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As a leadership advisor, I’ve worked with countless executives who wrestle with failure—some fearing it to the point of paralysis, others glorifying it without extracting real lessons. Failure is inevitable. Growth is optional. The difference between leaders who thrive and those who stagnate isn’t the absence of failure—it’s how they respond to it. Fear of failure holds many organizations back, stifling creativity, slowing innovation, and fostering a culture of risk aversion. But failure, when embraced correctly, is one of the most powerful catalysts for growth. The problem? Too many leaders either avoid failure altogether or celebrate it without reflection. The key is courageous failure—the kind that fuels insight, builds resilience, and sets the stage for transformative breakthroughs. Why leaders fear failure Despite the lip service given to “failing fast,” many leaders still operate in fear of mistakes. The reasons are clear: Ego and Identity: Leaders often tie their worth to their success, making failure feel deeply personal. When setbacks occur, they don’t just see it as a professional challenge but as a reflection of their own competence and value. Cultural Stigma: Organizations reward wins but often penalize failure, even when it leads to progress. This creates an environment where employees become risk-averse, opting for predictable outcomes over bold innovation. Short-Term Pressures: Quarterly earnings, investor expectations, and performance metrics discourage experimentation. Leaders feel the pressure to deliver immediate results, making it difficult to justify long-term bets that may initially appear as failures. Psychological Safety Issues: When failure is punished rather than examined, employees hide mistakes instead of learning from them. This lack of psychological safety stifles open communication, preventing valuable lessons from emerging and limiting the organization’s ability to adapt. When fear dominates, organizations fall into a risk-averse cycle—defaulting to safe decisions, missing opportunities, and becoming stagnant. The courageous failure framework Not all failures are created equal. Reckless failures, failures due to negligence, lack of preparation, or poor execution, should be avoided. But courageous failures—those that come from thoughtful experimentation, calculated risks, and boundary-pushing innovation—are the seeds of progress. Leaders who want to leverage failure must foster an environment where learning is valued more than perfection. Here’s how: Define What ‘Good’ Failure Looks Like. Not all failures are worth celebrating. A good failure is one that teaches something valuable, aligns with strategic goals, and moves the organization forward. Clearly define the difference between reckless mistakes and courageous failures. Reframe Failure as Data. Instead of seeing failure as a dead end, treat it as an information-gathering exercise. Amazon’s Fire Phone flopped, but the underlying technology led to Alexa’s development—one of its most successful innovations. Encourage Micro-Failures. Instead of placing massive bets that can sink an initiative, create low-risk experiments to test ideas before scaling. This approach minimizes damage while maximizing insights. Normalize Transparent Debriefs. Establish post-failure debrief rituals that focus on what was learned, not who was to blame. Bridgewater Associates, for example, operates with radical transparency, analyzing mistakes openly to prevent them from repeating. Publicly Recognize Productive Failures. If employees only see success being rewarded, they’ll avoid risk. Celebrate well-intentioned failures that led to key learnings, just as you would a big win. Lessons from leaders who failed forward When Sara Blakely started Spanx, she made countless mistakes in manufacturing and marketing but saw each misstep as part of the process. She credits her father for encouraging her to talk about what she failed at each day—instilling a mindset of resilience and growth. Another great example is Oprah Winfrey, who, when she was fired from her first TV job, used the setback to refine her approach and ultimately built one of the most influential media empires in history. Companies that fear failure more than stagnation are already losing ground. The leaders who fail forward faster—learning, iterating, and growing—will define the future. So, before your next big decision, ask yourself: Am I playing it safe to avoid failure, or am I willing to take a calculated risk that could lead to something extraordinary? Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s the bridge to it. The only real mistake is not learning from the ones you make along the way. View the full article

If you’re like me, you’ve heard plenty of talk about entity SEO and knowledge graphs over the past year. But when it comes to implementation, it’s not always clear which components are worth the effort. I’ve struggled to determine when and where entity concepts actually impact SEO, especially when time is limited. While modern search engines are semantic, traditional tactics like keyword research and link building still work well and often overlap with entity-based strategies. Through trial and error, I’ve learned when these approaches add value and when they’re just unnecessary extra work. So, for the practical SEO professional who doesn’t have endless time, how can we effectively leverage entities and knowledge graphs? More importantly, how do we justify the investment? How to leverage entities and the knowledge graph for SEO Many companies and websites are successfully using two powerful entity-SEO strategies: Building a knowledge graph for your website Develop a structured knowledge graph to: Establish relationships between new entities. Connect your existing entities to Google’s Knowledge Graph. Entity-based internal linking Instead of relying solely on keywords, use entities as anchor text. This strengthens semantic connections within your site and helps search engines better understand content context. Before diving into these strategies, let’s explore how they can improve rankings over traditional SEO. The SEO impact of entity-based strategies All this extra work can lead to ranking improvements, but only when implemented in the right situations, especially on existing websites rather than those built from scratch. If you’ve read my previous articles, you know I like using analogies to explain the “why” behind these concepts. A strong mental model makes it easier to adapt strategies to different challenges and, most importantly, to determine when and where they’re worth deploying. Clarity is king Imagine you’re evaluating several articles on the SEO changes of 2024. One may stand out, not because it’s flashy, but because it connects new ideas to familiar concepts. This intuitive process mirrors how Google operates. When content aligns with what you already know and then builds on it with clear, relatable explanations, it naturally appears more valuable. From a knowledge graph perspective, imagine overlaying two graphs. The better they align, the more easily a reader can grasp new concepts – especially when those new ideas are linked to familiar ones. Neuroscience supports this: our brains naturally form networks of knowledge by linking concepts in hierarchies and relationships. Think about how the Eiffel Tower immediately brings Paris to mind, then France, and even pastries. This is the direction Google is heading – mimicking the human mind by using interconnected knowledge graphs to understand and rank content. Dig deeper: Entities, topics, keywords: Clarifying core semantic SEO concepts Search engines aren’t broadly experts Now, imagine you’re reading a highly technical physics paper, a topic you’re unfamiliar with. Without a strong background, you’d struggle to make sense of complex ideas unless they’re broken down and connected to what you already know. Picture one article that includes a glossary or side notes, seamlessly teaching you new terms by linking them to familiar concepts before using them in context. In such a scenario, even without deep subject-matter expertise, you’d find that article much easier to understand and, consequently, more credible. This extra layer of education and clarity is precisely why content that bridges new ideas with established knowledge tends to be favored by both human readers and search engines like Google. Expanding on the analogy: Organizing the content for helpfulness Imagine that, after judging the articles, you’re tasked with organizing them into categories that reflect which prize each one should win. This mirrors how Google indexes content and determines which queries it’s relevant for. Articles that are clearly explained and tied to well-known subjects are easier to categorize and understand, much like content that aligns with recognized entities. As a result, these articles enjoy a wider reach, not just because readers trust them more, but because they can immediately see the connections to what’s relevant to their needs. Takeaways Aligning your site with entities offers two key benefits. Google can serve your content for more queries by clearly understanding its subject. It tends to favor content that is easy to interpret, often assigning it higher quality scores. These benefits are harder to measure since they don’t appear in clear metrics but function more like qualitative factors – similar to how humans assess communication clarity. Their impact extends across individual pages and the entire site, influencing overall quality scores. While their imprecision can frustrate SEOs, applying these principles can significantly improve rankings. Think of it like an essay contest: clarity is crucial to winning, even if it’s just one factor. A judge may favor your essay for its clarity but not explicitly cite it as the deciding reason. When these strategies might not be worth the effort The good news is that tools are available to implement strategies with knowledge graphs and entities. However, while they can certainly help, they aren’t a silver bullet. Just as in our essay competition analogy, an article being clearer doesn’t automatically make it better. Other articles might have more citations, come from more authoritative sources, or offer more meaningful content that resonates with users. These strategies are most valuable when clarity can give you an edge or a lack of clarity is holding your site back. The benefits won’t be uniform. For some sites, the impact can be huge, while for others it might be minimal. This is where an experienced SEO must assess the most pressing issues and allocate their limited time accordingly. Here are instances where it’s not worth it: Limited content or new sites: Building a comprehensive knowledge graph might be overkill if your website is new or has a small content inventory. The benefits of a detailed semantic structure become more apparent as your content grows. Niche or straightforward topics: Traditional strategies might suffice for websites focused on very niche or simple topics. If your content is already clear and easily understood by both users and search engines, the incremental gains from advanced schema or entity linking could be minimal. Resource constraints: These strategies require time, technical expertise, and sometimes financial investment in tools or services. If your team is small or already stretched thin, the return on investment might not justify the additional effort. Satisfactory existing performance: If your SEO efforts are already driving solid results, you may find that the marginal improvements from these advanced strategies aren’t significant enough to warrant a major overhaul. Think of these approaches as powerful tools in your arsenal and not a magic wand. Where is Google headed? Imagine that Google could hire experts in every field to determine which articles are the highest quality and best serve user intent. These experts would start by reading each article, meticulously examining their citations, and then assigning an overall quality score. Google’s knowledge graph enables machines to function like these niche experts in many ways. As these systems grow more sophisticated, their evaluations will increasingly mirror, and potentially even surpass, the judgments of human specialists. Dig deeper: Entity-oriented search: The evolution of information retrieval, explained Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Now that we understand the impact of entity SEO strategies, let’s explore how each one actually moves the needle, plus tips and tools to help you implement them. 1. Schema markup for external and internal entity connections and disambiguation Using schema markup, you can connect entities across your site and link them to external references, creating a knowledge graph of your content’s context for search engines. By consistently adding markup across your pages, crawlers can see how entities relate, forming a connected graph rather than isolated data points. It’s important to note that Google evaluates schema markup page-by-page. To connect your entities across your site, you must consistently use the @id property. (Learn more in this article on ID Schema for SEO, LLMs, and Knowledge Graphs.) Connecting entities internally the right way In this example, each schema is independent, with no explicit connection between related entities. As a result, search engines may struggle to understand how these pieces of data relate. JavaScript { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Example Marketing", "url": "https://example.com" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "John Doe", "jobTitle": "CEO", "worksFor": { "name": "Example Marketing" } } By using the @id property as shown below, you explicitly link the CEO to the organization. This connection creates a unified knowledge graph that clearly shows the relationship between the entities. JavaScript { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://example.com/#organization", "name": "Example Marketing", "url": "https://example.com" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "John Doe", "jobTitle": "CEO", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://example.com/#organization" } } Now, search engines understand that “John Doe” is the CEO of “Example Marketing” because the @id reference directly links the two entities. The right way to connect internal entities to external known sources Enhance your site’s clarity by linking entities to trusted sources like Wikidata or Wikipedia, which are part of Google’s Knowledge Graph. This adds context for search engines and validates your content’s authenticity and relevance. For example, you can use the sameAs property in your schema markup to link an entity on your site to its corresponding external reference. Consider the following code snippet: JavaScript { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "John Doe", "jobTitle": "CEO", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://example.com/#organization" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe" ] } In this example, the sameAs property connects “John Doe” on your site to external sources like Wikidata and Wikipedia. (Note: These links are placeholders. Make sure to reference actual, existing pages from both databases.) Enhancing entity detection with tools Tools like TextRazor can help you identify key entities on your pages by analyzing the content and providing a list of entities and their relative importance. This insight lets you strategically choose which entities to mark up and connect to external references, ensuring your content is as clear and informative as possible. TextRazor can analyze your content, identify the most important entities on your page, and provide a confidence score for how accurately it maps them to existing entities.) Automating schema markup If you prefer automation, WordLift can automatically generate the necessary sameAs markup for your pages using advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques. Alternatively, you can use tools like Screaming Frog in conjunction with JavaScript to generate JSON-LD schema at scale. Connecting your site’s entities to external references and leveraging automation tools creates a comprehensive, crawlable knowledge graph that enhances your website’s SEO and overall clarity. 2. Internal linking based on entities Clarifying the relationships between your pages through internal linking is also crucial. When you link a page to a broader entity, you’re effectively signaling to search engines that the content is part of an interconnected network. This improves clarity and increases the likelihood that your page will rank for a wider range of queries. Tools like InLinks can automate this process. Still, there’s a lot to gain from a manual approach especially when creating hub-and-spoke content relationships. For example, you might: Use Wikidata or TextRazor to identify key entities on a page. Select one primary entity representing that page and use it as a natural anchor for internal linking across your site. This targeted approach reinforces your content’s contextual relevance and helps search engines better understand how your pages interrelate. When knowledge graphs and entities matter most Entity SEO can take many forms, but these two strategies – schema markup and entity-based internal linking – are among the most effective and increasingly popular. They help search engines better understand and rank your content by clarifying its structure and relevance. However, these strategies aren’t universally necessary. Their impact depends on factors like content volume, topic complexity, and available resources. For some sites, they can be transformative, especially when clarity is a weak point. For others, traditional SEO methods may still yield the best results. Rather than viewing entity SEO as a silver bullet, treat it as a strategic tool. When combined with proven SEO practices, it can help build a stronger, more semantically rich website that thrives in an evolving search landscape. View the full article

