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Black-owned small businesses are embracing digital tools at higher rates than their non-Black counterparts, helping them navigate financial challenges and drive long-term success, according to a new Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month Survey. The report highlights how early technology adoption is proving to be a key factor in business resilience and financial health, even as access to funding remains a major hurdle. Technology Adoption as a Competitive Advantage The study, based on insights from 2,490 Black and 3,000 non-Black small business owners, found that 28% of Black entrepreneurs are early adopters of new technology, compared to 20% of non-Black entrepreneurs. Businesses that adopt technology later or not at all are nearly twice as likely to struggle or face closure, highlighting the importance of digital tools in long-term business viability. Social media, mobile point-of-sale (POS) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and AI-powered solutions were identified as key drivers of success, with 84% of Black business owners stating that technology is a major contributor to their growth. Social Media and AI Fuel Business Growth Among digital tools, social media stands out, with 70% of Black entrepreneurs crediting it as a critical business driver. It is primarily used for product promotion (64%), brand awareness (51%), and customer engagement (50%). AI adoption is also significantly higher among Black-owned businesses, with 79% integrating AI tools, compared to 62% of non-Black business owners. AI is being used for idea generation (47%), customer support (34%), and marketing (31%), reinforcing its role in streamlining operations and improving efficiency. Financial Challenges Persist Despite Progress While Black entrepreneurs are making strides with technology, financial barriers remain a significant challenge. The study found that 80% of Black business owners used personal funds to cover business expenses in the past year—down from 85% last year but still higher than the 47% of non-Black entrepreneurs who rely on credit cards. Additionally, Black business owners were twice as likely to be denied a bank loan (30%) compared to their non-Black counterparts (15%). Fewer Black entrepreneurs applied for startup loans in the past year, with 45% seeking funding, down from 76% in 2023, mirroring an industry-wide shift away from traditional lending sources. Early Tech Adoption Reduces Financial Strain The report suggests that businesses leveraging technology early are 20% less likely to use personal funds to sustain operations. Seventy-eight percent of Black entrepreneurs believe that digital tools better prepare them for financial challenges, while 93% agree that technology adoption is helping close the racial wealth gap. Lower Barriers to Business Entry The study also found a sharp decline in startup costs for Black entrepreneurs. The average cost to start a Black-owned business fell to $9,800, down from $21,000 in 2023, and lower than the $12,900 average for non-Black entrepreneurs. Looking Ahead: Technology as an Equalizer Black entrepreneurs overwhelmingly view technology as a leveling force in business, with 82% agreeing that it is creating more equitable opportunities. As more Black-owned businesses embrace AI, digital marketing, and automation tools, early adoption trends are likely to continue, reinforcing technology’s role in reducing financial risk and fostering business sustainability. This article, "Black-Owned Businesses Leverage Early Tech Adoption to Overcome Financial Barriers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Black-owned small businesses are embracing digital tools at higher rates than their non-Black counterparts, helping them navigate financial challenges and drive long-term success, according to a new Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month Survey. The report highlights how early technology adoption is proving to be a key factor in business resilience and financial health, even as access to funding remains a major hurdle. Technology Adoption as a Competitive Advantage The study, based on insights from 2,490 Black and 3,000 non-Black small business owners, found that 28% of Black entrepreneurs are early adopters of new technology, compared to 20% of non-Black entrepreneurs. Businesses that adopt technology later or not at all are nearly twice as likely to struggle or face closure, highlighting the importance of digital tools in long-term business viability. Social media, mobile point-of-sale (POS) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and AI-powered solutions were identified as key drivers of success, with 84% of Black business owners stating that technology is a major contributor to their growth. Social Media and AI Fuel Business Growth Among digital tools, social media stands out, with 70% of Black entrepreneurs crediting it as a critical business driver. It is primarily used for product promotion (64%), brand awareness (51%), and customer engagement (50%). AI adoption is also significantly higher among Black-owned businesses, with 79% integrating AI tools, compared to 62% of non-Black business owners. AI is being used for idea generation (47%), customer support (34%), and marketing (31%), reinforcing its role in streamlining operations and improving efficiency. Financial Challenges Persist Despite Progress While Black entrepreneurs are making strides with technology, financial barriers remain a significant challenge. The study found that 80% of Black business owners used personal funds to cover business expenses in the past year—down from 85% last year but still higher than the 47% of non-Black entrepreneurs who rely on credit cards. Additionally, Black business owners were twice as likely to be denied a bank loan (30%) compared to their non-Black counterparts (15%). Fewer Black entrepreneurs applied for startup loans in the past year, with 45% seeking funding, down from 76% in 2023, mirroring an industry-wide shift away from traditional lending sources. Early Tech Adoption Reduces Financial Strain The report suggests that businesses leveraging technology early are 20% less likely to use personal funds to sustain operations. Seventy-eight percent of Black entrepreneurs believe that digital tools better prepare them for financial challenges, while 93% agree that technology adoption is helping close the racial wealth gap. Lower Barriers to Business Entry The study also found a sharp decline in startup costs for Black entrepreneurs. The average cost to start a Black-owned business fell to $9,800, down from $21,000 in 2023, and lower than the $12,900 average for non-Black entrepreneurs. Looking Ahead: Technology as an Equalizer Black entrepreneurs overwhelmingly view technology as a leveling force in business, with 82% agreeing that it is creating more equitable opportunities. As more Black-owned businesses embrace AI, digital marketing, and automation tools, early adoption trends are likely to continue, reinforcing technology’s role in reducing financial risk and fostering business sustainability. This article, "Black-Owned Businesses Leverage Early Tech Adoption to Overcome Financial Barriers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A website audit helps you find what’s holding your site back. It highlights technical issues that affect your rankings and UX problems that hurt conversions. In this guide, I’ll walk you through five essential steps to maximize your site’s performance. And to make it easier, I’ve created a free website audit checklist that you can refer to as you follow along. Note: This post covers the fundamentals of website audits for small to medium sites. Enterprise sites have extra considerations and may need specialized tools and processes. Step #1: Review Your Site Architecture and Navigation A clear site structure and intuitive navigation help both users and search engines find what they’re looking for. This means it can affect your rankings AND your bottom line. After all, if your visitors can’t find your products or services, how will they buy them? Here’s how to audit your site’s architecture: Analyze Your Site’s Navigation Check how easily users can move through your site. Your navigation menu structure should be intuitive, and your site architecture should be logical. Here are some questions to ask about key areas of your navigation: Is your main navigation easy to find, and do the labels clearly describe where they lead? Does your site search function return accurate, relevant results? Do you use internal linking for related content to help users naturally explore your site? For example, this furniture store, Terra Outdoor, ticks all the boxes: What do they do right? The site has a clean drop-down design that organizes items by product groups, materials, and collections. This kind of organization lets shoppers easily browse the products they’re looking for. Useful resource: Use this menu design checklist to make your site’s navigation more user-friendly. Map Your Site Structure Your content needs proper organization on each page so readers AND search engines can understand it easily. Start with your heading hierarchy: Your H1 tag is the main title of your page. So it should be unique and properly describe the content of each specific page. Here’s how an H1 tag appears on your page: Meanwhile, H2s and H3s should logically break down your topic. Further reading: Learn more about creating a user-friendly site structure with our website architecture guide. Check Your Internal Links Internal links help readers navigate your site. They also signal to search engines that your content is all connected. That’s why proper internal linking can help boost your topical authority. So, check if you link to: Important product/service pages Related blog posts High-converting pages One thing to consider: do you use descriptive anchor text that includes relevant keywords naturally? This tells readers where your link will take them. Plus, it gives Google helpful context about that page. Here’s what useful internal linking looks like: Next steps: Put these insights into action with our ultimate guide to internal linking. Step #2: Check Technical Foundation With a technical site audit, you can check how easily search engines can access, crawl, and index your pages. You could have the best content in the industry, but technical issues could still hold your rankings back. For example, a technical SEO audit helped BetterVet, a mobile veterinary service, fix critical site errors affecting the crawling and indexing of their content. Which resulted in a 2,002% boost in organic traffic. So this kind of audit can get REAL results for your business. Here’s how to do it: Check Your Site’s Indexability First, you need to know if search engines can actually find and understand your pages. To check this, head over to Google Search Console and check if Google is indexing your important pages. You’ll see this under “Indexing” > “Pages.” How to fix: If your website audit highlights indexing issues, check out this guide to getting your site indexed by Google. Look for Crawlability Issues Next, make sure search engines can easily move through your site and find your content. Look for broken links, missing pages, and complex site structures. Use Semrush’s Site Audit tool to identify crawled pages and the issues that might be blocking search engines from accessing them effectively. Here’s how: Head over to Site Audit and select your project to get an overview of your site’s health. Take a look at the “Crawled Pages” section. There, you’ll see your pages broken down into the following categories: Healthy pages: Pages that are working correctly Broken pages: Pages returning errors Have issues: Pages that need attention, but still working Redirects: Pages sending users to another page Blocked pages: Pages that can’t be crawled Next, click the “Crawled Pages” tab: This will show you a list of crawled pages on your website. Click the number in the “Issues” column for any page’s URL to see what you need to fix. If you’re unsure what one of the errors, warnings, or notices means, click “Why and how to fix it” for more info. Further reading: Learn about the most common crawlability problems (and find out how to fix them.) Check Your XML Sitemap Next, make sure it’s easy for search engines to effectively navigate your site structure. Start by checking your XML sitemap in Google Search Console to confirm you’ve submitted it correctly. Then review it manually to check for issues like missing or duplicate URLs. Further reading: Sitemap: What It Is & Why Your Website Needs One Analyze Your Page Speed A page speed audit helps you identify exactly what’s slowing down your site and how to fix it. Improving your site speed can potentially help you convert more customers. How? It’s simple: a fast-loading website creates a smooth user experience. When your site loads quickly, visitors can easily explore your content, interact with your site, and complete actions—like clicking the buy button. Want to see the real impact? Take Agrofy, an agricultural marketplace. After identifying and fixing their performance issues through a page speed audit, their cart abandonment rate dropped by 76%: Here’s how to check if your site is as fast as it could be: Measure Your Page Performance Start by checking your page speed using Google’s free PageSpeed Insights tool. This tool shows you detailed performance data and actionable insights, which can help you identify areas that you need to improve. Pay special attention to the Core Web Vitals. These are part of Google’s page experience ranking factors. Here’s why they matter and how to improve them: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) reflects how quickly your main content loads for users. A good LCP score (under 2.5 seconds) means your visitors are less likely to abandon your page before it loads. To improve your LCP, compress bulky resources like hero images or animations. Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures how quickly your site responds when users interact with it. Keep INP under 200 milliseconds by minimizing JavaScript execution time. Also remove unnecessary third-party scripts that could slow down interactions. Cumulative layout shift (CLS) tracks the visual stability of your page as it loads. For example, if ads load in and push content down the page as they do so, that will affect your CLS score. Aim for a CLS score below 0.1 by setting proper image dimensions, reserving space for ads, and using consistent fonts. Prioritize High-Impact Fixes When auditing your site’s page speed, focus on changes that can bring the biggest improvements, like: Compressing and properly sizing all images Minifying and combining CSS and JavaScript files Removing unnecessary code and plugins If you’re not sure where to start, follow the list of issues and fixes PageSpeed Insights suggests. Next steps: Learn all about why this matters in our guide to page speed and SEO. Step #3: Analyze Your Backlink Profile A backlink audit helps you understand your site’s backlink profile and identify opportunities for improvement. Strong backlinks from reputable sites can boost your rankings, while poor quality links (or a lack of links) might hold you back. Let me show you how to evaluate your link profile: Check Your Backlink Profile First, get an overview of your backlink profile with a tool like Semrush’s Backlink Analytics. Take a look at the total number of backlinks, referring domains, and overall toxicity score: Watch out for any sudden spikes in new, low-quality backlinks. This could signal that you’ve been attacked by spam, which could harm your SEO. Free tool: Use our free backlink checker to quickly analyze your site’s links (or your competitor’s). Analyze Link Quality Next, use the Backlink Audit tool to get a clear picture of your link profile’s health. Click through the numbers shown in red (toxic), orange (potentially toxic), and green (non-toxic) to review each category of backlinks: This breakdown helps you spot opportunities in two ways: You can analyze your healthy backlinks and find similar link-building opportunities You can identify toxic links and send removal requests Having a few toxic backlinks isn’t necessarily alarming, and it’s almost inevitable as your site grows. What does matter is the ratio between good and toxic links in your profile—you want the vast majority to be high-quality links. Further reading: Toxic Backlinks: How to Spot and Avoid Them Monitor Your Link Profile Regularly monitor your backlink profile to maintain it in a healthy state. Schedule monthly checks to catch harmful links before they tank your rankings. Tool recommendation: Use Semrush’s Link Building Tool to monitor your link building efforts. You can manage your outreach and monitor your results in one place: Step #4: Evaluate Your Content A content audit will uncover pages you need to update if you want to boost their traffic. It reveals three key things: Which pages drive the most value Which pages you need to improve Which pages you should remove or consolidate Here’s how to audit your content: Evaluate the Quality of Your Content High-quality content keeps readers engaged and signals to search engines that your page is valuable and deserving of higher rankings. But how do you evaluate content quality? High-quality content is generally well-researched, up to date, and provides unique insights. Other elements of high-quality content include: Clear language Easy-to-follow format Short paragraphs Relevant images, charts, and videos Pro tip: Use our guide to quality SEO content to learn what it takes to create truly great content (that also ranks well) Review Your Meta Elements Your title tags and meta descriptions are your first chance to impress people in search results. These elements can determine whether someone clicks through to your content—or scrolls past it. Here’s what they look like in search results: But what should you look out for when auditing your titles and descriptions? Great titles should: Include target keywords near the start Stay under ~60 characters (or 600 pixels—use a tool like Mangools to check) Use compelling language that makes people want to click Follow a consistent format across your pages And your meta descriptions should: Include relevant keywords naturally Accurately describe the page content Stay under 155 characters/960 pixels (or ~120 characters/680 pixels on mobile) Have a clear call to action (CTA) Use Google Search Console to see which pages get the most clicks from search. Then, analyze their meta elements to understand what’s working well. Look for pages with lots of impressions but not many clicks. These are pages with low click-through rates (CTRs), and likely ones you could optimize for better performance. Next steps: You need people to click on your site if you want them to turn into customers. Check out our guide to click-through rate to find out how to further optimize your website content to get more clicks. Step #5: Assess the User Experience The goal of auditing your site’s user experience (UX) is to identify friction points and optimize them so users can effortlessly find what they’re looking for. A great UX keeps visitors engaged with your content and encourages them to take action (like making a purchase). Plus: Intuitive experiences also signal to search engines that your site is valuable to users. In fact, page experience is a key ranking factor. Here’s how to audit your site’s UX: Check the Mobile Experience More than 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. So, test your site on different screen sizes to ensure you provide a consistent experience. Focus on the following: Are your buttons and links large enough to tap without zooming? Do your images scale properly on smaller or larger screens? Is your text readable without pinching to zoom? Does your navigation menu work smoothly on mobile? Further reading: Mobile SEO: The Definitive Guide Take a Look at Your Visual Hierarchy and Readability Your design should guide users’ attention to important elements and make your content easy to consume. Key considerations: Have you nested your headers properly (H1 > H2 > H3) with clear visual distinctions for skimmers? Is your text easy to read against the background? Do you use enough white space to help break up different sections? Useful resource: Use this guide from the Nielsen Norman Group to boost your content’s readability. Test Calls to Action (CTAs) Since your CTAs are crucial conversion points, they should be visible, compelling, and easy to click. Test them to make sure they: Stand out visually on the page Use clear, action-oriented text Appear at logical points in the user journey Work properly across all devices (desktop and mobile) Pro tip: Use heat mapping tools like Hotjar to see if users actually notice and interact with your CTAs. These tools show you: Where users click most frequently (shown in red “hot” spots) How far they scroll down your pages If they see your CTAs or scroll past them Whether CTAs in different positions work better Next steps: Get inspiration to boost your conversion rates with this list of attention-grabbing CTAs. Step #6: Review Your Analytics & Conversion Data Auditing what’s on your website is just part of the overall process. To find out what the best next steps are, you need to look at the data. Analyze Search Performance Open Google Search Console to check your content’s performance metrics. Identify the following: Pages with zero traffic Content with low click-through rates Pages ranking on page 2-3 Like Brian Dean suggests: “Start by identifying content that gets zero traffic and zero sales. With lots of published content, there’s just too much to analyze at once. When you clear out the junk first, you can focus your energy on content worth improving.” Further reading: Use our guide to Google Search Console to learn how to monitor and analyze your organic traffic data. Check Your Traffic Once you get rid of the junk content, check how other pieces are performing. Brian Dean suggests focusing on one key metric: traffic. It reflects whether or not a piece of content is attracting an audience. Look for content with declining traffic trends. Here’s how: Open the “Performance” tab from the left side menu Scroll past the main performance chart and open the “Pages” tab Select 12-month period (or longer) to clearly show traffic patterns Select one page to see its individual performance graph When looking at the traffic graph for each individual page, watch for these patterns: Consistent downward trend over several months Sudden drops that haven’t recovered Previously high-performing content that’s lost momentum That means there’s an opportunity to update it and regain the traffic. Next steps: Boost your numbers with our guide to driving more traffic to your blog (you can use the tips for other types of websites too). Take Action on Your Website Audit Findings After completing your website audit, you’ll likely have a long list of potential fixes. But how do you take action on these? And how can you best prioritize your resources so you make the highest impact fixes first? Here’s how you turn these findings into actual improvements: Prioritize Your Fixes Start with issues that have the biggest impact on your SEO and user experience. Such as: Critical technical issues like crawlability and indexing problems Missing meta information on key pages Slow loading pagesNon-intuitive navigation Poor mobile experience High number of toxic backlinks Create an Action Plan Looking at a long list of issues can feel overwhelming. To make things easier, break them down into manageable chunks based on how quickly you can implement them. For example, your breakdown might look like this: Timeline Action Items Quick wins (tasks requiring little effort and less than an hour) Add missing meta descriptions Fix broken internal links Compress large images Medium-term (tasks that need more planning and resources) Improve site structure Rewrite underperforming content Fix Core Web Vitals issues Long-term (major changes requiring significant time and effort) Site redesign for better UX Migration to faster hosting This helps you tackle high-impact quick wins immediately, while planning for bigger projects. Plus, you won’t feel paralyzed by a massive to-do list. Pro tip: Set up regular monitoring in tools like Semrush’s Site Audit to catch new issues early and make timely improvements. Ready to Do Your Own Website Audit? When doing your first website audit, start small. Pick the SEO aspects or areas of your site that resonate with the biggest challenges you currently face. For example: If your rankings are falling, focus on an on-page SEO audit to find out how you can boost their performance. If your bounce rate is high, do a UX audit to find out why people might be leaving your site without taking action. Before, during, and after your audit, use our complete SEO checklist to keep your optimization efforts on the right track. The post How to Do a Website Audit in 5 Steps (+ Checklist) appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

