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If you try to access your Google Business Profile page right now, you likely won't be able to. It seems Google Business Profile edit section within Google Search is broken and serves a 500 error when you try to do anything.View the full article

Google Business Profiles support team is currently a bit delayed, with a backlog of support requests, video verification delays, and reinstatement request backlogs. View the full article

We know Google can show reviews from third-party sources in Google Business Profile listings. We've seen Google take reviews from Yelp, travel sites and other third-party websites. But these days, more often than not, you see reviews only from Google. But have you ever seen a review from Yandex on Google?View the full article

Learn how to effectively manage multiple WordPress websites. Create a scalable plan to maintain and secure your sites for long-term success. The post How To Manage Multiple Websites On WordPress appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

As a kid of the 1970s, I was fascinated by a short-lived art movement known as photorealism. The painters who practiced it created works that weren’t merely realistic. They were borderline indistinguishable from photographs—an extraordinary feat to pull off with oil on canvas. If the genre hadn’t involved so much painstaking effort, it might have gained more momentum. Thanks to generative AI tools such as DALL-E and Midjourney, which can turn a written prompt into a photo-like image in seconds, we now live in an era of point-and-click photorealism. The results often don’t amount to anything more than internet chum. I certainly didn’t consider any of it to be art—until last week, when I read about a Costa Rican artist named Matias Sauter Morera. He made the news by selling an image he’d created using AI to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, where it will be included in an upcoming exhibit called Queer Lens: A History of Photography. In an interview with Artnet’s Adam Schrader, Sauter Morera—an accomplished photographer—discussed this image and others he’d made using AI, all inspired by the secret lives of 1970s Costa Rican cowboys. I encourage you to check out the Artnet story’s pictures and explanation of why Sauter Morera chose to synthesize them rather than take them with a camera. He didn’t just type prompts into DALL-E and then claim the results as his own creation. Instead, he says, his process involves multiple AI models, Photoshop, and months of labor; though he emphasizes that the results are not photos, they clearly benefit from his photographer’s eye. What Sauter Morera is doing has real emotional punch to it: It has more in common with the photorealism of the ’70s than with the spammy, soulless AI slop of 2025. But I do admit to being taken aback by the way Artnet and other media outlets that reported on his Getty sale bandied about the term AI photograph. I’m not even sure how I feel about the august museum including one of his computer-generated pictures in a photography exhibit. After all, the fact that an image looks an awful lot like a photograph does not make it one. Photos start out as light captured via a photosensitive surface—today, usually an electronic sensor, and a strip of film before that. They record a moment in time that actually occurred. Sauter Morera’s AI images do not; that’s their entire point. (He says he opted for AI in part to add a speculative element, as well as avoid invading anyone’s privacy.) Now, the line between photography and reality as we might envision it has always been blurry. For one thing, even unedited photos have the power to mislead as well as inform. The act of pointing a lens at something is as much about what doesn’t get into the frame as what does; you’re never seeing the whole story, and maybe not even a good-faith subset of it. More than a century and a half ago, famed photographer Mathew Brady shot a photo of then-presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, had an assistant retouch it to be more flattering, then took a picture of that picture—basically that era’s equivalent of applying a beauty filter. Today, Google and Apple both tout smartphone AI that lets you quickly and easily erase people and objects from photos. That might be pretty innocuous if you’re excising random photobombers from a snapshot of your family at the beach, but it’s still a decisive move away from photography being documentary evidence of anything. I believe it’s worth preserving the distinction between a photo—even it’s been through the AI wringer—and something that closely resembles one. I’m not just worried about the prospect of people being deceived by simulated photos produced by AI: That computer-generated horse is already out of the hyperrealistic barn. It’ll only run more rampant as algorithms eradicate the remaining telltale signs of an image’s synthetic origins. (Incidentally, did you know that AI still can’t figure out how to show left-handed people writing?) What has me particularly jittery is the prospect of people—many of whom are perfectly content luxuriating within bubbles of misinformation—not caring whether an image depicts something that actually happened. Conflating photo-like images with photos can only encourage such a scenario. Even now, this isn’t a theoretical problem. Facebook is awash in bargain-basement AI imagery that doesn’t seem to be fooling members so much as providing the same dopamine hit as a real photo. And last year, during Hurricane Helene, an AI-generated image of a sobbing child and adorable puppy being rescued via boat went viral on Twitter. The picture tugged at heartstrings, but was also weaponized in attacks on the Biden administration’s response to the disaster. After its authenticity was questioned, one member of the Republican National Committee continued to call it a “photo” and said she didn’t care about its backstory. She might not, but we should. Technologies and standards for authenticating the provenance of digital imagery are vital, but they presume a desire to separate the real from the fake. As that distinction gets tougher to make through mere eyeballing, we’ll need to work harder to maintain it. Reserving the term photograph for images shot with a camera is not a bad first step. You’ve been reading Plugged In, Fast Company’s weekly tech newsletter from me, global technology editor Harry McCracken. If a friend or colleague forwarded this edition to you—or if you’re reading it on FastCompany.com—you can check out previous issues and sign up to get it yourself every Wednesday morning. I love hearing from you: Ping me at hmccracken@fastcompany.com with your feedback and ideas for future newsletters. I’m also on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads. More top tech stories from Fast Company This vibrating app makes you feel better just by putting your iPhone on your heart A new app uses haptic feedback motors to stimulate your vagus nerve and calm you down. Read More → Federal workers fired by Elon Musk’s DOGE are sharing their anxieties on Reddit Government employees are taking to the online forum to share layoff horror stories and discuss their next steps. Read More → What is Y Combinator now? Critics say the famed accelerator is having an identity crisis As Y Combinator expands and evolves, investors and founders question whether its golden reputation still holds. Read More → Apple finally lets you merge 2 Apple IDs—kinda. Here’s how Anyone with more than one Apple ID knows how frustrating things can get. Now you can do something about it. Read More → A partnership between Jigsaw and this Kentucky city could be the future of civic engagement Bowling Green is teaming up with Google and the statistical analysis company Polis to reimagine its future. Read More → AI Companions: The future of friendship or a dangerous illusion? AI companions offering artificial intimacy are on the rise, but experts warn of mounting emotional dependence. Read More → View the full article

Google is testing a new design for its search results that are more of a grid format, more of a boxed in design. They are not on all the search results elements but more of the search features.View the full article

