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Annualised figure comes below expectations and contrasts with previous growthView the full article

Shares in coffee giant Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) are down significantly in premarket trading this morning after the chain announced its Q2 2025 earnings results yesterday after the bell. Those results were described as “disappointing” by Starbucks’s own CEO, Brian Niccol, and demonstrate that the company’s turnaround efforts still have a long way to go. Here’s the latest on Starbucks and what has investors nervous: Starbucks Q2 2025 results below expectations In January of this year, Starbucks announced its Q1 2025 earnings, in which it beat Wall Street expectations—a small win for the company and for Niccol, who joined as CEO from Chipotle Mexican Grill in the summer of 2024. But it’s not a win that was repeated in the company’s second quarter. Yesterday, Starbucks reported earnings for its Q2 of fiscal 2025. That quarter had 13 weeks in it and ended on March 30. Unlike the previous quarter, Starbucks did not beat Wall Street expectations. Wall Street analysts had expected revenue of $8.83 billion and an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 49 cents, according to Yahoo Finance. Instead, Starbucks posted the following: Revenue: $8.76 billion Adjusted EPS: 41 cents But the revenue and EPS miss isn’t what seems to be rattling investors most. That would be Starbucks’s disappointing comparable sales results. “Comparable sales” are a metric that looks at the sales of the same stores that have been open for at least a year. If comparable sales are increasing, that’s a good sign as it means the same stores are bringing in more customers, larger orders, or both. But if comparable sales are down, it suggests lower foot traffic or that customers are reducing the amount of money they spend at the store. Unfortunately for Starbucks, comparable sales in U.S. stores that have been open for at least a year fell during Q2—and it was the fifth straight quarterly fall of U.S. comparable sales. Starbucks says that U.S. comparable store sales declined 2% during the quarter, and U.S. comparable transactions were down 4%. It was a little better in China, however, which is the company’s second-largest market after the United States. In China, comparable sales were at least flat quarter-over-quarter. But you would be right to wonder if flat comparable sales in China could get worse, as consumer sentiment across the globe is increasingly becoming anti-American due to President The President’s trade wars, which are leading to economic strife with America’s largest trading partners. Niccol seemed keen to paint a rosy picture of Starbucks’s operations and future in the country. As noted by Yahoo Finance, the Starbucks CEO said on the company’s earnings call yesterday, “I want to be clear that we remain committed to China for the long term. We see great potential for our business there in the years ahead, and remain open to how we achieve that growth.” “Back to Starbucks” . . . or not Late last summer, Niccol was brought on board at Starbucks as its new CEO in order to turn the struggling chain around. As part of that turnaround, Niccol unveiled the “Back to Starbucks” plan in which he implemented a number of changes, including a simplified menu and a controversial no-loitering policy. However, Starbucks’s latest Q2 results and the company’s continued decline in comparable U.S. sales will leave many industry watchers wondering just how well that “Back to Starbucks” plan is working. Niccol himself acknowledged that Starbucks’s “Q2 results are disappointing,” but quickly noted that “behind the scenes we made a lot of progress and have real momentum with our ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan,” according to Yahoo Finance. Niccol also addressed the plan directly in the company’s official earnings release, saying, “My optimism has turned into confidence that our ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan is the right strategy to turn the business around and to unlock opportunities ahead. He added: “Improving transaction comp in a tough consumer environment at our scale is a testament to the power of our brand and partners getting ‘Back to Starbucks.’ We are on track and if anything, I see more opportunity than I imagined.” SBUX stock sinks However, while Niccol might see more opportunity, investors—for today at least—seem to have a hard time imagining the same. As of the time of this writing, Starbucks stock is now down over 8% in premarket trading to $78 per share. SBUX shares had closed yesterday up about 1.1% to $84.85 before the company announced its Q2 results. Year to date, Starbucks shares were already down over 7% as of yesterday’s close—before today’s further 8% premarket drop. As of yesterday’s close, shares were also down nearly 4% over the past 12 months. View the full article

Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, has flown to Washington after a breakthrough in talksView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The 2000s, in some ways, culturally feel neither here nor there: They don’t have the neon vibe we associate with the 1980s, and lack the grunge appeal of the ‘90s. There’s plenty to appreciate, however, in movies over the decade that was bookended by blockbusters: Lord of the Rings in the early years, and Iron Man, Dark Knight, and Avatar at the end. None of those feel particularly cookie-cutter in the way that their successors would often be, and, in the middle years, there were many successful movies of the kind they don’t really make anymore: mid-budget movies with personal, rather than galactic, stakes, that still managed to do brisk business at the box office. It was a decade on the cusp of our mega-blockbuster era, and that tension between the indie-loving ‘90s and the present kept things interesting. No Country for Old Men (2007) The Coen Brothers' magnum opus won four Oscars, including one for Best Picture and for Javier Bardem's performance as merciless killer Anton Chigurh. The noir western finds Josh Brolin's Llewelyn Moss stumbling upon, and making off with, the cash left behind when a drug deal goes wrong. He's pursued by not only Chigurh, but Tommy Lee Jones' Sheriff Bell. You can stream No Country for Old Men on Peacock and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. No Country for Old Men (2007) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Ghost World (2001) Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) face high school graduation, and a crush on Steve Buscemi, in Terry Zwigoff’s indie dark comedy. You can stream Ghost World on Tubi, Kanopy, and Prime Video. Ghost World (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Dreamgirls (2006) The cast here is incredible: Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, and Beyoncé, just for starters. Even more incredible are the absolutely electric musical numbers, including, and especially, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” You can stream Dreamgirls on Kanopy and Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Dreamgirls (2006) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Meryl Street is one of cinema's all-time great villains as boss from hell Miranda Priestly, facing down (and tearing down) Anne Hathaway's put-upon personal assistant, Andy Sachs. You can rent The Devil Wears Prada from Prime Video. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Almost Famous (2000) Cameron Crowe’s ‘70s-era comedy/drama about a young music journalist going on the road with a major band is a funny, touching crowd pleaser that’s not afraid to veer off in some unexpected and idiosyncratic directions. Hold me closer, tiny dancer. You can stream Almost Famous on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Almost Famous (2000) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ The Incredibles (2004) This Pixar triumph hit before the superhero movie wave really crested, and is all the better for it. If only they were all this good. You can stream The Incredibles on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Incredibles (2004) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Brokeback Mountain (2005) Ang Lee’s cowboy drama has a big heart and a minimal understanding of the mechanics of gay male sex, while also deserving far better than its fate as an Oscar also-ran to the inferior Crash. You can rent Brokeback Mountain from Prime Video. Brokeback Mountain (2005) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Love & Basketball (2000) Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps play next-door neighbors who, over the course of several years, struggle with their growing attraction to each other, even while their basketball ambitions pull them apart. Off-the-charts chemistry here. You can rent Love & Basketball from Prime Video. Love & Basketball (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video In the Mood for Love (2000) Wong Kar-wai's lush, extravagant story of sex and yearning finds Chow (Tony Leung) and Su (Maggie Cheung) developing feelings for each other after their spouses have affairs. The '60s-set movie is much more than just style, but that style is impeccable. You can stream In the Mood for Love on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. In the Mood for Love (2000) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Jennifer’s Body (2009) Only the real ones knew what to do with Jennifer’s Body in 2009, and the film took a long time to become the cult classic it was probably always destined to be. Here, popular teenager Jennifer (Megan Fox) is turned into a succubus by abusive men, gleefully killing boys around school to the general horror of her friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried). You can rent Jennifer's Body from Prime Video. Jennifer’s Body (2009) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mean Girls (2004) Given the movie’s impressive longevity, it’s tempting to call Mean Girls a cult classic—except that it made boatloads of money back in the day, as well. When Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) gets accepted into the cool clique at her public school, she quickly realizes that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. You can stream Mean Girls on Kanopy and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Mean Girls (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Barbershop (2002) Everything from sex, to relationships, to O.J. and civil rights is on the agenda in this comedy/drama, and the cast of lively and entertaining characters make it a fun place to spend time. You can rent Barbershop from Prime Video. Barbershop (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video American Splendor (2003) Starring greats Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis as underground comic creators Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner, Splendor is a stylish portrait of a couple of everyday people who also happen to be great American artists. You can stream American Splendor on Max or rent it from Prime Video. American Splendor (2003) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Departed (2006) Martin Scorsese’s remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs finds Leonardo DiCaprio going undercover in a crime organization, while Matt Damon infiltrates the police. It’s all very twisty-turny, and provides a last, great performance from Jack Nicholson (barring a surprise un-retirement). You can rent The Departed from Prime Video. The Departed (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Infernal Affairs (2002) Or you could watch the Hong Kong original from directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak—a smart, emotional crime thriller in its own right. You can stream Infernal Affairs on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Infernal Affairs (2002) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Casino Royale (2006) Daniel Craig’s first Bond outing is one of the series’ very best, introducing a leaner, meaner 007 in the first formal adaptation of the very first Ian Fleming book. You can rent Casino Royale from Prime Video. Casino Royale (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Secretary (2002) There’s genuine heat here between Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader—but also a sense of humor that makes the passionate intensity of their relationship that much more titilating. You can rent Secretary from Prime Video. Secretary (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Princess and the Frog (2009) Proving there’s still a place for traditional animation at Disney, the gorgeously animated film set in New Orleans of the 1920s introduced Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) to the pantheon of Disney princesses. You can stream The Princess and the Frog on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Princess and the Frog (2009) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Y Tu Mamá También (2001) Two teenage boys set out on an impromptu road trip with the slightly older (and married) woman on whom they both have a crush. Alfonso Cuarón’s film is a sweet, funny, and sad coming-of-age movie. You can stream Y Tu Mamá También on Hulu and Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Y Tu Mamá También (2001) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Brown Sugar (2002) Brown Sugar finds Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan as friends, and sometimes rivals, in the music industry who very gradually come to recognize their mutual attraction. You can stream Brown Sugar on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Brown Sugar (2002) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) There are a couple of love stories in the margins of Ang Lee's martial arts masterpiece (and international blockbuster), but the most poignant is in the central story of retiring swordsman Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and his confidante and associate, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Despite a mutual attraction, honor and loyalty keep the two apart until a lovely, tear-soaked final act. You can stream Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Rec (2007) This Spanish import is top-tier found footage, involving a group of firefighters on an emergency call who wind up trapped inside a building at the center of a creeping zombie infection. That limited, specific geography is key to the movie's brisk, efficient, and nerve-jangling effectiveness. You can stream Rec on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Rec (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Shrek (2001) The filmmakers behind Shrek turned the Disney formula on its ear by blending some slightly crass but very funny humor with a genuinely heartfelt story about self-acceptance. In the process, they won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and the movie picked up an Adapted Screenplay nomination—the first ever for an animated film. Not bad for a gassy ogre. Plus: The movie opens with a montage set to Smash Mouth, and it doesn't get more 2000s than that. You can stream Shrek on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Shrek (2001) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock How High (2001) Pals Method Man and Redman get some help from their dead friend after smoking his ashes, acing their college entrance exams and winding up at Harvard. A goofy stoner classic. You can stream How High on Tubi and Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. How High (2001) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) In plenty of other stoner-type comedies, Indian- and Korean-Americans are most likely to show up as secondary characters and broad stereotypes—here they’re in the lead. It doesn’t hurt that the movie is pretty damn funny. You can stream Harold & Kumar on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Session 9 (2001) A bona fide horror cult classic, Session 9 stars David Caruso as part of an asbestos abatement crew working at abandoned mental asylum. The location is appropriately creepy, but the movie is ultimately a psychological mind-bender, with the experiences of the work crew beginning to parallel those of former patients. You can rent Session 9 from Prime Video. Session 9 (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Eating Out (2004) The kick-off to a series, this one’s a convoluted, Three’s Company-esque series of mix-ups involving gay guys pretending to be straight and straight guys pretending to be gay, with the right amount of dorky charm and nudity that this kind of movie needs to succeed. You can stream Eating Out on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Eating Out (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Up (2009) Ed Asher plays cantankerous widower Carl Fredricksen, who finds an unlikely ally in a 13-year-old wilderness explorer in his plan to relocate his entire house to Paradise Falls in South America to honor his late wife. You can stream Up on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Up (2009) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Ocean’s Eleven (2001)Like the best heist movies, this one works at least as well when things are going wrong for our crew as when they're going right. The all-star cast adds panache. You can rent Ocean's Eleven from Prime Video. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Oldboy (2003) Park Chan-wook's revenge classic is not for the faint of heart on any level—it's a disturbing action spectacle leading to an all-time shocker of a last-act reveal. You can stream Oldboy on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Oldboy (2003) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Nia Vardalos and company kicked off an unlikely franchise with this beloved rom-com about a young Greek-American woman (Nia Vardalos) who falls in love with a non-Greek man (John Corbett). Shenanigans ensue when she struggles to get her family (including Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Andrea Martin, and Joey Fatone) to accept her husband-to-be. You can stream My Big Fat Greek Wedding on Max. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Spy Kids (2001) A smart, family-friendly action classic in which a couple of kids learn the spy ropes when they're forced to save their parents—themselves former spies. The best of a franchise that's still going. You can stream Spy Kids on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Spy Kids (2001) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Marie Antoinette (2006) Sofia Coppolla's candy-colored historical drama is positively loaded with willful anachronisms—all of which serve to erase the distance between us and the story of France's clever, tragic queen (Kirsten Dunst). You can stream Marie Antoinette on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Marie Antoinette (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cloverfield (2008) Yeah, it's a monster movie—but in Cloverfield, we got something unique. There are plenty of low-budget, scrappy found footage-style movies; this is a big budget spectacular, and a very effective one at that. You can stream Cloverfield on Tubi and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Cloverfield (2008) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Unbreakable (2000) M. Night Shyamalan's take on superheroes was seen as a slightly disappointing follow-up to the director's breakthrough with The Sixth Sense. Time, though, has been kind to the distinct and deliberately paced story of a man (Bruce Willis) who discovers that he's nearly indestructible following a train crash. Samuel L. Jackson is fabulous as his extremely brittle counterpart. You can stream Unbreakable on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Unbreakable (2000) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Juno (2007) Diablo Cody won an Academy Award for her screenwriting debut in this sweet, quirky story about an independent-minded teenager dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and the various ways in which it complicates her life. Elliot Page stars, with Michael Cera, Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons are among the pretty flawless cast. You can stream Juno on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Juno (2007) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu The Descent (2006) Getting lost in those caves is scary enough, even before we discover that we're not alone down there. The ultimate in spelunking horror. You can stream The Descent on Tubi or Prime Video with ads. The Descent (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Gladiator (2000) Ridley Scott's sword-and-sandals revival didn't spark a new flourishing of the genre, but it did make a ton of money and win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. And inspire a two-decades-later sequel. You can stream Gladiator on Paramount+, MGM+, and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Gladiator (2000) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Million Dollar Baby (2004) The Clint Eastwood-directed boxing picture felt like a throwback, even in 2004, but a good old-fashioned boxing drama is always welcome, especially as they've become more rare. The movie won four Academy Awards, including for lead Hilary Swank. You can rent Million Dollar Baby from Prime Video. Million Dollar Baby (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Beauty Shop (2005) This Barbershop spin-off follows widowed hairstylist Gina Norris starting over in Atlanta with her daughter, and opening her own shop when a job doesn't pan out. Queen Latifah is as delightful as ever, and is joined by a great cast including Alfre Woodard, Della Reese, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Kevin Bacon, and Djimon Hounsou. You can stream Beauty Shop on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Prime Video with ads. Beauty Shop (2005) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Ray (2004) Jamie Foxx gives a memorable performance (and won an Oscar) in this biopic covering three-or-so decades in the life of legendary musician Ray Charles. You can stream Ray on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Ray (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Donnie Darko (2001) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this memorable emo mind-bender about a troubled teenager who dodges disaster thanks to a bit of sleepwalking. An instant cult classic, it's the movie all the cool kids were talking about back in the day. You can stream Donnie Darko on Tubi, Kanopy, The Criterion Channel, Hulu, and Prime Video. Donnie Darko (2001) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Training Day (2001) Director Antoine Fuqua and company crafted a tense, brutal crime drama that won Denzel Washington his single Best Actor Oscar. Is it his best performance? Probably not, but he's memorably over-the-top as thoroughly corrupt cop Alonzo Harris. You can rent Training Day from Prime Video. Training Day (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Lars and the Real Girl (2007) The sweetest, most charming movie about the romance between a man and his life-like love doll that you're likely to encounter. You can stream Lars and the Real Girl on Tubi, Kanopy, and Prime Video. Lars and the Real Girl (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mulholland Drive (2001) This love/hate letter to Hollywood has come to be (justly) regarded as one of director David Lynch’s best, and most oddly crowd-pleasing, works: an L.A. noir about murder and obsession and a blue box that’s very significant of, well, something or other. You can rent Mulholland Drive from Apple TV+. Mulholland Drive (2001) at Apple TV+ Learn More Learn More at Apple TV+ Lost in Translation (2003) A declining American movie star in the midst of a midlife crisis and a young grad student facing a similarly uncertain future meet while staying at an upscale hotel in Tokyo. The movie that cemented director Sofia Coppola’s spot in the filmmaker pantheon. You can stream Lost in Translation on Prime Video. Lost in Translation (2003) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Drumline (2002) A classic comedy-drama set in the high-stakes world of college marching bands, starring Nick Cannon as a guy with more talent than social skills. You can stream Drumline on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Drumline (2002) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) A movie musical about a gender-queer punk rocker with a title referring to the results of a botched gender affirmation procedure, the movie has a huge heart and a score that genuinely rocks. You can rent Hedwig and the Angry Inch from Prime Video. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Great Debaters (2007) Set in 1930 and directed by, and starring, Denzel Washington, this genuinely engaging drama brings inspirational-sports-movie tropes to the more unlikely theme of college debate societies. You can stream The Great Debaters on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. The Great Debaters (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) It’s not necessarily Spielberg’s best-loved film, but this sweet and poignant story of a robot boy (Haley Joel Osment) searching for a family at the end of the world is as heartbreaking as it is humane. You can stream A.I. on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Whale Rider (2002) Pai is a 12-year-old Māori girl and the direct descendant of their tribe’s traditional notable ancestor, the Whale Rider—except that, traditionally, women can’t lead. Star Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for a Best Actress Oscar for her open, genuine performance. You can stream Whale Rider on Tubi, Kanopy, and Shout Factory TV or rent it from Prime Video. Whale Rider (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Josie and the Pussycats (2001) Josie gained an audience over time because of its goofy charm, but also because it came to feel increasingly more relevant in its satirizing of the crass commercialization of mass entertainment. You can rent Josie and the Pussycats from Prime Video. Josie and the Pussycats (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Superbad (2007) High school is awkward as hell, and Superbad is another classic of the genre: a movie about two nerds (Michael Cera and Jonah Hill), each looking to have sex before graduation, but with a surprising amount of heart. You can stream Superbad on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Superbad (2007) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Star Trek (2009) J.J. Abrams’ reboot brought a blockbuster budget to Trek, giving the then-sleeping franchise the kick in the pants it needed to fly into the 21st century. You can stream Star Trek on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Star Trek (2009) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Children of Men (2006) Alfonso Cuarón’s dystopian thriller is a truly great high-concept science fiction film, and offers up as depressingly prescient a vision of the near future as we’ve seen. Still: It’s beautiful, exciting, and often moving. You can stream Children of Men on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Children of Men (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Bring It On (2000) An endlessly repeatable teen comedy, Bring It On is also a secret sports movie and a stealth musical (if you consider elaborate dance sequences set to music in the same light as characters bursting into song), two genres with comforting formulas that stand up to repeated viewings. As much fun as it is to witness the literal gymnastics on display, it's also a kick to watch young Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union snipe at one another. You can rent Bring It On from Prime Video. Bring It On (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video District 9 (2009) With parallels to South African apartheid, writer/director Neill Blomkamp crafted the kind of smart, pointed sci-fi film that studios think audiences don’t care for—except that District 9 was a blockbuster, earning many times its budget at the box office. You can rent District 9 from Prime Video. District 9 (2009) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Spirited Away (2001) After her parents are turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba, 10-year-old Chihiro takes a job working in her bathhouse with the hope of finding a way to free them. This might be my favorite Hayao Miyazaki movie, but I say that a lot. You can stream Spirited Away on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Spirited Away (2001) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) Tyler Perry (who wrote and starred in this one, but didn’t direct) introduced the street-smart Madea, brought over from his stage plays featuring the character. The box office hit kicked off a franchise that’s still going strong. You can stream Diary of a Mad Black Woman on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Avatar (2009) People like to neg James Cameron’s film (right before buying tickets), but he’s the only director operating at this budget point who can make exactly the movie he wants. There’s something remarkable about that, whether you love the finished product or not. You can stream Avatar on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Avatar (2009) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ View the full article

