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Oman’s foreign minister says the two countries are set to meet again following round of negotiations in GenevaView the full article

In a groundbreaking development, Microsoft’s research team has made significant strides in data storage technology that could transform how businesses, including small enterprises, manage their digital assets. The project, aptly named “Project Silica,” outlines advancements in glass-based data storage capable of preserving information for up to 10,000 years. This innovation comes amid escalating concerns about the longevity and reliability of traditional data storage methods like magnetic tapes and hard drives, which can degrade in a matter of decades. For small business owners, this could mean a radical shift in how they safeguard vital business data. The recent findings, published in Nature, showcase a transition from expensive fused silica to more commonplace borosilicate glass—typically found in kitchen cookware. This shift significantly enhances cost-efficiency and accessibility for small businesses. “We have unlocked the science for parallel high-speed writing,” stated the researchers, emphasizing the dual advantages of improved speeds and reduced complexity in data retrieval processes. The unique phase voxel method allows for data to be imprinted using only a single laser pulse, a significant simplification from previous multi-pulse techniques. The upshot? A single reader equipped with one camera can now efficiently retrieve this data, as opposed to the multiple cameras required earlier. Lower operational costs and streamlined manufacturing processes make this technology more applicable for small businesses that depend heavily on both budget and efficiency. The potential applications are extensive. For small businesses involved in sectors that require extensive archival storage—such as legal services, healthcare, or creative industries—Project Silica stands to offer an invaluable solution. Imagine a law firm storing decades of sensitive documentation on durable glass media that remains intact for millennia. Similarly, a small record label could possess a near-immortal repository of music under the preservation of this innovative technology. Microsoft’s research has already demonstrated the application of storing a Warner Bros. film, “Superman,” on quartz glass, alongside initiatives to preserve music for future generations. This clearly illustrates the technology’s potential to transcend standard data storage and enter the domain of cultural preservation. While the benefits are clear, small business owners should also be aware of potential challenges. Implementing this advanced storage technology may require an upfront investment in specialized equipment and training. Furthermore, as the technology is still in its research phase, businesses may face uncertainties regarding standardization, compatibility with existing systems, and long-term costs associated with maintenance and operation. Additionally, while the concept of immutability is alluring, businesses must be mindful of data compliance and evolving regulations regarding data storage, especially in industries like finance or healthcare. As Project Silica enters a new phase post-research, Microsoft is poised to explore the commercial viability of this storage method. They have expressed a commitment to sustainable, long-term digital data preservation, which aligns with the increasing pressures small businesses face regarding data safety and longevity. For small business owners, staying informed about these advancements will be crucial. Integrating such groundbreaking technologies could provide competitive advantages—whether through cost savings, data longevity, or enhanced security. Whether you’re an entrepreneur in technology, retail, or any other industry, the evolving landscape of data storage could soon impact how you manage and protect your vital business information. More details about these advancements can be found in the original blog post from Microsoft Research here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Microsoft Unveils Glass-Based Data Storage That Lasts 10,000 Years" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a groundbreaking development, Microsoft’s research team has made significant strides in data storage technology that could transform how businesses, including small enterprises, manage their digital assets. The project, aptly named “Project Silica,” outlines advancements in glass-based data storage capable of preserving information for up to 10,000 years. This innovation comes amid escalating concerns about the longevity and reliability of traditional data storage methods like magnetic tapes and hard drives, which can degrade in a matter of decades. For small business owners, this could mean a radical shift in how they safeguard vital business data. The recent findings, published in Nature, showcase a transition from expensive fused silica to more commonplace borosilicate glass—typically found in kitchen cookware. This shift significantly enhances cost-efficiency and accessibility for small businesses. “We have unlocked the science for parallel high-speed writing,” stated the researchers, emphasizing the dual advantages of improved speeds and reduced complexity in data retrieval processes. The unique phase voxel method allows for data to be imprinted using only a single laser pulse, a significant simplification from previous multi-pulse techniques. The upshot? A single reader equipped with one camera can now efficiently retrieve this data, as opposed to the multiple cameras required earlier. Lower operational costs and streamlined manufacturing processes make this technology more applicable for small businesses that depend heavily on both budget and efficiency. The potential applications are extensive. For small businesses involved in sectors that require extensive archival storage—such as legal services, healthcare, or creative industries—Project Silica stands to offer an invaluable solution. Imagine a law firm storing decades of sensitive documentation on durable glass media that remains intact for millennia. Similarly, a small record label could possess a near-immortal repository of music under the preservation of this innovative technology. Microsoft’s research has already demonstrated the application of storing a Warner Bros. film, “Superman,” on quartz glass, alongside initiatives to preserve music for future generations. This clearly illustrates the technology’s potential to transcend standard data storage and enter the domain of cultural preservation. While the benefits are clear, small business owners should also be aware of potential challenges. Implementing this advanced storage technology may require an upfront investment in specialized equipment and training. Furthermore, as the technology is still in its research phase, businesses may face uncertainties regarding standardization, compatibility with existing systems, and long-term costs associated with maintenance and operation. Additionally, while the concept of immutability is alluring, businesses must be mindful of data compliance and evolving regulations regarding data storage, especially in industries like finance or healthcare. As Project Silica enters a new phase post-research, Microsoft is poised to explore the commercial viability of this storage method. They have expressed a commitment to sustainable, long-term digital data preservation, which aligns with the increasing pressures small businesses face regarding data safety and longevity. For small business owners, staying informed about these advancements will be crucial. Integrating such groundbreaking technologies could provide competitive advantages—whether through cost savings, data longevity, or enhanced security. Whether you’re an entrepreneur in technology, retail, or any other industry, the evolving landscape of data storage could soon impact how you manage and protect your vital business information. More details about these advancements can be found in the original blog post from Microsoft Research here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Microsoft Unveils Glass-Based Data Storage That Lasts 10,000 Years" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Former secretary of state issues blistering statement in closed-door testimony to lawmakers View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. When selling a home, it’s natural for folks to want to get as much money as possible for their property. That’s why people often put money into repairs and upgrades right before listing their house, and why people hire stagers to make the place look its best. But not all home-selling tactics are above board: Some unscrupulous home sellers resort to dirty tricks to convince you to overpay for their homes. Here are some of the tricks you should watch for on your next open-house tour. Home sellers might try to hide the true age of an applianceA key consideration when buying a home is the condition and age of everything in it, and unscrupulous home sellers might try to hide how old their stuff actually is in order to avoid giving you a credit or being forced to replace aging infrastructure like the furnace or HVAC system. They can always claim they don’t know when something was installed and try to dance around the units’ actual ages, but, typically, a competent home inspector can take one look at the serial number on every appliance and determine when it was manufactured and likely installed. Which is why some home sellers might try to deter this by simply removing serial number stickers or plates from appliances, or scratching them to make them unreadable. Sometimes they might even use a marker to try to change installation dates, if they’re marked on the unit. If you can’t easily locate and read the serial numbers on appliances, be suspicious at the very least and insist on finding out how old the units actually are. Sellers could try to re-label appliances with high-end brand badgesMost people aren’t experts in kitchen appliances, but most people are aware of the hierarchy of brands, and that certain brands—like Viking—are extremely expensive and high-end. So if you walk into a kitchen and the shiny, stainless-steel appliances have Viking badges on them, you might be thrilled to think you’re about to buy the most luxurious kitchen you’ve ever had. You might even be okay with paying a bit more if the appliances are included. And it might be a ruse. You can actually buy appliance badges for brands like Viking online, adhere them on your mid-range appliances (covering or removing the real emblem), and hope buyers don’t know what the actual high-end models look like. This obviously won’t work on anyone who knows their way around appliances (or who has used high-end models in the past), but for a few bucks, it’s an easy way to make a kitchen look way more upgraded than it is. It’s only slightly less terrible than folks who leave brand-new appliances in place for the open house, then swap them for old, beat-up versions after closing—taking the good stuff with them. Sellers might use these tricks to make old appliances look newer and more expensiveAppliances can make or break a kitchen—and a sale price. A kitchen that looks new and recently remodeled can boost the sale price of a house significantly. This inspires some cash-strapped sellers to try to make the kitchen look as new as possible with some cheap tricks. There’s nothing wrong with sprucing up a tired old kitchen using some of these techniques, of course—as long as you’re open about it. It becomes problematic when a seller lets you assume things are newer and in better condition than they are and does nothing to disabuse you of the notion. A few common tricks include: Fake stainless steel. People love the look of stainless steel, and tend to assume that stainless steel appliances are higher-end than white or black versions. It’s pretty easy and cheap to apply decals, contact paper, or vinyl wrap that will give an appliance a stainless steel look, making it just as easy for a buyer to assume those shiny appliances are newer and higher-end than they really are. Always check serial numbers—and be wary if they’re obscured or missing. Upgraded oven grates, knobs, and hardware. Combined with a stainless steel decal, swapping out old, crusty burner grates for fancier new ones and replacing plastic knobs with metal versions can make an old oven look brand new. Again: If disclosed, there’s nothing wrong with this. Dishwasher cabinet panel. One easy way to obscure the condition of an old dishwasher is to add a cabinet panel that matches the rest of the cabinetry. This gives it a high-end, built-in look that might cause buyers to overlook the actual age and functionality of the appliance. This can be a DIY job for anyone who’s reasonably handy—and might even be considered a nice upgrade, as long as you know what’s lurking beneath that panel. Home sellers could make isolated upgrades to high bigger problemsEveryone does some work to get a house ready for sale. Deep cleaning, fresh paint, and necessary repairs get done shortly before the listing goes live so the house looks its best and looks well-maintained. But sometimes those necessary repairs are hiding a chronic problem the seller is hoping no one will notice because they’ve fixed it “for now” and covered up the damage. The tell-tale sign is an isolated upgrade—a single wall painted in a room, a spot of new shingle on the roof, brand new carpet in the third bedroom but nowhere else, for example. A single, lonely upgrade or renovation, no matter how nicely done, might be a sign that something happened in that spot that the seller doesn’t want you to know about. At the very least, isolated upgrades should be pointed out to your home inspector for extra attention. Sellers can stage furniture and decor to hide defects in the homeAnother way home sellers try to trick potential buyers and hide problems is probably the oldest trick in the book: Simply hiding the problem under something else. If the house is being shown furnished and possibly staged, the clutter and interior design can distract you from checking out the bones of the place—and, after all, we don’t often move furniture around when checking out an open house. A few common tricks to watch for include: Oddly-placed furniture. If a room has way too much furniture in it, or the couches and chairs are placed in strange ways that make the room uncomfortable, it’s time to look underneath and behind to see if there’s damage to walls and floors the seller doesn’t want you to see. For-show drapes and curtains. If you see voluminous, floor-to-ceiling drapes and curtains in a room, pause to ask yourself if there’s actually a window behind them. They may have been added to hide a water-damaged wall or other problem. Brand new area rug or carpet. If there’s a brand-new area rug or carpet in one area of the house but the flooring is tired and worn everywhere else, take a peek under it, if you can. It may have been added to quickly hide a problem. Door propping. Did the seller helpfully prop open all the doors so you could move freely through the open house? That’s nice. Now remove the doorstops and make sure the doors actually close properly. The freshest air. Making a house smell nice is an old technique when selling a home. A fresh batch of cookies or a quick airing-out is fine, of course, but if the house smells like someone splashed a gallon of Febreze everywhere they might be hiding an ominous smell—like mold, or cigarette smoke. View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Since the 2008 housing bust and subsequent Great Financial Crisis (GFC), mortgage lending has steadily shifted away from big banks. In the years that followed—amid tighter regulations, higher capital requirements, and elevated litigation risk—many large banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, reduced their mortgage footprint. In that void, nonbank lenders, also known as independent mortgage banks (IMBs), such as Rocket Mortgage, United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), and loanDepot, gained market share. Now, a top Federal Reserve official is openly questioning whether policy and regulation went too far—and is signaling that a policy shift may be coming. In a February 16 speech at the American Bankers Association’s Community Bankers Conference, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman pointed to what she described as a “significant migration” of mortgage origination and servicing out of the banking sector over the past 15 years. According to Bowman: In 2008, banks originated around 60% of mortgages and held the servicing rights on about 95% of mortgage balances In 2023, banks originated around 35% of mortgages and held the servicing rights on about 45% of mortgage balances That’s pretty in line with the data ResiClub pulled from the U.S. Department of the Treasury: During her speech, Bowman suggested that post-2013 capital rules—particularly the treatment of Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs)* under Basel standards**—may have contributed to the mortgage retreat by banks. MSRs, which represent the expected value of servicing income when loans are sold into securitizations, were assigned higher risk weights and subject to deduction thresholds after the crisis. While regulators tightened those rules over concerns about valuation volatility and model risk, the capital treatment also made servicing and, by extension, mortgage origination less economically attractive for banks. The result, Bowman implied, is a mortgage market increasingly concentrated in nonbank firms that lack deposit funding and operate under different supervisory and resolution frameworks. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Bowman said, borrowers with bank servicers were more likely to receive forbearance than those serviced by nonbanks—highlighting structural differences that can matter during stress periods, she says. Bowman previewed potential changes now under consideration, including removing the deduction requirement for MSRs and making mortgage capital rules more sensitive to loan-to-value ratios rather than applying a uniform risk weight. Such changes would not unwind post-crisis reforms but could modestly improve the economics of bank mortgage activity, Bowman says. Here’s what Bowman said in her February 16 speech: “Two regulatory proposals will soon be introduced that, among other broader changes to the regulatory capital framework, would increase bank incentives to engage in mortgage origination and servicing. First, the proposals would remove the requirement to deduct mortgage servicing assets from regulatory capital while maintaining the 250 percent risk weight assigned to these assets. We will seek comment on the appropriate risk weight for these assets. This change in the treatment of mortgage servicing assets would encourage bank participation in the mortgage servicing business while recognizing uncertainty regarding the value of these assets over the economic cycle. Second, the proposals would also consider increasing the risk sensitivity of capital requirements for mortgage loans on bank books. One approach would be to use loan-to-value ratios to determine the applicable risk weight for residential real estate exposures, rather than applying a uniform risk weight regardless of LTV. This change could better align capital requirements with actual risk, support on-balance-sheet lending by banks, and potentially reverse the trend of migration of mortgage activity to nonbanks over the past 15 years.” James Kleimann, founder of Mortgage Scoop, writes the following: “This stuff is quite complicated, but basically the Fed is weighing a plan to remove the rule that banks must deduct MSR assets from regulatory capital while maintaining a 250% risk weight for those assets. In plain English, that means regulators treat $1 of MSRs like $2.50 of risky assets. What the appropriate risk weight level should be remains the central question, but this potential change is something the MBA [Mortgage Bankers Association] has been arguing in favor of for years.” Big picture: If adopted, the proposals could mark the beginning of a gradual rebalancing in housing finance—one that brings more mortgage origination and servicing back inside the traditional banking system after more than a decade of migration outward. View the full article

