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In an era where efficiency is key, many businesses question the time and resources spent on technical SEO audits. However, cutting corners in this critical area can lead to incomplete insights and missed opportunities. Let’s dive into why technical SEO deserves a firm investment in both human effort and time, starting with the often-overlooked challenge of crawl time. Crawl time: The primary hindrance Reducing human resource time in your SEO or digital marketing department by cutting technical SEO may be unwise. Why? The primary factor behind the time taken for audits is crawl time. With today’s complex web architectures, this is inevitable. Ecommerce websites, in particular, have rapidly expanding footprints with countless product and blog pages. Each product often includes multiple images, increasing the number of on-site addresses exponentially. Employers and clients frequently ask: “Why do these audits take so long? Can’t you just focus on the top issues and save time?” The answer is both “yes” and “no.” While focusing on top issues can slightly reduce the time spent on commentary and data visualization, most of the time taken in technical SEO audits is crawl time. The impact on overall audit accuracy remains negligible because the crawl itself – rather than data analysis – dominates the timeline. While some argue crawl time is machine time and should not affect human effort, this is only partially true. Dig deeper: 7 tips for delivering high-impact technical SEO audits Platforms like Semrush or Ahrefs can streamline crawling if properly set up, monitored, and funded to handle all web properties continuously. However, exporting, pivoting, and analyzing data still require significant manual effort. Technical SEO experts can rarely rely on platform-generated reports without further refinement. For instance, most SEO crawlers struggle with identifying true duplicate content. Often, what is flagged as duplicate turns out to be parameter URLs, which Google ignores for indexing. Similarly, failed canonical tag implementations can falsely appear as duplicate content. Using tools like Screaming Frog adds another layer of complexity. While highly cost-effective and powerful, it outputs raw spreadsheets requiring manual analysis. Its issues tab is rarely accurate without further data filtering. As a client-side tool, Screaming Frog also requires the user’s machine to remain active during crawls. If employees are using personal machines, they may be reluctant to leave them running overnight without proper compensation. Additionally, the tool does not automatically adjust crawl rates, necessitating human supervision to avoid unintentional DDoS-like behavior. While crawl time is primarily machine-driven, human oversight and intervention are often required. Assuming that reducing crawl time will significantly shorten technical SEO audits can lead to inaccurate results and neglected insights. Dig deeper: Top 6 technical SEO action items for 2025 Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. HTML tag mutuality HTML tag mutuality, particularly with hreflang tags, demonstrates why reducing crawl time is inadvisable if you want accurate technical SEO insights. As SEO has evolved, mutually dependent HTML tags, like hreflang tags, have become increasingly common. Hreflang tags define relationships between pages in different languages and must always be reciprocal. If one page links to another with a hreflang tag, but the destination URL does not return the same tag, the relationship is invalid and ignored by Google. Even non-mutual tags, such as canonical tags, often reference external addresses that also need to be crawled. Crawling only one section of a site (e.g., one language variant) leaves you unable to verify whether hreflang tags point back as required. This can result in unflagged errors that are critical for site performance but remain undetected due to partial crawl data. Similarly, canonical tags, though not requiring mutuality, can also pose challenges. If a canonical tag points to a page outside your crawl sample, you cannot confirm whether it references a valid address. Here is a diagram of how canonical tags and hreflang tags should interface: The diagram above is an updated and more detailed version of a simpler one I’ve used for years. It was originally published on BSS Commerce in 2019. You can find the earlier version here. These issues illustrate how incomplete crawl data can hinder a thorough technical SEO audit. Partial data forces you to rely on assumptions rather than concrete evidence, making it unwise to reduce crawl time to expedite audits. Dig deeper: 4 of the best technical SEO tools Links and redirects Producing accurate crawl data has required significant effort since the early days of the web, long before HTML tag mutuality became common. Pages have always linked to others using the <A> tag. If your crawl sample includes links pointing to addresses outside of it, you cannot verify whether those links function correctly without crawling the destination pages. Some cloud crawling platforms address this by checking the status codes of external or redirected pages without analyzing their full HTML. While this can help in certain cases, it often defers deeper issues that remain unexamined. Redirects present similar challenges. If a page in your crawl sample points to a destination outside it, you cannot fully analyze the redirect chain. This can lead to inaccurate redirect-shrinking recommendations, potentially causing significant problems for the site. Dig deeper: How to prioritize technical SEO tasks Be careful when reducing technical SEO time There is no substitute for investing the necessary time in technical SEO. While incomplete crawl samples or unattended crawls might seem like a way to reduce audit production time, they often create more issues than they solve. Cutting corners can lead to overlooked problems, so it’s crucial to give your audits – and the experts conducting them – the time they require. This doesn’t even account for the manual checks SEO professionals perform in addition to crawling, data handling, formatting, and analysis. These combined efforts make it clear that the time spent on technical SEO is justified. Avoid excessive pruning or shortcuts in this discipline. If you must work with partial crawl data, ensure at least 70% crawl completion – 50% at an absolute minimum. Anything less risks compromising the accuracy of your audit. View the full article

Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the surge in demand as Easter approaches. The average price per dozen nationwide hit $4.15 in December. That’s not quite as high as the $4.82 record set two years ago, but the Agriculture Department predicts prices are going to soar another 20% this year. Shoppers in some parts of the country are already paying more than double the average price, or worse, finding empty shelves in their local grocery stores. Organic and cage-free varieties are even more expensive. Some grocery stores have even limited how many eggs shoppers can buy. “It’s just robbery,” said Minneapolis resident Sage Mills, who bought eggs to bake a birthday cake last week. “Eggs used to be kind of a staple food for us, but now you know, you might as well just go out to eat.” What is driving up prices? The bird flu outbreak that started in 2022 is the main reason egg prices are up so much. Anytime the virus is found on a poultry farm, the entire flock is slaughtered to help limit the virus’ spread. And with massive egg farms routinely housing more than one million chickens, just a few infections can cause a supply crunch. The problem tends to linger because it takes months to dispose of all the carcasses, disinfect barns and bring in new birds. More than 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been slaughtered since the current outbreak began, with the vast majority of them being egg-laying chickens. Cage-free egg laws in 10 states may also be responsible for some supply disruptions and price increases. The laws set minimum space for chickens or cage-free requirements for egg-laying hens. They’ve already gone into effect in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Michigan. At a Target in Chicago on Monday, a dozen large conventional eggs cost $4.49 but a dozen large cage-free eggs were selling for $6.19. Why is the virus so hard to control? Bird flu is primarily spread by wild birds such as ducks and geese as they migrate. While it is fatal to a variety of animals, those species can generally carry it without getting sick, which offers the virus a chance to mutate and thrive. The virus can be spread through droppings or any interaction between farm-raised poultry and wild birds. It’s also easily tracked into a farm on someone’s boots or by vehicle. Unlike previous outbreaks, the one that began in 2022 didn’t die out in high summer temperatures. The virus found another new host when dairy cattle started getting sick last March. That creates more opportunities for the virus to linger and spread and unlike poultry, cattle aren’t slaughtered when they get sick because they rarely die from bird flu. More than five dozen people have also become ill with bird flu and one person died since last March. Nearly all of them worked around sick animals. Health officials haven’t yet found evidence of the disease spreading from person to person. What is being done to stop the virus? Farmers go to great lengths to protect their flocks. Many poultry farms installed truck washes to disinfect vehicles entering their property and require workers to shower and change clothes before stepping inside a barn. They have also invested in duplicate sets of tools so nothing used in one barn is shared. Some poultry farmers have even invested in lasers that shoot beams of green light in random patterns to discourage ducks and geese from landing. Dairy farmers isolate any sick cattle and do additional testing before moving animals off the farm—especially if there has been a nearby outbreak or if the cows are being sent to a meat processing plant. The government is also testing milk. Future vaccines might help, but it’s not practical to vaccinate millions of chickens through shots, and other countries might refuse to purchase meat from vaccinated birds. Health officials emphasize that any sick birds or cattle are kept out of the food supply. Cooking meat to 165 degrees (74 Celsius) kills bird flu, E. coli, salmonella, or anything else. Pasteurization also kills the virus in milk. Raw milk is the only food product linked to illnesses so far. How much has the outbreak cost so far? It is impossible to know how much farmers have spent to seal barns, build shower houses for workers or to adopt other biosecurity measures. “Over the last five years, my small farm alone has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on biosecurity,” said Minnesota turkey farmer Loren Brey. “But not only that, it’s the time daily that you’re attending to biosecurity.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture has spent at least $1.14 billion compensating farmers for the birds they have had to kill. A similar number wasn’t immediately available for how much has been spent to aid dairies. USDA spokeswoman Shilo Weir said the department also spent more than $576 million on its own response. The prices of turkey, milk, and chicken have also seen some pressure from bird flu. Mike Vickers, a manager at Sentyrz Liquor & Supermarket in Minneapolis, said he can’t even stock any organic, cage-free, or brown eggs right now and is limited instead to selling large or jumbo eggs. He understands the pain customers are feeling. “It’s the first time in my life that I’ve ever had to be kind of embarrassed on what I’m selling eggs for,” he said. “And it’s not our fault. We’re paying today $7.45 for a dozen eggs. We’re selling for $7.59. We’re making $0.14. That’s doesn’t pay the bills.” Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Vancleave contributed from Minneapolis and Durbin from Detroit. —Josh Funk, Mark Vancleave, and Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Ever wish you were a runner? Whether you want to follow in our own Meredith Dietz's footsteps and run a marathon, or just want to get a little VO2max boost with something like a Norwegian 4x4 workout, you have to get comfortable with running. You probably have some questions about how, exactly, you “become” a runner, beyond putting on shoes and going outside. Fortunately, we have answers. Here are the most important things to master in your first few weeks. Set some beginner-level goals"Be a runner" is a really vague goal, so think about what that means to you. Do you envision yourself as somebody who goes for a jog every morning? Then you'll want to work toward increasing the frequency of your running. Or do you have a goal of eventually training for a marathon? Then you'll want to prioritize increasing the length of your runs. Or maybe you want to run faster, which means you'll want to practice more speedwork. (It does not mean running every run as fast as possible.) These goals have a lot of overlap, but they still give you a direction you can follow. If you want to run every morning, make it a goal to get out for a walk or short run every day, even if it's not very long or very fast right now. If your goals are about length or speed, start building a base by working toward a 30-minute run three times a week. (And read my guide to setting fitness goals, which includes some examples for runners.) Don’t overthink itBefore you start, it’s important to know that none of your early decisions will make or break you as a runner. Even if the worst happens—let's say you pick the wrong shoes and your feet hurt—you can try again with the benefit of hindsight. You don’t even need to track your miles or follow a specific program, especially at first. While couch to 5K works for a lot of people, it’s also challenging enough that some folks find it discouraging. You may absolutely just go out and run until you feel like you need a break and then walk until you feel like running again and repeat until you feel like stopping. The more you run, the easier it gets. Over time, slowly build up to a consistent schedule. Don’t think “How hard can I work today?” but rather, “How can I use this week to set myself up for success next week?” Choose your shoesYou don’t need to shop for shoes before you start running. Any old sneakers can carry you a few miles, as long as they’re reasonably comfortable. It’s OK to plan a short loop—running around the block, for example—so you can bail if your shoes turn out to be uncomfortable. As you get into the habit of running, you’ll want to buy a pair of shoes that you don’t use for anything else. While there are lots of different types of running shoes at many price points, and just as many opinions on who should wear what, the bottom line is this: whatever feels good when you run is the right shoe to wear. To maximize your chances of finding the perfect shoes, go to a store that specializes in running—not athletics in general, but running. Fleet Feet is one chain, and there are plenty of independent running stores, too. The best thing about running stores is that most will accept returns, even if you’ve run a few miles and decided the shoes you bought aren’t right for you. There are also online shops that will let you return shoes that you've run in, so go with one of those. Brooks, Hoka, and Nike are just a few on the list. Too hard to pick? You can't go far wrong with one of these. Think of it as me flipping a coin and picking for you: Brooks Glycerin 20: Men's, women's Asics Gel-venture 8: Men's, women's Nike Pegasus 39: Men's, women's Or if you want to literally follow in my footsteps, I've been on a Nike Downshifter kick lately. Our resident marathoner Meredith swears by the Brooks Ghost. Make a planYou don't need a detailed program to get started, but I know you probably have questions about what a running routine should look like. Here are the answers, as they apply to beginners. (Feel free to add more mileage once you feel comfortable with the basics.) How long should I run? A good beginner run or run/walk is 20 to 30 minutes. If you can't run that long, can you walk that long? Start sprinkling in some short jogs during your walk. How often should I run? Three times a week is good to start. It will be hard to make progress on less than that, so if you can only manage once or twice a week right now, aim to eventually add at least one more day. Do I need to take rest days? If your runs make you feel sore, tired, or achy, put a rest day after each one. (You can do other exercise on those "rest" days, just not running.) Once your body adapts to the new routine, it's fine to run on back-to-back days. Once you're in the groove, it's OK to run every day as long as you do are a mix of easy and hard runs. The easy runs are your "rest" from the hard ones. What if I can only run a few minutes? Don't worry, any mix of running and walking still counts as a "run." When it comes to beginner programs, couch to 5K has helped a lot of people get into the habit. It mixes walking and running, with a goal of getting you in shape to run five kilometers (about three miles) within nine weeks. That said, it isn't the perfect beginner program for everybody, and you don't have to start with this type of program if it's not speaking to you. You can just go out and run. Pick out your clothesAs with shoes, your best beginner’s gear is whatever you already have. Grab comfortable workout clothes—say, shorts and a tank top if the weather is warm. On a cool day, you might want leggings or sweatpants along with a long-sleeved t-shirt. In the rain, add a baseball cap. In general, you’ll want to dress on the cooler side so you’ll be comfortable once your body heats up. We also have a temperature-by-temperature guide to winter running. When you’re ready to buy clothes specifically for running, make sure you have at least two outfits (so you don’t have to do laundry every time you run) and aim for comfortable clothes. Synthetic fabrics (or washable wool) are great at wicking sweat, but cotton clothes will work in a pinch. The advantage of the synthetics is that they won't get soggy, but please remember to rinse them out after your workout to prevent the dreaded gym bag stink. You can pay a ton for high quality workout gear, but there are great bargains to be had at discount stores. And if you’ve grabbed something from the back of your closet that seems to be working just fine, there’s no need to replace it if it keeps you happy. Don’t overcomplicate your clothes, despite what athletic gear marketing may tell you that you need. If your anatomy requires a sports bra, be aware that this can be a tricky thing to shop for. The same bra that works fine for yoga or cycling may not be up to the task. In general, look for a wide band and wide straps, full coverage cups, and a snug fit. If you're having trouble finding what you need in stores, try Panache or Shefit. Plan your routeIn theory, you can run anywhere. In the real world, though, not everyone has a perfect running route just outside their door. Strava's mapping tools are a great way to find or create a great running route, so start there if you're unsure of the best places to run in your area. You can also get a workout without roaming. Schools often have a running track that is open to the public at least some of the time; it’s perfect for intervals and other speedwork. And if you have access to a gym, don’t forget the treadmill. It can get boring, but mental tricks like quarter-mile checkpoints can help to keep your attention until you finish your run. Treadmills are great in bad weather, too, and parents take note: it’s a lot easier to drop your kids off at the gym’s babysitting room than to find a way to drag them with you on an outdoor route. You don't need a watchYou may want a smartwatch to track your runs and other workouts, but you don't need one to actually get started. Phone apps can track your distance well enough to do the job, but runners were doing their thing for centuries before phones or watches were invented. Put in the time, and your body will recognize the progress, whether or not you have an app giving you specific numbers on it. That said, if you want to use a watch, I won't stop you. All the major smartwatches have some kind of running mode, and we have a rundown of some of the better running watches here. It's hard to beat the Garmin Forerunner 265, in my opinion. Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black and Powder Gray $427.96 at Walmart $449.99 Save $22.03 Shop Now Shop Now $427.96 at Walmart $449.99 Save $22.03 Make it a habitYour first few runs should be focused on just surviving with a smile. Once you start to build a habit, though, it helps to set some clear goals for yourself, and make a long-term plan that will help you get there. As you progress on your running journey, you’ll want to practice running fast, learn the importance of running slow, and consider when you might be ready to run your first race. These milestones will come in time, so don’t rush them, but they’re all great challenges. Making sure you stay safe is also important. Your legs take thousands of steps even on a short run, and all that repetition adds up. Runners are prone to overuse injuries if we run too much before our bodies are ready for it. The rule of thumb is to increase your weekly mileage by no more than 10 percent at a time. For example, going from 10 miles last week to 11 miles this week is fine, but 10 to 20 is asking for trouble. In truth, you don’t have to be super strict about the exact percentage, but make sure that you work your way up little by little. View the full article

