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Congratulations! You’ve just closed a funding round or hit a major milestone in your company’s journey. Now, it’s time to share this exciting moment with the world. As a founder or company leader, you know how important it is to communicate major news to investors, partners, customers, and other stakeholders. But the steps you take when developing your communications strategy can make or break its true impact. Here is your communications playbook for developing a well-planned strategy that ensures your next milestone attracts the attention of media, employees, partners, and those who matter most. 1. Establish your North Star. As a first order of business, you need to align internally on your goals for this announcement as they relate to your broader business priorities. Determining what success looks like from the beginning is the baseline for developing a strategy that will actually get you there. There’s often an inherent, unintentional disconnect in communications priorities and planning across teams no matter how big or small the company. It’s important to ensure there is internal alignment, so everyone is working toward the same goal—or often, goals (plural). 2. Tap your agency (or agencies) for help. Planning and timing are everything. The sooner you tap your communications agency to support you on this journey, the better. Remember: Most agencies have NDAs, so any confidential information pre-announcement should be secure—and if you have doubts, it’s probably time to revisit that partnership. Best practice would be to update your agency as soon as possible to ensure proper planning, prep and media outreach. Realistically speaking, though, the right partner is there to support you, even—and especially!—in a crunch. This is one of the many reasons why having the right agency partner is so important. You want to feel confident and secure in the choice you’ve made in an agency partner when you’re heading into big moments. Remember, they do this often across multiple clients, and have the war stories to inform their suggested approach. 3. Nail down your narrative. Milestones are perfect opportunities to evaluate your current messaging and ensure it aligns with your evolving business and priorities. Take a moment to update any outdated messaging as part of your broader corporate narrative, and be sure to develop key talking points around this specific announcement. Leverage this moment to share how you’ve progressed as a company and tip your proverbial hat to the future. Also be mindful of the varied audiences you’re trying to reach and tailor your talking points to those specific personas. “Funding announcements, in particular, validate everything you’ve told external audiences—affirming the strength of your business model, the potential for future growth, and the unique value you bring to your industry,” explains Dinh Lai, chief marketing officer at bolt[DA1] , a leading distribution platform for property and casualty insurance. “They’re proof from a third party that has done the due diligence and, most importantly, backed you with their capital.” 4. Develop your media strategy. A strong media strategy is the backbone of your announcement. It’s important to work with your agency to determine which outlets and journalists are going to be most interested in this story and to develop a proper execution plan. Media relations, like much in life, is about balancing urgency with strategy. The more time you allow for proper outreach, the better—particularly as newsrooms evolve and breaking news happens seemingly every second. If you have a compelling story to tell, aim for an exclusive. Exclusives give journalists a reason to prioritize your story by providing early access before the news is shared more broadly. However, you need to ensure you’re giving reporters ample time to do their job. As part of your media strategy, don’t forget to consider ways to get more mileage out of this moment. Leverage the announcement as an opportunity to nurture media relationships for the future and tie back to this milestone in future announcements. 5. Equip your spokespeople. Determine your spokespeople for the announcement and ensure they are aligned on key messaging, so everyone is telling a cohesive story. While consistency is important, it can also be powerful to include a variety of voices and incorporate unique experiences whenever possible. For example, funding announcements and major milestones are an opportunity for the founder or cofounders to share the journey that brought the company to where it is today, while the broader leadership team can speak to how they’re helping to shape its future. Similarly, enlisting partners, investors, or outside experts for third-party validation also can be a powerful addition to your narrative and help attract the attention of the media—particularly if you’re aiming for an exclusive. 6. Leverage your team’s network. Ensure you have a strategy for rolling out this news internally. While building excitement with your team can deepen the impact of your external communications, it’s important to take a balanced approach and avoid oversharing to safeguard against any confidential information being shared before your announcement. After the announcement is live, encourage your team and your broader network to help amplify the news and any resulting media coverage on social media. LinkedIn, for example, is a good connector and a cost-effective way to increase reach and engagement around big moments. “Milestones are not only powerful externally, but they are also a source of pride and confidence internally. Maximize reach by bringing to bear your entire network, including investors and agency partners,” Lai says. 7. Don’t forget to celebrate. And finally, take the time to appreciate this milestone. It’s easy to immediately shift your focus to what’s next or how this announcement could have gone in a different direction. Save that for later—hindsight is 20/20. Acknowledge your wins and celebrate your progress as a team. After all, you’ve come so far! Grace Keith Rodriguez is CEO of Caliber Corporate Advisers. View the full article

The ability to stay connected through technology plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives, but in some areas of our lives we are only beginning to realize the life-saving potential of smart technology. This is particularly true in the world of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) safety, where timing can be the difference between life and death. We know that having working smoke alarms in the home can double the likelihood of safely escaping a house fire. Due to modern synthetic materials and open floor plans, fires today are burning hotter and faster. In an emergency, every second counts. Smart technology that provides real-time notifications and remote monitoring capabilities is emerging as a crucial tool for protecting both lives and property. This is especially vital when we have elderly parents who might not respond quickly to alarms, or beloved pets who can’t communicate their distress when smoke or CO threatens their safety and we’re not at home. Building these smart capabilities into both smoke and CO alarms could help save lives. Stay informed from anywhere with smart tech According to a 2023 survey, 85% of Americans own at least one smart home device. With smart and connected technology becoming a household staple, it is our goal to make sure that safety is prioritized at the same rate as convenience. Families who invest in connected safety devices are not merely adopting the latest trendy gadgets, but are in fact investing in the most efficient way to help protect what matters most—our loved ones and the home we create memories in. The most effective smart safety solutions operate seamlessly in the background of our busy lives, providing peace of mind without requiring constant attention. These systems can alert us to potential dangers whether we’re at home cooking dinner, sleeping upstairs, or traveling around the world. At Kidde, we leaned into this idea when collaborating with Ring to introduce a collection of smart smoke alarms and smoke and CO combination alarms. With built-in Ring technology and an optional monitoring service to help protect homes from anywhere, this connected technology can be used to help save lives and property. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for how connected tech can transform the home safety landscape. Smoke and CO alarms can communicate with other smart devices The integration of smart technology into home fire safety and CO devices is in the process of revolutionizing how we protect our homes. Strategic collaborations present massive opportunities for brands that are willing to combine their expertise and identify avenues for innovation that will put smarter safety solutions into the hands of consumers. Remote alerts and monitoring: Today’s connected smoke and CO alarms can send immediate notifications to smartphones regardless of location, allowing for faster emergency responses even when no one is home. Many systems now offer the option of professional monitoring services that can dispatch emergency services if needed. Interconnected systems: Modern smoke and CO alarms can communicate with each other, ensuring that when one alarm sounds, all alarms in the home activate. This is crucial for multi-story homes where occupants might not hear an alarm on a different floor. The most advanced safety technology doesn’t operate in isolation. Smoke and CO alarms can now communicate and act in conjunction with other smart tech in the home. Regulations help keep consumers safe Despite the many benefits that smarter technology can provide for the fire safety industry, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Common sense standards and regulations are also necessary to ensure the public health is consistently and equitably protected. Regulations covering fire and life safety technology are key to our safety given that Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors. Voluntary standards, which are often adopted into code or incorporated by reference in legislation, are developed in a consensus-driven method by industry experts, firefighters, academia, consumers, and other stakeholders to help set minimum performance requirements for products and services. Our input into this process, alongside key partners, helps us innovate to meet the demands of present and future customers and help keep more people safe. However, consumers are often unaware of safety codes and standards. Recently, Miller Gardner, son of former Yankee Brett Gardner, died from exposure to carbon monoxide, while vacationing in Costa Rica. The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica underscored these travel safety concerns, noting that “most countries in Latin America, including Costa Rica, do not have widespread laws mandating carbon monoxide detectors. However, some businesses (like hotels) or embassies may voluntarily install them due to safety concerns.” To avoid tragic situations like this, Kidde suggests all travelers take a battery powered CO alarm that fits in their luggage. Ultimately, knowledge of standards and emergency preparedness is perhaps the most important tool anyone can have at their disposal. Because of that simple truth, we’ve made fire and CO safety education one of our core missions to help keep consumers informed. And now, smarter technology is helping consumers have more knowledge than ever about the state of their home. Connected, smart technology can save lives Humans are flawed. We forget things, we mess up, and we assume a home fire will never happen to us. Technology can function like another version of ourselves, always keeping an eye out for our safety. Our partnership with Ring demonstrates how essential and transformative collaboration can be to developing solutions that meet this type of need and make home safety an integral and seamless part of your everyday life. When it comes to the safety of our families and homes, there’s no such thing as being over-prepared. Isis Wu is president of Residential Fire & Safety at Kidde. View the full article

Project sponsors are the senior leadership team members that push the project forward past obstacles most teams struggle with – buy in from the rest of the company, budget approvals, and business reprioritization. In this article, we'll discuss their role in a project and why you may need one. The post What is a Project Sponsor? Their Role and Responsibilities appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Running into chaos over on who's doing what or what project activity is happening next? Create a project management flowchart to see where the issues are happening and adjust your process so you can get back to completing projects on time, on budget, and within scope. The post 10 Project Management Flowchart Examples + Best Practices appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

U.S. hospitals generate nearly six million tons of waste each year, and a single patient can be responsible for more than 30 pounds a day. Much of that waste comes from the operating room (OR), which accounts for up to a third of a hospital’s total output and is among the most expensive areas to manage. A large portion comes from single-use devices, packaging, and transport materials. These practices are often criticized, and not without reason. But in settings like transplantation, much of that waste is directly tied to protecting patients. I’m often asked, “Why not make devices reusable?” or “What about the environmental impact?” After years in the OR and working alongside transplant teams, I’ve asked those same questions. The answers aren’t black and white, but that doesn’t mean we should stop asking. Sustainability often gets reduced to packaging claims or material swaps. But the real impact lies in the systems we build around the product. That’s the conversation we need to be having. Why single-use still matters Some of the industry’s most criticized practices, like single-use devices, are also the least negotiable. Single-use eliminates the need for sterilization between uses, simplifies prep and cleanup, and reduces the risk of infection. The FDA permits reprocessing of certain single-use tools, but only under strict conditions. Nowhere is that margin tighter than in organ transplantation. There are no do-overs when you’re handling a human organ. Transplant patients are especially vulnerable to infection due to immunosuppression, and even small lapses in sterility can lead to serious complications. Device-associated infections, from central lines, catheters, and ventilators, are among the most common and serious complications following transplant. The CDC also notes that while concerns persist about reusing single-use devices, more research is needed to define the risks. Devices that reduce infection risk and prevent complications can lead to fewer readmissions, which means fewer hospital resources used and better sustainability over time. The systems around the product Many conversations about sustainability start and stop with the product itself, whether it’s recyclable, biodegradable, or made with “green” materials. But many of the most wasteful decisions happen in how a product moves through the system that supports it. And when that system spans hospitals, suppliers, procurement teams, and legal departments, it’s not built for fast change. Even when the intention is there, funding constraints, liability concerns, and the challenge of making changes across large networks often stand in the way. While a fragmented system can’t solve the footprint of a single device, medical device companies still have control over how their products are moved and managed, and that’s where meaningful change can start. Flying devices around the world might be fast, but it adds unnecessary emissions to an already resource-intensive process. And it’s often done not because it’s needed, but because it’s familiar. Shifting to road transport takes more coordination, but it significantly cuts emissions and gives teams more control over when and how products arrive. What happens after delivery matters just as much. Without a plan for how products are returned, stocked, or moved, operations can shift into reaction mode. That’s when waste shows up through emergency shipments, over-ordering, and unused inventory. In kidney transplant, for example, reusable machine perfusion systems have improved outcomes, but broader use has revealed logistical friction, including turnaround delays and higher discard rates. Inefficient habits tend to stay hidden until the consequences catch up. For years, private air travel has been the default in time-sensitive cases, but it comes with a steep environmental cost. At my current company, our team found that one chartered jet can emit as much carbon as manufacturing 200 single-use medical devices. With better planning, commercial flights can often meet the same clinical timelines and reduce emissions without compromising care. Sustainability has to show up in the operational decisions because if the systems around the product are wasteful, it doesn’t matter how recyclable the product is. Recyclability won’t negate the carbon footprint of wasteful shipping, inefficient production, or reactive inventory habits. A product isn’t sustainable if it arrives on a private jet, was rushed through the supply chain, or sits unused on a shelf. Sustainability starts with better questions Healthcare won’t eliminate waste entirely. But small changes matter. Reducing reliance on private air travel. Avoiding emergency shipments. Moving production closer to where products are used. None of it sounds radical. But over time, it adds up. And more often than not, it comes down to refusing to accept waste as the cost of doing business. For healthcare leaders, it’s worth stepping back to examine the systems tied to a product and where a few deliberate improvements could make an impact. Not every change requires an overhaul. But the right operational shift, at the right point in the process, can reduce waste without ever touching the safety of patient care. And if enough companies commit to that kind of thinking, that’s how you move an industry forward. Lisa Anderson is president and founder of Paragonix Technologies. View the full article

