All Activity

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's single-family updates include some roof coverage options somewhat similar to what's used in one of their other divisions. View the full article

The nation’s capital is getting a new Situation Room this weekend. But rather than generals and high ranking officials, this D.C bar is for the people “monitoring the situation.” The bar’s premise is a play on the viral “monitoring the situation” meme, which refers to the seemingly heroic act of doing nothing but watching current events unfold by scrolling on social media, an act often associated with male users. The meme’s roots can be traced to one particular image of a muscular Jeff Bezos attentively looking into the horizon as he watched the Blue Origin mission. The viral post read “the masculine urge to monitor the situation,” leading the phrase to reach meme status. The prediction market giant shared renders of a sports bar on social media, with a blue screen facade featuring a world map and a logo that looks like the intersection between a government agency and an exclusive club for tech bros. “Imagine a sports bar… but just for situation monitoring — live X feeds, flight radar, Bloomberg terminals, and Polymarket screens,” Polymarket announced on X. Inside, the bar renderings show what looks to be a regular sports bar, with a wooden bar and leather seats. But instead of a sports game playing on TV, screens that wrap the walls are set to all types of news or current events tracking. According to images shared by the company, monogrammed stationary like matchboxes and napkins will be made available for guests. Fast Company reached out to Polymarket for details but did not receive a response at the time of publishing. Even before opening, social media users are already poking fun at the stunt. “They’re calling it the Worst First Date Option In DC History,” one user shared on X. “That place seems like hell on earth and I hate that I want to go so bad it’s like a train wreck I need to see happen,” another user said on Reddit. On Reddit’s Washington D.C. subreddit, residents are also talking about the stunt. “I see a lot of too-short navy suit pants and light-brown wingtips in the future here,” one shared. ” Another added, “Brain rot, but in public.” The Situation Room comes as the company’s latest recent publicity stunts. Last month, Polymarket opened a grocery store in downtown Manhattan stocked anything from olive oil to Cherrios. The twist? Everything offered in the pop up was free. The stunt came shortly after its competitor Kalshi pulled a similar campaign offerin $50 credit in a local market in New York with both campaigns teetering around a similar idea—free groceries, free markets. The publicity stunts not only injects humor but also help redirect attention away from the controversies around prediction markets, including allowing people to bet on events like the capturing of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Prediction markets have also been under fire with a series of ongoing litigations, including the Arizona’s attorney general accusing Kalshi of running an illegal gambling operation. Still, The Situation Room is set to open its doors as a neighbor to an administration that has continuously supported its existence. While specific details about the bar’s location or opening hours are still unknown, some users are excited for its arrival—even if that excitement comes with a side of irony. “I would rather not be staring at a screen, worrying about things that are completely out of control when im out drinking and hanging out with my friends,” one user said on X. “But I guess monitoring the situation with other people is better than monitoring the situation alone?” View the full article

A new case in front of labor regulators could answer a question many workers might have contemplated. Can your employer fire you for speaking out against the CEO? During a hearing this month, the National Labor Relations Board—the federal agency tasked with enforcing labor law—weighed in on a case involving software company Atlassian, which reportedly fired an engineer in 2023 for criticizing the CEO over a restructuring plan that led to job losses. The NLRB argued that Atlassian had illegally fired the employee, Bloomberg reported this week, after obtaining a transcript of the hearing through a Freedom of Information Act request. The employee in question, Denise Unterwurzacher, had been let go after a heated exchange over an announcement about a major “re-leveling” plan that would cut headcount and demote a number of employees. On an “ask me anything” meeting with employees, leadership had suggested that the restructuring would only affect a handful of employees; when employees disagreed with that framing, it led to Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes “angrily interjecting to tell off the people who were complaining,” according to Bloomberg. To add insult to injury, Cannon-Brookes had joined the meeting from the headquarters of an NBA team that he co-owned. Employees shared their discontent with his comments in an internal Slack channel —dubbed “Outrage Notification”—where Unterwurzacher chimed in. “What’s up Outragers, just dialing in from my NBA team’s headquarters to yell at the people whose careers I’ve just pummeled,” she quipped. She was fired not long after, and Atlassian claimed she had “engaged in acrimonious communications and ad hominem attacks against teammates and colleagues.” NLRB attorney Colton Puckett argued in the hearing that this kind of speech was protected under U.S. labor law, which allows employees to protest their working conditions—and “they’re allowed to do so in ways their bosses might not like,” Puckett noted. Part of the NLRB’s argument was that Unterwurzacher’s conduct was in line with the company’s culture of transparency. Atlassian has waxed poetic about its “Open Company, No Bullshit” philosophy, which is touted as one of its core values on the company’s website: “Openness is root level for us. Information is open internally by default and sharing is a first principle. And we understand that speaking your mind requires equal parts brains (what to say), thoughtfulness (when to say it), and caring (how it’s said).” In interviews, Cannon-Brookes has talked about how “we call a spade a spade, and we want everybody inside the business to do that.” Atlassian, however, posited that Unterwurzacher’s comments did not fit the bill—and therefore should not be legally protected. “While employees are encouraged to speak up about workplace issues, they must do so in a manner that remains professional and respectful, as the law does not protect conduct that is abusive or gratuitously insulting,” Atlassian attorney Troy Valdez said during the hearing. ​​“Just because it was a CEO doesn’t excuse the conduct,” Valdez added. “It was an irrelevant personal attack and insult directed at a colleague, essentially calling him a ‘rich jerk.’” In an email to Bloomberg, Unterwurzacher denied that she had characterized the CEO as a rich jerk. “My goal has always been to support my coworkers and to encourage leadership to approach these changes, and the ways they are communicated, with greater understanding and empathy,” she said. (When reached for comment by Fast Company, Atlassian declined to comment, given this is an individual employee matter.) It’s not clear how the case might proceed: If the case is not settled, a ruling by the judge could be appealed to federal court. While the NLRB can order employers to reinstate employees with backpay, they cannot compel them to take further action or secure punitive damages. The case is also an interesting test of how the NLRB will rule under The President, now that the agency has restored a quorum and Republican majority. The agency had been hamstrung after The President ousted former board member Gwynne Wilcox in early 2025, which left the NLRB without a quorum and unable to issue decisions; that changed in December, when The President’s new nominees were confirmed. As is often the case, the new NLRB will likely curb protections for workers and unions, undoing some of the agency’s pro-labor actions under the Biden administration. But beyond the implications for labor law, the NLRB’s response to this case seems to be a bit of a corrective in a rather employer-friendly environment. Between the economic environment and the rise of generative AI, workers have ceded power in the years since the pandemic—and layoffs are piling up across corporate America, with many business leaders laying blame on AI. Even companies like Atlassian that seem to prize a culture of transparency seem to be leading differently, and cracking down on employees who are critical of leadership. Much like its peers in the tech industry, Atlassian is also making serious cuts to its workforce: Just this month, the company disclosed plans to slash headcount by 10%, which impacted about 1,600 employees. As CEOs and executives continue to cut jobs—and, at least in some cases, use AI as a convenient scapegoat—Unterwurzacher’s case could be a small win for workers who are agitating for them to lead with more compassion. 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. With Amazon’s annual Big Spring Sale right around the corner, we’re starting to see prices drop on Amazon devices. That includes the newest model of the Echo Spot, which combines smart home and speaker perks with an alarm clock. Right now, there's a 38% discount on this device, bringing it to $49.99 (down from $79.99). Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $49.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $30.00 The Echo Spot is a reasonably compact smart alarm clock. In fact, the screen is slightly smaller than you’d expect. Although it looks like it takes up half of the device, the screen itself is only a 2.83-inch square portion of the entire half-circle panel. Despite its size, the display does show a number of different data points, including the time, weather, and calendar events. It'll show you the name of any songs that are currently playing, and you can set it to transition to your favorite music after the alarm goes off. Like Amazon's other Echo devices, this is compatible with Alexa for hands-free use. If the rest of your home is part of the Alexa ecosystem, you can use the Echo to make calls or set up custom routines like turning off all the smart lights in your home before you go to bed. As PCMag notes in its review, the speaker quality is surprisingly loud and dynamic for a smart alarm clock, and while you might prefer a larger speaker, this gets the job done. PCMag also mentions that when streaming over wifi, the audio quality is better than when connecting your phone via Bluetooth). Importantly, the Echo Spot lacks a camera and cannot play video. The Echo Spot is a simple, easy-to-use smart clock that also doubles as a casual speaker with basic smart home features (not to mention Alexa compatibility). If that's what you're looking for, the Amazon Echo Spot is a worthwhile buy, especially at its current $49.99 price point. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam Plus (2025) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Introspection? Marc Andreessen’s never heard of it. Speaking on David Senra’s podcast, the cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, one of the largest venture capital firms, said he has “zero” levels of introspection: “As little as possible. Move forward. Go,” he added. “I find that people who dwell on the past get stuck in the past,” he said in the interview. “It’s a problem at work and it’s a problem at home.” The noted AI accelerationist went on to state that introspection is a “manufacture” of the early 1900s. Sigmund Freud and his peers are held responsible, according to Andreessen, for introducing concepts such as second guessing, guilt and self-criticism. “Great men of history didn’t sit around doing this stuff at any prior point,” he said. “It’s all a new construct.” While Senra is seemingly impressed by Andreessen’s “zero-introspection mindset”—pointing to Walmart’s Sam Walton as another example of this build-without-ever-looking-back mentality—the clip went viral on X for all the wrong reasons. “Marc Andreessen is a good example of why a lot of traditional societies around the world had a dim view of men of commerce,” one X user wrote. There was also some doubt as to what Andreessen thinks “introspection” even actually means. “Its really funny if you watch this clip it becomes clear he thinks ‘introspection’ and ‘guilt’ are synonymous,” another wrote. In the interview, Andreessen claimed, “Four hundred years ago, it would never have occurred to anybody to be introspective.” And yet, as many have since called out, that historical argument doesn’t hold up to a quick Google search. Aristotle, in 350 B.C., famously said: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Socrates also wrote in Plato’s Apology in 460 B.C.: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, from his work titled Meditations in 150 A.D., once mused: “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” “It never resonated with me,” said Andreessen in the interview. People who lack self-awareness don’t understand its value Aside from the historical precedence, introspection, or looking inward, fuels both self-awareness and growth. Experts say that introspecting and building self-awareness leads to great things for leaders. It gives you a realistic sense of your strengths and weaknesses, helps you pinpoint what causes you doubt (and thus prevents success), and can help hone why you want to achieve your goals in the first place—and knowing yourself well enough to know what you need to do in your own situation to make them happen. Introspection makes you more open to feedback, and generally leads to greater development and growth. McKinsey research has even shown that taking a moment for self-reflection can help alleviate leadership fatigue—the state of exhaustion caused by high-stakes decision making and stress. On top of that, introspection is a simple yet powerful way for leaders to develop important human skills, such as vulnerability, empathy, adaptability, and generosity. These soft skills are what ultimately separate humans from technologies like artificial intelligence. Those who skip these moments of reflection and introspection can find themselves often extrinsically motivated, by clout or riches, with little consideration of collateral damage caused along the way. (Like throwing investment behind a gambling app that targets teens or AI influencer farms, for example.) But it can be difficult to convince someone who lacks self-awareness of the value of self-awareness. Only about 15% of people are sufficiently self-aware, a study by Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning found, with a less than a 30% correlation between people’s actual and self-perceived competence. A leader’s lack of self-awareness, meanwhile, negatively impacts decision making, collaboration, and conflict management, the research found. The backlash seems to have struck a nerve, despite the venture capitalist’s claims to the contrary. Andreessen unironically outsourced the defense of his position to “my philosophy instructor Claude,” summarizing a “Nietzschean Demolition of Introspection and Feelings.” Or, as one X user put it: “billionaire overlord marc andreessen is currently crashing out over the woke concept of ‘introspection’.” The monumental crashout has since continued onto day two. Andreessen doubled down on X, saying, “I regret nothing.” To that, one X user responded: “Breaking: Man who doesn’t introspect says he regrets nothing.” View the full article

