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Basic digital marketing analytics is easier than it sounds and provides enough information to evaluate your performance, create reports, and plan your strategy. What’s more, you can do it with free tools, and the process becomes even simpler when using…Read more ›View the full article

Like homeowners insurance, auto insurance is getting significantly more expensive: Data show that policy costs rose 11% last year, likely due to factors like climate change, rising accident rates, and higher repair costs. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to offset or at least keep your car insurance premium stable, if not reduce it. If you go through any of the following life changes, it may be time to call your insurance company about lowering your policy premium. You've movedA move is a major life transition—and one that could impact your auto insurance policy for the better in a few ways. First, insurers factor where you park your car into your rate, so living in a lower density or safer neighborhood can potentially save you some money. Moving also gives you the chance to bundle your renters or homeowners insurance policy with your auto policy if you haven't already, which typically reduces the cost of both. Finally, moving can change your driving habits, which we'll get into next. You're driving lessLet's say your move has put your closer to work, or you've changed jobs or begun working remotely more frequently, or another shift in your routine has cut the number of miles you drive on a regular basis. Insurance companies consider annual mileage when calculating premiums, so a significant drop could save you some money. Your family size has changedIf you've had a teenager on your policy who now has their own vehicle or own policy and no longer lives at home, removing them from yours can save you a significant amount of money on your premiums (potentially cutting the cost by half). On the flip side, combining your policy with a new spouse's could reduce the cost per person. You've taken a defensive driving courseOne of the many discounts available on auto insurance is for taking a defensive driving course—in fact, some states require insurers to offer this discount. Typically, these discounts are good for several years before you need to retake the class. Discounts range from 5% to 20% off your premium. Your coverage is about to renew (or expire)Re-upping your policy won't save you money specifically, but it is a good time to call your current insurer about options for reducing your premium as well as to shop around for cheaper options. Other ways to lower your car insurance premiumEven if you don't have a life change that could qualify you for a lower insurance premium, there are other ways to reduce the cost of your policy: Increase your deductible: Raising your deductible (the amount you'll pay out of pocket before your policy kicks in) can lower your premium. Most policies have a $500 deductible, but bumping that up to $1,000 can potentially save you 25% on your policy cost, according to Consumer Reports. However, you'll want to consider whether you have an emergency fund to cover the added potential cost. Decrease certain types of coverage: Collision and comprehensive coverage may be optional in your state, and dropping one or both can reduce your policy premium. Collision may be an unnecessary expense if your car's value is especially low (and if your premium is more than 10% of that value). Ask about discounts: Many insurers offer policy discounts for things like setting up autopay or paperless statements, paying your premium upfront, maintaining a clean driving record, and bundling with other policies. Drive a cheaper car: This may not be a change you can make immediately, but when you're in the market for a vehicle, consider a make and model that's cheaper to insure. Look for usage-based policies: Usage-based insurance calibrates your policy to your real-life driving habits, so low-risk drivers pay less. However, this typically requires you to have a tracking app that sends data to your insurance company, which raises privacy concerns, and risky driving can actually increase your policy cost. View the full article

Move comes amid signs that inflation is returning to targetView the full article

Tuning out the external world may be tempting but it’s the wrong strategyView the full article

Branding is design. It’s the logos, typefaces, and design systems that bring a company to life. But it’s also strategy. A rebrand can reveal the priorities, motivations, and aspirations of a company if you look beyond the logo. In a recent conversation for FC Live, Fast Company‘s design editors Liz Stinson and Mark Wilson explored the true impact of branding through the lens of some of the biggest branding moments from the past year. If you missed the subscriber-only event, you’re in luck. You can catch the whole conversation in the video above. View the full article

Learn how to make Google ads for low budget work for you, even with limited spending, to achieve your marketing goals. The post Ask A PPC: Is Google Ads Still Good Value For Money For Low Budget Accounts? appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Gina Trapani, founder of the website you're reading right now, popularized a plaintext format for to-do lists way back in 2006 (please excuse any weird formatting on that nearly 20-year-old article). Called Todo.txt, it is used by many people to this day, in part thanks to an ecosystem of applications built around the format. I recently stumbled on Calendar.txt, by author and teacher Tero Karvinen. It's a text document based on a similar philosophy—a stripped down, just-the-basics take on your overloaded calendar app. It's a concept worth considering. We're at least a decade into the "using a separate app for everything" era, and sure, a lot of those apps are pretty great. I've spent years recommending software-based tools for everything from managing tasks to making drinks, and I don't plan to stop anytime soon. But not everyone needs a bespoke app for everything they do. Productivity is personal, and everyone has different needs. I've known several highly technically competent people who still use paper day planners to track their appointments and tasks—a simple notebook is flexible in a way that no app can match. One line of text per dayI view plaintext tools like Calendar.txt in a similar light. This specific tool is about as simple as it gets: It uses one line of text for every day. You can download a pre-made file with lines for dates that stretches through the year 2033, or you can just make your own. Every line starts with the date, followed by the week number, followed by a three-letter week name. The idea is that you write your appointments after that, by simply writing the time, followed by the name of the event. Events are simply added, in order, to the line. So, for example, a line for today, with one appointment/task (me cleaning the house this afternoon) would look like this: 2025-03-06 w10 Thu 14 cleaning the house There are many shortcomings to this approach. There's no built-in tool for reminding you of events, for one thing, and there's no way to invite others to your appointment. But this simple approach might work for you. And, as todo.txt demonstrated two decades ago, there are benefits to using plaintext files. Plaintext is versatile, can be opened on any device, and your files won't disappear because some software company decides it wanted to change its priorities. If you're familiar with the command line, you can use existing tools in all kinds of interesting ways. For example, the calendar.txt documentation shows how you can use grep, a tool for searching text documents, to pull up today's appointments: grep 2025-03-06 calendar.txt You could use the same command to search for events by the day. Credit: Justin Pot Again, this approach won't seem useful to everyone—especially if you never open the command prompt—but not every tool needs to be for every user. Only you can decide which tools work best for you. View the full article

DEI measures may be under threat, but the reality is many workers want jobs at companies that value diversity. Comparably, a platform for salary data and work culture insights, just released its list of the top 100 large companies for diversity. To compile the list, Comparably asked 30,000 employees of color to weigh in on 16 different categories, including satisfaction with leadership, compensation, and career growth opportunities. The ratings were collected between February 10, 2024 and February 10, 2025. To qualify, large companies had to employ over 500 employees and needed at least 75 employee ratings. (Comparably also published a list of top 25 small-to-midsize companies for diversity.) It’s worth noting that nearly a quarter of the companies on the list have CEOs of color, including Informatica (led by Amit Walia) and Synopsis (led by Sassine Ghazi). While tech company HubSpot is celebrating its eighth year on the list, other tech giants such as Uber and IBM didn’t make this year. Apple and Meta haven’t been on the list since 2020, and Google and Microsoft last made an appearance on the list in 2021. Here are the top 25 large companies for diversity, according to Comparably: Elsevier: New York City, NY RingCentral: Belmont, CA Informatica: Redwood City, CA ADP: Roseland, NJ Calix: San Jose, CA Teleperformance: New York City, NY Esri: Redlands, CA TaskUs: New Braunfels, TX LexisNexis Legal & Professional: New York City, NY Synopsys: Sunnyvale, CA N-able: Burlington, MA Arista Networks: Santa Clara, CA Paycom: Oklahoma City, OK Squarespace: New York City, NY Adobe: San Jose, CA Altametrics: Costa Mesa, CA Baylor Scott & White Health: Dallas, TX DataStax: Santa Clara, CA Elastic: San Francisco, CA HubSpot: Cambridge, MA Boston Consulting Group: Boston, MA Trimble: Westminster, CO Remitly: Seattle, WA Sunrun: San Francisco, CA Workday: Pleasanton, CA View the full article

