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Americans lived through the worst bout of inflation in about 40 years at the start of this decade, but the sting of higher prices differed significantly depending on where you live. Even though wages also rose during that period, residents of only nine states have actually come out ahead, according to a new study. From 2020 to 2024, consumer prices for things like housing, groceries, energy, and everyday essentials climbed 21%, as measured by the consumer price index. During that same period, the average American worker’s pay rose 18%, from about $64,000 to $75,600, according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those differences illustrate what many Americans have experienced: Inflation erased much of the apparent progress of wage increases, according to a recent analysis by MyPerfectResume, an online resume building site. In fact, the typical U.S. worker is now earning approximately 2.6% less in real terms—after adjusting for inflation and cost of living—than in 2020, the study found. “The findings highlight a crucial truth: A high-paying job doesn’t automatically mean a higher standard of living,” Jasmine Escalera, a certified career coach who provides career advice for MyPerfect Resume, wrote in the report. “The nation got a pay raise on paper, but a pay cut in reality.” That’s because inflation has erased years of progress and workers’ paychecks aren’t stretching so far, according to MyPerfectResume, which didn’t immediately respond to an interview request from Fast Company. And despite a recent claim by President Donal The President that inflation has been “defeated,” economists expect it to tick up from a 2.7% annual rate in 2025. Inflation is forecasted to increase at an annual rate of 2.9% in 2026, according to the consensus forecast of about 50 professional economic forecasters surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. WHERE WORKERS CAME OUT AHEAD The sting of inflation hasn’t been the same for all Americans. Residents in 40 states lost purchasing power from 2020 to 2024, while Utahns saw no change in their standard of living during that same period, MyPerfectResume found, based on an analysis of the changes in real earnings and purchasing power across all 50 U.S. states from 2020 through 2024. But Americans in the following nine states, mostly concentrated in the West and South, saw their paychecks stretch farthest: Idaho: +3.1% Florida: +2.6% Washington: +2.3% Montana: +2.3% Wyoming: +1.8% South Carolina: +1.5% North Carolina: +0.9% Tennessee: +0.9% Maine: +0.5% “Workers there actually came out ahead once inflation and local prices were taken into account,” Escalera wrote. WHERE WORKERS ARE FALLING BEHIND Workers in the vast majority of states, however, are grappling with higher paychecks that feels like less money to spend on essentials. The analysis pointed to particular pain for workers on the East Coast, where the decline in real purchasing power from 2020 to 2024 was worst—led by New Jersey: New Jersey: -7.0% Rhode Island: -6.9% Maryland: -5.4% New York: -5.3% Massachusetts: -5.3% “For workers in these states, nominal wage growth was insufficient to keep pace with inflation and high living costs, in some cases prompting workers to choose job security over career moves,” Escalera wrote. SIDE GIGS To grapple with paychecks that buy less today than they did just a few years ago, many Americans rely on supplemental income or side gigs. In fact, MyPerfectResume conducted a recent survey that found that 72% of American workers currently rely on at least one source of secondary income, with the majority citing inflation as making such side gigs more necessary. “What began as a stopgap during high inflation has transformed into a long-term financial strategy, shaping how Americans navigate rising costs, stagnant wages, and economic uncertainty,” Escalera wrote in that report. View the full article

In today’s competitive social media environment, boosting engagement is crucial for any brand. By leveraging user-generated content, incorporating interactive elements, and tapping into trending topics, you can create a more dynamic online presence. Consider hosting contests or sharing behind-the-scenes insights to draw in your audience. Comprehending these strategies will help you connect more effectively with your followers and improve your brand’s visibility. What innovative approaches can you implement to stand out in this crowded space? Key Takeaways Leverage user-generated content by encouraging followers to share their experiences, boosting brand loyalty and saving on content creation costs. Incorporate interactive elements like polls and quizzes to significantly increase audience engagement and gather valuable insights into consumer preferences. Align your posts with trending topics and memes to enhance relevance, increase discoverability, and resonate with younger audiences. Host contests and giveaways with simple entry requirements to attract consumers, drive engagement, and foster community involvement. Share behind-the-scenes content and promote live events to humanize your brand, create relatability, and cultivate genuine relationships with your audience. Leverage User-Generated Content In today’s digital environment, leveraging user-generated content (UGC) can greatly improve your marketing efforts, especially since 79% of consumers report that UGC influences their purchasing decisions. By showcasing real customer experiences, you save on content creation costs during the presentation of testimonials and reviews that resonate with potential buyers. Encouraging your followers to create content featuring your brand through campaigns or contests not only amplifies brand exposure but also boosts community engagement. Furthermore, sharing UGC can turn customers into brand advocates, as 79% of users prefer brands that utilize UGC in their marketing. Implementing a branded hashtag helps you easily curate and showcase user contributions, nurturing loyalty and community among customers—key benefits of social media for companies. Incorporate Interactive Elements Incorporating interactive elements like polls and quizzes can dramatically boost your audience engagement. Research shows that posts featuring such content receive 2.5 times more interaction compared to static posts, making it crucial for keeping users interested. Polls and Surveys How can brands effectively engage their audience and gather valuable insights? Utilizing polls and surveys is a proven strategy. With 73% of consumers preferring to interact through such content, these tools improve social media promotion efforts. Platforms like Instagram Stories and Twitter offer built-in polling features, enabling real-time feedback on audience preferences. By conducting polls, you invite followers to share their thoughts, making them feel valued and part of the conversation. Surveys not only reveal customer preferences but likewise underline a brand’s commitment to listening and adapting based on feedback. Incorporating fun or relevant topics in polls and surveys can further spark excitement, encouraging participation and improving overall audience interaction with your brand. Quizzes and Challenges What makes quizzes and challenges such effective tools for engaging your audience? They create interactive experiences that boost participation and visibility in your social media marketing efforts. Here are three key benefits of incorporating quizzes and challenges: Increased Engagement: Interactive content generates 2.5 times more shares than static posts, making it a crucial component of your social media strategy. User Insights: Fun quizzes help you understand your audience’s preferences and interests, nurturing a deeper connection with your brand. Community Interaction: Challenges that invite user participation, like photo contests, see a significant rise in engagement, with 70% of users more likely to interact when involved. Utilizing these social media marketing tips can drive traffic and improve your brand’s presence online. Utilize Trending Topics and Memes To effectively engage your audience, you can leverage current events and popular memes in your social media content. By aligning your posts with trending topics, you increase their relevance, which can lead to more shares and interactions. Nevertheless, it’s essential to approach these trends thoughtfully, steering clear of sensitive subjects to maintain your brand’s credibility during the process of connecting with your audience. Leverage Current Events When you tap into trending topics and memes, you can considerably boost your brand’s visibility and engagement on social media. By aligning your content with current events, you not only increase relevance but additionally take advantage of the benefits of social media advertising. Here are three effective strategies: Use Trending Hashtags: Incorporate relevant hashtags into your posts to reach users interested in those topics, enhancing discoverability. Engage in Viral Challenges: Participate in popular challenges to create a fun connection with your audience, promoting community interaction. Share Memes: Resonate with younger audiences by sharing memes, as around 30% of individuals aged 13–35 share them daily, cultivating relatability and engagement. Incorporate Popular Memes Incorporating popular memes into your social media marketing strategy can greatly improve your brand’s relatability and engagement levels. Around 30% of individuals aged 13–35 share memes daily, allowing you to connect effectively with younger audiences. Memes convey humor and emotions, enhancing your brand perception and nurturing community among followers. By utilizing trending memes, you can align your messaging with current cultural conversations, making your content more relevant and shareable. Adapting viral meme formats encourages audience participation and sharing, showcasing the benefits of social marketing. Nevertheless, it’s essential to avoid sensitive or political memes to maintain a positive brand image. Confirm the humor aligns with your brand’s values and audience expectations for the best results. Host Contests and Giveaways Hosting contests and giveaways is a proven strategy to boost engagement on social media platforms, as many consumers are drawn to brands that offer rewards. To make the most of this approach, consider these social media tips: Simple Entry Requirements: Ask participants to follow your page, tag friends, or share a post. This can greatly improve your brand visibility. Tailor Prizes to Interests: Align your giveaway prizes with your audience’s preferences. This can lead to a 20-30% increase in engagement metrics. Encourage User-Generated Content: Invite participants to share their experiences. About 79% of them are willing, amplifying organic reach and community involvement. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content Engaging with your audience goes beyond contests and giveaways; sharing behind-the-scenes content can greatly improve your social media strategy. This type of content humanizes your brand, showcasing the people and processes that drive your business. By highlighting casual moments or team culture, you create relatability, inviting followers to invest in your brand’s expedition. Research indicates that behind-the-scenes content considerably boosts engagement rates, as it offers unique insights that followers are curious about, making them feel like insiders. Incorporating this footage into your social marketing tips can uplift your brand perception, making you appear approachable and transparent. Showcasing your creative process or daily operations generates excitement, encouraging interaction and shares, finally broadening your reach and enhancing engagement. Encourage Audience Participation With Polls Polls are a straightforward way to engage your audience and gather their opinions on various topics. You can explore different types of polls to see what resonates best, choose the right timing to maximize participation, and analyze the results to gain insights into your followers’ preferences. Types of Engaging Polls When you want to spark audience participation, utilizing different types of polls can be highly effective in your social media marketing strategy. Here are three engaging poll types to explore for your social networking marketing ideas: Opinion Polls: Ask your audience for their thoughts on trending topics or brand-related issues. This not only invites feedback but additionally shows you value their opinions. Product Preference Polls: Use polls to gauge interest in upcoming products or services, helping you tailor offerings to your audience’s preferences. This or That Polls: Present two options and let your audience choose their favorite. This quick engagement tactic encourages interaction and provides insight into consumer preferences. Incorporating these polls can greatly boost engagement and strengthen your brand’s relationship with its audience. Timing for Polls To encourage audience participation effectively, timing your polls is vital. In social media marketing 101, it’s imperative to schedule polls during peak engagement times, typically weekdays in the afternoon. This maximizes visibility and participation rates. Consider utilizing Instagram or Twitter during trending events, as timely and relevant content can greatly boost interaction. Engaging polls on current topics may lead to a 15% increase in responses, as users enjoy sharing opinions on subjects they care about. Furthermore, establishing a routine, like “Poll Friday,” builds anticipation and