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White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett dismissed the idea of a recession looming this year. View the full article

Key Takeaways Bonding & Skill Development: Starting a business with your kids fosters family bonding while teaching them essential life skills such as responsibility and teamwork. Financial Literacy: Involving children in business helps them learn financial fundamentals, including budgeting, expense tracking, and understanding profit margins. Creativity & Innovation: Collaborating on a business allows kids to express creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and think critically about branding and marketing. Variety of Business Ideas: Options for businesses include online ventures, local services, and handmade products, each providing unique opportunities for learning and engagement. Setting Goals & Accountability: Implementing SMART goals helps maintain focus and accountability, ensuring each family member understands their role in the business. Time Management & Balance: Success involves balancing business responsibilities with family time and maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere to prevent burnout and encourage innovation. Looking for a fun way to bond with your kids while teaching them valuable life skills? Starting a business together might be the perfect solution. Not only does it create lasting memories, but it also instills a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in your little ones. Benefits of Starting Businesses With Your Kids Starting a business with your kids offers unique advantages, enriching both your family’s experience and your children’s future. Engaging in entrepreneurial activities together cultivates essential skills that go beyond the traditional classroom. Teaching Financial Literacy You teach your kids the fundamentals of financial literacy by involving them in business operations. Kids learn how to create a budget, track expenses, and understand profit margins. This firsthand experience equips them with knowledge about taxes and how to manage cash flow effectively. Exploring concepts like pricing and sales funnels helps develop their understanding of basic financial principles, setting a solid foundation for future financial decisions. Fostering Creativity and Innovation Starting a business together encourages kids to apply creativity and innovation. You motivate them to brainstorm and refine business ideas, whether it’s through product development or marketing strategies. Allowing them to shape aspects of the business model nurtures their problem-solving skills and helps them think critically about their target audience. This collaborative process can lead to unique branding elements and marketing campaigns that capture attention and foster growth. Types of Businesses to Start Engaging your kids in business ventures fosters entrepreneurship and teaches essential skills. Explore these categories to find opportunities for collaboration and growth. Online Ventures Starting an online business offers flexibility and access to a global market. Consider launching a family blog or vlog to share your experiences, tips, or hobbies. Monetization options include ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. An online shop on platforms like Etsy or Shopify can also be lucrative. Focus on selling handmade crafts, vintage items, or custom-designed products to appeal to niche markets. This venture teaches your kids about e-commerce dynamics, digital marketing, and customer service approaches. Local Services Offering local services allows you to engage with your community while developing business acumen. Examples include dog walking, gardening, or tutoring. Identify your target audience and conduct market research to understand their needs. Create a simple business plan and establish a legal structure—options include LLCs or sole proprietorships. Teach your kids the essentials of customer acquisition, pricing strategies, and maintaining strong client relationships, all critical for small business success. Handmade Products Creating and selling handmade products unites creativity with business skills. Consider crafting jewelry, art, or clothing. Develop a unique brand identity to differentiate your products. Focus on marketing through social media and local events to build recognition. This experience enriches your children’s understanding of product development, branding, and sales techniques. Discuss the importance of quality control and setting profit margins to ensure a sustainable venture. Tips for Success Creating a successful business with your kids requires planning, teamwork, and a clear understanding of goals. Use the following strategies to ensure a rewarding entrepreneurial journey. Setting Realistic Goals Start by establishing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. These help in creating a focused business plan. For example, set a revenue target for the first quarter or determine the number of products to sell at local craft fairs. Discuss these goals regularly to track progress and adjust as needed. Ensure that every family member understands their role in achieving these objectives, which fosters accountability and a sense of ownership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTTvv3voSHs Encouraging Teamwork and Responsibility Foster a collaborative environment by assigning age-appropriate tasks. Allow kids to handle aspects like marketing via social media or product development based on their interests. Teaching them skills like customer service or budgeting creates a strong foundation for their entrepreneurial endeavors. Encourage open communication to share ideas and feedback, promoting innovation. Celebrating small successes together builds confidence and strengthens family bonds, making the business experience enjoyable and memorable. Challenges to Consider Starting a business with your kids can be rewarding, but certain challenges arise that require attention. Time Management Time management becomes crucial when balancing family and business responsibilities. You’ll face multiple commitments, from school schedules to project deadlines. Developing a structured business plan with a clear timeline helps allocate sufficient time for both work and family activities. Prioritizing tasks and setting realistic milestones can prevent burnout and ensure everyone stays engaged in the process. Balancing Fun and Work Balancing fun and work is essential for a successful entrepreneurial journey with your kids. Maintaining enthusiasm for the business can lead to innovation and creativity. However, you need to ensure tasks remain focused on achieving business goals. Regularly discuss roles and responsibilities to keep everyone accountable while allowing for flexibility to enjoy the experience. Find moments to celebrate achievements, reinforcing a positive work environment without sacrificing the quality of your business operations. Conclusion Starting a business with your kids is more than just a financial venture; it’s a chance to create lasting memories and teach invaluable life skills. You’ll not only bond over shared goals but also instill a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial mindset in them. As you embark on this journey together, remember to keep the experience enjoyable and educational. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, and maintain open lines of communication. By doing so, you’ll not only build a successful business but also strengthen your family ties. Embrace the challenges and joys of entrepreneurship with your children. You’ll be amazed at the creativity and innovation they bring to the table while you guide them along the way. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of starting a business with my children? Starting a business with your children helps strengthen family bonds while teaching essential life skills. It fosters financial literacy, creativity, and a strong work ethic, allowing kids to learn about budgeting, expenses, and profits. This shared experience creates lasting memories and instills an entrepreneurial spirit in children. What types of businesses can families start together? Families can start various businesses, including online ventures like e-commerce shops or blogs, local services such as dog walking or tutoring, and handmade product sales. Each type allows kids to learn valuable skills while engaging creatively with their community and the market. How can we effectively plan our family business? To effectively plan your family business, set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals. Regularly discuss these goals together to track progress and ensure accountability. Assign age-appropriate tasks to each family member to foster skill development and a sense of responsibility. What challenges might we face when starting a family business? Challenges can include time management, balancing family and business responsibilities, and keeping tasks enjoyable. Developing a structured business plan with clear timelines can help. Regular discussions about roles and responsibilities can maintain focus while allowing for flexibility during the entrepreneurial journey. How can we celebrate successes in our family business? Celebrating small successes together is crucial for building a positive work environment. It reinforces teamwork and motivation. Share achievements as a family, whether through small rewards or fun activities, to maintain enthusiasm and strengthen your family’s bond while working toward business goals. Image Via Envato This article, "Exciting Businesses You Can Start with Your Kids for Fun and Learning Together" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Bonding & Skill Development: Starting a business with your kids fosters family bonding while teaching them essential life skills such as responsibility and teamwork. Financial Literacy: Involving children in business helps them learn financial fundamentals, including budgeting, expense tracking, and understanding profit margins. Creativity & Innovation: Collaborating on a business allows kids to express creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and think critically about branding and marketing. Variety of Business Ideas: Options for businesses include online ventures, local services, and handmade products, each providing unique opportunities for learning and engagement. Setting Goals & Accountability: Implementing SMART goals helps maintain focus and accountability, ensuring each family member understands their role in the business. Time Management & Balance: Success involves balancing business responsibilities with family time and maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere to prevent burnout and encourage innovation. Looking for a fun way to bond with your kids while teaching them valuable life skills? Starting a business together might be the perfect solution. Not only does it create lasting memories, but it also instills a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in your little ones. Benefits of Starting Businesses With Your Kids Starting a business with your kids offers unique advantages, enriching both your family’s experience and your children’s future. Engaging in entrepreneurial activities together cultivates essential skills that go beyond the traditional classroom. Teaching Financial Literacy You teach your kids the fundamentals of financial literacy by involving them in business operations. Kids learn how to create a budget, track expenses, and understand profit margins. This firsthand experience equips them with knowledge about taxes and how to manage cash flow effectively. Exploring concepts like pricing and sales funnels helps develop their understanding of basic financial principles, setting a solid foundation for future financial decisions. Fostering Creativity and Innovation Starting a business together encourages kids to apply creativity and innovation. You motivate them to brainstorm and refine business ideas, whether it’s through product development or marketing strategies. Allowing them to shape aspects of the business model nurtures their problem-solving skills and helps them think critically about their target audience. This collaborative process can lead to unique branding elements and marketing campaigns that capture attention and foster growth. Types of Businesses to Start Engaging your kids in business ventures