ResidentialBusiness

President Donald The President on Monday signed a sweeping executive order setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to electively lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. or face new limits down the road over what the government will pay. The order calls on the health department, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to broker new price tags for drugs over the next month. If deals are not reached, Kennedy will be tasked with developing a new rule that ties the price the U.S. pays for medications to lower prices paid by other countries. “We’re going to equalize,” The President said during a Monday morning press conference. “We’re all going to pay the same. We’re going to pay what Europe pays.” It’s unclear what — if any — impact the Republican president’s executive order will have on millions of Americans who have private health insurance. The federal government has the most power to shape the price it pays for drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The President’s promised new — but uncertain — savings on drug prices, just hours after the Republican-led House released its new plan to trim $880 billion from Medicaid. Taxpayers spend hundreds of billions of dollars on prescription drugs, injectables, transfusions and other medications every year through Medicare, which covers nearly 70 million older Americans. Medicaid, which provides nearly-free health care for almost 80 million poor and disabled people in the U.S. also spends tens of billions of dollars each year for drugs. Top US drugmakers say The President’s order is bad for patients The nation’s pharmaceutical lobby, which represents the top U.S. drugmakers, immediately pushed back against The President’s order, calling it a “bad deal” for American patients. Drugmakers have long argued that any threats to their profits could impact the research they do to develop new drugs. “Importing foreign prices from socialist countries would be a bad deal for American patients and workers,” Stephen J. Ubl, the president and CEO of PhRMA, said in a statement. “It would mean less treatments and cures and would jeopardize the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America.” The President’s so-called “most favored nation” approach to Medicare drug pricing has been controversial since he first tried to implement it during his first term. He signed a similar executive order in the final weeks of his presidency, which called for the U.S. to only pay a lower price that other countries pay for some drugs — such as injectables or cancer drugs given through infusions — administered in a doctor’s office. That narrow executive order faced hurdles, with a court order that blocked the rule from going into effect under President Joe Biden’s administration. The pharmaceutical industry argued that The President’s 2020 attempt would give foreign governments the “upper hand” in deciding the value of medicines in the U.S. The President says other countries are to blame The President repeatedly defended pharmaceutical companies, instead blaming other countries for the high price Americans pay for drugs, during a wide-ranging speech at the White House on Monday. The president was flanked by Kennedy, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya. He did, however, threaten the companies with federal investigations into their practices and opening up the U.S. drug market to bring in more imported medications from other countries. “The pharmaceutical companies make most of their profits from America,” The President said. “That’s not a good thing.” The President played up the announcement over the weekend, boasting in one post that his plan could save “TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.” But on Monday, the White House offered no specifics for how much money the administration anticipates it could save. The health department’s top leaders will be meeting with drug company executives over the next 30 days to offer new prices on drugs that are based off what other countries pay, Oz said on Monday. Americans are unlikely to see immediate savings Americans are unlikely to see relief on rising drug costs quickly because of the order, said Rachel Sachs, a health law expert at Washington University. “It really does seem the plan is to ask manufacturers to voluntarily lower their prices to some point, which is not known,” Sachs said. “If they do not lower their prices to the desired point, HHS shall take other actions with a very long timeline, some of which could potentially, years in the future, lower drug prices.” The health department has the most authority to change the prices of drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid because it can set regulations. Even still, the agency’s power to do so is limited. Congress just approved in 2022 a new law that allows Medicare to negotiate the price it pays for a handful of prescription drugs starting in 2026. Before the law, Medicare paid what the drug companies charged. Drug companies unsuccessfully sued over the implementation of the law. The price that millions of Americans covered by private insurance pay for drugs is even harder for the agency to manipulate. The U.S. routinely outspends other nations on drug prices, compared with other large and wealthy countries, a problem that has long drawn the ire of both major political parties, but a lasting fix has never cleared Congress. The President came into his first term accusing pharmaceutical companies of “getting away with murder” and complaining that other countries whose governments set drug prices were taking advantage of Americans. The President says he’ll ‘do the right thing’ Ahead of the announcement, The President puffed up his rhetoric toward the industry again on social media, writing that the “Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the ‘suckers’ of America, ALONE.” Referring to drug companies’ powerful lobbying efforts, he said that campaign contributions “can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party.” “We are going to do the right thing,” he wrote. Several pharmaceutical companies gained ground in the stock market on Monday morning. Merck, a company that made $64.2 billion last year with the help of its cancer treatment Keytruda, jumped 3.9%. Pharma giant Pfizer, which notched $63.6 billion in revenue in 2024, rose 2.5% while Gilead Sciences rose 5.8%. —Amanda Seitz and Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Washington and Damian Troise in New York contributed to this report. View the full article

