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A travel blog is a great way to document your travels, share your experiences, and show the amazing destinations you’re visiting. Becoming a successful travel blogger is all about creating great content for users on a consistent basis. Once you establish a travel blog and a following, you can find ways to monetize it and grow your channel. Let’s go through how to start a travel blog and how to make money blogging. Starting a Travel Blog in 13 Simple Steps Starting your own travel blog isn’t as hard as it might seem. You can create a brand new blog in a few simple steps and optimize for Google search to increase your reach. We’ll go through some of the steps successful travel bloggers have taken to start their blogs and how you can create successful blogs. Step 1. Learn Everything You Can About Travel Blogging Before starting with a blog and blogging platform, establish a solid foundation for your blog by taking courses. You can take a travel blogging course specifically and general freelance writing courses, depending on the medium you choose for your travel blog. You might want to familiarize yourself with successful travel bloggers and understand their journey and the challenges they face. Their insights can give you a real-world perspective on what it’s like to be a travel blogger and the pitfalls to avoid. There’s also a wealth of written and video resources available online that can offer practical advice on starting a travel blog and making it successful. Step 2. Choose a Niche A general blog can get lost in the competition. What is the best way to differentiate? Choose a niche when creating your personal brand. The niche will depend on the types of trips and your interests, but some examples include solo travel, budget travel, luxury travel, off-the-beaten-path, and more for your travel blog theme. Once you’ve selected a niche, remain dedicated to it. Maintaining consistency in your content builds your authority in that specific area and can help you draw in a loyal audience. Keep in mind that it’s not about trying to please everyone; it’s about defining a unique space in the travel blogging realm and becoming an expert in that niche. Step 3. Look at Your Competition Once you’ve selected a niche, take a look at what other travel blogs are doing and how professional travel bloggers are building their following. Some things to note are how often they post, what kind of content seems to get them more engagement, and how they interact with followers on social media platforms. Understanding their content strategy, how they approach storytelling, and what kind of visuals they use can also provide you with inspiration and ideas for your own blog. It can also help you identify gaps in their content that you can fill, providing a unique offering that sets you apart from the competition. Step 4. Get the Necessary Tools There are many digital marketing tools that can help you become a successful blogger. Make sure to undertake search engine optimization for your posts using tools such as Yoast SEO to gain visibility. You can also use tools like Google Analytics to understand traffic on your own site and optimize accordingly. Google Analytics features detailed analytics, including clicks, bounce rates, and user behavior, to help you identify how users are interacting with your content. Tools such as Canva are useful for designing attractive graphics for your blog and social media channels. For email marketing, platforms like MailChimp can assist you in building an email list and distributing newsletters to your subscribers. Step 5. Choose a Web Hosting Provider There are many different hosting companies with various deals available, so take the time to select a hosting company for your website. Most travel blogs are created on a self-hosted WordPress account, making them easy to set up. Look for a hosting provider that you can use with the WordPress platform to make it easy to set up and host basic pages of your blog. Consider the uptime guarantee, speed, customer support, and scalability when choosing a web hosting provider. You want to ensure that as your blog grows, your hosting provider can accommodate that growth without compromising on performance. Step 6. Buy a Travel Blog Domain Once you’ve chosen a hosting provider, go through their hosting plan in detail. You should purchase an exclusive domain name and domain privacy protection for your travel website. Some may have offers if you buy hosting, so look for exclusive deals to gain a free domain name for your travel blog. Keep in mind that your domain name is part of your brand, so choose something that’s easy to remember, unique, and relevant to the content of your blog. A good domain name can contribute to your blog’s success by making it easier for people to find you online. Step 7. Create Your Travel Blog Once you have the domain and hosting set up, you’re ready to start. Install WordPress to make it easy to set up and maintain your first blog posts. A WordPress blog is easy to format and post. You can also find additional tools on the WordPress dashboard to enhance your blog by adding WordPress plugins. You can use free themes for your WordPress site or a premium theme that you purchase for website design. If you’re not comfortable setting up your WordPress theme, you can work with a cheap web developer to get the website up and running with a free theme. Familiarize yourself with the basics of web design and the user experience. Your blog should be easy to navigate, with a clear layout and intuitive menu structure. Keep in mind that your blog design should reflect your brand and make it easy for readers to find the information they’re looking for. Step 8. Organize Your Site Now that your site is designed, you should use the WordPress content management system to organize your content and make it easy for users to find content on your site. Look at other professional websites to see how other bloggers have set up their website sections. Ensure your site has essential pages such as an ‘About Me’ page, a ‘Contact’ page, and a ‘Disclaimer’ page. These pages help to build trust with your readers and also make it easier for brands and other bloggers to get in touch with you. Additionally, a well-organized site will help search engines to crawl your site more efficiently, improving your visibility in search engine results. Step 9. Write Your First Blog Post The next step is to start writing your first blog and posting it. You can talk about exclusive travel tips, your experiences in a country, or really anything that you’d like. Focus on making it valuable for users, and include information you wish you had known beforehand to give users an exclusive look at your travel. Remember to add a personal touch to your blog posts. Sharing your own experiences, thoughts, and insights can help to engage your readers and make your content stand out. Moreover, ensure that your content is well-researched and accurate. Providing valuable, reliable information will help you build credibility with your readers. Developing a Content Strategy for Your Travel Blog Creating a successful travel blog goes beyond simply sharing your travel adventures; it necessitates a carefully planned content strategy. Here are essential steps to help you develop one: Identify Your Unique Angle: Determine what makes your blog different. Are you focusing on budget travel, luxury escapes, or off-the-beaten-path adventures? Your unique angle will guide your content. Content Calendar Creation: Develop a content calendar to plan your posts. This can include destination guides, travel tips, personal stories, and photography showcases. Consistency is key in blogging, so decide how often you will post and stick to it. Engaging Content: Your content should not only inform but also engage your audience. Use storytelling techniques to bring your travels to life. Include personal anecdotes, tips, and beautiful imagery. Audience Interaction: Encourage audience interaction by ending posts with questions or prompts for comments. Engage with your readers by responding to comments and messages. Diversify Content Types: Experiment with different types of content like videos, podcasts, or infographics to see what resonates most with your audience. SEO Optimization: Incorporate SEO best practices to improve your blog’s visibility. Use relevant keywords and meta descriptions, and optimize your images. Step 10. Optimize Your Blog Post for SEO Making sure search engines can find your posts helps you gain more followers as that can help with making money. Add in relevant keywords based on what people are searching for in travel blogs and the destinations you’re writing for. Posting regularly and optimizing for SEO as much as possible will help you grow your travel blog exponentially. Along with optimizing your content, ensure you’re using alt tags for your images and that you have a responsive design for mobile users. This not only makes your blog more accessible to your readers, but it’s also a ranking factor for Google. Step 11. Publish Your Post After you’ve written the post, it’s time to publish it. You’ll need to preview the formatting to ensure it shows up on the website correctly and hit publish. You can find helpful articles on publishing the blog on a free WordPress website if you’re unsure how to. When you publish your post, make sure to include a compelling title and an interesting meta description. These elements are what potential readers will see in search engine results, and they can influence whether or not someone clicks through to read your post. Additionally, remember to double-check everything before hitting the publish button. Proofread your post for any grammar or spelling errors, and make sure all your links are working correctly. Step 12. Share on Social Media Now that the blog is up, it’s time to promote it! Word-of-mouth marketing helps increase social media coverage to drive more views and traffic to your business. You can promote the post within your own network on any social media platform to start with. Ask for feedback to gauge whether people can tell how much effort you put in and what users would like to see so you can improve moving forward. In addition to sharing your blog posts on your personal social media accounts, consider creating separate accounts for your blog. This can help you build a dedicated community of followers who are interested in your content. Remember to engage with your followers, reply to their comments, and encourage them to share your posts. Step 13. Grow Your Travel Blog After the first post is published and promoted, you’re on your way to becoming a seasoned travel blogger. A successful blog is all about ensuring that you’re posting consistently and that users find your content valuable (and tell you that!). Encourage users to leave comments, like posts, and ask questions to build your following. Once you start seeing engagement, you can seek opportunities for sponsored posts and affiliate marketing to become a successful owner of your blog. Finally, remember that growing a travel blog takes time and effort. Be patient, keep improving your skills, and don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. With dedication and a passion for travel, you can create a travel blog that stands out from the crowd. What is a Travel Blog? A travel blog is a website or online journal that documents the travels of one or more people. Travel blogs typically include travelogues, photographs, and videos, and they can be used to share travel tips, provide inspiration, or simply document the author’s personal experiences. Travel blogs have become increasingly popular in recent years as more and more people have turned to the internet to plan their travels. Travel blogs can be a valuable resource for travelers, as they can provide insights into different destinations, offer recommendations on where to stay and what to do, and help travelers connect with other travelers. There are many different types of travel blogs, and each blog has its own unique focus. Some travel blogs focus on a specific destination, while others focus on a particular type of travel, such as backpacking, luxury travel, or family travel. Some travel blogs are written by professional travel writers, while others are written by everyday travelers who share their experiences on a more personal level. No matter what their focus is, all travel blogs share one common goal: to inspire and inform readers about travel. Travel blogs can help people plan their next vacation, learn about new cultures, or simply dream about far-off places. Here are some of the benefits of starting a travel blog: Share your travel experiences with others. If you love to travel, a travel blog is a great way to share your experiences with others. You can write about your favorite places to visit, the best restaurants to eat at, and the hidden gems that you’ve found. Assist others in planning their trips. Your travel blog can serve as an invaluable resource for fellow travelers. Share your insights on accommodations, activities, and navigation. Additionally, you can help readers discover the best deals on flights and hotels. Make money from your blog. There are a number of ways to make money from your travel blog. You can sell advertising, promote affiliate products, or offer travel services. Build a community of travel enthusiasts. Your travel blog can be a great way to connect with other travel enthusiasts. You can share your experiences, ask questions, and get advice from other travelers. Starting a travel blog can be a lot of fun, and it can also be a great way to share your love of travel with others. Why You Should Start a Travel Blog Becoming a travel blogger is one of the best ways to share your experiences, and it has many benefits, such as: Monetization: As you grow your following, you can monetize your blog through different avenues earn money (which helps you travel more!), and create a profitable travel blog. Advice: You can share advice, helpful tips, and your experiences with others which can be beneficial for travel destination research. Memories: As you travel, you have a way to document your trips and preserve your adventures and memories online on your own blog. Connections: You can connect with other travelers online and offline by sharing your content on a serious travel blog so you can get advice, meet new people, and have new experiences wherever you go through a travel blogging community. Travel Blogging Tips Tips for Creating and Growing a Travel Blog Be youBe authentic and honest, build your unique brand CommunicatePost consistently and keep followers updated on your plans Maintain a social media presenceBe active on multiple platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok) Plan aheadCreate a content schedule to avoid feeling stuck Choose a nicheDecide on a specific focus for your travel blog Write great contentProvide well-written, informative, and helpful posts Use high-quality images and videosUse captivating and high-quality visual content Promote your blogShare on social media, submit to travel directories, guest blog Creating a successful travel blog is about consistency, value, and adding a unique voice to the mix. Here are some top tips to make your travel blog even better: Be you: You can look at other blogs to get a sense of people’s styles, but ultimately, users are coming for your perspective. So be authentic and honest rather than trying to go for someone else’s style and build your unique brand. Communicate: Posting consistently is a huge part of the blogging experience, but so is communication. Keep your followers updated on what you’re up to, what your plans are, and if there will be delays in the content. Maintain a social media presence: A social media presence across different platforms ensures that you reach users where they are and have a solid following. Don’t just stick to one platform. Try to vary content across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and even TikTok to reach new audiences. Plan ahead: It’s a lot of pressure to regularly create fresh content, which is why it’s crucial to plan and create a schedule. Even if it’s a loose plan, map out what you’d like to write about so you’re not feeling stuck for content. Choose a niche: What kind of travel blog do you want to create? Will you focus on a specific destination, type of travel, or travel style? Write great content: Your travel blog should be well-written and informative. Share your personal experiences, but also provide helpful tips and advice. Use high-quality images and videos: Images and videos can help to bring your travel blog to life. Make sure to use high-quality images that will capture the attention of your readers. Promote your blog: Once you’ve created your travel blog, you need to promote it so that people can find it. Share your blog posts on social media, submit them to travel directories, and guest blog on other travel websites. Monetization Strategies for Travel Bloggers Turning your travel blog into a profitable venture involves exploring various monetization strategies: Affiliate Marketing: Join affiliate programs where you earn a commission for products or services sold through links on your blog. Focus on affiliates that resonate with your travel niche. Sponsored Content: Collaborate with travel brands or tourism boards to create sponsored posts. Ensure you maintain transparency with your audience about sponsored content. Sell Digital Products: Create and sell digital products like travel guides, e-books, or online courses. Advertising: Utilize display advertising on your blog. Google AdSense is a popular platform, but there are others to consider as well. Freelance Writing: Offer your writing services to other publications or blogs. Use your blog as a portfolio to showcase your work. Photography Sales: Sell your travel photography as prints or digital downloads. Brand Partnerships: Develop long-term partnerships with brands that align with your travel style and audience. Membership or Subscription Models: Offer exclusive content, discounts, or other benefits to subscribers or members for a fee. Remember, it’s important to choose monetization strategies that align with your blog’s values and audience preferences to maintain trust and authenticity. How much does it cost to start a travel blog? The cost of starting a travel blog varies based on how much investment you’re willing to put in and how you set it up. Some of the main expenses include Website hosting and domain name Website development costs Social media marketing Travel blogging equipment, such as a camera and mic How do travel bloggers get paid? A professional travel blogger can make money in different ways, depending on the type of content and user engagement. Some of the ways travel bloggers can get paid include: Sponsored content: Collaborating with brands and destinations to develop sponsored content that meets specific requirements Affiliate marketing: Gaining a commission from products sold through the blog, including clothing, equipment, travel essentials Subscriptions: Creating exclusive content and rewards for users who pay a monthly subscription fee Is it worth starting a travel blog? If you travel a lot and want to share your experiences, a travel blog can be a fun way to accomplish that. You can document your trips and gain enough of a following to start making some income from it. Of course, how much time and money you get from it will depend on the level of time and investment you’re willing to put in, but it can be worthwhile. If you’re unsure whether a travel blog is right for you, you can start one and run it for just a year and see how much traction you get before fully committing to it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8LKwRAI-ut8 FAQs How do I start a travel blog? Starting a travel blog involves several steps including learning about travel blogging, choosing a niche, examining the competition, getting necessary digital tools, choosing a web hosting provider, buying a domain name, creating the blog, organizing your site, writing and optimizing your blog post for SEO, publishing your post, sharing it on social media, and growing your blog over time. What is a good niche for a travel blog? A good niche for a travel blog depends on your interests and experiences. Some popular niches include solo travel, budget travel, luxury travel, adventure travel, or focusing on a specific region or type of travel activity. How often should I post on my travel blog? As a general guideline, you should strive to publish new content at least once a week. This practice keeps your content up-to-date and encourages your readers to visit your blog more frequently. What digital tools do I need for my travel blog? Some digital tools that can help you manage and grow your travel blog include SEO tools like Yoast SEO, analytic tools like Google Analytics, and social media platforms for promoting your content. How do I choose a domain name for my travel blog? Your domain name should ideally represent the content and feel of your travel blog. It should be unique, easy to remember, and easy to type. How do I optimize my blog posts for SEO? To optimize your blog posts for SEO, make sure to include relevant keywords in your content, meta descriptions, and image alt texts. Also, make sure to provide high-quality, original content and ensure your site is fast and mobile-friendly. How can I grow my travel blog? Growing your travel blog involves consistently producing high-quality content, optimizing your posts for SEO, promoting your content on social media, and engaging with your readers. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Start a Travel Blog" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When disaster strikes, government emergency alert systems offer a simple promise: Residents will get information about nearby dangers and instructions to help them stay safe. As the deadly L.A. wildfires and other major emergencies have shown, alerts rely on a complicated chain of communication between first responders, government administrators, third-party companies, and the public. Sometimes, the chain breaks. After the wind-driven wildfires broke out in Southern California on January 7, evacuation orders for some neighborhoods—including the part of Altadena where the majority of deaths occurred—came long after houses were reported on fire. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County officials approved an outside review of how alerts functioned in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire in response to residents’ demands. City officials declined to answer AP’s questions about a lag in some Palisades Fire alerts, though Fire Capt. Branden Silverman said responding to a fire and determining evacuation needs can take some time. It’s an increasingly common issue: After-action reports and investigations revealed issues with alert systems in other California blazes: in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which killed 22 people in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in Paradise; the Woolsey fire, which started the same day and killed three in Malibu; as well as in Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes outside Denver; and in Hawaii’s 2023 Lahaina Fire, which decimated that historic town and killed 102. It could take months to know why some evacuation orders lagged in the Los Angeles fires. Several residents who lost homes in the Eaton Fire told The Associated Press they received no notifications about their neighborhoods. For others, the first warning was an urgent text message in the middle of the night. Susan Lee Streets, who signed up for the alert app Nixle, did not get any alerts specific to her west Altadena neighborhood before she and her family left of their own accord around 10 p.m. after losing power and cell reception. “If we had even been informed that houses and other structures were burning down, we would have known better what was happening,” she said. “We almost went to sleep that night with two kids and a dog and two cats in the house.” Only after 3 a.m. did an alert hit her phone. Destroyed along with the house are the Christmas ornaments she saved for her children, and countless other family keepsakes. “We lost everything, everything,” Streets said, breaking into tears. Tricia Wachtendorf, director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware, said alerts have to be specific and clear. Research has shown that for them to be effective, people have to hear, understand, believe, personalize and confirm them before they react. “Just because you send the message at 3 a.m. doesn’t mean someone is hearing it,” Wachtendorf said. The hours between midnight and 3:30 a.m. appear to have been particularly challenging for first responders in Los Angeles County, based on an AP review of scanner traffic recordings and data from CalFire, the state’s chief fire agency; the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA; and the Watch Duty app. Resources were stretched thin, and hurricane-force winds had grounded air support, limiting authorities’ ability to get a top-down perspective on the flames. Calls reporting burning homes were flooding in as embers blew onto roofs and yards. During one half-hour period, 17 new addresses were relayed to firefighters, even as some crews ran low on fuel. By 12:07 a.m., CalFire records show, dozens of neighborhoods had been ordered to evacuate because of the Eaton Fire, all of them east of Altadena’s North Lake Avenue. None of the neighborhoods to the west — where all of the 17 confirmed fatalities occurred, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times — had received evacuation warnings or orders, despite house fires being reported there more than an hour earlier. Over the next three hours, fire crews would go from begging for resources on the eastern flank of the blaze to radioing the command center to make sure it knew the fire was spreading west along the foothills near Sunset Ridge. Just before 3:30 a.m., evacuation orders expanded significantly, with residents in 12 areas of Altadena and elsewhere told to “leave now.” Jodi and Jeff Moreno first heard about the fire from a neighborhood app. But the first official warning only came around 2:30 a.m., when authorities yelled through a bullhorn to evacuate. The couple grabbed their three daughters, their dog and some important papers, and fled. There were no text alerts until after they were gone. “On the neighborhood apps, some people were going, some people were staying. It was a wide variety of responses. We were navigating it on our own,” Jodi Moreno said. “It’s hard for us to gauge where exactly is that fire, where are the embers blowing. … Those are things I would rely on people who are monitoring it” for information. Desperate for more information, both the Morenos and Streets downloaded the Watch Duty app, which maps evacuation zones and consolidates information from multiple sources into a single stream. Launched in 2021 and today covering 22 states, it became a lifeline for them. “The ideal system for warning people is informing them, right?” said Nick Russell, vice president for operations at Watch Duty. “There’s certainly diligence necessary in the execution of official evacuation warning and orders or shelter in place, whatever the condition might be,” he said. “But telling people why that discussion is taking place between law enforcement and fire is important. And that’s what we’re doing.” The process of issuing evacuation notices starts with firefighters or other personnel on the ground recommending action, Russell said. It then moves up the chain of command to sheriffs, who ultimately put out any order. During major emergencies that communication can be hampered by issues such as limited radio connectivity, wind noise or other technical problems. Incident command stations may have trouble synthesizing the large amounts of information they are getting from different agencies, something that is critical for understanding the scope of an emergency like a fire. In Los Angeles County, residents who sign up for emergency notifications through the AlertLACounty website are then directed to a list of 57 links to other specific neighborhood or city alert system signups, as well as a general one covering 19 other cities. The city of Los Angeles and the Sheriff’s Department also have alert systems. It is not clear how the overlapping systems, which use different software programs, work together, or whether officials coordinate. A 2024 Hazard Mitigation plan directed the city’s Emergency Management Department to assess gaps in alert and warning systems in areas with poor cellphone connectivity and then implement a solution to ensure alerts reach people. But that goal was given a “medium” priority level and a long-term timeline, with completion expected sometime in the next 10 years. Meanwhile the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, last updated in 2020, did not include a focus on emergency alerts or public notifications. Instead its high-priority goals had to do with educating people about wind’s impact on wildfire risk and with community wildfire protection. Officials at the County’s Coordinated Joint Information Center declined to comment other than to say that an independent review of evacuations and emergency notifications is planned and the Office of Emergency Management, County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department plan to fully engage with it. —Christopher L. Keller, Claudia Lauer, Amy Taxin and Rebecca Boone, Associated Press View the full article

