ResidentialBusiness

Now that AI Mode is fully live in the U.S. and Google is even testing ads within AI Mode, I noticed that the AI Mode tab under the Google Search bar is consistently on the left side. It even comes before the “All” tab that serves the primary search results. Generally, Google will dynamically show search modes and tabs under the search bar based on the query. So if Google thinks you will want to see the video tab, Google may show that closer to the “All” tab. But with AI Mode, that tab is shown before the “All” tab and always on the left, consistently, for all queries. What it looks like. Here are a few screenshots showing how the AI Mode tab is always on the left side, while the other Search mode tabs are different based on the query being slightly different: Google explains. While at I/O, I asked several Google executives and communication people but no one really knew in the moment. Eventually, I received an email from Google comms who sent me the following statement: “We’ve heard from our users that they want a predictable place to access AI-powered responses, which is why the tab is in a consistent location on the page. Other modes in Search are ranked dynamically and change positions depending on the query.” Why we care. I assumed that since AI Mode was coined the “future of Search” during the Google I/O keynote by Google’s head of Search, Liz Reid, that AI Mode was placed before the “All” tab intentionally. It was a sign that Google felt AI Mode should come before the primary results. But Google serves the “All” tab by default and does not serve “AI Mode” by default for queries. Instead, Google just places the AI Mode tab before the All tab. Google wants to make sure people can easily find it and places it all the way to the right. I still think this is a symbolic placement where Google is making a statement that AI Mode is the future of Search. Again, Google did not tell me that, but hey – that is what I think. View the full article

If you see “Discovered – currently not indexed” in Google Search Console, it means Google is aware of the URL, but hasn’t crawled and indexed it yet. It doesn’t necessarily mean the page will never be processed. As their documentation says, they may come back to it later without any extra effort on your part. But other factors could be preventing Google from crawling and indexing the page, including: Server issues and onsite technical issues are restricting or preventing Google’s crawl capability. Issues relating to the page itself, such as quality. You can also use Google Search Console Inspection API to queue URLs for their coverageState status (as well as other useful data points) en masse. Request indexing via Google Search Console This is an obvious resolution and, for the majority of cases, it will resolve the issue. Sometimes, Google is simply slow to crawl new URLs. It happens. But underlying issues are the culprit other times. When you request indexing, one of two things might happen: URL becomes “Crawled – currently not indexed.” Temporary indexing. Both are symptoms of underlying issues. The second happens because requesting indexing sometimes gives your URL a temporary “freshness boost” which can take the URL above the requisite quality threshold and, in turn, lead to temporary indexing. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Page quality issues This is where vocabulary can get confusing. I’ve been asked, “How can Google determine the page quality if it hasn’t been crawled yet?” This is a good question. The answer is that it can’t. Google assumes the page’s quality based on other pages on the domain. Their classifications are likewise based on URL patterns and website architecture. As a result, moving these pages from “awareness” to the crawl queue can be deprioritized based on the lack of quality they have found on similar pages. It’s possible that pages on similar URL patterns or those located in similar areas of the site architecture have a low-value proposition compared to other pieces of content targeting the same user intents and keywords. Possible causes include: The main content depth. Presentation. Level of supporting content. Uniqueness of the content and perspectives offered. Or even more manipulative issues (i.e., the content is low quality and auto-generated, spun, or directly duplicates already established content). Working on improving the content quality within the site cluster and the specific pages can have a positive impact on reigniting Google’s interest in crawling your content with greater purpose. You can also noindex other pages on the website that you acknowledge aren’t of the highest quality to improve the ratio of good-quality pages to bad-quality pages on the site. Crawl budget and efficiency Crawl budget is an often misunderstood mechanism in SEO. The majority of websites don’t need to worry about this. Google’s Gary Illyes has gone on the record claiming that probably 90% of websites don’t need to think about crawl budget. It is often regarded as a problem for enterprise websites. Crawl efficiency, on the other hand, can affect websites of all sizes. Overlooked, it can lead to issues on how Google crawls and processes the website. To illustrate, if your website: Duplicates URLs with parameters. Resolves with and without trailing slashes. Is available on HTTP and HTTPS. Serves content from multiple subdomains (e.g., https://website.com and https://www.website.com). …then you might be having duplication issues that impact Google’s assumptions on crawl priority based on wider site assumptions. You might be zapping Google’s crawl budget with unnecessary URLs and requests. Given that Googlebot crawls websites in portions, this can lead to Google’s resources not stretching far enough to discover all newly published URLs as fast as you would like. You want to crawl your website regularly, and ensure that: Pages resolve to a single subdomain (as desired). Pages resolve to a single HTTP protocol. URLs with parameters are canonicalized to the root (as desired). Internal links don’t use redirects unnecessarily. If your website utilizes parameters, such as ecommerce product filters, you can curb the crawling of these URI paths by disallowing them in the robots.txt file. Your server can also be important in how Google allocates the budget to crawl your website. If your server is overloaded and responding too slowly, crawling issues may arise. In this case, Googlebot won’t be able to access the page, resulting in some of your content not getting crawled. Consequently, Google will probably try to come back later to index the website, which will undoubtedly cause a delay in the whole process. The relationship between crawling and indexing For several years, we’ve believed that there is a quantifiable relationship between crawling and indexing. Over the years, we’ve seen that URLs tend to “fall out of the index” if they haven’t been crawled at least once every 75 to 140 days. The variance likely depends on how “popular” and “in demand” the URL is or has been. The above graph, which I shared at the Tech SEO Summit in April, shows the URL indexing curve over multi-million URL websites and its correlation to the last crawl date. New data shared in the SEO industry has defined “130 days” as being the benchmark, and this aligns with the narrative we’ve seen over the years. Internal linking When you have a website, it’s important to have internal links from one page to another. Google usually pays less attention to URLs that don’t have any or enough internal links – and may even exclude them from its index. You can check the number of internal links to pages through crawlers like Screaming Frog and Sitebulb. Optimizing your website requires an organized and logical website structure with internal links. But if you have trouble with this, one way to make sure all of your internal pages are connected is to “hack” into the crawl depth using HTML sitemaps. These are designed for users, not machines. Although they may be seen as relics now, they can still be useful. Additionally, if your website has many URLs, it’s wise to split them up among multiple pages. You don’t want them all linked from a single page. Internal links also need to use the <a> tag for internal links instead of relying on JavaScript functions such as onClick(). If you’re utilizing a Jamstack or JavaScript framework, investigate how it or any related libraries handle internal links. These must be presented as <a> tags. View the full article

