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Lossmaking start-up commits to spending close to $1.5tn as it gobbles up processing powerView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re trying to set up a simple home security system without drilling holes or wiring a maze of cables, this Blink bundle is about as plug-and-play as it gets. Right now, the Blink Outdoor 4 (2-Cam System) + Blink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) + Sync Module Core is down to $61.99 on Amazon—its lowest recorded price, according to online price-trackers. Normally $189.98, this three-piece setup is basically everything you’d need to secure a small home: two wireless cameras to cover your spaces, a smart video doorbell for the front, and a sync module that keeps it all connected and running through the Blink app. All-new Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 – Wireless smart security cameras, head-to-toe HD view, two-year battery life. Sync Module Core included – 2 camera system + Video Doorbell $61.99 at Amazon $189.98 Save $127.99 Get Deal Get Deal $61.99 at Amazon $189.98 Save $127.99 Both the outdoor cameras and doorbell share the same strengths, including wire-free installation, long battery life, and solid video quality. Each runs on a pair of AA lithium batteries that can last up to two years, so once they’re up, you can largely forget about maintenance. The Outdoor 4 cameras record in 1080p, while the doorbell captures in 1,440 x 1,440, giving you clear visuals day or night thanks to infrared night vision. Both include motion detection and two-way audio, which means you can see and speak to whoever’s at your door or gate in real time. The devices are also weather-resistant, with the doorbell rated IP65 against dust and rain, and their wide viewing angles—143 degrees on the cameras, 150 on the doorbell—help cut down blind spots. At the center, the Sync Module Core keeps the entire setup running smoothly, linking all devices over wifi and supporting up to ten Blink gadgets for easy expansion later. That said, the Sync Module Core lacks a USB port for local storage, so you’ll need Blink’s cloud plan to save footage long-term. You can still view live feeds for up to five minutes at a time without a subscription, but features like clip storage, person detection, and extended video history start at $40 per year for one device or $120 for unlimited. Also, while the system integrates neatly with Alexa and Echo Show displays, letting you pull up a live feed with a voice command, it skips Google Home and Apple HomeKit support. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $29.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $51.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Google’s YMYL standards reveal why AI-written health, finance, and legal content can’t match human expertise or credibility. The post Can You Use AI To Write For YMYL Sites? (Read The Evidence Before You Do) appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Google gives local businesses two main ways to generate PPC leads online: Local Services Ads (LSAs) and Search campaigns. LSAs are pay-per-lead campaigns – for actions such as calls, messages, or booked appointments – with a quick setup process that involves verifying your business. After that, Google automates most of the ad and keyword setup. Search campaigns are more complex but offer far greater control over ad copy, keywords, and optimization. Understanding how each format works – and when to use them – can help you get more qualified leads and make smarter use of your ad budget. Most advertisers use both and shift budgets based on which delivers better long-term results. Getting started with Google Local Services Ads LSAs work for businesses of all sizes, not just those with small budgets. For small business owners, LSAs offer an easy way to set up and run ads quickly. This is one of the few ad formats where following Google’s setup instructions can actually work well. That’s not the case for Google Search campaigns, which are far more complex and often waste spend when relying on Google’s automated suggestions. Small businesses can prepay a few hundred dollars to test results. While LSAs offer fewer options for control, customization, or optimization, they can work well for very small budgets. They don’t require as much active management as Search campaigns – though they aren’t completely “set it and forget it” either. Larger companies can also benefit from testing LSAs alongside other ad formats to compare results. However, not all industries are eligible, so always confirm availability before allocating budget. During setup, review all details carefully – including company information, service areas, and specific services – rather than assuming Google configured them correctly. You have limited control over ad copy and keywords, since Google automatically determines relevant terms. As Google’s documentation notes, “there is no need to do keyword research as relevant keywords are automatically determined by Google.” This can work in your favor – or lead to irrelevant traffic – because you can’t define your own keywords. Reviews are especially important in this format, as they appear prominently and heavily influence results. Collecting legitimate, high-quality reviews is critical for success. To evaluate performance, connect third-party tools to track and qualify leads. A basic CRM can help you measure how many leads convert into customers. Platforms like HouseCall Pro and ServiceTitan can also integrate booking features, letting customers schedule appointments directly through your LSAs. Dig deeper: Advanced Google Ads tracking for local service companies Getting more from your Google Search ads Google Search campaigns are more complex but offer a wider range of features for setup and optimization. On top of setting business hours, target areas, and other details, Search campaigns give you greater control over ad testing, assets, keywords, match types, bidding strategies, and more. Testing with just a few hundred dollars is not recommended. These campaigns require active monitoring and frequent optimization to perform well over time. Unlike LSAs, you can add negative keywords and test a wide range of terms to identify which are most effective and profitable. A/B testing ad copy and landing pages is also possible, giving Search campaigns much more scalability. When starting, test a small budget using phrase and exact match keywords only, even with manual CPC bidding to set your maximum bid per click. This offers tight control for new accounts, though it’s typically a temporary setup before switching to automated bidding and broader match types. With larger budgets, you can immediately use automated bidding and broad match keywords. Begin with broad match keywords using a Maximize Conversions bid strategy, then add a target CPA (tCPA) once performance data builds. In industries with high CPCs, set up portfolio bidding to include both a tCPA and a maximum CPC bid. Microsoft Ads includes this option natively in its tCPA setting, so portfolio bidding isn’t required there. After running a Search campaign for two to three months, begin expanding and refining based on performance. Add new campaigns and ad groups to test additional keyword and ad combinations, aligning each with specific landing pages to maximize lead generation – something not possible with LSAs. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Combining LSAs and Search campaigns for stronger results As with any advertising channel, it’s essential to regularly evaluate lead quality using a CRM and call tracking tools, such as CallTrackingMetrics or CallRail. When running both LSAs and Search ads, compare leads from each to assess performance. LSAs often face lead quality issues, despite being pay-per-lead campaigns. Google continues improving spam filtering and invalid lead detection for LSAs, but the system still isn’t perfect. Invalid leads can be disputed. Ad positioning also differs between the two formats. LSAs typically appear at the top of the page, though fewer of them are shown compared to Search ads. Showing in multiple placements isn’t a problem, but you should continually evaluate cost per lead, lead quality, and lead-to-customer conversion rates for both formats. Dig deeper: How to expand your reach with reverse location targeting in Google Ads Expanding beyond LSAs and Search campaigns For larger budgets, several other Google Ads campaign types are worth testing. These can support lead generation directly or help build local brand awareness. Display, Video and Demand Gen campaigns can generate leads on their own or build brand awareness for top-of-funnel audiences. They work well for higher-priced products or services with longer sales cycles, and for lower-priced services that rely on staying top-of-mind – such as plumbing or AC repair. Performance Max campaigns can also deliver strong lead volume. However, because they extend beyond Search, it’s essential to monitor lead quality through your CRM and compare it against Search and LSA performance. With Google Analytics and Google Ads tracking multiple touchpoints before a conversion, you may see fractional conversions. For example, 0.5 for a Video campaign and 0.5 for a Search campaign – indicating that both contributed to a single lead. While not a perfect system, this data provides useful context for how different campaigns interact across the customer journey. Test and compare Both small and large businesses can benefit from testing LSAs, and all should consider running them alongside Search campaigns to compare results. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach – both formats can be profitable when properly tracked and optimized. Dig deeper: Google Ads for SMBs: How to maximize paid search success View the full article

