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Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe You’ve settled into your workspace, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, ready to dive into the strategic plan your boss eagerly awaits. But just as you begin – Ping. A Slack message from your finance partner: “Don’t forget to send budget requests by EOD.” You barely process this before – Ping. An email from your dentist’s office reminding you to schedule your biannual cleaning. You take a breath, but – Ping. Workday lets you know your direct report’s timesheet is ready for approval. In mere moments, your focus time spirals into chaos, your to-do list expanding with relentless urgency. This barrage of notifications is more than just a minor inconvenience; it’s a plague on productivity. Just as we cross a to-do off our list, another one pops up. It’s no wonder that two-thirds of employees end their day with unresolved tasks on their to-do lists. So, how are we supposed to manage to-dos flying at us from every direction? Which ones do we swat away and which do we prioritize? And, how are the people who seem to stay on top of it all doing it!? We set out to find answers to these questions by conducting a survey of 6,000 knowledge workers across six countries about their to-do list practices. Let’s dig into what we learned. A note on our survey methodology The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 6,000 knowledge workers in 6 markets: US, UK, Australia, India, Germany and France, with a quota of 1,000 respondents per market, between December 20th, 2024, and January 12th, 2025, using an email invitation and an online survey. State of the to-do list Being organized is widely recognized as a significant advantage when it comes to managing tasks effectively. In fact, a remarkable 89% of workers believe that the most organized individuals are typically the ones who accomplish the most. Wanting to be part of this crowd, 82% of people have established a formal system to keep their to-dos organized. However, these systems are like snowflakes – no two are exactly alike. Interestingly, over half (52%) of knowledge workers admit that their organizational methods may appear chaotic to outsiders, yet they firmly believe that these approaches work well for them. Regardless of how different our to-do lists may look, we all share the satisfying feeling that accompanies crossing an item off the list. In fact, a striking 70% of professionals with a to-do list prefer the thrill of marking an item complete over receiving praise from a coworker. Dueling lists: personal vs. work to-dos We also surveyed individuals about how they organize their personal versus professional to-dos. We found nearly half (47%) of employees maintain two distinct to-do lists to track their personal and work responsibilities. In contrast, about a quarter (23%) opt to consolidate all tasks into a single to-do list, while 21% only keep a to-do list for work-related tasks, leaving personal reminders to rely solely on memory. We also found that people are juggling their to-dos – both personal and work – in many places: calendars, notebooks, productivity apps. So which is the best approach? Keep personal and work tasks separate, or together? Track tasks in one place, or several? While everyone has their own preference, our research suggests the more you use organizational systems and tools from your workplace to track all tasks, the better off you will be. Individuals who use an organizational system they learned at work are 1.4x more likely to consider themselves organized than those who rely on a system they designed on their own. Furthermore, organized individuals are twice as likely to use tools from their workplace to organize their personal to-dos. The disorganization domino effect Within a team, individual productivity is part of a highly complex and interconnected web. You may have all your ducks in a row, but a disorganized colleague can halt your (and your team’s) forward momentum. If you don’t consider yourself a particularly organized person, beware, as people have very little patience for their less organized coworkers. Almost 4 in 5 (78%) of respondents said they’d rather take on extra work than be forced to collaborate with a disorganized colleague. (Kind of like being the school group project member who throws their hands up and says, “fine, I’ll do it all myself.”) Furthermore, almost two-thirds of workers said they’d fire a disorganized team member if it meant improving overall results. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise how resentful workers can be of a less-than-organized teammate. The lack of order can cause serious delays – and serious bad feelings. Improve personal productivity in three steps Tip #1: Timebox An easy first step, we’ve found, to get a better handle of your to-dos, is to hone your ability to estimate how long a particular task is going to take. Then, set aside that time in your calendar, and do your best to protect it. This technique is called “timeboxing,” and it’s especially useful for people who struggle with procrastination or who often find themselves haplessly attempting to make progress on multiple projects at once, in the same short window. (Spoiler: this rarely works out. Your attention span is only so flexible.) Timeboxing is a tried-and-true technique for keeping productivity and alignment high. In a recent experiment with Atlassians, we found that 68% made more progress when they timeboxed their calendar, and goal clarity improved for 55%. The takeaway? When you orient your day around the most important tasks you need to accomplish, you’re – by design – identifying your most important work. Better yet: make your calendar visible to your whole team so they can see what you’re working on, when you’re doing it, and the amount of time it’ll take for you to see it through. Trello now includes a Planner feature that lets you move to-dos over to your calendar right from your Trello board – and vice versa. Tip #2: Give your to-do list a makeover Did you know that organized people are 1.4x more likely to delete items from their to-do list if they don’t complete them within a few days? Rather than letting tasks linger (and eventually end up on the chopping block), get in the habit of saying “no” earlier than later. And remember, if a task is neither impactful nor urgent, it may not need to be on your to-do list in the first place.With Trello, everyone can be freed from having to track down to-dos from multiple lists. All your captured to-dos land right in your Trello Inbox, where you can review, sort, and filter new to-dos and organize however you prefer. Tip #3: Chart your daily “top to-do” – and follow it! To-doing and timeboxing are all well and good, so long as you have a clear understanding of what you’re working toward. This is where the “top to-do” comes in. At the end of each workday, take a few minutes to set a top to-do for the following day, and rejigger your schedule to ensure it’s set up to enable you all the time and space you need to get it done. The top to-do should be one (just one!) high-impact task on your plate that you can’t delegate or ignore – or quietly delete from your to-do list. Starting small is key. Accomplishing ONE big thing every day gives you strong momentum. It’s easy for deep-working, task-accomplishing time to take a backseat to meetings, pings, and returning emails. Real productivity means making way for real work; a top to-do is a surefire way of getting there. Meet your personal productivity potential Our to-do lists are as much of a work in progress as we are. As our assignments, teams, and work styles evolve, so should the systems and tools we have in place to organize it all. Pairing a flexible to-do list tool like Trello* with the strategies outlined in this post will set you on your way toward a more organized version of yourself. Embrace the process! Check out our Product blog for all the nitty-gritty details on the all-new Trello! Read the blog Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe The post To-do list trickledown: How to stay organized and keep your team on track appeared first on Work Life by Atlassian. View the full article

Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe You’ve settled into your workspace, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, ready to dive into the strategic plan your boss eagerly awaits. But just as you begin – Ping. A Slack message from your finance partner: “Don’t forget to send budget requests by EOD.” You barely process this before – Ping. An email from your dentist’s office reminding you to schedule your biannual cleaning. You take a breath, but – Ping. Workday lets you know your direct report’s timesheet is ready for approval. In mere moments, your focus time spirals into chaos, your to-do list expanding with relentless urgency. This barrage of notifications is more than just a minor inconvenience; it’s a plague on productivity. Just as we cross a to-do off our list, another one pops up. It’s no wonder that two-thirds of employees end their day with unresolved tasks on their to-do lists. So, how are we supposed to manage to-dos flying at us from every direction? Which ones do we swat away and which do we prioritize? And, how are the people who seem to stay on top of it all doing it!? We set out to find answers to these questions by conducting a survey of 6,000 knowledge workers across six countries about their to-do list practices. Let’s dig into what we learned. A note on our survey methodology The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 6,000 knowledge workers in 6 markets: US, UK, Australia, India, Germany and France, with a quota of 1,000 respondents per market, between December 20th, 2024, and January 12th, 2025, using an email invitation and an online survey. State of the to-do list Being organized is widely recognized as a significant advantage when it comes to managing tasks effectively. In fact, a remarkable 89% of workers believe that the most organized individuals are typically the ones who accomplish the most. Wanting to be part of this crowd, 82% of people have established a formal system to keep their to-dos organized. However, these systems are like snowflakes – no two are exactly alike. Interestingly, over half (52%) of knowledge workers admit that their organizational methods may appear chaotic to outsiders, yet they firmly believe that these approaches work well for them. Regardless of how different our to-do lists may look, we all share the satisfying feeling that accompanies crossing an item off the list. In fact, a striking 70% of professionals with a to-do list prefer the thrill of marking an item complete over receiving praise from a coworker. Dueling lists: personal vs. work to-dos We also surveyed individuals about how they organize their personal versus professional to-dos. We found nearly half (47%) of employees maintain two distinct to-do lists to track their personal and work responsibilities. In contrast, about a quarter (23%) opt to consolidate all tasks into a single to-do list, while 21% only keep a to-do list for work-related tasks, leaving personal reminders to rely solely on memory. We also found that people are juggling their to-dos – both personal and work – in many places: calendars, notebooks, productivity apps. So which is the best approach? Keep personal and work tasks separate, or together? Track tasks in one place, or several? While everyone has their own preference, our research suggests the more you use organizational systems and tools from your workplace to track all tasks, the better off you will be. Individuals who use an organizational system they learned at work are 1.4x more likely to consider themselves organized than those who rely on a system they designed on their own. Furthermore, organized individuals are twice as likely to use tools from their workplace to organize their personal to-dos. The disorganization domino effect Within a team, individual productivity is part of a highly complex and interconnected web. You may have all your ducks in a row, but a disorganized colleague can halt your (and your team’s) forward momentum. If you don’t consider yourself a particularly organized person, beware, as people have very little patience for their less organized coworkers. Almost 4 in 5 (78%) of respondents said they’d rather take on extra work than be forced to collaborate with a disorganized colleague. (Kind of like being the school group project member who throws their hands up and says, “fine, I’ll do it all myself.”) Furthermore, almost two-thirds of workers said they’d fire a disorganized team member if it meant improving overall results. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise how resentful workers can be of a less-than-organized teammate. The lack of order can cause serious delays – and serious bad feelings. Improve personal productivity in three steps Tip #1: Timebox An easy first step, we’ve found, to get a better handle of your to-dos, is to hone your ability to estimate how long a particular task is going to take. Then, set aside that time in your calendar, and do your best to protect it. This technique is called “timeboxing,” and it’s especially useful for people who struggle with procrastination or who often find themselves haplessly attempting to make progress on multiple projects at once, in the same short window. (Spoiler: this rarely works out. Your attention span is only so flexible.) Timeboxing is a tried-and-true technique for keeping productivity and alignment high. In a recent experiment with Atlassians, we found that 68% made more progress when they timeboxed their calendar, and goal clarity improved for 55%. The takeaway? When you orient your day around the most important tasks you need to accomplish, you’re – by design – identifying your most important work. Better yet: make your calendar visible to your whole team so they can see what you’re working on, when you’re doing it, and the amount of time it’ll take for you to see it through. Trello now includes a Planner feature that lets you move to-dos over to your calendar right from your Trello board – and vice versa. Tip #2: Give your to-do list a makeover Did you know that organized people are 1.4x more likely to delete items from their to-do list if they don’t complete them within a few days? Rather than letting tasks linger (and eventually end up on the chopping block), get in the habit of saying “no” earlier than later. And remember, if a task is neither impactful nor urgent, it may not need to be on your to-do list in the first place.With Trello, everyone can be freed from having to track down to-dos from multiple lists. All your captured to-dos land right in your Trello Inbox, where you can review, sort, and filter new to-dos and organize however you prefer. Tip #3: Chart your daily “top to-do” – and follow it! To-doing and timeboxing are all well and good, so long as you have a clear understanding of what you’re working toward. This is where the “top to-do” comes in. At the end of each workday, take a few minutes to set a top to-do for the following day, and rejigger your schedule to ensure it’s set up to enable you all the time and space you need to get it done. The top to-do should be one (just one!) high-impact task on your plate that you can’t delegate or ignore – or quietly delete from your to-do list. Starting small is key. Accomplishing ONE big thing every day gives you strong momentum. It’s easy for deep-working, task-accomplishing time to take a backseat to meetings, pings, and returning emails. Real productivity means making way for real work; a top to-do is a surefire way of getting there. Meet your personal productivity potential Our to-do lists are as much of a work in progress as we are. As our assignments, teams, and work styles evolve, so should the systems and tools we have in place to organize it all. Pairing a flexible to-do list tool like Trello* with the strategies outlined in this post will set you on your way toward a more organized version of yourself. Embrace the process! Check out our Product blog for all the nitty-gritty details on the all-new Trello! Read the blog Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe The post To-do list trickledown: How to stay organized and keep your team on track appeared first on Work Life by Atlassian. View the full article

