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A couple of years ago, most of us were in-office. In many industries, remote work was rare — which means, if you did have hybrid meetings, it probably consisted of one lone remote worker popping up on a TV in a conference room like Big Brother. (Which, I’m guessing, also made pizza parties more awkward.) A couple years ago, we had one remote employee at our company. But in 2025, the script has flipped. Now, you’re just as likely to see most of your team remote and only one person in-office. We’re all skilled at virtual meetings, and we all know how to approach face-to-face, too. But what about the combo? Here are five tips for running an efficient hybrid meeting that doesn’t make someone say, “Should we just take this at our desks?” View the full article

The U.S. stock market is flirting with its all-time high on Friday. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% and was on track earlier in the day to squeak past its record closing level, which was set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 69 points, or 0.1%, as of 12:29 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% higher. If the S&P 500 finishes the day at a record, it would mark the latest time the U.S. stock market has powered past what appeared to be a debilitating set of worries. Most recently, those concerns centered on what the Federal Reserve will do with interest rates, whether too many dollars are flowing into artificial-intelligence technology, and if sharp drops for cryptocurrencies would bleed over into other markets. Renewed hopes for a cut to interest rates by the Fed at its meeting next week helped stocks recover those losses, which included some of their worst days since their sell-off during April. So did a continuing parade of companies saying they’re making bigger profits than analysts had expected. Ulta Beauty helped lead the market on Friday and jumped 13.2% after the retailer reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than expected. CEO Kecia Steelman said its customers are broadly feeling pressure, but Ulta saw growth across its categories, particularly in e-commerce. It raised its forecast for revenue over the full year. Another encouraging signal for the holiday shopping season came from Victoria’s Secret & Co. It delivered a milder loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected, and it likewise raised its forecast for sales over the full year. Its stock rallied 11.5%. Warner Bros. Discovery was also strong and rose 2.3%. Netflix said it would buy Warner Bros. for $72 billion in cash and stock following its pending split from Discovery Global. The deal for the company behind HBO Max, “Casablanca” and “Harry Potter” is not a sure thing, though. It could raise fears at the U.S. government about too much industry power residing at Netflix. Shares of Netflix initially fell more than 5% after the deal was announced, then briefly erased all of the loss before falling again, by 3.2%. Paramount Skydance, which earlier had been seen as a front-runner to buy Warner Bros., fell 7.6%. Also on the losing end of Wall Street was SoFi Technologies. The financial technology company fell 7.2% to $27.73 after saying it would add $1.5 billion worth of its stock into the market in order to raise cash. It’s selling the stock at a price of $27.50 per share. The U.S. stock market broadly has been much quieter this week, a respite following earlier weeks of sharp and scary swings. After some back and forth, the widespread expectation among traders is that the Fed will cut its main interest rate next week in hopes of shoring up the slowing U.S. job market. If it does, that would be the third cut of the year. Investors love lower interest rates because they boost prices for investments and can juice the economy. The downside is that they can worsen inflation, which is stubbornly remaining above the Fed’s 2% target. Economic reports released on Friday did little to change expectations for a coming cut. One said that an underlying measure of inflation that the Fed prefers to use was at 2.8% in September, exactly as economists expected. A separate report said U.S. consumers appear to be downgrading their expectations for inflation coming in the near future. They’re now forecasting 4.1% inflation for the year ahead, down from their forecast of 4.5% last month, according to the University of Michigan. That’s the lowest such reading since January, which is important because heightened expectations for inflation can create a vicious cycle that only worsens inflation. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.13% from 4.11% late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across much of Europe and rose in Asia Friday. Germany’s DAX returned 0.6%, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.8% for two of the world’s bigger gains. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% after data showed household spending in Japan fell 3.0% in October from a year earlier. It was the sharpest drop since January 2024. Japanese markets have been shaky recently after the Bank of Japan hinted that hikes to interest rates may be coming. —Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Writer Teresa Cerojano contributed. View the full article

Acquisition announced on Friday puts $83bn price tag on company’s studio and streaming businesses, including debtView the full article