The difference between getting discovered on YouTube search and being invisible? Strategic keyword research. By optimizing videos with the right terms, you can dramatically increase your organic traffic. Take YouTuber Caren Magill’s ADHD coaching channel, for example. With 4.95M lifetime views and 116K subscribers, it’s safe to say Caren has found a successful niche. But this wasn’t luck. Caren optimizes her video’s titles, descriptions, and tags with terms that attract her target audience. The good news? You can do it, too—all you need is a reliable keyword research tool. To help you with this task, I evaluated five of the most popular YouTube keyword tools. And gave each one a “Best for” rating based on its standout features and overall value. Before I dive into the reviews, let’s explore why keyword research is crucial for your channel’s success. YouTube Keyword Tools at a Glance YouTube Keyword Tool Best For Starting Price (Monthly) VidIQ Deep keyword intelligence $19/month; 7-day free trial Keyword Analytics for YouTube Finding popular seed keywords 7-day free trial; $10/month; unsubscribe anytime TubeBuddy In-browser keyword research and channel optimization $7.50/month; limited free plan Keywords Everywhere Analyzing competitors’ keywords $2.25 per month; limited free plan Google Trends Real-time keyword trend tracking Free Why YouTube Keyword Research Matters Keyword research reveals what your audience wants to watch and helps your videos appear in search results. This is why it’s a vital step in growing your channel’s reach and engagement. Decode Audience Search Intent On YouTube (and search engines), people search with different goals in mind. They might want to learn something, compare options, or find entertainment. This is called search intent. Keyword research lets you match your content to your audience’s search intent to attract engaged viewers that turn into subscribers. For example, informational searches like “how to deadlift” show viewers want to learn specific skills, while commercial searches like “best home gym equipment” indicate they’re comparing different options. Matching your content to these search patterns helps you attract more engaged viewers. Find High-Performing Keywords Smart keyword research helps you discover topics with high search volume but low keyword difficulty—the sweet spot for growing channels. For example, instead of competing for overcrowded terms like “gardening tips,” more specific searches like “apartment gardening” can be easier to rank for but still drive significant traffic. Identify Trends to Maximize Discoverability Popular YouTubers anticipate viewer demand—and keyword tools reveal exactly when that demand is building. Using keyword research tools helps you: Spot rising topics before they peak Create timely content when search interest is growing Build momentum from trending searches For example, when the TV show “Squid Game” announced its second season, keyword tools showed surging searches for “squid game season 2” and “squid game season 3″—revealing perfect opportunities to create videos before peak interest. Now that you know why keyword research is important, let’s explore the best tools for it. 5 Best YouTube Keyword Tools (Free & Paid) I tested the most popular YouTube keyword tools to see which ones performed best at keyword analysis, competitive intelligence, and trend spotting. Here’s what I discovered. 1. VidIQ: Best for Deep Keyword Intelligence VidIQ helps YouTube creators find content ideas and maximize their reach organically. Its helpful browser extension lets you perform keyword research, audit your channel, track competitors, and more. Conduct Keyword Research VidIQ’s keyword analysis stands out as the most detailed of the tools I reviewed. It provides: An overview with key metrics Related keywords Matching terms Trending videos For example, when I searched for “affiliate marketing,” I could see its SEO score, search volume, and competition level, along with multiple other helpful metrics. This includes long-tail keywords, relevant questions, and variations containing my primary keyword. This information will allow me to focus on niche topics that tend to attract smaller but highly engaged audiences. Like “Amazon affiliate marketing,” which gets fewer searches than “affiliate marketing” but has lower competition, too. When you search for a keyword, VidIQ highlights the top 10 trending videos for that term so you know what you’re up against. It also tells you how many views each one has and its engagement rate. For example, I clicked on one of these videos, and the tool revealed it was performing 15 times better than this channel’s average video engagement. This tells me I should investigate further to find out why it’s doing so well—whether it’s niche keywords, quality content, a trending topic, eye-catching visuals, or something else. I recommend repeating this process for five or so competitor videos to gain valuable insights you can use to improve your own video’s optimization and performance. Create and Track Keyword Trends Trends move fast on YouTube—what’s viral today might be forgotten tomorrow. VidIQ’s real-time trend tracking keeps you ahead of the competition. Set up custom trend alerts to discover hot topics in your niche before they explode. Here’s how: Give your alert a relevant name Add target keywords and competitors Set a views-per-hour (VPH) threshold as your benchmark Choose how often you want to receive email notifications Click “Update alert” to go live Outperform the Competition Use VidIQ’s competitor analysis tools to find keywords and content types that drive the highest traction in your niche. Track your competitors’ content performance through: Engagement rate Views per hour View velocity For example, I noticed a competitor’s video gained over 400,000 views with a 3.9% engagement rate and over 100 views per hour. So, I exported its keywords to see which terms the YouTuber used to drive this impressive traffic and growth. I also learned when the video was published and how many subscribers it attracted. Data like this reveals exactly which topics and search terms drive the most views in your niche, giving you a clear strategy for your own videos. VidIQ Pricing Free: 7-day free trial Boost: $19/month Coaching: $199/month Further reading: SEO and Content Marketing: A Complete Guide 2. Keyword Analytics for YouTube: Best for Finding Popular Seed Keywords Keyword Analytics for YouTube is a Semrush app (available without a subscription) that lets you research seed keywords, top-ranking videos, and trends in your niche. Fine-tune your search by time period and location to zero in on the most relevant data for your content strategy. Identify Popular, Low-Competition Keywords Search any term in Keyword Analytics for YouTube to learn its search volume and competition. For example, I searched “learn Spanish.” This keyword gets 140K monthly searches and has a 67 competitive rate in YouTube search. Hover over the competitive rate for any term for more context. For instance, “learn spanish” has an “average” level of competition in YouTube search. This means it’s ideal for channels with 1M+ subscribers. To find less-competitive keywords, scroll through the list. This helped me find terms like: “Learn spanish for beginners”: 13K search volume; 56 competitive rate “How to learn spanish fast”: 194 search volume; 31 competitive rate “Best free way to learn Spanish”: 65 search volume; 24 competitive rate How can you use these lower-competition keywords? Create a series of videos targeting these terms to improve your visibility in YouTube search Add them to your video’s description to attract more viewers Find Top-Ranking Videos Need a little creative inspiration? Go to the “Most viewed videos” tab in Keyword Analytics to find the most popular YouTube videos in your preferred country. Filter by the last 24 hours, week, or month to find trending topics you can turn into popular videos. Want to see the top-ranking videos for a specific keyword? Switch back to the “Top Keywords” tab and search for your desired term. For example, I searched “spanish for beginners,” and the app revealed the top YouTube videos for this term. Hover over the video to see its full title (take note of the keywords) and how many subscribers the channel has. This gives you a decent idea of the competition you’ll be up against when deciding which terms to target. Get Trending Keyword Data If you target viewers in a particular region, you’ll find the “Fast-growing keywords” feature particularly helpful. This is because it tells you trending topics that will help you attract a local audience. For example, I learned the top keyword in Italy (at the time of my search) was “Sinner,” the last name of a popular Italian tennis player. The tool also shows the overall change in keyword performance for each term. Hover over the trend graph to see how monthly search volume fluctuates. Use this data to create timely, relevant YouTube content when search interest is at its peak. Pro tip: Want deeper keyword insights? Use Semrush’s all-in-one SEO toolkit to perform more advanced keyword research. Keyword Analytics for YouTube Pricing Free: 7-day free trial Monthly: $10/month; unsubscribe anytime 3. TubeBuddy: Best for in-Browser Keyword Research and Optimization TubeBuddy is a YouTube browser extension designed to optimize and grow your channel. Some of its key SEO features include: Find and analyze keywords for your channel Create thumbnails and upload videos in bulk Generate optimized titles, descriptions, and tags Even better? The tool integrates directly into your YouTube dashboard. So, you can take advantage of its features without leaving your channel. Get Actionable Keyword Insights Analyze any keyword in TubeBuddy’s Keyword Explorer to see important metrics like search volume and keyword difficulty. For example, I searched “how to make pasta” in the tool and learned this keyword gets 782K monthly searches but is surprisingly not overly competitive. It also revealed videos currently ranking on YouTube for this topic have “excellent” optimization. This tells me something crucial: I’ll need to focus heavily on optimization to give my video a good shot at ranking. Another cool feature is the overall SEO score, which factors in multiple ranking signals. This helps you gauge the potential of a keyword. Not sure which keyword to use? The tool lets you compare two options. To test this out, I evaluated “how to make pasta” and “homemade pasta recipe.” Keyword Explorer shows that “homemade pasta recipe” has an SEO score of “Good” and a “Very Good” search volume of 156K. It’s also a fairly low-competition keyword, making this term promising. In comparison, “how to make pasta” has a much higher search volume (782K), a “Very Good” SEO score, and a “Fair” competition level. This indicates even stronger potential—voilà, I’ve found a winner! Generate and Optimize Titles and Descriptions TubeBuddy’s SEO Studio lets you instantly generate AI-powered titles and descriptions for your videos. Improve your SEO score by following the tool’s optimization recommendations, such as “include your target keyword naturally in the title.” Spy on Your Competitors Next, I used TubeBuddy’s Videolytics tool to evaluate competing videos and identify keyword opportunities. This powerful tool shows you why videos succeed or struggle by revealing: Performance metrics: Views, likes, comments, and social shares SEO insights: Optimization scores and which tags drive traffic Competitor strategies: What top channels do differently Improvement tips: Recommendations to boost your video’s visibility This data helps you create better content and get more views by understanding exactly what works in your niche. TubeBuddy Pricing Free: Limited free plan available Pro: $7.50/month Legend: $32.99/month Enterprise: Contact for pricing Further reading: Video SEO: The Definitive Guide 4. Keywords Everywhere: Best for Analyzing Competitors’ Keywords Keywords Everywhere is a handy browser extension and keyword tool for YouTube. It lets you analyze every keyword through data-packed widgets like trend charts, popular tags, and engagement scores. Get Detailed Keyword Insights Keywords Everywhere taps into Google Keyword Planner data to show you real-time search volume, competition, and cost-per-click (CPC). For example, when I searched “weight loss,” the tool suggested related terms like “weight loss diet” that had lower competition. This instant insight helps you pick keywords that will rank higher and attract more views. Keywords Everywhere also breaks down exactly what makes videos successful. For example, I found that videos about “weight loss” have 3.35 million views on average. 