Putin ally Patrushev says Moscow could deploy ‘mobile firing groups’ after series of suspected Ukrainian attacks on shipsView the full article

President The President's executive order on mortgage credit calls on federal agencies to ease the path for eNotes, digital mortgages and remote notary, something lenders have been wrestling with for years. View the full article

Apple's next big update, iOS 26.4, is nearly here. While it won't include the company's long-awaited AI Siri upgrade, you will find new emojis, AI-generated playlists in Apple Music, and support for end-to-end encryption for RCS. But perhaps most welcome of all, to at least some iOS users, is one key patch: Apple is finally fixing the iPhone's buggy keyboard. iOS 26.4 patches this iPhone keyboard glitchIn the release notes for iOS 26.4's Release Candidate, Apple lists many of the new additions we've already seen in previous beta updates. But buried at the bottom of Apple's list of "enhancements" is the following: "Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly." That's...pretty underwhelming sounding, at least by itself. But this marks the first time since iOS 26's release that Apple has directly addressed a widespread issue with the iPhone's keyboard. iPhone 17 (256GB) $757.34 at Amazon $796.50 Save $39.16 Shop Now Shop Now $757.34 at Amazon $796.50 Save $39.16 Across the internet, users have been complaining about inaccurate typing since that update launched back in September. That negative feedback has persisted with Apple's subsequent updates, and, in fact, may have only gotten louder. When Apple dropped iOS 26.3, one Redditor posted the following to r/iPhone: "iOS 26.3 keyboard completely unusable—anyone else?" Another commenter concurs, writing, "Literally as of today it's becoming completely unusable for me. Like it's been bad for about [two-to-three] months and now it's [truly] unusable." In the same vein, there's currently a lot of attention on r/Apple over the news of the keyboard patch. The top comment on this post reads: "I'll beliebe it when insee it." (The typos are presumably a joke, but not unusual for anyone typing too fast on a buggy iPhone keyboard.) Whether the fix will satisfy these Redditors or not, it is likely not going to be the cure-all that every iOS user is looking for. This bug patch likely only addresses the specific bug that causes missed characters when a user types too fast—even though the key displays an animation when pressed. Hopefully, that issue is totally resolved here, but the iPhone's keyboard was a source of contention before iOS 26 was even announced. This is all up in the air until iOS 26.4 comes out, of course. Apple doesn't have a release date yet, but now that the Release Candidate is here, the update could arrive imminently. In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to make your keyboard work a bit better for you—but if your issues are baked into the software, only Apple can really fix it. View the full article

The partial U.S. government shutdown has made air travel incredibly difficult over the past few weeks as many airports are facing major staffing shortages. The timing centers around spring break, when many go on trips—and also when the NCAA Basketball Championships take place. It takes a massive effort to coordinate travel plans for 68 men’s and women’s basketball teams, over the course of just a few days in between the Selection Show on Sunday night and the first games, whether they are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Add on the compounding travel issues of staff shortages, charter plane shortages, and now, the price of jet fuel rising significantly in the wake of the military operations in Iran, and it becomes even harder. On February 24, the NCAA sent a memo to its institutions outlining its changing travel guidelines due to these problems. “Extreme flexibility will be required this championship season,” it said. “Participating schools should expect 100% screening, catering for flights over three hours, and assigned departure date and times based on game date and aircraft efficiency, for the first week of the tournament.” It went on to say that unlike in previous years, schools would not be able to submit date or time preferences for flights to First Four and First and Second round sites. “New this year, departure date and time will be determined by carrier availability,” the memo read. “Teams eligible to fly will be scheduled to travel two days before the competition.” Hoping for a smooth flight Throughout the season, teams book travel on their own, and many mid-major programs even take commercial flights. But for the NCAA Tournament, teams book travel through the NCAA’s travel service. For teams located more than 400 miles from their first weekend site, the NCAA covers the cost of a charter flight. For others, the NCAA offers a ground transportation reimbursement, or the team can book and pay for its own flight. “The NCAA partners with large and small charter aircraft providers to create a dedicated fleet that meets the NCAA requirements for safety and operations,” the NCAA’s memo said. “Charter availability may be limited due to Federal Aviation Administration, crew regulations, current staffing constraints (pilots, crew, ground handlers and screeners), weather, supply and demand. These challenges likely will impact team flight preferences, requiring teams to depart earlier or later than preferred.” The NCAA Selection Committee didn’t change its selection process and bracketing principles to cater to the travel chaos, according to committee chair Keith Gill last week. The only reported travel issue thus far is a weather-related delay for the No. 16 seed University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) men’s team, knocking their charter flight from Baltimore to Dayton, Ohio on Monday back four hours. The UMBC Retrievers played in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four on Tuesday against Howard University, and lost 86-83. UMBC didn’t land in Dayton until just about 24 hours before tip-off. The men’s tournament opened with First Four games in Dayton on Tuesday, and the First and Second Rounds will start on Thursday and Friday in Tampa, Fla., Greenville, S.C., Buffalo, N.Y., Philadelphia, San Diego, Portland, Ore., Oklahoma City, and St. Louis. In the women’s tournament, no travel issues have arisen yet. All First and Second round games on the women’s side, including the First Four games, are played on the campus of one of the top 16 seeds chosen to host. It’s unclear how the travel chaos will impact fans wanting to travel to see their teams play in different cities—but they will be paying a premium to do it, as airfares are up nationwide. View the full article

Tulsi Gabbard refuses to say whether Tehran posed an ‘imminent nuclear threat’View the full article

