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Wi-Fi connects thousands of IoT products. Here's what you should consider when evaluating your connectivity choices. The post New brochure: Wi-Fi Alliance doubles down on the value of choosing Wi-Fi for IoT – including the need for certification appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

On the railway to China, the hidden ancient citadel, and visiting the Koreatown and Chinatown in this booming manufacturing hub of Northern Vietnam. Bac Ninh is the capital city of Bac Ninh province, neighbouring Hanoi. Bac Ninh province is part of the Hanoi Metropolitan Area, and on the drive to Bac Ninh it’s hard to tell where Hanoi ends and Bac Ninh begins. At least there is still some farmland in between that stops Hanoi fully merging into Bac Ninh. Bac Ninh is an industrial powerhouse of Vietnam, so it’s not exactly high on the list of places to visit for leisure travellers. Apart from the fact that I am making my way through the list of provincial capitals in Vietnam, there were some things here I wanted to see. The Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway passes through Bac Ninh (the train line to Nanning in China), and I noticed there is a citadel next to the station. I also read that Bac Ninh has a large Koreatown and Chinatown area, which seemed unusual for a provincial city. [Map of Bac Ninh Ancient Citadel.] I visited Bac Ninh in July 2024, and these are my travel notes. Bac Ninh Station Bac Ninh is on the Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway, though there were no trains running at the time of my visit. The Hanoi-Nanning train was cancelled during the pandemic and had not been restored. [Bac Ninh Station] Even without this international connection, it seemed like a missed opportunity to not run local trains on this line. I couldn’t find the bus stop for the local bus, so I ended up getting a Grab taxi from Hanoi to Bac Ninh. For rail nerds, the Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway has a dual-gauge track. There is a metre-gauge track for local trains, and the standard-gauge line is for the train to China. The line goes through the urban area of Bac Ninh, and I wondered if any of these streets would become famous like Hanoi Train Street if the train was running. Bac Ninh Ancient Citadel The Ancient Citadel of Bac Ninh is next to the train station, so this geographical advantage had me wondering if the citadel could become a tourist attraction in the future. I already knew the answer was going to be no, but I had to see for myself. There are several citadels like this in Vietnam, and most of them have been absorbed into the cities they are part of. There is a citadel in Dong Hoi that has a major road through the middle of it, and you wouldn’t you were driving through a citadel unless you looked at a map. The Bac Ninh citadel is accessible by a bridge and there is no through traffic, so it has the right geographical ingredients to be a tourism attraction. The citadel is a residential area that is shared with an active military base, so that explains why it’s not a tourist attraction. Thus I had to be careful of taking photos in this area. Inside the citadel it is residential area that could be anywhere in Vietnam. There are a few hints of it being a fortress, but it is not filled with architectural marvels. Being inside the citadel doesn’t feel like you are in a citadel. This is partly because you can’t see the water from most places inside. If there was a walking path around the citadel perimeter it would be the gem of Bac Ninh. A fair chunk of the citadel interior is off limits, so there wasn’t much to see here. Old Bac Ninh City There isn’t really an old town in Bac Ninh, but I discovered that there are two distinct areas of Bac Ninh: normal provincial city Bac Ninh, and the new international boomtown Bac Ninh. I had a wander around “old” Bac Ninh, and it’s a typical provincial capital city of Vietnam with tube houses built next to each other and market vendors on the street. I enjoy wandering around provincial cities to reset after being in more touristy places. There are some lovely tree-lined streets here that defy the stereotype of Vietnamese cities being chaotic. It feels distinct from Hanoi, even if Hanoi is gradually creeping up to Bac Ninh. If you ever find yourself in a provincial capital, look for the provincial bao tang (museum). The museums almost always have some war remnants such as an aircraft or tank. [War-era jet at the Bac Ninh Museum.] And even in the seemingly unremarkable cities there is always something to see by wandering around. New Bac Ninh City The older area of Bac Ninh follows the train line, while the new area is a few blocks to the south and follows Ly Thai To Street. [Ly Thai To Street in Bac Ninh.] There are more modern apartment towers in this area, and there are many shopfronts with Korean and Chinese signage. I was interested to visit this area after reading an article about the tech worker Chinatown that is emerging here. It is noticeable from walking around that Bac Ninh is a manufacturing hub with ties to China. Bac Ninh has an established Koreatown here as there are numerous Korean factories in the province. The most well-known Korean brand in Bac Ninh is Samsung. There is a special Samsung bus that goes from the city centre to the factory. This reminded me of the Google Bus that runs from San Francisco to Silicon Valley. As the aforementioned article mentioned, there is now also a visible Chinatown area. There isn’t a demarcated Koreatown or Chinatown, and there is an overlap between the two cultural areas. What makes Bac Ninh so distinct from other cities in Vietnam is that the Chinatown area is so visible. Most Chinese businesses in Vietnam are low-key, and there are no Chinatown arches like in other cities in Southeast Asia. Bac Ninh feels like a boomtown where everyone is coming to make money. Despite its economic success, the city is still too provincial for international hotel brands to consider, so there are these big local hotels to serve business travellers. Chain stores have not arrived in Bac Ninh yet either (apart from Lotteria and Jollibee). I saw a Luckin Coffee (the massive chain from China), but Luckin have not arrived in Vietnam yet so I don’t know what this was (it was closed when I went by). Future Bac Ninh A year after my visit, Bac Ninh merged with neighbouring Bac Giang province (so I never got to visit Bac Giang on my province list). Bac Ninh continues to thrive economically, with the province topping the list of exporters from Vietnam. While I was researching this article, I discovered Bac Bling by Hoa Minzy, which was released after my visit to Bac Ninh. I don’t have my finger on the pulse of Vpop, so I had never heard of this song. I was intrigued by the title, so I clicked through and was staggered to see that this song has a quarter of a billion views after only 5 months! Even if this music isn’t your style, the video production is outstanding, so it’s no wonder it has found a global audience. I ended up watching the “making of” video that was recommended after watching this. Hoa Minzy is from Bac Ninh, and this video is a homage to her home province. The video made me want to visit these parts of Bac Ninh that I didn’t see. This video would do more for tourism than running ads on CNN, and a local news site has made a map of the places in Bac Ninh that are featured in the video. I was in Bac Ninh city to visit the Koreatown and Chinatown areas that are serving the industrial boom of the province. Bac Bling seems like an appropriate name for modern Bac Ninh. There are some grand transport plans for Bac Ninh that might see me back here in the future. Bac Ninh is building a new airport, and the plan has been revised to make it larger than Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport. This will be the second airport of Hanoi, so the planned second airport will be the third airport. There was also talk of a 12-line(!) urban railway. I have not seen any maps for this, but presumably it would be integrated with the Hanoi Metro railway. Another useful railway would be a commuter line to Hanoi, and perhaps there will be international train services from Bac Ninh to China when the Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway is upgraded. Meanwhile there there is also a new tourist train that will run from Hanoi to Tu Son (in Bac Ninh), helping to elevate the Bac Ninh name beyond its association of being a manufacturing hub. Maybe I will be hanging at a cafe in Bac Ninh sooner than I thought. View the full article

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to set up an integration that will sync Asana tasks with Zendesk tickets using an automated 2-way flow from Unito. Since Unito is a customizable platform with a no-code interface, you can set up this integration without any support from your technical teams. No need to troubleshoot complex automations or rely on expensive consultants, either. More of a visual learner? Check out this video tutorial for a similar integration. By the end of this guide your Asana-Zendesk integration will: Create new Asana tasks based on Zendesk tickets. Create new Zendesk tickets synced with Asana tasks. Update fields in real-time with a two-way sync when you work in either tool. In this article: Connect Asana and Zendesk to Unito Choose a flow direction for new tasks and tickets Set rules to sync specific Asana tasks and Zendesk tickets Map fields between Asana and Zendesk Launch your Asana-Zendesk integration Step 1. Connect Asana and Zendesk to Unito Sign up for Unito if you haven’t already! Navigate to the Unito app and click +Create Flow. Click Start Here to connect Asana and Zendesk. Click +Choose account for each tool and complete the authorization process. Click Confirm. Connecting tools to Unito for the first time? Here’s an in-depth guide. Step 2. Choose flow direction for tasks and tickets With flow direction, you choose where Unito automatically creates work items to match those you create manually. You have three options: 2-way: Both Asana tasks and Zendesk tickets are automatically created by your Unito flow to match items you create manually in each tool. 1-way from Asana to Zendesk: Zendesk tickets will be automatically created by Unito to match Asana tasks you create manually. Unito won’t create new Asana tasks. 1-way from Zendesk to Asana: Asana tasks will be automatically created by Unito to match Zendesk tickets you create manually. Unito won’t create new Zendesk tickets. Here’s a more detailed guide to how flow direction works. Step 3. Build rules to sync specific work items Unito rules can do two things: Filter out work items you don’t want to sync. For example, you could create a rule that only syncs Zendesk tickets opened after a certain date. Automate certain actions. For example, you could create a rule that automatically assigns a new Asana task to a certain person on your team. To start building your rule, click Add a new rule, then choose a trigger and action. You can learn more about setting rules here. Step 4. Map fields between Asana and Zendesk When you map fields, you pair fields in Asana with fields in Zendesk so data always goes right where it needs to be. Unito can usually map most fields automatically whether they’re exactly the same (Assignee→Assignee) or compatible (URL→Text). You can also choose to map fields manually to fully customize your flow. Here’s what you’ll see when Unito maps your fields automatically. You can add a field mapping by clicking +Add mapping then Select a field. When you choose the field you want to map in one tool, Unito will automatically recommend compatible fields in a dropdown under the other tool. Some fields have a cog icon, meaning they can be customized further once they’re mapped. For example, a Status field can be customized so its options match those in another field. Step 5. Launch your Asana-Zendesk integration That’s it! You’re ready to launch your flow. Unito will automatically keep Asana tasks and Zendesk tickets in sync. This will allow your teams to collaborate more effectively without copying and pasting data or jumping back and forth between tools. Ready to optimize your support workflow? Meet with our team to see what Unito can do for your workflows. Talk to sales What’s next? Need to integrate Asana or Zendesk with other tools in your stack? check out our other guides: Syncing Smartsheet with Asana Connecting Zendesk with Wrike Integrating Asana with Google Sheets Connecting Zendesk with Jira Syncing Asana with GitHub Integrating Zendesk with Azure DevOps View the full article

