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As President Donald The President’s regulators revamp bank rules, big lenders expect their capital requirements could fall, in a stunning victory for the industry which faced a big hike under former President Joe Biden, according to senior industry executives. Aiming to cut red tape that The President’s agency picks say is hurting the U.S. economy, they are working on the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. capital rules since the global financial crisis of 2008. In addition to narrowing the “Basel Endgame” capital hikes which sparked unprecedented pushback from Wall Street banks, the Fed plans to reduce a capital surcharge levied on risky global banks, shrink a key leverage constraint, and overhaul annual tests that gauge whether lenders can withstand an economic shock. The country’s largest lenders, which have lobbied hard for the long-sought review, are optimistic that the changes combined will result in their capital levels remaining flat or falling, said six industry and regulatory sources, including three top bankers. That expected outcome, reported here for the first time, marks a dramatic turnaround for the industry which faced a 19% hike in 2023 under the draft Basel capital rules which proposed changes to how big banks gauge lending and trading risks. While the Fed last September said that hike would be halved, the plan was never finalized and died with The President’s election. Big banks have long complained that capital rules are excessive and poorly calibrated, and that some of that cash could better serve the economy through lending. They also argue that they weathered the COVID-19 economic shock just fine. Critics say efforts to chip away at the capital regime are dangerous, and could leave the industry vulnerable at a time when the outlook for the U.S. economy is growing cloudy. With big banks including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup together holding around $1 trillion in capital, even a small dip could free up billions of dollars for lending, trading, dividends and share buybacks. “You’re going to see here the most aggressive streamlining or easing of bank regulations that we’ve seen certainly since Dodd-Frank and probably sometime before that,” said Ian Katz, managing director at Capital Alpha Partners, referring to the landmark 2010 post-crisis law that overhauled bank rules. A spokesperson for the Fed’s new regulatory chief, Michelle Bowman, who is leading the overhaul, declined to comment. Bowman said last week that she wants the rules to “work well together” and did not necessarily expect capital to fall. Regulators will unveil a new Basel draft by early 2026, she added. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which are also working on the Basel draft, also declined to comment. “America’s largest banks are the strongest in the world,” said Amanda Eversole, CEO of the Financial Services Forum which represents the country’s eight biggest banks. “Modernizing capital rules will let them put that strength to work – fueling growth for consumers, small businesses, and the economy.” ‘EXTREMELY CONSEQUENTIAL’ The sources, who declined to be identified discussing confidential regulatory issues, said they expect the new Basel draft to be broadly “capital-neutral” at a minimum. That means it would neither increase nor decrease system-wide capital, but change how it is distributed. The President’s pick for FDIC chair, Travis Hill, in January said “roughly” capital-neutral would be a “prudent starting point.” To get there, regulators are expected to abandon a “dual stack” that would have required banks to comply with the stricter of two methods for measuring their risk capital which penalized banks with large trading businesses, and to ease a requirement to put capital aside for operational risks, like cyberattacks or lawsuits, two of the people said. Capital reductions could then come as the Fed updates the “GSIB” surcharge to better account for economic growth, and as regulators tailor the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio, a risk-blind capital safety net, to each individual bank, three of the sources said. After the industry sued the Fed in December, the central bank is also working to make its stress tests, which partly determine big lenders’ capital buffers, more transparent, likely helping them to optimize their results. Two of the sources cautioned, however, that the regulatory discussions are ongoing and that Democrats on the Fed board may oppose changes that are too favorable to the industry. Based on an analysis of industry materials, Washington-based group Better Markets, which advocates for tougher financial rules, estimates that banking system capital could fall by $200 billion if the industry secures all the relief it has been pushing for. “It’s huge and extremely consequential,” said Phillip Basil, director of economic growth and financial stability at Better Markets. “It’s going to take a lot less to bring down a big bank.” Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar —Lananh Nguyen, Nupur Anand, Pete Schroeder and Tatiana Bautzer, Reuters View the full article

In the retrieval era, your competitive edge comes from embedding discipline, not just traditional technical SEO. The post Vector Index Hygiene: A New Layer Of Technical SEO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. One of the worst parts of reading anything is when you realize you zoned out, but your eyes kept moving over the words—now, you have to go back and reread everything. It happens to the best of us, but it's especially frustrating when you're trying to study—and that's why simply rereading material and notes won't cut it when you have a test coming up. Instead, tap into the power of active recall. This technique is all about actively retrieving content from your memory instead of just reviewing it passively. What is active recall?Active recall is exactly what it sounds like: You’re consciously forcing your brain to retrieve information. You're actively recalling it. This does two things for you: It helps you move the information into your long-term memory and identifies concepts you’re having a harder time with. Active recall has been the subject of a number of research studies, and they have found that actively engaging with retrieved memories, as opposed to passively reviewing content, helps you retain more information. That makes sense when you think about it. When you're taking a test, you'll need to pull that information out of your memory, right? Getting in the habit of doing that—of forcing yourself to focus on and recall something—can only help you during crunch time. How do you use active recall to study?We use active recall all the time in real life. For instance, when someone asks you what you did two days ago, you pause to retrieve the memory. When a website asks for your login password, you do the same thing. You consciously direct energy to the retrieval process, which makes it easier to get the info next time you need it, too. (Think about how, once you enter the same password in enough times, it starts to come automatically.) To engage in active recall while you study, try these methods: Use flashcards to quiz yourself, especially the Leitner method of flashcard review, which forces you to wait longer intervals between studying concepts you think you have a grasp on and tests if you really do have that grasp yet. Summarize chapters, notes, or lectures in your own words, either out loud or on paper. Known as blurting, this technique relies on your ability to remember material without checking your reference materials. You can check your summary against your notes and chapter when you're finished writing or saying it to see what you missed, but you'll need to go off-book to actively recall as much as you can first. Take a practice quiz. You can ask ChatGPT to generate one, but if you're going the AI route, I recommend Google's NotebookLM, which generates quizzes and flashcards, but only based on materials you upload. Input slide decks, PDFs, links, and YouTube videos from your professor to make sure you're only studying what you're supposed to be. Explain the concept you’re studying to a friend or family member who knows nothing about it. This is called the Feynman method and it'll put your active recall to the test. Not only do you have to repeat the content, but you have to explain it in a way that makes sense to someone unfamiliar, forcing you to make connections and drill down on key details. This works best when you give them the chance to ask you follow-up questions, which can further test how well you actually understand the material. Each of these tasks forces you to retrieve the information from your brain, think about it, and communicate it in some way, which is what active recall is all about. Like I said, taking a test is also an example of engaging in active recall—so practice doing this as many times as you can before your test to make it second nature by then. View the full article

Despite being under a year old and having no revenue, Fermi America had a very successful initial public offering (IPO) this week. The company, which aims to provide data and power centers for artificial intelligence, saw its shares (Nasdaq: FRMI) close at $32.53 on their first day of trading Wednesday, up nearly 55% from their IPO price of $21 per share. Fermi’s stock price continued to rise through after-hours and into premarket trading on Thursday, reaching $36. It reached a high of $39 per share overnight, before dropping closer to $37 ahead of the market opening. What is Fermi? The company was cofounded by Rick Perry, former Texas governor, a GOP presidential contender in 2012 and 2016, and U.S. Secretary of Energy for part of President The President’s first term. His cofounder, Toby Neugebauer, is a former co-managing partner at Quantum Energy. Since its founding in January 2025—yes, nine months ago—Fermi has done very little show and much more tell. It’s working on something called Project Matador, “a multi-gigawatt energy and data center development campus” that would be the world’s largest “HyperGrid.” In its final form, the center would exist as the Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus at Texas Tech University. According to Fermi, it would be “the only site with the potential to include safe, clean, new nuclear power, the nation’s biggest combined-cycle natural gas project, utility grid power, solar power, and battery energy storage at unprecedented scale.” Fermi aims to deliver up to 11 gigawatts of power to AI data centers by 2038, with 1.1 gigawatts online at the end of 2026. With that said, all Fermi currently has is a lease for 5,236 acres of land from Texas Tech University and a dream. It needs funding to start any construction on Project Matador, some of which could come from its successful IPO. So why has Fermi had such a prosperous IPO, despite being little more than a newborn idea? One theory is that investors see an uncertain startup as a lower cost to entry for investing in the AI boom, which is expected to require enormous power and data in the years ahead. The share prices for big AI players like Meta Platforms and Oracle Corp were $717.34 and $289.01, respectively, at close on Wednesday. That’s a lot less accessible than $20 or $30, which can still make someone feel included in the buzz. View the full article