SM Energy and Civitas Resources announce all-stock ‘strategic combination’View the full article

The government shutdown is poised to become the longest ever this week as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a new month. Millions of people could lose food aid benefits, health care subsidies are set to expire and there are few real talks between the parties over how to end it. President Donald The President said in an interview aired on Sunday that he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats who are demanding negotiations to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year for millions of Americans. Echoing congressional Republicans, the president said on CBS’ “60 Minutes” he’ll negotiate only when the government is reopened. The President’s comments signal the shutdown could drag on for some time as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are set to miss additional paychecks and there’s uncertainty over whether 42 million Americans who receive federal food aid will be able to access the assistance. Senate Democrats have voted 13 times against reopening the government, insisting they need The President and Republicans to negotiate with them first. The president said Democrats “have lost their way” and predicted they’ll capitulate to Republicans. “I think they have to,” The President said. “And if they don’t vote, it’s their problem.” He also reiterated his pleas to Republican leaders to change Senate rules and scrap the filibuster. Senate Republicans have repeatedly rejected that idea since The President’s first term, arguing the rule requiring 60 votes to overcome any objections in the Senate is vital to the institution and has allowed them to stop Democratic policies when they’re in the minority. “Republicans have to get tougher,” The President told CBS. “If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want.” With the two parties at a standstill, the shutdown, now in its 33rd day and approaching its sixth week, appears likely to become the longest in history. The previous record was set in 2019, when The President demanded Congress give him money for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. A potentially decisive week The President’s push on the filibuster could prove a distraction for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Republican senators who’ve opted instead to stay the course as the consequences of the shutdown become more acute. Republicans are hoping at least some Democrats will eventually give them the votes they need as moderates have been in weekslong talks with rank-and-file Republicans about potential compromises that could guarantee votes on health care in exchange for reopening the government. Republicans need five additional Democrats to pass their bill. “We need five with a backbone to say we care more about the lives of the American people than about gaining some political leverage,” Thune said on the Senate floor as the Senate left Washington for the weekend on Thursday. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday there’s a group of people talking about “a path to fix the health care debacle” and a commitment from Republicans not to fire more federal workers. But it’s unclear if those talks could produce a meaningful compromise. Far apart on Obamacare subsidies The President said in the “60 Minutes” interview the Affordable Care Act — often known as Obamacare because it was signed and championed by then-President Barack Obama — is “terrible” and if the Democrats vote to reopen the government, “we will work on fixing the bad health care that we have right now.” Democrats feel differently, arguing the marketplaces set up by the ACA are working as record numbers of Americans have signed up for the coverage. But they want to extend subsidies first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic so premiums won’t go up for millions of people on Jan. 1. “We want to sit down with Thune, with (House Speaker Mike) Johnson, with The President, and negotiate a way to address this horrible health care crisis,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said last week. No appetite for bipartisanship As Democrats have pushed The President and Republicans to negotiate, The President has showed little interest in doing so. He called for an end to the Senate filibuster after a trip to Asia while the government was shut down. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News Channel the president has spoken directly to Thune and Johnson about the filibuster. But a spokesman for Thune said Friday that his position hasn’t changed, and Johnson said on Sunday that Republicans traditionally have resisted calling for an end to the filibuster because it protects them from “the worst impulses of the far-left Democrat Party.” The President said on “60 Minutes” he likes Thune but “I disagree with him on this point.” The president has spent much of the shutdown mocking Democrats, posting videos of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a Mexican sombrero. The White House website has a satirical “My Space” page for Democrats, a parody based on the social media site that was popular in the early 2000s. “We just love playing politics with people’s livelihoods,” the page reads. Democrats have repeatedly said that they need The President to get serious and weigh in. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said that he hopes the shutdown could end “this week” because The President is back in Washington. Republicans “can’t move on anything without a The President sign off,” Warner said on “Face the Nation” on CBS. Record-breaking shutdown The 35-day shutdown that lasted from December 2018 to January 2019 ended when The President retreated from his demands over a border wall. That came amid intensifying delays at the nation’s airports and multiple missed paydays for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on ABC’s “This Week” that there have already been delays at several airports “and it’s only going to get worse.” Many of the workers are “confronted with a decision,” he said. “Do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent or do I go to work and not get paid?” As flight delays around the country increased, New York City’s emergency management department posted on Sunday that Newark Airport was under a ground delay because of “staffing shortages in the control tower” and that they were limiting arrivals to the airport. “The average delay is about 2 hours, and some flights are more than 3 hours late,” the account posted. “FAA planning notes show a possibility of a full ground stop later if staffing shortages or demand increases.” SNAP crisis Also in the crossfire are the 42 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits. The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold $8 billion needed for payments to the food program starting on Saturday until two federal judges ordered the administration to fund it. House Democratic leader Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused The President and Republicans of attempting to “weaponize hunger.” He said that the administration has managed to find ways for funding other priorities during the shutdown, but is slow-walking pushing out SNAP benefits despite the court orders. “But somehow they can’t find money to make sure that Americans don’t go hungry,” Jeffries said in an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in his own CNN appearance Sunday, said the administration continues to await direction from the courts. “The best way for SNAP benefits to get paid is for Democrats — for five Democrats to cross the aisle and reopen the government,” Bessent said. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report. —Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press View the full article