Moving is famously one of the most stressful things you can do. Not only is it a ton of work and a major financial expense, but you're dealing with the weight of leaving behind one home and starting fresh in another. It's a burden on your calendar, your wallet, and your emotions. Whether you are relocating for a new job, moving in with a partner (or moving away from one after a breakup), or just need a change of scenery, you should take the opportunity to appreciate (if not relish) the momentous event—and not be filled with dread, stress, and regret throughout the process. If you're looking to pull off the smoothest, least painful move ever, follow these five essential steps, as outlined by experts in the moving business. 1. Start planning as early as possibleLong before you put a single possession into a cardboard box, you have to plan out your move. And I really mean it—every aspect. This is more involved than you think, so start early and set aside a chunk of time. Shanaiqua D'Sa, a content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage, notes that planning ahead is, "undoubtedly the first and most important step." It should include budgeting, comparing moving companies, considering if you need a storage unit to temporarily house your stuff, acquiring packing materials, and more. Set a budgetBudgeting should be your main focus. This can include: A truck rental or a moving company, insurance, fuel, labor costs, packing supplies, overlapping rent or mortgage payments, a storage unit, utility transfers, cleaning fees, repairs (on the old or new property), and paying food and/or shelter during the move. Costs for all of these will vary depending on your needs, so spend some time sketching out different scenarios. Once you have a budget in mind, increase it by 10% to 15%, according to Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co. "Build room for the unpredictable," he says. "We see a lot of people plan for truck and labor, but forget about costs that compound." Be realistic, and you'll avoid surprises. Nick Friedman, co-founder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving, advises, "The more labor you require, the higher your overall cost will be. For local moves, many companies offer flat rates based on time and labor, but it’s important to make sure those quotes match your actual needs. Opting for too many services can lead to overpaying, while too few may leave you scrambling on moving day." Start by figuring out what, if anything, you will handle yourself, and what you'll outsource. Moving companies can help with everything from packing to furniture disassembly, but each likely comes with additional costs. Define what you want before you start calling companies to avoid getting upsold on something you don't really need help with. Find the right moversThat leads me to your next step, which is researching moving companies. Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage, advises prioritizing reliability and reputation as highly as price: "Pay attention to how long the company has been in business because solid experience usually means smoother operations." Call a number of places and be upfront about everything from the scope of your move, to any special considerations like unusually heavy furniture, tight hallways, or lots of stairs. Get multiple estimates, and get everything in writing. Ask for detailed cost breakdowns to find out whether gas, stairs, furniture wrapping, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and more will increase your costs. Once you've narrowed down your list of possibilities, ask for proof of licensing and insurance, advises Friedman. If a company won't be straightforward about answering your questions and providing you with paperwork, cross them off your list. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers, cautions against being "drawn in by lowball pricing," too. Any quote that seems "too good to be true" almost certainly is. Avoid companies with excessive upfront deposits—usually anything over 25% of the total cost—and read a ton of customer reviews before signing any contracts. 2. Declutter before you move (or pack)Multiple pros I spoke to made the same point, and it's worth repeating here: Declutter before your move so you don't waste money moving things you don't need or want to keep. (Here's a more detailed breakdown of how and why to declutter before a move) In general, you should start this process a few weeks in advance of your move. Three or so weeks at least ensures that you have enough time to think about what you really need to keep, and to donate or sell what you don't. If something is broken or rarely used, consider leaving it behind as you move into a new phase of your life. A few weeks will give you time to actually list and sell things to make money for your move, but set a deadline for when you'll donate the remainder—you don't want junk lying around when the movers show up. This could come with additional expenses. D'Sa points out that if you're downsizing significantly, you may have to budget for a small dumpster for everything you need to throw away. Still, it's worth it: All of my experts agreed that decluttering is the single most effective way to save money and psychologically prepare for your move. You'll also get a head start on packing simply by getting a clearer picture of everything you own. 3. Pack like a pro, even if you can't pay for itLike planning and decluttering, packing will start weeks before you move. I realize that's not always possible, but do try to start as soon as you can. Waiting until a few days before—or worse, the day the movers show up—can lead to chaos. Movers can help you pack, but that's typically expensive. Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove, cautions, "Packing always takes longer than expected, so start early, especially with seasonal items or belongings you don't use daily." While you can likely score some free boxes from local businesses, it's a good idea to just buy them (you can usually find the best prices at big box hardware stores). Rimeris suggests purchasing high-quality tape, "markers you can actually read," and strong boxes, all of which are "worth every penny." Mindy Godding, president of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, advises buying all your boxes so they're all similar shapes and sizes and will pack more easily. You can cut down your costs on protective supplies, Godding says, noting packing paper works just as well as bubble wrap or pre-made inserts when it comes to protecting your fragile items. Renting crates can save you some effort, at a costIf you don't want to buy boxes, you can consider renting reusable plastic crates. A number of companies, both local and national, will deliver these crates to you before you move and pick them up when you're done. They're sturdier than cardboard boxes, stackable, uniform, and returnable, so they make packing easy. Uhaul, RentalCrates.com, and Perfect Crates all offer this service, so compare prices for your exact needs. Get creativeGodding suggests placing plastic cups around delicate items like figurines, and clearly labeling any boxes with something breakable inside. Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ, adds that you can use household materials like towels and linens to cushion delicate items as you pack, and Tiam Behdarvandan, founder of Let's Get Moving, suggests packing heavier things, like books, into rolling suitcases, since the wheels make it easier to haul them around. Photos are your friend during this porcess. Take photos of your boxes as you pack so you know what's in each box if you should need something in an emergency. Also take pictures of things like cable configurations behind the TV, so setting everything back up will be easier. Beller and Charles Chica, co-owners of CT Best Movers, recommend keeping your clothes on the hangers and tossing a garbage bag over them. When you get to the new house, cut a hole in the bag, thread the hangers through, slip them on the rod, then cut the bag off. (Here are more tips on how to pack in a way that makes it easier to unpack.) Have a systemPack room by room, and within each room, proceeding in terms of urgency, and designate one box of "essentials" from each. These boxes—which will contain things like toothbrushes, soap, pajamas, and coffee pots, plates and silverware, and anything else you might need in the first days at your new home—should be loaded into the moving van last, unloaded first, and opened on your first night there. Making sure your boxes of must-haves are easily accessible will make settling in a lot easier. (Keep a knife or scissors handy so you can actually open them.) 4. Do what you need to do online before you moveIt's eay to get so wrapped up in the physical process of moving your possessions from one place to another that you can forget about what comes next: Living somewhere new. Especially if you're moving to a new town, you will have to check a bunch of boxes to get your new life up and running. A lot of these things can be handled online, so do your research and accomplish as much as you can before your move. Start by making a list of all the different things to deal with at your current address. You may need to make some repairs to get your security deposit back if you're a renter. Take stock of your bills and memberships: cancel your gym membership and any other local recurring charges, like public transit cards that auto-renew. Set up a mail forwarding so you will get any mail that comes to your old place. Cancel your utilities. Reach out to your doctor, dentist, optometrist, and other providers to find out if they can make referrals for you in your new area and provide copies of all your important records and documents. Forward your prescriptions to a new pharmacy. Now, shift focus to your new location. Set up your utilities and the online accounts you'll need to pay them, switch your driver's license information if necessary, research the deadlines for re-registering your car, and contact your insurer (hopefully your new area will have lower rates). You can even start looking for local doctors, dentists, or any other professionals you'll need to avail yourself of in the short term after you move. 5. Stay on top of things the day ofThe last step is the big one: It's time to move. Even this part still comes down to planning and budgeting. Jordan Sakala of laborhutt.com suggests moving during the week and mid-month, when demand is lower, and making sure you're ready and packed before the movers arrive. If you're not ready when they pull up, you could get charged an hourly fee while they either wait around for you or jump in to help speed things along. Make sure to tell movers about heavy furniture or tight squeezes in advance so they come with all the necessary tools, as if you don't, you may end up waiting around (and being charged for it) while they run to get them—or, worse, be told they can't move those things at all. On moving day, even if you've hired a full-service moving team and outsourced pretty much everything, it's a good idea to stick around and supervise so you can answer any last-minute questions. There are some things movers won't touch, so it will be your responsibility to coordinate their transport. Get a written list of what your company won't deal with in advance, but in general, expect to take care of your own jewelry, delicate valuables, identifying documents, medical papers and medications, hazardous materials, plants, and pets. Before walking out your door for the last time, check the place over, and make sure you know exactly where the "essentials" boxes you packed are. Once they're all accounted for, get on the road to your new home—hopefully feeling excited, instead of frazzled and exhausted. View the full article

