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Struggling to resource your projects, missing critical skills on your team, and not meeting deadlines? Here's how to conduct a resource gap analysis effectively, as well as some expert best practices so you can keep your projects and resourcing on track. The post How To Conduct A Resource Gap Analysis: 5 Basic Steps appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

With the rise of education technology, schools have adopted teaching methods that diverge from the typical classroom environment. Distance learning is being used globally, and many educational institutions have implemented hybrid learning models. View the full article

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. Jack Trout on being a doer: “The best leaders know that direction alone is no longer enough. The best leaders are storytellers, cheerleaders, and facilitators. They reinforce their sense of direction or vision with words and action.” Source: The Power of Simplicity: A Management Guide to Cutting Through the Nonsense and Doing Things Right II. Jack Welch on simplicity: “For a large organization to be effective, it must be simple. Insecure managers create complexity. Real leaders don’t need clutter. People must have the self-confidence to be clear, precise, to be sure that every person in their organization—highest to lowest—understands what the business is to achieve. But it’s not easy. You can’t believe how hard it is for people to be simple, how much they fear being simple. They worry that if they’re simple, people will think they’re simple-minded. In reality, of course, it’s just the reverse. Clear, tough-minded people are the most simple.” Source: Noel Tichy and Ram Charan: Speed, Simplicity, Self-Confidence: An Interview with Jack Welch, Harvard Business Review * * * 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