When work depends on consistency, a standard operating procedure becomes the backbone that keeps tasks repeatable, teams aligned and outcomes predictable, no matter who performs the work or when. What Is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)? A standard operating procedure is a structured process management document that outlines step-by-step instructions for completing tasks consistently and efficiently. It defines roles, workflows, inputs, outputs and quality expectations so teams can execute work reliably, reduce errors, maintain compliance and ensure processes are repeatable across projects or operations. What Is the Purpose of a Standard Operating Procedure? Across teams and workflows, a standard operating procedure exists to bring consistency to how work gets done so results don’t depend on individual habits or memory. It creates a shared way of executing tasks, aligns expectations around quality and timing and reduces uncertainty during execution. By documenting how processes should run, organizations can maintain control, support training, minimize errors and ensure work scales without losing reliability or accountability. Whenever you’re ready to start managing projects, give ProjectManager a try. ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software designed to plan, schedule and track projects from start to finish. Build detailed project schedules, allocate resources, monitor costs and compare estimates against actual performance using a complete set of powerful project management tools. Get started for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Light-mode-portfolio-dashboard-CTA-1600x851.pngLearn more When to Establish a Standard Operating Procedure? As soon as tasks start repeating or involve multiple people, a standard operating procedure should be established to prevent inconsistency and confusion. It becomes especially important when errors carry consequences, training new staff is frequent or processes must scale without losing quality, control or accountability across teams. Onboarding new employees: Organizations create procedures to guide training, outline responsibilities and ensure new hires follow the same workflows, tools and expectations from their first day. Handling customer service requests: Teams establish procedures to standardize how inquiries, complaints or support tickets are received, prioritized, resolved and documented across service channels. Managing project approvals: A procedure is defined to control how proposals are reviewed, approved or rejected, including required documentation, stakeholders involved and decision timelines. Processing financial transactions: Companies document procedures for invoicing, payments or expense approvals to reduce errors, maintain records and ensure financial control across operations. Executing quality control inspections: Teams create procedures to define how deliverables are checked, what criteria must be met and how issues are reported and corrected before final approval. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Standard-operating-procedure.jpg Get your free Standard Operating Procedure Template Use this free Standard Operating Procedure Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Are the Components of a Standard Operating Procedure? A well-built standard operating procedure breaks work into clear sections that guide execution, clarify responsibilities and reduce confusion, ensuring every task is performed consistently regardless of who is carrying it out. Title and document control: Identifies the procedure name, version, approval status and revision history to maintain traceability and ensure teams always follow the most current version. Purpose statement: Explains why the procedure exists, what problem it solves and how it supports operational consistency, compliance or overall business objectives. Scope definition: Clarifies what processes, activities, teams or situations are covered, including any exclusions to prevent misuse or misinterpretation. Roles and responsibilities: Specifies who is accountable for each step, including task owners, reviewers and approvers to avoid confusion and gaps in execution. Required tools and resources: Lists the systems, equipment, documents or inputs needed to complete the process without delays or missing dependencies. Step-by-step procedure: Provides detailed, sequential instructions describing exactly how to complete the task, ensuring repeatability and reducing variability in outcomes. Process workflow or sequence: Outlines how steps connect from start to finish, often including decision points, dependencies and handoffs between team members. Quality standards and acceptance criteria: Defines what “done right” looks like, including measurable criteria used to evaluate whether outputs meet expectations. Safety and compliance requirements: Highlights any regulatory, legal or safety considerations that must be followed during execution to minimize risk. Exceptions and contingencies: Describes how to handle deviations, unexpected scenarios or process failures to maintain control under non-standard conditions. Documentation and recordkeeping: Specifies what data must be captured, how it should be stored and who is responsible for maintaining accurate records. Review and update process: Establishes how often the procedure should be evaluated, who reviews it and how updates are approved and communicated. Benefits of a Standard Operating Procedure At its core, the biggest benefit of a standard operating procedure is consistency, which allows teams to deliver predictable results regardless of who performs the work or how often it is repeated. Improves consistency across teams: Standardized instructions ensure tasks are performed the same way every time, reducing variability in outputs and minimizing confusion between different team members. Reduces errors and rework: Clear step-by-step guidance helps prevent common mistakes, lowering the need for corrections and avoiding delays caused by fixing avoidable issues. Accelerates onboarding and training: New team members can quickly understand workflows and expectations by following documented business processes instead of relying on informal or inconsistent training methods. Enhances accountability and ownership: Defined roles and responsibilities make it clear who is responsible for each step, improving follow-through and reducing gaps in execution. Supports compliance and audit readiness: Documented processes provide evidence that work is performed according to established standards, which helps during audits or regulatory reviews. Improves operational efficiency: Streamlined workflows eliminate unnecessary steps, reduce delays and help teams complete tasks faster without sacrificing quality. Enables process improvement over time: Having a documented baseline makes it easier to identify inefficiencies, test improvements and continuously refine how work is performed. When to Establish a Standard Operating Procedure? Once tasks become repeatable, involve handoffs or require consistent quality, a standard operating procedure should be introduced to avoid variability. It’s especially useful when training new staff, scaling operations or reducing risk tied to errors. Establishing it early keeps workflows predictable and easier to manage as complexity grows. Employee onboarding processes: Organizations define procedures to standardize how new hires are trained, ensuring consistent understanding of tools, responsibilities and expected performance from the start. Customer support workflows: Teams create procedures to manage incoming requests, prioritize issues and ensure consistent resolution methods across different service representatives and communication channels. Project approval workflows: A procedure is established to define how proposals are reviewed, who approves them and what criteria must be met before moving forward. Financial transaction handling: Companies implement procedures for invoicing, expense approvals and payments to ensure accuracy, accountability and proper documentation of financial activities. Quality inspection processes: Teams define procedures to verify deliverables meet required standards, outlining how inspections are conducted and how defects are reported and resolved. Standard Operating Procedure Template This standard operating procedure template for Word gives you a flexible structure to document workflows, define responsibilities and outline process steps. It includes sections for general information, process overview, detailed instructions, resources, frequency and approvals, allowing teams to customize and standardize procedures based on their operational needs. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOP-Template-image-e1773764840298.jpg Standard Operating Procedure Examples The best way to understand how a standard operating procedure (SOP) works is to take a look at standard operating procedure examples. Here are two real-life scenarios to illustrate how an SOP can be used in different industries. Manufacturing Standard Operating Procedure Example Picture a mid-sized manufacturing company struggling with inconsistent product quality due to variations in how assembly tasks are performed. To fix this, the operations team decides to create a standard operating procedure for assembling a core product line, ensuring every unit is built the same way, every time. General information Process title Department SOP ID Effective date Revision number Product assembly procedure Production SOP-MFG-001 01/15/2026 Version 1.0 Process overview Process description Purpose Scope Standardized steps to assemble core product components Ensure consistent product quality and reduce defects Applies to all assembly line workers on production floor Process steps WBS Task Responsible 1.1 Gather required components and tools Assembly technician 1.2 Assemble base unit following specifications Assembly technician 1.3 Install secondary components and fasten securely Assembly technician 1.4 Perform quality inspection and verify measurements Quality inspector Resources WBS Resources 1.1 Component kits, assembly tools, safety equipment 1.2 Workstation setup, measurement instruments 1.3 Fasteners, torque tools 1.4 Inspection checklist, quality standards document Construction Standard Operating Procedure Example On a growing commercial construction project, inconsistent site inspections begin causing rework and delays. To regain control, the contractor develops a standard operating procedure for conducting site inspections, ensuring every supervisor follows the same checklist, documents issues consistently and keeps the project timeline and quality standards on track. General information Process title Department SOP ID Effective date Revision number Site inspection procedure Construction management SOP-CON-002 02/01/2026 Version 1.0 Process overview Process description Purpose Scope Standardized inspection of active construction work areas Ensure work meets quality and safety standards Applies to all supervisors across active job sites Process steps WBS Task Responsible 1.1 Review daily work schedule and inspection checklist Site supervisor 1.2 Inspect completed and ongoing work for compliance Site supervisor 1.3 Document defects, safety issues and deviations Site supervisor 1.4 Assign corrective actions and track resolution Project manager Resources WBS Resources 1.1 Inspection checklist, project schedule 1.2 Drawings, specifications, safety standards 1.3 Inspection reports, mobile devices, cameras 1.4 Issue logs, tracking tools, communication systems ProjectManager Is an Award-Winning Project Management Software ProjectManager offers robust project management features such as Gantt charts, task lists, workload management charts, timesheets and real-time dashboards and reports. In addition to that, it’s also equipped with AI project insights, online team collaboration features and unlimited file storage that further help project managers ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Watch the video to learn more! Related Content Business Process Improvement: Steps & Methodologies 10 Process Management Templates for Excel and Word An Introduction to Business Process Management (BPM) Business Process Management Software Policies and Procedures Template If you need a tool to help you manage projects, then signup for our software now at ProjectManager. Our online software helps teams across industries plan, track and oversee projects as they unfold. Sign up for a free 30-day trial today! The post What Is a Standard Operating Procedure? Examples & Free Template appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

