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One of Donald Trump’s first acts as president was to sign an executive order attacking birthright citizenship. While several judges have moved to block the order, Trump’s anti-immigrant push is continuing—from allowing immigration officials to conduct arrests at schools and places of worship to training local law officers to interrogate and detain immigrants in their custody. However, Deirdre Schifeling, chief policy and advocacy officer at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), points out that local government resistance as well as individuals fighting back against anti-immigrant policies are showing results. “We’re seeing this in Chicago, where Trump is suing the government for not helping enough,” she says. Here are five ways to fight anti-immigration policies: 1. Contact government officials, particularly local ones Politicians are moved by public opinion. Apply pressure by continually calling and emailing your representatives. “The most effective way to change immigration policy is to contact members of Congress and express your opposition to anti-immigrant policies,” Oleg Nekritin, an attorney at the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot, said via email. And don’t neglect local officials. Schifeling points out that cities and states cannot be forced to assist with mass deportation by the federal government. While they can’t obstruct the federal government, they can choose not to help. Schifeling recommends asking local leaders to pass sanctuary city or state laws, which means they won’t use their resources to help the federal immigration authorities, as well as laws that prevent city data from being used to deport immigrants. She also recommends asking school boards to issue guidance to schools asking them not to track student immigration status and not to share it if they do have the status. 2. Educate yourself Learn what’s going on in your community vis a vis the law. Schifeling recommends attending a “Know Your Rights” workshop so people can understand what their and their neighbors’ rights are if they’re faced with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. In addition, the more people who understand the law, the more people there are who can educate others in their community, as well as bear witness when ICE raids happen and try to help prevent unlawful actions. For example, if ICE doesn’t have a warrant, you don’t have to let them in. “We’re hearing from the Trump administration that communities are very educated and this as a top obstacle for carrying out their mass deportations,” Schifeling says. “It’s confirmation that know-your-rights outreach is working.” 3. Donate While organizations such as the ACLU are looking to expand and appreciate donations, donating to local legal service organizations and immigrant advocacy groups can also be powerful. These smaller groups are on the frontlines in the fight to protect immigrants but often lack the resources of their larger counterparts. Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, notes that smaller organizations often struggle to get funding since they may not have brand-name recognition or even the ability to hire marketing teams. Yet often, it’s local organizations that best understand the needs of the immigrant community, says Sweet, “and can be the most responsive.” In addition, consider donating to immigrant bond funds. “Helping people bond out of immigration detention is going to be really important to give them a chance to find an attorney to represent them in their deportation cases,” said Tara Tidwell Cullen, director of communications at the National Immigrant Justice Center, in an email. 4. Volunteer Volunteering can take many different forms. Schifeling at the ACLU recommends getting trained in Know Your Rights, so if a raid happens in the community, volunteers can show up and distribute Know Your Rights cards printed in multiple languages. Organizations may also need volunteers to help people fill out citizenship paperwork or register to vote. Small organizations often also need professional skills since they don’t have the budget to retain large staffs. Legal service organizations depend on volunteer attorneys, while in general, nonprofits need expertise with fundraising, finance, marketing, and website management. Check with your local organizations to see which of your skills might be a good fit. 5. Verify information before you share it Last, but not least, in your desire to help, make sure you’re not inadvertently spreading misinformation. Immigrant communities are already living in fear. If you have information, make sure it’s coming from a credible source before sharing it. “We’re hearing so many rumors flying around, sometimes from folks who want to be helpful,” Sweet says. “But when someone says, ‘ICE is here and they are going to take action in this community,’ it’s really scaring people who are already scared.” View the full article

The traditional marketing funnel doesn’t reflect how users actually search and engage with content today—and it’s hurting your SEO. With access to more data than ever before, marketers now have a better framework for driving organic traffic: the spiderweb. By structuring your content strategy around interconnected, high-value pages, you can drive faster rankings, more organic traffic, and better user experiences. Join Think Spiderwebs, Not Funnels For Remarkable SEO Results with Ryan Brock to learn: Why traditional funnels waste organic traffic opportunities What Gartner and leading researchers say about the modern buyer’s journey How to shift your content strategy to improve rankings and engagement Don’t let outdated SEO strategies hold you back. Sign up today! View the full article

If you've never considered the Kindle Kids e-reader because of the label, you've been missing out on some sweet perks. The 16 GB Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids is $139.99 (originally $179.99), the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. Here's why this is a great deal for everyone, not just kids. Display type: 7" glare-free, Resolution: 300 ppi, Storage: 16 GB, Battery life: up to 12 weeks. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids– Cyber City $139.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $179.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $139.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $179.99 Save $40.00 Display type: 7" glare-free, Resolution: 300 ppi, Storage: 16 GB, Battery life: up to 12 weeks. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids- Starfish $139.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $179.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $139.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $179.99 Save $40.00 Display type: 7" glare-free, Resolution: 300 ppi, Storage: 16 GB, Battery life: up to 12 weeks. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids– Diary of a Wimpy Kid $144.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $189.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Get Deal $144.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $189.99 Save $45.00 SEE 0 MORE The kids' Kindle version includes a free case (about a $30 value), an ad-free experience ($20 value), six months of Amazon Kindle Kids + subscription ($36 value), and a two-year warranty (as opposed to the one-year warranty on the standard version). All that value for $20 less than the “adult” version is a no-brainer. The cases for these models are obviously tailored for kids, but it's hard to argue with free. The Amazon Kindle Kids + subscription will charge you automatically after the first six months, but you can cancel it beforehand. On these Kindle models, the kids’ mode feature is turned on by default. You can easily turn it off in the settings, but this will bring the ads back to the lock screen—the Kindle Kids also has some cool features even adults will appreciate, like the awards feature, as this video explains. With the six months of Amazon Kindle Kids + subscription, you can get unlimited access to thousands of kids' books, including all of the Harry Potter series. The Paperwhite Kindle is the same as the adults, in the sense that it's waterproof, has adjustable warm light, a 12-week battery, and Audible access through Bluetooth. You can read the full review of the 2024 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids from PCMag here. If you still don't know which Kindle is best for you, check out our complete breakdown. View the full article