If you’re a small business owner looking to create a comprehensive employee training plan, you’re in luck! Here are training plan template options, each designed to help you develop your employees’ skills and knowledge. What is an Employee Training Plan Template? An employee training plan template is a document used to outline the training sessions and development activities a company plans to provide to its employees. What Should a Training Plan Template Include? A well-designed training plan template should include several key elements to ensure the success of any training session. These include… Identifying Training Needs A successful training plan template should begin with a thorough training needs assessment, a review of job descriptions and performance evaluations, and an identification of knowledge or skill gaps. Determine priority areas for training. Training Objectives Establish clear and measurable goals aligned with business strategy. Focus on relevant and timely topics and set realistic expectations for learning outcomes. Ensure objectives can be tracked and measured. A Scalable Training Process Develop a structured training program that incorporates different delivery methods, assign roles and responsibilities, and determine evaluation and feedback mechanisms. Ensure the process can be scaled to meet changing business needs. Learning Outcomes Define what learners should be able to do after training and create assessment criteria to measure progress. Ensure outcomes align with business needs and provide opportunities for ongoing learning and development. Track outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. The Best Employee Training Plan Templates for Small Businesses Before you continue to the list that follows, you can reference this handy condensed table that summarizes the key features and offerings of the top employee training plan templates for small businesses. #Training Plan Template ProviderKey Features and Offerings 1.ZavvyExternal Training Library with on-demand video courses and live training. 2.Monday.comWork OS platform for centralizing work, processes, and boosting productivity. 3.Whatfix18 free employee training plan templates tailored to individual needs. 4.Template.netEmployee Training Schedule Template in various formats for easy customization. 5.SharePointEmployee Training Management with features like scheduling and feedback collection. 6.SmartsheetFree training plan templates for staff, monthly, weekly, and more. 7.CreatelyCustomizable templates for planning and visualizing effective training programs. 8.ExcelDataProReady-to-use Employee Training Log Excel Template for managing training data. 9.Seismic (customer services)Pre-made customer service training manual with modification options. 10.Betterteam (onboarding)Employee Onboarding Process template and checklist for effective integration. 11.Stakeholdermap.comDownloadable training plan template in PDF and Word formats. 12.NorthpassEditable employee training manual PowerPoint template with tips and strategies. 13.VenngageCustomizable training plan templates, including new hire and manager training plans. 14.IndeedTraining plan templates for new employees, individuals, and corporate training. 15.WorkableNew hire training checklist for smooth onboarding. 16.WalkMeFree employee training templates for various purposes, including skills gap analysis. 17.HelpjuiceTemplates for needs assessment, employee development plans, and leadership training. 18.ScribeHowCustomizable employee training plan templates, including employee development. 19.TemplateLabNumerous employee training plan templates in Word and Excel formats. 20.StackbyEmployee Training Management Template for organizing and monitoring training programs. Creating an employee training plan can be challenging for small businesses. Fortunately, there are many pre-designed templates available that can simplify the process. Here are 20 of the best options. Zavvy Zavvy’s External Training Library offers various training resources in categories such as Compliance, Soft Skills, Sales, Marketing, Tech, Product & Design, and Data. These include on-demand video courses, live training, and immersive training. Monday.com Monday.com is a Work OS platform that helps teams centralize their work, processes, and tools and customize workflows to boost employee productivity. It offers tailored products for different business aspects and has over 180,000 customers globally. Whatfix Whatfix provides 18 free employee training plan templates to create an effective employee development plan tailored to individual employee needs. The templates include new-hire training, training needs assessment, individual employee training, and an employee development plan template. Template.net Template.net provides an Employee Training Schedule Template in multiple formats, including Word, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Excel, Apple Numbers, and Apple Pages. This allows for easy customization and effective organization of employee training schedules. You can also enjoy the convenience of instant downloads for improved efficiency. Sharepoint SharePoint Employee Training Management streamlines activities like scheduling, registration, material sharing, and feedback collection. Features include a training catalog, event scheduling, attendee enrollment, attendance status, and feedback. Source code available. Smartsheet Smartsheet provides free training plan templates for staff, monthly, weekly, daily, annual, employee, new hire, and project plans, with customizable Excel, Word, and PDF formats. They also offer cloud-based HR management tools. Creately Creately offers customizable templates and tools to help organizations plan and organize effective employee training programs. With real-time collaboration, multiple export options, and integrations, it simplifies creating, visualizing, and sharing training plans. Creately is trusted by over 10 million users, including NASA, Facebook, and Amazon. ExcelDataPro ExcelDataPro offers a ready-to-use Employee Training Log Excel Template with predefined formulas. The template allows for recording and managing employee training data, including employee details, training schedules, and training output. It is beneficial for HR professionals, consultants, and other HR staff to manage and record employee training data easily. Seismic (customer services) This free customer service training template by Seismic is a resource that offers a pre-made manual to achieve consistent and thorough training for customer service. The template covers basic principles, do’s and don’ts, and training tips that are easy to modify as needed. Betterteam (onboarding) Betterteam offers a free Employee Onboarding Process template and checklist in Excel format to help companies integrate new employees effectively by providing necessary knowledge and behaviors. The onboarding process is essential for new hires to perform effectively. Stakeholdermap.com Stakeholdermap.com offers a free downloadable training plan template in both PDF and Word formats for managers to deliver effective training and organizational change. The template is fully editable and contains everything needed for a successful training plan. Northpass Northpass offers an editable employee training manual PowerPoint template with tips and strategies to create effective training content. The template includes information on composition and structure and can be downloaded from their website. Venngage Venngage provides over 20 customizable training plan templates for businesses, including new hire and manager training plans, employee development plans, and training need assessments. Users can edit text, colors, and images with the drag-and-drop editor. Indeed Indeed offers three types of training plan templates including a new employee training plan, individual training plan, and corporate training plan. These templates can be customized to develop the skills of new hires and existing employees. Workable Workable suggests a new hire training checklist to smoothly onboard employees. The process includes company overview, policies, benefits package, role-specific and IT setup training, followed by security and safety training a month and three months after the start date, respectively. WalkMe WalkMe provides a range of free employee training templates, which include new-hire training, individual employee training, employee development plans, training policies, SOPs, DEI training, skills gap analysis, and pre-training surveys. Helpjuice Helpjuice provides templates for pre-training needs assessment, employee development plans, better employee onboarding plans, and leadership training plans to facilitate professional growth, identify gaps in skills, and improve team performance. ScribeHow ScribeHow offers four customizable employee training plan templates, including employee development, training needs assessment, new-hire training, and individual employee training plans. These templates have a general format, with sections on how to duplicate and use them. TemplateLab TemplateLab provides 43 Employee Training Plan templates in Word and Excel formats, including training plans, schedules, training curricula, and program templates to help employers provide the necessary training that strengthens employees’ skills, reduces weaknesses, and boosts company growth. Stackby Stackby’s Employee Training Management Template lets you organize and monitor ongoing and upcoming employee training programs, including recording program details, participants, and feedback. Easy to use, customizable, and accessible with a simple copy. Training Plan Apps Training plan apps provide a convenient and efficient way for small businesses to manage their employee training programs. Here are some top training plan apps for your consideration: CYPHER Matrix LMS This is a comprehensive and customizable employee training platform with an intuitive UI, mobile app, and real-time analytics. It offers affordable pricing for all business sizes, starting at $549 monthly for 100 users. Gamification features keep employees engaged. iSpring Learn LMS iSpring Learn is a user-friendly LMS for employee, compliance, or product training. Plans start at $2.87 per user each month and include iSpring Suite for creating courses. Suitable for small to midsize businesses with an intuitive interface and affordable plans. TalentLMS TalentLMS offers an intuitive user interface with gamification features, including badges, points, and leaderboards. Small businesses can use the forever-free plan or choose from affordable plans with unlimited courses starting from $69 per month. Why Would a Small Business Owner Need an Employee Training Plan Template? A training plan template can help a small business owner ensure that employees are properly trained and that the company meets its objectives while improving productivity and enhancing employee performance. Before reading further, every business can use team members with excellent capabilities, Right? So be sure to check out this companion video on how to rapidly improve team capabilities with an Excel Skills & Matrix template. Types of Training Plan Template When it comes to designing an employee training plan, businesses have several types of templates to choose from. Here are some common types of training plan templates. Pre-Training Needs Assessment Before designing a training plan, identify employee skill and knowledge gaps, determine areas in which training is needed, and use assessment results to inform the training plan design. New Hire Training Plan A new hire training plan should orientate new employees to the company culture, cover basic policies and procedures, and train them on job-specific tasks and responsibilities to get them up to speed quickly. Safety Training Safety training is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of employees. It is important to educate employees on emergency response procedures and to review health and safety regulations in order to uphold a safe working environment. Specialized Training Specialized training helps employees develop specific skills, such as leadership or technical skills, and train them on new equipment or technology. This helps employees prepare for future career growth. Blended Learning Approaches Blended learning approaches are a game-changer in employee training. By combining traditional classroom methods with digital learning modules, businesses can cater to diverse learning preferences among their employees. This approach not only accommodates different learning styles but also offers the flexibility of time and location. Blended learning in your training plan ensures a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience, making it an essential component of any modern training strategy. Customizable Training Templates The one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in employee training. Recognizing this, customizable training templates are crucial. They allow businesses to tailor training content to specific business needs and employee roles. Customization can range from modifying existing content to creating entirely new modules specific to the business’s operations or industry. This flexibility ensures that the training is relevant, practical, and directly aligned with the company’s objectives. Continuous Learning and Development A dynamic business environment requires continuous learning and development. Training plans should not just focus on immediate skill gaps but also on long-term employee development. Incorporating elements like advanced training for future roles, leadership development, and cross-functional skills can foster a culture of growth and adaptability. This approach not only enhances employee skills but also prepares them for future challenges and opportunities within the company. Leveraging Technology in Training Technology plays a pivotal role in modern employee training. Leveraging tools like Learning Management Systems (LMS) can revolutionize the delivery and management of training programs. These systems allow for efficient tracking of employee progress, offer interactive and multimedia content, and can even provide personalized learning paths. Integrating technology in training not only streamlines the process but also enhances the learning experience for employees. Feedback and Evaluation Effective training plans are iterative, and feedback and evaluation are their cornerstones. Regular assessments, employee surveys, and feedback sessions are vital in understanding the effectiveness of the training. They provide insights into what works and what needs improvement. This ongoing evaluation process ensures that the training remains relevant, effective, and aligned with both employee needs and business goals. Training ROI Measurement Measuring the Return on Investment (ROI) of training programs is essential in demonstrating their value to the business. This involves evaluating the impact of training on employee performance and overall business outcomes. Methods like performance metrics before and after training, employee productivity rates, and the quality of work can provide tangible data. Understanding the ROI helps in justifying the training expenses and guides future investment in employee development. Structured Training Program A structured training program establishes a comprehensive training plan using a variety of training methods to meet the needs of different learners. Measure progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the program. How Much Do Training Plan Templates Cost for a Small Business? The prices of training plan templates for small businesses can differ significantly; some are available for free online, while others may cost several hundred dollars. The Bottom Line Creating an employee training plan is essential for small businesses to ensure employee development and growth. With the help of the 20 training plan templates we discussed, businesses can design a comprehensive training plan, from pre-training needs assessment to structured training programs. Other essential business tasks such as employee onboarding, SWOT analysis, diversified employee benefits, using a work schedule app, having an action plan, employee bonus, employee of the month program, and giving an employee financial help can also be managed effectively with proper planning. To ensure your small business’s long-term success, consider investing time and resources to write a business plan. Employee Training Plan Template FAQs What is a Training Plan Outline? A training plan outline is a structured framework that identifies the goals, learning objectives, and methods of delivering training. What are The Basic Components of a Training Program? The basic components of a training program include goals and objectives, content, instructional methods, assessment, and evaluation. How Do You Write a New Hire Training Template? To create a new hire employee training plan template, begin with an orientation that introduces the company culture, followed by an overview of policies, procedures, and job-specific tasks. Are There Any Free Employee Training Plan Templates? Yes, many free employee training plan templates are available online. Look for reputable sources and customize templates to meet specific business needs. What are The 5 Steps in a Good Employee Training Program? A well-designed employee training program typically consists of the following five steps: Assessing Training Needs: Conduct a thorough analysis to identify the specific training needs within your organization. Determine the skills and knowledge gaps that exist and prioritize the areas that require attention. Consider factors such as job roles, performance evaluations, employee feedback, and future business goals to inform your assessment. Designing the Training Plan: Based on the identified training needs, develop a comprehensive plan outlining the objectives, content, and delivery methods of the training program. Select suitable training methods, including instructor-led sessions, e-learning modules, workshops, or on-the-job training, depending on the specific skills being taught. Define the timeline and logistics for the training, which includes scheduling, required resources, and participant prerequisites. Delivering the Training: Implement the training program according to the designed plan. Conduct training sessions using engaging instructional techniques, interactive activities, and practical examples to ensure effective learning. Provide clear instructions, resources, and support materials to facilitate understanding and skill acquisition. Utilize various training formats, such as classroom sessions, online modules, simulations, or a blend of different approaches, to cater to different learning styles and preferences. Evaluating the Training: Assess the effectiveness of the training program through various evaluation methods. Gather feedback from participants to gauge their satisfaction, understanding, and perceived value of the training. Measure the progress and improvement of participants’ skills and knowledge before and after the training using assessments, tests, or performance evaluations. Analyze the training outcomes against the predefined objectives to determine the program’s success and areas for improvement. Revising the Training Plan as Needed: Based on the evaluation results and feedback, identify areas where the training program can be enhanced or modified. Incorporate suggestions for improvement and adapt the training content, delivery methods, or instructional approach accordingly. Continuously monitor and update the training program to align with evolving business needs, industry trends, and employee development requirements. Here is the list of information in tabular form. You can hang it on a wall, put it on a clipboard, or bring it up on a smart device for easy viewing and reference: Steps in a Good Employee Training ProgramKey Actions and Considerations 1. Assessing Training Needs- Conduct a thorough analysis of training needs within the organization. - Identify skills and knowledge gaps. - Prioritize areas for training. 2. Designing the Training Plan- Develop a comprehensive plan with clear objectives and content. - Determine suitable training methods and delivery formats. - Establish a timeline and logistical details. 3. Delivering the Training- Implement the training using engaging and interactive instructional techniques. - Provide necessary resources and support materials. - Cater to different learning styles and preferences. 4. Evaluating the Training- Gather participant feedback and satisfaction levels. - Assess progress through assessments or performance evaluations. - Measure the effectiveness of the training against predefined objectives. 5. Revising the Training Plan- Incorporate feedback and suggestions for improvement. - Adapt the training content and methods based on evaluation results. - Continuously update the program to align with evolving needs. By following these five essential steps and using excellent employee training plan templates, organizations can create a robust employee training program that addresses skill gaps, enhances performance, and fosters continuous learning and development within the workforce. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Employee Training Plan Template Options for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re a small business owner looking to create a comprehensive employee training plan, you’re in luck! Here are training plan template options, each designed to help you develop your employees’ skills and knowledge. What is an Employee Training Plan Template? An employee training plan template is a document used to outline the training sessions and development activities a company plans to provide to its employees. What Should a Training Plan Template Include? A well-designed training plan template should include several key elements to ensure the success of any training session. These include… Identifying Training Needs A successful training plan template should begin with a thorough training needs assessment, a review of job descriptions and performance evaluations, and an identification of knowledge or skill gaps. Determine priority areas for training. Training Objectives Establish clear and measurable goals aligned with business strategy. Focus on relevant and timely topics and set realistic expectations for learning outcomes. Ensure objectives can be tracked and measured. A Scalable Training Process Develop a structured training program that incorporates different delivery methods, assign roles and responsibilities, and determine evaluation and feedback mechanisms. Ensure the process can be scaled to meet changing business needs. Learning Outcomes Define what learners should be able to do after training and create assessment criteria to measure progress. Ensure outcomes align with business needs and provide opportunities for ongoing learning and development. Track outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. The Best Employee Training Plan Templates for Small Businesses Before you continue to the list that follows, you can reference this handy condensed table that summarizes the key features and offerings of the top employee training plan templates for small businesses. #Training Plan Template ProviderKey Features and Offerings 1.ZavvyExternal Training Library with on-demand video courses and live training. 2.Monday.comWork OS platform for centralizing work, processes, and boosting productivity. 3.Whatfix18 free employee training plan templates tailored to individual needs. 4.Template.netEmployee Training Schedule Template in various formats for easy customization. 5.SharePointEmployee Training Management with features like scheduling and feedback collection. 6.SmartsheetFree training plan templates for staff, monthly, weekly, and more. 7.CreatelyCustomizable templates for planning and visualizing effective training programs. 8.ExcelDataProReady-to-use Employee Training Log Excel Template for managing training data. 9.Seismic (customer services)Pre-made customer service training manual with modification options. 10.Betterteam (onboarding)Employee Onboarding Process template and checklist for effective integration. 11.Stakeholdermap.comDownloadable training plan template in PDF and Word formats. 12.NorthpassEditable employee training manual PowerPoint template with tips and strategies. 13.VenngageCustomizable training plan templates, including new hire and manager training plans. 14.IndeedTraining plan templates for new employees, individuals, and corporate training. 15.WorkableNew hire training checklist for smooth onboarding. 16.WalkMeFree employee training templates for various purposes, including skills gap analysis. 17.HelpjuiceTemplates for needs assessment, employee development plans, and leadership training. 18.ScribeHowCustomizable employee training plan templates, including employee development. 19.TemplateLabNumerous employee training plan templates in Word and Excel formats. 20.StackbyEmployee Training Management Template for organizing and monitoring training programs. Creating an employee training plan can be challenging for small businesses. Fortunately, there are many pre-designed templates available that can simplify the process. Here are 20 of the best options. Zavvy Zavvy’s External Training Library offers various training resources in categories such as Compliance, Soft Skills, Sales, Marketing, Tech, Product & Design, and Data. These include on-demand video courses, live training, and immersive training. Monday.com Monday.com is a Work OS platform that helps teams centralize their work, processes, and tools and customize workflows to boost employee productivity. It offers tailored products for different business aspects and has over 180,000 customers globally. Whatfix Whatfix provides 18 free employee training plan templates to create an effective employee development plan tailored to individual employee needs. The templates include new-hire training, training needs assessment, individual employee training, and an employee development plan template. Template.net Template.net provides an Employee Training Schedule Template in multiple formats, including Word, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Excel, Apple Numbers, and Apple Pages. This allows for easy customization and effective organization of employee training schedules. You can also enjoy the convenience of instant downloads for improved efficiency. Sharepoint SharePoint Employee Training Management streamlines activities like scheduling, registration, material sharing, and feedback collection. Features include a training catalog, event scheduling, attendee enrollment, attendance status, and feedback. Source code available. Smartsheet Smartsheet provides free training plan templates for staff, monthly, weekly, daily, annual, employee, new hire, and project plans, with customizable Excel, Word, and PDF formats. They also offer cloud-based HR management tools. Creately Creately offers customizable templates and tools to help organizations plan and organize effective employee training programs. With real-time collaboration, multiple export options, and integrations, it simplifies creating, visualizing, and sharing training plans. Creately is trusted by over 10 million users, including NASA, Facebook, and Amazon. ExcelDataPro ExcelDataPro offers a ready-to-use Employee Training Log Excel Template with predefined formulas. The template allows for recording and managing employee training data, including employee details, training schedules, and training output. It is beneficial for HR professionals, consultants, and other HR staff to manage and record employee training data easily. Seismic (customer services) This free customer service training template by Seismic is a resource that offers a pre-made manual to achieve consistent and thorough training for customer service. The template covers basic principles, do’s and don’ts, and training tips that are easy to modify as needed. Betterteam (onboarding) Betterteam offers a free Employee Onboarding Process template and checklist in Excel format to help companies integrate new employees effectively by providing necessary knowledge and behaviors. The onboarding process is essential for new hires to perform effectively. Stakeholdermap.com Stakeholdermap.com offers a free downloadable training plan template in both PDF and Word formats for managers to deliver effective training and organizational change. The template is fully editable and contains everything needed for a successful training plan. Northpass Northpass offers an editable employee training manual PowerPoint template with tips and strategies to create effective training content. The template includes information on composition and structure and can be downloaded from their website. Venngage Venngage provides over 20 customizable training plan templates for businesses, including new hire and manager training plans, employee development plans, and training need assessments. Users can edit text, colors, and images with the drag-and-drop editor. Indeed Indeed offers three types of training plan templates including a new employee training plan, individual training plan, and corporate training plan. These templates can be customized to develop the skills of new hires and existing employees. Workable Workable suggests a new hire training checklist to smoothly onboard employees. The process includes company overview, policies, benefits package, role-specific and IT setup training, followed by security and safety training a month and three months after the start date, respectively. WalkMe WalkMe provides a range of free employee training templates, which include new-hire training, individual employee training, employee development plans, training policies, SOPs, DEI training, skills gap analysis, and pre-training surveys. Helpjuice Helpjuice provides templates for pre-training needs assessment, employee development plans, better employee onboarding plans, and leadership training plans to facilitate professional growth, identify gaps in skills, and improve team performance. ScribeHow ScribeHow offers four customizable employee training plan templates, including employee development, training needs assessment, new-hire training, and individual employee training plans. These templates have a general format, with sections on how to duplicate and use them. TemplateLab TemplateLab provides 43 Employee Training Plan templates in Word and Excel formats, including training plans, schedules, training curricula, and program templates to help employers provide the necessary training that strengthens employees’ skills, reduces weaknesses, and boosts company growth. Stackby Stackby’s Employee Training Management Template lets you organize and monitor ongoing and upcoming employee training programs, including recording program details, participants, and feedback. Easy to use, customizable, and accessible with a simple copy. Training Plan Apps Training plan apps provide a convenient and efficient way for small businesses to manage their employee training programs. Here are some top training plan apps for your consideration: CYPHER Matrix LMS This is a comprehensive and customizable employee training platform with an intuitive UI, mobile app, and real-time analytics. It offers affordable pricing for all business sizes, starting at $549 monthly for 100 users. Gamification features keep employees engaged. iSpring Learn LMS iSpring Learn is a user-friendly LMS for employee, compliance, or product training. Plans start at $2.87 per user each month and include iSpring Suite for creating courses. Suitable for small to midsize businesses with an intuitive interface and affordable plans. TalentLMS TalentLMS offers an intuitive user interface with gamification features, including badges, points, and leaderboards. Small businesses can use the forever-free plan or choose from affordable plans with unlimited courses starting from $69 per month. Why Would a Small Business Owner Need an Employee Training Plan Template? A training plan template can help a small business owner ensure that employees are properly trained and that the company meets its objectives while improving productivity and enhancing employee performance. Before reading further, every business can use team members with excellent capabilities, Right? So be sure to check out this companion video on how to rapidly improve team capabilities with an Excel Skills & Matrix template. Types of Training Plan Template When it comes to designing an employee training plan, businesses have several types of templates to choose from. Here are some common types of training plan templates. Pre-Training Needs Assessment Before designing a training plan, identify employee skill and knowledge gaps, determine areas in which training is needed, and use assessment results to inform the training plan design. New Hire Training Plan A new hire training plan should orientate new employees to the company culture, cover basic policies and procedures, and train them on job-specific tasks and responsibilities to get them up to speed quickly. Safety Training Safety training is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of employees. It is important to educate employees on emergency response procedures and to review health and safety regulations in order to uphold a safe working environment. Specialized Training Specialized training helps employees develop specific skills, such as leadership or technical skills, and train them on new equipment or technology. This helps employees prepare for future career growth. Blended Learning Approaches Blended learning approaches are a game-changer in employee training. By combining traditional classroom methods with digital learning modules, businesses can cater to diverse learning preferences among their employees. This approach not only accommodates different learning styles but also offers the flexibility of time and location. Blended learning in your training plan ensures a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience, making it an essential component of any modern training strategy. Customizable Training Templates The one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in employee training. Recognizing this, customizable training templates are crucial. They allow businesses to tailor training content to specific business needs and employee roles. Customization can range from modifying existing content to creating entirely new modules specific to the business’s operations or industry. This flexibility ensures that the training is relevant, practical, and directly aligned with the company’s objectives. Continuous Learning and Development A dynamic business environment requires continuous learning and development. Training plans should not just focus on immediate skill gaps but also on long-term employee development. Incorporating elements like advanced training for future roles, leadership development, and cross-functional skills can foster a culture of growth and adaptability. This approach not only enhances employee skills but also prepares them for future challenges and opportunities within the company. Leveraging Technology in Training Technology plays a pivotal role in modern employee training. Leveraging tools like Learning Management Systems (LMS) can revolutionize the delivery and management of training programs. These systems allow for efficient tracking of employee progress, offer interactive and multimedia content, and can even provide personalized learning paths. Integrating technology in training not only streamlines the process but also enhances the learning experience for employees. Feedback and Evaluation Effective training plans are iterative, and feedback and evaluation are their cornerstones. Regular assessments, employee surveys, and feedback sessions are vital in understanding the effectiveness of the training. They provide insights into what works and what needs improvement. This ongoing evaluation process ensures that the training remains relevant, effective, and aligned with both employee needs and business goals. Training ROI Measurement Measuring the Return on Investment (ROI) of training programs is essential in demonstrating their value to the business. This involves evaluating the impact of training on employee performance and overall business outcomes. Methods like performance metrics before and after training, employee productivity rates, and the quality of work can provide tangible data. Understanding the ROI helps in justifying the training expenses and guides future investment in employee development. Structured Training Program A structured training program establishes a comprehensive training plan using a variety of training methods to meet the needs of different learners. Measure progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the program. How Much Do Training Plan Templates Cost for a Small Business? The prices of training plan templates for small businesses can differ significantly; some are available for free online, while others may cost several hundred dollars. The Bottom Line Creating an employee training plan is essential for small businesses to ensure employee development and growth. With the help of the 20 training plan templates we discussed, businesses can design a comprehensive training plan, from pre-training needs assessment to structured training programs. Other essential business tasks such as employee onboarding, SWOT analysis, diversified employee benefits, using a work schedule app, having an action plan, employee bonus, employee of the month program, and giving an employee financial help can also be managed effectively with proper planning. To ensure your small business’s long-term success, consider investing time and resources to write a business plan. Employee Training Plan Template FAQs What is a Training Plan Outline? A training plan outline is a structured framework that identifies the goals, learning objectives, and methods of delivering training. What are The Basic Components of a Training Program? The basic components of a training program include goals and objectives, content, instructional methods, assessment, and evaluation. How Do You Write a New Hire Training Template? To create a new hire employee training plan template, begin with an orientation that introduces the company culture, followed by an overview of policies, procedures, and job-specific tasks. Are There Any Free Employee Training Plan Templates? Yes, many free employee training plan templates are available online. Look for reputable sources and customize templates to meet specific business needs. What are The 5 Steps in a Good Employee Training Program? A well-designed employee training program typically consists of the following five steps: Assessing Training Needs: Conduct a thorough analysis to identify the specific training needs within your organization. Determine the skills and knowledge gaps that exist and prioritize the areas that require attention. Consider factors such as job roles, performance evaluations, employee feedback, and future business goals to inform your assessment. Designing the Training Plan: Based on the identified training needs, develop a comprehensive plan outlining the objectives, content, and delivery methods of the training program. Select suitable training methods, including instructor-led sessions, e-learning modules, workshops, or on-the-job training, depending on the specific skills being taught. Define the timeline and logistics for the training, which includes scheduling, required resources, and participant prerequisites. Delivering the Training: Implement the training program according to the designed plan. Conduct training sessions using engaging instructional techniques, interactive activities, and practical examples to ensure effective learning. Provide clear instructions, resources, and support materials to facilitate understanding and skill acquisition. Utilize various training formats, such as classroom sessions, online modules, simulations, or a blend of different approaches, to cater to different learning styles and preferences. Evaluating the Training: Assess the effectiveness of the training program through various evaluation methods. Gather feedback from participants to gauge their satisfaction, understanding, and perceived value of the training. Measure the progress and improvement of participants’ skills and knowledge before and after the training using assessments, tests, or performance evaluations. Analyze the training outcomes against the predefined objectives to determine the program’s success and areas for improvement. Revising the Training Plan as Needed: Based on the evaluation results and feedback, identify areas where the training program can be enhanced or modified. Incorporate suggestions for improvement and adapt the training content, delivery methods, or instructional approach accordingly. Continuously monitor and update the training program to align with evolving business needs, industry trends, and employee development requirements. Here is the list of information in tabular form. You can hang it on a wall, put it on a clipboard, or bring it up on a smart device for easy viewing and reference: Steps in a Good Employee Training ProgramKey Actions and Considerations 1. Assessing Training Needs- Conduct a thorough analysis of training needs within the organization. - Identify skills and knowledge gaps. - Prioritize areas for training. 2. Designing the Training Plan- Develop a comprehensive plan with clear objectives and content. - Determine suitable training methods and delivery formats. - Establish a timeline and logistical details. 3. Delivering the Training- Implement the training using engaging and interactive instructional techniques. - Provide necessary resources and support materials. - Cater to different learning styles and preferences. 4. Evaluating the Training- Gather participant feedback and satisfaction levels. - Assess progress through assessments or performance evaluations. - Measure the effectiveness of the training against predefined objectives. 5. Revising the Training Plan- Incorporate feedback and suggestions for improvement. - Adapt the training content and methods based on evaluation results. - Continuously update the program to align with evolving needs. By following these five essential steps and using excellent employee training plan templates, organizations can create a robust employee training program that addresses skill gaps, enhances performance, and fosters continuous learning and development within the workforce. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Employee Training Plan Template Options for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

