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Google AI Overviews are spiking again. The latest huge and rapid expansion happened in travel and entertainment keywords, according to new data from enterprise SEO platform BrightEdge. By the numbers. Starting April 25-26, here’s how AI Overviews grew, by industry: Entertainment: Up 175.68%, with 76% of new keywords focusing on movies (e.g., [jennifer love hewitt movies], [bruce dern movies). Travel: Up 108.09%. The Things to do trend is booming – 93.78% of new travel AI Overviews focus on location-specific activities (e.g., [things to do in Buffalo NY], [things to do in Providence this weekend]) and trigger full AI-generated destination guides. Insurance: Up 7.94%. B2B Tech: Up 7.03%. Technical implementation queries for containerization and data management technologies gained significant traction. AI Overviews also expanded to address specific coding challenges. Education: Up 4.89%. Online learning accounted for 31.6% of new keywords, especially for specialized degree programs and professional certifications in emerging fields. Why we care. Google is increasing the presence of AI Overviews in these markets, which could impact your visibility. Make sure to track whether your traffic and visibility are impacted by this expansion, as well as whether your content is being cited by AI Overviews. Zoom out. A few reports have found that AI Overviews are hurting click-through rates, which makes sense because AI Overviews push down traditional organic listings. Google remains silent on questions about CTR – but has said that AI Overviews boost click quality. As a reminder, the vast majority of citations (82%) come from deep website pages. View the full article

Google Ads is upgrading Performance Max campaigns with new reporting tools that offer deeper visibility into channel performance, search terms, and creative assets. What’s new. Three new insight reports are coming soon: Channel-level reporting: This will give detailed breakdowns of how each Google platform (including Search, YouTube, Display, Discover, Gmail, Maps, and partners) contributes to campaign success. (Tests were spotted last month.) Full search terms reporting. This addition offers the same keyword-level visibility in Search and Shopping campaigns. Asset reporting. This expansion will include impressions, clicks, and cost data, so you can understand which creative elements drive the best results. Why we care. Performance Max’s adoption rate is still high, but advertisers have demanded more transparency for a while. These updates should give you a more detailed look at what’s working on each channel. Zoom in: A new Channel Performance page offers visual breakdowns of campaign performance by channel, with granular data on clicks, conversions, costs, and placements. A downloadable channel distribution table gives advertisers the ability to analyze performance offline. New diagnostic tools highlight missed opportunities – like missing store locations limiting Maps performance or landing pages underperforming on Search. What they’re saying. Menachem Ani, founder of JXT Group, said he is happy to see this update – even though workarounds have been available: “I’m very pleased to see Google add deeper insights and reports to Performance Max. While some of this data has been available through custom reports and third-party scripts, surfacing these insights natively in the ad platform will be much more efficient for advertisers.” These updates could help win back advertisers who switched their advertising budgets from PMax to Standard Shopping, Ani added: “Over the past year or so, there’s been a trend of advertisers moving back to Standard Shopping from Performance Max because it can feel like a black box. These reports help advertisers better understand performance of the campaigns and would increase likelihood of continued use. “Google has been releasing new updates to Performance Max which have all been in a similar theme of expanding advertiser control and increasing insights into performance data.” Between the lines. Google is emphasizing that while channel-specific insights are valuable, Performance Max’s AI continuously optimizes across all channels to maximize total conversion value. Marketers are cautioned not to focus solely on short-term ROI by channel – because customer behavior shifts across platforms in real time. What’s next. Open beta for channel performance reporting will begin in a few weeks. Full details are expected during Google Marketing Live on May 21. Google is also rolling out richer asset metrics across Search and Display campaigns to help advertisers prioritize creative strategies based on real performance data. View the full article

Google introduces new channel-level, search term, and asset reporting for Performance Max. The updates give advertisers greater transparency into campaign performance across all Google surfaces. The post Channel Reporting Is Coming To Performance Max Campaigns appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Home renovation projects always start out in a rush of excitement—you’re finally going to solve all those annoying problems, update those dated aspects of the house, and live the life you deserve! And sometimes it actually works out that way—but there are a lot of ways a renovation can go wrong. That’s why nearly three-quarters of homeowners come to regret their renovations to some extent. Most of the reasons behind renovation regrets are pretty straightforward: Cost overruns, dissatisfaction with the final result, or shoddy work (either by contractors or DIY efforts) are the problems most people worry about when embarking on a renovation. But there are other, less obvious ways your renovation plans can backfire on you—problems that will only seem obvious in retrospect. Utility red tagsI once innocently called my local utility company to come out and service my water heater, and ended the day with a dreaded “red tag” on my mechanical room—a paper notice that I had to bring something up to code. The worst part? The problem had nothing to do with my water heater, furnace, or anything else—it was the door to my mechanical room. When we renovated our house we had a new door hung, and it didn’t have any ventilation built in. We passed city inspections after the reno, but now the utility company insisted I cut a louver into the door. In another instance, a utility worker came by and noticed that our electrical panel was just in the wall. They informed me that there was a new requirement that panels be enclosed, so we had to build a fairly ridiculous box around the panel. Those are mild cases—it can be a lot worse. A nearby neighbor is renovating his house, and the utility company discovered that he shares a gas supply with his next-door neighbor, and that now has to be separated and re-routed despite the fact that neither of them have ever had a problem. The project is adding weeks to the renovation schedule and aggravating everyone involved. Often our homes have non-ideal setups or infrastructure that was code-compliant decades ago—and when the utility company comes by you’re suddenly the proud owner of a shiny red tag, and your renovation has just backfired on you. Hidden problemsYour utility company doesn’t have to be involved for a renovation to ruin your day. Just opening walls and floors can expose all manner of scenarios where stuff that is working just fine will suddenly need to be replaced, at great expense and frustration: Wiring. You have exactly zero problems with your electricity—no flickering, so shorts, no non-functional outlets. But when you open up your walls, you discover your wiring is old (most modern electrical wiring will last about 50 years, but your panel typically has a shorter lifespan) and suddenly you have to replace it. While this might be a good idea from a safety standpoint, it’s hard not to think you could have lived a happy life without ever knowing about it. Plumbing. Like your power, you’ve never had a problem with your plumbing. Everything drains, nothing leaks, and your water pressure is fine. Then your contractor digs into your walls and floors and suddenly the drain slopes are wrong, the pipe connections are outdated and no longer meet code, and your supply lines are insufficient for modern appliances. Permits. More accurately, a lack of permits. Pulling permits for new renovation work can reveal that the previous owners did a lot of DIY work without getting a permit, and now you’re faced with getting old work you had nothing to do with retroactively permitted and possibly brought up to code before you can even begin your intended project. Craptastic DIY work. Do-it-yourselfers can perform miracles: Their work can look pretty good in a casual inspection and be revealed as a shoddy, lazy mess the moment you take a closer look. Whether it’s a living room floor being held up by wishes and dreams because the previous owner enthusiastically cut every joist in the basement or uncovering a host of buried electrical boxes they couldn’t be bothered to remove properly, the ghosts of incompetent DIYers will haunt you the moment you start your own project. Lowering home valueIt’s true: Sometimes a renovation project can actually lower the value of your house. Sometimes it’s personal taste that will require effort to change, like wallpaper. Sometimes they're features that come with hefty maintenance bills, like swimming pools. Sometimes it’s a practical decision to delete something from the home—removing one bedroom to expand another, or taking out a garage to add a bedroom, for example. You shouldn’t assume your renovation is going to pay for itself by raising the value of your home. If you want to change something because you like it a certain way—hey, it’s your house. But don’t be surprised if your decision to carpet the entire house results in a drop in its value. Paying for nothingHiring contractors can be stressful. You’re dealing with people who have specialized knowledge and connections that you lack, so it’s easy to feel intimidated. We rely on recommendations from friends and neighbors, internet reviews, and the general vibe when they come out to give you a quote—but things can still go wrong. Some of those worst-case scenarios have obvious solutions—if a contractor ghosts you in the middle of a project, you hire someone else. But a bad contractor experience can be surprisingly difficult to resolve, especially if you rely on a simple contract provided by the contractor themselves when you hire them. There are surprisingly few legal protections against what’s known as a mechanic’s lien—a claim against your property designed to force payment for work performed there. If you refuse to pay a contractor for poor work, or seek to fire them in the middle of a job for some reason, they can—and often do—slap a lien on your home, and you’ll have to head to court to fight it. And there’s no guarantee that it will go your way, especially if the contract you signed is vague about deadlines or other requirements. For example, a woman refused to pay her contractors over a renovation job that ballooned to $500,000 and ended with an unfinished house filled with defects. But the courts dismissed most of her complaints, and she wound up paying her crappy contractor an additional $32,000—in addition to a hefty legal bill. And she still had to hire someone else to fix and finish her house. Relationship stressIf you want to test the strength of your relationship with a partner, renovate a house with them. Renovations are so stressful they can damage even the strongest relationship: A 2018 survey found that 7% of people who’d worked on house projects together seriously considered separation or divorce as a result. Even if you don’t get to that point, there’s no doubt that living in a construction zone (or a cramped rental) for months, watching your savings melt away, and disagreeing about design choices and scope on a daily basis can have a negative effect on your partnership. A renovation can also negatively affect your relationship with your neighbors. Months of dust, noise, and contractors trooping around will stress anyone out, and if your work damages your neighbor’s home in some way things can get heated. You might wind up with a beautifully renovated house but lose the friendly vibe you used to enjoy around the block, so it pays to tend to those relationships while the work is going on. View the full article

The wholesale lender dubbed the development a "huge win" for itself and the broker community. View the full article

