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Office for Budget Responsibility warns a global trade war risks eliminating UK chancellor’s fiscal headroom View the full article

In mountain ranges around the world, glaciers are melting as global temperatures rise. Europe’s Alps and Pyrenees lost 40% of their glacier volume from 2000 to 2023. These and other icy regions have provided freshwater for people living downstream for centuries—almost 2 billion people rely on glaciers today. But as glaciers melt faster, they also pose potentially lethal risks. Water from the melting ice often drains into depressions once occupied by the glacier, creating large lakes. Many of these expanding lakes are held in place by precarious ice dams or rock moraines deposited by the glacier over centuries. Too much water behind these dams or a landslide into the lake can break the dam, sending huge volumes of water and debris sweeping down the mountain valleys, wiping out everything in the way. Today, over 10 million people across the world are vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods. In High Mountain Asia alone, these flooding hazards are projected to triple by 2100, especially with continued high emissions. 📸⬇️ Read full @Nature paper: https://t.co/PsXcyH2jFC pic.twitter.com/RgZ44VF6v4 — International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (@ICCInet) May 30, 2024 These risks and the loss of freshwater supplies are some of the reasons the United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and March 21 the first World Day for Glaciers. As an earth scientist and a mountain geographer, we study the impact that ice loss can have on the stability of the surrounding mountain slopes and glacial lakes. We see several reasons for increasing concern. Erupting ice dams and landslides Most glacial lakes began forming over a century ago as a result of warming trends since the 1860s, but their abundance and rates of growth have risen rapidly since the 1960s. Many people living in the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Rocky Mountains, Iceland, and Alaska have experienced glacial lake outburst floods of one type or another. A glacial lake outburst flood in the Himalayas in October 2023 damaged more than 30 bridges and destroyed a 200-foot-high hydropower plant. Residents had little warning. By the time the disaster was over, more than 50 people had died. Juneau, Alaska, has been hit by several flash floods in recent years from a glacial lake dammed by ice on an arm of Mendenhall Glacier. Those floods, including in 2024, were driven by a melting glacier that slowly filled a basin below it until the basin’s ice dam broke. Avalanches, rockfalls and slope failures can also trigger glacial lake outburst floods. These are growing more common as frozen ground known as permafrost thaws, robbing mountain landscapes of the cryospheric glue that formerly held them together. These slides can create massive waves when they plummet into a lake. The waves can then rupture the ice dam or moraine, unleashing a flood of water, sediment, and debris. That dangerous mix can rush downstream at speeds of 20 to 60 mph, destroying homes and anything else in its path. The casualties of such an event can be staggering. In 1941, a huge wave caused by a snow and ice avalanche that fell into Laguna Palcacocha, a glacial lake in the Peruvian Andes, overtopped the moraine dam that had contained the lake for decades. The resulting flood destroyed one-third of the downstream city of Huaraz and killed between 1,800 and 5,000 people. Teardrop-shaped Lake Palcacocha, shown in this satellite view, has expanded in recent decades. The city of Huaraz, Peru, is just down the valley to the right of the lake. [Image: Google Earth, data from Airbus Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCO] In the years since, the danger there has only increased. Laguna Palcacocha has grown to more than 14 times its size in 1941. At the same time, the population of Huaraz has risen to more than 120,000 inhabitants. A glacial lake outburst flood today could threaten the lives of an estimated 35,000 people living in the water’s path. Governments have responded to this widespread and growing threat by developing early warning systems and programs to identify potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Some governments have taken steps to lower water levels in the lakes or built flood diversion structures, such as walls of rock-filled wire cages, known as gabions, that divert floodwaters from villages, infrastructure, or agricultural fields. Where the risks can’t be managed, communities have been encouraged to use zoning that prohibits building in flood-prone areas. Public education has helped build awareness of the flood risk, but the disasters continue. Flooding from inside and thawing permafrost The dramatic nature of glacial lake outburst floods captures headlines, but those aren’t the only risks. As scientists expand their understanding of how the world’s icy regions interact with global warming, they are identifying a number of other phenomena that can lead to similarly disastrous events. Englacial conduit floods, for instance, originate inside of glaciers, commonly those on steep slopes. Meltwater can collect inside massive systems of ice caves, or conduits. A sudden surge of water from one cave to another, perhaps triggered by the rapid drainage of a surface pond, can set off a chain reaction that bursts out of the ice as a full-fledged flood. Thawing mountain permafrost can also trigger floods. This permanently frozen mass of rock, ice and soil has been a fixture at altitudes above 19,685 feet for millennia. Freezing helps keep mountains together. But as permafrost thaws, even solid rock becomes less stable and is more prone to breaking, while ice and debris are more likely to become detached and turn into destructive and dangerous debris flows. Thawing permafrost has been increasingly implicated in glacial lake outburst floods because of these new sources of potential triggers. In 2017, nearly a third of the solid rock face of Nepal’s 20,935-foot Saldim Peak collapsed and fell onto the Langmale glacier below. Heat generated by the friction of rock falling through air melted ice, creating a slurry of rock, debris, and sediment that plummeted into Langmale glacial lake below, resulting in a massive flood. A glacial outburst flood in Barun Valley started when nearly one-third of the face of Saldim Peak in Nepal fell onto Langmale Glacier and slid into a lake. The top image shows the mountain in 2016. The lower shows the same view in 2017. [Figures: Elizabeth Byers (2016)/Alton Byers (2017)] These and other forms of glacier-related floods and hazards are being exacerbated by climate change. Flows of ice and debris from high altitudes and the sudden appearance of meltwater ponds on a glacier’s surface are two more examples. Earthquakes can also trigger glacial lake outburst floods. Not only have thousands of lives been lost, but billions of dollars in hydropower facilities and other structures have also been destroyed. A reminder of what’s at risk The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and World Day for Glaciers are reminders of the risks and also of who is in harm’s way. The global population depends on the cryosphere—the 10% of the Earth’s land surface that’s covered in ice. But as more glacial lakes form and expand, floods and other risks are rising. A study published in 2024 counted more than 110,000 glacial lakes around the world and determined 10 million people’s lives and homes are at risk from glacial lake outburst floods. The U.N. is encouraging more research into these regions. It also declared 2025 to 2034 the “decade of action in cryospheric sciences.” Scientists on several continents will be working to understand the risks and find ways to help communities respond to and mitigate the dangers. Suzanne OConnell is a Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth science at Wesleyan University. Alton C. Byers is a faculty research scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