fosters entrepreneurship and teaches essential skills. Explore these categories to find opportunities for collaboration and growth. Online Ventures Starting an online business offers flexibility and access to a global market. Consider launching a family blog or vlog to share your experiences, tips, or hobbies. Monetization options include ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. An online shop on platforms like Etsy or Shopify can also be lucrative. Focus on selling handmade crafts, vintage items, or custom-designed products to appeal to niche markets. This venture teaches your kids about e-commerce dynamics, digital marketing, and customer service approaches. Local Services Offering local services allows you to engage with your community while developing business acumen. Examples include dog walking, gardening, or tutoring. Identify your target audience and conduct market research to understand their needs. Create a simple business plan and establish a legal structure—options include LLCs or sole proprietorships. Teach your kids the essentials of customer acquisition, pricing strategies, and maintaining strong client relationships, all critical for small business success. Handmade Products Creating and selling handmade products unites creativity with business skills. Consider crafting jewelry, art, or clothing. Develop a unique brand identity to differentiate your products. Focus on marketing through social media and local events to build recognition. This experience enriches your children’s understanding of product development, branding, and sales techniques. Discuss the importance of quality control and setting profit margins to ensure a sustainable venture. Tips for Success Creating a successful business with your kids requires planning, teamwork, and a clear understanding of goals. Use the following strategies to ensure a rewarding entrepreneurial journey. Setting Realistic Goals Start by establishing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. These help in creating a focused business plan. For example, set a revenue target for the first quarter or determine the number of products to sell at local craft fairs. Discuss these goals regularly to track progress and adjust as needed. Ensure that every family member understands their role in achieving these objectives, which fosters accountability and a sense of ownership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTTvv3voSHs Encouraging Teamwork and Responsibility Foster a collaborative environment by assigning age-appropriate tasks. Allow kids to handle aspects like marketing via social media or product development based on their interests. Teaching them skills like customer service or budgeting creates a strong foundation for their entrepreneurial endeavors. Encourage open communication to share ideas and feedback, promoting innovation. Celebrating small successes together builds confidence and strengthens family bonds, making the business experience enjoyable and memorable. Challenges to Consider Starting a business with your kids can be rewarding, but certain challenges arise that require attention. Time Management Time management becomes crucial when balancing family and business responsibilities. You’ll face multiple commitments, from school schedules to project deadlines. Developing a structured business plan with a clear timeline helps allocate sufficient time for both work and family activities. Prioritizing tasks and setting realistic milestones can prevent burnout and ensure everyone stays engaged in the process. Balancing Fun and Work Balancing fun and work is essential for a successful entrepreneurial journey with your kids. Maintaining enthusiasm for the business can lead to innovation and creativity. However, you need to ensure tasks remain focused on achieving business goals. Regularly discuss roles and responsibilities to keep everyone accountable while allowing for flexibility to enjoy the experience. Find moments to celebrate achievements, reinforcing a positive work environment without sacrificing the quality of your business operations. Conclusion Starting a business with your kids is more than just a financial venture; it’s a chance to create lasting memories and teach invaluable life skills. You’ll not only bond over shared goals but also instill a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial mindset in them. As you embark on this journey together, remember to keep the experience enjoyable and educational. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, and maintain open lines of communication. By doing so, you’ll not only build a successful business but also strengthen your family ties. Embrace the challenges and joys of entrepreneurship with your children. You’ll be amazed at the creativity and innovation they bring to the table while you guide them along the way. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of starting a business with my children? Starting a business with your children helps strengthen family bonds while teaching essential life skills. It fosters financial literacy, creativity, and a strong work ethic, allowing kids to learn about budgeting, expenses, and profits. This shared experience creates lasting memories and instills an entrepreneurial spirit in children. What types of businesses can families start together? Families can start various businesses, including online ventures like e-commerce shops or blogs, local services such as dog walking or tutoring, and handmade product sales. Each type allows kids to learn valuable skills while engaging creatively with their community and the market. How can we effectively plan our family business? To effectively plan your family business, set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals. Regularly discuss these goals together to track progress and ensure accountability. Assign age-appropriate tasks to each family member to foster skill development and a sense of responsibility. What challenges might we face when starting a family business? Challenges can include time management, balancing family and business responsibilities, and keeping tasks enjoyable. Developing a structured business plan with clear timelines can help. Regular discussions about roles and responsibilities can maintain focus while allowing for flexibility during the entrepreneurial journey. How can we celebrate successes in our family business? Celebrating small successes together is crucial for building a positive work environment. It reinforces teamwork and motivation. Share achievements as a family, whether through small rewards or fun activities, to maintain enthusiasm and strengthen your family’s bond while working toward business goals. Image Via Envato This article, "Exciting Businesses You Can Start with Your Kids for Fun and Learning Together" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Access to a high-quality webcam isn't always guaranteed: While decent options are now built into most laptops, they're not all of an acceptable standard. Maybe you've got a monitor without a webcam attached; maybe you want a different angle—there are numerous reasons why you might need another webcam. If you've got an iPhone, you've actually got a webcam, too. The process for setting up your iPhone as a webcam has gotten easier down the years, especially on macOS, though you can also use it as a connected camera on a Windows PC with a little more effort. Use your iPhone as a webcam on macOSMacs, iPhones, and other Apple gadgets all work fairly seamlessly together in a variety of ways now, from mirroring an iPhone on macOS to using your iPad as a second display. Included in this suite of cross-device tricks, under the name Continuity Camera, is the option to use your iPhone as a webcam for any app on your Mac. There are some simple rules for getting this to work. Both your Apple computer and your iPhone need to have wifi and Bluetooth enabled, and need to be signed into the same Apple account. The two devices must be within 10 meters or 30 feet of each other and meet the minimum requirements (in short, an iPhone launched in 2018 or later and running iOS 16 or later, and a Mac running macOS 13 Ventura or later). Choosing an iPhone as a camera in FaceTime. Credit: Lifehacker Assuming you've checked all those boxes, open up Settings on your iPhone, head to General > AirPlay & Continuity, and make sure Continuity Camera is enabled. You then need to get your iPhone in landscape orientation—you can change it around while you're using it, but the initial connection needs to be in landscape mode. Load up any webcam-using app on macOS, and you should then see your iPhone as an option for the video feed. With FaceTime, for example, open the Video menu and you should see it listed. You're able to move the iPhone and change its angle while it's in use, but you can't switch between the front and rear cameras: You can only use the rear camera for your webcam. This all works wirelessly over wifi and Bluetooth, but you can also connect your iPhone to your Mac via a USB cable too, if you want to—you might find you get a slightly more stable connection, and it also means you won't be draining your phone's battery while you're using it as a webcam. You can pause or disconnect from your iPhone screen. Credit: Lifehacker Click the video feed icon in the menu bar at the top of the macOS interface to access the various webcam features Apple now offers, including Portrait and Studio Light, though not all of them work on all iPhones: For keeping yourself in view via Center Stage, for example, you need an iPhone with an ultra-wide camera. You can also enable Desk View from this drop-down menu, which lets you create a top-down view of whatever's on your desk (very handy for sharing documents). While your iPhone is in use as a webcam, you'll see a Pause button on the iPhone screen, which temporarily stops the live feed. A second button underneath, Disconnect, turns off webcam mode completely. You can also close down the video app you're using or switch to a different webcam to exit out of webcam mode on your iPhone. Use your iPhone as a webcam on WindowsUsing your iPhone as a webcam on Windows is a little more involved, and you're going to need the assistance of a third-party app to get everything working. However, there are plenty of apps to choose from for the job, and most of them are free or at least offer the basic webcam functionality for free. One app that's been reliably serving users for a long time is DroidCam. You need to get both the Windows client installed on your computer, and the iOS app installed on your iPhone, and then all you need to do is launch them both—there's no need to register an account, and everything works over your wifi network. Using DroidCam on Windows with an iPhone. Credit: Lifehacker The application gives you a few settings and filters to play around with so you can get your feed looking exactly how you want it, and with DroidCam running, your iPhone is then available as a webcam option for any software running on your PC. It will simply show up as a webcam you can switch to. You can use DroidCam free of charge, but if you pay $4.99 a year or a one-off fee of $14.99, you get access to resolutions above 1080p and can remove the DroidCam watermark on your webcam feed. Paying for the software also adds a few more controls on both the Windows and the iOS side. Another option that I've found straightforward and reliable is Camo. As with DroidCam, you need to get the software set up on Windows, and on your iPhone via the iOS app. It couldn't be much simpler to set up, with no registration needed, and you can connect over wifi or by plugging your iPhone into your Windows computer with a USB cable. Camo offers a range of video effects and filters. Credit: Lifehacker Camo is much more of a software suite, with a range of features you can use with any webcam you like: From exposure and white balance adjustments to clever background effects. Once you've got your iPhone configured as a webcam inside Camo, you can then use it to deliver a video feed in any other app on Windows. Most of Camo's features are available to use free of charge, but there is a Camo Pro subscription level that will set you back $4.99 a month. The key benefits are video resolutions up to 4K (rather than 720p), support for variable frame rates, and access to a smart zoom feature that uses some clever tricks to improve zoom levels without losing image quality. View the full article