If you get an email from PayPal, proceed with caution: Scammers are using a legitimate PayPal address to send fraudulent purchase notifications to users in an attempt to gain remote access to your computer by convincing you to download malware. The phishing emails are being sent from service@paypal.com, which makes them seem real—but as Bleeping Computer reports, scammers have managed to exploit PayPal settings in order to trick recipients. How to spot the PayPal scamUsers targeted for this scam are receiving emails from PayPal notifying them that they've added a new mailing address to their account. According to Bleeping Computer, users who received this message did not actually add new addresses to PayPal, and in some cases, these notices are being sent to email addresses that aren't even linked to a PayPal account at all. The phishing email also includes variations of the following message: "Confirmation: Your shipping address for the MacBook M4 Max 1 TB ($1098.95) has been changed. If you did not authorize this update, please reach out to PayPal at +1-888-668-2508'" Scammers are hoping users will call the number to reach PayPal support about a suspected fraudulent MacBook purchase. But if you do, you'll speak with someone who will scare you into believing your account has been hacked and direct you to download and run software to fix it. Instead, though, scams like this intend to take over your system in order to run malware and steal money and/or personal information. Obviously, a phishing email received from a legitimate PayPal address is worrisome—plus, it can get past security and spam filters. As Bleeping Computer's reporting found, the scammers are first utilizing the platform's "gift address" feature (which is just an additional shipping address you can add to your account) and then automatically forwarding the confirmation with the fraudulent message through a mailing list so it looks like it came from PayPal. How to avoid falling victim to the PayPal scam One way to identify phishing scams is to check the address that the message is sent from, which may seem legit on the surface but clearly not when you look closer. In this case, that may not help much, but you should always be wary of messages that provoke an emotional response (like fear). If you get this email, you can ignore and delete it, though you can log into your PayPal account by going directly to the website or app and make sure nothing has been added to your account. Do not click links or call phone numbers listed in suspicious emails—instead, go directly to the website to access your account and locate official customer service channels if needed. Finally, never download anything from a suspicious email to your device. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I have worked in nonprofits for the entirety of my career (~15 years). I’m a highly mission-driven person, so I am generally a lot happier in my work when I feel strongly connected to the nonprofit’s aims. As an example, I’ve worked at both a public library and a private college, and I was much happier at the library even though the hours were longer, the pay less, and the work more menial — just because I felt like my work was contributing to a better cause. I was recently hired at a very small nonprofit that, on paper, seemed to tick all the boxes for me. However, having been there for a few months now, I’m growing increasingly uncomfortable with the way it operates. It’s a little difficult to describe while maintaining anonymity, but I think the best comparison would be a soup kitchen (very similar in terms of the services we provide and overall “goodness” of the mission). If you look at the hard data — which in my comparison would be organization budget vs. people served — the overall impact becomes … not very impressive. When you do the math, it’s like it costs our soup kitchen $50 for each individual meal served. (Again, this is not exactly what we do, but this is the best analogy I could find. We do not have any additional programs that could be justified as part of the expense while having a nebulous hard-data result, like educational programs.) I don’t think there’s any fraud going on. I’ve seen the budget sheets and everything seems to be accounted for; the director and founder does not pay himself an exorbitant rate (it’s actually fairly low, in my experience — in fact, identical to the other staff salaries, which are good for the area we live in but definitely not luxurious). I honestly think it’s just bad management (it’s a very recently founded nonprofit and the director had no prior experience in nonprofits) and, mostly, a giant blind spot where the director doesn’t seem to have recognized that the math ain’t mathing. I think when the org was first founded, the numbers were a little better, but he’s added staff over the years at a rate that our actual output doesn’t match. In addition to just making me unhappy, this disparity is affecting my work. Part of my job is applying for grants and other funding, and we are very often rejected. I can’t be sure, but I am assuming that the budget-to-services ratio is turning off a lot of funders. (Why would you give us $1,000 to feed 20 people a single meal, when the average meal cost in our state should mean that could feed 250 people?) It’s definitely obvious to anyone who pays a little attention; I have a good friend who works in a nonprofit of similar size and she pointed it out in casual conversation: “Wow, that’s like $X per person served.”) So I suppose I have two questions: 1. Is there any way possible to point this out to the director in a way that is constructive? Fixing it would require a complete overhaul of the entire organization, which isn’t my purview — but as I said above, it’s affecting the results I get for the work I do. I’m afraid I’m going to just blurt it out defensively if the director continues to moan about the fact that we get rejected for grants I’m applying to. No matter how eloquently you write, a lot of funders want the hard numbers. 2. Does this reflect poorly on me? Should I just get out? I very much get the vibe that this organization is just an outlet for our director to feel good about himself — he comes from money, and has never had a real job where he wasn’t working for family, so this essentially allows him to LARP as a do-gooder without making any real difference. If I do depart, is it worth mentioning in an exit interview, or would that just be seen as a cheap parting shot? I am grateful for any advice you might have for me. This job ticks a lot of boxes for me in terms of salary, commute length/hybrid work, and the actual tasks I’m doing, so I don’t know if I should just plod ahead while ignoring the giant elephant in the room. Nah, you should get out. You want to work for a mission-driven organization that’s making a real difference, and this isn’t that. This sounds very much like, as you said, a chance for the director to play at charity work without the accompanying results that make charity work worthwhile. You want to work somewhere that’s effective. This organization isn’t. If you were someone who just wanted a paycheck, it might not be a problem to continue on there. (Even then, it still could be a problem, depending on where the org’s funding is coming from; at a certain point there are ethical issues with working for an ineffective organization that’s taking funds away from more worthy recipients … although one can certainly argue that it’s incumbent upon funders to do enough research to see when that’s happening.) But you are someone who wants work where you have a real impact on the world, and you’ve seen enough to know this doesn’t check that very important box for you. Moreover, this job risks holding you back professionally, especially as a fundraiser. When you’re applying for your next job, employers will want to hear about the successes you had in this one, and if you can’t point to any, that’s going to be a problem! (Perhaps less so if you don’t plan to stay in fundraising, but even then you’d still want to be able to point to a pattern of results and this job doesn’t sound like it’s positioning you well to do that.) As for pointing out your concerns to the director, you’re actually situated very well to do that! As the person who applies for grants, it’s part of your job to know what funders are looking for and it’s entirely consistent with your job to explain that funders want to see a better budget-to-services ratio. Hell, if you really want to put effort into helping him see that, you could even try to arrange a few conversations with potential funders to get them to comment on either the org’s weakness in that area or what metrics they look for generally, so that you can then relay that back to your director. But even if you don’t do that, there’s lot of material out there that you can reference about what expenses are and aren’t considered reasonable when applying for grants. You’d be doing this not necessarily because you expect the director will overhaul the entire organization in response to it (he probably won’t, although who knows) but simply to try to break through the blind spot that he appears to have. If he’s moaning about being rejected for grants, this is a conversation that absolutely should happen. And yes, you can mention it in an exit interview too. It’s not a cheap shot to say, “As someone who’s in this field because I want to have an impact, I ended up being disappointed by the results we get for the money we invest, and would like to see a higher effectiveness rate as measured by X.” View the full article