A project management dashboard is one of the essential tools for delivering projects as planned. That’s because a project dashboard is a visual representation of key performance indicators (KPIs) that provide a high-level overview of key project metrics. For those not ready to upgrade to project management software, there’s an alternative: Excel dashboard templates. Dashboard templates are designed to track a variety of different metrics that provide vital data for project managers and their teams. We have free dashboard templates that will help track budget, workload, progress and more. Monitoring this allows project managers to determine if the project is on schedule and not overspending. If it is, adjustments can be made to get back on track before it impacts the success of the project. Download these Excel dashboard templates for free or sign up for a free 30-day trial of our software and see what real-time dashboards can do when managing a project, program or portfolio. We’ll talk more about that later, but first, let’s get to the Excel dashboard templates for free download. 1. Project Dashboard Template for Excel Excel dashboard templates are important for a high-level overview of the project. This free project dashboard template for Excel is an excellent choice. It allows project managers and their teams to monitor project progress on several different bar charts and pie charts. Four dashboards together paint a clear picture of the project and where it stands concerning where it should be in terms of the project plan. /wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Project-Dashboard-template-UPDATE.png There’s a pie chart that captures the project tasks. It makes it easy to see at a glance what percentage of the team’s tasks have been completed, are in progress, aren’t yet started or are overdue, as well as the total. A workload bar chart shows the resource allocation for the project team. It’s color-coded to show work in progress, not started and overdue. A task length chart shows duration and a cost chart helps track the actual cost against the budget for that period. All of this information is crucial to managing a project, but so is working efficiently. Excel dashboard templates are just not going to provide the efficiency that is built into project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with real-time dashboards for either a project and multiple projects. Because our dashboard is online, it collects live data automatically, there’s no need to manually update a template. Our live dashboards provide a current overview of the project’s performance and progress, which allows project managers to quickly make adjustments if necessary to get the work back on track. Templates can’t do that. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Light-mode-portfolio-dashboard-CTA.pngProjectManager’s real-time dashboards are better than Excel dashboards. Learn more 2. KPI Dashboard Template for Excel But, again, not everyone is ready to upgrade to project management software with real-time data visualization. For those looking for Excel dashboard templates to help as a task tracker, download this free KPI dashboard template for Excel. This is a great tool for providing critical information as it monitors, analyzes and displays KPIs to better manage organizations and projects. /wp-content/uploads/2024/08/KPI-Dashboard-Template-Screenshot.png This Excel dashboard has even more charts and graphs to help track the project timeline, budget and more. There’s even a yearly profit and loss overview with two charts, one showing revenue over time and the other expenses. This will help keep organizations aware of whether they’re in the red or the black. That data is even broken further down to monthly revenue, quarterly revenue, monthly expenses and quarterly expenses. There’s also a chart capturing workload analysis and one for resource planning, among others. 3. Budget Dashboard Template for Excel One of the most important KPIs to track is cost. This free budget dashboard template for Excel is a robust breakdown of project costs essential for keeping track of the budget and delivering projects without suffering cost overruns. There’s also space to add the job number, customer name, job description and start and completion dates. This is certainly one of the Excel dashboard templates needed to keep track of budgets. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Budget-Dashboard-Template.png Beneath that are colorful pie charts that make this Excel spreadsheet easy to read and understand. For example, there’s one to show the planned costs against the actual costs, which helps project managers see if their current spending aligns with where the budget said they should be at this time. There are also pie charts for direct material costs, direct labor costs, direct equipment costs and overhead costs. A bar chart collects the total costs for an overview of the budget, which is another reason this Excel dashboard comes in handy when managing the budget. 4. Workload Dashboard Template for Excel We’ve mentioned workload a few times already, but for those who aren’t familiar with the term, workload refers to the total amount of work assigned to a team member or group within a project. It’s usually measured in hours or tasks. Keeping track of workload ensures that team members are working at capacity, but not overallocated to the point of suffering from burnout, which erodes morale. Therefore, this is one of the Excel dashboard templates that everyone needs. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Workload-Dashboard-Template.png The free workload dashboard template for Excel is made up of four bar charts. On the left side are color-coded monthly resource allocation charts that show each team member’s resource availability (hours per month) in black and current workload allocation (again in hours per month) in yellow. This provides a monthly overview of the team’s resource allocation and can help project managers to balance their workload. Workload can also help with tracking labor costs. The right side of the Excel dashboard shows labor costs by employee in a chart for each month they’re working on the project. 5. Task Tracker Dashboard Template for Excel Project managers use a task tracker to organize, prioritize and monitor the progress of individual tasks within a project. This free task tracker dashboard template for Excel is a centralized location to manage all project details and improve collaboration between team members while helping project managers know what needs to be done, who is responsible and when each task is due. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Task-Tracker-Dashboard-Template.png As Excel dashboard templates go, this one is another must-have. It is made up of a couple of charts and pie charts that are color-coded to make it easy to digest them easily and fast. There’s one for task priority levels, which has the status on the left column, which goes from very low to critical. There are also columns for count and percentage. There’s another, set up the same, only this tracks task status, from on hold to not started. This information is then translated to pie charts that visually show the percentage and color codes for those who prefer to get their information that way. Benefits of Using Excel Dashboard Templates We’ve been talking about the importance of Excel dashboard templates and why they’re beneficial to project managers and their teams. To reiterate and provide more detail, we’ve listed the benefits of using an Excel dashboard in project management below. Dashboards bring together various project data in a centralized location, which makes it easier to track and monitor progress across different aspects. Excel dashboards can be updated regularly to reflect close-to-real-time data, giving project managers an updated view of how the project is progressing. With data presented in an easily digestible format, project managers can quickly identify problems or areas that need attention and make informed decisions faster. Graphs and charts help simplify complex data, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and access the project status without needing to dive into raw data. Disadvantages of Using Excel Dashboard Templates While Excel dashboard templates can be useful, they’re not a perfect project management tool. We’ve already noted some ways they are inferior to project management software. Here are some general disadvantages. Many pre-designed templates have fixed structures, which might not suit every project’s unique needs. Customizing templates is time-consuming and challenging. As the project grows or becomes more complex, the template might not scale effectively, creating issues with handling large amounts of data, slow performance or clutterness. Excel dashboards rely heavily on manual data entry or data imports. If the data isn’t consistently updated or entered correctly, it can lead to inaccurate results, which could impact decision-making. Unless specifically designed with automation or integration features, Excel templates don’t typically pull real-time data from other sources, which could result in outdated information unless manually refreshed. ProjectManager Is a Better Project Tracking Tool Than Excel Dashboard Templates While Excel dashboard templates have a place in project management, it’s mostly a stepping stone to more sophisticated tools. Sure, try out these free dashboard templates and get a handle on how useful they are in monitoring project metrics to meet deadlines and stay on budget. But chances are frustration will settle in soon enough. After all, these are only static documents that must be manually updated and are poor collaboration tools. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with real-time project and portfolio management dashboards. But that’s only one feature of many to deliver successful projects. Multiple Project Planning and Scheduling Views Before one can track data, projects must be planned and tasks, resources and costs scheduled. Our software has multiple project views to do that and execute the work. Project managers prefer the robust Gantt charts that schedule tasks, resources and costs, but also link all four types of task dependencies to avoid delays and cost overruns. They can filter for the critical path rather than go through timely and complicated calculations. Then, once a baseline is set, progress and performance are tracked in real time. Plans are shared across the visual workflow of kanban boards and powerful task lists for teams to execute their work, while stakeholders can stay updated with the calendar view. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-1.png Robust Resource Management Features Many of the dashboards include workload, as does ours, but real project management software will have resource management tools, as well. As noted above, both human and nonhuman resources can be scheduled on the Gantt. When onboarding teams, project managers can set their availability according to PTO, vacation and global holidays, as well as skill sets, which makes assigning tasks easier. There’s a color-coded workload page to view resource allocation and balance team workload to keep everyone working at capacity. Our team page summarizes team activities, which can be filtered by priority, progress and more. Even our secure timesheets, which streamline payroll, also measure how far each team member has gotten in completing tasks. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Of course, there’s more. Automated workflows with task approvals for quality control, version control, global search and unlimited file storage, email and in-app notifications and risk management tools. But first, try the free Excel dashboard templates, then take a free trial and join the successful teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post 5 Free Excel Dashboard Templates appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

It feels like every social media site now has a 'reply guy' problem. You'll post about something that you know your followers will get, but if the post goes any degree of viral, multiple random strangers will appear in the replies questioning all your decisions and putting you down for making a harmless quip or a minor error. Bluesky is now helping you do something to address this problem. The site's moderation tools are among the best I've seen on social media platforms and in its latest update (1.98), Bluesky is doubling down on its efforts to help you keep harassment at bay. You can now restrict replies to only your followers, which is another great tool to reduce the negative effects of going viral. How to restrict replies to followers only on Bluesky Credit: Pranay Parab There are two easy ways to restrict replies on Bluesky. One way is to open any of your posts on and click the Everybody can reply button next to the post date. This will open a small pop-up, where you can select Your followers and hit Save. In my experience, Bluesky's community has been pretty civil, but you can use this option in case your post gets a little too popular on the Discover feed and invites unwanted attention. Alternatively, you can go to a new settings page, also introduced with Bluesky 1.98, to automate setting your replies to followers only. To do this, click Settings in the left pane on Bluesky's desktop site (or on the app, tap the three-lines menu in the top-left and select Settings). Now, go to Moderation > Interaction settings and select your preferred defaults for all new posts. Even if you select a restrictive reply preferences here, you can always change it for individual posts, just in case you're open to inviting opinions from strangers on specific topics. Other Bluesky updates Credit: Pranay Parab The latest update also included a few search improvements. You can now go to any user's profile on Bluesky to search through their posts. This is an easy way to find a useful post from a specific person. For instance, you can visit my profile on Bluesky, hit the three-dots button in the top-right, and select Search posts. Use the search bar up top to look for "iPhone" or any other search term you like. You can do this for any profile on Bluesky. Other than this, there are minor improvements to Bluesky's search page, and the site's translation feature now supports Interlingua. View the full article