Have you ever caught yourself, phone in hand, endlessly scrolling through the addictive loop of Instagram Reels, marveling at the creativity? And as a small business owner, you also probably wondered how to make money on Instagram Reels. Here’s a staggering fact: Instagram boasts over 1.35 billion users, with Reels rapidly becoming a central feature of content consumption. For many, it’s not just about likes or comments – it’s about finding ways to monetize those 15 to 30-second clips. And nearly anyone can learn how to make money on Instagram reels. In this guide, we’ll break down the strategies and steps to monetize your passion for Reels and transform your Instagram into a lucrative endeavor. What Is Instagram Reels? In the dynamic world of social media, adaptability and innovation are key, and that’s where Instagram Reels comes in – the feature is a testament to this very evolution. But what is this buzzing feature, and why is it so crucial for digital content creators? Instagram Reels is the platform’s answer to the burgeoning popularity of short-form video content. Reels offers users the chance to create, share, and explore 15 to 30-second multi-clip videos set to a vast library of music or user-generated audio. Think of it as Instagram’s twist on the TikTok formula – bite-sized, engaging videos designed to entertain, educate, or inspire. If you’re looking to learn how to make money on Instagram Reels, this is a great place to start. Navigating Reels is easy. On the Instagram app, a dedicated space showcases the trending Reels, allowing users to discover diverse content from a global community. The possibilities are vast, from dance challenges to life hacks, comedic skits, and micro-tutorials. The Importance of Instagram Reels for Business In an era where digital real estate is paramount, Instagram Reels is emerging as prime property for businesses and influencers. But why is this short-form video feature gaining such traction, especially in the commercial realm? Staggering Reach and Engagement: Over 200 million users visit at least one business profile daily on Instagram. With the integration of Reels, businesses can tap into a more extensive audience base. The algorithm of Reels also boosts discoverability, often pushing popular or relevant Reels to the forefront, thereby increasing the chances of content visibility. Authenticity and Creativity: Reels offer a platform for brands to showcase their more human side. Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes look, a quick tutorial, or a fun challenge, businesses can engage with their audience more authentically and creatively. Increased Dwell Time: The captivating nature of video content, especially the bite-sized versions on Reels, means users tend to spend more time on the platform. This added ‘dwell time’ benefits brands as it translates to prolonged exposure and, potentially, enhanced engagement. Direct Integration with Instagram Shop: Integrating Reels with Instagram Shop is a game-changer for businesses selling products. It turns entertaining content directly into potential sales, bridging the gap between fun and function. Comparison to Other Platforms: While platforms like TikTok pioneered the short-video format, Instagram Reels benefits from being a part of an already established ecosystem. Businesses and influencers who have already cultivated a following on Instagram don’t need to start from scratch. Instead, they can seamlessly integrate Reels into their existing content strategy. Versatility of Content: From showcasing product launches to sharing customer testimonials, conducting mini interviews, or even quick DIYs, the spectrum of content that businesses can create on Reels is vast. This versatility means that irrespective of the industry or niche, there’s potential to leverage Reels effectively. Instagram Reels Monetization Requirements Monetizing any social media platform requires a thorough understanding of its guidelines and prerequisites. Despite being a relatively new feature, Instagram Reels has rapidly gained attention as a lucrative avenue for creators and businesses. But how do you ensure your account is set up for successful monetization? Let’s delve into the essential requirements and how you can meet them: Instagram Partner Monetization Policies: Before diving into Reels monetization, familiarize yourself with the Instagram Partner Monetization Policies. These guidelines ensure that the content on the platform is authentic, respectful, and adheres to community standards. Some pointers include avoiding misinformation, hate speech, and explicit content. Follower Count and Engagement: Currently, Instagram hasn’t set a specific follower count as a prerequisite for Reels monetization, but most accounts can monetize after reaching 100k followers and up. Professional Account: To unlock monetization features and gain access to analytics, convert your personal Instagram account to a Business or Creator account. This change provides you with insights into your post performance and enables potential collaborators to reach out to you directly. Original Content: This is paramount. Ensure that the content you post is original and not repurposed from other platforms or creators. Brands and sponsors value authenticity and are likelier to invest in creators who produce unique content. Stay Active and Consistent: Consistency is essential in the digital world. By regularly posting and interacting with your audience, you can enhance your visibility on the platform. Create a content calendar, try different posting times to discover when your audience is most active, and respond to comments and direct messages to build a sense of community. Diversify Content Types: Although Reels should be your main focus, it’s important to not overlook other Instagram features. By incorporating Stories, IGTV, and standard posts, you can enhance your profile’s overall engagement and attract a wider audience. Engage with Brand Collaborations: Once you have a notable presence, you can pitch to brands or wait for them to approach you. Initially, consider partnerships that offer products or services in kind. As your influence grows, you can negotiate paid collaborations. Join Instagram’s Affiliate Program: If available in your region, the Instagram Affiliate Program can be an excellent way for creators to earn commissions on the sales they drive through the platform. Research its terms and conditions to determine eligibility and potential benefits. A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Reels on Instagram Dipping your toes into the world of Instagram Reels might initially seem a tad overwhelming. With a multitude of features, editing tools, and endless creative possibilities, where do you start? To help, we’ve crafted a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to help you navigate this vibrant realm of short-form videos. Step 1: Log in to Your Instagram Account and Navigate to Reels Beginning your journey with Reels is straightforward; you just need to access the feature within your Instagram app. Here’s how to get started: Log in to Your Account: Enter your credentials to access your Instagram account. If you’re already logged in, you’ll be taken directly to your main feed. Accessing the Reels Camera: Swipe Right Option: From anywhere in your feed, swipe right. This will open the Instagram camera. Camera Icon Option: Alternatively, locate the camera icon on your screen’s top left corner and tap on it. Once you’ve accessed the camera, you’ll see several options at the bottom. Swipe through them until you land on “Reels.” And voilà, you’re now in the Reels recording mode Step 2: Explore the Reels Features Once you’ve navigated to the Reels camera, you’ll be greeted by various features tailored to enhance your video creation process. Each feature brings its unique flair to the table, allowing you to customize your Reels perfectly. Let’s delve into the primary features and how you can utilize them: Speed: Purpose: This feature allows you to speed up or slow down a portion of your video. Whether aiming for a slow-motion aesthetic or a rapid sequence, this tool is your go-to. How to Use: On the left side of your screen, you’ll find a speedometer icon. Tap on it, and choose your desired playback speed from the options presented. Effects: Purpose: Instagram offers many effects to add flair and creativity to your Reels. From augmented reality filters to color adjustments, the possibilities are vast. How to Use: You’ll notice a smiley face icon next to the shutter button. Tapping on this will open the effects gallery. Swipe through and select your preferred effect. Some effects even allow further customization, so feel free to explore! Timer: Purpose: Want to record hands-free? The timer feature lets you set a duration, giving you a countdown before the recording begins. How to Use: On the left side, find the stopwatch icon. Select it, set your desired duration using the slider, and press ‘Set Timer.’ When you’re ready, tap the record button, and after the countdown, the recording will start automatically. Align: Purpose: This tool is convenient for seamless transitions. It allows you to line up objects from your previous clip before recording the next, ensuring smooth visual continuity. How to Use: After recording a clip, tap the ‘Align’ button. This will display the last frame of your previous clip as an overlay, assisting you in aligning your next shot. Audio: Purpose: Enhance your Reel by choosing from Instagram’s extensive collection of music or incorporate your own original audio. How to Use: Click on the music note icon on the left side. This allows you to search for and select the track you want. After making your selection, you can choose the exact portion of the song you wish to highlight in your Reel. If you prefer to use your own sound, just record your Reel normally, and your original audio will play alongside the video. Step 3: Record Your Reel Now that you’ve grasped the myriad of features at your disposal, it’s time for the main event: recording your Reel! Whether aiming for a one-take wonder or a meticulously stitched masterpiece, Instagram Reels offers the flexibility to bring your vision to life. Here’s how you can get rolling: Continuous Recording: How to Use: Press and hold the central record button (it’s the big white circle at the bottom). As you hold, the video will be recorded. Release the button when you want to stop. This method is perfect for capturing uninterrupted moments or continuous actions. Segmented Recording: How to Use: Tap the record button once to start recording and tap it again to stop. This allows you to capture multiple separate clips that Instagram will automatically stitch together into a single Reel. It’s ideal for scenes with transitions, changes in setting, or varied content segments. Uploading From Gallery: How to Use: Below the record button is a small gallery icon. Tapping on this lets you access your device’s media gallery. Select the video clip(s) you wish to use from here. Once uploaded, you can trim and adjust the buckle as needed before integrating it into your Reel. Pro Tip: Plan ahead if you’re crafting a story through your Reel. Sketch a rough sequence or storyboard. This helps ensure smooth transitions, especially when stitching multiple clips together. Recording your Reel is all about capturing your narrative in its most authentic, creative form. Whether filming on the go or curating a well-planned story, each approach offers its unique charm. So, lights, camera, action – your Reel stage awaits! Step 4: Edit Your Reel You’ve captured your moments, but the journey to crafting a standout Reel doesn’t end there. Enter the editing phase – where you refine, decorate, and perfect your content. With Instagram Reels’ suite of editing tools, you have all you need to transform raw footage into engaging narratives. Here’s a walkthrough of the available editing arsenal: Adding Text: Purpose: Convey messages, add context, or even throw in some humor with customizable text. How to Use: Tap the ‘Aa’ icon at the top of your screen. Write your desired text, then choose color, font, and alignment. You can adjust the duration for which each text element appears on your Reel by tapping on it and setting the display start and end times. Stickers and GIFs: Purpose: Amplify the fun quotient of your Reel with a plethora of stickers or GIFs. How to Use: Click on the square-faced sticker icon at the top. You can browse and choose from trending stickers or search for specific ones. Just drag and adjust them to your preferred spot on the video. Drawing: Purpose: Add a personal touch by drawing or highlighting areas in your Reel. How to Use: Tap the pen icon at the top. Pick your desired color and brush style from the options below. Once chosen, use your finger to draw or sketch directly onto the video clip. Adjusting Clip Length: Purpose: Ensure your Reel fits within the desired duration or emphasize specific segments. How to Use: On the editing screen, you’ll see a trim option (usually represented by a slider). Here, you can adjust your video clip’s start and end points to achieve the desired length. Using Multiple Clips: Purpose: Merge multiple moments or scenes to create a cohesive narrative. How to Use: After recording a segment, you can immediately record another by pressing the record button again. Instagram will automatically stitch them together. To adjust the length or order of these segments, use the trim option and drag the clips to rearrange. Deleting Clips: Purpose: Did you make an error or capture an unwanted segment? No worries; you can easily remove it. How to Use: In the clip preview at the bottom, select the clip you want to delete. An option to discard or delete (usually represented by a trash bin icon) will appear. Tap on it to remove the segment from your Reel. Editing is all about refining your storytelling, ensuring every second of your Reel is engaging and aligns with your vision. So, flex those creative muscles and let your Reel be a reflection of your unique style and message! Step 5: Share Your Reel The final curtain call! You’ve conceptualized, captured, and crafted your Reel. Now, it’s time to unveil it to the world. Sharing your Reel is more than just a click – it’s about maximizing its reach and resonance. Here’s how to effectively share and optimize your Reel: Choosing Where to Share: – To Your Feed: After finalizing your edit, you’ll be taken to a sharing screen. Here, you can choose to post the Reel to your main Instagram feed, ensuring all your followers can see it directly when they scroll. – To Your Stories: Want a 24-hour showcase? Opt to share your Reel to your Stories. Remember, this will display just a segment of your Reel, so viewers must tap on it to watch the full version. – To the Explore Page: By default, public accounts will have their Reels eligible to appear on the Explore page. This vastly increases its discoverability and can help garner views from a broader audience beyond your followers. Crafting a Captivating Caption: – Purpose: Your caption should encapsulate the essence of your Reel, intrigue viewers, or provide context. – How to Use: Think of your caption as a headline. It should be concise, catchy, and relevant. Pose a question, use a witty statement, or share a fun fact. The aim is to complement your Reel and encourage user interaction. Harnessing the Power of Hashtags: – Purpose: Hashtags act as content anchors, connecting your Reel to specific topics, trends, or communities. – How to Use: After writing your caption, add relevant hashtags. Consider using a mix of broad (#DIY, #Foodie) and niche (#VeganDessertIdeas, #IndieMusicCovers) tags. Research popular hashtags on Instagram or use Instagram’s suggestion feature to maximize reach. Tagging Relevant Users or Brands: – Purpose: Tagging can acknowledge collaborations, give credit, or draw attention to specific profiles or brands featured in your Reel. – How to Use: Use the ‘@’ symbol followed by the username in the caption or directly on the Reel. This notifies the tagged account and can foster interactions or resharing. Final Checks: Give your Reel one final watch before hitting that share button. Ensure the audio syncs, the edits are smooth, and the overall presentation aligns with your intent. Engage with Your Audience: Keep an eye on your notifications after publishing. Engaging with comments, answering questions, or simply thanking viewers can boost the Reel’s visibility and foster community. Every share is like casting a net in the vast ocean of digital content. The more thought-out and strategic it is, the better your chances of reeling in a bountiful catch. Happy sharing! https://youtube.com/watch?v=o2h7vDaD9mI%3Fsi%3D0zJJxu2CVj4zWTmh Top Ways to Make Money with Instagram Reels The Instagram Reels Play Bonus program is no longer an option for those in the United States looking for new or extended deals. However, this development doesn’t mean the end of monetizing your Instagram Reels. Plenty of creative and strategic ways exist to convert your Reels into a solid income source. Here’s how to make money on Instagram reels: Sponsored Content The classic yet effective route: create content that a company pays you for. Businesses are always on the hunt for influential individuals who can portray their products or services in a positive light. The key here is to maintain authenticity. Always choose to partner with brands that resonate with your image and audience. A sponsored Reel should benefit the brand and offer value to your followers. Look into Affiliate Marketing to Make Money From Instagram Affiliate marketing involves promoting a product and earning a commission per sale made through a link you share. You can seamlessly incorporate these affiliate links into your Reels by either mentioning them verbally or adding them to your caption. Ensure that the products you endorse fit your brand and are genuinely useful to your audience. Partnering with Brands for Branded Content Branded content is more than just a simple shoutout or feature; it involves a collaborative effort with a brand to produce an entertaining and subtly promotional Reel. The great advantage is that Instagram enables you to tag businesses in your branded content, ensuring transparency for your audience while also offering increased exposure for the brand. Explore Influencer Marketing Brands may pay you to leverage your influence and promote their products or services if you’ve built a substantial following. Unlike sponsored content, influencer marketing is often a more extended engagement and may require multiple posts, including Reels. It’s crucial to select partnerships that align with your brand image and can offer genuine value to your followers. Create a Themed Reel in a Popular Niche Carving out a niche can be a game-changer. For example, if you’re an expert in plant-based diets, a series of Reels featuring quick vegan recipes can attract a targeted audience. Once you’ve amassed a following in your niche, brands related to that sector are more likely to seek partnerships with you. Sell Your Own Products or Services Use Reels to showcase your products or explain your services. Whether it’s a digital course, handcrafted jewelry, or consulting services, a well-crafted Reel can serve as a dynamic advertisement that reaches a broad audience. Offer Paid Reel Tutorials or Masterclasses If you have expertise in a particular field—be it digital marketing, dance, or cooking—you can offer specialized Reel tutorials for a fee. Tease your audience with a free Reel showcasing what they’d gain and direct them to a paid platform to access the full content. Leverage Reels to Drive Traffic to Other Paid Platforms If you have a monetized YouTube channel, blog, or podcast, use Reels to funnel Instagram traffic to these platforms. A catchy, high-quality Reel can pique interest and guide viewers to your other revenue-generating channels. Fan Contributions and Tips Some social platforms like TikTok have introduced the concept of fans being able to tip creators for the content they love. While Instagram hasn’t rolled out this feature for Reels yet, keep an eye out for such updates, as it could become another income stream. MethodDescriptionProsCons Sponsored ContentContent paid for by companies to promote their products or services.• Direct payment from brands • Authentic content offers value to followers• Can be seen as inauthentic if not aligned with personal brand Affiliate MarketingPromoting a product and earning a commission per sale made through a shared link.• Passive income • Control over what to promote• Need significant traffic for substantial earnings • Dependence on affiliate rates Partnering for Branded ContentCollaboration with a brand to create entertaining and subtly promotional Reels.• Enhanced brand collaboration • Transparency with tagging feature• Requires maintaining a balance to avoid over-promotion Influencer MarketingBrands pay for leveraging your influence to promote their products or services.• Long-term engagements • Potential for higher earnings• Multiple posts may be required • Necessitates alignment with personal brand Themed Reel in a Popular NicheCreating content in a specific niche to attract a targeted audience.• Attracts targeted followers • Potential brand partnerships in the niche• Requires expertise in the chosen niche • Might limit audience reach Sell Your Own Products or ServicesShowcasing personal products or services through Reels.• Complete control over pricing and promotion • Direct income• Requires inventory or service management • Investment in product/service development Paid Reel Tutorials or MasterclassesOffering specialized Reel tutorials for a fee.• Income from expertise • Attracts followers interested in the topic• Requires in-depth knowledge and content creation • Platforms for hosting paid content might be needed Drive Traffic to Other Paid PlatformsUsing Reels to guide viewers to other monetized platforms.• Diversifies income streams • Expands overall online presence• Dependence on the success of other platforms • Requires consistency across platforms Fan Contributions and TipsAccepting tips from fans for the content (depends on platform features).• Direct appreciation from fans • Can be a significant income source for popular creators• Reliant on the generosity of followers • Platform must support the feature FAQs: How to Make Money on Instagram Reels When Did The Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program Stop? The Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program was discontinued on March 23. As a result, starting from this date, new or extended agreements through this program are no longer accessible in India and the United States. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to make money on your phone and online. If you’re interested, consider researching how to make money on social media sites outside of Instagram. For example, here’s our guide on how to make money on Snapchat. Will Existing Instagram Reels Play Bonus deals be Honoured? Yes, existing deals under the Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program will be honored according to the original terms until they expire. Does Instagram Have a New Invite-Only Bonus Program? Instagram Reels Play is an invite-only bonus program that lets content creators earn money on their reels. How do Instagram Creators qualify to get paid for reels on Instagram? Even with the discontinuation of the Reels Play Bonus Program, there are multiple other new tools for creators to make money on Facebook and Instagram. The general prerequisites usually involve having a certain follower count, a track record of engagement, and adhering to Instagram’s community guidelines. Read the list above for a guide on how to make money on Instagram and a rundown of Instagram Reels new features. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Make Money on Instagram Reels" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Have you ever caught yourself, phone in hand, endlessly scrolling through the addictive loop of Instagram Reels, marveling at the creativity? And as a small business owner, you also probably wondered how to make money on Instagram Reels. Here’s a staggering fact: Instagram boasts over 1.35 billion users, with Reels rapidly becoming a central feature of content consumption. For many, it’s not just about likes or comments – it’s about finding ways to monetize those 15 to 30-second clips. And nearly anyone can learn how to make money on Instagram reels. In this guide, we’ll break down the strategies and steps to monetize your passion for Reels and transform your Instagram into a lucrative endeavor. What Is Instagram Reels? In the dynamic world of social media, adaptability and innovation are key, and that’s where Instagram Reels comes in – the feature is a testament to this very evolution. But what is this buzzing feature, and why is it so crucial for digital content creators? Instagram Reels is the platform’s answer to the burgeoning popularity of short-form video content. Reels offers users the chance to create, share, and explore 15 to 30-second multi-clip videos set to a vast library of music or user-generated audio. Think of it as Instagram’s twist on the TikTok formula – bite-sized, engaging videos designed to entertain, educate, or inspire. If you’re looking to learn how to make money on Instagram Reels, this is a great place to start. Navigating Reels is easy. On the Instagram app, a dedicated space showcases the trending Reels, allowing users to discover diverse content from a global community. The possibilities are vast, from dance challenges to life hacks, comedic skits, and micro-tutorials. The Importance of Instagram Reels for Business In an era where digital real estate is paramount, Instagram Reels is emerging as prime property for businesses and influencers. But why is this short-form video feature gaining such traction, especially in the commercial realm? Staggering Reach and Engagement: Over 200 million users visit at least one business profile daily on Instagram. With the integration of Reels, businesses can tap into a more extensive audience base. The algorithm of Reels also boosts discoverability, often pushing popular or relevant Reels to the forefront, thereby increasing the chances of content visibility. Authenticity and Creativity: Reels offer a platform for brands to showcase their more human side. Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes look, a quick tutorial, or a fun challenge, businesses can engage with their audience more authentically and creatively. Increased Dwell Time: The captivating nature of video content, especially the bite-sized versions on Reels, means users tend to spend more time on the platform. This added ‘dwell time’ benefits brands as it translates to prolonged exposure and, potentially, enhanced engagement. Direct Integration with Instagram Shop: Integrating Reels with Instagram Shop is a game-changer for businesses selling products. It turns entertaining content directly into potential sales, bridging the gap between fun and function. Comparison to Other Platforms: While platforms like TikTok pioneered the short-video format, Instagram Reels benefits from being a part of an already established ecosystem. Businesses and influencers who have already cultivated a following on Instagram don’t need to start from scratch. Instead, they can seamlessly integrate Reels into their existing content strategy. Versatility of Content: From showcasing product launches to sharing customer testimonials, conducting mini interviews, or even quick DIYs, the spectrum of content that businesses can create on Reels is vast. This versatility means that irrespective of the industry or niche, there’s potential to leverage Reels effectively. Instagram Reels Monetization Requirements Monetizing any social media platform requires a thorough understanding of its guidelines and prerequisites. Despite being a relatively new feature, Instagram Reels has rapidly gained attention as a lucrative avenue for creators and businesses. But how do you ensure your account is set up for successful monetization? Let’s delve into the essential requirements and how you can meet them: Instagram Partner Monetization Policies: Before diving into Reels monetization, familiarize yourself with the Instagram Partner Monetization Policies. These guidelines ensure that the content on the platform is authentic, respectful, and adheres to community standards. Some pointers include avoiding misinformation, hate speech, and explicit content. Follower Count and Engagement: Currently, Instagram hasn’t set a specific follower count as a prerequisite for Reels monetization, but most accounts can monetize after reaching 100k followers and up. Professional Account: To unlock monetization features and gain access to analytics, convert your personal Instagram account to a Business or Creator account. This change provides you with insights into your post performance and enables potential collaborators to reach out to you directly. Original Content: This is paramount. Ensure that the content you post is original and not repurposed from other platforms or creators. Brands and sponsors value authenticity and are likelier to invest in creators who produce unique content. Stay Active and Consistent: Consistency is essential in the digital world. By regularly posting and interacting with your audience, you can enhance your visibility on the platform. Create a content calendar, try different posting times to discover when your audience is most active, and respond to comments and direct messages to build a sense of community. Diversify Content Types: Although Reels should be your main focus, it’s important to not overlook other Instagram features. By incorporating Stories, IGTV, and standard posts, you can enhance your profile’s overall engagement and attract a wider audience. Engage with Brand Collaborations: Once you have a notable presence, you can pitch to brands or wait for them to approach you. Initially, consider partnerships that offer products or services in kind. As your influence grows, you can negotiate paid collaborations. Join Instagram’s Affiliate Program: If available in your region, the Instagram Affiliate Program can be an excellent way for creators to earn commissions on the sales they drive through the platform. Research its terms and conditions to determine eligibility and potential benefits. A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Reels on Instagram Dipping your toes into the world of Instagram Reels might initially seem a tad overwhelming. With a multitude of features, editing tools, and endless creative possibilities, where do you start? To help, we’ve crafted a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to help you navigate this vibrant realm of short-form videos. Step 1: Log in to Your Instagram Account and Navigate to Reels Beginning your journey with Reels is straightforward; you just need to access the feature within your Instagram app. Here’s how to get started: Log in to Your Account: Enter your credentials to access your Instagram account. If you’re already logged in, you’ll be taken directly to your main feed. Accessing the Reels Camera: Swipe Right Option: From anywhere in your feed, swipe right. This will open the Instagram camera. Camera Icon Option: Alternatively, locate the camera icon on your screen’s top left corner and tap on it. Once you’ve accessed the camera, you’ll see several options at the bottom. Swipe through them until you land on “Reels.” And voilà, you’re now in the Reels recording mode Step 2: Explore the Reels Features Once you’ve navigated to the Reels camera, you’ll be greeted by various features tailored to enhance your video creation process. Each feature brings its unique flair to the table, allowing you to customize your Reels perfectly. Let’s delve into the primary features and how you can utilize them: Speed: Purpose: This feature allows you to speed up or slow down a portion of your video. Whether aiming for a slow-motion aesthetic or a rapid sequence, this tool is your go-to. How to Use: On the left side of your screen, you’ll find a speedometer icon. Tap on it, and choose your desired playback speed from the options presented. Effects: Purpose: Instagram offers many effects to add flair and creativity to your Reels. From augmented reality filters to color adjustments, the possibilities are vast. How to Use: You’ll notice a smiley face icon next to the shutter button. Tapping on this will open the effects gallery. Swipe through and select your preferred effect. Some effects even allow further customization, so feel free to explore! Timer: Purpose: Want to record hands-free? The timer feature lets you set a duration, giving you a countdown before the recording begins. How to Use: On the left side, find the stopwatch icon. Select it, set your desired duration using the slider, and press ‘Set Timer.’ When you’re ready, tap the record button, and after the countdown, the recording will start automatically. Align: Purpose: This tool is convenient for seamless transitions. It allows you to line up objects from your previous clip before recording the next, ensuring smooth visual continuity. How to Use: After recording a clip, tap the ‘Align’ button. This will display the last frame of your previous clip as an overlay, assisting you in aligning your next shot. Audio: Purpose: Enhance your Reel by choosing from Instagram’s extensive collection of music or incorporate your own original audio. How to Use: Click on the music note icon on the left side. This allows you to search for and select the track you want. After making your selection, you can choose the exact portion of the song you wish to highlight in your Reel. If you prefer to use your own sound, just record your Reel normally, and your original audio will play alongside the video. Step 3: Record Your Reel Now that you’ve grasped the myriad of features at your disposal, it’s time for the main event: recording your Reel! Whether aiming for a one-take wonder or a meticulously stitched masterpiece, Instagram Reels offers the flexibility to bring your vision to life. Here’s how you can get rolling: Continuous Recording: How to Use: Press and hold the central record button (it’s the big white circle at the bottom). As you hold, the video will be recorded. Release the button when you want to stop. This method is perfect for capturing uninterrupted moments or continuous actions. Segmented Recording: How to Use: Tap the record button once to start recording and tap it again to stop. This allows you to capture multiple separate clips that Instagram will automatically stitch together into a single Reel. It’s ideal for scenes with transitions, changes in setting, or varied content segments. Uploading From Gallery: How to Use: Below the record button is a small gallery icon. Tapping on this lets you access your device’s media gallery. Select the video clip(s) you wish to use from here. Once uploaded, you can trim and adjust the buckle as needed before integrating it into your Reel. Pro Tip: Plan ahead if you’re crafting a story through your Reel. Sketch a rough sequence or storyboard. This helps ensure smooth transitions, especially when stitching multiple clips together. Recording your Reel is all about capturing your narrative in its most authentic, creative form. Whether filming on the go or curating a well-planned story, each approach offers its unique charm. So, lights, camera, action – your Reel stage awaits! Step 4: Edit Your Reel You’ve captured your moments, but the journey to crafting a standout Reel doesn’t end there. Enter the editing phase – where you refine, decorate, and perfect your content. With Instagram Reels’ suite of editing tools, you have all you need to transform raw footage into engaging narratives. Here’s a walkthrough of the available editing arsenal: Adding Text: Purpose: Convey messages, add context, or even throw in some humor with customizable text. How to Use: Tap the ‘Aa’ icon at the top of your screen. Write your desired text, then choose color, font, and alignment. You can adjust the duration for which each text element appears on your Reel by tapping on it and setting the display start and end times. Stickers and GIFs: Purpose: Amplify the fun quotient of your Reel with a plethora of stickers or GIFs. How to Use: Click on the square-faced sticker icon at the top. You can browse and choose from trending stickers or search for specific ones. Just drag and adjust them to your preferred spot on the video. Drawing: Purpose: Add a personal touch by drawing or highlighting areas in your Reel. How to Use: Tap the pen icon at the top. Pick your desired color and brush style from the options below. Once chosen, use your finger to draw or sketch directly onto the video clip. Adjusting Clip Length: Purpose: Ensure your Reel fits within the desired duration or emphasize specific segments. How to Use: On the editing screen, you’ll see a trim option (usually represented by a slider). Here, you can adjust your video clip’s start and end points to achieve the desired length. Using Multiple Clips: Purpose: Merge multiple moments or scenes to create a cohesive narrative. How to Use: After recording a segment, you can immediately record another by pressing the record button again. Instagram will automatically stitch them together. To adjust the length or order of these segments, use the trim option and drag the clips to rearrange. Deleting Clips: Purpose: Did you make an error or capture an unwanted segment? No worries; you can easily remove it. How to Use: In the clip preview at the bottom, select the clip you want to delete. An option to discard or delete (usually represented by a trash bin icon) will appear. Tap on it to remove the segment from your Reel. Editing is all about refining your storytelling, ensuring every second of your Reel is engaging and aligns with your vision. So, flex those creative muscles and let your Reel be a reflection of your unique style and message! Step 5: Share Your Reel The final curtain call! You’ve conceptualized, captured, and crafted your Reel. Now, it’s time to unveil it to the world. Sharing your Reel is more than just a click – it’s about maximizing its reach and resonance. Here’s how to effectively share and optimize your Reel: Choosing Where to Share: – To Your Feed: After finalizing your edit, you’ll be taken to a sharing screen. Here, you can choose to post the Reel to your main Instagram feed, ensuring all your followers can see it directly when they scroll. – To Your Stories: Want a 24-hour showcase? Opt to share your Reel to your Stories. Remember, this will display just a segment of your Reel, so viewers must tap on it to watch the full version. – To the Explore Page: By default, public accounts will have their Reels eligible to appear on the Explore page. This vastly increases its discoverability and can help garner views from a broader audience beyond your followers. Crafting a Captivating Caption: – Purpose: Your caption should encapsulate the essence of your Reel, intrigue viewers, or provide context. – How to Use: Think of your caption as a headline. It should be concise, catchy, and relevant. Pose a question, use a witty statement, or share a fun fact. The aim is to complement your Reel and encourage user interaction. Harnessing the Power of Hashtags: – Purpose: Hashtags act as content anchors, connecting your Reel to specific topics, trends, or communities. – How to Use: After writing your caption, add relevant hashtags. Consider using a mix of broad (#DIY, #Foodie) and niche (#VeganDessertIdeas, #IndieMusicCovers) tags. Research popular hashtags on Instagram or use Instagram’s suggestion feature to maximize reach. Tagging Relevant Users or Brands: – Purpose: Tagging can acknowledge collaborations, give credit, or draw attention to specific profiles or brands featured in your Reel. – How to Use: Use the ‘@’ symbol followed by the username in the caption or directly on the Reel. This notifies the tagged account and can foster interactions or resharing. Final Checks: Give your Reel one final watch before hitting that share button. Ensure the audio syncs, the edits are smooth, and the overall presentation aligns with your intent. Engage with Your Audience: Keep an eye on your notifications after publishing. Engaging with comments, answering questions, or simply thanking viewers can boost the Reel’s visibility and foster community. Every share is like casting a net in the vast ocean of digital content. The more thought-out and strategic it is, the better your chances of reeling in a bountiful catch. Happy sharing! https://youtube.com/watch?v=o2h7vDaD9mI%3Fsi%3D0zJJxu2CVj4zWTmh Top Ways to Make Money with Instagram Reels The Instagram Reels Play Bonus program is no longer an option for those in the United States looking for new or extended deals. However, this development doesn’t mean the end of monetizing your Instagram Reels. Plenty of creative and strategic ways exist to convert your Reels into a solid income source. Here’s how to make money on Instagram reels: Sponsored Content The classic yet effective route: create content that a company pays you for. Businesses are always on the hunt for influential individuals who can portray their products or services in a positive light. The key here is to maintain authenticity. Always choose to partner with brands that resonate with your image and audience. A sponsored Reel should benefit the brand and offer value to your followers. Look into Affiliate Marketing to Make Money From Instagram Affiliate marketing involves promoting a product and earning a commission per sale made through a link you share. You can seamlessly incorporate these affiliate links into your Reels by either mentioning them verbally or adding them to your caption. Ensure that the products you endorse fit your brand and are genuinely useful to your audience. Partnering with Brands for Branded Content Branded content is more than just a simple shoutout or feature; it involves a collaborative effort with a brand to produce an entertaining and subtly promotional Reel. The great advantage is that Instagram enables you to tag businesses in your branded content, ensuring transparency for your audience while also offering increased exposure for the brand. Explore Influencer Marketing Brands may pay you to leverage your influence and promote their products or services if you’ve built a substantial following. Unlike sponsored content, influencer marketing is often a more extended engagement and may require multiple posts, including Reels. It’s crucial to select partnerships that align with your brand image and can offer genuine value to your followers. Create a Themed Reel in a Popular Niche Carving out a niche can be a game-changer. For example, if you’re an expert in plant-based diets, a series of Reels featuring quick vegan recipes can attract a targeted audience. Once you’ve amassed a following in your niche, brands related to that sector are more likely to seek partnerships with you. Sell Your Own Products or Services Use Reels to showcase your products or explain your services. Whether it’s a digital course, handcrafted jewelry, or consulting services, a well-crafted Reel can serve as a dynamic advertisement that reaches a broad audience. Offer Paid Reel Tutorials or Masterclasses If you have expertise in a particular field—be it digital marketing, dance, or cooking—you can offer specialized Reel tutorials for a fee. Tease your audience with a free Reel showcasing what they’d gain and direct them to a paid platform to access the full content. Leverage Reels to Drive Traffic to Other Paid Platforms If you have a monetized YouTube channel, blog, or podcast, use Reels to funnel Instagram traffic to these platforms. A catchy, high-quality Reel can pique interest and guide viewers to your other revenue-generating channels. Fan Contributions and Tips Some social platforms like TikTok have introduced the concept of fans being able to tip creators for the content they love. While Instagram hasn’t rolled out this feature for Reels yet, keep an eye out for such updates, as it could become another income stream. MethodDescriptionProsCons Sponsored ContentContent paid for by companies to promote their products or services.• Direct payment from brands • Authentic content offers value to followers• Can be seen as inauthentic if not aligned with personal brand Affiliate MarketingPromoting a product and earning a commission per sale made through a shared link.• Passive income • Control over what to promote• Need significant traffic for substantial earnings • Dependence on affiliate rates Partnering for Branded ContentCollaboration with a brand to create entertaining and subtly promotional Reels.• Enhanced brand collaboration • Transparency with tagging feature• Requires maintaining a balance to avoid over-promotion Influencer MarketingBrands pay for leveraging your influence to promote their products or services.• Long-term engagements • Potential for higher earnings• Multiple posts may be required • Necessitates alignment with personal brand Themed Reel in a Popular NicheCreating content in a specific niche to attract a targeted audience.• Attracts targeted followers • Potential brand partnerships in the niche• Requires expertise in the chosen niche • Might limit audience reach Sell Your Own Products or ServicesShowcasing personal products or services through Reels.• Complete control over pricing and promotion • Direct income• Requires inventory or service management • Investment in product/service development Paid Reel Tutorials or MasterclassesOffering specialized Reel tutorials for a fee.• Income from expertise • Attracts followers interested in the topic• Requires in-depth knowledge and content creation • Platforms for hosting paid content might be needed Drive Traffic to Other Paid PlatformsUsing Reels to guide viewers to other monetized platforms.• Diversifies income streams • Expands overall online presence• Dependence on the success of other platforms • Requires consistency across platforms Fan Contributions and TipsAccepting tips from fans for the content (depends on platform features).• Direct appreciation from fans • Can be a significant income source for popular creators• Reliant on the generosity of followers • Platform must support the feature FAQs: How to Make Money on Instagram Reels When Did The Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program Stop? The Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program was discontinued on March 23. As a result, starting from this date, new or extended agreements through this program are no longer accessible in India and the United States. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to make money on your phone and online. If you’re interested, consider researching how to make money on social media sites outside of Instagram. For example, here’s our guide on how to make money on Snapchat. Will Existing Instagram Reels Play Bonus deals be Honoured? Yes, existing deals under the Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program will be honored according to the original terms until they expire. Does Instagram Have a New Invite-Only Bonus Program? Instagram Reels Play is an invite-only bonus program that lets content creators earn money on their reels. How do Instagram Creators qualify to get paid for reels on Instagram? Even with the discontinuation of the Reels Play Bonus Program, there are multiple other new tools for creators to make money on Facebook and Instagram. The general prerequisites usually involve having a certain follower count, a track record of engagement, and adhering to Instagram’s community guidelines. Read the list above for a guide on how to make money on Instagram and a rundown of Instagram Reels new features. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Make Money on Instagram Reels" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Welcome to Pressing Questions, Fast Company’s work-life advice column. Every week, deputy editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions. Q: What should I do if I feel like my company is failing? A: This is a bleak question, and unfortunately not uncommon right now. I’ll address it from two different angles: 1.) If you feel the failure of the company is unfixable or that you aren’t in a position to help; and 2.) If you have hope that you might be able to turn things around. When the failure of your company is certain (or unfixable) First, here are some of the signs that things are going south. One of two can just mean the company is going through a rough patch, but if these start adding up, it’s harder—but not unheard of—for a company to recover. The company you work for has been losing significant amounts of money for more than a year The company has had a significant round of layoffs, or more than one round of layoffs in the past year. Or employees are being offered early retirement or buyouts The company has a hiring or raise freeze Several star employees leave Consultants are brought in to revamp things The vision and strategy of the company changes or seems uncertain Upper management suddenly starts conducting a lot more closed-door meetings There is a significant drop in customers or clients Projects are cancelled with no explanation That’s a simplified and not comprehensive list, but if you are asking this question, you’ve probably noticed a few of those signs along with the general “things are not great” vibes. And regardless of if or how soon your company might close, go bankrupt, be sold, etc., it can feel pretty demoralizing to work for a company that’s not doing well. You likely have a feeling like nothing you do will matter and you certainly aren’t motivated to do your best work. In this case the ending is the same: You will have to find a new job. How you arrive there is your only choice. You can look for your next role, resign (yes, you should still give two weeks notice), and leave before the ship sinks. Your other choice is to wait it out. The reason to do that is to collect any possible severance—especially if you’ve been with the company for a long time. When there’s hope that you can turn things around Now that we’ve gotten the worst case scenario out of the way, let’s end on a slightly more hopeful note. If you feel like things are bad but can still be turned around, your ability to effect change depends a little bit on your role. The general spirit is the same, however. You can either: Return to what worked before: Use your institutional knowledge and lean on your strengths. Try something totally new: Throw out the notion of what worked before and get creative with fresh ideas. Yes, those are completely opposite tactics. But both can be helpful depending on the issues facing your company. Here’s how to decide what to try: When to lean on what worked before: Sometimes businesses go astray because they venture too far from their core mission or what made them successful in the first place. If you’re in a leadership position and there have been a lot of changes over recent years or a move away for what worked in the past, it’s a good time to realign your team’s goals with those core principles and eliminate the obstacles that get in the way. That can even mean things like how you work. If your team was happier and more productive working remotely and output and morale has dropped since a company wide RTO policy, make the change back. Admitting you were wrong is uncomfortable. But it’s also the sign of the type of emotionally intelligent leader who people want to work for. If you aren’t in leadership, but see that new policy is hurting the company, you can still suggest changes. Just make sure you are armed with data. Show, for example, that your customer or sales numbers were higher before the company cut back on contracting with certain suppliers or that the candidate pool has shrunk since the company ended its DEI initiatives. When to try something totally new: Companies often fail because times change and they don’t. If your company is stuck in a “this is how it’s always been done” mindset, it might be time to try something new. This is a huge mindset shift and individual employees can’t overhaul for the whole company. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a little experimental. If there are too many layers of bureaucracy in the way of making change, it might mean trying something a little unofficially. While the notion of asking forgiveness instead of permission is certainly riskier, if your company isn’t doing well anyways you have less to lose. This could mean things like collaborating across departments or changing a workflow or reevaluating departmental budgets. Feeling like you are on a sinking ship is a tough spot to be in at work, but it can also give you the freedom to step outside of your comfort zone. Need some more advice on navigating a tough business climate? Here you go: This is how to be an empathic leader during stressful times How to motivate employees in difficult times, according to a psychologist 4 ways to keep your teams happy and productive in tough times View the full article