Microsoft Clarity announced a Node.js-based MCP Server that enables natural language querying of analytics via AI The post Microsoft Clarity Announces Natural Language Access To Analytics appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Bulgaria is a step closer toward becoming the 21st country to adopt the euro and join the euro zone. On June 3, the European Commission announced that the Balkan nation now fulfills the four nominal convergence criteria requirements to adopt the single currency and enter the euro zone, and it may transition as soon as January 1, 2026. “The euro is a tangible symbol of European strength and unity,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “Bulgaria’s economy will become stronger, with more trade with euro area partners, foreign direct investment, access to finance, quality jobs and real incomes. Bulgaria will take its rightful place in shaping the decisions at the heart of the euro area.” Bulgaria first joined the European Union in 2007, and like other members, agreed to eventually adopt the single currency. Out of the 27 member states, only 20 countries currently use the euro, which is the second most-used currency in the world with 341 million users. While the green light from the commission paves the path for the poorest EU member state to integrate into the euro zone and get rid of its national currency, the lev, its road to getting here hasn’t been easy, and not all Bulgarians are happy about it. Here’s what to know. What is the euro zone? All 27 European Union members, who had to formally apply and be accepted into the union, coordinate economic policy as a part of the European Monetary Union. However, not all EU members use the single currency, and only those who have replaced their national currencies for the euro are considered to be part of the “euro zone.” While countries have slowly been admitted, the latest addition to the euro zone was Croatia in 2023. In addition to Bulgaria, the six other nations who are yet to transition to the euro zone include Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Upon being accepted into the European Union, members (except Denmark, due to an “op-out” clause) are required to adopt the euro once they meet the convergence criteria. The criteria requires countries to fulfill requirements for price stability, sustainable public finances, sustainable interest rates, and stable exchange rates. Before formally adopting the single currency, the decision still needs approval from EU ministers, which are expected to green-light the transition per the commission’s recommendation. Why now? Bulgaria had failed to meet convergence criteria in the past, as it requires countries not to have consumer inflation higher than 1.5% above the top three euro zone performers. Now, with a new review by the European Commission and the European Central Bank, Bulgaria has met the requirements, setting itself up for a transition early next year. Not everyone is happy about joining While long awaited, the transition has met opposition from Bulgarian citizens and Bulgarian pro-Russian and anti-euro political leaders. A recent survey showed the country is split, with 50% of Bulgarians opposing the euro. The country, which has a population of 6.4 million, also saw several thousands of protesters earlier this year opposing the currency adoption, with thousands more demanding a referendum. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. In 2023, I decided to update my Apple Watch after consistently failing to wear my Series 4 for a number of years. I sold that one on Poshmark and began looking at newer models to find one with enough features to convince me to actually wear it. I opted to get a Series 8, although the Series 9 had just been released, as I was buying two: one for my mom and one for myself. As it turns out, that was a great decision. If you're searching for a new wearable or considering upgrading yours, you might also be wondering which of the older Apple Watch models is still useful today. My Series 8 is holding up beautifully three years after it was introduced, so I'm a big proponent of using older devices as long as possible. But not all Apple Watches will work as well as the Series 8 does in 2025. Don’t buy a watch Apple doesn’t support anymoreWe have to draw the line somewhere: Seven of Apple's watches are no longer supported, meaning they won't receive any software or security updates anymore. In addition, you run the risk that the watch will no longer be compatible with your iPhone or certain apps. In short, you shouldn't buy a watch that Apple doesn't support. That includes the following: Apple Watch Series 0 Apple Watch Series 1 Apple Watch Series 2 Apple Watch Series 3 Apple Watch Series 4 Apple Watch Series 5 Apple Watch SE (first-gen) While the company does currently support the Series 6, it is next in line to join this list. It's not clear when that will happen, but you can be sure it will. We'll see next week—when Apple reveals watchOS 26—whether the watch will be supported another year. If not, it'll be stuck on watchOS 11 for good. Performance and other generational Watch improvementsThere are considerations for older Apple Watch models that extend beyond their ability to simply run the latest operating system. With each generation, improvements are made in some form or another. For instance, the Series 4 introduced the ECG sensor, while the Series 6 introduced the blood oxygen sensor (though Apple had to disable the feature for the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the U.S. due to a lawsuit). The Series 7 charges faster than its predecessors, and Apple has included fast charging on most watch models since (sorry, Apple Watch SE users). In general, each Apple Watch is faster than the last. Apple tends to put its newest S-Chip—the Apple Watch's processor—in its latest watch series. Simply put, a newer S-chip gives you a faster, more productive product. The Series 6 has an S6 chip, Series 7 has S7, and so on until you hit the Ultras. (The first-generation Ultra has an S8 chip like the Series 8, while the Ultra 2 has an S9 chip like the Series 9.) While there are some core features all currently supported watches share—like workout and swim tracking, sleep tracking, Apple Pay, ECG scanning, and the ability to read and respond to messages—newer models also each have some of their own special advancements and upgrades. Here's a brief list: The Series 7 introduced faster charging, a larger display, and more durable screen. The Series 8 brought temperature sensing, crash detection, and a low-power mode for conserving battery (as did the second-gen Apple Watch SE). The Series 9 debuted new gesture controls, on-device Siri access, more precise location tracking in Find My, and a display with double the brightness of the Series 8. The first-gen Apple Watch Ultra introduced a more durable titanium casing, custom shortcuts to apps and modes via the Action button, a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, more accurate GPS, a 36-hour battery life, and an emergency siren. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduced a display with a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits and on-device media playback. The Series 10 introduced the largest display available on a standard Apple Watch and faster charging. If you see a feature you absolutely need in a particular watch model, you'll have to spring for it. But if you just want something for core Apple Watch tasks, you can start to consider older options. Apple's watch comparison site can be a helpful tool for identifying different features among models. Battery degradation All tech degrades to some extent and the Apple Watch is no different—particularly when it comes to the battery. While there are ways to mitigate the problem, over time, the lithium-ion battery powering your wrist computer won't last as long as it used to. That might be a bigger issue than your watch's ability to download and support a new operating system. Apple's warranty doesn't cover batteries that wear down from normal use, and charges $99 for the repair, which you could instead put towards the purchase of a new watch. There is one exception: Battery service is free if you have AppleCare+ and your watch's battery holds less than 80% of its original capacity. You need to take your watch in to an Apple Store or service provider to have it tested. My watch was pre-owned, and while I have no way of knowing if it has its original battery, my battery life has not declined substantially in the two years I've been using it daily. I primarily use mine to track my workouts, vitals, and sleep, which means it's always running. I charge it while I'm in the shower and occasionally for a few minutes before bed, and that's about it. On an average day of constant notifications, mine lasts me a bit longer than the advertised 18-hour mark. Because I have little interest in the small improvements offered by the Series 9 and Series 10—like extra brightness, larger screen size, performance bumps, and advanced cycle tracking—the battery life is what would (or will) compel me to upgrade in the future, but for now, I have not noticed any problems. I asked my mom if she's noticed any battery degradation on hers, since I bought it at the same time and place as mine, and she said no. She uses hers to track walking workouts, talk on the phone, and monitor her sleep and vitals, too. Stick with the Series 7 or newerThoroughly consider which of the features on newer models are actually important to you before making any buying decision and, if you can, stay above a Series 7. The Series 6 is still functional, but, again, it's a matter of time until the company stops acknowledging that one completely. For now, I have been pleasantly surprised by how well my Series 8 has held up for two years. Its touchscreen has never faltered, the external buttons function perfectly, it syncs to all of my apps and devices with no problem, and it does exactly what I need it to do—which is to tell me how many steps I'm taking and how hard I'm exerting myself at the gym. If you're in the market for a smart watch, I see no reason that an older version shouldn't be considered, as long as it still runs the latest operating system. You can save a chunk of change by sourcing an older model from the resale or refurbished markets and put that money away for when Apple drops something super revolutionary in the wearable space. Apple doesn't sell anything below a Series 10 or SE directly anymore, so if you want a 6, 7, 8, or 9, you'll have to check the resale and refurbished markets. You'll definitely save some money that way (a new Series 10 starts at $399, though it can be found on sale, and the refurbished Series 8 I got is selling right now for $219). Apple Watch Series 8 (Renewed) $209.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $220.00 Save $11.00 Learn More Learn More $209.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $220.00 Save $11.00 View the full article

I don't expect Meta to respect my data or my privacy, but the company continues to surprise me with how low they're willing to go in the name of data collection. The latest such story comes to us from a report titled "Disclosure: Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android." In short, Meta and Yandex (a Russian technology company) have been tracking potentially billions of Android users by abusing a security loophole in Android. That loophole allows the companies to access identifying browsing data from your web browser as long as you have their Android apps installed. How does this tracking work?As the report explains, Android allows any installed app with internet permissions to access the "loopback address" or localhost, an address a device uses to communicate with itself. As it happens, your web browser also has access to the localhost, which allows JavaScripts embedded on certain websites to connect to Android apps and share browsing data and identifiers. What are those JavaScripts, you might ask? In this case, that's Meta Pixel and Yandex Metrica, scripts that let companies track users on their sites. Trackers are an unfortunate part of the modern internet, but Meta Pixel is only supposed to be able to follow you while you browse the web. This loop lets Meta Pixel scripts send your browsing data, cookies, and identifiers back to installed Meta apps like Facebook and Instagram. The same goes for Yandex with its apps like Maps and Browser. You certainly didn't sign up for that when you installed Instagram on your Android device. But once you logged in, the next time you visited a website that embedded Meta Pixel, the script beamed your information back to the app. All of a sudden, Meta had identifying browsing data from your web activity, not via the browsing itself, but from the "unrelated" Instagram app. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge were all affected in these findings. DuckDuckGo blocked some but not all of the domains here, so it was "minimally affected." Brave does block requests to the localhost if you don't consent to it, so it did successfully protect users from this tracking. Researchers say Yandex has been doing this since February of 2017 on HTTP sites, and May of 2018 on HTTPS sites. Meta Pixel, on the other hand, hasn't been tracking this way for long: It only started September of 2024 for HTTP, and ended that practice in October. It started via Websocket and WebRTC STUN in November, and WebRTC TURN in May. Website owners apparently complained to Meta starting in September, asking why Meta Pixel communicates with the localhost. As far as researchers could find, Meta never responded. Researchers make it clear that the type of tracking is possible on iOS, as developers can establish localhost connections and apps can "listen in" too. However, they found no evidence of this tracking on iOS devices, and hypothesize that it has to do with how iOS restricts native apps running in the background. Meta has officially stopped this tracking The good news is, as of June 3, researchers say they have not observed Meta Pixel communicating with the localhost. They didn't say the same for Yandex Metrika, though Yandex told Ars Technica it was "discontinuing the practice." Ars Technica also reports that Google has opened an investigation into these actions that "blatantly violate our security and privacy principles." However, even if Meta has stopped this tracking following the report, the damage could be widespread. As highlighted in the report, estimates put Meta Pixel adoption anywhere from 2.4 million to 5.8 million sites. From here, researchers found that just over 17,000 Meta Pixel sites in the U.S. attempt to connect to the localhost, and over 78% of those do so without any user consent needed, including sites like AP News, Buzzfeed, and The Verge. That's a lot of websites that could have been sending your data back to your Facebook and Instagram apps. The report features a tool that you can use to look for affected sites, but notes the list is not exhaustive, and absence doesn't mean the site is safe. Meta sent me the following statement in response to my request for comment: “We are in discussions with Google to address a potential miscommunication regarding the application of their policies. Upon becoming aware of the concerns, we decided to pause the feature while we work with Google to resolve the issue.” View the full article

