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Friday’s news of a major shakeup at Microsoft’s Xbox division caught the gaming world by surprise. Phil Spencer, who has run Xbox for almost 12 years, announced his retirement, effective immediately—just months after Microsoft insisted he was “not retiring anytime soon.” Asha Sharma, the president of Microsoft’s CoreAI product, was tapped to run the division. Once a powerhouse earner, Xbox has seen its profitability and influence shrink in recent years. (Xbox president Sarah Bond, long seen as Spencer’s heir apparent, was passed over and also left the company.) Sharma may face an uphill battle. Microsoft has not reported updated Xbox console sales or Game Pass subscription numbers in years. The available figures haven’t been encouraging. Xbox hardware revenue fell 32% year over year in the recent holiday quarter. Overall gaming revenue dropped 9%, and Xbox content and services, which includes Game Pass, declined 5%. Sharma has already taken some knocks online for lacking a deep history in video games. Some of that online blowback reflects the sexism that often runs rampant in gaming. (Sharma will be the first woman to run a major console manufacturer.) But criticism of her gaming pedigree also reflects a kind of gatekeeping. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive Software, has said he was not a gamer when he took charge—and still isn’t. Yet Take-Two has delivered a string of hits under his leadership, most notably the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and its share price has increased 15-fold since he took the job. “I don’t think anyone wants or needs my specific creative expertise, such as it is,” Zelnick once said. “It’s my job to attract, retain and provide the resources to the best creative talent in the business.” Dwindling sales and a divided focus Time will tell if Sharma follows that same path. But if she does, instead of focusing on big individual launches, she’ll have to persuade gamers to buy both hardware—and a subscription service that increasingly makes that hardware feel optional. The Xbox Series X and Series S have faced inventory issues in recent months and remain expensive when available. With memory shortages affecting a wide range of consumer technology products, a price cut anytime soon appears unlikely. At the same time, Microsoft has been pivoting away from consoles, expanding Game Pass across multiple platforms, including as an app on Samsung TVs. (An Xbox mobile store was planned but never launched.) Despite that shift, Microsoft has also been working on a next-generation Xbox, once expected to debut next year, though that timeline could slip due to component shortages. Starting over? Sharma’s promotion could mark a reset, shifting focus back to consoles and exclusive titles rather than the “Xbox anywhere” strategy of recent years. Even then, some hurdles remain. Microsoft’s hands are tied with its biggest franchise, Call of Duty, which it acquired through the Activision-Blizzard takeover three years ago. Under its agreement with regulators, Microsoft must continue offering those games and features to Sony through 2033. Still, the company has deep development resources, even after steep layoffs. The Halo franchise has struggled but could rebound with a strong release. Bethesda Softworks, acquired in 2021, is developing a new Elder Scrolls title and controls proven franchises such as Fallout and Doom. Microsoft also has Gears of War, Fable, Forza, and strong relationships with independent developers. Refocusing on consoles could require changes to Game Pass. The service’s appeal lies in offering new titles on Day One without requiring individual purchases. But with AAA games now costing $200 million or more to develop, Game Pass will need either a surge in subscribers or structural changes to remain viable. (A price increase could be challenging, as the top tier already costs $30 per month.) Whatever direction Sharma chooses, she faces a steep climb. Spencer may have been beloved by gamers, but Microsoft’s biggest bets of the past six years have largely fallen short. And as headwinds gather across the gaming industry, Microsoft is no longer the dominant force it was in the Xbox 360 era. Regaining that ground will require steady leadership. View the full article

Behind every smooth construction project is tight document control. When shop drawings, material data and product samples start moving between contractors and design teams, things can quickly get messy. A well-managed submittal log keeps that flow organized, prevents approval delays and protects your project schedule from unnecessary disruption. What Is a Submittal In a Construction Project? In practical terms, a construction submittal is any shop drawing, product data sheet, material sample or technical document a contractor sends to the architect or engineer for review before work proceeds. Its purpose is simple: confirm that what will be purchased, fabricated or installed matches the project specifications and contract documents. What Is a Submittal Log? A submittal log is a structured tracking document used in construction projects to manage and control the entire submittal process from identification to final approval. It lists every required construction submittal pulled from the project specifications and tracks who is responsible, when it must be submitted, how long it has been under review and whether it is approved, rejected or pending resubmission. By centralizing this information, the submittal log gives the project team a clear, organized record that supports document control, protects the project schedule and ensures compliance with contract requirements. ProjectManager is an award-winning construction project management software that’s designed for managing construction projects from start to finish. It’s equipped with features such as Gantt charts, timesheets, workload management charts and real-time dashboards and reports. In addition to its core construction planning, scheduling and tracking tools, it offers unlimited cloud-based document storage, online collaboration tools and AI project management insights that help project managers ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Get started for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA-1600x772.pngLearn more What Should Be Included in a Submittal Log for a Construction Project? In construction, a submittal is a formal document or physical sample submitted by a contractor or subcontractor to the architect or engineer for review and approval before fabrication, procurement or installation. Construction submittals verify that materials, equipment and systems comply with the contract documents and technical specifications. Shop drawings: Detailed drawings prepared by subcontractors or fabricators that show dimensions, materials, connections and installation methods for structural steel, HVAC systems, electrical layouts or other building components. Product data: Manufacturer-issued technical sheets describing performance characteristics, materials, model numbers and installation requirements, ensuring selected products meet the project specifications and design intent. Material samples: Physical samples of finishes such as flooring, paint, roofing or façade materials submitted for aesthetic approval and quality verification before bulk ordering and installation. Equipment data and cut sheets: Technical documentation for major equipment like chillers, generators or elevators, including capacity, power requirements and compliance certifications needed for engineering review. Mix designs: Concrete or asphalt mix design submittals prepared by suppliers that specify proportions, strength requirements and testing data to confirm compliance with structural performance criteria. Testing and inspection reports: Laboratory and field reports verifying that installed materials, welds, soil compaction or fireproofing meet quality control standards and contract requirements. Operation and maintenance manuals: Comprehensive documentation submitted near project closeout containing warranties, maintenance procedures and manufacturer guidance for building systems and equipment. Get your free Construction Submittal Log Template Use this free Construction Submittal Log Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File What Is the Purpose of a Submittal Log? Across a construction project, submittals don’t just “flow” on their own—they require tracking, follow-up and coordination to move from preparation to approval. The purpose of a submittal log is to actively manage that workflow by assigning responsibility, setting submission dates, tracking review turnaround times and documenting approval status. By clearly showing what has been sent, what is under review, what was rejected and what must be resubmitted, it prevents gaps in communication, reduces procurement risk and protects the project schedule from avoidable delays tied to document control failures. Beyond that primary objective, a submittal log can also achieve the following secondary purposes: Improves coordination between the general contractor, subcontractors and design team by clearly identifying who must prepare, review and approve each shop drawing, product data sheet or material sample before procurement begins. Supports procurement tracking by linking approved submittals to material orders, helping teams avoid purchasing non-compliant products that could trigger rework, change orders or costly schedule impacts. Creates a documented approval trail that protects the contractor during disputes by showing when submittals were sent, how long reviews took and whether delays were outside the contractor’s control. Helps forecast potential schedule risks by highlighting long-lead items and overdue reviews that could affect critical path activities or disrupt planned construction sequencing. Strengthens overall document control by centralizing submittal numbers, specification references and revision histories in one place, reducing confusion across RFIs, project schedules and quality control processes. When to Make a Submittal Log Most project teams create the submittal log immediately after contract award and before construction activities begin. As soon as the project schedule is being developed and procurement planning starts, the project manager or document control lead compiles submittals from the specifications to avoid early delays. As construction progresses, the submittal log becomes a live tracking tool that’s reviewed in coordination meetings and updated alongside the construction schedule. It flags overdue reviews, tracks resubmittals and highlights long-lead items affecting procurement. Throughout the build, it supports document control, protects the critical path and keeps subcontractors accountable. Who Is Responsible for Maintaining a Construction Submittal Log? On most construction projects, the general contractor is responsible for creating and maintaining the submittal log. In practice, this task is typically handled by the project manager, project engineer or document control specialist. They build the log from the project specifications, update it regularly and coordinate with subcontractors and the design team to keep submittals moving and aligned with the project schedule. Project manager: Oversees the entire submittal process, reviews the submittal log during coordination meetings and ensures that pending approvals, long-lead items and critical path activities are not delayed due to incomplete or overdue submittals. Project engineer: Often manages the day-to-day tracking of submittals by updating the log, assigning submittal numbers, following up on review turnaround times and coordinating resubmissions when items are rejected or require revisions. Subcontractors: Prepare and submit shop drawings, product data and material samples in accordance with the specifications, while responding to review comments and providing corrected resubmittals to keep procurement and fabrication on track. Architect or engineer of record: Reviews submitted documents for compliance with the contract documents, marks them as approved, approved as noted or rejected and returns them within the agreed review period to avoid impacting the project timeline. Document control specialist: Maintains organized records of all submissions, approval statuses, revision histories and correspondence, ensuring that the submittal log remains accurate, auditable and consistent with other project documentation such as RFIs and change orders. Submittal Log Template for Excel This construction submittal log template for Excel helps project teams track, review and manage submittals from receipt through approval. It captures specification references, submission dates, review cycles, status updates and responsible parties, giving contractors clear visibility into pending actions, approval timelines and potential schedule impacts. /wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Construction-submittal-log-for-Excel.png Submittal Log Example Imagine a residential construction project consisting of a 250-unit apartment complex with structured parking, a swimming pool, fitness center and shared amenities. Multiple subcontractors are submitting shop drawings, product data and material samples while procurement and field work move in parallel. Below is a simplified submittal log example for that project. Submittal No. Specification Section Description Responsible Subcontractor Date Submitted Status 033000-01 033000 – Cast-in-Place Concrete Concrete mix design for foundations and podium slab Concrete Contractor 03/10/2026 Approved 051200-02 051200 – Structural Steel Structural steel shop drawings for parking structure Steel Fabricator 03/18/2026 Approved as Noted 084413-03 084413 – Glazed Aluminum Curtain Walls Curtain wall product data and shop drawings Facade Contractor 03/25/2026 Under Review 233000-04 233000 – HVAC Air Distribution HVAC equipment data and ductwork shop drawings Mechanical Contractor 04/02/2026 Rejected – Resubmit 093000-05 093000 – Tiling Tile material samples for pool deck and bathrooms Finishes Subcontractor 04/08/2026 Approved Free Related Construction Project Management Templates ProjectManager offers dozens of free construction project management templates designed to help teams track progress, control costs, manage documentation and stay aligned with the project schedule from preconstruction through closeout. Construction Daily Report Template This construction daily report template helps project teams document site activity, labor hours, equipment usage, weather conditions and work completed each day, creating a reliable record that supports progress tracking and dispute resolution. Request for Information (RFI) Template The RFI template provides a structured format for submitting and tracking clarification requests related to drawings, specifications or scope gaps, helping prevent delays, miscommunication and costly rework during construction execution. Change Log Template Use the change log template to record scope changes, design revisions and approved change orders, giving project managers a centralized view of cost impacts, schedule adjustments and decision history throughout the project lifecycle. ProjectManager Is Ideal for Managing Construction Projects ProjectManager is award-winning construction project management software built to support projects from planning through closeout. It includes robust tools for creating construction schedules, allocating resources, tracking costs and comparing estimates against actual project performance. With unlimited cloud-based document storage and AI-driven project insights, teams can manage drawings, costs and progress in one centralized platform. Watch the video below to see how it works. Related Construction Project Management Content Our content library features over 100 construction blogs, templates, ebooks and other types of content to help construction project managers better understand the many moving parts that must be managed to deliver successful construction projects. Here are some of them. 48 Construction Documents (Templates Included) Construction Reporting: Types of Construction Reports What Are Construction Submittals and Why Are They So Important? Construction Document Management: A Quick Guide ProjectManager is online project management software with the tools you need for construction project management. Our features make planning, monitoring and reporting on your project more efficient and effective. Being online means our software is accessible everywhere and at any time. Plus, the data you get is more accurate because it’s updated immediately. Try ProjectManager for free today. The post Submittal Log in Construction: Example & Free Template appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

