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Roku was one of the original names in streaming, and even with so many options now available from Amazon, Apple, Google and others, it remains one of the most popular options thanks to its affordable boxes and streaming sticks and widespread availability as an integrated operating system on some TV sets. The platform is speedy, simple, and supports just about every streaming app out there. If you've got a Roku or two in your life, you may not be using it to its full potential. These tips, hacks, and hidden features should help you go beyond the basic business of launching your streaming apps and get more out of your hardware, whether you've just unboxed your first Roku device, or you've been using one for years. Set up PIN protection to protect your RokuIf you've got young kids or nosy housemates living with you, you can lock certain parts of the Roku experience (including making purchases and adding new channels) behind a PIN number. This is actually done through your Roku account page on the web: Click PIN/parental controls on the left, and you can set a new PIN or change an existing one. Change the look and feel of your Roku with a new themeYou don't have to settle for the standard Roku interface visuals—you can easily switch to a different theme (which basically means a different wallpaper and screensaver). From Settings on your device, choose Themes to see alternatives provided by Roku and other people in the Roku community. You can always pick Restore default theme to go back to the original look. Enable captions on replayYou might not want closed captions on all the time, but you can have them enabled whenever you skip backward. From the home screen, pick Settings > Accessibility > Captions mode > On replay to enable this. Note that the streaming app you're using needs to support the feature as well, so it may not work everywhere. Put your most-watched apps up topThis is a simple and effective one that you might not have got around to doing: You can organize the apps on the home screen so your most-used are nearer the top and easier to get to. Select any tile on the home screen, press the star button on your remote to bring up the context menu, and you'll see the Move app and Move app to top options. Make use of Guest Mode when you have company Roku devices come with a Guest Mode included. Credit: Lifehacker It's great having guests—but don't let them mess up your recommendations and viewing progress. You can put your Roku device into Guest Mode by opening Settings from the main Roku menu, then choosing Guest Mode > Enter Guest Mode. You'll be signed out of all your apps, and the Roku device will restart ready for someone else to use it. Send your photos to your Roku to view them on the big screenYou won't always be watching films and shows on your Roku of course—and when your streaming device isn't doing anything else you can get images from your Google Photos library up on your TV. To set this up, you need to head to the Photostreams page on the Roku website, sign in using your account, and then follow the instructions online. Set up a cross-platform Roku watchlistThere will often be times when you see something interesting, but don't have time to watch it right away, and that's when the Roku watchlist feature can help. Select any movie or show from the home screen, and on the listing page use the Save button to add it to your list: You can then pick Save List from the main menu to see what you've saved. Pair your Bluetooth headphones to your RokuIf you've got a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones and a Roku device that supports Bluetooth, you can pair the two together for some private audio listening— handy if you don't want to disturb anyone around you. You can do this by heading to Settings from the main Roku menu, then choosing Remotes & devices > Wireless headphones. Listen to your Roku via your smartphoneThere's another way to listen through headphones, and it doesn't require Bluetooth or wireless headphones. If you install the aforementioned Roku app on your smartphone, then plug a pair of headphones into your phone as well, you can tap Remote control in the app and then the headphone button to stream the audio right to your ears. You can use the mobile app to listen over headphones. Credit: Roku Mirror your other devices to your RokuApple devices: Roku sticks, boxes and TVs come with support for the Apple AirPlay standard built right in, so you can beam across audio and video from Apple devices, or even mirror your Mac display on the big screen. On the Roku, choose Settings then Apple AirPlay and HomeKit to make sure you're set up, then just select the AirPlay button on your Apple hardware. Android devices: For screen casting, you're not left out if you're on Android, though—as usual with Android—capabilities vary between devices. Samsung Galaxy phones have the smoothest integration: Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen, choose Smart View, and your Roku should show up as a connection option (if it's on the same wifi network). Windows devices: If you want to mirror your screen to a Roku from Windows, the process is different again. First, enable the feature on the Roku via Settings > System > Screen mirroring. Next, from Windows, click the volume and wifi icons down in the lower right corner, click the Display button, then select your Roku. Again, it needs to be on the same wifi network. Quickly find the cheapest way to rent a show or movieIf you're in the mood for a movie rental, then you've got a whole host of different streaming services to choose from—all the big ones offer film rentals on top of the content you get with your subscription. Use the Search option from the main Roku menu to look for a title, and compare the different prices across all the services you're signed up to. Control your TV with your Roku remoteYou can turn your TV on and off and adjust its volume with your Roku remote, if you'd like to. You're asked if you want to do this when you first set up your Roku device, but you can configure it afterwards too: Pick Settings > Remotes & devices > Remotes, then choose the remote you've currently got connected, and then pick Set up remote for TV control. 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A failed product launch rarely comes from building the wrong thing. It comes from the right thing shipping while everyone else is out of position: sales unaware, marketing three days late, and support fielding questions without documentation. The feature shipped on Friday. Jira tickets closed. Engineering moved on. Monday morning, sales gets a customer question about the new feature and has no idea it exists. Marketing’s email goes out on Wednesday, announcing something customers already found on their own. Support has been improvising answers all weekend. Product launches involve multiple teams working independently on overlapping timelines. When coordination fails, launches feel chaotic even when the product itself is solid. This checklist covers the cross-functional coordination required for successful product launches, organized by phase and function so nothing falls through the cracks. Why product launches go wrong Failed launches are rarely caused by a single catastrophic mistake. They come from accumulated small oversights across teams that are each doing their jobs but not coordinating effectively. The information silo problem Each team has its own tools and communication channels. Engineering tracks work in Jira. Marketing plans campaigns in Asana or monday.com, and even connecting monday.com to Jira only solves part of the problem. Sales manages their pipeline in Salesforce. These systems do not naturally share information, so teams operate with different views of what is happening and when. When the engineering timeline shifts, marketing may not find out until their scheduled launch date passes. When marketing’s messaging changes, sales may still be using old talking points. Information silos create coordination failures even when everyone has good intentions. The “it’s someone else’s job” problem Launch coordination falls into gaps between team responsibilities. Engineering’s job is to build and deploy. Marketing’s job is to build attention. The sales team’s job is to sell. Nobody’s explicit job is to ensure these activities happen in the right sequence with the right information. The PM often becomes the implicit coordinator, but without a clear process, things slip. The timing mismatch problem Different teams work on different timelines. Engineering commits to sprints. Marketing plans campaigns weeks in advance. Sales forecasts quarterly. A launch date that makes sense for engineering may not align with marketing’s campaign calendar or sales’s quarterly push. When these timelines are not reconciled early, teams scramble to adapt. Marketing compresses their preparation. Sales gets last-minute updates. Support writes documentation the day before launch. Rush creates errors. The product launch checklist framework Rather than a single flat checklist, organize launch preparation into phases. Each phase has its own timing and stakeholders. Completing each phase creates a checkpoint before moving to the next. Phase one (four to six weeks before launch) Planning establishes who does what and when. This phase happens before serious launch preparation begins. Define launch scope and type Not every release needs the same level of launch. Define the launch tier: Tier One (Major): New product, significant new capability, or strategic repositioning. Requires full cross-functional coordination, press, and customer communication. Tier Two (Moderate): Meaningful new feature or significant improvement. Requires marketing announcement, sales enablement, and support documentation. Tier Three (Minor): Small enhancement or bug fix. Requires release notes and support awareness, minimal marketing. The tier determines which checklist items apply and how much lead time each team needs. Establish launch date and dependencies Confirm the target launch date with engineering. Identify what must be true for that date to hold: feature complete, QA passed, staging validated, performance acceptable. If any dependencies are at risk, adjust the timeline now rather than scrambling later. Assign launch roles Who is responsible for each function? Explicit assignments prevent the “I thought you were handling that” problem. Launch lead (usually PM): Overall coordination, decision-making, escalation Engineering lead: Technical deployment, monitoring, rollback if needed Marketing lead: Messaging, campaign execution, content creation Sales enablement lead: Training, collateral, objection handling Support lead: Documentation, team training, escalation procedures Customer success lead (if applicable): High-touch customer communication, early access coordination Create launch communication channels Set up a dedicated channel (Slack, Teams) for launch coordination. All launch-related updates flow through this channel. This prevents information from scattering across email threads, DMs, and meeting notes. Draft the launch brief Create a single document that captures: What is launching (feature description, screenshots, demo) Why it matters (customer problems solved, strategic value) Who it’s for (target users, use cases) When it’s launching (date, time, timezone) How teams should prepare (links to detailed plans by function) This brief becomes the source of truth that all teams reference. Phase two (two to four weeks before launch) Each team executes its preparation based on the launch brief. The launch lead coordinates but doesn’t do everything personally. Engineering preparation Feature code complete and merged QA testing complete with sign-off Performance testing complete (if applicable) Deployment plan documented Rollback plan documented Monitoring and alerting configured Feature flag strategy confirmed (if using) Database migrations tested (if applicable) Marketing preparation Messaging finalized and approved Launch blog post drafted and reviewed Email campaign created and scheduled Social media content prepared Website updates ready to publish Press release drafted (Tier One only) Customer case study or testimonial lined up (if available) Internal announcement for company-wide awareness Sales preparation Sales talking points documented Demo environment updated with new feature Objection handling guide created Pricing impact documented (if any) Competitive positioning updated Target account list for proactive outreach Sales team training scheduled Support preparation Knowledge base articles drafted Internal support documentation updated Support team briefed on new feature Escalation path for new-feature issues defined FAQ prepared based on anticipated questions Macros or templates updated for common responses Customer success preparation (if applicable) High-touch customers identified for early access or heads-up Customer communication drafted Onboarding materials updated Success metrics defined for new feature adoption Phase three (one week before launch) Validation ensures everything is ready before committing to the launch date. Technical validation Staging environment demo confirms feature works as expected PM sign-off on feature completeness and quality No critical bugs open against launch items Deployment dry run completed (for complex deployments) Content validation All marketing content reviewed for accuracy against final feature Screenshots and demos reflect actual functionality Sales materials reviewed by PM for accuracy Support documentation reviewed for completeness Coordination validation All teams confirmed ready for launch date Launch sequence documented (who does what, in what order) Rollback triggers defined (what would cause us to delay) Post-launch monitoring plan confirmed Go/No-Go decision One week before launch, hold a go/no-go meeting. All functional leads attend. Review readiness against checklist. Make an explicit decision to proceed, delay, or scope-down. Document the decision and communicate to all stakeholders. Phase four (launch day) Launch day should be execution, not preparation. If you are scrambling to prepare materials on launch day, something went wrong earlier. Pre-launch (morning of) Final confirmation that deployment is ready All content staged and ready to publish Communication channels monitored All hands on deck for their assigned tasks Deployment Feature deployed to production Smoke testing confirms the feature works in production Monitoring confirms no errors or performance issues Feature flag enabled (if using) Announcement sequence Execute the announcement sequence in order. Typical sequence: Internal announcement (all-hands email or Slack) Support documentation published In-app announcement or changelog updated Customer email sent (if applicable) Blog post published Social media posts Sales team notified to begin outreach Monitoring Engineering monitors for technical issues Support monitors for customer confusion or complaints Marketing monitors for social engagement and questions PM monitors for unexpected behavior or edge cases Phase five (one week after launch) Post-launch review captures what went well and what to improve for next time. Metrics review Adoption metrics: How many users have used the new feature? Performance metrics: Any degradation in system performance? Support metrics: Increase in related tickets? Marketing metrics: Email open rates, blog traffic, social engagement? Retrospective Hold a brief retrospective with functional leads: What went well? What should we repeat? What went poorly? What should we improve? What did we learn that affects future launches? Document the retrospective findings and update the launch checklist template. Cleanup Archive launch materials to shared location Update product documentation with final feature details Close launch-related Jira tickets and tasks Send thank-you to contributing teams Keeping launch activities coordinated The checklist provides structure, but coordination requires ongoing communication. Single source of truth for launch status Everyone involved needs to see the same launch status. This might be a shared project, a dedicated Jira epic, or a dashboard that aggregates status from multiple tools. If marketing tracks their tasks in Asana while engineering tracks theirs in Jira, someone needs to consolidate the view. Integration platforms can sync launch tasks across tools, creating visibility without requiring everyone to work in the same system. Launch stand-ups For Tier One and Tier Two launches, hold brief daily stand-ups during the week before launch. Ten minutes, all functional leads. Three questions: What did you complete? What are you working on? What is blocking you? These stand-ups catch coordination issues before they become launch-day surprises. Escalation paths Define how to escalate if something goes wrong. Who has authority to delay the launch? Who decides whether an issue is launch-blocking? What is the communication plan if launch is delayed? Having these decisions made in advance prevents chaos when problems emerge. Adapting the checklist to your team No checklist works perfectly for every team. Adapt based on your context. Adjust by launch tier Tier Three launches do not need four-week preparation. Scale the checklist to match the launch significance. A minor bug fix might need only release notes and support awareness. A major product launch might need everything on this list and more. Adjust by team size Small teams may have one person covering multiple roles. The checklist items still apply, but one person may execute several. Large teams may need additional coordination layers and more explicit handoffs. Adjust by launch cadence Teams that ship weekly need lighter-weight coordination than teams that ship quarterly. Frequent launches justify investing in automation and templates that reduce per-launch effort. Capture what you learn After each launch, update the checklist based on what you learned. If you always forget something specific, add it. If a checklist item never applies, remove it. The checklist should evolve with your team’s experience. Making product launches repeatable A successful launch is not the goal. Repeatable successful launches are the goal. That requires a process that scales and improves. Invest in templates, automation, and coordination tools that reduce per-launch effort. Document what works. Train new team members on the launch process. Treat launch coordination as a capability to build, not a burden to survive. When launches are repeatable, teams spend less energy on coordination and more on making the product great. Customers experience consistent, well-communicated releases. Stakeholders trust that launch dates are meaningful. And nobody finds out about a new feature from a customer complaint on Monday morning. If you are ready to coordinate product launches across your tools, see how Unito helps product and engineering teams stay aligned. View the full article