The NFT market crash has a long tail. In the late 2010s, crypto enthusiasts and web3 advocates celebrated the arrival of digital art. Non-Fungible Tokens, they argued, could offer the permanence and investment value of a traditional painting. Not anymore: even amid President The President’s memecoin surge, NFT valuations continue to hit new lows. The market has been in free fall for nearly two years, with no bottom in sight. While NFTs may be dead, NFT lawsuits are alive and well. Corporate suppliers are beginning to regret their blockchain experiments. The NFT lawsuit boom Most recently, buyers of Nike’s NFTs sued the retailer for $5 million. Nike had acquired the virtual sneaker shop RTFKT in 2021, generating nearly $200 million in NFT sales. But in 2024, Nike began winding the operation down. The lawsuit alleges that the shutdown destroyed demand for RTFKT’s NFTs, effectively causing “the rug to be pulled out from under” buyers, according to Reuters. Some RTFKT NFTs even briefly displayed error messages during the turmoil. The online sportsbook DraftKings also ventured into the NFT space, only to shut down its Reignmakers NFT marketplace in July 2024. Meanwhile, a 2023 lawsuit alleged that DraftKings sold NFTs as unlicensed securities, reaping “the full benefit” of initial sales and a 5% commission on secondary sales. That case has since been settled, with DraftKings agreeing to pay out $10 million in February to those who purchased NFTs between 2021 and the shutdown. NFT buyers have also gone after the celebrities who hawked their fast-declining digital assets. Shaquille O’Neal’s 2023 lawsuit recently concluded, with the former NBA player agreeing to pay out $11 million (plus $2.9 million in attorney’s fees) to buyers of his Astrals Project NFTs. Meanwhile, the MAGA-friendly Nelk Boys are still battling their own lawsuit, which claims the YouTubers promised additional perks with their NFT sales that were never fulfilled. For corporations and celebrities, NFTs were a side business. But for companies dedicated solely to producing digital assets, these lawsuits are far more threatening. Dapper Labs—which partners with companies like Disney and the NFL to build branded NFTs—recently settled for $4 million over claims that its NBA Top Shot “moments” were unregistered securities. Yuga Labs, meanwhile, has been stuck in court for years fighting copyright battles over its Bored Ape Yacht Club. Recently, it even petitioned for access to a copying artist’s crypto wallet. How NFTs became a bad corporate bet Just a few years ago, major companies from Nike to Coca-Cola were racing to launch web3 ventures. Some are still ongoing; many have flamed out. And with the barrage of lawsuits now hitting NFT suppliers, these blockchain bets are looking increasingly risky. They may also fail to deliver value. NFTs were meant to serve as brand extensions—especially for luxury companies, which sold highly expensive goods in digital form. But according to a recent study in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, NFT availability may actually have a negative effect on consumer sentiment. The researchers found that for goods with web3 iterations, the physical counterparts were perceived as less luxurious—and thus less worth spending on. NFTs have lost their value to major companies. They’re not effective brand extensions, they’re not sustainable investments, and they’re barely even good cash grabs anymore. All they’re left with is a mess of lawsuits. View the full article

The 250 top mortgage originators in 2025 brought in high volumes despite less than ideal conditions. Check back in the following days for the final full list, with further cuts of the data to be published thereafter. View the full article

Unassigned traffic in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is a common headache for digital marketers. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces: your data is incomplete, making it hard to measure the success of your marketing efforts. This article covers the common causes of unassigned traffic in GA4 and tips to ensure your campaigns are accurately tracked and optimized. What is unassigned traffic? Unassigned traffic refers to web traffic that isn’t categorized under any of the traffic sources or mediums provided by Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Often, this arises when we use UTMs that reference traffic sources or mediums that GA4 doesn’t recognize. In such cases, Google labels this as Unassigned. While this is a frequent reason, there can be other factors causing this classification. How does GA4 classify user acquisition and traffic? The traffic source dimensions provide information about where the website or app traffic comes from. GA4 provides different dimensions to analyze it. Among the most used include: Default channel groups This dimension lets you delve into the channels that bring users to your site. Google offers a default list of channel groups. In 2024, GA4 updated its default channel groups, adding new categories such as email and SMS to better classify traffic and, among other objectives, reduce the amount of unassigned traffic. Source Identifies the origin of your traffic, like from a search engine such as Google or another website. Medium Indicates through which method you acquired the website traffic, i.e., via organic, CPC, etc. First user source / medium Given at the user level, this indicates the source or medium responsible for the user’s initial session. Session source / medium Assigned at the session level, this represents what originated the session. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. What are the causes and how to prevent unassigned traffic in GA4? Manual tagging based on source and medium One of the main causes of unassigned traffic is the manual tagging of UTMs that do not follow Google’s recommendations. UTM parameters enable you to manually tag URLs for emails, ads, and more. They can be easily added using Google’s Campaign URL Builder, providing insights into the origin of visits. The essential and most recommended tagging fields are: Source and medium, which will allow you to identify where the campaigns come from. Campaign name, which allows you to assign a name to the campaign so you can analyze its results through the campaign dimension. Below are common channels for manual traffic: If you don’t tag these fields per Google’s recommendations, GA4 cannot group them into its predefined categories, and the traffic will be labeled as Unassigned. For instance, if you want to manually tag a newsletter URL, you’ll have to fill in the UTM parameter fields using Google’s predefined ones: https://www.tiodenadal.online/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=october_2023 *Newsletter is optional. If you choose to put this source, it is always recommended to stick with it. If not, we can set the name of the ESP used or look for how the source is tagged. When tracking links from another website, verify your source and medium tracking, then create a UTM with a campaign ID: https://orvitdigital.com/?utm_source=searchengineland.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Post_Unassigned_Traffic https://orvitdigital.com/?utm_source=searchengineland.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Post_Unassigned_Traffic For platforms like social networks or marketplaces, Google has a list of sources and categories to ensure accurate tagging and prevent unassigned traffic. Common UTM tagging mistakes that cause unassigned traffic Even if you manually tag your URLs, small mistakes can cause GA4 to misclassify the traffic. Here are common errors to avoid when creating UTMs to classify your traffic manually: Tagging utm_medium as “newsletter” or “mail” instead of “email” GA4 expects the predefined group “social”. Using capital letters inconsistently (like “Newsletter” vs. “newsletter”) GA4 treats them as different. Adding UTMs on internal links within your website For example, adding UTM parameters when linking from your homepage to a product or blog page can disrupt the original source/medium attribution, leading to traffic being marked as “unassigned.” Manually tagging Google Ads campaigns with UTMs instead of auto-tagging Google Ads handles source, medium, and campaign data automatically. If you add manual UTMs incorrectly, GA4 might ignore or classify them incorrectly. Incorrect UTM tagging in paid social campaigns For instance, using utm_medium=paid instead of utm_medium=paid_social – which GA4 expects for proper classification – can result in the traffic being miscategorized. AI traffic classification in GA4 As AI tools – especially chatbots – become increasingly important sources of website traffic, it’s essential to group this traffic into a dedicated channel within GA4. Otherwise, it often ends up being classified as Referral or Unassigned, making it difficult to track and analyze effectively. Currently, traffic from chats and other AI-driven tools is commonly lumped into these generic categories, alongside unrelated sources, which complicates accurate reporting. Dig deeper: How to segment traffic from LLMs in GA4 How to properly classify AI traffic in GA4 Creating a dedicated AI traffic channel group in GA4 helps you better segment this growing source, reduce unassigned traffic, use it as a dimension in reports, and build more precise audiences. In your GA4 property, go to Admin > Data Display > Channel Groups. Copy the default channel group by clicking the three dots next to it and selecting Copy to create new. Name the new group something distinctive so it’s easy to identif – e.g., “Default Channel Group + AI.” Click Add new channel to create your AI traffic channel. Name it something intuitive like “AI Traffic” or just “AI”. Set the matching rule using a regex to capture common AI sources. Use the following regex: ^.*ai|.*\.openai.*|.*copilot.*|.*chatgpt.*|.*gemini.*|.*gpt.*|.*neeva.*|.*writesonic.*|.*nimble.*|.*outrider.*|.*perplexity.*|.*google.*bard.*|.*bard.*google.*|.*bard.*|.*edgeservices.*|.*gemini.*google.*$ Double-check that the regex captures all the AI traffic you want to track, and adjust it if necessary. Reorder the channels by moving the AI traffic channel above the general Referral or Unassigned channels. This ensures traffic from AI tools is categorized correctly before being grouped under broader categories. Save the new channel group. Go to Reports > Acquisition > Traffic Acquisition. Change the primary dimension in the table to the new AI traffic channel group. Check if you see “AI Traffic” in your reports. If your GA4 property has already received traffic from AI tools, it should appear. Use the search bar to filter by “AI Traffic” and isolate this type of traffic. Add a secondary dimension, like session source/medium, to gain deeper insights into where the AI traffic is coming from. Other ways to prevent unassigned traffic Since Universal Analytics ceased processing data in July 2023, GA4 has become Google’s primary analytics tool. This means the tool may still have bugs, discoveries, and improvements. As of today, some other actions we can do to prevent unassigned traffic include: Reporting identity Google Analytics 4 uses methods like user ID, Google signals, device ID, and modeling for tracking user data across platforms. Selecting the right method can help prevent unassigned traffic. Device-based is the recommended one nowadays. Email traffic tracking Incorrectly tagged email campaigns are one of the leading causes of unassigned traffic in GA4. To avoid this, always ensure that all links inside your emails – including those in images – are properly tagged with UTM parameters: utm_source: This should be the platform or sender (e.g., newsletter, Mailchimp, HubSpot). utm_medium: This should always be set as email. utm_campaign: Use this to specify the campaign name (e.g., winter_sale2025). If your email marketing platform supports it, it’s also recommended to enable automatic UTM tagging to make sure every campaign is consistently tracked. Cross-domain tracking If your website uses multiple domains (for example, if users go from your blog domain to your shop domain), and you don’t set up cross-domain tracking, GA4 might lose the session information. When this happens, it creates new sessions without a proper source or medium, and traffic can appear as Unassigned or Direct. Here’s how to fix it: In GA4, go to Admin > Data Streams > Web > Configure tag settings. In the Settings section, click Configure your domain. Add all the domains where you want to maintain the same session. Save the changes. To verify it works: Open a page with a link or form that points to another domain you’ve configured. Click the link or submit the form and check that the new page loads without errors. Verify that the URL in the destination domain contains the linker parameter _gl. For example: https://www.example.com/?_gl=1*abcde5* If your website offers downloads, check that downloads start properly when the _gl parameter is present. As Google points out, if you encounter an error, try troubleshooting cross-domain measurement. Event configuration Unassigned traffic can also stem from incorrectly configured events. Ensure your Google Tag Manager settings are spot-on. Events and parameters must also be tagged following Google’s guidelines. Other causes of unassigned traffic include: Events sent through regular tracking without session_start (h/t Antoine Eripre). Incorrect session tracking due to short user visits, ad blockers, or connection and data collection errors. Ad blockers and other devices Devices or ad blockers that hinder Google’s data capturing can also cause misclassifications of traffic, Himani Kankaria has found. Simon Vreeman noted mobile apps as a potential source of channel assignment issues. Use of audience triggers As Himanshu Sharma highlighted the use of audience triggers in GA4 can greatly increase the volume of unassigned traffic. If the event generated by the audience trigger isn’t tied to an existing session, perhaps because the session has ended or the criteria are met outside of the user’s current session, the source/medium might default to (not set) / (not set), which then appears as Unassigned in some GA4 reports. Measurement Protocol events without client_id or session_id As Julius Fedorovicius explains, when manually sending events to GA4 via the Measurement Protocol, it’s essential to include client_id, session_id, and, in some cases, timestamp_micros. Without these, GA4 may be unable to associate the event with the correct session, resulting in traffic being marked as unassigned. The Measurement Protocol is designed to add events to existing sessions, not to create new ones. To avoid data gaps, always ensure your server-side events include the necessary parameters. Managing unassigned traffic in GA4 Addressing unassigned traffic in GA4 requires a combination of best practices, accurate tracking, and awareness of potential causes. Implement these tips to ensure your campaigns are accurately tracked and optimized, providing a more comprehensive view of your marketing performance. View the full article

