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Table of contents How AI perceives your brand The new gatekeepers: LLMs & generative search What shapes your brand’s AI profile What you can do about it: building brand equity in the AI era The future of brand perception What does ChatGPT say about your brand? Or Perplexity, Gemini, or Claude? As AI agents emerge alongside traditional search engines as the starting point of discovery, the way they perceive and present your brand can directly shape customer trust and buying decisions. These models don’t know your brand the way people do. They learn it from the web, from structured data, citations, reviews, and the context you’ve built across digital touchpoints. The result: AI isn’t just reflecting your brand; it’s actively influencing how audiences experience it! This article explores how AI is reshaping brand perception and, more importantly, what you can do about it. How AI perceives your brand AI doesn’t just read your brand; it interprets it. Instead of scanning isolated keywords, AI systems build a contextual map of who you are, what you offer, and how the world perceives you. This understanding comes from a combination of techniques like knowledge graphs, entity linking, relationship mapping, and sentiment analysis. Here is a brief overview of different technologies that AI agents use for understanding brands: Knowledge graphs Knowledge graphs are structured databases that represent entities (like brands, products, or people) and the relationships between them. For AI, they serve as a kind of brand blueprint, linking Apple not only to ‘smartphones’ and ‘laptops’ but also to competitors like Samsung, product lines like iPhone, and audiences like ‘tech-savvy young adults.’ By connecting these dots, AI understands a brand’s position within a larger ecosystem. Entity linking Entity linking ensures that when AI encounters a brand reference – whether in a news article, review, or social post – it knows exactly which brand is being discussed. A mention of ‘Apple’s new iPhone’ doesn’t just get read as text; AI links ‘Apple’ and ‘iPhone’ to their knowledge graph entries, capturing the context that this is about Apple’s smartphone launch, not fruit. Relationship mapping Beyond direct links, AI maps relationships between entities to uncover patterns. This could mean identifying which product features resonate with certain customer segments or surfacing how a brand is associated with trends like sustainability or innovation. Relationship mapping highlights not only who is connected to a brand, but how. Sentiment and perception analysis AI also analyzes tone and sentiment across reviews, forums, social platforms, and media. These signals reveal whether people talk about a brand positively, negatively, or neutrally, and in what context. Over time, these insights shape how AI interprets a brand’s reputation and credibility. Personalization and content alignment Finally, AI uses this brand understanding to personalize consumer interactions and even generate content aligned with a brand’s tone and values. The more consistent the data and signals a brand sends out, the clearer its identity becomes in AI systems. Taken together, these technologies mean AI doesn’t just see a brand as a logo or a tagline. It sees a web of relationships, perceptions, and behaviors, continuously updated in real time. AI understands brands through both what they say about themselves and how the world engages with them, but it often weighs the latter more heavily. Overall, if we set aside the technical layers, the bigger picture is this: AI doesn’t see a brand as just a logo, tagline, or marketing claim. Instead, it constructs meaning from the countless interactions, mentions, and connections that exist around the brand. Every review, conversation, and association adds another layer to how AI perceives brand equity. Your brand’s story was never yours alone; customers, communities, and competitors have always shaped it. What’s changing is that AI amplifies those influences in real time. The new gatekeepers: LLMs & generative search For decades, search has been the front door of the internet, the place where customers first discovered, compared, and connected with brands. Ranking high on Google meant visibility, trust, and traffic, and much of the brand strategy was built around that dynamic. But that front door is changing. Today, large language models (LLMs) and generative AI are reshaping discovery itself. Search is no longer just a list of blue links you can optimize against. Instead, AI compresses, summarizes, and reinterprets content on behalf of the user. It’s faster, more convenient, and increasingly becoming the default way people search. In fact, by 2028, organic search traffic could decline by 50% or more as consumers rely more heavily on generative AI-powered search. This shift marks a turning point: discovery is moving from traditional search engines toward AI-driven experiences. And nowhere is this transformation clearer than in the evolution of search engines themselves. Read more: LLM SEO optimization techniques (including llms.txt) Let’s understand this shift and its different aspects in detail. See how visible your brand is in AI searchTrack mentions, sentiment, and AI visibility. With Yoast AI Brand Insights, you can start monitoring and growing your brand. Learn more » From traditional search to AI-driven discovery In the pre-AI era, search meant competing for blue links. Your content carries not just keywords but also your voice, tone, and brand identity. That visibility gave businesses some control over how they were discovered. Now, discovery is expanding beyond links into AI-generated answers, instant summaries, and conversational results. These systems don’t just point to your site; they synthesize information from multiple sources and deliver it directly to the user. This shift means people are no longer ‘clicking through’ in the same way; they’re expecting instant, conversational results. It’s faster, more convenient, and quickly becoming the default search experience. Search engines’ evolution into generative platforms Search engines themselves are fuelling this transition. Google is the clearest example. It remains the dominant force in search, with usage rising more than 20% in 2024 and still delivering ~373X more searches than ChatGPT. But the nature of that search is changing. AI Overviews, launched in May 2024, now appear in more than half of searches. Instead of users scrolling down to organic results, they see synthesized AI summaries right at the top. AI Mode, rolling out widely in 2025, makes the entire experience conversational, with generative responses as the default surface, not the list of links below. Behind all of this is Gemini, the model family that deepens Google’s ability to parse context, language, and intent, reshaping what it means for content to be ‘visible.’ For brands, this creates a paradox. Your content may be seen more often through impressions, but clicks decline because users often don’t need to leave the search results page. Instead of optimizing just for rankings, success depends on whether your content can deliver highly specific, immediately useful insights that AI wants to pull into its answers. Recognizing this shift early opens up space to differentiate, while many competitors are still optimizing for the old playbook. Read more: How to optimize content for AI LLM comprehension using Yoast’s tools The branding challenges of AI mediation While generative search improves user experience, it strips away brand nuance. AI blends multiple sources, compresses messaging, and removes design and visual branding, leading to tone flattening. A playful coffee brand known for witty puns and bold design may simply appear as ‘a coffee retailer offering various blends’. Stripped of its energy and personality. There’s also the problem of sentiment drift. Because models rely on historical data, they may surface outdated or dominant narratives that don’t reflect your current positioning. A hotel that has rebranded into a luxury wellness retreat may still show up as ‘a budget accommodation option,’ simply because older reviews carry more weight in training data. The risk here is bigger than being misrepresented; it’s being misunderstood at scale. In the AI-driven discovery era, your brand isn’t just competing for attention; it’s competing for interpretation. Read more: What AI gets wrong about your site, and why it’s not your fault What shapes your brand’s AI profile AI agents build brand profiles not just from your owned content but from the network of