A reader writes: I’m a 32-year-old professional on a niche team for a large corporation and have been in my role for four years. When I was interviewing, I was living in City A, a low-cost-of-living city that I really disliked. When I took my current job, they were clear that they allow my role to be performed from anywhere in the U.S., and I was hired at a salary consistent with my experience and then-geographic location. About five months after starting, I moved to City B, a much-higher-cost-of-living city. My director told me that while my move was no problem logistically, I would not receive a pay increase for relocating, as the move was my initiative and the company didn’t care where I performed my work from. I agreed, because this made sense to me and I was desperate to get out of City A. Now, I’ve been in City B for a few years, received merit increases each year, and have only gotten good feedback from my team. I love my work, feel supported in my role, and see a real future for myself here. I also love living in City B and intend to stay here or a comparably-sized (and comparably-priced) coastal city long-term. Despite all this, I can’t help but think about the fact that if I had just lived in City B at the time of hiring, I’d have started at a higher salary band based on my local cost of living and would certainly be making more each year. I get by alright, but am definitely not able to contribute to savings at the rate I should be and have no viable path to home ownership here with what I make. When I’ve seen comparable roles in my city advertised, they’re paying about 20% more than I make now. Thinking about being here long-term, I worry that I’ll never really catch up to what I’d be making if I’d been hired while living here despite consistently receiving raises, but am not sure how to explain it to my higher-ups without sounding like A) I’m just being greedy or B) I’m reneging on the very clear conversation I had with my director when I moved, and am now expecting them to pay me more for a move I initiated. I’m not sure at what point I should flag for them that while I want to stay here, I’m worried that doing so will keep my annual pay lower than it’d be if I applied elsewhere with a home address in a high-cost-of-living city. Is there a way to raise this conversation, or is this a lost cause since my job is a do-it-from-anywhere role and I chose to live someplace expensive? It feels like I’d be most easily able to bring this to a head if I got a higher-paying job offer from someplace else and brought it to my boss, but that feels risky, time-consuming, and like overkill when I don’t want to leave my job in the first place. Any guidance is appreciated, even if that guidance is telling me that I’m being unnecessarily fixated on the “what ifs” of my salary. For what it’s worth, while my team has been fantastic, I am the youngest person by about a decade, the only woman, and the only one of my racial/ethnic background, all of which really seem to be compounding my stress about having an honest conversation about pay with my bosses. I wrote back and asked more how cost-of-living pay normally works in the letter-writer’s company: Generally, my company sets starting pay for people based on experience and the local market where they are living. If an employee transfers to a different location and begins working from an office there, their salary is updated for cost of living to make it competitive in their new local market. That didn’t apply to me because I work completely remotely and thus didn’t go through the whole office-transfer process when I moved. Since my team is fully remote, I think there’s just not a clear policy that would address my situation. Most/all of the people on my team have lived in the same cities since they were hired and are settled there. When I moved after being hired, a few people noted that I was the first person they could remember to have moved a significant distance while on our team. So I think it’s not like they’re intentionally paying me less, mine just isn’t a situation that they’ve encountered recently. It’s true that this isn’t something you could have raised just a few months after moving — when you’d clearly agreed that the move wouldn’t come with a pay raise since it was at your initiative rather than the company’s — but it’s been nearly four years. It’s more reasonable to revisit how your pay is structured now: you’ve been there a lot longer, your value has presumably increased significantly (you’d only been there five months when you first negotiated this!), and you’re thinking about what your future will look like long-term. I would frame it this way: “Would Company consider a cost-of-living adjustment for me being in CityName? I know originally the plan was that my pay wouldn’t change when I moved, but now that I’ve been here a few years and I think have been contributing to the team at a high level, I’m hoping we can revisit my compensation. I’d love to stay with the company long-term and I also plan to be in CityName long-term. When I see comparable roles advertised here, they’re paying about 20% more than I make. My concern is that if I’d applied while living here originally, my salary would have been set higher from the start, and that difference will compound the longer I’m here.” Again, it’s been four years and you’re more valuable to them now! It makes sense that you’re thinking about how and whether this can work for you long-term, and it makes sense that they would want to know how they can increase the chances of keeping you long-term. If your manager values you, they may be a lot more willing to work with you on this now than when you were only five months in. They still might say no! That’s always a risk when you ask for a raise. But you won’t look greedy or out of line for asking. The post can I ask for a cost-of-living raise after I chose to move to a more expensive city? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