What project management is good at is making the complex simple, or at least manageable. That’s done by using project management tools such as project network diagrams. A project network diagram helps project managers simplify a complex project plan, enabling them to see the project network. It’s important to have an overview of any project, see when it starts and finishes, and quickly note all the activities and how they work together. The critical path method uses project network diagrams to achieve this. However, some might avoid project network diagrams, thinking of them as dense schematics that depict the nodes and connections in a computer network. That would be a mistake. Project managers need tools, and the project network diagram is a great one. Let’s start with a project network diagram definition, then we’ll dive into examples, free tools and project management software. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngLearn more What Is a Network Diagram in Project Management? A project network diagram is a visual representation of the workflow of a project. A network diagram is a project management chart that is populated with boxes noting tasks and responsibilities, and then arrows that map the schedule and the sequence that the work must be completed. Therefore, the project network diagram is a way to visually follow the progress of each phase of the project life cycle to its completion. Project managers use a network diagram to track the project schedule network, allowing them to see the progress of each activity. Then they can share the status with the rest of the project management team. This is especially helpful for those who better understand information that is delivered visually. For those team members, project network diagrams will help with the performance of their tasks and increase the project’s productivity. Another aspect of the network diagram is that it illustrates the project’s scope. That’s because the project network diagram collects all the activities, milestones and deliverables defined on the work breakdown structure of the project. The Critical Path Method (CPM) and the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) are good examples of how to use network diagrams in project management. Project managers use these methods to estimate the duration of the project and create a project schedule. Types of Project Network Diagrams: ADM & PDM Project network diagrams can be divided into two types, the arrow diagram method (ADM) and the precedence diagram method (PDM). The main difference between an ADM and a PDM project network diagram is the way they represent tasks and milestones. Arrow on Arrow Network Diagram As expected, the arrow diagramming method uses arrows to represent the project activities, with the tail of the arrow being its start and the point at the finish. The length of the arrow is the duration of the activity. The arrows connect nodes or boxes that are milestone symbols of the start and finish of the activity in sequence. Precedence Network Diagram In the precedence diagram method, each node or box is an activity. There are arrows, but in this case, they represent task dependencies. There are four types of task dependencies: Finish to start: This means an activity cannot start before its predecessor is finished. Start to start: Use this when two activities can begin simultaneously. Finish to finish: Use this when activities must finish together. Start to finish: Use this when one activity cannot finish until another one starts. Project Network Diagram Examples Here are two project network diagram examples to help you understand how they’re used in project management. They illustrate the two main types of project network diagrams. We recommend creating a work breakdown structure in both cases. Critical Path Diagram Here’s a simple project network diagram example created to make a project schedule and identify the critical path, or the longest sequence of tasks in a project. These tasks must be completed on time or else the project completion will be delayed. Any other project tasks outside of the critical path have slack, which is the length of time in which they might be delayed without affecting the overall project schedule. The critical path network diagram below shows two task sequences starting with tasks A and B respectively, which need to be executed simultaneously to complete a project. It uses the critical path method algorithm to calculate the duration of tasks, estimate the total length of the project schedule and find activities with zero slack to identify the critical path of a project. It’s a precedence diagram, so project tasks are represented with nodes that show information about them while arrows indicate task dependencies. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/critical-path-method-screenshot.pngDownload now Now let’s zoom into each component of this project schedule network diagram. On the left side, there’s a table showing the project tasks’ names, duration and their dependent tasks. Then, each task is represented by a node that shows its name, duration and expected start and finish dates in the critical path network diagram based on four variables: earliest start, earliest finish, latest start and latest finish. /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Project-network-diagram-CPM-task-details-600x145.png Earliest Start (ES): The earliest a task can start based on its preceding tasks. Because task A has no predecessors, its ES is zero because it can start right away. In the same way, the earliest start for task C is 12 because that’s the earliest its predecessor, task A can finish. Earliest Finish (EF): The earliest finish of a task is the sum of its earliest start and its duration. Latest Start (LS): The latest a task will start in the event its preceding task takes the longest time to be completed. Latest Finish (LF): Indicates the latest time for a task to be finished based on the sum of its latest start and its duration. By making these simple calculations, you can use a critical path network diagram to make a project timeline and estimate its duration no matter the industry. PERT Chart Network Diagram PERT charts are a type of project network diagram that represents tasks, dependencies and their start and end date. As you can see in the image below, this arrow diagramming method also helps project managers identify the total duration of a project schedule. However, unlike critical path network diagrams, PERT charts use arrows to represent tasks instead of nodes while nodes represent project milestones. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pert-chart-template-screenshot.pngDownload now Like a CPM chart, PERT diagrams use a table to list project tasks and their preceding activities. However, a PERT project schedule network diagram uses a pessimistic, optimistic and most likely time estimate for the duration of each project task. Having three different time estimates helps project managers calculate the most realistic duration for each project task. Optimistic Time: The minimum amount of time possible to complete a task, assuming there are no issues or delays. Pessimistic Time: The worst-case scenario in which a project task takes the longest time to be completed due to the occurrence of issues and delays. Most Likely Time: The estimated time it takes to complete a task on “normal conditions”, based on historical project data, subject matter expert forecasts and the project manager’s expertise. Expected Time: How long it’ll take to accomplish the task or activity based on the optimistic, pessimistic and most likely time estimates. The expected time is calculated using the PERT chart formula below. E=(O + (4*M) + P) / 6 Lastly, the PERT chart network diagram allows project managers to gauge how accurate their estimates are by calculating the standard deviation of each project task duration. The lower the standard deviation for a task, the more certain its estimated duration will be. (P-O) / 6 The best part is that PERT and CPM network diagrams can be used simultaneously to make a more accurate project schedule. Now let’s go over the process of making a project network diagram. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Critical-path-method-template.jpg Get your free Critical Path Template Use this free Critical Path Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File How to Make a Project Network Diagram in 3 Steps No matter what type of project management network diagram you use, you’ll need to follow the same fundamental fixe steps. First, you need to understand the chronological order in which activities need to be executed and define the project network diagram’s start and endpoints. When you’re plotting your diagram, use arrows that go from left to right. That’s how people read in the West, and the diagram should intuitively follow that pattern. You’ll want to make your project network diagrams as clear and easy to discern as possible. That means don’t clutter the page with arrows that cross one another. Any arrows that you use for directional purposes should be straight. But the length of time that an arrow represents shouldn’t be determined by its length. 1. Create a Predecessor Table A predecessor table is a simple table that lists the activities in one column and notes their preceding tasks in another. Here’s the predecessor table for our PERT chart network diagram example. Remember that this is a predecessor table for an arrow diagramming method, where the arrows represent activities, and nodes represent milestones. /wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Activity-Chart-2023-600x840.png 2. Identify the Activities for Your Project Network Diagram Before you even put pencil to paper, you need to organize your tasks. You don’t want to start making your project network diagrams and realize that you’ve left out some important activities. There are also task dependencies, where tasks can’t start or end until another activity starts or ends. Identify these with a work breakdown structure and break the project into its phases. Then you’re ready to start designing your project network diagram and find out the critical path. 3. Make a Rough Draft of Your Diagram On a more basic level, start your project network diagram by penciling it out first or making a simple project workflow diagram. You can then erase and move items around until you’ve designed the most effective schedule network diagram. /wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Workflow-diagram-pre-construction-1-600x464.png Once you’ve made the final design, think about the type. Different fonts can emphasize parts of the diagram and make your project network diagrams easier to read. A legend or key in the corner will also help the reader understand. Free Network Diagram Software Tools There’s only one way to know if a project network diagram is for you or not: try it. Lucky for you there are a lot of free tools to make a network diagram online. We picked three of our favorite project network diagram software for you to kick the tires and take out for a ride. 1. Google Draw Google has a tool for everything you do, so it almost goes without saying that they have network diagram software. Google Draw is completely free (you don’t even have to put in your credit card). It can help you make flowcharts, UML diagrams, entity relations, mockups and, of course, project network diagrams. Data is stored on Google Drive, but it can also store data on Dropbox and OneDrive. Google Draw can import from a variety of file formats, and it has 27 languages and is easy to share. It’s fast and has real-time collaborative support when connected to a Google account. On the downside, there aren’t a lot of templates and shapes to choose from to create a project network diagram. In addition to this, its features are too limited to be considered a network diagram software for project management. It can be a bit of an uphill battle to learn if you don’t have a design background. This platform is best if you want to make network diagrams occasionally and collaborate with other Google apps. /wp-content/uploads/2023/11/flowchart-template-screenshot-450x464.pngDownload now 2. Gliffy While Gliffy is free, the free version is very limited. If you like it, you’ll probably want to pony up for the full version, with a subscription cost. The cost is tiered, $14.85 every three months for a single user, who can make 200 network diagrams, but none of which integrate with Google Drive. A single-user business account is $29.85 for three months, which includes unlimited diagrams, but it still won’t integrate with Google Drive. For that, you’ll need the business team package, which costs $59.88 a year. The fact that the diagrams are easy to make and collaborate with will probably help with the transition from free to paid. Gliffy is a web-based app and is not suited if you’re looking to make more technical diagrams. However, it’s a free network diagram software which is a good first step into network diagramming. 3. Canva Canva is a free graphic design software that can be used to create various types of tables and charts, some of which can be used for project management such as Gantt charts, project calendars and network diagrams. However, Canva doesn’t have any project management features, so these network diagrams are not suitable for making a project schedule or estimating the duration of projects. Advantages and Limitations of Project Network Diagrams Now that you know what a project schedule network diagram is, let’s take a more critical look at the pros and cons of network diagramming in project management. Pros of Project Network Diagrams Starting with the pros, network diagrams are a boon to project planning. The technique collects all the necessary tasks that are needed to complete the project successfully. This attention to detail before starting a project will help identify the critical path activities and where float, or the time a task can be delayed, might exist. Making a project network diagram is also a great way to create a project schedule and, having all the activities laid out on one chart makes it easier to order the material resources and equipment needed to accomplish them. This description of resources will help with cash flow and assembling the right project team. Additionally, having the tasks on a project network diagram, and being able to see where they’re dependent on other activities, can help resolve issues as they arise during the project management life cycle. Cons of Project Network Diagrams There are also limitations. Making a project network diagram takes time and costs money to produce. Also, the project schedule network can be overly complex and difficult to discern visually in some cases. That defeats one of the main purposes of a project network diagram. Of course, there can be errors when making project network diagrams or other unknown factors that can influence the data collected; all of this can make the network diagram misleading and potentially damaging to your project schedule. Using network diagram software doesn’t guarantee that the network diagram will accurately represent your project schedule if the sequences of activities are not mapped out correctly. Some don’t believe in the necessity of a network diagram and that other tools cover the same ground. For example, there is the Gantt chart, which is also a graphic representation of the project timeline with tasks, duration and dependencies. A Gantt chart is an important project management tool that can also allocate resources, update project status and track tasks and time. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gantt_Manufacturing_Wide_Zoom-175_Focus-on-Tasklist_Spreadsheet-CTA.jpg Best Practices for Project Network Diagrams Taking advantage of the positives and avoiding the negatives of project network diagrams means you need to know what works. For example, a network diagram is a visual language, and like any communicative method, it requires using symbols that are shared and universally understood. Project Network Diagrams Come to Life with ProjectManager A project network diagram is a good start, but you’ll need more than a diagram to control the project management phases. Better to execute your project with a tool that offers full service. ProjectManager is online project management software that takes workflow to the next level. ProjectManager gives you the tools to turn your project network diagram into a full-fledged project schedule with online Gantt charts that allow you to identify the critical path, assign tasks to your team members and add durations and due dates. You can avoid bottlenecks in your workflow by linking tasks that are dependent on one another. Break projects into milestones to further make large phases of the project more digestible. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gantt_Manufacturing_Wide_Zoom-175_Focus-on-Tasklist_Spreadsheet.jpg There’s even a resource tool that shows which team members are under or overallocated to keep the workload balanced. This keeps work flowing and prevents costly overallocation of resources or missed deadlines. Visualize Workflows with Dynamic Boards Workflow is further managed with the kanban project view. Just switch to the board view and everything on your Gantt is now reflected in a kanban board. The workflow is represented by customizable columns, which indicate where each task is in the project. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kanban_Manufacturing_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg Each task is a card that can be dragged and dropped from column to column, which provides transparency into the process and keeps teams focused on just the tasks that they can complete. When team members update their status, that data is instantly reflected across the entire software. Automated email notifications keep teams alert when changes are made or deadlines are approaching. ProjectManager gives project managers and teams the tools they need to manage their workflow, know their responsibilities and stay on schedule. Related Content Using a Swimlane Diagram for Projects, Manufacturing, Business & More What Is SIPOC? How to Make a SIPOC Diagram Gantt Diagram: A How-to Guide with Example How to Make a CPM Network Diagram Step-by-Step Wie man einen Projekt-Netzplan erstellt Comment créer un diagramme réseau de projet : outils et exemples gratuits After you’ve given the free network diagramming apps a spin and get a feel for how they handle, take a look at ProjectManager, online project management software. Our online Gantt chart does much of what a network diagram can do, but also always for real-time collaboration and status reporting and it’s easy to change as the project changes. Try it free for 30 days with this trial. The post How to Make a Project Network Diagram: Free Tools & Examples appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

