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It’s kind of a misnomer. Ghost Kitchens aren’t spooky figments of the imagination. They are real. Ghost kitchens are facilities where food is prepared, cooked, and packaged specifically for delivery. Orders are placed and managed online. There are several ways you can start ghost kitchens: Within a restaurant that you already own or lease. Within a restaurant that you don’t own or lease. From your home. Ghost kitchens grew hugely as a response to Covid restrictions. That’s when “ordering in” became even more popular. In fact, according to stats the average person in the US orders food at least once a week. The big restaurant operators are already taking advantage of the ghost restaurants trend. For more information, you can look at Big Brands Posing as Ghost Restaurants on Delivery Apps – Small Business Trends (smallbiztrends.com). What is a Ghost Kitchen? Ghost kitchens, virtual kitchens, or cloud kitchens use licensed commercial kitchen facilities to prepare, cook, and package food. They operate on a delivery-only concept, most often using delivery apps to pick up and deliver the food. Ghost Kitchensare is a relatively new and innovative business model in the food industry. They are transforming the way people dine and how restaurants operate. Here’s a more in-depth look: Concept and Operation No Physical Dining Space: Unlike traditional restaurants, ghost kitchens don’t have a physical space for customers to dine in. Delivery-Only: They operate solely through delivery, using platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. Shared or Standalone Kitchens: Ghost kitchens may operate from shared commercial kitchens where several brands prepare food or have a standalone space dedicated solely to one virtual brand. Advantages Cost-Efficient: Without the need for dining space and related amenities, overhead costs can be significantly lower. Flexibility: Ghost kitchens can easily change menus, try new concepts, or even host multiple virtual brands from one kitchen. Scalability: The model allows for quick expansion into new markets without the significant investment required for traditional brick-and-mortar locations. Data-Driven: By relying on online orders, ghost kitchens can utilize data analytics to understand customer preferences and trends better. Challenges Competition: The lower entry barrier means increased competition among virtual restaurants. Quality Control: Ensuring consistent quality across various delivery locations can be a challenge. Dependence on Delivery Platforms: A reliance on third-party delivery services can lead to complications, such as high commission fees or issues with delivery times. Trends and Future Integration with Traditional Restaurants: Certain restaurants are utilizing ghost kitchens to enhance their delivery services while alleviating pressure on their current kitchen operations. Sustainability Concerns: With delivery at its core, considerations around packaging and environmental impact are becoming more crucial. Global Expansion: Ghost kitchens are becoming popular worldwide, especially in densely populated urban areas. Ghost kitchens represent a significant shift in the restaurant industry, capitalizing on the growing demand for food delivery. They provide opportunities for both new entrants and established brands to innovate, experiment, and grow. However, they also bring new challenges and considerations, particularly around quality control, competition, and sustainability. As technology and dining habits continue to evolve, ghost kitchens are likely to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the future of food. Whether as a response to changing consumer needs or as a strategy to optimize resources, the ghost kitchen model offers a glimpse into the potential future of dining. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Ghost Kitchen? Let’s go back to the places where you can start virtual restaurants. Obviously, the cost will vary. Within a restaurant that you already own or lease – Your additional overhead costs for this will be labor. You’ll need additional staff members who will only work on take-out orders. Within a restaurant that you don’t own or lease – You’ll lease space in an existing restaurant. On an annual lease, you may be able to get in for $20,000 to $30,000. But in a major metro area, you may pay as much as $100,000 to lease kitchen space. From your home – The equipment you’ll need depends on your menu items. As a minimum, you’ll need food storage areas, including refrigeration. You’ll be inspected to ensure you meet food quality and safety requirements. How to Start a Ghost Kitchen in 17 Simple Steps Regardless of the type of physical space required for your commissary kitchen, the steps you need to take are generally similar. Whether you own, lease, or run your kitchen from home, here are the steps on how to start a ghost kitchen. Research Nearby Ghost Kitchens Since the market share for this type of restaurant is driven by digital technology, that’s where your research will be. You can start by checking with food delivery services like Uber Eats and others. Those who are running a ghost kitchen operation are linked to food delivery partner apps. Choose a Niche If you’re going to start a ghost kitchen within your own dine-in restaurant, choose items from your menu that lend themselves to delivery. You already know what’s most popular with your existing customer base. There may be more than one ghost operation in commercial kitchens in brick-and-mortar restaurants. The space is chosen to be leased by its fit to your menu. Your meals should be easy to make using existing equipment at a restaurant. If you’re ghosting from home, consider equipment costs and the best fit for your menu. No matter where food is prepped and prepared, the ghost menu should be a specialty. It should fill a niche that is not already taken in the local market. Name and Brand Your Business Experts recommend that there are no more than three words in your business name. It should define your menu and be easy to search. Names for virtual brands or virtual restaurants must be catchy and definitive. Write a Ghost Kitchen Business Plan Remember, you are optimizing to be delivery only. Your business plan is similar to any restaurant business place, but you are locked to the delivery-only concept. Here are key elements you’ll add to a routine restaurant business plan: Packaging essentials, point of sale and delivery apps, delivery-friendly menu, and separate staff. Form a Legal Entity and Register You’ll register your business with your secretary of state to obtain a business license. The limited liability company, or LLC, is most often chosen as the business entity. That’s because your personal assets will be protected. Other choices are Partnerships and Corporations (c-corp and S-corp) Open a Business Bank Account Opening a separate business bank account is a critical step in setting up your ghost kitchen. It provides a clear financial separation between your personal and business finances, which is essential for legal protection and financial organization. A business account simplifies tracking expenses, revenues, and profits, which is crucial for effective business management. Using a business account for transactions adds a level of professionalism and credibility when dealing with vendors. Furthermore, establishing a business credit card is important for building credit and is beneficial for future business financing needs. Having a separate account also eases the process of filing taxes and claiming business expenses, making it a practical choice for any business owner. Choose a Location Here are critical components of your choice of location: average delivery distances and availability of delivery subcontractors. As a minimum, the facility must be licensed to sell food legally. When people order food, they have an expectation that it will arrive ready to eat. If distances are great, it will be challenging for drivers to keep the food warm or cold (whichever is required). If you’re in a rural area, a lack of delivery services may challenge your delivery-only concepts. If you hire your own delivery team, your overhead cost will be much higher. Make Sure You Have the Licenses and Permits Required in Your State Restaurants are much more regulated than other low-risk businesses. The potential for food-borne illnesses exists, and you’ll be regularly inspected. You’ll need kitchen liability insurance. Every person who handles food must have ServSafe Food Handler certification. Design Your Menu You’re a new restaurant with a new concept – prepping and preparing food that is specifically for takeout customers. Those customers, hungry people all, need a menu with catchy names and accurate descriptions. For aspiring restaurateurs, this is a new food concept. Remember that because you’re poking into new markets, start with limited ingredients to keep costs low. Choose dishes that are easy to make and transport. Design Your Packaging Many states have adopted new legislation regarding packaging, such as eliminating the use of styrofoam containers. Before ordering packaging for cold or hot foods, ensure you meet state and local requirements. Should you put your ghost kitchen name on the packaging? Some say that customers will throw the packaging away. Instead, provide a business card that customers can keep handy. Set Your Menu Prices In addition to your food price, you’ll have to add the price of packaging and also the cost of third-party delivery. There are commission fees paid for delivery services. Factor in Costs: When setting your menu prices, consider the cost of ingredients, packaging, and labor. Remember that ghost kitchens often have lower overhead than traditional restaurants, which can be reflected in the pricing. Delivery Costs: Include the fees for third-party delivery services. These fees can be significant, so you’ll need to find a balance between covering these costs and keeping your prices competitive. Competitive Pricing Analysis: Investigate the prices of comparable food items in your locality. It’s essential to remain competitive while ensuring a healthy profit margin for long-term sustainability. Dynamic Pricing Strategy: Consider implementing a dynamic pricing strategy where prices may vary based on demand, special promotions, or time of day. Transparency with Customers: It’s important to be clear about your pricing. Customers value understanding what they are paying for, particularly when there are extra charges, such as delivery fees. Get Your Taxes in Order You’ll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to pay employees and state sales taxes. If you’re an LLC, you’ll be taxed on net income at the individual level. Tax requirements vary by state. Purchase Business Insurance Standard insurance needed for a commercial kitchen is general liability and property insurance. Since your profits rely on digital technology, it is essential to obtain cyber and business interruption insurance. Choose Delivery Partners Your main delivery partners may be GrubHub, UberEats, DoorDash, and Postmates. You may also have a local food delivery service. Create a Website and Market Your New Business You’ll be found through an internet search, a food delivery company search, and/or via social media. In order to thrive, you’ll need a strong social media presence and affiliation with food delivery companies. You won’t see customers face-to-face. A top marketing tool for the ghost kitchen is the handwritten note tucked inside the packaging. It’s a personal touch that will separate you from the competition. Hire Staff Hiring the right staff is essential for the success of a ghost kitchen. This involves recruiting skilled chefs and kitchen personnel who can prepare meals swiftly and efficiently, a critical requirement for a delivery-oriented business. Additionally, dedicated packaging staff are essential to ensure that food is securely and attractively packaged for delivery. If you opt to manage deliveries in-house, you’ll need a team of reliable and punctual delivery personnel, preferably with a good understanding of the local area, for efficient delivery. Providing comprehensive training is crucial for ensuring consistency in both food quality and packaging, as this significantly affects customer satisfaction and retention. Additionally, staff members should be flexible and adaptable, prepared to manage the ever-changing environment of a ghost kitchen operation. Launch Your Ghost Kitchen Business Announce your opening on social media and get ready for those online orders. Ghost Kitchen Vs. Brick and Mortar Restaurant AspectGhost KitchenBrick and Mortar Restaurant Operational Focus- Food Preparation: Focuses exclusively on preparing, cooking, and packaging food for delivery.- Full Dining Experience: Includes ambiance, customer service, and entertainment. - No Front-of-House Operations: No hosts, servers, or bartenders.- Requires Front-of-House Staff: Staff for greeting, serving, bartending, etc. - Limited Customer Interaction: Limited to the digital platform or delivery driver.- Direct Customer Interaction: Engage customers, respond to feedback, personalized experience. Cost Structure- Lower Overhead Costs: Less space, no dining furniture or decor.- Higher Costs: Rent for dining space, furnishings, decor, additional staff. - Fewer Staff Required: Typically only chefs and kitchen staff.- More Complex Operations: Managing kitchen and front-of-house requires coordination. Marketing and Branding- Digital Presence: Online marketing, social media, delivery platforms.- Physical Presence: Location, signage, appearance attract customers. - Limited Physical Brand Exposure: No physical storefront for walk-ins.- Broader Marketing Options: In-person events, local advertising, digital channels. Customer Experience- Delivery Convenience: Focuses on home or office delivery.- Dining Experience: Enjoy ambiance, service, social aspects of dining in. - Limited Personal Connection: Less opportunity to build customer relationships.- Potential for Loyalty: Opportunities for face-to-face interactions to build loyalty. Flexibility and Adaptation- Agile and Adaptable: Quickly change menus, test concepts, operate multiple brands.- More Fixed Structure: Changes require significant adjustments in training, marketing, decor. There is a big difference between a ghost kitchen and a brick-and-mortar restaurant. And both have their pros and cons depending on where you are on your entrepreneurial journey. These two models’ choices depend on the business objectives, target audience, and market trends. Some businesses even find value in combining the two models to leverage both benefits. 1. Operational Focus Ghost Kitchen: Food Preparation: Focuses exclusively on preparing, cooking, and packaging food for delivery. No Front-of-House Operations: No need for hosts, servers, or bartenders. Limited Customer Interaction: Interaction is typically limited to the digital platform or the delivery driver. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Full Dining Experience: Offers a full dining experience that includes ambiance, customer service, and sometimes entertainment. Requires Front-of-House Staff: Staff needed for greeting, serving, bartending, etc. Direct Customer Interaction: Opportunities to engage customers, respond to feedback, and create a personalized experience. 2. Cost Structure Ghost Kitchen: Lower Overhead Costs: Less space required, no need for dining furniture or decor. Fewer Staff Required: Typically only needs chefs and kitchen staff. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Higher Costs: Rent for dining space, furnishings, decor, and additional staff can be substantial. More Complex Operations: Managing both the kitchen and front-of-house requires more coordination. 3. Marketing and Branding Ghost Kitchen: Digital Presence: Relies heavily on online marketing, social media, and delivery platforms. Limited Physical Brand Exposure: No physical storefront to attract walk-in customers. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Physical Presence: The location, signage, and appearance can attract customers. Broader Marketing Options: Can engage customers through in-person events, local advertising, and digital channels. 4. Customer Experience Ghost Kitchen: Delivery Convenience: Focuses on the convenience of home or office delivery. Limited Personal Connection: Less opportunity to build relationships with customers. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Dining Experience: Customers enjoy the ambiance, service, and social aspects of dining in. Potential for Loyalty: Opportunities to build customer loyalty through face-to-face interactions. 5. Flexibility and Adaptation Ghost Kitchen: Agile and Adaptable: Able to swiftly modify menus, experiment with new ideas, or manage several brands from a single kitchen. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: More Fixed Structure: Changing concepts or menus might require more significant adjustments in staff training, marketing, and decor. Ghost Kitchens and Brick and Mortar Restaurants serve distinct segments of the food industry. Ghost Kitchens prioritizes delivery efficiency, providing flexibility and reduced operational costs, though they have limited opportunities for direct customer interaction. In contrast, brick-and-mortar restaurants offer a comprehensive dining experience, fostering deeper customer connections, but they also entail higher expenses and more intricate management requirements. FAQs About Starting a Ghost Kitchen What Is a Ghost Kitchen? Ghost Kitchen, also known as a virtual or cloud kitchen, is a licensed commercial kitchen that prepares food exclusively for delivery. It operates without a physical dining area, often utilizing delivery apps. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Ghost Kitchen? The cost varies depending on factors such as location, kitchen size, equipment, and licensing. It typically ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 or more. What Licenses and Permits Are Required? Similar to traditional restaurants, ghost kitchens need to obtain food service licenses, health permits, and possibly local business permits. Regulations vary by jurisdiction, so it’s essential to consult with local authorities. How Do I Choose a Location for My Ghost Kitchen? Location considerations might include proximity to delivery areas, accessibility for drivers, and rental costs. Shared commercial kitchens can be an affordable option for startups. How Do I Market My Ghost Kitchen? Effective marketing may include using social media, partnering with popular delivery apps, SEO optimization for your website, and offering special promotions or loyalty programs. Can I Operate Multiple Brands from One Ghost Kitchen? Yes, one of the advantages of a ghost kitchen is the ability to operate multiple virtual brands from a single kitchen, allowing for varied menus and target audiences. What Are the Main Challenges of Running a Ghost Kitchen? Challenges might include quality control across delivery areas, competition with other virtual restaurants, dependence on third-party delivery services, and maintaining customer relationships without face-to-face interactions. Image: Depositphotos, Envato Elements This article, "How to Start a Ghost Kitchen" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It’s kind of a misnomer. Ghost Kitchens aren’t spooky figments of the imagination. They are real. Ghost kitchens are facilities where food is prepared, cooked, and packaged specifically for delivery. Orders are placed and managed online. There are several ways you can start ghost kitchens: Within a restaurant that you already own or lease. Within a restaurant that you don’t own or lease. From your home. Ghost kitchens grew hugely as a response to Covid restrictions. That’s when “ordering in” became even more popular. In fact, according to stats the average person in the US orders food at least once a week. The big restaurant operators are already taking advantage of the ghost restaurants trend. For more information, you can look at Big Brands Posing as Ghost Restaurants on Delivery Apps – Small Business Trends (smallbiztrends.com). What is a Ghost Kitchen? Ghost kitchens, virtual kitchens, or cloud kitchens use licensed commercial kitchen facilities to prepare, cook, and package food. They operate on a delivery-only concept, most often using delivery apps to pick up and deliver the food. Ghost Kitchensare is a relatively new and innovative business model in the food industry. They are transforming the way people dine and how restaurants operate. Here’s a more in-depth look: Concept and Operation No Physical Dining Space: Unlike traditional restaurants, ghost kitchens don’t have a physical space for customers to dine in. Delivery-Only: They operate solely through delivery, using platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. Shared or Standalone Kitchens: Ghost kitchens may operate from shared commercial kitchens where several brands prepare food or have a standalone space dedicated solely to one virtual brand. Advantages Cost-Efficient: Without the need for dining space and related amenities, overhead costs can be significantly lower. Flexibility: Ghost kitchens can easily change menus, try new concepts, or even host multiple virtual brands from one kitchen. Scalability: The model allows for quick expansion into new markets without the significant investment required for traditional brick-and-mortar locations. Data-Driven: By relying on online orders, ghost kitchens can utilize data analytics to understand customer preferences and trends better. Challenges Competition: The lower entry barrier means increased competition among virtual restaurants. Quality Control: Ensuring consistent quality across various delivery locations can be a challenge. Dependence on Delivery Platforms: A reliance on third-party delivery services can lead to complications, such as high commission fees or issues with delivery times. Trends and Future Integration with Traditional Restaurants: Certain restaurants are utilizing ghost kitchens to enhance their delivery services while alleviating pressure on their current kitchen operations. Sustainability Concerns: With delivery at its core, considerations around packaging and environmental impact are becoming more crucial. Global Expansion: Ghost kitchens are becoming popular worldwide, especially in densely populated urban areas. Ghost kitchens represent a significant shift in the restaurant industry, capitalizing on the growing demand for food delivery. They provide opportunities for both new entrants and established brands to innovate, experiment, and grow. However, they also bring new challenges and considerations, particularly around quality control, competition, and sustainability. As technology and dining habits continue to evolve, ghost kitchens are likely to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the future of food. Whether as a response to changing consumer needs or as a strategy to optimize resources, the ghost kitchen model offers a glimpse into the potential future of dining. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Ghost Kitchen? Let’s go back to the places where you can start virtual restaurants. Obviously, the cost will vary. Within a restaurant that you already own or lease – Your additional overhead costs for this will be labor. You’ll need additional staff members who will only work on take-out orders. Within a restaurant that you don’t own or lease – You’ll lease space in an existing restaurant. On an annual lease, you may be able to get in for $20,000 to $30,000. But in a major metro area, you may pay as much as $100,000 to lease kitchen space. From your home – The equipment you’ll need depends on your menu items. As a minimum, you’ll need food storage areas, including refrigeration. You’ll be inspected to ensure you meet food quality and safety requirements. How to Start a Ghost Kitchen in 17 Simple Steps Regardless of the type of physical space required for your commissary kitchen, the steps you need to take are generally similar. Whether you own, lease, or run your kitchen from home, here are the steps on how to start a ghost kitchen. Research Nearby Ghost Kitchens Since the market share for this type of restaurant is driven by digital technology, that’s where your research will be. You can start by checking with food delivery services like Uber Eats and others. Those who are running a ghost kitchen operation are linked to food delivery partner apps. Choose a Niche If you’re going to start a ghost kitchen within your own dine-in restaurant, choose items from your menu that lend themselves to delivery. You already know what’s most popular with your existing customer base. There may be more than one ghost operation in commercial kitchens in brick-and-mortar restaurants. The space is chosen to be leased by its fit to your menu. Your meals should be easy to make using existing equipment at a restaurant. If you’re ghosting from home, consider equipment costs and the best fit for your menu. No matter where food is prepped and prepared, the ghost menu should be a specialty. It should fill a niche that is not already taken in the local market. Name and Brand Your Business Experts recommend that there are no more than three words in your business name. It should define your menu and be easy to search. Names for virtual brands or virtual restaurants must be catchy and definitive. Write a Ghost Kitchen Business Plan Remember, you are optimizing to be delivery only. Your business plan is similar to any restaurant business place, but you are locked to the delivery-only concept. Here are key elements you’ll add to a routine restaurant business plan: Packaging essentials, point of sale and delivery apps, delivery-friendly menu, and separate staff. Form a Legal Entity and Register You’ll register your business with your secretary of state to obtain a business license. The limited liability company, or LLC, is most often chosen as the business entity. That’s because your personal assets will be protected. Other choices are Partnerships and Corporations (c-corp and S-corp) Open a Business Bank Account Opening a separate business bank account is a critical step in setting up your ghost kitchen. It provides a clear financial separation between your personal and business finances, which is essential for legal protection and financial organization. A business account simplifies tracking expenses, revenues, and profits, which is crucial for effective business management. Using a business account for transactions adds a level of professionalism and credibility when dealing with vendors. Furthermore, establishing a business credit card is important for building credit and is beneficial for future business financing needs. Having a separate account also eases the process of filing taxes and claiming business expenses, making it a practical choice for any business owner. Choose a Location Here are critical components of your choice of location: average delivery distances and availability of delivery subcontractors. As a minimum, the facility must be licensed to sell food legally. When people order food, they have an expectation that it will arrive ready to eat. If distances are great, it will be challenging for drivers to keep the food warm or cold (whichever is required). If you’re in a rural area, a lack of delivery services may challenge your delivery-only concepts. If you hire your own delivery team, your overhead cost will be much higher. Make Sure You Have the Licenses and Permits Required in Your State Restaurants are much more regulated than other low-risk businesses. The potential for food-borne illnesses exists, and you’ll be regularly inspected. You’ll need kitchen liability insurance. Every person who handles food must have ServSafe Food Handler certification. Design Your Menu You’re a new restaurant with a new concept – prepping and preparing food that is specifically for takeout customers. Those customers, hungry people all, need a menu with catchy names and accurate descriptions. For aspiring restaurateurs, this is a new food concept. Remember that because you’re poking into new markets, start with limited ingredients to keep costs low. Choose dishes that are easy to make and transport. Design Your Packaging Many states have adopted new legislation regarding packaging, such as eliminating the use of styrofoam containers. Before ordering packaging for cold or hot foods, ensure you meet state and local requirements. Should you put your ghost kitchen name on the packaging? Some say that customers will throw the packaging away. Instead, provide a business card that customers can keep handy. Set Your Menu Prices In addition to your food price, you’ll have to add the price of packaging and also the cost of third-party delivery. There are commission fees paid for delivery services. Factor in Costs: When setting your menu prices, consider the cost of ingredients, packaging, and labor. Remember that ghost kitchens often have lower overhead than traditional restaurants, which can be reflected in the pricing. Delivery Costs: Include the fees for third-party delivery services. These fees can be significant, so you’ll need to find a balance between covering these costs and keeping your prices competitive. Competitive Pricing Analysis: Investigate the prices of comparable food items in your locality. It’s essential to remain competitive while ensuring a healthy profit margin for long-term sustainability. Dynamic Pricing Strategy: Consider implementing a dynamic pricing strategy where prices may vary based on demand, special promotions, or time of day. Transparency with Customers: It’s important to be clear about your pricing. Customers value understanding what they are paying for, particularly when there are extra charges, such as delivery fees. Get Your Taxes in Order You’ll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to pay employees and state sales taxes. If you’re an LLC, you’ll be taxed on net income at the individual level. Tax requirements vary by state. Purchase Business Insurance Standard insurance needed for a commercial kitchen is general liability and property insurance. Since your profits rely on digital technology, it is essential to obtain cyber and business interruption insurance. Choose Delivery Partners Your main delivery partners may be GrubHub, UberEats, DoorDash, and Postmates. You may also have a local food delivery service. Create a Website and Market Your New Business You’ll be found through an internet search, a food delivery company search, and/or via social media. In order to thrive, you’ll need a strong social media presence and affiliation with food delivery companies. You won’t see customers face-to-face. A top marketing tool for the ghost kitchen is the handwritten note tucked inside the packaging. It’s a personal touch that will separate you from the competition. Hire Staff Hiring the right staff is essential for the success of a ghost kitchen. This involves recruiting skilled chefs and kitchen personnel who can prepare meals swiftly and efficiently, a critical requirement for a delivery-oriented business. Additionally, dedicated packaging staff are essential to ensure that food is securely and attractively packaged for delivery. If you opt to manage deliveries in-house, you’ll need a team of reliable and punctual delivery personnel, preferably with a good understanding of the local area, for efficient delivery. Providing comprehensive training is crucial for ensuring consistency in both food quality and packaging, as this significantly affects customer satisfaction and retention. Additionally, staff members should be flexible and adaptable, prepared to manage the ever-changing environment of a ghost kitchen operation. Launch Your Ghost Kitchen Business Announce your opening on social media and get ready for those online orders. Ghost Kitchen Vs. Brick and Mortar Restaurant AspectGhost KitchenBrick and Mortar Restaurant Operational Focus- Food Preparation: Focuses exclusively on preparing, cooking, and packaging food for delivery.- Full Dining Experience: Includes ambiance, customer service, and entertainment. - No Front-of-House Operations: No hosts, servers, or bartenders.- Requires Front-of-House Staff: Staff for greeting, serving, bartending, etc. - Limited Customer Interaction: Limited to the digital platform or delivery driver.- Direct Customer Interaction: Engage customers, respond to feedback, personalized experience. Cost Structure- Lower Overhead Costs: Less space, no dining furniture or decor.- Higher Costs: Rent for dining space, furnishings, decor, additional staff. - Fewer Staff Required: Typically only chefs and kitchen staff.- More Complex Operations: Managing kitchen and front-of-house requires coordination. Marketing and Branding- Digital Presence: Online marketing, social media, delivery platforms.- Physical Presence: Location, signage, appearance attract customers. - Limited Physical Brand Exposure: No physical storefront for walk-ins.- Broader Marketing Options: In-person events, local advertising, digital channels. Customer Experience- Delivery Convenience: Focuses on home or office delivery.- Dining Experience: Enjoy ambiance, service, social aspects of dining in. - Limited Personal Connection: Less opportunity to build customer relationships.- Potential for Loyalty: Opportunities for face-to-face interactions to build loyalty. Flexibility and Adaptation- Agile and Adaptable: Quickly change menus, test concepts, operate multiple brands.- More Fixed Structure: Changes require significant adjustments in training, marketing, decor. There is a big difference between a ghost kitchen and a brick-and-mortar restaurant. And both have their pros and cons depending on where you are on your entrepreneurial journey. These two models’ choices depend on the business objectives, target audience, and market trends. Some businesses even find value in combining the two models to leverage both benefits. 1. Operational Focus Ghost Kitchen: Food Preparation: Focuses exclusively on preparing, cooking, and packaging food for delivery. No Front-of-House Operations: No need for hosts, servers, or bartenders. Limited Customer Interaction: Interaction is typically limited to the digital platform or the delivery driver. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Full Dining Experience: Offers a full dining experience that includes ambiance, customer service, and sometimes entertainment. Requires Front-of-House Staff: Staff needed for greeting, serving, bartending, etc. Direct Customer Interaction: Opportunities to engage customers, respond to feedback, and create a personalized experience. 2. Cost Structure Ghost Kitchen: Lower Overhead Costs: Less space required, no need for dining furniture or decor. Fewer Staff Required: Typically only needs chefs and kitchen staff. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Higher Costs: Rent for dining space, furnishings, decor, and additional staff can be substantial. More Complex Operations: Managing both the kitchen and front-of-house requires more coordination. 3. Marketing and Branding Ghost Kitchen: Digital Presence: Relies heavily on online marketing, social media, and delivery platforms. Limited Physical Brand Exposure: No physical storefront to attract walk-in customers. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Physical Presence: The location, signage, and appearance can attract customers. Broader Marketing Options: Can engage customers through in-person events, local advertising, and digital channels. 4. Customer Experience Ghost Kitchen: Delivery Convenience: Focuses on the convenience of home or office delivery. Limited Personal Connection: Less opportunity to build relationships with customers. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: Dining Experience: Customers enjoy the ambiance, service, and social aspects of dining in. Potential for Loyalty: Opportunities to build customer loyalty through face-to-face interactions. 5. Flexibility and Adaptation Ghost Kitchen: Agile and Adaptable: Able to swiftly modify menus, experiment with new ideas, or manage several brands from a single kitchen. Brick and Mortar Restaurant: More Fixed Structure: Changing concepts or menus might require more significant adjustments in staff training, marketing, and decor. Ghost Kitchens and Brick and Mortar Restaurants serve distinct segments of the food industry. Ghost Kitchens prioritizes delivery efficiency, providing flexibility and reduced operational costs, though they have limited opportunities for direct customer interaction. In contrast, brick-and-mortar restaurants offer a comprehensive dining experience, fostering deeper customer connections, but they also entail higher expenses and more intricate management requirements. FAQs About Starting a Ghost Kitchen What Is a Ghost Kitchen? Ghost Kitchen, also known as a virtual or cloud kitchen, is a licensed commercial kitchen that prepares food exclusively for delivery. It operates without a physical dining area, often utilizing delivery apps. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Ghost Kitchen? The cost varies depending on factors such as location, kitchen size, equipment, and licensing. It typically ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 or more. What Licenses and Permits Are Required? Similar to traditional restaurants, ghost kitchens need to obtain food service licenses, health permits, and possibly local business permits. Regulations vary by jurisdiction, so it’s essential to consult with local authorities. How Do I Choose a Location for My Ghost Kitchen? Location considerations might include proximity to delivery areas, accessibility for drivers, and rental costs. Shared commercial kitchens can be an affordable option for startups. How Do I Market My Ghost Kitchen? Effective marketing may include using social media, partnering with popular delivery apps, SEO optimization for your website, and offering special promotions or loyalty programs. Can I Operate Multiple Brands from One Ghost Kitchen? Yes, one of the advantages of a ghost kitchen is the ability to operate multiple virtual brands from a single kitchen, allowing for varied menus and target audiences. What Are the Main Challenges of Running a Ghost Kitchen? Challenges might include quality control across delivery areas, competition with other virtual restaurants, dependence on third-party delivery services, and maintaining customer relationships without face-to-face interactions. Image: Depositphotos, Envato Elements This article, "How to Start a Ghost Kitchen" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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Picture this: Your boss is asking you about the business impact of your social media strategy. You know you’ve moved the needle — brought in website visitors, converted some of them, and nudged brand awareness. But how do you prove it? This is where a social media dashboard comes in handy. It’s a visual representation of the key metrics that prove the impact of your social media efforts. Your job as a social media manager is to convert the raw data of social media metrics into something easily understandable for you, your team, and your executives. But that’s not all it is. A social media marketing dashboard also helps in: Uncovering actionable insights about what kind of social media posts are getting the most tractionFinding which social media campaigns are giving you the highest return on investment (ROI)Deciding where you should put your marketing dollars — for example, you’d like to put more resources behind social media platforms that have an outsized impactThis article is a complete guide for creating a social media dashboard: what social media metrics you should monitor, where to get them, how to build helpful data visualizations, and a lot more. A social media dashboard needs to be personalizedThe most important thing about building a social media reporting dashboard is it should be tailor-made. As social media managers, you likely have to communicate with various stakeholders — all of whom have different levels of knowledge about your marketing strategy and social media in general. C-suite executives might not know which social media channels the company is active on and why. They might also be unaware of the various features of different social media platforms. However, they also have concerns about whether the marketing dollars are well-spent. So, they need more explainers behind your marketing strategy. You need to add not just the engagement metrics but also prove you’ve made informed decisions to get the value of money & resources. On the other hand, your social media team doesn’t need to know the thought process behind your social media marketing strategy. They likely had an input in formulating it. Their social media reporting dashboard needs to focus more on execution. Perhaps you’re experimenting with a new social media channel — so you need to create custom reports on how your social media posts are performing here and any valuable insights you’ve derived. Maybe you’re working as a creator on your own business. In this case, your social media dashboard needs to serve only you. You don’t need to include the standard social media metrics since you’re living and breathing them anyway. You need deeper insights about your target audience and what they love. What a social media dashboard displays depends on who’s at the receiving end. Instead of relying on cookie-cutter social media dashboard templates that you have to spend forever tinkering with, it’s a better use of your time to build custom social media dashboards (and their templates) for your unique use case. Here’s everything you need to ask to create the most impactful custom social media dashboards: Who is on the receiving end of this social media dashboard?What do they already know about my social media strategy?What’s their level of knowledge in social media marketing?Which social media analytics do they care about the most?How do they best digest information about social media performance?Answering these questions will help you tailor the scope of your social media dashboard and eliminate unnecessary bloat. The shortcut for creating custom social media dashboardsCan you find almost all social media analytics you need natively on your social media accounts? Of course. All social media platforms have in-built performance data. But that’s a lot of busy work. And I mean, a lot. You’ll have to gather raw data from multiple channels > add it to Google Sheets > derive valuable insights by playing around with the numbers > create data visualizations > and put it in a PowerPoint presentation. You can develop the muscle to do this quickly and create social media dashboard templates for recurring reports. If that’s the way that works best for you right now, great! Move ahead to the next section, where there’s a step-by-step guide to follow this process. But there’s a far quicker route you can take: Use a social media analytics software. Analytics tools require you to connect your social media accounts to their software. Then, they aggregate all the real time data from multiple accounts and present it in their own native social media dashboard. You can play around and tinker with the social media metrics here — filter the ones you need to examine your social media performance and create various custom reports. Most tools also offer the option to brand these reports with your logo, company colors, etc. Take Buffer. We help you track performance and create a social media dashboard for Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn. Using Buffer, you can instantly know: Which types of posts perform the best on your social media channel(s)The best day, time, and frequency to post to maximize your resultsAll key performance indicators analytics you get natively — follower growth, total reach, engagement metrics, audience demographics, hashtag performance, etc.There are plenty of benefits of using an analytics tool like Buffer (over creating dashboards yourself): You don’t have to collect the data manually. Buffer connects to your data sources and does the gathering task without you lifting a finger. No copy-pasting numbers to a Google Sheet from multiple social media channels. Everything’s already available in a single social media dashboard.You don’t have to hunt for insights. Buffer doesn’t just collect data, it also does the work of analyzing it. Is your engagement rate suffering compared to last month? What’s the best time to post for your social media account? It crunches the numbers and tells you exactly what you (and your manager) need to know.You don’t have to create custom reports yourself. Look, I may be biased, but this is a fact: Buffer’s reports look way better than the same old spreadsheet. It infuses your social media reporting with not just accurate numbers, but the best data visualization. And you can brand it to call it your own.And that’s not all: Buffer can do a whole lot more than build your reporting dashboard. It’s a full-fledged social media management tool that can help you store ideas, schedule social media posts, and respond to comments. Try Buffer for free for yourself. How to build your own social media dashboard in 3 stepsIf you aren’t ready to take the plunge with analytics tools, here’s a 3-step guide to build your own social media dashboard from scratch. Step 1: Collect all the data you needThe first step is collecting all the social media analytics you need to build your dashboard. Your data sources are the native insights on your social media accounts. If you’re tracking website visits, Google Analytics can also help you understand how much traffic comes via social media. ⚠️Note: You can’t view your social media analytics on X (formerly Twitter) if you don’t purchase the blue tick. It has scrapped native insights for non-premium users entirely.All social platforms have varying degrees of depth in their key metrics. Social media pages (like Facebook pages or LinkedIn company pages) have slightly more thorough info than individual accounts. Here are some important performance metrics present on all social platforms: Total reachFollower countFollower growthEngagement rateAudience demographicsFacebook insights are on the Meta Business Suite (for Facebook Pages), for instance. It has all the details about your page followers — audience demographics, follower growth, link clicks, page visits, etc. You can even benchmark your social media dashboard against similar businesses on Facebook. Similarly, Instagram insights show you data about your Instagram followers. How your audience interacts can differ widely based on the social channel. You might also have different social media goals for different platforms. For example, maybe you use Facebook to build brand awareness and TikTok to increase conversions. Thus, your Facebook social media dashboard focuses more on overall reach, and TikTok’s social dashboard highlights click-through rates and influencer marketing results. Your social media dashboard should shift based on the direction of your niche marketing efforts. Bella Rose Mortel, social media strategist at Beehiiv, says the best metrics to monitor are impressions, follower count, shares, and saves. She explains why: “I think best metrics to monitor are impressions (goal of organic social is always reach and eyeballs), as well as follower count (account growth is an important indicator that you're doing something right), and also shares and saves in content because those are good indicators someone was like ‘hey look at this piece of content!’ or had the intention to save it to come back to later.” Collect any and all the metrics you’ll need to build your social media dashboard. Where do you collect this data? I recommend Google Sheets because it’s easy to organize your data there. Plus, it’s easy to transfer to data visualization tools. Instead of copy-pasting, you can also download analytics reports from social platforms and export them to Google Sheets. You’ll have your sheets divided on a channel basis rather than a timeline basis. ,Pro-tip: You can shift the approach of collecting your data based on the goal behind your social media analytics dashboard. For example: Instead of having sheets based on timelines (like I have templated above), you can also segregate your data collection based on each individual social channel — one tab for Facebook, another for TikTok, a third for Instagram, etc.If you have a strong advertising strategy, you can approach data collection based on your organic and paid efforts. If you’re running specific social media campaigns, dedicate one sheet to one campaign.Think ahead about how you want to present the information on your social media analytics dashboard, and you’ll find the most convenient way to organize your raw data. Step 2: Present the data in a visually-friendly wayData visualizations can become the bane of your existence if you don’t know how to create them painlessly. Many data sources, like Facebook Pages, visualize the data for you in their insights tab. But what if you want to create an aggregate dashboard of all your social channels? Or what if you want to brand it with your own logo, colors, etc.? This is where data visualization tools come in. Using them, you can enter the data you have on your Google Sheets and create graphs, pie charts, whatever you need. The catch? They aren’t always easy to use, and they aren’t always free. Google Looker Studio is a marketer’s favorite, but I rely on ChartBlocks more. You can import your Google Sheets if you want to. There are plenty of designs to choose from to customize your charts, too. Some other tools you can use to visualize your data easily: VismeFlourishJuliusDeckpilot (you just need to prompt and upload your Google Sheet in this tool)If you want to keep it even simpler, use the social media dashboard templates on Canva or choose from one of their pre-made chart designs that fit your needs. Step 3: Put the final touches by organizing your various datasetsTransforming your rough data into fancy charts is just the beginning of showing your social media progress. Great social media reporting dashboards go beyond it to present the findings in an easy-to-comprehend way — without everyone scratching their heads and doing the work of “What is this chart telling me?” Here’s a checklist for transforming your dashboard from respectable to phenomenal: Each chart should always have a title and date range accompanying it. This will show your audience what you are talking about and when exactly these results appeared.Put the key metrics and findings front and center. Your first reporting slide should present the key takeaways (in text) with adjoining numbers for reliability. For example, if your stakeholders care the most about follower count, discuss it right at the beginning.Share your conclusions at the end of each chart/slide. Show you’re making informed decisions by first showing the numbers, discussing what they signify, and what you can conclude. For example, if your goal is to increase Instagram followers and data tells you that Reels increase your follower count, you can justify why you’re focusing your marketing efforts on creating more Reels. Bella from beehiiv explains how she uses these insights to inform her own strategy, too: “The lowest performing posts based on impressions have always been an indicator of types of content to either stop doing or completely reframe. As an example, we saw that carousel posts on Linkedin got so much more engagement and impressions than just text posts, so we started putting our text on multiple slides and people seemed to resonate with it a lot more.”Show how your social media presence is benefiting the overall business. It’s easy to see results in a bubble (our follower count increased by 60 percent compared to last month!), but your numbers are empty of impact until they positively impact the company’s goals. Display how your brand’s online presence is affecting business goals.Highlight the caveats that affect your numbers. Was your campaign performance affected by the holidays? Did your follower count suddenly drop because of factors beyond your control (like changes in the platform)? Shed a light on these factors — especially in recurring reports — to ensure your stakeholders fully understand what’s going on.Present qualitative findings, too. Numbers are great but often don’t tell the whole story — especially in the most successful campaigns. Show how your audience engagement is from a qualitative lens, too. Did you get a lot of positive direct messages (DMs) about a campaign? Did you receive a string of comments from many potential buyers on a post? Add their screenshots and bring them to the dashboard. Qualitative and quantitative work in tandem to present the whole picture.Want to fast-track this process? Use an AI presentation tool like Plus, which can take your prompts and turn them into slide decks that you can edit quickly. My last tip is to create a dashboard template for your own use so you don’t have to do all this work manually every time — all you’ll have to do is edit the numbers. Beyond individual campaign performance dashboards, every other dashboard will have more or less a recurring use. Perhaps you have a monthly dashboard for your social media team and a quarterly dashboard to present in a company-wide meeting. A dashboard template frees up time and resources to create content & nurture audience engagement. Social media dashboard = your ticket to data-driven insights and smarter budgetingAn effective social media dashboard can do a lot of work to guide your marketing strategy: Does your Google Analytics show website visitors climbing due to a social channel? Double down on it. Does your ad spend on TikTok provide significantly better results than Meta? Cut Meta and invest more money in TikTok. A dashboard can also help you negotiate for an increased budget for socials in your organization. Concrete insights from your dashboard prove social media’s impact, which increases the chances of stakeholders agreeing to invest more in marketing. While creating your dashboard from scratch is a viable option, upgrading to a paid analytics tool as soon as possible is best. This will allow you to prioritize implementing your content strategy and leave the data tinkering to the tech lords. View the full article