New York City collected $48.6 million in revenue from the first month of its congestion pricing program that the Trump administration has moved to kill, a transit agency said. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said on Monday that in January the program reduced congestion and raised $48.6 million with $11.1 million in expenses and net operating revenue of $37.5 million. New York Governor Kathy Hochul met with President Donald Trump on Friday to make the case for the congestion pricing program. Under the program, which launched on January 5, most passenger vehicles are charged $9 during peak periods to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. Trucks and buses pay up to $21.60. The fee is reduced by 75% at night. The MTA, which has issued $900 million in debt for the congestion system infrastructure costs and capital projects, projected Monday it is on track to raise $500 million in net revenue the first year, noting it only collected revenue for 27 days in January. In total, 68% of revenue came from passenger vehicles, 22% taxis and ride share vehicles, 9% from trucks and 1% motorcycles and buses. The MTA sued last week seeking to block Trump’s effort to terminate the program. Hochul has said that funds raised from the program would underpin $15 billion in debt financing for mass transit capital improvements. The program was approved in the final months of former President Joe Biden’s administration. Charged via electronic license plate readers, private cars pay once a day regardless of how many trips they make into the central business district. A few other cities have implemented congestion pricing systems. London, which began its system in 2003, now charges 15 pounds ($18.70). Singapore and Sweden also have congestion pricing plans. Before the fee, New York said more than 700,000 vehicles entered the Manhattan central business district daily, slowing traffic to around 7 miles per hour (11 kph) on average, which is 23% slower than in 2010. —David Shepardson, Reuters View the full article