Winning over Gen Z employees isn’t about flashy perks or trendy office spaces—it’s about leadership that actually walks the talk. This younger generation of employees has different values than their predecessors. It expects transparency, meaningful work, and a culture that values their contributions. If leaders want to earn their trust and loyalty, they need to rethink traditional management styles and embrace a more authentic, collaborative approach. From recognition and flexibility to open communication, here’s what nine leaders say it takes to lead Gen Z employees in a way that actually resonates. Provide regular recognition I’ve seen how regular recognition can be crucial in building trust and loyalty with Gen Z employees. This generation values being acknowledged for their hard work and contributions, and when leaders show appreciation, it creates a positive work culture. We make it a point to regularly highlight the achievements of our team, whether in team meetings, through internal shout-outs, or personal messages. For example, every quarter during our company meeting, our CEO publicly recognizes a few employees for their outstanding contributions, reinforcing the importance of appreciation at every level. This helps people feel seen and motivates them to keep pushing forward. One approach that has worked really well for us is encouraging employees to regularly give shout-outs to each other for going above and beyond. One such example is via our Thankful Thursdays, where everyone is welcome to give recognition to a peer. This creates a sense of community and helps build trust among employees, as they know their colleagues are supporting and appreciating their efforts. It’s not just about top-down recognition; it’s also about fostering a culture of mutual respect. It helps Gen Z employees feel that their contributions matter, which in turn builds a sense of loyalty to the company. Vivek Vaidya, Cofounder & CTO, Ketch Foster transparency and authenticity Leaders can earn trust and loyalty from Gen Z employees by fostering a culture of transparency and authenticity in communication. Gen Z values honesty regarding decision-making, company direction, and understanding how their contributions fit into the bigger picture. They are not just looking for a paycheck—they want to feel like they’re part of something meaningful, and they want to work for open and genuine leaders. A key approach I’ve found effective is holding regular, informal check-ins that focus on achievements and challenges. During these sessions, I share company updates, discuss ongoing projects, and address any issues the business may face. I also encourage team members to ask questions, provide feedback, and share ideas on overcoming obstacles. This creates a sense of inclusivity, where employees feel their opinions are valued, and trust is built through open dialogue. Transparency extends to leadership decisions. When changes or challenges arise, I make it a point to explain the reasoning behind decisions rather than just delivering the outcome. This helps employees understand the “why” behind actions, turning decisions into shared experiences rather than top-down mandates. As a result, employees feel more engaged and involved, which deepens their trust in leadership. Providing opportunities for Gen Z employees to contribute their insights in these conversations further empowers them to take ownership of their work. When their input can influence the company’s direction, they develop a greater sense of purpose and connection to the organization’s success. For example, I worked with a client who wanted to improve communication with their younger team members. We set up biweekly “listening sessions,” where leadership openly discussed company goals and challenges, and Gen Z employees were invited to provide feedback and suggest solutions. These sessions fostered candid, two-way conversations that made employees feel more informed and involved. They also brought forward valuable insights that helped the company make better decisions. This approach builds trust by showing that leadership values Gen Z employees’ perspectives and treats them as active participants in decision-making. It emphasizes authenticity, open communication, and mutual respect, which are essential for earning loyalty from this generation. When leaders are transparent, inclusive, and willing to listen, they create lasting, meaningful relationships with their teams. April Eldridge, Founder/Principal – Fractional COO & Chief of Staff, April Eldridge Consulting Empower employees from day one From day one, we empower our Gen Z employees to take ownership of their career with our “Green Room,” a structured three-day period where new hires reflect on their past experiences, current skills, and future goals before meeting with leadership to cocreate their development plan. In case you’re wondering about the name Green Room, our brand is all green, and our Operations team loves theater. The Green Room asks new hires to consider their past roles, detailing what they loved, what drove them crazy, and what opportunities/support they wished they had. Instead of corporate onboarding, we encourage honest reflection about new hires’ career trajectory and aspirations. By day three, we discuss real metrics. New hires pitch their own KPIs and qualitative goals (the actual numbers they’ll be measured by) to their supervisors. Letting new employees set their own targets is exactly the kind of trust that makes Gen Z stick around. Promises of growth just don’t cut it when it comes to building trust with your new Gen Z hires; you have to prove to your employees that there is a clear path for advancement in your organization. I’m proud to say that over 50% of our current staff started as entry-level employees or Specialists (our paid internship program). Rather than trying to force Gen Z employees into traditional models, we’ve adapted our work environment to Gen Z’s preferences. We offer true flexibility: our team can work remotely, from our New Orleans HQ, or we’ll cover coworking space costs if they want the social aspects of office life without a full-time commute. Everyone on our team is empowered to choose the workplace environment where they work best, which shows that we trust our Optimists to be able to decide for themselves. Gen Z values transparency, so we have built in opportunities to bring candid dialogue to our Gen Z employees proactively. We’ve formalized the conversation around compensation by discussing it every four months. Flynn Zaiger, CEO, Online Optimism Respect work-life balance Gen Z values flexibility and well-being as much as career growth. Leaders who respect work-life balance and mental health earn their trust. It’s not just about perks—it’s about creating a culture where they feel valued as people, not just employees. One manager I coached introduced “No-Meeting Fridays” to reduce burnout and encourage deep work. A Gen Z employee later shared that this small change helped them feel more productive and less stressed, leading them to stay with the company longer than they had planned. Small, thoughtful shifts like this show genuine care, which builds trust and loyalty. Mauro Nardocci, Marketing and Leadership Expert – The Economist Top 10 ocean Change Maker, Sounding Board Avoid micromanaging One of the most successful ways for leaders to acquire the trust and loyalty of Gen Z employees is to refrain from micromanaging them and instead give them the freedom to make decisions regarding their projects. For instance, a leader could set clear objectives and expectations at the start of the process, then schedule regular check-ins, such as once or twice a week, to provide direction and feedback, instead of constantly monitoring every detail. The flexibility to innovate, problem-solve, and think creatively is something that Gen Z employees place a high value on, and this method gives them the opportunity to do so. An example of this strategy being put into practice in the real world is a technology company that has developed a “results-only work environment” (ROWE) for its employees who are members of Generation Z. Employees were given the authority to control their own time and procedures because managers focused on outcomes rather than specific processes or the number of hours spent. Not only did this increase productivity, but it also built a sense of trust and loyalty among employees, as they felt appreciated and trusted to deliver outcomes in their own unique way. It is possible for leaders to cultivate deeper, more collaborative relationships with Gen Z employees by providing them with the room to flourish while still maintaining open lines of communication. These relationships are the driving force behind both individual and organizational success. Rejoyce Owusu, Vice President of Human Resources, Umatta Consulting Embrace reverse mentoring I’ve seen firsthand how being open to learning from Gen Z employees fosters trust and loyalty. Gen Z thrives in collaborative, mission-driven environments, and they want leaders who respect their perspectives, not just dictate from the top. One key way I’ve built trust is by embracing reverse mentoring, where our younger team members educate leadership on digital trends, AI-driven workflows, and evolving workplace values. For example, when we were refining our approach to donor engagement, a Gen Z employee suggested leveraging short-form video content on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Initially, some senior leaders were skeptical, but after listening and implementing their ideas, we saw a noticeable increase in engagement from younger donors. By showing that we trust and act on their insights, we reinforce that their voices matter. This openness has created a culture where Gen Z employees feel valued, invested in our mission, and more likely to stay long-term. Justin Wheeler, Cofounder & CEO, funraise Follow through on promises The one thing leaders need to do to earn trust and loyalty from Gen Zers is to actually follow through. Gen Z grew up watching corporations make big, flashy promises about work-life balance, diversity, mental health, and flexibility, only to see those promises fall apart the moment things got tough. They’re skeptical, and honestly? They have every reason to be. Leaders who want their trust need to prove, through consistent actions, that their words aren’t just for employer branding. They aren’t looking for perfection though, but they are looking for consistency. They know that no leader or company gets everything right 100% of the time, and that’s not the issue. The issue is when leadership claims to stand for something but fails to show up when it actually matters. They don’t expect every policy to be flawless or every workplace to be utopian, but they do expect their leaders to be honest, accountable, and willing to back up their words with real action. This is where so many companies get it wrong. They roll out polished mission statements about work-life balance, but then glorify employees who burn out working late nights. They preach mental health support, but then guilt employees for taking a sick day. They talk endlessly about diversity and inclusion, but when promotion time comes, the leadership team still looks the same. It’s not the imperfections that cause them to lose trust, it’s the hypocrisy. For Gen Z, consistency means alignment between what a company says and what it actually does. It means if a company promises flexibility, it doesn’t punish employees for using it. If it claims to care about professional growth, the company should provide real opportunities for learning and mentorship, not just vague encouragement. If it commits to inclusivity, it doesn’t just hire diverse talent but actually fosters an environment where those employees have a path to leadership. At the core of this, Gen Zers are looking for leadership they can believe in. They want to work for companies that don’t just talk about values but embed them in their culture, decisions, and daily operations. For me, that’s the real key to earning their trust and loyalty. Be the kind of leader who doesn’t just make promises but follows through, even when it’s inconvenient. They demand authenticity and consistency. And if a leader can provide that, they’ll have a team that’s truly invested in the company’s success. Stephen Greet, CEO & Cofounder, BeamJobs Adopt expertise-driven leadership As an executive leadership coach, I’ve learned that Gen Z’s trust isn’t won through traditional management tactics. Instead, it’s earned through what I call “expertise-driven leadership.” This approach combines authentic coaching with transparent mentorship. I was working with a tech company that was seeing a concerning drop in Gen Z retention. The leaders were well-intentioned, but their approach was not very collaborative. So, we made a shift. We reimagined their leadership style to focus on coaching and mentorship rather than the usual top-down management. And, wow, did it make a huge difference. Gen Z values growth, but not necessarily in climbing a hierarchical ladder. In fact, 72% of them prefer advancing through expertise, not people management. So, we introduced “expertise exchange” sessions. Senior leaders stopped simply giving orders and instead became facilitators. They opened up about their challenges, invited team members to help solve them, and made room for innovative ideas. The results were incredible: engagement shot up, turnover decreased, and trust grew stronger. This change was more than just a leadership shift; it aligned perfectly with Gen Z’s core values. Research shows that companies with a strong coaching culture see a 60% boost in employee engagement. Here’s what I’ve realized: it’s not just about adding coaching; it’s about transforming how we think about leadership altogether. From my experience, the best leaders are the ones who prioritize curiosity over control. They’ve let go of the “I know best” mindset and embraced “collaborative expertise.” While leaders bring experience to the table, they also acknowledge that their Gen Z employees bring fresh, digital-savvy perspectives that can be just as valuable. Let’s not forget: Gen Z has grown up fact-checking everything online. They can spot inauthentic leadership a mile away. That’s why transparency is critical. I’ve seen the difference it makes when leaders admit their mistakes, share challenges openly, and seek input from their teams. It creates a space where psychological safety thrives, and Gen Z feels respected and heard. The truth is, Gen Z wants leaders who act as both coaches and collaborators. They want mentorship that guides their growth but respects their autonomy. When leaders adopt this dual role, they build trust and create an environment where both sides can flourish together. Zabrina Mok, Founder, Strategic EQ Inc. Prioritize authenticity and diversity Leaders can earn trust and loyalty from Gen Z employees by prioritizing authenticity and recognizing diverse communication styles. One effective approach is fostering an environment where individuals feel safe to express themselves while maintaining healthy boundaries. For example, a leader who openly acknowledges their own learning moments—whether about workplace dynamics, social issues, or evolving industry trends—demonstrates vulnerability and growth. This creates space for Gen Z employees to do the same, which encourages collaboration, innovation, and psychological safety. Equally important is rejecting binary thinking. Trust isn’t built through rigid right-or-wrong approaches but through transparency, nuance, and action. Leaders who navigate complexity—holding space for different perspectives while addressing bias—show a real commitment to fairness and continuous improvement. When leadership embraces the full spectrum of identities, experiences, and ideas, Gen Z employees know they don’t have to fit into a predefined mold to belong and thrive. Amanda Ralston, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, & Founder / CEO, NonBinary Solutions View the full article