Creating a social media posting plan template in minutes can considerably improve your online presence. By defining your objectives and comprehending your target audience, you can tailor your content effectively. A well-structured content calendar helps you schedule posts and diversify your content types. With the right analytics tools, you can track performance and refine your strategy over time. To get started on designing your own template, you’ll want to reflect on several key components and best practices. Key Takeaways Define your goals and target audience to tailor your content effectively. Use a customizable content calendar to plan themes and posting frequency. Incorporate diverse content types, including images and videos, for enhanced engagement. Utilize social media management tools to streamline posting and scheduling. Regularly review performance metrics to refine your posting strategy and improve results. Understanding the Importance of a Social Media Posting Plan Though many businesses recognize the significance of social media, comprehending the importance of a structured posting plan is crucial for maximizing its benefits. A well-crafted social media posting plan template improves your online visibility and builds brand credibility by ensuring consistent messaging across platforms. Research shows that brands with a defined social media strategy can experience a 63% increase in leads compared to those without one. By regularly updating your plan, you can adapt to real-time trends and audience preferences, keeping your business competitive. Using a social media manager template helps optimize time management and resource allocation, leading to more efficient content creation. Additionally, it allows you to track performance metrics, enabling data-driven adjustments to refine your overall strategy. Key Components of a Social Media Posting Plan Template Creating a social media posting plan template involves several key components that can greatly improve your online strategy. First, include a content calendar outlining your posting schedule, frequency, and important dates for campaigns, guaranteeing consistent engagement. Next, define target audience profiles to tailor your messaging, which helps resonate with specific demographics and boosts engagement rates. Incorporate a section for various content types, like images, videos, and stories, to diversify your posts during adhering to platform best practices. Moreover, a metrics section for tracking performance indicators, such as likes and shares, offers valuable insights into post effectiveness. Finally, a review and approval process guarantees all content aligns with your brand guidelines, minimizing errors and maintaining consistency. Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Template To effectively create your social media posting plan template, start by defining clear goals and objectives that support your overall marketing strategy. Make sure these goals are measurable, so you can track your progress. Next, identify your target audience; research their preferences to tailor content that resonates with them and select the best platforms for engagement. After that, create a content calendar that outlines specific themes, post types, and publishing frequency, using templates for organization and efficiency. Consider incorporating tools like Plann’s AI-generated captions and post ideas to improve creativity and streamline the content creation process. Finally, regularly review and analyze performance metrics to refine your posting plan, adjusting strategies based on insights gained from audience engagement and feedback. Tips for Customizing Your Social Media Posting Plan Customizing your social media posting plan can greatly improve your brand’s online presence and engagement. Here are some effective tips to contemplate: Identify your target audience: Tailor your content to match their preferences, increasing engagement and relevance. Use customizable templates: Tools like Plann can help you create visually appealing posts during maintaining brand consistency. Incorporate a content calendar: Schedule posts in advance to guarantee a consistent presence across platforms and minimize last-minute scrambles. Leverage analytics features: Track post performance and refine your strategy based on data-driven insights, optimizing for what resonates with your audience. Best Practices for Effective Social Media Scheduling Effective social media scheduling is crucial for maximizing engagement and maintaining a consistent online presence. To optimize your posts, schedule them during peak engagement times, typically weekdays between 10 AM and 3 PM. Utilize social media management tools like Plann, which offer AI-generated captions and scheduling features, to streamline your content creation. Implement a content calendar to plan posts at least four weeks in advance, ensuring organization and flexibility for adjustments based on analytics. Regularly review performance metrics to identify the best-performing content types and posting frequencies, allowing for data-driven decisions. Finally, experiment with various formats, such as videos and stories, since visual content can boost engagement rates considerably, enhancing your overall strategy. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 3 2 Rule for Social Media? The 5 3 2 Rule for social media guides your posting strategy. It suggests sharing ten posts, where five provide valuable content from others, three are personal or promotional about your brand, and two engage or entertain your audience. This balanced approach guarantees followers receive informative content as you cultivate a sense of community. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests posting five curated pieces, five original creations, and five promotional items for every set of fifteen posts. This balanced strategy guarantees you provide diverse content, engaging your audience as you establish your brand’s authority. By mixing informative and entertaining posts, you prevent overwhelming your followers with constant promotions. Implementing this rule can improve your community engagement and streamline your content creation process effectively. What Is the 70/20/10 Rule for Social Media? The 70/20/10 rule for social media suggests you allocate your content strategically: 70% should be educational or entertaining, 20% curated from other sources, and 10% promotional. This approach builds trust and engagement with your audience, as it prioritizes valuable content over direct sales pitches. What Are the 7 C’s of Social Media? The 7 C’s of social media are crucial for crafting an effective strategy. They include Content, which focuses on creating engaging posts; Community, emphasizing relationship-building with followers; Conversation, highlighting two-way communication with your audience; Collaboration, involving partnerships with influencers; Culture, reflecting your brand’s values; Customer, addressing audience needs; and Context, adapting messages to specific platforms and current trends. Comprehending these principles can improve your social media presence and engagement. Conclusion In conclusion, creating a social media posting plan template doesn’t have to be time-consuming. By following the key components and steps outlined, you can develop a structured approach that meets your objectives and engages your target audience. Customizing your template and adhering to best practices will improve your social media strategy. Utilizing analytics will help you refine your efforts over time, ensuring that your online presence grows effectively. Start today and streamline your social media management process. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Create a Social Media Posting Plan Template in Minutes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating a social media posting plan template in minutes can considerably improve your online presence. By defining your objectives and comprehending your target audience, you can tailor your content effectively. A well-structured content calendar helps you schedule posts and diversify your content types. With the right analytics tools, you can track performance and refine your strategy over time. To get started on designing your own template, you’ll want to reflect on several key components and best practices. Key Takeaways Define your goals and target audience to tailor your content effectively. Use a customizable content calendar to plan themes and posting frequency. Incorporate diverse content types, including images and videos, for enhanced engagement. Utilize social media management tools to streamline posting and scheduling. Regularly review performance metrics to refine your posting strategy and improve results. Understanding the Importance of a Social Media Posting Plan Though many businesses recognize the significance of social media, comprehending the importance of a structured posting plan is crucial for maximizing its benefits. A well-crafted social media posting plan template improves your online visibility and builds brand credibility by ensuring consistent messaging across platforms. Research shows that brands with a defined social media strategy can experience a 63% increase in leads compared to those without one. By regularly updating your plan, you can adapt to real-time trends and audience preferences, keeping your business competitive. Using a social media manager template helps optimize time management and resource allocation, leading to more efficient content creation. Additionally, it allows you to track performance metrics, enabling data-driven adjustments to refine your overall strategy. Key Components of a Social Media Posting Plan Template Creating a social media posting plan template involves several key components that can greatly improve your online strategy. First, include a content calendar outlining your posting schedule, frequency, and important dates for campaigns, guaranteeing consistent engagement. Next, define target audience profiles to tailor your messaging, which helps resonate with specific demographics and boosts engagement rates. Incorporate a section for various content types, like images, videos, and stories, to diversify your posts during adhering to platform best practices. Moreover, a metrics section for tracking performance indicators, such as likes and shares, offers valuable insights into post effectiveness. Finally, a review and approval process guarantees all content aligns with your brand guidelines, minimizing errors and maintaining consistency. Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Template To effectively create your social media posting plan template, start by defining clear goals and objectives that support your overall marketing strategy. Make sure these goals are measurable, so you can track your progress. Next, identify your target audience; research their preferences to tailor content that resonates with them and select the best platforms for engagement. After that, create a content calendar that outlines specific themes, post types, and publishing frequency, using templates for organization and efficiency. Consider incorporating tools like Plann’s AI-generated captions and post ideas to improve creativity and streamline the content creation process. Finally, regularly review and analyze performance metrics to refine your posting plan, adjusting strategies based on insights gained from audience engagement and feedback. Tips for Customizing Your Social Media Posting Plan Customizing your social media posting plan can greatly improve your brand’s online presence and engagement. Here are some effective tips to contemplate: Identify your target audience: Tailor your content to match their preferences, increasing engagement and relevance. Use customizable templates: Tools like Plann can help you create visually appealing posts during maintaining brand consistency. Incorporate a content calendar: Schedule posts in advance to guarantee a consistent presence across platforms and minimize last-minute scrambles. Leverage analytics features: Track post performance and refine your strategy based on data-driven insights, optimizing for what resonates with your audience. Best Practices for Effective Social Media Scheduling Effective social media scheduling is crucial for maximizing engagement and maintaining a consistent online presence. To optimize your posts, schedule them during peak engagement times, typically weekdays between 10 AM and 3 PM. Utilize social media management tools like Plann, which offer AI-generated captions and scheduling features, to streamline your content creation. Implement a content calendar to plan posts at least four weeks in advance, ensuring organization and flexibility for adjustments based on analytics. Regularly review performance metrics to identify the best-performing content types and posting frequencies, allowing for data-driven decisions. Finally, experiment with various formats, such as videos and stories, since visual content can boost engagement rates considerably, enhancing your overall strategy. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 3 2 Rule for Social Media? The 5 3 2 Rule for social media guides your posting strategy. It suggests sharing ten posts, where five provide valuable content from others, three are personal or promotional about your brand, and two engage or entertain your audience. This balanced approach guarantees followers receive informative content as you cultivate a sense of community. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests posting five curated pieces, five original creations, and five promotional items for every set of fifteen posts. This balanced strategy guarantees you provide diverse content, engaging your audience as you establish your brand’s authority. By mixing informative and entertaining posts, you prevent overwhelming your followers with constant promotions. Implementing this rule can improve your community engagement and streamline your content creation process effectively. What Is the 70/20/10 Rule for Social Media? The 70/20/10 rule for social media suggests you allocate your content strategically: 70% should be educational or entertaining, 20% curated from other sources, and 10% promotional. This approach builds trust and engagement with your audience, as it prioritizes valuable content over direct sales pitches. What Are the 7 C’s of Social Media? The 7 C’s of social media are crucial for crafting an effective strategy. They include Content, which focuses on creating engaging posts; Community, emphasizing relationship-building with followers; Conversation, highlighting two-way communication with your audience; Collaboration, involving partnerships with influencers; Culture, reflecting your brand’s values; Customer, addressing audience needs; and Context, adapting messages to specific platforms and current trends. Comprehending these principles can improve your social media presence and engagement. Conclusion In conclusion, creating a social media posting plan template doesn’t have to be time-consuming. By following the key components and steps outlined, you can develop a structured approach that meets your objectives and engages your target audience. Customizing your template and adhering to best practices will improve your social media strategy. Utilizing analytics will help you refine your efforts over time, ensuring that your online presence grows effectively. Start today and streamline your social media management process. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Create a Social Media Posting Plan Template in Minutes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It is a relatively rare phenomenon: While the stock market continues to experience record gains (the S&P 500 is up over 16% this year), Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continue to struggle, making it the first time the crypto and stock markets have split since 2014, Bloomberg reported. That split, with Bitcoin down while stock markets soar, is somewhat unusual. On midday Friday, at the time of this writing, the digital cryptocurrency (BTC) was trading down over 4%, hovering around $88,945—far below its record high of over $125,000, but still above a recent low of $85,000 (down almost 30% from the high). Here’s what to know. Why is the split between crypto markets and stock markets unusual? While Bitcoin is known for its volatility, historically, the digital currency and stocks have traditionally risen and fallen together. So, why has there been a crypto sell off? What is contributing to the drop in investor confidence? Some of what boosted confidence in the coin was the The President administration’s early embrace of crypto, ushering in crypto-friendly regulations. However, as Fast Company has previously reported, a few different micro and macroeconomic factors have started to spook investors, who are pulling back from the more volatile digital currency. These factors include higher inflation; shifting interest rates; a dampening enthusiasm for AI-related stocks over fears of an AI bubble; and growing concerns over the widening gap between low-income and wealthy Americans, in what is shaping up to be a “K-shaped economy.” Remind me, what exactly is Bitcoin, anyway? Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency. Unlike a standard currency—such as the U.S. dollar or the European Union euro—it only exists in digital form and operates without government or banking oversight, traded peer-to-peer, making it harder to trace. Instead, Bitcoin uses a decentralized blockchain ledger to verify and securely record transactions. View the full article

