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These days, companies don’t hire unless they’re sure. That’s why having a referral—someone from the inside vouching for you—has become the gold standard. But referrals are a luxury very few can afford. If you’re new, switching careers, or freelancing, you’re often on your own. But this doesn't mean you're out of options. If a referral builds trust through someone else’s word, an online portfolio builds it through your own.  In fact, 82% of employers  believe that a professional portfolio helps applicants stand out. Over the years, I’ve seen that statistic hold up again and again. As a CMO, I’ve reviewed more portfolios than I can count. Some were forgettable, a few were exceptional. But most lacked that extra layer of context or clarity that builds trust.  So, in today’s job market where trust is everything, how can you create a portfolio that gets you hired? Looking to land your next role? Learn how to make a portfolio for a job  that gets noticed. My tips for creating an online portfolio that gets you noticed Include tailored case studies Build credibility through self-initiated work Create interest with unsolicited pitches Earn trust by sharing your point of view Use transparency to earn credibility Use testimonials to prove you can deliver Make sure your portfolio is seen 01. Include tailored case studies I’ve seen too many portfolios that look like galleries. A few polished screenshots, a sentence or two about what they did, and they move on. That’s fine if you're just showing off visuals. But if you're trying to prove that you can solve real problems (problems worth paying for), you need more. A good case study should reveal your decision-making. Here's how:  Start with the problem:  What wasn’t working? What challenge did the client, user or team face? Frame it clearly and simply. For example: “The site wasn’t converting,” or “New users kept dropping off after the first session.”  Show your process: What did you look at? What did you question, test or analyze? This is where you let them see how you approached the task. Lay out your solution:  What did you actually do, and why? What tradeoffs did you consider? You need to show that your decisions were grounded in logic. Present the result:  What changed? What has improved? If you can quantify the results, even better. For example: “Increased conversions by 22%,” or “Helped the client land a $500K contract.” I'd also advise you to tailor your portfolio to the specific role. If you’re applying for a UX role and the job description mentions user flows and accessibility, don’t make them dig through a case study about branding. Lead with the work that speaks directly to what they care about. Related reading: How to build a website Types of websites (with templates) Best portfolio websites 02. Build credibility through self-initiated work If you felt a bit let down by my first tip (maybe because you’re just starting out and don’t have many projects to turn into detailed case studies), here’s the good news: some of the strongest portfolio pieces I’ve seen were self-initiated. Sometimes, the most compelling work you can show is the kind you make on your own—not to land a specific job, but to sharpen your skills or explore new ideas. For example, you might:  Redesign the site or brand of a nonprofit you admire. Do it as an exercise or offer it directly. Smaller organizations rarely get high-quality UX or design attention. A well-executed redesign can, in some cases, even open the door to paid work. Improve something that frustrates you. If a product you use is confusing, clunky or just plain outdated, reimagine it. You could improve the UX, streamline the flow or make it more accessible. This shows that you can spot issues before they become problems for users. Prototype a tool or feature you wish existed. What’s missing? What would make the experience smoother, faster or more useful? Build that and document your thinking. Good work speaks for itself. If it’s well-crafted and solves a real problem, no one’s going to care whether it came from a paying client or your own initiative. 03. Create interest with unsolicited pitches  If there’s a company you’d love to work with, don’t just send them a cold email with a link to your portfolio. That’s what everyone else does. Instead, build something for them  first. This project doesn’t have to be perfect or groundbreaking. It just has to be thoughtful and show that you understand their business, their product and where you might fit in. Start by doing your research . If a company has posted a job ad, read it carefully and look for clues about their needs. What are they hiring for? What skills do they emphasize? Where might they be falling short? If there’s no job ad, look into their product, their messaging or even their competitors and try to spot gaps, pain points or missed opportunities. That’s what you should build around. A few examples for inspiration: If you’re a product designer , you might mock up a fix for a small UX issue in a company’s app. If you’re a brand designer,  you could create a simplified logo system or rethink a company’s packaging hierarchy. If you’re a copywriter , you might rewrite a clunky onboarding email or tighten up the messaging on a company’s pricing page. This approach works because it lowers the risk on the company’s side. You’re not just asking to be considered for a role based on potential. You’re giving them something tangible to react to. And that alone makes you memorable. Very few people do this, and even fewer do it well. Just don’t forget the obvious: call attention to the work. The simplest way is mention it clearly in your email, explain what you made and why, then include a direct link. That’s often all it takes to make someone curious enough to click and explore the rest of your portfolio. Read also: Writing portfolio examples 04. Earn trust by sharing your point of view Your portfolio doesn’t have to be all case studies and client work. When everyone’s projects start to look the same, it’s the extra pieces like essays, insights or original thinking that can tip the scale in your favor. In my experience, people tend to forget that showing off skills isn’t the only way to build trust. Judgment matters too. Sharing your point of view helps others see how you think and what kind of mind they’d be bringing on. There are a few ways to do this: Write a short essay or industry take. The key here is to choose a topic you actually have thoughts on. Maybe it’s a trend you’re skeptical of, a common mistake you keep seeing or something you wish more people understood. It doesn’t have to be a full-on academic essay. Just keep it short, clear and opinionated. Spot patterns and analyze trends. Is something shifting in your field? Are people solving problems differently than they used to? When you can speak to these shifts, it shows that you’re paying attention. It also tells clients or employers that you understand what’s working right now and that you’re able to offer relevant, up-to-date solutions. You don’t need to publish essays every week. Just one or two sharp pieces can add depth to your professional portfolio , spark intrigue and often give hiring managers something to ask about in the interview. Showcase your skills in style. Create an online portfolio  with Wix. 05. Use transparency to earn credibility The whole point of a professional portfolio is to show your best work and make everything look intentional and flawless. In this context, my next tip might sound counterproductive, but I believe that there's some value in letting people see the messy parts of your process as well.  Being transparent about the wrong turns your projects have taken (the decisions you made, the iterations, the things you tried and rejected) shows your thinking and ability to adapt when things don’t go according to plan. Here are a few examples that come to my mind:  Share early wireframes, sketches or rough prototypes Include a few directions you explored but ultimately rejected, and explain why Add notes about what worked, what didn’t and how you adjusted Record a short walkthrough of your Figma file or editing timeline to highlight key decisions This is especially useful if you’re earlier in your career. You may not have dozens of client projects yet, but you can  show that your work is deliberate and that you know how to think through a problem and adapt as you go. 06. Use testimonials to prove you can deliver I’d argue that testimonials are even more convincing than a referral, simply because referrals often come from a friend or someone in your network who’s putting in a good word. A testimonial usually comes from someone who actually worked with you and still wants to tell others you’re worth it. That’s a different kind of trust, built not on who you know but on what you’ve done. So where do you get your testimonials? First, you need to find someone who's willing to be your reference. You can ask: Past clients or employers who were happy with your work Mentors or collaborators who’ve seen how you operate People you helped through volunteer or unpaid projects You don’t need a long letter of recommendation . A few honest sentences about what you did, how you worked and what stood out is more than enough. And don’t overthink where to put them. You can either set up a separate page titled “Testimonials,” or you can just drop a short quote into a case study. 07. Make sure your portfolio is seen Everything we’ve talked about so far only matters if someone actually sees  your online portfolio. That sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how often people treat it like an afterthought. You build all this proof of what you can do, then forget to give it a clear path to the people who are supposed to care. You simply can't afford to let your portfolio gather dust in a forgotten link, especially not when it might be the only thing speaking for you. Understand that the people reviewing your application are moving fast. They're skimming resumes, clicking through tabs, juggling deadlines. If your portfolio isn't immediately visible and easy to open, it won't do you any favors. Start with the simple things: Add the link to your resume, cover letter, email signature (especially if you're doing outreach) and wherever else someone might find you.  Make sure your resume and portfolio tell the same story. Start by checking that your key projects, roles and skills line up across both. Use your resume to highlight the what  and your portfolio to show the how . If you still need to build your resume  or give it a refresh, tools like Kickresume and Zety make it easy to create something that looks professional and communicates the right details clearly. If you’re using a platform like Wix to create your portfolio website , take the time to set it up properly. A lot of people will be looking at your portfolio on their phone, so make sure it works on mobile. Keep the navigation clean and simple. If you're sharing your resume at events or applying to jobs where people might print it out , a QR code is worth the extra two minutes. It lowers friction. All someone needs to do is point their phone, and they're inside your portfolio in seconds. No guessing, no mistyped links. It’s no secret that a lot of headhunting happens on LinkedIn , so make sure your portfolio is clearly visible in both your bio and your activity. You don’t need to post about it every week, but it should show up near the top of your recent posts. And when you do share something, skip the usual “I’m proud to announce” tone—just talk about what you explored, fixed or created.

GIFs are often the default tool of web humor, alongside memes and viral videos. Once considered juvenile and unprofessional, GIFs are now a fully accepted - and often essential - tool of social media and marketing strategies . Furthermore, they are immediately eye-catching and easily shareable across multiple social networks. Whether you’re already a social media influencer or are simply looking to animate your profiles’ personality, animated GIFs can add value to your brand and show off your character. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about GIFs and how to use them effectively on social media. Complete your online presence when you create a website . What is a GIF? A GIF (Graphical Interchange Format) is an image format invented in 1987 by Steve Wilhite , an American computer scientist who was looking for a way to animate images in the smallest file size. In short, GIFs are a series of images or soundless videos that will loop continuously and doesn’t require anyone to press play. This repetition makes GIFs feel immediately familiar, like the beat of a song. How do you pronounce GIF? This has been a topic of debate for many years. Is it pronounced with a hard G (as in the word "gift") or a soft G (as in the word "jiffy")? Steve Wilhite (the creator of the GIF) said that he intended the word to be pronounced with a soft G . But by the time he made his declaration, the hard G pronunciation was also widely accepted. Ultimately, the pronunciation of GIF is a matter of personal preference - the Oxford English Dictionary accepts both pronunciations of GIF . What’s the difference between memes and GIFs? Memes and GIFs are both types of digital media that can be used to express ideas and emotions. However, there are some key differences between the two formats. While memes can also be videos, they are typically text-based. In contrast, GIFs are always image-based. Memes are usually used to express humor or to share cultural references, while GIFs are used for a variety of purposes, including humor, communication and marketing. Memes are more likely to be shared on social media, while GIFs are more likely to be embedded when creating a website or blog posts. Why are GIFs popular? The popularity of GIFs has surged in recent years thanks to the rise of social media, messaging apps and meme culture. They are a great way to add humor and visual interest to your communication, and a well-chosen GIF will help you transmit much more than a text message or even a static emoji. Here are some additional reasons why GIFs are popular: They are more expressive. A GIF can capture a moment in time, but it can also convey emotion and movement. This makes them a more powerful tool for communication than still images. They are more shareable. GIFs are smaller and easier to load than videos, which makes them more likely to be shared on social media and other platforms. They are more versatile. You can use GIFs for a wider range of purposes than memes, from expressing your emotions to sharing reactions and telling stories. They are fun to use. Aside from using GIFs to communicate a wide range of emotions, from humor to sadness to anger, you can also share cultural references and just generally add a touch of personality to your online interactions. How to use GIFs? Using GIFs is a fun and easy way to add personality and humor to your digital communication. Here's a breakdown of how to use them effectively: Messaging: Add GIFs to enhance your texts, emails or direct messages. Most messaging platforms allow direct GIF insertion or searching via keyboard shortcuts. Social media: Share GIFs on your timelines or comments to make your posts more engaging and interactive. Presentations and documents: Slide decks and even reports can benefit from well-placed GIFs to break up text and add visual interest. Websites and blogs: Embed GIFs on your website or blog to highlight specific sections or inject humor into your content. Who is using GIFs on social media? GIFs used to be popular only on sites like Tumblr, Buzzfeed and Reddit, but most online platforms have since jumped on the bandwagon. In July 2015, Facebook introduced a GIF search engine to Messenger, while a similar search engine was rolled out to Twitter in February 2016. In the following year, over 100 million GIFs were shared across Twitter alone. Taking this into consideration, it’s time to start taking this image format seriously as an effective social media marketing tool. In the past, using GIFs in corporate communication might have been considered unprofessional. However, the prevalence of remote work has changed the way we communicate in the workplace. With fewer opportunities for face-to-face interaction, sending GIFs on apps like Slack has become a popular way to connect with coworkers, translate tone and nuance and add your personality to the conversation. Why should I use GIFs on social media? Brands who share authentic and engaging content can create a close relationship with their audience, and the right GIF can be the perfect way to make this connection. The short, looping aspect of this format provides a perfect snack for the attention span of today’s consumers. The average file is 2-5 seconds in length, which makes them perfect for grabbing the eight-seconds of attention you are given, as your followers scroll through their social feeds. How else can GIFs add value to your business? Increased engagement : GIFs are a great way to increase engagement with your audience. They are more likely to be noticed and shared than static images, and they can help to break up the monotony of text-based content. Improved brand awareness: You can use GIFs to make your brand more memorable and relatable. Use them to showcase your products or services in a fun and engaging way. Improved customer service : Improve your customer service by providing quick and easy answers to common questions with GIFs. You can even use them to apologize for minor errors or to thank customers for their business. How to use GIFs on social media? These animated