Tariff exemptions announced Friday on electronics like smartphones and laptops are only a temporary reprieve until the The President administration develops a new tariff approach specific to the semiconductor industry, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday. White House officials, including President Donald The President himself, spent Sunday downplaying the significance of exemptions that lessen but won’t eliminate the effect of U.S. tariffs on imports of popular consumer devices and their key components. “They’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,” Lutnick told ABC’s This Week on Sunday. The President added to the confusion hours later, declaring on social media that there was no “exception” at all because the goods are “just moving to a different” bucket and will still face a 20% tariff as part of his administration’s move to punish China for its role in fentanyl trafficking. The The President administration late Friday had said it would exclude electronics from broader so-called reciprocal tariffs, a move that could help keep the prices down for phones and other consumer products that aren’t usually made in the U.S. China’s commerce ministry in a Sunday statement welcomed the change as a small step even as it called for the U.S. to completely cancel the rest of its tariffs. Sparing electronics was expected to benefit big tech companies like Apple and Samsung and chip makers like Nvidia, though the uncertainty of future tariffs may rein in an anticipated tech stock rally on Monday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said items like smartphones, laptops, hard drives, flat-panel monitors and some chips would qualify for the exemption. Machines used to make semiconductors are excluded too. That means they won’t be subject to most of the tariffs levied on China or the 10% baseline tariffs elsewhere. It was the latest tariff change by the The President administration, which has made several U-turns in its massive plan to put tariffs in place on goods from most countries. White House officials sought to dismiss any suggestion of a reprieve as the weekend progressed. “It’s not really an exception. That’s not even the right word for it,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday. “This type of supply chain moved from the tariff regime for the global tariff, the reciprocal tariff, and it moved to the national security tariff regime.” Greer added that “the president decided that we’re not going to have exemptions. We can’t have a Swiss cheese solution to this universal problem that we’re facing.” On Air Force One Saturday night, President Donald The President told reporters he would get into more specifics on exemptions on Monday. In his post Sunday on TruthSocial, he promised the White House was “taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN.” Some had assumed the exemption filed Friday night reflected the president’s realization that his China tariffs are unlikely to shift more manufacturing of smartphones, computers and other gadgets to the U.S. any time soon, if ever. The administration has predicted that the trade war prod Apple to make iPhones in the U.S. for the first time, but that was an unlikely scenario after Apple spent decades building up a finely calibrated supply chain in China. It would take several years and cost billions of dollars to build new plants in the U.S., burdening Apple with economic forces that could triple the price of an iPhone and torpedo sales of its marquee product. The turmoil has battered the stocks of tech’s “Magnificent Seven” — Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, Google parent Alphabet and Facebook parent Meta Platforms. At one point, the Magnificent Seven’s combined market value had plunged by $2.1 trillion, or 14%, from April 2 when The President unveiled sweeping tariffs on a wide range of countries. When The President paused the tariffs outside of China on Wednesday, the lost value in those companies was pared to $644 billion, or a 4% decline. An electronics exemption would fulfill the kind of friendly treatment that industry was envisioning when Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos assembled behind the president during his Jan. 20 inauguration. That united display of fealty reflected Big Tech’s hopes that The President would be more accommodating than President Joe Biden’s administration. Apple won praise from The President in late February when the Cupertino, California, company committed to invest $500 billion and add 20,000 jobs in the U.S. during the next four years. The pledge was an echo of a $350 billion investment commitment in the U.S. that Apple made during The President’s first term when the iPhone was exempted from China tariffs. An electronics exemption would remove “a huge black cloud overhang for now over the tech sector and the pressure facing U.S. Big Tech,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in a research note. Ives amended that note after Lutnick’s comments Sunday, saying the confusing news out of the White House “is dizzying for the industry and investors and creating massive uncertainty and chaos for companies trying to plan their supply chain, inventory, and demand.” Neither Apple nor Samsung responded to requests for comment over the weekend. Nvidia declined to comment. O’Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. AP White House correspondent Darlene Superville in West Palm Beach, Florida, and AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in Berkeley, California contributed to this report. —Mae Anderson and Matt O’Brien, Associated Press View the full article

Executives from three wholesale shops, including PRMG, The Loan Store and Newfi, dissected the regulatory landscape and how some developments might impact the broker channel. View the full article

