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Quality Control Advisor Plus is an integrated system which brings together previously separate units, cutting months off of Freddie Mac's current QC process. View the full article

THE new hyper-digital age will see a significant shift towards participation branding in what some regard as the Participation Age. As consumers increasingly rely on one another for feedback and input on what and where to buy products and services, the best brands invite consumers to participate in brand-building. This participation could involve a range of actions, from co-creation of product design to customer-led innovation efforts, user-generated ads and promotions, and people-powered influencer marketing programs. Notably, each of these actions has the potential to positively influence customer engagement. The participation branding approach co-creates value with customers to effectively deliver greater value. It shifts the focus from the firm as a source of value creation to a partnership between customers and firms that results in value co-creation. Although products may remain the same, the platforms created allow customers to customize and individualize experiences, ensuring that each customer experience is unique. This, in turn, contributes to greater value creation. By enabling customers to co-create products and services, firms serve the needs of heterogeneous groups or allow the firm to serve customers who seek variety in their products, services, or experiences. The Lego Legacy Participation branding can serve as a vehicle for researching customers’ needs and requirements. It enhances customers’ identification with the brand, as user-designed products provide a sense of empowerment for those involved in the co-creation process.. Participation branding can enhance consumers’ willingness to pay by evoking feelings of accomplishment and a sense of contribution to the production process. One example of a brand that effectively practices participation branding is Lego. The Lego Group works to enliven children’s creativity through play and learning. Their mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. The brand’s plastic construction bricks are among the world’s most iconic playthings. Today, Lego provides toys, experiences, and teaching materials for children in more than 140 countries. The brand is now more than just a toy manufacturer; it has been widely recognized as a cultural phenomenon, evidenced by its toys’ broad representation in publications, television, and film, along with artistic and cultural works. Interestingly, Lego is continually seeking ideas for TV shows, digital videos, and toy sets—all essential for helping the company introduce new products and, consequently, enhance its revenues. For instance, Lego enables people to share their imaginings on a new platform called the ‘Lego World Builder.’ It allows users to propose story worlds, characters, and other ideas by uploading concept art, videos, and descriptions. The Lego Group receives thousands of creative individuals with original ideas for new content and stories each year. Lego World Builder has enabled the company to accelerate the sourcing and development of entire franchises instead of just individual toy sets. AI and Participation Branding Participation branding can progress from lower levels of getting customer input, to fostering deeper customer engagement, to co-creation of content and products, to a final stage where the customer becomes fully integrated into the production of all aspects of a brand. AI can enable various tasks involved in participation branding. It can facilitate this process in specific ways as customers engage in co-creating advertising or product development with a brand. A key factor in selecting customer participation activities is testing new product and campaign ideas that arise from customer input and co-creation opportunities. To achieve this, AI can help generate synthetic personas and A/B testing simulations based on customer input and feedback. Marketers could leverage AI-assisted product co-creation to develop new products or campaigns (e.g., Lego Ideas meets ChatGPT). Current AI tools such as Perplexity AI, Notion AI, ChatGPT for idea generation, Loop11, and Maze (UX testing) can help implement these ideas. In conclusion, participation branding is a crucial pillar of success in the hyper-digital age. It offers significant promise for brands seeking to strengthen their engagement with customers. Vanitha Swaminathan is the Thomas Marshall Professor of Marketing and Director, Center for Branding at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business. Her research focuses on branding strategy and the conditions that foster consumer-brand relationships, as well as how firms can successfully design brand strategies—such as co-branding, brand extensions, brand acquisitions, marketing alliances— to strengthen customer loyalty and firm up stock market performance. Currently, her attention is on understanding how brand managers can leverage the power of technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Reality and Ai to deliver better brand experiences. She also examines how content creators and influencers can help strengthen consumer-brand relationships. She has worked on marketing and branding consulting projects with such companies as The Hershey Company, Kraft Heinz, StarKist, AC Nielsen, GlaxoSmithKline, and Procter & Gamble, and has advised small businesses regarding their digital marketing efforts. In light of her many scholarly and service contributions, the American Marketing Association named her an AMA Fellow in 2024. In 2025, she won the University-wide award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring at the University of Pittsburgh. Her recent book is Hyper-Digital Marketing: Six Pillars of Strategic Brand Marketing in an AI-Powered World (Palgrave-Macmillan). Learn more at profvanitha.com * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

We’ve been using passwords to protect our various accounts for a few decades now, and, to be honest, we’re not very good at it. Many of us use the same simple, easy to remember passwords for all of our accounts—convenient for logging in, but horrible for security. Not only will a bad actor (or computer) be able to guess that password easily, they’ll try it against your other accounts. Before you know it, you have multiple breaches, some of which may involve financial or private information. There are a number of steps you can take to beef up your password security, of course. First, you can use a complex and unique password for each of your accounts, making sure to never reuse a password. A well-made password can be impossible for a human to guess, and virtually impossible for a computer to guess. But even if a company loses your password in a data breach, using two-factor authentication (2FA) can protect you further. Without a trusted device that either generates or receives a 2FA code, your password becomes essentially useless to hackers. And since you didn’t repeat passwords, they can’t try it on your other accounts. That’s what makes this combo a winning strategy. But many, if not most, of us aren’t using this winning strategy. Many are still at risk, or putting their organizations at risk, with insecure authentication measures. As such, there’s a push for consumers to adopt a new form of authentication, something that combines the convenience of passwords, with the security of 2FA, all without you needing to remember a thing: passkeys. What are passkeys?Passkeys are a (relatively) new authentication method that offer a similar experience to passwords without actually involving a password of any kind. The measure relies on something called public key cryptography: When you create a new account with a passkey, or you create a passkey for your existing account, a “key pair” is generated. One of these keys is public, and is stored by the company that runs the account in question. This key is not a secret, and, theoretically, could be stolen or lost in a breach. However, the other key is a secret. This private key is stored on your device–such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer—and is what is used to actually authenticate your identity. To create the passkey, you simply need to use your device’s built-in authentication method. That might mean a face scan, a fingerprint scan, or a PIN. Once you successfully authenticate yourself, the passkey is established. To log in in the future, you simply authenticate with one of those same three methods. If it goes through, the system then checks with the account that holds the public key to confirm your identity, and you're in—no password required. Your passkeys are securely stored on your devices, typically in a “vault” such as a keychain or password manager. Apple generates and stores passkeys in iCloud Keychain, for example. If you use a password manager, like Bitwarden or 1Password, you can create and store passkeys there. Any device that has access to that password manager can then also access the passkey for authentication. However, you don't need to log into your accounts on the device that contains the passkey. If you're using a different device, say a friend's computer or a tablet that doesn't contain the passkey, you will have the option to use your trusted device to authenticate. For example, say you want to check your bank account on your PC, but your account uses a passkey stored on your iPhone. You can choose to authenticate using the passkey device, which will trigger the account's site to present a QR code. You can scan the QR code on your iPhone, authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your PIN, and you'll log in. This is also how the feature works when signing into accounts on devices that don't store passkeys directly, like a PlayStation 5. Are passkeys secure?The short answer? Yes. Passkeys are an extremely secure authentication method. While they're way more secure than passwords, they're even more secure than 2FA. 2FA is great, and certainly better than using a password alone, but it is possible for attackers to steal the authentication codes—especially when these codes are SMS-based. This can be as sophisticated as hacking into the platforms that send your codes, or as simple as a phishing scheme: Scammers can pose as representatives of the account in question, and trick you into sharing your 2FA codes with them. As such, 2FA, while secure, has an inherent phishing flaw. Passkeys don't have this flaw. You can't be tricked into giving over one of your passkeys, nor can a hacker steal it from your device. The system won't prompt you to authenticate unless you are visiting the exact domain for the platform, which means scammers can't create dummy sites that trick you into logging in: The passkey process will simply not start. Importantly, signing in via a passkey requires the trusted device to be physically close to the device you're logging into. As such, a hacker can't send you an image of a QR code, trick you into scanning it, and then convince you to authenticate to log in. Unless you're in the same room as the hacker, they're not getting your passkey. What if I lose my device?One of the most common concerns regarding passkeys is what happens when you lose the device the passkey is stored on. After all, if the secret key is kept only on your smartphone, what happens if it is lost, stolen, or breaks? As it turns out, there are a few possibilities here. First, it is true there is a risk of losing the passkey for good should you lose access to the trusted device. If you choose to store your passkeys on a physical security key, like a YubiKey, losing or breaking the key will mean losing your passkey. However, depending on the account, you may have recovery options—such as answering security questions to prove your identity. This will be case-dependent, of course: If your account only has a passkey set up, and that passkey is only stored on one device, you may lose access to the account. Check if your accounts offer recovery options, or even backup authentication measures. Some accounts may still have you create a password, even if you opt into passkeys, because of this possibility. But more importantly, you don’t need to keep your passkeys to just one device. There are secure protocols that allow you to sync your passkeys between different devices. For example, if you create a passkey on your iPhone, iCloud Keychain securely syncs that passkey to your other connected Apple devices as well, such as an iPad and Mac. That way, when you want to log into your account on any of these devices, the option to authenticate with your passkey will be available on any—you just need to use Face ID, Touch ID, or present your PIN, and you’re in. Can you export passkeys?At this time, no. This is probably passkeys' biggest drawback. Unlike passwords, which you can export to other password managers, passkeys are stuck to the service they're generated with. If you set up a passkey for your Google Account on your iPhone, you won't be able to directly transfer it to, say, an Android device. If your passkey lives in Bitwarden, you can't transfer it to Google Password Manager. As such, you should try to create passkeys on the platform you most widely use. If you're fully in the Apple ecosystem, Apple's iCloud Keychain will work well for you. But if you have a mix of devices from different manufacturers, you'd be better off creating passkeys on a cross-platform password manager. You can always authenticate with your iPhone, of course, but the true convenience of passkeys is quickly logging in on a device that already contains the passkey. That doesn't mean you need to keep this service forever, however: You can set up new passkeys for existing accounts on other services, so you can securely get rid of your old passkey devices. However, make sure to keep the old device until you have the passkey established on a new one. If something goes wrong, and you're not able to set up a new passkey on another device, you'll need the old device to confirm your identity—unless you have an alternative authentication option, like a password. Passkeys aren't perfect: In practice, they can be a bit complicated, especially when working across different devices. But at their best, they offer both convenience and security. If you aren't particularly tech savvy, or if you're not totally entrenched in one tech company's ecosystem, it might be a bit too early to go all-in on passkeys. But passkeys can keep your accounts safe and secure, so long as you understand these other weaknesses. View the full article

