Skip to content

Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2024?

Writing a cover letter can be daunting. I’ll never forget my college career coach, who made writing a cover letter look easy. Even with her tips, I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to talk about myself and hype up my accomplishments. While it acts as a letter of introduction, I’ve wondered if a cover letter is necessary in 2024. To find out, I spoke with two recruiters and gained insights on how to write the best cover letter for any job application. How important is a cover letter? Is a cover letter necessary? When to Skip a Cover Letter When to Include a Cover Letter Tips for Writing a Cover Letter What if the cover letter is optional? How important is a cover letter? Cover letters are short letters of introduction that you include with job applications. Typically, they are your chance to go into deeper details about your accomplishments that you might not have highlighted or had room to mention on your resume. Tiffany Hall, a professional resume writer and founder of Resume911, says cover letters are an important part of the job application process. Hall says, “Cover letters can be very important. It’s supposed to sell why you,… Read More »Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2024?

The 16 Best Free Portfolio Websites for Creating an Impressive Digital Portfolio in 2024

A great story or post benefits from great images — like charts, infographics, custom art, and more. I’ve had to look for designers and photographers to work for to add those elements to my writing. A great portfolio is essential to help me make the right choices of who to work with. Whether you’re a UX designer, freelance writer, or photographer, an impressive online portfolio is critical for impressing potential clients and landing future jobs.  Once you’ve created your digital portfolio, you’ll need somewhere to host or showcase it — that’s where a portfolio website comes in. Here, we’ve created a list of the best portfolio websites for designers, freelancers, and photographers to ensure you can showcase your best work in any industry. Table of Contents Best Free Portfolio Websites for Freelance Writers Best Free Portfolio Websites for Designers Best Free Portfolio Websites for Photographers Creating Your Online Portfolio Examples of your work you could display in an online portfolio include: Photographs. Writing samples. Case studies. Spreadsheets. Lesson plans. What you include in your online portfolio varies depending on your field and expertise. I asked Kaitlin Milliken, a senior program manager who runs HubSpot’s Freelance Network, what she looks for in… Read More »The 16 Best Free Portfolio Websites for Creating an Impressive Digital Portfolio in 2024

How to Write a Memo [Template, Examples & HubSpotter Tips]

When there’s a significant shift in the business landscape or an important win, it’s important to spread the word. A memo is the best way to get the job done. Unlike an email, your memo will go out to your entire department or everyone at the company. No pressure. (Well, maybe some pressure…) Before writing a memo, I take some time to hype myself up. This bit of internal communication will be read by my peers, my boss, and likely my boss’ boss. Getting the language right is essential, and every word counts. In this post, I’ll share my experience writing memos along with tips from my peers at HubSpot. From there, I’ll showcase stellar memo examples and a template to help you create your own. Let’s dive in! Memos are shared to inform readers about new information and have applications for different communities and businesses. Communities can use memos to tell people within it about public safety guidelines, promote various events, and raise awareness on subjects that affect their lives. Businesses can use memos to relay information involving newly updated policies, changes in procedure, important milestones, or necessary employee actions, such as attending an upcoming meeting or convention. I… Read More »How to Write a Memo [Template, Examples & HubSpotter Tips]

How to Create an HTML Form That Sends You an Email

Have you ever set up a form on your site, only to lose track of the information? Creating an HTML email form is an effective way to resolve this issue. Below, you’ll learn how to create a form that sends an email to you, as well as the customer, after a submission. This simple trick will help you build a seamless inbound strategy. Ideally, browsers would allow you to route form submissions directly to an email address. However, the reason they don’t is that emailing directly from an HTML web form would reveal the visitor’s email address, making the user vulnerable to malicious activities, such as phishing. Further, HTML doesn’t offer an option to create a form that sends an email after submission. Instead, you can use the form action element to set a mailto: address (in this case, your own), triggering the submitter’s mail client to open. This is a last-ditch option if you can’t create a PHP-based form. However, there are a few problems with the mailto: option: It isn’t 100% compatible with all browsers. The process isn’t very user-friendly. You can’t control the formatting of the data when the form is sent by the browser. A warning… Read More »How to Create an HTML Form That Sends You an Email

The Most Effective Types of Content on Social Media in 2024 [New Data]

It’s 2024, and the highest-ROI marketing channel is still good ol’ social media.  Our State of Marketing & Trends Report shows that 43% of marketers use it as a marketing channel. I wonder why that number isn’t even higher. These days, sharing content on social media is a no-brainer for brands. Whether you’re looking for a strategy refresh or trying out the channel for the first time, this post is your guide to the different types of social media content, what works best, and how it can empower your business.   Different Types of Social Media Content 1. Video (Short-form, Specifically) Social media marketers are still placing their bet on short-form videos in 2024, some even upping the ante:  67% plan to increase their investment in short-form videos 31% will maintain their current investment  33% plan to invest more in short-form videos than any other content form It’s not surprising, considering short videos yield the highest ROI for social media marketing, according to HubSpot’s 2024 Social Media Trends Report.   Some common examples of short-form videos are TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube shorts. This TikTok below is from Candeeze, a small husband-and-wife brand that sells freeze-dried candy online. It racked up… Read More »The Most Effective Types of Content on Social Media in 2024 [New Data]

The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Influencer Marketing for Brands