wonders bring a dose of youthful entertainment to your social media presence . GIFs will not only keep your audience engaged, but they'll also keep your brand from appearing too serious. Whether your goal is to build brand awareness, develop a brand personality or create more viral content, here are a few tips on how to use GIFS on social media: Show off your products GIFs are a great way to show off your products in a visually appealing and engaging way. Because they’re dynamic, you can highlight the features of your product in action and show off details that static photos can’t capture. You can also demonstrate how to use your product, especially if it’s difficult to use. Gamify your posts One way to use GIFs to increase your social media engagement is through gamification , which is to apply game-like elements to non-game contexts. By making your audience feel as though they are participating in a game rather than a regular social media post, you’ll make it fun for someone to respond or participate. You can gamify your posts by creating interactive GIFs with buttons or prompts, or through challenges for your audience. For instance, you could create a GIF that shows a series of steps that your audience has to follow to complete a contest. To make this even more fun, reward winners with something, like a coupon or a badge. This will encourage your audience to interact more on your posts and participate in future challenges. Provide visual instructions GIFs are a great way to instruct your audience in how-to’s, step-by-step tutorials or recipes. Since they loop, your audience can watch as many times as they need to fully understand each of the steps to follow. Go viral with relatable content GIFs are easy to relate to, which also translates to shareability on social media. Every social network now prioritizes visual content in the news feed, so people are more likely to notice your content and share it. As an example, if you're a travel brand, you could share a GIF of a funny or relatable travel experience. This could range from getting lost in a foreign city to trying to communicate with someone who doesn't speak their language. The relatability and humor of these kinds of GIFs can help your content go viral and reach a wider audience. Learn more: How to design social media graphics . Animate your data Animating your data is a great way to make your data more digestible and visually appealing. Make use of GIFs to add some color and motion to normally-dull statistics. If you want to show how your data has changed over time, you could post a GIF of a line graph that shows the growth of your company’s sales, or a pie chart that shows the breakdown of your customer demographics. Provide a sneak peek Want to build excitement for a future product or an upcoming announcement? GIFs are perfect for a bite-sized teaser. For example, you can create a GIF of the product you are about to launch, moving from a close-up on one of its features to someone using it for the first time. Share content that makes you smile GIFs, much like other social posts, don’t always have to be about conversion or sales. We suggest you share some cool stuff sometimes just to entertain your audience. This is a good practice to stay connected with your visitors and boost engagement. Reply to your followers If you want to come across as approachable, positive and direct, GIFs are the perfect way to reply to your followers. If you ever run out of words or emojis, GIFs offer an excellent way to reply to any comment, post or Tweet. For example, if someone asks you a question about your product, you could reply with a GIF that shows a helpful or informative answer, from a short explanation to a demonstration that answers the question. How to make a GIF? You don’t have to be a tech wizard to create your own GIFs. Not only is it simple to make GIFs, but it can be a fun and creative outlet, too. You can quickly learn how to make a GIF by uploading your images and videos to any of these online tools: Giphy : Giphy is one of the most popular GIF creator tools, with a user-friendly interface and a wide variety of features to get you started. Ezgif : Ezgif allows you to create GIFs from images, videos or even your webcam. You can also add text, captions and filters to your GIFs. Makeagif : Makeagif is another free online GIF creator with a built-in editor that allows you to crop, resize and adjust the speed of your GIFs. Gifmaker .me : Gifmaker.me is specifically designed for creating GIFs from videos that you have uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo , differentiating it from the other tools available. On the move? If you’d like to make GIFs on your mobile device, we suggest Giphy Cam. This app, available for iPhone and web , will allow you to record a GIF with your phone’s camera. Once recorded, you can add effects, filters, stickers and text. Here are some tips for creating GIFs: Use high-quality images or videos. The better the quality of your source material, the better your GIF will look. Keep your GIFs short and to the point. Most GIFs should be no longer than a few seconds. Use a consistent frame rate. This will help your GIF look smooth and professional. Add text or captions to your GIFs. Adding captions often help add context or humor. Experiment with different filters and effects. Make sure your GIFs are unique and eye-catching with filters and special effects, but don’t go overboard either. Where to find GIFs? There’s no shortage of places to find GIFs. There are numerous websites where you can find the exact GIF you are looking for: Giphy : Giphy is one of the most popular GIF hosting sites, with a huge library of GIFs. You can search for GIFs by keyword, category or even by the mood you're feeling. For example, if you're looking for a GIF to express happiness, you could search for "happy GIFs" or "smile G I Fs." Tenor : Tenor is another popular GIF hosting site, with a similar interface to Giphy. Tumblr GIFs : Tumblr is a blogging platform known for its GIF culture. You can find a wide variety of GIFs on Tumblr, including reaction GIFs, funny GIFs and GIFs of your favorite TV shows and movies. Imgur GIFs : Imgur is a popular image hosting site, but it also has a large selection of GIFs. You can search for GIFs by keyword, category or even by the subreddit they were posted in. Reddit GIF subreddit s: Reddit has a number of subreddits dedicated to GIFs, including r/gifs, r/reactiongifs and r/animalgifs. You can find a wide variety of GIFs on these subreddits, and you can also submit your own GIFs to share with the community. Here are some tips for finding GIFs: Use specific keywords when searching. The more specific your keywords are, the more likely you are to find the GIF you're looking for. Use filters to narrow down your search results. For example, you can filter by category, mood or file size. Look for GIFs on social media. Many social media platforms have built-in GIF search tools, so you can easily find GIFs that are relevant to your interests. Create your own GIFs. If you can't find the perfect GIF, you can create your own using a GIF creator website or app. How to post GIFs on social media? Now that you better understand this phenomenon, you can take the social media marketing tips we provided and get creative. Most platforms offer native search tools that allow you to find GIFs that are already available. However, if you want to upload your own, you can do so in the following ways: Upload to Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest Animated GIFs work fine as a direct image upload from any device to Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest. To add your GIF, simply upload your image as you would any other image. Share on Twitter For a GIF to play online on Twitter, simply place the link at the end of your tweet as the last links in the tweet are previewed. Once posted, the GIF will be animated on Twitter. Share on Facebook For a GIF to play in the News Feed or on your profile, the GIF link must be the first link in the post. Once the GIF is previewed in the post, you can remove the URL. Why not use GIFs? GIFs are a popular form of digital media, but there are some reasons why you might not want to use them. Here are a few of the disadvantages of using GIFs: Slow loading times: GIFs often have larger file sizes compared to other image formats, such as JPEG or PNG, due to their support for animation and multiple frames. Consequently, they can take longer to load, especially for visitors with slower internet connections or mobile devices. This can result in a frustrating user experience and higher bounce rates. Potential for outdated content: GIFs that are trendy and popular today may not have the same appeal in the future. The fast-paced nature of internet culture and evolving trends can render GIFs outdated over time. Relying heavily on GIFs without considering their longevity may lead to the need for frequent updates or replacements. Risk of overuse: While GIFs can be engaging and visually appealing, using them excessively or inappropriately can lead to diminishing returns. When overused, GIFs can become distracting, annoying or even overwhelming to visitors. It's important to strike a balance and use them selectively to maintain a positive user experience. Negative impact on website performance: Incorporating multiple or large GIFs on a webpage can significantly impact its performance. Slow page load times resulting from heavy GIF usage can frustrate visitors and adversely affect search engine rankings. Optimizing website performance is essential for retaining users and maximizing conversions. Accessibility concerns: GIFs may present accessibility challenges for individuals with visual impairments or other disabilities. Screen readers may struggle to interpret or describe the content of GIFs effectively, limiting the inclusivity of your website. It's crucial to consider alternative options or provide textual descriptions for the content conveyed through GIFs.

Editor’s note: In January 2025, Google announced that Gemini would no longer be available as a standalone product but rather offered as part of Workspace plans. This article has been updated to reflect this change. AI tools are currently revolutionizing the way small businesses and creators operate. Processes that were once super time-consuming or required hiring outside help can now be done in a heartbeat with the right AI tools.  We designed Wix to be a website builder  platform that could make website creation and online business management as efficient as possible while still maintaining top quality. So, it’s only natural that we’d partner with Google to open up some of their most high-powered AI tools for business  to our users. Google AI is now available with any Google Workspace plan, which you can purchase through Wix. Gain access to some of Google’s most beloved AI features, including Gemini for Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat and more Workspace apps—plus NoteblookLM, an AI research assistant. Let’s take a look at how Google AI can help you work even smarter and faster. Streamline your marketing operations with Gemini No matter how essential your product, service or content is, merely creating it and waiting for people to flock to your site is not likely to work. This is where marketing enters the picture. Bestselling author and marketing guru Seth Godin famously stated, "Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.” The problem is, if you’re just starting a business  or have limited resources, telling these stories can require more time than they have to offer. This is where the Gemini AI assistant can be a big help. As outlined in the table below, Gemini can help you generate ideas for how to best tell your story and format these ideas for different channels. For example, if you're writing a blog post to draw traffic to your site, instead of facing a daunting blank page, you'll see a side panel within your Google Docs in which you can ask Gemini for whatever help you need. You can give Gemini a few prompts explaining what you want the blog to include, your preferred tone of voice and who your target audience is.  Gemini will instantaneously write the content for you. Of course, you can give it feedback to implement changes or give your draft a human touch by rewriting whichever parts you want to yourself. The time this saves can help you scale your marketing efforts and reach more potential customers. Provide quick and professional customer service with Gemini Everyone knows the old trope that the customer is always right. However, it may be equally true that the customer is seldom patient, particularly when it comes to delayed customer service responses.  Statistics show that customers will take their money and go elsewhere if they experience customer service that is not up to par. Bad customer experiences cost businesses $4.7 billion dollars every year , according to Qualtrics.  Gemini helps you stay on top of your inbox and answer your customers more quickly and professionally with AI that helps you craft customer response emails and more. Gemini can help you quickly identify your customers’ requests and write replies, directly from your Gmail inbox. This is a game-changer for businesses that are dependent on good customer service to thrive, but don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to this essential aspect of retention and growth. Manage your business more efficiently with Gemini Business management is an amorphous term that you might find hard to define in simple terms. Who better to ask for help in defining this term than Gemini itself? "Business management is basically the process of keeping a company running smoothly and successfully. It involves setting goals, making plans, organizing people and resources, motivating the team, and making sure everything works together to reach those goals." Business management may sound simple, but it can be difficult for businesses to zoom out, evaluate how things are going and plan strategically for the future. Gemini can help you consolidate and analyze business meeting notes and data so you can quickly understand what's working and what isn't. Then, Gemini can help you act on these findings, developing strategic plans for the future, broken down into manageable steps. When you're busy dealing with individual trees, an assistant that helps you see the whole forest can be very valuable. Read also: How to make a website Enhance your sales operations with Gemini Gemini is also a great tool for sales teams seeking to generate pitch materials, organize leads and learn how to increase productivity. If you’re a one-person operation, Gemini can help you take complex product information laid out in a Google Doc and turn it into easily digestible and persuasive proposals in Slides or Gmail for prospects.  If you’re part of a bigger sales team, Gemini can organize a large number of leads into categories in Google Sheets and then help craft personalized sales outreach to these segments in Gmail or as a one-pager in Docs.  Whatever your sales use case, Gemini can help you increase efficiency and focus your efforts on the human work of building relationships. Tackle complex projects with Gemini Advanced  If you’re swimming in spreadsheets and large docs every day: Gemini Advanced takes it a step further by offering access to Google's next-generation AI models: 1.5 Pro model: Built for logistical reasoning, analysis and more Gemini-Exp-1206: An experimental model built of complex tasks like coding and math  With Gemini Advanced, you can upload and analyze your own documents, create custom AI experts called Gems and generate comprehensive multi-page reports in minutes (among other benefits). It also provides 2 TB of storage through Google One and can analyze up to 1,500 pages of text.  Read: you’ve pretty much got all the space and tools to experiment with AI, whether you’re dealing with code or a pile of reports.   Simplify your research with NotebookLM Plus NotebookLM Plus is another tool that helps you take control if you find yourself drowning in documents, research and endless notes. It’s built to handle the chaos. Compared to NotebookLM, NotebookLM Plus lets you manage more—up to five times more Audio Overviews, notebooks and sources per notebook—while offering advanced features like customizable chat settings.  You can create shared notebooks for your team, complete with usage analytics. And, perhaps one of the most exciting features: interact directly with the AI hosts in Audio Overviews. Using your own voice, you can ask the host additional questions, treating it like your personal tutor.  Getting started with Gemini for Google Workspace from Wix Get started by purchasing a business email for your website. You can buy and set up a new Google Workspace business email from Wix by following these steps . Pricing varies by plan. Currently, there are several Google Workspace plans to choose from: Business Starter ($7/month): Includes 30 GB of pooled storage per user, and access to Gemini AI in Gmail Business Standard ($14/month): Includes 2 TB of pooled storage per user; access to Gemini AI in other Workspace apps; the ability to create your own team of AI experts; and NotebookLM Plus Business Plus ($22/month): Includes 5 TB of pooled storage per user; access to Gemini AI in other Workspace apps; the ability to create your own team of AI experts; and NotebookLM Plus Enterprise: Pricing available upon request. All plans listed above are annual (though you can opt for monthly billing at a higher price) and offer other features and benefits outside of Google AI. Try any plan for free for 14 days.