Congress has overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation to enact stricter penalties for the distribution of nonconsensual intimate imagery, sometimes called “revenge porn.” Known as the Take It Down Act, the bill is now headed to President Donald The President’s desk for his signature. The measure was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and later gained the support of First Lady Melania The President. Critics of the bill, which addresses both real and artificial intelligence-generated imagery, say the language is too broad and could lead to censorship and First Amendment issues. What is the Take It Down Act? The bill makes it illegal to “knowingly publish” or threaten to publish intimate images without a person’s consent, including AI-created “deepfakes.” It also requires websites and social media companies to remove such material within 48 hours of notice from a victim. The platforms must also take steps to delete duplicate content. Many states have already banned the dissemination of sexually explicit deepfakes or revenge porn, but the Take It Down Act is a rare example of federal regulators imposing on internet companies. Who supports it? The Take It Down Act has garnered strong bipartisan support and has been championed by Melania The President, who lobbied on Capitol Hill in March saying it was “heartbreaking” to see what teenagers, especially girls, go through after they are victimized by people who spread such content. President The President is expected to sign it into law. Cruz said the measure was inspired by Elliston Berry and her mother, who visited his office after Snapchat refused for nearly a year to remove an AI-generated “deepfake” of the then 14-year-old. Meta, which owns and operates Facebook and Instagram, supports the legislation. “Having an intimate image—real or AI-generated—shared without consent can be devastating and Meta developed and backs many efforts to help prevent it,” Meta spokesman Andy Stone said last month. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a tech industry-supported think tank, said in a statement Monday that the bill’s passage “is an important step forward that will help people pursue justice when they are victims of non-consensual intimate imagery, including deepfake images generated using AI.” “We must provide victims of online abuse with the legal protections they need when intimate images are shared without their consent, especially now that deepfakes are creating horrifying new opportunities for abuse,” Klobuchar said in a statement after the bill’s passage late Monday. “These images can ruin lives and reputations, but now that our bipartisan legislation is becoming law, victims will be able to have this material removed from social media platforms and law enforcement can hold perpetrators accountable.” What are the censorship concerns? Free speech advocates and digital rights groups say the bill is too broad and could lead to the censorship of legitimate images including legal pornography and LGBTQ content, as well as government critics. “While the bill is meant to address a serious problem, good intentions alone are not enough to make good policy,” said the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group. “Lawmakers should be strengthening and enforcing existing legal protections for victims, rather than inventing new takedown regimes that are ripe for abuse.” The takedown provision in the bill “applies to a much broader category of content—potentially any images involving intimate or sexual content” than the narrower definitions of nonconsensual intimate imagery found elsewhere in the text, EFF said. “The takedown provision also lacks critical safeguards against frivolous or bad-faith takedown requests. Services will rely on automated filters, which are infamously blunt tools,” EFF said. “They frequently flag legal content, from fair-use commentary to news reporting. The law’s tight time frame requires that apps and websites remove speech within 48 hours, rarely enough time to verify whether the speech is actually illegal.” As a result, the group said online companies, especially smaller ones that lack the resources to wade through a lot of content, “will likely choose to avoid the onerous legal risk by simply depublishing the speech rather than even attempting to verify it.” The measure, EFF said, also pressures platforms to “actively monitor speech, including speech that is presently encrypted” to address liability threats. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, a nonprofit that helps victims of online crimes and abuse, said it has “serious reservations” about the bill. It called its takedown provision unconstitutionally vague, unconstitutionally overbroad, and lacking adequate safeguards against misuse.” For instance, the group said, platforms could be obligated to remove a journalist’s photographs of a topless protest on a public street, photos of a subway flasher distributed by law enforcement to locate the perpetrator, commercially produced sexually explicit content or sexually explicit material that is consensual but falsely reported as being nonconsensual. —Barbara Ortutay, AP Technology Writer View the full article

President Donald The President signed executive orders Tuesday to relax some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, a significant reversal as the import taxes threatened to hurt domestic manufacturers. Automakers and independent analyses have indicated that the tariffs could raise prices, reduce sales and make U.S. production less competitive worldwide. The President portrayed the changes as a bridge toward automakers moving more production into the United States. “We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term,” The President told reporters. “We didn’t want to penalize them.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who spoke earlier at a White House briefing on Tuesday, said the goal was to enable automakers to create more domestic manufacturing jobs. “President The President has had meetings with both domestic and foreign auto producers, and he’s committed to bringing back auto production to the U.S.,” Bessent said. “So we want to give the automakers a path to do that, quickly, efficiently and create as many jobs as possible.” The President signed one order on Tuesday that amended his previous 25% auto tariffs, making it easier for vehicles that are assembled in the U.S. with foreign parts to not face prohibitively high import taxes. The amended order provides a rebate for one year of 3.75% relative to the sales prices of a domestically assembled vehicles. That figure was reached by putting the 25% import tax on parts that make up 15% of a vehicle’s sales price. For the second year, the rebate would equal 2.5% of a vehicle’s sales price, as it would apply to a smaller share of the vehicle’s parts. A senior Commerce Department official, insisted on anonymity to preview the order on a call with reporters, said automakers told The President that the additional time would enable them to ramp up the construction of new factories, after automakers warned that it would take time for them to shift their supply chains. The official said automakers would over the next month announce additional shifts for workers, new hires and plans for new facilities. Stellantis Chairman John Elkann said in a statement that the company appreciates the president’s tariff relief measures. “While we further assess the impact of the tariff policies on our North American operations, we look forward to our continued collaboration with the U.S. Administration to strengthen a competitive American auto industry and stimulate exports,” he said. General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the automaker is grateful for The President’s support of the industry, and she noted the company looks forward to conversations with the president and working with the administration. “We believe the President’s leadership is helping level the playing field for companies like GM and allowing us to invest even more in the U.S. economy,” Barra said in a statement. Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, stressed that his company does more than its peers to manufacture domestically. “We will continue to work closely with the administration in support of the president’s vision for a healthy and growing auto industry in America,” Farley said. “As the right policies are put in place, it will be important for the major vehicle importers to match Ford’s commitment to building in America. If every company that sells vehicles in the U.S. matched Ford’s American manufacturing ratio, 4 million more vehicles would be assembled in America each year.” But changing direction doesn’t help an industry that thrives on stability, said Sam Fiorani, analyst at business forecasting firm AutoForecast Solutions. “Finding a way to get the auto industry back working has to be paramount in this,” Fiorani said. “The tariffs have not looked at this industry, the way it works, and expect it to be able to jump and relocate production at the blink of an eye. It just doesn’t work that way. “Making a production change for vehicle manufacturing takes minimum, months, and usually years, along with hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars,” he added. “And so it is not something that they take lightly.” The Wall Street Journal first reported details of the actions. The White House’s Rapid Response account on X said The President signed a second order Tuesday afternoon to prevent his various tariffs from being stacked on top of his existing taxes on imported autos and auto parts. The tariffs imposed by The President were seen by some as an existential threat to the auto sector. Arthur Laffer, whom The President gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to during his first term, said in a private analysis that the tariffs without any modifications could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle. New vehicles sold at $47,462 on average last month, according to auto-buying resource Kelley Blue Book. Tariffs stress the automotive supply chain, a complex web which spans the globe. Not only do many auto parts cross North American borders several times before being assembled into a finished vehicle, auto manufacturers rely on suppliers around the world for thousands of components. Increased levies would certainly cost new car buyers — sensitive to inflation — more, driving them to the used vehicle market and quickly straining the availability of pre-owned cars. Tariffs also impact the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle. The modifications come as The President marks 100 days back in the White House by going to Michigan, a state defined by auto manufacturing. The President won the state in last year’s election by promising to increase factory jobs. Still, it remains unclear what impact The President’s broader tariffs will have on the U.S. economy and auto sales. Most economists say the tariffs — which could ultimately hit most imports — would raise prices and slow economic growth, possibly hurting auto sales despite the relief that the administration intends to offer on its previous policies. St. John contributed from Detroit. —Josh Boak and Alexa St. John, Associated Press View the full article

When it comes to investing in (and maybe even splurging on!) running gear, nothing affects your running experience more than your shoes. Finding the perfect running shoes is about much more than style or brand preference—the right shoes are essential for performance, comfort, and injury prevention. But with countless options available for both men and women, choosing the perfect pair can feel overwhelming. Here's what you need to know to make an informed decision, as well as some shoe recommendations straight from the experts. Why the right shoe mattersAccording to Jessica Lyons-Quirk, director of footwear merchandising at Road Runner Sports, wearing proper footwear is crucial for staying injury-free: "The biggest thing about injuries and foot health is that you need to be in the right shoe for your foot—every foot is different." You're going to constantly be injury-prone if you aren't in the right shoe, and you're never going to hit your training goals if you're constantly resting off an injury. It's worth taking the time to understand your foot type and running style before investing in new shoes. Understanding your foot type: neutral vs. stabilityAs I've recently covered, the first step in finding your perfect running shoe is determining whether you need neutral or stability shoes. Broadly speaking: Neutral runners have a natural foot motion forward with even weight distribution when pushing off. Your feet effectively absorb impact and don't roll excessively inward or outward. Stability runners overpronate, meaning the arch collapses during landing and the foot rolls too far inward. This can create alignment issues while you run. If you're unsure about your pronation type, many specialty running stores offer gait analysis services, where experts can analyze your running style and recommend appropriate shoes. For both types of runners, you'll see shoes directly advertised for your specific style. Neutral runners effectively absorb the impact of the ground, while evenly distributing weight on the toe-off. Lyons-Quirk says you'll want to look for the HOKA Clifton or Saucony Ride. To find the best stability shoes, look out for extra guidance and support to control the excessive movement. Lyons-Quirk recommends the Brooks Adrenaline or the ASICS GEL-Kayano. Top running shoe recommendations for men and womenIf you're ready to start trying on some pairs, here are some of the most popular models to get you started. Best all-around option: Saucony Ride 18The Saucony Ride 18 is a staple among runners. In the past, I've been a huge fan—these were my shoes of choice when I ran the NYC Marathon in 2023. Lyons-Quirk calls it "light, soft, and responsive." A neutral shoe, it works well for both anyone who wants a reliable daily trainer that balances cushioning and responsiveness. Saucony Women's Ride 18 $134.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $134.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Saucony Men's Ride 18 $134.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $134.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Best maximum cushioning: ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27The GEL-Nimbus line has long been a favorite among runners who prioritize shock absorption and comfort over minimalism. For runners seeking plush comfort for long distances, the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 stands out. It's Lyons-Quirk's go-to recommendation for max cushion: "The premium materials and softness of both the upper and midsole make this shoe pure magic to run in." ASICS Women's GEL-Nimbus 27 $157.40 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $165.00 Save $7.60 Shop Now Shop Now $157.40 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $165.00 Save $7.60 ASICS Men's GEL-Nimbus 27 $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Best for versatility: Brooks Glycerin 22The Brooks Glycerin 22 is available in both neutral and stability versions: Glycerin 22 for neutral and the GTS 22 for stability. Lyons-Quirk points out how the "innovative midsole technology and smooth transitions make this shoe an all-around go-to." This makes it an excellent choice for runners who want consistent feel, but sometimes require different levels of support. Brooks Women's Glycerin 22 $147.92 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $164.95 Save $17.03 Shop Now Shop Now $147.92 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $164.95 Save $17.03 Brooks Men's Glycerin 22 $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Most trendy and functional: HOKA Clifton 10This is subjective, of course, but the HOKA Clifton 10 has a reputation for being stylish. I know I personally see them not just at the gym, but the coffee shop, subway, and going out at night. Lyons-Quirk says it's everywhere for good reason: "The drop changed from 5mm to 8mm to appeal to more everyday runners, it comes in more subdued colors for all day wear, and the fit has been perfected." With its distinctive chunky yet lightweight cushioning, the Clifton works well for runners seeking comfort that transitions seamlessly to casual wear. Hoka Women's Clifton 10 $159.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $159.99 at Amazon Hoka Men's Clifton 10 $186.05 at Amazon $205.00 Save $18.95 Shop Now Shop Now $186.05 at Amazon $205.00 Save $18.95 Most reliable workhorse: New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14For dedicated runners logging serious mileage, New Balance offers a dependable option in the Fresh Foam X 1080v14. Lyons-Quirk says it's a shoe she always has in rotation: "If you're running every day and logging miles, this is the shoe that makes those runs feel great!" The 1080v14 prioritizes durability and comfort throughout high-volume training. New Balance Women's Fresh Foam X 1080 V14 $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg New Balance Men's Fresh Foam X 1080 V14 $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $164.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Key features to consider before buying running shoesAs you're shopping around and trying on new pairs, it helps to have some vocabulary on your side. Cushioning levelDifferent runners prefer different amounts of cushioning. Some enjoy a more connected feel to the ground, while others want maximum impact protection. Most brands offer shoes across the cushioning spectrum. Drop (aka heel-to-toe differential)Drop, or "heel-toe drop," refers to the height difference between the heel and forefoot of the shoe. Traditional running shoes typically have 8-12mm drops, while more minimal designs feature lower drops (0-4mm). The HOKA Clifton's recent shift from a 5mm to 8mm drop (which caused a good bit of buzz in the running world) means it has noticeably more cushioning and forgiveness if you tend to strike on your heels when you run. WeightLighter shoes generally feel faster but may sacrifice durability or cushioning. Heavier shoes often provide more support and longevity but can feel cumbersome during speedwork. Fit and width optionsMany top brands offer their popular models in multiple widths (narrow, standard, wide, and extra-wide). Finding the right width is crucial for comfort and preventing issues like blisters and numbness. The bottom lineWhether you're a beginner or seasoned marathoner, the perfect running shoe exists for your unique needs. Rather than window shopping without a plan, you want to understand your foot type and considering factors like cushioning preferences and intended use, you can find shoes that will help you run comfortably, efficiently, and injury-free. And remember, even the best running shoes have a limited lifespan. Most experts recommend replacing shoes every 300-500 miles; some signs that it's time for new shoes include compressed cushioning, worn outsoles, and new aches and pains. You're going to constantly be injury-prone if you aren't in the right shoe. Taking the time to find your perfect match is worth it. View the full article