Billionaire entrepreneur, NBA owner, and CEO of Wonder Marc Lore reveals that he plans all his meals with AI—and he loves it. It’s just one part of his vision for transforming people’s relationship to food and health. His startup, Wonder, has already acquired Blue Apron, Grubhub, and the media brand Tastemade. Lore shares how these acquisitions and embrace of personalized AI-driven dining are all laddering up to a “superapp for mealtime.” This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by Robert Safian, former editor-in-chief of Fast Company. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. How do you describe what Wonder is? At the core, Wonder is a vertically integrated food-delivery platform. So think Grubhub, but we actually own the restaurants. So we both do the delivery, we own the restaurants, and we cook the food. That enables us to have a superior delivery experience. So out of a single, 2,800-square-foot kitchen, we can cook 30 different restaurants across 30 different cuisines, so everything from a high-end steakhouse, Bobby Flay Steak, José Andrés, Spanish tapas, burgers, barbecue, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Middle Eastern, Thai, 30 different cuisines with only two pieces of electric cooking equipment. It’s set up more like a micro-fulfillment center. All the food is fresh and it’s cooked to order. How does one kitchen offer hundreds of menu items and operate with as few as two staffers? You’re not reheating frozen food. So are you using different kind of equipment, different kind of processes, all of that? Yeah, it’s different equipment, different processes. The proteins are sous vide, so they’re par-cooked. They sit in a tank of hot water. Restaurants do something similar, but we do that ahead of time so we’re able to finish a steak in six minutes to perfect temp every time. We’re able to cook a pizza in 90 seconds. We can cook pasta without water. We’ve invented new ways of cooking food where we can replicate the quality, but also do it with a lot less labor. And the benefit for consumers is being able to order from multiple restaurants in a single delivery so you can order from five different restaurants and get it all delivered hot in under 30 minutes. When I asked you how you describe what Wonder is, I was curious which direction you were going to go in because your history and part of Wonder is sort of the tech side, and there’s been talk about being a “superapp,” which is kind of a buzzy term these days. So can you square those things for me? The bigger vision is a “superapp for mealtime,” meaning all the ways in which a consumer might want to consume food. It could be first-party through Wonder, it could be from your local restaurant delivered via Grubhub, it could be a meal kit from Blue Apron, it could be groceries, it could be even restaurant reservations, so all the ways in which you eat. The reason why we want to capture all those occasions is because we’re building this AI-based platform wrapper around it that’s going to, in the future, be able to autonomously feed you according to your budget and health goals. Autonomously feed you. So I’m not going to decide what it is I want to eat. The AI is going to tell me what I want to eat or what I should eat? AI will learn your food preferences better than you do yourself and that you’ll be happy to rely on AI. So personally, now about 90% of my meals are all AI derived. So AI tells me what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That’s the oatmeal that I was explaining to you this morning. I should ask you to tell everybody what you had for breakfast this morning. You told me this story before I started recording, and I was compelled by the specificity of it. It was steel-cut oatmeal with five—not four, not six—five raw walnuts, two tablespoons of flaxseed, two tablespoons of chia seed, half a banana, and half a teaspoon of cinnamon. It’s your custom recipe. But just because that’s what you had today doesn’t mean that that’s what AI’s going to tell you to have tomorrow. No, but I rate it very highly, so AI does know I do like to eat that, so I do get that quite often. I basically get my blood work done. I have my Oura ring, my blood glucose monitoring, all the blood results, all the biomarkers, all the data gets fed to AI. I set health goals, and based on the health goals and based on the foods I love, it basically tells me, “Okay, well then eat this for breakfast, eat this for lunch, eat this for dinner.” In the future, if I go out to a restaurant for dinner, AI will be able to tell me what to order off the menu because now we have 375,000 menus via Grubhub. So that’s the future. It’s pretty technocratic though, right? A lot of people take joy in sort of choosing what to eat, or being . . . I don’t know, trying something different that maybe they didn’t know they liked. I mean, based on my own personal experience, I love it. I can’t imagine having to think about what I want to eat because it knows the ingredients you like and so it comes up with different meals that are new and you’re like, “Wow, I never even thought about eating this,” and then you wind up liking it, so the variety’s there. It remembers every great meal you’ve ever had. So if I rated something 9.5 six months ago, I forgot it two weeks later. AI doesn’t forget. And so these great dishes get rotated. If you leave it up to me, I’m thinking of the same three things, probably what I had yesterday or the day before, and maybe a couple other things. The brain, it’s not good at remembering all the great meals you’ve ever had, but AI doesn’t forget. So think about it not as a computer telling you what to do, but it’s really a better version of yourself. It’s sort of like if you could capture the best of your brain’s abilities to think about food, that’s AI. And when you talk to the celebrity chefs you deal with, José Andrés or Bobby Flay or Marcus Samuelsson, and you tell them this story, are they like, “Oh, that’s great,” or are they like, “Well, wait a minute, that’s what we bring to it?” No. I mean, it doesn’t change. Think about it. You could as an artist, as a creative, as a chef, create a bunch of dishes that you hope resonate with people, and then each individual person’s AI is going to have different preferences, and it’s going to prefer certain meals over others. So nothing changes. The creative canvas is still necessary. It’s still valuable. It doesn’t change that at all. What it does change is having to go to a restaurant and having to spend time, look at the menu, look at everything. I mean, it’s just, boom, there it is, get this. AI knows you better than your partner or better than your best friend. You might have biomarkers that have issues. I had low iodine, I had high mercury. I don’t have to think about it. AI is giving me kelp to fix my iodine. I’m not getting tuna because I have high mercury. It’s taking care of all these health issues in the background without having to think about it. So it’s like my personal food critic and my personal doctor working together to give me what’s ideal. It’s really fascinating because it’s able to fix your health issues but still get good scores. So number one, you have to love the food. Okay. Now, given the foods you love, AI, you have to now make Marc healthy. And so AI does these little things, and I see it trying things that are a little bit more healthy, and I give it a bad rating. It’s like, “Okay, he doesn’t want to. . . . That’s too healthy for him,” right? And so it’s found a really nice happy medium now where I love every meal, and I’ve never been healthier, and I’m not having to think about what I want to eat. I don’t spend any time on it. I sit down. It’s a great meal. I mean, this is the future. View the full article

After 12 years and 500+ audits, here are 11 SEO lessons that can save you time, money, and frustration on your journey to better rankings. The post 11 Lessons Learned From Auditing Over 500 Websites appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

As Americans are having fewer babies, the White House has been gathering ideas on what can be done to increase the birth rate. The New York Times reported that one of the ideas is a $5,000 “baby bonus” to entice women to have more babies, received after delivery. Other ideas being entertained to start a baby boom include: reserving 30% of scholarships for the Fulbright program, the prestigious, government-backed international fellowship, for applicants who are married or have children; government-funded programs that educate women on their menstrual cycles, so we understand when we ovulate and conceive; and a “National Medal of Motherhood” awarded to mothers with six or more children. While President The President and his administration “want a baby boom,” none of these ideas address the root causes of why Americans aren’t having babies and why the annual birth rate is at a record low. Mothers don’t need a medal, they need meaningful family policies. If The President truly wants a baby boom in his administration, here’s what the government can focus on delivering for all Americans: better maternal healthcare, national paid leave, affordable childcare including not ending Head Start, better public education including not closing the Department of Education, safer schools,and a better cost of living for all. And sure, the government alone can’t solve this problem. As the Edelman Trust Barometer survey reminds us that trust in government continues to decline, business continues to be “the default solution for societal issues because it is seen as outperforming government on competence.” The pressure on business leaders to step up—including from their own employees—shows no sign of disappearing, particularly when it comes to how to best support employees and their families. Private-company based solutions to public policy shortcomings will leave millions of Americans out, but it’s still in business owners’ interests to support the working parents they employ (both moms and dads). In our workplaces, here’s a reminder of what leaders can begin to do to help all parents start and expand their families: Support employees with buying their first home One factor in the decline of U.S. birth rates is lack of affordable housing. According to a Clever Real Estate study, 70% of Americans are afraid of an impending housing market crash. And 32% of Americans are afraid they won’t be able to make housing payments as a result of today’s economy. Middle-class families in half in less than half of the U.S. can afford an average priced home. And If you can’t afford a home, you may be less likely to want to start a family. Here’s where leaders can step in: Offer resources and support your employees’ ability to purchase their first home. Partner with companies like Multiply Mortgage, a Denver based-company that offers employees one-on-one sessions with mortgage advisers, employee education sessions around the home purchase and financing process, and mortgage interest rate discounts of up to .75%. The company partners with a network of 15 to 20 lenders to access discounted interest rates. “Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans, and we don’t expect interest rates to fall to the levels we saw in 2020 ever again,” shares Michael White, cofounder and CEO of Multiply Mortgage. White says companies work with them with zero cost to the employer, other than low administrative cost to promote the benefit internally to employees. For leaders, this can be a win-win. Employees who own their home and put down roots into a community are far less likely to leave your company and relocate somewhere else. Partner with other companies to solve the childcare crisis A recent Lendingtree study showed that it costs close to $300,000 to raise a child in the U.S. today, from the time they are born until they turn 18 years old. Costs have jumped 35.7% versus when the study was conducted in 2023. One of the biggest drivers of costs continues to be childcare, which is close to $18,000 a year. In places like the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Hawaii, the cost is closer to $25,000 a year. A $5,000 baby bonus (which may also be taxed) would hardly make a dent in that cost. According to a recent HiBob report, only 15% of companies surveyed provide childcare-related benefits. Leaders can step into help solve another root cause then it comes to why Americans are having less babies: the childcare crisis. Employees need to be able to afford childcare, and have access to reliable, safe options so they can be fully present to contribute at work. Companies can partner with local childcare providers and negotiate a group discounted rate for their employees. They can also partner with Bright Horizons and bring a corporate day care to their location, and help fund the costs. If you can’t afford the cost on your own, and are worried about low utilization rates, find other companies to partner with you to build a daycare center in a location that all employees can access. Finally, you can provide a caregiver stipend to employees so that they can use that to pay family members or friends to help take care of their children. For leaders, this can be another win-win. Employees who can be fully present at work, and not worry about whether their children are being well taken care of, are able to make an impact. And we know there are limits to linking childcare coverage to a job. The most important thing an employer can do is to let their employees know they support their roles as parents, by offering support with childcare, and other related benefits, and most importantly, providing them flexibility to be there for their children as needed. Remember to focus on parental leave, not maternity leave The U.S. still remains one of only seven countries that doesn’t guarantee any paid family leave. If companies are busy lobbying the U.S. government about lowering tax rates, preventing regulations, drug pricing, fossil fuel incentives, data privacy, and more, they should add paid family leave to that list. Until then, the burden remains on companies to offer leave to parents and help fill this societal gap. As I discuss in my book, Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace, when we don’t offer parental leave, and focus only on maternity leave, we put the burden on mothers to constantly be the primary caregiver. I’ll never forget working for a leader who didn’t want to create a parental leave policy. His response to me was, “Why do we need to give dads time off when they have a kid? It’s the mom doing all the work, and the dad is on the golf course using this as vacation time. He needs to be back in the office.” According to research from the brand Dove Men + Care, giving fathers time to bond with their child not only helps the other parent, but also later on, can lead to better behavioral outcomes when the child is in school. Fathers who are close to their children are healthier, and have stronger and happier marriages with their partners. In Sweden, the data shows that for “each additional month of paid parental leave taken by the father increases the mother’s earnings by 6.7%.” Imagine the positive ripple effect this can have on our society. Finally, the stereotypes about fathers not helping when a child is born and playing golf, or not being lazy or useless or not good at parenting is not only damaging to fathers, but also to mothers. It’s up to all of us to shatter these stereotypes. Leaders need to support more men in taking parental leave, leaving work early to take their kid to doctor’s appointment to attend that school play, and being a public role model when it comes to all things parenting. And men who are leaders should be doing it themselves. If we want more women to become mothers, we can’t leave fathers out of the equation. If the government refuses to address the declining U.S. birth rates with solutions that address the root cause, businesses will need to step up to support parents. Creating a society where we can start and expand our families and support both children and parents is best for everyone. View the full article