It’s a good day to be the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. This morning, the company unveiled its latest innovation in the weight-loss drug wars: the KwikPen. Per a press release , the KwikPen contains a months-worth of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 designed to combat obesity, and it’s designed to make taking the medicine more convenient. Alongside the announcement of this new innovation, Eli Lilly’s main competitor, Novo Nordisk, dropped the news that its experimental drug, CagriSema, perfomed worse for patient weight loss in a head-to-head trial against Eli Lilly’s proprietary drug, tirzepatide. A November study from the health policy non-profit KFF found that about one in eight American adults were using a GLP-1 for weight loss or to treat a chronic condition. And as the weight-loss drug market soars, its two most dominant players—Eli Lilly and competitor Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic—are battling it out to offer the most convenient, most effective, and least expensive iterations of their respective drugs. Right now, Eli Lilly appears to be the leader in the GLP-1 race amidst multiple difficult headwinds for Novo Nordisk. As of this writing, Novo Nordisk stock is down nearly 16% since market open, while Eli Lilly is up by nearly 5%. Weight-loss drugs take new, more convenient forms Over the past several months, both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have invested in novel drug formats to retain customers and reach new audiences. Back in December, Novo Nordisk received FDA approval for a first-of-its-kind, once-daily pill for weight loss. The pill, which is an oral form of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 Wegovy, offers a less invasive way for users to administer weight-loss drugs, which are typically delivered via an injector. Eli Lilly is currently in the testing phases of its own oral GLP-1, but it does not yet offer anything similar to the Wegovy pill. In the meantime, the KwikPen will presumably make taking Zepbound a bit easier for Eli Lilly’s customer base. Currently, patients use a separate autoinjector for each of their weekly doses of the drug. Each KwikPen, by contrast, comes pre-loaded with four doses, meaning one pen lasts for a full month. It’s available in six strengths, ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg. For cash-paying patients, the KwikPen will be available via Eli Lilly’s direct-to-consumer website, LillyDirect. Eli Lilly pulls ahead Eli Lilly may be lagging behind Novo Nordisk in GLP-1 pill design, but it’s notched several more significant wins against its top competitor in recent months. Novo Nordisk has been fighting an uphill battle as the weight-loss drug market becomes more crowded, including by the proliferation of compounded (aka copycat) versions of Ozempic and Mounjaro made by smaller manufacturers. In its fourth quarter report, released in early February, Novo Nordisk announced strong revenue of $12.34 billion, but warned that its sales and profit growth would decline by between 5% and 13% in 2026 amidst growing competition and lower U.S. prices. These same struggles have caused the company’s stock price to plummet by more than 55% year-over-year. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly has been buoyed by the major success of Zepbound since its 2023 debut, as customers opt for the medicine given its greater effectiveness for weight loss than Ozempic. In its February fourth quarter report, Eli Lilly boasted revenue of $19.3 billion and guided for its sales to grow by a whopping 25% in 2026. The company’s stock has risen by more than 25% year-over-year. Now, Novo Nordisk is taking yet another blow, as a Feburary 23 report showed that its new experimental drug CagriSema could not demonstrate non-inferiority against Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide. Based on Novo Nordisk’s report, “if all people adhered to treatment, people treated with CagriSema 2.4 mg/2.4 mg achieved a weight loss of 23.0% after 84 weeks compared to 25.5% with tirzepatide 15 mg.” As GLP-1 usage continues to become more mainstream, pharmaceutical giants will be fighting an increasingly competitive battle for market share. View the full article

Advertisers contacting Google Ads support may now need to grant explicit authorization before they can even submit a help request — giving a Google specialist permission to access and make changes directly inside their account. Here’s what’s happening. Users are first routed to a beta AI chat. If they opt to submit a support form instead, they must tick an “Authorisation” box. The wording allows a Google Ads specialist, on behalf of the company, to reproduce and troubleshoot issues by making changes directly in the account. The fine print is clear. Google doesn’t guarantee results. Any adjustments are made at the advertiser’s own risk. And the advertiser remains solely responsible for the impact on campaign performance and spending. Why we care. The required checkbox shifts more responsibility onto advertisers at a time when automation and AI already limit hands-on control. If support makes changes, the performance and spend risk still sits with the advertiser. Between the lines. This creates a trade-off between speed and control. Granting access could accelerate troubleshooting, but it also opens the door to account-level changes that may affect live campaigns — without any assurance of improved outcomes. The bottom line. Getting support may now mean temporarily handing over the keys — while keeping full accountability for whatever happens next. First seen. This new caveats to getting support was spotted by PPC specialist Arpan Banerjee who shared spotting the message on LinkedIn. View the full article

Boom Supersonic wants to build the world’s first commercial supersonic airliner. Founded in 2014, the company set out to make air travel dramatically faster — up to twice the speed of today’s passenger jets — while also aiming for a smaller environmental footprint. For years, Boom has focused on developing the high-performance engine technology needed to sustain supersonic flight. Though the company has not yet debuted its revolutionary jet, last year it identified a new and potentially lucrative application for its novel technology: generating electricity for the data centers powering the artificial intelligence boom. Many of these data centers want the kind of flexible, around-the-clock energy associated with combined-cycle natural gas turbines. These heavy-duty machines burn gas to spin turbines and generate electricity, then capture the associated heat and use it to spin the turbines some more. As far as fossil fuel generation goes, they are among the most efficient options for dispatchable baseload power. But with demand for these turbines surging and supply increasingly tight, developers are turning to creative alternatives. The upshot of all this creativity is clear: Much of the data center build-out is poised to be powered by natural gas — and the climate consequences that come with it. Boom Supersonic inked a $1.25 billion agreement with a developer called Crusoe, which is building a suite of data centers for the artificial-intelligence startup OpenAI. The turbine company agreed to provide Crusoe with 29 jet-engine gas turbines that the developer could position at data centers across the U.S. The deal is just one example of developers and tech companies straining to find power sources for the data centers sprouting up nationwide. Meta’s data center in El Paso, Texas, will draw fuel from more than 800 different mobile mini-turbines. Meanwhile, the construction equipment company Caterpillar has supplied gas engines to a data center in West Virginia. And the developer Crusoe used “aeroderivative” turbines based on airplane models for its massive Stargate data-center campus in Abilene, Texas, where power demand is a whopping 1.2 gigawatts. It’s not just the U.S. New proposed natural gas capacity has surged worldwide over the past year. The energy analysis firm Global Energy Monitor reports that projects totaling more than 1,000 gigawatts of gas-fired power are now in development worldwide — a roughly 31 percent jump in just the last year. The United States leads the pack, accounting for about a quarter of that pipeline. More than a third of the new U.S. capacity will power data centers. The analysis also notes that two-thirds of gas project developers in the U.S. have yet to identify who will manufacture their natural gas turbines. This rush to build out natural gas generation will have serious consequences for the climate. Early boosters of the data center boom suggested that new AI facilities would draw power from renewable sources such as solar and wind farms. While that has happened in some cases, developers are also rapidly locking in years of additional fossil fuel usage. An analysis from researchers at Cornell University found that the build-out could add as much as 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2030, equivalent to the annual emissions of around 10 million passenger cars. “This is a huge proposed build-out,” said Cara Fogler, deputy director of research, strategy, and analysis at the nonprofit Sierra Club, which has been tracking gas plant expansions by utilities. “Existing coal that’s not coming offline and planned gas that’s trying to come online are potentially boxing out clean energy.” As Silicon Valley’s AI boom drives demand for ever more computing power, data center developers have struggled to keep up, largely because securing the massive amounts of electricity needed to run these facilities has become so difficult. The rush has led to long wait times to secure power from traditional utilities. As a result, developers and tech companies are increasingly taking matters into their own hands by generating power on-site. According to an analysis by Cleanview, a data firm tracking the energy transition, at least 46 data centers with a combined capacity of 56 gigawatts — equivalent to that of roughly 27 Hoover Dams — are using this “behind-the-meter” approach, as it’s known in industry parlance. The chief executive of Bloom Energy, a startup that builds behind-the-meter fuel cells for data centers, said in a recent call with investors that the startup’s order backlog has more than doubled over the past year. “On-site power has moved from being a decision of last resort to a vital business necessity,” said company executive K.R. Sridhar. He noted that while most of the company’s previous business was in states like California with high electricity costs, now “states where we are growing fastest have robust natural gas infrastructure and favorable regulatory and policy frameworks for on-site power generation.” One of those states is Texas, which is the epicenter of the build-out so far. Unconventional gas power will anchor campuses like that of Titus Low Carbon Ventures, which is building half a dozen data center parks across the Lone Star State. In September, the company signed a deal with power developer Gruppo AB to source Jennbacher gas generating engines, each of which provides just a few megawatts of power. The company will plug in hundreds of these boxy generators to provide baseload power alongside solar and wind. “We could’ve elected to go with gas turbines,” said Jeff Ferguson, the president of Titus, in an interview with Grist. Instead of sourcing traditional gas turbines, he opted to buy “reciprocating engines,” which are smaller gas-powered generators that are similar to passenger car engines. “We think that reciprocating engines are a better solution for data centers,” he said, adding that ”the difference is in the ability to manage transient loads,” or rapid fluctuations in power demand that are very common at the facilities. Not only is it unlikely that 200 generators will ever go offline all at once, but the engines are also much faster to start up and stop than turbines — they can come online in around a minute, as opposed to an hour for a traditional power plant. Ferguson likened it to the difference between accelerating in a Corvette and a jet plane. But experts say these substitute gas sources are even worse for the climate than traditional power plants, which use more efficient combined-cycle turbines that employ both gas and steam. The worst offenders are not turbines at all but rather internal-combustion engines like the ones in most automobiles. “Internal combustion [engines] have better ramp up/down time[s] but are less efficient when compared to a gas turbine,” said Jenny Martos, a researcher who runs the gas plant tracker for Global Energy Monitor. “All gas power technologies produce emissions, but generally engines produce more emissions than the others.” Texas has almost 58 gigawatts of natural gas power in various stages of planning and construction, according to the latest estimates from Global Energy Monitor. That’s more than the next four states combined, and more than every country on Earth except for China. Nearly half of the power plants under construction in Texas will provide power exclusively to data centers, without connecting to regional energy grids. These projects span the state, from OpenAI’s Stargate campus in central Abilene to Meta’s data center in El Paso, where the company has contracted with a Houston-based microgrid developer to set up 813 modular generators. The projects are also popping up in rural areas of the country with few other economic development prospects. A developer called BorderPlex is proposing a $165 billion data center campus called Project Jupiter in southern New Mexico, powered by two microgrids that operate on simple-cycle gas turbines, which just burn gas to generate energy without capturing and deploying their waste heat. The project’s 2,880 megawatts of generation are more than the entire generation capacity of central New Mexico’s main utility. “I’ve never seen something quite this big before, dollar-wise, scale-wise,” said Colin Cox, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, which is opposing the project. “To call this a microgrid defies common sense.” Remaining behind the meter allows the project to avoid seeking approval from regulators who would enforce compliance with the state’s climate laws — even though Project Jupiter’s carbon emissions alone could outweigh the actions that New Mexico has taken to lower emissions over the past several years. The project’s developer has promised jobs and tax revenue to rural Doña Ana County, but the future is murky. It remains unclear whether demand for artificial intelligence products will keep up with the historic capital expenditures being made by companies like OpenAI. If the bubble were to pop, the state would be left with a gas turbine that didn’t serve any users — an asset that the state would not need and that, under its climate laws, it would not be allowed to use. “They’ll just be stranded assets,” said Cox. “You can’t do anything with a gas turbine besides run gas through it to make it spin.” View the full article