For the last 10 years, all of my moves have happened within about a 15-block radius. For personal reasons (a dislike of annoyance and paperwork), I may never leave this neighborhood in Manhattan. Then again, I may not have a choice. You never know when something—a great job opportunity or the sudden desire to experience something new—may come up. If and when you find yourself moving not just locally, but quite a distance, there are some unexpected hurdles you'll need to keep in mind that differentiate this from your standard move. Your budget has to be on pointBudgeting for any kind of move is a key to not going broke during the process, but your expenses for a longer move are going to be more, obviously, and are also going to include quite a few things that you may not immediately think of. Monthly billsIf you're undergoing a more significant move, chances are good that you'll have a rent and utilities overlap, which should be part of your budget planning. In addition to billing overlap, consider any fees you may incur for canceling utility accounts or opening new ones—be sure to check with your new city on how much all of that costs around there. The city you're moving to might have higher taxes, for instance, which may make your monthly bills higher than you expect. You should also think about your other monthly expenses that may change after your move. Your gym membership is a good example. Are you locked into one that is going to be hard to cancel? Many gyms require proof that you're moving out of the region or a certified letter to cancel your membership. On this topic, while it's not quite related to budget, necessarily, check with your doctor, dentist, and other providers about getting referrals, having prescriptions moved to new pharmacies, and if there's anything you should consider related to your healthcare in the new city while you find new providers. Do a quick scan of your checking account to identify any city-specific recurring charges, like public transit passes or bills. Repairs on the new placeRepairs on the old or new home can also add up, especially if you're moving to the new place sight-unseen or if you haven't had a chance to truly assess it. One person I spoke to who moved cross-country, for instance, said the new house they moved to was great—but it had been unoccupied for a while before they moved in, which resulted in spending some time and money cleaning up that they hadn't accounted for. Food and lodgingThe farther you move, the longer you'll spend without a roof over your head and possibly even without a lot of your possessions, as they may still be in transit after you arrive. Don't forget to budget in some money for takeout and even hotel stays, if necessary. Building the budget will take time. Get quotes from a variety of moving companies, figure out your travel situation, add in money for food and bills in the new city, consider whether you need to make any repairs on your old place, and determine what, if anything, it will cost to update your identification and utilities. When you're done ballparking all that, add 10 to 15% onto the number you end up with, advises Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co. According to him, that "isn't just practical," but "gives people back a sense of agency when plans shift." When you find yourself in a brand-new town, having a sense of agency will keep you feeling sane. How to choose the right moversFinding a good moving company is crucial for any move, but when your stuff is getting hauled across the state—or across the country—it's even more important to do your research. "Find a company that is licensed, insured, has good reviews, and has the proper checks and balances in place," says Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Movers. You might be tempted to go with whatever company is the cheapest, but it's important to weight price as just one of many factors. Spend time looking for a company, get your estimates in writing, and provide as much detail as you can about whether you will need help with packing and furniture disassembly and reassembly, as well as what the parking situation is at both the pickup and drop-off locations. Communicate clearly and honestly and make sure all of the communication you receive is backed up in writing. The farther you move, the more complicated this might be, so use an honesty-first approach to avoid any surprise fees or issues. What you might not realize about long-distance movesAlex Girard, whom I interviewed for this story, has lived in four states and recently completed his farthest move. He said that the process for selecting a moving company was trickier than he anticipated, partly because moving works a little differently over long distances. "I didn't realize (though it makes sense) that basically the way it works is local movers on either end partner with some national trucking company to do the actual long-haul, so it was kind of hard to compare services," he says. Another difference is that the movers won't load your stuff up and drive directly to your new place, which requires extra planning on your part. "Since the moving companies are partnering with trucking lines," Girard says, "they don't do a special delivery straight to the new house from the old one. Your stuff sits at a warehouse on both sides for a while until they can be loaded onto the next truck out." To avoid the disastrous situation of having to live in a new home with absolutely nothing for two or three weeks, plan for this in advance. Most places Girard spoke to said the boxes and furniture would arrive within 10 to 20 days, so he shipped his most important necessities to his new house in advance, relying on the postal system to make sure he arrived to a new home that contained the essentials he needed to work and live. That was smart, since it actually took a few weeks for the moving companies to deliver everything else, but it was also "a bit expensive." Regardless of how far you're moving, there are things you'll need to keep with you, as movers may not want to (or may not be able to) move all of your belongings. These types of things include identification documents, medications, perishables, hazardous materials, pets (obviously), and even plants. Knowing in advance you'll need to find a safe way to transport all of these and keep them on you is important to ensuring a smooth move. Read online reviews, but don't obsess over themYou'll certainly spend time reading online reviews as you select your moving company—and that's good, but read them with skepticism, too. Girard says he spent a lot of time researching moving companies and pointed out that he read a lot of nightmare-sounding online reviews, but didn't experience anything as catastrophic as what they described. That's a good thing to keep in mind as you do your own research: In general, remember that online reviews only tell part of the story. Someone is more likely to write one when they're super mad and more likely to forget to write one when they have a totally unremarkable experience. Your best bet is to call as many companies as you can, speak to them directly, and make sure they're insured, knowledgeable, and reasonable. (And if you end up having a positive experience with them, consider writing a review just to help out the next person in this position.) Get on the phoneThis is a tip I learned from my mom and am always happy to share: Call people. You can get more done in a 15-minute phone call than a four-day email thread. Whenever she and I go on a trip, she calls the chamber of commerce in that city to ask a local what, exactly, we should be sure not to miss, which has resulted in us having incredible experiences we would never have found if we'd just relied on TripAdvisor or Reddit. The same applies here. Contact your new local government to get a straightforward answer to what, exactly, you need to do to have a smooth move. You'll need a new driver's license, for instance, and the process for obtaining it should be pretty simple, but that can vary by jurisdiction. Turning on your new utilities, updating your mailing address, learning about any new taxes or regulations—all of this should be explained to you by a knowledgeable local. It's likely they'll direct you to an online portal, yes, but you'll know you're working with the right information, which is half the battle. Ask for help from a localFinally, try to find a local who might be willing to answer some questions or tell you more about the town. When I moved from North Dakota to New York at 18, I was enrolled in a university where there were campus reps whose job it was to teach us about the city, but what I learned from them was nothing compared to what I ultimately learned from befriending kids who were born here. City employees can only get you so far. If you don't know anyone in the new place, post an inquiry on Reddit (most cities have their own subreddits—do some Googling to find the most active ones wherever you're moving). In my experience, people love talking up their hometowns. From hidden gems in the culinary landscape to unexpected expenses (Girard notes that he was unpleasantly surprised by the higher taxes on alcohol in his new town), everyday people will be more likely to tell you about the everyday experiences of living there, which will help you acclimate a lot faster. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. When you're packing to move, you have a lot to keep in mind. You may want to think of how to minimize costs and how to get rid of all your extra junk, but what about packing in a way that makes unpacking easier? Few things are more annoying than getting to your new home and needing a specific object—where the heck is that screwdriver?—only to find that your past self's haphazard packing job made things difficult on your current self. You want your transition into your new space to be smooth and even enjoyable, to the extent it can be. Here are some tips to make sure not just that the packing process is easy—but the unpacking process, too. Start earlier than you thinkHistorically, when I've moved apartments, I've waited until the week of the big move to start gathering my things. This has never worked out for me. Don't do that. You should actually start three or four weeks in advance. I know that sounds annoying, but you need that time buffer. "Packing always takes longer than expected, so start early," says Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove. "Especially with seasonal items or belongings you don't use daily." The time isn't just for packing, mind you: packing also includes decluttering, since you don't want to spend money or energy moving items you don't need or want in the new place. Next, and maybe most importantly, you need that time to make adjustments to your plans. If the boxes you're using aren't strong enough, if you didn't budget enough for packing supplies, or if you find that you're having a hard time categorizing everything, you'll be grateful for an extra few days to get it all sorted. Select the right suppliesA number of pros I spoke to recommended buying new boxes instead of trying to save money by using old ones. That will cost you money, but might also save you some headaches, as older boxes can lose their integrity—that, plus having boxes that are all (or mostly) the same size will making packing and moving much easier. If you don't want to buy boxes, consider reusable plastic crates, which also give you the uniformity in addition to even greater stability. A number of companies at the local and national levels will rent these crates out to you. U-Haul, RentalCrates.com, and Perfect Crates all offer this service, but check locally, too, and compare prices for your exact needs. If you're moving nearby, a local company should do the trick. For long-distance moves, consider one of the bigger ones above just to make the return easier, as they drop off and pick up the supplies. Another thing to keep in mind is high-quality tape. Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co., says sturdy boxes and strong tape are "worth every penny." Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Movers, also advises you never "go cheap" with your tape: "You'll regret it when a box or bag breaks open mid-move." Go room by roomYou need to be strategic while you pack. Again, historically, I've failed at this—likely because I waited too long and just ended up running around, shoving things into boxes wherever they'd fit and praying I'd be able to make sense of the mess when I got to my new place. Instead of panicking like that, approach your packing systematically. Go room by room. "Pack one room at a time so that all the items are grouped together when unpacking," says Stephanie Rees, assistant product manager of mailing and moving accessories for Duck Brand. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers, says the same: "When you go room by room, filling moving boxes or bins, you ensure that the items to be unpacked will most likely be together in the same room on the other side. You don't want to drag boxes around your new home finding places for scattered objects." Doing it this way is also going to help you stay organized in the new place, since it aligns with the rules of the Organizational Triangle: Everything must have a place and be stored with similar items. Grouping together similar categories makes it easier to organize and store them once you move. Separate the essentialsWhile you're packing room by room, you should also be packing in order of urgency. Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Movers, says you should have one box of immediate essentials that should include "stuff like meds, chargers, toiletries, documents, and even just a change of clothes" and you should pack it and bring it along with you yourself, even if you hire movers for everything else. You should also have boxes of essentials for every single room in the house—stuff that might not be so important that you'll put it in your take-with-you box, but stuff you know you'll need soon. From your bathrooms, that might include things like spare toothbrushes, soap, and a towel. From the bedrooms, think pajamas, kids' stuffed animals, and a few changes of clothes. The kitchen essentials might be some cookware and a coffee pot. With a box like this for each room, even if you're too tired to unpack on the first (or second or third) night in the new place, you'll have what you need to be comfortable so you don't have to dig through all your other boxes just to find some toothpaste. Shanaiqua D'Sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage, suggests the same thing, but adds an important caveat: "The single most overlooked thing that makes unpacking easier is ensuring you keep a pair of scissors or penknife on hand," she says, so add that to the things you're keeping accessible, not packing away. "So many people move houses, are all set to unpack, and then can't unpick the packaging tape on the boxes and don't have a pair of scissors or knife on hand to do so. It's just one added frustration that you really don't need." While you're separating out the essentials, "Don’t overlook your healthcare needs," says Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove. "Before making the move, ensure you have access to your medical records and enough prescription medication to last until you find a new primary care provider. This small step can prevent unnecessary stress down the road." Don't over-complicate the small stuffWe all have so much small stuff—batteries, screws, art supplies, etc. Why not keep some of it where it is? If you have a unit with drawers that contain a bunch of stuff, tape the units closed securely and transport them just like that, says Jordan Sakala of laborhutt.com. Other small items can and should be tossed into Ziploc bags, but you have to label them clearly, says Chica, and you should tape those bags where they belong. Bags of screws should be taped to the furniture they're for, for instance, and bags of chargers should be taped to the container or furniture where they're stored. Clothes might seem like "big stuff," but you can actually think of them like "small stuff" here. Gather your hanging clothes together and slip a garbage bag right over them, keeping them on their hangers and all, says Chica. I always cut a little hole in the top of the bag so the hangers can stick out, then hang them on their new rod when I move in and (carefully) cut the bag right off. Some clothes, though, can be used to protect the "small stuff." Multiple pros mentioned to me that scarves, socks, t-shirts, tablecloths, curtains, and more can and should be wrapped around valuables. This saves you money on packing supplies and keeps your goods safe. Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co., even claims that "t-shirts cushion dishes better than bubble wrap ever did." Label carefullyAs you pack, don't forget to label your boxes. Multiple pros recommend color-coding your labels to align with the room the contents belong in, but how you do that is up to you. Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ, says colored labels can help pro movers place boxes in the right room, but if you don't have colorful labels, even color-coded stickers can work, according to Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage. On top of that, get really detailed. "Don't just write 'misc.' because that's a nightmare when you're tired and trying to find your coffee maker on day one," says Tiam Behdarvandan, CEO and Founder of Let's Get Moving. Write the specific object names on the side of the box so you always know exactly what you're dealing with. Label the urgent boxes, first-day boxes, and every other detail that will be relevant when you get there. Pack (and load the truck) thoughtfullyWhether you're filling your own U-haul or have hired pros to take care of this part, think strategically about the order everything gets loaded. If the kitchen of your new home is all the way in the back of house, put the kitchen boxes in last so they're the first to come out and you can easily get them to the back of the house without tripping on other boxes. Ideally, furniture should be in a separate van or truck so it can come out first, since you're not going to want to be shoving a credenza through a pile of cardboard boxes, either. The same goes for the packing of the boxes themselves: Label them clearly and try to pack them in a way that has some kind of logical sense. A box full of kitchen appliances is more important to unpack first because you want the big stuff in place on your counter before you add in the decor. You want to unpack your sheets before your throw pillows so you can get them on the bed in the right order, so you might want those pillows on the bottom of the bedding box and the sheets on the top. Finally, you'll want to jot down on each box what its contents are. Don't just label them by room. Instead, says Tiam Behdarvandan, CEO and founder of Let's Get Moving, write the specific object names on the side of the box so you always know exactly what you're dealing with. Label the urgent boxes, first-day boxes, and every other detail that will be relevant when you get there. Here's a bonus tip from Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage: You probably already know that you should be packing as much as you can into your suitcases to avoid over-spending on boxes, but you should think a little more critically about what should be packed in them. Heavy items, like books, are a great option, since the wheels of a suitcase can help save your back. Items that have to travel a long way through the new home are also a good option, again because of the wheels. So, too, are things that come in many sub-categories, like toiletries, as long as the suitcase has interior pockets. One pocket can be for lotion, another can be for facial skincare, and another can be for perfume, and so on. These are suggestions for an ideal scenario, of course. I know full well how much more stressful packing is in reality; sometimes, you just don't have time to think through all of these little things. That's why it's best to start this process weeks in advance, if you can. You want time to make a plan so that the unpacking and moving-in aren't as stressful as the packing and moving-out. Start your time in your new place off right. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. As you're planning your big move, you'll likely find yourself talking to a number of moving companies to figure out which one has policies, prices, and availability that work best for your needs. Through that process, you might be surprised to learn that there are things movers won't touch, though the exact types of objects they won't move do vary from company to company. This isn't their way of getting one over on you during a vulnerable time, though you might feel like it is. Rather, according to Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co., "it's about respect and risk." What moving companies generally won't touchRimeris says his company won't move weapons, open liquids, or valuables like personal identification or heirlooms. That aligned with what I heard from a number of other pros, who also mentioned jewelry, cash, paperwork, passports, medication, anything "irreplaceable," anything flammable, cleaning products, fire extinguishers, paint, and fireworks. Some companies won't even transport your plants or perishable food. And, of course, they're not transporting your dog or other pets. Many pros told me that you should contact your moving company with an itemized list of what you want moved in advance. Your company might be fine moving some of these things and they'll let you know. Get that in writing. So what do you do with the stuff they won't move?First, ask moving companies for a written list of what they will not transport, just so you have an idea of what is going to fall under your responsibility and so you can avoid surprise refusals or fees when they get there. ValuablesKeep your valuables on you during the move, especially things like identification documents, prescriptions, and your birth certificate and social security card. It's a good idea to move those things yourself in your personal vehicle from one home to the next. Because these things are so important, consider a portable lockbox (around $30 or so). It's small enough to move around with you but can keep everything organized and untouchable. Hazardous materialsAs for any hazardous materials, don't transport those yourself—for the same reasons the movers don't want to. Kris Kay, director of operations at UNITS Moving and Portable Storage, cautions that you should contact local disposal centers for proper handling of anything like gasoline or propane tanks. Tiam Behdarvandan, CEO and founder of Let's Get Moving, says that even a small leak can cause a dangerous situation. Anything old or half-used can be disposed of at a local hazardous waste facility. If you have full canisters of gas or other hazardous materials and don't want to dispose of them, ask your local disposal center for specific recommendations on transport. PetsIf you're moving locally, Shainaiqua D'Sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage, advises that "children and pets can unintentionally slow down the moving process," so you should arrange for someone to look after them on the day of the move. You should also flag your vet about the move well in advance. Alex Girard, who recently moved across the country, was surprised to find that his cat needed to be given a "certificate of health" before she was able to fly on a commercial airline to their new city, for instance. Your vet may also prescribe medication to calm your animal down if you have to fly or travel a long distance with them. Seek specific advice on all things travel-related from the vet, like how big your carrying case should be, and contact your airline if you're flying to get information on their policies around animal travel. Like your valuables, you need to keep pet supplies on you. From food to poop bags, these will need to travel with you personally—and you should pack more than you think you'll need in case of any hiccups. Pet identification, medications, accessories, and a favorite item that smells like you should also be included. PlantsPlants are tricky. Start by watering them well a few days before the move and then find a box slightly bigger than the pot, stuffing packing materials around it to keep it cushioned inside. (As with valuables and delicate objects, you can use t-shirts, towels, or other soft goods for this.) Then, cover the plant itself with a large plastic bag, like a trash bag. You should move the plant in a sturdy, temperature-controlled environment, like in your personal vehicle. If you have to fly, it'll be a little more complicated. The TSA allows plants in both carry-on and checked luggage, but you need to contact your airline directly to find out about their policies. Perishable foodsA few weeks in advance, obviously, try to eat these if you can. Decluttering is the best way to save time, space, and money ahead of a move. Consider donating to a food kitchen, especially if you're moving a long distance. Otherwise, these, too, need to be boxed up and taken with you, whether in your personal vehicle or on a plane. Depending on how far you have to travel, consider picking up a cooler. Travel-safe versions with carry straps can be as low as $15. The less straightforward objectsThere are some items that movers will move (or could refuse on a case-by-case basis) but they, too, are important to mention in advance. "Like most movers, we do not handle hazardous or prohibited materials like gas canisters, explosives, or chemicals," says Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage. "If you need to move something unusual like a piano, a safe, or antiques, make sure to tell us ahead of time because these require special handling and planning." A few different pros I spoke to mentioned things like pianos and aquariums, actually, and while they will generally move them, they do need to know about them in advance. You might have to pay extra fees for certain objects, depending on what they are and which company you're going with, so get that information in advance to avoid budgetary surprises on the day of the move. If possible, try to move those yourself, but keep in mind that a fee might be worth paying if the other option is literally moving a piano on your own. If you don't declare these things in advance, fees won't be your only problem. Without advance knowledge of tricky, heavy objects, movers may not show up with the right tools and materials, meaning they can't move those and there's nothing you or they can do about it. In the best-case scenario, they have to take extra time to go get the right tools, which can cost you hourly fees and precious time. In the worst-case scenario, they can't do that and you're stuck there with some huge thing you also don't have the tools to move. In the event you find yourself in a situation where you have to move a piano, safe, aquarium, or other unwieldy object, you need moving blankets. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers, says, "If you're doing your own move, don't skip blanket wrapping furniture pieces. It will protect the pieces themselves in transit, but also reduce the chance of nicking walls and doorways with the edges of bulky items." A 12-pack is about $60. Secure them around the object with heavy-duty tape and place sliders under the legs or corners. Even if you are doing the move yourself, it would be beneficial to contact moving companies for quotes on what it would cost for them to simply help you get these bulky items out of your space and into your U-Haul. Again, movers will move heavier items in most cases, but you have to tell them in advance. View the full article

