency. By maintaining a consistent posting schedule, your content aligns with your brand voice and marketing goals, leading to improved audience engagement. A customizable calendar app for personal use facilitates better cross-functional collaboration, providing visibility into upcoming posts and responsibilities. Proactive scheduling guarantees quality control, protecting your brand reputation by avoiding last-minute rushes. Furthermore, a well-structured content calendar supports data-driven decision-making, enabling you to analyze past performance and optimize future content strategies based on audience engagement metrics. How to Create Your Own Content Calendar To effectively manage your social media presence, begin by downloading a customizable content calendar template that suits your business needs. A calendar program free can be a great starting point. Follow these steps to create your own content calendar: Enter crucial details like post titles, content types, links, images, and intended publish dates. Adjust the template’s columns to align with your marketing goals and planning across multiple platforms. Utilize the content repository feature to track previously created content for easy reuse. Schedule posts in advance to maintain a consistent posting cadence, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with your overall marketing objectives. Popular Social Media Calendar Templates to Consider When managing your social media strategy, selecting the right content calendar template can make a significant difference in your planning and execution. Some popular options include HubSpot’s Social Media Content Calendar, which allows for extensive posting strategies across various platforms and can be customized to fit your needs. HootSuite offers a Google Sheet format with an evergreen content library, helping you avoid last-minute scrambles. CoSchedule provides a centralized view of marketing activities, enhancing collaboration. Smartsheet‘s template supports detailed daily breakdowns for six posts, including engagement tracking. Finally, Buffer‘s user-friendly calendar integrates with multiple platforms, offering visual planning and performance analytics. These templates can inspire your social media content calendar ideas and streamline your workflow. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Social Media Content Calendar? A social media content calendar is a strategic tool that helps you plan and organize upcoming posts across various platforms. It details publish dates, content types, and media assets, allowing for a consistent posting schedule. By using a calendar, you can guarantee your content aligns with marketing objectives and brand voice, whilst additionally improving team collaboration. This approach saves time, reduces last-minute scrambles, and helps you track performance metrics for better engagement analysis. How Do You Create a Social Media Content Calendar? To create a social media content calendar, start by selecting a template that fits your needs. Customize it by adding columns for content types, post titles, links, and publish dates. Schedule your posts in advance, aligning them with your marketing goals. Track performance using engagement metrics to refine your strategy. Finally, share the calendar with your team to guarantee everyone stays informed and aligned, enhancing collaboration and efficiency in your content planning. What Is a Content Calendar Template? A content calendar template is a structured tool that helps you plan and manage your content across different platforms. It outlines when and what to post, including fields for titles, links, and images. By using this template, you can maintain a consistent posting schedule and prioritize quality content. You can customize it to fit your specific needs, ensuring that your content strategy aligns with your overall business goals as you improve audience engagement. What Is Social Media Content Scheduling? Social media content scheduling involves planning and organizing your posts ahead of time across different platforms. By scheduling, you can identify the best times to post based on when your audience engages most. This practice improves visibility and interaction rates as well as streamlining your workflow, reducing last-minute content creation. It furthermore helps maintain brand consistency and allows for content review, leading to better overall management of your social media presence. Conclusion In conclusion, a social media content calendar template is a crucial tool for organizing and scheduling your online presence. By incorporating key components like publication dates and content types, you can improve collaboration and maintain brand consistency. Utilizing this tool not merely streamlines your content strategy but likewise enables data-driven decision-making for future posts. Whether you create your own or choose from popular templates, implementing a content calendar can greatly enhance your social media effectiveness. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Social Media Content Calendar Template?