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We're now seeing significant AI upgrades from the big players in the field almost every week, with most new features quickly copied by rival companies as each one looks to stay ahead. Now it's time for Microsoft Copilot to play catch-up, as it adds a host of features we've previously seen tested by Microsoft or launched for other AI chatbots. Copilot now has Deep Research, for example, to match all the Deep Research tools elsewhere, while Copilot Search has been upgraded. Microsoft has also rolled out its own AI-hosted podcast generator, a tool that's been available for a while on competing services. There's a lot to explore, and each new feature is explained below. These updates have just been announced and are rolling out over the "coming weeks and months," depending on "platform, market and language." At the time of writing I wasn't able to access or test any of them except Copilot Search, but this is all the information we have about them from Microsoft. Copilot MemoryCopilot can now remember more about you, and personalize its answers accordingly. In return for a little less privacy, you get a little more convenience: The AI bot won't suggest a mushroom recipe if it knows you hate mushrooms, for example, and can recall previous anniversary gifts for your partner so you don't purchase the same item twice. This matches what we've seen with Gemini and ChatGPT, and does raise some questions about how much we should really be sharing with these AIs. Microsoft says a full set of privacy options will be coming to the Copilot dashboard, and you'll be able to "choose which types of information it remembers about you or to opt out entirely." Copilot ActionsCopilot is joining the ranks of the AI agents—bots that can actually carry out tasks for you, such as booking hotel rooms or buying gifts for friends (nothing says you care like having AI do the work of purchasing gifts, after all). It's called Copilot Actions, and the launch partners are 1-800-Flowers.com, Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, OpenTable, Priceline, Tripadvisor, Skyscanner, Viator, and Vrbo. This is in some ways an elaborate upgrade on autofill: For example, tell Copilot where you want to stay and when, and it'll do the job of filling out all the forms with that information (and your address and payment details) on the hotel website. As with other AI agents, like Opera's Browser Operator, it has the potential to be very useful and also go very wrong. Copilot VisionCopilot Vision isn't actually new, having made its debut on the web last year, but it's now coming to the apps for Windows, Android, and iOS. It means you'll be able to point your device camera at something and have Copilot identify it, or answer questions about it—so the AI is essentially seeing the world around you at the same time as you. AI tools have long been able to identify the contents of images and photos of course, but Copilot Vision adds real-time processing and interpretation. The Copilot app for Windows will be able to run the same sort of analysis on whatever's on your computer screen as well, and even interact with files and apps if needed. Copilot Vision is expanding to more devices, including Windows. Credit: Microsoft Copilot PagesCopilot Canvas is a bit like ChatGPT Canvas combined with ChatGPT Projects, or something along the lines of the Notion app, giving you space to organize disparate thoughts and notes in one central hub. It'll come in handy for creating content, exploring ideas, and running research projects. This isn't completely new either, having previously been available to business customers signed up for Microsoft 365 Copilot—where it can be used as a way of collaborating with other people, like a giant Google Docs file with added AI. Now it's rolling out so individual users can explore it too. Copilot PodcastsYou may well have come across the AI podcasts you can magic up through Gemini or NotebookLM from Google, and now Copilot can do the same: You can either choose one of Copilot's suggestions based on your interests and what you've been chatting about, or feed it specific documents and websites for content prompts. It's possible to interact with the podcasts while they're playing, Microsoft says, and it gives you another way of exploring topics beyond the default to-and-fro of the text conversation. This is one of the more clever tricks that AI chatbots have managed so far, so it's no surprise to see Copilot joining in with a version of its own. Copilot is getting into the AI podcast game. Credit: Microsoft Copilot Deep ResearchMicrosoft obviously saw ChatGPT Deep Research, Perplexity Deep Research, and Gemini Deep Research, and decided that name was as good as any for its own matching feature inside Copilot. As with the competitor offerings, the idea is you give Copilot a topic to research, and it'll go away and scour the web for relevant articles and resources. All the information it finds will then be put together in a carefully curated and formatted report at the end, almost like an actual person has done it. Microsoft says queries run with Deep Research enabled will take between three to six minutes to complete; unless you're on Copilot Pro, you'll be limited to five Deep Research queries a month. Copilot ShoppingIf you've ever felt your online shopping could use some AI help, you're in luck: Copilot has added some extra enhancements to its ability to scour the web for the best deals. You can now get the chatbot to research the details of items, and compare them against each other (like the Pixel 9a and the iPhone 16e), in more detail. Microsoft is also going to start adding direct links to buy products from within Copilot, as well as the option to track prices as they rise and fall—so you might get an alert from the AI assistant telling you the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is now cheaper than ever. And this is something Copilot does better than its AI rivals right now. Copilot SearchCopilot and Bing go way back, but now Microsoft is taking on Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT Search more directly with a more prominent and widely available search offering: Copilot Search will serve you "intelligently curated information" with the goal of avoiding "potentially misleading information" as much as possible. This is something that's live now globally, so I could test this one out. As with the Google and ChatGPT offerings, information is neatly laid out, with small citation and source boxes dotted around just in case you want to check the human (or AI?) writing on the web the answers have been scraped from. Copilot Search correctly identified R.E.M.'s first album for me (mainly by regurgitating Wikipedia—thank you, human contributors), and properly explained how DNA worked—though it was interesting that it quoted a "guest author" on DailyNewsHungary as well as Healthline for this one. Perhaps more work on sources is needed. View the full article

Finding the best travel deals is a matter of timing. A lot of people think travel is just expensive, but in reality, there are incredible deals happening all the time. They often don’t last too long, and you have to act quickly. That can sometimes be a problem when a deal requires jumping on a plane tomorrow (how many people can do that?). Fortunately, most deals are for months in the future, giving you ample time to plan your schedule. Often I will book a flight and then figure out my plans. Since you can usually cancel a flight within 24 hours without incurring a fee, I lock in the deal and then figure out if I can make it work. Sometimes I can (like the $1,200 USD business-class flight from LA to Stockholm round-trip); sometimes I can’t (like the $400 USD New Zealand flights I had to cancel). I am always looking out for deals. Today, I want to tell you where I go for travel deals, tips, and expert advice. After all, these resources focus solely on this one aspect of travel, so why not use them? I can’t know everything, so I rely on specialists. If travel were a hospital, I would be your general practitioner. Here’s a quick look at the top companies I use and suggest: Quick Overview: Best Travel Deals Best Hostel Website Hostelworld Best Hotel Website Booking.com Best Cheap Flight Website Skyscanner Best Travel Insurance SafetyWing For a full breakdown of each company and what they are best for, click on the links below to jump to that section: Where to Find the Best Flight Deals When it comes to finding flight deals, I use these four websites for last-minute deals. There are always finding new (and tempting) last minute flights — often for a fraction of what you would pay otherwise. My go-to website for cheap flight deals is Going.com. Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights, this is an awesome resource for finding flight deals from the US. They offer free flight alerts, and with a premium membership you get access to even more deals as soon as they find them. (New users can get 20% off Premium with the code NOMADICMATT20.) Three other great websites to use are: The Flight Deal – This is a great resource for finding cheap flights from the USA. If you’re based in the States, start your research here! Secret Flying – This cheap flight website finds “error fares” (when airlines make pricing mistakes) to and from destinations all around the globe. Holiday Pirates – No matter where you’re based this is a great cheap flight website so be sure to always check here for more deals. If you’re simply looking to book a flight, check out the search engines below. It’s important to remember that there is no one best online booking website. All the search engine websites have blind spots so it’s important to search a few different places before you book your flight. Generally, the BEST booking sites are the following: Skyscanner – I always start my searches with Skyscanner. It’s a very intuitive platform that searches booking websites and airlines all around the world to ensure that no deal is missed. If you’re not 100% sure where you want to go (or when) then start your search with Skyscanner. Google Flights – A good all-around flight search website to include in your cheap flight arsenal. Where to Find the Best Points & Miles News When it comes to finding the latest in airline and frequent flier news, I turn to these sites. They give me the latest on the changes in the industry and loyalty programs, and any points and miles news that might be important: View from the Wing – This is where I go for airline and frequent flier news. The Points Guy – A great resource for credit card and points & miles news and information. One Mile at a Time – This is a great website for credit card, in-flight experiences, and frequent flier news. For Australia and New Zealand, visit Points Hack. For Canada, use Prince of Travel. For the UK, Head for Points. As a very, very, very avid traveler (and while I have my own special tricks and tips), when you’re overseas a lot, it’s hard to stay up to date on your own so I use these three sites to keep me in the loop. READ MORE: Points & Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide The Best Travel Credit Cards How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card Where to Find the Best Cruise Deals In my mind, there is only one cruise deal website worth following: CruiseSheet. This site consistently has some of the lowest rates out there, and its interface is beautiful. If I don’t find anything on CruiseSheet or want to double-check a price, I go to the second-best website, vacationstogo.com. Where to Find the Best Transportation Deals If you’re looking for budget transportation, these are the websites you’ll want to check. Cheap buses, trains, and rideshare apps can help keep your transportation costs low, giving you more time on the road. Here are my favorites: FlixBus – A budget-friendly bus company routes all across Europe and parts of the USA. Trainline – Offers a variety of discounted train passes for both individual countries as well as entire regions of Europe, including passes for the entire continent. Rome2Rio – A helpful resource for finding and comparing budget transportation options. BlaBlaCar – A rideshare app that pairs travelers with local drivers who are looking to pick up passengers for a small fee. RVShare – A sharing economy platform for renting RVs and camper vans directly from locals. Turo – A car rental app that enables you to rent cars for short periods of time from locals. Japan Rail Pass – A budget-friendly train pass exclusively for Japan. Comes in 7, 14, and 21-day passes. Discover Cars – A comprehensive rental car aggregator for destinations all around the globe. I always find the best car rental deals here. READ MORE: A Complete Guide to the Japan Rail Pass A Complete Guide to the Eurail Global Pass How to Find a Cheap Rental Car Where to Find the Best Accommodation Deals From hotels to hostels to camping, there are tons of great websites out there to help you find deals and save money. Here are my suggestions to help you get started: Booking.com – This is the best website for finding hotels no matter where you are in the world. I usually start my search for hotel rooms here. Campspace – This app connects you with locals renting out plots of land, RVs, cabins, and camper vans ranging from rustic to glamping. Trusted Housesitters – Helps travelers connect with locals looking for house and pet sitters. Great for slow travelers/long-term travelers. HomeExchange – A network that facilitates swapping homes with another person or family. They have over 200,000 members with houses in 155 countries, making it an amazing platform for finding house swaps around the globe. Hostelworld – They are hands-down the best resource for finding budget-friendly hostels around the world. I use them every time I travel and you should too! HostelPass – This card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money and it’s constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use the code NOMADICMATT to get 25% off too! READ MORE: How to Find a Cheap Hotel Room: Sites to Use and Sites to Avoid How to Start House Sitting How to Pick a Good Hostel Where to Find the Best Tour Deals For tours and excursions, I keep an eye on the following companies by subscribing to their emails: The Nomadic Network (TNN) – I created this global community for travel lovers in 2019. While I no longer run it (they’re now run by Lisa, a long-time TNN community member), they’re great group tours for people who want to travel — not simply vacation! Intrepid Travel – This is my favorite small-group tour company. They hire local guides and are great for both solo travelers and couples/groups. Walks – Walks operates small group tours with local guides in some of the best cities around the world. Devour Food Tours – My go-to food tour company, with tours all around Europe and the US. EatWith – Allows you to eat home cooked meals with local cooks. Everyone sets their own price (so prices can vary wildly depending on the cook) but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend. Get Your Guide – A huge activity aggregator where you can find and book all kinds of activities, from cooking classes to walking tours to multi-day local excursions. Worldpackers – Worldpackers organizes group tours centered around volunteer experiences. It’s a great way to meet like-minded travelers while giving back to local communities. READ MORE: How to Pick the Best Tour Company My Favorite Walking Tours Around the World Where I Find the Best Travel Insurance Deals I never travel anywhere without travel insurance. After dealing with injuries and emergencies abroad (and knowing plenty of other travelers who have been injured or robbed on the road) I always make sure I have comprehensive medical and travel insurance before I leave home. Here are my recommended companies for finding the best travel insurance: SafetyWing – This is my go-to travel insurance company. They offer affordable monthly plans with a deductible. Great for digital nomads and frugal travelers! Insure My Trip – If you’re over 70 and looking for insurance, this is the best place to find it! Medjet – Medjet is a good option for people who are going to be far from home and want added evacuation coverage. It’s great for solo travelers and super affordable. World Nomads – The first company I ever got travel insurance with, World Nomads is best for adventurous travelers. They cover a lot of adventure activities that other companies don’t, and now even offer annual travel insurance. READ MORE: The Best Travel Insurance Companies Do You Need Medical Evacuation Coverage? A Complete Guide to Buying Travel Insurance *** While I think my site is amazing for your on-the-ground tips, tricks, and advice needs, for when you need travel deals to get you to where you want to go, use the companies above. They’re what I use, and they’ve never steered me wrong! They’ll save you the most money! Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: SafetyWing (best for budget travelers) World Nomads (best for mid-range travelers) InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals. Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip! Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip. The post Where I Find the Best Travel Deals appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