To improve your social media engagement, it’s essential to utilize effective post types that resonate with your audience. Consider asking questions to spark interaction or launching contests to incentivize participation. You can likewise collaborate with influencers to broaden your reach or share customer testimonials to build trust. Each of these strategies plays a unique role in boosting your presence online. Discover how these techniques can transform your engagement levels and cultivate a thriving community. Key Takeaways Ask your audience engaging questions to encourage interaction and gather feedback on preferences. Use polls for quick decision-making, fostering community involvement and brand loyalty through fun choices. Launch contests or giveaways that incentivize user-generated content, enhancing engagement and community trust. Share behind-the-scenes content to humanize your brand and offer followers insights into your operations and culture. Create educational how-tos that position your brand as an expert, encouraging consistent audience engagement through valuable information. Ask Your Audience Questions How can you effectively engage your audience on social media? One of the best social posts you can create is to ask your audience questions. This approach significantly increases engagement, as posts that invite interaction typically receive 30% more comments and shares. Utilizing question stickers in Instagram Stories can streamline responses and encourage participation. You can ask casual questions about weekend plans or specific inquiries about favorite products, catering to diverse interests. Engaging your followers through direct questions not merely promotes interaction but also provides valuable feedback, helping you understand their preferences. By regularly asking questions, you improve your brand’s approachability and relatability, which are crucial good social media practices for building a loyal community. Collaborate With Influencers Collaborating with influencers can greatly augment your brand’s reach and engagement, especially when you choose individuals whose values align with yours. Here’s how you can use social media to make the most of these partnerships: Select Relatable Influencers: Choose influencers whose audience overlaps with yours. Authenticity builds trust, and 82% of consumers appreciate relatable influencers. Leverage Creative Content: Influencers can generate unique posts that boost your brand’s visibility. With 70% of teens trusting influencers, their content can resonate with younger audiences. Encourage User-Generated Content: Engage with influencers who share user-generated content. This can elevate your engagement rate by 28% and create a sense of community around your brand. Launch a Contest or Giveaway Launching a contest or giveaway can be an effective strategy to improve your brand’s engagement on social media, especially since 70% of users report increased interaction with brands that host such events. To maximize participation, choose prizes that are relevant to your brand and appealing to your audience. Encourage user-generated content as entries, which not only boosts engagement but also builds community trust among your followers. It’s crucial to clearly outline the terms and conditions to guarantee legality and transparency, so participants understand the rules and eligibility requirements. In addition, using specific hashtags can help you track entries and engagement, making it easier to measure the contest’s success and reach across various social media platforms. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content Sharing behind-the-scenes content can greatly improve your brand’s engagement on social media, as it offers followers a glimpse into your operations and culture. This type of transparency cultivates trust and creates a deeper connection with your audience. To maximize this effect, consider incorporating these elements: Team Spotlights: Highlight your employees, showcasing their roles and contributions. This makes your brand more relatable and humanized. Production Processes: Share insights into how your products are made or services are delivered. It demystifies your operations and builds interest. Daily Activities: Offer a “day in the life” perspective of your team. This encourages conversation and involvement from your followers. Utilizing behind-the-scenes content can greatly elevate your brand’s social media presence and engagement. Use Polls to Engage Followers Using polls is a strong method to engage your followers and spark meaningful conversations. By asking the right questions, you can cater to diverse interests as well as gaining valuable insights into your audience’s preferences. Whether you’re curious about their weekend plans or want feedback on a new product, polls not merely improve interaction but additionally inform your future content strategy. Poll Types and Benefits Polls are an excellent tool for boosting engagement on social media, as they invite your followers to participate in quick decision-making during providing valuable insights. Here are three popular types of polls you can use: This or That: Simple choices that allow followers to express preferences quickly, promoting interaction and fun. Rating Scales: Invite users to rate products or experiences, helping you gather deeper feedback and understand customer satisfaction levels. Multiple Choice: Present various options related to your brand or industry, encouraging discussion and revealing insights into audience interests. Engaging Questions to Ask What kinds of questions can you ask to spark engagement with your followers? Polls are an effective way to encourage participation and gather opinions. You might ask casual questions like, “What’s your favorite weekend activity?” or more specific ones related to your products, such as, “Which feature do you prefer?” Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn for polls can lead to significant interaction rates, driving discussions around trending topics. On Instagram, question stickers in Stories allow for quick responses, making it easy to connect with your audience. Engaging with followers through these questions nurtures community involvement and strengthens the relationship between your brand and its audience, ultimately promoting loyalty and encouraging repeat engagement. Celebrate Social Media Holidays Celebrating social media holidays can be a strong way to boost your engagement. By recognizing key dates like #NationalDogDay or #WorldMentalHealthDay, you can create themed content that resonates with your audience and encourages sharing. Furthermore, incorporating relevant hashtags and interactive elements, such as polls or questions, will improve your visibility and cultivate a sense of community around your brand. Key Social Media Dates As you plan your social media strategy, recognizing key social media holidays can be a significant way to improve engagement with your audience. These special dates not just encourage followers to participate but additionally allow your brand to resonate with their interests. Here are three key social media dates to take into account: National Selfie Day (June 21) – Encourage your audience to share their selfies using your branded hashtag. World Social Media Day (June 30) – Celebrate the impact of social media with interactive posts, promoting a sense of community. International Coffee Day (October 1) – Create themed content around coffee, prompting users to share their favorite coffee moments. Utilizing popular hashtags related to these holidays can further improve your post visibility and drive engagement. Creative Holiday Content Ideas To effectively celebrate social media holidays, you can leverage creative content ideas that resonate with your audience and encourage participation. Start by recognizing trending holidays like National Selfie Day or World Kindness Day, as these can notably boost engagement. Use relevant hashtags to expand your reach and make it easier for users to discover your posts. Incorporate interactive elements, such as polls or quizzes, related to the holiday, which invites your followers to engage and share their opinions. Furthermore, sharing user-generated content aligned with holiday themes cultivates community involvement and strengthens brand loyalty. Finally, develop unique, holiday-themed visuals customized to your brand, as these can capture attention and improve shareability across social media platforms. Engage With Themed Posts Engaging with themed posts during social media holidays can greatly improve your brand’s visibility and interaction rates. By aligning your content with popular dates, you tap into users’ interests, encouraging them to share and engage. Here are three effective strategies to contemplate: Leverage Trending Topics: Connect your posts to widely recognized holidays like National Pet Day or World Health Day, increasing relatability and visibility. Use Relevant Hashtags: Incorporate hashtags such as #NationalCoffeeDay or #ThrowbackThursday to link your content to broader conversations, enhancing reach. Create Interactive Campaigns: Develop contests or giveaways related to these holidays, driving user participation and broadening brand awareness. Share Customer Testimonials Customer testimonials play a crucial role in building brand credibility and trust among potential buyers. Sharing these testimonials can greatly improve your brand’s reputation, as 79% of consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations. They serve as impactful social proof; 72% of consumers state that positive testimonials increase their trust in a business. Incorporating video testimonials boosts engagement, generating 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Highlighting real customer stories can lead to increased conversion rates, with 88% of consumers influenced by user-generated content during their purchasing decisions. Regularly sharing testimonials on social media cultivates community and loyalty, as 74% of consumers are more likely to engage with a brand that showcases customer experiences. Create Educational How-Tos Building on the value of customer testimonials, creating educational how-tos can further improve your brand’s presence and authority in your niche. These informative posts position you as an expert, attracting an audience keen to learn. Here are three effective strategies to implement: Use Visual Formats: Incorporate infographics and videos to make complex information easily digestible, increasing shares and saves. Incorporate Step-by-Step Guides: Clear, structured guides encourage interaction, prompting users to ask questions or share their experiences. Establish a Posting Habit: Regularly sharing educational content keeps your audience engaged and cultivates a loyal community eager for your expertise. Leverage Trending Topics To boost engagement, you should leverage trending topics, as they can make your posts more relevant and visible. By participating in current events or seasonal trends, you can connect with a wider audience and increase interaction rates considerably. Incorporating popular hashtags not just broadens your reach but likewise shows that your brand stays informed and engages with timely content. Current Events Relevance Leveraging current events in your social media posts can greatly improve audience engagement, especially since 68% of users feel that timely content strengthens their connection with brands. By tapping into trending topics, you not only attract attention but also encourage shares, enhancing visibility. Here are three strategies for incorporating current events into your posts: Participate in conversations: Engage with major news events to connect with your audience on shared interests. Use relevant hashtags: Incorporate trending hashtags to extend your reach and join broader discussions happening in real-time. Show your brand’s personality: Share your values and opinions on current events, promoting deeper connections with those who resonate with your message. Implementing these strategies can greatly boost your social media engagement. Seasonal Trends Participation Participating in seasonal trends offers a unique opportunity for brands to align their content with holidays and events that resonate with their audience, improving both relevance and engagement. By using trending hashtags related to these seasonal events, you can increase your post visibility, reaching a larger audience actively searching for related content. Engaging with seasonal topics additionally encourages user-generated content, allowing your followers to share their experiences, which helps cultivate community and connection. Importantly, brands that effectively participate in these trends often see a significant boost in engagement, with 78% of users ready to purchase after positive interactions. Leveraging seasonal themes not merely improves participation but also showcases your brand’s personality and values, making your content more relatable and shareable. Highlight Company Milestones Highlighting company milestones is a strong way to improve your brand’s visibility and engage your audience. When you celebrate achievements, you invite followers to connect with your expedition. Here are three effective ways to do this: Visual Content: Share infographics or photos that detail your progress. This makes your posts more relatable and encourages shares. Storytelling: Discuss the challenges and successes you faced during reaching milestones. This creates emotional connections and amplifies engagement. User Engagement: Invite your audience to share their experiences with your brand. This user-generated content nurtures authenticity and builds trust within the community. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Social Media Posts Get the Most Engagement? To maximize engagement on social media, focus on several effective post types. Posts that ask questions or invite participation, like polls, encourage interaction. Visual content, including images and videos, captures attention and drives higher engagement rates. User-generated content improves authenticity and can greatly boost interaction. Furthermore, behind-the-scenes glimpses humanize your brand, whereas contests and giveaways create excitement, often resulting in a remarkable increase in audience engagement. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you should post a balanced mix of content. For every 15 posts, you’d share 5 promotional, 5 educational, and 5 entertaining posts. This strategy keeps your audience engaged by providing variety, preventing them from becoming bored with repetitive content. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media content suggests you allocate 50% of your posts to engaging and entertaining material, 30% to informative or educational content, and 20% to promotional messages. This balanced approach helps you connect with your audience, as it avoids overwhelming them with constant promotions. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, focus on posting interactive content like polls and questions, which encourages user participation. Share customer testimonials to build trust and credibility. Offer behind-the-scenes glimpses to humanize your brand, cultivating a sense of connection. Regularly provide educational content, such as how-to guides, to position your brand as an authority. Finally, maintain consistency with themed posts to create anticipation and loyalty among your followers, enhancing overall engagement. Conclusion By incorporating these ten effective post types into your social media strategy, you can considerably improve engagement with your audience. Asking questions and using polls invite interaction, whereas contests and giveaways encourage participation. Sharing testimonials builds trust, and collaborating with influencers expands your reach. Behind-the-scenes content and company milestones create a personal connection, whereas educational how-tos establish expertise. Finally, leveraging trending topics keeps your content relevant. Implementing these strategies can lead to a more engaged and loyal follower base. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Best Social Posts to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To improve your social media engagement, it’s essential to utilize effective post types that resonate with your audience. Consider asking questions to spark interaction or launching contests to incentivize participation. You can likewise collaborate with influencers to broaden your reach or share customer testimonials to build trust. Each of these strategies plays a unique role in boosting your presence online. Discover how these techniques can transform your engagement levels and cultivate a thriving community. Key Takeaways Ask your audience engaging questions to encourage interaction and gather feedback on preferences. Use polls for quick decision-making, fostering community involvement and brand loyalty through fun choices. Launch contests or giveaways that incentivize user-generated content, enhancing engagement and community trust. Share behind-the-scenes content to humanize your brand and offer followers insights into your operations and culture. Create educational how-tos that position your brand as an expert, encouraging consistent audience engagement through valuable information. Ask Your Audience Questions How can you effectively engage your audience on social media? One of the best social posts you can create is to ask your audience questions. This approach significantly increases engagement, as posts that invite interaction typically receive 30% more comments and shares. Utilizing question stickers in Instagram Stories can streamline responses and encourage participation. You can ask casual questions about weekend plans or specific inquiries about favorite products, catering to diverse interests. Engaging your followers through direct questions not merely promotes interaction but also provides valuable feedback, helping you understand their preferences. By regularly asking questions, you improve your brand’s approachability and relatability, which are crucial good social media practices for building a loyal community. Collaborate With Influencers Collaborating with influencers can greatly augment your brand’s reach and engagement, especially when you choose individuals whose values align with yours. Here’s how you can use social media to make the most of these partnerships: Select Relatable Influencers: Choose influencers whose audience overlaps with yours. Authenticity builds trust, and 82% of consumers appreciate relatable influencers. Leverage Creative Content: Influencers can generate unique posts that boost your brand’s visibility. With 70% of teens trusting influencers, their content can resonate with younger audiences. Encourage User-Generated Content: Engage with influencers who share user-generated content. This can elevate your engagement rate by 28% and create a sense of community around your brand. Launch a Contest or Giveaway Launching a contest or giveaway can be an effective strategy to improve your brand’s engagement on social media, especially since 70% of users report increased interaction with brands that host such events. To maximize participation, choose prizes that are relevant to your brand and appealing to your audience. Encourage user-generated content as entries, which not only boosts engagement but also builds community trust among your followers. It’s crucial to clearly outline the terms and conditions to guarantee legality and transparency, so participants understand the rules and eligibility requirements. In addition, using specific hashtags can help you track entries and engagement, making it easier to measure the contest’s success and reach across various social media platforms. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content Sharing behind-the-scenes content can greatly improve your brand’s engagement on social media, as it offers followers a glimpse into your operations and culture. This type of transparency cultivates trust and creates a deeper connection with your audience. To maximize this effect, consider incorporating these elements: Team Spotlights: Highlight your employees, showcasing their roles and contributions. This makes your brand more relatable and humanized. Production Processes: Share insights into how your products are made or services are delivered. It demystifies your operations and builds interest. Daily Activities: Offer a “day in the life” perspective of your team. This encourages conversation and involvement from your followers. Utilizing behind-the-scenes content can greatly elevate your brand’s social media presence and engagement. Use Polls to Engage Followers Using polls is a strong method to engage your followers and spark meaningful conversations. By asking the right questions, you can cater to diverse interests as well as gaining valuable insights into your audience’s preferences. Whether you’re curious about their weekend plans or want feedback on a new product, polls not merely improve interaction but additionally inform your future content strategy. Poll Types and Benefits Polls are an excellent tool for boosting engagement on social media, as they invite your followers to participate in quick decision-making during providing valuable insights. Here are three popular types of polls you can use: This or That: Simple choices that allow followers to express preferences quickly, promoting interaction and fun. Rating Scales: Invite users to rate products or experiences, helping you gather deeper feedback and understand customer satisfaction levels. Multiple Choice: Present various options related to your brand or industry, encouraging discussion and revealing insights into audience interests. Engaging Questions to Ask What kinds of questions can you ask to spark engagement with your followers? Polls are an effective way to encourage participation and gather opinions. You might ask casual questions like, “What’s your favorite weekend activity?” or more specific ones related to your products, such as, “Which feature do you prefer?” Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn for polls can lead to significant interaction rates, driving discussions around trending topics. On Instagram, question stickers in Stories allow for quick responses, making it easy to connect with your audience. Engaging with followers through these questions nurtures community involvement and strengthens the relationship between your brand and its audience, ultimately promoting loyalty and encouraging repeat engagement. Celebrate Social Media Holidays Celebrating social media holidays can be a strong way to boost your engagement. By recognizing key dates like #NationalDogDay or #WorldMentalHealthDay, you can create themed content that resonates with your audience and encourages sharing. Furthermore, incorporating relevant hashtags and interactive elements, such as polls or questions, will improve your visibility and cultivate a sense of community around your brand. Key Social Media Dates As you plan your social media strategy, recognizing key social media holidays can be a significant way to improve engagement with your audience. These special dates not just encourage followers to participate but additionally allow your brand to resonate with their interests. Here are three key social media dates to take into account: National Selfie Day (June 21) – Encourage your audience to share their selfies using your branded hashtag. World Social Media Day (June 30) – Celebrate the impact of social media with interactive posts, promoting a sense of community. International Coffee Day (October 1) – Create themed content around coffee, prompting users to share their favorite coffee moments. Utilizing popular hashtags related to these holidays can further improve your post visibility and drive engagement. Creative Holiday Content Ideas To effectively celebrate social media holidays, you can leverage creative content ideas that resonate with your audience and encourage participation. Start by recognizing trending holidays like National Selfie Day or World Kindness Day, as these can notably boost engagement. Use relevant hashtags to expand your reach and make it easier for users to discover your posts. Incorporate interactive elements, such as polls or quizzes, related to the holiday, which invites your followers to engage and share their opinions. Furthermore, sharing user-generated content aligned with holiday themes cultivates community involvement and strengthens brand loyalty. Finally, develop unique, holiday-themed visuals customized to your brand, as these can capture attention and improve shareability across social media platforms. Engage With Themed Posts Engaging with themed posts during social media holidays can greatly improve your brand’s visibility and interaction rates. By aligning your content with popular dates, you tap into users’ interests, encouraging them to share and engage. Here are three effective strategies to contemplate: Leverage Trending Topics: Connect your posts to widely recognized holidays like National Pet Day or World Health Day, increasing relatability and visibility. Use Relevant Hashtags: Incorporate hashtags such as #NationalCoffeeDay or #ThrowbackThursday to link your content to broader conversations, enhancing reach. Create Interactive Campaigns: Develop contests or giveaways related to these holidays, driving user participation and broadening brand awareness. Share Customer Testimonials Customer testimonials play a crucial role in building brand credibility and trust among potential buyers. Sharing these testimonials can greatly improve your brand’s reputation, as 79% of consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations. They serve as impactful social proof; 72% of consumers state that positive testimonials increase their trust in a business. Incorporating video testimonials boosts engagement, generating 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Highlighting real customer stories can lead to increased conversion rates, with 88% of consumers influenced by user-generated content during their purchasing decisions. Regularly sharing testimonials on social media cultivates community and loyalty, as 74% of consumers are more likely to engage with a brand that showcases customer experiences. Create Educational How-Tos Building on the value of customer testimonials, creating educational how-tos can further improve your brand’s presence and authority in your niche. These informative posts position you as an expert, attracting an audience keen to learn. Here are three effective strategies to implement: Use Visual Formats: Incorporate infographics and videos to make complex information easily digestible, increasing shares and saves. Incorporate Step-by-Step Guides: Clear, structured guides encourage interaction, prompting users to ask questions or share their experiences. Establish a Posting Habit: Regularly sharing educational content keeps your audience engaged and cultivates a loyal community eager for your expertise. Leverage Trending Topics To boost engagement, you should leverage trending topics, as they can make your posts more relevant and visible. By participating in current events or seasonal trends, you can connect with a wider audience and increase interaction rates considerably. Incorporating popular hashtags not just broadens your reach but likewise shows that your brand stays informed and engages with timely content. Current Events Relevance Leveraging current events in your social media posts can greatly improve audience engagement, especially since 68% of users feel that timely content strengthens their connection with brands. By tapping into trending topics, you not only attract attention but also encourage shares, enhancing visibility. Here are three strategies for incorporating current events into your posts: Participate in conversations: Engage with major news events to connect with your audience on shared interests. Use relevant hashtags: Incorporate trending hashtags to extend your reach and join broader discussions happening in real-time. Show your brand’s personality: Share your values and opinions on current events, promoting deeper connections with those who resonate with your message. Implementing these strategies can greatly boost your social media engagement. Seasonal Trends Participation Participating in seasonal trends offers a unique opportunity for brands to align their content with holidays and events that resonate with their audience, improving both relevance and engagement. By using trending hashtags related to these seasonal events, you can increase your post visibility, reaching a larger audience actively searching for related content. Engaging with seasonal topics additionally encourages user-generated content, allowing your followers to share their experiences, which helps cultivate community and connection. Importantly, brands that effectively participate in these trends often see a significant boost in engagement, with 78% of users ready to purchase after positive interactions. Leveraging seasonal themes not merely improves participation but also showcases your brand’s personality and values, making your content more relatable and shareable. Highlight Company Milestones Highlighting company milestones is a strong way to improve your brand’s visibility and engage your audience. When you celebrate achievements, you invite followers to connect with your expedition. Here are three effective ways to do this: Visual Content: Share infographics or photos that detail your progress. This makes your posts more relatable and encourages shares. Storytelling: Discuss the challenges and successes you faced during reaching milestones. This creates emotional connections and amplifies engagement. User Engagement: Invite your audience to share their experiences with your brand. This user-generated content nurtures authenticity and builds trust within the community. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Social Media Posts Get the Most Engagement? To maximize engagement on social media, focus on several effective post types. Posts that ask questions or invite participation, like polls, encourage interaction. Visual content, including images and videos, captures attention and drives higher engagement rates. User-generated content improves authenticity and can greatly boost interaction. Furthermore, behind-the-scenes glimpses humanize your brand, whereas contests and giveaways create excitement, often resulting in a remarkable increase in audience engagement. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you should post a balanced mix of content. For every 15 posts, you’d share 5 promotional, 5 educational, and 5 entertaining posts. This strategy keeps your audience engaged by providing variety, preventing them from becoming bored with repetitive content. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media content suggests you allocate 50% of your posts to engaging and entertaining material, 30% to informative or educational content, and 20% to promotional messages. This balanced approach helps you connect with your audience, as it avoids overwhelming them with constant promotions. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, focus on posting interactive content like polls and questions, which encourages user participation. Share customer testimonials to build trust and credibility. Offer behind-the-scenes glimpses to humanize your brand, cultivating a sense of connection. Regularly provide educational content, such as how-to guides, to position your brand as an authority. Finally, maintain consistency with themed posts to create anticipation and loyalty among your followers, enhancing overall engagement. Conclusion By incorporating these ten effective post types into your social media strategy, you can considerably improve engagement with your audience. Asking questions and using polls invite interaction, whereas contests and giveaways encourage participation. Sharing testimonials builds trust, and collaborating with influencers expands your reach. Behind-the-scenes content and company milestones create a personal connection, whereas educational how-tos establish expertise. Finally, leveraging trending topics keeps your content relevant. Implementing these strategies can lead to a more engaged and loyal follower base. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Best Social Posts to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Spotify's adding a new way to sort playlists for paying subscribers. The feature is called Smart Reorder, and it allows you to automatically sort your songs by BPM (beats per minute) and key. This is great for those who want to gradually bump up the intensity of the songs they listen to. It's worth noting that this feature only works for playlists you've created or those you've mixed using the Spotify Mix feature, which lets you add or customize song transitions like a DJ would. Also, because Smart Reorder is an extension of Spotify Mix, you can't have one without the other. Spotify Mix hasn't yet been launched in all markets where the streaming service is present, including where I live, and as such, Smart Reorder isn't available in those regions yet. It's a shame, because I'm really excited to try it. How to use Smart Reorder in SpotifyIf you're a Spotify Premium subscriber, using the Smart Reorder feature is easy. Just open any of the playlists you've created or mixed, and tap the Edit button above the first song. Scroll to the bottom and select Smart Reorder. Spotify will automatically rearrange your songs by BPM, and you can tap the Save button up top to confirm the changes. Smart Reorder should be a very useful feature for people like me, who prefer workout playlists that slowly bump up in intensity. I like to hear high BPM songs towards the end of my gym sessions or runs, but that might not be ideal for everyone. Some types of exercises, such as spin workouts, might be better off switching between high and low BPM songs as the intensity varies, and Smart Reorder wouldn't be great for those use cases. Some users on Reddit also suggested that you should create a copy of your playlists before using Smart Reorder on them, since you can't automatically restore playlists to their original order if you end up not liking the changes after saving them. To duplicate a Spotify playlist, open the playlist and tap the three-dots button above the list of songs. Select Add to other playlist > New playlist, then add a name for the copy and and tap Create. This is another example of Spotify doing more with its AI DJ feature than Apple Music, where the AutoMix AI DJ feature has been more of a mixed bag for me. At the moment, AutoMix just handles song transitions, and Apple hasn't added any kind of custom playlist reordering to it. View the full article

