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A week after banning TikTok from app stores (no, it still isn’t downloadable) and one day after threatening 25% tariffs on Colombia, the U.S. has taken a major blow in its ongoing trade wars—overnight, Silicon Valley seems to have lost its AI dominance. The shakeup follows a release from fresh-faced Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which on Jan. 20 updated its ChatGPT-like AI assistant with its open-source R1 reasoning model. According to Deepseek’s testing, the R1 model matches OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model on several metrics, all while being much, much cheaper to develop. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on DeepSeek R1’s ultra-low development cost, citing the one-year-old company’s claims that it only took $5.6 million to develop the new model, vs. over $100 million from OpenAI for its equivalent. It took a little bit for the news to get out there, but DeepSeek has consequently risen to the top of the App Store, unseating ChatGPT as the most-downloaded free app. The sudden surge in attention has been hard on U.S. stocks, sending the Dow down by about 0.22%, the S&P down by 2%, and the Nasdaq down by 3.6%. More specifically, Google parent company Alphabet is down 2.89%, with Meta, Oracle, and other tech giants also seeing significant declines. Notably, data center and graphics card company Nvidia, which supplies much of the hardware powering AI development, is down 11.64%. Nvidia’s stock drop in particular likely has to do with claims from DeepSeek that it only needed roughly 2,000 specialized Nvidia chips to train its latest AI model, whereas leading U.S. models tend to use closer to 16,000 chips. Said claims are still awaiting verification, but if true, would poke holes in the US’ recent policy efforts to restrict the amount of U.S. chips Chinese developers can use. On the consumer side of things, DeepSeek promises cheaper access to higher-tier models than ChatGPT, which puts basic access to its o1 model behind a $20/month ChatGPT Plus subscription and unlimited access to the o1 model behind its pricey $200/month ChatGPT Pro plan. Unfortunately, the company seems to be suffering from success right now—servers appear to be overloaded, and I’m currently not able to sign up for an account for testing. Presumably, as more people get through and get their hands on these models, it'll be easier to verify just how scared of DeepSeek U.S. companies should be. Still, the competition could prove to be a shot across the bow for U.S. AI developers, who, alongside President Trump, just announced the $500 billion “Stargate Project,” an initiative to build out U.S. AI infrastructure starting with a $100 billion plan to build out data centers in Texas. View the full article

HubSpot’s SEO collapse has been the talk of the SEO world for the last several days. As a reminder, here’s a screenshot of HubSpot’s organic traffic drop, based on Semrush data: Among the endless reactions and perspectives, two former HubSpot employees shared five good reminders about SEO strategy. 1. SEO takes time Pruning content and focusing on E-E-A-T were among the many obvious remedies SEOs pointed out following the news of HubSpot’s apparent organic traffic decline. Well, these aren’t simple tweaks for a brand the size of HubSpot. They’re massive undertakings, according to this LinkedIn post by Bianca Anderson, HubSpot’s former SEO strategist (who is now manager, organic growth for hims and hers): “When HubSpot began optimizing for EEAT, it required overhauling processes in a way that significantly slowed the output of net-new content AND optimizations. Additionally, pruning a blog at HubSpot’s scale, with thousands of articles, is no small task and takes extensive effort to execute effectively (and SMARTLY). “…fixing this kind of thing isn’t an overnight process. It’s not as simple as mass redirects. This type of work can take YEARS to properly execute.” Dig deeper. How long SEO takes to work 2. Google’s algorithm is extremely volatile This may feel like an obvious observation for many of you reading, but Anderson made an important point about how volatile Google’s algorithm has been lately: “Algorithm updates over the past two years have been unprecedented in their volatility (I know we all know this, but just want to emphasize) — it’s been an onslaught. Major brands like HubSpot and WordStream, are feeling these changes deeply.” Dig deeper. Google algorithm updates. 3. There is no shared definition of ‘content quality’ Google is not the sole arbiter of quality, according to this LinkedIn post by Braden Becker, former principal growth marketing manager at HubSpot (who is now the global SEO lead for Faire): “I believe their quality standards are vastly more sophisticated than they were when I was working on the HubSpot Blog, and the company is surely paying a little for that. But just because Google makes a grand decision on a big website doesn’t mean the victim objectively deserved it.” Becker highlighted another key point about quality: “There’s a difference between ‘quality’ and ‘the most helpful answer’ to a given search term. I think Google consistently focuses on the latter, despite not always being clear about that.” Dig deeper. Mastering content quality: The ultimate guide 4. SEO strategies must always evolve SEO strategy is fluid, Becker said: “You try to do what’s right for the business at the time. What worked, we kept doing. And what didn’t work, we stopped doing.” Anderson added: “From what I’ve seen, TOFU (top-of-funnel) non-ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) targeting content seems to be the most impacted. Is this partly the result of a wide-scale strategic de-prioritization? Maybe. I don’t know. “What I do know is this: HubSpot has been actively working on this long before these traffic declines became more publicly known.” Dig deeper. Evolving SEO for 2025: What needs to change 5. Traffic is not a leading metric of success Traffic and revenue are not the same thing, as Anderson pointed out: “Traffic is cool, but it should rarely be a leading metric of success (especially now). Conversions or other core KPIs that drive business matter far more.” Dig deeper. SEO KPIs to track and measure SEO success Bottom line. Peter Rota, senior technical SEO manager, HUB International, made several great points in this LinkedIn post. Of note: We can only see a portion of what happened – we don’t have Google Analytics or Google Search Console data. We don’t know how many of these keywords brought meaningful visitors. We don’t know whether any of this lost traffic impacted their sales/revenue. We might get more insight Feb. 12 – that’s the date when HubSpot is expected to release its Q4 results. Rota added: “In SEO, you can literally do everything right, and one day, Google could be like know what, we’re changing things. No site is truly ‘white hat,’ and everyone thinks they’re doing amazing SEO until you get hit. “We all have access to the same public data, but the reality is that the SEOs who are working/ worked at HubSpot only know the true story of what happened. “So, stop giving advice, stop thinking you know better. They literally wrote the book on inbound marketing and have taught many of us SEO or we’ve learned something from them.” More analysis. Leading international SEO expert Aleyda Solis wrote a good analysis of Hubspot’s (public) rankings and traffic data in Hubspot’s Blog Organic Search Traffic Drop: What happened? Is it really that bad? What does it mean for SEO? View the full article

Studies show that 58% of freelancers find it challenging to manage their time. I have personally experienced this challenge as a freelance writer. I sometimes struggle to maintain productivity and deliver high-quality work while meeting deadlines. My mind tends to become more scattered when I juggle multiple writing tasks or clients. However, I have been in the business for a long time. So, I have learned the art of balancing my clients or tasks quite well. And today, I would like to share some tips on what works for me. Keep a To-Do ListI use a to-do list notebook to write down my tasks for the month because I prefer the manual option. I find it much easier to keep track of my work obligations if I write everything down rather than keep everything in my head. I am more likely to forget if I do the latter. Therefore, I recommend that you write down all your tasks for each month or week, depending on how much you have on your plate. But you don't have to use a physical notebook like me. Digital task management tools such as Asana, Trello, Notion, ClickUp, and Todoist, will make it easier to juggle multiple tasks. Prioritize Your Tasks EffectivelyIt's not just enough to write down all the tasks you have yet to do. You must also prioritize them correctly to juggle multiple clients effectively. To do that, you need to factor in: The estimated duration of each taskThe deadlineThe importanceThe nature of the clientThe payment agreementGenerally, crucial and urgent tasks should be the highest priority. However, other factors may come into play and change how you work. For example, if you have a non-urgent task you can complete while half-asleep, you could do it early on and get paid for it as you figure out how to complete other somewhat urgent but complicated tasks. Doing so would enable you to check off that task from your to-do list, which can be highly freeing and motivating. Breakdown Larger TasksSome tasks may not be urgent. However, they may have a larger scope thus, requiring a much longer time to complete. A good example is a 50,000-word e-book or report writing project, or a complex article that requires extensive research or multiple interview subjects. Even if the assignment is not urgent, it pays to begin the work early. By breaking down the primary task into subtasks, you can complete each phase while completing other clients' assignments. This strategy makes the assignment more manageable so it doesn't sneak up on you all at once when the deadline looms. Schedule in Time for Different Tasks and ActivitiesThe more clients and varying tasks I have, the more stressed and confused I tend to get. So, I usually schedule various clients' tasks using a weekly timetable based on my prioritized to-do list for the week. Once I finish one client’s task, I move on to the next. In addition, I tend to schedule time for mental and physical breaks, during which time I may use social media, read through my inbox, or exercise a little. Having a regimented schedule has been helpful for a scatterbrained writer like me. It enables me to operate as if I were a student in a classroom setting. As a result, I tend to get quite a lot done by the end of the day. And by the end of the week, I am usually up-to-date. Automate Repetitive TasksI tend to automate my invoices whenever I have repeat clients who pay out regularly. This is an excellent strategy because it enables me to focus more on the more critical aspects of my work, rather than waste time. And you too should use it for email correspondence and invoices. Ask For More Time or Decline More WorkIf you have done everything you can to juggle multiple clients and tasks and are still feeling overwhelmed, you need to take steps to change your situation. The first thing you can do is ask your clients for more time to complete your work. But this option only works for flexible clients who don’t need to use your work on a set date. And if you are allowed to postpone the submission of the work, don’t make a habit of it lest you erode all the goodwill you have acquired. The second option involves politely declining more work when you are too busy. As a freelancer, you have probably experienced a feast-famine cycle at least once in your career. So, it’s understandable to feel strongly tempted to pick up every project clients offer you. However, doing so is not wise at all. If you continuously bite off more than you can chew and fail to deliver quality work several times, your reputation will eventually take a hit. And it will be much harder to get high-paying clients in the future. You can maintain a long-term and successful freelance career by effectively juggling multiple clients and tasks. However, that takes some work and practice on your part. It's vital to communicate well with the clients from the beginning so that you are aware of their expectations of you. And it's also important to be self-aware concerning your limitations and abilities. Once you accept multiple projects, you must learn to juggle them all. Doing that requires you to keep track of all tasks that you must accomplish, prioritize them effectively, and break down the more extensive projects. You must also schedule each task, automate repetitive tasks to increase efficiency, and ask for more time if you can't finish your work on time. And it never hurts for you to say no when you have too much on your plate. Your clients are more likely to respect you for being honest and not making false promises. View the full article

Studies show that 58% of freelancers find it challenging to manage their time. I have personally experienced this challenge as a freelance writer. I sometimes struggle to maintain productivity and deliver high-quality work while meeting deadlines. My mind tends to become more scattered when I juggle multiple writing tasks or clients. However, I have been in the business for a long time. So, I have learned the art of balancing my clients or tasks quite well. And today, I would like to share some tips on what works for me. Keep a To-Do ListI use a to-do list notebook to write down my tasks for the month because I prefer the manual option. I find it much easier to keep track of my work obligations if I write everything down rather than keep everything in my head. I am more likely to forget if I do the latter. Therefore, I recommend that you write down all your tasks for each month or week, depending on how much you have on your plate. But you don't have to use a physical notebook like me. Digital task management tools such as Asana, Trello, Notion, ClickUp, and Todoist, will make it easier to juggle multiple tasks. Prioritize Your Tasks EffectivelyIt's not just enough to write down all the tasks you have yet to do. You must also prioritize them correctly to juggle multiple clients effectively. To do that, you need to factor in: The estimated duration of each taskThe deadlineThe importanceThe nature of the clientThe payment agreementGenerally, crucial and urgent tasks should be the highest priority. However, other factors may come into play and change how you work. For example, if you have a non-urgent task you can complete while half-asleep, you could do it early on and get paid for it as you figure out how to complete other somewhat urgent but complicated tasks. Doing so would enable you to check off that task from your to-do list, which can be highly freeing and motivating. Breakdown Larger TasksSome tasks may not be urgent. However, they may have a larger scope thus, requiring a much longer time to complete. A good example is a 50,000-word e-book or report writing project, or a complex article that requires extensive research or multiple interview subjects. Even if the assignment is not urgent, it pays to begin the work early. By breaking down the primary task into subtasks, you can complete each phase while completing other clients' assignments. This strategy makes the assignment more manageable so it doesn't sneak up on you all at once when the deadline looms. Schedule in Time for Different Tasks and ActivitiesThe more clients and varying tasks I have, the more stressed and confused I tend to get. So, I usually schedule various clients' tasks using a weekly timetable based on my prioritized to-do list for the week. Once I finish one client’s task, I move on to the next. In addition, I tend to schedule time for mental and physical breaks, during which time I may use social media, read through my inbox, or exercise a little. Having a regimented schedule has been helpful for a scatterbrained writer like me. It enables me to operate as if I were a student in a classroom setting. As a result, I tend to get quite a lot done by the end of the day. And by the end of the week, I am usually up-to-date. Automate Repetitive TasksI tend to automate my invoices whenever I have repeat clients who pay out regularly. This is an excellent strategy because it enables me to focus more on the more critical aspects of my work, rather than waste time. And you too should use it for email correspondence and invoices. Ask For More Time or Decline More WorkIf you have done everything you can to juggle multiple clients and tasks and are still feeling overwhelmed, you need to take steps to change your situation. The first thing you can do is ask your clients for more time to complete your work. But this option only works for flexible clients who don’t need to use your work on a set date. And if you are allowed to postpone the submission of the work, don’t make a habit of it lest you erode all the goodwill you have acquired. The second option involves politely declining more work when you are too busy. As a freelancer, you have probably experienced a feast-famine cycle at least once in your career. So, it’s understandable to feel strongly tempted to pick up every project clients offer you. However, doing so is not wise at all. If you continuously bite off more than you can chew and fail to deliver quality work several times, your reputation will eventually take a hit. And it will be much harder to get high-paying clients in the future. You can maintain a long-term and successful freelance career by effectively juggling multiple clients and tasks. However, that takes some work and practice on your part. It's vital to communicate well with the clients from the beginning so that you are aware of their expectations of you. And it's also important to be self-aware concerning your limitations and abilities. Once you accept multiple projects, you must learn to juggle them all. Doing that requires you to keep track of all tasks that you must accomplish, prioritize them effectively, and break down the more extensive projects. You must also schedule each task, automate repetitive tasks to increase efficiency, and ask for more time if you can't finish your work on time. And it never hurts for you to say no when you have too much on your plate. Your clients are more likely to respect you for being honest and not making false promises. View the full article