Representatives of the insurance industry called the proposal too speculative and prescriptive, while consumer and environmental advocates say it doesn't go far enough. View the full article

New-home mortgage applications dropped, but the annual sales pace was the strongest in over a year, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. View the full article

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook's legal team argued in a new letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that the claims "fail on even the most cursory look at the facts." View the full article

Being the children of Francis Ford Coppola had a profound impact on the filmmaking sensibilities of Sofia and Roman Coppola, but their mother, Eleanor Coppola, may have played a larger role in nurturing their creative pursuits. “She taught me how to be in charge without being loud, and the importance of being real,” Sofia writes in her introduction to Two of Me: Notes on Living and Leaving, Eleanor Coppola’s posthumous memoir, published by A24 on November 11. Sofia and Roman convened in New York City last week for a conversation about the book and their mother, who died in April 2024 at the age of 87. One of Eleanor’s last wishes was to have Two of Me, which she wrote over the course of a decade using material from the diaries she kept for 50 years, published as a book. Eleanor’s other last wish was to have the 100 hours of video footage she shot on the set of Sofia’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette edited into a documentary, which is expected to be included in a 20th-anniversary edition of the film to be released next year. An artist and filmmaker whose mediums ranged from sculpture and conceptual art to photography and dance, Eleanor made her first documentary, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, after her husband asked her to shoot behind-the-scenes footage on Apocalypse Now. In 2016, at the age of 80, she became the oldest American woman to direct a debut feature film by releasing the comedy Paris Can Wait. At an event last week, moderated by Vogue editor Keaton Bell and held at Barnes & Noble Union Square, Sofia and Roman shared some of the ways in which their mother influenced them, both as artists and as people. Here are five biggest lessons they learned from her: Stories are made of details Whether it’s the neon lights of Tokyo’s Shinjuku district in Lost in Translation or the elaborate floral arrangements in Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola is known for her filmmaking style that focuses on small details. She credits her mother with teaching her the importance of paying attention to such details. “I got a lot from her just being this quiet observer,” Sofia said. “I notice details and I think that’s in my films, which comes from her eye.” Everything is art Shortly after Sofia was born, Eleanor presented a gift to Francis in the form of one of Sofia’s dirty diapers, as it was the only work of “art” that Sofia could create at the time. Eleanor also once turned her home into a performance art space where she welcomed friends to observe a young Sofia watching a video of her own birth on a TV. “What inspired me in my work is, she was very interested in conceptual art, specifically, and conceptual films,” Roman said. “She dabbled in that in the ’70s, and so the notion that anything can be a work of art and that sense of play and idea art is something I’ve brought into my work.” Film is not the only visual art form An avid appreciator of many different forms of art, Eleanor often brought her children to museums all over the world. One of Sofia’s most memorable experiences with her mother was being taken to see a performance by the German dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch. “I was like, ‘Oh, we have to go to some weird modern dance with mom,’ and it was one of the most incredible, most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” Sofia said. “I’m really glad she brought us to see a lot of really interesting contemporary art that she was excited about.” Challenges are opportunities As an adult “dealing with some personal issues and financial issues,” Roman Coppola learned how his mother valued the experience of struggling in life. “I was sort of moping a little bit, and she was like, ‘Wow, this is really great. There are a lot of things you have to figure out now in your life, and you’re really going to take that on,’” Roman said. “Some of the lessons weren’t just average things, but how to sort of embrace difficulty. It spoke to her confidence, but also just instilled that push to strive to pull yourself out of things and to work hard and be committed.” Mothers can also be filmmakers Eleanor didn’t let her role as a mother prevent her from pursuing creative and artistic endeavors. She stressed to Sofia that it was important to make time to be both a mother and an artist. “I learned from my mom that it was okay to do both,” Sofia said. “I think every mom that works feels guilty about it, so you’re always torn, but she really encouraged me, and I was excited that I could do both.” View the full article

The bank is adding trusted contacts, specialized teams and new tech against scams, but consumer advocates say reimbursement is the key missing piece. View the full article

Looking for some holiday cheer? Customers who want to try Starbucks’ new holiday treat, the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink, will have to go to Target, where it will be exclusively available throughout the holiday season at all in-store Starbucks cafes. The drink is a creme Frappuccino with a blend of mocha sauce, milk, and ice, poured over a layer of peppermint-flavored whipped cream and red and green sprinkles, finished with another layer of that same whipped cream and sprinkles. Starbucks is hoping to capitalize on the holiday season and the holiday craze around its special drinks and limited-edition cups. And customer enthusiasm is high, as evidenced by this year’s limited-run “Bearista” cups—which have customers literally fighting and lining up at 3 a.m. to shell out $30 a pop. “Last Thursday’s Holiday launch was our biggest sales day ever in North America,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said in a recent note. And according to the company, millennials and Gen Z customers are driving Q3 improvements in customer value perception. The new Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate appears to be an attempt to keep that momentum going. The collaboration between the coffee chain and the big-box retailer debuts Monday for Target Circle 360 loyalty members, just in time for the busiest and most profitable time of the year: the run up to Christmas Day. The rest of us will have to wait till tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18. Both Starbucks and Target have been hit hard by consumer backlash and boycotts respectively, at a time when Americans are buying less due to increased inflation and higher living costs. Starbucks, which recently announced a wave of store closings, is under pressure to increase profits. At the same time, management is facing baristas striking for higher pay and better hours. (Last week, unionized workers went on strike at more than 65 Starbucks locations across 42 cities.) Meanwhile, Target is facing its own problems as customers boycott the stores due to its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI). It’s also contending with lower in-store foot traffic. Starbucks financials Starbucks reported fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, October 29, with quarterly same-store sales growing for the first time in nearly two years and global same-store sales rising 1%, but same-store sales in the U.S. staying flat for the quarter (which turned positive in September). The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of 52 cents adjusted versus 56 cents expected, and revenue of $9.57 billion, beating expectations of $9.35 billion. Target is set to report its third-quarter earnings results this week. View the full article

Novo Nordisk, the Danish drug company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, is now offering the drugs at lower prices for self-pay patients. On Monday, the company announced it would offer both medications, Ozempic (the weight loss version of the drug) and Wegovy (the version that addressed diabetes), at a discounted rate of $199 per month for a limited time. The introductory offer goes from now until March 31, 2026. The announcement noted that the pricing is only good for the first two months of treatment, and at the lowest doses of the medications. After the initial months of treatment, the payrate will move to the new monthly self-pay rate of $349 per month, down from $499. “As pioneers of the GLP-1 class, we are committed to ensuring that real, FDA-approved Wegovy and Ozempic are affordable and accessible to those who need them,” Dave Moore, Executive Vice President, US Operations of Novo Nordisk Inc., said in a press release. Moore continued, “The US healthcare system is complex, with different types of insurance and various ways for patients to obtain their medicines. Our new savings offers provide immediate impact, bringing forward greater cost savings for those who are currently without coverage or choose to self-pay.” Per the announcement, patients can access the new offers in three different ways: through Wegovy.com or Ozempic.com.; through NovoCare Pharmacy; or through participating organizations and select telehealth providers that work directly with Novo Nordisk, like Costco, GoodRx, WeightWatchers, Ro, LifeMD, and eMed). The offer comes amid the The President administration’s call for the companies that manufacture weight loss drugs to lower prices. Earlier this month, when speaking in the Oval Office, The President said, after months of negotiation, a deal had been reached that would impact prices on the drugs for those who receive Medicaid, Medicare, and for users of the The PresidentRx website, which is expected by the end of the year. “Today, I’m thrilled to announce that the two world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, have agreed to offer their most popular GLP-1 weight loss drug — I call it the fat drug, remember — at drastic discounts,” The President said. The competitive pricing comes as the obesity rate is trending down, as a result of reliance on weight loss drugs. While in 2022, 39.9% of Americans met the criteria for obesity, that number is down to 37% — or around 7.6 million Americans who no longer meet the threshold. View the full article