In markets and politics, it will be more short-termist, less resilient and much more reliant on the kindness of strangersView the full article

Pending sales of previously owned US homes rose in March by the most in more than a year as a brief dip in mortgage rates and a rising supply of houses brought out spring shoppers. View the full article

S&P 500 down 2% and on course to end six-day winning streakView the full article

The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation reading fell in March, but the positive reading came before new trade policies hit the economy. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google Search Console may be rolling out desktop versus mobile Discover performance data...View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If your photo library lives across five devices and looks like digital chaos, Lightroom can help, and this $119.88 deal on a one-year Adobe Lightroom subscription gives you access to a full suite of tools that work just as well on a phone as on a desktop. The cloud-based platform comes with 1TB of storage, so even if you’re editing a vacation album on your tablet in transit, the edits sync seamlessly everywhere. You can start on your phone, tweak more on your laptop, and finish on your desktop—without exporting or juggling file versions. Adobe’s AI additions make Lightroom feel smarter with features like Generative Remove, which lets you clean up background distractions with a click, and Lens Blur, which adds that soft, DSLR-style bokeh effect if your phone didn’t quite nail the depth. The new Quick Actions are especially helpful if you’re not looking to deep dive into sliders—Lightroom now suggests edits automatically, tailored to each photo. That said, it’s not just for beginners. Lightroom Classic still lives on for power users who need the old-school tools like Map or Develop modules for bulk editing or geotagging. This subscription includes both the modern Lightroom and Lightroom Classic, which is a solid deal for anyone wanting flexibility. Just keep in mind the system requirements—macOS Ventura 13.1 or later, or Windows 10 and up—and it’s limited to one device at a time. Whether organizing decades’ worth of photos or just trying to make your social posts pop a little more, this bundle offers a streamlined way to edit, store, and sync everything. But this might feel like overkill if you don’t care about editing on mobile or prefer offline-only workflows. It’s built for the cloud, so you’ll want to be, too. View the full article

Target ROAS is the most sophisticated of Google’s smart bidding strategies. In previous articles, we’ve tackled Maximize Conversions, Target CPA and Maximize Conversion Value. This article explores the ins and outs of Target ROAS bidding, including: What does conversion value mean in Google Ads? What does ROAS mean? How Target ROAS bidding works in Google Ads 8 Expert Tips for using Target ROAS effectively Should you use Target ROAS bidding in Google Ads? What does conversion value mean in Google Ads? Before we can discuss Target ROAS bidding, or even ROAS, we need to understand what “conversion value” means in Google Ads. Conversion value typically means the revenue generated from a conversion. However, if you’re a lead generation business, this could represent a value you assign to different types of leads based on your internal scoring system. In this case, conversion value is not revenue, but rather, how much a conversion is worth to your business. What does ROAS mean? ROAS is a common paid ads acronym that stands for Return On Ad Spend. You can calculate it by dividing conversion value / cost. This is why, in Google Ads, the column you’ll see isn’t labeled “ROAS” but rather “Conv. value / Cost.” In plain English, what is conversion value / cost? Let’s illustrate with an example: If your Conv. value / Cost, is 2.46, that means for every dollar you spent on ads, you got $2.46 back in revenue, or value. How Target ROAS bidding works in Google Ads Now that we have a handle on conversion value and ROAS, let’s explore how the Target ROAS bid strategy operates. With Target ROAS, you’re telling Google the level of efficiency you’re aiming for from your campaigns. For example, if your desired ROAS is 3, you’d input “300%” as your target ROAS in Google Ads. Google’s AI will then work to spend your budget and set your bids in a way that aims to achieve this average return on ad spend for you. To do so, Google considers millions of contextual and audience signals, to determine each user’s likelihood to convert, and the potential value of their conversions – all in the pursuit of hitting your target ROAS. Your “Conv. value / Cost” column will write your ROAS as a decimal (e.g., 3.0) – whereas the Target ROAS field will write your ROAS as a percentage (e.g., 300%). Don’t accidentally put a Target ROAS of 3%, or you will not like the results! 8 expert tips for using Target ROAS effectively Here are some crucial tips to keep in mind if you’re considering or currently using Target ROAS: Conversion volume is key: Generally, you’ll want to have at least 50 conversions within the last 30 days to allow Google’s algorithms enough data to learn and optimize effectively. It’s absolutely possible to use Target ROAS at lower conversion volumes, but it will take longer for the smart bidding algorithm to learn and drive consistent results. Value tracking is essential: If your conversions don’t have associated values, Target ROAS won’t be the right strategy for you. In such cases, consider Target CPA or Maximize Conversions. Set realistic targets: When you first implement Target ROAS, aim for a target that is at or even slightly below your actual ROAS from the previous 30 days (or a longer period if your conversion cycle is longer). Budget management: Ensure your campaigns aren’t consistently limited by budget. A limited budget can restrict the bid strategy’s ability to achieve your target ROAS. If your campaign is budget-constrained, and you can’t or don’t want to increase your budget, then you should gradually increase your ROAS target to limit your opportunity size. Growth vs. efficiency: A high ROAS might sound desirable, but it will limit your reach and growth potential. For example, while bidding only on your brand terms might yield a high ROAS, it won’t help you acquire new customers. Conversely, a ROAS below 2 might mean you aren’t profitable, but perhaps when lifetime value is considered, that calculation changes. Analyze your business metrics to pick the right ROAS target to balance growth and efficiency objectives. Bid adjustments don’t apply: Manual bid adjustments for devices, locations, or audiences are ignored when using Smart Bidding strategies like Target ROAS. Leave bid limits alone: While you can set bid limits with Target ROAS in certain campaign types, I don’t recommend this as it can hinder smart bidding’s ability to optimize effectively. Ad group vs. campaign vs. portfolio targets: You can set a Target ROAS at the ad group level, campaign level, or a portfolio strategy across multiple campaigns. I recommend a campaign or portfolio approach. Should you use Target ROAS bidding in Google Ads? If you’re new to Google Ads, Target ROAS is not the best starting point. It’s a strategy designed for advertisers who: Have been running campaigns for a while. Have consistent conversion data with values. Are looking to scale their results while maintaining a specific return on ad spend. If that sounds like you, then Target ROAS could be the key to achieving your growth and efficiency goals with Google Ads. This article is part of our ongoing weekly Search Engine Land series, Everything you need to know about Google Ads in less than 3 minutes. Every Wednesday, Jyll highlights a different Google Ads feature, and what you need to know to get the best results from it – all in a quick 3-minute read. View the full article

A $24 billion single-family provision for credit losses linked to economic uncertainty and changes in actual and forecast home prices weighed down results. View the full article

I’m a big fan of Daily Drop. It’s a points, miles, travel, and credit card newsletter created by my friends, Kara and Nate (they run a big YouTube channel of the same name). Daily Drop keeps you informed about the latest news and information around points & miles, as well as updates across the airline and hotel industries. While the newsletter is free, they also have a subscription service called Daily Drop Pro, which promises even more points deals, alerts, and tools to help you find the award availability you need for your next trip. But does it deliver? Is it worth the price? As Daily Drop has gotten bigger, I’ve gotten questions about the service from readers so I figured it was time to breakdown the service and talk about who it is right for. What is Daily Drop Pro? According to the team at Daily Drop, Daily Drop Pro was created to be your one-stop shop for flights and hotels (whether with points or cash), deals, and chatting with like minded people in their community forum. The service has five main features: Flight Points Search Hotel Points Search Deal Alerts Wallets Daily Drop Pro Lounge Let’s walk through all of them. Flights Point Search There are lots of websites that let you search for points flights. In addition to Daily Drop, there’s Point.me, Seats.aero, Points Path (a chrome browser extension), and a few others. The space has become incredibly crowded in the last few years. What makes Daily Drop Pro Different? The main feature that I really, really like is that you change your preferences to narrow the results based on time of day, stops, duration, maximum points, and aircraft type (which is a feature that is unique to them). They also have a feature that lets you compare the cash rate but that just sends you Google Flights and I don’t think that a real selling point. I think the real edge here is that you can get really specific on the award flights you want, which is something the other services lack. Hotel Points Search Daily Drop Pro also lets you search for award space for hotels. There’s not a lot of other competitors in this space and Daily Drop has a ton of options that let you customize your results based on points, programs, award certificates, which hotel programs you can transfer credit cards points, and so many more. I think the hotel award search is the best in class and, like the flight search, its ability to let you get hyper specific is really awesome. Deal Alerts This feature lists points and cash deals. It’s really cool because you can see not only award fare sales (which happen all the time but are a pain in the butt to keep track of) but also cash fare deals. You can select your home airports, choose your preferred travel regions, and let the deals decide your destinations. Daily Drop Pro’s points deals are detailed, too — showing the taxes and fees of an award, which program to book through and how the redemption stacks up to Daily Drop’s point valuations. It’s one of the more comprehensive deal feeds out there. Wallet & Points Management The Wallet lets to link your different accounts (award programs and credit cards) and have them all displayed in one place. Plus, it will remind you of all the perks, credits, and other benefits you get with each card / loyalty program. If you have a lot of different cards, this can be really helpful because it can be confusing to remember all the perk and deals that come with each card. Heck, even I forget sometimes and I’m expert at this stuff (but when you start to have double digit cards, it’s a lot to remember)! The Daily Drop Pro Lounge The lounge allows you to chat with other members. It’s a message board and like all message boards it didn’t seem that active. It’s a good feature but not one that I would rely on given that there’s not a lot of activity on the forum. How much does Daily Drop Pro cost? Daily Drop Pro Membership is $149 a year. Is Daily Drop Pro worth it? I think Daily Drop Pro is a good product if you have a lot of credit cards and are heavy into the points & miles game. Inputting all your cards and membership programs takes some initial start up time but the ability to track all your points, benefits, and rewards in one place is really convenient. As I said, even I forget about card benefits sometimes. It’s hard to keep multiple cards in your head so having it in one place is nice. The hotel award feature is definitely the best in class. And, while there are other airline search tools, I do like the increased search filters (especially the ability to filter by plane type!). And the deals feature can allow you to keep track of all the deals happening in one place rather than subscribe to multiple newsletters and websites. So, is the service worth $12 a month? I think so. Daily Drop Pro essentially bundles lots of other programs, improves on them, and puts them all into one dashboard for you and that is a real time saver. I think the service is definitely worth it. Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: SafetyWing (best for budget travelers) World Nomads (best for mid-range travelers) InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals. Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip! Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip. The post My Daily Drop Pro Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