Sticking to the same set of keywords in your paid search campaigns might feel safe, but it can limit your reach. Consumers search in countless ways, often using terms you may not have considered. To stay competitive – whether you’re scaling your budget, chasing growth goals, or trying to revitalize PPC performance – you must identify and fill keyword gaps. Here’s how. Keyword tools Google’s built-in Keyword Planner (and Microsoft’s equivalent product) provides a natural starting point for researching additional keywords. The tool can automatically filter out existing keywords in your account so you can easily see new suggestions. You can use Keyword Planner by either inputting a keyword (or a set of keywords) to get suggestions for similar keywords, or you can input a URL. If you aim to fill in gaps for specific products you offer, use the URL specific to that product or product category. Remember that pages with descriptive content will give the tool the best signals to generate ideas. You can input competitor URLs to get keyword ideas related to their content. Aside from using competitors you may already be familiar with, look at Auction Insights for the campaigns and ad groups where you plan to expand, and use those brands’ URLs. There are also a number of third-party keyword research tools available, such as: Semrush. SpyFu. Answer The Public. AlsoAsked. Many of these tools have free versions with limited features, plus paid plans for more in-depth insights. Using a variety of them can help uncover a broader range of keyword ideas. Leverage them to search by “seed” keywords and competitor URLs where applicable. Search term analysis By reviewing existing search terms that match your keywords, you may identify terms you aren’t bidding on that would be worth adding as new keywords. These might include: Search terms with a high enough impression/click volume to justify adding as keywords. Search terms with an exceptional conversion rate and/or reasonable CPA. Search terms that are still relevant to your brand but not related to the keyword/ad group where they matched. If you’re running in both Google and Microsoft, be sure to include search terms from both platforms, as you will likely find unique results between each. You can then test relevant terms as new keywords in both. If you’re running a Performance Max campaign, you can use Insights to view search terms. You can then evaluate bidding on high performers in regular search campaigns to better control bidding and ad copy. Today, even exact match keywords can trigger a wide range of search terms. If performance is similar and aligns with your ad messaging, there’s no need to separate them. However, if intent or performance differs, adding them to new ad groups or campaigns can be valuable. Dig deeper: 11 free tools for PPC campaign management Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Google Search Console data Looking through queries in Google Search Console may help to flag keywords that are driving relevant traffic organically but are not currently in your paid search campaigns. If you’ve linked your Search Console and Google Ads accounts, you can also use the Paid and Organic report to identify keywords you are strictly showing organically but not in paid results. Generally, appearing for the same keywords in both paid and organic results helps drive incremental traffic and conversions that would not have happened with just appearing for one or the other. Even if you already show up organically for a particular keyword, you can tweak the ad copy and URL for the paid search end to feature current offers. Website content When was the last time you thoroughly reviewed your brand’s website? A sitemap lets you view the site’s hierarchy and pinpoint products and categories for which you may not already be bidding on related keywords. Analytics data can reveal which product or service pages attract the most views and engagement. You can pinpoint areas of interest for which you aren’t pushing traffic or bidding on relevant keywords. Generative AI With careful prompt guidance, you can use generative AI tools to provide recommendations. For instance, paste in an existing list of keywords, describe your brand and marketing, and ask the tool to provide additional suggestions. Building off the previous section, you could provide the URL for your site or specific pages and ask for recommendations or paste in content directly from those pages. You’ll need to carefully review the outputted keyword suggestions for relevance. Also, you may need to provide further prompts to refine what you receive back. Dig deeper: Top AI tools and tactics you should be using in PPC Feedback from SMEs and customers As an agency or in-house marketer, you likely don’t have the same “in-the-weeds” level of knowledge that SMEs (subject matter experts) in the organization may have. Connect with individuals such as product marketers, sales teams, and owners in a small business setting. Ask them questions such as: What are the key problems your products solve? What are the main concerns customers ask about? What are the top competitors you hear mentioned by prospects? What less obvious phrases might customers use when referring to the products you sell? These questions, and others tailored to the products or services you are promoting, can inform new keywords you may want to include in your campaigns. Similarly, you may have access to talk directly to customers or review customer survey data. Use the information customers provide for further insight, as this may contradict or add to what SMEs share. For instance, I once managed paid search campaigns for a heating/AC business, and the marketing staff insisted that the average consumer did not use the acronym “HVAC” to refer to their services. However, actual search volume proved otherwise, as search terms containing “HVAC” were on par with the volume and conversion performance of heating/air conditioning terms. Start researching new keywords Regular keyword research keeps your PPC strategy fresh and competitive. Don’t let valuable opportunities slip by. Review your existing search campaigns, utilize available tools and resources, and incorporate staff and customer feedback to determine additional keywords that may help cover current gaps. View the full article

