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IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Coach Phil Jackson on compassion: “Compassion for all beings—not least of all oneself—is the key to breaking down barriers among people. Now, ‘compassion’ is a word not often bandied about in locker rooms. But I’ve found that a few kind, thoughtful words can have a strong transformative effect on relationships, even with the toughest men on the team.” (Blog Post) Source: Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success II. Coach Tony Dungy on putting people first: “Instead of asking, how can I lead my company, my team, or my family to a higher level of success? We should be asking ourselves, how do others around me flourish as a result of my leadership? Do they flourish at all? How does my leadership, my involvement in their lives—in whatever setting we’re in—have a positive and lasting influence and impact on them?” Source: The Mentor Leader: Secrets to Building People and Teams That Win Consistently * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re considering a smartwatch with top-tier health tracking and rugged durability, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Bespoke Edition) is now $249.99 (down from $329.99), its lowest price yet, according to price trackers. SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 7 Bespoke Edition $249.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $329.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $249.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $329.99 Save $80.00 Its 44mm aluminum body is lightweight but tough, with IP68 weather resistance, 5ATM waterproofing, and MIL-STD-810H certification. In simple terms, it can handle dust, shocks, extreme temperatures (-4°F to 122°F, according to the manufacturer), and submersion. Pair that with a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display (480x480 resolution), and you’ve got a watch that’s both durable and great to look at—whether you’re swiping through notifications or checking your fitness stats, the screen reportedly impresses. When it comes to health tracking, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers sleep monitoring, measures body composition (like BMI and fat percentage), takes an ECG, and even features FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, notes this PCMag review. It then calculates an Energy Score—a Galaxy AI feature that combines fitness, sleep, and other health metrics into a single score (out of 100)—while offering personalized tips to improve your health. That said, some advanced features (like snoring detection) require a Samsung phone. For day-to-day use, the Galaxy Watch 7 is powered by Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI enhancements. You get Bluetooth, wifi, NFC for mobile payments, and dual-frequency GPS for precise location tracking. Plus, its 32GB of storage means you can load plenty of music or apps. But no product is perfect. Its 425mAh battery lasts 22-28 hours (depending on usage), which means you’ll need to charge it daily. For those who prioritize battery life, alternatives like the OnePlus Watch 2 might be worth exploring at a similar price point. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. Little is more satisfying than seeing a jerk get a well-deserved comeuppance. For example, some satisfying stories shared here in the past: • • • “I worked with a horrid VP of Sales – arrogant, obnoxious, just a nightmare. We were in an internal meeting and he used the phrase ‘get in a circle jerk’ with them (and even used the hand motion). Then smirked at me, the only woman in the room and the youngest by far. I’d had enough so (fake) innocently asked, loudly, ‘What’s a circle jerk?’ He tried to move on but I asked again, ‘Sorry I don’t understand, what is a circle jerk – if I’m negotiating the contract I need to know the terms.’ Everyone froze. The CEO walked in and asked, ‘So where are we?’ I loudly said, ‘Well, we are waiting for ____ to explain what a circle jerk is as he’s really worried about it being part of the contract.’ It was absolute gold and a career highlight that sadly can’t go on a resume!” • • • “A colleague kept stealing my work – copy-pasting stuff from documents I’d written, and claiming PowerPoint decks as her own. So I embedded my name in everything I made – in the footer or the slide master, in a tiny white font. Then when she claimed the work was hers in a meeting I asked for the mouse to ‘point to something’ and ‘accidentally’ highlighted where it said ‘documents created by (my name) on date.’” • • • “Years ago I was working for a new group of attorneys – at the same time as my mom was undergoing chemo treatments. Suffice to say, I was super stressed all the time, which took its own toll on my immune system, so I ended up sick myself quite a bit. One of the attorneys actually suggested that I was sick ‘all the time’ because I was out ‘partying too much.’ None of the attorneys knew anything about my personal life, mostly because they never would ask, so he had no idea how insulting this was. Later that year I was fired. Two years ago I ran into the ‘you party too much’ attorney who was out at a bar with his wife. I had DREAMED of this day for years. I walked up to him and was SUPER nice initially, said it was nice to see him, etc, and then said since I didn’t get to say goodbye to him when I left the firm abruptly, I had to address something he had said to me. He meekly asked, ‘Hope nothing bad?’ I said he had suggested that I was sick a lot because I ‘partied too much.’ His wife is now VERY interested why her husband had been talking to me about partying, I’m sure. I explained that in fact, I wasn’t partying, I was dealing with a stressful job with a bunch of assholes while my mom was undergoing chemo treatments. His face went WHITE at this point as he stammered that he had no idea. ‘And that is exactly the point,’ I explained, ‘you don’t know what is going on in someone’s life. You’re an asshole.’ I have never felt so vindicated in my entire life as I did in that moment, and in front of his wife no less. It was entirely worth the wait.” • • • In the comment section, please share your stories of jerks getting their comeuppance! View the full article

“Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) refers to topics that may affect users’ health, finances, safety, or well-being. View the full article

Home ownership is a key goal for many Americans despite the financial and environmental challenges posed in today's real estate market—and the transition from renting an apartment to owning a house is, in itself, a challenge in many ways. One of those challenges is adjusting your approach to furnishing and decorating your living spaces, especially if you’re going from a small rental to a large house. Decking out a house you own can be a different experience from making a rental into a comfortable space because the scale is different: Budgets have to be bigger because you’re usually filling more space, purchases tend to be more long-term because you’re not sweating the end of a lease, and suddenly, that couch you’ve been moving from place to place since college is no longer socially acceptable. Here’s how to approach decorating a house when you’ve only ever lived in an apartment. Pause and planStep one is to take a moment and slow down, resisting the urge to be “moved in” as quickly as possible. Moving into an apartment is often an exercise in making your existing furniture somehow work in the new space, which encourages a haphazard approach and a utilitarian feel. The key to decorating a house, though, is to embrace what’s known as “slow decorating”: Instead of just dragging all your existing furniture in and filling rooms with stuff, be thoughtful about what you plan to use the room for. Measure each space so you can pick and arrange your furniture thoughtfully. Choose furniture and accents that fit that plan. If an existing piece works in that plan, great! Otherwise, consider whether it fits elsewhere or if it needs to be replaced with something different. Think in terms of roomsMoving from a small rental to a sprawling house poses another psychological challenge: scale. Going from a modest and maybe even crowded place to a home with a lot more square footage can be overwhelming. Going from a small space you didn’t have a stake into a more permanent place that requires a lot more stuff can be overwhelming. Instead of trying to come up with a comprehensive plan (and budget) to furnish and decorate the entire new space, take it room by room: Start with the rooms you will use immediately and all the time: the primary bedroom, the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Narrowing down your decisions to a specific room at a time will make the whole process more psychologically and financially manageable. You can create a sense of cohesion by using the same “pop” color in each space and repeating decorative elements like vases or other decorative objects. Wall art that’s part of a series, for example, can link rooms even if you’re approaching them individually. Once you have the main rooms set up, you can tackle the remaining rooms one at a time. Another reason this works is the fact that small apartments often require you to make rooms multi-functional, but houses often have dedicated spaces—dining rooms, offices, living rooms, etc. If you’re going from a space where one room was your office, living room, and exercise space, taking each room individually will help you envision what your ideal version of that space would be instead of what you can fit or what can easily be stashed out of sight. Embrace spaceIn smaller rental spaces, we often make decisions around furniture that solve apartment-related problems, like a lack of a guest bedroom (resulting in a heavy, bulky sleeper sofa) or a lack of useful storage (resulting in buying everything with extra storage space, like an Admiral bed). But a house may not present those same challenges, so it’s time to ask yourself if that sleeper sofa or other storage piece still makes sense. The size of the rooms also has to be taken into consideration. In an apartment, for example, cramming a couch and a coffee table into a room is all it takes to make a living room, but a larger room in a house might feel empty, requiring more thought about how you’re going to use the room. Will it mainly be a viewing experience, with lots of comfortable seating arranged in front of a screen? Or do you want to foster more of a conversation space, with seating facing each other? Or, if you have the space, will it be both? Finally, a house with more space can benefit from larger “statement”-type pieces of furniture—oversized furniture, or large artwork on the walls. Remind yourself that you can go big and go home in a house. View the full article