The other day, I was cleaning out my storage unit and I stumbled upon a pile of cassette tapes. All of them were my very first voice over demo that I produced way back in 1995. As I held one of them in my hand, I realized that this piece of plastic is a relic. It also dawned on me that this year marks my 30th anniversary as a freelance voice actor. Thirty years?! Wow. It feels like both a lifetime and the blink of an eye all at once. I’ve gone from booking studio time by the hour to editing mp3 auditions on my laptop from a hotel room closet. The technology has changed, trends have come and gone, but the core principles of building a lasting freelance voice over career? Timeless. I’m not gonna give you a step-by-step "how-to," I’m saving that for a workshop I’m teaching for the Freelancers Union on September 16, but share some hard-won wisdom that only time (and LOTS of failures) can teach. These are the five lessons as a freelance voice actor that stuck with me. 1. Technology Serves the Talent, Not the Other Way Around.I’ve seen people spend a fortune on the "perfect" microphone or the latest preamp, convinced it's the key to success. And while quality equipment is a necessity, it comes secondary to your talent. The gear doesn't interpret the script. The DAW doesn’t make a character believable or a narration compelling. You do. Your brain, your life experience, and your acting craft are the tools that matter most. The technology is just there to capture them. Never forget that clients hire you, not your microphone. 2. You Aren't Just a Voice Actor; You Are the CEO of You, Inc.For the first few years, I thought my job was to be a good voice actor. I was wrong. My job was to be a good business owner where the product/service is me, a voice actor. Your artistic skill is the product or service, but your business is what sells it. Over 30 years, I’ve seen incredibly talented people leave voice acting because they neglected the business side of the industry. Learning how to market consistently, how to negotiate fairly, how to manage your finances for the feast-and-famine cycles, and how to treat every client with impeccable professionalism—that is what builds an effective freelance career with decades of staying power. 3. The Long Game Beats the Short Game, Every Time.As a freelancer, you're constantly presented with choices. Do you take the low-paying but “easy” gig? Do you jump on a new, unproven trend? My experience has taught me this: develop meaningful relationships, and don’t chase gigs or fads. One client who trusts you, enjoys working with you, and comes back to you for years is worth more than a hundred one-off gigs. Your reputation for being reliable, professional, and a pleasure to work with is your single greatest marketing asset. Think of your freelancer career in terms of years and decades, not days and weeks. 4. Adapt or Become a Fossil.The voice I have today is not the voice I had at 25. The market today isn’t the market of 1995, either, or even 2015 for that matter. If I hadn't been willing to adapt, I would have become a relic just like that pile of cassette tapes. Adaptation is twofold. First, you must adapt to your own instrument as it matures. The youthful roles I once booked have been replaced by more authoritative, nuanced work that I now love. Second, you must adapt to the industry. The explosion of Explainer videos, digital audiobooks, and podcasts created new worlds of work that didn't exist early in my career. Be a lifelong learner. Train in new genres. Keep getting coached up. Stay curious. Relevance equals effectiveness. 5. It Was Never a Solo Act.The image of the freelancer as a lone wolf is a myth. And it’s a dangerous one. Every significant breakthrough, every tough period I survived, and every bit of crucial advice I received came from the voiceover community. The mentor who told me my rates were too low.The peer group that listened to my audition and gave me honest feedback.The friend who passed my name along for a job. FYI if I had a nickel for every time I booked a gig because a fellow voice actor, my so-called “competition”, recommended me, I’d be rich!You cannot do this alone. Invest time in building genuine relationships with your fellow freelancers. Celebrate their wins, support them in their struggles, and share what you know. Your community is your greatest asset. Thirty years has taught me that a career isn't a single destination. It's a journey of constant learning and small, consistent efforts that compound over time. View the full article

The other day, I was cleaning out my storage unit and I stumbled upon a pile of cassette tapes. All of them were my very first voice over demo that I produced way back in 1995. As I held one of them in my hand, I realized that this piece of plastic is a relic. It also dawned on me that this year marks my 30th anniversary as a freelance voice actor. Thirty years?! Wow. It feels like both a lifetime and the blink of an eye all at once. I’ve gone from booking studio time by the hour to editing mp3 auditions on my laptop from a hotel room closet. The technology has changed, trends have come and gone, but the core principles of building a lasting freelance voice over career? Timeless. I’m not gonna give you a step-by-step "how-to," I’m saving that for a workshop I’m teaching for the Freelancers Union on September 16, but share some hard-won wisdom that only time (and LOTS of failures) can teach. These are the five lessons as a freelance voice actor that stuck with me. 1. Technology Serves the Talent, Not the Other Way Around.I’ve seen people spend a fortune on the "perfect" microphone or the latest preamp, convinced it's the key to success. And while quality equipment is a necessity, it comes secondary to your talent. The gear doesn't interpret the script. The DAW doesn’t make a character believable or a narration compelling. You do. Your brain, your life experience, and your acting craft are the tools that matter most. The technology is just there to capture them. Never forget that clients hire you, not your microphone. 2. You Aren't Just a Voice Actor; You Are the CEO of You, Inc.For the first few years, I thought my job was to be a good voice actor. I was wrong. My job was to be a good business owner where the product/service is me, a voice actor. Your artistic skill is the product or service, but your business is what sells it. Over 30 years, I’ve seen incredibly talented people leave voice acting because they neglected the business side of the industry. Learning how to market consistently, how to negotiate fairly, how to manage your finances for the feast-and-famine cycles, and how to treat every client with impeccable professionalism—that is what builds an effective freelance career with decades of staying power. 3. The Long Game Beats the Short Game, Every Time.As a freelancer, you're constantly presented with choices. Do you take the low-paying but “easy” gig? Do you jump on a new, unproven trend? My experience has taught me this: develop meaningful relationships, and don’t chase gigs or fads. One client who trusts you, enjoys working with you, and comes back to you for years is worth more than a hundred one-off gigs. Your reputation for being reliable, professional, and a pleasure to work with is your single greatest marketing asset. Think of your freelancer career in terms of years and decades, not days and weeks. 4. Adapt or Become a Fossil.The voice I have today is not the voice I had at 25. The market today isn’t the market of 1995, either, or even 2015 for that matter. If I hadn't been willing to adapt, I would have become a relic just like that pile of cassette tapes. Adaptation is twofold. First, you must adapt to your own instrument as it matures. The youthful roles I once booked have been replaced by more authoritative, nuanced work that I now love. Second, you must adapt to the industry. The explosion of Explainer videos, digital audiobooks, and podcasts created new worlds of work that didn't exist early in my career. Be a lifelong learner. Train in new genres. Keep getting coached up. Stay curious. Relevance equals effectiveness. 5. It Was Never a Solo Act.The image of the freelancer as a lone wolf is a myth. And it’s a dangerous one. Every significant breakthrough, every tough period I survived, and every bit of crucial advice I received came from the voiceover community. The mentor who told me my rates were too low.The peer group that listened to my audition and gave me honest feedback.The friend who passed my name along for a job. FYI if I had a nickel for every time I booked a gig because a fellow voice actor, my so-called “competition”, recommended me, I’d be rich!You cannot do this alone. Invest time in building genuine relationships with your fellow freelancers. Celebrate their wins, support them in their struggles, and share what you know. Your community is your greatest asset. Thirty years has taught me that a career isn't a single destination. It's a journey of constant learning and small, consistent efforts that compound over time. View the full article

Ahrefs’ Community Manager, Michelle Lindner, shared Ryan Trahan’s “50 States Challenge” in our #Marketing Slack channel after watching it with her kids. She thought it showed some awesome examples of unconventional marketing—and we agreed. One brand stood out so strongly…Read more ›View the full article

Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe Most of our work calendars are chock full of appointments we can’t miss: Team meetings, project huddles, performance reviews – you name it. But have you ever made an appointment with yourself, and treated it with the same level of commitment? That’s the idea behind time-blocking, the practice of reserving time on your own calendar to knock out specific projects. This has two big benefits: First, it carves out space in your workday to accomplish important tasks that otherwise might get pushed to the sidelines. Second, it reduces the temptation to try to multi-task your way through a giant to-do list (spoiler alert: multi-tasking is impossible). “You’re trying to curb the effect of bouncing from thing to thing. You don’t want to be a ping-pong ball trying to get through your day,” says Krissy Metzler, an executive function coach. What is time-blocking? “Time blocking is appointments with yourself to do specific work,” says Alexis Haselberger, a time management and productivity coach. Think of it this way: In the same way you might have an hour-long time slot blocked for a Zoom meeting, you might reserve an hour on your calendar to prepare slides for an upcoming presentation. It’s about giving the tasks on your to-do list a specific time on your schedule where you will work on them (and nothing else). Time blocks can be one-off and project specific, but they can also be repeating elements on your calendar. For example, you might create a recurring daily block on your schedule from 9-9:30am to catch up on your email. The important thing to remember is that time-blocking only works if you treat these appointments seriously, allowing yourself the time to work on the task without being responsible to anything – or anyone – else. Why is time-blocking effective? Time-blocking works so well because it corrects for our tendency to get pulled in too many directions. “We are hard-wired as humans to get distracted,” Metzler says. We have a desire to take care of things as soon as they pop up, playing whack-a-mole with every task during our work day. Time-blocking helps you resist this temptation by giving everything its proper place. Metzler explains it this way: Imagine you’re in the middle of a time block working on a project for Client A, when someone pops by your desk to talk about Client B. You know you have a separate time block later in your day for Client B, so you can confidently say, “I hear you, I have time later to think about Client B,” which gives you permission to continue focusing on Client A without context-switching. Time-blocking also has another benefit: It forces you to be more realistic with your to-do list, Haselberger says. That’s because time-blocking acts as a visual representation of how long tasks will take to complete, and might help you realize you’ve taken on too much. Over time, this awareness can prevent you from over-committing at work: Once your calendar is full, you know you don’t realistically have time to take on more tasks. Two ways to incorporate time-blocking into your day Depending on your needs and preferences, there are two ways you can incorporate time-blocking into your work life. Put it right on your work calendar This is the most direct way of time-blocking. When you need an hour to complete a project, add that as an event to the same work calendar that houses your other meetings. Your coworkers won’t be able to schedule over your time blocks, and you’ll show as “busy” during that time. The benefit of this approach is that it truly protects your time blocks from being scheduled over, Haselberger says. The downside is that your coworkers might get frustrated if your calendar suddenly has a lot less availability for meetings. Create a secondary time-blocking calendar If you’re not feeling bold enough to make hard boundaries on your work calendar, you can create a secondary calendar that only you have access to. This “overlay,” as Haselberger describes it, would allow you to see your own time blocks, but wouldn’t show up on your official work calendar. The benefit here is that it allows flexibility if someone does need to schedule a meeting with you. But that’s also the downside: Nothing is stopping your coworkers from booking over all your time blocks. How to come up with time estimates No matter the method you choose, any time-blocking system relies on accurate estimates of how long a task will take to complete. Creating these estimates is a skill in itself, Metzler says. It’s normal in the beginning for your estimates to be off, and it’s common for people to take longer than they expect to complete a task. Metzler suggests asking yourself these questions to create more accurate estimates: Do I have all the information I need to start this task? (If not, you need time to gather the information) Am I in a good headspace? (If you’re working with low energy, for example, this will impact your efficiency) Do I have a clear vision of what needs to be done? (Or, put another way, is your team aligned on their goals?) Then, after you complete a task, it’s essential to reflect on how long it actually took. Did it take more or less time than you expected, and why? Digging into the “why” is really important for understanding how to create more accurate time estimates in the future, Metzler says. Once you get the hang of this, you can make your life easier by creating a “cheat sheet” for how long it takes you to complete common or repeating tasks. “Don’t store things in your brain rent-free,” Metzler says. You might also find that you have a consistent “off-ratio” for time blocks, Haselberger says. For example, if tasks almost always take you 1.5x as long as you expect, you can add that 1.5x multiplier to your time estimates going forward. Common time-blocking mistakes to avoid Creating time blocks that are too vague: Time-blocking is most effective when we get specific about the tasks for each block, Haselberger. Don’t just set aside an hour for “deep work,” but rather name the specific task or project you want to work on during that time. Overscheduling your day: You might be really excited to try time-blocking, but don’t overdo it. If you overschedule yourself by time-blocking every moment of your day with no buffers, it can actually become a barrier to productivity, according to Metzler. “That’s too much pressure on ourselves, and it’s not conducive to remaining flexible,” she says. Instead, she advises starting with three time blocks and getting used to those for a few weeks before you add more to your daily schedule. Neglecting the necessities: Don’t forget to make time for things like checking email or taking lunch breaks. Those deserve a time block in your schedule, too, Metzler says. Because if you don’t reserve time to do those things, they can easily fall by the wayside. (Skipping lunch doesn’t help your efficiency or productivity, Metzler notes). Getting pulled out of your time blocks for something urgent: This is a common pitfall, Metzler says, and calls for some reflection. She says that often we see things as “urgent” when they actually aren’t. They might be important, but could potentially wait until after your time block. When you get pulled away like this, think about whether you can handle it differently the next time something “urgent” comes up. Not having any time to time-block in the first place: You might look at your calendar, chock full of meetings, and conclude there’s no open time to start time-blocking for other tasks. If this is the case, Haselberger suggests doing a “meeting audit” to try to free up some space in your calendar. Deleting (or not honoring) your time blocks: As much as you tell yourself a time block is an appointment with yourself, you might still feel tempted to ignore it on a busy day. This is where Haselberger has a rule for herself: She’s never allowed to delete a time block, she can only move it. So instead of blowing past it, she’ll reschedule it and find a time to get that work done. Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe The post How to use time-blocking to get more work done appeared first on Work Life by Atlassian. View the full article

Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe Most of our work calendars are chock full of appointments we can’t miss: Team meetings, project huddles, performance reviews – you name it. But have you ever made an appointment with yourself, and treated it with the same level of commitment? That’s the idea behind time-blocking, the practice of reserving time on your own calendar to knock out specific projects. This has two big benefits: First, it carves out space in your workday to accomplish important tasks that otherwise might get pushed to the sidelines. Second, it reduces the temptation to try to multi-task your way through a giant to-do list (spoiler alert: multi-tasking is impossible). “You’re trying to curb the effect of bouncing from thing to thing. You don’t want to be a ping-pong ball trying to get through your day,” says Krissy Metzler, an executive function coach. What is time-blocking? “Time blocking is appointments with yourself to do specific work,” says Alexis Haselberger, a time management and productivity coach. Think of it this way: In the same way you might have an hour-long time slot blocked for a Zoom meeting, you might reserve an hour on your calendar to prepare slides for an upcoming presentation. It’s about giving the tasks on your to-do list a specific time on your schedule where you will work on them (and nothing else). Time blocks can be one-off and project specific, but they can also be repeating elements on your calendar. For example, you might create a recurring daily block on your schedule from 9-9:30am to catch up on your email. The important thing to remember is that time-blocking only works if you treat these appointments seriously, allowing yourself the time to work on the task without being responsible to anything – or anyone – else. Why is time-blocking effective? Time-blocking works so well because it corrects for our tendency to get pulled in too many directions. “We are hard-wired as humans to get distracted,” Metzler says. We have a desire to take care of things as soon as they pop up, playing whack-a-mole with every task during our work day. Time-blocking helps you resist this temptation by giving everything its proper place. Metzler explains it this way: Imagine you’re in the middle of a time block working on a project for Client A, when someone pops by your desk to talk about Client B. You know you have a separate time block later in your day for Client B, so you can confidently say, “I hear you, I have time later to think about Client B,” which gives you permission to continue focusing on Client A without context-switching. Time-blocking also has another benefit: It forces you to be more realistic with your to-do list, Haselberger says. That’s because time-blocking acts as a visual representation of how long tasks will take to complete, and might help you realize you’ve taken on too much. Over time, this awareness can prevent you from over-committing at work: Once your calendar is full, you know you don’t realistically have time to take on more tasks. Two ways to incorporate time-blocking into your day Depending on your needs and preferences, there are two ways you can incorporate time-blocking into your work life. Put it right on your work calendar This is the most direct way of time-blocking. When you need an hour to complete a project, add that as an event to the same work calendar that houses your other meetings. Your coworkers won’t be able to schedule over your time blocks, and you’ll show as “busy” during that time. The benefit of this approach is that it truly protects your time blocks from being scheduled over, Haselberger says. The downside is that your coworkers might get frustrated if your calendar suddenly has a lot less availability for meetings. Create a secondary time-blocking calendar If you’re not feeling bold enough to make hard boundaries on your work calendar, you can create a secondary calendar that only you have access to. This “overlay,” as Haselberger describes it, would allow you to see your own time blocks, but wouldn’t show up on your official work calendar. The benefit here is that it allows flexibility if someone does need to schedule a meeting with you. But that’s also the downside: Nothing is stopping your coworkers from booking over all your time blocks. How to come up with time estimates No matter the method you choose, any time-blocking system relies on accurate estimates of how long a task will take to complete. Creating these estimates is a skill in itself, Metzler says. It’s normal in the beginning for your estimates to be off, and it’s common for people to take longer than they expect to complete a task. Metzler suggests asking yourself these questions to create more accurate estimates: Do I have all the information I need to start this task? (If not, you need time to gather the information) Am I in a good headspace? (If you’re working with low energy, for example, this will impact your efficiency) Do I have a clear vision of what needs to be done? (Or, put another way, is your team aligned on their goals?) Then, after you complete a task, it’s essential to reflect on how long it actually took. Did it take more or less time than you expected, and why? Digging into the “why” is really important for understanding how to create more accurate time estimates in the future, Metzler says. Once you get the hang of this, you can make your life easier by creating a “cheat sheet” for how long it takes you to complete common or repeating tasks. “Don’t store things in your brain rent-free,” Metzler says. You might also find that you have a consistent “off-ratio” for time blocks, Haselberger says. For example, if tasks almost always take you 1.5x as long as you expect, you can add that 1.5x multiplier to your time estimates going forward. Common time-blocking mistakes to avoid Creating time blocks that are too vague: Time-blocking is most effective when we get specific about the tasks for each block, Haselberger. Don’t just set aside an hour for “deep work,” but rather name the specific task or project you want to work on during that time. Overscheduling your day: You might be really excited to try time-blocking, but don’t overdo it. If you overschedule yourself by time-blocking every moment of your day with no buffers, it can actually become a barrier to productivity, according to Metzler. “That’s too much pressure on ourselves, and it’s not conducive to remaining flexible,” she says. Instead, she advises starting with three time blocks and getting used to those for a few weeks before you add more to your daily schedule. Neglecting the necessities: Don’t forget to make time for things like checking email or taking lunch breaks. Those deserve a time block in your schedule, too, Metzler says. Because if you don’t reserve time to do those things, they can easily fall by the wayside. (Skipping lunch doesn’t help your efficiency or productivity, Metzler notes). Getting pulled out of your time blocks for something urgent: This is a common pitfall, Metzler says, and calls for some reflection. She says that often we see things as “urgent” when they actually aren’t. They might be important, but could potentially wait until after your time block. When you get pulled away like this, think about whether you can handle it differently the next time something “urgent” comes up. Not having any time to time-block in the first place: You might look at your calendar, chock full of meetings, and conclude there’s no open time to start time-blocking for other tasks. If this is the case, Haselberger suggests doing a “meeting audit” to try to free up some space in your calendar. Deleting (or not honoring) your time blocks: As much as you tell yourself a time block is an appointment with yourself, you might still feel tempted to ignore it on a busy day. This is where Haselberger has a rule for herself: She’s never allowed to delete a time block, she can only move it. So instead of blowing past it, she’ll reschedule it and find a time to get that work done. 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In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to set up an integration that syncs Smartsheet rows with monday.com tasks through an automated 2-way flow from Unito. Since Unito is a customizable platform with a no-code interface, you can set up this integration without any support from your technical teams. No need to troubleshoot complex automations or rely on expensive consultants, either. More of a visual learner? Check out this video demo for a similar integration. By the end of this guide, your Smartsheet-monday.com integration will: Create new Smartsheet rows based on monday.com tasks. Create new monday.com tasks synced with Smartsheet rows. Update fields in real-time with a two-way sync when you work in either tool. In this article: Before you start Connect Smartsheet and monday.com to Unito Choose a flow direction for new work items Set rules to sync specific Smartsheet rows and monday.com tasks Map fields between Smartsheet and monday.com Launch your Smartsheet-monday.com integration Before you start Before you build your first Unito flow, you’ll need to add the Unito app for monday.com to your project: Log in to your monday.com account. Click Board Power-Ups, then Apps Marketplace. Type Unito in the search field. Click on the Unito app, then Add to your account. Now hit Install, verify your workspace and board, and click Add Feature. Click Authorize monday.com, then Authorize. This will first authorize monday.com in Unito, then authorize Unito in monday.com. Click Got it. Need more help? Check out this full guide to adding Unito to your monday.com projects. Step 1: Connect Smartsheet and monday.com to Unito When building a Unito flow that includes monday.com, you can either create your flow directly from the monday.com workspace you want to sync or in Unito’s standalone app. Here, we’ll assume you’re using the standalone app. Click +Create Flow. Click +Start Here to connect Smartsheet and monday.com. Click +Choose account for each toola nd complete the authorization process. Click Confirm. Connecting tools to Unito for the first time? Here’s an in-depth guide. Step 2: Choose flow direction for rows and tasks With flow direction, you decide whether Unito automatically creates work items to match those you create manually. You have three options: 2-way: Both Smartsheet rows and monday.com tasks are automatically created by your Unito flow to match items you create manually in each tool. 1-way from Smartsheet to monday.com: Unito will create monday.com tasks automatically to match Smartsheet rows you create manually. Unito won’t create new Smartsheet rows. 1-way from monday.com to Smartsheet: Unito will create Smartsheet rows automatically to match monday.com tasks you create manually. Unito won’t create new monday.com tasks. Want to know more about flow direction? Check out this guide. Step 3: Build rules to sync specific work items Unito rules can do two things: Filter out work items you don’t want synced. For example, you could create a rule that only syncs monday.com tasks created after a certain date. Automate certain actions. For example, you could create a rule that automatically assigns new Smartsheet rows to a certain person on your team. To start building your rule, click Add new rule, then choose a trigger and action. Want to learn more about rules? Check out this guide. Step 4: Map fields between Smartsheet and monday.com When you map fields, you pair fields in Smartsheet with fields in monday.com so data goes exactly where it needs to. Unito can usually map most fields automatically, whether they’re exactly the same (Assignee→Assignee) or just compatible (URL→TexT). You can also choose to map fields manually to fully customize your flow. Here’s what you’ll see when Unito maps your fields automatically. You can add a field mapping by clicking +Add mapping, then Select a field. When you choose the field you want to map in one tool, Unito automatically recommends compatible fields in a dropdown under the other tool. Some fields have a cog icon. They can be customized once they’re mapped. For example, a Status field can be customized so its options match those in another field. Step 5: Launch your Smartsheet-monday.com integration That’s it! You’re ready to launch your flow. Unito will automatically keep Smartsheet rows and monday.com tasks in sync. This will allow your teams to collaborate more effectively without copying and pasting data or constantly switching tools. Ready to optimize your workflow? Meet with our team to see what Unito can do for your workflows. Talk to sales What’s next? Need to integrate Smartsheet or monday.com with other tools in your stack? Check out our other guides: Syncing Smartsheet with Asana Connecting monday.com with Excel Integrating Smartsheet with ServiceNow Integrating monday.com with GitHub Connecting Smartsheet with Azure DevOps Syncing monday.com with ServiceNow View the full article