Advertising and marketing campaigns help businesses in nearly every location and industry spread the word about their offerings. The marketing strategy of a local business is likely to look different from a company that sells mainly online. Luckily, there are tons of different small business advertising ideas for each company to consider. Read on for a guide. Best Traditional Advertising Ideas for Small Businesses If you’re trying to reach a local audience or one that doesn’t spend all day online, there are still plenty of traditional and local advertising ideas to utilize. Print Ads Print ads can include photos, text, or editorial partnerships with newspapers, magazines, or print publications. Trade Show or Event Sponsorships Rent a booth at a trade show or another special event that’s relevant to your industry. Some events also post signage or distribute marketing materials for sponsors. Flyers or Handouts Small businesses trying to increase foot traffic or market within a specific area may benefit from posting flyers or passing out ads in person. Cold Calling Cold calling involves placing phone calls to consumers. This is especially common for B2B businesses and those selling high-value products. Business Cards Purchase business cards and distribute them, or display them in locations where potential customers can easily collect them. Promotional Products Purchase promotional products like bags, hats, and mugs with your company’s logo to use as advertising. Offer them as prizes or hand them out at special events to increase brand visibility. Referral Program Create a referral marketing program to incentivize customers to refer others to your business. This may involve offering discounts, cash, or free products to those who send new customers your way. Top Ideas for Online Advertising Both local and online businesses can benefit from online advertising. There are tons of options to help you attract new customers with paid ads and sponsorships. Search Engine Optimization SEO involves updating your website to make it more visible on search engines. This can include adding relevant keywords, updating useful content, and improving back-end code to improve your site’s accessibility. Google Ads You can also purchase ads through Google to increase website traffic. When people perform a Google search relevant to your business, your site may appear as a sponsored listing at the top of the page. Online Business Directories Update your Google business profile and other business directories like Yelp. These platforms are generally free, but you can also pay for sponsored listings. Retargeting Ads Retargeting ads enable you to reach customers who have previously made a purchase or interacted with your website in any capacity. Sponsored ECommerce Listings On eCommerce marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, you can purchase sponsored listings to help your products appear high in search results. Sponsored Blog Content Partner with bloggers relevant to your industry to have them create content around your industry or offering. Podcast Sponsorships Many popular podcasts also offer audio ads for products and services that may appeal to their listeners. Online Contests or Giveaways You can also host giveaways or contests on your own site or social media channels or in partnerships with bloggers or influencers related to your industry. Email Marketing Email marketing involves sending messages to people who have signed up to receive updates. You can even reach extra customers and raise brand awareness by partnering with other brands or newsletters. Display Ads Display ads usually include photos and text and appear at the top or sidebar of popular websites. Native Ads Native ads are made specifically to match the form of the content on a particular site or app. Ideas for Advertising Through Social Media Channels Social media offers even more opportunities for advertising online. Each platform has its own specific ad formats, but here are some of the main categories that businesses should know. Image Ads Image ads may include an Instagram post or Facebook photo that is pushed out to a specific group based on who you want to target. Video Ads Video ads are also available on many social media apps and sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Carousel Ads Carousels are social media ads that include multiple photos or videos that people can scroll through. Sponsored Posts Sponsored posts usually start as organic social media posts. But you can pay to push them out to extra people. Each platform has its own process and rules for this type of ad. Slideshow Ads Platforms like Facebook allow advertisers to display slideshow ads that tell a longer story than a simple photo. Collection Ads Collection ads allow businesses to showcase their offerings in a seamless and immersive way. Followers can easily scroll or swipe through to see various products and purchase or sign up for updates within the platform. Messenger Ads Messenger apps like Facebook Messenger allow businesses to advertise by sending messages directly to consumers. Interactive Ads Interactive ads are designed to increase social media engagement by providing something fun and usable within their feed. For example, you may provide a small game or quiz that people can interact with to learn more about your offerings. Influencer Campaigns Influencer campaigns involve sending sponsored messages out to the followers of a prominent influencer in your industry. Terms vary based on who you work with. And there are several platforms and agencies that connect people with influential social media accounts with relevant brands. Local Business Advertising Ideas When creating a local advertising strategy to reach people in your geographic area, these paid and free marketing ideas may help. Local Print Ads Local print ads may include a small banner or handout in your local newspaper or a paid feature in a magazine distributed to your community. Local Event Sponsorships Consider the events in your town that your target audience may attend, from golf outings to parades. Sponsorship may include signage, booth space, or placement in gift bags or favors. Yellow Pages Ads Many local consumers continue to rely on the Yellow Pages to locate businesses that meet their needs. Consider purchasing a prominent placement in the directory or online to boost the number of calls or visits. Local Coupon or Deal Books Many local communities distribute coupon books full of deals from local small businesses. Offer discounts to price-conscious consumers in these formats. Direct Mail Direct mail is still a popular local advertising option for small business owners who want to target people in a specific community or neighborhood. Send flyers, envelopes, or brochures directly to their addresses. Community Newsletters Find small newsletters or even church or organizational bulletins to promote your offerings. This is most effective for a local business with some connection to the organization or community, like a small business owner who attends a particular church. Local Sports Sponsorships If you’re looking for local advertising ideas to reach families in your community, consider sponsoring a youth sports team. This shows your community involvement and philanthropy and displays your company name on jerseys and other marketing materials. Local Cable Ads Purchase air time on a local cable channel to share video messages within your community. Local Radio Ads If you prefer audio messages, work with your local radio stations instead. Community Bulletin Boards Reach prospective customers by posting flyers on bulletin boards around your community. These often provide free local advertising to attract customers looking for specific products or services. Classified Ads Purchase classified ad space from your local newspaper or on sites like Craigslist. These online and classified newspaper ads generally should promote a specific product or service or a limited-time offer. Local Website Advertising There are several websites that specifically target local audiences, like Nextdoor and ioby. There may also be a locally run option in your community. These sites often provide paid and free tools for reaching people in your neighborhood. Chamber of Commerce Advertising Your local chamber of commerce may offer advertising and marketing ideas to help you reach area customers. These could include event partnerships, coop ads, and help with Google business search ads. Event Partnerships Event partnerships involve teaming up with other area businesses to put on special promotions to attract customers. Many downtown business organizations facilitate these partnerships to increase foot traffic and spread the word about offerings in their downtown areas. Parade Floats If your community hosts large events like holiday parades, you may be able to sponsor or create a float or display to increase brand awareness around town. Local Event Booths If you sell products directly to consumers, purchase booth space at local fairs or festivals to reach attendees. For example, a small fashion boutique may purchase space to sell clothing at discounted prices. This can increase brand recognition, create a positive customer experience, and lead to heightened word-of-mouth marketing. Marketing Strategy Ideas for Outdoor Advertising There are also outdoor ad formats that can help you reach people in your community and beyond. Here are some creative marketing ideas that fall into this category. Billboard Ads Billboards are large outdoor signs designed to grab attention for something that drivers or pedestrians may want or need in the immediate future. These are often most effective for restaurants, convenience stores, or businesses selling impulse purchases. However, they can also increase brand awareness for other products and services around town. Vehicle Ads Purchase ad space on taxis or other vehicles, or add vehicle wraps to your own fleet to advertise your products and services while performing work around town. Digital Signage Buying space on a digital billboard enables you to rapidly communicate your messages to consumers while giving you the ability to manage your advertising in real time. Yard Signs Print small signs to put in front of your business or to distribute to existing customers. These are often inexpensive and can spread the word about a special event or promotion. Human Billboards Hire someone to stand outside your business with a large sign or banner promoting a sale or offering. These can often grab more attention than static signs, especially if you’re in a busy area with lots of other signs and businesses to compete with. Bench or Bus Stop Ads Purchase signage on a bench or the side of a bus stop to promote your products or services throughout town. These local advertising ideas are often most effective if your target customer uses public transit or if these ads are distributed throughout a busy area with lots of foot traffic. Interactive Storefront Displays Interactive storefront displays that engage passersby can be a powerful tool for attracting attention. Incorporating touch screens, QR codes, or augmented reality elements in your displays can make your shop more memorable and increase the likelihood of foot traffic. Social Media Stories and Live Streams Utilize the Stories feature on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, or go live to engage with your audience in real time. These tools are great for showcasing new products, behind-the-scenes content, or special events, fostering a sense of immediacy and connection with your brand. Location-Based Mobile Advertising Leverage location-based mobile advertising to reach potential customers when they are near your business. Using geo-targeting technology, you can send targeted ads and promotions to mobile users based on their proximity to your store. Partner with Local Bloggers and Vloggers Partner with well-known local bloggers and vloggers who connect with your target audience. They can produce content that showcases your products or services, providing a genuine endorsement to their followers. Wi-Fi Marketing Provide free Wi-Fi in your store and utilize the login page as an advertising platform. This space can be used to highlight special offers, announce upcoming events or prompt customers to subscribe to your newsletter while they connect to your network. Virtual Events and Workshops Host virtual events or workshops relevant to your products or services. This can be a great way to engage with customers who prefer online interaction, offering them value while subtly promoting your brand. Hyperlocal SEO Optimize your online content for hyperlocal search engine optimization (SEO). Focus on very specific neighborhoods or landmarks near your business. This strategy can help you appear in search results when potential customers are looking for nearby solutions. Guerrilla Marketing Tactics Employ creative guerrilla marketing tactics that create buzz and surprise elements around your brand. This could include unique installations, flash mobs, or unexpected pop-up events in high-footfall areas. Customer Appreciation Events Host customer appreciation events either in-store or online. These events can be a powerful way to thank loyal customers and attract new ones, enhancing community engagement and brand loyalty. Use Data Analytics for Targeted Campaigns Invest in data analytics tools to better understand your customer’s behavior and preferences. Use these insights to create more targeted and effective advertising campaigns that resonate with your audience’s specific needs and interests. How Do You Advertise for a Small Business? Creating an effective advertising plan for a small business is essential for success. It requires a keen understanding of your target audience, the best platforms to reach them, and a clear message that resonates with their needs and desires. Below is an expanded guide on how to create an advertising strategy for a small business: Define Your Target Audience Demographics: Identify the age, gender, income level, education, occupation, etc. of your ideal customer Psychographics: Understand their lifestyle, hobbies, values, and purchasing behaviors. Geographics: Know where they live or where they spend their time. Identify the Best Platforms Local Events: Sponsorship or booths at community fairs, farmers markets, or local trade shows. Online Directories: Listing on platforms like Yelp, Google My Business, and local directories. Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter are based on where your target audience spends the most time. Local Print Media: Newspapers, magazines, or community bulletins. Local Radio and TV Stations: Create catchy jingles or visually engaging commercials. Craft Your Message Value Proposition: Clearly state what sets your business apart and why customers should choose you. Engaging Content: Use storytelling, testimonials, or before-and-after examples. Clear Call to Action (CTA): Directly tell your audience what you’d like them to do next, whether it’s visiting your website, calling a phone number, or attending an event. Engage with the Community Host Events: Organize workshops, seminars, or product launches. Collaborations: Partner with complementary local businesses for joint promotions or events. Support Local Causes: Show your dedication to the community by supporting local charities or causes. Optimize for Digital SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Make sure your business appears in local search results. Paid Ads: Use Google Ads or Facebook Ads targeting local users or those showing interest in your industry. Email Marketing: Send newsletters, promotions, or updates to a list of interested subscribers. Monitor and Adjust Feedback Loop: Regularly ask for feedback from your customers. Analytics: Use tools to measure the performance of online ads and campaigns. Pivot: Use feedback and analytics to adjust your strategies, ensuring they achieve the best possible reach and engagement. In conclusion, advertising for a small business goes beyond just putting your name out there. It’s about creating a meaningful connection with your target audience by being present where they are, conveying a compelling message, and continuously refining your strategies to best meet their needs. StepDescriptionExamples/Tools 1. Define Your Target AudienceUnderstand who your ideal customers are.- Demographics (age, gender) - Psychographics (lifestyle, values) - Geographics (location) 2. Identify the Best PlatformsDetermine where your audience spends their time.- Local Events (fairs, trade shows) - Online Directories (Yelp, Google My Business) - Social Media (Facebook, Instagram) 3. Craft Your MessageDevelop the core content of your advertisement.- Value Proposition - Engaging Content (storytelling) - Call to Action (CTA) 4. Engage with the CommunityBuild a presence within the local community.- Host Events (workshops) - Collaborations (joint promotions) - Support Local Causes 5. Optimize for DigitalEnhance online visibility and reach.- SEO - Paid Ads (Google Ads, Facebook Ads) - Email Marketing 6. Monitor and AdjustEvaluate and refine your advertising efforts.- Feedback Loop - Analytics (Google Analytics) - Pivot strategies What Is the Cheapest Way to Advertise a Small Business? The cheapest small business marketing and advertising ideas are those that utilize resources you already have. For example, businesses with a physical space may make signage to post outside or host an event on their storefront. Online marketing and advertising ideas that promote your site on local searches and social media can also be affordable. What Is the Best Method of Advertising for Small Local Businesses? The best advertising strategies for attracting local customers often involve search engines. If your business appears at the top of relevant search pages for your product or service categories, more paying customers are likely to contact you. How Can You Advertise Your Small Business for Free? You can advertise a small business for free by trading with other businesses or providing something of value to build brand awareness. For example, you could guest post on other industry blogs or publish helpful content on YouTube. You can also get free local advertising by creating business listings on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: How to Make the Most of Social Media Advertising How to Get Started with TikTok Advertising Advertising Statistics You Must Know Tips to Help You Make the Most of Your Small Business Advertising Image: Depositphotos This article, "Small Business Advertising Ideas to Consider" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