Google has officially announced Google AI Mode, after hearing rumors about it for months and then seeing leaked screenshots of it a few weeks ago. Google said AI mode gives you more advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities so you can get help with even your toughest questions.View the full article

In December, Google told us they are testing powering AI Overviews using Gemini 2.0. We think we even saw Google testing this in the wild with deeper AI Overviews with tons of links. Well, now, in the U.S. AI Overviews are officially powered by Gemini 2.0, it is no longer a test.View the full article

Get your business to the top of Google‘s search results and get more visitors using these easy-to-follow tips. View the full article

Google is testing more favicon designs within Google Search. I mean, we cover these way too often but hey, I like favicons, don't you? View the full article

Learn how to use Google Advanced Search to get better results and improve your topic research. View the full article

In a world without US security guarantees, all other priorities must give way to defenceView the full article

It looks like Microsoft is testing search ads that auto expand to reveal sitelinks under those ads within the Bing Search results. You don't need to click or do anything and the ad will dynamically expand to show more sitelinks underneath the search ad unit.View the full article

Rajan Patel, a VP, Engineering for Search at Google and the Co-founder of Google Lens, is now also offering an assist to Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liason. For the past several weeks, Rajan Patel's X profile also was tagged as being associated with the Google Search Liaison account.View the full article