Key Takeaways Understand ATM Types: Choose between standalone and embedded ATMs based on your business needs and customer experience goals.Location Matters: Select high-traffic areas within your retail space to maximize ATM visibility and usage, such as near checkout counters.Consider Fees: Be aware of transaction fees and maintenance costs associated with ATMs, as they impact profitability and customer trust.Research Providers: Evaluate various ATM providers for features, pricing, and customer support to find the best fit for your business.Ensure Compliance: Familiarize yourself with local regulations and obtain necessary permits before installing an ATM.Monitor Performance: Regularly assess the ATM’s usage and customer feedback to optimize its effectiveness and adapt to changing business needs. If you’re looking to get an ATM for your business or personal use, you’re in the right place. Having an ATM can provide convenience for you and your customers while also generating additional revenue. But how do you go about acquiring one? This guide will walk you through the essential steps to secure an ATM, from understanding the different types available to navigating the installation process. Whether you’re a small business owner or just want to add a cash machine at home, knowing the right approach can make all the difference. Let’s dive in and explore the best ways to get your own ATM. Understanding ATMs ATMs, or Automated Teller Machines, serve as crucial financial tools for small businesses, especially in retail and storefront settings. These machines enable customers to withdraw cash conveniently, enhancing their shopping experience. You can choose between different types of ATMs based on your needs. For example, standalone ATMs operate independently outside your storefront, attracting foot traffic. Alternatively, embedded ATMs integrate with your existing infrastructure, allowing you to control the customer experience more closely. Installing an ATM in your small business offers various advantages. It can increase customer visits and encourage higher spending, as access to cash often leads to more impulse purchases. Moreover, having an ATM can generate additional revenue through transaction fees, providing a steady income stream. Understanding the placement of your ATM is essential for maximizing its effectiveness. Placing it in a high-traffic area within your business, such as near the checkout counter, can ensure visibility and usage. Additionally, assessing the operating costs associated with an ATM, including maintenance and cash replenishment, is crucial for your budgeting. Overall, grasping the fundamentals of ATMs helps you make informed decisions about acquiring and maintaining this valuable asset in your small business. Types Of ATMs Understanding the types of ATMs available helps you choose the right one for your needs. Here’s a breakdown of the two main categories. Bank ATMs Bank ATMs typically belong to financial institutions, allowing users to perform basic banking transactions. Transactions include cash withdrawals, deposits, and balance inquiries. Placement is essential; these machines usually reside in bank branches or strategic locations like storefronts. Bank ATMs usually offer lower transaction fees for customers of the respective bank, promoting usage. Consider the connection between location and customer convenience when evaluating options for a bank ATM. Retail ATMs Retail ATMs cater specifically to small businesses, providing quick cash access for customers. These machines can enhance the customer experience in retail settings, encouraging more frequent visits to your storefront. Retail ATMs present opportunities for generating additional revenue through transaction fees. Placement near high-traffic areas maximizes visibility and usage, creating a competitive edge. Weigh the benefits of including a retail ATM in your strategy to boost service offerings and cash flow. Factors To Consider When Choosing An ATM Choosing the right ATM requires careful consideration of several factors that can impact your small business’s success. Location Location significantly influences an ATM’s performance. Position your ATM in high-traffic areas within your retail storefront to maximize visibility and usage. Favor locations near entrances, checkout counters, or waiting areas where customers frequently pass by. Getting input from your staff can help identify strategic spots that cater to customer behavior. Remember, greater foot traffic generally translates into higher transaction volumes. Fees and Charges Fees and charges associated with an ATM can affect your business’s profitability. Understand the transaction fees incurred for each withdrawal and assess how these charges align with your overall pricing strategy. Look for options that offer competitive rates to retain customers while generating revenue. Factor in any maintenance or service costs to ensure your ATM remains a valuable asset rather than a financial burden. Establishing a transparent fee structure also builds customer trust and encourages repeat usage. Steps To Get An ATM Acquiring an ATM for your small business can enhance customer experience and increase revenue through transaction fees. Follow these steps to secure an ATM for your storefront. Research Available Options Research available ATM options that suit your business needs. Consider the following types of ATMs: Standalone ATMs: These machines operate independently, ideal for businesses seeking straightforward cash access without bank affiliation. Embedded ATMs: These units integrate into your existing retail systems, offering seamless customer experiences while providing transaction-related insights. Evaluate the features, transaction fees, and support services provided by different suppliers. Look for options that offer robust customer support, maintenance packages, and customizable branding to align with your business image. Apply For An ATM Apply for an ATM through a suitable provider. You might encounter the following steps: Submit Application: Complete an application with your business details, location, and desired ATM type. Some providers require financial documents or business plans. Provide Legal Compliance: Ensure you meet legal requirements specific to ATMs, such as licenses or permits. Local regulations may dictate placement and operation compliance in retail spaces. Review Terms: Examine the terms and conditions set by the provider, including transaction fees, maintenance obligations, and contract duration. Finalize your application with the chosen provider, then prepare for the installation process at your retail location. Set your ATM strategically to maximize visibility and customer use. Tips For Successfully Obtaining An ATM Assess Your Business Needs: Evaluate your small business priorities and determine if an ATM enhances customer experience at your retail storefront. Understand how an ATM can fulfill cash access needs for your customers. Research ATM Providers: Research various ATM providers to find those specializing in small business solutions. Compare features, transaction fees, and customer support services. Understand Placement Importance: Determine ideal locations for your ATM within your retail space. Place the ATM in high-traffic areas, such as near entrances or checkout counters, to maximize visibility and usage. Review Legal Requirements: Ensure compliance with local regulations concerning ATM installation. Familiarize yourself with the permits and licenses required for your storefront. Prepare a Budget: Calculate the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining an ATM. Factor in installation, transaction fees, maintenance, and cash replenishment costs. A transparent budget helps manage expenses effectively. Evaluate Revenue Potential: Consider the revenue generated from transaction fees. Understand how offering cash access can attract more customers to your small business, leading to increased sales. Negotiate Terms: Once you select a provider, negotiate terms that benefit your small business. Focus on transaction rates and maintenance agreements to optimize profitability. Implement Customer Education: Educate your customers about the ATM’s availability and fees. Clear communication fosters trust and encourages repeated usage. Monitor Performance: Regularly assess ATM usage to determine its impact on your business. Track transaction data and customer feedback to identify potential improvements or adjustments. Stay Current: Keep informed about trends in ATM technology and offerings. Adapting to changes can enhance your small business’s competitive advantage in the retail space. Conclusion Acquiring an ATM can significantly enhance your business’s customer experience and revenue potential. By understanding the types of ATMs available and their strategic placement, you’re setting yourself up for success. Remember to evaluate your specific needs and budget while researching providers. Prioritizing legal compliance and maintaining clear communication with your customers will foster trust and encourage repeat usage. Stay informed about industry trends and regularly monitor your ATM’s performance to ensure it continues to meet your goals. With the right approach, an ATM can become a valuable asset for your business. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of having an ATM? Having an ATM offers convenience and potential revenue generation for businesses. It enhances the customer experience by providing easy access to cash, which can encourage more visits and purchases. Additionally, you can earn money through transaction fees. What types of ATMs are available? There are two main types of ATMs: Bank ATMs and Retail ATMs. Bank ATMs are owned by financial institutions and located in branches, while Retail ATMs are specifically for businesses, offering quick cash access and additional revenue opportunities through fees. How should I choose the location for my ATM? The location of your ATM is crucial for maximizing usage. Ideally, place it in high-traffic areas within your business, such as near entrances or checkout counters, to enhance visibility and accessibility for customers. What costs should I consider when acquiring an ATM? When acquiring an ATM, consider costs like purchase price, installation, maintenance, cash replenishment, and transaction fees. Understanding these expenses will help ensure your ATM remains a profitable asset for your business. What steps are involved in acquiring an ATM? To acquire an ATM, start by researching available options that meet your needs, then apply through a suitable provider. Ensure legal compliance, review terms and conditions, and plan for strategic placement to maximize visibility. How can I evaluate the revenue potential of an ATM? Evaluate the revenue potential by analyzing estimated foot traffic, average transaction volume, and transaction fees. This will help you understand how much income the ATM can generate and whether it’s a worthwhile investment for your business. What legal requirements are there for installing an ATM? Legal requirements may vary by location but typically include permits for installation, adherence to zoning laws, and compliance with financial regulations. It’s essential to research local laws and consult legal experts to ensure proper installation. How can I maintain customer trust with an ATM? Establishing a transparent fee structure can foster customer trust. Clearly communicate any associated costs and ensure the ATM is well-maintained, replenished regularly, and reliable, which encourages repeat usage and customer loyalty. What are the common maintenance tasks for an ATM? Common maintenance tasks include regular cash replenishment, software updates, and addressing any technical issues promptly. Providing excellent customer service for questions or concerns can also enhance the overall user experience. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Guide on How to Get an ATM for Your Business or Home" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Understand ATM Types: Choose between standalone and embedded ATMs based on your business needs and customer experience goals.Location Matters: Select high-traffic areas within your retail space to maximize ATM visibility and usage, such as near checkout counters.Consider Fees: Be aware of transaction fees and maintenance costs associated with ATMs, as they impact profitability and customer trust.Research Providers: Evaluate various ATM providers for features, pricing, and customer support to find the best fit for your business.Ensure Compliance: Familiarize yourself with local regulations and obtain necessary permits before installing an ATM.Monitor Performance: Regularly assess the ATM’s usage and customer feedback to optimize its effectiveness and adapt to changing business needs. If you’re looking to get an ATM for your business or personal use, you’re in the right place. Having an ATM can provide convenience for you and your customers while also generating additional revenue. But how do you go about acquiring one? This guide will walk you through the essential steps to secure an ATM, from understanding the different types available to navigating the installation process. Whether you’re a small business owner or just want to add a cash machine at home, knowing the right approach can make all the difference. Let’s dive in and explore the best ways to get your own ATM. Understanding ATMs ATMs, or Automated Teller Machines, serve as crucial financial tools for small businesses, especially in retail and storefront settings. These machines enable customers to withdraw cash conveniently, enhancing their shopping experience. You can choose between different types of ATMs based on your needs. For example, standalone ATMs operate independently outside your storefront, attracting foot traffic. Alternatively, embedded ATMs integrate with your existing infrastructure, allowing you to control the customer experience more closely. Installing an ATM in your small business offers various advantages. It can increase customer visits and encourage higher spending, as access to cash often leads to more impulse purchases. Moreover, having an ATM can generate additional revenue through transaction fees, providing a steady income stream. Understanding the placement of your ATM is essential for maximizing its effectiveness. Placing it in a high-traffic area within your business, such as near the checkout counter, can ensure visibility and usage. Additionally, assessing the operating costs associated with an ATM, including maintenance and cash replenishment, is crucial for your budgeting. Overall, grasping the fundamentals of ATMs helps you make informed decisions about acquiring and maintaining this valuable asset in your small business. Types Of ATMs Understanding the types of ATMs available helps you choose the right one for your needs. Here’s a breakdown of the two main categories. Bank ATMs Bank ATMs typically belong to financial institutions, allowing users to perform basic banking transactions. Transactions include cash withdrawals, deposits, and balance inquiries. Placement is essential; these machines usually reside in bank branches or strategic locations like storefronts. Bank ATMs usually offer lower transaction fees for customers of the respective bank, promoting usage. Consider the connection between location and customer convenience when evaluating options for a bank ATM. Retail ATMs Retail ATMs cater specifically to small businesses, providing quick cash access for customers. These machines can enhance the customer experience in retail settings, encouraging more frequent visits to your storefront. Retail ATMs present opportunities for generating additional revenue through transaction fees. Placement near high-traffic areas maximizes visibility and usage, creating a competitive edge. Weigh the benefits of including a retail ATM in your strategy to boost service offerings and cash flow. Factors To Consider When Choosing An ATM Choosing the right ATM requires careful consideration of several factors that can impact your small business’s success. Location Location significantly influences an ATM’s performance. Position your ATM in high-traffic areas within your retail storefront to maximize visibility and usage. Favor locations near entrances, checkout counters, or waiting areas where customers frequently