Need a little convincing about the importance of email marketing? Seventy-eight percent of online business marketers have seen a bump in email engagement over the last year. That’s a good enough reason to read this blog post on how to start an email list. Let’s jump right into starting and creating that list, shall we? How to Start an Email List in 10 Simple Steps Starting a good email list is the first step to a successful email marketing campaign. Put one together using the following steps. Step 1. Understand Your Target Audience Making sure your emails are targeted to the right people is critical. Tracking your email list analytics can help. If you already have an email list and customer base, take a look at the demographics of new subscribers. Checking your competition’s social media posts works, too. Also, you can ask for direct feedback through interactive polls or surveys on your website and social media platforms. This action will help you understand your audience’s evolving preferences even better. Step 2. Create a Website Website visitors are a good source when you’re starting an email list. An opt-in form on landing pages can land email addresses to add. Add a call to action at the bottom of each landing page. That’s a good resource for your listing-building efforts. A website is a great email marketing launch pad. Don’t forget to add social media buttons that promote social sharing. Step 3. Choose an Email Marketing Service An email service provider is another good tool for email list building. A good email marketing platform needs to have certain features. They should: Segment email addresses into groups to tailor your messaging for different audience demographics, improving engagement and response rates. Provide email marketing automation, which allows you to send personalized bulk emails to any email list. Let you create newsletters as part of your advertising campaigns. And make it easy for people to sign up. Post links on social media where possible. There’s more advanced stuff, too. But those are the basics when building an email list. Constant Contact offers social media tools like Facebook ads. Great for email marketing Drip is another excellent email service provider. They offer outstanding integration for landing page builders like WordPress. And easy to add opt in form choices. Mailchimp has a free plan. But these kinds of free resources don’t have advanced stuff that’ll make a difference, like in-depth segmentation. Still, it is a trusted name to build your email list and get started with email marketing. Step 4. Set Up Your Email Marketing Account There are a few email marketing steps to work through. Remember, you can use a Gmail account with an email list. Check out the add-on. Collect your contacts for your email list. If you don’t already have an email list, create signup forms on your website or landing page. Collect emails and put them into separate lists. Add the contacts to your account. Upload them from a spreadsheet or import them from Outlook or Gmail. Step 5. Craft a Tempting Offer Having a great email list is one thing. But you need to get people to sign up. Here are some good lead generation offers that work for email marketing. A Free eBook. People love totally free stuff. This is a good incentive for opt-in forms. Adding a compelling description of what the eBook covers can increase its appeal, making it an irresistible offer for visitors. A link to an offer works well on a landing page to bump up your email list. A Sneak Peek. A link to a document works. Or a video. Don’t forget a call to action like “Sign up to see the rest.” That’s an incentive to boost email list numbers. Offering a preview of exclusive content can entice users to leave their email for full access. Show off Subscribers. You’ll get more people to sign up when you tell them how many subscribers you have in your email list. Highlighting the community aspect can encourage new subscribers by showing them they’re joining a larger group of interested individuals. Dangle Valuable Content. Be specific with your message. Give away tips and deals, savings, and ‘how-tos’ when they sign up for your email list. Tailoring this content to your audience’s needs enhances its value and the likelihood of sign-ups. Use Pop-Up Forms. There are several types. Exit pop-ups, drop-downs, slide-ins. Use exclusive discounts to make these attractive. Crafting a clear and concise message on these forms can significantly improve conversion rates. These are all great lead magnet tools that get subscribers to sign up for your email list. Read More: how to build an email list Step 6. Create Your First Email Any good email list starts with the first one you create. The following are some good rules of thumb to ensure its growth and effectiveness: Good email list building begins with crafting an engaging subject line. Don’t use clickbait titles, as they often disappoint readers and damage trust. Keep paragraphs short. This makes your emails easier to read, especially on mobile devices, where most people check their email. Short paragraphs help maintain the reader’s interest and make your content more digestible. Use visuals. Images, infographics, and videos can enhance your message, making it more engaging and memorable. Be sure to balance text and visuals to keep emails quick to load and easy to navigate. Don’t forget to use bullet points. They help organize information clearly and concisely, making it easier for your readers to scan the email and absorb the important points. Using a Gmail account? Consider linking to social media sites like Facebook. This not only broadens your reach but also encourages more interaction with your content. Integrating social media can significantly amplify the impact of your email campaigns. Keep an eye on ad metrics, like the click-through rate. This will help you understand what resonates with your audience, allowing you to refine and improve your strategies over time. Step 7. Create an Email Sign Up form An effective opt-in form is the springboard for successful marketing emails. Adding customer testimonials or success stories to your signup page can greatly increase trust and subscriptions. Create a standalone landing page with unique URLs for a bigger email list. Transparency on a signup form is respectful. Tell customers what you’ll be sending them and when. These are a foundation for email marketing. And a great way to take advantage of organic traffic. Step 8. Place Sign Up forms and Links Throughout Your Website Successful email marketing also needs a plan. An autoresponder sequence sends out emails automatically. Static forms like a blog post will increase your conversion rate. Potential customers like to learn something. Use Pop-ups with links to subscribe to them on a landing page. #subscription forms work, too. Here are some that will bump up your email list. WordPress offers plugins specifically designed for landing pages. Utilize these tools to share links that can enhance your organic search results and help you grow your email list. Generate subscribers to your email list with OptinMonster. Step 9. Collect Email Addresses Developing a strategy for collecting email addresses is fundamental. Ensure ethical practices by being clear on how you’ll use their information, emphasizing the value of consent and transparency. Do the following to enhance your collection strategy and engage a wider audience: Get more subscribers on your Facebook business page with a signup form. Facebook Ads work to build an email list. Target ads by demographics. Another advantage of Facebook page marketing. Free Tutorial Videos. These work on social media platforms like YouTube. Get more email subscribers by showing off your goods and services this way. Put a link on a landing page. Importantly, be careful when you build an email list. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) doesn’t apply in the USA. But there are state and federal regulations. Step 10. Have an Email Content Plan An email list that works has an email marketing content plan backing it up. This post has gone through everything you need. From setting up an account to devising offers and finally collecting email addresses. Remember to use social media to full advantage. An effective email list relies on a carefully crafted and robust email marketing content plan. This includes creating a content calendar for your email campaigns, which is a strategic approach that helps organize your content strategy. Such a calendar ensures a consistent and relevant flow of communications to your audience, keeping them engaged and informed. By planning your content in advance, you can align your email marketing efforts with your overall marketing objectives, ensuring each message is timely, targeted, and valuable to your subscribers. Steps to Start an Email ListDescription 1. Understand Your Target AudienceIdentify and analyze your target audience to ensure your emails are tailored to the right people. 2. Create a WebsiteBuild a website with opt-in forms and clear calls to action for collecting email addresses. 3. Choose an Email Marketing ServiceSelect an email marketing platform with features like segmentation, automation, and easy sign-up. 4. Set Up Your Email Marketing AccountSet up your email marketing account, import existing contacts, and organize them into lists. 5. Craft a Tempting OfferCreate attractive lead generation offers such as free eBooks, sneak peeks, or exclusive content. 6. Create Your First EmailCraft your first email with an engaging subject line, concise content, visuals, and bullet points. 7. Create an Email Sign-Up FormDesign effective opt-in forms and landing pages to encourage visitors to subscribe. 8. Place Sign-Up Forms and Links on WebsiteStrategically place sign-up forms and links throughout your website, including pop-ups and plugins. 9. Collect Email AddressesDevelop a strategy to collect email addresses from sources like your website, social media, and ads. 10. Have an Email Content PlanPlan and create engaging email content, and leverage social media for marketing and promotion. What is an Email List? Now that you understand how to start an email list let’s explore it further and discuss its significance. First, what exactly is an email list? It is a compilation of addresses collected from email subscribers who choose to sign up. An email list serves as the cornerstone of effective email marketing campaigns. Furthermore, having an email list sign-up strategy is vital. Why an Email List is so Important Email list building is essential for businesses to cultivate relationships with their target audience. It is one of the effective interactive elements available. Here are a few reasons why gathering email addresses is crucial. You Want To Sell Stuff Online businesses want to sell their products and services. A good way to do that is to send an email right to an existing subscriber’s inbox from your email list. You’re Creating Relationships Email is a great way to engage new subscribers. And existing subscribers, too. It’s extremely easy for them to reply and start a conversation. Another reason to build an email list. Getting your customer service team involved works, too. You’re Building Trust Marketing emails build trust. Prospects on your email list feel like they’re having a private conversation. And they’re comfortable about asking questions through this marketing channel on social media. You Own These Mailing Lists E-commerce businesses create and maintain their own email lists. In contrast, other marketing channels, such as social media, may alter their policies, and ultimately, they own your followers. Reasons for Email List ImportanceDescription You Want To Sell StuffEmail lists enable direct marketing to existing subscribers, promoting products and services. You're Creating RelationshipsEmail is a personal and engaging way to interact with both new and existing subscribers, fostering relationships. You're Building TrustMarketing emails help build trust as subscribers feel they're having private conversations and can ask questions. You Own These Mailing ListsUnlike other marketing channels, email lists are owned assets, providing control and stability in communication. The Power of Email Marketing Metrics Understanding and utilizing email marketing metrics is crucial for optimizing your email campaigns. Here are some key metrics to track and their importance: Open Rate: Measures how many recipients opened your email. It indicates the effectiveness of your subject lines and email timing. Click-Through Rate (CTR): Measures the percentage of recipients who clicked on links included in your email. This metric is useful for assessing the relevance and engagement of your content. Conversion Rate: Shows the percentage of email recipients who completed a desired action, such as making a purchase. It measures the email’s effectiveness in driving conversions. Bounce Rate: Identifies the percentage of emails that couldn’t be delivered to recipients’ inboxes. High bounce rates may indicate issues with your email list quality. Unsubscribe Rate: Measures the percentage of recipients who opted out of receiving your emails. It’s essential for monitoring email list health and content relevance. Email List Growth Rate: Tracks how fast your email list is growing. A healthy growth rate ensures a continuous influx of potential customers. Revenue per Email: Calculates the revenue generated from each email campaign. It quantifies the financial impact of your emails. Spam Complaint Rate: Measures how many recipients marked your email as spam. High spam complaint rates can harm your sender’s reputation. Forward Rate: Indicates how many recipients forwarded your email to others. It reflects the shareability and value of your content. How much does it cost to start an email list? Email marketing isn’t costly. The typical expense for an email list falls within the range of $200 to $300.00 for 1000 addresses and names. A Business to Business email list ranges from $300.00 to $1000. That’s roughly $0.20 for each address on an email list. Highly segmented lists go for $0.75 each. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Start an Email List" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Workers at a Whole Foods Market in Pennsylvania voted to unionize on Monday, becoming the first group of employees to pull off a labor win at the Amazon-owned grocery store chain. Employees at the Philadelphia store cast 130 votes—or about 57% of the ballots cast—in favor of joining a local chapter of The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union for the purposes of collective bargaining. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election, 100 workers rejected the motion. “This fight is far from over, but today’s victory is an important step forward,” said Wendell Young IV, the president of UFCW Local 1776. “We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers’ needs and priorities.” The results mark the first successful entry of organized labor into Amazon’s grocery business, which includes Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and the Amazon Go convenience stores. Amazon, which purchased Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion, has tried to fend off organizing efforts in its stores as well as by delivery drivers and warehouse workers. Nearly three years ago, Amazon warehouse workers in the New York City borough of Staten Island voted to be represented in labor negotiations by a fledgling union that has since affiliated with the Teamsters. But Amazon has refused to come to the bargaining table. Employees at the Whole Foods store, located in the center of Philadelphia, started organizing early last year, Young said. They teamed up with UFCW Local 1776 in the late summer, and in November petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to hold an official election. The local union said the store workers hoped a successful vote would help them secure higher wages, more affordable healthcare coverage, childcare support, greater work-life balance, and better working conditions. In a statement after the votes were counted Monday night, Whole Foods said it “is proud to offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and career advancement opportunities to all Team Members.” “We are disappointed by the outcome of this election, but we are committed to maintaining a positive working environment in our Philly Center City store,” the company added. The company said it provides store employees with a competitive average hourly wage and other benefits, such as 401(k) plans and “on-demand” mental health support. It did not disclose its average hourly rate, but some online job postings show store employees can earn $16 per hour or higher. After the union filed the election petition, workers at the Philadelphia store were given free snacks, and the company repainted their break rooms, according to Young. Earlier this month, UFCW Local 1776 filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB against the company, accusing it of firing one worker in retaliation for union activities and alleging that supervisors told employees they would get paid more if they rejected the union bid. Whole Foods disputed the worker was fired in retaliation. The union has also accused Whole Foods of withholding region-wide wage increases from employees at the Philadelphia store because of the union activities. The company acknowledges it did not offer wage increases to workers at the store, even though it did so at a number of other stores as part of a quarterly review. Whole Foods maintains it would have been illegal to make wage adjustments in the lead-up to the union election, an argument Young disputed. The company said it was delaying the pay bumps until after the election to avoid the appearance of trying to influence the vote with raises. Seattle-based Amazon has resisted union organizing efforts by its workers. Amazon delivery drivers went on strike in a handful of U.S. cities before Christmas to exert pressure on the the company to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Workers at an Amazon warehouse in North Carolina are scheduled to vote next month on whether they want to be represented by an upstart union called Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment. The retail giant has challenged the structure of the National Labor Relations Board in court. Amazon accused the federal agency of tampering in the 2022 union election at the Staten Island warehouse, in part by bringing a lawsuit against the company to reinstate a fired organizer close to when voting began. —Haleluya Hadero and Lisa Baumann, Associated Press View the full article

