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Trump voiced his latest tariff threats on Tuesday, as consumers and businesses alike brace for impact on their wallets. Prior to taking office, Trump's proposed tariff plans included a 10% blanket tariff on all imports, a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, and 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. While some argue these measures could eventually boost domestic manufacturing, the immediate impact on consumer prices is likely to be significant. Let's take a look at how these proposed trade measures could affect prices—particularly on big-ticket items—so you can make informed purchasing decisions in the coming months. How Trump tariffs will impact your walletWhen the government imposes a tariff on imported goods, it essentially acts as a tax paid by the importing company. However, these companies rarely absorb these additional costs themselves. Instead, they typically pass them along the supply chain, ultimately reaching the end consumer. Ben Johnston, Chief Operating Officer of Kapitus, an online business lender, explains the ripple effect: "Higher tariffs will certainly cause prices to rise for U.S. consumers, as tariffs drive up the cost of the product being imported and these costs must be passed on to the customer. This will not only spur inflation but will lower overall consumption, slowing the economy." Large purchases like automobiles, appliances, and electronics are likely to see some of the most noticeable price increases, according to Johnston. These items often rely heavily on global supply chains and imported components. Even products assembled in the United States frequently depend on imported parts, meaning tariffs could affect prices even for "American-made" goods. Johnston notes that no industry is likely to be hit harder by an increase in import duties than the retail sector. He highlights how approximately 11% of all consumer spending goes to purchase imported goods, "but the percentage retail sales made up of imported goods is much higher." What consumers should do nowGiven these impending changes, you might want to consider making major purchases before the anticipated price hikes. However, at the end of the day, your personal finances matter much more for these kinds of buying decisions than trying to speculate on the market. Rather than trying to anticipate the ripple effect of Trump tariffs, you're better off turning to price-tracking tools and staying on top of what you need. And if you were already in the market for a big-ticket item—think washing machine, laptop, or car—consider pulling the trigger sooner rather than later. View the full article

Create, execute, and sustain effective SEO strategies with an SEO playbook. Align your initiatives with business goals and promote teamwork across different teams. The post Why Your SEO Playbooks Need To Collaborate With Sales And Brand Teams appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Doomsday prepping—making yourself and your home ready for some amorphous “stuff-hits-the-fan” event—has gone mainstream. About 20 million Americans are actively “prepping” for the apocalypse in some sense, which could come in many different forms. No matter how the world as we know it ends, the thinking goes, folks with enough food and water, gold (or crypto), and ammunition salted away will survive to help rebuild society. Or fight zombies. A lot of doomsday prepping is kind of silly, of course. You’re probably not going to be fighting those zombies (or hordes of Mad Max-style warriors), and having a thousand cans of beans probably isn’t going to be the difference between life and death. But preparing for extended emergencies isn’t a bad idea—you just have to do it in a practical, thoughtful manner. Here’s what you should consider if you want to feel at least slightly prepared for a SHTF event. Test stuffDoomsday prep is big business, and there are a lot of gadgets designed to help you survive the End Times in (relative) comfort and safety. Most are uber-practical and arguably necessary, like generators or a Lifestraw, but simply buying this stuff does not mean you’re actually prepared. If the first time you actually unpack and try to use it is the day the bombs drop or civilization collapses, you’re going to be under extreme stress while trying to parse an instruction manual—and you might discover that you bought a lemon in the first place. Buy whatever you think might be useful in an emergency, but as a best practice you should unbox it, set it up, and get it running at least once. This way you’re familiar with its operation and certain you have a working unit. It’s also a good idea to re-test everything once a year to refresh your memory and make sure nothing has degraded while in storage. Hard copy and manual toolsSometimes we forget how reliant we’ve become on having all the world’s information (and disinformation) in our pockets at all times. But in the event of doomsday you should probably assume both the internet and the electrical grid will be out of commission, which means it will be a huge mistake to rely on anything digital or powered. A few things to consider: Paper copies. You should have hard copy of any crucial information—instructions, directions, repair manuals, etc. Even if you have a plan for getting power during the apocalypse, relying on files stored on a hard drive is a bad idea. Manual tools. Power tools are one of the great blessings of civilization, but when civilization itself goes bye-bye you might not be able to operate them effectively. Manual, hand-powered tools and appliances (like a can opener!) will always be usable, so have at least a few basics on hand for when the power vanishes. Renewable everythingThe classic image of a prepper is someone with a stockpile of canned and dried food and a humming generator (zombie-blasting shotgun optional). That’s a fine plan for a short-term emergency like a natural disaster or extended blackout, but if you really want to be prepared for doomsday you need to think in more renewable terms. Canned food rusts and spoils, bottled water can go bad, and gasoline runs out (and also spoils), so having renewable sources of energy and food is key: Power. Solar or wind setups (ideally with a whole-house battery) will help stretch fuel supplies and can provide electricity long after all the power plants have exploded. Water. A crate of plastic water bottles will get you through a short-term emergency, but rebuilding civilization in the wake of Armageddon is thirsty work. Ideally, you want a continuous supply of filtered fresh water. If you have a well on your property, that’s ideal, but you can also have a rainwater collection and filtration system installed (rainwater has to be filtered pretty thoroughly to be safe to drink) that will guarantee a water supply unless the apocalypse is a very dry version. Food. You don’t want to be completely reliant on ultra-processed preserved food if you’re going into a long-haul survival period. Sure, those packs of instant Ramen might keep you alive, but ideally you should have a garden set up to feed you. A self-sustaining garden for one person can be set up in about 200 square feet, and if nothing else, will stretch your dry goods and canned food until the local groceries rebuild. MedicinesApocalyptic fantasies on television tend to focus on guns and video game-like action, and medical treatment usually involves a quick dash to an abandoned CVS and some instinctive knowledge of antiseptics and bandaging. In real life, you probably don’t need an entire crate of automatic weapons, but you will need some medical stuff. A few things to consider: First aid. Yes, you need a First Aid kit. But you also need to know how to use it, so learn first aid. Having a kit from Amazon won’t do you much good if you don’t have some basic training, including how to do stuff like applying tourniquets or setting broken bones. There are several excellent online first aid courses (Save a Life by NHCPS is free and accredited, and the American Red Cross offers online first aid classes as well as class-based courses). You might also consider taking a Wilderness First Aid Course (like this one), as they focus on first aid and emergency medical treatment when you’re far away from a hospital or an easy 911 call. And don’t forget what we just said about hard copies: Add some reference books to your survival library, like The Field Guide of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine from Wilderness Medical Associates, or The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help is NOT on the Way by Joseph Alton, M.D. Medical supplies. First aid kits are intended for rapid response, short-term solutions. If you’re planning to spend decades without a modern hospital system, you’re going to need a lot more stuff, like antibiotics, more gauze and wound dressings than you think, and other basics. You should also stock up on necessary prescriptions, because that abandoned CVS may not be opening up again any time soon. Medicinal herbs. No matter how well-stocked your personal pharmacy and medical supply cabinet is, if it’s really the end of the world you’ll more than likely run out of stuff much faster than expected (apocalyptic scenarios tend to be filled with sharp edges, collapsing buildings, and those pesky, hungry zombies). If you’re setting up a garden to feed yourself, consider putting space aside for medicinal herbs. Plants have been used for centuries as pain relievers (turmeric), antibiotics (garlic), and as treatments for indigestion (ginger). Some caveats: Medicinal herbs are not “drop in” replacements for the drugs in your medicine cabinet, and you’ll need to know a lot about their preparation and dosage to safely use them. A book like the Peterson Field Guide To Medicinal Plants & Herbs Of Eastern & Central N. America by Steven Foster and James A. Duke can give a start. And not all herbs will grow in all climates, so some research into what you can and can’t grow will be necessary. Rotate stockSpeaking of dry goods and canned food—these are not “set it and forget it” items. You can’t dump 500 cans of Spam into your basement and assume you’ll be fine, because all that food, no matter how well-preserved or stored, will eventually spoil (or be eaten by organisms). The key to a solid apocalypse pantry is rotation—eat the stuff as part of your normal, everyday meals just before they hit their expiration date, then replace them with fresh versions. Similarly, consider the medical supplies and prescriptions you’ve stockpiled—these will also need to be checked for freshness and replaced on a regular basis. While some medicines and drugs don’t necessarily go “bad,” they do lose effectiveness over time. Consider a communityFinally, consider your community as a resource. Most apocalyptic fantasies imagine it’s you (and your family) against the world, but in real life, your friends and neighbors will probably be right there with you, which can mean shared resources and assistance. A practical approach to doomsday prepping won’t rely on this—just in case you are all on your own, or in case your neighbors turn out to be selfish jerks—but ignoring this potentially rich source of assistance and shared supplies entirely would be unfortunate. View the full article

Google looks to have expanded its enforcement of its site reputation abuse policy to European regions this week. Google began enforcement in the US back in May but Google seems to have issued a ton of these manual actions (manual penalties) to European based sites.View the full article

Yahoo seems to be testing AI Chat within its search results. The chat feature loads on the right side for your query. You click on it and it loads an AI chat bot. View the full article

Want more buyers and sellers from Google without relying on Zillow or Redfin? Or more leads for listings that support your cold-calling and door-knocking efforts? Then, become skilled at real estate SEO. SEO is about ranking your site in search engine results pages (SERPs). This will attract qualified buyers and sellers to your agency. Just look at Campion & Company, a small real estate agency in Boston. They outrank Zillow for high-value property searches like “Burrage Mansion.” And that’s just one keyword. This agency ranks for 19K different search terms on Google—all driving potential buyers directly to their listings. All thanks to SEO. In this guide, you’ll learn how to conduct keyword research for high-intent terms, create lead-generating content, and dominate the local SERPs. But first, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of SEO. Why Is SEO Important for Real Estate Sites? Real estate SEO helps your listings show up in search results when people look for homes online. This includes Google Maps when people search for things like “realtor” in your area. Why does this matter? According to a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 100% of Americans who bought a house in 2024 used the internet to search for a home. And more than half (52%) of recent buyers found the home they ultimately purchased online. SEO lets you reach these buyers when they’re actively looking to buy. But it’s also a cost-effective way of capturing online demand. For example, the cost-per-click of a Google ad for the keyphrase “real estate companies in West Palm Beach Florida” is $5.67. But SEO can get your business to appear directly under those ads without spending a dime. This puts you in direct control of lead generation. Which means no more relying on expensive ads or third-party directory sites. Sounds ideal, right? Now that you’ve seen what real estate SEO can do for your business, let’s start with the most important first step: Conducting a quick technical audit to see if Google can actually find your website. (Because if it can’t, other SEO strategies don’t matter.) Step 1: Make Sure Google Can Find Your Property Listings The best way to check if Google knows your site exists? The Index Coverage report in Google Search Console. This will tell you which pages from your site are in Google’s index, which aren’t, and why. Some red flags to watch out for: Your indexed pages WAY outnumber your actual pages (this usually means Google’s finding pages it shouldn’t) Google’s only indexed a fraction of your pages (meaning potential clients can’t find most of your listings and services) Important pages show up under “Error,’” “Valid with warnings,” or “Excluded” Not sure why Google isn’t indexing your pages? The “Why pages aren’t indexed” report is your friend here. It’ll tell you exactly what’s wrong—like a redirect error or improper canonical tags—and how to fix it. If you have unindexed pages, you can manually request indexing. This is super helpful for new listings you want to appear ASAP. Pro tip: Don’t have the time or desire to handle SEO issues? Delegate them to a pro. A skilled website manager can tackle indexing issues, implement fixes fast, and keep your site climbing the rankings—while you focus on closing deals. Step 2: Find Keywords That Drive Leads To increase leads, you need to show up on Google for the terms homebuyers search for in your area. But it’ll take a strategic plan to beat the big real estate directory sites. For example, here’s what the search results look like for “Raleigh homes.” Directory sites dominate the SERPs, including Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. This means the chances of ranking on the SERP for that keyword are slim. But there’s a way around this—long-tail keywords. Research Valuable Long-Tail Keywords Long-tail keywords are highly specific terms that get fewer searches per month and have less competition. These keywords also tend to be longer. The lower difficulty of these terms makes them easier to rank for on your property pages than broad terms like “raleigh homes.” The key is finding long-tail keywords that have decent search volume and low difficulty. Here’s how: First, make a list of all the neighborhoods where you have property listings. Then, use a keyword tool like Semrush’s Keyword Magic to research terms. Note: A free Semrush account gives you 10 searches in the Keyword Magic Tool per day. Or you can use this link to access a 14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription. Enter a neighborhood into the search bar and click “Search.” The tool will return a list of keywords and important metrics for each one. This includes: Search volume: The average number of monthly searches for a specific keyword in Google Keyword difficulty (KD): A score from 0-100 that estimates how hard it would be to rank on the first page of Google for that keyword Search intent: The primary purpose or goal behind a user’s search query—informational (learn), commercial (compare/buy), navigational (find site), or transactional (take action) While the list will typically include some long-tail keywords already, you can add filters to narrow it even further. Here’s how: Select the “KD %” filter and type “0-50” in the custom range. Then, click the “Intent” filter and select “Transactional” and “Commercial.” Filtering this list for “Commercial” and “Transactional” will limit the list to terms people search when they’re looking to buy a home. Now, you have a list of long-tail keywords you can use to optimize your property page. For example, “boylan heights raleigh homes for sale” receives 40 searches a month and has a keyword difficulty score of 3, meaning it should be super easy to rank for. It also has transactional intent, which tells you these searchers are ready to buy. Even better? The SERP for this keyword is a mix of directory sites and local realtors, so you know you’ve got a shot at ranking. Now that you’ve got your target keywords, it’s time to use them strategically on your property pages. Step 3: Optimize Your Property Pages for Conversions Landing qualified leads starts with on-page optimization. Your title tags, meta descriptions, and page structure tell Google and potential buyers exactly what they’ll find on your site. Getting these elements right puts you in control of your lead generation. Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions These on-page elements tell searchers and search engines what each page on your site is about. They can also help you get more clicks from the SERPs. A title tag is the clickable blue text that appears in Google search results. It should be 50 to 60 characters total since long title tags may be truncated or rewritten by Google. And it needs to feature your target keyword. Otherwise, Google might struggle to understand what the page is about—and what searches to rank it for. Not sure how to write a title tag? Take inspiration from the big directory sites. Many follow the exact same pattern—”[Place name] Real Estate & Homes For Sale”: This format is popular because it hits both variations of the typical search people will use to find homes for sale in an area: [Place name] houses for sale [Place name] real estate A meta description is a snippet of text that appears under the title tag in the SERPs. This on-page element tells searchers what the page is about and entices them to click through to read your content. While meta descriptions don’t directly impact where a page ranks in Google, it’s still helpful to include your target keyword in them. Doing this reinforces what the page is about when readers are scanning the search results. And can drive more clicks to your site. Keep your meta description under 155 characters to prevent it from getting cut off. Add Page Headings A H1 tag is the headline or title of a webpage. It should describe the page’s contents and include the main keyword. It doesn’t have to be the exact keyphrase—you can use a variation of your target keyword in your H1 like We Know Boise Real Estate did. H2s are the main subheadings that go underneath your H1 to organize your content and make it easy for readers to find what they’re looking for. Include the location name in some of your page’s H2’s as well: This makes it crystal clear to search engines exactly what this page is about, which increases your chances of ranking. Just ensure your page headings read naturally and avoid keyword stuffing. Include Internal Links Internal linking connects your location pages together, helping you rank higher in search results. It also keeps website visitors engaged longer as they explore other pages on your site. For example, We Know Boise’s Barber Valley page includes hyperlinks to every other neighborhood in East Boise: When you click a neighborhood, it takes you to a dedicated page on We Know Boise’s site for that location. This lets Google understand the relationship between these pages on your site. Which will help you rank for your target keywords—and ultimately land more leads. Pro tip: Don’t gate your content. Requiring visitors to provide personal details to view property listings can negatively impact your SEO efforts. Many potential clients will hit the “back” button and head to one of your competitor’s sites instead, reducing your chances of ranking. Create Detailed Listing Pages That Convert Browsers into Buyers The more information you provide on your property pages, the more likely visitors are to book a viewing. It also helps with lead qualification, as they’ll know upfront if the listing is likely to be a fit. Include: A detailed description of the property A description of the local amenities High-quality images of the entire property A map showing the property’s location Look at the big directory sites for inspiration when creating your listings. For example, Trulia includes high-quality images and essential information like address and price prominently at the top of the listing. They follow this up with a “Local Information” section that includes a map, description of the area, and information on local restaurants, shopping, and schools. Next, comes the “Home Highlights” at a glance, such as the HOA fee, price per square foot, and how long the property has been listed. Then, an expandable drop-down menu with even more details like the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and more: Trulia also showcases what locals say about the area to give prospective buyers an inside look into the area: Notably, they also include an interactive mortgage calculator set to the home’s listed price. Doing something similar will help you get more leads from your property pages. Step 4: Dominate Local Search Results with Your Google Business Profile Search “[your location] real estate agents” in Google. The top organic result is almost certain to be a Google Local Pack—a SERP feature that appears for location-specific searches—featuring three local realtors: It goes without saying that you should prioritize landing in one of those three spots through your real estate SEO strategy. This is especially vital for a local realtor since the rest of the organic results are likely to be dominated by directory sites: Here’s how to optimize your site to appear in the Local Pack for your area: Create a Google Business Profile First things first: Create a Google Business Profile (if you haven’t already). Here’s how: Sign into a Google account (if you’re not already logged into one) Head to the Google Business Profile Manager and click the “Manage now” button Enter your business name, category, location, and contact information Verify your business by the method offered to you by Google (usually by a phone call or a postcard sent to your business’s address) Fill Out and Optimize Your Google Business Profile Once your Google Business Profile is verified, fill it out with as much information as possible—including all the areas you have listings: Add plenty of high-quality photos of your team, current listings, and properties sold. Do this regularly to show Google you’re a legitimate business worthy of ranking at the top of the Local Pack. Plus, it’ll help sell your company to potential clients—and agents who might be looking for a new agency. You also have the option of writing a brief description of your business, which will appear under the heading “From [your business’s name]’: Include target keywords in this section. Things like: [Your area] real estate [Your area] homes for sale [Your area] real estate agent [Your area] realtor Encourage and Respond to Customer Reviews It’s good practice to ask all your customers to leave you a review on Google. After all, 35% of people say a real estate agent’s reputation is the most important factor when they’re choosing a realtor to sell their home, according to NAR’s study. Plus, the more positive reviews you receive on Google, the more likely you are to appear in the Local Pack for relevant searches. Your business’s overall rating and review highlights will appear on your Google Business listing: As a best practice, respond to every review you receive on Google. This includes the positive ones: And the not-so-positive ones: This will show potential clients that you care what people have to say about your business and respond to their feedback. It’s also another signal to Google that you’re a well-run business that deserves to sit at the top of its local results. Get as Many NAP Citations as You Can NAP (name, address, and phone number) citations are a huge deal when it comes to local SEO. The more websites that list your company’s NAP correctly, the more confident Google is that those details are correct—and that you’re a legitimate business worth sending searchers to. But manually adding and updating citations isn’t a good use of anyone’s time. Instead, use a tool like Semrush’s Listing Management, which automates the process. By connecting your Google Business Profile, the tool will automatically distribute your details to vital directories for your industry. Search your business to find out how many correct NAP citations it has online: The tool will show you where your NAP details are listed incorrectly—or not at all to help you improve and expand your presence. Use Google Posts to Advertise Property Listings Google Posts are updates that appear at the bottom of your Google Business Profile. They’re the perfect place for you to advertise your latest listings. Plus, Google is less likely to display your Business Profile at the top of local search results if it’s inactive. Which means making a Google Post about each of your new listings will help you rank in the Local Pack. Create a Google Post by clicking “Add update” in your dashboard: Step 5: Start a Blog to Establish Your Agency as an Industry Leader Rank for more keywords and strengthen your site’s authority by creating a blog. Write High-Quality Blog Content Blog content can drive highly relevant traffic to your site. The key is finding topics homebuyers are actively searching for online. Semrush’s Keyword Overview tool is great for this purpose. Here’s how it works: Search for your service area in the tool, such as “Cambridge MA.” You’ll see an Overview report with keyword data. Click “View all keywords” under the “Questions” report. Now, you’ll see a list of questions people ask Google about this area. Including the search volume for each term, intent, and keyword difficulty. Review the list to find questions that would make great blog post topics. Ensure they’re relevant and aim for low difficulty and moderate search volume. For example, “What is there to do in cambridge ma” gets 320 searches per month and has a low keyword difficulty score of 20. This means it should be fairly easy to rank for, which is especially important if you have a new site or one that lacks authority. Create Neighborhood Guides Neighborhood guides are a tried-and-true way to rank in the SERPs. (Note: these can work well as site pages or blog content.) For example, Trulia created a neighborhood guide for every neighborhood where they have listings. That subfolder drives 611.2K visits to the Trulia site each month. And it has 11K backlinks: These pages work. And your content marketing strategy should revolve around them. But how can you compete with Trulia, Zillow, and Redfin’s neighborhood pages? With high-quality, comprehensive content that highlights your local expertise. For example, New Orleans real estate agency Crescent City Living has a neighborhood guide that outranks all the directory sites for “Seventh Ward New Orleans”: How’d they do it? Well, compare Crescent City Living’s guide to Trulia’s, and you’ll see significant differences: Crescent Living’s page was clearly written by someone who knows the area. It describes Seventh Ward’s colorful Creole cottages and beloved Marching 100 band. Trulia’s page, on the other hand, is a programmatically generated list of stats. Which site would you trust to give you the best information about the neighborhood? Step 6: Track Your Success with Key Performance Metrics There are literally hundreds of SEO metrics you could track. And while you’ll want to keep an eye on traffic, rankings, time on page, and more, inquiries and leads are what really matter. Use Google Analytics (GA4) to see how many site visitors complete a “Key event” on your site. This could be filling out a form or requesting a property viewing. Pro tip: Not sure how to set up tracking? Read this guide to get started: Google Analytics 4 Events Guide. Ready to Launch Your Real Estate SEO Strategy? Optimizing your real estate site can bring in leads year-round. It can also help you compete with the likes of Zillow and Redfin in the SERPs. While understanding SEO is half the battle, having the right tools makes implementation faster and more effective. Check out our guide to the 5 Best Local SEO Tools to secure your spot in Google’s Map Pack and outrank local realtors. The post 6 Steps to Win at Real Estate SEO appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the most effective paid channels helping businesses increase visibility and build awareness. If you’d like to learn about the state of PPC in 2025, find the latest data on PPC usage, most used ad platforms, and PPC benchmarks, we’ve curated a list of 24 essential PPC statistics to help you answer these questions. General PPC Statistics Among surveyed pay-per-click (PPC) marketers, Google (98%), Facebook (76%) and Instagram (70%) are the most widely used advertising platforms (Statista) Here’s a full breakdown: Digital Advertising Platform Share of PPC Professionals Google (excluding YouTube) 98% Facebook 76% Instagram 70% Microsoft (Bing) 67% YouTube 67% LinkedIn 48% TikTok 31% Pinterest 24% Amazon 17% X (Twitter) 15% Reddit 11% Apple Search 11% Snapchat 9% Quora 4% Yandex 2% Baidu 1% Yahoo! Japan 1% Other 6% Among PPC practitioners with a monthly budget between $50K and $500K, Google, Facebook, and YouTube are the top 3 most used advertising platforms (PPCsurvey) Here are the exact numbers: Ad Platform Adoption ($50K – $500K PPC budget) Google (excluding YouTube) 99% Facebook 79% YouTube 75% Instagram 74% Microsoft (Bing) 73% LinkedIn 46% TikTok 28% Pinterest 20% Amazon 15% X (Twitter) 11% Reddit 10% Apple Search 7% Snapchat 6% Quora 4% Yandex 1% Baidu 1% Yahoo! Japan 1% Other 8% 73% of B2C marketers stated their organization used PPC advertising in the last 12 months (Content Marketing Institute) 64% of B2B marketing professionals say they used PPC advertising at their organization in the past year, which is only behind the usage rate of social media advertising at 73% (Content Marketing Institute) 93% of marketers say pay-per-click (PPC) as a marketing channel is “effective” or “highly effective”, making it the 2nd most effective channel after content marketing (96%) (eMarketer) Only 10% of surveyed marketing professionals identify PPC as a primary focus for their budget allocation (eMarketer) Among surveyed marketing specialists worldwide, 49% claim it became harder managing PPC campaigns today than 2 years ago (PPCsurvey) Among in-house teams, the average monthly PPC spend is $950,000, while freelancers usually manage an ad budget of around $575,000 per month (PPCsurvey) Here are the exact numbers: Monthly PPC spend In-house Freelancer More than $3M 5% 3% Between $500K and $3M 14% 10% Between $50K and $500K 41% 38% Between $5K and $50K 29% 33% Under $5K 11% 16% According to surveyed B2B marketers, PPC advertising ranks as the most effective paid channel for content marketing activities, with 61% of respondents citing it as effective, followed by social media advertising (49%), and sponsorships (48%) (Content Marketing Institute) Search Ads Statistics Paid search spending in the US is estimated to reach $124.59 billion in 2024, showing an 11.1% year-over-year increase (eMarketer) The average cost-per-click for advertisements on Google ads stood at $1.16 (eMarketer) The average cost per click for search ads across multiple industries on Amazon was $1.50 (eMarketer) The average benchmark bounce rate for paid search is 43.9% (Contentsquare) The average click-through rate for Google search ads is 3.17%, based on data collected from multiple industries (WordStream) On average, paid search campaigns are reported to generate a conversion rate of 2.55% (Contentsquare) Paid search accounts for 29.7% of total media ad spending in the US (eMarketer) Analysis of over 43 billion website visits found that paid search accounts for 23% of traffic share, behind direct (27.6%) and organic search (26.7%) (Contentsquare) The share of new visitor traffic attributed to paid search is 27.6%, which is more than any other marketing channel (Contentsquare) Paid search accounts for 39.5% market share of digital advertising, more than any other advertising format (display, video or audio) (IAB) In the US, Google dominates the search advertising market, accounting for 50.5% of the total search ad spending (eMarketer) Amazon’s share of the overall search ad spending in the US is 22.3% (eMarketer) 75.78% of Google’s revenue came from advertising in Q1-Q3 2024 (Alphabet) AI Use for PPC Statistics 75% of PPC professionals say they use generative AI at least “sometimes” for writing ads. Other common use cases include keyword research (60%) and writing emails (52%) (PPCsurvey) Here are the exact numbers: Use Case Share of PPC Professionals Who Use AI at Least “Sometimes” Writing ads 75% Keyword research 60% Writing emails 52% Audience research/analysis 48% Writing/editing scripts 45% Landing page optimization 41% Generating insights and suggestions 41% Strategy 38% Campaign creation 38% Reporting 31% Among PPC professionals that use AI at least “sometimes” for writing emails, 71% claim they’re satisfied with results generated by AI (PPCsurvey) Use Case Share of PPC Professionals Satisfied with AI Results Writing emails 71% Writing ads 69% Writing/editing scripts 64% Keyword research 59% Landing page optimization 55% Strategy 52% Campaign creation 52% Reporting 51% Audience research/analysis 51% The post 24 Up-To-Date PPC Statistics to Know appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Travel SEO is about turning strangers into guests. But it’s no small task competing with major sites like Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Expedia. With so many players in the market, standing out in search engine results can feel impossible. Yet, small players can still succeed. Live Oak Lake, a boutique resort in Texas built a strong direct booking website that ranks No. 1 for search terms like “waco cabins.” They made $1.1 million in their first year and sold the business for $7 million in 2024. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to implement an effective travel SEO strategy, including: How to optimize for travel-specific search intent 10 proven strategies to outrank major OTAs Technical fixes that boost rankings fast No generic tips. Just proven strategies you can use to increase organic traffic and bookings. The Travel SEO Playing Field In the travel industry, the SEO landscape is crowded. Online travel agents (OTAs), airline websites, and meta-travel platforms dominate search results. You also have travel blogs, tourism boards, accommodation sites, and tourist attraction websites. All are fighting for visibility among millions of travel-related searches. Just look at the 89.3 million monthly searches for keywords containing the word “flights” in the U.S. alone: But that’s not the only challenge—the playing field itself is constantly evolving. SERP features for travel-related searches are more diverse than ever. This includes Google’s recent addition: AI Overviews. These new features reduce clicks on traditional blue links. As a result, click-through rates (CTRs) drop each year. Here are key SERP features to keep in mind: AI Overviews: Concise summaries from Google’s AI for research-based queries Featured Snippets: Quick answers for informational or question-based searches Google Flights & Hotels: Direct flight and hotel listings within the search page Top Sights, Top Experiences, & Popular Destinations: Popular attractions based on reviews and Google Maps data People Also Ask & People Also Search For: Related questions to your query Forums: Discussions from trusted sources like Reddit, TripAdvisor, and Quora Some features, like People Also Ask, offer ways to capture organic traffic. Others, like Google Flights and Google Hotels, keep users within Google’s ecosystem. These limit opportunities for third-party sites. As these features evolve, staying ahead of the curve is key. Navigating this shifting landscape requires expertise. Much like guiding travelers through new destinations. Here’s how to take control of your travel SEO strategy. Step 1: Define Your Travel SEO Strategy Creating a solid strategy is essential when tackling SEO for the travel industry. It helps identify challenges, set clear guidelines, and outline actionable steps. Diagnose the Challenge Every website faces unique SEO challenges. Start by analyzing the current performance of your travel website. How? By checking your key metrics. These include organic search traffic, revenue, and user engagement. Also, examine mobile usability, loading speed, keyword rankings, and your backlinks. Next, analyze the competition in the SERPs. Identify competing websites by evaluating which sites rank for the keywords you’re targeting. You can also use Semrush’s Keyword Gap tool. It finds keywords your competition ranks for, but you don’t. Here’s how to do it: Add your website and the URLs of up to four competitors to the tool. Click “Compare.” Click the “Missing” tab. It shows terms that Expedia, Trivago, and Tripadvisor rank for, but your site doesn’t. Once you know your competitors’ performance, it’s time to take the next step—keyword research. Step 2: Conduct Keyword Research Google advises creating content for users, not solely to rank for keywords. But if your content isn’t based on keyword research, it won’t rank well or drive SEO traffic and bookings. Start Broad Your keyword research will be the base of your SEO content strategy for the coming year(s). So, aim to make it as comprehensive as possible. Search trends in travel do evolve. But core keywords stay consistent. If you’re selling a destination like The Bahamas, use all related keywords with its name. One of the most effective approaches is to use paid tools like Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool. It provides data and insights that will help you target the right keywords for your audience. More data isn’t always better. So, focus on the key metrics: search volume, keyword difficulty, and search intent. Search Volume: The average monthly searches for a keyword Keyword Difficulty (KD%): A measure of how hard it is to rank for a keyword. It’s based on the link profiles of the top 10 ranking pages. Search Intent: The purpose behind a user’s search query. It’s categorized as transactional, informational, commercial, or navigational. Stick to these essentials to guide your keyword strategy effectively. Define Commercial Opportunities The commercial value of a keyword varies for each business. What may be a high-value commercial keyword for a competitor might not be for you. For example, let’s say you have top-rated resorts in Mexico. You might see “all-inclusive resorts in Mexico” as a valuable keyword. Now, imagine you manage one outdated, overpriced resort there. Your chance to profit from this keyword is likely much weaker. When evaluating a commercial opportunity, ask: Will this page convert visitors? Categorize each keyword into the following: 0. Not Likely: We don’t offer anything related to the user’s intent 1. Unlikely: We offer something related to the user’s intent, but it doesn’t directly address the user’s needs 2. Potential: We offer a solution that could meet the user’s intent 3. Likely: We provide the best solution for the user’s intent This approach helps focus your efforts on the most commercially valuable keywords. Pro tip: Before using a keyword, check its intent. Analyze the top-ranking content in the search results. A keyword like “Mexico vs. Ecuador” might seem perfect for a travel site selling flights to both. However, a quick Google search may reveal that the user intent is related to soccer, not travel. By knowing what users want, you can avoid irrelevant keywords. This will ensure your content matches user intent. It also increases your chances of ranking and converting. Step 3: Create a Keyword Map Once you’ve gathered your keywords, the next step is to build an SEO keyword map. Here’s how: List existing pages: Use an SEO spider tool like Screaming Frog. It will list all existing pages. Filter irrelevant pages: Remove any pages that won’t serve as SEO landing pages. Focus only on those that have the potential to drive organic traffic. Pair pages with keywords: Use Google Search Console (GSC) to find queries that generate the most clicks for each page. Assign target keywords: Assign one keyword from your research to each relevant page. Avoid keyword cannibalization: Target each keyword with only one page. This prevents competition between your own pages for the same search query. SEO for travel websites often involves optimizing destination-specific and service-related keywords. These efforts help drive organic traffic to your site. By mapping keywords to pages, you’ll have a clear strategy. It’ll help you optimize existing content and find gaps for new content. Step 4: Form a Content Strategy With your keyword research and keyword map in place, it’s time to create an SEO content strategy. To maximize organic revenue, prioritize content targeting bottom-of-the-funnel keywords. These are high-intent keywords where users are closest to making a booking decision. By focusing on this stage first, you’ll drive more immediate conversions and revenue. Target Commercial Keywords In your keyword sheet, filter for keywords with commercial scores of two or three. This filter will give you keywords with high commercial intent. They’ll match what you offer. Think “Cancun resorts,” “flights to Hawaii,” “Las Vegas hotels,” or “Punta Cana excursions.” For each keyword: If a landing page is ranking, optimize its content to boost performance If none of your pages are ranking, decide whether to create a new landing page or optimize an existing one Finally, create a timeline and roadmap for implementing these optimizations. This helps ensure steady progress toward your content goals. Build Topical Authority After covering your commercial keywords, it’s time to move up to the middle of the funnel. Focus on keywords like “things to do in Miami,” “best time to visit Japan,” and “best beaches in Puerto Rico.” These keywords are primarily informational and have lower conversion rates. But they’re crucial for SEO for travel websites. Why? Because they help build topical authority. Cluster these topics to help search engines understand your content. You’ll signal to search engines that your site is a trusted travel resource. Blog pages often cover these topics best. But you can use landing pages if they fit your strategy. Create a Topic Map Up to this point, your SEO content strategy has been based on keyword data. Now, it’s time to explore new topic ideas by leveraging topic maps. To do this, use an AI tool like Claude or Chat GPT to uncover relevant topics for specific destinations. Here’s an example of a prompt you can use: “Please provide a table listing the key topics related to travel in Mexico. The table should have three columns: categories, subcategories, and subtopics. Each subtopic should have its own row.” Then, copy your topic map to a sheet. Use a ChatGPT plugin like Whimsical Diagrams to visualize it. Use the following prompt: “Generate a mind map from this table: {paste table}.” Repeat this process for each destination you serve. Add any new topics to your content roadmap. Cover a wide range of content that appeals to search engines and your audience. This approach fills gaps in your strategy. It keeps your content fresh and competitive. Tap Into the Travel Content Loop The travel experience is cyclical. Here’s how the journey typically unfolds: Inspiration: “That’s beautiful, where is that place?” Education: “Tell me more about this place” Booking: “Let’s go there” Inspiration again: After the trip, the traveler dreams of new adventures. This sparks the loop once more. Travelers constantly seek beauty, adventure, and new connections. Your content strategy should reflect this ongoing loop. To build a successful travel content strategy off the back of this loop, think beyond SEO. This is especially true for inspiration, where social media is vital. SEO is about fulfilling a need for information. So, focus on education and answering users’ specific questions. Inspiration, however, often comes to people when they’re not actively searching for it. That’s why inspirational content must be: Visual and destination-focused Pushed to users, igniting wanderlust Once the audience is captivated by a destination, they might seek more information. That’s where SEO comes in to guide them further down the funnel. When planning content, ensure synergy between inspirational and informational content. For example, let’s say you publish an SEO-optimized article like “The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica.” Coordinate with your social media team to release visual, inspirational content. This integrated approach keeps your audience engaged at every stage of their journey. Whether they’re exploring on social media or searching for information online. Step 5: Establish a Content Creation Process Your content strategy is ready. Now it’s time to establish a streamlined content creation process. Here’s how that might look: Keyword selection: Choose primary and secondary keywords based on your content calendar Writer briefing: Provide clear, detailed briefs for high-quality content Write: Focus on comprehensive, unique content that goes beyond top-ranking pages Edit: Align with the brand’s tone and ensure scannability Optimize: Fine-tune for SEO—headings, body content, internal links, and meta Add photography: Use images that follow guidelines and enhance user experience Publish and promote: Share across social, email, and other channels to maximize reach Translate: Expand reach by targeting non-English keywords Pro tip: After headlines, image captions are the most read by users. Add a commercial message or a call to action to your image captions. It will help boost engagement. To AI or Not AI? When it comes to your content creation process, a key question is how much of it should involve AI. The answer depends on your goals. One thing is certain—it’s tough to stand out in a sea of mass-produced AI content by just publishing more AI content. Craftsmanship and authenticity are what make content truly stand out. “To beat AI, become more human.” – Wesley van der Hoop, PPC + SEO at Unique Vacations Ltd. For example, let’s say you’re writing about “the best restaurants in Amsterdam.” Instead of simply copying the list from TripAdvisor, go beyond the surface: Experience the destination firsthand Talk to locals and uncover hidden gems that aren’t widely covered Engage with restaurant owners. Try their signature dishes. Share deeper insights than current online articles. AI should play the role of an assistant, not the solution. That said, AI can still assist in the content creation process. It can help create content briefs, structure the content, and suggest data points. This lets writers focus on the human elements. They can craft unique, authentic content that AI cannot replicate. In this hybrid approach, AI handles repetitive tasks. Meanwhile, your team focuses on insights, experiences, and personal connections. Step 6: Set Up Tracking and Measuring Begin by measuring your current performance to understand where you stand. Define and track both macro and micro conversions. Use your travel site’s analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics 4). For most travel websites, the macro conversion will be bookings and revenue. Micro conversions may include actions like account creation or requests for more information. They can also involve newsletter sign-ups, brochure requests, and travel guide downloads. Once tracking is set up, integrate SEO tools like Google Search Console (GSC). Use a rank tracker to gain deeper insights into what’s happening on the SERPs. For example, Semrush’s Position Tracking tool tracks keyword rankings over time. Finally, create easy-to-understand dashboards that blend different data sources. They let you track progress and show results to stakeholders at performance meetings. Step 7: Optimize Your Google Business Profile Local SEO is essential for improving visibility. It’s particularly important for attractions, restaurants, bars, and accommodations at popular destinations. Optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) can lead to quick wins. Here’s how to do it: Set Up Listings for Each Location Let’s say your travel company operates in multiple locations. You should create