Sensitive financial and health data belonging to millions of veterans and stored on a benefits website is at risk of being stolen or otherwise compromised, according to a federal employee tasked with cybersecurity who was recently fired as part of massive government-wide cuts. The warning comes from Jonathan Kamens, who led cybersecurity efforts for VA.gov—an online portal for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services used by veterans, their caregivers and families. Kamens was fired February 14 and said he doesn’t believe his role will be filled, leaving the site particularly vulnerable. “Given how the government has been functioning for the last month, I don’t think the people at VA . . . are going to be able to replace me,” Kamens told the Associated Press Monday evening. “I think they’re going to be lacking essential oversight over cybersecurity processes for VA.gov.” Kamens said he was hired over a year ago by the U.S. Digital Service, whose employees’ duties have been integrated into presidential adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is leading the downsizing effort. Kamens was a digital services expert and the VA site’s information security lead when he was fired by email at night, along with about 40 other USDS employees, he said. Millions of people use the VA.gov website monthly, Kamens said, and the department is responsible for securing private health and financial information including bank account numbers and credit card numbers. Others on the team will focus on protecting the site, but his expertise can’t be replaced, he said, noting he was the only government employee with an engineering technical background working on cybersecurity. “VA.gov has access to a huge number of databases within VA in order to provide all of those benefits and services to veterans,” Kamens said. “So if that information can’t be kept secure, then all of that information is at risk and could be compromised by a bad actor.” Peter Kasperowicz, a Veterans Affairs spokesman, said the loss of a single employee wouldn’t affect operations, and noted that hundreds of cybersecurity workers are among the department’s staff of nearly 470,000. Meanwhile, more than 20 civil service employees who’d also previously worked for USDS resigned Tuesday from DOGE, saying they refused to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services.” Kamens said he was required to have a background check and a drug test before he was allowed to access any system containing veterans’ data. He said he doesn’t understand why Musk and DOGE shouldn’t have to jump through the same hoops. “I don’t think they should have access to that data,” Kamens said. “These are people who have never been background-checked. They’re not confirmed to be trustworthy.” Kamens also said he’s worried that DOGE is “trying to break down the walls of decentralization” that have kept data isolated in individual agencies. Centralization, he said, could increase the chances for abuse. He also described confusion since DOGE became involved—people didn’t know who their manager was, work became isolated, and people were “frozen out.” “The only motive that I can think of,” Kamens said, “is exactly because they want to be able to use that data to harm citizens that they perceive as enemies of the state.” —Brian Witte and Rodrique Ngowi, Associated Press View the full article

Purchase volume was flat last week and up just 3% compared to the same time a year ago when the market faced similar rates in the high 6% range. View the full article

Brussels hopes a ‘more flexible’ policy will reduce market disruptionView the full article

You've no doubt explored the app that came along with your smart lights, and found several handy tricks within—from getting your lights to turn on at scheduled times, to cycling between different colors and brightness settings over the course of the day. There's plenty more you can do, however, with the help of IFTTT. IFTTT (If This Then That) is a long-established web and mobile app for plugging different services into each other. It can, for example, automatically share Instagram photos to X (but only when a specific hashtag is used); forward SMS messages to your email; export Fitbit stats to Google Sheets; and plenty more—there are a wealth of options to explore. The tool plugs into several smart-light platforms, too, including Philips Hue, Lifx, TP-Link, Nanoleaf, and Govee. That means you're able to link certain triggers from all kinds of apps and services to automated actions on your smart lights. You can sign up for and use IFTTT free of charge. There are also Pro accounts available, which start at $3 a month: These give you access to more automations (known as applets), a greater selection of triggers and actions to choose from, access to AI enhancements, and a few additional features. How to set up an IFTTT applet It won't take you long to set up your first applet. Credit: Lifehacker Once you've registered an account with IFTTT and got yourself into the web interface, you can start building applets. Click Create, then choose Add next to If This. This is the trigger that will kick the automation into action. It could be anything from a new message in Google Chat to a new track from your favorite band on SoundCloud. You can also use times and dates as triggers. As you build your applet, you'll need to sign in to all the various services you're making use of, and give IFTTT access to your account credentials (which you can revoke at any time). If there's an app or service not available in IFTTT, it's most likely because there isn't an option for third-party plug-ins to attach themselves to it. You'll often be given options for your trigger—if you're connecting Dropbox, for example, you can specify a particular folder that IFTTT monitors for activity. These options give you more fine-grained control over when triggers are launched, which can be useful in terms of controlling your smart lights. With your trigger selected, you can choose your action: Click Add next to Then That. (For the purposes of this article, you'll want to connect your smart lights of choice, but there are plenty of other options for building applets—you can have emails sent to your inbox, or notifications sent to your phone.) The selection is slightly different for actions compared to triggers, and again, there are usually some customization options available. You'll need to log in and connect any new apps or services you connect to, and then you're almost done. Click Continue for an overview of the new applet, then click Done to confirm. You can manage your active applets through the My Applets section of IFTTT. They can be temporarily paused or fully deleted whenever you like. IFTTT applets to try with your smart lightsNow that you know how to build applets, you can turn your attention to your smart lights—ways to use your lights as an alternative notification system for something, rather than checking your phone or email. For these examples I'll use Philips Hue lights, as those are the ones I've got, but various smart platforms are supported. You can, for example, get your smart lights to tell you about a new episode of your favorite podcast on Spotify. Choose Spotify and New followed show as the trigger, then set Philips Hue and Blink lights as the action. You don't have to blink the lights across your whole house—you can choose one individual light for this or any other action. Get an alert every time there's a new podcast on Spotify. Credit: Lifehacker Getting weather alerts is a fun one, because you can make use of the colors on your smart lights. Choose Weather Underground then Current condition changes to as the trigger, and select Rain as the condition (your location should be detected automatically). The trigger for Philips Hue lights then needs to be Change color—set it to "blue" to get rain warnings, or tweak the settings for any different conditions. What about if your Android phone is in another room or in a desk and you want to know when it needs charging? Pick Android Battery then Low battery as the trigger, then Philips Hue and Set a scene in a room—you can specify a light change to warn you a recharge is needed. For this to work, you need the IFTTT Android app installed on your phone to monitor battery levels. Another potentially useful way of using your lights is with your schedule. IFTTT lets you select Google Calendar and Any event starts as a trigger—you can then set a blink or a color change in the Philips Hue action to signify that an event is starting within a specified number of minutes. You can set this for a specific calendar in your account (like your meetings calendar), so you're not overwhelmed with notifications. You can also connect IFTTT to your Google Calendar. Credit: Lifehacker Or what about connecting your smart lights to your video doorbell? If you pick Ring and New Ring Detected as your trigger, the resulting action could then be a color or scene change on your Philips Hue lights, or a quick blink of some or all of them. If you don't have a doorbell you can hear easily, or instant access to your phone, this can be truly handy. These are just a few options you can explore across the IFTTT platform, and there's a lot more that's possible. IFTTT plugs into iOS Shortcuts too, for example, giving you even more ways to mix and match your automated connections. View the full article

For transgender students involved in a very special project at a culinary school in Pakistan, there is more to a class than just learning the art of cooking. Neha Malik used to dance at parties and weddings for a living and was, occasionally, a sex worker. Since January, she has been enrolled in a new course for the trans community at the Culinary & Hotel Institute of Pakistan. The free six-month program in the city of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, welcomed its first group of 25 trans students in January; the second group of 25 began training on February 1. Now, Malik, 31, dreams of working as a chef in Dubai, the futuristic, skyscraper-studded city in the United Arab Emirates. She never misses a class. “I am so absorbed in learning that I don’t have time to dance anymore,” she added. Many Pakistanis have entrenched beliefs on gender and sexuality, and trans people are often considered outcasts in the conservative Muslim-majority country. Some are forced into begging, dancing, and even prostitution to earn money. They also live in fear of attacks. The U.N. development agency said last year that the majority of trans people in Pakistan reported experiencing violence or abuse and that most reported being denied employment opportunities because of their gender identity. Just 7% were employed in formal sectors, the UNDP added. Trans women in public office and the media have raised awareness about a marginalized and misunderstood community, and overall, the community has seen some progress in the protection of their rights. Supreme Court rulings allow them to self-identify as a third gender, neither male nor female, and have underscored they have the same rights as all Pakistani citizens. Last year, Lahore got its first ride-sharing service for trans people and women in an effort to protect them from discrimination and harassment, and in 2022 Pakistan launched a hotline for trans people. “Society usually looks down on us,” said Malik. “We have to change this mindset. Now, people come up to me and ask what I do when they see me in a chef’s coat and hat.” Since classes started, students file into the Lahore culinary school with backpacks and beaming smiles, swapping their colorful clothes for white uniforms. However, it’s a struggle. They each get a monthly stipend of 8,000 rupees, around $26—nowhere near enough to live on as a student. “How can we survive on that when my rent is 15,000 rupees?” said 26-year-old Zoya Khan. Her utility bills swallow up most of it, she said. So she performs at a few events a month. “I used to earn a decent amount (from dancing), I won’t lie,” she added. But “there was no respect in it.” “Why do we come here? It’s because we see hope,” said Khan, who wants to start her own business after graduating—a roadside cafe. Nadia Shehzad, the institute’s chief executive, said the project will help the trans community, a “rejected and ignored sector of society” get equal recognition. The school is trying to get government officials to help the aspiring chefs with visas to go abroad for work, Shehzad said. There are also talks with local hotels and restaurants about jobs once the students graduate—with wages of up to 30,000 rupees, or about $107. Still, it’s not easy for for trans people to leave behind dancing, begging and sex work for the culinary program, said Shabnam Chaudry, a trans community leader. Many wonder if society would give them work—or if people at restaurants would eat food cooked by trans chefs. In the past, Chaudry said she had seen many trans people taking makeup and sewing courses, only to fail to find jobs afterward and be forced to return to begging and dancing to survive. She is also concerned about their prospects of finding a job: Pakistan has hundreds of thousands of young people with skills and degrees who cannot find work. “In the face of this tough competition, who will give jobs to trans people,” Chaudry asked. “People are not ready to shake hands with us.” —Babar Dogar, Associated Press View the full article