Tax season is now open, and the last thing you want to do is pay money to, well, prepare your return and pay your taxes by April 15. Thankfully, more taxpayers are eligible to file their taxes for free this year thanks to the expansion of the IRS' new Direct File program alongside its long-standing (but income-capped) Free File partnerships. Here are all the ways to file your taxes for free in 2025. IRS Free FileIRS Free File is one of several free filing options provided by the IRS. With Free File, you complete your tax return using guided software via a partner site, which then e-files it with the IRS. Most commonly used federal tax forms and schedules are available through Free File. However, your adjusted gross income must have been $84,000 or less in 2024 to be eligible for this option. If you do qualify for Free File, go directly through the IRS website—you'll see a list of trusted third-party preparers with their eligibility criteria, or you can use the guided tool to find the best option for your situation. Note that some IRS partners will also file your state return for free, while others charge an additional fee. IRS Direct FileThe IRS piloted a new free tax filing option last year, and that program is now more widely available for completing your 2024 return. Direct File is a guided software program offered by the IRS (rather than through a third-party preparer), and unlike Free File, it does not have any income limits. However, to use Direct File this tax season, you must have lived and worked in one of the following 25 states for all of 2024: Alaska Arizona California Connecticut Florida Idaho Illinois Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington state Wisconsin Wyoming If your state is listed, be sure to check the specific residency and filing requirements. Direct File has a few other limitations: It only accepts a handful of income, credit, and deduction types, so if you report business or rental income, itemize your deductions, or have a more complex tax situation, you won't be able to use the program. Direct File also does not include state filing—it will prompt you to a different tax prep tool once you complete your federal return. You can get started with Direct File on the IRS website by logging in with your ID.me account (or creating one if you don't have one already). This year, the IRS will also import your tax information to autofill your W-2 and other forms. Other ways to file your taxes for freeIf you make too much for IRS Free File and live in one of the 25 states not covered by Direct File, you may still be able to file your taxes for free. Free Fillable Forms: This option is just like it sounds. You enter your information into the IRS' fillable forms using the provided instructions and file the return yourself. There are no income limits for Free Fillable Forms, but it does have limited guidance, and state returns are not included. You will still need to create a Free File account. Commercial tax software: If your taxes are relatively simple, you can go through tax preparation companies like TurboTax and H&R Block without paying any fees. Cash App Taxes is another free option. Note that these companies also have paid services, so make sure you understand what you are signing up for. Volunteer tax prep help: The IRS offers free tax prep support for eligible taxpayers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Taxpayers who make less than $67,000 per year, who have disabilities, or who have limited English proficiency qualify for VITA, while TCE supports those who are age 60 and older. Enter your zip code into the locator tool to find volunteer tax prep options in your area. MilTax: MilTax offers free tax preparation and filing for eligible military members, including up to three state returns. View the full article

Back in 2015, the Chicago Bears told Brandon Marshall no. The personable All-Pro receiver had been appearing as an analyst on Showtime’s Inside The NFL on his days off during the previous season, but new Bears management weren’t going to allow it. “Right then, I knew I wouldn’t be a Bear anymore,” Marshall told CBS in 2016. “Because I think that the business of the NFL is growing every single day, and players are being told to stay in a box and just play football, and we’re missing out on a lot of opportunities, not only to grow as men and businessmen but to experience different things.” A lot can change in a decade. This week, the NFL is announcing a new initiative with YouTube called Access Pass for Legends. The new program builds on the success of the original Access Pass, launched in 2023, which garnered over 200 million views by partnering with YouTube Creators. Now the league is using it to empower NFL Legends, starting with Marshall, to help build their YouTube presence using official NFL footage. Other former NFL players like Cam Newton, J.T. O’Sullivan, and Kurt Benkert are also joining the initiative, in what the league sees as a transformative step in athlete-driven content creation. Marshall says that it’s an important step to allow NFLers access to official footage and be able to tell their stories around it. “Now, the same guys that helped build the game are now in position to have this access, go on YouTube and build a business,” Marshall tells Fast Company. “That is the biggest win, being able to tell stories from a different perspective. It’s going to be exciting to see how some of our legends take advantage of this program.” Ian Trombetta, the NFL’s senior vice president of social, influencer, and creator marketing, says Marshall was the obvious choice to kick off the YouTube Access Pass for Legends. “His deep understanding of how to create engaging content along with his unique ability to connect with new audiences has helped set a standard of what athletes can achieve off the field,” says Trombetta. “Brandon is a pioneer in the space and his success celebrates the legacy of the game while also building a bridge to future generations.” Next Evolution When the NFL first launched its Access Pass program in 2023, it invited a select group of content creators and influencers to craft original content using the NFL’s officially approved footage. Since then, the league has evolved its approach to the creator economy, which Goldman Sachs has speculated will hit about $480 billion by 2027. In its first year, the Access Pass program generated more than 153 million total impressions, and more than 46.5 million views for the NFL, according to Whalar. At the same time, the growth of NFL players—current and retired—starting podcasts has gained significant momentum over the past few years. Taylor Lewan, cohost of the popular Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, started his while still playing with the Tennessee Titans back in 2019. Marshall started his I Am Athlete podcast soon after retiring that same year. As podcasts become more video oriented, and the level of content created more complex, Marshall says former players deserve more access and opportunity to use footage and partner with the league. “We’re talking about guys who played the game, who worked their tail off to help build an organization, to add more value to a team or the league,” he says. “Why wouldn’t our teams and our leagues embrace us to tell those stories?” Trombetta says this new program is a natural evolution of the league’s work with creators. “NFL players and legends are no longer just seen as athletes but as creators and storytellers with valuable perspectives on the game that increasingly have a home on YouTube,” says Trombetta. “‘Access Pass for Legends’ reflects this evolution by giving NFL icons additional tools to build their own media businesses.” Angela Courtin, YouTube’s vice president of connected TV and creative studios, also sees this as a step in further elevating this new genre of sports media. She says this is about “empowering these athletes to take control of their narratives, build powerful brands, and transition into successful media moguls in their post-playing careers. For us, it’s about equipping them with the tools and platform to connect with fans on a whole new level and forge their own paths in a new era of entertainment.” This is Marshall’s ultimate goal. “When it’s all said and done, people are going to say, ‘Man, I know I love the company you built, not necessarily the legacy you left on the field.’” Just remember that these are former pro athletes, and the competitive fire doesn’t go away, if just shifts to a different playing field. “Cam Newton is my brother, and we have a great relationship,” says Marshall. “But I do not want to give Cam Newton all of my secrets, because I want to kick his butt on YouTube.” View the full article

Humility is one of those traits everyone claims to love, but few actually want to practice. In other words, we love interacting with humble people, more than making the effort to come across as humble with others. The reasons for this are well-documented by science, and boil down to: Humans are generally prone to overestimating their skills and abilities, and thinking more highly of themselves than they should We are afraid that exposing our limitations and self-doubt (assuming we are capable of self-awareness in the first place) may weaken our reputation with others There is a temptation to brag or show off in order to persuade others that we are talented even when we are not—people often mistake confidence with competence And yet, there is both a high cost to being perceived as arrogant (when your displays of confidence exceed or surpass your apparent competence), as well as substantial benefits to being perceived as humble (when your actual abilities seem to surpass your self-perceived or self-reported abilities). Research shows that humble people are seen as more trustworthy, better team players, and even more effective leaders. That’s reason enough to consider toning down the self-promotion—even if your inner ego is doing push-ups in the mirror. Importantly, what matters most is not what you think of yourself, but what others think of you: for instance, we all get hired, fired, promoted, and demoted based not on our self-views, but those of others. So, no matter how much you love yourself and your talents, you should consider the multiple upsides to coming across as humble, even if it means fake in it strategically. Here are some tips on how to do this: Master the Art of Self-Deprecation Humor is your best friend here. Casually drop self-deprecating remarks like, “Oh, I had no idea what I was doing at first,” when someone praises your work. Bonus points if you roll your eyes for comedic effect. But beware: Overdoing it makes people think you’re fishing for compliments. Keep it subtle, like adding salt—not dumping the shaker. Why it works: Studies suggest that self-deprecating humor makes people appear more likable and approachable. Translation? Crack the right joke, especially with yourself as the target of your joke, and people will forget or ignore how much you love yourself. Play the ‘curious newbie’ card Even if you’ve been doing something for years, act like you’re still learning. Say things like, “I’d love to hear how you’d approach this,” or, “What would you do differently?” This doesn’t mean you actually have to take their advice, of course. Why it works: Humble people are seen as more open to learning, which is a highly attractive quality (source). Indeed, because being in learning mode is the opposite of being in performance mode, you will likely project a humble image when you display curiosity and a hungry mind. Downplay your success without humblebragging There’s a fine line between “Oh, it was nothing” and “Ugh, I can’t believe I have to accept another award!” To avoid looking insufferable, acknowledge praise but pivot quickly: “Thanks! The whole team made it happen.” Why it works: Studies on modesty reveal that sharing credit makes you seem more collaborative. Plus, you get bonus points for being a “team player,” even if you secretly know you carried the whole thing. Consider that many managers and leaders, including those who succeed in corporate environments, specialize in playing the credit and blame game, so they take credit for other people’s work and blame them for their own mistakes. It is advisable to do exactly the opposite, and you will be admired for your humility. Praise others (even when you’re dying to take credit) Want to look humble? Shower others with sincere compliments. “You were amazing during that pitch!” or “Your input made all the difference.” Even if you did the heavy lifting, let someone else bask in the spotlight for a change. Why it works: Complimenting others increases likability. And when you make others feel good, they’re less likely to notice your secret thirst for glory. Just focusing on others rather than on yourself will likely create a reputation for being humble, because there is a fundamental tension between putting yourself at the center of the universe, or ignoring others altogether. As the saying goes, “humility is not thinking less of yourself—it’s thinking of yourself less.” Listen, listen, listen (it will help you to shut up) Despite the common misconception that those who speak often, tend to have interesting or important things to say, the inability to shut up signals mostly poor social skills, a disinterest in others, and indeed self-importance (which is the opposite of humility). Resist the urge to hijack the conversation with, “oh, that reminds me of when I . . .”; and the temptation to think that everyone is desperate to hear your unsolicited views and opinions. Why it works: Active listening signals humility and respect. It also keeps you from blurting out that story about how you saved the day (again). Human beings have a pervasive interest in themselves, especially relative to others, which highlights the opportunity: instead of competing for attention with others, pay attention to them—and if they are not interesting, at least pretend. Unsurprisingly, scientific studies show that listening is a sought-after skill, and an underrated dimension of career potential. Admit small flaws strategically We are generally too busy thinking about how we can impress others to showcase our vulnerabilities, but this is one of the best ways to cultivate a humble image. You can avoid this by dropping minor confessions like, “I totally forgot about that deadline last week—thank goodness for my reminders!” This humanizes you without damaging your credibility. Just don’t overshare to the point where people start wondering why you’re still employed, or whether you have severe imposter syndrome. Why it works: Research shows that owning up to mistakes makes you seem relatable and trustworthy. It will help you to connect with others by displaying your vulnerabilities, which creates a reputation for being real, genuine, and human, all of which is valued by others. In short, pretending to be humble doesn’t make you a fraud—it makes you smart, provided you have the emotional and social intelligence to pull it off. Actually, just trying to manage impressions by displaying a humble or modest version of your persona, and ensuring that your public self is as likable as possible, is indicative of a high EQ. By strategically toning down your ego, you can unlock multiple benefits, such as stronger relationships, greater influence, and less annoyed coworkers. To be sure, if you fake humility long enough, it will become not only a habit, but a distinct feature of your reputation and personality: It is much better to think of yourself as arrogant when everyone sees you as humble, than the other way around. View the full article