Last week, the baby nutrition company ByHeart recalled all of its infant formula over concerns that it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes infant botulism. Now the company is facing increasing legal drama and backlash from customers for potentially exposing babies to the dangerous illness. According to a November 14 update from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a total of 23 infants in 13 states who were exposed to the formula have developed suspected or confirmed infant botulism. All of the infants have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported to date. ByHeart had voluntarily recalled two batches of its infant formula on November 8. Just three days later, it expanded that recall to encompass all of its products, including any unexpired lots of formula cans and single-serve “anywhere pack” sticks. Per the FDA, most babies with infant botulism will initially develop constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing, which can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest. Symptoms of infant botulism, which is diagnosed clinically, can take as long as several weeks to develop following formula ingestion. Parents are advised to stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately. As new botulism cases potentially related to ByHeart’s products continue to emerge, the company—which positions itself as dedicated to making the “best formula in the world”—is facing backlash both through multiple lawsuits and a social media firestorm led by its own customers. Legal backlash against ByHeart ramps up As of this writing, at least five different lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart related to the infant botulism outbreak, according to federal court records. All of the plaintiffs are identified in the complaints as buyers of ByHeart’s products. Three of the complaints are proposed class actions. In at least two cases, the plaintiffs have infant children whom they believe contracted infant botulism through the contaminated formula, the court filings show. According to a November 12 legal complaint, plaintiffs Stephen and Yurany Dexter of Flagstaff, Arizona, decided to introduce formula three days after the birth of their child (referred to as E.D.) to supplement breast milk. “Looking at the available choices, they chose the ByHeart brand because of the healthy-looking labeling, top shelf placement, and higher price,” the filing reads. But over a month later, the child began to exhibit symptoms of infant botulism, it says, resulting in multiple hospital stays and hundreds of thousands in medical expenses. In a second complaint filed on that same day, plaintiffs Michael and Hanna Everett of Richmond, Kentucky, detail a similar experience with their child, referred to as “P.E.” “This case arises from a parent’s worst nightmare: infant formula laced with dangerous Bacteria,” the suit reads. It goes on to explain that the Everetts purchased ByHeart’s products due to its promises to be a “healthier alternative to traditional formula,” only for their four-month-old daughter to contract infant botulism. “Soon after consuming the formula, she developed constipation and alarming neurological symptoms,” it reads. “Plaintiffs brought their first-born daughter to the emergency department where doctors diagnosed P.E. with infant botulism. Public health investigators later confirmed that she was part of a multistate outbreak caused by ByHeart formula.” Reached for comment by Fast Company, ByHeart emailed a statement from cofounder and president Mia Funt. “Our number one priority is infant health,” Funt says. “We express our deepest sympathy to the families currently impacted by the cases of infant botulism. We are working with the FDA and independent experts to implement the recall quickly while the factual investigation continues. We are committed to getting answers—including partnering with the FDA and independent experts—and will share updates as soon as we can.” Disappointed customers take to social media Throughout the new lawsuits against ByHeart, a recurring theme is the idea that parents chose the company’s products due to its positioning as a healthy, science-backed alternative to traditional formula. And under an Instagram post from ByHeart apologizing for the recalls, hundreds of commenters have echoed those sentiments, expressing their disappointment in the brand. “I’m a sitting duck waiting around to see if my baby is okay because she consumed contaminated formula from you,” one commenter wrote, added that “we trusted you with nourishing our baby and you failed us.” Another added, “From the bottom of my heart I hope your company goes bankrupt and that no retailer will ever carry your products again.” New York-based ByHeart was founded in 2016 and most recently raised $72 million in a Series C round from undisclosed investors, according to PitchBook, for a post-valuation of $908 million. In the wake of the recalls, ByHeart has updated its website to spotlight information about the situation, including a link to its customer support line (866-201-9069). Fast Company reached out to the FDA for the latest details. The agency says it is continuing to investigate the outbreak along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state-level public health officials. View the full article

Walking is great exercise, but can be slow and a little boring, unless you're truly captivated by the wonders of the natural world—though that won't get you very far if your scenery is the walls around a treadmill, rather than a walking path. Whether you're walking outdoors or indoors, you can benefit from using guided walks to spice up your ambling. I love the walking video offered by Peloton, but I to access them, I pay $50 a month (though I get so much else as part of my subscription). But if you want a free option, there are some great ones on YouTube. They're similar to the free guided runs on the platform, but here, you just walk. (In general, if you want to find guided walking workouts on YouTube on your own, make sure to add "outside" or "treadmill" so you get results that will serve your needs.) Prowalk Tours (749,000 subscribers) For "walks" around a specific location, Prowalk Tours might be the best out there. You can visit a variety of cities, markets, and locales from the comfort of your home or the gym. Running one of these on your phone or iPad while you use a treadmill is a great way to distract yourself and see what other parts of the world are like. There's no guidance, necessarily—at least not in an audio sense. This channel does divvy up the videos, though, so along the slider bar at the bottom of the player, you can see descriptions of the different areas you'll "pass" through. If there's a building you love in Paris, you can skip right to it. There are also other kinds of tours, like ones taken by boat and bike, so you can follow along on a stationary cycle or just watch and enjoy. Get Fit With Rick (843,000 subscribers) I like this channel because it's much more exercise-focused, but still pretty chill—sometimes, you don't want to do Pilates or an all-out cardio session; you just want to walk. On the Get Fit With Rick channel, you can get motivation and pace cues, plus stretching and other movements (he might have you do some side-stepping or knee touches during a walk). Bear in mind he is stationary while he teaches, so you could actually just dance in place like he does, but you can—and should—walk around instead, hitting the beat of the music and keeping up with his pace cues. The variety of modifications available make this channel suitable for all levels. It's a great option if you're a beginner, having an active rest day, or just checking it out. The audio and video quality is high, which I always appreciate. You don't need incredible production values if the coaching is good, but it never hurts to actually be able to adequately hear and see the instructors. Sunny Health and Fitness (194,000 subscribers) You might be familiar with Sunny if you've ever been scouring Amazon for cheap, at-home workout equipment. That was my first experience with the brand: I bought a tiny, mechanical elliptical from them that I used until I was able to get my own Peloton Bike. Their videos are like their products, in that they're straightforward and to the point, with no fuss or flare. They are geared specifically for walkers using treadmills, and offer pacing and form cues, plus motivation from a coach. IBX Running (59,000 subscribers) IBX appeared on my best YouTube running channels list too, because they offer so many options in terms of workout length and structure. One of the options? Just plain walking. The videos are abundant in volume, but more importantly, they're clear and useful: Side bars show you what your incline and pace should be, which many of the other channels don't do. This helps you stay motivated and work toward your fitness goals. Headspace (1 million subscribers) You might be surprised to see Headspace here, since it's an app and platform dedicated to meditation and mental health, rather than exercise. But Headspace offers up some quality guided walking meditation videos I think are worth checking out. Exercise isn't just good for the body, but good for the mind, and sometimes, it's better to focus on that aspect, rather than just calorie burning. Think of them as guided walking meditations. If you want to take a stroll and be a little more mindful (while still reaping the physical benefits of moving around), start here. View the full article

Home Office says hesitancy around deporting families creates ‘perverse incentives’ to put children on small boats View the full article