60% of these videos contain “weight loss” in the title, and 50% contain the keyword in the description. This data shows you how to optimize your content by strategically placing keywords where they matter most to boost your visibility. Analyze Top-Ranking Competitors Keywords Everywhere also tells you what’s working for your competitors. I looked at an in-depth breakdown of the top 20 videos for the keyword “weight loss.” And learned metrics like view count, views per day, ranking difficulty, and SEO score. But the one that stood out to me the most was “Age.” This metric tells you how long ago a video was published. For example, most of the videos for my keyword are at least a year old (and likely outdated). So, now I know there’s a good chance I can outrank the existing content by sharing fresh perspectives. Besides this detailed top-20 breakdown, you’ll also find a summarized analysis of all search results for a given keyword. This overview tells you helpful info, like how many subscribers and views each video has. But it also analyzes video titles and descriptions for length and quality. Generate Keywords in Bulk I also experimented with the Bulk Keywords Data Tool to expand my initial keyword list. A bulk keyword tool saves hours by analyzing hundreds of terms instantly instead of one by one. Seeing all keywords together also reveals valuable patterns in viewer search behavior. Once you add your seed keywords, the tool suggests related terms. Use these insights to naturally weave relevant keywords into your video description and transcript—helping YouTube better understand and recommend your content to interested viewers. Keywords Everywhere Pricing Bronze: $2.25/month Silver: $6/month Gold: $25/month Platinum: $80/month 5. Google Trends: Best for Real-Time Keyword Trend Tracking Google Trends reveals real-time search patterns across web, image, and YouTube searches, helping you spot opportunities others miss. Compare keywords, track trends, and discover what’s hot in specific regions—all for free. Find Keywords for Specific Locations Want to know where your content will resonate the most? Google Trends can show you. For example, when I searched for “travel destinations,” it revealed unexpected hotspots in Idaho, Connecticut, and Kansas. I can turn this insight into targeted content like “Best travel destinations in Idaho” to reach a local audience. Discover Related and Trending Topics Google Trends shows you related topics for every search, so you can add relevant keywords and subtopics to your videos. But it doesn’t just show you what’s popular—it reveals what’s about to be big. For example, a search for “coffee makers” uncovers emerging trends like “coffee makers that use k cups,” which recently increased in interest by 350%. For each trending term, you’ll learn: Search volume When the term started trending Specific queries fueling its popularity Create content around these rising topics, and you’ll catch viewer interest at the perfect moment. Compare Keywords to Find the Best Opportunities Google Trends lets you compare keywords head-to-head to see which ones truly resonate with viewers. When I compared “vegan meal prep” versus “quick vegan recipes,” the data revealed “vegan meal prep” consistently attracts more interest. These direct comparisons help you focus your efforts on topics viewers are actively searching for rather than guessing what might work. Google Trends Pricing Google Trends is free to use. Fast-Track Your YouTube Channel’s Growth Want your YouTube channel to get more views and subscribers? You need to target the right keywords. And to find those keywords, you need the right Youtube keyword tools. Whether you use TubeBuddy to optimize videos or Semrush for deeper analysis (or both), keyword research can set your channel up for long-term growth and success. For best results, combine keyword research with a strong promotion strategy. Read our guide: 21 Ways to Promote Your YouTube Videos to maximize your reach and build stronger brand awareness. The post Top 5 YouTube Keyword Tools <br>(Field-Tested For Growth) appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Founded in 2023, DeepSeek is a Chinese AI startup known for its new chatbot beating many existing models and rivaling dominance of ChatGPT. Since the public release of DeepSeek-R1 on January 20, the startup attracted worldwide attention thanks to its reported cost-efficient model outpacing leading US-based AI chatbots. Today, DeepSeek ranks as the #1 most downloaded app in the App Store in over 160 countries and has been downloaded more than 2.6 million across App Store and Google Play. AI chatbot by DeepSeek is currently one of the fastest-growing tech products but as a private company, they don’t disclose many details. We plan to update this page as more information is available. Key DeepSeek Stats DeepSeek app has been downloaded over 4.3 million times to date. China, the United States, and Russia are the largest markets for DeepSeek accounting for 42.3% of DeepSeek iOS app downloads. DeekSeek website unique visitors per week amounted to 5.1 million. DeepSeek has an estimated 6-8 million users. DeepSeek App Downloads As of January 27 2025, the DeepSeek AI app has been downloaded over 4.3 million times worldwide across Google Play and App Store to date. Downloads from the DeepSeek AI app from Google Play amounted to 2.4 million times, with the remaining 1.9 million downloads from the App Store. Here’s a detailed breakdown of DeepSeek app daily downloads since January 20 2025 across Google Play and App Store: Date DeepSeek App Downloads January 20, 2025 78,674 January 21, 2025 128,942 January 22, 2025 197,342 January 23, 2025 242,258 January 24, 2025 283,510 January 25, 2025 431,165 January 26, 2025 677,870 January 27, 2025 1,855,689 Source: Appfigures DeepSeek Website Unique Visitors As of January 13 – 19 2025, DeekSeek had 5.1 million unique website visitors, up from 4.9 million unique website visitors during the previous week (January 6 – 12 2025). Source: Semrush DeepSeek Number of Users Our analysis of multiple sources suggests that the current worldwide user base of DeepSeek varies between 6 – 8 million. At the moment, DeepSeek restricts new registrations due to reported cyberattacks on the services which may impact the total number of DeepSeek users. Note: As of the moment of preparing this post, there’s no publicly available data on the number of users from DeepSeek. Our estimates are based on traffic and app downloads estimates. Sources: Backlinko analysis of Appfigures, Semrush data DeepSeek User Demographics According to the latest estimates, DeepSeek’s audience mainly consists of younger users aged 18-24 years old accounting for 42.5% of total audience among iOS users and 50.4% among Android users. Here’s detailed breakdown of DeepSeekers by age across Android and iOS devices: Age Group iOS Android 18-24 42.5% 50.4% 25-34 23.9% 16.5% 35-49 11.9% 14.5% 50-64 21.6% 17.8% 65+ 0.0% 0.8% On both platforms, DeepSeek’s user base leans male. Source: Appfigures DeepSeek iOS App Users by Country According to recent estimates, the top 3 markets of DeepSeek iOS app downloads are China, the US and Russia, combined accounting for 42.3% of all app downloads. Here’s a detailed breakdown of DeepSeek downloads from App Store by country as of January 26, 2025: Country DeepSeek iOS App Downloads Worldwide (Share of Total) China 391,765 (20.1%) United States 316,440 (16.2%) Russia 117,963 (6.0%) Saudi Arabia 66,505 (3.4%) Brazil 64,046 (3.3%) United Kingdom 56,515 (2.9%) Germany 52,779 (2.7%) India 50,975 (2.6%) France 48,206 (2.5%) Turkey 45,700 (2.3%) Source: Appfigures DeepSeek Website Unique Visitors by Country As of January 13 – 19, 2025, China, the US and Russia are the largest markets for DeepSeek accounting for 48.1% of all unique visitors to the DeepSeek website. Here’s a detailed breakdown by country, including unique visitors share: Country DeepSeek Website Weekly Unique Visitors (Share of Total) China 1,100,000 (21.81%) Russia 411,300 (8.09%) United States 234,000 (4.6%) India 118,300 (2.33%) Bangladesh 11,900 (0.24%) Source: Semrush The post DeepSeek AI Usage Stats appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Nearly half of Americans believe that we will see a civil war in the United States in our lifetime. As a corporate leader of a large, diverse team that operates across the United States, I am simultaneously horrified by this and hopeful that it will not come to fruition. The workplace gives me a window into the relationships that are at stake if our country further divides. It also gives me hope that relationships can hold us together, two people at a time. I met my colleague Ted last year. We are a generation apart. I’m a city girl. He’s a country guy. I’ve never voted Republican. I doubt he’s ever voted for a Democrat. We both call ourselves Christian, while our similar faith identities guide distinct political choices. Ted and I met at a company-sponsored volunteer week, swinging hammers and painting bold yellow safety lines on the floor of a Habitat for Humanity warehouse in rural Kaua’i. Amidst bruised thumbs (mine) and splattered paint (also mine) we talked about our opposing views on social issues. We also shared tears about loved ones lost and pride for the purpose of our company, Thrivent, where Ted is a 41-year veteran financial advisor, and I am a relatively new executive. Ted and I came away knowing that, despite differences, we have many more values that we share, including our passion for service and community-building among colleagues. We’ve stayed in touch. Ted has both questioned and complimented my marketing team’s work in how we are evolving telling Thrivent’s story in our advertising. He’s also graciously welcomed my family at corporate events. Post-election day On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, I knew it might be difficult for many colleagues—regardless of how they voted—to show up for work the morning after the election. As soon as I arrived, an email came in from Ted. “Good Mornin’ Sunshine!!!” read the subject. One could bristle at seeing that, but I did not. Seeing this come from Ted is like seeing it come from my favorite uncle. I smile as I open the message. Ted was not writing to gloat. He didn’t even mention the election. He was writing to offer thoughts on an article on Thrivent’s intranet site highlighting veterans’ work. He discussed Thanksgiving plans and wished my family well. He was making an authentic connection despite political divisiveness around us and demonstrating genuine care. In a world where we are increasingly sucked into echo chambers of our individual beliefs, the workplace remains a place where we can connect with people with different beliefs and recognize that it is possible not only to work together, but to do work together. For those of us lucky enough to work at a purpose-based and values-driven company, now is the time to lean into those strengths, focus on growth and the impact we have, even amidst differences. Everyone should belong at work Thrivent is a Fortune 500 financial services company whose purpose is to empower lives of service and faith. It is a unique organization that faces cultural challenges of divisiveness just like any large corporation today. Regardless of politics, I want Thrivent to continue to be a place where both Ted and I belong. I read Ted’s email and thought about this for a moment, and then about my team, and our upcoming day—today of all days—of team building that had been on the calendar for months. I sent them an email with the subject “Taking on the day.” In it, I included the following: I am cognizant of how divisive our country is right now, and how divided we are, and how, regardless of the outcome of the election, we would all be among people who are hurting and worried today. I know you all care about this team just as I do. I was thinking about our shared values at Thrivent and how relevant they can be as guiding principles for how we get through tough days together: Empathy—recognize that we all have our own emotional journeys today and be there for one another Authenticity—don’t be afraid to be real with each other, and know that that realness will be met with empathy Commitment—keep moving forward and look for opportunities to serve, and live into the community that we want to be a part of Impact—recognize the strength of our collective effort, and the good that we can do in the world when we focus our energy together Gratitude—even on the difficult days, take comfort in all the gifts that we have, including the gift of each other These are Thrivent’s values. They are not the values of Republicans or Democrats, red states or blue. At work—at my work—they rally us despite forces that could otherwise divide. There are many corporations whose purpose and values put them squarely on one side of a social issue. Most large organizations, though, do not have a purpose that puts them on one end of a political spectrum or another, and, therefore, can be a place where people can work together to have impact despite political differences. In the worldview that Ted and I share, our greatest role in work, and life, is to love one another. There is no room for civil war in this worldview. Using shared purpose and values at work is a unifier that helps us find love for all. Let’s get to work. Carolyn Sakstrup is EVP and chief growth and generosity officer at Thrivent. View the full article