Google has this feature in its search results that lets you find results based on the images you've view within Google Image Search. It places this button in the search results that reads, "Find results based on images you've viewed" with a link to "more like these."View the full article

As demand for EVs declines, electric automaker Rivian is taking this time to adapt its business and expand its brand. Rivian’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe joins Rapid Response to explore the company’s recent $5.8 billion partnership with Volkswagen, the ongoing risk assessment for self-driving features, and how Rivian’s AI-enabled ‘technological plumbing’ can accelerate the brand beyond incumbent manufacturers. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company Bob Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. I want to ask about AI because everyone’s focused on how it will impact car experiences. What are you doing at Rivian, and how far are we from a driverless world? Should we have one? I think it’s incredibly important. It arguably becomes the most important part of the business—the vehicle’s ability to drive itself. Consumers start getting their time back. Even if you enjoy driving, the ability to leave and have the car take you is a nice feature. This is a big focus for us. When we launched our first products, we had a limited highway assist feature that allowed hands-on wheel and eyes on the road, but the vehicle drives itself. On our Gen 2 vehicle, we started working on designing an entire camera set, with 55 megapixels, more than any other vehicle sold in the U.S. We have five radars, including a front imaging radar. We control that entire stack and use emerging technologies to train the platform. Self-driving developed before 2021 was heavily rules-based. But now, we can use end-to-end training, using modern techniques akin to what’s used in large language models and transformers. It’s completely changing self-driving development and speeding it up. We announced a hands-free feature, where the vehicle will drive itself on highways with hands off the wheel, coming very soon. After that, we’ll expand it to other roads, then to hands-free, eyes-off. There are exciting features coming. I want to make sure I really understand this. So the car can essentially be driven without you doing anything, but it’s not safe enough to turn it entirely over to the car in all situations. But as it improves, you’ll update the software to allow that safely, without changing the vehicle. When we release or enable our self-driving features, we start in domains with extremely high confidence. It’s a bit of the Wild West because there’s no legal body arbitrating the level at which to expose these features. It’s your judgment about what you feel confident in and the risk you’re willing to take? Every brand makes this decision differently. We’ve really erred on hyper-focus on safety, making sure that before we expand the operating windows to, let’s say, neighborhood roads or school zones, we want to really be robust in the solution. We’re talking about autonomy, which is one slice of AI in the vehicle. We’ll see other AI elements emerge. Think of something as simple as navigating. Imagine if you don’t know where you want to go. You get in the car, and say, “I’m hungry.” And the car says, “Well, what do you feel like?” And you say, “I don’t know.” And it says, “Well, yesterday you had Italian. What do you feel about burritos today?” And, you know, so just the ability to be conversational and contextual. It’ll be one of those kinds of changes, I think, where it’ll happen, we won’t even fully realize it’s happening. And then we’ll look back and be like, how did we used to live? When you think about AI applications beyond self-driving, how important is it for Rivian to be at the forefront versus following along? Early on, we realized software was going to be important. At Rivian, we’re controlling the whole software stack, not using suppliers for all these computers. We’re making our own, with all our own computers. It requires fundamental shifts, not relying on third-party suppliers for software or computers. This architecture I’ve described underpins what we’ve achieved. We did a $5.8 billion joint venture and licensing deal with Volkswagen Group, the second-largest car company in the world. We’re providing software and electronics to enable what I just described, allowing them to step massively forward in network architecture and software topology. And, that’s of course what we architected. If you don’t have that, it’s hard to imagine integrating AI properly. Step one is getting the plumbing right. You’ve got to get the network architecture right. You’ve got to get the topology of computers right. You’ve got to get the right levels of compute. I mean, down into the basics of like, what level of memory do you have? What’s your graphics capabilities? And these are things that are going to be really hard without making a big break from the traditional model for existing manufacturers. So I say all this because I think we’re at this inflection point where the cars of the historical past in terms of architecture and the cars of the future in terms of architecture—I put ourselves, I put Tesla in that category. And the features are sort of similar, like they’re mostly the same. And it’s easy to confuse features for capability, but the platforms are totally different. And so the growth potential of those two platforms in terms of adopting future technology is wildly different. So where they end up in, let’s say five to 10 years, is in very, very different places. And so I think we’re gonna see a lot of existing incumbent manufacturers work very hard either through partnerships like what was done with us, or through other means to move to these newer technology platforms. China has become a leading EV producer. I’m curious about the implications for the car industry. How do you view China’s developments and their impact on your business? Well, the world is electrifying. The U.S. market is slower than Europe or China. But probably the singular issue that I’d say there’s very clear alignment between both the Democratic side of the United States and the Republican side of the United States is that the United States needs to continue to lead in technology and to continue to really serve as an economic superpower. And in order for that to be true, we also need to continue to be great at the world’s future technologies. China benefited from government support for EVs. If America wants to stay at the forefront in this technological development, how important is government support? China has many electric car companies, a lot narrowly differentiated. Their regions provided much financing, leading to intense price competition to capture a growing market. However, there’s uncertainty about whether these products can be sold in the U.S. and the tariffs involved. Probably, in the short term, there’s going to continue to be not a lot of trade from the U. S. shipping products to China—and vice versa China shipping products and vehicles to the United States. But I think in the long term everyone should be thinking about this, to say, let’s imagine a world where we can all compete freely, meaning we’re competing head to head. And so we spend every day thinking about “How do we make our products better?” How do we look at what others are doing and embrace the competition and see it as an opportunity for us to run faster? That’s the mindset we built into the business. This interview is part of a Rapid Response partnership with Stripe. View the full article

Brussels explores redirecting post-pandemic financing as part of options to boost investments in militaryView the full article

Google is testing spelling out the search menu and instead of saying "All," Google is testing writing out "All results." I am not sure why Google is testing this, but Google is always testing these small changes.View the full article

‘Stark’ divergence between UK capital and rest of country comes as affordability pressures weigh on buyers View the full article

During Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Senate confirmation hearing for secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota asked him about his stance on people who take antidepressants. “I know people, including members of my family, who’ve had a much worse time getting off of SSRIs than they have getting off of heroin,” Kennedy responded. While many of Kennedy’s beliefs are questionable, he’s voicing a common misconception around SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Approximately 13% of Americans take SSRIs, which are a type of antidepressant that work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. To begin with, Dr. Sarah Hartz, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, points out that there is a difference between being addicted to a substance and taking a medication for a chronic condition. With the latter, your symptoms may come back if you stop taking medication—which can be the case for people who have severe anxiety or depression, or high blood pressure. In addition, several medications require patients taper off of them slowly, or they’ll experience unpleasant side effects. These include blood-pressure and heart medications, and, yes, in some cases SSRIs. A 2024 analysis of 79 studies encompassing 21,000 patients found that approximately one in 30 patients have severe symptoms when they stop using antidepressants. “With SSRIs, people have different tolerances for how quickly they can get off of them. Some people have to taper, some don’t,” Hartz says. Furthermore, addiction itself is a tricky term to unpack. In the most general sense, addiction means a person can’t quit a substance even if they want to. Technically, sugar and caffeine are addictive. So is alcohol. Yet, using them regularly is widely accepted. Likely, when Kennedy compared heroin to SSRIs, he was referring to severe addiction, or what psychiatrists call “substance use disorder.” Substance use disorder has 11 different criteria, which can be grouped into four categories: Physical dependence: Developing a tolerance for increased amounts of the substance and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop. Risky use: For example, using the substance while driving or continuing to use it despite experiencing mental or physical problems. Social problems: For example, neglecting responsibilities or continuing to use the substance despite it causing problems in relationships. Impaired control: Taking the substance longer than your meant to, having cravings, experiencing an inability to stop, or spending significant amounts of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the substance. Hartz points out that SSRIs don’t cause these four categories of problems. While, some people do experience withdrawal symptoms and others need to increase their dose, usually taking SSRIs improves someone’s ability to functional socially. Furthermore, it takes a few weeks for SSRIs to kick in, so they are less likely to be abused or cause impaired control. “You can’t get high from SSRIs,” says Hartz. “You can take five times the recommended dose and you won’t get high. There’s no instantaneous mood change so people are less likely to misuse them, unlike opioids or stimulants for ADHD.” SSRIs are also accompanied by side effects such as decreased libido, inability to climax, headaches, and nausea. “I don’t see people taking them when they don’t need them,” Hartz says. “Most people don’t want to take a pill they aren’t getting a benefit from.” Hartz notes that Kennedy’s statements echo existing stigmas around mental health. “Psychiatric medications are singled out in a way they shouldn’t be,” Hartz says. “People think mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression aren’t medical problems. They think it’s about self-control and behavior so they feel guilty about seeking help. But depression and anxiety can be debilitating and we have treatments for them.” View the full article