Owning a car is expensive—even new cars need tune-ups, regular maintenance, and occasional repair, and it all adds up (to an average of about $1,452 every year). Car warranties help mitigate those costs, but they typically only cover three years or up to 36,000 miles, which goes by pretty fast, considering most people drive about 15,000 miles per year. That drives people to look for ways to save money on car repairs, especially if the car is outside the warranty period. But are you sure your car is out of warranty? It’s possible that even if the official warranty has expired, your car is covered to some extent by what’s variously known as “policy adjustments,” “service campaigns,” or “good-will programs.” Whatever the official name, let’s call them what they really are: They’re “secret warranties,” and they could potentially save you a lot of money. What’s a secret warranty?A secret warranty comes into being when a car manufacturer realizes that a part or component in one of their car models is defective, usually due to unusually high failure rates or other problems. To manage the situation and protect themselves from liability, they will extend the warranty on that part, offering free replacement parts using new versions or discounts on service work. So what makes them secret? These warranty extensions aren’t official recalls—they’re voluntary programs from the manufacturer—so there’s actually no law that compels them to notify people. While vehicle owners are sometimes notified of these extended warranties, this is usually done by mail and many people simply don’t read the letters. Additionally, no effort is made to contact secondary owners who bought the vehicle pre-owned, and dealers rarely reach out to publicize free or discounted repairs. The Center for Auto Safety estimates that at any given time there are more than 500 secret warranties active from all the auto manufacturers combined. Each one represents repair and safety work you might be able to get at no cost or at a discounted rate—if you can find out about them. How to checkSecret warranties are typically communicated to dealers via what’s known as a technical service bulletin (TSB), which lets the dealer know that they can replace a part or perform some kind of service on specific models (sometimes even specific ranges of Vehicle Identification Numbers, or VINs) at a reduced rate or no cost. You can potentially find out about TSBs and secret warranties in three ways: State laws. While no federal law exists requiring the disclosure of secret warranties, five states have these laws on the books: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin. These states require car dealerships to notify you when the warranty on your car is extended or otherwise modified. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site. The NHTSA maintains a database of TSBs. You can enter your car’s information and see a list of “Manufacturer Communications.” These can be a chore to read through and understand, but it can be worth the trouble if you find out you can have your car serviced for free. For example, here’s a memo from Ford detailing an extended warranty on a range of Escape SUVs and Fusion sedans. One caveat: Just because there’s a TSB (or several) for your car’s make and model doesn’t mean there’s a secret warranty—they just indicate that a problem exists and the dealer has been given instructions on how to fix it. But having a copy of that communication from the manufacturer will help you find out from your dealer if there’s a secret warranty you can take advantage of. Call the dealer. Finally, you can try simply calling the dealer who sold you the car and ask. Have your VIN ready and ask them to check for warranty adjustments or extensions. Note that just like the original warranty, these “secret” warranties have deadlines. If you find out about them after their effective period has expired, you won’t be able to take advantage of them. View the full article

Shares of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) surged over 10% on Tuesday on the news that rivals Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) are in talks to divide the ailing American chipmaker’s business into two parts, according to the Wall Street Journal. Fast Company reached out to Intel for comment but a spokesperson didn’t immediately return our request. Once the largest semiconductor company in the world, Intel is now struggling to turn around its business after the chip-manufacturing giant’s shares lost 59.60% last year due, in part, to missing out on the generative artificial intelligence boom. According to the Journal report, Broadcom is interested in Intel’s chip-design and marketing business, if it finds someone to partner with Intel’s manufacturing business. TSMC signaled interest in investing in and studying Intel’s chip plants, potentially as one of several investors. The two companies are in separate, preliminary talks with Intel. Shares in TSMC (NYSE:TSM) were down more than 1% at the time of this writing in midday trading, while Broadcom stock (NASDAQ:AVGO) was down about 3%, after both fell substantially on the market’s open. Splitting up Intel would have been unthinkable in its heyday when it dominated the processing business, but the split is in line with recent industry trends toward either manufacturing or designing chips. And Intel has had quite a fall from grace. In November, after 25 years, the company lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia. News of the talks comes after the Trump administration signaled it would safeguard American chip technologies at France’s AI Action Summit in Paris about a week ago, and the White House has been involved with aspects of the talks between Intel and TSMC over Intel’s factories, according to the Journal. View the full article

Shares of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) surged over 10% on Tuesday on the news rivals Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) are are in talks to divide the ailing American chipmaker’s business into two parts, according to the Wall Street Journal. Fast Company reached out to Intel for comment but a spokesperson didn’t immediately return our request. Once the largest semiconductor company in the world, Intel is now struggling to turn around its business after the chip-manufacturing giant’s shares lost 59.60% last year, due to in part to missing out on the generative artificial intelligence boom. According to the Journal report, Broadcom is interested in Intel’s chip-design and marketing business, if it finds someone to partner with Intel’s manufacturing business. TSMC signaled interest in investing in and studying Intel’s chip plants, potentially as one of several investors. The two companies are in separate, preliminary talks with Intel, and haven’t signed deals. Shares in TSMC (NYSE:TSM) were down over 1% at the time of this writing in midday trading, while Broadcom stock (NASDAQ:AVGO) was down about 3%, after both fell substantially on the market’s open. Splitting up Intel would have been unthinkable in its heyday, when it dominated the processing business, but the split is in line with recent industry trends toward either manufacturing or designing chips. And Intel has had quite a fall from grace. After 25 years, the company recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia in November. News of the talks comes after the Trump administration signaled it would safeguard American chip technologies at France’s AI Action Summit in Paris about a week ago, and the White House has been involved with aspects of the talks between Intel and TSMC over Intel’s factories, according to the Journal. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: Lately I’ve been subject to a technique by coworkers that I call “death by a thousand questions.” It goes something like this: Q: Hey, are we getting in the combination llama/alpaca wool? A: I don’t have a date yet, I’m hoping for the 20th. Q: So the 20th. A: It’s not confirmed. I’ll let you know as soon as I know. Q: Who needs to confirm it? A: The freight forwarder. Q: Well, haven’t they confirmed it before? A: Yes, and when they confirm it they will let me know. Q: Why can’t they confirm it now? A: I’m not sure, but they are a reliable company. Q: Is it their provider? A: I don’t know. Q: Is it their supplier? A: I don’t know. Q: Is the problem the llama wool or the alpaca wool? A: I don’t know. Q: Shouldn’t you know? A: There’s no problem that I am aware of. The company is not late. They said on or about the 20th. If it turns out it’s late, they’ll tell me then what the issue is. Q: So is the 21st considered late? A: What? Q: You said on or about the 20th. When do you get late? When do you start asking questions? A: I don’t know. We’ve never had issues with this company. Q: We need to get the date confirmed. A: I agree. It should happen this week. Q: When this week? A: Sometime this week? Is there an issue I need to know about? On or about the 20th is typical delivery time. Is there an emergency? Q: Don’t you think every delivery is important? I think the people relying on that wool think it’s important. A: I know it matters to people. As soon as I have confirmation, I’ll send it out. Q: You know the answer. You just don’t want to share it. I’ve also had email rounds like this. How do I shut this down without killing someone? What on earth is going on in your office that this is happening with multiple people? If it were a single person, I’d think it was just something about them — anxiety interfering with their work, maybe, or an excessive degree of rigidity/inability to deal with any ambiguity, or … well, I don’t know what. But something about them. But multiple people? And with that accusatory twist at the end (“you just don’t want to share it”)? That makes me very curious about the context this is happening in! For example, have there been ongoing issues with late deliveries or other problems, and has no one informed the people affected in a timely way or acted with enough urgency to resolve them? Have there been issues with you or your team hoarding info and not sharing it with people who would benefit from knowing it? Are there other trust issues in play — either trust in people’s competence or trust that everyone is working toward the same goal? If those issues aren’t in play on your team, are there other teams in the company where those have been issues, and so now the people you’re dealing with approach everything through that lens? Or, are they mirroring to you what they get from their own manager? Sometimes when someone works for a manager who micromanages the crap out of their work, they start passing that down the chain; they know their manager will be asking them these questions (“so the 20th? well, who needs to confirm it? well, when will that happen?”) so they try to get out ahead of it by asking you all that up-front. (Sometimes people realize this is dysfunctional but it’s the best way to survive with their boss, and other times they absorb that way of operating as the norm and don’t even realize it’s dysfunctional. Even more fun, sometimes those people then carry that habit with them to other jobs where it’s completely out of left field.) As for how to shut it down, a few options: 1. When you know you’re dealing with someone like this, try to give as much of the info as you can up-front. It’ll take more time initially but it’ll save you time in the long run by cutting out a lot of the back and forth. So for example: Q: Hey, are we getting in the combination llama/alpaca wool? A: I don’t have a firm date yet. I’m hoping for the 20th, but once it’s confirmed they’ll let me know. If it’s not the 20th, I expect it will be within a few days of that. This company is very reliable, but if there’s context on your end that I should be aware of, please let me know! 2. If you find yourself in the middle of one of these long back-and-forths, pause and say, “From your questions, it sounds like there might be special context around this delivery? What’s going on with this one — anything unusual I should factor in?” 3. If it happens repeatedly from the same person or the same team, address the pattern: “You have seemed very concerned about our deliveries lately, so I wanted to give you some big-picture info about how they work. We generally know the rough timeframe something is expected to arrive in, but the exact date isn’t confirmed until the week before. The companies we work with are very reliable, and their estimated dates are usually correct. Is anything going on on your end that’s causing worry about them?” (And if the problem is with multiple people on a team, you might have this conversation with their manager.) View the full article