If you're tired of how your Mac desktop looks, consider changing your app icons. It can be a fiddly process by default, but luckily, there are ways to make it easier. By using these methods, you can make your dock reflect your wallpaper's aesthetic, ensure that all app icons are the same size, or just replace ugly app icons with something better. Where to find Mac app icons Credit: Pranay Parab While you can easily find icons for various Mac apps with a quick web search, it's much easier to get them from a site dedicated to icons. One of my favorites is macOSicons.com, which lists over 25,000 alternative icons, meaning you should be able to find multiple options for popular apps with ease. Changing Mac app icons using the built-in methodmacOS allows you to change an app's icon manually, but it has one frustrating drawback. Getting started, however, is easy. First, download or create an alternate icon, then open Finder and go to the Applications folder in the left pane. Select any app and press Command-I to open an Info pane. Now drag-and-drop the new app icon into the top-left corner of the Info pane. This will replace the app icon for you. This method is fast and free, but annoyingly, your app will go back to using its default icon with every update. Using free apps to replace macOS icons Credit: Pranay Parab You can also use one of two free apps to replace macOS app icons for you. These are IconChamp and Pictogram. Both show you a list of your Mac's installed apps and let you manually pick an alternative icon. As much as I want to recommend these options, both apps haven't been updated for years, so they don't always work reliably. For instance, IconChamp has a premium tier that supposedly lets you pay a one-time fee that unlocks the ability to change system app icons. However, the purchase page for this tier doesn't load and there's no way to buy it at time of writing. These free apps might work in a pinch, but if you want a more robust solution to changing app icons, consider paying for a better alternative. A paid app that can change icons for you Credit: Pranay Parab That brings me to Replacicon, which costs $8 and is probably the best way to customize your Mac icons. Although $8 is steep for what is essentially a single-purpose app, Replacicon has a few features that may justify the cost for some people. The best one is that it installs a helper tool to monitor app updates and it retains your replaced icons even after apps are updated. This feature alone is enough to justify the purchase to those serious about macOS theming. Replacicon also has an easy-to-understand interface that provides a bunch of alternative app icons for each app installed on your Mac. Changing an app icon is as simple as clicking on one of the alternatives. To use an icon that's not listed as an alternative by default, you can also click the + button next to the list and choose one of three options: use a downloaded icon file, create an icon from any saved image on your Mac, and use Apple Intelligence to generate an app icon. All three options open a pop-up window, and once you've selected or generated an icon, the app will automatically add it to its list of icons and replace your existing icon for you. Not having to leave Replacicon to go looking for files is great, and it makes the process seamless. To make your list of apps more manageable, Replacicon provides two filters. One of these lets you view only the apps that are currently in the Dock, and another highlights only apps that have legacy icons—from the time when macOS icons used to be of different shapes and sizes. Nowadays, macOS icons have adopted an iOS-style uniform size with rounded corners, and you can use the legacy icon filter to spot the icons in need of uniformity with the rest of the Dock. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...View the full article