Google seems to be testing linking the "Reviews" button you see in the local panel, on a Google Business Profile, to AI Overviews. So when you search for a business, see the local panel on the right side, and then click on "reviews," you are taken to an AI Overview result.View the full article

Fast-fashion company searches for workarounds as The President’s trade war endangers operations in its most important market View the full article

The year is 2014, and I’m stuck in Ukraine. I have a particularly antsy mother who wasn’t keen on me visiting the country just weeks into Russia’s attempted invasion, and she is expecting me back home. In Odessa—hundreds of miles away from the Maidan and the nascent conflict—the worst example of war I’d seen was a heated snowball battle between those who wanted to remain Ukrainian and those who wanted to be Russian. The reason I’m stuck has nothing to do with Russia: It’s bad fog grounding flights at the tin hut airport I’m due to fly out of. But with no reliable phone communication back home, I know my family will put two and two together and make five. The problem is allayed when I return to the plush hotel I’d been staying at, which was happy to have us pay for another night’s lodging, and get on Skype. I’m able to call home, explain what happened, and keep them from panicking when I don’t step off the plane back in the U.K. as expected. International calls remain prohibitively expensive. And for a generation that doesn’t own smartphones—like my parents—or a country that steadfastly refuses to join the rest of the world on WhatsApp (hello, United States), Skype has proven a lifeline. My use of the platform—to call home when stuck in war-torn Ukraine for an extra day, or to check on the status of my sick grandfather in hospital on the sidelines of a conference in the U.S. earlier this year—is very much a first-world problem. But the reality is that the imminent closure of Microsoft’s digital calling service (which the company attributes to dwindling user numbers and its belief that the same service can be offered through Microsoft Teams) will leave a significant gap for many who depend on it. I’m not a Skype power user, but by my own estimation, I’ve used the platform at least once a week for the last decade or more. My job as a tech journalist means I frequently call American contacts and sources. The country’s intransigence and refusal, with very few exceptions, to download and install WhatsApp on their cellphones means that unless I want to be hit with eye-watering minute-by-minute charges for calling them for interviews, I need to find an alternative. Since the early 2010s, that alternative has been a rolling Skype subscription to call the U.S.—400 minutes per month, landline and cellphones, has proved plenty for me. Shortly, it won’t be. Our lives, and our families, are increasingly scattered to the four winds. And in the two decades since its 2003 founding, Skype has helped those families stay connected. It’s also helped a good number of people whose jobs involve international interactions do so at a manageable cost. It’s notable that mentioning the closure of Skype on a regular roundup of tech news stories I do for a U.K. radio station received the most personal correspondence from listeners. They told me they too were worried about the closure of the service and were seeking out alternatives. Skype has long been unloved, long surpassed by the likes of Zoom and—whisper it quietly, and by tamping down your gag reflex—Microsoft Teams. Indeed, it’s Teams that Skype is recommending people move to, without realizing it doesn’t offer exactly the same experience. But Skype was our little app that could. And its disappearance will be a loss for many beyond just me. View the full article

Google is testing a feature to let you get notified if there is a deal for the product(s) you are searching for directly in Google Search. It is named "Track deals from this search" and it has a slider to toggle on the notification.View the full article

The administration's major moves include weakening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and rolling back numerous Biden-era regulations. View the full article

The Conservatives must choose between their US obsession and their electoral viabilityView the full article

Join us live and walk away with a clear roadmap for leading your SEO and content strategy in 2025. The post AI Search & SEO: Key Trends and Insights [Webinar] appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Welcome to Pressing Questions, Fast Company’s workplace advice column. Every week, deputy editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions. Q: How do I decide what to take off of my résumé? A: There is much debate about if your résumé really needs to be one page. But regardless of if it’s one page or two, there are some common elements you can cut to make your résumé easier to read and more effective. Here are a few: Work history that’s more than 15 years old This one isn’t cut and dry. You shouldn’t just delete everything before 2010. But here’s what to consider cutting or condensing. If you have been at your last (or current) position for fewer than five years, you can keep a few bullet points under each of your previous jobs dating back 10–15 years. But if a role on your résumé is from more than 10–15 years ago, your old responsibilities, tasks, and accomplishments are likely not very relevant anymore. The exception is if you are looking to make a career change and you have older relevant job experience. You can list your positions with just title and dates but add a couple of bullet points to the older related experience. Your cover letter (yes, you still should write one) is the best place to connect the dots for the hiring manager on how your older experience is related. Jargon, clichés, and hyperbole You should avoid unnecessary jargon, clichés, and hyperbole in all parts of your job search process, but your résumé is the most crucial place to trim it out. If your résumé is being read by AI, phrases like “seasoned solutions-oriented team player” won’t pass the keyword screens. Those words are similarly meaningless (and might actively work against you) if your résumé is being read by a real person. The best résumés follow the basic rules of good writing. Think of the golden rule of prose: Show, don’t tell. An easy way to do this is to replace adjectives with numbers and facts: Instead of “dynamic sales professional with a distinguished track record,” try “Closed over $1 million in new partnerships each quarter.” Your objective or summary and your mailing address I don’t know who ever thought an “objective” on a résumé was necessary. Your objective is to get hired, so anything you write here is just throat-clearing wasted space. Some people replace objective with a summary, which, in theory, can be useful for recruiters or AI that’s doing a quick scan. Most often though summaries are also useless because they are filled with meaningless buzzwords (see above). You’re better off formatting your résumé in an easy-to-scan way where your skills and accomplishments are clear. Including your mailing address is a relic of a time when applications were sent via snail mail and is an easy place to streamline. If you’re applying to an in-person job, however, you may still want to include the city you live in. The header space of your résumé should also include your email, phone, website/portfolio link, and one or two professional social media profiles, like LinkedIn. Fancy formatting, your photo, basic skills If you are early in your career and feel like you don’t have enough to fill the page, it can be tempting to pad your résumé by adding basic skills like “proficient with Microsoft office suite.” But skills like that are assumed and adding them can actually make you look less experienced. Don’t try to fill the space with colorful large fonts, formatting tricks, or your headshot either. White space is better and a simple format is easier to read, by both humans and applicant tracking systems. If you feel like your résumé is too thin, you may need to expand your definition of “experience.” (Here’s my advice on how to make up for lack of experience on your résumé.) Want more advice on what to cut from your résumé? Here you go: 5 ways to make your résumé more impressive without lying Many job applications are never read by a human. Here’s how to make sure your résumé gets seen 5 things you should take off your résumé right now View the full article

If AI lives up to its hype and we can “outsource” the thinking, planning, and strategy parts of our jobs, do we risk losing the skills that make us human? Research from the Center for Strategic Corporate Foresight and Sustainability found that there is “a significant negative correlation between frequent AI tool usage and critical thinking abilities, mediated by increased cognitive offloading.” In other words, use AI too much, and your mental faculties take a nosedive. But there’s another way to think about the issue. Could AI actually improve our cognition by freeing up our mental bandwidth for higher-value work? Make time for strategic thinking I’ve worked at jobs in the past where I’ve begged my boss for the budget to purchase technology that would make work better and easier. If technology could do part of my job for me, I could spend more time on other things, things that typically fell to the bottom of the pile because they didn’t have an instant, tangible result. Thinking strategically about improvements I could make in my department, for example. I suspect most knowledge workers can relate. We compile reports, attend status meetings, and follow processes with endless tedious tasks. There’s rarely time for higher-level thinking. While technology improvements may have previously been a “no,” the response to AI has been a resounding “yes.” Perhaps it’s the promise of “10x everything” but CEOs are enamored with the potential of AI. AI as sparring partner For many people, this poses a threat. For others, it can create an opportunity. Farm out the redundant, tedious tasks to AI so we can focus on work that requires our unique expertise. Take coding, for example. Software can have millions of lines of code, which previously needed to be entered manually. Now, AI can handle much of the repetitive work. Human coders take on the role of orchestrators: the brains behind the operation, guiding AI agents to the correct result. Personally, I’ve used AI to expand my existing skills. I’m self-employed, so I don’t have any colleagues to bounce ideas off of if I’m stuck. I was working with an app recently, and couldn’t get it to do what I wanted. I turned to ChatGPT and asked for help. ChatGPT gave me incorrect information, which I recognized right away, based on my knowledge of the app. I prodded ChatGPT again, explaining why the previous answer wouldn’t work. ChatGPT replied, “You’re right! Here are some additional steps you need to take.” The instructions were, again, incorrect. However, the incorrect instructions were enough to spark an idea . . . and my idea worked. As a sparring partner, AI let me work through a problem that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to solve on my own (at least not without a significant amount of trial, error, and frustration). My skills haven’t atrophied because of AI. Quite the opposite: AI takes over some of the boring work, and lets me focus on more creative work—the type of work only a human can do. The right use cases Even if the research currently suggests that AI negatively affects critical thinking abilities, that doesn’t have to be your experience. You can find the right use cases to remove the boring and tedious work from your day. Once you do that, use the additional time for impactful work that was always pushed to the back burner. Or spend the time learning something new that could help your career. The people who will experience skill atrophy are those who outsource everything to AI—and can’t recognize when work needs human oversight, decision-making, and experience. View the full article