Dating apps are a notoriously hostile space towards transgender users. If they list their transness in their profiles, they’re outing themselves to the world. If they don’t, matches could accuse them of catfishing. Picking the right time to tell matches can feel impossible. With “Match Note,” Hinge wants to help these daters out. The feature, which launched this morning, lets users send a must-read note to their match before starting a conversation. The use cases extend far beyond trans users: The tool can also benefit neurodivergent daters, daters with children, and more. Listing these sensitive identity traits on a public profile can feel daunting; now, Hinge is offering a chance for users to keep some of their privacy. “When you’re dating, it can be vulnerable to open up to others,” Hinge CMO Jackie Jantos writes in an email to Fast Company. “Match Note gives all daters an opportunity to share what they feel is important—privately and directly—with people they’ve matched with.” Hinge’s ploy to help minority datersIt’s a hard time to be trans in the United States. President Donald Trump has rolled back trans civil protections and encoded anti-trans language into his executive orders. His actions have also fed into an increasingly anti-trans corporate culture, as American companies continue to cow to Trump by cutting DEI initiatives. Even more companies, it seems, are afraid to say the word “trans” nowadays. That’s why it’s meaningful when Hinge announces new features specifically trying to help their trans customers. Match Note gives them more options, choosing exactly when and how they want to disclose their gender identity to other matches. It’s popular, too: Of 2,000 daters who tested Match Note, 83% of trans and non-binary respondents thought the feature improved their ability to show up as their authentic self on Hinge, per Jantos. “In the LGBTQIA+ community, trans, nonbinary, and queer+ folks used Match Note during testing to share more about their gender identity upon matching — like highlighting from their profile that they’re trans or reminding matches about their pronouns,” Jantos writes. “Other members of the community, such as gay men, are using this surface to share more about their preferred sexual positions because it feels important to align on from the beginning.” The tool could be useful for neurodivergent daters, too. Hinge users may not want the swiping world to know that they’re on the spectrum, for example. But that could affect their messaging patterns; with Match Note, that user could disclose their neurodivergence after matching. Or, imagine the single parent who needs their partner to love children, but doesn’t want to breach the child’s privacy by listing them on a public profile. With Match Note, they could save that information for just those they match with. How much do we share on dating apps?Even for traits that aren’t as personally sensitive, disclosures are becoming increasingly difficult. Think of the sober dater. While they may not care whether the world knows about their sobriety, it’s difficult to cram that into Hinge’s witty prompt boxes. (Generally, users don’t look close enough to see a “No” next to Hinge’s glass icon.) Those disclosures also break the feeling of nonchalance that many users seek to create. What if they come off as overly earnest? Now, they can list their sobriety in a Match Note. [Animation: Hinge]“Knowing when to share or repeat or go into detail about certain information can be tricky,” Jantos writes. “We hope this optional moment can save daters from any unnecessary confusion or heartache down the line and help you get on dates with the people you’re excited about.” View the full article

Crypto fervour that greeted Trump’s election has faded amid series of scandalsView the full article

Today, we’re exploring Google Ads brand settings, specifically brand inclusion and brand exclusion for Search and Performance Max. We’ll cover: What is Brand Inclusion in Google Ads? When should you use Brand Inclusion for Search? What is Brand Exclusion in Google Ads? When should you use Brand Exclusion? How to create and manage brand lists for brand settings Should you use Brand Settings in Google Ads? What is Brand Inclusion in Google Ads? Brand inclusion is a setting that restricts your Search campaign to only show ads on searches for specific brands. In fact, it used to be called “brand restriction.” You can include your own brand, competitors’ brands, or whatever brands you’d like. When should you use Brand Inclusion for Search? Brand inclusion only works with Search campaigns that use the broad match keywords setting. Practically, this means that the brand inclusion setting lets you run branded search campaigns or competitor conquesting campaigns using broad match keywords. This can be a valuable testing ground if you’re looking to expand your reach. Remember, though, that you should only use brand inclusion with a Smart Bidding strategy, because broad match keywords are only designed to work with AI-powered Smart Bidding. Think of brand exclusion as a complement or substitute for negative keywords. In a Search campaign, excluding certain brands can save you time and money by not having to play “search term whack-a-mole.” But brand exclusion truly shines in a Performance Max campaign because you don’t have the same search term visibility as in Search, and you can only add up to 100 negative keywords per PMax campaign. Within your PMax settings, you have the option to apply brand exclusions to Shopping and Search inventory, or just Search inventory. While brand exclusion is a great tool for keeping your brand (or competitors’ brands) out of your search terms, it isn’t perfect. You’ll still need to monitor your search terms (or search categories) regularly and potentially add negative keywords as needed. How to create and manage brand lists for brand settings Both brand inclusion and exclusion rely on brand lists to work. Google provides pre-populated lists for many common brands. However, if your brand isn’t listed, you can easily create your own within the campaign setup process or through your Shared Library. What exactly constitutes a brand? It’s not necessarily just the main company name. For example, while “Nike” is a brand, so are sub-brands like “Air Max” and “Air Jordan.” You might need to create separate brand lists for each if you want to include or exclude them individually. Should you use Brand Settings in Google Ads? If your brand search impression share is 90%+ and you have budget to spare, it’s worth testing brand inclusion to see if you can get incremental conversions at similar CPA or ROAS. Also, if your competitor conquesting campaigns aren’t getting the performance you’d like, it may be worth testing brand inclusion with brand lists featuring your competitors. Brand exclusion for Search can’t hurt as an add-on to all of your nonbrand search campaigns. If you don’t want to show ads on competitor names, feel free to use it for that purpose as well. The use case for brand exclusion for Performance Max is clearer: PMax will always try to eat up your brand traffic, which is neither a good thing nor a bad thing – it’s simply the fastest way to driving good performance. If you’d like to nip that behavior in the bud, you should definitely try the brand exclusion setting. If you don’t mind your branded search traffic coming in through PMax, then leave this setting turned off. This article is part of our ongoing weekly Search Engine Land series, Everything you need to know about Google Ads in less than 3 minutes. Every Wednesday, Jyll highlights a different Google Ads feature, and what you need to know to get the best results from it – all in a quick 3-minute read. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google Local Service Ads opts advertisers into booking links, by default...View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Google Pixel 7 (5G, Unlocked) is down to $279.99 on Woot for the next three days, or until it sells out. That’s more than 50% off its original $599 price, making this a steal for anyone in need of a flagship phone at a mid-range cost. Google Pixel 7 (5G, Unlocked) $279.99 at Woot $599.00 Save $319.01 Get Deal Get Deal $279.99 at Woot $599.00 Save $319.01 The deal is available in the Snow color, and Prime members get free standard shipping—everyone else pays $6. Woot won’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, PO boxes, or APO addresses. Also, this is backed by a 90-day Woot Limited Warranty, not Google’s standard coverage. But considering this phone was PCMag’s Best Android Phone of 2022, it still holds up well in 2024, especially at this price. The Pixel 7 is built for those who want a smooth, no-nonsense Android experience. It has a 6.3-inch OLED display (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) with a 90Hz refresh rate—not the 120Hz you’ll see on pricier models, but still much smoother than a standard 60Hz screen. The build is recycled aluminum, which is nice for the eco-conscious, and it’s covered in Gorilla Glass Victus on both sides, giving it solid durability. It also meets an IP68 rating, meaning it can handle dust and water without worry. Internally, the Tensor G2 chip and 8GB RAM make everyday tasks feel incredibly fluid. The 256GB storage is generous, though there’s no microSD slot, so what you see is what you get. Battery life isn’t top-tier, but its 4,355mAh battery should last about 12 hours with moderate to high usage. It supports 30W wired charging, Qi wireless charging, and even wireless battery sharing for accessories, notes this PCMag review. Where the Pixel 7 really shines is its camera setup. The 50MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide lens deliver some of the best photos you’ll get on a phone at this price. It has optical and electrical image stabilization, making shots sharper even in low light. Google’s software tricks—Magic Eraser, Night Sight, Motion Mode, and Face Unblur (among others)—make a noticeable difference, giving your photos a professional touch with minimal effort. The 10.8MP front camera is great for selfies and video calls. On the connectivity side, it’s packed with 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS, ensuring you’re covered for fast speeds and seamless connections. View the full article

Reform UK leader’s earnings boosted by reality show appearance in late 2023View the full article

