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Most people think of solopreneurs as a one-person machine. The solopreneur (according to social media) sends invoices, juggles client calls, manages marketing campaigns, and troubleshoots their own website—all before lunch. It’s a compelling narrative because it celebrates endless hustle and grit. But it’s also a myth. Solopreneurship simply means you make the business decisions. You don’t have to consult anyone else or wait for approval. It doesn’t mean you’re the only person doing the work. Most solopreneurs eventually bring in support (including me, in my solo business). Hiring help doesn’t mean you’re “no longer a real solopreneur.” It’s a sign that your business is growing. You recognize the value of your time or the limitations of your skill set. Smart solopreneurs hire help as an investment. Outsourcing work or projects can expand your bandwidth while still allowing you to maintain full control over the direction of your business. When to bring in professional support One of the hardest parts of running a solo business is deciding when to get help. Many solopreneurs wait too long because they assume they should be able to do everything themselves. But if you feel like you’re working endless hours or you’re spending too much time on tasks, it’s probably time to hire. Think of hiring as a strategic business decision, not a financial “splurge.” – Accounting or legal help The first category many solopreneurs consider is financial and legal support. They recognize that they don’t have the expertise needed—and financial or legal mistakes can be costly. An accountant or bookkeeper can manage tax compliance, keep your books clean, and help you understand your cash flow. Their jobs are to be familiar with accounting and tax laws, so you don’t have to stress. Typically, accountants or bookkeepers provide ongoing (monthly) support. Legal help becomes important as your business grows in complexity. A lawyer might review your client contracts or help you navigate trademarks if you’re developing a brand. Depending on your legal structure, you may also need a lawyer to help with documentation like Articles of Organization (for an LLC). You don’t need a lawyer on retainer. Even a few hours of legal support per year can prevent legal problems later. – A virtual assistant A virtual assistant (VA) is often the first hire for solopreneurs who are stretched thin. A VA can manage your inbox, follow up with clients, organize your files, or complete other organizational tasks that eat up hours of your time each week. I rely on a lot of automation in my business. Tasks are completed automatically in the background between apps (using Zapier). But eventually, I reached a point where I couldn’t automate anymore. Some work needs a human touch. It was either me, or a virtual assistant. I chose to hire a VA so I could focus on the more strategic/creative parts of my business. Most VAs work on an hourly, project-based, or monthly retainer model. With the right VA, you can start small and expand later if needed. Even a few hours per week can give you breathing room and help you stay focused on the work that generates revenue. – Project-based work Not every type of help needs to be ongoing. You might hire a specialist when you’ve hit the limits of what you can do yourself. For example, for a long time, I created my own brand assets. Eventually, I hit the limits of what I could do in Canva and wanted a more professional look for my business. I hired a brand designer to create my logo, choose fonts, and clarify my brand messaging. He gave me hundreds of Canva templates for various purposes. If you need a website, a brand refresh, or automation support, a temporary engagement with an expert might make sense. That way, you don’t have to spend your time acquiring skills you don’t otherwise need and can start using the “finished product” quickly. Building a team that supports your business Before I started my own business, I was a manager in the corporate world. Being responsible for other people’s career success was hard for me, and I don’t think I was particularly good at it. Bringing on help as a solopreneur doesn’t mean you have to become a “manager” in the traditional sense. Often, you’re hiring other independent professionals, like you. With the exception of a virtual assistant (who has to learn your systems/processes), the people you hire may not need a ton of oversight or hand-holding. Bringing in help doesn’t have to mean building a team in the traditional sense. But before you hire, you should consider these three things: Revenue stability: Can your income support this additional expense? ROI: Will freeing up your time allow you to earn more or reduce stress in a meaningful way? Alignment: Does delegating this work directly support your business and create value? If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” you may not be ready to hire yet. Solopreneurship doesn’t mean doing everything alone Your business works best when you’re working to your strengths. The rest can be delegated or outsourced. I’m not a designer, so I hired someone to help me with design. I’m not an accountant, so I hired someone to help with my bookkeeping. You’ve got to know which parts of your business you should hand off so your business can thrive. The goal isn’t to grow headcount, like a traditional business would grow. It’s about protecting your time and energy — the greatest assets your solo business has. View the full article

Instagram has officially launched the feature folks have been clamoring for for years. Hello, shiny new repost button. 👋 Users have been reposting content on Instagram since the app's release, but with this new feature, they’ll no longer have to rely on screenshots and third-party tools to share the content they love. Even better: This new mechanic will ensure the original creator will get credit for their work. I’m pretty excited that Instagram took the time to perfect this. Because when done right, sharing Instagram content from your community, customers, or collaborators can help you celebrate them and stay consistent on the platform. Talk about a win-win. Whether you're a creator, a social media pro, or running a small business, reposting on Instagram can help you stay consistent, build trust, and show off the amazing folks who love what you do. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use the new repost button, how to repost to your story, and other reposting methods that still come in handy. Jump to a section: How to repost on Instagram How to repost on Instagram with the repost button How to repost a feed post to as an Instagram Story How to repost a story on Instagram Other ways to repost on Instagram How to repost a story on Instagram when you haven’t been tagged How to repost a reel on Instagram How to repost an in-feed video on Instagram Why should you repost other users’ content on Instagram? How reposting can fit into your Instagram strategy 3 reposting best practices Top tips for reposting on Instagram Inspiring examples of reposting done right FAQs about reposting on Instagram More Instagram resources How to repost on InstagramUntil recently, reposting wasn’t a native feature on Instagram — which meant workarounds like screenshots, remixes, or third-party apps were the only way to reshare content. But as of August 2025, Instagram has introduced a built-in repost button for feed posts and reels, rolling out globally. Here’s how to repost content natively on the platform. How to repost on Instagram with the repost buttonWant to repost an Instagram Reel, photo, or carousel? Instagram’s native repost feature makes it easier than ever to reshare great content from your feed — no screenshot or remix needed. Source: InstagramHere’s how to repost a feed post or reel: On any public reel or post you'd like to repost, tap 'Repost' (the circular arrows).To add any text to your repost, tap the bubble by your profile picture on the bottom left of the reel or post.Where it says 'Add a thought,' include any text that you'd like to share with your repost.Tap 'Save'.Just like TikTok, the reel or post will be reposted and available in the Reposts section of your profile. Your followers will be able to see that you have reposted the content if they come across it in the feed, and other Instagram users can comment on your repost. These comments will appear as direct messages (DMs) to you. 💡Bear in mind that you can only repost reels or posts if the original creator allows reposts of their content.How to repost a feed post to as an Instagram StoryInstagram makes it easy to repost someone else’s original content to your Instagram Story on the app. The 'post-to-story' feature has been around for a while, and I use it all the time — I even use it to amplify my own feed posts. To repost a feed post (reel, photo, or carousel) to your story, follow these steps: Tap on the paper airplane icon on the post or reel you want to share.Tap on the option to add this to your story.Customize your post with GIFs, stickers, text, and caption options in the top-right corner.Tap the arrow in the bottom-right corner, and make sure “add post to your story” is selected.Select whether you want to share it to your story or close friends, and then click the arrow to post.Keep in mind that you can only repost content to your Instagram Story from public accounts — posts from private accounts or ads can’t be shared to your story. ⚡If you want to plan your stories ahead and make the process less time-consuming, here’s how to schedule Instagram Stories in 2025 (with two easy methods and pro tips). How to repost a story on InstagramReposting a story you’re tagged in is super simple. When someone tags you in their story, Instagram sends you a DM with the story inside. From there, just follow these steps: Check your DMs and tap on the story you were tagged in.Tap Add to Story at the bottom. Add your own touch with text, GIFs, emojis, stickers, or anything else to make it feel personal and on-brand.When you’re happy with it, hit share, and it’ll go out to all your Instagram followers.Note: This only works if you’ve been tagged in the original story. If you weren’t tagged but still want to share it, you can use other methods like taking a screenshot. As always, don’t forget to credit the creator. 5 other ways to repost on InstagramThere are certain scenarios where you might want to go the old reposting route — say, user-generated content or a product review. But first things first: When it comes to reposting someone else’s content on Instagram, it’s best to get permission from the original poster and repost their work with credit. You can do this in a few ways: Send the original poster a direct message on Instagram.Comment on their photo to start the conversation.Connect via email to iron out the details and get explicit permission.Pro tip: Use our simple template. Hey [creator/brand name], we enjoyed your post about [product/topic] and would love to share it with our followers (with full credit and a tag, of course). Is it OK if we repost it? Permission acquired? Here’s how to post different types of content on Instagram using a screenshot: How to repost a story on Instagram when you haven’t been taggedOnce you have the permission from the original creator, you can use your phone’s screen recording feature to capture the story, then upload it to your own story. If you don’t want to post it right away, you can take a screenshot or screen recording, then use a scheduling tool like Buffer to plan and post it at the perfect time. How to repost an image post on Instagram1. Screenshot a photo Find the photo you’d like to share, then take a screenshot on your phone. 