Your TikTok account is hitting off. You aren’t getting the cold sweats while publishing TikTik videos nowadays. And then, you wonder, how can I get more out of my TikTok strategy? Enter: TikTok ads. A TikTok ad is an advertisement by a brand or creator appearing on people’s For You page. For example, I got the following ad by Adobe Photoshop on my feed recently: While the TikTok ad blended seamlessly with the other TikTok videos on my feed, the “sponsored” label and the “Learn more” call-to-action button were the differentiators. TikTok users can customize their ads a lot, including whether they want to use branded content or user generated content, video or carousel, bidding strategy, etc. There’s a lot more to these simple TikTok ads than meets the eye. In this article, we’ll cover all of it so you can advertise on TikTok with confidence. But first… Should you advertise on TikTok?TikTok ads cost money. Is it worth it? The answer solely depends on: Whether or not you have your target buyers looking to buy the products you sell on TikTokWhether TikTok advertising fits your overall social media strategy and budgetHere are some facts to help you decide: A majority of TikTok comprises a younger generation (GenZ and Alpha), although that doesn’t mean that older populations aren’t using the popular social media site.56 percent of TikTok users in the U.S. have said they’ve purchased products promoted on TikTok, and another 36 percent said they haven’t bought anything yet, but are open to doing so.TikTok thrives on entertaining, short-form, and creative content. If your products have a visual appeal or an interactive component, they’ll work great for TikTok.In conclusion: TikTok ads are a brilliant investment for creators and small businesses selling products that fit into its natural format. If you can show your products in action and combine it with entertaining storytelling, go ahead and start creating your TikTok ad. If you’re unsure, it’s always wise to first test the reception of your account organically. Are you meeting your ideal customers naturally on the platform? If yes, it might be worth it to test TikTok ads. ⚠️Note: You have to follow TikTok’s advertising policies to use the TikTok ads manager. TikTok ads are also not available in all parts of the world. Check if TikTok is available in your target region using this list.7 things you should know before running a TikTok adI know you’re eager to get started right away, but here are a few things you should know (and a few tasks to tick off) before setting up your TikTok ads manager account. TikTok business accountYou need to create a TikTok ads manager account to run TikTok ads. But to create an account with TikTok ads manager, you need a TikTok business account. Here’s how to convert your personal account to a business account: 1. Log in to your account and go to your profile. 2. Go to Settings. 3. Toggle on the “Business account” button. 4. Select your business category (like clothing, beauty, etc.). 5. You’ve now switched to a business account with full access to TikTok’s business suite! 💡Related reading: How to Use TikTok for Business: A Beginners GuideTikTok ad specsAd specs are the technical requirements you should meet to run your TikTok ads. The specifications for image ads and video ads are different. Ad specs for image adsFile type: JPG, JPEG, PNG Image resolution: 720*1280 File size: Within 100MB 👉🏾Learn more specifications for image ads.Ad specs for video adsFile type: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .avi Aspect ratio: 9:16 Video resolution: 720*1280 Video duration: 30 seconds File size: Within 500MB 👉🏾Learn more about specifications for video ads.6 types of TikTok adsThe best thing about TikTok ads is there’s a ton of variety. The different types of ads on TikTok are differentiated mainly by ad placements — aka, where they’re placed on the TikTok app. Here’s a quick summary of the types of TikTok ads (all of them are in feed ads): 1. Topview ads: Topview ads are the ads that are shown to TikTok users as soon as they open their TikTok app. These ads create a high impact because it’s the first thing someone sees when they open their app. 2. Top feed ads: Top feed ads are the first TikTok ads that appear when someone’s scrolling on their phone. Basically, you buy the first dibs on any TikTok ad that appears on your target audience’s For You page. This type of ad is only available in the Reach & Frequency campaigns. 3. Standard feed ads: In contrast to top feed ads, standard feed ads appear anywhere in a user’s feed. 4. Spark ad: Spark ads allow you to boost your (or a creator’s) organic TikTok video in your TikTok ad account. You can boost the top-performing content in your TikTok account or whitelist authentic creator content or UGC to capitalize on their performance. 5. Playable ads: Playable ads are interactive videos that give users an experience. Someone seeing this playable TikTok ad can swipe and tap your video. 6. Carousel ads: Carousel ads allow you to add 2–35 images to your TikTok ad. TikTok carousels offer more room to tell a story or showcase multiple products at once. ⚡Pro-tip: TikTok is continually coming up with new ad formats that suit different ad objectives. For example, Messaging ads are a new type of ad format in testing in some regions.Keep an eye on your TikTok ads manager account to stay up-to-date with the new features and different ad formats that TikTok is rolling out. TikTok campaign structureYour TikTok ads manager account has three parts: 1. Campaign level: This is your ad campaign's most zoomed-out version. Here, you decide your advertising objective. A campaign can include multiple ad groups. 2. Ad group level: The ad group is the second level, where you set up the targeting of your ads, define ad placement, and decide on a budget. TikTok ad groups can have multiple ads. 3. Ad level: At the ad level, you can customize each individual ad as part of various ad groups. SourceTikTok bidding methodsTikTok has various bidding methods to help you control how and where you spend your budget. CPM (cost per thousand impressions): In this bidding method, you get charged by impressions. When you choose CPM as your bidding method, you ask TikTok to maximize the reach of your TikTok ad to get more impressions.oCPM: oCPM is optimized cost per thousand impressions. This means you’re asking TikTok to target users who are more likely to convert.CPC (cost per click): Cost per click is when you’re charged by the click. You’re asking TikTok to maximize conversions (buying your products, installing your app, visiting your profile) by using this bidding method.CPV (cost per view): You’re asking TikTok to charge you when a viewer views your ad for at least six seconds or interacts with your video ad within the first six seconds — whichever comes first.TikTok ads costTikTok requires you to spend a minimum of $20 on every ad group in your campaign. At a campaign level, your budget must be at least $50. So, if your campaign budget is less than that, it’s best to slot TikTok advertising for a later time. There’s, of course, no upper ceiling to how much you can spend on TikTok ads. TikTok advertising cost also varies depending on your campaign goals, the type of ads you choose, your targeting, and your bidding strategy. It’s advisable to start with small budgets to test your performance and gradually increase ad spend as you see positive results. Set up TikTok Pixel on your websiteTikTok pixel is a piece of code you get in your TikTok ads manager account that you can place on your website. This pixel will help you accurately measure the impact of your TikTok ads. That snippet of code is like slipping a tracker into your ad account. It allows you to find out the source of website visitors (are they coming via your TikTok ad?), which devices they’re using, what location they’re at, and so much more. To set up TikTok Pixel: 1. Go to your TikTok ads manager account and click on “Event” under “Tools” 2. Select “Data sources” and “Connect data source” 3. Click on “Web” If you host your online store on one of TikTok’s integrated platforms (like Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.), you can connect with them directly. If not, you can follow the instructions to do a manual setup. You’ll get a base code to add to your website. 👉🏾Here’s TikTok’s guide to setting up TikTok Pixel.How to practice TikTok advertising (the easier version)TikTok advertising has an easy mode where you can promote your organic posts in a few clicks. It’s called a “Promote campaign.” SourceYou can also start a Promote campaign from the TikTok studio or your Business Suite. There’s also an option to promote your TikTok live. The Promote campaign is an excellent beginner-friendly option for testing the waters with TikTok advertising. Like the TikTok ads manager, you must select a goal for your post and continue the steps. Your Promote campaign performance analytics aren’t as in-depth as the ones in your TikTok ads manager account, though. But this doesn’t mean you can’t capitalize on Promote campaigns once you have a TikTok advertising strategy. Let’s say you have a TikTok post that went viral. You can still promote it using Promote campaigns by integrating it with your TikTok ads manager account. Now, let’s learn how you can use the TikTok ads manager in seven steps. How to set up your TikTok ads manager account in 7 stepsWhen someone asks, “how to advertise on TikTok?” the instinctive answer is always to set up the TikTok ads manager account. This is where the magic happens. It’s TikTok’s all-in-one advertising platform for creating and managing every TikTok ad campaign. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create and run your TikTok ads manager account: Step 1: Sign up for the TikTok ads manager accountCreate a TikTok ads manager account by signing up on TikTok’s advertising page. TikTok will ask you to fill in basic info like your business name, industry, currency, and timezone. Step 2: Create a new TikTok ad campaignOnce you login and enter your TikTok ads manager dashboard, you’ll see an option to “Create ad.” You’ll be guided to create a new TikTok ad campaign when you click on it. You’re required to choose a campaign objective. The campaign objectives are divided into three buckets: Awareness: Choose “Reach” under Awareness when your campaign goal is to get the word out about your product or service. TikTok will work to show your ads to the maximum number of people.Consideration: The Consideration option has four further sub-categories: Traffic, Video Views, Community Interaction, and Branded Mission.Traffic is for when you want your campaigns to drive traffic to your website.Video Views is the right choice when you want to get more views on your video ads.Community Interaction helps you increase your TikTok followers, get more views to your TikTok page, or promote your TikTok LIVE.Branded Mission is for connecting with authentic creators and offering them incentives in return. This isn’t available globally yet.Conversion: When you want to get direct conversions via your TikTok ad campaigns, Conversion is the perfect choice. There are four choices within this category, too:App promotion helps you get more people to install your app or take desired actions within your app.Lead generation is when you want to attract potential buyers.Website conversion is TikTok ads redirecting users to your website to purchase your products.Product sales allow you to sell products from your TikTok Shop or Catalog.Step 3: Define campaign detailsOnce you choose your advertising objective, you can name your campaign and set up your budget. Daily budget is the maximum amount you’re willing to spend on your ad campaigns per day.Lifetime budget is the maximum amount you’re willing to spend during the entire period that you run your TikTok ad campaign.⚠️Note: You cannot change your budget type after publishing a campaign. So, choose your budget strategy carefully before launching.You also get the choice to run split tests in this step. Split testing allows you to test variations in different TikTok ad groups. Skip this in the beginning. You can experiment with it once you’ve developed the muscle to create effective TikTok ads that give you a positive return on investment (ROI). Step 4: Set up your first ad groupOnce you’ve filled in the campaign specifics, you can create your first ad group. You have to define the following four things in this step: Ad group name: Create a unique ad group name to differentiate it from the rest and make for easy reporting.Optimization location: Choose where you’d like to send TikTok users who click on your TikTok ads — website or app.Ad placement: If you choose “Automatic placement,” TikTok automatically places your ads across all ad placements suitable for your ad in the TikTok ads manager. If you choose “Manual placement,” you can control where your TikTok ads will go. The toggles are for TikTok and its partner platforms including Global App Bundle and Pangle.⚡Pro-tip: Always toggle on the “User comment” under “Advanced settings” in ad placements. This feature allows people to interact with your ads — improving engagement, ad performance, and helping you gather feedback.Target audience: Your TikTok ads manager account has various targeting options to help you reach potential customers. You can select:Demographics: Choose the right gender, age bracket, location, language(s), and spending power of your target audience. Interests and behaviors: You can choose to deliver your TikTok ads to people who have shown interests similar to your target buyers. You can also decide to show your TikTok ads to people who have demonstrated favorable in-app behaviors (like interacting with your creator partner before). Device: You can choose to show ads only to people with a certain device and carrier, like iOS 17 and above. You can save these audience settings for future TikTok campaigns. This way, you won’t have to repeatedly enter your target audience details when you launch a new campaign targeting the same set. You can also use these saved audiences to target more precisely. For example, if you want to exclude a target audience set from a campaign, you can do so by eliminating a saved audience. Step 5: Decide your ad scheduleAd schedule is about deciding the start and end time for your TikTok ads to go live. You can either set the start and end date or just the start date. Your ads will keep running until your budget runs out if you set just the start date. Daypartying is the option to deliver your ads only at specific times during the day. Step 6: Create your ad and submitThis step is all about the nitty-gritty of creating the ad, adding ad details, and submitting it. You’ll notice a “Smart creative ads” toggle right at the top. If you turn this on, you allow TikTok to remix your ad creatives to create varying ads. For example, TikTok will combine the ad creative from one ad and call to action from another to test a new TikTok ad. Turning the smart creative ads toggle on also permits TikTok to pause ads that aren’t performing as well to replace them with fresher TikTok ads. Smart creative ads are a great option for beginners and experts alike — especially if you aren’t testing ad creatives and/or your call to action choices yourself. SourceFrom here, you can choose a unique ad name to differentiate between ads from within an ad group. Turn the “Spark ads” toggle on if you're running Spark ads. If not, you can upload a custom identity with a unique display name and profile image. Your profile image should ideally be your brand logo or profile image on your account to improve brand recall and help users identify you easily. Then, you can choose the ad format (video ads or carousel images) and upload your ad creative. You can continue to add your ad description, call to action, and any interactive add-ons you wish. By default, all ads are in feed ads. You can also see how your ad would appear in the search results by using the toggle above the creative that says, “Search result.” Lastly, you can decide the destination of your ad’s call to action. Do you want users who click to go to a website or a new custom page? Always preview how your ad looks during this step. This will allow you to spot any discrepancies and avoid any embarrassing typos. Step 7: Measure your campaign performance and improveThe TikTok ads manager dashboard gives you a bird’s eye view of your account’s performance. To get an in-depth view, go to campaigns. Here, you can customize columns to see your most important metrics and monitor your progress. SourceMonitor which creative ad formats, budgets, etc., are giving you the most bang for your buck. This ad account analysis will help you understand what you’re doing right and spotlight areas of improvement. Remember reflection is part of the job. Now that you have the technical know-how of running ads on TikTok ads manager, here are some pro tips to help you ace your marketing campaigns. 5 beginner-friendly pro tips to ace your TikTok ad campaignsSome advice here is related to the nuances of your TikTok ads manager account while others are more tailored to ad creative. All of them will help you scale your marketing campaigns on TikTok. 1. Use the TikTok creative center for competitor analysis and inspirationThe TikTok creative center is a great place to look for creative inspiration and do competitor analysis. You can add filters for country, campaign objective, industry, language, ad format, and even views rate. The best part? The TikTok creative center also gives you the analytics of each ad to help you get the full picture of the TikTok ad. Let’s say you’re a skincare brand in the U.S. looking to run a TikTok ad campaign for traffic using Spark ads ad format. Once you add these filters to the creative center dashboard, you’ll find the best-performing TikTok ads with in-depth performance analytics that match the criteria. The AI-generated video analysis can even help you break down the key creative elements in an ad that you can replicate while creating TikTok ads for your brand. You can slice and dice the data to understand what clicks with your target audience and create similar engaging ads. 2. Use scroll-stopping hooks in your TikTok adsSocial media hooks are a favorite tactic to increase engagement on every social media platform. TikTok ads are no different. Take this TikTok ad by MicroPerfumes that starts by saying, “What is the difference between these three things?” The rhetorical question immediately creates intrigue with the viewers. Video ads also have an excellent product demonstration capability — working in MicroPerfumes’ favor. The ad had over 31,000 likes and 700 comments 🤯 Savannah Sanchez shares brilliant hooks on her X account regularly if you want to stay updated with the latest best hooks for your ads. Here's your top-performing ad format for November 2024: "You don't want to give a gift that ends up in the back of someone's closet..." You can also do a variation of this for "ends up getting regifted" Test this and see for yourself 🔥 *The example is my own for Dooney* pic.twitter.com/Z1Ftu1JCYl — Social Savannah (@social_savannah) November 13, 2024 3. Refresh your creatives regularlyYou reach ad fatigue when you’ve already reached the maximum number of people you could with your ad. Refreshing your creatives regularly can help you avoid this. Ideally, you should have at least three to five unique creatives per ad group. Toggling on ‘smart creative ads’ for ads can also help you create iterations of your ads without much effort. 4. Expect some fluctuation in your CPA during the learning phaseThe learning phase is when the TikTok platform is still gathering insights about your product and audience. It’s the initial stage of ad delivery where TikTok’s system is still finding the most relevant audience for your ad group(s). You can experience a shaky CPA during this phase, but it will stabilize over time. Allocate 20 percent of your budget during this learning phase and spend the bulk of your budget after your CPA stabilizes. 5. Avoid creating a narrow audience sizeWhen choosing your ad audience, it’s advisable not to set specifics that significantly shrink your audience size. A small audience size increases the chances of reaching creative fatigue sooner. Your ad groups might also face difficulty exiting the learning phase if you have an audience size that is too small. A narrow audience size is good to use when you want to reach specific zip codes or have already validated your results via testing. TikTok advertising is a long, ever-evolving gameTikTok advertising isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The platform is continually updating its features, UI & UX, and coming up with new ways to make ads on the platform more effective. So, if and when you enter the TikTok advertising game, know you’re in it for the long haul with the rules and best practices updating at whip speed. This might seem daunting, but don’t you worry: It’s nothing different from maintaining an organic social media strategy (because things move fast there, too!). You got this. View the full article