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A social media content calendar template is a structured framework that helps you plan and manage your online content effectively. It includes crucial details like publication dates, content types, and post titles, ensuring that your messaging aligns with marketing objectives. By organizing your content in this way, you can improve team collaboration and maintain a consistent brand voice. Comprehending how to create and utilize this tool can greatly impact your social media strategy moving forward. Key Takeaways A social media content calendar template organizes and strategizes your online presence for upcoming posts across various platforms. It specifies essential details like publication dates, content types, links, and media to streamline posting. The template helps maintain consistent posting aligned with your marketing goals and brand voice. It enhances collaboration among team members and ensures quality control, avoiding last-minute rushes. By using a content calendar, you can make data-driven decisions for future content strategies and engagement tracking. Definition and Purpose of a Social Media Content Calendar Template A social media content calendar template serves as a vital tool for organizing and strategizing your online presence. This template helps you outline upcoming posts across various platforms, specifying publish dates, content types, and important details like links and media. By utilizing a social media content calendar template, you can plan and schedule content effectively, ensuring consistent posting that aligns with your marketing goals. This consistency improves your brand’s visibility. In addition, these templates save time and boost collaboration among team members, providing a clear overview of content across multiple channels. Many templates likewise include features for tracking performance and managing approval workflows, allowing you to optimize your social media campaigns based on audience engagement and performance metrics. Key Components of an Effective Content Calendar Creating a well-structured content calendar involves several key components that contribute to its effectiveness. A solid calendar template should include: Content Types: Specify the formats, like images or videos, to diversify your posts. Post Titles and Links: Clearly define what you’re sharing and where to find it for easy reference. Publication Dates: Schedule when each piece will go live to maintain consistency. Target Audience: Identify demographics to tailor your content for better engagement. Additionally, include sections for content approvals, notes for team collaboration, and metrics for tracking performance. These elements guarantee a cohesive strategy, streamline communication, and allow for data-driven adjustments, optimizing your overall effectiveness. Benefits of Using a Social Media Content Calendar Using a social media content calendar brings numerous benefits that can greatly improve your marketing efforts. It streamlines the planning process, allowing you to organize posts by publish date, platform, and content type, enhancing overall efficiency. By maintaining a consistent posting schedule, your content aligns with your brand voice and marketing goals, leading to improved audience engagement. A customizable calendar app for personal use facilitates better cross-functional collaboration, providing visibility into upcoming posts and responsibilities. Proactive scheduling guarantees quality control, protecting your brand reputation by avoiding last-minute rushes. Furthermore, a well-structured content calendar supports data-driven decision-making, enabling you to analyze past performance and optimize future content strategies based on audience engagement metrics. How to Create Your Own Content Calendar To effectively manage your social media presence, begin by downloading a customizable content calendar template that suits your business needs. A calendar program free can be a great starting point. Follow these steps to create your own content calendar: Enter crucial details like post titles, content types, links, images, and intended publish dates. Adjust the template’s columns to align with your marketing goals and planning across multiple platforms. Utilize the content repository feature to track previously created content for easy reuse. Schedule posts in advance to maintain a consistent posting cadence, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with your overall marketing objectives. Popular Social Media Calendar Templates to Consider When managing your social media strategy, selecting the right content calendar template can make a significant difference in your planning and execution. Some popular options include HubSpot’s Social Media Content Calendar, which allows for extensive posting strategies across various platforms and can be customized to fit your needs. HootSuite offers a Google Sheet format with an evergreen content library, helping you avoid last-minute scrambles. CoSchedule provides a centralized view of marketing activities, enhancing collaboration. Smartsheet‘s template supports detailed daily breakdowns for six posts, including engagement tracking. Finally, Buffer‘s user-friendly calendar integrates with multiple platforms, offering visual planning and performance analytics. These templates can inspire your social media content calendar ideas and streamline your workflow. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Social Media Content Calendar? A social media content calendar is a strategic tool that helps you plan and organize upcoming posts across various platforms. It details publish dates, content types, and media assets, allowing for a consistent posting schedule. By using a calendar, you can guarantee your content aligns with marketing objectives and brand voice, whilst additionally improving team collaboration. This approach saves time, reduces last-minute scrambles, and helps you track performance metrics for better engagement analysis. How Do You Create a Social Media Content Calendar? To create a social media content calendar, start by selecting a template that fits your needs. Customize it by adding columns for content types, post titles, links, and publish dates. Schedule your posts in advance, aligning them with your marketing goals. Track performance