2. Upload your screenshot to Instagram Open Instagram, tap the + icon, and choose the screenshot from your camera roll, just like you would with any other post. 3. Crop and resize the image Adjust the image so it looks clean and only shows the photo (not your phone’s screen edges). You can crop it in Instagram or use your phone’s photo editor before uploading. 💡Want your reposts (and all your posts) to look their best? Check out our Instagram Image Size Guide 2025 for the recommended dimensions for posts, stories, and reels.4. Add a caption Don’t forget to tag the original creator and mention them in your caption — for example: Via @buffer. How to repost a reel on InstagramIf you want to reshare someone’s reel (and not just add it to your story), here are a couple of ways you can do it, while giving credit to the creator, of course. Option 1: Use Instagram’s built-in remix feature Find the reel you want to repost.Tap the three dots (…) on the reel.Select Remix this reel.You can choose to remix with the original video or sequence after the original video.Record your own clip and audio, add it to the original, and post it as your own reel with the original creator automatically credited.Should I remix or sequence? Feature What it looks like Best for… Why choose this? Remix Your video and the original play at the same time in a split screen. Reactions, commentary, duets, humor. Viewers can see your response in real-time alongside the original, which is great for engagement and personality. Sequence The original video plays first, then yours follows right after. Follow-ups, adding context, continuing the story, tutorials. Feels more like a thoughtful reply or extension of the original content — perfect for storytelling or adding value. Option 2: Save and re-upload (with permission) If you want to repost the exact reel as your own (not a remix), you’ll need to: Get permission from the creator first.Best option: Ask your customer, friend, or fan to send you the video directly. If that’s not possible, you can use a screen recording, or a third-party app or website to download the reel.Upload it to Instagram as a new reel, add your caption, and tag the original creator.💡Want to take your Instagram engagement even further? Here’s how to use Instagram’s Close Friends feature and pair it with unlockable reels for your most engaged audience.How to repost an in-feed video on InstagramIf you see an in-feed video you’d like to share on your own account, here’s how you can do it. Option 1: Share to your story Tap the paper plane icon under the video.Select Add to Your Story to share it with your followers as a story.You can add your own text, stickers, or comments before posting.Note: This only works if the account is public and allows sharing. Option 2: Repost to your feed (with permission) Reach out to the creator and ask for their permission.Once they agree, use a screen recording or a third-party app to save the video. Better yet, ask the creator if they’re willing to share the video with you. Upload it as a new post on your feed, write a caption, and tag/credit the original creator.Why should you repost other users’ content on Instagram?It's not always easy to stay consistent on Instagram, which requires pretty frequent posting to stay relevant. Enter: Reposting. Here's why you should consider it: Extend the life of high-quality contentNot every amazing post needs to live and die in one day. Reposting lets you give high-quality, valuable Instagram content a second (or third) chance to shine, reaching followers who may have missed it the first time. Build trust through social proofWhen people see others engaging with your brand and loving what you do, it builds credibility. Sharing real stories, testimonials, and posts from your audience shows that your product or service delivers. For example, Buffer shared this customer review as an Instagram post: Highlight happy customers and brand fansYour customers and fans are your best advocates. Reposting their posts about your brand celebrates them, and their positivity rubs off on your audience, too. Strengthen your community by showcasing their voicesReposting is about making your followers feel seen and appreciated. Featuring their posts helps foster a sense of belonging and keeps your audience engaged. Reach new audiences through user-generated content (UGC)When you share UGC, you often tap into the creator’s network as well. Their friends and followers see your brand in action, which can help you reach people you might never have connected with otherwise. 💡Don’t sleep on using UGC to build trust, grow your audience, and strengthen your strategy. Check out our guide: User-Generated Content: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Add It to Your StrategyHow reposting can fit into your Instagram strategyWhen done right, reposting is a win in my books. You get to keep an Instagram feed fresh, engaging, and community-driven, without creating all the content yourself. Here are three easy (and fun) ways to weave reposting into your strategy: 1. Share UGC from events and milestonesLive events, meetups, and big milestones are goldmines for user-generated content. If you’re hosting an event, or if someone from your team is speaking at a conference, chances are your community is already posting about it — all you need to do is ask if you can reshare. Celebrating major moments like anniversaries, product launches, or awards can also inspire followers to share their own stories about your brand, giving you even more content to repost. 2. Monitor brand mentions, tags, and hashtagsYour notifications tab is a hidden treasure chest. People tagging your account or using your branded hashtag often post beautiful, authentic content you can share. For example, Airbnb does this brilliantly — they regularly feature guest pics (and tag the listings) straight from their #AirbnbSuperhosts. It gives them gorgeous visuals and supports the hosts who keep their platform thriving. 3. Acknowledge and share content from other users I get a little dopamine hit when I see the “Buffer just reposted your post to their network” notification on LinkedIn, and I’m sure I’m not alone, no matter the platform or content. Most people love being seen and appreciated, and reposting your followers’ content is such a simple way to do that. A thoughtful comment or DM asking to share their photo can turn casual fans into loyal brand advocates. Etsy is a great example here: they highlight makers’ products on their feed and even created the hashtag #YesEtsy for Instagram users to confirm they’re OK with being reposted. Etsy is built on its makers, so showcasing their creativity and craftsmanship helps them feel supported while getting customers excited to purchase their products. 3 reposting best practices1. Be thoughtful when you ask for permission to screenshot and repostOnce you’ve discovered a photo you’d like to share, don’t just screenshot and go. We’ve found that it’s best to send a thoughtful message in your outreach. Include a kind word about why you liked the original post, and tell the poster why you’d like to share their photo. If you have any terms and conditions before you offer attribution, give the original poster a link to review them. Finally, give them directions on how they can respond if they’re on board with a repost. Make it easy for them to say yes — something like “Just reply with ‘yes’ if you’re happy for us to share,” or use a branded hashtag like Etsy does. 2. Avoid edits on photo posts If you’ve picked out a photo you’d love to repost, it’s best practice to share it untouched and unedited. If you do want to add something to the post, reposting it to your story will preserve the original while giving you a chance to include commentary, stickers, etc. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you’ll be able to go ahead and publish without any changes, but for those rare occasions where a slight edit may be needed, reach out to the original creator and ask before publishing an edited image. 3. Credit your sourceThis one’s non-negotiable: always give proper credit. The easiest way is to tag the creator in your caption. Since Instagram truncates captions after three lines, try to include the credit near the top so it’s visible. Here are a few ways to phrase it: Credit: @usernamePhoto by: @usernamePhoto credit: @usernameMoment captured by @usernameThanks to @username for sharing this with us📸 @usernameVia @username💡Level up with our handy roundup of 26 Free Instagram Tools to Help Grow Your Account in 2025Top tips for reposting on InstagramAlways credit the original creator Choose content that supports your goals, not just what looks niceLook for posts that match your brand’s vibe and visual styleRepost from Instagram users who have great engagement to help boost your reachAdd your own caption or context so it feels fresh and relevant to your audienceSave repost ideas in Buffer’s Create space to keep everything organized and ready to go on one dashboard💡Here are 13 Ways to Get More Followers on Instagram in 2025Inspiring examples of reposting done right1. GoProGoPro is built on user-generated content. Their Instagram feed regularly features content from members of their community and showcases the amazing images you can capture using a GoPro camera. They also host challenges where their followers submit photos for a chance at an award. 2. BēhanceBēhance from Adobe uses Instagram to showcase illustrators and graphic designers who use their platform. They spotlight artists and feature guest curators while including links to their work, which gives their feed the feel of an inclusive museum. Bēhance runs a social platform for artists where they can share their projects, connect with peers and potential clients, and even live stream their creative processes. Reposts go one step further in promoting their users and likely drum up interest for creatives who haven’t signed up yet. 3. Lili Origin Lili Origin loves to reshare customers’ Instagram Stories showing off their products — and they make it even easier for their audience by adding a direct product link right on the story, so no one has to hunt around the website to find it. 💡Looking for even more ways to team up with your community and grow your reach? Here’s how to use Instagram Collab posts — plus 8 creative ideas to boost engagement and get your audience talking.Here’s a toast to the repost Done right, reposting on Instagram can help you grow your reach, build trust, and turn your followers into fans. Now you know how to repost on Instagram, it’s time to take your platform strategy to the next level. With Buffer, it’s easy to plan, schedule for a later date, and stay organized. My favorite feature is that you don’t need to repost right away when you see content that deserves a share. You can save repost ideas in your Create space and use them more strategically on the grid or in your stories. So go on, reshare that post: celebrate your community, show off your social proof, and do it all (yes, even for free) with Buffer. FAQs about reposting on InstagramCan I repost content from other Instagram users?Yes, if you ask for permission first and give proper credit to the original creator. You can also repost content from public Instagram accounts to your Instagram Story. How do I repost someone's Instagram post?The easiest way is to share it to your story using the paper plane icon below the post. To repost to your feed, you’ll need to save the image or video (with permission) and post it as your own Instagram post with credit. What is the new way of reposting on Instagram?Instagram’s new repost feature lets you reshare someone else’s post or reel directly to your followers’ feeds — similar to a TikTok repost or X retweet. The reposted content will appear in your followers’ feed and in a new Reposts tab on your profile. Why can't I repost a post on Instagram?If the account is private or the creator has disabled sharing, you won’t be able to repost their content. If you don’t see the repost button yet, it may still be rolling out to your region or account. Is there a repost button on Instagram?Yes! As of August 2025, Instagram has launched a native repost button for feed posts and reels. Look for it by tapping the share icon under a post and choosing “Repost.” How do I allow reposts of a story on Instagram?Make sure your account is public and that you’ve enabled sharing in your Story settings: Settings > Privacy > Story > Allow sharing to story. How do you forward someone else's Instagram post?Tap the paper plane icon under the Instagram post and send it via DM to a friend or share it to your own story. More Instagram resources How to Use Instagram Collab Posts (+ 8 Collab Ideas to Boost Engagement and Reach)17 Trending Sounds on Instagram in 2025 (+ How to Use Them)10 Simple Ways to Find Trending Instagram Audio in 2025 (+ Get More Views)How to Schedule Instagram Stories in 2025 (2 Easy Methods + Tips)Instagram Image Size Guide 2025: Post, Story, and Reels Dimensions13 Ways to Get More Followers on Instagram in 2025How to Use Instagram Close Friends (and Pair With Broadcast Channels and Unlockable ReelsUnlockable Reels Are Coming to Instagram: Here’s How They Work26 Free Instagram Tools to Help Grow Your Account in 2025View the full article