An SEO audit is a health checkup of your site. It allows you to know what works and what does not, and it allows you to make improvements based on what you find. This can lead to improved performance — both on the search results pages and how visitors engage with your website. Table of contents What is an SEO audit? An SEO audit checklist Step 1: Preparing an SEO audit Step 2: User experience & content SEO Step 3: General on-page SEO Step 4: Site speed and engagement Step 5: Monitoring and tracking results Conclusion on doing SEO audits What is an SEO audit? An SEO audit looks at how well a website performs in search results to find areas that need work. It helps find technical SEO problems, analyze on-page elements, evaluate Core Web Vitals and site speed, and analyze user experience and content quality. An SEO audit also looks at outside variables like backlinks and rival tactics to identify areas for improvement. Making sure your website is optimized for users and search engines can help it rank better and attract more organic traffic. A helpful guide An SEO audit checklist Read on below for the step-by-step process, but here is an SEO audit checklist that will help you get started quickly. Crawl your website using Screaming Frog (or similar tools) Analyze your site with an SEO tool (e.g., Semrush or Ahrefs) Pull reports from Google Analytics and Search Console Create a centralized spreadsheet for findings Check the user experience (check CTAs, menus, etc) Audit website content (duplicate and thin content) Optimize internal linking Optimize page titles and meta descriptions Improve content with proper headings (H1 to H6) Ensure the correct use of canonical tags Add and validate Schema markup Monitor and improve Core Web Vitals Improve general site performance Improve mobile responsiveness Boost user engagement Track metrics regularly Check Search Console reports Schedule regular check-ins Step 1: Preparing an SEO audit To make your site audit a success, you must prepare well. You need to collect the right information about your website using SEO tools, understand how to diagnose issues and prioritize fixes. Crawl your website with Screaming Frog (or something similar) The first step is crawling your website with crawler software. This helps find technical SEO issues that otherwise wouldn’t be so visible. Screaming Frog is one of the most trusted names in this, but Sitebulb is another highly recommended one. The free version of Screaming Frog crawls 500 URLs, but you can upgrade if needed. Crawling your site is easy; simply download and install Screaming Frog. Open the tool and enter your site’s homepage URL. Then, hit Start, and the crawl will run. Once the scan is complete, export the data into a CSV file for further sorting and prioritization. Screaming Frog gives you a ton of data that you can export to sheets quickly What to look for? Screaming Frog generates a ton of data, so it’s good to prioritize the outcome. Scan for missing, duplicate, or overly long titles and descriptions. Each page should have unique, targeted metadata. Find pages or links that return (404) errors as broken links frustrate users and hurt SEO. Then, identify oversized assets that slow your page load time, such as images, JavaScript, and CSS files. Last but not least, make sure that canonical URLs are properly implemented to avoid duplicate content issues. Use an all-in-one SEO tool (Semrush or Ahrefs) In addition to a technical crawl, you can use tools like Semrush or Ahrefs to conduct a detailed SEO audit. These tools provide many insights, including keyword rankings, backlink health, and competitor performance. These tools also let you run a site audit, which gives you a technical health score. You’ll find many improvements to make, like pages blocked by robots.txt or issues with internal linking. The tools also review the quality and relevance of your backlinks and give you ideas on how to get high-quality new links. You’ll also get keyword rankings to track how individual pages perform for target keywords. Identify opportunities to refine content or target new search terms. Download the most important reports and cross-reference them with your Screaming Frog export. Pull data from Google Analytics and Search Console Combining all these insights with your site’s user behavior and engagement data will make your SEO audit come alive. It helps you understand how people use your site and how they experience it to pinpoint pages to improve. Export your findings from Google Analytics and Search Console to include in your audit comparisons. Check the top-performing landing pages in Google Analytics and their engagement rates. Pages with low engagement rates may have poor content or a disconnect between user expectations and page design. Also, look at session duration and exit rates to find pages where people quickly leave your site. Use the Performance Report in Search Console to see which pages and queries drive the most clicks and impressions. This will also highlight low CTR pages — ranking well but failing to attract searchers. Then, check the Page Indexing Report for crawl errors, warnings, or blocked pages and review the Core Web Vitals Report to find pages failing on speed or usability metrics. Google Search Console is an essential tool for SEO audits Create a centralized spreadsheet Once you have all the data, please combine everything in a big spreadsheet. How you set this up is up to you, as everyone uses something different. But you could use something like this: Page URL Technical issues (e.g., broken links, slow load speed) Engagement metrics (e.g., engagement rates, time on page) Keyword rankings Optimization notes (e.g., missing metadata, duplicate content) Priority (High, Medium, Low) This spreadsheet will guide your fixes throughout the audit process. Minimal SEO audit (optional) Not every audit needs to be a deep dive into your site. Sometimes, you don’t have the time but still feel the need to work on your site. In this case, you could do a simpler, quicker health check and evaluate specific regions of your site to see if these perform well. Such a minimal SEO audit is a streamlined version of a full audit to find and fix critical performance issues. Here’s a basic framework for a quick audit: Check that your site is indexed by searching site:yourdomain.com in Google. Run a Google PageSpeed Insights test for slow-loading pages. Examine the titles and meta descriptions of your most important pages (e.g., homepage, service pages, and key sales pages). Fix broken links using Screaming Frog or a quick manual check in your navigation. This lightweight SEO audit still finds high-priority issues without the time commitment of a full review. Step 2: User experience & content SEO The next step is to see how people perceive and interact with your site. Look at the user experience and see if you can find things to improve. You can get people to your site by using high-quality content aimed at the right search intent and audience. Not only that, because you want to have them returning. Improving the user experience Do you know if your users can find what they need quickly? If not, they might leave your site quickly. Giving them a good experience will do wonders in the long run. In your SEO audit, start by diagnosing these common UX factors: Make sure the colors match your branding and are easy to read. Look at contrast, as this is especially important for buttons and links. Make CTAs (like “Buy now” or “Learn more”) stand out visually. Check if the most important design elements are above the fold. Key messages and CTAs should be visible without scrolling. Think of this as the headline act—it must grab attention immediately. Add customer testimonials, third-party endorsements, and security badges (e.g., SSL or payment protection signs) to build credibility. Give special attention to your menus. Test menus, drop-downs, and search functions. Breadcrumbs also help users see where they are within the site hierarchy. Audit website content SEO is largely about content, so review its quality and improve where necessary. The Semrush/Ahrefs site audit should have given you many pointers. With this list, start working on the following. Check the keyword targeting of your content. Make sure that each page represents a primary keyword. Ahrefs and Semrush show which keywords your pages rank for and identify gaps. Check for duplicate or thin content. Avoid weak, duplicate, or low-value content. Where necessary, merge similar pages into one in-depth article. Provide actionable, valuable content. Remember Google’s Helpful Content standards. Create content that delivers real value and focuses on user intent. Your content should answer questions with actionable, audience-focused solutions. Last, you demonstrate Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T): Add author bios, cite reliable sources, and link references where necessary to develop expertise and trustworthiness. Internal linking and related content SEO is not just about getting users and search engines to your site —it’s also about keeping and showing them around. One of the most powerful ways to do this is through internal linking, so be sure to include this in your SEO audit. Check how you link your most important pages, like cornerstone articles or product categories. Your content should have a couple of links based on relevance and importance, but not too many. In addition, you should include a related content section on your pages to encourage further reading. Anchor text should include relevant keywords or describe the linked page and try to avoid generic phrases like “click here”. An internal search feature is another important aspect of showing people around your site. Make sure that your search bar provides relevant results, especially on large websites. Monitor what people search for to inform your content strategy. Step 3: General on-page SEO On-page SEO concerns the technical and content improvements you make on specific pages. This helps search engines understand your pages. It also helps your readers to find what they want. Optimize page titles and meta descriptions Page titles and meta descriptions are the first things a visitor sees in search results. While search engines like to generate these based on relevance, you can still influence how you’d like these to appear for maximum CTR. For your page titles, make sure that every page on your site has a unique title. Duplicate titles confuse search engines, which is something you don’t want. And while there’s no limit to how long titles can be in the SERPs, they get cut off visually after a set number of characters. Try to find the sweet spot. Incorporate your primary keyword close to the beginning of the title, but avoid keyword stuffing. For example, instead of “SEO tips SEO tips SEO tips,” use “10 SEO tips for beginners – Step-by-step guide.” Don’t forget to add your brand name at the end of the title, e.g., “How to do an SEO audit – Your Brand” For your meta descriptions, make sure that they concisely explain what the page is about. You should also include the primary keyword while making sure the text flows naturally. Don’t forget to encourage action. Incorporate a call-to-action (CTA), such as “Learn more,” “Discover how,” or “Start now.” Optimize heading structures (H1 to H6) Headings are excellent tools for structuring and making your content easier to read. They also assist search engines with recognizing how important the information is on each page. Start with one H1: The H1 is the main heading for the webpage, and it should contain your targeted keyword. Each page should have a single H1 tag. Use H2s for major sections: Use H2 tags to break up content into logical sections. Consider these the main subheadings of your article. Add H3s or H4s for subsections: You can have more subsections under H2s if you want to break it down further using H3 or H4 for better structuring. Keep it logical: Don’t skip heading levels (e.g., jumping from H1 to H4) or use headings only for styling. Be descriptive: Write headings describing the section’s content. For example, instead of “Step 1,” use “Step 1: Analyze your traffic metrics.” WordPress has a handy feature to check the heading structure of your articles Ensure proper use of canonical tags Canonical tags show a search engine which version of a page to prioritize when duplicates or near-duplicates of the same page are available on your site. This is especially important for online stores, as these have many variations of the same products due to filtering or session-based URLs. You should always choose one canonical version for a page. For example, if both https://example.com and https://www.example.com exist, set one canonical URL to prevent duplicate content issues. Don’t forget to add the canonical tag in each page’s HTML <head> section and be consistent in your internal linking. For instance, always link to one version of the URL rather than switching between http and https. Regularly check for issues using Screaming Frog or Semrush to find pages missing canonical tags or ones with conflicting canonicals. Add and test schema markup Structured data in the form of Schema markup helps make your site more understandable for search engines. The code you add to your site helps structure and identify your content in a way that search engines can easily consume. In some cases, this can even lead to highlighted search results, for instance, for products or ratings and reviews. Yoast SEO drastically simplifies adding schema for WordPress, WooCommerce and Shopify users. The SEO plugin outputs JSON-LD (the format preferred by Google) to add schema markup directly to your page’s HTML. There are many options for adding Schema, but you should start with the basics and things relevant to your site. For instance, you should use the Article schema for articles and blog posts and highlight publication dates, images, authors, and headlines. Ecommerce businesses should use Product structured data. This data should highlight pricing, stock availability, ratings, and reviews. If it makes sense, you can also markup your FAQ pages, which will no longer be highlighted in Google’s SERPs. There are many other options, so you must check what makes sense for your situation. For instance, if you run a recipe site, you can add Recipe structured data, or if you publish events on your site, use Events. Don’t forget to test your structured data. Use Google’s Rich Results Test Tool to check if your structured data is correct and valid. Also, check Search Console for errors under the “Enhancements” tab. Yoast SEO makes it easy to add essential structured data Audit and improve your backlinks Backlinks are as important as ever. Every link from a relevant, high-quality source counts towards your authority. These links prove to search engines that your content is valuable and meaningful. Of course, there’s a ton of spamming happening with links. You can use tools like Moz, Ahrefs, or Semrush to audit your backlink profile. The results show a list of spammy backlinks and links from irrelevant websites with low authority. If spammy websites link to you, there’s an option in Google Search Console to disavow these links. This is only needed in very rare cases, though. Only disavow links you’re sure are harmful — this is a last resort for low-quality links you cannot get removed manually. It’s more important to focus on earning high-quality backlinks. Create shareable, high-value content like guides, research, or infographics while building relationships with related websites, bloggers, or journalists for natural backlink opportunities. Step 4: Site speed and engagement Check your site performance, as site speed and user engagement greatly impact success. Pages that load slowly are annoying for users and can give you a poor score in the eyes of search engines. Low engagement rates can hurt your results, as users might stop visiting your site. Understanding and improving Core Web Vitals To underscore the importance of performance, Google launched the Core Web Vitals. These metrics help site owners gain insights into how their sites perform in real life and get tips on improving those scores. The metrics focus on loading times, interactivity and stability. Together, these determine how enjoyable users find your site. LCP measures how long your largest asset loads The Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures how long it takes for the largest visible element on the screen (usually an image, video, or headline) to render fully. If performance is bad, you can improve this by optimizing images by compressing them without sacrificing quality. You can use modern file formats like WebP for faster performance and minimize render-blocking resources like heavy CSS or JavaScript files. Defer unnecessary scripts and prioritize above-the-fold content. INP measures interactivity Interaction to Next Paint (INP): INP is the new Core Web Vitals metric from Google that tracks how quickly your site responds to user input clicks, taps, and keystrokes. While FID only reported on the delay for the first interaction, INP evaluates all interactivity events for the session. This ensures a fuller score. You can improve your performance by minimizing JavaScript execution. Use Screaming Frog or PageSpeed Insights to flag heavy scripts and defer or remove non-critical JavaScript. Use browser caching to cache JavaScript and other assets so they don’t reload unnecessarily and reduce reliance on third-party scripts. You can offload heavy tasks to web workers to free up the main thread and process user interactions faster. CLS measures stability Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures the stability of a webpage’s visual layout. It checks if the content moves unexpectedly as the page loads (e.g. when an image loads late and pushes buttons elsewhere on the screen). You can improve this by specifying dimensions (width and height) for all images and videos in your HTML/CSS. This prevents the browser from guessing dimensions and rearranging content. Avoid inserting ads, banners, or other dynamic elements above the fold after loading content. Please preload important assets like fonts or images to ensure they appear quickly and predictably. Site speed optimization beyond Core Web Vitals Core Web Vitals should be a main focus, but there are other strategies to implement to improve site speed and page experience. Faster websites equal user satisfaction, reduce bounce rates and make your audience more likely to stick around in the future. Start reducing the number of HTTP requests for a faster site. Combine CSS and JavaScript files where practical, or use modern HTTP/3 protocols, allowing browsers to send out multiple requests simultaneously. Also, unused CSS and JavaScript should be eliminated to reduce file sizes and speed up load times. File compression can be used via Gzip or Brotli to compress the assets before serving them to the user. Compressed files load faster without losing quality; most hosting providers or web servers can help you set this up. Tools like Google Lighthouse can also alert you if compression is missing. Implement lazy loading for images and videos so that only visible content loads immediately while other assets load as needed. WordPress users can easily use plugins like Smush or Lazy Load by WP Rocket to achieve this, or custom JavaScript libraries like lazysizes work on other platforms. Distribute your site’s static assets with a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which delivers files from servers closest to users, improving global load speeds. Popular CDN providers include Cloudflare, Akamai, and Amazon CloudFront. Finally, performance analysis tools such as Google Lighthouse, GTmetrix, or Pingdom analyze bottlenecks, track progress, and ensure your efforts work. Google’s PageSpeed Insights is one of the best tools to understand your site’s real-life performance Improving mobile performance and responsiveness Mobile is everything these days. For most websites, this means that most of the traffic will be coming from mobile devices. Search engines like Google consider the quality of your mobile site when ranking your content, so being mobile-friendly should always be on the tip of your tongue. Run various mobile tests to see how your site performs on phones and tablets. Look for layout issues, problems with interactive elements, or slow-loading pages or assets. Check if your responsive web design works properly so your site dynamically adapts to all device sizes. Also, ensure your CTAs are mobile-friendly, and your forms are accessible from mobile devices. Increasing user engagement on your site Faster pages keep users on your website, but engagement ensures they take meaningful actions. Thanks to better site performance, you’ll get higher engagement rates, which results in better conversions, newsletter signups, product purchases, and more. Simplify your site’s navigation to make it easy for users to find what they need. Use clear menus with logical structures, such as categories and subcategories, and add breadcrumbs to show users where they are within the site. Dropdown menus should be intuitive, and internal search bars must return accurate, relevant results quickly. Additionally, ensure key Call-to-Actions (CTAs), like “Sign Up” or “Request a Quote,” are prominently placed above the fold or immediately following key content sections. Use descriptive, action-oriented language in your CTAs to make them more compelling and clickable. Encourage users to explore your site more with internal links and related content suggestions. Add social sharing buttons to blog posts, infographics, or product pages to make it easy for users to share content on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or X. If using popups or exit-intent offers (e.g., subscription prompts or discounts), ensure they are thoughtfully designed and minimally intrusive. Poorly timed or aggressive popups risk driving users away, so aim to balance engagement with user experience. Tools for site speed and engagement improvements To help optimize, you can utilize Google Lighthouse, which will show you how your Core Web Vitals performs overall, and GTmetrix, which goes in-depth and gives actionable recommendations on improving page speed results. Hotjar offers insights into where users click, how they scroll, and how they behave overall. WP Rocket is for WordPress users looking to automate technical processes such as caching, lazy loading, and database optimization. Various WordPress plugins add customizable social share buttons to enhance content sharing, making it easier for visitors to share your posts on their favorite platforms. Step 5: Monitoring and tracking results SEO is a colossal effort; the process does not end there once that initial effort is made. You must monitor your actions to determine whether those changes work as intended. Regular monitoring is also a great opportunity to find improvements and better calibrate your SEO strategy. Regular monitoring helps you improve your site, adjust to the latest algorithm updates, and retain the course. Why monitor results? By tracking results, you can measure the impact of your audit (e.g., increased rankings, traffic, and engagement). It’ll also help spot new issues like broken links, slow pages, or dropped rankings. This will ultimately help you improve your strategy by identifying what’s driving results and where to focus next. SEO is not something you do in a month or so. It takes time, and you might see the results in many months. Consistently track and analyze. Metrics to track Start by looking at traffic metrics. Organic traffic shows how many users find your site through search engines, which you can monitor in Google Analytics under Acquisition \> Organic Search. Check referral traffic to see if other backlinks are sending visitors to your site. This data shows how effective your SEO and link-building work is. Next, evaluate engagement and search performance. Metrics like engagement rates and time on page help you understand how users interact with your content. On the search side, track keyword rankings with tools like Wincher, Ahrefs, or Semrush to see how well your pages are doing in the SERPs. Use Google Search Console to monitor your CTR and check for indexing issues in the Coverage Report. Make sure that your most important pages are indexed. Monitor loading speed, interactivity, and layout stability in tools like PageSpeed Insights. Schedule regular check-ins You need to make monitoring results a regular thing. Review rankings, CTR, and new crawl errors weekly. Each month, check traffic trends, user behavior, and fixes made during the audit. Every quarter, you should run a fresh crawl with Screaming Frog, check competitor performance, and update old pages based on new opportunities. Conclusion on doing SEO audits Following these steps will help perform an SEO audit, from preparing your data to addressing user experience and technical SEO improvements. Make sure each fix you aim to do aligns with your goals and strategy. Auditing regularly keeps your site running at its best and ready to rank in search results. The post How to perform an SEO audit (with checklist) appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

