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Michael Glavac shared a video of some of the longest and most comprehensive AI Overviews I’ve seen displayed in Google Search to date. These AI Overviews have over 600 works, reference over 60 different sites and are incredibly detailed. What it looks like. Here is a videocast of this that Michael shared on LinkedIn: More details. “Just came across this AIO that’s essentially a full article that referred to 61 sites,” Michael wrote. This AI Overview shows: 628 total words Each line referred to a minimum 4 sites/sources The sites/sources were not all relevant and there were some obscure sites that got pulled in, he added. In this case, the query was [How to build a real estate website] – I personally cannot replicate this myself but the videocast is above. Gemini 2.0 powered? The question is, is this what Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO referenced a couple months ago, around AI Overviews powered by Gemini 2.0 being tested. Back then, Google’s AI Overviews should be able to “tackle more complex topics and multi-step questions, including advanced math equations, multimodal queries and coding,” Google wrote. Google said it is “bringing the advanced reasoning capabilities of Gemini 2.0 to AI Overviews to tackle more complex topics and multi-step questions, including advanced math equations, multimodal queries and coding.” Google already started limited testing this week of this updated model for AI Overviews. Google said they will “be rolling it out more broadly early next year.” “And we’ll continue to bring AI Overviews to more countries and languages over the next year,” Google added. Mike King, on that LinkedIn post, asked if this is “Gemini Advanced Deep Research product in the SERPs”? Why we care. More advanced and detailed AI Overviews can impact the main core web search results, if the searcher gets all the information they need directly in the AI Overview. Of course, your site can be referenced in that AI Overview, amongst the 60+ other sites. This does not seem to be fully rolled out yet and seems to be testing right now. So you should be aware of this test. View the full article

TikTok has had a wild start to 2025. The app was banned in the United States, went dark, then came back online. New users can't download it, since the app hasn't returned to U.S. app stores, but those with existing access to the app (or simply the website) can continue watching videos like the ban never happened—at least, for now. The thing is, ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has owned and operated other apps within the U.S. You might've learned that over the past couple weeks, as other popular apps went dark and disappeared from app stores alongside TikTok. While these apps were not a part of the major discussion around the ban, they all should, in theory, have many of the same concerns that caused the government to go after TikTok. ByteDance is based in China, and, as such, would be beholden to the Chinese government should the latter ask for the data of any American users. In fact, the ban makes it clear no ByteDance app is safe. At the top of the law, it says the act's goal is "To protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications, such as TikTok and any successor application or service and any other application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Ltd. or an entity under the control of ByteDance Ltd." Since then, all the apps on this list have been removed from app stores, and while most allow you to use them if you already had the app on your phone, only one has been added back to marketplaces. TikTokThis is the big one: ByteDance, of course, owns TikTok, the app at the center of all this national security drama. You might be addicted to the app yourself. What you might not know, however, is that the TikTok we know started out life not as a ByteDance property, nor as "TikTok" itself; rather, the app was originally called Musical.ly, and was designed for users to post short videos lip-syncing to popular songs. It amassed a large following, which caught ByteDance's attention, just as it had its sights set on expanding its short-form social media app, Douyin, globally. ByteDance went international with a new version of Douyin, TikTok, in 2017, and almost immediately after, acquired Musical.ly for nearly $1 billion. The rest, of course, is history. TikTok has become a world-wide phenomenon, capturing the attentions of one billion users. 170 million of those users happen to be in the U.S., which makes you wonder how a looming ban of the app will affect TikTok's bottom line. TikTok LiteIf you have an Android device, you might have seen TikTok Lite before. This app is TikTok, only a lighter, more streamlined version. Like other "lite" apps, this one is designed for phones with limited RAM, data, or unstable connections. TikTok Lite is not that popular, especially when compared to TikTok proper. It only has 100,000 downloads compared to TikTok's more than one billion. It wasn't a part of the ban discussion, but it's currently off the Play Store nonetheless. TikTok Studio and TikTok Shop SellerTikTok Studio isn't made for consumers. Rather, it's an app for TikTok creators to manage posts on their accounts. Similarly, there's TikTok Shop Seller Center, an app for users who sell products on TikTok to manage their digital shops. CapCutIn the past, if you wanted to get into video production, you need to spend quite a bit of money: You needed a camera, a computer, and editing software, none of which came cheap, and most of which required a good deal of technical know-how. These days, anyone with a smartphone can make videos. Many of us interested in doing so have turned to CapCut, which just so happens to be owned by none other than ByteDance. To say CapCut is popular is a wild understatement. The app has over a billion downloads on Android alone, and is also available on iOS, Mac, and Windows—assuming you downloaded it before the ban. (It's also available on the web.) Like other video editors, CapCut offers tools for chopping up your clips into content to post on your socials, but there are a number of extra features available as well. That includes templates to get a part of your video started, video effects, AI features, music integration, stock videos, and more. All these features aside, the reason CapCut is so popular has likely just as much (if not more) to do with the fact that it is owned by the same parent company as TikTok. That means a few things: CapCut offers an easy workflow from editing to posting on TikTok; TikTokers use the app and promote it themselves; and ByteDance can advertise CapCut on TikTok as much as it wants. If you missed out and can no longer download CapCut, there are other great alternatives you can try. HypicOn the other side of the editing aisle, there's Hypic, ByteDance's photo editing tool. This app isn't nearly as big as CapCut, but it's still pretty large (over 10 million downloads on the Play Store). The app offers standard photo editing tools, but also other perks: There are AI-powered tools, such as cutouts, background removal, and filters; a feature that lets you add "trending" makeup to images; and other options, like stickers and templates. Lemon8In protest of the government's potential ban on TikTok, users flocked to other Chinese-based social media apps in protest. One of those apps was Lemon8, a "lifestyle" social media platform. Like TikTok, Lemon8 also supports video sharing, but that's not its only focus. Users can also post images, including to carousels, offering an Instagram-like experience. Plus, you can engage with multiple types of content at the same time, akin to Pinterest. As Jessica Maddox, associate professor of digital media technology, tells NBC News, “If those three apps came together and had a baby, it would be Lemon8." It's not clear how popular Lemon8 still is now that isn't not available on app stores, however. Marvel Snap (returned to app stores)Marvel Snap is a popular mobile card game, incorporating character from the Marvel universe. Players draw decks of 12 cards, and play for control of three locations. Whichever player controls at least two locations after six turns wins. While Marvel itself might be an American property, the game is operated by Nuverse, which is a ByteDance subsidiary. As such, Marvel Snap was snapped out of existence (or, at least, from app stores) following the ban. However, as of Jan. 28, the app is back. As The Verge reports, the game developers are working to bring "almost all operational and publishing responsibilities in-house," working Skytone Games, a U.S.-based publisher. It's the first of the ByteDance apps to return to app stores since the ban. Land of EmpiresLand of Empires is another game owned by Nuverse. This title is a strategy game that pits you against an enemy army of demons. Like other strategy games, you fortify your lands, fight enemies in combat, and engage in large battles. It's not quite as popular as Marvel Snap, but it's not all that niche, either, sporting over a million downloads on the Play Store. It, however, has not returned. LarkChances are, you've never heard of Lark. (I certainly hadn't.) Lark offers a collection of business apps and services. The standalone Lark app for iOS and Android is described as a "team collaboration" app, which, for all intents and purposes, means its basically a Microsoft Teams or Slack competitor. Lark has features like in-app messaging and video calling, as well as collaborative document sharing. This probably isn't something you'll ever use on your own, but rather a service you use through your company. It's likely one of the smaller groups affected by the ban. Tokopedia and Tokopedia STARTTokopedia is a shopping service based out of Indonesia, but it had apps available to users in the U.S. prior to the law. Also available from the company was Tokopedia START, an app that appears to have been made for a 2022 tech conference. Tokopedia, as you may have guessed, is a subsidiary of ByteDance. View the full article