With an accurate picture of resource demand, you'll be able to better meet your project deadlines, budgets, and scope requirements. Here's how to do resource demand planning, some expert best practices, and which tools to use. The post How To Do Resource Demand Planning: 5 Key Steps appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Thinking Machines Lab to focus on making artificial intelligence ‘more widely understood’View the full article

A new “Advanced Plans” section within Google Ads’ Reach Planner tool was spotted by digital marketing expert Brent Neale. The big picture. The tool represents Google’s continued push toward automated campaign optimization, offering AI-driven recommendations for budget allocation. How it works. Advanced Plans suggests a mix of ad types based on advertisers’ goals, creating specific plans for both conversion creation and capture. Why we care. The feature could help advertisers more effectively allocate their budgets across different ad types based on specific conversion goals. Between the lines. This appears to be part of Google’s broader strategy to simplify campaign planning while leveraging its machine learning capabilities. What’s next. The feature appears to be in testing, suggesting Google may be gathering feedback before a wider rollout. Bottom line. If successful, Advanced Plans could streamline the campaign planning process for advertisers while potentially improving conversion outcomes. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. You've probably heard of Sonos smart speakers and soundbars. They're one of the best in the market for audio quality and simple user experience. But unless you're in the weeds of tech audio, you probably missed their debut in the headphone space with the Sonos Ace, which was released last summer. You can get the Sonos Ace for $349 (originally $449), the lowest price they've been according to price tracking tools. Sonos Ace $349.00 at Amazon $449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $349.00 at Amazon $449.00 Save $100.00 The Sonos Ace are soft, comfortable, and adaptable to different head sizes, thanks to their plastic design. You actually get buttons to control the headphones, which I personally consider a huge plus. The battery life is impressive, with about 30 hours with either the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or Aware Mode settings active or about 40 hours with both of those off. The Bluetooth multipoint connectivity means you can connect up to two devices at once and switch seamlessly between them. The headphones perform well, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. The sound is balanced with an EQ adjuster in the app, and the ANC and Aware Mode are top-tier, competing with the best headphones in the market. Unfortunately, the Sonos Ace aren't wifi-enabled, meaning you can't stream media into them like you can with Sonos speakers. However, you can connect to Sonos speakers through Bluetooth and listen to your media that way (if you own Sonos speakers). At their current price, the Sonos Ace are competitive with the best headphones for Apple users, the AirPods Max, and the best headphones for Android users, Sony's WH-1000XM5. If you care about transparency mode or have Sonos speakers are home, the Sonos Ace is your best choice. Otherwise, consider the AirPods Max or the WH-1000XM5. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you like the idea of running errands or going for a jog without lugging your phone around, the Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) is down to $249.99 on Woot. That’s a $500 discount on its original $749 price tag, but the deal is only live for two days or until it sells out. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get free standard shipping, while others will have to pay $6 (keep in mind that Woot won’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, PO boxes, or APO addresses). Now, if you’re wondering why you should care about the cellular version over the regular GPS model, it's because it doesn’t need to be tethered to your iPhone to have a connection. You can take calls, reply to messages, stream Apple Music, and use Apple Pay without having your phone nearby. That’s especially useful if you like to run without your phone or leave it behind while at the gym. PCMag called the Series 7 the “Best Smartwatch of the Year 2021” and gave it an Editor's Choice award when it launched, thanks to its larger display (meaning bigger buttons, a full QWERTY keyboard for texting, and an easier-to-read interface) and fast charging capabilities, going from 0 to 80% in about 45 minutes (helpful if you use sleep tracking and don’t want to take it off for long). Of course, it's a couple of years old at this point (the Series 10 is the most recent generation), but the Series 7 is still a solid option if you don't care about having the absolutely newest tech available. The Series 7 also comes with an IP6X and WR50 rating, offering strong dust resistance for outdoor workouts and water resistance up to 50 meters (so you can wear it in the shower or take it poolside without worry). Additionally, this model comes with Apple’s limited one-year hardware warranty, which is a nice safety net. Like other Apple Watches, the Series 7 has a full set of health features including heart rate monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen tracking, always-on altimeter, and sleep tracking, among others. It also keeps an eye on your well-being, notifying you if it detects potentially harmful noise levels or irregular heart rhythms, plus fall detection—automatically dialing for help if you take a hard fall and don’t respond. That said, its battery life is around 18 hours, so you’ll need to charge it regularly, which isn’t great, but that’s the Apple Watch standard. If you want something that lasts multiple days, the Ultra models are better, but they cost a lot more. View the full article

Parents across the U.S. should soon be able to determine how much lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are in the food they feed their babies, thanks to a California law, the first of its kind, that took effect this year. As of January 1, 2025, every company that sells baby food products in California is required to test for these four heavy metals every month. That comes five years after a congressional report warned about the presence of dangerously high levels of lead and other heavy metals in baby food. Every baby food product packaged in jars, pouches, tubs, and boxes sold in California must carry a QR code on its label that consumers can scan to check the most recent heavy metal readings, although many are not yet complying. Because companies seldom package products for a single state, parents and caregivers across the country will be able to scan these QR codes or go online to the companies’ websites and see the results. I am a pharmacist researcher who has studied heavy metals in mineral supplements, dietary supplements, and baby food for several years. My research highlights how prevalent these toxic agents are in everyday products such as baby food. I believe the new California law offers a solid first step in giving people the ability to limit the intake of these substances. How do heavy metals get into foods? Soil naturally contains heavy metals. The earth formed as a hot molten mass. As it cooled, heavier elements settled into its center regions, called the mantle and core. Volcanic eruptions in certain areas have brought these heavy metals to the surface over time. The volcanic rock erodes to form heavy metal-laden soil, contaminating nearby water supplies. Another major source of soil contamination is the exhaust from fossil fuels, and in particular leaded gasoline. Some synthetic fertilizers contribute, too. Heavy metals in the soil can pass into foods via several routes. Plants that yield foods such as sweet potatoes and carrots, apples, cinnamon, rice, and plant-based protein powder are especially good at extracting them from contaminated soil. Sometimes the contamination happens after harvesting. For example, local water that contains heavy metals is often used to rinse debris and bugs off natural products, such as leaves used to make a widely used supplement called kratom. When the water evaporates, the heavy metals are retained on the surface. Sometimes drying products in the open air, such as cacao beans for dark chocolate, allows dust laden with heavy metals to stick to their surface. Producers can reduce heavy metal contamination in food in several ways, which range from modestly to very effectively. First, they can reserve more contaminated areas for growing crops that are less prone to taking in heavy metals from the soil, such as peppers, beans, squash, melons, and cucumbers, and conversely grow more susceptible crops in less-contaminated areas. They can also dry plants on uncontaminated soil and filter heavy metals out of water before washing produce. Producers are starting to use genetic engineering and crossbreeding to create susceptible plants that take up fewer heavy metals through their roots, but this approach is still in its early stages. Sweet potatoes and other root vegetables are especially susceptible to absorbing heavy metals from soil. [Photo: Hui Sang/Unsplash] How much is too much? Although there is no entirely safe level of chronic heavy metal ingestion, heavy metals are all around us and are impossible to avoid entirely. In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its first-ever guidance for manufacturers that sets limits on the amount of lead that baby food can contain. But the FDA guidance does not require companies to adhere to the limits. In that guidance, the FDA suggested a limit of 10 parts per billion of lead for baby foods that contain fruits, vegetables, meats, or combinations of those items, with or without grains. Yogurts, custards, and puddings should have the same cutoff, according to the agency. Root vegetables and dry infant cereals, meanwhile, should contain less than 20 parts per billion of lead. The FDA regulations don’t apply to some products babies frequently consume, such as formula, teething crackers, and other snacks. The agency has not defined firm limits for the consumption of other heavy metals, but its campaign against heavy metals in baby food, called Closer to Zero, reflects that a lower dose is better. That campaign also laid out plans to propose limits for other heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury. Modestly exceeding the agency’s recommended dosage for lead or arsenic a few times a month is unlikely to have noticeable negative health effects. However, chronically ingesting too much lead or inorganic arsenic can negatively affect childhood health, including cognitive development, and can cause softening of bones. How California’s QR codes can help parents and other caregivers It’s unclear how many products consistently exceed these recommendations. A study by Consumer Reports in 2018 found that 33 of 50 products had concerning levels of at least one heavy metal. In 2023, researchers repeated testing on seven of the failing products and found that heavy metal levels were now lower in three, the same in one, and slightly higher in three. Because these tests assess products bought and tested at one specific time, they may not reflect the average heavy metal content in the same product over the entire year. These levels can vary over time if the manufacturer sources ingredients from different parts of the country or the world at different times of the year. That’s where California’s new law can help. The law requires manufacturers to gather and divulge real-time information on heavy metal contamination monthly. By scanning a QR code on a box of Gerber Teether Snacks or a jar of Beech Nut Naturals sweet potato puree, parents and caregivers can call up test results on a smartphone and learn how much lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury were found in those specific products manufactured recently. These test results can also be accessed by entering a product’s name or batch number on the manufacturer’s website. Slow rollout In an investigation by Consumer Reports and a child advocacy group called Unleaded Kids, only four companies out of 28 were fully in compliance with the California law as of early this year. Some noncompliant companies had developed no infrastructure, some had developed websites but no heavy metal information was logged in, and some had information but required consumers to enter batch numbers to access results, without the required QR codes on the product packaging. The law requires companies to provide this information for foods produced after Jan. 1, 2025, with no provisions for extensions, and the major producers agreed to comply not only for California residents but to provide the results nationwide. California enforces noncompliance by embargoing misbranded baby food products, issuing penalties, and suspending or revoking registrations and licenses. When companies’ testing and reporting systems are fully up and running, a quick scan at the grocery store will allow consumers to adapt their purchases to minimize infants’ exposures to heavy metals. Initially, parents and caregivers may find it overwhelming to decide between one chicken and rice product that is higher in lead but lower in arsenic than a competitor’s product, for example. However, they may also encounter instances where one baby food product clearly contains less of three heavy metals and only slightly more for the fourth heavy metal than a comparable product from a different manufacturer. That information can more clearly inform their choice. Regardless of the readings, health experts advise parents and caregivers not to eliminate all root vegetables, apples, and rice but instead to feed babies a wide variety of foods. C. Michael White is a distinguished professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