For the first time in history, podcasts have overtaken talk radio as the most-listened-to medium for spoken-word audio in the United States. Podcasts, including video podcasts, eclipsed AM/FM talk radio (which notably doesn’t include listening to music on the radio), with 40% of listening time, as opposed to 39% for radio, according to Edison Research’s Share of Ear survey. Researchers have tracked these statistics over the last decade. In 2015, AM/FM radio accounted for 75% of the time Americans spent listening to spoken-word audio. At the time, podcasts accounted for just 10%. Year over year, that gap has slowly closed, as podcasts boomed in popularity, increasingly keeping us company on daily commutes and during menial tasks. Over half of Americans, 55%—an estimated 158 million people—listen to a podcast monthly, and 40%, or 115 million, listen every week. This year, the scales finally tipped. Although the difference is only 1 percentage point, this is the first time podcast listenership has surpassed radio. Whether the gap continues to widen remains to be seen. Watching podcasts has become a growing trend over the past year, perhaps shifting the balance in podcasts’ favor. YouTube said viewers watched 700 million hours of podcasts each month in 2025 on living room devices like TVs, up from 400 million the previous year. Streaming platforms like Netflix have inked deals with iHeartMedia and Barstool Sports to bring podcasts to their services. Daytime talk shows have also suffered blows, including the recent cancellations of both Kelly Clarkson’s and Sherri Shepherd’s TV talk shows. Apple’s audio-only app has taken a hit as well, falling from 15.7% of monthly podcast listeners’ preferred platform in 2022 to 11.3% in 2025. But audio-only isn’t going anywhere, at least for now. According to Triton Digital’s annual podcasting report, only 7% of audiences exclusively watch their favorite podcasts, while 13% exclusively listen. The remaining 80% alternate between the two. The meaning of the word “podcast” has vastly expanded and grown increasingly diffuse as our media habits shift, Joe Berkowitz recently wrote for Fast Company. As for the future of podcasting—not talk radio, not TV chat show, but instead a secret third thing. View the full article