A business email is an incredibly important tool. It helps you keep your personal life separate instead of mixing it all together, and it looks more professional overall. Using business email addresses, you can create a better customer experience for others while also keeping things organized. There are plenty of free business email account options available for you to choose from. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best free business email address options out there and how to get started. How to Create a Business Email Address The steps to create a business email address will vary depending on the email client you are using, but the process tends to be pretty straightforward. Here’s how to create a business email address: Purchase your domain name and sign up for a hosting provider, or opt for an email service. Create your business email address, which can include generic email accounts such as contact@yourdomain.com or hello@yourdomain.com. You can also set up your business email inbox with your name if easier. Add an email signature, including your name, title, company’s logo, and an alternative form of contract. Add your business email address to your website and social media so that customers and clients know how to contact you. StepDescription Purchase Domain and Sign Up for HostingChoose and register your domain name through a domain registrar and sign up for hosting service. Create Business Email AddressSet up a custom business email address, like contact@yourdomain.com or yourname@yourdomain.com. Add Email SignaturePersonalize your emails with a signature including your name, title, company logo, and contacts. Integrate Email Address on Website and Social MediaDisplay your business email on your website and social media profiles for easy contact access. What is a Business Email Address? A business email address is essentially just that – an email address connected to your business. It generally shares the same domain name as your business, so @yourbusiness.com rather than @gmail.com or @hotmail.com. Using your own domain keeps it consistent for customers and clients to reach you, and it’s easier to identify when browsing your website. Why You Need a Business Email Address The importance of a professional email address or a business email account can’t be understated in today’s digital ecosystem. It is important for many reasons, such as: Appears professional: A business email with a custom domain presents a more professional image and is more likely to attract customers. Keep things organized: Business email accounts can help streamline your work and ensure that you can keep track of everything in one place. Promotes your brand: Every time you send an email from your business email, it gives you more brand recognition. Enhances discoverability: Customers find it significantly easier to search for and reach out to a professional email rather than a personal one. How to Make a Business Email Professional There are several ways to make your professional business email address look good and gain customer trust. Let’s look at the top things you should consider. Top Things to Include Custom domain with your business name Email client that offers a good hosting plan Online storage such as cloud storage Short and easy emails such as ‘hello@yourbusinessname.com’ or ‘contact@yourbusinessname.com) Email signature with your company name and more details on how to get in touch Additional email aliases if needed to stay organized (i.e., separating customer feedback from general emails) The Best Platforms to Create Business Email Addresses When searching for platforms to learn how to create a business email, there are several factors to consider. It’s important to find a provider that offers custom email domains, allowing you to set up a domain-based email address. Typically, most providers will include a web hosting account along with a custom business email address. Gmail Formerly G Suite, a Google Workspace account, is one of the best options for comprehensive email services. You can access other Google apps alongside Gmail, such as Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and more, so there is a lot of value. Basic plans for Google Workspace begin at $6, and there are numerous hosting options available to accommodate your business as it expands. Bluehost Bluehost email is useful if you have a WordPress website or plan to have one. Bluehost is a hosting provider and offers a web hosting package alongside business emails. With a Bluehost account, you can create business emails with your own domain and tie your mail client with your website to make it easier to manage. GoDaddy GoDaddy is another web hosting provider for a WordPress website, and they also offer free business email accounts with their hosting package. GoDaddy uses its own workspace and email client or a Microsoft email client. Options for email accounts can vary depending on what kind of hosting is purchased. However, it’s one of the easier solutions since you can create a free business email that is tied to your hosting account. Zoho Mail Zoho Mail is an email service provider that can be tied to your domain name. Zoho Mail provides a safe and secure email service for businesses, and you can easily tie your business email to an existing domain name for ease. Zoho Mail also comes with productivity tools similar to Google Workspace for added value. Zoho Mail offers a lot of privacy with its email service, and it can be a great option for smaller teams that are looking to scale. Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Outlook is an excellent choice for a free business email due to its simplicity and user-friendliness. This email service allows you to easily create a free business email. If you are interested in more Microsoft products, you can access them with a paid plan. Microsoft is often regarded as a gold standard in email clients, making it a consistently popular option for a business email address. How to Get a Business Email Address for Free There are quite a few avenues to look at if you’re looking for a free business email address. Many hosting providers tend to have it as a value-add to web hosting, so it’s worth looking at those options for – especially if you have a WordPress site. Email service providers where you can create a free business email address include: GoDaddy (with a domain name or hosting purchase) Bluehost (with a custom domain or hosting purchasing) Microsoft Outlook What is the best way to get a professional email address? There are many platforms available to get a professional email address for your business. For example, you can use platforms such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Outlook, and Zoho Mail to get a business email address for your business using your own domain name to tie it back to your business. Is Gmail for business free? Gmail for business has a variety of paid plans available depending on needs. For a business email address and other G Suite apps, a basic plan starts at $6 per user. Prices go up to $12 or $18 per user, depending on cloud storage needs and other considerations. Integrating Business Email with Other Business Tools Integrating a business email with CRM systems, project management tools, and other business software can significantly streamline workflows. This integration enhances efficiency, reduces manual data entry, and ensures that all business communications are centralized and easily accessible. Maintaining Professionalism in Email Communication To maintain professionalism in email communication, it’s essential to focus on clear and concise language, maintain a respectful tone, and ensure prompt responses. Regularly updating your email signature with relevant contact information and professional credentials also contributes to a positive and professional image. Creating a Business Email for Growth and Professionalism In conclusion, a professional business email address is not just a communication tool but a vital asset for branding and customer trust. Selecting the right email platform, integrating it effectively with other business tools, and adhering to professional email communication standards can significantly enhance a business’s operational efficiency and professional image. Having a professional business email address is essential for any business in today’s digital world. It not only looks more professional but also helps in brand promotion and customer trust. With various free and paid options available, businesses can easily create a custom domain-based email address. Platforms such as Gmail, Bluehost, GoDaddy, Zoho Mail, and Microsoft Outlook provide outstanding options for how to create a business email address. By following simple steps, businesses can set up their email address, add an email signature, and integrate it into their website and social media for easy customer contact. Whether opting for a free or paid service, a professional business email address is a valuable asset that can enhance communication and credibility with customers and clients. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Create a Business Email" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