Most people don’t realize how overstimulated they are until they finally step away from the noise. As an executive at a hospitality brand that helps guests reconnect with nature, I see it all the time: Guests arrive tense and distracted, constantly checking their phones. But after just a day or two offline in nature, something shifts. You can see it in their posture, their breath, their pace. They didn’t realize how much they needed to disconnect until they did. It’s not just about screens, though screen time is a big part of it. It’s the entire rhythm of modern life—always on, always reacting. That’s why more people are rethinking what luxury really means. Luxury used to be defined by what you had: the highest thread count, the most high-end amenities, the most exclusive experience. Today, it’s increasingly becoming defined by what you don’t have: no packed schedules, no overflowing inbox, no constant stream of pings and notifications. A RETURN TO NATURE What people are seeking now is balance. Stillness. Simplicity. Families are carving out screen-free time together, in part because they’re worried about what nonstop digital input is doing to their kids. Professionals are looking for ways to reset and get grounded. Even a couple of nights in nature can help regulate your sleep, lower stress, and remind you how good it feels to actually be present. Spending time outdoors plays a unique role in that reset. It’s not just about quiet—it’s a different kind of sensory input: fewer alerts, more birdsong. Less stimulation, more space to think. Whether guests are staying steps from a national park or unwinding after a guided hike with a local naturalist, I’ve seen how nature-centered experiences can create the kind of mental clarity that more traditional hotel settings rarely offer. And there’s science to support it: Studies consistently show that exposure to green space reduces stress and anxiety. Surrounded by trees, sleeping under the stars, people’s nervous systems respond in ways that simply can’t be replicated by a hotel gym or meditation app. THE POWER OF A TECH-FREE WEEKEND A tech-free weekend in the woods used to be considered a rare indulgence or even an impossibility for professionals who couldn’t imagine fully disconnecting. Now, it’s something more and more people are actively prioritizing. Restoration has shifted from a fringe benefit of leisure time to the primary goal. And that’s reshaping not only how we design experiences, but also what we consider valuable in the first place. I’ve had conversations with guests who arrive tightly wound from work, skeptical about unplugging—but after even one night under the stars, they describe a kind of clarity they say they haven’t felt in years. They tell me it’s the first time in months they’ve felt rested or truly present. And this change isn’t just something I’ve noticed anecdotally—it’s backed by data. A recent trend report from Expedia found that travelers are increasingly seeking out destinations that allow them to relax and disconnect.. The Global Wellness Institute projects that wellness tourism will more than double by 2027, becoming a $1.4 trillion industry. Booking.com even named “disconnection travel” one of the defining trends for 2025. It’s not hard to see why. Americans now spend more than seven hours a day in front of screens, and parents are more concerned than ever about their kids’ tech use. Even short breaks can make a difference: Stanford researchers have found that just 90 minutes in nature can significantly reduce stress-related brain activity. This isn’t a fringe movement—it’s a fundamental change in how people want to spend their time, their money, and their attention. Whether it’s a weekend outdoors, a wellness-focused retreat, or just space to be fully present, people are investing in experiences that offer real restoration instead of just another weekend escape. As this continues, it will redefine how businesses think about design, hospitality, and what it really means to serve people well. FINAL THOUGHTS For those of us in hospitality, this shift is already showing up in how we design experiences. It’s not about piling on more amenities—it’s about removing friction. People don’t want to spend hours planning or shopping for outdoor gear just to get a moment of peace. They want simplicity, accessibility, and spaces that make it easy to disconnect. That’s why hospitality brands that make nature more accessible are gaining traction. This shift in mindset is evident in other industries, too. Workplaces are rethinking their environments to give people more mental space. Wellness brands are emphasizing recovery, not hustle. Even tech companies are experimenting with features that encourage people to log off. The throughline is clear: We’ve reached a collective breaking point with burnout. The hospitality brands that will thrive in the coming years are the ones that create space—for balance, for clarity, for quiet reflection in nature. In a world that encourages us to be always “on,” choosing to unplug may be the biggest luxury of all. Bryan Terzi is the chief commercial officer of AutoCamp Hospitality Group. View the full article

Sale marks first time Izzy Englander has parted with equity in firm’s 36-year historyView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If you have a lot to do every day, it might be hard to figure out how to prioritize it all. You can try to decide what’s urgent and what isn’t, build a detailed schedule, and use tech to stay focused, but sometimes it’s hard to even know where to start. If you haven’t heard of it yet, you should consider getting familiar with Forster’s Commitment Inventory to sort it all out—especially if you’re a person who likes visual aids to conceptualize your day. What is the commitment inventory?The commitment inventory was thought up by British productivity expert Mark Forster, author of Get Everything Done: And Still Have Time to Play. Essentially, this method acknowledges that your time is finite, so you need to allocate your minutes and energy carefully, determining in advance how much time you can devote to any given task. In that way, it's similar to time blocking and time boxing, which call on you to determine in advance how you'll spend every minute of your day, then input it all into your calendar. It’s helpful for when you don’t feel like your daily responsibilities contribute enough to your bigger priorities, when you struggle to turn down new projects or asks, or when you feel like you’re stretched too thin to do meaningful work on any of your tasks. Keeping sight of your larger goals, and how smaller daily tasks play into them, is a crucial part of any productivity plan because it helps you stay motivated. How to make a commitment inventoryFirst, think of how much time you have in your day to actually do your work. It might be a standard eight or 10 hours, for instance, depending on what you’re doing, but you need to have a solid number in mind. Next, make an exhaustive list of everything you need to do for the day, from minor tasks like answering emails to bigger ones like working on a group-based project. Do this in an Excel spreadsheet for best results, because you’re also going to need to figure out how much time each is going to take. If emails are going to take you half an hour, write 30 minutes in the column next to that task, for example. When you’re done, add up how many minutes all of those duties will take if you spend the amount of time on them that you indicated you have to. If they take longer than the time you have for the day to devote, you need to retool. Don't give yourself too much time, though—remember Parkinson's Law: Your work will expand to fill all the time you give yourself, making you waste time. So hack a few minutes off each of your totals. You can’t spend more than 100% of your time—it’s obviously not possible—so next, prune tasks you don’t absolutely need to do and lessen the time you have to spend on ones that are less important. Once you’ve moved around the time you can give to each task, use the spreadsheet data to make a pie chart. That visual aid is going to show you what to prioritize for the day and what order to do it all in—i.e. biggest slice to smallest—so you can be sure you’re giving enough of your time and energy to the most important tasks. From there, you can break the tasks down into smaller ones, but you should work in the order that your pie chart lays out. View the full article