signals surrounding it, some of which you can influence directly, others that linger long after you’ve moved on. Everything mentioned till now clearly shows that AI agents’ answers for your brand depend on several factors, like: Structured data and schema usage provide machines with a clear blueprint of who you are, what you offer, and why it matters. Without this scaffolding, your content risks being flattened into something indistinguishable. Citations in authoritative sources act like trust anchors. When established publications, industry bodies, or credible researchers reference your brand, AI models absorb those signals and treat them as validation. Consistency of context, making sure your brand name, description, and expertise align across platforms, ensures that fragmented or contradictory mentions don’t dilute your identity in AI summaries. Depth and authority of content matter more than sheer volume. AI is tuned to favor content that demonstrates expertise and perspective, not just keyword density. Geographical and personalization cues influence how your brand is profiled in specific markets or for specific user types. For instance, a brand may appear as a local leader in one geography and an emerging player in another. Reputation signals like reviews, press coverage, and forum discussions shape how AI remembers your brand. Unlike a campaign you can sunset, these signals persist in training data.A software tool that fixed its early bugs, for example, might still be labelled unreliable in AI-generated summaries because forum complaints from years ago remain part of the record. Together, these factors reveal an uncomfortable truth: your brand’s AI profile is not solely in your control. It is co-authored by every structured markup, citation, review, and discussion thread tied to your name. And that’s exactly why the next step isn’t just about visibility, it’s about equity. If machines are going to carry your reputation forward, then the real question becomes: how do you actively shape and protect that equity in the AI era? What you can do about it: building brand equity in the AI era If AI is going to summarize your brand for users, the challenge is no longer just getting to page one; it’s making sure those summaries capture the right story. That means shifting your strategy from chasing rankings to actively shaping the signals AI pulls from. Here’s how to start: Audit how AI describes your brand Don’t assume your website is the only source AI is pulling from. Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini to ‘Describe [Your Brand]’ every quarter. Track how those descriptions change, whether they reflect your current positioning, and if old baggage is still showing up. This gives you a baseline for what’s working and what needs fixing. For deeper insights, tools like Yoast AI Brand Insights go a step further, tracking mentions, sentiment, and visibility across AI assistants so you can see exactly how your brand is represented and take control of the narrative. Keep ‘anchor’ content fresh Pages like your About, product introductions, and service overviews are disproportionately influential. Refresh them regularly with clear, keyword-rich descriptors that reinforce your current narrative. These are often the first things AI models latch onto, so make sure they reflect today’s positioning, not yesterday’s. Infuse brand storytelling into content Generic descriptions fade in summaries; unique stories stick. Instead of ‘We sell camping gear,’ write ‘We help families turn weekends into campfire stories.’ Language that’s memorable, metaphorical, or emotionally charged has a better chance of surviving AI compression and carrying your brand identity with it. Experiment beyond traditional blog posts AI models ingest more than just written blogs. Case studies, explainer videos, podcasts, interviews, or even forum contributions can influence how your expertise gets profiled. A varied content mix increases the likelihood that your brand is represented in different contexts and query types. Work on visibility across multiple touchpoints Don’t let your footprint be limited to your own site. Citations in industry publications, guest appearances, reviews, and even thoughtful participation in online discussions expand the sources AI relies on. The broader your presence, the harder it is for AI to miss you. Always think about intent and context AI-powered discovery isn’t keyword stuffing; instead, it’s intent recognition. Structure your content around the problems your audience is trying to solve, not just the queries you want to rank for. When your answers consistently match user intent, AI is more likely to position you as relevant and authoritative. Invest in tools that guide AI to your brand Unlike search engines, AI tools don’t crawl your full site; they only scan small pieces of content in real time. This means important details can be missed or outdated. That’s where Yoast SEO’s llms.txt feature helps. A smarter analysis in Yoast SEO PremiumYoast SEO Premium has a smart content analysis that helps you take your content to the next level! Get Yoast SEO Premium »Only $118.80 / year (ex VAT) This feature automatically creates a file that acts as a map for AI assistants, pointing them to your most important, cleanly structured content. No setup required. By doing this, you give LLMs a better chance of representing your business accurately in their answers. The future of brand perception We’ve entered a new era of discovery. Customers aren’t just scanning pages; they’re trusting AI-generated answers to shape their perception of your brand. That shift comes with both risk and opportunity. On one hand, AI assistants can strip away the nuance, tone, and ownership brands that brands once held over how they’re presented. On the other hand, they offer a chance to reach audiences in more natural, context-rich ways than ever before, if you prepare for it. The path forward isn’t about chasing rankings alone. It’s about ensuring your brand is understood, accurately represented, and consistently visible across this new AI-powered landscape. That means building content that survives summarization, experimenting beyond traditional formats, and guiding AI to the information that matters most about you. But awareness is only the first step; you also need visibility into how AI tools are currently describing and interpreting your brand. That’s where Yoast AI Brand Insights comes in. With AI visibility scores, sentiment tracking, and real-time monitoring of mentions across tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, you’ll finally have a clear picture of how your brand lives inside AI answers, and how to shape it. The future of brand perception isn’t written by you alone. It’s written by the AI that your customers trust. The question is: will you leave that story to chance, or take control of it? [Join the waitlist for Yoast AI Brand Insights] and be among the first to shape how AI sees your brand. The post How AI is shaping brand perception, and what you can do about it appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

This guide is to help find the best areas to stay in Dubai for first-time visitors. Dubai has grown to become one of the most visited cities in the world. Even if you’re not planning on visiting, you might end up here on the way to somewhere else thanks to the extensive Emirates network. Dubai is a geographically enormous city, so choosing what area to stay in is just as important as what hotel to stay in. To give you an idea of how big Dubai is, here is Manhattan in New York overlaid on Dubai. [Size of Manhattan compared to Dubai (via size-explorer.com.] This Where To Stay guide is to help find the best areas to stay in Dubai for first-time visitors. This is based on my personal experience and exploration of the city. I want to show you what Dubai really looks like, beyond the Instagram-friendly infinity pools. [A Hilton Garden Inn in an area I don’t recommend staying in.] These areas are near public transport and amenities to make the most of your time. You don’t want to be stranded in a suburban area surrounded by freeways. I’ve also added hotels that are famous landmarks or that are a destination in their own right. Where to stay in Dubai guide Map of Dubai hotels Best areas to stay in Dubai Deira (old city area with the most budget options) Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall) Jumeirah (see or stay at the Burj Al Arab) Palm Jumeirah (the palm tree-shaped island in the sea) Trade Centre (the most central financial district) Dubai Marina (popular beach and canal