Ever wondered how to increase your reach and engagement and, in turn, grow your following on Instagram? Your Instagram captions could hold the key. Yes, Instagram is a visual social media platform, but your caption carries more weight in the Instagram algorithm than you think. A strong visual can catch users' attention, but carefully thought-out Instagram captions can do more heavy lifting when it comes to growing your following on Instagram. For another, your caption can be crucial in prompting engagement from your followers. For example, you could use those 3,000 characters to: Authentically connect with your followers in a meaningful, vulnerable caption.Ask them a question and prompt them to comment to answer.Share some helpful information that has them lingering on your Instagram post to learn more.Have them laugh out loud, encouraging them to like or share.That said, it's not always easy to come up with something that ticks all the boxes — especially when you've spent hours creating the perfect Instagram Reel, carousel, or photo. So here’s some help: More than 350 funny, clever, or meaningful Instagram caption ideas for you to use on your next post. We’ve also included some guidance on how to use AI to turn it into your own personal Instagram captions generator. Sound good? Let’s dig in. Jump to a section: 35 short Instagram captions 20 birthday Instagram captions 44 motivational Instagram captions 38 Instagram captions for small businesses 20 quotes for Instagram captions 10 Instagram captions for selfies 30 funny Instagram caption ideas 35 Instagram sassy captions 30 cute Instagram captions 23 beach Instagram captions 28 summer Instagram caption ideas 40 fall Instagram caption ideas 20 winter Instagram captions AI Instagram caption generator ⚡Schedule your Instagram posts, carousels, stories, and reels with Buffer: Save your ideas, organize your content calendar, and analyze your performance with Buffer's suite of Instagram scheduling ​tools →35 short Instagram captionsGood Instagram captions don't have to be essays. Let your reels or pics speak for themselves with these short Instagram caption ideas. “Grateful”“Chasing sunsets.”“Thanks for the memories.”“Core memories”“In my happy place”“Baby steps.”“Dreaming.”“Proof of life.”"Limitless."“OOO.”“Courage.”“Curiouser and curiouser.”"Making my own sunshine.""Life is better when you're laughing."“The best life experiences are free.”"Golden hour glow.""Good vibes only.""Lost in the moment.""Sunkissed and smiling.""No rain, no flowers.""Just breathe.""Create your own sunshine.""Chase dreams.""Less perfection, more authenticity.""Keep it simple.""Wild and free.""Do more things that make you forget to check your phone.""Start somewhere.""Stay present.""Live lightly, love deeply.""Dream big, worry less.""Slow down and soak it in.""Collecting moments, not things.""Sunshine in my soul.""Keep going, keep growing."20 birthday Instagram captionsThese birthday captions for Instagram can be used on your own birthday (a very happy birthday if it is!) or tweaked to use as a message to someone else. I've included some great photo captions that will work for a business birthday, too. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling [insert age].""Aging like a fine wine.""HBD to the MVP!""Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway.""Happy cake day!""Your life is a beautiful story. Here's to writing your next chapter.""Growing up is optional, growing old is mandatory.""Another year closer to those senior citizen discounts!""Level unlocked.""Growing stronger each year, thanks to our customers!""A year older, a year bolder.""Chapter [age] begins now.""Growing wiser, not just older.""Making [age] look good.""Aging like a classic song—only getting better.""Today’s forecast: 100% chance of cake.""More candles, more memories, more fun.""Another trip around the sun, and still shining.""Feeling grateful for another year of adventures.""Here’s to another year of making dreams come true."44 motivational Instagram captionsSometimes, the image is so aesthetic that it requires something moving to accompany it. Here are some cool captions for your next Instagram post. (Bonus: these could make for some great text over Instagram Reels, too.) "Create the things you wish existed.""Turning can't into can and dreams into plans.""Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."“You didn't come this far to only come this far.”“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”"When nothing goes right, go left."The best view comes after the hardest climb.""The sky is not the limit. Your mind is.""The harder you work, the luckier you get.""The secret to getting ahead is getting started.""Small steps every day lead to big results.""Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.""Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.""Be so good they can’t ignore you.""Make today so awesome that yesterday gets jealous.""Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally; it comes from what you do consistently.""If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.""Your only limit is your mindset.""Work until your idols become your rivals."Hard work and hustle captions"Hustle in silence, let success make the noise.""Chase dreams, not things.""You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.""Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.""Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.""Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.""Winners focus on winning, losers focus on winners.""The road to success is always under construction.""Your hustle will determine your future.""If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door."Mindset and positivity captions"Your mindset shapes your reality.""Start small, but dream big.""Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable.""You become what you believe.""Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits.""Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.""Happiness is not a goal; it’s a byproduct of a life well-lived.""Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.""Fall seven times, stand up eight.""Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations."Success and growth captions"Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.""Stay focused, go after your dreams, and keep moving toward your goals.""Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.""Great things never come from comfort zones.""You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you."38 Instagram captions for small businessesIt can be tricky to create reel or photo captions for Instagram but still strike an appropriate tone and maintain your brand voice as a small business. Here are some clever Instagram captions to get you started: "Who needs therapy when you can shop here?" "Shopping here is a form of self-care.""Laughter is the best medicine, but our products are a close second.""Behind every small business is a dream, hard work, and dedication.""Big dreams, tiny team.""Every order makes us do a happy dance!""Making cool stuff since [year].""Thanks for supporting our dream.""Doing what we love for people who love what we do."“Dream big, shop small.”"Every big brand started as a small business. Thanks for being part of our journey!""Made with passion, sold with love.""Your support means the world to our small business!""When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance.""Handmade, heartfelt, and hustle-driven.""Small business, big dreams, endless possibilities.""You're not just buying a product; you're supporting a dream.""We’re not just a business; we’re a community.""One purchase, one smile, one step closer to our dreams.""Quality over quantity, always.""Warning: Shopping here may cause extreme happiness.""More than a brand — it's a labor of love.""No big investors, just big dreams.""Alexa, add everything to my cart!""Cute things inside — handle with care!""Because retail therapy is real therapy.""Local, loyal, and loving what we do!""Not just a product, but a whole vibe.""Hustling hard so you don’t have to shop anywhere else!""Running a small business: 50% passion, 50% coffee!"Customer appreciation captions for Instagram"Your support = our success. Thank you!""A little shop with a lot of love.""Every time you shop small, a real person does a happy dance.""Your orders keep our dreams alive — thank you!""Tag us in your purchase — we love seeing our products in action!""The best customers in the world? We got ‘em!""Thank you for shopping small and making a big impact!"20 quotes for Instagram captionsSometimes, someone else said it better. From Taylor Swift to Han Solo to William Shakespeare, here are some quotes that could make for the perfect Instagram caption. "I don't even have a 'pla.'" — Phoebe Buffay, Friends"Never tell me the odds." — Han Solo, Star Wars"Love is the most common miracle." — John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” — William Shakespeare, Hamlet“People like me are gone forever when you say goodbye.” — Taylor Swift, All You Had To Do Was Stay"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” — John D. Rockefeller"Isn't that just kick-you-in-the-crotch, spit-on-your-neck fantastic?" — Rachel Green, Friends"Exit, pursued by a bear." — William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale“You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me.” — Taylor Swift, Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?“It's not that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but it's your best friends who are your diamonds.” — Gina Barreca"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." – C.S. Lewis"The purpose of our lives is to be happy." – Dalai Lama"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." – Vincent Van Gogh“Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying." – Oscar Wilde"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." – Robin Williams"The new me is really still the real me." — Drake, In My Feelings“Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.” — Michael Scott, The Office“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”― Neil Gaiman, Coraline“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” — Mark Twain10 Instagram captions for selfiesHere are some witty, funny, and moving photo captions for Instagram selfies. "Be the reason someone smiles today."“Confidence level: Insta selfie.”"Self-love is the best love.""Just another day being awesome.""Won't delete later."“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." — John Lennon, Imagine“Always be a first-rate version of yourself and not a second-rate version of someone else.”― Judy Garland“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West“It's no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” ― Lewis Carroll"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are." — Brené Brown30 funny Instagram caption ideasFunny captions often make for the most memorable Instagram posts. Many Instagram users want to be entertained, after all! Here are some of the best Instagram captions I've seen for inspiring a laugh from your followers. “I'm just here for the food.”"If I had a dollar for every time I got distracted, I wish I had a puppy.""My favorite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch ... I call it lunch.""I'm not lazy, I'm on energy-saving mode.""I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.""Building an empire... one typo at a time.""Is it too late to be a morning person?""Putting the ‘pro' in procrastination.""I like big books, and I cannot lie.""I need six months of vacation, twice a year.""I put the ‘pro’ in procrastinate.""Life update: Still alive, still funny, still hungry.""Some people graduate with honors, I am just honored to graduate from my bed every morning.""I don’t need a hairstylist, my pillow gives me a new style every morning.""I’m not saying I’m lazy, but… OK, fine, I am lazy."Funny food and eating captions for Instagram "I like my coffee like I like my mornings — dark and strong.""Abs are great, but have you tried pizza?""Currently holding it all together with snacks and sarcasm.""I'm on a seafood diet. I see food, and I eat it.""I tried to be healthy today, but then I heard my fridge whisper ‘pizza’.”Funny work and productivity captions for Instagram "Work hard so you can shop harder.""I need six months of vacation, twice a year.""If mornings had a snooze button, I’d hit it.""Don’t worry if plan A fails; there are 25 more letters in the alphabet.""I pretend to work. They pretend to pay me. It’s a fair deal.”Funny selfie and confidence captions for Instagram "Confidence level: That one friend who always double-texts.""I don’t always take selfies, but when I do, I make sure the lighting is perfect.""Me: posts a fire selfie. Also me: hides for three days from notifications.""I woke up like this… late.""Mirror: You look amazing today. Camera: Nope, try again."35 Instagram sassy captionsTurn up the attitude and sprinkle your feed with these bold, unapologetic photo captions that will have your followers living for your confidence. "Serving attitude with a side of ‘you can’t sit with me.’""Spilling more sass than my morning coffee.""If wit was a sport, I’d have a gold medal.""Not everyone likes me, but not everyone matters.""Catch flights, not feelings … unless the feelings are about me.""Living life one bold move at a time"“Main character energy.”"No GPS needed, I’m already on my way to the top.""Sassy but always classy.""Warning: I may be too hot to handle.""Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the boldest of them all?""Born to stand out — fitting in was never an option.""Chasing my dreams, not boys.""Just me, living my best life.""Keep your heels, head, and standards high.""Just me, dripping confidence like it’s Chanel No. 5.""Looking like a million bucks … on a budget.""Flaws? I call them unique design features.""I am the plot twist you didn’t see coming.""The glow-up is real. Stay tuned.""Zero percent interest in your negativity.""Brb, living my best life.""I can’t be everyone’s cup of tea … but I’m someone’s favorite coffee.""I’m not extra, I’m just the full package.""They told me I couldn’t, so I did it twice and took selfies.""I break hearts, not promises.""Bad vibes don’t go with my outfit.""Confidence level: Beyoncé in ‘Formation’.""Just like my eyeliner, I always wing it and make it work.""I came. I saw. I left them speechless.""Why stress when you can impress?""Life is too short to wear boring clothes.""Be the energy you want to attract. Mine? Unstoppable.""Rolling my eyes so hard, I might find my brain.""Some follow trends, I set them."30 cute Instagram captionsSweeten up your Instagram post with these adorable captions. Perfect for those moments when you just can't help but smile. "Smiles, sunshine, and a little bit of sparkle.""Keep shining, beautiful things are ahead!""Cuteness overload, handle with care!""Throw kindness around like confetti.""Sunshine mixed with a little bit of sweetness.""You make my heart smile.""Just a cupcake in a world full of muffins.""Happiness looks good on me, don’t you think?""Keep calm and stay adorable!""Sprinkling a little bit of magic wherever I go.""Smiling because life is just that sweet.""Caution: Too much cuteness in one picture!""Messy bun and having fun!""A little bit of sugar, a little bit of spice, and a whole lot of nice!""Selfie mode: ON. Filter needed? Nah.""Chase dreams, catch cute moments.""A little sparkle never hurt anyone.""Feeling cute, might take another selfie later.""No filter, just me.""All smiles, no worries!""You + Me = ❤️""Together is my favorite place to be.""Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite.""Love is in the air … or maybe it’s just coffee!""Stealing hearts and snacks, one day at a time.""I fall for you every single day.""Cuddles, giggles, and a whole lot of love!""My heart does a happy dance every time I see you.""Life’s cuter when you’re around!""Love, laughter, and a little bit of magic.""Made of sugar, spice, and everything nice!""Collecting happy moments like seashells.""Smiling my way through life, one cute moment at a time.""Falling for fall, but make it cute!""Bringing all the good vibes and cuteness your way!"23 beach Instagram captionsEven if you're not a travel creator, you can be forgiven for flooding your feed with seaside Instagram posts on a beach holiday. Here are some poignant, clever, cool captions for Instagram to accompany your beachy snaps and clips. “My job is just… beach.” — Ken, The Barbie Movie"I'm looking for a man in flip-flops. Sun-kissed. Seaside. Good vibes.”“Life's a beach.”"Gone to the beach, be back never.""Life is better in flip flops.""The tans will fade, but the memories will last forever.""Every time I slip into the ocean, it's like going home." — Sylvia Earle"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." — Ralph Waldo Emerson"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." — Karen Blixen"Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away." — Sarah Kay"Life’s a beach, enjoy the waves!""Seas the day!""Lost at sea? I’m not complaining.""Beach, please!""Good vibes and tan lines.""If there’s a will, there’s a wave.""Keep palm and carry on.""High tides and good vibes.""Mermaid mode activated.""Ocean breeze & salty knees.""Salty air, sandy toes, and sun-kissed nose.""Beach hair, don’t care.""Sunkissed and sea-salted."28 summer Instagram caption ideasSoak up the sun and let the good times roll! Whether you're beachside or poolside, these captions will bring the summer vibes to your next Instagram post. Summer sun captions"Sunshine, tan lines, and good vibes only.""Hello, summer! Please stay forever.""Living life in a tropical state of mind.""Summer days and ocean waves.""Less Monday, more summer.""Blue skies, sunshine, endless possibilities!""Vacation mode: ON."Pool party and water fun captions"Pool hair, don’t care.""Splish, splash, summer’s a blast!""Floating through life one pool day at a time.""Sun’s out, fun’s out!""Swimsuit season is my favorite season.""Just keep swimming … towards the weekend!""Water you up to? Just making a splash!""Summer isn’t complete without a poolside drink!"Summer food and drink captions"Ice cream solves everything.""Sippin’ on sunshine.""Stay cool, eat watermelon!""Popsicle kisses and summer wishes.""Coconut in one hand, a margarita in the other.""More ice cream, less worries.""When life gives you lemons, make a margarita."Fun and playful summer vibes captions"Tan lines fade, but summer memories last forever.""Let’s make some waves!""Here for a good time, not a long time.""Sunshine is the best accessory.""Find me under the palm trees.""Living life one sunny day at a time."40 fall Instagram caption ideasThink fall, think cozy vibes, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin spice — capture that feeling in your video or photo captions! Here are some fun fall-themed captions to get you started. "Pumpkin spice and everything nice.""Leaves are falling, autumn is calling.""Sweater weather is better weather.""Fall breeze and crunchy leaves, yes please!""Autumn leaves and pumpkin dreams.""Falling in love with fall all over again.""Crisp air, cozy vibes, and pumpkin spice everything!""Autumn skies and pumpkin pies.""Golden leaves and cozy sleeves.""This season is too gourd to be true!"Pumpkin and Halloween captions"Pumpkin kisses and harvest wishes.""I’m just here for the boos!""Squash goals.""I’m hollow inside … just like this pumpkin.""You had me at pumpkin spice.""Creep it real this fall.""Hocus pocus and pumpkin focus!""Fall so hard, trick-or-treaters wanna find me.""Falling leaves and spooky sleeves.""Pumpkin-flavored kisses and Halloween wishes!"Cozy and weather captions"Chilling with my cozy crew.""Sipping cider and living my best autumn life.""Hot cocoa, fuzzy socks, and fall leaves = perfection.""Autumn leaves and lattes, please.""Leggings, boots, and oversized sweaters … fall uniform activated!""Crisp mornings, warm coffee, and endless coziness.""Sweaters, cider, and bonfire nights – my kind of vibe.""This sweater isn’t the only thing oversized – so is my love for fall!""Cuddle weather has officially begun!""Autumn: The season that feels like a warm hug."Playful fall captions"Hay there, fall!" 🌾"I like my fall like I like my lattes – extra spicy!" ☕🔥"Leaf me alone, I’m enjoying autumn." 🍁"You’re never too old to jump in a pile of leaves.""Apple picking > everything else.""Bonfires, sweaters, and everything better.""October is proof that change can be beautiful.""Pumpkin patches + cozy snuggles = happiness.""Falling leaves, hot drinks, and spooky things.""Welcome to the coziest season of the year!"20 winter Instagram captionsWinter is all about hot cocoa, roaring fires, and frosty fun. Here are some cool captions to match the season! "Cold hands, warm heart.""Winter magic is in the air.""Frosty mornings and cozy nights.""Sweater weather is better weather.""Happiness is hot cocoa on a cold day.""Winter is proof that endings can be beautiful.""Catching snowflakes and making memories.""Snowy days and warm drinks.""The world changes when it snows.""Let it snow, let it glow."Cozy and holiday season captions"Bundled up and loving it.""Home is where the fireplace is.""Cuddle season is officially here.""Fuzzy socks, warm blankets, and holiday movies.""Eat, drink, and be cozy.""Making memories one snowfall at a time.""Winter nights, twinkling lights, and festive delights.""Tis the season to be cozy.""Winter days, warm hearts.""Chasing winter sunsets and holiday lights."AI Instagram caption generator Buffer's AI Assistant is social media smart, meaning our specialist engineers have trained it to understand the nuances of each platform. So, with the right prompting from you, it can help you generate the perfect Instagram captions for your target audience. If you're a Buffer user, you'll find the AI Assistant ready and waiting to help in the post composer window. To find it, just tap the + New Post button, then Use the AI Assistant. A window will open to the left of the composer where you can prompt the AI. Not a user? No sweat. You can use Buffer's AI Social Media Post Creator to help you write your Instagram captions without signing up. Whichever route you choose, be sure to get specific about a) the subject of your Instagram post and b) who your target audience is when prompting an AI tool to help you generate captions for Instagram. Don't be afraid to include more details! The more specific you are, the better your AI-generated Instagram captions will be. You can ask for the caption to be in a specific tone, a certain number of characters, and even include target keywords or hashtags. Here's a prompt to get you started: For example: Write a [tone] Instagram caption for [target audience] related to [topic]. The caption should be at least [number] words long and include the keywords or hashtags [target words]. 10 AI Instagram caption promptsNeed more inspiration? Here are some more caption prompts to get you started on the road to great Instagram captions. Remember, copying and pasting these will only get you so far. The better you prompt the assistant, the better your Instagram captions will be. Write an Instagram caption that includes a list of [number] tips for [target audience] on [topic].Write an Instagram caption that showcases [number] ways to [achieve a specific goal related to the topic].Take this [other social media] post and transform it into a caption for Instagram: [paste the text from the old post]Write an Instagram caption that debunks common myths about [topic] for [target audience].Write a funny Instagram caption for [target audience] that will help them feel better about [specific challenge]Write an Instagram caption that promotes our new product/service [description of product or service] that includes a call-to-action to encourage [taget audience] to [take specific action]. Write an Instagram caption that breaks down [complex topic] into simple steps for [target audience].Write an Instagram caption that shares [number] interesting facts about [topic] for [target audience].Write an Instagram caption that breaks down the benefits of using our product or service for [target audience]. Some of the benefits are [list benefits here].Write an Instagram caption that contains a motivational message that encourages [target audience] to do [specific action].Maybe you don't have an overarching social media marketing goal or social media strategy right now — you may just be looking for something simple and clever to accompany your next post. If that's the case, this is the section for you. Here are a host of different Instagram captions to steal for your next selfie or photo dump carousel, whether you're after funny Instagram captions, one-word Instagram captions, beach Instagram captions, and more. What makes a good Instagram caption?A clever Instagram caption supports your photo or video, offers a window into who you are, educates, prompts your followers to engage, or all of the above. How does it fit into your creator or marketing goals for Instagram? Is it prompting follows, creating awareness, encouraging engagement, or sales? Does it come across as authentic to your brand identity? Not every brand is witty, and not every brand is super serious. Closely tied to authenticity is brand consistency in voice and tone. Your audience stays for the type of content you're known for publishing, so a good caption should reflect who you are. Does it encourage user engagement? Engagement is the bread and butter of any social media platform — your likes, retweets, shares, and more, show that your account resonates with your audience. It's a great idea to focus on getting users to engage with your post in your Instagram captions. Ultimately, however, your captions for Instagram should be relevant to your images. Is there an object you want to highlight? Is there a theme you can run with? Stephanie Gutierrez, a Senior Social Media Strategist at Online Optimism recommends using playful puns to keep your caption light or clear and concise CTAs to drive your desired results. Examples of accounts with great Instagram captionsSome of the best Instagram caption ideas come from Instagram itself. I love scrolling through my Instagram feed to see what clever captions other brands and creators have come up with. With that in mind, here are some of the best Instagram captions I've seen on the app lately: Tessa Hughs: The 'reel' value is in the caption Experimenting with including the real value from your Instagram post in your caption rather than giving it all away in the video could boost reach. Tessa Hughs (@spatialawareness____) does it masterfully in the video below. Two bonuses for this strategy: Your audience doesn't need to tap and hold your reel to review advice they may have missed. A short reel than contains only the ‘hook' of your post will be much easier to film and edit!National Park Service: Longer Instagram captions with great engagement We first discovered the wonder of the National Park Service's Instagram account when it was featured in Link in Bio, a newsletter about social media. Their account often defies the convention of keeping Instagram captions between 150-300 characters with long, humorous, and engaging captions. The account often starts Instagram posts with a funny sentence (as seen in the post below) or a CTA that encourages readers to continue reading the post, which follows through on the engaging introduction. We're Not Really Strangers: Connecting to your audience through short but engaging Instagram captions The Instagram account for the We're Not Really Strangers card game has great engagement — over 5.6%, which is a lot for its audience of 5 million followers. The Instagram captions on the posts tend to be short, but in tandem with the post, they always encourage conversation in the comments. In the post below, the brand's audience shares their "little things that aren't little" in the comments. Jeannette Aranda: Mixing long and short Instagram captions as the post calls for Jeanette Ogden, who runs @shutthekaleup, is an Instagram influencer who posts a lot about motherhood, fitness, and food on her account. She mixes caption length up depending on the post and sees a lot of engagement from her audience. People seem to resonate with her and enjoy it when she goes more into detail. Jeanette's account is a great example of understanding your audience and knowing when to go in-depth. Less is more when it comes to Instagram captionsTreat your Instagram captions like you would a press release, and look for ways to remove anything unnecessary. “Less is more” doesn't just refer to the length of the post but also to the number of hashtags or emojis you include. Or, instead of tagging someone in the caption, use Instagram's tagging feature instead. You have up to 3,000 characters for every caption, though you don't have to fill that space. But this doesn't mean your Instagram captions can't be long, either. It means you're communicating the most important information and not adding filler. Also, using a character counter can help ensure your social media captions stay within platform-specific character limits. 💡Not ready to post just yet? Save your Instagram caption ideas for later in Buffer's Create space. You never know when inspiration will strike! Bonus: you can color-code and organize them, too. Here's how → View the full article