AI-powered search is moving fast. The latest shift? ChatGPT Shopping. Since April, OpenAI has been rolling out a shopping experience that surfaces product cards directly inside ChatGPT. Instead of sending users to a long list of search results, the interface now provides curated recommendations with images, labels, and “buy” links. For ecommerce SEOs, this is a new channel with very different rules. Placement isn’t driven by ads or bids, at least not yet. Instead, visibility depends on the quality of product data, structured markup, and external signals like reviews and mentions. The implications are significant. Results are condensed to just a handful of products, meaning if you’re not in the shortlist, you’re invisible. As Kevin Indig observes: “The clicks that we get … are highly qualified because people will have all their questions answered through ChatGPT … then being sent out … close to a purchase decision.” ChatGPT Shopping is already being tested across retail verticals, raising questions about traffic, conversion, and how optimization strategies will need to adapt. Current impact on retail search ChatGPT Shopping is no longer theoretical. It’s showing up in ecommerce analytics as a distinct referral channel. (In GA4, utm_source=chatgpt.com.) While the traffic is still small compared to organic or paid search, the early patterns are consistent across verticals: Traffic volume is limited: For most retailers, ChatGPT contributes well under 1% of sessions. Even the highest performers in our data are nowhere near our other acquisition channels. Conversion rates are disproportionately high: Industry research backs this up. ChatGPT sessions convert at ~15.9% compared to ~1.8% for Google Organic, a Seer Interactive study found. These benchmarks align with client data, which shows that traffic from ChatGPT converts 2–4 times higher than site averages. While overall volumes remain small, the trajectory isn’t uniform across industries. Vertical patterns worth watching Early analytics and external studies point to three distinct vertical patterns: Electronics: High product demand and robust data feeds are leading to electronics brands showing up most consistently. Sessions are rising fastest in this category, and cards often mirror Google Shopping with specs, ratings, and review summaries. Food and grocery: Volumes are more modest, but users are steady. Engagement often reflects recurring purchase intent, and bottom-funnel queries like “best grass-fed beef box” or “healthy snack subscription” convert at strong rates when surfaced. Fashion and apparel: Traffic is lighter compared to other categories, but conversion rates consistently outperform site averages. When ChatGPT presents a shortlist of robes, dresses, or pajamas, shoppers clicking through are often ready to purchase. ChatGPT isn’t a discovery engine at scale just yet. But when it does drive clicks, those sessions are among the most qualified in retail. That’s because the user journey looks very different from a Google search. Instead of scrolling through dozens of blue links, ChatGPT processes the query, breaks down the decision criteria, and then surfaces a shortlist of products. What the current experience looks like When a user enters a shopping-intent query such as “best smart home camera,” ChatGPT outlines factors like: Resolution. Night vision. Indoor vs. outdoor use before recommending specific models. By the time a shopper clicks through, they’ve already worked through the decision-making criteria and are much closer to purchase. This process highlights the real shift: the shopping experience inside ChatGPT looks and feels different from traditional search. Instead of filters and menus, users refine results conversationally by saying things like “only in black” or “exclude Amazon.” Follow-up questions trigger new, context-aware answers that help influence the purchase decision. A key feature of ChatGPT is OpenAI’s memory capabilities. With shopping, ChatGPT can reference past conversations and saved preferences to customize product offerings. These improvements already apply to free, Plus, and Pro users. Clicking a card expands to a detail panel: A short AI explanation of why the product is recommended. Aggregated star ratings. Review counts. Purchase links from multiple retailers. The takeaway is simple: Fewer results and more context mean that if your products don’t make the shortlist, they may as well not exist. What’s next for ChatGPT Shopping ChatGPT Shopping is still new but evolving quickly. Several shifts are already on the horizon: Sponsored placements: While results are organic today, many expect monetization to follow. Ads or eligibility costs (bids) may start playing a role soon. In-chat checkout: OpenAI has already launched Instant Checkout for Etsy, letting users buy without leaving ChatGPT. Earlier, Reuters reported a broader Shopify integration in development, with merchants expected to pay a commission. Seeing how ChatGPT Shopping works in practice is one thing. The bigger question is how SEOs are making sense of it, balancing the upside of highly qualified traffic with the frustrations of small numbers and fast-changing results. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. How SEOs are framing it Practitioners are stressing both the opportunity and the limits of ChatGPT Shopping. While ChatGPT-driven traffic is more engaging than organic search, the volume still lags considerably, recent analysis from Siege Media shows. The conversion quality may be undeniable, but the scale is not there yet. At the same time, volatility is a recurring theme. Since April 2025, ChatGPT Shopping results have undergone the most significant update since launch. The format is evolving quickly. Interface changes, new product labels, and shifts in how results are explained have already been implemented. For SEOs, that means constant monitoring, as visibility can shift overnight. Others are looking at the bigger picture. In other words, this isn’t a side experiment. ChatGPT shopping is here to stay and will be a structural shift in how product discovery happens. Industry studies back up this sentiment. A recent Semrush report found that: “The average LLM visitor is worth 4.4 times the average visit from traditional organic search.” “AI search visitors [will] surpass traditional search visitors in 2028.” Even if ChatGPT Shopping referrals are a trickle today, the long-term direction is unmistakable. For SEOs, the takeaway is straightforward: track it now and experiment with what improves visibility. With so much still unsettled, the best way to understand ChatGPT Shopping is through practice. Early experiments are already revealing what works, what breaks, and where the quirks lie. Field notes: Early wins, misses, and quirks ChatGPT Shopping still feels new. The front-end is polished, but experiments by agencies, in-house teams, and SEOs show it’s unstable, inconsistent, and sometimes unpredictable. Let’s see what really works and what doesn’t from the field. What’s working consistently Complete product data matters: Brands with clean, fully populated product feeds are getting rewarded. Specifically, products with brand, model, variant, synced pricing and stock availability, and identifiers like GTIN/MPN are repeatedly surfacing for queries. An article from CleanDigital notes that product feed quality is one of the most immediate and valuable levers to pull. Schema and structured data help significantly: Sites using robust JSON-LD (Product, Offer, AggregateRating, FAQ) are more likely to be included, especially when schema is server-rendered instead of added late via JS. Wolfgang Digital’s guide confirms structured metadata is a major ranking signal in ChatGPT Shopping. Benefit-led content wins: Product pages that describe “who this is for” and “why it’s good” give the AI strong content to echo back (labels or short explanations). Public reviews and mentions increase trust. Product sentiment, review volume, and off-site mentions in blogs or forums help build labels like “durable,” “quiet,” and “budget-friendly.” ChatGPT pulls from third-party reviews, forums, publisher content, and merchant feeds. Where things break down Variants are messy: Users asking for “black sneakers” may see navy; “king-size sheets” may pull “Cal King.” When variant info (size, color) is vague or inconsistent, mistakes happen. Price and stock lag behind: The displayed price sometimes misses promotions; stock is often out of date. Users click through and find “out of stock,” harming trust. Retailer order seems arbitrary: In purchasing options, listings appear driven by feed completeness or earliest indexed feed, not always best price or loyalty. Result volatility is real: The same query can return very different product sets even hours apart. For SEO tracking, this means rank reports are unstable and less useful. Quirks and unexpected behavior Bing correlation: Products that do well in Bing Shopping are disproportionately likely to show up in ChatGPT. Bing feeds seem to be a key data source. Shopify edge: Shopify stores appear to enjoy advantages, such as streamlined catalog integration, easier feed management, and more consistently filled fields. Niche retailers rising: In tests, specialist merchants with strong product data and rich descriptions surface for competitive queries even over large generalist retailers. What this means for practitioners The patterns are still early, but the message is clear. Products win when they deliver on four core pillars – what we can call the “FEED” method. F: Full product data Winners: Complete, consistent data across feeds and schema. Every GTIN, variant, and spec is accounted for. Failures: Ambiguous variant labeling, stale feeds, or missing schema leave LLMs guessing and avoiding products altogether. E: External validation Winners: Reviews that are plentiful, fresh, and visible across multiple sites. Off-site mentions that reinforce credibility. Failures: Thin brand presence outside the official site undermines trust and keeps products off the shortlist. E: Engaging benefit-led copy Winners: Copy that speaks in benefits and use-cases, not just specs. Framing around “who this is for” and “problems solved.” Failures: Dry, specifications-only product pages that don’t tell a story fail to resonate with the AI or the buyer. D: Dynamic monitoring Winners: Teams who track appearance rates, monitor representation accuracy, and measure conversions post-click. Failures: Relying on traditional rank tracking in a volatile system where today’s shortlist may be completely different from tomorrow’s list. A new channel, a new playbook For SEOs and ecommerce marketers, this is both frustrating and exciting. Frustrating because traditional tracking tools don’t apply. Exciting because the playing field feels open. Smaller brands with clean data and strong customer voices can break into conversations where they’d never outrank a big box retailer on Google. The key is to treat ChatGPT Shopping like a new distribution channel. It’s not about tweaking meta titles. It’s about feeding the AI a complete, consistent, and credible story across data, content, and customer proof. Brands that adapt fastest will own the shortlist while others are still debating whether AI shopping is “real.” View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. One of the best ways to retain knowledge when studying for a test is to maintain a particularly strict study schedule. The technique is called “distributed practice,” and I won't pretend it is easy to set up, but it's much more efficient than trying to cram. Here's what to do so you actually remember what you're supposed to be learning. What is distributed practice?Distributed practice, like a number of the most common study techniques you can try, has its roots in the work of Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist who studied memory. Over 100 years ago, he studied nonsense syllables over and over to figure out the best way to get them to stick in his memory. He found that the frequency with which he studied them, as well as the order in which he studied them, had an impact on how well he retained them. Right now, we're going over the value of frequency, but if you're interested in the role order plays in helping you remember what you study, read this. Ultimately, his findings led to the development of what we now know as distributed practice, which is just a fancy name for spacing study sessions out in a specific way and studying the same thing every time. In essence, it’s the opposite of “massed practice,” which is more commonly known as cramming. Instead of studying everything in one block before your test, you study it in smaller bursts leading up to the test. How do you distribute the practice?The trick here is deciding how often to space out your study sessions. Ideally, set aside study time every day, like one hour, and leave a day for resting. (Breaks are crucial for productivity overall.) What you study on those days will depend largely on what tests you have coming up and when they are. Look ahead in your syllabi and mark all test dates in your planner. According to one study, your best bet for maximum retention is to study the same topic every 10% to 30% of the time you’ll need to retain it. That means if you have a test in 10 days, you’ll study from every one to three days from now until then. This is where retrieval practice comes in. During your first few study sessions, you’re just studying as normal, using a technique like SQ3R or KWL to engage in active reading. After that, though, you should be using active recall strategies to retrieve the information you already know during the study sessions. The best way to do this is using flashcards, especially following the Leitner system to review the content you already know on spaced intervals that depend on how well you’ve mastered it. The most important part of distributed practice, though, is repeatedly going over the content on a fixed schedule. Even if that means just rereading and reviewing it every four days, it will be more beneficial than cramming. It might be helpful to download an app, like My Study Life, to create a schedule for yourself so it's easier to stick to. This part boils down to willpower, but you can do it. View the full article