neighbourhood) Frequently asked questions Map of Dubai hotels Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map, along with metro stations in each area. [View map of Dubai.] Best areas to stay in Dubai The short version is that if you are on a budget and don’t know where to stay, then stay in Deira. If you stay outside Deira, then refer to the metro map and make sure you are staying near a station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro. This will make a big improvement on your trip as you will be able to visit other places that are along the line. Start your search for hotels in Dubai. Deira [Muteena Park in Deira.] Deira is the best place to stay if you are on a budget, and it’s my preferred area to stay in Dubai. It’s the most interesting place because the streets are more walkable here than in any other part of the city. There are also more affordable eating options, with cafes and restaurants catering to the army of overseas workers that live in the area (especially from South Asia and the Philippines). Deira is one of the oldest areas of Deira, though don’t expect to see an “old town” with cobbled streets and ancient buildings. It’s old in that it’s more lived-in than anywhere else, and it has more street activity compared to the newer areas. Deira has the advantage of being close to the airport and having a metro station where the two lines interchange (Union Station). You can base yourself here and use the metro to see the main sights further up the line. If you are doing a stopover in Dubai then it is easy to get to the airport from here. While Dubai is famous for lavish hotels that are featured in luxury hotel guides, the budget end of the scale is poor value. The cheapest private rooms I found were on Airbnb, but many of them are no more than a bed in a partitioned room. There are a number of listings like this on Airbnb, and you will find many rooms run by the same agent. Partitioned rooms and dorms are how many overseas workers live in Dubai, and you will see advertisements all over the city advertising bed space. My tip for looking for a room is to make sure it has a window, that way your broom-closet-sized room won’t be so depressing. When looking for a place to stay in Deira, look for hotels near Union Station and along the Red Line at towards Al Rigga and City Centre Deira. And on the Green Line, look towards Salah Al Din Metro Station. Hotels in Deira The central point of Deira is Al Ghurair Centre mall, near Union Station. The mall is home to Swissôtel Al Ghurair Dubai. Near Al Rigga is ibis Dubai Al Rigga and Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Dubai Deira. I stayed at Royal Falcon Hotel near Salah Al Din Metro Station, and at Panorama Hotel Deira near union Station. Search for hotels in Deira. Downtown Dubai Downtown Dubai is a mixed-use complex created by the Emaar Real Estate Development Company, and not a downtown in an American sense (Deira would be more downtown than anywhere). It is centrally located with lots of skyscrapers that are relatively easy to get to, so I can give them a pass on the name. If you are doing touristy things then you will end up here at some point to see the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest skyscraper). Next to the Burj Khalifa is the Burj Park by Emaar, where you can watch The Dubai Fountain. Downtown Dubai is home to the Dubai Mall, which is one of the largest malls in the world. The mall is directly connected to the Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall Metro Station by an enclosed air-conditioned walkway. Hotels in Downtown Dubai Armani Hotel Dubai is a hotel by fashion icon Giorgio Armani. The hotel occupies 11 floors of the Burj Khalifa, and it has direct access to Dubai Mall. Search for more hotels in Downtown Dubai. Jumeirah Jumeirah is a residential area on the stretch of the coast between Deira and Palm Jumeirah. There is a surprisingly good public beach here, and the main landmark is the Jumeirah Mosque. Jumeirah is not on the metro line, so it’s not a convenient area for using as a base to explore. Hotels in Jumeirah If you want to blow out your budget, then head to the Burj Al Arab. This hotel looks like a spinnaker sail of a yacht, and it is perhaps the most recognizable hotel in the world. It became known as a seven-star hotel, even though there is no such thing. Search for more hotels in Jumeirah. Palm Jumeirah The Palm Jumeirah is a group of artificial islands off the coast of Dubai that forms the shape of a palm tree. This land-reclamation projection is not to be confused with the other projects that remain unfinished. The trunk of the palm tree has a 5.4-kilometre-long monorail that connects the mainland to the top of the tree. The monorail is not part of the metro system, and the ticket price is priced more like a theme park, which this entire island group feels like. The palm fronds are filled with mansions and villas, and the outer breakwater that surrounds the tree has some famous hotels that are a destination unto themselves. Hotels in Palm Jumeirah Atlantis, The Palm is the most well-known resort in Dubai, and you have probably seen the photos of its underwater hotel rooms. [Atlantis, The Palm] Nearby is Atlantis The Royal, which has become a visible landmark of the city (even so far out at sea). This ultra-luxury resort made global headlines when Beyoncé earned $24 million for a one-hour grand opening concert. She stayed in a a $100,000-a-night suite. In the middle of the tree trunk at Nakheel Mall is the Palm Tower. This tower includes The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm. Its location in the middle of the tree gives it a better view, and the infinity pool is often featured by Instagram influencers. Search for more hotels in Palm Jumeirah. Trade Centre Trade Centre is a major financial district characterised by a canyon of skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Rd. The metro follows the route of Sheikh Zayed Rd with three stops in this area. The most notable landmark in this area is the Museum of the Future. [Museum of the Future.] Stay here if you have a conference or business to attend in the area. Hotels in Trade Centre A notable hotel here is the Gevora Hotel. According to Guinness World Records, this 356.33 metre / 75-storey tower is officially the tallest hotel in the world. [Gevora Hotel.] 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central offers a creative respite in a very suit and tie-focused district. Search for more hotels in Trade Centre area. Dubai Marina Dubai Marina is a beachfront district that was purpose-built with canals. The combination of beaches and canals has made Dubai Marina the most sought-after location in Dubai. There is a large expat community that lives here among the many apartment towers, and the big names in luxury hotels are on the seafront. Hotels in Dubai Marina Dubai Marina is dominated by Jumeirah Beach Residence, which includes 35 residential towers and 5 hotels. With so many apartments in this area, it’s worth checking for apartment rentals. Address Beach Resort is the most distinctive hotel on the beach. The hotel features two 77-story towers connected by a sky bridge, topped of by the world’s highest infinity pool. [Address Beach Resort.] Search for more hotels in Dubai Marina. Frequently asked questions Where to find hotels with gyms? Visit this list of the best hotel gyms in Dubai. View the full article