encourages regular participation. Finally, promoting your polls across multiple platforms can improve reach, with studies indicating that cross-promoting content boosts engagement by up to 20%. Analyzing Poll Results How can you effectively analyze the results of your social media polls to improve audience engagement? Start by reviewing the data collected, as it offers rich insights into your audience’s preferences. Here are three social network marketing tips to help you interpret your findings: Identify Trends: Look for patterns in responses that indicate strong interests or preferences among your audience. Engage Further: Use poll results to spark discussions, asking followers to elaborate on their choices, which nurtures community. Tailor Content: Adjust your future content strategy based on insights gained, ensuring it aligns with what your audience wants. Promote Live Events and Q&A Sessions Promoting live events and Q&A sessions on social media offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with your audience, encouraging a sense of community around your brand. You can create anticipation by announcing these events ahead of time, motivating your audience to participate and submit questions. This involvement makes them feel invested in your brand, which can lead to increased loyalty. Utilizing platforms like Instagram Live or Facebook Live can expand your reach, as these platforms often prioritize live content, enhancing visibility. During these sessions, engaging with attendees allows for real-time feedback and insights, helping you understand their interests better. In the end, these live interactions can greatly improve your offerings and cultivate genuine relationships with your audience. Create Themed Content Days Building on the engagement encouraged by live events and Q&A sessions, creating themed content days can greatly improve your social media marketing strategy. By establishing consistency in posting, your audience will know when to expect content, enhancing engagement. Here are three ideas for themed content days in business to business social media marketing: Tip Tuesday: Share valuable insights or tips relevant to your industry. Throwback Thursday: Highlight past successes or milestones that resonate with your audience. Feature Friday: Spotlight a partner or client, showcasing collaborative efforts. These themed days not only streamline your content calendar but also promote community participation. Feature Customer Testimonials Featuring customer testimonials can boost your social media marketing strategy and improve your brand’s credibility. Since 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, showcasing real experiences is crucial. You can share these testimonials in visually appealing formats, like videos or infographics, which tend to capture attention more effectively. Highlighting customer stories not only cultivates community but likewise demonstrates real-world applications of your products, potentially leading to a 23% increase in sales. Using user-generated content featuring testimonials allows you to save on content creation costs while building trust. Engaging with these testimonials can further improve your strategy, as such posts typically receive 28% more engagement than standard promotional content, proving effective in how to market your business on social media. Collaborate With Influencers and Brands Engaging with influencers and brands can improve your social media marketing strategy greatly. Here are some effective ways to promote your business on social media: Collaborate with Micro and Nano-Influencers: These influencers often have highly engaged audiences, yielding up to 60% higher engagement rates compared to larger influencers. Co-Create Content: Work with influencers to bring fresh perspectives and authenticity, making your products or services more relatable to potential customers. Joint Campaigns with Complementary Brands: By tapping into each other’s audiences, you can expand your reach, resulting in mutual growth and increased engagement opportunities. Utilizing these methods can greatly boost your brand visibility and improve customer trust, ultimately enhancing your social media success. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests that for every five promotional posts, you should share five engaging or entertaining posts and five educational or informative posts. This balanced approach keeps your audience interested and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed by constant promotions. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media suggests you allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% informative and educational, and 20% promotional. By following this structure, you can create a balanced social media presence that caters to your audience’s preferences. Engaging content can include polls or quizzes, whereas informative posts might provide tips or insights. The promotional portion should align with prior content, enhancing the potential for audience conversions. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, start by incorporating interactive content like polls and surveys, which actively involve your audience. Share user-generated content to build authenticity and trust. Hosting contests can encourage followers to engage with your posts, as well as leveraging trending topics keeps your content relevant. Furthermore, focus on creating visually appealing posts, such as infographics or short videos, to capture attention quickly and increase overall interaction rates. What Is the 70/20/10 Rule in Social Media? The 70/20/10 rule in social media outlines a content strategy where 70% of your posts should be original and engaging, nurturing community connections. Meanwhile, 20% should consist of curated content from other sources, which provides valuable insights relevant to your audience. Finally, 10% of your posts can be promotional, focused on advertising your products or services. This balanced approach helps maintain follower interest and improves your brand’s authenticity and relevance in the digital space. Conclusion By implementing these ten creative strategies, you can effectively boost engagement in your social networking marketing efforts. Focusing on user-generated content, interactive elements, and trending topics will help attract and retain your audience’s attention. Moreover, hosting contests, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and collaborating with influencers can further improve your brand’s visibility and credibility. Consistency through themed content and customer testimonials will solidify your relationship with followers, in the end driving greater interaction and loyalty to your brand. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Creative Ideas to Boost Engagement in Social Networking Marketing" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In today’s competitive social media environment, boosting engagement is crucial for any brand. By leveraging user-generated content, incorporating interactive elements, and tapping into trending topics, you can create a more dynamic online presence. Consider hosting contests or sharing behind-the-scenes insights to draw in your audience. Comprehending these strategies will help you connect more effectively with your followers and improve your brand’s visibility. What innovative approaches can you implement to stand out in this crowded space? Key Takeaways Leverage user-generated content by encouraging followers to share their experiences, boosting brand loyalty and saving on content creation costs. Incorporate interactive elements like polls and quizzes to significantly increase audience engagement and gather valuable insights into consumer preferences. Align your posts with trending topics and memes to enhance relevance, increase discoverability, and resonate with younger audiences. Host contests and giveaways with simple entry requirements to attract consumers, drive engagement, and foster community involvement. Share behind-the-scenes content and promote live events to humanize your brand, create relatability, and cultivate genuine relationships with your audience. Leverage User-Generated Content In today’s digital environment, leveraging user-generated content (UGC) can greatly improve your marketing efforts, especially since 79% of consumers report that UGC influences their purchasing decisions. By showcasing real customer experiences, you save on content creation costs during the presentation of testimonials and reviews that resonate with potential buyers. Encouraging your followers to create content featuring your brand through campaigns or contests not only amplifies brand exposure but also boosts community engagement. Furthermore, sharing UGC can turn customers into brand advocates, as 79% of users prefer brands that utilize UGC in their marketing. Implementing a branded hashtag helps you easily curate and showcase user contributions, nurturing loyalty and community among customers—key benefits of social media for companies. Incorporate Interactive Elements Incorporating interactive elements like polls and quizzes can dramatically boost your audience engagement. Research shows that posts featuring such content receive 2.5 times more interaction compared to static posts, making it crucial for keeping users interested. Polls and Surveys How can brands effectively engage their audience and gather valuable insights? Utilizing polls and surveys is a proven strategy. With 73% of consumers preferring to interact through such content, these tools improve social media promotion efforts. Platforms like Instagram Stories and Twitter offer built-in polling features, enabling real-time feedback on audience preferences. By conducting polls, you invite followers to share their thoughts, making them feel valued and part of the conversation. Surveys not only reveal customer preferences but likewise underline a brand’s commitment to listening and adapting based on feedback. Incorporating fun or relevant topics in polls and surveys can further spark excitement, encouraging participation and improving overall audience interaction with your brand. Quizzes and Challenges What makes quizzes and challenges such effective tools for engaging your audience? They create interactive experiences that boost participation and visibility in your social media marketing efforts. Here are three key benefits of incorporating quizzes and challenges: Increased Engagement: Interactive content generates 2.5 times more shares than static posts, making it a crucial component of your social media strategy. User Insights: Fun quizzes help you understand your audience’s preferences and interests, nurturing a deeper connection with your brand. Community Interaction: Challenges that invite user participation, like photo contests, see a significant rise in engagement, with 70% of users more likely to interact when involved. Utilizing these social media marketing tips can drive traffic and improve your brand’s presence online. Utilize Trending Topics and Memes To effectively engage your audience, you can leverage current events and popular memes in your social media content. By aligning your posts with trending topics, you increase their relevance, which can lead to more shares and interactions. Nevertheless, it’s essential to approach these trends thoughtfully, steering clear of sensitive subjects to maintain your brand’s credibility during the process of connecting with your audience. Leverage Current Events When you tap into trending topics and memes, you can considerably boost your brand’s visibility and engagement on social media. By aligning your content with current events, you not only increase relevance but additionally take advantage of the benefits of social media advertising. Here are three effective strategies: Use Trending Hashtags: Incorporate relevant hashtags into your posts to reach users interested in those topics, enhancing discoverability. Engage in Viral Challenges: Participate in popular challenges to create a fun connection with your audience, promoting community interaction. Share Memes: Resonate with younger audiences by sharing memes, as around 30% of individuals aged 13–35 share them daily, cultivating relatability and engagement. Incorporate Popular Memes Incorporating popular memes into your social media marketing strategy can greatly improve your brand’s relatability and engagement levels. Around 30% of individuals aged 13–35 share memes daily, allowing you to connect effectively with younger audiences. Memes convey humor and emotions, enhancing your brand perception and nurturing community among followers. By utilizing trending memes, you can align your messaging with current cultural conversations, making your content more relevant and shareable. Adapting viral meme formats encourages audience participation and sharing, showcasing the benefits of social marketing. Nevertheless, it’s essential to avoid sensitive or political memes to maintain a positive brand image. Confirm the humor aligns with your brand’s values and audience expectations for the best results. Host Contests and Giveaways Hosting contests and giveaways is a proven strategy to boost engagement on social media platforms, as many consumers are drawn to brands that offer rewards. To make the most of this approach, consider these social media tips: Simple Entry Requirements: Ask participants to follow your page, tag friends, or share a post. This can greatly improve your brand visibility. Tailor Prizes to Interests: Align your giveaway prizes with your audience’s preferences. This can lead to a 20-30% increase in engagement metrics. Encourage User-Generated Content: Invite participants to share their experiences. About 79% of them are willing, amplifying organic reach and community involvement. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content Engaging with your audience goes beyond contests and giveaways; sharing behind-the-scenes content can greatly improve your social media strategy. This type of content humanizes your brand, showcasing the people and processes that drive your business. By highlighting casual moments or team culture, you create relatability, inviting followers to invest in your brand’s expedition. Research indicates that behind-the-scenes content considerably boosts engagement rates, as it offers unique insights that followers are curious about, making them feel like insiders. Incorporating this footage into your social marketing tips can uplift your brand perception, making you appear approachable and transparent. Showcasing your creative process or daily operations generates excitement, encouraging interaction and shares, finally broadening your reach and enhancing engagement. Encourage Audience Participation With Polls Polls are a straightforward way to engage your audience and gather their opinions on various topics. You can explore different types of polls to see what resonates best, choose the right timing to maximize participation, and analyze the results to gain insights into your followers’ preferences. Types of Engaging Polls When you want to spark audience participation, utilizing different types of polls can be highly effective in your social media marketing strategy. Here are three engaging poll types to explore for your social networking marketing ideas: Opinion Polls: Ask your audience for their thoughts on trending topics or brand-related issues. This not only invites feedback but additionally shows you value their opinions. Product Preference Polls: Use polls to gauge interest in upcoming products or services, helping you tailor offerings to your audience’s preferences. This or That Polls: Present two options and let your audience choose their favorite. This quick engagement tactic encourages interaction and provides insight into consumer preferences. Incorporating these polls can greatly boost engagement and strengthen your brand’s relationship with its audience. Timing for Polls To encourage audience participation effectively, timing your polls is vital. In social media marketing 101, it’s imperative to schedule polls during peak engagement times, typically weekdays in the afternoon. This maximizes visibility and participation rates. Consider utilizing Instagram or Twitter during trending events, as timely and relevant content can greatly boost interaction. Engaging polls on current topics may lead to a 15% increase in responses, as users enjoy sharing opinions on subjects they care about. Furthermore, establishing a routine, like “Poll Friday,” builds anticipation and encourages regular participation. Finally, promoting your polls across multiple platforms can improve reach, with studies indicating that cross-promoting content boosts engagement by up to 20%. Analyzing Poll Results How can you effectively analyze the results of your social media polls to improve audience engagement? Start by reviewing the data collected, as it offers rich insights into your audience’s preferences. Here are three social network marketing tips to help you interpret your findings: Identify Trends: Look for patterns in responses that indicate strong interests or preferences among your audience. Engage Further: Use poll results to spark discussions, asking followers to elaborate on their choices, which nurtures community. Tailor Content: Adjust your future content strategy based on insights gained, ensuring it aligns with what your audience wants. Promote Live Events and Q&A Sessions Promoting live events and Q&A sessions on social media offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with your audience, encouraging a sense of community around your brand. You can create anticipation by announcing these events ahead of time, motivating your audience to participate and submit questions. This involvement makes them feel invested in your brand, which can lead to increased loyalty. Utilizing platforms like Instagram Live or Facebook Live can expand your reach, as these platforms often prioritize live content, enhancing visibility. During these sessions, engaging with attendees allows for real-time feedback and insights, helping you understand their interests better. In the end, these live interactions can greatly improve your offerings and cultivate genuine relationships with your audience. Create Themed Content Days Building on the engagement encouraged by live events and Q&A sessions, creating themed content days can greatly improve your social media marketing strategy. By establishing consistency in posting, your audience will know when to expect content, enhancing engagement. Here are three ideas for themed content days in business to business social media marketing: Tip Tuesday: Share valuable insights or tips relevant to your industry. Throwback Thursday: Highlight past successes or milestones that resonate with your audience. Feature Friday: Spotlight a partner or client, showcasing collaborative efforts. These themed days not only streamline your content calendar but also promote community participation. Feature Customer Testimonials Featuring customer testimonials can boost your social media marketing strategy and improve your brand’s credibility. Since 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, showcasing real experiences is crucial. You can share these testimonials in visually appealing formats, like videos or infographics, which tend to capture attention more effectively. Highlighting customer stories not only cultivates community but likewise demonstrates real-world applications of your products, potentially leading to a 23% increase in sales. Using user-generated content featuring testimonials allows you to save on content creation costs while building trust. Engaging with these testimonials can further improve your strategy, as such posts typically receive 28% more engagement than standard promotional content, proving effective in how to market your business on social media. Collaborate With Influencers and Brands Engaging with influencers and brands can improve your social media marketing strategy greatly. Here are some effective ways to promote your business on social media: Collaborate with Micro and Nano-Influencers: These influencers often have highly engaged audiences, yielding up to 60% higher engagement rates compared to larger influencers. Co-Create Content: Work with influencers to bring fresh perspectives and authenticity, making your products or services more relatable to potential customers. Joint Campaigns with Complementary Brands: By tapping into each other’s audiences, you can expand your reach, resulting in mutual growth and increased engagement opportunities. Utilizing these methods can greatly boost your brand visibility and improve customer trust, ultimately enhancing your social media success. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests that for every five promotional posts, you should share five engaging or entertaining posts and five educational or informative posts. This balanced approach keeps your audience interested and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed by constant promotions. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media suggests you allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% informative and educational, and 20% promotional. By following this structure, you can create a balanced social media presence that caters to your audience’s preferences. Engaging content can include polls or quizzes, whereas informative posts might provide tips or insights. The promotional portion should align with prior content, enhancing the potential for audience conversions. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, start by incorporating interactive content like polls and surveys, which actively involve your audience. Share user-generated content to build authenticity and trust. Hosting contests can encourage followers to engage with your posts, as well as leveraging trending topics keeps your content relevant. Furthermore, focus on creating visually appealing posts, such as infographics or short videos, to capture attention quickly and increase overall interaction rates. What Is the 70/20/10 Rule in Social Media? The 70/20/10 rule in social media outlines a content strategy where 70% of your posts should be original and engaging, nurturing community connections. Meanwhile, 20% should consist of curated content from other sources, which provides valuable insights relevant to your audience. Finally, 10% of your posts can be promotional, focused on advertising your products or services. This balanced approach helps maintain follower interest and improves your brand’s authenticity and relevance in the digital space. Conclusion By implementing these ten creative strategies, you can effectively boost engagement in your social networking marketing efforts. Focusing on user-generated content, interactive elements, and trending topics will help attract and retain your audience’s attention. Moreover, hosting contests, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and collaborating with influencers can further improve your brand’s visibility and credibility. Consistency through themed content and customer testimonials will solidify your relationship with followers, in the end driving greater interaction and loyalty to your brand. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Creative Ideas to Boost Engagement in Social Networking Marketing" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Wild swings that swept through financial markets overnight eased after Wall Street opened for trading on Monday. U.S. stocks rose modestly following gains in Europe and sharp drops in Asia, while gold and silver prices rallied back from severe earlier losses. The S&P 500 added 0.5% and is on track to snap a three-day losing streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 317 points, or 0.6%, as of 10:15 a.m. ET, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% higher. Stocks of companies that make computer storage helped lead the market, adding to gains from last week following several profit reports that topped analysts’ expectations. Airlines and cruise-ship operators were also strong, benefiting from a sharp easing of oil prices. The center of the action in financial markets was again precious metals, where momentum suddenly halted after gold’s price roughly doubled in 12 months. Gold briefly dropped below $4,500 per ounce in the overnight hours, down more than $1,000 from its high point reached just last week. It later pulled back to $4,742.80, down 0.1% from Friday. Silver’s price has been on an even wilder ride recently, and it swung from a 9% loss overnight to a 0.3% gain. Gold and silver prices had earlier been surging as investors looked for safer things to own amid a wide range of worries, including a Federal Reserve that may be set to become less independent, a U.S. stock market that critics say is expensive, threats of tariffs, and heavy debt loads for governments worldwide. Their prices cratered on Friday, including a 31.4% plunge for silver. Some on Wall Street saw it as a result of President Donald The President’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Fed. Warsh’s reputation as a former Fed governor may have raised expectations among some investors that he may keep interest rates high to fight against inflation, which would reduce the need to hide out in gold and silver for protection. But many on Wall Street are also skeptical of that initial reading and say the expectation from The President is likely that Warsh will cut interest rates, something the president has been demanding. That could give the economy a boost, but also inflation. The Fed chair has a big influence on the economy and markets worldwide by helping to dictate where the U.S. central bank moves interest rates. That affects prices for all kinds of investments, as the Fed tries to keep the U.S. job market humming without letting inflation get out of control. The recent swoons for gold and silver are likely more about the washout for some traders who had borrowed money to bet on metals’ prices continuing to soar, rather than about a wholesale change in expectations for demand for metals, according to Darrell Cronk, chief investment officer for Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo On Wall Street, Sandisk leaped 11.4% to lead the S&P 500. The data-storage company added to its 6.9% gain from Friday, after it reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It credited demand created by the artificial-intelligence boom, among other things. That helped offset a 1.3% drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI technology. The losses were worse in Asia, where AI winners plunged. South Korea’s Kospi fell 5.3% from its record for its worst day in almost 10 months after chip company SK Hynix lost nearly 9%. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher after a report said that U.S. manufacturing grew last month, when economists were expecting a contraction. The yield on the 10-year Treasury erased an earlier dip and rose to 4.27%, up from 4.26% late Friday. Oil prices dropped more than 4% after The President told reporters that Iran is “seriously talking to us.” It’s a potential signal of improving relations between the two countries, which could prevent a possible disruption to the global flow of oil. In stock markets abroad, European indexes rose nearly 1% following Asia’s washout. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%, while stocks fell 2.2% in Hong Kong and 2.5% in Shanghai. —By Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. View the full article