Table of contents How to make your content visible in the age of AI search What are LLMs and why should you care? The new way of searching SEO vs. GEO vs. AEO vs. LLMO: Are we just rebranding SEO? Key LLM SEO optimization techniques The bar has been raised on the quality of content Use structure, chunked formatting Be factual, transparent, and authoritative Optimize for summarization Use schema Bonus strategies for LLM optimization Use explicit context and clear language Leverage FAQs and Conversational Formats Enhance trust with freshness signals Prioritize author visibility and credibility Use internal linking strategically The role of llms.txt: Giving AI search all the right signals LLM optimization vs. traditional SEO Common mistakes to avoid Tools and resources to get started Conclusion How to make your content visible in the age of AI search So, what exactly is LLM Optimization? Well, the answer to that question depends on who you ask. For example, if you ask a machine learning engineer, they’ll tell you it’s all about tweaking prompts and token limits to get better performance from a large language model. In fact, Iguazio actually defines LLM optimization as improving the way models respond, which means smarter, faster, and with more contextual recognition. If, on the other hand, you are a content strategist or SEO enthusiast, LLM optimization will mean something completely different to you and that is making sure that your content shows up in AI-generated search results. And, that needs to be true no matter whether you’re talking to ChatGPT, searching with Perplexity, or scanning Google’s new AI Mode for answers. Some call this ChatGPT SEO or Generative Engine Optimization. So, if you fall into the latter of those two groups, ie: the people who want their content and product pages to be seen and clicked, then this article is for you. And, if you’d like to read on, we’ll show you why LLM optimization in an AI-search landscape isn’t some sort of luxury option; it’s an absolute necessity. What are LLMs and why should you care? AI engineers train Large Language models on huge amounts of text and data to generate answers, summaries, code, and human-like language. They’ve read everything (not just the Classics) and that includes blogs, news articles and your website. The reason that’s important is that LLMs don’t crawl your website in real time like Search Engines do. What they do is read it, learn from it and when someone asks them a question, they try to recall what they saw and rephrase it into an answer. If your site shows up as the answer, “Great” but if not, you’ve got a visibility problem. The new way of searching Search is not just about Google anymore. Also, it’s not as if just one other thing has come to dominate which means we’re left with a rather messy mix of Perplexity answers, Chat GPT chats, Gemini summaries and voice assistants reading out answers while we try to do two tasks at once. In short, people aren’t just searching, they’re conversing and if your content can’t hold its own in this environment then you’re missing out on visibility, traffic, and the ability to build trust. We’ll walk you through exactly how to fix that. Read more: How to optimize content for AI LLM comprehension using Yoast’s tools SEO vs. GEO vs. AEO vs. LLMO: Are we just rebranding SEO? If you’ve been wondering whether you now need four different strategies for SEO (Search Engine Optimization), GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization), relax, it’s not as big a deal as you might think. You see, despite all the buzzwords, the core of optimization hasn’t changed much. All four terms point to the same central goal: making your content more findable, quotable, and credible in machine-generated output regardless of whether that comes from Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, or an answer box on Bing. So, should you overhaul your entire content strategy to ‘do LLMO’? Not really. At least, not yet. Most of what boosts your presence in LLMs is already what SEO professionals have been doing for years. Structured content, semantic clarity, topical authority, entity association, clean internal linking, it’s all classic SEO. Where they slightly diverge: SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Relies on backlinks and site architecture to establish authority GEO (Generative Engine Optimization Puts extra emphasis on unlinked brand mentions and semantic association AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) Focuses on being the single best, most concise, and sourceable response to a specific query LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization) Leans into optimizing content not just for people or search crawlers but for LLMs reading in chunks, skipping JavaScript, and relying on embeddings and grounding datasets But the thing is: you don’t need four different playbooks. All you need is one solid SEO foundation. In fact, this point is backed up by Google’s Gary Illyes who confirmed that AI Search does not require specialized optimization, saying that “AI SEO” is not necessary and that standard SEO is all that is needed for both AI Overviews and AI Mode. Focus more on entity mentions, not just links Treat your core site pages (home, pricing, about) and PDFs as important LLM fuel Remember that AI crawlers don’t render JavaScript, so client-side content might be invisible Think about how LLMs process structure (chunking, context, citations), not just how humans skim it So, if you’ve already been investing in foundational SEO, you’re already doing most of what GEO, AEO, and LLMO ae all about. That’s why not every new acronym needs you to have a whole rethink on your efforts. Sometimes, it’s just like SEO. Key LLM SEO optimization techniques Now that we know LLMs aren’t crawling our site but are understanding it, we need to think a little differently about how we create and construct content and for more on this, you may find this article extremely insightful. This is not about cramming in keywords or trying to play the algorithm, it’s about clarity, structure and credibility because these are the things LLMs care about when deciding what to quote, summarize or ignore. Below are some techniques that will help your content stay visible now that people are using generative search. The bar has been raised on the quality of content LLMs love clarity. The more natural and specific your language is, the easier it is for them to understand and reuse your content. That means not using jargon, avoiding ambiguity and instead, focusing on writing like you’re explaining something to a colleague. To give an exact example: Don’t say: “Our innovative tool revolutionizes the digital landscape for modern businesses.” Instead say: “The Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress helps businesses to improve their website’s visibility and appear in search results.” Use Structure, Chunked Formatting Chunked formatting means breaking your content into small pieces (chunks) of information that are easy to understand and remember. LLMs tend to prioritize the most easily digestible content construction, which means your headings, bullet points, and clearly defined sections must do a lot of heavy lifting. Not only does organizing your content like this help people to skim read, but it also helps machines understand what each section is about. Structuring your content like this will help: Write clear, descriptive H2s and 3s Use bullet points that can provide standalone value Include summaries and tables to give quick overviews Be factual, transparent, and authoritative Just like Google, LLMs need to trust that your content is reliable before they start taking you seriously. This means you need to show your working out, quote sources, reveal authors, and follow the principles of E-E-A-T. Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust. Follow these E-E-A-T principles To do this: Include an author bio and credentials if possible (include a link to actual author bios and social profiles) Name your sources when you use claims or statistics Share real experiences if possible “As a small business owner…” The more real, relatable and trustworthy your content looks, the more AI will like it. Optimize for summarization LLMs won’t quote your entire blog post; they’ll only use snippets. Your job is to make those snippets irresistible. Start with strong lead sentences so that each paragraph begins with a clear point followed by context. Also, it’s a good idea to front-load your content. Don’t save your best bits for the end. As a reminder: Start each section with what you want the key takeaway to be Keep paragraphs short and self-contained Create standalone summary paragraphs as these often get quoted in AI generated answers Use schema Behind every great summary is a structured content model. That’s where Schema markup comes in and to help the AI understand your content, you need to speak in a certain way. Read more about schema markup To make things clear, use: Article for blog content FAQPage for questions and answers HowTo for instructions Author and Person for writer’s bio WebPage for generic content Bonus strategies for LLM optimization Once you’ve got the basics completed, like clear writing, structure and trust signals, there’s still more you can do to give your content the best shot at visibility. These bonus strategies focus on how to make your site even more AI-friendly by anticipating how LLMs interpret and reuse information. Use Explicit Context and Clear language Humans have an incredible ability to be able to “fill in the blanks” and still “get the message” even if the information they got was vague or unclear. One of the biggest differences between humans and LLMs? Humans can infer meaning from vague references. LLMs on the other hand… well, let’s just say that it doesn’t come naturally to them. In any case, the point is that if your article mentions “this tool” or “our product” without any context, an LLM might miss the connection entirely. The result? You’re left out of the answer, even if you’re the best source. So, to give your content the clarity it deserves: Use the full product or brand name, like “Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress,” not just “Yoast” Define technical or niche terms before using them Avoid vague language (“this page,” “the above section,” “click here”) You don’t need to be repetitive, but you do need to be explicit rather than implicit. Leverage FAQs and conversational formats LLMs love FAQs because they’re direct, predictable, and easy to quote. They closely match real user intent and provide high-value snippets that tools like Perplexity and Gemini can pull from without much guesswork. Read more about How to use the FAQ block in WordPress That said, there’s an important limitation to keep in mind if you’re using the Yoast SEO FAQ block in Gutenberg: You cannot use H2 or H3 heading tags inside the FAQ block. The block creates its own question-answer formatting using custom HTML, which is great for structured data (FAQ Page schema), but it doesn’t support native heading tags which limits your ability to optimize AI readability and skimmability. So, if your goal is to appear in AI-generated summaries or answer boxes, where headings like “What is LLM SEO?” make it easy for AI to quote your content, you might be better off using manual formatting. Here’s how to get the best of both worlds: Step 1: Use H2 or H3 tags for each question (e.g., “What is llms.txt?”) and write a clear, short answer beneath it. This improves LLM visibility but doesn’t generate structured FAQ schema Step 2: Use the Yoast FAQ block for schema support but know that it won’t give you a proper heading structure Ultimately, the more your FAQs resemble natural, searchable questions, and are structured in a way that both humans and AI can easily parse, the more likely they are to be featured in answers. Enhance trust with freshness signals Just like search engines, some LLMs give preference to newer content, but remember that we need to talk to them in a certain way to get the best out of them. Older content can be overlooked. Worse, it can be quoted incorrectly if something has changed since you last hit publish. Make sure your pages include: A clear “last updated” timestamp (can we get a picture of what one would look like for clarification?) Regular reviews for accuracy Changelogs or update notes if applicable (especially for software or plugin content) It doesn’t have to be complicated, even a simple “Last updated: June 2025” can help both readers and AI systems trust that your content is current. Read more about How to keep content fresh Prioritize author visibility and credibility Today, we’re entering a phase where who wrote your content is just as important as what it says. That means you need to highlight author visibility and put effort into signaling real-world experience. Here’s how: Include author bios in WordPress with credentials and links to their professional profiles Use Person schema to formally associate the content with a specific individual Weave in relevant experience (“As an SEO consultant who works with SaaS brands…”) Remember, LLMs are more likely to trust, quote, and amplify expert-authored content. Use internal linking strategically Think of internal linking as your site’s nervous system. It helps both humans and LLMs understand what’s important, how topics relate, and where to go next. But internal linking isn’t just about SEO hygiene anymore, it’s also a way to establish topic authority and help LLMs build a map of your expertise. Do: Cluster related articles together (e.g., link from “LLM Optimization” to “Schema Markup for SEO”) Use descriptive anchor text like “read our full guide to Schema markup,” not just “click here” Ensure every piece of content supports a broader narrative Our internal linking feature is available for free with a Yoast SEO Premium plugin. The role of llms.txt. Giving AI search all the right signals Now let’s talk about one of the most recent developments in LLM visibility; a little file called llms.txt. Think of it as a sibling to robots.txt, but instead of guiding search engines, it tells AI tools how they’re allowed to interact with your content. Note: llms.txt is still an evolving standard, and support across AI tools may vary, but it’s a smart step toward asserting control. With llms.txt, you can: Define how your content may be reused or summarized Set clear expectations around attribution, licensing It’s not just about protection, it’s about being proactive as AI usage accelerates. Even better: Yoast now offers the llms.txt feature right inside the plugin, so you don’t need to mess around with code or server settings. If you want to future-proof your site’s visibility (and your IP), this is where you start. Read more The llms.txt feature is available for both free and premium customers. LLM optimization vs traditional SEO: LLM Optimization and SEO are part of the same family, but they serve different functions and require slightly different thinking. Let’s compare: Traditional SEO LLM optimization Crawled and ranked by bots Read, remembered, and reused by AIs Emphasizes keywords Emphasizes context and clarity Optimizes for SERPs Optimizes for AI-generated summaries and answers The takeaway? You can’t ignore either. One brings traffic; the other boosts brand visibility within AI responses. And considering that 42% of users now start their research with an LLM (not Google), you’ll want to be found in both places. Common mistakes to avoid Even well-meaning content creators fall into holes. So, take a look at the tips below to avoid any mishaps that could damage your LLM visibility: Writing like a robot or allowing a robot to write for you (ironically, not appreciated by robots) Leaving your content undated and unchanged for years Publishing posts without any author information or editorial standards Ignoring internal links or leaving orphaned pages Using vague headings or anchor text like “read more” or “this article” If your content looks generic, outdated, or anonymous, it won’t earn any trust. And, without trust, it won’t get quoted. Tools and resources to get started Yoast SEO plugin – for structured content, schema, and SEO basics llms.txt feature – for controlling how AI uses your content Schema support – for adding machine-readable clarity LLM optimization guide – for the essentials Search used to be about visibility within SERPs. But now, it’s also about being seen in summaries, answers, snippets, and chats. LLMs aren’t just shaping the future of search; they’re shaping how your brand is perceived to both humans and robots alike. To stand out: Write with clarity and context Structure for humans and machines Cite your expertise and show your authors Use tools like Yoast and llms.txt to signal your intent Future-proof your visibility with Yoast SEO. From the llms.txt feature to schema support, Yoast gives you all the tools you need to speak AI’s language and dominate both generative answers and search engines. Get started with Yoast SEO Premium now and make it easy for AI to say something accurate, useful, and… ideally, about you. The post LLM SEO optimization techniques (including llms.txt) appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