Peter Navarro wants to increase pressure on country that Donald Trump has threatened to annexView the full article

As Fashion Week takes over New York, London, and Milan, designers aren’t just showcasing their collections on the runway—they’re taking over LinkedIn. The job-seeking platform reports a fivefold increase in live fashion show broadcasts over the past three years, with 85% of luxury brands turning to the professional social network to reach those with money to spend. LVMH and Louis Vuitton set the trend in 2019, making live fashion shows on LinkedIn the core of their engagement strategy. The move quickly paid off. After unveiling a new men’s collection in Shanghai, the brand drew nearly a million potential luxury buyers in just three days. Soon fashion powerhouses like Hermès, Dior, Prada, and Balenciaga followed suit, bringing high fashion to the professional network. Since then, LinkedIn has proven to be an essential marketing tool for meeting high-net-worth clients where they are at. After all, every successful professional comes with purchasing power. With over one billion members, more than 30% of LinkedIn users are interested in fashion, a much higher figure than on other social networks. LinkedIn data also reveals that 67% of luxury purchases happen after a career promotion or job change. Brands can tap into these pivotal moments using the platform’s “Career Changers” feature, which identifies users in professional transition, right when they’re most likely to splurge. “Fashion is deeply tied to self-expression, and on LinkedIn, where professional identity plays a key role, luxury brands have the opportunity to engage with their audiences in a way that feels relevant, whether it’s dressing for a leadership role, investing in timeless pieces, or aligning with a particular lifestyle,” Stephanie Barret, head of luxury at LinkedIn, tells Fast Company. “Unlike mainstream social media, where fashion content competes with a wide range of entertainment-driven content, LinkedIn offers a focused, high-quality environment where professionals engage with premium storytelling.” Beyond its corporate roots, the networking platform is adapting to offer services that go further than simple job searches. Features like Live Event Ads enable brands to engage audiences before, during, and after major fashion shows. Additionally, luxury brands looking for ways to promote their content from members or influencers can make use of LinkedIn’s Thought Leader Ads, generating 2.3 times more clicks than traditional ads. LinkedIn’s efforts are paying off. A study by influence management platform AmazingContent reveals LinkedIn as the preferred platform by luxury leaders– 70% of luxury content engagement is on LinkedIn (compared to 20% on Instagram and 10% on X). “At the core, success on LinkedIn is about narrative-driven engagement—using livestreams, industry voices, and interactive content to showcase craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation in a way that resonates with high-intent consumers,” says Barret. “By tapping into LinkedIn’s professional audience, brands can align their messaging with key career moments, ensuring they reach people at times when they are naturally inclined to invest in luxury.” View the full article

Do the work that fulfills you. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Do the work that fulfills you. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

There are two sides to every coin, and that includes freelancing. While you can enjoy flexible working hours, no commuting benefits, office-free attendance, and many other perks, you might encounter issues with burnout if you lack the right planning and strategizing methods. But there are specific approaches you can use to stop burnout before it starts or recover from it when it’s affecting your output; you can do this with a few specific apps that will help you organize your time and enhance your mood. Ready to discover which impressive apps can help with this? Nip freelancer burnout in the bud with the list of apps in this article and the top tips for success. What is burnout, and what are its early warning signs?If you’re experiencing a sense of ​​physical and mental exhaustion occurring at the same time as overworking, these might be the signs of burnout — a form of chronic or extended period of stress. Burnout symptoms, aside from mental exhaustion, include a heightened sense of self-doubt and fear of failure, feeling overwhelmed, and being emotionally drained. If you’re going through this, you might want to know how to recover from burnout. And the good news is that there are several apps and tips for success in handling burnout before it begins or managing it even when you’ve been experiencing it for some time. 5 tips for success and apps for handling burnoutSo that you can avoid experiencing burnout and the stressful feelings that come with it, this article contains multiple apps and tips you can use. Let’s go straight to those apps and tips to ensure you’re equipped to leave burnout behind. Track the time spent on each appTracking how much time you spend using each app or function on your Mac is our FIRST tip for avoiding burnout. You can do this with the Timing app, which delves into plenty of detail on your app-related activity, provides data related to the software you used, and lets you know how you used it. As time passes by when you’re using the app, Timing will reveal how you spent your time in a graph form. A unique category represents each portion of the graph, so you’ll see categories such as Office & Business, Web Browsing, Media, and more. When you navigate to the Mac menu bar, you can view the productivity percentage. It collects so much information, even within a 25-minute period, which is why you might want to use it yourself. These features can really reduce the chances of burnout by ensuring you allocate the optimum amount of time to each function without overworking. For example, you may notice that you have spent three hours on research for a blog post, indicated by the “Web Browsing” category. In that case, you’ll want to either take a break or turn your attention to a different task to avoid overworking and burnout. Manage to-do lists more effectivelyUsing to-do lists can be an effective way to manage your time as a freelancer, but when you’re juggling too many to-do lists, this can become another chore that only adds to your list of things to do. This is when BeFocused can be an ideal solution. This app is a timer that appears at the top of the Mac screen, which you can use by setting the timer and giving the task a title. One key benefit of the BeFocused app is that you can add multiple tasks and manage them all from the app (instead of creating multiple lists and managing them manually). When you complete a task in BeFocused and check it off, it’ll appear in the “Done” tab. The app is designed to keep you focused until time is up, so you’ll always know when to move on to a new task in a timely way. It means you will not overwork or exceed the optimum amount of time for each task. So, with a more efficient to-do list, you can transition smoothly between tasks without facing burnout or the added stress of managing your time ineffectively. Automate file organizationFile organization can eat into your time and affect your time management success. These issues can lead to freelancer burnout because managing files is an additional task that detracts from other high-priority projects, and multitasking like this can feel overwhelming at times. But one tip that can help is to automate file organization with a key app. Spotless handles this process automatically. The app requires you to create rules that determine what files go where. For instance, you can auto-tidy all your ZIP files and avoid completing this administrative task manually. It just requires you to set the file extension type, choose the action you’d like the app to take, and click the yellow “Create Rule” button. In terms of eliminating freelancer burnout, this app has an additional perk — it means that when you need to find a file quickly, you’ll already know where it’s located. It saves you more time that you can better use for getting started on your work and handling those fundamental tasks without feeling overwhelmed or splitting your attention to other issues. Create the optimum work environmentIf you’re already experiencing freelancer burnout symptoms or have noticed some signs of burnout in your approach to work, you’ll want to minimize its effects. A tip for this involves creating the optimum work environment that can soothe a stressed mind, which is what GetSound allows you to do. GetSound plays wellness or new-age music, such as those played at spas, but there are lots of ways you can customize it. You can adjust the environmental layers and sound features by operating the different slides in the app. The app also lets you switch locations or toggle between a range of soundscapes, which can slowly fade out after the amount of time you set. This app can reduce freelancer burnout by helping you relax and stay productive with the wellness music improving your concentration. Since you can remain calm and stress-free when completing freelancer projects with this app, you have fewer chances of feeling overwhelmed and are more likely to complete each project without getting distracted. Manage feelings of stress and overwhelming emotionsWhen you’re feeling overwhelmed or experiencing the effects of burnout, it’s important to manage these feelings effectively so your output and mood don’t deteriorate. A tip for this is to integrate mental health support methods such as being aware of your mood or understanding certain emotions. This is what UpLife can support you with. UpLife is a self-help app that is available on iOS. You work your way through bitesize lessons split into several categories, such as emotions, self-realization, and energy. You can log your mood, and as you work through the lessons, you’ll have the chance to see how your mood improves once you’ve completed the session. UpLife also minimizes the feelings that burnout brings by granting you access to an AI assistant called Lila. The AI assistant offers advice on specific things like how to build a healthy routine. With the two-pronged support available through the app, you’ll feel less stressed, be able to manage fluctuations in your mood, and beat burnout with tailored productivity-related advice. Overcoming freelancer burnout: Have you got the right apps?Freelancer burnout might affect your output, but with the right apps, you’ll be able to leave this behind and focus on completing projects efficiently. Suppose you’re not sure where to find the right apps, no sweat! You’ll be able to download all the apps listed in this article from Setapp. At Setapp, you can try the apps for free during a seven-day trial period. So whether you’re stressed or need to manage your time more effectively, make sure you download these apps today. Beat burnout with the right apps from Setapp! View the full article

