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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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There could be a risk that the benefits of the upcoming standard may be too hard to convey. The post MediaTek suggests creating ‘Wi-Fi 8 profiles’ linking future Wi-Fi 8 features to specific use cases & end-user devices appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Legal experts say President The President's unprecedented move to fire Cook over alleged past misconduct will likely be hashed out in court, but there is little precedent to determine whether a sitting board governor can be removed for past actions. View the full article

A proposed rule published Tuesday in the Federal Register would limit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's ability to designate nonbank entities for supervision. View the full article

The judge sided with Massachusetts officials in a review of their lawsuit against Hometap, who pushed back on descriptions of its products as "illegal" loans. View the full article

The president’s intensifying assault on central bank independence risks backfiringView 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 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

This is a guest post by Raimee Iacofano from Raimeetravel. Growing up in Michigan, Ludington was THE place to be. Every summer, my family would pack up the car, blast some classic rock (think Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, and the occasional Lynyrd Skynyrd singalong), and head west for beach days, lighthouse climbs, and the BEST Superman ice cream you’ll ever have. It was tradition for us each year because my grandparents called Ludington home. As a kid, it felt like pure magic. Falling asleep to the sound of waves, chasing seagulls barefoot in the sand, and sticky fingers from melting cones that somehow always dripped down to my elbow. Ludington wasn’t just a vacation spot for us, it was a special place to make our family memories! But then life happened. I grew up. Things changed. I started traveling the world, chasing new coastlines, and eventually moved across the country to California. My summers became less about beach towels and bonfires on Lake Michigan and more about airports, new countries, and ticking places off my bucket list. And yet, Ludington was always tucked in the back of my mind. No matter how many cliffs I hiked in Ireland, or temples I wandered through in Asia, part of me wanted to come back. To see if it still held the same magic or if I’d outgrown it. Finally, this summer, I returned for the first time in over a decade. And… WOW. Ludington is even more special now. It’s charming and peaceful, yet absolutely packed with things to do. If you’ve been sleeping on West Michigan (or Michigan in general), this is your official wake-up call. I thought this trip would be a little nostalgic, maybe a quiet walk down memory lane. Instead, Ludington completely surprised me with rooftop dinners, breweries with fire pits, gorgeous hiking trails, and so many nearby adventures. Honestly, there’s so much here that you could stay for a week and still leave with a list of things for “next time.” Here’s how I spent my time and everything I’d recommend if you’re planning your own trip to Ludington. Things to Do in Ludington 1. Beach Days & Lighthouse Treks First stop: Stearns Park Beach. It’s totally free and walkable from downtown, which I love. We set up with a ton of snacks, people-watched, and even played a little shuffleboard (yes, there’s free shuffleboard courts right by the beach!). The sand is soft, the vibe is laid back, and the water is that endless deep blue that makes you forget you’re not at the ocean. If you’re up early, or willing to stay late, walk the breakwall to the Ludington North Breakwater Light. The lighthouse is stunning during both sunrise and sunset, and each gives the lake a completely different mood. Pro tip: if you head out around 9 a.m., you’ll catch the SS Badger, a historic coal-fired car ferry, making its way across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. The tradition is to wave goodbye to the passengers onboard, and it feels like stepping into a moment straight out of small-town Americana. For something more adventurous, head to Ludington State Park. It’s often called the “crown jewel” of Michigan’s state parks—and I get it now. Twenty-five miles of trails wind through forests, dunes, and beaches, with stops at both Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake. The highlight? Hiking out to Big Sable Point Lighthouse. It’s about two miles each way, but the walk is gorgeous and the payoff is huge: a tall, striped lighthouse from the 1800s standing guard against the waves. It’s the kind of spot that makes you pause and think, “Wow, I can’t believe this is in Michigan.” 2. Museum Time (because I secretly love history) One of my favorite travel quirks is that I always end up in at least one museum—no matter where I go. In Ludington, I found two gems: Historic White Pine Village: An outdoor museum with over 30 historic buildings, from a one-room schoolhouse to an old-fashioned courthouse. Walking around felt like stepping back into a simpler time, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for Michigan’s roots. Port of Ludington Maritime Museum: Perfect if you love Great Lakes history, lighthouses, or boats. It’s in a former Coast Guard station and has such a fun mix of interactive exhibits and vintage charm. Bonus: both spots are super photogenic so bring your camera. 