In my agency days, I once woke up at 5:00 am to meet a TV host at my client’s donut shop for a behind-the-scenes first look at their pumpkin-spiced lattes and donuts. (In Indiana, we love our donuts.) The TV coverage was great, but you know what made an even bigger impact? The Instagram stories the media personality shared. In the last five years, influencer marketing has come a long way from an experimental content-for-product swap to a full-fledged marketing tactic. Influence Marketing Hub estimates that the industry will total $24 billion by 2025, up from $1.7 billion in 2016. Instagram influencer marketing is one of the most popular ways to work with influencers, and I’ve compiled all the details you need to know to get started with any budget. With this guide, you won’t need to trek out at dawn to launch your campaign — you can do it right from your computer or phone. What is Instagram influencer marketing? Why use influencer marketing on Instagram? How much does Instagram influencer marketing cost? How to Find the Right Instagram Influencers to Promote Your Brand How to Work With Instagram Influencers What is Instagram influencer marketing? Instagram influencer marketing is… Read More »The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Influencer Marketing for Brands

16 Best Email Previewing, Testing, & Rendering Tools

You know the expression, “What you see is what you get”? Well, an email preview makes sure that’s the case when it comes to sending email marketing campaigns. In this post, we’ll discuss the best free and paid email testing, previewing, and email rendering tools you can use to make sure your emails are ready for the eyes of your leads and customers. Table of Contents What is an email previewer? Why use an email previewer? HTML Email Preview Best Email Preview Tools Free Email Preview Tools Paid Email Preview Tools What is an email previewer? An email previewer is a tool that helps you preview your messages before sending them to your list. Previewing your messages ensures your emails are professional, error-free, easy to read, and ready for your leads and customers. Why use an email previewer? Since everyone uses different email providers such as Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, emails can appear differently for various subscribers. Sometimes, images are blocked, alt text is missing, or fonts won‘t render. If this happens, you could damage your credibility and lose subscribers. That’s why it’s essential to test your emails before you send them. Now, let’s take a moment to review HTML… Read More »16 Best Email Previewing, Testing, & Rendering Tools

How to Do Keyword Research for SEO: A Beginner’s Guide

While Google keeps us on our toes with all the algorithm updates they keep rollin’ out, one thing has stayed pretty consistent for inbound marketers looking to optimize their websites for search: keyword research. In this post, we’ll define what keyword research is, why it’s important, how to conduct your research for your SEO strategy, and choose the right keywords for your website. Table of Contents What is keyword research? Why is keyword research important? Elements of Keyword Research How to Research Keywords for Your SEO Strategy How to Find and Choose Keywords for Your Website Why is keyword research important? Keyword research helps you find which keywords are best to target and provides valuable insight into the queries that your target audience is actually searching on Google. Insights from these actual search terms can help inform your content strategy as well as your larger marketing strategy. People use keywords to find solutions when conducting research online. So if your content is successful in getting in front of your audience as they conduct searches, you stand to gain more traffic. Therefore, you should be targeting those searches with content that features those keywords in a meaningful way. Additionally, inbound methodology… Read More »How to Do Keyword Research for SEO: A Beginner’s Guide

The Ultimate Guide to On-Page SEO in 2024

On-page SEO has the power to bring countless new visitors — and customers — right to your website. Additionally, on-page SEO is also completely up to you: You get to establish what the topic and/or goal of each page will be. You get to decide on the target audience for that page. And you get to choose the target keywords and phrases you want to focus on. This can be intimidating and empowering at the same time. If you’re unsure how to get started, we’ve built this on-page SEO checklist to help guide you. Jump To: What is On-Page SEO? Why On-Page SEO is Important On-Page SEO Elements On-Page SEO Checklist How to Manage On-Page SEO at Scale Google’s algorithm ranks your website on three main factors: on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO: On-page SEO refers to the page elements that enable search engines to crawl and index a page. Off-page SEO refers to social sharing, external linking, and more. Technical SEO refers to all the SEO elements not included in on-page and off-page practices, such as structured data, site speed, and mobile readiness — the more technical parts of SEO. Note: This SEO “trilogy” isn’t always divided into… Read More »The Ultimate Guide to On-Page SEO in 2024

47 B2B Marketing Stats to Know This Year [+HubSpot Data]

Remember the story about Plato’s cave? Here’s a refresher. One group of people lives in a cave only sees shadows; the philosopher who escapes can see things for what they are. That’s somewhat how it feels when making conclusions about B2B marketing without the right stats. You simply have no ground to stand on, no lifeline to grab, before the naysayers and doubters sway your decision-making and alter the success of your strategies. With data, you’re able to see the big picture. Buckle up, leave your preconceived notions about B2B marketing at the entrance, and let’s get into the nitty-gritty. All of the stats below come from HubSpot’s original research. B2B Marketing Strategy Stats 66% of B2B leaders and 62% of B2C leaders say their companies have leveraged AI tools, while only 57% of sales leaders responded positively to the same question. (HubSpot’s State of AI Report) 74% of B2B leaders and 68% of sales leaders deem AI/automation tools important to their overall business strategy. (HubSpot’s State of AI Report) 69% of B2B leaders say they have the necessary data to reach their audience effectively, 19% are unsure, and 12% say that’s not the case. (HubSpot’s State of Marketing Report)… Read More »47 B2B Marketing Stats to Know This Year [+HubSpot Data]

Is TikTok Becoming the Next QVC? All About TikTok Live Shopping

When I was growing up, QVC was the channel my mother would watch to discover new products and deals. From hair straighteners to trendy blouses to jewelry, QVC would display everything during its 24/7 live broadcast. Fast-forward to 2024, and I thought the live QVC era was long gone, thanks to the rise of online shopping. However, it looks like it is making a comeback via TikTok Live Shopping. I can’t scroll for more than a minute without coming across a TikTok Live event showcasing products and services that viewers can purchase directly from the live broadcast. So what is TikTok Live Shopping, and is it the new QVC? More importantly, should your brand give it a try? Here‘s what I’ve found: What is TikTok Live Shopping Why should brands experiment with TikTok Live Shopping? TikTok Live Stream Shopping vs. QVC What is TikTok Live Shopping? TikTok live shopping allows brands to showcase and sell products in real time during live streams on the platform. The experience enables TikTok users to purchase products without leaving the app. Viewers can also wait until after the live stream to browse all the items mentioned during the event. This is done by tapping… Read More »Is TikTok Becoming the Next QVC? All About TikTok Live Shopping