In 2025, the battle for attention is being won in under 60 seconds. Short-form video is increasingly delivering measurable performance outcomes. This article explores how you can harness short-form video and creator-driven content as part of a performance marketing strategy. The rise of short-form: More than just eyeballs With YouTube Shorts alone amassing over 70 billion daily views, engagement metrics are no longer the only measure of value. “The untapped potential of short-form video and creator content on YouTube,” a recent study from YouTube and eMarketer, highlights how powerful this format has become. The study found that creator content influenced 49.5% of U.S. social shoppers to purchase something via social media platforms in 2024. This also reflects a broader trend seen across platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and even LinkedIn: attention spans may be shrinking, but demand for human authenticity is growing. As AI tools accelerate video generation, the temptation is to mass-produce content. However, an over-automated short-form quickly loses the human touch, which is what makes it effective. Indeed, with the proliferation of AI-generated content, expect to see increased demand for human perspectives and authentic content in the years to come. Brands should use AI to augment, not replace, creator input. Authenticity ranks as the top factor in building trust with younger audiences, per Capgemini’s 2024 Consumer Trends report. Why creators are outperforming traditional ads The same study from YouTube and eMarketer found that creator-led content consistently outperformed traditional brand advertising in driving purchase intent and brand recall. Consumers perceive creators not only as relatable but as trusted sources of product discovery – particularly in verticals like beauty, gaming, tech, and fashion. What sets creator-led short-form apart is: Native fluency: Creators know how to leverage platform-native features, from TikTok sounds to YouTube Shorts editing styles. Trust: Up to 61% of Gen Z and Millennials trust influencers they follow as much as personal friends. Creative agility: Many creators iterate content faster than brands can brief, shoot, and approve a single video. For performance marketers, this is a compelling proposition – creator partnerships can outperform traditional assets while accelerating content velocity. Creators are not just for B2C Creator strategies are particularly important in B2B, where influencers add a layer of credibility to the brands they work with. LinkedIn research shows that subject matter expertise is the main trait of B2B influencers. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. What performance marketers can learn 1. Short-form as a performance strategy Short-form algorithms reward fresh content and experimentation. Traditional A/B testing is too slow and narrow, so if you’re looking to start trialing short-form content as part of your media plan: Test multiple hooks in the first three seconds to keep people watching. Trial different formats (e.g., voiceover vs. direct-to-camera). Split-test CTAs (e.g., pinned comments vs. on-screen overlay). TikTok’s Creative Center offers built-in testing tools, but don’t worry too much about having hugely polished videos. The point of this format is to showcase authenticity and build human connections with your audience. Dig deeper: How advertisers can capitalize on vertical video 2. Focus on authenticity over polished videos So many brands get stuck trying to deliver high-end content that they end up doing nothing. The art of short form is authenticity. Users aren’t expecting cinematic production – they’re expecting human insight and entertainment. Authenticity wins attention and, more importantly, trust. For example, the technology retailer Currys has done an amazing job of this in the UK. Their TikTok strategy leans into lo-fi humor and relatable scenarios, often featuring their own staff in everyday settings rather than professional actors. One standout example is their “Tech Support Guy” series, in which a fictional employee gives quirky, brutally honest advice on gadgets. The advice is both informative and irreverent, and it feels native to the platform. 3. Develop creator partnerships Creators bring reach, relevance, and increased content velocity. The key is to focus on credible voices in your niche: subject matter experts, educators, and micro-creators who already have trust and a following within your audience. How to get started Use creator marketplaces like TikTok Creator Marketplace, Instagram’s Creator Marketplace, YouTube BrandConnect or platforms like Collabstr and Aspire to source partners by niche, audience demographics, and past performance. Tap into LinkedIn for B2B creators, searching for creators by topics (e.g. AI, martech, sustainability) and reviewing engagement metrics on their native content. Leverage your existing customers or community for UGC. Often the most authentic advocates are your existing customers. Offer a creative brief, not a script. The best results come when creators are trusted to tailor your message to their audience in their own voice. Treat creators as strategic partners, not ad placements; you’ll see much more creativity and better results. 4. In B2B, lean on your employees In B2B, employee advocacy outperforms brand pages. Your people, from sales engineers to product managers, are your most credible storytellers. B2B employees typically have 12 times more organic reach (followers) than brand pages. With this in mind, encourage your team to share content such as: Insights or learnings from their role or industry. Reactions to trending news or updates in your space. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of work, processes, or events. Personal takes on challenges your customers or peers might relate to. Arming your team with a smartphone and some basic editing software such as Veed.io makes short-form video accessible to even the smallest budgets. It will create authenticity that resonates more than corporate comms ever could. Tip: Equip employees with tools (like video prompts), and incentivize participation. Not everyone will want to be on camera, but those who do can become influential voices for your brand. The creator-led future of performance marketing Today, influencers, creators and employee advocates are highly impactful in both B2B and B2C buying processes. With the rise of AI-generated content, real people and communities will help brands gain attention and maintain authenticity. Short-form video has now evolved into a foundational pillar of modern media strategy. It’s time to rethink your approach to content – from polished perfection to nimble, authentic, and native-first. Dig deeper: How to get better results from Meta ads with vertical video formats View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re looking for a home security camera that doesn’t cost a fortune but still delivers sharp video and smart features, the TP-Link Tapo C120 might be worth a closer look. At $24.99 (down from $39.99), it undercuts a lot of competition while still offering 2K video, color night vision, and voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant. TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 $24.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $39.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Get Deal $24.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $39.99 Save $15.00 It’s compact, just over two inches wide, with a clean design that fits just as easily on a bookshelf as it does on an outdoor wall. And thanks to its magnetic base and weatherproof IP66 rating, you can mount it indoors or out without stressing over the elements. That said, it plugs in with the included 10-foot USB-C cable, so it’s not battery-powered, but you won’t be dealing with frequent recharges either. What the TP-Link Tapo C120 does well is core functionality. Its video feed is sharp thanks to its 4MP sensor (with a 120-degree field of view), and it gives you full-color night vision (using its Starlight sensor plus its built-in spotlights) when there’s ambient light—or even in complete darkness if you toggle the white LEDs. And if you don’t want to light things up, you can always switch to black-and-white infrared mode via the companion app. Motion detection is customizable—you can set it to notify you only for people or cars, for example, which keeps the spammy alerts in check. You get the option to store clips locally using your own microSD card (up to 512GB) or pay for cloud storage via Tapo Care. That subscription starts at $3.49/month and adds things like longer clip history and better filtering, but it’s optional if you’re okay with handling storage yourself. That said, it doesn’t support Apple HomeKit or IFTTT, according to this PCMag review. Google Assistant and Alexa work fine, especially for viewing the feed on smart displays, but automation is limited beyond that. Two-way audio is there, too, but you have to hold a button on the app to talk, which can be annoying if you're using it frequently. Still, the footage it captures—especially at night—is better than what you’d expect from a sub-$30 camera. View the full article

With the US and China facing off in a tariff war, the time has come for the UK to pivotView the full article