It’s not just Hollywood that’s been grappling with how to deal with AI-generated characters. Wikipedia editors are figuring all this out as they go along, too. Following reports this week that an AI “actress” named Tilly Norwood is attracting interest from talent agents and rattling real-life performers who make their living in movies and on TV, Wikipedia editors moved quickly to create a page for the character—and almost immediately began arguing over how to describe it. Is it a synthetic actress? Is it even a she? Can Tilly Norwood, despite having 45,000 followers on Instagram, be accurately described as doing anything? These are the types of questions that have been plaguing the dutiful volunteers who are tasked with editing the world’s largest crowd-sourced encyclopedia. While few would argue that the AI character doesn’t meet Wikipedia’s notability guidelines, no one seems quite sure what exactly to say about it. “I’m not comfortable with asserting that Tilly Norwood exists, actually,” one editor wrote on Tuesday, the day the page was created. “I’m also not comfortable with the article using gendered pronouns for the Tilly construct.” Do AI actresses dream of electric Oscars? The discussions this week among Wikipedia editors—which are visible via the website’s “talk” pages—offer a fascinating window into the semantic debates that our society is facing more broadly at a time when we’re sharing more and more of our screen time with AI-generated objects designed to look and act like us. An early revision of Tilly Norwood’s page described the character as an “artificial intelligence-generated actress” who “starred” in an AI-generated sketch comedy show. The current version of the page has toned down the anthropomorphic language, although the gendered pronouns remain intact: “Tilly Norwood is an artificial intelligence-generated character marketed as an actress.” A review of talk pages reveals that editors debated passionately about whether to refer to Tilly Norwood as an actress at all, with some arguing that Wikipedia’s language should merely reflect common usage. “‘Actress’ is how the vast majority of reliable sources describe her,” one person wrote. ‘Trained on the work of professional performers’ Tilly Norwood is the brainchild of Xicoia, an AI talent studio launched by Dutch comedian and producer Eline van der Velden. The studio is a division of production company Particle6. The character, whose social media feed includes a mix of AI-generated modeling shots, selfies, and epic movie scenes, made a splash recently at the Zurich Film Festival and has since sparked industry backlash. SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents screen actors, issued a blistering statement, calling Tilly Norwood a “computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers—without permission or compensation.” A report last year from consulting firm CVL Economics found that more than 203,000 entertainment-related jobs in the United States could be disrupted by generative AI technologies by 2026. Fortunately, where Wikipedia is concerned at least, this is not entirely new territory. After all, the site has hosted a page for Mickey Mouse since 2001. For the record, Mickey is described as a he. View the full article

Discover why branding and clear communication matter in today’s fast-moving SEO landscape, plus insightful takeaways from our latest State of SEO report. The post Moving Beyond E-E-A-T: Branding, Survival And The State Of SEO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The government shutdown that began Wednesday will deprive policymakers and investors of economic data vital to their decision-making at a time of unusual uncertainty about the direction of the U.S. economy. The absence will be felt almost immediately, as the government’s monthly jobs report scheduled for release Friday will likely be delayed. A weekly report on the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs that is typically published on Thursdays — will also be postponed. If the shutdown is short-lived, it won’t be very disruptive. But if the release of economic data is delayed for several weeks or longer, it could pose challenges, particularly for the Federal Reserve. The Fed is grappling with where to set a key interest rate at a time of conflicting signals, with inflation running above its 2% target and hiring nearly ground to a halt, driving the unemployment rate higher in August. The Fed typically cuts this rate when unemployment rises, but raises it — or at least leaves it unchanged — when inflation is rising too quickly. It’s possible the Fed will have little new federal economic data to analyze by its next meeting on Oct. 28-29, when it is widely expected to reduce its rate again. “The job market had been a source of real strength in the economy but has been slowing down considerably the past few months,” said Michael Linden, senior policy fellow at the left-leaning Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “It would be very good to know if that slowdown was continuing, accelerating, or reversing.” The Fed cut its rate by a quarter-point earlier this month and signaled it was likely to do so twice more this year. Fed officials said they would keep a close eye on how inflation and unemployment evolve, but that depends on the data being available. A key inflation report is scheduled for Oct. 15 and the government’s monthly retail sales report is slated for release the next day. “We’re in a meeting-by-meeting situation, and we’re going to be looking at the data,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a news conference earlier this month. The economic picture has recently gotten cloudier. Despite slower hiring, there are signs that overall economic growth may be picking up. Consumers have stepped up their shopping and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta estimates the economy likely expanded at a healthy clip in the July-September quarter, after a large gain in the April-June period. A key question for the Fed is whether that growth can revive the job market, which this Friday’s report might have helped illustrate. Economists had forecast another month of weak hiring, with just 50,000 new positions added, according to a survey by FactSet. The unemployment rate was projected to stay at a still-low 4.3%. On Wall Street, investors obsess over the monthly jobs reports, typically issued the first Friday of every month. It’s a crucial indicator of the economy’s health and provides insights into how the Fed might adjust interest rates, which affects the cost of borrowing and influences how investors allocate their money. So far, investors don’t seem fazed by the shutdown. The broad S&P 500 stock index rose slightly Wednesday to an all-time high. Many businesses also rely on government data to gauge how the economy is faring. The Commerce Department’s monthly report on retail sales, for example, is a comprehensive look at the health of U.S. consumers and can influence whether companies make plans to expand or shrink their operations and workforces. For the time being, the Fed, economists, and investors will likely focus more on private data. On Wednesday, the payroll provider ADP issued its monthly employment data, which showed that businesses cut 32,000 jobs in September — a signal the economy is slowing. Still, ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said her firm’s report “was not intended to be a replacement” for government statistics. The ADP data does not capture what’s happening at government agencies, for example — an area of the economy that could be significantly affected by a lengthy shutdown. “Using a portfolio of private sector and government data gives you a better chance of capturing a very complicated economy in a complex world,” she said. The Fed will remain open no matter how long the shutdown lasts, because it funds itself from earnings on the government bonds and other securities it owns. It will continue to provide its monthly snapshots of industrial production, which includes mining, manufacturing, and utility output. The next industrial production report will be released Oct. 17. —Christopher Rugaber and Paul Wiseman, AP Economics Writers View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. Peloton announced this week, among other things, that all of its devices are getting a bit of an overhaul. While the Bike, Bike+, Tread, Tread+, and Row each got some improvements, this doesn't necessarily mean you have to upgrade your equipment just yet. Comparing old Peloton models with the new Cross Training SeriesFirst, the basics: Peloton unveiled all-new versions of its classic at-home fitness equipment Wednesday. Collectively, they're known as the Cross Training series—the equipment itself is the Cross Training Bike, the Cross Training Bike+, etc. Like before, there are still five models—two bikes, two treadmills, and a rowing machine—but the new versions have features that make them more compatible with cross training and are just a little better than their predecessors overall. Peloton Bike vs. Peloton Cross Training BikeWe'll start with the classic bike, Peloton's bread and butter. The original Bike retails for $1,145 and the new Cross Training Bike is $1,695. Like all the new models, the updated version of the base model Bike features a swiveling touchscreen designed to make it easier for you to segue from cardio on the machine to strength, stretching, yoga, or some other Peloton workout, all while still following along with an instructor on the screen. Otherwise, what this $200 price hike gets you is pretty basic: There is improved audio in the form of front-facing speakers, better wifi connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.2. It also has an upgraded seat, which Peloton describes as "an ergonomically redesigned saddle with enhanced cushioning and optimized weight distribution." A comfier seat is a bonus, but comfier seats were already available on the third-party market. There are more similarities between the old model and new than there are differences. Both have manual resistance knobs, a 21.5" touchscreen, a belt drive, and magnetic resistance. To be clear, Peloton didn't set out to reinvent the (fly)wheel here; all of these devices are functionally similar to their predecessors. You cycle on the Bike, run on the Tread, and row on the Row, just as you always did. Bike+ vs. Cross Training Bike+I liked the old Bike+ when I tested it out, but the new Bike+ has some significant upgrades over that one. The old-style Bike+ retails for $2,495 while the Cross Training Bike+ is $2,695. You get the swivel screen and the upgraded seat, but you also get a movement-tracking camera that uses AI to make suggestions and correct your form, Sonos audio with a woofer, AI-powered voice commands, a fan, a phone tray, and better software overall. Like the old Bike+, this one has a 23.8" HD touchscreen and the much-loved auto-resistance feature. I got the chance to play around with the new devices at Peloton Studios this week and, from what I experienced, the company's claims that the hardware and software have been enhanced to improve touchscreen responsiveness and audio quality are accurate. That's true for this new Bike+ and all the newer models announced. Tread vs. Cross Training TreadThe Cross Training Tread is $3,295 compared to the Tread's $2,995, though both get you a 23.8" HD touchscreen, a maximum speed of 12.5 miles per hour, and an incline up to 12.5%, as well as a soft-touch running belt. That price increase also covers the swivel screen, an upgraded processor, and better speakers and connectivity. Tread+ vs. Cross Training Tread+You're going to notice a theme here: The Plus models pack more upgraded features into their upgrades, period. That's true for the Cross Training Tread+, which sees one of the biggest price increases over its predecessor—it now retails for $6,495 compared to $5,995. The similarities are in the 32" screen, slatted running belt, and incline up to 15%. The differences mirror the differences between the Bike+ and Cross Training Bike+: It comes with the movement-tracking camera, swivel screen, Sonos speakers, voice control, fan, and upgraded tech and hardware. Row vs. Cross Training Row+The Row is the Peloton device that moved from plain-old equipment to Plus line. Now, the Cross Training Row+ retails for $3,495 instead of $3,195 and comes with all those Plus features, like the rotating screen, movement-tracking camera, Sonos speakers, voice control, fan, and upgraded processor. Should you upgrade your Peloton device?Let me start by saying I have only gotten to interact with the new devices for a brief time during a press event, so I haven't formed my opinion based on any extensive use. That said, what I saw at the event was impressive—especially from the Plus line, which is the line that features the much-touted movement-tracking camera. If you are considering upgrading, your best bet is to go all the way to Plus so you can make the most of all the new features Peloton announced. The movement-tracking camera and voice controls were really slick in the demos I participated in. The camera can correct your form or let you know when lifting a certain way is becoming too easy for you and you should consider moving to a higher weight, for instance. The Plus line also has the built-in fan, which is simply a nice touch. All of that said, while Peloton rolled out new classes and AI features to accompany these cross training devices, everything except the motion-tracking and voice control works fine on existing equipment. If you have a Bike or even older Bike+, you'll still be able to use the new customized workout scheduling feature, plus all the other features you've already had access to. If you're not in a rush to get rid of your old machine, you don't have to unless you really want the motion-tracking camera and voice commands. Upgrading to the Cross Training Bike or Cross Training Tread doesn't make sense to me right now, since the only real improvement you get with those is the swivel screen. If I were going to get a new device—and, after almost five years with my beloved Bike, I'm finally considering it—I'd opt for a Plus so I could take advantage of all the new tools and features. It's worth keeping in mind, though, that whether you upgrade hardware or not, you're going to be paying more as it is. Membership fees for Peloton's app, which allows you to take classes and follow programs on your phone as well as on the company's proprietary devices, are going up as of the new equipment release. The new prices for membership are: All-Access Membership goes up from $44 to $49.99 per month App+ Membership goes up from $24 to $28.99 App One Membership goes up from $12.99 to $15.99 Moreover, Peloton has done away with free installation, which we knew was coming. You'll have to spend $150 for assembly of your new device, unless you get a Cross Training Tread+, which will run you $299 in assembly fees. Accounting for all these extra fees is part of deciding if you need new equipment, so take it all in. Peloton will be rolling out deals for existing members who want to upgrade in the coming days and weeks. For now, don't forget that the company launched its own resale platform earlier this year and, depending on what kind of device you sell, not only do you get paid for the equipment itself, but you get a few hundred bucks off your future Peloton purchase. If you're considering a new device from this upgraded fleet, look into selling your old goods first so you have a better sense of how much money you have to work with. And if you don't have a Peloton device but want one, maybe think about waiting around a few weeks for all the older models to hit the resale site. Like I said, the new software upgrades work just fine on them, so this could be your moment to get a great deal. View the full article