Salesforce is stepping up its game in the analytics world with its recent acquisition of Spindle AI, a platform renowned for its advanced agentic analytics capabilities. Small business owners might just find this development revolutionary in making data-driven decisions simpler, more effective, and faster. Spindle AI’s cutting-edge technology blends advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with sophisticated data modeling. This fusion allows businesses to navigate complex datasets and derive actionable insights rapidly. For small business owners often overwhelmed by data, such technology promises a means to unlock its value without getting bogged down in technical complexities. Ryan Atallah, co-founder and CEO of Spindle AI, explained, “We built Spindle AI to intelligently close the gap between what questions enterprises want to ask of their data and what their data systems can understand.” This is particularly crucial for small businesses that may lack the human resources to sift through data efficiently. With Spindle AI’s tools, smaller teams can simulate decision-making scenarios around areas like pricing strategies or sales optimizations rapidly, thereby avoiding costly trial-and-error methods. Salesforce’s Executive Vice President & General Manager of the AI Platform, Adam Evans, pointed out the vital need for businesses to make their data “speak a common language.” He emphasized that as enterprises generate an unprecedented amount of data, the challenge lies in extracting reliable answers. The acquisition is expected to enhance Salesforce’s capabilities in “custom agentic analytics, ROI forecasting, and continuous optimization,” particularly benefitting users of its Agentforce platform. For small business owners, these features can lead to improved operational efficiency and more accurate forecasting. A notable aspect of Spindle AI’s technology is its ability to autonomously model business scenarios, addressing queries about potential outcomes proactively. Business owners can simulate various pricing structures, marketing strategies, and product mixes without needing a specialized analytics team. This accessibility translates to faster decision-making, which is often a critical factor in today’s fast-paced market. However, while these functionalities are increasingly attractive, small business owners should also consider potential challenges associated with integrating such advanced technologies. Transitioning to an AI-driven analytics approach may require a certain level of tech-savviness, which can pose hurdles for some owners who may not be as familiar with cutting-edge tools. Additionally, the acquisition is expected to close in Salesforce’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2026, meaning that it might take time before small businesses can fully leverage the benefits of Spindle AI’s offerings. Adam Evans stressed that the acquisition is not merely about technology but about welcoming “incredibly talented engineers with deep expertise.” Such expertise can guide small business owners toward optimizing their operations and leveraging data in ways they might not have previously envisioned, aligning with the strategic growth most small businesses strive for. Jayesh Govindarajan of Salesforce added, “We aren’t just acquiring a platform; we’re bringing on world-class expertise.” With leaders from Spindle AI joining Salesforce, small business owners can expect advancements in the realm of AI analytics that could redefine their operational strategies. As for the immediate future, small business owners eager to harness the powers of AI-driven analytics should begin familiarizing themselves with the fundamental concepts and potential applications of such technologies. Engaging with training resources, online courses, or local workshops could provide an invaluable advantage when the new features roll out. The convergence of Salesforce and Spindle AI marks a significant moment for analytics, presenting exciting opportunities for small businesses to make data-driven decisions more efficiently. With the promise of enhanced analytics capabilities on the horizon, owners would do well to keep an eye on this evolving landscape. Those ready to adapt will likely find themselves ahead in understanding their markets and improving their bottom lines. For more information on the acquisition and its implications, visit the original Salesforce press release at Salesforce News. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Salesforce Enhances AI Capabilities with Spindle AI Acquisition" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Salesforce is stepping up its game in the analytics world with its recent acquisition of Spindle AI, a platform renowned for its advanced agentic analytics capabilities. Small business owners might just find this development revolutionary in making data-driven decisions simpler, more effective, and faster. Spindle AI’s cutting-edge technology blends advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with sophisticated data modeling. This fusion allows businesses to navigate complex datasets and derive actionable insights rapidly. For small business owners often overwhelmed by data, such technology promises a means to unlock its value without getting bogged down in technical complexities. Ryan Atallah, co-founder and CEO of Spindle AI, explained, “We built Spindle AI to intelligently close the gap between what questions enterprises want to ask of their data and what their data systems can understand.” This is particularly crucial for small businesses that may lack the human resources to sift through data efficiently. With Spindle AI’s tools, smaller teams can simulate decision-making scenarios around areas like pricing strategies or sales optimizations rapidly, thereby avoiding costly trial-and-error methods. Salesforce’s Executive Vice President & General Manager of the AI Platform, Adam Evans, pointed out the vital need for businesses to make their data “speak a common language.” He emphasized that as enterprises generate an unprecedented amount of data, the challenge lies in extracting reliable answers. The acquisition is expected to enhance Salesforce’s capabilities in “custom agentic analytics, ROI forecasting, and continuous optimization,” particularly benefitting users of its Agentforce platform. For small business owners, these features can lead to improved operational efficiency and more accurate forecasting. A notable aspect of Spindle AI’s technology is its ability to autonomously model business scenarios, addressing queries about potential outcomes proactively. Business owners can simulate various pricing structures, marketing strategies, and product mixes without needing a specialized analytics team. This accessibility translates to faster decision-making, which is often a critical factor in today’s fast-paced market. However, while these functionalities are increasingly attractive, small business owners should also consider potential challenges associated with integrating such advanced technologies. Transitioning to an AI-driven analytics approach may require a certain level of tech-savviness, which can pose hurdles for some owners who may not be as familiar with cutting-edge tools. Additionally, the acquisition is expected to close in Salesforce’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2026, meaning that it might take time before small businesses can fully leverage the benefits of Spindle AI’s offerings. Adam Evans stressed that the acquisition is not merely about technology but about welcoming “incredibly talented engineers with deep expertise.” Such expertise can guide small business owners toward optimizing their operations and leveraging data in ways they might not have previously envisioned, aligning with the strategic growth most small businesses strive for. Jayesh Govindarajan of Salesforce added, “We aren’t just acquiring a platform; we’re bringing on world-class expertise.” With leaders from Spindle AI joining Salesforce, small business owners can expect advancements in the realm of AI analytics that could redefine their operational strategies. As for the immediate future, small business owners eager to harness the powers of AI-driven analytics should begin familiarizing themselves with the fundamental concepts and potential applications of such technologies. Engaging with training resources, online courses, or local workshops could provide an invaluable advantage when the new features roll out. The convergence of Salesforce and Spindle AI marks a significant moment for analytics, presenting exciting opportunities for small businesses to make data-driven decisions more efficiently. With the promise of enhanced analytics capabilities on the horizon, owners would do well to keep an eye on this evolving landscape. Those ready to adapt will likely find themselves ahead in understanding their markets and improving their bottom lines. For more information on the acquisition and its implications, visit the original Salesforce press release at Salesforce News. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Salesforce Enhances AI Capabilities with Spindle AI Acquisition" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a major legislative update—the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" ("OBBB") — has rolled back the reporting threshold for Form 1099-K, restoring a more familiar standard for many self-employed professionals. These changes are in effect for 2025 tax returns that will be filed in 2026. This change is more than just a technical adjustment. It affects how freelancers track income, prepare for the coming tax season, and interact with digital payment platforms. Let’s break down what’s changed, what it means for your business, and how to stay compliant in this new landscape. What Is Form 1099-K? First, a refresher on Form 1099-K. It is an IRS information return used to report payments received through TPSOs for goods or services. It’s designed to improve voluntary tax compliance by ensuring income received via digital platforms is properly reported. If you receive payments through platforms like Etsy, Uber, DoorDash, or freelance marketplaces such as Upwork or Fiverr, you may be issued a 1099-K if your activity meets the threshold. However, under the reinstated rules, many freelancers will no longer receive this form unless their volume and income are substantial. It’s important to note that Form 1099-K is not the only way the IRS tracks income. Just because you don’t receive one doesn’t mean your earnings aren’t taxable. The responsibility to report income remains squarely on your shoulders. Keep in mind that your state may have a lower reporting threshold for TPSOs, which could result in you receiving a Form 1099-K, even if the total gross payments and transactions did not exceed the federal reporting threshold. Changes to 1099 Reporting Under The One Big Beautiful Bill Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs)—such as PayPal, Venmo (for business), Stripe, Square, and others—are now only required to issue a Form 1099-K if: The gross amount of reportable transactions exceeds $20,000, andThe number of transactions exceeds 200.This reinstates the threshold that was in place prior to 2021, reversing the lower limit introduced by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which had dropped the reporting requirement to just $600, regardless of the number of transactions. The 1099-K Reporting Rollback: Why It Matters to Freelancers The rollback to the $20,000/200 transaction reduces the likelihood of receiving unexpected tax forms and simplifies the reporting process for low-volume earners. However, it also places greater emphasis on personal recordkeeping. Without a 1099-K to prompt you, it’s up to you to track and report your earnings accurately. This is especially critical for freelancers who receive payments through multiple platforms or who mix personal and business transactions. Freelancers Must Track All 1099-K Income Even if you don’t receive a 1099-K, you’re still required to report all taxable income. Here are some practical steps to help you stay ahead: Track your income independently. Don’t rely solely on tax forms to know what you earned. Use accounting software, spreadsheets, or even a simple ledger to record every payment received for freelance work.Separate personal and business transactions. Use dedicated accounts or payment tags to avoid confusion. If you’re using platforms like Venmo or PayPal, make sure business transactions are clearly labeled and kept separate from personal ones.Review platform policies. Some TPSOs may still issue 1099-Ks based on their own internal thresholds or business practices. Stay informed about how your payment platforms handle reporting. Consult a tax professional. Especially if you’re unsure how to report 1099 income or what the state regulations are. A CPA familiar with freelance tax issues can help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize your deductions.Looking Ahead: 1099-K and Other Income Reporting is Required Freelancers should remain vigilant; legislative changes can shift reporting requirements quickly, and digital payment platforms may still issue forms based on their own policies. For example, some platforms may choose to issue 1099-Ks at lower thresholds to simplify their own compliance or reduce audit risk. Additionally, the IRS continues to explore ways to improve tax compliance in the gig economy. Future legislation could revisit thresholds, redefine reportable transactions, or introduce new forms altogether. Freelancers should also be aware of state-level reporting requirements. Some states have their own thresholds for 1099-K reporting, which may differ from federal rules. If you live in a state with aggressive tax enforcement, you may still receive forms even if you fall below the federal threshold. The Bottom Line on 1099-K and Your Freelance Business Obligations Freelancers are still responsible for reporting all taxable income, regardless of whether you receive a form. The best way to protect yourself is through proactive recordkeeping and informed tax planning. Here’s a quick recap of smart moves every freelancer should make: Keep detailed records of all income and expenses.Use separate accounts for business and personal finances.Stay informed about IRS updates and platform policies.Work with a tax professional who understands freelance work.Don’t wait until tax season—plan ahead throughout the year.Understanding the evolving tax landscape for your freelance business can make tax season less stressful and more predictable. Whether you’re a seasoned consultant with a full-time business or a weekend gig worker, understanding your obligations and staying organized will help you thrive in today’s evolving tax landscape. View the full article