using engagement metrics to refine your strategy. Finally, share the calendar with your team to guarantee everyone stays informed and aligned, enhancing collaboration and efficiency in your content planning. What Is a Content Calendar Template? A content calendar template is a structured tool that helps you plan and manage your content across different platforms. It outlines when and what to post, including fields for titles, links, and images. By using this template, you can maintain a consistent posting schedule and prioritize quality content. You can customize it to fit your specific needs, ensuring that your content strategy aligns with your overall business goals as you improve audience engagement. What Is Social Media Content Scheduling? Social media content scheduling involves planning and organizing your posts ahead of time across different platforms. By scheduling, you can identify the best times to post based on when your audience engages most. This practice improves visibility and interaction rates as well as streamlining your workflow, reducing last-minute content creation. It furthermore helps maintain brand consistency and allows for content review, leading to better overall management of your social media presence. Conclusion In conclusion, a social media content calendar template is a crucial tool for organizing and scheduling your online presence. By incorporating key components like publication dates and content types, you can improve collaboration and maintain brand consistency. Utilizing this tool not merely streamlines your content strategy but likewise enables data-driven decision-making for future posts. Whether you create your own or choose from popular templates, implementing a content calendar can greatly enhance your social media effectiveness. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Social Media Content Calendar Template?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

AMC, the world’s largest movie theater chain and a one-time darling of meme stock traders, said this week that it expects to continue closing more movie theaters than it opens going forward. While the move is sure to disappoint cinephiles, AMC believes that shuttering certain cinemas will ultimately be better for the company’s bottom line. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming AMC theater closings. What’s happened? On Monday, AMC Entertainment Holdings reported its fourth-quarter 2025 financial results as well as its full-year 2025 results. It’s fair to say the company did not have a blockbuster quarter or year. For the company’s Q4 2025, which ended on December 31, AMC reported total revenue of $1.28 billion. That’s a drop of 1.4% from the $1.3 billion the company reported for the same quarter a year earlier. Fewer people are attending movies AMC said that both its global and international attendance figures were down. For Q4 2025, AMC’s total attendance equalled 56.3 million. That’s a drop of nearly 10% from the 62 million during the same period a year earlier. U.S. attendance was down less (about 7.5%) for the quarter than international attendance (down about 15%). However, for its full fiscal 2025, AMC did slightly better. Total full-year revenue was actually up about 4.6% to $4.84 billion. And its attendance figures, while still down across the board, didn’t fall as much as it did in the forth quarter. Still, the downward trend in attendance was obviously a blow to AMC, which relies on attracting foot traffic to its theaters so it can sell tickets and high-margin concessions. Attendance problems are not unique to the company. In recent years, movie theaters worldwide have struggled with declining foot traffic. The reasons most often cited for those declines include higher ticket prices, fewer films with mass-market appeal, and increasing competition from streaming services like Netflix, which stream original feature film content right into viewers’ homes. Declining foot traffic can turn some theater locations into a financial burden instead of a guranteed positive revenue source, so it was little surprise when, in addition to annoucning its financials, AMC revealed that in the years ahead it is planning to close more theaters than it opens. AMC reveals it will close more theaters than it opens AMC currently has about 860 theaters across the globe, making it the largest theater chain in the world. Yet on the company’s financial earnings call earlier this week, CFO Sean Goodman revealed that AMC will be closing “underperforming locations” in the future—something the chain has already been doing for some time. The CFO further revealed that since 2020, AMC had already closed 213 locations, while opening just 65 new ones during the same timeframe. Which AMC movie theaters are closing? The company did not provide a list of theaters that it plans to close, but local media outlets have reported numerous closures in their respective communities over the last year. AMC location closures in 2025 have included: An Alabama location in March A Kansas location in April A Georgia location in August Three Illinois locations in August A Colorado location in September A Buffalo, New York, location in December “The ongoing reshaping of our footprint reflects our commitment to improve asset productivity, expand margins, and position AMC for sustainable long-term growth,” Goodman said on the company’s financial call, according to a PitchBook transcript. When asked about the company’s portfolio footprint by an analyst, Goodman said that about 10% of the chain’s theaters come up for lease renewal each year, and those renewals give AMC the opportunity to renegotiate leases or shutter the locations. “Like most organizations or companies with a