Google Maps content moderation now uses Gemini to detect fake reviews and suspicious profile edits. Learn how these new tools protect businesses. The post Google Maps Gets An Upgrade To Combat Fake Reviews appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

When the Google Pixel 9 series launched, it came with a number of exclusive software features to tempt more people into upgrading, including Pixel Screenshots and the Add Me tool for composite photos. The latest Pixel 9-only feature to roll out is called Connected Cameras, and it means you can use any Pixel 9 series handset as a viewfinder and remote for a compatible GoPro camera, or another Pixel phone. It's easy to see why this could be useful: You could mount your GoPro on your helmet, or put another Pixel phone in a spot you can't easily get to (like on a high wall), and then control these cameras and see what they're seeing from your Pixel 9 handset. For this to work, you need any Pixel 9 model to get the feature set up, then either a GoPro 10 (or later) or a Pixel 6 (or later) as the camera to connect to. The process of getting everything configured varies slightly depending on whether you're using an action camera or a phone, and you need to have the latest software installed on all your devices. Connecting to a second camera Credit: Lifehacker First, you need to turn the Connected Cameras feature on. From the Pixel 9 you want to use to control another camera, open Settings and then tap Connected devices > Connection preferences > Connected Cameras. Read all the info shown on screen, then enable the Use Connected Cameras toggle switch. If you're connecting to a GoPro, it needs to be paired over Bluetooth. Back on the Connection preferences screen, tap Bluetooth, and make sure it's turned on. Then, tap Pair new device. Put your GoPro into pairing mode (on the latest models, swipe down from the top of the rear touchscreen, then swipe left and choose + Pair Device), and it should appear on your phone as a Bluetooth device you can connect to—just tap the GoPro name to connect. For making a connection to another Pixel phone, they both need to be linked to the same Google account, and they both need to have cross-device services enabled: To check this is switched on, open Android Settings, then tap your name at the top and choose All services, then Cross-device services. As long as those two criteria are met, Connected Cameras should work. A few considerations to bear in mind: You can only use one remote camera at a time, so if you want to switch, you need to disconnect from the current remote camera first. The audio will be sourced from the camera you've connected to (as well as the images and video), but if you're doing this over Bluetooth then you might notice some degradation in the sound quality. Capturing content inside apps Look for this camera picker in compatible apps, like Snapchat. Credit: Lifehacker Once you've got a device connected you're almost there, but you can't simply launch the Camera app on your Pixel 9 and start snapping away: You need to use an app that's compatible with Connected Camera, and right now the apps that qualify are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Each of these apps can capture images and video, as well as set up livestreams, and they all feature a camera picker that lets you choose a camera other than the one built into the phone they're running on. You can even switch between the camera on your Pixel 9 and the remote camera while recording or livestreaming a video. Open up any of the five apps supporting the feature, and whenever you get to a screen for shooting photos or video, you should see the camera picker icon: It looks like a little digital camera, at the side of the screen. Tap this, and you'll see any connected GoPros listed, as well as the option to Add Pixel (which will connect you to another Pixel phone—you'll need to confirm the connection on the other Pixel too). Once the connection is made, you're able to capture photos and videos in the app as normal. To change the camera, just tap the camera picker icon again. Based on my brief testing, it all works as advertised, though the Bluetooth connection to a GoPro can take some moments before it's fully established. View the full article

Google is crediting its AI advancement, such as Gemini, to help detect and remove fake reviews and listings within Google Maps. “AI has been a pivotal tool in helping us stop scammers in their tracks, and we’re now using it to scale our protections even more,” Google wrote. The metrics. Google shared these metrics for its battle over Google Maps spam: Google blocked or removed more than 240 million policy-violating removed more than 240 million policy-violating reviews from 2024. Google added that “the vast majority of which were removed before they were seen.” Google blocked or removed more than 70 million policy-violating edits to places on Google Maps. Google removed or blocked more than 12 million fake Business Profiles. Google placed posting restrictions on more than 900,000 accounts that repeatedly violated our policies. When you compare the metrics to last year’s report, Google removed about 40% more policy-violating reviews. Disabling reviews. Google also spoke about its newish feature to disable the ability to post reviews on some business profiles. The notice says “Posting reviews is turned off for this place” and was actually launched in December 2023, from what I can tell. But Google seems to be mentioning it now. Google said it “rolled out alerts in the U.S., U.K. and India to let you know if we’ve recently removed suspicious five-star reviews in certain circumstances. These warnings — which will expand globally starting next month — help you understand quickly if a place may be engaging in unfair review practices.” Here is what it looks like: Crediting Gemini. Google said: “AI has been a pivotal tool in helping us stop scammers in their tracks, and we’re now using it to scale our protections even more. Last year, we removed over 10,000 listings managed by a group of bad actors who impersonated real locksmiths to take over unclaimed Business Profiles and overcharge unsuspecting customers. Beyond removing the fraudulent content, we filed a lawsuit against the bad actors and are actively applying what we learned to enhance our detection systems.” “This new model has already helped us block thousands of suspicious Business Profile edits this year,” Google added. Why we care. If you are in the local SEO space, none of this is probably new to you. You’ve all seen the swarm of complaints about business edits placing a business in a suspension, reviews not being able to be added to a business profile, listings confusion and so much more. Much of this is likely associated with Google’s new methods to detect and fight spam on Google Maps. Some of these changes may be a bit overzealous but Google has a tough job with fighting spam on Google Maps. View the full article