Outdated technology and "unlimited PTO" among key issues discussed. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation Go PRO for members-only access to more Center for Accounting Transformation. View the full article

Outdated technology and "unlimited PTO" among key issues discussed. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation Go PRO for members-only access to more Center for Accounting Transformation. View the full article

Office management is about maximizing office efficiency and ensuring effective office work. It involves coordinating office activities and helping to maintain employee satisfaction. The keywords here are efficiency and effectiveness. When a business is managed correctly, there is control over office activities, a reduction of company costs, happy employees, and coordination of all enterprise activities. View the full article

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

Push-ups are a classic exercise to build strength even when you don't have gym equipment available, but not everybody can bang out rep after rep—sometimes you have to work on other exercises to build the strength to start doing push-ups. This is what I'll guide you through today. And if you remember those knee pushups from gym class—well, those are okay, but they aren't your best option. To do knee push-ups, you place your knees on the ground (or on a cushion, if that's more comfortable) and otherwise do the standard push-up motion. Knee push-ups are better than nothing, but they have a few downsides compared to other types of push-ups. The main one is that they are a lot easier on your core muscles, so that while your arms and chest get a workout, your abs aren't getting the strength they'll need to stabilize your body in a full push-up. Knee push-ups also allow you to get lazy with your lower body positioning. In short, knee pushups ask less of your glutes and core, making them more of an upper-body than a full-body exercise. Here are some variations I like better. Option 1: full push-ups in very short setsIf you can do a few full push-ups with good form, you can build a workout from single-rep sets. Good form means that your body is tight like a plank, without your belly sagging or your hips pointing up as in downward dog. Your hands are approximately under your shoulders, and your elbows are tucked toward your body rather than flared out at 90 degrees. If you can do two or three, you're in good shape to build from that. Instead of sets of, say, 10—which you can't do yet—do a set of just one or two reps. Then rest (or do another exercise), and come back for another push-up or two. You may want to do more sets than if you were training push-ups with higher reps. Try 10 sets of one rep each, say, or five sets of two reps. Over time, you'll be able to add reps, and then you can reduce the number of sets, if you like. Working toward three sets of 10 is a good goal. Option 2: negative push-upsA “negative” push-up starts at the top, and slowly lowers down. But instead of then pushing yourself back up, you get on your hands and knees to reset to the top position again. Lower yourself down slowly each time, fully under control, as many times as you can. When you find yourself dropping down quickly, your set is over; take a break. Negatives use eccentric contractions, which build muscle at least as well as their concentric, or positive, counterparts. You can use the same strategy to work up to other challenging exercises, like pull-ups. Beware, however—negatives are notorious for making you sore the next day, so go easy on these your first time. Once your body is used to them, you'll be able to do them regularly. Option 3: staircase progressionIf those options are still too tough for you—or if you just want something more flexible—try a staircase progression. You can use an actual staircase, or pick surfaces at varying heights: a wall, a table, a chair, a stack of books. Start with your hands on a high surface. This might be the wall, with your feet a few steps back, or a high countertop. Engage all the muscles in your core and legs so your body is like a stiff plank, and keep the same good form as if you were doing a push-up from the floor. Do your set of push-ups this way. When the wall or countertop is too easy, drop your hands down to something lower, like a chair. (If you’re using an actual staircase, just start with your feet on the floor and your hands on a high step; move your hands to the lower steps over time.) Eventually you’ll be able to do full sets of push-ups from the floor. Then, reverse the progression: start putting your feet on higher and higher surfaces. Ultimate goal: handstand push-ups. Good luck and get moving! View the full article