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our cars. We love our vehicles because they represent freedom (and economic necessity, if you rely on one to get to work or do your grocery shopping), but we hate how much they cost—and the fact that you never actually stop paying for them. It costs an average of $1,452 every year just to keep your vehicle running, and the overall cost of owning a car is a whopping $6,684 annually. As crucial as vehicle maintenance is in terms of making sure your car is reliable, people tend to skip an awful lot of it. If all you do every year is the basics—changing the oil and engine filters in a standard tune-up—you’re skipping a bunch of maintenance that only seems less important. Here are the vehicle maintenance steps you should definitely not skip. Cleaning battery terminalsYour car’s battery is where the magic starts: When you turn the key or press the ignition button, a charged, fully-functioning battery sets everything in motion. Even if your battery is relatively new and still in good shape, corrosion can build up on the terminals. Anything that inhibits the connection between your battery and the systems it powers will impact your car’s performance and can damage your engine and electrical systems, so cleaning those terminals twice a year is a good idea. It’s a pretty simple process, actually. Checking all the fluidsSure, you change the oil according to a schedule—but your car runs on a lot of different fluids, and you should be checking and replacing them all regularly. This includes: Transmission fluid. Just because it’s “sealed” or described as “lifetime” doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be checked and possibly changed out. Making sure levels haven’t dropped when you change the oil is a good idea, and even if your transmission fluid is holding up at 100,000 miles, you should change it out. Brake fluid. Brake fluid can break down just like engine oil, so it’s a good idea to check it every time you change the oil, and change it out every few years, even if your brakes are working properly. You’re better off asking your mechanic to do this for you unless you’re very experienced, though, as brake fluid changes can be a bit more complicated than other fluids used in your car. Differential fluid. The differential distributes power to your wheels, making turns smoother and giving your car more stability. You should check your car’s manual for specifics, but generally speaking you should have it changed when you hit 30,000 miles or so. Coolant. If you haven’t checked your antifreeze recently, now would be the time. It’s incredibly easy to drain and replace your coolant, which you should do according to manufacturer recommendations or every few years. Power steering. You like being able to steer your car without putting your back into it, don’t you? Then you should be checking your power steering fluid to make sure it doesn’t resemble mud. If it does, change it. If it doesn’t, look up the recommended replacement schedule for your car and change it then. Change the wipersThe worst time to realize your windshield wipers have become a shell of their former selves is when you’re caught in a rainstorm and can’t see anything through the pour. Plus, there’s nothing less fun than changing your wipers in the midst of a storm. Your wipers will give you some warning that they’re wearing out, leaving streaks and making a lot of squeaky noises, so when you notice those signs, it’s time to pop off the old ones and pop on the new. Check the lightsYou rely on your car’s various lights—headlights, hazard lights, signal lights, and brake lights—for safe operation of the vehicle, so it’s amazing how many people don’t bother to check if they actually work. Take two minutes every year to turn on the lights and walk around the car to ensure they’re all working properly. Changing out a bulb here and there can spare you from being pulled over by a police officer—or worse. Check tire pressureProper tire pressure affects just about every aspect of your driving experience—it can make braking harder, affect the stability of the car (if you’ve never felt a car shake because the tires were overinflated, you haven’t lived), and impact fuel efficiency. Check the tire pressure (this is literally printed on the tire itself) at least once a month and adjust as needed. Even if you get your tires rotated regularly (as you should), you should also check your tires’ tread wear every now and then. Rapid or uneven wear on tire tread could indicate other problems with the car, and if your tires are starting to get a little bald it’s a very good idea to get them replaced before their lack of traction gets you into an accident. Cleaning out the drainsYou might not even be aware of the fact that your car has several drains that keep water from collecting in the engine—or in the cabin area. All of these drains should be inspected and cleaned out periodically—otherwise moisture will build up, rusting components and staining parts of the car. Typical drain locations include: Sunroofs. If you have a sunroof, there are drains built into the car that carry rain and other water that gets through the seals. Your car’s manual will show you exactly where they are, but they’re generally located in the corners of your sunroof well. Doors. Drains are often located at the bottom of your doors. Often the sunroof drains are connected to these as well. Windshield. Look where the windshield meets the hood of the vehicle, and you’ll likely find drains at each end. Trunk/bed. Drains are often included in the read of the vehicle as well. All of these drains can get clogged with gunk, which can lead to water inside the car, or invisible rusting and corrosion that destroys the vehicle from the inside-out. They can usually be cleaned with just a garden hose—the water pressure alone should work to expel built-up debris. If you have a stubborn clog, a length of wire run down through the drain should help. Change the cabin filterYou probably replace engine filters regularly, but have you ever inspected and replaced the cabin filter? These filters clean the air pumped into your vehicle’s interior via the A/C, heat, or ventilation system. It gets filthy just like any other filter, which leads to lower air quality in your vehicle’s cabin and extra stress on your systems. Look at your manual to find out where it’s hiding, then swap it out at least once a year—more often if you notice a drop in air quality, or if you regularly drive through some dusty areas. Washing the exteriorYou might think washing your car is a luxury, or a non-essential aspect of maintenance, but you would be wrong. Your car is bombarded with a ton of gross stuff—from dirt that scratches the finish, bugs that muck up your windshield, and corrosive stuff that can undermine your vehicle’s seals and other components. In other words, not washing your car on a regular basis will shorten its lifespan and increase your maintenance costs. View the full article

It’s been another chaotic weekend when it comes to President The President’s tariff trade war. On Friday, it was announced that electronic devices like smartphones and computers would be exempt from the looming tariffs of up to 145%—music tech investors’ ears. But by Sunday, the president had said that any exemptions would be short-lived. Despite this tariff exemption whiplash, the Magnificent Seven tech stocks of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla are all currently up in premarket trading this morning—the first trading session after the tariff exemptions were initially announced. Here’s what you need to know. Tariff exemption whiplash Since President The President announced sweeping tariffs on nearly every country in the world on April 2, the stock markets have been hammered. But perhaps even worse than the tariffs’ effect on the markets has been the messaging around the tariffs. At various times over the past two weeks, administration officials have stated that the tariffs are both open to negotiation and permanent. And now the messaging over tariff exemptions is equally as confusing. On Saturday, Bloomberg was the first to report that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is charged with managing tariffs on imported goods, had posted a bulletin day earlier, on April 11, that the The President administration had declared tariff exemptions on certain electronic devices. These exemptions meant that many popular consumer items—and items that are also critical to the supply chains of America’s Big Tech companies—would not be hit with staggering 145% tariffs if being imported from China (and lower, but still high tariffs from other nations). The bulletin said there were now exemptions on smartphones, computers, tablets, and even smartwatches, among other electronic items. This news was particularly welcome to Apple’s investors, as the company sources many of its iPhones, MacBooks, and Apple Watches from China. But this relief surrounding the tariff exemptions was short-lived. That’s because, on Sunday, April 13, The President officials and President The President himself stated that the just-published exemptions weren’t actually permanent. Policy confusion continues As noted by CNN, The President’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, told ABC News on Sunday morning that “(Electronics are) exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two.” In other words, Lutnick seemed to confirm that smartphones and laptops are indeed exempt from the existing reciprocal tariffs. However, he further implied that, in a few months, the The President administration will be rolling out another new type of tariff to cover items with semiconductors (computer chips) inside. That would mean smartphones and laptops will be hit with tariffs then. Lutnick also said that upcoming tariffs targeting products that are key to national security, which likely include semiconductor products, are “not available for negotiation.” President The President also chimed in on Sunday on Truth Social, announcing that “NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst!” The President went on to claim that “There was no Tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday.” He said that the reportedly previously announced exempted products like smartphones and laptops were still subject to an existing 20% fentanyl tariff “and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’” “The Fake News knows this, but refuses to report it,” the president continued. “We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.” Big tech stocks react in Monday trading While Apple would undoubtedly be the biggest winner from any electronics exemptions in the tariffs on China, nearly every major tech company would benefit as well. Even if they do not sell physical hardware products, they rely on servers and other electronics to keep their software services running. So it’s no wonder that, what the The President administration says is now just a temporary pause, is still being met with a positive reaction in the markets when it comes to the stock prices of the Magnificent Seven. Here’s how Mag Seven stocks are reacting at the time of this writing in premarket trading: Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG): up 1.4% Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN): up 1.6% Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL): up 4.9% Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META): up 1.7% Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT): up 0.8% NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA): up 1.8% Tesla, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA): up 1.3% It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that while the The President administration says any tariff exemptions are temporary, you have to take that with a grain of salt—or at least be aware that things could change in the future. The administration’s stance on tariffs—or at least the administration’s messaging around its stance on tariffs—has been all over the place this month. Things could be very different a week from now, as Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts pointed out this weekend. “Nobody can figure out what the rules will be five days from now, much less five years from now,” she said (via CNN). This story is developing . . . View the full article

I have lost count of the number of accomplished professionals who’ve said to me, “I don’t want to seem silly on video” or, “I am awkward when I’m on camera.” I have trained hundreds of people, ranging from members of Congress to supermodels to everyday folks, for national TV program appearances. Here are my tips to sound natural and authentic on camera. Toss The Teleprompter, Ditch the Script Try not to use a teleprompter! Here’s why: The idea of video is to build connection. Using a prompter makes you sound like a robot. For short-form videos, under a minute long, instead of relying on a teleprompter, identify two to three bullet points. Write them on a sticky note and put it on your phone or camera. Make sure to put it close to the lens so you have the proper eye line. If you must stick to a script—whether it’s to ensure legal accuracy, clearly communicate your offerings, or include specific required details—then using a prompter is totally fine. Just don’t let it flatten your energy. Don’t ‘Sell’ Etched into my memory is the spokesperson for now-defunct consumer electronics chain Crazy Eddie in a bizarre ad from the ‘80s where he shouts directly at you that the discounts are “insane.” He’s talking loudly and very quickly; it’s a prototypical sales pitch of that era. Too many of us remember that type of commercial, and we think we don’t want to be that guy. That’s the excuse people use to avoid making videos. Here’s the perfect solution: If you don’t want to be salesy, don’t sell. Every piece of content you put out there should deliver value: Focus on educating people, sharing your perspective of what’s happening in your industry, or having people feel seen. Over time, that will convert into sales, but not from shouting. A recent client who hired me to build their video marketing plan said she had been listening to me on a podcast and had been following me on social media for several months. I had been able to build that trust with her through providing her with valuable content online. No Studio? No Problem If you’re worried that the style or quality of your video will represent your company poorly, remember that for every Razzie Award-winning B-film, there is an Oscar-winning documentary. The key is understanding the style you want, and working with a video producer or agency to execute the style you’re interested in that feels most authentic to your brand and voice. Communicate your aesthetic preferences clearly and you’ll be closer to Oscar documentary than slasher film. If you’re interested in the DIY path but you’re worried your videos feel low-budget, there are simple ways around this. I coach clients on how to get the most of your iPhone (the resolution on the cameras are very high) and my clients have been able to expand their client list extensively through iPhone videos alone. Make sure to use the highest resolution settings on your phone both as you film it and maintain the high-quality settings as you edit and upload. There are of course many reasons to hire a professional video crew—where the audio and video quality are high and you can leave the tech up to someone else. View the full article

