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FTSE 100 group sets out plans to sell £2bn of offices and scale back office developments View the full article

An attorney for a Texas pipeline company said Wednesday at trial that he will prove various Greenpeace entities coordinated delays and disruptions of a controversial oil pipeline’s construction in North Dakota, and defamed the company to its lenders. Attorneys for the Greenpeace defendants told a jury there is no evidence to back up the claims by Dallas-based Energy Transfer, which seeks potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in damages from Greenpeace. The case is tied to protests in 2016 and 2017 of the Dakota Access Pipeline and its controversial Missouri River crossing upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation. The tribe has long opposed the pipeline as a risk to its water supply. The pipeline was completed in 2017. Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access allege trespass, nuisance, defamation and other offenses by Netherlands-based Greenpeace International and its American branch, Greenpeace USA. The lawsuit also names the group’s funding arm, Greenpeace Fund Inc. Greenpeace paid professional protesters to come to the area, sent blockade supplies, organized or led protester trainings, passed “critical intel” to the protesters and told untrue things to stop the pipeline from being built, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Trey Cox, told the jury in his opening statement. “They didn’t think that there would ever be a day of reckoning, but that day of reckoning begins today,” Cox said in opening statements. Attorneys for the defendants emphasized what they said are distinctions between the various Greenpeace entities, such as what they do and how they’re organized. They said Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Fund Inc. had zero involvement in the protests, while Greenpeace USA had six employees at Standing Rock for five to 51 days. Greenpeace is committed to nonviolence, and only got involved at Standing Rock because of tribal outreach, the attorneys said. “This was an Indigenous-led movement by the Native tribes, and we wanted them to have the spotlight,” said Greenpeace USA attorney Everett Jack Jr. One of nine alleged defamatory statements — that Energy Transfer desecrated burial grounds and culturally important sites during construction — was made many times by the tribe before any of the Greenpeace statements, he said. Cox said that statement was included in a letter sent to Energy Transfer’s banks and signed by the executive directors of Greenpeace International and Greenpeace USA. He added that Energy Transfer made 140 adjustments to its pipeline route in order to respect sacred sites. “Our goal was to be a good corporate citizen in North Dakota,” Cox said. More than 500 organizations from more than 50 countries signed on to that letter, said Greenpeace International attorney Courtney DeThomas, who described it as an act of free expression. No financial institution will testify that it received, read or was influenced by the letter, which was signed after thousands of protesters were already at Standing Rock, DeThomas said. Greenpeace representatives have said the lawsuit is an example of corporations abusing the legal system to go after critics and is a critical test of free speech and protest rights. An Energy Transfer spokesperson said the case is about Greenpeace not following the law, not free speech. Greenpeace says the lawsuit is going after $300 million, citing a figure from a previous federal case. The lawsuit complaint asks for damages in an amount to be proved at trial. Because of Greenpeace, Energy Transfer incurred over $82 million in security, contractor and property costs, and lost $80 million of profits, Cox told jurors. The pipeline was supposed to be completed by Jan. 1, 2017, but wasn’t moving oil until five months later, he said. Greenpeace’s “deceptive narrative scared off lenders” and Energy Transfer lost half its banks, he said. The company suffered over $68 million in lost financing and spent $7.6 million for public relations “to deal with these problems and lies” from the “whisper campaign,” Cox said. But Jack said Greenpeace had nothing to do with the company’s delays in operating or refinancing. He also disputed how Energy Transfer is claiming or calculating its damages. The company also has no expert to back its claim of reputational harm, he said. Jury selection took place earlier in the week and the estimated five-week trial is now underway. Nine jurors and two alternates will hear the case in Mandan, North Dakota. The company filed a similar case in federal court in 2017, which a judge dismissed in 2019. Energy Transfer subsequently filed the lawsuit now at trial in state court. Earlier in February, Greenpeace International filed an anti-intimidation suit in the District Court of Amsterdam against Energy Transfer, saying the company acted wrongfully and should pay costs and damages resulting from its “meritless” litigation. —Jack Dura, Associated Press View the full article

CMA head also warns it will not be ‘open season’ for takeovers harmful to consumers View the full article

In this hectic modern world, it’s natural to feel like your ducks aren’t in a row, but every so often the planets seem to align. This week, Mercury is joining Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune for a seven-planet parade (although not all of them will be visible to the naked eye). Here’s what that all means and how best to see it. How exactly do planets align? According to NASA, the term planetary parade isn’t really a technical term in astronomy, but it’s cute and paints a fun picture. Additionally, planetary alignment has a few different meanings; it can refer to when the planets line up with each other or when they line up with the moon or stars. For our purposes, we are referring to the latter. The eight planets in our solar system all orbit the sun on “a relatively flat, disc-shaped plane.” Almost a metaphor for life, each planet moves at its own speed along the orbit. Because of this, it is inevitable that they occasionally line up from time to time. How often does this happen? It all depends on your perspective. According to NASA, this is not a rare occurrence, but it does not happen every year. For Dr. Gerard van Belle, director of science at Lowell Observatory, this is just another day at the office. “On the scale of supermoon to death asteroid, this is more a supermoon sort of thing,” Dr. van Belle explained to the New York Times. Both NASA and Dr. van Belle do acknowledge that even though it is not rare, it is still a fun phenomenon to witness. How to see the planets align in February 2025 This week is prime viewing for stargazers hoping to catch the planets in action. For most places in the world, the evening of Friday, February 28, is the optimal viewing night. Enter your location into the Sky Tonight app to confirm and head outside right after sunset. Which planets are part of the parade? You won’t need special equipment to see Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars. For Uranus and Neptune, binoculars or a telescope are a must. Be careful with your eyes when spotting Saturn as it is close to the sun and low in the horizon. After you take in the wonders of the night sky, you might find yourself inspired to bring more alignment into your own life by, for example, syncing up with your coworkers on a project (even the annoying ones). If the planets can come together, maybe you can, too. View the full article

Donald Trump says tariffs on America’s biggest trading partners to go into effect on March 4View the full article