When you’re in need of affordable background checks, it’s crucial to find services that not just fit your budget but likewise provide reliable and accurate information. Comprehending the types of searches available can help you make informed decisions. With options like BeenVerified and Spokeo, you can access extensive data without overspending. Nevertheless, you must consider FCRA compliance and the specific needs of your search to guarantee you choose the right service for your situation. Key Takeaways Consider services like BeenVerified at $36.89/month for up to 100 searches, offering affordability and comprehensive reports. TruthFinder provides detailed reports with competitive pricing, ensuring value and reliability for background checks. Spokeo offers a membership starting at $29.95, granting access to public records and social media profiles for thorough checks. Instant Checkmate’s subscription model allows unlimited searches, which can be cost-effective for frequent users needing extensive criminal information. Always ensure the service is FCRA-compliant to maintain legal standards and trustworthiness in background checks. What to Know About Background Checks When considering background checks, it’s vital to recognize their growing importance in various sectors, as employers and landlords increasingly rely on them to evaluate candidates. With around 77 million U.S. adults having some form of a criminal record, comprehending the framework of background checks is fundamental. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates only some checks, so you should guarantee the services you use comply with these regulations. FCRA-compliant services like Checkr and GoodHire are reliable options for legal compliance. For personal checks, you can use affordable background checks from platforms like TruthFinder and BeenVerified, which tap into the national crime database and provide access to public records. Moreover, you might find a free site to verify people’s backgrounds, offering a straightforward way to guarantee safety and trust in your interactions. Always do your due diligence to make informed decisions. Types of Background Check Searches Understanding the different types of background check searches is vital for anyone looking to make informed decisions about hiring or renting. There are two primary categories: FCRA-compliant checks and non-compliant people search websites. The former is used for employment and tenancy purposes, guaranteeing legal compliance. Criminal background checks assess an individual’s history at local, state, and federal levels, providing a thorough overview of legal issues. Employment and education verifications confirm the accuracy of an applicant’s claims regarding their work history and academic qualifications. Position-specific searches tailor checks to meet the job’s requirements, making sure candidates align with the necessary qualifications. For businesses hiring from abroad, international reports are available, allowing extensive vetting of potential hires regardless of their geographical location. When considering a price background check, it’s important to evaluate the type you need to make sure you’re getting reliable and relevant information. How We Chose Our Top Picks To guarantee you find the best background check services, our editorial team scrupulously evaluated over 40 data points across 20 vetted companies. We focused on both FCRA-compliant and non-compliant options to meet a variety of needs, including employment and personal searches. Our extensive industry knowledge and experience guided our evaluations, emphasizing accuracy and helpfulness in the information provided. For transparency, we made our methodology details available, so you can understand the basis of our top picks. Each service underwent independent assessments to confirm they meet high standards of reliability and trustworthiness. Our Top Picks for Affordable Background Check Sites When you’re looking for affordable background check sites, it’s important to evaluate both budget-friendly options and thorough report features. TruthFinder stands out as the best overall choice, providing detailed reports on assets, criminal records, and employment history for a low monthly fee. Meanwhile, platforms like Spokeo and BeenVerified cater to casual users with their straightforward pricing and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring you get the information you need without breaking the bank. Best Budget-Friendly Options Finding budget-friendly options for background checks can be a transformative factor, especially if you need to access information without incurring hefty fees. BeenVerified offers a solid choice with a monthly membership at $36.89, letting you access up to 100 reports, which is perfect if you require frequent checks. Spokeo charges $29.95 per month for individual searches, providing flexibility for budget-conscious users. For those seeking detailed reports, TruthFinder presents excellent value with competitive pricing. If unlimited searches are what you want, Instant Checkmate is a suitable option, though it may not be cost-effective for occasional users since it lacks single-report purchases. Comprehensive Report Features Affordable background check sites not just provide budget-friendly options but likewise offer detailed reports that give you valuable insights into an individual’s history. For instance, TruthFinder is an excellent choice, offering extensive information on personal assets and criminal histories. If you frequently need checks, BeenVerified allows you to conduct up to 100 reports monthly at a competitive rate, making it a cost-effective option. For those on a tight budget, Spokeo provides access to various public records and social media profiles for $29.95 per month, with additional individual search options. Instant Checkmate is ideal if you want unlimited report access, ensuring thorough criminal information, though its subscription model may not suit occasional users. Best People Search Background Check Sites Steering through the domain of people search background check sites can be overwhelming, but knowing the best options can help you make informed decisions. TruthFinder stands out as the best overall site, offering detailed reports that include personal assets, criminal records, and employment history. If you need unlimited searches, Instant Checkmate is ideal, providing thorough criminal information, including inmate searches, though it lacks a one-off report purchase option. For those interested in vehicle searches, BeenVerified offers a user-friendly interface with various search options beyond criminal records. If budget is a concern, Spokeo is your best bet, focusing on personal use and granting access to public records and social media profiles at a low monthly rate. Best FCRA-Compliant Background Screening Sites In terms of FCRA-compliant background screening sites, you have several top options that cater to different needs and budgets. Backgrounds Online stands out for its thorough packages, whereas Checkr offers fast pre-employment screenings starting at $29.99. For tenant screenings, TransUnion SmartMove provides unique insights, and GoodHire integrates well with HR systems at competitive prices, making them all worthy considerations. Top FCRA-Compliant Services Grasping the importance of FCRA-compliant background checks is vital for any employer looking to make informed hiring decisions. Services like Backgrounds Online and Checkr guarantee your screenings adhere to legal regulations, minimizing compliance risks. Checkr stands out with an impressive 89% of checks completed within one hour, catering to both small businesses and large enterprises. GoodHire offers various pricing tiers, ranging from $29.99 for basic checks to $89.99 for thorough reports, allowing you to choose the level of scrutiny needed. If you’re focused on tenant screenings, TransUnion SmartMove is ideal, utilizing the ResidentScore tool to predict eviction likelihood as it pulls direct credit data. These resources equip you with fundamental tools to verify candidates effectively. Pricing and Features Comparison Understanding the various pricing and features of FCRA-compliant background screening sites can help you make informed decisions for your hiring process. Backgrounds Online stands out as the best overall choice, offering thorough checks at competitive prices. Checkr starts its pre-employment screenings at $29.99, providing quick turnaround times and customizable solutions. If you’re focused on tenant screenings, TransUnion SmartMove uses ResidentScore to assess eviction risk, catering particularly to landlords. GoodHire offers a tiered pricing structure, ranging from $29.99 for basic checks to $89.99 for more extensive screenings, accommodating diverse organizational needs. Pricing Options for Background Check Services Grasping the pricing options for background check services is crucial if you’re considering these tools for personal or professional use. Various services present distinct pricing structures. For instance, BeenVerified charges $36.89 per month, offering access to up to 100 searches, though the lack of pricing transparency may be a concern. Spokeo’s membership is slightly lower at $29.95, but beware of extra fees for detailed criminal records. If you need more thorough checks, GoodHire provides basic reports starting at $29.99, with complete reports going up to $89.99. TruthFinder offers competitive plans but adds a $3.99 fee for PDF downloads. Finally, Instant Checkmate allows unlimited searches through a subscription model, which mightn’t be ideal for those needing occasional reports. Grasping these options will help you choose the right service based on your specific needs and budget. Importance of Conducting Background Checks When considering new hires, it’s important to conduct thorough background checks to guarantee you’re making informed decisions. These checks can reveal potential red flags, such as criminal records or false qualifications, which are critical for maintaining workplace safety and integrity. With around 77 million U.S. adults holding some form of a criminal record, it’s crucial to assess the risks associated with potential hires. Background checks likewise verify employment history and educational credentials, ensuring candidates meet your organization’s standards and culture. Compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a legal necessity when conducting these screenings, underscoring their importance. By utilizing background checks, you can save time and money, reduce turnover, and cultivate trust among employees and stakeholders, ultimately enhancing your organization’s effectiveness. Making background checks a standard part of your hiring process is a smart strategy for sustainable business growth. Summary of Our Top Picks Choosing the right background check service can greatly impact your hiring process, especially when you want to guarantee extensive and reliable vetting of potential employees. TruthFinder is our top pick for its detailed reports, offering insights into personal assets, criminal records, and employment history, all via an intuitive app. If you need frequent searches, Instant Checkmate provides unlimited access to extensive criminal information, though you should note it lacks a single-report option and has faced penalties for deceptive practices. For vehicle searches, BeenVerified offers a user-friendly interface with membership options that allow up to 100 reports monthly. If you’re on a budget, Spokeo gives access to public records and social media profiles, making it great for casual users. Finally, Checkr stands out for FCRA-compliant pre-employment screenings, with customizable packages and quick turnaround times, ideal for businesses needing reliable solutions. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Most Trusted Background Check Site? The most trusted background check site often varies depending on your needs. TruthFinder is widely recognized for its detailed reports, whereas BeenVerified offers affordability and user-friendliness. If you need extensive searches, Instant Checkmate might be your best bet, providing unlimited access to a thorough database. For casual users, Spokeo’s budget-friendly options are appealing. Finally, FCRA-compliant services like GoodHire and Checkr are ideal for employment screening, ensuring legal compliance and accurate results. Which Background Check Is Legit? When you’re looking for a legitimate background check, focus on FCRA-compliant services like Checkr and GoodHire. These platforms follow legal standards, guaranteeing accuracy for employment or tenancy purposes. Services like TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate, although popular for personal use, aren’t suitable for employment because of compliance issues. Prioritize options that offer transparency in pricing and quick results, in addition to a good reputation to make sure you’re getting reliable information. Is Truthfinder Actually Free? TruthFinder isn’t actually free. Although it offers a limited free trial, accessing detailed background reports requires a paid subscription starting at $28.05 per month. You can perform basic searches without payment, but for extensive information like criminal records or personal assets, you’ll need a membership. Be cautious of the automatic renewal feature, as it can lead to charges if you don’t cancel before the trial period ends. Comprehending these details is essential. How Much Does a Good Background Check Cost? A good background check typically costs between $29.99 and $89.99, depending on the service and the level of detail you need. Basic reports usually start around $29.99, whereas thorough checks can reach $89.99. Some providers, like BeenVerified, offer unlimited searches for a monthly fee, which may be beneficial if you need multiple checks. Always review pricing carefully, as hidden fees can inflate the cost of using these services unexpectedly. Conclusion In summary, choosing an affordable background check service you can trust is crucial for making informed decisions. By comprehending the different types of background checks and evaluating options like BeenVerified, Spokeo, and Instant Checkmate, you can find a solution that meets your needs. Always prioritize FCRA compliance to guarantee accuracy and legal adherence. With the right choice, you can conduct thorough checks without exceeding your budget, eventually helping you feel more secure in your decisions. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Affordable Background Checks You Can Trust" 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. There have been many different models of Echo smart speakers over the years, but the newest Echo Studio is one of the first that feels like a true smart speaker—offering premium sound and features that can compete with the best smart speakers in the market—rather than just a glorified Amazon accessory. Right now, you can get the 2nd-generation Echo Studio for $189.99 (originally $219.99), the lowest price it has been, according to price tracking tools. Our best Echo Studio yet, with immersive spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, designed for Alexa+, Graphite Amazon Echo Studio $189.99 at Amazon $219.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $189.99 at Amazon $219.99 Save $30.00 SEE -2 MORE A replacement for the slightly larger 4th generation Amazon Echo, and with a different form factor than the first-generation Echo Studio, the second-generation Echo Studio is compact, and doesn't look out of place among other recent Alexa-enabled smart speakers, but you can hear the difference right away. The audio is powerful enough to fill a whole room, despite its small size, with detailed mids and highs. Like every small speaker, its bass is rather limited, but it performs well enough for its size. As you can see from its design, the sound is not directional, so it will travel to all directions, making spatial audio come to life (it can play Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio content). The speaker comes with Alexa+, the new AI smart assistant, which is free to Amazon Prime members. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and can be chained to serve as a soundbar replacement for your home theater if you buy multiple speakers. Like most Alexa speakers, it supports multi-room playback, where you can play music from all your Alexa speakers at the same time. You can read more details on PCMag's "excellent" review. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam Plus (2025) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Small business owners often face the daunting task of starting from scratch, whether that means drafting a proposal, organizing data, or creating content for marketing. However, new enhancements from Google Gemini promise to streamline these processes, making it significantly easier to produce high-quality work without the initial struggle of a blank page. In its latest update, Google Gemini integrates advanced capabilities into the suite of Google Workspace tools, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. As small businesses increasingly rely on digital tools, these new features aim to boost efficiency and productivity by bridging the gap between data sources and actionable insights. One of the standout benefits of Gemini is its ability to create contextually relevant drafts in Docs. Business owners can simply describe their desired outcome in a side panel or a new bottom bar, such as “create a newsletter for our neighborhood association using meeting minutes and event listings,” and Gemini will generate a customized first draft. This feature can be particularly useful for entrepreneurs juggling multiple tasks, who may not have the time to craft content from scratch. Polishing and refining written material is equally seamless. Gemini allows users to highlight sections of text and input commands like “make this doc more professional while keeping the tone energetic.” This can significantly enhance the quality of communications, ensuring that business messaging resonates with audiences. Another notable feature is the ability to unify voice and format automatically. Users can utilize a “Match writing style” option to ensure that all parts of a document maintain a consistent tone or employ “Match doc format” to align the document’s design with a preferred template. For example, if you have a travel itinerary template you want to use, Gemini can automatically fill that template with relevant information from your emails regarding flights and accommodations. The rollout of these beta features is targeted at Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers, providing an opportunity for small business owners to harness AI-driven solutions to meet their operational needs. With fast-paced business environments, the ability to rapidly produce and refine documents can free up valuable time and resources. While these features offer significant advantages, small business owners should also be mindful of potential challenges. Reliance on AI-driven tools can lead to concerns about data privacy and the accuracy of generated content. Small businesses need to consider how much sensitive information they share with AI tools and ensure that their data remains secure. Additionally, while Gemini aims to improve productivity, there may be a learning curve involved as business owners and their teams adapt to these new functionalities. “Gemini can now pull relevant information from your files, emails, and the web to securely connect dots and uncover useful insights, while keeping your information safeguarded,” highlights the commitment Google shows to data protection, but it also places the onus on users to employ these tools wisely. Integrating these sophisticated features into daily operations can ultimately lead to less time spent on administrative tasks and more focus on strategic growth. For small business owners, leveraging this technology can facilitate a more agile approach to everyday challenges, enabling them to respond to customer needs and market demands more effectively. As Google continues to innovate with tools like Gemini, small business owners are encouraged to explore how these capabilities can enhance their productivity. The future of work is becoming increasingly collaborative and data-driven, and tools like Gemini are leading the charge in transforming how businesses operate. For more detailed information about the new beta features of Google Gemini, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Gemini Transforms Google Docs into Your Personal Writing Assistant" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google’s AI Overviews now appear on 14% of shopping queries, up 5.6x from 2.1% in November 2025, according to new Visibility Labs analysis. Ecommerce brands have been mostly unaffected by AI-driven click loss in Search. That seems to be changing. Why we care. As Google’s AI Overviews expand across product searches, ecommerce brands face a growing risk of losing visibility and clicks before shoppers reach standard organic or Shopping listings. The details. The analysis targeted product-intent keywords tied to results with a Shopping box, paid or organic — terms like “weighted blanket,” “mushroom coffee,” “protein powder,” and “blue T-shirts.” That produced 20,900,323 shopping keywords. Of those, 2,919,229 triggered an AI Overview — 14.0% penetration. What they’re saying. Report author Jeff Oxford, founder and CEO of Visibility Labs, concluded: “Focusing on AI SEO is no longer a luxury, it’s becoming a necessity. Ecommerce sites need to think beyond traditional SEO and start incorporating AI SEO best practices into their search optimization strategy.” The report. AI Overviews Now Appear on 14% of Shopping Queries, Up 5.6x in 4 Months (Study of 20.9M SERPs) View the full article