A reader writes: I am so uncomfortable getting praised or receiving good feedback that it makes me want to crawl out of my skin. For context, I started my job less than half a year ago, and the issue (which I have had all my life) became more prominent about two months ago. I was reviewing an important project for a coworker, noticed a lot of issues, fixed said issues, and sent it to the team lead. I didn’t think anything of it — my task was to make sure the project did not have issues, I spotted issues, and I fixed them. I then got an email from the team lead thanking me profusely for spotting the issues and correcting them, even though they were not all in the portion I was supposed to review, and for doing such a thorough job. Since then, the same team lead has assigned me to important reviews and tasks over said coworker (who has worked there much longer) and repeatedly thanks me for always being helpful, precise, and accurate. My boss also thanks me for “busting my butt” on other projects and promoted me to a position that more accurately reflected the work I was doing without me saying anything — I just came in one day and he told me I was being promoted (no new responsibilities, just a higher title and salary). On one hand, I’m grateful that my work is recognized and appreciated, feel incredibly lucky to have such an amazing boss, and understand that they are just trying to make sure that I feel appreciated and stay with the company. On the other, I feel like I am just doing my job, so why are they thanking me so much? I’m not doing anything special with any of these projects, just completing them to the best of my ability … which is my job. I don’t know if I feel this way because I am neurodivergent (my brain works like a computer, which is part of what makes me good at my job) or if this is a normal way to feel. I would appreciate any advice on how to accept praise and positive feedback without wanting to run for the hills, because I absolutely love my job and have no plans of leaving anytime soon. (I am in therapy and on medication and try to reframe the praise as just their way of showing appreciation; I also know if I never received any praise it would lower my morale and recognize the irony.) It might not seem like a big deal to you but it could still be a big deal to them! It sounds like you’re doing a better job than the person who they were sending some of the work to previously. That makes their lives and their jobs easier, so they appreciate it, and they’re telling you they appreciate it. It sounds like you’re taking praise as being either insincere or naive — like if they were being honest or paying enough attention, they’d know that you’re just doing your job and it’s not anything special. But there are lots of ways for people to approach doing their jobs, and some of those ways make other people’s lives easier and some don’t. You sound like you’re in the former category, which means you’re someone they appreciate working with. They’re letting you know that because that’s a natural response when you appreciate someone, and because they want to make sure you know they value you. I suspect neurodivergence could indeed be playing a role here: you’re seeing a strictly logical equation of “work is assigned, I do those assignments for pay, and the transaction is completed.” They’re seeing it a very different way — like “I give Jane work and I can always trust that it will be done accurately and on time, without me having to follow up on it, which is such a relief because it sure isn’t like that with everyone,” or “When I give Jane work, she’s a pleasure to deal with, which makes her a bright spot in my day when I’m otherwise dealing with bureacuracy and upset customers,” or “I love that when I give Jane work, she doesn’t just do the assignment by rote but looks at the bigger picture and makes suggestions I didn’t even think of to improve it,” and on and on. In many ways, communicating those sentiments to you is part of what a “completed transaction” looks like to them — because it’s significant on their end, even if it feels like “just doing my job” to you. It might get more intuitive if you think about people you’ve worked with before who never went beyond the basics or just weren’t very pleasant to deal with. Don’t you appreciate people who aren’t that? Your coworkers clearly do, and so they’re telling you. It’s also interesting that you recognize that you wouldn’t like it if you never received praise! Your colleagues know, as you do, that that demoralizes good people over time, and so they’re doing their part to prevent that from happening. Last: any chance you grew up in a household where you weren’t praised very often? That can wire you to feel like praise is something that’s only warranted for extreme actions, which can make praise for non-extreme actions feel insincere, patronizing, silly, or even manipulative — even though it’s not. If that’s the case, seeing that connection clearly can help you start to rewire how you experience praise as an adult (and if you end up managing people at some point, it would be especially important actively work on recalibrating that). The post receiving praise at work makes my skin crawl appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Key Takeaways Understand Your Target Audience: Identifying and defining your ideal clients allows you to tailor marketing strategies to meet their specific legal needs effectively. Build a Professional Online Presence: A user-friendly, mobile-optimized website is essential for attracting clients. Optimize your content with relevant keywords to improve search engine visibility. Leverage Digital Marketing Techniques: Employ SEO and content marketing to enhance visibility and authority. Regularly share valuable content through blogs and social media to engage prospects. Engage in Networking and Community Involvement: Building relationships with local businesses and participating in community events can increase your practice’s visibility and reputation. Utilize Traditional Marketing Methods: Print advertising and hosting educational workshops can effectively reach potential clients and establish credibility within your community. Measure and Adapt Marketing Efforts: Regularly analyze performance metrics and client feedback to refine your marketing strategies, ensuring ongoing effectiveness and client retention. In today’s competitive legal landscape, effectively marketing your law practice is crucial for attracting clients and standing out from the crowd. With countless firms vying for attention, knowing how to showcase your expertise can make all the difference. Whether you’re a seasoned attorney or just starting, the right marketing strategies can elevate your practice and build lasting relationships. From leveraging digital platforms to networking in your community, there are numerous ways to connect with potential clients. Understanding your target audience and tailoring your approach can lead to more meaningful interactions. In this article, you’ll discover proven techniques to enhance your law practice’s visibility and reputation, ensuring you not only reach but resonate with those who need your services. Understanding Your Target Audience Understanding your target audience is crucial for effective law practice marketing. It allows you to tailor your strategies to meet the specific needs of potential clients, enhancing client acquisition. Defining Your Ideal Client Defining your ideal client involves identifying characteristics that align with your legal services. Consider factors such as demographics, legal needs, and behaviors. Create a client profile that outlines age, location, income level, and any relevant legal issues. This targeted approach enhances your marketing strategy, ensuring your messaging resonates with those most likely to seek your services. Researching Client Needs and Preferences Researching client needs and preferences requires a proactive stance. Use tools like surveys and client feedback to gather insights. Analyze patterns in client inquiries and preferences to refine your services and communication methods. Understanding what potential clients value, such as responsive customer service and quick resolution times, can directly influence your business operations and improve client retention. Engage with clients on digital platforms, fostering conversations that enhance your insight into their motivations and expectations. Collaborate with your team for effective data analysis, ensuring everyone understands client needs. This focus bolsters your law practice’s capacity to meet demands efficiently and effectively. Building an Online Presence Your law practice’s online presence significantly influences its growth and client acquisition. Focusing on essential digital strategies enhances visibility and connects you with potential clients. Creating a Professional Website A professional website forms the cornerstone of your law firm’s digital footprint. Ensure it is user-friendly, modern, and easy to navigate. Mobile optimization is crucial, as over 50% of web traffic originates from mobile devices. Prioritize fast load times; slow websites lead to high abandonment rates. Optimize your content with relevant keywords to improve search engine rankings. Include essential features such as quick contact options and clear service details to establish credibility and trustworthiness. A well-designed website not only attracts clients but also reflects your business strategy and commitment to quality service. Leveraging Social Media Platforms Social media platforms serve as effective marketing channels for your law practice. Use them to enhance brand management and engage with potential clients. Regularly post content relevant to your legal services, showcasing your expertise. Respond to customer feedback promptly, as this builds trust and improves customer retention. Use strategic planning to determine which platforms align best with your target audience. Social media offers tools that can help streamline communication and foster community relations, critical components in business development. Implementing Digital Marketing Strategies Digital marketing strategies play a vital role in promoting a law practice, enabling you to enhance visibility and attract new clients. Focus on the following key areas to maximize your marketing efforts. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO improves your law firm’s visibility on search engines. Target keywords related to your services and location, as clients often search online for legal assistance. Optimize your website: Ensure that your site includes relevant keywords, especially in headings and meta tags. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify effective keywords. Improve local SEO: For better local search visibility, claim your Google My Business listing. Keep your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) data consistent across platforms. Enhance user experience: A fast-loading, mobile-friendly website retains visitors. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test and improve loading times. Content Marketing Techniques Content marketing establishes authority and builds trust with potential clients. Use high-quality content to address client needs effectively. Create valuable blog posts: Write articles on relevant legal topics that answer common questions or concerns. Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and boosts SEO. Utilize social media: Share blog posts and updates on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to reach broader audiences. Regular interactions can foster relationships and improve customer retention. Incorporate client testimonials: Display testimonials and case studies on your website. Positive feedback enhances credibility and encourages potential clients to reach out for assistance. Implementing these digital marketing strategies can significantly contribute to the growth of your law practice, streamlining operations and improving client acquisition through effective communication and engagement. Networking and Community Involvement Networking and community involvement serve as essential components to market your law practice effectively. Engaging with local businesses and participating in community events boosts your visibility, fosters relationships, and enhances your practice’s reputation. Building Relationships with Local Businesses Building relationships with local businesses can significantly elevate your marketing strategy. Establish mutually beneficial partnerships through direct communication and collaboration. Engage with small businesses by offering legal workshops that address common legal issues they face. Share valuable insights on topics like compliance, employee management, or business contracts, which can enhance your credibility and position you as a trusted advisor. Referring clients to local businesses and seeking their referrals in return creates a symbiotic relationship that supports community growth. Participating in Community Events Participating in community events strengthens your law firm’s connection to the community and highlights your commitment to local issues. Attend or sponsor local events such as fairs, workshops, or charities, where you can showcase your legal expertise and engage with potential clients. Provide free consultations or legal advice at these events to attract attention and demonstrate your dedication to service. Aligning your participation with relevant topics, like small business support or financial planning, helps establish you as a community leader and builds trust with local residents. Prioritize consistent involvement to ensure long-term visibility and customer retention in your marketing efforts. Utilizing Traditional Marketing Methods Traditional marketing methods play a crucial role in promoting your law practice. These strategies foster personal connections, establish credibility, and effectively reach potential clients in your community. Print Advertising Strategies Print advertising remains a valuable tool in your marketing strategy. Law firms can place ads in local newspapers, legal magazines, and community newsletters to engage a broad audience. Rick Hovde of Hovde Dassow + Deets successfully utilizes print advertising to keep potential and current clients informed about services and successes. Consider using direct mail campaigns with informative brochures and newsletters, as these can effectively promote client loyalty and engage new clients. Hosting Educational Workshops and Seminars Hosting educational workshops and seminars enhances your visibility and establishes you as a knowledgeable authority in your field. By providing useful information, you engage potential clients and address their needs. Design seminars around common legal issues relevant to your community, offering insight that demonstrates your expertise. Leverage partnerships with local organizations to broaden your reach and enhance credibility. By delivering valuable content, you aid decision-making for potential clients and strengthen trust in your practice. Measuring Marketing Effectiveness Effective marketing for your law practice hinges on measuring its success. Regularly analyzing performance metrics ensures you’re on track with your marketing strategy. Analyzing Website Traffic and Engagement You track website traffic using tools like Google Analytics to assess visitor behavior. Focus on key metrics such as page views, bounce rates, and average session duration. High bounce rates may signal a need for website improvements, while increased session duration indicates engaging content. You can also examine referral sources to identify which marketing channels drive the most traffic. This data helps refine your marketing campaigns and improves customer acquisition. Adjusting Strategies Based on Feedback You prioritize customer feedback to enhance marketing effectiveness. Collect input through surveys and interactions, focusing on areas such as service satisfaction and legal needs. Analyze this feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement. Adjusting your marketing strategy based on client input can bolster customer retention and demonstrate your commitment to service excellence. Incorporating changes based on direct responses fosters trust and builds long-term relationships with clients. Conclusion Effective marketing is crucial for your law practice’s success. By leveraging both digital and traditional strategies you can significantly enhance your visibility and client engagement. Understanding your target audience and tailoring your approach ensures you meet their specific needs. Incorporating community involvement and networking can build trust and credibility. Remember to measure your marketing efforts regularly to refine your strategies and improve client retention. By implementing these proven techniques you’ll not only attract new clients but also establish a strong reputation in your community. Embrace these strategies and watch your law practice thrive. Frequently Asked Questions Why is effective marketing important for law practices? Effective marketing helps law practices stand out in a competitive environment, showcasing attorneys’ expertise to attract potential clients and build credibility in the community. What digital strategies can law firms use for marketing? Law firms can utilize a professional website optimized for SEO, engage on social media platforms, produce valuable content, and use Google My Business to increase visibility and attract clients. How can understanding the target audience improve marketing efforts? By identifying the demographics and needs of the ideal client, law practices can tailor their marketing strategies, fostering meaningful interactions and enhancing client retention. What role does community networking play in law marketing? Community networking involves building relationships with local businesses and participating in events, which increases credibility and trust, fostering mutual referrals and long-term client relationships. How can law firms measure the effectiveness of their marketing? Law firms can analyze performance metrics like website traffic, engagement rates, and customer feedback. Tools like Google Analytics can help track these indicators for continuous improvement. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Strategies on How to Market a Law Practice Effectively" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Understand Your Target Audience: Identifying and defining your ideal clients allows you to tailor marketing strategies to meet their specific legal needs effectively. Build a Professional Online Presence: A user-friendly, mobile-optimized website is essential for attracting clients. Optimize your content with relevant keywords to improve search engine visibility. Leverage Digital Marketing Techniques: Employ SEO and content marketing to enhance visibility and authority. Regularly share valuable content through blogs and social media to engage prospects. Engage in Networking and Community Involvement: Building relationships with local businesses and participating in community events can increase your practice’s visibility and reputation. Utilize Traditional Marketing Methods: Print advertising and hosting educational workshops can effectively reach potential clients and establish credibility within your community. Measure and Adapt Marketing Efforts: Regularly analyze performance metrics and client feedback to refine your marketing strategies, ensuring ongoing effectiveness and client retention. In today’s competitive legal landscape, effectively marketing your law practice is crucial for attracting clients and standing out from the crowd. With countless firms vying for attention, knowing how to showcase your expertise can make all the difference. Whether you’re a seasoned attorney or just starting, the right marketing strategies can elevate your practice and build lasting relationships. From leveraging digital platforms to networking in your community, there are numerous ways to connect with potential clients. Understanding your target audience and tailoring your approach can lead to more meaningful interactions. In this article, you’ll discover proven techniques to enhance your law practice’s visibility and reputation, ensuring you not only reach but resonate with those who need your services. Understanding Your Target Audience Understanding your target audience is crucial for effective law practice marketing. It allows you to tailor your strategies to meet the specific needs of potential clients, enhancing client acquisition. Defining Your Ideal Client Defining your ideal client involves identifying characteristics that align with your legal services. Consider factors such as demographics, legal needs, and behaviors. Create a client profile that outlines age, location, income level, and any relevant legal issues. This targeted approach enhances your marketing strategy, ensuring your messaging resonates with those most likely to seek your services. Researching Client Needs and Preferences Researching client needs and preferences requires a proactive stance. Use tools like surveys and client feedback to gather insights. Analyze patterns in client inquiries and preferences to refine your services and communication methods. Understanding what potential clients value, such as responsive customer service and quick resolution times, can directly influence your business operations and improve client retention. Engage with clients on digital platforms, fostering conversations that enhance your insight into their motivations and expectations. Collaborate with your team for effective data analysis, ensuring everyone understands client needs. This focus bolsters your law practice’s capacity to meet demands efficiently and effectively. Building an Online Presence Your law practice’s online presence significantly influences its growth and client acquisition. Focusing on essential digital strategies enhances visibility and connects you with potential clients. Creating a Professional Website A professional website forms the cornerstone of your law firm’s digital footprint. Ensure it is user-friendly, modern, and easy to navigate. Mobile optimization is crucial, as over 50% of web traffic originates from mobile devices. Prioritize fast load times; slow websites lead to high abandonment rates. Optimize your content with relevant keywords to improve search engine rankings. Include essential features such as quick contact options and clear service details to establish credibility and trustworthiness. A well-designed website not only attracts clients but also reflects your business strategy and commitment to quality service. Leveraging Social Media Platforms Social media platforms serve as effective marketing channels for your law practice. Use them to enhance brand management and engage with potential clients. Regularly post content relevant to your legal services, showcasing your expertise. Respond to customer feedback promptly, as this builds trust and improves customer retention. Use strategic planning to determine which platforms align best with your target audience. Social media offers tools that can help streamline communication and foster community relations, critical components in business development. Implementing Digital Marketing Strategies Digital marketing strategies play a vital role in promoting a law practice, enabling you to enhance visibility and attract new clients. Focus on the following key areas to maximize your marketing efforts. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO improves your law firm’s visibility on search engines. Target keywords related to your services and location, as clients often search online for legal assistance. Optimize your website: Ensure that your site includes relevant keywords, especially in headings and meta tags. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify effective keywords. Improve local SEO: For better local search visibility, claim your Google My Business listing. Keep your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) data consistent across platforms. Enhance user experience: A fast-loading, mobile-friendly website retains visitors. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test and improve loading times. Content Marketing Techniques Content marketing establishes authority and builds trust with potential clients. Use high-quality content to address client needs effectively. Create valuable blog posts: Write articles on relevant legal topics that answer common questions or concerns. Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and boosts SEO. Utilize social media: Share blog posts and updates on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to reach broader audiences. Regular interactions can foster relationships and improve customer retention. Incorporate client testimonials: Display testimonials and case studies on your website. Positive feedback enhances credibility and encourages potential clients to reach out for assistance. Implementing these digital marketing strategies can significantly contribute to the growth of your law practice, streamlining operations and improving client acquisition through effective communication and engagement. Networking and Community Involvement Networking and community involvement serve as essential components to market your law practice effectively. Engaging with local businesses and participating in community events boosts your visibility, fosters relationships, and enhances your practice’s reputation. Building Relationships with Local Businesses Building relationships with local businesses can significantly elevate your marketing strategy. Establish mutually beneficial partnerships through direct communication and collaboration. Engage with small businesses by offering legal workshops that address common legal issues they face. Share valuable insights on topics like compliance, employee management, or business contracts, which can enhance your credibility and position you as a trusted advisor. Referring clients to local businesses and seeking their referrals in return creates a symbiotic relationship that supports community growth. Participating in Community Events Participating in community events strengthens your law firm’s connection to the community and highlights your commitment to local issues. Attend or sponsor local events such as fairs, workshops, or charities, where you can showcase your legal expertise and engage with potential clients. Provide free consultations or legal advice at these events to attract attention and demonstrate your dedication to service. Aligning your participation with relevant topics, like small business support or financial planning, helps establish you as a community leader and builds trust with local residents. Prioritize consistent involvement to ensure long-term visibility and customer retention in your marketing efforts. Utilizing Traditional Marketing Methods Traditional marketing methods play a crucial role in promoting your law practice. These strategies foster personal connections, establish credibility, and effectively reach potential clients in your community. Print Advertising Strategies Print advertising remains a valuable tool in your marketing strategy. Law firms can place ads in local newspapers, legal magazines, and community newsletters to engage a broad audience. Rick Hovde of Hovde Dassow + Deets successfully utilizes print advertising to keep potential and current clients informed about services and successes. Consider using direct mail campaigns with informative brochures and newsletters, as these can effectively promote client loyalty and engage new clients. Hosting Educational Workshops and Seminars Hosting educational workshops and seminars enhances your visibility and establishes you as a knowledgeable authority in your field. By providing useful information, you engage potential clients and address their needs. Design seminars around common legal issues relevant to your community, offering insight that demonstrates your expertise. Leverage partnerships with local organizations to broaden your reach and enhance credibility. By delivering valuable content, you aid decision-making for potential clients and strengthen trust in your practice. Measuring Marketing Effectiveness Effective marketing for your law practice hinges on measuring its success. Regularly analyzing performance metrics ensures you’re on track with your marketing strategy. Analyzing Website Traffic and Engagement You track website traffic using tools like Google Analytics to assess visitor behavior. Focus on key metrics such as page views, bounce rates, and average session duration. High bounce rates may signal a need for website improvements, while increased session duration indicates engaging content. You can also examine referral sources to identify which marketing channels drive the most traffic. This data helps refine your marketing campaigns and improves customer acquisition. Adjusting Strategies Based on Feedback You prioritize customer feedback to enhance marketing effectiveness. Collect input through surveys and interactions, focusing on areas such as service satisfaction and legal needs. Analyze this feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement. Adjusting your marketing strategy based on client input can bolster customer retention and demonstrate your commitment to service excellence. Incorporating changes based on direct responses fosters trust and builds long-term relationships with clients. Conclusion Effective marketing is crucial for your law practice’s success. By leveraging both digital and traditional strategies you can significantly enhance your visibility and client engagement. Understanding your target audience and tailoring your approach ensures you meet their specific needs. Incorporating community involvement and networking can build trust and credibility. Remember to measure your marketing efforts regularly to refine your strategies and improve client retention. By implementing these proven techniques you’ll not only attract new clients but also establish a strong reputation in your community. Embrace these strategies and watch your law practice thrive. Frequently Asked Questions Why is effective marketing important for law practices? Effective marketing helps law practices stand out in a competitive environment, showcasing attorneys’ expertise to attract potential clients and build credibility in the community. What digital strategies can law firms use for marketing? Law firms can utilize a professional website optimized for SEO, engage on social media platforms, produce valuable content, and use Google My Business to increase visibility and attract clients. How can understanding the target audience improve marketing efforts? By identifying the demographics and needs of the ideal client, law practices can tailor their marketing strategies, fostering meaningful interactions and enhancing client retention. What role does community networking play in law marketing? Community networking involves building relationships with local businesses and participating in events, which increases credibility and trust, fostering mutual referrals and long-term client relationships. How can law firms measure the effectiveness of their marketing? Law firms can analyze performance metrics like website traffic, engagement rates, and customer feedback. Tools like Google Analytics can help track these indicators for continuous improvement. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Strategies on How to Market a Law Practice Effectively" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If there’s one thing everyone knows about the impact of the tariffs, it’s that no one knows anything. Confusion is the general theme as tariff rates go up and down depending on the day, and trade deals get announced that, well, don’t actually remove any tariffs. So don’t feel bad if you have no idea how to plan for what’s coming. The one thing everyone agrees on is that we’re going to experience higher prices and shortages no matter what happens, because the last shipments of products that weren’t subject to the new tariffs have already arrived in the U.S. From this point forward, most of the stuff you want or need will be affected. This might make you feel like it’s 2020 again and it's time to start hoarding and stockpiling, but it’s not that simple: There are some items that you maybe should hoard a little to insure yourself against price increases and shortages, but some items aren’t going to pay off if you load up on them. Here’s what you should—and shouldn’t—think about stockpiling. What to buy more of now There’s a difference between panic-buying and trying to inoculate yourself from the impact of tariffs, and that difference comes down to being thoughtful. Your first step in a tariff stockpile plan is to focus on things you buy regularly or know you’re going to need in the near future. A few key items to consider include: Toys. Chinese factories manufacture about 80% of the toys sold in the U.S., so if you have kids and want to have toys for birthdays, holidays, and other events, you might do some pre-planning and stock up on those items ASAP. Prescriptions and OTC meds. Many prescription drugs already rely on a fragile and pretty narrow global supply chain, so trade disruptions will very likely make a long list of pharmaceuticals both harder to find and more expensive. If you rely on prescriptions, find out how large a supply you can get (you can often get at least a 90-day supply) and lay that in. This also applies to common over-the-counter medications and first-aid supplies, so these are a good idea to stockpile as well. This goes for your pets’ prescriptions as well, as they’re often manufactured in the same facilities and using the same suppliers. One caveat: Keep expiration dates in mind. Having expired acetaminophen in your cabinets isn’t exactly a win. Pet food. Speaking of your pets, it might not be a bad idea to stockpile their food. Pet food is going to get more expensive both because many use imported ingredients in their formulas and because the tariffs on imported aluminum will wallop the cost of canning it all. Food staples. If you’re worried about grocery prices during the tariff storm (and you probably should be), laying in a supply of staple foods that last a long time in storage is a good idea. Things like rice, canned goods, and beans can be stored for a long time, locking in current prices and protecting you from shortages. If you can preserve or can stuff like fruits or tomatoes, these can be added to your list. And if you eat a lot of tilapia (most of which we import from China), laying in a supply of frozen fillets will help keep your seafood night in action. Coffee and chocolate. As many have noted, the only place in the U.S. that is even capable of producing coffee is Hawaii, which produces less than 1% of the coffee we drink. So creating an emergency supply of coffee for yourself will come in handy when getting a cup of coffee requires a credit check. Similarly, domestic chocolate production isn’t exactly huge, so if you have a sweet tooth it’s a good idea to buy some bars now. Batteries. Much of the raw materials that go into most kinds of batteries are currently imported, and China is a huge supplier in that market. Expect batteries—even the disposable kind you buy at the supermarket—to get both pricier and harder to find. They last for a long time, so stockpiling them makes sense. Underwear. You might not know that the U.S. imports a huge portion of our underwear from places like Vietnam, bringing in $2.21 billion worth of women's underwear alone last year. If you’re due for a refresh in that department, it would be a good idea to go underwear shopping right now. Toothpaste, soap, and detergent. If you intend to not violate all the norms of acceptable grooming, you’re going to be spending a lot more for this stuff in the near future. The good news is that toothpaste can last for years in the tube, and soap and detergent have an infinite shelf life in practical terms, so buying in bulk now can protect you from price increases for years to come. Glasses and contact lenses. If you think you’re going to need new glasses soon, or you need a regular supply of disposable contact lenses, now would be a good time to get those new frames or stockpile your contacts. China is the largest supplier of frames and the plastics used in making eyewear lenses, so the tariffs—even if reduced after trade negotiations—will raise those prices. Spices. The U.S. currently imports almost all the spices you use in your recipes, because most spices require a tropical or sub-tropical climate to thrive. Everything from vanilla to oregano will be subject to import tariffs, so stocking up is a good idea. Don't bother hoarding these itemsBecause the tariffs are so comprehensive, you can stock up on a lot of things without too much risk as long as you’re cognizant of spoilage and how much you actually use a particular product. But there are a few things that don’t make sense to hoard: Toilet paper. If you’re haunted by pandemic memories of scrounging around for toilet paper, relax: Those shortages were mainly caused by the sudden shift from office bathrooms to home bathrooms, combined with panic-buying. Most of our toilet paper is made domestically, though most brands do import some wood pulp to make it, so you might notice some price increases. But you probably won’t see shortages. Clothing. Unless you typically buy several years’ worth of clothing at a time, stocking up on pants and jackets doesn’t make sense despite the near-certainty of price increases. If you’re already planning to replace/refresh some of your wardrobe, it’s a good idea to go shopping sooner rather than later, but buying extra clothes in bulk won’t pay off. Electronics. Similarly, prices will go up on almost anything with a power cord, but you probably don’t need to stock up on gadgets. The money you might save will be offset by the fact that those gadgets will likely be out of date and possibly obsolete by the time you need to replace your current stuff. View the full article