Have you ever tried to find inspiration for ads by scrolling your own Facebook feed? Then you know that most companies’ ads aren’t very compelling. Also, scrolling Facebook in this day and age is weirdly exhausting. Here’s the truth: most high-performing ads in 2026 aren’t winning the day because they’re wildly original or uniquely “viral” (do we still call something that?). They’re winning because they follow the same repeatable templates that smart marketers have been using for decades. (Yes, even now. Even with AI. Even with “creative strategy” and words like “scrollable” being used non-ironically in business initiatives.) This article goes back to basics, eschewing “inspiration” in favor of tried-and-true approaches. Below are four Facebook ad templates you can use right now, regardless of what you’re selling, with real examples that show the strategy behind top brands’ creative. 1. Problem? Meet solution Pain point → Relief → Simple next step This is advertising 101. It worked in 1926, it works in 2026, and it’s still undefeated for a reason. Despite what some business owners believe, customers don’t wake up thinking about your business. They wake up thinking about their life: “I spent too much money.” “I don’t have time.” “I feel stuck.” “I’m overwhelmed.” “I can’t stay consistent.” That means you’ve got to meet them where they are. If your customer doesn’t realize their situation is solvable, they won’t buy anything. That means, even if you’re the best solution in the world, until they recognize the problem, they won’t look for an answer. Example: ClickUp ClickUp takes a modern pain point that most tech workers struggle with on a daily basis, and reframes it into something that can actually be solved: Overwhelmed by multiple tools and apps? Stop switching between them and use one platform that does it all. This ad isn’t just selling “project management.” It’s selling: Mental relief. A single source of truth. Less context switching, more productivity. Team alignment. The promise (though some might say illusion) of control. Plug-and-play copy starter Still dealing with [problem]? You’re not alone – and you don’t have to stay stuck. [Product/service] helps you [benefit] without [common objection]. Get started → [CTA] Dig deeper: Meta Ads for lead gen: What you need to know 2. Can your competitors do this? Unique selling point → Instant comparison → ‘Oh, hey’ moment If you’re in a crowded industry fighting for market share (and in 2026, a lot of businesses are), the brands that stand out are the ones that make it easy for customers to answer one question: Why should I choose you? Let’s be clear: you don’t necessarily need a radical innovation or a show-stopping differentiator. Sometimes it’s how you do things, what you prioritize, or who you’re for. All that really matters is that you’re different in a way people can understand quickly and easily. Example: The Woobles Crocheting has been around forever. Beginner kits have existed for decades. Patterns have been sold in stores since before we were all born. And yet, somehow, The Woobles managed to grab a huge chunk of market share in a craft that’s older than the automobile. That’s impressive. This ad shows exactly how they do it. Instead of positioning crochet as “learn a new skill,” they highlight what makes them different, then continue stacking their differentiators in a way that makes the purchase feel almost inevitable: Cute, modern projects people actually want to make. Designed for true beginners. Thicker yarn and a chunky hook. Step-by-step video tutorials. That’s really the point of a strong USP ad. It’s not just “we’re unique.” It’s “here’s why this is easier, better, and faster.” Plug-and-play copy starter Most [category] products do [expected thing]. Ours does [unexpected/uncommon benefit]. Here’s what makes it different: [Differentiator 1] [Differentiator 2] Try it for yourself → [CTA] Dig deeper: Rethinking Meta Ads AI: Best practices for better results Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. 3. Say more with less Testimonial/UGC → Minimal brand talk → Trust does the selling Not every ad needs to look and sound like an ad. In fact, some of the best-performing Facebook ads in 2026 are the ones that take you a second to realize they’re sponsored. This is the “let the customer do the talking” template, and it’s everywhere on Instagram and TikTok because it works. Think creator-style, user-generated content (UGC), testimonials, and review-driven ads that feel real, slightly imperfect, and way less polished than traditional brand messaging. Oddly enough, the lack of polish is part of the appeal. It reads as “honest,” not “salesy.” Example: Allbirds Allbirds runs a simple, product-focused ad for the Tree Dasher 2, pairing a customer quote with a simple image of the shoe. “Wore these @allbirds for 13 hours and could’ve gone another 13. I never want to take them off.” That line pretty much does all the work for the ad. It implies: Comfort that lasts all day. No break-in period. Real-world wearability. The creative itself is even straightforward: product image, a few lifestyle shots, and a clean layout. It’s not trying to be flashy, it’s trying to be believable. Plug-and-play copy starter “I didn’t think anything would help, but this actually worked.” [Show the proof] If you’re dealing with [problem], try [product] → [CTA] Dig deeper: How to test UGC and EGC ads in Meta campaigns 4. The ‘quick win’ checklist 3-5 bullets → Easy decision → Low-friction CTA Sometimes people don’t want a story. They want clarity. This template works especially well on Facebook because it’s built for how people actually scroll: fast, distracted, and looking for something that solves a problem right now. Instead of writing paragraphs, you give them a handful of “yes, I want that” benefits they can absorb in two seconds. The “quick win” Checklist format: Reduces decision fatigue. Makes value instantly scannable. Highlights benefits without over-explaining. Works beautifully for cold audiences who don’t know your brand yet. Example: Little Sleepies Little Sleepies uses a simple visual and benefit callouts to answer the parent question underneath the question: “Is this actually going to make my life easier?” Instead of trying to be clever, the ad clearly lists the practical wins: Double zippers for easier diaper changes. Ultra-soft bamboo for comfort. Fits longer (up to 3x) for better value. This is a great reminder that in 2026, the ads that win aren’t always the funniest or most creative; they’re often the ones that make the buying decision feel effortless. Plug-and-play copy starter Everything you need to [achieve outcome]: [Benefit 1] [Benefit 2] [Benefit 3] Get it today → [CTA] Dig deeper: How to get better results from Meta ads with vertical video formats Templates beat inspiration every time In 2026, the brands winning on Facebook aren’t the ones reinventing advertising every week or pouring money into slick branding campaigns. They’re the ones who: Choose a proven structure. Write a clear hook. Test variations quickly. Let the results decide. You don’t need inspiration every time you write a Facebook ad. You need structures you can trust. Pick one template, write two variations, and test them against each other. Then repeat. View the full article

I’ve always been somewhat ritualistic, shaped by my Midwestern upbringing in a modest immigrant family. I remember my parents calculating the mileage of our ‘82 Honda Civic in a notepad after every fill-up, the same car I eventually inherited in high school. Or saving every receipt on vacation to audit our daily spending down to the dollar. In every sense, they were amazing parents, and their rituals instilled in me a desire to be intentional about how I lived my life. As human beings in a world of constant distraction, time is the most precious resource we have. As a CEO, managing that resource is one of the most important skills you can master. And it’s no picnic. I’ve often said work-life balance in the C-suite is an illusion. It’s a worthwhile concept, but just like every cause has an effect, every choice has a consequence. Work out or binge-watch a show? Travel the world or save for a house? One isn’t better than the other; they’re just choices. Rituals structure your time. Put simply, the more deliberate you are with your habits and behaviors, the more intentional you can be with that time. They don’t emerge from nowhere; they’re developed and refined over years of trial and error. How we create and, more importantly, maintain habits is deeply personal. What works for me almost certainly won’t work for someone else. RITUALS IN SERVICE OF OTHERS GE, a company known for its highly organized, almost programmatic culture, is where I honed many of my habits. Early in my career, I worked 12- to 13-hour days, socialized until midnight, slept four or five hours, and hit repeat. At 26, I became a manager for the first time and realized that my colleagues, many of them only a year or two younger, were looking to me for guidance. Rituals were no longer just a catalyst for my own success; they became a way to deliver on my responsibility to others—a mindset that still defines my leadership at Twilio 25 years later. THE 70-20-10 RULE About 18 months ago, I met with a mentor, a seasoned leader and board chairman for some of the world’s top businesses. He shared a piece of advice that resonated with me: never spend evenings on things that aren’t mission critical. His point was simple: if it’s not family, it better be work. Otherwise, skip it. Apart from a select few industry events, I decline nearly all networking and work-adjacent invitations so I can spend my time on what matters: showing up for my family and the company I run. Most of my rituals orbit my calendar. I refuse to fill it with anything that drains attention or energy, both people and topics, personal or professional. That’s why I adhere to a 70-20-10 rule: 70% of my time on what matters, 20% on what must get done, and 10% on what gives me energy. That leaves exactly 0% for distractions. Speaking of those work-life consequences, I’ve missed milestones and moments with friends and family I can never get back. But I made choices that were right for me at the time and have few regrets. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to carve out a life my parents only dreamed about. Today, as a soon-to-be empty nester, I’m much more intentional (and present) about building rituals around moments that matter most—that 70%—like family dinners: a ritual I almost never miss when I’m in town. RITUALS BEHIND MY ROUTINE Rituals are, by nature, structured and repetitive, but they aren’t immutable. I’ve adapted mine to meet different stages of life and career—kids, promotions, jobs. I’ve built and shed many, but these seven are most foundational for me right now: Power of a plan: It sounds obvious, but aday without a plan is a ship without a rudder. I start each day, week, month, and year with one. It prioritizes what matters and reinforces accountability. Refill the tank: My parents were firm believers in ‘work hard, play hard,’ and that mantra shapes my weekends. While I do work, I make sure Saturdays and Sundays are memorable—or ‘epic’ as my baseline. With one kid in college and another headed there soon, I prioritize my time with them as much as possible, with regular trips to the record store with my daughter or the driving range with my son. Delegate a lot: There are two forces at work here: I have a highly competent staff, and delegation empowers ownership (how else do we learn?). And it lightens my load. Avoid multitasking: Multitasking is a myth; research backs this, and so does my personal experience. It’s unavoidable sometimes, but always at the expense of something else. I try to avoid it, at work and home. Declutter the inbox: Email overload is real. I embrace a philosophy of inbox zero to reduce clutter and track priorities. No meeting default: I only attend critical meetings and believe they are for three things: dialogue, debate, and decision-making. Everything else can be done asynchronously, and I regularly purge those that don’t meet this bar. FINAL THOUGHTS The more responsibility you take on as a leader, the greater the demands on your time and energy, and the more critical it becomes to perform for those who depend on your judgment, guidance, and steady hand. Decades into my career, I’m a creature of habit. Whether in the office with colleagues, on the road with customers, or at home with family, my days are anchored by rituals. So, as the energy and enthusiasm of the New Year inevitably wanes, resolutions will too. It’s rituals, ones that fuel creativity, value precious time, and set you and your teams up for sustainable success, that last. Khozema Shipchandler is the CEO of Twilio. View the full article