In a major legislative update—the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" ("OBBB") — has rolled back the reporting threshold for Form 1099-K, restoring a more familiar standard for many self-employed professionals. These changes are in effect for 2025 tax returns that will be filed in 2026. This change is more than just a technical adjustment. It affects how freelancers track income, prepare for the coming tax season, and interact with digital payment platforms. Let’s break down what’s changed, what it means for your business, and how to stay compliant in this new landscape. What Is Form 1099-K? First, a refresher on Form 1099-K. It is an IRS information return used to report payments received through TPSOs for goods or services. It’s designed to improve voluntary tax compliance by ensuring income received via digital platforms is properly reported. If you receive payments through platforms like Etsy, Uber, DoorDash, or freelance marketplaces such as Upwork or Fiverr, you may be issued a 1099-K if your activity meets the threshold. However, under the reinstated rules, many freelancers will no longer receive this form unless their volume and income are substantial. It’s important to note that Form 1099-K is not the only way the IRS tracks income. Just because you don’t receive one doesn’t mean your earnings aren’t taxable. The responsibility to report income remains squarely on your shoulders. Keep in mind that your state may have a lower reporting threshold for TPSOs, which could result in you receiving a Form 1099-K, even if the total gross payments and transactions did not exceed the federal reporting threshold. Changes to 1099 Reporting Under The One Big Beautiful Bill Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs)—such as PayPal, Venmo (for business), Stripe, Square, and others—are now only required to issue a Form 1099-K if: The gross amount of reportable transactions exceeds $20,000, andThe number of transactions exceeds 200.This reinstates the threshold that was in place prior to 2021, reversing the lower limit introduced by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which had dropped the reporting requirement to just $600, regardless of the number of transactions. The 1099-K Reporting Rollback: Why It Matters to Freelancers The rollback to the $20,000/200 transaction reduces the likelihood of receiving unexpected tax forms and simplifies the reporting process for low-volume earners. However, it also places greater emphasis on personal recordkeeping. Without a 1099-K to prompt you, it’s up to you to track and report your earnings accurately. This is especially critical for freelancers who receive payments through multiple platforms or who mix personal and business transactions. Freelancers Must Track All 1099-K Income Even if you don’t receive a 1099-K, you’re still required to report all taxable income. Here are some practical steps to help you stay ahead: Track your income independently. Don’t rely solely on tax forms to know what you earned. Use accounting software, spreadsheets, or even a simple ledger to record every payment received for freelance work.Separate personal and business transactions. Use dedicated accounts or payment tags to avoid confusion. If you’re using platforms like Venmo or PayPal, make sure business transactions are clearly labeled and kept separate from personal ones.Review platform policies. Some TPSOs may still issue 1099-Ks based on their own internal thresholds or business practices. Stay informed about how your payment platforms handle reporting. Consult a tax professional. Especially if you’re unsure how to report 1099 income or what the state regulations are. A CPA familiar with freelance tax issues can help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize your deductions.Looking Ahead: 1099-K and Other Income Reporting is Required Freelancers should remain vigilant; legislative changes can shift reporting requirements quickly, and digital payment platforms may still issue forms based on their own policies. For example, some platforms may choose to issue 1099-Ks at lower thresholds to simplify their own compliance or reduce audit risk. Additionally, the IRS continues to explore ways to improve tax compliance in the gig economy. Future legislation could revisit thresholds, redefine reportable transactions, or introduce new forms altogether. Freelancers should also be aware of state-level reporting requirements. Some states have their own thresholds for 1099-K reporting, which may differ from federal rules. If you live in a state with aggressive tax enforcement, you may still receive forms even if you fall below the federal threshold. The Bottom Line on 1099-K and Your Freelance Business Obligations Freelancers are still responsible for reporting all taxable income, regardless of whether you receive a form. The best way to protect yourself is through proactive recordkeeping and informed tax planning. Here’s a quick recap of smart moves every freelancer should make: Keep detailed records of all income and expenses.Use separate accounts for business and personal finances.Stay informed about IRS updates and platform policies.Work with a tax professional who understands freelance work.Don’t wait until tax season—plan ahead throughout the year.Understanding the evolving tax landscape for your freelance business can make tax season less stressful and more predictable. Whether you’re a seasoned consultant with a full-time business or a weekend gig worker, understanding your obligations and staying organized will help you thrive in today’s evolving tax landscape. View the full article

A reader writes: I work for a local government office that is being affected by the federal chaos. We currently have a hiring freeze and expect to lose several key positions when Congress finally passes a budget. Best case scenario is that the dozen or so positions we have open will be eliminated. Worst case is that one of our largest departments will be shuttered and another will be severely downsized. My team is not federally funded but is taking on a lot of the work previously done by the vacant positions. My grandboss, who came to us from the private sector just this year, feels bad that he can’t give us raises or bonuses to reward us for all the extra work we’re doing. He wants to start personally Venmo’ing us an extra couple hundred dollars each month. While I appreciate the gesture, this feels inappropriate to me. At the same time, I really could use the money — my partner and I have been doing a lot of gig work on the side to help pay down our debt. Is there anything legally wrong with accepting this money? Could it come back to bite me in some way? Yeah, it’s not really appropriate — but that’s more on your grandboss than you. If it’s going to cause problems, those problems much more likely to be for him than for you. In general, employers don’t want managers paying people from their own personal money, even if they want to, for a whole bunch of reasons: (1) it removes their ability to guard against things like illegal discrimination (for example, if he were paying you extra but not someone doing similar work who was a different race, sex, or religion), (2) it creates weird issues of loyalty toward the manager over the employer (and creates potential conflicts down the road if there are issues with the manager you should report but hesitate to because he was so generous with you, or if it creates pressure for favors he shouldn’t be asking for), (3) the manager shouldn’t be using personal funds to alter the employer’s resource allocation decisions (and it masks the true cost of having that work done / retaining people, although that’s murkier given the current situation with government work than it is elsewhere), and (4) it has tax implications for everyone if they want to do it legally. A good litmus test: would he feel you need to hide it from higher-level management? If so, that’s a sign it’s a problem. That said, on your end of things, the only legal issue is a tax one; the money should be reported and taxes withheld, and it likely won’t be. (That’s required even though it’s a “gift” from him; it’s still money you’re being paid for doing your job.) In theory, that could come up at some point, although it probably won’t. Still, it would be smart to set aside some of the money for taxes. Also, you should look at your ethics policy, which might explicitly prohibit accepting it. Beyond that … it’s really up to you if you feel comfortable with it. It’s easy to say “don’t accept it,” but I think most people would understand why you might choose to. The post my boss wants to add to our paychecks with his personal money appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Google submitted a compliance plan to the European Commission that proposes changes to its ad-tech operations — but rejects calls to break up its business How it works: Google is offering product-level changes — for example, giving publishers the ability to set different minimum prices for different bidders in Google Ad Manager. It’s also proposing greater interoperability between Google’s tools and those of rivals, in order to give publishers and advertisers more flexibility. The company says these tweaks would resolve the European Commission’s concerns without a “disruptive break-up.” Why we care. Google’s proposed “non-disruptive” fixes could preserve platform stability and avoid the turbulence of a forced breakup — but they may also shape future auction dynamics, pricing transparency, and access to competitive tools. In short, the outcome will influence how much control, choice, and cost efficiency advertisers have in Europe’s ad ecosystem. Between the lines. Google is leaning on technical fixes rather than major structural overhaul — but critics argue that without deeper reform, the power dynamics in ad tech may not fundamentally shift. The bottom line. Google is trying to strike a compromise: addressing the EU’s antitrust concerns while keeping its integrated ad-tech business intact. Regulators now face a choice: accept the tweaks — or push harder for a breakup. Dig Deeper. EU fines Google $3.5 billion over anti-competitive ad-tech business View the full article

The measures underline the financial realities facing the party after its first six months in local governmentView the full article