A guide for the original bamboo railway in Battambang and the new bamboo tourist train in Banon. The bamboo railway in Battambang is a lightweight trolley (known as a norry) that was originally used to transport goods and passengers along the old railway. This makeshift trolley railway served a functional purpose when there was no rail service. The railway became a popular tourist attraction, and trolley rides were set up specifically for tourists. I visited the railway in 2016 after hearing that the bamboo railway would be closed down once the line was rehabilitated. I wrote a review of the bamboo railway before the line was rebuilt, which explains some of the history of the line. The plan was to move the norry railway to a new site once the Northern Line reopened. This didn’t make sense to me at the time, because why would they build a railway specifically for joyriding on bamboo trolleys? The Northern Line has since been renovated and there is now a passenger train between Phnom Penh and Battambang, but the original bamboo railway continues to operate. There is also a new bamboo railway at another site. I visited both of the bamboo railways, and here is what to expect. Map of the two bamboo railways in Battambang Province Map of the old and new bamboo railway locations in Battambang. [Map of bamboo railways in Battambang Province.] The original Battambang Bamboo Railway The original bamboo railway operates on a section of railway about 5 km from the city centre of Battambang. You can use Grab to get a tuk-tuk there, or arrange a tuk-tuk via your hotel. It costs $10 to take a trolley by yourself, or you can wait for other people and pay $5 for a shared trolley. I didn’t have to wait long for some other people to arrive, so I shared a trolley ride. The norries are a simple set up, with a bamboo platform on a steel frame, and a little engine that is easily removed. My first trip on the bamboo railway was in the dry season, so it was hot and dusty. I was here at the start of the dry season, so the countryside was still lush and green. The most noticeable change since my last visit was the new tracks. The line has been rebuilt with new sleepers and track ballast, and the tracks are visibly straight. Here is what the track looked like in 2016. [Section of railway near Battambang before it was renovated.] This is now a live track, but there is only one passenger train per day that arrives in the afternoon. There are also freight trains, so I’m not sure if they are forewarned of freight train schedules, or if they just pay attention to what is ahead of them. The trolleys stop at a tourist shop next to rice fields. You are invited to look in the shop while the trolleys are repositioned. Most of the tourists seemed to be foreigners. I shared a trolley with a British couple, and on the other trolleys there was a Singaporean couple and some Americans. Banon Bamboo Train The Banon Bamboo Train is the new Battambang bamboo railway, though it’s not in Battambang City and it’s not really a railway. The Banon Bamboo Train is an amusement ride in a leisure park. The park is next to Wat Banan, 21 km from Battambang City. The “train” at Banon Bamboo Train is how you get to the main area of the park. Tickets cost 17,000 KHR ($4.25 USD) for locals and $7.25 USD for foreigners. There is a queue for the trolleys that resembles a queue for a rollercoaster ride. I was by myself, so they put me on my own trolley. The trolleys are operated similar to the original trolleys, with a driver at the back running the engine. These trolleys have seats though. I was surprised with how busy it was. We passed several full trolleys on the way to the park, and everyone waved and yelled out hello as we passed. The track length is about 3 km, and it ends at a terminal at the leisure garden. The station at the end has a turntable for the trolleys, so no need to disassemble the trolleys for the return journey. The park entrance has a shopping area with some random Marvel characters. The garden is a nice place to walk around, and there are plenty of selfie props scattered throughout. I enjoyed the weird and wonderful animal statues in the gardens. I was the only foreigner there, and it seemed more like a place where locals go for a fun lunch trip on the weekend. An unintended benefit of this excursion was I got to visit Wat Banan. When I was negotiating with the tuktuk driver my itinerary, I pointed to the Banon Bamboo Train on the map. He took me to Wat Banan instead, probably because that is what most foreigners visit. Wat Banan has some interesting ruins on top of an incredibly steep hilltop. Which bamboo railway to visit The bamboo railway that runs on the actual railway is the one of most interest to foreigners. While the Banon Bamboo Train is not for my taste, I don’t mind it as a concept. I like that the Banon train pays homage to the bamboo railway without replicating it. The park was filled with locals who were having a day out with friends in a pleasant environment. When the original bamboo railway was supposed to shut down, I thought that was a good thing. Like Hanoi Train Street, the bamboo railway feels like foreigners celebrating dilapidated infrastructure. As I said in my original review, I would prefer to see a functioning passenger train that runs between Battambang and Phnom Penh. Read more about railways in Cambodia and train travel in Southeast Asia. View the full article

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If you were given $100 and five minutes in a bookstore, which titles would you pick? That’s the premise of Simon & Schuster’s upcoming web series, Bookstore Blitz—the publisher’s latest internet-inspired effort to market its authors. And Bookstore Blitz is just the beginning. In a recent interview with The Cut’s Cat Zhang, the flagship imprint’s new publisher, Sean Manning, shared his plans to modernize Simon & Schuster into a media powerhouse. Other series in the works include an awards show–style interview program called Read Carpet. “We’re essentially an entertainment company with books at the center. Every Tuesday, we have a new author who’s a cultural tastemaker,” Manning said. “Why aren’t we using them? Why are we so dependent on outside media?” There’s a well-documented appetite for book-related content online. TikTok’s book community was responsible for approximately 59 million print book sales in 2024, catapulting previously unknown authors into household names. BookTok’s older, less zany cousin, BookTube, has also long been used to promote new publications and offer free marketing to authors big and small. Many of the top-selling fiction writers in the U.S. today—including Colleen Hoover, Sarah J. Maas, and Rebecca Yarros—owe their success in part to going viral on TikTok. A single video in the app’s sensationalized style often outperforms traditional advertising, sending authors straight to the top of bestseller lists. BookTok’s runaway success has forced publishers into the 21st century, pushing them to grow their presence on other social platforms, especially Instagram and Threads. Manning believes his biggest competition is no longer other publishers—it’s social media. Inspired by brands like Vice, which built a following through YouTube documentaries, and The New Yorker with its podcasts and annual festival, Manning told The Cut he envisions cultivating A24-style brand loyalty—for books. As for Bookstore Blitz, Manning has big ambitions: “My hope is that inevitably the series could be a promotional stop like Chicken Shop Date or Hot Ones.” View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employee isn’t clearing decisions with me and argued with me at a staff meeting I am the executive director of a nonprofit, without any formal management training. I raised $1.5 million last year and we now have some new staff people, including a male technical expert who makes more money than I do (but reports to me). Today he got excited about attending a trade expo that I had previously considered and didn’t assign anyone to go to, because the demographics are on the young side for our program, so it’s not a top priority. My employee got invited by a buddy of his in the industry, announced he was going, and invited two other coworkers to go with him, without ever running it by me first. He did this on a Teams chat. Which I interrupted by saying I wasn’t planning to send anyone to this event. And when he argued on the chat, I said I’d like to speak with him directly. I need to calm down and figure out what to say before I talk with him. My main thought is to ask to help me understand what his thinking is and why it seems so important for him to go, and then to ask what kind of return we might expect on that investment of his time. He just went last week to a conference that we had to pay $500 for, so he could network with employer