The continent has been shocked by Trump’s antagonism but not yet jolted into action on defenceView the full article

Respondents tell us what they’re watching. Does it match what you’re seeing? By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Respondents tell us what they’re watching. Does it match what you’re seeing? By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman — who is viewed as a leading contender to be the next Vice Chair for Supervision at the central bank — said changes to the post-financial crisis framework should be a focal point of the central bank's ongoing regulatory policy review. View the full article

After five long years, Apple TV has made it to Android phones and tablets, bringing a polished and Apple-like interface to every Android device out there. You can finally binge-watch Severance on your Samsung smartphone (as you very much should), and if you're like me, you might actually prefer it there than on iPhone. The Apple TV app for Android, it turns out, is a stripped down version of the TV app from iPhone and iPad, not including content from partner streaming services or the ability to buy or rent movies. But it's this stripped down approach that actually makes the Android app better than the iPhone counterpart, at least in my opinion. In the language of Dieter Rams, "good design is as little design as possible". When you open the Apple TV app on Android, the Apple TV+ tab is the default option, showing your Apple TV+ queue and top TV shows and movies right up top. The only other content option is Apple's MLS sports streaming add-on, which gets its own distinct tab, too. On the iPhone and iPad, meanwhile, the TV app is actually much bigger than just Apple TV+. It carries subscription add-ons for different services like Disney+, Prime Video, Starz, Hulu, Peacock, and more. Plus, you can also use the app to rent or buy movies. This means that when you open the Apple TV app, you might be greeted by a banner for a new movie you've been wanting to see, thinking it's been added to Apple TV+ for free. However, clicking in will greet you with a big buy button, instead. Because Apple TV's interface is incredibly simple and there's no sections dividing up services (save for Apple's own), that can get confusing fast. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Compare that to Android, where the Apple TV app still carries the same design language, same polished interface, and the same minimal media player, but just feels better to use because there are no distractions and no hoops to jump through. On the iPhone or iPad app, I've come to dread the extra step of navigating to the dedicated Apple TV+ tab before I look for streaming content. On Android, that's already the default. Android also has a dedicated Downloads tab, while on the iOS and iPadOS app, you first have to switch to the Library tab to see your Downloads. Everything takes an extra step on the iPhone app. I sincerely hope that Apple is inspired by this feedback and works on making the iPhone app simpler, but given the nature of the product and all the things that the app does, it might be better to make the Apple TV+ app a separate entity by itself, kind of like the Apple TV app on Android. The Apple TV app on Android comes with a one-week free trial for Apple TV+, and then it's the same $9.99/month subscription as elsewhere. While the app is quite feature-rich, it does lack the Cast feature, so you can't just stream content to a TV via your Android smartphone. Aside from that, though, everything I need is here, including my watch list, offline downloads and picture-in-picture. View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Pandemic era adoption of work-from-home and hybrid work models has left many office spaces unused, triggering a surge in expired leases and vacant office buildings. Simultaneously, the residential housing market remains resilient, with the number of active homes for sale in January 2025 sitting 25% below the levels recorded in January 2019. It’d only make sense that many of these offices over time get converted into condos and apartments, right? To gain a comprehensive understanding of the current office-to-apartment conversions landscape, ResiClub turned to RentCafe, an arm of property management software giant Yardi Systems. Entering 2021, there were 12,100 office-to-apartment units in the U.S. conversion pipeline. Fast-forward to 2025, and that figure is now 70,700—an increase of 484% in just four years. “This significant increase highlights the evolving nature of America’s cities that are driven by shifts in living preferences and changes in work habits,” wrote RentCafe in its latest report. “As office spaces are reimagined to meet the demand for housing, it’s clear that adaptive reuse is playing a key role in reshaping urban landscapes.” According to RentCafe, the office-to-apartment unit pipeline (70,700) makes up 42% of the 169,000 units currently being converted from commercial properties into apartment units. It’s followed by hotel-to-apartment (22%), factory-to-apartment (11%), and warehouse-to-apartment (6%). The biggest chunk of this 70,700 office-to-apartment unit pipeline can be found in New York (8,310 units). Not too far behind is Washington, D.C. (6,533 units), Los Angeles (4,388 units), Chicago (3,606 units), and Dallas (2,752 units). From a big-picture perspective, the 70,700 office-to-residential conversion pipeline might not be as significant as it appears at first glance. Look no further than the project at 219 E. 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, near Grand Central Terminal. The former Pfizer headquarters will be transformed from a 10-story office building into a 29-story luxury multifamily development, bringing 1,600 housing units to market in 2027. This single conversion will be the biggest in New York City’s history and makes up 19% of New York City’s conversion pipeline and 2.3% of the U.S. conversion pipeline. The 291,000-square-foot office building will be about 540,000 square feet after the additional 19 stories are added to the structure. For perspective, there are about 95 million square feet of office real estate available for lease in New York City alone. Of the 55,339 office-to-apartments in some phase of development in January 2024, only 3,709 were completed by December, leaving 51,630 units that carried over into 2025, according to RentCafe’s report. Why aren’t there more office-to-apartment conversions right now? Commercial buildings may not be designed or constructed with residential living in mind. Converting office spaces into comfortable and functional apartments may require significant structural changes, such as adding windows or ventilation, or modifying floor plans. While office-to-apartment conversions can often be done faster, they often cost more than just building a new building. Big Picture: While the conversion of office spaces into residential units is gaining momentum, it still remains a small segment of the residential housing market. View the full article