Sanctions and threats haven’t brought regime change, but a deal could curb drugs and migration while hastening democratic reformsView the full article

Google rolled out a beta that lets merchants display different loyalty-member prices by region in Shopping ads — giving retailers a new way to localize promotions without managing separate offers. Why we care. The feature gives merchants more flexibility to tailor pricing to local markets and highlight loyalty perks directly in ads, potentially boosting conversion and membership sign-ups. How it works Merchants must join Google’s loyalty add-on, set up regions in Merchant Center, and add loyalty_program attributes — including program label, tier, and price — to their regional inventory feed. When a shopper clicks an ad, Google appends a region ID to the URL, and the merchant’s landing page must dynamically show the matching member price. The catch. The feature is beta-only, with limited visibility. It’s only available only in markets that support both RAAP (Regional Availability and Pricing) and loyalty programs. The bottom line. By enabling region-specific member pricing, Google is giving retailers a more targeted way to localize incentives and differentiate value across markets — without creating separate promotions for each region. View the full article

Cloudflare has blocked 416 billion AI bot requests for customers since July 1, according to CEO Matthew Prince. To highlight Google’s massive edge in AI, Prince revealed that Google can see 3.2x more pages on the web than OpenAI. Why we care. Generative AI systems are consuming huge amounts of web content, and many publishers have no way to push back. Cloudflare’s numbers show how aggressively AI bots are scraping the web – and how uneven access is for the big AI companies. Driving the news. Cloudflare customers have been automatically blocking AI crawlers since the company launched its pay-per-crawl initiative July 1, Prince said yesterday at WIRED’s Big Interview event. Since then, Cloudflare has logged 416 billion blocked AI bot requests. Cloudflare’s analysis showed that Google sees: 3.2x more webpages than OpenAI. 4.6x more than Microsoft. 4.8x more than Anthropic or Meta. “They have this incredibly privileged access,” Prince said. The big picture. Google gives publishers a lose-lose choice: Block AI training and risk vanishing from Google Search, or allow Googlebot and accept AI scraping. “You can’t opt out of one without opting out of both, which is crazy. You shouldn’t get to use your monopoly of yesterday to secure a monopoly of tomorrow,” Prince said. The AI picture. According to Prince: AI represents a major platform shift that could reshape the web’s business model. Cloudflare wants to prevent consolidation, keep the web open, and help creators and businesses navigate the transition. Publishers already blocking AI crawlers are seeing encouraging results, Prince added. What’s next. The value of “creative, original human thought” will rise as AI models chase higher-quality training data, opening doors to paid licensing, Prince said. Meanwhile, Cloudflare is pushing AI giants – especially Google – to separate search crawling from AI crawling. Prince said: “Google is the problem here. It is the company that is keeping us from going forward on the internet, and until we force them – or hopefully convince them – that they should play by the same rules as everyone else and split their crawlers up between search and AI, I think we’re going to have a hard time completely locking all the content down.” The story. Cloudflare Has Blocked 416 Billion AI Bot Requests Since July 1 (subscription required) View the full article

After initial reporting from The Wrap yesterday revealed that Netflix had won the bidding war for Warner Bros., the streamer stepped in this morning to confirm that it will be acquiring the home of HBO and HBO Max, DC Comics, and Bugs Bunny for $82.7 billion. The acquisition would put an end to merger attempts from the likes of Paramount and Comcast, but it's also far from a done deal. According to Netflix, its acquisition of Warner Bros. will need to wait until at least Q3 2026, to allow room for the previously announced Warner Bros. and Discovery split to go through. Additionally, the deal will need to go through regulatory approval. Given these roadblocks, the companies expect "to close in 12–18 months." The news of the acquisition follows Warner Bros.' announcement in October that it was open to a sale, at least partially motivated by its split with Discovery. What happens next isn't entirely clear. The Wrap reported that Netflix's deal with Warner Bros. includes a $5 billion breakup fee in case regulators block the deal, pointing to some anxiety from both companies. To that end, CNBC is reporting that "a senior [The President] administration official" has said that the government is looking at the merger with "heavy skepticism," and The New York Post and the Wall Street Journal both reported yesterday that Paramount (which recently completed its own merger with Skydance Entertainment, led by The President ally David Ellison) is currently warning the administration away from allowing the deal. How regulators will respond to the purchase remains to be seen, but if the deal does go through, it will mark a major shift for both Hollywood and consumers. Netflix hasn't laid out complete plans for how the merger would affects its customers, but in its press release, it has offered a few hints. Should a combined Netflix and Warner Bros. come to pass, here's how you can expect it to affect you. HBO Max probably isn't going awaySince Netflix's primary business is as a streaming app, the most obvious result of a Warner Bros. acquisition would probably be the shuttering of HBO Max, and the inclusion of its content into Netflix proper. However, it seems like we're more likely to get a Disney+/Hulu situation, with the company running both services simultaneously. In its post announcing the merger, Netflix said it will "maintain Warner Bros.' current operations," and that HBO and HBO Max would be viewed as a "compelling, complementary offering" for its customers. Whether that means Netflix subscribers will get complementary HBO subscriptions, or if they will simply be able to add HBO onto their plans as complemental "content," is unclear, although I would expect the latter interpretation to be the correct one. After all, Disney charges an additional fee for users who also want to subscribe to Hulu, even as it's working on killing the standalone Hulu app. There would be little reason for Netflix to not follow suit. This is backed up by another line further into the press release which states that, "[b]y adding the deep film and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming, Netflix members will have even more high-quality titles from which to choose." That implies HBO is something you'll add to an existing subscription, rather than content that will just become part of a base Netflix subscription, with the company saying the acquisition "also allows Netflix to optimize its plans for consumers." Some Warner Bros. shows might come to NetflixNetflix already offers a small smattering of shows originally developed for either HBO or HBO Max, such as Sex and the City and Scavenger's Reign. This is due to pre-existing content sharing agreements, but it's possible Netflix may continue to offer some HBO content to its existing subscribers for free, even if it continues to operate HBO as a separate entity. For instance, Netflix says in the merger announcement that "shows and movies such as The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wizard of Oz and the DC Universe will join Netflix's extensive portfolio." While this is likely simply acknowledging acquired IP, I wouldn't be surprised to see some select shows hit Netflix from time to time, either to prop up sparse release schedules or to promote HBO subscriptions/add-ons. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters also says in the release that, "[w]ith our global reach and proven business model, we can introduce a broader audience to the worlds they [Warner Bros.] create." He adds this would be an opportunity to attract, "more fans to our best-in-class streaming service." Expect Netflix to ramp up U.S. productionWhile Netflix is most known to consumers as an app, its large selection of original content also means that it operates as a production studio. Netflix says that it will use the acquisition of Warner Bros. production side to "enhance Netflix's studio capabilities, allowing the Company to significantly expand U.S. production." This means that viewers might expect to see more original Netflix content in the future, specifically more American-made shows in the vein of Stranger Things, alongside localized foreign programming like Squid Game. Gamers need to pay attention tooAlongside its movie and TV businesses, Netflix will also be acquiring Warner Bros. Games, a spokesperson confirmed to Game Developer. That means the company will now be responsible for publishing both licensed works, such as the Batman Arkham series, as well as gaming originals, like the Mortal Kombat series. Little is known about how Netflix will handle suddenly being in charge of these longstanding AAA series, but given the company's recent gaming ambitions and its promise to continue Warner Bros. operations as usual, it's likely these titles will continue in some capacity. Netflix will also publish DC ComicsIn addition to suddenly stepping into big-budget, AAA gaming, Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. also means it's getting control of DC Comics' print business alongside its film and TV businesses, as the publisher is wholly owned by Warner Bros. That's another big step for the company, although given that DC's print business serves largely as the foundation of lucrative IP such as Superman and Batman, it's likely Netflix will do its best to keep operations there as smooth as possible. However, readers might expect some Netflix and DC synergy, similar to when Marvel started publishing new Star Wars comics shortly after Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Batman visiting the Upside-Down from Stranger Things might be more likely than you'd think. Don't expect Warner Bros. movies to go straight to streamingFinally, while Netflix's past movie releases have often relied on direct-to-streaming drops complemented by just enough of a theatrical presence to qualify for awards, Netflix said in its release that it plans to continue distributing Warner Bros. produced movies as usual, "including theatrical releases for films," but that the exclusive theatrical window may shrink. In other words, The Batman 2 probably isn't going to get the Knives Out or KPop Demon Hunters treatment. View the full article