Picture this: It’s Black Friday, and the point-of-sale system your thousands of customers depend on keeps crashing. Understandably, those retailers are livid. Complaints pour in day after day, and you start to wonder if the business will survive. That’s exactly what happened to me when I was just starting out as an entrepreneur nearly 20 years ago. And as painful as it was, that near-death experience taught me something invaluable: the power of calm leadership. In today’s unpredictable world, whether that’s due to economic, environmental, or political events—it can be harder than ever to stay calm and centered. Company leaders are no exception to this. Yet it’s critical that they do learn to stay calm, because that’s what will set the tone for the rest of their team. Stress and entrepreneurship There’s no escaping the brutal realities of entrepreneurship. As this founder and CEO can attest, stress is an unfortunate part of it. That’s why three-quarters of small business owners are worried about their mental health, while more than half have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or stress-related problems. As a company matures, new hurdles and anxieties arise. The average entrepreneur spends almost 70% of their time working “in” the business—much of it putting out fires. Inevitably, there are days and weeks when the failures far outnumber the wins. That makes it easy to get dragged down into negativity. But if the leader operates from a place of calm, it can help everyone else bring their best selves to work. Here are a few principles that I’ve learned about that can help you do just that. 1. You’re not the hero of this story So many business leaders feel like it’s up to them to save the day and feel like they’re the only one who can fix things. But this is a recipe for dizzying highs and crushing lows. And trust me, the lows outnumber the highs. You whiplash back and forth between elation and despair, and rarely find that middle ground of calm that you desperately need to make strategic decisions. A far more useful approach is to think of yourself as just one player in a larger drama. Sure, you’re the boss, but you’re channeling greater forces. Ultimately, you’re an instrument that supports and directs the talents of the team around you. 2. Mission actually does matter Sustaining calm is easier with a sense of purpose. People can accept a tough journey if they know where they’re going and can see progress, however small. This is where your mission comes in. Now, it doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. You just need something that everyone can get behind. My company’s mission is simple: helping small businesses compete in a world of Amazon and Shein. Using technology to empower customers is our rallying cry. Importantly, this has to be more than a slogan on a website or a poster on the wall. (There’s a reason only 25% of employees actually feel educated on company goals, according to Slingshot’s digital work trends report). Your company needs to live the mission, and employees need to understand how it translates into tangible goals and also see incremental progress. As gimmicky as it might seem, dashboards and trackers can be invaluable here. We have screens throughout our office showing key KPIs and movement over time. We also celebrate wins in monthly huddles and recognize team members who push the mission forward. 3. Think impact rather than urgency The startup world moves fast. On any given week, there will be dozens (if not hundreds) of time-sensitive tasks that demand your attention. To focus on the things that matter, you need to think in terms of impact, not urgency. Rather than prioritizing your to-do list by deadline, narrow your to-do list down to the tasks that will actually move the needle for you and your company. With a manageable list, it’s easier to exit panic mode and to start calmly working away on what really matters. Running on adrenaline—and treating everything like a five-alarm fire—might get results in the short term. However, this is a surefire recipe for team burnout, which is ultimately inefficient and counterproductive. Doing this right isn’t possible without long-term priorities. Setting a north star or long-term goal for your company allows you to see what you should prioritize and what you shouldn’t. 4. Remember that creation follows in the wake of destruction When I’m not running a business, I work in conservation. I’ve seen how the terrible violence of a forest fire sets the stage for regreening—and how quickly that recovery can happen. I think of that every time I suffer a setback, like losing a key employee. Of course, it hurts, but more often than not, such departures set the stage for much-needed changes and renewals. From moments of devastation, new opportunities for growth arise. 5. When in doubt, write down the good and the bad Calm leaders focus on the positive, but they also take stock of the negative. Throughout the year, I keep a running list of my “gratefuls” and “lows.” The real impact of this approach is retrospective. Looking back, I often realize that some of the lows weren’t really that low after all. In fact, they needed to happen and sometimes led to a major transformation. One example was losing a particular deal. In the end, that event ended up setting the company up for success by pushing us to explore new markets. Ultimately, every leader must decide how they want to show up for the team. In my experience, calm beats panic every time. That’s especially true when the stakes are high and people are looking to their leader to lower the temperature. And right now, that virtue may be more valuable than ever. View the full article