Under President The President, it’s becoming clear that doing business with China is fine — under the right, lucrative conditions. In a post on Truth Social, the president said this week that his administration will allow Nvidia to sell one of its most powerful AI chips, the H200, to China. The H200 is said to be up to six times more powerful than the H20, the most powerful chip Nvidia had won approval to sell to China. Washington and Beijing are currently in a tight race to lead AI and robotics research, and are locked in direct competition to apply the technologies in defense and intelligence. The Biden administration and much of Silicon Valley agreed that limiting sales of the most powerful AI chips to China was one lever the U.S. could pull to give it an advantage, and protect its own security. But Nvidia and its ally, AI czar David Sacks, have been lobbying the The President administration all year to remove restrictions on chip sales to China, whose economy is the second-largest in the world — and a huge chip market. Now, The President has been persuaded to sell H200s to China — provided that the chips are routed through the U.S. for a “security review” and that the U.S. gets a 25% cut of the sales. “I have informed President Xi of China that the United States will allow Nvidia to ship its H200 products to approved customers in China and other countries under conditions that allow for strong national security,” the president posted to Truth Social. Notably, the agreement won’t apply to Nvidia’s most powerful chips, The President says: the new Blackwell GPUs and the forthcoming Rubin GPUs. The Wall Street Journal reports that The President’s decision came following a meeting last week with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, where they reportedly discussed H200 chip sales. “It’s representative of The President policy, which seems to be based on whomever was in his ear last and not part of a coherent strategy,” says Alex Jacquez, who was special assistant to President Biden for economic development and industrial strategy at the National Economic Council. Huang reportedly speaks to The President regularly. Earlier this year, he talked to the president about selling Blackwell GPUs to China. But when the president raised the issue with his cabinet, the idea was shut down over national security concerns. In August, Huang agreed to give the U.S. a 15% percent cut in exchange for permission to sell a lower-performing chip, the H20, to China; Xi soon advised Chinese tech companies not to use the chips, citing security concerns. Coming at a cost Even factoring the 25% U.S. cut on H200 sales, the agreement is likely a huge win for both Nvidia and China. And the win could come at a cost to the U.S. Jacquez says that selling the H200 chips will give China a technological advantage that it wouldn’t have gained on their own for at least two to three years, meaning that Chinese chip makers such as Huawei would need that much time to develop chips as performant as Nvidia’s. “On the U.S. side, every chip that we sell, every chip that we export, is a chip that’s not going to a U.S. company to continue to drive forward on our own AI capabilities,” he says. And the Chinese could use the powerful H200s to supercharge some of the forms of aggression in which it’s already engaged. For example, in November Anthropic discovered that a Chinese state-sponsored attacker manipulated its Claude AI coding tool to carry out a large-scale cyberattack. “Those chips are going to go into AI systems that are going to look for weaknesses in U.S. cyber security,” Jacquez says. They might be used by Chinese state-affiliated groups to scrape sensitive data from U.S. businesses or consumers, he adds — or they could be built into weapons that the Chinese sell to Russia who are fighting Ukrainians. “The Administration’s licensing process will ensure that sales of H200 to authorized customers worldwide do not deprive U.S. customers of anything,” says an Nvidia spokesperson, “and will in fact benefit American national and economic security.” “Offering H200 to approved and known commercial customers, vetted by the Department of Commerce, raises no cybersecurity risk and strikes a thoughtful balance that is great for America,” the spokesperson added. The H200 deal shows that Huang’s charm offensive convinced the The President administration that the U.S.’s technological, economic, and national security goals are best served when the world’s AI models and apps are built to run on chips made by U.S.-based companies — like Nvidia. View the full article

While American workers face “forever layoffs” and struggle to find work in today’s tumultuous job market, some are reframing this era of unemployment and finding a silver lining in their personal economic meltdowns. “Laid off in June and the job market is so bad I decided to have a funemployed summer,” one TikTok creator posted earlier this year. Another wrote: “a weekday as a funemployed millennial.” In the video they wake up at 11 a.m. and scroll TikTok for an hour; after breakfast at 1 p.m., they journal, read, think about life, hit the gym, and then call it a day. Some funemployed were laid off. Some quit, lured by voluntary buyout programs. Some simply crave a career break or are in-between jobs. “I got laid off four months ago, y’all wanna know what I learned,” one TikTok creator posted. “Life goes on.” Instead of spending their days poring over job listings or firing out résumés, they’re embracing the time off and using it to travel, pursue a passion project, or simply rest. (At least until the severance pay runs out.) As workers are currently in the thick of end-of-year layoff season, more of them may well find themselves in a funemployment era of their own. Especially as layoff announcements now surpassed 1.1 million this year, the most since 2020 pandemic, consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported Thursday. The concept of a gap year, or a sabbatical, has been around for years, and even the label funemployement is nothing new: Urban Dictionary defines funemployed as “The condition of a person who takes advantage of being out of a job to have the time of their life. I spent all day Tuesday at the pool; funemployment rocks!” Also, when it comes to younger generations, work is less central to their lives and sense of self. Studies have shown that across the board employees are more disengaged than ever. Many are using the extra free time to help pursue passions they may not otherwise have time for, or create social media content to bring in some extra funds. Besides, humor is Gen Z’s go-to defense mechanism. “Question: how can I stay funemployed (from a financial standpoint) forever,” one TikTok creator posted earlier this year. “I swear I’m hardworking but even the thought of going back to a traditional in-office 9-5 starts to suck the soul out of me.” A period of unemployment, while it might hurt financially, is no longer seen as the moral failing it used to be. Résumé gaps no longer carry the same stigma and people can make extra cash through side hustles or gig work while they figure out their next move. It’s worth noting, those posting about funemployment are often young and single, unburdened by the costs of children or a mortgage. Of course, if you’re buoyed by savings, severance pay, or have parents to help you out, you might have the luxury of not having to rush into another job for the sake of a paycheck. The entry-level job market is also the toughest it’s been in years, with only 30% of 2025 graduates finding jobs in their fields. Considering more than 1 in 4 workers without jobs have been unemployed for at least half a year, might as well try to have some fun in the meantime. (Until the mental gymnastics kick in, anyway.) View the full article

The Cold War lasted 45 agonizing years. Daily life in the Soviet Union was a mixture of dread and horror—children taught to report their parents’ whispered doubts, families queuing for hours for bread, dissidents vanishing in the night. November 8, 1989, was just another day of knowing World War III might pop off at any time. But on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. No tanks. No gun battles. No sabotage. Just a peaceful, surreal collapse. The empire fell both slowly and suddenly. Gen Xers and boomers remember the disorienting feeling of watching the impossible happen on evening news broadcasts. With the benefit of hindsight and declassified records now available, we know life under Soviet rule was far worse than Cold War movies or propaganda posters ever revealed. Millions suffered in silence, unable to ask for help because everyone was incentivized to spy on their neighbors. And then, out of nowhere, Germans from east and west Berlin were blaring American rock music from boom boxes, laughing, dancing, and spray-painting graffiti. Strangers took turns smashing apart the physical barrier between despair and hope with whatever they could find—hammers, pickaxes, or bare hands. “Spontaneous acts of high-spirited foolishness,” to quote Sky News. “Utter disbelief and glee.” The lesson history keeps teaching us Just because current circumstances are miserable doesn’t mean they can’t turn around. When you study history, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by how often things get better in the end—and how quickly the transformation can happen once it begins. Cynicism can be tempting for urbanism reformers. They desperately want to break free of status quo regulations and processes that create an antihuman built environment, but it seems hopeless. And yes, the current situation for most Americans is harmful: Anxiety and depression from isolation. Loneliness from neighborhoods designed to keep people apart. Chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. Air pollution and noise pollution. Traffic crashes as a leading cause of death. It feels like things have always been this way and always will be. Lack of pedestrian infrastructure, unreliable transit service, subsidized sprawl, ever-expanding arterials—it’s exhausting. Focusing only on the negative without exploring positive outcomes is how