Table of contents Why is driving traffic to your website important? Top 5 practical tips to boost website traffic Understand your target audience Focus on SEO basics Create quality content that provides value Leverage social media to share and increase the reach Keep your site fast & mobile-friendly Bonus tips for boosting traffic Build an email list Off-page SEO for link building Join online communities and forums Local SEO Ready to drive traffic to your website? Excited to launch your website, but how to drive traffic to your website? A beautifully designed site without visitors is like a shop with no customers; that’s why traffic matters. Wondering how to get visitors to your site? You’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll walk you through simple yet practical tips on how to drive traffic to a website and attract your first visitors, and even better, keep them coming back. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear roadmap for improving your website’s visibility. Why is driving traffic to your website important? Well, you want people to discover your website and not just keep it to yourself within the design drafts; therefore, driving traffic is important. Website traffic is the number of website visitors over a set time. It’s not just a vanity metric: it represents potential customers, greater visibility, and stronger brand awareness. If you’re just getting started, boosting your search visibility can feel overwhelming. However, by following these simple and practical tips, you’ll start to see your traffic grow exponentially. Top 5 practical tips to boost website traffic Here are the top 5 tips that will help you drive traffic to your website: Understand your target audience Before you dive into posting content on your website’s landing pages, it’s crucial to take a step back and ask yourself: Who am I trying to reach? Defining your target audience is the very first step if you’re serious about learning how to drive traffic to your website. Creating content that resonates and drives engagement becomes much easier when you know your audience — their interests, challenges, and goals. Without audience clarity, even your best-written content might be a mismatch, targeting everyone but reaching no one. Google Analytics is one of the best ways to perform audience research. It provides powerful insights into key metrics like: What time of day does your audience visit your website Which age groups are engaging with your content Where your visitors are located And much more! Feeling lost when looking at analytics data? Don’t worry! You can check out this guide on Google segments to help bring clarity to your dashboard. Focus on SEO basics Getting the SEO basics right is the easiest way to boost organic traffic to your website. It also makes it easier for search engines to understand the content on your website and index pages to make them accessible to searchers. Here are some beginner-friendly SEO techniques for website traffic: Add keywords naturally Keywords play an essential role in boosting the searchability of your website. Think of keywords as phrases used by search engines like Google to match your content with what people are searching for. Do keyword research so your content matches what people are searching for. Once you’ve identified the relevant search phrases, sprinkle them contextually in important spots like headings, content, and alt texts. Here’s a video for you: Write clear and structured headings It’s not just about writing content to incorporate keywords; presentation matters too if you want the readers to stay on your website. Therefore, it’s important to write content that is pleasant to the eyes and readable. Organize your content with <h1>, <h2>, and <h3> tags. Clear headings make your blog posts and landing pages easy to scan, improve readability, and help improve visibility on Google. Add meta descriptions Meta descriptions appear under your page title in search results. Although they don’t directly boost rankings, they encourage clicks, helping increase website visitors. Make them short, relevant, and inviting. Use descriptive alt text for images Alt text helps search engines “read” your images and makes your website more accessible. In fact, according to EU stats, a large portion of users with disabilities depend on well-structured web content to browse effectively. Invest in seo tools to make it easier Managing all these tasks can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why using beginner-friendly SEO tools can make a big difference. For example, the Yoast SEO plugin offers real-time suggestions for keyword usage, readability improvements, meta descriptions, and technical SEO essentials like XML sitemaps: all inside your WordPress dashboard. Some features, such as advanced keyword optimization and certain integrations, are available in Yoast SEO Premium. Plus, with Yoast’s Keyword data via Semrush feature, you can access high-performing keywords with just a few clicks, and that too without even leaving your editor. Also, with Yoast’s newly launched Site Kit by Google insights integration, you can take your SEO management to the next level. Instead of switching between different tools to check your site’s analytics and search data, you’ll see key insights, like organic traffic, impressions, clicks, and bounce rates – directly in your Yoast Dashboard. A smarter analysis in Yoast SEO PremiumYoast SEO Premium has a smart content analysis that helps you take your content to the next level! Get Yoast SEO Premium »Only $118.80 / year (ex VAT) Optimize for AI and LLMs AI-driven search is transforming how people discover information. Search results are no longer just a list of blue links: they’re increasingly delivered as direct, conversational answers through platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. If your brand isn’t showing up in the answers your customers see, you’re missing a significant visibility opportunity. Studies show consumers rely on AI-generated responses for nearly 40% of their searches. To improve your chances of being featured in AI-generated answers, start with the basics: use relevant keywords, write clear and concise copy for your webpages, maintain a well-structured hierarchy with proper headings, and craft descriptive meta titles and descriptions. Here’s the good news: Yoast has the tools to help you optimize your content for AI and LLM comprehension. The newly launched llms.txt feature guides LLM models like ChatGPT to better understand your business. With just one click, Yoast SEO generates an llms.txt file that enables AI bots to scan specific parts of your website in real-time, ensuring they accurately present your brand when answering user queries. Create quality content that provides value Content is king, but only if it’s high quality. Once you have identified your target audience and completed your keyword research, it’s time to start publishing content on your website. Remember, you’re not just publishing keywords: you’re creating content that solves problems and answers real questions. Valuable content builds trust, boosts engagement, and naturally increases website visitors. Need help checking your content’s quality? Try Yoast’s Real-time Content Analysis editor by Yoast SEO to assess readability and SEO performance as you type, on the go! Leverage social media to share and increase the reach 63.9% of the world’s population uses social media, which is a huge number waiting to be tapped. Social media platforms are powerful and free tools that help you drive traffic to your website. Posting regularly on your social media helps boost brand exposure and serves as a traffic channel for your website. But here’s the key: don’t just drop links and disappear. Add a personal touch: explain why your post is valuable, start a conversation, or ask a question. You can even repurpose your blog posts into bite-sized social media content to reach more people and channel your followers back to your website. With its social previews feature, the Yoast SEO plugin takes your social sharing game up a notch. Instead of guessing how your post will look when shared, you can see an exact visual preview for Facebook and Twitter right inside your editor. This means you can fine-tune your title, description, and image before hitting publish, ensuring your post looks click-worthy and on-brand wherever it’s shared. Keep your site fast & mobile-friendly Website speed and mobile-friendliness are crucial factors in attracting traffic and retaining it. If your website is slow or hard to use on mobile, visitors will leave before reading a word.. Do you know there are over 6.8 billion people who own a smartphone? Page speed impacts user experience and SEO, and search engines like Google prioritize fast-loading websites. If your website is slow, it may experience higher bounce rates, because users want instant access to information. To improve your website’s performance, check your site speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Then, consider practices like optimizing your images, using lazy loading, and reducing JavaScript to improve site speed. Mobile optimization takeaways: Responsive design ensures your site adapts to any screen size Check out our guide on improving your mobile site Also read: Improving site speed: tools and suggestions Bonus tips for boosting traffic The five core strategies above will set you on the right path, but why stop there? If you’re ready to go the extra mile in learning how to drive traffic to your website, try these bonus tactics: Build an email list Offering a valuable freebie (ebook, checklist, or discount) in exchange for emails remains one of the best strategies to drive traffic to a website. Once subscribers opt in, send them helpful newsletters that solve real problems rather than just promotions. Over time, this nurtures trust and encourages repeat visits. Off-page SEO for link building Off-page SEO is earning links from other reputable sites. It signals authority to Google and helps you grow your search visibility. Guest posting on industry blogs, forming partnerships for co-authored articles, and outreach for natural backlinks are proven ways to drive quality traffic to your website. Also Read: SEO Basics: What is link building? Join online communities and forums Active participation in Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, Reddit threads, and Quora spaces related to your niche gives you direct access to potential visitors. First, add genuine value, answer questions, share insights, and then naturally reference your blog posts when relevant. This free method to grow website traffic fosters credibility while driving organic clicks. Local SEO If you own a business with a physical address, local SEO is your savior. Local SEO refers to the practice of optimizing your website to attract people searching the “nearby…” keyphrases. It is a technique that helps you get searchable both online and offline. Here are some basic local SEO practices that you can follow: Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile: Include location-specific keywords, such as “family dentist chicago,” in your page titles, headings, and meta descriptions Earn citations in local directories such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, etc Encourage customer reviews If you’re subscribed to either Yoast SEO Premium or the Yoast WooCommerce SEO plugin, you’ll also get access to the built-in Yoast Local SEO feature. This powerful feature helps boost your local visibility, making it easier for nearby customers to find you in local search results. Ready to drive traffic to your website? Driving traffic to your website is not about quick wins: it’s a marathon. With consistent efforts and offering value to your audience, you will see long-term benefits, and your website will top the SERPs. Keep refining your on-page SEO and publishing content that truly resonates with your audience. By applying the tips mentioned in this guide, your website’s visibility will gradually boost. For continued learning and more in-depth insights on SEO, Yoast Academy is your go-to resource for mastering the art of improving your online presence. From SEO training for beginners to performing robust keyword research, Yoast Academy offers all-around SEO training. The post How to drive traffic to my website appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