DeepSeek-R1 is a free, open-source alternative to ChatGPT, featuring advanced reasoning capabilities that mimick human thinking. The post DeepSeek-R1: The Open-Source AI Challenging ChatGPT appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Understand the story behind the data. Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article

Understand the story behind the data. Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article

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

In the context of product development and project management, requirements are the specifications or characteristics that a product or project deliverable must have to meet government regulations, achieve business goals, or satisfy the expectations of customers, project sponsors, or any other stakeholder group that’s vested in the project. To satisfy these requirements, there are lots of tasks that must be done in order to deliver a final project. That includes the features, functions and so forth. Tracing those features can ensure that none slip through the cracks, a process that’s best completed by using a requirements traceability matrix. If you’ve never heard of a requirements traceability matrix and you’re managing a project or developing a product, you’ll need a crash course. We’re going to explain what requirements traceability is, how to make a requirements traceability matrix and explore the different types to help you ensure all of your project requirements are fulfilled. What Is a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)? A requirements traceability matrix is the document used to track the requirements as it moves through the product development process. It’s the documentation that confirms that all product requirements have been fulfilled. It lists the requirements, tests, test results and any issues that may have come up over the course of testing that needs to be addressed to bring the project to a successful close. /wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Requirements-Traceability-Matrix-Template.png Get your free Requirements Traceability Matrix Template Use this free Requirements Traceability Matrix Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File The requirements traceability matrix is a document that maps user requirements with test cases. The document captures all client requirements and traces those throughout the product development. This document is then delivered at the end of the software development life cycle. The main purpose is to ensure all requirements are accounted for and have been checked with test cases. No functionality should be left unchecked at the end of this process. Project management software helps you track every step of your product development and make sure you’re fulfilling your requirements along the way. ProjectManager is online software with features that help you track requirements in real time. Kanban boards can be customized for requirements tracing, providing transparency into each step and automation to move to the next status. Task approvals can be set to ensure that quality expectations are met throughout the process. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kanban-manufacturing-order-management-task-card-open-cta-light-mode-1600x789.jpgProjectManager has kanban boards for requirements traceability. Learn more When to Use a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) A requirements traceability matrix can be used anytime there’s a project that’s geared towards the production of a final deliverable that must meet stakeholder requirements. However, RTMs are mostly used in product and software development, as these industries involve the creation of complex products with lots of requirements, but they can be used for projects in other industries. As products become more complex, so do requirements, which are overseen by multiple individuals across departments in an organization as they go through the development process, which is why a requirements traceability matrix is a way for product development teams to keep track of these requirements and make sure they’re fulfilled. Not only that, but each decision made over the course of the project will impact the project’s requirements. For example, in many cases, stakeholders like clients or executives will add new requirements during the product development process, so having a tool to document requirements and understanding their impact is crucial. What Should Be Included In a Requirements Traceability Matrix? This crucial document consists of various parts. Below are various components to include in a requirements traceability matrix. Requirement General Information The requirements section consists of several details about the requirements themselves. They offer context and essential information that the project team will utilize. Requirement ID: A unique identifier for each requirement. Requirement Description: A clear and concise description of the requirement. Source: The origin of the requirement (e.g., stakeholder, document, regulation). Priority: The importance or urgency level of the requirement. Types of Requirement This section categorizes the requirements to keep them organized. It also helps with analysis. Business Requirements: High-level objectives that outline the product’s value and purpose. Business requirements help address market needs, specify the ideal outcomes and align with strategic goals. Functional Requirements: These are specific features or functions that the product needs to perform to meet user needs. It may include workflows, interactions or capabilities. Non-Functional Requirements: These include standards linked to the product’s operation as a whole, including its safety, quality or reliability. Technical Requirements: These requirements outline the needed systems, technologies or tools to create and support the product. It may include materials, manufacturing processes, integration with existing systems, etc. Regulatory Requirements: Regulatory requirements ensure the product complies with legal guidelines, industry standards and safety regulations. They help mitigate risks and protect users. Performance Requirements: These criteria measure how effective the product is under certain conditions including capacity, durability and speed. They ensure the product performs optimally. Usability Requirements: Conditions that improve the user experience by ensuring the product is not only intuitive but accessible and easy to use. They focus on the simplicity of the design and overall customer satisfaction. Maintenance Requirements: These guidelines ensure the product is functional and efficient throughout its life cycle. They include repairability, spare part availability, customer support, etc. Potential Risks In the potential risks section of the requirements traceability matrix, list the factors that could impact the fulfillment of a requirement. This could be resource restrictions, market uncertainties or technical challenges. The earlier these risks are identified, the better as it can help mitigate cost overruns, potential delays or failures. Requirement Status This is the current progress of a requirement such as draft, in progress, approved or completed. Information from the requirement status helps provide visibility into the development stages and brings light to potential bottlenecks. It also ensures that requirements are delivered within the defined timeline. Requirement Owner As the name suggests, the requirement owner is the individual or team who is responsible for ensuring a particular requirement is fulfilled. The requirement owner needs to clarify details, coordinate with other stakeholders and address issues to ensure the implementation is successful. Acceptance Criteria Acceptance criteria in a requirements traceability matrix are the measurable conditions that a requirement or deliverable needs to meet before it is considered complete. It ensures the alignment with the project goals, validates the quality and offers a clear basis for approval by stakeholders. Test Cases Test cases in a requirements traceability matrix provide detailed scenarios that help validate whether a requirement has been implemented successfully. The result ensures functionality, usability and performance that aligns with specifications. Requirements Traceability Matrix Example The best way to learn what a requirements traceability matrix works is to take a look at an example. The requirements traceability matrix example below shows three requirements that a software company is carrying out to improve the user experience for its product. As you can see in the image below this RTM shows a description of each requirement, their source, priority level, acceptance criteria, and all of the other elements that were previously outlined in this blog. /wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Requirements-Traceability-Matrix-Example.png Who Makes the Requirements Traceability Matrix? Multiple stakeholders typically collaborate to gather the requirements for an RTM. Common roles involved in the process include: Business analyst: Gathers and documents business objectives and needs. Project sponsors and stakeholders: Provide high-level strategic objectives and business goals. Product managers: Outline product features using market research, competitive analysis and customer feedback. Subject matter experts: Provide specialized knowledge to ensure compliance with industry standards or technical feasibility. End users and customers: Offer insights on pain points and desired features. Regulatory and compliance teams: Outline mandatory requirements to adhere to industry standards and laws. Engineering and development teams: Provide feedback on technical constraints, system capabilities and feasibility. Quality assurance teams: Suggest testable criteria to confirm that the requirements can be met. How to Create a Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM) Used in software testing and product development, a requirements traceability matrix is an important tool to make sure you fulfill every user requirement. No project should be without one, which is why we’ll take you through a step-by-step guide to making your own requirements traceability matrix. 1. Identify Requirements The goal of a requirements traceability matrix is to track the user or stakeholder requirements for the project, and it’s easiest to list them on a spreadsheet. But an RTM can be used for a variety of things. For example, you can make sure your requirements have been tested or are compliant. You can also determine which requirements are impacted if something changes. Regardless, the first step is to define the types of requirements that will apply to the project and meet with stakeholders to get a more detailed description of each. Based on your goal, you’ll start to collect relevant artifacts that include at least the requirements, test cases, test results and issues. After you’ve collected the artifacts, you’ll want to get the most current requirements documents. Each requirement should have a unique ID number that doesn’t change, even if the requirement is reordered. Test cases also need to be defined and given a status. For example, they might be started, done or blocked. If the test fails, then whatever issues led to that failure should be detailed. 3. Create Requirements Traceability Matrix Now you’re ready to build the RTM. Use a spreadsheet and make four columns. Each column will be for an artifact. The first column outlines the requirements lists, the next has the tests and following that are the test results. You’ll also have a column for issues. This is the bare minimum and you can add more as needed for your project. For instance, a column that numbers each of the requirements would be useful. 4. Copy and Paste You’ve done the work and now you have to add it to the requirements traceability matrix. Simply add the requirements, test cases, test results (if you have them at this point) and issues to the spreadsheet. 5. Revive the RTM The requirements traceability matrix is a living document that’ll you’ll often reference for updates. As requirements change, so does the RTM. Some requirements might drop from the project or another test case may be added; all of these changes need to be reflected in the requirements traceability matrix. The requirements ID number, however, should stay the same even if the requirement is reordered or reused. Free Requirements Traceability Matrix Template for Excel Because you’ll be using the requirements traceability matrix throughout the project, it’s helpful to download our free RTM template for Excel. Once you’ve downloaded the free requirements traceability template for Excel, all you have to do is fill in the blanks to create a document of your requirements, tests and issues. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Requirements-traceability-matrix-template.png Benefits of Using a Requirements Traceability Matrix Requirements traceability comes with many benefits. For one, it ensures that each critical project requirement and the delivery of a viable product has been fulfilled. Tracking these variables over the life cycle of a project can be difficult over the product development life cycle, and having documentation solidifies that you’re not missing any vital points. Having the visibility of requirements traceability into requirements such as design, development, testing and support, minimizes negative outcomes and maximizes productivity. Other benefits include improving team efficiency, easier compliance with regulations and higher-quality products. Project management software helps you track every step of your product development and make sure you’re fulfilling your requirements along the way. Types of Requirements Traceability Matrices Now that we know what a requirements traceability matrix is and how to create one, let’s look deeper into the topic. There are three different types of requirements traceability matrix: forward traceability, backward traceability and bidirectional traceability. Let’s take a moment to define each. Forward Traceability The forward traceability matrix is used to see the requirements of the test cases. This allows for each of the requirements to have a test and also allows one to know that the project’s trajectory is positive. Backward Traceability Backward traceability maps the test cases with the requirements. This is done to avoid scope creep and going beyond the initial requirements without cause to do so. Bidirectional Traceability As you might guess, a bidirectional traceability matrix is one that combines the forward and the backward traceability in one document. This ensures that every requirement has a related test case. It’s clear how important a requirements traceability matrix is for project management. If you miss a requirement, you might not deliver what users want. Having a list of those requirements and being able to map them in whatever direction is best for your project ensures that all have been included. But you can also see that they involve a lot of work and manual labor to create, fill in and update. ProjectManager Helps Track Requirements ProjectManager is online project management software that allows you to track requirements in real time. Plan, schedule and track requirements all in the same tool. As teams implement and test requirements, everyone gets transparency into the process to ensure that nothing is neglected. Get Overview With Real-Time Dashboard Whenever you need a high-level view of the requirements and testing, you can look at our real-time dashboard. It automatically collects live data and crunches the numbers to show you six metrics in easy-to-read graphs and charts. Monitor your team’s workload, tasks and time while also checking on costs and more. Best of all, there’s no setup required. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/portfolio-dashboard-screenshot-lightmode-1600x786.png Dive Deeper Into Data With Customizable Reports When you need more detail than the dashboard can deliver use our one-click reports. You can generate reports on status or portfolio status if you’re managing more than one project. But there are also reports on time, cost, variance and more. All can be filtered to report on only the data you want to see to help you make more insightful decisions. They can easily be shared to keep stakeholders updated. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Reports-Light-2554x1372-1-1600x860.png Our software helps you plan, schedule and track work in real time. Stay on top of changes with notifications and even comment and share files across departments. Everyone is always working on the same page which helps productivity. Add to that features for task and resource management and you have an all-around project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that helps you work more productively and track that work to stay on schedule. Connect teams, departments and even outside vendors to facilitate communication and keep everyone working better together. Join teams at NASA, Siemens and Nestle who use our tool to deliver success. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post How to Make a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM): Example and Template Included appeared first on ProjectManager. 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Hong Kong. Its name inspires visions of a chaotic, jam-packed city with soaring skyscrapers, thick smog, endless noodle stands, big finance, and wild nights out. It’s one of my favorite cities in the world. The fast pace creates a sense of permanent change, and the crowds, multiculturalism, and food keep me continuously coming back. Oh, the food! I could sit bent over a noodle bowl all day long. Hong Kong is a busy city of 7.5 million inhabitants with one of the biggest hub airports in the world. It can be overwhelming for many visitors, especially those not used to crowded places. And, with so much to do in Hong Kong, many travelers scratch their head about where to start in order to get the most out of the trip. While you can visit the city within one or two days, it’s best to spend at least three days in Hong Kong. If you’re going to visit Macau, I’d add another day, so you’d need 4–5 days to really see the place. This four-day Hong Kong itinerary will help you organize your trip, steer you off the beaten path, and show you why Hong Kong is one of the most on-the-go cities in the world. Hong Kong Itinerary: Day 1 The Hong Kong Museum of History In order to understand a place, you must first understand its past. This museum lets you do just that. It provides an excellent overview of Hong Kong’s long and complex past. There are exhibits relating to the archaeology, social history, ethnography, and natural history of the region. It’s big, so allow about 2–4 hours for your visit. 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, +852 2724 9042, hk.history.museum/en/web/mh/index.html. Open Wednesday-Monday 10am-6pm (7pm on weekends). Admission is free but some special exhibitions may require a fee. Kowloon Park Head to Kowloon Island’s gigantic park that features a swimming pool, a fitness center, little ponds where you can watch ducks and other swimming birds, a Chinese garden, an aviary, and the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre (not to be confused with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum; more on that museum below). There are also plenty of rest areas here where you can relax to escape the oppressive Hong Kong heat. Spanning 13 hectares (33 acres), it’s one of the best places to people-watch in the city. 22 Austin Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, +852 2724 3344, lcsd.gov.hk. Open daily 5am-12am and admission is free. Street Markets in Mong Kok This area of Hong Kong has the largest and busiest markets in which to soak up the frenetic atmosphere, sights, and sounds of Hong Kong. The crowds and sellers really exemplify Hong Kong’s on-the-move essence. The two best markets for inexpensive souvenirs are the Ladies Market (bargain clothing, accessories, and souvenirs) and the Temple Street Night Market (flea market). The markets of Mong Kok are best reached by the Hong Kong MTR subway system, stations Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, and Prince Edward on the Tsuen Wan (red) line. The markets are open every day, starting around 11am–noon and closing in the late evening (times vary). Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade Stroll along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and take in the breathtaking skyline view of Hong Kong Island. While you’re here, make sure to visit the Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong’s answer to the Hollywood “Walk of Fame,” where you can see the stars of Chinese and Western film alike. There are shops, restaurants, and, at night, a large outdoor market serving traditional Cantonese food alongside knockoffs and souvenirs. Come ready to haggle. Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (next to the Star Ferry pier). Open 24/7. The Star Ferry The best way to get across the harbor from Kowloon Island to Hong Kong Island is via the Star Ferry, which showcases a fantastic view of the city skyline for only 4–6 HKD. Riding the ferry is a fun thing to do even if you aren’t using it for transportation! It’s one of my favorite activities. Star Ferry Pier, Kowloon Point, Tsim Sha Tsui, +852 2367 7065, starferry.com.hk/en/service. The ferry runs 6:30am-11:30pm every day, though they occur less frequently on weekends and holidays. Tickets start at 4 HKD during the week and 5.6 HKD on the weekends, while a four–day pass costs 50 HKD. Hong Kong Itinerary: Day 2 Ngong Ping 360 This cable car stretches over 5.7 kilometers (3.5 miles) from Tung Chung across the bay toward the airport and then onward to Lantau Island. The cable car gives you a panoramic view of the airport, harbor, and entire city before it travels through the surrounding mountains. The ride lasts about 25 minutes. When you get to the top, don’t miss the nearby Po Lin Monastery (a Buddhist monastery founded in 1906) and Tian Tan, a 34-meter (111-foot) bronze Buddha statue that sits on the top of the island’s peak. While Lantau Island is a bit touristy, the ride, views, and monastery make it worth the trip. 11 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island, +852 3666 0606, np360.com.hk/en. Open 10am–6pm on weekdays and 9am–6:30pm on weekends/holidays. A round-trip adult ticket for the cable car is 270 HKD for a standard cabin and 350 HKD for a crystal cabin (a cable car with a glass bottom floor). You can reserve tickets online in advance here. Take a Food Tour After the morning on the cable car and enjoying a killer view of Hong Kong, spend your afternoon taking a food tour. Hong Kong is a food-filled city (there are over 12,000 restaurants here!) and you’ll find a diverse range of cuisines from around the world. But without help, you’ll never find all the hidden local favorites. The following companies offer the best value tours: Hong Kong Foodie Tasting Tours Bigfoot Tours Secret Food Tours Expect to spend 770–900 HKD per person for a food tour. Rent a Junk Boat Junk boats — those classic boats with the large sail you see in any movie about Hong Kong — are a fun way to sail around the harbor on full-day and half-day trips. There is only one traditional junk boat left: the Dukling. It usually sails just on Saturdays and Sundays only, with tickets starting at 220 HKD. Another option is sailing on The Aqua Luna, a boat that was built in the traditional style in 2006. It sails much more frequently and offers a variety of cruises, from a dim sum cruise to an afternoon tea cruise. Tickets start at 270 HKD. In addition to these traditional-style junks or if you’re looking for more of a party boat vibe, you can also rent a boat with a large group of friends (15 or so people) or join a group cruise around the harbor. There are a ton of different options to choose from, from all-you-can-eat-and-drink boats with add-on water sports, massages, and DJ packages, to companies that let you just rent the boat and bring everything else yourself. Here are some recommended companies that offer affordable boat tours: Island Junks – They have a couple of cruise options and you can also charter your own if you’ve got the money! Saffron Cruises – This is a great option if you can put together a large group of 20–30 people. Hong Kong Itinerary: Day 3 Ping Shan Heritage Trail Located in the New Territories (the city’s less visited northern district), this trail will lead you past some of the most important ancient sights of the Tang clan. There are 14 historic buildings on the trail, including: Hung Shing Temple, The Tang Ancestral Hall, Yeung Hau Temple, Shrine of the Earth God, and the 15th-century Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda (Hong Kong’s only ancient pagoda). Just be aware that not all of the historic buildings on the trail are open to the public. Another option is the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail. It begins at the Taoist temple complex of Fung Ying Seen Koon and passes the walled villages of Ma Wat Wai and Lo Wai before ending at the 18th-century Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall. This part of Hong Kong is often skipped by tourists, and the trails, meandering through the city’s more rural region, are quiet and a welcome break from the giant metropolis of the downtown area. Ping Shan Trail: Sheung Cheung Wai, Yuen Long District, +852 2617 1959, lcsd.gov.hk. Lung Yeuk Tau Trail: 66 Pak Wo Rd, Fanling, Hong Kong, +852 2669 9186. Hong Kong Heritage Museum This museum showcases the city’s history and love of art. There’s a large exhibit about the New Territories and an opera house for performances. It fills in some of the blanks left from the Hong Kong History Museum and gives you a look at the artistic culture of the city. It’s also located near the beautiful Sha Tin Park and Shing Mun River, making the surrounding area just as interesting as the museum! 1 Man Lam Rd, Sha Tin, New Territories, +852 2180 8188, hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/highlights.html. Open every day but Tuesday 10am-6pm (7pm on weekends). Admission is free. Che Kung Temple Just across the river from the Heritage Museum, this temple is dedicated to Che Kung, a general during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279) in ancient China who was known for stopping both uprisings and epidemics. This temple was built in his name during an epidemic in the 17th-century, and it is said that the epidemic ceased the day after its official dedication. The temple complex is always filled with people, so be prepared for crowds. The traditional architecture and intricate sculptures, including the large golden sculpture of Che Kung himself, make this worth visiting after you see the Heritage Museum. Che Kung Miu Road, ctc.org.hk. Open daily 8am-6pm. Hong Kong Itinerary: Day 4 The Peak Tram This tram, which has been in operation since 1888 (with several renovations since then) takes you to the top of the Peak, Hong Kong Island’s largest mountain, at 518 meters (1,700 feet). Upon exiting at the top, you’ll enjoy spectacular 180-degree views of the skyscrapers of Victoria Harbor, Kowloon, and the surrounding hills. It’s the best view of the city. Also at the top is the huge, wok-shaped Peak Tower with its viewing platform Sky Terrace 428, Madame Tussauds, and a variety of restaurants. Head away from this area and you’ll find many different trails to get into nature and see the city skyline from a bunch of different vantage points. When you’re done at the top, you can either take the tram or walk back down along the trails. No.1 Lugard Road, +852 2849 7654, thepeak.com.hk. Open daily 7:30am-11pm, with trams running every 15-20 minutes. A return trip is 108 HKD, while the same with entry to the sky terrace viewing platform is 168 HKD per person. Hong Kong Museum of Art This museum on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront is a fascinating and intriguing place. Established in 1962, it was the first public art museum in the city. There are both rotating temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent collection where you’ll find everything from Chinese ceramics, terra cotta, rhinoceros horns, traditional calligraphy, and Chinese paintings, to contemporary art produced by Hong Kong artists. Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, +852 2721 0116. Open Monday–Wednesday and Fridays 10am–6pm, weekends 10am–9pm. Admission is free (some special exhibitions have a fee). Lan Kwai Fong Nightlife LKF is the main nightlife and party area in Hong Kong and is filled with tons of bars, clubs, shisha (water pipes), and cheap drinks. Nights out here are wild — the street is always crowded, people get very drunk, and shots get handed out like candy. It’s rowdy, but if you want to see Hong Kong’s wilder side, this is the place to do it. Other Things to See and Do in Hong Kong Take a cooking class — Hong Kong is full of food. Why not learn how to cook some of it? This Hong Kong expat website has a list of 19 schools offering classes! Prices vary but expect to spend around 600–925 HKD per person. Go hiking — Hong Kong may be a densely packed city, but there is also scenic hiking in the outer mountains and islands. There are a lot of trails (especially in the undeveloped parts of the New Territories). The Hong Kong tourism board lists all the trails here. Visit Disneyland — If you’re on a family trip, or if you’re a backpacker in touch with your inner child, head to Disneyland. Hang out with Mickey Mouse and shake hands with sea creatures. (Tickets start at 668 HKD.) Day trip to Macau — The gambling mecca of Macau is a short boat ride away. For as little as 175 HKD, the 60-75–minute boat ride from Hong Kong’s ferry terminal will take you to this former Portuguese colony, where you can wander gigantic modern casinos, stroll historic streets lined with Portuguese-inspired houses, and dine on egg tarts, a famous local specialty. For more, here are my recommendations for the 23 best things to do in Hong Kong. *** In a city of almost 8 million people, there are countless things to see and do. One could fill weeks exploring Hong Kong’s many islands, markets, restaurants, sights, and nightlife and still not see it all. Though impossible to condense a city so vast into four days, this Hong Kong itinerary will help you experience the most Hong Kong has to offer in a short period of time! Book Your Trip to Hong Kong: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. Two of my favorite place to stay is: The Mahjong Hop Inn For more places to stay in Hong Kong, this list has my favorite hostels in Hong Kong. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: Safety Wing (best for everyone) Insure My Trip (for those over 70) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too. Want More Information on Hong Kong? Be sure to visit my robust destination guide on Hong Kong for even more planning tips! The post Hong Kong Itinerary: What to Do in 4 (or More) Days appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