cynicism creeps in. “They’re never going to change, because they don’t care about us.” (Whoever “they” happens to be for any given topic—city council, planners, engineers, developers, NIMBYs.) Cynic (noun): a faultfinding critic who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest Cynicism feels like realism, but it’s actually a form of blindness. It prevents you from seeing the change agents working in the background, the small victories accumulating, the institutional momentum slowly, imperceptibly shifting—until suddenly, the wall comes down. The walls will come down The internet is full of inspiring examples of institutional reform, from massive governments to pocket neighborhoods. Change agents work quietly in the background for years, and then suddenly . . . liberation. Just like world history lessons, you can’t hold onto cynicism if you allow yourself to learn about before-and-after stories related to the built environment. There’s too much evidence of reform, too many walls already crumbling, for anyone to hang their head in gloom about the future of planning and design. The people dancing on the Berlin Wall in 1989 didn’t bring it down alone. They were the visible celebration of decades of invisible work—dissidents who wrote forbidden letters, families who maintained hope, officials who made small concessions that accumulated into structural weakness, and a few rogue journalists who told the truth despite the consequences. You might be one of those invisible workers right now. The person who shows up to planning meetings, who writes letters, who builds tactical urbanism projects, who votes for better policy, or who simply talks to friends about what’s possible. The wall you’re pushing against might not fall tomorrow. But if history teaches us anything, it’s that things that seem permanent can collapse with stunning speed once enough pressure accumulates. What feels impossible on a Wednesday becomes reality by Thursday. Things get better in the end. View the full article

Some days, starting feels effortless. A clear challenge or opportunity presents itself, an idea crystallizes, and then contracts into a single coherent thought. Today, frankly? That’s not happening. I’m staring at a pristine white canvas while the cursor mocks me. That uncomfortable space—the blinking cursor, the first messy draft, the false starts—isn’t a nuisance. It’s where creativity lives. Today, the temptation is to skip past all that. With AI, you don’t even need to know where you’re going. The bot can map it out, hand you something good enough. But what does good enough mean if you didn’t wrestle with the idea yourself? A recent MIT Media Lab study, Your Brain on ChatGPT, found that people who wrote without AI showed the strongest and most widespread brain activity, tied to creativity and memory. Essays produced with LLMs, by contrast, were described as flatter and more forgettable. The researchers warn that skipping the messy part of creation may create “cognitive debt”—you get an output, but you don’t actually grow. How to avoid this? Create, restrain, and edit the hell out of where you’ve been. Create: Start Messy, Start Anyway Starting anything new, even if you’ve done it a million times, is one of the great joys of the creative world. Sure, I could fill a blank canvas (or deck, or comp) with tried-and-true things we know work, but the beauty of creativity is that the first version is never, never, the last version. We have to start somewhere so we have something to improve. I see creatives regularly jump right into making slides. Creating templates and parameters to work with that map out all the “must have” components of a complete idea. But when you’re just starting out you don’t need completely connected dots, just a gathering of interesting things that could become the idea. I personally like to read the brief and try to let it go, but keep a literal blank sheet of paper in front of me for the day or a new note on my phone. I jot down the sparks and weird things I come across during the day and keep adding to it while going about my life. In the collection stage it’s about volume and seeing where the energy of ideating takes you. Restrain: Creativity Thrives Within Limits Think of a tight budget like a limited palette. Only have $500? You’ll approach the recycled cardboard canvas way differently than you’ll approach that 10-foot primed beauty with endless oils on hand. Only have two days? You’ll make different choices than if you had two months. No designer available? Better figure out how to do it with words. Great restraint is only going to get harder with so much immediate action at our fingertips. But those who can hold back—who know how to simplify—will reach simple, compelling, and worthwhile ideas faster. Amazon is known for having their teams create fake press releases instead of pitches to help contextualize the details of an idea. A great exercise later in the process when you need to describe what you’re looking to achieve. Lately, I’ve had our teams test how much an idea can scale by writing it up in different voices. How would your favorite podcast host take and run with the idea? Does it still work and how does the tool of only audio change what you have to say? Good marketers shouldn’t fear constraints. Use them strategically. Whether it’s a tighter budget, a shorter timeline, or a smaller format, guardrails force creativity and result in sharper, more memorable work. Edit: The Discipline That Makes Ideas Great Good editing is another great skill of this new age: the ability to cut, to know what’s worth amplifying, and to decide what actually makes the main feed. But editing is harder in an AI-powered world. Like the dopamine loop of social media, LLMs can make every idea feel validated: Here’s your idea! You’re brilliant! The client just doesn’t get it! False confidence is dangerous. The only way to become a strong editor is to put in the work: writing, failing, and listening. Taking feedback not from machines, but from mentors, peers, and audiences. I learned how to develop good ideas by generating a lot of bad ones—and killing most of them. Editing is leadership. Brands and agencies need to create a culture where teams aren’t just encouraged to generate but also to refine. Build space for young creatives to dream wildly, then guide them through the discipline of cutting back to the ideas that truly deserve to live. I got better at editing by getting off the computer and having the conversation with someone else far away from the work and without the material in front of me. What remains? What must be said in a conversation to have it all make sense. If you have it, it’s easy to see what stays. If you find it confusing to even share over conversation the work needs more refinement, and maybe an edit overhaul. I believe the creative work that stands out will be anything that resists skipping to “good enough.” It’ll embrace the blank canvas, lean into the discomfort, and edit ruthlessly until what’s left is not just efficient, but meaningful. View the full article

Lurking on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, or among your incoming text messages and emails, lies yet another disappointment to dodge in the already lacking job market: fake recruiters. Posing as representatives from top companies, they’ll contact you out of the blue, offering a job so tempting, that 40% of targets ignore the warning signs and move forward with the “interview.” More than half of them, 51%, end up being scammed to give up personal data or money. Those findings came from a survey of more than 1,200 U.S. job seekers published in October by Password Manager. “The prevalence of fake recruiters came to my attention several years ago,” says Gunnar Kallstrom, the cybersecurity expert who conducted survey for the company, which reviews password manager apps. “Since then, the number of fake recruiters has been on the rise . . . posing as recruiters for well-known companies.” Per the survey, those companies include Amazon, Google, FedEx, UPS, Walmart, Apple, and “Facebook” (identified that way instead of by Meta in the survey), in that order of frequency. These scams pose real risks for the job seekers who fall for them. Fake recruiters steal Social Security numbers, bank information, and passwords in a variety of ways, some sneakier, or more sophisticated, than others. The Better Business Bureau’s 2024 Scam Risk Tracker Report puts the median dollar loss at $1,500 for victims—no small sum, especially considering that these people are likely out of work. Not only do they result in material losses; they also put a serious dent in morale for those on the employment hunt. More than half of Password Manager survey respondents said they’re now “less trusting of job opportunities” and “find the process more stressful”—40% say they’ve even let legitimate posts pass them by, too concerned that they’re being tricked again. The trend is a nuisance at best; an active threat at worst. Still, false job recruiters have many tells that job seekers can use to spot them. Enterprises, too, have become increasingly aware of these scammers’ tactics. Representatives from some of the companies that fake recruiters most frequently impersonate told Fast Company exactly what job seekers should watch for to avoid falling victim to these insidious hiring scams. What is the MO of false recruiters? Generally, fake recruiters “operate exactly like a social engineering campaign,” says Kallstrom, “in which their MO is to create a sense of urgency, legitimacy, and promise of reward for their victims.” Those surprise text messages you receive saying your resume caught a recruiter’s eye, but the post they’re hiring for needs to be filled ASAP? Don’t give it a second look. “We simply do not” do anything to “create an undue sense of urgency,” says Brian Ong, vice president of recruiting at Google. He’s heard from Google job candidates and employees about people falsely posing as members of the company’s recruiting team, sending direct messages and emails even to those who haven’t previously applied for jobs at Google. They’ll use emails or websites, Ong adds, that look like they belong to Google, often using the company’s logo. “We’ve also seen situations where these scams are using our name and brand to ask for money or an immediate in-person interview,” says Ong, “Both of which are misrepresentative of our hiring process.” Amazon, meanwhile, has noticed customers reporting an “increase in scammers pretending to be Amazon recruiters in September and October 2025,” says Scott Knapp, the company’s vice president of worldwide buyer risk prevention. These “recruiters” will ask for information like SSNs, bank information, or Amazon account details—all information real recruiters for the company wouldn’t solicit. At Target, No. 9 on Password Manager’s list of most-impersonated companies, the scams tend to focus on “secret shopper” opportunities, per the company’s website. Via emails with subject lines like “job offer” or “influencer opportunities,” scammers will offer free products or cash in exchange for recipients buying items to review online, or for purchasing gift cards and sharing the cards’ information with the false Target reps. Tactics vary based on the type of company scammers are impersonating, adapting to “whatever feels ‘normal’ for that brand,” Kallstrom says. FedEx’s fake delivery job offers will arrive via text: “Urgent hiring need—no interview required,” Kallstrom says, a likely enough assertion since delivery companies tend to bring on seasonal employees for busy times, like holidays, without asking for extensive interviews or experience. For Meta, on the other hand, “since they are a tech