Google Ads has 718 reviews on TrustPilot with a 1.1-star rating. That’s a shockingly low score for a platform that has helped countless businesses grow and created entire careers in digital marketing. Let me preface this by saying that this isn’t meant to be an angry rant. Google Ads has provided incredible opportunities, but the overwhelming number of negative reviews clearly shows that advertisers face serious frustrations daily. Poor support, unexplained account suspensions, rising costs, and a lack of transparency have left many users feeling helpless. These aren’t just isolated issues – they’re widespread problems that need attention. So, what exactly is going wrong? And more importantly, how can it be fixed? Here’s a breakdown of the most common complaints about Google Ads – and what could be done to improve the platform. Poor customer support Users frequently report that customer support is unresponsive, slow, or provides generic, unhelpful responses. Many of us have experienced the customer service loop of Google Ads: Contact support. They submit a ticket. Ask you to allow 3-5 days for a resolution. After eight days, you contact support again, and the process repeats with no resolution. Several weeks or months later, the issue may be resolved – or not. It’s unclear what the internal protocol is for Google Ads support; it doesn’t seem to follow the standards of most major companies. There appears to be a lack of account notes and follow-up. Users report contacting support for the same issue, opening a ticket, but receiving no further response. Another ticket is then opened, and the cycle continues. If a customer support representative remembers, they may send an email with the reference number. When contacting support a second time, little to no information can be provided using the reference number. Support often says, “There is no update on your ticket; please allow 3-5 more days.” This is a nightmare for business owners, freelancers, and ad agencies trying to manage their Google Ads accounts and resolve issues quickly. If Google Ads consistently sent feedback surveys, it could significantly improve customer support. However, many users are no longer receiving the surveys – either after a phone call or because the link is not sent after a live chat. If you do receive a survey via email or see one pop up in your account, be sure to fill it out thoroughly. We can’t expect to improve customer service without providing constant feedback. Account suspensions Account suspensions without clear explanation and slow response times are common complaints with Google Ads. While Google Ads needs to suspend accounts that blatantly violate their policies, they should be handled more quickly for accidental violations that can be resolved with a simple ad rewrite. Many new accounts are suspended quickly but approved slowly, often taking weeks or months, if ever – despite the issues being corrected to comply with Google Ads’ policies. When accounts are suspended, the explanation is often vague. Customer support representatives typically just read what’s on the screen, offering no further explanation, resolution, or assistance. A frequent reason for account suspensions or ad disapprovals is a “Policy Violation,” but the specific policy is rarely cited. Even after the user resolves the issue, the account or ad may still be delayed in approval, sometimes taking weeks or months. For advertisers in sensitive categories (i.e., mental health services, supplements, housing, employment, recruiting, technical support services, or financial services), quick suspensions and slow resolutions can be devastating. These businesses often have everything in place to comply with Google Ads’ policies but may have made a minor mistake during ad setup. Another common suspension reason is “Circumventing Systems Policy,” but once again, the explanation is unclear, causing frustration over the lack of transparency in enforcement. This often happens with businesses that hire multiple agencies or freelancers over time, leading them to be unaware of how many Google Ads accounts were set up under their name. Even worse, Google Ads support typically fails to explain this situation clearly, making it difficult for businesses to track who created all the accounts that got suspended. If these agencies or freelancers are responsible, are they now banned from running ads on Google across any account? This policy and review process urgently needs rethinking. Agency owner and PPC expert Menachem Ani shared: “Reps can no longer help with some of the things they were able to help with in the past. For example, we have a client whose account was suspended – but our reps can’t do anything to help us.” “While I believe that Google’s intentions are good, the reality is that many accounts get suspended incorrectly with no recourse.” Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Lack of results Many reviews complain about a lack of results with Google Ads. This often stems from a lack of understanding of how to use the platform effectively. Basic strategies – such as choosing the best keywords, writing effective ads, controlling bidding and budgets, building relevant landing pages, and adding negative keywords – could have helped prevent these negative reviews. Google Ads can improve by following the lead of other software companies and offering in-depth tutorials to help users get the most out of the platform. Collaborating with industry experts outside Google to create tutorials would also help users make informed decisions about their ad spend. Currently, Google’s advice often contradicts guidance from industry-leading publications. Instead of conflicting guidance, open collaboration could align best practices, ensuring users who invest time in learning Google Ads can actually apply their knowledge effectively. The running joke is that learning how to run Google Ads from Google is like learning how to play Blackjack from the casino – they don’t have your best interests in mind. PPC industry leader Brad Geddes specifically calls out “Recommendations I always ignore,” which, ironically, are the same recommendations that Google Reps and account notifications often advise users not to ignore. A collaboration between industry experts and Google Ads could be mutually beneficial, helping both the platform and its users. If new users take Google’s tutorials and certifications only to lose substantial amounts of money on Google Ads, they may not continue investing in the platform. It’s unclear why the worst advice on running Google Ads comes directly from Google Ads and its reps. Rising costs Advertisers have also voiced concerns about the rising costs of Google Ads, which have become even more problematic in recent years. Search Engine Land’s Danny Goodwin reported on Google Ads’ price manipulation: “The U.S. Department of Justice hammered Google over search ad price manipulation and more in its closing statement on search advertising.” Many business owners, freelancers, ad agencies, and industry experts are worried about these rising costs and the lack of transparency. Boris Beceric, Google Ads consultant and coach, remarked: “Google is a monopoly that’s raising prices without telling advertisers about it.” Google Ads’ newest update for double service ads now allows the same business’s ad to appear twice on the same page. Will this cause further issues for advertisers concerned about rising costs, or will it help boost results? PPC expert Navah Hopkins also noted: “Google is officially making it fair game to have more than one spot on the SERP. I have thoughts on this, but I want to see how performance actually shakes out in Q2.” We will have to wait and see if this helps with rising costs or hurts them. Issues with Google reps and Teleperformance Many Google Ads users also express frustration with Teleperformance, Google’s outsourced customer support team. Complaints often include poor advertising results due to Google Reps’ advice, overly aggressive outreach, and generic or scripted responses. Advertisers also report trust issues with Google reps, particularly after one made unauthorized changes to a business’s Google Ads account. Andy Youngs, co-founder of The PPC People, highlighted this, discovering a recent instance where a Google rep altered an account without approval. TrustPilot reviews, Reddit, and nearly every social media channel are filled with complaints about Google reps. However, Google Ads has not made significant changes to the program. Matt Janaway, CEO of Marketing Labs, stated: “We get calls daily from reps that have been assigned to our client accounts. It’s very convoluted, and when we don’t engage – because we can’t possibly engage them all – they try to go directly to our clients instead!” “This happens regularly. And the scare tactics they use are quite ludicrous.” The simple solution for Google Ads would be to train their reps to provide useful advice and assign them to a smaller number of accounts. An even simpler solution might be to remove the program entirely, given the overwhelming amount of negative feedback. So, what can we do? Direct feedback is the best way to push for change. While posting frustrations online might feel satisfying, it’s unlikely Google Ads will see or act on them. Instead, be sure to complete the surveys Google sends via email or within your account, offering detailed and constructive feedback. If you want to voice concerns publicly, you can share them on platforms like TrustPilot (Google Ads TrustPilot page), Reddit, industry forums, or social media – but always keep it professional and solution-focused. For direct communication, use Google’s official feedback and support forms: Google Ads Complaint and Feedback Form. Google Ads Customer Support. View the full article

Popular culture for kids has fragmented so much lately that what's familiar to one 14-year-old might be utterly foreign to another. But the progress toward everyone having their own personal culture isn't complete. So I'm taking a look at some of things all (well, most) kids relate to and love, including A Minecraft Movie, Labubus, and the literary techniques developed by Spanish author Jorge Luis Borges in the 1940s (for real). Will A Minecraft Movie become a generational touchstone? I'm writing this on the day A Minecraft Movie comes out, and signs point to the release being one of those vanishingly rare events that capture the collective imaginations (and disposable incomes) of a generation. It's a cultural event that everyone (under a certain age) will experience and remember. But probably for a different reason than you expect. The main audience for the movie is younger kids (and their bored parents who are dragged into theaters, of course). Six-year-olds are going to love seeing Minecraft on screen in a genuine way, but many teenagers are attending the movie ironically. It's like that time kids gathered the squad and wore suits to the Minions movie a few years ago. A Minecraft Movie hasn't been getting good pre-release reviews, but it is getting good pre-release memes. And there is no better marketing for hard-to-reach kids than their peers making TikToks. I love that the memes all seem to tacitly accept that the movie will be bad, like this one, in which the trailer is cut down to only words from the video game: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Or vids like this one with a single cheesy phrase: or this one with a ton of cheesy phrases: Or this brain-rot video: If I had any money at all, I'd bet it all on the creators of the movie having made it like this on purpose. They know that little kids are going to love A Minecraft Movie regardless of the bad CGI, the canned "catchphrases," and the clichéd plot; kids are terrible at critical thinking. They also must know that older kids wouldn't accept a kiddie version of Minecraft if they took it seriously. Minecraft, the game, is so open-ended that the version of it a teenager experiences is very different than the one a little kid experiences: There's no way to "stay true" to the source material like you can with Super Mario, so the movie's producers didn't try. They leaned into the cheesiness instead, in the hopes of catching an ironic wave because there's nothing older kids like more than laughing at things they used to like (even though we adults know that, deep in their hearts, they still love it.) Or I could be wrong and the thing could be a flop; what am I, Nostradamus? What's the deal with Labubus? Credit: Labubu Parents: if you haven't heard of Labubus, I predict you'll know everything possible about them between now and Christmas. The slightly edgy-looking plush dolls with vinyl faces are destined to become the must-have toy of the 2025 holidays—we're talking Beanie-Babies-in-1997 levels of hysteria here, so be prepared. A creation of Hong Kong-based illustrator Kasing Lung, Labubus were first marketed in 2015 by a company called Pop Mart. Over the last decade, they've taken over Asian markets, spread to Europe and America, and have recently reached worldwide critical mass. The popularity is partly because the characters are undeniably adorable and cool, but also because they're collectible. People love collecting things. Labubus are available as keychains, dolls, and emblazoned on other merchandise. There are over 300 variations of the toy, with more on the way, so you'll never run out of Labubus to buy, ever. A main difference between Labubus and Beanie Babies is that Labubus are sold in black boxes, so a buyer doesn't know exactly what they're getting before the purchase. Some are more rare than others, so if you want to collect 'em all, you're going to be getting a lot of doubles. As you'd expect, there's a ton of Labubu content on social media and a thriving secondary market for the toys, full of collectors and quick-buck artists, has sprung up. Ordinarily, I'd suggest would-be Labubu millionaires take a look a what happened to people who "invested" in Beanie Babies and invest in a IRA instead, but I'm not sure that advice applies: If you invest in Labubus instead of a mutual fund, at least you'll have some cool dolls to hug. Yarn face makeup trend terrifies, intrigues The "yarn face" makeup trend on TikTok isn't being widely practiced yet, but I hope it catches on: Using makeup for reasons other than "so I look prettier" is the kind of subversion of expectations the world needs more of. It's scary and weird, but I want to see people walking around looking like they were crocheted every time I go outside. The technique was invented by extremely talented SFX makeup artist @annamurphyyy in this video, which was was viewed over 52 million times: Before long, other cosmetic influencers responded with their own takes on the trend, resulting in videos like these: Viral video of the week: My Most UNHINGED Video [Amanda The Adventurer 2] This week's viral video, "My Most UNHINGED Video [Amanda The Adventurer 2]" has been viewed over four million times on its first day online. It's from game-streamer CoryxKenshin, and works on a lot of levels. Here's some explanation: 1) Game streaming: This isn't exactly new, but young people love watching other people play videos games, often for long stretches; this video is over two and a half hours long. 2) CoryxKenshin: This streamer has over 20 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. He mainly plays horror games, a popular genre for streamers, probably because watching people get scared is fun. 3) Reaction videos: CoryxKenshin might be described as a combination of game streamer and reactor. His videos are half about the game he's playing and half about his reaction to it. 4) Amanda the Adventurer 2: A sequel developed by indie studio MANGLEDmaw Games, Amanda the Adventurer 2 is a puzzle-heavy horror game about a kids' TV show from the early 2000s that's connected to something supernatural and sinister involving missing children. It is an example of "analog horror" and horror revolving around nostalgia for childhood, both popular among young people. 5) Analog horror: This popular-among-younger-people analog horror subgenre isn't usually gory or overly violent. It's not usually adult horror. The idea is to create a disconcerting, dreadful vibe through highlighting the limitations of older forms of media, then breaking the tension with an occasional jump scare. You play Amanda the Adventurer 2 by controlling a character who is watching old VHS tapes of a children's TV show. Amanda, the show's main character, invites interaction from the audience. She's somehow alive inside the VHS tapes, and you progress in the game by figuring out what Amanda wants and giving it to her (or not giving it to her), thus unveiling the story behind the tapes and the missing children. Like many popular horror games, Amanda's scares are based on referencing media the audience remembers from childhood—in this case, Dora the Explorer. 6) Multi-layered, nested narrative: Creating complex fictional structures that distance the reader from the story was popularized in horror literature by Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves, but you can go back further and credit Phillip K. Dick or Jorge Luis Borges if you want. The interesting part to me is how artistic conventions that were once the sole purview of pointy-headed intellectuals are now fully accepted by 14-year-olds who have never read a book. Consider what you're doing right now: You're reading a description of a YouTube video of a person playing a game in which the "real" person watches VHS tapes of a fictional character that's based on "actual" fictional character Dora the Explorer. Like I said: There are many levels. View the full article