Where to stay in Macau – a guide to the best areas to stay in, and the best-rated hotels and casinos. Macau (or Macao in English) is a former colonial trading port of Portugal on the Pearl River estuary in Southern China. Macau was returned back to China in 1999, and it’s governed as a Special Administrative Region of China (like Hong Kong). While it’s much smaller than its counterpart across the river, Macau has made a name for itself as the casino capital of China. The appeal of Macau is that it still has a well-preserved old city that is distinctly Portuguese. Macau is a popular day trip from Hong Kong, with regular ferries making the trip in one hour. There is also a bridge from Hong Kong, making it possible to get the bus. A day trip is enough if you’re not here to gamble and want to see the sights. If you do want to stay then this Where To Stay guide is for the best areas to stay in Macau. Where to stay in Macau guide Map of Macau hotels Macau City (Historic old city area) Taipa (Macau International Airport) Cotai (The Las Vegas of Asia) Coloane (Laidback southern end of Macau) Map of Macau hotels Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map. [View map of Macau hotels.] Macau City [Macau City.] Macau City is the best area to stay in Macau. The old area of Macau is where most of the action is, with the Portuguese-style street paving and UNESCO World Heritage area. If it’s your first time in Macau, stay in Macau City to make the most of your trip. Search and compare deals for hotels in Macau City. Hostels and Guesthouses SanVa Hostel is the cheapest hotel in Macau. If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in an old-world flophouse in the Far East, then this is your place. This old guesthouse is the only one of its kind now, so staying here is to see old Macau before it disappears. I’ve stayed here before, and the cheapest rooms are nothing more than a box with a bed in it, and all rooms have shared bathrooms. The Hospedaria has been used as a set location for films. It’s located on Rua de Felicidade, one of the most picturesque old streets in Macau. Here is the review of my stay. [Rua Felicidade, Macau SAR – China.] Augusters Lodge used to be the go-to hostel in Macau. They have since closed down, and their website was recommending staying in Hong Kong. New accommodation laws (pushed by the powerful hotel lobby) seem be a reason for the lack of backpacker hostels in Macau. For cheap online hotel bookings Home of Macau and Ka Meng Villa are the best rated cheap hotels in Macau. Villa Tong Keng is another option if you are just looking for a cheap room. Mid-range Hotels At the mid-range level (3-4 stars), these are a good option if you prefer not to stay in a casino. Hotel Central Macau is an iconic hotel that was built in 1928. The “Hotel Central” sign on top of the building is a landmark of the city, and the story of the current owner sounds like out of the pages of Crazy Rich Asians. Macau Hotel S and the Sintra Hotel are the pick of the 3-star hotels. At this stage, Macau doesn’t have mid-range casino options like in Las Vegas, where you can find 3-star hotels for $40 a night. All the casino operators are going for the luxury market, so maybe in a few years once the city has built itself out there will be more mid-range options. 5 star hotels in Macau Most of the luxury hotels in Macau are part of a casino, so if you are here to gamble there is usually a hotel promotion somewhere that is offering a discount rate. It’s worth filtering your search results to 5 stars as there are often deals that would turn this visit into a cheap luxury break. The best-rated non-casino is the Mandarin Oriental, Macau, while the best-rated casino hotel is the Wynn Macau Hotel. [Wynn Macau Hotel.] The defining landmark of Macau is Grand Lisboa Hotel. This is the tallest hotel in Macau and is shaped like no other building in the world. It’s supposed to represent a lotus flower, though I think it looks like a giant flame (a bonfire of gamblers’ cash, perhaps.) Anyway, if you are staying here you will never forget where your hotel is because you can see it from just about everywhere. [Grand Lisboa Hotel.] Other familiar names for Vegas visitors include the Sands Macao Hotel and the MGM Macau. Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau is a 5-star luxury hotel near the Outer Harbour. Here is my review. Taipa Taipa is south of Macau City, but there is no need to consider staying here if it’s your first time in Macau. If you are curious to see it, then go to the streets around Rua do Cunha. Macau International Airport is in Taipa, and the closest hotel to the airport is the Golden Crown China Hotel. Cotai [The Cotai Strip – Asia’s Las Vegas] Cotai is across the bay from the old city, built on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa (thus the name, Co + Tai). Cotai has fashioned itself on Las Vegas, and there is an area known as The Cotai Strip. The Cotai Strip is mostly luxury casino developments and is best if you’re on a gambling trip, or if your favourite casino is here. When you are on the Cotai Strip you will see they are not joking when they say that Macau is the Vegas of the East. The Cotai Strip is starting to resemble The Strip in Las Vegas. The Parisian Macao even has a half-scale model of the Eiffel Tower, as does the Paris Las Vegas. The flagship casino of the Cotai Strip is The Venetian Macao, which is the largest casino in the world. This luxury hotel and casino resort is owned by Las Vegas Sands company and is modelled on the Venetian Las Vegas. Opposite The Venetian Macao is the City of Dreams resort and casino complex. The casino is surrounded by four towers: the City of Dreams – The Countdown Hotel, City of Dreams – Nuwa Macau, and the Grand Hyatt Macau Hotel, which occupies two towers. While the casinos of Cotai have been copying the formula of Las Vegas, it’s also starting to produce some unique architecture in its own right. Also at City of Dreams is Morpheus – a hotel designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The striking design of this hotel has landed it in numerous best of lists, and it may signal a new era in Cotai where hotels strive for unique architecture. Even though Macau has surpassed Vegas in terms of gambling revenue, it has a way to go before Macau’s nightlife catches up to the cool factor that Vegas has. There are plans for further Vegasization of Macau, which is to say the development of non-gaming entertainment that Las Vegas does so well. Most of the entertainment options are catering for the Chinese audience, so I will be curious to see how Cotai develops in the future and if it offers more entertainment options like Vegas. One such hotel that is bringing Hollywood-style entertainment is Studio City. This hotel resort has more family-oriented attractions, such as the Batman Dark Flight simulator and Warner Bros. Fun Zone. W Macau – Studio City opened in 2023, and it is another hotel designed by Zaha Hadid Architects Galaxy Macau is a casino resort complex that hosts several band-name hotels, including Hotel Okura Macau, Banyan Tree Macau, JW Marriott Macau, and The Ritz-Carlton Macau. In September 2023 the Galaxy Entertainment Group opened the Andaz Hotel. This 700-room hotel is the largest Andaz Hotel in the world. Joining the list of hotels at Galaxy is the Raffles at Galaxy Macau. The Palazzo Versace Macau is the first Versace hotel in Asia. The Karl Lagerfeld is located at The Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau. The tower is the only hotel in the world that was entirely designed by and named after the late fashion icon. Search and compare deals for hotels on The Cotai Strip. Coloane Coloane was the island in the south of Macau that is now joined with the island of Taipa. Coloane Village is the main point of interest here, with the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier being the landmark. There aren’t many accommodation options so it is better for a day trip. Considering that Macau has a decent collection of heritage buildings, there is a surprising lack of boutique hotels in any of the old colonial properties. One such place is the Pousada de Coloane Boutique Hotel, which is set in the old Fortaleza da Barra fortress. Grand Coloane Resort is the only true beach resort in Macau, overlooking Hac Sa Beach. Macau is part of the Pearl River Delta, so don’t come here expecting The Algarve. View the full article

The best areas to stay in Chiang Mai for visitors. This guides also includes where to stay for longer stays if you are a digital nomad. Chiang Mai is a surprisingly international city for an inland provincial capital. Part of its charm is the Old City, which is surrounded by a moat and fortress wall. Chiang Mai is considered as the cultural capital of Thailand, and the city is filled with beautiful Buddhist temples (wats). This Where To Stay guide lists where to stay in Chiang Mai for first-timers, and where to stay if you plan to stay longer as a digital nomad. Where to stay in Chiang Mai guide Map of Chiang Mai hotels Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai Old City (Historic area inside the moat) Nimmanhaemin (Entertainment area popular with digital nomads) Night Bazaar (Shopping area with big hotels) Other areas to stay in Chiang Mai Chinatown (Old area that is revitalising) Santitham (Low-key local area for expats and nomads) Map of Chiang Mai hotels Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map. [View map of Chiang Mai hotels.] Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai If you’re visiting Chiang Mai for the first time then stay in the Old City. This is the most historic area with temples and quiet streets to wander around. If you’re planning to stay longer as a digital nomad, then the Nimmanhemin area is more popular for long-term stays. The Night Bazaar. and area around the Ping River is where most of the 5-star hotels and resorts are located. Search for hotels in Chiang Mai. Old City The Old City is where all the action is for the casual visitor to Chiang Mai. The area is easily defined by the city wall and moat which forms a square around the city. Inside the moat is the old town area which is distinctly low rise. Cross-town traffic has to go around the moat, so there is no through-traffic. Indeed, some lanes are so quiet throughout the day it feels like you are in a small town. Each side of the moat has a main gate on the wall, with Tha Phae Gate (East Gate) being the most popular area for accommodation options. If you want to be in the most central area, search around Tha Phae Gate. Search all hotels in the Old City. At Tha Phae Gate is Ratchadamnoen Road, which runs east-west to Wat Phra Singh (Gold Temple). On Sunday night this road becomes a walking street for the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market. This is one of the most lively night markets in Thailand. If you are looking for the most central area or “main street”, then Ratchadamnoen Road would be it. Hostels and Guesthouses There are lots of options for budget accommodation, and if you will be pleasantly surprised with how much cheaper it is here compared with accommodation in Bangkok or the Thai islands. The most lively backpacker area is between Tha Phae Gate and the northeast corner of the moat. Moonmuang Road runs along this section of the moat, and there are many cheap places to stay in the sois (alleys) off Moonmuang. It’s nothing like Khao San Road in Bangkok (a noisy party street) so you can come here to chill or party. There are still guesthouses in this area without online booking presence where you can walk in and get a room. There are lots of cheap places online now so there is no real advantage of showing up without a booking. A cheap guesthouse I’ve stayed which has online booking is the Banwiang Guest House. S.K. House 1 is one of the older backpacker hotels in the Moonmuang area. Moonmuang Lane 7 has a variety of budget and boutique guesthouse options, including Sri Pat Guest House (3-star) and Valentier Cafe and Hotel (3-star). [Sri Pat Guest House.] Opposite Moonmuang Lane 7 on the other side of the moat is Chaiyapoom Soi 1. This has become a mini backpacker party alley, with Stamps Backpackers being a popular place to socialise with fellow travellers. [Stamps Backpackers.] Mid Range The old city has a good selection of mid-range hotels, some of which have pools and are tucked away in peaceful gardens. There are height restrictions in the old city, so there are no boxy chain hotels here. Hotel M Chiang Mai (3-star) is in a busy area opposite Tha Phae Gate. Boutique hotels the old city include Wealth Boutique Hotel Chiang Mai (3.5-star) and Baan Huenphen Boutique Hotel (3.5-star). On Ratchadamnoen Road is the Moondragon Hotel Chiang Mai (3.5-star). Another Ratchadamnoen Road option is MoMo Hotel (4-star). 4-star/Boutique The 5-star hotels in Chiang Mai are located outside the old city, but there are a number of 4-star hotels to choose from. Amora Tapae Hotel (4-star) is the largest hotel in the Old City vicinity, located outside the moat and near Tha Phae Gate. [Amora Tapae Hotel next to the Old City moat.] Hotel De Sripoom (4-star) is in the quiet Moonmuang area. [Hotel De Sripoom.] Tamarind Village Hotel (4-star) is built around an old tamarind tree with a garden setting, off Rajdamnoen Road. [Entrance to Tamarind Village Hotel.] The Baan Klang Wiang Hotel and 99 The Heritage Hotel are highly-rated 4 Star hotels. The 4.5 Star Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel is the highest star-rated hotel in the old area. [Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel.] Nimmanhaemin Nimmanhaemin refers to Nimmanhaemin Rd (sometimes written as Nimmanhaeminda Rd) which is northwest of the old city. It’s also referred to as Nimman, which can mean the road or the general area around it. Nimmanhaemin Road is a busy thoroughfare where the Route 11 Superhighway abruptly ends and funnels traffic into this road. Off Nimmanhaemin there are lanes that are filled with cool cafes and boutique stores that wouldn’t be out of place in Bangkok. This is definitely the coolest place in Chiang Mai, and it’s also the epicentre of the digital nomad scene. If you are a new visitor or only staying a few days in Chiang Mai then I would stay in the old city. Most of the tourist sites are around there, and the bulk of the travel agencies are around there for onward travel. I would recommend Nimmanhaemin if you have been to Chiang Mai before and want to experience the modern arty side of the city, or if you are hunting for an apartment rental in the area. When coming from the old city the main road is Huay Kaew Road. At the intersection of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew is Maya Mall, and Huay Kaew continues towards Doi Suthep (Mount Suthep) – the dominant landmark of Chiang Mai. [Eastin Tan Hotel and Maya Mall.] Search for hotels near Nimmanhemin in Chiang Mai. Hostels and Guesthouses There aren’t as many budget accommodation options here, and if you are looking for a cheap guesthouse with a private bathroom then I would stay in the old city. If you are a hostel person then there are quite a few good choices here that reflect the boutique style of the Nimman area. Baan Mek Hostel has Japanese-style private compartments instead of dorm beds and is a cool place to stay. Here is my review of the Baan Mek Hostel. Another good place to look for.a cheap room is on Airbnb. I found a room on Nimmanhaemin Soi 9 which was ideal for a few days. Mid Range Samantan Hotel is a 3-star hotel that has an arty Nimman vibe. Yantarasri Resort (4-star) is set in a tropical garden and is conveniently located off Nimmanhaemin. The corner of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew Road is anchored by two big hotels (by Chiang Mai standards). Opposite Maya Mall is the Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai (4-star). Rooms on the western side offer great views of Doi Suthep. The hotel is next to a plaza that has been turned into a Little Tokyo shopping area, complete with a fake metro station. [Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai.] Luxury Hotels On the other corner of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew Road is the 5-star U Nimman Chiang Mai on 1 Nimmanhaemin Road. This is next door to the One Nimman shopping centre, which is a shopping complex with a European-style arcade. [U Nimman Chiang Mai.] Amanor Hotel Chiang Mai offer modern 5-star suites. Night Bazaar This covers the area between the eastern wall of the old city and the Ping River. I’ve spent several months in Chiang Mai, yet I have rarely stayed in this area. I am always surprised with how busy it is when I go there. Most of the luxury 5-star level hotels are in this area as there is not the same height restriction on buildings. There are two main roads that connect the old city to the night bazaar area. Thapae Road is a busy one-way street the runs from the Ping River towards Thapae Gate. The other road is Loi Kroh Road, which is a one-way street from the old city to the night bazaar. Loi Kroh Road is where most of the expat pubs and girlie bars are. It’s another world away from the Nimman hipster scene. Search for hotels near Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai. Hostels and Guesthouses Mad Monkey Chiang Mai is a party hostel which you might have seen in other places around Southeast Asia. Mid Range Hotel Montha is one of the best-rated 3 Star hotels east of the Tha Pae Gate. Movenpick Suriwongse Chiang Mai (4-star) is a landmark hotel in the cluster of big hotels in the Night Bazaar area. Duangtawan Hotel (4-star) is at the Night Bazaar end of Loy Kroh Road (the bar street). [Duangtawan Hotel on Loy Kroh Road.] Luxury Most of the luxury hotels in Chiang Mai can be found in the Night Bazaar and riverside area in Chang Khlan. Near the Night Bazaar is the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel (formerly the Le Meridien). The InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping opened in November 2023 after taking over the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel which closed in 2019. [InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.] Between the Night Market and the Ping River is the Melia Chiang Mai. South of the Night Bazaar in Chang Khlan is the Shangri-La Hotel. Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is not far from the market area and has frontage on the Ping River. Other areas to stay in Chiang Mai I have included some other areas to consider if you are a repeat visitor to Chiang Mai and looking for somewhere different to stay. Chinatown The Chinatown area is between the Old City and the Ping River, centred around the Warorot Market area. There is a Chinese Welcome Gate, though the exact boundary of Chinatown is undefined. I’ve been walking around this area for years, and the shops in the area have always been a bit old and run-down. There has been a noticeable change happening in the area, with little bars and boutique shops popping up. The Warehouse on Ratchawong Road is an old warehouse that has been turned into an art space with vintage clothing stores and cool bars. Behind the Warehouse is the The Warehouse Chiang Mai Hotel (3-star). Also on Ratchawong Road is the Darley Hotel Chiangmai (3-star). Santitham The Santitham area is northwest of the Old City area in Ban Sathaphon. Santitham is named after a road and it’s not an official district name. This area has become popular with expats and digital nomads who are looking for a more local living experience while being close to the Old City and Nimman. Santitham is my preferred area if I’m spending a month in Chiang Mai. If you are considering a longer stay then have a look around the area to see if you like it. You may find it’s too quiet or not close enough to the main areas. The main drawback for me is there are no cafes open at night in this area. There aren’t as many hotels in Santitham as it’s mostly residential. There are cheap monthly rentals in the area that aren’t listed on booking sites. I have found monthly rentals by walking around looking for rental signs. I have stayed here for 5,500 THB ($154 USD) per month. Ban Kong Rao Yododo Resort (2-star) is a guesthouse in the main area near the shops and restaurants. Wiang Inn Mansion (3-star) offers daily and monthly rentals. View the full article

Having great product pages is important for your sales. After all, it’s where people decide to click that buy button. Besides optimizing your product pages for user experience, you also want to make sure these pages work for your SEO. You might think this is obvious. That’s why we’ll show you a few less obvious elements of product page SEO in this post. And we’ll explain why it’s so important to take these things into account. Let’s go! Table of contents 1. The basics of product page SEO 2. Add structured data for your products and get rich results 3. Add real reviews 4. Make your product page lightning fast 5. User test your product page Bonus: Build trust and show people your authenticity Conclusion: Be serious about your product page SEO Check out our overview of product page must-haves 1. The basics of product page SEO First things first: a product page on an online store is a page too. This means that all the SEO things that matter for your content pages matter for your product pages as well. Of course, there’s a lot more to product page SEO. But for now, this will be your basic optimization. Tip: If you offer not-so-exciting products on your site, you may want to read our post on SEO for boring products. Let’s start with the basics. A great title Try to focus on the product name and include the manufacturer’s name, if applicable. In addition, if your product is a small part of a larger machine (screw, tube), for example, you should include the SKU as well. People might search for that specifically. A proper and unique product description While it might be tempting to use the same description as the product’s manufacturer, you really shouldn’t. That description might be found on hundreds of websites, which means it’s duplicate content and a sign of low quality for your website (to Google). Remember, you want to prevent duplicate content at all times! Now, you might think: “But all my other content (content pages, category pages, blog) is unique!” However, if the content on hundreds of product pages isn’t unique, then the majority of your website’s content still won’t be up to par. So make time to create unique content! And if you need help, the Yoast WooCommerce SEO plugin comes with product-specific content and SEO analysis that helps you produce great product descriptions. An inviting meta description A product page usually contains a lot of general information, like the product’s dimensions or your company’s terms of service. To avoid Google using that unrelated text in a meta description, you want to add a meta description to your product pages. It’s arguably even more important than adding one to your content pages! Next, try to come up with unique meta descriptions. This can be difficult sometimes. You might come up with a sort of template, where you only change the product name per product. That’s okay to start with. But ideally, all your meta descriptions should be unique. Yoast SEO has various AI features that will help you with this. Pick a great and easy-to-remember URL We recommend using the product name in the URL. However, keep it short and simple so that it is still readable for site visitors. Add high-quality and well-optimized images with proper ALT text Include the product name in at least the main product image. This will help you do better in visual search. Also, don’t forget video — if applicable. Focus on your product page UX Last but not least: UX, or user experience. This is an important step because it’s all about making your product pages as user-friendly as possible. Plus, it’s an important part of holistic SEO. There are many parts to UX, which is why we wrote a post with product page UX examples. Give it a read! Read more: Write great product descriptions with WooCommerce SEO » WooCommerce SEO simplifiedEnhance product visibility and drive more traffic to your online shop. Get Yoast WooCommerce SEO »Only $178.80 / year (ex VAT) 2. Add structured data for your products and get rich results Structured data is an essential part of a modern SEO strategy. You simply can’t do without structured data for your product pages anymore, because they help your product page stand out. For example, there is a specific Product schema that helps you get highlighted search results, so-called rich results. These are great for your site’s visibility, and they can also increase your click-through rate! And if you mark up customers’ reviews with Review structured data, they will show up in the search results. Seeing those beautiful stars underneath a product page will convince people they should check out your site! Another reason to add it is to manage customers’ expectations. Your visitors will know your price up front and that the product is still in stock. How’s that for user experience? Search engines and AI/LLMs will understand your page better Structured data is also important for your product page SEO because the major search engines came up with this markup, not the W3C consortium. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Yandex agreed upon this markup, so they could identify product pages and all the product elements and characteristics more easily. Why? So they could a) understand these pages a lot better and b) show you rich snippets like this: The Product schema tells the search engine more about the product. It could include characteristics like product description, manufacturer, brand, name, dimensions, and color, but also the SKU we mentioned earlier. The Offer schema includes more information on price and availability, like currency and stock. It can even include something called priceValidUntil to let search engines know that the price offer is for a limited time only. Add structured data with Yoast SEOBoost your website’s presence with powerful schema structured data features, included for free with Yoast SEO. Try Yoast SEO Free » Options to add structured data for product page SEO Schema.org has a lot of options, but only a limited set of properties are supported by search engines. For instance, look at Google’s page on product page structured data to see what search engines expect in your code and what they can do with it. This is why you want to add Schema.org data for product page SEO: It’s easier to recognize for Google, and it makes sure to include important extras in Google already. If you have a WooCommerce shop, our WooCommerce SEO plugin takes care of a lot of this stuff behind the scenes. Keep reading: Rich results, structured data and Schema: a visual guide to help you understand » 3. Add real reviews Reviews are important. In fact, 74% of consumers say that they check reviews on at least two sites before buying anything online or locally. Although not everyone trusts online reviews, many do, so they can be very helpful. If you are a local company, online reviews are even more important. Most reviews tend to be extremely positive, but it might just be the negative reviews that give a better sense of what is going on with a company or product. In addition, getting awesome testimonials is another way of showing your business means business. Try to get your customers to leave reviews, then show the reviews on your product page. Do you get a negative review? Contact the writer, find out what’s wrong, and try to mitigate the situation. Maybe they can turn their negative review into a positive one. Plus: You’ve gained new insights into your work. If you’re not sure how to get those ratings and reviews, check out our blog post: how to get ratings and reviews for your business. And don’t forget to mark up your reviews and ratings with Review and Rating schema so search engines can pick them up and show rich results on the search results pages. 