In a move aimed at enhancing the retail landscape for small businesses, PayPal has announced its acquisition of Cymbio, a platform designed to help brands navigate the increasingly important realm of agentic commerce. This acquisition is particularly relevant for small business owners eager to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance their market presence. Cymbio acts as a multi-channel orchestration platform, enabling merchants to sell across various AI-driven platforms such as Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. With this development, PayPal aims to allow small businesses to become more discoverable on leading AI platforms, thereby opening up new avenues for sales and customer engagement. Michelle Gill, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal, emphasized the significance of this acquisition: “PayPal has established itself as a leading commerce partner for merchants looking to sell within top AI platforms. Acquiring Cymbio’s technology and team will enhance our agentic commerce capabilities and accelerate the expansion to more of our merchants. By making their product catalogs discoverable on AI surfaces, merchants can increase sales while expanding product choice to the millions of consumers shopping on AI platforms today.” For small business owners, one of the primary benefits of this acquisition lies in its capacity to simplify the process of integrating product listings into AI shopping experiences. By utilizing Store Sync—a key feature of PayPal’s agentic commerce services—small businesses will be able to make their product data easily discoverable on AI channels. Moreover, this feature integrates seamlessly with existing fulfillment and management systems, allowing merchants to maintain their current business operations without significant disruption. As of now, well-known brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Ashley Furniture are already utilizing Store Sync on platforms like Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity, highlighting its viability and effectiveness in the market. The most impactful aspect for small businesses is that they will retain full control over their customer relationships and brand identity. Merchants will remain the merchant of record, mitigating concerns that can arise with third-party platforms. Small business owners should also consider the practical applications of this new technology. By optimizing the discoverability of their products, businesses can tap into new customer bases that prefer shopping through AI platforms. This could mean more sales opportunities, particularly as shopping behaviors evolve towards convenience and access to diverse product choices. However, potential challenges are worth noting. As with any technological integration, small business owners may need to invest time and resources into training staff and adapting internal processes to fully leverage Cymbio’s capabilities. Additionally, while enhanced visibility can drive sales, competition may also intensify as more retailers seek to capitalize on these AI platforms. Business owners must be prepared to navigate these changes proactively. This strategic move by PayPal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending customary closing conditions. While the specific terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the implications for small businesses are significant. By embracing this technology, small retailers can position themselves at the forefront of a rapidly evolving marketplace, engaging consumers in innovative ways. As digital commerce continues to transform the buying experience, small business owners must remain agile and receptive to new opportunities, including those presented by AI-driven platforms. The integration of Cymbio into PayPal’s services may serve as a pivotal step for many small enterprises in enhancing their market presence, driving sales, and fostering customer loyalty. For those interested in the official announcement, more details can be found at PayPal’s newsroom: PayPal Press Release. Image via Google Gemini This article, "PayPal Acquires Cymbio to Boost AI Commerce for Millions of Merchants" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a move aimed at enhancing the retail landscape for small businesses, PayPal has announced its acquisition of Cymbio, a platform designed to help brands navigate the increasingly important realm of agentic commerce. This acquisition is particularly relevant for small business owners eager to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance their market presence. Cymbio acts as a multi-channel orchestration platform, enabling merchants to sell across various AI-driven platforms such as Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. With this development, PayPal aims to allow small businesses to become more discoverable on leading AI platforms, thereby opening up new avenues for sales and customer engagement. Michelle Gill, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal, emphasized the significance of this acquisition: “PayPal has established itself as a leading commerce partner for merchants looking to sell within top AI platforms. Acquiring Cymbio’s technology and team will enhance our agentic commerce capabilities and accelerate the expansion to more of our merchants. By making their product catalogs discoverable on AI surfaces, merchants can increase sales while expanding product choice to the millions of consumers shopping on AI platforms today.” For small business owners, one of the primary benefits of this acquisition lies in its capacity to simplify the process of integrating product listings into AI shopping experiences. By utilizing Store Sync—a key feature of PayPal’s agentic commerce services—small businesses will be able to make their product data easily discoverable on AI channels. Moreover, this feature integrates seamlessly with existing fulfillment and management systems, allowing merchants to maintain their current business operations without significant disruption. As of now, well-known brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Ashley Furniture are already utilizing Store Sync on platforms like Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity, highlighting its viability and effectiveness in the market. The most impactful aspect for small businesses is that they will retain full control over their customer relationships and brand identity. Merchants will remain the merchant of record, mitigating concerns that can arise with third-party platforms. Small business owners should also consider the practical applications of this new technology. By optimizing the discoverability of their products, businesses can tap into new customer bases that prefer shopping through AI platforms. This could mean more sales opportunities, particularly as shopping behaviors evolve towards convenience and access to diverse product choices. However, potential challenges are worth noting. As with any technological integration, small business owners may need to invest time and resources into training staff and adapting internal processes to fully leverage Cymbio’s capabilities. Additionally, while enhanced visibility can drive sales, competition may also intensify as more retailers seek to capitalize on these AI platforms. Business owners must be prepared to navigate these changes proactively. This strategic move by PayPal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending customary closing conditions. While the specific terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the implications for small businesses are significant. By embracing this technology, small retailers can position themselves at the forefront of a rapidly evolving marketplace, engaging consumers in innovative ways. As digital commerce continues to transform the buying experience, small business owners must remain agile and receptive to new opportunities, including those presented by AI-driven platforms. The integration of Cymbio into PayPal’s services may serve as a pivotal step for many small enterprises in enhancing their market presence, driving sales, and fostering customer loyalty. For those interested in the official announcement, more details can be found at PayPal’s newsroom: PayPal Press Release. Image via Google Gemini This article, "PayPal Acquires Cymbio to Boost AI Commerce for Millions of Merchants" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resorts to special constitutional power in order to tackle deficitView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I love getting things done around the house. I’m not the greatest carpenter, electrician, or plumber, but I like learning how things work and even enjoy learning from my mistakes (sometimes). And most of all, I like saving a bucket of money on home maintenance and repairs. None of this means that DIY isn't an incredible amount of work, however. Luckily, living in a consumption-based society means companies are always inventing new gadgets for me to buy, and some of them are incredibly useful for DIYers. The eight tool accessories below are ones I truly recommend. Each can help make your next project a little faster, easier, and/or safer. A multipail makes painting and cleaning neaterThis is one of those simple ideas that seems so obvious it’s hard to believe it took this long to be invented. The Multipail is a simple concept: A standard five-gallon bucket with a dustpan built in. It can also be used with a paint roller as a tray replacement, and has a drip-proof spout for pouring liquids without making a mess. You need a five-gallon bucket anyway, so why not use one that has these useful features molded in, instead of buying two or three wonky attachments? Flashlight gloves are a super convenient way to shed light on your workThere are a lot of ways to illuminate your work site, from standard flashlights to headband lamps to bendable LED lights. But sometimes you need to get light into a small space, and you need to be able to illuminate what you’re doing just by pointing at things. These flashlight gloves are cheap, waterproof, and make it easy to see what you’re doing without having to hold a separate light. An attachable bit holder will keep all your drill bits at handCordless drills are one of the most commonly-used tools in DIY projects, but they come with one major frustration: All those damn bits. If you’re constantly swapping out different-size drill bits and different screwdriver bits, you know how hard it can be to keep them organized (and how hard it is to not lose them). Enter this nifty drill bit holder that attaches to the bottom of your drill’s battery. It holds not just bits, but just about anything, from utility blades to fasteners. Designed to work with just about any manufacturer, it attaches to the bottom of the battery and lets you carry whatever you need right there on the tool. The Backsaver will eliminate the strain from low-down drillingThis drill attachment is probably overkill for most DIYers (and it isn’t cheap!), but if you’ve got a job requiring a lot of drilling down low, it might be the difference between a pleasant day of work and a broken back. Instead of getting on your hands and knees or even lying down in order to see what you’re drilling into, the Backsaver lets you work in a comfortable standing position while drilling at foot-level. It takes a bit of practice before you can just dive in, but your back will definitely thank you for taking the time. A panel carrier can help you lug around drywall and plywoodCarrying large sheets or panels like drywall or plywood can be challenging. It’s hard to maintain your grip and your balance, and navigating around corners and tight spaces often results in dropped items or scraped knuckles. This panel carrier from Gator Lift just clamps onto whatever you’re hauling around (up to two sheets at a time) and makes it very easy to carry it one-handed—which means you can actually open doors and easily maneuver while carrying these awkward, heavy sheets around. A ladder hook could save your neckI don’t know about you, but whenever I have to climb up to my roof to inspect or repair something (or clean out the gutters), there’s always at least one terrifying moment when the ladder shakes and shimmies, and I think I’m about to die. Ladders are always incredibly dangerous, but they’re especially dangerous when you’re working on your roof. This ladder hook from Lock Jaw clamps onto the roof and ensures the ladder doesn’t move, giving you an extra boost of safety. A clamping outlet will keep your power running safelyRunning power to wherever you’re working is sometimes a logistical challenge. There are plenty of ways to run a power strip to your project, but ensuring that you have easy, safe access to the strip sometimes involve some seriously janky engineering involving zipties, duct tape, or precariously balanced equipment. This clamping power strip is a lot more civilized. It ensures you’ll have plenty of outlets no matter where you’re working. It can clamp to a ladder, to a joist or rafter, a table, railing—literally anywhere. Power will always be nearby, and you won’t have to remember to plug in your corded tools before you climb up the ladder ever again. A ladder leveler will help you reach new heights without the riskIf you’ve got a standard extending ladder, you know that your greatest enemy is uneven ground. An unbalanced ladder is a disaster waiting to happen, but most DIYers have climbed onto a shaking, leaning ladder at least once in their life, hoping their luck holds out long enough to get some quick bit of work done. Instead, invest in a ladder stabilizer. Install it on your ladder and it automatically adjusts the legs on each side so you have a perfectly balanced, perfectly stable ladder to climb no matter how uneven the ground might be. Considering that half a million people go to the ER for ladder-related injuries every year, everyone should probably have this installed on their ladder. View the full article