Welcome to our weekly Search Engine Land series, Everything you need to know about Google Ads in less than 3 minutes. Every Wednesday, I’m highlighting a different Google Ads feature, and what you need to know to get the best results from it – all in a quick 3-minute read. Today, we’re discussing exact match keywords – the intuitive and the not-so-intuitive facts you need to know about how keyword match types work today. I’ll cover: What are keywords? Keyword match types in Google Ads: Broad, Phrase, Exact The evolution of exact match keywords When to use exact match keywords The power of negative keywords What are keywords in Google Ads? Before we get into the specifics of exact match keywords, let’s recap what keywords are in the context of Google Ads. Keywords are the words or phrases you use in your ad account to tell Google when you want your ads to show up. Queries, on the other hand, are the things that real people type into the Google Search bar. When there’s a match between a user’s query and your keyword, you’re eligible to show a Search ad. Keyword match types in Google Ads: Broad, Phrase, Exact Your keyword isn’t the only thing that determines what kind of queries you can advertise on. Your keyword match type is how you communicate to Google how “tightly” or “loosely” you’d like the user’s query to match your keyword. Broad match keywords mean you want to advertise when the user’s query is related to your keyword. Phrase match keywords mean you want to advertise when the user’s query contains the meaning of your keyword. Exact match keywords mean you want to advertise when the user’s query has the same meaning as your keyword. If you don’t pick a match type, the default is broad match. The evolution of exact match keywords Did those definitions confuse you? In the past, exact match was exactly that: your ad would only show if the user’s query exactly matched your keyword. If they misspelled it, or used the plural instead of the singular, it would still match, but that was it. Google quietly tweaks match types around 2021, so all match types – including exact match – have become, shall we say, more flexible. Instead of the user’s query needing to exactly match your keyword, it now just needs to match the intent or meaning of your keyword. For example, let’s say you have the exact match keyword [tissue box] in your Google Search campaign. Back in 2019, if a user searched for “tissue boxes” then you would be eligible to show an ad, but if they searched for “Kleenex box” you would not. Now, if you have the exact match keyword [tissue box], you could match to queries like: Kleenex box Tissue box cover Toilet paper holder Square tissue box Wood Kleenex box cover These would all be considered “close variant” matches, and they would be marked as such on your search terms report. When to use exact match keywords You might be thinking, “Hold on, that doesn’t sound very exact!” And you’d be right. But this evolution of exact match isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Putting our optimistic hat on, the expanded exact match allows your ads to reach a wider audience searching for similar things to your keywords, while still giving you more control than broad or phrase match. Because of this, exact match keywords are a great fit for newer advertisers and advertisers with small budgets. While they don’t offer complete control, exact match keywords offer you the most possible control in Google Search campaigns. The power of negative keywords Even with exact match, you might find your ads showing up for queries that aren’t quite what you had in mind. That’s where negative keywords come in. These are words or phrases that tell Google when you don’t want your ad to show. For example, if you’re selling tissue boxes and notice your ad appearing for searches like “toilet paper holder,” you can add “toilet paper holder” as a negative keyword to prevent this from happening again. Match types apply for negative keywords, too. The exact match negative keyword [toilet paper holder] would only block searches that exactly match it; if someone searched for “bathroom paper holder,” you would still be eligible to serve an ad. I generally use phrase match negative keywords, and in this example, I would probably add “toilet” as a phrase match negative keyword, which would exclude all user queries that contain the word “toilet.” While match types have become a bit more nuanced over time, they remain one of the key levers you have for controlling your Google Ads targeting and maximizing your ad investment. Regardless of which keyword match type you choose, remember to use negative keywords strategically and keep a close eye on your search terms report to ensure your ads are reaching the right audience. View the full article

Google officially launched Meridian, its open-source marketing mix model designed to help marketers allocate budgets more effectively in a dynamic digital landscape. After rigorous testing with hundreds of brands worldwide, Meridian is now available to everyone, offering advanced customization and actionable insights, Google said. The move gives marketers and data scientists an open-source tool that could help them better understand how their marketing spending affects business outcomes, especially in today’s complex digital landscape. The big picture. Marketing mix models (MMMs) help companies measure marketing performance across channels, but traditional versions have struggled to accurately measure digital and AI-powered campaigns. Details: Meridian uses Bayesian causal inference to blend historical data with real-world results The tool will integrate with Google’s MMM Data Platform, providing access to core metrics like impressions and clicks Over 20 measurement partners have been certified to help companies implement the tool What they’re saying. “With Meridian, we now have much more confidence in our ability to measure the impact of our investments,” says Jennifer Snell, GM Marketing & Loyalty at Finder, which tested the tool before launch. Why we care. Traditional marketing mix models have struggled to accurately measure digital advertising (especially search) and often treat impressions too simplistically. Meridian addresses this by providing better measurement of performance channels, considering reach and frequency (not just raw impressions), and incorporating real experiment results to validate its findings. Being open-source, you can customize it to your needs rather than relying on black-box vendor solutions. Plus, the direct integration with Google’s data platform means more accurate and granular data for Google Ads campaigns. Key features: MMM Data Platform. Gain access to core MMM data for Google media, including new dimensions like Google Query volume, for deeper insights into paid search performance. Customizable framework. Meridian’s open-source structure offers complete transparency, allowing marketers to adapt the code and model parameters to their specific needs. Smarter budget allocation. Analyze campaign performance based on meaningful KPIs such as sales, website visits, and profit to run optimization scenarios. Enhanced reach and frequency metrics. Move beyond traditional impressions and account for reach and frequency, offering a clearer view of video investments’ impact. Experiment-driven insights. Integrate incrementality experiment results as priors for more accurate outcomes aligned with real-world business goals. How to get started: Download the code. Meridian is available on GitHub, providing immediate access to its robust modeling framework. Partner program. Certified partners such as Analytics Edge are ready to assist marketers in implementing Meridian and optimizing their investments. What’s next. Google plans to add new features and improve Meridian’s methodology in the coming months. Between the lines. This release comes as marketers face increasing pressure to justify their spending and measure results in a privacy-conscious way, especially as traditional tracking methods become less reliable. Dig deeper. Exploring Meridian, Google’s new open-source marketing mix model View the full article