To effectively boost your social media marketing, you need to implement strategies that align with your business goals and audience preferences. Setting clear and measurable objectives is essential, as is comprehending who your audience is. Choosing the right platforms and creating engaging content will keep your brand relevant. Collaborating with influencers can expand your reach, whereas nurturing community engagement builds loyalty. Curious about how to integrate these elements for maximum impact? Let’s explore the details further. Key Takeaways Set SMART goals for social media marketing to ensure clarity and measurable success in your campaigns. Understand your target audience by analyzing demographics and utilizing social listening tools for insights. Choose the appropriate social media platforms based on your audience demographics and content type. Collaborate with relevant influencers to enhance brand visibility and engagement within niche markets. Foster community engagement through interactive content and consistent communication to build brand loyalty. Set Clear and Measurable Goals Setting clear and measurable goals is crucial for any successful social media marketing strategy. To effectively promote your brand, you need to set clear and measurable goals that align with your overall business objectives. Using the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound—can help you establish these objectives. For example, you might aim to increase Instagram followers by 20% in six months or generate a set number of leads through targeted campaigns within a quarter. Regularly reviewing your progress with tools like Google Analytics guarantees you’re on track and allows you to refine your strategies. By implementing these social media strategy services, you can make data-driven decisions that improve your marketing efforts and boost return on investment. Understand Your Target Audience To succeed in social media marketing, it’s essential to comprehend your target audience. Analyzing demographics like age, gender, location, and income level helps you tailor your messaging effectively. Utilize social media monitoring tools to gain insights into audience behavior and engagement patterns, guiding your content strategy. Creating detailed buyer personas can humanize your audience, enabling personalized communication that resonates with their needs. Furthermore, social listening tools allow you to monitor sentiment and feedback, helping you adjust your strategies in real-time. Engaging your audience through polls and open-ended questions can provide valuable direct feedback, refining your grasp of their interests and improving content relevance. Comprehending your target audience is key to enhancing your marketing effectiveness. Choose the Right Social Media Platforms Grasping your target audience lays the groundwork for selecting the right social media platforms. Choosing the right social media platforms is crucial, as different platforms cater to distinct demographics. For example, TikTok and Instagram attract younger users, whereas LinkedIn is popular among professionals aged 30 and above. Research shows that 73% of marketers find their social marketing efforts effective, underscoring why social marketing is important. Platform Best For Instagram Visual content TikTok Short, engaging videos LinkedIn Professional networking X (formerly Twitter) Concise updates and trends Create Engaging and Relevant Content Creating engaging and relevant content starts with developing clear content pillars that align with your audience’s interests and needs. Incorporating high-quality visuals and storytelling techniques can greatly boost your posts’ appeal, making them more memorable and relatable. Content Pillars Development Developing content pillars is essential for establishing a consistent and impactful social media presence, as they serve as the foundation for your messaging strategy. Start by identifying core themes that align with your brand values and resonate with your audience. This guarantees your messaging framework remains consistent across all platforms. Tailor your content formats to suit each platform; for example, use visually rich storytelling on Instagram and professional insights on LinkedIn. Create educational and entertaining content, as combining these elements is increasingly favored by consumers. Utilize audience insights and analytics tools to refine your strategies based on engagement metrics. Encourage user-generated content through campaigns that motivate your audience to share their experiences, thereby enhancing community engagement and broadening your brand’s reach. Visual and Video Appeal When you leverage visual and video content in your social media strategy, you greatly improve your ability to engage with your audience. Here are key strategies to improve your visual and video appeal: Use high-quality images, as posts with visuals receive 94% more views. Create videos, since 80% of consumers prefer watching them over reading text. Incorporate short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels to capture younger audiences. Utilize storytelling in your visuals to cultivate emotional connections, boosting brand recall by 22%. Storytelling Techniques Integration Storytelling techniques are essential tools in social media marketing, allowing brands to connect with their audience in meaningful ways. By integrating storytelling techniques, you can create engaging and relevant content that resonates with consumers. For instance, incorporating user-generated stories and testimonials can promote authenticity, as 79% of consumers say this type of content influences their purchasing decisions. Moreover, visual storytelling through compelling images and videos can greatly boost engagement, with posts featuring visuals attracting 94% more views. Highlighting your brand’s values through consistent narratives can increase consumer trust by 23%. This storytelling techniques integration not only improves emotional connections but also solidifies brand identity, making your marketing efforts more effective and impactful in the long run. Collaborate With Influencers To effectively collaborate with influencers, you first need to identify those who align with your brand values and target audience. Building authentic partnerships won’t just improve credibility but additionally increase engagement through shared content. Furthermore, leveraging multi-channel strategies can maximize your reach, ensuring that your message resonates across various platforms. Identify Relevant Influencers How can you effectively identify the right influencers for your brand? As a social marketing expert, you’ll want to focus on influencers who resonate with your audience. Here are four steps to guide you: Define Your Audience: Understand who your target customers are and what they value. Use Tools: Utilize platforms like BuzzSumo or Influencity to find influencers within your niche. Analyze Engagement: Look for micro-influencers with 1,000 to 100,000 followers, as they typically have higher engagement rates. Check Authenticity: Verify the influencers share relatable content that aligns with your brand values and not just promotional messages. Build Authentic Partnerships Identifying the right influencers is just the beginning; building authentic partnerships is where the real value lies. Collaborating with influencers can greatly improve your brand’s visibility, as 82% of consumers trust social media posts from favored creators in their purchase decisions. Micro-influencers, with their smaller yet more engaged audiences, often yield better results and are a cost-effective option. Brands engaging in influencer marketing typically see an impressive return of $6.50 for every dollar spent. Authentic partnerships build trust; 61% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand endorsed by someone they follow. Moreover, utilizing influencer-generated content can enhance your brand storytelling, as 79% of consumers are swayed by user-generated content, boosting your social media presence effectively. Leverage Multi-Channel Strategies Leveraging multi-channel strategies through influencer collaborations can greatly improve your brand’s visibility and engagement. To maximize social media advertising effectiveness, consider these key points: Collaborate with influencers whose values match your brand; 70% of consumers prefer brands that align with their beliefs. Utilize micro-influencers, as they often yield 60% higher engagement rates owing to their authentic connections with niche audiences. Recognize that posts featuring influencers can generate engagement rates 2-5 times higher than traditional brand posts. Track your ROI; influencer campaigns typically return an average of $6.50 for every dollar spent, showcasing their financial potential. Monitor Performance and Adjust Strategies To effectively monitor performance and adjust your social media strategies, it’s essential to regularly utilize the built-in analytics tools provided by each platform. Start by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement rates, reach, and follower growth to understand the impact of social media on business. Analyze metrics like click-through and conversion rates to evaluate your campaigns and identify what resonates with your audience. Set aside time weekly or monthly to review this data, allowing you to make timely adjustments based on audience engagement patterns. Implement A/B testing for posts to experiment with different visuals and captions. Use insights from your analysis to refine your overall marketing strategies, ensuring future content aligns with audience interests and maximizes your return on investment (ROI). Foster Community Engagement and Interaction Building on the insights gained from performance monitoring, cultivating community engagement and interaction plays a key role in improving your social media presence. To effectively boost your social media marketing, consider these strategies: Engage with your audience regularly through comments, likes, and shares, as 64% of consumers want brands to connect with them. Use interactive content like polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions to increase user interaction and community involvement. Highlight user-generated content to build trust and encourage participation, since 79% of people say it influences their purchasing decisions. Maintain consistent communication by responding to messages and comments within 24 hours to promote brand loyalty and make followers feel valued. Implementing these strategies can lead to stronger community ties and improve your overall marketing efforts. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media is a strategy that suggests sharing five pieces of original content, five from other sources, and five that engage directly with your audience. This balanced approach guarantees a diverse feed, promoting both valuable information and community interaction. What Is the Best Strategy for Social Media Marketing? The best strategy for social media marketing involves aligning your goals with your target audience’s preferences. Start by defining clear objectives, like increasing engagement or generating leads. Use analytics tools to track performance metrics, such as reach and conversion rates. Customize your content for each platform, maintain consistency in posting, and engage your audience with interactive elements. Finally, regularly assess and refine your strategies based on the data collected to improve effectiveness. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media is a content strategy that suggests you allocate your posts as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide educational or informative content, and 20% can focus on promotional messages. By following this approach, you balance audience engagement with sales, ensuring your followers receive value without feeling overwhelmed by constant promotions. This strategy can improve brand loyalty and help you measure content performance effectively. What Are the 7 P’s of Social Media Marketing? The 7 P’s of social media marketing are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, and Physical Evidence. You need to guarantee that your product meets your audience’s needs as your pricing reflects its value. Choose the right platforms for Place to effectively reach your audience. Use engaging content and targeted promotions to communicate your brand message. Consider the People involved and the Processes that support your strategy, along with the Physical Evidence of your brand presence. Conclusion By implementing these seven strategies, you can markedly improve your social media marketing efforts. Setting clear goals helps you measure success, whereas comprehending your audience guarantees your content resonates. Choosing the right platforms is vital for reaching your target demographic, and engaging content keeps them interested. Collaborating with influencers can expand your reach, and monitoring performance allows for necessary adjustments. Finally, cultivating community engagement builds loyalty, guaranteeing your brand remains relevant and effective in a competitive environment. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Social Media Marketing" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To effectively boost your social media marketing, you need to implement strategies that align with your business goals and audience preferences. Setting clear and measurable objectives is essential, as is comprehending who your audience is. Choosing the right platforms and creating engaging content will keep your brand relevant. Collaborating with influencers can expand your reach, whereas nurturing community engagement builds loyalty. Curious about how to integrate these elements for maximum impact? Let’s explore the details further. Key Takeaways Set SMART goals for social media marketing to ensure clarity and measurable success in your campaigns. Understand your target audience by analyzing demographics and utilizing social listening tools for insights. Choose the appropriate social media platforms based on your audience demographics and content type. Collaborate with relevant influencers to enhance brand visibility and engagement within niche markets. Foster community engagement through interactive content and consistent communication to build brand loyalty. Set Clear and Measurable Goals Setting clear and measurable goals is crucial for any successful social media marketing strategy. To effectively promote your brand, you need to set clear and measurable goals that align with your overall business objectives. Using the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound—can help you establish these objectives. For example, you might aim to increase Instagram followers by 20% in six months or generate a set number of leads through targeted campaigns within a quarter. Regularly reviewing your progress with tools like Google Analytics guarantees you’re on track and allows you to refine your strategies. By implementing these social media strategy services, you can make data-driven decisions that improve your marketing efforts and boost return on investment. Understand Your Target Audience To succeed in social media marketing, it’s essential to comprehend your target audience. Analyzing demographics like age, gender, location, and income level helps you tailor your messaging effectively. Utilize social media monitoring tools to gain insights into audience behavior and engagement patterns, guiding your content strategy. Creating detailed buyer personas can humanize your audience, enabling personalized communication that resonates with their needs. Furthermore, social listening tools allow you to monitor sentiment and feedback, helping you adjust your strategies in real-time. Engaging your audience through polls and open-ended questions can provide valuable direct feedback, refining your grasp of their interests and improving content relevance. Comprehending your target audience is key to enhancing your marketing effectiveness. Choose the Right Social Media Platforms Grasping your target audience lays the groundwork for selecting the right social media platforms. Choosing the right social media platforms is crucial, as different platforms cater to distinct demographics. For example, TikTok and Instagram attract younger users, whereas LinkedIn is popular among professionals aged 30 and above. Research shows that 73% of marketers find their social marketing efforts effective, underscoring why social marketing is important. Platform Best For Instagram Visual content TikTok Short, engaging videos LinkedIn Professional networking X (formerly Twitter) Concise updates and trends Create Engaging and Relevant Content Creating engaging and relevant content starts with developing clear content pillars that align with your audience’s interests and needs. Incorporating high-quality visuals and storytelling techniques can greatly boost your posts’ appeal, making them more memorable and relatable. Content Pillars Development Developing content pillars is essential for establishing a consistent and impactful social media presence, as they serve as the foundation for your messaging strategy. Start by identifying core themes that align with your brand values and resonate with your audience. This guarantees your messaging framework remains consistent across all platforms. Tailor your content formats to suit each platform; for example, use visually rich storytelling on Instagram and professional insights on LinkedIn. Create educational and entertaining content, as combining these elements is increasingly favored by consumers. Utilize audience insights and analytics tools to refine your strategies based on engagement metrics. Encourage user-generated content through campaigns that motivate your audience to share their experiences, thereby enhancing community engagement and broadening your brand’s reach. Visual and Video Appeal When you leverage visual and video content in your social media strategy, you greatly improve your ability to engage with your audience. Here are key strategies to improve your visual and video appeal: Use high-quality images, as posts with visuals receive 94% more views. Create videos, since 80% of consumers prefer watching them over reading text. Incorporate short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels to capture younger audiences. Utilize storytelling in your visuals to cultivate emotional connections, boosting brand recall by 22%. Storytelling Techniques Integration Storytelling techniques are essential tools in social media marketing, allowing brands to connect with their audience in meaningful ways. By integrating storytelling techniques, you can create engaging and relevant content that resonates with consumers. For instance, incorporating user-generated stories and testimonials can promote authenticity, as 79% of consumers say this type of content influences their purchasing decisions. Moreover, visual storytelling through compelling images and videos can greatly boost engagement, with posts featuring visuals attracting 94% more views. Highlighting your brand’s values through consistent narratives can increase consumer trust by 23%. This storytelling techniques integration not only improves emotional connections but also solidifies brand identity, making your marketing efforts more effective and impactful in the long run. Collaborate With Influencers To effectively collaborate with influencers, you first need to identify those who align with your brand values and target audience. Building authentic partnerships won’t just improve credibility but additionally increase engagement through shared content. Furthermore, leveraging multi-channel strategies can maximize your reach, ensuring that your message resonates across various platforms. Identify Relevant Influencers How can you effectively identify the right influencers for your brand? As a social marketing expert, you’ll want to focus on influencers who resonate with your audience. Here are four steps to guide you: Define Your Audience: Understand who your target customers are and what they value. Use Tools: Utilize platforms like BuzzSumo or Influencity to find influencers within your niche. Analyze Engagement: Look for micro-influencers with 1,000 to 100,000 followers, as they typically have higher engagement rates. Check Authenticity: Verify the influencers share relatable content that aligns with your brand values and not just promotional messages. Build Authentic Partnerships Identifying the right influencers is just the beginning; building authentic partnerships is where the real value lies. Collaborating with influencers can greatly improve your brand’s visibility, as 82% of consumers trust social media posts from favored creators in their purchase decisions. Micro-influencers, with their smaller yet more engaged audiences, often yield better results and are a cost-effective option. Brands engaging in influencer marketing typically see an impressive return of $6.50 for every dollar spent. Authentic partnerships build trust; 61% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand endorsed by someone they follow. Moreover, utilizing influencer-generated content can enhance your brand storytelling, as 79% of consumers are swayed by user-generated content, boosting your social media presence effectively. Leverage Multi-Channel Strategies Leveraging multi-channel strategies through influencer collaborations can greatly improve your brand’s visibility and engagement. To maximize social media advertising effectiveness, consider these key points: Collaborate with influencers whose values match your brand; 70% of consumers prefer brands that align with their beliefs. Utilize micro-influencers, as they often yield 60% higher engagement rates owing to their authentic connections with niche audiences. Recognize that posts featuring influencers can generate engagement rates 2-5 times higher than traditional brand posts. Track your ROI; influencer campaigns typically return an average of $6.50 for every dollar spent, showcasing their financial potential. Monitor Performance and Adjust Strategies To effectively monitor performance and adjust your social media strategies, it’s essential to regularly utilize the built-in analytics tools provided by each platform. Start by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement rates, reach, and follower growth to understand the impact of social media on business. Analyze metrics like click-through and conversion rates to evaluate your campaigns and identify what resonates with your audience. Set aside time weekly or monthly to review this data, allowing you to make timely adjustments based on audience engagement patterns. Implement A/B testing for posts to experiment with different visuals and captions. Use insights from your analysis to refine your overall marketing strategies, ensuring future content aligns with audience interests and maximizes your return on investment (ROI). Foster Community Engagement and Interaction Building on the insights gained from performance monitoring, cultivating community engagement and interaction plays a key role in improving your social media presence. To effectively boost your social media marketing, consider these strategies: Engage with your audience regularly through comments, likes, and shares, as 64% of consumers want brands to connect with them. Use interactive content like polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions to increase user interaction and community involvement. Highlight user-generated content to build trust and encourage participation, since 79% of people say it influences their purchasing decisions. Maintain consistent communication by responding to messages and comments within 24 hours to promote brand loyalty and make followers feel valued. Implementing these strategies can lead to stronger community ties and improve your overall marketing efforts. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media is a strategy that suggests sharing five pieces of original content, five from other sources, and five that engage directly with your audience. This balanced approach guarantees a diverse feed, promoting both valuable information and community interaction. What Is the Best Strategy for Social Media Marketing? The best strategy for social media marketing involves aligning your goals with your target audience’s preferences. Start by defining clear objectives, like increasing engagement or generating leads. Use analytics tools to track performance metrics, such as reach and conversion rates. Customize your content for each platform, maintain consistency in posting, and engage your audience with interactive elements. Finally, regularly assess and refine your strategies based on the data collected to improve effectiveness. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media is a content strategy that suggests you allocate your posts as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide educational or informative content, and 20% can focus on promotional messages. By following this approach, you balance audience engagement with sales, ensuring your followers receive value without feeling overwhelmed by constant promotions. This strategy can improve brand loyalty and help you measure content performance effectively. What Are the 7 P’s of Social Media Marketing? The 7 P’s of social media marketing are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, and Physical Evidence. You need to guarantee that your product meets your audience’s needs as your pricing reflects its value. Choose the right platforms for Place to effectively reach your audience. Use engaging content and targeted promotions to communicate your brand message. Consider the People involved and the Processes that support your strategy, along with the Physical Evidence of your brand presence. Conclusion By implementing these seven strategies, you can markedly improve your social media marketing efforts. Setting clear goals helps you measure success, whereas comprehending your audience guarantees your content resonates. Choosing the right platforms is vital for reaching your target demographic, and engaging content keeps them interested. Collaborating with influencers can expand your reach, and monitoring performance allows for necessary adjustments. Finally, cultivating community engagement builds loyalty, guaranteeing your brand remains relevant and effective in a competitive environment. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Social Media Marketing" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If Domino’s earnings on Monday prove anything, it’s that people are still eating pizza—even if fast food sales, in general, are slumping. “There seems to be a narrative out there that pizza is a challenged and declining category,” Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner said in an earnings call on Monday. “That is just not true, looking back to 2019, you’ll find a category that has generally grown approximately 1-2% each year, including last year 2025.” Weiner did, however, acknowledge the market was “mature.” The pizza giant reported strong fourth-quarter earnings results, with revenue coming in at 1.54 billion, beating estimates of $1.52 billion. It also reported a 15% quarterly dividend hike, but missed earnings estimates, posting adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $5.35 for the fourth quarter, compared to estimates of $5.39. The Ann-Arbor based company also said its New York Style Pizza and Parmesan Stuffed Crust were massive hits in 2025. Shares of the Domino’s Pizza Inc. (DPZ) rose 6.4% in morning trading on the news, and were up 2.2% by early midday trading at the time of this writing. “In 2025 we demonstrated that when we execute our Hungry for MORE strategy it delivers MORE sales, MORE stores, and MORE profits,” Weiner also said in an earnings release. Domino’s same-store sales in the U.S. grew 3.7% for the fourth quarter—a 3% growth for fiscal 2025. In the earnings call, Domino’s chief financial officer Sandeep Reddy also mentioned how the company plans to capitalize on its competitor’s recent store closings. “We opened 25 [stores] with a massive gap against all of our competitors including the bigger national competitors,” Reddy said. “Guess what’s happened since that time? One of our national competitors has announced that they’ve had a negative same store sales in the mid single digits. And they also talked about closing a number of stores up to 250 stores in the first half of the year.” (As Fast Company previously reported, Pizza Hut has said it is closing 250 restaurants this year.) “All this plays into our strategy to continue to gain market share because we will go into that one to 2% growth in the industry with less doors outside, which we can actually take share from effectively and grab those sales,” Reddy added. Meanwhile, good news for fast food lovers: Domino’s is also expanding quite a bit. The chain reported it opened over 700 stores globally and in the U.S. last year. Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with more than 22,100 stores in over 90 markets across the globe. It posted global retail sales of over $20.1 billion in 2025. The company had a market capitalization of $13.36 billion at the time of this writing. View the full article

The Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The conservative-majority court agreed to take up a case from Boulder, Colorado, one of multiple lawsuits alleging the companies deceived the public about how fossil fuels contribute to climate change. Governments around the country have sought damages totaling billions of dollars, arguing it’s necessary to help pay for rebuilding after wildfires, rising sea levels and severe storms worsened by climate change. The lawsuits come amid a wave of legal actions in states including California, Hawaii and New Jersey and worldwide seeking to leverage action through the courts. The case out of Boulder County will likely have implications for those other lawsuits. Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil appealed to the Supreme Court after Colorado’s highest court let the Boulder case proceed. The companies argue emissions are a national issue that should be heard in federal court, where similar suits have been tossed out. “The use of state law to address global climate change represents a serious threat to one of our Nation’s most critical sectors,” attorneys wrote. President Donald The President‘s administration weighed in to support the companies and urge the justices to reverse the Colorado Supreme Court decision, saying it would mean “every locality in the country could sue essentially anyone in the world for contributing to global climate change.” The President, a Republican, criticized the lawsuits in an executive order, and the Justice Department has sought to head some off in court. Attorneys for Boulder had agued that the litigation is still in early stages and should stay in state court. “There is no constitutional bar to states addressing in-state harms caused by out-of-state conduct, be it the negligent design of an automobile or sale of asbestos,” they wrote. City officials said the case was about dealing with problems people are facing in Colorado. “Our case is, fundamentally, about fairness. Boulder is already experiencing the effects of a rapidly warming climate, and the financial burden of adaptation should not fall solely on local taxpayers,” said Jonathan Koehn, its climate initiatives director. The Supreme Court also asked the two sides to present arguments on whether the case is truly ready to be heard by the justices. Arguments are expected in the fall. —Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press View the full article