TikTok leads mobile commerce with $6B revenue, doubling rivals through personalized shopping experiences and creator partnerships. The post TikTok Beats Competitors by 2X with $6B In-App Revenue appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says it’s critical that the nation be out in front when it comes to artificial intelligence, and that means having reliable and affordable sources of electricity to meet the growing demands of the technology sector. Wright made the comments Tuesday before touring Sandia National Laboratories. On Monday, he visited Los Alamos National Laboratory, home to the top secret project during World War II that created the atomic bomb. A fossil fuel executive and graduate of MIT, Wright highlighted the labs’ legacies and said they will play a role in what he described as this generation’s Manhattan Project—a critical scientific undertaking that will change the course of the world in ways yet to be imagined. To win the AI race, he said the nation needs reliable and affordable electricity and the infrastructure to move it around. “I’m a believer,” Wright said, adding that nuclear power will be part of the solution. How big is the nuclear piece of the energy pie? Federal energy analysts say the U.S. has generated more nuclear electricity than any other country and that plants here have supplied close to 20% of the nation’s total annual electricity since 1990. That’s enough to power more than 70 million homes. Nuclear power makes up less of the world’s portfolio when it comes to generating energy than other sources, Wright said. That’s despite plants having small footprints and running on small amounts of material that pack a big punch. “It’s playing a shrinking role in our energy pot,” he said. “That doesn’t square.” However, many states are looking to nuclear energy to fill the gap as more data centers come online and tech companies develop more energy-thirsty AI tools. Arizona already is home to one of the nation’s largest nuclear plants and utilities there have teamed up to explore the potential for building more. Meanwhile, California extended the life of its last operating nuclear plant with the help of more than $1 billion in federal funding. Officials say the Diablo Canyon plant is vital to California’s power grid. In Wyoming, TerraPower, a company started by Bill Gates, broke ground last summer on what officials say will be one of the first advanced reactors to operate in the U.S. What does it take to feed nuclear power plants? Nuclear power plants are fueled with uranium—the mining and milling of which is a major sticking point for environmentalists who point to legacy contamination from early operations in western U.S. states and on Native American lands. Concerns still swirl today, with some groups criticizing the revival of mining near the Grand Canyon. The back end of the fuel cycle also is an issue, with commercial reactors across the country producing more than 2,000 metric tons of spent fuel annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Most of the waste remains at the sites that produce it because there’s nowhere else to put it. Private companies plan to temporarily store spent fuel in New Mexico and West Texas. In the case of Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether federal regulators have the authority to grant licenses for such facilities to operate. Barring a permanent solution, both Republican and Democratic leaders in the two states have said they don’t want to become the nation’s nuclear dumping ground. Wright acknowledged the challenge of spent fuel, saying there are “some creative ideas” on the horizon that could lead to long-term storage solutions at multiple sites around the U.S. Is there a clear path for more nuclear power? U.S. President Donald Trump has set the stage, signing executive orders aimed at stoking American innovation when it comes to AI, declaring a national energy emergency, and establishing a national council that will be focused on “energy dominance.” The administration also supports a multibillion-dollar venture by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank that involves building data centers and the electricity generation needed for further AI development. The Biden administration, too, had touted nuclear power as a way to meet demands without emitting greenhouse gases. The administration last year set a target of at least tripling nuclear power in the U.S. by 2050. Standing in a corner of the national nuclear science museum in Albuquerque, Wright noted that the nation’s nuclear history began in large part in New Mexico with the development of the atomic bomb. There are many reasons for the lack of progress over recent decades, including government regulations he called overly burdensome. Beyond ensuring human safety, he said the high bars that have been set have stifled the development of next-generation nuclear power. “Our goal is to get that out of the way, bring private businesses together, and figure out what kind of nudge we might need to get shovels in the ground and next-generation small modular reactors happening,” he said. “I think they will be part of the solution.” —Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press View the full article

There are times when eggs are non-negotiable in a recipe—like egg drop soup or quiche—but when eggs play a minor role, then why not use a replacement? Egg wash is a prime example. Using it adds color and shine to finished baked goods like dinner rolls and pies, but when eggs are selling at a premium price, it’s hard to justify using an egg wash at all. Finding a good egg wash alternative isn’t only useful for saving a buck, but it can be a handy back-up even when eggs are plentiful. There’s always the occasion where you just ran out, or you have folks coming over that are on egg-free diets. After some browsing on the internet, butter, mayo, milk, heavy cream, maple syrup, and sour cream seem to be the common substitutes. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I whipped up a batch of my favorite biscuits and painted them with different finishes so I could compare them after baking. You can see in the picture above that there are eight biscuits. In addition to the six alternatives I mentioned, I did one with actual egg wash so we can track what we're striving for, and one with absolutely nothing on it as a control. 25 minutes later, the results were in and I was actually pretty surprised. Each topping produced a different result; some more obvious than others. When egg wash is used as a topping (as opposed to a binder), its primary function is to impart color, shine, and leave no trace of flavor, so that's what I was looking for. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Here are the results from top left to right, and bottom left to right. Egg wash: Goal browning and shine Sour cream: Best browning, high gloss (outshined the egg) Heavy cream: Light browning, a slight shine Whole milk: Well-browned, slight shine No wash: Light browning, matte Maple syrup: Well-browned, no shine Mayonnaise: Medium browning, medium shine Butter: Light browning, no shine Hands-down, the winner was sour cream. Dare I say it performed even better than the actual egg wash. (I tried to capture the blinding shine in the picture below.) The color of the baked sour cream coated biscuit was a beautiful dark brown, and the shine surpassed even the egg wash standard. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Runners-up were mayonnaise and whole milk for their middle-of-the-road performance in both categories. For a vegan option, maple syrup imparted gorgeous brown coloring, but it had a decidedly un-shiny finish and it leaves behind a subtle sweet flavor (which might be good or bad depending on your preferences). Butter turned out the worst performance. I would be sad, but I’ve been fooled by butter before so I was expecting the disappointment. On both counts, the finish paled in comparison to its competitors. Butter aside, at least you have some options for the next time you make a batch of biscuits, rolls, pastries, or pies. Save the eggs for when they matter most. View the full article