When we return to work after the holidays, we tend to bring renewed energy, a laundry list of annual goals, and a few aspirational New Year’s resolutions. This is the year you’re going to run the marathon. Though we arrive ready to hit the ground running, actual business momentum might tell a different story. I call it the Q1 paradox. We’re prepared for a flurry of activity, but in reality, we experience a slower cadence. With GDP growth typically slower in Q1, consumer and business spending may lag. Demands feel less urgent. Phones are quieter. As CEO of Jotform, I’ve found that the first quarter is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for the year’s success. Here’s how my team and I make the most of this valuable window. Lead by example For leaders, the first order of business is getting your team to start projecting themselves and the organization into the following 12 months. When they’ve just closed out 2025 and wrapped up year-end reports, that can be easier said than done. While getting your team into this mindset begins with clear directives, that’s only half the equation. Modeling the behavior is just as important. Formal policies may attempt to create organizational culture and norms, but routines—the way leaders and employees actually show up and function—are just as vital. As Harvard Business Impact notes, leaders uphold and demonstrate their character through the daily habits they follow and the decisions they make. That’s why leaders must model proactive behaviors that encourage forward-thinking across the team. At Jotform, for example, I start with a nudge in early January, sharing my objectives for the new year with the entire organization. I try to keep these big-picture, beginning with my most audacious goals, since those tend to be the ones that excite and inspire me. They keep the momentum going during inevitable lulls in motivation. Often, I’ll include a brief road map outlining how we can reach each objective. Finally, I encourage employees to reach out if they have questions or ideas. And, of course, to think about what they most want to achieve in the year ahead. Modeling this forward-looking behavior can help employees rise above the busywork from day one and gain much-needed perspective on where we’re headed. Reflect and refine your strategies If the first step is looking forward, the second involves gazing back and taking stock of your current business strategies. In today’s fast-changing world, where AI stands to reinvent workflows at breakneck speed, this is more vital than ever. At my company, I work with our teams to evaluate strategies, identify gaps, and determine which adjustments are needed to move toward our goals with confidence. With each department, we begin by reviewing their respective strategies and considering whether they serve our larger purpose: making users’ lives easier through automation. We then map out the processes and workflows that carry out those strategies, looking for weak spots—for example, tasks that could be accelerated through automation without sacrificing the essential human elements, such as strategic judgment and creative thinking. Finally, we ensure that each workflow within a strategy has a clear human owner to oversee decision-making and step in when issues arise. As I’ve found, this balance of reflection, automation, and human accountability helps ensure continued progress, year after year. Carve out time for experimentation If I’ve learned one thing in two decades of entrepreneurship, it’s the importance of scheduling everything. If you don’t deliberately carve out time for it, chances increase that you’ll kick it down the road. That’s why everything, including creativity, must be built into your schedule. When we do our first quarter strategizing, I urge our employees to create space for experimentation: to test new ideas, refine processes, tool around with new AI applications, and explore innovative approaches—without the usual time pressure. On an organizational level, we hold demo days—where each team shares their latest ideas and projects—and regular hack weeks. These five-day creative sprints allow our product teams to laser-focus on a single idea, while completely putting aside their day-to-day to-do lists. Hack weeks have led to some of our biggest innovations, and we schedule them as soon as we return to work in January. With some proactive thinking, moments for reflection, and dedicated time for experimentation, the quiet first quarter can become less of a pause, and more of a launchpad for a year of meaningful progress. View the full article

A reader writes: I’ve read your stuff on why it’s problematic for supervisors to avoid one-on-one meetings with supervisees, but what about peer coworkers? One of my coworkers, “Ariel,” makes me uncomfortable because she tends to assume the worst possible version of what someone says or project a different version entirely. Any disagreement with her, even about the most abstract issues phrased delicately and professionally, is taken personally. She also tends to assume (and share verbally) that the only motives anyone could have for even a slightly different opinion from hers is bigotry or unintelligence. Part of this seems to stem from her having preemptively decided (and expressed in nearly such terms) that everyone in our (largely conservative) region of the country is backwards, bigoted, and unintelligent, especially relative to the more progressive region she’s from. It’s like she decided we were racist/sexist/homophobic because of being in/from this region and is looking for proof of her thesis. She’s proclaimed out of the blue that there are no critical thinkers in our region, and has asserted several times that there is/was no activism (anti-racism, LGBTQ stuff, immigrant-related) in our region that famously has (and had) lots of it. We actually have a very liberal department that frequently centers a variety of civil rights and social justice issues. For example, if we are “Camelid Studies,” we have speakers, books, and faculty who study the impact of camels on the environment, alpacas on immigration, llamas and LGBTQ+ safety, etc. Both faculty and students are pretty open about their progressiveness, but Ariel seems not to read, hear, or see any of that or any nuance relating to our region. On several occasions, she has interpreted incredibly innocuous, bland, or uncontroversial things to be offensive in some way or heard the exact opposite of what someone was saying. The reactions she has are not limited to one person or one setting. Given how she mishears people in groups, I don’t want to be alone with her and end up misquoted something ugly. It’s dehumanizing and obnoxious how she treats people who aren’t from HerProgressiveHomeRegion with her exact views expressed the exact same way, but more importantly, I don’t want to get bit by an allegation alligator that I said something horrible with no witnesses to back me up. Even if nothing comes of it, I don’t want to start my career with reputational baggage in the air. To be clear, I do not supervise Ariel, nor she me, and there is no possibility of either. We are in a graduate program, I came in (and will likely finish) before her, and our positions are peers. I’m not responsible for her professional or academic growth in any capacity. Is it unprofessional of me to never be alone with her? To be clear, I have no intention of discussing this with anyone in my office, just finding ways to limit my own risk exposure. If it would be problematic, how else can I manage the next few years of having a coworker who always hears the worst? It’s not unprofessional to avoid being alone with Ariel, as long as it doesn’t end up interfering with your work, her work, or your team’s work or creating a weird working environment for others. If you’re coming up with complicated workarounds to avoid talking to her, or if you’re avoiding her in other obvious ways that make bystanders uncomfortable, that would be a problem. But if you’re just strategically avoiding being alone with her in ways that don’t raise eyebrows in people watching, you’re fine. If this were a more traditional workplace and not a graduate program, I’d suggest you also talk to your manager about what you’ve noticed to make sure they’re aware of it. A manager should be concerned about the dynamics Ariel is creating, and should hear how she’s affecting people (to the extent that at least one person doesn’t feel safe being around her without a witness). And you could still do that in a graduate program too, but there tends to be … less management in that context, to say the least. So simply steering clear of Ariel as best as you can may be the best and most effective option. But this is different from managers who refuse to be alone with the people they manage — which in theory is doable, but in practice tends to be male managers avoiding being alone with female employees, and only female employees, which then disadvantages the women who work for them because it means they get less access to feedback, mentoring, and relationship-building than their male colleagues do. You’re not Ariel’s manager (and if you were, you’d be much better positioned to address the concerns you have with her), there’s no power dynamic in play, and you’re not obligated to give her the kind of access to you that would be a bigger deal to withhold if you were her boss. The post is it unprofessional to avoid being alone with a coworker who I don’t trust? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Prime minister under fire from opponents, who say he should have taken action against Labour peer sooner View the full article

As part of the v23 Ads API launch, Performance Max campaigns can now be reported by channel, including Search, YouTube, Display, Discover, Gmail, Maps, and Search Partners. Previously, performance data was largely grouped into a single mixed category. The change under the hood. Earlier API versions typically returned a MIXED value for the ad_network_type segment in Performance Max campaigns. With v23, those responses now break out into specific channel enums — a meaningful shift for reporting and optimization. Why we care. Google Ads API v23 doesn’t just add features — it changes how advertisers understand Performance Max. The update introduces channel-level reporting, giving marketers long-requested visibility into where PMax ads actually run. How advertisers can use it. Channel-level data is available at the campaign, asset group, and asset level, allowing teams to see how individual creatives perform across Google properties. When combined with v22 segments like ad_using_video and ad_using_product_data, advertisers can isolate results such as video performance on YouTube or Shopping ads on Search. For developers. Upgrading to v23 will surface more detailed reporting than before. Reporting systems that relied on the legacy MIXED value will need to be updated to handle the new channel enums. What to watch: Channel data is only available for dates starting June 1, 2025. Asset group–level channel reporting remains API-only and won’t appear in the Google Ads UI. Bottom line. The latest Google Ads API release quietly delivers one of the biggest Performance Max updates yet — turning a black-box campaign type into something advertisers can finally analyze by channel. View the full article