Creating an HTML Email: The Design Guide You Need [+ Free Templates]

When you create an email using a drag-and-drop or module-based tool, you’re actually generating an HTML email. As a marketer, you’ve probably compared HTML emails versus plain text emails and realized that each type has different benefits. HTML emails aren’t inherently better than plain text emails, and in different situations, both types can be part of a successful email marketing program. In this article, we’ll cover how you can get started creating HTML emails, regardless of your experience level and comfort with coding, and share some free templates you can use. Let’s dive in. Plain Text vs. HTML Emails How to Create an HTML Email HTML Email Best Practices Simple and Free HTML Email Templates Plain Text vs. HTML Emails There are two main types of email you can send and receive: plain text emails (these are exactly what they sound like — any email that contains just plain old text with no formatting) and HTML emails, which are formatted and styled using HTML and inline CSS. HTML emails are easy to spot — most of the styled, multimedia marketing emails in your inbox are HTML emails. Here’s what an HTML looks like on the front end. Click on the… Read More »Creating an HTML Email: The Design Guide You Need [+ Free Templates]

60 Remote Work Stats to Know in 2024

My first marketing job was as a contract writer for an agency on the opposite side of the world. This also happened to be my first “real” job and, consequently, my first experience of remote work. Since then, I’ve worked with several other companies across multiple time zones and, as a result, experienced everything remote work has to offer — from the challenges of setting up a home office to the joys of location independence. But more importantly, I’ve also gotten to consciously observe the growth and impact of remote work over time. In this post, I’ll be sharing 60 statistics to help you understand the evolution, opportunities, and challenges this unique mode of work offers. Each section is designed to provide more than just statistics and instead offer you a cohesive, research-backed narrative on each sub-topic. Table of Contents The Introduction and Evolution of Remote Work How Companies Have Responded to Remote Work Why Workers Prefer Remote Work The Business Impact of Remote Work Collaboration in a Remote Work Environment Challenges of Remote Work The Introduction and Evolution of Remote Work According to Hubspot, the most popular work model today is a hybrid model, which is preferred by 41%… Read More »60 Remote Work Stats to Know in 2024

The Future of Social Media [Research]: What Marketers Need to Know

Social media has changed considerably since the MySpace days, and it‘s part of a marketer’s job to stay on top of its advancements. You’re probably wondering what the social future of social media could look like and how marketers will need to adapt. To answer your question, here are my guesses based on the latest research, data, and current advancements in social media. Table of Contents What is the future of social media? Search on Social Media Instead of Engines More Reliance on Influencers Over Celebrities Seamless Shopping Experience on Most Socials Short-Form Video Will Become More Important Than Ever AI Will Become a Helpful Tool for Boosting Social Media Strategies Greater Focus on Building an Active Social Media Community What is the future of social media? Through our multiple surveys, research, and additional data, here’s what I predict for the future of social media: Consumers will search for information on social media or via AI instead of traditional search engines. Brands will rely on influencers, especially micro-influencers, rather than celebrities. Consumers will enjoy a seamless shopping experience on social media. Brands will create more short-form content to connect with their audiences. Brands will leverage AI tools to create personalized… Read More »The Future of Social Media [Research]: What Marketers Need to Know

Google Ads Intelligence: How to Use Google Ads AI for Your Next Campaign

Google Ads is the world’s largest PPC advertising platform. If used effectively, you can generate significant profit for companies. But wrapping your head around it can be hard. Google Ads requires a lot of testing and experimentation. Or, at least, it did until now. Google Ads has recently launched a conversational experience for advertisers, which lets users create their ads by using text prompts. However, Google Ads Intelligence, as it’s broadly known, offers way more than just being an interactive campaign builder. In this post, I explain what Google Ads Intelligence is, the key features it includes, and Google Ads AI best practices. Table of Contents What is Google Ads Intelligence? When did Google roll out AI for ads? AI Features in Google Ads Best Practices When Using Google Ads Intelligence What is Google Ads Intelligence? Google Ads Intelligence is an umbrella term for a set of AI-powered tools Google launched to help advertisers create effective campaigns. Their motto is to help businesses reach the right people with the right creative at the right cost. While, in recent years, it already included some intelligent features like Smart Bidding, it will now be helpful at a whole new level. Advertisers will… Read More »Google Ads Intelligence: How to Use Google Ads AI for Your Next Campaign

The Psychology of Short-Form Content: Why We Love Bite-Sized Videos

Let me tell you the most challenging part of my job. Often, I will delete TikTok and Instagram from my phone because I can’t help but waste time endlessly scrolling through these apps, watching dozens of short-form videos in one sitting. Then, like clockwork, I redownload these apps because I must write about them for work. Thus, the cycle of endless scrolling continues. Sure, I could blame the nature of the job, but my endless scrolling stems from the fact that I love short-form videos. And I’m not the only one. 73% of consumers prefer to watch short-form videos to learn about a product or service, and 56% of marketers reported that short-form video was the top trend they planned to invest in in 2024. So, why are short-form videos so popular? Turns out there are a few reasons, one of which involved a bit of psychology. Let’s get into it! What are short-form videos? Why are short-form videos so popular?   What are short-form videos? Short-form videos are videos that are less than 60 seconds in duration. However, some marketers and content creators agree that short-form videos can be up to 3 minutes. But, if you want my opinion,… Read More »The Psychology of Short-Form Content: Why We Love Bite-Sized Videos