partners. However, coming back, he said he didn’t really talk with anyone. Except one person, who is the same person who invited him to this next event. I could use some help thinking about how to hold him accountable, without being seen through the lens of sexism as a complete bitch. Well, first, get the worry about being seen as a bitch out of your thinking as much as possible. It is a real thing for women in positions of power, but you will be a lot more effective if you don’t let that fear constrain you. Care about your relationships with people, of course, because that’s part of being an effective leader, but you can’t let that prevent you from having direct conversations with people. (And frankly, some people are primed to see women exercising authority as bitches no matter what you do, so you might as well just carry on with your job and get things done. Let the people who have a problem with that self-identify.) As for this conversation: go into it open to the possibility that he just didn’t know how this works in your organization, since in previous jobs he may have had the authority to decide what events he was going to attend, could invite others, etc. Explain to him how it works in your org and for his job — that you want to talk through potential events before he signs up, and you should both be assessing them through a lens of the likely return on investment. Share your reasons for being skeptical about this one, ask for his perspective, and then go from there. You can also explicitly say that since he came back from the last one reporting he hadn’t spoken to anyone, you want to get better aligned about the goals for these events and what he’ll achieve there. I think right now you’re approaching this as a challenge to your authority, but you’ll have better results if you approach it — at least initially — as just needing to get better aligned. The process of doing that will make your authority inherent without you needing to spell it out (and if that turns out not to be the case, it’ll highlight that there’s a bigger problem you need to address). 2. Manager is asking to see all the candidates for open jobs, but it’s my job to screen them I work in HR as the recruiter for my small company. Recently, a director of a department has been asking to see the candidates before I process them. He has done this in two different times. I talked with my boss, and he never did it when my boss was in my current position. I don’t know what I should do. Recently he demanded to see all the candidates for another position. I let him see them all but I feel that I am encouraging the behavior to continue. I want him to feel that I can do my job but I also want to put up a boundary because I work in HR, meaning I am dealing with sensitive information he isn’t allowed to see. What are your thoughts? I’m on his side! Managers should be able to see all the candidates for any position on their team if they ask to; in fact, I’d encourage them to do that at least occasionally, because it’s a way to spot-check that they’re well aligned with whoever is doing the screening. It’s a way for you both to find out, for example, that you’re screening out people for lacking X when the hiring manager doesn’t actually care that much about X, especially when someone has Y, or all sorts of other things. You should want managers involved in this way, because it will help you refine your process; they will typically understand the nuance of what will make someone successful in the role in a way that someone outside their team won’t, so having their involvement is a good thing. There’s no sensitive information in applications that managers can’t be permitted to see. (I wonder if you mean answers to EEOC demographic questions, but those are required by law to be kept separate from applications anyway.) That said, the fact that he’s asking to do this when he didn’t ask it of your predecessor likely means something. It could simply be that you’re new to the position and so he wants to be more involved until he’s confident you know how to screen well for roles on his team (totally reasonable if so). Or he could be concerned about the candidates you’ve been sending and so he’s gathering more info (also reasonable, but also something he should be up-front with you about). Or it could be something else — but start by assuming it’s a reasonable request. You can always ask him if there’s anything about way you’re screening for his jobs that concerns him. 3. Employees want to give me baby gifts, but I don’t want them I’m currently pregnant with my second baby. My first was also born while I was working at this same company, but in the four years since he was born, I have moved up the ranks from an individual contributor to a director with 10 direct reports. Our company is also mostly remote — three of my team are hybrid in an office, but the rest of the team, including me, are remote. When I was pregnant with my first, my boss at the time organized a virtual baby shower, which was nice, and two of my very close colleagues and my boss sent me nice (and unexpected) gifts. This time around, I’ve had two of my direct reports specifically ask me for links to my baby registry, address, etc., as they want to give gifts. However, I do not want them to give gifts — especially after reading AMA for years, I know gifting up is a big no-no, especially since I know how much they all make and I don’t want them spending their hard earned money on me! The most I’d accept would be a card, but I know if I give anyone my address, they will start sending gifts, even if I make it clear I don’t want any. As a result, I feel like I can’t even share my address with my team. I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but I need to find the right words to say, “I appreciate the thought, but please don’t.” “It’s so kind of you to ask, but we are swimming in baby stuff from the first one, and just your well wishes are all I want!” If you didn’t already have the first baby to lean on, you could use a slightly different formulation: “It’s so kind of you to ask, but my family went a little crazy and we already have more baby stuff than we need” or so forth. Also, if your team has done virtual showers for other new babies, check in with whoever tends to organize those and make sure they know you don’t want one. 4. Can my salaried husband be switched to hourly pay? My husband, “Bob,” has worked for many years for a very small company that provides a professional service to clients where the client is billed based on the hours of work provided, and there can be very busy crunch periods depending on the needs of the clients (think consulting). Bob’s job involves some billable work and some internal work for the company that can’t be directly billed to clients. All the work he does is highly skilled and requires specialized knowledge. Up until recently, Bob has been paid a fixed salary. During crunch periods when there’s a deadline for a client, he can work very long hours, but during slow periods it can sometimes be a struggle to find enough work to do. The company has not been bringing in as much business lately, leading the owner (his boss) to feel some financial stress. As a result, he’s asked Bob to move to an hourly pay structure. He wants him to “aim for” 30 hours a week, but the hours would be totally dependent on the amount of client work available for him. His boss is willing to guarantee him a minimum of 20 hours a week (as in, if there is zero client work, he can do up to 20 hours a week of non-client work), but beyond that, his workload is totally dependent on how much client work is available. If they are in a crunch period, he would still be expected to work as much as needed (and would be paid time and a half for overtime). Bob does not love this set-up. He would actually be fine working a 30-hour a week schedule for three-fourths of his prior salary, but the system his boss has proposed puts him in a position where he never knows how much he will need to work in a given week, plus he is still expected to be responsive to clients whenever they reach out (typically multiple times a week) and be available for meetings as needed, so he can’t plan for his time off. Is this legal? And what is his best path for pushing back on this change? Yes, it’s legal. It sounds like he’s changing Bob to a non-exempt status, where he’s paid by the hour (with a minimum of 30 hours guaranteed) and will earn overtime for anything over 40 hours