The question came innocently enough: What do you want to be when you grow up? Lindsay’s daughter, after a brief pause, looked up and confidently replied, “I want to be a client.” The simplicity of the answer hid the complexity of what she had observed: The clients always seemed to get the very best version of her mother. In her daughter’s young mind, being a client meant holding a special place—one that commands focus, care, and an unwavering commitment. As two mothers navigating full-time legal careers, that moment was not lost on either of us. It reveals a truth that is often glossed over in the narratives about working women, especially those of us balancing professional intensity with parenting. Beneath the thin veneer of “having it all,” we know all too well the quiet sacrifices and compromises that characterize our balancing act. The spotlight may be on our professional accomplishments, but in the shadows our children wait patiently for our attention, often competing with the demands of a profession that do not easily relent. The Weight of Expectation Too often the complexities of ambition, motherhood, and professional duty are distilled into stereotypes that seek to diminish rather than dignify. It’s a familiar story—the notion that a woman with power and responsibility must inevitably be lacking elsewhere. Or that her identity as a mother or partner is somehow contrary to her professional persona. These narratives, however veiled, carry weight. But let’s say what that really means. It means that the diligence and tenacity we bring to our careers and our clients are identical to the dedication we offer to our families. It means that the long hours spent advocating for clients are juxtaposed with the quiet moments at home, where the stakes are equally high, even if measured in hugs rather than verdicts. It means that, despite the portrayal of women in leadership as one-dimensional, we are more. We are multifaceted, resilient, and deeply invested in both our professions and our roles as mothers. Living with the Tension The path of a working mother demands a constant recalibration of priorities where both career and family vie for equal attention and each carries its own form of guilt. The notion of “balance” is a fallacy. At least that’s what we’ve learned from years of trying to juggle our careers and motherhood. Instead, it’s a constant series of trade-offs and compromises leading us to understand that each day is unique. There’s no neat division between “work” and “life” anymore. Mornings usually start early, working before the rest of the house wakes up. We often work with one eye on the clock, calculating the minutes until we sprint from the office to catch a school or sport event. Or days when there’s a sick child and no available caregiver, the idea of balance seems laughable. This has forced us to rethink how we define success—not by perfection but by flexibility and resilience. It’s about being okay with the days that feel like controlled chaos and accepting that sometimes one part of life will have to be put on pause for the other. When our daughters see us in action—they don’t just witness the power, grace, and poise required of our profession; they see the weight of that responsibility and the effort and dedication it takes to give both our clients and our children the best of us. The Lessons We Teach As children we dreamed of becoming lawyers, mothers, or both, imagining these roles as ultimate markers of success and happiness. Our daughters, however, have grown up watching us navigate the realities of those choices and their dreams for us are different. If a child believes happiness comes from being in a position where others give their full attention, then maybe that’s a mirror to our own internal narratives—the idea that to be happy we must be fully attended to, in control, or on the receiving end of care. But our journey has taught us that happiness, real happiness, isn’t about being a client. It’s not about receiving—it’s about the pursuit itself, the constant striving to give our best to both our careers and our children. So while our daughters might want to be “clients” today, we hope they understand, over time, that true fulfillment comes not from being at the center of attention, but from living and thriving with the tension. View the full article