We just introduced two new updates to Yoast SEO Premium that focus on clarity and speed. Yoast SEO Redirect Manager just got a cleaner, more user-friendly workspace. After heavy testing, Yoast AI Optimize is now available for the Classic Editor. It helps you optimize your copy for readability and SEO without disrupting your workflow or website performance. Redirects, made simpler The Redirect Manager helps you prevent errors like 404s and 410s by automatically prompting you to create redirects when you move or delete content. The core functionality remains the same. The new design makes redirect management easier and clearer. Here’s a quick reminder of what the Redirect Manager helps you do: Quickly set up and manage redirects without digging through menus See exactly where each redirect starts and ends Import and export multiple redirects in bulk using CSV files Apply advanced regex rules to support more complex setups, such as full migrations Whether you’re making small updates or handling a major restructuring, everything is easier to manage. No extra tools or technical steps required. It’s all built into your Yoast SEO Premium. Yoast AI Optimize in the Classic Editor Yoast AI Optimize brings smart, targeted SEO support into your writing flow. After heavy testing, we extended it to the Classic Editor. Improvements are easy to review and apply, and the final decision stays within the editor, under your complete control. Optimize faster, keep your control: Get real-time AI suggestions that help improve SEO and readability Edit suggestions to match your style and tone of voice Apply or dismiss suggestions easily without breaking your writing flow Use it in both the Classic and Block editors with Yoast SEO Premium Supports optimization for: Keyphrase in introduction Keyphrase distribution Keyphrase density Sentence length Paragraph length Yoast AI Optimize helps improve SEO scores faster while keeping a natural writing style, in both the Classic and Block editors. A smarter analysis in Yoast SEO PremiumYoast SEO Premium has a smart content analysis that helps you take your content to the next level! Get Yoast SEO Premium »Only $118.80 / year (ex VAT) The post A smoother Redirect Manager and Yoast AI Optimize for Classic Editor appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

We’ve made it to August, the final stretch of summer, and potentially the quietest your inbox has been all year. With seemingly everyone on vacation, you may be wondering: How can I go somewhere? Is it possible to take a vacation as a freelancer? Are vacations only for the non-self-employed? Don’t fret: Freelancers can go on vacation, too. Here are some hacks for planning a vacation — from affordability, to how to remind yourself that you can (and should!) take breaks sometimes. Think of your dream destination — then find a comp Do you dream of going to Paris? Barcelona? Tokyo? If you don’t have the time or budget to go to one of your bucket list destinations, think about what it is that attracts you to thfem in the first place. Are you looking to log some leisure time on the beach? Want to immerse yourself in a city with a different culture than your own? Are you in search of the best meal you’ll ever eat, or let’s be real, five of them? Odds are good that even if you can’t make this one the dream vacation, you can find the qualities you’re looking for in smaller, lesser known places. If Denmark, for example, feels like a reach, there’s always Solvang. Consider a housing swap If you’ve seen The Holiday, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. But you don’t have to live in a Nancy Meyers movie to swap houses with someone who lives in a place unlike your own. Swapping houses with someone with whom you’ve vetted can be a great way to explore somewhere new while lowering costs. You can search for a house swap within your existing networks, or through sites like Home Exchange or Live Kindred. And for animal lovers, you might want to try Nomador or TrustedHouseSitters, which allows you to stay in someone else’s house for free, in exchange for pet-sitting services. Open a separate savings account specifically for your trip Especially for freelancers — and freelancers in this economy — setting aside funds for something special can be difficult. We recommend going to the bank and opening a savings account purely for that trip you want to take. If you set aside funds over time specifically for the trip, it won’t feel like such a gut punch when you put down payments — and you won’t have to worry that it’s money that could or should be going to something else, either. Go somewhere you can write off on your taxes We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: We recommend going somewhere that you can use in your work, or a place you can conduct business while there, so you can write it off on your taxes. Don’t forget: Keep detailed records of your expenses! Use your credit card points (wisely) Depending on your credit card company, you may be able to use credit card points or frequent flier miles to get discounts or gain extra perks for your trip. That said, make sure you’re being careful when using your credit card to rack up points; the last thing you want is to find yourself falling into credit card debt in an attempt to get points for a trip. Find an off-peak time to travel If you missed out on summer travel this season, use it to your advantage. Find an off-peak time to visit some of those destinations you have in mind. September or October in a beach town can be even more rejuvenating than a summer visit, and you’re much more likely to get a great deal. One benefit of being a freelancer is you're not necessarily beholden to regular rhythms of the calendar year; use it to your advantage. Give your clients plenty of notice It’s understandable to be anxious about stepping away from your work for a week or two, but letting your clients know well ahead of time can ensure that you won’t get any last minute assignments tossed your way. Plus, recharging and taking breaks will not only bring you back to your work refreshed, it shows your clients that you’re established enough to feel comfortable stepping away.No matter where you go, when you go, or what sort of trip you take, the important thing to remember is that as a freelancer, you still deserve vacation days — even if you have to carve them out yourself. View the full article

We’ve made it to August, the final stretch of summer, and potentially the quietest your inbox has been all year. With seemingly everyone on vacation, you may be wondering: How can I go somewhere? Is it possible to take a vacation as a freelancer? Are vacations only for the non-self-employed? Don’t fret: Freelancers can go on vacation, too. Here are some hacks for planning a vacation — from affordability, to how to remind yourself that you can (and should!) take breaks sometimes. Think of your dream destination — then find a comp Do you dream of going to Paris? Barcelona? Tokyo? If you don’t have the time or budget to go to one of your bucket list destinations, think about what it is that attracts you to thfem in the first place. Are you looking to log some leisure time on the beach? Want to immerse yourself in a city with a different culture than your own? Are you in search of the best meal you’ll ever eat, or let’s be real, five of them? Odds are good that even if you can’t make this one the dream vacation, you can find the qualities you’re looking for in smaller, lesser known places. If Denmark, for example, feels like a reach, there’s always Solvang. Consider a housing swap If you’ve seen The Holiday, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. But you don’t have to live in a Nancy Meyers movie to swap houses with someone who lives in a place unlike your own. Swapping houses with someone with whom you’ve vetted can be a great way to explore somewhere new while lowering costs. You can search for a house swap within your existing networks, or through sites like Home Exchange or Live Kindred. And for animal lovers, you might want to try Nomador or TrustedHouseSitters, which allows you to stay in someone else’s house for free, in exchange for pet-sitting services. Open a separate savings account specifically for your trip Especially for freelancers — and freelancers in this economy — setting aside funds for something special can be difficult. We recommend going to the bank and opening a savings account purely for that trip you want to take. If you set aside funds over time specifically for the trip, it won’t feel like such a gut punch when you put down payments — and you won’t have to worry that it’s money that could or should be going to something else, either. Go somewhere you can write off on your taxes We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: We recommend going somewhere that you can use in your work, or a place you can conduct business while there, so you can write it off on your taxes. Don’t forget: Keep detailed records of your expenses! Use your credit card points (wisely) Depending on your credit card company, you may be able to use credit card points or frequent flier miles to get discounts or gain extra perks for your trip. That said, make sure you’re being careful when using your credit card to rack up points; the last thing you want is to find yourself falling into credit card debt in an attempt to get points for a trip. Find an off-peak time to travel If you missed out on summer travel this season, use it to your advantage. Find an off-peak time to visit some of those destinations you have in mind. September or October in a beach town can be even more rejuvenating than a summer visit, and you’re much more likely to get a great deal. One benefit of being a freelancer is you're not necessarily beholden to regular rhythms of the calendar year; use it to your advantage. Give your clients plenty of notice It’s understandable to be anxious about stepping away from your work for a week or two, but letting your clients know well ahead of time can ensure that you won’t get any last minute assignments tossed your way. Plus, recharging and taking breaks will not only bring you back to your work refreshed, it shows your clients that you’re established enough to feel comfortable stepping away.No matter where you go, when you go, or what sort of trip you take, the important thing to remember is that as a freelancer, you still deserve vacation days — even if you have to carve them out yourself. View the full article