In a landscape increasingly shaped by technology, Shopify is stepping up to redefine the shopping experience for small business owners. Today, the eCommerce giant announced a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI that allows merchants to sell their products directly within AI-driven conversations, particularly those utilizing ChatGPT. This collaboration aims to seamlessly connect shoppers with millions of products, positioning Shopify as a leader in the quickly changing world of online retail. Vanessa Lee, Shopify’s VP of Product, highlighted the transformative potential of this initiative: “Shopping is changing fast. People are discovering products in AI conversations, not just through search or ads. This will let our merchants show up naturally in those moments and give shoppers a way to buy without breaking their flow.” For small businesses, this shift holds significant implications, expanding their reach into an arena where consumer attention is often fleeting. Through the integration of ChatGPT, Shopify merchants gain real-time access to essential product data, like pricing and inventory. When a user queries ChatGPT for shopping recommendations, their responses will automatically draw from Shopify’s vast network of merchants, enabling direct purchases. Colleen Waters, VP of eCommerce at Steve Madden, underscored this benefit, stating, “AI will fundamentally reshape how our customers shop. Being on Shopify means we can automatically be wherever our customers are shopping—including inside AI conversations.” For small business owners, the marriage of AI and commerce presents various practical advantages. With their store names prominently displayed, merchants maintain transparency and consumer trust, ensuring shoppers know exactly who they are buying from. From an administrative perspective, all orders will route through Shopify’s system, keeping merchants firmly in control of their brand identity and customer relationships. Additionally, Shopify specifies whether customers check out through a merchant’s site or via the Instant Checkout process. This flexibility allows small businesses to tailor their shopping experience without extra complexity. “Our goal is always to keep merchants on the cutting edge by default,” Lee remarked, emphasizing that the tools provided are designed to promote growth for businesses of all sizes. However, while the prospects of increased sales through AI interactions are exciting, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Adapting to a new sales channel can be daunting. Owners may need to familiarize themselves with the nuances of AI-driven commerce and ensure their online presence is optimized for these emerging platforms. The integration also necessitates a robust reliance on technology—something not every small business is equipped to handle, especially those without dedicated IT resources. Ultimately, with the rapid growth of AI influencing consumer behavior, the strategic move by Shopify positions small business owners to capitalize on “agentic commerce,” where transactions can occur fluidly within AI-driven dialogues. As Vanessa Lee puts it, “We’re making sure our merchants thrive in the era of agentic commerce.” This transition allows entrepreneurs to focus on their core competencies—developing their products and enhancing customer relationships—while Shopify manages the technical complexities. For small business owners looking to stay ahead in an evolving retail landscape, selling through AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT could become a vital component of their sales strategy. The future of commerce involves not just reacting to change but being prepared for it. As Shopify continues to innovate, it may provide a lifeline for businesses aiming to navigate the emerging digital terrain. For further information about this partnership and how it can enhance your business, visit the original announcement on Shopify’s website here. Image via Shopify This article, "Shopify Integrates With OpenAI to Transform AI-Driven Shopping Experience" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a landscape increasingly shaped by technology, Shopify is stepping up to redefine the shopping experience for small business owners. Today, the eCommerce giant announced a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI that allows merchants to sell their products directly within AI-driven conversations, particularly those utilizing ChatGPT. This collaboration aims to seamlessly connect shoppers with millions of products, positioning Shopify as a leader in the quickly changing world of online retail. Vanessa Lee, Shopify’s VP of Product, highlighted the transformative potential of this initiative: “Shopping is changing fast. People are discovering products in AI conversations, not just through search or ads. This will let our merchants show up naturally in those moments and give shoppers a way to buy without breaking their flow.” For small businesses, this shift holds significant implications, expanding their reach into an arena where consumer attention is often fleeting. Through the integration of ChatGPT, Shopify merchants gain real-time access to essential product data, like pricing and inventory. When a user queries ChatGPT for shopping recommendations, their responses will automatically draw from Shopify’s vast network of merchants, enabling direct purchases. Colleen Waters, VP of eCommerce at Steve Madden, underscored this benefit, stating, “AI will fundamentally reshape how our customers shop. Being on Shopify means we can automatically be wherever our customers are shopping—including inside AI conversations.” For small business owners, the marriage of AI and commerce presents various practical advantages. With their store names prominently displayed, merchants maintain transparency and consumer trust, ensuring shoppers know exactly who they are buying from. From an administrative perspective, all orders will route through Shopify’s system, keeping merchants firmly in control of their brand identity and customer relationships. Additionally, Shopify specifies whether customers check out through a merchant’s site or via the Instant Checkout process. This flexibility allows small businesses to tailor their shopping experience without extra complexity. “Our goal is always to keep merchants on the cutting edge by default,” Lee remarked, emphasizing that the tools provided are designed to promote growth for businesses of all sizes. However, while the prospects of increased sales through AI interactions are exciting, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Adapting to a new sales channel can be daunting. Owners may need to familiarize themselves with the nuances of AI-driven commerce and ensure their online presence is optimized for these emerging platforms. The integration also necessitates a robust reliance on technology—something not every small business is equipped to handle, especially those without dedicated IT resources. Ultimately, with the rapid growth of AI influencing consumer behavior, the strategic move by Shopify positions small business owners to capitalize on “agentic commerce,” where transactions can occur fluidly within AI-driven dialogues. As Vanessa Lee puts it, “We’re making sure our merchants thrive in the era of agentic commerce.” This transition allows entrepreneurs to focus on their core competencies—developing their products and enhancing customer relationships—while Shopify manages the technical complexities. For small business owners looking to stay ahead in an evolving retail landscape, selling through AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT could become a vital component of their sales strategy. The future of commerce involves not just reacting to change but being prepared for it. As Shopify continues to innovate, it may provide a lifeline for businesses aiming to navigate the emerging digital terrain. For further information about this partnership and how it can enhance your business, visit the original announcement on Shopify’s website here. Image via Shopify This article, "Shopify Integrates With OpenAI to Transform AI-Driven Shopping Experience" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Strengthen your international presence by aligning hreflang setup with market goals and user expectations. The post Ask An SEO: What Are The Most Common Hreflang Mistakes & How Do I Audit Them? appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

More than a sales tool, a product demo can be the moment your brand earns credibility and converts prospects. A strong demo proves value in real time, turning curiosity into confidence. Too often, though, demos fall flat – sounding like a scripted feature list instead of a compelling, conversational story. This article shows how to create demos that resonate with real customer needs and differentiate your brand through empathy, consistency, and competitive insight. Know your product, know the problem it solves A demo isn’t about memorizing features. It’s about mastering the problem your product solves. Without this deep understanding, you’re just delivering a monologue. To build an effective, people-first demo that connects with real pain points, you need to become a subject matter expert on your product, inside and out. Get hands-on: Use the product yourself. Explore every feature and setting to understand its purpose and avoid technical glitches during a live demo. Talk to the team: Engage with product managers, engineers, and customer support. They have a great deal of practical knowledge that may not be in formal documentation and can provide crucial insights into how the product really works. Listen to customers: The most profound insights come from your users. Have direct conversations, read online reviews, and pay attention to feedback. This audience sentiment will reveal their needs, challenges, and how they actually use the product. A demo’s success is determined by your mastery of the user’s problem. When you show genuine empathy for their struggles, you transform the demo from a sales pitch into a trusted consultation. Ask questions at the beginning stage of the demo if you haven’t met them before. This can help you tailor your demo to address specific issues the person is trying to solve. Dig deeper: How to do audience research for SEO The differentiator playbook: How to leverage competitive analysis Every demo is a comparison in the buyer’s mind. To stand out, you need to highlight your unique value proposition – and that starts with competitive analysis. Done well, it’s more than research. It’s storytelling. To conduct a targeted competitive analysis: Set clear goals: Define what you want to learn. Are you identifying unique selling points, uncovering pricing advantages, or spotting market gaps? Your goals should be measurable and aligned with your strategy. Identify your competitors: Look at both direct and indirect competitors. Direct competitors offer a similar product to the same audience, while indirect ones may solve the same problem with a different solution, like a water brand competing with a soda brand as a lunch-time beverage. Use the right tools: Use a blend of primary research (e.g., signing up for free trials) and secondary research (e.g., search engine analysis tools to see which keywords they’re targeting). Read online reviews to understand their strengths and weaknesses from a user’s perspective. With this data, you can build a “differentiator-driven script.” Your demo’s story should focus on a common pain point and show how your product uniquely solves it, especially where a competitor’s solution falls short. Here’s a simple framework to organize your findings: This is a great task for you to get help from your favorite generative AI tool. I’ve built several competitive “battle cards” using Gemini’s deep research feature, which has been particularly helpful for this task. During the demo, don’t talk about competitors’ weaknesses. Focus on your product’s strengths, especially those that differ from other products the prospective customer may mention. Dig deeper: How to analyze your SEO competitors to find opportunities Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Consistency and practice: The foundation of a great presentation A demo is a conversation, not a monologue, and practice is what elevates it from a memorized script to a fluid, conversational discussion. Consistency, meanwhile, ensures that your brand’s tone, style, and messaging are unified across every touchpoint, from live demos to pre-recorded videos. To perfect your demo: Ditch the script, embrace the dialogue: Scripts are a starting point, but your goal is to internalize the material so you can respond flexibly to real-time questions. Role-playing with a colleague is a great way to practice thinking on your feet and build confidence. Stick to the 3-point rule: Avoid overwhelming the audience with a “feature dump.” Instead, focus on demonstrating only the two or three core value propositions that directly address the prospect’s pain points. Build a single source of truth: A centralized repository for all brand assets, from slide templates to approved messaging, ensures every department, not just marketing, stays on-brand. This consistency can result in increased information retention for customers and sales. Use technology to scale: Tools like Marq or Prezent can automate brand compliance, allowing teams to create on-brand presentations instantly. This ensures your message remains cohesive even as the company grows. Dig deeper: The complete guide to high-impact educational video content Mastering the pivot: How to handle questions and concerns An engaged prospect asks questions, which is a great sign. It means they’re paying attention and considering your product’s value. Handling these inquiries gracefully is a hallmark of expertise and professionalism. Respond verbally first: Instead of immediately jumping into the software, answer with a simple “yes” or a quick explanation. This addresses their curiosity without derailing your demo or losing control of the narrative. Park questions that don’t fit: If a question is too big or unrelated, acknowledge it and explain that you’ll “circle back to that at the end” or follow up afterward. Make a visible promise: Write the question on a notepad or shared screen to show the prospect you’ve heard them and won’t forget it. Create a high-value follow-up: Treat unanswered questions as opportunities to continue the conversation. Send a personalized email that directly addresses the concern, reinforcing your reliability and expertise. The journey after a demo is just as crucial as the demo itself. A speedy, proactive, and thoughtful follow-up keeps you top of mind and makes your potential client feel important. Dig deeper: How to make engaging long-form YouTube videos Winning demos start with the customer A great product demo is a strategic asset grounded in empathy, insight, and consistency – not luck or charisma. By knowing your product, understanding the competition, and delivering with a human-centered approach, you turn a demo into a growth engine. The best demos always begin with the customer’s needs. View the full article