Understand the significance of customer service in PPC strategies. Discover how it can influence customer loyalty and long-term business growth The post Why Alignment With Customer Service Is Crucial For PPC appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Real estate agents make from $20,000 to more than $100,000 annually. The wide range happens due to the wide variety in types of real estate agents. There are those who are just getting started and doing the work as a side gig. There are top performers who are working deals all their waking hours. Which one are you? The earning potential of a real estate agent is open-ended. If you don’t mind working long hours – including evenings and weekends – and like helping people, this is a great field for you. How do Realtors Get Paid? First, a couple of key definitions. A real estate agent can act as a buyer’s agent or a seller’s agent. A buyer’s agent represents the buyer. The seller’s agent (or listing agent) represents the seller. It’s possible that real estate agents can handle both ends of the transaction by bringing a buyer to a house the agent has listed for a seller. Realtors earn their income through commissions, typically divided equally between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent. In cases where the property is priced lower, the agents might receive a flat fee instead. For those just beginning their careers, it’s essential to understand that effectively marketing yourself is crucial for achieving long-term success. Stay updated with the latest real estate marketing tips to maintain a competitive edge. How Does Real Estate Commission Work? Real estate agents work under brokers. The broker is a real estate company. How does the commission work? A typical real estate agent commission fee might be 6%, which is 6% of the sales price. The 6% commission split is 3% for each agent (seller and buyer). Each real estate agent doesn’t get the entire 3%. Instead, the individual agent usually splits the 3% fee with the broker. The split is usually 50-50. Real estate agents may charge higher or lower commission percentage fees, depending on what is set by the real estate broker. Real estate agents usually are also paid a base salary. How to Make Money as a Real Estate Agent Most realtors handle residential properties. Some agents specialize in land and commercial property sales. Real estate commissions for land and residential sales range from 6 to 8 percent. Commissions on commercial sales may be higher. An agent earns a commission with each real estate transaction. How much you make depends on the land, commercial property, or home’s selling price. More sales lead to higher earnings. Whether you’re working with a single brokerage or one of the numerous real estate franchises, it’s essential to carefully examine the payment structures, as they can vary significantly from one firm to another. Here are some ways you can make money as a real estate agent: Listing Agent or Listing Broker The listing agent collaborates with the seller to establish a sales price for the property. They are responsible for gathering the necessary descriptions and images to post on real estate websites. Additionally, listing agents may provide recommendations on improvements that could facilitate the sale. After a listing agreement is signed, the agent posts the property to the real estate agency website and a multiple listing service. Buyer’s Agent Buyer’s agents engage with individuals looking for residential, land, or commercial properties. They attentively consider the buyer’s preferences and requirements. Following this, the agent strives to locate a property that aligns with the buyer’s needs. Additionally, most real estate agents connect buyers with businesses that provide necessary pre-sale inspections, including appraisals and tests for pest infestations, radon, and mold. Key Responsibilities Involved in Real Estate Transactions Agents coordinate appointments with sellers, buyers, and fellow agents. They manage various factors, including previously scheduled showings, homes that require tenant notifications, and even weather conditions. Most agents conduct open houses. Many real estate agents utilize these events for networking, allowing them to connect with a larger pool of potential buyers. Many agents ensure that the buyer is pre-qualified. The buyer approaches a bank or lending institution, submits their financial information, and determines how much money can be borrowed. Agents schedule showings. Often, showings take place after work hours and on weekends. To work in the field, you must be willing to work those hours. The buyer’s representative schedules and coordinates appraisals and inspections. Both agents earn their real estate agent commissions by overseeing the negotiations. They usually work from a “punch list” of sorts, taking care of needed items such as a home appraisal one by one as part of services rendered. The average real estate transaction takes at least one month at a minimum. Contracts are created and signed. Real estate taxes need to be calculated and prorated. Additionally, there are other taxes, filing fees, and attorney fees to consider. The seller is responsible for paying the commission. Both the seller and the buyer should receive an estimate of the closing costs prior to the closing date. The agent for the seller must update the property’s status as a pending sale. The vast majority of successful agents keep track of the flexible real estate market, paying attention to sales and doing market research. There are key differences between the average agents and super successful agents. As with other professions, the person who focuses on networking and building relationships in the community will earn the most money. How much do realtors make each year? After obtaining a real estate license, those new agents to the field most often work for a broker. They will earn a base salary plus a commission. There are several factors – such as the amount of the salary – but how much each person makes depends on how many transactions they negotiate. The statistics about average salary come from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. The lowest performers may be those who are dabbing in real estate part time as a way to make extra income. They may earn about $20,000 a year. Many real estate agents are high performers who earn $100,000 or more a year. The average real estate agent salary is $44,000. Where do realtors make the most money? Where do the highest earnings come from? This is closely related to the locations where the average home sale prices are the highest, based on labor statistics. Here are the 5 leading states: New York $103,907 Colorado $103,371 South Dakota $101.124 West Virginia $101,068 Washington $100,507 Image: Depositphotos This article, "How Much Money do Real Estate Agents Make?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The “influencer accent” is taking over TikTok. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, scroll through your FYP page and listen. British singer-songwriter Cassyette pointed out this trend in a recent TikTok video, calling out influencers for raising their tone at the end of sentences, almost as if they’re asking a question. In the video, which has been viewed 1.2 million times, she asked: “Guys, serious question, is it just me, or is there this new influencer voice that English influencers specifically use?” Mimicking the voice, she continued: “It sounds like I’m asking you a question, which might be really confusing, but I’m actually not. I’m just going up at the end of every sentence. Like, what is this voice?” American influencers have long been accused of adopting the influencer accent. One influencer, whose video racked up 5.1 million views, posted a clip back in 2023 with the caption, “the cadence of every bland influencer’s morning vlog.” “Gooduh. Morning. Yew. Guise,” she says in a drawn-out tone. However, a more recent video introduced a new variation that just dropped, not so much an accent as a speaking style that combines the traditional influencer voice with specific mouth movements. “It’s like a valley girl accent with vocal fry,” the creator says, “but also enunciating from the bottom of your mouth while mumbling.” Influencing linguistics The “influencer accent” isn’t new; it was around long before TikTok. Linguistic quirks have been emerging on platforms like YouTube and Instagram for over a decade. A few years ago, it was all about the YouTube voice: “Hey guys! Don’t forget to subscribe!” As Rebecca Jennings described for Vox, it was a style marked by “drawn-out dramatics” with a focus on pronunciation and phrasing. Now TikTok’s low barrier to entry has meant there are more influencers than ever, especially female creators. With more people jumping on the influencer bandwagon, “influencer speak” has evolved to the point where it is infiltrating our everyday lives. What exactly is it, though? To the untrained ear, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what defines the influencer accent. It includes ending sentences with a questioning tone, using vocal fry (where speech dips into a low, gravelly register), and uptalk, which involves raising the pitch at the end of sentences as though asking a question. While some may find it annoying, there is a reason behind it. Studies have shown that uptalk successfully grabs our attention, as it implicitly invites the listener to confirm that they are listening. As one creator explains, “Nobody actually talks like that. It’s a form of code-switching that influencers learn on this app because it keeps people watching their videos.” It’s also hardly suprising that everyone on TikTok sounds alike. On social media, conformity tends to be rewarded more than originality. However, if you catch yourself raising the pitch at the end of a sentence, maybe it’s time to take a break from scrolling. View the full article

Google launches Meridian, an open-source marketing tool using advanced modeling to optimize ad budgets and measure campaign effectiveness. The post Google Launches Open-Source “Meridian” Marketing Mix Model appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

All of the devices you own and every app running on those devices is eager for your attention, which can make it difficult to actually get anything done— and Windows is no different when it comes to regularly distracting you with pings and pop-ups. Leave the default notification settings in place, and it can get a bit overwhelming. Windows does give you plenty of control over how notifications work, though, including which apps and system events are allowed to bother you and when—there are even various Do Not Disturb options and modes you can take advantage of. Here's how to set Windows 11 notifications up to suit you. Notification settingsTo get started with notification management, head to Settings from the Start menu, then choose System > Notifications. Right away you'll see a Notifications toggle switch: Turn this off and you won't be bothered by any notifications at all. You can also click on the Notifications heading to choose whether or not these alerts come with sounds attached and appear on the lock screen. Further down the same screen you get a list of all the programs installed on your computer, where you can set the notification options for each individual piece of software. If there's an app you don't want to hear from at all, just turn the relevant toggle switch off. Alternatively, you can take more granular control over what each app can do. The notification settings in Windows. Credit: Lifehacker You can choose whether apps can show notification pop-ups, or have their alerts shown in the notification center (which appears when you click on the time and date in the lower right corner). You can also enable or disable sounds for an app's notifications, and choose the priority of its messages in the notification center: Top, High, or Normal. Enable Allow app to send important notifications when do not disturb is on to give the program permission to interrupt you when Do Not Disturb is active (more on that in a moment)—what counts as an "important" notification is down to the developer. Note you can also manage an app's notifications from the notification center, by clicking the three dots on any of its alerts. Do Not Disturb and Focus modesThe familiar Do Not Disturb mode, temporarily blocking notifications, is available on Windows: From the Notifications screen, you can either use the Do not disturb toggle switch to enable or disable it manually, or select Turn on do not disturb automatically, which lets you schedule the feature (and have it turn on automatically if you're gaming). Click Select priority notifications and you're able to take more control over which apps can break through the Do Not Disturb restrictions. By default, reminders and alarms are on, for example, because you probably still want to see these—but you can disable them if needed. Any app can be added here, and all of its notifications will be allowed (not just the important ones, as covered by the setting mentioned earlier). You can set Do Not Disturb to operate on a schedule. Credit: Lifehacker Back on the Notifications screen, you can use the Focus option as an extension of Do Not Disturb: This lets you configure specific sessions of heads-down, notification-free Windows computing, and in addition to applying all the restrictions that Do Not Disturb puts in place, you can also stop badges and flashes appearing from programs on the taskbar. Focus mode will also put a timer on screen, if you want one. To start a Focus session, choose how long you want it to last for, then click Start focus session. You'll notice it's also available in the notification center, where it's easier to access: Click the time and date in the lower right corner, set your timer, then click Focus. Windows opens up the Clock app, which manages the Focus feature, and your session will get underway. Individual appsAs with Android or iOS on your phone, individual apps on Windows are going to come with their own notification settings you can use in addition to the ones available in Windows. For a truly customized notifications regime, you need to dive into the apps you use regularly, and maybe even into alert settings for individual websites. Take Microsoft Edge, for example: Click the three dots (top right) then Settings, then choose Cookies and site permissions and Notifications to see which websites can and can't bother you. By default, sites will ask permission when they want to show notifications, but you can disable this so you're not even interrupted by any requests to display alerts. Accessing site permissions in Microsoft Edge. Credit: Lifehacker And you can dig down even deeper if you'd like to: Plenty of websites have notification settings of their own. There's not the space here to cover every single site out there, but Slack is one of them—if you click your workspace name in the top left corner and then Preferences and Notifications, you can set particular times when Slack isn't allowed to disturb you (independently of the settings in Edge and Windows). The Microsoft Store is another Windows app with its own notification settings to dig into. Click your Microsoft account avatar (at the top), then choose Settings: Turn off the Notifications for app installations toggle switch and you won't be bothered whenever a program is updated through the Microsoft Store. View the full article

Overalls, a workplace productivity platform, has released its 2024 year-in-review report, highlighting the substantial impact of life stressors on employee focus and efficiency. Based on data from over 23,000 employee support requests and more than 250,000 data points, the report quantifies the productivity lost due to personal distractions and how businesses can reclaim lost time. Key Findings: Productivity Disruptions and Time Lost The report identifies common life stressors—such as navigating medical insurance, moving, financial concerns, and travel—that divert employees from work responsibilities. Employees dealing with these stressors lose an average of 2.3 hours per incident, affecting business efficiency. Among the top employee support requests received by Overalls in 2024: Medical & Benefits – 21% Wildcard (miscellaneous life stressors) – 20% Home & Moving – 21% Travel – 11% Finances – 9% On average, Overalls users saved: 3.2 hours on health and well-being tasks 3.2 hours on financial matters 3.3 hours on caregiving responsibilities 2.8 hours on pet care 2.6 hours on navigating employee benefits By addressing these disruptions, businesses can redirect lost time toward operational growth and innovation. Workplace Impact: Addressing Stressors to Improve Efficiency The report underscores that personal stressors are deeply embedded within work hours, with 91% of employee requests occurring on weekdays, peaking between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. This highlights the challenge businesses face in maintaining productivity as employees juggle personal and professional responsibilities. “Life stressors aren’t just personal, in aggregate, they represent a tremendous loss of productivity. Employees juggling life-tasks, such as finding a medical specialist or coordinating a move during the workday, lose hours of focus and productivity,” said Jon Cooper, Founder and CEO of Overalls. Demographic Insights: Stressors Affect All Employees The report also provides insights into how life stressors vary across different employee demographics, reinforcing the need for tailored employer support: Young Families: Medical/Employer Benefits (20%), Wildcard (20%), Home/Moving (21%) Single Parents: Home/Moving (26%), Family (14%), Finances (12%) Singles Without Children: Medical/Employer Benefits (26%), Home/Moving (22%), Wildcard (19%) New Hires: Wildcard (27%), Medical/Employer Benefits (23%), Finances (13%) Image: Envato This article, "Overalls Report Reveals Life Stressors Significantly Reduce Employee Productivity" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