Amid the shifting tides of global manufacturing, small businesses may find themselves at a crossroads. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with geopolitical tensions and rising inflation, have transformed traditional supply chains into landscapes of uncertainty. However, this upheaval presents an opportunity for small business owners to rethink their production strategies and embrace a more local, agile model of manufacturing. Recent insights from HP highlight this seismic shift in the industry. “How do we move from a global model to something more responsive, resilient, and local?” This critical question looms over manufacturers across various sectors, from footwear to industrial machinery. The answer? A blend of local production and advanced technologies like additive manufacturing. Gone is the era dominated by offshoring manufacturing to cut costs. As labor costs rise globally and consumer expectations heighten, manufacturers must adapt quickly to market changes. While additive manufacturing—commonly referred to as 3D printing—has often been pigeonholed as unsuitable for mid- and high-volume production, it has emerged as a game-changer for low-volume, high-complexity parts. HP likens this technology to a powerful enabler that can enhance agility and expedite development cycles. Notably, HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology stands out for its speed, quality, and consistency. It integrates seamlessly with various design tools and offers a support ecosystem that extends beyond mere equipment sales. HP aims to help businesses navigate the complexities of modern production, from material science to digital workflows. One of the most significant hurdles small businesses face is the misconception that additive manufacturing is prohibitively expensive. HP’s strategy encourages businesses to shift their focus from individual part costs to the broader value of supply chain dynamics. For example, what is the financial impact of launching a product eight to twelve weeks sooner? What costs arise from excess inventory? How beneficial is the ability to meet custom demands in days, rather than months? According to HP, the real return on investment lies in these considerations. Real-world applications exemplify this shift toward agility. Ocado, a company in the logistics sector, reimagined their 600 Series warehouse robots using HP’s technology, resulting in a fivefold weight reduction for the robots, faster movement, and a staggering 40% reduction in installation times. Meanwhile, Blue-White Industries transitioned from relying on outsourced injection molding to harnessing in-house 3D printing. This approach has enabled rapid product development and significant savings in tooling costs, allowing them to operate a compact 3D print lab that requires only one operator to manage three machines. AGCO, a manufacturer facing supply chain volatility, also embraced HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology. What began with creating prototypes for $120,000 culminated in the ability to produce those same items for only $3,200, showcasing the considerable cost savings and flexibility additive manufacturing can provide. These success stories demonstrate that the mindset around additive manufacturing must evolve. The industry needs to prioritize agility and responsiveness over simple cost analysis. Too often, decision-making lingers on part pricing instead of embracing broader questions like time-to-market and inventory risk. “Agility isn’t a trend, it’s a competitive mandate,” emphasizes HP. With the industry buzzing about AI and automation, many leaders remain uncertain about how these technologies translate into tangible benefits. Meanwhile, additive manufacturing is already delivering measurable outcomes—accelerating development cycles, smartening inventory, and producing in a more sustainable fashion. For small businesses looking to future-proof their operations, the path lies in prioritizing adaptability and strategic local production. By marrying traditional practices with innovative technologies, business owners have the opportunity to build resilient supply chains that better withstand disruptions. The call to action from HP is clear: it’s time for small businesses to transition from a reactive stance to a proactive approach that emphasizes resilience. The future of manufacturing lies not only in advanced technologies but also in a shift toward agility, materialization of ideas, and robust local strategies. For additional insights and details on how to leverage these advancements, HP offers further information on its additive manufacturing solutions at HP Industrial 3D Printers and Solutions. This transition may not be easy, but small business owners have the chance to redefine their operational strategies—building what’s next, strategically and collaboratively. Image via Envanto This article, "Manufacturers Embrace Local Production to Overcome Supply Chain Strains" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Amid the shifting tides of global manufacturing, small businesses may find themselves at a crossroads. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with geopolitical tensions and rising inflation, have transformed traditional supply chains into landscapes of uncertainty. However, this upheaval presents an opportunity for small business owners to rethink their production strategies and embrace a more local, agile model of manufacturing. Recent insights from HP highlight this seismic shift in the industry. “How do we move from a global model to something more responsive, resilient, and local?” This critical question looms over manufacturers across various sectors, from footwear to industrial machinery. The answer? A blend of local production and advanced technologies like additive manufacturing. Gone is the era dominated by offshoring manufacturing to cut costs. As labor costs rise globally and consumer expectations heighten, manufacturers must adapt quickly to market changes. While additive manufacturing—commonly referred to as 3D printing—has often been pigeonholed as unsuitable for mid- and high-volume production, it has emerged as a game-changer for low-volume, high-complexity parts. HP likens this technology to a powerful enabler that can enhance agility and expedite development cycles. Notably, HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology stands out for its speed, quality, and consistency. It integrates seamlessly with various design tools and offers a support ecosystem that extends beyond mere equipment sales. HP aims to help businesses navigate the complexities of modern production, from material science to digital workflows. One of the most significant hurdles small businesses face is the misconception that additive manufacturing is prohibitively expensive. HP’s strategy encourages businesses to shift their focus from individual part costs to the broader value of supply chain dynamics. For example, what is the financial impact of launching a product eight to twelve weeks sooner? What costs arise from excess inventory? How beneficial is the ability to meet custom demands in days, rather than months? According to HP, the real return on investment lies in these considerations. Real-world applications exemplify this shift toward agility. Ocado, a company in the logistics sector, reimagined their 600 Series warehouse robots using HP’s technology, resulting in a fivefold weight reduction for the robots, faster movement, and a staggering 40% reduction in installation times. Meanwhile, Blue-White Industries transitioned from relying on outsourced injection molding to harnessing in-house 3D printing. This approach has enabled rapid product development and significant savings in tooling costs, allowing them to operate a compact 3D print lab that requires only one operator to manage three machines. AGCO, a manufacturer facing supply chain volatility, also embraced HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology. What began with creating prototypes for $120,000 culminated in the ability to produce those same items for only $3,200, showcasing the considerable cost savings and flexibility additive manufacturing can provide. These success stories demonstrate that the mindset around additive manufacturing must evolve. The industry needs to prioritize agility and responsiveness over simple cost analysis. Too often, decision-making lingers on part pricing instead of embracing broader questions like time-to-market and inventory risk. “Agility isn’t a trend, it’s a competitive mandate,” emphasizes HP. With the industry buzzing about AI and automation, many leaders remain uncertain about how these technologies translate into tangible benefits. Meanwhile, additive manufacturing is already delivering measurable outcomes—accelerating development cycles, smartening inventory, and producing in a more sustainable fashion. For small businesses looking to future-proof their operations, the path lies in prioritizing adaptability and strategic local production. By marrying traditional practices with innovative technologies, business owners have the opportunity to build resilient supply chains that better withstand disruptions. The call to action from HP is clear: it’s time for small businesses to transition from a reactive stance to a proactive approach that emphasizes resilience. The future of manufacturing lies not only in advanced technologies but also in a shift toward agility, materialization of ideas, and robust local strategies. For additional insights and details on how to leverage these advancements, HP offers further information on its additive manufacturing solutions at HP Industrial 3D Printers and Solutions. This transition may not be easy, but small business owners have the chance to redefine their operational strategies—building what’s next, strategically and collaboratively. Image via Envanto This article, "Manufacturers Embrace Local Production to Overcome Supply Chain Strains" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Create a sustainable founder-led content model that balances authenticity, efficiency, and long-term brand impact. The post Don’t Let Your Founder Burn Out: 4 Systems To Operationalize Thought Leadership appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Google’s AI Overviews are for research, not buying. A new BrightEdge analysis of thousands of ecommerce keywords (Sept. 1-Oct. 15) found that AI results appear for research and evaluation, while bottom-funnel queries still belong to traditional search. Why we care. Google’s AI Overviews appear to shape discovery, while traditional search continues to drive sales. So ecommerce brands can set themselves up for success by being visible, helping users learn, and guiding them to buy during these key moments. By the numbers. AI Overview coverage spiked to 26% in September before retreating to 9% in October. 30% of keywords were retained after the pullback. There was an 82% year-over-year keyword churn (only 18% overlap from 2024). 56.8% overall reduction in AI Overview coverage, which is 10× more than last year Category impact. BrightEdge analyzed the percentage of keywords within a category that continued to show AI Overviews after Google’s September pullback. These categories had high retention (i.e., stability): Grocery & Food: 56% TV & Home Theater: 43% Small Appliances: 37% These categories had low retention: Furniture: 3% Home Décor: 7% Apparel: 23% What they’re saying. According to BrightEdge: “For marketers, November is the discovery window – when AI Overviews surface educational and comparison content. By December, those queries disappear, and transactional pages take over.” “November is the research phase. Get your evaluation and comparison content ready now, because once December hits, those purchase decisions may already be made.” View the full article