company, there may be a fake HR portal, software skills assessments, and fake interviews,” adds Kallstrom, who describes tech company hiring scams as more sophisticated. They may entail full-on skills tests for software engineers that include coding challenges, through which scammers end up downloading malware onto the coder’s computer. The high salaries these fake recruiters offer may also cause applicants to “let their guard down,” Kallstrom says, “because they are enticed by the money.” Across the board, these companies are chosen by scammers because of their name recognition, says Kallstrom: “They make great bait for a potential unsuspecting victim.” How do you spot a recruiter impersonator? “Any request for personal information is likely a sign of a scam,” Google’s Ong says, adding that candidates who’ve applied to Google jobs have already shared information like email addresses and phone numbers. Real recruiters shouldn’t be asking for those—especially not alongside an invitation to a Google Meet or link to a login page where users need to input that information to sign in. Scammer tells will also appear in their own email addresses. Ong says he and his colleagues have seen fake recruiters with “incomplete websites or misspelled emails” along with outreach “from people who do not have Google in their title or email.” Misspellings, poor grammar, and inconsistencies in general could indicate an impersonator. Emails or websites replete with stock photos, too, should warrant a side-eye. As obvious as it may sound, any job opportunity that comes with an ask for payment should be avoided—even if it’s indirect payment, like requesting you purchase a gift card. “Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or ‘verification cards,’ as some scammers call them) for products or services,” says Knapp. Ultimately, if you’re unsure whether a job opportunity is a scam, check the company’s website. Companies tend to list their job openings online. Both Google and Amazon representatives point to their companies’ online job boards, where those who’ve received offers to apply for jobs can cross-check that those posts indeed appear on their websites. Job seekers can also do due diligence on the alleged recruiters doing outreach. “Verify the contact by checking the email addresses,” Ong says, “looking up the person online, such as on LinkedIn. And if something does seem suspicious, flag it to the outlet where it was received.” What to do if you’ve been targeted? The first step is to report it. “The more consumers report scams to us, the better our tools get at identifying bad actors so that we can take action against them and protect consumers,” says Knapp, pointing out Amazon’s scams help page where those targeted can report. The company works with consumer groups like the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Better Business Bureau to create “awareness campaigns” about the latest, most common scams. Amazon also partners with law enforcement “across the globe,” Knapp adds, to hold scammers accountable, having “initiated takedowns of more than 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers being used as part of impersonation schemes” in 2024. A representative from Target says that cybersecurity experts from the company’s Cyber Fusion Center “use advanced tools and training to prevent and address potential threats.” That includes tools developed by the company as part of an open source initiative on GitHub, like one that scans files, such as emails, to detect possible malicious activity. “Anyone can get baited on social media” or “get a text about a job opportunity that’s too good to be true,” says Knapp. “If something seems too good to be true, it likely is an impersonation scam.” View the full article

We talk about time at work as if it’s a fixed resource: something outside of us and something we either “manage well” or “never have enough of.” People genuinely believe the clock is the problem. But the more you look at how the brain processes experience, the less true this becomes. People don’t feel pressured because they have too many tasks. They feel pressured because their brain is constructing time in a way that makes everything feel urgent or impossible to catch up with. Modern neuroscience has been pointing to this for a while. Our experience of time—what feels fast, slow, overwhelming, or “not enough”—is not a reading from an internal stopwatch. It’s a story the brain builds using prediction, memory, emotional state, and identity. In other words: your brain doesn’t observe time. Your brain generates it. Or we can say it another way. The brain predicts time, not measures it. Instead of tracking time objectively, the brain uses patterns and context to estimate how long things take. It relies on memory and sensory information to create a timeline that makes sense. But the problem is that those internal estimates shift dramatically depending on what’s happening inside us. When your system is stable and regulated, your internal sense of time widens. You can think clearly, make decisions from the part of your brain built for problem-solving, and move through your day without constantly feeling behind. In contrast, when you’re stressed or mentally overloaded, the brain speeds everything up. Time “contracts” and you lose the feeling of agency. Minutes disappear and even simple tasks feel rushed. The external calendar hasn’t changed, yet your internal clock has. Stress and emotion distort the experience of time Under stress, the brain becomes hyper-focused on prediction: What might go wrong? What am I missing? What did I forget? What’s next? This pulls attention away from continuous processing and toward threat monitoring, making time feel fragmented and chaotic. Emotion does something similar. When you’re anxious, your internal timeline becomes jumpy and inconsistent. On the other hand, when you’re burdened by unresolved emotional patterns or past loops, the present feels compressed and the future feels far away. This is exactly why whole months can feel like they passed in a blur—and yet individual days felt strangely heavy or stretched. We experience time not as it is, but as our internal state shapes it. Identity plays a bigger role than people think Your identity—who you believe you are right now, and who you believe you should already be—has a direct impact on your sense of time. When there’s a big gap between your current self and the self you think you “should” have become by now, the brain interprets this as lateness. People living with a strained identity often feel they’re constantly running behind, even on days where their workload is reasonable. It creates a quiet pressure underneath everything they do. It is important to acknowledge that this is not laziness or lack of discipline, but a distorted time experience shaped by identity tension. Why two people with the same schedule feel time differently Every leader has seen this but can’t always explain it: two employees with the same deadlines, same workload and even the same tools, yet one remains steady and the other is overwhelmed. From the outside, they look identical, yet from the inside, they’re living in completely different time worlds. One person’s nervous system is regulated enough to let their brain track time coherently. The other is in chronic predictive overdrive, experiencing time as something slippery and unforgiving. Attention shapes the texture of time There’s a reason deep work feels slow and spacious, while days full of interruptions vanish in an instant. That’s because attention gives the brain enough information to build a rich, continuous timeline. Fragmentation does the opposite. When your attention is scattered, time becomes thin. It loses its structure and feels shorter. This isn’t just unpleasant. But it also changes how people remember their workday, how they evaluate their progress, and how capable they feel. When companies unintentionally design days full of micro-interruptions, they are not only lowering productivity—they are altering employees’ subjective experience of time. And people make very different decisions when they feel like time is disappearing. What this means for modern work If time pressure and overwhelm come from internal time distortion rather than external time scarcity, then our conversations about productivity need to shift dramatically. And this doesn’t refer to “better time management.” It is about reducing the internal states that warp how people experience time. Leaders can influence this more than they think by using the following strategies: 1) Reduce unnecessary chronic stressors to keep time perception from becoming distorted beyond usefulness. 2) Protect uninterrupted focus windows as the foundation for coherent time experience. 3) Be intentional with urgency: Constant urgency rewires the brain to live in a compressed and reactive timeline. 4) Offer clear, grounded futures: a stable sense of “where I’m going” helps people feel anchored, instead of feeling constantly behind. The real work is not to fit more tasks into a fixed number of hours, but to help people live in an internal timeline that isn’t distorted by stress and identity pressure. Clock time will always move at the same pace. But the time that determines burnout, clarity, performance, and decision-making is the time your brain is constructing from the inside. Understanding that difference changes everything. View the full article

Google faces an EU investigation into whether its AI practices and use of publisher content reflect an abuse of dominance. The post Google Hit By EU Probe Into Unfair Use Of Online Content appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Navigate the complex world of link building with our guide to finding reputable link building services in 2026 for long-term success. The post AI Overviews Changed Everything: How To Choose Link Building Services For 2026 appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My new employer won’t let me wear my wedding ring I’m getting ready to start my new job in a fast-moving but rather conservative industry. I’m starting as an assistant but have the possibility of advancing up to management throughout my career here. Last week, I had a meeting with the woman who is going to be my supervisor and we finalized things like my salary, work hours, etc. She also spent a significant amount of time making sure I understood the dress code, as it is very strict, even stricter than many other offices. There were things like only certain colors of clothing, absolutely no nail polish, minimal makeup in only natural colors, no heels over two inches but no “casual” shoes either, etc. One of their rules is that, while some jewelry is allowed, it can only be either gold or silver in color and absolutely nothing else. Here’s the thing: My wedding ring is purple (amethyst encrusted). My husband got this ring for me because he knows I dislike gold and silver jewelry and prefer colors, and it’s also my birthstone. My supervisor pointed it out during our meeting and said, unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to wear it during work hours. I was a bit taken aback but did not argue. Now that I’m getting ready to start, I don’t know what to do. On one hand, rules are rules. On the other hand, it’s my wedding ring and it’s very precious to me and I never take it off. I also don’t want to go out and buy some arbitrary silver ring to wear in place that means nothing to me. It would seem silly to give up this great job over a ring, but I just don’t know. If it were any other piece of jewelry I wouldn’t care, but not this one. What should I do? That’s a ridiculous rule and I cannot fathom any legitimate business need for