Three of the world’s biggest tech companies face a landmark trial in Los Angeles starting this week over claims that their platforms—Meta’s Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Google’s YouTube—deliberately addict and harm children. Jury selection starts this week in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. It’s the first time the companies will argue their case before a jury, and the outcome could have profound effects on their businesses and how they will handle children using their platforms. The selection process is expected to take at least a few days, with 75 potential jurors questioned each day through at least Thursday. A fourth company named in the lawsuit, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., settled the case last week for an undisclosed sum. At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials—essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury and what damages, if any, may be awarded, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow of technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Importantly, the lawsuit claims that this was done through deliberate design choices made by companies that sought to make their platforms more addictive to children to boost profits. This argument, if successful, could sidestep the companies’ First Amendment shield and Section 230, which protects tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms. “Borrowing heavily from the behavioral and neurobiological techniques used by slot machines and exploited by the cigarette industry, Defendants deliberately embedded in their products an array of design features aimed at maximizing youth engagement to drive advertising revenue,” the lawsuit says. Executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to testify at the trial, which will last six to eight weeks. Experts have drawn similarities to the Big Tobacco trials that led to a 1998 settlement requiring cigarette companies to pay billions in healthcare costs and restrict marketing targeting minors. “Plaintiffs are not merely the collateral damage of Defendants’ products,” the lawsuit says. “They are the direct victims of the intentional product design choices made by each Defendant. They are the intended targets of the harmful features that pushed them into self-destructive feedback loops.” The tech companies dispute the claims that their products deliberately harm children, citing a bevy of safeguards they have added over the years and arguing that they are not liable for content posted on their sites by third parties. “Recently, a number of lawsuits have attempted to place the blame for teen mental health struggles squarely on social media companies,” Meta said in a recent blog post. “But this oversimplifies a serious issue. Clinicians and researchers find that mental health is a deeply complex and multifaceted issue, and trends regarding teens’ well-being aren’t clear-cut or universal. Narrowing the challenges faced by teens to a single factor ignores the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today, like academic pressure, school safety, socio-economic challenges and substance abuse.” Meta, YouTube, and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. The case will be the first in a slew of cases beginning this year that seek to hold social media companies responsible for harming children’s mental well-being. A federal bellwether trial beginning in June in Oakland, California, will be the first to represent school districts that have sued social media platforms over harms to children. In addition, more than 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. The majority of cases filed their lawsuits in federal court, but some sued in their respective states. TikTok also faces similar lawsuits in more than a dozen states. —Barbara Ortutay, AP Technology Writer View the full article