SerpApi filed a motion to dismiss Google's DMCA lawsuit, arguing the search giant lacks standing to invoke copyright law over publicly visible search results. The post SerpApi Challenges Google’s Right To Sue Over SERP Scraping appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Sony’s PlayStation 5 is a powerful machine, but if you just plugged it right into your TV and never bothered to go into the settings, there’s a chance you’re not seeing its full potential. From enabling 120 fps gameplay to customizing your Welcome hub, there’s a lot you can do with the PS5, if you’re willing to tinker a little bit. Here are the 10 best tips and tricks to getting the most out of Sony’s current gaming console. Enable 120Hz and 4K on your PS5Just because you bought a fancy new PS5 doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting the best performance out of it possible. If you have a 4K TV or a monitor that can support a 120Hz refresh rate or above, you’ll want to double check your video output settings to ensure your console is taking advantage of it. First, before even turning on your device, make sure it’s connected via an HDMI 2.1 cable. This is necessary for frame rates above 60 at 4K. Your PS5 should have come with one, and you’ll know if it’s the right one if it has a boxy rectangle on either side of the cable. Also ensure that you’re plugging your cable into a port that can accept HDMI 2.1, which will look different based on your screen. On my LG C1 TV, this port says “4K @ 120Hz” above it. Next, while your console may detect what your screen can handle and adjust its settings accordingly, head to Settings > Screen and Video to manually check them and make some adjustments that need some human fine tuning. I like to leave most of the settings on this page to Automatic to allow the PS5 to pick the best choices for the wide variety of content it can play, but you can select any of the settings on this page to see your options and force an output. If you don’t see 4K (labeled as 2160p) or 120Hz as options here, this is your sign you might need to swap your HDMI cable. To see what settings your PS5 is using at any particular moment, select “Current Video Output Signal” at the top of this page to check your work. While I mostly like to rely on the PS5’s Automatic settings, one specific change you might want to make would be applying VRR to unsupported games, which could improve fidelity at the cost of introducing instability. If you scroll down far enough on this page, you can also adjust when your console displays HDR, and go through an HDR setup wizard by selecting “Adjust HDR.” You can also customize your console’s display area by selecting Screen from the sidebar on the left, which is handy if your display has an unusual aspect ratio. While you’re here, you can adjust how long you need to be away from your controller before the console dims your screen. Finally, if you have a PS5 Pro, you can up the graphics quality on some supported PS4 games. This is under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance Image Quality for PS4 games. Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5) Digital Console Slim $499.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $499.99 at Amazon Mute the PS5's startup beep Let’s say you’re having trouble sleeping, and instead of rolling around in bed, you decide to sneak out to the PS5 for a secret gaming session. Except, uh-oh, the nasty beep that the console plays at startup alerts your partner, and now you have some explaining to do. To keep this from happening, let’s turn off that beep ahead of time. Under Settings > System > Beep and Light, toggle on Mute Beep Sound to get rid of the sound your PS5 plays at startup. Or, if you just want to make it quieter, you can do that under Volume. While you’re here, you can also customize how bright the LED strip on the front of the console gets, under Power indicator > Brightness. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to turn it off entirely. Change the widgets on your PS5's home screen Credit: Sony See all those widgets at the bottom of the Welcome Hub when you turn your PS5 on? Did you know that you can actually customize them? It’s especially handy if you’re like me and can’t stand seeing what are essentially ads taking up more than half of your display. To adjust your PS5 Welcome Hub widgets, simply press X while hovering over the Welcome Hub tile, then navigate to the controls in the top-right corner. Here, you can select Presets to choose from various options set up by Sony, or select Edit Widgets to toggle specific widgets on and off. Personally, I disabled the News, PlayStation Plus, Wishlist, and PlayStation Store widgets, since they’re pretty much only there to sell you things. Once you’re done selecting the widgets you want to see, before leaving Welcome Hub setup, navigate to the Settings cog and choose if you want to enable the carousel-like Large Layout, where you want notifications (Temporary Widgets) to show up, and if you want your widgets to match your broader System Appearance settings (more on that later). If you have the News widget active, you can also customize which games show news here. Finally, to the left of the Settings cog, you can choose a background for the Welcome Hub, picking from options either prepared by Sony, bundled with certain games you own, or pulled from your Media Gallery. Turn on your PS5's surround sound and connect Bluetooth headphonesYour PS5 can do more than basic stereo sound, even if you don’t own a physical surround sound setup. That’s thanks to the power of various virtual surround sound codecs, which come baked into the console. To turn these on, head over to Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Audio Format (Priority). Here, you can choose between Linear PCM, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, and DTS. Not all of these options support virtual surround sound, and I’ll admit I’m not enough of an audiophile to know the best one for every setup, but because it supports height data, Dolby Atmos has been the most versatile pick for my soundbar. Alternatively, you can also use Sony’s own 3D Audio technology by selecting 3D Audio (TV) or 3D Audio (Headphones) from the sidebar. Personally, I haven’t found the results here to be as rich as Dolby Atmos, but that makes sense. These are built for gamers using TV speakers or headphones, so they aren’t the best option if you’ve got a soundbar or external speaker setup. Still, they’re worth trying out if you listen over your TV’s internal speakers or via a headset. Note that only Sony’s own headsets will connect to the console wirelessly by themselves, but there are ways around that, which my colleague Jake Peterson has written about here. Make rumble more responsive on the PS5Sony’s so proud of the rumble and haptics in the PS5 controller that it updated its classic DualShock branding to DualSense alongside the controller’s launch. But weirdly, the haptics aren’t as strong as they could be out of the box. That’s because the PS5 controller has a microphone built-in, and Sony has intentionally weakened its haptics to prevent interference from being picked up on the mic. If you’re like me, and you barely use the microphone in your controller, there are two ways to fix that. The first is more temporary, and simply involves pressing the clear button above the microphone icon on your controller to mute it, which will strengthen the haptics until you turn it back on. It’ll also display an orange light while the mic is off. The second doesn’t require you to manually flip your mic on and off, and will get rid of that orange light. You can enable it by toggling on Mute under Settings > Sound > Microphone > Microphone Status When Logged In, but know that you’ll need to toggle this back to On if you need to use the microphone again. Turn off (or reduce) the PS5's DualSense trigger haptics Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Sony might be proud of the haptics in its brand new controller, but personally, I think they’re a little bit too strong, especially when it comes to the triggers. With the PS5, Sony introduced its new adaptive triggers, which add resistance to trigger pulls in certain games for heightened realism. But while having the controller fight back against you the first time you try to tighten a bowstring in a Horizon game might be a fun novelty, it gets tiring pretty quick. Luckily, you can customize this, as well as fine tune any of the other haptics. Under Settings > Accessories > Controller (General), select Trigger Effect Intensity to choose how strong the adaptive trigger resistance should be, and select Vibration Intensity to set the strength for more general rumble. Personally, I have Vibration Intensity set to Strong, and Trigger Effect Intensity turned off. Install SSD or use HDD for PS4 games or offloaded PS5 gamesThe PS5 comes with a good amount of storage by default, and while amounts differ depending on your model, it’s usually enough for five to seven AAA games. But if you want more storage, you can actually install a supported M.2 SSD into your PS5 without much hassle. Sony has exact installation instructions here, plus a guide on determining if an SSD is supported. While specific steps will vary depending on your PS5 model and which SSD you get, you generally only need a screwdriver to complete installation. Even better? The new SSD won’t replace your existing internal storage, so you can use them in tandem. To install games to your SSD once it’s installed, you’ll first need to change your Installation Location to M.2 SSD under Settings > Storage. Then, simply install a game as usual. If you want to move games that are already installed on your PS5’s internal storage to your SSD, head to your Game Library, highlight the games you want to move, press the Options button, and select Move Games and Apps. If you’re also using expanded USB storage, select Movable to M.2 SSD Storage after this step. Speaking of USB storage, the PS5 also supports external USB drives. You can see requirements here—not every device is guaranteed to work. Also note that while you can play PS4 games directly off USB storage, PS5 games need to be installed to an SSD to work. However, you can keep a PS5 game offloaded to USB storage and then load it onto either your console’s SSD or your custom M.2 SSD when you’re ready to play, bypassing the need for a download. Quickly customize game difficulty, subtitles, and graphics on the PS5The first thing I do whenever I boot up a new game isn’t start my adventure, but dive deep into the settings to see what I can customize. It’s not the best first impression, but there’s usually a switch I can flip that will make the game play much better for me, especially if it ups the frame rate. Luckily, Sony’s aware of this optimization sickness I suffer from, and is doing its best to help. Under Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets, you can set a number of preferences for how your games should play ahead of time, and your PS5 will automatically configure them for you when you boot up a supported game. It’s not a fully robust selection, since Sony can’t predict every game’s needs, but you can choose a preferred difficulty here, whether the game should be played in first-person or third-person (if both are available), which language you’d like to play in, whether subtitles should be turned on, your online multiplayer permissions, and most crucially for me, whether your games prefer Performance Mode or Quality Mode (called Resolution Mode here). Finally, I can set my PS5 games to default to smooth performance over the prettiest visuals. Get hints from the PS5's Game Help featureLet’s say you’re struggling in a game, but you don’t want to bother to pull up an internet browser and look up a walkthrough. This is where the PS5’s Game Help feature comes in. It’s not available for every game, but if you’re stuck, it’s worth looking for. Just press the PlayStation logo button on your controller, and if it’s there, select the Game Help card. From here, your PS5 will suggest hints towards specific goals based on where you are in your game, and might even show you videos from other players. It’ll also warn you if you’re about to see spoilers, so you can back out before looking at a hint. It’s fairly self explanatory, and while the hints aren’t always detailed enough for my needs, I do appreciate that Game Help also estimates how long it’ll take you to complete certain goals, as well as show you your progress towards them. As a busy 30-something, it’s a great way to know how long my play sessions might be ahead of time. As for where Game Help gets its gameplay videos, it’s from players who’ve opted in to share them. To start sending videos to Game Help, head to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Auto-captures > Community Game Help. Select On next to Participate, and Sony may occasionally look at your gameplay and upload select sections from it to its servers to serve as a guide towards other players. Voice or party chat audio won’t be recorded and uploaded videos won’t take up space on your console, but depending on the game, usernames or text-based chat messages shown in gameplay footage might be shared. Change your PS5 console’s theme to a retro style Credit: Sony Finally, this one’s just for fun. Back in 2024, Sony introduced themes to the PS5 home screen that mimicked the look of the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4. These left the system shortly afterwards, but came back for good in April of last year. To try them out, head to Settings > System > Appearance > Appearance and Sound and choose a console you’d like to mimic. Personally, I like the PS2 theme, but I’ve gone for the PS3 look for now, because my husband has a lot of fondness for that console’s XMB menu. Now, if only Sony would add even more themes to the list. Maybe an Astro Bot look? View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Back on January 7, President Donald The President announced: “I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it.” On January 20, The President went further, outlining elements of the proposed “ban.” The order directed multiple federal agencies—including HUD, the Department of Agriculture, the VA, the GSA, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency—to issue guidance within 60 days limiting the federal government’s role in facilitating institutional purchases of single-family homes that could otherwise be bought by owner-occupants. Specifically, within 60 days, the government-sponsored enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) would no longer be permitted to approve, insure, guarantee, or securitize single-family home purchases by “large institutional investors.” The order also stated that, within 30 days, the administration would define “large institutional investors” and that build-to-rent transactions would be exempt. On Thursday (February 19), the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House has settled on a key detail of its proposed ban—one it plans to send to Congress—prohibiting large investors, defined as entities owning 100 or more homes, from purchasing additional single-family houses. Because the threshold is set at 100 homes, the policy would affect not just major institutional landlords, but also some larger individual investors. The plan still includes the build-to-rent exemption and adds another carveout: large investors can continue to purchase homes in need of “significant repair.” Those two proposed exemptions are notable given that most institutional activity right now is in build-to-rent, and when purchasing scattered-site homes, institutional investors—at least when they are actively buying—tend to target properties that require sizable renovation spending. Notably, this proposal would not mandate large investors to liquidate existing holdings. The measure announced on Thursday would need congressional approval, and its prospects are uncertain. According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, passage is still far from guaranteed. At the height of the Pandemic Housing Boom, large investors—those owning at least 100 single-family homes—made up an all-time high of 3.1% of home purchases in Q2 2022, according to John Burns Research and Consulting. That period, at the tail end of the boom, was when yields were particularly attractive as borrowing costs were ultra-low, home prices were soaring, and rents were climbing rapidly. However, since mortgage rates spiked and capital markets shifted, their share has fallen to around 1.0% of transactions over the past three years. The math isn’t as favorable right now. ResiClub members (paid tiers) can find an interactive version of the map below here On a national level, “large investors”—those owning at least 100 single-family homes—only own around 1% of total single-family housing stock. That said, in a handful of regional housing markets, institutional and large single-family landlords have a much larger presence. Markets like Phoenix and Atlanta became major hubs for institutional single-family rental investment following the 2008 housing crash as the asset class started to institutionalize. Firms such as Invitation Homes, Progress Residential, and AMH built sizable portfolios in these metros by acquiring distressed homes. That early activity helped establish a reliable local SFR ecosystem—including property management firms, leasing infrastructure, and contractor networks—that makes it easier to scale and expand single-family rental and build-to-rent operations today. View the full article

A turf war has broken out between the fandoms of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones over the highest-rated episode spot on IMDb. Released last month, the Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set a century before the events of the HBO drama, has garnered much praise. A Guardian reviewer said it has “saved the Game of Thrones universe.” Fans appear to agree, as the fifth episode, In the Name of the Mother, which aired February 15, briefly secured a rare 10/10 rating on IMDb. Unfortunately for fans, it didn’t last long. For over a decade, “Ozymandias”—the 14th episode of the fifth and final season of Breaking Bad, and the climax of the series—had been the only television episode to secure a perfect 10 rating on IMDb. It’s an accolade fans weren’t prepared to give up lightly. Taking matters into their own hands, according to reports across Reddit and X, fans of the crime drama started review-bombing the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode with one-star ratings to tank its score. The “Ozymandias” episode of ‘BREAKING BAD’ has dropped to a 9.9 on IMDb. It held a 10/10 rating on the platform for almost 13 years. pic.twitter.com/9zLtW00a01 — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 20, 2026 One IMDb reviewer admitted as much, writing, “I like this episode. I like this show overall. Hell, I love this episode. But… its not 1% as good as the episode mentioned in the title of this review is. I therefore decide the leave this one star review in order to defend the number one episode.” What followed was an all-out review-bombing war between the two fandoms. On the IMDb review page for “Ozymandias,” a slew of reviews titled “The Lannisters Send Their Regards” or “Winter came for Breaking Bad! The North remembers” started appearing. Meanwhile, of the hundreds of one-star reviews A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has accumulated on IMDb so far, many hit back “in the name of walter white” or “For Heisenberg.” For the first time in 13 years, the Breaking Bad episode lost its perfect score on the site. At the time of writing, neither episode is in the top 10 list on the platform—or even the top 100. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, now with an average score of 9.5, sits at number 519 on the best TV episode ranking. “Ozymandias,” now with an average score of 9.6, has dropped to number 461. The only winner here? Six Feet Under, which has now slipped into the top spot. View the full article

A reader writes: I’ve been job searching for a few months now. I just got a call from HR at an organization I applied to a few weeks ago asking me if they had a few minutes to chat — they wanted to go through the position with me, give me some quick updates on the role, and let me know the salary so they could see if I still wanted to be considered. I told them of course, but I only had 15 minutes before a meeting. They said that was fine. Cut to: they’re asking me about my background, my current role, my strengths and weaknesses, what I’m looking for in a new role, and why I’m excited about their mission. It became a 25-minute first round interview. Luckily, I was at a computer so I could quickly google their mission (I’d applied long ago and have applied to many places since then, I almost couldn’t remember their exact mission!). Is this normal? I’ve never had a spur-of-the-moment interview before. And would there have been a polite way to ask if we could reschedule the call? If I had known this was an interview, I would’ve rescheduled so I could’ve been more prepared, but she really made it seem like it would be just five minutes on the phone. I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. The post surprise phone interviews are the worst appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

AI is reshaping how work gets done in institutions, both public and private. However, the impact is uneven—consumer AI chat interfaces like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, and Gemini are fundamentally mismatched to the realities of government work. That doesn’t mean government agencies aren’t turning to AI. They cannot hire their way to capacity, so they’re looking to technology to lighten the load. More than half of local governments report difficulty filling positions, a problem especially potent in larger metros. San Francisco’s local government, for example, has more than 4,700 open positions. Since 2020, state government employment has increased, but much of that is a bounce-back from the pandemic, not true growth needed to deliver services with the efficacy governments want. But drop-in chatbots can’t make a significant impact on operations because data within government agencies—and even within individual departments in agencies—is exceedingly siloed. State and local governments are managing budget constraints. IT teams are stretched thin. It’s no surprise, then, that consumer AI tools don’t meet their promise in government institutions. They fundamentally lack all the information they need to be effective in a public service context. THE TOOL GAP Commercial software tools, including AI chatbots, are built for private companies with hierarchies, contracts, and linear processes. Government work is inherently different. Public institutions are cross-organizational, the work is omnidirectional, and success necessitates constant collaboration across agencies, nonprofits, and community partners. Emergency management departments, for example, must identify points of contact within local police departments, fire departments, sheriff’s offices, emergency medical services, utility companies, FEMA regional offices, and community emergency response teams to effectively deliver their service—coordinating disaster response and recovery operations. The sum of these problems—from data siloes to budget constraints to technological roadblocks—is that consumer AI struggles in government institutions because these tools lack the necessary context. Try asking ChatGPT “Provide our current reimbursement process” or “Create a survey to gather feedback on the latest heat season coordination.” These are tasks that require explicit, non-public knowledge. To execute such tasks, AI needs not only access to data that lives across disparate systems, but also governance and rules specifying which definition is best suited for each purpose. And even if you get a good answer, traditional AI is not built to help users know what to do next. THE PATH FORWARD Embedding AI is the path forward to deploy AI in government, effectively overcoming data silos to tackle inter-organizational work. Embeddedness refers to AI that lives directly within the platforms where work happens, within coordination, memory, and decision-making systems—not inside a chatbot. Government is uniquely suited to benefit from AI that’s truly embedded because it has the perfect raw material to make AI maximally useful: conversations, decisions, workflows, institutional memory, and loads of information. In other words, government has context. Unfortunately, most AI chatbots today assume their users work inside of a single organization, and therefore only need context from one organization’s systems. For government, that’s not the reality. A homelessness coordinator in Essex County or an election administrator in New York isn’t just working “at” one organization: they’re juggling relationships, meetings, decisions, and shared knowledge across constantly shifting agencies, nonprofits, contractors, and community partners. The hardest parts are aligning, coordinating, remembering, onboarding, and maintaining shared understanding across people who come and go. Because government work is inherently lateral, true embedded AI has information not only across one organization’s systems but also across its partners’ systems, too. Taking the idea of embeddedness one step further, it’s vital for AI to seemingly “disappear” into public servants’ workflows. If AI is one more tool, one more thing government employees must be trained on, then AI is notembedded in the way it needs to be. Public servants don’t want or need another new widget. They need technology that helps them do what they do faster, better, and more accurately. That is embedded AI. Consider this example: It’s common for certain AI tools to send a summary and action items after a meeting. But embedded AI goes further. It would ask the user if they wanted a follow up email to socialize action items. It could draft the follow-up email, too. Then, after a couple of days, the embedded AI would surface engagement data, showing that someone assigned an action item hasn’t read the follow-up email, and the AI would ask the user if they want a follow-up email, and then draft the note. When a public servant is searching for information, the next step is usually to read it to send something to somebody or take an action. AI that supports that next step without explicit prompting or forcing the user to switch tools is the kind of technology that can help public servants better deliver services more quickly. This is the shift that accelerates action. THE END GOAL It’s vital we do not lose sight of the goal. State and local governments are where the rubber meets the road, turning rules into real services—from handling daily operations to helping low-income people get nutrition assistance, providing veterans services, supporting people experiencing homelessness, and everything in between. Yes, chatbots and similar tools can help one person be more effective. But when AI is embedded, benefits are magnified; people and entire programs are faster and more effective. That means the people who rely upon municipal government services are better served. And that is the ultimate promise of technology, like embedded AI efficiently deployed in government—better communities for all. Madeleine Smith is the CEO and cofounder of Civic Roundtable. View the full article