and optimize a Google Business Profile for each location. Select the Appropriate Category Choosing the right primary category (e.g., “Hotel,” “Tourist Attraction,” “Restaurant”) is vital. Why? Because it impacts how your listing appears in search results and Google Maps. Complete All Profile Information Ensure your profile is fully completed, including: Business name Address Phone number Website URL Hours of operation Business attributes (e.g., “Free Wi-Fi,” “Pool”) Write a Compelling Business Description Custom descriptions aren’t allowed for accommodation and attraction listings. However, you can still write compelling descriptions for restaurants and bars. Use relevant keywords to improve search visibility. Ensure it accurately reflects the experience you offer while adhering to Google’s guidelines. Upload High-Quality Photos and Videos High-quality photos and videos of your business can boost engagement. They help customers see what you offer and connect with your brand. These visuals provide potential customers with a more immersive experience. It helps them get a better sense of what you offer. Be sure to consistently update your media to keep the listing fresh and relevant. Utilize the Q&A Section Proactively manage the “Questions & Answers” section by addressing common guest inquiries. Post frequently asked questions yourself. Cover topics like services, booking policies, or amenities. Make sure to answer them thoroughly. Create Regular Updates Use GBP updates to share offers, events, or new services. These can improve engagement and keep your audience informed. Encourage and Respond to Reviews Actively encourage guests to leave reviews, especially after a positive interaction. Respond promptly to both positive and negative reviews. This shows engagement and demonstrates excellent customer service. Reviews and responses also boost credibility and influence search rankings. By following these steps, you can significantly improve your business’s local visibility. This boosts engagement with potential customers looking for travel services in your area. Step 8: Ensure Your Content Gets Indexed A technical SEO audit is one of the cornerstones of your travel SEO strategy. The reason is simple. If the copy of a web page isn’t indexed, that page is unlikely to rank in Google’s search results. In other words, it won’t drive organic traffic and bookings. So, when auditing a travel website for the first time, use a web crawler like Screaming Frog. It’ll check whether your pages are indexable. For a more detailed approach, use Semrush’s Site Audit tool. It can help identify technical issues with your site. For individual page checks, use Google Search Console. It shows when Googlebot last visited the page and if it’s indexed. To (re)index the page in GSC, simply click the “request indexing” button. Alternatively, use the “site” operator in Google. Enter this query in the search bar: site:www.website.com/landing-page If the page appears in search results, it’s indexed. If not, it isn’t. Check for Partial Indexing Even if a page is indexed, not all content may be. Content that needs JavaScript to load, like a slider or hidden text, is at risk of not being indexed. To check, use the Web Developer Chrome extension. It will disable JavaScript and reload the page. Compare it to the original version to identify content not loading—this content is at risk. You can also use the View Rendered Source Chrome extension. It shows the difference between the raw code and the rendered page. Headings and paragraphs not in the raw code, but in the rendered code, might not be indexed. If you suspect specific copy isn’t indexed, use the “site” operator in Google with a query like: site:www.website.com/landing-page/ "insert copy at risk here" If the copy shows up where you’d normally find the meta description, you should be good! If Google returns no results, that content and its links may not be indexed. Prevent Duplicate Content Duplicate content can negatively impact your rankings. How? Google can struggle to determine which of your pages to prioritize. It can also lead to crawling, indexing issues, and loss of link equity. In severe cases, it can also trigger manual penalties. The seven most common types of duplicate content on travel websites are: Destination descriptions: Frequently reused descriptions of popular travel destinations across multiple accommodation pages URLs with filtering parameters: Filtering options (e.g., “?sort=price”) generate different URLs. These may show similar content. Pagination: Ensure paginated lists of destinations or accommodations are distinct or canonicalized URLs with UTM parameters: Parameters like “?utm_source=social-media” track traffic. But they can also create duplicate content issues. Split URL tests: A/B testing may create duplicate content. It does this by generating alternative versions of the same page. Dynamic URLs with session IDs: When indexed, they can cause duplicate content issues M-dot URLs: They’re rare today. But if used, link them to their desktop versions. Use Semrush’s Site Audit tool to identify duplicate content. Mitigate it by implementing canonical tags. Use Structured Data Structured data helps search engines better understand and display your content. For travel websites, this can lead to rich results like pricing and star ratings. These features can help boost click-through rates. Structured data can also improve your site’s rankings. How? By providing search engines with clearer context for your content. Pro tip: To further enhance SEO, implement structured data using the LocalBusiness schema. This helps search engines understand and validate your business information. It includes key details like category, location, and operating hours. Properly structured data can positively impact your rankings in local searches. Step 9: Optimize UX with a Mobile-First Approach Users have been living in a mobile-first world for some time, and Google was quick to follow. Travelers may book on desktop. But they often make the decision to book on mobile. Focus on quick load times and ensure strong Core Web Vitals performance. Search engines like Google favor fast-loading content. Here’s how to get started: Leverage User Data Analyze your website using Google PageSpeed Insights. Look at the “Core Web Vitals Assessment.” It’s essential for understanding how your website performs in real user environments. This data can help you optimize speed and user experience. You can see the performance metrics for a site’s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These are key indicators of how well your site loads and provides a smooth user experience. For example, the LCP score here shows 3.8s, which is above the recommended threshold. Meaning there’s room for improvement. Improving these metrics will boost your site’s performance. It’ll also make your site more search-engine friendly and enhance the user experience. Make Loading Times a Priority You can’t do it alone. You’ll have to get IT resources to improve the loading time of your landing pages, which are likely to be scarce. If fast loading times aren’t a priority for the business, they won’t be for IT either. Simply submitting a ticket won’t solve the issue. Instead, foster a culture where speed is continually measured and improved. Optimize Landing Pages for Mobile Ensure the most important content is visible on the first screen users see. For travel, this often means starting with an engaging visual to capture attention. It helps users imagine being at their dream destination. Additionally, highlight your unique value proposition, and provide a clear call-to-action. Reinforce your credibility with reviews, awards, or endorsements. Here’s an example from JetStream Voyages: Step 10: Strengthen Your Backlink Profile Content demonstrates relevance, while links signal authority. Both are essential to rank well in Google search results. Leverage Existing Relationships Improving SEO for travel agencies means building relationships. It also means getting links from trusted business partners. Leverage existing relationships with tourism boards, suppliers, and partners to earn backlinks. Like this: Use Digital PR for Industry-Wide Authority In the travel industry, digital PR campaigns are one of the best ways to establish authority. They aim to boost your brand’s visibility and credibility. How? By earning high-quality backlinks from reputable websites. Digital PR campaigns are typically built around link-worthy assets, such as: Data-driven travel insights and reports Unique tools or calculators Interactive maps Comprehensive travel guides Sweepstakes Work with your PR team. Create campaigns that resonate with your target audience and the media. For example, Sandals Resorts ran a campaign to find a professional cocktail critic. One person was “hired” to collaborate with Sandals’ expert mixologists. Together, they tested and refined a range of cocktails. This unique and engaging story captured the attention of numerous high-authority travel publishers. As a result, it drove significant backlinks to their site. Target Commercial Pages with Guest Posts To build links to your commercial pages, try guest posting on travel sites. This method lets you target specific keywords. It also generates referral traffic from relevant audiences. Use internal linking, partnerships, digital PR, and guest posting. This will help build the authority needed to compete in Google’s search rankings. Turn Strangers Into Guests with Travel SEO Mastering travel SEO is about more than ranking for keywords. It’s about connecting with travelers at every stage of their journey. From inspiration to booking and beyond. The travel industry is always changing. But one thing is constant: Travelers want connections, experiences, and reliable information. Many companies use travel SEO services to rank higher. But the tips in this guide will help you get similar results on your own. Use creativity and data-driven strategies. Be authentic. Transform your travel website into the top resource. It can help turn strangers into loyal guests. Ready to take your travel SEO strategy to the next level? Download our content marketing template to map out your content. The tool will help you organize and execute your plan for optimal results. The post How To Improve Your Travel SEO In 10 Steps appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

With all the uncertainty surrounding the TikTok ban (which is on pause as of writing this article), creators who have built massive followings on the platform are understandably concerned about what the future holds. TikTok has been a game-changer for short-form video content, helping countless creators reach new heights in their careers, connect with global audiences, and even turn their passion into a full-time income. However, as the possibility of a ban looms, many creators are taking proactive steps to secure their futures by exploring other platforms. One popular strategy involves directing their followers to alternative networks using links in their bios, ensuring they can stay connected no matter what happens. While TikTok is undeniably unique, the good news is that there are plenty of promising alternatives that offer exciting opportunities for creators to grow, experiment, and thrive. Whether you’re looking to diversify your presence, repurpose your content, or explore new ways to connect with your audience, here are four platforms worth considering for your content creation journey. YouTube ShortsBest if you want to explore long-form video YouTube Shorts has been one of the most talked-about TikTok alternatives, and for good reason. With billions of active users already on the platform, Shorts taps into a massive audience base while giving creators the familiar short-form video experience. How does YouTube Shorts compare to TikTok?Videos up to 3 minutes long, shorter than TikTok’s 10-minute limit but long enough for most content types.Access to a massive library of music and sounds comparable to TikTok’s offerings.Shorts integrates seamlessly with YouTube's existing features, like playlists and long-form videos, which can help creators repurpose their content.YouTube Shorts has a clear monetization path, with ad revenue sharing and opportunities to earn through affiliate links.💡If you go this route, check out our 15+ tips to grow on YouTube Shorts.Why consider YouTube Shorts?YouTube Shorts is especially powerful for creators already active on YouTube or those looking to experiment with long-form content. With its Remix feature, you can easily create short clips from your existing videos, linking to the full-length versions to drive more views. 💡Schedule your YouTube Shorts directly in Buffer →Instagram ReelsBest if you love using trendy effects and music in your videos Instagram Reels has been one of TikTok’s fiercest competitors since its launch in 2020. With the power of Instagram’s visual-first focus, plus the network effects of Facebook and Whatsapp, Reels offer TikTok creators a polished space to grow their audiences. How does Reels compare to TikTok?Videos up to 3 minutes long — again, shorter than TikTok, but it does the job.Built-in filters, effects, and music offer a polished editing experience, though less robust than TikTok’s.Reels can be shared to your Instagram Stories, feed, and even to Facebook, maximizing reach.Instagram’s Collab feature allows creators to co-post content with brands or other users.Reels makes it easy to disclose partnerships with its sponsored content tagging feature.💡Learn more about Instagram Reels in this articleWhy consider Instagram Reels?Instagram Reels is ideal for creators targeting a slightly older demographic or those already using Instagram to engage with their audience. Its cross-promotion features make it a great choice for creators looking to boost engagement. 💡Schedule your Instagram Reels directly in Buffer →LinkedInBest if you’re focused on thought leadership A less-discussed outlier in the TikTok alternatives conversation is LinkedIn, but don’t count it out. While LinkedIn may not be your first thought for short-form video content, it’s an excellent platform for professional creators and thought leaders. How does LinkedIn compare to TikTok?LinkedIn videos can be up to 10 minutes long, giving you more room for in-depth content compared to the short, snappy style TikTok popularized.It caters to a professional, niche audience, making it a great fit for educational, industry-specific, or behind-the-scenes content.The platform’s organic reach and algorithm can help creators build authority and attract professional opportunities.LinkedIn may not have TikTok-style monetization options (like Creator Funds or in-app shopping), but it can lead to lucrative opportunities such as speaking gigs, consulting projects, or collaborations with professional brands.💡Dive into LinkedIn videoWhy consider LinkedIn?LinkedIn is ideal for creators looking to showcase their expertise, share actionable tips, or connect with a professional audience. LinkedIn offers unique opportunities, whether you’re building a personal brand or driving leads for your business. 💡Schedule your LinkedIn posts directly in Buffer →RedNote (Xiaohongshu)Best for combining social media and e-commerce seamlessly A newer entry to the TikTok alternatives list, RedNote—known as Xiaohongshu in China—is a Chinese app that offers a unique mix of social media and e-commerce. This platform is gaining traction among creators — called “TikTok refugees” — thanks to its visual layout of Pinterest, the social shopping features of TikTok Shop, and the livestreaming abilities of Instagram Live. Even with the language barrier (much of the app is in Chinese), creators are flocking to it in droves. How does RedNote compare to TikTok?RedNote is built around lifestyle content, such as beauty, fashion, travel, and food.Supports photos, short-form videos, and detailed posts with text and links.With over 300 million monthly active users, RedNote offers a highly engaged niche audience.The platform allows creators to link directly to products, making it a natural fit for influencers and product-focused content.Why consider RedNote?If your content leans heavily into lifestyle topics or product recommendations, RedNote could be a great option. It’s especially useful for creators looking to monetize through e-commerce. FAQsHow can I prepare for the TikTok ban? Despite the 75-day grace period granted to ByteDance, it’s wise to have a backup plan. Here’s how to prepare: Establish a presence on another platform.Inform your audience about your new channels and provide easy-to-follow links.Repurpose your existing TikTok content to fit the format and style of each platform. The myfaveTT Chrome Extension can download every TikTok you’ve ever made without a watermark!Stay consistent and engage with your audience to maintain your community during the transition.💡Check out this article with tips to help you prepare for a potential ban.What should I do if I already have a following on TikTok? Diversify your content across multiple platforms to reduce the risk of losing your audience. Encourage followers to connect with you on other platforms and experiment with different content types to find what resonates best on each one. Opportunities (still) abound in socialThe uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future might feel unsettling, especially if you've poured time and energy into building a community on the platform. And it's okay to feel that way. But TikTok’s not down for the count yet — with the extension, there’s still a chance to grow a following that benefits you or your business. A lot can happen in 75 days. This moment also offers a significant opportunity to rethink your strategy, diversify your presence, and evolve your approach to content. While TikTok’s unique appeal is hard to replicate, each platform on this list has its own strengths. Each one caters to different niches and audiences, giving you the flexibility to experiment and find new ways to connect with your followers. Social media is ever-evolving, and the creators who adapt are the ones who thrive. And I'll tell you this with confidence: you can grow anywhere. What’s your next move? Let us know which platform you’re most excited to explore View the full article