Learn from My Mistakes: 7 Digital Course Pitfalls to Skip

Welcome to Creator Columns, where we bring expert HubSpot Creator voices to the Blogs that inspire and help you grow better. Mistakes are part of the journey for every digital course creator, and trust me, I’ve made my fair share of them as I’ve built my business. But for every one of these missteps, there’s been a valuable lesson. My name is Amy, and I help entrepreneurs grow their businesses with digital courses. So I’d love to walk you through some of the lesser-known mistakes I’ve made, so you can avoid them entirely. Sound good? The 7 Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made as a Digital Course Creator 1. Launching without hands-on experience While your digital course topic may evolve with your business, it’s important to have hands-on experience in whatever it is you’re teaching. Want to teach a course about real estate investing? Fantastic, but make sure you have experience as a real estate investor. Want to teach hair stylists how to successfully open their own salons? Do it. But you should have opened your own salon first. I launched my first digital course without any prior experience in the niche I was teaching about. In my hurry to establish myself… Read More »Learn from My Mistakes: 7 Digital Course Pitfalls to Skip

9 Pivotal Marketing Trends to Watch in 2024, According to Experts

No one knows the saying change is the only constant in life better than a marketer. We’ve seen the number of MarTech solutions grow from about 150 to more than 11,000 over the last 20 or so years. We’ve seen mobile become its own channel… and then as the world became device agnostic, we watched it simply merge with online. We watched the birth of social (remember MySpace, anyone?). And finally, we leaned in as OpenAI unleashed generative AI into our world at the end of 2022. When I think about all that we experienced since then — and what we’re likely to see in the year ahead — all I can think is: be ready for more change. As marketers, we live and breathe customer focus, and this year, we will be put to the test. Wondering what the future of marketing will look like in 2024? In this post, I’m delighted to share some top trends to keep in mind from some truly exceptional marketing experts. Top Marketing Trends to Watch in 2024, According to Experts 1. Doing more with AI — with empathy. HubSpot’s State of Marketing Report for 2024 found 64% of marketers are already leveraging… Read More »9 Pivotal Marketing Trends to Watch in 2024, According to Experts

9 Advertising Trends to Watch in 2024 [New Data + Expert Insights]

Advertising is an ever-changing beast — with those on ad and marketing teams working hard to stay ahead of trends. In 2023, we saw the emergence of AI in all forms of content, the rise of personalization, augmented realities (including the metaverse), and the explosion of short-form video. As a seasoned content marketer working in tech, I’ve noticed that advertising trends in 2024 seem to respond to the trends we saw in 2023. For example, if my ad team was firmly against using artificial intelligence last year, I’d need to catch up with everyone who initially embraced it. You might even be using AI without knowing it, with Google using AI in paid search to create relevant ads. In 2024, advertisers will need to stay on top of trends, or their ad money won’t go as far. In this article, I’ll discuss upcoming advertising trends and how you can leverage these stats to increase engagement, value, and sales. Digital Advertising Trends in 2024 Social Media Advertising Trends in 2024 Other Emerging Advertising Trends in 2024 Understanding Ad Trends in 2024 Digital Advertising Trends in 2024 While ad spending is predicted to spike in 2024, teams will likely be more responsible… Read More »9 Advertising Trends to Watch in 2024 [New Data + Expert Insights]

21 Email Newsletter Examples We Love Getting in Our Inboxes

It’s often challenging to navigate the information overload you experience, thanks to the never-ending updates from social media, news, and emails. Subscribing to the right email newsletter ensures you get the information you need in your inbox. Like a hot knife through butter, the best email newsletters help you cut through the clutter to ensure you don’t miss out on anything important. This blog post provides tips and tricks for creating a newsletter that delivers value to subscribers. I also include examples of exemplary newsletters and explain what makes them work. The curation serves to level up the journalistic quality of your content, which results in two things: Increases the value you provide. Improves your authority and credibility in your audience’s eyes. While newsletters and email marketing can be effective, many newsletters flop.  These newsletters become an uninteresting mush of content people automatically ignore, archive, delete, or straight up unsubscribe from. And this isn’t great for you, your metrics, or your company’s success. So, if you’re considering creating an email newsletter, keep reading. In this post, we’ll cover: Email Newsletter Ideas Email Newsletter Design 21 Top Email Newsletter Examples Email Newsletter Ideas Email newsletters can include a weekly round-up of… Read More »21 Email Newsletter Examples We Love Getting in Our Inboxes

30+ Best Free Online Marketing Classes to Take in 2024

Staying on top of the latest strategies and trends has been crucial for keeping my knowledge and skills current as a digital marketer. Whether it’s learning new SEO techniques or understanding changing social media algorithms, free digital marketing courses have been an invaluable resource throughout my career. While traditional options such as boot camps or university programs offer valuable education, they also often come with a hefty price tag. In contrast, online courses offer a more affordable and accessible alternative. But with so many options, how do you pick the right one for you? Table of Contents Why take a marketing course? How I Chose the Best Online Marketing Courses Free Online Marketing Courses (jump ahead below): Free Content Marketing Courses Free Social Media Marketing Courses Free SEO Marketing Courses Free Email Marketing Courses Free Web Development and Site Design Courses Free Online Advertising & PPC Courses Free Affiliate Marketing Course Other Free Digital Marketing Courses Getting a Digital Marketing Certificate Where to Find Online Marketing Courses Why take a marketing course? While it’s possible to learn new skills through blog posts and ebooks, I’ve found that this method often leads to overwhelm. Although these resources can be helpful, the… Read More »30+ Best Free Online Marketing Classes to Take in 2024