Google Ads or Meta Ads: Where should your budget go? Compare costs, intent, and performance to make the smartest choice for your business goals. The post Budget Allocation: When To Choose Google Ads Vs. Meta Ads appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Get out a sheet of paper and write down all your set expenses: rent/mortgage, car payments, cable/streaming bill, cell phone, insurance, school payments, etc. Tally them up. Then write down all your discretionary spending. This is what you spend on food, movie nights, drinks, shopping, that daily coffee from Starbucks, your daily midday snack, and other similar things. If you don’t know what you spend money on, go track your expenses for a two-week period, see what you spend, and come back. Add that all up. What did you get? Probably a large sum of money. And I bet there will be many expenses you didn’t realize were there. Financial experts call these “phantom expenses” — we never know they are there because the expenses are so small. People bleed money without realizing it. A dollar here and a dollar there…it adds up. Even a daily bottle of water or candy bar can make a substantial difference over the course of a year. What does this have to do with travel? Well, one of the main reasons why we think we can’t travel the world is money. “I can’t afford it,” people say to me, “I have too many expenses.” Most of us certainly have expenses we can’t cut (though remember when you travel the world long-term, many of those expenses disappear), but if we cut our phantom expenses, reduce our set costs, and find other ways to save we can build our travel fund much more quickly. Cutting your daily expenses, being more frugal, and downgrading to a simpler way of living will allow you to save money for your trip around the world without having to find extra sources of income. Of course, the lower your income, the longer it will take to save enough to travel. But longer does not mean never. A little bit every day adds up to a lot over a long period of time. Here are some simple and creative ways to cut your expenses, make money, and get on the road sooner: 1. Track your spending As mentioned in the introduction, most people don’t have a budget so the first thing you need to do to save money is to know where you’re spending it. In an age where you tap an app and a car arrives, it’s easy to not think about how much we spend. You can use a spreadsheet or one of these websites. You’ll probably be surprised at where your money goes once you start paying attention. Start tracking your expenses — and keep doing so — so you can keep cutting out the low-hanging fruit and find where you’re spending money. 2. Set up a separate bank account Financial experts have long recommended this for a variety of things. When you set up a separate bank account and have money automatically deposited into that account each pay cycle, you don’t have the urge to spend it. “Out of sight, out of mind”, right? This works for travel. No matter how much you put away there, putting that money in a separate bank account means it’s away from your spending and you won’t overspend. Think of this like a piggy bank. Don’t raid it. It’s your travel fund. Let it sit there and grow. Just make sure that the account is a high-yield online savings account. I’ve done this since the time when I was preparing to go away on my first trip and I netted hundreds of dollars in extra money thanks to interest (and a bit more while I was traveling too as the money was sitting there while it was being spent down). Interest rates are very high these days and you can earn around 4% on your savings account! Take advantage of that! Here are the current best rates: Not from the US? Check out these websites for information: Canada UK Australia New Zealand 3. Get a new credit card A travel credit card can give you free money, free rooms, and free flights. After accruing miles and rewards points with your card on everyday purchases, you can redeem them for free travel on your trip. Travel credit cards are a big weapon in a budget traveler’s arsenal. You’ll even earn huge sign-up bonuses when you get a new card. For more credit card suggestions, check out this list of the best travel credit cards. And, for more information on travel credit cards in general, here is my comprehensive guide on how to pick a good travel credit card. 4. Cut the coffee Love your Starbucks? Well, Starbucks loves your money. Coffee is the little thing that quietly drains your bank account without you ever noticing. That daily coffee can cost you $90 per month ($3 for a regular coffee, more if you want some fancy Frappuccino). At $1,080 per year, that’s a lot of money. So, what’s more important: your daily cup of Joe or spending more time on the beaches of Thailand or exploring the jungles of Borneo? Give up the coffee, or switch from the cappuccino to a standard brew. Move to tea, or brew your own cup. Folger’s might not taste as delicious as a venti triple mocha latte with whipped cream, but it’s a lot cheaper (and, let’s be honest, healthier). Sure, giving up your cup of coffee seems like a “duh” thing. And, yes, there is utility in the time saved from buying one. Under normal circumstances, this would be “small thinking” financial advice that isn’t worth the time or effort. But, right now, you have a travel goal to reach and every penny counts. 5. Learn to cook Dinner out is usually someone’s biggest discretionary expense—and it’s also one of the easiest to eliminate. Instead of buying $20 lunches and $30 dinners, brown-bag it to work and cook dinner at night. When I saved for my first trip, I was spending $70 per week on groceries. I cooked once for dinner and ate the leftovers the next day for lunch. Sure, cooking can be intimidating since not all of us are Julia Child in the kitchen. However, I found cooking to be an invaluable skill, not only because it saved me money before my trip but because it’s also one of the easiest ways to cut down expenses when you travel. The more I cooked, the more I loved cooking. And the more I saved. (I also got a lot healthier because I knew what was in my meals, which was an added bonus.) Of course, grocery prices have gone up since the mid-2000s and you’re likely spending a lot more than $70 on groceries (I currently spend around $125 per week). But cooking is still cheaper than eating out or getting your food delivered via an app. Here are some sites to check out to get the ball rolling: Food52 Deliciously Ella Bon Appétit Jessica in the Kitchen 6. Lose the car Between insurance, repairs, loan payments, and filling your tank with gas, cars are crazy expensive to own. Get rid of your car if you can. Learn to love the bus, take the subway, bike, or walk. It may take longer to get to work using public transportation, but you can use that time to plan your trip, read, write, or do other productive tasks. I understand that this tip may not be feasible for everyone, especially those in smaller towns that don’t have an extensive public transportation system, but an alternative is to sell your car and buy a cheaper used one, which you will only need until you leave for your trip. Buying a throwaway car will allow you to pocket the money from your more expensive car and put it toward your travels. Additionally, with the proliferation of Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing services, it’s never been easier, even in small towns, to find transportation. Do the math on it but it may be cheaper to get Lyfts around town than to own a car. (Plus, if you need a car for long distances, you can easily rent one.) 7. Save on Gas Gas adds up! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save on gas! First, use the app GasBuddy to find cheap gas near you. Second, sign up for all the major gas station loyalty programs. By default, they save you around 5 cents per gallon. Shell’s Fuel Rewards is the best because you attach it to a dining program leading to savings up to 50 cents a gallon. Moreover, use GasBuddy’s credit card, which can be tied to any gas station loyalty program for an additional savings of 25 cents per gallon. Most supermarkets also have loyalty programs that offer gas savings. If you sign up for Costco, they have huge savings on gas, too. 8. Cut your streaming Cutting the cord was supposed to save us money, but with so many subscription services out there, it feels to me that we are paying more than we did with regular cable. I mean, how many streaming services do we really need!? Rather than subscribe to all of them at once, try rotating which ones you are using. I watch everything I want to watch over the course of a few months on one service, cancel it, sign up for a new service, and repeat. By doing this, you are never paying for more than one service at a time while still being able to binge watch what you want. 9. Sign up for travel newsletters No one likes to clutter up their inbox, but by signing up for mailing lists from airlines and travel companies, you’ll be able to get updates about all the last-minute sales or special deals happening. I would have missed out on a round-trip ticket to Japan for $700 USD (normally $1,500) if it wasn’t for the American Airlines mailing list. Additionally, consider signing up for a website like Going.com. They hunt down deals and send them directly to your inbox — for free! They also offer a premium service that offers more (and better) deals but at the very least join their free newsletter. Chances are you’ll find some awesome deals! 10. Replace your light bulbs Electricity costs money and, since every penny counts, using energy-efficient light bulbs will cut down on your utility bills. Moreover, due to energy efficiency initiatives in certain states, many electric companies will give you a rebate if you buy LED bulbs. Be sure to check out which rebates your local energy company offers no matter where you live in the world. Going green can save you green! Check your local government or utility company’s website for information. For US readers, check out EnergyStar or the DSIRE database. For Canadian readers, check out this page run by the government. For everyone else, check your local government or utility company’s website for information! 11. Buy second-hand Why pay full price when you can pay half? Use websites like Amazon (discounted books and electronics), wholesale websites, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. Towns big and small usually have thrift stores like Goodwill where you can pick up clothing and odds and ends. Sure, you don’t want to buy everything used, but you can definitely buy most things used! (Plus, it’s good for the environment since you’re giving stuff an added use life rather than having it end up in a landfill!) 12. Cut coupons The Entertainment Book, grocery coupons, Groupon, and loyalty cards all reduce the price you pay at the register. Clipping coupons might make you feel like an 80-year-old grandmother, but the goal here is to be frugal and save money, and coupons definitely help with that. Many grocery stores also offer electronic coupons based on your shopping habits. Sign up at your local grocery store for their loyalty program and you can lower your weekly grocery bill with discounts either sent via email or added directly to your loyalty card. Also, use Rakuten, which is an app and web browser extension that gives you cash back on purchases that range from 1–20%. You can also get American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back if you want. I use this service for all my shopping, including all my hotel bookings since many travel companies are on the service. You can also tie a specific credit card to your Rakuten account and get cash back in physical stores, too. They offer many deals and I always check this website before making any purchase. When you combine Rakuten with coupon codes you find on the web, you have a very powerful combo to save money. 13. Sell your stuff Before I started long-term travel, I looked around my apartment and saw just a lot of stuff I had no need for anymore: TVs, couches, tables, stereo equipment. Instead of keeping it in storage (which costs money), I decided to just get rid of everything. I sold it all and used the money to travel. After all, I’m not going to need my couch while eating pasta in Rome! Sites like Craigslist, Amazon, and Gumtree are excellent places to sell your unneeded consumer goods. Personally, I love the app OfferUp. It’s easy to use and people are less flaky than on Craigslist (and they don’t try to haggle you down as much). Definitely check it out. If you’ve got a ton of stuff, consider having a yard sale. That’s the fastest way to clear out your house and make a few bucks in the process. As you downsize your life, sell your clothes and extra stuff for cash. Sites like The Real Real, Poshmark, and Facebook Marketplace all provide an opportunity to get rid of your unwanted stuff and make some decent money. 14. Stop drinking alcohol Alcohol is expensive. Cutting down the amount you drink is going to have a big impact on your budget. While this might not apply to everyone, those of you who are carefree might go out with your friends on the weekend. Drink before you go out to the bar or simply don’t drink at all. Cutting down the amount of alcohol you consume is considered low-hanging fruit — an easy way to save money. 15. Stop snacking A snack here and there not only adds calories to your waistline but also empties your wallet — another example of phantom expenses. We don’t think much of them because they cost so little, but they add up over time and eat into our savings. Eat fuller meals during lunch and dinner and avoid snacks. If you do want to snack, bring snacks from home and plan your snacks in advance. That way, you can buy cheaper (and healthier snacks) and avoid buying chips, chocolate bars, and other expensive junk. 16. Earn extra money on the side The rise of the gig economy has made it easier to earn extra money on the side. TaskRabbit lets you do tasks that people don’t have time for—from cleaning to moving, doing research, or helping with errands. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork allow you to be people’s assistants, editors, designers, or a host of other professional roles, while Yoodlize allows you to rent out your unused stuff for money. These sites can provide an easy way to earn money on the side. Be sure to check them out as a way to earn extra money for your upcoming trip. Additionally, you can become an Uber or Lyft driver, teach a skill on the side, or rent out a room on Airbnb. In the age of the “side hustle,” there are lots of ways to utilize your proven skills for extra cash. Get creative! Here is a full list of sharing economy websites you can use to earn some extra cash on the site. 17. Buy a reusable water bottle Single-use water bottles are not only harmful to the environment, they are also harmful to your wallet. One or two water bottles a day at $1 USD per bottle will add up to at least $30 USD a month. That’s $360 USD a year! You can spend a week in France with that much money! Instead of plastic, buy a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap water. You’ll want one for your trip anyway, so buy one now and get in the habit of using it. I like Lifestraw as it also has a water filter. ***These tips will help save you thousands of dollars and will make your dream trip seem less like a dream and more like a reality. I know some of them are obvious but it’s the obvious things we rarely think about. The most important thing you can do though is to track your expenses as everyone’s situation is different. For me, the biggest “Wow! I can’t believe I’m spending money on this” were Lyft and e-scooters. Hundreds of dollars a month were being wasted on those two things with me realizing it. Track your spending so you can keep cutting what is discretionary spending. The more you do that, the more you’ll save money, the quicker you’ll be able to get on the road! How to Travel the World on $75 a DayMy New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.” Click here to learn more and start reading it today! Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: SafetyWing (best for budget travelers) World Nomads (best for mid-range travelers) InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals. Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip! Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip. The post 17 Ways to Cut Your Expenses and Have More Money for Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