SMART goals are typically associated with work done by a team, but you can implement this productivity-boosting strategy for yourself in all kinds of ways on an individual level, too. Some people use them to study, for instance, and you can use them for personal projects at work, around the house, or whatever else. At their core, SMART goals are designed to help you stay on task and focused on your outcome. What are SMART goals?At their core, SMART goals are designed to help you stay on task and focused on your outcome. If you’re not familiar with SMART goals, let’s break down the acronym: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound It was conceptualized by George T. Doran in 1981, who took to the Management Review to criticize what he saw as many companies’ poor goal-setting. He suggested goals should be specific to those five characteristics—though in his original version, the “A” stood for “assignable,” not “attainable,” so it does make sense we associate this with corporate teams (so workers could have more direction). He was all about having clearly defined objectives so every person in a workplace was on the same page, but SMART goals can be helpful for you, too, even if you’re working alone, because they help you identify exactly what your goals need in order to be met. How do you implement SMART goals in your life?SMART goals work best when you lay them out clearly. You should be writing SMART goal statements, making sure your statement contains all five of the criteria. For example, if you’re a freelance photographer working on a big wedding, you could write, “My goal is to have all the wedding photos edited and sent to the clients by next Friday. I will do this by setting aside time at 10 a.m. every day of the week to edit them in batches." You can also add something like, "Accomplishing this goal will keep me ahead of schedule, ensure I am paid on time, and earn me a positive customer review.” I often find that tying some stakes to the goal and making sure I keep them in mind helps me stay focused. This example goal is specific because it’s related to one well-defined outcome; it's measurable because you’re committing to setting aside time to take it on; it's achievable because you gave yourself enough time to get it done; it's relevant because it’s related to a photoshoot you just completed; and it's time-bound because the schedule and deadlines are clearly laid out. You can also use other productivity techniques to complement those five elements. For instance, with the SMART goal above, you should use time boxing and time blocking to clearly set aside that 10 a.m. work time in your calendar. Productivity guru Brian Tracy says you should think of your SMART goals like a personal mission statement, using them to outline precisely what you need to do, how you’ll do it, and when you’ll have it done. The beauty of using these parameters to set goals is that anything that falls outside of the five guidelines can be disregarded so you can focus on the most important elements. Write them in your planner or on your phone, so you can always see them, and refer to them in all their straightforward simplicity when you need a reminder of what your priorities should be. View the full article