Where there is a will (to boost military capabilities), there is a wayView the full article

Fila is looking to Hailey Bieber to help its struggling brand. The South Korea-based sports apparel company is today launching a 13-piece spring/summer 2025 collection made in collaboration with Bieber, who is the founder of Rhode beauty. The pieces, which include a baby tee, sweatpants, and an oversized pullover, are designed to be “wardrobe staples,” according to the company, and are now available on FILA’s website and select Urban Outfitters stores. It’s clear the Hailey Bieber x FILA Collection is geared toward athleisure rather than performance activewear based on the campaign photography, which in one photo shows Bieber spilling an iced coffee. [Photo: Fila] Fila’s North American division said last year it would downsize in the U.S., and in January it laid off 130 employees at its headquarters and warehouse in Towson, Maryland. The rise of activewear accelerated by the pandemic has been great business for athletic apparel brands like Lululemon and Alo Yoga, which catered to spendy customers with clothes for everyday wear. Fila, however, failed to make similar gains. Last year, the brand partnered with Bieber for a retro-inspired collection also designed for everyday wear. This Bieber collaboration is another push to capture share of the growing female athleisure market. The collaboration follows a marketing strategy that’s becoming more common among athletic brands looking to expand their consumer base: securing celebrity rather than performance athlete brand ambassadors. Nike took this approach most recently when it partnered with Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims on a new women’s brand called NikeSkims. (Of course, Skims also has the appeal of a $4 billion valuation.) While Fila is better known for its partnerships with athletes and tennis players, including a sponsorship announced earlier this year with New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, just like the NikeSkims deal, teaming up with Bieber gives the brand access to a celebrity who sells a lifestyle, rather than an athlete who sells performance. [Photo: Fila] “If I wouldn’t wear it, I wouldn’t put it out into the world,” Bieber says in a promotional video for the collection. Considering the popularity of tenniscore fashion last summer and fall, the Hailey Bieber x FILA Collection is well timed. The collection also includes a lightweight twill pleated skirt and oversized knit sweater meant as a modern take on a tennis classic. For Fila, the Bieber collaboration is about more than just selling clothes, it’s about defining the brand’s place in an athleisure market dominated by competitors who already cemented their place in it. By tapping a celebrity and model, the sports apparel brand could better appeal to consumers more interested in aesthetic and versatility than athletic performance. View the full article

Murray Auchincloss’s share awards drop sharply to £2.75mn, compared with £4.36mn in 2023View the full article