Instead of using your usual study methods (and getting the same results you always get, for better or worse) this is the year to level up. There are plenty of great ways to review and retain material, but to use them, you have to give up your bad habits first. Here's what to avoid and what to prioritize instead. Don't just rewrite your workRewriting is fine if you’re refining and condensing your material (and you should be rewriting your notes immediately after class for better retention), but it’s not the best strategy for remembering information if you’re simply recopying everything you’ve already written over and over. The writing center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests condensing notes to the point that they only include key concepts. After or instead of that, try using active recall, a method that requires you to dig information out of your short-term memory to help that information stick around longer. You can use flashcards (ideally by mastering the Leitner method), summarize your chapters and notes out loud (otherwise known as blurting), or take a practice quiz—and it’ll be more helpful than basic rewriting. If you're low on time or motivation, you can generate a custom practice quiz using Google's NotebookLM. That's what I've been doing while I've been reviewing for an upcoming certification exam. You just upload your own materials and the software will create flashcards and quizzes for you. Don't take linear notesWriting down what you hear during a lecture is important, but doing it in a productive and beneficial way is even better. And while this might seem like it’s not really “studying,” remember that it’s the first big step toward overall retention. Just jotting down key words and phrases or, worse, every single word, won’t help you identify main concepts or make connections between them. Instead, use a note-taking method like outlining or the Cornell method to actively listen and record the most pertinent information as you go. And don’t forget to revise them right away after class! The same goes for when you're reading materials on your own. Use a note-taking method designed to enhance your critical reading skills, like SQ3R or KWL, so you can take notes that make sense and serve the bigger purpose of helping you retain what you're learning. Don't cramCramming is an inevitable part of the school experience at some point or another, but it’s not an ideal way to study every single time you have a test. In fact, scholars and researchers have suggested it may even backfire, causing you to remember less for your big test. Instead, schedule your studying out across multiple days. Use the distributed practice technique to create the perfect schedule for your studying based on when your next test is. It takes more discipline, but it will help you remember more material for longer periods of time, which makes it ideal for cumulative finals as well as regular old quizzes. Don't work nonstopTake breaks when you study, even if you’re cramming. A key element of distributed practice is breaking the study sessions into chunks. Seriously, it's called chunking and it's a real study technique. You’re more productive when you take breaks, so try using the Pomodoro method to schedule those breaks consistently. Pomodoro is a method that calls on you to work for 25 minutes, take a five minute break, and get back to work four times before taking a bigger break. You can mess around with methods that work for you, too. For instance, try an app to help you stay focused and schedule your Pomodoro sessions. You can also fiddle with the timing of your sessions. Maybe longer work and break segments work for you or you need shorter time working. Pomodoro adaptations are abundant, so take some time to figure out what you prefer. Avoid being too granularIf you are really locked in on your content and start obsessing over every detail, you're going to miss the forest for the trees. The University of British Columbia warns its students against over-highlighting, and for good reason: When you make everything a key point, you don’t remember the pieces of information that really are. There are benefits to color-coding your texts and notes, but only if you do it intentionally and carefully—and colorful highlights aren't the only way this can become problematic. Consider the Pareto principle, which says that 80% of your results come from 20% of your effort. Use one of the reading techniques I mentioned—SQ3R or KWL—to break down your content until you have a good idea of the most crucial elements, then study from there. You don't need to know every single definition of every single word, but you'll need to know how the course material connects so you understand what it's all about. This is also where taking those breaks comes in. If you go too hard for too long, you'll get a little too worked up. Break up the chapter, break up your time, and don't get over-stressed to the point of losing the plot. If you're worried you're not grasping the overall concepts, try using the Feynman method to see how you're doing. It involves teaching the material to someone who is unfamiliar with it, relying on the idea that if you can teach something, then you understand it. Do this with a friend or a parent or even with ChatGPT. If you struggle explaining it—like if you've spent too much time trying to memorize every tiny detail but can't relay how they all work together big-picture—head back to the drawing board and break the material down more. View the full article

Sweeping tax commitments are foolish in an unpredictable world but abandoning them would be corrosive to democracyView the full article

It’s the dream: You finish a huge project that wins widespread acclaim—from your boss, your peers, your clients, your friends and family. You’re flying high. The world should be your oyster. And yet? You can’t find the inspiration to follow up. Your productivity dries up. You’re afraid lightning won’t strike twice. You fear being a one-hit wonder. Maybe not in the obsolete pop star sense—but in the professional, creative, successful sense. It’s a horrible, limiting feeling that kills your productivity, not to mention confidence. But according to research from the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands, there’s a cause for the feelings of inadequacy following a big accomplishment. And better understanding this phenomenon can help to break through that mental block. In this paid Premium story, you’ll: Better understand why success makes you scared How to trick your brain out of the paralyzing thought loop Learn how to knock it out of the park a second time Feeling marked by success The research points to something called a “creative identity threat,” in which you become so attached to your reputation for genius (or, well near genius), that you fear putting it at risk with another project. This paralyzes original thinking—making a sophomore slump almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. Dirk Deichmann, one of the researchers behind the Rotterdam study, says that the inspiration for this project was the product of living in a flat above a cookbook store. He was fascinated by the sheer variety of titles in their window. “You can do endless combinations with new categories [of cuisine], new techniques, and materials,” he says. So as a creativity researcher, he immediately started wondering what kinds of factors would influence a cookbook author’s success. Working with Markus Baer, a professor of organizational behavior at Washington University in St. Louis, he turned to data from the U.K.’s cookbook market, looking at detailed records of year-by-year sales. They found that around 50% of first-time authors fail to write another book in the five years following their debut. Now, this could occur for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the sales of the first book were dreadful. But in many cases, it was the opposite: It was often the people with the most original ideas and the greatest acclaim who failed to publish a second title. The phenomenon, they suspected, could be explained by an area of psychology known as “role identity theory”: how certain “roles” become embedded in our sense of who we are. If we have received extraordinary praise for our ingenuity, then our reputation for creativity may become central to our identity. We fear that crown slipping, and so we (counter-intuitively) avoid new creative adventures—in case we fail to meet the same acclaim a second time. Fear of a jeopardized reputation Deichmann and Baer decided to test this hypothesis and explore this phenomenon of self-sabotage. They measured how “novel” each cookbook on their list was (by analyzing publishers’ online descriptions of its contents), as well as how many awards each book received, if any. Sure enough, the more “creative” someone’s debut had been—and the more acclaimed they had received—the less likely they were to publish a sequel. Success, it seems, can be a poisoned chalice. For further evidence, Deichmann and Baer decided to recreate the phenomenon with participants in the lab. In one experiment, the participants were asked to come up with a concept for a new cookbook. Some were told that they had shown great originality, while the rest were told their idea was “solid and traditional.” These two groups were divided again, with roughly half from each receiving additional recognition by being told their idea was likely to “make a big splash”—leading them to be featured on the cover of the university’s magazine. Finally, all participants were offered the chance to pitch a second cookbook concept. As expected, the people who had been singled out for their creativity, and won the additional recognition of the magazine cover, were significantly less likely to propose a follow-up idea. Crucially, a questionnaire about their feelings confirmed that this reluctance stemmed from their fears of losing their creative identity. They were more likely to agree with the statement “the thought of coming up with a new idea for a second book makes me feel like I could jeopardize my reputation as a creative producer,” for instance. A creative identity threat may be prevalent in many domains, Deichmann suggests. Any time you allow your ego to depend on the acclaim you hope to receive for a project, be it a killer marketing campaign, an ingenious design or an outstanding product line, you could find yourself struggling to come up with more new ideas. Escaping the trap If you worry about suffering from creative identity threat, Deichmann has a couple of suggestions. The first is collaboration. Find someone, or a group of people, who might be able to contribute to your next project. “That way, the creative identity threat doesn’t lie so heavily on you, but you share it.” The second is to try to focus your mind on the creative process, rather than obsessing about the end goal, which inhibits the free-flowing thoughts that are essential for idea generation. This fits with research by Ella Miron-Spektor, professor of organizational behavior at the INSEAD business school in Fontainebleau, France. She’s examined how people’s “goal orientation” can influence their creativity. Some people are “performance oriented” (worried about how their results compare to their peers); others are “learning oriented” (focused on building skills). In one study, Miron-Spektor looked to seven years of data from a tech company that had introduced an innovation program asking employees to suggest ways to improve their processes or products, which were then judged by an expert panel. She found that learning-oriented people produced more ideas, and the quality of those ideas tended to grow over time. Meanwhile, the performance-oriented people tended to dry up quickly. Finally, Deichmann’s third piece of advice: Establish a creative routine. After a big success, you may feel especially anxious if you simply wait for your next “eureka!” moment to land by change. But you may feel greater confidence if you can find a systematic process to find and test ideas. An inventor or designer, for example, might start out by interviewing and observing their potential customers to suggest new markets to exploit: “You define a problem, you generate different ideas for that problem, and you prototype.” There is no guarantee that inspiration will strike the same mind twice—but a little courage, perseverance, and strategy can greatly enhance the chances that your genius will burn long into the future. View the full article