Understanding the intricate relationship between customer experience (CX) and brand loyalty is a must in today’s dynamic business landscape. As consumer behavior evolves, so does the concept of brand devotion. In this article, we go into 60 essential customer experience statistics, shedding light on the impact of positive experiences, customer loyalty, and emerging trends. Defining Customer Experience Customer experience (CX) refers to the overall perception and interaction a customer has with a brand throughout their entire journey. It encompasses every touchpoint, from initial awareness to post-purchase support. CX extends beyond individual transactions; it’s about building lasting relationships and fostering trust. The Role of Customer Experience in Today’s Business Landscape In the hyper-competitive business world, CX has become a strategic differentiator. Here’s why it matters: Customer Retention: Exceptional CX leads to higher customer retention rates. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay loyal and recommend your brand. Brand Advocacy: Positive experiences turn customers into brand advocates. They share their positive encounters with others, amplifying your brand’s reach. Revenue Impact: Research shows that companies prioritizing CX outperform their competitors in terms of revenue growth. Competitive Edge: In a crowded market, superior CX sets you apart. Customers are willing to pay more for a seamless experience. AspectDescriptionBenefits Customer RetentionExceptional CX leads to higher customer retention rates. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay loyal and recommend your brand.- Increased loyalty and repeat business - Lower churn rates - Enhanced customer lifetime value Brand AdvocacyPositive experiences turn customers into brand advocates. They share their positive encounters with others, amplifying your brand’s reach.- Word-of-mouth promotion - Higher trust and credibility - Expansion of customer base through referrals Revenue ImpactResearch shows that companies prioritizing CX outperform their competitors in terms of revenue growth.- Higher sales from repeat customers - Increased conversion rates - Premium pricing opportunities Competitive EdgeIn a crowded market, superior CX sets you apart. Customers are willing to pay more for a seamless experience.- Differentiation from competitors - Ability to command higher prices - Attraction of new customers seeking quality experiences Top Customer Experience Statistics From the undeniable influence of customer satisfaction—where 86% of buyers express a willingness to invest more for superior experiences—to the repercussions of negative encounters, with 82% of customers severing ties with a company after a disappointing interaction, each statistic paints a vivid picture of consumer expectations and preferences. Through exploring themes such as omnichannel engagement, personalized interactions, and the transformative power of employee engagement, we aim to redefine the way we perceive and prioritize customer experiences in today’s ever-evolving marketplace. Join us as we navigate through these illuminating insights, poised to unlock unparalleled growth opportunities and foster enduring brand relationships. The Impact of Positive Customer Experience 97% of consumers and 98% of contact center managers say customer service interactions impact whether consumers stay loyal to a brand. 61% of consumers will pay at least 5% more if they know they’ll get a good customer experience. 60% of consumers have switched brands due to a negative contact center experience. 70% of brands see a direct connection between customer service and performance. 87% of customers actively avoid buying from brands they don’t trust. 74% of CX leaders say improving content and knowledge delivery to customers and employees is important. According to customer experience statistics, 81% of customers report that having a positive customer service experience increases their likelihood of making a repeat purchase. 95% of consumers say customer service impacts their brand loyalty. 64% of leaders say customer service has a positive impact on their company’s growth. 60% of leaders say customer service improves customer retention. Customer Loyalty and Experience Statistics 88% of buyers say experience matters as much as a company’s products or services. 12. When customer service effectively resolves their issues, 80% of consumers report feeling a stronger emotional connection to a brand. 13. 54.7% of customers are loyal to 1 to 5 brands. 14. 86% of consumers would leave a brand after as few as two poor experiences. 15. 49% of consumers have left a brand in the past year due to poor customer experience. 16. On average, companies that put in the work to improve customer experience see a 42% improvement in customer retention. 17. 82% of companies agree that retention is cheaper than acquisition. 18. 75% of consumers say they favor companies that offer rewards. 19. 56% of customers stay loyal to brands that “get them”. 20. 65% of a company’s business comes from existing customers. Key Trends in Customer Experience Generative AI in CX has endless potential uses, from generating dynamic marketing campaigns and personalized user guides to streamlining customer service and gaining deeper insights into customers and loyalty. The shift towards subscription services enables businesses to nurture ongoing relationships and drive up lifetime value. 23. Customers will willingly pay higher prices for good experiences. 24. CX quality fell for 19% of brands recently, the lowest rate in 17 years. Only 3% of U.S. companies are customer-obsessed, reflecting a decrease of 7% from the previous period. Strategies for Positive Customer Experiences Companies that actively engage in listening to their customers see a 25% increase in customer satisfaction. Moreover, ineffective listening can lead to misunderstandings, costing companies approximately $62.4 billion per year. Utilizing customer feedback is crucial, as 73% of consumers worldwide expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations. Additionally, businesses that personalize experiences based on customer feedback can see consumers spend an average of 38% more. Implementing effective feedback systems can lead to significant performance improvements. For instance, employees who receive regular feedback are more engaged, with 80% of such employees being fully engaged. Companies using APIs (Application Programming Interface) are 21% faster in solving customers’ problems, and their customers spend 35% less time waiting for responses. Three to four buyer personas account for over 90% of a company’s sales. Moreover, brands that use personalization, which includes understanding buyer personas, can reduce marketing and sales costs by 10-20%. Loyal Customers and Customer Interactions: Statistics and Insights 96% of customers feel that customer service is crucial for brand loyalty. 32. 89% of customers express they would switch brands after an unpleasant experience, and CX handles over 60% of brand loyalty. 33. 77% of the customers who experience positive CX are likely to recommend the brand to a friend. 34. 72% of global customers feel loyalty toward at least one brand or company. 35. Price is the #1 factor keeping customers loyal to their favorite brands. The Personalized Experience: Future Trends With the rapid advancements in technology, data, and analytics, marketers are on the cusp of being able to create much more personal and “human” experiences across various moments, channels, and buying stages. This humanizing customer experience has the potential to dramatically improve interactions. The idea of physical spaces is being transformed to enhance customer journeys beyond a brand’s entrance as digital innovations improve the customer experience in both physical and virtual settings. 66% of customers anticipate that businesses will recognize their individual needs and expectations, underscoring the significance of personalized customer experiences. Customers are likely to spend more with companies that provide excellent service, with statistics showing that a good customer experience can lead to customers spending up to 140% more than they would after a negative experience. Companies that are customer-centric and focus on delivering superior customer experiences are found to be 60% more profitable compared to those that do not prioritize the customer experience. The Rise of Personalized Customer Experience Providing highly personalized customer experiences to millions of individual customers through the use of proprietary data is challenging for competitors to replicate. 42. Today’s personalization leaders have found proven ways to drive 5 to 15 percent increases in revenue and 10 to 30 percent increases in marketing spend efficiency. When implemented at scale, personalization can result in a 1 to 2 percent increase in overall sales for grocery companies, with even greater gains for other types of retailers. 44. 80% of consumers would be more likely to do business with a company that offered experiences tailored just for them. Customer Satisfaction: A Key Indicator of The Customer Experience 66% of customers reported that they expect brands to understand their needs and wants. 52% of customers reported that brand satisfaction increases due to personalization. 63. 62% of consumers reported feeling they had lost control over their private information 87% of customers actively avoid buying from brands they don’t trust. According to customer experience statistics, 81% of customers report that having a positive customer service experience increases their likelihood of making a repeat purchase. 95% of consumers say customer service impacts their brand loyalty. 64% of leaders say customer service has a positive impact on their company’s growth. 60% of leaders say customer service improves customer retention. 89% of businesses compete primarily based on customer experience – an increase from just 36% in the past. Personalization and Satisfaction: A Look at Future Customer Experience Trends The global revenue of customer experience personalization and optimization software is projected to surpass 9.5 billion U.S. dollars. 55. Many companies are already spending more than half of their budgets on personalization efforts today. 56. 71% of consumers expect companies to deliver personalized interactions. 57. 76% of consumers get frustrated when companies don’t deliver personalized interactions. 58. Companies that grow faster drive 40% more of their revenue from personalization than their slower-growing counterparts. 59. 49% of marketing professionals report that increased customer retention is one of the top benefits realized from a successful personalization strategy. 60. 43% of marketing professionals report that improved customer experience and increased engagement are significant results of effective personalization. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bL_D-qyva0c%3Fsi%3Dmc4DZ5SZLXtXenIe FAQs: Customer Experience Statistics What are the 3 C’s of customer experience? The 3 C’s of customer experience refer to Consistency, Convenience, and Communication. Consistency ensures that customers receive the same level of service across all touchpoints. Convenience involves making it easy for customers to interact with your brand. Communication emphasizes the importance of clear and effective communication throughout the customer journey. What are the 4 E’s of customer experience? The 4 E’s of customer experience are Engage, Empower, Emotion, and Effortless. Engage involves creating meaningful interactions with customers. Empower focuses on giving customers the tools and resources to solve their own problems. Emotion highlights the importance of creating emotional connections with customers. Effortless refers to streamlining processes to make the customer experience as smooth as possible. What are some surprising customer experience statistics? Some surprising customer experience statistics include: 82% of customers stop doing business with a company after a bad customer experience. 87% of customers actively avoid buying from brands they don’t trust. 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase when brands offer personalized experiences. How does a positive customer experience impact loyalty? A positive customer experience leads to higher customer loyalty. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay loyal to a brand, make repeat purchases, and recommend the brand to others. Positive experiences create emotional connections with customers, fostering long-term relationships and brand advocacy. What are common challenges businesses face in improving customer experience? Common challenges businesses face in improving customer experience include: Lack of customer data and insights. Difficulty in creating effective customer journey maps. Inconsistencies in the customer journey across different channels. Adapting to the evolving expectations of mobile customer experience. Addressing issues highlighted in customer experience reports. How have trends in customer experience changed over the years? Trends in customer experience are evolving to focus on personalization, omnichannel engagement, and technology integration. Companies are increasingly utilizing customer data to tailor interactions and foresee customer needs. Additionally, there is a heightened focus on delivering seamless experiences across various channels, including mobile platforms. What are some success stories of businesses that have significantly improved customer experience? Several businesses have successfully improved customer experience and achieved notable success. For example, companies like Amazon, Zappos, and Airbnb are renowned for their customer-centric approach and dedication to delivering exceptional experiences. These companies prioritize customer satisfaction and invest in innovative solutions to enhance the customer journey. How do loyal customers respond to positive customer experiences? Loyal customers respond positively to exceptional customer experiences by demonstrating higher levels of brand loyalty, making repeat purchases, and advocating for the brand. They are more likely to engage with the brand across various channels, provide positive reviews and recommendations, and contribute to the brand’s long-term success. Are customer-centric companies more successful? Yes, customer-centric companies tend to be more successful in today’s competitive market. By prioritizing customer needs and preferences, these companies create memorable experiences that drive customer loyalty, increase retention rates, and ultimately lead to higher profitability. Customer-centric organizations understand the value of building strong relationships with customers and continuously strive to exceed their expectations. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Exploring Loyalty: Customer Experience Statistics" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Understanding the intricate relationship between customer experience (CX) and brand loyalty is a must in today’s dynamic business landscape. As consumer behavior evolves, so does the concept of brand devotion. In this article, we go into 60 essential customer experience statistics, shedding light on the impact of positive experiences, customer loyalty, and emerging trends. Defining Customer Experience Customer experience (CX) refers to the overall perception and interaction a customer has with a brand throughout their entire journey. It encompasses every touchpoint, from initial awareness to post-purchase support. CX extends beyond individual transactions; it’s about building lasting relationships and fostering trust. The Role of Customer Experience in Today’s Business Landscape In the hyper-competitive business world, CX has become a strategic differentiator. Here’s why it matters: Customer Retention: Exceptional CX leads to higher customer retention rates. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay loyal and recommend your brand. Brand Advocacy: Positive experiences turn customers into brand advocates. They share their positive encounters with others, amplifying your brand’s reach. Revenue Impact: Research shows that companies prioritizing CX outperform their competitors in terms of revenue growth. Competitive Edge: In a crowded market, superior CX sets you apart. Customers are willing to pay more for a seamless experience. AspectDescriptionBenefits Customer RetentionExceptional CX leads to higher customer retention rates. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay loyal and recommend your brand.- Increased loyalty and repeat business - Lower churn rates - Enhanced customer lifetime value Brand AdvocacyPositive experiences turn customers into brand advocates. They share their positive encounters with others, amplifying your brand’s reach.- Word-of-mouth promotion - Higher trust and credibility - Expansion of customer base through referrals Revenue ImpactResearch shows that companies prioritizing CX outperform their competitors in terms of revenue growth.- Higher sales from repeat customers - Increased conversion rates - Premium pricing opportunities Competitive EdgeIn a crowded market, superior CX sets you apart. Customers are willing to pay more for a seamless experience.- Differentiation from competitors - Ability to command higher prices - Attraction of new customers seeking quality experiences Top Customer Experience Statistics From the undeniable influence of customer satisfaction—where 86% of buyers express a willingness to invest more for superior experiences—to the repercussions of negative encounters, with 82% of customers severing ties with a company after a disappointing interaction, each statistic paints a vivid picture of consumer expectations and preferences. Through exploring themes such as omnichannel engagement, personalized interactions, and the transformative power of employee engagement, we aim to redefine the way we perceive and prioritize customer experiences in today’s ever-evolving marketplace. Join us as we navigate through these illuminating insights, poised to unlock unparalleled growth opportunities and foster enduring brand relationships. The Impact of Positive Customer Experience 97% of consumers and 98% of contact center managers say customer service interactions impact whether consumers stay loyal to a brand. 61% of consumers will pay at least 5% more if they know they’ll get a good customer experience. 60% of consumers have switched brands due to a negative contact center experience. 70% of brands see a direct connection between customer service and performance. 87% of customers actively avoid buying from brands they don’t trust. 74% of CX leaders say improving content and knowledge delivery to customers and employees is important. According to customer experience statistics, 81% of customers report that having a positive customer service experience increases their likelihood of making a repeat purchase. 95% of consumers say customer service impacts their brand loyalty. 64% of leaders say customer service has a positive impact on their company’s growth. 60% of leaders say customer service improves customer retention. Customer Loyalty and Experience Statistics 88% of buyers say experience matters as much as a company’s products or services. 12. When customer service effectively resolves their issues, 80% of consumers report feeling a stronger emotional connection to a brand. 13. 54.7% of customers are loyal to 1 to 5 brands. 14. 86% of consumers would leave a brand after as few as two poor experiences. 15. 49% of consumers have left a brand in the past year due to poor customer experience. 16. On average, companies that put in the work to improve customer experience see a 42% improvement in customer retention. 17. 82% of companies agree that retention is cheaper than acquisition. 18. 75% of consumers say they favor companies that offer rewards. 19. 56% of customers stay loyal to brands that “get them”. 20. 65% of a company’s business comes from existing customers. Key Trends in Customer Experience Generative AI in CX has endless potential uses, from generating dynamic marketing campaigns and personalized user guides to streamlining customer service and gaining deeper insights into customers and loyalty. The shift towards subscription services enables businesses to nurture ongoing relationships and drive up lifetime value. 23. Customers will willingly pay higher prices for good experiences. 24. CX quality fell for 19% of brands recently, the lowest rate in 17 years. Only 3% of U.S. companies are customer-obsessed, reflecting a decrease of 7% from the previous period. Strategies for Positive Customer Experiences Companies that actively engage in listening to their customers see a 25% increase in customer satisfaction. Moreover, ineffective listening can lead to misunderstandings, costing companies approximately $62.4 billion per year. Utilizing customer feedback is crucial, as 73% of consumers worldwide expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations. Additionally, businesses that personalize experiences based on customer feedback can see consumers spend an average of 38% more. Implementing effective feedback systems can lead to significant performance improvements. For instance, employees who receive regular feedback are more engaged, with 80% of such employees being fully engaged. Companies using APIs (Application Programming Interface) are 21% faster in solving customers’ problems, and their customers spend 35% less time waiting for responses. Three to four buyer personas account for over 90% of a company’s sales. Moreover, brands that use personalization, which includes understanding buyer personas, can reduce marketing and sales costs by 10-20%. Loyal Customers and Customer Interactions: Statistics and Insights 96% of customers feel that customer service is crucial for brand loyalty. 32. 89% of customers express they would switch brands after an unpleasant experience, and CX handles over 60% of brand loyalty. 33. 77% of the customers who experience positive CX are likely to recommend the brand to a friend. 34. 72% of global customers feel loyalty toward at least one brand or company. 35. Price is the #1 factor keeping customers loyal to their favorite brands. The Personalized Experience: Future Trends With the rapid advancements in technology, data, and analytics, marketers are on the cusp of being able to create much more personal and “human” experiences across various moments, channels, and buying stages. This humanizing customer experience has the potential to dramatically improve interactions. The idea of physical spaces is being transformed to enhance customer journeys beyond a brand’s entrance as digital innovations improve the customer experience in both physical and virtual settings. 66% of customers anticipate that businesses will recognize their individual needs and expectations, underscoring the significance of personalized customer experiences. Customers are likely to spend more with companies that provide excellent service, with statistics showing that a good customer experience can lead to customers spending up to 140% more than they would after a negative experience. Companies that are customer-centric and focus on delivering superior customer experiences are found to be 60% more profitable compared to those that do not prioritize the customer experience. The Rise of Personalized Customer Experience Providing highly personalized customer experiences to millions of individual customers through the use of proprietary data is challenging for competitors to replicate. 42. Today’s personalization leaders have found proven ways to drive 5 to 15 percent increases in revenue and 10 to 30 percent increases in marketing spend efficiency. When implemented at scale, personalization can result in a 1 to 2 percent increase in overall sales for grocery companies, with even greater gains for other types of retailers. 44. 80% of consumers would be more likely to do business with a company that offered experiences tailored just for them. Customer Satisfaction: A Key Indicator of The Customer Experience 66% of customers reported that they expect brands to understand their needs and wants. 52% of customers reported that brand satisfaction increases due to personalization. 63. 62% of consumers reported feeling they had lost control over their private information 87% of customers actively avoid buying from brands they don’t trust. According to customer experience statistics, 81% of customers report that having a positive customer service experience increases their likelihood of making a repeat purchase. 95% of consumers say customer service impacts their brand loyalty. 64% of leaders say customer service has a positive impact on their company’s growth. 60% of leaders say customer service improves customer retention. 89% of businesses compete primarily based on customer experience – an increase from just 36% in the past. Personalization and Satisfaction: A Look at Future Customer Experience Trends The global revenue of customer experience personalization and optimization software is projected to surpass 9.5 billion U.S. dollars. 55. Many companies are already spending more than half of their budgets on personalization efforts today. 56. 71% of consumers expect companies to deliver personalized interactions. 57. 76% of consumers get frustrated when companies don’t deliver personalized interactions. 58. Companies that grow faster drive 40% more of their revenue from personalization than their slower-growing counterparts. 59. 49% of marketing professionals report that increased customer retention is one of the top benefits realized from a successful personalization strategy. 60. 43% of marketing professionals report that improved customer experience and increased engagement are significant results of effective personalization. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bL_D-qyva0c%3Fsi%3Dmc4DZ5SZLXtXenIe FAQs: Customer Experience Statistics What are the 3 C’s of customer experience? The 3 C’s of customer experience refer to Consistency, Convenience, and Communication. Consistency ensures that customers receive the same level of service across all touchpoints. Convenience involves making it easy for customers to interact with your brand. Communication emphasizes the importance of clear and effective communication throughout the customer journey. What are the 4 E’s of customer experience? The 4 E’s of customer experience are Engage, Empower, Emotion, and Effortless. Engage involves creating meaningful interactions with customers. Empower focuses on giving customers the tools and resources to solve their own problems. Emotion highlights the importance of creating emotional connections with customers. Effortless refers to streamlining processes to make the customer experience as smooth as possible. What are some surprising customer experience statistics? Some surprising customer experience statistics include: 82% of customers stop doing business with a company after a bad customer experience. 87% of customers actively avoid buying from brands they don’t trust. 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase when brands offer personalized experiences. How does a positive customer experience impact loyalty? A positive customer experience leads to higher customer loyalty. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay loyal to a brand, make repeat purchases, and recommend the brand to others. Positive experiences create emotional connections with customers, fostering long-term relationships and brand advocacy. What are common challenges businesses face in improving customer experience? Common challenges businesses face in improving customer experience include: Lack of customer data and insights. Difficulty in creating effective customer journey maps. Inconsistencies in the customer journey across different channels. Adapting to the evolving expectations of mobile customer experience. Addressing issues highlighted in customer experience reports. How have trends in customer experience changed over the years? Trends in customer experience are evolving to focus on personalization, omnichannel engagement, and technology integration. Companies are increasingly utilizing customer data to tailor interactions and foresee customer needs. Additionally, there is a heightened focus on delivering seamless experiences across various channels, including mobile platforms. What are some success stories of businesses that have significantly improved customer experience? Several businesses have successfully improved customer experience and achieved notable success. For example, companies like Amazon, Zappos, and Airbnb are renowned for their customer-centric approach and dedication to delivering exceptional experiences. These companies prioritize customer satisfaction and invest in innovative solutions to enhance the customer journey. How do loyal customers respond to positive customer experiences? Loyal customers respond positively to exceptional customer experiences by demonstrating higher levels of brand loyalty, making repeat purchases, and advocating for the brand. They are more likely to engage with the brand across various channels, provide positive reviews and recommendations, and contribute to the brand’s long-term success. Are customer-centric companies more successful? Yes, customer-centric companies tend to be more successful in today’s competitive market. By prioritizing customer needs and preferences, these companies create memorable experiences that drive customer loyalty, increase retention rates, and ultimately lead to higher profitability. Customer-centric organizations understand the value of building strong relationships with customers and continuously strive to exceed their expectations. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Exploring Loyalty: Customer Experience Statistics" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google simplifies removing personal data from search with new alerts, streamlined takedown requests, and search result refreshing. The post Google Simplifies Removing Personal Info From Search Results appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