With TikTok and DeepSeek, young people are forking over sensitive personal data to the Chinese government. We should be worried. Among Gen Z, there’s a certain nihilism about China’s access to American data. Some argue that they have nothing to hide. Others say that, if American billionaires can access their data, why not let China, too? When TikTok momentarily shut down, young people ran to RedNote, a Chinese alternative, as a not-very-veiled middle finger to the U.S. government. China’s threat to our data security is difficult to comprehend. If they were accessing sensitive information, we wouldn’t see it. And, for young people not yet in the workforce, their privacy concerns may be decades away. But we should take this threat seriously; China isn’t some victimless entity to hand over your data to. “Knowing that the world’s largest police state is collecting your data should make anyone nervous,” James Lewis, a researcher at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, writes in an email. “China’s laws say that any and all Chinese companies must turn over data if MSS asks for it and there is no appeal or refusal.” The domestic capitalists versus the foreign autocrats Many Americans aren’t thrilled with who has access to their data already. Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency has effectively taken a buzzsaw to the federal bureaucracy, holds gobs of sensitive user data through X. The same goes for Mark Zuckerberg and his portfolio at Meta. So why would we care about China having that data too? But there’s a difference between domestic and foreign data ownership. The United States has a court system users can fight through if their data is misused. If China abuses your data, there’s no recourse. Moreover, the Chinese government and America-based companies have completely different incentives. “Musk and Zuckerberg have a lot of money, but China’s rulers have a thousand times more, plus an army and nuclear weapons,” Lewis writes. “They’re individuals, the [Chinese Communist Party] CCP is a huge institution that will do anything to maintain the Party’s control.” China has also committed dozens of documented human rights abuses. Bill Drexel, a fellow at the Center for New American Security, says it’s entirely possible the CCP is using American data to fuel their abuses of power. Shipping off our data to China helps “strengthen and augment” their “techno-authoritarian” governance, he argues. “These companies are part of an ecosystem that is actively engaging in genocide,” Drexel says. “Yes, Facebook is not my favorite company, but it doesn’t have Uyghurs in labor camps.” ‘Preventative’ data privacy Chinese ownership of American personal data feels like a victimless crime. We’d likely never see its usage, given how secretive China’s data collection process is. (Drexel says that experts are even wary of saying what they know, given how quickly the CCP can “patch” holes.) That means we don’t even know if the abuse is happening at all. Much of the conversation around a TikTok ban covered how China could access American data, not that they are. But there are signs. Lewis says the CCP is “addicted” to collecting data, having done so through health insurance companies, airlines, travel agents, and federal offices since 2014. True, America has the Foreign Information Surveillance Act, which allows the government to collect foreign intelligence information through means such as electronic surveillance and physical searches. But, he writes, compared to the CCP’s operations, that law “looks like a chihuahua.” The greatest threat of China’s data abuse is pluralistic in nature; the fear, basically, is that the CCP can effectively mine the data of millions of Americans for value. But that’s not to say some individuals aren’t especially vulnerable. Those in military and intelligence roles are especially wary of China’s data overreach, Drexel notes, but more working professionals should be cautious. “It’s conceivable that if you’re in a business role that has significant national competitiveness dimensions, they could use it there too,” he says. “China has been extremely effective at corporate espionage and IP theft. You can see this data coming into the service of that.” That puts young people in an especially blind position. Most have yet to reach high-ranking military status or climb to the top of the corporate ladder. Why would China care about the data of a random high school student? But that teenager scrolling Red Note or treating DeepSeek like a therapist could enter a sensitive industry in the decades to come. Meanwhile, the CCP is building their leverage. Lewis calls data privacy “preventative,” trying to cut out foreign data abuse at the root. But Americans are notoriously bad at valuing forward-looking policy. Just look at climate change; while many Americans claim to care about the issue, it remains low on their priorities because it is so far away. But we should want to protect our future selves—especially from the whims of a foreign competitor with which there is no legal fallback. Drexel puts it bluntly: “The CCP isn’t interested in you until they are.” View the full article