JavaScript has enabled highly interactive and dynamic websites. But it also presents a challenge: ensuring your site is crawlable, indexable, and fast. That’s why JavaScript SEO is essential. When applied correctly, these strategies can significantly boost organic search performance. For instance, book retailer Follet saw a remarkable recovery after fixing JavaScript issues: That’s the impact of effective JavaScript SEO. In this guide, you’ll: Get an introduction to JavaScript SEO Understand the challenges with using JavaScript for search Learn best practices to optimize your JavaScript site for organic search What Is JavaScript SEO? JavaScript SEO is the process of optimizing JavaScript websites. It ensures search engines can crawl, render, and index them. Aligning JavaScript websites with SEO best practices can boost organic search rankings. All without hurting the user experience. However, there are still uncertainties surrounding JavaScript and SEO’s impact. Common JavaScript Misconceptions Misconception Reality Google can handle all JavaScript perfectly. Since JavaScript is rendered in two phases, delays and errors can occur. These issues can stop Google from crawling, rendering, and indexing content, hurting rankings. JavaScript is only for large sites. JavaScript is versatile and benefits websites of varying sizes. Smaller sites can use JavaScript in interactive forms, content accordions, and navigation dropdowns JavaScript SEO is optional. JavaScript SEO is key for finding and indexing content, especially on JavaScript-heavy sites. Benefits of JavaScript SEO Optimizing JavaScript for SEO can offer several advantages: Improved visibility: Crawled and indexed JavaScript content can boost search rankings Enhanced performance: Techniques like code splitting deliver only the important JavaScript code. This speeds up the site and reduces load times. Stronger collaboration: JavaScript SEO encourages SEOs, developers, and web teams to work together. This helps improve communication and alignment on your SEO project plan. Enhanced user experience: JavaScript boosts UX with smooth transitions and interactivity. It also speeds up and makes navigation between webpages more dynamic. Side note: JavaScript can impact PageSpeed and Core Web Vitals scores. How Search Engines Render JavaScript To understand JavaScript’s SEO impact, let’s explore how search engines process JavaScript pages. Google has outlined that it processes JavaScript websites in three phases: Crawling Processing Indexing Crawling When Google finds a URL, it checks the robots.txt file and meta robots tags. This is to see if any content is blocked from being crawled or rendered. If a link is discoverable by Google, the URL is added to a queue for simultaneous crawling and rendering. Rendering For traditional HTML websites, content is immediately available from the server response. In JavaScript websites, Google must execute JavaScript to render and index the content. Due to resource demands, rendering is deferred until resources are available with Chromium. Indexing Once rendered, Googlebot reads the HTML, adds new links to the crawl list, and indexes the content. How JavaScript Affects SEO Despite its growing popularity, the question often arises: Is JavaScript bad for SEO? Let’s examine aspects that can severely impact SEO if you don’t optimize JavaScript for search. Rendering Delays For Single Page Applications (SPAs) — like Gmail or Twitter, where content updates without page refreshes — JavaScript controls the content and user experience. If Googlebot can’t execute the JavaScript, it may show a blank page. This happens when Google struggles to process the JavaScript. It hurts the page’s visibility and organic performance. To test how Google will see your SPA site if it can’t execute JavaScript, use the web crawler Screaming Frog. Configure the render settings to “Text Only” and crawl your site. Note: You’ll need an SEO Spider Licence to access this setting. Expert tip: Use Screaming Frog’s “Disable JavaScript” feature. It simulates how search engines crawl your site without executing scripts. This allows you to identify missing content or rendering issues. Indexing Issues JavaScript frameworks (like React or Angular, which help build interactive websites) can make it harder for Google to read and index content. For example, Follet’s online bookstore migrated millions of pages to a JavaScript framework. Google had trouble processing the JavaScript, causing a sharp decline in organic performance: Crawl Budget Challenges Websites have a crawl budget. This refers to the number of pages Googlebot can crawl and index within a given timeframe. Large JavaScript files consume significant crawling resources. They also limit Google’s ability to explore deeper pages on the site. Core Web Vitals Concerns JavaScript can affect how quickly the main content of a web page is loaded. This affects Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), a Core Web Vitals score. For example, check out this performance timeline: Section #4 (“Element Render Delay”) shows a JavaScript-induced delay in rendering an element. This negatively impacts the LCP score. JavaScript Rendering Options When rendering webpages, you can choose from three options: Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Client-Side Rendering (CSR), or Dynamic Rendering. Let’s break down the key differences between them. Server-Side Rendering (SSR) SSR creates the full HTML on the server. It then sends this HTML directly to the client, like a browser or Googlebot. This approach means the client doesn’t need to render the content. As a result, the website loads faster and offers a smoother experience. Benefits of SSR Drawbacks of SSR Improved performance Higher server load Search engine optimization Longer time to interactivity Enhanced accessibility Complex implementation Consistent experience Limited caching Client-Side Rendering (CSR) In CSR, the client—like a user, browser, or Googlebot—receives a blank HTML page. Then, JavaScript runs to generate the fully rendered HTML. Google can render client-side, JavaScript-driven pages. But, it may delay rendering and indexing. Benefits of CSR Drawbacks of CSR Reduced server load Slower initial load times Enhanced interactivity SEO challenges Improved scalability Increased complexity Faster page transitions Performance variability Dynamic Rendering Dynamic rendering, or prerendering, is a hybrid approach. Tools like Prerender.io detect Googlebot and other crawlers. They then send a fully rendered webpage from a cache. This way, search engines don’t need to run JavaScript. At the same time, regular users still get a CSR experience. JavaScript is executed and content is rendered on the client side. Google says dynamic rendering isn’t cloaking. The content shown to Googlebot just needs to be the same as what users see. However, it warns that dynamic rendering is a temporary solution. This is due to its complexity and resource needs. Benefits of Dynamic Rendering Drawbacks of Dynamic Rendering Better SEO Complex setup Crawler compatibility Risk of cloaking Optimized UX Tool dependency Scalable for large sites Performance latency Which Rendering Approach is Right for You? The right rendering approach depends on several factors. Here are key considerations to help you determine the best solution for your website: Rendering Option Best for When to Choose Requirements Server-Side Rendering (SSR) SEO-critical sites (e.g., ecommerce, blogs) Sites relying on organic traffic Faster Core Web Vitals (e.g., LCP) Need timely indexing and visibility Users expect fast, fully-rendered pages upon load Strong server infrastructure to handle higher load Expertise in SSR frameworks (e.g., Next.js, Nuxt.js) Client-Side Rendering (CSR) Highly dynamic user interfaces (e.g., dashboards, web apps) Content not dependent on organic traffic (e.g. behind login) SEO is not a top priority Focus on reducing server load and scaling for large audiences JavaScript optimization to address performance issues Ensuring crawlability with fallback content Dynamic Rendering JavaScript-heavy sites needing search engine access Large-scale, dynamic content websites SSR is resource-intensive for the entire site Need to balance bot crawling with user-focused interactivity Pre-rendering tool like Prerender.io Bot detection and routing configuration Regular audits to avoid cloaking risks Knowing these technical solutions is important. But the best approach depends on how your website uses JavaScript. Where does your site fit? Minimal JavaScript: Most content is in the HTML (e.g., WordPress sites). Just make sure search engines can see key text and links. Moderate JavaScript: Some elements load dynamically, like live chat, AJAX-based widgets, or interactive product filters. Use fallbacks or dynamic rendering to keep content crawlable. Heavy JavaScript: Your site depends on JavaScript to load most content, like SPAs built with React or Vue. To make sure Google can see it, you may need SSR or pre-rendering. Fully JavaScript-rendered: Everything from content to navigation relies on JavaScript (e.g., Next.js, Gatsby). You’ll need SSR or Static Site Generation (SSG), optimized hydration, and proper metadata handling to stay SEO-friendly. The more JavaScript your site relies on, the more important it is to optimize for SEO. JavaScript SEO Best Practices So, your site looks great to users—but what about Google? If search engines can’t properly crawl or render your JavaScript, your rankings could take a hit. The good news? You can fix it. Here’s how to make sure your JavaScript-powered site is fully optimized for search. 1. Ensure Crawlability Avoid blocking JavaScript files in the robots.txt file to ensure Google can crawl them. In the past, HTML-based websites often blocked JavaScript and CSS. Now, crawling JavaScript files is crucial for accessing and rendering key content. 2. Choose the Optimal Rendering Method It’s crucial to choose the right approach based on your site’s needs. This decision may depend on your resources, user goals, and vision for your website. Remember: Server-side rendering: Ensures content is fully rendered and indexable upon page load. This improves visibility and user experience. Client-side rendering: Renders content on the client side, offering better interactivity for users Dynamic rendering: Sends crawlers pre-rendered HTML and users a CSR experience 3. Reduce JavaScript Resources Reduce JavaScript size by removing unused or unnecessary code. Even unused code must be accessed and processed by Google. Combine multiple JavaScript files to reduce the resources Googlebot needs to execute. This helps improve efficiency. Pro tip: Use PageSpeed Insights to find JavaScript issues, like render-blocking scripts. Follow its suggestions, such as deferring non-critical scripts or minifying code. 4. Defer Scripts Blocking Content You can defer render-blocking JavaScript to speed up page loading. Use the “defer” attribute to do this, as shown below: <script defer src="your-script.js"></script> This tells browsers and search engines to run the code once the main CSS and JavaScript have loaded. 5. Manage JavaScript-Generated Content Managing JavaScript content is key. It must be accessible to search engines and provide a smooth user experience. Here are some best practices to optimize it for SEO: Provide Fallback Content Use the <noscript> tag to show essential info if JavaScript fails or is disabled Ensure critical content like navigation and headings is included in the initial HTML For example, Yahoo uses a <noscript> tag. It shows static product details for JavaScript-heavy pages. Optimize JavaScript-Based Pagination Use HTML <a> tags for pagination to ensure Googlebot can crawl each page Dynamically update URLs with the History API for “Load More” buttons Add rel=”prev” and rel=”next” to indicate paginated page relationships For instance, Skechers employs a “Load More” button that generates accessible URLs: Test and Verify Rendering Use Google Search Console’s (GSC) URL Inspection Tool and Screaming Frog to check JavaScript content. Is it accessible? Test JavaScript execution using browser automation tools like Puppeteer to ensure proper rendering Confirm Dynamic Content Loads Correctly Use loading=”lazy” for lazy-loaded elements and verify they appear in rendered HTML Provide fallback content for dynamically loaded elements to ensure visibility to crawlers For example, Backlinko lazy loads images within HTML: 6. Create Developer-Friendly Processes Working closely with developers is key to integrating JavaScript and SEO best practices. Here’s how you can streamline the process: Spot the issues: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Chrome DevTools. They can find JavaScript rendering issues. Document these early. Write actionable tickets: Write clear SEO dev tickets with the issue, its SEO impact, and step-by-step instructions to fix it. For example, here’s a sample dev ticket: Test and validate fixes: Conduct quality assurance (QA) to ensure fixes are implemented correctly. Share updates and results with your team to maintain alignment. Collaborate in real time: Use project management tools like Notion, Jira, or Trello. These help ensure smooth communication between SEOs and developers. By building developer-friendly processes, you can solve JavaScript SEO issues faster. This also creates a collaborative environment that helps the whole team. Communicating SEO best practices for JavaScript usage is as crucial as its implementation. JavaScript SEO Resources + Tools As you learn how to make your javascript SEO friendly​, several tools can assist you in the process. Educational Resources Google has provided or contributed to some great resources: Understand JavaScript SEO Basics Google’s JavaScript basics documentation explains how it processes JavaScript content. What you’ll learn: How Google processes JavaScript content, including crawling, rendering, and indexing Best practices for ensuring JavaScript-based websites are fully optimized for search engines Common pitfalls to avoid and strategies to improve SEO performance on JavaScript-driven websites Who it’s for: Developers and SEO professionals optimizing JavaScript-heavy sites. Rendering on the Web The web.dev article Rendering on the Web is a comprehensive resource. It explores various web rendering techniques, including SSR, CSR, and prerendering. What you’ll learn: An in-depth overview of web rendering techniques Performance implications of each rendering method. And how they affect user experience and SEO. Actionable insights for choosing the right rendering strategy based on your goals Who it’s for: Marketers, developers, and SEOs wanting to boost performance and visibility. Diagnostic Tools Screaming Frog & Sitebulb Crawlers such as Screaming Frog or Sitebulb help identify issues affecting JavaScript. How? By simulating how search engines process your site. Key features: Crawl JavaScript websites: Detect blocked or inaccessible JavaScript files using robots.txt configurations Render simulation: Crawl and visualize how JavaScript-rendered pages appear to search engines Debugging capabilities: Identify rendering issues, missing content, or broken resources preventing proper indexing Example use case: Use Screaming Frog’s robots.txt settings to emulate Googlebot. The tool can confirm if critical JavaScript files are accessible. When to use: Debugging JavaScript-related indexing problems Testing rendering issues with pre-rendered or dynamic content Semrush Site Audit Semrush’s Site Audit is a powerful tool for diagnosing JavaScript SEO issues. Key features: Crawlability checks: Identifies JavaScript files that hinder rendering and indexing Rendering insights: Detects JavaScript-related errors impacting search engines’ ability to process content Performance metrics: Highlights Core Web Vitals like LCP and Total Blocking Time (TBT) Actionable fixes: Provides recommendations to optimize JavaScript code, improve speed, and fix rendering issues Site Audit also includes a “JS Impact” report, which focuses on uncovering JavaScript-related issues. It highlights blocked files, rendering errors, and performance bottlenecks. The report provides actionable insights to enhance SEO. When to use: Identify rendering blocking issues caused by JavaScript Troubleshoot performance issues after implementing large JavaScript implementations Google Search Console Google Search Console’s Inspection Tool helps analyze your JavaScript pages. It checks how Google crawls, renders, and indexes them. Key features: Rendering verification: Check if Googlebot successfully executes and renders JavaScript content Crawlability insights: Identify blocked resources or missing elements impacting indexing Live testing: Use live tests to ensure real-time changes are visible to Google Example use case: Inspecting a JavaScript-rendered page to see if all critical content is in the rendered HTML When to use: Verifying JavaScript rendering and indexing Troubleshooting blank or incomplete content in Google’s search results Pro tip: Use GSC’s “Coverage Report.” It can find resources blocked by robots.txt or delayed by heavy JavaScript. Regularly reviewing this report helps maintain optimal crawlability. Performance Optimization You may need to test your JavaScript website’s performance. These tools granularly break down performance: WebPageTest WebPageTest helps analyze website performance, including how JavaScript affects load times and rendering. The screenshot below shows high-level performance metrics for a JavaScript site. It includes when the webpage was visible to users. Key features: Provides waterfall charts to visualize the loading sequence of JavaScript and other resources Measures critical performance metrics like Time to First Byte (TTFB) and LCP Simulates slow networks and mobile devices to identify JavaScript bottlenecks Use case: Finding scripts or elements that slow down page load and affect Core Web Vitals. GTMetrix GTmetrix helps measure and optimize website performance, focusing on JavaScript-related delays and efficiency. Key features: Breaks down page performance with actionable insights for JavaScript optimization Provides specific recommendations to minimize and defer non-critical JavaScript Visualizes load behavior with video playback and waterfall charts to pinpoint render delays Use case: Optimizing JavaScript delivery to boost page speed and user experience. This includes minifying, deferring, or splitting code. Chrome DevTools & Lighthouse Chrome DevTools and Lighthouse are free Chrome tools. They assess site performance and accessibility. Both are key for JavaScript SEO. Key features: JavaScript execution analysis: Audits JavaScript execution time. It also identifies scripts that delay rendering or impact Core Web Vitals. Script optimization: Flags opportunities for code splitting, lazy loading, and removing unused JavaScript Network and coverage insights: Identifies render-blocking resources, unused JavaScript, and large file sizes Performance audits: Lighthouse measures critical Core Web Vitals to pinpoint areas for improvement Render simulation: It emulates devices, throttles network speeds, and disables JavaScript. This alleviates rendering issues. For example, the below screenshot is taken with DevTools’s Performance panel. After page load, various pieces of data are recorded to assess the culprit of heavy load times. Use cases: Testing JavaScript-heavy pages for performance bottlenecks, rendering issues, and SEO blockers Identifying and optimizing scripts, ensuring key content is crawlable and indexable Specialized Tools Prerender.io helps JavaScript-heavy websites by serving pre-rendered HTML to bots. This allows search engines to crawl and index content while users get a dynamic CSR experience. Key features: Pre-rendered content: Serves a cached, fully rendered HTML page to search engine crawlers like Googlebot Easy integration: Compatible with frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular. It also integrates with servers like NGINX or Apache. Scalable solution: Ideal for large, dynamic sites with thousands of pages Bot detection: Identifies search engine bots and serves optimized content Performance optimization: Reduces server load by offloading rendering to Prerender.io’s service Benefits: Ensures full crawlability and indexing of JavaScript content Improves search engine rankings by eliminating blank or incomplete pages Balances SEO performance and user experience for JavaScript-heavy sites When to use: For Single-Page Applications or dynamic JavaScript frameworks As an alternative to SSR when resources are limited Find Your Next JavaScript SEO Opportunity Today Most JavaScript SEO problems stay hidden—until your rankings drop. Is your site at risk? Don’t wait for traffic losses to find out. Run an audit, fix rendering issues, and make sure search engines see your content. Want more practical fixes? Check out our guides on PageSpeed and Core Web Vitals for actionable steps to speed up your JavaScript-powered site. The post What Is JavaScript SEO? 6 Best Practices to Boost Rankings appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Choosing a Semrush plan isn’t always obvious. Paid plans start at $139.95 and go up to enterprise solutions. Not to mention the various add-ons and apps. You don’t want to overpay for features you don’t need. Or pick a cheaper plan that limits your ability to grow. In this guide, you’ll learn which Semrush plan matches your needs, whether you’re a solo blogger tracking 100 keywords or an agency managing 40+ client websites. Semrush’s Core Pricing Plans Explained Semrush offers four main subscription tiers: Pro plan at $139.95/month: Best for freelancers and startups Guru plan at $249.95/month: Caters to growing businesses and small agencies Business plan at $499.95/month: Serves larger agencies and enterprises Enterprise plan (custom pricing): For organizations that need custom solutions Beyond these core plans, Semrush also offers a range of other tools through the App Center. This is where you can add specialized tools for needs like local SEO and social media management. There’s also a free plan, and you can get a free trial of the Pro and Guru subscriptions too. Note: The Semrush free trial is usually 7 days, but you can use this link to access a 14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription. Pro Plan ($139.95/month): Entry-Level Features Semrush’s Pro plan offers a wealth of keyword research, backlink analysis, and competitor research features. At $139.95/mo, it’s Semrush’s cheapest plan, and is ideal for freelance SEOs, bloggers, and small business owners. The Pro plan lets you set up 5 projects and track up to 500 keywords with Position Tracking. But these limits don’t apply to things like keyword and competitor research. Instead, you’re limited in the number of daily “requests” you can make. This is the number you’ll want to pay attention to if you plan to use the tool suite for more than just tracking your own projects. With the Pro plan, you can generate up to 3,000 reports per day across various analytics tools, with each report showing up to 10,000 results. For example, in the Keyword Magic Tool to generate thousands of keyword ideas: You won’t have access to historical data in these reports. But you’ll still be able to filter for metrics like search volume, keyword difficulty, search intent, and more. In terms of technical SEO, Pro plan users can crawl up to 100,000 pages with Site Audit. This is enough for beginners and owners of smaller sites. But it can be a bit limiting for large ecommerce stores or agencies managing massive sites. You won’t get API access with the Pro plan (probably not a concern for most people). You also won’t get access to some content marketing features (see the Guru plan section below). Pro Plan Limits 5 projects 500 keywords to track 3,000 daily reports 100,000 pages to crawl 10,000 results per report 250 keyword metrics updates per month 500 SEO Ideas Units (used in tools like the On Page SEO Checker) 5 scheduled PDF reports Guru Plan ($249.95/month): Advanced Features for Growing Teams Semrush’s Guru plan significantly expands on the Pro plan’s capabilities. At $249.95/mo, it’s ideal for growing marketing teams and small agencies that need more comprehensive tools and data access. The plan increases your project limit to 15 and lets you track up to 1,500 keywords. Other limit increases over the Pro plan include: 5,000 reports per day (vs. 3,000) 30,000 results per report (vs. 10,000) 1,000 keyword metrics updates per month (vs. 250) 300,000 Site Audit URL crawls (vs. 100,000) You’ll also get access to tools like: Topic research, for finding and prioritizing new content ideas: Content Marketing Template, to streamline your optimizations: You’ll also be able to integrate with Looker Studio, which further expands your reporting capabilities. And you’ll get access to historical data within Semrush itself—all the way back to 2012: The Guru plan gives you access to the essential Semrush toolkit. And its limits are likely enough for most SEOs and business owners, with the exception of large agencies, big ecommerce stores (300K+ pages), and enterprises. Guru Plan Limits 15 Projects 1,500 keywords to track 5,000 daily reports 300,000 pages to crawl 30,000 results per report 1,000 keyword metrics updates per month 800 SEO Ideas Units 20 scheduled PDF reports Business Plan ($499.95/month): Enterprise-Grade Capabilities The Business plan, at $499.95/mo, targets larger agencies and marketing teams that need extensive data access and advanced features. This plan also offers much higher limits than the Pro and Guru plans across the board. Business plans allow for 40 projects, 5,000 keywords to track, and 10,000 daily reports. You can use Semrush’s most advanced features, including API access, extended limits for site audits, and white-label reporting options. You’ll also get access to new metrics, like Share of Voice for tracking your overall online presence compared to your competitors: And for PPC optimization, you’ll also be able to see up to 50,000 results per PLA listings report (as opposed to 10 on the Pro and Guru plans): These capabilities make it particularly valuable for agencies managing multiple client accounts. It’s also ideal for large in-house teams coordinating complex marketing campaigns. For example, the API access allows teams to integrate Semrush data directly into their custom reporting dashboards or internal tools. This can streamline workflows and provide more customizable (and therefore more impactful) data analysis. Business Plan Limits 40 projects 5,000 keywords to track 10,000 daily reports 1,000,000 pages to crawl 50,000 results per report 5,000 keyword metrics updates per month 2,000 SEO Ideas Units 50 scheduled PDF reports Enterprise Plan: Custom Solutions for Large Organizations The Enterprise tier moves beyond Semrush’s standardized pricing to offer customized solutions for large organizations with complex needs. Unlike the fixed-price plans, Enterprise solutions are tailored to each organization’s specific requirements and scale. The Semrush Enterprise platform is an entirely separate solution from the “core” Semrush platform. You get access to everything in the Business tier, but you also get a completely new dashboard with enterprise-level SEO and automation tools and capabilities. You’ll also get access to vetted SEO experts, seamless document sharing functionality, and extensive reporting and automation features. It’s designed for enterprise-level businesses (think Samsung, Salesforce, and SAP). This means it’s way beyond what the average person needs. But for those with huge data, automation, and optimization requirements, Semrush Enterprise is an incredibly powerful platform. Free Plan vs. Free Trial Semrush’s free plan offers a solid introduction to the platform’s capabilities. You can access basic keyword research, site auditing, and competitive analysis features for free. This makes it an excellent option for those just starting their SEO journey or wanting to test the platform before committing. However: The free plan comes with significant limitations in terms of the number of reports you can generate and the depth of data you can access. You’re limited to: 10 daily requests in many of the tools 1 project 100 URL crawls per month Arguably, the most notable restriction is that you can only track 10 keywords. So you can’t monitor a full SEO campaign effectively. That’s why the free trial of Semrush’s paid plans offers a better way to evaluate Semrush’s full capabilities. For 7 days, you can access all features of your chosen plan, helping you make an informed decision about whether the investment makes sense for your needs. Note: Test out the paid plan features for an extra week with a 14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription. Other Semrush Pricing Semrush offers a range of add-ons you can tag onto your subscription. These include local SEO packages, the .Trends suite for market research, and a social media management platform. Here’s a breakdown of the add-ons and their pricing: Add-on Pricing Key Features Extra users $45-$100/month, depending on plan Add extra users to your plan (with shared limits) Local Essential/Advanced $50-$60/month Listing management, GBP optimization, and map rank tracker .Trends $289/month per user Consumer trends and market research tools Social Media Management $19.99-$39.99/month Social posting, tracking, and analytics Agency Growth Kit $69-$249/month Lead management, CRM, and client portal ImpactHero $200/month Buyer journey optimization Semrush also has an extensive App Center. Here, you’ll find apps to help with pretty much every aspect of SEO and digital marketing. You can get free trials of many apps, and their prices vary. Semrush Pricing Plans Compared to Competitors Semrush is often a bit pricier than some of its competitors, at least at some of the plan levels. But price isn’t everything, and it’s worth comparing the different platforms in detail to understand the value each one can provide for YOUR specific situation. Semrush vs. Ahrefs Pricing Semrush and Ahrefs have fairly similar pricing structures. Semrush is slightly more expensive in each of the three pricing brackets, but notably only by $0.95 in the middle tier (Guru/Standard). On the face of it, the two options in all three cases are fairly similar: Semrush offers 5, 15, and 40 projects, while Ahrefs offers 5, 20, and 50 projects While Semrush lets you track 500, 1.5K, and 5K keywords, Ahrefs lets you track 750, 2K, and 5K Semrush lets you audit 100K, 300K, and 1M URLs, while Ahrefs’ limits are 100K, 500K, and 1.5M But it’s worth noting that Ahrefs’ cheapest (Lite) plan limits you to just 500 credits across various tools per month. With a Semrush Pro subscription (the cheapest one Semrush offers), the limits are 3,000 reports/requests per day. But the numbers aren’t everything. There are other differences between the two tools that you’ll need to factor in when making your choice. For more on that, check out our full guide to Semrush vs. Ahrefs. Semrush vs. Moz Pricing Moz offers two cheaper pricing plans than both Semrush and Ahrefs. These are pretty limited (with the cheapest only letting you track 50 keywords per month). But they’re still viable options for those on a budget that are just starting out with their first SEO tool. Moz does offer feature-rich plans at higher price points, but often with lower limits than Semrush plans. For example, the most expensive Moz plan still only lets you track 25 sites (compared to 40) and 3,000 tracked keywords (vs. 5,000 on a Semrush Business plan). It’s also worth noting that beyond the pricing plans, the two platforms are very different. For example, Semrush’s database has more than 26.4 billion keywords compared to Moz’s 1.25 billion. To read more about the main differences between the two, check out this Semrush vs. Moz comparison. How to Choose the Right Semrush Plan The most basic way to choose between the different Semrush pricing plans is to consider your budget and your reporting needs. If you have a limited budget, the free and Pro plans are going to be the obvious choice. But once you start needing larger reports or to track 1500+ keywords, the Guru and Business plans are the ones to go for. But let’s see which plans are best for which types of business and website owners. Solopreneurs and Bloggers For solopreneurs and blog owners, the Pro plan is usually going to be enough. You can manage up to 5 projects, and 500 keywords will be enough tracking capabilities for most small sites. The reporting limits are generous enough too, and most beginners won’t max out on them. But many people will be fine with the free Semrush plan—particularly if you have pretty limited keyword research needs and your site is smaller than 100 pages. It’ll give you a good feel for the platform’s core features before you sign up for a subscription. You’ll want to upgrade to the Pro plan when you: Track more than 10 keywords Need daily position monitoring Have a site that grows beyond 100 pages (for Site Audit crawls) Want to analyze backlink opportunities Note: Test out the Pro plan’s features with a 14-day free trial. Small Business Owners Small businesses typically find the sweet spot with the Guru plan. The additional keyword tracking and content marketing features make it ideal for sites of all sizes with moderate content production workflows. The Pro plan suits you if: You manage a single business website You need basic competitive analysis Content creation isn’t your primary focus The Guru plan becomes a better option when: You manage multiple business websites, or multiple client sites Content marketing is a key part of your strategy You need access to historical data You need to crawl up to 300K pages per month (Site Audit) Medium-Sized Businesses and Ecommerce Stores Mid-sized companies often benefit most from the Business plan—particularly if they’re managing multiple websites or serving many clients. The Guru plan becomes essential for teams or individuals that: Create 10+ pieces of content per month Require advanced topic research tools Send lots of reports to stakeholders or clients Manage multiple sites or brands Agencies Agencies are going to be better off with the Business plan in most cases. The limits of the lower plans are just unlikely to be enough for agencies with many clients. However, if your agency is just starting out, the Guru plan offers a cost-effective way to serve up to 15 clients with some powerful tools. Note: If you need to increase any particular limit, you can contact the sales team or pay for more via your subscription dashboard. Start with Guru if you: Serve up to 15 clients Need white-label reports Require content marketing tools Want historical data access Choose the Business plan when you: Manage 15+ client accounts Need API access Require advanced white-labeling Share reports across large teams Semrush also offers the Agency Growth Kit. This starts at $69/month (on top of your subscription) for a CRM, client portals, and white-lable PDF reports. But for those who want to boost their visibility on the Agency Partners platform or who need unlimited client portals, pricing increases to $149 and then $249 per month. Enterprise Businesses Enterprise organizations should consider the custom Enterprise tier. This platform was built from the ground up for enterprise-scale operations. The platform offers a range of enterprise-specific solutions and features the core subscriptions don’t offer. You can read more about Semrush Enterprise here. The Business plan is the best of the three core plans if your business isn’t quite ready for the enterprise offering. Its generous limits, integration capabilities, and API access mean it’s a cost-effective choice for many big brands and businesses. Still Not Sure Which Plan to Choose? Choosing the right Semrush plan ultimately depends on your specific marketing goals and resources. To dive deeper into Semrush’s capabilities and make a more informed decision, check out our comprehensive Semrush review and complete guide to using Semrush effectively. The post Semrush Pricing: How to Choose the Right Plan appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