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed a $7.1 million fine on a New York-based property management firm Thursday, accusing it of violating sanctions by managing luxury real estate properties for oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Gracetown Inc. had received 24 payments between April 2018 and May 2020 totaling $31,250 on behalf of a company owned by Deripaska. OFAC says it gave Gracetown notice that dealings with Deripaska were prohibited, but the firm proceeded anyway. Justice Department filings from 2022 connect Gracetown Inc. with U.K. businessman Graham Bonham-Carter, who was arrested in October 2022 for conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions imposed on Deripaska as well as for wire fraud connected to funding Deripaska’s U.S. properties and efforts to expatriate the oligarch’s artwork to New York. A lawyer who has represented Deripaska previously didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Gracetown couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. Deripaska has faced economic sanctions since 2018, when the Treasury Department accused him of acting for or on behalf of a senior Russian official and operating in the energy sector of the Russian economy. All of his assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction were blocked, and U.S. people and firms are prohibited from dealings related to Deripaska, his properties and his interest in properties. Deripaska sued The Associated Press in 2017 over a story that March about his business dealings with Paul Manafort, a former campaign chairman for President Donald The President. Deripaska said the AP article was inaccurate and hurt his career by falsely accusing him of criminal activity. A federal judge dismissed the defamation and libel lawsuit that October. In 2022, Deripaska and three associates were criminally charged in New York with conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions and plotting to ensure his child was born in the United States. Treasury says its Thursday enforcement action against Gracetown “highlights the importance of following OFAC-issued guidance and the significant consequences that can occur from failing to do so.” John K. Hurley, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial Intelligence, said “we will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who enable sanctioned actors.” Gracetown was established in 2006 to manage three luxury real estate properties in New York and Washington, D.C., that Deripaska acquired around the same time through various legal entities. —Fatima Hussein, Associated Press View the full article

Aviation entrepreneur Christopher Harborne’s record £9mn donation described as ‘game-changer’ for Reform UK View the full article

I've been seeing a number of videos on my feeds circulating a serious, but perhaps not unbelievable, claim: The idea is, come Dec. 16, 2025, Meta will update its privacy policy to give itself permission to scrape direct messages from users on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, all in the name of training its generative AI models. While Meta is no bastion of user privacy by any stretch of the imagination, this particular claim is, fortunately, not true. You shouldn't expect the company to necessarily respect your data, but you also don't need to worry that future iterations of Meta AI will be generating text based on your Instagram DMs. What's going on with Meta's Dec. 16 privacy policy?If you've seen these claims on your feeds, too, you know they're often quite stark and hyperbolic. Snopes highlights one such viral Instagram post that reads, "Every conversation. Every photo. Every voice message. Fed into AI." Users scrolling through Instagram might understandably stop to read these claims, and may, also understandably, feel concerned about their data across their various Meta accounts. The issue is, these claims are misinterpreting a real change Meta plans for its privacy policy. Once the policy updates on Dec. 16, Meta is making changes to the way it collects data from user interactions with Meta AI. Going forward, the data generated when using Meta's AI products can be used to personalize the content you see on Meta platforms, as well as the ads that are placed in your feeds. Once again, it's just more data collection in the pursuit of promoting user engagement and ad relevancy. Part of the confusion is in the way this privacy policy is worded. Take the following statement, a part of Meta's explanation of the user information it uses: "Interactions with AI at Meta and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages." That might sound like Meta is scraping your DMs to train its AI, but it's saying content and messages you share with Meta's AI are what's fair game. Just sending messages and attachments to users on Meta platforms doesn't end up in Meta AI's training data, but if you share those messages and attachments with the AI, then it might. Meta confirmed as much with outlets, sending the following statement: “The update mentioned in the viral rumor isn’t about DMs at all, it’s about how we’ll use people’s interactions with our AI features to further personalize their experience. We do not use the content of your private messages with friends and family to train our AIs unless you or someone in the chat chooses to share those messages with our AIs. This also isn’t new, nor is it part of this Dec. 16 privacy policy update.” Meta does collect data on your messagesMake no mistake, of course: If you're using a Meta messaging platform, the company does collect your data. In both the current and upcoming privacy policies, Meta does say messages you send and receive, including their content as well as their metadata, subject to applicable law, can be used by Meta for a number of functions. That might include personalizing Meta products to fit each user; improving Meta products in general; promoting safety and security on its platforms; storing, moving, and processing your data around the world; and processing information when the law requires. Now, there are categories Meta will not use your messages for, unless you share those messages with its AI. That includes using your data for analytics and services for business; "providing a seamless experience" across Meta products; personalizing ads on Meta Audience Network; research and innovation for "social good;" anonymizing your info; and sharing data with law enforcement. In some of these cases, Meta will collect metadata about your messages—perhaps things like time or location sent—but not the message data itself. Again, this article is not meant to flatter Meta; rather, it's to debunk unnecessary concerns. Social media posts often misrepresent these nuanced privacy and security points—especially when those posts turn up the dramatics. Understand if you're using Meta products, your data is constantly being collected—but, in this case, your messages aren't suddenly being scraped to train AI. The best thing you can do to preserve your privacy and security with your Meta messages is to use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) whenever possible. WhatsApp has E2EE built-in, and Meta has automatically started rolling it out for Messenger, but you might need to manually start an E2EE chat for existing conversations in the app. The same goes for Instagram: Meta offers E2EE, but you need to enable it yourself. In either app, tap the name of the chat to check whether or not that conversation is currently E2EE. View the full article