At a time when book bans are raging and the federal government is pushing back against DEI initiatives, there’s one place where diversity is thriving: children’s literature. Picture books—which cater to those under the age of 10—are often children’s first introduction to poetry and art. And this year, there are many newly-published picture books that celebrate aspects of Black life in nuanced ways, portraying history, culture, and joy. Here are five of our favorites. ‘City Summer, Country Summer’ [Art: Courtesy of Kokila/Penguin Random House] By Kiese Laymon, illustrated by Alexis Franklin. (Kokila/Penguin Young Readers, ages 5-9.) Author Kiese Laymon is the author of Heavy: An American Memoir. In 2020, he wrote an article for the New York Times describing what how Black boys from New York would come down South to visit their grandparents during the summer months. He’s translated this narrative into a story about three Black boys who spend a summer together exploring the woods of Mississippi, under the watchful eye of their grandmother. Under the surface, you find a tale about how the Great Migration shaped the Black community, resulting in different subcultures in the North and South. But ultimately the story is about the tender bonds of friendship that Black boys create with one another, and how they turn to one other to express their joy, as well as their fear. ‘Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became A Writer’ [Art: Courtesy of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers] By Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C James. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ages 7-10.) James Baldwin is remembered as a celebrated writer whose work offered Americans a powerful insight into the richness and complexity of Black American life. But few of us know about his childhood. Growing up in Harlem, he was known as a Jimmy, and the stepson of a Reverend who preached fiery sermons against racism. At fourteen, Jimmy decided to take to the pulpit, but chose to speak from a place of love. This pivotal moment informs the years to come, as Jimmy leaves home to become a writer. With lyrical language, the book shows Jimmy traveling to France and returning back to New York to write his first book, Go Tell It On The Mountain. ‘On Our Way! What a Day!’ [Art: Courtesy of Penguin Random House] By JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony. (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin Young Readers, ages 4-6). This is a fun, colorful book that will delight young readers. Six grandkids wake up and get ready to go visit their grandmother on her birthday. But none of them have a gift. As they walk over as a group—looking after one another along the way—they come across lots of little objects, from pine cones to pencils. But they’re not sure whether any of these things are good enough for Gram. This book is ultimately about the joy of having siblings, discovering treasures in the world around us, and enjoying a little bit of independence from grown-ups. The illustrations in this book are replete with little details that will keep children coming back to it again and again. ‘And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life’ [Art: Courtesy of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers] By Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Daniel Minter. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; ages 4-8). This book is written as a poem that captures the beauty in Toni Morrison’s language. It depicts how she grew up in a small town in Ohio by the name of Chloe Ardelia, finding joy playing hopscotch in the playground and as the only Black girl at her school. It was at Howard University that she decided to take her fate into her own hands and change her name. We learn about how Morrison rose through the ranks of the all-white publishing world as an editor. And even though she have very little time as a single mother, she woke up a four in the morning to write her own stories. The words, “and she was loved” echoes in each page, reflecting how she took all the support her community gave her to create some of the greatest works of American literature. ‘Girls on the Rise’ [Art: Courtesy of Penguin Random House] By Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loveis Wise. (Viking Books for Young Readers, ages 4-8). The poet Amanda Gorman has a new picture book dedicated to girls, written in verse. It is a manifesto about how girls are strong and capable, but are unstoppable when they work together to bring about change. The book nods to history, as the illustrations explore everything from the achievements of everyone from Beyonce to the Williams sisters to Simone Biles. But it also hints at how women have had to fight for their rights, including reproductive freedom. Gorman first came to the world’s attention as the youngest poet to speak at a presidential inauguration four years ago, when President Biden entered office. As a new administration takes root with a much more regressive stance on women’s rights, this picture book could not come at a better time. View the full article

When White Lotus first season debuted in 2021 and shot to near-instant acclaim, it was a sleeper hit for HBO. But now, four years later, HBO is well aware of just how enthusiastic White Lotus’s fanbase has become—and, to tap into the show’s highly online viewership, its marketing team has decided to officially don their tin foil hats and fangirl right alongside the rest of us. White Lotus recently debuted its own TikTok page dedicated to stirring up conversation around the show’s third season, which just debuted. It’s the first time that the show itself will have a separate TikTok presence from HBO’s broader account. White Lotus’s marketing team is in a unique position, given that it’s joining TikTok after a culture of mining the show for meme fodder has already flourished organically on the app. (See: Jennifer Coolidge’s unforgettable delivery of the line, ”These gays, they’re trying to murder me” being the soundtrack to dozens of mash-ups and even a few original songs.) As a result, the White Lotus TikTok account needs to offer something unique to stand out from the crowd—and their strategy includes pulling back the curtain on behind-the-scenes anecdotes, fan theories, actor perspectives, and hidden details from the show. It’s a move that taps into the growing culture of using TikTok as a site for exchanging detailed critical analyses of popular media. “Especially in the White Lotus, when you see the craft that [director Mike White] puts into the details of everything, people want to dive in,” says Pia Barlow, EVP of originals marketing at HBO and Max. “Like, ‘Oh, did you see that that statue was turned this way?’ Or, ‘Did you catch that little aside that some character said that paid off later in the episode?’ It’s really a way for us to engage fans by tapping into memes and trends, but also theories and speculation.” The new account currently hosts about 27,000 followers. Its most successful clips are digging into small anecdotes, like one video with 6.3 million views about how Jennifer Coolidge hated being on a boat in the show’s second season, or an in-depth analysis of a confrontation scene in season 1 that’s racked up 10.1 million views so far. [Photo: TikTok @theWhiteLotus] These kinds of videos feed fans’ appetite for close-reading beloved series—especially those with a mysterious plot line—within a community of other viewers. A search for “white lotus fan theories” on TikTok produces dozens of results from the show’s last season, digging into everything from the subtle motifs of background wallpaper to how certain plot points might mirror Homer’s The Odyssey. TikTok users have similarly used the platform to hash out ideas during recent seasons of Succession, Squid Game, and, currently, the second season of Apple TV’s Severance. “For TikTok in particular, it’s really about just being aware of whatever trends are happening in real time—which, as you know, changes weekly, or even daily,” Barlow says. “So it’s about behaving like a fan.” For White Lotus’s marketing team, digging into the show’s small nuances on TikTok is a pretty smart way to cosplay as a fan. As of yet, it’s unclear just how much the account will attempt to harness the meme culture that’s bound to pop up around season three—a move that might be harder to pull off, given that the new account is pretty late to the scene. And, to be honest, we’d take a Gen Alpha teen’s fan edit of Jennifer Coolidge falling off of a boat over an in-house video from HBO’s marketing team any day. View the full article