Disney’s 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland taught audiences that “you can learn a lot of things from the flowers.” But the movie never mentioned the full moon named after those springtime sensations. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, a celestial phenomenon called the “Flower Moon” occurs today, and despite being “micro,” it is still a sight to behold. Let’s take a deeper look into what all these names mean, and when you can see this “full flower micromoon.” Why is the May full moon tonight called the ‘Flower Moon’? The Old Farmer’s Almanac shares popular names given to each month’s full moons. Many of these monikers are based in Native American tradition. May is most commonly referred to as the “Flower Moon,” thanks to the Algonquin people. The name comes from the fact that many flowers begin to bloom in May, thanks in part to all the April showers. Eighteenth century American explorer Jonathan Carver used a similar name in his 1798 publication, Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America. He dubbed the orb “Month of Flowers,” after living among the Dakota people. American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau references this name in his writings as well. Other tribes’ monikers celebrated other spring seasonal delights. The Cree preferred “Budding Moon” and “Leaf Budding Moon,” while the Oglala used “Moon of the Shedding Ponies.” Similarly, the Dakota and Lakota people also utilized the name “Planting Moon.” The Flower Moon tonight is also a micromoon The Flower Moon is also the third and final micromoon of 2025. A micromoon occurs when the moon becomes full during apogee, which is a fancy NASA word describing the moon at its farthest point away from Earth. May’s full moon will be smaller and dimmer as a result, but it’s still an impressive satellite (just like humans, the orb can’t always give 100%!). When is the best time to see the full Flower Moon tonight? While May’s moon reaches peak illumination today at 12:56 p.m. ET, it will appear full for a couple of nights. This gives you enough time to bask in its glory, and maybe even accept a proposal of marriage. Ancient folklore states that love is intensified during this time, because as the moon regulates the tides, it may also impact the water in human bodies. In a similar vein, if you need an excuse not to do laundry, clothes washed during this period are said not to last long. Looking up and ahead After you go for love (or the longevity of your clothes) with this flower micromoon, the rest of 2025 still has plenty in store. Coming attractions include three back-to-back supermoons beginning in October, to finish the year out strong. But before we get there, next month’s “Strawberry Moon” celebrates the time when the sweet fruit is ripe and ready to pick. Stay tuned for more to come on these nighttime displays. View the full article

Running a competitive landscape analysis can help you develop a strategy for outsmarting the competition and capturing more of the market. In this guide, we’ll explore how competitive analysis works, offer 5 competitive analysis frameworks, and show you how to gather data you need to understand the lay of the land. View the full article

You know that putting money aside is a good idea, but putting it all in the same place can make your budgeting more complicated than it needs to be. It sounds counterintuitive, but when all your savings sit in one account, it's difficult to track progress toward different goals. You might see a healthy balance, but you can't easily see how much is truly available for discretionary spending versus what's socked away for long-term goals. Rather than keeping all your money in one place, here's how you can make the most of your money by separating your savings into goals-based accounts. Think of multiple savings accounts as foldersLike the old-school cash-stuffing where you take your money and put it into an envelope marked for a specific purpose, this approach works the same—except it’s digital and automated by your online bank. As an example, you could have savings accounts for different categories, like this: Emergency fund: Around six months of essential expenses in a high-yield savings account with easy access. This is your financial safety net. Taxes fund: Especially for self-employed individuals, setting aside tax payments in a dedicated account prevents painful scrambling when tax deadlines arrive. Short-term savings: Vacation funds, holiday shopping, annual insurance premiums, or home maintenance—these predictable expenses deserve dedicated accounts. Major purchase funds: Saving for a down payment, vehicle, or other significant expenses? Separate accounts help you track progress and stay motivated. The idea here is that by seeing all your saving goals separately, they’ll be easier to track. If you have just one savings account, on the other hand, you’ll only see an amorphous blob of total savings when you see it on your bank’s website, forcing you to track targeted savings somewhere else, like in a spreadsheet. Automate progress toward your goalsThe other advantage to separate accounts is that it’s much easier to manage different goals at the same time using automated payments from your checking account. For example, you might put away $250 a month for six months to save for a vacation, while concurrently saving $100 a month for two years to pay for a new computer. With dedicated accounts, you can instantly see exactly how much you've saved toward specific goals. This clarity helps you make more informed decisions about your money. Plus, you'll find it's harder to "borrow" from funds explicitly set aside for important purposes. When your emergency fund has its own account labeled "Emergency Only," you'll think twice before dipping into it for non-emergencies. Avoid monthly fees when setting up multiple savings accountsUnfortunately, the savings accounts from brick-and-mortar banks almost always have monthly fees (usually $5-20) or high minimum balances. That’s why you should stick to online banks, which typically don’t charge monthly fees, have low minimum opening balances, and offer some of the highest annual percentage yields in the market. After you choose a bank that offers free accounts with competitive interest rates, stay on top of your progress. Make sure you use descriptive account names that reflect your specific goals, and then set up automatic transfers timed with your paydays. The bottom lineWhile divvying up your funds and opening new accounts may require some work upfront, once they're all open, having multiple savings accounts is a low lift. Savings accounts typically don't generate hard credit inquiries, so your credit score shouldn't be affected. As far as tax implications, interest earned is taxable regardless of how many accounts you have. And when tax season comes along, most banks provide a consolidated 1099-INT for all your accounts. And on the day-to-day, banking apps make managing multiple accounts simple—you should be able to nickname accounts and view them all on one dashboard. Begin with your most pressing savings needs. This is probably your emergency fund and your highest-priority near-term goal. As these habits become established, gradually add more accounts as needed. Remember, the goal isn't to create unnecessary complexity, but to build a system that makes saving money as intuitive as possible for you. View the full article

Users who arrive on websites from LLMs are generally less likely to engage than those from traditional organic search. That’s according to a new study published today by Dan Taylor of SALT.agency. This new data seems to challenge claims by Google and Microsoft Bing that citations from AI search results result in higher-quality clicks. Why we care. It’s good to know that SEO remains a valuable channel. But it’s not good to know that search engines seem to be making fallacious statements to the entire community, all to support their “AI is the best thing ever” narrative. By the numbers. In most sectors, organic traffic outperforms LLM referrals in driving engagement. This was based on a metric called Key Event Conversion Rate (KECVR) — the percentage of sessions that trigger key GA4 events: Organic: KECVR was higher in sectors like Consumer Ecommerce (24.12% vs. 17.14%) and Travel (28.97% vs. 24.25%). LLMs: only outperformed in a few verticals: Health (13.24% vs. 12.88%), Careers (22.31% vs. 16.58%), and Catalog websites (2.34% vs. 2.13%). LLM traffic is rising. LLM referral traffic increased since March 2024. ChatGPT is leading the way, followed by Perplexity. Between the lines: LLM traffic appears most useful for early-stage research or informational queries, not high-intent transactional behavior. For example: B2B Ecommerce showed 0% LLM conversions compared to 2.68% for organic search. SaaS was the most balanced: 6.69% (LLM) vs. 6.71% (organic), suggesting LLMs may have support potential in complex sectors. About the data. Nearly 672,000 LLM referral sessions across 40 website sectors were analyzed alongside more than 188 million organic search sessions from January to March, using Google Analytics data. The study. Do users really show higher intent when they click through from an LLM to a website? View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. In 2005, the median U.S. homeowner lived and owned their primary home for 6.5 years. In 2024, the median U.S. homeowner lived and owned their primary home for 11.8 years. That’s according to Redfin’s latest analysis. That means the typical U.S. home today has been owned by the same person for nearly twice as long as in 2005—resulting in less turnover in the housing market. That affects the entire ecosystem. For some millennials and Gen Xers, it could mean staying longer in their starter homes as they struggle to find a move-up property in their desired location. And for first-time buyers, especially Gen Z, the lack of turnover means fewer entry-level homes coming up for sale. After climbing every year between 2005 and 2020, U.S. homeowner tenure has come down a bit due to the increase in home sales during the pandemic housing boom. However, given spiked mortgage rates and low existing home sales, tenure rates could start going higher again. “Moving forward, we expect homeowner tenure to stay flat or increase slightly for the foreseeable future,” wrote Redfin researchers. “Existing-home sales hit a 15-year low last year, with many homeowners locked in by low mortgage rates, and while sales should pick up a bit this year, it’ll be more of a trickle than a flood.” Why did U.S. homeowner tenure increase so much between 2005 and 2020? Redfin says, in part, it’s because so many baby boomers choose to “age in place.” “Older Americans are hanging onto their homes because they’re financially incentivized to do so. Most (54%) baby boomers who own homes own them free and clear, with no outstanding mortgage. For that group, the median monthly cost of owning a home–which includes insurance and property taxes, among other things—is just over $600 (similar to the monthly cost for other generations with no outstanding mortgage, but other generations are far less likely to own homes free and clear),” wrote Redfin researchers. In addition to “aging in place,” the Redfin report also cites state-level tax policies that encourage homeowners not to move as part of the reason for increased homeowner tenures. Most notably, Proposition 13 in California limits property tax increases for homeowners, thus encouraging them not to sell. There’s also the fact that older Americans have higher homeownership rates, and over the past few decades, the composition of the U.S. population has shifted older as the giant baby boomer generation has aged and birth rates have declined. That has put upward pressure on homeowner tenure. What has this meant for homebuyers and the industry? The increase in average homeowner tenure over the two past decades has subdued turnover, limiting the purchasing opportunities for certain properties and holding back existing home sales. View the full article

Last month, Google announced Veo 2, the company's latest AI video generation model. This model is currently capable of generating eight-second videos, as long as you pay for Gemini. If you pay for Google One AI Premium, you also have access to Whisk, an image generator that, via Veo 2, now lets you animate those images, too. (Free users are left out for now.) I wouldn't blame you if you assumed that whenever Google inevitably made Veo 2 free, Pixel users would get it first. After all, that's sort of Google's M.O.: Release new features first for the company's own smartphone line, before rolling them out to other devices and platforms. But with Veo 2, the company isn't doing that. The first smartphone users who will get to experience the video model for free aren't Pixel owners, but Honor owners—a phone you can't even buy in the United States. Veo 2 on Honor phonesAs reported by The Verge, anyone who buys an Honor 400 or 400 Pro will be able to access Veo 2 for free via the Gallery app—for the first two months, anyway. What's more, unlike Whisk, which only lets you animate images you generated with Whisk, Honor users will be able to use Veo 2 to animate pictures they took themselves. The Verge's Dominic Preston has access to a compatible Honor phone and shows off some examples of the feature in action. The highlight is an image Preston took of Grant Nicholas, musician for the band Feeder. The image shows Nicholas mid-lyric, strumming on his guitar. But after Veo 2 processes the image, it generates a short clip that, if you didn't know any better, you'd assume was a low-res clip of the singer playing the show. (The Verge says that the clips had to be converted to GIFs in order to include with the article, which does reduce the quality somewhat.) Preston was complimentary of the feature's abilities when presented with clear and simple subjects, like their pet cat. But Veo 2 struggled with more complicated images: For a photo of a vintage car, Veo 2 decided to rotate the car without turning the wheels, which looks quite odd. For a photo of a bunch of tomatoes, Veo 2 decided to animate a hand picking up some tomatoes, but the first time it comes into frame, the hand is translucent. Honor (or, perhaps Google) is limiting generations to 20 outputs per day. The Verge reports that Honor said Google will offer a subscription to the feature "eventually," but the company doesn't have specifics yet. Who is this for?But even if those limitations weren't present, I'm caught wondering who exactly is going to use this feature for any reason beyond a "party trick." Sure, new Honor users might enjoy playing around with the AI-generated videos on their favorite photos for a bit, but the results aren't necessarily useful. Who needs to regularly process their photos through a hit-or-miss video generator, especially if the feature will eventually require payment? It's a bit weird that Google is releasing this on a non-Pixel phone first, but, truth be told, I don't think Pixel users are missing out on much. View the full article