When a hurricane or tornado starts to form, your local weather forecasters can quickly pull up maps tracking its movement and showing where it’s headed. But have you ever wondered where they get all that information? The forecasts can seem effortless, but behind the scenes, a vast network of satellites, airplanes, radar, computer models and weather analysts are providing access to the latest data—and warnings when necessary. This data comes from analysts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA, and its National Weather Service. Atmospheric scientists Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari Bowen, who is a former National Weather Service forecaster, explained NOAA’s central role in most U.S. weather forecasts. When people see a weather report on TV, what went on at NOAA to make that forecast possible? A lot of the weather information Americans rely on starts with real-time data collected by NOAA satellites, airplanes, weather balloons, radar, and maritime buoys, as well as weather stations around the world. All of that information goes into the agency’s computers, which process the data to begin defining what’s going on in different parts of the atmosphere. NOAA forecasters use computer models that simulate physics and the behavior of the atmosphere, along with their own experience and local knowledge, to start to paint a picture of the weather—what’s coming in a few minutes or hours or days. They also use that data to project seasonal conditions out over weeks or months. NOAA’s data comes from many sources to provide a more complete picture of developing climate and weather conditions. Communities and economies rely on that constantly updated information. [Chart: NOAA] When severe weather is on the way, the agency issues the official alerts you’ll see in the news and on your phone. All of this analysis happens before the information reaches private weather apps and TV stations. No matter who you are, you can freely access that data and the analyses. In fact, a large number of private companies use NOAA data to create fancy maps and other weather products that they sell. It would be extremely difficult to do all of that without NOAA. The agency operates a fleet of 18 satellites that are packed with instruments dedicated to observing weather phenomena essential to predicting the weather, from how hot the land surface is to the water content of the atmosphere. Some are geostationary satellites which sit high above different parts of the U.S. measuring weather conditions 24/7. Others orbit the planet. Many of these are operated as part of partnerships with NASA or the Air Force. Some private companies are starting to invest in satellites, but it would take an enormous amount of money to replicate the range of instrumentation and coverage that NOAA has in place. Satellites only last so long and take time to build, so NOAA is continually planning for the future, and using its technical expertise to develop new instruments and computer algorithms to interpret the data. NOAA’s low earth orbiting satellites circle the planet from pole to pole and across the equator 14 times a day to provide a full picture of the year twice a day. The agency also has geostationary satellites that provide continuous coverage over the U.S. [Chart: NOAA] Maritime buoys are another measuring system that would be difficult to replicate. Over 1,300 buoys across oceans around the world measure water temperature, wind, and wave height—all of which are essential for coastal warnings, as well as long-term forecasts. Weather observation has been around a long time. President Ulysses S. Grant created the first national weather service in the War Department in 1870. It became a civilian service in 1880 under the Department of Agriculture and is now in the Commerce Department. The information its scientists and technologists produce is essential for safety and also benefits people and industries in a lot of ways. Could a private company create forecasts on its own without NOAA data? It would be difficult for one company to provide comprehensive weather data in a reliable way that is also accessible to the entire public. Some companies might be able to launch their own satellite, but one satellite only gives you part of the picture. NOAA’s weather observation network has been around for a long time and collects data from points all over the U.S. and the oceans. Without that robust data, computer models and the broad network of forecasters and developers, forecasting also becomes less reliable. Analyzing that data is also complex. You’re not going to be able to take satellite data, run a model on a standard laptop and suddenly have a forecast. And there’s a question of whether a private company would want to take on the legal risk of being responsible for the nation’s forecasts and severe weather warnings. NOAA is taxpayer-funded, so it is a public good—its services provide safety and security for everyone, not just those who can pay for it. If weather data was only available at a price, one town might be able to afford the weather information necessary to protect its residents, while a smaller town or a rural area across the state might not. If you’re in a tornado-prone area or coastal zone, that information can be the difference between life or death. Is climate data and research into the changing climate important for forecasts? The Earth’s systems—its land, water, and the atmosphere—are changing, and we have to be able to assess how those changes will impact weather tomorrow, in two weeks and far into the future. Rising global temperatures affect weather patterns. Dryness can fuel wildfires. Forecasts have to take the changing climate into account to be accurate, no matter who is creating the forecast. Drought is an example. The dryness of the Earth controls how much water gets exchanged with the atmosphere to form clouds and rainfall. To have an accurate weather prediction, we need to know how dry things are at the surface and how that has changed over time. That requires long-term climate information. NOAA doesn’t do all of this by itself—who else is involved? NOAA partners with private sector, academia, nonprofits, and many others around the world to ensure that everyone has the best information to produce the most robust weather forecasts. Private weather companies and media also play important roles in getting those forecasts and alerts out more widely to the public. A lot of businesses rely on accuracy from NOAA’s weather data and forecasts: aviation, energy companies, insurance, even modern tractors’ precision farming equipment. The agency’s long-range forecasts are essential for managing state reservoirs to ensure enough water is saved and to avoid flooding. The government agency can be held accountable in a way private businesses are not because it answers to Congress. So, the data is trustworthy, accessible and developed with the goal to protect public safety and property for everyone. Could the same be said if only for-profit companies were producing that data? Christine Wiedinmyer is an associate director for science at CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder. Kari Bowen is an atmospheric scientist and program manager at CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I have many questions about applying to internal jobs, something I have never done. At my current company, a new role came up that is a dream job for me. But it is also a reach, as it would be a bit of a career change. Knowing this job might open up, I’ve been making efforts to get to know the hiring manager, and I think we have a good relationship. But how do I actually navigate applying? I know it’s best practice not to tell your manager when you are job hunting, but what about when the job you’re applying for is an internal one? My manager is fair and a nice person, but I still don’t want them to know I’m looking to move on. Would it be beneficial for me to reach out to the hiring manager before the job is posted, or should I wait and apply through the usual process once the posting is live? I’m inclined to contact them first, as we have a solid, though relatively new, rapport. If I tell the hiring manager discreetly about my interest in the job, can I ask them to keep my interest under wraps? Or is that weird and not done? I’ve expressed a lot of interest in their work, so I don’t think it will be a massive surprise that I want to apply. I believe I have a better chance at a stretch job at a company where I already work and have a strong reputation, compared to applying for a stretch job externally. However, is it worth the risk of upsetting my current manager or damaging my reputation here for an internal opportunity? If I want to apply for a job that’s a reach, would it be less risky to do it outside my company? My preference is to get this internal job, but if I don’t, I’ll be applying outside the company eventually, although I’m in no huge rush. I think the smart thing to do would be to start my external job hunt at the same time as internally applying, so if my manager is upset or my reputation is dinged, I’ll hopefully have other options. Honestly, I’m feeling super overwhelmed just thinking about a full-on job hunt with everything else going on in my life! But do I just need to buckle down and go for it? You can read my answer to this letter at New York Magazine today. Head over there to read it. View the full article

Manila’s foreign secretary says he is reassured by US commitment to alliance amid tensions with BeijingView the full article