If you tried to open ChatGPT this morning, only to find the service endlessly loading or erroring out, you're not alone: ChatGPT is up and down this morning, along with other OpenAI services. OpenAI's official status site shows some issues for services across OpenAI's portfolio, but ChatGPT is the most affected. As of this article, all other services are listed as "Operational," but not ChatGPT. The chatbot was previously listed as dealing with a "Partial Outage," but OpenAI has since relabeled it as a "Major Outage." The company has six updates listed on Jan. 23 under "Past Incidents:" The first was at 3:54 PST: "We are currently experiencing elevated error rates in the API. We are currently investigating." OpenAI identified the issue at 4:26 PST, then rolled out a fix at 4:30 PST. As of 4:43, the company said it resolved the elevated error rates on ChatGPT and the API, but more issues have appeared since. At 5:12 PST, OpenAI said they were experiencing elevated error rates for ChatGPT itself, and at 5:43 PST, the company claimed to have found the root cause, and were working on a fix. That fix was supposedly implemented at 7:09 PST, but two minutes later, the company added another update, stating, "We are continuing to monitor for any further issues." I've had mixed results with ChatGPT this morning, which tracks with the original "Partial Outage" label OpenAI has assigned the platform. The first time I heard about the outage, I tried to load ChatGPT, and after some time, received an error message. Later, though, ChatGPT refreshed, and I was able to interact with the chatbot. While writing this article, ChatGPT became unresponsive again. I was able to get it to load one more time, but the situation is definitely a bit volatile at the moment. View the full article

Google removes breadcrumbs from mobile search results, simplifying URLs to show only domains while keeping breadcrumbs on desktop. The post Google Drops Breadcrumbs From Mobile Search Results appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Building a Spotify playlist isn't exactly difficult, but it can be tedious, especially if you want to assemble a mix with dozens or even hundreds of songs. Spotlistr is a free tool that can do the work for you—it can automatically turn any list of songs into a Spotify playlist, even if it's just in simple text format. You paste the text containing your list of songs, let the app run, check that the tool identified the right songs, and click a button. A playlist appears. Even better, Spotlistr can convert a playlist for pretty much any other music streaming service, including YouTube, Soundcloud, Reddit, and Last.fm. To get started, go to Spotlistr.com and sign in using your Spotify account. Next, pick the source for the playlist you want to create. I tend to use the Textbox option, which lets you paste in a simple list of songs. You'll want to get the formatting right: There should be one song per line. Credit: Justin Pot Click "Search" and the service will try to match each line to a specific song. Credit: Justin Pot You can scroll through the list and quickly confirm that the application found the songs you actually want. You'll see up to four options for each entry, allowing you to pick between them. When everything looks right, you can add the playlist to your Spotify account. Use Spotlistr to import playlists from another service (or even Reddit)Converting a list of songs into a playlist is just one function of Spotlistr. As noted, it can also import and convert playlists from other services. If there's a YouTube or Soundcloud playlist you want to move to Spotify, there are tools for that. There are also options for pulling in Last.fm top tracks from any user. A particularly cool use case: You can also pull in all songs from any Reddit conversation, subreddit, or collection of subreddits. For example: I was able to turn this list of 2024 song recommendations into this playlist featuring all of those songs with just a couple of clicks. It's a great way to sample a list of songs without having to manually search up each one, though note that the tool doesn't parse posts with multiple songs in the same line particularly well. You can also use the app to export any existing Spotify playlist to a CSV file. There's a "stats generator" that lets you crate a sort of "Spotify Wrapped" any time of the year. You can automatically remove duplicates from any playlist, or make playlist cover art. Basically, this site offers a bunch of tools that Spotify should already have, but doesn't. Bookmark it if you ever feel frustrated about the playlist making process. View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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