In the days prior to the reign of social media and smartphones, independent food businesses were largely dependent on walk-in traffic, print media reviews and word-of-mouth buzz. In the digital age, though, customers increasingly access information, decide what to do with their time and make purchases online. This makes for major opportunities among small, local food merchants. A low-quality vendor with a huge budget may still get lots of business just because he or she can afford the rent at that location just across from the bus station, but the smaller, more ambitious, artisanal bakery operating out of a home kitchen can now find success as well. With the right new media marketing and branding approach, everyone’s got a shot at a piece of the pie. (Sorry – we couldn’t resist throwing in that pun.) Here are six tactics to consider trying out so your food business can be found online and you can get more customers buying your edibles. 1. Pin Success on Social Media Social media is now a major part of how restaurants, bars, hotels, and similar businesses attract customers. About 90% use it for marketing , and nearly all food and beverage businesses—around 95%—are active on Facebook. Instagram is also popular, used by 80% to share updates and build interest. TikTok has quickly become a go-to for running ads and reaching new audiences. While much user activity on social media is based around interacting with existing offline social circles, on Pinterest, activity is mostly based on shared interests. In this sense, it’s easier for small businesses to find new audiences on Pinterest than on other networks. And food is the most browsed and pinned niche interest category on Pinterest. Check out Wix's "Food and Drinks" board on Pinterest 2. Publish Dynamic Content Content marketing is about establishing authority by sharing expertise. The more helpful content about your food sub-niche that you publish, the higher Google will rank you for relevant keywords. And if your original, dynamic content truly provides value to your intended audience by addressing their interests, readers will share it with their peers and will keep coming back for more. Get going with your blog right away so your pages can start getting indexed, which can take time! You can start by posting some of your favorite tips and hacks for the kitchen – those are always good fun. Kim Gilroy gives great food prep tips on her Wix site 3. Get Active on Niche Food Photo Communities When it comes to small food brand exposure via photo sharing communities, Pinterest is just the beginning. Opportunities await on super-targeted communities that you might or might not have heard of, including Foodily , Instagram , Purpple , Kitchen Artistry , dishPal and food-oriented groups on Flickr . Check out a great list here . Some of these platforms might have relatively small reach, but the people there are already self-selected to be interested in what you’re offering. Famous chefs like Jamie Oliver use Instagram to give their businesses a boost 4. Enable Online Ordering Depending on what kind of food you sell, you might already be using your website as an eCommerce property. This is essential if your edibles are packaged and can easily be shipped. But even if your product needs to be served within minutes of preparation, the potential for online ordering to improve your sales is huge. Both restaurateurs and food consumers are highly interested in electronic payment options and digital self-service ordering. The days of using your website strictly as a business card are clearly long gone. Whether you’ve got a swanky restaurant, a short order counter service establishment or a food delivery brand, there’s plenty you can do . The Wix App Market has a bunch of apps made for these types of functions, with tools for table reservations, ordering, transmitting funds and more. Management at The Brigaderia uses a Wix site as an online shop for these cute cupcakes 5. Optimize for Local Search Google receives over two billion searches each month with local intent – and that’s just from desktop computers in the US. Over half of all mobile searches use location-related keywords. These metrics make a lot of sense when you consider that the internet is a perfect resource for busy people who are looking for things to do with little advance notice. Make sure these people can find you by publishing content about your locale (mentioning your city, region neighborhood and zip code), related businesses in your area, and relevant events taking place around you. Double check that you’re listed on as many local directories as possible, too. You should reference Hubspot’s handy list of 50 locally indexed business directories to appear on, but you can start with Moz’s Getlisted.org , a search engine for local listing sites, to see where you currently stand. The Wix-integrated Site Booster app , meanwhile, will handle many key listing submissions on your behalf for under $6 per month. If organic local search results are too competitive in your area, pay-per-click ad networks from Google and Facebook can give you a boost with geo-targeted campaign settings. Half Baked Goods embeds local reviews from Yelp using Wix's Yelp app 6. Go Mobile When people get hungry at home, they might wonder where to get food, or they might raid their own fridges. But when people are out and about, especially in an area unfamiliar to them, they’ll turn to their smartphones for advice. Make sure your site looks good on mobile devices, so these prospects don’t get a bad taste in their mouths. Thankfully, with Wix's mobile website builder , publishing a mobile-friendly version of your site is free and painless. Pink Cabbage Cakery recently optimized their Wix site for mobile

Before adding another channel to your multichannel selling strategy, it’s always wise to dissect the true cost of selling on that marketplace first. Without doing your due diligence, you may wind up with a serious case of sticker shock. There’s no denying the power of Amazon. Today, every two out of three U.S. consumers shop on Amazon—and 57% make purchases weekly or more—according to Jungle Scout . This article will walk you through the numbers, starting with Amazon’s fee structure and ending with tips on how to reduce your costs. Mandatory Amazon fees Account fees: cost varies When learning how to sell on Amazon , the first step is to select a plan. You can choose from one of two seller plans. Individual plan ($0.99 per item sold): Only for merchants who sell fewer than 40 items a month. You may choose this if you’re just looking to test the waters and sell one or two key products to begin with. However, you won’t benefit from the same reach or efficiencies as you would with a Professional plan. Professional plan ($39.99 per month) : Best for any serious merchant looking to sell on Amazon. By signing up for the Professional plan, you become eligible for the Buy Box, plus gain access to many tools within Seller Central. Note: you can drop down to an individual plan at any time. With the Individual plan, you won’t pay a monthly fee. However, you will pay Amazon $0.99 (USD) for every unit you sell. So, if you sell 200 units on Amazon, you’ll pay $198 (200 x $0.99) back to Amazon. With a Professional plan, you’ll pay $39.99 per month no matter how many units you sell. You also get access to many premium features, including sponsored ads, sales analytics reports, and essential inventory and listing tools. For both, you’ll be subject to additional selling fees as noted below. Referral fees: 8% - 15% on average You don’t get access to Amazon’s gigantic audience for free. Each time you sell an item on Amazon, you pay a referral fee. Think of it as a commission that you pay to Amazon for the privilege of selling to its customers. Referral fees are charged as a percentage of an item’s total sales price (TSP), which includes the item price, shipping cost, and any gift-wrapping charges. Referral fees vary by category and generally range between 8% to 15%. A few examples: Automotive and powersports - 12% Backpacks/handbags/luggage - 15% Clothing and accessories - 17% Footwear - 15% Home and Kitchen - 15% Pet supplies - 25% Toys and games - 15% While most referral fees are flat percentages, some categories (like baby products, beauty products, and grocery items) take a tiered approach based on an item’s TSP. For instance, a baby product with a TSP of $10 or less is subject to an 8% referral fee, while a baby product with a TSP of $10 or more is subject to a 15% referral fee. The opposite is true for categories such as appliances, collectibles, electronic accessories, fine art, furniture, and jewelry. For furniture, you’ll pay a 15% referral fee for products with a TSP up to $200. But that fee goes down to 10% for furniture products with a TSP greater than $200. All categories also carry a minimum referral fee. It’s most often $0.30 but may run higher. View the full list of referral fees by category here . An intro to how fulfillment works on Amazon When it comes to fulfillment on Amazon, you get two choices: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) : Amazon will store your products in their fulfillment centers and pick, pack, and ship them for you. Amazon will also handle customer service and returns. Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) : You store, pack, label, and ship your products on your own. FBA is the most popular choice by far. According to Jungle Scout , 92% of Amazon sellers use Amazon FBA to ship at least some of their products, with 57% choosing an FBA-only approach. Only 9% of sellers use FBM alone. The primary reason: FBA products gain the highly coveted “Prime” status on their listings. This gives you a major competitive advantage in terms of ranking or winning the Buy Box; you can offer expedited shipping on your products and reach Amazon’s estimated 163.5 million Prime users . However, because Amazon does the work for you, you will be subject to multiple fees. Amazon FBA fulfillment fees:  cost varies For any items enrolled in FBA, you pay a fee for each one that Amazon ships to a customer. Fees are based on the size and weight of each package that gets sent. Amazon FBA fees fall into two broad categories: non-apparel and apparel. Within these, most packages will fall within the “small standard” and “large standard” size tiers. Small standard (non-apparel) This includes any non-apparel item with a maximum dimension of 15” x 12” x 0.75”. Fees are charged by weight. 6 oz or less: $2.92/unit 6+ to 12 oz: $3.07/unit 12+ to 16 oz: $3.59/unit Large standard (non-apparel) This includes any non-apparel item with a maximum dimension of 18” x 14” x 8”. 6 oz or less: $3.54/unit 6+ to 12 oz: $3.77/unit 12+ to 16 oz: $4.52/unit 1+ to 2 lbs: $5.14/unit 2+ to 3 lbs: $5.79/unit 3+ to 20 lbs: $6.13/unit + $0.30/lb above 3 lbs Apparel shipments follow the same size and weight requirements. However, apparel fees generally run $0.30 to $0.50 more per order than non-apparel fees. Small standard (apparel) This includes apparel items with a maximum dimension of 15” x 12” x 0.75”. 6 oz or less: $3.27/unit 6+ to 12 oz: $3.43/unit 12+ to 16 oz: $3.95/unit Large standard (apparel) This includes apparel items with a maximum dimension of 18” x 14” x 8”. 6 oz or less: $4.22/unit 6+ to 12 oz: $4.40/unit 12+ to 16 oz: $5.07/unit 1+ to 2 lbs: $5.81/unit 2+ to 3 lbs: $6.50/unit 3+ to 20 lbs: $6.68/unit + $0.30/lb above 3 lbs Inflation-related surcharges Since April 2022, Amazon FBA has required a 5% Fuel and Inflation Surcharge in addition to normal fulfillment fees. Between October 15, 2022 to January 14, 2023, Amazon is also requiring a $0.35 surcharge  per every item sold in the U.S. or Canada. Amazon FBA inventory storage fees: starting at $0.75/cubic foot In addition to fulfillment fees, Amazon will charge you a monthly storage fee based on the space your inventory occupies inside their fulfillment centers. This fee will typically be higher during the holiday season, when demand for storage (and FBA shipping services) is highest. Rates factor in your product type, size tier, average number of units stored, product volume (in its fully packaged condition), and “dangerous goods” classification as well. January through September $0.83/cubic foot (standard size) $0.53/cubic foot (oversize) October through December $2.40/cubic foot (standard) $1.20/cubic foot (oversize) Other FBA fees to be aware of Perhaps one of the biggest knocks against Amazon FBA is the number of other potential fees you could be paying. These fees could be triggered by various situations, such as if your products aren’t properly prepped for Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Here is a sample of other fees to be aware of: Long-term storage fees : To prevent a pileup of dead stock, Amazon applies a long-term inventory fee if your inventory sits in a fulfillment center for nine months or longer. This fee starts at $1.50/cubic foot for items stored between 271 to 365 days, then increases to $6.90/cubic foot (or $0.15 per unit, whichever is greater) for inventory stored after the first year. Returns processing : If a customer returns an item you sold on Amazon that offers free return shipping, you’re responsible for covering the cost. This applies to items within the Apparel and Shoes categories. Fees range from $2.12 to $3.41 for most items but may go higher for oversized items. Get a full fee schedule here . FBA removal order : This fee is charged for each unit you request to remove from an Amazon fulfillment center and have inventory sent back to you. For example, you may submit a removal order if your products aren’t selling and you want to avoid paying long-term storage fees. Removal fees range from $0.52 to $1.51 per unit for standard size items. FBA disposal order: If, alternatively, you’d like to request Amazon to destroy your items instead of shipping them back to you, you’ll have to budget $0.52 to $1.51 per unit disposed (for standard sized items). Unplanned services : Unplanned services fees kick in if you fail to prep your FBA shipments according to FBA’s Packaging and Prep requirements  or Shipping and Routing requirements . Fees depend on the type of service provided. For example, if Amazon needs to re-label your products, you’ll be charged $0.20 per unit for standard sized items. View the full rate sheet here . MCF orders: FBA offers its services for non-Amazon orders under the Multi-Channel Fulfillment program. In other words, if you’d like Amazon to fulfill orders that you receive from your online store, you can do so. However, you’ll have to pay higher fulfillment fees than you would for a non-Amazon order. MCF fulfillment fees start at $5.35/unit for small standard items, and $8.57/unit for large standard items. View all MCF rates here . (Note that some marketplaces like Walmart Marketplace expressly forbid the use of Amazon FBA.) Amazon FBM fees If you’re a Professional Amazon seller, you can set your own shipping rates (except for products in the media category) and cover the cost of shipping in your product price. However, sellers with an Individual plan must use Amazon’s set shipping rates for all products. For instance, if you sell a book to a customer, the customer will be charged $3.99 (per Amazon’s rate sheet) for domestic standard shipping. If shipping ends up costing more than $3.99, you’ll have to cover the difference. Optional and additional Amazon selling fees Amazon Ads: cost varies Amazon Ads are a hot commodity these days, with nearly two-thirds of sellers  using Sponsored Product Ads to promote their items. You, too, can take advantage of paid ad placements on Amazon. These ads are pay-per-click (PPC), meaning you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. The exact fee amount depends on the keyword you’re bidding on and your daily budget. Premium account services: $1,600 per month + 0.3% of total monthly sales Amazon offers a Strategic Account Services (SAS) Core program that connects you with an account manager, who can provide personalized tips on how to scale your business on the marketplace. As a SAS Core member, you get early access to new or beta programs, alongside tactical support. SAS Core costs $1,600 per month, plus 0.3% of your total monthly sales up until $5,000. Rental book listing fee: $5 per rental If you choose to rent out textbooks on Amazon, you will have to pay a rental book service fee of $5 per rental. High-volume listing fee: $0.005 per listing For any non-media listings, if you have a large amount of active listings that haven’t sold in the past 12 months, you will have to pay Amazon a monthly fee of $0.005 per eligible listing to cover cataloging costs. This fee is waived for the first 100,000 listings. Refund administration fee: $5 or 20% of referral fee (whichever is less) When you refund a customer for an order that they’ve already paid for, Amazon will refund your referral fee minus the refund administration fee, which is either $5 or 20% of the referral fee (whichever is less). So, if you refund a customer the price of your product ($10) in a category with a 15% referral fee, your refund administration fee will be $0.30 ($10 x 0.15 = $1.50). An example of an Amazon bill How does the cost to sell on Amazon stack up against, say, the cost of selling on Etsy  or another third-party marketplace? Here’s a rundown. Let’s say you’re a Professional Plan seller using Amazon FBA. You’re selling felt letter boards for kids that measure 10 inches by 10 inches (when packaged) and weigh 0.5 pounds. The boards cost you $5 to make, and you sell them on Amazon for $20 under the Toys & Games category. So, your customer pays $25 for a board, gets fast and free shipping (a la Prime), and pays $1.50 in tax, bringing their TSP to $26.50. At the end of the transaction, your bill will look something like this: Description Amount Item price $25 Referral fee (15%) -$3.75 FBA fulfillment fee (flat rate) -$3.07 Cost to ship to Amazon -$0.30 FBA storage cost (Jan - Sept) -$0.01 Cost of goods sold (COGS) -$5.00 Net profit from sale $12.87 (51.48%) You can use Amazon’s revenue calculator  to calculate your own costs. 