eBay is a popular online marketplace where sellers can showcase their products to a wide audience. To enhance their selling experience and increase efficiency, many sellers rely on a range of useful apps. This article first looks at 30 essential eBay apps that can help sellers achieve success by streamlining tasks and maximizing their selling potential. Additionally, it provides insights on benefits and what to look for in an eBay app, why you should use listing software to increase sales on an eBay store, useful FAQs and more. Read on to find out how these apps can transform your eBay business, ensuring you select the right tools for your specific needs. The Best eBay Apps for Sellers Below, you will find the best eBay apps designed to improve your selling experience and increase your success on the platform. These apps provide various features and functionalities that help streamline your operations and optimize your sales potential. eBay Login App The eBay app offers convenience and exclusive features for buyers and sellers. Users can receive real-time alerts from their eBay account, use image search, and securely store payment preferences in this easy-to-use app. Sellers can easily create, edit, and monitor listings, with the ability to sync across devices, including mobile. eBay Mastercard App The eBay Mastercard is from Synchrony Bank, so you’ll have to download their mobile app to access customer support, easily view your accounts, and enjoy convenient features like balance widgets and secure logins. eBay Profit Calculator App The free eBay Profit Calculator app helps sellers calculate their total profit after eBay fees, managed payment, promoted ads, and PayPal fees. It’s available on the web and for Android and is regularly updated. eBay Seller Hub eBay Seller Hub is a one-stop platform for sellers to streamline their business. It offers easy-to-use tools for listing creation, order management, sales insights, competitive analysis, and marketing. It’s free to use with advanced features for increased efficiency. Inkfrog Inkfrog is a management tool designed for eBay and Amazon businesses. It provides features such as inventory synchronization, quick eBay listings, professional templates, and a range of pricing plans. The tool has received favorable reviews from millions of shoppers and sellers. Terapeak Terapeak is a set of eBay research tools exclusive to sellers. Terapeak Product Research helps optimize listings with market data and trends, while Terapeak Sourcing Insights identifies high-demand categories and trends. Both tools are accessible through the Research tab in Seller Hub. Title Builder Title Builder is a powerful eBay title generator that’s free to use and helps sellers optimize their listings. It provides keyword suggestions, item images with similar keywords, spell check, eBay-suggested categories, and more. Auctiva Auctiva simplifies multi-channel selling with centralized inventory management, automatic product importing, and bulk listing. It offers image hosting, mobile app support, and reporting. Different pricing plans are available. JoeLister JoeLister is a tool for cross-listing Amazon inventory on eBay and Shopify. It populates listings, syncs quantities and prices, handles fulfillment, and offers plans starting at $29/month. A two-week free trial is available. Vendio Vendio is a company that provides e-commerce solutions to help small businesses manage and sell their products online. Their services include inventory management, order processing, and online store creation. Sellbrite Sellbrite is now free for small businesses to sell their products on major online marketplaces. It offers easy listing, inventory management, order fulfillment, and shipping. Plans start at $19/month. Feedback Boost Feedback Boost helps over 5000 eBay sellers increase feedback scores by up to 50%. It automates feedback reminders, improves communication, and offers features like order tracking and automatic feedback. Pricing is $9.99/month with unlimited transactions. Checkaflip CheckAFlip assists eBay sellers in pricing items accurately. After being acquired by KragerLabs, it provides an easy-to-use interface and valuable data for sellers. Users can compare listings and discover average prices. ChannelAdvisor ChannelAdvisor helps businesses expand to new sales channels, optimize their presence, and streamline operations. They offer integrations to global marketplaces, drop-ship solutions, retail media advertising, web store amplification, fulfillment services, and managed services. Auto DS Auto DS is a powerful eBay dropshipping tool that offers features such as product discovery, price tracking, and automated order management. It allows for manual dropshipping without the need for an API, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users. Kyozou Kyozou is eBay-certified software with features for efficient eBay selling. It includes auto listing, bulk editing, scheduled listings, eBay Motors integration, inventory management, multichannel listing, order and shipping management, and a web store platform. ShelfTrend ShelfTrend offers eBay sellers data analytics reports for improved sales. It provides insights into inventory, sales, competitor activity, and market trends. Developed by former eBay employees, ShelfTrend supports online sellers in driving e-commerce growth. ZIK Analytics ZIK Analytics offers eBay sellers powerful tools for product research. Find profitable items, analyze competitors, and rank your products higher. Benefit from market insights, category research, and title building. Repricer Repricer.com updates prices in real time across multiple channels like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. It offers integrations with various marketplaces, inventory systems, and automation tools to help businesses increase sales and profits. Start a free trial now. KeywordTool.io KeywordTool.io is a reliable keyword research tool specifically designed for eBay. It gathers actual search queries from eBay apps and the website, assisting sellers in identifying the most effective keywords for their product listings. The premium version provides additional keywords and search volume data to enhance optimization. Mark Sight Mark Sight provides eBay research and analytics tools for online sellers. Access completed listings, eBay statistics surrounding keywords, price trends, and sell-through data. Tested and praised by thousands of users. Ideal for eBay and Amazon sellers seeking popular product ideas. GoDataFeed GoDataFeed is an e-commerce platform that markets products on multiple channels. It simplifies data formatting, improves ad targeting, and alerts users of feed errors. It offers advanced feed management, connects to popular marketplaces, and has many positive reviews. Algopix Algopix offers comprehensive eBay and Amazon product research tools, helping sellers manage their placement and shipping. It also provides data insights for market analysis, competitor research, fee analysis, sales history, price management, and bulk research. Podorder Podorder is a print-on-demand platform for businesses. It offers tools for product management, order fulfillment, automation, and branding across multiple channels. Trusted by over 100k sellers, it provides solutions tailored to print-on-demand businesses on various platforms. LitCommerce LitCommerce enables businesses to connect with millions of eBay users, offering global reach, diverse product categories, seller tools, auction format, seller protection, and a multichannel solution for increased sales. 3DSellers 3DSellers is an all-in-one eBay selling manager software trusted by thousands. It offers a free 7-day trial, including ebay listing tools, multichannel order management, customer service helpdesk, and automation features. Solid Commerce Solid Commerce offers multi-channel eCommerce solutions to expand, streamline, and automate business operations. Trusted by 10,000+ brands, it integrates with various marketplaces and offers comprehensive business visibility. Xpress Lister Xpress Lister is an advanced eBay listing tool recommended by experts. It offers faster and easier listing management, auto-categorization, mobile-optimized templates, and bulk editing features. It ensures active content compliance and supports multi-variant listings. Try it for free; no credit card is required. App NameKey Features eBay Login AppReal-time alerts, image search, secure payment preference storage, easy listing creation and editing eBay Mastercard AppCustomer support, easy account access, balance widgets, secure logins eBay Profit Calculator AppCalculate total profit after various fees, regularly updated eBay Seller HubStreamlined selling platform, listing creation, order management, sales insights, competitive analysis, marketing tools InkfrogInventory synchronization, fast eBay listing, professional templates, multiple pricing plans TerapeakOptimizes listings with market data and trends, identifies high-demand categories AfterShipProactive tracking, returns automation, shipping protection, carrier integration Title BuilderPowerful title generator, keyword suggestions, item images with similar keywords, spell check, eBay suggested categories AuctivaCentralized inventory management, automatic product importing, bulk listing, image hosting, mobile app support, reporting JoeListerCross-listing tool for Amazon inventory on eBay and Shopify, handles fulfillment VendioInventory management, order processing, online store creation SellbriteEasy listing, inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping Feedback BoostAutomates feedback reminders, improves communication, offers order tracking CheckaflipPricing tool, average price finding, listing comparison ChannelAdvisorChannel expansion, optimization, and streamlining services, drop-ship solutions, advertising Auto DSAdvanced eBay dropshipping tool, product finding, price monitoring, automated orders KyozouAuto listing, bulk editing, scheduled listings, eBay Motors integration, inventory management ShelfTrendProvides data analytics reports for inventory, sales, competitor activity, and market trends ZIK AnalyticsProduct research, competitor analysis, product ranking, market insights Repricer.comReal-time price updates across multiple channels, marketplace integrations KeywordTool.ioKeyword research, extracts search queries from eBay, search volume data Mark SighteBay research and analytics tools, price trends, sell-through data GoDataFeedMarkets products on multiple channels, data formatting, ad targeting, feed error alerts AlgopixComprehensive product research tools, market analysis, competitor research, fee analysis PodorderProduct management, order fulfillment, automation, branding tools for print-on-demand businesses LitCommerceGlobal reach, diverse product categories, seller tools, auction format, seller protection 3DSellerseBay selling manager software, listing tools, multichannel order management, customer service helpdesk Solid CommerceMulti-channel eCommerce solutions, marketplace integrations, business visibility Xpress ListerAdvanced listing tool, auto-categorization, mobile-optimized templates, bulk editing PrintfulEnables eBay store setup, print-on-demand product selling, automatic fulfillment Understanding eBay Apps eBay apps are essential tools for sellers, streamlining operations and boosting success. Discover what these apps are and why sellers need them to thrive. What is an eBay App? eBay apps are software applications designed to enhance the selling experience on eBay. They offer various features and functionalities that facilitate listing management, order processing, inventory tracking, and buyer communication. Whether you’re just learning how to start an eBay store or are a seasoned pro, these apps can simplify tasks and improve overall efficiency. Why Do eBay Sellers Need Apps? eBay sellers face multiple challenges, such as managing listings, handling orders, and staying competitive. eBay apps can help users navigate these challenges. Here are some specific reasons why sellers should utilize eBay apps: Streamlined Listing Management: eBay apps provide tools that simplify and expedite the process of listing items for sale. This includes features like bulk listing, scheduled listings, and easy editing of listing details, all of which can save you significant time and effort. Improved Inventory Control: Keeping track of your stock can be challenging, especially if you’re selling a large number of different items. eBay apps can provide real-time inventory updates, send alerts when stock is running low, and help prevent overselling. Automated Shipping: Some eBay apps offer shipping automation features that can help streamline order fulfillment. This includes automatically printing shipping labels, updating tracking information, and integrating with various shipping carriers. Effective Customer Communication: Timely and effective communication