You’ve probably heard that Google’s AI search features are tanking organic traffic. In April, we reported that click-through rates dropped by 35% across 300,000 keywords. Now, a Pew Research study has revealed that just 1% of articles cited in AI…Read more ›View the full article

Hello folks, Monday mornings need a nudge. This week’s picks are about staying sharp in every sense—training your brain to keep learning, finding the right time-management method, and protecting yourself from remote job scams. And for a bit of perspective, I’ve included a witty piece on Australia’s move to make working from home a legal right. Different angles, one goal: helping you thrive in the ever-shifting world of work. -Maja Our Favorite Articles 💯Remote Work as a Legal Right?(The Guardian)Australia’s state of Victoria is considering laws to make working from home a legal right. 👉 ​Learn more​. Time Blocking vs. Time Boxing (Hubstaff)Two similar-sounding methods, two different approaches to productivity. 👉 ​Read on​. Train Your Brain to Adapt (Atlassian)Here’s how to keep your brain flexible so learning feels less like a chore and more like a skill you own. 👉 ​Keep reading​.​ Spot & Avoid Remote Job Scams (Remotive)Here’s how to spot the red flags before you waste time—or risk your personal information. 👉 ​Read on​. This Week's Sponsor 🙌Join us as a Personalized Internet AssessorWork from home as a Personalized Internet Assessor, reviewing and rating online content to enhance search results. Join our AI community in this flexible part-time role for tech-savvy individuals eager to learn, contribute, and make a global impact. Remotive​ Jobs 💼Let's get you hired! These teams are hiring now: 💻 Engineering 👉 ​Software Engineer - Customer Projects - Americas at Discourse​ (Americas) 👉 ​Senior Next.js Developer at Proxify​ (CET +/-3 HOURS) 👉 ​Senior React Native Developer at Proxify​ (CET +/-3 HOURS) 👉 ​Senior Data Scientist at BaxEnergy​ (European Timezones) 👉 ​Senior Site Reliability Engineer at BaxEnergy​ (European Timezones) 👉 ​iOS Developer at nooro​ (USA only) 🍃 All others 👉 ​Online Data Research at TELUS Digital ​(USA only) Free Guides & Tools​Public Job Board​We curate 2,000 remote jobs so you don't have to! ​Find your remote job →​ ​Exclusive Webinar​3 Mistakes to Avoid When Looking For A Remote Startup Job (And What To Do Instead) ​Register for free →​ ​Job Search Tips​Looking for a remote job? Here are our tips to help you work remotely ​Check it out →​​ Join the Remotive newsletter Subscribe to get our latest content by email. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email address Subscribe Powered by ConvertKit View the full article

With the rapid growth of generative AI, businesses, educators, and publishers are asking a critical question: how can we tell what’s written by humans and what’s produced by machines? The answer: it’s possible, but not foolproof. Here’s how to approach…Read more ›View the full article

Perplexity is the outlier: nearly 1 in 3 of its citations point to pages that rank in the top 10 for the target query. We analyzed four AI assistants—ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity—to measure how often the URLs they cite…Read more ›View the full article

Ever walked away from a stable job with absolutely no plan, only to realize building a business might be harder than you thought? Nienke Nina talks with Daryl, a leadership and confidence coach for female leaders in male-dominated spaces, about the messy reality of finding your true business alignment. They dive deep into the 18-month struggle that led to his breakthrough, the outsourcing mistakes that taught him valuable lessons, and how connecting with his personal "why" finally created the clarity his business needed. If you've been stuck in the overwhelming noise of business advice and "secret sauces," this episode strips away the Instagram filter to show what the journey to sustainable success really looks like. Support the show 💛 💛 💛 RECOURSES & LINKS 💛 💛 💛 🥰 REVIEW THE PODCAST 🥰 and get instant access to Nienke Nina's Aligned Freedom Business: GROWTH BOOSTER FRAMEWORK for free! (VALUE €1347) 🔗 visit www.digitalnomadsdaily.com/review Loving our Freedom Lifestyle content? 🥹 Get the Freedom Lifestyle Booster Unfiltered Newsletter (100% free)! Enjoy support, freedom strategies & tactics, special tips to build your aligned freedom business & real talk ✅ 🔗 Get our newsletter via www.digitalnomadsdaily.com/newsletter

Ever walked away from a stable job with absolutely no plan, only to realize building a business might be harder than you thought? Nienke Nina talks with Daryl, a leadership and confidence coach for female leaders in male-dominated spaces, about the messy reality of finding your true business alignment. They dive deep into the 18-month struggle that led to his breakthrough, the outsourcing mistakes that taught him valuable lessons, and how connecting with his personal "why" finally created the clarity his business needed. If you've been stuck in the overwhelming noise of business advice and "secret sauces," this episode strips away the Instagram filter to show what the journey to sustainable success really looks like. Support the show 💛 💛 💛 RECOURSES & LINKS 💛 💛 💛 🥰 REVIEW THE PODCAST 🥰 and get instant access to Nienke Nina's Aligned Freedom Business: GROWTH BOOSTER FRAMEWORK for free! (VALUE €1347) 🔗 visit www.digitalnomadsdaily.com/review Loving our Freedom Lifestyle content? 🥹 Get the Freedom Lifestyle Booster Unfiltered Newsletter (100% free)! Enjoy support, freedom strategies & tactics, special tips to build your aligned freedom business & real talk ✅ 🔗 Get our newsletter via www.digitalnomadsdaily.com/newsletter

Ever walked away from a stable job with absolutely no plan, only to realize building a business might be harder than you thought? Nienke Nina talks with Daryl, a leadership and confidence coach for female leaders in male-dominated spaces, about the messy reality of finding your true business alignment. They dive deep into the 18-month struggle that led to his breakthrough, the outsourcing mistakes that taught him valuable lessons, and how connecting with his personal "why" finally created the clarity his business needed. If you've been stuck in the overwhelming noise of business advice and "secret sauces," this episode strips away the Instagram filter to show what the journey to sustainable success really looks like. Support the show 💛 💛 💛 RECOURSES & LINKS 💛 💛 💛 🥰 REVIEW THE PODCAST 🥰 and get instant access to Nienke Nina's Aligned Freedom Business: GROWTH BOOSTER FRAMEWORK for free! (VALUE €1347) 🔗 visit www.digitalnomadsdaily.com/review Loving our Freedom Lifestyle content? 🥹 Get the Freedom Lifestyle Booster Unfiltered Newsletter (100% free)! Enjoy support, freedom strategies & tactics, special tips to build your aligned freedom business & real talk ✅ 🔗 Get our newsletter via www.digitalnomadsdaily.com/newsletter

Highly productive teams make long-term business success possible. Not only do they meet deadlines and reach quarterly goals consistently, but they also shape company culture, boost morale, and create a competitive edge that compounds over time. But building a high-performing team takes a plan for improving accountability and overall work habits.According to the ThinkWise Impact of The post Team time tracking and team goals set the stage for long-term success appeared first on RescueTime Blog. View the full article

Our August Wi-Fi HaLow update report featuring the latest in ecosystem developments and devices. Enjoy. The post Wi-Fi HaLow update 08/25: Revisiting distance records, Morse Micro wins award, & more HaLow products released appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