Think about the last piece of health advice you actually followed. Chances are, it wasn’t from a medical journal or even a doctor’s office. Most likely it was from a colleague, a neighbor, or a trusted friend—the kind of advice that feels personal and authentic. As humans, we’re wired to trust people we know or feel like we know. That’s why two-thirds of Americans now seek health information on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and other social platforms, where it’s easy to connect with others who have relatable voices or similar stories. The default ways we explored our symptoms in the past, i.e., by seeing a doctor or referencing a handful of known credible sources, are no longer the primary ways people are getting their health information. They’re following influencers to understand everything from “hormone balancing” hacks to what it’s like living with Type 1 diabetes or managing postpartum depression. These conversations can introduce potential risks like spreading misinformation, oversimplifying complex treatments, or turning serious health decisions into viral challenges. They can also be used to raise awareness and create supportive communities. With such high stakes, brands can’t afford to stay on the sidelines. Healthcare needs a different influencer playbook Healthcare has been slower to embrace influencer marketing as a tactic—and there are plenty of good reasons why. It’s inconvenient when a new lipstick advertised by your favorite beauty influencer disappoints. Maybe the experience hurts the brand’s reputation a bit, too. But when health advice goes wrong, it can prove outright dangerous. Netflix’s (Un)Well documentary series famously spotlighted influencers touting “miracle cures” that were later debunked as ineffective or even harmful. Yet, the reality is consumers are turning to peers, not professionals, for relatable health advice—whether brands join the conversation or not. Avoiding these spaces altogether means a missed opportunity to meet patients where they’re already seeking and sharing health information. The path forward isn’t about copying retail or lifestyle influencer tactics. It’s about creating approaches rooted in accuracy, empathy, and meaningful patient engagement—showing up as educators and trusted partners, not product pushers. 5 ways health brands can reimagine influencer marketing More than 8 in 10 people seeking health information on social media are concerned about incorrect or misleading medical information. For health brands, there’s an opportunity—and I would argue, a responsibility—to approach influencer marketing differently. Instead of chasing quick hits and conversions, influencer programs need to rethink the role of content creators as storytellers and community builders who can help make health information more accessible and actionable. Here are five tactics where I’m seeing success: Tap into peer-to-peer power Healthcare is deeply personal, and people trust advice from those who’ve lived similar experiences. Although medical experts like Sanjay Gupta or celebrity wellness figures like Gwyneth Paltrow hold substantial authority and reach, consumers are increasingly turning to patients, caregivers, and advocates for more tailored guidance. That could be a person sharing their chemotherapy journey on TikTok or a caregiver offering advice in a Facebook group about supporting elderly parents at home. Authentic voices like these help simplify complex topics, offer emotional support, and make care feel more accessible. Reflect audiences to earn trust Our health systems have historically underserved and excluded certain groups, and people in these communities maintain long-standing skepticism toward healthcare leaders. Acknowledging this reality is the first step toward driving more meaningful engagement online. Trusted peers can open doors brands alone can’t unlock, especially when they better represent or reflect the audiences we’re hoping to reach. Many of these voices already exist within clinical trial communities, patient advocacy groups, or condition-specific networks—and they’re eager to share what’s worked for them with others. Brands can equip these influencers with the tools, training, and information to responsibly educate and empower. Emphasize storytelling over hard sales On social media and elsewhere, our goal isn’t pushing products. Our focus is empowering people with accessible, credible information to make better decisions about their own lives. Influencer strategies must move away from transactional endorsements and prioritize authentic, accurate, and advocacy-driven storytelling. Overly polished or promotional messages feel disconnected from the emotional weight health decisions carry. It’s important to highlight real journeys and offer useful tips and resources consistently across channels. This approach lets audiences see how products fit into their bigger picture of living well. Think beyond ‘just another channel’ Influencer engagement isn’t “just another channel” in an omnichannel mix. That strategy is woefully outdated and won’t generate the desired ROI. Modern influencer marketing is authentic, creative content that meets people where they already are: on TikTok, yes, but also in local forums, community centers, or college campuses where health decisions are also shaped. Don’t force traditional campaigns into influencer spaces. Also, avoid relying on top-down advertising to enter peer-driven forums. Instead, build custom influencer marketing programs unique to where conversations naturally happen and empower credible voices to participate meaningfully in the discussions where they fit best. Build in governance without killing authenticity In such a highly regulated industry, health brands are understandably concerned that an influencer might say something off-script that could damage the brand or violate compliance standards. But we don’t need to sacrifice authenticity to manage these risks. The key is a proactive governance model that sets clear expectations for influencers, provides the necessary training, and establishes content guardrails, fact-checking, and formal review and approval processes. It’s also critical to put in place a response plan if something inaccurate, misleading, or off-brand is posted. This isn’t about over-policing content. It’s about giving brands and influencers the structure and support to engage confidently, knowing there’s a safety net in place. Join health and wellness conversations thoughtfully Health brands are no longer the only ones shaping narratives. They now share the space with patients, caregivers, advocates, and people seeking and sharing advice across Facebook groups, Reddit threads, and other online communities. Instead of trying to control these conversations, brands can contribute meaningfully through a more collaborative approach. When influencers are treated as allies rather than advertisements, brands earn trust, reduce misinformation, and ultimately help people make better, more informed health decisions. View the full article

X has been more open lately about how its algorithm works. In its own documentation, the platform notes that engagement is the strongest signal for visibility — replies, profile clicks, and dwell time top the list — but Premium subscribers also get an extra lift. In a recent breakdown from Social Media Today on the X algorithm, verified accounts (which come with a Premium subscription) benefit from this boost, alongside other factors like video watch time and conversation depth. On the flip side, link posts, all-caps updates, and “offensive” content see sharp penalties. In other words, X has made it clear: if you want reach, you need to be engaging and verified. This insight raises an important question: just how much difference does Premium actually make? To answer that, we teamed up with Buffer’s data scientist, Julian Winternheimer, and looked at more than 18.8 million posts from 71,000 accounts over the past year. The results show a growing divide — Premium isn’t just about editing tools or longer posts anymore. It’s also about distribution. Does Premium really change content performance on X?Our analysis suggests that Premium accounts do see significantly more visibility. 🚀 According to our findings, Premium accounts get around 10x more reach per post than regular accounts. Interestingly, reach has trended downward over time on X, with median reach going from hovering near 1000 in August 2024 to less than 750 in August 2025. ⚡ Engagement rates show a similar pattern. Premium accounts moved from a median of about 0.3% in late 2024 to 0.4% by mid-2025. In contrast, regular accounts declined from around 0.15% to a median of 0% by March 2025. A median of zero means that at least half of these accounts received no likes, replies, or reposts on their posts. This aligns with what X has shared about its algorithm: Premium subscribers receive visibility boosts, while non-Premium accounts may find their content harder to surface. Our findings reflect that dynamic. Premium now appears to influence not just access to features, but also how content is distributed in the feed. The study: how Premium affects reach and engagement on XTo understand just how much an X Premium subscription changes things, we analyzed 18.8 million posts from 71,000 X accounts between August 2024 and August 2025. Roughly 27% of these accounts were subscribed to one of X’s three Premium tiers: Basic, Premium, or Premium+. When we compared reach and engagement side by side, a pattern emerged: performance isn’t split only between free and paid accounts — there are also differences within Premium itself. That means X effectively functions as a tiered system, where visibility varies by subscription level. To illustrate what that looks like, we broke the data down across reach, engagement, and content type. In the next section, we’ll walk through those differences in detail. 💡If you’re interested in seeing Julian’s analysis, check out his blog for a deep dive.1. What’s the difference in reach between regular and Premium accounts?🚀 In our dataset, Premium users received around 10x the median reach of regular accounts. That gap has been consistent over the past year but became especially pronounced in 2025, when Premium+ accounts — the highest tier — began to pull further ahead. Regular accounts: typically under 100 impressions per post.Basic accounts: a small lift above non-subscribers, but still limited reach.Premium accounts: closer to 600 impressions per post.Premium+ accounts: often more than double Premium accounts, and the clear leader at over 1,550 impressions per post.While Premium users might have larger audiences, follower size alone doesn’t account for the difference. The scale of the gap suggests that Premium tiers benefit from built-in distribution advantages, consistent with what X has outlined in its documentation. 💡 For creators and brands focused on reach, Premium appears to provide a stronger baseline for visibility. 2. What’s the difference in engagement between regular and Premium accounts?When it comes to engagement (likes, replies, and reposts), the differences across tiers are less dramatic than for reach. Premium Basic leads slightly, with a median engagement rate of around 0.55% per post.Premium+ is close behind, landing right at 0.53%.Premium sits marginally lower, at around 0.49%.Regular accounts had a median engagement rate of 0%, meaning at least half of these accounts received no visible interaction on a typical post.Interestingly, Premium Basic appears to “punch above its weight” on engagement, even without the broader visibility that comes with higher tiers. Still, without the same reach, those engagement gains may be less impactful overall. 3. Which X Premium tier is the best?Premium isn’t a single upgrade — it comes in three tiers, and the differences show up in both features and performance. 🚀 Premium+ subscribers consistently see the highest reach of all account types. Standard Premium users perform far better than regular accounts, while Premium Basic sits closer to an entry-level step-up. Taking a month-to-month look from mid-2024 to mid-2025, some interesting patterns emerge from the data: Premium+: leads across both reach and engagement. In some months, their median reach doubled that of standard Premium.Premium: delivers the biggest jump compared to regular accounts — the line where the visibility gap truly opens.Basic: unlocked essential Premium features like longer posts and editing, but didn’t show the same reach gains as the higher tiers. Engagement rates were relatively strong, though limited visibility meant those interactions didn’t scale as widely.Regular accounts: remain at the bottom, with reach under 100 impressions and a median engagement rate of 0%.X Premium comes in three tiers with different features and visibility benefits. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each tier offers. Tier Price Key Features Performance Impact (from our data) Best For Basic $3/month Includes essential Premium features like editing posts, longer posts (up to 25k characters), longer video uploads (3 hours/8GB), bold/italic text formatting, bookmark folders, create communities, custom app icons, and modest reply prioritization Little to no measurable reach/engagement lift compared to free accounts Users who mainly want basic features and small additional benefits without paying for full visibility Premium $8/month All Basic features + monetization (ads revenue sharing, creator subscriptions), Media Studio, X Pro, higher Grok access, reduced ads (about half), Premium gifting, and the verification checkmark Where the visibility gap truly opens — consistent reach/engagement advantage over Basic/free Creators and brands who want a subscription plan that offers both premium features and measurable distribution gains Premium+ $40/month All Premium features + ad-free browsing, long-form Articles, highest Grok access, Radar trend tracking, top-tier reply prioritization, and visibility boosts The strongest performance — often doubling the reach of other Premium tiers Power users and brands relying on X as a core growth platform, where a premium subscription provides maximum increased exposure 👉 In short: Higher X Premium tiers correlate with stronger visibility. 4. Which content performs best on X?Not all post types are created equal — and the data makes that crystal clear. When we broke engagement rates down by content type, the gap between Premium and regular accounts became even sharper. Some takeaways from the dataset: Text posts: Consistently lead for Premium accounts, climbing close to 0.9% median engagement by mid-2025. For regular accounts, engagement collapsed to ~0.25% after March 2025.Video posts: A close second, holding steady above 0.7% for Premium users while dropping sharply for non-subscribers.Image posts: Reliable but middling — Premium users see around 0.4–0.5%, while regular accounts hover closer to 0.2%.Links: The weakest format across the board. Premium cushions the blow (around 0.25–0.3%), but for regular accounts, engagement flatlined to 0% in March 2025.💡 If you’re paying for Premium, lean into text and video. They deliver the strongest, most reliable engagement lift. Images can diversify your feed, but links remain heavily penalized unless you’re on a Premium plan. 💡Learn more about what to post on X: Data Shows Best Content Format on Social Platforms in 2025: Millions of Posts Analyzed5. Do posts with links affect content performance?Yes, but not all posts are affected equally, and Premium softens the outcome. 🚨 For regular accounts, link posts have been completely suppressed since March 2025 — their median engagement rate is 0%. That means if you’re not on X Premium, sharing a blog post, product page, or newsletter link is essentially invisible. For Premium users, links still underperform compared to text, video, or images — but they at least register meaningful engagement, typically around 0.25–0.3%. X’s latest algorithm update makes this explicit: links trigger penalties. For non-Premium accounts, that means silence. For Premium accounts, links register, but lag far behind text and video. 💡 However, if you must share links, Premium+ is the safest bet for maintaining visibility. What this means for creators and brandsOur data points to a clear pattern: Premium accounts receive more visibility, while non-Premium accounts often struggle to surface in the feed. That said, more reach doesn’t always translate into better outcomes — the impact depends on your goals and how central X is to your overall strategy. 👉 Put simply: Premium can expand your distribution, but engagement remains the key factor in sustaining growth. If visibility on X is important to you, Premium may provide a stronger baseline — but the real driver is whether your posts spark replies and hold attention. View the full article