3 ways to save on your Amazon selling fees 01. Join the Brand Referral Bonus Program If you’re a brand owner, make sure to join Amazon’s Brand Registry . Among the many perks of enrolling yourself in the registry, you can earn a bonus on any sales made through non-Amazon marketing efforts. Here’s how the Brand Referral Bonus Program  works: You embed an Amazon-provided link to any non-Amazon marketing assets. If a customer clicks on that link and makes a purchase from you within 14 days, you’ll earn, on average, 10% back on your referral fee. The exact bonus rate depends on your product category and the number of sales generated. 02. Join the Small and Light Program If you sell small products that weigh less than three pounds—and price them for $10 or less—then the FBA Small and Light Program  may be for you. This will land you reduced shipping rates on qualified products. For example, a small standard item could cost as little as $2.35 to ship, as opposed to the usual $2.92 with regular FBA. 03. Watch your inventory levels One of the best ways to avoid long-term storage fees or other inventory mishaps is by having a reliable system for tracking, forecasting, and managing inventory. If your online store is powered by Wix eCommerce, you can use built-in inventory management tools  to automatically and accurately sync inventory across all of your sales channels. The bottom line: know the money coming in and out of Amazon Amazon can be a great addition to your channel mix, but as with every third-party marketplace, it comes at a price. On Amazon you face: Tighter margins Fluctuating fees Lots of competition, especially around price Less control over your branding Read Also: How to start a business Our top tip: stay on top of your costs and treat Amazon as a supplement to your online store, where you retain total control over your fees and user experience. Start an online store  with a hassle-free platform like Wix eCommerce, and take advantage of all its built-in tools for catalog management, inventory management, price management, SEO, and more. Keep in mind that there are fees no matter where you sell, whether you're selling on eBay  or selling on Facebook Marketplace . Learn more about Wix eCommerce  today.

Get started by:  Creating an online store →  |  Getting a domain → With the rise of social media and digital marketing, more and more people are turning to the internet for their shopping needs. While many  types of eCommerce  involve creating a website  to buy and sell goods and services online, ghost commerce goes a step further, using these channels for marketing and sales without physical inventory. When thinking about  how to start a business , this is a great choice for  eCommerce business  owners who would prefer to concentrate on branding and marketing rather than logistics. In this article, we will explore what ghost commerce is, how to launch it effectively and the benefits it can bring to your business. What is ghost commerce? Ghost commerce is an online retail  model where products are promoted and sold  without storing physical inventory  or running a traditional online store . Instead of owning goods, a promoter uses their online presence, like content marketing, social media or influencer partnerships, to guide their audience to buy from third-party retailers or eCommerce platforms. This approach means the business doesn't handle or manage the products directly. Here's a breakdown of the key characteristics of ghost commerce: No inventory : The promoter simply guides potential buyers to where they can purchase the product. This means businesses can save on storage and stocking costs. Affiliate relationships : Earning opportunities include receiving commissions for sales generated from referrals. Online presence : Success heavily depends on building a strong online presence by starting a blog , engaging on social media, YouTube or any channel where you can reach a significant audience. Trust and credibility : Promoters need to cultivate and maintain a trustworthy relationship with their audience for sustained success. Marketing focused : Ghost commerce businesses can focus on branding and marketing strategies  instead of getting caught up in logistical challenges. Ghost commerce vs. eCommerce Ghost commerce is sometimes mistaken for traditional eCommerce, but there are key differences between the two. While both involve selling products online, ghost commerce doesn't involve physically handling and storing goods. Instead, it relies on partnerships with retailers or utilizing third-party platforms to facilitate sales. Another significant difference is that ghost commerce puts more emphasis on marketing and branding rather than inventory management . This approach allows businesses to focus on building strong relationships with their audience and promoting products through various channels. Learn more about what is eCommerce . 10 steps to set up a ghost commerce business Understanding how ghost commerce works is crucial for entrepreneurs and marketers aiming to leverage this model. In this section, we'll outline the inner workings of ghost commerce, showing how it smoothly merges marketing strategies with affiliate connections to drive sales without the challenges of inventory management. 01. Choose a niche and audience The first step in setting up a ghost commerce business is to choose your niche. You want to focus on a specific product or industry that you are passionate about, have knowledge of and can market effectively. Next, identify your target audience and their interests. This will help you tailor your content to appeal to them. 02. Online store setup To launch a ghost commerce business, you'll want to establish your online presence. Utilize an eCommerce platform like Wix to learn how to build a website for free, add product listings and create a seamless shopping experience for customers. 03. Supplier selection As a ghost commerce business, you won't handle or stock products directly. Instead, you'll need to form partnerships with suppliers and retailers offering dropshipping services to fulfill orders on your behalf. These suppliers keep stock of the products and handle inventory. Learn more: What is dropshipping 04. Product listing and promotion Once you've got your supplier sorted, you can add product listings to your eCommerce website  from their catalog. You have the flexibility to customize product descriptions, images and a product pricing strategy to align with your brand. You can also promote these products through various channels like social media, email marketing or influencer partnerships. 05. Customer orders and fulfillment When customers shop the online store and make purchases, the website collects all the essential order details, like the customer’s shipping address and online payment info. Learn more about how to accept payments online. 06. Order forwarding to suppliers Once the customer places an order on your website, you'll need to forward the order details to your supplier so they can fulfill it. You may also track and monitor orders to ensure timely delivery. This step can be automated through integration between the online store and the supplier’s system, streamlining the process. 07. Supplier fulfillment  The supplier then processes the order, packages the product and ships it directly to the customer. This includes generating shipping labels and handling any required customs documentation for international shipments. 08. Customer delivery When the customer gets the product, they assume it was sent by the online store. The packaging and branding might or might not show the supplier's name, depending on your agreement. 09. Payment handling When a customer makes a purchase, you'll get paid through your online store’s pos system , usually receiving the retail  price of the product. You then pay the supplier for the wholesale cost of the product and keep any extra profit as your commission. 10. Customer support You will take on the responsibility of providing customer support, handling inquiries, addressing concerns and overseeing returns or refunds. You might need to communicate with the supplier to resolve any issues. Pros and cons of ghost commerce Ghost commerce, like many other business models, comes with a mix of pros and cons that require thoughtful consideration. Pros Passive income :  Once properly set up, ghost commerce businesses can generate passive income streams as most of the processes are automated. This makes it a good side gig for individuals skilled in influencer marketing. Low overhead :  Ghost commerce businesses don't require physical storage facilities, managing inventory or handling products. This means lower operating costs compared to traditional eCommerce, leading to quicker profit generation. Flexibility : Promoters can switch products or niches, adapting to trends and audience preferences. After setting up your store, feature as many products as you like if it aligns with your store's goals. List items for sale on your site if your suppliers have them in stock, at no cost. Scalability : Easily adjust scale to meet demand, thanks to the absence of physical inventory and storefronts. This flexibility lets you swiftly respond to market shifts and customer needs, ensuring your business stays competitive. Cons Thin profit margins : As a ghost commerce retailer, your income is typically limited to a fraction of the profits from each item sold. This means your earnings may be lower compared to running your own store and selling your own products. Since you're not involved in handling the product, you have little opportunity for upselling, offering discount bundles or conducting sales campaigns. Dependence on third parties : When using ghost commerce, your inventory control is limited as you rely on suppliers or manufacturers for product delivery.  This means you are subject to their reliability and delivery timelines, which can affect customer satisfaction. Reputation management : As the face of your ghost commerce business, you are responsible for maintaining your brand's reputation despite not having direct control over product quality or delivery. This means you must carefully choose reliable and trustworthy suppliers to maintain customer trust and loyalty. Highly competitive : If you're not in a very specific niche, it's likely the market is overcrowded. Your products will need to compete against many others selling similar items, making it challenging to stand out when you have limited control over your product. Is ghost commerce profitable? If you are considering starting a ghost commerce business, it is important to do your research and make sure that you have a good understanding of the factors that can affect its profitability. While it may offer lower overhead costs and less effort in inventory management, the thin eCommerce profit margins and reliance on third parties can affect overall profitability. Here are some tips for increasing the profitability of your ghost commerce business: Product selection : Certain products demonstrate higher profitability than others. Consider luxury goods like designer handbags and watches, for example; they typically yield greater profits compared to lower-margin items, like household appliances. Marketing strategy : A solid marketing strategy is key for any eCommerce business, but it's especially crucial for ghost commerce businesses. Your goal is to connect with your target audience and persuade them to purchase your products. Cost management : Consider the expenses of your products, marketing and fulfillment. Save money by negotiating discounts with suppliers, utilizing free or low-cost marketing tools and handling shipping in-house. Tips to create a ghost commerce strategy To succeed in ghost commerce, it's key to boost your online presence to build trust with your audience and show them the value you offer. By using content marketing and SEO features , you can increase customer engagement with affiliate links and product recommendations. Here are some ways that businesses can leverage this trend. Establish a strong online presence Build an eCommerce site  that is user-friendly, visually appealing and easy to navigate. Share engaging, high-quality content on your site, social media and other online channels to boost brand awareness and foster a community. This approach will draw in potential customers and cultivate trust with your audience. Focus on customer experience Provide excellent eCommerce customer service to set your ghost commerce business apart from the competition. Ensure reliable and timely delivery of products, offer a flexible return policy and be responsive to customer inquiries and concerns. This will help build a loyal customer base and increase the likelihood of repeat purchases. Leverage data analytics Use web analytics  to track customer behavior and preferences, allowing you to tailor your product offerings and marketing strategies. This will help you identify trends, optimize your business website  for better conversions and make informed business decisions. Collaborate with influencers Partnering with influential figures in your niche can help increase brand visibility and credibility. Influencer marketing can also drive traffic to your website and boost sales. Make sure to choose influencers who align with your brand values and have a strong following of engaged followers. Use email marketing Email marketing tools  are valuable for connecting with potential and existing customers. Send targeted promotions, product recommendations and personalized content to subscribers. Encourage newsletter sign-ups by offering incentives like complimentary downloads or exclusive discount codes. Optimize for SEO Ensure your website and content are optimized for search engines to increase visibility and attract potential customers. Use relevant keywords, create high-quality content and optimize meta descriptions and tags. This will improve your chances of appearing in search engine results pages and driving organic traffic to your site. Ghost commerce FAQ Can anyone start using ghost commerce? Yes, anyone can start using ghost commerce as long as they have access to an online platform and are able to partner with suppliers or manufacturers for their products. However, it's important to carefully consider the pros and cons of this business model before getting started. How does branding fit into ghost commerce? Branding is crucial for any business, including ghost commerce. It helps establish your business's identity and sets you apart from competitors. With limited control over product quality and delivery, branding can be a powerful tool in building trust with customers and maintaining a positive reputation. Learn   how to design a logo  for effective branding. Do you need big investments in technology to run an effective ghost commerce operation? While investing in technology can certainly enhance your ghost commerce business, it's not necessary to have a large budget for technology. Many of the best eCommerce platforms  offer affordable plans and eCommerce tools , making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. It's important to prioritize investments based on your specific needs and goals. Is there more than one way to make money with ghost commerce? Yes, there are multiple ways to generate revenue with ghost commerce. These can include affiliate marketing, dropshipping and creating your own branded products. It's important to carefully consider which method aligns with your business goals and target audience. Is ghost commerce dropshipping? Ghost commerce and dropshipping  are similar in that they both involve selling products in an online marketplace  without the need for physical inventory. However, ghost commerce typically involves more collaboration with suppliers and manufacturers, while dropshipping focuses on working directly with a third-party supplier to fulfill orders. Learn more about how to start dropshipping .  Is ghost commerce the same as affiliate marketing? No, ghost commerce and affiliate marketing are different business models. While both involve promoting and selling products online, affiliate marketing typically involves earning a commission for each sale made through your unique referral link. Ghost commerce, on the other hand, enables businesses to sell their own or branded products directly to customers without having to physically handle inventory turnover . Can I do ghost commerce worldwide? Yes, ghost commerce can be done globally as long as you have access to online platforms and are able to partner with suppliers or manufacturers who can fulfill orders internationally. However, it's important to consider any local laws and regulations that may affect your business operations in different regions. How do I choose a niche for my ghost commerce business? Choosing a niche is crucial for success in ghost commerce. It's important to carefully research and consider trends, competition and target audience demographics when selecting a niche. Additionally, it's beneficial to choose a niche that aligns with your interests and expertise to ensure you are passionate about the products you're selling.