eBay is laying off about 800 employees, or 6% of its full-time workforce, saying the move is a push to align with its “strategic priorities.” It comes a week after the company announced it was acquiring second-hand clothing app Depop from rival Etsy for $1.2 billion. Depop is popular with millennials and Gen Z, and is part of eBay’s bid for younger consumers, who are gravitating to second-hand shopping online for sustainability and financial reasons. eBay Inc. (EBAY) was trading up 3.3% in midday trading at the time of this writing. This is eBay’s third round of layoffs since 2023. The online second-hand retailer cut 1,000 jobs in 2024 (9% of its workforce), after it cut 500 jobs in 2023 (or 4% of its workforce), per TechCrunch. “We are taking steps to reinvest across our business and align our structure with our strategic priorities, which will affect certain roles across our workforce,” a spokesperson for eBay tells Fast Company. “We are grateful for the contributions of the employees impacted and are committed to supporting them with care and respect.” The Silicon Valley-based online retailer has also been heavily investing in artificial intelligence. The eBay spokesperson said the cuts are not AI-related. eBay financials This latest round of layoffs comes just two weeks after eBay reported strong fourth-quarter earnings for 2025, with revenue coming in at $2.97 billion, beating estimates of $2.88 billion; and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.41, beating estimates of $1.35. “2025 was a milestone year for eBay, and our results reflect the strength of our strategy and the disciplined execution behind it,” eBay CEO Jamie Iannone said in that earnings release. “As we continue to harness AI to elevate the customer experience worldwide, eBay is in the strongest position it has been in years.” eBay has a current market capitalization of $40.2 billion. View the full article