Data on the fastest-growing websites shows where all the traffic is going to and why The post Data On Fastest Growing Sites Yields Surprising Insights appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Take control of your WordPress websites with Multisite. Learn how to create a network and efficiently manage all your sites. The post How Use WordPress Multisite To Create a Website Subdirectory appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Homepage SEO involves optimizing your homepage for search engines to rank higher and get more traffic. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. What to do about a terrible workplace when you can’t leave I know it’s often the case that the best thing to do in a terrible work setting is to start looking for another job. I’m wondering if you have any advice for circumstances where you really can’t do that, or at least aren’t willing to accept the consequences of doing so. I’m a PhD student in a psychology program. As part of the program we have to spend a certain amount of time providing services through our departmental clinic. This is non-optional for the program, so the only way around this is to drop out of the program. Within our field, PhD students cannot transfer programs — if you drop out, you start from scratch at a new program (assuming one will even accept you; it’s one of the most competitive fields of graduate study and dropping out of a program is looked on unfavorably). So, the consequences of leaving are very high and potentially career-ending. Within this context, our clinic admin is a nightmare. She routinely screams, swears, yells, stomps around, and otherwise makes the clinic a tense and unpleasant environment. She interacts inappropriately with clients, yelling at them, recommending crystals instead of therapy, telling them to go home because they’ve arrived at the wrong time when in fact they’ve arrived at the correct time, and the list goes on. The students have tried to push back. We bring up these incidents to the clinic co-directors. One student even coordinated collecting complaints in a unified document — it was five pages long, single-spaced. When presented to the clinic co-directors, the response was that not much could be done. Supposedly, the clinic has no hierarchy and the co-directors therefore have no authority over her (?!). What are we missing? When a situation is this level of bad, what options are on the table that aren’t leaving? Well … possibly none. If the co-directors report to anyone, you could go over their heads to whoever they report to. If that’s another person, that’s a more feasible option than if it’s a board of directors. (Going to a board isn’t completely off the table, but the bar for doing it is very high and often won’t work; boards frequently just don’t get involved in day-to-day management issues.) The other options are to (a) keep pushing with the co-directors, but it sounds like you’ve already been pushing and they are simply not going to act, (b) come up with some kind of leverage that will motivate them to act (such as credibly making it clear you’ll be steering other students away from the program), (c) bring in someone else who has influence (like someone high up in your program who isn’t part of the clinic, or someone in the university who has oversight over the program), (d) unionize, (e) accept it’s not going to change and find a way to be okay with working around the problems, or (f) leave, which you noted you can’t do. Most people in normal work contexts end up eventually choosing E or F. In your case, C is likely the best shot at changing things, and if that doesn’t work, you’re looking at E. 2. Employee keeps writing in her pregnancy journal at work I work at a larger higher education institution in a department that manages many grant-funded projects. All of us working on these projects are in staff positions (not teaching faculty). One of my employees, Sansa, started several months ago and this is her first professional job since graduating. She is capable and I have no issues with her work overall. Last week, she announced to the office (repeatedly) that she is pregnant. Of course I wish her well. But the issue is that she now walks around with a first-time mom pregnancy journal and pulls it out to write in. Continually. It has been about a week and I see this journal multiple times a day. I want to say something to her along the lines of, “I know you are excited about your pregnancy, but please save your journal for your personal time, such as lunch breaks or out of office time.” This is no different to me than say, doing homework on work time (which I have dealt with before in a similar way). I feel that since this is pregnancy-related, though, I am dipping into uncharted territory. Do I say anything? Do I let this go? How do I approach her? My goal is to create a comfortable, low-distraction environment for staff and I am concerned this is going to turn in to a “thing.” If she’s doing a good job and getting all her work done and the amount of time she’s spending on the journal is just a couple of minutes here and there, let it go — the same way you presumably would if she were spending a few minutes socializing in the kitchen or texting her spouse. But if the amount of time she’s spending on it is excessive, then it’s reasonable to say something like: “I know you’re excited about the pregnancy, and I’m really happy for you. I’ve seen you writing in your pregnancy journal a lot during the day and I want to remind you to please save it for breaks or other non-work time — just like with anything else not work-related, like homework or social media.” 3. Interviewers want to know how I handle difficulties I’m looking for a job again for the first time in many years and am running into a type of question in interviews that I haven’t encountered in the past. All the questions are some variation of “how do you handle it when you are experiencing difficulty?” and I’m confused how to answer because it seems like an obvious “I would discuss it with my manager.” Some examples include: “What do you do if you can’t find the answer when you’re working?” “How do you handle it when you have a lot of work to do and can’t meet your deadlines?” “How would we know you are struggling?” That last one made me gape a little because it seems so obvious. I responded with, “I would tell you.” Can you provide some insight on why they are asking this and what sort of answer they are looking for? For deadlines or research, I did try to expand on how I would approach it if my manager wasn’t available. I’m concerned that I’m coming across as being unable to deal with problems on my own if my first thought is to ask my boss. However, that is how my prior bosses have wanted me to handle it. In my experience, my manager always wanted to know if I was running into roadblocks. You’d be surprised by how many people’s answer to the last two questions isn’t “You would know because I would tell you.” It’s obvious to you, but it’s very much not obvious to everyone. Some people will answer, “I would stay late and find a way to get everything done,” or “I would prioritize on my own without looping anyone else in” (although they don’t say it like that) or all sorts of other things. So your answer to those is fine. The question where I’d adjust a bit is “What do you do if you can’t find the answer when you’re working?” With that one, are there things you would do before you’d go to your manager — like reviewing documentation, googling, or looking at how similar problems have been solved in the past? I bet you do that stuff, and you’re assuming “when you can’t find the answer” means you’ve already tried those things, but spell out those steps too. 4. How to explain my boyfriend’s job when he has a trust fund and rarely works I’ve been with my boyfriend for five years. He comes from a rich family and has access to a trust fund and he doesn’t work, aside from a few projects here and there. (For anonymity, let’s say they are llama grooming projects and I am also a llama groomer). The problem is that when I’m out socially — or at networking events — people constantly ask me what my partner does. Saying “he’s a llama groomer” isn’t really true or accurate, as I can’t name an employer or even any recent projects. I’ve tried to keep things vague and name jobs he’s had in the distant past, but people just keep asking questions. Is there a graceful way to answer this? It’s very frustrating and I constantly find myself making things up, which I don’t like to do. I don’t think he would want me telling people he has a trust fund, either. Can you say, “He does freelance llama grooming”? If pressed for details about what he’s working on currently, you can say, “He’s pretty selective about what projects he takes on so nothing currently, but he tends to like work featuring X and Y.” Also, why are people asking so many follow-up questions?! Maybe that’s normal in your field, but I’m surprised they’re pushing for so much info. (Is it an in-demand speciality where they might want to hire him? Or what do you think is behind it?) The other option is to not mention his occasional llama grooming work at all and just answer with what he spends his time on: “He’s really into gardening and currently taking over our backyard with rutabaga and kohlrabi.” 5. How do I “do” FMLA as the healthy spouse? We’ve just been told that my husband’s medical tests have found evidence of cancer. We don’t know what stage anything is in yet, and we don’t know what treatment or management might look like. At what point do you request FMLA once you find out that your spouse has cancer? We only just found out, so we don’t yet know the severity or treatment plans. Is this something where I should go to HR right away, let them know the situation, and keep them updated as I know more? Or would it be better to wait until we have a clear idea of what’s going on and when I will need to be out of work? I’ve never had to request FMLA before, so I don’t even know where to start or what the etiquette is … or even what it really means, other than “you go on FMLA when you have a baby or somebody in your immediate family is really sick and you need to help take care of them.” How much detail do I have to give? Do I have to tell my supervisor first, and then she speaks to HR about it? Can I go straight to HR, bypassing my supervisor? Can telling my work what’s going on be used against me in any way? As the healthy spouse, what can I really use FMLA for (accompanying them to medical appointments, staying home with them while they’re recovering from the effects of chemo)? If we get worst-case scenario news and the doctor gives them six months to live, can I use FMLA just to stay with them so we have every moment possible together? I mostly want to cry and hold my spouse right now. I don’t want to have to explain to everybody what’s going on, especially as we don’t even really know yet and I will likely cry when I make the FMLA request. I just want my spouse to get better, and for the work aspect of my life to let me be with my partner as much as possible right now. I’m so sorry and I hope you get news that’s as positive as possible, as quickly as possible. FMLA is unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks per year that protects your job. You can be required to use up your paid leave as part of it; in other words, it’s not a separate bank of leave that kicks in after you’ve run through the rest of your leave. It’s basically 12 weeks of job protection while you’re out, which may or may not overlap with the paid leave your employer offers. You can use it for accompanying your spouse to appointments, transporting or caring for them during treatment, and other forms of care they need, including “psychological comfort.” More here. Generally it makes sense to wait until you have more clarity on the situation and know what you want to ask for. If you have a good relationship with your boss, you can certainly let her know now what’s going on, but you don’t need to do that. It’s fine to wait until you have more specifics about the time you want to take, at least to start with. You can also go straight to HR if you prefer to start with them. Once you’re ready to officially request FMLA, HR will likely have forms for you to fill out. Legally your company cannot hold your use of FMLA against you; that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but if you’re working with generally decent people, they are likely to simply want to ensure you get what you need. View the full article

On Saturday night, in compliance with a law that the U.S. Supreme Court had just upheld, TikTok shut down its popular video-sharing app for American users. On Sunday, after an incoming president Trump vowed to negotiate a deal once in office, they began restoring service. It’s unclear what will happen next, as some lawmakers in the president’s own party remain firmly in favor of the divest-or-ban demand, while some democrats seemed to back-pedal. From my perspective as a technology critic, the ultimate fate of this particular app is not the most important storyline here. What interests me more about these events is the cultural rubicon that we just crossed. To date, we’ve largely convinced ourselves that once a new technology is introduced and spread, we cannot go backward. Social media became ubiquitous so now we’re stuck using it. Kids are zoning themselves into a stupor on TikTok, or led into rabbit holes of mental degeneration on Instagram, and we shrug our shoulders and say, “What can you do?” The TikTok ban, even if only temporary, demonstrates we can do things. These services are not sacrosanct. Laws can be passed and our lives will still go on. So what else should we do? I’m less concerned at this moment about national security than I am the health of our kids. If we want to pass a law that might make an even bigger difference, now is a good time to take a closer look at what Australia did last fall, when they banned social media for users under sixteen. Not long ago, that might have seemed like a non-starter in the U.S. But after our recent action against TikTok, is it really any more extreme? It’s fortuitous timing that all of this is going down during the New Year season, when we typically think about self-improvement. Next week, for example, Scott Young and I are launching a new session of our online course, Life of Focus, which we traditionally do around this time of year. This course unfolds over three months and helps people find more depth and meaning in their work and life. Here’s what relevant to our current moment: the entire first third of the course is dedicated to digital minimalism. Scott and I realized as we were originally working on these lessons that until you repair your relationship with your devices, you won’t have the attention or energy to make a difference anywhere else. This is why it heartens me to see our culture begin to consider stronger steps against the most powerful of digital distractions — a key instantiation of my philosophy of techno-selectionism. But you shouldn’t have to wait for the next big legislative move to begin reclaiming your autonomy from the clutches of a small number of massive online platforms. You can implement your own personal technology bans anytime you want, and there’s nothing the president, or the industry insiders who have his ear at the moment, can do to stop you. ##### As mentioned: Life of Focus, my three-month course co-taught with Scott Young, will reopen for a new session on Monday, January 27, 2025. Find out more here. The post The TikTok Ban Is About More Than TikTok appeared first on Cal Newport. View the full article