in a week. If the boss weren’t offering the overtime pay, it would be illegal but since he is, it’s all by the book. It sounds like the crux of the problem is that Bob is expected to maintain total availability each week, while potentially only being paid for 30 hours. If I were in Bob’s shoes, I’d look at how much overtime he’s likely to earn — if it’s enough that it roughly works out to what he was making previously, this might work out fine. In that case, one way to look at it is that he’s basically just getting more unscheduled time off. But if the overtime won’t be enough to make up for the pay cut, he can try pointing out that he’s being asked to hold complete availability from week to week without getting paid for it, and see if they can negotiate around that. If the company just isn’t bringing in the same revenue anymore, there might not be any room to negotiate and Bob may have to decide if he wants to stay under these new conditions or leave. But it’s reasonable to open a discussion about it. 5. How can I find out more about a job when the interview process is really short? I’m a recently (illegally) fired federal employee, and some state and local governments have been doing amazing and much appreciated work to try to recruit federal employees, including job fairs and expedited hiring processes. I recently had an interview with an agency for a job that I became connected to through a job fair that sounds like a potentially good fit, but the interview was very short and left almost no time for my questions. Apparently the next stage in the process is to extend an offer. I’ve never had such a short job application process and am wondering what the best move is to get more information to consider whether I would accept it if I were offered it. I’m used to having multiple interviews and opportunities to talk with staff/colleagues during the process. I was going to ask the HR person if I could set up additional time to chat with the hiring manager, but do I do so after I get the offer when I have more leverage? I’ve also separately been trying to find some potential colleagues through my networks to get a sense of the job but so far have not been successful. I appreciate any thoughts you have about the best way to approach this! Yes, wait until you have an offer and at that point you can say, “Would it be possible for me to set up a call with the hiring manager before accepting? I have some questions about the role that I didn’t have a chance to ask at my interview.” View the full article

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most critical aspects of digital marketing, and it continues to evolve each year. For small businesses, keeping up with these changes is essential to maintaining online visibility, attracting new customers, and staying ahead of the competition. In 2025, SEO is more dynamic than ever, with AI-driven search results, voice search optimization, user experience (UX) enhancements, and evolving Google algorithms shaping the digital landscape. If you run a small business, understanding and implementing the latest SEO strategies can significantly impact your online growth. This article will explore what your small business needs to know about SEO in 2025, covering key trends, best practices, and actionable steps to stay ahead. 1. SEO Tools and Automation: The Future of Optimization Leveraging SEO tools can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy. The best SEO tools in 2025 include: Google Search Console & Google Analytics for performance monitoring. SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz for competitive analysis and insights. SEO HERO for comprehensive SEO optimization, including on-page analysis, keyword research, and backlink tracking. SurferSEO & Clearscope for content optimization. SEO automation is becoming essential for businesses looking to scale their online presence. AI-powered tools can now handle keyword research, technical audits, and even content suggestions, allowing businesses to focus on strategy and execution rather than manual SEO tasks. By leveraging these tools, small businesses can optimize their search presence more efficiently, track performance in real-time, and stay ahead of competitors with data-driven insights. 2. AI and Machine Learning are Shaping Search Results Google’s search algorithm has been using AI and machine learning for years, but in 2025, it’s more advanced than ever. AI-driven updates like Google’s Multitask Unified Model (MUM) and Bard AI have made search results more intuitive, prioritizing content that provides accurate, contextual, and human-like responses. What This Means for Small Businesses: Content Must Be Intent-Driven: AI understands user intent better than ever, so creating content that directly answers customer queries is essential. Semantic SEO Matters: Google no longer relies solely on keywords; it analyzes the entire context of a page to understand its meaning. Structured Data is Key: AI prioritizes well-structured content, so using schema markup can help search engines better understand your content. Actionable Tip: Optimize for topic clusters rather than just individual keywords. Create comprehensive, authoritative content that covers a subject in-depth. 3. Voice Search is More Relevant Than Ever With the rise of smart devices like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa, more users are searching hands-free. In fact, experts predict that by 2025, nearly 50% of all searches will be voice-based. Unlike traditional searches, voice queries are often longer and conversational. What This Means for Small Businesses: Conversational Keywords Work Best: Optimize for natural-sounding, long-tail keywords that match how people speak. Local SEO is Crucial: Many voice searches are location-based (e.g., “best coffee shop near me”). Ensuring your business is optimized for local search is essential. FAQ Pages Improve Visibility: Since voice searches are often question-based, having an FAQ section that answers common questions can boost rankings. Actionable Tip: Use Google My Business (GMB) to ensure your small business appears in local searches, and optimize for phrases like “Where can I find [your service] near me?” 4. Mobile-First Indexing is No Longer Optional Google now ranks websites based on their mobile version rather than the desktop version. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile devices, you risk lower rankings. With over 60% of searches now conducted on mobile, Google prioritizes fast-loading, mobile-friendly websites in search results. What This Means for Small Businesses: Mobile-Friendly Design is a Must: Your website should have a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. Fast Page Speed Matters: A slow website can drive visitors away and hurt your rankings. User Experience (UX) is a Ranking Factor: Websites with poor navigation, difficult-to-read text, or intrusive pop-ups will be penalized. Actionable Tip: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your website meets mobile SEO standards. 5. Zero-Click Searches are Growing A zero-click search happens when users find answers directly on Google without clicking on a website. Featured Snippets, People Also Ask (PAA) sections, and Local Packs often provide immediate answers. While this reduces organic traffic, it presents an opportunity for small businesses to appear at the top of search results. What This Means for Small Businesses: Optimize for Featured Snippets: These are highlighted answers at the top of search results. To increase your chances of ranking here: Use concise, clear answers in your content. Format content in bullet points, numbered lists, or tables. Answer People Also Ask (PAA) Questions: If you appear in Google’s “People Also Ask” section, you gain higher visibility. Optimize Google My Business Listings: Local Packs show up before traditional search results, making GMB optimization essential. Actionable Tip: Use tools like AnswerThePublic to find common questions in your industry and answer them in blog posts. 6. Quality Content and E-A-T Are Still King Google prioritizes Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) when ranking content. Small businesses must establish credibility to compete with larger brands. What This Means for Small Businesses: High-Quality Content Wins: Google rewards in-depth, well-researched, and informative content over keyword-stuffed, low-value pages. Author Credentials Matter: If you write content, showcase your expertise with author bios, certifications, or references. Backlinks Build Authority: Getting links from reputable websites boosts trustworthiness and improves rankings. Actionable Tip: Regularly update old blog posts with new statistics and fresh insights to maintain relevance. 