If you've been waiting in earnest for interest rates to drop, I have some bad news: The Federal Reserve has effectively put rate cuts on hold until President Donald Trump and Congress establish a clear policy direction that won't make inflation even worse. According to the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes, released this week, this cautious stance is a result of the Fed simply not knowing how the “economic effects of potential government policies” might play out. While the federal funds rate is designed to set what banks charge each other, it trickles down to everything from mortgages to student loans. If you’re planning on applying for a credit card, a home, or a car loan any time soon, here’s how the Fed's waiting game will impact you. Higher inflation is still a thingAssuming there isn't a sudden spike in the unemployment rate, Fed officials said they would “want to see further progress on inflation before making additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate.” In the meantime, inflation has proved to be more resilient than hoped, with the numbers from January coming in hotter than expected. While no rate movement in either direction is the most likely outcome for the time being, there's a chance that if inflation worsens again, the Fed's next move would be not a rate cute, but a rate hike. Market expectations for interest rate cuts have already declined significantly. The latest CNBC Fed Survey showed 65% of respondents predict two rate cuts in 2025, down from 78% in the prior survey. And if the Fed does cut rates this year, the first cut may not come until June or July, according to the CME FedWatch tool. In other words, the Fed has adopted a "wait and see" approach—it is unwilling to lower rates amid uncertainty about the new administration's economic policies. Trump's tariff plans could raise prices even moreThe biggest contributor to said economic uncertainty is President Trump's stated plans for tariffs on imports. While earlier announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico are on hold (at least for now), China is facing new 10% tariffs, and additional tariffs on those and other countries aren't out of the realm of possibility. The Peterson Institute estimates that tariffs on just China, Mexico, and Canada could cost the average American family approximately $1,200 annually—and this estimate doesn't account for Trump's broader reciprocal tariff plans. This is because when tariffs drive up the cost of a product being imported, those costs get passed on to the customer. Large purchases like automobiles, appliances, and electronics are likely to see some of the most noticeable price increases, according to Johnston. These items often rely heavily on global supply chains and imported components. Even products assembled in the United States frequently depend on imported parts, meaning tariffs could affect prices even for "American-made" goods. The bottom lineIf you were hopeful interest rates might drop in the next few months, don't hold your breath. We've been battling persistent inflation for years now, and with inflationary pressures from tariffs on the horizon, the Fed appears committed to maintaining higher rates until there's compelling evidence that inflation is firmly under control. But hey, while higher interest rates raise costs for borrowers, they can also mean higher yields for savers—so here's how you can take advantage of that. View the full article