On Saturday night, in compliance with a law that the U.S. Supreme Court had just upheld, TikTok shut down its popular video-sharing app for American users. On Sunday, after an incoming president Trump vowed to negotiate a deal once in office, they began restoring service. It’s unclear what will happen next, as some lawmakers in the president’s own party remain firmly in favor of the divest-or-ban demand, while some democrats seemed to back-pedal. From my perspective as a technology critic, the ultimate fate of this particular app is not the most important storyline here. What interests me more about these events is the cultural rubicon that we just crossed. To date, we’ve largely convinced ourselves that once a new technology is introduced and spread, we cannot go backward. Social media became ubiquitous so now we’re stuck using it. Kids are zoning themselves into a stupor on TikTok, or led into rabbit holes of mental degeneration on Instagram, and we shrug our shoulders and say, “What can you do?” The TikTok ban, even if only temporary, demonstrates we can do things. These services are not sacrosanct. Laws can be passed and our lives will still go on. So what else should we do? I’m less concerned at this moment about national security than I am the health of our kids. If we want to pass a law that might make an even bigger difference, now is a good time to take a closer look at what Australia did last fall, when they banned social media for users under sixteen. Not long ago, that might have seemed like a non-starter in the U.S. But after our recent action against TikTok, is it really any more extreme? It’s fortuitous timing that all of this is going down during the New Year season, when we typically think about self-improvement. Next week, for example, Scott Young and I are launching a new session of our online course, Life of Focus, which we traditionally do around this time of year. This course unfolds over three months and helps people find more depth and meaning in their work and life. Here’s what relevant to our current moment: the entire first third of the course is dedicated to digital minimalism. Scott and I realized as we were originally working on these lessons that until you repair your relationship with your devices, you won’t have the attention or energy to make a difference anywhere else. This is why it heartens me to see our culture begin to consider stronger steps against the most powerful of digital distractions — a key instantiation of my philosophy of techno-selectionism. But you shouldn’t have to wait for the next big legislative move to begin reclaiming your autonomy from the clutches of a small number of massive online platforms. You can implement your own personal technology bans anytime you want, and there’s nothing the president, or the industry insiders who have his ear at the moment, can do to stop you. ##### As mentioned: Life of Focus, my three-month course co-taught with Scott Young, will reopen for a new session on Monday, January 27, 2025. Find out more here. The post The TikTok Ban Is About More Than TikTok appeared first on Cal Newport. View the full article

Google's ad targeting systems prioritize intent-based matching. Learn how phrase match keywords can now capture broader, intent-aligned search terms for more effective ad campaigns. The post Google Phrase Match: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Samsung may have announced three Galaxy phones today, including the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra, but that didn’t stop the company from teasing a fourth. Alongside detailed specs of the new lineup arriving on Feb. 7, Samsung also hinted at a more mysterious future phone called the Galaxy S25 Edge. This announcement came towards the tail end of Samsung’s Unpacked event, and didn’t give viewers much more to work off of than a name and some renders. From the looks of it, though, the Edge seems to be a thinner version of the Galaxy S25, with a dual lens camera bump swapped in to help accommodate the smaller body. Credit: Samsung That would coincide with rumors that Apple is also working on an iPhone Air, which have been shared by reputable sources including supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg tech reporter Mark Gurman. Assuming these rumors are true, the iPhone Air and the Galaxy Edge both releasing back-to-back would seem to point towards an upcoming shift towards thinner phones, which could potentially convince users to upgrade their handsets in the face of flagging interest in foldable phones and increasingly iterative updates on the standard format. According to Android Authority, which spoke with a Samsung South Africa representative, the Edge will definitely come to South Korea and the US when it launches at some point in the future, but it may take some time to reach the rest of the world. Credit: Samsung As for what kind of specs to expect, Samsung president of mobile devices TM Roh told Bloomberg that, “The Edge will use some of the same technologies as the new Ultra model, but fit them inside a slimmed-down design.” Given what looks to be a much-reduced camera capacity, I’m a little skeptical of that, but maybe the Edge really will beat out the base S25. With that kind of power in such a small form factor, though, I would definitely expect a heftier price tag (the base S25 starts at $800), although that’s still under wraps for now. Its release date is also still up in the air, at least officially, but Gurman posted on X to expect the phone “in the first half of this year.” View the full article

In the two days since Donald Trump was sworn into office, you may have noticed something odd on social media: You and your friends might be following Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, first lady Melania Trump, and the Trump White House on Instagram and Facebook, despite never following these three individuals before. It begs the question: Did Meta automatically follow these accounts on your behalf? Instagram isn't necessarily forcing you to follow TrumpAccording to Meta, the answer is no. The company is referring outlets to a post on Threads from Meta communications spokesperson Andy Stone, who says: "A reminder: the Facebook.com/POTUS and Facebook.com/White… accounts are managed by the White House. They change when the occupant of the White House changes." Cosmopolitan obtained another statement from Meta, which reads: "People were not made to automatically follow any of the official Facebook or Instagram accounts for the President, Vice President or First Lady ... Those accounts are managed by the White House so with a new administration, the content on those Pages changes. This is the same procedure we followed during the last presidential transition. It may take some time for follow and unfollow requests to go through as these accounts change hands." The explanation makes some sense: If the account, like the presidency itself, is more than just its current occupant, then users who follow the official POTUS, VPOTUS, and FLOTUS accounts are really following whoever happens to be president, vice president, and first lady at the time. In fact, it's what happened last time: This CNN article from January of 2021 talks about how most social media platforms—including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube—transitioned their POTUS, VPOTUS, and FLOTUS accounts (and their followers) to the incoming Biden administration. At the time, Twitter was the only network that decided not to automatically transfer followers, and instead shared alerts with users about how to follow the new accounts. Some users are pointing to the fact Meta itself seems to suggest these accounts are brand new. If you look at the official account of the President (not Trump's personal account, mind you) Instagram says the "date joined" was January 2025. (The verification date is exactly the same.) That is adding to the confusion from users: Meta says these accounts are established and changing with the current holder of the office, but also that Trump's POTUS account was made this month. However, if you look at President Biden's archived account, it says the date joined and verified was January 2021, suggesting the Biden account was also started when he assumed power. Meta's political problemsTo me, the issue lies more in miscommunication, polarization, and existing grievances from users with the platform. Meta should have made it clearer to users that they were not following the politicians themselves, rather an account that will change when the politicians do. If you have no interest in following a new president or vice president, you shouldn't feel you were forced to do so. And that brings me to the larger point: Meta is simply setting themselves up to look very sympathetic to the new Trump administration. Mark Zuckerberg was one of the tech giants who attended the inauguration, after all, so when his platform seemingly follows the new president, vice president, and first lady on behalf of its users—whether that's necessarily true or not—it plays into that idea. That comes at the same time the company is openly moving rightward with its politics, and embracing politics in general more than ever. Earlier this year, Instagram and Threads did a 180, making it the default to add political content to feeds from accounts users don't follow. At the same time, Meta also backtracked its policies on fact-checking and hate speech across its platforms. Meta has alienated a sizable portion of its user base in recent months, so when those users open their apps to see that they're now following politicians the company seems biased towards—politicians those users may vehemently disagree with—it creates a situation like what we see today, with headlines abuzz about Meta forcing users to follow Trump, Vance, Melania, and the Trump White House. Just scan the comments on the POTUS, VPOTUS, and White House accounts to see how unhappy many users are to be following them. (At this time, FLOTUS has no posts.) You might have to wait to unfollow these accountsUnfortunately, unfollowing these accounts might not be as easy as, well, hitting "unfollow." According to Andy Stone, it might take some time for unfollow requests to process, which means you might be stuck with any combination of these three in your feed. On the other hand, if you were following the previous administration on any of these three accounts, you will still be following their archived accounts, as well. Being archived, you won't see new posts from these accounts, so the choice is up to you whether to stay followed or not. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. During the first Trump presidency, I worked at a major news networks found it impossible to distance myself from the tumult of the daily news, which seemed to bring one alarming crisis after another. Yet even when I got home at the end of the day, I found myself scrolling and scrolling my social media feeds, unable to disengage. Too many nights, I lay awake far into the night, reading the latest social media missives from the president and consuming the commentary and context around it all, despite the fact that in just a few hours, I'd be back in the middle of it—just more exhausted and stressed than I would have been if I'd put the phone down and gone to sleep at a reasonable hour. I had to train myself to fully disengage in my personal time, which was made easier by the fact that I was inundated with it all day. But I don't work in political media anymore, and as the world slips into ever-worsening crises, from political upheaval to environmental disasters to endless wars, I've found myself falling into my old news-consuming habits. I know that constantly engaging with news and opinions about complex and upsetting topics isn't generally good for me, and can have a real effect on my mental health. To help curb my habit before it gets out of control again, I've been turning to apps for regulation and distraction. Here are a few I've most found helpful. To get just enough news: Apple News (or Google News) Apple News Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Obviously, commentary and context from experts and people with lived experiences can be valuable tools for making sense of the news, but it's easy to get carried away consuming post after post and reaction after reaction. If you want to cut down on how much you're consuming and scrolling but don't want to cut out getting the main news of the day altogether, try switching up where and how you get your information. Rather than looking at X or Threads, where you'll see not only the headlines but all manner of responses to them, opt for a designated news app. I've been using Apple News ($12.99/month with a one-month free trial), which lets me customize the kinds of news I see and the publishers I read. I can open the app, glance at the headlines from these outlets, read an article if I want, and go about my day without getting sucked into a discourse hole. I like Apple News (or Google News if you're on Android or don't want to pay Apple for the service) better than competitors like Flipboard because I don't want to have too many options. I want a curated, condensed look at current events, what other people are reading, and what I need to know, rather than a morass of too many things I could get stuck in for hours. Use Apple News for: Seeing the headlines of the day Reading reputable outlets when you want to dive deeper Getting a sense of trending stories, which are featured in their own section Reading content that would typically be paywalled, if you have a subscription to Apple News+ Curating what you want to see and don't want to see To curb screen time: One Sec One Sec Credit: Lindsey Ellefson OK, so I can't completely disengage, which is why I haven't just deleted my social apps altogether. In those cases, I try to curb my screen time. For this, I like One Sec, which forces you to pause before opening designated apps, reminds you to do breathing exercises, tracks your time spent on those designated apps, and can even block certain ones. It's free to use for one app, or $19.99/year for unlimited apps. I set mine up to prompt me to be "intentional" when I try to open certain apps, too. When I attempt to open X, for example, One Sec asks me why I want to do that, and I have to select an option like "stay in the loop" or "can't sleep," which forces me to think about if it's really necessary at that moment. And if you like stats, One Sec tracks how many times it has prevented you from opening another app and how much time it estimates it has saved you. Data on how many times the app has stopped me from opening X in the last day. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Use One Sec for: Cutting down the time you spend scrolling Getting hard data on how much time you spend on social media or other time-suckers Building long-term habits that enable you to resist the urge to open an app and scroll To calm down after doomscrolling: Headspace Headspace Credit: Lindsey Ellefson There are two main problems with doomscrolling. First, you waste a lot of time, a problem addressed by the apps above. Second, and worse (for me), you can do major damage to your mental wellbeing. It's no good to be worked up all the time, but social and news media are both designed to get you riled up, engaged, and coming back, with no regard to how that impacts your nervous system. So in addition to cutting out doomscrolling, you should also have an app that counteracts its negative effects. For this, I like Headspace ($69.99/year with a 14-day free trial.) It houses meditations, sleep sounds, tips on mindfulness, and more, with graphics that are simple and calming. You do have to remind yourself to use it, so this one is only beneficial if you have the wherewithal to log in and fight back against the stress, but the app is easy enough to use and produces clear enough results that it quickly became a habit for me. The meditative exercises can be small, —as short as three minutes—and can be accessed anywhere, which is why I favor Headspace over other de-stressing apps I've tried. A meditation I joined with 400 other people when I was feeling stressed. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Use Headspace for: Monthly check-ins to track your progress on stress or anxiety (depending which you are focused on) Brown noise to fall asleep to (which I selfishly like because it prevents me from wrecking my Spotify algorithm with hours of hissing) A daily offering of custom grounding exercises, meditations, focus sessions, and even music, some of which you participate in with a group, so you feel less alone View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Since TikTok has been (temporarily) saved from a national ban, there's no better time than now to use the app to improve your life. Specifically, in addition to following CleanTok gurus so you can steal some of their tips for maintaining a spotless, organized home, you should check out some of the products they (and regular-degular app users) recommend. Here are some of the most popular cleaning tools you'll see touted on TikTok, as well as what they’re used for, where you can get them, and how you can save money when you don’t need a specific brand. Spin mops TikTokkers love spin mops. There are a few varieties, but the main appeal of all of them is that the mops can spin rapidly in the mop bucket, so they’re not as wet when they hit the floor, making cleaning less, uh, messy. Some of these mops come with a two-chamber system that enables you to keep dirty and clean water separate. By far, the most popular brand is O-cedar, which sells spin mops for around $35. Pet hair removers There’s something satisfying about watching videos of people systematically remove pet hair from their carpets and couches, which is probably why these gadgets are so popular. But if pet hair is a real problem for you, the purchase of a special tool for removing it might be more about necessity than ASMR brain tingles. Pick up a variety pack of five for $9.99 so you always have one ready to go. You can also try the Chom Chom, which is a little more expensive but super popular, with 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and nearly 200,000 ratings. It collects the pet hair in a separate chamber, which makes it easy to dispose of. Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover $24.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $27.99 Save $3.00 Shop Now Shop Now $24.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $27.99 Save $3.00 Scrub Daddy Yes, a Scrub Daddy is just a scrubber—but it has legions of fans who post about their devotion to the happy-looking sponge. It's rough and makes scrubbing a breeze, and there are a bunch of Scrub Daddy hacks floating around the fan community. (For instance, you can run your knives through the mouth of the smiley face to quickly clean them without cutting yourself.) Nab three for under $15 and join the movement. Drill brush scrubber attachments Scrubber attachments for your power drill are an exciting addition to your cleaning arsenal, even if they seem a little silly. TikTokkers do point out these are mostly useful if you have issues scrubbing manually, and they don’t do much that you couldn’t do yourself if you’re capable, but using them is sort of fun anyway. Try a 30-piece set from Amazon for $24.95. Soap dispensing brushes CleanTokkers love soap-dispensing brushes—not just for dishes, but for all kinds of home scrubbing. One often-recommended hack is keeping one in your shower and using it to wipe down your tiles while you’re in there sudsing yourself. Or, be like the content creator above and use it on your windows. Try this one from OXO for $10.99. Drain snakes Like those pimple-popping videos we were all watching in 2016, there is an appeal to watching someone haul hair and product gunk out of their sink drain with a long, spiked tool. You might see some influencers recommend a certain brand (usually because they want a commission). Do not listen to them. You can get a perfectly acceptable drain snake at any dollar store—or get an eight-pack for $4.95 on Amazon. Keurig cleaning pods I’ve always recommended using vinegar to clean your pod coffee maker, but if you want a brand-name, ready-made solution, you can try Keurig pods designed to clean the inside of your machine. Six of them will run you $9.95. While it's easy and fun to use a pre-made cleaner, don't forget you can totally descale your pod-based coffee machines on your own, too, and TikTokkers' love for these may stem from a commission program (though not always). Mini desk vacuums One item that has gone truly viral is the mini desk vacuum, which you can find on Amazon for about $13. These absolutely does not need to exist, nor do you need one from a particular brand. You can find them from a variety of sellers online. A desk vac will only pick up little things, like crumbs, but they make desk cleaning more fun, and it beats the hell out of just sweeping it all into your hand. The Pink Stuff Finally, we have the Pink Stuff. It's hard to find cleaning channels on TikTok that don't feature this product—usually in its paste form—because it's just that popular. It can be used on tiles, glass, steel, or whatever surface is in need of a good, strong cleaning. Having tried it, I can attest that it makes grime disappear, which is likely why it's so popular in short-form videos, where before-and-after clips are their own kind of currency. Stardrops - The Pink Stuff - The Miracle All Purpose Cleaning Paste $5.49 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $5.99 Save $0.50 Shop Now Shop Now $5.49 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $5.99 Save $0.50 View the full article

THE challenges organizations face today are becoming increasingly complex, interconnected, and unpredictable. Yet, as we examine these challenges more closely, a striking realization emerges: most are rooted in connection issues. Network science heralded as the science of the 21st century, provides a groundbreaking framework for understanding connections. It uncovers profound insights into the structural and functional challenges organizations encounter, offering a transformative lens for leadership in this era of complexity. To thrive, leaders must embrace a new paradigm that prioritizes the power of connections. Let’s explore two critical domains where connections are paramount: innovation and talent management. Innovation Is a Connection Issue Innovation is no longer a choice — it’s a necessity for survival. Organizations must continuously evolve to remain relevant in a world where rapid technological advancements, globalized competition, rising customer expectations, sustainability imperatives, and the accelerating pace of change are redefining the landscape. Businesses face relentless pressure to create new products, services, and experiences. The speed of change, coupled with shrinking product lifecycles, demands an ever-present focus on reinvention. But true innovation — transformative, game-changing innovation — requires more than resources or technical expertise. It requires connections. True Innovation Requires Novel Connections Innovation doesn’t arise in isolation. It emerges when existing components — technologies, ideas, or processes — are combined in novel ways. Breakthroughs happen at the intersections. Consider these examples: • Netflix disrupted the entertainment industry by integrating streaming technology with a subscription-based model, reimagining how content is consumed. • The iPhone combined touchscreens, mobile internet, and portable media players to create a seamless, revolutionary device that reshaped industries. These innovations weren’t about inventing entirely new technologies. They were about creating connections — linking ideas and resources in ways others hadn’t imagined. For innovation to flourish, leaders must create environments where connections thrive. This means fostering diverse teams, building networks that bridge silos, and nurturing cultures where collaboration is encouraged. By connecting people, ideas, and resources across boundaries, leaders can ignite fresh thinking and unlock transformative breakthroughs. Talent Management Is a Connection Issue Talent is the lifeblood of any organization. Yet, in today’s digital age, retaining top talent has never been more challenging. With alternative employment opportunities more visible and accessible than ever, organizations must prioritize creating environments where employees feel valued, engaged, and connected. The pressure to retain talent is more urgent than ever. Employee expectations have shifted. Today’s workforce seeks more than just a paycheck — they seek purpose, belonging, and meaningful connections. Organizations that fail to meet these needs risk losing their best people to competitors who can. Retention depends on high-quality connections. Studies show that a sense of belonging is at the heart of employee retention. A Harvard Business Review study found that fostering belonging reduces turnover by 50 percent, increases job performance by 56 percent, and cuts sick days by 75 percent. A Gallup study revealed that employees with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged. When individuals feel connected to their teams, their leaders, and the broader organization, they’re more likely to stay and perform at their best. Strong workplace connections foster trust, boost morale, and create a shared sense of purpose, all of which are critical for engagement and retention. The Leadership Imperative Leaders play a pivotal role in fostering these connections. By investing in team building, encouraging collaboration, and cultivating a culture of inclusion, leaders can create workplaces where employees thrive. Prioritizing connections isn’t optional — it’s a strategic necessity that directly impacts organizational performance and success. Connections Are Central to Organizational Success Beyond innovation and talent management, many other organizational challenges, such as supply chain coordination, AI implementation, cross-functional collaboration, and team performance, are also deeply rooted in connection issues. This should come as no surprise. Network science reveals that all complex systems are, at their core, networks. Organizations, being complex systems, are no exception. Networks are simple in structure yet extraordinarily powerful. They comprise: Nodes: In human networks, these are individuals. Connections: The links between them, such as communication channels. Interactions: The flows that occur between nodes, such as information exchange or collaboration. The strength and quality of these connections determine the effectiveness of the network — and, by extension, the organization. The Network Science Message for Leaders Network science offers a revolutionary insight for leaders: Focus on connections — the space between people. Stronger connections lead to stronger networks, which in turn drive better organizational outcomes. Whether addressing innovation, talent management, or operational challenges, leaders who prioritize building and strengthening connections unlock their organization’s full potential. Transitioning to Network Leadership: Mastering Connections To truly harness the power of connections, leaders must master both the art of small, close-knit connections and the art of large, systemic connections. Small connections: Small teams, typically composed of four to five members, consistently outperform larger teams. Why? Because smaller teams foster higher-quality connections, enabling superior engagement, trust, and performance. These teams are where the work gets done. Large connections: While small connections excel at execution, they risk losing sight of the bigger picture. Large gatherings, on the other hand, cultivate a sense of belonging, enhance cross-functional collaboration, and create the conditions for serendipity and breakthrough innovation.. Magic lies in mastering both the art of small and large connections. Leaders must create environments where small teams can thrive while ensuring the organization as a whole remains interconnected, inspired, and aligned. The path forward for leadership in the 21st century is no longer about command and control; it’s about connection and collaboration. The leaders who excel in this new era will be those who understand the power of networks and use them to drive innovation, engagement, and performance. By focusing on connections — strengthening the space between people — leaders can create organizations that are not only resilient and adaptive but also capable of achieving extraordinary outcomes. The future belongs to those who master the art of connection. * * * Jeffrey Beeson has spent decades serving thousands of leaders and leading culture transformation initiatives for multinational corporations. He is the founder of Ensemble Enabler, fostering agile organizational cultures and advanced leadership. His new book, Network Leadership: Promoting a Healthier World through the Power of Networks (Cambridge University Press, Dec. 31, 2024), unpacks how leaders can apply cutting-edge insights from network science applies to meet today’s challenges. Learn more at www.networkleadership.eu. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Sonos brand is well known in the smart speaker and surround sound system space. And very much like Apple, people will pay a premium price for their minimalistic, premium quality, and discounts are often hard to come by. Of course, it's always better to get a deal, and that's exactly what you can do today: The Sonos Arc, which was Sono's flagship soundbar prior to the launch of the Sonos Arc Ultra, is $649, $250 off its usual $899 price. It's also a new low price for this model, according to price tracking tools. Maximum Output Power: 110 Watts, Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Audio Output Mode: Surround Mount. Sonos Arc Soundbar $649.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $899.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Get Deal $649.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $899.00 Save $250.00 Maximum Output Power: 110 Watts, Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Audio Output Mode: Surround Mount. Sonos Arc Soundbar $649.99 at Best Buy $899.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Get Deal $649.99 at Best Buy $899.99 Save $250.00 SEE -1 MORE Sonos speakers are not for everyone, if only because you'll have to justify paying around two grand for a complete surround sound system when you can get a setup like the Samsung Q990C for about half the price. But audiophiles swear they can hear the difference, so the cost might be worth it to you. If you pick up this soundbar, you'll want to consider the Sonos 300 rear speakers and the Gen 4 subwoofer to go with it—they're the latest Sonos has to offer, though you can choose Eras 100 or an older or smaller subwoofer to lower the price tag. As for the Arc, it offers Dolby Atmos, providing immersive three-dimensional sound with height channels that simulate audio coming from above you (you can read the details in PCMag's "excellent" review). It offers enough of a low-end kick that you don't really need a subwoofer if you have a small space. If you already own other Sonos speakers, you can seamlessly connect them through the Sonos app to create a surround sound setup or a multi-room system. Best Buy is offering $75 in credit if you want them to mount the soundbar in your space, but you'll have to buy the mounting materials separately. View the full article