pass by. Getting input from your staff can help identify strategic spots that cater to customer behavior. Remember, greater foot traffic generally translates into higher transaction volumes. Fees and Charges Fees and charges associated with an ATM can affect your business’s profitability. Understand the transaction fees incurred for each withdrawal and assess how these charges align with your overall pricing strategy. Look for options that offer competitive rates to retain customers while generating revenue. Factor in any maintenance or service costs to ensure your ATM remains a valuable asset rather than a financial burden. Establishing a transparent fee structure also builds customer trust and encourages repeat usage. Steps To Get An ATM Acquiring an ATM for your small business can enhance customer experience and increase revenue through transaction fees. Follow these steps to secure an ATM for your storefront. Research Available Options Research available ATM options that suit your business needs. Consider the following types of ATMs: Standalone ATMs: These machines operate independently, ideal for businesses seeking straightforward cash access without bank affiliation. Embedded ATMs: These units integrate into your existing retail systems, offering seamless customer experiences while providing transaction-related insights. Evaluate the features, transaction fees, and support services provided by different suppliers. Look for options that offer robust customer support, maintenance packages, and customizable branding to align with your business image. Apply For An ATM Apply for an ATM through a suitable provider. You might encounter the following steps: Submit Application: Complete an application with your business details, location, and desired ATM type. Some providers require financial documents or business plans. Provide Legal Compliance: Ensure you meet legal requirements specific to ATMs, such as licenses or permits. Local regulations may dictate placement and operation compliance in retail spaces. Review Terms: Examine the terms and conditions set by the provider, including transaction fees, maintenance obligations, and contract duration. Finalize your application with the chosen provider, then prepare for the installation process at your retail location. Set your ATM strategically to maximize visibility and customer use. Tips For Successfully Obtaining An ATM Assess Your Business Needs: Evaluate your small business priorities and determine if an ATM enhances customer experience at your retail storefront. Understand how an ATM can fulfill cash access needs for your customers. Research ATM Providers: Research various ATM providers to find those specializing in small business solutions. Compare features, transaction fees, and customer support services. Understand Placement Importance: Determine ideal locations for your ATM within your retail space. Place the ATM in high-traffic areas, such as near entrances or checkout counters, to maximize visibility and usage. Review Legal Requirements: Ensure compliance with local regulations concerning ATM installation. Familiarize yourself with the permits and licenses required for your storefront. Prepare a Budget: Calculate the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining an ATM. Factor in installation, transaction fees, maintenance, and cash replenishment costs. A transparent budget helps manage expenses effectively. Evaluate Revenue Potential: Consider the revenue generated from transaction fees. Understand how offering cash access can attract more customers to your small business, leading to increased sales. Negotiate Terms: Once you select a provider, negotiate terms that benefit your small business. Focus on transaction rates and maintenance agreements to optimize profitability. Implement Customer Education: Educate your customers about the ATM’s availability and fees. Clear communication fosters trust and encourages repeated usage. Monitor Performance: Regularly assess ATM usage to determine its impact on your business. Track transaction data and customer feedback to identify potential improvements or adjustments. Stay Current: Keep informed about trends in ATM technology and offerings. Adapting to changes can enhance your small business’s competitive advantage in the retail space. Conclusion Acquiring an ATM can significantly enhance your business’s customer experience and revenue potential. By understanding the types of ATMs available and their strategic placement, you’re setting yourself up for success. Remember to evaluate your specific needs and budget while researching providers. Prioritizing legal compliance and maintaining clear communication with your customers will foster trust and encourage repeat usage. Stay informed about industry trends and regularly monitor your ATM’s performance to ensure it continues to meet your goals. With the right approach, an ATM can become a valuable asset for your business. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of having an ATM? Having an ATM offers convenience and potential revenue generation for businesses. It enhances the customer experience by providing easy access to cash, which can encourage more visits and purchases. Additionally, you can earn money through transaction fees. What types of ATMs are available? There are two main types of ATMs: Bank ATMs and Retail ATMs. Bank ATMs are owned by financial institutions and located in branches, while Retail ATMs are specifically for businesses, offering quick cash access and additional revenue opportunities through fees. How should I choose the location for my ATM? The location of your ATM is crucial for maximizing usage. Ideally, place it in high-traffic areas within your business, such as near entrances or checkout counters, to enhance visibility and accessibility for customers. What costs should I consider when acquiring an ATM? When acquiring an ATM, consider costs like purchase price, installation, maintenance, cash replenishment, and transaction fees. Understanding these expenses will help ensure your ATM remains a profitable asset for your business. What steps are involved in acquiring an ATM? To acquire an ATM, start by researching available options that meet your needs, then apply through a suitable provider. Ensure legal compliance, review terms and conditions, and plan for strategic placement to maximize visibility. How can I evaluate the revenue potential of an ATM? Evaluate the revenue potential by analyzing estimated foot traffic, average transaction volume, and transaction fees. This will help you understand how much income the ATM can generate and whether it’s a worthwhile investment for your business. What legal requirements are there for installing an ATM? Legal requirements may vary by location but typically include permits for installation, adherence to zoning laws, and compliance with financial regulations. It’s essential to research local laws and consult legal experts to ensure proper installation. How can I maintain customer trust with an ATM? Establishing a transparent fee structure can foster customer trust. Clearly communicate any associated costs and ensure the ATM is well-maintained, replenished regularly, and reliable, which encourages repeat usage and customer loyalty. What are the common maintenance tasks for an ATM? Common maintenance tasks include regular cash replenishment, software updates, and addressing any technical issues promptly. Providing excellent customer service for questions or concerns can also enhance the overall user experience. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Guide on How to Get an ATM for Your Business or Home" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The Switch 2 is finally out this week, if you were lucky enough to secure a preorder, anyway. If you're upgrading, you might want to sell your older Switch, if only to offset the higher price tag this time around (to say nothing of tariff impacts). Before you pop your trusty console on eBay, you should make sure to clean it out properly. Factory resetting any device you sell is good practice—it ensures the buyer doesn't get access to your accounts, payment info, or other personal information that you might not want a stranger to have. On a device like the Switch, though, there's a bit more to it. If you have any game save data, screenshots, or video clips you want to keep, you'll need to take care to preserve those. Use the System Transfer tool for simple upgradesIf you're upgrading from a Switch to the Switch 2, then the System Transfer tool will walk you through transferring all your games, save files, screenshots, and clips from your old console to the new one. It's the most straightforward process for moving into your new console, and it's the path that's likely to work for most people. However, it's worth noting a couple caveats to this process. First, you need both consoles in hand to start the process. If you're planning to sell your Switch to help pay for your Switch 2, you might want to try the methods outlined below to back up your data before you have the new console in hand. Second, the transfer tool is designed to work with a single Nintendo account on a personal console. If you share your Switch with your family or friends—and especially if they're not part of a Switch Online family plan—then you might need to download or transfer some of their data manually using the processes below. No matter what method you use for transferring data, you'll always still need to factory reset your device before selling it. More on that below. Backup (or transfer) your game save dataMost of your data is stored locally on the Switch, which is convenient for a portable console that might not always have internet access. It's also a bit of a pain for backing up before you reset your device. To make matters slightly more annoying, Nintendo only supports backing up save data to the cloud if you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription (fortunately, there are ways to get a free trial). If you're already a Switch Online subscriber, you're (mostly) good to go. Cloud saves are automatically enabled for any games that support it. You can double check if a particular game supports cloud saves, and whether the data is backed up, by highlighting the game on your Home screen, pressing the + button, and selecting Save Data Cloud. Choose the user whose data you want to save and you'll see when it was most recently backed up. What about people without a Switch Online membership? Well, you still have an option, it just doesn't involve the cloud. Head to System Settings from the Home screen, and scroll to Data Management. Here, you can choose Transfer Your Save Data. This option will only work if your old and new console are in the same place, so if you're upgrading, you're better off just using the System Transfer tool mentioned above. For profiles besides the main account holder, though, this can be a helpful tool to make sure no one loses their saves. Transfer or store your screenshots and clipsIf you want to keep the copious amounts of screenshots and 30-second video clips you've snagged on your Switch over the years, you have a few options. The System Transfer tool moves them over to your new console, but you can also manually decide where and how to back them up. Head to System Settings and scroll to Data Management. Here, select Manage Screenshots and Videos, and you'll find a few useful options. The first is changing the location screenshots and videos are saved to—if you have a microSD card, I recommend changing this to the default save location. The Switch 2 has 256GB of internal space, and the original Switch only has a meager 32GB (or 64GB for the OLED model). Save that space for your games, and put your extra media on the card. If you've done this in the past, your work here might already be done. You can choose to transfer your screenshots and videos from the system memory to the microSD card from this menu, either in total, or by selecting only the ones you want. Finally, you can choose to connect your Switch to a computer and transfer via USB. This is a handy way to offload media if you don't have a microSD card sitting around. Once you've moved your media to something other than the Switch's internal memory, you're finally ready for a reset. Factory reset your SwitchOnce you've made sure that all your data is backed up and stored safely outside the console, you can factory reset your console. Note: If you didn't use the System Transfer tool, it's up to you to make sure all your data is safely backed up. Being thorough is a virtue here. When you're ready, head to System Settings and scroll all the way to the bottom to find System. Then scroll all the way to the bottom of that menu to find Formatting Options. Then, you guessed it, scroll to the bottom of this section to Initialize Console. Nintendo really doesn't want you hitting this button by accident, and even after burying it, you'll see a little icon with an exclamation mark inside a diamond, so you know it's important. When you select this option, you'll have to jump through a couple more warnings asking if you're absolutely sure you're ready to erase everything on the system memory. Double check that you've gotten everything you need—and connect your system to a power outlet while you're at it—and confirm that you're ready to go. The process will take a few minutes, and when it's done it should restart as though it's brand new. Don't forget to grab your cartridges and microSD cards!After all that work to back up your data, it would be really embarrassing to sell your console with a game cartridge or the microSD card holding all your data still inside. Fortunately, now that you've read this, you won't forget. Right? OK, good. If you have a cartridge in the slot, make sure that the game is closed and you're back on the Home screen before removing it. Nintendo advises this to make sure you don't accidentally mess up any save data or cause other issues. The microSD card is easier to miss, because on most Switch models, it's tucked underneath the kickstand. Flip up the kickstand, gently press on the card, and it should pop right out. Once again, make sure that nothing is using the card when you do this. That can include any games that were installed on the card, or if you happen to be viewing any clips stored on it. If you're not sure, the safest option is to turn the console all the way off. Once you've followed all these steps, you're ready to give away or sell your old console. If you backed up your data before getting your hands on a new console, then make sure to keep your microSD card in a safe place, and keep that Switch Online subscription handy for when you move in to your new device. View the full article

New study: Google AI Overviews cite news sources in only 1 in 5 responses. BBC, NYT & CNN lead with 31% share. The post Google AI Overviews Favor Major News Outlets: Study Reveals appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