It’s been less than two months since President The President began his demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make room for his “big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” and the President is already parting ways with the original architect behind the project. On December 4, a White House spokesperson confirmed to The Washington Post that the original ballroom architect, McCrery Architects, has been traded in favor of the firm Shalom Baranes Associates. The swap comes after multiple reports that The President and Jim McCrery, CEO of McCrery Architects, clashed repeatedly over the size and scope of the new ballroom. The construction of a giant ballroom is only one part of The President’s plan to remake the White House in his image. Over the past several months, he’s updated the building’s interiors with his own Rococo-inspired aesthetics, overhauled the Oval Office into a gold-laden spectacle, and turned the Rose Garden patio into a Mar-a-Lago lookalike. Still, his plans to tear down the White House’s East Wing to build a $250 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom—a process that’s already underway—is by far his most extreme renovation. And now, it seems he’s opting for a new architect who’s more willing to bend to his personal vision for the project. Here’s everything you need to know about the shake-up, in a handy timeline: July 31 Late this summer, the The President administration officially announced its plans to construct a White House ballroom. At the time, the administration named McCrery Architects as the team heading up the project. McCrery himself has been a vocal supporter of President The President’s push to make classical architecture a federal standard, once stating, “Americans love classical architecture because it is our nation’s formative architecture and we love our nation’s formation.” His firm is most known for designing Catholic churches and academic buildings. October 20 In October, the The President administration began tearing down major sections of the East Wing to make way for the massive ballroom. The move came despite both The President and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s earlier assurances that the project would not interfere with the existing structure. November 26 The Washington Post was the first to report tensions between McCrery and The President. According to the publication, four people close to the project reported that McCrery repeatedly advised The President to bring down the proposed size of the ballroom, pointing out that a 90,000-square-foot addition would overshadow the original White House. In a later report from The New York Times, further details about the disagreement emerged. Several sources told the publication that The President’s plans for the ballroom’s size have grown dramatically since the plan was first proposed. In addition, The President reportedly told people working on the ballroom that they did not need to follow permitting, zoning, or code requirements, and encouraged contractors to work quickly to meet the tight timetable of completion before 2029. It appears that McCrery may have always been doomed to exit the project at some point. One source told The Post that the small size of his workforce made it difficult to meet such intense deadlines. On top of that, McCrery Architects’ relative inexperience with a project of such massive scale and inherent public scrutiny likely set the stage for problems down the line. December 4 The President’s split with McCrery Architects was officially confirmed to The Washington Post via a statement from White House spokesperson Davis Ingle, who named Shalom Baranes as the next in line to head up the project. Per The Post, McCrery will remain tied to the effort on a consulting basis. Baranes, who runs the firm Shalom Baranes Associates, is most known for leading a $1 billion renovation of the Pentagon back in 2001, though his firm has worked on other large-scale projects throughout D.C. Unlike McCrery, he’s embraced a neo-traditionalist style. Back in 2017, he subtly spoke out against The President’s immigration ban in an op-ed for The Washington Post, wherein he described himself as a “refugee” and argued that his own success would be impossible without his fellow immigrants. “My hope is that the The President administration will take actions to ensure that the travel ban is indeed temporary, so that good, hard-working individuals fleeing tyranny can find a new home as I did—and that each of them will be given the same opportunity to help build this great nation that I had,” Baranes wrote at the time. View the full article