Controlling a computer with a mouse might seem like second nature to you, but to people with motor control issues or other disabilities preventing them from keeping a steady hand on a peripheral, it can be a frustrating endeavor. That’s why Google’s giving Chromebook users the ability to control their cursors with their faces. Initially announced in December, Face Control allows Chromebooks to use your webcam and facial gestures as input. Look down to move your cursor down to your menu, or look up and to the left to hover over the Compose button in Gmail. Move your mouth left or right to left-click or right-click, and open your mouth to start using voice-to-text. Assuming there are no hiccups, the tool should allow for entirely hands-free control, intended to aid with accessibility. According to Google, this is another AI-powered feature, and “uses a series of machine learning models” to generate a 3D mesh of your face with 478 specific facial points for fine control. There’s a small catch, in that Google recommends 8GB of RAM for the best performance, but now that the feature’s out of beta, you’re free to try it for yourself and test it out. Google says it’s rolling out to all users now, alongside features to access reading mode in the Chrome browser with more natural voices, plus use a screen reader in “previously inaccessible PDFs.” On the more fun side of things, Face Control is actually fairly similar to Project Gameface, a similar tool Google developed for Windows and Android that allows gamers to control titles like World of Warcraft by mapping facial gestures to in-game actions. Unfortunately, while Project Gameface is open-source, allowing developers to tweak the tool and add support for it as they wish, Face Control is limited to ChromeOS for now. To turn it on once it rolls out to you, find it under the Accessibility menu at Settings > Accessibility. View the full article

It’s difficult to keep track of how much Netflix costs these days, since the company keeps raising its damn prices. That goes extra if you want to share your account with others: The company killed free password sharing in the U.S. back in May of 2023. Since then, if you want to lend out your Netflix password to someone else, you’ll need to tack on an extra monthly charge. But even that monthly charge has increased. During its Q4 2024 earning results call on Tuesday, Netflix announced it would be raising prices for all subscriptions and extra users. Here’s where the company’s various subscription options currently stand, as of January 2025. Standard with ads ($7.99 per month)“Standard with ads” is currently Netflix’s cheapest plan. Launched in November of 2022, the plan gives subscribers access to most of Netflix’s library of movies and TV shows, and all of its mobile games. It’s a bit hard to find updated lists of the titles not included with a “Standard with ads” plan (the latest appears to be a 2024 article from Variety) but, in any case, you’ll see a lock icon next to titles your ad-supported plan doesn’t allow. The plan lets you stream on two supported devices at once in “Full HD.” That means your content will stream in 1080p, and not in 4K HDR. You can also download titles to two devices at a time. In addition, you cannot add other users to your plan. The plan cost $6.99 for quite a while, before Netflix upped it to $7.99 in January. Standard ($17.99 per month, plus $8.99 for an extra user)There’s one immediate difference between Standard and Standard with ads: the lack of ads. Standard lets you stream Netflix to your heart’s content—all of Netflix’s content, mind you—without ever serving you a single ad. You know, like Netflix always used to do. You’ll also be able to download those titles to up to two supported devices at a time. Standard also invites you to add someone outside your household to your account for an extra $8.99 per month. (That's $1 more than it used to cost.) That raises standard’s monthly price from $17.99 to $26.98. You’ll only be able to add one additional outside user to your account, however, so choose wisely. While you don’t have to deal with ads, nor do you have limitations on what you can watch, your content will look the same, since the video quality is capped at 1080p. If you want 4K HDR shows and movies, you’ll need to pay even more. Premium ($24.99 per month, plus $8.99 for each extra user)A Premium Netflix account is as good as it gets. Here, you have unlimited access to Netflix’s library, including the ability to stream in 4K HDR when available. Netflix lets you stream concurrently on up to four devices at once, and download titles on up to six devices at a time. This subscription was previously $22.99, but Netflix raised the price to $24.99 this week. You also have the option to add up to two users outside your household to your plan. Of course, that adds up fast: Premium’s $24.99 per month cost goes up to $33.98 when adding one user, and $42.97 when adding two. Imagine telling someone in 2022 watching season four of Stranger Things that you pay more than $40 a month for Netflix. View the full article

All projects are risky ventures and so is running an enterprise. Unexpected events, whether internal or external, can impact the schedule, budget and operations. Risk can have an even greater impact on larger, more complex projects or the organization that implements them, which is why enterprise risk management is so important. An enterprise risk management framework can mean the difference between a successful or failed project. Enterprise risk management software is critical to delivering a successful project. But first, one must understand the risk management process and risk management strategy. What Is Enterprise Risk Management? Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a structured approach to identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring an organization’s risks to minimize potential negative impacts on its operations, strategy and financial performance. It involves a comprehensive, integrated process that aligns risk management efforts with the organization’s objectives and overall risk tolerance. The benefits of a risk management framework include providing a comprehensive view of the organization’s risk landscape, which helps to make more informed decisions by understanding risk. This allows organizations to better align strategic initiatives and operational activities. Identifying risks before they turn into major issues avoids being unprepared and having to suddenly react to a crisis. It also helps organizations adhere to legal and regulatory requirements, which reduces the risk of penalties. While this requires an enterprise risk management strategy and implementing an enterprise risk management process, which we’ll get to later, it’s also critical to have enterprise risk management software. ProjectManager is enterprise risk management software that has risk management tools that help identify, track and mitigate risks in real time. It includes a risk management matrix that shows the level of impact and the likelihood of occurrence to help determine what actions need to be taken. There’s also space to describe that action, assign team members to own the risk, add tags and files, plus team members can add comments. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CTA-light-mode-risk-view.pngProjectManager has risk management tools to identify, track and mitigate risks in real time. Learn more What Is an Enterprise Risk Management Framework? We’ve mentioned an enterprise risk management framework previously, but what exactly is it? An ERM framework is a structured and systematic approach an organization uses to identify, assess, manage and monitor risks. It provides the foundation for implementing risk management practices across the organization. The framework ensures that risk management is integrated into an organization’s strategy, operations and decision-making process. What Are the Elements of a Risk Management Framework? An ERM framework is a critical tool for organizations to manage uncertainty, safeguard assets and enhance their ability to achieve strategic objectives while minimizing risk exposure. The following are key parts of a risk management framework. Governance and Leadership This involves a designated risk management leader, often called the chief risk officer, and a risk management committee responsible for overseeing the risk management efforts. Senior leadership, including the board of directors, plays a crucial role in ensuring that risk management practices align with the organizational objectives. Enterprise Risk Tolerance This refers to the organization’s boundaries for risk-taking in pursuit of its objectives, which is arrived at by balancing strategic ambition with prudent decision-making. It also defines how the culture promotes awareness and understanding of risk management at all levels. Employees should be encouraged to identify and report risks, fostering a proactive approach. Enterprise Risk Management Plan It outlines how an organization will identify, assess, manage and monitor risks over time. It is a strategic document that provides the roadmap for risk management activities, detailing the processes, roles, responsibilities and actions that will be taken to manage risk effectively. This is important because it ensures that efforts are consistent, structured and aligned with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives. Enterprise Risk Management Budget These are the financial resources allocated to support the risk management activities within the organization. This budget is used to implement and sustain the processes, tools, technologies and personnel required to identify, assess, manage and monitor risks across the enterprise. It ensures that sufficient resources are available to address risk proactively and effectively. Communication Plan Effective communication ensures that risk-related information is shared transparently and consistently across the organization, helping stakeholders understand the risks and the measures being taken to manage them. A communication plan facilitates decision-making, ensures accountability and promotes a risk-aware culture. The Enterprise Risk Management Process Organizations use this systematic, structured approach to identify, assess, manage and monitor risks that could affect their objectives and overall business performance. The process is designed to be integrated into the organization’s strategy and decision-making to help mitigate potential negative impacts while capitalizing on opportunities. It starts by understanding the external and internal environment and defining the risk appetite and tolerance of the organization. Then follow these steps. 1. Risk Identification The organization identities both existing and emerging risks that could impact its ability to achieve objectives. This includes a broad range of risks, such as financial, operational, strategic, compliance, reputational and environmental risks. Risks can come from a variety of sources, such as market changes, technological disruptions, natural disasters, regulatory changes or internal operational inefficiencies. Identify these risks using brainstorming sessions, interviews, surveys, workshops, historical data or risk mapping. 2. Risk Analysis or Risk Assessment After identifying the risks, the organization analyzes each to assess the likelihood of occurrence and its potential impact on the business. Based on this, risks are prioritized according to their potential impact and likelihood, using tools such as risk matrices, heat maps or scoring models. Then decide which risks need to be addressed immediately and which ones can be monitored. 3. Risk Planning Once risks are assessed, appropriate plans are developed to address them. This can include avoidance to eliminate the risk, reducing the likelihood or impact of the risk, shifting the risk to a third party, acceptance of the risk and its consequences or exploiting the opportunity inherent in the (positive) risk. The risk plan will then schedule activities and assign resources to execute those tasks. 4. Risk Monitoring Risks and the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies need to be monitored continuously. This ensures that any changes in the organization’s risk environment are detected early and risk responses are adjusted accordingly. Organizations often use key risk indicators to track risks over time and gauge whether they are approaching unacceptable levels. Regular audits and reviews of risk management processes help ensure compliance with policies and regulations as well as evaluate the effectiveness of implementing risk mitigation strategies. Adjustments should be made as needed. 5. Risk Mitigation This refers to the actions or strategies taken to reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risk. The goal of risk mitigation is to minimize the potential adverse effects of risks on the organization’s objectives and operations. This is the stage in the enterprise risk management process in which decisions are made on how to address risks, such as whether to avoid, reduce, transfer or accept the risk. There are various approaches to risk mitigation, from taking preventive measures, using risk reduction to reduce the likelihood of a risk occurring or lessen its impact to having a contingency plan, diversification to spread the risk across different areas or product or purchasing insurance to transfer certain types of risk, such as property damage, liability or business interruptions, to third-party insurers. 6. Communication and Reporting Communication and reporting ensure that all stakeholders within and outside the organization are informed about the risks the organization faces, the measures being taken to manage those risks and the effectiveness of the risk management efforts. Clear and timely communication and reporting are essential for decision-making, accountability and maintaining a strong risk culture. Internal and external communication is done through workshops and training, regular meetings, dashboards and reports. Different types of risk reports include risk registers, dashboards and incident reports. How ProjectManager Helps With Enterprise Project Management We explained what enterprise risk management is, the enterprise risk management framework and process, but now comes the most important element to successfully managing risk: enterprise risk management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with risk management features to identify, assess, plan and mitigate risks in projects and organizations. Multiple Enterprise Project Planning and Scheduling Tools Risk plans need to be scheduled. Our software allows risk managers to do so on robust Gantt charts or roadmaps if they’re planning across multiple departments. Both organize tasks, add milestones and can link all four types of task dependencies to avoid delays and cost overruns. The critical path can be found by simply filtering for it. Then set a baseline to compare planned effort against actual effort in real time to stay on track. Teams can then execute their tasks on kanban boards or task lists while stakeholders can stay updated on progress with the calendar view. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-1.png Robust Resource Management Features and Tools To ensure that risk mitigation is going as planned, managers need to oversee resources. This begins when onboarding the risk team. Managers can set their availability, such as PTO, vacation and global holidays and skills, which helps when making assignments. Then the color-coded workload page gives an overview of their allocation so managers can see who is overallocated or underutilized, balancing the team’s workload to keep them working at capacity and avoiding burnout. There’s also a team page to get an overview of resources. It can be filtered to show daily or weekly views as well as priority, progress and more. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Cost Tracking Timesheets, Dashboards and Reports Resources aren’t the only metric to monitor. Managers can get a high-level overview of the project’s key performance indicators (KPIs) on the real-time project and portfolio dashboards. They’re collecting live data automatically and displaying it on easy-to-read graphs and charts that display time, cost, workload and more. Customizable reports can be filtered to go into the weeds or summarize progress and share with stakeholders to keep them informed. Our secure timesheets streamline the payroll process and offer a window into how far team members are in completing their tasks and labor costs to help stay on budget. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/timesheet-lightmode-good-version-lots-of-tasks.png Related Risk Management Content Risk management is larger than just the enterprise sector. For those interested in reading more about the topic, below are a handful of links to recent blog posts. How to Make a Risk Management Plan (Template Included) The Best Risk Management Tools & Techniques for PM Pros Risk Mitigation in Project Management What Is a Risk Register & How to Create One 9 Free Risk Management Templates for Excel ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office, out in the field or anywhere in the world. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Enterprise Risk Management: Process & Framework Explained appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article