Customer Experience Management, or CXM, is crucial for businesses looking to optimize every interaction with customers, from their first inquiry to after they’ve made a purchase. Unlike traditional Customer Relationship Management, which primarily focuses on data, CXM emphasizes comprehension and enhancing the overall customer experience. This approach can markedly boost retention rates, drive sales, and cut service costs. But what are the key strategies and technologies that can raise your CXM efforts? Key Takeaways Customer Experience Management (CXM) optimizes customer interactions throughout the lifecycle, enhancing satisfaction from initial interest to post-purchase support. Effective CXM can boost sales by up to 20% and reduce service costs by 50%, proving its financial viability. CXM differs from CRM by prioritizing customer perspectives and real-time data for cohesive, meaningful interactions across all channels. Poor customer experiences can lead to a 32% customer switch rate, highlighting the necessity of effective CXM strategies. Implementing CXM leads to higher retention rates and revenue growth, significantly outperforming companies that neglect customer experience management. Understanding Customer Experience Management (CXM) Comprehending Customer Experience Management (CXM) is crucial for businesses aiming to improve their interactions with customers at every stage of the customer lifecycle. CXM tracks, organizes, analyzes, and optimizes customer interactions, focusing on enhancing the customer experience path from initial interest to post-purchase support. By prioritizing customer needs, companies can create positive experiences at each touchpoint, which greatly boosts engagement. A robust customer experience management system employs advanced technologies to gather insights, contrasting with traditional CRM’s internal process optimization. Businesses investing in CX management are three times more likely to exceed their goals, leading to higher revenue and customer retention. Furthermore, positive customer experiences can increase repeat purchases by 34% and recommendations by 37%. Consequently, a strong emphasis on CEM customer experience not only encourages brand loyalty but also drives sustained business growth. The Importance of Customer Experience Management In today’s competitive marketplace, the importance of Customer Experience Management (CXM) can’t be overstated, as it serves as a critical differentiator for businesses endeavoring to maintain customer loyalty and drive revenue growth. Effective customer experience management leads to significant financial benefits, including potential sales increases of up to 20% and service cost reductions of 50%. Investing in customer experience software and management solutions improves brand loyalty, as satisfied customers are 34% more likely to make repeat purchases. Furthermore, 32% of customers may switch companies after just one poor experience, making it crucial to leverage customer experience platforms and conduct thorough market research. With over 90% of consumers willing to spend more for streamlined experiences, prioritizing CXM is fundamental. Key Differences Between CXM and CRM When comparing Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), it’s crucial to understand their different perspectives and focuses. CXM prioritizes the customer’s view, aiming to improve their overall experience, whereas CRM is more about managing customer data to enhance internal processes. Furthermore, the data utilization strategies and goals of each approach differ, with CXM emphasizing real-time insights for engagement and loyalty, whereas CRM tends to focus on historical data for sales efficiency. Perspective and Focus Though both Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) aim to improve interactions with customers, they differ greatly in their perspective and focus. CXM prioritizes the customer’s viewpoint, emphasizing customized experiences through advanced technology. Conversely, CRM mainly centers on managing internal processes to drive sales. Here are some key differences: CXM utilizes real-time data for a seamless customer experience. CRM relies on historical data to maintain customer relationships. CXM integrates multiple processes across channels, enhancing overall engagement. CRM focuses primarily on organizing customer interaction data for sales activities. In essence, customer experience management is about crafting meaningful interactions, whereas client experience management through Salesforce is about optimizing sales processes. Data Utilization Strategies Even though both Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) aim to improve customer interactions, their approaches to data utilization reveal notable differences. CXM leverages real-time data flow through CXM customer experience management software solutions, providing deeper insights into customer preferences and behaviors. This enables businesses to create personalized experiences that boost engagement across multiple channels. Conversely, CRM often relies on manual data entry, which can delay responsiveness and focus primarily on internal processes. Effective data utilization strategies in CXM not only increase sales by 20% but also greatly reduce service costs. Utilizing customer experience analytic software can further streamline these processes, ensuring a holistic, customer-centric approach that cultivates long-lasting relationships. Goals and Outcomes Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) serve distinct purposes in enhancing business performance, yet their approaches yield different goals and outcomes. CXM focuses on the overall customer experience, emphasizing a customer-centric approach. It leverages real-time data for insights, unlike CRM, which often relies on manual data entry. Companies prioritizing CXM are three times more likely to exceed business goals. CXM can lead to a potential sales increase of up to 20% and significant service cost reductions. Common Challenges in Customer Experience Management When managing customer experiences, you’re likely to encounter several common challenges that can hinder your efforts. Inconsistent brand experiences across different channels can confuse customers and diminish their loyalty. Furthermore, data integration issues and departmental silos often prevent a unified comprehension of customer needs, making it difficult to deliver personalized and effective interactions. Inconsistent Brand Experiences Inconsistent brand experiences across multiple channels can greatly hinder customer satisfaction and loyalty. When your messaging and service differ across platforms, customers may feel confused and dissatisfied. This inconsistency can lead to significant consequences, such as: A 32% chance of customers switching companies after a poor experience. Fragmented customer communications arising from technology and process integration issues. Departmental silos that prevent a unified brand identity. A lack of consolidated views of customer interactions, making it harder to meet diverse needs. To combat these challenges, businesses must adopt effective customer experience management methodologies and invest in customer experience management technology. Data Integration Issues Data integration issues present significant challenges in Customer Experience Management (CXM), primarily as a result of departmental silos that create barriers in consolidating customer data. These silos complicate the tracking of customer experiences and hinder your ability to personalize interactions. Inconsistent processes across platforms further lead to miscommunication and customer dissatisfaction. Technology barriers likewise prevent you from leveraging insights from multiple data sources, resulting in missed opportunities to improve customer experiences. Challenges Impact Departmental Silos Limits unified customer view Inconsistent Processes Creates customer frustration Technology Barriers Hinders data utilization Lack of Integration Reduces customer satisfaction Overcoming these data integration challenges is essential for improving customer satisfaction and retention rates. Departmental Silos Departmental silos pose significant challenges in customer experience management, as they create fragmented data environments that obstruct the pursuit of a unified customer view. These silos hinder timely communication and collaboration, leading to inconsistent messaging that negatively impacts the customer expedition. To address this issue, consider the following: Cultivate collaboration across departments to share customer insights effectively. Integrate systems to facilitate a unified view of the customer. Encourage timely communication to improve personalized interactions. Break down barriers that complicate cohesive marketing strategies. Overcoming departmental silos is crucial; companies with unified approaches to customer experience management are three times more likely to exceed business goals and achieve higher revenue growth. Focus on collaboration to elevate your overall customer experience. Effective Strategies for Enhancing Customer Experience Improving customer experience requires a strategic approach that prioritizes consistency and personalization across all interactions. Implementing a robust customer experience management program is crucial for achieving this goal. By utilizing customer experience management tools and platforms, you can guarantee your communication remains seamless across various channels, leading to a potential 20% increase in sales. Personalization is imperative; customers are more likely to pay a premium for customized experiences based on their profiles. Furthermore, proactively addressing at-risk customers with personalized offers can greatly reduce churn rates, as 32% are willing to switch brands after a negative experience. Streamlining onboarding processes with clear instructions and regular check-ins can improve retention rates. Finally, leveraging advanced analytics from Salesforce customer experience management software companies allows for real-time insights into customer behavior, guaranteeing continuous improvement and optimization of the customer experience. The Role of Technology in CXM Technology is a cornerstone of effective Customer Experience Management (CXM), streamlining the way businesses interact with customers across various channels. By leveraging the right tools, you can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Here are some key technological components that play an essential role in CXM: Omnichannel engagement platforms guarantee consistent communication across all touchpoints, meeting customer expectations seamlessly. Advanced analytics tools utilize AI to analyze customer data, helping you forecast behavior and personalize interactions effectively. CXM software integrates various systems, providing a unified view of the customer path for better decision-making. Knowledge management solutions offer quick access to information for customers, improving their experience and satisfaction. Embracing these technologies not just improves your customer experience management efforts but promotes a more efficient, customer-centric approach to your business strategy. Measuring Success in Customer Experience Management How can businesses effectively measure success in Customer Experience Management (CXM)? One key method is by evaluating customer satisfaction scores, which can greatly influence customer retention and loyalty. Regularly conducting customer feedback surveys, both post-interaction and periodic, helps identify blind spots in the customer path and reveals areas needing improvement. Utilizing real-time data integration from all customer touchpoints enables businesses to measure behaviors and sentiments accurately, leading to better CXM strategies. According to research, organizations that effectively implement CXM can enjoy year-over-year revenue growth and customer retention rates 1.7 to 2.1 times higher than those that don’t. In addition, prioritizing customer experience can result in up to a 20% increase in sales and a reduction in service costs by up to 50%, highlighting the financial impact of customer experience management on overall business performance. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Meaning of Customer Experience Management? Customer experience management (CXM) refers to the process of tracking and optimizing customer interactions across various touchpoints throughout their expedition. It aims to improve satisfaction and cultivate loyalty by delivering personalized experiences. By analyzing customer feedback and behavior, you can identify areas for improvement and create strategies that align with customer needs. In the end, effective CXM can lead to increased customer retention, repeat purchases, and a stronger brand reputation. What Is Customer Experience and Why Is It Important? Customer experience encompasses every interaction you have with a brand, shaping your perceptions and loyalty. It’s important since a positive experience can lead to repeat purchases and recommendations, whereas a negative one might drive you away. Investing in customer experience can considerably boost revenue, as satisfied customers are likely to spend more. In addition, comprehending customer feedback helps businesses improve their offerings, ultimately nurturing brand loyalty and advocacy. What Are the 7 C’s of CRM? The 7 C’s of CRM include Customer, Cost, Convenience, Communication, Collaboration, Customization, and Consistency. You need to understand your customers’ needs for effective engagement. Evaluating the costs associated with acquiring and retaining customers is vital. Make interactions convenient across channels, maintain open communication, and encourage collaboration among departments. Tailoring experiences through customization increases satisfaction, whereas ensuring consistency across touchpoints solidifies relationships. Together, these elements aim to improve business outcomes and customer relationships. How Is CEM Different From CRM? CEM focuses on optimizing every customer interaction throughout their expedition, aiming to create positive experiences that nurture loyalty. Conversely, CRM primarily manages customer data and sales processes, emphasizing historical relationships. Meanwhile, CEM uses real-time insights for personalized engagement, CRM often relies on past data. This fundamental difference means CEM prioritizes customer perceptions and satisfaction, whereas CRM concentrates on maintaining profitable relationships and driving sales through data management. Conclusion In conclusion, Customer Experience Management (CXM) is crucial for businesses seeking to improve interactions with customers throughout their path. By comprehending and addressing customer needs, you can improve satisfaction and loyalty, eventually driving sales and reducing costs. Unlike traditional CRM, CXM focuses on the overall experience rather than just data management. To succeed, it’s important to implement effective strategies, leverage technology, and measure outcomes consistently. By prioritizing CXM, you position your business for long-term success in a competitive environment. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is Customer Experience Management and Why Does It Matter?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Customer Experience Management, or CXM, is crucial for businesses looking to optimize every interaction with customers, from their first inquiry to after they’ve made a purchase. Unlike traditional Customer Relationship Management, which primarily focuses on data, CXM emphasizes comprehension and enhancing the overall customer experience. This approach can markedly boost retention rates, drive sales, and cut service costs. But what are the key strategies and technologies that can raise your CXM efforts? Key Takeaways Customer Experience Management (CXM) optimizes customer interactions throughout the lifecycle, enhancing satisfaction from initial interest to post-purchase support. Effective CXM can boost sales by up to 20% and reduce service costs by 50%, proving its financial viability. CXM differs from CRM by prioritizing customer perspectives and real-time data for cohesive, meaningful interactions across all channels. Poor customer experiences can lead to a 32% customer switch rate, highlighting the necessity of effective CXM strategies. Implementing CXM leads to higher retention rates and revenue growth, significantly outperforming companies that neglect customer experience management. Understanding Customer Experience Management (CXM) Comprehending Customer Experience Management (CXM) is crucial for businesses aiming to improve their interactions with customers at every stage of the customer lifecycle. CXM tracks, organizes, analyzes, and optimizes customer interactions, focusing on enhancing the customer experience path from initial interest to post-purchase support. By prioritizing customer needs, companies can create positive experiences at each touchpoint, which greatly boosts engagement. A robust customer experience management system employs advanced technologies to gather insights, contrasting with traditional CRM’s internal process optimization. Businesses investing in CX management are three times more likely to exceed their goals, leading to higher revenue and customer retention. Furthermore, positive customer experiences can increase repeat purchases by 34% and recommendations by 37%. Consequently, a strong emphasis on CEM customer experience not only encourages brand loyalty but also drives sustained business growth. The Importance of Customer Experience Management In today’s competitive marketplace, the importance of Customer Experience Management (CXM) can’t be overstated, as it serves as a critical differentiator for businesses endeavoring to maintain customer loyalty and drive revenue growth. Effective customer experience management leads to significant financial benefits, including potential sales increases of up to 20% and service cost reductions of 50%. Investing in customer experience software and management solutions improves brand loyalty, as satisfied customers are 34% more likely to make repeat purchases. Furthermore, 32% of customers may switch companies after just one poor experience, making it crucial to leverage customer experience platforms and conduct thorough market research. With over 90% of consumers willing to spend more for streamlined experiences, prioritizing CXM is fundamental. Key Differences Between CXM and CRM When comparing Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), it’s crucial to understand their different perspectives and focuses. CXM prioritizes the customer’s view, aiming to improve their overall experience, whereas CRM is more about managing customer data to enhance internal processes. Furthermore, the data utilization strategies and goals of each approach differ, with CXM emphasizing real-time insights for engagement and loyalty, whereas CRM tends to focus on historical data for sales efficiency. Perspective and Focus Though both Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) aim to improve interactions with customers, they differ greatly in their perspective and focus. CXM prioritizes the customer’s viewpoint, emphasizing customized experiences through advanced technology. Conversely, CRM mainly centers on managing internal processes to drive sales. Here are some key differences: CXM utilizes real-time data for a seamless customer experience. CRM relies on historical data to maintain customer relationships. CXM integrates multiple processes across channels, enhancing overall engagement. CRM focuses primarily on organizing customer interaction data for sales activities. In essence, customer experience management is about crafting meaningful interactions, whereas client experience management through Salesforce is about optimizing sales processes. Data Utilization Strategies Even though both Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) aim to improve customer interactions, their approaches to data utilization reveal notable differences. CXM leverages real-time data flow through CXM customer experience management software solutions, providing deeper insights into customer preferences and behaviors. This enables businesses to create personalized experiences that boost engagement across multiple channels. Conversely, CRM often relies on manual data entry, which can delay responsiveness and focus primarily on internal processes. Effective data utilization strategies in CXM not only increase sales by 20% but also greatly reduce service costs. Utilizing customer experience analytic software can further streamline these processes, ensuring a holistic, customer-centric approach that cultivates long-lasting relationships. Goals and Outcomes Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) serve distinct purposes in enhancing business performance, yet their approaches yield different goals and outcomes. CXM focuses on the overall customer experience, emphasizing a customer-centric approach. It leverages real-time data for insights, unlike CRM, which often relies on manual data entry. Companies prioritizing CXM are three times more likely to exceed business goals. CXM can lead to a potential sales increase of up to 20% and significant service cost reductions. Common Challenges in Customer Experience Management When managing customer experiences, you’re likely to encounter several common challenges that can hinder your efforts. Inconsistent brand experiences across different channels can confuse customers and diminish their loyalty. Furthermore, data integration issues and departmental silos often prevent a unified comprehension of customer needs, making it difficult to deliver personalized and effective interactions. Inconsistent Brand Experiences Inconsistent brand experiences across multiple channels can greatly hinder customer satisfaction and loyalty. When your messaging and service differ across platforms, customers may feel confused and dissatisfied. This inconsistency can lead to significant consequences, such as: A 32% chance of customers switching companies after a poor experience. Fragmented customer communications arising from technology and process integration issues. Departmental silos that prevent a unified brand identity. A lack of consolidated views of customer interactions, making it harder to meet diverse needs. To combat these challenges, businesses must adopt effective customer experience management methodologies and invest in customer experience management technology. Data Integration Issues Data integration issues present significant challenges in Customer Experience Management (CXM), primarily as a result of departmental silos that create barriers in consolidating customer data. These silos complicate the tracking of customer experiences and hinder your ability to personalize interactions. Inconsistent processes across platforms further lead to miscommunication and customer dissatisfaction. Technology barriers likewise prevent you from leveraging insights from multiple data sources, resulting in missed opportunities to improve customer experiences. Challenges Impact Departmental Silos Limits unified customer view Inconsistent Processes Creates customer frustration Technology Barriers Hinders data utilization Lack of Integration Reduces customer satisfaction Overcoming these data integration challenges is essential for improving customer satisfaction and retention rates. Departmental Silos Departmental silos pose significant challenges in customer experience management, as they create fragmented data environments that obstruct the pursuit of a unified customer view. These silos hinder timely communication and collaboration, leading to inconsistent messaging that negatively impacts the customer expedition. To address this issue, consider the following: Cultivate collaboration across departments to share customer insights effectively. Integrate systems to facilitate a unified view of the customer. Encourage timely communication to improve personalized interactions. Break down barriers that complicate cohesive marketing strategies. Overcoming departmental silos is crucial; companies with unified approaches to customer experience management are three times more likely to exceed business goals and achieve higher revenue growth. Focus on collaboration to elevate your overall customer experience. Effective Strategies for Enhancing Customer Experience Improving customer experience requires a strategic approach that prioritizes consistency and personalization across all interactions. Implementing a robust customer experience management program is crucial for achieving this goal. By utilizing customer experience management tools and platforms, you can guarantee your communication remains seamless across various channels, leading to a potential 20% increase in sales. Personalization is imperative; customers are more likely to pay a premium for customized experiences based on their profiles. Furthermore, proactively addressing at-risk customers with personalized offers can greatly reduce churn rates, as 32% are willing to switch brands after a negative experience. Streamlining onboarding processes with clear instructions and regular check-ins can improve retention rates. Finally, leveraging advanced analytics from Salesforce customer experience management software companies allows for real-time insights into customer behavior, guaranteeing continuous improvement and optimization of the customer experience. The Role of Technology in CXM Technology is a cornerstone of effective Customer Experience Management (CXM), streamlining the way businesses interact with customers across various channels. By leveraging the right tools, you can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Here are some key technological components that play an essential role in CXM: Omnichannel engagement platforms guarantee consistent communication across all touchpoints, meeting customer expectations seamlessly. Advanced analytics tools utilize AI to analyze customer data, helping you forecast behavior and personalize interactions effectively. CXM software integrates various systems, providing a unified view of the customer path for better decision-making. Knowledge management solutions offer quick access to information for customers, improving their experience and satisfaction. Embracing these technologies not just improves your customer experience management efforts but promotes a more efficient, customer-centric approach to your business strategy. Measuring Success in Customer Experience Management How can businesses effectively measure success in Customer Experience Management (CXM)? One key method is by evaluating customer satisfaction scores, which can greatly influence customer retention and loyalty. Regularly conducting customer feedback surveys, both post-interaction and periodic, helps identify blind spots in the customer path and reveals areas needing improvement. Utilizing real-time data integration from all customer touchpoints enables businesses to measure behaviors and sentiments accurately, leading to better CXM strategies. According to research, organizations that effectively implement CXM can enjoy year-over-year revenue growth and customer retention rates 1.7 to 2.1 times higher than those that don’t. In addition, prioritizing customer experience can result in up to a 20% increase in sales and a reduction in service costs by up to 50%, highlighting the financial impact of customer experience management on overall business performance. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Meaning of Customer Experience Management? Customer experience management (CXM) refers to the process of tracking and optimizing customer interactions across various touchpoints throughout their expedition. It aims to improve satisfaction and cultivate loyalty by delivering personalized experiences. By analyzing customer feedback and behavior, you can identify areas for improvement and create strategies that align with customer needs. In the end, effective CXM can lead to increased customer retention, repeat purchases, and a stronger brand reputation. What Is Customer Experience and Why Is It Important? Customer experience encompasses every interaction you have with a brand, shaping your perceptions and loyalty. It’s important since a positive experience can lead to repeat purchases and recommendations, whereas a negative one might drive you away. Investing in customer experience can considerably boost revenue, as satisfied customers are likely to spend more. In addition, comprehending customer feedback helps businesses improve their offerings, ultimately nurturing brand loyalty and advocacy. What Are the 7 C’s of CRM? The 7 C’s of CRM include Customer, Cost, Convenience, Communication, Collaboration, Customization, and Consistency. You need to understand your customers’ needs for effective engagement. Evaluating the costs associated with acquiring and retaining customers is vital. Make interactions convenient across channels, maintain open communication, and encourage collaboration among departments. Tailoring experiences through customization increases satisfaction, whereas ensuring consistency across touchpoints solidifies relationships. Together, these elements aim to improve business outcomes and customer relationships. How Is CEM Different From CRM? CEM focuses on optimizing every customer interaction throughout their expedition, aiming to create positive experiences that nurture loyalty. Conversely, CRM primarily manages customer data and sales processes, emphasizing historical relationships. Meanwhile, CEM uses real-time insights for personalized engagement, CRM often relies on past data. This fundamental difference means CEM prioritizes customer perceptions and satisfaction, whereas CRM concentrates on maintaining profitable relationships and driving sales through data management. Conclusion In conclusion, Customer Experience Management (CXM) is crucial for businesses seeking to improve interactions with customers throughout their path. By comprehending and addressing customer needs, you can improve satisfaction and loyalty, eventually driving sales and reducing costs. Unlike traditional CRM, CXM focuses on the overall experience rather than just data management. To succeed, it’s important to implement effective strategies, leverage technology, and measure outcomes consistently. By prioritizing CXM, you position your business for long-term success in a competitive environment. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is Customer Experience Management and Why Does It Matter?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