7. Local SEO is More Important Than Ever For small businesses, local SEO is critical in attracting nearby customers. Google continues to refine local search algorithms, making it essential to optimize for “near me” searches and local business queries. What This Means for Small Businesses: Google My Business Optimization is a Priority: Ensure your GMB listing is updated with: Accurate business hours, address, and phone number. High-quality photos of your business. Regular customer reviews and responses. NAP Consistency is Key: Your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) should be consistent across all directories and social media platforms. Local Keywords Drive Traffic: Use keywords like “best bakery in [city]” or “top-rated plumber near me” in your content. Actionable Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews, as businesses with high ratings appear more prominently in local search results. 8. Video SEO is Gaining Momentum With YouTube being the second-largest search engine, video content is becoming an essential part of SEO strategy. More small businesses are leveraging video marketing to drive engagement. What This Means for Small Businesses: YouTube Videos Can Rank on Google: Creating educational or promotional videos can help your business appear in search results. Video Captions Improve Accessibility and SEO: Including transcripts and captions makes content more searchable. Embed Videos on Your Website: This reduces bounce rates and improves on-site engagement. Actionable Tip: Create short, how-to videos related to your business and optimize them with relevant keywords in titles and descriptions. Final Thoughts: Staying Ahead in SEO for 2025 SEO is constantly evolving, and small businesses must adapt to remain competitive. In 2025, AI-driven search, voice search, mobile-first indexing, zero-click searches, and local SEO are shaping how businesses appear online. Key Takeaways: AI and machine learning are transforming how Google ranks content. Voice search optimization is crucial for local businesses. Mobile-friendly websites and fast loading speeds are essential. Zero-click searches mean businesses need to optimize for Featured Snippets. E-A-T principles ensure credibility and trust. Local SEO strategies drive nearby customers to small businesses. Video SEO is an emerging opportunity for engagement. By staying informed and implementing these SEO trends, your small business can achieve higher rankings, better visibility, and increased website traffic in 2025. Start optimizing today, and watch your business grow in the digital landscape. Image: Envato This article, "What Your Small Business Needs to Know About SEO in 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most critical aspects of digital marketing, and it continues to evolve each year. For small businesses, keeping up with these changes is essential to maintaining online visibility, attracting new customers, and staying ahead of the competition. In 2025, SEO is more dynamic than ever, with AI-driven search results, voice search optimization, user experience (UX) enhancements, and evolving Google algorithms shaping the digital landscape. If you run a small business, understanding and implementing the latest SEO strategies can significantly impact your online growth. This article will explore what your small business needs to know about SEO in 2025, covering key trends, best practices, and actionable steps to stay ahead. 1. SEO Tools and Automation: The Future of Optimization Leveraging SEO tools can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy. The best SEO tools in 2025 include: Google Search Console & Google Analytics for performance monitoring. SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz for competitive analysis and insights. SEO HERO for comprehensive SEO optimization, including on-page analysis, keyword research, and backlink tracking. SurferSEO & Clearscope for content optimization. SEO automation is becoming essential for businesses looking to scale their online presence. AI-powered tools can now handle keyword research, technical audits, and even content suggestions, allowing businesses to focus on strategy and execution rather than manual SEO tasks. By leveraging these tools, small businesses can optimize their search presence more efficiently, track performance in real-time, and stay ahead of competitors with data-driven insights. 2. AI and Machine Learning are Shaping Search Results Google’s search algorithm has been using AI and machine learning for years, but in 2025, it’s more advanced than ever. AI-driven updates like Google’s Multitask Unified Model (MUM) and Bard AI have made search results more intuitive, prioritizing content that provides accurate, contextual, and human-like responses. What This Means for Small Businesses: Content Must Be Intent-Driven: AI understands user intent better than ever, so creating content that directly answers customer queries is essential. Semantic SEO Matters: Google no longer relies solely on keywords; it analyzes the entire context of a page to understand its meaning. Structured Data is Key: AI prioritizes well-structured content, so using schema markup can help search engines better understand your content. Actionable Tip: Optimize for topic clusters rather than just individual keywords. Create comprehensive, authoritative content that covers a subject in-depth. 3. Voice Search is More Relevant Than Ever With the rise of smart devices like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa, more users are searching hands-free. In fact, experts predict that by 2025, nearly 50% of all searches will be voice-based. Unlike traditional searches, voice queries are often longer and conversational. What This Means for Small Businesses: Conversational Keywords Work Best: Optimize for natural-sounding, long-tail keywords that match how people speak. Local SEO is Crucial: Many voice searches are location-based (e.g., “best coffee shop near me”). Ensuring your business is optimized for local search is essential. FAQ Pages Improve Visibility: Since voice searches are often question-based, having an FAQ section that answers common questions can boost rankings. Actionable Tip: Use Google My Business (GMB) to ensure your small business appears in local searches, and optimize for phrases like “Where can I find [your service] near me?” 4. Mobile-First Indexing is No Longer Optional Google now ranks websites based on their mobile version rather than the desktop version. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile devices, you risk lower rankings. With over 60% of searches now conducted on mobile, Google prioritizes fast-loading, mobile-friendly websites in search results. What This Means for Small Businesses: Mobile-Friendly Design is a Must: Your website should have a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. Fast Page Speed Matters: A slow website can drive visitors away and hurt your rankings. User Experience (UX) is a Ranking Factor: Websites with poor navigation, difficult-to-read text, or intrusive pop-ups will be penalized. Actionable Tip: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your website meets mobile SEO standards. 5. Zero-Click Searches are Growing A zero-click search happens when users find answers directly on Google without clicking on a website. Featured Snippets, People Also Ask (PAA) sections, and Local Packs often provide immediate answers. While this reduces organic traffic, it presents an opportunity for small businesses to appear at the top of search results. What This Means for Small Businesses: Optimize for Featured Snippets: These are highlighted answers at the top of search results. To increase your chances of ranking here: Use concise, clear answers in your content. Format content in bullet points, numbered lists, or tables. Answer People Also Ask (PAA) Questions: If you appear in Google’s “People Also Ask” section, you gain higher visibility. Optimize Google My Business Listings: Local Packs show up before traditional search results, making GMB optimization essential. Actionable Tip: Use tools like AnswerThePublic to find common questions in your industry and answer them in blog posts. 