There are two sides to every coin, and that includes freelancing. While you can enjoy flexible working hours, no commuting benefits, office-free attendance, and many other perks, you might encounter issues with burnout if you lack the right planning and strategizing methods. But there are specific approaches you can use to stop burnout before it starts or recover from it when it’s affecting your output; you can do this with a few specific apps that will help you organize your time and enhance your mood. Ready to discover which impressive apps can help with this? Nip freelancer burnout in the bud with the list of apps in this article and the top tips for success. What is burnout, and what are its early warning signs?If you’re experiencing a sense of ​​physical and mental exhaustion occurring at the same time as overworking, these might be the signs of burnout — a form of chronic or extended period of stress. Burnout symptoms, aside from mental exhaustion, include a heightened sense of self-doubt and fear of failure, feeling overwhelmed, and being emotionally drained. If you’re going through this, you might want to know how to recover from burnout. And the good news is that there are several apps and tips for success in handling burnout before it begins or managing it even when you’ve been experiencing it for some time. 5 tips for success and apps for handling burnoutSo that you can avoid experiencing burnout and the stressful feelings that come with it, this article contains multiple apps and tips you can use. Let’s go straight to those apps and tips to ensure you’re equipped to leave burnout behind. Track the time spent on each appTracking how much time you spend using each app or function on your Mac is our FIRST tip for avoiding burnout. You can do this with the Timing app, which delves into plenty of detail on your app-related activity, provides data related to the software you used, and lets you know how you used it. As time passes by when you’re using the app, Timing will reveal how you spent your time in a graph form. A unique category represents each portion of the graph, so you’ll see categories such as Office & Business, Web Browsing, Media, and more. When you navigate to the Mac menu bar, you can view the productivity percentage. It collects so much information, even within a 25-minute period, which is why you might want to use it yourself. These features can really reduce the chances of burnout by ensuring you allocate the optimum amount of time to each function without overworking. For example, you may notice that you have spent three hours on research for a blog post, indicated by the “Web Browsing” category. In that case, you’ll want to either take a break or turn your attention to a different task to avoid overworking and burnout. Manage to-do lists more effectivelyUsing to-do lists can be an effective way to manage your time as a freelancer, but when you’re juggling too many to-do lists, this can become another chore that only adds to your list of things to do. This is when BeFocused can be an ideal solution. This app is a timer that appears at the top of the Mac screen, which you can use by setting the timer and giving the task a title. One key benefit of the BeFocused app is that you can add multiple tasks and manage them all from the app (instead of creating multiple lists and managing them manually). When you complete a task in BeFocused and check it off, it’ll appear in the “Done” tab. The app is designed to keep you focused until time is up, so you’ll always know when to move on to a new task in a timely way. It means you will not overwork or exceed the optimum amount of time for each task. So, with a more efficient to-do list, you can transition smoothly between tasks without facing burnout or the added stress of managing your time ineffectively. Automate file organizationFile organization can eat into your time and affect your time management success. These issues can lead to freelancer burnout because managing files is an additional task that detracts from other high-priority projects, and multitasking like this can feel overwhelming at times. But one tip that can help is to automate file organization with a key app. Spotless handles this process automatically. The app requires you to create rules that determine what files go where. For instance, you can auto-tidy all your ZIP files and avoid completing this administrative task manually. It just requires you to set the file extension type, choose the action you’d like the app to take, and click the yellow “Create Rule” button. In terms of eliminating freelancer burnout, this app has an additional perk — it means that when you need to find a file quickly, you’ll already know where it’s located. It saves you more time that you can better use for getting started on your work and handling those fundamental tasks without feeling overwhelmed or splitting your attention to other issues. Create the optimum work environmentIf you’re already experiencing freelancer burnout symptoms or have noticed some signs of burnout in your approach to work, you’ll want to minimize its effects. A tip for this involves creating the optimum work environment that can soothe a stressed mind, which is what GetSound allows you to do. GetSound plays wellness or new-age music, such as those played at spas, but there are lots of ways you can customize it. You can adjust the environmental layers and sound features by operating the different slides in the app. The app also lets you switch locations or toggle between a range of soundscapes, which can slowly fade out after the amount of time you set. This app can reduce freelancer burnout by helping you relax and stay productive with the wellness music improving your concentration. Since you can remain calm and stress-free when completing freelancer projects with this app, you have fewer chances of feeling overwhelmed and are more likely to complete each project without getting distracted. Manage feelings of stress and overwhelming emotionsWhen you’re feeling overwhelmed or experiencing the effects of burnout, it’s important to manage these feelings effectively so your output and mood don’t deteriorate. A tip for this is to integrate mental health support methods such as being aware of your mood or understanding certain emotions. This is what UpLife can support you with. UpLife is a self-help app that is available on iOS. You work your way through bitesize lessons split into several categories, such as emotions, self-realization, and energy. You can log your mood, and as you work through the lessons, you’ll have the chance to see how your mood improves once you’ve completed the session. UpLife also minimizes the feelings that burnout brings by granting you access to an AI assistant called Lila. The AI assistant offers advice on specific things like how to build a healthy routine. With the two-pronged support available through the app, you’ll feel less stressed, be able to manage fluctuations in your mood, and beat burnout with tailored productivity-related advice. Overcoming freelancer burnout: Have you got the right apps?Freelancer burnout might affect your output, but with the right apps, you’ll be able to leave this behind and focus on completing projects efficiently. Suppose you’re not sure where to find the right apps, no sweat! You’ll be able to download all the apps listed in this article from Setapp. At Setapp, you can try the apps for free during a seven-day trial period. So whether you’re stressed or need to manage your time more effectively, make sure you download these apps today. Beat burnout with the right apps from Setapp! View the full article

Understanding the difference between search bots and scrapers is crucial for SEO. Website crawlers fall into two categories: First-party bots, which you use to audit and optimize your own site. Third-party bots, which crawl your site externally – sometimes to index your content (like Googlebot) and other times to extract data (like competitor scrapers). This guide breaks down first-party crawlers that can improve your site’s technical SEO and third-party bots, exploring their impact and how to manage them effectively. First-party crawlers: Mining insights from your own website Crawlers can help you identify ways to improve your technical SEO. Enhancing your site’s technical foundation, architectural depth, and crawl efficiency is a long-term strategy for increasing search traffic. Occasionally, you may uncover major issues – such as a robots.txt file blocking all search bots on a staging site that was left active after launch. Fixing such problems can lead to immediate improvements in search visibility. Now, let’s explore some crawl-based technologies you can use. Googlebot via Search Console You don’t work in a Google data center, so you can’t launch Googlebot to crawl your own site. However, by verifying your site with Google Search Console (GSC), you can access Googlebot’s data and insights. (Follow Google’s guidance to set yourself up on the platform.) GSC is free to use and provides valuable information – especially about page indexing. There’s also data on mobile-friendliness, structured data, and Core Web Vitals: Technically, this is third-party data from Google, but only verified users can access it for their site. In practice, it functions much like the data from a crawl you run yourself. Screaming Frog SEO Spider Screaming Frog is a desktop application that runs locally on your machine to generate crawl data for your website. They also offer a log file analyzer, which is useful if you have access to server log files. For now, we’ll focus on Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider. At $259 per year, it’s highly cost-effective compared to other tools that charge this much per month. However, because it runs locally, crawling stops if you turn off your computer – it doesn’t operate in the cloud. Still, the data it provides is fast, accurate, and ideal for those who want to dive deeper into technical SEO. From the main interface, you can quickly launch your own crawls. Once completed, export Internal > All data to an Excel-readable format and get comfortable handling and pivoting the data for deeper insights. Screaming Frog also offers many other useful export options. It provides reports and exports for internal linking, redirects (including redirect chains), insecure content (mixed content), and more. The drawback is it requires more hands-on management, and you’ll need to be comfortable working with data in Excel or Google Sheets to maximize its value. Dig deeper: 4 of the best technical SEO tools Ahrefs Site Audit Ahrefs is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that includes a technical SEO crawler within its Site Audit module. To use it, set up a project, configure the crawl parameters, and launch the crawl to generate technical SEO insights. Once the crawl is complete, you’ll see an overview that includes a technical SEO health rating (0-100) and highlights key issues. You can click on these issues for more details, and a helpful button appears as you dive deeper, explaining why certain fixes are necessary. Since Ahrefs runs in the cloud, your machine’s status doesn’t affect the crawl. It continues even if your PC or Mac is turned off. Compared to Screaming Frog, Ahrefs provides more guidance, making it easier to turn crawl data into actionable SEO insights. However, it’s less cost-effective. If you don’t need its additional features, like backlink data and keyword research, it may not be worth the expense. Semrush Site Audit Next is Semrush, another powerful cloud-based platform with a built-in technical SEO crawler. Like Ahrefs, it also provides backlink analysis and keyword research tools. Semrush offers a technical SEO health rating, which improves as you fix site issues. Its crawl overview highlights errors and warnings. As you explore, you’ll find explanations of why fixes are needed and how to implement them. Both Semrush and Ahrefs have robust site audit tools, making it easy to launch crawls, analyze data, and provide recommendations to developers. While both platforms are pricier than Screaming Frog, they excel at turning crawl data into actionable insights. Semrush is slightly more cost-effective than Ahrefs, making it a solid choice for those new to technical SEO. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Third-party crawlers: Bots that might visit your website Earlier, we discussed how third parties might crawl your website for various reasons. But what are these external crawlers, and how can you identify them? Googlebot As mentioned, you can use Google Search Console to access some of Googlebot’s crawl data for your site. Without Googlebot crawling your site, there would be no data to analyze. (You can learn more about Google’s common crawl bots in this Search Central documentation.) Google’s most common crawlers are: Googlebot Smartphone. Googlebot Desktop. Each uses separate rendering engines for mobile and desktop, but both contain “Googlebot/2.1” in their user-agent string. If you analyze your server logs, you can isolate Googlebot traffic to see which areas of your site it crawls most frequently. This can help identify technical SEO issues, such as pages that Google isn’t crawling as expected. To analyze log files, you can create spreadsheets to process and pivot the data from raw .txt or .csv files. If that seems complex, Screaming Frog’s Log File Analyzer is a useful tool. In most cases, you shouldn’t block Googlebot, as this can negatively affect SEO. However, if Googlebot gets stuck in highly dynamic site architecture, you may need to block specific URLs via robots.txt. Use this carefully – overuse can harm your rankings. Fake Googlebot traffic Not all traffic claiming to be Googlebot is legitimate. Many crawlers and scrapers allow users to spoof user-agent strings, meaning they can disguise themselves as Googlebot to bypass crawl restrictions. For example, Screaming Frog can be configured to impersonate Googlebot. However, many websites – especially those hosted on large cloud networks like AWS – can differentiate between real and fake Googlebot traffic. They do this by checking if the request comes from Google’s official IP ranges. If a request claims to be Googlebot but originates outside of those ranges, it’s likely fake. Other search engines In addition to Googlebot, other search engines may crawl your site. For example: Bingbot (Microsoft Bing). DuckDuckBot (DuckDuckGo). YandexBot (Yandex, a Russian search engine, though not well-documented). Baiduspider (Baidu, a popular search engine in China). In your robots.txt file, you can create wildcard rules to disallow all search bots or specify rules for particular crawlers and directories. However, keep in mind that robots.txt entries are directives, not commands – meaning they can be ignored. Unlike redirects, which prevent a server from serving a resource, robots.txt is merely a strong signal requesting bots not to crawl certain areas. Some crawlers may disregard these directives entirely. Screaming Frog’s Crawl Bot Screaming Frog typically identifies itself with a user agent like Screaming Frog SEO Spider/21.4. The “Screaming Frog SEO Spider” text is always included, followed by the version number. However, Screaming Frog allows users to customize the user-agent string, meaning crawls can appear to be from Googlebot, Chrome, or another user-agent. This makes it difficult to block Screaming Frog crawls. While you can block user agents containing “Screaming Frog SEO Spider,” an operator can simply change the string. If you suspect unauthorized crawling, you may need to identify and block the IP range instead. This requires server-side intervention from your web developer, as robots.txt cannot block IPs – especially since Screaming Frog can be configured to ignore robots.txt directives. Be cautious, though. It might be your own SEO team conducting a crawl to check for technical SEO issues. Before blocking Screaming Frog, try to determine the source of the traffic, as it could be an internal employee gathering data. Ahrefs Bot Ahrefs has a crawl bot and a site audit bot for crawling. When Ahrefs crawls the web for its own index, you’ll see traffic from AhrefsBot/7.0. When an Ahrefs user runs a site audit, traffic will come from AhrefsSiteAudit/6.1. Both bots respect robots.txt disallow rules, per Ahrefs’ documentation. If you don’t want your site to be crawled, you can block Ahrefs using robots.txt. Alternatively, your web developer can deny requests from user agents containing “AhrefsBot” or “AhrefsSiteAudit“. Semrush Bot Like Ahrefs, Semrush operates multiple crawlers with different user-agent strings. Be sure to review all available information to identify them properly. The two most common user-agent strings you’ll encounter are: SemrushBot: Semrush’s general web crawler, used to improve its index. SiteAuditBot: Used when a Semrush user initiates a site audit. Rogerbot, Dotbot, and other crawlers Moz, another widely used cloud-based SEO platform, deploys Rogerbot to crawl websites for technical insights. Moz also operates Dotbot, a general web crawler. Both can be blocked via your robots.txt file if needed. Another crawler you may encounter is MJ12Bot, used by the Majestic SEO platform. Typically, it’s nothing to worry about. Non-SEO crawl bots Not all crawlers are SEO-related. Many social platforms operate their own bots. Meta (Facebook’s parent company) runs multiple crawlers, while Twitter previously used Twitterbot – and it’s likely that X now deploys a similar, though less-documented, system. Crawlers continuously scan the web for data. Some can benefit your site, while others should be monitored through server logs. Understanding search bots, SEO crawlers and scrapers for technical SEO Managing both first-party and third-party crawlers is essential for maintaining your website’s technical SEO. Key takeaways First-party crawlers (e.g., Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Semrush) help audit and optimize your own site. Googlebot insights via Search Console provide crucial data on indexation and performance. Third-party crawlers (e.g., Bingbot, AhrefsBot, SemrushBot) crawl your site for search indexing or competitive analysis. Managing bots via robots.txt and server logs can help control unwanted crawlers and improve crawl efficiency in specific cases. Data handling skills are crucial for extracting meaningful insights from crawl reports and log files. By balancing proactive auditing with strategic bot management, you can ensure your site remains well-optimized and efficiently crawled. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Smart lights were there at the beginning of the smart home tech revolution, and over the years, these clever bulbs and LED strips have gradually evolved to offer more by way of both features and form factors—so much so that you might not be aware of everything you can do with smart lights, even if you've been using them for years. If your own smart light setup is mostly limited to switching your bedside lamp off with a voice command, controlling them remotely from your phone, or perhaps changing up the colors or adding an automation or two, then you're not taking advantage of everything these lights can do for you. These are some of the best smart light tricks you can try. Sync your lights with your TVHaving your smart lights change color and flash in time to action happening on your television can really add to the experience of watching movies and shows—and a number of smart light manufacturers now offer the necessary kit and apps to easily make this happen. For Philips Hue lights, for example, you need either a syncing box or a native app, depending on your TV model. It's also something you can do with Nanoleaf lights, via a system called Screen Mirror that uses a small camera to see what's on your television. Nanoleaf Essentials Smart Multicolor HD Lightstrip $69.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $69.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Set up random schedulesOne of the ways that smart lights can be useful when you're away from home is giving potential robbers the idea that you haven't gone away at all. You can almost always control your smart lights remotely, as long as your home wifi is still running. If you don't want to have to remember to turn your lights on at home every evening while you're at the beach or in the mountains, Philips Hue has a randomize timings setting available when you set up an automation, which will automatically vary when the lights turn on each day. You can randomize timings in the Philips Hue app. Credit: Lifehacker Get notifications via your lightsAdd some third-party services to the mix and the list of possibilities grows even more. IFTTT (If This Then That), for example, can set up routines based on specific triggers that lead to specific actions—and smart light brands including Philips Hue and Lifx support the protocol. Because IFTTT can plug into a variety of social media, mobile, and app systems, you can have events on these platforms trigger a flash or a change in color for your lights. One idea would be to turn a desk lamp blue when the weather forecast is predicting rain. Group your lights into scenesYou can do even more with your smart lights by grouping them together and setting specific scenes you can switch between. Most platforms let you do this fairly easily, so all the lights in a certain room can be managed together, and changed over time. You could set up scenes for early morning or late at night, for example, or for movie nights or for studying—the Nanoleaf app can even creates scenes for you based on a keyword or two. Check inside your smart light companion app to see what you've got available, or explore your customization options. Wake up with a "sunrise"Ease yourself more gently into the day by having your smart lights turn on gradually in the mornings, mimicking an actual sunrise. You could even use this trick to replace your alarm clock. This works for a wide variety of smart lights, and some can even sync the feature to your local sunrise times. You can use this with any smart light connected to Google Home, for example, by saying "hey Google, wake my lights at..." and adding a time to Google Assistant. The Nanoleaf app can create Magic Scenes for you. Credit: Nanoleaf Add a motion sensorCombine a compatible smart motion sensor with your smart lights and you don't even need to go to the trouble of tapping on your phone or speaking out a voice command to activate your smart lights—they'll come on as soon as there's movement in a room. A few smart light platforms offer this functionality, including Philips Hue. You're able to set the brightness of the lights—so you're not suddenly dazzled as you stumble to the bathroom, for example—and you can have the lights turn off after a certain time as well. Philips Hue Motion Sensor $44.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $44.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Set up automated routinesYour smart lights are even more useful when you combine them with other devices. For example, you can set the lights to dim as a chill out mix begins to play on your smart speaker at a certain time of night. Or you can set your lights and smart thermostat to all turn off together when you leave the house. These tricks are known as routines or automations, and you can set them up in Google Home (via the Automations tab), in the Amazon Alexa app (via More > Routines), and in other smart home hub platforms (including Samsung SmartThings and Apple Homekit). View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...View the full article