The best areas to stay in Quy Nhon, including the city beach, Phuong Mai Peninsula, and beaches to the south of the city centre. Quy Nhon is a city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The city has similarities to Da Nang and Nha Trang in that it has a municipal beach in the city centre. Unlike Da Nang and Nha Trang, it has yet to be discovered by international mass tourism. There are some occasional international news articles that proclaim that Quy Nhon is Vietnam’s next big beach destination, but you still have time to get here before it goes mainstream. Quy Nhon is an unusual city in that it has covers a large area with distinct geographical features. [Quy Nhon city area outlined in red.] If you’re visiting Quy Nhon for the first time and just want to find the main area to stay, then stay near the beach in the city area of Quy Nhon. Search for hotels near Quy Nhon City Beach If you are looking to learn about all of the different beaches, then read on. This where to stay guide breaks down the main areas to stay in Quy Nhon, including the city beach, Phuong Mai Peninsula, and beaches to the south of the city centre. Where to stay in Quy Nhon guide Map of Quy Nhon hotels Quy Nhon City (the beachfront city) Phuong Mai Peninsula Nhon Hai (fishing village near Coral Island) Merryland Quy Nhon (under-construction tourism area) Nhon ly (fishing village and beach resorts) Bai Dai (Long Beach) (small beaches south of city centre) Bai Xep Fishing Village (beach hotels in a fishing village) Bai Dai Resorts (beach resorts packaged with Vietage luxury train) Map of Quy Nhon hotels Hotels and other locations mentioned in this article are pinned on this map of Quy Nhon. [Map of hotels in Quy Nhon.] Note about addresses: In July 2025, Vietnam merged provinces and cities across the country. Quy Nhon was the capital of Binh Dinh province, but Binh Dinh has now been incorporated into Gia Lai province. Quy Nhon is now the capital of the enlarged Gia Lai province, but many maps and online addresses still show Binh Dinh province. Quy Nhon City The city of Quy Nhon has a beach that faces Quy Nhon Bay. The total seafront is about 6 km in length, with about 4.5 km of sandy beach (the beach disappears at the northern end). While the beach sand isn’t quite as soft as the beaches of Da Nang and Nha Trang, the beachfront park and promenade makes for a scenic seaside city. One of the great aspects of coastal cities of Vietnam are the beach parks, and the beach park of Quy Nhon is one of the best in the country. [Quy Nhon Beach Park.] The centre of Quy Nhon is on the beachfront at Quy Nhon Square. There is a giant statue of young Ho Chi Minh (then known as Nguyen Tat Thanh) with his father (Nguyen Sinh Sac). The beachfront area is very walkable, so picking somewhere near the beach is fine. If you want to be nearest to the centre, then use Quy Nhon Square as the central point. [Quy Nhon Square.] Guesthouses and budget hotels Quy Nhon is still mostly a domestic tourist destination, so there are cheap hotels everywhere. I usually look for budget hotels close to the city beach, and see what the deals the hotel booking sites are offering. The Green Park Hotel (2-star) is typical of what to expect with a budget hotel in Vietnam. It’s no frills but it’s clean and everything works. The Green Park Hotel is named after the park it is in front of. The park along Nguyen Tat Thanh Road is a linear park that runs alongside the road, and it makes Quy Nhon feel green and civilised. [Nguyen Tat Thanh Park.] I visited Song Suoi Homestay to rent a scooter. This guesthouse feels like a travellers hostel where guests mingle in the lounge area. The homestay also has travel information for the surrounding area, which I have not seen in any other budget hotel in Quy Nhon. [Song Suoi Homestay.] Mid Range HAKU Boutique Hotel (2-star) is near the beach and around the corner from the best cafe in Quy Nhon (Adiuvat Coffee Roasters). Mento Hotel (3-star) is centrally located near Quy Nhon Square. [Mento Hotel.] Fleur De Lys Hotel Quy Nhon is a 4-star hotel at the northern end of the beach (before the sand disappears). The hotel is opposite East West Brewing and Surf Bar 1, which are cool bars that are on the beach. [Fleur De Lys Hotel Quy Nhon.] Odin Hotel Quy Nhon (4-star) is 4 minutes walk inland from the beach. Sala QuyNhon Beach Hotel (4-star) opened in 2025, and its contemporary architectural design stands out among the boxy tube hotels that are common in provincial Vietnam. [Sala QuyNhon Beach Hotel.] A’dor Hotel & Spa (4-star) is opposite Nguyen Tat Thanh Park. [A’dor Hotel & Spa.] The southern end of the beach features several large blocks that have been redeveloped. It has a different feel to the old city core, but it’s a pleasant walk along the beachfront to get to the old city area. This area is notable as there are some older hotels that are on the beachfront (between the beach and the main beach road). Other beach cities like Nha Trang and Da Nang have been actively removing hotels on the city beachfront. Most of the Quy Nhon beachfront is now a city park, so these hotels are an exception to the rule. These hotels look like they are from a bygone era, and their main selling point is that they are on the beach. Ocean View Hotel (3-star) and Binh Duong Hotel (Khach San Binh Duong) (3-star) are two hotels on this beachfront area. [Binh Duong Hotel.] The Seagull Hotel (4-star) looks like one of the original seaside hotels of Quy Nhon, and it only has the Vietnamese name on the building (Khach San Hai Au). Anya Hotel Quy Nhon (4-star) is one of the new hotels among the cluster of new towers on this section of the beach. Luxury Hotels Grand Hyams Hotel – Quy Nhon Beach is in the tallest building in Quy Nhon (168.8 metres) and it’s one of the landmark buildings of the city. The hotel is one street away from the beachfront, and there are no other tall buildings nearby to obstruct its view. [Grand Hyams Hotel – Quy Nhon Beach.] In the same building as the Grand Hyams Hotel are the TMS Residences. There are numerous apartments for rent, and the apartments are listed separately on booking sites. Note that this building was originally going to be the Pullman Quy Nhon, but the Pullman pulled out some time during the pandemic years. Some old news sites and booking agents still show the Pullman name, in case you were wondering why you can’t find the Pullman on current booking sites. FLC City Hotel Beach Quy Nhon is the landmark hotel at the south end of the beach. FLC Group are a Vietnamese conglomerate with interests in real estate, aviation, and tourism. The group owns Bamboo Airways, and they plan to turn Quy Nhon into an international tourism hub. Part of that plan is to develop luxury hotels in Quy Nhon. Behind the FLC City Hotel Beach is the FLC Sea Tower, which is part of the FLC Group’s redevelopment of this area. FLC Sea Tower is an apartment tower that has individual apartments for rent. If you search for FLC Sea Tower you will be presented with numerous options, such as FLC Sea Tower – The Beach Quy Nhon. [FLC Sea Tower.] Anya Premier Hotel Quy Nhon is also on the main beach road in this redeveloped area of the city. [Anya Premier Hotel Quy Nhon.] Phuong Mai Peninsula The Phuong Mai Peninsula is separated from the city centre by the Thi Nai Lagoon. The peninsula is reached via the Thi Nai Bridge (2.477 km), and the peninsula area is a mix of sand dunes and rock formations. It is technically in the boundary of Quy Nhon City, but it couldn’t be more different to the city. Quy Nhon is developing the peninsula into an industrial estate, and the coastal areas with beaches have various tourism projects. There are some lovely fishing villages here, as well as some examples of tourism development gone wrong. I’ve never stayed on the peninsula as I only visit by motorbike when I stay in the city. It’s not easy to get around by public transport, so I would only consider staying in this area if you are touring by motorbike or if you are ok with just getting a taxi from the airport to sit on a resort beach. Nhon Hai Nhon Hai is a fishing village at southeast corner of the Phuong Mai peninsula. Nhon Hai is set in a beautiful location that is worth a visit even if you aren’t staying. The village has two beachfronts that form an L shape. The first beach is the working fishing area. Depending on the time of day you are here, you will see fish being hauled onto land and nets being mended. It’s not a leisure beach, but the boats look great on the dazzling blue water on a sunny day. [Nhon Hai Fishing Beach.] Around the corner is a longer beach that is more conducive for leisure. There is a play area for kids, and this beach is where day trippers come to get boats the nearby Hon Kho Beach on Coral Island. [View of Coral Island.] This beach also has a rubbish problem, which a problem with fishing villages in general. At the south end of the beach is the Nhon Hai Beach Restaurant, which is literally on the beach. Here you can put your feet in the sand while enjoying a beer or ca phe sua da. [Nhon Hai Beach Restaurant.] Opposite the Nhon Hai Beach Restaurant is the Nhon Hai Beach Hostel. The hostel was open when I last visited, but it’s showing as closed on some sites and I can’t find any website or social media presence. [Nhon Hai Beach Hostel.] Some of the homestays and guesthouses in Nhon Hai are bookable online, or just look for houses with “nha nghi” signs (guest house) if you are riding around by motorbike. [Guest houses in Nhon Hai.] There are few amenities in Nhon Hai, and most of the restaurants are seafood places that cater to groups of day trippers. Sometimes people say they want to stay in an authentic fishing village without thinking of what that would really be like. Do you really want to stay in a village where there are no convenience stores or cool cafes? On the other hand, a stay in a rustic fishing village is the antidote for the big city beaches that Vietnam is known for. [Nhon Hai fishing town.] I will be interested to see what happens to Nhon Hai in the future. It’s one of those places that could break out, and maybe it will be filled with boutique hotels and hipster cafes in the future, and we will all be moaning about how it became too touristy. Merryland Quy Nhon Merryland Quy Nhon is a new leisure area at the southern end of the Phuong Mai peninsula. The project is still under construction, but I place it here in case you see advertisements for it in Quy Nhon. ⁠There are billboards all over Quy Nhon promoting the project, and advertisements have been prominent at airports across Vietnam. [Billboard promoting Merryland on the road to Merryland Quy Nhon.] Nhon Ly Nhon Ly coastal commune is about 20km northeast of the Quy Nhon city centre. this area has a long stretch of rugged coastline with hidden beaches, fishing villages, and luxury resorts. This area is still being developed, and there are lots of new roads with hardly any traffic. There are big sand dunes and wind farms on the surrounding hills. FLC Luxury Resort Quy Nhon (5-star) is the main resort in the Nhon Ly coastal area. Like many coastal resorts in Vietnam (such as in Da Nang and Cam Ranh), FLC Luxury Resort is isolated from the city centre, so this is the sort of place you go if you just want a relaxing time at a beach resort. [FLC Luxury Resort Quy Nhon.] FLC were planning to turn parts of the Phuong Mai Peninsula into a major tourism and resort area, but some corruption scandals in the company have derailed the plan. As a result, there are lots of half-finished buildings in the new urban area near the FLC resort. There are a few shops that are open in this area, but overall it’s a depressing site to see abandoned concrete shells. FLC did manage to complete the FLC Quy Nhon Golf Links which is connected to the resort, and there is also the FLC Zoo Safari Park Quy Nhon. I’ve been to enough zoos in Southeast Asia to know that I don’t need to go to this. The FLC Resort is near the Nhon Ly fishing village. There is another nice beach here that is used by fishing boats, and there are some homestays and guesthouses in the town. [Beach at Nhon Ly fishing village (FLC Resort to the left).] The Nhon Ly fishing village doesn’t show correctly on Google Maps. [Google Map of Nhon Ly fishing village.] here is the same map using Google Map satellite view. [Google Map satellite view of Nhon Ly fishing village.] This area is also referred to as the Eo Gio Tourist Area, and the branding between Nhon My and Eo Gio is confusing. One of the main sites here is the cliff walk along the coast. South of Nhon Ly village is the KyCo Peninsula Quy Nhon Resort (3-stars). This hotel is famous for its location on a secluded beach. It’s the only hotel on the beach and there are no other facilities nearby, so you come here to get away from it. There are lots of interesting things to see on the peninsula, but you will need a motorbike to get around. Alternatively, a day trip from the city would cover the main sites. Bai Dai (Long Beach) Bai Dai is a beach to the south of the city centre. It includes the Bai Xep Beach (a fishing village popular with budget travellers), and the southern end of Bai Dai Beach is home to exclusive resorts. Bai Xep [Bai Xep Beach.] Bai Xep is a fishing village on a peninsula 12 km south of Quy Nhon city centre. Bai Xep is technically part of Quy Nhon, though it doesn’t feel like it. [View of Quy Nhon skyline from Bai Xep fishing village.] The village of Bai Xep clings onto the rocky coastline, and it’s a steep walk from the main road down to the beach. There is a village well at the main intersection of the small streets, and there is an assortment of accommodation options among the seafood restaurants. Mira Bai Xep (2-star) is at the entrance to the beachfront next to Haven Vietnam (2-star). Casa Marina Resort (4-star) is the most luxurious option on Bai Xep Beach. I stayed at Life’s a Beach Bai Xep, but the hotel has since moved 3.4 km down the coast in Dak Lak province (former Phu Yen province). This is technically not in Quy Nhon but I place it here because some sites still list Life’s a Beach as being in Quy Nhon. Here is the new listing for Life’s A Beach. Bai Xep can be reached by Bus T11 from Quy Nhon. Bai Dai Resorts Next to Bai Xep Beach is Bai Dai Beach. Some sites list Bai Xep as Bai Dai, and to add to the confusion, there are also Bai Dai beaches in Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. Bai Dai Beach is a private beach for resorts, so I am listing Bai Xep and Bai Dai separately to distinguish between the public and private beaches. Avani Quy Nhon Resort (5-star) is a luxury resort located on Bai Dai Beach. Next to Avani is the Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (5-star), both of which are brands of Minor Hotels. The Avani and Anantara can be booked as part of a package with The Vietage by Anantara luxury train between Da Nang and Quy Nhon. The train service are luxury carriages attached to the back of a regular train, and the train goes to Dieu Tri Station (near Quy Nhon). View the full article

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