Yoga’s been around for thousands of years, but there’s a real case for doubling down on the practice now, even if the future feels uncertain thanks to COVID-19. Why be a yoga teacher now? For starters, the pandemic launched our collective stress levels into another stratosphere, and there’s a body of research deeper than your diaphragm suggesting that yoga and meditation can relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression (more on that in a bit). Plus, yoga offers an approachable, equipment-free way to move, ideal for those who continue to embrace at-home exercise during the pandemic. And new fitness software allows yoga instructors to teach clients virtually. So, if you’ve thought about starting a yoga brand of your own—either in-person or online—now might just be the ideal time to get your fitness business up and running. See why below, then learn how to become a yoga instructor in 7 steps. We’re experiencing a mental health crisis Our bodies need some TLC Community is everything Digital developments help you invest in your brand We want to be inspired Yoga helps us work through the hard stuff We’re experiencing a mental health crisis The American Psychological Association (APA) calls our current moment a full-blown “mental health crisis.” We’re stressed about economic uncertainty, social justice issues and the inability to plan for the future. The APA warns that the mental-health effects could linger for years. To be clear, fitness—even yoga—can’t replace expert-provided mental health care, but study after study shows that yoga improves mood and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Indeed, just 25 minutes of yoga or meditation a day can boost people's mood, according to a study published in the journal Mindfulness . “Yoga teaches breathing techniques that help people return to the present moment,” says Bre Williamson, yoga teacher and founder of Mindfully Bre . These techniques help students manage stressful thoughts about an uncertain future. “People in the yoga community also tend to be open about their struggles, which destigmatizes those experiences.” Read more about the new rules of training clients during a pandemic, including how to acknowledge anxiety. Our bodies need some TLC If you thought people were sore and stiff before COVID-19 hit, just wait until you factor in our longer work-from-home hours. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the average workday increased by 48.5 minutes at the start of the pandemic (and this doesn’t include increased at-home demands like care-taking and home-schooling), which often translates to less movement and more body imbalances. Williamson says she’s seen more stiffness and lower back pain among her clients. “Before the pandemic, many people were walking more during their commutes, or to grab lunch or talk to colleagues,” she says. “Little movements add up, but now we’re just sitting at home.” Whether you plan on offering classes in a studio, outside or online, yoga can help people address these issues. Community is everything When the pandemic hit and cleared her calendar in a day, Miami-based yoga teacher Julianne Aerhee Byun knew she wanted to recreate the hallway banter that surfaced naturally before and after her classes. “Those small daily interactions are so important, which is why we started a digital forum where students could chat,” she says. “Community is the heart of yoga,” and while this community might look a little different now, we still need it—arguably even more than we did before the pandemic. Digital developments help you invest in your brand “I’ve always used Wix Bookings for my studio, so when we stopped offering in-person classes, I just connected it to Zoom and hosted my sessions online,” Williamson says, noting that she thinks video-on-demand workouts are here to stay, at least in some form. “I think hybrid fitness trends will be cyclical,” she says. “If people are traveling more during the summer, maybe they’ll want to do video-on-demand workouts from their lake house; same for the winter when they don’t feel like going into the studio.” That’s good news for anyone who wants to experiment with new classes or launch a brand for the first time: there’s minimal investment with the potential for major pay-off. Here's how to shoot a workout video like a professional producer and how to up your Zoom exercise game. We want to be inspired The New York Times called languishing—a sense of stagnation and lack of progress—the “dominant emotion of 2021.” Again, yoga isn’t a cure-all, but it could help. “Part of yoga is discipline,” Williamson says. “Once that wheel picks up speed, and you keep showing up over and over, you feel more motivated and inspired in other parts of your life.” It can also help you feel more confident as you become stronger and hold poses for longer, Byun says. “People take joy in seeing progress on the mat.” Yoga helps us work through the hard stuff “Yoga fosters stability and courage in times of chaos,” Byun says. “Peace is easy when life is good, but staying calm when shit hits the fan is hard.” That’s why we practice, and that’s why we need yoga in these uncertain times. (By the way, that's what inspired former NFL player DJ Townsel to become a yoga teacher.) “We hold challenging postures to cultivate inner strength, so that when something difficult happens, we can say, ‘I’m still okay. I’m still me. And I can keep moving forward because I have inner stability,’” she says. “We sit in discomfort and trust that we can get to the other side, where something new and beautiful will blossom.”

Regardless of your industry or niche—whether you have a blog, an online store or an eCommerce website —designing with a mobile-first approach will ensure your site meets the expectations of your mobile users when it comes to speed, appearance, ease of navigation and overall user experience. With over 80% of internet users surfing the web on mobile devices and up to 70% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, you must optimize your website for mobile use. If you’re wondering why designing a mobile website is important, consider the fact that nearly half of Americans consider themselves “addicted” to cell phones. We scan QR codes , navigate GPS, take photos, track steps, sleep next to, and, of course, browse the internet on our phones every day. You’re probably reading this on your mobile phone right now. In this article, we’ll cover what mobile-first design is, why it matters and how to make a website mobile-friendly . What is mobile-first design? As the name suggests, mobile-first design refers to the philosophy of designing your website around mobile users’ needs. Mobile-first website design considers smaller screens’ limits right from the start for a better mobile user experience. This mobile-first approach is rooted in progressive advancement, when a designer creates a website layout specifically for mobile and adapts to bigger screens later on. This method opposes graceful degradation, or designing for a larger screen and working backwards to the smallest. A user can obtain only so much content from a device’s dimensions. For example, a visitor has ample space to view and consume a website’s content on a 27-inch Mac monitor. However, another user viewing your site on their iPhone 11 or Galaxy 12 screen will have an entirely different experience. Mobile-first design streamlines your UX design efforts by optimizing the most essential features for users. Tip: When you create a website with a mobile website creator like the Wix Editor, it automatically creates a mobile-friendly site from your desktop version by resizing your content and layout for smaller screens. You can edit your mobile site from the mobile Editor . Adaptive and responsive design Designers use two main approaches when it comes to mobile website design: responsive and adaptive. We have an in-depth article covering responsive vs adaptive design , but let’s quickly go over how they differ: Adaptive web design (AWD): Uses fixed layouts and chooses the best option for the user's screen size. Adaptations are limited to what the web designer has created. Adaptive web designs fit into these standard viewports; 320 px, 480 px, 760 px, 960 px, 1200 px and 1600 px. Responsive web design (RWD): Automatically hides, shrinks or enlarges a site to improve display on any device (mobile or desktop). Responsive design fluidly adjusts a website’s appearance according to the browser window’s size. Why is mobile-first design important? Mobile technology continuously evolves—with ever-enhancing speed, higher quality video streaming capabilities and advances in wireless connectivity—changing the very way we manage our day-to-day lives. In fact, Sony predicts phones will soon overtake DSLR cameras , proving that technological advances can impact any industry. Many companies have also shifted to hybrid work models and adopted new mobile communications strategies . Mobile-first design matters for the following reasons: 01. Improved user experience with UX design Mobile device trends reveal both challenges and opportunities for UX and web designers. However, at its core, mobile-first design puts user experience front and center. As the Interaction Design Foundation states, “[UX designers] tailor experiences to match mobile environments. Attention spans are short in mobile UX. Users want results fast, with minimal effort and zero friction. They’re often distracted.” With this in mind, mobile-formatted websites inherently offer an optimized and more well-thought-out user experience. 02. Accessibility Mobile-first design provides users with greater control over when and where they can access a website. As The Drum reports, “Perhaps the best approach is to think of the internet experience as a fluid thing which should not depend on what browser or OS or device you use. The precedent here is web accessibility – making websites easy to use by people with disabilities, primarily sight impairment.” By designing or even redesigning a website for mobile accessibility, you’ll include users who your content may have otherwise excluded. As the same article shares, “in the same way that not considering a mobile user excludes them from your desktop site.” For example, mobile-first design makes e-learning accessible and usable , since mobile users can use voice commands or listen to content while driving or exercising, turning otherwise unproductive time into learning opportunities. Tip: Want to make your website more accessible? Check out Wix’s Accessibility Wizard . 03. Better website performance Mobile optimization is a core principle of website performance . In fact, research shows that when mobile retail site speed improves by 0.1 second, conversion improves by 8.4%. Not to mention that Google has used mobile-first indexing for over a decade, primarily crawling and indexing the pages that adhere to a mobile-first design. Basically, the better you design a site for mobile use, the easier the use—and the better the performance. Following mobile website best practices like a strategic content hierarchy and optimizing images, can help ensure your site is living its best/strongest mobile life. 04. Scalability A mobile-first approach will help you scale your design across different devices. When you conceptualize an idea on mobile, you’ll find it easier to adjust your content to meet desktop needs. For example, it’s easier to add website elements to a desktop version (which has bigger screen real estate) than take them away to fit your mobile site. Tip: Consider upgrading your mobile presence and enhancing your mobile experience with a mobile app. You can use Wix’s app builder to create a branded mobile app that aligns with your business needs. Mobile-first = content first Always remember that content is key when designing with a mobile-first mindset. Users viewing your site on mobile have way less space than a desktop monitor, so you’ll have to strategically decide what content to include. As Khalil Habashi, technical and UX designer for Wix, explains, “Any piece of content that we can make available for users to see on their mobile device, is a choice—by design. Showing content in different ways matters. For example, using a carousel instead of scrolling, or vertical scrolling vs. horizontal can all impact the user experience on mobile.” Since mobile users don’t view content with a mouse or a keyboard, Habashi adds that web designers must make the content easily browsable. For example, when using tap and scroll gestures on mobile, hover effects are not optimal on these devices. He also adds that collapsible tabs or menus can maximize the space and make content available to mobile users. Tip: In the Wix Mobile Editor , your mobile view reflects your desktop view, which means it displays all the same elements and content. The Editor automatically resizes your fonts, images and elements for optimal view, which gives you time to make the mobile experience truly unique. Mobile-first design principles Consider these key elements when designing a website with a mobile-first approach. Content first. Always consider your content first and strategically choose what is most important. Visitors will see your header content on both your mobile and desktop site, so ensure it instantly conveys your brand identity. For example, your desktop version might include extra decorative imagery for viewers, but with less space on a mobile version you'll want to ensure the imagery you display best conveys your brand identity, such as your logo and product images. Navigation. Help users move around on your mobile site and meaningfully consume your content by following strategic website navigation tips like adding clear CTAs and choosing the right menus. Many designers will opt for a hamburger menu to make the most out of the usable space on a mobile screen. Hierarchy. Consider website hierarchy when designing your website layout for mobile users. Carefully plot out your website content by adding ​​headers and subheaders, utilizing white space, creating image blocks and optimizing navigation tools. User-friendly interface. Beyond content and visuals, ensure your mobile-first design is user-friendly. For example, mobile users have direct access to their camera, touch screens, finger and face recognition as well as autocomplete fields. This means that you must attend to your website buttons, as a mobile site user will have higher chances of clicking the wrong button. Test on real devices. Before you publish, test your mobile site on real devices to understand how your user will experience your site. Try it on different screen sizes and devices to catch any variances between them. Tip: Use Wix’s Mobile Editor to easily optimize your pages' layout, change the background, hide desktop content or replace it with mobile-only elements. Here, you can optimize your user’s experience with elements like a “Back to Top” button and a “Quick Action” bar. Ready to create your mobile site? Get inspired with these mobile website examples.