Moving is something that drains you of time, energy, and money, and you probably don't want to do any extra work if you don't have to. But hear me out: You should still use a big move as an opportunity to declutter. Here is your chance to assess every item you own and make decisions about what you really need. Who knows the next time you'll be able to handle every single possession, categorize everything, and make a truly meaningful dent in your clutter? Why you should declutter right before you move First of all, decluttering before a move can actually save you money. "The biggest mistake we see people make time and time again is underestimating how much stuff they have and overestimating how easy it is to move," says Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Movers. "It's best to start by decluttering and getting rid of anything you don't use or need. This works wonders, saving time, space, and especially money." Mindy Godding, President of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, and Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ, agree, pointing out that if you don't pare down what you own before moving, you'll end up paying for the labor and transportation costs associated with moving stuff you don't need or use. It also makes packing and unpacking easier. Adam Hamilton, CEO of REI Hub, says that the last time he moved, decluttering in the weeks leading up to the big day "really helped" because it got him organized, which made it much simpler to pack. Beyond that, with better organization and less stuff to unpack, the process of settling into the new place was more seamless, too. Start the decluttering earlyA few weeks before your move, start to get into a decluttering mindset. Godding suggests scheduling time to declutter your space before you even start to pack. Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove, says that packing always takes longer than expected, so the earlier you start with the pre-packing, the easier it's all going to go. He recommends paying special attention to seasonal items and things you don't use daily. Obviously, this is a little tricky, especially if you aren't familiar with decluttering. Here is a list of my favorite decluttering methods—any of these would work well as a template to follow. Some of the techniques do work better as you're boxing things up, though. For instance, the "packing party" is a decluttering method that involves putting everything from a room into boxes, then only pulling out what you immediately need as you need it for 21 days. After those three weeks, you're supposed to get rid of everything you didn't reach for. It could be worth it to pack everything up three weeks before your move, use the packing party guidelines until that time, and then donate everything you didn't touch before re-boxing up what you did use and bringing that to the new place. Many decluttering methods also rely on containers more generally. When decluttering and organizing, there are a few rules to keep in mind: Everything you own must have a place and it must be stored with similar items, ideally in containers. Starting this process a few weeks before the move can actually help you when it's time to relocate, as your stuff will already be categorized and in boxes. Declutter as you packHock says he finds it helpful to keep decluttering even after packing has begun. Your first decluttering sweep should take place a few weeks before you pack and leave, yes, but the job isn't fully done then. Before packing, borrow some ideas from organizing guru Peter Walsh: Envision your new home and what you want every room to look and feel like. Set intentions for each room. Do you want the dining room to feel airy and spacious? Do you want the office to be sleek and minimalistic so you can focus? As you're packing the boxes of items that belong in each room, consider each one and ask yourself if that item contributes to the vibe and function you envision for the space. If it doesn't, get rid of it. If you're struggling to decide what stays and what goes, I put together a list of questions to ask yourself when assessing a tricky possession. These focus on how often you use something, the condition it's in, and whether you could conceivably and economically replace it if you found yourself in a position of actually needing it. "If you haven't used it or worn it in the last year, you likely don't need it," says Chica. What to do with the unwanted itemsAnother advantage of starting this process early is that you give yourself some wiggle room if you want to try to sell things—which can actually give you a little extra cash for moving expenses. Online marketplaces like Poshmark and Mercari are great for offloading housewares, clothing, decor, and even some furniture, but they do have the potential to make you wait a while. I am an active online reseller and I can tell you that it's rare to make a sale immediately after listing something, so if you want to make some money off your goods, list them weeks before your move. For bigger furniture or, in my experience, faster sales, list on Facebook Marketplace to keep your sales local. Whatever doesn't sell should be donated, says Hamilton. Use the day before move-out day as a hard deadline. Many local thrift shops will pick up heavy items, like furniture, if you coordinate with them and you can bring boxes of smaller goods in yourself. You can also post these things on Craigslist's "free" section or "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook, then set them on a curb with clear instructions in your post for how to find them. In the event you opt to just throw stuff out, make sure you're prepared to deal with the volume and associated costs. Shanaiqua D'sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage, warns you may need to hire a small skip or dumpster if you have a lot to toss out and you can't forget to budget for trash bags and disposal containers. Ultimately, this is going to improve your move, even if it takes a lot of time first. You don't want to spend money moving junk, nor do you want to fill your new home with useless things. Moving is an opportunity to start fresh in a lot of ways, so carving out time to declutter is going to give you a jump start on your new life. View the full article