Search marketing is still as powerful as ever. Google recently surpassed $100 billion in ad revenue in a single quarter, with more than half coming from search. But search alone can no longer deliver the same results most businesses expect. As Google Ads Coach Jyll Saskin Gales showed at SMX Next, real performance now comes from going beyond traditional search and using it to strengthen a broader PPC strategy. The challenge with traditional Search Marketing As search marketers, we’re great at reaching people who are actively searching for what we sell. But we often miss people who fit our ideal audience and aren’t searching yet. The real opportunity sits at the intersection of intent and audience fit. Take the search [vacation packages]. That query could come from a family with young kids, a honeymooning couple, or a group of retirees. The keyword is the same, but each audience needs a different message and a different offer. Understanding targeting capabilities in Google Ads There are two main types of targeting: Content targeting shows ads in specific places. Audience targeting shows ads to specific types of people. For example, targeting [flights to Paris] is content targeting. Targeting people who are “in-market for trips to Paris” is audience targeting. Google builds in-market audiences by analyzing behavior across multiple signals, including searches, browsing activity, and location. The three types of content targeting Keyword targeting: Reach people when they search on Google, including through dynamic ad groups and Performance Max. Topic targeting: Show ads alongside content related to specific topics in display and video campaigns. Placement targeting: Put ads on specific websites, apps, YouTube channels, or videos where your ideal customers already spend time. The four types of audience targeting Google’s data: Prebuilt segments include detailed demographics (such as parents of toddlers vs. teens), affinity segments (interests like vegetarianism), in-market segments (people actively researching purchases), and life events (graduating or retiring). Any advertiser can use these across most campaign types. Your data: Target website visitors, app users, people who engaged with your Google content (YouTube viewers or search clickers), and customer lists through Customer Match. Note that remarketing is restricted for sensitive interest categories. Custom segments: Turn content targeting into audience targeting by building segments based on what people search for, their interests, and the websites or apps they use. These go by different names depending on campaign type—“custom segments” in most campaigns and “custom search terms” in video campaigns. Automated targeting: This includes optimized targeting (finding people similar to your converters), audience expansion in video campaigns, audience signals and search themes in Performance Max, and lookalike segments that model new users from your seed lists. Building your targeting strategy To build a modern targeting strategy, you need to answer two questions: How can I sell my offer with Google Ads? How can I reach a specific kind of person with Google Ads? For example, to reach Google Ads practitioners for lead gen software, you could build custom segments that target people who use the Google Ads app, visit industry sites like searchengineland.com, or search for Google Ads–specific terms such as “Performance Max” or “Smart Bidding.” You can also layer in content targeting, like YouTube placements on industry educator channels and topic targeting around search marketing. Strategies for sensitive interest categories If you work in a restricted category such as legal or healthcare and can’t use custom segments or remarketing, use non-linear targeting. Ignore the offer and focus on the audience. Choose any Google data audience with potential overlap, even if it’s imperfect, and let your creative do the filtering. Use industry-specific jargon, abbreviations, and imagery that only your target audience will recognize and value. Everyone else will scroll past. Remember: High CPCs aren’t the enemy Low-quality traffic is the real problem. You’re better off paying $10 per click with a 10% conversion rate than $1 per click with a 0.02% conversion rate. When evaluating targeting strategies, focus on conversion rate and cost per acquisition, not just cost per click. Search alone can’t deliver the results you’re used to By expanding beyond traditional search keywords and using content and audience targeting, you can reach the right people and keep driving strong results. Watch: How to build a modern targeting strategy like a pro + Live Q&A View the full article

In terms of boosting engagement on social media, exploring creative post ideas can make a significant difference. Engaging polls and surveys can help you understand your audience’s preferences, whereas fascinating caption contests invite participation. Interactive quizzes provide a fun way to connect with followers, and behind-the-scenes content nurtures transparency. As you uncover these effective strategies, you’ll discover how to improve your brand’s presence and deepen connections with your audience. What’s next on the agenda? Key Takeaways Conduct engaging polls and surveys to gather audience preferences and boost interaction rates significantly. Create interactive quizzes and trivia that encourage fun competition and sharing among followers. Host captivating caption contests and challenges inviting user creativity and increasing participation with potential prizes. Showcase user-generated content to enhance brand credibility and foster community engagement among followers. Share behind-the-scenes content to build trust and transparency, humanizing your brand and creating a sense of belonging. Engaging Polls and Surveys How do you connect with your audience in a meaningful way? Engaging polls and surveys are impactful tools in social media for conferences and event marketing. They encourage participation and provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences. When you leverage platforms like Instagram Stories or Twitter for polls, you can increase interaction rates, as these posts generate double the engagement compared to static content. For example, asking questions like “What product feature do you value most?” not only involves your followers but helps you gather real-time feedback. Regularly conducting polls keeps your content fresh and reinforces brand loyalty, as 78% of users are inclined to purchase after a positive social media experience. Utilize these social media posts examples to improve your connection with your audience. Captivating Caption Contests Building on the idea of engaging with your audience, intriguing caption contests offer a dynamic way to improve interaction on your social media platforms. By inviting followers to create captions for a specific image, you can greatly boost engagement rates. Posts featuring user-generated content can receive up to six times more interactions than standard posts. To encourage participation, consider offering small prizes or recognition for the best entries. Promoting the contest across various platforms amplifies visibility, as participants often share their entries, broadening your reach. Furthermore, incorporating themed challenges aligned with current trends can improve creativity and participation. Contest Elements Benefits User-generated content Up to 6x more interactions Small prizes Increased participation Cross-platform promotion Broader visibility Themed challenges Encouraged creativity Interactive Quizzes and Trivia Interactive quizzes and trivia are excellent ways to engage your audience as well as providing a fun format for interaction. By creating intriguing questions and offering incentives for sharing results, you can’t solely entertain your followers but additionally gather valuable insights into their preferences. This approach encourages friendly competition, making your posts more likely to be liked, commented on, and shared across platforms. Fun Question Formats Why should you consider using fun question formats like interactive quizzes and trivia in your social media strategy? These engaging formats not only assess your followers’ knowledge but likewise invite them to participate quickly on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Using poll stickers or quiz features boosts interaction rates, as followers enjoy the challenge and frequently share their results. Trivia questions can span various topics, catering to diverse interests, whereas “Caption This Photo” challenges ignite creativity and lively discussions. Here’s a quick overview of fun question formats: Format Benefits Interactive Quizzes Increase engagement and sharing Trivia Questions Cater to diverse audience interests Caption Challenges Encourage creativity and discussion Would You Rather Stimulate conversation and debate Share Results Incentives Incorporating share results incentives into your interactive quizzes and trivia can greatly improve user engagement and participation. Posts featuring these elements can receive up to twice the interaction compared to static content. By utilizing platforms like Instagram Stories and Facebook, you can create quizzes that not just gather audience opinions but also encourage followers to share their results, providing valuable insights into their preferences. Trivia questions prompt comments and sharing, cultivating community interaction and broadening your reach. Furthermore, integrating polls into your quizzes allows for real-time feedback, enhancing user connection with your brand. Engaging followers through quizzes and trivia positions your brand as informative and entertaining, ultimately driving customer loyalty and enhancing overall brand presence in the industry. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks offer a unique opportunity to highlight your team culture and share insights about your processes. By showcasing daily operations and the people behind your brand, you can nurture a stronger connection with your audience. This transparency not just boosts engagement but likewise builds trust, making your followers feel like they’re part of your expedition. Team Culture Highlights When companies share glimpses into their team culture, they not only nurture authenticity but also strengthen connections with their audience. Highlighting behind-the-scenes content, such as candid moments of team members and their daily activities, humanizes the brand. This approach makes followers feel more engaged and invested in the company’s path. Featuring sneak peeks of product creation or service delivery can spark interest and discussions around the brand’s values. Posts that showcase team celebrations, milestones, or community involvement encourage a sense of belonging among followers, enhancing engagement. By regularly sharing these insights, you can achieve higher interaction rates, as audiences appreciate transparency and enjoy seeing the people behind the brand, eventually promoting loyalty and connection. Process Insights Sharing insights into your processes offers a unique opportunity to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Behind-the-scenes content not only humanizes your brand but additionally cultivates authenticity and relatability. By showcasing your team and operations, you improve engagement and create a sense of community. Here are some effective ways to share process insights: Capture moments of brainstorming sessions to illustrate creativity. Show your team members at work, highlighting their specific roles. Share time-lapse videos of product creation, revealing intricate steps. Post photos of the workspace to give a glimpse into your culture. Use storytelling to explain the progression from concept to completion. These strategies can help you attract followers and encourage meaningful interactions, making them feel more connected to your brand. User-Generated Content Showcases User-generated content (UGC) showcases are a potent marketing strategy that can greatly improve your brand’s credibility and engagement. With 79% of consumers stating that UGC considerably influences their purchasing decisions, leveraging follower experiences can enhance your brand’s authenticity. UGC posts generate 6.9 times higher engagement than traditional brand content, making them a valuable asset. Establishing a dedicated hashtag for submissions not merely simplifies tracking but also nurtures a community feeling among followers. By featuring UGC in campaigns, you can potentially boost engagement rates by 20%, as consumers favor genuine interactions. Furthermore, running contests that encourage UGC submissions can increase participation and broaden your reach, as users often share their content within their networks, amplifying your brand’s visibility. Fun “This or That” Choices Engaging your audience can take many forms, and one effective method is through “This or That” choices. These posts encourage quick interactions and decision-making, leading to increased comments and likes. Users enjoy minimal effort polls that promote a sense of community through shared preferences. Here are some fun examples you might consider: Coffee or Tea Beach or Mountains Cats or Dogs Sweet or Savory Summer or Winter Utilizing emojis for responses improves visual appeal and user interaction, making participation feel rewarding. Furthermore, these choices provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences, allowing you to tailor future content and product offerings based on their interests. Exciting Challenges and Contests When you implement exciting challenges and contests, you can greatly improve audience interaction and brand visibility. Engaging challenges can lead to a 70% increase in participation if consumers find them fun and rewarding. Create unique challenges with specific themes and branded hashtags to encourage user-generated content, broadening your reach organically. Offering enticing prizes, like discounts or exclusive products, can further boost participation and excitement around your brand. Promote these contests across various social media platforms to maximize visibility and leverage unique features for different audiences. Regularly hosting challenges nurtures a sense of community among followers, enhancing brand loyalty and encouraging repeat participation. Frequently Asked Questions What Is an Example of an Engagement Social Media Post? An example of an engagement social media post is a poll asking your followers to choose between two options, like “What’s your favorite season: summer or winter?” This encourages interaction as followers vote and share their opinions. You can additionally invite comments by asking followers to share their favorite memories related to the seasons. Such posts not merely increase engagement but likewise help you understand your audience’s preferences better. What Type of Social Media Posts Get the Most Engagement? Posts that generate the most engagement typically include interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions. These formats encourage participation and discussion. Visual content—such as images, videos, and infographics—grabs attention effectively, often resulting in higher view rates. Furthermore, customer testimonials and success stories nurture trust and invite followers to share their experiences, further enhancing interaction. Engaging formats like “This or That” questions prompt quick responses and make it easier for followers to engage. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests you post 15 times, dividing your content into three categories. You should share 5 industry-related posts to establish authority, 5 personal or engaging posts to connect with your audience, and 5 promotional posts about your products or services. This balanced approach keeps your followers interested, prevents fatigue, and can improve engagement and brand loyalty by offering varied content that resonates with their interests. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media suggests you allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging, entertaining posts; 30% should focus on promotions; and 20% should deliver educational material. This balanced approach helps maintain audience interest, ensuring you provide a mix of entertainment, information, and promotional content. Conclusion Incorporating these creative social media post ideas can greatly improve audience engagement. By utilizing polls, quizzes, and caption contests, you can encourage interaction and gather valuable feedback. Showcasing user-generated content and behind-the-scenes insights nurtures community and trust. Furthermore, fun challenges and “This or That” choices stimulate participation. Implementing these strategies not only boosts engagement but also strengthens your brand’s connection with its audience, leading to increased loyalty and a more lively online presence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Creative Social Media Posts Examples to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of boosting engagement on social media, exploring creative post ideas can make a significant difference. Engaging polls and surveys can help you understand your audience’s preferences, whereas fascinating caption contests invite participation. Interactive quizzes provide a fun way to connect with followers, and behind-the-scenes content nurtures transparency. As you uncover these effective strategies, you’ll discover how to improve your brand’s presence and deepen connections with your audience. What’s next on the agenda? Key Takeaways Conduct engaging polls and surveys to gather audience preferences and boost interaction rates significantly. Create interactive quizzes and trivia that encourage fun competition and sharing among followers. Host captivating caption contests and challenges inviting user creativity and increasing participation with potential prizes. Showcase user-generated content to enhance brand credibility and foster community engagement among followers. Share behind-the-scenes content to build trust and transparency, humanizing your brand and creating a sense of belonging. Engaging Polls and Surveys How do you connect with your audience in a meaningful way? Engaging polls and surveys are impactful tools in social media for conferences and event marketing. They encourage participation and provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences. When you leverage platforms like Instagram Stories or Twitter for polls, you can increase interaction rates, as these posts generate double the engagement compared to static content. For example, asking questions like “What product feature do you value most?” not only involves your followers but helps you gather real-time feedback. Regularly conducting polls keeps your content fresh and reinforces brand loyalty, as 78% of users are inclined to purchase after a positive social media experience. Utilize these social media posts examples to improve your connection with your audience. Captivating Caption Contests Building on the idea of engaging with your audience, intriguing caption contests offer a dynamic way to improve interaction on your social media platforms. By inviting followers to create captions for a specific image, you can greatly boost engagement rates. Posts featuring user-generated content can receive up to six times more interactions than standard posts. To encourage participation, consider offering small prizes or recognition for the best entries. Promoting the contest across various platforms amplifies visibility, as participants often share their entries, broadening your reach. Furthermore, incorporating themed challenges aligned with current trends can improve creativity and participation. Contest Elements Benefits User-generated content Up to 6x more interactions Small prizes Increased participation Cross-platform promotion Broader visibility Themed challenges Encouraged creativity Interactive Quizzes and Trivia Interactive quizzes and trivia are excellent ways to engage your audience as well as providing a fun format for interaction. By creating intriguing questions and offering incentives for sharing results, you can’t solely entertain your followers but additionally gather valuable insights into their preferences. This approach encourages friendly competition, making your posts more likely to be liked, commented on, and shared across platforms. Fun Question Formats Why should you consider using fun question formats like interactive quizzes and trivia in your social media strategy? These engaging formats not only assess your followers’ knowledge but likewise invite them to participate quickly on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Using poll stickers or quiz features boosts interaction rates, as followers enjoy the challenge and frequently share their results. Trivia questions can span various topics, catering to diverse interests, whereas “Caption This Photo” challenges ignite creativity and lively discussions. Here’s a quick overview of fun question formats: Format Benefits Interactive Quizzes Increase engagement and sharing Trivia Questions Cater to diverse audience interests Caption Challenges Encourage creativity and discussion Would You Rather Stimulate conversation and debate Share Results Incentives Incorporating share results incentives into your interactive quizzes and trivia can greatly improve user engagement and participation. Posts featuring these elements can receive up to twice the interaction compared to static content. By utilizing platforms like Instagram Stories and Facebook, you can create quizzes that not just gather audience opinions but also encourage followers to share their results, providing valuable insights into their preferences. Trivia questions prompt comments and sharing, cultivating community interaction and broadening your reach. Furthermore, integrating polls into your quizzes allows for real-time feedback, enhancing user connection with your brand. Engaging followers through quizzes and trivia positions your brand as informative and entertaining, ultimately driving customer loyalty and enhancing overall brand presence in the industry. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks offer a unique opportunity to highlight your team culture and share insights about your processes. By showcasing daily operations and the people behind your brand, you can nurture a stronger connection with your audience. This transparency not just boosts engagement but likewise builds trust, making your followers feel like they’re part of your expedition. Team Culture Highlights When companies share glimpses into their team culture, they not only nurture authenticity but also strengthen connections with their audience. Highlighting behind-the-scenes content, such as candid moments of team members and their daily activities, humanizes the brand. This approach makes followers feel more engaged and invested in the company’s path. Featuring sneak peeks of product creation or service delivery can spark interest and discussions around the brand’s values. Posts that showcase team celebrations, milestones, or community involvement encourage a sense of belonging among followers, enhancing engagement. By regularly sharing these insights, you can achieve higher interaction rates, as audiences appreciate transparency and enjoy seeing the people behind the brand, eventually promoting loyalty and connection. Process Insights Sharing insights into your processes offers a unique opportunity to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Behind-the-scenes content not only humanizes your brand but additionally cultivates authenticity and relatability. By showcasing your team and operations, you improve engagement and create a sense of community. Here are some effective ways to share process insights: Capture moments of brainstorming sessions to illustrate creativity. Show your team members at work, highlighting their specific roles. Share time-lapse videos of product creation, revealing intricate steps. Post photos of the workspace to give a glimpse into your culture. Use storytelling to explain the progression from concept to completion. These strategies can help you attract followers and encourage meaningful interactions, making them feel more connected to your brand. User-Generated Content Showcases User-generated content (UGC) showcases are a potent marketing strategy that can greatly improve your brand’s credibility and engagement. With 79% of consumers stating that UGC considerably influences their purchasing decisions, leveraging follower experiences can enhance your brand’s authenticity. UGC posts generate 6.9 times higher engagement than traditional brand content, making them a valuable asset. Establishing a dedicated hashtag for submissions not merely simplifies tracking but also nurtures a community feeling among followers. By featuring UGC in campaigns, you can potentially boost engagement rates by 20%, as consumers favor genuine interactions. Furthermore, running contests that encourage UGC submissions can increase participation and broaden your reach, as users often share their content within their networks, amplifying your brand’s visibility. Fun “This or That” Choices Engaging your audience can take many forms, and one effective method is through “This or That” choices. These posts encourage quick interactions and decision-making, leading to increased comments and likes. Users enjoy minimal effort polls that promote a sense of community through shared preferences. Here are some fun examples you might consider: Coffee or Tea Beach or Mountains Cats or Dogs Sweet or Savory Summer or Winter Utilizing emojis for responses improves visual appeal and user interaction, making participation feel rewarding. Furthermore, these choices provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences, allowing you to tailor future content and product offerings based on their interests. Exciting Challenges and Contests When you implement exciting challenges and contests, you can greatly improve audience interaction and brand visibility. Engaging challenges can lead to a 70% increase in participation if consumers find them fun and rewarding. Create unique challenges with specific themes and branded hashtags to encourage user-generated content, broadening your reach organically. Offering enticing prizes, like discounts or exclusive products, can further boost participation and excitement around your brand. Promote these contests across various social media platforms to maximize visibility and leverage unique features for different audiences. Regularly hosting challenges nurtures a sense of community among followers, enhancing brand loyalty and encouraging repeat participation. Frequently Asked Questions What Is an Example of an Engagement Social Media Post? An example of an engagement social media post is a poll asking your followers to choose between two options, like “What’s your favorite season: summer or winter?” This encourages interaction as followers vote and share their opinions. You can additionally invite comments by asking followers to share their favorite memories related to the seasons. Such posts not merely increase engagement but likewise help you understand your audience’s preferences better. What Type of Social Media Posts Get the Most Engagement? Posts that generate the most engagement typically include interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions. These formats encourage participation and discussion. Visual content—such as images, videos, and infographics—grabs attention effectively, often resulting in higher view rates. Furthermore, customer testimonials and success stories nurture trust and invite followers to share their experiences, further enhancing interaction. Engaging formats like “This or That” questions prompt quick responses and make it easier for followers to engage. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests you post 15 times, dividing your content into three categories. You should share 5 industry-related posts to establish authority, 5 personal or engaging posts to connect with your audience, and 5 promotional posts about your products or services. This balanced approach keeps your followers interested, prevents fatigue, and can improve engagement and brand loyalty by offering varied content that resonates with their interests. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media suggests you allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging, entertaining posts; 30% should focus on promotions; and 20% should deliver educational material. This balanced approach helps maintain audience interest, ensuring you provide a mix of entertainment, information, and promotional content. Conclusion Incorporating these creative social media post ideas can greatly improve audience engagement. By utilizing polls, quizzes, and caption contests, you can encourage interaction and gather valuable feedback. Showcasing user-generated content and behind-the-scenes insights nurtures community and trust. Furthermore, fun challenges and “This or That” choices stimulate participation. Implementing these strategies not only boosts engagement but also strengthens your brand’s connection with its audience, leading to increased loyalty and a more lively online presence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Creative Social Media Posts Examples to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Some iOS users are getting an extra layer of privacy when it comes to how their location data is shared. Limit Precise Location is a new setting that prevents some Apple devices from broadcasting specific locations to cell carriers. Precise location sharing is useful, even essential, in some cases, such as when you're navigating with your maps app. But you may not want to constantly be sending your exact address to your phone provider, where it could be used for malicious purposes. If you enable Limit Precise Location, your iOS device will share your general area instead. Precise location sharing comes with privacy risksAs TechCrunch points out, precise location sharing introduces a whole host of privacy and security risks. Cell carriers have been targeted by hackers, compromising sensitive customer data. Surveillance vendors and law enforcement agencies may also use location information broadcast via cellular networks for the purposes of real-time and ongoing tracking. Users already have the option to disable precise location sharing at the app level on both iOS and Android for apps that don't need GPS coordinates to function—which is most of them. This allows you to prevent companies from receiving (and selling) your exact location data when a general location is sufficient. Limit Precise Location won't change these app-specific settings. For now, the feature is available only on select Apple models—the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and iPad Pro (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular—running iOS 26.3 with a limited number of global carriers: U.S.: Boost Mobile UK: EE, BT Germany: Telekom Thailand: AIS, True Apple says that even with this setting enabled, emergency responders will still be able to pinpoint exact location during an emergency call. How to disable precise location sharingIf you have a supported device with a partner carrier, go to Settings > Cellular and tap Cellular Data Options (you may need to select the specific line under SIMs if you have more than one). Scroll down and toggle Limit Precise Location sharing off. View the full article

Now, with smarter search, deeper analysis, more detailed responses (v.2.7). Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Now, with smarter search, deeper analysis, more detailed responses (v.2.7). Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Prosperity and security will be driven by removing unnecessary barriers that hold businesses backView the full article

The Senate-approved bill that hadn't yet cleared the House at the time of this writing would fund agencies like HUD through the end of the fiscal year. View the full article

The one thing N. Lee Plumb knows for sure about being laid off from Amazon last week is that it wasn’t a failure to get on board with the company’s artificial intelligence plans. Plumb, his team’s head of “AI enablement,” says he was so prolific in his use of Amazon’s new AI coding tool that the company flagged him as one of its top users. Many assumed Amazon’s 16,000 corporate layoffs announced last week reflected CEO Andy Jassy’s push to “reduce our total corporate workforce as we get efficiency gains from using AI extensively across the company.” But like other companies that have tied workforce changes to AI — including Expedia, Pinterest, and Dow last week — it can be hard for economists, or individual employees like Plumb, to know if AI is the real reason behind the layoffs or if it’s the message a company wants to tell Wall Street. “AI has to drive a return on investment,” said Plumb, who worked at Amazon for eight years. “When you reduce head count, you’ve demonstrated efficiency, you attract more capital, the share price goes up.” “So you could potentially have just been bloated in the first place, reduce head count, attribute it to AI, and now you’ve got a value story,” he said. Amazon said in an emailed statement that AI was “not the reason behind the vast majority of these reductions.” “These changes are about continuing to strengthen our culture and teams by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and helping reduce bureaucracy to drive speed and ownership,” it said. Plumb is atypical for an Amazon worker in that he’s also running what he describes as a “long shot” bid for Congress in Texas, on a platform focused on stopping the tech industry’s reliance on work visas to “replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.” But whatever it was that cost Plumb his job, his skepticism about AI-driven job replacement is one shared by many economists. “We just don’t know,” said Karan Girotra, a professor of management at Cornell University’s business school. “Not because AI isn’t great, but because it requires a lot of adjustment and most of the gains accrue to individual employees rather than to the organization. People save time and they get their work done earlier.” If an employer works faster because of AI, Girotra said it takes time to adjust a company’s management structure in a way that would enable a smaller workforce. He’s not convinced that’s happening at Amazon, which he said is still scaling back from a glut of hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. A report by Goldman Sachs said AI’s overall impact on the labor market remains limited, though some effects might be felt in “specific occupations like marketing, graphic design, customer service, and especially tech.” Those are fields involving tasks that correlate with the strengths of the current crop of generative AI chatbots that can write emails and marketing pitches, produce synthetic images, answer questions, and help write code. But the bank’s economic research division said in its most recent monthly AI adoption tracker that, since December, “very few employees were affected by corporate layoffs attributed to AI,” though the report was published Jan. 16, before Amazon, Dow and Pinterest announced their layoffs. San Francisco-based Pinterest was the most explicit in asserting that AI drove it to cut up to 15% of its workforce. The social media company said it was “making organizational changes to further deliver on our AI-forward strategy, which includes hiring AI-proficient talent. As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to say goodbye to some of our team members.” Pinterest echoed that message in a regulatory disclosure that said the company was “reallocating resources to AI-focused roles and teams that drive AI adoption and execution.” Expedia has voiced a similar message but the 162 tech workers the travel website cut from its Seattle headquarters last week included several AI-specific roles, such as machine-learning scientists. Dow’s regulatory disclosures tied its 4,500 layoffs to a new plan “utilizing AI and automation” to increase productivity and improve shareholder returns. Amazon’s 16,000 corporate job cuts were part of a broader reduction of employees at the ecommerce giant. At the same time as those cuts, all believed to be office jobs, Amazon said it would cut about 5,000 retail workers, according to notices it sent to state workforce agencies in California, Maryland and Washington, resulting from its decision to close almost all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores. That’s on top of a round of 14,000 job cuts in October, bringing the total to well over 30,000 since Jassy first signaled a push for AI-driven organizational changes. Like many companies, in technology and otherwise, but particularly those that make and sell AI tools and services, Amazon has been pushing its workforce to find more efficiencies with AI. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said last week that 2026 will be when “AI starts to dramatically change the way that we work.” “We’re investing in AI-native tooling so individuals at Meta can get more done, we’re elevating individual contributors, and flattening teams,” he said on an earnings call. “We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.” So far, Meta’s layoffs this year have focused on cutting jobs from its virtual reality and metaverse divisions. Also driving job impacts is the industry shifting resources to AI development, which requires huge spending on computer chips, energy-hungry data centers and talent. Jassy told Amazon employees last June to be “curious about AI, educate yourself, attend workshops and take trainings, use and experiment with AI whenever you can, participate in your team’s brainstorms to figure out how to invent for our customers more quickly and expansively, and how to get more done with scrappier teams.” Plumb was fully on board with that and said he demonstrated his proficiency in using Amazon’s AI coding tool, Kiro, to “solve massive problems” in the company’s compensation system. “If you weren’t using them, your manager would get a report and they would talk to you about using it,” he said. “There were only five people in the entire company that were a higher user of Kiro than I was, or had achieved more milestones.” Now he’s shifting gears to his candidacy among a field of Republicans in the Houston area looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the March primary. Cornell’s Girotra said it’s possible that increasing AI productivity is leading companies to cut middle management, but he said the reality is that those making layoff decisions “just need to cut costs and make it happen. That’s it. I don’t think they care what the reason for that is.” Not all companies are signaling AI as a reason for cuts. Home Depot confirmed on Thursday that it was eliminating 800 roles tied to its corporate headquarters in Atlanta, though most of the affected employees worked remotely. Home Depot’s spokesman George Lane said that Home Depot’s cuts were not driven by AI or automation but “truly about speed, agility” and serving the needs of its customers and front-line workers. And exercise equipment maker Peloton confirmed on Friday that it is reducing its workforce by 11% as part of a broader cost-cutting move to pare down operating expenses. —Matt O’Brien, AP technology writer AP Retail Writer Anne D’Innocenzio contributed to this report. View the full article

As boycotts spread, the US is discovering the price of being politically unpopularView the full article

An outbreak of Nipah virus outbreak in India is currently causing alarm for health officials and travelers across a number of countries in Asia. On January 26, health officials from India notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of two laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infection in West Bengal State. No additional NiV cases have been detected. Following news of the outbreak, authorities in some Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, have ramped up airport health screening efforts. However, according to Reuters, the screenings are more for “reassurance” than a tactic to stop the spread. The WHO says risk of spread at the national, regional, and global levels is low. The latest developments Both recent West Bengal cases involved healthcare workers who began showing typical NiV symptoms in late December 2025. The cases were confirmed by “Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) testing,” according to the WHO. Local health officials identified 196 contacts, all of whom tested negative for NiV and showed no symptoms. NiV is serious, but rare. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it usually spreads from animals to humans. Fruit bats or flying foxes are natural hosts for the virus. However, the virus can also be transmitted through contaminated food and from person to person through close contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids, such as saliva or urine. Person-to-person contact is less common, according to the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center (NETEC). Person-to-person transmission is most commonly reported in hospital or healthcare settings. ​According to the WHO, the case fatality rate is estimated to be 40% to 75%. There are no licensed medications or vaccines for NiV infection, but early supportive care can improve survival. Additional details can be found in the WHO’s January 30 disease outbreak news report. A brief history of the virus NiV was first identified in 1998 in Malaysia during an outbreak among pig farmers. Since then, cases have been reported in less than a handful of countries—Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. The most recent outbreak marks the third NiV infection outbreak reported in West Bengal. View the full article

Although investor properties, which are prone to higher chances of default, account for 58% of the pool, the strong borrower and collateral quality mitigate the credit stress. View the full article

Goldman’s rationale: Vertical AI with measurable ROI. By CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article