Performance Max (PMax) campaigns offer a machine-learning-driven approach to maximizing your ad performance across Google’s inventory. However, with its “black box” nature, optimizing PMax can feel like navigating in the dark. While adjusting budgets and bid strategies are standard levers, improving your data inputs and learning from insights are key to unlocking better results. Here’s how you can harness search term data, ad optimization strategies, and shopping feed improvements to maximize your PMax campaigns. 1. Keep optimizing your search term coverage to reduce wasted spend Performance Max may not be keyword-based, but search term control is still critical. Identifying and applying negative keywords can help you reduce wasted spend and focus on the most valuable terms. With Google data: Google offers limited insights into search terms for PMax campaigns, but it can be a helpful starting point for building your negative keyword list. With Adthena data: Adthena helps brands recover some visibility into search terms that Google doesn’t surface. Some clients have achieved significant savings by using more comprehensive search term insights. Adthena’s research found that 61% of search terms where we observed PMax ads appearing were missing from Google’s search term detail report. Having more visibility on terms you appear for will help you expand your negative keyword lists and maximize your optimization efforts, especially if your PMax spend is significant. 2. Grow Search Term coverage for better campaign control PMax search term data isn’t just for exclusions. It’s also an opportunity to expand your existing search campaigns, or keyword intent audiences. You can leverage Google’s search term insights to: Identify terms to add to existing search campaigns for more control and precision. Build better audience signals by understanding the language of your market. Segment campaigns more effectively based on demand trends. Adthena’s Search Term Detail showing specific search terms and its competitors in shopping data Adthena’s detailed search term reporting enables you to get even more data to power these optimizations and capture more terms that are not visible in Google. For example, a travel company used Adthena insights to prioritize new asset groups for specific terms like “family holidays” and “all-inclusive holidays,” despite having limited creative resources. 3. Boost asset group and ad performance High-quality ad content remains crucial for driving performance in PMax campaigns. Google’s reports offer insights into asset strength and top combinations, but you can take your ad optimization further. With Google data: Review top-performing combinations. Check individual asset strength. With Adthena data: View estimated impressions for all your ads as they actually appear on the SERP. Compare your copy with thousands of competitor ads to ensure your messaging stands out. Set up alerts for new competitor messaging, enabling faster reaction times. A UK transport company leverages Adthena’s PMax reporting to test new headlines and assess performance-impacting variations. 4. Optimize your shopping feed for maximum impact Retailers typically allocate a large portion of their PMax budgets to shopping ads, making feed optimization the most powerful lever for improving results. A global menswear retailer used Adthena’s pricing data to confidently raise prices and increase profit margins. With insights revealing that direct competitors were priced significantly higher on average in Google Shopping, the retailer seized the opportunity to boost profitability without compromising competitiveness. Don’t forget about our AI-powered data analyst! With Ask Arlo, Adthena clients can analyze thousands of ads and product titles or integrate this data into custom reports, providing actionable recommendations in seconds. Automating time-consuming analysis can help you make smarter decisions and faster optimizations. Simply Ask Arlo any question about your market landscape and drive ROI with confidence. Optimizing PMax campaigns is about enhancing your data inputs: refining search term coverage, optimizing ad creatives, and improving your shopping feed. While Google offers useful tools, Adthena delivers deeper insights and automation that save time, enhance precision, and provide competitive advantages. Don’t let the PMax black box limit your potential. Request a demo to explore how Adthena’s insights can transform your campaign performance. View the full article

Learn why and how to track marketing KPIs like conversion rate, cost per lead, organic clicks, and open rate. View the full article

A new technology can pinpoint victims of intimate partner violence four years earlier than other detection systems and with 80% accuracy. The Automated Intimate Partner Violence Risk Support System (AIRS) utilizes clinical history and radiologic data to pinpoint patients seen in the emergency room who may be at a risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Developed over the past five years, AIRS has been rolled out to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Emergency Rooms in Boston as well as surrounding primary care sites. Currently, the tool has been validated at the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center and is being evaluated by the Alameda Health System for its role in clinical workflow. “Data labeling quality is a huge concern—not just with intimate partner violence care, but in machine learning for healthcare and machine learning, broadly speaking,” says cofounder Irene Chen. “Our hope is that with training, clinicians can be taught how to spot intimate partner violence—we are hoping to find a set of cleaner labels.” AIRS is an AI-based program that is run on the Electronic Health Record data. It takes an individual patient’s EHR data—including past radiographic imaging results and patient clinical history—and uses an algorithm to evaluate a patient’s risk for and severity of IPV. This is followed by a “silent study” where the algorithm makes recommendations for patient care for patients who have been labeled as victims. Both the radiological data and the patient clinical histories have been revealing for Chen and her cofounder Bharti Khurana. For instance, Chen shared that many victims of intimate partner violence who were detected through AIRS had experienced a broken ulna (a bone in the forearm), a defensive injury. When questioned, they had lied that they had fallen down but did not have the instinct to “catch” themselves, which is more likely to lead to a broken wrist rather than a broken ulna. Ulna fractures signaled an attack by someone from above and were a strong indicator of IPV. AIRS’ clinical data comes from three sources: patient diagnosis codes (usually intended for billing purposes), whether patients opt-in to hospital resources correlated with IPV (including social workers or legal assistance), and direct interviewing of clinicians to incorporate into the algorithm for AIRS. That latter data source can often prove to be most challenging as many physicians—despite their years of training—are not taught to spot IPV. This gap in training is significant: A May 2024 study published in Nature found that only 25% of IPV cases are correctly diagnosed, underscoring the need for more systematic detection methods like AIRS. Suzanne Freitag, director of the Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, who has decades of experience treating victims of IPV, cautions against treating AI as a “magic font of knowledge” that can replace a clinician’s training. While she believes in the “pattern recognizing” power of AIRS that is a hallmark of radiology, Freitag remains cautious about using patient clinical history as a “ground truth” for IPV diagnosis. “I try to be careful not to stereotype because domestic violence happens to people of all ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, sexualities, and education levels,” Freitag says. Chen and Khurana, for their part, believe that AI can eliminate implicit biases to provide a clearer diagnosis for IPV victimization. The two first connected in February 2020, Khurana saw Chen (then a PhD candidate in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT) deliver a talk on algorithmic bias in medicine at Harvard; shortly afterward, Khurana—an radiology professor at Harvard Medical School—approached Chen to discuss collaborating to apply machine learning to intimate partner violence detection. Five years and one $3.2 million National Institutes of Health grant later, Chen and Khurana have not only built and validated AIRS but are now working to expand its implementation across multiple hospital networks. Social work staff have also been crucial to the implementation of AIRS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where Chen and Khurana have tapped into records from an existing program called Passageway. A free, voluntary, and confidential resource, Passageway allows patients afflicted by IPV to gain access to social workers and legal representation to seek help. Chen—while not blinded by imperfections of implementing machine learning in clinical settings—feels “optimistic” about AIRS’ implementation. She points to a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center which found that 38% of a sample of 10,000 Americans believed that AI would improve patient outcomes. While skepticism of AI is alive, Chen feels that it is important not to surrender to it. Annie Lewis O’Connor, a nurse practitioner and founder of the Coordinated Approach to Resilience and Empowerment Clinic at Brigham, believes that clinicians and technology must work in tandem to care for patients experiencing intimate partner violence. O’Connor, who assists in AIRS’ prediction model, appreciates its help in diagnosing “IPV risk and severity” as well as in assisting with “clinical decision support.” “To understand the usability, feasibility, and application of AI and machine learning tools, we must be diligent in gathering evidence on outcomes from the use of such tools,” O’Connor writes in an email. “[AI] is something that compliments and assists the clinician in the care and treatment of patients experiencing IPV.” View the full article