Wedding websites have become essential for modern couples planning their special day. These platforms offer a unique and personalized touch to the wedding experience, allowing couples to showcase their love story, share important details with guests, and create a central hub for all wedding-related information. In this article, we explore some inspiring wedding website examples that demonstrate the power of these online platforms in creating memorable and engaging wedding celebrations. Why You Need a Wedding Website A wedding website is essential in today’s digital age, offering convenience and seamless information sharing. It simplifies RSVP management, provides a centralized platform for guests, and ensures everyone stays up-to-date with event details. Experience the benefits of a wedding website and effortlessly organize your special day. The Core Elements of a Great Wedding Website A well-crafted wedding website features essential elements that enhance both its appearance and usability. The design should be attractive and easy to navigate, while the content needs to be informative and captivating. Incorporating personal stories and photos adds a unique charm. To create a practical and beautiful wedding website, prioritize design, user experience, content quality, and personalization. The Wedding Details A wedding website should provide essential details to guests for a seamless experience. It should include information on the wedding venue, date, time, and dress code guidelines. It can also offer recommendations for accommodations, making it easier for guests to plan and attend the celebration. The Wedding Party Introducing the wedding party on the website adds a personal touch and makes guests feel more connected to the celebration. Including brief profiles or photos of the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other wedding party members fosters a sense of involvement, allowing guests to get to know the important people in the couple’s lives. Our Favorite Wedding Website Examples Discover the best wedding website examples that showcase creativity, elegance, and functionality. From stunning designs to innovative features, these beautiful wedding website examples inspire couples to create their unique online presence for their special day. Elegant Wedding Website Example This elegant wedding website by Megan and Zach stands out with personalized visuals and a charming color palette. They offer venue directions, accommodation suggestions, and a custom Google map for guests’ perfect weekend plans. Rustic Wedding Website Example Kate and Trevor customized their wedding website by incorporating a distinctive header logo and background. Delightful custom illustrations display the schedule of events and highlight Richmond, along with accommodation recommendations for guests traveling from out of town. Modern Wedding Website Example Take inspiration from Allie and Gavin’s wedding website, which seamlessly blends their physical invitations. With a custom emblem by The Blackline Bottega, their modern and minimal site offers easy navigation, showcasing their timeline, venue details, and dress code. Vintage Wedding Website Discover a charming wedding website inspired by the 1950s. Featuring a full-screen image of the couple, vibrant inner pages, retro typography, vector graphics, a venue map, gift registry links, and an RSVP form. Beach Wedding Website Example Colleen and Andrew’s beach wedding website showcases a minimalist design with a personal touch, featuring their love story, practical details, and local recommendations for out-of-town guests. Bohemian Wedding Website Leah and Matt’s captivating Bohemian wedding website showcases a captivating olive green and gold color scheme accompanied by beautiful visuals. It provides essential details about their dress code, venue, and accommodations while adding a personal touch with images of their bridal party. Cultural Wedding Website Rush and Danit’s wedding website is distinctive for its use of childhood photos instead of the usual couple portraits. It boasts a beautifully crafted interface, stylish fonts, an endearing logo, and smooth navigation for RSVP, gifts, and other wedding necessities. This creative approach could be a great inspiration for your own site. Choosing The Best Wedding Website Builder When it comes to selecting the ideal wedding website builder, various platforms offer unique features and functionalities. Let’s explore different options to find the perfect fit for your needs. Creating a Custom Wedding Website on WordPress Creating a custom wedding website design on WordPress offers numerous advantages. With its vast selection of themes and plugins, couples can easily find designs that suit their style and enhance functionality. WordPress provides flexibility, customization options, and a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for crafting a personalized and stunning wedding website. Other Great Platforms to Create a Stunning Wedding Website Several platforms other than WordPress offer intuitive tools and features to bring your vision to life. Wix provides a user-friendly interface and extensive design options but may have limited customization for some. Squarespace boasts elegant templates and excellent customer support, yet it may require a learning curve for beginners. Zola offers wedding-specific features and seamless registry integration but lacks advanced customization. Joy provides RSVP management and social media integration yet may have fewer design options. Selecting the ideal wedding website builder ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. PlatformProsCons WordPress- Extensive customization options - Wide variety of themes and plugins - User-friendly interface- Requires more technical knowledge than other platforms - Maintenance and updates need to be done manually Wix- User-friendly interface - Wide range of design options- Limited customization options compared to WordPress - The free version comes with ads Squarespace- Elegant, professional design templates - Excellent customer support- Can be more expensive than other platforms - Steeper learning curve for beginners Zola- Wedding-specific features - Seamless registry integration- Less customization options - Limited template designs Joy- Excellent RSVP management - Integration with social media- Fewer design options - Some features may require upgrade to premium version Inspiring Wedding Website Templates Ideal for sophisticated couples, the classic wedding invite template features a blush and white color scheme with botanical elements. Affordable and responsive, the Marriage template offers a comprehensive wedding website with multiple pages, a photo gallery, a blog, RSVP, and CMS for updates. The free Napa template offers stunning floral illustrations in pink, purple, white, and green. With a sleek cursive font and clean sans serif, it’s perfect for a romantic outdoor wedding. Tips for Creating the Perfect Wedding Website A wedding website is a wonderful tool for couples to share all the essential information with their guests in an engaging and visually appealing way. Here are some detailed tips for creating a fantastic wedding website: Design: Choose a Reflective Theme: Your website should reflect your style. Consider incorporating these elements into your website design if your wedding has a specific theme or color scheme. Clear Navigation: Make sure your website has a user-friendly interface. Information should be easy to locate and navigate through, with clearly labeled sections or pages for different types of content (e.g., details about the event, RSVP, gift registry, etc.). Mobile-Friendly: With many people accessing websites on their mobile devices, ensure your website is mobile-friendly and works well on various screen sizes. Visuals: Incorporate a variety of visual elements to keep it engaging. This could include engagement photos, venue images, or a countdown to the wedding day. Content: Essential Details: Include all necessary information such as the date, time, venue of the wedding, and details about any other related events like a rehearsal dinner or a day after brunch. Directions or a map of the venue can also be helpful. Your Story: Share the story of your relationship and engagement. This gives a personal touch and makes guests feel more connected to you as a couple. RSVP Online: Having an online RSVP system can simplify the process for both you and your guests. It can also make tracking responses and managing your guest list easier. FAQs: Consider any questions your guests may have about the wedding and provide answers in an FAQ section. This could include dress code, parking details, children’s policy, etc. Functionality: Accommodation Suggestions: If you have guests coming from out of town, provide information about local hotels or accommodation options, including any group rates you may have arranged. Gift Registry: Simplify the process for guests to locate and purchase gifts by including links to your online registries. It’s a good idea to offer a range of price points to suit all budgets. Wedding Day Schedule: Outline the sequence of events on the wedding day so guests know what to expect. This can include timings for the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and any after-party. Contact Information: Provide a way for guests to contact you or your wedding planner if they have any questions. This could be an email address or a contact form on the website. Finally, remember to update your website regularly as your plans evolve and more details are finalized. This will keep your guests informed at all times. FAQs: Wedding Website Examples What do you write on a Wedding website? On your wedding website, like on the wedding website examples we shared, you’ll want to write about your love story, share engagement photos, provide event details, introduce the wedding party, and include RSVP options for guests. How do I come up with a Wedding URL? To create a wedding website URL, combine your name or initials with a relevant word or phrase, and include “wedding” or “love” to craft a personalized and memorable web address. What should be on the home page of a Wedding website? The home page of a wedding website should include an inviting welcome message, a stunning photo, key event details, and straightforward navigation to other sections such as RSVP, accommodations, and gift registry. Is Wix a good Wedding website? Wix is a popular and user-friendly website builder that offers wedding-specific templates, customizable designs, and features like RSVP forms, guest lists, and photo galleries, making it a great option for creating a wedding website. How do you choose the best Wedding website template? When choosing a wedding website template, take into account the design aesthetics, layout options, responsiveness on various devices, customization capabilities, and compatibility with important wedding features such as RSVPs and guest lists. Can I create a Wedding website for free? Yes, you can create a wedding website for free using platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or The Knot. These platforms offer free templates and basic features, allowing you to easily build a beautiful and functional wedding website. What are the benefits of having a Wedding website? Having a wedding website provides a centralized platform to share event details, directions, and accommodations with guests. It allows for easy RSVP management and gift registry integration and provides a space to showcase your love story and engagement photos. A wedding website is also beneficial for small businesses in the wedding industry. For example, creating a comprehensive website is an essential part of learning how to become a wedding planner or creating a wedding venue business plan. You may need to learn how to copyright a website and advertise your offerings if you’re creating a site for business purposes. Our small business advertising guide may help. Where can I find a Wedding website example that matches my Wedding theme? You can find wedding website examples that match your theme by searching for templates on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or The Knot. Browse through their extensive collections to find designs that align with your wedding theme. This article, "Wedding Website Examples" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Wedding websites have become essential for modern couples planning their special day. These platforms offer a unique and personalized touch to the wedding experience, allowing couples to showcase their love story, share important details with guests, and create a central hub for all wedding-related information. In this article, we explore some inspiring wedding website examples that demonstrate the power of these online platforms in creating memorable and engaging wedding celebrations. Why You Need a Wedding Website A wedding website is essential in today’s digital age, offering convenience and seamless information sharing. It simplifies RSVP management, provides a centralized platform for guests, and ensures everyone stays up-to-date with event details. Experience the benefits of a wedding website and effortlessly organize your special day. The Core Elements of a Great Wedding Website A well-crafted wedding website features essential elements that enhance both its appearance and usability. The design should be attractive and easy to navigate, while the content needs to be informative and captivating. Incorporating personal stories and photos adds a unique charm. To create a practical and beautiful wedding website, prioritize design, user experience, content quality, and personalization. The Wedding Details A wedding website should provide essential details to guests for a seamless experience. It should include information on the wedding venue, date, time, and dress code guidelines. It can also offer recommendations for accommodations, making it easier for guests to plan and attend the celebration. The Wedding Party Introducing the wedding party on the website adds a personal touch and makes guests feel more connected to the celebration. Including brief profiles or photos of the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other wedding party members fosters a sense of involvement, allowing guests to get to know the important people in the couple’s lives. Our Favorite Wedding Website Examples Discover the best wedding website examples that showcase creativity, elegance, and functionality. From stunning designs to innovative features, these beautiful wedding website examples inspire couples to create their unique online presence for their special day. Elegant Wedding Website Example This elegant wedding website by Megan and Zach stands out with personalized visuals and a charming color palette. They offer venue directions, accommodation suggestions, and a custom Google map for guests’ perfect weekend plans. Rustic Wedding Website Example Kate and Trevor customized their wedding website by incorporating a distinctive header logo and background. Delightful custom illustrations display the schedule of events and highlight Richmond, along with accommodation recommendations for guests traveling from out of town. Modern Wedding Website Example Take inspiration from Allie and Gavin’s wedding website, which seamlessly blends their physical invitations. With a custom emblem by The Blackline Bottega, their modern and minimal site offers easy navigation, showcasing their timeline, venue details, and dress code. Vintage Wedding Website Discover a charming wedding website inspired by the 1950s. Featuring a full-screen image of the couple, vibrant inner pages, retro typography, vector graphics, a venue map, gift registry links, and an RSVP form. Beach Wedding Website Example Colleen and Andrew’s beach wedding website showcases a minimalist design with a personal touch, featuring their love story, practical details, and local recommendations for out-of-town guests. Bohemian Wedding Website Leah and Matt’s captivating Bohemian wedding website showcases a captivating olive green and gold color scheme accompanied by beautiful visuals. It provides essential details about their dress code, venue, and accommodations while adding a personal touch with images of their bridal party. Cultural Wedding Website Rush and Danit’s wedding website is distinctive for its use of childhood photos instead of the usual couple portraits. It boasts a beautifully crafted interface, stylish fonts, an endearing logo, and smooth navigation for RSVP, gifts, and other wedding necessities. This creative approach could be a great inspiration for your own site. Choosing The Best Wedding Website Builder When it comes to selecting the ideal wedding website builder, various platforms offer unique features and functionalities. Let’s explore different options to find the perfect fit for your needs. Creating a Custom Wedding Website on WordPress Creating a custom wedding website design on WordPress offers numerous advantages. With its vast selection of themes and plugins, couples can easily find designs that suit their style and enhance functionality. WordPress provides flexibility, customization options, and a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for crafting a personalized and stunning wedding website. Other Great Platforms to Create a Stunning Wedding Website Several platforms other than WordPress offer intuitive tools and features to bring your vision to life. Wix provides a user-friendly interface and extensive design options but may have limited customization for some. Squarespace boasts elegant templates and excellent customer support, yet it may require a learning curve for beginners. Zola offers wedding-specific features and seamless registry integration but lacks advanced customization. Joy provides RSVP management and social media integration yet may have fewer design options. Selecting the ideal wedding website builder ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. PlatformProsCons WordPress- Extensive customization options - Wide variety of themes and plugins - User-friendly interface- Requires more technical knowledge than other platforms - Maintenance and updates need to be done manually Wix- User-friendly interface - Wide range of design options- Limited customization options compared to WordPress - The free version comes with ads Squarespace- Elegant, professional design templates - Excellent customer support- Can be more expensive than other platforms - Steeper learning curve for beginners Zola- Wedding-specific features - Seamless registry integration- Less customization options - Limited template designs Joy- Excellent RSVP management - Integration with social media- Fewer design options - Some features may require upgrade to premium version Inspiring Wedding Website Templates Ideal for sophisticated couples, the classic wedding invite template features a blush and white color scheme with botanical elements. Affordable and responsive, the Marriage template offers a comprehensive wedding website with multiple pages, a photo gallery, a blog, RSVP, and CMS for updates. The free Napa template offers stunning floral illustrations in pink, purple, white, and green. With a sleek cursive font and clean sans serif, it’s perfect for a romantic outdoor wedding. Tips for Creating the Perfect Wedding Website A wedding website is a wonderful tool for couples to share all the essential information with their guests in an engaging and visually appealing way. Here are some detailed tips for creating a fantastic wedding website: Design: Choose a Reflective Theme: Your website should reflect your style. Consider incorporating these elements into your website design if your wedding has a specific theme or color scheme. Clear Navigation: Make sure your website has a user-friendly interface. Information should be easy to locate and navigate through, with clearly labeled sections or pages for different types of content (e.g., details about the event, RSVP, gift registry, etc.). Mobile-Friendly: With many people accessing websites on their mobile devices, ensure your website is mobile-friendly and works well on various screen sizes. Visuals: Incorporate a variety of visual elements to keep it engaging. This could include engagement photos, venue images, or a countdown to the wedding day. Content: Essential Details: Include all necessary information such as the date, time, venue of the wedding, and details about any other related events like a rehearsal dinner or a day after brunch. Directions or a map of the venue can also be helpful. Your Story: Share the story of your relationship and engagement. This gives a personal touch and makes guests feel more connected to you as a couple. RSVP Online: Having an online RSVP system can simplify the process for both you and your guests. It can also make tracking responses and managing your guest list easier. FAQs: Consider any questions your guests may have about the wedding and provide answers in an FAQ section. This could include dress code, parking details, children’s policy, etc. Functionality: Accommodation Suggestions: If you have guests coming from out of town, provide information about local hotels or accommodation options, including any group rates you may have arranged. Gift Registry: Simplify the process for guests to locate and purchase gifts by including links to your online registries. It’s a good idea to offer a range of price points to suit all budgets. Wedding Day Schedule: Outline the sequence of events on the wedding day so guests know what to expect. This can include timings for the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and any after-party. Contact Information: Provide a way for guests to contact you or your wedding planner if they have any questions. This could be an email address or a contact form on the website. Finally, remember to update your website regularly as your plans evolve and more details are finalized. This will keep your guests informed at all times. FAQs: Wedding Website Examples What do you write on a Wedding website? On your wedding website, like on the wedding website examples we shared, you’ll want to write about your love story, share engagement photos, provide event details, introduce the wedding party, and include RSVP options for guests. How do I come up with a Wedding URL? To create a wedding website URL, combine your name or initials with a relevant word or phrase, and include “wedding” or “love” to craft a personalized and memorable web address. What should be on the home page of a Wedding website? The home page of a wedding website should include an inviting welcome message, a stunning photo, key event details, and straightforward navigation to other sections such as RSVP, accommodations, and gift registry. Is Wix a good Wedding website? Wix is a popular and user-friendly website builder that offers wedding-specific templates, customizable designs, and features like RSVP forms, guest lists, and photo galleries, making it a great option for creating a wedding website. How do you choose the best Wedding website template? When choosing a wedding website template, take into account the design aesthetics, layout options, responsiveness on various devices, customization capabilities, and compatibility with important wedding features such as RSVPs and guest lists. Can I create a Wedding website for free? Yes, you can create a wedding website for free using platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or The Knot. These platforms offer free templates and basic features, allowing you to easily build a beautiful and functional wedding website. What are the benefits of having a Wedding website? Having a wedding website provides a centralized platform to share event details, directions, and accommodations with guests. It allows for easy RSVP management and gift registry integration and provides a space to showcase your love story and engagement photos. A wedding website is also beneficial for small businesses in the wedding industry. For example, creating a comprehensive website is an essential part of learning how to become a wedding planner or creating a wedding venue business plan. You may need to learn how to copyright a website and advertise your offerings if you’re creating a site for business purposes. Our small business advertising guide may help. Where can I find a Wedding website example that matches my Wedding theme? You can find wedding website examples that match your theme by searching for templates on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or The Knot. Browse through their extensive collections to find designs that align with your wedding theme. This article, "Wedding Website Examples" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Interview with WooCommerce shows why a strategic refresh is essential to staying relevant to user needs The post WooCommerce Rebrand Offers Lessons For Gaining Competitive Edge appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here. Imagine turning your reading history into a treasure map. By feeding a list of your favorite books and movies to an AI assistant, you can uncover hidden patterns in what you love. From your subconscious attraction to unreliable narrators to your love for stories that begin at the end, you may be surprised by what an AI assistant can reveal. Building a personal “taste atlas” helps you understand your reading self better. It can also surface blind spots in your cultural diet and point you toward unexplored literary territories you’re likely to love. Why analyze your preferences? This isn’t just another recommendation engine. Netflix or Amazon may suggest what to watch or buy next based on viewing history, but a taste atlas goes much deeper. It analyzes themes, narrative structures, and emotional resonance across media formats. It can reveal connections between novels you adore and foreign films you’ve never heard of, or help you articulate why certain stories stick with you while others don’t. You can tune the atlas by adjusting the info and examples you give it. You can customize the analysis with your prompts, asking for particular kinds of observations or recommendations. With AI’s help, you can map out your own universe of awesome. As you scout out gaps in your reading or movie watching, you can discover authors and films that expand your horizons. Start by gathering your favorites You need to provide an AI assistant with a list of at least 10-15 titles that resonate with you for meaningful insights; 30+ is better. Here are the fastest ways to gather them. Physical books or DVDs: snap a photo of your bookshelf. AI can read the titles. Or write a list of titles on paper. AI assistants can read handwriting surprisingly well. Digital readers: refer to your Kindle library, your “read” shelf on Goodreads, listen history on Audible, timeline on Libby, or any doc or spreadsheet you maintain with your favorites. Streaming: Apps like Likewise, Sofa, Listy, Listium, Letterboxd, Trakt, and Reelgood let you compile lists of favorites. You can use those collections to train your AI assistant. Use your voice: If talking jogs your memory, use conversation mode in ChatGPT, Claude, Google’s Gemini, or Microsoft’s CoPilot. Let the AI interview you about your favorite books or movies. Scan award lists: If you can’t think of favorites, check a list of Oscar-winning movies or book awards for reminders of what you’ve enjoyed. Criteria: Consider titles you often revisit or recommend. Include recent favorites and older resonant ones. Give extra weight to those that provoked emotion, changed your perspective, or prompted action. Ideally, note not just the title but one or more aspects of a work that particularly resonated. Prompt AI to analyze your list Once you’ve compiled your list, use your preferred AI tool to uncover patterns in your literary tastes. Prompt the AI assistant for insights to advance your self-understanding. After that, ask it to help you discover more books/movies you’ll love. Start by writing a detailed prompt to elicit a thorough, subtle analysis of your taste in books or movies. Here’s an example you can adopt or adapt: You are a perceptive literary critic and cultural analyst with deep knowledge of literature across genres and cultures. Carefully analyze the attached list of my favorite books for patterns. Think deeply about connections between titles and topics that might not be immediately apparent. Where you notice interesting patterns, explain your reasoning and cite specific examples. Please analyze this list of my favorite books. Create a detailed literary taste profile that identifies: Core Elements: Primary themes and topics Genre preferences and style patterns Narrative approaches and structure choices Character types and relationships Tone and emotional range »»»» Upload a file with your list or paste it. Which AI tool to use? ChatGPT 4o worked well for me in importing Google Docs and PDFs with my favorites. Its analysis and recommendations were nuanced and helpful. Limitation: Occasionally, it suggested authors who were already in my existing lists, despite being prompted not to. Claude Pro provided an excellent overview of the kinds of books I’ve selected for the book group I facilitate over the past eight years. It helped identify gaps in our reading list and offered useful suggestions for future titles. Limitation: Some documents I tried to import, like my Readwise reading highlights, were too large to fit in a Claude Project I created for my taste atlas. Gemini 2.0 Experimental Advanced, Google’s newest model, was an excellent voice partner in analyzing my current reading interests. Limitation: 2.0 couldn’t yet import documents, but Gemini 1.5 could. It helpfully analyzed the Google Doc with my complete Readwise Highlights archive. Use either free or premium AI tools for this analysis. For long book lists or extensive highlights, use a pro model for nuanced analysis. Expand your taste horizons Once an AI tool has analyzed your book or movie preferences, prompt it to suggest new authors and titles. Ask about specific connections between the titles you liked and its recommendations, so you understand the rationale. Cultural leaps: Ask AI to identify authors who write like your favorites but in different languages or cultures. What’s missing? Try a prompt about negative space — what authors, titles, topics or genres are missing from your favorites. What notable titles might stretch your literary horizons? Bridges to the past: Prompt your AI assistant to suggest “bridge authors” who influenced the writers you enjoy. This is most effective if the authors on your list are well-known. Cross media: Ask for documentaries and feature films that share traits with your favorite books. To push the AI further, ask for plays and songs. Next Steps Make it a project If you use ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro, start a dedicated project (learn more) to house your taste atlas. This lets you refine and expand your analysis over time. You can also create a Perplexity Space to combine AI search with analysis. Or make a Custom GPT or an AI Poe bot to share a group taste atlas with a class, a book group, or others who share an interest. NotebookLM (read more) is another great tool for analyzing collections of your favorite works in AI-powered notebooks. It accepts files of up to 50,000 words, up to 200mb, so it’s especially useful if you run into file size caps on other platforms. It’s also uniquely able to generate an audio summary piece about your favorites. (The video accompanying this piece has an excerpt of an audio piece generated with my reading highlights). Share for human insight Share your taste profile with a friend or librarian. They’ll spot patterns the AI missed or suggest unexpected connections. Expand to music and beyond Once you’ve mapped your reading and movie preferences, try a similar approach for your favorite music, art, food, and other interests. This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here. View the full article