A new study from Zoho Corporation reveals that US businesses are falling behind global counterparts in digital workplace transformation, with security gaps and slow adoption of digital tools hindering progress. The Trends in Digital Workplace Transformation report surveyed 4,900 employees worldwide to assess digital transformation maturity and identified critical weaknesses in security and operational efficiency. US Businesses Struggle to Keep Pace The study found that 39% of US organizations remain in the early stages of digital transformation, trailing top-performing global competitors. US businesses ranked 61% in digital transformation maturity, slightly below the 62.2% global average. “Particularly concerning among the several hundred data points analyzed in this survey is the extent to which US businesses lag behind their global counterparts in the maturity scores. US businesses have strong foundations in collaboration and digital tools, but security and process inefficiencies are major barriers to transformation,” says Raju Vegesna, Zoho’s Chief Evangelist. “Companies that fail to address these gaps risk not only data breaches but also lower employee satisfaction and productivity” Process Inefficiencies Undermine Digital Maturity Despite widespread access to digital tools, manual workflows, weak integration, and inefficient processes continue to hamper US businesses: 85% of companies still rely on manual task delegation rather than automation. The hospitality (56%), logistics (53%), and retail (58%) sectors trail behind tech (66%) and finance (62%). Small and medium-sized businesses (58%) lag behind larger firms (63.5%). Only 15% of employees feel workplace tools fully meet their expectations. Security Gaps Leave Businesses Vulnerable Weak security protocols further expose US businesses to cyber threats. The study found: Only 50% of US businesses enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometrics, or one-time passwords (OTPs) for system access. Fewer than 25% of remote workers receive secure access policies, such as VPN encryption or device authentication. Just 30% of organizations implement physical security controls like ID badges or restricted zones. A lack of cybersecurity awareness training exacerbates these risks: Fewer than 25% of employees have received cybersecurity training. Only 15% of employees have reported a security incident through official channels. Just 20% of employees take proactive measures against phishing and social engineering threats. Path Forward: Integration, Automation, and Security Investments Zoho’s study outlines a roadmap for businesses to improve digital transformation maturity. Moving from Level 2 (Standardization) to Level 3 (Structured Operations) requires investment in automation, integration of digital tools, and enhanced security policies. Advancing from Level 2 to Level 3 takes 3–5 years and costs $250–$500 per employee annually. Reaching Level 4 (Optimized Digital Operations) requires 10+ years and investments of $500–$1,000 per employee annually. This article, "US Businesses Lag in Digital Workplace Transformation, Security Risks Persist, Zoho Study Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A new study from Zoho Corporation reveals that US businesses are falling behind global counterparts in digital workplace transformation, with security gaps and slow adoption of digital tools hindering progress. The Trends in Digital Workplace Transformation report surveyed 4,900 employees worldwide to assess digital transformation maturity and identified critical weaknesses in security and operational efficiency. US Businesses Struggle to Keep Pace The study found that 39% of US organizations remain in the early stages of digital transformation, trailing top-performing global competitors. US businesses ranked 61% in digital transformation maturity, slightly below the 62.2% global average. “Particularly concerning among the several hundred data points analyzed in this survey is the extent to which US businesses lag behind their global counterparts in the maturity scores. US businesses have strong foundations in collaboration and digital tools, but security and process inefficiencies are major barriers to transformation,” says Raju Vegesna, Zoho’s Chief Evangelist. “Companies that fail to address these gaps risk not only data breaches but also lower employee satisfaction and productivity” Process Inefficiencies Undermine Digital Maturity Despite widespread access to digital tools, manual workflows, weak integration, and inefficient processes continue to hamper US businesses: 85% of companies still rely on manual task delegation rather than automation. The hospitality (56%), logistics (53%), and retail (58%) sectors trail behind tech (66%) and finance (62%). Small and medium-sized businesses (58%) lag behind larger firms (63.5%). Only 15% of employees feel workplace tools fully meet their expectations. Security Gaps Leave Businesses Vulnerable Weak security protocols further expose US businesses to cyber threats. The study found: Only 50% of US businesses enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometrics, or one-time passwords (OTPs) for system access. Fewer than 25% of remote workers receive secure access policies, such as VPN encryption or device authentication. Just 30% of organizations implement physical security controls like ID badges or restricted zones. A lack of cybersecurity awareness training exacerbates these risks: Fewer than 25% of employees have received cybersecurity training. Only 15% of employees have reported a security incident through official channels. Just 20% of employees take proactive measures against phishing and social engineering threats. Path Forward: Integration, Automation, and Security Investments Zoho’s study outlines a roadmap for businesses to improve digital transformation maturity. Moving from Level 2 (Standardization) to Level 3 (Structured Operations) requires investment in automation, integration of digital tools, and enhanced security policies. Advancing from Level 2 to Level 3 takes 3–5 years and costs $250–$500 per employee annually. Reaching Level 4 (Optimized Digital Operations) requires 10+ years and investments of $500–$1,000 per employee annually. This article, "US Businesses Lag in Digital Workplace Transformation, Security Risks Persist, Zoho Study Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Noah Wiley can't seem to escape the emergency room. After spending more than a decade on NBC's '90s mega-hit E.R., he's back in scrubs for HBO's buzzy new doctor show The Pitt. If that show hasn't quite scratched your itch for medical drama, there are plenty of other shows to stream. The genre's roots can be traced back to the early '60s, and the sexy Dr. Kildare, but it really exploded in the '70s with shows like Medical Center, Emergency!, and Quincy, M.E., all of them fairly soapy dramas with plenty of action and occasional doses of silliness. Later in the decade, M.A.S.H. became a hit by lacing the sit-com formula with medical pathos, but it was 1982's St. Elsewhere that gave us the template for the medical shows of today: dramatic, serious, and with a large cast of doctors and nurses whose personal lives are often in conflict with their work. That show set the standard, and inspired dozens of medical shows that followed—a bunch of which you can currently find on your favorite streaming service. The Pitt (2025 – ) But first, a little about The Pitt if you have yet to check in for your appointment. Noah Wyle (ER) is back in scrubs as Dr. Michael "Robby" Rabinavitch, senior attending at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Robby’s mentor died during the height of COVID-19, and he’s only just recovering from his traumatic experiences. It's gonna be a long day, though: Each episode is a single hour of his 15-hour shift. It’s relatively early days, but the show has already won critical acclaim and a renewal for a second season. You can stream The Pitt on Max. The Pitt (2025 – ) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Watson (2025 – ) Hard to say if this new Morris Chestnut-led series will go any kind of distance, but it’s looking promising, and the premise is so wacky, it's worth checking out either way. Chestnut plays a modern-day Dr. John Watson (yes, that Dr. Watson), who was sidekick to Sherlock Holmes before his detective pal took a header off of the Reichenbach Falls. Now he’s on his own in Pittsburgh, running clinic dedicated to helping people with mysterious ailments—ones requiring a doctor who’s also a bit of a detective. You can stream Watson on Paramount+. Watson (2025 – ) Learn More Learn More Call the Midwife (2012 – ) Set at the dawn of Britain’s National Health Service, Call the Midwife explores an era when many were receiving modern healthcare for the very first time, as the nuns of London's Nonnatus House, who had been providing basic midwifery services for decades, are joined by secular nurses and given public funding. The show deals frankly with women’s health issues in a way that few other series have ever bothered, and its rotating cast of characters has helped it to remain a beloved favorite for over a decade, both in its native Britain and across the pond. You can stream Call the Midwife on Netflix and PBS. Call the Midwife (2012 – ) Learn More Learn More New Amsterdam (2018 – 2023) Even the most realistic medical dramas have soapy aspects, but New Amsterdam leans into that side of things more than most. Ryan Eggold plays Dr. Maximus "Max" Goodwin, the slightly annoying new medical director at one of the oldest public hospitals in the U.S. He looking to freshen up the outdated hospital and bring down its stodgy bureaucracy, with Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman by his side. The show occasionally sags under the weight of its subplots, but it’s still fun to watch Max fight for public health. You can stream New Amsterdam on Peacock. New Amsterdam (2018 – 2023) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock House (2004 – 2012) Like the much more recent Watson, House showcases investigative medicine, with Hugh Laurie’s as the titular Dr. Holmes (er, House) and Robert Sean Leonard as Watson (OK, Wilson). Not only is the show tightly paced and compact, it also has the benefit of Laurie, giving a career-defining performance as one of TV’s greatest assholes, a wonderfully acerbic curmudgeon who nonetheless gets results. You can stream House on Prime Video, Hulu, and Peacock. House (2004 – 2012) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Getting On (2013 - 2015) One of the few medical shows willing to tackle aging and geriatric care, Getting On considers the trials faced by the staff at an underfunded extended care facility. The fact that it’s a frequently very dark comedy doesn’t make it any less impressive in its handling of tough topics. Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash, and Mel Rodriguez star. You can stream Getting On on Max. Getting On (2013 - 2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Knick (2014 - 2015) The Steven Soderbergh-directed The Knick takes us back to the glory days of American medical care—specifically, 1900 New York, and the fictional Knickerbocker Hospital, with Clive Owen’s Dr. John Thackery as the well-intentioned head of surgery who also happens to have a rather significant opium addiction. He’s joined by André Holland as Dr. Algernon C. Edwards, a Black assistant chief surgeon who runs rings around most of his colleagues but still can’t seem to get any credit for it (he’s based on a couple of real-life doctors of the era). Like the best period medical dramas, this one’s a good reminder that modern medicine ain’t so bad. You can stream The Knick on Max. The Knick (2014 - 2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max St. Elsewhere (1982 - 1987) Beginning life as a gritty, realistic-ish hospital drama, St. Elsewhere grew into something weirder, funnier, and far more experimental, leading to that all-time memorable series finale (iykyk). In doing so, it also created a template followed by every medical show that followed it. The cast alone is wild, made up of TV and movie greats past and present, including Norman Lloyd, William Daniels, Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon, and Alfre Woodard, among many, many others. It's a little slower than the more frenetic shows that followed it, but still a deeply engrossing watch. You can stream St. Elsewhere on Hulu. St. Elsewhere (1982 - 1987) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu E.R. (1994 - 2009) A natural successor to St. Elsewhere, E.R. is less weird but does one better in its commitment to portraying something hospital drama that at least feels like reality. With another rotating cast that kept the show fresh over an impressive 15 seasons, E.R.’s innovation was in its willingness to drag viewers along at a breakneck pace, counting on us to keep up with the fast-paced dialogue loaded with medical jargon. At its best, the show makes you feel like you’re really catching a glimpse of life in an underfunded city emergency room. You can stream ER on Hulu and Max. ER (1994 - 2009) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Childrens Hospital (2008 - 2016) A relentless, and relentlessly memeable satire of medical dramas in general, this comedy centers on the staff of the titular hospital, named for founder Arthur Childrens (motto: “I believe that Childrens is the future.”) The show can’t be bothered with continuity; instead, each episode dives into a very silly/smart brand of dark comedy defined by its commitment to randomness. The stacked cast includes creator Rob Cordry, Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino, Megan Mullally, Henry Winkler, and Malin Åkerman. You can buy episodes of Childrens Hospital from Prime Video. Childrens Hospital (2008 - 2016) at Prime Video Get Deal Get Deal at Prime Video Scrubs (2001 - 2010) This scrappy sitcom was resuscitated at least once during its initial run, only finally declared dead after an impressive nine seasons, though it’s due for a revival from original creator Bill Lawrence. Zach Braff plays J.D. Dorian, who begins the show as an intern at the fictional teaching hospital, Sacred Heart. While playing with slapstick and incorporating surreal dream sequences, the show earned high marks from medical professionals, who apparently found it more accurate in depicting details of hospital life than many prestige medical dramas. You can stream Scrubs on Hulu and Peacock. Scrubs (2001 - 2010) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Grey’s Anatomy (2005 - ) From Grey’s Anatomy did Shonda Rhimes’ mighty TV empire spring, yet the show that started it all is somehow still going strong in its 21st season. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompey) continues to head the team of doctors at Seattle Grace alongside Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. Deft cast rotations have kept things relatively fresh for over two decades and more than 430 episodes. You can stream Grey’s Anatomy on Hulu and Netflix. Grey’s Anatomy (2005 - ) Learn More Learn More This is Going to Hurt (2022) This British miniseries, loosely adapted the memoir from comedian Adam Kay, chronicles Kay’s time as a trainee doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology circa 2006. Ben Whislaw stars as Kay, facing down daily challenges that range from the very funny to the shocking and horrific. The show makes clear that, while the contexts are very different, British doctors also struggle with chaotic working conditions and lack of institutional support, particularly at the intern level. You can stream This is Going to Hurt on AMC+. This is Going to Hurt (2022) Learn More Learn More Transplant (2020 – 2024) There’s much that’s familiar in this Canadian drama, but the show stands apart because of the unique perspective of its lead character (at least as far as mainstream medical dramas go). Hamza Haq plays Bashir "Bash" Hamed, a refugee of the Syrian Civil War who comes to Toronto to rebuild his life and career as an E.R. resident. He‘s unable to get a job in his chosen field until his heroic actions during the first episode garner him the right kind of attention. Even still, he faces discrimination as a doctor, and suffers the aftereffects of wartime trauma, even as his skills and experience prove extremely valuable. You can stream Transplant on Peacock. Transplant (2020 – 2024) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Nurse Jackie (2009 – 2015) Edie Falco followed up her run on The Sopranos with this similarly lauded comedy-drama that earned her six consecutive Emmy nominations and one win. She plays the titular nurse in the Emergency Department at All Saints’ Hospital in NYC. At the outset of the series, Jackie is married but having an affair, mostly to get the various pills she’s addicted to—which gives you a sense of the messiness of Jackie’s life and work. You can buy Nurse Jackie from Apple TV. Nurse Jackie (2009 – 2015) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV View the full article