Many assume LinkedIn Ads is an easy-to-use platform: just set your budget, pick your audience, and let the leads roll in. But in reality, small mistakes can add up fast, costing your organization thousands with little to show for it. This article breaks down five of the most common LinkedIn Ads mistakes – from targeting missteps to overlooked settings – and how to fix them. 1. Using age as a targeting criterion You probably don’t remember this, but when you created your LinkedIn profile, you were never asked for your age or birth year. That means LinkedIn has no direct way of knowing how old you are (which, honestly, I don’t mind). Instead, it makes an educated guess based on factors like your graduation year. But we all know that educational paths vary – especially for those who studied overseas or come from countries with different high school durations. Use years of experience as an alternative. How long someone has been in their role is a much better indicator of their decision-making power within a company and helps you determine the right depth for your messaging. 2. Enabling LinkedIn audience expansion without adjustments You use LinkedIn primarily for its unmatched targeting capabilities, so why allow the platform to expand your audience to anyone who meets just one of your targeting criteria? Instead, try predictive audiences. I’ve seen lower CPCs while maintaining high ICP fits (over 90%) – exactly the kind of expansion you want for prospecting. LinkedIn builds these high-value audiences using: Lead gen forms. Contact or company lists. Conversions (e.g., Insight Tag, CAPI, website actions). Retargeting. Essentially, it leverages high-quality data to deliver high-quality results. Dig deeper: 7 LinkedIn Ad settings and tactics you didn’t know you needed 3. Turning on the LinkedIn Audience Network without optimization Running ads outside of LinkedIn while leveraging its targeting capabilities sounds like a no-brainer. The problem? Many advertisers fail to add a block list or select only a few brand-safe websites on which their ads should appear. If you have a team running ads on the Google Display Network or a programmatic team, they likely have a list of negative placements to help you get started. No one wants their ads to appear next to content that clashes with their brand or values. I’m not a big fan of the LinkedIn Audience Network (LAN). I’ve seen better results on other platforms. The appeal is that enabling it is as simple as checking a box, but you need to follow up to ensure your ads appear in the right places. Did you know that in some instances, LinkedIn estimates whether a signal belongs to a member who fits your targeting criteria – such as when a user isn’t logged in or is browsing a third-party site or mobile app? This means you could end up targeting someone completely different than intended for your ABM flow. Dig deeper: Maximizing your B2B spend: Is account-based marketing worth it? Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. 4. Failing to set up website actions Many teams have limited development resources, but LinkedIn makes it easy to track website actions with the LinkedIn Insight Tag. This is likely the only thing you’ll need to ask your developer for, and it’s fairly simple to install. Once the tag is in place, LinkedIn will automatically populate website actions for tracking, such as button clicks and page visits. Unlike other platforms, you don’t need to install additional code or pixels. You simply need to log into Campaign Manager, click on Data in the left panel, then select Website actions. These website actions allow you to create: Conversions: This is great for key form fills and also for tracking micro-conversions, like clicks on “Contact Us” buttons that don’t lead to form submissions. Remarketing: Using website actions, you can create top-to-bottom funnel journeys. For example, remarket to those who clicked on your product or pricing pages or exclude those who visited the “Login,” “Customer Portal,” or “Tech Support” pages. If you haven’t already, check out the website actions section. It offers a lot of power with minimal effort. 5. Relying on only one ad format If your ad budget is tight, investing in videos, carousels, or other high-production formats may not be an option. However, creating document and thought leader ads with LinkedIn makes those excuses less valid. A document ad is essentially a carousel ad for non-marketers. The two most common mistakes people make with this format are: Using any random PDF from their website: Most PDFs are designed for desktop viewing or printing, but since most LinkedIn users browse on mobile, they’ll have to zoom in and out, leading to a poor experience. Gating the content too early: This requires testing. Gating the content on the second page – where you’re just showing the index – won’t work. To demonstrate your brand’s value, you need to reveal more upfront. On the other hand, thought leader ads allow anyone – employee, client, or vendor – to write or record themselves discussing an engaging topic. These ads feel more personal and can capture attention in a way that doesn’t seem like an ad. A clear call to action is critical for success here. Make the most of your LinkedIn Ads by addressing these mistakes By avoiding these common LinkedIn Ads mistakes, you can optimize your campaigns, improve targeting accuracy, and achieve better results without overspending. LinkedIn offers powerful tools, but only if you take the time to understand how they work and apply them strategically. So, next time you set up a campaign, review these tips to ensure your account reaches its full potential. After all, the devil is in the details. On LinkedIn, those details can make all the difference. View the full article

A new federal lawsuit in Maryland is challenging a Trump administration memo giving the nation’s schools and universities two weeks to eliminate “race-based” practices of any kind or risk losing their federal money. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by the American Federation of Teachers union and the American Sociological Association, says the Education Department’s February 14 memo violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Forcing schools to teach only the views supported by the federal government amounts to a violation of free speech, the organizations say, and the directive is so vague that schools don’t know what practices cross the line. “This letter radically upends and re-writes otherwise well-established jurisprudence,” the lawsuit said. “No federal law prevents teaching about race and race-related topics, and the Supreme Court has not banned efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.” The memo, formally known as a Dear Colleague Letter, orders schools and universities to stop any practice that treats people differently because of their race, giving a deadline of this Friday. As a justification, it cites a Supreme Court decision banning the use of race in college admissions, saying the ruling applies more broadly to all federally funded education. President Donald Trump’s administration is aiming to end what the memo described as widespread discrimination in education, often against white and Asian American students. At stake is a sweeping expansion of the Supreme Court ruling, which focused on college admissions policies that considered race as a factor when admitting students. In the February 14 memo, the Education Department said it interprets the ruling to apply to admissions, hiring, financial aid, graduation ceremonies, and “all other aspects of student, academic and campus life.” The lawsuit says the Education Department is applying the Supreme Court decision too broadly and overstepping the agency’s authority. It takes issue with a line in the memo condemning teaching about “systemic and structural racism.” “It is not clear how a school could teach a fulsome U.S. History course without teaching about slavery, the Missouri Compromise, the Emancipation Proclamation, the forced relocation of Native American tribes,” and other lessons that might run afoul of the letter, the lawsuit said. The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the memo, Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, had said schools’ and colleges diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have been “smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline. “But under any banner, discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin is, has been, and will continue to be illegal,” Trainor wrote in the memo. The lawsuit argues the Dear Colleague Letter is so broad that it appears to forbid voluntary student groups based on race or background, including Black student unions or Irish-American heritage groups. The memo also appears to ban college admissions practices that weren’t outlawed in the Supreme Court decision, including recruiting efforts to attract students of all races, the lawsuit said. It asks the court to stop the department from enforcing the memo and strike it down. The American Federation of Teachers is one of the nation’s largest teachers unions. The sociological association is a group of about 9,000 college students, scholars and teachers. Both groups say their members teach lessons and supervise student organizations that could jeopardize their schools’ federal money under the memo. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Collin Binkley, AP Education Writer View the full article

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that a worrying mystery illness is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The unknown disease has so far sickened hundreds and killed dozens since reports of it first emerged in early January. Here’s what to know about the outbreaks so far. What is the disease? At this time, health officials do not know what the disease is. In the WHO’s weekly bulletin for the February 10- 16 period, the agency says the unknown disease “poses a significant public health threat.” The disease is currently active in two regional clusters, according to the report, and worryingly, of those who have died from it, nearly half of the deaths happened within just 48 hours of symptoms emerging. The first regional cluster where the disease made itself known is in the Boloko Village, in the Bolomba Health Zone region of the DRC. In that village, three children reportedly died from the disease between January 10-13. Then in early February, the disease reportedly spread to its second regional cluster in Bomate Village, Basankusu Health Zone, located in the northwest of the DRC. Initially, there were 20 reported deaths from the disease there between January 30 and February 9. As Reuters reports, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing on Tuesday that “The outbreaks, which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown.” How many people have died or become sick? Unfortunately, health authorities now say that both the number of cases and the number of deaths have risen sharply since the first initial reports came in for both outbreak clusters. WHO says that as of February 15, a total of 431 people have become sick across both clusters. In total, there have been 53 known deaths from the illness. That represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 12.2%. When breaking down the illnesses and deaths by regional clusters, 12 cases and 8 deaths have occurred in the Bolomba Health Zone, where the disease was first reported. That means that in that single zone, the disease has a case fatality rate of 66.7%. But it is the second cluster, in the Basankusu Health Zone, where the majority of cases and deaths have occurred. In the Basankusu Health Zone, there have been 419 cases with 45 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 10.7%. How far has the disease spread? As of the WHO’s bulletin, the unknown disease has only been reported in the Bolomba Health Zone and Basankusu Health Zone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The two areas are relatively close to each other and are located in the northwestern portion of the country. Currently, the disease is not reported to have spread to any other areas of the DRC or neighboring countries How does the disease spread? It is currently unknown how the disease spreads. Health authorities have reported that trace-back data shows the outbreak is thought to have first happened in the Bolomba Health Zone. Multiple children became sick with the disease. According to WHO, “Reports indicate that the children had consumed a bat carcass prior to onset of signs and symptom.” This suggests that the disease may be spread by the consumption of animals that are harboring it, but this is not a certainty. It is unknown if researchers have discovered a direct link between bat consumption and the outbreak of the disease. Diseases can also have multiple routes of transmission. What are the symptoms of the disease? The WHO’s bulletin states that the children who first came down with symptoms after eating the bat suffered from the following: fever headache diarrhoea fatigue Those symptoms later transitioned into: subconjunctival haemorrhage epistaxis haematemesis However, the range of symptoms across all cases is more broad. Health authorities say infected persons may produce a number of symptoms, including: fever chills headache myalgia body aches sweating rhinorrhea neck stiffness cough vomiting diarrhoea abdominal cramps Could this be the start of another pandemic? It is much too early to say whether the mystery illness that has broken out in the DRC could be the beginning of the next pandemic. Health authorities simply know too little about the disease and how it spreads at this time. However, it’s worth noting that in December, there were reports of another mystery illness in the DRC, and that disease was later found out to be severe malaria, reported Reuters. In other words, just because the disease is a “mystery” right now, doesn’t mean it’s not simply an existing illness that health officials have previously identified. However, WHO does say that tests have ruled out other diseases, including Ebola and Marburg. The exclusion of these diseases raises “concerns about a severe infectious or toxic agent” being behind the as-of-yet-unknown disease. Other possibilities for the mystery disease include “malaria, viral haemorrhagic fever, food or water poisoning, typhoid fever, and meningitis,” according to WHO. Or it could turn out to be something totally new. For now, health authorities simply need more time to determine what it is. View the full article