There's something special about two people listening to the same music over earphones. It can be a movie, or a TV show, it doesn't matter. That scene in Begin Again, where Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley trade playlists with an old school headphone splitter, is etched into my memory. But the days of headphone jacks and audio splitters are behind us. Though not as romantic as tethering two people with a two-meter headphone cord, you can achieve the same results using AirPods, too, all without needing a specialized app. You can share music, movies, or anything you like to your friend or partner's AirPods, without fully pairing them to your iPhone. Share Audio using Control CenterThe most reliable way to share audio between two pairs of AirPods is using the playback controls in Control Center. First, connect your AirPods and keep them in your ears. Next, ask your friend to keep their AirPods case open, or to keep them in their ears as well. In the Control Center, open the Playback controls. Choose your AirPods from the bottom to open the Devices menu. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Here, choose the Share Audio button. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Now, as long as your friends' AirPods are open and available nearby, they will show up in the popup menu. If they don't, try pressing and holding the Pairing button on the back of their AirPods case. Once they show up, tap the Share Audio button. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Now both AirPods will be listed in the Devices menu, and you can independently control their volume levels from here. You can also press and hold the Volume slider in the Control Center to get two distinct sliders, one for each pair of AirPods. Credit: Khamosh Pathak. To disconnect your friends' AirPods, open the media playback screen in Control Center and tap on the "2 headphones" button to open the Devices view. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Here, uncheck the AirPods that you want to disconnect. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Temporarily connect nearby AirPods Credit: Apple To make this process simpler, Apple has integrated a new popup menu that shows up when near another pair of AirPods. If you've seen popups for connecting to an Apple Watch, or for sharing your Wi-Fi password, you'll be familiar with it. While your AirPods are already connected to your iPhone, bring your friends' pair near your device, and make sure that their case is open. After a short wait, you should see the popup menu. Because this is proximity related, you might need to try a few times to get the menu to show up—Apple is doing its best to prevent you from getting inundated with popups while on a train full of people listening to AirPods, so it's a little strict here. When the popup shows up, tap the Temporarily Share Audio button and press and hold the Pairing button on the back of your friends' AirPods case. Press Done, and now both pairs of AirPods should be connected to the iPhone. To disconnect, go to the Playback menu in Control Center, open the Devices menu, and uncheck the AirPods that you want to disconnect. View the full article

Estimated tax payments can be confusing, but they don’t have to be. Understanding the basics of estimated taxes and what you need to pay is key to making sure you stay in compliance with the IRS. Keeping up with estimated taxes throughout the year will help you avoid paying too much (or too little) come tax day. In this article, we’ll discuss when estimated taxes are due as well as how much you’re required to pay. What are estimated tax payments? Estimated tax payments are regular payments that individuals or businesses make to the government throughout the year to cover their anticipated tax liability. These payments are typically made quarterly in four equal installments and are estimated based on an individual’s or business’s expected income not subject to federal tax withholding minus deductions for the current year. Estimated tax payments are used to ensure that the tax owed is paid in a timely manner rather than as a lump sum at the end of the year, avoiding underpayment penalties. Who should make quarterly estimated tax payments? The Internal Revenue Service mandates that specific taxpayers make estimated tax payments on a quarterly basis to guarantee they contribute their fair share of taxes throughout the year. Below are the various categories of taxpayers obligated to pay estimated taxes: Self-Employed Individuals: If you are self-employed or run a sole proprietorship, you are required to make estimated tax payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. Small Business Owners: Owners of small businesses, including S corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs), are required to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. Investors: Investors earning income from dividends, rental properties, capital gains, and other sources are required to make estimated tax payments if they anticipate owing $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. High-Income Taxpayers: Individuals with high incomes, such as those earning salaries, bonuses, and other taxable income, may need to make estimated tax payments to both state and federal authorities if they anticipate owing $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. When are estimated tax payments not required? Many businesses must make estimated quarterly tax payments during the year. However, there are specific situations in which estimated tax payments are not required. These situations include if a business: is expected to owe $1,000 or less for the year in taxes has zero income for a particular quarter was not operational for the full taxable year filed and paid their taxes on time for the previous year How do you calculate estimated tax payments? It’s important to calculate your estimated tax payments accurately to avoid underpayment penalties and interest charges from the IRS. There are two methods for calculating estimated tax payments: the annualized income installment method and the prior year safe harbor method. The Safe Harbor Method The safe harbor method provides a straightforward approach to calculating estimated tax payments and can help prevent penalties for underpayment. To utilize this method, take the lesser of either 90% of the current year’s total tax liability or 100% of the total tax liability from the previous year. Additionally, remember to include any credits claimed during the taxable period when calculating estimated tax payments. The Annualized Income Installment Method The annualized income installment method is more complicated than the safe harbor option but allows taxpayers to better account for any changes in income during their taxable period. With this approach, make four separate calculations at equal intervals during your taxable period. These calculations should include all sources of taxed income, credits awarded, and deductions made during each portion of your taxable period to accurately determine what amount needs to be paid for that quarter. What are the quarterly tax dates? Paying taxes can be a tricky process, especially when dealing with quarterly estimated tax payments. There are four different deadlines for estimated taxes throughout the calendar. Knowing these deadlines will help ensure that you pay your taxes on time and avoid any potential penalties. Here is an overview of the quarterly estimated tax payment deadlines: First estimated tax payment due Second quarter estimated tax payment due Third quarter estimated tax payment due Fourth quarter estimated tax payment due How do you make an estimated tax payment? Making estimated tax payments is a crucial step in avoiding underpayment penalties and interest charges from the IRS. Here are the steps to make an estimated tax payment: Determine your estimated tax liability The initial step in making estimated tax payments is to assess your anticipated tax liability for the year. You can calculate your estimated tax payments using one of two methods: the annualized income installment method or the prior year safe harbor method, to establish your estimated tax liability. Choose a payment method Once you have determined your estimated tax liability, you need to choose a payment method to make your estimated tax payment. You can make estimated tax payments online, by mail, or through a bank or financial institution. Make your payment After choosing your payment method, you can make your estimated tax payment. Be sure to include your business name, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and the tax year and quarter for which you are making the payment. If you are making a payment for a sole proprietorship, be sure to include your name and Social Security Number instead of a business name and EIN. Keep a record of your payment It’s important to keep a record of your estimated tax payment, including the date, amount, and method of payment, to ensure that you have proof of payment in case of any issues or questions from the IRS. What happens if a business doesn’t make estimated tax payments? If a business neglects to make estimated tax payments, the IRS may impose penalties for underpayment and charge interest on the outstanding amount. The longer the income tax goes unpaid, the greater the estimated tax penalty and the interest that will accumulate. This situation can lead to additional consequences such as tax liens, wage garnishments, bank levies, and asset seizures. To prevent these issues, it is crucial to ensure that estimated tax payments are made accurately and on time, ideally with the assistance of a tax professional. Do you have to pay estimated taxes quarterly? Estimate taxes are generally due on a quarterly basis. This means that estimated taxes must be paid four times each year – on the 15th of the fourth month (for Q1), the 17th of the sixth month (for Q2), the 16th of the ninth month (for Q3), and the 15th of the first month of the following year (for Q4). Taxpayers may also choose to make advance payments in order to reduce their tax burden at the end of the year. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: tax deductions nondeductible expenses tax terms state tax websites Image: Envato Elements This article, "Estimated Tax Payments: What to Pay and When" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When people tell me they hate Bangkok and don’t find a lot of things to do there, I totally understand. It’s a love/hate city that most people aren’t a fan of on arrival. In fact, when I first visited Bangkok in 2006, I despised the city and couldn’t wait to leave. It wasn’t until I lived in Bangkok that I really fell in love with it. Almost twenty years later, Bangkok is still one of my favorite cities in the world. It just takes a little time to get to know and love. Bangkok is not a city that opens itself up easily, and most people spend just a day or two here before leaving to go to the islands or the jungle. That said, there are a lot of things to do and see in Bangkok. Cheap things, expensive things, unique things, and outdoor things. Bangkok has a bit of everything. To help you plan your trip and make the most of your visit, below is my suggested itinerary for Bangkok. It will help you tackle this sprawling, hectic city in a way that gets you on and off the beaten track so you can peel back the onion that is Bangkok and discover why I love it so much. Bangkok Itinerary Day 1: Grand Palace, Khao San Road, & more! Day 2: Floating Market, Muay Thai Fight, & more! Day 3: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Lumpini Park, & more! Day 4: Bangkok Art and Culture Center, National Museum, & more! Other Things to See and Do: Museum of Siam, Lake Taco, & more! Bangkok Itinerary: Day One The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun The first place you should visit in Bangkok is the Grand Palace (Royal Palace) and neighboring Wat Pho, home to the famous reclining Buddha and massage school. The Royal family doesn’t live in the palace (it’s only used for official state functions) and you can’t go into any of the buildings, but wandering the grounds and open temples is worth the visit. It’s beautiful and the craftsmanship in the architecture is amazing. Go first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds. Afterward, wander down the street to Wat Pho and the famous reclining Buddha (as well as the famous Golden Buddha). It’s the largest reclining Buddha statue in the country at 46 meters (150 feet) long. The Wat Pho complex fills a city block so while seeing the statues doesn’t take long, you could spend a solid hour wandering the maze-like temple grounds. Next, head across the river to Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). This is a gorgeous Buddhist temple on the Chao Phraya River opposite the Grand Palace. It has one main spire and four small ones and is so iconic that it’s on Thai money. From the top of the main spire, you get to see sweeping views of the city. It’s my favorite temple in Bangkok. If you want a deep-dive into the temple and palace, take a guided tour. You’ll learn about the history of each temple and the palace from an expert local guide who can answer all your questions and provide a much more nuanced experience. Note: When visiting these places, be sure to wear clothes that cover your legs and shoulders; it’s considered disrespectful to wear revealing clothes. That means no short skirts, no tank tops, nothing that shows your stomach, and no ripped pants. The Grand Palace is located on Na Phra Lan Road; royalgrandpalace.th/en/home. Open daily 8:30am-3:30pm. Admission is 500 THB. Wat Pho is located on 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, +66 083-057-7100, watpho.com/en. Open daily from 8am–7:30pm. Admission is 300 THB. Wat Arun is across the river at 158 Wang Doem Road, +66 2 891 2185. Open daily 8am–6pm. Admission is 200 THB. Take a River Cruise Take a tour of the Chao Phraya River, a relaxing and beautiful experience that shouldn’t be skipped. Don’t take an overpriced tour, though (they cost over 2,000 THB). You can ride the water taxi up and down the river for around 35 THB. Start at the central pier, go to the end, and come back. Presto! Instant tour for a fraction of the price! Tour More Temples Bangkok has a lot of beautiful temples. Hire a tuk-tuk driver to take you around for the day to see the temples. This is often the cheapest and most efficient way to see the temples throughout Bangkok. You can even split the cost with other travelers to save money. My favorite temples are: Wat Saket – The Golden Mount has an enormous, 100-meter-high, 500-meter wide chedi (mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics). This is one of my favorite temples in the city because of its beautiful golden temple and wonderful views of the city from its top. At the base of the mountain is an overgrown cemetery for 18th-century plague victims. Open daily 7am-7pm. Admission to the temple is free while the chedi costs 100 THB. Wat Benchamabophit – This temple is pictured on the back of the 5-baht coin. The white marble used to contrast the building was imported directly from Italy, and there is a unique blend of both Thai and European architecture and design. In the courtyard, there are 53 Buddha images representing every mudra (gesture) and style from Thai history. This makes it a good place to visually see how Buddha has been represented in Thailand over time. Open daily 8am-5:30pm. Admission is 50 THB. Just make sure your tuk-tuk driver doesn’t take you shopping along the way — drivers get kickbacks if they bring customers into certain shops. Ask your hotel/hostel staff for a reputable driver; they will likely know someone. Visit Khao San Road The backpacker capital of the world, this road (along with Soi Rambuttri) is a must visit! You’ll find endless bars, shops, street food, international restaurants, vendors, locals, and activities all day and all night. It’s also a popular spot on the weekend for Thais. I personally like the quieter Soi Rambuttri, but Khao San is an awesome place to sit outside and meet other travelers. It’s much more commercial than it used to be, but it’s still fun to explore! Planning a trip to Southeast asia? Get all my best travel tips along with these free guides: Travel Planning 10161 Savvy Travel TipsMy Favorite Companies to UseHow to Get Free Flights Enter your info below to get your FREE guides sent to you today! send me free tips! Bangkok Itinerary: Day Two Check out the Floating Market You can enjoy a half-day visit to the floating markets around the city (Khlong Lat Mayom and Taling Chan are the two most popular). It makes for a filling morning adventure and if you get there early you can avoid a lot of the crowds. Thaling Chan is the more touristy one so to avoid the hordes of tour groups, definitely get there early. They’re not the best place to shop, but they are great for people-watching and eating. Both markets can be visited by public transportation. I love the chaos, the smells, and the little ladies cooking and selling you various treats as they paddle by you. (You never leave hungry.) Explore Chinatown Chinatown in Bangkok is a culinary feast. You can go shopping here and buy lots of useless souvenirs, but what I love about this area is the food. On the chaotic vendor-lined streets, you’ll find a ton of vendors selling food you hardly see anywhere else in the city. This is a crowded and busy part of the city but one of my favorites. At night, the area is one of the best places in the city to get delicious seafood. Visit the Malls Okay, hear me out: Malls in Bangkok are more than just malls, they are social hubs (thanks in part to the air-conditioning) where people eat (mall food courts in Bangkok are delicious), drink at bars, see movies, sit at coffee shops, and even go bowling! A lot of life in the city happens in the malls and each has its own character. Here’s a list of the best malls in the city: Terminal 21 (88 Sukhumvit Road 19, +66 2 108 0888, terminal21.co.th) MBK Center (444 Phayathai Road, +66 2 853 9000, mbk-center.co.th) Siam Paragon (991/1 Rama I Road, +66 2 610 8000, siamparagon.co.th) Emporium (622 Sukhumvit Road, +66 2 269 1000, emporium.co.th) CentralWorld (999/9 Rama I Road, +66 2 640 7000, centralworld.co.th) Watch a Muay Thai Fight Muay Thai (a combat sport involving striking and clinching) is everywhere in Thailand and Thais take it very seriously. Fighters train for years. Don’t bother seeing the tourist Muay Thai fights on any of the islands. Instead, spend a night seeing an authentic match with world-class fighters in Bangkok at Rajadamnern Stadium, which can hold up to 8,000 spectators. There’s usually something going on every night so check the website. You can also catch fights at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, which seats up to 5,000 people, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Between the two stadiums, there are fights going on every night of the week. 1 Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd, +66 2 281 4205, rajadamnern.com. Tickets start at 1,500 THB. Bangkok Itinerary: Day Three Wander the Chatuchak Weekend Market The weekend market is one of the best things in Bangkok. It’s the size of many football fields and quite crowded. You’ll find everything and anything from authentic designer clothes to their fake counterparts to phones to knockoff movies to pets to backpacks to kitchenware. There’s a big dining area with great, cheap food. Don’t miss coming here. With over 15,000 stalls, it really does have everything! Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, +66 2 272 4813, chatuchakmarket.org. Open Saturday and Sunday 9am-6pm. Tour Jim Thompson’s House Jim Thompson was an American spy and silk merchant in Thailand during the ’50s and ’60s who vanished mysteriously in 1967 while in Malaysia. Some say he was lost or killed while hiking while others say he disappeared himself (he was a spy, after all). When he returned to private industry after the war, he almost single-handedly revitalized Thailand’s sinking silk industry. He made his home in the traditional Thai style, decorating it with beautiful teak wood and a surrounding garden. The tours feature a lot of history about Jim, the silk industry, and how and why Thais design their homes the way they do. 1 Khwaeng Wang Mai, +66 2 216 7368, jimthompsonhouse.org. Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission is 200 THB. Relax in Lumpini Park Lumpini Park is Bangkok’s Central Park. This sizable green space spans over 140 acres and is well worth a visit if you’re a people watcher. At all hours of the day, you’ll find people playing sports, walking, biking, practicing tai chi, or just relaxing. In a city that lacks much green space, you’ll probably crave a little wildlife after navigating all the traffic and vendors in this concrete jungle. Grab a book, pack a lunch, and come and lounge in the shade and watch the afternoon go by. It’s a nice change of pace from the hectic flow of the rest of the city (it’s a no-smoking area too). 192 Wireless Rd, +66 2 252 7006. Open daily 4:30am-10pm. Hang with the Hipsters on Soi Nana There are two areas in Bangkok called Soi Nana (one is a sex tourism hub), but the Soi Nana I’m referring to is a hip area for nightlife near the train station in Chinatown. This street is filled with tiny bars, cocktail lounges, and art exhibits in old-style Chinese homes left in their original style. Some of the best bars are Pijiu (Chinese beer bar), Teens of Thailand (first gin bar in Thailand), Ba Hao (four-floor Chinese-inspired bar), El Chiringuito (Spanish tapas), and 23 Bar & gallery (bar in an art space). It’s incredibly popular with young Thais and one of the coolest areas of Bangkok. Don’t miss it. Bangkok Itinerary: Day Four Visit the National Museum Opened in 1874 and established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), this museum focuses on Thai culture, with highlights that include a large collection of musical instruments, recorded music, ornate royal funeral chariots, and impressive wooden carvings. The museum isn’t very big and the signs aren’t very detailed, but the artifacts are interesting to look at. Na Phra That Alley, +66 2 224 1333, finearts.go.th/museumbangkok/. Open Wednesday-Sunday 8:30am-4pm. Admission is 200 THB. Take a Food Tour Bangkok has an incredible food scene and is one of the best foodie destinations in the world. The best way to learn about the food culture (while devouring some samples) is on a food tour. Bangkok Food Tours has a variety of tasty tours where you can try everything from street food to exotic fruits. Tours start from 1,650 THB. And for cooking classes, a half-day cooking class (including a market visit) costs around 1,345 THB. They’re a fun way to learn about the cuisine while learning new skills and recipes you can try when you get home. Enjoy an event at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center This contemporary arts center highlights and hosts art, music, theater, film, design, and cultural events in its exhibition and performance spaces. Opened in 2007, the BACC hosts cultural events in its exhibition and performance spaces. There is also an art library, cafe, gallery, craft shop, and book store here too. In a city that lacks a real art scene, this is an enriching place to see some local art. Check the website to see what’s going on during your visit. 939 Rama I Road, +66 2 214 6630-8, en.bacc.or.th. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-8pm. Admission is free though events cost money. See the website for pricing and tickets. Other Things to See and Do in Bangkok Have more time in the city? Here are some other things to see and do in Bangkok: Museum of Siam This museum uses a variety of media to explore the origins of the Thais and their culture. Opened in 2007, there are displays, movies, and multimedia that cover culture, history, Buddhism, war, and the making of modern Thailand. It’s an interactive and educational little museum housed in an old 19th-century European-style building that not a lot of tourists visit. 4 Maha Rat Rd, +66 2 225 2777. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Admission is 100 THB. Wakeboard at Lake Taco If you want to get out of the city and have some adventure, head to the outskirts of Bangkok for some wakeboarding (riding on a short board while being pulled by a motorboat). This is a popular thing to do with expats and though I never did it, my friends always said it was a fun time. The lake is just 40 minutes away so it’s an easy activity to do whenever you need a break from the city. thaiwakepark.com. A 90-minute beginner session costs around 395 THB. Calypso Ladyboy Show This ladyboy show is actually a good cabaret show that attracts a variety of visitors. It’s Bangkok’s version of Moulin Rouge. There’s glitz, glamour, and spectacle — everything you’d expect from a cabaret show in Bangkok. Calypso Cabaret, founded in 1988, is the best place to see a show in the city. Playhouse Cabaret and Golden Dome Cabaret are two other reputable venues that host fun performances as well. 2194 Charoenkrung 72-76 Road, Warehouse #3, +66 2 688 1415, calypsocabaret.com. Performances are at 7:45pm and 9:45pm and tickets start at 900 THB. Day Trip to Ayutthaya Ayutthaya (pronounced ah-you-tah-ya) was founded around 1350 and was the second capital of Thailand (it was the capital before it relocated to Bangkok). Unfortunately, the city was destroyed in 1767 by a Burmese attack and there are only ruins and a few temples and palaces still left standing. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s home to the summer palace and tons of breathtaking and unique temples. Since it’s so close to Bangkok, it’s a very popular day-trip destination for tours. While lots of companies offer trips, it’s so easy to get to that you should simply go on your own by train. Train tickets cost around 130 THB, with the journey taking 1.5 hours each way. To really learn more, take a guided tour. They’re just 1,300 THB and are a great way to learn about this UNESCO site. *** Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to see and do in Bangkok than just temples, shopping, and traffic. It’s a city whose charm emerges slowly once you get off the beaten path. While you can see the highlights in a couple of days, with four or five days you can start to peel back the layers of this chaotic city and start to see why Bangkok really is one of the best destinations in the world. But don’t just take my word for it. Use this post as a guide and learn to love the city the way I did. I promise you won’t be disappointed! Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Thailand!My detailed 350+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guidebooks and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel around Thailand. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today. Planning a Trip to Southeast asia Get all my best Southeast Asia travel tips & free planning guides sent straight to your inbox send me the free guides Book Your Trip to Bangkok: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned! Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. For more hostels, here is a complete list of my favorite hostels in Bangkok. If you prefer to stay in a hotel, these are my favorite hotels in Bangkok. And if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of Bangkok! Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: Safety Wing (best for everyone) Insure My Trip (for those over 70) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too. The post Visiting Bangkok: My Suggested 3-5 Day Itinerary appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