You need compelling titles and meta descriptions to attract visitors from search results and encourage users to click. Manually writing these elements for every page can be quite challenging. Generative AI can streamline this process by automating it. However, you should check the AI-generated suggestions critically. This post will show various methods for generating effective titles and meta descriptions using generative AI for SEO. Table of contents AI titles and meta descriptions for SEO Use the AI in Yoast SEO Premium to generate titles Using generative AI to create powerful titles Checking generated content using human expertise Balancing SEO optimization and user value AI for titles and metas, with a human in the loop AI titles and meta descriptions for SEO Titles and meta descriptions act as your web page’s representatives in the SERPs. These snippets are often the first impression users get of your content, impacting their decision to click and explore further. Therefore, engaging titles and meta descriptions are key to capturing attention, showing relevance, and getting users to visit your site. Generative AI can help write effective ones. When done correctly, integrating generative AI with SEO can be very beneficial. Improving click-through rates (CTR) and UX Titles and meta descriptions that sell your content help improve click-through rates. Compelling titles and descriptions are relevant to the users’ search query, which helps them to click on your link. A higher CTR signals to search engines that your content is valuable, which could lead to more traffic. Moreover, describing the essence of your content helps users find what they’re seeking. This could lead to more engagement, more time spent on your website, and, ultimately, SEO success. A helpful AI tool in Yoast SEO Premium Experience the benefits of generative AI and make your work simpler today! Get Yoast SEO Premium »Only $99 / year (ex VAT) The (un)predictability of Google’s rewriting game While you invest time and effort in writing titles and meta descriptions, it’s important to note that Google often rewrites them on the SERPs. Therefore, there’s no guarantee that your carefully written titles and meta descriptions will always appear as intended. Google often thinks it knows how to present your site best. It tends to rewrite stuff to provide users with the most relevant and informative snippets that align with their search intent. Thus, it may rephrase or modify a title or meta description if it believes its version matches the user’s query or accurately represents the content. Although Google’s rewriting will happen, optimizing your titles and meta descriptions remains useful. Generating good, relevant content increases the likelihood that Google will use your title and meta description. Use the AI in Yoast SEO Premium to generate titles Yoast SEO uses AI to generate titles and meta descriptions. Imagine not having to struggle with writing the perfect meta descriptions and titles. Our advanced AI does it for you! It’s designed to understand your content and create engaging titles and descriptions that boost your performance. Using generative AI to create powerful titles For SEO, generative AI is a helpful tool for automating the writing of optimized titles. Using state-of-the-art generative AI models like GPT-based models, we can improve our work and generate tailor-made titles for our target audience. Did you know? Learn about generative AI and SEO at Yoast SEO Academy Want to learn how to adapt SEO content strategies for AI? Looking to gain a competitive advantage by integrating AI tools? Check out our training course on AI for SEO! How to evaluate AI-generated titles Getting models to spit out titles is not hard, but what comes next is more important. You should check for relevance, keywords, length, uniqueness, and branding when evaluating AI-generated titles. Your titles should be effective and appropriate for your content: Clarity and relevance: The title should accurately convey the subject and main focus of the content. It should tell what the page or article is about so that users can see how relevant it is before clicking on it. Keyword optimization: Incorporate relevant keywords that fit the content and help search engines understand it. However, keep the title natural and readable, avoiding keyword stuffing or over-optimization. Length and readability: The title must be within a certain length to be fully displayed. It must also be easy to read, with proper grammar and punctuation, so users can quickly understand it. Engaging and unique: Titles that stand out are more likely to attract clicks. Use AI-generated titles that evoke curiosity, offer a benefit, or create a sense of urgency. Always try to make your titles unique and different from those of your competitors. Brand consistency: Check if the AI-generated title aligns with your brand voice and guidelines. Make sure it represents your brand’s personality and values while being consistent across your content. Remember, there’s still no substitute for human experience. Please take the time to manually improve the work of the generative AI tool of your choice. Using AI-generated meta descriptions Titles are not the only things you need to look at, as meta descriptions also play an important role. These summaries get users to click on your link and explore your website. You can optimize your meta descriptions using generative AI to be engaging, informative, and aligned with search intent. Check the AI-generated meta description Here are a few aspects to consider when checking AI-generated meta descriptions. In general, look for relevance, length, clickability, and if it has the correct tone of voice. Ensure that the generated meta description accurately reflects the page’s content for relevance. Verify that the description captures the main topic or purpose of the page and includes relevant keywords or phrases that users might search for. Looking at length and readability, you should check the length of the generated meta description. Make sure it falls within the desired character limit (around 150-160 characters). Check the readability and clarity of the text so it flows smoothly and is easy to understand for users. See if the message comes across in this short piece of text. Clickability is important. Consider whether the generated meta description is likely to attract user clicks. Does it address the user’s search intent, highlight the page’s proposition, or create a sense of curiosity or urgency? Aim for attractive descriptions that encourage users to click through to your website. Another aspect is tone and brand voice. Review the tone and style of the generated meta description to ensure it aligns with your brand voice and messaging guidelines. Does it accurately represent your brand’s personality and values? Make any necessary adjustments to maintain consistency. Checking generated content using human expertise Once you have your AI-generated titles and meta descriptions, check these for quality, relevance, and alignment with your objectives. Manual review and refinement from an expert are vital in perfecting the generated content. Reviewing for quality and coherence Begin your evaluation by checking the generated titles and meta descriptions for quality and coherence. Assess the language, grammatical correctness, and overall readability. Identify inconsistencies or errors that make the content difficult to understand. By making necessary edits, you improve the quality of the generated content. Check relevance to content and context While reviewing the generated output, evaluate its alignment with its content. Consider the specific web page and its context to ensure the generated content accurately portrays the page’s main topic, theme, or purpose and adjust where necessary. Check brand voice and message Like any other content, aligning the generated titles and meta descriptions with your brand’s voice, messaging, and tone is critical. Assess how the generated content reflects your brand’s personality and if it resonates with your] audience. Make edits to add your brand’s unique identity to the content while preserving readability. Optimize keyphrase integration See if the generated titles and meta descriptions have your target keyword phrases. Keywords play a crucial role in optimizing your content for search engine rankings. Check if the generated content naturally integrates the keywords and their variations. Analyzing user engagement metrics In addition to manual review, you should also analyze user engagement metrics to assess the effectiveness of the generated titles and meta descriptions. Monitor impressions, click-through rates, bounce rates, and time spent on the page to understand their impact. Compare the AI-generated content’s performance against alternative variations to determine the best-performing options. Incorporating human input and expertise While generative AI can help generate titles and meta descriptions, you shouldn’t underestimate the value of human expertise. Generative AI models are trained on data but lack intuition and an understanding of contextual nuances. By implementing manual review and refinement, you can add your creative insights, industry-specific knowledge, and brand context to the content. Balancing SEO optimization and user value Using generative AI for generating titles and meta descriptions is balancing between search engine optimization and delivering value to users. This can help your content perform well in search results while providing your audience with an engaging and meaningful experience. Understanding user intent To strike the right balance, understand the intent behind user searches. Analyze the keywords and search queries relevant to your content and consider users’ motivations and expectations when they land on your page. Providing clear and concise information When writing, please make sure your titles and meta descriptions tell what users can expect from your page. Clearly outline your content’s main topic, purpose, or value proposition. Use concise language to capture users’ attention and encourage them to click through. Showcasing unique selling points (USPs) Titles and meta descriptions are excellent opportunities for your unique selling points. What sets your page or product apart from the competition? Does it offer a unique perspective, in-depth analysis, or insights? By using these selling points in the content, you entice users and demonstrate the value they stand to gain by visiting your page. Engaging and connecting with users Titles and meta descriptions help user engagement. Use compelling language, emotional triggers, and storytelling elements that resonate with your audience. Emphasize the benefits, solutions, or outcomes users can achieve by interacting with your content. Stir curiosity or create urgency that helps users to click through and explore further. Prioritizing readability and usability Prioritize the readability and usability of your titles and meta descriptions. Use clear and concise language, making information easily understandable. Structure the content in a scannable format, and use proper punctuation and well-defined sections. Make sure the generated output doesn’t compromise readability by focusing solely on optimization. AI for titles and metas, with a human in the loop Generative AI can simplify and optimize the creation of titles and meta descriptions. You can save time, improve click-through rates, and elevate user engagement using AI. Yoast SEO Premium has a helpful AI tool that lets you generate titles and meta descriptions with the click of a button. However, it’s crucial to remember that AI should improve human expertise, not replace it. Combine the creativity of human writers with generative AI to create titles and meta descriptions that are optimized, captivating, and valuable to users. The post Using AI to generate great SEO titles and meta descriptions appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