4. Make your product page lightning fast Nobody enjoys waiting, especially when browsing on a mobile device. Many shoppers are now using their phones to make purchases, so speed on your product pages is crucial. Visitors expect instant access to content, and search engines reward that expectation. Compress images, implement responsive design, and streamline scripts to enhance load times. Regularly test your mobile layout to identify and fix problems before they impact your users. Prioritizing mobile performance not only satisfies your customers but also aligns with search engine preferences, potentially boosting your SEO rankings and increasing traffic. Remember, a fast, mobile-friendly site is a win-win for everyone involved. To get you started, here’s a post about how to improve your Core Web Vital scores. 5. User test your product page Looking at numbers in Google Analytics, Search Console, or other analytical tools can give you insight into how people find and interact with your page. These insights can help you improve the performance of a page even more. But there’s another way to ensure that your product page is as awesome as it can be: user testing. There are also many ways to get more value from site visitors with A/B testing. How user testing can help you Testers can find loads of issues for you, such as terrible use of images (including non-functioning galleries), bad handling of out-of-stock products, or inaccurate shipping and return information, which can lead to trust issues. Now, you might be thinking: Surely, my website doesn’t have those issues! But you’d be surprised. In their Product Page UX research project, the Baymard Institute found that: “The high-level benchmark results show that only 49% of e-commerce sites have an overall ‘decent’ or ‘good’ UX performance for their product pages, while 51% of sites have ‘mediocre’ or worse product page implementations. On the extreme ends of performance, only a couple of sites had a very ‘poor’ Product Page UX performance that failed to align with commonly observed user behavior in our large-scale PDP testing. This is a fortunate shift upward from 2021, which previously had 4% of sites with below ‘poor’ performances. At the other end of the scale, there aren’t any sites with an overall ‘Perfect’ or ‘“’State of the Art’ product page implementation (unchanged since 2021). You can read this fascinating study on their Product Page UX site. While you compare your product pages to external user research, don’t forget to do your own user testing! Doing proper research will give you eye-opening results that you probably wouldn’t have found yourself. Bonus: Build trust and show people your authenticity Getting a stranger to buy something on your site involves a lot of trust. Someone needs to know you are authentic before handing you their hard-earned money, right? Google puts a lot of emphasis on the element of trust — It’s all over their famous Search Quality Raters Guidelines. The search engine tries to evaluate trust and expertise by looking at online reviews, the accolades a site or its authors receive, and much more. Brand perception in AI and LLMs AI search engines and LLMs also assess these trust factors to shape how your brand is presented. They analyze reviews, schema, and overall credibility to produce an accurate portrayal. A trustworthy online presence can positively influence how these systems perceive and convey your brand to users. This is why it’s so important that your About Us and Customer Service pages are in order. Make sure people can easily find your contact information, information about returns and shipping, payment, privacy, etc. This will build trust with your customers. So, don’t forget! Social proof is another way to build trust with your customers. Adding social proof to your product pages can significantly influence buying decisions. Display customer reviews, testimonials, and ratings to build trust and demonstrate real-life experiences. Include trust badges, like security symbols or industry awards, to boost credibility. Encourage happy customers to share photos or videos of your products and showcase this content on your website. These elements help assure visitors that your products are both credible and valued by others. Conclusion: Be serious about your product page SEO If you’re serious about optimizing your product page, you shouldn’t focus on regular SEO and user experience alone. You’ll have to dig deeper into other aspects of your product pages. For instance, you could add the Product and Offer Schema, so Google can easily index all the details about your product and show these as rich results in the search results. In addition, you should make your product pages fast, add user reviews, and try to enhance your website’s trustworthiness. And don’t forget to test everything you do! Need a helping hand? Be sure to check out our ecommerce SEO training course. Learn what ecommerce SEO entails, how to optimize your site, and boost your online presence. Want to get your products ranking in the shopping search results? We’ll tell you how. Start your free trial lesson today! Full access to Yoast SEO Academy is included in Yoast SEO Premium, which also includes all other plugins — including Local SEO for optimizing your performance in local search. Check out our overview of product page must-haves To help you stay on top of your product pages, we created a PDF that you can use to optimize your product pages. Most of what’s discussed in this blog post can be found in the PDF, plus more tips! Just click on the image to go to the PDF and download it. Read on: 7 ways to improve product descriptions in your online store » The post Product page SEO: 5 things to improve appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

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The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has introduced a wave of tax reforms many of which may benefit freelancers. Among the most impactful changes? A new provision that allows freelancers and gig economy workers to deduct car loan interest when their vehicle is used for business purposes. This marks a significant shift in how self-employed individuals can manage and reduce their taxable income, especially those who rely heavily on their vehicles to earn a living. A few important points in regard to the type of vehicle and loan that qualifies: This deduction is available for new car loans originated after December 31, 2024, used to purchase a qualified vehicle for personal use.Lease payments do not qualify.Refinanced loans generally qualify for the deduction, up to the amount owed at the time of refinancing.If your vehicle purchase complies with the points above, the deduction may offer a significant reduction in your tax obligations because it is considered "above-the-line," meaning you can claim it even if you take the standard deduction instead of itemizing. The Impact of the New Car Loan Interest Deduction on Freelance Taxes Before this bill, freelancers had limited options when it came to deducting vehicle-related expenses. The IRS allowed deductions for mileage or actual vehicle expenses, such as fuel, maintenance, and depreciation. However, car loan interest was typically excluded unless the vehicle was used exclusively for business purposes—a rare scenario for most freelancers who also use their cars for personal errands. The One Big Beautiful Bill changes that. Now, freelancers can deduct a proportional amount of interest paid on their car loans based on how much they use the vehicle for business. This means that even if a