In terms of background checks, knowing which sites offer the best services can save you time and resources. The top five highest-rated options include Iprospectcheck, First Advantage, Checkr, HireRight, and Sterling. Each of these platforms has unique strengths, from rapid processing times to thorough offerings customized for large employers. Grasping what each site can provide is crucial, especially if you’re looking for efficiency and reliability. Let’s explore what sets these platforms apart. Key Takeaways Checkr: Known for rapid results, delivering 89% of checks within one hour, ideal for high-volume employers. Iprospectcheck: Offers personalized searches with competitive pricing and a free background check option, ensuring compliance with regulations. First Advantage: Specializes in large-scale screenings, providing customizable checks and quick turnaround times for multinational employers. HireRight: Features a strong BBB rating, customizable checks, and a focus on customer satisfaction with reliable turnaround times. Sterling: One of the oldest providers, known for extensive checks and strong enterprise-level service, enhancing its offerings post-acquisition by First Advantage. Iprospectcheck Regarding background screening, Iprospectcheck stands out as a reliable choice for businesses looking for customized solutions. Founded in 2009 and based in California, this family-owned provider offers personalized searches that comply with FCRA and local regulations. With pricing options from $24.95 for Basic checks to $79.95 for Premium checks, it accommodates businesses of all sizes. Iprospectcheck is known for its fast turnaround times, often delivering results within one to five business days, which can improve candidate retention in critical industries like staffing and healthcare. They additionally provide an absolutely free background check with no credit card required, allowing you to assess their services risk-free. As one of the highest rated background check sites, they prioritize compliance and ethical practices, ensuring you receive reliable and accurate information. You can further explore their BackgroundCheck free trial background check to experience their offerings firsthand. First Advantage In relation to background screening, First Advantage is a prominent choice for large-scale employers, particularly those operating on an international level. Founded in 2003 and based in Georgia, this global provider specializes in background screening services customized for enterprise-level and multinational corporations. Their pricing structure accommodates various needs, starting from $29 for basic checks to $75 for premium packages. You can likewise take advantage of a 7 day free trial background check to explore their offerings. First Advantage provides customizable searches, including drug screening and coordination of physicals and vaccinations, all in the process of ensuring compliance with FCRA regulations. The turnaround times for background checks typically range from one to four business days, which improves hiring efficiency. Furthermore, First Advantage integrates seamlessly with various applicant tracking systems (ATS), supporting HR functions for large-scale screenings and streamlining the hiring process for employers. Checkr Even though many companies seek efficient solutions for background screening, Checkr stands out as a strong option for high-volume employers. Founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, Checkr automates the background screening process, enhancing efficiency and speed. With pricing starting at $29.99 for the Basic+ package, you can choose from higher tiers for more thorough checks customized to your needs. One of Checkr’s key advantages is its fast turnaround times, delivering 89% of checks within one hour, greatly improving the candidate experience. In addition, Checkr is FCRA-compliant, ensuring adherence to legal standards. The platform likewise offers customizable packages, allowing you to adjust the screening process to fit specific requirements. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and strong integration capabilities with various applicant tracking systems (ATS), Checkr positions itself as a reliable choice for employers looking for streamlined background checks. HireRight As you navigate the environment of background screening options, HireRight emerges as a prominent choice for employers seeking personalized solutions. Founded in 1995 and based in Nashville, this global provider offers a range of highly customizable background checks suited to your needs. With pricing starting at $39.95 for the Basic package, you can additionally opt for the Advantage and Advantage Plus packages at $69.95 and $79.95, respectively. HireRight boasts a strong BBB rating of A+, reflecting its commitment to customer satisfaction and quality service. The company guarantees fast turnaround times for background checks, typically ranging from one to five business days, which helps streamline your hiring process. Their thorough suite of services includes criminal background checks, employment verification, and drug testing, all compliant with FCRA and relevant regulations. This makes HireRight a reliable partner in your background screening efforts. Sterling Sterling stands out as one of the oldest background screening providers, having been established in 1975. Specializing in personalized searches and extensive background checks, it caters primarily to enterprise-level companies. With over 103,000 checks completed annually, Sterling demonstrates considerable experience in the background screening industry. The company offers a wide range of services, including criminal background checks, employment verification, and drug testing, all customized to meet the high-volume needs of large organizations. Pricing for Sterling‘s services varies greatly, starting from under $50 to several hundred dollars per check, depending on the complexity and customization required. In 2024, Sterling announced its acquisition by First Advantage, which is expected to improve its capabilities and expand its service offerings within the background screening market. This acquisition may enhance the efficiency and reliability of their services, making Sterling a compelling choice for businesses seeking thorough and adaptable background checks. Frequently Asked Questions Is Been Verified or Truthfinder Better? When deciding between Been Verified and TruthFinder, consider your needs. Been Verified offers unlimited reports for a monthly fee, which can save you money if you need multiple checks. Conversely, TruthFinder thrives in providing detailed public records and features like reverse phone lookup. Both services have positive ratings, but if you value extensive data, TruthFinder might suit you better, whereas Been Verified offers more cost-effective options for frequent users. Which Background Check Is Legit? To determine which background check service is legit, look for providers that comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state regulations. Services like Checkr and iProspectCheck are known for their legal practices. Whereas TruthFinder and Intelius offer extensive public records access, they’re not FCRA-compliant for employment checks. Always check customer reviews and ratings, in addition to certifications from organizations like the Better Business Bureau, to guarantee reliability and trustworthiness. What Is the Most Used Background Check? The most used background check service is Checkr, known for its fast, automated screening process. It boasts an impressive completion rate of 89% of checks within one hour, making it a go-to for many employers. Other services, like iprospectcheck and First Advantage, cater to specific business needs, but Checkr’s efficiency and speed set it apart. Its ability to provide quick, reliable results helps businesses streamline their hiring processes effectively. What Is the Hardest Background Check to Pass? The hardest background check to pass often involves criminal history checks, where felony convictions can impact your chances of employment or housing. Furthermore, extensive employment verification checks can be tough if your resume contains discrepancies in job titles or dates. Credit history checks pose challenges for those with poor credit scores. Finally, international checks can be complex because of varying laws, making it difficult if you have overseas work or residency history. Conclusion To conclude, choosing the right background check service depends on your specific needs. Iprospectcheck offers affordability and speed, whereas First Advantage caters to larger employers with extensive requirements. Checkr is ideal for quick processing times, and HireRight shines with its customer service. Sterling, with its long-standing reputation, provides thorough checks suited for enterprise-level clients. Evaluating these options will help you select the best fit for your background screening needs, ensuring a reliable hiring process. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Top 5 Highest Rated Background Check Sites" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of background checks, knowing which sites offer the best services can save you time and resources. The top five highest-rated options include Iprospectcheck, First Advantage, Checkr, HireRight, and Sterling. Each of these platforms has unique strengths, from rapid processing times to thorough offerings customized for large employers. Grasping what each site can provide is crucial, especially if you’re looking for efficiency and reliability. Let’s explore what sets these platforms apart. Key Takeaways Checkr: Known for rapid results, delivering 89% of checks within one hour, ideal for high-volume employers. Iprospectcheck: Offers personalized searches with competitive pricing and a free background check option, ensuring compliance with regulations. First Advantage: Specializes in large-scale screenings, providing customizable checks and quick turnaround times for multinational employers. HireRight: Features a strong BBB rating, customizable checks, and a focus on customer satisfaction with reliable turnaround times. Sterling: One of the oldest providers, known for extensive checks and strong enterprise-level service, enhancing its offerings post-acquisition by First Advantage. Iprospectcheck Regarding background screening, Iprospectcheck stands out as a reliable choice for businesses looking for customized solutions. Founded in 2009 and based in California, this family-owned provider offers personalized searches that comply with FCRA and local regulations. With pricing options from $24.95 for Basic checks to $79.95 for Premium checks, it accommodates businesses of all sizes. Iprospectcheck is known for its fast turnaround times, often delivering results within one to five business days, which can improve candidate retention in critical industries like staffing and healthcare. They additionally provide an absolutely free background check with no credit card required, allowing you to assess their services risk-free. As one of the highest rated background check sites, they prioritize compliance and ethical practices, ensuring you receive reliable and accurate information. You can further explore their BackgroundCheck free trial background check to experience their offerings firsthand. First Advantage In relation to background screening, First Advantage is a prominent choice for large-scale employers, particularly those operating on an international level. Founded in 2003 and based in Georgia, this global provider specializes in background screening services customized for enterprise-level and multinational corporations. Their pricing structure accommodates various needs, starting from $29 for basic checks to $75 for premium packages. You can likewise take advantage of a 7 day free trial background check to explore their offerings. First Advantage provides customizable searches, including drug screening and coordination of physicals and vaccinations, all in the process of ensuring compliance with FCRA regulations. The turnaround times for background checks typically range from one to four business days, which improves hiring efficiency. Furthermore, First Advantage integrates seamlessly with various applicant tracking systems (ATS), supporting HR functions for large-scale screenings and streamlining the hiring process for employers. Checkr Even though many companies seek efficient solutions for background screening, Checkr stands out as a strong option for high-volume employers. Founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, Checkr automates the background screening process, enhancing efficiency and speed. With pricing starting at $29.99 for the Basic+ package, you can choose from higher tiers for more thorough checks customized to your needs. One of Checkr’s key advantages is its fast turnaround times, delivering 89% of checks within one hour, greatly improving the candidate experience. In addition, Checkr is FCRA-compliant, ensuring adherence to legal standards. The platform likewise offers customizable packages, allowing you to adjust the screening process to fit specific requirements. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and strong integration capabilities with various applicant tracking systems (ATS), Checkr positions itself as a reliable choice for employers looking for streamlined background checks. HireRight As you navigate the environment of background screening options, HireRight emerges as a prominent choice for employers seeking personalized solutions. Founded in 1995 and based in Nashville, this global provider offers a range of highly customizable background checks suited to your needs. With pricing starting at $39.95 for the Basic package, you can additionally opt for the Advantage and Advantage Plus packages at $69.95 and $79.95, respectively. HireRight boasts a strong BBB rating of A+, reflecting its commitment to customer satisfaction and quality service. The company guarantees fast turnaround times for background checks, typically ranging from one to five business days, which helps streamline your hiring process. Their thorough suite of services includes criminal background checks, employment verification, and drug testing, all compliant with FCRA and relevant regulations. This makes HireRight a reliable partner in your background screening efforts. Sterling Sterling stands out as one of the oldest background screening providers, having been established in 1975. Specializing in personalized searches and extensive background checks, it caters primarily to enterprise-level companies. With over 103,000 checks completed annually, Sterling demonstrates considerable experience in the background screening industry. The company offers a wide range of services, including criminal background checks, employment verification, and drug testing, all customized to meet the high-volume needs of large organizations. Pricing for Sterling‘s services varies greatly, starting from under $50 to several hundred dollars per check, depending on the complexity and customization required. In 2024, Sterling announced its acquisition by First Advantage, which is expected to improve its capabilities and expand its service offerings within the background screening market. This acquisition may enhance the efficiency and reliability of their services, making Sterling a compelling choice for businesses seeking thorough and adaptable background checks. Frequently Asked Questions Is Been Verified or Truthfinder Better? When deciding between Been Verified and TruthFinder, consider your needs. Been Verified offers unlimited reports for a monthly fee, which can save you money if you need multiple checks. Conversely, TruthFinder thrives in providing detailed public records and features like reverse phone lookup. Both services have positive ratings, but if you value extensive data, TruthFinder might suit you better, whereas Been Verified offers more cost-effective options for frequent users. Which Background Check Is Legit? To determine which background check service is legit, look for providers that comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state regulations. Services like Checkr and iProspectCheck are known for their legal practices. Whereas TruthFinder and Intelius offer extensive public records access, they’re not FCRA-compliant for employment checks. Always check customer reviews and ratings, in addition to certifications from organizations like the Better Business Bureau, to guarantee reliability and trustworthiness. What Is the Most Used Background Check? The most used background check service is Checkr, known for its fast, automated screening process. It boasts an impressive completion rate of 89% of checks within one hour, making it a go-to for many employers. Other services, like iprospectcheck and First Advantage, cater to specific business needs, but Checkr’s efficiency and speed set it apart. Its ability to provide quick, reliable results helps businesses streamline their hiring processes effectively. What Is the Hardest Background Check to Pass? The hardest background check to pass often involves criminal history checks, where felony convictions can impact your chances of employment or housing. Furthermore, extensive employment verification checks can be tough if your resume contains discrepancies in job titles or dates. Credit history checks pose challenges for those with poor credit scores. Finally, international checks can be complex because of varying laws, making it difficult if you have overseas work or residency history. Conclusion To conclude, choosing the right background check service depends on your specific needs. Iprospectcheck offers affordability and speed, whereas First Advantage caters to larger employers with extensive requirements. Checkr is ideal for quick processing times, and HireRight shines with its customer service. Sterling, with its long-standing reputation, provides thorough checks suited for enterprise-level clients. Evaluating these options will help you select the best fit for your background screening needs, ensuring a reliable hiring process. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Top 5 Highest Rated Background Check Sites" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For years, retail investors were dismissed by some on Wall Street as “dumb money.” That typically referred to those prone to trading on hype, or chasing trends rather than company or industry fundamentals, or responding late to big market moves. That’s no longer the case. An analysis of where retail investors put their money last year shows they outperformed two of the most popular, professionally managed index funds, SPY and QQQ, whose goal is to mirror the performance of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, respectively. Retail investors accounted for $5.4 trillion in trading activity in 2025 across stocks and exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, according to Vanda, an independent data and research firm. That’s a nearly 47% increase from the previous year and the most going back to at least 2014. “I personally want to dispel the myth of retail being dumb money, because it’s not dumb money anymore,” said Joe Mazzola, head trading and derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, at an investor education event held in Anaheim, California, last November that drew around 800 of the financial services company’s clients. Many Americans have long invested in the stock market, although largely hands-off through managed funds in retirement plans, such as a 401(k). But over the last decade, the advent of mobile trading apps, zero-commission trading, stock market-focused communities on social media and online tools for education and research has helped usher in a new era of do-it-yourself trading in stocks, crypto and other investments. The COVID-19 lockdowns were an inflection point. A new crop of investors, many young newcomers using investing apps like Robinhood, helped drive the “meme stock” frenzy that catapulted the price of GameStop, AMC Entertainment and other stocks. Meme stocks aside, years of mostly uninterrupted, strong stock market gains provided an attractive backdrop for more people to take up investing. The benchmark S&P 500 has posted an annual loss only three times going back to 2015. By early last year, the number of people moving money from checking accounts to investment accounts reached its highest levels since 2021, according to a report by JPMorgan Chase. Some may have been younger Americans who couldn’t afford to buy a house and instead put the money in stocks, the report suggests. All told, money coming into the market from individual investors jumped about 50% from 2023 to early 2025, according to the report. “I would say they are considerably more important as a force in markets right now,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. “Markets used to be really dominated by institutional investors, but if you put enough ants together, they can move a very big log.” Buying the dip Frank Sabia from Encino, California, started dabbling in investing in 2018. Over the years, he’s leveled up his market and trading knowledge by joining private investor chat groups online or attending investing seminars like Schwab’s. “I learned a lot more about options strategies and charting and everything from there,” he said in an interview in November. “Now I’m independent. I just look for my own trades. I have my own strategy. I hunt on my own.” Sabia, a high school registrar, said he trades in cryptocurrencies and other assets, but that his “bread and butter” is options trading. That involves trading contracts to buy or sell a stock at a specific price before a specified date. This can be less costly upfront than buying stocks, but can also be riskier, because options expire and a small move in a stock’s price can translate into a big swing in the value of options contracts. Last April, Sabia opened a Roth IRA account and bought into the market as stocks tanked after President Donald The President announced a sweeping set of tariffs that were more severe than investors expected. The announcement sent the S&P 500 into a two-day tailspin of more than 10%, the type of plunge not seen since the 2020 COVID crash. “I just bought the dip,” Sabia said. He was wasn’t alone. Retail investors seized on the market skid, buying more than $5 billion in stocks over the two days, according to Vanda. “In April, it was retail (investors) that bought the dip,” Mazzola said. “They were the ones that were willing to step in front. They saw the opportunity.” Retail investors also had one of their biggest buy-the-dip days of the year on Oct. 10, when the market dropped 2.7% after The President threatened a “massive increase on tariffs” on China. The AI trade and silver Retail investors haven’t slowed down this year. Their trading activity hit an all-time high on a rolling monthly basis last month, according to J.P. Morgan. They were particularly active in the last week of January, coinciding with the S&P 500 climbing to an all-time high. Retail traders also had a hand in turbocharging the price of silver last month to record highs by buying a record amount of silver ETFs, according to data from Vanda. A recent analysis by Charles Schwab of trading and stock positions by its millions of retail investor clients found they were net buyers of stocks in January, with Microsoft, Netflix and Tesla among the most popular stock buys. Some take on more risk Many retail investors have gone beyond stocks or ETFs and into other investment vehicles. Options trading, which can expose them to higher risk, accounted for about $650 billion of retail investors’ trading last year and has been mostly rising steadily going back to at least 2019, according to Vanda. Noah Goodwin, a junior in high school in the L.A. suburb of Castaic, started options trading on Robinhood Markets early last year using in his mother’s custodial account. It paid off right away. He bought $148 worth of Nvidia options on Jan. 20, 2025, the same day shares of the tech giant plunged on news of AI advances by Chinese startup DeepSeek. Goodwin sold his options later that day. “I made a $200 profit. My very first trade!” Goodwin said in an interview in November. Not all his trades have gone his way. In July, he thought he could capitalize on market volatility caused by more uncertainty over tariffs, but he miscalculated. “I lost a lot of money, like probably like around $600 to $800,” he said. “So, a horrible month for me.” “For the most part, with only some exceptions, buying the dip has tended to be a very profitable tactic for many retail investors,” said Sosnick. But he cautioned that the strategy had led to retail investors making trading decisions without giving full consideration to the risks and rewards. “The risk to it is that for many of them it’s become sort of mechanical,” he said. Balancing short-term and long-term trading It’s not uncommon for retail investors to strike a balance between higher-risk moves and making trades to build out a long-term investment portfolio. Andy Hu, a financial analyst in Los Angeles who attended the Schwab event in November, said he had 50% of his investment portfolio in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, a popular fund that aims to track the performance of the S&P 500. For his short-term trades, he tends to buy micro-cap stocks, which are very small publicly traded companies that can see big swings in price because of small trading volume. The approach had his active trading account up by around 20% through the first 11 months of last year, he said. Hu stopped making trades toward the end of last year when a pullback in big tech companies helped drag the S&P 500 to a monthly loss in December, clouding sentiment on Wall Street. “I haven’t made a single trade in the last two months,” Hu said. —Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer View the full article