The top five lenders have an average retail mortgage origination volume of more than $6 billion, as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. View the full article

Thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development workers who have been fired or placed on leave as part of the Trump administration’s dismantling of the agency are being given a brief window Thursday and Friday to clear out their workspaces. USAID placed 4,080 staffers who work across the globe on leave Monday. That was joined by a “reduction in force” that will affect another 1,600 employees, a State Department spokesman said in an emailed response to questions. USAID has been one of the biggest targets so far of a broad campaign by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, a project of Trump adviser Elon Musk, to slash the size of the federal government. The actions at USAID leave only a small fraction of its employees on the job. Trump and Musk have moved swiftly to shutter the foreign aid agency, calling its programs out of line with the Republican president’s agenda and asserting without evidence that its work is wasteful. In addition to its scope, their effort is extraordinary because it has not involved Congress, which authorized the agency and has provided its funding. A report from the Congressional Research Service earlier this month said congressional authorization is required “to abolish, move, or consolidate USAID,” but the Republican majorities in the House and the Senate have made no pushback against the administration’s actions. There’s virtually nothing left to fund, anyway: The administration now says it is eliminating more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in U.S. assistance around the world. It’s unclear how many of the more than 5,600 USAID employees who have been fired or placed on leave work at the agency’s headquarters building in Washington. A notice on the agency’s website said staff at other locations will have the chance to collect their personal belongings at a later date. The notice laid out instructions for when specific groups of employees should arrive to be screened by security and escorted to their former workspaces. Those being let go must turn in all USAID-issued assets. Workers on administrative leave were told to retain their USAID-issued materials, including diplomatic passports, “until such time that they are separated from the agency.” Many USAID workers saw the administration’s terms for retrieving their belongings as insulting. In the notice, the employees were instructed not to bring weapons, including firearms, “spear guns” and “hand grenades.” Each worker is being given just 15 minutes at their former workstation. The administration’s efforts to slash the federal government are embroiled in various lawsuits, but court challenges to temporarily halt the shutdown of USAID have been unsuccessful. However, a federal judge on Tuesday gave the Trump administration a deadline of this week to release billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid, saying it had given no sign of complying with his nearly two-week-old court order to ease the funding freeze. Late Wednesday, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked that order, with Chief Justice John Roberts saying it will remain on hold until the high court has a chance to weigh in more fully. That court action resulted from a lawsuit filed by nonprofit organizations over the cutoff of foreign assistance through USAID and the State Department. Trump froze the money through an executive order on his first day in office that targeted what he portrayed as wasteful programs that do not correspond to his foreign policy goals. Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly said in a statement that the attack on USAID employees was “unwarranted and unprecedented.” Connolly, whose district includes a sizable federal workforce, called the aid agency workers part of the “world’s premier development and foreign assistance agency” who save “millions of lives every year.” —Gary Fields, Associated Press View the full article

Artificial intelligence companies must decide how to pay for the human-generated content they need View the full article