The connection between innovation and climate action has never been more vital. As the urgency of global climate goals intensifies, industries are being forced to rethink old methods and adopt bold, forward-thinking solutions to drive real progress. At the same time, more than 60 recent and upcoming global elections, including the return of a Trump administration in the U.S., could signal major shifts in federal climate policies. Yet one thing remains certain: Businesses and investors are not waiting for governments to take the lead. Sustainability is still a priority, pushing companies to focus on transparency and take tangible steps to meet climate challenges head on. So what does it take to navigate these complexities? I spoke with Erik Saito of Workiva, a cloud-based financial reporting platform, to explore the importance of data transparency and how integrated reporting can create a singular story about impact. How can innovation help tackle issues like inconsistent standards, scattered data and complex regulations, bring everything together to drive real change? Innovation is key because it lets us tackle challenges with fresh perspectives and practical solutions. It helps break down barriers, sparks new ideas, drives smarter processes, and enables technologies that help us reduce emissions, use resources more efficiently, and discover sustainable solutions we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. But perhaps most importantly, innovation brings people and ideas together, empowering us to address these challenges collaboratively and create meaningful, lasting change. It’s the driving force that turns sustainability goals into real, impactful action. What sparked Workiva’s move toward sustainability? The shift was really a natural evolution. As more companies recognized the importance of sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG), there was a clear need for delivering the same transparency and accuracy in financial reporting to this space. We saw an opportunity to help companies navigate these evolving—and oftentimes challenging—new requirements, making their ESG data just as reliable and actionable as their financial data. The shift wasn’t just because of customer demand; it aligned with our mission, which is to power transparent reporting for a better world. Were there any themes at November’s COP29, the United Nations Climate Change conference, that stood out as especially promising or transformative? To no surprise, a large focus of this year’s event was on the need for standardization in sustainability reporting. I think that can be reflected by how financial reporting went through the same process as it matured, with stakeholders recognizing that consistency, transparency, and comparability are essential—something we’re now seeing in the ESG field. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, or CSRD, is a great example of the push for standardization, and it was a hot topic at COP29. The CSRD significantly expands the number of companies required to report on ESG metrics and it uses detailed, standardized guidelines to ensure consistency. This kind of uniformity is helping organizations and investors get a clearer picture of ESG risks and opportunities, which is driving it deeper into core business strategies. I see regulations like the CSRD as a real opportunity for companies. It’s a chance to drive meaningful change, invest in sustainable practices, and create long-term value. It’s also a way to build resilience and lay a strong foundation to weather the kind of volatility we’re seeing in today’s macro environment. Do you think companies will continue retreating from their sustainability commitments or even abandoned them altogether, either due to investor pressure or the current economic and political landscape? Are there risks in doing so? We’ve been tracking this sentiment through surveys over the past few years, and the data tells a different story. In our 2024 Executive Benchmark on Integrated Reporting, not only did 82% of institutional investors report that they haven’t changed how they make investment decisions despite recent criticism of ESG, but 91% of executives also agreed that integrated financial and ESG reporting offers a more holistic view of performance. Companies that step back now risk damaging their reputation, losing investor confidence, and falling behind in a world that’s increasingly focused on ESG. Customers, investors, and regulators are all demanding more transparency, not less. Those who don’t keep up could find themselves struggling to compete. In 2025, I think we’ll see more companies adopt tools and strategies that help them stay on track, even in tough economic or political environments. The shift we’re seeing is clear—sustainability isn’t just good for the planet; it’s good for business. Given the uncertainty of the evolving climate landscape, what advice do you have for companies reporting on ESG factors? You need to invest in innovation. I think a lot of us are used to doing manual, time-consuming work because that’s how it’s always been done. But today, technology has advanced to the point where we don’t have to settle for “business as usual.” Technology allows businesses to integrate financial, ESG, sustainability, compliance, and risk management into a cohesive framework—one that tells a powerful, unified story to stakeholders. Technology strengthens your business value by demonstrating measurable impact, enhancing transparency, and enabling smarter decision making. Organizations that prioritize unifying these areas through innovation don’t just stay competitive—they build trust, drive sustainable growth, and future-proof their business in an increasingly complex world. Celia Jones is global chief marketing officer of FINN Partners. View the full article

LinkedIn report highlights five key trends reshaping B2B marketing, emphasizing revenue metrics, AI attribution, and ROI-focused strategies. The post LinkedIn Report Reveals 5 Key Trends Reshaping B2B Marketing appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration's focus with regard to bringing down borrowing costs is 10-year Treasury yields, rather than the Federal Reserve's benchmark short-term interest rate. View the full article

Changes will pave the way for construction of a new generation of small modular reactorsView the full article

In just a couple of years, generative AI (GenAI) has made a big impact on the way people, companies, and entire industries think about work. It’s helping doctors and nurses, who spend more than a third of their work week on paperwork, free up more time to focus on patients. Scientists are using GenAI ideation to achieve research breakthroughs. In the field of law, where time is so valuable it’s often measured in six-minute increments, GenAI’s ability to understand and analyze documents faster than any person can is quickly becoming indispensable. Many legal teams doing text-heavy work are using innovative GenAI tools to speed their race against the ever-present clock. The next time you’re in a time crunch with your work, GenAI can also come in clutch for you. Here are three inspirational ways that GenAI is giving legal teams an unmistakable advantage in speed. 1. Cut through the chaos Even the most sensational courtroom dramas rely on evidence. Complex matters such as criminal cases, business disputes, corporate mergers, and countless others are based on the facts found in millions of evidentiary documents. For example, litigation against the opioid industry has created more than four million documents. The vast majority of legal cases never make it to trial. Instead, they unfold in what feels like a game of chess, as opposing parties maneuver and negotiate back and forth. Knowledge and speed are strategic assets here, and GenAI has become an important tool that lawyers are using to achieve both. Cole, Scott & Kissane, a law firm specializing in civil litigation, has experienced the real-world impacts in resolving matters faster than before with the help of AI technology. “GenAI legal software proved helpful in reaching a settlement,” Manuel Delgado, the firm’s litigation support manager told us. “With it, we were able to quickly summarize dozens of financial reports prior to conference. Some of the insights we gained caught the plaintiff by surprise. A settlement was solidified thereafter, and our client was thrilled.” 2. Find the needle in the haystack, faster Discovery is the stage of a civil lawsuit where opposing parties gather and exchange information and evidence relevant to their respective cases. It is part of the law of civil procedure adopted by the U.S. legal system in 1938. As recently as the late 1990s, discovery was a paper-based chore. With large cases, hundreds of cardboard “bankers boxes” would be delivered to law firms; junior associates then spent hours scanning thousands of pages, searching for bits of invaluable information like a needle in a haystack. It was tedious, “brain deadening” work. Today, the problem seems harder: Millions of discovery documents may arrive at once, electronically, often at the last allowable minute. Sometimes a needle is found in the haystack. In civil litigation against Theranos cofounder Elizabeth Holmes, prosecutors dove into evidentiary metadata to find more than 40 key documents, all potentially bolstering the case that Holmes and other company executives were well aware of the deception the company was later accused of, and of which Holmes was eventually found criminally guilty. But historically, legal teams have had to spend enormous amounts of time, usually measured in months and often requiring dozens of attorneys, reviewing discovery documents manually to find such needles. GenAI-powered e-discovery legal tech software has completely changed the game, allowing large volumes of electronic documents to quickly be analyzed, summarized, and assembled into a structured story. Cal Yeaman completed the review of more than 10,000 documents in minutes—something that would have taken a team of human reviewers several days. Yeaman is a project attorney at Orrick, one of the largest law firms in the country. He said at our company summit that GenAI’s coding suggestions, which help identify relevant documents in discovery, were more accurate and consistent than human review. Running the numbers, Yeaman estimated that the new AI-powered review process reduced their cost of document review by more than 50%. 3. Get the lay of the land in minutes Law is a service business with high client expectations. Firms pride themselves on their commitment to serving client needs, an attitude that extends to the legal support teams behind the scenes. Jen Jackson, a senior analyst at the boutique employment law firm Baker Dolinko & Schwartz, had GenAI come in clutch when 10 new business requests for proposals, including over 120 pages of questions and 500 items, landed in her inbox. She also mentioned at our summit that instead of handing the task off to a junior attorney, wasting time and billable hours, she uploaded the documents to a GenAI tool that functions as a “smart intern” and got a condensed two-page summary of the tasks in minutes. How will GenAI come in clutch for you? Do you need to cut through the chaos? Find a needle in a haystack? Get the lay of the land, fast? With a little imagination, GenAI can be an invaluable tool the next time you’re in a time crunch. AJ Shankar is CEO of Everlaw. View the full article

With the Federal Reserve eying changes to its annual examination of large bank resilience, this year's test could be the last of its kind. View the full article