Google Ads recommendations often spark debate among advertisers. While some are highly situational and require careful consideration, others can actively harm your account’s performance. However, some recommendations offer valuable insights or significantly improve results when applied effectively. This article explores the most common recommendations: Those that should be ignored because they typically do more harm than good. Those worth evaluating for the insights they provide. Those that are almost always worth using to optimize your campaigns. Recommendations I always ignore Some recommendations are so poor that they are instant dismissals. On rare occasions, one might be useful. However, spending hours looking through them all to find a single good one is a waste of time. Optimize your budgets Google is good at math. Their automated bidding generally works well. However, it seems they can’t do math regarding budgets. Raising your budget by $46,200 per week to receive $35,600 more in conversion value is a quick way to go out of business. After reviewing all 50 of these recommendations, I found that every single one would have caused a significant drop in ROAS or doubled the CPAs. In some cases, the CPAs were 10 times higher. That’s why I always ignore budget recommendations. Add broad match keywords Broad match has its place, but only after carefully evaluating your account. No one should blindly use this match type because it was a recommendation. If your lost impression share budget is greater than 10%, and you primarily use exact and phrase match, adding broad match usually worsens your performance. Your bid strategy dictates how well broad match will work for a campaign. You must evaluate your bid strategy before using broad match. Choosing to use broad match is decided by performance, bid methods, and budget. Your overall strategy will determine your choice to use or skip broad match, not an automated recommendation. Dig deeper: Automated bidding in Google Ads: How to get the best results Remove redundant keywords At first glance, this seems like a good recommendation. You have almost the same keyword multiple times, so removing the duplicates can make your account easier to manage. However, removing these keywords causes Performance Max to trump your search campaigns. Since search campaigns have higher conversion rates than PMax campaigns, this recommendation often results in fewer conversions. This is another recommendation you can always ignore as it can only hurt your performance. Dig deeper: Why advertisers should reassess Google Ads recommendations Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Always evaluate Some Google Ads recommendations are always worthy of evaluation. These are my favorite recommendations that cause me to examine the account in more detail. Remove conflicting negative keywords Keyword conflicts occur when one of your negative keywords is blocking one of your keywords from showing. These are always worth fixing, though fixing doesn’t always mean removing the negative keyword. Sometimes, it involves pausing the keyword instead. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t check negative keyword lists for conflicts. In about 90% of accounts I review, lists older than five years contain at least one conflict, and sometimes even thousands. Many people ignore this recommendation because they want to temporarily block a keyword or aren’t sure if they want to show for it or not. However, these keywords can still receive impressions and clicks. If the search term matches your keyword and the negative keyword isn’t in the search term, the keyword can still show an ad. This means you are showing for keyword variations but not the keyword itself. These should always be examined and action taken to pause the keyword or remove the negative keyword. Make your headlines and description more unique I don’t care about ad strength since lower ad strength ads often outperform higher ad strength ads. I also ignore the recommendation to add more headlines. Fewer headlines reduce the potential combinations, increase the data for each ad combination, and often improve your CTR and conversion rates. However, most of the RSA recommendations are useful. The recommendation to make your headlines and descriptions more unique often means you: Have too many headlines related to the keywords in the ad group. Don’t have enough CTAs, USPs, or benefit statements in your ads. Adding a variety of assets generally improves both CTR and conversion rates. When you see the recommendation to make your headlines more unique, examine your headline assets. Then, make the necessary adjustments to ensure you are using a variety of headlines and not just headlines related to your keywords. If you get a recommendation to include popular keywords in your headlines but already have two or three headlines with keywords from your ad group, it may indicate your ad group has too many disparate keywords. In this case, consider splitting your ad group into smaller ones. Review your keywords and check if your headlines match them well. If some keywords aren’t well represented in the ad, move them to a new ad group with more relevant headlines. Always use Some recommendations are always worth using. These are usually related to missing keywords, ads, or extensions. Add extensions to your ads Accounts grow and change, and it’s easy to miss something. Almost everyone wants to use the sitelink and callout ad assets. When I see this recommendation, I generally add the appropriate ad extension. There are some exceptions, such as a recommendation to add the call extension to an ecommerce account. Most accounts want to use several extensions, so it’s worth examining when you see a missing extension recommendation. Disapprovals Ad extensions or ads that have been disapproved don’t show. It’s a good idea to examine your disapprovals and fix them so they can be displayed. These are straightforward recommendations. View what is disapproved, fix it, and resubmit it for approval. The best way to see your top recommendations The repair category offers the most useful recommendations, but the card view makes it difficult to identify which campaigns or accounts need the most attention. Switching to the table view provides a clearer, at-a-glance overview of all your campaigns or accounts. The table view will show your campaign or account and the number of ad groups without ads, keywords, or other disapprovals. The table is highly efficient, allowing you to spot issues, address them, and move on to the next campaign. Among Google’s recommendations, the repair category is the most valuable to review regularly. Decoding Google Ads recommendations for smarter ad management Overall, Google Ads recommendations often have a poor reputation, as many seem designed to push advertisers to spend more or surrender control over their accounts. This has led many advertisers to tune them out entirely. However, hidden within these recommendations are valuable insights that can genuinely improve performance. The next time you encounter a recommendation, don’t dismiss it outright. Instead, evaluate it carefully to see how it could benefit your account. View the full article