America’s most iconic shoe giant is starting 2026 by laying off workers. Nike has confirmed that it will lay off 775 employees in the United States. The move marks the third year in a row that Nike has cut jobs. Here’s what you need to know about the latest Nike layoffs. What’s happened? On Monday, CNBC reported that shoe giant Nike would eliminate 775 jobs. The job cuts will primarily encompass positions at the company’s distribution centers in Mississippi and Tennessee. Nike has warehouses in those states that act as major hubs in the company’s supply chain. The distribution centers store the company’s inventory before shipping the products out to customers and retail partners. Nike’s most recent round of job cuts is the third in as many years. In 2024, Nike announced it would cut 2% of its total workforce, or about 1,600 roles. Those cuts were made so the company could reduce expenses in response to weakening sales. Then last year, Nike announced in August that it would cut about 1% of its corporate staff. Those cuts were part of a company realignment, Nike said at the time. In May 2025, Nike had around 77,800 employees. Today’s confirmed layoffs of 775 workers mean the latest job cuts equate to around 1% of its workforce. Why is Nike cutting jobs? When reached for comment, a Nike spokesperson told Fast Company that the job cuts were part of the steps the company was taking “to strengthen and streamline our operations so we can move faster, operate with greater discipline, and better serve athletes and consumers.” As part of those steps, Nike said it’s “sharpening our supply chain footprint, accelerating the use of advanced technology and automation, and investing in the skills our teams need for the future.” The company said its actions to consolidate its footprint will primarily impact its U.S. distribution operations. “These actions are designed to reduce complexity, improve flexibility, and build a more responsive, resilient, responsible, and efficient operation and to support our path back to long-term, profitable growth, including contributing to improved EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margins over time,” the spokesperson added. Under former Nike CEO John Donahoe, the company moved away from wholesale partners in favor of direct selling, which necessitated a buildup of employees at its distribution centers. But ultimately, Nike’s lackluster sales demand could not support the number of employees at the distribution centers. Nike’s new CEO Elliott Hill has flipped its sales playbook, embracing wholesale partners again, and focusing on cutting costs to increase margins. How has Nike’s stock price reacted? As of yesterday’s closing price, Nike shares (NYSE: NKE) were trading at $64.99. In premarket trading this morning, shares are essentially flat. In other words, investors so far seem to have shrugged off the fact that the layoffs will have an immediate impact on the company’s finances or operations. After reaching an all-time high of around $180 in 2021, Nike’s share price has steadily declined, falling to as low as the $62 range in March of last year. Over the past 12 months, Nike’s share price has declined by more than 11%, and over the past five years, the stock’s price has collapsed by more than 50%. Since the new year began, NKE shares have risen about 2%. View the full article

Before the age of technological distraction, we lived more in tune with our bodies. We spent more time outdoors where the sun regulated our circadian rhythms, which has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and depression. Without constant distraction, people sat in their boredom, which became drivers of artistic endeavors, creative ideas, and human connection. But how many of us can remember the last time we were truly bored?Drove without music, or sat in a coffee shop simply looking out the window? Today, our digital devices have optimized our lives to the point of exhaustion. In pursuit of a frictionless experience, technology has eradicated the natural pauses that once grounded us in our bodies and environments. Yet research shows that taking breaks throughout the day is critical for restoring energy, improving focus, and inspiring creativity. THE MYTH ABOUT OPTIMIZATION We currently subscribe to the myth that if everything is efficient and optimized, our lives will feel easy and pain-free. We can order just about anything with the press of a button, or access infinite entertainment to fill every idle moment. Machines clean our clothes, dishes, and soon, we’ll be able to offload daily chores to household robots. At work, we can use AI to automate tedious tasks or avoid the sometimes painful “stuckness” of thinking. Everything around us is designed to feel effortless, yet somehow it feels anything but. For decades, businesses have equated technological progress with the most optimized path. In many ways we’ve arrived, yet we’re more unhappy than ever. Since 2005, the depression and anxiety among young people has increased by 63%, due, in part, to “greater levels of social media engagement, academic stress, and economic stress.” Most of us know this experience firsthand: We get lost in a social media or news feed, only to emerge an hour later, disembodied, losing the throughline of the initial query. Or we pick up a phone reflexively, even if there’s nothing pressing to do or see. Research shows that overuse of smartphones can make us more in touch with our screens and less in touch with our bodies. This has only been exacerbated as platforms have shifted away from user autonomy and toward extractive profit models. As journalist and coiner of the term enshittification, Cory Doctorow wrote in a story for Wired, “Technological self-determination is at odds with the natural imperatives of tech businesses. They make more money when they take away our freedom—our freedom to speak, to leave, to connect.” In response, a growing movement of young people has begun leaving social media platforms, even ditching their cell phones altogether. In a New York Times story featuring ‘Luddite’ teens, one teen was quoted as saying, “things instantly changed. I started using my brain. It made me observe myself as a person,” after trading their smartphone for a flip phone. Their goal isn’t for everyone to get a flip phone, but to inspire people to reflect on their relationships with technology. DESIGN THAT GIVES USERS CONTROL With AI embedded into our devices and digital platforms, the tension between user autonomy and technological progress is growing. Our tools are evolving to anticipate our habits and desires, often outside of cognitive awareness. Now is our opportunity to step back and determine what we want technology to do for us, and what we want to do for ourselves. For designers, it’s about questioning how we might create products and experiences that restore control to the user over their time and attention. Only when we begin designing for moments of pause, can we begin to address our fundamental human needs. In the same way handwriting can slow your thoughts, “dumb phones” force users to pause and contemplate their next moves and interactions. Light Phone and Mudita are examples of a design philosophy that give control back to the user. Instead of the typical smartphone that commodifies your attention, dumb phones are designed as a tool to be used, giving users the ability to customize the apps loaded onto the device. These phones are not for everyone. The experience is intentionally slow and far from seamless. The friction is a forcing mechanism for users to pause. Like handwriting, resonant breathing has been proven to improve heart rate variability, a metric that can indicate wellbeing and mood. Devices intentionally designed with minimal features, like Ohm, help users slow down and reconnect to their body’s signals through breathwork. On the creative side, publishing platforms like Substack and Inoreader allow users to choose who they read and subscribe to. These intentionally designed platforms allow users to build their own news feeds and maximize their time rather than being fed content based on algorithms. FINAL THOUGHTS We may have different aspirations for our relationships with technology, but we should all feel autonomous in choosing them. Questioning the never-ending optimization is the first step to determining what we want our collective future to look like. For designers, it’s about not assuming the maximum, most feature-rich experience, but about distilling a product to its essential utility and allowing people to form their own relationship to it. Designing for natural pauses allows us all to feel a little more present and in tune with our core needs, and how to address them. So perhaps the next wave of technology isn’t about doing everything for us, but instead about giving us back the space to choose. Dan Harden is the founder and CEO of Whipsaw. View the full article

In today’s experience economy, cultural capital is increasingly valuable, especially for cities seeking to differentiate themselves. Municipalities routinely invest in traditional industries, physical infrastructure, and innovation pipelines, but music is often siloed as “entertainment.” Music can function as an economic engine, a form of cultural connective tissue, and a powerful competitive differentiator. The scale of the opportunity is significant. The music industry contributes more than $212 billion to the U.S. GDP and accounts for 2.5 million jobs nationwide. Cultural exports are not just symbolic; they shape global perception, attract investment, and support workforce retention. According to the Recording Academy, when an out-of-town visitor buys a concert ticket for $100, the local economy sees an additional $335 in related spending. New models show that with the right civic support, music can and should be treated like any other high-impact export. MUSIC AS A BRAND AND A BRIDGE City-supported music touring programs are emerging as effective tools for both artist development and place branding. When artists tour, they become de facto cultural diplomats who carry a city’s stories, aesthetics, and identity into new markets. As artists expand their reach, the city’s cultural profile grows alongside them, creating a powerful feedback loop of visibility and credibility. This reframes the relationship between municipalities and creators. Rather than acting as passive supporters, cities become strategic amplifiers. One of the things that we have found that operationalizes this approach is to provide financial support to musicians who promote the city while on tour. When our city launched its Music Ambassador Program (MAP), we learned through Memphis’s MAP initiative that cash touring grants and facilitated media opportunities generate artist growth and a stronger global position as a music destination. The benefits are twofold: artists receive tangible career support, and the city gains authentic, artist-led storytelling. A STRATEGY FROM THE TECH PLAYBOOK The private sector, music companies, and recording studios are beginning to recognize the value of these partnership models closely mirror what the tech industry has been doing for years. When private sector, government, music companies, and recording studios collaborate, artists gain regional and national exposure with cities extending their cultural footprint. For example, we’ve teamed up with Universal Music Group’s East Iris Studios in Nashville, the MidCity District and Apollo Coalition here in Huntsville to expand visibility for the artist and our community. Partnerships like this mirror successful long-standing economic exchange programs in tech and business that also apply toward creative capital. BEYOND VENUES: RETHINKING MUSIC INFRASTRUCTURE Supporting music as an export requires more than building amphitheaters and creating performance spaces. It demands logistical support, funding mechanisms, professional pathways, and investment in the systems that allow artists to scale their careers. High-impact, cost-effective strategies include: Stipends or grant programs for touring Mentorship pipelines connecting local talent with established and influential industry professionals Relationships, residencies, or cultural exchange programs with peer cities Public-private partnerships that lower barriers to touring and cross-market visibility The goal here is to reduce friction in talent mobility and help artists build sustainable, long-term careers that extend beyond local gigs—careers that have a ripple effect on job creation, production, marketing, hospitality, and tourism across the broader music ecosystem. PROMOTE ARTISTS WITH EQUITY AND AUTHENTICITY Here in Huntsville, Alabama, we have seen great success with our music export programs and have also learned many important lessons along the way. These three lessons in particular are helpful to consider when building or expanding a program in your city. 1. Programs must be intentionally designed to avoid favoritism or the commodification of local culture for external approval. Exporting culture carries the risk of disproportionately favoring established artists unless equity is prioritized. 2. Authenticity matters. The most successful music export initiatives reflect the true dynamics, diversity, and texture of a city’s creative community—not a curated version of its scene. 3. Community engagement is essential. Listening sessions, grassroots input, and shared ownership are crucial components needed for ensuring music strategies are sustainable and scalable. Bringing the local community into the fold is critical to the long-term success of cultural exports. THE FUTURE: CULTURE AS ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE As the boundaries between industry, culture, and identity continue to blur, cities that treat music as an export—not just an amenity—will gain a measurable advantage. Municipal governments and chambers of commerce have long focused on exporting products, ideas, and innovation. In an era where identity, experience, and narrative shape everything from tourism to talent recruitment, it is time to recognize music and the arts not simply as local assets but as exportable engines of economic growth. Matt Mandrella is the music officer for the City of Huntsville, Alabama. View the full article