6. Quality Content and E-A-T Are Still King Google prioritizes Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) when ranking content. Small businesses must establish credibility to compete with larger brands. What This Means for Small Businesses: High-Quality Content Wins: Google rewards in-depth, well-researched, and informative content over keyword-stuffed, low-value pages. Author Credentials Matter: If you write content, showcase your expertise with author bios, certifications, or references. Backlinks Build Authority: Getting links from reputable websites boosts trustworthiness and improves rankings. Actionable Tip: Regularly update old blog posts with new statistics and fresh insights to maintain relevance. 7. Local SEO is More Important Than Ever For small businesses, local SEO is critical in attracting nearby customers. Google continues to refine local search algorithms, making it essential to optimize for “near me” searches and local business queries. What This Means for Small Businesses: Google My Business Optimization is a Priority: Ensure your GMB listing is updated with: Accurate business hours, address, and phone number. High-quality photos of your business. Regular customer reviews and responses. NAP Consistency is Key: Your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) should be consistent across all directories and social media platforms. Local Keywords Drive Traffic: Use keywords like “best bakery in [city]” or “top-rated plumber near me” in your content. Actionable Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews, as businesses with high ratings appear more prominently in local search results. 8. Video SEO is Gaining Momentum With YouTube being the second-largest search engine, video content is becoming an essential part of SEO strategy. More small businesses are leveraging video marketing to drive engagement. What This Means for Small Businesses: YouTube Videos Can Rank on Google: Creating educational or promotional videos can help your business appear in search results. Video Captions Improve Accessibility and SEO: Including transcripts and captions makes content more searchable. Embed Videos on Your Website: This reduces bounce rates and improves on-site engagement. Actionable Tip: Create short, how-to videos related to your business and optimize them with relevant keywords in titles and descriptions. Final Thoughts: Staying Ahead in SEO for 2025 SEO is constantly evolving, and small businesses must adapt to remain competitive. In 2025, AI-driven search, voice search, mobile-first indexing, zero-click searches, and local SEO are shaping how businesses appear online. Key Takeaways: AI and machine learning are transforming how Google ranks content. Voice search optimization is crucial for local businesses. Mobile-friendly websites and fast loading speeds are essential. Zero-click searches mean businesses need to optimize for Featured Snippets. E-A-T principles ensure credibility and trust. Local SEO strategies drive nearby customers to small businesses. Video SEO is an emerging opportunity for engagement. By staying informed and implementing these SEO trends, your small business can achieve higher rankings, better visibility, and increased website traffic in 2025. Start optimizing today, and watch your business grow in the digital landscape. Image: Envato This article, "What Your Small Business Needs to Know About SEO in 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Executives look for workarounds and rethink supply chains to lessen reliance on ChinaView the full article

PostcardMania, the marketing technology firm based in Florida, announced Wednesday the addition of snap-apart mailers to its automated direct mail offerings. The move comes through its technology-focused division, PCM Integrations, and expands the company’s range of affordable, high-response marketing tools for small and mid-sized businesses. Snap-apart, or snap-pack mailers, are sealed documents with perforated tear-off edges. Often used by government agencies, the format gives the appearance of official correspondence and is designed to convey urgency. According to the company, this format boasts a 95% open rate and can be particularly effective in increasing response rates due to its trusted and official look. Snap packs are suited for a wide range of industries but are especially useful in sectors such as insurance, finance, real estate, and healthcare. These mailers can be automatically triggered from customer relationship management (CRM) systems based on user-defined conditions—for example, when an insurance policy is nearing expiration or to remind patients of annual healthcare visits. “Snap pack mailers are specifically formulated to be highly trusted,” said PostcardMania Founder and CEO Joy Gendusa. “This increases response to ensure businesses are spending their marketing dollars as wisely as possible for maximum revenue growth. With business costs increasing across the board — and digital ad costs up around 50% the last few years — it’s become more important than ever to ensure we offer the most cost-effective and results-generating products and services possible. Trigger-based snap-packs are a natural evolution of that mission.” PCM Integrations (PCMi), the division behind the initiative, enables automated mailing campaigns triggered by customer activity through integrations with CRMs, websites, or other digital platforms. Businesses can automate sending mailers based on events such as a new lead capture, a quote being sent, or a lapse in communication. Mailings can range from just a few pieces to thousands, allowing businesses to control costs and only pay for the volume they use. PCMi’s automated direct mail segment remains the fastest-growing arm of PostcardMania. In 2024, the division posted record performance, growing its revenue by 54.8%, total mailings by 89%, and new customer count by 110%. These numbers reflect growing demand among businesses for more automated, reliable, and results-driven marketing solutions. PostcardMania’s total revenue also hit a new milestone in 2024, reaching $119 million. The company has averaged 17% annual growth since 2020, a significant increase from the 5% annual growth rate it maintained over the previous decade. The company attributes this expansion to the resurgence of direct mail as a trusted marketing channel amid rising digital ad costs and growing consumer skepticism toward online ads. One cited study found that 76% of 1,200 consumers trusted direct mail, while only 25% trusted online pop-ups and 43% trusted social media ads. Image: PostcardMania This article, "PostcardMania Adds Snap-Apart Mailers to Automated Direct Mail Lineup" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

PostcardMania, the marketing technology firm based in Florida, announced Wednesday the addition of snap-apart mailers to its automated direct mail offerings. The move comes through its technology-focused division, PCM Integrations, and expands the company’s range of affordable, high-response marketing tools for small and mid-sized businesses. Snap-apart, or snap-pack mailers, are sealed documents with perforated tear-off edges. Often used by government agencies, the format gives the appearance of official correspondence and is designed to convey urgency. According to the company, this format boasts a 95% open rate and can be particularly effective in increasing response rates due to its trusted and official look. Snap packs are suited for a wide range of industries but are especially useful in sectors such as insurance, finance, real estate, and healthcare. These mailers can be automatically triggered from customer relationship management (CRM) systems based on user-defined conditions—for example, when an insurance policy is nearing expiration or to remind patients of annual healthcare visits. “Snap pack mailers are specifically formulated to be highly trusted,” said PostcardMania Founder and CEO Joy Gendusa. “This increases response to ensure businesses are spending their marketing dollars as wisely as possible for maximum revenue growth. With business costs increasing across the board — and digital ad costs up around 50% the last few years — it’s become more important than ever to ensure we offer the most cost-effective and results-generating products and services possible. Trigger-based snap-packs are a natural evolution of that mission.” PCM Integrations (PCMi), the division behind the initiative, enables automated