Grokipedia, an AI-generated online encyclopedia launched a week ago with over 800,000 AI-generated pages, and both Google and Bing have already indexed hundreds, if not thousands, of those AI-generated pages.View the full article

A few weeks ago, Google launched a new ad layout with the large "Sponsored results" label that groups numerous ads under that one label, and then sticks a "Hide sponsored results" button after you have already seen the ads. Well, it is leading to accidental ad clicks based on what I am reading and hearing across the industry.View the full article

Google's John Mueller posted a PSA yesterday, reminding SEOs and developers to verify the host name of cloud providers they are using to host images, videos, and other content. Specifically, you should use a DNS CNAME to the bucket, then verify with DNS with Search Console.View the full article

Search Engine Land is expanding its contributor roster in 2026 – and we’re looking for seasoned experts in SEO, PPC, AI, and analytics to join us. Why we care. Search Engine Land is not just our publication – it’s yours. For 20 years, Search Engine Land has been the go-to source for search marketing insights, reaching more than 1 million professionals every month. We’re growing again and want to amplify a trusted and diverse set of voices across the industry – whether you’ve been doing it for 5 years or you’re old enough to remember the Google Florida update. The details. We’re seeking contributors with 5+ years of hands-on experience in their field who can share actionable insights and thought leadership on the latest in: SEO Generative AI (GEO, AI SEO, etc.) Paid media (paid search, paid social, display, video) Data and analytics This is a volunteer contributor opportunity. But the perks are real. You can: Establish your topical authority as a subject matter expert in a specific niche. Boost your professional visibility. Grow your network and reputation. Add prestige to your LinkedIn profile or resume. Elevate your career to the next level. How to apply. Interested? Fill out this form to be considered. If selected, our team will contact you directly via email. View the full article