Key Takeaways Creativity Transforms Value: Trading a bobby pin for a house exemplifies how innovative thinking can turn low-value items into significant assets through strategic exchanges. Importance of Networking: Building and nurturing connections with potential traders enhances your trading opportunities, showcasing the value of collaboration and community in entrepreneurship. Valuation and Research: Conduct thorough market research to accurately assess the value of items in your trading sequence, ensuring each trade maximizes growth potential. Leveraging Digital Platforms: Utilize social media and online marketplaces to reach a broader audience, enhancing visibility and engagement throughout your trading journey. Growth Strategy Framework: Maintain a clear growth strategy by continuously assessing trade value and setting measurable goals, mirroring the successful pathways of notable traders like Demi Skipper and Kyle MacDonald. Imagine trading a simple bobby pin for a house. It sounds impossible, right? Yet, this fascinating concept has captured the imagination of many, sparking conversations about creativity, resourcefulness, and the art of negotiation. It all started with one bold individual who turned a seemingly worthless item into something of great value, challenging our perceptions of trade and worth. Overview of Trading a Bobby Pin for a House Trading a bobby pin for a house encompasses creativity, resourcefulness, and negotiation skills, illustrating that seemingly insignificant items can hold great value. This concept encourages new entrepreneurs to explore innovative business ideas that challenge traditional views on trade. The Concept Explained The idea revolves around bartering, where you exchange an object of little value, like a bobby pin, for something significantly more valuable. This trade symbolizes a larger business model where success often thrives on unique value propositions. Entrepreneurs can emulate this mindset by identifying underappreciated assets they possess, then leveraging them into larger ventures. Emphasizing creativity and negotiation, this approach reflects a growth strategy fundamental to sustainable business development. Historical Context The history of trading objects dates back centuries, marking it as a foundational element in commerce. Bartering was essential before currency emerged, showcasing the human inclination toward trade. This concept gained visibility in modern times through stories like that of Kyle MacDonald, who famously traded a red paperclip all the way up to owning a house. Such narratives inspire small business owners to imitate innovative trading strategies. By embracing the entrepreneurial spirit of resourcefulness, you can create connections with potential partners and customers, establishing a solid network for future endeavors. The Process of Trading Trading a bobby pin for a house involves a series of strategic steps that can inform potential entrepreneurs about innovative business models. This process emphasizes the importance of creativity and networking. Finding the Right Exchange Finding the right exchange requires research and insight into your target audience. You need to leverage platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and dedicated Facebook groups to connect with potential traders. Identify items that appeal to others while considering their market value. Look for exchanges that not only elevate the monetary value but also enhance the uniqueness of your trades. For example, starting with a bobby pin and trading up to items like margarita glasses demonstrates how each trade can attract interest and open new avenues for collaboration. Engaging in discussions with fellow entrepreneurs can provide valuable mentorship and insights into successful trading tactics. Valuation of Items Valuation of items plays a crucial role in the trading process. Each item in your trading sequence should exhibit growth in value, as seen in Demi Skipper’s journey from a bobby pin to a customized trailer worth $40,000. When evaluating items, consider factors such as market demand, utility, and emotional value. Implementing basic market research can guide you in determining the worth of items accurately. Create a simple business plan that outlines potential trades and helps monitor your progress. Staying informed about current trends can enhance your ability to make lucrative trades, ensuring consistency in your trading strategy and aligning with your overall business goals. Success Stories Many successful trading stories illustrate the power of creativity and resourcefulness. One compelling example is Demi Skipper, a 30-year-old entrepreneur who transformed a bobby pin into a house. Notable Examples Demi Skipper’s Trade Me Project: Launched in May 2020, Skipper was inspired by Kyle MacDonald, who famously traded a red paperclip for a house in 2005. Starting with a bobby pin, Skipper executed 28 trades over 20 months. Her trades included items such as earrings, margarita glasses, a vacuum, a snowboard, and an Apple TV. Ultimately, she traded a solar-powered trailer worth $40,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bath house in Clarksville, Tennessee, valued at $80,000. Kyle MacDonald: The original inspiration for Skipper’s project, MacDonald achieved his goal of trading a simple red paperclip for a house in just 14 trades. His story highlights the potential of innovative trading strategies and the importance of building a strong network through each trade. Lessons Learned Creativity Drives Value: Both Skipper and MacDonald demonstrate how thinking outside the box can result in substantial value from low-cost items. Consider exploring various items with unique appeal to your target audience when formulating your business model. Networking is Essential: Building connections plays a critical role in successful trading. Each trade requires you to engage with potential traders, highlighting the importance of networking to grow your small business. Market Research and Valuation: Conduct thorough market research to understand the perceived value of items within your trading sequence. Proper valuation ensures you select items that exhibit potential for growth. Utilizing Digital Platforms: Leverage online marketplaces, social media, and other platforms to efficiently reach your target audience. Implementing digital marketing strategies can enhance your visibility and engagement during trading. Growth Strategy: Aim for a clear growth strategy. Like Skipper and MacDonald, maintain a continuous assessment of each trade’s value and impact on your overall journey. This ensures steady progress towards your ultimate goals. Challenges and Considerations Trading a bobby pin for a house involves various challenges and considerations essential for any small business undertaking. Limitations of the Trade Limitations arise from the intrinsic value of the items involved in each trade. As you progress from a low-value item, such as a bobby pin, to higher-value assets, the potential for finding willing traders diminishes. You must conduct thorough market research to discern realistic values and determine the acceptable trade limits. Additionally, you face geographical constraints, as some trades may not be feasible if the item you’re pursuing is located far away from you. Understanding these limitations involves developing a clear business model that outlines your trading strategy while keeping customer acquisition and negotiation skills at the forefront. Emotional and Social Factors Emotional and social factors play significant roles in trading endeavors. You may experience skepticism from others as your trades escalate in value. Overcoming that skepticism requires resilience and confidence in your vision. Networking becomes vital; connecting with fellow entrepreneurs and potential traders helps build trust. Engaging in social media can amplify your outreach and showcase your trading journey, further establishing credibility. Additionally, managing emotional expectations is crucial, as the ups and downs of trading can affect your morale. Emphasizing branding and marketing strategies enables you to highlight the unique narrative of your trades, enhancing your story’s appeal to others. Navigating the challenges and considerations of trading a bobby pin for a house involves understanding both practical limits and the intricate emotional landscape of entrepreneurship. By addressing these key factors strategically, you enhance your likelihood of success in this creative venture. The Impact of Viral Trends Viral trends significantly influence the success of unique business ideas like trading a bobby pin for a house. This phenomenon not only showcases creativity and resourcefulness but also serves as a powerful example for entrepreneurs looking to establish innovative ventures. Social Media Influence Social media platforms play a vital role in amplifying trading stories like Demi Skipper’s “Trade Me Project.” Her journey was widely shared on TikTok and Instagram, highlighting the effectiveness of social media for small businesses seeking exposure. Engaging content attracts followers, expands your target audience, and fosters community engagement, essential for customer acquisition in today’s digital marketing landscape. Utilizing hashtags and trending topics can boost visibility and draw attention to your unique offerings. Cultural Significance The cultural significance of trading narratives extends beyond mere transactions. They symbolize innovation and challenge traditional views on value. Trading a seemingly worthless item for something substantial encourages entrepreneurs to think creatively about their business models. This dynamic showcases the potential for profitable ventures through bartering, even in a landscape dominated by e-commerce and conventional sales. As you refine your business plan, consider how the principles illustrated by these trading stories can inform your own strategies, emphasizing adaptability and resourcefulness. Conclusion Trading a bobby pin for a house isn’t just a whimsical idea; it’s a testament to the power of creativity and resourcefulness. By embracing the principles of bartering and innovative thinking, you can unlock new opportunities in your entrepreneurial journey. As you explore your own trading ventures, remember the importance of networking and market research. Each small item you possess could be the key to something much larger. Stay adaptable and open-minded in your approach, and you’ll find that the potential for value is often hidden in plain sight. Your journey in trading can inspire others and redefine how we perceive worth in today’s economy. Embrace the challenge and let your creativity lead the way. Frequently Asked Questions What is the main idea of trading a bobby pin for a house? The article explores how a simple item, like a bobby pin, can be traded for something much more valuable, such as a house. It emphasizes creativity, resourcefulness, and negotiation as key elements in the trade process. Who is Kyle MacDonald? Kyle MacDonald is known for his unique trading journey, where he traded a red paperclip for a house through a series of successful exchanges. His story serves as an inspiration for innovative trading strategies. What is the “Trade Me Project”? Demi Skipper’s “Trade Me Project” involved trading a bobby pin through 28 transactions over 20 months, ultimately exchanging it for a solar-powered trailer worth $40,000 and then trading that for a house. How can someone start trading effectively? To start trading, focus on creativity and conduct thorough market research to properly value your items. Utilize platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to connect with potential traders for successful exchanges. What role does social media play in trading? Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplify trading stories, helping small businesses gain exposure and build community engagement. Engaging content attracts followers and fosters customer relationships. What challenges are associated with trading? Challenges of trading include evaluating intrinsic item value and overcoming geographical limitations. Strong negotiation skills, a clear business model, and resilience are also crucial for success in this process. How can creative value drive trading success? Creativity can reveal unique trade opportunities, making seemingly worthless items valuable. Thinking outside the box enables traders to explore innovative business ideas that attract interest and foster successful exchanges. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover the Art of Trading a Bobby Pin for a House: Unlocking Value and Creativity" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Creativity Transforms Value: Trading a bobby pin for a house exemplifies how innovative thinking can turn low-value items into significant assets through strategic exchanges. Importance of Networking: Building and nurturing connections with potential traders enhances your trading opportunities, showcasing the value of collaboration and community in entrepreneurship. Valuation and Research: Conduct thorough market research to accurately assess the value of items in your trading sequence, ensuring each trade maximizes growth potential. Leveraging Digital Platforms: Utilize social media and online marketplaces to reach a broader audience, enhancing visibility and engagement throughout your trading journey. Growth Strategy Framework: Maintain a clear growth strategy by continuously assessing trade value and setting measurable goals, mirroring the successful pathways of notable traders like Demi Skipper and Kyle MacDonald. Imagine trading a simple bobby pin for a house. It sounds impossible, right? Yet, this fascinating concept has captured the imagination of many, sparking conversations about creativity, resourcefulness, and the art of negotiation. It all started with one bold individual who turned a seemingly worthless item into something of great value, challenging our perceptions of trade and worth. Overview of Trading a Bobby Pin for a House Trading a bobby pin for a house encompasses creativity, resourcefulness, and negotiation skills, illustrating that seemingly insignificant items can hold great value. This concept encourages new entrepreneurs to explore innovative business ideas that challenge traditional views on trade. The Concept Explained The idea revolves around bartering, where you exchange an object of little value, like a bobby pin, for something significantly more valuable. This trade symbolizes a larger business model where success often thrives on unique value propositions. Entrepreneurs can emulate this mindset by identifying underappreciated assets they possess, then leveraging them into larger ventures. Emphasizing creativity and negotiation, this approach reflects a growth strategy fundamental to sustainable business development. Historical Context The history of trading objects dates back centuries, marking it as a foundational element in commerce. Bartering was essential before currency emerged, showcasing the human inclination toward trade. This concept gained visibility in modern times through stories like that of Kyle MacDonald, who famously traded a red paperclip all the way up to owning a house. Such narratives inspire small business owners to imitate innovative trading strategies. By embracing the entrepreneurial spirit of resourcefulness, you can create connections with potential partners and customers, establishing a solid network for future endeavors. The Process of Trading Trading a bobby pin for a house involves a series of strategic steps that can inform potential entrepreneurs about innovative business models. This process emphasizes the importance of creativity and networking. Finding the Right Exchange Finding the right exchange requires research and insight into your target audience. You need to leverage platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and dedicated Facebook groups to connect with potential traders. Identify items that appeal to others while considering their market value. Look for exchanges that not only elevate the monetary value but also enhance the uniqueness of your trades. For example, starting with a bobby pin and trading up to items like margarita glasses demonstrates how each trade can attract interest and open new avenues for collaboration. Engaging in discussions with fellow entrepreneurs can provide valuable mentorship and insights into successful trading tactics. Valuation of Items Valuation of items plays a crucial role in the trading process. Each item in your trading sequence should exhibit growth in value, as seen in Demi Skipper’s journey from a bobby pin to a customized trailer worth $40,000. When evaluating items, consider factors such as market demand, utility, and emotional value. Implementing basic market research can guide you in determining the worth of items accurately. Create a simple business plan that outlines potential trades and helps monitor your progress. Staying informed about current trends can enhance your ability to make lucrative trades, ensuring consistency in your trading strategy and aligning with your overall business goals. Success Stories Many successful trading stories illustrate the power of creativity and resourcefulness. One compelling example is Demi Skipper, a 30-year-old entrepreneur who transformed a bobby pin into a house. Notable Examples Demi Skipper’s Trade Me Project: Launched in May 2020, Skipper was inspired by Kyle MacDonald, who famously traded a red paperclip for a house in 2005. Starting with a bobby pin, Skipper executed 28 trades over 20 months. Her trades included items such as earrings, margarita glasses, a vacuum, a snowboard, and an Apple TV. Ultimately, she traded a solar-powered trailer worth $40,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bath house in Clarksville, Tennessee, valued at $80,000. Kyle MacDonald: The original inspiration for Skipper’s project, MacDonald achieved his goal of trading a simple red paperclip for a house in just 14 trades. His story highlights the potential of innovative trading strategies and the importance of building a strong network through each trade. Lessons Learned Creativity Drives Value: Both Skipper and MacDonald demonstrate how thinking outside the box can result in substantial value from low-cost items. Consider exploring various items with unique appeal to your target audience when formulating your business model. Networking is Essential: Building connections plays a critical role in successful trading. Each trade requires you to engage with potential traders, highlighting the importance of networking to grow your small business. Market Research and Valuation: Conduct thorough market research to understand the perceived value of items within your trading sequence. Proper valuation ensures you select items that exhibit potential for growth. Utilizing Digital Platforms: Leverage online marketplaces, social media, and other platforms to efficiently reach your target audience. Implementing digital marketing strategies can enhance your visibility and engagement during trading. Growth Strategy: Aim for a clear growth strategy. Like Skipper and MacDonald, maintain a continuous assessment of each trade’s value and impact on your overall journey. This ensures steady progress towards your ultimate goals. Challenges and Considerations Trading a bobby pin for a house involves various challenges and considerations essential for any small business undertaking. Limitations of the Trade Limitations arise from the intrinsic value of the items involved in each trade. As you progress from a low-value item, such as a bobby pin, to higher-value assets, the potential for finding willing traders diminishes. You must conduct thorough market research to discern realistic values and determine the acceptable trade limits. Additionally, you face geographical constraints, as some trades may not be feasible if the item you’re pursuing is located far away from you. Understanding these limitations involves developing a clear business model that outlines your trading strategy while keeping customer acquisition and negotiation skills at the forefront. Emotional and Social Factors Emotional and social factors play significant roles in trading endeavors. You may experience skepticism from others as your trades escalate in value. Overcoming that skepticism requires resilience and confidence in your vision. Networking becomes vital; connecting with fellow entrepreneurs and potential traders helps build trust. Engaging in social media can amplify your outreach and showcase your trading journey, further establishing credibility. Additionally, managing emotional expectations is crucial, as the ups and downs of trading can affect your morale. Emphasizing branding and marketing strategies enables you to highlight the unique narrative of your trades, enhancing your story’s appeal to others. Navigating the challenges and considerations of trading a bobby pin for a house involves understanding both practical limits and the intricate emotional landscape of entrepreneurship. By addressing these key factors strategically, you enhance your likelihood of success in this creative venture. The Impact of Viral Trends Viral trends significantly influence the success of unique business ideas like trading a bobby pin for a house. This phenomenon not only showcases creativity and resourcefulness but also serves as a powerful example for entrepreneurs looking to establish innovative ventures. Social Media Influence Social media platforms play a vital role in amplifying trading stories like Demi Skipper’s “Trade Me Project.” Her journey was widely shared on TikTok and Instagram, highlighting the effectiveness of social media for small businesses seeking exposure. Engaging content attracts followers, expands your target audience, and fosters community engagement, essential for customer acquisition in today’s digital marketing landscape. Utilizing hashtags and trending topics can boost visibility and draw attention to your unique offerings. Cultural Significance The cultural significance of trading narratives extends beyond mere transactions. They symbolize innovation and challenge traditional views on value. Trading a seemingly worthless item for something substantial encourages entrepreneurs to think creatively about their business models. This dynamic showcases the potential for profitable ventures through bartering, even in a landscape dominated by e-commerce and conventional sales. As you refine your business plan, consider how the principles illustrated by these trading stories can inform your own strategies, emphasizing adaptability and resourcefulness. Conclusion Trading a bobby pin for a house isn’t just a whimsical idea; it’s a testament to the power of creativity and resourcefulness. By embracing the principles of bartering and innovative thinking, you can unlock new opportunities in your entrepreneurial journey. As you explore your own trading ventures, remember the importance of networking and market research. Each small item you possess could be the key to something much larger. Stay adaptable and open-minded in your approach, and you’ll find that the potential for value is often hidden in plain sight. Your journey in trading can inspire others and redefine how we perceive worth in today’s economy. Embrace the challenge and let your creativity lead the way. Frequently Asked Questions What is the main idea of trading a bobby pin for a house? The article explores how a simple item, like a bobby pin, can be traded for something much more valuable, such as a house. It emphasizes creativity, resourcefulness, and negotiation as key elements in the trade process. Who is Kyle MacDonald? Kyle MacDonald is known for his unique trading journey, where he traded a red paperclip for a house through a series of successful exchanges. His story serves as an inspiration for innovative trading strategies. What is the “Trade Me Project”? Demi Skipper’s “Trade Me Project” involved trading a bobby pin through 28 transactions over 20 months, ultimately exchanging it for a solar-powered trailer worth $40,000 and then trading that for a house. How can someone start trading effectively? To start trading, focus on creativity and conduct thorough market research to properly value your items. Utilize platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to connect with potential traders for successful exchanges. What role does social media play in trading? Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplify trading stories, helping small businesses gain exposure and build community engagement. Engaging content attracts followers and fosters customer relationships. What challenges are associated with trading? Challenges of trading include evaluating intrinsic item value and overcoming geographical limitations. Strong negotiation skills, a clear business model, and resilience are also crucial for success in this process. How can creative value drive trading success? Creativity can reveal unique trade opportunities, making seemingly worthless items valuable. Thinking outside the box enables traders to explore innovative business ideas that attract interest and foster successful exchanges. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover the Art of Trading a Bobby Pin for a House: Unlocking Value and Creativity" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Duolingo is now phasing out contract workers as it switches to using artificial intelligence for some tasks, a move that's part of the company going "AI-first". "AI isn't just a productivity boost," said Duolingo co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn in a press release. "It helps us get closer to our mission." From what von Ahn says, it sounds as though AI will be used to scale up content, build out the Duolingo codebase, and power features such as video calls with AI avatars. If that reliance on AI leaves you a little cold—perhaps over concerns around ethics, energy use, copyright infringement, or accuracy—then one of the alternatives worth checking out is Mango Languages. You can usually access it for free through your local public library and other institutions such as schools, but if you can't find a free option you're eligible for, it costs from $12 a month (or less, if you pay a year at a time). Getting started with Mango LanguagesEven if you can't get free access to Mango Languages through your library or another institution, you can try out a free lesson to see if it suits you, before having to pay (or even register an account). There are more than 70 languages to choose from, and your first task is to pick the one you'd like to start learning. There's a simple slide-based approach here, so you can move at your own pace and move backwards and forwards as you like. The app also tries to explain fundamentals about a language as you go, including the way that pronunciations might change as you put more words and phrases together, and the patterns of speech involved. Credit: Lifehacker You really do get to start with the basics, with straightforward lessons covering greetings and how to make yourself understood. Alongside vocabulary learning, Mango Languages also tries to get you to understand the grammar of the sentences you're saying as you progress, and the goals of each lesson are set out ahead of time. As well as being available on the web, Mango Languages also offers dedicated apps for Android and iOS, so you can learn on the go as well as when you're sitting at a desk. There are the usual configuration settings you'd expect, including timings on the slides you see and whether or not you want each slide narrated to you. Progressing with your language learningAs you move through the Mango Languages course, you can review your progress each day and go back to any previous lessons, as well as seeing what's further ahead. You get tests on your reading, writing, speaking, and pronunciation, and there's also the option to compare your speaking with that of a native speaker. Something Mango Languages does well is provide little cultural notes to explain how different terms are used—essential if you don't want to be offending any of the locals on your next vacation. The app also encourages critical thinking, and will sometimes ask you to work out how something should be said, rather than just telling you. You get cultural notes to go with your language learning. Credit: Lifehacker Further down the line, you'll come across special lessons too: For my chosen language of German, one of them is the annual booze-up that is Oktoberfest. These can help put your language learning into more context, so you're learning about a country and its customs as well as the native tongue. You get a clean interface, lots of flexibility, and an interesting mix of exercises and challenges to help you stay engaged with learning a language—which for most of us, isn't an easy ask. Both the basics of vocabulary and the more advanced ways that words are put together are well-handled, and if you're able to access it for free, so much the better. View the full article