President Donald Trump may want lower interest rates, but the Federal Reserve will almost certainly keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at its two-day policy meeting that ends Wednesday. It is likely to be a quiet start to an eventful year for the central bank. Trump said last week in Davos, Switzerland, that he would bring down energy prices, then “demand” that the Fed lower borrowing costs. Later, when asked by reporters if he expected the Fed to listen to him, he said, “yes.” Presidents in recent decades have avoided publicly pressuring the Fed out of deference to its political independence. Outside of a U.S. President bending norms, the Fed also faces challenges in achieving its economic objectives. Inflation remains above its 2% target: Its preferred measure is at 2.4%, though core prices—considered a better gauge of where inflation is headed—rose 2.8% in November from a year ago. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, want to thread a moving needle: By keeping borrowing costs higher, the Fed hopes to slow borrowing and spending enough to reduce inflation, but without causing a painful recession. Powell said in December that the central bank has entered a “new phase,” in which it expects to move more deliberately after cutting its key rate to 4.3%, from 5.3% in the final three meetings of 2024. In December, Fed officials signaled they may reduce their rate just twice more this year. Goldman Sachs economists believes those cuts won’t happen until June and December. A cut in March is still possible, though financial markets’ futures pricing puts the odds of that happening at just one-third. As a result, American households and businesses are unlikely to see much relief from high borrowing costs anytime soon. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage slipped to just below 7% last week after rising for five straight weeks. The costs of borrowing money have remained high economy-wide even after the Fed reduced its benchmark rate. That is because investors expect healthy economic growth and stubborn inflation will forestall future rate cuts. They recently bid up the 10-year Treasury above 4.80%, its highest level since 2023. Another reason for caution among Fed policymakers this year is that they will want to evaluate any changes in economic policy by the Trump administration. Trump has said he could slap tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico as early as February 1. During his presidential campaign he threatened to impose taxes on all imports. The Trump administration has also said it will carry out mass deportations of migrants, which could push up inflation by reducing the economy’s ability to produce goods and services. At the same time, some economists say Trump’s promises to deregulate the economy could lower prices over time. When Trump imposed tariffs on a limited number of imports in 2018 and 2019, Fed economists expected the biggest impact to fall on economic growth, with the inflationary impact being relatively minor. As a result, when growth did slow, the Fed ended up cutting its key rate in 2019, rather than raising it to fight off any inflationary impact. On Wednesday, Fed officials could also change the statement that they release after each meeting to upgrade their assessment of the labor market, a signal that rate cuts may be delayed. In December, the statement included a mildly pessimistic take: “Labor market conditions have generally eased, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains low.” In the summer and fall, employers slowed their hiring. The rise in the unemployment rate had unnerved Fed officials and was a big reason they reduced their key rate by an unusually large half-percentage point in September. Earlier this month, Fed governor Chris Waller cited weaker hiring as evidence that the Fed’s key rate is “restrictive,” meaning it is acting as a brake on the economy and should bring down inflation over time. If rates are restrictive, that means the Fed would have more room to cut them if inflation were to decline further. Yet this month, just a few days after Waller’s remarks, the December jobs report showed that hiring accelerated and the unemployment rate slipped to a low 4.1% from 4.2%. The healthier employment numbers suggested that hiring has at least levelled off. If it stays as strong as last month, the improved job gains would suggest the Fed’s rate isn’t restrictive at all, and few, if any, rate cuts are needed. —Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writer View the full article

Want AI search engines and agents to find and use your content? Traditional SEO isn’t enough. AI systems process information differently. This guide breaks down key optimizations to help your content stay visible and rank in the AI era. TL;DR: Quick AI optimization checklist To optimize for AI search and agents: Make content accessible with clean HTML/markdown and good structure. Allow AI crawlers in robots.txt and firewall rules. Return content fast, with key info high up. Use semantic markup, metadata, and schemas. Create an llms.txt file. Check your content’s AI visibility. Traditional SEO vs. AI search: The key differences Many people ask how to optimize websites for AI search and agents instead of traditional SEO. Through building Andi, an AI search engine, we’ve learned key differences in approach. From the AI side, we process 30–50 million pages daily to find quality content for search, summarization, and question-answering. But accessing and extracting useful information isn’t always easy. Here’s what we’ve learned about making content truly AI-friendly. Speed and simplicity are critical Many AI systems have tight timeouts (1-5 seconds) for retrieving content. Assume long content may be truncated or dropped completely after the timeout. Clean, structured text wins Many AI crawlers don’t handle JavaScript well, if at all. Logical content structure in plain HTML or markdown is ideal. Metadata and semantic matter more Clear titles, descriptions, dates, and schema.org markup help AI systems quickly understand your content. Blocking crawlers can make you invisible In a world of AI agents, overly aggressive bot protection can cut you off entirely. Differentiate AI training vs. AI search access Some AI crawlers collect training data, while others retrieve real-time content. You may want different policies for each. Check your content’s AI visibility AI search engine test: Paste a URL into andisearch.com. If options like Summarize or Explain appear, your page is accessible and useful for AI. AI agent test: Use Firecrawl to see how AI agents perceive and access your content. Dig deeper: How to monitor brand visibility across AI search channels Key optimizations for AI accessibility Configure robots.txt for AI crawlers Add a robots.txt with fairly open access. Allow or disallow crawlers on a case-by-case basis. Here’s an example that allows access for AI search/agents but disallows training data collection: # Allow AI search and agent use User-agent: OAI-SearchBot User-agent: ChatGPT-User User-agent: PerplexityBot User-agent: FirecrawlAgent User-agent: AndiBot User-agent: ExaBot User-agent: PhindBot User-agent: YouBot Allow: / # Disallow AI training data collection User-agent: GPTBot User-agent: CCBot User-agent: Google-Extended Disallow: / # Allow traditional search indexing User-agent: Googlebot User-agent: Bingbot Allow: / # Disallow access to admin areas for all bots User-agent: * Disallow: /admin/ Disallow: /internal/ Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml Avoid overly aggressive bot protection Don’t use aggressive bot protection on Cloudflare/AWS WAF. This will prevent AI crawlers and agents from accessing your content. Instead, allow major U.S. datacenter IP ranges. Dig deeper: 3 reasons not to block GPTBot from crawling your site Optimize for speed Return content as fast as possible, ideally under one second. Keep