A social media calendar is a structured tool that helps you organize and schedule your social media posts. It streamlines your content planning, ensuring consistent messaging across platforms during making collaboration with your team easier. By planning ahead, you can align your posts with key events and social media holidays, enhancing your audience engagement. Comprehending the different types of calendars and their crucial features can notably impact your brand’s online presence. So, how do you create one that works for you? Key Takeaways A social media calendar organizes and schedules posts, improving content visibility and management across platforms. It enhances collaboration among team members, reducing the stress of last-minute content creation. Utilizing a calendar allows for proactive planning around social media holidays and key events for timely engagement. Regularly tracking performance metrics helps refine strategies and maintain fresh, relevant content. Essential features include unified planning, asset management, and customization options for scalability. Understanding the Concept of a Social Media Calendar When you think about managing your social media presence, a social media calendar is an essential tool that can streamline your efforts. This strategic plan organizes your upcoming posts by publish date and time, allowing you to efficiently allocate resources. It improves organization by providing visibility into content plans and supporting collaboration among team members. By scheduling posts in advance, you can maintain a consistent posting schedule, which builds trust and sets clear expectations for your audience. Furthermore, a well-structured social media calendar enables proactive planning for social media holidays and key events, increasing content relevance and quality. This approach greatly reduces the stress associated with last-minute content creation, making your social media strategy more effective. Key Benefits of Implementing a Social Media Calendar Implementing a social media calendar brings significant time management efficiency, allowing you to plan your content ahead of time and avoid the stress of last-minute posts. This structured approach guarantees consistent brand messaging, which builds trust with your audience and improves your visibility across platforms. Time Management Efficiency A well-structured social media calendar can greatly improve your time management efficiency, as it allows you to plan and schedule content well in advance. By using a social media holiday calendar, you can anticipate key dates and events, ensuring timely and relevant content delivery. This proactive approach reduces the chaos of last-minute tasks and helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule. Moreover, a social media calendar boosts organizational efficiency by acting as an assignment board for team members, facilitating clear communication about deadlines and campaigns. With tools like Excel or Buffer, you can also review past topics, ensuring your content remains fresh and balanced, eventually allowing you to focus on high-quality content creation that aligns with your marketing strategies. Consistent Brand Messaging Consistent brand messaging is crucial for establishing a strong identity in the crowded social media environment, especially since it helps to unify your voice across various platforms. By utilizing a social media calendar, you can guarantee that your content planning aligns with your brand goals, leading to better audience engagement. Here are some key benefits: Unified Voice: Avoid conflicting messages that could confuse your audience. Structured Approach: Facilitate collaboration among team members for consistent messaging. Trust Building: Regular posting schedules improve reliability and strengthen your brand reputation. With a well-organized calendar, you can strategically mix content types that reinforce your brand identity as you keep your followers engaged and informed. This structured method ultimately supports your overarching marketing strategies. Types of Social Media Calendars Available Navigating the terrain of social media calendars can significantly boost your content management strategy. Various types of calendars are available to suit different needs, including daily and monthly planners for routine tasks, and long-term planning calendars for strategic initiatives. These tools help you organize content effectively across platforms. Moreover, best time to post calendars utilize audience data to maximize engagement, whereas cross-network visibility calendars guarantee your messaging is coherent across channels. Social media calendar templates likewise provide structured formats to save time and improve organization. Type of Calendar Purpose Daily Planner Manage daily posts and interactions Weekly Planner Plan content for the week ahead Monthly Planner Overview of content for the entire month Long-Term Planning Calendar Strategic execution over extended periods Best Time to Post Calendar Optimize posting times for engagement Essential Features of a Social Media Calendar Tool When choosing a social media calendar tool, you’ll want to focus on several vital features that can improve your strategy. A unified content planning system helps you manage posts across various platforms, ensuring your messaging remains consistent. Furthermore, effective team collaboration features and performance tracking metrics are critical for enhancing content quality and evaluating your efforts, allowing for data-driven decisions that optimize your social media presence. Unified Content Planning A well-structured social media calendar tool not just centralizes content planning but also improves your overall strategy by ensuring cohesive messaging across various platforms. With this tool, you can effectively incorporate social media holidays into your schedule, making your posts timely and relevant. Here are some important features to evaluate: Performance tracking that links to key metrics, allowing you to assess engagement and refine your strategies. Asset management for easy access to media, copy, and campaigns, streamlining the content creation process. Customization options that enable scalability, so you can adapt your planning processes as your business grows. Team Collaboration Features Effective team collaboration is essential for the success of any social media strategy, and a well-designed social media calendar tool facilitates this by incorporating key features that improve teamwork. These tools improve team collaboration through review options, comments, and content approval processes, ensuring everyone can contribute and stay aligned with content plans. Real-time updates allow multiple team members to work together seamlessly, reducing miscommunication and increasing efficiency. Centralizing content assets simplifies access for all, making necessary media and copy readily available. Integrated communication tools streamline feedback, enabling quick input and approval within the calendar. Furthermore, a structured calendar supports cross-functional collaboration by providing visibility into content timelines and campaigns, aligning marketing, sales, and other departments in pursuit of shared goals. Performance Tracking Metrics Monitoring performance tracking metrics is crucial for evaluating the success of your social media efforts. By focusing on key data points, you can assess content effectiveness and adapt your strategy to meet audience preferences. A well-structured social media calendar tool should include features for tracking: Engagement rates Impressions and clicks Conversions and audience growth Utilizing these metrics helps you identify trends and themes in your content performance over time. This analysis allows you to optimize posting schedules and content types, eventually enhancing your return on investment (ROI). Regularly reviewing performance metrics guarantees your social media strategy remains relevant and effective, enabling you to make informed decisions that resonate with your audience. Steps to Create an Effective Social Media Calendar Creating a social media calendar that truly improves your marketing efforts requires a structured approach. Start by auditing your existing content to assess performance, identifying what resonates with your audience. Next, define clear goals that align with your marketing strategy, ensuring every post serves a purpose. Plan ahead by scheduling posts around key dates, like July social media holidays, August social media holidays, and September social media holidays, during considering audience engagement patterns. Utilize tools like Sprout Social to optimize posting times. Incorporate performance tracking by monitoring metrics such as engagement rates and impressions. Finally, collaborate with your team throughout the process to gather feedback, enhancing your content’s effectiveness across all platforms for a cohesive strategy. Conducting a Social Media Audit for Better Strategy When you conduct a social media audit, you’re not just reviewing your past content; you’re gathering essential insights that can shape your future strategy. By evaluating engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments, you identify what resonates with your audience. Utilize tools like Sprout Social’s Post Performance Report to analyze content effectiveness, especially around key dates like April social media holidays and October social media holidays. Review metrics per network to tailor success criteria. Analyze competitor content for benchmarks and trends. Share audit findings with your team for data-driven decisions. This process guarantees your content strategies are optimized for each platform, guiding you toward more effective engagement and better results in future campaigns. Selecting the Right Social Media Channels When selecting the right social media channels, it’s essential to analyze your audience demographics to understand where they spend their time online. Each platform requires specific content strategies; for instance, short videos thrive on TikTok, whereas LinkedIn is better suited for in-depth articles. Furthermore, evaluating engagement metrics across channels helps guarantee your approach resonates with users and improves your overall reach. Audience Demographics Analysis How can comprehension of audience demographics improve your social media strategy? By grasping who your audience is, you can select the most effective channels to reach them. Each platform attracts different age groups, interests, and behaviors. For example, Instagram is popular among users aged 18-34, whereas Facebook caters more to those aged 30 and above. LinkedIn is ideal for B2B marketing, targeting professionals with higher incomes. TikTok thrives with Gen Z, making it perfect for engaging younger consumers. Recognize age and income trends for effective targeting. Choose platforms that align with your audience’s preferences. Utilize demographic insights for customized content strategies. Platform-Specific Content Strategies Selecting the right social media channels is essential for maximizing your marketing efforts, as each platform serves unique purposes and attracts distinct audiences. Start by identifying where your target audience is most active; for instance, Instagram works well for visual content and younger demographics, whereas LinkedIn thrives in professional networking and B2B communications. Comprehending each platform’s nuances is critical; Twitter‘s character limit promotes concise messaging, whereas Facebook supports longer posts and community interaction. Utilize analytics tools to assess which channels deliver the highest engagement rates, directing your focus effectively. A mixed approach that incorporates multiple platforms can boost reach, but remember to tailor your content particularly to fit each platform’s unique features and audience preferences for ideal results. Engagement Metrics Evaluation What metrics should you consider when evaluating engagement on social media channels? Comprehending how your audience interacts with your content is essential for selecting the right platforms. Focus on specific metrics that reveal user behavior, such as: Likes: Indicate content popularity and audience approval. Shares: Reflect how often users distribute your content, broadening reach. Comments: Show active engagement and interest in discussions around your posts. Utilizing tools like Sprout Social can help you analyze these metrics, revealing ideal posting times and audience activity patterns. Regularly reviewing performance across platforms enables you to adjust strategies, concentrating on channels that deliver the best engagement and ROI. A multi-channel approach can considerably improve brand visibility and interaction rates, so consider leveraging various platforms for maximum impact. Organizing Content Types for Maximum Engagement Organizing content types within your social media calendar is crucial for maximizing audience engagement, as it allows you to create a strategic mix that appeals to your followers. By incorporating cornerstone content, educational posts, promotional materials, and engagement-focused formats, you guarantee a diverse and appealing feed. Aim for 20-30% of your posts to be cornerstone content, reinforcing your brand identity. Prioritize high-performing formats, like videos, which can generate up to 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Furthermore, a well-structured calendar helps align your posts with current trends and key events, making your content timely and relevant. Consistently tracking and evaluating content types likewise aids in refining your strategy for better engagement over time. Performance Tracking and Continuous Improvement Effective performance tracking is essential for any social media strategy, as it allows you to measure the impact of your content and understand audience interactions. By monitoring key metrics like engagement rates and conversions, you can evaluate your content’s effectiveness. Regular review sessions help you identify trends and adjust your posting schedule. Consider implementing A/B testing to discover which formats resonate best with your audience, leading to improved performance over time. Utilize tools like Sprout Social for real-time insights. Analyze data to refine content strategies based on audience behavior. Adapt quickly to changing needs and market dynamics for continuous improvement. This systematic approach enables you to optimize engagement and maximize your social media reach effectively. Tools for Managing Your Social Media Calendar To successfully manage your social media calendar, it is crucial to leverage various tools designed to streamline the process. Platforms like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, and Agorapulse offer features that include scheduling, analytics, and social listening, making them suitable for businesses of all sizes. On the other hand, spreadsheets provide a cost-effective and customizable option, allowing you to control data entry and presentation directly. Here’s a comparison of some popular tools: Tool Features Hootsuite Scheduling, analytics, social listening Buffer Post scheduling, performance analytics Sprout Social Engagement tracking, social listening Agorapulse Content scheduling, team collaboration Spreadsheets Customizable tracking, low cost Utilizing templates and automation features helps maintain a consistent posting schedule during saving time. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Purpose of a Social Media Calendar? The purpose of a social media calendar is to organize and schedule your content effectively. It helps you plan posts in advance, ensuring you deliver timely and relevant information to your audience. What Role Does a Social Media Calendar Play in Content Planning and Why Is It Important for a Successful Strategy? A social media calendar plays an essential role in content planning by organizing your posts and ensuring they align with your marketing goals. It helps you avoid last-minute rushes, allowing for more thoughtful content creation. Furthermore, it encourages collaboration among team members by providing a clear timeline. This consistency not merely builds audience trust but also allows you to track performance metrics, refining your strategy based on what resonates best with your audience. Why Is It Important to Have a Social Media Holiday? Having a social media holiday is essential as it allows you to create relevant content that resonates with your audience. By aligning your posts with specific holidays, you boost engagement and visibility. Planning ahead for these holidays prevents last-minute scrambles and guarantees a consistent posting schedule. Furthermore, incorporating social media holidays shows your brand’s awareness of cultural trends, nurturing a deeper connection with your audience and enhancing brand loyalty over time. When Creating a Social Media Content Calendar, What Is the Most Important Factor to Consider? When creating a social media content calendar, the most important factor to contemplate is aligning your content with your overall marketing goals and audience preferences. You need to guarantee that what you post is relevant and engaging. Incorporating a mix of content types, like educational posts and promotions, can help maintain interest. Furthermore, scheduling based on ideal posting times derived from audience activity can greatly boost engagement and effectiveness. Conclusion In conclusion, a social media calendar is an essential tool for brands, streamlining content planning and enhancing engagement. By organizing posts around key dates and events, it guarantees consistent messaging and reduces last-minute stress. Implementing a social media calendar not merely improves collaboration among team members but additionally allows for effective performance tracking and continuous improvement. With the right tools and strategies, you can maximize your online presence and drive better results for your brand. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Social Media Calendar and Why Is It Essential?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A social media calendar is a structured tool that helps you organize and schedule your social media posts. It streamlines your content planning, ensuring consistent messaging across platforms during making collaboration with your team easier. By planning ahead, you can align your posts with key events and social media holidays, enhancing your audience engagement. Comprehending the different types of calendars and their crucial features can notably impact your brand’s online presence. So, how do you create one that works for you? Key Takeaways A social media calendar organizes and schedules posts, improving content visibility and management across platforms. It enhances collaboration among team members, reducing the stress of last-minute content creation. Utilizing a calendar allows for proactive planning around social media holidays and key events for timely engagement. Regularly tracking performance metrics helps refine strategies and maintain fresh, relevant content. Essential features include unified planning, asset management, and customization options for scalability. Understanding the Concept of a Social Media Calendar When you think about managing your social media presence, a social media calendar is an essential tool that can streamline your efforts. This strategic plan organizes your upcoming posts by publish date and time, allowing you to efficiently allocate resources. It improves organization by providing visibility into content plans and supporting collaboration among team members. By scheduling posts in advance, you can maintain a consistent posting schedule, which builds trust and sets clear expectations for your audience. Furthermore, a well-structured social media calendar enables proactive planning for social media holidays and key events, increasing content relevance and quality. This approach greatly reduces the stress associated with last-minute content creation, making your social media strategy more effective. Key Benefits of Implementing a Social Media Calendar Implementing a social media calendar brings significant time management efficiency, allowing you to plan your content ahead of time and avoid the stress of last-minute posts. This structured approach guarantees consistent brand messaging, which builds trust with your audience and improves your visibility across platforms. Time Management Efficiency A well-structured social media calendar can greatly improve your time management efficiency, as it allows you to plan and schedule content well in advance. By using a social media holiday calendar, you can anticipate key dates and events, ensuring timely and relevant content delivery. This proactive approach reduces the chaos of last-minute tasks and helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule. Moreover, a social media calendar boosts organizational efficiency by acting as an assignment board for team members, facilitating clear communication about deadlines and campaigns. With tools like Excel or Buffer, you can also review past topics, ensuring your content remains fresh and balanced, eventually allowing you to focus on high-quality content creation that aligns with your marketing strategies. Consistent Brand Messaging Consistent brand messaging is crucial for establishing a strong identity in the crowded social media environment, especially since it helps to unify your voice across various platforms. By utilizing a social media calendar, you can guarantee that your content planning aligns with your brand goals, leading to better audience engagement. Here are some key benefits: Unified Voice: Avoid conflicting messages that could confuse your audience. Structured Approach: Facilitate collaboration among team members for consistent messaging. Trust Building: Regular posting schedules improve reliability and strengthen your brand reputation. With a well-organized calendar, you can strategically mix content types that reinforce your brand identity as you keep your followers engaged and informed. This structured method ultimately supports your overarching marketing strategies. Types of Social Media Calendars Available Navigating the terrain of social media calendars can significantly boost your content management strategy. Various types of calendars are available to suit different needs, including daily and monthly planners for routine tasks, and long-term planning calendars for strategic initiatives. These tools help you organize content effectively across platforms. Moreover, best time to post calendars utilize audience data to maximize engagement, whereas cross-network visibility calendars guarantee your messaging is coherent across channels. Social media calendar templates likewise provide structured formats to save time and improve organization. Type of Calendar Purpose Daily Planner Manage daily posts and interactions Weekly Planner Plan content for the week ahead Monthly Planner Overview of content for the entire month Long-Term Planning Calendar Strategic execution over extended periods Best Time to Post Calendar Optimize posting times for engagement Essential Features of a Social Media Calendar Tool When choosing a social media calendar tool, you’ll want to focus on several vital features that can improve your strategy. A unified content planning system helps you manage posts across various platforms, ensuring your messaging remains consistent. Furthermore, effective team collaboration features and performance tracking metrics are critical for enhancing content quality and evaluating your efforts, allowing for data-driven decisions that optimize your social media presence. Unified Content Planning A well-structured social media calendar tool not just centralizes content planning but also improves your overall strategy by ensuring cohesive messaging across various platforms. With this tool, you can effectively incorporate social media holidays into your schedule, making your posts timely and relevant. Here are some important features to evaluate: Performance tracking that links to key metrics, allowing you to assess engagement and refine your strategies. Asset management for easy access to media, copy, and campaigns, streamlining the content creation process. Customization options that enable scalability, so you can adapt your planning processes as your business grows. Team Collaboration Features Effective team collaboration is essential for the success of any social media strategy, and a well-designed social media calendar tool facilitates this by incorporating key features that improve teamwork. These tools improve team collaboration through review options, comments, and content approval processes, ensuring everyone can contribute and stay aligned with content plans. Real-time updates allow multiple team members to work together seamlessly, reducing miscommunication and increasing efficiency. Centralizing content assets simplifies access for all, making necessary media and copy readily available. Integrated communication tools streamline feedback, enabling quick input and approval within the calendar. Furthermore, a structured calendar supports cross-functional collaboration by providing visibility into content timelines and campaigns, aligning marketing, sales, and other departments in pursuit of shared goals. Performance Tracking Metrics Monitoring performance tracking metrics is crucial for evaluating the success of your social media efforts. By focusing on key data points, you can assess content effectiveness and adapt your strategy to meet audience preferences. A well-structured social media calendar tool should include features for tracking: Engagement rates Impressions and clicks Conversions and audience growth Utilizing these metrics helps you identify trends and themes in your content performance over time. This analysis allows you to optimize posting schedules and content types, eventually enhancing your return on investment (ROI). Regularly reviewing performance metrics guarantees your social media strategy remains relevant and effective, enabling you to make informed decisions that resonate with your audience. Steps to Create an Effective Social Media Calendar Creating a social media calendar that truly improves your marketing efforts requires a structured approach. Start by auditing your existing content to assess performance, identifying what resonates with your audience. Next, define clear goals that align with your marketing strategy, ensuring every post serves a purpose. Plan ahead by scheduling posts around key dates, like July social media holidays, August social media holidays, and September social media holidays, during considering audience engagement patterns. Utilize tools like Sprout Social to optimize posting times. Incorporate performance tracking by monitoring metrics such as engagement rates and impressions. Finally, collaborate with your team throughout the process to gather feedback, enhancing your content’s effectiveness across all platforms for a cohesive strategy. Conducting a Social Media Audit for Better Strategy When you conduct a social media audit, you’re not just reviewing your past content; you’re gathering essential insights that can shape your future strategy. By evaluating engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments, you identify what resonates with your audience. Utilize tools like Sprout Social’s Post Performance Report to analyze content effectiveness, especially around key dates like April social media holidays and October social media holidays. Review metrics per network to tailor success criteria. Analyze competitor content for benchmarks and trends. Share audit findings with your team for data-driven decisions. This process guarantees your content strategies are optimized for each platform, guiding you toward more effective engagement and better results in future campaigns. Selecting the Right Social Media Channels When selecting the right social media channels, it’s essential to analyze your audience demographics to understand where they spend their time online. Each platform requires specific content strategies; for instance, short videos thrive on TikTok, whereas LinkedIn is better suited for in-depth articles. Furthermore, evaluating engagement metrics across channels helps guarantee your approach resonates with users and improves your overall reach. Audience Demographics Analysis How can comprehension of audience demographics improve your social media strategy? By grasping who your audience is, you can select the most effective channels to reach them. Each platform attracts different age groups, interests, and behaviors. For example, Instagram is popular among users aged 18-34, whereas Facebook caters more to those aged 30 and above. LinkedIn is ideal for B2B marketing, targeting professionals with higher incomes. TikTok thrives with Gen Z, making it perfect for engaging younger consumers. Recognize age and income trends for effective targeting. Choose platforms that align with your audience’s preferences. Utilize demographic insights for customized content strategies. Platform-Specific Content Strategies Selecting the right social media channels is essential for maximizing your marketing efforts, as each platform serves unique purposes and attracts distinct audiences. Start by identifying where your target audience is most active; for instance, Instagram works well for visual content and younger demographics, whereas LinkedIn thrives in professional networking and B2B communications. Comprehending each platform’s nuances is critical; Twitter‘s character limit promotes concise messaging, whereas Facebook supports longer posts and community interaction. Utilize analytics tools to assess which channels deliver the highest engagement rates, directing your focus effectively. A mixed approach that incorporates multiple platforms can boost reach, but remember to tailor your content particularly to fit each platform’s unique features and audience preferences for ideal results. Engagement Metrics Evaluation What metrics should you consider when evaluating engagement on social media channels? Comprehending how your audience interacts with your content is essential for selecting the right platforms. Focus on specific metrics that reveal user behavior, such as: Likes: Indicate content popularity and audience approval. Shares: Reflect how often users distribute your content, broadening reach. Comments: Show active engagement and interest in discussions around your posts. Utilizing tools like Sprout Social can help you analyze these metrics, revealing ideal posting times and audience activity patterns. Regularly reviewing performance across platforms enables you to adjust strategies, concentrating on channels that deliver the best engagement and ROI. A multi-channel approach can considerably improve brand visibility and interaction rates, so consider leveraging various platforms for maximum impact. Organizing Content Types for Maximum Engagement Organizing content types within your social media calendar is crucial for maximizing audience engagement, as it allows you to create a strategic mix that appeals to your followers. By incorporating cornerstone content, educational posts, promotional materials, and engagement-focused formats, you guarantee a diverse and appealing feed. Aim for 20-30% of your posts to be cornerstone content, reinforcing your brand identity. Prioritize high-performing formats, like videos, which can generate up to 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Furthermore, a well-structured calendar helps align your posts with current trends and key events, making your content timely and relevant. Consistently tracking and evaluating content types likewise aids in refining your strategy for better engagement over time. Performance Tracking and Continuous Improvement Effective performance tracking is essential for any social media strategy, as it allows you to measure the impact of your content and understand audience interactions. By monitoring key metrics like engagement rates and conversions, you can evaluate your content’s effectiveness. Regular review sessions help you identify trends and adjust your posting schedule. Consider implementing A/B testing to discover which formats resonate best with your audience, leading to improved performance over time. Utilize tools like Sprout Social for real-time insights. Analyze data to refine content strategies based on audience behavior. Adapt quickly to changing needs and market dynamics for continuous improvement. This systematic approach enables you to optimize engagement and maximize your social media reach effectively. Tools for Managing Your Social Media Calendar To successfully manage your social media calendar, it is crucial to leverage various tools designed to streamline the process. Platforms like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, and Agorapulse offer features that include scheduling, analytics, and social listening, making them suitable for businesses of all sizes. On the other hand, spreadsheets provide a cost-effective and customizable option, allowing you to control data entry and presentation directly. Here’s a comparison of some popular tools: Tool Features Hootsuite Scheduling, analytics, social listening Buffer Post scheduling, performance analytics Sprout Social Engagement tracking, social listening Agorapulse Content scheduling, team collaboration Spreadsheets Customizable tracking, low cost Utilizing templates and automation features helps maintain a consistent posting schedule during saving time. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Purpose of a Social Media Calendar? The purpose of a social media calendar is to organize and schedule your content effectively. It helps you plan posts in advance, ensuring you deliver timely and relevant information to your audience. What Role Does a Social Media Calendar Play in Content Planning and Why Is It Important for a Successful Strategy? A social media calendar plays an essential role in content planning by organizing your posts and ensuring they align with your marketing goals. It helps you avoid last-minute rushes, allowing for more thoughtful content creation. Furthermore, it encourages collaboration among team members by providing a clear timeline. This consistency not merely builds audience trust but also allows you to track performance metrics, refining your strategy based on what resonates best with your audience. Why Is It Important to Have a Social Media Holiday? Having a social media holiday is essential as it allows you to create relevant content that resonates with your audience. By aligning your posts with specific holidays, you boost engagement and visibility. Planning ahead for these holidays prevents last-minute scrambles and guarantees a consistent posting schedule. Furthermore, incorporating social media holidays shows your brand’s awareness of cultural trends, nurturing a deeper connection with your audience and enhancing brand loyalty over time. When Creating a Social Media Content Calendar, What Is the Most Important Factor to Consider? When creating a social media content calendar, the most important factor to contemplate is aligning your content with your overall marketing goals and audience preferences. You need to guarantee that what you post is relevant and engaging. Incorporating a mix of content types, like educational posts and promotions, can help maintain interest. Furthermore, scheduling based on ideal posting times derived from audience activity can greatly boost engagement and effectiveness. Conclusion In conclusion, a social media calendar is an essential tool for brands, streamlining content planning and enhancing engagement. By organizing posts around key dates and events, it guarantees consistent messaging and reduces last-minute stress. Implementing a social media calendar not merely improves collaboration among team members but additionally allows for effective performance tracking and continuous improvement. With the right tools and strategies, you can maximize your online presence and drive better results for your brand. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Social Media Calendar and Why Is It Essential?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