Measles cases continue to rise in the United States nearly two and a half decades after the virus had been declared eliminated in the country. Currently, the epicenter of the U.S. measles outbreak is in Texas, where one child has now died from the disease. Here’s what to know about the outbreak, how far it has spread, and the symptoms to watch out for. Measles U.S. outbreak map As of the time of this writing, there are more than 130 cases of measles across two states alone, reports Reuters. Those states are Texas and New Mexico. However, while Texas has garnered the headlines due to it having the majority of cases, the disease has been found in other U.S. states since the beginning of this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles cases have been reported in eight states. The CDC’s Measles Cases and Outbreaks page has an interactive map and charts that show the current locations at a range of the number of cases. The CDC updates its outbreak page with new data every Friday, but as of its last update on February 20, 2025, the states with outbreaks reported this year are: Alaska: 1-9 cases California: 1-9 cases Georgia: 1-9 cases New Jersey: 1-9 cases New Mexico: 1-9 cases New York (city): 1-9 cases Rhode Island: 1-9 cases Texas: 50-99 cases As of the page’s last update, the CDC says the total known number of cases of measles in the United States since the beginning of the year was 93. The true number is now much higher, with over 130 cases in just New Mexico and Texas alone. Measles sees a steady rise in the United States In 2000, measles was officially declared eliminated from the United States, which was defined as there being no continuous transmission of the disease in the country for more than a year, notes Reuters. Its elimination was a major public health milestone for the country. Of course, in the years since then, people who live in the United States did contract measles, yet nearly all of them caught the disease outside of the country and brought it back home with them. But ever since the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the anti-vaccine movement, measles has returned to the United States. The CDC says that in 2024 alone, there were 285 cases of measles in the United States. Forty percent of those cases required hospitalization, and more than half of those cases occurred in children under five years of age. What’s more, 89% of individuals with measles in the United States in 2024 were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. With more than 130 cases of measles in just two states this year, it’s looking likely that the number of measles cases in 2025 may surpass the total number of cases in 2024. The 93 cases confirmed by the CDC’s February 20 update shows that 30% of them occurred in children under the age of 5, and 52% of them occurred in those aged just 5 to 19 years old. Unvaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is not known made up 95% of the cases. In all of 2023, there were just 59 cases in the United States. Measles symptoms Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads via the air, according to the CDC. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has been there. It can also survive on surfaces. If a person touches those surfaces and then their eyes, nose, or mouth, the virus can be introduced to their system. The CDC says that symptoms of measles start to show about 7-14 days after infection. Initial symptoms include: High fever (may spike to more than 104°) Cough Runny nose (coryza) Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis) The agency also notes that about 2-3 days after symptoms appear, the infected may begin to show Koplik spots inside their mouth. Koplik spots are tiny white marks. Then, 3-5 days after symptoms appear, the infected will usually get a rash, first beginning at their hairline and on their face, and then extending down the body. Is measles deadly? Yes, it can be. As Reuters reports, one child has already been confirmed to have died from the disease in Texas. It is the first U.S. death from measles in a decade. The child was known to be unvaccinated. Besides the potential to be fatal, measles can also have long-lasting or permanent complications. These include pneumonia; encephalitis (which can leave the person deaf or intellectually disabled); complications during pregnancy; and Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal disease that affects the nervous system. Those most at risk from measles are children under the age of 5, pregnant women, adults older than 20, and people with weakened immune systems. How can I protect myself from measles? The CDC says the best way to protect yourself from measles is by getting vaccinated. There are two measles vaccines available in the United States: The MMR vaccine protects against three diseases—measles, mumps, and rubella—and is given in two doses. The MMRV vaccine protects against four diseases—measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox)—and is given in two doses. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I'm Lifehacker's resident marathon runner and senior finance writer. And now, I'm merging my two worlds. Running is often touted as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up and go, right? But as many runners discover, what starts as a "free" activity can quickly transform into a significant investment. After a decade of "casually" running, I looked around at my room one day and saw dollar signs: sneakers, my second pair that year, at least $100. Medals from races, some costing $250 to register. A box of energy gels for long runs, around $30. A fancy hand-held water bottle, anti-chafing sticks, high-tech cold-weather leggings—what happened to my "lace up and go" mentality? Here's a glimpse at the true financial impact of running gear, from the bare essentials to premium options for those with deeper pockets. What a minimalist approach to running would cost Pun intended, of course. For those wanting to keep costs at an absolute minimum, running can indeed be approached with remarkable frugality. Here's what you truly need: Essential gear Running shoes: $60-100 (entry-level models on sale) Moisture-wicking shirts: $10-15 (basic athletic tees from discount retailers) Running shorts/pants: $15-20 (simple options from general sporting goods stores) Socks: $5-10 (multi-pack athletic socks) Weather necessitiesWinter: Layer existing clothes (that cotton sweatshirt works—it's just not optimal). Rain: A basic baseball cap ($10) and quick-drying clothes Summer: Stick to early morning or evening runs to avoid expensive cooling gear. Hydration & nutritionWater bottle: $5-10 (basic reusable bottle) Nutrition: Homemade options (banana, toast with honey, etc.) Annual cost for the minimalist runner: $150-250If you're a casual runner who'll only use one pair of shoes per year, this sport shouldn't break the bank. The minimalist approach is entirely valid—countless runners have logged thousands of miles with just the basics. I know I've been stubbornly minimalist through the years. In fact, this past marathon training season is the first time I really invested in some higher tech gear. That said, I must begrudgingly report there's often a noticeable difference in comfort and performance when you invest in purpose-built equipment. How much a practical enthusiast might spend on runningFor runners with some flexibility in their budget, strategic investments in key pieces can significantly enhance the experience without breaking the bank. Quality essentials Running shoes: $120-160 (mid-tier models replaced every 300-500 miles) Technical shirts: $30-45 each (two to three quality moisture-wicking options) Running-specific shorts/tights: $40-60 each Performance socks: $12-18 per pair (three to four pairs) Sports bras (if applicable): $40-60 each (two to three quality options) Brooks Ghost 16 GTX $169.75 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $169.75 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Weather-specific gearWinter layer: $70-150 (one quality thermal long sleeve) Lightweight jacket: $60-100 (wind/water resistant) Running gloves: $20-30 Headwear: $20-25 (beanie or headband for cold) For anyone training for a spring race, you quickly learn that weather-specific gear are true essentials. AccessoriesRunning belt/pouch: $25-40 Basic GPS watch: $150-200 (entry-level Garmin or similar) Headlamp for night runs: $30-50 Hydration & nutritionHandheld water bottle: $20-30 (running-specific) Nutrition: $30-40 monthly (basic gels, chews, electrolyte powders) Annual cost for the practical enthusiast: $600-1,000This time, I assume you replace your shoes once a year and need seasonal gear additions. After all, at this level, you're investing in gear that genuinely enhances performance and comfort. The right technical fabric in cold weather isn't just more comfortable; it actually enables more consistent training through the seasons. And instead of the cheapest shoes available, I now swear by Brooks Ghost 16 GTX. How much a dedicated runner might spend For devoted runners who prioritize performance, recovery, and optimization, running becomes a more significant financial commitment. Here's a look at just how expensive this sport can get, if you're willing to invest. Performance gear Multiple specialized shoes: $140-250 each (training, racing, trail options) Premium apparel: Complete seasonal wardrobes ($500-1,000+ annually) Compression gear: $80-150 (tights, sleeves, socks) High-end rain/cold protection: $150-300 (insulation jackets, premium thermal layers) Technology & analyticsAdvanced GPS watch: $300-700 (Garmin Forerunner, COROS, etc.) Additional sensors: $50-100 (heart rate straps, foot pods) Training platforms: $60-120 annually (Strava premium, TrainingPeaks) Recovery tools: $200-500 (massage gun, compression boots, etc.) Garmin Forerunner $248.88 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $399.99 Save $151.11 Shop Now Shop Now $248.88 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $399.99 Save $151.11 Nutrition & hydration systemsHydration vests/packs: $80-150 Specialized nutrition: $50-100 monthly (premium gels, recovery drinks, supplements) Water filtration for trail running: $40-100 Professional coachingGait analysis: $75-150 Custom insoles: $200-300 Coaching: $100-300+ monthly Annual cost for dedicated runner: $2,000-5,000+Depending on race schedule and gear replacement frequency, running can transform from a simple exercise into a lifestyle with its own ecosystem of products and services. The investment can be substantial, but for those deeply committed to the sport, each element serves a purpose in enhancing performance, preventing injury, and/or improving the overall experience. If you're spending this much on running, I hope you're getting some sponsorships and brand deals in return. Finding your balanceThe beauty of running is that you can participate meaningfully at any of these investment levels. Sometimes, a strategic upgrade in one area can make a disproportionate difference in your running experience. I find I take something of a hybrid approach. Invest in truly essential items, like good shoes and proper socks, but skip unnecessary "innovations"—not every gadget improves your running! Another cost-saving trick: Always look for last season's models. Unless you're a serious racer, there's rarely a reason to splurge on the newest, hottest watch or shoes. At the end of the day, the "right" amount to spend on running gear is highly personal. By understanding where quality truly matters versus where you can economize, you can build a running kit that supports your goals without unnecessary expense. Stay tuned for my upcoming articles diving deeper into the specific costs of running shoes and race participation, so you can see how much it really costs to be a runner. View the full article

Discover effective brand positioning strategies for search visibility and learn why brand management is critical for SEO. The post Controlling Your Brand Position Online With SEO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Home Office data comes as government weighs options for further policy changes to cut net immigrationView the full article

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is planning to cut 65% of his agency’s workforce, a move that came as a surprise to agency staff. Trump revealed the potential EPA staff reduction at the first meeting of his cabinet, where his downsizing czar Elon Musk pledged that he would move quickly to slash federal spending. “I spoke with Lee Zeldin, and he thinks he’s going to be cutting 65 or so percent of the people from environmental [sic],” Trump said. “And we’re going to speed up the process too at the same time.” The EPA did not specify the details of the potential workforce reduction figure that Trump mentioned, but said the agency is focused on cutting federal grants, “reassessing” its real estate footprint and “delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure.” “President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin are in lock step in creating a more efficient and effective federal government,” an EPA spokesperson said. News of the 65% target that Trump cited caught agency staff off guard, with its union leadership saying it had not been given advance notice or any detail of the desired cuts. “Mr. Zeldin stated during his confirmation testimony that he pledged ‘to enthusiastically uphold the EPA’s mission…foster a collaborative culture within the agency, supporting career staff who have dedicated themselves to this mission,” Joyce Howell, executive vice president of AFGE Council 238 representing EPA employees, told Reuters. “So which is it? Upholding the EPA mission or imposing a reduction in force that makes upholding the EPA mission an impossibility?” So far, the EPA terminated nearly 400 probationary employees and placed nearly 200 employees on leave who worked on environmental justice issues at the agency. A memo released ahead of the cabinet meeting called for a “significant reduction” but did not specify how many workers should be laid off, beyond the 100,000 of the nation’s 2.3 million civilian federal workers who have already taken a buyout or been fired. The unprecedented government overhaul has so far fired more than 20,000 workers, frozen foreign aid, and disrupted construction projects and scientific research, though it has not slowed spending so far. —Valerie Volcovici, Reuters View the full article

Google updated its documentation on how the Google Ads auction works to say, “We run different auctions for each ad location.” Previously, that document did not say that and the PPC community is wondering what changed and why Google did not announce this change more broadly. What changed. Google added these lines to the top of that document: “When someone searches on Google, we run different auctions for each ad location – for example top ads are selected by a different ad auction from ads that show in other ad locations. Your ads will only show once in a single ad location, but across ad locations your ads can show more than once.” Why the change. Google has not yet commented (I asked last night) on why the change but I suspect this has to do with Google changing its definition of top ads last year. Then Google told us this just a “definitional change” and that it would not affect how performance metrics are calculated. The definition was updated to say: “When people search on Google, text ads can appear at different positions relative to organic search results. Top ads are adjacent to the top organic search results. Top ads are generally above the top organic results, although top ads may show below the top organic search results on certain queries. Placement of top ads is dynamic and may change based on the user’s search.” Google has been mixing ads within the free organic results for the past year or so and with that change, maybe it makes sense to change how the ad auction works. Community reaction. Anthony Higman spotted this change and posted about it on LinkedIn, he wrote: “Not sure how that can actual work and still be an auction? And how multiple auctions can be going on at the same time and not influence each other?” Navah Hopkins also chimed in on that LinkedIn post and wrote: “This is going to erode the quality of the SERP so badly. Get ready for big budget brands to own everything and everyone else running to Demand Gen for some chance at standing out.” Chris Ridley responded as well and wrote: The competitiveness of an auction – If two ads competing for the same position have similar ad ranks, cach will have a similar opportunity to win that position. As the gap in ad rank between two advertisers’ ads grows, the higher-ranking ad will be more likely to win but also may pay a higher cost per click for the benefit of the increased certainty of winning. It definitely sounds like something they added to try and justify the “shaking of the cushions” Back in my day we were told that a higher Ad Rank would make your CPC lower. Why we care. Google changing how the ad auction works can change how your ads rank within the Google search results. I suspect this change has been in place for some time now but now Google is clarifying this in their documentation. We are waiting to hear from Google on this change and will update this story when we hear back. View the full article

I am seeing the SEO community starting to chatter around a lot of Google Search ranking volatility. Keep in mind, the third-party tracking tools currently seem relatively calm. Often, I see the chatter kick in before the tools catch on but not always.View the full article