Your brand’s next impression could be through a chatbot. Here's how to get cited in generative AI search results. The post How To Get Brand Mentions In Generative AI appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Once upon a time, search engine optimizers (SEOs) and search engine marketers (SEMs) conducted keyword research before every new project or pay-per-click (PPC) campaign. They believed, “To reach your target audience, you need to know what words they use.” SEOs were advised: “Use words that people would use to look for your content, and place those words in prominent locations on the page, such as the title and main heading of a page, and other descriptive locations such as alt text and link text.” SEMs were told: “Choose words that are relevant to your product or service to target users making searches using those same terms.” But this fairy tale world existed before Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, announced an investment in internet infrastructure in the U.S. and a $75 million AI Opportunity Fund and Google AI Essentials Course in April 2024. Although Porat didn’t explicitly say “Rumpelstiltskin,” her announcement of those investments in infrastructure and AI skills means that targeting keywords will soon become mythical folklore like the Grimm’s fairy tale about spinning straw into gold. To reach your target audience in the foreseeable future, you still need to know what words they use. But it will become increasingly important for you to understand the true meaning behind these keywords or topics (e.g., their needs, wants, hopes, and fears). So, what does this mean for you? Well, it means different things to different brands and businesses. What does this mean for big brands? If you work for a big brand, you’ll want to pay as much attention to consumer research in the future as you paid to keyword research in the past. And while keyword research told you “What” consumers were searching for, consumer research can tell you “Why.” For example, a recent report by Kantar highlights a notable trend in consumer behavior despite the current climate of uncertainty and change. Individuals are actively focusing on improving their personal lives in positive ways, demonstrating a proactive approach to their well-being. This involves a significant emphasis on self-care, with consumers increasingly seeking products and services that contribute to their emotional well-being and relaxation. Specifically, the data reveals that a substantial majority, 82% of consumers, purchase items or experiences to enhance their sense of emotional wellness. They are drawn to content and experiences that offer positivity and upliftment, and they desire brands to acknowledge and reward their efforts and determination. Furthermore, appearance plays a significant role in mental health for younger generations. Up to 82% of Gen Z and 84% of Millennials agree that looking good is important for their mental well-being. This is evidenced by the growing interest in solutions like GLP-1s, where 70% of users report using them as motivation for broader health changes. Beyond personal well-being, consumers are also increasingly prioritizing sustainability, with 71% expressing a belief in the necessity of individual action to combat climate change. Marketers have begun to acknowledge these shifts, as seen in the more positive and even humorous tone adopted in advertising, such as during the Super Bowl. However, the report suggests that there is room for further engagement. Many younger consumers, 83% of Gen Z and 80% of Millennials, feel they must navigate the system strategically to obtain what they need. This is particularly evident in areas like AI, where many marketers acknowledge being behind consumer expectations. With consumers demonstrating resilience and a drive for positive change, Kantar suggests that this is an opportune time for marketers to increase their engagement and responsiveness to these evolving needs and desires. Now, many SEOs learned their craft at a time when there were theories about “keyword density.” But in an era driven by machine learning and AI, it’s more important than ever to “optimize” content for the searcher’s intent. The same is true for PPC. These days, fewer ads target the specific keywords that people use, and more ads target their “interests.” This includes affinity audiences as well as in-market audiences. It’s time to stop trying to guess Rumpelstiltskin’s name. If you want content or ads to connect with your target audience, you must realize that keywords are rapidly becoming “straw,” which can’t be spun into a precious metal. But if you recognize that people want upbeat and uplifting content, then you’ve struck “gold.” What does this mean for medium-sized businesses? If you work for a medium-sized business, then you often need to collect information about purchase intent in a specific industry for your sales teams to connect with potential leads. In early 2024, I led a series of generative AI training workshops for the content team at a company serving the higher education market. Their audience included students, faculty, and institutional leaders. Keyword research back then told us that: College students were searching for “used textbooks” and “cheap textbooks.” Faculty members were search for “new textbooks” and “best textbooks.” Institutional leaders were searching for “open educational resources” and “OER textbooks.” But before entering this keyword corn maze today, I would kick off my training workshop by asking participants to read and discuss a recent article, “Consumer journeys have changed. Find out how the 4S behaviors can redefine your marketing.” The article says traditional marketing funnel is no longer adequate for understanding contemporary consumer behavior, as consumers now engage with brands through a dynamic and multifaceted network of touchpoints. Research from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) highlights four pivotal behaviors that are fundamentally reshaping consumer interactions with brands: Streaming. Scrolling. Searching. Shopping. Adapting marketing strategies to align with these “4S behaviors” is essential for effectively reaching and resonating with audiences, ultimately driving sales. Streaming involves the continuous and personalized consumption of content across platforms like YouTube, connected TV, and podcasts, enabling a seamless transition from brand discovery to decision-making. Marketers can leverage streaming by focusing on content sequencing, AI-driven personalization, and interactive storytelling to transform passive viewers into engaged individuals. Scrolling represents discovery through browsing social feeds, akin to modern window shopping, where individuals explore without immediate purchase intent. Capturing attention in this environment requires optimized creative elements, compelling narratives, and AI-driven personalization. Searching has evolved beyond simple keyword entries. Consumers now utilize AI-powered tools like Gemini, Google Lens, and multimodal search, blending text, image, and voice inputs. As search habits become more sophisticated, marketers must optimize for various search ecosystems and employ AI-based advertising solutions. Shopping is no longer a linear process. It’s a nonlinear and seamless experience, with consumers expecting effortless purchases through social commerce, shoppable ads, and in-app checkouts. Marketers need to integrate shopping opportunities into all relevant marketing touchpoints, using AI-powered recommendations and personalized offers. The emergence of the 4S behaviors presents both challenges and opportunities. It requires a shift from the traditional marketing funnel to a more adaptable framework that embraces influence and AI. By aligning strategies with the realities of today’s consumer journey, medium-sized businesses can effectively capitalize on these evolving behaviors. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. What does this mean for small businesses? If you provide local marketing services to small businesses, you may want to skip the fairy tales and tell your clients what Sun Tzu once said in “The Art of War,” an ancient Chinese military treatise: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” OK, boomer. So, how do you help a small business owner spot a niche opportunity in a hyperlocal geographical area in an incredibly affordable way? Start by suggesting that they increase the time they spend talking with customers. When they tell you that they don’t have more time, then let them know that you can help by conducting a couple of no-cost or low-cost surveys. For example, Google Surveys simplifies website customer satisfaction measurement by providing an easy way to create and deploy surveys directly on your site. These surveys, consisting of four standard questions, automatically collect and analyze user feedback, presenting the results through an intuitive online interface. The system ensures continuous data collection by running surveys until 500 responses are gathered, restarting monthly if completed within 30 days, or quarterly otherwise, across both mobile and desktop platforms in supported markets. While the standard website satisfaction survey is free, users can create custom surveys with tailored questions for a small fee. These custom surveys, which allow for screening questions, are served alongside the standard survey. The standard survey is available in English, while custom surveys can be written in German, Italian, Dutch, and Japanese. Local marketers who help small business owners by using Google Surveys benefit from demographic segmentation, interactive data visualizations, and downloadable data sets. However, it’s crucial to remember that the demographic data reflects the website’s specific audience, not the general population. You can also help your small business clients by creating surveys using Google Forms, which gives you the flexibility to choose from a variety of question types to tailor your surveys to your specific needs. Furthermore, the platform allows for the creation of polished surveys. This includes the ability to implement custom logic, ensuring that respondents see questions relevant to their previous answers, leading to a more engaging and efficient survey experience. The distribution of these surveys is also fairly convenient. You can send opinion polls via email, embed them directly onto a website, or share a link across various social media platforms to maximize reach. Finally, Google Forms enables you to analyze responses effectively. It provides automatic summaries of the data collected, offering a quick overview of the results. For those requiring a more in-depth analysis, the raw data can be easily accessed and opened with Google Sheets, enabling users to perform more detailed evaluations. Are keywords dead? To borrow a line from another fairy tale, it just so happens that the keyword is “only mostly dead.” And as Miracle Max told us in The Princess Bride, “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.” I learned this lesson more than 20 years ago when I helped optimize a press release with the headline, “Southwest Airlines Treats Customers to 22 New Daily Nonstop Flights With Low Fares Starting at $29 One-Way.” At the time, popular search terms based on keyword research indicated included: “Cheap tickets.” “Cheap flights.” “Cheap airline.” “Cheap airline tickets.” “Cheap airlines.” “Cheap airfare.” “Cheap fares.” “Cheap flight.” “Cheap air tickets.” “Cheap airfares.” But we harnessed this intent with the phrase, “$29 one-way,” which was not a search term. And that press release ended up generating over $1 million in airline ticket sales. Today, you can provide even more value to your big brand, medium-sized business, or small business clients by going back to basics: old-school market research and customer surveys. These methods offer deeper strategic insights into customer intent than simply relying on keyword research, which often just delivers larger buckets of search terms for SEO or PPC campaigns. This isn’t a fairy tale like the classic one about spinning straw into gold. It’s your best strategy to avoid the pitfalls and seize the opportunities amid chaos. View the full article