3. Water Adventures & Nature Fix If you’re an outdoorsy person, Ludington is basically paradise. You can rent kayaks at Hamlin Lake for a peaceful paddle, or grab a pontoon boat if you want more of a party-on-the-water vibe. Paddleboards are another fun option—great workout, and you get a totally different perspective of the lake. Not into water? There’s also mountain biking, disc golf, and plenty of hiking trails. Ludington really is the best of both worlds: small-town charm mixed with endless outdoor adventures. Where to Eat & Drink in Ludington I’ll be honest: I wasn’t expecting Ludington’s food scene to be this good. But WOW. From breakfast spots to breweries, I was seriously impressed. Breakfast & Casual Bites Café 106: Cozy and cute, perfect for brunch. Their omelets hit the spot after a morning walk. House of Flavors: The most iconic ice cream shop in town. I grew up eating Superman here, but this trip I discovered Carrot Cake ice cream and let me tell you—it changed my life. The Sandbox at Stearns Beach: Right by the water, serving gourmet sliders, seasoned fries, and ice cream. Perfect beach & chill food! Dinner with a View STIX: Near the state park, with a massive biergarten, live music, and even lawn games. It’s part-restaurant, part-entertainment hub. Blu Moon Bistro: Adorable rooftop patio with seasonal dishes. This is where I had the best Reuben sandwich of my life (and I don’t say that lightly). Jamesport Brewing Co. & Ludington Bay Brewing: Two great breweries with outdoor patios—perfect for golden hour. The Perch on Hamlin Lake: A newer spot perched (literally) on a bluff overlooking the lake. Come for dinner, or just grab cocktails on their lower-level patio. Bonus: you can even arrive by boat. Something Sweet + Coffee Kilwin’s: Fudge + chocolates = heaven. Red Rooster Coffee: Cozy, friendly, with iced lattes that hit the spot after a hot day. HumaniTea: If you’re a tea drinker, or just need a reset between activities, this place is perfect. Where to Stay in Ludington There’s a vibe for every type of traveler here. Camping: Ludington State Park has beautiful campgrounds that keep you close to nature. Downtown: Stay at a historic inn, hotel, or B&B for easy access to beaches and restaurants. Lakefront: For something special, look at Hamlin Lake rentals. I stayed at Sunset Bluff Resort, and it was perfect. We had a little yellow A-frame house with cozy cabin vibes but all the essentials. The best part? A private fire pit right by the water. Every night, we roasted s’mores, watched cotton candy sunsets, and cracked open local beers from Ludington Bay Brewing. It was the kind of place that instantly melts the stress away and makes you feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Best Local Shops in Ludington I always carve out time to wander through local shops when I travel—it’s one of the best ways to get a feel for a town. In Ludington, I found some gems along Ludington Avenue and South James Street: Sexy Nomad: My favorite! A beautifully curated shop with vintage clothing, Moroccan jewelry, ceramics, and handmade treasures. It felt like stepping into a global market—but right here in Michigan. Sister Bees: Women-owned and full of natural skincare, beeswax products, and Michigan honey. Such a thoughtful place for gifts. The Windowsill Used & New Books: Cozy, welcoming, and filled with great reads. I picked up a romantasy novel (obviously). The staff was so kind, and it reminded me why I always stop at indie bookstores when I travel. Coming back to Ludington as an adult was like re-reading a childhood book and discovering new magic between the lines. It felt grounding, nostalgic, and fresh all at once. There’s something powerful about revisiting the places that shaped you and realizing they’re just as beautiful—sometimes even better—than you remembered. If you’ve never been to West Michigan, or it’s been a while, put Ludington at the top of your list. It’s a small town with a big heart, stunning landscapes, and a community that makes you feel right at home. Trust me! I’m already planning my next trip back. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll become a tradition again. For more planning info, check out PureLudington.com. Raimee Iacofano grew up in Michigan. Eight years ago, she set off to travel the world and has worked helping creators improve their social media (she even worked for me for a few years). She’s since started her own enterprise helping people travel smarter and off the beaten path. When she’s not roaming the world, she lives in LA. Follow her amazing videos on Instagram and TikTok and download her free guides on her website, Raimeetravel. Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: SafetyWing (best for budget travelers) World Nomads (best for mid-range travelers) InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals. Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip! Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip. The post How to Explore Ludington, Michigan appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