With customers now discovering content across traditional search engines, LLMs, social media, and beyond, the need for an integrated, omnichannel strategy is more important than ever. Relying on isolated channel strategies no longer works. Customers engage with brands across multiple touchpoints before making decisions, and they expect seamless, personalized experiences. An effective omnichannel approach aligns all marketing efforts – ensuring consistency, maximizing visibility, and driving meaningful interactions. As omnichannel marketing continues to evolve, integrating SEO across all channels is essential for sustained growth. This article explores why a unified strategy is critical and how SEO can work across channels to enhance the customer journey and drive results. Why an omnichannel approach to SEO is critical in 2025 Here are seven trends that make an omnichannel approach vital to business success and growth. 1. The shift away from third-party cookies The decline of third-party cookies has made it harder for brands to track users across the buyer journey. An omnichannel approach to data collection and centralization helps mitigate these challenges and lays the foundation for an effective strategy. 2. Growth of LLMs and AI-powered search The growth of alternate avenues for audiences to find information adds to the complexity of the buyer’s journey. This presents additional attribution challenges. 3. Zero-click searches and decreasing top-funnel traffic Due to the rise in zero-click searches, traffic to websites from top-of-the-funnel information-seeking terms is declining. 4. Importance of SEO Despite the growth in zero-click searches, SEO remains the primary source of traffic for most businesses and the channel with the highest long-term ROI. AI Overviews and AI-generated results mainly pull information from the top organic results. 5. Search is multi-modal This means written content is not the only content you need to optimize. To effectively saturate SERPs, you must optimize all your digital assets, including images, videos, and PDFs. 6. Personalized experiences Personalization is key to customer engagement. Up to 71% of consumers expect it, while 76% find generic content frustrating, per a McKinsey study. Businesses that prioritize personalized marketing can see up to a 40% increase in revenue. An omnichannel approach ensures marketers focus on customer intent rather than marketing channels. 7. Unified customer experience with agent economy The growth of artificial intelligence has resulted in the emergence of an agent economy, where AI agents are beginning to revolutionize marketing and digital experiences. They can easily connect dots across multiple channels to deliver a unified customer experience. Tackling the visibility dilemma in customer journeys With all the changes in the industry, consumer behavior, and technological advancements, we need to answer important questions that marketers are confused about. How can you learn about audience intent even when they do not visit the site after a search? How do you gather data on your audience’s behavior after they leave your site if they do not convert during their first visit? How can you develop effective SEO, paid, zero-click, and content strategies with limited visibility into the customer journey and insights into customer intent and personas? How can you provide personalized experiences without third-party data, limited traffic, and visibility into your customers’ journeys? This is where an omnichannel approach can help businesses enhance visibility, drive meaningful interactions, and create a seamless path to conversion. Building blocks of an omnichannel strategy A true omnichannel strategy is no longer limited to traditional marketing channels like SEO, paid, email, social media, etc. Today, it is about delivering a unified experience at every stage in the customer journey at every touchpoint. It includes effectively using channel-agnostic strategies and tactics, such as personalization, AI agents, conversion optimization, A-B testing, and co-optimization. Here are five building blocks for creating an omnichannel strategy that truly engages your audiences consistently across touchpoints in an AI-powered world. Reliable data Ensure you have the necessary infrastructure to gather and segment customer data accurately. AI can then be layered to: Build audience cohorts. Predict user journeys. Deliver real-time personalized experiences. Dig deeper: How to boost your marketing revenue with personalization, connectivity and data Artificial intelligence Having an organizational AI strategy is key to ensuring the effective use of AI, not just for content generation but also for improving: Efficiency. Process automation. Customer data segmentation. Forecasting. Real-time personalization at scale. And more. Dig deeper: 4 pillars of an effective enterprise AI strategy Digital assets Having a digital asset manager that lets you centralize, optimize, and distribute all your digital assets across marketing channels is key to ensuring consistency and reducing duplication. Dig deeper: Visual optimization must-haves for AI-powered search Infrastructure Search-friendly infrastructure and content management system are crucial for effectively crawling and indexing your content, and delivering an engaging, personalized experience to your visitors. Dig deeper: How to select a CMS that powers SEO, personalization and growth Structured data and entity optimization All search engines, including LLMs, detect entities within your content to understand what your content is all about. Structured data – or schema markup – helps search engines detect entities and all your digital assets. This helps maximize your content visibility and SERP saturation. Dig deeper: Future-proof your SERP presence: 6 areas to focus on Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. 9 steps to integrating SEO into an omnichannel customer journey You can start developing your omnichannel strategy while closing any gaps you have identified in the building blocks. Step 1: Audience and intent mapping Start with your audience and intent. Identifying target audience personas and their intent is the first step in audience mapping. It is important to review: Content performance: Evaluate performance of page types or templates to understand gaps in content strategy (e.g., category pages vs. product details pages vs. location pages vs. blog content). Search engagement insights: Search console data can help identify high-intent terms with low click-through rates. This information can inform zero-click and CTR optimization strategies. Channel overlaps: Identifying how visitors overlap across channels is key to crafting an integrated and unified experience. For example, paid and organic channels must work together to saturate the full funnel and maximize ROI from both channels. Conversion optimization: Content with high engagement can provide insights into visitor intent. This can help define A-B tests, UI/UX enhancements, and personalization strategies. Step 2: Define clear strategic goals The next step is to have clear and smart goals that you want your omnichannel strategy to achieve: Set specific, measurable business objectives (revenue growth, customer retention, growing market share, etc.) Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for channel-specific and overall performance. For example, if the goal is to improve visibility, the primary KPIs should be around impressions, clicks and rich results visibility. Traffic or conversions can be secondary KPIs but should not be the primary success criteria. Create baseline metrics to measure improvement against current performance. Develop a measurement framework that accounts for cross-channel attribution challenges. Step 3: Map the customer journey across all touchpoints Traditional funnel is changing rapidly. Brands should be ready to respond to customers across all touchpoints fast and with quality. Develop a comprehensive understanding of how customers interact with your brand: Create detailed personas representing your target audience segments. Identify patterns in cross-channel journeys using path analysis in analytics and create common use cases. Aggregate and centralize data across customer touchpoints (website analytics, CRM, sales data, app usage, etc.) Segment customers based on behavioral patterns rather than just demographics. Quantify the value/attribution as a combination of different journey paths and touchpoints. Measure channel preference and effectiveness across different customer segments. Step 4: Omnichannel audit Based on your goals and journey maps, evaluate your current channel gaps and capabilities: SEO audit: Analyze search visibility metrics, technical health scores, and overall SEO performance. Content audit: Measure content performance data, topical and entity coverage, competitive gaps, engagement rates, conversion impact, and cross-channel content effectiveness. Local presence assessment: Evaluate local search visibility metrics and location-specific engagement. Experience audit: Analyze drop-off points and measure cross-channel friction. Data and technology assessment: Evaluate data collection and measurement framework to optimize your data infrastructure. Full-funnel audit: Learn from your visitors. Past visitor data can provide meaningful insights into audience segments, what visitors engage with, and where they drop off in the conversion funnel. This can help identify opportunities for co-optimization, A-B tests and delivering personalized experiences across channels. Step 5: Develop your integrated channel strategy Here, focus on aligning your channels to ensure they work together seamlessly and support your overall business goals. Prioritize channels according to attribution data and customer value metrics. Leverage machine learning and predictive analytics to forecast the impact of each channel. Use predictive analytics to determine the optimal channel mix. Set channel-specific targets that ladder up to overall business objectives. Create frameworks for continuously testing and validating channel effectiveness. Define how channels will complement and support each other across the customer journey. Step 6: Content orchestration strategy While a content strategy focuses on what content is needed, a content orchestration strategy also encompasses distribution frameworks that enhance audience interaction with your content. Friction analysis Analyze how your audience engages with your content to identify friction points. This process helps you identify, rectify, and optimize: Inconsistencies. Intent misalignments. Delivery mechanisms (text, images, video, etc.). Content intelligence Assess the performance of your existing content across various channels and identify competitive gaps and opportunities based on audience personas and business goals. Here are a few steps to evaluate content gaps and refine your strategy: Identify underperforming content for optimization. Spot gaps in content that need to be addressed across channels and stages of the customer journey. Recognize cross-linking opportunities to create content hubs. Prioritize new content to close competitive gaps and achieve business goals. Cross-channel content strategy After identifying friction points and content gaps, develop a tailored content strategy for each channel, prioritizing based on business goals: Broader informational content to enhance awareness during the discovery stage of the customer journey (e.g., social media, blog content). Comparison content for the consideration stage (e.g., product pages). Landing pages focused on specific buying-intent terms during the conversion stage. Content optimization Optimizing content extends beyond targeting the right keywords. Your content optimization strategy should include: Closing topical gaps in content that create friction. Developing an entity optimization strategy to maximize content discoverability. Implementing a click-through rate (CTR) strategy to enhance traffic from discovered content. Optimizing visual content. Establishing an engagement and conversion optimization strategy that includes personalization, calls to action optimization, A/B testing, messaging strategies, UI/UX optimization, and conversion rate optimization (CRO). Dig deeper: The complete guide to optimizing content for SEO (with checklist) Step 7: Infrastructure and technical SEO To give your content the best chance of being crawled, indexed, understood, and featured in search results for the right terms, focus on the following: Fix technical SEO issues related to crawling, indexing, and user experience. Ensure mobile optimization across all digital properties. Deploy nested schema markup to enhance search visibility. Improve page speed for all web properties and optimize Core Web Vitals. Test cross-device compatibility. Implement proper canonicalization for multi-regional brands. Prioritize web accessibility by following ADA and WCAG guidelines to enhance user experience and search visibility. Step 8: Engagement and conversion optimization Utilize unified customer data to enhance user engagement and drive conversions: Deliver personalized content at scale for each audience segment in real time. Personalization strategies can be based on various factors such as marketing channel or campaign, visitor location, search intent, and past behavior. Identify and deploy AI agents that assist audiences in quickly finding information, engaging in meaningful interactions, and making real-time decisions. Develop remarketing strategies informed by visitor behavior. Implement A/B testing across channels, ensuring consistent test and control groups. Measure performance across channels and optimize based on business goals and success KPIs. Step 9: Continuously test, measure, learn, and optimize Refine your strategy through ongoing testing and data-driven adjustments to improve performance across all channels. Monitor performance metrics across all channels. Establish BI dashboards that connect and integrate data across channels. Implement attribution models that effectively account for complex customer journeys. Regularly test new channel integrations and enhancements to the customer journey. Gather feedback from customers regarding their cross-channel experiences. Refine your strategy based on evolving search engine algorithms and changing customer behavior. SEO’s role in delivering a unified, cross-channel experience Integrating SEO into the omnichannel customer journey isn’t simply for improving search presence. Ultimately, it’s about creating discoverable, unified, and personalized experiences that guide customers naturally toward conversion. By implementing this nine-step framework, you can: Break down departmental silos. Align cross-functional teams around customer needs. Build truly seamless engagement models that drive sustainable growth. View the full article

On Friday afternoon, Danny Goodwin covered a 170 or so page PDF that Search Engine Land received from an anonymous tip named "Preference Ranking Guidelines." It looks to me similar to the Google Quality Raters guidelines that continuously leaked until Google began publishing them for all to see.View the full article