Unlike on the popular TV series Severance, most people don’t get to disconnect from what’s happening in the rest of their lives when they arrive at work each day. While employees can take steps to manage their stress and anxiety, it’s also imperative that employers have their backs—and foster a work environment that prioritizes mental health. The constant barrage of unsettling news headlines, economic uncertainty, and concerns about job security create a heavy cognitive load for many American workers that’s only made worse by an “always-on” hustle culture, which also causes burnout. To address this systemic exhaustion, the best leaders are those who practice sincere vulnerability and show compassion for their stressed-out workforces, according to experts on workplace mental health. “If you care about your bottom line and you care about your employees, you should be making mental health a priority,” Bennett Porter, chief of staff for Calm, said during a discussion at the Fast Company Grill at SXSW. “We have to realize that there is a cost to businesses that actually don’t take care of their employees in this way.” For those employees who are particularly stressed out, putting on a mask to suggest that everything is fine at work isn’t sustainable, added Ruchika T. Malhotra, CEO of Candour Global and author of the 2025 book Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success. “A bubble bath or like a short vacation or whatever it is, isn’t going to fix chronic burnout.” HOW MANAGERS CAN HELP Instead, workers need a manager who has their back and recognizes the signs of burnout and takes tangible steps to alleviate some of workplace stressors, Malhotra said. And those leaders who understand the importance of psychological safety and model vulnerability can go a long way in helping, she added. In addition to fostering leaders who demonstrate genuine compassion, companies must be a bit more ruthless about eradicating the causes of burnout in the first place, which include chronic overload, not enough resourcing, and toxic leadership, said Laura Hambley Lovett, an organizational psychologist, author, and podcast host. “Toxic leaders cause chronic harm,” she said, adding that their behaviors hurt worker engagement, productivity, and well-being. “It’s about hiring the right people into leadership, training them, giving them the resources so that they can help people thrive and not basically kill people through burnout,” Lovett said. View the full article

Last year, when an air quality agency in Southern California proposed a new rule to encourage consumers to buy heat pumps instead of gas heaters, the agency was flooded with 20,000 comments opposing the idea—many more than usual. “Due to the volume and nature of these submissions, South Coast AQMD had concerns about their authenticity,” says Rainbow Yeung, an agency spokesperson. The agency’s executive director got an email thanking him for his “opposition” to a rule that his own team had drafted. To check the validity of the comments, the agency reached out to a small sample of commenters—172 people—to confirm that they’d actually sent the emails. Almost no one responded. But of the five people who did, three of them said that they didn’t know anything about the comments that had been submitted in their own names. In a separate investigation, a campaigner from the Sierra Club also started contacting people on the list; the four people he reached also said that they hadn’t sent emails. The L.A. Times recently reported that CiviClick, a company that bills itself as a provider of “AI-powered advocacy tools,” had led the campaign to send opposition comments. The client was a public affairs consultant with ties to the gas industry. CiviClick denies that it sent any email without consent or that it used AI to fabricate automated messages. The air quality management district is still investigating the situation; the executive director said in a recent meeting that the team was exploring more “aggressive” ways of sampling commenters, since it couldn’t draw definitive conclusions from the limited initial response. Regardless of what happened, it points to a broader question: if AI can now easily impersonate humans—and if comments can be submitted without someone’s knowledge—how can government agencies actually know when a public comment was written by a citizen rather than a bot? Fake comments aren’t new. In 2017, the FCC received 22 million comments during the debate on net neutrality rules—and around 18 million of them were later found to be fake. Millions came from a single college student; half a million came from Russian email addresses. After an investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James fined “lead generator” companies that had collectively impersonated millions of real people when they submitted comments. AI, in theory, could make it easier to write and submit fake comments that sound real. CiviClick says that it simply uses AI to help real people personalize their comments. The platform asks users questions related to the issue—for example, how an increase in taxes would affect their budget—and then tailors an email. (The company also uses AI to predict how likely someone would be to respond to a campaign.) CiviClick founder and CEO Chazz Clevinger says he could not speak to the specifics of the Southern California campaign but insists it meaningfully captured the authentic views of people across the region. “A homeowner in Riverside County who had recently installed a gas furnace wrote a different message than a renter in Los Angeles who was concerned about landlord compliance costs,” he tells Fast Company. “A contractor in San Bernardino County who builds new homes wrote a different message than a retiree in Orange County worried about electricity grid strain during heat waves.” He argues that the tool is simply helping people “articulate their genuine concerns,” and that they’re no less legitimate than messages written from scratch. The Sierra Club campaigner has a different take. Even if someone consents to have AI tweak a comment, it could be problematic. “Regulators give priority to customized comments, which require time and effort to send, versus form letters or petitions which do not,” says Dylan Plummer, campaign adviser for the Sierra Club’s Clean Heat campaign. “Using AI to generate custom comments creates the illusion of engaged individuals willing to spend the time to draft a thoughtful statement on an issue, when in fact, they are engaged at the same level as someone who signed a traditional form letter or petition.” The bigger challenge, Plummer says, is whether some public comments are attributed to people who never had anything to do with them. In another case in California, he started calling people who had submitted comments on a proposed rule at the Bay Area Air District. Another nonprofit, the Energy and Policy Institute, filed a public records request to get copies of the emails that were sent in using a different software platform called Speak4. (Speak4 declined to talk; in a San Francisco Chronicle article, the company’s client, the Bay Area Council, said that neither it nor Speak4 submitted letters without consent.) Of the seven people that Plummer spoke with, all seven said that they had no knowledge of the email. “Some even said that they didn’t know what the Bay Area Air District was,” he says. “One woman I spoke to said, ‘Why would I ever oppose regulations to protect clean air?’” It’s very difficult to prove whether comments are actually fake after the fact. “I had to call dozens and dozens of numbers that I was able to access through internet sleuthing,” Plummer says. Most people didn’t want to talk. “When I’m talking, I’m like, ‘Hi, my name is Dylan, and I’m investigating a potential case of identity theft.’ And their first response is, ‘Oh, this guy’s totally a scammer,’ and hang up.” In another case in North Carolina, county commissioners received hundreds of emails in support of a new gas pipeline. But when they started to respond to some of the emails, their constituents said that they hadn’t sent them. The mass email campaign backfired. “If they’re this sloppy with their advocacy work, what does that say about our concerns about their maintenance, which is the critical thing,” one commissioner told E&E News. The board voted unanimously for a resolution that raised concerns about the project and recommended that federal officials should deny a permit. Williams, the company that wanted to build the pipeline, suggested that people might have forgotten that they sent an email. CiviClick, which facilitated the emails for the company, said the same thing about the campaign in Southern California. (It’s worth noting that the air quality agency contacted supposed commenters shortly after the comments were submitted, however.) Clevinger also suggested that there could be “deliberate mischaracterization or misuse of our tools” by groups like the Sierra Club that “have a vested interest in discrediting its authenticity.” When agencies do receive a flood of fake emails, it’s not clear how much that necessarily affects decision making. “What matters is not the identity of the commenter,” says Steven Balla, a political science professor who studies public commenting. “What matters is the content of the comment.” Agencies are charged with considering the technical, legal, and economic information that’s submitted to them during the comment process, he says. But they’re not adding up how many comments they got on each side, and it’s the ideas that matter more than the name of the person who submitted them. Fake or AI-generated comments “smell icky,” he says. “But I haven’t yet been moved that, wow, this is totally changing the way policy decisions are made.” In the case of net neutrality, he argues, the millions of comments didn’t ultimately sway what the first The President administration wanted to do. “What I know about misinformation more generally is that misinformation generally has minimal effects on what people believe or what they do,” says Jonathan Brennan, director of the Center on Technology Policy at NYU. “I’d be far more concerned about the secondary effects of a general loss in trust— government officials saying, well, we can’t really trust any public comments, maybe they’re all fake, maybe they’re not, so we’re just going to give them less weight.” A local school board, for example, might theoretically listen more to people who show up to comment in person, making it harder for others to share their opinion if they don’t have time to attend. Agencies can use technology to sort through digital comments and summarize duplicates, Balla says. That’s different from older mass comments that showed up on postcards. “Back in the old days in the 90s, I was talking to an agency that got at that time maybe 100,000 comments,” he says. “Those were still paper based. They literally had some warehouse space out in Rockville, Maryland, where they were basically putting the pieces of paper into piles. That was a lot of work. Now you get 100,000 comments, and 99,000 of them are going to be nearly identical. And you can figure that out in seconds.” Still, if AI can easily generate a series of unique comments, the process could get harder. The Sierra Club’s Plummer suggests that something needs to change. “Astroturfing and the creation of front groups—polluting industry working to create the illusion of widespread support for a position—is nothing new,” he says. “Our big concern, though, is that these new technologies with AI proliferating is going to put these tactics on steroids and make them even more insidious and difficult to root out. And it is, in my opinion, a direct threat to democratic processes and decision making.” At the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the board voted narrowly to defeat the proposed rule that would have curbed pollution. Though CiviClick touted its work in influencing the decision, it’s hard to say what impact the comments had. The board directed the agency to send the rule back to a committee for further discussion. The rule could be revisited later, though no timeline has been set. Now, the Sierra Club is asking California’s attorney general and LA’s district attorney to launch a fraud investigation. State senator Christopher Cabaldon also recently introduced a new bill, called “People Not Bots,” which would clarify that AI tools don’t qualify as people and shouldn’t be offering fake public input. And at the air quality agency in Southern California, staff are exploring ways to make comment submission more secure, including portals that could offer new ways to verify that a submission is coming from a human—though that’s a harder and harder task to perform. “Maintaining the integrity of our public process is a top priority,” says Yeung. View the full article