Google released a new Google Ads ad strength guide and best practices document. The document should help you improve your overall ad strength in Google Ads.View the full article

European Commission officials heading to IMF and World Bank spring meetings advised to travel with basic devicesView the full article

Here’s a question: How can you boost the performance of your Instagram posts and reels in one minute or less? The answer lies in your Instagram Stories. I do this for every post I share on Instagram, and it never fails to help my content gain traction. That’s because reposting my feed posts to my Instagram stories helps my most engaged followers (read: my mom) see my Instagram content, which might not have popped up on their feeds yet. It all has to do with the way the Instagram algorithm for stories works — which, yes, is different from the feed algorithm. Your Instagram Stories tray will always feature the stories of Instagram users you watch and engage with most often — and vice versa. Your biggest fans will likely always see your stories front and center, before they even begin to scroll their feeds. So, sharing all your new content to your Instagram Stories makes sure the folks most likely to engage with it see it. They’re the group of followers most likely to tap over to your new posts, flick through the carousel, watch the entire Instagram reel, and hopefully, double-tap or comment. And the more engagement your feed post receives, the better it will perform. Really, it’s a no-brainer. Another bonus: it’s so, so simple to do. And, if you’re really organized, you can schedule an Instagram Story in advance, too. 👀 Here’s exactly how to share an Instagram post to your Instagram Stories. How to share a feed post to your Instagram StoryHere’s how to add a post to your story in just a few taps on the Instagram app. Note that this will work for your own content, as well as someone else's (as long as an Instagram reel, carousel, or photo is public, you can share it to your Instagram stories): On the Instagram app, find the post you want to share (your own or someone else’s — as long as it’s from a public account). Tap the paper airplane icon underneath the post (the same one you’d use to send it in a DM).Select ‘Add to story.’Instagram will pull the Instagram post into a stories draft, where you can move it around, resize it, rotate it, and customize it with text, GIFs, stickers, or drawings — whatever fits your vibe. When you’re ready, tap the ‘Your Story’ button.All done! Screenshots showing how to share an Instagram post to your Instagram Stories.✨ When you share a feed post to stories on the Instagram app, it automatically includes the original account’s username and links back to the post itself. If someone taps it, they’ll head straight to the feed post. How handy is that? Note: You won't be able to share your stories on Instagram's website (sometimes referred to as Instagram desktop version). The feature is only available on the Instagram app. A pro tip for sharing your post to Instagram stories: if you have time, add some fun context, GIFs, or stickers before you hit publish. I always like to add some commentary with text, just so folks who see the post in my stories get a little something extra (no matter how small!). More on this below. 📌If you have a public account and want to prevent others from sharing your posts to their stories, you can toggle this setting off under Settings → Privacy → Story.Schedule your Instagram Stories along with your postNow, when I’m really organized, I like to schedule a little ‘promo’ story whenever I schedule Instagram content. That way, all of the work is done ahead of time, and my new Instagram post immediately finds its way to my most engaged followers. Doing this with Buffer is really easy — and available on the free plan, too. Here’s how: Step 1: Schedule your postIf you’re not already signed up to Buffer, you can do that here. It’ll take you less than two minutes to create your account, and you’ll be prompted to connect a channel (Instagram, in this case, straight away).From there, click on the ‘+ New’ button on the top right, and choose ‘Post.’ (You can also tap directly in your calendar or queue — there are several ways to start a new post in Buffer.)Choose Instagram (and any other channels you might like to crosspost to), upload your video or photo/s, and add your caption.When you’re happy with your post, hit ‘Add to queue’ (or choose a specific time). Voila, your post is scheduled!Step 2: Schedule your storyClick on the ‘+ New’ button on the top right, and choose ‘Post.’Choose Instagram, Click on ‘Story’ right at the top of the window.Upload your video or photo/s, and add your caption. (I always like to share the thumbnail here instead if I created one for Instagram Reels, for example.)Add any text you’d like to appear, or note music, links, and other tags you’d like to add. I always like to add a link to my Instagram profile (don’t worry — if you choose ‘Notify me’ posting, you can edit the font and placement before posting!).If you opted for notification posting, you’ll get a notification on your phone when the time comes to post — be sure you have the Buffer app installed on your phone to get this.From there, all you need to do is follow the prompts, and you’ll be taken right to the Instagram app, where you can edit and add your text, music, location, link, and more.When you’re ready, post your story as normal.When you’re happy with your post, hit ‘Add to queue’ (or choose a specific time). Voila, your post is scheduled! Note that since the feed post won’t be ‘live’ when you schedule your post, your followers won't be able to tap on the post in the story and be taken straight to your content. That’s why adding your Instagram profile link to the ‘link’ sticker is really handy here. Tips for making reposted content more engagingAs I touched on above, sharing a feed post to stories is a great first step — and even that simple action may well help boost your reach and engagement. Still, if you want to get the most out of this nifty little tactic, you might want to spend some time getting a little more creative. Here are a few easy ways to do just that: 1. Add a caption or contextIt's always best not to assume your followers will know what they’re looking at. A quick line explaining what or why you’re sharing a post goes a long way. Bonus points if you can add a little intrigue or spotlight the value you're sharing in the post. Here are some ideas: “ICYMI: This post covers all the tips about [insert niche here] that I wish I’d known sooner.”"This reel about [niche] took me about 20 takes to film! 😆 Worth every second.”2. Use stickers to spark interactionInstagram’s built-in stickers make it easy to start a conversation or get feedback. Plus, the easy action of reasoning to a poll or answering a question can help boost the engagement and reach of your story — in turn, hosting the engagement and reach of your feed post. Some ideas: Poll sticker ("Have you tried this?" "Which would you have chosen?"Question box (“Any questions about this?” / “Want me to cover this in more detail?”)3. Share video commentary on your stories firstIf you’re comfortable on camera, record a quick video talking about your post or adding a behind-the-scenes detail. It’s a low-lift way to really help build a connection with your followers and show up more authentically. For example: “This tip came from a real conversation I had with a client last week…” Be sure to finish with something like, "I'll add the post to my next story so you can tap over!" Why you can't share a post to your story on InstagramAre the above options not working for you? If you’re trying to share someone else's post to your stories and you don't see the option when you tap the paper airplane icon, there may be several reasons for this. Here they are (and what you might be able to do.) 1. The account is privateOnly posts from public Instagram accounts can be shared to stories. If the post was shared by a private Instagram account, you won’t see the option to add it to your story — even if you follow them. 2. The account has sharing disabledEven public accounts can turn off the ability for people to share their posts to stories. It’s a privacy setting that’s easy to toggle on or off. If you want to double-check yours: Go to your Instagram SettingsTap Privacy > StoryScroll to SharingToggle Allow Resharing to Stories on or offIf this setting is turned off on someone else’s Instagram account, you won’t be able to share their feed post to your story. 3. You might need to update the Instagram appSometimes Instagram’s newer features (or small glitches) are resolved with a quick app update. If sharing used to work and suddenly doesn’t, try: Updating the Instagram app from your device’s app storeLogging out and back in4. You're trying to share on the Instagram websiteAs I mentioned above, the ability to share posts to your stories is only available in the Instagram app, not on Instagram.com in your browser. This one is easy enough to fix, however — just save the link of the post, if necessary, and hop over to the app version to share. Sharing your posts to stories is a win-winSharing your Instagram Reels, carousels, and photos to your stories is a simple tactic with loads of benefits. It helps drive more views, likes, and comments on your latest post — and it gives you a chance to add extra context, personality, or commentary around your post. If you’re focused on growing your following on Instagram, I’d highly recommend making this step part of your posting routine! View the full article