key content high up in the HTML. Use clear metadata and semantic markup Examples include: Basic SEO tags: <title>, <meta description> and <meta keywords>. OpenGraph tags: This improves previews in AI search results. Schema.org markup: Use JSON-LD for structured data. Proper heading structure: (H1-H6). Semantic elements: <article>, <section> and <nav>. Keep content on a single page where possible Avoid “Read more” buttons or multi-page articles. Provide programmatic access via APIs (with OpenAPI specs) or RSS feeds This allows faster, more structured access for AI tools. Indicate content freshness Use visible dates and <meta> tags to help AI understand when content was published or updated. Create an llms.txt file For documentation or reference content, create an llms.txt file. Use Firecrawl’s generator. Submit a sitemap.xml Use sitemap.xml to guide crawlers to important content. Use a favicon and lead image AI search engines display content visually. Having a simple favicon.ico and clear lead images improves visibility. Dig deeper: Decoding LLMs: How to be visible in generative AI search results Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Major AI crawler user-agents When configuring your robots.txt, consider these major AI crawlers: OpenAI GPTBot (training data). ChatGPT-User (user actions in ChatGPT). OAI-SearchBot (AI search results). Google Google-Extended (AI training). GoogleOther (various AI uses). Anthropic: ClaudeBot (consolidated bot for various uses). Andi: AndiBot. Perplexity: PerplexityBot. You.com: YouBot. Phind: PhindBot. Exa: ExaBot. Firecrawl: FirecrawlAgent. Common Crawl: CCBot (used by many AI companies for training data). For a full, up-to-date list, check Dark Visitors. Optimizing for AI agent computer use AI agents that can use computers, like Browser Use or OpenAI’s Operator, are a new frontier. Some tips: Implement “agent-responsive design.” Structure your site so AI can easily interpret and interact with it. Ensure interactive elements like buttons and text fields are clearly defined and accessible. Use consistent navigation patterns to help AI predict and understand site flow. Minimize unnecessary interactions like login prompts or pop-ups that can disrupt AI task completion. Incorporate web accessibility features like ARIA labels, which also help AI understand page elements. Regularly test your site with AI agents and iterate based on the results. Resources for dev tools startups If you’re building developer tools, optimize for AI visibility: Maintain an up-to-date llms.txt file. Provide easy access to clean HTML or markdown versions of your docs. Consider using documentation tools like Theneo and Mintlify to optimize for AI accessibility. Final insights Optimizing for AI search is an ongoing process, as AI crawlers are far from perfect. Right now: 34% of AI crawler requests result in 404 or other errors. Only Google’s Gemini and AppleBot currently render JavaScript among major AI crawlers. AI crawlers show 47 times inefficiency compared to traditional crawlers like Googlebot. AI crawlers represent about 28% of Googlebot’s volume in recent traffic analysis. As AI indexing improves, staying ahead of these trends will help ensure your content remains visible. Remember, it’s a balance. You want to be accessible to helpful AI tools while protecting against bad actors. For more detailed information, check out these resources: LLMs.txt specification. Dark Visitors AI crawler list. Google’s AI crawler documentation. The old world of blocking all bots is gone. You want AI agents and crawlers to see your content and navigate your sites. Optimize now and stay ahead of the AI revolution! View the full article

Part-time work is great for increased flexibility, but a significant bummer when it comes to benefits. Luckily, a new rule now opens the door for millions of part-time workers to start building their nest eggs earlier through employer-sponsored retirement plans. This rule—part of the Secure Act 2.0 passed in 2022—reduces the waiting period for part-time employees to join their company's 401(k) or 403(b) plans. Here's what you need to know to take advantage of this change and maximize your savings this year. How part-time workers can save more for retirementUnder the new rules, part-time workers can qualify for their employer's retirement plan after just two years of service, provided they work at least 500 hours in each year. This is down from the previous three-year requirement, making it significantly easier for part-time employees to start saving for retirement through their workplace plans. To put this in perspective, 500 hours per year amounts to roughly 10 hours per week, meaning even those working limited schedules can qualify for these important benefits more quickly than before. Whatever your image of part-time work looks like, this rule benefits a wide range of people: Recent hires who work steady part-time schedules can begin saving a full year earlier than under previous rules. Workers juggling multiple part-time positions can now more quickly access benefits at their longer-term employers. Parents or caregivers working reduced hours can start building retirement savings sooner. Students working part-time while in school can begin their retirement savings journey earlier in their careers. Read the fine printFirst, bit of clarification: Whereas freelancers are self-employed (and eligible for their own types of plans), this rule applies to long-term, part-time workers, who are still considered to be a part of the company and eligible for corporate benefits. Additionally, the new provision comes with several key stipulations: The rule applies to most 401(k) plans and certain 403(b) plans. Collectively bargained plans are exempt from these requirements. Service hours accumulated before 2021 don't count toward the eligibility requirement. Employers must still offer plan participation to those who work 1,000 hours in a single year. Maximizing your retirement savingsFor part-time workers now eligible for retirement plans, consider taking these steps. Review your employer's match program, if available, and try to contribute enough to capture the full match. Calculate how much you can consistently contribute from each paycheck. Consider automatic contribution increases to gradually boost your savings rate. Research your plan's investment options and choose a diversified portfolio aligned with your retirement timeline. Understand any vesting schedules for employer contributions. The bottom line: Part-time employees should check with their HR departments about eligibility and plan details, as employers will need to implement these changes in their retirement plan administration asap. Starting to save earlier, even in small amounts, can make a meaningful difference in long-term retirement. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. I am being inundated with letters from federal employees and others affected by the new administration’s changes in the last week — which have included ending investigations and enforcement related to discrimination in the workplace (*see note below); illegally firing 17 inspectors general; laying off employees working on accessibility, equity, and diversity; freezing or cancelling funding for scientific research; halting all federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs (although a judge temporarily blocked that yesterday); ordering the impoundment of funds already appropriated by Congress; halting all meetings, travel, and communications from many agencies; directing federal workers to report on each other and threatening those who don’t; ending telework; and many other actions intended to dismantle the federal workforce. Much of this is already being challenged in court and will continue to be. For an idea of what else might be coming, the Project 2025 agenda — which is now being openly implemented, despite Trump distancing himself from it during the campaign — also includes banning unions for public service workers, firing civil service workers and replacing them with political loyalists, allowing companies to stop paying overtime, permitting states to opt out of federal overtime and minimum wage laws, and eliminating child labor protections. * Note that the order ending workplace discrimination investigations and enforcement only applies to federal contractors, not to other employers. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the main federal work anti-discrimination law, remains in effect and can only be rescinded by Congress. However, it signals the sort of direction we can expect to be given to the EEOC at some point as well. It’s important to note Bostock, the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that protects employees against discrimination because of sexuality or gender identity, also remains in effect for now. Now, some letters. Note these are quick answers because the situation is both urgent and rapidly unfolding and, frankly, no one has great answers yet — and the best guidance can likely be found in the links I’ve included at the end to people who are working on these issues specifically. 