Drive better results with Smart Bidding in Google Ads. Learn how to use this advanced feature to optimize your PPC campaigns. The post Smart Bidding In Google Ads: In-Depth Guide appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you missed the chance to grab a new TV during recent Prime Day or Black Friday sales, the Super Bowl is your next best shot at scoring a deep discount. Plenty of TVs from the top brands are on sale right now, and you still have time to get them before the game on Sunday, Feb. 9. (Note: Some models may not be available in your part of the country.) The best deals on TVs under 45 inchesDon't be distracted by the fact that TVs keep getting bigger and bigger. If your living room isn't huge, or you don't have wall space, a massive TV isn't better. 40 inch TVs are still big. 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Bring movies and shows to life with support for vivid 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus. 4K Ultra HD Use Alexa to turn the tv on and off, and as a smart assistant unrelated to the TV Easy to add streaming apps Live, free TV channels 4 HDMI inputs Was $369.99, discounted to $229.99 Hisense 43" Class A7 Series 4K UHD Smart Fire TVHisense has become a major player with televisions, competing against legacy brands like Sony and Samsung. This model also comes equipped with Alexa, which means you have an additional smart speaker in your home (the tv). Dolby Vision-Atmos Fire TV built in, able to add unlimited apps for streamers 4k upscaling- even older shows and movies look natural in 4k. Was $249.99, now $199.99 SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K Smart TV I've been living with this Samsung line for 16 months and every single day I turn the TV on, I am still amazed by the clarity and depth of the picture. Another notable point is how much Samsung has reduced the frame, so you see picture from edge to edge. 4K TV features Quantum Matrix with Mini LEDs for precise lighting Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+ The NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor powers the 4K AI Upscaling, so color and picture of HDR is crisp and clear in 4K. Samsung and Amazon voice assistants on board, and ability to add as many streaming apps as you'd like. Was $1297.99, discounted to $897.99 The best deals on TVs up to 55 inchesThis is the range most TV purchases fall into, as most homes simply weren't built with wall space to accommodate a 70 inch television. These are still plenty large to get every detail out of the game. Amazon Fire TV 55" 4-Series 4K UHD smart TV $319.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $519.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $319.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $519.99 Save $200.00 55" Samsung Q60D Series QLED 4K Smart TV $547.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $797.99 Save $250.00 Shop Now Shop Now $547.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $797.99 Save $250.00 SEE -1 MORE Amazon Fire TV 55" 4-Series 4K UHD smart TV 4K Ultra HD Use Alexa to turn the tv on and off, and as a smart assistant unrelated to the TV Easy to add streaming apps Live, free TV channels 4 HDMI inputs Was $519.99, now $319.99 SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class QLED 4K Q60D Series Over a billion shades of brilliant color and exceptional contrast Dedicated gaming hub Plenty of HDMI and USB ports, this TV seamlessly integrates with your home theater setup and other devices. 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SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Crystal UHD 4K $747.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $747.95 at Amazon TCL 65-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV $339.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $446.84 Save $106.85 Shop Now Shop Now $339.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $446.84 Save $106.85 Hisense 65-Inch Class QD7 Series QLED 4K UHD $399.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $572.63 Save $172.64 Shop Now Shop Now $399.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $572.63 Save $172.64 SEE 0 MORE SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Crystal UHD 4KWhile not the QLED or OLED model, this model offers a lot of value at a more budget price point, while maintaining some of the nicer features of more expensive models. 3840 x 2160 resolution Smart assistants on board, and unlimited streaming apps Virtual 3D surround sound experience Was $469.99, now $397.99 TCL 65-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TVNot all TV's are Airplay compatible, making this one worth checking out. 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TCL 85-Inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV with Google TV $798.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,297.99 Save $499.99 Shop Now Shop Now $798.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,297.99 Save $499.99 Sony 85 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series $998.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,498.00 Save $500.00 Shop Now Shop Now $998.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,498.00 Save $500.00 Hisense - 100" Class U8 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD QLED Google TV (2023) $2,997.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $3,998.00 Save $1,000.01 Shop Now Shop Now $2,997.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $3,998.00 Save $1,000.01 SEE 0 MORE TCL 85-Inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV with Google TV3840 x 2160 resolution Built-in stereo speakers and a subwoofer Smooth gaming-120Hz refresh rate and Motion Rate 480 technology, as well as dedicated gaming features like Auto Game Mode and Game Accelerator 240 for responsive gameplay Was $1297.99, now $798.00 Sony 85 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L SeriesGoogle TV on board, compatible with Apple Airply 3840 x 2160 resolution 4K Processor X1 upscaling content Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for enhanced visuals and performance Was $1498.00, now $998.00 Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD4K ULED, mini LED and full array local dimming Over a billion colors 144Hz refresh rate Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos 5 speakers including rear ‘overhead’ speakers and a built-in subwoofer 144HZ gaming mode for uninterrupted play Voice control, no remote needed Was $3998.00, discounted to $2,997.99 View the full article

A new Lenovo-commissioned study conducted by IDC reveals that global organizations are significantly increasing AI investments, but concerns over return on investment (ROI) remain a primary barrier to broader adoption. The 2025 CIO Playbook: It’s Time for AI-nomics reports that AI spending is expected to nearly triple in 2025 compared to last year, yet business leaders remain divided on its long-term value. Key Findings: AI Investment and ROI Challenges While AI adoption is accelerating, financial risk and uncertain ROI remain the most cited obstacles. The study found that 37% of management remains skeptical or has reservations about AI’s impact, despite 90% of IT professionals stating that AI has met their expectations. Organizations are increasing their AI budgets, with AI expected to account for 20% of tech spending in 2025. Generative AI (GenAI) adoption is also projected to expand, growing from 11% to 42% within the next year, with the highest application levels expected in IT operations, software development, and marketing. Organizational Readiness and Ethical Concerns Beyond financial uncertainty, organizations face readiness challenges in AI implementation. More than half of businesses lack an AI Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) policy, even as ethical concerns around AI and machine learning persist. To fully leverage AI, organizations must upskill employees, modernize IT systems, and establish ethical frameworks to navigate responsible AI use. “AI is a marathon and a sprint—requiring parallel efforts to move quickly to modernize systems while ensuring the future-proofing of tech stacks,” said Ken Wong, President, Solutions & Services Group, Lenovo. “Our research shows organizations need to simplify the design, deployment, and integration of AI solutions to demonstrate the impact of these investments. This will instill greater confidence and fuel future investments.” Data Quality and AI Failures The study highlights data quality as a critical success factor for AI implementation. Data sovereignty, compliance, and accessibility were identified as essential components, while poor data quality, high IT costs, and integration challenges were the leading causes of AI failures. To mitigate these issues, 33% of organizations plan to develop data management capabilities within the next year. The Role of AI Partnerships The report finds that lack of skilled expertise is the top reason organizations hesitate to invest in AI, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships. Businesses recognize that working with AI-capable partners is key to successful AI deployment. “To harness AI’s transformative power, organizations need a data-driven strategy that ensures scalability, interoperability, and tangible business outcomes,” said Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, President, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo. “At Lenovo, we believe a hybrid approach to AI—seamlessly integrating and enabling private and public models—is essential for delivering scalable solutions, driving measurable impact, and accelerating AI-powered business transformation.” AI’s Future: Strategic Investment with Measured Optimism Despite aggressive AI investment plans, Lenovo’s study suggests that businesses remain cautious about AI’s long-term financial returns. As organizations work to address ROI concerns, data quality issues, and workforce readiness, AI adoption will depend on demonstrating measurable business value. Lenovo’s findings underscore the need for a balanced approach to AI investments, ensuring both technological innovation and financial viability. Image: Envato This article, "Lenovo Study Finds ROI Concerns Remain Key Barrier to AI Adoption Despite Increased Investment" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A new Lenovo-commissioned study conducted by IDC reveals that global organizations are significantly increasing AI investments, but concerns over return on investment (ROI) remain a primary barrier to broader adoption. The 2025 CIO Playbook: It’s Time for AI-nomics reports that AI spending is expected to nearly triple in 2025 compared to last year, yet business leaders remain divided on its long-term value. Key Findings: AI Investment and ROI Challenges While AI adoption is accelerating, financial risk and uncertain ROI remain the most cited obstacles. The study found that 37% of management remains skeptical or has reservations about AI’s impact, despite 90% of IT professionals stating that AI has met their expectations. Organizations are increasing their AI budgets, with AI expected to account for 20% of tech spending in 2025. Generative AI (GenAI) adoption is also projected to expand, growing from 11% to 42% within the next year, with the highest application levels expected in IT operations, software development, and marketing. Organizational Readiness and Ethical Concerns Beyond financial uncertainty, organizations face readiness challenges in AI implementation. More than half of businesses lack an AI Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) policy, even as ethical concerns around AI and machine learning persist. To fully leverage AI, organizations must upskill employees, modernize IT systems, and establish ethical frameworks to navigate responsible AI use. Data Quality and AI Failures The study highlights data quality as a critical success factor for AI implementation. Data sovereignty, compliance, and accessibility were identified as essential components, while poor data quality, high IT costs, and integration challenges were the leading causes of AI failures. To mitigate these issues, 33% of organizations plan to develop data management capabilities within the next year. The Role of AI Partnerships The report finds that lack of skilled expertise is the top reason organizations hesitate to invest in AI, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships. Businesses recognize that working with AI-capable partners is key to successful AI deployment. “To harness AI’s transformative power, organizations need a data-driven strategy that ensures scalability, interoperability, and tangible business outcomes,” said Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, President, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo. “At Lenovo, we believe a hybrid approach to AI—seamlessly integrating and enabling private and public models—is essential for delivering scalable solutions, driving measurable impact, and accelerating AI-powered business transformation.” AI’s Future: Strategic Investment with Measured Optimism Despite aggressive