The next phase of AI evolution looks set to be focused around agents: AI bots that can not only chat to you and draw pictures, but also carry out tasks on your behalf. These new AI tools won't just be able to tell you about the best hotels close to your next vacation destination—they'll be able to make the reservation for you. These kinds of multimodal agents are being worked on by Google, OpenAI, and others, and now Perplexity has announced Perplexity Assistant for Android (as per The Verge, Perplexity says iOS doesn't give apps the necessary hooks into the operating system for an iPhone version to be possible right now). You can find the assistant in the main Perplexity app for Android, and it's available to use whether you're using Perplexity for free or paying for a subscription. You'll see a pop-up ad for Perplexity Assistant in the app which you can tap on to enable it, or you can find it by tapping your profile picture (top left), then Enable assistant. During the setup process, you'll be asked to set Perplexity Assistant as the default assistant on Android, instead of Google Assistant or Google Gemini. This is the same process as it is for setting any other default assistant, and you'll be directed to the right screen: It means you can launch Perplexity Assistant with whatever the assistant shortcut is (like a long-press on the power button). When the assistant is active, you can use your voice to interact with it or give it commands, or tap the keyboard icon in the lower right corner to type instead. There are no settings to manage, but there is a button in the lower left corner for switching to camera mode, which lets you ask Perplexity Assistant about anything in your surroundings. You'll need to set Perplexity Assistant as your default assistant. Credit: Lifehacker What you can do with Perplexity Assistant Perplexity hasn't been overly forthcoming in terms of what you can actually do with its new assistant, but it has mentioned booking dinner (via OpenTable), playing songs (in Spotify and YouTube), calling cabs (through Uber), drafting emails, and setting reminders. You can see a few examples here. It's worth experimenting with to see what it can and can't do on your phone. You can ask for directions to a good coffee shop nearby, for example: Perplexity Assistant will search the web for recommendations, ask you to make a pick, then load up Google Maps. It's debatable whether that's any faster or more convenient than just doing the whole process through Google Maps, but it works reliably well. I was also able to call up songs and playlists in Spotify, though again, Spotify's built-in search tools do all this pretty well anyway. It's not an omnipotent digital assistant yet, however—if you ask Perplexity Assistant to order you something on Amazon, it'll just direct you to the relevant listings pages. Spotify is one of the apps Perplexity Assistant can control. Credit: Lifehacker Another test I ran was getting Perplexity Assistant to draft an email apologizing for being late, and with a task like this, the generative AI capabilities can be useful. The assistant found the right contact, composed a short email with my apologies, and loaded a draft in the Gmail app, ready to go—though if you really are sorry about a recent lack of punctuality, it's probably a better idea to actually write out the apology yourself. It's more evidence of where AI assistants are heading, but they're going to need to be granted the relevant hooks into other apps—like OpenTable and Spotify—in order to work properly. They're also going to need to be reliable and accurate enough to gain the trust of users, which has traditionally been a problem for AI: You don't want your AI-booked dinner recommendations to be for the wrong week or in the wrong city, for example. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Super Bowl LIX kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET. This year, the game is being broadcast by Fox with a pregame show starting at 2 p.m. ET and game coverage at 6 p.m. ET. Even if you don't have cable, there are a few ways, both paid and free, that you can watch all the action live from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Watch free on TubiThe game—as well as pre- and post-game coverage—will be streaming on Fox-owned Tubi for free, with 4K available on some devices (including Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV). You do need to sign up for a Tubi account, but no credit card is required. Tubi also includes the NFL Channel for supplemental Super Bowl content. Sign up for a live TV streaming serviceThere are a handful of streaming services with live TV that include Fox. Before signing up, check the channel listings for your zip code to confirm Fox is available in your local market. DirectTV Stream: $87 per month for the Entertainment plan, 5-day free trial FuboTV: Currently $60 per month for the Essential plan with promo, 7-day free trial for new customers Hulu + Live TV: $83 per month, 3-day free trial (includes ads on Hulu) YouTube TV: Currently $73 per month with promo, 5-day free trial for new users Sling TV (in limited markets): $23 per month When signing up for a free trial, make sure you know when you'll be billed for a paid subscription and cancel before your trial expires. The game will be available in 4K for FuboTV and YouTube TV subscribers (included in the free trials but at an additional fee or at a higher tier with paid plans). The Spanish-language broadcast will be on Fox Deportes and Telemundo, which are also available on most live TV streaming services. Watch over the airAnother free (ish) way to get the game is with over-the-air (OTA) TV. Of course, this requires you to invest in a digital TV antenna and have a place to put it that gets good reception. You should check the FCC's reception map to see what signals are available in your area and try your antenna out before game day. Your mileage may vary, so if you want a stress-free watch experience, this probably isn't the best option. Other ways to watch the Super BowlYou can also watch the game via the Fox Sports app if you already pay for Fox with a cable or satellite package or one of the live TV streaming services listed above. The game will also stream through the NFL+ mobile app—a subscription costs $7 per month. View the full article

More small businesses are now online, which requires shipping items to their customers near and far. This means ensuring the safety of each item during shipping with suitable packing material. Bubble mailers protect the item you ship, so they arrive at their destination safely. Another benefit of using a bubble mailer is that they are an easy and cost-effective way for your business to protect your merchandise. While boxes provide added protection, bubble mailers can offer similar protection for small items without added cost. The key is to ship items with bubble mailing bags that do not require heavy-duty protection because they have their limitations. Maybe you’ve spent hours researching the type of mailer to use, take a look at our list of the best bubble mailer for the next time you need to ship an item to your customers. Bubble Mailer Vs. Poly Mailer Bubble and poly mailer bags have become increasingly popular in the eCommerce shipping industry, and for good reason. They offer a cost-effective, lightweight, and more durable option compared to cardboard boxes, as they occupy less space in carrier trucks, which helps reduce shipping costs. However, what are the main differences between bubble mailers and poly mailers? Poly mailers? Poly mailers are polyethylene plastic envelopes. They withstand dampness, stretch while resisting tearing, and are extremely light. They are popular shipping materials. Bubble mailers? Bubble mailers are paper envelopes with cushioning on the inside to protect things during transit. Like other poly mailers, they come in a variety of sizes and colors. However, they are bulkier, less flexible, and more expensive than poly mailers. Bubble Mailer Vs Bubble Wrap Select a high-quality bubble mailer to guarantee the safety of delicate items or to provide added peace of mind when mailing. Below is a brief overview of the distinctions between bubble mailers and bubble wrap: Bubble Wrap Bubble wrap is a flexible, transparent plastic material designed for packing fragile items. It features regularly spaced, protruding air-filled hemispheres (bubbles) that offer cushioning and protection for delicate objects. Bubble Mailer Bubble mailers are made of paper on the outside and lined with Bubble Wrap on the inside. They provide additional protection for fragile things. The size of the bubbles will vary based on the product. The bigger the bubbles, the more secure your cargo. (And the stronger the pop!) How Does Bubble Mailer Protect Your Package? Your items are susceptible to bumps, drops, moisture, and tears during transportation. Bubble and padded mailers will protect your fragile from damage during transit. The bubble envelopes are made of bubble wrap on the inside, which provides air-filled cushioning in the event of a bump or a fall. The larger the air bubbles, the more protected the items will be during transportation. Best Bubble Mailers Getting your products to your customers without any dings, dents, and damage is absolutely critical. For a long time now, many sellers have used bubble wrap and mailers to protect delicate items during transit. However, for ultimate protection, you need to make sure you get the best mailers. Here is a breakdown of some of the best options on Amazon. UCGOU Black Poly Bubble Mailer Pack Top Pick: This is one of the most reviewed bubble mailer products on Amazon, with 10,261 ratings. The UCGOU mailer is opaque, even though it is black compared to other mailers. This feature hides the items you have in the envelope. The mailers are self-sealing, and the line of the bubbles is 80gsm or (grams per square meter). UCGOU 6×10 Inch Black Poly Mailers Padded Envelope Shipping Bags 50pcs Buy on Amazon Metronic Poly Mailers Runner Up: The Metronic bubble mailing bags are made with multilayered polyethylene sheets to protect their content. The self-adhesive envelope has a tamperproof seal, so you cannot open it without any visible signs. Best of all, Metronic offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Metronic 25pcs Poly Mailers 10.5×16 Inch Padded Envelope #5 Bubble Lined Poly Mailer Self Seal Classic BlueBuy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Scotch Bubble Mailer Best Value: This bubble mailer comes from Scotch, a brand known for its packing materials. This kraft-paper mailer has a durable barrier to protect your item from bubbles. The company says the bubbles have superior burst strength to resist punctures or tears. Scotch Bubble Mailer, 10.5 x 15.25-Inches, Size #5, 25-Pack Buy on Amazon GSSUSA White Poly Mailers The GSSUSA bubble mailers feature end-to-end self-adhesive tapes that provide a secure, waterproof seal. Available in five colors and three sizes (4×8, 6×10, 8.5×12), these mailers are designed to meet your needs. Additionally, the company guarantees 100% satisfaction with every purchase. GSSUSA White Poly Mailers 6×10 Padded Mailer #0 Shipping Envelopes Self Sealing Buy on Amazon Sales4Less #5 Padded Mailers Made from polypropylene, the Sales4Less bubble mailers have 3/16” bubbles to cushion the items you put in the mailers. Once you seal it with the peel-and-seal self-adhesive strip, it provides a puncture, tampers, and water-resistant container. The company also offers 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Sales4Less #5 Bubble Mailers 10.5X16 Inches Padded Envelope Mailer Waterproof Pack of 100 Buy on Amazon Fuxury #5 Inch Bubble Mailer Fuxury provides mailers in eight vibrant colors. Constructed from heavy-duty 100% plastic, these mailers utilize hot-pressing technology for enhanced durability. Each envelope features cellular air layers and 360° strong air bubble technology for added protection. Additionally, a white inner liner is included to safeguard the privacy of the contents. Fuxury stands behind its products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Fuxury #5 10.5×16 Inch Forest Green Bubble Mailer Self Seal Padded Envelope Pack of 25 Buy on Amazon LIMNUO Poly Mailers This poly mailer line comes in three colors and three different sizes (4×8,6×10,8.5×12) at an affordable price. Made from polypropylene material, it will not add to your shipping cost while protecting your item inside from moisture. LIMNUO 25pcs Pink Poly Mailers 8.5×12 Inch Padded Envelope Self Seal Envelope Bag Buy on Amazon iMBAPrice Poly Bubble Mailer – 500 Pack Keep your delicate items protected during transit with the iMBAPrice mailer. These padded mailers are lightweight and are made from a durable, moisture-free, multi-layered blend of polyethylene film. The adhesive seal provides a reliable, tamper-proof enclosure. The thick bubbles provide extra cushioning, keeping your items safe. The non-transparent outer provides extra privacy for your items. iMBAPrice Poly Bubble Mailer Buy on Amazon Offitecture Kraft Paper Envelopes – 48 Pack Whenever you need small but also good-looking kraft paper mailers, consider the Offitecture mailers. These mailers are lightweight, and they come with a strong adhesive seal that’s reliable and tamper-evident. The exterior size measures 4×8 inches and 4×7 inches on the inside. This kraft paper mailer is ideal for shipping small, fragile items. Offitecture Kraft Padded Mailing Envelopes Buy on Amazon Metronic Bubble Mailers – 50 Pack For fancy but reliable shipping mailers, look no further than the Metronic envelopes. These durable mailers are puncture and tear-resistant. They also feature a 360-degree strong air bubble technology that offers great padding and added protection for your fragile items. Like all other mailing envelopes that are worth their salt, these beautiful envelopes use a tamper-proof adhesive seal. These envelopes are available in nine different prints and colors ranging from cherry to flamingo. Metronic Bubble Mailers – 50 Pack Buy on Amazon Metronic Plain Color Mailers – 50 Pack Metronic has certainly cut a name for itself for creating truly durable and reliable padded mailing envelopes. Like its more colorful counterparts above, these plain color mailers are tear-resistant and puncture-proof. They are waterproof and also use a tamperproof seal for additional protection. The inner is lined with an 80gsm bubble with unique cellular layers, and the 360-degree bubble technology easily absorbs shock during transit. These padded mailing envelopes are available in eight different colors, ranging from black to hot pink. Metronic Plain Color Mailers – 50 Pack Buy on Amazon TINNIVI Bubble Mailers – 30 Pack Available in three different sizes, the TINNIVI padded shipping bags are among the best shipping envelopes. These bags are made of thick and durable materials that are hard to tear or puncture. Like any other good mailer, they are lightweight and also waterproof. The opaque materials are also a great privacy ally and this is also complemented with a tamper-proof seal. TINNIVI Bubble Mailers – 30 Pack Buy on Amazon How to Choose the Best Bubble Mailer There is an overwhelming amount of padded mailing envelopes in the market today. They come in several different dimensions, materials, colors, and prices. Here are a few things to keep in mind when buying bubble packaging envelopes. Size This is one of the most critical aspects. Note that the shipping envelope should always be larger than the object or document that you are sending so nothing is folded or crushed. Most mailers include their interior size (the usable space) and exterior size (largely determines your shipping costs. Your contents should fit easily but securely within the packaging mailer Self-seal mailers To ensure it stays closed, bubble bags should self-seal. Besides, who wants to lick envelopes? Make sure that your kraft paper mailer or bubble-padded mailer comes with a strong sealing adhesive seal. Paper or plastic Paper or plastic? The choice depends on the fragility of the items you are shipping. While Kraft paper is typically thick and durable, it does not hold up well in high-moisture conditions. If you’re worried about potential water damage, it may be best to opt for plastic mailers. Branding and Color The bubble mailing bags come in a variety of colors. If you are looking for a little more flair, go with the custom mailers that fit your branding. However, if you want a professional look, plain colors are a good bet. They are also super easy to customize. Eco-friendly Bubble Mailers There are a ton of eco-friendly mailers that are made from recycled materials. Considering the number of mail sent out on a daily basis, these envelopes help to reduce the overall impact on the environment. Bulky Bubble Mailers If you are regularly shipping items to your customers, buying padded mailing bags in bulk can save you a lot of time and money. Most of the mailing bags in our review are available in large packs. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Packing Peanuts for Your Business Shipping Needs Top Commercial Microwaves for Your Business Best Office Floor Mats Best Baby Changing Stations for Your Business Image: amazon This article, "Best Bubble Mailers for Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Yahoo appears to be testing some new AI related features within Yahoo Search. In fact, some are seeing Yahoo show a banner at the top of Yahoo’s home page that says, “We’re building a new yahoo.com to show more of what’s interesting to you.” The new search features include: AI powered chat AI generated answers within search Note, you need to login to Yahoo to see the new Yahoo Search features. AI chat in Yahoo. For the past week or so, we’ve been seeing signs of Yahoo incorporating AI Chat features in Yahoo Search. Now, we are seeing that more prominently in the Yahoo Search interface. Here are some screenshots from Sachin Patel on X: Here is a screenshot of the message about the new Yahoo and I am told the try now link goes to Yahoo Search: Here is the Yahoo Search home page: The Yahoo Search bar with AI elements built within it: Here are what these AI Chat answers look like: Yahoo AI Generated Answers. Yahoo Search is also incorporating AI generated answers directly in the Yahoo Search results. These seem to be powered by OpenAI and show directly in Yahoo Search, where you see a snippet of the AI generated answer and then can click to expand the answer to show more: Here are more screenshots: Yahoo has introduced AI overviews, but there are no links in the AI overview. They simply provide an answer for users to read. They’ve also added a feedback option—users can like the answer, but if they dislike it, they’re asked to provide feedback.@rustybrick pic.twitter.com/LAsMqOb7kw — Sachin Patel (@SachuPatel53124) January 27, 2025 More information. Is this part of Yahoo’s renewed return to Search from 2023, which we were expecting in 2024. Or is this just some more basic AI licensed services within Yahoo Search. It is hard to tell but we will be watching. Why we care. With all these new AI elements that everyone is rolling out, differentiating search features can be easier than ever before. Here are signs of Yahoo making some of these efforts. As I said, we have been expecting Yahoo to make its comeback to search for a while now and it seems we may be seeing some elements of that. I for one am looking forward to a new Yahoo Search experience. View the full article