1. Do I stay and fight, or cut and run? I was wondering if you had any tips, advice, prayers, etc. for those of us currently working at federal jobs being targeted by Trump’s executive orders. I love the agency I work at, but the orders are going to make my job almost impossible, and there are surely more to come as he has publicly declared my agency as an enemy. We’ve already frozen hiring and internal promotions, and laid off our DEI staff. My agency was planning to pay for me to go to law school but that is obviously not happening now. How can we know when to stay and fight, or when to cut and run? I am my family’s sole income earner, health insurance provider, and to make matters worse, I’m currently on maternity leave until May. A lot of what the administration is doing is designed to demoralize people and get them to quit on their own and stop carrying out the missions of their agencies. One school of thought is not to make it easy for them; if they want to lay off you, make them lay you off (which will also make you eligible for unemployment benefits, which quitting won’t). That said, it’s not always that simple. You need to balance that against your morale, how you feel ethically about staying, what work will be asked of you, your finances… Different people may make that calculation differently, and those of us watching from the outside should begrudge absolutely no one who decides to get out. One big caution: the memo that went out yesterday asking for “voluntary resignations” in exchange for getting paid through September 30 should not be trusted. Senator Tim Kaine noted last night that it’s a trap, the administration doesn’t have the authority to offer it, and the promised pay-outs may not materialize. They want you to take that offer so they can avoid lawsuits, and there’s a reason it sounds a lot like what Elon Musk did at Twitter (when, as it happens, workers also didn’t receive promised severance). 2. What should I do if we stop getting paid? I work for a nonprofit organization that is funded entirely by the federal government, through the Department of the Interior. Although our funding for the entire fiscal year was approved in advance, the mechanism by which we receive payments monthly (ASAP) has frozen all payments, and it looks as though we won’t be able to withdraw our money on 2/1 as we usually do, unless something changes in the next week. We have some money saved up that belongs to the organization directly and is not encumbered. Our board might decide to use this money to continue to meet payroll, or it might not. If they decide to do the bare minimum to keep the organization running (pay my boss, pay the building rent, stuff like that), what should I do? They might ask me to work without pay for a while in hopes that our funding will be restored, but I . . . do not want to do that. I think that I am considered non-exempt (have an email in to our bookkeeper asking about that, but I have a worry he doesn’t actually know, which is another issue altogether) so I wouldn’t object to working a couple of hours a week for a while just to keep things from falling totally apart, but that’s about it. Should I file for unemployment, even if they don’t officially let me go? Is this considered a furlough? Should I ask the board to take a specific action (like letting us go, or putting us on furlough) in order to access unemployment insurance? I’m in New York State. I guess I’m confused because this all might be temporary and we’re not technically federal employees, so it’s hard to research what is happening (I can find out what happens to federal employees during a shutdown, but this isn’t quite that). It might get fixed next week! Or the week after! But also, it might not. I was hoping to be unaffected by this new administration because in his first term, he only targeted public lands that had something to exploit (like oil or coal or natural gas or something) and the park unit I work with does not have that. And yet, here we are. You should not work without pay. If you’re asked to, you can say, “Legally I don’t think we can work without pay and I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that. I think we should encourage everyone to apply for unemployment while we wait for clarity about what will happen.” (That said, if you actively want to a couple of hours a week in order to ensure you all have work to come back to, I won’t quibble with you about that, given that you’re at a nonprofit where you’re presumably invested in the mission.) If they stop paying you, you should file for unemployment. This is why unemployment benefits are there! You don’t need to wait for anyone to officially use the word “furlough”; if you’re not getting paid, you can apply immediately. 3. How do I move on to a new job? I’ve been a U.S. federal employee for over a decade and a half. I love my job and my coworkers, I’m passionate about what I do, and I had spent most of the last several years planning to stay in this job until retirement. Enter the current political administration. There have been multiple political administrations that have come and gone while I’ve been with my agency, and plenty of political vitriol from people who think federal employees are all a bunch of useless bureaucrats without any clue of what we actually do, or who make changes to our work without understanding the consequences. But this time feels different. From Russell Vought saying that the administration wants to “put [federal workers] in trauma” and make us “not want to go to work because [we] are increasingly viewed as the villains,” to the various executive orders that came out on day 1 of the new presidency, to the new president asking the heads of agencies to put forth names of employees they can fire at-will, it’s been a lot of hate directed at us for … existing, and doing our jobs. My agency has already contacted us to let us know that they’re getting rid of telework (something he specifically said he wanted to do so as to push attrition, rather than because there’s a reason for it or even that he thinks it’s bad; no, it’s because he wants us all to quit so he can tear the government down as quickly as possible and sell it for parts). Today I came to work to an email stating that DEIA initiatives have been banned because they allegedly divide us by race and are a waste of taxpayer dollars; we were told to snitch on anyone that we knew has tried to change such initiatives to other names and report them to an OPM email (Office of Personnel Management). We have 10 days to do so or face unknown consequences. This afternoon I was finally broken by hearing that the agency issuing passports is not only choosing not to issue them for people who have a gender marker X or are changing their gender; they are also allegedly confiscating all of the legal documents related to the passport application. I can’t do this. I signed up to serve the American public, not to snitch on my coworkers to some version of the Secret Police or torment queer people. (I have some ideas of what sorts of unethical things could be asked of employees at my agency and I’m equally not down for them.) Currently I’m the sole financial support in my family (minus a very small amount of income from my spouse’s freelancing), and just losing my job or quitting would also be potentially financially devastating. So …. how do I move on to a new job? I don’t even know how to write a normal resume anymore. (I know you have resume and cover letter writing advice on your site and I’ll look at them once I’m a tiny bit over the overwhelming grief of watching this all happen, but this is just a point to say that I haven’t done this in ages.) What I’m looking for is an idea for how and where to start looking, both for myself and, I imagine, for other federal employees who read your site. Most of my skills are in processing policy and working with the public to help inform them of that policy, and to handle their interactions with our agency. I’m good with detail and research, have good customer service skills (although I’d rather not do full-time customer service work), and have a lot of bureaucratic skills (being able to work within extremely specific rule structures, for example). About the only thing I can think of doing right now would be moving to a lower level of government (my state and region are both very blue so working for the state/county/city would be okay); I’m sure I could find something that makes a positive difference in my community. Do you, or any of your readers, have ideas on possible directions to move (including but not limited to other government positions)? How do I find them? I really want a way to do good things for my community rather than just making money for a corporation. And I’m not particularly mobile or open to moving, but I live in a large metropolitan area so that’s not as limiting as it could be. Any thoughts? Yes, look at state and local government positions that are parallel or adjacent to your current job. You’ll find their job