The U.S. federal disaster agency FEMA has sharply reduced training for state and local emergency managers ahead of the start of the hurricane season on June 1, according to current and former officials, memos seen by Reuters, and three sources familiar with the situation. The training cutbacks could leave storm-prone communities less prepared to handle the often devastating aftermath of hurricanes, the sources and some of the current and former officials warned. Leading forecasters predict a busier-than-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, with 17 named tropical storms, including nine hurricanes. If state directors and local emergency managers are not briefed on the federal government’s latest tools and resources, it will impact their ability to prepare for and warn communities of impending storms, said Deanne Criswell, who headed FEMA during President Joe Biden’s administration. Some 2,000 FEMA employees – or about a third of full-time staff – have been fired or accepted incentives to quit since President Donald The President took office in January and declared that the agency should be abolished and its functions handed over to the states. Last week, The President fired FEMA’s acting chief, Cameron Hamilton, a day after Hamilton told lawmakers that the agency should be preserved. Hamilton’s successor, David Richardson, told FEMA employees on Friday that he would “run right over” any staff opposed to his implementation of The President’s vision for a smaller agency. Online training FEMA’s National Hurricane Program and the National Hurricane Center typically conduct in-person workshops and presentations for state and local emergency officials each spring to help them prepare for hurricane season. These training sessions are used to share the latest data on hurricane modeling, build relationships between local, state and FEMA officials to improve coordination on disaster preparedness and relief, and review evacuation routes and other planning measures. Relationship building is critical for coordination in the event of a storm, according to three emergency managers and experts. Some planned hurricane training sessions and workshops have been moved online. FEMA, which is overseen by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, confirmed the training cutbacks in a statement to Reuters. “At the direction of President The President and Secretary Noem, we’re done offering duplicate trainings that promote waste, fraud and abuse and that are not a good use of American taxpayers,” the statement said. “The National Hurricane Program continues to deliver readiness trainings ahead of the 2025 Hurricane Season to emergency managers nationwide with virtual trainings.” Steve Still, the emergency manager for New Hanover County, a hurricane hotspot on North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast, said online training, while useful, was less effective than in-person events. “If there’s any practical applications or exercises, you need in-person training,” Still said. Despite the reduced training, emergency management officials in North Carolina and Louisiana – states regularly battered by hurricanes – told Reuters they have FEMA-certified trainers on staff who can lead in-person disaster training. “FEMA courses have continued as planned in the state without issue,” said Justin J. Graney, a spokesman for North Carolina Emergency Management. Travel restrictions Since February 5, FEMA staff have been barred from travel unrelated to disaster deployment and other limited purposes. Since early March, staff must have their speaking engagements and presentation materials approved by the Office of External Affairs and Office of Chief Counsel, according to two internal memos seen by Reuters. Few speaking requests have been approved, leading the National Hurricane Program to cancel some trainings for emergency managers in storm-prone areas or move them online, according to a source familiar with the situation. Organizers of April’s National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans canceled several FEMA-led sessions – including one aimed at helping emergency managers make evacuation decisions during hurricanes – after FEMA staff dropped out due to the travel restrictions, said John Wilson, chairman of the conference. Wilson said the director of the National Hurricane Center usually speaks at the conference about lessons learned from past hurricane season and shares forecasting model updates, but did not this year. “It was kind of bizarre to have a National Hurricane Conference without the National Hurricane Center director opening it up,” Wilson said. NHC Director Michael Brennan said in a statement that he did not attend the conference due to travel restrictions but noted that the center recently organized a virtual course with 500 participants. He said the NHC’s “dialogue with partners continues and remains unchanged.” Concerns Lynn Budd, president of the National Emergency Management Association, an organization of state emergency managers, and director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, said states need more time and resources if they are expected to make up for cuts to FEMA staff and activities. “There is room to reduce the footprint of FEMA in their regular deployment activities, but there is also expertise provided by FEMA for state and local jurisdictions that the states simply don’t have at this time,” Budd said. NEMA would not comment specifically on the reduced trainings. The lack of training sessions at disaster preparedness conferences leaves state and local emergency managers more vulnerable to inaccurate or inadequate advice ahead of the storm season, said Bryan Koon, the former head of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management who now heads a disaster preparedness consultancy. “These conferences are really important, because lots of FEMA trainings are normally done at them,” Koon said. “That’s one of the critical things – new information is released to state and local emergency managers.” If local emergency managers are not trained in new forecasting models, for example, then there might be critical information the public won’t get ahead of a hurricane, Koon said. —Leah Douglas, Nathan Layne, Nichola Groom and Tim Reid, Reuters View the full article

A reader writes: I work for a small organization that prides ourselves on being very good with our benefits, including paid parental leave. We’ve never had a pregnant staffer, so all of our plans are in theory and not yet been tested in real life. We’ve been having issues lately with staff not adhering to our office hours of 9-5 and coming and going as they see fit, so I had to call a staff meeting last week to address it and let them know that we can no longer be as flexible as we once were because too many people were abusing the system. This has included a lot of “I don’t feel well so I’m going to sleep a bit longer and then work from home today once I feel better” when we do not allow work from home except in rare circumstances. I had to stop all of that and tell everyone we needed them in the office 9-5 every day. One of my staff has had several medical appointments lately, and eventually I put two and two together and realized she was likely pregnant. She had come to me last week to ask how she should handle her hours for a day where a quick appointment turned into three hours. Today she stopped by my office so I asked her to close the door so we had some privacy, and I said, “You do not have to confirm anything to me, but I want you to know that I think I’ve figured out your medical issue, and if I am correct, I just want you to know that we will be as flexible as needed during this time. Don’t worry about the crackdown on hours and work from home stuff that I told everyone last week. We want to make this as easy on you as possible.” My friend thinks I should have waited for her to tell me before saying anything, but I felt that it would be less stressful on her to know that I already know, so she didn’t have to spend the next few weeks hiding it and trying to figure out how to balance her work and her medical appointments, especially since she had already come to me with a question on it, though without telling me what the medical issue was. In the end, we’d be accommodating to whatever the medical issue was, but knowing that different issues require different accommodations, and this one especially needed flexibility in the areas we just announced a crackdown on, I thought it was better to get out ahead of it. What is the best way to have handled this? I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. The post should I have told my employee I figured out she was pregnant? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Market intelligence is data about your business’s market, including trends and competitor insights. View the full article

Reducing freedom of movement comes at a cost and governments shouldn’t pretend otherwiseView the full article

Google updated its Google image SEO best practices help document to recommend that you use the same image file name URL for the same image, even if you place that same image on different pages on your site. Google said you should do this to save with your site’s overall crawl budget. What Google changed. Google added the following two lines to the Google image SEO best practices help document: “If an image is referenced on multiple pages within a larger website, consider the site’s overall crawl budget. In particular, consistently reference the image with the same URL, so that Google can cache and reuse the image without needing to request it multiple times.” Google wrote, “We updated the Google Image SEO best practices to clarify that URLs for images should be referenced consistently for easier crawling on larger websites.” Why it matters. This is a logical web design tip that simply makes sense. If you are using the same image on multiple pages, why upload the image multiple times to your server, using different file names. It not only takes up unnecessary space on your servers but it also requires Google to crawl more, just to find a duplicate image under a different URL. Why we care. So if you are doing this, you may want to find a way for your content management system and website software to help you find the original URL of that image and not duplicate that image URL. There may be ways for your developers to go back in time to find duplicate images on your site and consolidate the URLs of those images to the original URL and file name. One way to do that is potentially to use reverse image detection software. Overall, I would not say this is a big savings for crawl budget, but every little bit may help for really large sites. View the full article

US president urges sides to agree to a deal ‘immediately’View the full article

Federal Reserve Gov. Adriana Kugler said in a speech in Dublin that trade barriers could soon affect prices and slow down growth while increasing uncertainty in 2025. View the full article

White House sets out plans for price targets and eliminating ‘middlemen’ in executive orderView the full article

Officers were called to blaze in Kentish Town early on Monday morning View the full article

The rideshare market has reached a crossroads. Autonomous vehicles are on the rise, driver unrest is mounting, and customers are questioning everything from pricing to trust and safety. In the midst of it all, Lyft is mounting a comeback. CEO David Risher, who came into the role at Lyft two years ago, is taking a bird’s-eye view on the operation and pushing to reposition the company squarely against their competitor, Uber—with faster execution, bold new programs, and Lyft’s biggest international acquisition to date. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company Bob Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. [A recent letter you wrote to shareholders] includes this phrase “falcon mode,” which has also sparked a bunch of interest. I wanted to ask you to explain, what is falcon mode? So falcons fly thousands of feet in the air. But of course, they can’t stay up there always because they’ve got to eat. So falcons have adapted to become extremely perceptive at seeing very small things on the ground and then being able to dive down very, very quickly, grab the mouse or whatever it is, and then go back up to cruising altitude. I use that kind of figurative language to help my team actually understand my job, which is to try to stay up at the high level. I mean, a CEO doesn’t hopefully need to be in the details every single day, but I have never found a successful CEO, and I’ve worked for some very successful CEOs, I’m very lucky in that way, who doesn’t also judiciously decide when to come down and to go really, really deep into the things, to get to the point where you’re literally saying, “You know what, I think this language on the screen isn’t quite doing the job,” as an example. How much of that is about you identifying something that’s strategic that you could have seen at 30,000 feet that maybe others are missing versus pointing to your team that this is the way you want them to act? I think if you never do it yourself, if all you’re doing is telling your team, “Go look at this, go look at this, go look at this, go look at this,” I think the chance of you having good intuition on that, where to actually go deep, is low. But then on the other hand, hopefully they see you doing it, and they become comfortable themselves. And again, I want to make a distinction: you haven’t mentioned the word micromanagement, but that’s a word that sometimes people say, “Well, doesn’t that sound like micromanagement?” And for me, the distinction I make is I try, again, sometimes unsuccessfully to be clear, but I try not to use it as a way to propose answers. Of course, sometimes I do. I’m a human being, I have ideas, but I try more to use it as a way to understand a problem space better. A story I tell in the letter is you can understand the issue of surge pricing at a generic level. People don’t like prices that are unpredictable, and that gives you a certain amount of insight. But when I drove and I picked up a woman named Anne, and she said, “Sometimes the price is 20, sometimes it’s 30, sometimes it’s 40. When it’s 20, I take a Lyft. When it’s 40, I drive myself, but I’m really annoyed. I get up at six in the morning, just check the price every single morning.” You have these conversations, and you get so much more empathy and understanding for the contours of that problem and why it matters so much at an individual level. And then you can go back to your team and say, “You know what, guys, I know we’ve been talking about trying to get rid of surge pricing or at least some of it for a while. Let me give you some examples that I’ve picked up by going deep that maybe help us understand both why this is a big problem for people and maybe understand, as I say, the contours of this space a little bit better as a result.” And so this is why you get on the road and you drive a Lyft every six weeks for a day, so you’re close to the experience of both sides of your marketplace, the driver and the rider. It’s exactly it. And it’s so interesting. I actually took my first drive, I think it was a week before I joined even. So it’s been a little bit over two years now. And at first what I really thought it was going to be is really understanding the driver app and the driver experience. And I learned a lot, but what it’s really taught me is how the rider experiences the ride. And it’s so different to look at the data versus talk to the riders and ask them, “Why did you choose Lyft today versus the other guys? What are some of the perceptions you have?” And sometimes people talk about a credit card deal we have with Chase Sapphire Reserve, and sometimes people will talk about a bad experience they had on the other guys. Sometimes they’ll talk about how they think they like our values better or they like Women+ Connect, which is a service we have. So you get a sense of both sides of the marketplace, and it’s quite efficient. I mean, it’s only two or three hours, and gosh, you can learn a lot in two or three hours if you really, really focus on them. You have more riders than ever, you have more drivers than ever, but you’re still far behind Uber, which has 75% of the market or something. I mean, we’ve heard a lot about the streaming wars in TV, and there’s arguably a ridesharing war going on. Do you have to beat Uber to become like Netflix in streaming, or is it just about staying competitive? You don’t have to be Netflix. If you can be BritBox, and that’s you, that’s okay. So a couple of things I think about that, every year just in the U.S., so we’re not even talking about overseas, just in the U.S., people take about 160 billion rides in their own car, 160 billion. So every single one of those rides, they’re getting behind the wheel, their stress level is probably going up a little bit, hopefully they’re not texting, but they’re certainly tempted to text every time they come to a stoplight, they’re road rage sometimes, frustrated. At the very least, they’re not able to do very much else with their life, and then they got to park, and then they got to pay for parking, and all these different things. So there are a lot of times where, you know what, it’s actually kind of nice to have someone else pick you up. You can do the texting, you can sit back, you can make a phone call if you want to, you can put on your makeup if you’re a woman, whatever it is, guy too, whoever. So the point is it’s a better experience, and we want to do it so reliably and at such a high service level that we move from, call it, 800 million rides a year, which is about what we do, to a billion to two billion to three billion to four billion. So do I have to compete with someone else to do that? Not really. Now, we have to compete with private cars, and to a certain extent, with people staying at home on their couch. I mean, those are things I have to compete with, but I don’t really need to dominate the other guy. Now, having said that, there is another guy in the marketplace. Our share when I joined was about 26% share. Now it’s about 31% share. So we’ve made nice progress there, and that’s hard. I mean, every single point of share you get over a bigger competitor is quite hard. I’ll give you two stats that I’m very proud of. One is we pick you up about 30 seconds faster than they do. Second is for our drivers, we have a 23-point advantage, 23-point advantage in preference of dual-appers, people who use both apps. Who would you prefer to drive for? So I consider those to be very good leading early indicators that we’re doing some things well. The share thing is a little bit of a trailing indicator. It’s just an interesting little thing to look at. Leading indicator is more to people like you more, you get better service. And over time, that tends to grow a business quite nicely. View the full article