How to Create a Landing Page with High ROI [Expert and Data-Backed Tips]

As a marketer, I understand the importance of landing pages. A landing page can be the designated page visitors are taken to when they click on an ad. It can also be the page that follows a call-to-action button or serve as the homepage of a website. Regardless of how my audience “lands” on a landing page, it encourages them to convert to a lead or customer. Hence, landing pages are uniquely powerful components of a business’ digital marketing strategy. Table of Contents What is a landing page? How to Create a Landing Page Why do you need a landing page? Landing Page Best Practices How to Design Your Landing Page Landing Page Copywriting Tips A/B Testing Your Landing Page Landing Page Metrics to Track How to Make Your Landing Pages More Effective What to Do Post-Conversion: Lead Nurturing What is a landing page? A landing page is a website page with a specific purpose — the objective of a landing page is to convert visitors into leads. While there are many landing pages, the intent is the same — get more leads. Landing pages contain lead forms that ask visitors for their contact information in exchange for something of… Read More »How to Create a Landing Page with High ROI [Expert and Data-Backed Tips]

This $12 billion high-speed rail will connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles and lay ‘the foundation for a new industry’

The goal is for the line to be up and running for the L.A. Olympics in 2028. Work is set to begin Monday on a $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area, with officials projecting millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028. Brightline West, whose sister company already operates a fast train between Miami and Orlando in Florida, aims to lay 218 miles (351 kilometers) of new track between a terminal to be built just south of the Las Vegas Strip and another new facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Almost the full distance is to be built in the median of Interstate 15, with a station stop in San Bernardino County’s Victorville area. In a statement, Brightline Holdings founder and Chairperson Wes Edens called the moment “the foundation for a new industry.” Brightline aims to link other U.S. cities that are too near to each other for flying between them to make sense and too far for people to drive the distance, Edens said. CEO Mike Reininger has said the goal is to have trains operating in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete… Read More »This $12 billion high-speed rail will connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles and lay ‘the foundation for a new industry’

TikTok ready to “move to the courts” to prevent ban in US

Enlarge (credit: Sheldon Coope | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images) TikTok is gearing up for a long legal battle to fight legislation in the US that threatens to ban the app in its largest market if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, refuses to sell the viral video platform. The US House of Representatives on Saturday passed a package of national security bills that included legislation that would result in TikTok being banned in the country if Chinese parent company ByteDance does not divest the app. Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s public policy head in the US, told staff in response that if the bill became law, the company would “move to the courts for a legal challenge.” Read 12 remaining paragraphs | Comments

Report: Apple acquires French startup behind AI and computer vision technology

Apple has reportedly acquired Datakalab, a Paris, France-based startup specializing in artificial intelligence compression and computer vision technology. According to French business magazine Challenges, the acquisition was finalized in December. Datakalab described itself as “experts in low power, runtime efficient, and deep learning algorithms” that work on device. more…

How to Add Social Media Icons to Your Email Signature [+ Free Resources]

Using social media icons for email signatures is a simple yet effective way to make it easy for your recipients to find and connect with your brand on social media. To help you do that, I share the easiest ways to add social media icons to your email signature, plus offer a few free resources to get it done. Throughout this blog post, I’ll cover the following topics: Why use social media icons in email signatures? How do I add social media icons to my email signature? How can I create custom social media icons? Free Social Media Icons for Email Signatures Should I put social media icons in my email signature? Why use social media icons in email signatures? Statista predicts global social media users will reach almost 6 billion by 2027. But even as we speak, the sheer volume of people already on some form of social media means it just makes sense to do business there in 2024. That’s especially true if you want to increase brand exposure and improve traffic and lead generation. According to Statista, these were the most commonly cited advantages of using social media for marketing purposes among global industry professionals. And that’s… Read More »How to Add Social Media Icons to Your Email Signature [+ Free Resources]

The official Deadpool and Wolverine trailer is finally here, and yes, it’s awesome

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman join forces in Deadpool and Wolverine. We were already looking forward to the summer release of Deadpool and Wolverine, which will bring together Ryan Reynolds’ R-rated antihero with Hugh Jackman’s iconic X-Man. We’re even more eager to see the film after Marvel dropped the official trailer, which is chock-full of off-color witticisms, meta-references, slo-mo action, and a generous sprinkling of F-bombs. (But no cocaine! Wade promised Feige! “They know all the slang terms. They have a list.”) “You’re talking about two massive movie stars in their most iconic roles,” Director Shawn Levy (Free Guy) told Screen Rant earlier this month. “It also gave me an opportunity. It’s the third Deadpool movie, but it’s not Deadpool 3. It’s a different thing that’s very much Deadpool and Wolverine. And it’s not trying to copycat anything from the first two movies. They were awesome, but this is a two-hander character adventure.” (Spoilers for Deadpool 2 below.) Read 10 remaining paragraphs | Comments

Grindr sued for allegedly sharing users’ HIV status and other info with ad companies

Grindr has been sued for allegedly sharing personal information with advertising companies without users’ consent. A lawsuit filed in London claims that the data included HIV statuses and test dates, ethnicity and sexual orientation, Bloomberg reports. According to the class action-style suit, the alleged data sharing involved adtech companies Localytics and Apptimize. Grindr is said to have supplied the companies with user info before April 2018 and then between May 2018 and April 2020. Engadget has asked Grindr for comment. In April 2018, Grindr admitted it had shared HIV data with Apptimize and Localytics following an investigation by BuzzFeed News and Norwegian non-profit SINTEF. It said it would stop the practice. This isn’t the only time Grindr has been accused of sharing users’ personal information. A 2022 report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that precise location data on Grindr users was up for sale for at least three years. In addition, Norway’s data protection agency fined Grindr $6 million in 2021 for violating the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. The agency said Grindr had unlawfully shared “personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.” This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/grindr-sued-for-allegedly-sharing-users-hiv-status-and-other-info-with-ad-companies-141748725.html?src=rss