If you're preparing for a move, you have a lot to think about and most of it revolves, in some way, around your new place: Finding it, buying or leasing it, and moving all your stuff to it in a way that is fast, efficient, and as inexpensive as possible. There's a lot on your plate and I get that, but you also need to spare a thought or two for the spot you're vacating, especially if you rent. Remember that security deposit you put down when you moved in? You want that back—and your landlord doesn't want to give it to you. Here's how to get it back, or at least try. What is the landlord looking for?First, think like a landlord or building manager. After all your stuff is boxed up and you're standing in the ghostly echo chamber that was once your home, take a look around and pay attention for the little issues the landlord might spot when they do their walk-through. Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage in Denver, CO, says landlords can hold back deposits over anything from furniture marks on the wall to nail holes to dirty fixtures. After all, cleaning is labor, too, and the management company will need to pay someone to do it, which is what they're going to use the deposit money for. Better to do it yourself. Start with cleaningAikman says the easiest thing to do is clean everything before you leave. The good news is that once all your stuff is boxed up or gone, you'll see pretty clearly what needs to be cleaned and you won't have any obstacles to deal with, like shelving units. The same heavy furniture that once prevented you from doing a thorough cleaning will be gone. Make the most of it. Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ, says that it's pretty common for movers to overlook cleaning appliances, bathrooms, and floors. Remember you're not only mopping and cleaning scuffs off the wall, but should be cleaning the toilet, fridge, sinks, and other appliances and fixtures. It's annoying and will take some time—plus feel almost insulting to clean a space you won't be enjoying anymore—but it can save you money. It might even be worth it to consider a professional cleaning company, says Shanaiqua D'Sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage. Call a few cleaning companies and get written price quotes, then compare the cost to the amount of your security deposit. If the cost of having it cleaned is significantly lower and if you're feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do, outsourcing could be an economical and time-saving option. Address minor damagesBeller says that renters tend to overlook small damages and focus on bigger ones, but those small ones add up. One or two nail holes aren't a huge deal, sure, but if you have them in every single wall, your landlord might start to object. Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Movers, agrees that renters often forget to patch those small holes and fix those minor damages. As a general rule, fix even the most minor issues. You don't want to give the building company any reason to withhold even a cent of that deposit. Scuffs, holes, peeling plaster, scratches, loose screws—one trip to the hardware store can help you a lot here. In my experience, fixing up the old place also helps prepare you to get to work in the new one. For me, doing a little manual labor gets me back into the groove of working with my hands so when I arrive at my new home, I feel readier to get my hands dirty there. It's unfortunate but true that every time I've moved, I've left my old place perfect and moved into a spot that is, inexplicably, a little dirty and/or malfunctioning. That's the nature of renting in a big city! The prior renters probably didn't get their security deposit back, which became my problem. Always be prepared for something like that. You can certainly fight with the rental company and demand someone come in and clean it, but after all the stress of moving, I've always found I don't have the energy to kick off my time in a new place by aggravating my new landlord. Be smart during the actual moveAddressing the mess and damage left from your existence in the space is one thing. Avoiding further damage when you leave is another. If you're moving your furniture and boxes out on your own, do not bang them into the wall or allow them to hit door frames. And whatever you do, don't drag. "Dragging furniture out without proper protection can damage door frames or walls. Use blankets, sliders or even flattened cardboard to protect surfaces on your way out," says Jordan Sakala of laborhutt.com. "Little details can save a lot." This was a point touched on by a number of pros I talked to, actually. Aikman and Chica also took care to mention that movers frequently overlook how much damage they can cause by moving larger pieces of furniture, especially. Chia says renters are prone to underestimating how tight corners or staircases are, too. Take some measurements of your furniture as well as the path you're going to take it through before you start. When in doubt, it might be time to call professional movers—but make sure you communicate clearly with them about the importance of not causing any damage. Use a few supplies to make this easier. Painter's tape can be affixed to walls and door frames to protect against scratches, for instance, and it peels of easily when you're finished. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers in Brooklyn, says you should wrap all your furniture in blankets, which not only protects the walls and doorways as you move it, but protects the furniture itself in transit. Document the space on your way outWhen the cleaning and fixing-up are finished, take a lot of photos and videos. Once again, this tip was highlighted by a few different pros. Aikman, Beller, and D'sa all brought it up, pointing out that in the event the landlord tries to dispute giving you back your deposit, you want evidence that shows that you left the place damage-free and clean. Taking pictures and videos can also help you spot any last-minute issues you need to fix. When I need to clean or declutter, I sometimes take a picture of my space instead of trying to assess it visually. I'm just used to how my rooms look in real life, so seeing them more impersonally through a photo helps me recognize what's out of place, what is taking up too much space, and what needs some attention a little better. While you're taking pictures and videos, look at them like the landlord might and pay attention for anything that looks off. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. There is a moment during every big move where it hits you: Moving is really freaking expensive. The expenses—from packing supplies and the truck itself to the costs related to cleaning, painting, and utility deposits—will pile up. And I'm not even including the costs of furniture that better fits your new space. Budget—and cushion your budgetI spoke to a number of moving experts—especially people who work at moving companies and have been in the business for years—and most of them emphasized budget before your move—and overestimating what you think you'll spend. Both Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ, and Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co., say you should add 10 to 15% to your final budget as a cushion. Rimeris says that "isn't just practical," but "gives people back a sense of agency when plans shift." A few often-overlooked expenses that came up included these: tips for your movers (as well as insurance) fuel for the truck or car if you are moving some or all of your possessions, cleaning fees for the place you move into or out of, repairs for your old home, unforeseen extra charges from the movers, and furniture assembly. But wait, there's more: "It may not seem critical at first, but planning for food and takeaway expenses is also important," says Shanaiqua D'sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage. "You're unlikely to cook on moving day or even in the days immediately following, especially if your kitchen isn't fully set up yet or you're simply too tired." Kids and pets, too, "slow down the moving process," she says, so you might want to arrange for someone to look after them. Only move what's necessaryYou're already overwhelmed by how much you have to do and I totally get that, but this is a perfect opportunity to declutter your stuff. In fact, decluttering was cited as a top money-saving tip by many pros: "The biggest mistake we see people make time and time again is underestimating how much stuff they have," says Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Moving. "Get rid of anything you do not need because the less stuff you have, the cheaper the move will be," adds Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving & Storage. Sell what you can and buy what you need (used)Consider selling some of what you're getting rid of, as long as you start with enough lead time before your moving day. D'sa points out that you can generate money for the move by offloading old stuff to buyers. If you have enough time between decluttering and moving, list furniture and clothes on sites like Poshmark and Mercari. If you don't have much time, keep it local and stick with Facebook Marketplace, where buyers can come pick up furniture and other objects directly from you and hand over cash. The last time I moved, I listed furniture on Facebook Marketplace and promised myself that if it didn't sell before I left my old place, I had to take it as a loss and donate it, but as Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove points out, you can also list it in Buy Nothing groups as a free pickup. Whatever it takes to get it out of your space! If you really have enough lead time, organize a rummage sale. It's not as easy to coordinate if you live in a larger city, although I've certainly seen it done, but I grew up in a rural place where this was the norm. As long as you're doing it on private property, most jurisdictions don't require a permit for a short-term yard sale, but please check. Put up a few signs, post some ads on Craigslist, and haul all your for-sale wares to your garage or front lawn. Be prepared to take lowball offers and haggle a little, but you'll be surprised by how much actually sells. You can (and should) list it all on the aforementioned apps and digital marketplaces, too, then donate whatever is left over before the move. If you're moving to a bigger home, online resale and yard sales are also how I recommend filling it—at least at first. Moving is a massive expense, and it might not be feasible to buy or finance big furniture sets from retail stores at first. On the other hand, occupying a near-empty house is a bummer. Buy used essentials to save money and get your home in order. You can re-list it and sell it if and when you're more settled in and financially prepared for better furniture—or you may even fall in love with your eclectic decor collection and keep it. Go “stooping”There is another, even less-expensive option if you need furniture fast. If you live in a big city, you’re familiar with the classic practice of picking up free furniture from the sides of the street. If you live in New York and spend time on Instagram, you’re also probably familiar with the account that makes doing that even easier. @StoopingNYC has 479,000 followers who dutifully snap pics of discarded furniture throughout the five boroughs and DM it to the account owners, along with location details. The owners, in turn, post the photos and relevant information on the account’s story as well as on the grid, encouraging New Yorkers to have at it. “Stooping is the act of hunting down discarded street freebies that has the added benefit of being both an activity you can do outdoors and one that ultimately enriches the space where you’re most likely spending all of your time: your apartment or house!” the couple behind @StoopingNYC tells me. If, instead, you don’t live in a big city where stooping is regularly practiced, snag some stuff on the cheap by mapping out the weekend’s best local yard sales or head to all the online marketplaces where you’re actively ditching your old stuff to make room for the new (to you) stuff your new place will need. (Craigslist also has a “free” section where people frequently give away items.) One word of caution in either case: Make sure you clean the products well and proceed with caution when picking out anything made with fabric, like couches or armchairs. You know what’s not inexpensive? Exterminators. Save on packing suppliesYour budget will include packing supplies like boxes, bubble wrap, and tape, but you should also remember that what you have available can work well to help you pack. You have to move your blankets, towels, clothing, socks, and scarves already, so wrap them around valuables to save some money and space. Per Rimeris, "T-shirts cushion dishes better than bubble wrap ever did." Think about nesting, too. Chica says, "Suitcases, laundry baskets, and grocery totes are all great for packing general items." Again, you're already taking them with you. Make them help you and save some money on boxes. Many pros also suggested diversifying how you look for boxes. Buying new boxes can be pricy and wasteful, since you're not going to keep them when you're done with all this. Instead, ask local shops if you can have some of their boxes. Grocery and liquor stores, for instance, always have a bunch. Just make sure they're strong and clean. One thing you can't finagle a workaround on: tape. Chica cautions against buying cheap tape, as "you'll regret it when a box or bag breaks open mid-move." Rimeris agrees: "Heavy-duty tape, a marker you can actually read, and clean, strong boxes are worth every penny." That said, he assures me you don't need "pre-made kits or expensive wardrobe boxes," so feel free to ignore expensive moving-supply marketing tactics. Decide whether to hire movers or ask your buddiesMovers are great, especially if you have particularly valuable items, a lot of furniture, or a big journey ahead of you. There are other ways to transport your items, however. Consider enlisting some pals for the big move. Promise pizza and beer or straight-up cash if your friends will help you haul your stuff. They care about you and probably charge less than real movers—but you should also keep in mind that you might also get what you pay for, here. “Honestly, if you can afford movers, get movers,” said Shannon Palus, a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has moved more than a dozen times in her life and managed her most recent move for less than $60. “It is really, really nice to have people move your things. I think if you are going the U-Haul-and-friends route, hire someone from a service like Task Rabbit to help with the heavier stuff. I think any money you can spend on moving, you should. They say that you’re supposed to spend money on experiences to be happy, right? Spending your day doing something other than lifting boxes is the ultimate good experience.” There are ways to compromise here, though. You can hire movers for the big, expensive stuff and hoof it with your friends for the small, cheap stuff. Palus pointed out, too, that her most recent move cost less than $60 because she used ride-sharing apps to hail cars and only had small items to move. “Be communicative about it, allow [the driver] to decline, and tip really well,” she said. “I also don’t move everything via Lyft; I do some trips on the subway. If you decide to go for movers, get a written estimate from a few different places. These should outline services, fees, and timing, says Beller. You can even request an itemized estimate upfront to avoid surprise fees. Just be sure you're being honest when you share your half of the details. Don't hide that you live in a walk-up, for instance, or own heavy antique furniture. You're only setting yourself up for surprise fees that way. Schedule smartlyYou don't always get to pick when we move, especially if you're moving from rental to rental. That said, if you can, try to schedule your move for off-peak times. Kris Kay, director of operations at UNITS Moving and Portable Storage, says you can usually get lower rates by moving mid-week or mid-month. The summer is the most expensive month for moving because it's the most common time, too, so if you have any wiggle room there, aim for spring or fall. Protect your security depositThere are a few benefits to packing and moving a little on your own before movers show up. Not only do you save money by doing some of your own labor, but you have a chance to scope out your place as you disassemble furniture and box up your stuff. If you're a renter, you'll want to try and get your security deposit back, which means cleaning the inside and outside of appliances, wiping down bathroom fixtures and floors, and, of course, fixing any damage. If the damage is minor, try to do it on your own: Patch small holes from picture frames and wall mounts, remove scuffs from walls and floors, and tighten any loose screws. As Chica says, "A minor fix can end up pitting a pretty decent dent in your security deposit." When you're moving, take care not to cause damage, too. Chica says you should never drag furniture. That's only asking for trouble. When everything is removed from the space, document the condition of the unit with photographs. View the full article