You may be doing everything you can to protect your privacy online—using tools like multi-factor authentication, a secure password manager, and a VPN—but unfortunately, not all privacy-focused apps and services are actually doing what they promise. In its November fraud and scam advisory, Google is warning users about VPN apps and extensions that appear legitimate but are actually vectors for malware. VPNs may actually be spyware A VPN, or virtual private network, makes your internet activity much more difficult to track by routing your traffic through a different connection rather than your regular internet service provider (ISP). This allows you to hide your IP address and location, obscure your browsing data, and protect your information and devices from bad actors. According to Google, malicious VPNs (posing as real ones) are delivering infostealers, remote access trojans, and banking trojans to user devices once installed, allowing hackers to access sensitive personal data like browsing history, financial credentials, and cryptocurrency wallet information. This means that an app you rely on to keep your information private could be doing the exact opposite. Cybercriminals are capitalizing on user trust in these services, creating apps that look and feel like legitimate VPNs but are actually dangerous spyware. How to ensure your VPN app is safeAs with any app or extension, only download or install a VPN from an official source like the Google Play store. While malicious programs do sometimes sneak through, it's typically safer and more reliable than sideloading through a messaging app or other unvetted site. In January 2025, Google launched a VPN verification process to help users identify trustworthy VPN apps in the Google Play store. To earn a "verified" badge, VPN apps have to undergo a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation and opt into independent security reviews. Badges are awarded only to VPNs that have been published for at least 90 days and reach 10,000 installs and 250 user reviews. Of course, this system isn't perfect either: As TechRadar reported earlier this year, a popular (free) Chrome VPN extension earned a badge and was later discovered to be spying on users. That's why you should rely on a reputable VPN service—which means you'll likely have to pay for it. Free VPNs are far more likely to a privacy nightmare, and any app that sounds too good to be true probably is. You aren't going to get unlimited traffic at no cost without sacrificing something. Finally, review VPN permissions carefully, and allow the minimum access possible for the app or extension to function. (You should do this with any app you download, and you should audit apps regularly to remove unnecessary permissions.) You can check your VPN service's support pages to find out which permissions are essential—this should not include access to your contacts, camera, microphone, or photos, for example. View the full article