Substack has a reputation. Depending on who you ask, it’s either the best place to build a newsletter business or a platform that only works for big-name writers. The truth? It’s somewhere in between. While Substack has helped established journalists and authors go independent, it’s also a powerful tool for up-and-coming writers, niche creators, and anyone looking to build an audience without relying on social media algorithms. But is it the right platform for you? As a newsletter writer myself, I know how tough it can be to settle on a platform. There are plenty of great options, and choosing one feels like a commitment—especially if you’re planning to grow long-term. I don’t currently host my newsletter on Substack (I went with beehiiv), but I seriously considered it (and I’m even eyeing it for a side project I’ve been workshopping). All this to say, I’ve spent a lot of time looking at what makes Substack work and where it falls short. To cut through the noise, I combined my knowledge with insights from real Substack creators to see what’s working, what’s challenging, and how they’re thinking about audience growth and monetization. If you’re considering starting a Substack (or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how others are making it work), this guide has you covered. Let’s get into it. Why creators choose SubstackFor some, Substack is a no-brainer—the simplest way to start writing and build an audience. For others, it’s a strategic choice, offering direct monetization and a built-in reader network. But why do creators actually choose Substack over other platforms like Medium, Beehiiv, or even a self-hosted newsletter? Their answers came down to a few key reasons. It’s easy to start (and free to use): Many platforms require upfront investment or technical know-how. Substack makes it simple: sign up, start writing, and email your subscribers without touching a line of code. "The fact that it's free has been the reason I've stuck with it... it doesn't cost me anything to publish," said Fio Dossetto, who writes the content marketing newsletter Content Folks. "That meant I could experiment without pressure."It gives you direct access to your audience: Despite the built-in social media element with Substack Notes, the platform allows you to build an email list and communicate with subscribers directly without worrying about algorithms. Your audience actually receives what you send. For many writers, that’s a game-changer. "It's not a feature per se—but the fact that it’s email-based means my work actually reaches my audience. I don’t have to fight an algorithm to get in front of my own subscribers," said Fio.It has built-in discovery tools: Substack isn’t just a newsletter platform—it’s a network. Readers on Substack can discover new writers through recommendations, the Substack app, and the platform’s editorial features. For newsletter creators, this built-in audience makes a world of difference. When asked which Substack feature has had the most impact, Lily Ugbaja, who writes about great marketing from different companies on Marketing Cyborg, said, "The network effects honestly. How easy it is for people to recommend your newsletter and for new readers to find you—this has been huge for me."Monetization is built-in: For writers looking to earn from their content, Substack offers seamless monetization through paid subscriptions. While not every Substack creator chooses to monetize, having the option to do so without setting up a separate payment system is a major advantage.It feels like a community: Many writers appreciate that Substack fosters a space for deeper, more engaged conversations compared to fast-moving social media. Features like Substack Chat and Notes allow for ongoing interaction beyond just email updates. Anna Mackenzie, who writes Anna Mack’s Stack, a weekly newsletter on building a career beyond a 9-5, said about the community, "There is such considered discussion in Notes and my comments. I didn’t expect Substack to feel this interactive."Sold? Hold on a second — let’s walk through some of the challenges creators face with the platform. Challenges creators face with SubstackSubstack makes it easy to start a newsletter—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to grow and sustain one, no matter which platform you choose. Every creator faces obstacles, whether slow audience growth, burnout, or figuring out how to monetize effectively. And between the medium of newsletters and the platform itself there are a few limitations to take into consideration. It might take a while to grow an audience: Although content on Substack can go viral overnight, newsletter growth, in general, tends to be slow and steady. Many writers expect subscribers to flood in immediately, but that’s rarely true. "It took months before I saw real traction," said Fio Dossetto. "You have to play the long game. Keep showing up even when it feels like no one is reading." I second this as someone with a newsletter of her own.Consistency can be a struggle: Many Substack writers start strong but struggle to keep up with their publishing schedule. Life gets busy, inspiration dips, and the pressure to keep writing can feel overwhelming.Monetization isn’t instant — or available to everyone: Many writers assume they can launch a Substack and immediately start making money. In reality, monetization is a long-term play—building trust and a loyal readership takes time. Anna Burgess Yang, who writes about the future of work and career growth in Work Better shared, "I do [monetize], but I have very few paid subscribers. It’s been a slow climb, and I’m still figuring out how to make it sustainable."Substack’s limitations: While Substack is great for simplicity, it does have some limitations—especially when it comes to customization, design, and analytics. Some writers like Fio find it frustrating that they can’t customize their newsletter layout as much as they’d like. Fio shared, "There are some serious style limitations. I wish Substack allowed for more formatting options.”Now that we’ve walked through the perks and downsides let’s walk through exactly how to set up your own Substack—from choosing a name to hitting publish on your first post. How to set up a Substack newsletterStarting a Substack is simple. You can create an account and publish your first post in minutes. But setting it up well requires a bit more thought. From choosing a name to writing an engaging bio, these early steps can make a big difference in how potential readers perceive your newsletter. Here’s how to set up your account for success. 1. Create a Substack accountThe first step is to head to substack.com and sign up and follow the prompts to set up your profile. Your profile is your Substack "about me" section—it appears on your newsletter page and in every email footer. On your profile page (which you can access through the images at the top-right or bottom-left of your homepage), click Settings to edit your profile picture, name and bio. Your image can be a picture of you or a logo for your newsletter. However, a well-written bio helps potential readers quickly understand what you and your newsletter are about and why they should care. A strong bio: Clearly states the newsletter’s focusHighlights who it’s forUses a conversational, approachable toneFor example, instead of: "I’m a marketing expert sharing my thoughts on digital trends." Try: "Every week, I break down digital marketing trends into actionable strategies—so you can grow your brand without the guesswork." You can (and should) also connect your social media so that people can find you elsewhere. 2. Set up your newsletter as a publicationOnce your account is set up, select Start Writing on your home page to start setting up your newsletter. You’ll be taken to a new blank page, but I recommend you hit the back button to customize your newsletter before you start publishing. Once you're on the homepage, click on the Settings button to set up your newsletter properly. First, you'll need to scroll to the bottom of the Settings page, then select Convert to publication to gain full customization capabilities. 💡Note: This is optional – you can still publish posts to Substack without this process. However, this allows more customization that will impact the rest of this how-to.Now, you can change your newsletter name, add branding, welcome emails and other custom content. Here are a few key options to check: Publication design: Upload a logo or banner and choose a simple color scheme. Substack doesn’t allow heavy customization, but small branding touches can make your page feel more polished.Welcome message: Customize the automated email that new subscribers receive. This is your first direct interaction with readers—use it to introduce yourself and set expectations for what they’ll receive.And if you need to take a pause before you set up, Substack will have this handy checklist waiting for you in your Dashboard. 3. Write a welcome post (optional but recommended)A welcome post isn’t required, but it’s a great way to introduce yourself and your content before you start sending regular newsletters. It also gives first-time visitors something to read when they land on your page. Some creators go super detailed, while others keep it simple. A simple format for a welcome post: Introduce yourself: Who you are and why you’re starting this newsletterExplain what readers can expect: The topics you’ll cover and how often you’ll publishEncourage engagement: Ask readers to reply with their thoughts or share the newsletter with others5. Start building your email listIf you have an existing audience—on social media, LinkedIn, or elsewhere—now’s the time to inform them about your newsletter. Substack makes this easy with tools like: A unique subscribe link to share anywhereAn import feature to bring in email lists (as long as you have permission)Embeds and buttons to add a signup form to your websiteDon’t wait until you have the perfect newsletter to promote it. Start sharing your Substack as soon as possible—you can refine it as you go. How to develop a winning content strategy for SubstackOnce your Substack is set up, the next big question is: What should I write about? While there’s no single “right” way to approach Substack, the most successful newsletters tend to have a clear focus, a consistent publishing rhythm, and a strong voice. I asked the creators how they plan their content, and their advice boils down to three key steps. 1. Define your niche (or at least your starting point)Before publishing your first post, it helps to have a general idea of what you want to write about. Your niche doesn’t have to be hyper-specific, but a clear focus makes it easier to attract the right audience. It can give you a serious advantage in search, as Lade Falobi, who shares product marketing insights in Marketing for Geeks, shares, "I wish I’d known to optimize for search earlier. It’s not just about writing great content—you have to make it easy for people to find you." Some questions to help define your niche: What topics do you enjoy writing about?Who do you want to attract as readers?What unique perspective or expertise do you bring?That said, don’t overthink it. Some of the best newsletters started with writers simply exploring ideas and refining their niche along the way. 2. Choose a format that works for youOnce you have a general topic, think about how you’ll structure your newsletter. Will it be essay-style deep dives? Short insights? Curated industry news? Interviews? You don’t have to limit yourself to “traditional” formats — some of my favorite creators go against the grain to share incredibly formatted content, like Gabby Whiten, who writes Oh Eight, a lifestyle and fashion newsletter, and creates these elaborate collages for each issue. Some popular newsletter formats on Substack include personal essays or storytelling, practical guides & how-tos, curated content, and interviews & case studies. There’s no right or wrong choice, so just pick a format you’ll enjoy writing consistently. 3. Set a realistic publishing scheduleConsistency is key on Substack, but that doesn’t mean you must publish constantly. The best schedule is one you can stick to without burning out. A common rhythm for new writers is once a week, but some creators publish biweekly, while others send updates multiple times a week. 4. Quality over quantityThe biggest mistake new writers make? Publishing for the sake of publishing. Consistency matters, but high-quality, valuable content is what keeps readers subscribed. Rather than stressing over frequency, focus on delivering posts that inform, entertain, or challenge your readers in some way. How to grow your audience on SubstackOnce you’ve started writing, the next challenge is getting people to actually read your newsletter. Unlike social media platforms, where content can go viral overnight, newsletter growth tends to be more gradual—but that doesn’t mean it has to be slow. I asked Substack creators what worked for them, and their responses revealed a few key strategies for building an engaged audience. 1. Use Substack’s built-in toolsOne of Substack’s biggest advantages over self-hosted email lists is its built-in discovery features. Readers can find you through Substack Recommendations, the Substack app, and Notes (Substack’s short-form social feed). To maximize Substack’s discovery features: Turn on Recommendations: This lets you recommend other newsletters, and in return, others may recommend yours. Many writers say this is one of the most effective growth strategies.Use Substack Notes: This works like a Twitter feed but within Substack’s ecosystem. Sharing thoughts, links, or even snippets of your posts can help attract new subscribers. Success Lawal, who writes Dear Digital Marketing Newbie, says, "Substack Notes has been useful for sharing short updates and engaging with my audience outside of just newsletters."Engage in Substack Chat: If you have paid subscribers, Chat allows for direct, paywalled community engagement, which can increase retention and word-of-mouth referrals.Finally, like many other social platforms, keep an eye out for new features and take advantage of them. For example, Substack just introduced a video feed and while it’s not super popular yet, it’ll be a great way to start promoting your content within the app. 2. Promote on social media strategicallyMany creators grow their Substacks by consistently sharing their content on social platforms like X, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram. The key? Posting teasers, insights, and value-driven content instead of just dropping a link. Using Substack’s internal features is also one way to leverage social media, as Anna Burgess Yang shared, "Very, very recently, I started 'restacking' quotes from other Substack writers as a way to boost visibility. It’s been interesting to see how that helps in engagement." If your content is visual or educational, consider repurposing newsletter content into carousels or short videos and share short, engaging takeaways then link to your full post. 3. Cross-promote with other newslettersOne of the fastest ways to grow on Substack is by collaborating with other writers in your niche. Cross-promotions, guest features, and newsletter swaps can expose your content to an entirely new audience. You can do this by reaching out to other writers to feature their work or offer to write a guest issue for another Substack. 4. Convert readers into advocatesSome of the best subscribers come from word-of-mouth. The best way to encourage this? Ask your readers to share. A simple “If you enjoyed this, consider forwarding it to a friend” at the end of your emails can work wonders. You should also consider recognizing active readers to create a stronger community and encourage sharing. While Substack doesn’t have a built-in referral program (yet), some writers manually track referrals and offer small perks like exclusive content. How to monetize on SubstackSubstack’s biggest selling point for many writers is its built-in monetization tools. Substack allows creators to get paid directly by their audience through paid subscriptions. But when is the right time to introduce a paid tier? How do you actually get people to pay? And are subscriptions the only way to earn? When should you start charging? One of the biggest decisions new Substack writers face is when (or if) to introduce paid subscriptions. Some start charging from day one, while others build a free audience first. "I turned on monetization from the beginning, and it will be interesting to see how it goes. I didn’t want to wait until I had a certain number of subscribers." says Amer Hamidi-Sakr, who writes The Legacy Blueprint, a newsletter on philosophical topics. If you’re hesitant to do this, don’t worry. A common approach is to wait until you have at least a few hundred engaged free subscribers before launching a paid tier. This gives you time to build trust, establish a writing rhythm, and understand what your audience values most. If you’re unsure, consider a soft launch—turn on the paid option, but don’t heavily promote it yet. That way, early supporters who want to pay can do so while you continue growing your free audience.How much should you charge? Substack lets you set your subscription prices, typically offering monthly, yearly, and founding member tiers. Anecdotally, most creators stick with a default $8 per month or $80 per year pricing model, with a founding tier that offers a few more perks for a higher price point, usually $80-200.What should you put behind a paywall? Not every post has to be paid—many successful Substack writers use a hybrid model, where some content remains free while premium content is for paid subscribers. "I publish four essays on Substack per month, and one of those is behind a paywall. This way, free readers get plenty of value while I still offer exclusivity to paid members,” says Anna Burgess Yang. The key is making your free content good enough that readers naturally want more. If your free content is valuable, people will be more inclined to support you financially.Explore other ways to make money on Substack: Paid subscriptions aren’t the only monetization option. Many Substack creators also earn through: sponsorships, affiliate marketing, one-time payments using platforms like Buy Me a Coffee for tips and consulting, courses, or products.How to convert free readers into paying subscribersGetting people to subscribe for free is one thing. Getting them to pay is another. Here are three ways to increase conversions: Be direct: Mention your paid tier in your emails (without being pushy). A simple line like "If you enjoy my writing, consider upgrading to a paid subscription" can make a difference.Offer a free trial: Substack lets you give potential subscribers a 7-day free trial to paid content. This lowers the barrier to entry.Highlight social proof: If others are paying, mention it! Readers are more likely to subscribe if they know they’re not alone.Success Lawal shared one strategy she’s considering: "My plan is to have exclusives like video interviews and deep-dive research reports for paid subscribers. People will pay if they see a real difference in what they get." Engage with your community to grow on SubstackIf you’ve made it this far, you have everything you need to start—and sustain—a successful Substack newsletter. The most important element of growing on Substack is engaging with your audience. Unlike social media, newsletters aren’t a one-way street. Your subscribers aren’t just followers—they’re people who care enough about your work to invite it into their inbox. Encouraging replies, starting conversations, and making your readers feel valued can help create a loyal, engaged audience. A prime example of this in action is Emily Sundberg, founder and author of Feed Me, a daily business newsletter on Substack. She has built more than just a newsletter—she’s created a media brand with a deeply engaged community, reaching ~50,000 subscribers and generating ~$400,000+ annually. Melissa Blaser broke down what makes her so successful on LinkedIn, but what it boils down to is this: Her success isn’t just about writing great content—it’s about making Feed Me an interactive experience. Readers don’t just want to consume content—they also want to participate. The more you engage with them, the more invested they become. If you’ve been thinking about launching a Substack, consider this your sign to start. Your first post won’t be perfect. Your first 10 subscribers might just be friends and family. But every great newsletter started the same way — with one post and one reader. So go ahead: sign up, write your first post, and hit publish. View the full article