Fraud remains a huge issue, with reports increasing 25% between 2023 and 2024, according to recently released data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That amounted to consumers losing more than $12.5 billion to various frauds and scams. Those eye-popping figures are what spurred AT&T to beef up its fraud-prevention smartphone application, ActiveArmor, with a slate of new features, says Matt Bailey, AT&T’s AVP of product management and development. And interestingly enough, the app will also provide protection for your physical property—including your credit and debit cards and even your driver’s license. On Wednesday, AT&T announced the five new features being added to the app: Lost wallet recovery ID restoration A password manager A password manager web extension Social media identity protection With the lost wallet recovery feature, AT&T says it will help you replace important items such as a driver’s license or checkbook with a one-click call to its recovery specialists. The service also cancels lost credit or debit cards and “restores other sensitive financial items,” according to the company’s description. Combined, Bailey says the new features will help fewer people become victims of various scams. “The biggest impetus to our focus on security is the fact that consumers are consistently being victimized by fraudulent activity, and that it’s increasing,” he says. “That’s the key concern that our customers have been telling us about, and we’ve been focused on security relentlessly.” Robocalls and other modern-day rackets Bailey says that while the ActiveArmor app was originally launched in 2016 to root out robocalls, it’s since become what he thinks is “the most comprehensive security app out there.” And it’s also available to everyone—not just AT&T customers. AT&T customers will not be charged anything extra, but those on other networks who download and install the app will face a $3.99-per-month charge. And as for why AT&T—which is primarily a digital and wireless company—decided to add protection for physical cards, driver’s licenses, and even checkbooks? Bailey says that the company already has a dedicated team to help customers replace some of those items, so it made sense to put the physical stuff into the mix, too. “We thought it was a pretty natural tie-in to help customers remain protected,” he says. View the full article