Career politician will also act as vice-chancellorView the full article

The technology industry is in the midst of a skills shortage—one that shows no signs of slowing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that tech jobs will grow at twice the rate of America’s overall workforce, creating hiring shortfalls as organizations struggle to fill critical positions in IT, cybersecurity, and other vital areas. The emergence of AI has only exacerbated the issue, as organizations in nearly every industry are seeking employees who can help them better understand the technology and get the most out of their solutions. Even as AI becomes a part of everyday life, most organizations are still determining how best to utilize it—and how to limit the risks it may pose. Interestingly, these challenges mirror another (relatively) recent innovation: the cloud. Before cloud computing became commonplace, businesses with any sort of digital footprint needed to buy rack space or manage their own on-premises servers. That was reasonable for businesses with a high degree of technical expertise, but building and maintaining a climate-controlled server room wasn’t realistic for most companies. The advent of cloud computing democratized access to advanced computing capabilities—and AI is already having a similar impact. As businesses wrestle with managing and securing their AI deployments, they can look to the cloud for lessons and guidance on how similar challenges were tackled in the recent past. The Evolution of Cloud Adoption and Security Consider the cost of on-premises computing. Server rooms are expensive, as are the servers themselves. They also require a substantial degree of technical expertise to maintain, and employees with experience in that area understandably command high compensation. The emergence of platforms like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud changed all that, lowering the barrier to entry for advanced computing capabilities: businesses could eliminate the high initial investment associated with purchasing servers and building server rooms in exchange for a modest (in most cases) operating expense. Perhaps most importantly, it allowed businesses to work with reliable partners to get the most out of their cloud services, rather than relying on difficult-to-come-by in-house expertise. That said, securing the cloud still presents its own challenges. During the early days of the cloud, businesses often made the mistake of assuming that providers would handle any cybersecurity needs—a misconception that left them dangerously exposed. Today, the most common rule of thumb is that the provider is responsible for the security of the cloud itself, while the customer is responsible for the security of the data inside it. Essentially, the provider ensures attackers cannot exploit their systems to get to your data, but if poor password management, device security, or other data hygiene practices allow attackers to compromise your accounts—that’s on you. This delineation has helped businesses better understand where their potential risk factors lie when it comes to cloud security and mitigate them appropriately. Applying Lessons from the Cloud to AI It’s not hard to see the parallels between the cloud and AI. Like the cloud, AI has democratized access to resources that were previously difficult to come by for many organizations. The widespread availability of generative AI models like ChatGPT means organizations no longer need to hire costly AI engineers to create, manage, and fine-tune their own models. Instead, they can put an application layer on top of an existing model and deliver a compelling service to their customers at a relatively low cost of ownership. While this still requires a level of technical expertise, the barrier to entry is much lower—and organizations can move forward faster with smaller, more flexible engineering teams. The risks posed by this model mirror those posed by the cloud. When you upload data to the cloud, it is no longer under your direct control. The same is true of third-party AI models—when customers (or employees) input data into an AI-powered application, it’s important to know where the data is going, how it is being stored and protected, and how it is being used. With AI still in its relative infancy, the answers to those questions aren’t always clear—which means businesses providing AI functionality need strong AI governance practices in place to establish trust with their customers. For some businesses, that might mean offering customers the ability to opt out of AI features. For others, it might mean putting clear safeguards in place to prevent AI tools from accessing sensitive or confidential information. By demonstrating the ways in which they are limiting AI risk, businesses free their customers to evaluate the benefits of AI. Over time, most businesses migrated to the cloud because the efficiency gains substantially outweighed the perceived risks—and a similar pattern is already emerging when it comes to AI. In fact, it’s happening even more quickly this time. Since AI has use cases across nearly every business unit, the potential ROI is much easier to illustrate. While it’s true that every customer will have a different risk appetite, the trend is clear: eventually, nearly every business will decide that the rewards significantly outweigh the risks. By establishing strong governance practices and lowering the amount of risk associated with AI, businesses can help their customers reach that point more quickly. Freeing Customers to Embrace AI with Confidence While businesses and their customers are understandably concerned about AI risk, the history of the cloud provides a helpful road map for navigating those risks successfully. The risks associated with AI are not dramatically different from those associated with other technology—and businesses can mitigate them in much the same way. By establishing strong governance practices and implementing clear transparent policies regarding AI and its use, businesses can enable their employees and customers to embrace the potential of AI with confidence. View the full article

Key Takeaways Freelance delivery is a flexible income source, appealing to both individuals and businesses, allowing for autonomy over work schedules and operations.This sector is rapidly expanding due to the growing demand for e-commerce and on-demand services; tapping into this market can lead to significant growth opportunities.Effective management of factors like unpredictable income and operating expenses is crucial for success in freelance delivery; careful budgeting and record-keeping are recommended.Popular platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats provide essential support and resources to enhance delivery services while ensuring customer satisfaction; choosing the right platform is key for business scalability.Building a strong network and implementing targeted marketing strategies can significantly improve customer acquisition and brand presence in the highly competitive freelance delivery landscape. In today’s fast-paced world, freelance delivery has emerged as a game-changer for both businesses and individuals. With the rise of e-commerce and on-demand services, you can tap into a flexible income source while meeting the growing demand for quick and reliable deliveries. Whether you’re a student looking to earn some extra cash or a seasoned professional seeking a career shift, freelance delivery offers an exciting opportunity to work on your own terms. Imagine setting your own schedule and choosing the jobs that fit your lifestyle. From delivering food to packages, the possibilities are endless. As you navigate this booming industry, understanding the ins and outs of freelance delivery can help you thrive in a competitive market. Let’s explore what it takes to succeed in this dynamic field and how to make the most of your freelance delivery journey. Overview of Freelance Delivery Freelance delivery continues to gain traction in today’s e-commerce landscape. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, understanding this model can lead to strong growth opportunities. Freelance delivery allows you to connect with gig workers who can efficiently handle tasks like package deliveries, food services, or transport logistics. You can tap into an emerging market by leveraging freelance platforms that facilitate these services. Platforms such as Uber Eats and DoorDash showcase how businesses can expand their reach without maintaining an in-house delivery team. By outsourcing delivery services, you focus on core business functions while ensuring timely customer fulfillment. To excel in freelance delivery, it’s essential to conduct thorough market research. Identifying your target audience helps tailor services to meet their needs. Consider the implications of various business models, such as partnerships or sole proprietorships, when engaging independent contractors. Consider legal structures and registration requirements to protect your business and workers. Your growth strategy might include diversifying delivery methods. For instance, combining bicycle couriers for local deliveries with larger vehicle options for regional service can maximize efficiency. Additionally, employing digital marketing techniques will help raise awareness about your delivery options. Using social media, SEO tactics, and email marketing can drive customer acquisition effectively. Collaborations with freelance delivery providers may also enhance product development. Innovations such as tracking systems or bundled delivery packages can set your business apart. Always prioritize customer service, which plays a crucial role in retaining loyal clients and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals. Utilizing freelance delivery not only streamlines operations but also contributes to your overall profit margin. As you navigate through this competitive landscape, focus on establishing strong relationships with your delivery partners and continuously optimizing your business model. Benefits of Freelance Delivery Freelance delivery offers numerous advantages for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking flexibility and efficiency in their operations. Flexibility in Scheduling Freelance delivery work provides autonomy over your work hours. You can choose when to operate based on demand, allowing you to balance personal commitments and business needs effectively. This adaptability fosters a more productive work environment. Additionally, the ability to work from various locations means you can expand your operations without the constraints of a physical office. This flexibility appeals to both freelancers seeking work-life balance and businesses looking to optimize their operations. Increased Earning Potential Freelance delivery creates opportunities for increased earning potential. By leveraging gig economy platforms, you can connect with a broader market and scale your delivery services. Increased demand during peak hours can enhance your income significantly. Moreover, the low overhead associated with freelance delivery means you can achieve better profit margins. Exploring diverse delivery models also allows for innovation in how you serve your target audience, further driving growth and customer acquisition. Engaging multiple freelancers contributes to business scalability while minimizing risks associated with traditional employment structures. Challenges of Freelance Delivery Freelance delivery presents various challenges that can influence your financial stability as a driver. Understanding these hurdles is essential for managing your freelance operation effectively. Unpredictable Income Freelance delivery jobs often lead to unpredictable income due to fluctuations in earnings. Demand for delivery services varies from day to day, influenced by factors like seasonal changes and client availability. You may face periods of high demand where earnings increase, followed by slow weeks where income drops significantly. This variability complicates budgeting and financial planning. Preparing a flexible business plan that accounts for income fluctuations ensures you remain financially viable during lean times. Managing Expenses Managing expenses effectively is crucial for maintaining your profit margins in freelance delivery. Costs associated with vehicle maintenance, fuel, insurance, and taxes can add up. It’s important to keep meticulous records of all expenses for tax purposes and to analyze your financial health. Incorporating tools or software designed for accounting and budgeting helps track these expenses efficiently. Consider establishing an LLC or sole proprietorship to streamline your business registration and simplify tax management. By planning and controlling your expenses, you can safeguard the profitability of your freelance delivery venture. Popular Platforms for Freelance Delivery Several platforms exist for freelance delivery, offering unique opportunities for small businesses seeking to enhance their logistics and customer service. Understanding these options can help you choose the right fit for your operational needs. Comparison of Major Services Platform Market Control (%) Delivery Methods Requirements DoorDash 65 Car, scooter, motorcycle, bike Valid driver’s license, background check Uber Eats 35 Car, scooter, bike, on foot Valid driver’s license, background check DoorDash, dominating with over 65% market control, provides a wide range of delivery methods including cars, scooters, and bikes. New drivers must possess a valid driver’s license and pass a background check. This platform enhances customer acquisition by allowing you to connect efficiently with local consumers. Uber Eats follows, holding around 35% of the market share. It not only delivers food but also groceries, fitting larger market demands. Similar to DoorDash, Uber Eats requires a valid driver’s license and background check, ensuring a trustworthy service for your customers. User Experience and Support Both DoorDash and Uber Eats prioritize user experience, offering flexible work hours that accommodate your schedule. DoorDash includes features like Fast Pay, allowing drivers to cash out daily, which might appeal to freelancers seeking consistent income. Support services are crucial for maintaining effective operations. DoorDash provides access to its app and website for driver assistance, offering resources and a community forum to address common issues. Similarly, Uber Eats delivers support via its app, facilitating seamless communication between drivers and management. Engaging these platforms can effectively boost your small business’s delivery capabilities while maintaining high customer service standards. Tailoring your choice based on user experience and support can enhance your overall growth strategy. Strategies for Success in Freelance Delivery Freelance delivery requires effective strategies to ensure success in the evolving gig economy. Building a Strong Network Building a strong network is essential for securing consistent work. Connect with local businesses and freelancers to exchange referrals and insights. Join platforms like LinkedIn to enhance your visibility and reach potential clients. Attend industry events and meetups to expand your connections and share your delivery services. Utilize social media to establish relationships with your target audience and foster community engagement. Establishing a reliable network can lead to new business opportunities and partnerships, enhancing your overall growth strategy. Marketing Your Services Marketing your services effectively increases customer acquisition and enhances your brand presence. Create a professional website to showcase your offerings and provide contact information. Use SEO and content marketing to improve online visibility and attract potential customers. Engage in digital marketing through social media and email campaigns to keep your audience informed about your services and promotions. Leverage customer testimonials to build trust and credibility. Consider targeted advertising to reach specific demographics relevant to your niche. A robust marketing strategy directly impacts your ability to attract and retain clients in the competitive freelance delivery landscape. Conclusion Freelance delivery offers a promising avenue for those seeking flexibility and financial independence. As you navigate this dynamic landscape it’s vital to stay informed about market trends and customer needs. Embracing effective marketing strategies and building a strong network can set you apart from the competition. By leveraging platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats you can enhance your service offerings while maintaining high standards of customer satisfaction. Remember that success in freelance delivery relies not only on adaptability but also on a commitment to excellent service and efficient operations. With the right approach you can thrive in this evolving gig economy. Frequently Asked Questions What is freelance delivery? Freelance delivery refers to the process where individuals or gig workers provide delivery services for businesses or customers on a flexible basis. This system allows freelancers to choose their own schedules and workload, typically leveraging platforms like DoorDash or Uber Eats. How can I earn money through freelance delivery? You can earn money by signing up on freelance delivery platforms, choosing jobs that fit your schedule, and completing deliveries. These platforms provide access to a broader market, enhancing your earning potential, especially during peak demand times. What are the benefits of freelance delivery for businesses? Freelance delivery offers businesses cost-effective solutions to manage logistics without hiring full-time staff. It allows for greater flexibility, quick scaling, enhanced customer service, and access to a variety of delivery methods through platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats. What challenges do freelancers face in delivery services? Freelancers may face unpredictable income, making financial planning challenging. They must also manage costs related to vehicle maintenance, fuel, insurance, and taxes to maintain profit margins while ensuring they adhere to delivery service regulations. How can I optimize my freelance delivery business? To optimize your freelance delivery business, focus on building a strong network, using effective marketing strategies, and providing excellent customer service. Regularly updating your business plan to adapt to market trends and fluctuations in demand will also help you thrive. What legal structures should I consider for freelancing? Freelancers can choose between various legal structures, such as sole proprietorships or LLCs. Establishing an LLC can simplify business registration and tax management, providing liability protection as you engage freelance delivery services. How can I market my freelance delivery services? Market your services by creating a professional website and utilizing SEO techniques. Leverage social media platforms, customer testimonials, and community events to increase visibility, attract clients, and enhance your brand presence in the competitive freelance delivery market. Are DoorDash and Uber Eats good platforms for freelancers? Yes, both DoorDash and Uber Eats are excellent platforms for freelancers. They offer high market share, ease of use, and opportunities for increased earnings by connecting you to a wide range of clients. Plus, they provide important support for their drivers. Image Via Envato This article, "Maximize Your Earnings with Freelance Delivery: Strategies for Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For those looking to bet on the continued use of fivers and tenners, options are dwindlingView the full article