Small publishers are seeing sharp traffic declines from AI search experiences, according to new data from thousands of global sites using Chartbeat analytics. The details. Publishers with 1,000 to 10,000 daily pageviews lost 60% of search referral traffic over two years, Chartbeat found. Mid-sized sites with 10,000 to 100,000 daily pageviews lost 47%. Large publishers with more than 100,000 daily pageviews were down 22%. Reality check. AI referrals aren’t replacing lost search traffic. Google Search pageviews fell 34% year over year. Google Discover dropped 15%. ChatGPT referrals rose 200% but still account for less than 1% of total traffic. Yes, but. Traffic is shifting, not disappearing. Total weekly pageviews across publishers fell just 6% from 2024 to 2025, a typical swing tied partly to the news cycle. Search is shrinking as a share of traffic, while direct, internal, and messaging channels are growing. Why we care. SEO has long been the growth engine for smaller sites. That’s no longer true. If you don’t have a strong brand, direct audience relationships, repeat visitors, or differentiated value, you face the biggest risk as search referrals decline. The Axios report. Exclusive: Small publishers hit hardest by search traffic declines. View the full article

Exploration of deal worth tens of billions of dollars reflects struggle of both companies to combat subdued demandView the full article

To effectively enhance engagement on social media, you can utilize several post types that resonate with your audience. For instance, This or That polls can encourage quick interactions, whereas open-ended questions invite deeper conversations. Highlighting user-generated content nurtures community trust, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks humanize your brand. Each of these strategies plays an essential role in cultivating a more interactive environment. But there’s more to discover about how these techniques can uplift your social media presence. Key Takeaways Utilize This or That Polls to spark quick interactions and discussions among followers, enhancing community engagement. Post Open-Ended Questions to invite deeper conversations and gain insights into audience preferences and experiences. Highlight User-Generated Content to build trust and increase engagement, showcasing real customer experiences with your brand. Share Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks to humanize your brand, fostering personal connections and increased audience loyalty. Host Live Q&A Sessions with user-generated questions to drive real-time interaction and community involvement, enhancing viewer participation. This or That Polls How can you effectively engage your followers on social media? One excellent approach is through “This or That” polls. These polls present your audience with two simple choices, encouraging quick responses and driving interaction. They’re particularly effective for social media Facebook engagement posts, as users find relatable questions easier to answer than complex prompts. By sparking discussions, these polls additionally improve community building, allowing users to discover shared interests. To maximize visibility and engagement, post during peak activity times when your audience is most active. Incorporating visuals or emojis can further raise these engagement social media posts, making them visually appealing and relatable. With these strategies, you’re likely to see a boost in your overall engagement rates. Open-Ended Questions What makes open-ended questions such an effective tool for engaging your audience on social media? They encourage deeper engagement by prompting users to share their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Research shows that posts with open-ended questions can increase comment rates by up to 50%, which greatly boosts interaction. Moreover, these questions reveal valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and pain points, allowing you to tailor your content and offerings. User-Generated Content Highlights User-generated content (UGC) serves as a potent asset for brands aiming to improve engagement and authenticity. With 79% of people indicating that UGC greatly influences their purchasing decisions, it’s clear that showcasing customer-created content matters. Brands that highlight UGC often experience a 20% boost in engagement rates, encouraging community participation and trust. Posts featuring UGC typically receive 4.5 times more likes and 6.9 times more engagement compared to brand-generated content, enhancing visibility. By encouraging UGC through contests or campaigns, you can expand your reach; participants tend to share their contributions within their networks, further increasing brand exposure. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks offer a unique opportunity for you to showcase team collaboration moments, daily operations, and your office culture. By sharing these insights, you can humanize your brand and cultivate a sense of community among your audience. This approach not just encourages engagement but likewise generates anticipation for upcoming products or events, leading to increased customer spending. Team Collaboration Moments When you share moments of team collaboration, you not only showcase the effort that goes into your projects but also create an opportunity for your audience to connect with your brand on a more personal level. Highlighting these moments promotes authenticity, increasing brand loyalty among your followers. Research shows that posts featuring behind-the-scenes content receive 38% more engagement than standard posts, making them highly effective. By using candid photos or short videos, you can increase engagement by up to 50%, as audiences are drawn to relatable content. Furthermore, sharing stories about teamwork encourages conversations; 71% of consumers are more likely to engage with brands that present relatable experiences, helping you nurture a sense of community around your brand. Daily Operations Highlights Showcasing daily operations highlights offers a unique opportunity to engage your audience and build a deeper connection with your brand. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, you humanize your brand, allowing followers to connect with your team and processes. This approach can increase audience loyalty by up to 62%. Furthermore, transparency is improved, making your audience feel included and nurturing trust. Posts that provide glimpses into daily operations often lead to higher engagement rates, as curiosity about your company’s inner workings drives interaction. Utilizing visual storytelling, such as photos and videos, can greatly boost engagement, with posts featuring images receiving more clicks and shares. Regularly showcasing these highlights creates a consistent narrative, encouraging followers to return for updates and driving community growth. Fun Office Culture Creating an inviting office culture can greatly improve your brand’s image and promote stronger connections with your audience. Behind-the-scenes content showcasing fun office culture humanizes your brand and can drive engagement rates by up to 62%. Sharing candid moments from team celebrations or activities encourages your followers to connect personally, increasing post shares. Visual storytelling through images or videos of daily office life boosts relatability, with such posts receiving up to 94% more views and engagement. Engaging content like “Day in the Life” posts or staff spotlights invites conversations, strengthening community ties. Furthermore, utilizing polls or questions about office culture can stimulate discussions, as 71% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that actively engage with them. Interactive Quizzes How can interactive quizzes improve your social media engagement? They greatly boost engagement by encouraging users to participate, which leads to longer time spent on your posts. This interaction can improve visibility in social media algorithms. Quizzes generate up to 70% more shares compared to standard posts, increasing your content’s discoverability within users’ networks. Moreover, quizzes promote user-generated content as participants often share their results, promoting your brand organically. They likewise provide valuable insights into audience preferences and behaviors, enabling you to tailor future content strategies effectively. Share Your Success Stories Success stories resonate with audiences since they provide relatable, real-world examples of how a product or service can make a difference. By sharing these narratives, you can boost audience engagement by up to 30%, as they evoke emotional connections and inspire trust in your brand. Noteworthy, 79% of consumers report that user-generated content, including testimonials and success stories, considerably sways their purchasing decisions. Highlighting real-life case studies improves your credibility, with 92% of consumers trusting peer recommendations over traditional advertisements. Additionally, success stories serve as influential social proof, showcasing positive impacts on customers, which can raise conversion rates by 20-40%. Adding visuals, like before-and-after images or video testimonials, can further amplify engagement by an impressive 80%. Live Q&A Sessions Live Q&A sessions can take various formats, such as video streams or text-based chats, allowing you to choose what best fits your audience. To increase participation, consider offering incentives, like exclusive content or discounts, which can motivate your followers to engage more actively. Format Options Available Engaging your audience through live Q&A sessions offers a dynamic format that promotes real-time interaction and feedback. These sessions improve engagement metrics since participants can ask questions directly and receive instant responses. To maximize participation, promote your live Q&A in advance and send reminders on the event day. Utilizing platforms like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, or LinkedIn Live improves visibility because their algorithms favor live content. Moreover, incorporating user-generated questions nurtures a sense of community and makes attendees feel valued. Here’s a quick overview of key elements to reflect on: Element Importance Suggested Action Promotion Increases attendance Share reminders Platform Choice Improves visibility Choose popular platforms User-Generated Qs Boosts engagement Solicit questions beforehand Engagement Incentives Offered How can you make your live Q&A sessions more appealing to your audience? Engaging incentives can greatly improve participation and satisfaction. Here are four effective strategies: Exclusive Content: Offer behind-the-scenes insights or sneak peeks that viewers won’t find elsewhere. Giveaways: Encourage participation by providing prizes for selected questions or comments during the session. Expert Insights: Feature industry experts or influencers who can provide valuable information and answer audience questions. Interactive Polls: Use real-time polls to gauge opinions and make the session more dynamic, inviting audience interaction. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Social Media Posts Get the Most Engagement? Posts that encourage interaction, like questions or polls, often see higher engagement. Visual content, such as images or videos, greatly boosts visibility, as they attract more viewers. User-generated content builds trust and community involvement, influencing purchasing decisions. Timely posts that connect with current events can improve relevance and interaction rates. Furthermore, storytelling elements, like customer success stories, promote emotional connections, increasing audience engagement further. All these factors contribute to effective social media strategies. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you share five posts about your business, five posts that align with your audience’s interests, and five entertaining posts. This balanced approach helps keep your audience engaged by providing value beyond promotions. By mixing informative, relevant, and fun content, you encourage interactions and strengthen community connections. Following this rule can improve your brand’s visibility and nurture loyalty among your followers, enhancing overall engagement metrics. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50 30 20 rule for social media content distribution suggests that you should allocate 50% of your posts to engaging and entertaining your audience, 30% to informative and educational content, and 20% to direct promotions. This strategy helps you balance your content, nurturing community connections as you drive sales. By focusing on engaging material, you’ll likely see increased interactions, shares, and in the end, improved brand loyalty from your audience. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To increase engagement on social media, focus on high-quality visuals, as they attract more views. Ask engaging questions in your posts, since many consumers appreciate sharing their opinions. Consistently post 2-3 times a week and choose ideal times for your audience. Use relevant hashtags to improve discoverability, and actively respond to comments to encourage community interaction. These strategies can greatly boost your engagement rates and establish a stronger connection with your audience. Conclusion By implementing these seven engaging post types—This or That polls, open-ended questions, user-generated content highlights, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, interactive quizzes, success story shares, and live Q&A sessions—you can effectively boost your social media engagement. Each type encourages interaction, nurtures community, and humanizes your brand, leading to a more active and connected audience. Experiment with these formats to see which resonates best with your followers, and adapt your strategy based on their preferences for best results. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Engaging Social Media Posts to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To effectively enhance engagement on social media, you can utilize several post types that resonate with your audience. For instance, This or That polls can encourage quick interactions, whereas open-ended questions invite deeper conversations. Highlighting user-generated content nurtures community trust, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks humanize your brand. Each of these strategies plays an essential role in cultivating a more interactive environment. But there’s more to discover about how these techniques can uplift your social media presence. Key Takeaways Utilize This or That Polls to spark quick interactions and discussions among followers, enhancing community engagement. Post Open-Ended Questions to invite deeper conversations and gain insights into audience preferences and experiences. Highlight User-Generated Content to build trust and increase engagement, showcasing real customer experiences with your brand. Share Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks to humanize your brand, fostering personal connections and increased audience loyalty. Host Live Q&A Sessions with user-generated questions to drive real-time interaction and community involvement, enhancing viewer participation. This or That Polls How can you effectively engage your followers on social media? One excellent approach is through “This or That” polls. These polls present your audience with two simple choices, encouraging quick responses and driving interaction. They’re particularly effective for social media Facebook engagement posts, as users find relatable questions easier to answer than complex prompts. By sparking discussions, these polls additionally improve community building, allowing users to discover shared interests. To maximize visibility and engagement, post during peak activity times when your audience is most active. Incorporating visuals or emojis can further raise these engagement social media posts, making them visually appealing and relatable. With these strategies, you’re likely to see a boost in your overall engagement rates. Open-Ended Questions What makes open-ended questions such an effective tool for engaging your audience on social media? They encourage deeper engagement by prompting users to share their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Research shows that posts with open-ended questions can increase comment rates by up to 50%, which greatly boosts interaction. Moreover, these questions reveal valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and pain points, allowing you to tailor your content and offerings. User-Generated Content Highlights User-generated content (UGC) serves as a potent asset for brands aiming to improve engagement and authenticity. With 79% of people indicating that UGC greatly influences their purchasing decisions, it’s clear that showcasing customer-created content matters. Brands that highlight UGC often experience a 20% boost in engagement rates, encouraging community participation and trust. Posts featuring UGC typically receive 4.5 times more likes and 6.9 times more engagement compared to brand-generated content, enhancing visibility. By encouraging UGC through contests or campaigns, you can expand your reach; participants tend to share their contributions within their networks, further increasing brand exposure. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks offer a unique opportunity for you to showcase team collaboration moments, daily operations, and your office culture. By sharing these insights, you can humanize your brand and cultivate a sense of community among your audience. This approach not just encourages engagement but likewise generates anticipation for upcoming products or events, leading to increased customer spending. Team Collaboration Moments When you share moments of team collaboration, you not only showcase the effort that goes into your projects but also create an opportunity for your audience to connect with your brand on a more personal level. Highlighting these moments promotes authenticity, increasing brand loyalty among your followers. Research shows that posts featuring behind-the-scenes content receive 38% more engagement than standard posts, making them highly effective. By using candid photos or short videos, you can increase engagement by up to 50%, as audiences are drawn to relatable content. Furthermore, sharing stories about teamwork encourages conversations; 71% of consumers are more likely to engage with brands that present relatable experiences, helping you nurture a sense of community around your brand. Daily Operations Highlights Showcasing daily operations highlights offers a unique opportunity to engage your audience and build a deeper connection with your brand. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, you humanize your brand, allowing followers to connect with your team and processes. This approach can increase audience loyalty by up to 62%. Furthermore, transparency is improved, making your audience feel included and nurturing trust. Posts that provide glimpses into daily operations often lead to higher engagement rates, as curiosity about your company’s inner workings drives interaction. Utilizing visual storytelling, such as photos and videos, can greatly boost engagement, with posts featuring images receiving more clicks and shares. Regularly showcasing these highlights creates a consistent narrative, encouraging followers to return for updates and driving community growth. Fun Office Culture Creating an inviting office culture can greatly improve your brand’s image and promote stronger connections with your audience. Behind-the-scenes content showcasing fun office culture humanizes your brand and can drive engagement rates by up to 62%. Sharing candid moments from team celebrations or activities encourages your followers to connect personally, increasing post shares. Visual storytelling through images or videos of daily office life boosts relatability, with such posts receiving up to 94% more views and engagement. Engaging content like “Day in the Life” posts or staff spotlights invites conversations, strengthening community ties. Furthermore, utilizing polls or questions about office culture can stimulate discussions, as 71% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that actively engage with them. Interactive Quizzes How can interactive quizzes improve your social media engagement? They greatly boost engagement by encouraging users to participate, which leads to longer time spent on your posts. This interaction can improve visibility in social media algorithms. Quizzes generate up to 70% more shares compared to standard posts, increasing your content’s discoverability within users’ networks. Moreover, quizzes promote user-generated content as participants often share their results, promoting your brand organically. They likewise provide valuable insights into audience preferences and behaviors, enabling you to tailor future content strategies effectively. Share Your Success Stories Success stories resonate with audiences since they provide relatable, real-world examples of how a product or service can make a difference. By sharing these narratives, you can boost audience engagement by up to 30%, as they evoke emotional connections and inspire trust in your brand. Noteworthy, 79% of consumers report that user-generated content, including testimonials and success stories, considerably sways their purchasing decisions. Highlighting real-life case studies improves your credibility, with 92% of consumers trusting peer recommendations over traditional advertisements. Additionally, success stories serve as influential social proof, showcasing positive impacts on customers, which can raise conversion rates by 20-40%. Adding visuals, like before-and-after images or video testimonials, can further amplify engagement by an impressive 80%. Live Q&A Sessions Live Q&A sessions can take various formats, such as video streams or text-based chats, allowing you to choose what best fits your audience. To increase participation, consider offering incentives, like exclusive content or discounts, which can motivate your followers to engage more actively. Format Options Available Engaging your audience through live Q&A sessions offers a dynamic format that promotes real-time interaction and feedback. These sessions improve engagement metrics since participants can ask questions directly and receive instant responses. To maximize participation, promote your live Q&A in advance and send reminders on the event day. Utilizing platforms like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, or LinkedIn Live improves visibility because their algorithms favor live content. Moreover, incorporating user-generated questions nurtures a sense of community and makes attendees feel valued. Here’s a quick overview of key elements to reflect on: Element Importance Suggested Action Promotion Increases attendance Share reminders Platform Choice Improves visibility Choose popular platforms User-Generated Qs Boosts engagement Solicit questions beforehand Engagement Incentives Offered How can you make your live Q&A sessions more appealing to your audience? Engaging incentives can greatly improve participation and satisfaction. Here are four effective strategies: Exclusive Content: Offer behind-the-scenes insights or sneak peeks that viewers won’t find elsewhere. Giveaways: Encourage participation by providing prizes for selected questions or comments during the session. Expert Insights: Feature industry experts or influencers who can provide valuable information and answer audience questions. Interactive Polls: Use real-time polls to gauge opinions and make the session more dynamic, inviting audience interaction. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Social Media Posts Get the Most Engagement? Posts that encourage interaction, like questions or polls, often see higher engagement. Visual content, such as images or videos, greatly boosts visibility, as they attract more viewers. User-generated content builds trust and community involvement, influencing purchasing decisions. Timely posts that connect with current events can improve relevance and interaction rates. Furthermore, storytelling elements, like customer success stories, promote emotional connections, increasing audience engagement further. All these factors contribute to effective social media strategies. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you share five posts about your business, five posts that align with your audience’s interests, and five entertaining posts. This balanced approach helps keep your audience engaged by providing value beyond promotions. By mixing informative, relevant, and fun content, you encourage interactions and strengthen community connections. Following this rule can improve your brand’s visibility and nurture loyalty among your followers, enhancing overall engagement metrics. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50 30 20 rule for social media content distribution suggests that you should allocate 50% of your posts to engaging and entertaining your audience, 30% to informative and educational content, and 20% to direct promotions. This strategy helps you balance your content, nurturing community connections as you drive sales. By focusing on engaging material, you’ll likely see increased interactions, shares, and in the end, improved brand loyalty from your audience. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To increase engagement on social media, focus on high-quality visuals, as they attract more views. Ask engaging questions in your posts, since many consumers appreciate sharing their opinions. Consistently post 2-3 times a week and choose ideal times for your audience. Use relevant hashtags to improve discoverability, and actively respond to comments to encourage community interaction. These strategies can greatly boost your engagement rates and establish a stronger connection with your audience. Conclusion By implementing these seven engaging post types—This or That polls, open-ended questions, user-generated content highlights, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, interactive quizzes, success story shares, and live Q&A sessions—you can effectively boost your social media engagement. Each type encourages interaction, nurtures community, and humanizes your brand, leading to a more active and connected audience. Experiment with these formats to see which resonates best with your followers, and adapt your strategy based on their preferences for best results. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Engaging Social Media Posts to Boost Engagement" 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. Robot vacuums are peak if you’re looking to minimize your cleaning routine (who isn’t?). One of the most intriguing models on the market is the Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone rcombination obot vacuum and mop, which earned a 2026 CES Innovation Award thanks to its unique 4WD design and built-in debris canister, which sets it apart from competitors and predecessors alike. Right now, the Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone is 40% off, bringing it down to an all-time low price of $899 (originally $1,499). Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone Robot Vacuum and Mop, $1,499.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $1,499.00 at Amazon As CNET notes in its review, the four-wheel drive design prevents this vacuum from getting stuck during its runs and allows it to better navigate thresholds between rooms. Its body has a large canister in the middle that collects and compacts debris, an improvement over other self-emptying models that rely on disposable dust bags. It’s equipped with hot-water washing with auto-refill, dry, and self-clean cycles, as well as anti-tangle brushes, which is ideal for pet owners and carpeting. The base station also recharges the battery when it parks itself to wash its mops and drop off dirt, minimizing charging time. The battery, which has a 200-minute runtime, also features fast charging. The unit holds two containers for detergant: one for regular formula and another for heavy-duty cleaner, both sold by Ecovacs. While this might ultimately increase maintenance costs, the ability to automatically switch between cleaners to tackle tougher messes should result in cleaner floors. Suction power is 19,500Pa, and it is equipped with the same boosted large-airflow suction technology that made the vetted Ecovacs X9 perform well in suction tests from PCMag. The 11X Omnicyclone comes with the brand’s signature on-device AI assistant, which adapts to your cleaning preferences over time. It's compatible with Matter, Apple Home, and Google Home smart home systems. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam Plus (2025) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, may be visible in nearly 19 U.S. states tonight, Wednesday, March 18 into Thursday, March 19, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center. The aurora borealis is the result of a geomagnetic storm that occurs when a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material, reaches Earth and causes swaths of green, blue, and purple colors to appear in the dark sky. We are currently seeing increased solar activity as the result of an 11-year sun cycle peak. NOAA says this G2, or moderate geomagnetic storm is partially thanks to Friday’s upcoming spring equinox, or “the equinox effect.” The effect doubles the chance of auroras when Earth tilts its axis, thereby causing the planet’s magnetic field to better align in a way to uptake solar material. Where will the northern lights be visible? According to the NOAA’s map, a total of 19 states are in the line of view for the aurora tonight. Those states are: Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New  Hampshire, North  Dakota, Oregon, South  Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and northern parts of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. When is the best time to see the aurora borealis? For the best viewing, the NOAA recommends facing north, in a spot away from light pollution, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. You can track the aurora on the NOAA’s website, where the agency is providing updates and visibility in real time, with a 30-minute aurora forecast. View the full article