ChatGPT introduced its Memory feature more than a year ago now. This feature lets users save particular details about their life or work in the ChatGPT memory bank, so they don’t need to repeat them with each new prompt. But using the Memory feature as it launched frequently required manually checking which information was saved and managing it yourself, which meant it was pretty easy to let it fall behind. OpenAI’s solution was to let ChatGPT remember way more about you. The Memory feature now builds a long-term memory bank based on all your saved ChatGPT conversations, rather than just key details. You can still save those key details, but you don't have to rely only on them anymore. Until now, conversation memory was limited to paid users, meaning those with a ChatGPT Plus plan and higher. Now, though, OpenAI is rolling out a limited version of this feature for all free and logged-in users. If you use ChatGPT multiple times a day, this might help reduce some back and forth in your conversations with it. ChatGPT will now remember your recent conversationsNow, in addition to being able to remember key details about you, which was already available to free users, ChatGPT can reference your chat history, even if you don't pay for it. However, chat history for free users will be limited to recent conversations, whereas paid users can have the AI remember all of their conversation history. When this feature is enabled, ChatGPT will use your past conversations to automatically recall useful information about you that you’ve shared with it before. It will use this to learn about your interests, hobbies, or topics you frequently ask about, in order to make chats more personalized and relevant. How far back the feature's memory can pull from for free users isn't exactly clear. OpenAI says the free version of this feature is "lightweight" and focuses on "short term continuity," so don't expect it to pull back from conversations that are a few years, or possibly even months, old. Credit: Khamosh Pathak There is an unscientific way to test what ChatGPT knows about you, though. In addition to checking your saved memories (I'll get to that in a second), you could ask the bot to describe you based on your chat history with it. ChatGPT will list what it knows about you based on the previous conversations available in its memory. How to stop ChatGPT from remembering your recent conversationsI can see this feature being useful to people who use ChatGPT all the time. If you use ChatGPT to plan out workouts and meals based on specific information you've already given it about you, for instance, I can see how accessing information shared in a chat from a week ago can be helpful. Just be careful not to trust its advice too much. On the flipside, there will be times when you either won’t want ChatGPT to remember something, or you'd rather it not check your conversation history when finding an answer. To temporarily avoid the memory feature upgrade, you can try using ChatGPT’s Temporary Chat feature, which is like ChatGPT’s Incognito mode. The things you say here won’t be saved by ChatGPT history or by this new Memory feature. When you start a new chat, use the dotted Chat icon in the top-right corner to turn it into a Temporary chat. Credit: Khamosh Pathak A more permanent option is to turn off the feature altogether. This is good if you'd rather ChatGPT not remember any of your conversations. To do this, click your Profile icon in ChatGPT and choose Settings. Go to Personalization, and find the Memory section. Now, disable the Reference chat history option. This will prevent the AI from remembering what you've said to it before. You can also disable Reference saved memories here, which both turns off chat history and keeps ChatGPT from remembering key details about you. Alternatively, click Manage memories to see a specific list of key details that ChatGPT knows about you, and delete them if you wish. View the full article

When I think of Nothing (the phone company), I think of value. The Nothing Phone 3a, for example, is $379, but it doesn't feel like it: It looks cool, it performs well, and checks many of the boxes you'd expect from a phone that costs twice as much, if not more. These phones aren't perfect, of course, and are missing some features that the best iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxies might have. But that's kind of the point: The company cuts features that most users don't want or need at this price point, while offering features that many "budget" phones often omit. In a world of expensive flagships, it's cool to see a company continue to prioritize a premium smartphone experience while keeping the price in check. Even the Phone 2, which was not considered a "budget" phone, launched at $599—more expensive than the 3a for sure, but not quite premium iPhone pricing. That's why I find the Nothing Phone 3 to be a bit confusing. The company officially announced on Wednesday that its newest phone will arrive in July of 2025: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Nothing hasn't revealed too many details about the new phone yet, other than what CEO Carl Pei shared at Google I/O. Back in May, Pei said that Nothing Phone 3 would be the company's "first true flagship smartphone," and will include "premium materials, major performance upgrades, and software that really levels things up." That all sounds good. I mean, who doesn't want those three elements in their smartphone of choice? Unfortunately, it appears that trifecta comes at a cost. Pei followed up that vague announcement with the Phone 3's price tag: £800, or roughly $1,085 when converted to USD. Essentially, the Nothing Phone 3 will directly compete with the iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Galaxy S25+. Now, it's possible the U.S. pricing could differ: As spotted by 9to5Google, leaker MysteryLupin posted on X that Phone 3 will cost $799, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the 16GB RAM variant with 512GB of storage costs $899. That $200 could make a difference, and would make the Phone 3 cheaper than the iPhone 16, and in the same arena as the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9. Leaks and rumors should always be taken with a grain of salt, but Nothing only disclosed the U.K. pricing, so we're not necessarily locked into that £800 price. We also don't know enough to say whether that $800 to $1,000 MSRP would be worth it, and we likely won't until reviewers get their hands on the Phone 3, but I have to admit some skepticism at this early stage. Maybe the Phone 3 will be the phone to beat this year, but to me, Nothing's strength is in its simplicity: I like that the company makes a phone that looks, well, nothing like the competition, while also finding a way to keep an exceptional price. Sure, extra features and performance are always welcome, but for potentially an additional $700, I'm not sure they're that welcome. View the full article

Creating an IT strategic plan is a vital step for organizations looking to align their technology initiatives with broader business goals. As technology continues to evolve, having a clear, forward-looking strategy ensures that IT investments support long-term growth, efficiency and competitiveness. We’ll explore what an IT strategic plan is, how it fits into IT strategic planning, what should be included in the plan and who’s responsible for it. Whether an organization is scaling operations, improving cybersecurity or integrating new systems, an IT strategic plan provides a structured approach to decision-making and resource allocation. What Is an IT Strategic Plan? An IT strategic plan is a comprehensive document that outlines how an organization’s technology initiatives will support and advance its overall business goals. It serves as a roadmap for aligning IT infrastructure, applications and services with the company’s vision, mission and operational priorities. The plan typically covers a multi-year timeframe and addresses areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, data management and systems integration. At its core, an IT strategic plan helps organizations prioritize technology investments, manage resources effectively, and ensure that IT activities are reactive to current needs and proactive in anticipating future demands. It includes clear objectives, performance metrics and timelines to guide implementation and track progress. Stakeholder alignment is also a key component, as collaboration between IT leaders and business executives is critical for a plan’s success. A well-structured IT strategic plan also promotes transparency and accountability, providing teams with a unified direction and reducing the risk of misaligned or redundant initiatives. As technology plays an increasingly central role in business operations and customer engagement, an IT strategic plan becomes essential for driving innovation, maintaining competitiveness and managing technological change in a controlled, strategic manner. An IT strategic plan informs a Gantt chart by providing the foundational objectives, initiatives and timelines that drive the scheduling and sequencing of tasks within a project. The strategic plan outlines long-term goals and key IT priorities, such as system upgrades, cybersecurity improvements or digital transformation projects. These strategic directives are broken down into actionable projects and milestones, which are then plotted on a Gantt chart to visualize when and how each component will be executed. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has robust Gantt charts that can turn an IT strategy plan into an actionable schedule. It sequences tasks, resources and costs, but more than that can also link all four types of task dependencies to avoid cost overruns and bottlenecks. Our Gantt can quickly filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track progress in real time to help the strategic plan meet its deadline. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgLearn more What Is IT Strategic Planning? IT strategic planning is the process of defining an organization’s technology direction in alignment with its overall business goals. It involves setting long-term objectives for IT systems and services, identifying the technology initiatives needed to support those goals and creating a roadmap for implementation. The goal is to ensure that IT investments and resources are used effectively to drive business value, improve operations and support innovation. This planning process typically includes assessing the current IT environment, analyzing emerging technologies and trends, identifying gaps or inefficiencies and prioritizing projects that will deliver the most strategic benefit. IT strategic planning is essential for helping organizations stay competitive, adapt to change and ensure that their technology infrastructure evolves in a way that supports future growth and transformation. This leads to the creation of an IT strategic plan. What Should Be Included in an IT Strategic Plan? Now let’s look at how to make an effective IT strategic plan. It serves as a blueprint for how an organization’s technology initiatives support its overall business strategy. To ensure clarity and direction, the plan should be comprehensive and structured, covering the current state of IT and the future vision. Here’s what to include. Executive Summary: This brief overview highlights the purpose of the plan, key objectives and major initiatives. It offers stakeholders a snapshot of what the strategy aims to achieve. Assessment of Current IT Environment: Analyze existing IT infrastructure, systems, processes and capabilities. This assessment should identify strengths, weaknesses, gaps and areas for improvement. Business Goals and IT Alignment: Show how IT will support and enable business objectives. This ensures that business needs drive technology investments. IT Vision and Mission: Define the IT department’s long-term vision and its guiding mission. This anchors all initiatives in a shared sense of purpose. IT Governance: Outline the structure, roles and processes used to make IT decisions, manage priorities and ensure compliance with policies and standards. Risk Management Plan: Detail the key IT risks (e.g., cybersecurity, compliance) and mitigation strategies. Proactive risk management is vital for business continuity. IT Roadmap: Include a high-level timeline of strategic initiatives, showing when key systems and technologies will be implemented or upgraded. IT Capability Requirements: Identify the resources, skills and technologies needed to execute the plan. This may include staffing needs, new tools or training. IT Budget: Provide a financial forecast of IT spending related to the plan. This should include capital investments, operating costs and projected returns on investment. /wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IT-eBook-banner-ad-1.jpg Key IT Strategic Planning Roles Successful IT strategic planning relies on the collaboration of key stakeholders who bring diverse perspectives and expertise to align technology with business objectives. Each role contributes specific leadership, insight and accountability to ensure the strategy is visionary and executable. Here are four core roles in IT strategic planning. Chief Information Officer (CIO) The CIO leads the IT strategic planning process, setting the vision and direction for the organization’s technology landscape. They work closely with executive leadership to align IT priorities with business goals, assess current capabilities and champion innovation. The CIO also oversees the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring it drives measurable value and business transformation. IT Strategy Manager The IT strategy manager translates the CIO’s vision into actionable initiatives and frameworks. They coordinate planning activities, conduct market and internal assessments and develop roadmaps. This role is instrumental in analyzing data, managing stakeholder input and ensuring that the strategy remains aligned with technological trends and business demands over time. Executive Sponsor Typically, a member of the senior leadership team, the executive sponsor provides high-level support and ensures cross-departmental alignment. They advocate for IT initiatives at the executive level, secure funding and help remove organizational barriers that could hinder strategic implementation. IT Infrastructure Manager This individual assesses the current IT architecture and infrastructure to determine what upgrades or changes are necessary to support strategic goals. They ensure that the foundation of the IT environment—networks, servers, storage and cloud services—can support current needs and future growth outlined in the plan. IT Strategic Planning Best Practices Effective IT strategic planning isn’t just about crafting a visionary document—it’s about creating a practical, actionable guide that drives measurable impact. To ensure success, organizations should follow best practices that enhance the plan’s relevance, buy-in and long-term value. Create a Realistic Plan Based on Resource Availability An ambitious IT strategy can fall short if it overlooks the constraints of time, budget and personnel. Building a realistic plan means aligning goals with the actual resources available. This includes evaluating internal capabilities, existing infrastructure and budget allocations before defining project scope and timelines. By grounding the plan in reality, organizations can avoid overextension and increase the likelihood of successful execution. Involve Key Stakeholders in the Planning Process IT strategic planning isn’t just an IT function—it must reflect the needs and priorities of the entire organization. Engaging department heads, end users, finance, operations and executive leadership fosters collaboration and ensures the plan supports broader business goals. Early stakeholder involvement also builds commitment and surfaces potential risks or opportunities that may not be visible to IT alone. Establish KPIs and Measurement Tools A strategic plan without clear performance indicators is difficult to manage and improve. Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and selecting the right measurement tools allows leaders to track progress, assess ROI and make data-informed adjustments. Regular performance monitoring ensures the strategy remains on course and adapts to evolving business needs. Free IT Management Templates While project management software is an ideal fit for making an IT strategic plan, for those not ready to upgrade, there’s a workaround. Our site features over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that cover all aspects of managing projects across multiple industries. Below are just a few that can help with IT management. IT Project Plan Template Open this free IT project plan template in ProjectManager to outline the critical elements of an IT project. It serves as a comprehensive planning tool that organizes the project’s scope, objectives, timeline, resources, tasks and risk management strategies. This is particularly useful for standardizing project planning across teams and ensuring consistency in execution and communication. IT Risk Assessment Template Download this free IT risk assessment template for Excel to identify, evaluate and document potential threats to an organization’s information technology systems, data and operations. It provides a consistent framework for analyzing risks, assessing their impact and likelihood and planning mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerabilities. Service Request Form Use this free service request form for Excel to formally capture and manage requests for services from users or customers within an organization. These services can range from IT support (like password resets or hardware requests) to maintenance, HR or facility needs. How ProjectManager Helps With IT Projects Why do we keep pushing project management software over templates? Simply because templates are helpful, but they’re not designed for managing projects, especially ones as complex and ever-changing as an IT strategic plan. No one wants to stop what they’re doing to manually update a template, and don’t get us started with its limited collaboration. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that gives IT managers and their teams multiple project views, which means they can choose between Gantt charts, kanban boards, sheet, task and calendar views to do their work. This connects cross-functional teams, while updating their work in real time, which adds efficiency unheard of from templates. Get Visibility and Allocate Resources in Real Time Real-time visibility into resource availability and workloads helps IT leaders allocate the right personnel, hardware and software resources to priority initiatives outlined in the IT strategic plan. Team availability can be set when onboarding the team, while the color-coded workload page shows who is overallocated or underutilized so IT project managers can balance their team’s workload and keep them productive. A team page offers a daily or weekly summary of their activities and can be filtered by priority or progress. Tasks can even be updated without leaving the page. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Track Time, Budget and Progress With Live Dashboards and Reports With integrated timesheets and budget tracking, IT teams stay within the financial boundaries established in the IT strategic plan. Managers can monitor actual resource usage and expenditures against forecasts to ensure strategic initiatives are progressing cost-effectively on project and portfolio, real-time dashboards. Customizable reports go deeper into the data and can be filtered to focus on specific information or provide stakeholders with a general overview of progress. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Team-summary-better-data-light-mode-home-screen-dashboard.png Related IT Management Content An IT strategic plan is part of the larger IT management process. For readers who care to learn more about this subject, click on the links below. They cover everything from an extensive overview of the topic to more specific pieces on requirements gathering and budgets. IT Project Management: The Ultimate Guide Burndown Chart: What Is It, Examples & How to Use One for Agile How to Become an IT Project Manager: Career Paths, Resume Tips & More Requirements Gathering: The Process, Best Tools & More What Is an IT Budget? IT Budgeting Basics (Template Included) ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Making an IT Strategic Plan: IT Strategic Planning 101 appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Reddit is giving users more control to choose which activity other users can see on their public profiles. A new "curate my profile" feature allows users to selectively show or hide posting and commenting activity, as well as follower counts and NSFW content and communities. What's changed with Reddit profile settingsWith new "Content and activity" settings, Reddit users can choose to hide all public posts and comments or selectively display activity from some subreddits on their profiles while keeping others hidden. Users can also hide follower counts as well as NSFW content and communities from their profiles. Previously, all posts and comments were visible on a user's public profile, which remains the default. While users are largely anonymous, anyone could see their activity, such as posting history and which communities they'd participated in. As Engadget notes, this allowed the broader community to hold users accountable for bad behavior, and some users are concerned that the ability to hide activity from a public profile will make said behavior more difficult to see. On the flip side, TechCrunch points out that the option to limit public post visibility may encourage more participation. Users who wanted to engage in communities on sensitive topics may have created throwaway accounts to avoid having that activity appear on their profile—or chosen not to participate at all. Note that hiding activity on your profile won't hide your username on posts and comments in the community itself. You also cannot hide individual posts or comments from your profile—you can only show or hide all activity from an entire community. Moderators may still have access to your history even if you've changed your visibility settings. How to change your Reddit profile visibilityAccording to Reddit's announcement, the feature began rolling out on June 3. However, it may not be available to all users immediately—I don't have it yet—so be sure to update your app to the latest version and keep an eye out for the new Curate your profile menu, which will appear just under View profile when you open your profile pane in the app. When you select Curate your profile, you'll see options to toggle NSFW content and follower count on and off. You can also tap Content and activity, which will give you a pop-up to show all, hide all, or customize what's visible on your profile. If you choose Customize, you can select or deselect specific subs to show or hide activity from those communities. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. No matter how locked down your identity information is, there’s probably a gaping hole in your security efforts: your car. Just like you, your car is linked to a few numbers. Unlike you, it rolls around with those numbers—your license plate number and the vehicle’s VIN—out in the open. Your car’s identity is even more vulnerable than yours, and that vulnerability can have a huge negative impact on you. Here’s what to know about car identity theft and how to protect your vehicle. Plates and VINsYour car’s public identity is tied to two things, its license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN). The license plates are on display by law, making it easy to copy down—or just steal outright—and your car’s VIN is often displayed on the dashboard, or in other easily accessible locations on the car (as well as your title, registration, and insurance documentation). With your license plates and VIN, criminals can do some real damage to your life by running a few basic scams: VIN swapping. Thieves can use your car’s VIN when they have a stolen or damaged car to sell. Swapping in your VIN for the real one can erase flood or accident damage or hide the fact that the car is stolen. After a private cash sale (usually on a platform like Facebook Marketplace), the thieves vanish and the new owner is stuck. For example, a couple in Ohio lost $33,000 when they unknowingly purchased a car with a swapped VIN via Facebook Marketplace. Hacking. VINs are useful for modern cars, because they can help hackers figure out everything they need to access the car’s software (you can see some of the information encoded in it here). Manufacturers use VINs to generate access codes, and the VINs encode information about where and when the car was built, which hackers can use to figure out what version of the software they’re dealing with—along with the known exploits and vulnerabilities. Stolen cars. Stolen license plates can be placed on stolen cars so the plate numbers don’t ping law enforcement at red light camera, speed cameras, or toll booths. Toll and ticket evasion. Stolen license plates can also be used to evade automatic tolls or to avoid paying tickets. A thief can brazenly rack up violations that accrue to your vehicle, leaving you holding the (expensive) bag. Identity theft. While your car’s license plate number can’t allow thieves to steal your identity directly, it can be used as part of an information-gathering scheme with the goal of stealing your identity. Your vehicle’s make and model, your home address, accident history, and other pieces of information can be accessed and used as breadcrumbs to discover even more information about you. Protect your numbersUnfortunately, there’s not much you can physically do to protect your car’s identity. You can't legally obscure your license plates, and while you can likely get away with hiding the VIN if it’s embossed on the dashboard (by covering it with tape, a piece of paper, or a file folder) when the car is parked in a public place, you can usually look up a vehicle’s VIN if you have the license plate number, so this is only a partial deterrent. What you can do is take basic precautions and pay attention: Check the VIN. You can check your VIN’s history at the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s website to see if it’s been involved in any fraud. You should do this regularly to make sure that no one’s using your car’s VIN for shady purposes. The sooner you’re aware, the less damage it will do. Park inside. Keeping your car off the street as much as possible can help make it more challenging for people to copy down your VIN or steal your license plates. If you have the option to keep your vehicle in a locked garage, that’s your best bet. Avoid sharing. There are many instances where you’ll need to provide the VIN (when selling the car, for example). You can ask if the full VIN is really needed, or if you can just give out the last few digits as you can with your Social Security number, thus keeping the full VIN out of as many records as possible. You can also offer to provide a vehicle history report from a reputable company that doesn’t include the VIN. Secure the plates. Use tamper-proof screws or an anti-theft license plate cover to make it difficult for thieves to steal the plates off your car. View the full article

A reader recently sent me a cover letter that I want to share as a great example of explaining a maybe surprising job history: she had started in one field, then left it, then was trying to come back to it. First, though, the caveats I’ve learned to give when sharing these: The writer has allowed me to share this as a favor to me and to readers. Please remember she’s a real person when you’re commenting. This writer’s voice is her voice. It will not be your voice, and that’s part of the point. There is no single cover letter in the world that all hiring managers will love or that would be the right fit for every employer and every industry. But I receive letters all the time from people telling me that moving in this sort of direction dramatically increased the number of interviews they were getting. Do not steal this letter or even parts of it. It works because it’s so customized to the writer. It’s intended for inspiration only — to show what the advice here can look like in practice. First, here’s the context this writer sent to me, and then we’ll get to the letter: When I was fresh out of my undergrad, I worked my butt off to get my dream job as a field archaeologist for an environmental consulting company, only to spectacularly burn out and realize that the industry was a lot more exploitative and geared to the needs of big industry than I had expected as a starry-eyed 20-year-old. I went to grad school to escape, but when it came time to apply for another archaeology job I just … couldn’t. I moved back in with my parents and took a job answering phones at a customs broker, and then I sort of stumbled ass-backwards into a career as a broker myself. I liked it well enough, but the pay was so low that I’d never be able to afford my own home. After eight years out of the industry, I was convinced I could never go back to archaeology and that door was closed forever. It was a little constant hurt on my heart to have lost that. Then I found AAM and realized that changing careers was a totally normal thing that people do all the time and of course it was still an option for me. I could just explain why I had left and why I wanted to return. I always felt like writing resumes and cover letters was like translating what I actually wanted to say into a foreign dialect where everything was obfuscated and subsumed into jargon. I realized I could just, like, say what I meant, and it would be fine. So I asked my friends in the industry which companies were good, responsible employers, and then I wrote the below cover letter. It was so, so freeing to feel like it was okay for my personality to show in my cover letter — if a job searcher learns one thing from AAM, I hope they learn that. I got the job, which paid 170% of what I made at my old position, I got back into the industry that I really care about, and I bought a condo. I really love my job now, and apparently this cover letter and the resume I wrote (highlighting what I achieved, not listing my responsibilities!) played a huge role in getting it. I’m really proud of this, so I’m attaching it below if you’re interested. And here’s the letter, with identifying details changed for anonymity. • • • • • Dear Hiring Manager, I am very excited to submit my application for a position on your reporting and regulatory team in technical writing and project management. This marks a return for me to the field in which I trained and wrote my MA, after several years in a different industry. I started in archaeology in FirstCity working as a technical writer and field support, before moving north to work first as an archaeologist, then supervisor, and finally field director. Working in SecondSpot was a bootcamp in field work, a masterclass in commercial archaeology, and in many ways a disappointment. I was unhappy with what I felt was the prioritization of the needs of industry over all other concerns and the sidelining of Indigenous communities. I eventually left to pursue a master’s degree that allowed me to both indulge my love of speleology and completely nerd out over predictive modelling. When I returned to FirstArea, I couldn’t quite bring myself to dive back into commercial archaeology. I ended up retraining in a completely different industry which turned out to require many of the same skills: budgeting, attention to detail, government compliance, and balancing the often-competing needs of various stakeholders. Customs brokerage is basically a system for analyzing and reporting data, which plays exactly into my professional strengths. While I can’t say I have the passion for customs brokerage that I have for archaeology, I’ve stayed in the sector because I genuinely enjoy the opportunities for teamwork and creative problem solving: people come to us with a job they need done, and we figure out how to make it happen, on time, on budget, and fully compliant. I really value the opportunity to work collaboratively, both as a project lead and as support for other brokers. My current company even let me talk them into launching an industry blog, because they know I am a dork who loves business communication. The blog now brings in a significant percentage of our new clients. I’ve heard from a number of [Company] employees that it is what an archaeology company should be: community led, Indigenous-owned, responsible. In ten years, [Company] is the first company that has made me genuinely excited to return to archaeology. I thrive in environments that allow me to flex my skills in data analysis and writing, and believe I can offer [Company] unrivalled quality, expertise and conscientiousness as a writer and team member. And if you need someone with expertise in logistics and organization, well, I can get a shipping container of medical supplies from the port of Singapore to a backyard in Calgary. I’d love the opportunity to talk to you more about what I can offer [Company]. I work normal business hours but I can always schedule a time for a phone call or meeting with a few days’ notice. Thank you very much for your consideration, Me The post here’s an example of a cover letter explaining you want to return to the career you left appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Scammers are targeting travelers planning their vacations in a new campaign that spoofs popular online travel agency (OTA) Booking.com. The scheme, identified by Malwarebytes Labs, uses malicious CAPTCHA forms to gain remote access to victims' devices, allowing threat actors to harvest personal and financial information. How the Booking.com scam worksThe campaign begins with links posted on social media and gaming sites, including sponsored ads, that redirect to websites posing as Booking.com—an OTA through which users can search and book flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel experiences. When users click the link, they'll see a fake CAPTCHA pop-up with a checkbox, which gives permission to copy data to the clipboard. The next verification prompt will tell you to execute a Run command on your device with a combination of keystrokes. (FYI: This is never a legitimate CAPTCHA request.) In the background, the malicious CAPTCHA has copied a powershell command to your clipboard. And if you follow the instructions, the command will download and execute a series of files that install a backdoor Remote Access Tool (RAT)—identified as Backdoor.AsyncRAT—giving threat actors the ability to remotely monitor and control your machine. How to spot and avoid the Booking.com RAT attackCheck the URLAs Malwarebytes Labs notes, the domains and subdomains scammers are using to carry out this attack change frequently, and some look more more legitimate than others: (booking.)guestsalerts[.]com versus kvhandelregis[.]com, for example. To avoid falling victim to this campaign and those like it, don't click links from ads or posts on social media, and go directly to the website you want to visit instead. Head to the site directlyKnow that using a general Google search for travel planning may make you more susceptible to malvertising, as cybercriminals can spoof websites to look like popular services—such as booking.com—and have them appear near the top of sponsored results. You should type URLs directly into the address bar or book with the airline or hotel itself. Be wary of CAPTCHA forms from untrusted sourcesYou should also be wary of following instructions, such as executing commands, from websites, CAPTCHA forms, or social media videos, which can easily trick you into installing malware. Finally, you can disable JavaScript in your browser, which will remove clipboard access, though this is likely to break other websites you visit. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Health Connect app is expanding its "sharing data" function, allowing Android users to sync up their health information across multiple apps. The announcement came during Google's developer livestream at I/O 2025. Starting in June, Google says Health Connect will pick up Runna, Mi Fitness, and Garmin. Here's what you need to know. Wait, you couldn't sync your health data to Garmin before?Apparently not! My colleague Beth Skwarecki shared with me this screenshot of her Connected Apps screen in her Garmin settings on her iPhone, versus her husband's Android. As you can see, Apple Health is connected to Garmin on the iPhone, but there's no Health Connect for Garmin on the Android. Apple Health is connected to Garmin on iPhones. Credit: Beth Skwarecki There's no Health Connect for Garmin on Androids. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Until now, dual Garmin/Android users have been limited in their ability to consolidate fitness data across multiple services. In other words, this Health Connect update will address long-standing complaints about the ability to sync data. Plus, the timing of Garmin integration couldn't be better, given the launch of the long-awaited Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 970 watches. What if I don't want to sync?As you can see in the screenshots above, connecting your device's health app to your Garmin is fully optional. The Health Connect platform operates as a secure intermediary, storing all data locally on users' devices rather than in the cloud. Users maintain complete control over their data sharing preferences, with all integrations disabled by default and requiring explicit approval before any information is synchronized between applications. You can easily manage permissions if you'd prefer to keep your data separate. Garmin support should come later this monthThe June rollout of Garmin support, alongside Runna and Mi Fitness integration, is long overdue for dual Android/Garmin users. The company's historically closed ecosystem has meant that users wanting to share their Garmin-collected data with other health and fitness applications faced frustrating barriers or required workaround solutions. Now, the doors should be opened to get your workouts and other data in and out of your Garmin app much easier. Beyond basic fitness metrics, Google emphasized that the integration will enable users to "read and write" more comprehensive health information, including allergies and immunizations data. The integration update is expected to go live sometime in June, though Google has not yet provided a specific launch date. View the full article

The internet is changing rapidly, and the (rather large) chunk of it devoted to adult entertainment is no exception. Porn sites in an increasing number of U.S. states must now verify that their users are adults by requiring them to submit a government-issued ID or some other suitable method of proving their identity. Understandably, this is not necessarily something everyone wants to do every time they visit an adult site. In response, Pornhub, as well as other sites under its parent company Aylo, have gone dark in a lot of these states in protest. As such, many users across these states are now searching for the best VPNs (virtual private networks) to install on their devices so they can still access the site. As of the start of June 2025, 19 states have put these age verification requirements in place: Louisiana, Utah, Mississippi, Virginia, Arkansas, Texas, Montana, North Carolina, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Indiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri. Another five states will join the club in the coming weeks and months, including Georgia, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Arizona. Bills are also pending in an additional 16 states: Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Maryland. State-level legislation aside, the federal SCREEN Act (2025) could bring in country-wide measures if it passes into law. It's a shifting landscape, as laws are proposed and appealed in each state, and the best resources for keeping up to date that I've found are from the Age Verification Providers Association (which is pro-age verification measures) and the Free Speech Coalition (which is against them). On the one side is the argument that kids need to be protected from adult content online, and on the other is the argument that kids will find porn anyway—perhaps through sites that have fewer safeguards and rules around adult content than Pornhub. The Louisiana exception Pornhub can use LA Wallet in Louisiana. Credit: Lifehacker Pornhub owner Aylo's issues with all of this legislation are that age verification systems are ineffective, and an invasion of privacy for those aged 18 or over. Instead, the company is calling for user ages to be verified at the device level, perhaps through the app stores managed by Apple and Google, for example. Lawmakers in Texas have already passed legislation requiring app stores to verify ages before users can download any apps, not just ones with age-restricted content. Louisiana stands out as the one state where Aylo sites, including Pornhub, are cooperating with an age verification system to keep adult content available to users. That system is known as LA Wallet, the digital driver license app that's already active in Louisiana, and which provides robust ID verification. One of the reasons Aylo has kept Pornhub open for business in Louisiana is that LA Wallet can work anonymously: It's a bit like using a two-factor authentication code. Through this mechanism, Pornhub doesn't know who you are, but does know you've been verified as an adult through LA Wallet. For now, other states are lagging in introducing similar tech. They either don't have digital ID systems like LA Wallet, or have systems that aren't as simple to use for the purpose, or as respectful towards user privacy. And so the stand-off continues: Both state governments and Aylo want users to have to verify their age to access Pornhub, they just want to go about it in different ways. How to watch Pornhub if it's blocked in your stateWhatever your position on age verification laws, remember that the best VPNs can connect your computer to a server in a different part of the world—making it look like you're located somewhere other than where you actually are. So wherever you are, if you want to access porn sites that are blocked, a VPN is your new best friend. That's just the start, though, when it comes to the benefits of installing a VPN. These software tools hide your browsing activity from governments, law enforcement agencies, and whoever is providing your internet connection. Generally, VPNs make it harder for companies to track you, and give you more security and privacy (though not total anonymity) online. With that in mind, Lifehacker has covered the best free VPNs, the best paid VPNs, and the best free VPNs for Android in the past, but I'd like to highlight a couple of recommendations here—if you want more suggestions for your internet browsing needs (adult site-related or not), follow those links above. The best free VPN: Proton VPN Proton VPN doesn't put any bandwidth restrictions on free accounts. Credit: Proton We've written in glowing terms before about how good the free Proton VPN is, and it's a great pick if you don't want to spend anything. Its appeal starts with Proton itself: It's committed to privacy, was started by scientists in Switzerland, and is siloed from the big tech names (like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft). It's a name you can trust. There are also surprisingly few restrictions for a free VPN. The two main limitations are you can only connect from one device, and you don't get to choose which country's servers you connect to. That's it—it's not painfully slow, like a lot of free VPNs. If you do need more flexibility in your VPN connections and features, there are paid upgrades available too. Add in the ease of use you get with Proton VPN, the support for a broad range of devices, and the reliability you get from servers around the world, and it's difficult to beat in terms of a free VPN. Sign up here for a Proton account, if you don't already have one. The best paid VPN: NordVPN You can connect to more than 100 different countries with NordVPN Credit: NordVPN You've got a lot of excellent options to pick from when it comes to paid VPNs, and there's no app that's far and away above the others—but we're going to highlight NordVPN here, which we recently compared to ExpressVPN. It's fast, it's flexible, and the software it offers across multiple platforms is more polished and intuitive than with a lot of its rivals. You get lots of features with NordVPN, from split tunneling to DNS customizations to support for the super-private Onion network. While you can easily use the software with just a couple of clicks (or taps), there are numerous advanced features available if you want to dig a bit deeper—you can even have a dedicated IP address (though it costs extra). Pricing for NordVPN starts at $12.99 a month, but you can get some pretty significant discounts if you pay for a year (or two years) up front. That's enough to get you up to six simultaneous connections, and you can sign up here to register and download the apps. View the full article

A reader writes: I’m a manager in an office environment. I’m not involved in hiring or firing. I only make recommendations, and someone else makes the decision and implements it. My instructions are not to talk to the person about it and refer any of their questions to HR. I’ve heard from former employees that when the company lets someone go, they don’t tell them anything about why, just that today is their last day. In some cases the person getting fired expects it somewhat based on past conversations, but some people are completely blindsided and never know what made them lose their job. Is this normal? I answer this question — and two others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. Other questions I’m answering there today include: I regret giving relationship advice to my employee Interviewing candidates before the job has been approved The post my company doesn’t tell people why they’re being fired appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

If you’re a startup that implements objectives and key results (OKRs), you are probably familiar with the basic tools like Google Sheets. However, as your business grows, you will need a tool that supports its expansion, allowing you to scale OKRs across it. A reliable OKRs tool not only enables leaders to assign OKRs, but also streamlines efforts and ensures a hassle-free OKRs cycle. As such, your business will be able to execute, manage, and update OKRs at the company, department, and employee levels. Having said that, let’s find out what makes a good OKRs tool. Essential Features in a Robust OKRs Tool OKR Dashboards: This feature will give you a snapshot of all your data in one place so you can connect the dots better. You will be able to compare important metrics and filter them on specific parameters. Intuitive User Interface: Because the software will be implemented company-wide, you need to be sure all employees can use it. An optimized user interface will make it easy for teams and individuals to focus on the OKRs implementation and management, rather than waste time fussing over complex features and navigation paths. Flexibility in Setting OKRs: When you can set cascading, top-down, and bidirectional OKRs, you have the flexibility to ensure everyone can contribute to the process meaningfully. Business heads can set OKRs, departments can align them with company goals, and team leaders can work with employees to create OKRs based on these goals and their individual capabilities. Easy Visualization: Startups that use OKRs typically interlink their goals and update OKRs based on multiple data sources. Measuring progress can, therefore, become complicated. However, once you look at your OKRs dashboard, you can gain clarity through real-time, visual data (Gantt charts, Kanban boards). You get to know how the data connects together and how much progress you’ve made. Performance Reports: The OKRs tool will help you generate performance and progress reports, so you can anticipate and sidestep roadblocks, as well as improve results. You will be able to track your past performance and progress over time while identifying unhelpful OKRs. Customization and Scaling: Different businesses have different OKRs needs. Your OKRs tool should be designed to create various kinds of OKRs and OKR cycles. The dashboard must be customizable too. Moreover, it should be scalable to support your startup’s eventual growth and match its changing needs. Basically, a good OKRs tool will enable your startup to achieve its goals by measuring the key results. Its holistic dashboard, a super important feature, will ensure accountability, transparency, and data-driven decision-making. 9 OKRs Tool Recommendations for Your Startup Mentioned ahead are some of the most effective OKR tools that startups should leverage for their own benefit. 