This is the quickest and most direct way to manage. In the short run, compliance is predictable and might even be effective. Over time, it’s always outdone by the generative and resilient alternative of, “because it’s the course that most effectively helps us achieve our shared objectives.” That opens the door to the brains and hearts of the community, and is also the way toward better. Weak lead

Are you struggling to understand how AI search works? Wondering how to position your business to get recommended by AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity? In this article, you’ll discover how to leverage AI search optimization to increase your brand visibility and attract highly qualified leads through AI recommendations. Why Marketers Need to Optimize […]

Attackers scan for TCP 22 and 2222 around the clock. When they find an open port, they launch credential-stuffing lists harvested from previous leaks, brute-force scripts, and even malware that hunts for hard-coded passwords in deployment repositories. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) continues to show stolen credentials as a leading initial access vector because many

Of all the consulting requests I receive, helping executives (or their teams) strengthen their LinkedIn presence is the most common — and for good reason. LinkedIn is no longer optional for executives. It’s where top talent, investors, journalists, and industry peers vet leaders and build trust — often before they’ve ever met you. I’ve seen this firsthand throughout my career. As a founding edito

We’re back with the September 2025 edition of WPBeginner Spotlight: our monthly roundup of WordPress news, plugin updates, and community highlights. This issue is packed with major product releases, new AI tools, and insights from WordCamp US 2025 in Portland. Among the most significant updates are stronger privacy controls in WPConsent and new automation options in Uncanny Automator.

Running an online business means every abandoned cart hurts. My friend learned this the hard way when his anime subscription service started getting interest from UK customers who kept leaving without buying. ? The culprit? He wasn’t offering Bacs Direct Debit, which is a payment method that many UK customers prefer for recurring payments. We spent a weekend researching solutions, and I was amaz

When I introduce myself at workshops, I often joke that my marketing career path looks a bit like two truths and a lie — even though it’s all “truth.” Turns out, I’m not alone. Talking with other successful marketers, a non-linear career path is one thing many of us have in common, whether by choice or necessity. The workplace and job market are more unpredictable than ever. Between the economy,

In the 1890s, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov noticed how dogs began salivating not just when food was placed in front of them, but when they heard the footsteps of the person bringing the food. He ran experiments where he’d ring a bell right before he fed his dogs. After repeating this several times, the dogs started salivating at the sound of the bell alone, no food needed. Pavlov had identifi

On an airplane, we notice even tiny changes in acceleration (including direction) but we’re completely unaware that we’re traveling at hundreds of miles an hour. “Compared to what” is the unstated question that we ask ourselves, all the time. Consumers, employees and peers are unlikely to think about what’s already a given. It’s the changes we notice.

The next dish. It might be better than the one you have now. The presence of the next dish, its possibility, corrodes our experience. “Compared to what?” keeps needling us. The next email, the next text, the next blog post. It arrives, unbidden, unasked for. Here it comes. Next. Like Lucy in the chocolate factory, we’re trained to simply focus on next . Which is rarely as satisfying as now .

Many WooCommerce store owners face the same challenge. They love running their own online stores but find it hard to match the fast, reliable shipping that Amazon customers now expect. That’s where Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) comes in. It allows you to use Amazon’s fulfillment centers to ship orders from your WooCommerce store. This gives you Prime-like delivery speeds while still keep

Perhaps this metaphor will help: Nails are the easiest to use and require the least skill. Glue can make a more solid bond, but it’s often a one-way commitment–you can’t undo it without damage. And screws are the most resilient. They require good judgment in their selection and skill in their application. They create a powerful bond but can also be undone without a lot of fuss.

Account based marketing isn’t just another channel or tactic. It’s a strategic approach that flips the traditional funnel. Instead of casting a wide net, ABM teams select high-propensity accounts . From there, marketers align revenue teams around orchestrated, personalized , and multi-channel programs tailored to buying groups within those accounts. So, marketing doesn’t “throw leads over the wal

Are you struggling to drive traffic from social media to your website? Wondering why your carefully crafted content isn’t generating the clicks it once did? In this article, you’ll discover how to leverage zero-click marketing strategies to build influence and reach your audience when traditional click-based tactics are becoming increasingly ineffective. What Is Zero-Click-Everything and […]

Here’s a summary from a book industry newsflash about what’s selling right now: Dystopia, Dark Romance, Dark Literary, Horror, Paranormal, True Crime, Alternative Histories, Decline of Democracy, Humor, Digital Wellness, Cozy & Cute, and Escapism. Setting aside just how long it takes to bring a book (or just about anything more important than an instagram post) to market, it’s pretty clear that

Using AI to level up your marketing campaigns shouldn’t require a computer science background. With the right tools, non-technical marketers can use automation tools to turn initiatives into impact. In fact, non-technical marketers can learn HubSpot Marketing Automation and become productive in just two weeks. The difference between HubSpot’s onboarding and other similar tools is a structured, co

Once, I missed sending a WooCommerce order notification and only found out because my customer reached out, upset. Relying on email alone often doesn’t cut it. Messages can get lost in spam, delayed, or ignored if shoppers don’t check their inboxes. Switching to WhatsApp made a big difference for me. Notifications arrive instantly, customers actually see them, and I can get real-time updates on

There’s a simple law: No one buys anything unless it produces more value than it costs. This seems obvious. Value could be in the form of sustenance, status, affiliation, peace of mind or health. And value is always measured by the user. A $300 caviar spoon will only be purchased if someone believes it produces more than $300 in value (and they can afford it). The user doesn’t care how much it co

During a recent cleanup of a compromised WordPress website, we discovered two different malicious files designed to silently manipulate administrator accounts. Attackers often inject such backdoors to maintain persistent access to a site, even if their other malware is detected and removed. These files were disguised to look like regular WordPress components, but their functionality told a differ

Losing a job can be one of the most stressful events in life, especially when it creates uncertainty around paying bills and staying in your home. For renters, a job loss can make it even harder to maintain housing stability. Luckily, there are practical strategies and supportive resources that can help. From rent loans to financial assistance programs, renters have options to stay afloat during