Brands can uncover product-level DPA performance by merging Meta API data with GA4 insights to verify algorithm decisions and guide more efficient ecommerce campaigns. The post Breaking Into The Black Box: Unlocking Meta’s Product-Level Ad Data appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Whether you're chasing KOMs (aka "King of the Mountain" leaderboard titles), training for your first race, or just trying to out-walk your coworkers in a monthly challenge, Strava is the social network for people who enjoy suffering outdoors. But beyond the basic "record activity, get kudos, repeat" cycle, there's a whole world of features and tricks to enhance your Strava experience. Use heatmaps to find the best routes anywhereStrava's global heatmap—controversial as she may be—shows the most popular routes based on millions of activities from users worldwide. The bright orange lines reveal where locals actually run and ride, helping you avoid sketchy areas, find the scenic paths, and discover running routes that wouldn't stand out to you on a standard map. Once you identify the popular segments from the heatmap, you can use Strava's route builder to create your own custom version, adding or removing sections based on how much time or distance you want to cover. It's like having local knowledge without actually knowing any locals. This combo of heatmap research plus custom route building means you'll never waste a workout on a terrible route again. Create your own segments, and be strategicYou don't have to wait for someone else to create the perfect segment. If there's a particular hill, sprint section, or loop you want to own, create your own segment after completing it. Head to the Strava website, open your activity, and use the segment creation tool to define your custom stretch. Pro tip: Make it just obscure or specific enough that you'll probably be the only person who regularly rides or runs it. Instant KOM or QOM status, and you get to name it something fun, like "Why Did I Think This Was A Good Idea Road." Use the Beacon feature and Flybys (when you're feeling social)Strava's live location sharing, called Beacon, is somewhat buried in the app but incredibly useful for solo adventurers. Before heading out on a long ride or run in unfamiliar territory, you can share your real-time location with up to three safety contacts. They'll receive a link to track your progress without needing a Strava account. It's like having a support crew without actually having to convince anyone to wake up at 5 a.m. and follow you around in a car. Then there's Flybys, one of Strava's more interesting and slightly creepy features. After recording an activity, you can view an animated playback showing everyone else who was recording a Strava activity in the same area at the same time. Note that you have to opt into this feature in privacy settings. And since this became the default, the feature has been pretty buggy and unreliable. Maybe common consensus lately has been that the idea of strangers seeing when and where you exercise makes people uncomfortable. That's where Strava's privacy zones come in. Set your privacy zone radius with intentionThis feature hides the start and end points of your activities, which is great for keeping your home address private. But here's the hack: Set your privacy zone radius strategically. Make it large enough to obscure your actual home but centered on a nearby landmark or intersection. This way, your activities still show the area you're running or riding in (useful for finding local training partners or groups) without broadcasting your exact address. It's privacy without going full secret agent. Create GPS art (and post on Reddit)Strava art involves planning routes that draw pictures, words, or shapes on the map. With a bit of route planning beforehand using the Strava route builder or other mapping tools, you can spell out messages, draw holiday-themed images (running turkeys at Thanksgiving is a tradition for some), or create elaborate designs. Peruse the "Strava Art" flair in r/Strava for inspiration. People have created everything from marriage proposals to detailed portraits of animals across their cities. It requires some advance mapping work and willingness to take some inefficient turns, but the result is infinitely more shareable than another standard 5K loop. Plus, it's a great way to explore new streets in your neighborhood while having a specific goal beyond just logging miles. Clean up your feedLove your friends, but don't need to see all 47 of their treadmill walks per week? You can mute specific athletes without unfollowing them. Their activities won't clog your feed, but you'll still be connected for challenges and can check their profile anytime. In the same vein, I recommend use the "hide stats" feature for your own mental health. This one's counterintuitive on a platform designed to quantify everything, but sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is hide certain stats from public view. You can selectively hide metrics like pace, heart rate, or power on specific activities. Going for an easy recovery run but don't want to explain why you're going so slow? Even though you're supposed to be going that slow? Just hide the pace and move on. It lets you keep the activity log and route data for your own records while avoiding the weird pressure to perform for an audience that probably isn't paying that much attention anyway. Leverage your relative effort and matched runs/ridesI love seeing if I'm actually getting faster or just feeling faster because I bought new shoes. For this purpose, use Strava's route-matching feature to compare performances on the same course over time. The app will automatically detect when you've repeated a route, or you can manually compare efforts. It's either highly motivating when you see progress or a humbling reality check when you realize that six months of training has made you exactly 12 seconds faster. And if you don't want to obsess over pace and distance, Strava's Relative Effort score (for subscribers only) attempts to offer another way to think about things. It accounts for heart rate data, distance, and duration to give you a single number representing how hard a workout was on your body. A hilly 5K might generate the same Relative Effort as a flat 10K, helping you understand true training load better than just looking at miles logged. It's especially useful for preventing the stress "I feel tired but my training looks light." Screenshot your activities before sharingStrava's built-in photo features are fine, but if you want to share your stats in a more visually appealing way, I recommend screenshotting the activity page right after you finish. You can then edit the screenshot to highlight specific metrics, add text, or crop it before posting to other social media. Turn off auto-pauseThe auto-pause feature seems helpful, automatically stopping your timer at red lights or when you're catching your breath. But it's also why your "moving time" looks great while your actual elapsed time reveals you spent 40% of your run standing around. For a more honest assessment of your fitness, especially if you're training for a race, turn off auto-pause. You'll get more accurate pacing data and learn to keep moving through transitions. Plus, your average pace might look worse, but at least it's the truth. Export your dataLet's face it: Strava has changed its privacy policies and features several times over the years. If you've been using the platform for a while, you have years of valuable training data sitting in their servers, and not a lot of confidence in the company that owns it. Use the "Download Your Data" feature in account settings to get a complete archive of all your activities. You'll receive a zip file with GPX files, photos, and other data that you can import into other platforms or just keep as a backup. The bottom lineThe beauty of Strava is that it's simultaneously a serious training tool and a game you can play with yourself and others. These hacks help you use the platform more effectively while avoiding some of the common pitfalls that turn what should be a fun tracking system into a source of stress or comparison anxiety. Now get out there, collect some data, and remember: The person you're really competing against is the you from yesterday. Unless someone just stole your KOM, in which case, go get it back. View the full article

If you’ve spent any time in PPC communities, Reddit threads, Slack groups, or conference Q&As, you’ve probably noticed a recurring frustration: “Google Ads isn’t scaling. It’s not working, and we’re stuck.” On the surface, everything looks fine. The campaigns are running, impression share is high, shopping feeds are clean, and budgets are flowing. But growth isn’t materializing. This isn’t usually about “broken campaigns” – it’s about the limits of demand. In niche markets or categories shaped by seasonality, growth is naturally capped. Yes, running broad match or AI Max can expand your reach to adjacent queries, so impression share might not literally be 95%. But these campaigns are still only capturing demand that already exists. Once you’ve covered the pool of relevant searches, you can’t spend your way into more. That’s the uncomfortable truth: Google Ads doesn’t create demand. It captures it. If fewer people are searching this month, or if your category naturally has a small audience, your results will reflect that. You can dominate what’s there, but you can’t conjure demand out of thin air. So when growth stalls, the real question isn’t “What’s wrong with Google Ads?” but “What are we doing to create demand that fuels future searches?” Search and shopping = Demand capture, not creation Let’s call Search and Shopping what they are: demand capture channels. They’re excellent for getting in front of people when they’re ready to buy, or at least actively researching. But they are reactive by design. Ads only appear once someone types a query. No query, no ad. That’s why impression share (IS) can be deceptive. A 90% IS looks like you’re winning (and you are). But if there are only 500 relevant searches in your market this month, you’ll never scale to 5,000 clicks just by raising bids. Broad match and campaigns like AI Max can stretch coverage by surfacing adjacent queries. But these still rely on intent. If nobody is searching for related terms, there’s nothing to match against. Contrast this with platforms like Meta or TikTok, where more budget literally means more reach. Search doesn’t work that way. It’s not a demand generator – it’s a closer. Where demand really comes from So if Search and Shopping can’t create demand, what does? Marketers have long grouped channels into three buckets: owned, earned, and paid. It’s old-school terminology, but it’s still the most practical way to break down where demand actually originates. If Search and Shopping are just there to capture demand at the end, you need to understand which levers create it upstream. Owned These are the channels you control: your website, email, content, and CRM. They don’t usually create brand-new demand, but they’re critical for nurturing it. Think of a D2C brand running a simple “VIP early access” sign-up before Black Friday. That list fuels branded searches once the sale goes live. Or a SaaS company publishing an FAQ blog that shows up for early research queries, nudging prospects who later Google the brand directly. Owned channels ensure that once curiosity is sparked, it’s effectively nurtured toward a search. Earned These are the channels you don’t directly pay for: PR mentions, SEO visibility, reviews, organic social, and word of mouth. A product that lands in a holiday gift guide? Branded searches spike the next week. A TikTok that goes viral organically? Google Trends charts it days later. Positive Trustpilot reviews? They push people back to Google to check your site or compare pricing. Earned channels matter because they carry credibility. They don’t just spark curiosity; they make people trust you enough to type your name into the search bar. Paid Paid media includes both demand-capture channels (Search and Shopping) and demand-creation channels. Search and Shopping capture existing intent, but platforms like Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Display create it. These channels don’t wait for someone to type a query, they put your brand in front of people who weren’t already looking. A TikTok showing your product in action. A YouTube pre-roll highlighting your brand story. A Pinterest ad that lands on someone’s gift board weeks before purchase. These sparks generate curiosity, which later turn into branded searches. While broad match and Performance Max might unearth “new” queries, they’re still intent-driven. The real creation happens upstream, through paid channels designed to spark awareness. Dig deeper: How paid, earned, shared, and owned media shape generative search visibility The funnel without the fluff You’ve likely heard this before, but it’s worth being specific about where Search and Shopping actually fit. They’re strongest at conversion, but they also show up during the consideration phase of the buyer’s journey, when people are still comparing options. Here’s how the funnel really works. Awareness This is the stage where people first notice you exist. For example, a skincare brand could run TikTok ads showing its serum in action, or a B2B SaaS company might run YouTube pre-roll explaining a popular platform feature. In retail, a promoted Pinterest pin could land on someone’s gift board long before purchase. Tip: This is where Meta video campaigns, TikTok ads, YouTube pre-roll, Pinterest-promoted pins, PR placements, and influencer content live. These channels don’t wait for intent – they spark it. Consideration During this stage, people compare, research, and explore. For example, that skincare shopper might read reviews, sign up for “early access,” and later search “best vitamin C serum.” In B2B, a prospect could download a case study and then Google “top CRM tools for small businesses.” Tip: This is where generic search campaigns (e.g., “best [product]” or “affordable [category]”), shopping ads with comparison queries, CRM nurture flows, SEO content, and retargeting via Meta/display/YouTube come in. This stage is about reassurance, education, and visibility while the prospect weighs their choices. Conversion The stage where people buy. For example, two weeks after first becoming aware of the brand, the skincare shopper searches “Brand X serum” and buys via Shopping. After much comparison, the B2B prospect searches “[Vendor name] pricing” and completes a demo-request form. Tip: This is where branded search, high-intent shopping queries, retargeting to cart abandoners, and PMax remarketing close the deal. That’s why the funnel matters. If you only play at conversion, you miss those critical mid-funnel searches where people decide between you and your competitors. Skip awareness and consideration, and your funnel isn’t a funnel at all – it’s a drinking straw. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. What to do when search hits its ceiling When growth stalls, the solution isn’t “spend more on search.” It’s fuelling demand earlier. Here’s how to do exactly that, broken up by budget level. If you’re working with smaller budgets, focus on high-leverage plays: Grow your CRM list: Run simple lead-gen ads, like “sign up for early access” or “exclusive drops.” Even $300-$500 on Meta can build a list that costs nothing to email later. Run warm-up campaigns: Low-cost video or carousel ads on Meta or TikTok build remarketing pools you can retarget with cheaper Google Display or YouTube Ads. Optimize your site: Gift guides, FAQs, delivery cut-offs. A poor landing page wastes every click you’ve fought for. Keep remarketing switched on: Display, YouTube, or PMax remarketing switched on is often cheaper than chasing new clicks in search. If you’ve got bigger budgets, play full-funnel: Run always-on awareness: Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest. Sequence your creative by teasing early, revealing mid-season, and then pushing offers when intent peaks. Segment your CRM properly: VIPs deserve exclusives. Lapsed buyers need reactivation. Gift shoppers want bundles. Tailor the journeys. Invest in influencers and PR: Gift guides, unboxings, trend-driven content. These placements fuel branded search demand faster than any keyword tweak. Personalize your site: Recommendation engines and dynamic content keep people on the path to purchase. Things everyone should check: Check impression share: If you’re at 90%+, you’re near the ceiling. Broad match and AI Max might stretch coverage, but they won’t invent intent. Track branded search: If branded queries aren’t rising, awareness is flat. Keep remarketing on: It’s the lowest-hanging fruit. Assets you need in place Fix the basics before you pour money into awareness. Demand creation is wasted if your funnel leaks. At a minimum, you need proper creative assets. Don’t just think about “a video” or “a few images.” Different platforms require different formats and sizes, and if you don’t prepare variations, you’ll either be stuck with auto-cropping or miss placements altogether. Meta: Vertical (Reels/Stories), square (Feed), and landscape (In-stream). TikTok: Full-screen vertical, with captions/subtitles baked in as sound-off viewing is common. YouTube: Horizontal 16:9 ratio for standard placements, but also vertical Shorts for mobile audiences. Pinterest: Vertical lifestyle imagery tends to outperform product-only shots. Display: Responsive formats mean you should plan both text + multiple image ratios so the algorithm has variety to test. For small brands, this doesn’t mean expensive shoots. Scrappy user-generated content can be repurposed across platforms if you plan with aspect ratios in mind. For bigger brands, building a creative matrix – every concept mapped across different formats and funnel stages – ensures consistency and saves on reshoots. Landing pages Don’t send awareness traffic to a generic homepage. Build pages that: Answer FAQs Highlight delivery cut-offs (critical in Q4) Showcase bundles or gift guides for seasonal shoppers For B2B: Tailor landing pages to industries or personas CRM setup Even a simple nurture flow is better than nothing. Capture the email at the awareness/consideration stage and follow up. Larger brands should run segmentation and automated journeys: VIPs: Exclusives. Lapsed buyers: Reactivation flows. Prospects: Educational sequences. These assets make sure that when demand is created, it actually converts instead of leaking out of the funnel. AI: Helpful, but not a shortcut AI is everywhere right now. Tools like Performance Max, AI Max, and creative generators are powerful. Used well, AI can save time and scale execution. For example, generative AI can help brainstorm dozens of ad copy variations that you then refine for brand fit. Or it can automate repetitive tasks, such as analyzing search term reports or adjusting bids, freeing you up to focus on strategy. However, AI doesn’t change the rules of demand. It still relies on intent already being there. And if you let it run unchecked, you risk losing what makes your brand stand out. Search Engine Land has repeatedly warned about this: over-reliance on AI can result in generic creative that lacks voice and originality, blending your ads into the crowd. Think of AI as an accelerator: It can speed up execution, but it can’t define your brand, audience, or strategy. That still requires a human marketer. Making it real for stakeholders, measuring demand creation If you’re explaining this to a board or client, keep it simple: Lead with this: Search responds to demand; it doesn’t generate it. Show them impression share: If you’re already at 90%+, the problem isn’t coverage – it’s demand. Point to branded search trends: Flat branded queries mean flat awareness. Highlight competitor activity: Show where rivals are fuelling demand – Meta, TikTok, PR, or Pinterest. That’s why their branded search traffic is rising. Don’t just show performance data. Show where the demand gap is. Branded search is the clearest signal, but it isn’t the only one. Look at: Direct traffic: More people typing your URL into their browser means brand awareness is working. Organic search traffic (non-branded): If this grows, your content is pulling people in who may later convert via paid. Social engagement and reach: Demand creation platforms build traction, even if the final conversion happens in Google. Ultimately, owned, earned, and upper-funnel paid activity all create demand; Search and Shopping are there to capture it. The ceiling isn’t Google Ads – it’s demand The truth is, this is the direction PPC is heading. Query growth is flattening, AI search is reshaping how results appear, and brand demand is becoming the real performance lever. The next time someone says, “Google Ads isn’t driving traffic,” flip the question on them: Was there any demand to capture in the first place? Because if you’re only running Search and Shopping, you can’t grow beyond the demand that already exists. The brands that win aren’t the ones squeezing bids and obsessing over CPC swings. They’re the ones consistently fuelling demand upstream: awareness, SEO, content, influencers, CRM, video, and social – all working together to prime the market. So when growth stalls, the real question isn’t, “What’s wrong with Google Ads?” It’s “What are we doing to create demand that fuels future searches?” View the full article