In this article, we’ll show you how to create posters using the Canva Poster Maker. We’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to make the most of this free, powerful creative tool, as well as walk you through the creation process step-by-step. So if you’re looking for poster templates that can be used by individuals and small teams that will impress your friends and family, read on. Why You Should be Making Canva Posters If you’re familiar with Canva, you understand that it is a robust creative tool that enables individuals and small teams to craft and download eye-catching designs for social media. With its simple and intuitive design interface, even those with no prior graphic design experience can create a professional-quality poster, social media video, and other visuals in minutes. Here are four reasons why a business seeking an integrated tool for free should be making Canva posters: Canva is easy to use. Creating a design with Canva is as simple as drag-and-drop. The platform provides you with all the tools and resources you need to create a professional-looking poster, and its intuitive design interface makes the entire process easy. Canva is affordable. With its basic plan, which is free for all registered users, and inexpensive paid plans, Canva is an affordable option for those looking to create high-quality graphics without spending a lot of money on content. Canva has a huge selection of templates and resources. With an extensive library of templates and resources, Canva makes it simple to discover the ideal starting point for your poster design. Additionally, if you’re seeking further inspiration, the platform provides a variety of tutorials and guides to assist you in getting started. Canva is versatile. Beyond posters, Canva offers the ability to design a wide range of visuals, including social media posts, infographics, and presentations. Whatever type of graphic you require, you can likely find a template or resource in Canva that will assist you in creating it. What Size are Canva Posters? Canva is a great online design platform that has many different sizes for individuals and small teams to create posters and get custom prints. The main sizes include: Smallest (8.5×11 ) – Used for information desk areas, handouts, street posts, and A4 posters. Small (11×17) – This poster size is used for events, bulletin boards, promotions, and concerts. Medium (18×24) – This poster size is great for small ads, campaign posters, small displays, and celebrity posters. Large (24×36) – The large poster size is usually used for events, decorative imagery, small movie posters, concerts, outdoor ads, and outdoor venue posters. How to Create a Canva Poster: A Step-by-Step Guide Creating a poster in Canva is easy and fun for any person or business seeking an integrated tool that’s free for all registered users. You can create a poster for free, or you can upgrade to a paid account for more features. Canva Pro is free during the 30-day trial. Let’s discuss how to create a Canva poster step-by-step: Step 1: Login and Navigate to Poster Templates After logging into your account, move your mouse pointer to “Templates” and select “Posters.” Step 2: Choose a Template When you find a template you’d like to use and customize for your audience, click on it, then click the “Customize this template” button. Step 3: Modify Images To remove any images from your design, simply click on them and hit delete or backspace on your keyboard. You can grab new images for your design from the “Elements,” “Photos,” and “Uploads” sections. You can also modify the background color and image. Step 4: Change Fonts You can change the letter styles of your design using Canva fonts. To do this, click on the words you want to change, click the font box, then select the font you’d like to use. Step 5: Download Your Poster Download your poster by clicking on “Share,” then “Download.” Make sure your settings are to your liking, then click the “Download” button to save your design to your computer. How to Print a Poster from Canva Now that you have your perfectly designed poster, it’s time to order custom prints. Step 6: Time to Print Your Poster Click “Print Posters” at the top right corner of your screen. Step 7: Select the Size and Number of Copies Select the size poster you want to be printed and the number of copies, then click “Continue.” Step 8: Avoid White or Unprinted Edges To avoid any white or unprinted edges, you may need to stretch your background as described in the screenshot above. When that’s done, click “Continue.” Step 9: Stay Out of the Danger Zone Prevent any images or text from being cut off by keeping them out of the danger zone. Click “Continue” when you’re ready to move on. Step 10: Check for Mistakes and Download Proof Check to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in your poster design. Then, download your PDF proof and click “Continue.” Step 11: Enter Shipping Details Enter your address information and select your shipping speed. At this stage, your design is locked, and you will not be able to make any changes. Step 12: Place Your Order After verifying that your order details are accurate, click “Place Order.” If you have a credit card saved on file, it will be used for your order. If not, you can input your credit card information. Best Canva Poster Templates Canva is great for creating high-quality graphics and images to use in your advertising content such as a social media video. Posters don’t come in frames, but Canva does offer other prints that do. Pink Job Vacancy Creative Agency Poster This is an 18×24 poster template designed by Chanut Industries, which is perfect for any business looking to hire. Red and White World Blood Donor Day Poster Sun Flower’s Team brings us the 18×24 template that’s perfect for blood drives and charities. Multicolor Cheerful Watercolor Happy Birthday Poster Irene Kras designed a beautiful poster template that’s perfect for event planning businesses. Coffee Shop Poster This simple yet elegant design hexagon-studio is ideal for a coffee shop, cafe, or diner. Modern House For Sale Poster This template, brought to us by waves flow, is great for the real estate industry. Examples of Canva Posters Here are five excellent examples of posters that were designed using Canva: Savannah Music Festival Poster Here’s a poster designed by Brian Stauffer where he used soft springtime colors I’m Having a Garage Sale with Screen Printed Posters! Allen Peters created a stunning design featuring a bold background composed of solid color blocks. AlphaBet Food Poster Kittaya Treseangrat brings us this food-inspired poster that includes clean, simple fonts. Annual Typography Event Poster This poster, by Will Miller, is a creative design he created to promote an annual typography event. Melbourne Food & Wine poster Kaushik Design made this creative design for a food and wine festival. Can you make large posters on Canva? Yes! Individuals and small teams can make large posters in Canva. A large poster is perfect for events, decorative imagery, and small movie posters. It can also be used in concert or outdoor advertising campaigns to advertise an upcoming show at your local venue! Can you download a poster for free in Canva? Yes, individuals and small teams can create and download designs for free in Canva. However, the quality of the poster may not be as high as if you were to pay for a subscription. With a subscription, your business gains access to additional features and higher-quality images. Fortunately, Canva Pro is available for free for 30 days. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Use the Canva Poster Maker" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In this article, we’ll show you how to create posters using the Canva Poster Maker. We’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to make the most of this free, powerful creative tool, as well as walk you through the creation process step-by-step. So if you’re looking for poster templates that can be used by individuals and small teams that will impress your friends and family, read on. Why You Should be Making Canva Posters If you’re familiar with Canva, you understand that it is a robust creative tool that enables individuals and small teams to craft and download eye-catching designs for social media. With its simple and intuitive design interface, even those with no prior graphic design experience can create a professional-quality poster, social media video, and other visuals in minutes. Here are four reasons why a business seeking an integrated tool for free should be making Canva posters: Canva is easy to use. Creating a design with Canva is as simple as drag-and-drop. The platform provides you with all the tools and resources you need to create a professional-looking poster, and its intuitive design interface makes the entire process easy. Canva is affordable. With its basic plan, which is free for all registered users, and inexpensive paid plans, Canva is an affordable option for those looking to create high-quality graphics without spending a lot of money on content. Canva has a huge selection of templates and resources. With an extensive library of templates and resources, Canva makes it simple to discover the ideal starting point for your poster design. Additionally, if you’re seeking further inspiration, the platform provides a variety of tutorials and guides to assist you in getting started. Canva is versatile. Beyond posters, Canva offers the ability to design a wide range of visuals, including social media posts, infographics, and presentations. Whatever type of graphic you require, you can likely find a template or resource in Canva that will assist you in creating it. What Size are Canva Posters? Canva is a great online design platform that has many different sizes for individuals and small teams to create posters and get custom prints. The main sizes include: Smallest (8.5×11 ) – Used for information desk areas, handouts, street posts, and A4 posters. Small (11×17) – This poster size is used for events, bulletin boards, promotions, and concerts. Medium (18×24) – This poster size is great for small ads, campaign posters, small displays, and celebrity posters. Large (24×36) – The large poster size is usually used for events, decorative imagery, small movie posters, concerts, outdoor ads, and outdoor venue posters. How to Create a Canva Poster: A Step-by-Step Guide Creating a poster in Canva is easy and fun for any person or business seeking an integrated tool that’s free for all registered users. You can create a poster for free, or you can upgrade to a paid account for more features. Canva Pro is free during the 30-day trial. Let’s discuss how to create a Canva poster step-by-step: Step 1: Login and Navigate to Poster Templates After logging into your account, move your mouse pointer to “Templates” and select “Posters.” Step 2: Choose a Template When you find a template you’d like to use and customize for your audience, click on it, then click the “Customize this template” button. Step 3: Modify Images To remove any images from your design, simply click on them and hit delete or backspace on your keyboard. You can grab new images for your design from the “Elements,” “Photos,” and “Uploads” sections. You can also modify the background color and image. Step 4: Change Fonts You can change the letter styles of your design using Canva fonts. To do this, click on the words you want to change, click the font box, then select the font you’d like to use. Step 5: Download Your Poster Download your poster by clicking on “Share,” then “Download.” Make sure your settings are to your liking, then click the “Download” button to save your design to your computer. How to Print a Poster from Canva Now that you have your perfectly designed poster, it’s time to order custom prints. Step 6: Time to Print Your Poster Click “Print Posters” at the top right corner of your screen. Step 7: Select the Size and Number of Copies Select the size poster you want to be printed and the number of copies, then click “Continue.” Step 8: Avoid White or Unprinted Edges To avoid any white or unprinted edges, you may need to stretch your background as described in the screenshot above. When that’s done, click “Continue.” Step 9: Stay Out of the Danger Zone Prevent any images or text from being cut off by keeping them out of the danger zone. Click “Continue” when you’re ready to move on. Step 10: Check for Mistakes and Download Proof Check to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in your poster design. Then, download your PDF proof and click “Continue.” Step 11: Enter Shipping Details Enter your address information and select your shipping speed. At this stage, your design is locked, and you will not be able to make any changes. Step 12: Place Your Order After verifying that your order details are accurate, click “Place Order.” If you have a credit card saved on file, it will be used for your order. If not, you can input your credit card information. Best Canva Poster Templates Canva is great for creating high-quality graphics and images to use in your advertising content such as a social media video. Posters don’t come in frames, but Canva does offer other prints that do. Pink Job Vacancy Creative Agency Poster This is an 18×24 poster template designed by Chanut Industries, which is perfect for any business looking to hire. Red and White World Blood Donor Day Poster Sun Flower’s Team brings us the 18×24 template that’s perfect for blood drives and charities. Multicolor Cheerful Watercolor Happy Birthday Poster Irene Kras designed a beautiful poster template that’s perfect for event planning businesses. Coffee Shop Poster This simple yet elegant design hexagon-studio is ideal for a coffee shop, cafe, or diner. Modern House For Sale Poster This template, brought to us by waves flow, is great for the real estate industry. Examples of Canva Posters Here are five excellent examples of posters that were designed using Canva: Savannah Music Festival Poster Here’s a poster designed by Brian Stauffer where he used soft springtime colors I’m Having a Garage Sale with Screen Printed Posters! Allen Peters created a stunning design featuring a bold background composed of solid color blocks. AlphaBet Food Poster Kittaya Treseangrat brings us this food-inspired poster that includes clean, simple fonts. Annual Typography Event Poster This poster, by Will Miller, is a creative design he created to promote an annual typography event. Melbourne Food & Wine poster Kaushik Design made this creative design for a food and wine festival. Can you make large posters on Canva? Yes! Individuals and small teams can make large posters in Canva. A large poster is perfect for events, decorative imagery, and small movie posters. It can also be used in concert or outdoor advertising campaigns to advertise an upcoming show at your local venue! Can you download a poster for free in Canva? Yes, individuals and small teams can create and download designs for free in Canva. However, the quality of the poster may not be as high as if you were to pay for a subscription. With a subscription, your business gains access to additional features and higher-quality images. Fortunately, Canva Pro is available for free for 30 days. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Use the Canva Poster Maker" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Presidents’ Day always falls on the third Monday of February, which, this year, is February 17. At the federal government level, the holiday is called Washington’s Birthday, which was its original name and which used to be celebrated on February 22, George Washington’s actual birthday. But in 1971, Congress enacted the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, providing federal workers and others with three-day weekends, and Washington’s Bday observance got swept up with that. The idea behind the holiday’s new name was to create a day that paid tribute to the office of the presidency. For many Americans, Presidents’ Day is a long weekend and an opportunity for holiday shopping deals—this year, however, massive nationwide demonstrations are scheduled under the rubric, “Not My President’s Day” in protest of the Trump administration’s alarming power grab and attempts to overhaul the federal government. The demonstrations are organized by the #50501 Movement—50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement—”fighting to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach” and protest “the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies” (Elon Musk, anyone?). The idea for the movement’s name came from the subreddit community, Reddit r/50501, and spread rapidly across social media. So far, #50501 has already pulled off more than 80 peaceful protests in all 50 states since Trump took office, according to the movement’s website. Information about where the nationwide protests and street marches are planned can be found here upon entering your city or state. Now, here’s a look at what’s open and closed on Monday, from the stock market to banks, supermarkets, and stores. Are financial markets open on Presidents’ Day? The Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, and U.S. bond markets are all closed. Will mail be delivered on Presidents’ Day? The U.S. Postal Service post offices will be closed and won’t be delivering regular mail or packages, though USPS priority mail will. However, UPS will be open for business as usual, while FedEx has modified service, so check for availability in your area. Are banks open on Presidents’ Day? Banks will be closed, but you should still be able to access your bank’s service online and via your local ATMs. Are schools open on Presidents’ Day? Public schools and most private schools will be closed for the federal holiday. Are restaurants and fast-food chains open on Presidents’ Day? Most major casual-dining and fast-food chains are open plus most sit-down restaurants—it’s a great shopping day, after all. That said, their hours may be reduced, so it’s always a good idea to call ahead or check individual websites. Are grocery stores open on Presidents’ Day? Most regional supermarket chains should be open, though some with reduced hours; ditto, your local grocery stores. Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Costco are all open. Are stores open on Presidents’ Day? This is a big day for retailers, with many having weekend-long sales. Looking for a little retail therapy? Walmart, Macy’s, West Elm, Nordstrom, Walmart, and Best Buy are having major sales, while Amazon has an entire section on its home page dedicated to its Presidents’ Day bargains. Are pharmacies open on Presidents’ Day? CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are all open, although they may have reduced hours of operation. Check your pharmacy’s website for more information. View the full article