Let’s be honest—at RescueTime, we can’t say enough good things about time tracking. That’s not because we just think it’s a great habit, but because we’ve seen its benefits play out for more than 2 million users. At this point, you know that time tracking comes with a variety of advantages, but maybe you’ve hit The post Navigating time tracking challenges: Empowering yourself for success appeared first on RescueTime Blog. View the full article

Building your presence across multiple social media platforms is incredibly valuable for brands and creators — but it doesn't have to mean spending all day creating unique content for each channel. In fact, many successful creators and brands have a secret: they crosspost across platforms to get more mileage out of their content. Our data shows this approach is remarkably common — 59% of posts created in Buffer are posted to more than one social media platform. Crossposting a game-changer for busy creators and small businesses who want to maintain an active presence on social media without burning out. Instead of starting from scratch for every platform, you can adapt and share content across different channels — like turning an engaging Instagram Reel into a TikTok or turning an X thread into a LinkedIn post. Whether you're looking to streamline your processes or test out new channels, this guide will teach you how to crosspost effectively — from choosing which content to share across platforms to customizing your posts for maximum impact on each channel. What is crossposting?Crossposting is when you share the same (or similar) content on multiple social media accounts. For example, musician Ren shares his videos on Instagram Reels, as seen here: And he posts the same videos on TikTok: It's the same content, and he gets a ton of engagement on both platforms. The best part about crossposting is you don't have to copy-and-paste everything manually. Whether you use built-in features that enable crossposting between platforms (like you can between Meta platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Threads) or a social media management tool like Buffer, you can create posts once and share them everywhere your audience hangs out. Why crosspost on social media?With over half of posts being shared on multiple platforms through Buffer, it's clear this tactic is a pillar of many of our customers’ social media strategies — and with good reason. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of crossposting: Build a stronger social media presenceBeing present on multiple social media channels is becoming increasingly important for creators and businesses. While you don't need to be everywhere, maintaining two or three platforms can help you build a more resilient online presence. Platforms can change, so it protects you from putting all your eggs in one basket. And it gives your content more opportunities to take off. Crossposting makes this multi-platform strategy more manageable. Save timeFor busy creators and small businesses managing multiple pages, crossposting is a smart way to maintain a consistent posting cadence across social platforms in less time. By crossposting strategically, you can focus your energy on creating high-quality content that resonates with your followers without burning out. For example, if you create an enticing teaser video for an upcoming product launch, you can post it across Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts — just adjusting the captions and hashtags for each platform. Reach more of your audienceYour followers likely use multiple social platforms but might not follow you on all of them. By crossposting your content, you increase the chances that your message reaches your audience where they're most active. Even if someone follows you on multiple platforms, they might miss your post on X but catch it on Threads. And since each platform has its own unique user base, crossposting helps you connect with different audiences who might be interested in your content. For example, your Facebook Page might attract different followers than your Instagram account, enabling you to grow your overall fan base and giving you access to even more views and engagement. Test new platforms efficientlyCrossposting also helps you test a new social media channel without doubling your content creation time. For instance, if you're curious about building an audience on text-based platforms, you can try crossposting your content across X, Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon to see where it resonates most. Or if short-form video is your focus, you can test how your content performs across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. This approach lets you experiment with different platforms while maintaining a consistent content strategy. You can analyze engagement across platforms and focus your efforts where they'll have the biggest impact. How to crosspost effectively on social mediaReady to make crossposting work for your social media strategy? Keep these key principles in mind to make an impact. Start by crossposting to platforms that prioritize similar mediumsThe easiest way to start crossposting is to focus on platforms that share similar content types: Text-based platforms: X, Threads, Bluesky, MastodonVideo-focused platforms: TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube ShortsImage-focused platforms: Instagram feed, PinterestFor example, you can easily adapt a recipe post from your Instagram feed for Pinterest. You can also crosspost to platforms with different medium-focuses (e.g., an Instagram image to X), but you'll likely need to customize your content a bit more since posts are presented differently on these platforms. For example, Shopify posted this photo to Instagram: And then again on X: iphone: your storage is full me: how can it be full already? my camera roll: pic.twitter.com/gg73s0lOJ5 — Shopify (@Shopify) December 4, 2024 Each post has a slightly different caption to suit the platform. Because X shows text first, followed by the image, having a strong text lead-in makes sense. Meanwhile, Instagram's caption appears after the photo in followers' feeds and gets cut off after the first couple of lines, prompting followers to click it if they want to read the whole thing. So a shorter caption makes sense there. When sharing content to platforms with different focuses, you'll probably want to learn more about repurposing content — another smart strategy to get more out of your content that involves a bit more finesse. Only crosspost what will be relevant to your audience on each platformEvery social platform has its own culture and audience expectations. Whatever you share, you'll want to stay consistent with the topics and style your audience expects from you on each one. For example, TikTok tends to be more spontaneous and off-the-cuff than Instagram Reels. So something more refined might not land on TikTok. In my own test-and-learn experience, I tried crossposting from X, where I was building an audience of e-commerce marketers, to LinkedIn, where I had more connections in the content marketing world. While my LinkedIn posts about content marketing and work culture usually get decent engagement, the e-commerce posts fell flat! It wasn't the right topic for the audience I had built. Customize your content for each platformBecause every platform has its own norms and technical requirements, you'll likely want to make some small tweaks before reusing your content. Here's what to consider adjusting before you crosspost: Character limits: Each platform has its own character limits. For example, LinkedIn has a 3,000-character limit, while X is limited to 280 for free users. If you have a long LinkedIn post, you might consider splitting it up into a thread for X. Or you can just post part of it to the platform. Image sizes and video lengths: Make sure your images and videos meet each platform's recommended dimensions and durations. An Instagram Reel can be up to 90 seconds long, while TikToks can be up to 30 minutes (depending on your region). If you want to share to both of those platforms with minimal extra effort, keep your clips to 90 seconds or less. And, while this might be getting into repurpose territory, tools like CapCut can help you create short clips from a longer video to suit different platform requirements. Hashtags: Different platforms have not only different hashtags to use, but audiences have different expectations about their use. Hashtag use is heavy on Instagram, and you can expect to see dozens of hashtags in a single post to boost discovery. However, LinkedIn users tend to use just one or two relevant tags. Platform tone: Each platform has its own communication style. LinkedIn tends to be more professional and industry-focused, so you might want to lighten up on your slang there. But you can loosen up more on TikTok, which favors a more casual feel. Platform-specific references: Nothing breaks the illusion of native content quite like seeing "link in bio" on a Facebook page, so avoid copying over platform-specific references. Optimal posting times: Your audience's active hours might vary by platform. Schedule your crossposted content when your followers are most likely to engage on each specific platform. Buffer's analytics can help you figure out the best time to post for your audience. 💡Pro tip: Adjusting your content for different platforms is easy with Buffer's AI Assistant, which is trained on the norms for different social media sites.Use built-in crossposting features in the Meta ecosystemIf you're posting content across your Instagram, Threads, and Facebook accounts, you can take advantage of Meta's native crossposting features. This built-in functionality lets you share content seamlessly between your Facebook page, Instagram account, and Threads — as long as the post type is supported on the other platforms. While this only works within Meta's social networks, it's particularly useful for spontaneous content when you want to quickly share across platforms. Crosspost like a pro with a social media management toolCrossposting manually can be cumbersome and time-consuming. We recommend using a social media management platform like Buffer that makes crossposting a breeze. With Buffer, you can: Draft and schedule posts to multiple channels at onceCustomize content for each platform as you scheduleUse the AI Assistant to adapt your content for different platformsDuplicate posts you've already drafted or publishedSchedule posts at the right time for each platformReady to get more out of your content with crossposting? You can get started with Buffer for free to share your content more efficiently across platforms. 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Social media has transformed the way we communicate and consume information, and it continues to do so day by day. From sharing personal life updates to discussing global events, platforms like TikTok have become integral to our daily lives. But what happens when the workplace becomes a trending topic on these platforms? Enter the world of #WorkTok. View the full article

With each new year, come new possibilities. You’ve probably already set goals to tap into that fresh energy that comes with a change of the calendar. If one of those goals is to grow on social media in 2025, you’re in the right place. We believe new habits take work — and content creation is no exception. It’s not as easy as picking up a phone, despite what some success stories might have you believe. You need systems and structures to build something sustainable. That’s where Creator Camp comes in. Creator Camp is a free 30-day community challenge to help you build consistent social media habits while developing your brand and connecting with fellow creators. We had over 218 signups for our last edition, which ran in October 2024. For 30 days, the community buzzed with activity as members shared their content, exchanged feedback, and cheered each other on. And the results spoke for themselves — Laura, a former Product Manager who is building a business, saw a 47.8% increase in impressions and a 20% increase in members reached.Louise, a Social Media Manager, saw an 891% increase in impressions and a 346% increase in engagement.Sabreen, a Marketing expert, saw a 216% increase in impressions and a 215% increase in engagement.Buffer teammates who participated in the challenge also saw amazing results. On my end, I saw amazing results, including viral content that bumped my 2024 LinkedIn metrics by thousands! Ready to tap into the New Year energy and grow on social in 2025? Join us on January 15!Join Creator CampWhy join Creator Camp?Creator Camp provides the structure, support, and community to make posting a habit. Here’s what you’ll get out of it: Build a consistent posting habit: Creator Camp helps you turn infrequent posting into a regular habit by providing regular cues, motivation, and the reward of celebrating alongside a community. By the end of the 30 days, you’ll have built a natural and sustainable rhythm to carry into your creator journey.Boost your creativity: With weekly content prompts, resources for all the top social platforms, and the encouragement of a supportive community, you’ll find yourself brimming with new ideas and excited to share them. And even if you’ve done Creator Camp before, we guarantee you’ll find something new to benefit from in this next round.Join a thriving community: One of creators' biggest challenges is feeling isolated. In Creator Camp, you’re never alone. You’ll be surrounded by fellow creators on the same journey, ready to support you every step of the way.Some community interactions that make Creator Camp so special 💡Here are 7 simple habits to help you flex the content creation muscle.What makes Creator Camp different from any other social media challenge?It’s not just the prompts or the structure — it’s the community. At Buffer, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where creators of all levels can thrive. Plus, through our Buffer Chats, live sessions with industry leaders and experts, you’ll gain insights you won’t find anywhere else. How it worksCommunity support: Join our Discord community, where you can share your content, receive feedback, and support fellow creators. This is where the magic happens — creators inspiring creators.Weekly prompts: Receive creative prompts weekly and daily to spark your content ideas and motivate you. It’s time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new!Exclusive events: Connect with guest social media experts through live Buffer Chats.Extensive resources: We’ll be sharing cheat sheets for each social media platform for you to maximize your results.Ready to build a consistent social media presence? Join us from January 15!If you want to grow on social media in 2025, Creator Camp is the perfect opportunity. Join us for this free 30-day challenge, starting January 15 and take the first step towards building a consistent, engaging, and impactful social media presence. Sign up for Creator Camp today and start your journey towards consistency and growth. Let’s make your social media dreams a reality—one post at a time. Join Creator CampShare your journeyKnow someone who could benefit from Creator Camp? Share this post and invite them to join us. The more, the merrier! got you covered! View the full article