Google has updated its tips to get more reviews help documentation with a new section on tips to write better review replies. This section includes how to make your replies positive and relevant and a section on giving helpful responses to negative reviews. View the full article

In 2008, we published the first listing on a bare-bones website called RunMyErrand.com: a single task, posted by someone who needed help, to be completed by an individual who had opted into making their time and abilities available. At the time, it was an untested idea, launched in the midst of the worst financial downturn in a generation, and there was no established language for what we were building. The term “gig economy” did not yet exist, and there was no widely accepted model for how a person in need might hire a stranger through a digital marketplace to complete a unit of work. This was before Uber, Instacart, and Postmates, and before on-demand labor became a familiar part of daily life. Smartphones were still early in their evolution, and engineers like me were only beginning to understand how mobile computing, location data, and social connection might combine to enable an entirely new economic behavior. We believed we were building a simple errand marketplace, but quickly realized this heralded a broader transition toward making these transactions of time and labor widely accessible. What we did not yet realize was that we were participating in a broader societal shift that would fundamentally change how people thought about work, income, and employment. Looking back, it is now clear that this period marked the beginning of a structural transformation in the labor market. Platforms like TaskRabbit helped make flexible, on-demand work visible, available, and scalable, while also enabling new ways for individuals to participate in the economy outside of traditional full-time employment. Over time, these models contributed to the rise of portfolio careers and multiple income streams, blurring the boundary between salaried work and independent labor in ways that have since become normalized. A New Inflection Point for Work We are now standing at another inflection point, but the nature of this shift is different. While the gig economy reshaped how work is distributed and compensated, AI is reshaping what kind of work is valued in the first place. For decades, jobs have been defined by discrete, specialized skills. Writing, coding, financial analysis, forecasting, and operational planning formed the foundation of most knowledge work, and expertise in these domains served as a proxy for value. Credentials, degrees, and job descriptions reinforced the idea that professional worth was tied to the ability to execute specific tasks accurately and efficiently. AI disrupts this model at a fundamental level. Many of the activities that once signaled expertise are rapidly becoming baseline capabilities, available to anyone with access to the same tools. Writing, coding, and analysis can now be generated, refined, and scaled with unprecedented speed, flattening the value of execution itself. Historically, technological change has displaced physical or repetitive labor, often eliminating some jobs while creating others. What distinguishes this moment is that AI does not merely automate tasks at the edges of knowledge work; it challenges the central premise that skills alone are a measurable advantage and worthwhile barometer for potential success. From Skills to Creativity As execution becomes commoditized, the next era of work will reward what these systems cannot replicate. Creativity, interpretation, and cross-disciplinary imagination are becoming increasingly valuable because they shape how judgement is made, not just how efficiently tasks are completed. What matters now is not simply the ability to produce outputs, but the ability to frame problems, apply taste and novel ideas, and connect the dots across domains. Taste and interpretation take on new economic significance, along with making sense of complexity and possible decisions amid overwhelming choice. As an investor, I have observed that many of the strongest founders operating today do not fit neatly into traditional categories of specialization. They tend to be hybrids who combine technical fluency with creative or human-centered disciplines, allowing them to reframe problems in ways that are difficult to replicate. These individuals are able to step outside established assumptions and articulate solutions that feel both novel and coherent. My own background reflects this hybrid approach. I studied math and computer science, but I also minored in dance, and I attended a small liberal arts college that emphasized interdisciplinary thinking and communication across domains. At the time, this path did not resemble the conventional trajectory of an engineer, but it proved formative in shaping how I approached building a company during a period of severe constraint and uncertainty. Constraint as a Creative Advantage TaskRabbit was built between 2008 and 2010, when venture capital was scarce and consumer trust was fragile. Operating under these conditions forced clarity about priorities and sharpened our focus on what truly mattered. While the technological landscape has changed dramatically since then, the underlying lesson remains relevant. Constraint can be a powerful catalyst for creativity, particularly in an environment where new tools make it tempting to pursue too many directions at once. Today, AI enables teams to experiment rapidly and produce a wide range of outputs with minimal friction. That abundance can be useful, but it can also dilute focus. Many organizations struggle not because they lack ideas or capabilities, but because they attempt to do too much at once. In contrast, the leaders most likely to succeed in this era will be those who can identify the few connections that matter and build with intention rather than breadth. Five Principles for the AI Era If I were starting over today, I would focus less on mastering skills and tools, and more on cultivating the capabilities for applied creativity: Study outside your lane. Perspective is built by crossing disciplines, not by staying within them. Insight often emerges from unexpected combinations rather than deeper specialization alone. Develop taste. AI can generate infinite viable options. The ability to discern what is meaningful, coherent, or worth pursuing is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable. Learn to ask better questions. The framing of a problem now matters more than the speed at which an answer can be produced. Clear questions shape better outcomes. Build with what you have. Constraint forces focus and intention. Limited resources can sharpen creativity rather than hinder it. Seek friction, not agreement. AI is excellent at reinforcing existing perspectives. Innovation more often emerges from challenge, disagreement, and productive tension. The Shape of Work Ahead Over time, these shifts will reshape how organizations hire and evaluate talent. Credentials will matter less than originality, and linear career paths will give way to bodies of work that demonstrate creative judgment and independent thinking. Side projects, essays, experiments, and unconventional experiences previously left off of résumés will increasingly signal potential for creative thinking. In moments of profound technological change, there is rarely a clear playbook. There is, however, a pattern. The individuals and organizations that thrive are not those who optimize for efficiency alone, but those who are willing to break precedent, integrate diverse perspectives, and imagine new frameworks for value creation. In a world where everyone has access to artificial intelligence, creativity is no longer peripheral to work. It is becoming the primary currency through which work is defined and rewarded. View the full article

The Google Search rankings continue to be super volatile and heated even through today. This started back throughout most of January and it has really heated up even more so since January 21st or so.View the full article

Back in October, we saw signs of the ability to use data exclusions on Google Ads Performance Max (PMax) campaigns. Well, now it seems to be rolling out to many advertisers on Google Ads.View the full article

Google has posted a new Google Ads help document named About the Google Ads Experiment Center. This document "is a unified hub for validating strategies and continuously improving campaign performance," Google wrote.View the full article

The European Commission has formally opened new proceedings to spell out how Google must share key Android features and Google Search data with rivals under the Digital Markets Act. The Commission on Tuesday opened two formal “specification proceedings” to guide how Google must comply with key DMA obligations, effectively turning regulatory dialogue into a structured process with defined outcomes. Why we care. The European Commission is escalating its oversight of Google under the Digital Markets Act, with moves that could reshape competition in mobile AI and search — and limit how much advantage Google can extract from its own platforms. If Google is required to share search data and Android AI capabilities more broadly, it could accelerate competition from alternative search engines and AI assistants, potentially fragmenting reach and measurement. Over time, that may affect where advertisers spend, how much inventory is available, and how dependent campaigns are on Google-owned platforms. First focus — Android and AI interoperability. Regulators are examining how Google must give third-party developers free and effective access to Android hardware and software features used by Google’s own AI services, including Gemini. The goal is to ensure rival AI providers can integrate just as deeply into Android devices as Google’s first-party tools. Second focus — search data sharing. The Commission is also moving to define how Google should share anonymised search ranking, query, click and view data with competing search engines on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. That includes clarifying what data is shared, how it’s anonymised, who qualifies for access, and whether AI chatbot providers can tap into the dataset. Between the lines. This isn’t just about compliance checklists. The Commission is signaling that AI services are now squarely in scope of DMA enforcement, especially where platform control over data and device features could tilt fast-growing markets before competitors have a chance to scale. What’s next: Within three months, the Commission will send Google its preliminary findings and proposed measures. The full proceedings are set to conclude within six months, with non-confidential summaries published so third parties can weigh in. The backdrop. Google has been required to comply with DMA obligations since March 2024, after being designated a gatekeeper across services including Search, Android, Chrome, YouTube, Maps, Shopping and online ads. Bottom line. The EU is moving from theory to execution on the DMA — and Google’s handling of AI features and search data is becoming an early test of how aggressively regulators will shape competition in the next phase of the digital economy. View the full article

Microsoft Advertising has fully released the Microsoft Advertising Ad Preview Hub to all users. "I am beyond excited about Microsoft Advertising's new Ad Preview Hub! This is GA and should be live in your accounts in all markets," Navah Hopkins, the Microsoft Ads Liaison, wrote on LinkedIn.View the full article

Less capacity, more obligation By CPA Trendlines Research Join the busy season survey. Get the results. Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Less capacity, more obligation By CPA Trendlines Research Join the busy season survey. Get the results. Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

To anchor the long rows of server racks that power the artificial intelligence boom, every data center needs thousands of holes drilled into its concrete floor. It’s a precise part of the construction process that has required workers to bend over with handheld drills for hours at a time grinding meticulously placed holes into thick pads of concrete. Now, there’s a robot doing it up to 10 times as fast. Tool brand DeWalt has just revealed a downward-drilling robot that can autonomously roam the floors of under construction data centers to drill the thousands of holes that are necessary for installing server hardware and other building elements. Developed in conjunction with August Robotics and tested on data centers being built by an unnamed “hyperscaler” tech company, the autonomous robotic drill has been used to pop more than 90,000 holes into the floors of data centers, all without human involvement. A task that can take human workers up to two months in a large data center can now be handled by a fleet of three or four robots in a matter of days. “That is so critical from a construction perspective, because they can’t move to the next stage of construction until this is done,” says Bill Beck, president of tools and outdoor for Stanley Black and Decker, the parent company of the DeWalt brand. The pace is striking. For a smaller hole less than 1 inch wide and 2 inches deep, the robot can locate and drill one hole every 80 seconds. For a larger hole, 1 inch wide and 8 inches deep, it can finish a hole every 180 seconds. During its pilot phase, the robotic drill managed an accuracy rate of 99.97%. And because the robot is capable of operating 24 hours a day, project timelines can be drastically slashed. Making this process faster is increasingly important as data centers balloon in size. From single buildings to sprawling campuses, data centers are taking up vast amounts of space and becoming increasingly complex to build. “They’re huge slabs of concrete,” says Beck. With upwards of 10,000 holes needed to be drilled in each one, the job can be daunting. “And they’ve got to be perfect,” Beck says. “You can’t have the hole be a quarter-of-an-inch off.” That would make it seem like a hard job to want to do, but that’s assuming there are even enough people to take on the role. One analysis suggests there is currently a shortage of more than 500,000 skilled laborers in the construction industry. And workforce shortages are the leading cause of construction delays, according to a recent survey from the Associated General Contractors of America. The robotic drill offers an alternative. It also offers significant cost savings. Beck says it could cost about $65 per hole for this drilling work to be done by human crews. Using a fleet of the autonomous drilling robots developed by DeWalt and August Robotics, that cost comes down to about $20 per hole. DPR Construction, the largest data center contractor in the U.S., is prioritizing this drilling robot for testing and validation in 2026, according to Tyler Williams, the company’s field and robotic innovation leader. He says the technology has “real potential to reduce ergonomic strain on craft teams, boost productivity, and generally make the onsite experience better for people.” “Ultimately, everything we’re doing here is about supporting our customers, many of whom are focused on speed to market,” Williams says. “These kinds of methods are changing how projects get built and helping customers see returns on their capital investments sooner.” DeWalt and August Robotics have been piloting this technology for the past few months and believe the robotic drill is ready for wider adoption. It will be commercially available by mid 2026. As the scale of data center construction increases, especially among hyperscaler tech companies like Meta, Google, and OpenAI, there’s likely to be pent-up demand. “They’ve got money, and they want to go as fast as they can,” Beck says. “They know it’s a race in terms of getting these data centers up and making sure they’ve got the capacity to be able to compete from an AI perspective. So their big push obviously is how fast can you go?” For at least this one part of the job, the answer is much, much faster. View the full article