Hawaii’s lawmakers are targeting problematic vacation rentals that push out low-income residents

One nonprofit estimates almost 2,000 households have left the state. Amy Chadwick spent years scrimping and saving as a single mother of two to buy a house in the town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. But after a devastating fire leveled Lahaina in August and reduced Chadwick’s home to white dust, the cheapest rental she and her now-husband could find for their family and dogs cost $10,000 a month. Chadwick, a fine-dining server, moved to Florida where she could stretch her homeowners insurance dollars. She’s worried Maui’s exorbitant rental prices, driven in part by vacation rentals that hog a limited housing supply, will hollow out her tight-knit town. Most people in Lahaina work for hotels, restaurants and tour companies and can’t afford $5,000 to $10,000 a month in rent, she said. “You’re pushing out an entire community of service industry people. So no one’s going to be able to support the tourism that you’re putting ahead of your community,” Chadwick said by phone from her new home in Satellite Beach on Florida’s Space Coast. “Nothing good is going to come of it unless they take a serious stance, putting their foot down and really regulating these short-term… Read More »Hawaii’s lawmakers are targeting problematic vacation rentals that push out low-income residents

Q&A with Discord CEO Jason Citron on creating a more private internet, developers, community, gaming origins, moderation, layoffs, Loom video meetings, and more (Nilay Patel/The Verge)

Nilay Patel / The Verge: Q&A with Discord CEO Jason Citron on creating a more private internet, developers, community, gaming origins, moderation, layoffs, Loom video meetings, and more  —  For teens and gamers, Discord has become their entire online social lives.  Co-founder Jason Citron thinks the internet is headed more in that direction.

TikTok ban: A complete timeline and everything you need to know

TikTok has been one of the most popular apps in the world for nearly half a decade now. It has fundamentally reshaped the way millions of people consume content on the web, but all of that attention has (rightfully) also warranted concern from officials. In some countries, such as India, TikTok has already been banned for years. Now, things have finally come to a head, with the United States House of Representatives finally passing a bill to force TikTok to sell or shut down in the US. If you haven’t been following the whole story, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the TikTok ban, the reasons behind it, and the full timeline so far.

My Hero Academia season 7: Release date, cast, plot, and more

A series centered around a superhero without actual powers— leave it to anime to give us that. My Hero Academia has given us six whole seasons of action, with both heroes and villains getting satisfying arcs. Is My Hero Academia going to enter the final arc of its manga? Are we going to get a seventh season? Find out what we know about the My Hero Academia season 7 release date and where the plot is taking us next.

Wait, Knuckles Is Hardly Even in His Own TV Show?

I had a lot of expectations for the Knuckles live-action mini-series that, it turns out, might have been a bit too lofty. But I don’t think the expectation that the titular echidna voiced by Idris Elba would be in a show with his name at the top was that outrageous. I’m sad to report that Knuckles is only around for a… Read more…

How to Develop a Content Strategy in 7 Steps: A Start-to-Finish Guide

Whether you‘re just starting out with content marketing or you’ve been using the same approach for a while, it never hurts to revisit your content strategy plan and make sure it’s innovative and engaging for your prospects and customers. If you’re having trouble planning for the upcoming year or need some fresh ideas to include in your plan, read on. In this post, we’ll dive into what content strategy is, why your business needs a content marketing plan, and what steps you need to take to create your strategy. Plus, we’ll explore some examples of effective content marketing strategies for inspiration. Table of Contents What is content strategy? Why Marketers Need to Create a Content Marketing Strategy Elements of a Content Strategy Plan How to Create a Content Strategy Framework Content Marketing Strategy Statistics  Questions to Ask When Creating a Content Strategy Content Strategy Template Content Marketing Strategy Example Content Strategy Tactics Say your business goals include increasing brand awareness. To achieve this, you might implement a content strategy that focuses on SEO to increase your website’s visibility on the search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive traffic to your products or services. New business owners might assume a content… Read More »How to Develop a Content Strategy in 7 Steps: A Start-to-Finish Guide

The TikTok Ban Has a Real Shot at Becoming Law This Week

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the so-called TikTok ban (again) on Saturday as part of a crucial package to provide foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, according to The Washington Post. The bill that could ban or force a sale of TikTok seems to be on a fast track through Congress, widely expected to b… Read more…

Tesla cuts Full Self Driving cost by 1/3 ahead of earnings call

Enlarge / Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” system just got a third cheaper. (credit: Edie Leong for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Tesla has dropped the price of its controversial “Full Self Driving” partially automated driver assist. Last week, getting access to FSD would cost you $12,000—today, it’s a third cheaper at $8,000. Alternatively, customers can subscribe to the feature for $99 a month. Tesla has bet heavily on FSD for the future of the company. It’s one of two partially automated driving systems offered by Tesla—Autopilot is the older and less-capable system. FSD includes features such as auto lane changes, auto parking, the ability to summon the car from its parking space, and lane keeping (Autosteer in Tesla-speak) on surface streets. Tesla claims that “[y]our car will be able to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention and will continuously improve,” but then also notes that “[t]he currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.” Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments

70 AI Prompt Examples for Marketers to Use in 2024

Garbage in, garbage out. While that’s certainly true of coding, that now applies to marketers who want to make the most of AI. I’ve written dozens of iterations of the same prompt, refining my query until I could strike the right balance. When used right, AI saves me time on routine tasks and sparks my thinking. I can then focus on sprucing up the bot’s output or funnel my energies to the more creative, engaging parts of my job. However, the right prompts are essential to make the most of AI’s capabilities. In this article, I’ll share examples of AI prompts marketers that marketers can use to make the job easier. We’ll also share essential data on how marketers are using AI today. What we’ll cover: How do AI prompts work? AI Prompts in Marketing Today Marketing AI Prompt Examples How do AI prompts work? All AI tools share a commonality: “great prompt = great output.” A great AI prompt is specific, straightforward, filled with relevant information, and uses complete sentences. If your AI prompts deviate from the above qualities, the odds of getting unusable responses increase. AI Prompts in Marketing Today Our recent State of AI survey shows that… Read More »70 AI Prompt Examples for Marketers to Use in 2024

Improve Your Poker Game

Poker is a card game played in a competitive environment by two or more players. It can involve betting between players and between the dealer and players. It is considered to be a game of chance, but skill and strategy can improve the chances of winning. The game is popular in casinos and at home, but there are also many online versions of the game. It is often considered a male-dominated sport, but it is becoming more popular with women and has been a subject of research on mental health benefits. The aim of the game is to form a high-ranking hand based on the cards you have, with the highest-ranking hand winning the pot at the end of each betting round. A high-ranking hand can consist of a pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, or full house. It is important to be able to read other players, including their body language and tells, to predict how strong their hands are. An important skill of a poker player is being able to manage their emotions. This can help them avoid making mistakes in the heat of the moment, which can lead to a loss. In addition, being able to… Read More »Improve Your Poker Game

Unlock Essential Weight Loss Food Plan

Starting your journey to a healthier you goes beyond just losing weight—it’s about making lasting lifestyle changes. A well-thought-out weight loss food plan is your roadmap to success. In this guide, we’ll explore key aspects of achieving better health through your diet. From eating balanced meals to being mindful of what you eat and building … Read the Full Article <p>The post Unlock Essential Weight Loss Food Plan first appeared on Slim Damsel.</p>

Japan’s FTC orders Google to fix keyword search undermining fair competition with Yahoo

Yahoo Japan began using Google’s ad search technology in 2010. Japan’s antitrust watchdog said Monday that U.S. search giant Google must fix its advertising search restrictions affecting Yahoo in Japan. The Japan Fair Trade Commission said in a statement that its recent study of Google’s practices showed it was undermining fair competition in the advertising market. Yahoo Japan Corp., which has since merged with the Japanese social media platform Line, began keyword-targeted search advertising services using Google’s technology after the two companies formed a tie-up in 2010. The FTC alleges that Google had imposed restrictions in its search advertising agreement with Yahoo Japan that for more than seven years hindered its ability to compete in targeted search ads. An FTC investigation into whether that violated the Anti-Monopoly Law led Google to drop the restrictions. Google said in an emailed statement that it has cooperated fully with the commission’s probe, and stressed the commission has not found it had outright violated anti-monopoly laws. It promised to carry out the commission’s directives to offer “valuable” search functions to Japanese users and advertisers. Line Yahoo declined comment. Google will be under review for the next three years, to ensure it carries out needed… Read More »Japan’s FTC orders Google to fix keyword search undermining fair competition with Yahoo

Benefits of Probiotics for Oral Health

Do you want a naturally transformed oral care routine that targets the root of the problem? Look no further than oral probiotics! Probiotics are a powerful and natural solution that can greatly enhance your oral health. By incorporating probiotics into your routine, you can achieve stronger teeth, healthier gums, and fresher breath naturally. Oral probiotics are a game-changer in the field of oral care, as their natural properties promote a healthier oral environment from the inside out. This article will explore the transformative benefits of probiotics for your oral health while also providing actionable tips on how to incorporate them into your daily routine. So, let’s dive in and learn more about the Benefits of Probiotics for Oral Health! Strengthening Teeth with Probiotics Are you tired of dealing with weak and brittle teeth? Incorporating probiotics into your oral care routine can help you achieve stronger and more durable teeth. Research shows that specific strains of probiotics can promote dental health and reduce the risk of tooth decay. These probiotics work by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria that can lead to cavities and other oral health issues. Additionally, probiotics can enhance the overall strength and durability of teeth, making them… Read More »Benefits of Probiotics for Oral Health

Anker’s Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are back down to $49 right now

Anker’s Soundcore Space A40 is the top recommendation in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, as it offers enjoyable sound and a meaty set of features for well under $100. If you’re looking to buy a set on the cheap, take note: A new sale on Amazon has dropped the earbuds down to $49, which matches the lowest price we’ve seen. The earbuds technically have a list price of $100, but they’ve sold for $59 for most of 2024, so you’re saving about $10 here. We last saw this discount about a month ago. In an amusing bug, Amazon’s product page currently lists the earbuds as a “Gildan Unisex-adult Fleece Hoodie Sweatshirt.” Why? We have no idea. The correct name appears when you add the pair to your cart, however, so this shouldn’t be any cause for alarm. (Unless you really want a new hoodie.) The deal itself is sold by Anker directly and applies to the black model; the blue and white versions are also on sale for $1 more.  We recommend the Space A40 because it has the kind of feature set we expect from much more expensive earbuds. Its adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t… Read More »Anker’s Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are back down to $49 right now