it, other than that they have a need to be overly controlling. I’m curious to know what would happen if you say, “I understand your rules about jewelry, but this is my wedding ring and I don’t take it off. I’m certainly willing to abide by the dress code, but it’s not an option for me to remove my wedding ring. What’s the best way for me to proceed, given that?” They may say that yes, they’re going to require you remove the ring if you want to work there, but I’d like to make them say it out loud because it’s ridiculous. But if they do, then you’ll have to decide if you’re willing to remove it for work every day (and also if you’re willing to work for people who give adults rules for rules’ sake). – 2018 2. How to tell an employee to stop cc’ing my boss I’m a new manager and I have an employee who consistently copies other people on emails I’ve directed specifically to her. What is confusing about this is that sometimes the emails are related to situations that may not have been well handled by her. I’m trying to be supportive and encouraging and make these things teachable moments instead of “you’re in trouble” moments, but when she then turns around and copies my boss in her response it makes me look bad for not immediately reporting the issue to him. I don’t know how to explain this to her without making it sound like I want her to hide things from my boss. Do I just cc my boss every time I think her judgement may have been off to get ahead of the problem? That would probably get her in trouble more, which I don’t want either. I don’t have a problem with her telling my boss about an issue that has come up in her area, but when I’ve responded saying something like, “You used your best judgment in the moment; let’s figure out how to fix it together,” it’s a little jarring to then discover that she’s included my boss in her response. The good news here is that you’re her boss so you can just direct her to stop doing this. I’d start, though, by asking what her thought process is when she does it. For example: “Jane, I’ve noticed you’ll often cc Fergus on a response to me when I’ve initially sent the email only to you. How come?” She’ll presumably respond with “I thought he should be in the loop on X” or something similar, and then you can explain why that’s not the case: “Actually, Fergus doesn’t need to be involved in that. If I decide that he does, I’ll of course loop him in, but part of my job is fielding this sort of thing so that he doesn’t need to spend time on it.” And then give the clear direction to stop: “Going forward, please leave Fergus off emails about this kind of thing. I’ll loop him in if I think he’d want to be informed or be able to give input.” I think you’re feeling weird about saying “don’t tell Fergus things,” but that’s not the message; it’s “Fergus has other things he needs to focus on. He and I are aligned about when to bring him into the conversation, and I’ll do that when it’s needed.” (Also, I wouldn’t assume that you’ll look bad to your own boss for not immediately reporting issues to him, unless they’re truly big enough that he’d want immediate notification. Your employees will make mistakes. You only need to loop your boss in when those mistakes are big ones that will impact things he needs to know about, or when it’s enough of a pattern that you’ve developed serious performance concerns about an employee and need your boss’s buy-in on your plan for handling it.) – 2016 3. Bringing snacks for your coworkers when you’re new on the job People like to nibble at work, especially if it’s free food. What do you think of newbies bringing in nibbles in order to curry good feelings? Yes, it’s sucking up, but is it okay? I once brought in coffee candies that the boss couldn’t keep their fingers away from when I was working in a small store. But for a more professional office environment, is it okay to curry favor in the fashion? There’s nothing wrong with bringing in food for the office when you’re new. But I wouldn’t do it in order to “curry favor.” The way you make a good impression on your new coworkers is by being warm and pleasant, interested in the work and what they do, not being rude/annoying/arrogant, and doing a good job yourself. If you don’t do those things, no amount of brownies or candy will change that. And if you do, no brownies or candy will be necessary. That said, if you’re having trouble meeting people in your new office, I could see bringing something in after a month or so and letting people know to stop by your office if they’d like some. But I’d do that to meet people, not to ingratiate yourself with them — and not right off the bat. – 2013 4. A misbehaving coworker doesn’t know I’m about to become his boss I’m in a tricky spot — I was recently granted a promotion that will put me in charge of my current team. Because we have a big project launching a month from now, my boss has concluded that it’s best to keep everyone focused, and not announce the restructuring (and my new role) until after this project wraps. The issue is that I already have tension with and big concerns about one coworker who will report to me (let’s call him Jeff), and the situation is rapidly getting worse. I don’t think it’s a personal beef with me: Jeff has made some big missteps in the past year and received a lot of criticism for it, so I suspect he’s just feeling defensive and disengaged. But in recent meetings he’s been combative and curt with me, and another coworker recently divulged that he’s taking regular time out of the office to interview at other companies, offloading major components of his job onto an unqualified freelancer, and hiding out in conference rooms where he watches baseball games on his laptop instead of working. Jeff is clearly looking for an exit, but in the meantime, his behavior is impacting our team and he’s not taking pains to hide it from me because he doesn’t know I’ll soon be his manager. How can I intervene right now, seeing as the promotion won’t be public for another month? You probably can’t. You just don’t have standing or authority to do anything about it right now. However, you can talk to your boss about the situation so that he’s in the loop, and to ensure that he’ll have your back in dealing with the situation right out of the gate when you your promotion takes effect. For now, you’re getting the benefit of getting a really clear look at a problem you’ll have to deal with soon though, and it sounds like you’re seeing more of it than you’d see if Jeff knew you were soon to be his boss. You’re not obligated to tip him off in order to protect him from himself (especially since that would mean divulging information you’re not authorized to divulge yet). And it might actually be useful that when you do become his boss, he’ll realize that you know the situation; that could make it easier to have a candid “you’ve got to cut this out” conversation with him. (And meanwhile, you can hope that one of those interviews turns into a job offer, which sounds like it would be the best thing for everyone.) – 2018 The post new job won’t let me wear my wedding ring, bringing snacks for your coworkers when you’re new, and more appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

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When managing social media, choosing the right posting app can greatly improve your strategy. Several top contenders offer distinct features customized to various needs. For instance, SocialBee shines in content curation, whereas Pallyy is ideal for Instagram’s visual layout. Other options like Sendible and Metricool provide advanced analytics, ensuring you track performance effectively. Each app comes with its own strengths, so comprehending their unique offerings is essential for making an informed choice. Which one will boost your social media game? Key Takeaways SocialBee offers unique content curation and AI-driven strategy generation, starting at $29/month with a 14-day free trial. Pallyy specializes in visual content scheduling for Instagram and TikTok, with a generous free plan for up to 15 scheduled posts monthly. Sendible is great for agencies, providing scalable scheduling, content creation integrations, and multiple client dashboards for efficient management. Metricool features a drag-and-drop planner and built-in analytics, with a free plan allowing up to 50 posts, ideal for budget users. Agorapulse combines advanced scheduling, a unified inbox for engagement management, and robust analytics, starting with a basic free plan. SocialBee If you’re looking for a reliable social media scheduling tool, SocialBee might be the right fit for you. This platform is highly recommended among social media automation tools because of its formidable content curation and publishing features, supporting major networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. SocialBee offers unique functionalities, such as Content Categories for organized post management and an AI copilot for generating effective social media strategies. Moreover, the post variant feature allows for diverse content presentation. Pricing starts at $29/month, with a 14-day free trial available and a 16% discount for yearly sign-ups. Although it stands out in scheduling and content management, it lacks social listening features, making it less extensive than some best social media posting apps. Pallyy Pallyy stands out as an ideal tool for scheduling visual content, particularly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This social media management company offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling workflow that simplifies content planning. With its Feed Planner, you can maintain a visually appealing Instagram aesthetic, as it allows for easy media uploads and visual organization. Pallyy likewise features a unified social inbox, making it easier to manage interactions across different channels and enhancing user engagement. For individual content creators, the generous free plan includes one social set with up to 15 scheduled posts per month. If you need more advanced features, premium plans start at $25 per month, offering templates, media storage, and an analytics suite to track performance. Sendible Sendible is a scalable social media scheduling tool perfect for both agencies and individuals, making it easy to manage multiple clients and campaigns. With customizable content scheduling, you can tailor your posts to fit your brand and audience as you automate your posting to maintain a steady online presence. Plus, its integrations with platforms like Canva and Pexels streamline content creation, enhancing your overall social media strategy. Scalable for Agencies When managing multiple clients, scalability becomes a crucial aspect of any social media strategy. Sendible shines in this area, making it an ideal choice for a social media management company for small business. With its ability to handle multiple client dashboards and social media accounts from a single platform, you’ll find it highly efficient. The integration with tools for social media managers like Canva and Pexels simplifies content creation, catering to diverse client needs. Furthermore, Sendible’s customizable posts and visual campaign overview streamline your scheduling process. The platform likewise offers social listening and reporting features, allowing you to effectively track performance metrics for your clients. With pricing starting at $29/month and a 14-day free trial, you can easily evaluate its capabilities. Customizable Content Scheduling Customizable content scheduling is a potent feature that improves your ability to engage with audiences across various social media platforms. With Sendible, you can create customized posting