Google is testing yet another search feature that generates new queries on Google Search. This one is named "Ask a follow-up" and they are sported with the Gemini stars next to them.View the full article

Microsoft is testing yet another variation for its favicons in the Bing Search snippets. This one uses a dark gray background, with a circle formatted favicon, next to the search result snippets.View the full article

“Who am I to tell them how to make decisions?” This anxiety-induced thought played like a broken record in my head as my first leadership training event approached in my new role as a training director. Talking in front of 40 leaders, most of whom were older than my ripe old age of 30 at the time felt like the perfect opportunity for them to see right through my lack of expertise and expose me as the fraud I was. Years ago, while working at a regional bank, I was promoted from trainer to leading a training team in another department. My prior roles as a sales trainer and human resources consultant allowed me to build a company-wide reputation as an expert on complicated sales processes and navigating employee benefits and hiring processes. This new role pushed me out of the payment division into the retail branch banking side. In other words, it was way out of my comfort zone. And at this first training event, I could no longer rely on my expertise to help me feel safe, trusted, or relevant. The Sky Parted That first event was tough. Afterward, I admitted to my manager, “Who am I to tell them what to do? I’ve been a manager for about five minutes and most of these leaders have been managers for 15 years.” The question she posed to me next transformed my relationship with expertise for a lifetime. She asked, “What if your job is not to be the expert up there, but to facilitate the expertise in the room?” It was like the sky parted and the sun emerged. Of course that was the answer. Because I had been promoted throughout my career due to my level of expertise, it was natural for me to assume that in my new role, expertise was the only way I could add value. Instead of being the expert, I had to rebrand myself as a leader who could facilitate, promote, and grow the expertise around her, whether it be in a training room, on my team, or even now leading my own coaching and speaking practice. Managers looking to break their identity as the expert and the go-to can benefit from undertaking a similar rebranding campaign. People will likely continue to reach out to you, hoping for you to provide quick answers or jump in to help them fix an issue the way you used to. But it’s critical that you teach others how to see and use you in a new way so that you can advance to more strategic levels of leadership. This is easier said than done. After all, people have grown accustomed to your old ways of working. Here are some common situations that can keep your stuck in the expert identity trap and some strategies to consider to avoid it. THE GUILT TRAP Moving into a new leadership role can sometimes unsettle colleagues accustomed to our old ways of working. They may (intentionally or not) attempt to elicit guilt, saying things like, “You used to do this for me” or “People are going to be upset about this change.” While these concerns may be valid, your role is to redirect any resistance toward productive outcomes. A helpful response might be, “That’s true, and moving forward, my focus is on working on this strategic project development for my team.” Here are some other questions you can ask to redirect their energy: I know I used to handle this issue. How can I help you get the resources you need to move forward? I could give you the answer and I would also love to help you self-source for future needs. Where have you looked so far? I understand that people may be upset that I’m not involved any longer. What ideas do you have to help support them moving forward? THE HABIT TRAP As I rose to new levels of leadership in my corporate roles, if I continued saying yes to too many requests to do the work myself, people would continue to expect this of me. As a result, I would have been too busy delivering training without enough time to plan for, coach, and develop my direct reports. It would also mean my team loses out on valuable development opportunities and meaningful work. In every conversation, you have the opportunity to set the tone for your leadership, for the team, and for yourself. This includes expressing your expectations and having clear boundary conversations to redistribute and delegate work that is no longer yours. This might sound like: Jane handles this project now. I’d be happy to coordinate an introduction and handoff. Matt will be leading this initiative from now on. I’d be happy to schedule time for us to connect and coordinate transitions. THE COMFORT TRAP When you are promoted, comfort can get the best of your leaders if they continue assigning the same tasks as they did before the promotion. Because they value your speed and competence, this can hinder your growth in your new role. To avoid this, proactive communication is key. In my experience making this shift, I proactively communicated with my leader by clearly defining which projects I’d handle personally and which I’d delegate. I also encouraged my leader to reset expectations with her peers, making it clear my team would take on more project work as I transitioned into higher-level responsibilities. Aligning with leadership across the organization ensures that both you and your team are positioned to grow into new opportunities. This might sound like: I’d like my team to take on this project moving forward, so I can uplevel. How should we best communicate this to your peer group? Instead of me, my team will be leading these events. How should we best inform your peers so they know to go to Susie instead of me? THE FREE TIME TRAP You have excused yourself from meetings you don’t need to be a part of and successfully delegated work. Now what? The mindset shift from “respond and react” to “think and plan” is challenging. One of my clients said it best: “I’m staring at a blank Word document that is supposed to be our annual strategic plan and I don’t know where to begin.” This space can feel disorienting and lead to the question, “If I’m not doing the visible work, then how am I adding value?” The key is to turn non-doing into an opportunity for growth and clarity. Focus on creating value by developing a new expertise setting strategic goals and coaching your team to achieve them. Try reflecting on some basic questions like: What did our team accomplish in the last month? Quarter? Year? What opportunities exist in our organization or market? What threats may hinder our progress or ability to succeed? Do I have the talent on my team to accomplish our future goals and objectives? What does good coaching, development, or support look like to achieve our goals? What key relationships do I need to repair, retain, or cultivate to ensure we reach our team’s goals? Breaking free from the expert trap requires you to redefine your value as a leader. The real measure of leadership is not in having all the answers but in cultivating the conditions for others to grow, contribute, and step into their own expertise. As you navigate this transformation, ask yourself: “What legacy do I want to leave? Do I want to be the person who always had the answers or the leader who empowered others to find their own?” View the full article

Stock market frenzy after The President inauguration has boosted earnings across Wall StreetView the full article

Google is experimenting more with shopping carousels, this time, showing products and then which articles are recommending those products. These can be shown in best of articles and recommended in articles. View the full article

The Buffalo, New York bank's loans edged higher in the first quarter while deposits fell 1.7% from a year ago. The bank also lowered its full-year outlook for loans and deposits. View the full article