postings on their websites. You might also look at public policy jobs, although some of those are very precarious right now too, depending on specifically what they do and who they do it for. Still, you should look at options there. I’ll throw this out to readers for other ideas as well. 4. How do we help each other? I’m a federal contractor, and things are bleak at my agency. A lot of career people have been placed on administrative leave, and other contractors have been furloughed already. My employer (the contracting company) has little to no information about what will happen (though to be fair no one knows). At this point it’s not if we get furloughed, it’s when. I’ve been trying to connect everyone with each other’s contact information so we can support each other when the knife falls. I’ve had the bad luck to be laid off before, and the most helpful thing was having each other’s contact information. But is there anything else we can do on a workplace level to help each other make it through? Share information. Share your networks with each other. Know your rights under the National Labor Relations Act (which doesn’t cover federal employees but does cover federal contractors) and any union contract if you have one. Know the lines you personally won’t cross; support your coworkers in figuring out theirs. Contact your elected representatives and ask for congressional action on the many orders and actions currently undermining and in some cases outright breaking the law. * * * Other resources: A journalist who is one of many reporters asking government employees who are willing to talk to contact her. You can ask to remain anonymous and stay off the record. How to securely send anonymous tips to ProPublica Info on how OPM handles severance pay A guide to the first-day executive actions on the federal workforce (this has excellent, concrete advice for what federal employees should be doing right now) What civil servants need to know in week two (this too) A DOJ attorney’s guide to upholding ethical obligations and the rule of law A civil servant’s checklist of current rights Resources for civil servants (tons of useful stuff here) How *you* can protect democracy (for everyone, not just federal workers) Contact your elected officials And I’ll just leave this here — a CIA guidebook that was distributed in Nazi-occupied countries with advice for office workers and bureaucrats on how to safely resist the Nazis without putting yourself or your family in danger (and here’s a link to it at the Wayback Machine instead if you’re concerned about viewing it on a government website). View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. I am being inundated with letters from federal employees and others affected by the new administration’s changes in the last week — which have included ending investigations and enforcement related to discrimination in the workplace (*see note below); illegally firing 17 inspectors general; laying off employees working on accessibility, equity, and diversity; freezing or cancelling funding for scientific research; halting all federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs (although a judge temporarily blocked that yesterday); ordering the impoundment of funds already appropriated by Congress; halting all meetings, travel, and communications from many agencies; directing federal workers to report on each other and threatening those who don’t; ending telework; and many other actions intended to dismantle the federal workforce. Much of this is already being challenged in court and will continue to be. For an idea of what else might be coming, the Project 2025 agenda — which is now being openly implemented, despite Trump distancing himself from it during the campaign — also includes banning unions for public service workers, firing civil service workers and replacing them with political loyalists, allowing companies to stop paying overtime, permitting states to opt out of federal overtime and minimum wage laws, and eliminating child labor protections. * Note that the order ending workplace discrimination investigations and enforcement only applies to federal contractors, not to other employers. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the main federal work anti-discrimination law, remains in effect and can only be rescinded by Congress. However, it signals the sort of direction we can expect to be given to the EEOC at some point as well. It’s important to note Bostock, the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that protects employees against discrimination because of sexuality or gender identity, also remains in effect for now. Now, some letters. Note these are quick answers because the situation is both urgent and rapidly unfolding and, frankly, no one has great answers yet — and the best guidance can likely be found in the links I’ve included at the end to people who are working on these issues specifically. 1. Do I stay and fight, or cut and run? I was wondering if you had any tips, advice, prayers, etc. for those of us currently working at federal jobs being targeted by Trump’s executive orders. I love the agency I work at, but the orders are going to make my job almost impossible, and there are surely more to come as he has publicly declared my agency as an enemy. We’ve already frozen hiring and internal promotions, and laid off our DEI staff. My agency was planning to pay for me to go to law school but that is obviously not happening now. How can we know when to stay and fight, or when to cut and run? I am my family’s sole income earner, health insurance provider, and to make matters worse, I’m currently on maternity leave until May. A lot of what the administration is doing is designed to demoralize people and get them to quit on their own and stop carrying out the missions of their agencies. One school of thought is not to make it easy for them; if they want to lay off you, make them lay you off (which will also make you eligible for unemployment benefits, which quitting won’t). That said, it’s not always that simple. You need to balance that against your morale, how you feel ethically about staying, what work will be asked of you, your finances… Different people may make that calculation differently, and those of us watching from the outside should begrudge absolutely no one who decides to get out. One big caution: the memo that went out yesterday asking for “voluntary resignations” in exchange for getting paid through September 30 should not be trusted. Senator Tim Kaine noted last night that it’s a trap, the administration doesn’t have the authority to offer it, and the promised pay-outs may not materialize. They want you to take that offer so they can avoid lawsuits, and there’s a reason it sounds a lot like what Elon Musk did at Twitter (when, as it happens, workers also didn’t receive promised severance). 2. What should I do if we stop getting paid? I work for a nonprofit organization that is funded entirely by the federal government, through the Department of the Interior. Although our funding for the entire fiscal year was approved in advance, the mechanism by which we receive payments monthly (ASAP) has frozen all payments, and it looks as though we won’t be able to withdraw our money on 2/1 as we usually do, unless something changes in the next week. We have some money saved up that belongs to the organization directly and is not encumbered. Our board might decide to use this money to continue to meet payroll, or it might not. If they decide to do the bare minimum to keep the organization running (pay my boss, pay the building rent, stuff like that), what should I do? They might ask me to work without pay for a while in hopes that our funding will be restored, but I . . . do not want to do that. I think that I am considered non-exempt (have an email in to our bookkeeper asking about that, but I have a worry he doesn’t actually know, which is another issue altogether) so I wouldn’t object to working a couple of hours a week for a while just to keep things from falling totally apart, but that’s about it. Should I file for unemployment, even if they don’t officially let me go? Is this considered a furlough? Should I ask the board to take a specific action (like letting us go, or putting us on furlough) in order to access unemployment insurance? I’m in New York State. I guess I’m confused because this all might be temporary and we’re not technically federal employees, so it’s hard to research what is happening (I can find out what happens to federal employees during a shutdown, but this isn’t quite that). It might get fixed next week! Or the week after! But also, it might not. I was hoping to be unaffected by this new administration because in his first term, he only targeted public lands that had something to exploit (like oil or coal or natural gas or something) and the park unit I work with does not have that. And yet, here we are. You should not work without pay. If you’re asked to, you can say, “Legally I don’t think we can work without pay and I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that. I think we should encourage everyone to apply for unemployment while we wait for clarity about what will happen.” (That said, if you actively want to a couple of hours a week in order to ensure you all have work to come back to, I won’t quibble with you about that, given that you’re at a nonprofit where you’re presumably invested in the mission.) If they stop paying you, you should file for unemployment. This is why unemployment benefits are there! You don’t need to wait for anyone to officially use the word “furlough”; if you’re not getting paid, you can apply immediately. 