The White House website has been updated to blame the government shutdown that began Wednesday on Democrats. The official White House homepage was topped on Wednesday by a red, scrolling banner with the all-caps message “DEMOCRAT SHUTDOWN: DEMOCRATS’ [sic] IN THEIR OWN WORDS” along a countdown showing how long the shutdown has been going on. Users who clicked through were taken to a landing page with a livestreamed video of clips of Democratic lawmakers criticizing past shutdowns, integrating partisan messaging into its design. With a news ticker, countdown clock, and clips of politicians speaking on Capitol Hill, this is web design inspired by one of President Donald The President’s favorite pastimes: cable news. It’s just one way the The President administration is hoping to shift blame about the shutdown away from Republicans, who control the White House and both chambers of Congress, and who a plurality of Americans think deserve the blame. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released Tuesday found 38% of respondents blame Republicans for a shutdown, 31% blame both parties, 27% blame Democrats, and 4% blame neither. Federal blame game appears in several contexts Some federal agencies are finding ways to blame Democrats for the shutdown through official channels, too. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website added a pop-up and landing page messaging that says “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government. HUD will use available resources to help Americans in need” while the State Department’s website says “Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, website updates will be limited until full operations resume.” At the Small Business Administration (SBA), employees received language for a suggested out-of-office email that blamed Democrats, according to Wired. “I am out of office for the foreseeable future because Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal spending bill (HR 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the US Small Business Administration from serving America’s 36 million small businesses. Every day that Senate Democrats continue [to] oppose a clean funding bill, they are stopping an estimated 320 small businesses from accessing $170 million in SBA-guaranteed funding,” the suggested email language read. Potential legal implications of partisan messaging Richard Painter, former White House ethics lawyer for former President George W. Bush and a University of Minnesota professor of corporate law, says the White House website update isn’t a clear-cut violation of the Hatch Act, which restricts the political activities of federal employees, “unless the official statement mentions candidates, elections or campaign slogans,” though he says it may violate rules about lobbying. “I do think, however, this is probably part of a coordinated executive branch campaign to lobby Congress, and thus this in combination with the agency web pages and emails probably violates statutory restrictions on use of taxpayer money to lobby Congress,” Painter tells Fast Company. Donald Sherman, executive director and chief counsel at the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, said while it’s not a Hatch Act violation, “agency employees are legally bound to provide nonpartisan service to their constituents.” “A government shutdown causes stress for the public regardless of political affiliation; it is wildly inappropriate for agency leadership to politicize the situation and blame political enemies,” Sherman said. A civic institution meets cable news spin Other government agencies have communicated the shutdown online without partisan messaging, like NASA, which has a banner that reads “Due to the lapse in federal government funding, NASA is not updating this website. The White House took a far less neutral stance—though the website displayed toned-down rhetoric by Wednesday afternoon. The news ticker swapped out its messaging blaming Democrats for the shutdown with an update to watch the White House press briefing, during which Vice President JD Vance made a surprise cameo and said he doesn’t think the shutdown will be long. After the briefing, whitehouse.gov scrapped the news ticker. The countdown clock on the White House homepage reading “Democrats Have Shut Down The Government” above its top navigation, however, remains. View the full article

Data for September reveals continuing impact of payroll tax increases on hiring and employmentView the full article

Greater Manchester Police said four people were hit by car and also suffered stab woundsView the full article

As the government shutdown stalls key housing programs, lenders are shifting tactics to keep loans moving and preparing for bigger challenges ahead. View the full article

It looks like it could be sitting on the campus of any number of major universities across the country, but this sleek, glass-lined educational building is far from the conventional teaching space: It’s a new training facility for the Ironworkers Local 63 union in Chicago. The training facility is being used to give young ironworkers hands-on experience welding, climbing, and installing the essential elements that underlie buildings around the world. As anxiety snowballs over just which professions will survive the emergence of artificial intelligence, physical trades like ironwork are seeming more and more AI proof—the building itself a counterargument to the perception that a promising career path necessarily starts at a university. The building was designed by architecture and design firm Gensler and is located in the town of Broadview on the outskirts of Chicago. It’s a school of hopefully no hard knocks, where apprentice ironworkers will learn to move and weld multi-ton pieces of steel inside what is essentially a giant glass jewel box. Despite the role’s name, ironwork involves a wide range of construction processes that go far beyond welding massive metal beams. More than half the union’s work in recent years has been installing glass curtain walls­—the smooth facades that shimmer on skyscrapers the world over. Paul Wende saw the trendlines. He’s the union’s business manager, financial secretary, and treasurer, and he set out to give the unionworkers a place to refine those skills without having to learn on the job. “Everything we do has to line up. Everything from the floors to the ceilings tie into the horizontals on the windows. Everything goes off of that glass. So it’s got to be perfect. The architects really go over it with a fine-tooth comb,” he says. “Well, if you’ve got to be perfect, you better train on it.” “The West Point of training centers” Rather than just finding empty space in a workaday warehouse, Wende had a higher vision for the facility. “What I wanted to do was turn that school into the West Point of training centers,” he says. Wende might have had his mind on the upper echelons of the U.S. military, but it was another local trade union that became the true model to follow. In the mid-2010s, the Chicago Plumbers Union opened a state-of-the-art training facility that brought its apprentice workers out of a musty basement and into a clean, well-lit educational building. Gensler also designed that building, and Wende approached the firm’s Chicago office seeking a project suited to his own union’s trade. The building is a teaching tool for future IW 63 workers The design that emerged is an elegant three-story building wrapped in curving dark glass on its front side, and highlighted with a bright red “IW 63” sign on its corner. Inside, it’s specially outfitted with structures and tools that are used on a daily basis by ironworkers when they’re erecting buildings and installing their facades. “They can build and then disassemble an entire three-story building within the space that they can then install curtain wall on,” says Scott Hurst, a principal at Gensler who led the project. “The building itself is an instrument. It’s a teaching tool.” Hurst says the entire building was designed to offer educational opportunities. There’s a bridge crane at the top of the space that can move five-ton iron beams, and the structure that holds up that crane can also be used to practice rigging and panel installation. There’s a central spiral staircase (another ironworker installation task), revolving and sliding doors (ditto), operable skylights (ditto), and solar panels (ditto). “When you think of all of the things that you might find Local 63 performing out in the field, this building is really meant to embody those and demonstrate those in a kind of real way,” Hurst says. The exterior is also a reflection of the trade’s abilities. The shape of the glass facade, with its slight concave curvature, was inspired by a weld bead, and is meant to evoke the elegant side of what ironworkers can do. In an architecturally rich city like Chicago, Local 63 has had more than its share of high-profile projects, from the skyscraper thrill experience Tilt on the 94th floor of the John Hancock building to the mirrored polish of the Bean. For Wende, it was important that the training facility had some of the same architectural panache. “We do all this cool, ornate stuff and no one ever really knew who we were,” he says. “Until now.” The Gensler-designed training center is also a marketing tool The building has garnered its own kind of celebrity status, hosting local politicians, events, and training sessions for visiting ironworkers. Within the first week of the building’s opening it hosted an international ironworkers competition, where ironworkers were speed-climbing the columns inside the facility and rigging up cross beams. It’s also part of the way the union aims to attract new talent. Wende says there’s been consistent interest in the union for years, but the new building only broadens the trade’s appeal. “It is a marketing tool beyond belief for what we do and who we are,” Wende says. Making the building work for ironworkers and lure in the next generation became a major part of the design process. “As we think about Gen Z and their changing appetites towards what might be future-proof careers, recognizing that if we want people to take pride in the craftsmanship and the work that they do, they deserve facilities that fill them with that pride,” Hurst says. Beyond the trade, the building is beneficial to the architecture and development community. While ironworkers use the facility to train, builders and designers can use it to test out new ways of making buildings. “All the questions that a contractor might have when it comes to how to construct something, or the ease of construction, or even cost concerns, can be alleviated by taking them through a facility like this,” Hurst says. The facility had one extra benefit for the union itself. Local 63’s own union ironworkers helped build the project. Job security is literally built in. View the full article