To effectively boost engagement, you need to implement a variety of content strategies. Consider sharing customer testimonials to improve trust, or incorporating user-generated content for a more relatable approach. Hosting interactive polls can provide valuable insights about your audience, as promoting live events keeps your community informed. As you explore these ideas, you’ll find that exploring your content can lead to deeper connections with your audience. What strategies have you considered so far? Key Takeaways Create interactive polls on social media to gather audience insights and encourage participation. Share customer testimonials and user-generated content to build trust and foster community. Promote live events with countdowns and behind-the-scenes content to generate excitement. Utilize high-quality visuals and engaging videos to capture audience attention and boost interaction. Incorporate thought-provoking questions in posts to stimulate discussions and increase comments. Connect Content to Current Events Connecting your content to current events can greatly improve audience engagement, as people are often more interested in timely topics. By incorporating seasonal holidays or industry conferences into your content marketing ideas, you attract more attention and boost shareability. Engaging with trending topics not only makes your brand more relatable but additionally increases visibility, leading to up to 50% more interactions. Utilizing relevant hashtags can further improve discoverability, aligning your posts with popular conversations. Sharing insights or opinions on recent news positions your brand as a thought leader, cultivating trust among your audience. These good content ideas can create meaningful dialogue and encourage audience participation, ultimately driving engagement and increasing the likelihood of conversions. Share Customer Testimonials Sharing customer testimonials is an impactful way to build trust and showcase real success stories. When potential customers see authentic feedback and measurable results, it can greatly influence their purchasing decisions. Regularly featuring these testimonials not only improves credibility but likewise nurtures a deeper connection with your audience, in the end driving engagement and sales growth. Build Trust Effectively Building trust effectively with your audience involves more than just delivering quality products or services; it requires showcasing real experiences from your customers. Sharing customer testimonials can greatly improve your brand’s credibility, as 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Incorporating video testimonials can further boost engagement, since video content receives 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Highlighting diverse customer experiences may resonate with a broader audience, making 70% of consumers more likely to support brands that reflect their values. Regularly featuring customer feedback in social media posts nurtures a sense of community, with 66% of consumers feeling more loyal to brands that actively engage with their customers’ stories. Showcase Real Success Stories Customer testimonials serve as influential tools in showcasing real success stories that resonate with potential buyers. By sharing these testimonials, you can greatly increase trust and credibility; 79% of consumers report that user-generated content impacts their purchasing decisions. Incorporating these success stories into your social media posts can boost engagement by 28%, as audiences relate to authentic experiences. Highlighting real-world applications of your products or services demonstrates their effectiveness, potentially increasing customer spending by 20-40%. Using visual testimonials, like video snippets, captures attention and improves engagement rates by 120% compared to text-only posts. Regularly showcasing success stories not just builds a loyal community but also encourages satisfied customers to share their experiences, broadening your organic reach. Host Interactive Polls Hosting interactive polls is a straightforward way to encourage participation and gather insights from your audience. By utilizing engaging visuals and built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, you can make it easy for followers to share their opinions. Sharing the results afterward not just validates their input but additionally nurtures a sense of community and drives further engagement. Encourage Participation and Insights Interactive polls can be an effective tool for encouraging audience participation and gathering valuable insights. By hosting these polls on social media platforms, you can markedly improve engagement, with posts featuring polls generating up to 50% more comments than standard ones. Utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn makes participation quick and effortless, inviting users to share their opinions. This not only stimulates discussions among followers but likewise nurtures a sense of community, as users feel valued in the conversation. Additionally, engaging your audience through polls helps you tailor your content and products to meet their preferences, ultimately increasing brand loyalty. Involving them in the decision-making process builds a stronger connection with your brand. Share Poll Results Sharing poll results is an essential step in the engagement process that can greatly improve your connection with your audience. When you host interactive polls, you not only gather opinions but also encourage participation, leading to posts with up to 50% more comments and interactions. Poll results provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences, enabling you to tailor content more effectively. By utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and X, you make it easy for followers to engage. Sharing these results cultivates a sense of community, inviting further discussions around the topic. Moreover, responding to comments and sharing insights from the poll boosts your brand visibility and strengthens relationships with your followers, promoting ongoing engagement. Utilize Engaging Visuals Utilizing engaging visuals can greatly improve the effectiveness of your polls, as eye-catching graphics or videos draw attention and encourage participation. When you host interactive polls, you can see up to 50% more comments on your posts compared to standard content. By leveraging platform-specific features like Instagram Stories or Twitter polls, you seamlessly integrate these visuals into your content strategy, boosting visibility and interaction. Polls not only promote quick audience participation but also provide valuable insights into preferences and behaviors, helping you tailor future content. Engaging with poll results by sharing insights or follow-up questions nurtures community involvement, encouraging ongoing conversations among your followers. This approach amplifies your connection with the audience and strengthens brand loyalty. Promote Live Events Promoting live events effectively can greatly improve audience engagement and boost attendance. To generate excitement and anticipation, start your promotions well in advance. Here are some strategies you can use: Utilize countdowns and teaser posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build momentum. Share behind-the-scenes content leading up to the event, creating a sense of exclusivity and connection with your audience. After the event, follow up with highlights, key takeaways, and recordings to maintain engagement for those who couldn’t attend live. Encourage Audience Questions How can you improve interaction with your audience? One effective way is by encouraging questions. Posts that include questions can receive up to 50% more comments, boosting engagement considerably. Utilize tools like question stickers in Instagram Stories for easy responses and increased interaction. By asking thought-provoking or relatable questions, you can stimulate discussions that nurture community involvement and elevate brand loyalty. Furthermore, during live sessions or Q&A events, inviting audience questions engages participants and offers insights into their interests and concerns. Highlighting user-generated questions and addressing them publicly not merely builds trust but also reinforces your brand’s commitment to customer interaction, making your audience feel valued and heard. Highlight Blog Posts Blog posts serve as a potent tool for enhancing your brand’s online presence and engagement. By regularly sharing your blog content on social media, you can greatly increase traffic and establish authority in your industry. Consider the following benefits: Companies that blog attract 55% more website visitors than those that don’t. Content marketing, including blog posts, boosts brand visibility and trust, with 68% of marketers reporting positive results. Posts featuring blog links receive 97% more backlinks from other websites. Moreover, 78% of consumers prefer learning about a company through articles rather than ads. Create Engaging Visual Content Creating engaging visual content is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention, especially in a digital environment where people are inundated with information. High-quality visuals can increase views by up to 94%, making them indispensable for effective engagement. Incorporating videos into your strategy is a smart move since 80% of users prefer video over text. Infographics can boost engagement rates by as much as 300%, simplifying complex ideas into digestible formats. Moreover, using captions or text overlays can improve focus, with posts that include text seeing 40% more interaction. In addition, integrating user-generated content, like customer photos or testimonials, builds trust and relatability, leading to a 28% increase in engagement rates. Prioritize these elements to improve your content strategy. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Content Gets the Most Engagement? To maximize engagement, you should focus on visual content, especially videos, as they generate considerably more shares. Incorporating questions in your posts can lead to increased comments and discussions. Encourage user-generated content to build trust and authenticity. Polls and quizzes are effective for quick interactions, providing insights into audience preferences. Finally, celebrate milestones to humanize your brand and create emotional connections, nurturing a community that actively engages with your content. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests that for every five posts promoting your business, you should share five posts from others and five posts that are entertaining or engaging for your audience. This strategy helps you maintain a balanced content approach, nurturing audience connection and loyalty. How to Come up With Engaging Content? To come up with engaging content, start by connecting your posts to current events or trends, as this can greatly increase audience interest. Use testimonials and case studies to establish credibility, as many consumers trust user-generated content. Incorporate open-ended questions, polls, and surveys to encourage interaction, and share behind-the-scenes insights to humanize your brand. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50 30 20 rule for social media suggests that you should allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide valuable insights or information, and 20% should focus on promoting your products or services. This balanced approach helps you connect with your audience, avoiding overwhelming them with constant promotions. Conclusion Incorporating these seven content ideas can greatly improve your audience engagement. By connecting your content to current events, sharing testimonials, and utilizing interactive elements like polls, you create a more dynamic environment. Promoting live events and encouraging audience questions nurtures a sense of community. Highlighting blog posts and using visually engaging formats further captures attention. By diversifying your approach, you not just inform your audience but additionally build a more interactive and connected brand presence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Good Content Ideas to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To effectively boost engagement, you need to implement a variety of content strategies. Consider sharing customer testimonials to improve trust, or incorporating user-generated content for a more relatable approach. Hosting interactive polls can provide valuable insights about your audience, as promoting live events keeps your community informed. As you explore these ideas, you’ll find that exploring your content can lead to deeper connections with your audience. What strategies have you considered so far? Key Takeaways Create interactive polls on social media to gather audience insights and encourage participation. Share customer testimonials and user-generated content to build trust and foster community. Promote live events with countdowns and behind-the-scenes content to generate excitement. Utilize high-quality visuals and engaging videos to capture audience attention and boost interaction. Incorporate thought-provoking questions in posts to stimulate discussions and increase comments. Connect Content to Current Events Connecting your content to current events can greatly improve audience engagement, as people are often more interested in timely topics. By incorporating seasonal holidays or industry conferences into your content marketing ideas, you attract more attention and boost shareability. Engaging with trending topics not only makes your brand more relatable but additionally increases visibility, leading to up to 50% more interactions. Utilizing relevant hashtags can further improve discoverability, aligning your posts with popular conversations. Sharing insights or opinions on recent news positions your brand as a thought leader, cultivating trust among your audience. These good content ideas can create meaningful dialogue and encourage audience participation, ultimately driving engagement and increasing the likelihood of conversions. Share Customer Testimonials Sharing customer testimonials is an impactful way to build trust and showcase real success stories. When potential customers see authentic feedback and measurable results, it can greatly influence their purchasing decisions. Regularly featuring these testimonials not only improves credibility but likewise nurtures a deeper connection with your audience, in the end driving engagement and sales growth. Build Trust Effectively Building trust effectively with your audience involves more than just delivering quality products or services; it requires showcasing real experiences from your customers. Sharing customer testimonials can greatly improve your brand’s credibility, as 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Incorporating video testimonials can further boost engagement, since video content receives 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Highlighting diverse customer experiences may resonate with a broader audience, making 70% of consumers more likely to support brands that reflect their values. Regularly featuring customer feedback in social media posts nurtures a sense of community, with 66% of consumers feeling more loyal to brands that actively engage with their customers’ stories. Showcase Real Success Stories Customer testimonials serve as influential tools in showcasing real success stories that resonate with potential buyers. By sharing these testimonials, you can greatly increase trust and credibility; 79% of consumers report that user-generated content impacts their purchasing decisions. Incorporating these success stories into your social media posts can boost engagement by 28%, as audiences relate to authentic experiences. Highlighting real-world applications of your products or services demonstrates their effectiveness, potentially increasing customer spending by 20-40%. Using visual testimonials, like video snippets, captures attention and improves engagement rates by 120% compared to text-only posts. Regularly showcasing success stories not just builds a loyal community but also encourages satisfied customers to share their experiences, broadening your organic