retail footprint, our theaters are a kind of normal distribution and there is a tale of underperforming or loss-making theaters,” he said. “And we see an opportunity to close those theaters or renegotiate leases and then take on new theaters that are significantly, very significantly, more profitable.” He added that investors can expect a similar pace going forward and that the company will be “closing more theaters than we open, but the new ones that we open are generating significantly more profit than the ones that we close.” AMC stock price has been getting hammered Since announcing its latest quarterly results on Monday, shares of AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) have been relatively flat. The stock price currently sits at around $1.16 a share in premarket trading as of the time of this writing. That’s only a fraction of what the company’s shares were once worth during its heyday as a meme-stock darling in the early pandemic years. During that time, meme stock traders on Reddit poured money into buying AMC shares, driving the price to almost $650 per share in June of 2021. Today’s share price of around $1.16 represents a more than 99% decline from AMC’s nearly $650 high. View the full article

The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped 8 basis points to 6.09% in the week ended Feb. 20, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. View the full article

Social media’s next chapter moves beyond feeds and platforms toward decision-making moments powered by behavior, trust, and machine interpretation. The post New Platforms Won’t Save Social Media: Here’s What’s Actually Shifting appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Paid advertising on social media can be incredibly powerful if you're battling to reach the right audience — especially when you need to tap into very specific demographics. Which is where Facebook really shines. With over 3 billion monthly active users, it's no surprise that Facebook is the go-to social media platform for running ads. The Facebook algorithm can be tricky to figure out, especially when you're just starting out as a small business owner, creator, or social media manager. That's where Facebook advertising comes in — it helps you reach your audience more reliably. That's why, when it comes to social media strategy, understanding how to advertise on Facebook can be such a valuable skill to have in your social media toolkit. Key takeawaysMassive reach: Facebook offers access to over 3 billion monthly active users across Facebook and Instagram.Precision targeting: Advertisers can target users based on specific demographics, behaviors, and life events, or use Meta Advantage+ AI for automated targeting.Centralized management: All campaigns are managed through Meta Ads Manager, requiring a verified payment method and a Facebook Page.Flexible budgeting: You can set daily or lifetime budgets.Real-time tracking: Use the Meta Pixel to track website conversions and adjust campaigns based on live performance data.💡Schedule your Facebook posts and save time with Buffer: Plan, schedule, and analyze your posts to Facebook Pages and Groups with Buffer's Facebook scheduling and analytics tools. Jump to a section: Why advertise on Facebook? Define your advertising goals before you start How to advertise on Facebook How much does it cost to create a Facebook ad? Get strategic with your Facebook ads FAQ about advertising on Facebook More Facebook resources Why advertise on Facebook?If you want precision, scale, and measurable results, Facebook advertising delivers on all three. Target customers accuratelyFacebook has tons of user data, and the good news is, you can tap into it when targeting your audience. When creating a Facebook Ad, you can get specific with demographics about Facebook users like gender, location, and age. Where Facebook differentiates itself from other platforms with ads, though, is through lifestyle-based targeting options, like: InterestsBehaviors (like recent purchases)Education and job historyIncomePolitical affiliationMajor life eventsSpoken languagesWant to let AI handle the heavy lifting? Meta's Meta Advantage+ features (released in 2023) learn from your ad performance in real time. According to Meta, this will help to "maximize the performance benefits of AI in your ad campaigns and maximize the value of each ad impression." Get powerful resultsLearning how to run Facebook ads is easy once you've mastered Meta Ads Manager — and results tend to happen quickly. Facebook's global advertising revenue reached $156.8 billion in 2025, and the average Facebook ad now reaches 2,417 users per $10 spent — a 5% increase in reach efficiency year-over-year. According to Wordstream, the paid ad channels with the highest reported ROI rate are Facebook ads and Google ads. Reach billions across Facebook and InstagramBecause Meta owns both Facebook and Instagram, their platforms are easily integrated. This means that ads can be run simultaneously on both platforms, giving you access to even more social users, even if you aren't active on Instagram. 