car is used for both personal and professional activities, the business-use portion of the interest is still deductible. For example, if a freelance photographer drives 20,000 miles in a year, and 14,000 of those miles are for client photoshoots, location scouting and equipment transport, this will equate to 70% business use. Under the new law, this freelancer can deduct 70% of the interest paid on their car loan for that year. This provision applies to both new and existing loans, as long as the vehicle is used for business purposes during the current tax year. It is also retroactive, meaning freelancers who took out loans earlier in the year can still benefit when they file their taxes. The New Car Loan Interest Deduction May Boost Your Freelance Business Bottom Line For many freelancers, a vehicle is not just a convenience—it is a necessity. Whether you are a rideshare driver, mobile dog groomer, or independent contractor traveling between job sites, your car is often central to your income. By allowing car loan interest deductions, the OBBB acknowledges the actual costs of self-employment and offers a tangible way to reduce tax liability. This change could result in substantial savings. For example, if a freelancer pays $3,000 in interest annually and uses 70% of their car for business, they could deduct $2,100 from their taxable income. Depending on their tax bracket, this could translate into hundreds of dollars in actual tax savings. Be Aware of Income Limit Thresholds on Car Loan Interest Deductions The car loan interest deduction introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for tax years 2025 through 2028 is subject to income limitations based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). Here is a summary of the income limits: Full Deduction: The maximum deduction of $10,000 is fully available for:Single filers with a MAGI of $100,000 or less.Married couples filing jointly with a MAGI of $200,000 or less.Reduced Deduction (Phase-out): The deduction begins to phase out for taxpayers with MAGIs above these thresholds. The deduction is reduced by $200 for every $1,000 over the limit.No Deduction: The deduction is completely phased out for:Single filers earning above $150,000.Married couples filing jointly with incomes above $250,000. How Freelancers Can Leverage the OBBB Car Loan Interest Deduction To take full advantage of this new deduction, freelancers should start by tracking their mileage and record dates, destinations, and the purpose of each trip. Creating this type of detailed log—whether kept manually or through an app—can help determine the percentage of business use. It is also important to retain loan documents and interest statements, as these will be needed when filing taxes. In addition, be sure to consult a tax professional, especially if you are unsure how to allocate mixed-use expenses. View the full article

The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has introduced a wave of tax reforms many of which may benefit freelancers. Among the most impactful changes? A new provision that allows freelancers and gig economy workers to deduct car loan interest when their vehicle is used for business purposes. This marks a significant shift in how self-employed individuals can manage and reduce their taxable income, especially those who rely heavily on their vehicles to earn a living. A few important points in regard to the type of vehicle and loan that qualifies: This deduction is available for new car loans originated after December 31, 2024, used to purchase a qualified vehicle for personal use.Lease payments do not qualify.Refinanced loans generally qualify for the deduction, up to the amount owed at the time of refinancing.If your vehicle purchase complies with the points above, the deduction may offer a significant reduction in your tax obligations because it is considered "above-the-line," meaning you can claim it even if you take the standard deduction instead of itemizing. The Impact of the New Car Loan Interest Deduction on Freelance Taxes Before this bill, freelancers had limited options when it came to deducting vehicle-related expenses. The IRS allowed deductions for mileage or actual vehicle expenses, such as fuel, maintenance, and depreciation. However, car loan interest was typically excluded unless the vehicle was used exclusively for business purposes—a rare scenario for most freelancers who also use their cars for personal errands. The One Big Beautiful Bill changes that. Now, freelancers can deduct a proportional amount of interest paid on their car loans based on how much they use the vehicle for business. This means that even if a car is used for both personal and professional activities, the business-use portion of the interest is still deductible. For example, if a freelance photographer drives 20,000 miles in a year, and 14,000 of those miles are for client photoshoots, location scouting and equipment transport, this will equate to 70% business use. Under the new law, this freelancer can deduct 70% of the interest paid on their car loan for that year. This provision applies to both new and existing loans, as long as the vehicle is used for business purposes during the current tax year. It is also retroactive, meaning freelancers who took out loans earlier in the year can still benefit when they file their taxes. The New Car Loan Interest Deduction May Boost Your Freelance Business Bottom Line For many freelancers, a vehicle is not just a convenience—it is a necessity. Whether you are a rideshare driver, mobile dog groomer, or independent contractor traveling between job sites, your car is often central to your income. By allowing car loan interest deductions, the OBBB acknowledges the actual costs of self-employment and offers a tangible way to reduce tax liability. This change could result in substantial savings. For example, if a freelancer pays $3,000 in interest annually and uses 70% of their car for business, they could deduct $2,100 from their taxable income. Depending on their tax bracket, this could translate into hundreds of dollars in actual tax savings. Be Aware of Income Limit Thresholds on Car Loan Interest Deductions The car loan interest deduction introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for tax years 2025 through 2028 is subject to income limitations based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). Here is a summary of the income limits: Full Deduction: The maximum deduction of $10,000 is fully available for:Single filers with a MAGI of $100,000 or less.Married couples filing jointly with a MAGI of $200,000 or less.Reduced Deduction (Phase-out): The deduction begins to phase out for taxpayers with MAGIs above these thresholds. The deduction is reduced by $200 for every $1,000 over the limit.No Deduction: The deduction is completely phased out for:Single filers earning above $150,000.Married couples filing jointly with incomes above $250,000. How Freelancers Can Leverage the OBBB Car Loan Interest Deduction To take full advantage of this new deduction, freelancers should start by tracking their mileage and record dates, destinations, and the purpose of each trip. Creating this type of detailed log—whether kept manually or through an app—can help determine the percentage of business use. It is also important to retain loan documents and interest statements, as these will be needed when filing taxes. In addition, be sure to consult a tax professional, especially if you are unsure how to allocate mixed-use expenses. View the full article

The shift to hybrid work has brought with it a complex web of communication, collaboration, and, unfortunately, a significant rise in meeting fatigue. What once felt like essential touchpoints can now feel like endless interruptions, draining productivity and leaving employees feeling overwhelmed. In this environment, the question "Is this meeting really necessary?" becomes more critical than ever. It's not about eliminating connection; it's about being more intentional and strategic about how we connect, ensuring that synchronous time is valuable and drives meaningful outcomes. View the full article

Search engine marketing is a digital marketing practice used to increase your site‘s visibility in search engines. View the full article

Just getting started with Wrike? Smart move, considering all of the functionality included in the Wrike app. Within a crowded marketplace, few other contenders offer the combination of features, customer service, and affordability we found in Wrike. The post What is Wrike? The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article