Google is now pushing search ads on AI Mode and the desktop version of AI Overviews. Google's Vidhya Srinivasan said at Google Marketing Live, "we're expanding ads in AI Overviews to desktop, and bringing ads to AI Mode to create new opportunities for our customers."View the full article

Google announced a new bidding update to Google Ads named Smart Bidding Exploration. Google said this is the "biggest update to bidding in over a decade." View the full article

The past week's top stories from the world of Wi-Fi - enjoy. The post Roundup: India releases 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi, DSA appeals to EU, Spectrum becomes fastest growing Wi-Fi 7 network appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Google announced a number of AI-related features to help advertisers create and manage their ads account across Google Ads and Merchant Center. These include new AI tools for creating ads and creatives and also agentic capabilities to help you with this on the backend.View the full article

Google has published two new help documents on the topic of AI; one on guidance on using generative AI content on your website and the second on AI features and your website. Google also published a blog post on the topics over here.View the full article

Learn to do market research, the process of gathering information about your target market and customers. View the full article

Microsoft is testing a double border style around the Bing Search box. This goes around the main search box but not the auto-complete box, I believe.View the full article

By opting for stealth radicalism and couching change in the rhetoric of the repairman, he sows confusion about his beliefsView the full article

Legislation would slash taxes, reduce social spending and increase federal debtView the full article