It’s no secret: Landing a job in today’s economy can feel overwhelmingly difficult. Qualified candidates regularly apply to hundreds—sometimes even thousands—of positions before receiving that one coveted offer. In fact, over half of unemployed job seekers have been searching for four months or longer, highlighting how competitive the market has become. And it’s not just the job market itself that’s challenging. We’re living through one of the most turbulent periods in modern history: The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.1%, the highest in over two years. 23,000+ tech layoffs occurred in the first three months of 2025 alone. Nearly 50% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Consumer debt hit an all-time high of $18.04 trillion, with credit card delinquencies increasing sharply. University degrees are no longer a guarantee of success. Even government jobs, once considered safe, are under threat. It’s no wonder many job seekers feel anxious or fearful about asking for more. Negotiation expert and career coach Ted Leonhardt notes that the fear of asking for higher pay has always been an obstacle. And in today’s volatile environment, that fear can feel even more paralyzing. But he emphasizes: Workers at any level are more vulnerable today than any time in memory, perhaps since the Great Depression. This makes knowing your worth and advocating for yourself all the more essential. Here are six essential tips for confidently negotiating your salary in today’s tough economy. 1.Hide your desperation A Pew Research Center survey found that most U.S. workers did not ask for higher pay the last time they were hired, with men slightly more likely than women to negotiate (32% vs. 28%). Even if you’re surviving on ramen and desperately need the job, don’t let it show. Employers often interpret eagerness as desperation, leading to lower initial offers. Take your time to respond—usually 24 to 48 hours—and subtly indicate you’re considering multiple opportunities. This helps maintain your negotiating power. Leonhard further advises: “Always be developing a new opportunity for yourself. A side gig. A better job elsewhere.” Having other options in progress or appearing to can drastically reduce that sense of desperation. 2. Know your worth and back it up with data Before negotiating, gather salary benchmarks from sites like Glassdoor, Payscale, and LinkedIn Salary. Present clear, data-backed reasons for your requested salary based on your experience, skills, and current market rates. Leonhardt succinctly puts it: “Know your value and use it as leverage. Leverage is always your superpower.” Staying true to your worth can provide dividends. Annie Papp, executive vice president at Career Group Companies, advises that: “In any job market, applicants should be prepared to come right out and ask for a raise or negotiate higher compensation. While it may seem obvious, most people don’t do this, assuming their employer will offer a raise without prompting—which is rarely the case.” 3. Quantify your value Make a detailed list of your accomplishments and quantify your impact whenever possible. For example: “Increased sales by 300% within one year” or “Managed projects that increased revenue by $X amount.” Even before the negotiation, review this to remind yourself of your accomplishments and the value you bring, boosting your confidence. 4. Bet on yourself and plan for the future If the job offer isn’t quite where you want it to be, focus on creating a clear path to get there over the next year. Jason Giagrande, CEO of Hospitality Farm, suggests: “Bet on yourself. Propose a lucrative bonus structure with aggressive milestones or KPIs that your boss would be happy to pay if accomplished. Everyone wins, and it will motivate your growth individually as well as help your company grow.” Not only does this show initiative, but it also aligns your compensation with company goals, making it easier for employers to say yes. 5. Be willing to walk away (if you truly are) One key to negotiation success is the willingness to walk away. Listen carefully, remain composed, and always take time to consider the offer before responding. 6. Consider negotiating benefits, not just salary If salary negotiations stall, consider other forms of compensation. Diversify your requests to reach a deal that satisfies both sides. Signing bonuses, professional development funds, flexible work arrangements, or extra vacation days can all hold significant value. “This market is different because employers are being more cautious when it comes to hiring and budgeting. A few years ago, on the heels of the pandemic, applicants could negotiate higher salaries much more easily because every employer was in a desperate race to retain talent. Now, that’s not the case. The frenzy has slowed, and employers are taking their time.” While inflated salary increases may no longer be the norm, advocating for growth is still crucial. “Losing strong talent can ultimately have a far greater cost than providing a reasonable raise,” Papp says. If higher compensation isn’t immediately feasible, ask for a timeline to revisit the conversation. Finally, Leonhardt offers a lasting piece of advice: “Always be developing your connections and community both online and off. Connections with those you help are always the best opportunity for your continuously evolving future.” Negotiation can feel intimidating, especially in a fragile, uncertain world. But by advocating for yourself thoughtfully and strategically, you’re not just setting yourself up for immediate success—you’re safeguarding your long-term career stability. View the full article

Google can show search ads with video formats. I mean, Google has been doing this for a while now, but they are kind of rare to see. This latest one is a video ad from Adidas.View the full article

After initially going live on Wednesday morning, Microsoft did not officially announce the launch of Copilot Search in Bing until late Friday afternoon. Microsoft said, "Copilot Search seamlessly blends the best of traditional and generative search together to help you find what you need '" and meet you where you're at in your discovery journey."View the full article

Google has a new search refinement or expansion feature they are titling "Relevant topics." This reminds me of People also ask, Things to do, and the other ways Google tries to get you to search more after conducting your first search.View the full article

French commissioner Stéphane Séjourné signals Brussels is caving in to pressure from European alcohol industry View the full article

The concern now among bankers and hedge fund managers is that something, somewhere could breakView the full article

Google's John Mueller said if you have hreflang tags that point to a 301 redirect, it is probably okay. But you probably also want to automate the process of setting up those hreflang tags so that there is no redirect.View the full article

Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. Interim leadership is on the rise in the U.S. Nearly a quarter of new CEOs named in the first two months of 2025 were hired on an interim basis, versus 8% in the same period last year, according to a recent report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The surge in interim leadership coincides with significant tumult in the C-suite. The Challenger report shows that 247 U.S. companies named new CEOs in February, the second-highest total for any month since the firm started tracking CEO changes in 2002. “A lot of times when a company brings in an interim CEO it’s when they’ve been caught off guard by the CEO’s departure,” says Andy Challenger, senior vice president of the outplacement firm. “It’s not part of a structured succession plan.” An interim CEO can buy a board time to conduct a thoughtful search for the right executive, especially if it feels the company needs skills that the existing leadership team lacks. Management experts say they’re also seeing companies—particularly mid-market and investor-backed businesses—hire temporary CEOs during changes such as restructuring, merger integration, or executing a new strategy. “Their expertise can be crucial to navigating complex changes that require seasoned leadership—even temporary solutions can be transformative for an organization,” says Sunny Ackerman, global managing partner of on-demand talent at Heidrick & Struggles, the executive search firm. The Temp-to-perm CEO Interim roles also can serve as a “tryout” for prospective CEO candidates. And companies can engage an interim executive while they figure out what they need in a leader. Ackerman recalls working with her team on an early-stage medical technology company that sought to replace its founder with a full-time CEO. Heidrick & Struggles brought in a life sciences consultant who had been a CEO to create a plan for market entry. The board then hired that consultant as interim CEO to execute the plan. Once they saw his operational skills and market expertise in practice, the board eventually decided to convert him to permanent CEO. Other temp-to-perm CEOs include Chipotle’s Scott Boatwright, who went from interim in August 2024 to permanent status three months later, and Lance Tucker, who last month was named CEO of Jack in the Box after a 36-day stint as interim CEO of the restaurant company. Avoid leadership limbo Companies need to be careful not to let interim leadership linger. “If [an] interim is in place too long, it may communicate the wrong message to the market and employees and create uncertainty about the future leadership of the organization and its strategy,” says Janice Ellig, CEO of executive search firm Ellig Group. “Employees and the market like certainty. They want to know who is at the helm and what direction they are headed.” And in the absence of clear guidance from the board, some interim chiefs may act like caretakers instead of leaders, causing the company to lose ground during the search for a permanent CEO. One thing’s for sure: Interim CEOs aren’t going away. Ackerman notes that many of the CEOs exiting business right now are baby boomer and Gen X retirees who are eager to remain active by taking on interim roles, “generating a larger pool of independent talent than we’ve ever seen before,” she says. Are you a temp-to-perm leader? Are you a CEO or leader who turned a temporary or interim role into a permanent one? How did you win your role? Send your stories to me at stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. I’d love to share your experiences in a future newsletter. Read more: temps in the C-suite The great fractionalization may be coming to your leadership team How to step in as an interim manager Interim CEO posts: intense and eye-opening View the full article

Transform your reports with insights that matter. Discover how to create impactful SEO client reports that drive business results. The post How To Write SEO Reports That Get Attention From Your CMO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Consultants are helping clients lower the customs value of imports to cut the cost of new leviesView the full article