Since the start of COVID-19, many workplaces have had to move online and get used to working remotely. This has posed a challenge for many employees and managers alike as everyone has had to learn to navigate new work norms. But remote work is here to stay even after the pandemic ends, so it’s worth getting comfortable with managing remote teams. Read Also: How to start a business Whether you’re new to leading remote teams or it’s something you’ve become familiar with, there are always ways to improve your workflow and make you and your team’s jobs easier. For example, we encourage you to consider using task management tools, or to build a website that all employees can refer to for updates and information. This article will dive into more tips like these as well as some of the common challenges faced by remote teams and what you can do to better manage your remote employees. For even more HR tips, check out our human resource guidebook . Common challenges of remote work As a manager, remote work may seem like a much bigger headache than it’s worth, especially if you’re used to working with a tight-knit team. While it’s true that there are some significant challenges to overcome, that doesn’t make remote work impossible. Let’s take a closer look at some of the challenges that arise from remote work so that we can have a better sense of how to tackle them. 01. Difficult to manage face-to-face Many small business owners and managers think that their employees won’t work as well if they’re not there to visually supervise them. It’s a lot easier to track an employee’s work when they’re working next to you as opposed to at home where they might be slacking off. However, while you may have the odd employee who takes advantage of a work-from-home model, that’s certainly not the case for all of your workers and there are ways you can make sure to stay on top of what your employees are accomplishing. 02. Tricky to onboard new employees Perhaps it’s easier for you to trust your existing employees with remote work as you’re already familiar with their work style and know what kind of output to expect. But, when it comes to onboarding new employees, there’s a lot that’s lost when you do that remotely. New employees likely need extra attention and closer supervision to help them learn the ropes, and oftentimes jumping straight into remote work can feel unnerving and confusing. 03. Hard to maintain company culture It’s not only the work and productivity aspect of your team that you need to worry about but also your company culture. If your team is used to weekly happy hours, regular outings, or having lunch with their co-workers, then the lack of socializing when working remotely can have a negative impact on their job satisfaction. 04. Working remotely can be distracting Many employees prefer the freedom and flexibility of working from home, but for others, the potential distractions might be a nightmare. This can mean getting distracted by those that live with you, not having the right work-from-home setup, or employees easily losing focus because of their surroundings. It can also be difficult to know how to motivate employees to work well within these difficult environments. 05. Lack of communication There’s no doubt that getting clear and instantaneous answers is easier when all your employees are under one roof. Remote work might lead to some communication breakdowns where your team isn’t aware of what to prioritize or what others are currently working on. It’s easy to miss an email with a quick question from your co-worker, but much more difficult if they come up to your desk in an office. 8 tips for managing remote employees The challenges might seem insurmountable, and while it’s true that you’re likely always going to face some distraction or miscommunication, that doesn’t mean remote work needs to be difficult. With the right mindset, a few useful tools and these tips, you can get your remote team to operate as smoothly as they would from the office. 01. Set expectations and review them frequently Take the time to sit down with your team to set out clear expectations and guidelines on how they can effectively work from home. These guidelines can include instructions like letting others know when they are stepping away from their workstation or being consistent in their use of collaborative tools. You may have an open-door policy in the office, or you’re used to speaking with your co-workers regularly throughout the day, but you won’t have this opportunity for in-person discussions anymore in a remote work setting. That’s why it’s important to take time to regularly check in with your employees and get feedback, especially if you’re just transitioning to remote work. Collect feedback on what has worked and what hasn’t. From there, you can amend your remote policies and guidelines to make them more comfortable for everyone involved. 02. Communicate with your team often Whether it’s a quick 5-minute call in the morning to plan out tasks for the day, a weekly or monthly meeting, or texts to check on the progress of a project, make sure you’re regularly engaging with each employee. A good way to do this is to schedule video meetings at regular intervals and at the same time each day or week. This will allow your team members to get used to communicating on a regular basis so they don’t feel like they’re working on their own. 03. Don’t over-communicate While communicating with remote teams is essential, make sure you’re not over-communicating. Since the start of the pandemic when many teams shifted to a remote work model, many employees reported “Zoom fatigue,” where they felt exhausted by the excessive use of virtual platforms and the constant need to be available. Emailing, calling, texting, or holding a business meeting too often can have the adverse effect and leave your employees feeling burnt out, uninspired and irritated. To avoid this, make sure you define what communications are essential or time-sensitive, and which are less urgent. By striking the right balance between video calls, meetings and other types of less immediate messages, your employees won’t feel overloaded. 04. Schedule remote social events While many people will love the shift to working remotely and the benefits it affords them, others may miss certain aspects of working in an office, particularly the social ones. Set aside time to continue with your office traditions, or make time for new ones. Here are a few ideas: Schedule a virtual happy hour. Send your employees a nice lunch to their homes. Hold occasional in-person training events. Plan a company outing or retreat once or twice a year where all your employees can get together in one place. Celebrate company success, accomplishments, or personal and professional milestones of individual employees with things like email shoutouts or virtual hangouts. Encourage team members to have one-on-one chats when a new hire joins your company. A common difficulty with remote work is that employees feel like they’re “out of sight, out of mind.” By maintaining your company’s social culture, you’ll be able to keep your employees happy and ensure that they continue to feel appreciated even when you’re not always together. 05. Give your team the resources they need You can’t send your employees home with a laptop and expect that everything will run smoothly. In order to ensure remote teams function at their peak, you need to provide them with the right tools and resources. Of course every remote worker will need to ensure they have reliable WiFi and a comfortable working environment, but you also need to be sure they have access to tools that help guarantee a good workflow. When it comes to software, if you weren’t already using any project management, time management, or collaborative communication tools in your office before, now’s the time to start. Try out tools like Slack, Salesforce, Zoom, Trello, or Asana to see what your team works best with and be sure everyone can access these platforms remotely. 05. Focus on project outcomes, not individual productivity Stay goal-oriented instead of micromanaging your employees’ productivity every day. It’s easier to be focused when working from an office than at home where you might have unavoidable distractions. Sometimes your employees may seem unproductive on certain days, but that doesn’t mean they’re slacking or that they won’t complete a project on time. Instead of focusing mainly on your team’s day-to-day production and work activity, check-in with employees to see what the status is on a goal, task or overall project. 06. Stay flexible and understanding When working from home, your team isn’t only managing your expectations, but also their own struggles that you might not be aware of. That can be a sick kid that they need to care for, ongoing repairs in their home, or anything else that impedes their ability to be 100% focused on their work. The best thing you can do for your remote team is to offer flexibility and understanding. You might have set work hours, but sometimes life gets in the way and an employee needs to finish up their tasks on their own schedule. Each employee is likely handling remote work differently, so be sure to be flexible with your employees who need it most, while also reiterating your expectations so that certain exceptions don’t become habits. 07. Encourage new ideas Some people feel most creative when they’re around others and are able to draw inspiration from multiple sources. Others feel more innovative when they’re on their own and able to reflect. Don’t assume that just because your team isn’t together to regularly brainstorm that innovation should take a backseat. Once you and your team start to get more comfortable with working remotely, encourage them to explore new ideas or projects. That might mean asking them to share new processes or programs they’ve used while working on their own, or diving deeper into mistakes, either their own or the team’s, to see what can be improved. This type of self-reflection promoted an environment in which employees explore their own entrepreneurship and aren’t afraid to take risks. It’s a lot more engaging for employees to feel like they have the freedom and trust to be creative and take risks, especially if they’re not around to ask for your permission or feedback every step of the way. 08. Provide recognition Recognizing your employees’ accomplishments isn’t only for remote teams and should be done regularly regardless of where your team works from. However, it’s especially important when you’re not around your team often. Workers want to feel like they’re still contributing to the team and company, and they want to know that their managers are happy with the work they’re doing. In other words, they want to feel seen, even if you’re not seeing them do the work in person. Aside from recognition for their accomplishments, it’s equally important that you give your employees the space to voice their concerns or stresses about remote work. If they’re feeling anxious about balancing their personal responsibilities while working from home, make sure to ask how you can help. Sometimes simply airing their concerns so that you’re aware of their circumstances is enough to make an employee feel more at ease.