Move comes after details of peer’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein revealed in US justice department documentsView the full article

Google’s Gemini app is stepping into the spotlight with its latest feature: enhanced audio verification capabilities that could significantly benefit small business owners. With a focus on responsible AI use, Gemini aims to streamline content creation while ensuring copyright compliance—a crucial balance in today’s digital landscape. At the heart of this innovation is the integration of SynthID, Google’s imperceptible watermark that identifies AI-generated content across various media formats, including audio. For small business owners who rely on original content to promote their brands, this is an important tool. By uploading audio files into the Gemini app, users can now quickly verify whether the content was generated using Google AI, helping to prevent the unintentional use of copyrighted materials. “This new verification feature helps creators know if their content is safe to use,” said a Google representative. “It broadens the capacities of the Gemini app and reinforces our commitment to responsible AI development.” The Gemini app has evolved since its inception, focusing on collaboration with the music community. Lyria 3, the latest iteration of their music generation tool, is designed not to mimic existing artists but to generate original compositions inspired by broader creative styles. This is particularly advantageous for businesses looking to craft unique soundtracks or jingles without running afoul of copyright laws. Small business owners can utilize Lyria 3 in various ways: Custom Soundtracks: Whether it’s a promotional video or a podcast, generating unique music can enhance engagement with customers. Branding: A distinctive audio signature can help businesses stand out in a crowded marketplace. Cost Efficiency: Hiring professional musicians or purchasing licenses can be expensive; leveraging AI-generated music may reduce these costs. However, while these tools offer exciting opportunities, they come with potential challenges that owners should consider. First, the verification process does not guarantee that every AI-generated track is free from copyright issues. As stated, users can report any content that may infringe on rights, indicating that the system is not foolproof. Moreover, complying with Google’s Terms of Service and generative AI policies is a must. Small business owners must ensure that their use of AI-generated content does not violate the intellectual property rights of others. This means being diligent in content creation while navigating the evolving AI landscape. Importantly, Lyria 3 is accessible to users aged 18 and older across multiple languages, including English and Spanish, making it versatile for a global audience. Businesses looking to leverage this tool can start experimenting right away by visiting gemini.google.com/music. In a world where content creation is vital, Google is committed to providing resources that help small businesses thrive. As AI tools advance, the potential for creativity, engagement, and efficiency in marketing will only expand. Small business owners should remain cognizant of the ongoing developments in AI technology and the implications for their own operations. To learn more about these features and how to navigate the world of AI content creation responsibly, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Gemini Enhances Music Creation with New Audio Verification Tools" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google’s Gemini app is stepping into the spotlight with its latest feature: enhanced audio verification capabilities that could significantly benefit small business owners. With a focus on responsible AI use, Gemini aims to streamline content creation while ensuring copyright compliance—a crucial balance in today’s digital landscape. At the heart of this innovation is the integration of SynthID, Google’s imperceptible watermark that identifies AI-generated content across various media formats, including audio. For small business owners who rely on original content to promote their brands, this is an important tool. By uploading audio files into the Gemini app, users can now quickly verify whether the content was generated using Google AI, helping to prevent the unintentional use of copyrighted materials. “This new verification feature helps creators know if their content is safe to use,” said a Google representative. “It broadens the capacities of the Gemini app and reinforces our commitment to responsible AI development.” The Gemini app has evolved since its inception, focusing on collaboration with the music community. Lyria 3, the latest iteration of their music generation tool, is designed not to mimic existing artists but to generate original compositions inspired by broader creative styles. This is particularly advantageous for businesses looking to craft unique soundtracks or jingles without running afoul of copyright laws. Small business owners can utilize Lyria 3 in various ways: Custom Soundtracks: Whether it’s a promotional video or a podcast, generating unique music can enhance engagement with customers. Branding: A distinctive audio signature can help businesses stand out in a crowded marketplace. Cost Efficiency: Hiring professional musicians or purchasing licenses can be expensive; leveraging AI-generated music may reduce these costs. However, while these tools offer exciting opportunities, they come with potential challenges that owners should consider. First, the verification process does not guarantee that every AI-generated track is free from copyright issues. As stated, users can report any content that may infringe on rights, indicating that the system is not foolproof. Moreover, complying with Google’s Terms of Service and generative AI policies is a must. Small business owners must ensure that their use of AI-generated content does not violate the intellectual property rights of others. This means being diligent in content creation while navigating the evolving AI landscape. Importantly, Lyria 3 is accessible to users aged 18 and older across multiple languages, including English and Spanish, making it versatile for a global audience. Businesses looking to leverage this tool can start experimenting right away by visiting gemini.google.com/music. In a world where content creation is vital, Google is committed to providing resources that help small businesses thrive. As AI tools advance, the potential for creativity, engagement, and efficiency in marketing will only expand. Small business owners should remain cognizant of the ongoing developments in AI technology and the implications for their own operations. To learn more about these features and how to navigate the world of AI content creation responsibly, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Gemini Enhances Music Creation with New Audio Verification Tools" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The American promise is one of equal opportunity, but in most of our communities today, access to the resources that enable prosperity are too far out of reach. That’s because there is one unseen factor that influences who is able to thrive and who cannot: capital. The flow of capital into communities has a dramatic effect on which kind of people can open small businesses, buy homes, and generally participate in the American Dream. Places that are already thriving are able to easily access capital. Banks see these neighborhoods as a “safe bet” and will readily support the opening of new businesses, construction of new homes, and mortgage lending. But those places that are struggling—and have been struggling—do not receive the same treatment. These are the inner-city neighborhoods, the rural communities, and the suburban areas that have been abandoned. There are some capital options for these under-resourced communities. Nonprofit and community banks offer concessionary loans, and government grants help fill gaps. For example, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helped drive $28.3 billion in federal grants to over 1,500 cities, according to the National League of Cities. But this is not enough. We need a different way to think about capital to drive the prosperity that has been out of reach for too many for too long. THE 3 TYPES OF CAPITAL Decades of redlining, exclusionary lending, and the uneven distribution of government funds have created entrenched divisions in American communities. Despite legal reforms, barriers to capital still persist, including higher burdens for lending placed on marginalized groups, discrimination against those groups, and capital providers simply not showing up for these places. Over 12 million Americans live in a “banking desert,” with no bank close by. These deserts are rural and urban, but also overwhelmingly suburban: two thirds of banking deserts are in suburban areas. Overcoming these barriers is not as simple as getting more money out to communities that need it. Communities need ways to not only absorb the capital, but use it. Offering money is not enough; the dollars must be combined with expertise and knowledge to help get it to the people who actually need it. At Living Cities, we have identified three different types of capital that lead to prosperity: 1. Financial capital: Funds, credit, and investment needed to start businesses, buy homes, and generally support community growth. Systemic gaps in creditworthiness, collateral requirements, and bias in financing limit the spread of financial capital. 2. Social capital: Networks of trust, mentorship, and informal connections that open doors to opportunity. Research shows social capital is strongly associated with upward mobility and improved economic outcomes, with limited networks leading to lower rates of entrepreneurship and employment. Not all communities have equal access. Decades of segregation and underinvestment have eroded social infrastructure in marginalized neighborhoods. 3. Knowledge capital: Information, skills, and know-how required to navigate business, government, and civic systems. When you have financial capital, but lack knowledge of regulatory systems, market trends, and grant opportunities, the capital can’t get to where it’s most needed and most effective. Knowledge capital is a multiplier: pairing capital with business training or legal literacy increases success rates for entrepreneurs. THE “CAPITAL EQUATION” IN ACTION Only when all three types of capital come together can the cycle of exclusion be broken. Offering only one isn’t enough. For example, small business programs that blend loans (financial), local business incubators (social), and technical training (knowledge) see higher success rates than those providing only cash infusions. Our Breaking Barriers to Business cohort is leveraging all three types of capital to create and execute projects that create jobs through hands-on small business assistance. Cities should audit procurement, zoning, and economic development policies to identify the gaps in all types of capital access, not only financial capital. Any federal and philanthropic interventions should require grantees to demonstrate not only financial investment but strategies for bridging social and knowledge capital divides. TOWARD INCLUSIVE GROWTH Equitable capital flow is about more than headline numbers. It’s about shifting the deeper patterns that determine who gets to build the future. By understanding and reshaping capital flows, cities can fire up new engines of shared prosperity. Joe Scantlebury is president and CEO of Living Cities. View the full article

WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in most parts of the world, and in my decade or so of using it, I've learned a few important tips that make it a much more convenient and secure experience. I use the following WhatsApp hacks to keep my account safe, stop the app from overloading my notifications and storage, and save myself a lot of time. If you're like me, and your entire social circle is on WhatsApp, then you're absolutely going to need tips like these to stop from feeling overwhelmed. Use advanced chat privacy to block exports and Meta AIWhatsApp has end-to-end encryption, which means that the company itself cannot read the contents of your messages, but that doesn't stop recipients from easily exporting your conversations. If you don't want anyone to export your message history, make sure to enable Advanced Chat Privacy in WhatsApp. This feature needs to be enabled individually for each chat (including group chats). With Advanced Chat Privacy enabled, photos won't be automatically saved to recipients' phones, AI features will be disabled, and no one will be able to export that chat's history to their devices. Note that people can still forward your messages and take screenshots or screen recordings of them, but every little bit helps. You can enable Advanced Chat Privacy by opening any chat in WhatsApp, tapping the name of the contact or group, and going to Advanced Chat Privacy. You can lock individual chats, tooEveryone knows that you can put an app lock on WhatsApp, which means that you'll need a passcode (or biometric authentication) to view your messages whenever you open the app. A lesser known feature is that you can lock individual chats, too. This allows you to put chats with certain people or groups into a hidden folder. These hidden chats won't show up in your list of WhatsApp conversations and can only be found by searching for the name of the contact or group. Even if someone else gains access to your WhatsApp, they also won't be able to open these chats without an additional passcode or biometric authentication. To use this, open any chat in WhatsApp, tap the name of the contact or group, and enable Lock chat. Make your WhatsApp account more secure Credit: Pranay Parab There are a few easy steps you can take in the WhatsApp settings to reduce the chances of unauthorized access to your WhatsApp account. Get started by going to WhatsApp Settings > Account. First, tap on Two-step verification and enable it. WhatsApp will ask you to create a 6-digit PIN, and the next time you log in to the app on a different device, you'll be prompted to enter this PIN in addition to your other credentials. When you set up two-step verification, the app will also ask you to add an email address to help recover the PIN in case you forget it. Once you've done that, feel free to add a passkey via the same account settings page, if you wish. The final step in securing your WhatsApp account involves locking your SIM card. Go to your phone's cellular service settings and set up a SIM PIN there. This locks your SIM card or eSIM, and means that if someone tries to add your number to another device, they'll need this PIN to get in. Since WhatsApp requires your phone number for activation, this step could prevent unauthorized access to your account. Optionally, you can also add a password to your WhatsApp backups. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encryption. You can either set up a passkey or a password to encrypt your backups. No one will be able to access your WhatsApp backups without this password, which will help keep your extra copies of important messages secure. Stop unknown people from adding you to groupsAs a heavy WhatsApp user, one of the biggest annoyances I used to face was people adding me to WhatsApp groups without my permission. I wasn't too bothered when my friends did this, but eventually I started getting added to random spam groups by strangers, which is when I decided to put an end to it. You can keep strangers from adding you to WhatsApp groups by going to WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > Groups and selecting My contacts. This allows only saved contacts to add you to groups. Feel free to choose My contacts except… if you want to block specific people from adding you to groups. The best WhatsApp hack for sending voice notesIf you like sending voice notes on WhatsApp, then I've got a few quick tips for you that will make your life easier. You might know that you can open any chat and hold the microphone icon to send a voice note. But did you know that if you slide this icon upwards towards the lock icon, you can let go of it and keep recording? This way, you don't have to keep holding the mic icon while recording long voice notes. You can also hit the pause button to pause the recording and come back to it later, in case there's an interruption while you're recording a voice note. Once you're done recording, you can also press the 1 button if you want your voice note to be deleted after the recipient hears it once. I'll admit, though, that I sometimes tend to ignore long voice notes. Instead, I use transcripts to quickly skim through them, and decide if they need an immediate response. Voice note transcripts are disabled by default, but you can enable them by going to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Voice message transcripts > Manually. While you're here, also tap Transcript language and select the language that you want to see your transcripts in. Archive unwanted chats and groupsIf you're getting too many messages from certain WhatsApp chats or groups, they'll always show up at the top in the list of your chats. To get these off the main window, head to the chat list and press and hold on the chats you want to banish. Then tap Mute. To ensure that these archived chats don't reappear in the main window when you receive a new message from them, go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats and enable Keep chats archived. Reduce notification spam Credit: Pranay Parab It's really easy to get overwhelmed by notifications in WhatsApp. If you're an even moderately social person, you'll quickly find yourself receiving way more messages than you can reasonably be expected to handle. I've found that disabling WhatsApp notifications entirely works best to counter the problem, but that's not the best solution for everyone. Instead, you can try a few things to seriously reduce the amount of pings you get from WhatsApp. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications and review every setting on this page. Personally, I've disabled all notifications for emoji reactions, group messages, and reminders. This way, I only get notified when individuals message me. Create chat folders to manage message overloadWhatsApp's chat folders are a great way to triage your conversations. In your chat list, press and hold on any conversation. From there, you can select either Add to Favorites or Add to list to get started. The first option adds these messages to the Favorites folder, and the second one lets you choose a custom folder name. These chat folders will appear above all your conversations, and you can quickly tap any of them to focus on specific conversations. The real hack is to reorder these folders to your liking. You can do that by holding the name on any of these chat folders and selecting Reorder lists. I've used this to prioritize messages from loved ones, my meditation group, running friends, and so on. How to stop "WhatsApp storage full" errorsUnfortunately, I know too many people whose phone storage is almost full because of WhatsApp. If you're in this situation, go to WhatsApp Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage to start the cleanup. Tap Larger than 5 MB and you'll be able to review everything that takes up a lot of storage space on your device. In the bottom-left corner, there's a button that lets you sort these files by recency or storage size. I've used this to identify lots of duplicate files and delete all but one copy of such items. You can also see a list of the chats occupying the most storage space on your device. Tap each item to manually review your files. It's pretty easy to set up a few preventative measures to stop this error, too. You can go to WhatsApp Settings > Storage and data and turn off everything under Media auto-download. Double check settings and privacyIt's important to note that if you use WhatsApp's apps on both your desktop and your phone, any settings changes you've made on one device might not sync to the other. You should review all settings to see if everything is syncing correctly. While you're double checking account details, you should also review your WhatsApp privacy settings. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Privacy, scroll to the bottom and select Privacy checkup for a quick overview. This is a step-by-step guide to enabling the most important privacy settings in WhatsApp, and is much faster than doing it manually. View the full article

Demand Gen marks a shift in Google Ads toward visual advertising beyond keywords and text. Relying on traditional strategies when testing it wastes budget, hurts performance, and limits opportunity. To succeed, you have to think more like a social advertiser than a search advertiser. At SMX Next, Industrious Marketing owner Jack Hepp explained why many businesses struggle with demand gen campaigns — especially in B2B and lead generation — while also sharing insights relevant to ecommerce. Understanding the Shift: From Intent to Interruption Demand Gen reflects Google’s shift from intent-first search advertising to visual, discovery-based campaigns. Instead of targeting users actively searching for your service, you reach them as they scroll through YouTube, Gmail, or Discovery feeds. This changes your approach: visual creative becomes the new keyword, replacing traditional targeting. Common misalignments in Demand Gen strategy Applying outdated search strategies can lead to failure with Demand Gen. The four main mistakes: Expecting bottom-of-funnel CPAs from mid-funnel traffic. Using overly broad, “spray and pray” targeting. Running bland, generic creative. Not knowing how to optimize without negative keywords. Success requires a social advertising mindset. Campaign structure: Understanding the hierarchy Demand Gen uses a two-level structure. Campaign-level settings control broad parameters like bidding strategy, conversion goals, and device targeting. Ad group–level settings control audiences, locations, and channels. Each ad group learns independently—insights don’t transfer—allowing precise audience segmentation with tailored creative. Creating interruption-based creative You must stop their scroll within 3-4 seconds. Your creative must capture attention immediately, speak to a specific pain point, and present your solution. Unlike search ads — where users are actively looking for you — Demand Gen interrupts browsing, so your message must be instantly compelling and problem-focused. Aligning visuals to the customer journey Match your offer to audience readiness. Cold audiences need educational content like free guides or diagnostic tools. Warm audiences respond to case studies, webinars, and comparison tools. Hot audiences are ready for demos and direct purchase offers. Misaligning them — like pushing demos to cold audiences — guarantees failure from the start. The power of problem-focused creative Generic ads with stock photos and basic headlines get scrolled past. Winning creative uses bold headlines, striking visuals, and problem-focused messaging. For example, “43% of cyberattacks target small businesses” speaks to a specific pain point, making the ad stand out and prompting engagement instead of a scroll. Bidding and budget strategies Demand Gen uses campaign goals rather than traditional bidding strategies: conversion-focused, click-focused, or conversion–value–focused. Aim for 50+ conversions per month and budget 10–15x your target CPA to build enough data. For click-based bidding, set budget based on desired traffic volume and target CPC. Demand Gen is highly data-reliant, so hitting these thresholds is critical to performance. Can Demand Gen work with small budgets? Yes, with strategic planning. Focus on mid- or upper-funnel audiences and optimize for MQLs instead of bottom-funnel conversions. This helps you reach 50+ monthly conversions for data density, even with smaller budgets. Align your goals, targeting, and budget to generate enough conversion data. Building the right audience Avoid two extremes: Audiences that are too broad (billions of impressions) where Google can’t identify your target. Audiences too narrow (a few thousand impressions) where you can’t build data density. The sweet spot: start with custom segments based on search terms or competitor websites, then layer in lookalike segments and strategic first-party data. Avoid optimized targeting at first — it works best to expand already successful campaigns. The role of creative in targeting Your creative shapes who Google targets. The people who engage with your ads teach Google who to show them to next. Performance peaks when your creative speaks to your ideal customer profile. Align messaging to the buyer’s stage — cold audiences need different messaging than hot prospects. Strategic exclusions Use exclusions surgically, not broadly. It’s tempting to exclude like negative keywords, but over-excluding shrinks your audience too much. Focus only on clear non-converters (e.g., specific age groups, locations, or audiences you know won’t respond). Give Google room to find engaged users within your parameters, rather than narrowing to the point of ineffectiveness. Optimization: Where to focus Without negative keywords, optimize through three levers: creative, audience, and offer. Test multiple formats (video, image, carousel) and styles (UGC, testimonials, problem-focused messaging). Continuously refine what works with new hooks and data points. Test offers to match audience readiness — cold audiences need educational content, while hot audiences need direct CTAs. Prioritize post-click optimization: improve landing pages, strengthen tracking with CRM integration, and ensure clean data feeds Google’s learning. Real-world case study A telecommunications company targeting B2B managed IT services drove strong results by aligning all three elements. Offer: An interactive quiz showing businesses how managed IT could reduce costs. Targeting: Custom segments based on proven search terms and competitor website visitors. Creative: Problem-focused messaging about cybersecurity threats to small businesses. Results: $10 cost per MQL. 3.8% conversion rate. 40% of quiz takers became SQLs. 20% increase in total SQLs. Key takeaways As you plan your next campaign: Match your creative to your customer and their stage in the journey. Target the right audience at the right point in that journey. Test and optimize creative and offers to find what resonates and drives action. View the full article

Be sure to provide details. By Ed Mendlowitz Tax Season Opportunity Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Edward Mendlowitz. View the full article