Keeping up with Instagram in 2025 feels a bit like running a marathon. There’s always something new, trends move fast, and maintaining consistency can be exhausting. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to tackle it alone — and you certainly don’t have to spend a fortune. The right tools make all the difference. Whether you’re crafting engaging visuals, planning your content calendar, analyzing your data, or boosting engagement, free Instagram tools can save you hours of work every week. Detailed analytics can help in understanding post performance and user engagement. In this article, I’ve rounded up 26 free Instagram tools for creators, marketers, and small businesses. Each featured tool offers genuinely useful free plans or worthwhile free trials. And yes, there are plenty of AI-powered options to streamline your workflow. Ready to elevate your Instagram strategy without breaking the bank? Let’s dive in. Instagram content creation toolsGreat Instagram accounts start with great content, but consistently creating polished posts, reels, or stories can be overwhelming. Thankfully, these free content creation tools take the guesswork (and heavy lifting) out of the process. Whether you’re building on-brand visuals, editing videos, or writing scroll-stopping captions, these tools help you stay consistent and creative — without spending hours or hiring a designer. 💡Bonus tip: The Instagram app also supports shoppable galleries, product tagging, and built-in analytics when you link your profile to a website — making it easier to track what’s driving clicks.CanvaBest for: All-round visual content creation Canva is the go-to visual design platform for creators, small businesses, and marketers — especially if you don’t have a design background. It offers thousands of free Instagram templates across all formats (reels, carousels, stories, you name it), all perfectly sized and ready to go for your Instagram posts. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can quickly customize visuals — no design experience required. Standout free features include: Access to a huge library of graphics, icons, and stock imagesVideo editing capabilities, which work great for reelsPre-made and properly-sized templates for every Instagram formatMagic Studio, the AI-powered feature that can instantly generate eye-catching visuals based on your content idea. If Canva isn’t quite your vibe, or you want some extra options in your creative toolkit, here are two solid alternatives that work well for Instagram visuals: Adobe Express: Formerly known as Adobe Spark, Adobe Express is a content creator’s dream, offering thousands of free templates for social graphics, reels, stories, and more. It’s especially helpful for quick actions like background removal, video trimming, or adding animations. Best for: Seamless integration with the Adobe ecosystem.Unfold: If elegant, cohesive Instagram Stories or carousels are your thing, Unfold delivers hundreds of beautiful designer templates. With its elegant, minimalist templates, it’s loved by creators and brands for visual storytelling. Best for: Curated library of sleek, design-forward templates.CapCutBest for: Desktop and mobile video editing CapCut has become the go-to free video editor for creators who want to craft professional-grade reels and stories. This powerful app (created by Bytedance, who also own TikTok) lets you edit videos directly from your phone, offering cuts, transitions, captions, effects, and filters — all completely free and without watermarks. Standout features include: Full-featured mobile video editor with 4K exportBuilt-in templates, transitions, filters, and effectsAuto-captions, AI background removal, and trending soundsNo watermarks on exportsSimilar to CapCut, here are some other editors you might consider: VN: A slightly more advanced mobile editor, VN gives you a pro-level timeline interface and custom keyframes — without being overwhelming. Best for: Creators who want more creative control without springing for desktop software.Veed: A browser-based video editor that’s great for teams or creators working on desktop. Veed offers one-click subtitles, screen recordings, and templates for Instagram posts. Best for: Captioning videos quickly, editing on desktop, or repurposing long-form content into short clips.InShot: InShot is a mobile editing classic — perfect for trimming clips, adding music, filters, or text overlays. It’s simple but powerful, especially for on-the-go edits. Best for: Quick cuts, montages, and reels with minimal fuss.Dupe PhotosBest for: Aesthetic stock images If you want scroll-stopping images that don’t look like typical stock photos, Dupe is a fresh, creator-friendly alternative. It offers curated, high-quality imagery for modern brands and aesthetic feeds — all free to use, no attribution required. With a focus on lifestyle, fashion, tech, and minimalist content, Dupe’s library feels more like a creative studio than a traditional stock site. Perfect for filling gaps in your content calendar or leveling up your visuals if you don’t have access to a good camera. Standout free features: Curated library of trendy, editorial-style photosCategories designed for content creators (think: flat lays, tech, workspace, fashion)No login required, completely free to useSimilar to Dupe, here are some stock photo websites to check out: Unsplash: A classic for a reason. Unsplash offers over 3 million high-resolution images contributed by photographers worldwide. It’s a go-to for everything from nature shots to editorial-style portraits — and the search functionality is top-tier.Pexels: Pexels is ideal if you’re after vibrant, dynamic photos and videos. The collection leans modern and multicultural, and it includes both horizontal and vertical formats — perfect for Instagram Stories or carousels.💡Pro tip: You can access stock images within Canva as well.Grammarly's Instagram Caption GeneratorStuck writing engaging captions? Just describe your post and choose a tone (like witty, confident, or friendly), and Grammarly's free hashtag generator will suggest multiple caption options you can tweak or copy as-is. Standout features include: Multiple AI-generated captions per promptCustomize tone, intent, and post typeNo login required to generate ideasSome other free caption generators to try: Copy.ai: Copy.ai’s social media caption tool helps you create short, catchy captions based on your product, post theme, or content goal. You can also choose a tone (like bold, friendly, professional), making it easy to tailor content for different audiences. Best for: Caption ideas with a clear CTA or marketing anglePredis: Predis is an AI social media assistant that auto-generates post captions and visuals from a single prompt. While the full tool is more robust, its free caption generator is worth trying if you want short-form ideas with emojis, hashtags, and brand alignment. Best for: AI-generated posts that include visuals, captions, and hashtags togetherNext up, let's simplify your posting schedule with some powerful (and free!) scheduling tools. Instagram scheduling toolsConsistency is crucial for Instagram growth, but posting daily (or even weekly) can feel impossible without a system. Thankfully, Instagram scheduling tools exist to simplify your workflow, help you visualize your feed, and ensure your posts reach your audience at exactly the right time. Here are the best free tools to plan and schedule your Instagram posts effortlessly. BufferBuffer is a go-to scheduler loved by creators and small businesses for its intuitive interface. Its generous free plan lets you schedule up to 10 posts per Instagram profile, allowing you to pre-plan your content weeks in advance. Plus, you can save hashtag groups and even schedule first comments to keep your captions tidy. Standout features include: Connect multiple accounts — up to three Instagram accounts if that’s what you needVisual content calendar with drag-and-drop editingPreview and arrange your Instagram grid visuallyFirst comment scheduling and hashtag management includedIf you're already working within the Meta ecosystem, try Meta Creator Studio (now part of Meta Business Suite). Meta’s official scheduler lets you plan Instagram posts, reels, carousels, and stories — with the peace of mind that comes from using a native tool. It’s ad-free and fully integrated with your Business or Creator account to post right to your Instagram feed. Best for: Those who want direct-to-Instagram scheduling and built-in analytics — no third-party apps needed. Next, let’s dive into tools that unlock valuable insights — making data-driven growth simpler than ever. Instagram analytics toolsGreat content is only half the story — real growth comes from knowing what actually works. And while instinct can be a great tool, data-driven decisions make your Instagram strategy even stronger. That’s where Instagram analytics tools come in. Instead of guessing which posts your audience loves or when they’re most active, these tools give you data-driven clarity. Whether you're checking performance, refining your content strategy, or analyzing what your competitors are up to, free analytics tools can help you grow faster — and smarter. Instagram’s native insightsInstagram’s built-in analytics tool is the first place to start. If you have a Creator or Business account, you automatically get access to Instagram insights, which shows you all the essential data — from post reach and follower demographics to your most engaging content. It’s built right into the app, easy to access, and surprisingly useful for identifying what’s working (and what’s not). Standout free features: Track reach, impressions, and profile activitySee your top-performing Instagram posts across reels, carousels and storiesUnderstand follower growth and audience demographicsNo setup or third-party access requiredIf you want an Instagram analytics tool that is built into a tool you use regularly, try out Buffer’s analytics. Buffer is the best Instagram analytics tool for people who need a one-stop shop for all the work that goes into social media. It’s a social media management platform, so not only does it give you detailed analytics about your Instagram account, but also helps you with the whole process of social media management. Next, let’s dive into audience research and hashtag discovery — essential for reaching exactly the right people. Audience research and hashtag toolsAudience research and hashtag tools can help you understand who your followers are, what topics they care about, and how to surface your content through the right keywords, tags, and trends. These tools take the guesswork out of reach and discovery — so you’re not just creating great posts, but making sure the right people see them. SparkToroSparkToro is like having a crystal ball for understanding your audience. Just enter a keyword, topic, or Instagram handle, and SparkToro tells you what your audience reads, follows, listens to, and talks about. You can use that insight to find creators to collaborate with, hashtags to include, or even content angles your audience is already engaging with elsewhere. Standout free features: 5 free searches per monthDiscover what your audience watches, reads, and followsIdentify niche hashtags and adjacent creators for collabsIf you're looking for even more audience insight or competitor data, try Social Blade. Social Blade shows you follower growth trends, engagement stats, and performance data for any public Instagram account. It’s great for tracking what’s working for competitors or influencers in your niche. Best for: Benchmarking your growth and spying on competitor performance Buffer’s Free Hashtag GeneratorIf you want a quick, AI-powered way to generate Instagram hashtags based on your content, Buffer’s free hashtag generator is a great place to start. Just describe your post in a few words — like “Sunday beach yoga” or “remote work tips” — and it’ll instantly generate relevant hashtags tailored to your niche and audience. Standout free features: No login required — generate hashtags in secondsCurates hashtags based on post description or keywordsBuilt to suggest relevant, non-spammy tags that boost discoverabilityUnlock unlimited daily uses with a free Buffer accountIt’s a solid option for creators, marketers, or small businesses who want to post consistently without overthinking their hashtag strategy. If you're already using Buffer for scheduling, it's even easier to plug these hashtags directly into your content workflow. If you'd like to explore other tools, check out our article on the 7 Best Free Hashtag Generators in 2025. Next, we’ll explore tools that help you boost engagement and manage your growing community. Engagement and community management toolsGrowing your audience on Instagram isn’t just about what you post — it’s about how you connect. Engagement tools help you interact with followers at scale, without sacrificing that personal touch. Whether you’re running giveaways, managing DMs, or responding to comments, these free tools make it easier to build real relationships — and turn casual followers into loyal fans or customers. ManyChat (Instagram DM Automation)As your account grows, keeping up with DMs and comments gets harder. ManyChat lets you automate responses in your Instagram inbox — like sending a welcome DM when someone comments a keyword, or instantly delivering a freebie link. It’s perfect for lead generation and community building. Standout features include: DM automation based on comments or keywordsCreate flows for FAQs, freebie delivery, or lead captureUp to 1,000 contacts on the free planIf you don’t need full automation, Instagram’s built-in Quick Replies feature lets you create shortcuts for frequent responses in DMs. It’s best for manual but efficient DM replies for small accounts. CommentGuardAs your account grows, managing comments becomes just as overwhelming as managing DMs. CommentGuard automatically hides spam, filters out toxic replies, and even flags potential customer inquiries — giving creators and brands more control without having to manually moderate every thread. Standout features include: Auto-moderate comment sections (filter spam, block keywords)Real-time comment alerts for brand mentionsIntegrates with Instagram Business accountsBest for: Creators and businesses with growing comment volume or dealing with trolls/spam Up next, some tools that help you make the most of your Instagram bio link — your one shot to direct traffic where it matters most. Link-in-bio and microsite toolsInstagram now lets you add up to five links in your profile, but they can still look cluttered, disjointed, and hard to navigate. That’s where link-in-bio tools shine. They turn those links into a well-designed microsite or content hub that’s easy to update, brand, and organize. Whether you’re promoting your newsletter, online store, or newest blog post, these tools help guide your audience to exactly the right place — without overwhelming them. Buffer Start PageStart Page is Buffer’s clean, customizable, and 100% free solution to the link-in-bio problem. You can build a mobile-optimized page in minutes — complete with your branding, unlimited links, social embeds, and even email signup blocks. If you don’t have a full website yet, Start Page is a great way to establish a professional online presence in just a few clicks. Standout free features: Unlimited links, sections, and custom layoutsAdd media like videos, podcast embeds, or product previewsEmail signup blocks to grow your listFast, responsive design (no code required)Some other tools you can try include: Linktree: The OG link-in-bio tool, Linktree is simple, reliable, and used by millions of creators. Even on the free plan, you can add unlimited links, pick a theme, and view basic analytics on click performance. If you want a no-fuss solution, this one’s solid.Beacons: Beacons takes the microsite further with built-in monetization. You can collect payments, sell digital products, or add donation links — all on a sleek, mobile-friendly microsite. It’s great for creators who want to turn traffic into income, but note that it’s not available globally.Next, let’s look at tools that help you discover collaborators and curate user-generated content to expand your reach even further. Pick one or two tools to get startedWith so many great free tools available, it’s tempting to try everything at once. But the real magic happens when you choose the right tool for the right task — based on your goals, content style, and available time. Start small, stay consistent, and build a toolkit that works for you. Here’s how to ease into it: Pick one tool per category to start with: Instead of testing every option, choose just one tool in each category that feels intuitive. For example: Buffer for scheduling, CapCut for video editing, and SparkToro for audience insights.Create a simple toolkit you can return to: Store your favorite tools in a folder on your phone or computer, or document them in a Notion page or Google Doc — especially the ones you’ll use across different tasks. It’ll save you time and reduce decision fatigue later.Don’t underestimate free: A lot of these tools offer functionality that used to be locked behind paid plans — now powered by AI and packaged in user-friendly apps. Before committing to new subscriptions, try their free tiers. You might be surprised by how far they’ll take you.Whether you’re posting once a week or aiming for daily content, the right tools can take the pressure off and bring creativity back into your process. Ready to level up your Instagram strategy? Start with just one tool from this list — and watch what happens. View the full article