Commerce department approval paves way for huge new investment in AI and cloud infrastructure in Middle EastView the full article

Surveillance footage showed alleged abuse of Palestinian inmate at notorious Israeli prisonView the full article

Raptive, an advertising-sales company representing thousands of websites (content publishers), filed a 93-page complaint against Google in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit says "Google has carried out a sophisticated, anticompetitive, and deceptive scheme for well over a decade" by "manipulating auctions for ad space across the Internet."View the full article

Reddit announced earnings late last week and it boggles me how people love this stock. I am not a financial expert of analysis but Reddit has been saying for some time that 50% of its traffic comes from Google Search. Reddit also said on this Q3 earnings call that its search traffic is flat and that AI is not a traffic driver, at least not yet.View the full article

The continent’s political future could be defined by a never-ending struggle between the centre and the radical rightView the full article

Takeover will combine ownership of brands including Kleenex and Band-AidView the full article

Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. Glenn Fogel joined dot-com darling Priceline in early 2000, a year after the “name your price” travel site’s blockbuster initial public offering (IPO). “I joined one week before the Nasdaq peaked,” Fogel recalls. Within a year of his arrival, the stock had cratered to $6 a share. By March 2002, the Nasdaq, a proxy for the burgeoning e-commerce and tech infrastructure companies that went public, plunged 77% from its March 2020 highs. Quips Fogel: “At the time, my mother was wondering whether I still had a job.” Today, Fogel is CEO and president of Booking Holdings—parent of Priceline, KAYAK, Booking.com, OpenTable, and other brands. His experience navigating the dotcom bubble (more on that in a moment) affords a compelling perch from which to observe the current generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) boom. He sees parallels in the gold-rush mentality of both booms: “There’s lots of investments, lots of new companies,” he says. “Many of them will not make it. Many investors will lose money.” Corporate investment in AI reached $252.3 billion, and private investment in gen AI reached $33.9 billion in 2024, according to data compiled by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered artificial intelligence. The key difference between the dotcom bubble and now? “I would say in terms of the possibility for human society, I think the possible transformations from gen AI are so much greater than what was possible from the [startups of] the nineties,” he says. Fogel points to breakthroughs like Google’s AlphaFold model, which decoded protein folding and could accelerate drug discovery. “Every area really of our society can be greatly improved by using gen AI,” he says. “That’s the thing that’s so exciting.” Happy travelers In travel, the stakes may not be as high, but the impact on daily life could be profound. “Maybe we’re not going to save a lot of lives the way that the healthcare industry is going to be able to do, but maybe we’ll make the experience much happier,” he says. Indeed, the company is already deploying AI to reduce customer-service wait times, using gen AI chatbots that can solve problems instantly. When a human agent does handle a call, the bots generate conversation summaries and next steps—work that previously consumed significant amounts of agent time. Embracing emerging technology has been key to Booking Holdings’s longevity. When predecessor company Priceline Group bought Booking.com in 2005, it acquired Booking’s prowess in leveraging Google’s paid search and platforms that enabled the business to rapidly test messaging to optimize conversion rates. The company subsequently bought travel search engine KAYAK in 2013 and restaurant reservation platform OpenTable in 2014. Priceline Group changed its name to Booking Holdings in 2018. The long view Travel itself is currently experiencing a boom. Despite economic uncertainty, U.S. consumers, especially those at the high-end of the market, are prioritizing travel, with airlines and hotels indicating strong demand for premium products. Indeed, at the end of October, Booking Holdings reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and said it continues to see “steady travel demand trends” in the current quarter. Having led Booking Holdings through the dotcom boom and bust—as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a near complete shutdown of travel—Fogel acknowledges that nothing goes up forever. “I don’t know when those bad times are going to come, but they’re going to come sometimes,” he says. Still, he takes the long view: “I do know, in the long run, travel is always going to increase. It is human nature . . . people wanting to travel.” This time it’s different? Do you agree that the societal benefits of gen AI companies and technologies dwarf the contributions of the dotcoms? If so, what breakthroughs excite you most? Send your examples to me at stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. I’d love to share your scenarios in a future newsletter. Read more: bubble theories Why the AI-fueled stock market isn’t a bubble waiting to pop There isn’t an AI bubble. There are three Are we in an AI bubble? View the full article