mailing campaigns triggered by customer activity through integrations with CRMs, websites, or other digital platforms. Businesses can automate sending mailers based on events such as a new lead capture, a quote being sent, or a lapse in communication. Mailings can range from just a few pieces to thousands, allowing businesses to control costs and only pay for the volume they use. PCMi’s automated direct mail segment remains the fastest-growing arm of PostcardMania. In 2024, the division posted record performance, growing its revenue by 54.8%, total mailings by 89%, and new customer count by 110%. These numbers reflect growing demand among businesses for more automated, reliable, and results-driven marketing solutions. PostcardMania’s total revenue also hit a new milestone in 2024, reaching $119 million. The company has averaged 17% annual growth since 2020, a significant increase from the 5% annual growth rate it maintained over the previous decade. The company attributes this expansion to the resurgence of direct mail as a trusted marketing channel amid rising digital ad costs and growing consumer skepticism toward online ads. One cited study found that 76% of 1,200 consumers trusted direct mail, while only 25% trusted online pop-ups and 43% trusted social media ads. Image: PostcardMania This article, "PostcardMania Adds Snap-Apart Mailers to Automated Direct Mail Lineup" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

There’s something natural about the way people hold onto sentimental items from their past. A child’s toy. A handwritten card. The trophy from the winning game. Souvenirs from concerts attended or trips taken. Boxes of items once owned by our parents, grandparents, or other loved ones. For many of us, these things aren’t just household items like extra Tupperware in the kitchen cabinet that can be decluttered when a lid goes missing. They represent the people we love, the experiences we’ve cherished, or the accomplishments we worked hard to achieve. For that reason, the attachment is emotional. That’s why we refer to it as sentimental. And it can be one of the most difficult categories of items to minimize. But over time, those meaningful items start to add up if we don’t declutter them. Isn’t that true? Closets fill. Boxes pile up in the attic, basement, and garage. Pieces of furniture begin to collect. Sometimes we even need to rent a storage unit down the street to keep all the sentimental belongings we’re holding onto. Our spaces become a museum of the past. And slowly, without even realizing it, unless we choose to take intentional action, the stuff we love begins to keep us from the stuff we love. Here’s what I mean by that: The stuff we keep—no matter how lovingly—brings burden and weight onto our lives. Every possession does. They take up space. They need to be stored, organized, cleaned, protected, and worried about. They add time, expense, stress, and mental weight to our lives. Every item we choose to keep takes up physical space in our home and mental space in our mind. The excess can begin to keep us from peace, calm, freedom, space, and intentionality. As a result, the sentimental items we accumulate can begin to keep us from being fully alive and present in our daily life. They begin to pull our energy from the very life and opportunities we would choose to remember. We’ve held onto the toys and clothes from when our kids were young. But when the basement is so full of stuff we are constantly thinking about needing to clean it out—we are distracted from the people right in front of us today. We purchased and kept souvenirs so that we’d never forget the trips that we’ve taken. But when the house is so full of clutter the cleaning and organizing is never done—we become too busy to take new trips today. We hung all the trophies and certificates we earned through our accomplishments in the past. But when our walls and offices are so full of relics from our achievements in the past—we forget to dream about new goals in the future. We couldn’t find the strength to declutter the personal possessions of a spouse who passed too early because we loved them so much. But when their things keep us from moving forward into our next season of life—we often miss out on the joy that they would have wanted us to experience. It’s not that we love too much. It’s just that the items we keep to remember the things we love might actually end up keeping us from discovering and enjoying more of those people and adventures in the future. The stuff we love begins to keep us from the stuff we love. It is important to remember that we don’t love the physical objects. We love the people they represent, the experiences they remind us of, and the accomplishments they signify. This might be fine—unless our physical possessions begin to keep us from loving more people, having more experiences, and achieving more accomplishments. So take a second look at the sentimental clutter you are holding on to. And if it is distracting you from living your best life in this current season of your life, then it is time for action. Releasing sentimental objects isn’t about thinking less of your past. It’s about honoring your past by living fully in the present. You’re not being forced to decide what memories to keep, you are creating space for more experiences worth remembering in the future. Are you ready to get started? If so, here is my advice on How to Handle Sentimental Clutter. The post When the Stuff You Love Keeps You From the Stuff You Love appeared first on Becoming Minimalist. View the full article

In a paper, former central bank researchers make the case that the Federal Reserve could better support the Treasury market from disruptions in the cash-futures basis trade by hedging its asset purchases. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Taking the first step towards a new future for your organization can be a daunting effort—but for professional services organizations, the time is now. With 70% of organizations planning to track office attendance in 2025, the corporate real estate landscape is primed for potential. Leaders must fully capitalize on the seismic shifts in the new standard of in-office work and use their spaces to enhance collaboration, productivity, and company purpose. As law firms, in particular, transition back to in-office work, they face the challenge of balancing privacy with collaborative spaces. While these needs seem at odds, a thoughtful approach that integrates flexibility and a strong workplace experience strategy can help firms create environments that attract and retain top talent. Organic interaction opportunities The most transformative ideas often emerge far beyond the confines of a boardroom or the monotony of a desk. Instead, sparks of ingenuity can stem from shared moments with colleagues, like a quick chat in the hallway or a coffee break. These moments that happen in interstitial spaces tend to be afterthoughts. When utilized well, however, an interstitial space can be every bit as impactful as a breakroom or lounge. A global law firm with a two-floor office space is a perfect example. Thanks to an open design and interconnected staircase, team members can communicate quickly and easily with colleagues from other floors. As in-office work models continue to shift and evolve, leaders must prioritize creating dynamic spaces that foster these organic connections. Otherwise, businesses risk missing out on valuable interactions like knowledge sharing, mentorship, and peer-to-peer professional development. Organizations have plenty of options regardless of office footprint and team size. For instance, one of PDR’s energy clients wanted to maximize its office potential and facilitate face-to-face interactions. We worked with them to create specific areas, such as green spaces and cafes, where team members could gather away from their desks. Best of all, the design provided these amenities while simultaneously reducing the footprint, ultimately saving the organization money. Providing these spaces solves for challenges like a lack of mentoring or knowledge sharing, while boosting people’s connection to an organization’s purpose—two primary imperatives valued by new generations of leadership. Competitive advantages for employee wellness In today’s competitive job market, top talent has abundant options. This means transforming the office into a powerful amenity that offers unique value—one that attracts, engages, and retains the best