A company etched in Silicon Valley folklore as a disrupter needs reinventionView the full article

Google DeepMind is rolling out Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image), its latest image generation model, combining the intelligence and production controls of Nano Banana Pro with the rapid performance of Gemini Flash. What’s new. Nano Banana 2 introduces: Advanced world knowledge: Powered by Gemini’s real-time web grounding to better render specific subjects and generate infographics or data visualizations. Precision text rendering and translation: Cleaner, legible text inside images — including localization. Stronger instruction adherence: Improved handling of complex, multi-layered prompts. Subject consistency: Maintains up to five characters and 14 objects within a single workflow. Production-ready outputs: Supports aspect ratios and resolutions from 512px to 4K. Enhanced visual fidelity: Sharper detail, richer textures and more dynamic lighting — at Flash speed. Why we care. Nano Banana 2 makes high-quality, production-ready image generation faster and more scalable — reducing the time and cost of creative development. With improved text rendering, subject consistency, and 4K-ready outputs, brands can generate campaign assets, localized variations, and social formats in minutes instead of days. Integrated directly into Google Ads and Gemini, it also tightens the loop between creative production and campaign execution, accelerating testing and iteration. The rollout. Nano Banana 2 is launching across Google’s ecosystem, including Google Ads, Gemini app, Search AI Mode and Lens, and more. Between the lines. Google is standardizing high-end image generation into its faster tier, signaling a broader shift: premium creative control is becoming baseline — not a paid upgrade. The bottom line. With Nano Banana 2, Google is betting that creators want fewer trade-offs — faster generation, stronger reasoning and production-ready visuals in one default model. View the full article

AI has not changed the importance of judgment in product leadership. What it has changed is the cost of getting it wrong. Early in my career, I learned a principle that still guides how I think about building products: The strongest decisions rarely start with perfect data. They start with conviction, a hypothesis shaped by experience, customer insight, and pattern recognition. What ultimately separates high-performing product organizations from average ones is how quickly and confidently instinct is validated. That validation is the true role of product analytics, and increasingly, it is where AI amplifies its value. Analytics tests whether what you believed would happen actually did, and to inform what you do next. When treating analytics as a decision engine rather than a reporting layer, it fundamentally changes how teams operate. ANALYTICS SPRAWL REDUCES CLARITY Across nearly every organization I have worked in, regardless of size or industry, one pattern shows up with remarkable consistency: analytics sprawl. Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Adobe Analytics, and Pendo are all excellent tools, adopted with good intent to solve real problems. However, when all—or even several—coexist within a single organization, they often create fragmentation that undermines decision-making. The issue is not the tools themselves, but the absence of a clear leadership decision to standardize. When analytics lives across multiple platforms, each with its own methodology and definitions, even basic questions become difficult to answer. AI magnifies that problem. Ask a simple question like, “How many monthly unique visitors do we get?” With data spread across multiple analytics platforms, there is no clean answer. You cannot aggregate the numbers. There is no deduplication. Slight differences in definitions erode trust. Teams stop discussing insights and start debating whose data is correct. That is not a tooling failure. It is a decision-making failure. INCONSISTENT DATA SCALES CONFUSION This challenge matters even more in an AI-driven world because AI depends on coherence. Models train on ambiguous metrics. If foundations are inconsistent, AI will scale confusion faster than any human ever could. Especially in organizations with multiple business units and products, analytics must start before dashboards, instrumentation plans, or AI ambitions. It starts with clarity. This comes from understanding what decisions must be made with confidence and what questions must be answered consistently across teams. Once that is established, everything else follows. Selecting the right product analytics platform is based on business requirements, not convenience. That platform may differ by context. In fact, I have yet to implement the same analytics tool twice. What stays the same is the discipline required to make analytics and AI effective at scale. Instinct may start the journey, but data must validate it. Tool sprawl is a leadership choice rather than a technical inevitability, and shared definitions matter far more than dashboards or models. Analytics and AI only matter when they improve decisions. When that foundation exists, AI becomes a true force multiplier, and organizations gain speed, trust, and the ability to scale. Insights surface faster, patterns emerge sooner, and teams spend far less time reconciling data and far more time acting on it. Leaders move from reacting to signals to shaping outcomes. Without that foundation, AI simply makes bad analytics louder. A SIMPLE CHALLENGE FOR LEADERS If you lead product, technology, or digital teams, here are three simple questions to consider: How many analytics tools does your organization use across your products? Do your teams share the same definitions for basic metrics? Can you answer a question once and trust the answer everywhere? If those answers vary, the issue is not analytics or AI. It is decision-making. If your AI strategy is ahead of your analytics foundations, you are scaling uncertainty, not intelligence. Darren Person is EVP and chief digital officer of Cengage Group. View the full article

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate slipped this week below 6% for the first time since late 2022, good news for home shoppers as the spring homebuying season gets rolling. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 5.98% from 6.01% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.76%. The average rate has been hovering close to 6% this year. This latest dip, its third decline in a row, brings it closer to its lowest level since Sept. 8, 2022, when it was 5.89%. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.02% at midday Thursday, down from around 4.07% a week ago. Mortgage rates have been trending lower for months, helping drive a pickup in home sales the last four months of 2025, but not enough to lift the housing market out of its slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes remained stuck last year at 30-year lows. And more buyer-friendly mortgage rates this year weren’t enough to lift home sales last month. They posted the biggest monthly drop in nearly four years and the slowest annualized sales pace in more than two years. Still, with the average rate on a 30-year mortgage now below 6% as the annual spring homebuying season begins, it could encourage prospective home shoppers who can afford to buy at current rates to shop for a home this spring. “Assuming rates stay below 6%, buyers and sellers are going to start getting back into the market,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS. “March is when the spring homebuying season typically begins to ramp up and with rates at a three-and-a-half year low, it could be a barn burner of a spring homebuying season.” —Alex Veiga, AP business writer View the full article

Issue is expected to come under the spotlight in chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring StatementView the full article

Follow this practical guide to identify and close the AI visibility gaps where your competitors are winning. View the full article

The cash-and-stock offer is aimed at The Presidenting an agreed deal led by Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund ManagementView the full article

For the first time since early September 2022, the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey has the 30-year below 6%, but the 15-year gained this week. View the full article