reach. Host Interactive Polls Hosting interactive polls is a straightforward way to encourage participation and gather insights from your audience. By utilizing engaging visuals and built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, you can make it easy for followers to share their opinions. Sharing the results afterward not just validates their input but additionally nurtures a sense of community and drives further engagement. Encourage Participation and Insights Interactive polls can be an effective tool for encouraging audience participation and gathering valuable insights. By hosting these polls on social media platforms, you can markedly improve engagement, with posts featuring polls generating up to 50% more comments than standard ones. Utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn makes participation quick and effortless, inviting users to share their opinions. This not only stimulates discussions among followers but likewise nurtures a sense of community, as users feel valued in the conversation. Additionally, engaging your audience through polls helps you tailor your content and products to meet their preferences, ultimately increasing brand loyalty. Involving them in the decision-making process builds a stronger connection with your brand. Share Poll Results Sharing poll results is an essential step in the engagement process that can greatly improve your connection with your audience. When you host interactive polls, you not only gather opinions but also encourage participation, leading to posts with up to 50% more comments and interactions. Poll results provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences, enabling you to tailor content more effectively. By utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and X, you make it easy for followers to engage. Sharing these results cultivates a sense of community, inviting further discussions around the topic. Moreover, responding to comments and sharing insights from the poll boosts your brand visibility and strengthens relationships with your followers, promoting ongoing engagement. Utilize Engaging Visuals Utilizing engaging visuals can greatly improve the effectiveness of your polls, as eye-catching graphics or videos draw attention and encourage participation. When you host interactive polls, you can see up to 50% more comments on your posts compared to standard content. By leveraging platform-specific features like Instagram Stories or Twitter polls, you seamlessly integrate these visuals into your content strategy, boosting visibility and interaction. Polls not only promote quick audience participation but also provide valuable insights into preferences and behaviors, helping you tailor future content. Engaging with poll results by sharing insights or follow-up questions nurtures community involvement, encouraging ongoing conversations among your followers. This approach amplifies your connection with the audience and strengthens brand loyalty. Promote Live Events Promoting live events effectively can greatly improve audience engagement and boost attendance. To generate excitement and anticipation, start your promotions well in advance. Here are some strategies you can use: Utilize countdowns and teaser posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build momentum. Share behind-the-scenes content leading up to the event, creating a sense of exclusivity and connection with your audience. After the event, follow up with highlights, key takeaways, and recordings to maintain engagement for those who couldn’t attend live. Encourage Audience Questions How can you improve interaction with your audience? One effective way is by encouraging questions. Posts that include questions can receive up to 50% more comments, boosting engagement considerably. Utilize tools like question stickers in Instagram Stories for easy responses and increased interaction. By asking thought-provoking or relatable questions, you can stimulate discussions that nurture community involvement and elevate brand loyalty. Furthermore, during live sessions or Q&A events, inviting audience questions engages participants and offers insights into their interests and concerns. Highlighting user-generated questions and addressing them publicly not merely builds trust but also reinforces your brand’s commitment to customer interaction, making your audience feel valued and heard. Highlight Blog Posts Blog posts serve as a potent tool for enhancing your brand’s online presence and engagement. By regularly sharing your blog content on social media, you can greatly increase traffic and establish authority in your industry. Consider the following benefits: Companies that blog attract 55% more website visitors than those that don’t. Content marketing, including blog posts, boosts brand visibility and trust, with 68% of marketers reporting positive results. Posts featuring blog links receive 97% more backlinks from other websites. Moreover, 78% of consumers prefer learning about a company through articles rather than ads. Create Engaging Visual Content Creating engaging visual content is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention, especially in a digital environment where people are inundated with information. High-quality visuals can increase views by up to 94%, making them indispensable for effective engagement. Incorporating videos into your strategy is a smart move since 80% of users prefer video over text. Infographics can boost engagement rates by as much as 300%, simplifying complex ideas into digestible formats. Moreover, using captions or text overlays can improve focus, with posts that include text seeing 40% more interaction. In addition, integrating user-generated content, like customer photos or testimonials, builds trust and relatability, leading to a 28% increase in engagement rates. Prioritize these elements to improve your content strategy. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Content Gets the Most Engagement? To maximize engagement, you should focus on visual content, especially videos, as they generate considerably more shares. Incorporating questions in your posts can lead to increased comments and discussions. Encourage user-generated content to build trust and authenticity. Polls and quizzes are effective for quick interactions, providing insights into audience preferences. Finally, celebrate milestones to humanize your brand and create emotional connections, nurturing a community that actively engages with your content. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests that for every five posts promoting your business, you should share five posts from others and five posts that are entertaining or engaging for your audience. This strategy helps you maintain a balanced content approach, nurturing audience connection and loyalty. How to Come up With Engaging Content? To come up with engaging content, start by connecting your posts to current events or trends, as this can greatly increase audience interest. Use testimonials and case studies to establish credibility, as many consumers trust user-generated content. Incorporate open-ended questions, polls, and surveys to encourage interaction, and share behind-the-scenes insights to humanize your brand. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50 30 20 rule for social media suggests that you should allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide valuable insights or information, and 20% should focus on promoting your products or services. This balanced approach helps you connect with your audience, avoiding overwhelming them with constant promotions. Conclusion Incorporating these seven content ideas can greatly improve your audience engagement. By connecting your content to current events, sharing testimonials, and utilizing interactive elements like polls, you create a more dynamic environment. Promoting live events and encouraging audience questions nurtures a sense of community. Highlighting blog posts and using visually engaging formats further captures attention. By diversifying your approach, you not just inform your audience but additionally build a more interactive and connected brand presence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Good Content Ideas to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are always on the lookout for innovations that simplify processes and enhance productivity. Android recently announced an exciting development that caters to this need for seamless connectivity. They unveiled a feature that allows Quick Share to work with AirDrop, enabling effortless file transfers between Android and iPhone devices. This rollout begins today with the Pixel 10 family, offering a direct solution to the most common frustrations surrounding cross-device sharing. The ability to share files effortlessly across different platforms not only promotes better communication but is also essential for collaboration in diverse work environments. Imagine sharing important documents or marketing materials between a team of Android users and a client or partner using an iPhone without the usual hassle of email attachments or third-party applications. This feature eliminates barriers, fostering smoother interactions that can enhance business relationships. As businesses increasingly rely on mobile devices for daily operations, the integration of Quick Share with AirDrop represents a significant step forward in making cross-compatibility a priority. According to Android, “We built this with security at its core, protecting your data with strong safeguards.” This focus on security is particularly crucial for small businesses that handle sensitive information and cannot afford data breaches. The compatibility work follows Android’s efforts with RCS (Rich Communication Services) and unknown tracker alerts, signifying a broader commitment to enhancing user experiences across platforms. The implications for small business owners are significant. For example, this new functionality can streamline workflows in multi-device environments. Team members can now exchange presentations or software updates instantaneously, which can be a game-changer in industries like marketing, consulting, or tech development. As articulated by Android, “We’re looking forward to improving the experience and expanding it to more Android devices.” This future expansion bodes well for businesses that use diverse tools and platforms. However, as every innovation comes with its own considerations, small business owners should remain vigilant. While the Quick Share and AirDrop integration paves the way for easier file sharing, it may also require users to adopt new habits or familiarize themselves with the updated settings on their devices. Transitioning to new features often demands initial training or adjustments, which could impact productivity in the short term. Additionally, the rollout is currently limited to the Pixel 10 series, so businesses using older models or different brands of Android devices may have to wait for broader compatibility. Furthermore, while the focus on security is reassuring, business owners must stay informed about the settings and permissions required for this feature to work effectively. Ensuring that all team members are educated about secure sharing practices can further reduce the risk of mishaps or data exposure. As Android continues to push for better interoperability between systems, small business owners can look forward to fewer obstacles in their daily operations. The advantages of having a single file-sharing solution for mixed-platform scenarios present a clear opportunity for increased collaboration and efficiency. For small business owners eager to improve their cross-device communication, exploring the benefits of this new feature can lead to significant operational improvements. As this integration rolls out more broadly, staying ahead of technology advancements like these will allow businesses to optimize their tools and methods for success in an increasingly interconnected world. For further details, check out the original announcement from Android here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Android Enables Cross-Platform File Sharing with AirDrop Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are always on the lookout for innovations that simplify processes and enhance productivity. Android recently announced an exciting development that caters to this need for seamless connectivity. They unveiled a feature that allows Quick Share to work with AirDrop, enabling effortless file transfers between Android and iPhone devices. This rollout begins today with the Pixel 10 family, offering a direct solution to the most common frustrations surrounding cross-device sharing. The ability to share files effortlessly across different platforms not only promotes better communication but is also essential for collaboration in diverse work environments. Imagine sharing important documents or marketing materials between a team of Android users and a client or partner using an iPhone without the usual hassle of email attachments or third-party applications. This feature eliminates barriers, fostering smoother interactions that can enhance business relationships. As businesses increasingly rely on mobile devices for daily operations, the integration of Quick Share with AirDrop represents a significant step forward in making cross-compatibility a priority. According to Android, “We built this with security at its core, protecting your data with strong safeguards.” This focus on security is particularly crucial for small businesses that handle sensitive information and cannot afford data breaches. The compatibility work follows Android’s efforts with RCS (Rich Communication Services) and unknown tracker alerts, signifying a broader commitment to enhancing user experiences across platforms. The implications for small business owners are significant. For example, this new functionality can streamline workflows in multi-device environments. Team members can now exchange presentations or software updates instantaneously, which can be a game-changer in industries like marketing, consulting, or tech development. As articulated by Android, “We’re looking forward to improving the experience and expanding it to more Android devices.” This future expansion bodes well for businesses that use diverse tools and platforms. However, as every innovation comes with its own considerations, small business owners should remain vigilant. While the Quick Share and AirDrop integration paves the way for easier file sharing, it may also require users to adopt new habits or familiarize themselves with the updated settings on their devices. Transitioning to new features often demands initial training or adjustments, which could impact productivity in the short term. Additionally, the rollout is currently limited to the Pixel 10 series, so businesses using older models or different brands of Android devices may have to wait for broader compatibility. Furthermore, while the focus on security is reassuring, business owners must stay informed about the settings and permissions required for this feature to work effectively. Ensuring that all team members are educated about secure sharing practices can further reduce the risk of mishaps or data exposure. As Android continues to push for better interoperability between systems, small business owners can look forward to fewer obstacles in their daily operations. The advantages of having a single file-sharing solution for mixed-platform scenarios present a clear opportunity for increased collaboration and efficiency. For small business owners eager to improve their cross-device communication, exploring the benefits of this new feature can lead to significant operational improvements. As this integration rolls out more broadly, staying ahead of technology advancements like these will allow businesses to optimize their tools and methods for success in an increasingly interconnected world. For further details, check out the original announcement from Android here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Android Enables Cross-Platform File Sharing with AirDrop Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Draft text also calls for ‘home’ fees for European students at UK universitiesView the full article