For now, Priester’s will have to stick to its famous pecans in Fort Payne, Alabama. But maybe not for long. Priester’s Pecans, an Alabama staple, is one of more than half a dozen sites across the state slated to receive millions of dollars in federal funding to expand access to chargers for electric vehicles. Across the country, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law under then-President Joe Biden, is set to provide $5 billion to states for projects that expand the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. But in a Feb. 6 letter, a Trump administration official notified state directors of transportation that, effectively, they can’t spend it. The Federal Highway Administration rescinded guidance on the funds, which had been allocated by Congress, and “is also immediately suspending the approval of all State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plans for all fiscal years,” the letter said. “Therefore, effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new State plans are submitted and approved.” POLITICO reported on Wednesday that a DOT spokesman said in an email that states were free to use a small portion of the funding—about $400 million—because that was money the states had already “obligated,” or awarded to subcontractors. But that would still leave close to 90% of the funding up in the air. Even before the administration had issued its letter, some Republican-led states, including Alabama, had already announced pauses to their states’ implementation of the national EV charging program. “In response to Unleashing American Energy, one of several Executive Orders that President Trump signed on January 20, 2025, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has paused the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program as of January 28, 2025,” the Alabama agency responsible for implementing NEVI posted on its website. “In addition, for applications for funding that were originally due on March 17, 2025, ADECA has closed the application window until further notice.” Despite the announcement by the Trump administration, however, legal experts and those familiar with the electric charging program at issue say the president does not have the power to permanently nix the NEVI program. “NEVI funding was appropriated by Congress as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, and it cannot be canceled by the executive branch,” said Elizabeth Turnbull, director of policy and regulatory affairs at the Alliance for Transportation Electrification, a trade group for the electric vehicle industry. “It’s not clear that the secretary of transportation has the authority to revoke states’ NEVI plans, and it’s quite clear that the executive branch lacks the authority to withhold the funding for any sustained period. So, we expect recent executive branch actions to be successfully challenged in court.” Even under the most aggressive arguments for a strong executive branch, the Supreme Court has stated clearly that the Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to appropriate and legislate. Lawmakers, too, have weighed in on the legality of the Trump administration’s NEVI directive, saying officials acted with “blatant disregard for the law.” In a letter to administration officials, Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works urged the Department of Transportation to retract its Feb. 6 letter and “implement the law according to your responsibilities.” The Democrats’ letter also asked for responses to questions about the legal basis for the action and for information about the involvement of individuals associated with Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency.” DOGE is not an official department, and multiple reports show that Musk’s team has been dismantling parts or all of some federal agencies. Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, currently has the largest network of fast chargers in the country. It’s not yet clear if any new policies on NEVI, or the pause on building out a more robust network for all EV drivers, could benefit Tesla. The Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration’s parent agency, did not respond to a request for comment. With or without NEVI, the move toward the electrification of transportation is inevitable, experts say. But they warn that although the administration’s pause of the program will likely be reversed by the courts, even a temporary delay in EV charging infrastructure can harm the nation’s ability to quickly and efficiently transition to electric vehicles. And the Trump administration ignored an earlier court order to lift a broad freeze on federal funds, a federal judge ruled this week. Meanwhile, Trump’s NEVI freeze has sown confusion across the country, with EV stakeholders and state governments scrambling to figure out what the funding pause will mean and how to respond. Beyond Alabama, interviews across the country found officials in deep red Wyoming contemplating a possible return of funds, while those in progressive states like Illinois and Maryland remain firmly committed to the EV buildout, with or without federal funding. In purple North Carolina, officials are in limbo, having already spent some NEVI funds, but not sure how to proceed with the next round of projects. Alabama In Alabama, officials had already announced plans to fund more than a dozen chargers at sites across the state along interstates and major highways, including installing two dual-port chargers at eight Love’s Travel Stops and another at Priester’s Pecans off I-65 in Fort Deposit. At the time, state officials, including Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, praised the funding. “Having strategic electric vehicle charging stations across Alabama not only benefits EV drivers, but it also benefits those companies that produce electric vehicles, including many of them right here in Alabama, resulting in more high-paying jobs for Alabamians,” Ivey said when the funding allocation was announced in July 2024. “This latest round of projects will provide added assurance that Alabamians and travelers to our state who choose electric vehicles can travel those highways and know a charging station is within a reliable distance on their routes.” In total, Alabama was set to receive $79 million in funding through the program, including $2.4 million to expand training programs for the installation, testing, operation and maintenance of EVs and EV chargers at Bevill State Community College in the central part of the state. The college did not respond to a request for comment on whether the money had been disbursed to the institution before the announced pause. [Chart: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News] In an email exchange this week, a spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs confirmed what the agency had posted to its website in the wake of Trump’s inauguration—that the state would pause NEVI projects and await further guidance from the Trump administration. Even with a pause, however, stakeholders in Alabama and across the country have expressed a commitment to continuing the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For its part, Love’s Travel Stops, a 42-state chain that had been set to receive more than $5.8 million in funding for EV chargers in Alabama alone, said it will continue to roll out electric chargers at locations nationwide. “Love’s remains committed to meeting customers’ needs regardless of fuel type and believes a robust electric vehicle charging network is a part of that,” Kim Okafor, general manager of zero emissions for Love's, said in an emailed statement. “Love’s will continue to monitor related executive orders and subsequent changes in law to determine the next steps. This includes the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Electric Vehicle charging plan timelines.” The state of Alabama, meanwhile, has its own EV charger program apart from NEVI that has already funded millions of dollars worth of charging infrastructure. In January, even after its announced pause of NEVI implementation, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs announced the awarding of six grants totaling $2.26 million from state funds for the construction of EV chargers in Huntsville, Hoover, Tuscaloosa and Mobile. “The installation of electric vehicle charging stations at places like hotels are investments that can attract customers and add to local economies,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said at the time. North Carolina In North Carolina, the full buildout of the state’s electric charging network under NEVI is in limbo just four months after the N.C. Department of Transportation announced the initial recipients of the funds. N.C. DOT spokesman Jamie Kritzer said that based on the federal government’s directive, the agency is continuing with awarded projects but “pausing” the next round of requests for proposals, as well as future phases of the buildout. If that pause were to become permanent, the state would be forced to abandon $103 million in federal infrastructure money that would have paid for an additional 41 stations to be built as part of Phase 1. Last September the state announced it had awarded nearly $6 million to six companies to build nine public charging stations. Locations include shopping centers, travel plazas and restaurants, most of them in economically disadvantaged communities. NEVI requires EV charging stations in the first phase to be installed every 50 miles along the federally approved alternative fuel corridors, and that they be within one mile of those routes. The state has also prioritized Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations, which can charge a vehicle to 80% in 20 to 30 minutes. The NEVI program is structured to reimburse private companies for up to 80% of the cost to construct and operate electric vehicle charging stations for five years, after which the charging stations will continue to operate without government support, according to the state DOT. The state estimated it would have taken two to three years to finish Phase 1. Under Phase 2, the state would award federal funds to build community-level electric vehicle charging stations, farther from the major highways, including in disadvantaged communities. That is particularly important in North Carolina, which has the second-largest rural population in the U.S. in terms of percentage. A third of the state’s residents live in rural areas, which are underserved by electric vehicle charging stations. There are already more than 1,700 public electric charging stations and 4,850 ports in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center. But they aren’t evenly dispersed throughout the state. Alleghany and Ashe counties, in the western mountains, have just one charging station each. [Chart: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News] Vickie Atkinson, who lives in the country between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro in central North Carolina, drives a plug-in hybrid Ford Escape, which is powered by an electric engine or gas, unlike full electric models, which have no gas option. Plug-in hybrids typically have fully electric ranges of 35 to 40 miles. “I try to drive on battery whenever possible,” Atkinson said. But she’s frustrated that she can’t drive from her home to downtown Siler City and back—a 60-mile round trip—without resorting to the gas engine. There are two chargers on the outskirts along U.S. 64—only one of them is a fast charger—but none downtown. “I really hope the chargers are installed,” Atkinson said. “I fear they won’t and I find that very frustrating.” Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, advocated for wider adoption of electric vehicles and infrastructure. In a 2018 executive order, Cooper established a benchmark of 80,000 registered zero-emission vehicles in the state by 2025. North Carolina met that goal. State DOT registration data shows there were 81,658 electric vehicles and 24,457 plug-in hybrids as of September, the latest figures available. Cooper issued a subsequent executive order in 2022 that set a more aggressive goal: 1.2 million registered electric vehicles by 2030. At the current pace of electric vehicle adoption, it’s unlikely the state will achieve that benchmark. The electric vehicle industry is an economic driver in North Carolina. Toyota just opened a $13.9 billion battery plant in the small town of Liberty and says it will create about 5,100 new jobs. The company is scheduled to begin shipping batteries in April. Natron Energy is building a plant in Edgecombe County, east of Raleigh, to manufacture sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Experts say they are cheaper and environmentally superior to lithium-ion batteries and less likely to catch fire, although they store less energy. The global company Kempower opened its first North American factory in Durham, where it builds charging infrastructure. Jed Routh, its vice president of markets and products for North America, said that while “the rapidly shifting market is difficult to forecast and interest in electric vehicles may slow at times over the next four years, we don’t expect it to go away. We believe that the industry will remain strong and Kempower remains committed to define, produce, and improve EV charging infrastructure throughout North America.” North Carolina does have a separate funding source for electric charging stations that is protected from the Trump administration’s program cuts and cancellations. The state received $92 million from Volkswagen, part of the EPA’s multi-billion-dollar national settlement in 2016 with the car company, which had installed software in some of its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. The Department of Environmental Quality used the settlement money to pay for 994 EV charging ports at 318 sites in North Carolina. The agency expects to add more charging stations with $1.8 million in unspent settlement funds. Electrify America was created by the Volkswagen Group of America to implement a $2 billion portion of the settlement. It required the car company to invest in electric charging infrastructure and in the promotion of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Electrify America operates 20 charging NEVI-compliant, high-speed stations in North Carolina, using the settlement money. However, the funding pause could affect the company because it works with potential site developers and small businesses to comply with the NEVI requirements. The company is still reviewing the details in the federal memo, company spokeswoman Tara Geiger said. “Electrify America continues to engage with stakeholders to understand developments impacting the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program,” Geiger wrote in an email. “We remain committed to growing our coast-to-coast Hyper-Fast network to support transportation electrification.” Wyoming In Wyoming, Doug McGee, a state Department of Transportation spokesperson, said the agency is taking a wait and see approach to NEVI moving forward, and is not ruling out a return of funding. About half a dozen people at the department handle NEVI along with other daily responsibilities, McGee said, and it will be easy for them to put NEVI on hold while they await further instruction. The department was in the process of soliciting proposals for EV charging stations and has not yet spent any money under NEVI. “There was very little to pause,” McGee said. Across 6,800 miles of highway in Wyoming, there are 110 public EV charging stations, making the state’s EV infrastructure the third-smallest in the country, ahead of charging networks in only North Dakota and Alaska. Illinois More progressive states, including Illinois, have explicitly said they will redouble their efforts to support the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in the wake of the Trump administration’s NEVI pause. The state of Illinois has said it remains committed to the goal of helping consumers and the public sector transition to EVs in 2025 through state funding sources, even if some NEVI projects are halted. Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd), the largest electric utility in Illinois and the primary electric provider in Chicago, also announced a $100 million rebate program on Feb. 6 at the Chicago Auto Show, funds that are currently available to boost EV adoption throughout the state. The funds are for residential EV charger and installation costs, all-electric fleet vehicles and charging infrastructure in both the public and private sectors. According to Cristina Botero, senior manager for beneficial electrification at ComEd, the rebate is part of a total investment of $231 million from ComEd as part of its Beneficial Electrification plan programs to promote electrification and EV adoption. While the $231 million won’t be impacted by the Trump administration’s order, other EV projects funded by NEVI are halted. In 2022, for example, $148 million from NEVI was set to be disbursed in Illinois over the course of five years, focusing on Direct Current Fast Charging to fulfill the requirement to build charging stations every 50 miles, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. “We are still in the process of reviewing the impacts of last week’s order and evaluating next steps going forward,” said Maria Castaneda, spokesperson at IDOT, in an emailed statement. The NEVI funds were also set to help achieve Gov.r J.B. Pritzker’s goal to have 1 million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. Officials estimated that at least 10,000 EV charging stations are needed in order to achieve this 2030 goal. Last fall, there were 1,200 charging stations open to the public. In January, Illinois was awarded federal funds totaling $114 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build 14 truck charging hubs, adding to the statewide charging infrastructure. According to Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs for the Respiratory Health Association, most of that funding is either frozen or at risk. However, programs like the recent ComEd rebate will not be impacted. “This is at the state level and not dictated by federal policy,” Botero said. Maryland In Maryland, state officials are trying to assess the fallout and find alternative ways to keep EV infrastructure efforts alive. The outcome hinges on new federal guidance and potential legal battles over the suspension. Maryland is allocated $63 million over five years under NEVI. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) launched the first $12.1 million round last summer to build 126 fast-charging ports at 22 sites across many of the state’s counties. At least some are expected to be operational by late 2025. In December, MDOT issued a new call for proposals for building up to 29 additional highway charging stations, expecting stable federal support. At the time, senior MDOT officials told Inside Climate News they were confident in the program’s security since it was authorized under law. But Trump’s funding pause has upended those plans. “The Maryland Department of Transportation is moving forward with its obligated NEVI funding and is awaiting new guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation to advance future funding rounds,” said Carter Elliott, a spokesperson for Gov. Wes Moore, in an emailed statement. The Moore administration reaffirmed its commitment to EV expansion, calling charging essential to reducing consumer costs and cutting climate pollution. “Gov. Moore is committed to making the state more competitive by pressing forward with the administration’s strategy to deliver charging infrastructure for clean cars to drivers across the state,” the statement added. In written comments, an MDOT spokesperson said the agency is determining its options for future funding needs and solicitations. Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All program, said that freezing the EV charging funds was an unsound and illegal move by the Trump administration. “This is an attack on bipartisan funding that Congress approved years ago and is driving investment and innovation in every state,” she said. She said that the NEVI program is helping the U.S. build out the infrastructure needed to support the transition to vehicles that don’t pollute the air. The Sierra Club’s Josh Stebbins lamented the slow pace of the EV charger buildout across the state. “We are not sure when Maryland's NEVI chargers will be operational,” he said. “States must move faster and accelerate the installation of NEVI stations. It has been frustratingly slow and the public needs to see a return on its investment.” Maryland EV ambitions are high stakes. Transportation remains the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and public officials and advocates see EV adoption as critical to meet its net-zero carbon goal by 2045. NEVI is also a key plank of the state’s broader Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Planning initiative, designed to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. What Happens Next for EV charging As litigation is brought over the Trump administration’s pause on NEVI funds, experts like Turnbull of the Alliance for Transportation Electrification believe the United States remains, despite this bump, on the road toward electrification. “We are not shifting into reverse,” Turnbull said. “The EV market will continue to grow across all market segments driven by market innovation and consumer demand, both within the United States and globally. By pretending the EV transition doesn’t exist, this administration risks the U.S.’ global competitiveness, national security and economic growth.” By Lee Hedgepeth, Aman Azhar, Jake Bolster, Lisa Sorg, and Sarah Mattalian View the full article