SEO forecasting is essential for predicting the future performance of your strategies, measuring progress, and making data-driven decisions. This guide will show you how to use Google Sheets to create accurate forecasts for traffic, rankings, and revenue, even if you’re not a data expert. Forecasting: The secret to navigating SEO’s biggest hurdles In marketing and SEO, it’s often necessary to illustrate our vision for what lies ahead. Common scenarios include: Getting buy-in for a new SEO or content strategy: We need to demonstrate the expected ROI of the proposed strategy. While it may not be perfectly precise, providing an estimate of the potential growth this strategy could bring is crucial for securing approval. Website migrations: How can we tell if a website has fully recovered post-migration? With variables like seasonality, it can be challenging. For instance, a migration in November might leave you unsure whether December’s performance reflects issues or seasonal trends. Having projected performance metrics as a benchmark is invaluable in these cases. Highlighting the risks of neglecting SEO: In a new role, I created an SEO strategy and showed the projected performance if no changes were made. The outlook wasn’t promising, which emphasized the need for ongoing SEO efforts and proved that SEO is far from a one-time task. The solution? Forecasting! We need to do some math to project the future; we can’t just say, “que sera, sera.” What is forecasting in SEO? Forecasting in SEO is predicting future trends in organic search traffic, keyword rankings, user behavior, and revenue using historical data, analytics, and algorithms. Key metrics we typically forecast: Metrics we typically want to forecast: Clicks: This is the bread and butter of SEO. We aim to predict how much traffic we’ll generate. Impressions: Often underestimated, impressions reveal trends and can measure awareness. Higher impressions mean more visibility in search results. Rankings: A key focus for clients, tools, and SEOs alike. (Although we may shift toward a greater emphasis on CTR in the future.) Conversions and revenue: Ultimately, this is what matters most. Showing ROI through conversions and revenue is the true success in SEO. Dig deeper: How to do an SEO projection How to forecast for SEO using Google Sheets There are various ways and tools for forecasting, including creating your own Python scripts. In many cases, with some manual data collection and cleaning, you can simply use Google Sheets. Forecasting ranges from simple tactics to more advanced ones. Once you understand that SEO forecasting is about estimating rather than providing precise math, you’ll likely develop your own methods. 1. The FORECAST function The easiest, most straightforward way is to use the FORECAST function: =FORECAST(x, data_y, data_x) Where: x: This is the specific point or value you want to predict or estimate. data_y: This is the list of numbers representing the historical data for the SEO metric you’re forecasting. data_x: This is the list of dates corresponding to the historical data, showing when each value in data_y occurred. The FORECAST function in Google Sheets predicts future values using linear regression. It calculates a straight line that best fits your existing data points and uses this line to estimate future outcomes based on the trend. Here’s an example of how this may look like on a graph: The red regression line is the forecasting line. It’s the straight line that passes through as many data points as possible on the graph, allowing it to estimate future trends. Here’s another example: Columns A and B have the historical clicks data by month from September 2023 to December 2024. I wanted to predict the clicks for January 2025, February 2025, and March 2025 and put those values in Column C. This method is easy to use and explain, but not all data fits neatly into a straight line, as shown in the first example above. 2. Exponential smoothing forecasting This forecasting method emphasizes recent data more than older ones, making the forecast more responsive to recent changes and trends in data. Here’s how to get started: Add an index column next to your data columns as follows: Select the “Index” and “Clicks” columns, then go to the Insert menu and click on Insert chart. Customize the chart by selecting the Customize tab. Go to Series and adjust the settings as follows. (Notice how the graph now includes a trend line for forecasting.) You can use the formula pointed to by the arrow to fill in the remaining values in the “Clicks” column. For row index 17, the clicks would be equal to =123*Exp(-0.0949)^A18. Dig deeper: How to reliably predict SEO success before publishing content 3. Simple moving average (SMA) This forecasting method calculates the forecast as the average of historical data over N periods, where N represents the number of past periods considered. For example, to forecast clicks for next month using the past three months’ data (100, 120, and 110 units), the calculation would be: Forecast = (100 + 120 + 110) ÷ 3 = 110 clicks Here, N is 3 because we used three months of historical data. To forecast using the SMA method in Google Sheets, simply calculate the average of the past few months. For example, to forecast Jan. 2025, Feb. 2025, and Mar. 2025, follow these steps: For January 2025, the forecast is the average of the last three months (October – December 2024). For February 2025, the forecast is the average of the previous three months (the forecasted value for November 2024 – January 2025). Continue the same way for each following month. Simple Google Sheets techniques for better SEO forecasts Google Sheets offers various forecasting models. With time and experimentation, you can determine which best suits your data. Keep in mind that these models provide estimates, not exact figures. As long as this is clearly communicated to stakeholders, any model you choose will add value. Use the linear regression model when your data is best represented by a straight line. Consider exponential smoothing to assign more weight to recent data, which is especially useful if your website has undergone significant changes, such as a design overhaul, in the past few months. Opt for the simple moving average to identify trends and gauge the direction of future performance. I recommend combining these methods to achieve the most reliable forecast for your data. Dig deeper: How to use RStudio to create traffic forecasting models View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Jabra Evolve2 65 headphones, which earned an Editors' Choice and an Outstanding rating from PCMag, are currently $203.31 (down from $301). (Note that this is up from yesterday's price of 149.99, their lowest price ever on Amazon, according to price trackers, so the price may go down again. Also, the price seems to be fluctuating slightly depending on location.) Jabra Evolve2 65 UC Wireless Headphones with Link380a $203.31 at Amazon $301.00 Save $97.69 Get Deal Get Deal $203.31 at Amazon $301.00 Save $97.69 They look like a regular pair of on-ear headphones, except for the boom mic—a three-mic MEMS array with a 100Hz to 8kHz frequency response (meaning your voice will sound clear and background noise won’t be an issue) that makes it a solid work headset. Flipping the mic up completely mutes it while bringing it back down unmutes and answers calls. You'll find a three-button control for playback, volume, and call management on the right earcup, which also houses a status LED (or busy light) that glows red when you're on a call. Its 40mm drivers deliver deep bass and crisp highs (with no distortion at max volume) across a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range. If you like customizing your audio or want more control over your headset, the Jabra Sound+ app lets you adjust EQ settings, disable the busy light, or play white noise to help you tune out distractions. As for noise isolation, it does an OK job, but don’t expect it to completely block out loud street sounds—sirens and honking might still get through. Jabra claims about 37 hours of battery life, but actual mileage will depend on your volume preference and usage. On the connectivity front, this headset works with any VoIP service (is UC-certified) and runs on Bluetooth 5.0, but it only supports SBC, so if you were hoping for AAC or AptX codecs, you're out of luck. That said, it makes up for it with multi-device pairing (it can remember up to eight devices and connect to two at the same time). Plus, you get a USB-A dongle for easy pairing with a computer. Switching between a phone and a computer is mostly seamless—audio pauses on one when a call comes in on the other. However, playback doesn’t always resume automatically, and if you’ve got a music app open on both devices, the headset’s play button can get confused, sometimes toggling between sources instead of stopping the music altogether, as noted in this PCMag review. View the full article