schedules for each network, ensuring you post at ideal times for maximum engagement. The platform’s Smart Queues automate social media posting by scheduling posts based on your defined criteria, enhancing visibility and interaction. You can customize messages to fit each platform’s audience, ensuring your content resonates with different users. Furthermore, Sendible provides a content calendar view, visually organizing your scheduled posts for better management. It integrates with various content sources, including RSS feeds and cloud storage, allowing seamless content curation, making it an invaluable tool for your social media management business. Metricool Metricool is a versatile social media posting app that supports a variety of platforms, enabling you to schedule posts on networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn from a single dashboard. It simplifies small business social media management with its drag-and-drop planner, allowing easy scheduling and batch posting. You can start with the free plan, which lets you schedule up to 50 posts, perfect for those on a budget. Moreover, Metricool provides built-in analytics to track post performance and audience engagement, aiding social media automation. It even includes a link shortener and an AI caption writer to improve your content creation. Feature Description Benefit Drag-and-Drop Planner Easy scheduling for multiple posts Streamlined content management Built-in Analytics Track post performance and engagement Informed decision-making Link Shortener Shorten URLs for cleaner posts Improved post effectiveness Free Plan Schedule up to 50 posts Accessible for small businesses AI Caption Writer Generate engaging captions automatically Enhanced content quality Publer Publer stands out with its unlimited scheduling feature on all paid plans, making it perfect for users who regularly manage numerous posts across different social media platforms. You can create and schedule posts individually or in bulk, as the platform likewise suggests ideal posting times based on audience activity. With plans starting at $12 per month and a 14-day free trial, Publer provides an affordable solution for both individuals and businesses looking to improve their social media strategies. Key Features Overview In relation to effective social media management, Publer stands out with its robust set of features designed to streamline your posting process. One of Publer’s key advantages is unlimited scheduling available on all paid plans, allowing you to create and schedule posts individually or in bulk. The platform furthermore suggests the best times to post, enhancing engagement based on your audience’s activity. In addition, you can recycle content automatically, ensuring that high-performing posts are reposted at ideal intervals to maximize reach. Publer supports various social platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, making it a versatile social media application for multi-channel marketing. Plus, new users can explore all features with a 14-day free trial before committing. Pricing Plans Breakdown For those looking to optimize their social media management, comprehension of Publer’s pricing plans is important. This social media app offers a free plan that allows you to schedule unlimited posts across all platforms, making it ideal for individuals and small businesses. If you need more advanced features, paid plans start at $12/month and include bulk post creation, suggested best times to post, and content recycling. Plus, you can try any paid plan with a 14-day free trial to assess its capabilities. Publer provides multiple tiered pricing options, catering to various needs, ensuring affordability for users who want to utilize one of the best social media reporting tools to manage their online presence effectively. User Experience Insights How does the user experience with Publer improve social media management? Publer improves your workflow with its user-friendly interface, allowing you to navigate and manage multiple accounts efficiently. With unlimited scheduling on all paid plans, you can create and schedule individual or bulk posts without limitations, making it one of the best social apps for social automation. The platform likewise analyzes your engagement patterns to suggest ideal posting times, ensuring better reach. Plus, the content recycling feature lets you automatically repurpose high-performing posts, maintaining audience interaction without constant content creation. You can even try Publer’s free plan, which requires no credit card and supports up to five social accounts, giving you a risk-free opportunity to explore its capabilities. Agorapulse Agorapulse stands out as a thorough social media management tool that improves collaboration among teams. With its unified inbox, you can manage comments, messages, and mentions across multiple platforms in one place, simplifying your workflow. The advanced scheduling capabilities let you automate post publishing and rescheduling, whereas the visual content calendar improves your planning process. Furthermore, Agorapulse offers robust analytics and reporting features, allowing you to track post performance, audience engagement, and social media ROI using insightful data. Its user-friendly interface and effective social listening features help you monitor brand mentions and competitor activities. For those seeking social media marketing services near me, Agorapulse provides a basic free plan, with paid options starting at $79/month for businesses and agencies managing multiple clients. Buffer Buffer is a highly regarded social media scheduling tool that simplifies managing multiple accounts across various platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily handle your automated social media account. Buffer offers a free plan for one user, three accounts, and up to ten queued posts per profile, whereas premium plans start at $15/month, giving you access to advanced features. Feature Details Free Plan 1 user, 3 accounts, 10 posts Analytics Engagement tracking AI Tools Idea generation and drafting Buffer furthermore integrates with Zapier, enhancing your experience with AI tools for social media, streamlining workflows, and optimizing your content sharing processes. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best App for Social Media Posts? Choosing the best app for social media posts depends on your needs. For robust content scheduling and curation, consider SocialBee or Sendible, both offering user-friendly interfaces and integration options. If you focus on visual content, Pallyy provides an intuitive drag-and-drop feature. Later is excellent for Instagram planning, whereas Buffer surpasses in simplicity for managing multiple accounts. Evaluate pricing and features like free trials to find the right fit for your social media strategy. What Is the Top 10 Social Media Apps? When considering the top 10 social media apps, you’ll find popular options like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, each offering unique features. LinkedIn is crucial for professionals, whereas TikTok caters to a younger audience with engaging video content. Pinterest focuses on visual inspiration, and Reddit nurtures community discussions. Furthermore, platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram provide messaging services. Each app serves different purposes, so evaluate your needs to determine which ones suit you best. Is There an App That Can Post to All Social Media at Once? Yes, there are apps that let you post to all your social media accounts simultaneously. These tools typically offer features like scheduling and content management from a single interface, which saves you time. You can customize posts for each platform, ensuring they meet specific requirements for ideal engagement. Apps like Buffer, Hootsuite, and Agorapulse are popular choices that provide these functionalities, making it easier for you to maintain an active online presence. Is There an App That Controls All Social Media? You won’t find a single app that controls all social media platforms seamlessly. Nonetheless, several tools can manage multiple accounts from one dashboard. Apps like Hootsuite and Buffer allow you to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and analyze performance. As they integrate with major networks like Facebook and Twitter, features vary. It’s crucial to assess your specific needs against the capabilities of each tool to find the best fit for your social media management. Conclusion In conclusion, selecting the right social media posting app can greatly improve your online presence and engagement. Each of the seven apps—SocialBee, Pallyy, Sendible, Metricool, Publer, Agorapulse, and Buffer—offers distinct features customized to different needs, from content curation to analytics and audience interaction. By considering your specific requirements, you can choose an app that effectively streamlines your social media strategy, allowing for better content management and enhanced audience engagement over time. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Best 7 Social Media Posting Apps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When managing social media, choosing the right posting app can greatly improve your strategy. Several top contenders offer distinct features customized to various needs. For instance, SocialBee shines in content curation, whereas Pallyy is ideal for Instagram’s visual layout. Other options like Sendible and Metricool provide advanced analytics, ensuring you track performance effectively. Each app comes with its own strengths, so comprehending their unique offerings is essential for making an informed choice. Which one will boost your social media game? Key Takeaways SocialBee offers unique content curation and AI-driven strategy generation, starting at $29/month with a 14-day free trial. Pallyy specializes in visual content scheduling for Instagram and TikTok, with a generous free plan for up to 15 scheduled posts monthly. Sendible is great for agencies, providing scalable scheduling, content creation integrations, and multiple client dashboards for efficient management. Metricool features a drag-and-drop planner and built-in analytics, with a free plan allowing up to 50 posts, ideal for budget users. Agorapulse combines advanced scheduling, a unified inbox for engagement management, and robust analytics, starting with a basic free plan. SocialBee If you’re looking for a reliable social media scheduling tool, SocialBee might be the right fit for you. This platform is highly recommended among social media automation tools because of its formidable content curation and publishing features, supporting major networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. SocialBee offers unique functionalities, such as Content Categories for organized post management and an AI copilot for generating effective social media strategies. Moreover, the post variant feature allows for diverse content presentation. Pricing starts at $29/month, with a 14-day free trial available and a 16% discount for yearly sign-ups. Although it stands out in scheduling and content management, it lacks social listening features, making it less extensive than some best social media posting apps. Pallyy Pallyy stands out as an ideal tool for scheduling visual content, particularly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This social media management company offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling workflow that simplifies content planning. With its Feed Planner, you can maintain a visually appealing Instagram aesthetic, as it allows for easy media uploads and visual organization. Pallyy