Managing multiple social media accounts can feel like a lot — especially when you're doing it solo. But with the right approach, it doesn't have to be overwhelming. If you're a creator or small business owner trying to stay active across multiple social media networks, you're probably wondering how to make it all work without burning out. This article shares seven strategies you can use (with software recommendations in between) to manage multiple social media accounts effectively. Quick summary: how to manage multiple accountsUse templates: Create repeatable formats in Canva to reduce design time and maintain brand consistency.Repurpose and crosspost: Share high-performing content across similar platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.Automate workflows: Use tools to schedule posts, automate analytics, and utilize AI for caption refinement.Centralize management: Use a platform like Buffer to manage engagement and scheduling from a single dashboard.Scale intentionally: Master one platform before expanding to others to avoid creator burnout. Jump to a section: 1. Create templates for repeatable post formats 2. Mix content curation into your social media calendar 3. Crosspost and repurpose your existing content 4. Automate routine tasks in your social media workflow 5. Create a solid social media strategy and content calendar 6. Use a social media management tool 7. Join new social media platforms slowly and with intention Manage multiple social media accounts with ease FAQ about managing multiple social media accounts More social media marketing resources 1. Create templates for repeatable post formatsHere's something that's helped a lot of social media managers and creators: creating templates for post formats you'll use more than once. Let’s say you post a ‘social proof post’ every Tuesday. Create an easily-editable template on Canva (or any other software of your choice) that you can edit in a jiffy. Templates help you manage multiple accounts more easily, and they also make your content more recognizable to your audience over time. Plus, templates take some of that pressure off. You don't have to come up with something completely new every single day. You have a repeatable post format you can lean into that you already know performs well. 🚧Remember: If you plan to cross-post these similar social media posts, adjust the dimensions to fit the social media platform. Here are the guidelines for all major social networks.For example: Brand designer and content creator, Sandra K., often shares similar FRIENDS-themed carousel designs on her Instagram account. Imagine how quickly you'd be able to create similar posts. All you have to do is swap the content and adjust the graphics a little bit if needed. Everything else is already done. Managing multiple accounts suddenly becomes much more efficient when you have templates in your back pocket. 2. Mix content curation into your social media calendarEver seen those posts where someone rounds up helpful content from other creators around a specific topic? It has commonalities — like the collection is advice around the same topic or top posts from the same thought leader. That is content curation. It’s when you organize information — not necessarily created by you — in a digestible way for your audience. Curated content is easier to create than starting from scratch, which is helpful when you're managing multiple accounts. But it's also valuable for your audience — you're doing the work of finding and organizing helpful information they might have missed (and saving them time on social media post ideas, too). Mix curated content with original content. It will allow you to not only manage multiple social media accounts and post everywhere consistently, but also create a content series that your audience will look forward to. For example, at Buffer, we curate the top content from our marketing efforts and social media world in our weekly newsletter. 3. Crosspost and repurpose your existing contentCrossposting is when you post the same piece of content across multiple social media platforms. For example, Laura Whaley posted the same video across different platforms — on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. You can easily do this for social media platforms that support the same type of content. For example, Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, and YouTube Shorts all love short-form video content. Suppose you’re managing multiple social media accounts — you started with Instagram and are now adding TikTok. You can cross-post the Instagram Reels that performed well on TikTok without any edits. This is the benefit of having tested the waters with one network at a time — you already have a content library to build on for other networks. Content repurposing is when you use your existing content to create new content. For example, we repurposed our long-form article about brands using Threads well into an Instagram carousel. Repurposing allows you to create content for various social media posts from just one piece of content. You don’t have to start from scratch every time, which is a huge win for anyone managing multiple social media accounts. You can turn your: Long-form written content into Instagram Carousels, X or Bluesky threads, or LinkedIn postsYouTube’s long-form videos into short-form videos for Instagram and TikTokResearch reports into Instagram and Pinterest infographics… And so much more💡The possibilities become endless with content repurposing. Here’s a complete guide on the concept (with tons of examples) to help you bake it into your social media marketing plan.4. Automate routine tasks in your social media workflowSocial media automation means letting software handle the repetitive tasks — like scheduling posts — so you can focus on the creative and strategic work. Scheduling posts using social media tools is a part of automation. There are several other tasks you could automate to make managing multiple accounts easier: Use social media management software to schedule posts for all your accountsUse social media analytics tools to measure your performanceUse chatbots to answer the most common customer queriesUse AI tools to refine your social media captionsAn example: Using Buffer’s AI assistant, you can change the tone of your social media captions to be more formal, casual, funny, etc. Start by listing out all the tasks involved in managing your accounts — from finding content ideas to creating posts for different platforms and audiences. Then, try to find tools that can help you automate these tasks or at least make you more efficient in completing them. 🤖Need to free up some headspace? Check out these ten social media marketing tasks you can automate.5. Create a solid social media strategy and content calendarA solid social media strategy is the foundation that guides your content calendar and helps you stay focused. Having a social media strategy means you know your: Target audience and their pain pointsVarious social media networks your audience is active inSocial media goals and how they fit into your business goalsThe social media content you can create to meet your audience’s needs💡Need a template to create your own social media strategy? Get started with our guide.Your social media strategy will help you create an actionable social media content calendar. It enables you to fit your content creation into a timeline and maintain a consistent publishing schedule. You know what post should go live on which social network at what time and why — the crux of managing multiple social media accounts efficiently. 6. Use a social media management toolOne of the most helpful ways to manage multiple accounts is by using a social media management tool. It brings everything together in one place, which makes the whole process feel a lot more manageable. Most social media management tools help you: Add multiple accounts from multiple social media platformsSchedule social media posts in advance from your content calendarManage the engagement on all your accounts — including comments, direct messages (DMs), etc.Have analytics tools and reporting tools built-in to measure the impact of your social media content and let it guide the refinement of your strategySocial media management tools are popular with teams and agencies, but they're just as valuable for solo creators and small business owners. If you're looking for something affordable (or free to start), Buffer lets you connect up to three channels at no cost and schedule ten posts per month. It's designed to be useful without overwhelming you with features you don't need. You can connect up to three social media channels at no cost and schedule ten posts per month across social media networks. Even when you upgrade, the cost is just $6/month/channel for scheduling unlimited posts. Plus: You get access to other cool features like an AI assistant, a landing page builder, and an Ideas board. Buffer is built specifically for creators and small business owners who need something straightforward and affordable. You can try it for free to see if it works for your workflow. Using a social media management tool is the most straightforward way to manage multiple social media accounts without missing a beat. As soon as you have a social media strategy, shortlist your ideal social media management software. Choose something that can scale with your needs and supports all the networks you plan to be on. 7. Join new social media platforms slowly and with intentionBefore jumping into multiple platforms at once, it's worth thinking about which ones make the most sense for your goals and audience. It’s tempting to be everywhere all at once. Starting with too many platforms at once can feel overwhelming pretty quickly. A more sustainable approach is to add new platforms gradually to avoid creator burnout. If you’re planning to handle multiple social accounts right from day one, rethink your approach. First, narrow down the social media sites your audience uses based on your business type. As a general guideline: Business type Recommended platform Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest Business-to-Business (B2B) LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Bluesky Different audiences use different platforms to discover new products and services. Don’t assume you know this without doing upfront research. Ask your existing audience how they found you and which social network they browse to learn about new products in your niche. It’s also important to note that your audience might be on multiple networks, but they aren’t always in the buying mindset on each social media site. For example, if you sell shampoos, your target audience might still scroll LinkedIn. But they aren’t there to learn about your product. They'll scroll away if they see your ad campaigns or organic social content on LinkedIn. But on TikTok, they are in the buying mindset toward shampoos and might visit your website and make a purchase. Let’s say you learned that your audience discovers products or services like yours on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Instead of starting multiple social media accounts on all these networks simultaneously, tread slowly. For example, you start by creating content on Instagram. In a few months, you learn the ropes of what works best on this site and get comfortable creating and maintaining an editorial calendar for Instagram. Now, introduce TikTok and go through the same process. Going slow and steady will help you in three ways: You won’t overwhelm yourself trying to manage multiple social media accounts all at once.You can transfer the general learnings of one social media network to another to avoid repeating the same mistakes (and growing faster).You will already have a backlog of content to repurpose and/or repost to a new social media account on a new network.To manage multiple social media accounts without losing your mind, you need to add new platforms slowly and intentionally. No one says you need to jump into managing multiple social media accounts at the same time. There are only benefits to moving in an unhurried manner and only risks in moving too fast. Manage multiple social media accounts with easeManaging multiple social media accounts takes real work. You not only have to create content for multiple social media accounts but also learn their algorithms, social media users' preferences, and engagement strategies. This isn’t a walk in the park, even for a dedicated social media team. If you're managing multiple accounts while wearing all the other hats that come with being a creator or solo marketer, you're already doing something that takes real skill and effort. Then, try to pick out at least three tactics from above that could help you right now. If you already have social media platforms in place, for instance, then perhaps you need more strategies to help with content creation — like building templates and curating content. Managing multiple accounts does get easier with practice. You'll find your rhythm, discover which tools work best for you, and develop systems that make the whole process feel more natural. FAQ about managing multiple social media accountsWhat is the best way to manage multiple social media accounts?Start with a plan, then use the right tools. First, choose the social networks your audience already loves. Next, build a simple content calendar so you always know what to post and when. Repurpose high-performing posts across platforms to save time. Finally, use a social media management tool—Buffer is a good option—to schedule content, reply to comments, and review analytics from one dashboard. What is the best tool to manage multiple social media accounts?The best tool is one that lets you schedule posts, respond to comments, and track performance from a single dashboard without adding complexity. Buffer is popular with creators and small businesses because it’s easy to use, affordable, and designed to scale as your needs grow. Is it OK to post the same content on multiple platforms?Please do, especially on platforms that support similar formats. For example, crossposting short-form videos between Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts can save time and extend the reach of your best content. What is the difference between crossposting and repurposing content?Crossposting means sharing the same piece of content across multiple platforms with little or no change. Repurposing goes a step further by adapting one piece of content into different formats, like turning a blog post into a carousel or a long-form video into short clips. Do I need a content calendar to manage multiple accounts?A content calendar makes managing multiple accounts significantly easier. It helps you plan what to post, where it will go, and why it matters. How can I schedule posts to several social networks at once?A social media management platform does the heavy lifting. Connect your accounts inside Buffer, add your posts to the shared calendar, pick the publish times, and hit schedule. Buffer sends each post to the right network automatically, saving you from copying and pasting in every app. More social media marketing resourcesHow Often to Post on Social Media: A Data-Backed GuideSocial Media Automation: 10 Tasks You Can Automate (+ Tools to Help)9+ Social Media, Marketing, and Creator Economy Conferences to Attend Types of Social Media Content: 30+ Ideas for Your Next Post (With Examples)40 Free High-Quality Social Media Icon Sets For Your Website View the full article

A mortgage insurance premium deduction in Maine would come after the reintroduction of a similar federal policy, which took effect with the 2026 tax year. View the full article