3. How do I move on to a new job? I’ve been a U.S. federal employee for over a decade and a half. I love my job and my coworkers, I’m passionate about what I do, and I had spent most of the last several years planning to stay in this job until retirement. Enter the current political administration. There have been multiple political administrations that have come and gone while I’ve been with my agency, and plenty of political vitriol from people who think federal employees are all a bunch of useless bureaucrats without any clue of what we actually do, or who make changes to our work without understanding the consequences. But this time feels different. From Russell Vought saying that the administration wants to “put [federal workers] in trauma” and make us “not want to go to work because [we] are increasingly viewed as the villains,” to the various executive orders that came out on day 1 of the new presidency, to the new president asking the heads of agencies to put forth names of employees they can fire at-will, it’s been a lot of hate directed at us for … existing, and doing our jobs. My agency has already contacted us to let us know that they’re getting rid of telework (something he specifically said he wanted to do so as to push attrition, rather than because there’s a reason for it or even that he thinks it’s bad; no, it’s because he wants us all to quit so he can tear the government down as quickly as possible and sell it for parts). Today I came to work to an email stating that DEIA initiatives have been banned because they allegedly divide us by race and are a waste of taxpayer dollars; we were told to snitch on anyone that we knew has tried to change such initiatives to other names and report them to an OPM email (Office of Personnel Management). We have 10 days to do so or face unknown consequences. This afternoon I was finally broken by hearing that the agency issuing passports is not only choosing not to issue them for people who have a gender marker X or are changing their gender; they are also allegedly confiscating all of the legal documents related to the passport application. I can’t do this. I signed up to serve the American public, not to snitch on my coworkers to some version of the Secret Police or torment queer people. (I have some ideas of what sorts of unethical things could be asked of employees at my agency and I’m equally not down for them.) Currently I’m the sole financial support in my family (minus a very small amount of income from my spouse’s freelancing), and just losing my job or quitting would also be potentially financially devastating. So …. how do I move on to a new job? I don’t even know how to write a normal resume anymore. (I know you have resume and cover letter writing advice on your site and I’ll look at them once I’m a tiny bit over the overwhelming grief of watching this all happen, but this is just a point to say that I haven’t done this in ages.) What I’m looking for is an idea for how and where to start looking, both for myself and, I imagine, for other federal employees who read your site. Most of my skills are in processing policy and working with the public to help inform them of that policy, and to handle their interactions with our agency. I’m good with detail and research, have good customer service skills (although I’d rather not do full-time customer service work), and have a lot of bureaucratic skills (being able to work within extremely specific rule structures, for example). About the only thing I can think of doing right now would be moving to a lower level of government (my state and region are both very blue so working for the state/county/city would be okay); I’m sure I could find something that makes a positive difference in my community. Do you, or any of your readers, have ideas on possible directions to move (including but not limited to other government positions)? How do I find them? I really want a way to do good things for my community rather than just making money for a corporation. And I’m not particularly mobile or open to moving, but I live in a large metropolitan area so that’s not as limiting as it could be. Any thoughts? Yes, look at state and local government positions that are parallel or adjacent to your current job. You’ll find their job postings on their websites. You might also look at public policy jobs, although some of those are very precarious right now too, depending on specifically what they do and who they do it for. Still, you should look at options there. I’ll throw this out to readers for other ideas as well. 4. How do we help each other? I’m a federal contractor, and things are bleak at my agency. A lot of career people have been placed on administrative leave, and other contractors have been furloughed already. My employer (the contracting company) has little to no information about what will happen (though to be fair no one knows). At this point it’s not if we get furloughed, it’s when. I’ve been trying to connect everyone with each other’s contact information so we can support each other when the knife falls. I’ve had the bad luck to be laid off before, and the most helpful thing was having each other’s contact information. But is there anything else we can do on a workplace level to help each other make it through? Share information. Share your networks with each other. Know your rights under the National Labor Relations Act (which doesn’t cover federal employees but does cover federal contractors) and any union contract if you have one. Know the lines you personally won’t cross; support your coworkers in figuring out theirs. Contact your elected representatives and ask for congressional action on the many orders and actions currently undermining and in some cases outright breaking the law. * * * Other resources: A journalist who is one of many reporters asking government employees who are willing to talk to contact her. You can ask to remain anonymous and stay off the record. How to securely send anonymous tips to ProPublica Info on how OPM handles severance pay A guide to the first-day executive actions on the federal workforce (this has excellent, concrete advice for what federal employees should be doing right now) What civil servants need to know in week two (this too) A DOJ attorney’s guide to upholding ethical obligations and the rule of law A civil servant’s checklist of current rights Resources for civil servants (tons of useful stuff here) How *you* can protect democracy (for everyone, not just federal workers) Contact your elected officials And I’ll just leave this here — a CIA guidebook that was distributed in Nazi-occupied countries with advice for office workers and bureaucrats on how to safely resist the Nazis without putting yourself or your family in danger (and here’s a link to it at the Wayback Machine instead if you’re concerned about viewing it on a government website). 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. After the release of the Google Pixel 9 last fall, the Pixel 8 lineup dropped in price, as was expected. While the Pixel 8 Pro isn't the latest Pixel, it is still considered one of the best Android phones for 2025, according to CNET. The unlocked 128 GB Pixel 8 Pro is currently $599 (originally $999), a 40% discount. That's matching the lowest price the device has reached, according to price-tracking tools. Google Pixel 8 Pro $599.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal Get Deal $599.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $400.00 You'll get about nine hours of battery life from the Pixel 8 Pro; a 50MP, 48MP, 48MP rear camera; and a 10.5MP front-facing camera. The OLED screen is 6.7 inches with a 2,992 by 1,344-pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness hits 2,400 nits, a big jump from the previous version. You can read more about it in PCMag's "excellent" review. The Pixel 8 Pro is still a great phone in 2025, with support for tons of AI features that make the phone feel fresh even a year after its release. Google has also been working hard to patch up the vulnerabilities on their Pixel phones as far back as the Pixel 6, meaning the Pixel 8 Pro will be supported with software updates for a while (as long as seven years). Google also keeps dropping new Pixel features every few months, including the “Audio Magic Eraser,” which gets rid of distracting sounds in videos, and the “Best Take” feature, which lets you pick the best shot from a series of photos. While the new Pixel 9 lineup may seem enticing—the most basic model, the 128 GB Pixel 9, starts at $719 (originally $799), also a great price for an excellent phone—if you value performance and the camera over design and features, you're better off saving yourself the money with the Pixel 8 Pro. View the full article