📈Looking to grow on Facebook? Here are 10 tried-and-true tactics to get more followers. Track ad performance in real-timeWhile Meta got rid of its full Facebook Analytics platform in 2021, it still has excellent resources for understanding ad performance, including reach, engagement, conversions, and more metrics. This data is updated in real-time, so you can adjust your campaigns based on performance. Another significant benefit of Facebook's current analytics is the ability to add the Meta Pixel to your website. Most content management platforms allow you to easily add this piece of code to your website and track the effectiveness of your Facebook ads. You can monitor user behavior and create specific target audiences for future Facebook advertising campaigns. Define your advertising goals before you startBefore you dive in, it helps to think about why you're advertising and what you're hoping to achieve. By determining your measure of success ahead of going live with ads, you'll be able to decide which ad objective is best for your needs. For example, if you want to increase your mobile app's downloads through Facebook ads, your success metric could be 100 downloads in the first month. If it’s lead generation you’re after, success could be measured by a larger email list. You should think about your reason for advertising before you create a campaign. How to advertise on FacebookAll of Facebook's ad campaigns run through the Meta Ads Manager tool, so learning how to run ads on Facebook means getting to grips with it. The good news is that once you get the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward to use. We’ll walk you through everything in this step-by-step guide to how to advertise on Facebook. Getting started with Meta Ads ManagerWhen you sign up for Facebook, you're given a personal ad account ID by default. You can see this ID by going to Ads Manager and looking in the upper left-hand corner. To use Meta Ads Manager, you need a verified payment method and: A Facebook Page orTo be an admin, editor, or advertiser on someone else's pageIf you do not have a page for your business, you can follow Facebook's steps to set one up. Any page you create will be automatically given an ad account. If there is a page you wish to advertise for created by someone else, you need to ask the page admin to assign you an admin, editor, or advertiser role on the page. If you already have an existing ad account for your page but want to create a new one, you'll need a Business Manager account. You can create a new ad account once you sign up for Business Manager. We'll walk through the desktop version here, but don't worry — we'll cover mobile options later in this guide. Here's a time-saver: bookmark this direct link to Meta Ads Manager so you can jump right in whenever you need it. You will be brought directly into the Meta Ads Manager for your personal ad account. If you manage multiple ad accounts, use the account drop-down menu to pick the right account. To navigate to Ads Manager right from your business page, head to the left sidebar and click on the Ad Center drop-down arrow of any Facebook Page, then choose All Ads from the drop-down. At the bottom of that page is an option to click Ads Manager. Click on Facebook's Ads Manager to get started. You will be brought to your Facebook Ad Accounts page, where there will be a quick overview of your ad account(s). If you have access to more than one ad account, select the account where you wish to run ads. If you'd rather use a mobile device, a Meta Ads Manager app is available for Apple and Android. How to create a Facebook adLet's walk through how to create your first Facebook ad, step-by-step. We'll use the latest version of Meta Ads Manager. 1. Create adClick the green Create Ad button to get started with your first ad. Meta will take you to a page where you will be prompted to choose a buying type and campaign objective. 2. Choose your buying type Meta's ads have two different buying types: Auction and Reservation (formerly Reach and Frequency). Here's Meta's explainer for both: Auction: Offers more choice, efficiency, and flexibility, with less predictable results. Ads can be placed across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Meta Audience Network. Reservation: Lets you plan and buy your campaigns in advance, with predictable performance goals and more control over your frequency controls. Ads can be placed on Facebook and Instagram. The key differences between the two lie in your campaign setup and campaign objectives. For example, an Auction ad allows for various campaign objectives, while Reservation only has two: awareness and engagement. Not sure which one to pick? Meta's guidance here can help you figure out what works best for your needs. 3. Choose your campaign objectiveMeta and Facebook let you set up your ads with your ultimate goal in mind. There are six you can choose from: Awareness: Your ad will be shown to people most likely to remember them. According to Meta, this goal type is good for reach, brand awareness, video views, and store location awareness. Traffic: This ad type will send people to a specific destination, like your website, an event, or a download link. It's best for link clicks, landing page views, and calls. Engagement: This ad type will make you more likely to receive messages, in-app purchases, likes, and comments. It's also great for video views, conversions, and calls. Leads: Your ad may help you collect info from potential customers. It's good for forms, conversions, and calls. App promotion: Get more users for your app or encourage current users to keep using it. Sales: Find people who are likely to buy your product or service. This route is obviously great for conversions and in-app sales. 4. Pick a name for your ad campaignOnce you've selected your marketing objective, you'll be asked to name your campaign. Be sure to make your campaign name recognizable to everyone working on the ads. 5. Declare your ad categoryDifferent regions have different advertising rules, particularly when it comes to categories like credit, employment, housing, social issues, elections, or politics. If your ad falls into one of these buckets, it's worthwhile declaring it here to ensure it remains compliant with Facebook's and various countries' advertising standards. 