A Microsoft Project plan file, or an MPP file, is a file format that’s exclusive to Microsoft Project. This means users need to purchase Microsoft Project to open them. Otherwise, using and more importantly, sharing MS Project files, will cause problems. However, you can avoid those hurdles if you have a Microsoft Project viewer to view and edit MPP files. What Is a Microsoft Project Viewer? A Microsoft Project viewer, also known as an MS Project viewer or MPP viewer, is software that allows you to open MPP files without having to purchase a Microsoft Project license. MPP viewers were created as a workaround for users who need to open MPP files but don’t have Microsoft Project due to drawbacks such as a high price, steep learning curve or lack of compatibility with Mac. However, it’s important to note that while Microsoft Project viewers let you open MPP files, they don’t offer the same project planning, scheduling or tracking tools as Microsoft Project. An MPP viewer is not equivalent to project management software, but a much simpler tool that can only be used to visualize data from your MPP files. If you’re looking for an MPP viewer with similar features to Microsoft Project, you should try ProjectManager. ProjectManager is more than just a Microsoft Project viewer, it’s online project management software that allows you to open, print, share and edit MPP files online. More importantly, ProjectManager allows you to use all the project management features you expect from Microsoft Project such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, project calendars and more. Get started today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Manufacturing-gantt-chart-light-mode-costs-exposed-cta-e1712005286389.jpgLearn more Why Should You Use a Microsoft Project Viewer? There are several reasons why Microsoft Project might not be the best project management tool for some organizations, which causes project managers to look for Microsoft Project alternatives, such as MPP viewers. Here are some of them. Microsoft Project Is Expensive The price point is one of the difficulties that one encounters immediately with MS Project. Microsoft Project requires a monthly subscription that starts at $10/month/user, but you don’t get a lot of features with it. The more advanced cloud-based subscription will set you back $55 per month/user. The on-premise Microsoft Project solution is even pricier: the price range is $679.99 for Project Standard 2021 to over $1,129.99 for the Project Professional 2021 edition. Microsoft Project Is Hard to Use While the new Microsoft Project Online adds more flexibility to the product and is certainly an improvement over the desktop version, the learning curve is still steep. It’s not a user-friendly interface and sharing files is not easy. Microsoft offers its Sharepoint as a means to share files, but even their solution is expensive and not easy to use. Add to that the lack of a real-time dashboard, and you can see why people are motivated to find an alternative. Microsoft Project Is Not Available for Mac Users For those projects that are being managed on a Mac OS device, the problems are much worse. Microsoft Project doesn’t support Apple products. That ignores huge industries, such as publishing and design. You can avoid these drawbacks by using a Microsoft Project viewer. Microsoft Project viewers are a good substitute for all versions of MS Project, including Microsoft Project Online, as most of them let you open MPP files online. Key Features of a Microsoft Project Viewer While each Microsoft Project viewer has different features and unique functionality, most Microsoft Project viewers allow you and your team to: Open MPP files: View Microsoft Project files online. Share Microsoft Project files: MPP viewers let you export MPP files as Excel or CSV files which lets you share them with non-MS Project license holders. Print MPP files: Most MPP viewers allow you to print the content of your Microsoft Project files. However, while they’re helpful, it’s important to understand that Microsoft Project viewers aren’t project management software like Microsoft Project and therefore might lack important project management tools. If you want the closest experience to Microsoft Project, you can try ProjectManager, online project management software that lets you use advanced project management features to: Manage MPP files online using project management tools such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, project dashboards and timesheets. Create project schedules and use project tracking tools. Find the critical path of your projects. Collaborate with your team online. View real-time project dashboard data. Export updated data as XML back into MS Project. Let’s go over the process of using ProjectManager as an advanced Microsoft Project viewer and editor. How to Use ProjectManager as a Microsoft Project Viewer With ProjectManager, you can import and export Microsoft Project files without losing any data thanks to its online storage. Plus, you can view and edit MPP files before exporting your changes and sharing them with your team members. Best of all, our MPP viewer works on both Windows and Mac computers without requiring any downloads. 1. Start a Free 30-Day Trial To view and edit MS Project files on your computer (Windows or Mac), you must first start your free 30-day trial. Choose any plan you like, as they’re all compatible with Microsoft Project, and each plan lets you seamlessly import, export, view and edit MPP files. Once you’ve selected a plan, ProjectManager is free for 30 days and can be canceled at any time—no strings attached! Follow the walkthrough below to view and edit your MPP files in ProjectManager. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ms-project-pm-integration-1600x627.png 2. Use the Gantt Chart to Import Your MPP File Launch the Gantt chart tool and click on the import button. You can find it on the top right of your screen. It’s the one with the symbol that looks like a box with an arrow piercing it on top. Once you import your file, you can use ProjectManager as an online MPP file viewer and editor and use all its project management features to edit your Microsoft Project plan. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gantt-import-light-mode.png 3. Get Your MPP File Find the MPP file you want to work on. A popup window will ask which project file you wish to import. Once you’ve selected it, hit next. Make sure your file has the right MPP file extension. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/import-light-mode-pop-up-600x280.png 4. Pick Your Options Follow the choices listed on the new popup menu. You can now add the imported MS project file to an existing project or open it as a new one, as well as replace the data or keep it. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MPP-file-import-Gantt-chart-lightmode-e1726518305943-600x291.png 5. Import the MPP File into Our Microsoft Project Viewer Choose how you want to import the Microsoft Project file. You can get all the data from it or just the task list. It’s up to you. Choose whichever option gives you more options when it comes to efficiently viewing and editing your MPP file. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/project-import-data-selection-mpp-gantt-light-mode-600x254.png 6. Get Started Viewing & Editing Your MPP File! See that window that says success? That means you’ve imported the file and now you can share it, edit it and, if you want, export it back to MS Project, without any hassles. Your project will appear on the Gantt chart at first, but you can manage it in any of the project views available on our online platform. It’s Microsoft Project integration done right. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/import-success-prompt.png What MPP File Versions Does ProjectManager Open? Microsoft Project is a software that has existed for decades, so various types of MPP files have been developed over the years. ProjectManager will allow you to open any 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007 .MPP file formats. This means you can use ProjectManager as an MS Project Viewer for the following versions of Microsoft Project: Microsoft Project 2021 Microsoft Project 2019 Microsoft Project 2016 (with Office 365 subscription) Microsoft Project 2013 Microsoft Project 2010 Microsoft Project 2007 Benefits of Using ProjectManager as a Microsoft Project Viewer We’ve already learned that ProjectManager has all the Microsoft Project features you’re familiar with, at a much lower cost and a more friendly user interface than Microsoft Project. Here are even more benefits from using ProjectManager as your Microsoft Project viewer. Open MPP files Online: View Microsoft Project files online, even if you used desktop versions of Microsoft Project to create them. Edit MPP files Online: Use any of ProjectManager’s project management tools to make changes to your MPP files. Print MPP files: Print the content of your Microsoft Project files in various formats such as Gantt charts, task lists, or project calendars. Import and Export Files from Microsoft Project: If you need to export the data back to MS Project, you can simply click “export,” and it will open in MS Project with all the data updates intact. ProjectManager is also compatible with OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Outlook and more than 1,000 business apps. Share Microsoft Project files in multiple formats: ProjectManager is an online MPP viewer that lets you export MPP files as Excel or CSV files so you can share them with non-MS Project license holders. Export updated data as XML back into MS Project. Cut Down Costs: ProjectManager is a cost-effective solution when compared to Microsoft Project and most Microsoft Project viewers. It allows you to use the same features as Microsoft Project at a fraction of the cost. Manage Your Projects Online: Once your Microsoft Project files are seamlessly imported online, you can manage and share your projects 100% online, safely and securely, so you can collaborate with your team. Everything from MS Project transfers over, including formatting such as color coding. Supports All Microsoft Project Views: Edit MPP files online using project management tools such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, project dashboards and timesheets, unlike other MPP viewers which don’t only support a few Microsoft Project views. 10 Microsoft Project Viewer Software With Free & Paid Plans (Online & Desktop Solutions) If you’re just looking for a Microsoft Project viewer and nothing else, some lightweight options might interest you. All work as a free Microsoft Project viewer, even on Mac, and some can be found in the Microsoft Store. These tools might not have the features that project managers need, such as Gantt charts, cloud storage, etc., but they’ll act as an online MPP viewer and make those stubborn MPP files workable for iOS, Android and Windows users alike. 1. Project Plan 365 Project Plan 365 is a Microsoft Project viewer that can open and save Microsoft Project files. It imports and exports seamlessly to collaborate with MS Project. It works with Mac and has a cloud interface to work online or a downloadable version for your macOS devices. A benefit for Microsoft Project users is that this free MPP viewer has a familiar feel to that tool. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/project-plan-365-viewer-600x350.png Users have complained that the software crashes, especially if charts are more complicated. Another issue is that customers have complained of bugs, such as the tool doesn’t sync with Dropbox. While it promises a lot, such as Gantt charts, it doesn’t always deliver. When it does, the subscription price for the paid version is high. Project Plan 365 Pricing Standard: $9.99 user/month, billed annually Business: $16.19 user/month, billed annually Project Plan 365 Reviews Mac App Store: 3.5 / 5 Google Play Store: 2.3 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “So happy to have found an alternative that won’t hurt the bank. It’s simple to use, and keeps all my projects on track.” – From Mac App Store reviews “It’s a saver app, I can review all my work with it.” – From Google Play Store reviews “Very useful. There are no other apps that open MPP files on a smartphone.” – From Google Play Store reviews Highlighted Negative User Reviews “It takes 30 minutes to import an Excel file because of how unruly the UI is matching field names to your column headers.” – From Mac App Store reviews “The only way to update the schedule with actual dates is to set each task individually to manual scheduling.” – From Mac App Store reviews “This App needs a proper Tablet mode, it doesn’t resize well on a bigger screen, wanted to use this with Samsung DEX mode but without proper adjustment to larger screen size (i.e. Not a phone but a tablet) it’s only just usable as a viewer.” – From Google Play Store reviews 2. Project Viewer 365 Project Viewer 365 is another lightweight Microsoft Project viewer. It allows users to view, read, share and print MPP files. It has cloud-based integration with Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox and SharePoint. Pricing starts at $29.99 for one license, though there’s a free MPP viewer, and it works with PCs, Macs, and any web browser. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/project-viewer-365-600x375.jpg While this is a decent online MPP viewer, it’s nothing else. If you’re only using Microsoft Project, then this might be a fine workaround to view files with teams and vendors that would otherwise require the purchase of more MS Project licenses. However it’s so barebones and even with a free version, it’s not worth the money to have another app that does only one thing. Project Viewer 365 Pricing Perpetual License: $29.99 per user, one-time purchase Project Viewer 365 Reviews Mac App Store: 3.3 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “I’ve been using this software for three years and I’ve had one issue that the technical support team fixed upon notification.” – From Mac App Store reviews “It’s exactly what I need to manage project schedules.” – From Mac App Store reviews “VThis is a Project file viewing app, not the full blown MS Project so have more realistic expectations. Works perfectly.” – From Mac App Store reviews Highlighted Negative User Reviews “I’m giving this product 2 stars only because it actually was able to open an MPP file. Otherwise, I’d give it a 1-star rating.” – From Mac App Store reviews “To echo some reviews, the product works but can be incredibly slow and buggy.” – From Mac App Store reviews “Just doesn’t seem to work all the time… loses files opened, can’t open a file directly. Seems to need a little more development but is about the only alternative since you cannot get MS Project on a Mac.” – From Mac App Store reviews 3. Seavus Project Viewer There’s also Seavus Project Viewer, another MS Project viewer that supports all the views available on Microsoft Project and MS Project Professional, including graphical reports. Like the others on this list, the user interface mimics that of MS Project for ease of use. It even has Skype for Business integration and a task update collaboration add-in. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/seavus-project-viewer-600x319.png The trouble is, this is another expensive MPP viewer at $39 for a one-time user. There’s a free trial but that’s not going to help customers who need a long-term solution. As an MS Project viewer, you could do worse, but again, there are no other project management features. The idea of spending money on a product that does only one thing means you’ll eventually have a handful of expensive apps that can do but one thing when there are affordable alternatives that can view MPP files and much more. Seavus Project Viewer Pricing Single License for Windows: $62.00 per user, one-time purchase Single License for macOS: $63.00 per user, one-time purchase Concurrent License for Windows: $187.00 for multiple users, one-time purchase 4. Steelray MPP Viewer Steelray is an MPP viewer that allows you to read data from MPP files in all of the same views that Microsoft Project has, including Gantt charts, timelines, network diagrams and calendars. Besides opening all Microsoft Project file formats, it can open Primavera P6 .XER files too. Probably the main advantage of Steelray is that it is an inexpensive Microsoft Project viewer for $35 per user per year. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/steelray-mpp-viewer-600x402.jpg Unfortunately, Steelray is an on-premises solution that needs to be downloaded and installed in your computer, which means you won’t be able to open MPP files online, from any device like you would with an online MPP viewer. Its features are also very limited and are designed for users that just need to have access to MPP files in a read-only view. Steelray MPP Viewer Pricing Viewer for Microsoft Project: $19.95 user/year, billed annually Ultimate Edition: $35.00 user/year, billed annually 5. Project Reader Project Reader is a lightweight MS Project viewer that focuses on resource management. Its main advantage is that it can open a wide variety of Microsoft Project file formats such as MPP files, MPT files and XML files. It can open Microsoft Project files from 1998 to 2019. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/project-reader-mpp-viewer-600x405.png However, it only offers some of the project management views from Microsoft Project such as Gantt charts, resource sheet, resource usage and task usage. Another big disadvantage is that it’s an on-premises solution and its user interface looks and feels very outdated compared to most Microsoft Project viewers. A Project Reader license costs $29 per user per year, the price can go down to $23 per user per year if you purchase more than 20 licenses, which makes it a cost-effective alternative for larger organizations. Project Reader Pricing Standard: $29.00 up to 10 installations Standard: $26.00 11 to 20 installations Standard: $23.00 21 installations or more Professional: $40.00 up to 10 installations Professional: $36.00 11 to 20 installations Professional: $32.00 21 installations or more Concurrent Standard License: $92.00 per concurrent user Concurrent Professional License: $115.00 per concurrent user Project Reader Reviews Software Advice: 4.3 / 5 Capterra 4.3 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “Easy to use and compatible with our current software. Did not have exponential learning curves for new employees.” Tim – From Software Advice “All the essential views are available. The printing resolution and preview are very professional.” Mark R – From Capterra “I do not need to update the project plan and only need to read it. This is great.” Terry R – From Capterra Highlighted Negative User Reviews “When the product works, it’s very easy to use but it has been very frustrating to get it to work for me.” Merrill – From Software Advice “The only problem is that I think it’s not powerful enough.” Nava H – From Capterra 6. MOOS Project Viewer MOOS Project Viewer is software designed as a way to see Microsoft Project Viewer files. Users don’t need Microsoft Project installed in their computer to do this. That’s because it supports opening and viewing Microsoft Project files, including MPP, XML and MPX formats. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MOOS-Project-Viewer-e1727293958323.png While MOOS Project Viewer can be used as a Microsoft Project Viewer, it has limited editing capabilities, such as read-only access. It also lacks advanced features such as detailed resource leveling or complex scheduling. There are even compatibility issues with newer Microsoft Project features that are not fully supported. It’s designed to be user-friendly, but the reality is the software requires a steep learning curve. Larger files can be slow to open, it has limited integration and no cloud access, which might be a hard no for many potential users. MOOS Project Viewer Pricing Regular License: $25.00 user/year, billed annually Ultimate Edition: $12.50 user/year, billed annually License Renewal: $7.50 user/year, billed annually 7. Smartsheet Smartsheet is mostly used as collaborative work management software, but it can be used as a Microsoft Project Viewer. It imports Microsoft Project files and allows them to be viewed and to interact with the project data. Now these files are collaborative and can be viewed in Gantt charts and reports. /wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Smartsheet-Timeline-GA-1-600x338.png That doesn’t mean all Microsoft Project files are supported by the Microsoft Project Viewer. More complex project plans with advanced scheduling features may not import accurately. Some data can be lost or misrepresented. The interface between the two software products differs, which might require users to adjust and could cause confusion. As with most of these Microsoft Project Viewers, users will have to take time to familiarize themselves with the features and functionality of the software. Smartsheet Pricing Pro: $9.00 user/month, billed annually Business: $26.00 user/month, billed annually Smartsheet Reviews G2: 4.4 / 5 Capterra 4.5 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “It has enhanced our ability to prepare comprehensive reports and dashboards, and has also improved the management of communication with colleagues and clients effectively.” Mor L – From Capterra “Smartsheet has given me a solution that allows me to keep track of everything, all in one place. My employees utilize the system to track their calls, productivity, client info, workday tasks, etc.” Danielle B – From G2 “Every time I introduce someone to Smartsheet, they’re impressed that it’s much more than project management software; I’ve created CRMs, training trackers, and more with it.” Pamela S – From G2 Highlighted Negative User Reviews “Unfortunately, in Gantt chart view, there are limited possibilities to customize the task dependencies.” Otilde R – From Capterra “Layout is not always user friendly and takes extra time for some users to acclimate. I wish the system was more robust, especially for the price.” Monique F – From Capterra “One downside to the tool has been the onboarding process. Our customer service rep who sold us the platform was not very responsive and did not connect us with our support team to help us learn how to use the tool to our best ability.” Erin O – From G2 8. ClickUp ClickUp is another tool that acts as a Microsoft Project Viewer. It can import Microsoft Project files so users can view the project data within, such as tasks, timelines and dependencies. Those tasks can be managed in ClickUp with its task management features and collaboration tools. /wp-content/uploads/2023/12/clickup-gantt-chart-view-600x374.png As with many of the Microsoft Project Viewers, there can be file compatibility issues with ClickUp, especially when dealing with complex project structures and dependencies that might not import correctly. Users can experience data loss during import, such as custom fields or specific scheduling features. There have also been reported problems with performance when dealing with large or complex Microsoft Project files. Similar to other Microsoft Project Viewers, users can manage and track tasks in ClickUp, but not directly edit the original Microsoft Project file within the application. ClickUp Pricing Free: $0.00 user/month Unlimited: $7.00 user/month, billed annually Business: $12.00 user/month, billed annually ClickUp Reviews G2: 4.7 / 5 Capterra 4.6 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “If I’m just working on a straightforward to-do list or some intricate multi-team project, ClickUp accommodates flawlessly.” Gerald John A – From G2 “Everything in one workspace. We run agile sprints, publish docs, and manage OKRs without shuffling between apps.” Anders E – From G2 “What I like the most is its level of customization: you can build your own organizational system that fits exactly how you think and work.” JP M – From G2 Highlighted Negative User Reviews “It was ok, but generally created more frustration than it was worth.” Bri E – From Capterra “Unfortunately, I need to upgrade to a paid subscription to continue using the timesheets feature, which is one of my main reasons for using ClickUp.” Tracy M – From Capterra “Unfortunately, ClickUp’s recent pricing changes have significantly impacted our business. They converted previously free guests into “limited members,” forcing us to pay full membership fees for users who only need minimal access.” Martina R – From Capterra 9. Wrike Wrike allows users to view and collaborate on project data. However, as a Microsoft Project Viewer, it may have certain limitations. It does allow users to import Microsoft Project files and collaborate with other team members. There is also basic visualization, which helps users understand project timelines and dependencies. /wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wrike-timeline-view.png The trouble is that not all features or formatting may be supported, which can lead to potential discrepancies in the imported data. These data integrity issues can create data loss or misrepresentation, especially when importing complex project files, such as those with custom fields or intricate dependencies. This is also true with importing large files. As a Microsoft Project Viewer, another limitation is the fact that there is no editing of original files. As the subscription cost, and this might not be the right solution for a Microsoft Project Viewer. Wrike Pricing Free: $0.00 user/month Team: $10.00 user/month, billed annually Business: $25.00 user/month, billed annually Wrike Reviews G2: 4.2 / 5 Capterra 4.3 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “I like how Wrike helps increase transparency and collaboration within our entire organization.” Kendra C – From Capterra “It has streamlined our projects and allowed us to get our projects completed within the designated time frame.” Ana R – From Capterra “Using Wrike has truly transformed our team dynamics. Originally, we sought it out just for our immediate group, but soon recognized its broader potential.” Felipe A – From G2 Highlighted Negative User Reviews “Good product solution for project management and would be an amazing bit of software if the support and accounts team were good to work with. Customer service, support, and billing are awful.” Matthew T – From Capterra “It can be difficult to implement if users have no previous project management experience.” Jamie C – From G2 “Wrike is highly deficient when it comes to project and portfolio management. There is no RAID logging functionally at all, and project status reporting is incredibly weak.” Mat W – From G2 10. GanttPro Besides being a project management tool with Gantt charts, GanttPro can be used as a Microsoft Project Viewer. It can import Microsoft Project files to view timelines, tasks and dependencies in the Gantt chart view. The Gantt chart is a good tool for visualizing project timelines, critical paths and task relationships. It’s also a collaborative tool, which Microsoft Project is not. Another benefit of this Microsoft Project Viewer is users can track progress, update task statuses and manage resources directly in the platform. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GanttPro-gantt-chart-600x338.webp But GanttPro isn’t the ideal Microsoft Project Viewer. No surprise, there are compatibility issues. Not all the features or custom settings from Microsoft Project are fully supported. There can be data loss during import, especially for complex projects or larger files. Limited editing of original files can interfere with usability. Using this Microsoft Project Viewer can be costly, as GanttPro works on a subscription model. Plus, learning how to use the tool can take time, which many teams don’t have. GanttPro Pricing Core: $7.00 user/month Advanced: $10.00 user/month, billed annually Business: $17.00 user/month, billed annually GanttPro Reviews G2: 4.8 / 5 Capterra 4.8 / 5 Highlighted Positive User Reviews “Overall, it is easy to use and has been very helpful with keeping our work organized.” Tanique S – From Capterra “One of the primary things about GanttPro that I appreciate is that it shares similar features from MS Project 2016 without the frustration of the Newest MS Project.” Leif F – From G2 “Keeping schoolwork organized is a huge relief—tracking my deadlines, homework, tasks, and to-dos helps me stay on top of everything.” Van D – From G2 Highlighted Negative User Reviews “I’m having a bit of a hard time trying to import a file or task list, the process can be a bit tricky and takes some getting used to. I would love to make this feature more intuitive and easy to use.” Juan Carlos E – From Capterra “One potential drawback is that it may have a learning curve for users unfamiliar with project management tools. Additionally, the platform’s features and capabilities may be limited for businesses with highly complex or specialized project management needs.” Sarfaraz K – From Capterra “Even though the interface is easy to use, looking from a designer perspective, it seems a little outdated.” Tomas L – From G2 If you’re looking for a powerful tool that has a free version and different subscription tiers to match your needs and not break your wallet, you’ll want an MS Project viewer such as ProjectManager. It not only views but edits and shares your MMP files. In fact, you might just give up Microsoft Project altogether. Why ProjectManager Is the Best Online Microsoft Project Viewer When you’ve imported your MS Project File into an online Microsoft Project viewer with the capacity to edit MPP files, like ProjectManager, you’re given free rein to work, whether you’re using Windows, Mac, iOS or Android devices. The Microsoft Project files are fully imported into your online MS Project viewer. Now that you’re in the MPP file, there are different project views available to you when you work. Let’s take a look at some innovative ways to use an MS Project viewer with project management features, like ProjectManager, and see how this tool can help you work more efficiently. 1. Online Gantt Charts When you import an MPP file to ProjectManager, the project plan and Gantt chart immediately populate online, preserving your custom columns and settings like color-coding, WBS and task dependencies, as well as importing resources and assignments. You can then immediately view your project plans online and manage them with your team once invited to the online project. This includes collaborating with your team on tasks directly on the Gantt chart, which enables you to receive alerts when your team members have updated their tasks with comments or file attachments. You can also manage projects in a portfolio, create project groups and manage task dependencies across projects. /wp-content/uploads/2023/02/operations-implementation-gantt-chart-150.png 2. Online Timesheets & Resource Management When you import Microsoft Project plans online to ProjectManager, you get more than an MS Project viewer. You can manage your projects online, including managing resource time, costs and updates. Since your resource data is imported, you can share the online project plans with your team and invite them to update timesheets. This is perfect for teams in the field; they can update tasks and timesheets anytime, anywhere, and you get email alerts when their timesheets are ready for approval. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/timesheet-lightmode-good-version-lots-of-tasks.png 3. Populate Real-Time Dashboards When you import an MPP file into ProjectManager, for example, your real-time dashboard is instantly populated, showing you instant views of your project data. You might wonder, if you’ve never seen a real-time view of your project data, why you would need a project dashboard? The benefits are clear upon import. You can see at-a-glance: Project health Task status Team workload status Costs And more /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Dashboard-IT-Light-2554x1372-1.png With ProjectManager, your MPP files are super-powered. Now they can reflect real-time changes in your project. You can easily share documents that were too big to email. Import and export are a breeze, the viewer can do all the formatting for you, and best of all, your project data instantly populate your dashboard with colorful charts and graphs. Ready to try it? Sign up for a 30-day free trial now. ProjectManager Is More Than a Microsoft Project Viewer: It’s an MPP File Editor ProjectManager isn’t just a free MS project viewer. It’s a Microsoft Project alternative that can be used as an MPP file editor or a fully-featured project management software that gives you complete control over your projects. When you import and export MS Project plans, you want to have the ability to work on them and access project management features. With data roundtripping, your imported data columns don’t have to be “mapped,” like in other project viewers. The data immediately and seamlessly is imported into the right places, so you can continue your project planning and scheduling right there online! With an advanced MPP editor, you can: Open MPP files Manage MPP files online View planned, baselines and WBS See & update task dependencies Merge resources & their rates Merge assignments Collaborate with your team online View real-time dashboard data Export updated data as XML into MS Project Once your Microsoft Project files are seamlessly imported online, you can manage and share your projects 100% online, safely and securely, so you can collaborate with your team. Everything from MS Project transfers over, including formatting such as color coding. Team members can update tasks on the Gantt and add attachments and comments. So you can continue planning in just a few clicks. Plus, if you need to export the data back to MS Project, you can simply click “export,” and it will open in MS Project with all the data updates intact. ProjectManager is also compatible with OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Outlook and more than 1,000 business apps. Related: Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Planner Microsoft Project Viewers FAQ Microsoft Project is a very commonly used project management software but is not the best tool. That’s why many Microsoft Project viewer tools have been developed for those who don’t want to use MS Project but still need to open and share MPP files. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions online about Microsoft Project viewers. What is the best Microsoft Project viewer? ProjectManager is the best Microsoft Project viewer. It’s an online project management software that lets you flawlessly import and edit MPP files. Is there any Free Microsoft Project viewer? Yes, there are several free MPP viewers available online, such as in the Microsoft Store, Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. Can you view MS Project files without MS Project? Yes, you can use a Microsoft Project viewer, MPP file editor or better yet, project management software. Can I edit MPP files with a Microsoft Project viewer? No, Microsoft Project viewers don’t allow you to edit MPP files. With an MPP viewer, you can only read, share and print MPP files. Related Content Microsoft Project: Plans, Training and How to Download Top Microsoft Project Management Software Best Microsoft Project Alternatives Best Microsoft Planner Alternatives What Is Microsoft Project? Uses, Features and Pricing Microsoft Project Online: Pros, Cons and Free Alternatives MPP File Extension: What Is It & How to Open It Microsoft Project for Mac: How to Run MS Project Files on Your Mac What Is OpenProject? Uses, Features and Pricing If you’re using Microsoft Project, then look for alternatives to help you share your work with your team and stakeholders. With an online Project viewer and online project management software tool like ProjectManager, you can do more than just view your files. You can seamlessly manage your MPP files online, update and collaborate on plans online, manage timesheets with your team, view real-time project data, and so much more. See for yourself with this free 30-day trial! The post Microsoft Project Viewer Software – 10 Best MPP Viewers appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

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Mental load includes the invisible cognitive effort that goes into even the smallest tasks—and it’s constant. MOVE Like This With Bonnie Buol Ruszcyk For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk. View the full article

Mental load includes the invisible cognitive effort that goes into even the smallest tasks—and it’s constant. MOVE Like This With Bonnie Buol Ruszcyk For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk. View the full article