with customers is crucial for any online seller. eBay apps can assist with this by providing features for automated messaging, dispute resolution, and tracking customer interactions. Analytics and Reporting: eBay apps often include robust analytics and reporting features, which can provide valuable insights into your sales, customer behavior, and market trends. These insights can inform your business decisions and help improve your selling strategies. Increased Competitiveness: Many eBay apps provide market research and competitive analysis tools. These can help you understand what other sellers in your category are doing and adjust your own strategies to stay competitive. Time Efficiency: By automating and streamlining various aspects of your eBay business, these apps can save you significant time. This frees you up to focus on other important aspects of your business, like sourcing new products or expanding to new markets. Scalability: As your business grows, managing it manually can become increasingly difficult. eBay apps can scale your business, handling a greater volume of sales and inventory as needed. Multi-Platform Integration: If you’re selling on multiple platforms, some eBay apps can integrate all of your operations into a single interface. This can greatly simplify your tasks and make managing your business much easier. Improved Seller Ratings: By helping to ensure timely shipping and effective communication with buyers, eBay apps can help improve your seller ratings. Higher ratings can increase buyer trust and lead to more sales. The Benefits of Using Apps for an eBay Seller Discover how utilizing apps can significantly benefit eBay sellers by improving inventory management, streamlining order processes, automating eBay listings, and much more. Inventory Management Efficient inventory management is crucial for eBay sellers. With the help of apps, sellers can easily track and organize their inventory, ensuring accurate stock levels, reducing errors, and preventing overselling. Apps also enable swift adjustments to inventory in response to sales trends or stock changes. Order Management Handling orders can be time-consuming and complex. eBay apps simplify this process by providing tools to manage orders efficiently, including order tracking, automated notifications, and streamlined shipping workflows. This efficiency results in faster order processing and improved buyer satisfaction. Automated eBay Listings Creating and managing eBay listings can take time and effort. Apps offer features like bulk listing creation, templates, and automation, enabling sellers to quickly list products, save time, and maintain consistency in their listings. Enhanced listing quality and visibility lead to increased sales. Cross-Platform Selling Expand your reach beyond eBay by using eBay apps that facilitate cross-platform selling. These apps enable sellers to list their products across various e-commerce platforms, thereby reaching a wider audience and enhancing sales potential. The seamless integration with other platforms boosts your online presence. Manage Multiple Listings Selling a large number of products requires effective management. eBay apps provide tools to efficiently handle multiple listings, including bulk editing, revising, and relisting capabilities, making tracking and updating product information easier. Simplifies operations for sellers with extensive inventories. Improved Customer Service for your eBay Business Customer service is essential for eBay sellers. Apps offer features such as automated responses, message templates, and order status updates, enabling sellers to provide timely and personalized customer support and enhancing the overall buying experience. Promotes stronger buyer relationships and repeat business. Sales Data Analysis Apps provide valuable insights into sales data, allowing sellers to analyze trends, identify popular products, and make informed business decisions. These data-driven insights help optimize pricing strategies and identify growth opportunities. Enables strategic planning based on real-time data. Shipping and Fulfillment, Including Tracking Information Efficient shipping and fulfillment are critical for customer satisfaction. eBay apps offer integration with shipping carriers, streamlining shipping processes, generating shipping labels, and providing tracking information, ensuring smooth order fulfillment. Reduces delivery times and enhances buyer trust. Marketing and SEO for Your eBay Business Promoting your eBay business and improving visibility is easier with apps offering marketing and SEO features. These tools assist in optimizing product listings with relevant keywords, increasing search rankings, and attracting more potential buyers. What to Look for in an eBay App When selecting an eBay app to manage your eBay selling activities, you need to consider a variety of factors that will align with your needs as a seller. Here’s an expanded guide on the key aspects you should pay attention to: Sales Volume Capability: Take into account the scale of your business and the volume of sales you manage. Certain eBay apps are specifically designed to accommodate high-volume sellers, whereas others cater to smaller businesses. Listing Management: Look for features that enable you to manage your listings easily. This may include tools for bulk editing, product description templates, automatic repricing, and scheduled listings. Inventory Management: If you sell many products, having a system in place to manage your inventory can save you a lot of time and headaches. This may include features for tracking inventory levels, alerting when stocks are low, and managing product variations. Order Management: The app should offer comprehensive order management tools. These include automated invoicing, shipment tracking, order fulfillment status, and integration with major shipping carriers. Integration with Other Platforms: If you sell on other platforms as well as eBay, you’ll want an app that can manage all of these from a single interface. This can simplify your tasks and save you a lot of time. Seller Protection Features: Look for an app that offers robust security features to help protect you from eBay scams and fraud. This could include enhanced communication tools, dispute resolution assistance, and proactive alerts about suspicious activity. Reporting and Analytics: A good eBay app should provide you with insights about your sales, customer behavior, and other important metrics. This information can be invaluable in helping you make informed decisions about your business. Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Some eBay apps include CRM features, which allow you to track customer interactions, send marketing messages, and provide superior customer service. Ease of Use: The interface of the app should be user-friendly and intuitive, enabling you to accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently. Pricing Structure: Consider the app’s cost and whether it provides good value for money. This will depend on the number and quality of the features offered and how well they meet your specific needs. Customer Support: Look for an app with a reputation for providing excellent customer support. You want to be sure that if you encounter any issues or have questions, you’ll be able to get the help you need promptly. These factors should help you select an eBay app that enhances the management of your eBay business, making it easier and more profitable. Using Listing Software to Increase Sales on an eBay Store Using listing software for your eBay store can significantly boost your sales. These apps offer features like bulk listing creation, templates, and optimization tools that help attract more buyers, improve visibility, and enhance the overall presentation of your products. Furthermore, advanced analytics provided by these tools can give you insights into which listings perform well, allowing for data-driven decisions to refine your strategy. Automated pricing adjustments ensure your listings remain competitive in real-time, adapting to market changes and competitor pricing. Lastly, the ability to schedule listings for peak buying times means your products are more likely to be seen by potential customers, increasing the chances of making a sale. Our Methodology to Choose the Best eBay Apps When recommending eBay apps suitable for small business owners, we’ve evaluated various factors to ensure our selections meet the unique needs of businesses operating on this platform. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 10 (most important) to 1 (least important). Ease of Use and User Interface: Importance 10/10 Intuitive and user-friendly interface. Simple navigation and ease of performing key tasks. Clear and helpful onboarding process. Listing and Inventory Management: Importance 9/10 Efficient tools for creating and managing listings. Capabilities for bulk listing and editing. Integration with inventory management systems. Pricing and Fee Management: Importance 8/10 Tools for tracking and managing eBay fees. Features for price optimization and competitive analysis. Ability to handle different pricing models. Order Processing and Fulfillment: Importance 8/10 Streamlined order processing workflows. Integration with shipping and fulfillment services. Features for managing and tracking shipments. Customer Service and Communication: Importance 7/10 Tools for efficient customer communication. Automation of common customer inquiries and responses. Management of feedback and reviews. Analytics and Reporting: Importance 7/10 Comprehensive analytics on sales, trends, and performance. Customizable reports for business insights. Data export options for further analysis. Mobile Accessibility and Performance: Importance 6/10 Functionality and performance on mobile devices. Accessibility of key features via mobile apps. Synchronization between desktop and mobile platforms. Security and Compliance: Importance 5/10 Measures for ensuring data security and privacy. Compliance with eBay’s policies and guidelines. Regular updates and maintenance for security. By focusing on these key areas, we’ve honed in on what truly impacts an eBay seller’s experience and success. This targeted approach avoids overwhelm and allows for informed decision-making that aligns with your business’s specific demands on eBay. Elevating Your eBay Business: The Takeaways As you can see, eBay apps offer numerous advantages that can help sellers manage their businesses more effectively, stay competitive, and achieve greater success on the platform. The specific benefits you experience will depend on which app you choose and how well it aligns with your business needs. Integrating the right apps into your workflow can transform your operations, making them more streamlined and responsive to market demands. Additionally, leveraging these tools can unlock new opportunities for growth, helping you to explore untapped markets and customer segments with greater ease. FAQs: eBay Apps Is There a Free App Available for Selling on eBay? Yes, eBay provides a free app allowing sellers to manage their business directly from their mobile devices. This app offers essential features for listing items, managing orders, tracking sales, and communicating with buyers, making it a convenient and cost-effective option for sellers. How does listing software help eBay sellers on multiple sales channels? Listing software empowers eBay sellers to extend their reach beyond the eBay platform. These tools enable sellers to create and manage listings across multiple sales channels at the same time, streamlining the listing management process and saving both time and effort. How Can eBay Apps Help to track inventory? eBay apps provide inventory tracking features that enable sellers to keep an eye on stock levels, receive alerts for low inventory, and monitor product availability. These tools facilitate precise inventory management, helping to prevent overselling and assisting sellers in staying organized. What role do auto-relist rules in listing software play in eBay inventory management? Auto-relist rules in listing software automate the process of relisting items that have expired without being sold. This feature saves time for sellers by automatically relisting items based on predefined rules, ensuring continuous visibility and maximizing sales opportunities. How can eBay apps streamline tracking inventory and listings for high-volume sellers? For high-volume sellers, managing inventory and listings can be challenging. eBay apps streamline this process by offering advanced inventory management features, bulk listing capabilities, and tools for efficient tracking, enabling high-volume sellers to stay organized and handle large quantities of listings effectively. Image: Envato This article, "Essential eBay Apps for Successful Sellers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article