AI investment plans, Lenovo’s study suggests that businesses remain cautious about AI’s long-term financial returns. As organizations work to address ROI concerns, data quality issues, and workforce readiness, AI adoption will depend on demonstrating measurable business value. Lenovo’s findings underscore the need for a balanced approach to AI investments, ensuring both technological innovation and financial viability. Image: Envato This article, "Lenovo Study Finds ROI Concerns Remain Key Barrier to AI Adoption Despite Increased Investment" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Many of America’s top figure skaters will gather in Washington, D.C., for a live “Legacy on Ice” tribute show to support families impacted by the January 29 plane crash that killed young skaters returning home from a training camp. Cohosted by Olympic champion Brian Boitano, the March 2 event at Capital One Arena will feature current U.S. champions Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, plus retired U.S. gold medallists Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton and Johnny Weir. “As we begin to heal from this devastating loss, we look forward to honouring the enduring memories of these athletes, coaches and family members who represented the best of the figure skating community,” U.S. Figure Skating interim CEO Samuel Auxier said in a statement. “We can think of no better way of celebrating their legacies than through the sport they loved.” All proceeds will be collected by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and distributed equally between the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund, Greater Washington Community Foundation’s “DCA Together Relief Fund” and DC Fire & EMS Foundation. There were 64 people on board the commercial flight that crashed after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, including many young Olympic hopefuls. U.S. Figure Skating said a total of 28 people on the plane were connected to the sport, including coaches, athletes and their relatives. World figure skating champions and coaching pair Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers killed. —Lori Ewing, Reuters View the full article

Nationally ... they’re not so sure. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Nationally ... they’re not so sure. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Here’s everything you need to know about setting up an integration between Smartsheet sheets and Azure DevOps projects with an automated 2-way sync using Unito. Since Unito is a simple, no-code platform, you don’t need a technical background to set up your first secure integration without troubleshooting scripts or consulting third-party experts. Here’s how it works. This integration from Unito has two goals: Automatically create new work items in Azure DevOps to match Smartsheet rows and vice versa. Set up a live, 2-way sync between both tools so everyone can get visibility on development work in real-time without having to manually copy information back and forth — or book another meeting. In this article: Why sync Smartsheet and Azure DevOps? Step 1. Connect Smartsheet and Azure DevOps to Unito Step 2. Choose a flow direction for new tasks and work items Step 3. Set rules to exclude tasks or items from syncing Step 4. Configure Smartsheet and Azure DevOps fields Step 5. Launch your Smartsheet-Azure DevOps integration Why sync Smartsheet and Azure DevOps? Azure DevOps is a favorite of software development teams for keeping their essential work organized while moving quickly and breaking things. But the interface, technical features, and aspects of ADO don’t make it as suited for other kinds of work. That’s why few organizations use ADO as their base of operations for workflows outside of these technical teams. Smartsheet is a popular option for this, because of its advanced reporting features, flexibility, and ease-of-use. Keeping technical and non-technical teams in sync While product, IT, and software development teams might use different tools, they still need to collaborate with less-technical teams. Think of support tickets that need to be escalated to a developer, support documentation that needs input from the support team, or even marketing initiatives that rely on product updates in ADO. With an integration powered by Unito, you can bring these teams together by syncing data back and forth, aligning them without any copying and pasting of information. Enhanced oversight and visibility in real-time Product and software development workflows can have a large impact on your bottom line. But for too many organizations, visibility on these workflows is severely lacking. This is often caused by too many intermediary steps between the actual work and the stakeholders who need visibility on it. With a smooth integration between Azure DevOps and Smartsheet, you can eliminate these steps and bring a live view on that work to the people who need it. Automated reporting Many organizations still use spreadsheets as their primary reporting tools, either built and updated manually or relying on fragile, intricate automation chains. With a Unito integration, you can leverage Smartsheet’s strong reporting features and feed them with data from ADO. Go beyond just getting visibility on development work and create dedicated reports to track your organization’s important product goals. Step 1. Connect Azure DevOps and Smartsheet to Unito Sign up for Unito if you haven’t already! Navigate to the Unito App and click +Create Flow. Click Start Here to connect Azure DevOps and Smartsheet. Then click +Choose account for each tool and complete the authorization process. Click Confirm. When you’re ready, click Confirm. First time connecting tools to Unito and need extra help? Check out this guide. Authorizing ADO to sync with Before you sync any data, you may want to create a new Smartsheet sheet to serve as a workspace for anything you’ll sync from Azure DevOps. In ADO, make sure Third-party application access via OAuth is on. To adjust this setting, go to Organization Settings in Azure DevOps and click on Policies. Then, make sure the toggle for Third-party application access via OAuth is turned on. Without this, you won’t be able to connect Azure DevOps to Unito. Step 2. Choose flow direction for new work items When you create new Smartsheet rows or ADO work items, Unito creates synced versions in the other tool automatically. Flow direction tells Unito where to do that, according to one of these three settings: 2-way, which creates new Smartsheet rows and ADO work items to match items created in either tool. 1-way from Smartsheet to ADO, which creates new ADO work items to match Smartsheet rows you create manually. Creating ADO items manually won’t create new Smartsheet rows. 1-way from ADO to Smartsheet, which creates new Smartsheet rows to match ADO work items you create manually. Creating Smartsheet rows manually won’t create new ADO work items. Note that this only affects the creation of new work items, not the direction of updates for individual fields (e.g. due dates, versions, assignees). Even if you create a 1-way flow, you can tailor flow direction of individual fields in the last few steps of this guide. Step 3. Set rules to sync specific Smartsheet rows and ADO work items Think of rules like filters that allow you to tailor Unito flows so only some work items get synced between Smartsheet and ADO. For example, you could decide to filter out Smartsheet rows with a specific option selected in a dropdown, or ADO issues with a specific assignee. To start creating a rule, click Add a new rule. From there you can choose what will trigger that rule and what happens when it’s triggered. First time setting up a rule? Check out our full guide to rules here. Step 4. Map fields between Smartsheet and ADO Next, you can set individual relationships between rows and work items. Most fields can be assigned their own update direction to determine how real-time updates occur. In most situations, Unito can map your fields automatically, and you’ll be asked if you want to do that or map your fields from scratch. How to manually add field mappings in Unito Click +Add mapping to add new pairs of fields. Click Select a field for each tool, and pick the field you want to map. A blue question mark icon indicates a custom field created in that tool. Most fields are automatically mapped for two-way updates, but you can still adjust them as needed. With a one-way sync between fields, only the destination field will update automatically. Fields with cog icons can be customized further (e.g. linking specific labels between apps). Step 5. Launch your flow That’s it! You’ve built your first flow and you’re ready to launch. Once you do, Unito will automatically sync ADO work items with Smartsheet rows, keeping all fields you mapped updated automatically. Any questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team by clicking the chat bubble below! View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Cleaning can be overwhelming to everyone at some point—and creating a habit or schedule you'll actually stick to can be a big part of the problem. As is this case with other tasks like decluttering and organizing, though, one way to break through the procrastination is by finding the method that works best for you. Here are five of my favorites for you to try. The FlyLady technique, for stress-free cleaningThe FlyLady cleaning method, popularized by organizational guru Marla Cilley, is all about getting into a soothing, easy cleaning routine that won't stress you out. To tap into the usefulness of this method, break your home into "zones," then dedicate 15 minutes per day to the zone you're currently working on. Yes, this takes time and won't work immediately, but as Cilley puts it, "It didn't get dirty in a day, and it's not going to get clean overnight." Here's how the zones are broken up: Zone 1 is your entryway, front porch, and dining room. You complete this zone in the first week of the month. Zone 2 is the kitchen, which is done during the first full week of the month, meaning the first week in which there are seven full days. Zone 3 is the main bathroom plus another room in your house, such as an office or pantry. This happens during the second full week of the month. Zone 4 is the primary bedroom and its closets and bathroom during the third full week. Zone 5 is the living room, but because it is not a full week, it may overlap with Zone 1. It's likely that your living room is near your entryway, which helps make this seamless as you start incorporating Zone 1 back into your schedule at the end of the five weeks. Obviously, if your home is laid out differently or you have your own unique concerns, play with the zones to fit your needs but try to dedicate a week to each one and follow the same schedule every month. The one-hour method, for when you have a big messLargely, I am a proponent of cleaning in small chunks of time over the course of days or weeks. In most cases, 15 minutes per day is all you need to make an impact on your home's cleanliness over time. In fact, once you get into the habit of doing it like that, the house stays cleaner and requires less work, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of smaller cleaning bursts. Before you get to that point, though, you might have a major mess or two at hand and when that happens, you might need longer, which is why CleanTok influencer @MommyHasntShowered suggests the "one-hour" rule. It's what it sounds like: You clean for an uninterrupted hour, focusing only on tidying up, and then stop when the hour is done, rewarding yourself with something you enjoy, like ice cream or a favorite show. Using this one is subjective and probably depends on how urgent the situation is. If you have someone coming over or the mess is so large that it's taking a toll on your mental health, you may need to pull out this longer work session. If the mess is big but you'd rather tackle it bit by bit, this one's not for you! Bear in mind, though, that while going at a slower pace over days or weeks can be good for not feeling overwhelmed, getting a lot done in one go can be good for motivation. There are mental and emotional benefits to every approach. The trick is figuring out which one you want to tap into. The 20/10 approach, for when you're not motivatedThe 20/10 approach combines elements of my beloved daily short-burst schedule and the one-hour method. It comes from Rachel Hoffman’s 2017 book, Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess and simply asks you to clean for 20 minutes, then take a 10-minute break. It's reminiscent of the Pomodoro productivity