There’s long been debate as to whether coffee is good for you. But this new study suggests that caffeinated coffee, as well as caffeinated tea, could lead to lower incidence of dementia. So if your morning routine involves making a bleary-eyed beeline to the coffee maker immediately upon waking—you may be doing something right. The study comes from researchers at Mass General Brigham and the Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, and was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The teams studied 131,821 individuals from two cohorts: one group of men and one group of women in the U.S., all of whom did not have diseases like dementia, cancer, or Parkinson’s at the start of the study. The researchers followed up with the participants to track their coffee and tea drinking habits every two to four years, with some follow-ups even after 43 years, from the early 1980s to 2023. What the researchers discovered was that moderate amounts of caffeinated coffee and tea may have protective effects on the brain, particularly when it comes to staving off dementia: Of the participants, 11,033 developed dementia over the course of the study. Those who consumed more caffeinated coffee or caffeinated tea had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia when compared with those who did not. The same participants who consumed caffeinated coffee or tea performed better on questionnaire-based cognitive assessments, and experienced lower rates of cognitive decline: 7.8% compared to 9.5% of the non-coffee drinkers. The results did not hold true for participants who drank decaffeinated coffee or tea. This finding is significant, the teams say, because the link between coffee and health effects—particularly caffeinated versus decaffeinated—has been unclear. The benefits also held for people genetically predisposed to dementia. “We also compared people with different genetic predispositions to developing dementia and saw the same results—meaning coffee or caffeine is likely equally beneficial for people with high and low genetic risk of developing dementia,” said lead author Yu Zhang, a PhD student at Harvard Chan School and a research trainee at Mass General Brigham, per Science Daily. So, how much coffee or tea should you drink to support your brain health? According to the research, the biggest protective effects were seen in “moderate” caffeine intake. Those who drank two to three cups of coffee daily, or one to two cups of tea daily, saw the biggest brain benefits. Per previous research, drinking your caffeinated beverage sans cream and sugar offers benefits to your heart and may lengthen your lifespan, too. Dr. Daniel Wang, associate scientist with the Channing Division of Network Medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, says the latest results are certainly “encouraging.” But he noted that the “effect size” is still relatively small, and that “there are lots of important ways to protect cognitive function as we age.” “Our study suggests that caffeinated coffee or tea consumption can be one piece of that puzzle,” he said. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. When digital music first started popping off, the vast majority of us didn't care all that much about audio quality. Some of the less, erm, legal methods of downloading music offered horrific quality audio, while even the best options at the same (i.e., iTunes) only supported MP3, a relatively low-quality codec. Times have changed: While most of us still aren't necessarily audiophiles, we do expect high-quality tracks from the streaming services we use—especially if we pay for them. It might not be the "gold standard," but streaming sounds great, even with wireless headphones. But there is a clear ceiling in audio quality for those of us that listen this way. Bluetooth can only support 320 kbit/s, which is good enough for many of us, but does mean you lose details originally there in the mastered track. If you have the right setup, including the right streaming plan, you can listen to your home in higher quality, preserving those details. Spotify might've been late to the game, but it does now support lossless audio for Premium subscribers, which can playback at up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz. With a good pair of wired headphones, you may hear some finer details than you're used to. Now, Spotify is back with another quality booster—at least for a very specific type of subscriber. The feature, called "Exclusive Mode," is meant for Windows listeners to get even more out of their lossless audio playback. (Spotify says a Mac version is in the works.) But while any increase in audio quality sounds like a good deal, you probably won't notice too much of a difference here. How Spotify's "Exclusive Mode" worksAccording to Spotify, Exclusive Mode is meant to achieve "Bit Perfect playback" from your PC. It does so by assigning Spotify as your PC's only source for audio processing. Typically, when listening to Spotify on Windows, you have any number of other apps and services running their audio sources through Windows's audio mixer. That could include notifications from Slack or Teams, Windows alerts, video playback if you click a YouTube link; anything that makes noise on your PC, routes through the same mixer. Spotify says that the music you listen to in its app could be altered before it reaches your DAC (Digital Audio Converter), either because Windows resamples it, changes its volume, or mixes these other sounds in. Exclusive Mode, then, disables all of those other audio sources, so that Spotify's lossless audio is never compromised in that automated mixing. If you're a purest, that might be a welcome change: You'll know that the 24-bit/44.1 kHz audio you're paying for is coming out of your headphones or speakers exactly as it was leaving your Spotify app. You probably won't notice a difference with Spotify's Exclusive ModeThere are some caveats and drawbacks here, however. First, in order to achieve this, Spotify does have to disable all other audio sources on your PC. That means when using Exclusive Mode, you won't actually be able to hear anything else on your computer. You might miss work messages or important Windows alerts if you're not paying attentions to your notifications. If that doesn't matter to you, you can ignore that issue, but it's important to know before you start using Exclusive Mode, well, exclusively. That includes non-music playback in Spotify itself, including music videos, podcasts, previews, and canvas clips. These might also run through Windows' default audio source, and, if so, you'll need to disable Exclusive Mode to use them. Spotify says you don't need a DAC or audio interface for this feature to work, but that it works best with one. A DAC converts a digital signal into an analog one, for outputting to wired headphones or speakers. Spotify says if your PC has a headphone or speaker port, it might have a DAC built in, but you may want to confirm this if you want to listen in the highest possible quality. Otherwise, you'll want to pick up a DAC or audio interface. iFi Audio Go Link Max $79.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $79.00 at Amazon Of course, the biggest caveat of all is that even with the perfect setup—a DAC, great wired headphones, Exclusive Mode playing back lossless audio—you might not notice the difference. The higher quality the audio files, the better the music will sound, yes, but as with many media formats, there are diminishing returns in what you notice as you improve your setup. Going from MP3 tracks with a cheap pair of earbuds, to AirPods with 320 kbit/s playback on Spotify is going to be night and day; going from the latter to a wired headphone setup with lossless audio running through a DAC, on the other hand, might be day and slightly sunnier day. If you already have such a setup, and you enjoy listening to your music in the highest possible quality, this is probably a worthwhile setting to try. If nothing else, you can see whether you notice the uptick in quality, and, if you don't, you can disable it, and get the rest of your Windows sounds back. How to enable Exclusive Mode in SpotifyAgain, this feature is currently exclusive to Spotify Premium members on the Windows desktop app. Then, connect your DAC to your computer. (Ignore this if your computer has a DAC.) Now, open Spotify, then head to Settings > Playback > Output. Select your audio device from "Device," then click the toggle next to "Enable exclusive mode for this device." Spotify recommends you head back to Playback settings and turn off the following features while using Exclusive Mode: "Crossfade," "Automix," "Normalize Volume" and "Equalizer." View the full article