With 100 days back in office, it’s fair to say that President The President is leaving his mark. That hasn’t necessarily been a positive thing for the media or journalism, however, as the The President administration’s second iteration has been even more hostile to the press than the first, and it has many experts alarmed. Examples are myriad, and include (but aren’t limited to): The President banned Associated Press reporters from White House news conferences for refusing to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Lawsuits have been filed against ABC News and CBS, among others, with some having settled. The President’s Federal Communications Commission has threatened or initiated investigations into broadcasters. The administration reportedly wants to cut funding for NPR and PBS. The administration has tried to shut down Voice of America. And while presidential administrations often spar with members of the media—Richard Nixon, perhaps most notably, was also hostile to the press—the The President administration is taking this hostility to whole new levels, media industry experts argue. “What stands out to me is that this is a concerted, multipronged campaign against ethical journalists and the independent press,” says Caroline Hendrie, executive director of the Society of Professional Journalists. “We’re looking at this as a strategy of a death by a thousand cuts—take it all together, and we’re seeing an assault on transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to know.” The goal, Hendrie says, is fairly simple: Boost The President’s agenda and slap down any voice that pushes back against it. “They want to delegitimize anyone who contradicts his narrative or the narrative of the administration,” she says. Using the levers of government to not only influence coverage but also punish news outlets raises “more than red flags,” Hendrie adds. “It’s raising very legitimate alarms that our First Amendment free press rights are in danger in this country.” Part of a broader attack on expertise Gabriel Kahn, professor of professional practice of journalism at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Journalism, says attacks on the press coming from a sitting administration have “never been so blatant or severe, at least over the past 80 years.” However, Kahn says it’s important to think of the attack on the press as only one part of the issue. “You need to see the attacks on journalism and science and higher education as a part of the same piece,” he says. “It’s an attack on expertise, on independent thought.” He adds that many news organizations haven’t done themselves any favors in how they’ve responded to the administration’s treatment. Specifically, he cites some newspapers’ reluctance (or refusal) to endorse a presidential candidate during the 2024 election, the reining in of opinion writers, and the censoring of news stories to curry favor with the The President team. According to Kahn, “obeying in advance” and “kowtowing to the administration,” which is also happening at major universities and big law firms, risks doing more harm than good for media outlets. “Major corporate journalism interests have chosen the illusion of some sort of short-term relief over the long-term damage they’re doing to their brands,” he says. If there’s anything good that’s come out of The President’s treatment of the press, Kahn says, it’s that it has “highlighted how fragile the free press is. We’ve taken so much for granted for so long. [The administration has] demonstrated to the American people how important it is to have a free, independent press.” View the full article