Staying consistent on social media is one of the best routes to success on any platform — though that's easier said than done. Which is why we wanted a way to make this easier (and more fun!). Enter: Streaks! What are streaks? Streaks is more than just a feature — it's your personal trainer for social media content creation. The concept is beautifully simple: share a post every week, and watch your streak count grow. Miss a week, and your streak resets, gently nudging you to stay on track. How streaks workWe've designed streaks with three key motivational elements: Weekly streak counter: A clear, visual representation of your posting consistency. Each consecutive week you post builds your track record, motivating you to keep the momentum going. Achievement milestones: As your streak grows, we’ll celebrate your progress. Gentle reminders: Our smart notifications will alert you when you're at risk of breaking your streak, ensuring you stay connected with your audience. Why consistency mattersDid you know that people who post consistently get up to 5x more likes, comments, and shares than folks who don't? Regular posting also: Keeps your audience engagedBuilds trust and credibilityImproves social media algorithm performanceHelps you develop a reliable content creation habitHere’s what some of our community members shared about the power of scheduling content every week. Consistent social media posting has been everything for my one-person business. I show up, people engage with my content, and I get inbound leads as a result. Even if the actual engagement isn't from my ideal clients, consistency keeps me in their feeds and on their minds for future work.Anna Burgess Yang - Content Marketer and Journalist Buffer allows me to schedule all my social media posts in advance, so I can focus on my customers which gives me peace of mind. Thanks to Buffer, I’ve become more visible on social media and, by extension, in my community. I can confidently say it’s been a vital tool in growing my business and reaching more people. It’s like having an extra set of hands in your businessJoyce Leak - Owner, Dove InnerCity Notary I'm blogging reviews about books and use social media to inform my followers about new articles. With Buffer it is easy to share this information in all channels at the same time. In addition I'm able to choose a different time for each channel.Detlef Knut - Author When it comes to entertainment news and reviews, posting consistently on social media helps us keep our followers up to date with what we are posting and for non-followers to see what we do and follow. Using Buffer to schedule social media updates has been key to growing our social audience and allowing us to post at times we know that our followers will see.Karen Woodham - Founder, Blazing Minds Who is Streaks for? Streaks is designed for anyone who wants to: Build a more disciplined social media presenceTurn content creation into a sustainable habitGrow their online audience organicallyOvercome content creation procrastinationSo if you’re an aspiring content creator, building your personal brand, or growing a small business — consistency is key! Buffer is here to help you every step of the way. View the full article

Consumers seeking jumbo home loans last week encountered the same 7.02% average contract interest rate as 30-year confirming loan borrowers. View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

President Donald Trump on Wednesday will sign the Laken Riley Act into law as his administration’s first piece of legislation. It mandates the detention and potential deportation of people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes before they’ve actually been convicted. The measure swiftly passed the Republican-controlled Congress with some Democratic support, despite immigrants rights advocates decrying it as extreme enough to possibly trigger mass roundups of people for offenses as minor as shoplifting. Trump has made a promised crackdown on illegal immigration unprecedented in the nation’s history a centerpiece of his political career, however, and is now suggesting the law might only be the beginning. “This shows the potential for additional enforcement bills that will help us crack down on criminal aliens and totally restore the rule of law in our country,” the president said at a conference of House Republicans held at his Doral golf club in Florida. The law is named for Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who went out for a run in February 2024 and was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally. Ibarra was found guilty in November and sentenced to life without parole. “To have a bill of such importance named after her is a great, a great tribute,” Trump said. “This new form of crime, criminal, illegal aliens, it’s—it’s massive, the numbers are massive and you add that to the crime we already had.” The speed at which the act cleared Congress—and the fact that Trump is preparing to triumphantly sign it at the White House surrounded by lawmakers and other supportive, invited guests just nine days after taking office—adds to its potent political symbolism for conservatives. Critics say the measure is using a tragedy to effectively unleash chaos and cruelty while doing little to fight crime or fix an antiquated federal immigration system that hasn’t been overhauled in decades. Under the Laken Riley Act, federal officials are required to detain any immigrant arrested or charged with crimes like theft or assaulting a police officer, or offenses that injure or kill someone. It further gives legal standing to state attorneys general to sue the U.S. government for harm caused by federal immigration decisions—potentially allowing the leaders of conservative states to help dictate immigration policy set by Washington. Ibarra had been arrested for illegal entry in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, amid an unprecedented surge in migration, and released to pursue his case in immigration court. Federal officials say he was arrested by New York police in August 2023 for child endangerment and released. Police say he was also suspected of theft in Georgia in October 2023—all of which occurred before Riley’s killing. “This is the right thing to do,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said after the act cleared the House. “It’s always good when the right thing is also the popular thing.” Some Democrats, however, have questioned the act’s constitutionality. Immigrant advocates are bracing for mass detentions that they say will trigger subsequent, costly construction of immigration lockup facilities to house the people arrested. “They don’t just get to celebrate. They get to use this for their mass deportation agenda,” Naureen Shah, deputy director of government affairs in the equality division of the American Civil Liberties Union, said of the act’s supporters. The ALCU says the act can allow people to be “mandatorily locked up—potentially for years—because at some point in their lives, perhaps decades ago, they were accused of nonviolent offenses.” Hannah Flamm, interim senior director of policy at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said the law violates immigrants’ basic rights by allowing for detaining people who haven’t been charged with, much less convicted of, wrongdoing. Still, she said, “The latent fear from the election cycle of looking soft on crime snowballed into aiding and abetting Trump’s total conflation of immigration with crime.” Flamm said the act is likely to be challenged in court on its parameters directing mandatory detentions, as well as its granting legal standing to state attorneys general in immigration cases and policy. But she also predicted that a need to pay for more immigration detention centers will give advocates a chance to challenge how federal funds are appropriated to cover those costs. “I think it is pivotal to understand: This bill, framed as connected to a tragic death, is pretext to fortify a mass deportation system,” Flamm said. The signing of the Laken Riley Act follows a flurry of first-week executive orders by Trump that are designed to better seal off the U.S.-Mexico border and eventually move to deport millions of immigrants without permanent U.S. legal status. The new administration has also canceled refugee resettlement and says it may attempt to prosecute local law enforcement officials who do not enforce his new immigration policies. “We’re tracking down the illegal alien criminals and we’re detaining them and we’re throwing them the hell out of our country,” Trump said. “We have no apologies, and we’re moving forward very fast.” —Will Weissert, Associated Press View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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