technique, which encourages you to work for 25 minutes, then break for five, then get back at it—but here, you have less work time and more chill time. Once your 10 minutes are up, get back into the game, cleaning even more for another 20. Only do this two to four times, though, because again, we don't want to get overwhelmed. What I find most useful is taking the 10-minute break in the spot I just cleaned, so I can really revel in my outcome. If I cleaned my living room, I'm going take that break on the couch, enjoying my tidy surroundings. If I cleaned the kitchen, I'm gonna eat a snack over the counter, where everything is clean and clutter-free. Remember that you're not just cleaning to clean, but rather for some kind of benefit, which is more often than not just the freedom to enjoy a tidier, brighter space. The one-tool method, for when you need some structureIf you really don't know where to begin as you look to clean up for the day, try the one-tool method. This approach relies on some of the classic cleaning advice I love (like not trying to do everything at once) but turns it slightly on its head: Where you'd usually tackle one zone at a time, moving from area to area over the course of a few days, try tackling one task at at time. When using the "one tool" framework, you will be breaking one of my cardinal rules, which is not jumping from room to room during one day's scheduled cleaning time, but you'll be unlocking a completely new kind of efficiency by not having to get the same tools out day after day. Do this every few weeks to shake things up and you're less likely to get bored. So, on your first day, maybe you dust. On your second, maybe you vacuum. On your third, maybe you mop. You get the idea. Pick one tool or task and hit each room in your home. Junebugging, for when you can't focusSometimes, you know what needs to be cleaned, but you just can't focus on it. Tap into that and go with a method that enables you to mindlessly attack the problem without thinking too hard. The right approach here is the junebug method. There's a chance you've seen this demonstrated or at least mentioned on CleanTok, but the earliest reference to the idea actually came around on Tumblr, where a user explained that to clean up despite their ADHD, they imagined they were like a junebug: "Have you ever seen a junebug get to grips with a window screen? It’s remarkably persistent, but not very focused. All that matters is location." Here, you'll embody that, identifying the area you want to clean, then focusing in on one specific spot. So, if the kitchen needs tidying, focus on the sink. You might wash the dishes in it, put them away, then get distracted as you notice a cupboard needs to be wiped down. After you wipe down the cupboard, remind yourself that you're supposed to be at the sink; go back to it to scour it or give the faucet a wipe down. While you're doing that, you might notice you could also wipe down the handles and pulls on the drawers, fridge, and oven. Go do that, but always return to the starting point. This practice kind of lulls you into an easy routine. As long as you keep going back to the first spot and branching out, you'll move in simple circles and let what would normally distract you actually be your guide. View the full article

Amazon-owned Whole Foods is asking the National Labor Relations Board to set aside the results of a union election in which the first group of the company’s employees voted in favor of collective bargaining. In a filing submitted to the agency this week, attorneys for Whole Foods Market argued the union involved with the election, held last week at a store in Philadelphia, interfered in the process by promising employees a 30% wage increase if they unionized and providing free transportation to them the day of the vote. The company also accused The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union—which worked to unionize workers through a local chapter—of intimidating employees who supported Whole Foods. The company did not provide specific details on its allegations, which the union disputes. Pro-union workers prevailed last week after 130 employees in the store – or about 57% of the ballots cast—voted in favor of organizing. The election results still need be certified by a regional director of the NLRB, which Whole Foods says can’t lawfully be done since the agency currently does not have a third board member in Washington. Gynne A. Wilcox, one of the agency’s board members, was fired last week by the Trump administration. In a statement, UFCW Local 1776, the local union that pulled off the labor win, called the company’s allegations baseless. It also said the objections filed by Whole Foods was a legal maneuvering done to delay the bargaining process. “We fully expected Whole Foods to try to stall this process,” said Wendell Young IV, the president of the local union. “Amazon has a well-documented history of using baseless objections to undermine the rights of workers seeking representation, and this case is no different.” In its objection to the election, the upscale grocery chain also accused the NLRB of tainting the process by restraining the company from communicating its views on unionization to employees through required meetings held during work hours. In November, the agency’s board had issued a decision that found these meetings – commonly known as captive audience meetings – were unlawful because they forced employees to attend gatherings that they may otherwise choose to skip. Companies typically use these meetings to deter employees from unionizing. The board said employers may still hold meetings about unions for their workers. But they must make attendance voluntary with no adverse consequences for employees who fail to show up. The union election in Philadelphia marked 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 by delivery drivers and warehouse workers. —Haleluya Hader, Associated Press View the full article

Amazon is set to release its long-awaited—and delayed—Alexa generative artificial intelligence voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a press event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent press invites to an event to be held on February 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an “agent” on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a “Go/No-go,” for February 14. There they will make a final decision on the “street readiness” of Alexa’s generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa’s revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 to $10 monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling “Classic Alexa,” the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa. Bezos’ vision While Apple’s Siri voice assistant preceded Alexa’s 2014 release by three years, the Amazon service supercharged the acceptance of voice assistants. But for many people, Alexa is now used for little more than kitchen timers and weather updates due to its lack of significant overhauls in the last few years. Alexa is the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who envisioned a service that would resemble the voice-activated computers on TV’s “Star Trek.” The hope was that once perfected, users would turn to the voice assistant for hundreds of everyday tasks like turning on lights, preheating the oven, accessing the internet, playing music, writing emails and summoning taxis. “Someday in the future – that might be years or decades away – it could answer everything that you would ever ask it,” Amazon’s then chief of devices, Dave Limp, said nearly a decade ago. With those weighty expectations, the move to upgrade Alexa has suffered delays over concerns around the quality and speed of its responses, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. Amazon dubbed the new service “Banyan” internally, as well as “Remarkable Alexa,” though it was not immediately clear if the Seattle company planned on using either as a new product name. In a January Financial Times interview, Amazon executive Rohit Prasad acknowledged some of the obstacles in developing what is effectively an entirely new service, including the work to eliminate hallucinations. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate $600 million annually if 10% of active users, which it estimates at around 100 million devices, pay $5 per month for the service. —Greg Bensinger, Reuters View the full article

Not all apps are safe. It's why I always recommend downloading apps from official app stores, like the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, rather than a random website: Apple and Google both have policies to scan for malware and stop them before reaching app stores. But neither company is perfect, and apps infected with malware end up on official app marketplaces more often that we'd like to think. These apps usually pop up on the Play Store more than the App Store given that Apple is extremely strict, but that doesn't mean the App Store is impervious to malware—it definitely happens, and we've covered it before. In fact, researchers just found a batch of apps containing malicious programs on both Apple's and Google's platforms. And it's the first time this specific type of the malware was found on the iOS App Store. What is SparkCat?Researchers at Kaspersky discovered apps on both Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store that contained malicious frameworks, specifically designed to steal crypto wallet recovery phrases—a series of words used to access cryptocurrency in digital wallets. Researchers call this malware "SparkCat," and they believe it has been circulating since March 2024. If you downloaded one of these apps on either iOS or Android, the app would likely ask permission to access your photo library, then the malicious framework would launch an optical character recognition (OCR) plug-in to scan and identify text in your images. If the program found text that matched certain keywords, it would then send those images to a remote server. The idea here is to scan your library looking for screenshots that reveal the recovery phrases in your crypto wallet and send them back to the thieves who could then use those phrases to break in and steal from accounts. One of the first apps to arouse suspicious of Kaspersky researchers was a Chinese food delivery app called ComeCome. It's still available on both iOS and Android, and is the first known app infected with OCR malware to appear on Apple's App Store, according to Kaspersky. A negative review all the way from 2023 suggests the app has been using malware to steal information, but it's not clear the app has been using this specific OCR tactic the whole time. Kaspersky discovered other apps with a similar malicious framework as well. It's important to note researchers can't say whether the malware was placed in these apps by a malicious actor or the app developers embedded it themselves. That said, it appears some apps were designed to attract users without offering legitimate services in return—such as multiple AI messaging services from the same developer. Specifically, that's WeTink and AnyGPT, which are both still live at the time of writing. Where to go from hereFirst of all, if you have any of these affected apps installed on your iPhone or Android, delete them now. Even if the developers didn't add the malicious framework intentionally (which can happen if a third-party hijacks the app), they aren't safe to keep on your device. After that, take a moment to clean out your iPhone or Android's images folder. If you have images containing recovery phrases for your crypto wallet, be sure to delete those, but also consider deleting images that contain any sensitive information in the first place. Other malware strains may take advantage of this OCR tactic to look for social security numbers or bank account information, for example, so it's best to eliminate that risk altogether. Finally, exercise caution when downloading new apps, even when doing so through official app stores. Be sure to review all aspects of an app's page before installing it, including the reviews, description, and screenshots. If anything seems off, it's probably best to avoid downloading it. And avoid generic AI apps like the plague. Developers know there's a high demand for AI apps, which means malicious users can slyly add malware to apps in the hope that an AI fan downloads their latest scheme. Don't fall for it. View the full article

Google’s new ads rules demote confusing landing pages and reward those aligned with user intent. The post Google Ads Update: Misleading Landing Pages Now Demoted appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article