Enterprise SEO comes with unique challenges: massive websites, coordination across departments, and the need for a strategic vision. Without careful planning, common SEO mistakes can lead to wasted resources and underperformance in the search results. This article explores some of the top strategic mistakes enterprises make with SEO and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Failing to secure the “right” buy-in for SEO initiatives. Underinvesting in SEO continuing education or training. Ineffective hiring and onboarding of an SEO agency. Overlooking the value of maintaining high-quality content. Not prioritizing technical SEO. 1. Failing to secure the ‘right’ buy-in for SEO initiatives When you get buy-in from the right people in your organization, you can rest assured the SEO program will have more resources and prioritization. This is not just about the CMO seeing the value in SEO, either. SEO must be seen as a strategic business initiative all the way to the top. Case in point: An enterprise client of my SEO agency knew that their SEO program would only be successful if every department with a stake in the website’s success were on board. The company chairman called a meeting to discuss the value of SEO. This is not common but was necessary for this project. Every key team got behind the SEO program, and the company experienced massive results. So, what are some of the common challenges when securing buy-in? One of the biggest is a lack of understanding of SEO’s value. The C-suite is working hard on their own initiatives and areas of expertise. They may not fully grasp how SEO contributes to business growth and revenue. This is where you come in. Show them the data, like how people are searching for the things your organization provides. Explain to them how SEO supports the customer journey in many different ways. Demonstrate how SEO can support company goals. Illustrate how SEO drives revenue and its long-term ROI compared to initiatives like digital advertising. Address common misconceptions about SEO as a non-essential or supplementary activity. Pilot a small project or address the “quick wins” and give tangible results. Propose an SEO plan that can be executed with current resources, but that could be scaled later. Assign an SEO champion within each department to advocate for best practices and drive implementation across teams. Having SEO conversations can be an eye-opener for leadership. And it may be just the thing they need to take notice of SEO as an essential marketing program. Once you get buy-in from the right groups, you can break down those business silos that can slow progress in an enterprise organization. Dig deeper: How to convince leadership why they can’t ignore SEO 2. Underinvesting in SEO continuing education or training Continuing education is one of the most powerful tools in your SEO team’s toolbelt. It can: Help your team stay proactive, not reactive, in the ever-changing world of SEO. Facilitate better collaboration between internal teams and external SEO vendors. Empower your team to innovate and test new strategies. Any good SEO professional or team will naturally want to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the SEO world. It’s a requirement to succeed. But the question is, how are you supporting them in their continuing education? Make time Ensure that employees are allowed the time for continuing education, not just working on projects. For employees, this means not trying to cram learning in after hours but as a part of their regular work week without feeling stressed about it. Give support What educational opportunities resonate with your SEO professional or team? Give them the freedom to choose and the budget to buy. This includes virtual and in-person events, professional memberships and materials. Foster knowledge sharing Since you’re working on making SEO a strategic business initiative, all stakeholders will benefit from learning about SEO. Invest in SEO training for other teams beyond marketing, for example, the C-suite or IT, to create a baseline knowledge of SEO at the company. Host internal workshops regularly to share insights and updates about SEO, too. Test what’s been learned Encourage your team to test what they learn through small-scale experiments or pilot projects. Dig deeper: 5 questions to evaluate any SEO training course 3. Ineffective hiring and onboarding of an SEO agency When companies are ready to partner with SEO agencies, they must hire and onboard effectively for the best chance at a productive partnership. Missteps here can lead to misaligned goals, wasted resources and subpar performance. So what to do? When hiring an SEO agency, be sure to: Properly vet the agency. Evaluate the agency’s company ethics and level of expertise. Figure out if the services offered are actually what you require to succeed. Make sure the agency’s processes mesh well with your company culture. Watch out for any red flags that signal a poor-quality agency. The onboarding process is just as important as the hiring process. Here are some important things to consider as you forge a new partnership with an SEO agency: Make sure they know your business: Share detailed insights into your company’s history, products, services and market positioning. Define roles and responsibilities: Clearly outline the tasks and expectations for both your team and the agency. Establish regular communication channels: Set up consistent meetings and reporting to keep things aligned. Set realistic expectations: Agree on achievable timelines and outcomes. Dig deeper: How to hire an SEO agency: The definitive guide Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. 4. Overlooking the value of maintaining high-quality content Enterprise companies usually need volumes of content for their SEO programs to compete in the search results. With the sometimes overwhelming amount of content needed, it can be easy to lose sight of quality while trying to hit targets. With multiple teams and departments contributing content, enterprises also struggle with inconsistency in quality, tone and SEO best practices. Here are some tips for high-quality enterprise SEO content: Establish centralized guidelines and quality control Managing content at the enterprise level requires consistency and collaboration: Create a centralized content quality framework for all departments. Include standards for tone, formatting, SEO best practices and E-E-A-T. Provide cross-departmental training to establish a baseline understanding of SEO principles for all contributors. Consider a dedicated quality control person in each department to review and approve all content before publication. Prioritize search intent Focus on creating content that addresses the needs of your target audience first. Decide how you will maintain this quality while scaling content as needed. Meeting search intent will result in higher engagement and better rankings than producing high volumes of generic content. Use tools to monitor and optimize performance Use analytics to measure content performance and identify gaps. Regularly refresh top-performing, outdated or underperforming content to maintain relevance and effectiveness. I recommend spending 50% of the time refreshing older content. Ensure AI-generated content meets quality standards While AI tools can be valuable for scaling production, human oversight is key. Have a system in place to uphold quality when using AI-generated content. Make sure it meets your brand’s standards and complies with Google’s quality guidelines. Dig deeper: How to survive the search results when you’re using AI tools for content 5. Not prioritizing technical SEO Enterprise websites can be massive, creating unique challenges for technical SEO. Unfortunately, these challenges compound at scale. Even the best SEO strategies can fail if technical SEO isn’t handled well. But technical SEO at the enterprise level isn’t just about fixing bugs; it’s about creating sustainable processes. Prioritize processes and cross-departmental responsibilities Enterprise websites need workflows for technical SEO issues. Start by creating clear systems that outline how to identify, prioritiz, and resolve issues. Assign ownership to specific teams, such as IT or web development, to ensure a quick response when challenges arise. Finally, educate teams about the importance of technical SEO and their responsibilities. For example, content creators should structure new pages with proper tags and metadata, while developers should ensure site changes are vetted for SEO implications. When all departments work together, technical SEO becomes a seamless part of the workflow. Use automation and tools to manage complexity With massive websites and multiple teams, automation and tools are helpful for enterprise SEO. Here are some tips: Centralize and align your toolset: As much as possible, streamline your SEO tools into a unified system that integrates with the platforms you use. Focus on scalable tools: Invest in tools that can grow with your website’s needs. Automate the repetition: Use automation for predictable, time-intensive technical SEO tasks. Monitor, refine, repeat: Regularly audit tool performance and workflows to ensure tools are aligned with your SEO goals as they evolve. Plan for long-term maintenance As your website grows, so will its technical challenges. A proactive approach will sustain SEO performance: Schedule technical audits before major initiatives. Stay ahead of the curve by aligning site initiatives with emerging search engine changes. Make sure SEO is built into any major update to a website. Avoiding common SEO mistakes is the path to enterprise success Success at the enterprise level is defined by adopting the right mindset and workflows. This means creating a culture that prioritizes SEO as a strategic initiative and embedding it into every department that has a stake in the website. With a clear vision, a commitment to improvements and the right processes, your enterprise can stand out in the search results and achieve sustained search growth. View the full article

Yesterday, shockwaves rippled across the American tech industry after news spread over the weekend about a powerful new large language model (LLM) from China called DeepSeek. News of DeepSeek’s capabilities—not to mention the fact that it is open-source and free for anyone to use and modify—sent U.S. markets reeling, including the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which saw $1 trillion evaporate from its market cap as AI-adjacent stocks such as Nvidia and Broadcom were hit hard. U.S.-listed shares of TSMC, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), also took a dive. But today, some of those stocks are recovering, at least to a degree. Here’s what you need to know about DeepSeek and its latest market impact. ‘DeepSeek R1 is AI’s Sputnik moment.’ Investor and engineer Marc Andreessen posted on X yesterday that ‘Deepseek R1 is AI’s Sputnik moment.’ DeepSeek R1 is the Chinese firm’s latest reasoning mode. “AI’s Sputnik moment” refers to the time when the Soviets leapfrogged the U.S. in the space race with the launch of the world’s first satellite, a milestone that caught America off guard. https://twitter.com/pmarca/status/1883640142591853011 Andreessen and many other tech experts seem to believe that DeepSeek is a similar milestone—and for several reasons. First, not only did DeepSeek’s AI model outperform reigning U.S. champions like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama, but it was made at a fraction of the cost that U.S. tech giants spent developing their homegrown LLMs. DeepSeek reportedly cost less than $6 million to train, while U.S. tech giants have spent hundreds of millions or billions to develop theirs. Second, DeepSeek was reportedly trained on midrange AI hardware—Nvidia’s H800 chips. It was previously thought that a model with such industry-defining capabilities couldn’t be trained on anything but the latest high-end chipsets. Third, DeepSeek’s LLM is also more energy efficient, making it more environmentally friendly—not to mention cheaper to run. These three factors made it appear that America’s tech giants vastly overspent on training their LLMs, which now appear to be inferior to DeepSeek. This also suggests that America’s major tech giants operating in the AI space, including OpenAI, Meta, and Google, aren’t as impenetrable to competition as once thought. When the financial barrier to entry into creating an LLM that could compete with America’s best models was thought to be relatively high—a company would need hundreds of millions or billions in capital to enter the race—it gave America’s tech giants a competition buffer. Not many other tech companies, and certainly not upstarts, would have the financial resources to compete. But now, if they can compete for just a few million dollars, America’s AI tech giants might have a lot more competition in the months ahead, threatening their AI dominance. Why did DeepSeek knock $1 trillion off U.S. markets? After news of DeepSeek’s achievements spread, U.S. markets sank yesterday, especially the tech-heavy Nasdaq. By the end of the day, the Nasdaq had lost $1 trillion. The majority of that loss came from a sell-off of Nvidia shares. As noted by CNBC, Nvidia’s stock (Nasdaq: NVDA) plummeted nearly 17% yesterday, which wiped almost $600 billion from its market cap. Other AI-adjacent stocks like chipmaker Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO) fell over 17%, and OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), fell over 2%. These and falls in other AI-related tech stocks helped account for that $1 trillion loss. As for why DeepSeek sent shares tumbling, it’s because its existence—including how little it cost to train and the inferior hardware it was trained on—is a threat to the interests of some of the reigning American AI giants. If advanced AI models can now be trained on lower-spec hardware, why should companies keep shoveling money to Nvidia for their latest, most costly chips? And if any company can create a high-performance LLM for a fraction of the cost that was once thought to be required, America’s AI giants are about to have much more competition than ever imagined. That kind of news scares investors who have invested heavily in America’s AI tech giants over the past few years. How are U.S. tech stocks reacting this morning? The good news for tech-heavy investors is that in premarket trading this morning, many U.S. tech stocks that plummeted yesterday are recovering today, albeit slightly. As of the time of this writing, Nvidia shares are up about 5% over yesterday’s close. Broadcom shares are up about 3.4%. TSMC shares are up about 3.2%. However, shares in Microsoft and in chip-tooling maker ASML are relatively flat. This doesn’t necessarily mean DeepSeek’s effect on U.S. stock markets is over. Today’s slight recovery of yesterday’s biggest losers likely suggests that some investors are seemingly catching their collective breaths as they wait to see how America’s AI leaders respond to “AI’s Sputnik moment” as the week continues. View the full article