I'm a full-screen apps guy on my Mac. I love sending each app to its own workspace and swiping between them to use the one I need. When I'm writing, it helps me focus on the task at hand, and it's not hard to use three and four-finger swipes on my trackpad get to my other productivity apps as I need them. However, messenger apps like WhatsApp and Slack are an exception. I need to be able to check these out at a moment's notice, like when I'm using my browser in full-screen. Luckily, that's where the Opera sidebar comes in. This handy tool is home to social media apps, messengers, and even some streaming services, keeping them from getting lost in separate tabs and letting me easily glance at them when I'm working on something else. It's a lifesaver, and other browsers desperately need to adopt it. What is the Opera sidebar?You can think of the Opera sidebar as a way to bookmark crucial services to your Opera browser's left pane. By default, it'll just show icons, but clicking one will open the bookmarked tool in a small popover tab. This is ideal for tasks you want to work on without losing focus on your currently active tab. While I would normally go to a secondary tab to search the web or switch to a different app to reply to texts, this sidebar lets me stay on the current tab, attend to other tasks quickly, and then get right back to work. How to set up Opera's sidebar Credit: Pranay Parab The sidebar is enabled by default, but you should take a moment to tweak it so that your favorite services show up on it. Just click the three-dots button in the bottom-left corner of the Opera window and the sidebar settings pane will open up. Go through the sections for AI services, messengers, and special features. Just click the check box next to the services you wish to use and disable the ones you don't need. After this, your selections will show up in the left pane and you can click them to use them in the sidebar. You can't add any random app to the sidebar, unfortunately, but there is a reasonably well-populated list for you to choose from. You can pick AI services such as ChatGPT, messengers (WhatsApp, Slack, etc.), or social media sites (Instagram, Bluesky, etc.). The most recent additions are Bluesky, Discord, and Slack, so at least Opera is always adding more options. The sidebar also supports music streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Why I prefer the Opera Sidebar over tabsI'll admit it: I have a problem of opening too many tabs and then losing track of them. I've been guilty of opening the same website in multiple tabs or sometimes even running the same search query in more than one tab. With the sidebar, I've found a solution to these problems. When I need to reply to a message, I can open the messenger app from the sidebar and dismiss it the moment I'm done. And if I need to access it for longer, I can pin the app, which puts it in a neat split-screen view. This lets me work faster than when I have multiple open tabs, or when I need to switch between apps. While a Mac does let you easily place two apps side-by-side, the browser sidebar feature lets me quickly swap new apps in as I need them. This is a level of flexibility that's otherwise hard to find. It's also worth noting that Opera is not the only browser to offer a sidebar, but it is one of the few that runs your browser extensions within the sidebar. If my preferred browsers—Safari and Firefox—were to adopt this feature, I'd even be compelled to delete the official apps for some of these services. I don't see myself using Opera as my primary browser because I'm attached to the unique privacy benefits in Safari and Firefox, but the company has been doing a few interesting things as of late. It's built a browser that can break your doomscrolling habit and its Aria AI is actually quite useful. Other companies would do well to keep up. View the full article

President Donald Trump vowed to fight government abuse and introduce more transparency, a stance that might align him with a little-known agency charged with watching over the U.S.’s powerful spying programs. Lately it’s investigated and critiqued the intelligence community’s secret terrorist watchlist, its fight against domestic extremism, and its warrantless searching of Americans’ emails. The agency, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, is also central to a hard-won agreement that allows U.S. companies like Meta and X to handle Europeans’ data. None of that stopped Trump from firing the board’s three Democratic members on his second day in office, effectively hobbling one of the few independent watchdogs over the world’s most powerful spying apparatus. On Monday two of those members fired back in a lawsuit, calling the move illegal and asking a court to reinstate them. “The President’s actions strike at the heart of the separation of powers,” Travis LeBlanc and Ed Felten, the former members, said in their suit, which was filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “Not only do [Trump’s] removals eradicate a vital check on the infringement of ordinary Americans’ civil liberties, they also hobble an agency that Congress created to assist it with oversight of the executive branch.” Travis LeBlanc, an attorney nominated by President Trump to the PCLOB, was sworn in by Vice President Harris. He and Ed Felten sued Trump on Monday [Screenshot: The Biden White House] LeBlanc and Felten were both nominated by Trump during his first term, and each had at least another year to serve. They were fired along with Sharon Bradford Franklin, who was appointed by President Joe Biden to be the board’s full-time chairwoman, and who was expected to step down anyway when her term ended on January 29. The White House did not ask the board’s only Republican member, Beth Williams, to resign; a fifth seat is currently vacant. Without a quorum of three members, the board’s staff cannot start new reports—the bulk of the agency’s work—or complete existing ones. The move went largely unnoticed amid a barrage of firings, but raised alarms among civil liberties advocates on both sides of the Atlantic, especially given the prospect of the White House pursuing its political opponents. New FBI director Kash Patel, who has sought to downplay an enemies list he created in 2023, said this week that the agency would investigate its former director and Trump nemesis James Comey. Attempts by Elon Musk’s DOGE to access sensitive government databases have raised separate privacy concerns. “The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is one of the only independent watchdogs over government surveillance with the power to alert Congress and the public about abuses of government power,” said Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the intelligence committee. “Given Donald Trump’s attempt to fire the Democratic members of the board and weaponize intelligence agencies with extreme partisan Republicans and MAGA loyalists, a functioning, independent PCLOB has never been more important.” Since taking office, the Trump administration has pushed hard to consolidate presidential control over agencies that have typically acted independently. In addition to eighteen inspectors general, responsible for preventing waste, fraud, and abuse at various federal agencies, Trump fired the heads of other independent agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board. Trump also fired the government’s top ethics official responsible for enforcing anti-corruption laws in the White House, and removed the chair of the agency that protects federal workers, though the courts have paused those dismissals. The administration has also removed other officials tasked with protecting security and privacy, including all members of the Deparment of Homeland Security’s advisory boards. They included the AI Safety and Security Board and the Cyber Safety Review Board, which is responsible for reviewing cyberattacks and making concrete recommendations to government and industry. It had previously issued a report on the 2023 Microsoft hack, and was still investigating the China-backed hack of U.S. telecoms, which one senator called “the worst telecom hack in our nation’s history.” At the privacy and civil liberties board—known in Washington as “PCLOB”—the firings have stalled a number of ongoing investigations into U.S. surveillance programs. “There are several projects right now that the PCLOB is actively working on that do keep me up at night and make me concerned,” LeBlanc told journalist Brian Fung at the State of the Net conference this month. The board was created after September 11 to provide an added layer of oversight of the executive branch’s counterterrorism policies and to, Congress wrote, “protect the precious liberties that are vital to our way of life.” Led by a group of Presidential-appointed legal experts who are given security clearances and subpoena power, the agency advises the President, Congress, and the public about risks to Americans’ civil liberties. One big focus is Section 702, the law that controversially allows the FBI and other federal intelligence agencies to do “backdoor” searches of intercepted foreign communications for Americans’ data without a warrant. The law is up for reauthorization next year. The board’s last report on the program, in 2023, said that FBI agents had performed 5 million warrantless searches for Americans between 2020 and 2023. Among them were “tens of thousands” of baseless searches for Americans, including the improper searching of political leaders, such as members of Congress, social advocates, religious community leaders, and even individuals who had provided tips or were victims of crimes. “In one period alone, non-compliant queries related to civil unrest numbered in the thousands,” Leblanc said last year during a public briefing. “Thousands of U.S. persons, exercising their first amendment rights on domestic issues.” More recently, the agency has been helping assure protections for European Union citizens, too, as part of the agreement struck in 2023 after almost a decade of negotiations and court battles over data flows. (At one point Meta threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram out of Europe.) Just as Congress ruled that TikTok could not operate in the U.S. in part due to concerns user data could flow to China, EU lawmakers agreed that U.S. companies, including Google, Meta, Amazon and X, can only process EU data with certain assurances. Those requirements include the PCLOB. Datenschützer warnten, nun wird es ernst: Erste Schritte von #Trump gegen das #Datenschutz-Aufsichtsgremium #PCLOB gefährden das EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. Unternehmen drohen Unsicherheiten beim Datentransfer in die USA: https://t.co/8Xx6Veefb2 #PrivacyShield pic.twitter.com/TP2Oo6IWSf — datenschutzticker.de (@ds_ticker) January 29, 2025 The importance of the board to the EU agreement was underscored one night in October 2020, when Congress rushed three new board members through a last-minute confirmation hearing; they had to be in Brussels the next day for an important meeting with regulators. “It’s clear that this [board] is a big deal to [the European Commission],” says a person close to the agency who asked for anonymity to speak candidly. “I don’t know that this was thought of” by the Trump White House, “and I can’t predict what they were thinking at all on this. I’m just telling you that that is a big, big deal.” Mary T. Costigan, an attorney at Jackson Lewis, said in a memo earlier this month that organizations ”that rely on their DPF certification for transatlantic data transfers should consider developing a contingency plan to prevent potential disruption to the transfer of essential personal data.” The uncertainty about the board adds to ongoing tensions between Washington and Brussels over the EU’s tech regulations. Trump has attacked EU fines on U.S. giants, echoing complaints by Musk and Mark Zuckerberg over regulations like the Digital Services Act. EU Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said last month that while the data rules remain applicable “irrespective” of the members of the PCLOB, the Commission is continuously monitoring all adequacy decisions. Earlier this month, Javier Zarzalejos, chair of the commission’s committee on civil liberties, asked the EU’s justice chief whether the firings “affect the adequacy of” the data privacy agreement. “One of the issues are the competences” of the PCLOB, he wrote. A PCLOB spokesperson, Alan Silverleib, declined to comment on the impact of the firings on the DPF. But he tells Fast Company that even if the full board cannot issue new reports, the agency’s research continued, with its single part-time board member and a staff of around 30 lawyers, policy experts and technologists. He said the board’s remaining member and its staff could still issue their own reports. “The Board looks forward to moving ahead on additional projects formally following the nomination, confirmation, and appointment of new Members,” he said in a statement. The White House hasn’t indicated when—or if—it will nominate new members to the PCLOB, who must be a mix of Democrats and Republicans and be approved by the Senate, in a process that would likely take months. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. With a paltry budget of around $14 million and a staff of about 30, PCLOB was already one of the smallest federal agencies, especially relative to its sweeping mandate. (its nickname, meanwhile, is “widely understood to be one of the worst shortened names in Washington,” Williams quipped recently, “and that’s quite a feat.”) Still, privacy advocates have called the board’s behind-the-scenes investigations valuable, especially when it comes to Section 702, the surveillance law Congress will vote on when it expires next year. In its last report on the program, the board agreed that its databases were critical for national security but diverged over the additional protections needed when the FBI searches them for Americans. The three Democratic members urged Congress to make a significant change: require the F.B.I. to get warrants first, with exceptions for emergencies and consensual searches. (In December, a federal district judge in a terror-related case agreed that there should be a warrant requirement, calling 702 “a tool for law enforcement to run ‘backdoor searches’ that circumvent the Fourth Amendment.”) The Democratic members’ recommendation put them at odds with the Biden White House, but in line with some Democratic civil libertarians and Republican MAGA members of Congress, as well as some Trump allies. Trump previously signed a reauthorization of Section 702 into law in 2018, but has remained a critic. Last year Congress reauthorized the program for two more years, amid last minute objections by Trump himself, who has complained that it was used to spy on his 2016 campaign. (The FBI’s surveillance of Trump campaign aide Carter Page was not conducted under Section 702, but to many in Trumpworld the case has remained a symbol of the agency’s corruption.) Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, previously called for the full repeal of Section 702, which she described as “overreach.” More recently, she told senators that she supports the law, but said that Congress and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court should decide whether warrants are required for data on U.S. persons. (In 2015, Gabbard, then a Democrat in the House of Representatives, also joined Sen. Wyden in sponsoring a bill that would have strengthened the PCLOB.) Kash Patel, himself a target of FBI surveillance, has also recently argued against a “warrant requirement” for Section 702 searches. To go through the foreign surveillance data “in real time is just not comported with the requirement to protect American citizenry,” he said during his confirmation hearings. John Ratcliffe, Trump’s CIA director, also told the Senate he opposes a warrant requirement. Still, he added, “it’ll be incumbent on me . . . both within the administration and outside . . . [to] make sure that people understand and to dispel false narratives about how [the surevillance law] is being misused or can be misused.” The firings at PCLOB were hardly the only dismissals to sharpen fears about abuses of power or retribution under the Trump White House. At the Justice Department, the acting attorney general fired more than a dozen prosecutors who worked on the criminal investigations into Trump for the special counsel, as well as more than a dozen prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who had been hired to investigate the Jan. 6 riot. The Justice Department’s leaders also asked for the names of the thousands of agents involved in the Trump and Jan. 6 investigations at the FBI, where at least nine high-ranking officials have also been removed. Last week a court stalled Trump’s dismissal of the government’s top ethics official, Hampton Dellinger, who leads the Office of Special Counsel, in what has become the first major test of the new administration’s effort to consolidate control over independent agencies. On Monday Dellinger announced that his office would seek to pause the mass firings of many of the estimated 200,000 federal workers who are on probation. The cases will be reviewed by the Merit Systems Protection Board, another independent agency, which on Tuesday paused the firing of six probationary workers. That agency, too, has been targeted by the White House: its chairwoman, Cathy Harris, was recently reinstated after she sued, prompting a federal judge to temporarily block her firing. While PCLOB has previously had vacancies that kept it from issuing new reports, no president has previously fired a board member. The lawsuit on Monday challenges the legality of that move. “PCLOB’s structure and functions confirm that Congress intended to prevent the President from removing its members without cause,” the suit alleges, insisting that the White House must also consult with Congress first. (The case will be heard by Senior U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who drew criticism last year when he took the rare step of giving a TV interview decrying the rise of threats, spurred by Trump, against federal judges and their families.) The legal complaint points to critical changes made to the board’s statute by Congress in 2007. Originally stood up under the Executive branch, the PCLOB was re-established that year as an independent agency amid concerns about its impartiality. The new law, the 9/11 Commission Act, deleted language from the original statute that said it “serves at the pleasure of” the President and that “[t]he Board shall perform its functions within the executive branch and under the general supervision of the President.” Its statute also requires that the board be nonpartisan, that its members be selected on nonpolitical grounds, and that “the President may remove a member of the Board only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” Computer scientist Ed Felten was nominated by President Trump to the PCLOB in 2018 [Photo: Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board/Wikimedia Comons] Even if Trump hopes to appoint loyalists to the board, the law still requires that members, typically prominent legal experts, come from different political parties. The White House could also opt to keep the board perpetually under quorum, or after appointing new members, could also choose to fire them again. In a letter to Congressional leadership last month, a group of 27 civil liberties groups said that the firings had already set a dangerous precedent. “The White House could kill any reports or findings from PCLOB it does not want issued, firing Board members to halt the release of information the White House wants covered up,” the groups, led by the Center for Democracy and Technology, wrote. “Even the mere threat of firings would chill PCLOB from properly performing its duties, with members seeking to stay in the good graces of the White House rather than acting as a vigilant watchdog.” Speaking at the State of the Net conference last month, Beth Williams, the sole remaining member, was asked if the firings would affect the board’s ability to be independent and effective going forward. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on the President’s personnel decisions,” she said. She also downplayed the impacts of the firings. “The board is open for business,” she said, citing a recent policy that gives the board more leeway to continue operating without a quorum. During a separate appearance at the conference, LeBlanc questioned the board’s efficacy—Williams serves only part time—and its independence. The implications of his firing and others could cost the country more than civil liberties and transatlantic data flows, he said. “Where independent agencies get their strength is not because there’s someone at the top that somebody else trusts,” said LeBlanc. “It is that both sides, both parties, all feel like their views are aired, and that trust in and of itself is what gives them power.” Gutting the agency to a single member means “you only get one stream of information and communication,” and that “calls into question whether you’re getting the true story, and calls into question the credibility of the ultimate decisions or recommendations that are coming out of the agency.” He pointed to other heavily regulated industries—transportation, elections, energy, consumer financial products—that could be undermined by regulatory instability. “If independent agencies no longer exist in this country, if everyone ultimately ends up serving at the pleasure of the current administration,” he said, “we lose the benefit of expertise.” View the full article