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully made its way to orbit for the second time on Nov. 13, 2025. Although the second launch is never as flashy as the first, this mission is still significant in several ways. For one, it launched a pair of NASA spacecraft named ESCAPADE, which are headed to Mars orbit to study that planet’s magnetic environment and atmosphere. The twin spacecraft will first travel to a Lagrange point, a place where the gravity between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun balances. The ESCAPADE spacecraft will remain there until Mars is in better alignment to travel to. And two, importantly for Blue Origin, New Glenn’s first stage booster successfully returned to Earth and landed on a barge at sea. This landing allows the booster to be reused, substantially reducing the cost to get to space. Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket and landed the booster on a barge at sea on Nov. 13, 2025. As a space policy expert, I see this launch as a positive development for the commercial space industry. Even though SpaceX has pioneered this form of launch and reuse, New Glenn’s capabilities are just as important. New Glenn in context Although Blue Origin would seem to be following in SpaceX’s footsteps with New Glenn, there are significant differences between the two companies and their rockets. For most launches today, the rocket consists of several parts. The first stage helps propel the rocket and its spacecraft toward space and then drops away when its fuel is used up. A second stage then takes over, propelling the payload all the way to orbit. While both New Glenn and Falcon Heavy, SpaceX’s most powerful rocket currently available, are partially reusable, New Glenn is taller, more powerful, and can carry a greater amount of payload to orbit. Blue Origin plans to use New Glenn for a variety of missions for customers such as NASA, Amazon, and others. These will include missions to Earth’s orbit and eventually to the Moon to support Blue Origin’s own lunar and space exploration goals, as well as NASA’s. NASA’s Artemis program, which endeavors to return humans to the Moon, is where New Glenn may become important. In the past several months, several space policy leaders, as well as NASA officials, have expressed concern that Artemis is progressing too slowly. If Artemis stagnates, China may have the opportunity to leap ahead and beat NASA and its partners to the lunar South Pole. These concerns stem from problems with two rockets that could potentially bring Americans back to the Moon: the space launch system and SpaceX’s Starship. NASA’s space launch system, which will launch astronauts on its Orion crew vehicle, has been criticized as too complex and costly. SpaceX’s Starship is important because NASA plans to use it to land humans on the Moon during the Artemis III mission. But its development has been much slower than anticipated. In response, Blue Origin has detailed some of its lunar exploration plans. They will begin with the launch of its uncrewed lunar lander, Blue Moon, early next year. The company is also developing a crewed version of Blue Moon that it will use on the Artemis V mission, the planned third lunar landing of humans. Blue Origin officials have said they are in discussions with NASA over how they might help accelerate the Artemis program. New Glenn’s significance New Glenn’s booster landing makes this most recent launch quite significant for the company. While it took SpaceX several tries to land its first booster, Blue Origin has achieved this feat on only the second try. Landing the boosters – and, more importantly, reusing them – has been key to reducing the cost to get to space for SpaceX, as well as others such as Rocket Lab. That two commercial space companies now have orbital rockets that can be partially reused shows that SpaceX’s success was no fluke. With this accomplishment, Blue Origin has been able to build on its previous experience and success with its suborbital rocket, New Shepard. Launching from Blue Origin facilities in Texas since 2015, New Shepard has taken people and cargo to the edge of space, before returning to its launch site under its own power. New Glenn is also significant for the larger commercial space industry and U.S. space capabilities. It represents real competition for SpaceX, especially its Starship rocket. It also provides more launch options for NASA, the U.S. government, and other commercial customers, reducing reliance on SpaceX or any other launch company. In the meantime, Blue Origin is looking to build on the success of New Glenn’s launch and its booster landing. New Glenn will next launch Blue Origin’s Blue Moon uncrewed lander in early 2026. This second successful New Glenn launch will also contribute to the rocket’s certification for national security space launches. This accomplishment will allow the company to compete for contracts to launch sensitive reconnaissance and defense satellites for the U.S. government. Blue Origin will also need to increase its number of launches and reduce the time between them to compete with SpaceX. SpaceX is on pace for between 165 and 170 launches in 2025 alone. While Blue Origin may not be able to achieve that remarkable cadence, to truly build on New Glenn’s success it will need to show it can scale up its launch operations. Wendy Whitman Cobb is a professor of strategy and security studies at Air University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Changes announced by home secretary Shabana Mahmood aim to cut number of people seeking to become refugeesView the full article