Google Ads is testing adding a new column to its Performance Max reports named "Used Since." This column is visible on the asset level and it shows the date an asset was added.View the full article

Google appears to be rolling out manual actions, search penalties, across German-based sites over the site reputation abuse policy. This comes a week or so after Google expanded the penalties across Europe, for sites in Italy, Spain, and France. What we’re seeing. Christian Kunz, posted on his German-based SEO blog that Google has probably taken first manual actions in Germany against site reputation abuse. A search results set for coupon codes that previously showed many news websites is now no longer showing these sites in the top rankings. Laura Chiocciora, head of SEO at Bravo Savings Network, posted on X adding this morning: 'adidas rabattcode' yesterday vs today pic.twitter.com/i9qq7DizgX — Laura Chiocciora (@LauraChiocciora) January 28, 2025 Why we care. Google seems to accelerating its enforcement of the site reputation abuse policy well beyond the US and other regions now. It is just a matter of time until this expands to more and more regions and locations. If you have content on your site that is going against this policy, then it might be time to start planning on removing it, even if you are in a country that has not been impacted yet. U.S. manual actions. Google began penalizing sites under its (then) new search spam policies in March 2024. This was announced at the same time as the March 2024 Google core update, which Google’s Elizabeth Tucker called the biggest core update ever at SMX Advanced last year. What is site reputation abuse? When third-party sites host low-quality content provided by third parties to piggyback on the ranking power of those third-party websites. As Google told us in March 2024: “A third party might publish payday loan reviews on a trusted educational website to gain ranking benefit from the site.” “Such content ranking highly in Search can confuse or mislead visitors who may have vastly different expectations for the content on a given website.” Under Google’s new policy, site reputation abuse is defined as “third-party content produced primarily for ranking purposes and without close oversight of a website owner” and “intended to manipulate Search rankings” will be considered spam. The new Google Search spam policies about reputation abuse was announced by Google over here and and the updated policies are over here. Later, Google expanded the policy to include first party content. About manual actions. Websites that Google takes manual action are reviewed by humans – they are not given algorithmically. According to Google: “Google issues a manual action against a site when a human reviewer at Google has determined that pages on the site are not compliant with Google’s spam policies. Most manual actions address attempts to manipulate our search index. Most issues reported here will result in pages or sites being ranked lower or omitted from search results without any visual indication to the user.” View the full article

John Mueller from Google said that merging content is always more challenging than a basic site move. Meaning, when you take a look at your content on your site and decide to merge a bunch of the content into fewer URLs, that takes longer for Google to handle than moving a site from domain A to domain B with no other changes.View the full article

Gary Illyes from Google said that if a URL has a status within Google Search Console as "URL is unknown to Google" that means that URL is really unknown to Google and has zero priority within Google Search systems.View the full article

Google has added a method to bulk manage the special hours for all the businesses you manage in Google Business Profiles. You can easily copy special hours from one business listing to others.View the full article

If you’ve ever wondered how much a bar manager makes, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re researching how to open a bar and want to understand the costs or are considering a new career, this article explores the intricacies of bar manager salaries, shedding light on the earning potential of this dynamic role within the hospitality industry. Get ready to uncover valuable insights about the compensation of bar managers nationwide. Role of a Bar Manager The role of a bar manager is crucial in the hospitality industry, specifically in the operation of a bar. They are the glue that holds all aspects of the bar together, ensuring smooth operations, high-quality service, and a positive working environment. As you’ve mentioned, their specific responsibilities may vary based on your bar’s unique business plan, but there are common tasks and functions that most bar managers oversee. Below are some specific aspects of a bar manager’s role: Overseeing Daily Operations: Bar managers are responsible for the overall operation of the bar daily. This includes everything from opening and closing procedures to overseeing all bar-related activities throughout the day. Managing Staff: This role involves hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising bar staff. They may conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to foster an environment of continuous improvement. Maintaining Inventory: They are in charge of managing bar inventory, which involves ordering supplies, maintaining appropriate stock levels, minimizing waste, and controlling costs. Handling Customer Service: They handle customer complaints and issues, ensuring customers are satisfied with their experience. They set the standard for service within the bar. Financial Management: Bar managers are typically responsible for managing the bar’s finances, including cash handling, managing the daily cash flow, keeping track of sales, and minimizing costs to maximize profitability. Enforcing Compliance: They ensure that the bar adheres to local laws and regulations, including alcohol service and safety standards. Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere: By setting the tone and atmosphere of the bar, managers help create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for patrons. Upholding Quality Standards: They ensure that drinks are correctly made and served and that service meets or exceeds industry standards. Marketing and Promotion: They often assist in the development and execution of marketing strategies, events, and promotions to attract more customers. Their role requires a combination of leadership, organization, and communication skills, along with a strong understanding of the hospitality industry and customer service. A successful bar manager helps ensure a bar’s success and significantly contributes to delivering exceptional experiences that keep patrons coming back. Average Bar Manager Salary in the U.S. Bar managers in the United States earn $50,000 to $56,000 annually on average. Factors like experience, location, and bar type influence their salary. For example, San Francisco bar managers make around $76,995 yearly; in Illinois, the average is below $43,000. Other factors, like bonuses and tips, affect total compensation. How Much Do Bar Managers Make Per Hour? Bar managers typically earn an average hourly wage of $19, with the current wage average being $25.49. While this amount may vary depending on factors such as experience and location, it provides an idea of their earning potential. It’s worth noting that some bar managers may receive a salary instead of being paid by the hour. The bar manager’s salary can reflect these variations. Exploring Variations in Bar Manager Salaries by State Bar manager salaries vary significantly across different states, offering a diverse range of earning potential for professionals in this field. Delve into the disparities as we highlight the states with the highest and lowest bar manager salaries. States with the Highest Bar Manager Salary Certain locations provide bar managers with lucrative compensation well above the national average. New York boasts an average annual salary of $70,384. And while Washington, DC isn’t a state, bar managers make a good salary there, averaging about $65,733 per year. Highest Paying LocationsAverage Annual Salary 1.New York$70,384 2.Washington, DC (not a state)$65,733 States with the Lowest Bar Manager Salaries On the other end of the spectrum, several states offer bar managers salaries below the national average. Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia fall into this category, with an average bar manager salary of about $44,000 per year in each state. Lowest Paying LocationsAverage Annual Salary 1.Texas$44,000 2.Florida$44,000 3.Georgia$44,000 4.North Carolina$44,000 5.Virginia$44,000 Potential Earnings When Owning a Bar If you’re thinking about owning a bar, then it’s important to know what affects your potential earnings. Let’s look at three key aspects below… Factors Impacting the Salary of a Bar-Owning Manager A wide range of factors can influence the salary of a bar manager. Here are some of them: Location: The geographic location of the bar can significantly impact a bar manager’s salary. Bars situated in bustling city centers, tourist areas, or locations with a high cost of living typically generate more revenue and can afford to pay their managers higher salaries. Conversely, bars in rural areas or locations with a lower cost of living might have lower revenues, potentially leading to lower salaries for bar managers. Size of the Bar: The size of the bar can significantly impact a bar manager’s salary. Larger establishments usually accommodate more patrons, resulting in increased revenues, which can lead to higher salaries for the managers. Bar Popularity: A bar’s reputation and popularity significantly affect its profitability. Bars that are well-liked and frequently visited by patrons will generate more revenue and can afford to pay their managers more. Experience and Education: The education and experience a bar manager possesses can significantly influence their salary. Individuals with extensive experience demonstrated management abilities, or pertinent educational backgrounds are likely to earn higher bar manager salaries. Profitability of the Bar: The overall profitability of the bar is a significant factor. If the bar is successful and has a high-profit margin, the manager’s salary could be higher. Business Model: The specific business model of the bar also matters. For example, bars with high-priced drinks or upscale services may generate more revenue and pay their managers higher salaries than a budget-friendly pub. Ownership Status: When the bar manager is also the owner, they might receive a portion of the profits rather than a conventional salary, which can greatly affect their earnings. Tip Policy: The policy on tips, as mentioned earlier, can also influence a bar manager’s overall income. If managers are included in a tip pool or receive tips directly, this can supplement their base salary. Understanding these factors can help prospective bar managers negotiate their salaries and set realistic expectations for their earnings in this role. What Does a Typical Bar Manager Career Path Look Like? A bar manager’s career path is often a blend of hands-on industry experience, formal education, and the development of key skills. Here’s a more detailed look at what that journey might entail: Entry-Level Positions in the Hospitality Industry: Individuals often start their careers in entry-level roles like a server, bartenders, or hosts in restaurants or bars. These roles provide a solid foundation for understanding the industry dynamics, customer service, and the ins and outs of day-to-day operations. Bartending: This role is usually a critical step in the career path to becoming a bar manager. As a bartender, individuals learn about different types of alcoholic beverages, mixology, managing inventory, and handling the bar during busy periods. Shift Supervisor or Assistant Manager: After gaining experience as a bartender, many individuals move into shift supervisors or assistant manager roles. In these positions, they begin to take on management responsibilities, such as staff scheduling, training, and resolving customer complaints. Bar Management: With enough experience and demonstrated ability, an individual may be promoted to bar manager. This position oversees all operations, staff management, inventory control, and customer service at the bar. Further Education and Certifications: Although not always required, getting a degree in business management, hospitality management, or a related field can enhance career prospects. Some bar managers also earn certifications in food safety, alcohol service, or hospitality management to further their careers. General Manager or Operations Manager: After gaining substantial experience and skills as a bar manager, individuals might move into higher-level management roles overseeing multiple venues or the entire operation of a larger establishment. Ownership: Some bar managers eventually go on to own their own bars, using their extensive industry knowledge and management skills to run their own businesses. In this career path, developing specific skills is essential. Key skills include leadership, communication, problem-solving, customer service, financial management, and organizational abilities. This journey is characterized by ongoing learning and adaptation, as the bar industry is both dynamic and challenging yet highly rewarding for those who are passionate about hospitality. How Does a Tip Pool Affect a Bar Manager’s Salary? A tip pool can impact a bar manager’s salary, either positively or negatively, depending on the establishment’s policies and staff performance. Here’s a detailed look at how a tip pool might affect a bar manager’s income: Additional Income: If bar managers are included in the tip pool, it can serve as an additional source of income on top of their base salary, potentially increasing their overall earnings. Variable Income: The amount of money a bar manager earns from a tip pool can vary widely depending on the total tips received by the establishment, the number of staff included in the pool, and how busy the bar is on any given day or time. Performance-Based Earnings: A tip pool can sometimes encourage a more team-based approach to service, as everyone’s tips are shared. This could lead to higher service standards and, as a result, larger tips. The better the team’s overall performance, the higher the potential earnings for everyone involved, including the bar manager. Dependence on Establishment’s Policies: How much a bar manager earns from a tip pool depends largely on the establishment’s policies. Some bars may include managers in the tip pool, while others may not. Furthermore, the method for dividing the pooled tips can differ from one establishment to another. Legal Considerations: It’s important to note that the legality of including salaried managers in a tip pool can vary depending on the location and labor laws. In some regions, it may be prohibited for managers to partake in tip pools, while in others it may be allowed. Job Satisfaction and Retention: While not a direct impact on a bar manager’s salary, being included in a tip pool could potentially improve job satisfaction and reduce turnover if it results in higher total compensation. While the tip pool can significantly boost a bar manager’s earnings, it’s critical to remember that it can also introduce a degree of variability and unpredictability to their income. FAQs: Bar Manager Salary How much can a bar manager make per year on average? On average, bar managers make around $50,000 to $56,000 per year in the United States, although this can vary depending on factors like experience, location, and the type of bar. Do bar managers get paid more if they own the bar? Yes, bar managers who own their establishments have the opportunity to earn a higher income as they manage operations and also gain from the bar’s profit margin. What is the hourly wage for a bar manager? The average hourly wage for a bar manager generally falls between $17 and $21. However, it’s essential to recognize that some bar managers receive a salary rather than an hourly wage. Typically, earnings are greater for bar managers working in well-established establishments and those with extensive experience compared to individuals who are new to bar management. Which state pays the highest salary to bar managers? San Francisco, CA, pays the highest salary to bar managers, with an average of $76,995 per year, which is significantly higher than the national average. Which state pays the lowest salary to bar managers? Among the states with relatively lower average bar manager salaries, we have Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, where the average annual salary for bar managers is around $44,000. These states tend to offer slightly lower compensation compared to the national average. What is the highest salary of a bar manager? San Francisco, CA, boasts the highest reported salary for a bar manager in the US, reaching an impressive $261,878 per year. This figure represents the pinnacle of earning potential for bar managers and showcases the thriving hospitality industry in the city. Do bartenders make more than bar managers? In general, bar managers receive higher salaries than bartenders. This is due to their increased responsibilities, which include overseeing operations and managing staff, enhancing their earning potential. However, actual earnings can differ based on factors such as location, the type of bar, or the bar franchise model. What are the highest-paying cities for a bar manager? The highest salary for a bar manager can be found in cities like San Francisco, CA, and New York City. These bustling metropolitan areas offer lucrative opportunities, with bar managers potentially earning top salaries in the industry. What is the highest average bar manager salary? The highest average bar manager salary can be found in cities like San Francisco, CA, where the average salary reaches $76,995 per year, surpassing the national average. How much do bar managers make in Texas? In Texas, the average annual salary for a bar manager is $49,169, significantly exceeding the state’s minimum wage. However, some cities in Texas, like Dallas, TX, provide even higher compensation for bar managers, averaging $66,111 per year. Image: Envato This article, "Bar Manager Salary: How Much Does a Bar Manager Make?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google Search is testing the frequently saved label not just in the main search results but also on the local results, the places section, of the Google Search results. View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Speaking on D.R. Horton’s earnings call last week, CEO Paul Romanowski was asked about geographic housing demand trends and if rising inventory in Florida and Texas was impacting the sales of America’s largest homebuilder. “Some of the [recent] buildup we’ve seen in inventory has had some impact on [our] sales when you look at portions of the Florida market and as well isolated to some of the Texas markets where they saw a significant run-up in valuations,” Romanowski responded. “We’ve seen some moderation there. But generally, as we enter into the spring, [we] have been pleased with what we’ve seen in these first few weeks in our sales offices across our footprint.” The regional variation described by D.R. Horton is supported by the data. According to John Burns Research and Consulting’s Burns Homebuilder Survey for December, which was published this month, homebuilders in Florida and Texas are spending the most on sales incentives, while homebuilders in the Northeast and Southern California are spending the least. Broadly speaking, homebuilders have been more willing in recent years to compress margins—which reached historic levels during the pandemic housing boom—and allocate them toward incentives or affordability adjustments to “meet the market” when and where needed, rather than making significant cutbacks in production. Indeed, just last month Lennar CEO Stuart Miller told analysts: “We’re going to adjust to market [when and where needed]. We’re going to maintain [sales] volume.” In Florida, homebuilders are spending 10% of the sales price on incentives to help move unsold inventory. On a $500,000 home, that would come out to spending $50,000 on incentives. In the Northeast, homebuilders are spending 3% of the sales price on incentives for unsold inventory. On a $500,000 home, that would come out to spending $15,000 on incentives. Often those new construction incentives are baked into the price; however, if a particular community or market shifts quickly, and a builder needs to rapidly increase incentives to keep selling homes, it’s essentially a net effective home price cut. “And although both new and existing home inventories have increased from historically low levels, the supply of homes at affordable price points is generally still limited,” Romanowski told analysts. “To help spur demand and address affordability, we are continuing to use incentives such as mortgage rate buy-downs, and we have continued to start and sell [more] of our smaller floor plans.” Many regional pockets of the country, where homebuilders are deploying more incentives to move product, are also the very places where active inventory for sale has jumped back to or above pre-pandemic levels. You can find more information in ResiClub's latest inventory analysis and home price analysis for more than 800 metros and 3,000 counties. View the full article