An in-depth look at CMS market share data and what the changing platform landscape means for SEO practitioners. The post CMS Market Share Trends: Top Content Management Systems (May 2025) appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Having thousands of followers is great. But sometimes, the real value of social media comes from smaller, more meaningful interactions. That’s where Instagram Close Friends can be a game changer. This Instagram feature, first introduced in 2018, lets you handpick a close friends list — a private group who can view exclusive content through your Instagram Stories. Whether you're a creator wanting to show more behind the scenes, or a small business testing new product ideas, Close Friends opens up a new layer of connection. Think of it like an inner circle feed: no algorithms, no pressure, just you and the people who matter most. And it’s not the only way Instagram is leaning into exclusivity. New tools like Broadcast Channels and Unlockable Reels make it even easier to create private, VIP-style experiences for your most engaged followers. Whether you want to send updates, share gated content, or build a closer community, these features give you more ways to post with purpose. In this guide, we’ll walk through: What the Close Friends feature is and how it worksHow to set up your Close Friends listCreative ways to use Close Friends for content and community buildingHow to integrate other Instagram tools like Broadcast Channels and Unlockable ReelsTips for balancing exclusivity without alienating your wider audienceLet’s get into it. 💡Schedule your Instagram posts, carousels, stories, and reels with Buffer. Visually plan your content calendar and make your profile a "must-follow" with Buffer's suite of Instagram scheduling and analytics tools.What is Instagram Close Friends?Instagram Close Friends is a feature that lets you share Instagram Stories with a select group of people — your Close Friends list. It’s designed to help creators, businesses, and individuals post more personal or exclusive content without broadcasting it to their full audience. When you post a Story to your Close Friends, only the people you’ve added to that list will see it. They’ll know they’re included because they’ll see a green circle around your profile picture — a visual cue that this isn’t just any Story, it’s part of your Close Friends feed. ✅Quick FAQ How do you know if you're on someone’s Close Friends list? Look for the green circle around their Story bubble — that’s your signal. Can anyone see your Close Friends list? No — your Close Friends list is private and only you can view or edit it.You can add or remove people manually from the list at any time. Instagram doesn’t notify people when you add or remove them — which gives you full control over who gets access to your more private stories. There’s no official cap on how many people you can include, so your list can be as tight-knit or as expansive as you like. Some use it for a true inner circle of friends. Others treat it as a VIP space for superfans, collaborators, or loyal customers. Important to note: You can’t remove yourself from someone else’s Close Friends list.If you’d rather not see their Close Friends Stories, you can mute their Stories, or block the account entirely.The Close Friends feature only applies to Stories — not regular feed posts or Reels (although that may change with future updates).This feature might seem simple at first glance, but used strategically, it can unlock new ways to build community and engagement — without needing to create a second “finsta” or private account. How to set up your Instagram Close Friends listSetting up your close friends list is simple — here’s how to get started: On mobile: Open Instagram on your phone and tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the screen.From your profile, tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and select “Close Friends.”Scroll through your followers or use the search bar to find people you want to add. Tap “Add” next to each account to include them in your Close Friends list.That’s it — your list is now active! You can come back to this screen anytime to add or remove followers.On desktop: Go to instagram.com and log in to your account.Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner to go to your profile.Click the gear icon (⚙️) or “Settings” from the dropdown menu.In the left-hand sidebar, select “Close Friends.”A pop-up will appear where you can:Use the search bar to find peopleClick “Add” to include them in your listClick “Remove” to take them off the listYour changes save automatically — no need to click a confirmation button.💡Quick tip: Instagram doesn’t notify people when you add or remove them from your Close Friends list, so you can update it freely.Now that your list is ready, you can start sharing Stories just for them. Here’s how: Create a Story as you normally would — add photos, videos, stickers, or text.On the final screen, instead of hitting “Your Story,” tap “Close Friends.”Once shared, your Close Friends will see a green circle around your profile photo in their Stories feed, signaling that this content is exclusive to them.✅Quick FAQ: Is Close Friends like a private story? Yes — but it’s built into your main account, so you don’t need to create a separate profile.This extra layer of control makes Close Friends a powerful tool for posting content that feels more personal — without needing to segment your audience across multiple accounts. Creative ways to build exclusivity with Instagram Close Friends — and beyondSetting up a Close Friends list is just the beginning. Instagram now offers multiple tools that let you craft tiered, personal experiences for your most loyal followers — including Broadcast Channels and Unlockable Reels. Here’s how to turn Close Friends into the foundation of a multi-layered content strategy that rewards your superfans and strengthens community. 1. Get early feedbackUse Close Friends Stories to test out content ideas, product prototypes, or messaging before sharing them with your full audience. The more interactive your Stories (polls, sliders, question boxes), the more valuable your feedback loop becomes. Example: A small clothing brand might show two new colorways for an upcoming drop and let Close Friends vote. The winning choice gets announced later to the full audience — making Close Friends feel like VIP decision-makers. Pro tip: Pair this with a Broadcast Channel to give context or updates over time. For example, “Remember that new hoodie we polled you on last week? It’s going live tomorrow — you chose this color!” This allows you to: Build continuity between posts and StoriesMake Close Friends feel like collaborators, not just followersKeep communication clean and focused👉What You Need to Know About Instagram Broadcast Channels (+ How to Create Them)2. Create a gated VIP experience across formatsClose Friends is perfect for quick, personal updates — but what if you want to share exclusive video content that’s a bit more evergreen? That’s where Unlockable Reels come in. These are gated Reels that followers can only watch after entering a specific code — giving you a new way to reward your most engaged fans. How to use it: Drop unlock codes in your Close Friends Stories (“Want the secret code? Check the green circle.”)Announce the gated content in your Broadcast Channel and give context (“Here’s what you’ll get once you unlock…”)Share the code with paying subscribers or newsletter members for a paid/earned perkExample: A fitness creator could share a Close Friends Story hyping up a “hidden” bonus workout. The code to unlock the Reel is shared only in their Broadcast Channel. That content loop builds FOMO — and engagement — across multiple surfaces. 👉Unlockable Reels Are Coming to Instagram: How They Work3. Simplify comms with brand partners or collaboratorsManaging a community of ambassadors, influencers, or superfans? Close Friends lets you keep them in the loop without managing a million DMs. Post updates like: Collaboration promptsSwipe file inspirationFeedback requestsLaunch countdownsThen use your Broadcast Channel to layer in structure to your content: Share a calendar of upcoming opportunitiesDrop links to forms or creative briefsShare voice notes, photos, or updates without clutterExample: A skincare brand could have a Close Friends list of creators currently under contract — they post quick feedback requests or campaign tips in Stories, and use the Broadcast Channel for assets, deadlines, and key dates. Together, these tools reduce friction and let you run partner programs directly inside Instagram — no email threads required. 4. Build a private culture hub for your team or communityYou don’t have to use Close Friends for followers. Some creators and remote teams use it to create a lightweight, behind-the-scenes content space just for collaborators or team members. Ideas to post: Internal wins and celebrationsWeekly check-ins or asynchronous updatesPlaylists, movie recs, or other team-building contentBonus: Add Unlockable Reels for gated team content You can use them for: Async training videosInternal Q&A clipsEnd-of-week recaps or fun highlightsExample: A small remote team might record a goofy “week in review” every Friday and gate it behind an Unlockable Reel. The code is dropped in a shared group chat or Close Friends Story. How to layer these tools for maximum impactLet’s say you’re launching a new product or course. Here’s how you might combine all three: Tool How to Use It Goal Close Friends Share teaser Stories, get feedback on product details, and build early momentum Involve your core followers early Broadcast Channel Announce timelines, link to resources, build anticipation One-to-many updates with context Unlockable Reels Drop a behind-the-scenes or bonus tutorial gated by a code Reward loyalty and create deeper engagement The result? A layered, intentional approach to exclusivity — and a much stronger relationship with the people who care most about your work. Find a balance between exclusivity and alienationInstagram’s Close Friends, Broadcast Channels, and Unlockable Reels are built for one thing: deeper connection. But as you start leaning into more exclusive content, it’s worth asking — what happens to everyone else? Exclusivity can be a powerful tool for loyalty. But overdo it, and your wider audience may start to feel left out or confused. The key is positioning Close Friends (and its companion features) not as a replacement for public content, but as a bonus layer — one that rewards engagement without creating walls. A few principles to keep in mind: Let people opt in. Whether it’s through a CTA in your Stories or a link in bio, invite followers into your Close Friends or Broadcast Channel — don’t make it feel like a secret club they missed out on.Create open loops. Tease what's happening with your list or inside your Channel. This builds curiosity, not resentment.Keep posting publicly. Share value-driven content on your feed and Stories regularly. That’s what earns the right to go deeper.Use exclusivity to strengthen community, not gatekeep it.When used intentionally, these features aren’t just about privacy — they’re about permission. They give you space to test, play, share, and engage in ways that feel natural and aligned with your brand. And with Buffer, you can plan your content across public and private channels with ease — from your main Instagram feed to your Close Friends-only Stories. More Instagram resourcesInstagram Stories: The Complete Guide to Using IG Stories to Boost Engagement + ReachHow to Share Instagram Feed Posts to Stories: 3 Simple Steps26 Free Instagram Tools to Help Grow Your Account in 2025Instagram 101: A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Use InstagramView the full article

As my husband was growing his finance career, the year-end bonus became a pivotal moment: to see how much his hard work translated into cash. And rather than rushing to tell me the news, he and his close peers would gather at a local bar on bonus day to share their numbers. They wanted to know who got paid how much. “You share your bonus number with your colleagues?” I asked in disbelief. “Why would you do that?” “We want to know the range of bonuses given out,” he shared. “This also helps us understand how we can get paid more next time around and do better.” When I started my career, I remember a mentor once telling me, “Don’t talk about religion, sex, or politics at work,” she cautioned. “And don’t ever tell anyone how much you make.” While some of those corporate rules have changed, many of us still remain reluctant to talk about how much we make. According to one study, only 19% of employees have asked coworkers about their salaries. And most, 68%, say they avoid talking about money at work at all. Despite this reluctance to mention finances, many say that they do want to talk about pay at work: 56% say they wish discussing salaries wasn’t taboo. So this begs the question: If we can’t talk about our salaries openly, how can we be motivated to work harder, avoid miscommunications and misunderstandings about salaries, and ultimately close the gender and racial pay gaps? If you want to get better about talking about money, and understanding your earning potential, here’s the case for why you should talk to your coworkers about how much you make: Find out if you are being paid fairly and equitably You may feel you are being paid less than your coworkers, especially compared to recent external hires. You may feel that your company is taking advantage of you, overworking and underpaying you. You may feel that you received the lowest salary increase and got the worst bonus ever this year. And these are all feelings; we need to move from feelings to facts to understand if there’s an issue with our pay or not. According to the1935 National Labor Relations Act, employees have a right to talk to each other about their salaries. While companies may discourage it, it is not illegal for employees to discuss their compensation with each other. If you do decide to talk to your coworkers about your salary, you should be prepared for what you might hear. First, you want to make sure you are discussing the topic of pay with trusted colleagues, or risk having your salary being gossiped about. Second, if you find out you are being paid fairly and equitably versus your peers, you can then put your mind and ease, and go back to making an impact at work. Third, if you find out you are being paid less than peers who are doing the same job as you, be prepared to work through feelings of anger, jealousy, or resentment. While they could be better at negotiating, they also could have experiences you don’t have and may be performing better at their job than you. Be prepared to consider all of that before discussing your pay with others at work. Discover what’s really important to leadership If your coworker is getting paid more than you, and you are both at the same level, this is a moment to also get curious and discover what’s important to leadership. In my husband’s case, finding out what bonuses others were paid had him reflect on two key things: first, his coworker’s performance versus his own performance. He could be self-aware and think about what he could be doing better, and what he could learn from his coworker. Second, he could acknowledge that his coworker’s bonus was about their performance, but also what deals they were placed on. How much they got paid was also about what work was ultimately important and seen as valuable to leadership. As priorities continue to shift for your company in an uncertain market, make sure you are working on business deals, initiatives, and projects important to leadership. You may not have full control over this. If you have the power to pause or stop work that’s no longer relevant, do that, or make the case to your boss on why you shouldn’t be working on that initiative anymore. And if you have the opportunity and bandwidth to raise your hand to work on a project that’s of importance to leadership, go for it. Discovering what leadership thinks is valuable work during this time is also a way to make sure you are positioned to get compensated well. Use the data to advocate for your own pay As I discuss in my book Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace, I was raised not to talk about money. My parents taught me to never ask someone how much they make or to discuss how much you make, or to ask how much something cost or was worth. It wasn’t until well into my adulthood that I discovered how much my father made working as an executive and what my mother made as a teacher. It took me years to break the silence and learn how to talk about money. And the more I started to read about money, to talk about money, to think about money, over time it slowly became easier to talk about my own compensation. Talking to your coworkers about your salary can help give you data points to help advocate for your own pay. That doesn’t mean you should walk into your boss’s office and say, “Well I discovered Mita is making this much, and so I should have my salary increased by $10,000 dollars.” But it does provide another data point into how your compensation is determined, which includes what projects you are working on, what your performance is, the pay range for your current role, your expertise and experiences, what the external market is offering for your role, and more. You can use the information you receive from your coworkers to have a productive conversation with your boss when advocating for your pay. If we want to create fair and equitable workplaces for everyone, we need to get comfortable talking about how much money we each make. The pros of talking about our salaries with our coworkers just might outweigh the cons, so we all can feel comfortable and confident and know our own worth. View the full article