NIDO QUBEIN began serving as Highpoint University’s president in 2005. As he toured the school in January of that year, it was not a school that he would even send his own children to. He was about to change that. He has led the university through an extraordinary transformation during his two decades and counting in office, including: Undergraduate and graduate enrollment has increased from 1,500 in 2005 to a record 6,335 students last fall, with the addition of 12 academic schools. This has been supported with a jump in the number of faculty members from 108 to more than 500. The Campus itself has also grown significantly with the construction of 128 new or renovated buildings on Campus and a total investment of more than $3 billion. The Campus has expanded from 91 acres to over 550 acres. In addition, HPU’s rankings have jumped from #17 in 2005 to #1. The university has maintained the #1 Regional College in the South for 13 consecutive years in “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and #1 Most Innovative for 10 consecutive years. Extraordinary Transformation: An Entrepreneurial Blueprint for Leaders Who Seek Transformational Growth in Any Organization not only explains how this transformation happened but also provides the principles that can be applied to your professional and personal life. Entrepreneurs take note. Qubein provides a guide to transformational change. Here are some of the insights found in this book: You have to peer into the interior of events and circumstances and find out for yourself what’s really going on there. On the need for big change over incremental changes: That would not be a bad thing—but there would be no story to tell. This is not to say that incremental change has no value at all. There are places where incremental development is precisely what is called for, where moving fast may even be counterproductive. These are situations where making small improvements consistently over time can add up to have a powerful cumulative effect. Exercise is like that. So is the accumulation and assimilation of new knowledge or the learning of a new discipline. We needed to be noticed, and when you want people to notice, you have to make your moves big. Having a personal vision sets up a creative tension between the world as it is and the world as you would like it to be. That creative tension provides fuel and leads you onto a path of accomplishment and fulfillment. We had to become the place the students wanted to be. The truth is that it does not have to take huge amounts of money to make a profound shift in people’s experience. The process is not capital-intensive; it is empathy-intensive. Where can we remove irritants in the system? One of the lessons I’ve learned in life is that your connections, your relational capital, will help you achieve your goals. They believe .in you, you believe in them, and they will work on your behalf with no questions asked. You cannot effect meaningful change unless the underlying culture changes first. All other transformation starts here. It is the who that defines the what, never the other way around. And ultimately, it is the why that matters the most. If you want to transform your organization, you first must decide what kind of culture you want it to be. There is a tendency in any organization for it to become self-serving. The larger the organization grows and the older it is, the stronger this tendency expresses itself and becomes this kind of inertia, a growing gravitational field if you will, that pulls everything into its orbit. Whatever its stated goals or original mission may have been, the organization’s everyday purpose becomes more and more about the perpetuation of the organization itself. This is the essence of the term bureaucracy. Please don’t think outside the box because when you do that, you’re still using the box as your frame of reference. Let us throw the box out the window. Always retain an entrepreneurial edge and outlook. Nobody will notice the value you provide unless you tell them. Creating value is essential to establishing your brand, but it is just as essential that you continually interpret that value—not only to your clients and potential clients but also to your staff, investors, board members (if you have them), and every stakeholder connected with your enterprise. We also had to communicate to our students, to our parents, and to our community why we were doing that and what difference it made to them. Here is something else about leadership that my years in business had taught me: When you are frightened, you have to let it show—to someone. To a carefully selected, deeply regarded few. Knowing who those few are and being able to fully confide in them—that, too, is leadership. Sometimes, in moments of crisis, you need to reach out to someone you trust, someone you can talk to. During the pandemic, he said, “These are times when we have to forget about all the things we must do and think about the things we must be. We need to think, ‘Who must I become in a time like this?’” Leadership resides within all of us. We simply have to take advantage. Of the talents we have. When we do, we will know who we are and become who we want to be. If you want to know what it means to become extraordinary, then this book is for you. Read chapter 8, What is Your Promise? and raise your game. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article