Valentine’s Day is an interesting shopping event for ecommerce stores. Customers are looking for gifts that help express their love for one another, with flowers, jewelry, and other interesting options. It’s a great opportunity to attract and convert online shoppers. Here are some SEO tips to help make the most of your Valentine’s Day sale! Table of contents Start preparing early Optimize your product pages Create gift guides and seasonal content Focus on local SEO for delivery or pick-up Use social media and influencers Use user-generated content Run exclusive Valentine’s Day promotions Add festive details to your website Offer last-minute shopping options Track and adjust your strategy That’s it for Valentine’s Day SEO Start preparing early As with most sales, you need to plan ahead. Begin planning your Valentine’s Day SEO strategy as early as possible. Ideally, you’d start several months in advance. Research keywords related to Valentine’s Day and your industry to see what comes up. When the sale comes, you’ll be inspired and have new ways to promote your products. If you set up gift guide pages, do so in advance so search engines have enough time to index your pages. This increases your chance to rank when the shopping rush begins. Create a landing page specifically for your Valentine’s Day sale. Use it to highlight your best deals and popular items that make great gifts. Keep the URL simple and undated so that you can update and reuse it yearly. This approach helps you build SEO value over time while keeping backlinks intact. It also makes your seasonal campaigns easier to manage in the future. It doesn’t have to be just jewelry or flowers; there are plenty of interesting gift options, like tea Optimize your product pages Your product pages will probably see the most traffic and conversions, so be sure to optimize them. Use proper related keywords in the places where they make sense, but don’t overdo it. For example, instead of “Rose bouquet,” try “Classic rose bouquet for Valentine’s Day.” Yoast SEO for Shopify or WooCommerce SEO can help you do this. Consider conveying that your products are made with a good heart without relying on traditional red heart symbolism. This could involve creative descriptions, imagery, or design elements that convey a sense of warmth, kindness, and generosity without being overtly literal. As always, add high-quality images to your sales pages with descriptive alt-text, such as “red roses for Valentine’s Day delivery.” This will make your product pages more accessible and understandable for search engines. If you sell jewelry, create specific pages with phrases like “Valentine’s Day jewelry sale.” When you have options to deliver your product, include the final delivery date in your communication to build trust and ensure customers receive their items on time. Lego published a great gift guide on its site, including great images and content Create gift guides and seasonal content Content marketing drives traffic to your site. Good content can help shoppers find the perfect gift. For SEO purposes, Valentine’s Day gift guides can serve well. Make guides like “Top 10 gifts for her” or “Romantic ideas for Valentine’s Day.” In these guides, link to the proper product pages to make it easy for shoppers to buy the listed products. Keywords like “Unique Valentine’s Day gift” or “Valentine’s Day flower delivery” work well in blog content. There are plenty of relevant content ideas. For instance, you could create themed infographics or videos to share on social media. Focus on local SEO for delivery or pick-up Is your business locally oriented, and do you offer local delivery or in-store pick-up? Optimize your sales for local searches! Edit your Google Business Profile and add details about your Valentine’s Day sales, opening hours, and local delivery options. Don’t forget to use location-specific keywords in your content. Build a bond with your customers and encourage them to leave reviews. Positive reviews are an important part of building your local business. Use local SEO properly to attract customers needing last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts or same-day delivery. Use social media and influencers Social media is a great tool for promoting your Valentine’s Day deals. Remember to post appealing images of your products, such as flower arrangements, gift boxes, or jewelry. Depending on your business, Instagram and Facebook are especially good for showcasing your Valentine’s gifts. You might even try TikTok if you’re good at video content. TikTok even published a guide to help you with your Valentine’s Day sale. Remember to think about influencers who like your brand. Influencers can create authentic content to drive traffic to your site. Be sure to include special offers to make them actionable. Use user-generated content Social media is also a great place to encourage customers to share their Valentine’s Day experiences with your products. Ask them to post photos of the gifts they purchased, the stories of how they were received, or even a review of the experience of buying from your store. You could even create a branded hashtag and promote it in your social media and email campaigns. As your website is the focal point, remember to add these posts to it. User-generated content helps build trust and acts as social proof. It’s great for potential customers to see that other customers have had an excellent experience with your business. Seeing happy customers share photos of their Valentine’s Day flower arrangements or jewelry gifts can help others do the same. In addition, you are creating a human connection with your customers. Run exclusive Valentine’s Day promotions It’s not just about inspiring customers to want to buy but also about getting them to buy it. Special offers help shoppers complete that last step. Create urgency with limited-time deals, such as “20% off Valentine’s Day gifts for 48 hours.” You can also offer free shipping or discounts on bundles for couples. Don’t forget to use your email newsletters to announce these promotions. Write subject lines like “Valentine’s Day sale — Shop the perfect gift now” to grab attention and get clicks to your site. For a jewelry store, this is always a busy time, so it needs to come prepared Add festive details to your website A subtle way to get shoppers in the mood for Valentine’s Day is to add small festive design elements to your store. For example, you can update banners, landing pages, and CTA buttons with a subtle Valentine’s theme, such as hearts or pink and red color schemes. But be sure to keep it subtle. You can directly link your Valentine’s Day landing page or related content from your website’s header navigation during the sale to improve your SEO. Many ecommerce stores use dynamic navigation to feature seasonal categories like “New In,” “Back to School,” or “Holiday Deals.” Adding a Valentine’s section makes it easy for shoppers to find your offers quickly. Offer last-minute shopping options Some people like to shop at the last moment, so please also cater to them. You can always offer digital gift cards and same-day delivery services. Highlight these offers prominently on your website with phrases like “Still looking? Get it today!” or “Instant Valentine’s Day gifts.” PPC ads like “last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts” in search or on social media help target people needing an urgent solution. It’s a quick and easy solution to get sales from customers running out of time. You won’t be the only one looking for last-minute Valentine’s gifts! Track and adjust your strategy Last but not least, monitor the campaign’s performance. Use analytics and internet marketing tools to track keyword rankings, traffic, and conversions. Find out which products or pages perform well and adjust your strategy where needed. For example, if certain keywords like “Valentine’s Day exclusive jewelry sale” drive traffic, create more content around those topics. Keep an eye on your competitors, too. If they offer something unique, consider how you might adapt your approach. That’s it for Valentine’s Day SEO Planning and great content are the most important things to make your Valentine’s Day sale successful. A targeted campaign can attract more shoppers to your store. Optimize your product pages, create engaging content, and promote your offers via social media and email campaigns. Now, you’ll be ready to turn the season of love into a successful sales season. The post 10 SEO tips for your Valentine’s Day sale appeared first on Yoast. 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Explore the shift in branding with the rise of digital media. Learn how digital channels have transformed the way brands communicate with audiences. The post How Digital Has Changed Branding appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Andy Hunter decided something needed to be done about the endless rise of Amazon in 2018—the year that the e-commerce giant surpassed 50% of book sales in the U.S. market. “I was concerned at that rate of growth,” says founder and CEO of Bookshop.org. Hunter did a back of a napkin projection and figured that by 2025, Amazon would have secured an 80% share of the U.S. market. That worried Hunter, who had long worked in the publishing industry, especially when paired with stats showing half of all independent, local bookshops in the country went out of business at the same time as Amazon became ascendant. “I felt very strongly that books are too important to our culture to give complete control of them to a single monopolist-like retailer,” says Hunter. The vision was what would become Bookshop.org, which is now launching an e-book initiative, enabling its users to download digital books. But whatever the tech, the mission has been the same: supporting local bookstores by allowing them to keep most, if not all, the revenue from book sales made through the website, while giving them a digital storefront at a time when customers do more and more shopping online. (Bookshop.org makes its money through direct sales, where it gets 20% of a book’s value; affiliate sales for other companies, where it gets 10%; and advertising from publishers.) Hunter began building the site in mid-2019, and launched it on January 28, 2020, with a small team of four people. At the time, he was working two day jobs, alongside Bookshop.org as a side project. It was a big gamble—but one that paid off. Within the first month, the site sold $50,000 of books. “I considered that a success, but we didn’t know if it was going to work,” he admits. “We only had eight months of cash runway before we would run out of money and disappear.” While many businesses were negatively impacted by the pandemic, Bookshop.org benefitted from the world moving online. Within the first six weeks of COVID-19, the company onboarded 1,200 bookstores, and fielded interest from the U.K.’s Booksellers Association—resulting in the company launching in the U.K. in November 2020, ahead of the holiday season there. “We launched right into peak trading season,” says Nicole Vanderbilt, a former Etsy executive who led the U.K. arm of Bookshop.org. “It was an immediate success.” The platform has continued its growth in the five years since, embedding itself into the industry in a way that surprises even Hunter. Global revenue in December 2024 hit $8.6 million, $7.5 million of which was from the United States. Hunter believes it’s the personalized touch, and the knowledge that each purchase supports independent bookstores, that has helped the company succeed. “We aren’t cheaper than Amazon and we’re not faster,” he says. While the company tries to remain competitive on price and delivery time, it can’t possibly compete with Amazon’s infrastructure or scale. “Ultimately, the only reason you would ever buy a book from Bookshop or from one of our stores is because of your values, because you appreciate it culturally,” he says. “That’s why we’ve succeeded: because there are enough of those people who have shared the values that we have.” So far, Bookshop.org has competed with Amazon only on physical book sales. But from today, it’s taking the fight to the tech giant with e-book sales, too. The company has developed its own e-book platform, accessible through a web browser or downloadable app for Apple and Android, designed to compete with Kindle, allowing shoppers to buy digital versions of their favorite books from independents. “It cost us about $2 million and took about nine months longer than we thought it would,” says Hunter. That outlay isn’t all that significant for big tech firms, but it was for Bookshop.org, the CEO explains. Yet it was a necessary decision to remain competitive. “E-books are about 15 to 20% of all books sold, and right now you can’t buy them from your local bookshop,” he says, pointing to a European vacation he took with his children last summer where they wanted to read on e-readers, but were forced into big tech’s grasp to do so. Audiobooks will also soon be released in the U.K. later this year, Hunter says—another attempt to maintain feature parity with Amazon. The next five years of Bookshop.org will see the company pursue further digital options for customers, Hunter says—attempting to eke further into Amazon’s market share and to slow its spread as the dominant entity in the market. After all, that was the founding principle that motivated Hunter to set up his company: to stop Amazon reaching that forecast 80% share by 2025. “We are eating into it,” he says. “I know we’ve eaten into it. But the analogy is that we’ve stolen a crumb from the giant’s mouth.” Nearly four in five Bookshop.org customers say they used to buy books on Amazon, according to the company’s own surveys—meaning there’s an untapped market that can be tackled even further. View the full article