likewise features a unified social inbox, making it easier to manage interactions across different channels and enhancing user engagement. For individual content creators, the generous free plan includes one social set with up to 15 scheduled posts per month. If you need more advanced features, premium plans start at $25 per month, offering templates, media storage, and an analytics suite to track performance. Sendible Sendible is a scalable social media scheduling tool perfect for both agencies and individuals, making it easy to manage multiple clients and campaigns. With customizable content scheduling, you can tailor your posts to fit your brand and audience as you automate your posting to maintain a steady online presence. Plus, its integrations with platforms like Canva and Pexels streamline content creation, enhancing your overall social media strategy. Scalable for Agencies When managing multiple clients, scalability becomes a crucial aspect of any social media strategy. Sendible shines in this area, making it an ideal choice for a social media management company for small business. With its ability to handle multiple client dashboards and social media accounts from a single platform, you’ll find it highly efficient. The integration with tools for social media managers like Canva and Pexels simplifies content creation, catering to diverse client needs. Furthermore, Sendible’s customizable posts and visual campaign overview streamline your scheduling process. The platform likewise offers social listening and reporting features, allowing you to effectively track performance metrics for your clients. With pricing starting at $29/month and a 14-day free trial, you can easily evaluate its capabilities. Customizable Content Scheduling Customizable content scheduling is a potent feature that improves your ability to engage with audiences across various social media platforms. With Sendible, you can create customized posting schedules for each network, ensuring you post at ideal times for maximum engagement. The platform’s Smart Queues automate social media posting by scheduling posts based on your defined criteria, enhancing visibility and interaction. You can customize messages to fit each platform’s audience, ensuring your content resonates with different users. Furthermore, Sendible provides a content calendar view, visually organizing your scheduled posts for better management. It integrates with various content sources, including RSS feeds and cloud storage, allowing seamless content curation, making it an invaluable tool for your social media management business. Metricool Metricool is a versatile social media posting app that supports a variety of platforms, enabling you to schedule posts on networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn from a single dashboard. It simplifies small business social media management with its drag-and-drop planner, allowing easy scheduling and batch posting. You can start with the free plan, which lets you schedule up to 50 posts, perfect for those on a budget. Moreover, Metricool provides built-in analytics to track post performance and audience engagement, aiding social media automation. It even includes a link shortener and an AI caption writer to improve your content creation. Feature Description Benefit Drag-and-Drop Planner Easy scheduling for multiple posts Streamlined content management Built-in Analytics Track post performance and engagement Informed decision-making Link Shortener Shorten URLs for cleaner posts Improved post effectiveness Free Plan Schedule up to 50 posts Accessible for small businesses AI Caption Writer Generate engaging captions automatically Enhanced content quality Publer Publer stands out with its unlimited scheduling feature on all paid plans, making it perfect for users who regularly manage numerous posts across different social media platforms. You can create and schedule posts individually or in bulk, as the platform likewise suggests ideal posting times based on audience activity. With plans starting at $12 per month and a 14-day free trial, Publer provides an affordable solution for both individuals and businesses looking to improve their social media strategies. Key Features Overview In relation to effective social media management, Publer stands out with its robust set of features designed to streamline your posting process. One of Publer’s key advantages is unlimited scheduling available on all paid plans, allowing you to create and schedule posts individually or in bulk. The platform furthermore suggests the best times to post, enhancing engagement based on your audience’s activity. In addition, you can recycle content automatically, ensuring that high-performing posts are reposted at ideal intervals to maximize reach. Publer supports various social platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, making it a versatile social media application for multi-channel marketing. Plus, new users can explore all features with a 14-day free trial before committing. Pricing Plans Breakdown For those looking to optimize their social media management, comprehension of Publer’s pricing plans is important. This social media app offers a free plan that allows you to schedule unlimited posts across all platforms, making it ideal for individuals and small businesses. If you need more advanced features, paid plans start at $12/month and include bulk post creation, suggested best times to post, and content recycling. Plus, you can try any paid plan with a 14-day free trial to assess its capabilities. Publer provides multiple tiered pricing options, catering to various needs, ensuring affordability for users who want to utilize one of the best social media reporting tools to manage their online presence effectively. User Experience Insights How does the user experience with Publer improve social media management? Publer improves your workflow with its user-friendly interface, allowing you to navigate and manage multiple accounts efficiently. With unlimited scheduling on all paid plans, you can create and schedule individual or bulk posts without limitations, making it one of the best social apps for social automation. The platform likewise analyzes your engagement patterns to suggest ideal posting times, ensuring better reach. Plus, the content recycling feature lets you automatically repurpose high-performing posts, maintaining audience interaction without constant content creation. You can even try Publer’s free plan, which requires no credit card and supports up to five social accounts, giving you a risk-free opportunity to explore its capabilities. Agorapulse Agorapulse stands out as a thorough social media management tool that improves collaboration among teams. With its unified inbox, you can manage comments, messages, and mentions across multiple platforms in one place, simplifying your workflow. The advanced scheduling capabilities let you automate post publishing and rescheduling, whereas the visual content calendar improves your planning process. Furthermore, Agorapulse offers robust analytics and reporting features, allowing you to track post performance, audience engagement, and social media ROI using insightful data. Its user-friendly interface and effective social listening features help you monitor brand mentions and competitor activities. For those seeking social media marketing services near me, Agorapulse provides a basic free plan, with paid options starting at $79/month for businesses and agencies managing multiple clients. Buffer Buffer is a highly regarded social media scheduling tool that simplifies managing multiple accounts across various platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily handle your automated social media account. Buffer offers a free plan for one user, three accounts, and up to ten queued posts per profile, whereas premium plans start at $15/month, giving you access to advanced features. Feature Details Free Plan 1 user, 3 accounts, 10 posts Analytics Engagement tracking AI Tools Idea generation and drafting Buffer furthermore integrates with Zapier, enhancing your experience with AI tools for social media, streamlining workflows, and optimizing your content sharing processes. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best App for Social Media Posts? Choosing the best app for social media posts depends on your needs. For robust content scheduling and curation, consider SocialBee or Sendible, both offering user-friendly interfaces and integration options. If you focus on visual content, Pallyy provides an intuitive drag-and-drop feature. Later is excellent for Instagram planning, whereas Buffer surpasses in simplicity for managing multiple accounts. Evaluate pricing and features like free trials to find the right fit for your social media strategy. What Is the Top 10 Social Media Apps? When considering the top 10 social media apps, you’ll find popular options like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, each offering unique features. LinkedIn is crucial for professionals, whereas TikTok caters to a younger audience with engaging video content. Pinterest focuses on visual inspiration, and Reddit nurtures community discussions. Furthermore, platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram provide messaging services. Each app serves different purposes, so evaluate your needs to determine which ones suit you best. Is There an App That Can Post to All Social Media at Once? Yes, there are apps that let you post to all your social media accounts simultaneously. These tools typically offer features like scheduling and content management from a single interface, which saves you time. You can customize posts for each platform, ensuring they meet specific requirements for ideal engagement. Apps like Buffer, Hootsuite, and Agorapulse are popular choices that provide these functionalities, making it easier for you to maintain an active online presence. Is There an App That Controls All Social Media? You won’t find a single app that controls all social media platforms seamlessly. Nonetheless, several tools can manage multiple accounts from one dashboard. Apps like Hootsuite and Buffer allow you to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and analyze performance. As they integrate with major networks like Facebook and Twitter, features vary. It’s crucial to assess your specific needs against the capabilities of each tool to find the best fit for your social media management. Conclusion In conclusion, selecting the right social media posting app can greatly improve your online presence and engagement. Each of the seven apps—SocialBee, Pallyy, Sendible, Metricool, Publer, Agorapulse, and Buffer—offers distinct features customized to different needs, from content curation to analytics and audience interaction. By considering your specific requirements, you can choose an app that effectively streamlines your social media strategy, allowing for better content management and enhanced audience engagement over time. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Best 7 Social Media Posting Apps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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If we’re being honest, the numbers for a “normal” retirement in the US just don’t add up. Healthcare feels too expensive even with Medicare. Rents and groceries keep inching up beyond “comfortable”. And the version of retirement that shows up in glossy brochures, with the big house, big SUV, and frequent domestic flights like they’re ... Read moreView the full article

National Audit Office studied sample of 5,000 people and said it was impossible to know their whereabouts due to poor internal systemsView the full article