The best plumbing apps are just as important for a toolbox as pliers and wrenches. These essential tools help a professional plumber with everything from pipe dimensions to payroll reports and invoices. Below, we’ve compiled a list of plumbing apps specifically designed to streamline your business operations. These apps will not only save you time but also assist in efficiently managing your projects. If you’re new to the plumbing industry, the first question you may ask yourself is: How much money do plumbers make? The income of plumbers can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, level of experience, specialization, and whether they are self-employed or work for a plumbing company. How Much Money Do Plumbers Make? According to a U.S. News & World Report article on plumbing careers, plumbers typically earned a median annual income of $59,880, with the top 25% of earners making $77,890 and the bottom 25% earning $46,590. However, experienced plumbers in high-demand areas or those with specialized skills can earn considerably more, often surpassing six figures. It’s important to note that plumbing can be a lucrative career, but earnings can vary widely, and success often depends on factors like reputation, reliability, and the ability to secure consistent work. Also, here are some tips from @NSBuilders to make your projects go smoother: What is a Plumbing App? A Plumbing App is a specialized software tool designed to assist plumbing businesses, both small and large, in efficiently managing various aspects of their operations. These applications are tailored to the unique needs of plumbers, helping them streamline their workflow and improve overall productivity. Some of the primary goals of plumbing apps are as follows: Task Management: Plumbing apps aim to simplify task management for small business owners. They help with critical functions such as dispatching, scheduling appointments, and assigning tasks to field technicians. This ensures that jobs are allocated effectively and completed in a timely manner. Utility and Reference: Many plumbing apps include utility features that provide access to essential plumbing formulas, piping calculations, and water flow calculations. These tools assist plumbers in making accurate measurements and calculations during their work, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Customer Communication: Effective communication with customers is crucial for any plumbing business. Plumbing apps often offer features that facilitate communication, such as sending notifications, updates, and reminders to clients. This helps in building trust and maintaining good customer relationships. Employee Time Tracking: Plumbing apps provide employee time tracking capabilities to help monitor and manage the working hours of field technicians. This feature allows businesses to ensure accurate payroll processing and optimize resource allocation. Comprehensive Features: The best plumbing apps provide a wide range of features that cater to the diverse needs of plumbing professionals. These features may include invoicing, payment processing, reporting, inventory management, and more, allowing businesses to handle various aspects of their operations within a single application. Plumbing App Benefits A plumbing company can get many benefits from an all-in-one app. Here are five notable benefits. Calculate Bids Quickly Plumbing apps simplify the bidding process by providing easy access to historical data on labor and equipment costs, enabling faster and more accurate job cost estimation. Get Paid Faster Getting paid faster is always a plus, right? Plumbing apps enhance cash flow management with the ability to accept credit card payments directly through the app. This advantage ensures prompt payment from clients. Efficient Job Scheduling Streamline job scheduling using color-coded calendars and task assignments to field technicians, reducing scheduling conflicts and improving organization. Optimize Routes Minimize operational costs by optimizing travel routes, reducing travel time and fuel expenses. Ensure compatibility with your mobile device for efficient navigation. Enhanced Customer Engagement Quality plumbing apps enhance customer engagement by sending pre-visit emails, notifying clients via text messages when technicians are on their way, and automating follow-up and rebooking communications. This improves customer satisfaction and reinforces client relationships. How We Selected the Best Plumbing Apps: Essential Criteria for Small Business Owners In our pursuit to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with the best recommendations, we rigorously evaluated numerous plumbing apps based on the following criteria. Each criterion is assigned a scale from 1 to 5, indicating its importance in our selection process, where 1 is less critical, and 5 is most critical: User Interface and Usability (Rating: 5) We prioritized apps with an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, ensuring efficient task completion. Feature Set (Rating: 4) Our focus was on apps offering comprehensive features like scheduling, invoicing, customer management, and real-time updates. Cost-Effectiveness (Rating: 4) We looked for apps that provide excellent value, be it through a one-time purchase or a subscription model. Customer Support and Training (Rating: 3) We considered the availability of reliable customer support and training resources as vital for troubleshooting and user education. Integration Capabilities (Rating: 4) We prefer apps that can integrate smoothly with other tools and software, thereby improving overall business efficiency. Security and Data Privacy (Rating: 5) Security of customer and business data was non-negotiable in our assessment. Customizability (Rating: 3) We value apps offering customization options to suit varied business needs. Reviews and Community Feedback (Rating: 2) User reviews and community feedback were considered to gauge the app’s performance and reliability. Offline Functionality (Rating: 2) We assessed whether the apps could operate efficiently offline, which is a valuable feature in regions with poor internet connectivity. Scalability (Rating: 3) We looked for apps capable of scaling with a business, accommodating more features or users as required. These factors are designed to cater to the needs of plumbing businesses, guaranteeing that the app you select not only aids in daily operations but also fosters business growth and enhances customer satisfaction. Best Reference Apps for a Plumbing Business The plumbing industry has many good choices when it comes to apps. Some of the better ones have free resources. Even the best free apps can help streamline your business. Plumbing Formulator App As indicated by its name, the Plumbing Formulator provides formulas specifically designed for plumbers, totaling one hundred and twenty. Great for tradespeople looking to stay in line with a uniform plumbing code. And an international plumbing code and national standard plumbing code. Some of the formulas include water flow, numbers on plastic piping, and water velocity Dozens of plumbing charts are added. It’s updated to stay on top of major plumbing codes. It’s easy to use and even useful offline. And the constant updates make it useful for plumbing businesses of all sizes. Copper Tube Handbook The Copper Development Association produced this, making it a reputable app with positive community feedback. It’s great for plumbers using copper piping systems. Built for the iPad and free for the first 10,000 users. Electrical Wiring Lite Plumbers need to wear several trades hats. For example, plumbing engineers should know basic electrical wiring to steer clear of issues. This is an easy-to-use app that can help plumbers in this area. Pipe Trades Pro Calculator Pipe trades pro is one of the better reference plumbing apps, with plenty of useful features and a user-friendly interface. Worth the money from the Google Play store at $24.99. Solves pipe design and layout issues that plumbers face on a daily project-by-project basis. This is a practical product that can help with the day-to-day of working as a plumber. Pipe and Fitting Full of technical data that helps on job sites. Provides info like pipe size numbers, pipe material specs, and pipe calculations. Important joining methods are included, too. A good way to see any job through to completion is having the right resources. This app includes important information on things like gasket and pipe flange dimensions. You can save money on any plumbing project by having this kind of information at your fingertips. It can even be useful offline and for businesses of any scale. EasyMeasure This is one of the best plumbing apps on Google Play. Measure objects are seen through the camera of any Android device without a ruler or tape measure thanks to the advanced features of this app. This product replaces a tape measure in more ways than one. For example, measurements taken can even determine the width and height of an object. Plumbers can take advantage of a 3-D augmented reality grid. There are some other excellent features plumbers should know about like the ability to share different results on Twitter, Facebook, or by email. That’s an excellent add-on for remote work that needs to order parts and types from a central location. Bubble Level Plumbing contractors take note. Designed for Android devices, this app is simple to use, accurate and handy. Moreover, features such as a tilt indicator will work well for your plumbing business. It’s cheap too, with a price tag of $1.99 to $2.99. This is an important app for plumbers who are joining pipes together. They need to make sure the water is flowing the right way. Best Business Plumbing Apps The best plumbing apps also help people in the trade to run their businesses efficiently. Here are a few that will help with business operations. QuickBooks for Plumbers Lots of features here that will help you when you have multiple jobs. Send and track invoices and take pictures of receipts for invoices. This is a good business app that covers iOS and Android devices. This product is excellent for invoicing due to its user-friendly interface and a variety of helpful features. It allows you to accept mobile payments, online payments, credit cards, and cash. FieldEdge This is a fitting app when you need to do a lot of scheduling. It includes great features like the ability to sync to Quickbooks. Another one of the business apps with a mobile CRM option. This software offers a number of different features that are unique. One matches up your marketing spend to sales revenue to see how many prospects you’re actually converting. If you have a small plumbing business, you can get a snapshot of company financials with this software. Connecteam This app calculates a few different things. The free trial includes an equipment inspection checklist. Never lose another tape measure. Free trial and a basic plan at $39 monthly. Manage the tasks that you assigned to employees with this software. There is also an HR and people management widget as well as an employee time clock. Jobber Manage a customer list in one user-friendly interface. New customers to your plumbing contracting business can book through your Facebook page. Plumbers can benefit from the unlimited one-on-one coaching service provided by this software, which is accessible via email, phone, and live chat. ServiceTitan This is one of the best apps with tons of useful business features. Set up flat rates for your plumbing business. Integrated processing so your bank account and payroll line up. Handy Mobile Apps for Plumbing Contractors A Handy Plumbing app makes life easier for those running plumbing businesses. And those looking for these skilled experts. This app covers over 30 international cities. Here are some other apps for plumbers that make a difference. Code Snap UPC Good apps for plumbers need to be specific. This one offers many plumbing charts and costs $7.99 for iOS users. This essential reference guide is great for national electrical code standards. And various plumbing systems design tables. simPRO Good apps for plumbers need to include features that work on the job site. This one has payments and invoicing. Plus, streamlined quoting. Knowify One of the best plumbing apps for commercial plumbers. Get project management and excellent reporting. Commusoft Put together custom estimates right from the job site. Include pipe layouts and other parts for any given plumbing system. This one syncs in real-time with your mobile device and tablets. Comparison of Best Reference Apps for a Plumbing Business What follows is a convenient overview of the best reference apps tailored for plumbing businesses: App NameDescriptionKey FeaturesPricing Plumbing Formulator AppProvides plumbing formulas and charts for uniform plumbing codes120+ formulas, charts, code complianceFree and paid options Copper Tube HandbookDesigned for plumbers using copper piping systemsFree for the first 10,000 usersFree Electrical Wiring LiteHelps plumbers with basic electrical knowledgeBasic electrical wiring referenceFree Pipe Trades Pro CalculatorSolves pipe design and layout issuesPipe design and layout calculations$24.99 Pipe and FittingOffers technical data for plumbing job sitesPipe size, material specs, calculationsFree EasyMeasureMeasure objects using augmented reality3-D augmented reality grid, sharing featuresFree and paid options Bubble LevelProvides a level and tilt indicator for plumbing projectsLevel and tilt indicator, inexpensive$1.99 to $2.99 QuickBooks for PlumbersHelps with invoicing, receipt tracking, and paymentsInvoicing, receipt tracking, payment optionsSubscription-based FieldEdgeOffers scheduling and CRM features for plumbing businessesScheduling, CRM, financial trackingSubscription-based ConnecteamIncludes equipment inspection checklist and HR featuresEmployee task management, HR featuresFree trial, $39/month JobberManages customer list and offers coaching servicesCustomer management, coaching servicesSubscription-based ServiceTitanSet up flat rates and integrate processing for plumbing businessesFlat rate setup, integrated processingPricing on request Handy Plumbing AppCovers over 30 international cities for plumbing servicesService listings for international citiesFree Code Snap UPCOffers plumbing charts and references for national electrical codesPlumbing charts, code references$7.99 (iOS) simPROProvides payments, invoicing, and quoting features for plumbing jobsPayments, invoicing, quotingPricing on request KnowifyOffers project management and reporting for commercial plumbersProject management, reportingPricing on request CommusoftAllows custom estimates and pipe layouts from the job siteCustom estimates, real-time syncPricing on request How to Choose the Best Plumbing App for Your Business Each plumbing business may require a different app. Choosing one that is effective involves more than just having a user-friendly interface. Here are some tips to help you find the app that best suits your enterprise. Look For Automation A good app needs to automate business processes and workflows. Look for one that can manage and schedule times and locations. Automation can help your plumbing business in several different ways. It can improve transparency and accountability and make data recording more accurate at the same time. Look For Upgrades Like a pro version that can create field estimates. And proposals with options and pictures. The upgrades might cost a little more, but they’re worth it. For example, one that has a sales component is a good idea. Look for something that can send quotes to new prospects in your area. Finding an upgrade that asks for online reviews takes care of some of the marketing. Look For Compatibility Technical data is important. To get numbers on room dimensions, wall thickness, etc. But the app should be able to sync with others. Like route4me route planner. There’s also a financial aspect you need to look at. Compatibility should include other apps like Quickbooks. What is the best plumber app? Looking for the best app for your plumbing business? Housecall Pro checks all the boxes. Get this one on Android and iOS. There’s a free trial. What separates this from the competition are the features that you can get. It accepts credit cards on the go, and you can dispatch and schedule jobs. You can also take advantage of other great features, like the ability to create and send updated invoices. Runner up is The Plumbing Formulator if you’re looking for a resource. What is the best free plumbing app? Free apps don’t always have all of the same features. But they can help get jobs done for people working in the pipe trades. The best one is ServiceTitan Mobile. This free app can be found on Android and iOS. There are lots of features like tiered estimates. This is important when you’re putting together estimates in the field on bigger jobs. Finally, maybe plumbing isn’t for you. If that’s the case, check out these other service business ideas. Image: Depositphotos This article, "The Best Plumbing Apps Compared, Reviewed, Rated, and Ranked" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The best plumbing apps are just as important for a toolbox as pliers and wrenches. These essential tools help a professional plumber with everything from pipe dimensions to payroll reports and invoices. Below, we’ve compiled a list of plumbing apps specifically designed to streamline your business operations. These apps will not only save you time but also assist in efficiently managing your projects. If you’re new to the plumbing industry, the first question you may ask yourself is: How much money do plumbers make? The income of plumbers can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, level of experience, specialization, and whether they are self-employed or work for a plumbing company. How Much Money Do Plumbers Make? According to a U.S. News & World Report article on plumbing careers, plumbers typically earned a median annual income of $59,880, with the top 25% of earners making $77,890 and the bottom 25% earning $46,590. However, experienced plumbers in high-demand areas or those with specialized skills can earn considerably more, often surpassing six figures. It’s important to note that plumbing can be a lucrative career, but earnings can vary widely, and success often depends on factors like reputation, reliability, and the ability to secure consistent work. Also, here are some tips from @NSBuilders to make your projects go smoother: What is a Plumbing App? A Plumbing App is a specialized software tool designed to assist plumbing businesses, both small and large, in efficiently managing various aspects of their operations. These applications are tailored to the unique needs of plumbers, helping them streamline their workflow and improve overall productivity. Some of the primary goals of plumbing apps are as follows: Task Management: Plumbing apps aim to simplify task management for small business owners. They help with critical functions such as dispatching, scheduling appointments, and assigning tasks to field technicians. This ensures that jobs are allocated effectively and completed in a timely manner. Utility and Reference: Many plumbing apps include utility features that provide access to essential plumbing formulas, piping calculations, and water flow calculations. These tools assist plumbers in making accurate measurements and calculations during their work, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Customer Communication: Effective communication with customers is crucial for any plumbing business. Plumbing apps often offer features that facilitate communication, such as sending notifications, updates, and reminders to clients. This helps in building trust and maintaining good customer relationships. Employee Time Tracking: Plumbing apps provide employee time tracking capabilities to help monitor and manage the working hours of field technicians. This feature allows businesses to ensure accurate payroll processing and optimize resource allocation. Comprehensive Features: The best plumbing apps provide a wide range of features that cater to the diverse needs of plumbing professionals. These features may include invoicing, payment processing, reporting, inventory management, and more, allowing businesses to handle various aspects of their operations within a single application. Plumbing App Benefits A plumbing company can get many benefits from an all-in-one app. Here are five notable benefits. Calculate Bids Quickly Plumbing apps simplify the bidding process by providing easy access to historical data on labor and equipment costs, enabling faster and more accurate job cost estimation. Get Paid Faster Getting paid faster is always a plus, right? Plumbing apps enhance cash flow management with the ability to accept credit card payments directly through the app. This advantage ensures prompt payment from clients. Efficient Job Scheduling Streamline job scheduling using color-coded calendars and task assignments to field technicians, reducing scheduling conflicts and improving organization. Optimize Routes Minimize operational costs by optimizing travel routes, reducing travel time and fuel expenses. Ensure compatibility with your mobile device for efficient navigation. Enhanced Customer Engagement Quality plumbing apps enhance customer engagement by sending pre-visit emails, notifying clients via text messages when technicians are on their way, and automating follow-up and rebooking communications. This improves customer satisfaction and reinforces client relationships. How We Selected the Best Plumbing Apps: Essential Criteria for Small Business Owners In our pursuit to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with the best recommendations, we rigorously evaluated numerous plumbing apps based on the following criteria. Each criterion is assigned a scale from 1 to 5, indicating its importance in our selection process, where 1 is less critical, and 5 is most critical: User Interface and Usability (Rating: 5) We prioritized apps with an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, ensuring efficient task completion. Feature Set (Rating: 4) Our focus was on apps offering comprehensive features like scheduling, invoicing, customer management, and real-time updates. Cost-Effectiveness (Rating: 4) We looked for apps that provide excellent value, be it through a one-time purchase or a subscription model. Customer Support and Training (Rating: 3) We considered the availability of reliable customer support and training resources as vital for troubleshooting and user education. Integration Capabilities (Rating: 4) We prefer apps that can integrate smoothly with other tools and software, thereby improving overall business efficiency. Security and Data Privacy (Rating: 5) Security of customer and business data was non-negotiable in our assessment. Customizability (Rating: 3) We value apps offering customization options to suit varied business needs. Reviews and Community Feedback (Rating: 2) User reviews and community feedback were considered to gauge the app’s performance and reliability. Offline Functionality (Rating: 2) We assessed whether the apps could operate efficiently offline, which is a valuable feature in regions with poor internet connectivity. Scalability (Rating: 3) We looked for apps capable of scaling with a business, accommodating more features or users as required. These factors are designed to cater to the needs of plumbing businesses, guaranteeing that the app you select not only aids in daily operations but also fosters business growth and enhances customer satisfaction. Best Reference Apps for a Plumbing Business The plumbing industry has many good choices when it comes to apps. Some of the better ones have free resources. Even the best free apps can help streamline your business. Plumbing Formulator App As indicated by its name, the Plumbing Formulator provides formulas specifically designed for plumbers, totaling one hundred and twenty. Great for tradespeople looking to stay in line with a uniform plumbing code. And an international plumbing code and national standard plumbing code. Some of the formulas include water flow, numbers on plastic piping, and water velocity Dozens of plumbing charts are added. It’s updated to stay on top of major plumbing codes. It’s easy to use and even useful offline. And the constant updates make it useful for plumbing businesses of all sizes. Copper Tube Handbook The Copper Development Association produced this, making it a reputable app with positive community feedback. It’s great for plumbers using copper piping systems. Built for the iPad and free for the first 10,000 users. Electrical Wiring Lite Plumbers need to wear several trades hats. For example, plumbing engineers should know basic electrical wiring to steer clear of issues. This is an easy-to-use app that can help plumbers in this area. Pipe Trades Pro Calculator Pipe trades pro is one of the better reference plumbing apps, with plenty of useful features and a user-friendly interface. Worth the money from the Google Play store at $24.99. Solves pipe design and layout issues that plumbers face on a daily project-by-project basis. This is a practical product that can help with the day-to-day of working as a plumber. Pipe and Fitting Full of technical data that helps on job sites. Provides info like pipe size numbers, pipe material specs, and pipe calculations. Important joining methods are included, too. A good way to see any job through to completion is having the right resources. This app includes important information on things like gasket and pipe flange dimensions. You can save money on any plumbing project by having this kind of information at your fingertips. It can even be useful offline and for businesses of any scale. EasyMeasure This is one of the best plumbing apps on Google Play. Measure objects are seen through the camera of any Android device without a ruler or tape measure thanks to the advanced features of this app. This product replaces a tape measure in more ways than one. For example, measurements taken can even determine the width and height of an object. Plumbers can take advantage of a 3-D augmented reality grid. There are some other excellent features plumbers should know about like the ability to share different results on Twitter, Facebook, or by email. That’s an excellent add-on for remote work that needs to order parts and types from a central location. Bubble Level Plumbing contractors