6. Decide whether to turn on A/B testingAt this point in the process, you'll be able to turn on the A/B test feature, where you can try out different images, text, audiences, or placements to maximize your ad performance. The full setup for this will come later in the process — this toggle just turns it on. 7. Decide whether to use Advantage+ campaign budgetThis feature, only available if you choose the Auction buying option, means Facebook will automatically find the best available opportunities for results across your ad sets and distribute your campaign budget in real time to get those results. Advantage+ campaign budget (formerly called campaign budget optimization) is best suited for campaigns with at least two ad sets. 8. Set your performance goalFacebook now allows you to get super specific about the ultimate goals of your ad. Each campaign goal mentioned in step 3 has a separate set of specific targets — for example, Awareness has everything from the broader 'Maximize reach' to the hyper-specific 'Maximize two-second continuous video views.' If you're new to Facebook ads, it's worth trialing the broader options before zeroing in on specific targets that lend themselves to your goals and the content you share. 9. Define your ad spend and scheduleWhen you set an ad budget, it's important to remember that this figure represents the maximum amount of money you want to spend. You can set your budget per day or as a total amount for the campaign. Daily: A daily budget sets a limit on what you spend each day on your ads. Facebook will use your set criteria to find the right place and time to show your ad to your target audience. Once your budget is reached, the ads stop running for the day. The cycle starts again on the next day.Lifetime: A lifetime budget is the maximum you'll spend the entire time you run your ad campaign. You give Facebook a number and an end date, and it will spend the money based on ad performance. Once your budget is reached, the campaign ends.Hit the Next button to go to the next part of the setup. 10. Customize your target audienceMeta recently made some changes to its audience customization settings in Ads Manager, which is why things may look a little different nowadays if you're a regular user. Previously, marketers could zero in on everything from location to behavior and interests; now, you can choose only three options: location, age, and language. But if you want to get more specific than that, fear not: the new Meta Advantage+ audience feature does all the ad targeting for you. Here's how it works: "Meta’s AI uses numerous pieces of information to find your audience, evolving constantly as it learns. For example: Past conversionsMeta Pixel dataInteractions with previous adsOur latest model innovations analyze millions of signals to find the right message, for the right audience, at the right time." Good news for the Meta Ads Manager veterans who know their target audiences inside out and want to reach them. As you can see, your custom audiences are still available in the ad creation wizard, and you can even switch back to the original audience options. 11. Choose your ad placementsAd placement defines where your ad appears for your target audience. Meta has made similar changes to its placement tools, with the AI-powered Advantage+ placements to help maximize your ad reach. However, you can still decide on ad placement yourself by selecting the Manual placements option in the screenshots above. When you do, you'll see the options below become available to you: There are several options across the Meta suite of social platforms: Feeds: Get high visibility for your business with ads in feeds.Stories, status, and reels: Tell a rich, visual story with immersive, full-screen vertical adsIn-stream: Quickly capture people's attention while they're watching videos.Search results: Get visibility for your business as people search.Messages: Send offers or updates to people already connected to your business.Apps and sites: Expand your reach with ads in external apps and websitesFor more, check out Facebook's guide to ad placement. 12. Choose your social accountsIn the next window, you can choose which Meta social media profiles you want the ads to run on. 13. Choose your ad formatUnder Ad setup, you'll be able to create a new ad, use an existing post, or use any mock-ups you have in Meta's Creative Hub. Once you've made that selection, choose whether your ad will feature a single image or video, a carousel (multi-image or video post), or a collection (a group of products that becomes a full-screen experience on mobile). 14. Add your media and copyNow comes the fun part: adding your images and videos. Upload your photos or clips — carousel ads, video ads, they’re all created right here. In this area, you can also switch up the ad copy and ad creative you use in each section of the Meta apps, if you want to tailor the experience for each platform. Lower down in this section, you can choose music for the formats where this is applicable (check out our article on trending Instagram audio to help guide your choice!) You'll also be able to add your ad copy with the various text options in this section — don't forget to include an applicable call-to-action (CTA). 