Dear Matt, I just finished reading your post, and I see that there is a lot of anger and many half-truths that you said. Wow. I guess that we touched a sore point there. Why are you so angry? Don’t you agree with the shortcomings of WordPress that we raised? We really tried to be fair and only speak about what we know to be a consensus. Considering you started talking negatively about Wix from the beginning, I find it to be a bit hypocritical. I believe in friendly competition. Competitors push each other by competing. When you guys wrote about issues with Wix, like SEO and performance, we didn’t complain, we owned it and worked hard to fix it. Now we have great SEO, and performance is almost where it should be - so thank you WordPress for pushing us to be better. We only wrote about valid issues with WordPress: high maintenance , issues with plugins , memory issues and security (adding the links for anyone who doesn’t know what we are talking about). So, why don’t you do what we did? Admit it, Own it, Fix it. Even you guys at WordPress have things you need to fix and improve. Instead of writing nasty blog posts, fix those problems. And yes, I really care about these things. I mostly care about WordPress' security. WordPress is so popular, I’m sure my credit card details are on many WordPress websites. It’ll be great if you fix security so we can all feel safer. If you don’t think these are real issues, I’d be happy to hear why. And if we agree, I promise to publish a public apology. I’d like to talk about some of the things you published about Wix because I think that people deserve the full picture. You wrote a post that blamed Wix for stealing WordPress code. I’d like to remind you that the code wasn’t developed by WordPress - it was General Public License (GPL). We didn’t steal it, and we gave it back according to GPL (JavaScript is not linked). As a reminder, here’s my reply to you about it from 5 years ago. You also blamed Wix for stealing your brand. Your brand was all about blogs, not websites. Our homepage was never a copy of yours. If anything, it was the other way around. A quick search on the internet shows that WordPress also has pages that compare Wix and WordPress, with a very negative sentiment towards Wix. https://WordPress.com/compare/wix/ So, as your competitor, I thought it would be fair that Wix talks about WordPress issues, just as WordPress talks about Wix issues. We even tried to make it funny and lighthearted (yes, I’m aware that not everyone found it funny, but we tried). Yet, you seem to be so angry about it. In your recent post, you wrote that Wix makes it “difficult to leave” for customers, but this isn’t true. If someone wants to cancel the subscription, all they need to do is click the button, “Cancel Subscription”. If a customer cancels within 14 days of a purchase, getting a refund is automatic, so I’m not sure what you meant. Then, you wrote that Wix locks users’ content, or steals it. Wix Terms of Use clearly state that: “As between Wix and you, you shall own all intellectual property pertaining to your User Content and to any other materials created by you, including to any designs, images, animations, videos, audio files, fonts, logos, illustrations, compositions, artworks, code, interfaces, text and literary works. Wix does not claim ownership rights on your content.” Here’s the link if you’d like to check it: https://www.wix.com/about/terms-of-use You also claimed that we don’t allow customers to export their content. There are many tools that make it easy for our users to take their content and move to other services - we never block them nor have we prevented anyone from using other services. One way that users can export content from Wix was even developed by WordPress: https://WordPress.com/support/import/import-from-wix/ Do you remember this? So why did you write that we lock our users in the basement? You also wrote that other platforms allow you to take your site and use different hosts. Shopify is an eCom platform, but you can’t take the eCommerce functionality to another host - you always have to run the eCommerce from Shopify servers and pay them a monthly fee. In fact, it’s very hard to export your full Shopify site, with the databases, transactions and plugins data. With Squarespace, you can’t export your designs, templates, applications inside the website, databases for the applications, and as for the eCommerce, you can only export your static content, so to move from Squarespace, you have to start from zero on another platform. Shopify, Squarespace and Wix offer software as a service (SaaS). This architecture means it’s not possible to take the software as it is running from the company server - that’s the downside. But it also has many advantages - easy software upgrades, a better security model, and less maintenance issues. Does this sound familiar? Like every architecture, it has benefits and drawbacks. I’m a strong believer in SaaS and I think the benefits for users are bigger than the drawbacks. Our campaign about WordPress didn’t twist the truth. We published what many in the WordPress community will agree to be the valid shortcomings of WordPress. But I’m pretty sure you already know all of that. What I’m not so sure is, why are you twisting the truth? And let me say it again, I believe in friendly competition. I really do believe that it makes us both better. We tried to make the ads funny, and I think you can also admit that the problems we talk about are real. However, if it offended you, I’m sorry. I am really tempted to say here, if you guys stop writing bad things about us, we won’t publish the bad truth about you, but that sounds kind of childish, don’t you agree? And let’s face it, talking about each other's flaws pushes us both to be better and we both have that obligation to our customers. Finally, during the last few years, I reached out a couple of times to try to meet with you but you declined, so I guess it’s our fate to continue the fun that is chatting over the internet, instead of over a cup of coffee. Yours, Avishai

The inventory management process can sometimes feel like a game of Tetris . Every piece must fit in perfectly for the whole thing to work. Stocking the right amount of products to meet customer demand is a delicate balancing act for even the largest of ecommerce business owners. And it has become even trickier in recent years, with U.S. retailers reporting an estimated $740 billion in unsold inventory  in 2022 alone. In this guide, we’ll explore the ABCs of inventory management and give you a step-by-step process that you can use to manage your inventory with confidence. Create a free online store  with Wix today. What is inventory management? Inventory management is the process of tracking, ordering, storing and selling stock. It covers the entire process, from how you source your products to how you get finished products off of your shelves. The main purpose of inventory management is to have the right amount of stock in the right locations at the right time, all while controlling costs so you can make a profit. Why inventory management is important Today, given the many small business challenges  retailers face, successful inventory management may be even more vital than ever. According to BDO’s 2023 retail outlook survey, 82% of retail executives  expected supply chain disruptions to be a serious threat to their businesses heading into 2023. What’s more, 34% of retailers expected to face extensive excess inventory. With a winning inventory management process in place, you can help plan for or outright avoid these snags. Plus, you’ll gain multiple benefits as a small business owner , including: Reduced costs : When you monitor and track inventory correctly and forecast accurately, you’ll order the exact amount of stock. This helps you avoid the expenses associated with carrying excess inventory. It’s also more cost-effective than blindly ordering stock at set intervals, such as every 30, 60 or 90 days. Happy customers : Out-of-stocks leave customers unhappy, encouraging them to choose a different store. And this happens more often than not. The odds of shoppers seeing an out-of-stock message have increased by 235% from pre-pandemic levels . With optimized inventory management, your customers’ favorite products will always be ready-to-buy, allowing you to meet their expectations and keep them loyal to your brand. Less waste and/or theft : When you know exactly how much stock you have in your warehouses and storage spaces, you have a better chance of selling products before they expire. Plus, keeping a close eye on your inventory helps you quickly identify any shrinkage due to theft. Greater efficiency : Proper inventory management allows you to spot bottlenecks in how your products are received, stocked, packed, picked and shipped. Improved cash flow : By spending the proper amount of cash on inventory, you’ll have more funds to devote to marketing campaigns and/or staffing. How does software help with inventory management? Achieving proper inventory management takes great precision. It’s tempting to use spreadsheets to manage your inventory, especially when you’re first starting out and operating on a limited budget. But trying to do so is often difficult and fraught with errors, especially as your business grows. A better option is to use software to automate parts of the inventory management process. In fact, according to the BDO survey linked earlier, nearly half (46%) of all retail CFOs said they expected to boost their investments in supply chain technology in 2023 alone. When you choose Wix to build your eCommerce website , you have access to a variety of ready-made inventory management features, including: Multichannel inventory sync : Wix’s multichannel sales  capabilities automatically update your inventory each time you make a sale on your online store, eBay, Amazon or other channels. Out-of-stock capabilities : From the “Store Products” menu in your website dashboard, you can automatically track how many items you have left in stock, or manually assign products as “In Stock” or “Out of Stock.” Pre-order options : You can enable pre-orders  for new, anticipated or out-of-stock products to capture more sales and reduce your customers’ wait times. This can also be a smart way to gauge demand for an unavailable or soon-to-launch item. Mobile business management : Manage your inventory, take payments, fulfill orders and more from the Wix app . Many retailers also choose to invest in other inventory-focused technologies, including order management systems (OMS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and/or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. If you're a larger seller, you may choose to install these more specialized programs to handle other key parts of the supply chain. As you evaluate your options, ask yourself: What are your current inventory-related challenges and goals? What channels do you sell on? What types of inventory do you need to track? Who will be using your software? What other apps and systems does the platform need to integrate with? What is your budget? 4 types of inventory Inventory can be grouped into four categories: Raw materials and/or components These are materials you need to create your product. For example, this could be leather to make handbags or screws to fasten parts of your product together. Works-in-progress (WIP) As the name implies, these are items that are still in production. WIP includes any raw materials, components, labor costs and packing materials being used to create your product. Finished goods These are items that are fully produced and ready to be sold to customers. Maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) goods This refers to supplies, materials and parts used for routine maintenance, repair and operations. MRO goods are not part of the product itself. If one type of inventory is held up, most of the other types will likely be impacted as well. So, your inventory management strategy should account for all four categories. This will help you know where you’re spending your time, money and resources and guide you in identifying any potential bottlenecks. Inventory management process: 7 steps The success of your inventory management directly affects your business’s cash flow. That’s why it’s crucial to know every stage of the inventory management process, even if you’re just starting a business . While all eCommerce businesses are different, most will follow these seven steps: Receive the products at your facility   Inspect the products for defects   Sort and store the products   Accept orders   Fulfill orders   Reorder new stock   Monitor and review   01. Receive the products at your facility The first step happens when items travel from your suppliers and arrive at your warehouse. If you manufacture your own products, then this step happens as soon as you receive the raw materials you need to start creating. If you work with wholesalers, then the process begins once you receive finished goods that are ready to sell. 02. Inspect the products for defects As soon as your inventory arrives, you should dive into an inspection. Make sure that the number of materials or products you receive matches the amount you ordered. Check all raw materials and products to make sure they’re defect-free. If you’re in the food-and-beverage sector or sell other fresh goods (such as flowers), make sure your shipment arrived at the correct temperature. 03. Sort and store the products Small businesses may store their products on site or at a warehouse. In either case, it’s wise to set up your storage space for maximum efficiency. Arrange items by stock keeping unit (SKU) number or product type so they’re easy to find. Keep your best-selling products in easy-to-reach locations so you can expedite those orders. 04. Accept orders Once your products are received and sorted, it’s time to sell. Customers can place orders on your website, a third-party marketplace or, if you have a brick-and-mortar location, inside your store. Each time an order is received, the products ordered get removed from your inventory. In-store technologies like Wix’s point-of-sale system  can automatically update your inventory data with each order placed. 05. Fulfill orders Fulfillment refers to the physical process of picking the item out of your storage room or warehouse, packaging it and sending it to the end customer. The speed with which you can do this will depend on how well you’ve organized your storage space. 06. Reorder new stock To keep customers satisfied, you’ll need to continually replenish your inventory by reordering products. This is where accurate demand forecasting  comes into play. By estimating sales trends before they happen, you can reduce your risks for overstocks and dead stock and ensure optimal inventory turnover . 07. Monitor and review The last step in the process isn’t the end. Rather, you should monitor and review your inventory levels on a regular basis. This includes reviewing the inventory metrics in whatever software platform you choose to use. It also should involve regularly scheduled physical inventory counts to make sure that what you see on your computer screen matches what’s actually in your warehouse. Inventory management process for dropshippers The exception to this process is for retailers who choose a dropshipping business model. In dropshipping, a supplier handles the storage and fulfillment of all products. But dropshipping doesn’t mean you don’t need to handle inventory. Instead, if you run a dropshipping business, you should sync data from your dropshipping partners with your online store, which you can do with Wix’s dropshipping website builder . This will let you know where your inventory is located and how much inventory your dropshipping partners have in stock. See more : How to create a website  with Wix. Inventory management techniques When it comes to managing your inventory, it's not a one-size-fits-all situation. Different techniques can be employed, each with its own perks. Let's explore some of the most common: First-in, first-out (FIFO) : This classic method is as straightforward as it sounds. The first items you add to your inventory should be the first ones out the door. It's especially useful for perishable goods or products with an expiration date. Last-in, first-out (LIFO) : Consider this the inverse of FIFO—the most recently acquired items get sold first. This technique works best for non-perishable items or products where style doesn't matter as much. ABC analysis : Picture your inventory as a high school class. Some items are the straight-A students that drive the bulk of your sales. These are your “A” items. Then you have your “B” and “C” items. They're important, but not your all-star sellers. ABC analysis helps you focus on stocking and maintaining “A” items while not forgetting about “B” and “C.” Just-in-time (JIT) : This technique involves only ordering inventory as needed, minimizing storage costs. However, it requires meticulous planning and trustworthy suppliers. Dropshipping : As we’ve already outlined, dropshippers don’t hold any inventory. Instead, when you make a sale, you purchase the item from a third party who ships it directly to the customer.