take note. Designed for Android devices, this app is simple to use, accurate and handy. Moreover, features such as a tilt indicator will work well for your plumbing business. It’s cheap too, with a price tag of $1.99 to $2.99. This is an important app for plumbers who are joining pipes together. They need to make sure the water is flowing the right way. Best Business Plumbing Apps The best plumbing apps also help people in the trade to run their businesses efficiently. Here are a few that will help with business operations. QuickBooks for Plumbers Lots of features here that will help you when you have multiple jobs. Send and track invoices and take pictures of receipts for invoices. This is a good business app that covers iOS and Android devices. This product is excellent for invoicing due to its user-friendly interface and a variety of helpful features. It allows you to accept mobile payments, online payments, credit cards, and cash. FieldEdge This is a fitting app when you need to do a lot of scheduling. It includes great features like the ability to sync to Quickbooks. Another one of the business apps with a mobile CRM option. This software offers a number of different features that are unique. One matches up your marketing spend to sales revenue to see how many prospects you’re actually converting. If you have a small plumbing business, you can get a snapshot of company financials with this software. Connecteam This app calculates a few different things. The free trial includes an equipment inspection checklist. Never lose another tape measure. Free trial and a basic plan at $39 monthly. Manage the tasks that you assigned to employees with this software. There is also an HR and people management widget as well as an employee time clock. Jobber Manage a customer list in one user-friendly interface. New customers to your plumbing contracting business can book through your Facebook page. Plumbers can benefit from the unlimited one-on-one coaching service provided by this software, which is accessible via email, phone, and live chat. ServiceTitan This is one of the best apps with tons of useful business features. Set up flat rates for your plumbing business. Integrated processing so your bank account and payroll line up. Handy Mobile Apps for Plumbing Contractors A Handy Plumbing app makes life easier for those running plumbing businesses. And those looking for these skilled experts. This app covers over 30 international cities. Here are some other apps for plumbers that make a difference. Code Snap UPC Good apps for plumbers need to be specific. This one offers many plumbing charts and costs $7.99 for iOS users. This essential reference guide is great for national electrical code standards. And various plumbing systems design tables. simPRO Good apps for plumbers need to include features that work on the job site. This one has payments and invoicing. Plus, streamlined quoting. Knowify One of the best plumbing apps for commercial plumbers. Get project management and excellent reporting. Commusoft Put together custom estimates right from the job site. Include pipe layouts and other parts for any given plumbing system. This one syncs in real-time with your mobile device and tablets. Comparison of Best Reference Apps for a Plumbing Business What follows is a convenient overview of the best reference apps tailored for plumbing businesses: App NameDescriptionKey FeaturesPricing Plumbing Formulator AppProvides plumbing formulas and charts for uniform plumbing codes120+ formulas, charts, code complianceFree and paid options Copper Tube HandbookDesigned for plumbers using copper piping systemsFree for the first 10,000 usersFree Electrical Wiring LiteHelps plumbers with basic electrical knowledgeBasic electrical wiring referenceFree Pipe Trades Pro CalculatorSolves pipe design and layout issuesPipe design and layout calculations$24.99 Pipe and FittingOffers technical data for plumbing job sitesPipe size, material specs, calculationsFree EasyMeasureMeasure objects using augmented reality3-D augmented reality grid, sharing featuresFree and paid options Bubble LevelProvides a level and tilt indicator for plumbing projectsLevel and tilt indicator, inexpensive$1.99 to $2.99 QuickBooks for PlumbersHelps with invoicing, receipt tracking, and paymentsInvoicing, receipt tracking, payment optionsSubscription-based FieldEdgeOffers scheduling and CRM features for plumbing businessesScheduling, CRM, financial trackingSubscription-based ConnecteamIncludes equipment inspection checklist and HR featuresEmployee task management, HR featuresFree trial, $39/month JobberManages customer list and offers coaching servicesCustomer management, coaching servicesSubscription-based ServiceTitanSet up flat rates and integrate processing for plumbing businessesFlat rate setup, integrated processingPricing on request Handy Plumbing AppCovers over 30 international cities for plumbing servicesService listings for international citiesFree Code Snap UPCOffers plumbing charts and references for national electrical codesPlumbing charts, code references$7.99 (iOS) simPROProvides payments, invoicing, and quoting features for plumbing jobsPayments, invoicing, quotingPricing on request KnowifyOffers project management and reporting for commercial plumbersProject management, reportingPricing on request CommusoftAllows custom estimates and pipe layouts from the job siteCustom estimates, real-time syncPricing on request How to Choose the Best Plumbing App for Your Business Each plumbing business may require a different app. Choosing one that is effective involves more than just having a user-friendly interface. Here are some tips to help you find the app that best suits your enterprise. Look For Automation A good app needs to automate business processes and workflows. Look for one that can manage and schedule times and locations. Automation can help your plumbing business in several different ways. It can improve transparency and accountability and make data recording more accurate at the same time. Look For Upgrades Like a pro version that can create field estimates. And proposals with options and pictures. The upgrades might cost a little more, but they’re worth it. For example, one that has a sales component is a good idea. Look for something that can send quotes to new prospects in your area. Finding an upgrade that asks for online reviews takes care of some of the marketing. Look For Compatibility Technical data is important. To get numbers on room dimensions, wall thickness, etc. But the app should be able to sync with others. Like route4me route planner. There’s also a financial aspect you need to look at. Compatibility should include other apps like Quickbooks. What is the best plumber app? Looking for the best app for your plumbing business? Housecall Pro checks all the boxes. Get this one on Android and iOS. There’s a free trial. What separates this from the competition are the features that you can get. It accepts credit cards on the go, and you can dispatch and schedule jobs. You can also take advantage of other great features, like the ability to create and send updated invoices. Runner up is The Plumbing Formulator if you’re looking for a resource. What is the best free plumbing app? Free apps don’t always have all of the same features. But they can help get jobs done for people working in the pipe trades. The best one is ServiceTitan Mobile. This free app can be found on Android and iOS. There are lots of features like tiered estimates. This is important when you’re putting together estimates in the field on bigger jobs. Finally, maybe plumbing isn’t for you. If that’s the case, check out these other service business ideas. Image: Depositphotos This article, "The Best Plumbing Apps Compared, Reviewed, Rated, and Ranked" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating content on social media can be powerful, both for businesses and aspiring creators — but it can be tough to figure out where to begin. You’re hemming and hawing over which social media platforms you should be on, which content creation tools you should use, and building a social media content strategy. It’s all too…overwhelming. Where do you even start? As it happens, right here. We've created this guide to be a one-stop shop: your action plan to start, scale, and maintain your social media content creation. Content formats and the social platforms that support itBefore we get down to business, you must know which social media network supports what content formats. There are broadly four types of social media content: Text posts are simply written content on social media. You can type your social media content and hit publish. Here’s an example: Image posts are single images or carousels (a collection of image posts in a single social media post). These can be graphics, testimonials, selfies, photo dumps, etc. Here’s an example: Video posts are Short-form videos or long-form videos depending on their length. Here’s an example: Most social media channels contain multiple types of content formats. You can mix and match them to get the best reach and engagement. Here’s a quick table showing what content formats are available on the major platforms: Social media network Text posts Image posts Video posts Instagram ❌ ✅ ✅ TikTok ✅ ✅ ✅ YouTube* ✅ ✅ ✅ X (formerly Twitter) ✅ ✅ ✅ LinkedIn ✅ ✅ ✅ Pinterest ❌ ✅ ✅ Facebook ✅ ✅ ✅ Threads ✅ ✅ ✅ Bluesky ✅ ✅ ✅ Mastodon ✅ ✅ ✅ 🗒️Note: YouTube contains text, image, and interactive social media posts only in the YouTube community posts.You’ll notice most social media channels contain nearly all content formats. That’s a good thing! You can create content that’s easy and fun for you. But remember, some networks are primarily focused on one format. For example, TikTok has the option of image and text posts, but it’s still primarily a short-form video platform. You could technically build a community using only carousels and text-based posts, but it’s going to be tough. It’s worthwhile getting familiar with the algorithms of different social media platforms to understand which content formats they prefer. Here’s our guide to the Instagram algorithm, TikTok algorithm, YouTube algorithm, LinkedIn algorithm, and the Threads algorithm to get you started. Do your homework: 5 things to do before you start social media content creationStarting social media content creation without getting your basics right is like building a house on an uneven piece of land. You need to do the following five tasks to create a useful social media strategy. 1. Deeply understand your target audienceUnderstanding your target audience deeply is crucial not just for social media marketing but for your overall business — whether you’re a creator or a small business owner. You should have an in-depth idea of your audience’s problem areas and how your product, services, or content can help resolve it — better than your competitors. For social media, you should know three primary things: Which social channels your audience prefers. Studying the user demographics can give you a good idea of which social platforms your potential customers use. Look beyond age — also notice the gender distribution, if a certain social channel is more popular in your niche, etc.How they behave on social media. Your audience might be on LinkedIn and TikTok and use both very differently. They might prefer more entertaining and trending content on TikTok, but hunt for educational content on LinkedIn. Similarly, they might prefer written content on LinkedIn but video content on TikTok. This information can help you create social media content based on your audience preferences.What they expect from creators like yours on social media. You can create impeccable social media content all day, but your audience might still scroll away if you don’t know their expectations. Let’s say you create content around curly hair care. Your community might expect you to elaborate on how to maintain curls, which products to use, and other educational info — but you’re creating funny social media content around the struggles of curly hair. The type of content you’re creating is important, too, and has its place. But you need to satisfy your audience’s expectations first.Where do you get this information about your target audience? Audience research tools like SparkToro can help, but the best way is to speak to your audience. Participate in private communities, see what questions your audience is asking in your comments and DMs, and practice social listening. And don’t worry if you don’t have everything figured out about your audience with 100 percent certainty. Audience engagement on social media will teach you a lot about your target audience and their expectations of you. The more content you share, the more you’ll get to grips with what will resonate with your audience. 2. Understand the unique culture of your chosen social media platformsWhen TikTok was briefly banned in the U.S., experts like Rachel Karten reminded people about its unique culture. While short-form video as a content type is also available on other social channels, like Instagram, TikTok has a different ‘vibe’ than Instagram. yes, there are other places to post short form videos. but not enough people talking about the culture of tiktok and how that's not as easy to transfer as some might think. — Rachel Karten (@milkkarten) January 17, 2025 This is because of audience preferences and differences in algorithms. Some social media channels are conversation-starters, others are for goofing around, and some are prominent in new brand discovery. Each platform has its place. When you choose a social media platform to build your audience as a creator, or practice social media marketing, understand the ins and outs of the specific culture of that social channel. How? By spending lots of time on it as a consumer. Understand what the algorithm puts front and center for you and dissect whyRead comments on the posts you like to witness what other people are sayingKeep an eye out for platform updates and see which types of posts get the most engagementKnowing the above will help you build a social media presence that fits the platform perfectly. You’ll understand general audience expectations better and create the kind of content your audience expects. 3. Set tangible and achievable social media goalsSocial media content creation is just guesswork if you don’t know the purpose behind it. Why do you want to create social media content? Maybe it's to increase brand awareness or build a personal brand. Whatever it is, ensure you create social media content that helps you achieve those goals. Two things to remember while setting objectives: Your social media goals should help you achieve larger business objectives. Social media doesn’t work in a silo. Use it as a means to achieve your larger goals. Let’s say your business goal for the quarter is to improve website traffic. Your social media content creation should work toward achieving this goal. If you’re a creator selling digital products, your social media efforts should work in that direction to increase sales for them.Make your social media goals measurable and time-bound. Instead of aiming to “increase engagement,” try setting more specific goals that can be measured using a metric. For instance, you can aim to increase your engagement rate by 20% in one month. Choose key metrics you want to keep an eye on to measure success. Tying your goals around tangible metrics gives you an idea of what success looks like. And if you’re a social media manager, you can also present these results to stakeholders.Setting social media goals will help you focus your attention in the right place and create content that helps you meet those objectives. 💡Learn more: 9 Social Media Goals You Can Set for Your Business (and How to Track Them)4. Analyze your competitorsDoing a competitive analysis can help you identify content gaps and how you can fill them — and this step isn’t just for businesses, either. Creators can really benefit from understanding what works for creators in their niches, too. More on this below. Go to your core competitors’ social media profiles and evaluate: Which kinds of posts engage audiences the most? Maybe you notice short videos outperform carousel posts for most of your competitors. Or perhaps you find a pattern where behind the scenes content is a major hit for all your competitors.What kinds of comments does the audience leave on your competitors’ posts? This is where you can leverage content gaps. For example, if you notice most audience questions are about a particular topic in your niche that your competitor hasn’t addressed, you can create content around it. You’ve got proof that your audience wants to know more about it.What’s your competitors' social media content strategy? Examine your competition’s social media profiles across various networks to see how often they post, what content formats they stick to, and the engagements it’s getting them. This will help you create comparative reports and have a realistic yardstick for your own social media journey.As I touched on above, competitor analysis isn't restricted to brands and businesses on social media. You can also use them as a creator. To start, narrow down a list of creators you aspire to be. Try to find patterns in their work: How do they click with their audience? What kinds of content gets them the most engagement? Do all the creators have the same kind of questions in their comments? Use your competitors’ work for inspiration and for audience analysis. A competitive analysis is ultimately a subset of social listening — it helps you gain insights into your audience’s interests. Use it for research purposes and to identify content gaps. But don’t let a competing social media strategy be the reason you shift your goals and plans. Let your competitors’ work inspire and guide yours, rather than shape it. 5. Choose a set of content creation tools and social media management softwareConsistent content creation is no walk in the park. You need all the help you can get to create compelling content. Usually, this includes two kinds of tools: Social media tools like Buffer to help you schedule posts in advance, track metrics to analyze campaign performance, and maintain a content calendar. Content creation tools like Canva for graphics or video editing software like CapCut. These are tools that help turn your rough content ideas into social media friendly versions easily. Source: CapCutChoose the tools you’re most comfortable with before you start social media content creation. This will ensure you work more efficiently and don’t have to pause your content creation in the middle to hunt for the right software. How to create content on social media in 6 stepsNow that you’ve solidified the foundations of social media marketing, it’s time to start opening that blank canvas and creating content. Set content pillars (or use the MP3 framework)Content pillars are essentially the core topics you will post about on your social media. For example, if you’re a career coach, your pillars can be: NetworkingAcing interviewsBuilding resumesThese are the primary topics you’ll post about — as a part of your social media niche. The goal of these content pillars is to ensure you never run out of valuable content ideas. If you know your audience well, content topics will flow easily into one of your content pillar buckets. Now, how do you choose your content pillars? It’s an overlap between your audience’s expectations, niche, and social media goals. Many people often find the content pillars restrictive. An alternative could be Erica Schneider’s MP3 framework. She suggests a three-prong approach instead: Market the problem: Your social media content creation should involve doubling down on your audience’s problem. Think: What keeps my buyers up at night? What nags them in the middle of the day? Create content around these problems.Market the process: This is the behind-the-scenes of your own business. How do you help your audience solve the problem they struggle with? How did you come up with this solution?Market the proof: Share the evidence to build trust. How have your existing buyers fared after trying your solution? This includes case studies, testimonials, visual content showing social proof, etc.Source: Erica SchneiderContent pillars and the MP3 framework can also work together to help you brainstorm content ideas and craft compelling content for your audience. When you come up with your core content topics, remember you need to keep an ear out for emerging trends on the topic. For example, if one of your content pillars is technology, you need to keep up with the rapid developments of that world. Doing this will help you create a content mix of evergreen and trending content. Step 2: Repurpose your existing content for social mediaRepeat after me: You don’t always need to create social media content from scratch. Repurposing the content you already have is the lowest-hanging fruit. That’s where you should begin. Do you have a blog? Convert your blog post into multiple posts and spread it out on your content calendar.Do you have a podcast or webinar? Cut out snippets and repurpose them into short videos or audio clips.Do you share a newsletter consistently? Revamp old content from it into carousels.Do you have a research report? Convert your own data into a shareable infographic for social media.I could go on. Repurposing should not stop even when you have a full-fledged social media strategy. It allows you to double down on successful content and reach more audiences with a single piece of content. Colin and Samir are a great example: They regularly repurpose their video podcast into Instagram Reels. Start by repurposing your most successful pieces of content. If a blog post has ranked at the top in search engines, people are likely to hear about that topic on social media, too. After that, bake repurposing into your marketing strategy as a whole. Repurpose every piece of content you create into various content formats for social media to get the best reach possible. 💡Learn more: How to Get the Most Out of Every Piece of Content You CreateStep 3: Schedule time to create contentContent batching is when you create content in advance for social media. You decide your content topics and script one day, get ready and shoot videos the next day, and edit them a third day (or on the same day). Content batching is useful because if you rely on willpower to create social media content daily, you’ll never stick to it for the long term. Plus: Social media content creation requires deep focus. It’s best (and easier!) to get in the flow and continue creating when you’re already in the zone. How far in advance should you schedule posts? A week is the perfect amount of time for most niches. If you create content in advance for longer than a week, you risk creating irrelevant content. Not to mention: A week’s worth of posts is a lot on your creative muscles. You need some rejuvenation before you can go at it again. What if inspiration strikes you randomly (as it usually does)? Store it in your notes app or even better, in Buffer’s Ideas tab. This way, you already have a list of post ideas to work with when you sit to batch-create content. ⚡Pro-tip: Leave some room in your social media calendar for creating trending content. But otherwise, schedule posts in advance and see the magic of consistency yourself!To help you, we’ve recently launched Streaks in Buffer to help you gamify consistent social media content creation. No better way to keep your motivation high! Step 4: Collaborate with other creators on social mediaThe best way to instantly boost engagement is via social media collaborations. If you’re a creator yourself, find other content creators who share your target audience. Ask them if you can create a post together. This will help you both reach new, targeted audiences. A great example is the collaboration between food creators Sadia Badiei and Nisha Vora. If you’re a brand, influencer partnerships can help you gain your audience’s trust and reach new people at the same time. I loved this collaboration between Filmora and Sandra K. Social media collaborations nurture community building in the best way possible. You get in front of fresh faces and borrow the seal of trust of your collaborator. Step 5: Engage with your audience and be receptive to their feedbackSocial media is a two-way street. Pay attention to your audience’s comments, ask them for feedback, and be responsive to them publicly and in Direct Messages (DMs). As a business, you’ll also find useful product feedback you can take to your stakeholders here. For example, skincare creator Aishwarya Kandpal shared an Instagram Story for Solved Labs requesting them to improve the packaging of their cleansing balm. Every day, slot 15-30 minutes in your calendar to respond to social media queries, questions, and DMs. Step 6: Adjust your strategy based on social media analyticsOnce you start posting consistently, your social media analytics will tell you what your audience likes and dislikes — rooted in tangible numbers. You can see if you’re reaching the right demographics, what kind of content is resonating the most with your audience, and how your existing month’s performance compares to your last month’s. Almost all social platforms have native insights, but if you use a social media tool like Buffer, you can gain insights like this in one place. Not to mention: Buffer makes it really easy for you to answer pesky questions like the best time to post, the best type of post, and more — all for your account. Try Buffer for freeSocial media content creation should be funThe easiest way to stick to any form of social media schedule is to enjoy the process of content creation. If you enjoy content creation, engaging with your community, and spending time on a social platform, the whole process will become a fun challenge rather than a daunting task. If you’re wondering where to begin, warm up your muscles on a platform you already use. Why? You’re already familiar with it and enjoy using it. It’ll be easy to create content here. You can move up to add more channels and gradually increase your posting frequency in the content calendar. And remember: It gets harder before it gets easier. The first few times, social media content creation will take more time, energy, and resources than you anticipate. Stick to it! You’ll soon polish your skills and become more efficient. Pinky promise. View the full article

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