Show that you value your clients – and yourself. By Martin Bissett Business Development on a Budget Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Show that you value your clients – and yourself. By Martin Bissett Business Development on a Budget Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Apple shareholders on Tuesday are expected to reject an attempt to pressure the technology trendsetter into scrapping its corporate programs designed to diversify its workforce. The proposal drafted by the National Center for Public Policy Research — a self-described conservative think tank — urges Apple to follow a litany of high-profile companies that have retreated from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives currently in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump. It comes a month after the same group presented a similar proposal during Costco’s annual meeting, only to have it overwhelmingly rejected. A similar outcome is expected during Apple’s annual meeting despite the strident objections of critics. Just as Costco does, Apple has steadfastly stood behind diversity and inclusion efforts that its management contends good business sense. But the National Center for Public Policy Research’s proposal has attacked Apple’s diversity commitments for being out of line with recent court rulings and said the programs expose the Cupertino, California, company to an onslaught of potential lawsuits for alleged discrimination. The group estimated about 50,000 Apple employees could file cases against Apple without detailing how it arrived at that figure. “It’s clear that DEI poses litigation, reputational and financial risks to companies, and therefore financial risks to their shareholders, and therefore further risks to companies for not abiding by their fiduciary duties,” the National Center for Public Policy Research says in its proposal. The specter of potential legal trouble was magnified last week when Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a federal lawsuit against Target alleging the retailer’s recently scaled-back DEI program alienated many consumers and undercut sales to the detriment of shareholders. In its rebuttal to the anti-DEI proposal, Apple said its program is an integral part of a culture that has helped elevate the company to its current market value of $3.7 trillion — greater than any other business in the world. “We believe that how we conduct ourselves is as critical to Apple’s success as making the best products in the world,” the company said in its statement against the proposal. “We seek to conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.” In its last diversity and inclusion report issued in 2022, Apple disclosed nearly that three-fourths of its global workforce consisted of white and Asian employees. Nearly two-thirds of its employees at that juncture were men. Other major technology companies for years have reported employing mostly white and Asian men, especially in high-paid engineering jobs — a tendency that spurred the industry to pursue what have been largely unsuccessful efforts to diversify. —Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer View the full article

AI chatbots – are they killing search or just changing the game? Kevin Indig analyzed 14 studies on their impact and how businesses can adapt. The post The State Of AI Chatbots And SEO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

French president to be followed by British PM in seeking support for US ‘backstop’ in postwar UkraineView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Before this review, I had never heard of Brane, but now, it's all I want to hear when I play my music. The Brane X is many things, but cheap isn't one of them. But for $499, you get a multi-use premium speaker that can handle itself underwater, has Alexa voice assistant, connects through wifi for better audio, has the best bass of any wifi speaker, and can be used as a soundbar and subwoofer combo. The Brane X is a great wifi speaker for someone who values bass, would like to take their speaker outdoors, and needs a soundbar and subwoofer combo for their home theater. However, it isn't perfect and at its price, it competes with the best. The Sonos Move 2 is slightly cheaper, offers a replaceable battery with 24 hours of juice, and better treble and mids (but nowhere near the same range or bass power fo the Brane X). Brane reached out to me to review the Brane X and sent me the speaker for my honest thoughts, which is exactly what you'll get in this review. Brane X Smart Speaker $499.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $499.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Brane X speaker pros, cons, and specsProsBest-in-class bass and sub-bass for smart speakers Wifi streaming over Spotify and AirPlay 2 Compact and portable Powerful 98dB stereo speaker IP57 dust and waterproof Doubles as a soundbar and subwoofer combo in one with an AUX connection Companion app with EQ ConsExpensive Upper registers sound compressed at max volume when using Bluetooth No Chromecast support No speakerphone function Some features make a whirring noise No USB-C charging (only DC) SpecsBattery Life: About six hours of battery at a moderately high volume (about 12 hours at a moderate level, according to Brane). Connectivity: Wifi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, Bluetooth version 5.1, streaming services compatible with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Amazon Alexa. Inputs: Auxiliary input 3.5 mm jack for wired connections. App: Brane companion app for fine-tuning bass, customizing EQ settings, managing speaker groups, and adjusting various settings. Drivers: One 6.5" by 9" Repel-Attract-Driver (RAD) subwoofer, two 2.5" midrange drivers, two 0.75" dome tweeters. Power Output: Four Class-D digital amplifiers delivering a combined output of over 200 watts (98dB). Water Resistance: Rated IP57, making it fully waterproof and dust-protected. Size: 6.1 inches x 9.3 inches x 7 inches (H × W × D) Weight: 7.7 lbs First impressions of the Brane X speaker Credit: Daniel Oropeza I have to be honest: First impressions of the Brane X weren't good. Turning it on wasn't intuitive, since the power button doesn't provide any feedback that I pressed it properly. The same can be said about the media controls on top, but I'll get more into those details later. There is also a weird whirring sound that the speaker makes once you turn it on that made me think my speaker was defective (it goes away after a few seconds). The sound is actually an air pump equalizing the air pressure inside the speaker, which is a patent technology that Brane called Repel-Attract-Driver (RAD). RAD is what makes this speaker unique, giving it the best bass range output I've heard on any speaker. Try this frequency range test on your wifi or Bluetooth speaker and see how it performs. The Brane X didn't just play through the whole range but vibrated my entire office with its powerful bass. And because of that, I'm willing to put up with the humming sound it makes when it's turned on. Design The Brane X uses touch controls for media. Credit: Daniel Oropeza The design is, well, boring. All black is a safe option and with no color variations, it leaves me wanting to fill it with stickers to give it some personality. But that leads to my next issue: touch controls. To control the speaker you have a few options on top of the speaker, none of which provide haptic feedback. And since their touch controls, you don't really know if your command when though unless you hear the speaker. There is also no play/pause button, so I can only control it with my phone (or Alexa if using it to play music). Considering this is also an outdoor speaker with an IP57 rating that can be completely submerged underwater, physical buttons could've come in handy. The handle on the top is useful considering the speaker almost weighs eight pounds. The Brane X charger is DC, so no USB-C. Credit: Daniel Oropeza The charger is DC, so no USB-C for fast universal charging, unfortunately. The battery is marketed as 20 hours of battery life at a moderate volume, but I only got around six hours of juice at around 75% volume (which to be fair, is very loud indoors unless you're having a house party). It'll take about three hours to fully charge it once it is drained. Sound Credit: Daniel Oropeza The sound is where the Brane X blows away the competition and really shines, especially if you love bass (and I do). As I explained earlier, the RAD technology really pumps out incredible power out of this small speaker. Considering this is less than 10% the size of JBL's PartyBox Stage 320 (my favorite party speaker), it's impressive that it nearly matches its 240 W of output power (the Brane X gets to 200 W), only about a 2dB difference in volume to my favorite party speaker. I will caveat that this isn't a party speaker, and you can really hear it struggle on upper registers when getting it to its max volume. Unless I'm blasting the Brane X, though, the sound quality is pristine. Because the frequency range of the bass is so wide, you can really hear and feel the lower registers, giving it a full sound without needing to get too loud. It makes for a fun sound that is distinctive to the Brane X. I listened to MONACO by Bad Bunny and could hear the sub-bass parts of the bass clearly. The sensation of feeling the bass at this level usually means blasting the music on regular speakers or headphones, but the Brane X manages to provide that feeling without scaring my neighbors. Features of the Brane X speaker Credit: Daniel Oropeza The Brane X is a wifi speaker first, meaning it performs better than Bluetooth speakers in terms of connectivity with a wider range, better sound quality by streaming higher bitrate audio, and other features. Instead of connecting to the speaker over Bluetooth, you can play music directly into it through Spotify Connect, so you'll get a better connection and sound quality. You can also connect via AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa. The Amazon smart assistant performs as well as any Alexa device. The Brane app Left: Main screen. Middle: EQ. Right: The AUX Pass-Through feature to minimize delay with the TV. Credit: Daniel Oropeza My experience with the companion app was like most speaker apps: It does its simple job well, but it can disconnect on occasion and can be slow at times. The main things I used the app were to check the battery life, mess with the EQ (you get a five-band equalizer) which adjusts your changes in real time, and setting the AUX Pass-Through feature when setting it up as a soundbar. The app gives you the option to link up groups if you have more than one Brane X speaker. As I only have one speaker, I wasn't able to try this feature. The Brane X as an outdoor speaker Credit: Daniel Oropeza As I do with all of my outdoor speakers, I took it out to the court while hosting my Street FC soccer games. We played five on five on a hockey rink with walls, so the sound bounces off to give it a "surround" feel. Even then, the Brane X struggles to fill the court completely. This is by far the smallest speaker I've ever taken to my games, however, and I'm comparing the sound decibels to party speakers, which is an unfair comparison. The fact that the Brane X is even a contender here speaks volumes to its versatility. With that said, the audio did sound compressed at maximum volumes sometimes. Since it's a Bluetooth connection outdoors instead of wifi, the compression sound is more noticeable at max volume (it'll sound better indoors with a wifi connection). The Brane X comes with an IP57 rating, making it fully waterproof and dust-protected—great for an outdoor speaker. The Brane X as a soundbar The Brane X doubles as a soundbar and sub woofer combo with an AUX cable. Credit: Daniel Oropeza If you want to use the speaker as a soundbar, you'll need an AUX cable (at least the end that connects to the speaker needs to be AUX). I wish the Brane X had Google Chromecast support so it could connect wirelessly to my smart TV, but you can't have everything in life. You can still connect it with Bluetooth, but you won't be able to use the AUX Pass-Though feature on the app to get rid of the sound delay (the delay is not bad, but sticklers will notice it). You won't get eARC sound quality, but the speaker itself has a subwoofer, so the sound is surprisingly good as a soundbar and subwoofer combo. I decided to re-watch Dune to hear how well the Brane X performed as a soundbar and subwoofer combo and compared it to the speaker system on my TCL QM7 TV, which has a subwoofer speaker on the back. The Brane X really brought Dune to life compared to the television speakers. I could feel every thud of the thumpers as they hit the sand when calling the worms. The soundtrack and vibrations of the explosions really put the excellent broad frequency range the Brane X has to use. The speaker is able to handle the dynamic audio you want from a soundbar, hearing whispers and feeling explosions. Bottom line Credit: Daniel Oropeza The Brane X is a powerful wifi speaker with a subwoofer that gives it an incredible range in the sub-bass frequencies. It's the best wifi and smart speaker for bass lovers. With Spotify and AirPlay 2, most people's needs for music will be met. Its small compact size also makes it a great portable and outdoor speaker, with a waterproof IP57 rating and up to 12 hours of battery life. It can get very loud with a maximum of 98 dBs, and it doubles as a soundbar and subwoofer combo, making it great for watching movies. However, all that versatility comes at a high price of $499. If you're looking to blast the Brane X at max volume, know that playing over Bluetooth will lead to some compression being noticeable. There is no speakerphone option despite its many microphones, and you'll need to depend on the DC charger, which isn't ideal for portable speakers. The Brane X is ideal for someone looking for a wifi speaker that can do a bit of everything. A one-stop speaker that you can take to the beach, use as a soundbar, fill your living room for a party, or take on a whim to your next adventure. It definitely rivals the Sonos Move 2, and would recommend it to anyone who isn't in the Sonos ecosystem already and/or loves to feel bass in their life. View the full article