Here are my picks for the best Kanban certifications that will help you learn key Kanban principles and concepts, as well as agile principles more broadly. You'll build your skills in managing teams and delivering successful projects, and get a leg up in your career. The post 13 Best Kanban Certifications to Take in 2025 appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

The race to deliver market-leading Wi-Fi 7 solutions to CSP is heating up with startup Righ. The post CES: South Korea’s KAON becomes first global partner for Righ’s ‘RighGravity’ multi-protocol Wi-Fi solution appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

The race to deliver market-leading Wi-Fi 7 solutions to CSP is heating up with startup Righ. The post CES: South Korea’s KAON becomes first global partner for Righ’s ‘RighGravity’ multi-protocol Wi-Fi solution appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

2024 was an especially challenging year for startups. Investors exerted extra caution in the face of inflation and rising interest rates, leading to a 26% decline in funding compared to 2023. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Sectors like…Read more ›View the full article

These are the 100 most asked questions on Google, along with their monthly search volumes. Top Google questions by growth Many popular questions don’t change from year to year. For example, people have been asking measurement-related questions since forever (e.g.,…Read more ›View the full article

Below are lists of the top 100 most popular searches and questions in the US and worldwide, pulled from our database of 28.7 billion keywords: We removed all NSFW queries from this list. What you see above are the top…Read more ›View the full article