A press release is essential as a part of your marketing strategies - as a business owner, marketer or public relations specialist. Similar to how you create a website for promoting your brand overall, you can create a press release to get coverage for special announcements or business updates. This can be a product launch or new partnership. It’s possible for you to do this yourself. Writing your own press release can save you money as well as make sure that the information you want to share about your business is being expressed accurately. In this guide, we’ll show you how to write a press release that gets the attention you deserve, the best practices to follow, and some top examples for your inspiration. What is a press release? A press release is a written announcement that gives an update about your brand regarding the latest information you want to share with your greater community. It’s usually pitched to a journalist requesting that they cover the story in their publication. Therefore, it’s written in third person. Because these writers are busy and the market is highly competitive, a press release is usually no longer than one page and follows a somewhat uniform set of guidelines that we’ll explain below. Why use a press release? Press releases serve several important purposes and can be a valuable tool for businesses, as they build brand awareness and generate hype around their offerrings. Some of the main benefits of writing and distributing press releases include: Publicity and media coverage Increased brand visibility and awareness Positive and controlled reputation management Improved investor relations Stronger relationships with news and press outlets and journalists How to write a press release The following components are necessary to include during the process of creating an eye-catching press release that checks all the boxes: Your company logo Bold headline Subtitle Release date Date and location Intro paragraph Body text Relevant quotes Boilerplate Contact information 01. Your company logo At the very top of your press release, you should draw immediate attention to your business. This is done in the form of your logo, and it allows the reader to immediately know who is reaching out to them. If you don’t have a logo, it won’t take you long to create one. Using this intuitive logo maker , you’ll just need to answer a few simple questions, and then let the machine work its magic and generate tons of professional icons for you to choose from. 02. Bold headline This is the absolute most important piece of content that your press release contains. Surely you know a thing or two about this from experience reading online content or judging a book by its title yourself, yet we must emphasize how important the title really is. The headline might be all that your readers see, so spend a lot of your time on making sure that it’s captivating and gets your point across. In other words, within this small section you should answer the question “why should anyone care what I have to say?” 03. Subtitle Complimenting your headline, your subtitle provides a bit more of the details about your press release. It’s used as a hook to grab the attention of your readers and lure them into the rest of your story. It should be short, around 10-20 words. 04. Release date The information you’re sharing is exciting and pertinent because it’s time sensitive. The press lives for receiving news and being the first to share it. This is why it’s crucial for you to include the release date and time. If that time is now, you can write “for immediate release.” 05. Date and location Begin the body paragraph with these key details that give a background of your story. The date and location let the reader know the relevancy of your press release. Immediately follow this element with a hyphen and then the content of your intro paragraph. 06. Intro paragraph At the start of your main section of text, you’ll want to write your most important information first. Unlike traditional stories, the climax should occur at the very beginning in order to grasp immediate attention. Answer the five W’s in one sentence: ‘Who?’ ‘What?’ ‘Where?’ ‘When?’ and ‘Why?’ For example, “Pal’s Organic Pet Food Company (who) donated $5M (what) to pet adoption centers in Chicago (where) last Sunday (when) to help these furry friends find warm homes for the Winter (why).” Then, in the next and last sentence of this section briefly explain what you’ll cover in the following paragraphs (the “Body Text” section). 07. Body text After the climax mentioned in the introductory paragraph, include the rest of your content in the order of importance. Assuming that your reader won’t make it to the end of the page, make sure that they actually get to the parts you want them to read as early on as possible. Give more background information on your story described in the intro paragraph here. In other words, elaborate on the 5 W’s. Do so in one or two paragraphs, including supporting details within. In this section, it’s optional to add links to any relevant media or other information when necessary in order to provide background information that’s simply too long or not possible to express in a few words. 08. Relevant quotes Quotes are information that are direct from the source. So, it’s important to include with each quote exactly who wrote them, whether that’s the CEO, CMO or someone else. Journalists sometimes copy quotes word-for-word into their articles. Use this as your opportunity to get your point across exactly the way that you want to say it. It’s worthwhile as readers will be especially interested in hearing your point of view on the topic. 09. Boilerplate A boilerplate is a standard ‘about me’ summary of a business which provides helpful background information for those that may be unfamiliar with what they do. In doing so, it gives the readers a bit more information on the “Who” and the “What” from the 5 W’s mentioned in the introduction. It should be done in just a few sentences. If you find that in yours you want to say more, you can add a link to your press kit. The boilerplate is typically put at the end of the release, and can include links to your business’s website and social channels. This allows you to use your press release as an opportunity to get people talking about your business overall (not just this story), as well as drive traffic to your site. 10. Contact information If someone comes across your release on a press site or wire and wants to learn more about you and your story, don’t make it difficult for them to do so. Clearly place your name, email, and phone number at the bottom of your press release, with a space between this and the boilerplate. This will ensure that getting in touch with you is an easy feat. Best practices for writing a press release In addition to the structure provided above, follow these helpful tips to make sure that your press release doesn’t go unnoticed: 01. Act like a journalist If you want journalists to cover your story, you’ll need to write in a manner that they are used to. Think of this as tailoring your resume to fit a specific job. This is the perfect opportunity for you to craft your press release to flow with a particular journalist’s writing style. In other words, speak their language. In general, you should also write your press release in the style of an article. This is the way that journalists think, read and write. It will make their lives much easier when it comes to reframing your story in their own tone. 02. Keep it brief It’s important that we reiterate this point. Conciseness is key to getting your press release noticed in this world of short attention spans and extremely busy people. Your press release should be no more than 300-400 words, with a maximum of one page of content. Write and rewrite it, each time cutting out the fluff and making sure that you don’t repeat any information. 03. Write in an organized manner Use the inverted pyramid method, writing the most important information first. Then, proceed with the rest of the details based on their order of importance. This is why your boilerplate comes last, as you’ll first want to dive into the story and draw attention to it before explaining who you are. Also, you should write in the same format as every other press release, leaving no surprise sections that will only confuse your readers. Follow the guidelines above in the ‘How to write a press release’ section, placing particular emphasis on putting the headline and release date first. 04. Provide exceptional value Ask yourself why your audience should and would care about the information you’re sharing. This reason should include something along the lines of how valuable it will be for them to know this. On top of just knowing who they are and why they would care, you’ll want to write in a way that targets their interests and personalities. For example, there is a big difference in the word choices used by charitable organizations versus video game developers. Images can also play a significant role in enhancing the impact and effectiveness of a press release. Beyond just visual appeal, they also enhance the storytelling of a piece and more it more likely to be shared, especially on social media. 05. Answer all of the possible questions Try your best to brainstorm ahead of time the questions that might arise based on the information you’re sharing in the headline. The text in your body paragraph should provide all the possible answers. In doing so, you’re making your readers’ lives as easy as possible so that they won’t need to contact you for further information or to clarify any confusion. 06. Give it a final check Before you send your press release out, read over it to check that everything looks the way you want it to. There is nothing less professional than grammatical errors. Make sure the links work and that your story makes sense. Then, ask a friend or colleague to give it a runthrough to get a second opinion. Refine, and refine again until you’re completely satisfied with your work. 07. Share the results Just because you’ve pressed the ‘send’ button doesn’t mean that your work is done. If publications and blogs feature your story, you’ll also want to share the news yourself. This is great promotion for your brand that should be added to your press kit and website, as well as content for your social media accounts. When you think about your online reputation and personal brand, your press releases will set you off in the right direction for success. How to distribute a press release Writing a press release is just one step in the process of getting your news out into the world. How well your content is distributed is the next crucial step in getting it seen and picked up. 01. Identify your target audience Determine who you want to reach with your press release. Consider the demographics, interests, and locations of your target audience. This will help you tailor your distribution strategy and identify relevant media outlets. This research is worth doing even before you write and craft your content. 02. Build a media list Create a list of journalists, reporters, bloggers, and influencers who cover topics related to your press release. Research publications, websites, and media outlets that align with your target audience, make a note of their contact information and then reach out. it make take a lot of knocking on doors, or unopened emails before you get a response but keep going. Craft individualized emails to introduce your press release and explain why it would be of interest to their audience. Include a personalized subject line and highlight relevant aspects of your news to capture their attention. 03. Use a press release distribution service Consider using a press release distribution service that can help you reach a wider audience. These services have established relationships with media outlets and can distribute your press release to their extensive networks. Examples of press release distribution services include PR Newswire, Business Wire, and PRWeb. 04. Leverage your network Encourage your professional network industry associations, and contacts to help spread the word about your press release. Share it on your company's website, blog, and social media channels. Encourage your colleagues, partners, and clients to share the press release with their networks as well. 05. Optimize for SEO Ensure that your press release is optimized for search engines. Include relevant keywords and phrases in the headline, subheadings, and body of the press release. This will increase the chances of your press release appearing in search engine results when people search for related topics. 06. Include multimedia content This means incorporating high-quality images, videos, infographics, or other multimedia content in your press release. Make them easily accessible by providing download links or embedding them directly within the press release. They make your content visually appealing and increase the chances of it being picked up and shared. 06. Monitor and follow up Keep track of the journalists and media outlets you've reached out to. Monitor for any coverage or responses to your press release. If you don't receive a response. follow-up after a reasonable amount of time to inquire about their interest or if they require any additional information. Remember, the success of your press release distribution depends on the quality of your content, the relevance to your target audience, and the effectiveness of your outreach strategy. Continuously evaluate and refine your approach based on the feedback and results you receive. Best time to send a press release Finding the best time to send a press release can significantly impact its visibility and chances of media coverage. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, some recommendations for when to send a press release are: Weekdays and morning hours Sending press releases on weekdays, specifically from Tuesday to Thursday, tends to be more effective. Mondays are often busy for journalists as they catch up on news from the weekend, and Fridays may be less ideal as reporters may be wrapping up their week. Aim to send your press release in the morning, ideally between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, as journalists tend to be more receptive and have higher email engagement during these hours. Avoid holidays and peak news times Avoid sending press releases during holidays, long weekends, or times when major national or international news events are dominating media attention. Your release may get lost or overlooked amidst the flood of news. Consider time zones If your press release has a regional or global focus, be mindful of the time zones of your target audience. Adjust your sending time accordingly to ensure that it arrives during regular business hours in the relevant time zones. Lead time For major announcements or events, it's generally recommended to send press releases well in advance to allow journalists enough time to plan and schedule coverage. Lead times can vary depending on the nature of the announcement, but sending the press release a week or two before the event or launch is often best practice. Consider the industry and audience Depending on the industry or audience you're targeting, it's beneficial to align your press release with specific industry events, trade shows, or periods of heightened interest. This can increase the chances of your news being noticed and covered by relevant media outlets. These are general guidelines, and it's essential to research and understand your specific target audience and their preferences. It's also worth considering any guidelines or preferences outlined by the media outlets or journalists you are targeting. Using a media distribution service can also provide insights into the optimal timing for sending press releases based on their data and analytics. Press Release examples The following examples of press releases will give you some real world insight to inspire you to create great pieces that will surely spark the interest of your audience. Wix Returns to Super Bowl LIII February 3, 2019 This is a classic example of a press release using the traditional format. First, notice how the headline and the subtitle carefully reflect different pieces of information. Furthermore, the location and date are mentioned ahead of the body text and three brief paragraphs sum up the news story. A relevant video clip is embedded to show the advertisement, the company name is linked multiple times, and a quote is included at the bottom. The only elements you don’t see are the contact details and boilerplate. As this example is directly from the company’s website, it’s not necessary to include that information. Yet, if you browse this Wix press release on the wire , you’ll find these two elements at the bottom. Apple reveals new AirPods Pro, available October 30 October 28, 2019 The headline mentions the big news: an exciting product release by the company, Apple. Following that, they strategically place the top feature in the subtitle, “active noise cancellation for immersive sound.” Also, notice how not only is the business’s website linked, but the product page too. Images show many different perspectives on the product, from the technological features to how it looks in use and the way that it connects with the iPhone. To conclude, the boilerplate provides a powerful historical background of the business in a concise fashion. Introducing Spotify Kids, A New Standalone App for the Next Generation of Listeners October 30, 2019 This press release meets the necessary guidelines in a standard way. You can see this by the use of a product video. The company is evidently aware that content is more digestible in short clip form. It also follows two of the tips we mentioned - ‘act like a journalist’ and ‘answer all of the possible questions’ - by using bolded headlines. This allows for the information about the new revealed feature to be broken up into easily readable, organized sections. Greener cups, fewer straws and tracing your coffee’s journey via app March 20, 2019 In this example, the subtitle mentions the product while the headline describes its features. This is actually the opposite of the traditional press release format, but it surely works to grab readers’ attention. Furthermore, there are multiple quotes from two different people in order to show various voices of authority regarding the mentioned topic of sustainability and Starbucks. You’ll also notice the inverted pyramid format is put to use here from the headline to the subtitle to the italicised paragraph below that. Press release FAQ What is the golden rule when it comes to writing press releases? The golden rule when it comes to writing press releases is to focus on newsworthiness. A press release should be newsworthy to capture the attention of journalists and increase the chances of it being shared by media outlets. Newsworthiness refers to the factors that make a story interesting, relevant, and valuable to an audience. What's the best format for a press release? An effective format for a press release should include the following, in this order - header, headline, potential sub-headline, dateline, introduction, body, boilerplate, CTA (call-to-action), about the company and media assets. Are press releases worth it? Press releases can be valuable for generating publicity, enhancing brand visibility and reaching a wide audience. They generally help announce important news, product launches, or milestones, attracting media attention and potential partnerships. However, their effectiveness depends on relevance, newsworthiness and their targeted distribution. Today with most media being online combining press releases with other strategies like social media can amplify impact. It's always important to set goals and to track them when writing and promoting press releases. What are some golden rules for writing press releases? Always craft concise and compelling headlines - but not click bait ones. Start with a strong lead in the first paragraph, summarizing the key information. Focus on newsworthiness, emphasizing the "who, what, when, where, and why." Maintain a professional tone always. Include quotes for authenticity, either from your own experts or external authority figures. Provide your contact details for follow-ups or interest. Proofread meticulously before promoting as it represents your brand. Tailor the release to the target audience and distribute strategically through appropriate channels.