If you’re like most people, you use Norton Antivirus to protect your computer from viruses and other online threats. But did you know that Norton is also a popular target for scammers? In this article, we’ll take a look at 13 of the most common Norton scams and show you how to avoid them. Let’s dive right in! Can You Get Scammed Using Norton Antivirus Software? Norton is a well-known and trusted antivirus software provider, but that doesn’t mean you’re immune to scams while using it. Be careful of emails or websites that ask for your Norton account information, as this could be a phishing attempt. Only enter your account information on the Norton website or into the Norton app, and never share it with anyone else. If you think you may have fallen victim to a scam while using Norton, be sure to report it to Norton immediately. READ MORE: 15 Password Apps Common Norton Scams to Be Aware Of As a legitimate antivirus site, Norton is a common target for scammers. Here are 12 of the most common scams you might encounter while using Norton: Norton Email Scams The Norton email scam is one of the most common scams associated with antivirus software. In this scam, you’ll receive a suspicious email that looks like it’s from Norton. The goal of the scammer is to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment that contains malware. Norton Lifelock Scam Identity theft is a serious problem, and Norton offers a service called Lifelock to help protect you from it. However, there’s also an identity theft scam that uses Norton’s name to try and steal your identity. In this scam, you’ll receive an email or phone call from someone claiming to be from Norton Lifelock. Don’t fall for it! Norton Lifelock will never contact you out of the blue and ask for your personal information. Norton Subscription Scam The Norton subscription scam is a prevalent type of email scam. In this scenario, scammers will send an email that appears to be from Norton, requesting that you renew your Norton subscription. They might even provide a discount to lure you in. Norton Phishing Emails In this Norton email scam, Scammers will send you an email that looks like it’s from the official antivirus company, asking you to click on a link or download an attachment. If you do, they may install malware on your computer or steal your personal information. Never click on suspicious links and only visit the official Norton site, avoiding sites from fraudulent search engine results. Norton Phone Scams Scammers will also try to reach you by phone with an urgent request or message, pretending to be from Norton. They may say there’s a problem with your computer or that your subscription is about to expire. More Norton Scams to Watch Out For Norton is a popular target of scammers, like other security services, because it’s a well-known and trusted brand. Be on the lookout for these other scams as well: Norton Tech Support Scam There are plenty of scammers who will claim to be Norton tech support in an attempt to gain access to your computer. They may say there’s a problem with your computer or that your subscription is about to expire. Norton Antivirus Free Trial Scam In this scam, you’ll be offered a free trial of Norton Antivirus, but you’ll actually end up paying for it. Scammers will often use fake websites or pop-ups to lure you in. Norton Virus Removal Scam There are also scams that claim to offer virus removal services from Norton. However, these services are usually unnecessary and overpriced. Norton Coupon Scams Scammers will often use fake coupons or discounts to entice you to buy Norton products from them. Be sure to only buy Norton products from the official website or authorized retailers. Norton Refund Scam This is when scammers will promise to refund your purchase if you provide them with your credit card information. Norton will never ask for your credit card information in order to process a refund. Fake Norton Update Scam In this scam, you receive a notification, either via email or a pop-up on your computer, claiming that their Norton Antivirus software needs an urgent update. The notification looks official and urges you to click a link to perform the update. However, the link leads to a malicious website or downloads malware directly to the user’s computer. How to Avoid: Always update your Norton Antivirus software directly through the official application or website. Be cautious of any unsolicited notifications or emails prompting you to update your software. Verify the legitimacy of the message by contacting Norton’s official customer support. Norton License Expiration Scam In this scam, you receive an email or phone call informing them that their Norton Antivirus license is about to expire. The message pressures you to renew your subscription immediately by providing payment details. The scammers may use fear tactics, suggesting that the user’s computer will be at risk without immediate renewal. However, the communication is fraudulent, and any payment information provided goes directly to the scammers. How to Avoid: Monitor the expiration date of your Norton subscription by checking your official Norton account. Do not respond to unsolicited calls or emails about your Norton subscription. Renew your Norton license only through the official Norton website or application. It’s crucial to stay alert and cautious regarding any unexpected messages that appear to be from Norton, particularly if they ask for personal information or require urgent action. Always confirm through official sources to protect the safety of your information and devices. How to Avoid a Norton Scam To avoid falling victim to scams, it’s important to monitor expired antivirus settings and contact the official Norton technical support team. Norton’s articles offer helpful guidance on maintaining your safety online. Here are five tips to steer clear of Norton scams: Be Wary of Suspicious Emails: If you receive an email that looks like it’s from Norton but seems suspicious, don’t click on any links or open any attachments. Instead, mark the email as spam and delete it. Only Visit the Official Norton Site: When you need to visit Norton’s website, make sure you type the URL into your browser directly. Don’t click on any links that could take you to a fake site. Never Share Your Personal Information: Norton will never ask you for your password or credit card information unless you’re buying something directly from them. If you’re ever asked for this information, it’s a scam. Beware of Norton Phone Scams: If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Norton, don’t give them any information. Hang up and call Norton’s customer service line to confirm the call was legitimate. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date: One of the best ways to avoid scams is to make sure your Norton software is always up-to-date. That way, you’ll have the latest security features and won’t be as vulnerable to attacks. Tips to Avoid Norton ScamsDescription Be Wary of Suspicious EmailsExercise caution with emails that appear to be from Norton but seem suspicious. Refrain from clicking links or opening attachments. Mark such emails as spam and delete them. Only Visit the Official Norton SiteType Norton's URL directly into your browser when visiting their website. Avoid clicking on links that could lead to fake sites, ensuring your interactions are with the authentic site. Never Share Your Personal InformationNorton will never ask for your password or credit card details unless you're making a direct purchase. Avoid sharing this sensitive information unless you're certain of the legitimacy of the request. Beware of Norton Phone ScamsIf someone claiming to be from Norton contacts you via phone, do not provide any information. Hang up and verify the call's legitimacy by reaching out to Norton's official customer service. Keep Your Software Up-to-DateRegularly update your Norton software to access the latest security features. This practice minimizes vulnerabilities and enhances your protection against emerging threats and potential scams. Can Someone Hack You Using Remote Access With Norton Software? Norton’s remote access feature is designed to be secure and only allows authorized users to access your computer. However, no system is perfect, and there’s always a possibility that someone could hack into your computer if they were able to get past Norton’s security measures. To reduce the risk of being hacked, make sure you seek tech support directly from reputable sources. Does Norton Send Text Messages? If you get a suspicious message claiming to be from Norton, avoid clicking on any links or opening any attachments. Instead, mark the message as spam and delete it. If you are uncertain about the authenticity of a message, you can always contact Norton’s customer service team for assistance. How Do You Stop Norton Charging Your Credit Card? If you need to stop Norton from charging your credit card, you can cancel your subscription by logging into your account and going to the ‘Billing’ section. From there, you’ll be able to cancel your subscription and get a refund for any unused time. You can also reach out to Norton support for help. Should You Trust Norton with Your Personal or Financial Information? Norton is a well-known and reputable company, so you can trust them with your personal or account information. Norton Internet Security is one of the most comprehensive security suites available today. It offers a wide range of features and protection against online threats. Frequently Asked Questions Can You Get Scammed Using Norton Antivirus Software? While Norton is widely recognized as a trusted antivirus software provider, it’s important to remain vigilant against potential scams. Cybercriminals often exploit the reputation of reputable brands like Norton to deceive users. Be cautious of unsolicited emails or websites that request your Norton account information. These could be phishing attempts aimed at stealing your sensitive data. To ensure your safety, only enter your account details on the official Norton website or within the Norton app, and never share this information with anyone. If you suspect any fraudulent activity, promptly report it to Norton’s official channels for investigation. What Should You Do If You Think You’ve Been Scammed? If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam while using Norton, it’s crucial to take immediate action. First, cease any interaction with the suspected scammer. Then, report the incident to Norton’s official customer support or security team. They can provide guidance on further steps to take, such as verifying your account security and minimizing potential damage. Remember that acting promptly can help mitigate the impact of the scam and safeguard your digital well-being. What Are Common Norton Scams? Norton scams encompass a range of deceptive tactics designed to exploit users’ trust. Among the most prevalent are Norton email scams, where attackers send seemingly legitimate emails with malicious links or attachments. Norton Lifelock scams leverage the service’s reputation to trick users into divulging personal information. Phishing emails imitating Norton’s official communications aim to harvest sensitive data. Phone scams impersonate Norton support to extract information or payments. These scams highlight the importance of staying informed about the evolving tactics cybercriminals employ and maintaining caution. How Can You Avoid Norton Scams? To thwart Norton scams effectively, adopt a proactive stance: Be Wary of Suspicious Emails: Emails appearing to be from Norton but raising suspicion should be treated as potential scams. Avoid clicking links or opening attachments, and mark the email as spam. Visit Official Norton Site Directly: Always access Norton’s official website by typing the URL directly into your browser. Refrain from clicking links that could lead to fraudulent sites. Never Share Personal Info: Norton will never request passwords or credit card information via unsolicited emails or calls. Share such information only through secure channels. Beware of Phone Scams: If someone claiming to be from Norton contacts you, refrain from sharing information. Disconnect and verify the call’s legitimacy with Norton’s official customer service. Keep Software Up to Date: Regularly updating your Norton software ensures that you benefit from the latest security features, providing improved protection against emerging Norton scams. Can Someone Hack You Using Norton’s Remote Access? Norton’s remote access feature emphasizes security by permitting access only to authorized users on your computer. Although the system is built to be strong, no technology is completely free from hacking risks. To reduce vulnerabilities, make sure to obtain technical support only from trusted sources. By adopting a careful approach and seeking help from verified channels, you can enhance your digital security against possible threats. Does Norton Send Text Messages? Norton does not typically communicate via text messages. If you receive an unexpected text message purporting to be from Norton, exercise caution. Refrain from clicking links or opening attachments. Mark the message as spam and consider reaching out to Norton’s official customer service for guidance and validation. How Can You Stop Norton from Charging Your Credit Card? To prevent further charges from Norton, navigate to your account’s ‘Billing’ section. From there, cancel your subscription to halt any upcoming payments. In most cases, Norton provides refunds for any unused subscription time. If you encounter difficulties, don’t hesitate to contact Norton’s official support for assistance in resolving the matter. Is It Safe to Trust Norton with Personal Information? Absolutely, Norton is a respected and reliable company known for securing personal and financial information. Norton Internet Security offers comprehensive protection against a broad spectrum of online threats. As long as you engage with official Norton channels and adhere to recognized security practices, you can confidently trust Norton to safeguard your valuable data and maintain your online safety. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Norton Scams to Watch Out For" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Choosing the perfect audio to accompany your latest Instagram post is an art, not a science. Still, opting for a trending sound or music clip could provide the boost you need to get your video on the Instagram Explore page or reels feed. While it used to be just for Instagram Reels, you can now add audio to your carousels and single photo posts, too. This gives your posts a better chance of landing on the Explore page, and it makes carousels and photos eligible to appear on the reels feed, too. That opens up a new way to expand your reach. But where can you find trending audio on Instagram? If you feel like you’re always chasing the tail-end of audio trends on the app, you’ve come to the right place. We'll guide you through all the methods you can use to find the most popular music and sounds on Instagram before they drop off the charts. 8 ways to find trending audio on InstagramHere are eight ways to pinpoint a great sound or song for your next Instagram post — piping-hot trending audio for your videos, fresh out of the oven. 1. When creating a post on InstagramInstagram has rolled out a host of updates to improve their in-app reels editor (like their helpful Instagram templates). Now, they've added a feature that may be even handier: a way to see trending audio on Instagram. This is a list of the top 50 tracks that have seen a sharp rise in use over the past three days. So you know these tracks are going to be hot. The easiest way to get this list of trending songs and sounds is while making a post. Once you've chosen your post's media, click the music icon. If you're making a reel, it'll be on the right side of the screen. If you're making a feed post, it'll be at the bottom.Tap ‘Trending’ for the hottest 50 tracks right now. You'll be able to check each audio's position in the charts and whether it's on the rise or decline. Scroll through the other tabs if you want more audio options.⚡Pro tip: You can always save audio for later if you don't want to use it right now. Just tap the bookmark icon next to a track. You’ll find all your bookmarked audios in the "Saved" tab when creating a post.2. Instagram's trending audio listIf you're not ready to create your post yet, another way to get the list of trending audio on Instagram is through the professional dashboard. Note: For now, this feature is only available for professional Instagram accounts on the Instagram mobile app in the U.S. Here’s how to find Instagram's trending audio list: Tap the Professional dashboard button on your profile.Scroll down to the Tips and resources section.Tap Trending audio.3. Trending Instagram ReelsIf the most popular songs on Instagram’s trending audio list don’t quite work for your planned post, it’s worth scrolling through the reels feed for sounds more aligned with your niche. Yes, scrolling is a crucial step in content creation (even if you become so absorbed in the scroll that you forget what you were looking for — it happened to me many times while writing this article). Think of your Instagram Reels feed as an Explore page specifically for videos. It's unique to you, and it's the best place to find trending reels from content creators you follow and those you don’t based on your behavior (this is how Instagram’s algorithm works). Pay attention to the other clips gaining traction in your niche — it’s a great place to source Instagram Reels trends and ideas and make the most of Instagram Reels templates, too. Here’s how to find trending reels: In the Instagram app, tap on the reels video icon on the bottom right of the screen.Find a reel with a sound you like, then tap on the artist and title (next to the music note icon) on the bottom left of the video.This will take you to the audio page. Here, you’ll find how many times the sound has been used, where the reel sound originally came from, and all the other videos it’s been featured in (great for inspiration!). ⚡Pro tip: Trending audio will have an arrow next to the track title instead of the usual music notes. So it's another great way to identify the latest trending sounds if you find something you like while scrolling.4. Instagram searchWhile this method of finding trending sounds on Instagram isn’t quite fool-proof, it’s a great way of exploring outside the content Instagram recommends to you. Tap on the magnifying glass at the bottom of the app to head over to the Explore page.Tap the search bar at the top of the page to type a phrase like “trending audio.” You could even opt for something more specific to the video you plan to post, like “spring clean” or “morning routine,” to see what other creators have used for similar videos.5. The Instagram Creators accountInstagram’s @Creators account is a wealth of great info and ideas for Instagram growth. They regularly publish a reels trends carousel that shares not only the latest and greatest sounds top creators are using, but editing tips and tricks, too. 💡Pro tip: Join the Creators broadcast channel to get news of Instagram’s latest features and trends sent straight to your Instagram inbox. Sign up here.6. YouTube ShortsWhat resonates on YouTube Shorts often strikes a chord on Instagram, too. So, for inspiration, have a look at what's happening there. To find popular audio on YouTube Shorts: Click the ‘+’ button in the YouTube app to start creating a post.Tap Add sound at the top of the screen.Browse recommended songs and genres, or scroll down to find the top trending sounds on Shorts.Take note of the track's title and artist and head back to Instagram to see if you can find the same sound.7. TikTokTikTok is another great platform to check for trending sounds, if it's available in your country. Head over to our Trending TikTok Sounds guide for more tips you can carry over to Instagram. Here are three simple ways to find top TikTok audio: TikTok’s Creative CenterOne of the best ways to find trending sounds for your short-form videos is via TikTok’s Creative Center. The best part? You can pick your country to find which music is resonating the most in your region right now. TikTok’s search functionTikTok’s search function is pretty great (there’s a reason TikTok SEO is the new frontier for social media managers), and it offers a straightforward way to find trending sounds. Just as you would on Instagram: Tap the magnifying glass icon on the top right to open the search tool in the TikTok app.In the search bar, type a phrase like “viral sound” or “trending audio.”Tap the Sounds tab and scroll through, paying special attention to the ones with a high video count.When you find a sound you like, note the name and search for it on Instagram.TikTok’s recommended soundsWhile you’re on TikTok, it’s worth hopping over to TikTok’s curated sound library. To find it: Tap the + button on the bottom middle of your screen (don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re instantly adding a new video).Tap the "Add sound" button at the top.There, you’ll find sounds recommended for you. Make a note of any sounds you like, then search for them on Instagram. 8. Meta Sound CollectionMeta’s Sound Collection is a game-changer for finding trending songs for your Instagram content. Best used on a desktop computer, the system is much more user-friendly than the in-app audio libraries for Instagram and Facebook Reels. There's a bunch of search filters you can apply — genre, mood, duration, and tempo, for example — to help you find the perfect audio to accompany your content. You can even sort the sounds by ‘Most popular’ to give you a good idea of what audio is trending. The only catch: According to the terms of use, content you create with these sounds can only be used on Meta platforms (sorry, YouTube Shorts and TikTok). 💡Want to schedule your Instagram posts and still add trending audio? With Buffer's Instagram notifications, you can! Here's how →17 top trending audio on Instagram in 2025Using several of the methods above, we've pulled together some of the most viral, versatile trending music and sounds on Instagram right now. Take a listen and see if any jive with what you want to create. 1. BlueLast year, Billie Eilish's album Hit Me Hard and Soft made a splash, earning the artist six Grammy nominations in 2025. While her song Birds of a Feather made the rounds on Instagram last year, her moodier tune Blue is currently trending on Instagram, with 1.6M reels using the song to date. Get the audio. 2. Something BeautifulLucky Reinhard's Something Beautiful is the perfect backdrop for an upbeat feel. I've seen this versatile electronic instrumental track used for everything from baking cookies to nail art and travel videos. Get the audio. 3. Feeling GoodClassics like Nina Simone's Feeling Good never go out of style. This jazzy 60s song is recognizable across generations. The best posts I've seen use this trending audio to showcase luxury products like cars and jewelry or for sultry photoshoots. Get the audio. 4. "A princess? Shut up!"This top trending sound is a famous line from the 2001 movie The Princess Diaries. When the main character — a shy and unrefined teenager — finds out she's a princess, she exclaims, "Me, a princess? Shut up!" Now it's experiencing a revival on Instagram, with users acting out surprising or exciting moments while lip-syncing the line and showing some dance moves to celebrate. It's particularly trendy for small businesses to use this track, like when this clothing brand announced a sale: Get the audio. 5. Texas Hold 'Em (Pony Up) RemixWhen Beyoncé dropped a surprise track that immediately started charting last year, how could it not become one of the best songs of 2024 for Instagram Reels? The original toe-tapping tune was featured in millions of reels. But when a song is everywhere, it's also likely to get remixed to bring a new vibe. This currently trending remix is super versatile. Get the audio. 6. Beautiful ThingsThis energizing track by Benson Boone has been trending for a while, and its popularity is not letting up. It's one of my personal faves to karaoke in the car, so I'm not complaining. The lyrics ("Please stay, I want you, I need you, oh God, don't take these beautiful things that I've got") pair brilliantly with so many Instagram-worthy moments. One version by @northernelg remixed the original with another track called Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers for a unique, but still recognizable, sound. Get the audio. 7. The Four Seasons: WinterThis classical violin piece by Vivaldi is an unexpected pick, but it can be a fun way to sync up an in-process video like this burger-building clip: Get the audio. 8. PerfectEd Sheeran's 2017 love song, Perfect, has been used in 2.3 million Instagram Reels to date. It's an ideal song to put in your back pocket for any romantic moment you want to highlight. This couple uses the track to celebrate their wedding anniversary: And @thewavypaintbrush uses it as background music to create Valentine's Day art: Get the audio. 9. "Some days I am just on fire"This is a fun audio clip in which Michael Scott from The Office proclaims, “Some days I am just on fire. What can I say?” You can use this audio to give yourself a genuine pat on the back, make a little fun of yourself, or celebrate your handling of a small task. This bridal shop used the track to pride themselves on picking a customer's perfect dress right away: Get the audio. 10. Golden HourIf you're looking for a soft instrumental, this trending cozy audio track is super versatile. I've seen it used to bring life to a snowy scene, showcase tattoo art, and as a background sound for sleeping puppies — so cute! Get the audio. 11. Watch ThisThis hit by Bibi Gold is great for featuring talents or transformations, as the lyrics "watch this" invite you to show off. Cosplay artist @universeofemily used this charting pop song to show her transition into a Star Wars character: Get the audio. 12. BeansThis trending track has been making waves lately. It's got an upbeat, jazzy feel that I've seen used in many art-making videos, like this one from @juliannecolors: Get the audio. 13. This is What Space Feels LikeThis clip by JVKE has an epic build and lends itself perfectly to transitions — so it’s little wonder the audio has been used in 800K Instagram Reels (and counting). Photographers often use it to show off the results of their work, as @danielmacadangdang has done: Get the audio. 14. Ready For It?As Billboard's #1 artist of the 21st century, any Taylor Swift tracks could be considered trending audio. Her most popular song on Instagram right now is her 2017 electropop hit ...Ready For It? When writing this, it had been used in a whopping 1.1 million reels. The lyrics "Are you ready for it?" make for a great reveal. And since the song has such a strong beat, it's also great for showcasing athletic abilities, as in this gymnastics video: Get the audio. 15. Spinning MonkeysWhether you're active on Instagram or not, you've definitely heard this tune. Monkeys Spinning Monkeys by Kevin MacLeod is an instrumental piece that is a comedy moment staple and perfect for almost any tongue-in-cheek moment you share. For example, it provides a great backdrop for this prank video from @benson_bros_games: Get the audio. 16. Italian cafe vibesThis audio sounds pretty romantic, but many people are using it as a way to poke fun at something. In this video, @revivalluxuryscents uses the track to highlight a funny POV: Get the audio. 17. "Let’s go!"This is such a happy and energetic audio that brings the feel-good vibes. Fun tip: Use the countdown at the beginning to build up excitement and lead into a big reveal, like how @thelawnandorder did in their video using this audio: Get the audio. Happy posting!You're well-equipped to find the next great trending audio on Instagram for your reels, carousels, or single-photo posts — and you've got several great tracks to put in your back pocket if you get stuck! If you’ve created an Instagram post with one of these trending sounds, we’d love to see it. Tag @buffer on Instagram so we can find you! View the full article