Here are the top project scheduling certification programs that will help you build your expertise in planning, managing, and optimizing project timelines and resources. Find out who and what each option is best for so you can choose the right one for your career path. The post 5 Best Project Scheduling Certifications for Upskilling in 2025 appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Intel is expanding the Intel Core Ultra platform from two to five models, all with integrated Wi-Fi 7. The post CES: Intel’s vPro AI PC platform with Wi-Fi 7 marks transformational shift in productivity, company says appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Intel is expanding the Intel Core Ultra platform from two to five models, all with integrated Wi-Fi 7. The post CES: Intel’s vPro AI PC platform with Wi-Fi 7 marks transformational shift in productivity, company says appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Want to know the most effective ecommerce growth strategy? I studied successful online stores to find out what works best. While every store’s path is unique, clear patterns emerged. Here are some examples: *All figures in USD Brand Annual Revenue Standout Strategy Hush Blankets $48M Product Validation Mid Day Squares $20M Content Marketing TBH Skincare $6.5M Content Marketing MX Store $65M Search Marketing Who Is Elijah $13M Operational Efficiency Whether your goal is to do $1M or $100M, it comes from executing the fundamentals. I’ve distilled this guide to the five most impactful growth strategies, including: Success metrics Real-world examples Requirements to execute Expected timeline and results Let’s start with the most important one. 1. Make Products Your Customers Actually Want Most ecommerce failures share one root cause: creating products nobody wants. Or products that are okay but never really get traction. You follow trends. Copy competitors. Trust your gut. Then invest thousands in inventory and marketing, hoping customers will buy. The solution? Talk to your customers. One honest conversation today could prevent massive product failures tomorrow. These chats reveal opportunities like: Problems customers can’t solve with existing products What their “perfect” product would look like, and missing features Unexpected details that could help you differentiate your product Conversations also build relationships. They turn customers into fans who drive growth through word-of-mouth. How Hush Blankets Grew to $48M Through Customer Conversations By talking to customers, founders Aaron Spivak and Lior Ohayon turned $4,000 into $48M in 48 months. For example, when summer sales dropped, they scheduled customer calls. The feedback was clear: “We love the blanket, but we’re sweating. It’s in storage until winter.” – Aaron Spivak That single insight led to their breakthrough “ice fabric” technology, which: Raised $1M on Kickstarter Sold 3,000 units in 72 hours Became their highest-margin product The entrepreneurs continued talking to customers to inform product development. “When people ask what our marketing hack is or which agency we worked with, they miss the point. We had 3,000 people on the phone tell us exactly what they wanted. That’s the real secret.” – Aaron Spivak How to Have Customer Conversations It’s easy to overthink product research. But Hush proved that you just need to begin talking to customers. Here’s a simple process to get started: Send a brief email with a link for a 15-minute call. The Hush team found this approach got better responses than long surveys or complicated feedback forms. Approach each conversation with genuine curiosity. Don’t defend your products or explain your constraints. Just listen. Ask what their perfect product would look like. Follow interesting threads that emerge. Start with five customers this week. That’s enough to spot patterns while being totally manageable. Even if you’re swamped, you can find 75 minutes for conversations that could transform your business. Take detailed notes using their exact words. In addition to product ideas, you can get feedback points and marketing content. The goal is to build such deep customer understanding that product failures become nearly impossible. 2. Build a Strong Brand Through Storytelling When we consume 6 hours of content daily, attention is the most valuable currency in business. Storytelling is how you earn it. Why? Stories stick. You may not remember product specs, but you likely recall Sara Blakely cutting the feet off her pantyhose to create Spanx. Or Patagonia’s founder testing gear on mountain expeditions. Most brands miss by showing only the highlight reel—the wins, the perfect moments, and the polished content. Telling raw, relatable stories is how you build a lasting brand. How Mid Day Squares Built a $20M Chocolate Empire Through Storytelling In 2018, Jake Karls and his co-founders launched Mid Day Squares with a radical commitment to transparency. They documented everything about building the company—from production line disasters to legal battles to funding negotiations. Mid Day Sqaures unconventional approach involved: Sharing the entrepreneurial journey, not just the product (85-90% of content) Showing behind-the-scenes wins and failures Filming raw, unscripted moments “When people ask what’s our marketing hack or which agency we worked with, they’re missing the point. Building in public and sharing our authentic story turned customers into fans who felt like they were buying from friends.” – Jake Karls Mid Day Squares grew to over $20 million in revenue. And Jake attributes much of their success to creative content. But brand storytelling isn’t just for founder-led content. How TBH Skincare Makes Customer-Focused Content When Rachel Wilde started TBH Skincare, she took a different approach to content marketing. In addition to founder stories, she created content on real customer experiences. It focused on honest education about acne treatment. “I always say start with the customer. Understand what they want, and hit them with the right with the right message in the right place at the right time.” – Rachel Wilde This customer-first storytelling shaped every aspect of their content, including: Focusing on raw, unfiltered customer results Creating educational content that destigmatizes acne Showing real people dealing with real skin issues They allocated 80% of the marketing budget to content creation. It built a storytelling engine that helped customers see themselves in the products. And it worked. TBH Skincare grew to $14M ($22M AUD) in four years. How to Start Creating Engaging Stories Before investing in content, identify what makes your brand relatable. Here are some best practices to get started: Document your “why.” Beyond making money, what drives your company? What change are you trying to create? Choose your storytelling lane. Will you focus on founder content? Customer stories? Educational content? Pick an approach that plays to your strengths and resonates with your audience. Start small but consistent. You don’t need fancy equipment or a full content team. Both Mid Day Squares and TBH Skincare started with iPhones and posted daily while staying true to their story. Test and iterate. Track which stories resonate deeply. Look for patterns in engagement and sales attribution. Double down on what works. Read more: What is Content Marketing? Complete Beginners Guide What Makes Storytelling CRUCIAL When you nail your brand’s narrative, you create compelling organic content. But that’s just the beginning. You’re also building marketing assets that drive results across every channel. Your content becomes fuel for: Paid media on Meta, Google, and TikTok Email nurture sequences Product pages that tell a deeper story Blog content “Most brands create different content for each marketing channel. We just document our journey and then adapt those stories for different platforms. It’s more authentic and way more efficient.” – Jake Karls The TBH Skincare team has found authentic stories outperform traditional ads across every channel. “When you have a piece of content that really resonates with people, you can use it everywhere. Our best-performing ads weren’t planned campaigns—they were real moments we captured and then amplified.” – Rachel Wilde The lesson? View storytelling as the key to better marketing. It’ll boost all your other channels. 3. Optimize Search Marketing (Paid and Organic) Every day, billions of people tell Google exactly what they want to buy. Capturing this traffic isn’t cheap or easy—but it’s steady. Paid search gives instant traffic but needs constant investment. Organic search is free but takes time to build up. Together, they drive consistent sales. Read more: SEO vs. SEM: What’s the Difference? How MX Store Uses Search to Drive $100M+ in Sales When MX Store, Australia’s largest online motorcycle parts retailer, first tried Google Ads, their approach was typical. Broad keywords. Generic ads. Homepage traffic. Like throwing spaghetti at a wall and hoping something sticks. So they shifted their approach—led by marketing director Dan Turner. “The key is perfect alignment. Your keyword matches the intent, your ad matches the keyword, and your landing page matches the ad. No disconnects.” – Dan Turner Here’s exactly what they changed: Built granular campaigns: Instead of lumping everything together, they created separate campaigns for each product category. Every campaign got its own custom landing page and clear conversion path. Analyzed search terms meticulously: Weekly reviews. Aggressive negative keyword expansion. Minimized wasted spend on irrelevant searches. Implemented systematic testing: Every ad needed a minimum of 5,000 impressions before making decisions. Proper budget allocation for each test. Regular creative refreshes. The result? A consistent 10x return on ad spend (ROAS). How to Make the Most Out of Your Google Ads Campaigns Before you spend a dollar on ads, understand your profit. Then, analyzing your competitors and keyword research follows. Calculate Your Campaign Profitability Work out how much you can spend to get a customer while making a profit. Without this calculation, you risk burning your ad budget on dud campaigns. To avoid this mistake, note three metrics: Target cost per click (CPC) Expected conversion rate Maximum customer acquisition cost (CAC) Here’s an example of the math: Product price: $100 Profit margin: 50% (meaning you make $50 per sale) Target ROAS: 3:1 (for every $1 spent on ads, you want $3 in revenue) Expected conversion rate: 2% (2 out of 100 visitors buy) The maximum CAC calculation is $50 profit ÷ 3 = $16.67 maximum ad spend per customer. With a 2% conversion rate, you can’t spend over $16.67 to acquire a customer while keeping campaigns profitable. Do Keyword Research Keyword research answers a simple question: are people searching for what you’re selling? Start by Googling your products to see what ads are displaying. For example, here’s what the ads look like for “pendulum lights.” There are lots of ads, which implies they’re working. You could theoretically follow this simple process of Googling, observing, and copying. But, to reduce wasted budget, use a tool like Semrush. It’ll help you understand the demand and cost for profitable keywords. Bonus: Here’s a link to a 14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription. That should give you enough time to plan your search marketing campaigns. The first thing to do is check the keyword data. Semrush’s Keyword Overview tool shows that pendulum lights are searched 320 times a month. And the CPC is $0.77. This is enough data to test a campaign. But if you want even more validation, spy on your competitor’s ads. Analyze Your Competitor’s Campaign’s