The President and Witkoff expect weaker parties to cave — but unlike in real estate, ideology and national pride matterView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If you follow tech news, you're likely familiar with Apple's two big events each year: WWDC in June, where the company reveals new OS updates (like iOS 26), and its fall event, where it typically announces the latest round of iPhones. But while these are Apple's best known events, they're not the only ones. The company does mix things up, hosting mid-year keynotes every now and then to announce new products, especially when those products aren't the latest flagship iPhones. The March event is just the latest such example. Apple will be hosting this special event Wednesday, March 4, live from New York City. While we won't know exactly what the company has in store until they make their announcements, there are plenty of rumors from leakers who seem quite confident in their reporting. Here are the six products we expect to see during Apple March event: Apple will replace the iPhone 16e with the new iPhone 17eThe iPhone 16e is Apple's option for customers looking for the essential iPhone experience, without spending close to $1,000 to get it. The iPhone 17e will likely continue that mantle, with some small upgrades to separate it from its predecessor. The display likely won't be among them, though. Rumors suggest Apple will keep the same 6.1-inch display with the lower 60Hz refresh rate. And despite having an OLED panel, the 17e will likely not have an Always-On display. Again, Apple cuts corners with the "e" series to bring the cost down. Apple could, however, upgrade the camera notch for the 17e, adding the Dynamic Island from its recent flagship iPhones. The biggest upgrade for the 17e will likely be the A19 chip, the same SoC Apple put in the iPhone 17 series. That's the benefit here: You get the power of the iPhone 17 without paying the iPhone 17 MSRP. I expect Apple will keep the $599 price tag from the 16e here, which means you save $200 by not opting for the iPhone 17. Apple will reveal the A18 iPad and M4 iPad AirRumors suggest Apple will also refresh its base model iPad, as well as its iPad Air. You wouldn't know it from the design, however, as leakers expect both iPads to look identical to the current models. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though: Apple's recent iPad designs look modern, with large edge-to-edge displays and thin bezels. If Apple shrunk the bezels any further, there wouldn't be much room to hold onto the iPad without accidentally touching the screen. The advantage with these new iPads is in power: The base iPad will upgrade from the A16 chip to the A18, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 series. That should offer some good performance, especially for the price, if Apple keeps things starting at $349. On the flip side, the iPad Air will likely move from the M3 to the M4. M4 is more powerful than M3, but it's not necessarily a reason to upgrade from the current Air to the new one. Still, it could be a good option for anyone upgrading from an older iPad Air—though iPadOS isn't the most demanding software. We're about to get our first look at Apple's "cheap" MacBookApple's MacBook Air is a great value at $999, and an even better one when you get it on sale. But the company seems poised to reveal an even better-value laptop. The company will announce a new MacBook—likely just called "MacBook"—that will start at just $599. To drive down the cost, the company is rumored to be using an A-series chip from its iPhone line, rather than its M-series chips that power all of Apple's modern Macs—possibly the A18 Pro. This laptop may also have a smaller 12.9-inch display compared to the Air's 13.6-inch screen, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. That's not much RAM by today's standards, as Apple's MacBooks all ship with 16GB by default, but it might make sense for users who want a better price and don't mind the cut in performance. To win even more customers over, Apple may introduce new colors for this MacBook line, including light yellow, light green, blue, and pink. Apple's MacBooks don't typically come in fun colors, so this could add some novelty to push buyers to pick them up. That certainly has my attention: I usually only spring for the MacBook Pros, but if I could get a MacBook in light blue to match my iMac, I'd consider it. Apple MacBook M4 Chip 256GB SSD 16GB RAM 13.6" Laptop $899.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $100.00 Shop Now Shop Now $899.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $100.00 Expect to see the M5 MacBook AirApple will likely take this opportunity to introduce the M5 MacBook Air. This won't be an exciting update: Aside from the bump from the M4 to the M5 chip, the computer should essentially be the same. It'll still come in both 13 and 15-inch options, with the same overall design. However, new buyers will probably notice the boost in graphics and NPU performance, even compared to the M4. CPU performance is also improved, though it's not quite so sharp. Still, the M5 Air may just be the best overall MacBook package, for anyone looking for the best balance of power and price. Apple will introduce M5 Pro and M5 Max with new MacBook ProsBut for anyone looking for the most powerful MacBooks, no matter the price, Apple's new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBooks should do it. These will follow the M5 MacBook Pro, and while we don't know the exact performance gains yet, expect these to be Apple's most powerful chips yet. Like some of Apple's other upgrades this year, the rumors don't suggest any design changes here, so the overall laptops should look and feel about the same—minus the boost in performance. View the full article

A reader writes: I oversee a public-facing department at a nonprofit. One of our long-time program managers is an oversharer. This includes on social media, where she has in the recent past criticized two of our sponsors in long Facebook posts, which included phrases like “Corporation X needs to get their crap together.” These were criticisms based on her personal experiences, not related to work (think complaining about the customer service at Corp X when she was shopping there). Yesterday, she followed up with more complaining during a program meeting that included clients. I know she is connected to many of our volunteers and clients, as well as colleagues, on social media. She has also talks about promoting the program she manages on her personal accounts, so it’s clear to anyone following her that she is an employee. Our organization does not have any policies about social media use. Can I tell her to stop with the negative posts about sponsors and then hold her accountable, given her public-facing role? Should we instead create a policy about social media use that would ensure everyone in the company is getting the same message/equal treatment? I answer this question — and two others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. Other questions I’m answering there today include: I don’t want to keep meeting with my business mentor Can I brush my teeth at work? The post our employee is criticizing our sponsors on social media appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

ChatGPT’s emerging ad ecosystem is gaining momentum, according to new monitoring from AI ad intelligence firm Adthena — with more brands appearing, clearer trigger patterns, and evolving ad placements. What’s happening. After initially identifying the first advertisers inside ChatGPT last week, Adthena now reports a noticeable ramp-up in advertiser participation and ad delivery behavior. Advertisers spotted so far: Best Buy AT&T Pottery Barn Enterprise Qualcomm Expedia How ads are triggering. Based on a sample of 1,500+ prompts analyzed over the past week: Most ads appear on the first prompt. Some only trigger on the third or fourth repetition of the same query. High-intent modifiers like “best” and “new” appear to carry significant weight. Example prompts include: “I am going to buy a new phone. What is the best phone?” “I need a new phone.” “I need to buy a new desk, what’s best?” Between the lines. The keyword triggers appear relatively simple — focused on strong commercial intent rather than nuanced emotional language. In one notable example, Best Buy secured two ad placements in a single response for iPhone-related queries, signaling early experimentation with positioning and share of voice. Why we care. As ChatGPT advertising scales, understanding trigger behavior — even at a basic keyword level — will be critical for brands testing this new channel. The bottom line. ChatGPT ads are moving from pilot to pattern. The signals may be simple for now — but the competitive dynamics are already taking shape. Spotted. The results of the competing ChatGPT ads were shares by Adthena CMO Ashley Fletcher who shared screenshots on LinkedIn. View the full article

Etsy has made headlines with its announcement that eBay will acquire its fashion resale marketplace, Depop, for approximately $1.2 billion. This move is set to enhance eBay’s consumer-to-consumer (C2C) capabilities, particularly within the lucrative and ever-evolving fashion industry, while allowing Etsy to concentrate on its core marketplace operations. Etsy’s decision to divest from Depop aligns with its intent to drive sustainable growth within its primary platform. The evolving landscape of online commerce presents opportunities for small business owners, especially those who prioritize niche markets and sustainability. eBay’s acquisition of Depop signifies a strategic shift in the resale market, projected to deepen eBay’s engagement with younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials. Depop has cultivated an active community, with approximately 7 million active buyers—90% of whom are under the age of 34—and over 3 million active sellers. The platform recorded around $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2025, showcasing a vigorous year-over-year growth rate of nearly 60% in the U.S. Jamie Ianonne, CEO of eBay, commented, “A key C2C driver, fashion represents more than $10 billion in annual gross merchandise volume for eBay… This acquisition presents an opportunity to advance one of our newest and fastest-growing Focus Categories.” The strategic goal here is clear: to position eBay as a leader in the fashion resale market while enhancing the range of offerings to young, eco-conscious consumers. For small business owners, particularly those operating within the fashion space, this acquisition opens several avenues for growth. The partnership will leverage eBay’s extensive infrastructure, financial services, and shipping solutions. Such capabilities can significantly enhance the selling experience for small entrepreneurs and provide them with tools to better navigate the complexities of e-commerce. Kruti Patel Goyal, CEO of Etsy, expressed enthusiasm about Etsy’s renewed focus: “We believe this transaction is a great outcome for Etsy’s shareholders, and a positive next step for all involved.” Etsy plans to use the proceeds from the sale for various corporate purposes, including share repurchases and investments geared toward enhancing its primary marketplace. This renewed emphasis on its own platform could foster innovation that benefits the independent sellers that Etsy is known for. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges stemming from this transition. As eBay integrates Depop into its ecosystem, there could be shifts in seller fees, platform policies, and community dynamics. Entrepreneurs relying on Depop as their primary selling channel may experience disruptions, which could necessitate adjustments in their operational strategies. Furthermore, eBay will likely introduce additional features aimed at enhancing the buying and selling experience on Depop. This could create a competitive edge but might also lead to an influx of sellers into the marketplace. Small business owners will have to stay agile and responsive to changing dynamics if they want to stand out in a more crowded field. Peter Semple, CEO of Depop, stated, “This transaction is a testament to the significant growth we have delivered… We’re very grateful to Kruti and the Etsy team for their partnership.” This sentiment reflects the potential for sustained growth, even as existing players consolidate their positions in the market. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. This timeline gives small business owners several months to assess the implications of these changes, adapt their strategies, and engage with both marketplaces as they evolve. With eBay’s historical emphasis on C2C sales and now with the integration of Depop, small business entrepreneurs must pay attention to how this acquisition reshapes the competitive landscape of online fashion retail. Enhanced tools and services could create new opportunities, but maintaining market relevance will require adaptability and innovation. For further details, you can read the full press release from Etsy here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "eBay Acquires Depop to Capture Growing Youth Fashion Marketplace" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article