Why it is a cornerstone of value. By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Why it is a cornerstone of value. By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Normally, it's illegal to chop down a tree in a national forest. This month, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is all for it—provided you get yourself a Forest Service-issued permit first. In fact, cutting your own tree on federal land is actually a pretty affordable and ethical way to source a Christmas tree. The only catch is you must follow specific guidelines, which can vary from forest to forest. Before you grab your axe and head into the woods this holiday season, here’s what you need to know about the USDA's tree-cutting permit program. Why you should cut your own tree from a national forest What's cool is that securing yourself a tree-cutting permit isn't just allowed—it's encouraged. Cutting down and carrying out your own holiday tree helps contribute to good overall forest health. Through this permit program, you’ll be helping to thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees. Removing the trees already designated for removal by the Forest Service allows other trees to grow bigger and stronger. Plus, you’ll get the pride and satisfaction of chopping down the perfect Christmas tree for your home. It’s a true win-win. But let's say you don't care about the environment—this is all about your needs and experiences. Well, then: In addition to helping maintain a healthy forest, cutting a holiday tree is a special tradition that can be shared with families and friends to create memorable holiday experience. For many families, venturing into the forest to cut a Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured tradition carried on for generations. And most important of all: It can be a lot cheaper than buying one from a tree lot. How to cut your own tree from a national forestThe USDA Forest Service sells Christmas Tree permits through Recreation.gov. Prices range from $5 to $20, depending on the location of the forest. To buy your permit in advance and find your local participating forest, use this site, which also provides guidelines for the allowable cutting areas that you’ll need to review before you start choppin’. In three simple steps, you can begin your quest to find and bring home your own Christmas tree: Choose your forest. Determine which participating forest works best for your Christmas tree outing. Each forest will have specific guidelines and season dates for cutting a holiday tree. Be safe and prepared. Carefully read the details and rules of the applicable permit, and consider the Need to Know suggestions to prepare for your visit. Buy a permit. Purchase and print your permit before heading out to the forest. Tips for cutting your own Christmas treeI spoke with the Recreation.gov team to get some additional tips as families looking to prepare for their Christmas tree cutting adventure. Measure the space in your house so you can pick the right size tree once you are in the forest. (Don't assume you can eyeball it, or you'll find yourself with a Griswold situation on your hands.) Check road and forest conditions and prepare for adverse weather. Before cutting, make sure you are in a designated cutting area, and follow all guidelines for locations where tree cutting is allowed. Avoid venturing onto private property. Choose a tree in an overcrowded stand to help thin it out. Cut your tree close to the ground. The stump you leave behind should be about 6 inches tall. Bring a rope and tarp to move your tree from the cutting area to your vehicle. Secure your tree to your vehicle to ensure it remains in place for your trip home. What else you need to know Again: You can only cut down trees located in designated and approved areas in the forest. This permit program is run by the USDA Forest Service, which is not the same thing as U.S. National Parks. If you’re unsure whether you’re allowed to snag a tree in a certain area, visit this page and type in either the name of your state, or the name of the forest you have in mind. Christmas tree permit sale dates may vary by national forest. Recreation.gov encourages families to check local forest guidelines to gather all information before purchasing to ensure they are prepared. A new permit is required each year to cut your own Christmas tree. View the full article

Be sure to loop in the people who will use them. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

Be sure to loop in the people who will use them. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

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