Following the breadcrumbs of how your competitors do ads can save you months of time and money. Staying with the lighting example, Lumens is a competitor. According to Semrush’s Advertising Research tool, Lumens is attracting over 27k monthly users from ads. This tells us that they’re investing pretty aggressively in Google Ads. And they’ve likely done the work of testing and failing. To validate this, you can check Lumens ads history. For instance, they’ve been bidding on “outdoor wall lighting” for seven months straight. Meaning: they’re seeing enough sales to continue the campaign. You can see what the ad looks like in Semrush. And Lumens has been tweaking their copy each month. Using this data drastically increases your chances of successful ads. Further reading: Google Ads Competitor Analysis: A How-to Guide (+ Top Tools) Build Your SEO Foundations Paid search delivers immediate results. Organic search builds free traffic over time. In other words, start getting your foundations right today. Here are two priority areas to focus on: Optimize Your Product and Category Pages Your product and category pages are your money-makers. So you want to maximize their SEO potential. For product pages: Write unique, benefit-focused product descriptions Include technical specifications in a structured format Add product schema markup for rich snippets Use high-quality product images with descriptive alt text Include real customer reviews and ratings Further reading: 20 Effective Product Page Examples For category pages: Create helpful category descriptions that solve buying dilemmas and desires Use clear subcategory structure (3 clicks max to any product) Add internal links to best-selling or related products Include filters and sorting options (price, size, color, etc.) For inspiration, check out Ruggable’s “clean rugs” category page. Get Your Technical Foundation Right You don’t need to address every technical detail. Start with: Fast-loading pages (aim for “good” in Google’s Core Web Vitals report) Mobile-first design Clean URLs with keywords Proper handling of product variations (canonical tags) XML sitemap for all important pages Speed is especially important for ecommerce. In 2019, eBay did a sitewide initiative to improve performance. Every 100-millisecond improvement led to a 0.5% increase in “Add to Cart.” Further reading: Ecommerce SEO: 6 Proven Strategies to Rank Higher Start Small, Scale What Works, Repeat Begin with: 2-3 focused paid campaigns Helpful content on your product and category pages Core technical optimization Test everything. Double down on what works. Cut what doesn’t. Every dollar should drive immediate sales (paid) or build long-term assets (organic). 4. Turn Email Into Sustainable Sales The top brands drive 30-50% of their revenue through email marketing. These email programs succeed by connecting three foundations we’ve covered: Products customers want (Strategy #1) Authentic storytelling (Strategy #2) Steady website traffic (Strategy #3) But there’s a fourth element that ties everything together: systematic execution. Let’s explore how to build an email program that turns subscribers into customers—and customers into repeat buyers. Note: The best practices I’m about to share are inspired by Boyuan Zhao, an email and SMS consultant for Shopify brands. I recommend checking out his free four-hour training on YouTube. It’s some of the best content I’ve seen on email marketing. Build a Quality Email List Your email list isn’t just a number. “Most brands obsess over list size. But I’ve found that smaller, engaged lists consistently outperform massive, unengaged ones.” – Boyuan Zhao Large lists built through aggressive tactics (giveaways, lead magnets, etc.) often convert at 1-2%. Meanwhile, carefully grown lists using targeted pop-ups and organic signups can hit 8-15% conversion rates. The math is simple: 100,000 subscribers at 1% = 1,000 customers 20,000 engaged subscribers at 10% = 2,000 customers Plus, better engagement means higher deliverability. Which means more of your emails actually reach inboxes. Start by optimizing your signup forms: Test different offers (10% off vs. free shipping) Use clear value propositions Target exit intent to capture interested visitors Avoid generic “Subscribe to our newsletter” messaging Further reading: Email Marketing: The Definitive Guide The Pattern Behind High-Performing Email Programs You likely have a decent welcome series, abandoned cart emails, and a newsletter. But to hit 50% attributed revenue to email, you need to think differently. There are two shifts you need to make this happen. Shift #1: Methodically Test Your Campaigns “The brands consistently driving 50% of revenue through email aren’t doing anything revolutionary. They’re just incredibly systematic about execution.” – Boyuan Zhao This means: Testing one element at a time Tracking actual revenue (not just opens and clicks) Making small, continuous improvements The results compound over time. Shift #2: Simplify Your Automations How many emails are in your sequences? Probably too many. “I’ve found that a well-executed 3-email sequence often outperforms complex 10-email flows. It’s not about the number of touchpoints. It’s about delivering the right message at the right time.” – Boyuan Zhao Instead of building complex automations, focus on the fundamentals: First impression (welcome) Purchase intent (cart abandonment) Post-purchase experience (reviews) Reactivation (win-back) Weave authentic brand storytelling into your automations and relentlessly test, test, test. Do this, and you’re well on your way to more sales. 5. Optimize Operations for Profit Even if you have winning products and amazing marketing, you can fail if your operations suck. How Who Is Elijah Learned the True Cost of Growth In 2023, founders Raquel and Adam Bouris of fragrance brand Who Is Elijah learned two expensive lessons about business. First, their discovery set promotion seemed like a slam dunk: sell fragrance samples for $1 plus shipping. They sold 6,000 sets in 24 hours. “Sales looked great because thousands and thousands a week were going out.” – Adam Bouris But the math told a different story. Customers paid $1 plus $10 shipping. The actual shipping cost was $7-12 per unit. Add production, logistics, and overhead costs. The result? A 60% loss on every order. Ouch. “We would’ve been better off turning the website off.” – Adam Bouris Meanwhile, their team had grown from 28 to 44 people, but profits weren’t following. Their initial approach followed conventional wisdom: Hire department heads from big corporations Build specialized teams for every function Add headcount to solve anticipated problems Despite growing revenue, operational costs were suffocating the business. “One of the biggest problems founders make is they worry about the now instead of what’s on the other side of that decision. We were hiring people to fix problems six months away. That’s so stupid.” – Adam Bouris Who Is Elijah made a complete operational reset, including two critical changes: Fixed unit economics: Stopped money-losing promotions Calculated true cost per order Built proper financial forecasting Optimized team structure: Cut their team from 44 to 21 people Moved full-time specialists to agencies Simplified internal processes Built systems Profitability improved. They also became more agile and innovative. “I learned how to be a CFO the hard way, but I’m glad that I went through the pain.” – Adam Bouris How to Build Better Operations You can build efficient operations without an MBA or years of corporate experience. It starts with digging into four areas. 1. Understand Your Unit Economics To understand your profitability create a system for tracking your unit economics. Start with the three numbers that matter most: 1. Revenue per order Average order value Shipping revenue Any other fees 2. Direct costs per order Product cost Shipping cost Packaging cost Payment processing fees 3. Operating costs per order Marketing spend ÷ number of orders Platform fees Customer service time Storage/warehouse costs Here’s a basic calculator to help: This is a starting point. The rest of your numbers (tools, complex calculations, etc.) can come later. Pro tip: Use a tool like Cin7 to automate this tracking. The investment pays for itself by identifying profit leaks. 2. Build Systems, Not Band-Aids When problems arise, the tendency is to: Hire someone to fix it Create a quick workaround Ignore it until it becomes a crisis Instead, step back and design systems that prevent future issues. Start with your three most time-consuming processes, e.g., order fulfillment, customer services, and inventory management. For each process: Document exactly how it’s done now Identify bottlenecks and failure points Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) Build quality control checkpoints Add automation where possible 3. Optimize Your Supply Chain Your supply chain impacts everything: cash flow, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Here’s how to optimize it: First, map your current supply chain: List all suppliers and their lead times (it’s essential to have 2nd and 3rd options) Document shipping carriers and costs Track inventory levels and turnover Identify quality control points Note payment terms and minimums Then, negotiate better terms. Here’s an email template: Subject: Partnership Growth Discussion – [Your Company] Hi [Name], We’ve been working together for [X months/years] and have purchased [$ amount] of inventory during this time. I’d like to discuss ways we can grow our partnership. Specifically, I’d like to explore: 1. Volume-based discounts 2. Extended payment terms (Net-30 or Net-60) 3. Priority shipping/fulfillment Could we schedule a quick call next week? Best, [Your name] 4. Automate Before You Hire Before adding employees, see what tasks you can automate. Here are some processes to tackle first: Process What to Automate Popular Tools Order Management Order confirmation emails, fulfillment triggers, tracking updates Shopify Flow, Order Desk, Mesa Shipping & Logistics Label creation, carrier selection, rate optimization ShipStation, ShippingEasy, Shippo Customer Service FAQ responses, order status updates, return requests Gorgias, Zendesk, Re:amaze Inventory Low stock alerts, reorder points, supplier notifications Stocky, TradeGecko, Skubana Marketing Content scheduling, performance tracking, competitor monitoring Semrush, Buffer, Klaviyo Turn Your Ecommerce Growth Strategy Into Reliable Sales You don’t need to do everything at once. Start by answering these questions: Which customers can you chat with this week? What authentic stories can you share about your brand’s journey or customer impact? Where does your website rank for high-intent buyer keywords? How much of your revenue comes from email marketing? Do you know your true cost per order? Pick the area that needs the most work. Focus there first. If you want more ideas, read our ecommerce marketing guide, which has 11 ways to increase your traffic and sales. The post 5 Proven Ecommerce Growth Strategies ($0 to $100 Million) appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Righ may well have come up with the overarching solution to a litany of CSP woes. RighGravity was released this week at CES. The post CES: Startup Righ launches ‘RighGravity’ multi-protocol CPE platform & sleek new ‘Cleo’ Wi-Fi 7 wall plug AP appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Righ may well have come up with the overarching solution to a litany of CSP woes. RighGravity was released this week at CES. The post CES: Startup Righ launches ‘RighGravity’ multi-protocol CPE platform & sleek new ‘Cleo’ Wi-Fi 7 wall plug AP appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