Think you know which social platform has the most engagement? The data might surprise you. Social media trends are always evolving, but lately, engagement has been shifting in unexpected ways. LinkedIn is seeing record-high interactions, Pinterest is quietly on the rise, and Threads — once a breakout success — is settling into more stable patterns. Meanwhile, Instagram’s engagement is lower than ever, but that doesn’t mean it’s losing relevance. If you’ve ever felt like social media engagement is unpredictable, you’re not alone. But while platforms and algorithms change, one thing remains the same: understanding the data gives you an edge. At Buffer, we analyzed millions of posts across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, Threads, and Pinterest to uncover where engagement is thriving, slowing down, and what it all means for your content strategy. Here’s what we found: Which platforms have the highest and lowest engagement rates this yearHow audience behavior is shifting across social mediaWhat’s behind LinkedIn’s engagement surge and Instagram’s engagement dipHow to adjust your content strategy based on 2025’s engagement trendsIf you want to stay ahead of the curve and make smarter content decisions, this article has the insights you need. Let’s dive in. What is engagement rate and why does it matter?Engagement rate is one of the most important social media metrics — but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. At its core, engagement rate measures how much people interact with your content relative to how many people see it. It’s not just about visibility — it’s about connection. For example: A post that reaches 10,000 people but gets only a few likes? Low engagement.A post that reaches 1,000 people but sparks hundreds of interactions? High engagement.That’s why engagement rate is one of the strongest indicators of content performance. It tells you: How well your content connects with your audience.How likely your content is to be amplified by the platform’s algorithm.Whether your audience is passive or actively engaging.The key considerations about engagement rate dataBefore we dive into the rankings, here are some key considerations to reflect the nuance of this report: Engagement rate ≠ Total engagement volume. Platforms with massive reach — like Instagram — may have lower engagement rates but still drive more total interactions than smaller, higher-engagement platforms like LinkedIn. A 1% engagement rate on Instagram could mean thousands of interactions, while a 6% engagement rate on LinkedIn might result in far fewer total engagements.Each platform encourages different behaviors. LinkedIn prioritizes comments and discussions, while Instagram thrives on shares and saves. These behavioral differences mean a 6% engagement rate on LinkedIn doesn’t equate to a 6% engagement rate on TikTok.What counts as engagement varies by platform. Saves on Instagram, pins on Pinterest, and comments on YouTube all count as engagement, but they reflect different user behaviors and levels of intent.Not all engagement is public. Private interactions — like bookmarks, DMs, and link clicks — aren’t always reflected in engagement rate calculations.How we calculate engagement rateAt Buffer, we calculate engagement rate using the following formula: (Total Interactions / Total Impressions) × 100 = Engagement Rate (%) To provide the most accurate view of engagement trends, we analyze engagement rates in two ways: Averages which help us compare platforms at a high level—showing where engagement is strongest overall.Medians over time which reveal the story of how engagement is evolving month by month.Now that we understand what engagement rate really measures — and its nuances across platforms — let’s get into the rankings. Average engagement rates by platform: Who’s leading the engagement game?To determine where users are engaging the most, we analyzed average engagement rates across eight major social platforms over a one-year timeframe. Here’s how they stack up: Platform Average Engagement Rate (%) LinkedIn 6.50% 📈 Facebook 5.07% TikTok 4.86% Threads 4.51% YouTube 4.41% Pinterest 3.46% X (Twitter) 2.31% Instagram 1.16% At first glance, the average engagement rates across these platforms tell us a few key things: LinkedIn is the top performer. With a median engagement rate of 6.50%, LinkedIn has outpaced all other platformsFacebook engagement remains steady. At 5.07%, Facebook continues to generate strong engagementTikTok ranks higher than YouTube for engagement. With 4.86%, TikTok remains a leader for short-form video, with YouTube not far behind with 4.41%Threads has outpaced X/Twitter in engagement. Threads’ 4.51% engagement rate is significantly higher than X’s 2.31%Instagram’s engagement rate is the lowest. At 1.16%, Instagram’s engagement is significantly lower than other platforms, though private interactions (DMs, saves) likely contribute to hidden engagement that isn’t captured in public metrics.Now, while these median numbers provide a broad comparison of which platforms drive the most engagement overall, they don’t capture how engagement has shifted over time. To understand how engagement is evolving, we decided to look at median engagement rates over the year between January 2024 to January 2025. Engagement patterns between January 2024 to January 2025Engagement rates don’t exist in a vacuum. User behavior, algorithm changes, and broader industry shifts all influence how people interact with content. While the overall median engagement rates tell us which platforms perform best overall, the median engagement rates over time reveal how engagement is changing month by month. Here’s what we found from analyzing median engagement rates from January 2024 to January 2025. 1. LinkedIn’s engagement is steadily risingWith an average engagement rate of 6.50%, LinkedIn leads all platforms, but the real story is its growth over time. In January 2024, LinkedIn’s median engagement rate was 6.00%. By January 2025, it had risen to 8.01%. What could be driving this increase? Less content saturation = higher visibility. Only 1% of LinkedIn users post regularly, meaning content has less competition and more potential reach.The algorithm rewards conversations. Posts with early engagement are boosted to second- and third-degree connections, expanding visibility.More diverse content formats are succeeding. Carousels see significant engagement, and the platform just introduced video.LinkedIn remains the strongest platform for authority-building and organic reach. If you’ve been posting inconsistently, now is the time to lean in. 2. Instagram’s engagement is evolvingWhile Instagram has the lowest average engagement rate (1.16%), its interaction patterns are shifting rather than simply declining. In January 2024, Instagram’s median engagement rate was 2.94%. By January 2025, it had adjusted to 0.61%. This change reflects a broader shift in how users engage with content rather than a loss of platform relevance. What’s behind the shift? More content is being consumed than ever. With reels and stories dominating, users are watching more but interacting differently — passive engagement is rising, even if likes and comments aren’t as visible.Engagement is becoming more private. Saves, DMs, and shares are increasing, but these interactions don’t contribute to public engagement metrics.Reels success depends on depth, not just views. High-performing reels tend to spark conversation or encourage sharing, while others may generate views without direct engagement.Instagram engagement isn’t disappearing — it’s moving behind the scenes. Create saveable content for the algorithm, share your posts with friends, and reply via DM — that’s where real engagement is happening. 3. Threads’ engagement is stabilizing after an initial surgeThreads launched with high engagement, but its numbers have steadily declined from 4.76% in February 2024 to 3.60% in February 2025. While Threads still outperforms X/Twitter in engagement rate, its growth phase has leveled out. What’s behind the shift? The early adopter effect is fading. When Threads launched, engagement was high as users explored the platform. As more users join, engagement is now spreading out across a larger content pool.More content = more competition. Initially, with fewer users posting, content was more visible. Now, as more creators share content, engagement is becoming more distributed.**Algorithm shifts are influencing visibility.** Threads started with a purely chronological feed, but Meta has since introduced ranking signals, making engagement less predictable.Threads remains a high-engagement platform, but success now depends on participation, not just presence. Prioritizing conversations, real-time engagement, and interactive content will help sustain engagement as the platform matures. 💡We only started collecting engagement data from Threads in February 2024.4. TikTok engagement remains high, but patterns are changingWith an average engagement rate of 4.86%, TikTok is still one of the strongest platforms for engagement, but its median engagement rate has gradually declined from 5.14% in January 2024 to 4.56% in January 2025. What’s behind the shift? TikTok’s algorithm is rewarding retention over interactions.** Watch time and replays are now bigger engagement drivers than likes or comments, shifting what “high engagement” looks like on the platform. Pro tip: Keep your videos above 1-minute as we’ve found that longer TikToks perform better in the algorithm.Short-form video competition is increasing. With Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even LinkedIn embracing video, TikTok is no longer the only dominant player in the space.More brands and advertisers = more polished content. TikTok’s early success was built on authentic, unpolished content, but as brands ramp up their presence, engagement rates have become less predictable.TikTok is still a powerhouse for engagement, but the type of engagement that matters is shifting. Focus on content that drives watch time and shares, not just likes and comments. 5. YouTube Shorts engagement is catching up to TikTokYouTube Shorts’ 4.41% average engagement rate puts it just behind TikTok, but its median engagement rate has risen from 3.95% in January 2024 to 4.71% in January 2025. What’s driving the increase? YouTube’s search advantage. Unlike TikTok, YouTube content is discoverable long after posting, meaning shorts have a longer engagement lifespan than TikTok videos.Higher audience intent. YouTube users are actively searching for content, while TikTok users are passively scrolling, leading to more engaged viewers on shorts.Monetization is attracting creators. With more ad revenue opportunities, creators are investing more in shorts content, leading to higher-quality videos that retain engagement.YouTube Shorts is becoming a major competitor to TikTok for short-form video. If you’re already creating vertical video content, repurposing it for shorts could extend its lifespan and reach. 💡15+ Tips to Grow On YouTube Shorts6. Pinterest’s engagement is quietly risingPinterest engagement has grown from 3.08% in January 2024 to 5.26% in January 2025, making it one of the strongest platforms for long-term engagement. Why is Pinterest growing? It’s a search-driven platform, not a feed-based one. Unlike TikTok or Instagram, Pinterest users actively seek out content, meaning engagement is more intentional than passive scrolling.Pins have a long shelf life. A single Pin can generate engagement for months or even years, unlike Instagram posts that disappear quickly.More users are treating Pinterest like a search engine. As Google’s search algorithms shift, more users are turning to Pinterest for inspiration and discovery.If you create evergreen content — such as guides, tutorials, and infographics — Pinterest offers long-term engagement potential. Unlike other platforms where content fades quickly, your content on Pinterest can drive engagement long after you post it. 💡How to Use Pinterest – And Why You Should as a Creator or Business7. Facebook’s engagement remains steady despite changesFacebook’s 5.07% average engagement rate is strong, and its median engagement rate has remained stable at around 5.45% over the past year. Why is Facebook engagement holding steady? Facebook Groups continue to drive strong engagement. Unlike brand pages, niche Groups see some of the highest interaction rates on the platform.Meta is investing in new monetization tools. Features like subscriptions, Facebook reels monetization, and ad revenue sharing are keeping creators active.Facebook’s demographic is highly engaged. While younger audiences gravitate toward TikTok and Instagram, Facebook’s core user base (ages 30+) remains actively engaged.Facebook remains a high-value platform for community-driven engagement — especially if you leverage Groups and interactive content. 8. X/Twitter engagement continues to declineX (formerly Twitter) has dropped from 3.47% in January 2024 to 2.15% in January 2025, making it the second-lowest platform for engagement after Instagram. What’s driving the decline? Algorithm changes have reduced organic reach.** X is prioritizing paid subscribers and recommended content, making organic engagement harder to achieve.More users are lurking rather than engaging. Many users consume content without liking, commenting, or reposting, leading to lower engagement rates.Platform instability is affecting creator investment. With frequent policy shifts and monetization changes, fewer creators are prioritizing X.Unless you’re focused on news, politics, or real-time commentary, engagement on X will require more effort and consistency to maintain. What the data means for your content strategyKnowing where engagement is highest is one thing — figuring out how to use that insight in your strategy is another. A high engagement rate doesn’t automatically make a platform the best fit for you. The key question is: What are your goals, and which platform aligns with them? Here’s how to refine your approach based on the data. 1. Pick the platform that aligns with your goalsNot all engagement is equal, and different platforms serve different purposes. Here's how you can adjust based on what you're trying to achieve: For high engagement per post: Focus on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest. LinkedIn and Facebook have strong engagement through comments and community-driven content. Pinterest excels at evergreen content, driving steady engagement long after posting.For massive reach potential: Go with Instagram and TikTok. While Instagram’s engagement rate may be lower, it offers vast reach, and TikTok’s discovery algorithm allows even smaller accounts to go viral.For video-focused engagement: TikTok and YouTube Shorts are the best platforms. Short-form video drives some of the highest engagement rates, and repurposing video across platforms (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram) can boost your reach without extra work.For real-time conversations: If your goal is immediate interactions, go with Threads or X (Twitter). Both excel in real-time discussions, with Threads gaining traction for organic engagement and X still being key for news-driven content.Takeaway: Instead of trying to be everywhere, focus on the platforms that align with your specific goals. Don’t just chase high engagement rates — consider how each platform fits your content objectives. 2. Adapt your content format for each platformEach platform prioritizes different formats based on user behavior. Here’s how you can tailor your content: LinkedIn is about conversation starters. Use long-form posts, carousels, and documents to encourage discussions and showcase expertise.Instagram’s engagement is increasingly happening behind the scenes — so focus on Reels that generate saves and shares, not just likes.TikTok favors content that keeps people watching. Go for quick hooks and engaging narratives that are visually compelling from the start.Pinterest excels with evergreen content that gets better over time. High-quality visuals, step-by-step guides, and search-optimized content will perform best here.Takeaway: Tailor your content to the platform—what works on Instagram doesn’t necessarily work on LinkedIn. Focus on creating platform-first content that aligns with user expectations and engagement behaviors. 💡The Best Content for Major Social Media Platforms (+ Ideas and Examples)3. Fine-tune your posting strategy for maximum engagementEngagement isn’t just about what you post — it’s about when and how often you post. Each platform rewards different posting behaviors, so optimizing your frequency is key. For LinkedIn and Facebook: Focus on quality over quantity. Posts that sustain engagement over time tend to do better, so one well-crafted post a few times a week can be enough.For Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts: These platforms thrive on frequency. Post daily to increase visibility and maintain engagement, but always prioritize quality content that resonates with your audience.For Threads and X: Engage in real-time conversations — post multiple times a day if possible, but engage actively with others’ content to build a community.Takeaway: Match your posting frequency to the platform’s algorithm. Some platforms reward quality posts over consistency (LinkedIn, Facebook), while others, like TikTok and Instagram, reward daily posts that build momentum. Play to the strengths of each platformA high engagement rate doesn’t automatically mean a platform is the right fit for you. What matters most is how well a platform aligns with your goals — whether that’s visibility, deep engagement, video performance, or real-time interaction. Instead of trying to be everywhere at once, focus on the platforms that play to your strengths and audience behaviors. Adapt your content format, posting strategy, and engagement approach to work with the strengths of each platform rather than against them. View the full article

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