1. OKRs Tool An OKR software designed especially for startups, OKRs Tool helps simplify goal-setting, tracking, and alignment. It comes with an easy-to-use interface and is packed with AI-driven features. It enables teams to focus on their most critical objectives while ensuring accountability and streamlining progress tracking. The tool is perfect for startups looking for a lightweight platform designed for lean, fast-moving teams without meetings, micromanagement, or per-user pricing. Key Features: Unlimited OKRs and cycles Goal recommendations OKRs vault and feedback loops Real-time tracking Roles + activity log Slack and Google Workspace integrations Health checks, forecasting, and reflections Email and live chat support Pricing: Launch: Free for up to 10 users Scale: $30 per team/month 2. Weekdone Weekdone helps businesses set structured goals, keep track of progress and performance, and oversee OKRs across departments. It comes with a live dashboard that presents real-time data to help you understand what’s working and what’s amiss. The tool simplifies the reporting process, makes goals visible, and increases transparency, enabling informed decision-making. Key features: OKR, KPI, and weekly progress dashboards Hierarchy and Tree views for zooming in and out on goals Person views for employee performance management Pulse Surveys and check-ins Easily exportable custom reports Visual project status tracking Fully customizable templates and forms Pricing: Free for up to 3 users 14-day free trial for 4 or more users Annual plan: $90/month, billed annually (4 – 10 people) Monthly plan: $108 month, billed monthly (4 – 10 people) 3. Profit.co Profit.co OKR enables businesses to keep up with the modern, competitive, and ever-changing marketplace. It helps companies set and prioritize goals, thereby saving time, engaging employees, and implementing strategies even with limited resources. Startups can align their OKRs at the beginning of every quarter with weekly check-ins, reviews, and updates. Through its dashboards, you can understand the real-time progress of OKRs across the company. Key features: OKR Templates and built-in AI guides 400+ inbuilt and custom KPIs Real-time heatmaps Jira, Slack, G Suite, Zapier, Teams, Office 365, and 100+ integrations Enterprise-grade security and compliance Pricing: Available upon request 4. Tability With Tability, startups can “turn goals into habits.” This tool has been designed to keep your company goals at the center of your business activities. It provides weekly reminders and reports, along with the tools needed to intercept risks early. It also effectively links strategic projects to OKRs and team goals. Tability doubles as a project management platform so teams can direct their effort to your startup’s strategic priorities. Key features: Generate goals with AI Check-ins and updates Compare OKRs and visualize dependencies Instant reports and presentation mode Connect tasks to outcomes Stay in sync with your remote teams Pricing: Basic: $6 per seat/month Premium: $10 per seat/month Enterprise: Available upon request 5. Perdoo Perdoo is yet another OKR tool that consistently ranks at the top. It helps businesses drive 10x growth by making OKRs and KPIs work in tandem with the bigger picture. As a result, companies can set better goals, and develop stronger focus as well as superior agility. It easily integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Google Sheets, Zapier, and more. Perdoo also ensures all teams are actively supporting the company’s strategy while letting you see who’s performing well or falling behind. Key features: Customizable cascading views Check-ins and performance reviews Customization of reports and dashboards Visual progress tracking Integration capabilities Comprehensive OKR framework Pricing: Free for up to 5 users Premium: $7.20 per user/month (minimum 10 users) Supreme: $8.80 per user/month (minimum 10 users) 6. Quantive Quantive is an AI-powered platform that aids businesses in strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation. It offers “Flexible goal and OKR management to help you create goals that align to top-level strategy and show how key activities contribute to company-wide success.” The tool helps your teams, company goals, and OKR programs stay on course and contribute to organizational productivity. Through its features, leaders can encourage adaptability, decentralization, accountability, open communication, and collaboration throughout the organization. Key features: AI-powered goal tracking Visualization of goals and overall company objectives Automated reminders and updates Team check-ins Comprehensive suite of strategy and management consulting services Pricing: Teams: $9 per user/month Business: Available upon request Enterprise: Available upon request 7. WorkBoard WorkBoard enables companies to leverage the power of AI to set better OKRs, measure outcomes, lower the learning curve, and spot cross-functional dependencies. Its standout feature? It allows you to create scorecards and dashboards with KRs from across teams. It is hassle-free and can calculate progress automatically over the quarter. You can then update key results from apps like Salesforce, Jira, Azure, and DevOps, among others. It also simplifies the process of adding confidence ratings and narratives for transparency. Key features: Scorecards and interactive MBRs/OBRs Identify functional and cross-functional alignment Executive Briefs to eliminate meetings and show issues Heatmaps with KRs and KPIs Update KRs from other systems AI-suggested lead and lag targets Pricing: Available upon request 8. Synergita Synergita may come with a simple user interface, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it lacks features or doesn’t do the job! How does it work? By breaking down heavier goals into achievable milestones, getting real-time insights into key result areas, pivoting when necessary, and making it easy to track activities. It seamlessly integrates with your company’s HRIS as well as collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack so you never miss an update on any front. Key features: Hierarchy Tree for a straightforward visual representation of OKRs Alignment and cascading Support for the bottom-up approach Pre-designed OKR templates Interactive Dashboard for real-time overview of OKRs Confidence level to evaluate team performance Customizable measurement units for key results Pricing: OKR Starter: Free forever OKR Lite: $3 per user/month, billed annually OKR Growth: $6 per user/month, billed annually 9. SmartOKR As the name suggests, this tool is simple, yet smart. SmartOKR keeps your team on top of the most important outcomes. Say goodbye to never-ending messages, emails, and meetings. SmartOKR will help you identify the objectives that actually need your attention while letting you achieve measurable outcomes. It doesn’t end there: your teams stay in sync and communication is simplified across time zones. Additionally, leaders can identify and appreciate top performers, thereby promoting a culture of high performance. Key features: Goal transparency across company levels Team synchronization across time zones Achievement tracking Employee recognition Reminders and update notifications Pricing: 14-day free trial for all paid plans Pro: $7 per user/month (up to 100 users) Culture: $12 per user/month (up to 100 users) Corporation: Custom pricing (100+ users) They offer a 20% discount for yearly plans. Conclusion Startups that are hungry for success can benefit a great deal from an efficient OKRs tool. Remember, the right OKRs tool is the one that can elevate the way your startup sets, tracks, and achieves its goals. The above-mentioned tools are all packed with helpful features and AI capabilities. However, you should choose one based on your business’s unique goals, ease of use, customization abilities, and third-party integrations. As a startup, it is important that you also consider scalability in your final decision. Would you like to add another OKRs tool to our list? Let us know about it in the comments section. This article, "9 Best OKR Software for Startups in 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re a startup that implements objectives and key results (OKRs), you are probably familiar with the basic tools like Google Sheets. However, as your business grows, you will need a tool that supports its expansion, allowing you to scale OKRs across it. A reliable OKRs tool not only enables leaders to assign OKRs, but also streamlines efforts and ensures a hassle-free OKRs cycle. As such, your business will be able to execute, manage, and update OKRs at the company, department, and employee levels. Having said that, let’s find out what makes a good OKRs tool. Essential Features in a Robust OKRs Tool OKR Dashboards: This feature will give you a snapshot of all your data in one place so you can connect the dots better. You will be able to compare important metrics and filter them on specific parameters. Intuitive User Interface: Because the software will be implemented company-wide, you need to be sure all employees can use it. An optimized user interface will make it easy for teams and individuals to focus on the OKRs implementation and management, rather than waste time fussing over complex features and navigation paths. Flexibility in Setting OKRs: When you can set cascading, top-down, and bidirectional OKRs, you have the flexibility to ensure everyone can contribute to the process meaningfully. Business heads can set OKRs, departments can align them with company goals, and team leaders can work with employees to create OKRs based on these goals and their individual capabilities. Easy Visualization: Startups that use OKRs typically interlink their goals and update OKRs based on multiple data sources. Measuring progress can, therefore, become complicated. However, once you look at your OKRs dashboard, you can gain clarity through real-time, visual data (Gantt charts, Kanban boards). You get to know how the data connects together and how much progress you’ve made. Performance Reports: The OKRs tool will help you generate performance and progress reports, so you can anticipate and sidestep roadblocks, as well as improve results. You will be able to track your past performance and progress over time while identifying unhelpful OKRs. Customization and Scaling: Different businesses have different OKRs needs. Your OKRs tool should be designed to create various kinds of OKRs and OKR cycles. The dashboard must be customizable too. Moreover, it should be scalable to support your startup’s eventual growth and match its changing needs. Basically, a good OKRs tool will enable your startup to achieve its goals by measuring the key results. Its holistic dashboard, a super important feature, will ensure accountability, transparency, and data-driven decision-making. 9 OKRs Tool Recommendations for Your Startup Mentioned ahead are some of the most effective OKR tools that startups should leverage for their own benefit. 1. OKRs Tool An OKR software designed especially for startups, OKRs Tool helps simplify goal-setting, tracking, and alignment. It comes with an easy-to-use interface and is packed with AI-driven features. It enables teams to focus on their most critical objectives while ensuring accountability and streamlining progress tracking. The tool is perfect for startups looking for a lightweight platform designed for lean, fast-moving teams without meetings, micromanagement, or per-user pricing. Key Features: Unlimited OKRs and cycles Goal recommendations OKRs vault and feedback loops Real-time tracking Roles + activity log Slack and Google Workspace integrations Health checks, forecasting, and reflections Email and live chat support Pricing: Launch: Free for up to 10 users Scale: $30 per team/month 2. Weekdone Weekdone helps businesses set structured goals, keep track of progress and performance, and oversee OKRs across departments. It comes with a live dashboard that presents real-time data to help you understand what’s working and what’s amiss. The tool simplifies the reporting process, makes goals visible, and increases transparency, enabling informed decision-making. Key features: OKR, KPI, and weekly progress dashboards Hierarchy and Tree views for zooming in and out on goals Person views for employee performance management Pulse Surveys and check-ins Easily exportable custom reports Visual project status tracking Fully customizable templates and forms Pricing: Free for up to 3 users 14-day free trial for 4 or more users Annual plan: $90/month, billed annually (4 – 10 people) Monthly plan: $108 month, billed monthly (4 – 10 people) 3. Profit.co Profit.co OKR enables businesses to keep up with the modern, competitive, and ever-changing marketplace. It helps companies set and prioritize goals, thereby saving time, engaging employees, and implementing strategies even with limited resources. Startups can align their OKRs at the beginning of every quarter with weekly check-ins, reviews, and updates. Through its dashboards, you can understand the real-time progress of OKRs across the company. Key features: OKR Templates and built-in AI guides 400+ inbuilt and custom KPIs Real-time heatmaps Jira, Slack, G Suite, Zapier, Teams, Office 365, and 100+ integrations Enterprise-grade security and compliance Pricing: Available upon request 4. Tability With Tability, startups can “turn goals into habits.” This tool has been designed to keep your company goals at the center of your business activities. It provides weekly reminders and reports, along with the tools needed to intercept risks early. It also effectively links strategic projects to OKRs and team goals. Tability doubles as a project management platform so teams can direct their effort to your startup’s strategic priorities. Key features: Generate goals with AI Check-ins and updates Compare OKRs and visualize dependencies Instant reports and presentation mode Connect tasks to outcomes Stay in sync with your remote teams Pricing: Basic: $6 per seat/month Premium: $10 per seat/month Enterprise: Available upon request 5. Perdoo Perdoo is yet another OKR tool that consistently ranks at the top. It helps businesses drive 10x growth by making OKRs and KPIs work in tandem with the bigger picture. As a result, companies can set better goals, and develop stronger focus as well as superior agility. It easily integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Google Sheets, Zapier, and more. Perdoo also ensures all teams are actively supporting the company’s strategy while letting you see who’s performing well or falling behind. Key features: Customizable cascading views Check-ins and performance reviews Customization of reports and dashboards Visual progress tracking Integration capabilities Comprehensive OKR framework Pricing: Free for up to 5 users Premium: $7.20 per user/month (minimum 10 users) Supreme: $8.80 per user/month (minimum 10 users) 6. Quantive Quantive is an AI-powered platform that aids businesses in strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation. It offers “Flexible goal and OKR management to help you create goals that align to top-level strategy and show how key activities contribute to company-wide success.” The tool helps your teams, company goals, and OKR programs stay on course and contribute to organizational productivity. Through its features, leaders can encourage adaptability, decentralization, accountability, open communication, and collaboration throughout the organization. Key features: AI-powered goal tracking Visualization of goals and overall company objectives Automated reminders and updates Team check-ins Comprehensive suite of strategy and management consulting services Pricing: Teams: $9 per user/month Business: Available upon request Enterprise: Available upon request 7. WorkBoard WorkBoard enables companies to leverage the power of AI to set better OKRs, measure outcomes, lower the learning curve, and spot cross-functional dependencies. Its standout feature? It allows you to create scorecards and dashboards with KRs from across teams. It is hassle-free and can calculate progress automatically over the quarter. You can then update key results from apps like Salesforce, Jira, Azure, and DevOps, among others. It also simplifies the process of adding confidence ratings and narratives for transparency. Key features: Scorecards and interactive MBRs/OBRs Identify functional and cross-functional alignment Executive Briefs to eliminate meetings and show issues Heatmaps with KRs and KPIs Update KRs from other systems AI-suggested lead and lag targets Pricing: Available upon request 8. Synergita Synergita may come with a simple user interface, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it lacks features or doesn’t do the job! How does it work? By breaking down heavier goals into achievable milestones, getting real-time insights into key result areas, pivoting when necessary, and making it easy to track activities. It seamlessly integrates with your company’s HRIS as well as collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack so you never miss an update on any front. Key features: Hierarchy Tree for a straightforward visual representation of OKRs Alignment and cascading Support for the bottom-up approach Pre-designed OKR templates Interactive Dashboard for real-time overview of OKRs Confidence level to evaluate team performance Customizable measurement units for key results Pricing: OKR Starter: Free forever OKR Lite: $3 per user/month, billed annually OKR Growth: $6 per user/month, billed annually 9. SmartOKR As the name suggests, this tool is simple, yet smart. SmartOKR keeps your team on top of the most important outcomes. Say goodbye to never-ending messages, emails, and meetings. SmartOKR will help you identify the objectives that actually need your attention while letting you achieve measurable outcomes. It doesn’t end there: your teams stay in sync and communication is simplified across time zones. Additionally, leaders can identify and appreciate top performers, thereby promoting a culture of high performance. Key features: Goal transparency across company levels Team synchronization across time zones Achievement tracking Employee recognition Reminders and update notifications Pricing: 14-day free trial for all paid plans Pro: $7 per user/month (up to 100 users) Culture: $12 per user/month (up to 100 users) Corporation: Custom pricing (100+ users) They offer a 20% discount for yearly plans. Conclusion Startups that are hungry for success can benefit a great deal from an efficient OKRs tool. Remember, the right OKRs tool is the one that can elevate the way your startup sets, tracks, and achieves its goals. The above-mentioned tools are all packed with helpful features and AI capabilities. However, you should choose one based on your business’s unique goals, ease of use, customization abilities, and third-party integrations. As a startup, it is important that you also consider scalability in your final decision. Would you like to add another OKRs tool to our list? Let us know about it in the comments section. This article, "9 Best OKR Software for Startups in 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article