Recently, I saved a major exclusive story from nearly getting killed at the eleventh hour. After developing the communications strategy, writing several versions of a pitch that a broader team of external partners would use over the course of the campaign’s phases, and personally intervening when the opportunity was nearly lost after one of the parties involved fumbled, that same party later said to me, “Thanks for your help.” Help. Twenty years in public relations, including over a decade running a successful consultancy, and my strategic leadership was reduced to “help”—a word that carries centuries of loaded meaning for Black women in America. It’s a word that seems disproportionately reserved for people of color, regardless of their role, impact, or level of experience. But this wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve watched a familiar pattern unfold throughout my career: White professionals are dubbed “rockstars” for meeting basic expectations and praised for their “brilliance” for sharing a contrarian thought. Meanwhile, when Black and brown professionals—particularly women of color—demonstrate exceptional results and seemingly do the impossible, we’re thanked for our “help.” “Mislabeling leadership as ‘help’ is a reminder that excellence isn’t always enough to rewrite bias, especially for Black leaders,” says Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, E.d.D., a leadership strategist, facilitator, and author of the book Untapped Leadership: Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders. “It reinforces a long-standing systemic flaw that devalues the intellectual labor and expertise of Black professionals.” Let’s be clear about what help actually is. Help is being a fresh pair of eyes to review slides before a colleague’s presentation. Help is picking up slack on a project when a teammate is out sick. What I and many other diverse professionals do every day isn’t help; it’s leadership that drives business forward and enables teams to succeed. The language we use matters. When companies frame Black leadership as “help,” they perpetuate a subtle but powerful form of professional diminishment. This framing doesn’t just affect individual recognition; it impacts career advancement, team dynamics, and business success. It reinforces an unconscious hierarchy where certain professionals are seen as leaders by default, while others must constantly prove their leadership—only to have it minimized by being characterized as a supporting role. “Language can be a subtle mirror of our biases,” says Vazquez-Newsum. “When we diminish Black leadership to ‘help,’ we prescribe a subordinate narrative to extraordinary contributions. It undercuts expertise even if couched in good intentions or under a veil of gratitude.” This systemic undervaluation has significant business implications. According to research from Russell Reynolds Associates, only 29% of Black professionals with 10-20 years of experience report satisfaction with their level of recognition, compared to 47% of their non-Black peers. Similarly, a LinkedIn survey of more than 2,000 Black professionals found that lack of recognition was a primary driver of turnover, with 33% citing it as a reason they considered leaving their jobs. The cost is substantial to businesses: Companies in the bottom quartile for both gender and ethnic diversity are 66% less likely to outperform their peers financially, per McKinsey data. When organizations fail to acknowledge Black leadership, they risk losing the very talent that could drive success—with Gallup estimating replacement costs reaching up to 200% of annual salary for leadership positions. The solution isn’t simply swapping words—it’s fundamentally shifting how corporate America recognizes and values leadership. Companies must create systems that properly attribute individual contributions and build cultures where excellence is recognized, regardless of who demonstrates it. Vazquez-Newsum emphasizes the broader business implications. “Failing to acknowledge leadership where it exists is a business liability. Bias in language creates an unseen barrier in talent pipelines, costing organizations their most innovative thinkers. What some may dismiss as subtlety, others experience as a powerful deterrent, discouraging the very talent and contributions the companies need to thrive.” She says that companies build a communication culture that fully acknowledges the weight of contributions. “It should be standard practice to explicitly articulate the scope and significance of a colleague’s contribution and align it with recognized leadership behaviors. Simple gratitude is not equivalent to adequate recognition.” There’s help, and there’s business leadership. It’s time for companies—and individuals—to recognize the difference. View the full article

Managing a team has always been challenging. Juggling deadlines, team dynamics, and the occasional awkward, “Can everyone hear me?” moment on Zoom can feel like herding cats—cats that are on mute and probably multi-tasking. View the full article