Whenever you move content, change domain names, or simply tweak a page’s URL, you’ll likely use a redirect. This ensures your users (and Google) get to the right page, and it preserves the SEO value from your backlinks. You can use .htaccess redirects specifically to do this. But I get that messing with your site’s server files can sound daunting. So the goal of this guide is to make .htaccess redirects as accessible as possible. To help, there are two free resources you’ll find in this post: A simple spreadsheet to automatically generate rules for the most common scenarios An .htaccess redirect cheat sheet that explains all symbols and flags used in redirect rules I’ll explain when to use these below. But if you want, you can download them now and follow along with the resources. Here’s the plan: We’ll start with a walkthrough to find your .htaccess file and get ready to make changes (feel free to skip this part if you have it ready to go) We’ll then go through the most common .htaccess redirect use cases in detail Then we’ll go through a cheat sheet of the symbols and flags you can use to build custom .htaccess rules Finally, we’ll show you how to make sure everything is working properly and how to pinpoint issues Sound good? Let’s go. How to Set Up .htaccess Redirects Before you can create redirects, you need to access your .htaccess file. This file lives on your server and controls various aspects of how your website behaves. It looks something like this (for a WordPress site in particular): Note: You’ll only have an .htaccess file if your website runs on an Apache web server. If you’re not sure if your site does, get in touch with your developer. There are two main ways to access and edit your .htaccess file: Through your hosting provider’s control panel Via an FTP client I’d personally recommend the first option if you’re an absolute beginner. Or if you just want to keep the technical stuff to a minimum. That’s not to say that using an FTP client is difficult (or that every hosting platform is a piece of cake to navigate). But generally, your file manager is going to be a bit more intuitive. Important: Regardless of which method you use, always make a backup of your .htaccess file before editing it. One small mistake can bring your entire site down. Editing .htaccess Through Your Hosting Control Panel Most major hosting providers offer a file manager in their control panel that lets you edit files directly. The general workflow looks something like this, although some of the specifics might vary between hosts: Log in to your hosting account Find the File Manager (usually in cPanel or a similar dashboard) Navigate to your website’s root directory (often called public_html) Find the .htaccess file Note: Your .htaccess file might be hidden by default. If you don’t see it, look for an option to “Show Hidden Files” in your file manager settings. Once you find it, you can usually right-click and select “Edit” to make changes. As an example, here’s how the interface looks in the cPanel platform. First, I navigate to my domain’s website dashboard and find the file manager: And in there I can see public_html: I then click my .htaccess file: Simple. Via FTP You can also use an FTP client like FileZilla, Cyberduck, or WinSCP. These give you similar access, but you can do it directly rather than through your hosting provider. To get started, download and install an FTP client. We’ll go with Cyberduck for the example below. Then connect to your server using your FTP credentials (your host can provide these — mine were under Files > FTP Accounts): Then, within the FTP client, navigate to your site’s root directory. It’s probably named public_html, which may open automatically. Then, find and download your .htaccess file: Note: I had to go to View > Show hidden files to see mine. No matter which FTP client you’re using, there’s a good chance you’ll need to do the same. Make your changes in a text editor, and then upload the modified file back to the server. You might be able to skip the download/upload step and make edits directly, depending on the tool you use: What About WordPress? If you’re running a WordPress site, you usually don’t need to edit your .htaccess file to set up redirects. Instead, you can use dedicated redirect plugins like Redirection or 301 Redirects. These plugins are perfect if you’re not comfortable editing server files or if you just need to set up a couple of redirects quickly. But they won’t help you much for more complex redirections or when you’re performing a full site migration. Other SEO plugins, like Rank Math, offer redirect managers alongside options to edit your .htaccess file within the WordPress dashboard: Adding redirects directly to your .htaccess file (or indirectly via a plugin like Rank Math) often results in faster performance since it cuts out the middleman (the plugin). And once you know how to do it, it’s not all that technical anyway. (It won’t always be the best option from a performance perspective. But generally it’s going to be faster.) Other platforms like Shopify and Wix don’t give you direct access to .htaccess files. In these cases, you’ll need to use the platform’s built-in redirect tools instead. The same may be true for WordPress site owners if your site runs on WordPress.com, rather than external hosting with a WordPress.org installation. Further reading: WordPress Redirects Made Easy: Plugin & Code Methods Before You Begin: Important Prerequisites Before you start making changes to your .htaccess file, bear the following in mind: You need to have an .htaccess file: If you don’t already have an .htaccess file, you can create one in your public_html folder (WordPress will often create one for you automatically). It’s easy to make mistakes: Making changes to your .htaccess file without knowing what you’re doing can have major consequences for your site. Ideally consult with your developer before implementing .htaccess redirects, and make any major changes on a staging site if possible to make sure they work properly. The rules below are just guides: I’ve included lots of examples of redirect rules below with explanations of what they do. But you may need to modify them to ensure they work properly on your site. Enable mod_rewrite: Most modern hosting environments will enable the mod_rewrite module by default (which you want, and therefore likely don’t need to worry about). If your redirects aren’t working, reach out to your hosting provider to see if this is the problem. Enable Options + FollowSymLinks: You may or may not need to enable this in your .htaccess file (usually you won’t need to worry about it). Again, reach out to your host if you’re not sure. Now that you know how to actually get into and edit your .htaccess file, let’s look at how to create different types of redirects. Free resource: Make your life even easier with our handy .htaccess redirect cheat sheet. Just add your domain or URLs to automatically generate rules you can copy and paste into your .htaccess file. How to Redirect a Single URL Redirecting a single URL to another is probably the most common redirect you’ll create. It’s perfect for when you’ve: Changed a page’s URL structure Merged two pages into one Moved specific content to a new location This type of redirect is straightforward and requires just one line of code in your .htaccess file. Note: As with all the redirects I’ll discuss below, you need to make sure the new page is a live URL. Otherwise, the user or search engine will run into a 404 error as it’s a broken link. While a powerful file, .htaccess doesn’t automatically create the new pages for you. Here’s the code you’ll need to add to your .htaccess file (swapping out the URL path and domain for your own): Redirect 301 /old-page https://yoursite.com/new-page Let’s break down what this means: Redirect: Tells the server you want to create a redirect 301: Specifies a permanent redirect (more on this below) /old-page: The path of the original page (relative to your root directory) https://yoursite.com/new-page: The full URL of the destination page Important: For the first part (old page), you only need the path without your domain name. For the second part (new page), you need the complete URL, including https:// and your domain. Single URL Redirect Example Let’s say you have a page about dog training at: https://yourpetsite.com/5-great-tips-for-training-dogs/ And you’ve moved it to: https://yourpetsite.com/dog-training-tips/ Your redirect code would look like this: Redirect 301 /5-great-tips-for-training-dogs/ https://yourpetsite.com/dog-training-tips/ Note: No matter which type of .htaccess redirect you use, make sure you stay consistent with regard to your site’s URL structure. Specifically, if you include a trailing slash at the end of your URLs (e.g., /page-1/), make sure you include that in your redirect rules. Permanent vs. Temporary Redirects The 301 in our example above indicates a permanent redirect. This tells search engines to update their index with the new URL and transfer the SEO value from the old page to the new one. If you’re only redirecting temporarily (like for maintenance or a seasonal promotion), use 302 instead: Redirect 302 /sale https://yoursite.com/spring-sale If you’re trying to preserve SEO rankings (and your website’s authority), always use 301 redirects for permanent URL changes. Search engines treat 301s as permanent and 302s as temporary, which affects how they transfer link equity. How to Redirect a Subfolder Sometimes you need to redirect an entire section of your website rather than just a single page. This is common when you are: Reorganizing your site structure Moving a blog or product category to a new location Consolidating content from multiple sections Redirecting a subfolder automatically handles all pages within that folder. So you don’t need to set up individual redirect rules for each one. Here’s the code to add to your .htaccess file: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^old-folder/(.*)$ /new-folder/$1 [R=301,L] Let’s break down the key parts: RewriteEngine On: Activates Apache’s rewrite module (required for this type of redirect*) ^old-folder/: Matches the beginning of URLs that start with your old folder (.*)$: Captures everything after the folder name /new-folder/$1: Sends visitors to the new folder, maintaining the rest of the URL path [R=301,L]: Specifies a permanent redirect and tells the server to stop processing rules after this match You don’t need to know what this means. But it’s an important line to include for some .htaccess redirect rules. You only need to include it once (unless you also have “RewriteEngine Off” in your file before a given rule). Subfolder Redirect Example Let’s say you have a blog at: https://yoursite.com/blog/post-name And you want to move it to: https://yoursite.com/articles/post-name Your redirect code would look like this: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^blog/(.*)$ /articles/$1 [R=301,L ] This will redirect: /blog/first-post to /articles/first-post /blog/category/tech to /articles/category/tech Any other path that starts with /blog/ to the relevant /articles/ path Important: Order Matters The order of your .htaccess rules matters. This isn’t going to be an issue if you’re just redirecting a single URL. But if you want to redirect some parts of a subfolder to one place and others elsewhere, you need to be careful. Let’s look at an example to make this clearer: Imagine you have a blog subfolder with a special /featured/ section. You want to redirect your /blog/ content to an /articles/ subfolder, but the featured posts should go to /featured-content/. Here’s the WRONG order: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^blog/(.*)$ /articles/$1 [R=301,L] RewriteRule ^blog/featured/(.*)$ /featured-content/$1 [R=301,L] Why is this incorrect? Because any time a user (or Google) requests a URL on your site (say, your site.com/blog/featured/your-post/), Apache first checks if it matches the /blog/ structure. In this case, it does. So it would redirect: yoursite.com/blog/featured/your-post/ To: yoursite.com/articles/your-post/ The URL no longer matches the /blog/featured/ structure, so the second rule would never apply to it. Meaning all your featured posts would just redirect to the new /articles/ subfolder. Here’s the correct order: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^blog/featured/(.*)$ /featured-content/$1 [R=301,L] RewriteRule ^blog/(.*)$ /articles/$1 [R=301,L] This first checks for the /blog/featured/ structure and redirects it to the new /featured-content/. So your post at: yoursite.com/blog/featured/your-post/ Would redirect to: yoursite.com/featured-content/your-post/ And then in this case it no longer matches the /blog/ structure, so the second rule wouldn’t apply. Which is what we want. For any non-featured blog URLs, like yoursite.com/blog/post-2/, they’d redirect per the second rule to yoursite.com/articles/post-2/ (because the first rule wouldn’t apply to them without the /featured/ part of the URL). Redirecting a Subfolder to a Different Domain Before I show you how to redirect your entire site to a new domain, it’s worth noting that you can also redirect a subfolder to a completely different domain. This is useful if you’ve moved a section of your site to a new website. Here’s the rule to use: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^old-folder/(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/folder/$1 [R=301,L] For example, you could use this if you moved your support section to a dedicated support site: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^support/(.*)$ https://support.yourcompany.com/$1 [R=301,L] How to Redirect to a New Domain Moving to a new domain is a big step. Whether you’re rebranding, switching from a .org to a .com domain, or consolidating multiple websites, you need to make sure your visitors (and search engines) can find your new site. A domain-wide redirect ensures anyone visiting your old domain automatically lands on your new one. This preserves both the user experience and authority you’ve built up through backlinks. Here’s the code to add to your .htaccess file on your old domain: RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?olddomain.com$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301] Let’s break down what this does: RewriteEngine On: Activates the rewrite module RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?olddomain.com$ [NC]: Checks if someone is trying to access your old domain, where: ^(www.)?: Matches both www and non-www versions of your site [NC]: Makes the match not case-sensitive (so OLDDOMAIN.com would also match) RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301]: Sets up a permanent redirect to the new domain, where: ^(.*)$: Captures the entire URL path after the domain https://newdomain.com/$1: Redirects to the same path on your new domain [L,R=301]: Makes it a permanent redirect and stops processing other rules for that request Remember: If you already have RewriteEngine On elsewhere in your .htaccess file (and you don’t also have RewriteEngine Off), you don’t need to add it again. Domain Redirect Example Let’s say you’re changing from: https://pettraining.com/dog-care/grooming To: https://pawacademy.com/dog-care/grooming The redirect will automatically maintain the same path structure. This means visitors to any page on your old domain will land on the corresponding page on your new domain. (You’ll obviously need to have corresponding URLs on the new domain.) Important: You need to place this .htaccess rule on your old domain’s server, not the new one. Domain migrations require careful planning. But when you do it properly, they can transfer most of your SEO value and ensure your audience can find your new online home. For more on how to do it right, check out our website migration checklist. Redirect www to Non-www (or Vice Versa) on New Domain If you’re also changing from www to non-www (or vice versa) during your domain migration, you can combine these redirects: RewriteEngine On # First redirect old domain to new domain RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?olddomain.com$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301] # Then handle www to non-www on new domain RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.newdomain.com$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301] How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS Redirecting from HTTP to HTTPS isn’t just a good practice — it’s practically mandatory. HTTPS encrypts the connection between your visitors and your website. This protects sensitive information, while also being a light Google ranking factor. (I’m not suggesting you redirect to HTTPS for a ranking boost. It really is just the default best practice nowadays more than anything else.) If you’ve installed an SSL certificate but visitors can still access your site through unencrypted HTTP, you’ll want to set up a redirect to ensure everyone gets the secure version. Here’s the code to add to your .htaccess file: RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301] This is what each part does: RewriteEngine On: Activates the rewrite module RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off: Checks if the connection is currently not using HTTPS ^(.*)$: captures the entire URL path https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI}: Redirects to the same URL but with https:// instead of http:// [L,R=301]: Makes it a permanent redirect and stops processing other rules This redirect will change: http://yourwebsite.com/products/item To: https://yourwebsite.com/products/item The redirect preserves the entire URL structure — only the protocol changes from HTTP to HTTPS. Unlike other redirects, you don’t need to customize this code with your domain name. The %{HTTP_HOST} variable automatically uses whatever domain the visitor is trying to access. In other words: you can just copy and paste this in as is. BUT: Before adding this redirect, make sure: You have a valid SSL certificate installed on your server All site resources (images, scripts, etc.) are accessible via HTTPS Your site functions properly when accessed via HTTPS Your SSL certificate covers all subdomains if you’re redirecting them to HTTPS as well And most importantly: make sure you don’t already have a method in place to force HTTPS, as this can cause redirect loops and other potential performance issues. While .htaccess is one way to implement HTTPS redirects, you may have other options (perhaps ones that are already doing this for you): Hosting control panel: Many hosting providers offer one-click HTTPS enforcement through their control panel (maybe even doing it by default) WordPress settings: If you’re using WordPress, check the “WordPress Address” and “Site Address” settings under Settings > General (both should start with https://) Plugin solutions: WordPress plugins like Really Simple SSL can handle the redirect for you How to Redirect WWW to Non-WWW Should your website be www.yoursite.com or just yoursite.com? This seemingly small detail actually matters a lot for consistency, user experience, and SEO. Having both versions accessible can create duplicate content issues. So you should pick one format and redirect the other to it. In most cases, there’s no definitive technical advantage to either format. But non-WWW is shorter, cleaner, and easier to say in conversation. Most modern websites lean toward the non-www version, but either choice is fine as long as you’re consistent. Let’s look at how to redirect the www version to the non-www version (then I’ll show you how to reverse this if you prefer www). Here’s the code to add to your .htaccess file: RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.(.*)$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%1/$1 [L,R=301] Breaking this down: RewriteEngine On: Activates the rewrite module RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.(.*)$ [NC]: Checks if the URL starts with “www” where: (.*)$: Captures the domain name without the www ^(.*)$: Captures the entire path after the domain https://%1/$1: Redirects to the same URL without www where: %1: Refers to the domain captured in the RewriteCond $1: Refers to the page path [L,R=301]: Makes it a permanent redirect and stops processing other rules This redirect will change: https://www.yourbusiness.com/about-us To: https://yourbusiness.com/about-us What About Non-WWW to WWW? If you prefer the www version instead, simply reverse the logic (you need an extra RewriteCond line as well): RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www. [NC] RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.%1/$1 [L,R=301] This checks if the URL does NOT start with www and then adds it. This is another rule you can simply copy and paste into your .htaccess file. But as with HTTP redirects, you need to make sure you’re not already redirecting via another method. Otherwise you might run into redirect loops and other issues. Outside of your .htaccess file, you can force www/non-www via: DNS settings: Some DNS providers let you set a preferred version when configuring your domain Hosting control panel: Many hosts offer settings to enforce www or non-www WordPress settings: In WordPress, check the “WordPress Address” and “Site Address” fields under Settings > General (both should use your preferred format) Make sure to test all versions of your domain to ensure they all lead to your preferred version: http://yoursite.com http://www.yoursite.com https://yoursite.com https://www.yoursite.com All four should ultimately end up at the same place (ideally https://yoursite.com if you’re going with non-www, or https://www.yoursite.com if you prefer www). Other Types of .htaccess Redirect While the above covers the most common .htaccess redirect scenarios, the file is incredibly versatile and can handle many other specialized redirect situations. Let’s explore some other redirect types that might come in handy for specific use cases. Note: As with any .htaccess rules, it’s easy to make small mistakes here that can have big consequences, and you may need to modify the examples below to work with your specific situation. So consult your developer if possible. Redirect Based on Query Parameters Sometimes you need to redirect based on what appears after the question mark in a URL. These are URL parameters, and they’re useful for tracking and organizing site content. Here’s an example .htaccess redirect rule for managing URL parameters (also known as query strings): RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^product=widget$ RewriteRule ^products.php$ /widgets/? [L,R=301] This redirects /products.php?product=widget to /widgets/ while removing the query string. The question mark at the end of the destination URL tells the server to strip the original query parameters rather than passing them along. Redirect to a Specific Port If you need to redirect to a different port (like for a development environment), use this rule: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^dev/(.*)$ http://localhost:8080/$1 [L,R=301] This would redirect requests for /dev/page to http://localhost:8080/page. Custom Error Page Redirects You can set up custom pages for various HTTP error codes. For example, you can send users and search engines to dedicated error pages: ErrorDocument 404 /custom-404 ErrorDocument 500 /server-error While these aren’t technically redirects (they’re error handlers), they help provide a better user experience when things go wrong. Temporary vs. Permanent Redirects We’ve mostly covered 301 (permanent) redirects, but 302 (temporary) redirects are useful for: Maintenance pages Seasonal promotions A/B testing To create a temporary redirect, simply change the 301 to 302: Redirect 302 /sale /summer-sale When using temporary redirects for maintenance, you can create a rule that excludes your IP address so you can still access the original page: RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^123.456.789.0 RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /maintenance [R=302,L] Where 123.456.789.0 is your IP address. Redirecting Specific File Types You can also redirect requests for specific file types, like PDFs: RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^(.*).pdf$ /documents/$1.pdf [L,R=301] This moves all PDF files to a /documents/ folder. Redirect to Force Trailing Slash For consistency, you might want all URLs to either have or not have a trailing slash: RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteRule ^(.*[^])$ /$1/ [L,R=301] This adds a trailing slash to all URLs that don’t represent actual files. Htaccess Redirects Symbols Explained (+ Cheat Sheet) The symbols in .htaccess redirects can look cryptic at first glance. Those carets, dollar signs, and brackets serve important purposes that aren’t immediately obvious. Rather than trying to learn what they all do, below is a handy reference you can return to whenever you need to create or modify your redirects. Free resource: Download this cheat sheet here. Common .htaccess Symbols Symbol Name What It Does Example ^ Caret Matches the beginning of a string ^blog matches URLs that start with “blog” $ Dollar sign Matches the end of a string .html$ matches URLs that end with “.html” () Parentheses Groups patterns and captures matched content (.*?) captures content to be used later $1, $2… Dollar sign with number References captured groups in RewriteRule /$1.html inserts the first captured group %1, %2… Percent with number References captured groups in RewriteCond https://%1 uses the domain captured in a condition . Period Matches any single character a.c matches “abc”, “adc”, etc. * Asterisk Matches zero or more of the preceding character a* matches “”, “a”, “aa”, “aaa”, etc. + Plus Matches one or more of the preceding character a+ matches “a”, “aa”, “aaa”, etc. (but not “”) ? Question mark Makes the preceding character optional colou?r matches both “color” and “colour” [ Square brackets Contains flags or defines a character set [L,R=301] sets flags; [a-z] matches lowercase letters Backslash Escapes special characters . matches a literal period rather than any character | Pipe Acts as OR operator cat|dog matches “cat” or “dog” Flag Options Flag Full Name Purpose L Last Stops processing rules if this one matches R=301 Redirect (301) Creates a permanent redirect R=302 Redirect (302) Creates a temporary redirect NC No Case Makes the match case-insensitive QSA Query String Append Adds query parameters from the original URL F Forbidden Returns a 403 Forbidden status G Gone Returns a 410 Gone status (resource permanently removed) PT Pass Through Passes the request to other modules for further processing RewriteCond Variables Variable What It Contains %{HTTP_HOST} Domain name from the request (e.g., example.com) %{REQUEST_URI} The path part of the URL (e.g., /folder/page/) %{QUERY_STRING} Everything after the ? in a URL %{REQUEST_FILENAME} The full path to the requested file %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} Information about the visitor’s browser %{HTTPS} “on” if the connection is secure, “off” otherwise %{REMOTE_ADDR} The visitor’s IP address Pattern Matching Examples Here are a few examples of the kinds of rules you can set up once you get the hang of all the symbols, flags, and variables: URL Paths ^about$ matches ONLY the exact URL “/about” (not “/about-us” or “/about/team”) ^about(.*) matches “/about” plus anything after it (“/about-us”, “/about/team”, etc.) File Types .(pdf|docx|xlsx)$ matches URLs ending in .pdf, .docx, or .xlsx (for specific file handling) ^((?!.html).)*$ matches any URL that does NOT end with .html (for handling non-HTML requests) Flag Variations RewriteRule ^blog/(.*)$ /articles/$1 [R=301,L] creates a permanent (301) redirect that browsers and search engines will cache RewriteRule ^blog/(.*)$ /articles/$1 [R=302,L] creates a temporary (302) redirect that won’t be permanently cached by browsers (useful during site testing) Variable Conditions RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} example.com matches requests specifically to example.com (case-sensitive, excludes www.example.com) RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/blog/articles matches URLs with path exactly “/blog/articles” (this is case-sensitive on many servers) Pro tip: When creating complex patterns, build them incrementally and test each step. It’s easier to debug a simple pattern than a complex one. How to Check Your Redirects Are Working You’ve done the hard work, so let’s now find out how to make sure you’ve set it all up correctly. Below are a few ways to check your redirects. The best one depends on the nature of your redirects and how many you’ve set up. Manual Testing The simplest way to test your redirects is to manually check them in your browser. Just enter the old URL you’ve redirected and watch the address bar to see if it changes to the new URL. For a more detailed view of what’s happening, use your browser’s developer tools: Open developer tools (F12 in most browsers, or right click then “Inspect”) on the redirected page Go to the “Network” tab Reload the page and look for the redirect chain and status codes In the example below, you can see it has redirected from the URL /position to /positioning: Online Redirect Checkers Several free tools can test your redirects and provide more technical details. One example is HTTP Status Code Checker. These tools show you the entire redirect path, status codes, and how long each redirect takes to process: Testing Multiple URLs If you’ve set up many redirects (like a subfolder or domain-wide redirect), testing every URL manually isn’t practical. The HTTP Status Code Checker tool does let you test multiple URLs… But this won’t be suitable for entire site redirects or when you have hundreds (or thousands) of redirects set up. You could use a crawling tool and compare the crawl results to your sitemap, but that’s still going to be quite tedious. Instead, consider using a tool like Semrush’s Site Audit. Just pop your domain in, let the audit run, and then go to the “Issues” tab. Type in “redirect” to flag relevant issues. In particular, look out for: # incorrect pages found in sitemap.xml: This will highlight any of your pages in your sitemap that are redirecting elsewhere # pages have a WWW resolve issue: This will highlight issues if you haven’t specified which version (www or non-www) you prefer (e.g., via .htaccess redirects) No redirect or canonical to HTTPS homepage from HTTP version: This checks if your homepage is set up to serve the secure HTTPS version # redirect chains and loops: These create a bad user experience and can impact your SEO # URLs with a temporary redirect: Double check these redirects are indeed meant to be temporary # URLs with a permanent redirect: Check these URLs are supposed to redirect, and make sure they redirect to the correct place Note: You can audit your site for free for up to 100 URLs. But for crawling more than that, try a Pro plan for free for 14 days with this link. The post How to Create .htaccess Redirects (Most Common Use Cases) appeared first on Backlinko. 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Now that the “100 men vs. one gorilla” debate has been settled, a new question is circulating on social media: Who would win, 100 Americans or 100 Brits? British creator @2mwad_ first posed the question on TikTok: “I got a new one, 100 British people versus 100 Americans. One big room, no weapons, who’s winning?” The video has since gained over a million views, succeeding in uniting both nations against a common, historical rival. The patriotism sparked in the comments section is truly something to behold. “Our president is a felon who you think is winning,” one American wrote. “Do they have the Britain man? We have the Florida man,” another added. A third chimed in, “100 British people vs one Waffle House shift.” But the Brits weren’t going down without a fight, and if there’s one thing British people do best, it’s getting under Americans’ skin. “British people 100%,” one wrote. “Don’t get me started. I might start sounding patriotic,” added another. In a follow-up video, the creator made the hypothetical brawl more specific. He said the British side would include groups of 20 from Birmingham, London, Manchester, Nottingham, and Liverpool. For the Americans, the fighters would be drafted from Louisiana, L.A., New York, and Chicago. (For what it’s worth, as a Brit, my money is on the Americans.) “There’s something so uniquely special about being American because our country can be in complete shambles . . . but as soon as someone tries to attack America, we are all patriotic,” said creator @adivunsolicited in a video with 1.2 million views. “The only people Americans are scared or intimidated by are other Americans,” he added. TikTok creator Keara Sullivan posted her ideal American lineup: two people from Appalachia, two Floridians with criminal records, two blue-collar workers from Boston, one drunk Eagles fan born and raised in Philadelphia, and one Waffle House employee from any state. On the British side, TikToker Max Baledge pushed back: “Guys, you would not be allowed guns. I’d like to see all of those people have a bare knuckle bash with someone from Newcastle.” One commenter replied: “We already did this—we celebrate it on July 4th.” View the full article