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. Brian Tracy on zero-based thinking: “To simplify your life, zero-based thinking is one of the most powerful strategies you can learn and apply on a regular basis. Here’s how it works. Ask yourself, ‘Is there anything I am doing right now that, knowing what I now know, I wouldn’t get into again if I were starting over today?’” Source: Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals II. Donald Miller on creating meaning: “We build lives of meaning by stating an ambition, by enduring challenges, and by sharing our lives with others. The single characteristic that sets heroes apart is that they are willing to accept a challenge that will ultimately transform them. Heroes take action, which is why they are so good at experiencing meaning.” Source: Hero on a Mission: A Path to a Meaningful Life * * * 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

HERE'S A LOOK at some of the best leadership books to be released in January 2025 curated just for you. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month. Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior by Sandra Matz There are more pieces of digital data than there are stars in the universe. This data helps us monitor our planet, decipher our genetic code, and take a deep dive into our psychology. As algorithms become increasingly adept at accessing the human mind, they also become more and more powerful at controlling it, enticing us to buy a certain product or vote for a certain political candidate. Some of us say this technological trend is no big deal. Others consider it one of the greatest threats to humanity. But what if the truth is more nuanced and mind-bending than that? In Mindmasters, Columbia Business School professor Sandra Matz reveals in fascinating detail how big data offers insights into the most intimate aspects of our psyches and how these insights empower an external influence over the choices we make. With passion and clear-eyed precision, Matz shows us how to manage psychological targeting and redesign the data game. Mindmasters is a riveting look at what our digital footprints reveal about us, how they're being used—for good and for ill—and how we can gain power over the data that defines us. Reset: How to Change What's Not Working by Dan Heath Changing how we work can feel overwhelming. Like trying to budge an enormous boulder. We’re stifled by the gravity of the way we’ve always done things. And we spend so much time fighting fires—and fighting colleagues—that we lack the energy to shift direction. But with the right strategy, we can move the boulder. In Reset, Heath explores a framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. The secret is to find “leverage points”: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. Then, we can thoughtfully rearrange our resources to push on those points. Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others by Adam Galinsky Whether you’re a leader, a member of a team, a spouse, or a parent, this engaging and rigorous exploration unpacks the science of inspiration. Through compelling stories, fascinating research, and practical tips for addressing the common dilemmas we face daily, Inspire reveals how all of us, regardless of status or circumstance, can be more inspiring more often. Social psychologist and leadership expert Adam Galinsky has spent three decades building a method for determining when we are inspiring versus infuriating, and where various leaders—presidents, CEOs, coaches, teachers, parents, and a wealth of others—currently land on that spectrum. . Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership by Christie Smith and Kelly Monahan In an era where the foundational elements of business are being disrupted, Essential emerges as a crucial guide for leaders navigating the profound changes reshaping industries and markets worldwide. This book, penned by a team of seasoned business and leadership strategists, offers a radical and necessary perspective on management transformation, emphasizing the importance of human-centered leadership in meeting the full potential of the technology age. Essential is not just a book; it's a roadmap for 21st-century leaders facing existential challenges in a rapidly evolving global market. Perfect for managers, executives, directors, founders, entrepreneurs, and any business leader aiming to steer their organization towards success in a transformed landscape, this book provides the tools and insights needed to lead with conviction and humanity. Whether you're looking to redefine your leadership approach, adapt to the transformed market, or leave a lasting legacy, this book offers a compelling case for why now is the time for a leadership reinvention. Employment Is Dead: How Disruptive Technologies Are Revolutionizing the Way We Work by Deborah Perry Piscione and Josh Drean Business is on the cusp of a profound transformation. Conventional work models are failing to adapt to the evolving needs and expectations of the modern workforce. Simultaneously, the emergence of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, coupled with web3 innovations, including the metaverse and decentralized work models, is unlocking a new realm of possibilities. It raises the question: Is the era of traditional employment over? The tools of tomorrow will amplify human potential, from collaborating in virtual spaces through digital avatars, to managing transactions transparently on blockchain. Those who embrace these technologies—and the ways people want to work—will unleash unprecedented levels of productivity and innovation. But those who don't risk losing out on the best talent, and even becoming obsolete. For bulk orders call 1-626-441-2024 * * * “You can't think well without writing well, and you can't write well without reading well. And I mean that last "well" in both senses. You have to be good at reading, and read good things.” — Paul Graham, Y Combinator co-founder * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

Given that the site’s monthly traffic peaked at just ~23K (according to Ahrefs), that’s impressive! Curious how he did it (and how the rest of us mere mortals might be able to replicate his success), I sat down with Ash…Read more ›View the full article

Ever since then, the idea of starting another affiliate site and getting serious about it has always been in the back of my mind. I’ve just never had the time due to my day to day work at Ahrefs. But…Read more ›View the full article

Here is a selection of Posts from December 2024 that you will want to check out: I Have A Few Questions by @morganhousel They’re relevant to everyone, and apply to lots of things Mitch McConnell & the Postwar World Order Are Sunsetting by @jamesstrock Entering its ninth decade, the postwar world order is decomposing before our eyes. A to Z on Why Your Strategy or Change Initiative Will Fail by @artpetty 2 Things To Write Before You Write Your Book by @WallyBock Great Advice How Trauma Really Can Help Us Grow Into Stronger People by @LaRaeQuy Interview: @jamesstrock interviews anthropologist and polymath Wade Davis author of Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays I Think… Simplicity is the Hardest Thing to Achieve by Rodrigo Aviles Irresistible Customer Experience: What Every Customer Wants by @KateNasser 5 Things Leaders Must Do to Protect Their Healthy Cultures From Internal And External Threats by @BrianKDodd on Leadership Step Outside Your Comfort Zone by @FSonnenberg Three of My Favorite Business Reads in 2024 by @artpetty Marc Andreessen on what makes Elon impossible to compete with via @StartupArchive_ 10 Signs Poor Communication Is Undermining Your Leadership by @gavin_adams Interview with @KenKhachigian by @jamesstrock Book: Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon Sounds like one I need to read I Never Heard a Speaker I Couldn’t Learn From (But I Haven’t Learned From Every Speaker I Heard) by @Mark_Sanborn How Foresight and Forethought Create Fortitude by @KateNasser How to Generate Better Ideas, Master the Art of Suffering, and Design a Beautiful Life by @polina_marinova CEO Coaching: What Would Jim Do? The Invisible Coach by @toddordal Everyday I’m Side-Hustlin’: 5 Learnings from Creative Side Quests by Nick Hearne creative director at @onegreenbean The principle applies. “What people do outside of work interests me far more than what they accomplish on the clock. Side hustles bring valuable new perspectives that will influence your client work in exciting ways.” Guidance for New(er) Managers—Skip the Do-as-I-Would Approach by @artpetty “We learn more from reading on paper than on screens. 54 studies, 171k people: We process print more deeply than digital content—as long as it’s informational rather than purely narrative” – Adam Grant Study How Much Strategy, How Much Leadership? via @TheDaily_Coach Obedience and Opportunity by @KevinPaulScott 10 Unexpected Leadership Qualities I Need On My Team by @WScottCochrane How to Learn (or Teach) Something New by @DrNickMorgan Do It Your Way by @morganhousel Winston Churchill at 150 by @jamesstrock Half-American, Half-English, A Man in Full. You Expected More: What to Do When Your People Don’t Come Through by @gavin_adams See more on Twitter. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article