employees. As noted in Wellhub’s 2025 State of Work-Life Wellness report, 88% of employees say that wellness-focused workspaces are crucial to their overall job satisfaction. In fact, firms with WELL-certified offices see higher levels of employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Looking to hospitality design is a strong way leaders can begin to rethink their approach to the workplace. A health-centric mindset is especially valuable for the legal profession, where long hours, intense focus, and strong mental and emotional resilience are essential. The industry’s demands can contribute to stress and burnout, resulting in a high turnover rate. Design elements such as access to daylight or biophilic design have a proven effect on employee productivity and mood, minimizing stress while improving performance. A firm’s leaders must leverage these insights to create spaces that elevate the work experience and provide an undeniable draw to attract new talent and sustain the energy and motivation of those who already drive the firm’s success. Space utilization Workplace solutions must be tailored to an organization’s culture and work styles—what works for one industry may not suit another. A functional workspace must align with a company’s purpose while maximizing efficiency. With high real estate costs and long-term leases posing risks, underutilized space can lead to significant financial waste. A structured visioning process helps organizations optimize their space. For example, one company balanced energy and focus by dedicating its second floor to quiet areas, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces, complementing its high-energy trade floor. Some law firms are repurposing law libraries into collaborative spaces as research shifts to digital, fostering knowledge sharing and mentorship. Transforming these spaces into meeting or common areas increases opportunities to interact while eliminating single-purpose inefficiencies. Organizations can create environments that support productivity, collaboration, and long-term business success by taking a strategic approach to space planning. Future-focus and flexibility The most impactful workplaces are agile and adaptable, ready to support an organization’s mission today, tomorrow, and for years to come. But leaders must navigate and accommodate multiple needs and preferences from several generations. That is easier said than done, as our global corporate law office client discovered. It was critical that every square foot for this firm was used with intention and provided a competitive advantage. This client had the added challenge of fusing two teams and bringing them under the same roof. Modular planning helped them create a blend of personalized and collaborative work areas well-suited for the firm’s new hybrid work style. Another Band 1-ranked global law firm involved a similar challenge, as its team needed to balance internal meetings with client interactions in a limited space. To address this, the firm’s conference rooms were designed with adjustable walls, allowing them to expand the space for client meetings while maintaining privacy when needed. Flexibility was key to these projects’ success and will only become more vital. Adapting to ongoing shifts helps businesses attract top talent and strengthen their competitive edge. It’s time to prioritize exceptional experiences As leaders look to the many opportunities ahead, it’s important to remember that people’s needs, workstyles, and preferences in the workplace will continue evolving. Ongoing discussions and a future-focused approach can ensure an organization’s environment provides competitive advantages that match their people’s desires. Simply put, if organizations do not provide people with the types of experiences they crave, they risk missing out on the best and brightest talent. Or they invest capital in a physical workplace that fails to draw employees into their space. Yet with ample real estate opportunities, this is the perfect time to rethink workplace design. Lauri Goodman Lampson is president and CEO of PDR. View the full article

Lender is taking a tougher approach to costs under new chief executive Georges ElhederyView the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. The recent L.A. wildfires have been devastating, displacing thousands and leaving behind a stark reminder of how vulnerable our built environment remains. Having lived through the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, I’ve seen firsthand the immense challenges of rebuilding. In my April 2024 TEDx talk, “How building a home in four weeks can influence four generations,” I explored the emotional and financial toll of losing a home—and why we must rethink how we rebuild. That talk reinforces the importance of protecting all the meanings of “home” by building (and rebuilding) our homes with mindfulness toward sustainability and resilience against the sure potential of additional weather- and fire-related harms in the future. A new approach to fire-resilient housing Since 2019, I’ve focused on applying lessons from past disasters to create homes that can better withstand future wildfires. My company, Azure Homes, uses advanced prefab technology to construct homes that are sustainable and built to have a better chance at surviving a fire. Beyond technology, though, we need a broader shift in how we design and construct homes. My newly published book, From Ashes to Action: A Survivor’s Guide to Rebuilding After Wildfire, explores practical solutions for homeowners, policymakers, architects, and builders to make communities more fire-resilient​. Here are a few key points from the book: What makes a home fire-resistant? By analyzing recent wildfires, we can identify clear patterns in home survivability: Fire-rated siding and decks resist ignition from radiant heat. Double-pane or triple-pane tempered windows withstand extreme heat without shattering. Ember-resistant vents block embers from entering attics and crawl spaces. Class A fire-rated roofs are designed to withstand severe fire exposure, offering the highest level of fire resistance available for roofing materials. In contrast, homes with untreated wood siding, single-pane windows, unprotected vents, and those without class A-rated roofs often ignite quickly. Beyond materials: The role of terrain and weather Fire doesn’t just spread through structures—it moves through landscapes. The risk is significantly influenced by: Slope: Fires move faster uphill, preheating vegetation. Wind: Drives embers miles ahead, sparking new ignitions. Urban fuels: Vehicles, fences, and neighboring homes can create unpredictable fire spread. Reducing risk requires a holistic approach—defensible space, smart urban planning, and proactive vegetation management. How homeowners can build for resilience Wildfires will continue to be a reality in California and beyond, but homeowners can take actionable steps to reduce risk: Defensible space: Clear dry vegetation and use fire-resistant landscaping. Stronger building codes: Follow post-2008 fire-resistant construction standards​. Fire-smart design: Consider modular, prefabricated, or 3D-printed homes for speed and safety. Emergency-ready communities: Engage in programs like Firewise USA to enhance neighborhood resilience. Policy and innovation must work together With climate change intensifying fire conditions, policymakers must step up. L.A.’s recent executive orders have helped fast-track rebuilding, but we need long-term commitments: Faster approvals for fire-resilient construction: Pre-approved designs and modular solutions can cut rebuilding time significantly​. Expanded fire-resistant zoning laws: Smarter land-use policies can prevent high-risk development. Incentives for fireproof homes: Lower insurance rates and grants for fire-resistant retrofits can encourage adoption. The future of rebuilding: A smarter, safer approach Recovering from a wildfire isn’t just about rebuilding—it’s about rethinking. We have the technology and knowledge to construct homes that can survive these disasters. Prefabricated and 3D-printed homes offer a scalable, cost-effective solution, reducing reliance on labor while increasing resilience​. As difficult as this moment is, it’s also an opportunity. The lessons from these fires must shape how we build the homes of the future—stronger, safer, and ready for whatever comes next. Gene Eidelman is cofounder of Azure Homes. View the full article