On Thursday, President Donald The President will sit down for an intimate evening at his Northern Virginia golf club with 220 of his favorite people in the world: a group of cryptocurrency speculators who have spent an estimated $148 million on The President’s eponymous memecoin, making the president and his associates millions of dollars in the process. Even by The President’s standards, this dinner will be the culmination of one of the most cartoonish episodes of executive-branch graft in recent memory. Last month, The President announced that at the end of a predetermined period, he would host an “unforgettable Gala DINNER” for the top 220 holders of $The President, allowing winners to discuss the future of the industry with the “Crypto President” himself. The top 25 token holders would also get to attend an “Exclusive Reception” with The President, along with a “Special VIP White House Tour.” (Hours after the contest went live, its website was quietly edited to promise the top 25 finishers only a “Special VIP Tour,” with no location specified. It remains unclear whether that event will indeed take place at the White House, or at a golf resort facility of the president’s choice.) The contest’s organizer, a The President-affiliated LLC called Fight Fight Fight, maintained an online leaderboard of those jockeying for position during the sweepstakes, which ended on May 12. The website also includes helpful information about the dress code (black tie optional) and the plus-one policy (none, because “if you earned a seat at the table, it’s because you earned it”). For The President, the logistical details were far less important than the chance to juice the market for $The President, which had cratered after launching in January but then spiked by more than 50% when he announced the contest. In the two days that followed, the The President Organization and its affiliates, which together control roughly 80% of the token’s supply, took in nearly $1 million in trading fees; by the end of the sweepstakes, that number had jumped to $3 million, according to a Washington Post analysis. In all, the Post estimates that since the coin’s debut four months ago, The President and company have made $312 million from crypto sales and $43 million in fees. As it turns out, one of the perks of being the person in charge of U.S. cryptocurrency policy is the freedom to profit off of cryptocurrency without fear of meaningful consequences. The details of the frenzy to secure a spot on the leaderboard make clear just how for sale the federal government is right now. Making the top 220, according to Wired, required holding or buying more than 4,000 $The President tokens worth about $55,000 altogether; those who made the VIP list held an average of 325,000 tokens worth a collective $4.3 million. Many of the people who made the cut made their purchases on exchanges that suggest they are non-U.S. residents who jumped at the chance to bend the U.S. president’s ear in a semiprivate setting. Sure enough, although the leaderboard identifies winners only by username and alphanumeric crypto wallet address, among the confirmed attendees are Justin Sun, a Chinese crypto speculator who is, in a wild coincidence, trying to settle civil fraud charges with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission; an Australian crypto entrepreneur who hopes to pitch The President on adopting an even more industry-friendly regulatory stance; and a to-be-determined representative of MemeCore, a Singapore-based crypto collective that told New York magazine that whomever it sends hopes to ask The President, “Are you a meme, or the result of one?” Fight Fight Fight calculated the value of contestants’ holdings based on both the amount of $The President in a wallet and the length of time they’d held it, thus rewarding early investors for their commitment to padding the president’s bottom line. That said, earlier this month, the journalist Molly White found that of the wallets on the leaderboard at the time, 62% started buying $The President only after he dangled the dinner invitation. Once acquiring a floundering memecoin came with a shot at a sit-down with the literal President of the United States, people who were previously uninterested apparently decided to reevaluate their investment priorities. Since the event is closed to the press, there will be no independent coverage of what The President says to attendees, or what the attendees say to The President, or even who the attendees are. The entire spectacle amounts to an off-the-record jam session between a bunch of people who have already gotten rich off crypto, brainstorming ways to keep getting rich off crypto. For The President, the event is only the latest celebration of his whirlwind romance with crypto, which he spent years disparaging before realizing that embracing it could help fast-track his return to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He positioned himself as the pro-crypto candidate on the campaign trail last year, promising to create a national crypto stockpile and appoint industry luminaries to prominent administration roles. In another wild coincidence, around the same time, his adult sons helped launch World Liberty Financial, a crypto project structured to funnel 75% of revenue to the The President family. WLF was basically a hedge against the results of the 2024 election: Even if The President lost, he would at least have a new source of income to pay his legal bills. The fact that The President won that election, of course, has made this alliance even more successful for everyone involved. In the hours before his inauguration, the price of Bitcoin spiked to nearly $110,000, then an all-time high. Demand for World Liberty Financial’s coins exploded, too, especially from foreign investors whom federal law bars from giving directly to presidential campaigns or inaugural funds. (Sun, who will attend Thursday’s dinner, has spent nearly $75 million on WLF tokens, making him its single largest known investor.) More recently, Abu Dhabi announced that it would use a WLF-issued stablecoin, USDI1, for its state-backed investment firm’s $2 billion deal with the crypto exchange Binance—a choice that just so happens to put tens of millions of dollars in the The President family’s pockets. In an interview with the New York Times earlier this year, Eric The President spoke of the family’s pivot to crypto in glowing terms, describing World Liberty Financial as “one of the more successful things we’ve ever done.” The numbers bear this out: In March, Fortune estimated that The President’s crypto holdings were worth $2.9 billion—not bad for an asset he was dismissing as “not money,” “highly volatile,” and “based on thin air” a few years earlier. Pundits often describe The President’s involvement in crypto as “unprecedented,” and in a sense, this is right: Given Washington’s enduring obsessions with political scandals and conflicts of interest, traditionally, sitting presidents have not developed active side hustles in industries they have the power to regulate. But The President has never cared about adhering to norms like this one, because he has always viewed the power of the office he holds primarily in terms of its potential to make him wealthier. He agreed to shake hands with a couple hundred crypto enthusiasts this week for the only reason he has ever done anything: He saw a chance to make money, and no one stopped him from taking it. View the full article

OpenAI CEO has forecast an end to the era of smartphone dominanceView the full article

I tested the top AI SEO tools and shortlisted 8 of them. Read this guide to explore their features and choose the best option for your needs. View the full article

For the past few years, “hybrid work” has meant splitting time between home and office. And for the most part, people like it—flexibility, fewer commutes, more balance. But there’s a new hybrid model on the rise, and it has nothing to do with geography. As Artificial Intelligence is woven into the fabric of business alongside humans and begins to help support human workloads, the future of hybrid work won’t only be defined by where we work, but by how we work together with our AI counterparts. As Agentic AI enters a more mature phase, organizations are moving beyond experimentation to ask deeper questions: How does AI complement human strengths? What does meaningful collaboration between people and machines realistically look like? How can AI reach its full potential to drive business value? (Hint: it’s not going to do it all by itself.) The future of work isn’t about automating humans out of their jobs (although some jobs will become obsolete); it’s about augmenting people’s skills with technology that helps them be faster, better, and more efficient than they could be on their own. In the not-too-distant future, hybrid roles will be defined as part human, part AI, where technology enhances the judgment, creativity, and efficiency of its human counterpart. What’s the Worst that can Happen? From apocalyptic headlines to late-night TV jokes about being replaced by robots, it can be easy to find signs of AI anxiety. According to an independent market survey conducted for Concentrix of 1,000 US consumers aged 18 and up, 51% of people would characterize themselves as somewhat familiar with autonomous decision-making or agentic AI. There is work to be done to bring everyone up to speed on what AI’s purpose is, and isn’t. When asked about whether Agentic AI will have a positive or negative impact on the future of work, 36% saw the glass half full with a somewhat to mostly positive view that AI will be helpful, but acknowledged that there are risks; 31% of respondents stood in the glass half empty crowd with a somewhat to mostly negative sentiment, saying AI could introduce job losses and ethical issues. Public opinion remains divided, reflecting the uncertainty among workers in the market. Beyond simple efficiencies For now, AI is just starting to prove its worth by helping people with tedious or time-consuming tasks, like helping write important emails, summarizing meetings, and producing (simple) reports. But the reality is that these days won’t last long—companies are already moving on from low-hanging efficiencies toward revenue growth and innovation. Forward-thinking companies are shaking things up by challenging their workforce’s skills and tech-savviness and revamping their internal operations to be AI-centric, actively shifting from Prompt-Engineering to Agentic Engineering (Prompts + Data integration), instead of just slapping in chatbots and calling it a day. Companies that struggle with adoption of AI are often going about it the wrong way. They have been looking for places where AI can automate a task or replace a human, rather than enhance the experience of a journey or workflow. They have been piloting AI projects and arbitrarily cutting humans out of the loop, oftentimes with disastrous effects. AI won’t replace you, but someone using it better, will The biggest mistake companies make when implementing AI? Using it to replace people instead of empowering them. The next evolution is for companies to stop thinking about how to replace human employees with AI, and start thinking about how AI can augment human labor—and vice versa. AI needs humans to thrive, and humans will thrive with AI. If AI can take care of the low-hanging fruit of a person’s workload, the human is then freed to do more contextual, empathetic, and strategic thinking. There is tremendous value in the human experience that improves business outcomes in ways that AI cannot do alone. Understanding of how emotion, context, and humor play into everyday life, is where humans excel. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) may well be the perfect companion to augment AI’s speed and efficiency, and we haven’t begun to discover what we’re capable of when we truly embrace the potential of the hybrid world. Interpretation and integration While some jobs that aren’t as heavily reliant on EQ to be successful may be automated, AI is already creating new opportunities for people who can interpret, manage, and integrate AI-driven technologies. The hybrid jobs of tomorrow are starting to be found in a variety of industries. In healthcare, the AI-Assisted Healthcare Professional will help doctors and nurses use AI to enhance diagnostics, personalize treatment plans, and manage patient data effectively, to lead to better patient outcomes. Designers who have woven AI technologies into the user interfaces have created better user experiences. Creative professionals who have used AI to rapidly create music, marketing content, and movie making are in demand. We’re only seeing the beginning of hybrid jobs—human imagination will define those that come next. Your AI coworker just dropped you a message, don’t leave it unread What will it take for humans to build trust in Agentic AI? Exactly half (50%) of survey respondents said greater human insight and ability to intervene is a good place to start. They want proof of AI’s accuracy and reliability over time (42%). And they desire more regulatory oversight (41%). These findings tell us that people are ready to embrace a more integrated, collaborative approach to AI, but they desire a trusted human counterpart to have peace of mind that AI’s not in charge, it’s part of a hybrid work team. Time to go out and make friends with your AI colleague. View the full article