In marketing – whether digital or not – we all understand the power of a strong brand. A recognizable brand is vital for earning and keeping attention, driving trust, and building loyalty. On the agency side, this connection is clear: branding influences how we engage clients and deliver value. But how often do we consider the importance of branding within our teams? Establishing and maintaining a strong team brand is just as crucial. A well-defined team identity can foster collaboration, earn the trust of internal stakeholders, and secure advocacy for the team’s work. More importantly, it shifts the focus from individual contributions – often dominated by the leader’s presence – to the team’s collective efforts and shared goals. Creating a team brand involves more than just choosing a name or tagline. It’s about establishing consistency, communicating value, and aligning with your broader organizational goals. With that in mind, here are three key areas to focus on when building a team brand for your in-house or agency SEO team. 1. Brand identity A name is helpful but doesn’t need to be catchy or unique. Something simple like “SEO Group” works well because it: Provides an identity for the team. Clearly describes what the team does. A tagline can be useful but isn’t always necessary. If the team name doesn’t clearly convey its purpose, a tagline can help. For example, a network engineer I worked with often described his role as “Networking for money.” Similarly, “Optimizing websites for money” could make a fitting catchphrase for an SEO team. Logos aren’t usually required, but if you decide to create one, it can be tricky. A team member with artistic skills or generative AI could help, but avoid incorporating elements of the larger company’s branding. This ensures you stay within brand guidelines, especially for documents shared externally. Dig deeper: Why search marketing education is a MUST within companies 2. Consistency Consistency is a cornerstone of effective branding, especially when building a brand within your organization. It’s crucial not only for naming but also for how team members communicate with other teams. Standardizing terminology is particularly helpful. For example, terms like “organic search,” “natural search,” and “unpaid search” all mean the same thing. Choosing one term and having everyone use it ensures clarity and consistency in external communications. When working with outside vendors, require them to adopt your team’s terminology to avoid the need for “translation” and save time. Consistency is equally important in how your team approaches SEO work. While the answer to many SEO questions is often “it depends,” building trust within the team requires everyone to contribute to decisions and fully support them once made. Trust, both internally and externally, can erode quickly if team members act independently of agreed-upon strategies. The same applies to outside agencies. Involve them in team discussions and require them to align with your team’s decisions to ensure consistent approaches to challenges. Dig deeper: How to use SEO education for stakeholder management Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. 3. Unique value proposition A strong brand needs a clear value proposition, which can be challenging to define. While you may not always be competing for attention with other teams, you still need to demonstrate your value to those you collaborate with. Here are a few ways to showcase your team’s worth: Regular reporting based on SEO and business metrics. Email newsletters. Scheduled “office hours.” An intranet page or internal website. Reporting is especially critical, as it highlights what has been lost or gained and what could be achieved by following the team’s recommendations. Through these efforts, you can demonstrate your experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). You want to build credibility with peers, leaders, supported teams, other business areas, and – most importantly – business leaders. As Jessica Bowman noted in “The Executive SEO Playbook,” it’s nearly impossible for SEO teams to proactively drive work forward without “upfront and consistent, metrics-driven, executive-level support.” Earning that support requires building trust, which is essential in enterprise organizations where competition for resources is often fierce. Dig deeper: How to convince leadership why they can’t ignore SEO Branding for SEO teams: Building trust within organizations Building a brand for your in-house team might seem like a distraction from “real” SEO work. However, because no team can achieve everything alone, a strong brand ensures your value is understood, enabling you to gain the collaboration and resources needed to succeed. View the full article

Meats are muscles. On account of this, they’re not perfectly symmetrical bricks. Different cuts can be tear-dropped, conical, or otherwise shaped asymmetrically with a thick and thin side. But, alas, uneven shapes lead to uneven cooking. The thinner end of a chicken breast can come to temperature relatively quickly compared to the bulbous end that might be nearly two inches thicker. Put an end to partially overcooked, dried-out, rubbery meat parts, and try a technique called “butterflying.” Butterflying is a simple method for modifying a cut of meat by slicing it in half horizontally. You can cut it through completely in this fashion and end up with two thin pieces, or take care not to cut through the other side, and open it like a book. This serves to even-out a cut of meat and extend the surface area. Keep in mind, butterflying doesn’t turn the meat into a perfect rectangle, but rather modifies an extremely asymmetric cut to give it a more even thickness. Butterflying allows for more even exposure to heat, but the increase in surface area serves other functions too. It allows for easier pounding or tenderizing, thorough absorption of flavors through marinating, a more flexible and thin material for roulades, and a shortened cook time. How to butterfly a cut of meatButterflying a cut of meat takes a little getting used to at first, but once you do it a few times, it becomes easy, fast, and deliciously rewarding. Make sure you have a sharp knife, and a stable cutting board. 1. Lay the meat flat on the cutting boardFor an elongated cut of meat, such as a chicken breast, I usually place it so the thickest side is on the right and the point of the breast is pointing at me. The goal is to cut through the thicker side first, we'll be leaving the thinnest side connected so it will end up reflecting the same overall thickness of the other sides. If you’re left-handed, you can reverse the arrangement. I’m right-handed, so the thick side will be on the right. Cut the breast horizontally by starting on the thickest side. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 2. Begin the cutPlace the knife against the chicken halfway down the thick side, parallel to the cutting board, and use slow strokes to begin cutting through. It helps to use your non-dominant hand to hold the chicken, and also lift the top section away as you butterfly. This steadies the meat and also creates some tension in the flesh to make cutting easier. Lift the top half as you cut for better control. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Again, do this slowly, keep your fingers safe, and periodically check on where your knife is headed. One of the easiest mistakes you can make is to cut quickly without checking, and end up with one tiny piece and one big weird piece. One of the worst mistakes you can make is not checking on the knife’s path, and accidentally cutting yourself. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 3. Stop at the cut to maintain even thicknessContinue slicing along the same cut and stop the cut about a half inch from the connecting side. Now you can open it completely like a book (the hinge-side would be like the book’s binding). If you want two thin cuts, continue your cut through to the other side. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann For a proper butterflied chicken breast, the connecting side remains roughly as thick as the rest of the now-open chicken breast, so use your judgment on if you should stop more or less than a half-inch from the thin side. Once you become more comfortable, you can even adjust the cuts to butterfly chicken breast and other thick cuts of meat into three pieces, like unfolding a letter, for more surface area. Butterflying is a helpful technique that you can do to most boneless cuts of meat providing it's thick enough and you have precise knife skills. Try butterflying steak, chicken thighs, pork, or even shrimp. After this step, you can pound out the chicken or other meat and fill it with cheese and herbs, or dried fruit and bread stuffing for a leveled-up entree. Enjoy the quick cook time, and marinate, roulade, or tenderize to your stomach’s content. View the full article

Google Search may have pushed some unconfirmed Google search ranking algorithm update or tweak around Friday, January 24th. I briefly mentioned this on my Friday video but I felt it was worth kicking up here as its own story.View the full article

Yahoo is continuing its AI Chat features within Yahoo Search, while also incorporating AI Answers into its search results. The AI powered answers and chat seemed to be powered by OpenAI.View the full article

Microsoft Bing is testing placing the sources section of its AI Answers in a carousel view, instead of a list view. This let's you scroll through the sources as opposed to just seeing them below in a list view.View the full article

Microsoft is testing different colored URLs for its organic (free) results and its sponsored (paid) results. The organic URL slugs are bold black colored and the sponsored URL slugs are bold green colored.View the full article