Back in the early 2000s, keyword stuffing actually worked. All you had to do was repeat the same phrases, and you could rank pretty well. (Readability be damned.) I’m not exaggerating here — these sites were literally littered with keywords. Like this one from 2005. Yes, this is a real site I found on The Wayback Machine. And yes, “online casinos” was used enough times to make your eyes burn. But that game is over. Today, keyword stuffing makes your content unreadable and unrankable. Google’s smarter. Users are pickier. And spammy tactics? They get flagged fast. So, if you’re still stuffing keywords, you’re not just stuck in the past — you’re tanking your chances of ranking. In this guide, you’ll learn: What keyword stuffing looks like How it harms your SEO and credibility How to use keywords naturally to boost rankings and readability Let’s start by examining how this tactic works and its rise to popularity. What Is Keyword Stuffing? Keyword stuffing is the practice of overloading your content with target keywords in an unnatural way to manipulate search rankings. It’s considered a black hat SEO tactic, meaning it goes against Google’s guidelines and puts your site at risk. So, what does it look like? Here’s a keyword stuffing example straight from Google: No one talks like that. And no one wants to read it, either. You might think that SEO keyword stuffing only happens in blog content or sales copy. But it shows up in other places, too: Headings and subheadings Meta titles and descriptions Anchor text Navigation menus Page footers URLs Wherever it appears, the result is the same: stiff, awkward content that adds no value for the reader. Google also considers the following to be keyword stuffing: Lists of phone numbers with no context or purpose Blocks of cities or regions to manipulate local rankings Like this: “We serve New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Hoboken, Jersey City…” Then, there’s invisible keyword stuffing — which is exactly what it sounds like. You don’t see it, but search engines do. Some common examples: White text on a white background Text hidden behind an image Fonts set to 1px or less Keywords in HTML comments Hyperlinking just one character (like a period or dash) Alt text loaded with unrelated keywords So, how did keyword stuffing become so widespread in the first place? Let’s take a quick look back. History of Keyword Stuffing Back when E-E-A-T was just a gleam in Google’s eye, keyword stuffing reigned supmreme. Why? Because early search engine algorithms relied heavily on keyword density to determine relevance. The more times a keyword appeared on a page, the more relevant that page seemed to search engines. For example, here’s another site I found on the Wayback Machine — this one from 2002. As you can see, they used various tactics to manipulate their rankings. Like blatantly adding a bunch of keywords into content blocks on their homepage. I’m guessing this site sold “weight loss diet pills,” but I can’t be sure. They also loaded their product pages with back-to-back keywords. Like “antidepressants and antiaging supplements.” (And made a bunch of bold medical claims without citing or linking to reputable sources.) No E-E-A-T here, that’s for sure. Thankfully, Google got smarter — and more serious about quality. Over time, it rolled out various updates to detect manipulative tactics. And rewarded content that actually helped users and met search intent. This made it harder to cheat the system and easier for Google to flag spammy, keyword-packed content. But it hasn’t stopped all site owners from engaging in this practice. So, if your content reads like it was written for bots, don’t be surprised when Google treats it like spam. How Keyword Stuffing Hurts Your Site Using keywords is important for relevance. But overusing them? It carries more risk than you might realize. Google Penalties If Google detects keyword stuffing, it may lower your rankings or trigger a manual action. Even worse, you may be wiped off the SERPs completely. Google warns about this in its spam policies: Recovery can take months of hard work. And some sites never fully recover their rankings. Poor User Experience Even if you escape Google’s penalties, keyword-stuffed content creates a terrible user experience. Users who land on these pages typically: Leave immediately (increasing bounce rate) Spend less time on page Rarely convert Never return These negative engagement signals harm your overall site performance, too. Damaged Brand Reputation Keyword-heavy content can make your site appear spammy and unprofessional. It signals to users that you’re more concerned with manipulating search engines than providing value. This damages trust – the foundation of any successful brand. Once users and search engines label your site as “spammy,” rebuilding that trust becomes difficult. Lower Rankings The ultimate irony of keyword stuffing? It’s likely to achieve the opposite of its intended purpose. Instead of boosting your rankings, it can make them plummet. Today’s search algorithms prioritize: Relevant, natural content Positive user engagement signals Valuable information that satisfies search intent As Google says: While there is no guarantee that any particular site will be added to Google’s index, sites that follow the Search Essentials guidelines are more likely to appear in Google’s search results. How to Identify Keyword Stuffing on Your Site Not sure if your content crosses the line from optimized to overkill? Here’s how to spot keyword stuffing before Google and your readers do. Manual Calculation Old-school, but it works: Count how many times your target keyword appears in your content Divide by your total word count Multiply by 100 to get the percentage Side note: AI tools can help you calculate keyword density, but their results may not be entirely accurate. I tested ChatGPT against a manual calculation and found it was off by 28%. After prompting it to recheck its work, ChatGPT was able to provide the correct answer. But this process actually took longer than just calculating it myself. So, how do you know if your percentage is “good” or “bad”? Keep in mind that the ideal keyword density doesn’t exist. As Leigh McKenzie, Backlinko’s head of SEO, says: You can’t fake relevance by jamming your target phrase into every heading. A natural, readable flow matters more. As a general rule, if your keyword density creeps above 2–3%, it’s worth taking a second look. Use keywords intentionally. But write like you’re talking to real people, not search engines. That’s what both the algorithm and AI actually reward. Manual Assessment One of the most effective ways to identify keyword-heavy content is to read it aloud. If something feels stiff, repetitive, or robotic, your readers will feel it, too. Ask yourself: Would I write this way if SEO wasn’t a factor? Does this content feel valuable and informative? Would real people enjoy reading this? If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” it’s time to revise. WordPress Plugins Using WordPress? Plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math can help flag potential keyword stuffing. These tools provide readability scores and keyword density calculations. But keep in mind that these tools may miss subtle issues. And typically won’t flag anything until it’s really obvious. So, it’s best to use them as a guide rather than a final verdict. On Page SEO Checker Want a smarter, more in-depth look at keyword usage on your pages? Use Semrush’s On Page SEO Checker. Instead of manually scanning your content, this tool benchmarks your keyword usage against top-ranking competitors. Here’s how to use it: Side note: A free Semrush account gives you limited access to the On Page SEO Checker. Or you can use this link to access a 14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription. Enter your domain into the tool and press “Get ideas.” Next, configure your settings. (It’ll ask you to choose your location and preferred pages to analyze.) When your report is ready, scroll to the “Top pages to optimize” section. Click the blue “# Ideas” button next to any page to view detailed recommendations. If keyword stuffing is detected, the On Page SEO Checker will call it out. And show you exactly where the issue is. Including the body content, meta tags, or headings. If your keyword usage is clean, you’ll see notes like: “No keyword stuffing detected in <h1> tag.” You’ll also get recommendations for: Additional keywords to include SERP feature opportunities Internal linking suggestions Cannibalization issues Backlink ideas Use the recommendations to create higher-ranking content that search engines and readers love. 6 Keyword Optimization Best Practices So, how do you avoid keyword stuffing? And still optimize your content without sounding like a broken record? Here are some do’s (and a few don’ts) to help you strike the right balance. 1. Write for Humans, Not Search Engines Keyword density isn’t a ranking factor. So, don’t worry about hitting a specific number. Focus on creating helpful content instead. Answer your audience’s questions. Solve their problems. And satisfy their search intent. Google calls this people-first content — content made for readers, not algorithms. Yes, you should use your target keywords. But if you’re covering the topic thoroughly, they’ll appear naturally. For example, if you’re writing about meal prep for beginners, you’ll probably mention: Easy meal prep Weekly food planning Healthy lunch ideas No keyword stuffing required. Bottom line: If your content reads well out loud and actually helps someone, you’re on the right track. Further reading: 6-Step Essential Guide to Choosing Keywords 2. Include Keywords in Key Elements You don’t need to repeat your keyword 55 times. But placing it in a few prominent spots helps Google (and readers) understand what your page is about: URL H1 First paragraph Subheadings (minimally — mix it up with keyword variations) Title tag Meta description Alt text Always prioritize natural language over forced keyword insertion. Further reading: On-Page SEO: The Definitive Guide + Free Template 3. Use Secondary and Semantic Keywords Secondary and semantic keywords make your content more engaging. They also make it easier for Google to understand what your content is about. Secondary keywords are terms that are closely related to your primary keyword. They help your content rank for a broader range of relevant searches. For example, if your primary keyword is “vegetarian recipes,” secondary keywords would include: Vegetarian meal ideas Meatless recipes Vegetarian dinner recipes Keyword research tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz, and others let you find secondary keywords. Semantic keywords are contextually related words and phrases that help search engines understand the meaning behind your content. These terms aren’t direct matches or synonyms. For a vegetarian recipe article, semantic keywords would be “veggie burgers,” “tofu,” and “vegetarian chili.” You’re likely to include these terms naturally. But Google can also help. Conduct a search for your primary keyword and check “People Also Ask” and “Related Searches” for ideas. 4. Avoid Irrelevant Keywords Targeting irrelevant keywords won’t trick Google. It’ll just confuse your audience — and dilute your topical authority. For example, if your blog niche is fitness, don’t target irrelevant keywords like “top vacuum cleaners” or “best mattress.” Even if you’re actually able to rank for these terms, it’s unlikely to do you any good past a bump in vanity metrics. Aka — you might get clicks, but you won’t get conversions. Plus, you’ll send confusing signals to Google about your site’s core purpose. 5. Don’t Use Grammatically Incorrect Keywords During keyword research, you’ll inevitably run into terms that are misspelled yet somehow still get thousands of searches. For example, “morgage calculator” gets 27,100 searches per month. And “best morgage rates” gets 14,800. But using misspelled keywords isn’t worth the risk. They make your writing less credible and can make your site look spammy. Search engines are smart enough to know what users actually mean when they search for “morgage” instead of “mortgage.” As Google says: Our natural language understanding models look at a search in context, like the relationship that words and letters within the query have to each other. Our systems start by deciphering or trying to understand your entire search query first. From there, we generate the best replacements for the misspelled words in the query based on our overall understanding of what you’re looking for. For example, we can tell from the other words in the query “average home coast” that you’re probably looking for information on “average home cost. Same goes for grammatically incorrect or just plain awkward keyword phrasing like: “Running shoes cheap” “How to train dog fast” Yes, people search like this: But you shouldn’t mirror that phrasing word-for-word. Or you risk lowering the readability and trustworthiness of your content. 6. Spread Out Keyword Usage Don’t use a bunch of keywords in a single paragraph or section. Distribute them naturally throughout your content, from the introduction to the conclusion. This creates a more cohesive piece that flows naturally while still signaling relevance to search engines. Further reading: Free Keyword Difficulty Checker + Free Guide How to Recover from Keyword Stuffing Penalties Worried your rankings declined from excessive keyword usage? Don’t panic. Recovery is possible with the right approach. Check for a Manual Penalty in Google Search Console First things first: confirm whether you’ve received a manual penalty. Log into Google Search Console (GSC) and follow this path: “Security & Manual Actions” > “Manual Actions.” If you don’t have any manual actions, you’ll see this message: If you have a manual action, you’ll see a report with the number of issues detected. And a description of each one. Like unnatural links, cloaking, thin content, and — you guessed it — keyword stuffing. If you received a penalty, you’ll need to address the issues and submit a reconsideration request. Fix the Issues Once you’ve identified the problem pages, it’s time for cleanup. But this isn’t just about fixing one page. It’s about showing Google you’ve changed your approach. Here’s what to focus on: Rewrite keyword-stuffed content: Focus on clarity, depth, and user intent. Cut repetition and use natural phrasing and keyword variations. Remove hidden keywords: If you used any black hat tactics, such as white text on white backgrounds, keyword-stuffed alt tags, or hidden links, remove them from your site Upgrade the content: Check that each page meets search intent, thoroughly covers the topic, has meaningful information gain, and includes E-E-A-T signals. Like high-quality sources, author expertise, and expert insights. Audit your site: For best results, consider following the above steps for every page on your site (if possible) — not just the ones Google flagged. This may improve your chances of getting the penalty removed. Request a Review Once your content is cleaned up, go back to Search Console and follow these steps: Open the “Manual Actions” section and click “Request Review.” Next, you’ll be asked to check a box confirming you fixed all of the issues. You’ll also need to explain what you fixed and how you did it. Don’t copy and paste generic language. Be honest, transparent, and direct in your answer. Explain the following: What caused the issue The exact steps you took to fix it The outcome of your efforts Expect to wait anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a response. You’ll get an email with Google’s decision when the review is complete. If your first request is denied, you can try again. Stop Stuffing. Start Optimizing. Google doesn’t count keywords anymore. Why should you? Ranking in 2025 isn’t about gaming the algorithm — it’s about creating content that actually helps people. So, leave the keyword stuffing to 2005 and focus on what modern readers and search engines want: Helpful, trustworthy content. Ready to write content that reads and ranks well? Check out our SEO best practices guide. It’s packed with proven strategies for writing high-performing content without sacrificing quality or user experience. The post What is Keyword Stuffing? How to Avoid Doing SEO Like It’s 2005 appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