If you’re looking for a business opportunity that is both profitable and has a lot of growth potential, you’ll want to consider starting one of the businesses on this list. These small businesses have the potential to be some of the most profitable businesses in the coming year, and there’s still time to get in on the action. Let’s get started! READ MORE: 20 of the Most Profitable Small Businesses Our Methodology: The Most Profitable Small Businesses When diving into the entrepreneurial world, one of the key attractions is profitability. However, identifying the most profitable small businesses requires a keen understanding of market dynamics, consumer needs, and emerging trends. To assist entrepreneurs in selecting small business ideas that offer the best potential for profitability, we’ve considered a range of factors. These criteria are rated on a scale from 10 (most crucial) to 1 (least crucial), ensuring that our recommendations cater to the practicality, market demand, and financial viability of starting a small business. Market Demand and Growth Potential: Importance 10/10 Current and projected demand for the products or services. Trends and growth potential in the target market. Niche opportunities with less competition. Initial Investment and Startup Costs: Importance 9/10 Required capital to start the business. Costs for equipment, inventory, and initial operations. Feasibility for bootstrapping or low initial investment options. Profit Margins and Revenue Streams: Importance 8/10 Potential for high-profit margins in the business. Diverse revenue streams for financial stability. Break-even analysis and time to profitability. Scalability and Expansion Opportunities: Importance 7/10 Ability to scale the business over time. Expansion opportunities, both geographically and in product/service offerings. Flexibility to adapt and grow with market changes. Operational Complexity and Expertise: Importance 6/10 Required skills and expertise to run the business. Complexity in daily operations and management. Availability of skilled labor or need for specialized training. Online Presence and E-commerce Potential: Importance 6/10 Opportunities for online sales and digital marketing. Potential to leverage social media and online platforms. E-commerce integration and online customer reach. Regulatory and Legal Considerations: Importance 5/10 Compliance with industry regulations and legal requirements. Need for permits, licenses, or certifications. Intellectual property considerations or legal liabilities. Sustainability and Environmental Impact: Importance 4/10 Alignment with sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Demand for green and ethical products/services. Long-term viability considering environmental impact. Identifying the most profitable small businesses involves a balance of these factors, considering what each business can manage, its market, and its unique value propositions. This blend ensures the businesses we recommend have a robust foundation for profitability and success. Most Profitable Small Business Ideas Take a look at these top 25 business opportunities to start this year. Social Media Management If you have an internet connection and are good at social media marketing, then starting a social media management business might be a good option for you. By establishing an excellent social media management business, you can help businesses connect with their customers and grow. This sector is highly in demand and there’s tons of potential for growth and profitability. Cleaning Services Cleaning services is a business that will always be in demand. People are always looking for ways to save time and money, and hiring a cleaning service is a great way to do that. Creating Online Courses If you’re an expert in a particular subject, you can create an online course and sell it to people who want to learn more about that topic. This is a great way to make money while helping others learn. And with low startup costs, there’s plenty of room for profits. Business Consulting Starting a consulting business can be a great way to earn a good income. If you have experience in business, you can help others start and grow their businesses. Graphic Design Services Are you a creative individual? If yes, you can launch a graphic design business to assist companies with their branding and marketing initiatives. The demand is high, and the startup costs are low, resulting in great profitability for skilled designers. Digital Marketing Services One thing that will always be in demand is digital marketing services. As long as businesses want to reach their customers online, there will be a need for digital marketers. App Development If you’re a tech-savvy individual, you can start an app development business. With the right idea, you can create an app that will be a hit with users and earn you a good income. You can also choose to offer app development services to other businesses. Personal Training If you’re passionate about fitness and helping others, becoming a personal trainer might be the perfect business for you. You can start your own personal training business or work for a gym or other fitness facility. It’s even possible to start at home or online to keep startup costs low. Web Development This year, businesses will still need websites, and they’ll need someone to create them. If you have the skills, you can start a web development business and help businesses get online with minimal startup costs. Courier Services If you own a vehicle and are open to doing some driving, starting a courier service could be a great option. This business is ideal for individuals who are organized and possess strong customer service skills. READ MORE: What is a Good Profit Margin for Your Business? More of the Most Profitable Business Ideas As the small business sector continues to grow, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest and most profitable business opportunities. Here are 10 more of the most successful small businesses for you to consider starting. Catering Business Do you love to cook? If so, you can start a catering business. This is a great option for those who want to work from home and have the ability to cook large quantities of food. Real Estate Investing If you’re looking for a passive income business, real estate investing might be a good option for you. You can earn money by owning and renting out residential and commercial properties. It doesn’t require much work and is an opportunity that you can grow over time. Virtual Assistant Services The need for virtual assistants will increase as businesses continue to move online. If you have administrative or customer service experience, you can start a virtual assistant business and help businesses with their online tasks. Online Tutoring Are you an expert in a particular subject? If so, you can start an online tutoring business and help students learn. This is a great option for those who want to work from home, set their own hours, and are good with people. Technology Repair Services As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our lives, the need for technology repair services will also increase. If you’re good with computers and other electronic devices, you can start a business that provides these services. IT Support Today, businesses rely heavily on technology, making it essential for them to have IT support services. If you have a good understanding of computers and networking, you can establish an IT support business to assist companies in maintaining their systems and ensuring they operate smoothly. Freelance Writing Do you have a knack for writing? If so, you can start a freelance writing business. This is a great option for those who want to work from home working on a business they love. Food Truck A food truck is a great option for those who love to cook and have a passion for food. You can start your own food truck business or work for an existing one. It’s also possible to scale this business with multiple locations as your company grows. Property Management If you’re good with people and have experience in the property management field, you can start your own property management business. This is a great way to get into the real estate industry and grow your business over time. Legal Services Also making our list of the most profitable businesses to start this year is a legal services business. If you have experience in the legal field, you can start a business that provides legal services to businesses and individuals, such as wills and trusts, contract reviews, and more. E-Commerce Specialization The surge in online shopping has created a fertile ground for e-commerce businesses, especially those focusing on niche markets. By specializing in specific product categories, such as eco-friendly products, artisan crafts, or specialized tech gadgets, small businesses can cater to particular consumer interests. This specialization allows for targeted marketing strategies and the development of a loyal customer base. Success in this realm involves understanding e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, and supply chain management to effectively reach and serve a global audience. Health and Wellness Services The health and wellness sector offers diverse opportunities, from personal training and nutrition consulting to mental health and wellness coaching. With a growing awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, these services are in high demand. Entrepreneurs can offer these services in person, online, or through hybrid models. This field requires expertise in the respective health and wellness area and a strong emphasis on building client relationships and trust. Innovations in this sector could include personalized wellness plans, online coaching sessions, or wellness workshops. Home Improvement and Repair Services With the real estate market’s evolution, there is an increasing demand for home improvement and repair services. This can range from interior decorating and landscape design to essential home repairs and smart home installations. Small businesses can capitalize on this need by offering reliable, quality services in their local area. Success in this industry depends on skilled craftsmanship, excellent customer service, and the ability to adapt to the latest home improvement trends. Remote Work Solutions As remote work continues to gain popularity, there is an increasing demand for products and services that enhance effective remote working. This includes virtual collaboration tools, ergonomic furniture, and productivity software. Small businesses can thrive by offering innovative solutions that enhance the remote work experience. The key to success here is understanding the challenges of remote work and developing solutions that are both practical and user-friendly. Sustainable Goods and Services Sustainability is more than a trend; it’s a consumer shift towards environmentally friendly products and services. Businesses that offer sustainable alternatives, like biodegradable products, zero-waste goods, or eco-friendly services, tap into a conscious consumer market. This venture requires a commitment to sustainability, knowledge of eco-friendly practices, and the ability to communicate the value of sustainable choices to customers. Businesses could consider offering products made from recycled materials, sustainable lifestyle consulting, or eco-friendly home services. Each of these business ideas holds the potential for profitability and growth this year. The key is to align these ideas with your skills, market needs, and personal interests, ensuring that your business not only succeeds financially but also brings personal fulfillment and makes a positive impact. The Small Business Sector Today The current small business landscape shows that 65% of small business owners reported being profitable, with 51.04% looking to increase staff, according to a poll conducted by Guidant Financial. What’s even more promising is the fact that 41.02% of small businesses are looking to expand or remodel their business. However, 70.73% of small business owners said that trying to hire workers has been more difficult this year versus previous years. This could explain why 63.17% of small business owners have increased worker compensation, with 33% admitting to making significant efforts to keep their current employees. READ MORE: 10 Tips to Help You Start Your Small Business (Even on a Low Budget) What Do You Need to Start a Successful Business? Starting a successful business demands thorough planning and attention to several key factors. In addition to startup costs, here are some other critical elements you should consider: A Solid Business Plan: Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your vision, target market, products or services, marketing strategies, financial projections, and growth plans. Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to understand your industry, competition, and target audience. Identify gaps and opportunities to position your business for success. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Register your business and obtain all necessary permits and licenses to operate legally. This ensures you stay compliant with local and national regulations. Clear Value Proposition: Clearly articulate what sets your business apart and explain how it fulfills your customers’ needs more effectively than your competitors. Financial Management: Implement effective financial management practices to track income, expenses, and profitability. Create a budget and stick to it. Marketing and Branding: Develop a strong brand identity and marketing strategy to create awareness and attract customers. Customer Focus: Prioritize excellent customer service and build strong relationships with your clients. Skilled Team: Hire talented and dedicated employees who share your vision and contribute to the success of your business. Adaptability: Stay flexible and open to adapting your business strategies based on market feedback and changing conditions. Passion and Determination: Running a successful business requires dedication, hard work, and a genuine passion for what you do. By addressing these crucial elements, you can lay a strong foundation for your business’s success and increase your chances of achieving your entrepreneurial goals. Key Elements for a Successful Business 1. Startup Costs 2. Solid Business Plan 3. Market Research 4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance 5. Clear Value Proposition 6. Financial Management 7. Marketing and Branding 8. Customer Focus 9. Skilled Team 10. Adaptability 11. Passion and Determination What Are the Most Profitable Small Businesses? Owning your own business is a great way to be in control of your income and your future. Many small businesses can be profitable, but some are more so than others. Some of the best small business ideas that can be very profitable include owning and operating a franchise, starting a home-based business, or becoming a consultant. These businesses offer the potential for flexibility, independence, and profitability. So, if you’re ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, these are three great options to consider. Conclusion As we step into the coming year, the small business landscape is brimming with opportunities for those who are eager to embark on the entrepreneurial journey. This list of 25 small business ideas not only holds the potential for profitability but also reflects the evolving needs and trends of our ever-changing world. The statistics paint a promising picture for small businesses. With 65% of small business owners reporting profitability, it’s clear that success is attainable. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the challenges they face, such as hiring difficulties. Yet, the fact that 41.02% of small businesses are planning to expand or remodel demonstrates the enduring spirit of entrepreneurship and growth. Now, let’s delve into the small business ideas that hold the promise of profitability this year: Social Media Management: With businesses increasingly relying on social media, starting a social media management business offers a chance to help them connect with customers and grow. Cleaning Services: The demand for cleaning services remains constant, making it a reliable and profitable business. Creating Online Courses: Sharing your expertise by creating online courses can be a lucrative endeavor, benefiting both you and those eager to learn. Business Consulting: Leverage your business experience to help others start and expand their ventures, offering valuable insights and guidance. Graphic Design Services: Tap into your creativity by assisting businesses with branding and marketing through graphic design services. Digital Marketing Services: In a world where businesses continuously strive to reach customers online, digital marketing services will always be in high demand. App Development: If you possess technical skills, an app development business could yield substantial income by creating apps or offering development services to other businesses. Personal Training: Combine your passion for fitness with entrepreneurship by becoming a personal trainer, either independently or with a gym or fitness facility. Web Development: Websites remain essential for businesses, creating a steady demand for web development services. Courier Services: Use your vehicle and organizational skills to establish a courier service, catering to delivery needs. Catering Business: If you love to cook, a catering business offers the chance to work from home and serve delicious meals. Real Estate Investing: If you’re looking for passive income, investing in residential and commercial properties can offer financial stability. Virtual Assistant Services: As businesses move online, the need for virtual assistants continues to grow, providing opportunities for administrative and customer service professionals. Online Tutoring: Offering your knowledge in a particular subject can be both fulfilling and lucrative when engaging in online tutoring. Technology Repair Services: As technology becomes more integrated into our lives, the demand for technology repair services increases. IT Support: With businesses relying heavily on technology, IT support services are crucial for maintaining smooth operations. Freelance Writing: If you have a talent for writing, freelance writing offers flexibility and the chance to work on projects you love. Food Truck: Express your passion for food through a food truck business, delivering culinary delights to your community. Property Management: Leverage your people skills and property management experience to help others in the real estate industry. Legal Services: Providing legal services, such as wills, trusts, and contract reviews, is a valuable contribution to businesses and individuals. E-Commerce Specialization: With the ongoing boom in online shopping, e-commerce businesses that specialize in niche products or services have significant potential. Health and Wellness Services: The health and wellness sector continues to grow, with opportunities ranging from personal training to wellness coaching. Home Improvement and Repair Services: As homeowners continue to invest in their properties, businesses that offer home improvement and repair services are in high demand. Remote Work Solutions: Providing solutions that facilitate remote work, such as virtual collaboration tools or ergonomic home office products, can be highly profitable. Sustainable Goods and Services: Businesses that offer sustainable, eco-friendly products or services align with the increasing consumer preference for green options. To start a successful business, it’s essential to have a solid business plan, conduct thorough market research, ensure legal and regulatory compliance, and offer a clear value proposition. Financial management, effective marketing, excellent customer service, and a skilled team are also crucial. Furthermore, adaptability and a relentless passion for your venture will drive your success. As you navigate the small business landscape, remember that each of these opportunities presents its unique challenges and rewards. Success often stems from your ability to align your skills, interests, and determination with the right business idea. By combining these elements and addressing key factors, you can carve a path toward profitability and fulfillment in the world of entrepreneurship. The small business sector is ripe with possibilities. It’s up to you to seize the moment, turn your aspirations into action, and embark on the journey of building a profitable and rewarding business. Whether you choose to venture into social media management, web development, or any of the other exciting opportunities listed here, the potential for success awaits those who are willing to take the leap into the world of entrepreneurship. Image: Envato Elements This article, "The Most Profitable Small Businesses You Can Start Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Learn how audience layering in Google Ads can help you reach the right people and maximize the effectiveness of your advertising campaigns. The post Layering Success: How To Target High-Intent Users In Google Ads appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The pre-Super Bowl hype weeks have begun, and with them comes the annual American tradition of calling the NFL rigged. Local drunks, AM radio sports show hosts, and message board experts are all in agreement: The fix is in. Last year, the most interesting conspiracy theory held that the Pentagon rigged the entire 2024 NFL season so the Chiefs could appear in the Super Bowl and Taylor Swift could help Democrats get re-elected in 2024. (Oops.) This year's football truthers have a less esoteric theory for why the Chiefs are definitely going to win the Super Bowl: Follow the money. They make a compelling case, but they're wrong. Why "they" would fix the Super BowlThe rough consensus among NFL conspiracy theorists is that the National Football League fixed the 2025 season in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs because it makes everyone the most money. If the Chiefs have been blown out in the playoff, the league wouldn't have sold as many Patrick Mahomes jerseys. ABC wouldn't be able to charge as much for the commercials that air during the game. We might not have to listen to Chiefs' coach Andy Reid say "bundle-rooski" so often; online gambling companies would have fewer bettors; the guys who sell hot dogs outside the stadium in New Orleans would sell fewer hot dogs. You get the idea: The Chiefs doing well is good business. Is it even possible to fix an NFL game?It's definitely possible to fix a football game—not like they fix professional wrestling matches, but it could happen, and happen without players, coaches, trainers, and team owners having to agree to a predetermined outcome. You could, theoretically, fix a football game with a handful of crooked referees. NFL football teams are usually roughly evenly matched (especially when we're talking about the Super Bowl) and games are decided by a single decisions from officials regularly. And football's esoteric rules make it easy. Refereeing a football game requires subjective interpretation of vaguely worded text—in order for the ball to be "caught," for instance, the receiver must "performs any act common to the game (e.g., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an additional step, turn upfield, or avoid or ward off an opponent)," or "maintain control of the ball long enough to do so." So there's room for interpretation. Officials also decide where the ball is placed after a play, whether a blocker is holding another player, how much pass interference "counts," whether conduct is "unsportsmanlike," and a million other judgement calls. Refs can even arbitrarily award a touchdown in some situations, so you could see how officials could hand a ball game to either team. And it's not like it never happened before. Evidence that the referees are helping Kansas CityHere are a few of the questionable calls in this weekend's very close playoff game between The Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills: Remember that definition of "catch?" This is not an example of one: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. It's an incomplete pass. Or it's an interception. And speaking of the refs deciding where the ball is spotted, in the below clip, The Bills are either just over or just behind the first down line. One ref immediately says first down. The other disagrees. Decision: Chiefs. Even though a close reading shows it was, in fact, a first down. This was the second first down the Bills earned in the same set of downs, by the way. The third down call was BS too: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. It wasn't just the final game of the playoffs, either. Throughout the season, fans have been pointing out how tackles against Patrick Mahomes are called as "roughing the passer," despite not being particularly rough. Check out this "massive hit" in the Chief's playoff game against the Houston Texans. (Video only available on YouTube.) Note the incredulity in the voices of the commentators and note Mahomes' obvious flop. Here's another flop, just because it's funny: This has been going on all season, too. Over the last nine Chiefs games, they have not been called for a single roughing-the-passer penalty, while opponents have been hit with that costly penalty six times. The case against the NFL rigging football for the ChiefsIt's hard to watch the Chiefs this season and come to any conclusion but "the fix is in." The sheer number of tight games where the Chiefs managed to eke out a last-minute victory, often with the help of a favorable call is evidence enough—11 games in one season that were won with a one-score margin of victory? It sure looks like cheating—unless you're a Chiefs fan. If you're a Chiefs fan, you're seeing the best football team in the world, led by perhaps the best quarterback to ever play, and coached by the best coach since Vince Lombardi. The last-minute, tight victories are evidence of superior clock management: The Chiefs do just enough to win, and they do it like that on purpose. The deluge of roughing-the-passer penalties? Also strategic: Mahomes flops because it's legal and it it works. He's also a running quarterback, so he's going to get hit more often than a more stationary player, and thus draw more penalties. Putting extra importance on events that confirm our biases and ignoring the ones that don't is human nature. Believe it or not, rabid sports fans might not be collectively checking themselves for confirmation bias as rigorously as they should be. How many roughing-the-passer calls are made against other running quarterbacks? Someone is probably keeping track, but fans aren't too interested in a comparative analysis. Always consider the motiveThe idea that the NFL, as an organization, would have the power and clout to fix a football season (assuming they wanted to) seems farfetched enough to dismiss out of hand. NFL teams are owned by different millionaires and billionaires, who likely wield as much power as the league. They would not accept a rigged game (unless it was rigged in their team's favor.) As for the "storyline" argument, I'd be very surprised if the NFL believes that the people who watch football are excited to see the freaking Chiefs win another Super Bowl. I have no evidence except vibes, but if the idea is to produce a compelling narrative, the NFL needs better writers. The Chiefs winning three in a row is a lame story compared to "The always-terrible Washington Commanders, led by a rookie quarterback, manage to win the Super Bowl against all expectations," or even "Holy crap, the Detroit Lions are good this year?" This just leaves the refs. The 2007 cheating scandal that shook the NBA really happened and involved a referee, but it was one referee, and he only fixed the games he was picked to officiate. He wasn't trying to engineer victory for one squad over time. A league-wide conspiracy to support the Chiefs (or any other team) would be way more complex than the NBA chiseler's scheme, and would require many refs, linemen, the mysterious people who review contested calls, and who knows who else to agree to it. Someone would talk. Referees are people, just like usReferees and line judges are as prone to unconscious bias as anyone else. They make mistakes. Could it be that the officials are a little more likely to call penalties that favor the most famous player in the league? Sure, especially since he flops around like a damn soccer player. But are they doing it on purpose? Unlikely. NFL referees work their way up to the league, probably from high school sports, and if they do make the big show, they earn about a quarter million a year, and get to sometimes see Taylor Swift in the stands. It's the kind of job you'd want to keep. Plus, I assume most referees, like most everyone, take pride in doing their job well, and would be unlikely to risk throwing it all away for some short-term gain. As Mike Pereira, the rules analyst for Fox Sports and former head of NFL officiating, recently put it: "The fact that [officials] are looking out for any team or any individual is an absolute myth. You don't want to get fired. You want to be right. People that say that don't know a damn thing about officiating. Until you put the uniform on, until you have to make those quick judgments. ... get off my train. Period." Thankfully, the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 will answer the question of NFL rigging once and for all. If the vastly superior Philadelphia Eagles lose to the overrated Chiefs, we'll all know that the fix is in. View the full article