26 Conversion Rate Optimization Tools for Research, Feedback, Analytics & More in 2024

Driving traffic to your website is just the first step in sustaining your business. You must reliably convert those visitors into customers, and that’s where conversion rate optimization tools come in. The list below outlines many helpful conversion rate optimization (CRO) tools to help you gain new customers and improve your bottom line. From high-level changes like landing page and email design and inspiration to in-depth insights into how your visitors navigate your content, these tools will help you turn your site into a conversion machine. To help you understand the tools and their uses, we’ve also broken this list into a few major categories: Lead Capture Tools Research Tools CRO Analytics Tools Mouse Tracking and Heat Maps Feedback Tools Experiment Tools How to Shop for Conversion Rate Optimization Tools The Benefits of CRO Analytics Tools Ready? Let’s start converting. Lead Capture Tools You will use these tools to capture more leads on your site, thus improving your CRO analytics. While most conversion-focused content has a built-in form or call-to-action (CTA), these tools act as additional lead capture mechanisms to boost the number of leads that convert on your content. 1. HubSpot Get started with HubSpot’s CTA Tool It’s Google… Read More »26 Conversion Rate Optimization Tools for Research, Feedback, Analytics & More in 2024

This Samsung Galaxy phone with a leather back is not for you unfortunately

Credit: Samsung China Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy C55 5G, a mid-range phone with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, a striking leather back, and slim design. However, the phone is intended only for sale in China and will not be sold globally. Samsung has a wide portfolio of smartphones, boasting phones that can serve various needs across price points. Despite the abundance of devices, Samsung has slowly unified its design language across its lineup. This is great for brand recognition but also means that devices start looking very boring. Samsung has launched an exciting new phone with a leather back and striking colors, but you can’t buy this one if you really want to. Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy C55 5G in China, a mid-range device that stands out from the crowd (h/t Sammobile). This phone has a stitched leather back design, a slim form factor, and striking Orange and Black color options. The Galaxy C55 also has a flat display with thin bezels, giving the phone a unique look.

Google Wallet on Wear OS may make tap-to-pay less convenient with PIN requirement

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Some users are reporting that Google Wallet on Wear OS is demanding PIN code entry before allowing tap-to-pay. It’s possible this feature could be a test, a bug, or in the process of still rolling out. If you use Google Wallet on Wear OS for tap-to-pay transactions, using the feature could soon become more tedious. The service may start requiring you to enter a PIN code before allowing you to use the quick payment method. Normally, when using the Google Wallet tap-to-pay function on your smartwatch, you can just tap and go. Unless the device senses that it has separated far enough from your body, then it will ask for PIN. However, some users are reporting that a PIN code prompt is now popping up every time they try to use tap-to-pay, according to 9to5Google.

Tesla has a simple fix for its faulty Cybertruck accelerator pedal

Last week, Tesla recalled thousands of Cybertrucks due to an issue with its accelerator pedal. Now it has a 35-second fix. Why didn’t they think of that in the first place? Last week, Tesla recalled 3,878 Cybertrucks after social media videos showed the truck’s accelerator pedal could become lodged in a full-throttle position under the interior trim. Now the company has an exceedingly simple fix for the faulty pedal.

YouTube Ads for Beginners: How to Launch & Optimize a YouTube Video Advertising Campaign

Running YouTube ads is one way to ensure your target audience finds the videos you worked hard to script, storyboard, shoot, and edit. When you embed your videos on your website or share them on social media, that’s only a start. By doing YouTube ads, you don’t just hope someone watches; you get who you want to watch your videos. In this post, we’ll explore the cost of YouTube ads. You’ll learn how YouTube ads work, all about YouTube ad pricing, how to advertise on YouTube, and YouTube ad optimization tips. After reading this guide, you’ll be ready to launch advertisements across your YouTube channel and improve the effectiveness of your YouTube marketing strategy. Let’s get started. What’s New With YouTube Advertising Google owns YouTube. However, advertising on YouTube differs from running a pay-per-click (PPC) or paid social media campaign. There are specific creative constraints and many options for this platform. So, you need to have basic knowledge of what works before you scope out your next video project and make the most of the paid possibilities. In recent years, Google has rolled out a series of changes that make YouTube advertising a worthwhile investment. Here’s some of what Google… Read More »YouTube Ads for Beginners: How to Launch & Optimize a YouTube Video Advertising Campaign

People see more of their own biases in algorithms

New research shows that people recognize more of their biases in algorithms’ decisions than they do in their own—even when those decisions are the same. Algorithms were supposed to make our lives easier and fairer: help us find the best job applicants, help judges impartially assess the risks of bail and bond decisions, and ensure that healthcare is delivered to the patients with the greatest need. By now, though, we know that algorithms can be just as biased as the human decision-makers they inform and replace. What if that weren’t a bad thing? New research by Carey Morewedge, a Boston University Questrom School of Business professor of marketing and faculty scholar, suggests ways that awareness might help human decision-makers recognize and correct for their biases. “A social problem is that algorithms learn and, at scale, roll out biases in the human decisions on which they were trained,” says Morewedge, who also chairs Questrom’s marketing department. For example: In 2015, Amazon tested (and soon scrapped) an algorithm to help its hiring managers filter through job applicants. They found that the program boosted résumés it perceived to come from male applicants, and downgraded those from female applicants, a clear case of gender… Read More »People see more of their own biases in algorithms

M2 Mac mini from $499, Satechi Stand and Hub $90, Samsung Thunderbolt 4 5K monitor, more

Monday’s best deals kick off with Apple’s latest Mac mini starting from $499. The perfect companion discounts are also live, dropping Satechi’s Stand and Hub for Mac mini which was just updated with an NVME SSD slot to $90 alongside Samsung’s 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Thunderbolt Monitor at $700 off. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break. more…

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.