Branded search refers to the results that Google or an LLM (like ChatGPT) shows when someone searches for your brand name. Whether you’re a small company or a large, established brand, ranking highly for these queries is essential – but it’s not always easy. If your brand is new or shares its name with other entities (such as a town, a film, or another company), search engines may prioritize other meanings. Even if your brand name is unique, it takes time for search engines and users to associate it with your business. Optimizing for branded search helps ensure your brand appears prominently and accurately in search results. What are branded keywords? A branded keyword or search is any Google query that includes a company, business, or brand name. This can also include additional words, known as brand compounds, such as: Company contact (e.g., “Dan’s Timber customer service”). Company careers (e.g., “Dan’s Timber jobs”). Company locations (e.g., “Dan’s Timber near me”). Branded search queries always contain the brand name. For example: If you own a hardwood retail business, a search for “Dan’s Timber” indicates that the user is looking specifically for your company. In contrast, a search for “timber merchant” is a general query looking for a retailer that sells timber, not necessarily your business. These general searches are sometimes mistaken for branded queries because they relate closely to a company’s product offering but are not truly branded. Branded queries can also include trademarked products or services associated with your brand. For instance: If a company has trademarked offerings with distinct names, users may search for those specifically. Depending on the brand’s recognition, users might also add the main brand name for clarification (e.g., “Main Brand Product X”) Google determines whether a trademarked product name is seen as a standalone entity or primarily associated with the parent brand. Establishing dominance in branded search takes time, marketing, and a strong market presence. While digital PR efforts can help, brand recognition ultimately requires consistent investment in education, marketing, and consumer engagement. Why optimize for brand search? Many companies assume their brand will take care of itself when it comes to SEO. This is especially common after a rebrand when a company expects to rank immediately for its new name but doesn’t. The broader business may share this expectation, but a brand name can have multiple meanings or connotations. If it’s a word that already exists – whether as a town, another brand, a film, or anything else with an established meaning in any language – it won’t automatically rank at the top of search results. Even if the name is completely unique, search engines and audiences need time to adjust. Dig deeper: Top 10 SEO benefits of building a brand that people trust Optimizing for branded queries based on audience groups When optimizing for branded queries, it’s essential to understand why the user is searching for your brand and provide a search experience that aligns with their journey. Branded search optimization isn’t as simple as targeting “brand + brand compound” queries. You need to go deeper to understand the intent behind these searches. This applies to both existing and prospective customers, as well as other key audience segments. Existing customers The first audience group consists of current customers searching for post-purchase information. Their queries often fall into categories such as: Account access: “Brand login,” “reset Brand X password.” Customer support: “Brand X contact,” “Brand X customer service,” “Brand X refund policy.” Subscription details: “Brand X renewal pricing,” “cancel Brand X subscription.” These searches indicate users looking for assistance, troubleshooting, or account management, so optimizing for them ensures a seamless customer experience. Prospective buyers The second audience includes users who aren’t yet customers but are close to making a purchase. They may perform multiple searches related to your brand as they evaluate their options. A key example is comparison queries, such as: “Brand X vs. competitor Y” “Is Brand X better than Competitor Y?” “Best [industry/product] for [specific need].” Often, companies address these searches through blog posts or programmatic pages. A common approach is to create “Top 5” or “Top 10” lists that position their own brand as the best option while giving minimal attention to competitors. Google evaluates whether such content genuinely explains differences between brands or merely serves to rank for comparison queries. While this tactic remains widespread – especially among SaaS companies – brands should focus on providing valuable, objective comparisons rather than just ticking SEO boxes. Neutral information seekers The third audience segment consists of users looking for general brand information. These can include: Journalists and press members verifying details or seeking a media contact. Procurement teams gathering vendor information for decision-makers. Marketing strategies often target ideal buyers, such as “middle managers with two-plus years of experience,” and use firmographics to tailor messaging. However, in many cases, decision-makers delegate research to procurement teams, who then compile vendor lists based on given specifications. Here, two key assumptions come into play: Procurement team members may have little knowledge of what they’re researching. They may have baseline knowledge but are strictly assessing criteria based on provided guidelines. Your content should be clear, informative, and to the point, ensuring that non-decision-making stakeholders can easily understand and relay information. The ideal buyer persona you’ve created won’t always align with the needs of those handling the research process. Optimizing for this group means structuring content in a way that makes key details accessible and actionable. Dig deeper: How to establish your brand entity for SEO: A 5-step guide Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. 4 steps to optimize for branded search There are four key steps to this process. Some may condense it into three, while others may add a fifth step, but in my experience, these four are essential. 1. Understand and identify all branded keywords Identify all the keywords related to your brand. This requires pulling data from multiple sources. Common branded queries include: Brand-specific searches: “Brand X careers,” “Brand X contact,” “Brand C login,” “Brand X telephone number.” Search behavior insights: Use tools like Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, and third-party platforms to analyze how users search for your brand and what keyword compounds they use. Understanding these branded search patterns helps determine how people interact with your brand online. 2. Categorize your branded keywords Once you’ve identified branded keywords, classify them into three main buckets: Marketing and pre-purchase keywords: Queries from potential customers considering a purchase. Post-purchase keywords: Queries from existing customers looking for support, renewals, or account management. Unwanted or uncontrollable keywords: Queries related to outdated product names, discontinued services, or external narratives you may not be able to control. While you can’t always influence how users search – especially for discontinued products –you need to decide whether to address these queries or allow other sources to control the narrative. 3. Determine where to allocate resources Next, refine your keyword lists by prioritizing which terms are worth targeting. This varies by category: Pre-purchase and marketing-focused keywords generally take priority, as they represent potential new leads and sales. Post-purchase keywords are essential for customer retention and experience. Identify underperforming branded keywords that may not be yielding as much value as expected and assess whether optimization could improve their impact. For SEO and content teams, the key is balancing visibility across all keyword types while focusing on those that drive the most meaningful engagement. 4. Identifying existing mismatches Look for instances where brand-related searches are leading to incorrect, outdated, or unhelpful pages. Common mismatches include: Search results leading to irrelevant pages instead of the most useful content. Random PDFs or outdated documents ranking for branded queries. Additionally, in today’s search landscape, it’s important to consider AI-generated overviews from Google, Bing, and other search engines. Review how your brand is represented in AI summaries and ensure the information is accurate. If incorrect data appears, determine whether you can adjust the narrative through content updates, structured data, or other SEO efforts. Dig deeper: How SEO grows brands: The science behind the service Take control of your brand’s search results with these optimization steps As a company grows, the number of branded searches will increase over time. It’s common to separate traffic KPIs into branded and nonbranded categories. I still believe it’s critical to maintain this distinction in your reporting and organic KPIs. However, optimizing for branded search shouldn’t be dismissed as providing no return on investment – especially if it has never been optimized or has been neglected. In some cases, addressing branded search can uncover wasted potential and improve brand user journeys, ultimately adding value to the business. View the full article

Success in Google Ads hinges on how well you use your data. With AI-driven features like Smart Bidding, traditional PPC tactics like campaign structure and keyword selection don’t carry the same weight. However, Google Ads provides a goldmine of insights into performance, user behavior, and conversions. The challenge? Turning that data into action. Enter Google’s BigQuery ML – a powerful yet underused tool that can help you optimize campaigns and drive better results. What is BigQuery ML? BigQuery ML is a machine learning tool within the Google Cloud Platform that lets you build and deploy models directly in your BigQuery data warehouse. What makes it stand out is its speed and ease of use – you don’t need to be a machine learning expert or write complex code. With simple SQL queries, you can create predictive models that enhance your Google Ads campaigns. Why you should use BigQuery ML for Google Ads Instead of relying on manual analysis, BigQuery ML automates and optimizes key campaign elements – ensuring better results with less guesswork. Enhanced audience targeting Predictive customer segmentation: BigQuery ML analyzes customer data to uncover valuable audience segments. These insights help create highly targeted ad groups, ensuring your ads reach the most relevant users. Lookalike audience expansion: By training a model on your high-value customers, you can identify similar users who are likely to convert, allowing you to expand your reach and tap into new profitable segments. Improved campaign optimization Automated bidding strategies: BigQuery ML predicts conversion likelihood for different keywords and ad placements, helping you automate bidding and maximize ROI. Ad copy optimization: By analyzing historical performance, BigQuery ML identifies the most effective ad variations, allowing you to refine your creatives and improve click-through rates. Personalized customer experiences Dynamic ad content: BigQuery ML personalizes ad content in real-time based on user behavior and preferences, making your ads more relevant and increasing conversion chances. Personalized landing pages: By integrating with your landing page platform, BigQuery ML tailors the user experience to match individual preferences, boosting conversion rates. Fraud detection Anomaly detection: BigQuery ML identifies unusual patterns in your campaign data that could indicate fraud. This allows you to take proactive measures to protect your budget and ensure your ads reach real users. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Real-world applications of BigQuery ML in Google Ads By applying machine learning to your Google Ads data, you can uncover trends, refine targeting, and maximize ROI with greater precision. Predicting customer lifetime value: Identify high-value customers and tailor your campaigns to maximize their long-term engagement. Forecasting campaign performance: Anticipate future trends and adjust your strategies accordingly. Optimizing campaign budget allocation: Distribute your budget across campaigns and ad groups based on predicted performance. Identifying high-performing keywords: Discover new keywords that are likely to drive conversions. Reducing customer acquisition cost: Optimize your campaigns to acquire customers at the lowest possible cost. We ran propensity models for a higher education client, and the results were striking. The high-propensity segment converted at 17 times the rate of medium- and low-propensity audiences. Beyond boosting performance, these models provided valuable insights into more effective budget allocation, both within campaigns and across channels. 4 quick steps to getting started with BigQuery ML for Google Ads Our organization’s data cloud engineering team helps gather, organize, and run these models – a skill set many companies have yet to integrate into their paid search strategies. However, this is changing. If you’re ready to get started, here are four key steps: Link your Google Ads account to BigQuery: Gain access to your campaign data within BigQuery. Explore your data: Use SQL queries to analyze trends and identify patterns. Build a machine learning model: Create a predictive model using BigQuery ML. Deploy your model: Integrate it with Google Ads to automate optimization and personalization. For comprehensive guides, checklists, and case studies to assist in deploying BigQuery ML models effectively, explore the Instant BQML resources. These materials provide step-by-step instructions and best practices to enhance your campaign’s performance. Maximizing BigQuery ML for Google Ads In the era of data-driven advertising, BigQuery ML is a game-changer. By applying machine learning to your Google Ads data, you can unlock powerful insights that enhance targeting, optimize bidding, and improve personalization. Here are the best practices for success: Data quality is key: Ensure your data is clean, accurate, and up-to-date for reliable predictions. Start small: Focus on a specific use case before scaling your approach. Continuous optimization: Regularly monitor and refine your models for the best results. By leveraging BigQuery ML, you can take your Google Ads strategy to the next level – building a competitive edge and driving better results with data-driven decision-making. View the full article