Title tags play a key role in attracting clicks from search results. In 2025, standing out means going beyond keywords – it’s about crafting concise, compelling titles that draw attention and match what users are looking for. This article shows you how. Title tags and their key characteristics Title tags are the clickable headlines displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs). They summarize a webpage’s content and play a crucial role in helping users and search engines understand what the page is about. They remain largely consistent year over year, as they still need to adhere to pixel count limits (55 characters or fewer with spaces is recommended for character-based limits). They shouldn’t be clickbait and must clearly convey what the user will learn or how they’ll benefit from clicking. They should also include the keyword phrase or entity you aim to rank for. Trends and challenges in 2025 The nuances come into play when tailoring title tags for the new year. In 2024, we saw: Media companies exploiting “best” queries for shopping and affiliate listicles. Niche sites reverting to question-based titles and clickbait. Retailers prioritizing SEO modifiers over relevance to their offerings (in the niches we operate in). To compete and stand out in 2025, we must adapt our title tags to differentiate from these trends. Standing out helps maintain rankings and also increase click-through rates. Below are common SEO tactics for title tags that apply to multiple niches I work with. Optimizing title tags for length In many queries we compete for, ecommerce, service providers, and content producers are using the full character limit for title tags. This year, we’re focusing on reducing title length to stand out and capture attention. When most titles in the SERPs are between 45 and 55 characters, a shorter title that includes keywords and possibly a number can draw attention to your listing. Examples: Shop Red Tshirts That Work for Women, Men, and Children The Best Red Tshirts for Children to Adults in All Styles on Sale Red Tshirts for Sports, Fitness, & Casual for Your Entire Family Red Tshirts for the Family – XS – XXL Cotton, Polyester, and Blended Red Tshirts for the Family $25 & Under – Red Tshirts for the Family In these examples, one title includes a number and dollar amount, appealing to cost-conscious buyers, while another highlights sizes. Both provide clear information and stand out when other results fill the available character limit. Dig deeper: SEO for page titles and meta descriptions: How to win more clicks Using numbers and symbols effectively A few years ago, SERPs were dominated by title tags starting with numbers, but their prevalence has declined. This creates an opportunity to strategically reintroduce numbers with modifiers, without reverting to listicles. Examples of modifiers include: Percent off. Dollar amounts. Sizes or lengths. Search your target query to see how many title tags include numbers. If most don’t, or they all use the same format, consider introducing a variation. For example: “50% off” could become “half off” or vice versa. “Buy 1 Get 1” might replace “BOGO.” Incorporating numbers can effectively capture attention as long as the title tag accurately reflects the page content and doesn’t mislead users. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Shifting from questions to statements In 2023 and 2024, there was a resurgence of questions used as H1 and H2 tags, with many sites using the same phrasing for title tags and headings. If these sites are penalized or the search results you compete in rely heavily on questions, switching to statements can give you an edge. This trend likely stems from platforms like Reddit, Quora, and forums, where community-driven questions surfaced and inspired brands, publishers, and lead gen sites to follow suit. It’s reminiscent of the rise of “People Also Ask” results in search engines. To compete, focus on crafting titles that highlight what users will learn. For example, instead of “Which Blue Tshirt is Best for Baseball?” use “How to Style Your Blue Baseball Tshirt and Get Fitted.” This approach emphasizes the practical value of the content, such as styling tips and sizing guidance, rather than posing a vague question. If competitors are relying on “how-to” guides and questions, statements can help you stand out. For instance: “Blue Baseball Tshirt on Sale + Our True Fit Guide for Sizing.” This example conveys product availability and practical advice in one concise statement. Publishers, affiliate sites, and others can adopt similar strategies to differentiate themselves. Leveraging AI Overviews A key focus for title tags in 2025 is optimizing for AI Overviews and tools like ChatGPT, especially if they begin displaying title tags and sources more prominently without user prompts. AI Overviews already show title tags and sources, which is promising, but most strategies for ranking remain standard. The real opportunity lies in standing out among the cited resources once your site is included. To make your title tags stand out, monitor which tags are appearing and how long they remain visible. For static title tags in AI Overviews, consider what you can do for the entity or main query that would cause a user to click on your website instead of the other cited resources. For example, if the AI Overview is about baking sourdough, consider what most users want to learn. If half of the searches focus on baking and recipes while the other half emphasize scoring and artisanal techniques, combine these aspects into your title tag. By addressing the full spectrum of search intent, you position your site as the most relevant and appealing option. Writing title tags that stand out Optimizing title tags for 2025 means analyzing what worked for others in 2024 and using that insight to differentiate your approach. The tips outlined here have proven effective across multiple clients and can be adapted to fit your niche. As search trends evolve, staying alert to new features and search result types will ensure you remain competitive and continue capturing clicks. Dig deeper: How to write title tags for SEO with ChatGPT View the full article

Google has once again expanded the reach of its site reputation abuse policy, beyond the US enforcement from from May and beyond limited European regions last week - we are now seeing enforcement in the massive German market.View the full article

Google may have pushed some improvements to the reporting system within Google Search Console. Now Google can show how soon the report was updated within a 30 minute interval. So instead of showing last updated 3 hours ago or 4 hours ago, as an example, Google can show 3.5 hours ago.View the full article

Earlier this month, the Google Ads industry had a lot of confusion around if and in what cases the Google Ads API accept or support placement exclusions for Performance Max campaigns. Well, Google's Ginny Marvin clarified this the other day in an email to Navah Hopkins.View the full article

Google AI Overviews, even when not signed into a Google Labs project, is providing coding and programming examples and help. This started sometime yesterday, I believe, and before, I believe you had to opt into a Search Labs experiment to trigger this.View the full article