Trump has asked European governments to boost their defence budgetsView the full article

You’ve probably heard that people don’t leave their job, they leave their manager. It’s a popular saying because it’s often true. Having a toxic boss, however, is different than having one you simply don’t like. If your boss is toxic, you need to take steps to protect yourself. But if it’s simply a matter of personalities not jiving, slow your job-search roll, suggests Stephanie Chung, author of Ally Leadership, How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You. “There are people in your family you probably don’t like,” she says. “But if you like your company, you like your colleagues, you like how much money you’re making, you like your benefits, and the only thing you don’t like is your boss, then you really shouldn’t just jump to another role or another job. . . . Look at the entire totality of your situation and then decide if you should stay or not.” Fortunately, you don’t have to like your boss to grow in your career. Start by getting to the bottom of your dislike. “You don’t just naturally not like somebody,” says Chung. “Go a little bit deeper to figure out why you don’t like them. Maybe there’s something about them that reminds you of something or someone else. Usually, it’s that you come from different perspectives, different backgrounds, different upbringings, and therefore have different viewpoints. If you’re bothered by everybody that’s different than you, you’re going to spend too much time hopping around.” Focus on What’s Important Even if you don’t like your boss, you still need to perform well at work. “Is this person hindering you from being able to do your job?” asks Chung. “If the answer is ‘no,’ and you just have different personalities or different communication styles, you can still get the job done.” When you don’t like someone, the common response is to ignore them and talk to everyone but them. Chung says this is a mistake. Employees have a responsibility in creating a positive work environment. “People find comfort in complaining to their colleagues,” she says. “It’s easy to point fingers. To say, ‘The boss doesn’t know what they’re doing. This is a stupid process.’ I’m looking for the worker who says, ‘I don’t think this makes sense, but instead of talking to April, May, and June about it, I’m going to actually go to the boss and say, ‘I am not sure that I agree with the thought process here. From my perspective, it doesn’t look like it makes a lot of sense. Am I missing something?’” Often the root cause of not liking someone is lack of communication, miscommunication, or different styles of communication, says Chung, and the only way to fix that is to engage in more communication with them. “If you want to move up in your career, you don’t have to wait for your boss to make the first effort,” she says. “It is possible that there’s something that you are not doing correctly or as good as you may think. If you want to be that person who’s constantly moving up in their career, who has a brand that stands for itself in a powerful way, you’re going to have to own your stuff. Part of that in the workforce is being able to own the fact that maybe it is them and maybe it’s not. You play a part in your relationship, as well.” By going to your boss to work out your differences or to clarify what could be misunderstandings, you demonstrate that you care about the company and want to take ownership for your career. It’s managing up. “Employees who want to move up, want to be seen as people who are productive and can add value to the company,” says Chung. “How you do that is not being the person who’s sitting around complaining. It’s being the person who’s trying to help leadership and your colleagues solve the problem.” An ability to work with people you don’t like—people who are not like you—is an important skill to develop. Chung likens it to being on a sports team. “If everybody on the soccer team was a forward, you’d never win,” she says. “In the workplace, the same rules apply. There are different positions, different talents, different strengths, different weaknesses. Different perspectives ask different questions. When everybody gets along because we don’t have any disagreements, we’re all cookie cutters of each other. But that doesn’t help in business.” Leading diverse teams—people who don’t think alike, act alike, have a back same background—is quite challenging, says Chung. “The results are great, but there is a challenge to it because they’re so different. Real leaders [know] how to harness those differences in a powerful way that allows the team to be unstoppable and sets the company up to win.” The key is knowing that the leader doesn’t always have to be the one higher up on the org chart. View the full article

The Trump administration has installed Jeffrey Clark, a former high-ranking official in the first Trump administration, at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Clark had been indicted as part of the president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. View the full article

Whether you’re setting up a new Windows PC or looking to enhance your current setup, there are some life-changing apps you can grab for free that will transform how you use your computer. From screen grabbing to file searching to quick launching and more, these essential apps will supercharge your productivity—all for the low, low price of nothing. ShareX: Screen captures and then some Windows includes a basic screen-capture tool. Don’t settle for it, though: Get ShareX, which rivals even paid screen-grabbers. You can create custom-capture regions that remember your preferences, set up automatic uploads with instant-link copying, and configure workflows that process and organize your captures. While the capturing features work great on their own, it’s the mind-boggling number of post-capture features that set this gem apart. If you’re looking for a capture tool that does it all for nothing at all, this is it. Everything: File search that just works If Windows Search feels to you like it hasn’t evolved since the Clinton administration, Everything won’t leave you hanging. Instead of laboriously indexing entire files, Everything indexes just file and folder names, which means it can wrap its head around a clean Windows installation in about a second. Its powerful search syntax then helps you quickly find recent documents, filter by size to free up storage space, and create bookmarks for frequently searched folders. PowerToys: Microsoft’s best-kept secret Microsoft’s free PowerToys is a productivity suite that packs features that arguably should’ve been built into Windows from the start. FancyZones lets you create custom window layouts that snap into place. PowerRename handles bulk-file operations. Text Extractor grabs text from images or non-selectable. Mouse Without Borders lets you use a single mouse and keyboard on up to four computers. Those are just a few of the cavalcade of time-savers included with this excellent utility. If you haven’t already, get it installed and start reaping its benefits. AutoHotkey: Automate anything If you invest the time to learn how to use it, AutoHotkey will become the digital assistant you can’t believe you ever lived without. Create custom keyboard shortcuts for just about anything, auto-fill forms with frequently used text, or launch multiple programs with a single command. The real power lies in its ability to chain commands together. With a bit of creativity, you can automate entire workflows that used to take dozens of clicks. Flow Launcher: Get there faster Flow Launcher is a little window that delivers huge time savings. Open it with a customizable key combination, start typing, and let it handle the rest. Use it to quickly launch apps, control music, search the web, run system commands, and more—all without having to click your way through a bunch of menus and windows. It’s also got an excellent community-driven plugin ecosystem that lets you add features like password management, weather checking, and smart-home-device control. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Canceling a women’s group because of DEI concerns I’m a PhD student and it seems like my university is trying to cancel the Women in Computer Science networking group that I run. They’re going about it in a really weird way: rather than directly saying “this is illegal D.E.I.,” they’re trying to send us on a bureaucratic runaround to maintain the status quo of funding and booking rooms. We’re in New England, so I suspect it would be locally unpopular to bluntly state that they’re cancelling women’s groups due to D.E.I. How do I fight this? Just delay, delay, delay until this political storm blows over? Fight it head on? Go to the press? Go to your campus media, and possibly your local media. That’s outrageous. The only DEI that’s “illegal” is giving a preference to one demographic group over another; gathering to support a particular group or to discuss issues affecting them is not illegal, even under the new federal directives that have been issued. This is a crock. 2. Are minimum requirements really an absolute minimum? I’ve read your advice that it’s usually okay to apply if I meet about 80% of the qualifications for a job, but does the category of qualifications matter? When job postings split their criteria into “minimum” and “ideal,” is it fine to apply to jobs where I don’t (exactly) meet the “minimum”? For example, a job will say a candidate “must have (a) five years of experience working with Role; (b) three years of experience in Environment; (c) two years of experience doing Work; and (d) familiarity with This, That, and The Other.” And that “an ideal candidate” would also have qualities/experience (e-h). I’ll have (b-g) but (a) is iffy: say they want someone with five years experience working with C-level executives and I have five years with directors, or my relevant experience was 15 years ago in a job that isn’t on my resume because it’s otherwise completely unrelated to my current career. I have been applying anyway, addressing the discrepancy in the cover letter, but am I right to still apply? Yes. If you didn’t have anything near (a), then it wouldn’t make sense to apply since that’s listed as a minimum requirement. But your experience is close enough that it’s reasonable to throw your hat in the ring. It could turn out that they’re being absolute rigid about that requirement, but there’s frequently room for some flexibility of interpretation if you have all the other qualifications. You can’t really know from the outside whether that will be the case or not, but you’re close enough to it that if you’re interested, you should apply. Related: should I apply to jobs I’m not fully qualified for? 3. Taking sick leave for emotional upset I’m wondering your take on something I did a few years ago. I had something very upsetting happen in my personal life and was having a hard time focusing on work; I basically wanted to curl up and cry all day. I work remotely and had a light day — two meetings and no urgent to-dos. I went to both of the meetings but other than that didn’t do any work and used PTO to cover the hours. To me, this felt like the mental health equivalent of a bad cold. I could have powered through and worked a full day, and I would have if needed. But on that particular day I didn’t need to, so I chose to take it easy. (I was back to work the next day.) What do you think? That’s a completely legitimate use of a sick day. Mental health is part of your health! Related: what do I say when I’m calling in sick for a mental health day? 4. Can I just use the phonetic pronunciation of my name as my digital name? I have a name that’s pronounced differently from the typical pronunciation. Let’s say my name is Aron – pronounced like A-Ron, not like “Erin.” Coworkers call me A-Ron, until they see an email exchange with my name spelled Aron and now they call me “Erin.” Would it be okay if I changed my digital signature to A-Ron, so that people (coworkers and clients) will stop making their own assumptions about how to pronounce my name based on how it’s spelled? This is so frustrating to me, to have people who use to call me A-Ron, suddenly start calling me “Erin” because they saw my name in print. Does anyone care if my digital name is legally correct? Going a step further, what are the legalities when I am writing a contract? I assume that I would use the correct spelling of my name to sign. But would I place the phonetic spelling in the contract, so that people see it and continue to call me by the correct name? The phonetic pronunciation isn’t normally included in my business emails, but I do include it in my personal email account. It’s going to cause problems and confusion if you spell your name one way in emails but need it spelled a different way on official forms and contracts (or work travel arrangements that someone else makes for you, etc.). But the solution for work emails is the same solution you’re already using in personal emails: include a note with the phonetic pronunciation in your signature. So your sign-off would be: Aron Porcupine (pronunciation: A-ron) That’s not uncommon to do if you have a frequently-mispronounced name, and it should solve a lot of it. You’ll also need to be willing to correct people in the moment if they mispronounce it, though. 5. Can I accept a job offer on the spot? Can I accept a job right away if I’m sure I want it? The context: There is one university in town, and I’ve been fairly certain for several months now that (a) it’s the only place better than my current position regularly posting jobs and (2) I want to leave my current position. I’ve applied for several jobs at the university over the past year, interviewed for two before this one, and been a finalist for one, so I’ve already talked to HR about their benefits and PTO. The salary range is available online. I would have twice as much maternity leave. I already know I want the job. Assuming there are no surprises such as a lower salary than I expect, is there any reason I should delay and ask for a day or two to think it over? I am planning to negotiate salary right away if offered the job. If you already feel confident you want to accept, there are no surprises in the offer, and there are no additional questions you need answered before making up your mind, there’s no reason you can’t accept on the spot (or begin negotiations immediately)! A lot of people do that. View the full article

Chancellor may need to look at deeper spending cuts if fiscal watchdog revises productivity expectationsView the full article

EU Council president warns Moscow is ‘a global threat’ as European leaders prepare for Paris summitView the full article

Head of food retailer says he wants ministers to focus on planning reform and fixing Britain’s productivity problemsView the full article

The Chinese leader enjoys complete domination of party and state. But to maintain stability, he also needs to signal there is a succession processView the full article