There are many tools that let you schedule content across different social media platforms. But: Not all of them are built to match your unique workflow. Some focus on collaboration, others on planning. That’s why I’ve handpicked the best tools and highlighted the features that go beyond basic scheduling. Here’s an overview of the best social media management tools included in this article: Best for Pricing Buffer Content creators and small teams that need help generating content ideas and staying consistent Starts at $6/month per channel; limited free plan available Planable Marketing teams that need a centralized hub to collaborate on all types of content Starts at $39/month; limited free plan available SocialBee Businesses that want a built-in AI assistant to help plan strategy and generate content Starts at $29/month; 14-day free trial Canva Creators and small businesses that want to design and schedule content in one place Starts at $15/month; 30-day free trial available Hootsuite Teams that need social selling tools and CRM integration Starts at $149/month; 30-day free trial available Sprout Social Large teams or agencies that need unified analytics, collaboration tools, and social listening Starts at $249/month; 30-day free trial available Note: This is not the most extensive list of social media management tools. Instead, I’m sticking to what the title says and only including the very best options. 1. Buffer Best for content creators and small teams that need help generating content ideas and staying consistent with posting Pricing: Starts at $6 per month per channel; limited free forever plan available (for up to three channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel per month) Buffer is a simple social media management tool designed to help you plan, create, and schedule content across platforms. It has a simple layout, a Kanban-style board, AI tools to help you write posts faster, and many other features that let teams work together easily. Here are the platforms you can manage with Buffer: Facebook Instagram Threads TikTok LinkedIn YouTube X/Twitter Pinterest Google Business Profile Bluesky Mastodon Here’s what I love about Buffer: Manage Your Content Workflow with a Built-in Kanban Board Buffer gives you a simple, visual way to manage your entire content workflow. You don’t need a separate project management tool. You can plan, track, and organize your social posts using a built-in Kanban-style layout. This makes it easy to track how your content moves from idea to publication. You can drag and drop posts through each stage, tag them by type or campaign, and convert any idea into a live post when you’re ready to publish. Each idea card acts like a mini workspace. You can add notes, upload images, assign tags, or even use AI to shape your post. And when you’re ready to turn an idea into a real post, just click “Create Post”: From there, you can choose which social media platforms to post on, edit your text, and schedule it. All without leaving the ideas board: This is a seamless workflow from idea to publishing. You don’t even need to switch tabs within the tool. Create a Custom Link in Bio Page Buffer’s Start Page lets you build a mini landing page to use in your social media bio. On this page, you can add buttons to your blog, shop, podcast, or freebies — whatever you want people to check out. It’s like a custom homepage for your content. There are templates to get you started: But you can also customize it with your brand colors, fonts, and layout: When you publish your page, you can track views and clicks to see what your audience is interested in: Whether you’re a creator, freelancer, or a small business, Start Page helps you lead your followers to the content you want them to see. Stay Consistent with a Weekly Posting Goal Buffer helps you build a sustainable content routine. It lets you choose a posting goal, like once, three times, or five times per week: Once you select your frequency, Buffer will automatically recommend the best time slots and add them to your queue: The tool recommends time slots based on when your audience is active. With this feature, you don’t have to guess when or how often to post. Just pick a consistency level that fits your bandwidth and goals. This is helpful if you’re overwhelmed or inconsistent. With your target already set, Buffer takes care of when to post so you can focus on what to post. Useful resource: Step-By-Step Content Marketing Plan Template Pros & Cons Pros Cons Use AI assistant to draft tailored post captions for different social media platforms Analytics doesn’t support creator accounts for Instagram and LinkedIn; it’s limited to business pages Manage comments and replies from one dashboard 2. Planable Best for marketing teams that need a centralized hub to collaborate on all types of content Pricing: Starts at $39 per month; free plan available (limited to 50 posts) Planable is a tool built for social media teams to plan, collaborate on, and schedule content together — all in one place. It’s designed to streamline approvals, keep your calendar organized, and make team (and client) communication seamless. Here are the platforms you can manage with Planable: Facebook Instagram X/Twitter LinkedIn TikTok Google Business Profile YouTube Pinterest Threads And here’s what I love about Planable: Collaborate with Your Team in Real-Time Planable makes it easy to work with others and communicate through every step of content development. For example, your team can leave comments directly on each social media post. This removes the need to send the post back and forth: You can even invite your team members and clients and give each one a unique set of permissions. These include view, edit, publish, approve, or analyze. You can also make multiple approval workflows and set collaboration levels. Let’s say you’re part of an in-house marketing team working with an external copywriter. You could create a custom workflow like this: Stage 1: Content team creates the post and adds a caption Stage 2: Design team steps in to finalize visuals Stage 3: The client gives final approval before the post goes live Once the client approves the content, you can: Automatically schedule the post to publish at the assigned time (or keep manual control if you prefer) Lock the content to prevent last-minute edits or accidental changes What’s cool is that internal team comments won’t be visible to clients. You can also hide certain posts from clients to prevent them from seeing unfinished drafts: And if anything ever goes off track, you can see the version history. It lets you see exactly who did what and roll back to a previous version if you need to. Manage All Your Marketing Content in One Place Planable helps you schedule, preview, and collaborate on posts for all major platforms in one place. You can plan your content in a calendar view to visualize what’s going live, where it’s going, and when: But what sets Planable apart is its ability to go beyond just social. You can also write and organize blog posts, newsletters, and other content with the same team setup. So if your team is posting on Instagram and TikTok, writing email newsletters, and posting on the blog, you can check and edit everything in one place. Planable keeps it all in sync, so your team stays aligned and consistent — no matter how many channels you’re managing. Note: While you can manage blog content in Planable using the same workflows as social posts, it doesn’t integrate directly with CMS platforms. So you’ll still need to copy and paste your final draft manually. Organize Your Content into Campaigns In Planable, you can group your social media posts into dedicated campaigns. This makes it easy to plan, manage, and execute content around specific themes, product launches, or events: Each campaign can act as a central hub for your content. You can add posts to different social media, work with others, and see how your posts are doing, all in one place. For example, if you’re launching a new product, you can create a “Product Launch” campaign. Inside that campaign, you can: Keep internal notes (like your campaign objective, key results, and what content the campaign should include) Organize all launch-related posts and visuals for future posts View when each post is scheduled to go live with the calendar view Check consolidated analytics across multiple platforms This kind of campaign structure helps your team stay focused and aligned. It also ensures every piece of content supports a bigger goal, like driving signups for an event or promoting a product launch. Pros & Cons Pros Cons Craft your social media captions with AI in the Planable post editor Currently no integration with CMS platforms to post blog content on your site directly Import visuals directly from Canva into your posts; no need to download or re-upload designs Analytics is only available for business accounts, not creator profiles Schedule the first comment on Instagram and LinkedIn posts Get post and account performance insights with built-in analytics 3. SocialBee Best for businesses that want a built-in AI assistant to help plan strategy and generate content Pricing: Starts at $29 per month; 14-day free trial SocialBee is a social media management tool that helps you manage all your content in one place. One unique thing this tool offers is a built-in AI assistant that takes tasks off your hands (more on this later). Here are the platforms you can manage with SocialBee: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X/Twitter TikTok YouTube Pinterest Google Business Profile Bluesky Threads SocialBee also offers universal posting. This means you can collaborate with your team on content for a blog or newsletter for example. However, as is the case with Planable, there is currently no integration to post these directly on other platforms. Here’s some more detail about a few of SocialBee’s best features: Build a Content Strategy with AI Copilot SocialBee’s AI Copilot is like having a creative assistant built into your social media tool. It helps you build a personalized content strategy, come up with content ideas, and draft social media captions. So, how does it work? Let’s say you run social media for Tattly, a creative brand selling artist-designed temporary tattoos. Copilot will ask you a set of questions about your brand, goals, and audience: Based on your input, the AI Copilot recommends the best platforms to focus on and suggests a weekly posting frequency: Copilot also suggests content categories that match your business and tone: It then generates the posting plan based on your content categories: And finally, it generates the posts. You can use the captions as-is or use AI suggestions as inspiration: Create Evergreen Content Categories SocialBee lets you recycle posts on autopilot by marking a content category as evergreen: This means any post you add to that category will automatically be re-added to your posting queue once it goes live. You don’t need to reschedule it manually. But why would you want to post the same content over and over? It’s a great way to keep your content calendar full without constantly creating new content. You can use it to reshare timeless posts like tips, customer testimonials, or motivational quotes: For example, reposting a helpful blog tip every four to six weeks keeps it fresh in your audience’s feed without feeling repetitive. Especially if you’re recycling through a variety of other content in between. Plus, new followers may miss these posts the first time around, but still get value from them. This keeps your content calendar active, saves you time, and ensures your best posts continue delivering value long after they’re first published. Turn Links Into Posts SocialBee lets you import a bunch of links and instantly generate social media posts for them: Just paste in your links, assign them to a content category, and SocialBee will generate a basic post using the page title and link: From there, you can edit the draft to boost engagement and tailor it to your audience. Like by adding a hook or takeaway. This is especially helpful if you run a blog or regularly share curated content. It gives you a head start on posting, so you’re not starting from scratch every time. Further reading: 21+ Proven Strategies to Promote Your Blog in 2025 Get Help from a Dedicated Social Media Concierge If you’d rather outsource some of your social media tasks to a pro, SocialBee offers concierge services. ConciergeBee connects you with a service provider who takes care of tasks like making content or talking to your followers. You can choose from several service packages (starting at $129/month) based on your needs. For example, options include: Weekly content creation (graphics, captions, and videos) Community management (inbox and comment replies) LinkedIn lead generation Blog content writing Ads management Compared to hiring freelancers on your own, SocialBee’s concierge service saves you time and guesswork. You get vetted specialists, ongoing 1:1 communication, and fixed pricing. And you don’t have to go through the process of scouting talent and managing contracts. Pros & Cons Pros Cons Turn articles into social media posts in seconds The mobile app is very limited at this time, sometimes not even working at all Use AI to enhance your social media strategy Use Canva, Unsplash, and GIPHY integrations for visuals 4. Canva Best for content creators and small businesses that want to design and schedule content from one place Pricing: Starts at $15 per month; 30-day free trial available With its built-in Content Planner tool, Canva lets you design, write, and schedule posts across multiple platforms in one place. If you’re already using it to create visual content, it might be enough to handle your entire content workflow. Especially if you heavily rely on graphics in your social media posts. Here are the platforms you can manage with Canva: Instagram Business Page Facebook Page X/Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr While more limited than some of the other tools on this list, there are still a lot of reasons to love it as a social media management tool. Here are my favorite features: Schedule Posts Right From the Design Dashboard Canva makes it easy to go from designing a social media post to scheduling it for publishing. You can do it without even leaving the design screen. Let’s say you run a small cafe and you’re launching a new seasonal breakfast menu. You design an Instagram post in Canva with a mouth-watering photo of your meals. Once you’re happy with the design, you click “Share” > “Schedule” right from the top menu: This built-in scheduling tool helps you post regularly on social media without making more work for yourself. Instead of switching between tools, you can design, schedule, and publish all from one place. This saves time and keeps your content calendar on track. Fill Your Calendar with Holiday-Ready Templates Canva’s Content Planner shows holidays, awareness days, and seasonal events from around the world: You can click on any event, choose a ready-made template, make it match your brand, and schedule the post right away: This is a simple and effortless way to fill your content calendar and engage your audience. Useful resource: Content Calendar Template for 2025 Pros & Cons Pros Cons Design and schedule content without switching platforms Lacks advanced collaboration tools, such as content approvals, needed for larger teams Pre-designed visuals tied to calendar events and holidays 5. Hootsuite Best for teams that need social selling tools and CRM integration Pricing: Starts at $149 per month; 30-day free trial available Hootsuite supports everything from collaborative content planning to lead generation and social selling. It has tools that help your team save time and work efficiently. Like CRM integrations, a smart inbox, and auto-replies for Instagram. Here are the platforms you can manage with Hootsuite: Facebook Instagram X/Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Pinterest TikTok WhatApp Business Threads Here are my favorite Hootsuite features: Automate Instagram DMs with Comment Keywords Hootsuite lets you send automated Instagram DMs to your audience: You can use this feature to deliver lead magnets, coupon codes, or event registrations. For example, if you’re a fitness coach offering a free meal plan, you could post a Reel with the caption: “Drop the word MEAL below and I’ll DM you my 7-day meal plan.” When someone comments “meal,” Hootsuite instantly sends them your custom message with the link. Here’s how it works: You choose a keyword and write a message you want to send when someone comments that word on your post. This method keeps your audience engaged without the hassle of replying to everyone yourself. And because the response is instant, your followers get what you promised right away. No matter when they comment. Cool, right? Turn Social Conversations Into Sales Hootsuite helps you move leads from social interactions to closed deals without leaving the dashboard. You can reply to comments and DMs, save the conversation in your CRM, and follow up to turn that lead into a customer: But how’s that possible? Hootsuite integrates with CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, and SugarCRM to streamline this process. This means your social media manager and sales rep can collaborate in real time. If a follower responds to a campaign or clicks on a product post, you can turn that engagement into a lead profile. If your business relies on social selling, this feature is a game-changer. Pros & Cons Pros Cons Manage inbound messages, engagement, and scheduling in one place DM automation is limited to Instagram only Integrate Hootsuite with your CRM and project management platform 6. Sprout Social Best for large teams or agencies that need unified analytics, collaboration tools, and social listening in one platform Pricing: Starts at $249 per month; 30-day free trial available Sprout Social is a premium social media management platform. It combines publishing, engagement, analytics, and social listening all in one place. Here are the platforms you can manage with Sprout Social: Facebook Instagram X/Twitter LinkedIn TikTok Pinterest Threads YouTube Google Business Profile Now let’s talk about what I love most about Sprout Social: Respond to Every Message in One Place Sprout’s Smart Inbox pulls direct messages (DMs), comments, and mentions across all your connected platforms. You don’t need to bounce between tabs or apps. Instead, your entire team can view and respond to each message or comment from one space: Your team can even tag messages, assign them to teammates, and leave internal notes to add context: Sprout Social also tracks your inbox activity. This lets you check how your team handles audience engagement across different platforms. For example, you can see metrics like: Number of received vs. actioned messages and action rate Response rate and average time to action Performance trends across time or by platform This helps you reply faster, keep your support organized, and make sure you don’t miss any messages. Even when you’re constantly receiving messages at scale. Track and Visualize Performance Across the Channels Sprout Social gives you two powerful ways to analyze your results: Cross-network reporting: To track performance across all your social media channels Profile-specific reporting: To dive deeper into individual accounts (like your Instagram or LinkedIn) This dual setup helps you see the big picture while still being able to zoom in on the details. View High-Level Metrics in One Dashboard Its profile performance report shows key stats. Such as views, clicks, engagement, and interaction rate across all your social platforms: You can also track how your audience has grown over time with the Audience Growth graph: This makes it easy to see whether your efforts are growing your followers. That way, you can identify which platforms are bringing the most momentum. And which ones might need a strategy tweak. Analyze Content with Post Performance Reports Sprout Social also gives you post performance insights across all your connected accounts. Or you can focus on a specific platform. You can view and compare individual post metrics. Like total engagement, reactions, and comments: This helps you quickly spot top-performing posts and patterns behind them. This lets you replicate what’s working — without constantly jumping between dashboards. Listen to What Your Audience Is Saying Online Sprout Social helps you understand what people say about your brand, industry, or competitors across social media and the web. You can track specific keywords, hashtags, or brand mentions in real time. For example, if you manage social media for a coffee shop, you might track the keyword “espresso.” The conversation breakdown shows the words and phrases people use when they talk about espresso. Such as “recipes,” “easy,” and “home.” These terms are ranked from highest to lowest engagement: You can use these words to get content ideas or write relatable captions to match what your audience is saying. It’s a quick way to spot trends and stay relevant. Pros & Cons Pros Cons All-in-one place for managing publishing, engagement, and analytics across many social media platforms Can be overwhelming for solo users or small teams due to the number of tools included in Sprout Social Advanced analytics to track cross-platform or profile-specific performance Ready to Choose Your Social Media Management Tool? The right social media management tool depends on your content needs and workflow: Go with Sprout Social if you’re a large team or agency that needs everything in one place, including analytics, collaboration, customer care, and social listening Pick Hootsuite if your team is focused on lead generation and social selling, and you want powerful CRM integrations and sales automations Choose Planable if you need advanced collaboration features and want to manage all kinds of content in one place Go with Buffer if you’re solo or on a small team and want to stay consistent with posting using a simple, organized workflow Try SocialBee if you want extra help either from AI or a real human handling your strategy and content Stick with Canva if you’re already using it for design and want a streamlined way to schedule your posts without switching tools Want to explore new platforms to grow on? Check out our list of new social media platforms so you can stay ahead of the curve. 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