Tens of thousands of planes take off, land, and perform touch-and-goes at the Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona every year. Without an air traffic control tower, it’s a calculated dance that requires communication by pilots. Two small planes collided in midair over one of the runways on the outskirts of Tucson last week. One hit the ground and caught fire, sending up a plume of black smoke. The remains of two people were found in the charred wreckage. The other plane was able to land, with those occupants uninjured. The collision was the latest aviation mishap to draw attention in recent weeks. The circumstances vary widely with each case, however, and experts who study aviation accidents say they don’t see any connection between them. Chatter over the airwaves has provided some clues about what happened in Arizona. A chief flight instructor who was in the air with a student that day heard the commotion over the radio: One plane was attempting a touch-and-go when another clipped its propeller while attempting to land. Erwin Castillo, who works for IFLY Pilot Training, recalled hearing one pilot scream: “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! He just hit us.” It will be up to federal investigators to determine what caused the crash, a detailed process that will take months. While some observers suggest having a control tower may have made a difference, experts say not having a tower doesn’t mean the airport is any less safe; pilots just have a different set of communication procedures to follow. How many airports in the U.S. have control towers? Of the 5,100 public airports across the country, only about 10% have towers staffed by people who direct the flow of traffic. These are the busiest of airports, with complex operations and large volumes of commercial flights. For the airports without control towers, pilots rely on radio communications and the principle of “see and avoid” to ensure they can maneuver safely. The concept is drilled into pilots from Day 1 of their training and it’s applicable regardless of the kind of airspace they’re in, said Mike Ginter, a retired Navy aviator and senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute. He likened it to being behind the wheel of a car and practicing all the safety rules learned in driver’s ed. “You don’t have to tell the state police that you’re getting ready to drive to the supermarket to get groceries. You just go out, and you look both ways before you turn, and you turn on your turn signal and you drive,” he explained, saying there are basic tenets of safety that are ingrained in pilots. The system has worked well, considering the sheer number of planes coming and going daily from small airports and the roughly 26 million hours of flight time logged by general aviation pilots. What prompted regulation of the friendly skies? It was a summer day in 1956 when two commercial flights left Los Angeles within minutes of each other—one en route to Chicago and the other to Kansas. Flying under visual flight rules, the planes collided over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, killing all 128 people aboard. The crash site is now a National Historic Landmark. Even though U.S. air traffic had more than doubled since the end of World War II, it was this disaster that helped to fuel efforts to overhaul aviation safety. Legislation was introduced in 1958 to create an independent federal agency that would provide for the safe and efficient use of national airspace. The bill was signed within months and the first Federal Aviation Agency administrator was appointed. Responsibilities evolved, and the agency became the Federal Aviation Administration as air traffic control systems were being modernized. Are new control towers being planned? Through the FAA, airports can apply for federal grants to modernize and build air traffic control towers that are staffed by private companies and contract workers, rather than FAA staff. Nearly 180 airports nationwide are eligible for funding under the program, with most looking to upgrade existing towers—some that date back to the 1940s and others that were meant to be temporary. A review of funding awarded through the program over the past four fiscal year shows a handful of airports were awarded money specifically for site studies, environmental work and construction of new towers. That includes airports in Bend, Oregon; Boulder City, Nevada; and Mankato, Minnesota. In the case of Marana, the airport was first accepted into the program in 2019 but the coronavirus pandemic stalled efforts to get a tower built by the five-year deadline. Airport officials have said they now are on track to complete the project by 2029. Will federal job cuts affect air traffic safety? U.S. President Donald Trump issued a memo in late January to top transportation officials, ordering an immediate assessment of aviation safety following the midair collision of an Army helicopter and commercial passenger jet over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Sixty-seven people were killed. Trump raised questions about hiring practices within the FAA, suggesting previous Democratic administrations had shifted away from merit-based hiring. Some FAA jobs have been eliminated as Trump streamlines the federal workforce and looks to ferret out waste and curb spending, but less than 1% of the agency’s more than 45,000 workers were probationary employees targeted as part of the job cuts, federal officials have said. In addition, the administration has said no air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel were fired as part of the effort. But labor and industry groups say even without cuts, air traffic control towers were already understaffed. Trump has said that he would support legislation aimed at modernizing the nation’s air traffic control system. In a letter sent to members of Congress last week, the industry group Airlines for America pushed for emergency funding for critical air traffic control technology and infrastructure as well as air controller staffing and training. Associated Press writer Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix contributed to this report. —Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press View the full article

Get all the details on Plume's latest vision and strategy in our brand new interview with co-founder and acting CEO Adam Hotchkiss above. The post Interview: Effective consumer engagement is the next major goal, says Plume’s Adam Hotchkiss appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

"Photoshop" is synonymous with image editing, and for good reason. The app is an industry standard, and has been for over 30 years. But while Photoshop has been available on computers and tablets for some time now, those looking to edit images on their smartphones have had to make due with alternative programs—or simply stick to their other devices instead. That changes today. As of Tuesday, Feb. 25, Photoshop is officially on iPhone. You can go to the App Store, search "Photoshop," and see not just the usual alternatives—like Lightroom, Canva, and Facetune—but the real deal, too. Plus, the app itself is free, in addition to a number of "core imaging and design tools." According to the company, that includes the following, free of charge: Selections, layers and masks Tap Select tool Spot Healing Brush Adobe Firefly AI features, like Generative Fill and Generative Expand Integration with Adobe Express, Adobe Fresco, and Adobe Lightroom Access to "hundreds of thousands" of free Adobe Stock assets Credit: Adobe The company showed off a number of edit examples one might use the app for: using a masking tool to copy a subject from one image and paste it to another; using a "quick select brush" to isolate parts of an image from the final product; layering multiple images over one another to create a dramatic but realistic assortment of items around the subject; changing the color of one element of an image, while preserving the rest; and selecting objects to quickly remove them from the scene. Of course, Adobe is also pushing its AI features, as well—namely, Generative Fill. In one demo, a rep wants to insert an island onto an image of an ocean. They use the lasso tool to highlight where in the image they want that island to be, then use Generative Fill to create a grassy piece of land with AI. In another, Generative Fill is used to remove a background, replacing it with the sky seen in a different part of the image. Obviously, if you have previous Photoshop experience, you should be quite familiar with the tools and features of this version of the app. However, it may take you a moment to get your bearings: Based on press images and videos, this is definitely a mobile app, meaning its UI looks like many other image editing apps you might have used before. As such, it might take some trial and error before you understand where all of your usual options and features are. But based on what I see, this is the typical Photoshop experience—just distilled into mobile form. There are more features (if you pay for them)While Photoshop and its "core" features are free to download and use on iPhone, there are more features and perks if you choose to pay. Adobe now has a "Photoshop Mobile and Web plan" for customers who want more on the iOS, iPadOS, and web versions of the app. That includes: Access to Photoshop on the web Expanded access to Firefly-powered AI tools, like Generate Similar and Reference Image Access to over 20,000 fonts (or import your own) Object Select for precise selections Magic Wand for targeted adjustments Remove Tool Clone Stamp Content-Aware Fill Advanced blend modes for styling your image "Lighten" and "Darken" to lighten or darken different parts of an image This plan costs $7.99 per month, or $69.99 per year. If you already pay for Photoshop, you now have all of these perks included in your plan. View the full article

Patrón says all the tequila it has ever made since 1989 has been free of additives. The brand is now ready to get loud and talk about it. This week, Patrón is debuting a new additive-free marketing campaign that will run across digital, print, and out-of-home advertising in key markets including New York City and Los Angeles. The additive-free copy features lines like “Our secret ingredient is that we have no secret ingredients” and “When tequila is this good, additives don’t add anything.” Since Patrón’s inception, the brand says it has only made tequila with three ingredients: 100% weber blue agave, water, and yeast. The few exceptions are for the brand’s liqueurs, including orange and coffee flavored expressions, which always include added flavoring. But even the base spirit used to make those liqueurs only feature the three core ingredients. “Consumers are not going up to bartenders and asking for a tequila and soda and expecting to get a splash of caramel coloring or a sprinkle of glycerin,” says Ned Duggan, chief marketing officer at Patrón, in an interview with Fast Company. “We think that they want to know what’s in their tequila.” Patrón’s additive-free campaign may reignite a debate that’s been swirling in the tequila industry about the use and marketing of additives. Additives are permitted if less than 1% of the weight of the tequila, without any requirement of disclosure, according to the standards set by the Tequila Regulatory Council, or CRT, a group that’s backed by tequila brands, agave producers, and distributors to monitor and certify all tequila. Common additives that are in tequila include sugars and sweeteners like fructose and aspartame, oak extract, and caramel coloring. Patrón estimates that as much as 80% of tequila brands on the shelf today use additives. [Photo: Patrón] Agave typically needs six to eight years before it is ready to harvest, but with a supply shortage and higher prices, brands have started to pull agave from the earth after just two to three years. That results in a bitter flavor, and some producers have begun to lean more heavily on additives to combat that bitterness. For aged tequilas like añejo and reposado, caramel is used to improve the consistency of the color and make it appear “older,” as if it had been aged in oak barrels for a longer period of time. Patrón says 61% of consumers prefer additive-free liquors, citing a global survey conducted by the brand’s parent company Bacardi. Retailers have taken notice too, carving out shelf space that only promotes additive-free tequilas. Some mixologists prioritize crafting additive-free tequila libations. “We recognize that people are caring more and more about what they’re putting into their bodies, and also the ingredients that are in the brands that they’re putting in their bodies,” says Duggan. Among the loudest proponents of additive-free clarity is Grover Sanschagrin, who along with his wife Scarlet, cofounded an app called Tequila Matchmaker. The couple had developed a program that would certify tequila brands as additive-free and then share that information with consumers who were curious to know what was in the liquor they were drinking. But last year, the Sanschagrin’s home was raided in Mexico, part of a pressure campaign he says was spurred by the CRT’s anger about Tequila Matchmaker’s push for transparency. The Tequila Matchmaker app still exists for tequila reviews, but provides no information about additives. The Sanschagrins also created a new U.S.-based nonprofit called the Additive Free Alliance, which is angling to set up an independent process to identify and list additive-free brands, but thus far includes no tequila producers, only one agave-based vodka and a couple of mezcal brands. “There’s a void now,” says Sanschagrin. “Every brand is basically saying they are additive-free and now there is no way to offer proof of that.” In 2023, Patrón announced an additive-free seal, a label that was designed to appear on the brand’s bottles, a bid for transparency that was blessed by the CRT at the time. But that on-packaging messaging never came to fruition. “I think we were a little bit ahead of the rest of the industry and the CRT ultimately requested that we not move forward,” says Duggan. “But that’s why it’s been so important for us to launch this campaign where regardless of whether it’s on our bottle or not, we are being forthcoming with consumers and transparent about our no additive message.” A memo circulated by the CRT last year, obtained by Fast Company, told tequila producers that because additives are permitted under the 1% level, they believe there is no such thing as an additive-free tequila. The CRT ordered distillers to stop marketing tequila as additive-free, saying it was a “false and misleading statement” that could harm the spirit’s reputation with consumers. The CRT didn’t respond to requests for comment. [Photo: Patrón] Sanschagrin welcomes the message that Patrón is sending with the new marketing campaign, both to consumers and tequila’s regulatory body. “The CRT overreached and somebody needs to check them,” he says. “I’m excited that Patrón has decided to take this on.” The additive-free movement also reflects an evolution of how tequila is produced. When tequila sales first began to boom in the U.S. in the 1980s, most were gold tequila, or mixto, a tequila made from a minimum of 51% agave and the rest from other sugars. Patrón’s launch, and other tequilas that have since entered the market, popularized the use of 100% agave and that claim became the baseline that consumers look for when buying any tequila north of $20. But the 100% agave claim became more difficult to stick to as tequila demand has soared. Tequila and mezcal sales now total $6.7 billion in annual revenue in the U.S. market, the second-most popular liquor category following vodka, according to the trade group the Distilled Spirits Council. Dave Karraker, president of PR consultancy Raptor Communications, says the 100% additive-free claim is a way that brands like Patrón can distinguish themselves from the crowd. “How do I differentiate myself from all of these players that are adding additives,” he asks. “As a marketer, you’re looking for points of differentiation to lean into, that are on trend with consumers.” View the full article