15. Choose your destination As you'll have come to expect by now, you'll have a host of interesting options to play with when it comes to your ad destination — where Facebook sends people when they click on your ad. There's Instant Experience (formerly Canvas) — a fast-loading, mobile-optimized experience. These offer a way for Facebook to keep your audience in their app. In other words, they're a simple, dynamic landing page, form, or lookbook you can create with Facebook. Of course, you can also choose your website link and even add your own UTM tracking parameter. On top of that, you can send people directly to your inbox in Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp. 16. Publish your adTo submit your ad, click the 'Publish' button at the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Once your ad is submitted, Facebook will hold your post so they can review it to make sure it fits it specs and doesn't violate their community guidelines. Expect it to be reviewed within 24 hours. You'll receive a confirmation email from Facebook once the ad is live. How much does it cost to create a Facebook ad?Here's the simple answer: you'll only pay what you want to spend. (Though the specifics can get a bit more nuanced.) The budget you set in step 9 above is what you'll spend on the ad — however, the mileage you get from that spend can vary quite a lot. According to data from Wordstream, the average cost per click (CPC) on Facebook ads across all industries is $0.70 for traffic campaigns, and $1.92 for lead campaigns, compared to $5.26 in Google Ads. CPC varies significantly by industry. Here is a breakdown of the highest and lowest average costs: Business category Traffic campaigns – average CPC Leads campaigns – average CPC Arts and entertainment $0.49 $1.08 Attorneys and legal services $0.86 $4.10 Beauty and personal care $0.74 $3.06 Education and instruction $0.86 $1.65 Furniture $0.85 $2.18 Health and fitness $0.80 $2.64 Home and home improvement $0.99 $2.23 Industrial and commercial $0.86 $1.80 Personal services $1.00 $2.08 Physicians and surgeons $0.82 $2.23 Real estate $0.91 $1.57 Restaurants and food $0.72 $0.74 Sports and recreation $0.41 $1.07 Get strategic with your Facebook adsNow that you've nailed the basics of creating a Facebook ad, you can start experimenting to see what works best for your audience. For each step above, pausing and thinking back to your goals is helpful. Make sure everything you define and create aligns with your own measure of success. Not sure what your audience wants to see? That's totally normal, and Facebook has tools to help you figure it out. Facebook has plenty of tools for A/B split testing, so you can compare ads side by side to find out what works. From there, keep an eye on how your ads perform and don't be afraid to experiment. The data will show you what's working — and what might need a tweak. FAQ about advertising on Facebook How much does it cost to advertise on Facebook?Facebook ads work on a flexible budget. You can set a daily or lifetime budget and only spend what you’re comfortable with. On average, cost per click (CPC) varies by industry, but many traffic campaigns fall under $1 per click. Your total cost depends on your audience, competition, and goals. Is $5 a day enough for Facebook ads?Yes, $5 a day is enough to test a campaign. While it may not deliver massive reach, it can help you gather early data, test creatives, and see how your audience responds. Start small, measure results, and increase your budget once you know what’s working. Are Facebook ads worth it for small businesses?They can be — especially if you need predictable reach. Organic posts don’t always reach your full audience, but paid ads let you target specific people based on interests, behaviors, and demographics. What’s the difference between boosting a post and running a Facebook ad?Boosting a post is a simplified way to promote existing content directly from your Facebook Page. Running a Facebook ad through Meta Ads Manager gives you more advanced targeting, budget control, placements, and performance tracking. How long does it take for Facebook ads to work?Most ads start delivering impressions within hours, but meaningful performance data typically takes a few days. Facebook’s system also goes through a learning phase, where it tests your ad with different users. For best results, allow at least 3–7 days before making major changes. Do I need a business page to run Facebook ads?Yes. To run ads through Meta Ads Manager, you need a Facebook Page and a verified payment method. If you’re managing ads for someone else, you’ll need admin, editor, or advertiser access to their page. How do I target the right audience on Facebook?You can target by location, age, and language, and use tools like custom audiences or Meta Advantage+ audience to refine delivery. The key is to start with a clear idea of who your ideal customer is, then test and refine based on performance data. What is Meta Advantage+ in Facebook ads?Meta Advantage+ uses AI to optimize your audience targeting, placements, and budget distribution automatically. Instead of manually narrowing your audience, Advantage+ analyzes performance data in real time to find people most likely to complete your goal. How do I measure Facebook ad performance?Use Meta Ads Manager to track metrics like reach, clicks, conversions, and cost per result. For deeper tracking, install the Meta Pixel on your website to measure actions like purchases or sign-ups. Focus on metrics tied directly to your campaign goal. How long does Facebook take to approve ads?Most ads are reviewed within 24 hours. During this time, Facebook checks your ad for compliance with advertising policies and community standards. You’ll receive a notification once your ad is approved and live. More Facebook resourcesInside the Facebook Algorithm in 2026: All the Updates You Need toHow to Get More Followers on Facebook for Free in 2026: 10 Tried-and-What Is a Good Facebook Engagement Rate? Data From 52 Million+ Posts16 Facebook Statistics to Know for 2026Facebook Ad Specs + Image Sizes — Fully Updated for 2026How to Schedule Facebook Posts in 3 Easy Ways (+ Save Hours Every Week)View the full article