The L.A.-based fashion brand Lisa Says Gah just teamed up with Polly Pocket for a new limited-edition collection, and it appears to be a sign that Mattel is already gunning to recapture the marketing magic of the Barbie movie. Polly Pocket Says Gah! is an assortment of cardigans, baby tees, accessories, and PVC slingback kitten heels, all rendered in a pastel palette and topped with playful details like ruffled edges and quilted stitching. Prices range from $50 to $198. It debuts today exclusively on the Lisa Says Gah website. [Photo: Lisa Says Gah] A Polly Pocket film has been in the works with MGM since 2021, but it faced a bump in the road last July when Lena Dunham, who was going to write and direct the movie, ultimately dropped out of the project. Communications on the status of the Polly Pocket film have been quiet since then—but the movie is still in the development, Mattel confirmed to Fast Company. The studio has yet to share a release date. On the design side, the collaboration merges an ongoing interest in coquette aesthetics and Y2K nostalgia. But more broadly, it’s also harbinger that Mattel’s next blockbuster marketing campaign is launching sooner than we thought. [Photo: Lisa Says Gah] Coquette core meets ’90s nostalgia The seed for Polly Pocket Says Gah! was first planted when Mattel reached out to the fashion brand with an Instagram DM. Lisa Says Gah founder Lisa Bühler felt the partnership would be a natural fit. “Growing up in the ’90s, Polly Pocket was such a core memory—playing with those tiny outfits, mixing and matching looks—it was all about creativity and self-expression,” says Bühler. “LSG has always had Polly Pocket undertones in our playful cuts, graphic tees, and vibrant energy.” [Photo: Lisa Says Gah] The limited collection represents an evolution of the coquette core trend that emerged last winter: An aesthetic that fully embraces feminine touches like bows, ribbons, and lace. For the past year or so, this look has come to encompass a cultural movement online toward accepting the trappings of “girlhood” (e.g., “girl dinner” and “girl math”) that some women say they previously felt compelled to repress. Coquette core has enjoyed a longer-than-usual trend cycle thanks to the influence of rising stars like Sabrina Carpenter, whose Brigitte Bardot-esque look highlights soft, flirty touches and light pastels. According to Pinterest, the trend is expected to continue into 2025: per the site’s Pinterest Predicts 2025 report, searches for both “ultra-feminine,” rococo-inspired looks and “doll-like” makeup are on the rise. [Photo: Lisa Says Gah] It makes sense that the Polly Pocket Says Gah! collab would incorporate nods to coquette fashion (like heart-shaped jacket pockets and tiny ribbon bows on handbags) given that Polly Pocket was created as a line of miniature doll toys for young girls. The collection adds its own spin to the trend, though, by fusing its whimsical details with recognizable ’90s Polly Pocket IP as a nod to grown-up fans—building on a current Y2K resurgence that’s popped up everywhere from the cereal aisle to music and tech. [Photo: Lisa Says Gah] Lisa Says Gah’s life-size Polly Pockets Instead of incorporating the Polly Pocket brand’s current logo, the Lisa Says Gah collection uses the brand’s original logo, which ran from 1989 to 1998. It also takes clear inspiration from the packaging of vintage Polly Pocket toys, which recently began selling for upward of $1,000 due to a burgeoning market of collectors. In fact, one of Polly Pocket Says Gah’s signature prints is made up of various Polly Pocket compacts, a must-have portable toy in the ’90s that was meant to mimic real makeup packaging but contained a whole tiny dollhouse. “This was a true collaboration,” Bühler says, noting that Mattel provided her team with ’90s Polly Pocket images and prints from its archives for inspiration. “Our goal was to bring Polly Pocket’s tiny, magical world to life in a way that feels fresh, wearable, and true to LSG and its community.” That comes through in the apparel. Each detail of the new collection seems crafted to allow ’90s babies to dress like life-size Polly Pocket dolls. [Photo: Lisa Says Gah] The first sign of a ‘Polly Pocket’ movie Long before the Barbie movie debuted in theaters on July 21, 2023, the world had already been introduced to more than 100 Barbie-based brand tie-ins, including a signature XBox console, a line of Ruggable rugs, a Hot Wheels car, and a collection at Gap. Mattel and Universal’s wide-reaching marketing effort made the Barbie brand virtually unavoidable (and forced Fast Company to issue a moratorium on any new Barbie collabs.) It was such a smash hit that it arguably changed the way that major movie studios approach adapting recognizable IP, as in the case of 2024’s Wicked, which similarly engaged in a months-long brand collab blitz. Now it looks like Mattel is gearing up for an even more drawn-out movie marketing play. Alongside the Lisa Says Gah collab, Polly Pocket has also recently debuted collaborations with The Office, Cotton On, and Funko (the latter two also use the brand’s ’90s logo.) For now, it’s unclear whether there is a Polly Pocket summer on the horizon—but if there is, we can be sure to expect plenty more collaborations to come. View the full article

In a small section of Los Angeles’s Elysian Park, which spans the amount of land a single sprinkler head can water, a native plant experiment is underway that could change city parks for the better. It’s called Test Plot. Combining native plant species, volunteer gardeners, and a not insignificant amount of weeding, the experiment is trying to find a new way for urban parks to counter ecological degradation and improve climate resilience. The project launched in 2019 and is now underway in parks across California, and the approach is showing that with the right plants and the right amount of effort, parks can be brought back into sync with the natural tendencies of their environments. [Photo: Terremoto] An experiment to spur native, fire-resistant plant growth The idea came from the landscape architecture firm Terremoto, which formerly had an office just a few blocks from Elysian Park. “We saw that it was in need of some help,” says Jenny Jones, a landscape architect at Terremoto. Sections of the roughly 600-acre park were totally overrun by non-native species that crowd out more drought-tolerant, biodiverse, and fire-resilient species. The city’s overstretched parks department had been managing these issues through annual brush clearance, but the non-natives would always grow back, along with the risks they posed. “It clears for fire, but it also mows down every single native species in its path,” Jones says. “We wanted to just challenge the regime of maintenance that we were seeing in the park.” [Photo: Terremoto] In conjunction with a longstanding community group associated with the park, Terremoto approached the city about using the firm’s landscape architecture skills to try a different approach. They asked if they could run a small experiment, planting native plants and doing some active, volunteer-based gardening. The city agreed, with the stipulation that the project be temporary. [Photo: Terremoto] A way forward for more sustainable parks So in the fall of 2019 Terremoto hooked a hose to a water bib in the park, attached a sprinkler head, and started preparing a plot of land for a new kind of park planting. After a few rounds of watering and weeding, they planted dozens of one-gallon pots of native plants. Then, through regular maintenance and weeding sessions attended by a dedicated group of volunteers and enthusiasts, they simply helped the native plants thrive and stopped the non-native plants from moving back in. “We look to ecological restoration as a guide, but it’s not strict,” says Jones. “We lie somewhere between gardening and restoration.” Within three years the native plants fully established themselves, and no longer required watering, nor much weeding. This one plot, just 30 feet in diameter, proved that the park could be restored to a more sustainable and ecologically balanced state. [Photo: Terremoto] A 30-foot circle in a 600-acre park might seem like a drop in the bucket, but the idea has caught on. Terremoto expanded its Test Plot approach to other parts of Elysian Park and other parks across L.A. There are now about 15 Test Plots, including four or five that have fully established plants. By identifying degraded landscapes within parks, engaging with local groups already connected with those parks, and then asking city officials if they could temporarily intervene by adding native plants to those parks, they’ve been able to rethink planting and maintenance approaches at a larger scale. “There’s a little bit of figuring out how to pierce the bureaucracy and how to get around the otherwise really strict rules about engaging in that kind of work in public spaces,” Jones says. But in the urban context, parks departments often have to deprioritize planting and maintenance in the face of the social issues they also experience, like vandalism, drug abuse, unhoused individuals, and compromised public safety. A volunteer project like Test Plot is a welcome intervention. “[Parks departments] simply don’t have the budget to do what it takes to actually take care of a complicated urban park that faces intense urban problems,” Jones says. [Photo: Terremoto] Test pilot’s appeal for time (and budget)-strapped cities Test Plot is an appealing concept for parks who face such both budget challenges and the relentlessness of invasive species, and many across the state of California have allowed these interventions. Beyond half a dozen parks in L.A., Test Plots are adding native plants to parks in San Francisco, Berkeley, Daly City, Puente Hills, and Catalina Island. Interest in the approach has grown so much that it’s been formally spun off into a non-profit organization by the same name. Jones says the organization has received interest from parks groups across the country, including in Minnesota and Rhode Island. They are also being hired as consultants for new park projects, including a redesign of the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens that will feature an ethnobotanical garden created by the Test Plot organization. Jones says that a central element of all these Test Plots is community involvement. Volunteers are the backbone of the effort, and their ongoing engagement with the planting and weeding that Test Plot involves becomes a kind of reinforcement for the park’s vitality. “We have people come and they form a bond with their park in a way that they didn’t before,” Jones says. “A lot of people love their parks because they take their dogs on walks, it’s where they run, it’s where they walk with their friends. But there’s a whole new layer of bonding when your hands are in the soil and you are taking care of the land yourself.” View the full article