You likely send dozens of emails each day, but are your messages being well received? Are some of your emails frustrating recipients? You might be violating some fundamental rules of business email etiquette. Our editorial team gets and sends hundreds of emails a day. We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly. So, we’ve come up with email etiquette guidelines that business people should follow for solid email communications. Business Email Etiquette Guidelines Here are some email etiquette guidelines you may wish to consider for your own small business. Get the Salutation and Closing Right Writing effective emails starts with the proper salutation and closing. A Perkbox Insights survey of 1,928 professionals found there is a real preference for certain email greetings and closings versus others. Almost half of those surveyed prefer emails that start with the greeting “Hi”. Other popular greetings include: Good morning/afternoon (48%) Hello (21%) Dear (20%) When it comes to closing expressions for business emails, survey respondents preferred the following: Kind regards (69%) Thanks or thanks again (46%) Regards (31%) Thanks in advance (21%) Best wishes (20%) And what is the worst way to end business emails? “Love”, “Warmly”, and using no sign-off rated the worst ways to close. Don’t Leave People Hanging Confirm receipt for messages you can’t get to right away. Let the sender know that you got it and will respond at a later date. Tell them when to expect it. Set a date and time and stick to it. When you go on vacation or out of the office for more than a day or two, set up an out-of-office reply or away message so people will get a prompt response, ensuring they are not left wondering. Include the date you’ll be back in the office and when you expect to respond. Give people an alternate contact for urgent matters in case they need to reach someone in your company right away. Limit Acronyms and Jargon Before using business abbreviations, acronyms, or jargon in your emails, assess the familiarity and understanding of your audience. Consider the knowledge of the recipient. If you’re dealing with clients in different industries, for example, you might want to include more information than you would with your co-workers. Overusing acronyms can alienate or confuse participants, reducing clarity. Only Use ‘Reply All’ When Necessary When you get emails that include several people, you might be tempted to just reply to everyone. Consider the relevance of your response to all recipients before doing so. But this can lead to a lot of wasted time for recipients if the message isn’t relevant to them. It can be quite embarrassing if your response contains sensitive company information and is sent to a client who is accidentally copied. Consider the necessity and potential impact of your message carefully. Therefore, exercise caution and only use “reply all” when it is truly essential. Use the Undo Send Feature Some email clients like Gmail have a feature that allows you to undo sending an email for up to 30 seconds. This gives you a brief window to reconsider or rectify any mistakes that can cast a long shadow if you breach email etiquette. If you forgot to check for typos or an attachment, or if you have second thoughts about the content or tone of your message, act quickly, and you can cancel sending the email before it arrives at the other end, preventing potential misunderstandings or the need for follow-up explanations. Utilize this feature wisely to ensure your communications are accurate and convey the intended message. Wait 24 Hours Before Sending Emotional Messages If you find yourself inclined to send an angry or emotional email, take a moment to carefully craft your message. Consider the potential consequences of your words. Refrain from hitting send until you have taken a day to step back and clear your mind. This pause allows for a calmer perspective. Work-related emails should be devoid of negative emotion. It’s painful for others to receive emotional words, and it can lead to unintended consequences. Avoid Using All Caps Don’t go crazy with the CAPS LOCK, as 67% of people can’t tolerate it, according to the survey. This type of message is perceived as shouting, which is often unwelcome. Always use sentence case. Capital letters can emphasize your message, but they may be perceived as shouting, which can alienate your audience instead of engaging them. Instead, think about using italics or color to highlight key points in a way that is more inviting and less overwhelming for readers. Keep it Short About 29% of individuals report that they cannot tolerate lengthy emails. Do you really want to risk losing nearly a third of your readers due to the size of your message? It’s important to respect the time of your team and business associates. Utilize short paragraphs and formatting techniques like bullet points to make your emails easier to skim. Instead of a long email, try an alternative: a video call, face-to-face meeting, or phone call. If it has to be in writing, create a separate report in an attachment or shared cloud document. A Clear Subject Line is a Must Subject lines should accurately reflect the content. A clear subject line is a courtesy that informs the recipient what to expect before opening your message. More than that, it may make the difference between people opening your email or ignoring it, ensuring your communication is timely and effective. An ambiguous subject can delay response times. Don’t Share Confidential Information Emails are all too easy to forward and share or to accidentally send to the wrong person, making them a risky choice for sensitive content. Most email messages are not the right format to share confidential information as they lack the security measures necessary to protect such data, underscoring the importance of using secure, encrypted channels for sensitive exchanges. Use Humor with Caution You might be tempted to add a little fun or humor to your emails. But without body language, humor and tone can be difficult to decipher in emails, potentially leading to misunderstandings or offense. Never include jokes in your emails unless you have a strong rapport with the recipient and are confident they will appreciate the humor. This way, you can ensure that your intent is clearly understood. Limit Emoji and Emoticons When it comes to emojis, smileys, and emoticons, keep those to conversations with friends and close co-workers where the context and relationships support their use. Customers and sales prospects may see them as unprofessional or too casual for business communications, potentially undermining your message’s seriousness or professionalism. Don’t Be Hasty with Reminders Give a recipient a day or two to respond, depending on the type of inquiry. A recipient may feel chastised by getting a reminder when he or she has been out of the office or in meetings all day. Also, before sending reminders, please check your junk or spam folder. Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. Has anyone ever complained they did not receive one of your messages, forcing you to go out of your way to re-send it, only to then reply, “Oh, it was in my spam folder?” You probably felt slightly annoyed, thinking, “Why didn’t you look there in the first place?” Be Careful with BCC BCC stands for blind carbon copy and it means that others do not see the blind-copied person on the recipient list. BCC is good etiquette if you want to inform other people in your organization and protect their name, title, or email address from going to, say, a sales rep for an outside vendor. But BCC can be bad etiquette if your purpose is to be devious and go behind a coworker’s back. How will you feel if your coworker learns that his boss was blind copied? If it could upset him, then don’t use it. Add a Personal Message When Forwarding When you need to forward an email to a coworker, add an introduction at the top instead of just hitting send. This personal touch can clarify the relevance and ensure the recipient understands the context. Don’t force associates to read through an unfamiliar email thread without context. Also, consider changing the subject line title so it makes more sense and directly relates to the current discussion or task at hand. Add the Email Address Last If you’re drafting a brand new email, start with the subject and content before adding email addresses. This will prevent you from accidentally sending it too early and having to waste everyone’s time telling them to ignore your incomplete message. Have a Clear Call to Action What do you want the recipient to do with your message if anything? If it’s purely to inform the other person, then so state. But if you expect a reply, a decision, or another thing, be crystal clear. It’s amazing how many emails are vague about what the recipient is being asked to do (or not do). Include Contact Information Twenty-three percent of email users say it is poor etiquette to not have an email signature block. A professional email signature with relevant information doesn’t just make you look more professional; it also makes it easier for the person you’re contacting. Include relevant information like your phone number, company website, and social media handles so they can easily reach out if they have extra questions. If your email includes specific instructions for a person to call you or contact you in another way, include those details in the body as well. Stick to Black and White Some individuals try to add some pizazz to their emails with unique colors, fonts, or design elements. But this can rub some recipients the wrong way. And the styles that appeal to you may make it less appealing to others. Avoid using unique font colors and background patterns in your emails. Classic black and white is the easiest to read. And pair it with basic fonts like Times New Roman. This can help you make a professional impression, whether you’re communicating with employees or partners. . Limit Exclamation Points Some use exclamation marks to show excitement or convey friendliness. However, they should be used sparingly in professional email. In fact, 16% say this punctuation mark is unacceptable, while 48% will tolerate only one per email. Keep in mind the tone of the email. For example, an email announcing exciting new products or services may accommodate more than an email about an employee communication issue. And then read through it at the end to double check that it’s not packed full of excess excitement. Proofread You don’t want to take the time to craft a great email message only to have it littered with spelling and grammar mistakes. Take a minute to proofread and spell-check before sending so you can catch any potential errors. Look for both spelling and grammatical issues. Additionally, read through your message with a mind on how your recipient will read it. Think about the tone to make sure it doesn’t get taken in a different way. Then go back and make sure that you spelled the person’s name correctly in your email. You can’t be too careful in this instance. Also choose the proper email address — it’s embarrassing to send to the wrong email accounts. Know When to Be Formal Keep things more formal with those you’re emailing for the first time. Err on the side of being more formal and professional with clients and superiors as well. Formality shows respect and is less likely to be misinterpreted. Once you get to know someone more, you can get less formal. For instance, you might use first names or a nickname instead of full names. Or you could shorten your greeting or sign off with those you communicate with regularly. Don’t Forget to Attach It’s quite common to mention that you are attaching a file and then forget to include it. This oversight not only makes you appear forgetful but also requires the recipient to follow up with a reminder. Therefore, be sure to double-check before hitting send. Additionally, name your attachments appropriately if there are several. This allows them to avoid opening each one to see what it is. And it can even help them avoid opening attachments with viruses or malware. If possible, send PDFs instead of files that require a specific program so they don’t need to download extras to see what you’ve sent. Consider Different Cultures and Languages When corresponding via email with individuals from diverse cultures or backgrounds, it’s important to keep this in mind while crafting your responses to avoid causing offense or confusion. For example, use simple, widely recognized terms instead of American-centered slang. If you regularly communicate with teams or recipients in a particular country, research info about that culture to get even more specific and avoid miscommunication. Start a New Email Chain for New Subjects When emailing someone who you correspond with frequently, it can be tempting to keep just one chain going continuously. But this can make it difficult to keep your conversations organized. So start a new chain for each new subject. Along the same lines, only forward messages when absolutely necessary. Avoid hitting reply all when you only need to message one or two recipients on an email chain. GuidelinesDos/Dont'sAdditional Info Salutation and Closing- Use appropriate greetings and closings. - Avoid inappropriate greetings or closings.Survey preferences: "Hi", "Good morning/afternoon", etc. Confirm Receipt and Out-of-Office- Confirm receipt and specify response timeframe. - Set out-of-office replies during vacations.Provide date of return and alternate contact during OOO. Limit Acronyms and Jargon- Use clear language. - Avoid excessive acronyms and jargon.Adapt language based on recipient's industry knowledge. Only Use 'Reply All' When Necessary- Be cautious with "reply all." - Avoid sending irrelevant emails to everyone.Prevent wasted time and potential embarrassment. Use the Undo Send Feature- Act quickly to undo sent emails for corrections.Available in some email clients like Gmail. Wait 24 Hours Before Sending Emotional Messages- Avoid sending emotional emails immediately.Maintain a professional tone in work-related emails. What are the dos and don’ts of business email? Dos: Do keep business correspondence professional. Do compose emails that respect people’s time. Do stick to the subject matter and get to the point. Don’ts: Don’t overuse emojis or exclamation points. Don’t use slang with clients or business associates you don’t know well. Don’t use emotional words. Don’t use sarcasm, and be careful with humor and tone so that you don’t inadvertently offend when you send an email. What are the benefits of email etiquette? There are five advantages to adopting email etiquette rules: Professionalism. Improved company image. Better response to sales messages. Organizational efficiency and time savings. Lower workplace liability by avoiding improper tone or misinterpretation. DosDon'ts Keep business correspondence professional.Overuse emojis or exclamation points. Compose emails that respect people's time.Use slang with clients or unfamiliar associates. Stick to the subject matter and get to the point.Use emotional words. Use sarcasm, offensive humor, or unclear tone. More etiquette tips: Office Etiquette Tips Online Meeting Etiquette Image: Depositphotos This article, "Email Etiquette Tips for Professional Communication" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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