Riddle me this: What exactly is Trello? Despite counting myself as a heavy-duty power user of the product for well over a decade now, it’s a question I’ve long struggled to answer. Technically, Trello has always seemed to fall into that group of apps folks like to frame as “project management tools”—products like Asana, ClickUp, and Notion that do a pinch of everything and are as much note makers, info savers, and life managers as they are project organizers. But Trello in particular has always been a bit of a chameleon. Personally, I’ve used it for everything from storing story ideas to mapping out my weekly newsletters and even organizing my home workouts. Part of what makes the app so powerful is its versatility. With a flexible series of boards, columns, and cards acting as its core interface, you can shape it into serving practically any purpose imaginable for yourself or your company. It seems, though, that that very same versatility may have morphed into a challenge for the product. This week, Atlassian—the business-tech behemoth that bought Trello for $425 million in 2017 and brought it into its sprawling software empire—is announcing Trello’s biggest pivot to date. It’s essentially a total reinvention, despite the fact that on the surface, not all that much actually seems to be changing. So, here it is: As of this spring, Trello will no longer be a “project management tool”—or whatever else you want to call it. It’ll be a personal tasks app, presented as being the best all-around hub for juggling all of your important to-do items, no matter where they may originate. Notably, too, it’ll now be aimed at individual users, not teams, which marks a pretty big shift from its original focus. But in an appropriately Trello-y twist, the service’s trademark versatility isn’t going anywhere—for the most part. And in spite of the official new framing and all the added elements that come with it, it’s still up to you to decide how you want to use Trello and what you want it to be. Outside of a small subset of early beta testers, most Trello users will see its new touches sometime in April. That’s when Trello’s next era will truly begin. The Trello tale—from inception to reinventionI’ve been spending much of this month living with the still-under-wraps new version of Trello, and I’ll share some detailed thoughts and impressions about what it’s all about in a moment. First, though, before we can wrap our heads around Trello’s present and its future, we need to take a swift trip back to its past. Trello first entered the world as a concept nearly 14 years ago, in September of 2011—the brainchild of Michael Pryor and Joel Spolsky. (Pryor stuck around to lead its development post-Atlassian-acquisition until mid-2022.) From the get-go, the pair described the app as “a totally horizontal product”—meaning, in the words of co-founder Spolsky at the time, “it can be used by people from all walks of life”: Some people saw Trello and said, “Oh, it’s Kanban boards. For developing software the agile way.” Yeah, it’s that, but it’s also for planning a wedding, for making a list of potential vacation spots to share with your family, for keeping track of applicants to open job positions, and for a billion other things. In fact, Trello is for anything where you want to maintain a list of lists with a group of people. That versatility and the tough-to-pin-down quality that comes with it was a key part of Trello’s foundation, in other words. It may have initially been inspired by the engineer-adored idea of Post-It Notes arranged into columns on a whiteboard, but it was always meant to be everything to everyone, without any guardrails or specific definitions for exactly how it should be used. Trello’s board-centric interface has long been the service’s calling card. [Image: Trello]Over time, that underlying elasticity never wavered. But Trello began to be positioned as more of a team-oriented tool—that whole “project management” thing. In the context of its ultimate home within Atlassian, a company known for collaboration software, that focus made sense—even if Trello did always overlap somewhat awkwardly with the organization’s homegrown Jira offering. By 2021, Atlassian had introduced a whole series of new views that promised to transform the Trello experience and make it even more well-suited for multiuer productivity. You could switch away from the standard Trello boards and view your data instead in a spreadsheet-like “Team Table View,” for instance, or flip over to a “Timeline View” that put all your info into a year-long spectrum. You could even opt for a location-centric “Map View” built specifically with sales and service teams in mind. And that’s exactly where Gaurav Kataria, Atlassian’s head of product for Trello since 2020 and a former Google Cloud executive, sees the service as starting to lose its way. “Typically, everything tries to become the one tool to manage everything, like one tool to rule them all—and typically, they tend come to become more complex,” Kataria says. “It has happened to every tool in the industry, Trello included.” Kataria and his team decided it was time to step back and really think about what made Trello special, why people appreciated it, and where it should fit into our personal productivity puzzles. Meet the Trello task transformationOfficially, today’s Trello announcement is about a fresh set of features coming into the service—features that aim to make it easier to capture and organize all types of task-oriented info. But beyond the surface, the announcement is really more about redefining what Trello is for and how Atlassian, at least, wants it to be seen—even if you still have the power to shape it into something broader. “We are taking a step back and staying that rather than trying to be that one tool, which is the project management tool for the whole team that can handle all levels of complexity and dependency and reporting, how about we focus on making the individual user more productive,” Kataria says. “Rather than being everything for everyone, let’s be really useful to the one user that’s using the product.” The team behind Trello determined that the best way to do that was to shed Trello’s murky “project management” moniker and frame the app as an all-purpose to-do hub that pulls in info from all sorts of other services and makes it exceptionally easy to organize. (The service will still offer its same generous free plan, which includes unlimited cards and up to 10 boards for individual users—along with its existing premium and enterprise-level plans for companies that want to provide the service to larger groups of workers.) The centerpiece of that strategy is a new Inbox feature that exists as a sidebar to the left of every Trello board you’re viewing. The idea is that it’s a landing pad of sorts for any type of task you’re thinking about—a place for all that stuff to show up in Trello without any real effort and then be ready for you to drag wherever you see fit. The new Trello Inbox is a landing pad for all your incoming tasks. [Image: Trello]“Today, if suddenly, a new idea pops into your head, you might have to first decide which board it goes into, which list it goes into, and does it go into the middle of the list or the top of the list—so there’s a little cognitive burden that you have to go through before you add something to Trello,” Kataria says. “We want to remove that cognitive burden.” To that end, Inbox offers four integrations to start: Email—where you can forward any message to a special address to have it instantly added into your Inbox Slack—where you can use the inbox emoji reaction (📥) or the native Slack save-for-later feature to save any message into your Trello Inbox Jira—where you can click a new native menu command to pull any issues from a project into your Inbox And Siri—where you can simply ask your iOS device to add something into Trello to get it into that same Inbox view The Trello Inbox integrates with email, Slack, Jira, and Siri to start. [Image: Trello]Android support is on hold for the moment because of Google’s awkward Assistant-Gemini transition and the current lack of support for third-party integrations with Gemini—but Kataria tells me the team is watching the situation closely and plans to add in support as soon as it becomes possible. And in the meantime, a button on the Trello Android widget can serve as an only slightly more complex way to achieve the same end result. Atlassian plans to add support for some Microsoft-specific integrations next, but beyond that, it’s relying on the fact that almost every external service generates notifications of some sort—typically via either Slack or email—and so it can tap into those notifications easily via its existing integrations without requiring any additional connections or data access. “We don’t need to build a native integration with every tool under the sun,” Kataria explains. As part of its tasks-centric transition, the service is also adding in the ability to check off a card and mark it as done from any board view—something Kataria says has been the company’s longest standing feature request. By default, when you mark a card as done, it stays in place and just gains a checkmark indication on its cover. But thanks to Trello’s powerful automation system—the feature formerly known as Butler, for any of my fellow Trello long-timers—you can take total control of that process and set the system up to work any way you like. You might create an automation rule that instantly archives any card when it’s marked as done, for instance, or that moves it to a special list where finished cards are stored. The power is entirely in your hands, which feels like a thoughtful blending of the traditional Trello philosophy and its newly reshaped purpose. “The user is still very much in control,” Kataria says. All of that aside, what makes the setup especially interesting is the way Trello is integrating AI into all of this in a similarly thoughtful and actually useful way. Trello’s finer task touchesRather than cramming in the standard and often silly “write/rewrite text for me” or “make a list for me”-style generative-AI options, Trello is opting to lean on AI solely to transform whatever you add into your Inbox into a simple, task-like summary—with a succinct title for the associated card, a single-paragraph overview of the info in its description field, and then the full text and a link back to the original item for further reference. Trello’s AI is all about making info easier to manage—not writing or organizing it for you. [Image: Trello]It works brilliantly well, in my experience, and makes me wish every app offered something similar. And, suffice it to say, I don’t at all find myself missing the option to have the service write stuff or attempt to organize stuff for me—and then, in all likelihood, having to waste my time redoing and fixing what it did. That seems to be exactly the experience the Trello team is aiming to create. “The reason people use Trello is because it reflects their mind,” Kataria says. “We want to remain really true to that spirit—that Trello is about how people see the world, not about how they follow a certain workflow or process.” (If you want, you can still add cards directly to a specific board like before, by the way—and as of this week, doing so will incorporate the same AI formatting magic present in the new Inbox approach.) Ultimately, Inbox is just another list in Trello. But it lives in that special sidebar that makes it easy to access as a single starting point for any incoming items—until and unless you decide to sort and file them into a board. Inbox and its AI elements also go hand in hand with another new task-oriented Trello addition known as Planner. Trello’s Planner is an integrated calendar that connects to Google Calendar (with support for Microsoft Outlook on the way soon) and lets you drag and drop tasks from your Inbox—or any Trello board—directly into that day-to-day view. That way, you can see all your tasks alongside your agenda and plan out your hours accordingly, with the full perspective of everything on your plate. You can drag cards from your Inbox or any board directly into the new Trello Planner. [Image: Trello]It’s a step forward from the tacked-on calendar elements Trello previously provided, and it ties back into the newfound goal of making Trello all about the individual rather than the team. “All the previous calendar views are the legacy of trying to solve project management use cases,” Kataria says. “With the Planner, we’re really thinking about planning your day, planning your week, where you’re only looking at your calendar.” The approach actually reminds me a lot of Akiflow, a calendar and tasks app I wrote about last fall and have been personally using ever since—only, for better or for worse, Akiflow is solely a calendar and tasks app. Trello, in contrast, has the advantage (or maybe distraction) of all the board elements and the broader organizational opportunities they offer. Speaking of which, for now, at least, all of Trello’s “legacy” elements and potential use cases will continue to be supported. Kataria hinted that certain elements—like those team-centric “Timeline” and “Table” views—may be phased out eventually, over time (and will certainly be de-emphasized in the meantime). But the general goal seems to be to keep allowing everyone to use Trello in whatever way they see fit, even if personal task management is now the main purpose being presented. Some actions around more complex team-oriented project management uses will now lead to gentle nudges to move over to Jira for such purposes—a move that’s frankly surprising Atlassian has managed to resist up until now. But everything from automations to the rich ecosystem of third-party Power-Up add-ons will remain, just with the added emphasis on Trello being the place for personal productivity. “It’s [still] a project, but a project that’s born out of your own mind,” Kataria says. “Trello is so well-loved as a tool that people bend it in different ways to make it whatever they want it to become.” Card-mirroring is one of the smaller but still significant touches coming into the new Trello. [Image: Trello]Only time will tell, of course, if the world embraces the service’s new task-centric framing or if people keep treating it as the versatile productivity power-tool it’s known to be. Either way, its creators seem content with knowing they’re shifting the focus to individuals over teams and presenting their best vision for how Trello can help. “We are really thinking about how the world is going to change over the next decade and how we can make every individual more productive,” Kataria says. Be the first to learn about all sorts of interesting new productivity treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence—a single eye-opening new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday! View the full article