By Natalie Fear

In the UK, as soon as the sun peeks through the clouds, you can guarantee someone will be firing up their barbecue. Embracing this traditional summer spirit, British supermarket chain Waitrose has launched a larger-than-life billboard campaign celebrating an iconic star of the BBQ – the humble kebab.

Recently, brands have been stepping up their billboard ads, embracing out-of-the-box ideas from guerrilla marketing to logo-free campaigns. Waitrose’s tactile yet playful billboards are not only visually striking, but also a wonderful subversion of the ordinary, sure to leave a mouth-watering impression on passers-by.

Developed in collaboration with creative agency Wonderhood Studios, MG OMD, Grand Visual and Talon, the towering billboards debuted in Camden and Westfield White City, London. Featuring various kebab staples such as onions, peppers and prawns, each 3D component was meticulously painted onto polystyrene foam across a five-day process. “We wanted to challenge ourselves to see if anything truly is a kebab if you put a skewer through it,” says Jack Croft, creative director at Wonderhood Studios. Turns out, it is,” he adds.

Part of Waitrose’s ‘Let your summer side out’ campaign, the playful billboards embrace a spirit of relaxation and fun. Similar to Dreamies’ OOH cat ad, the tactile advertising is a joyful subversion of billboard ad trends, proving that thinking outside the box (literally) can make for a wholly memorable campaign.

Feature image credit: Waitrose

By Natalie Fear

Natalie Fear is Creative Bloq’s staff writer. With an eye for trending topics and a passion for internet culture, she brings you the latest in art and design news. Natalie also runs Creative Bloq’s Day in the Life series, spotlighting diverse talent across the creative industries. Outside of work, she loves all things literature and music (although she’s partial to a spot of TikTok brain rot).

Sourced from Creative Bloq

Sourced from Independent Australia

Good web design plays a crucial role in improving a website’s search engine optimisation (SEO). It enhances the user experience, making the site easier to navigate, faster to load, and visually appealing, which helps retain visitors and lowers bounce rates.

These factors contribute directly to better search engine rankings, as search engines prioritise websites that offer both quality content and seamless user experiences.

A well-designed website incorporates responsive design, clear navigation, and optimised content, all of which align with SEO best practices. This integration ensures that search engines can efficiently index the site while delivering relevant results to users. Without good web design, even the best content can remain hidden from potential visitors or fail to engage them effectively.

By focusing on the intersection of design and SEO, businesses can boost their online visibility and improve their site’s overall performance. The combination of technical optimisation and user-centred design provides a solid foundation for achieving long-term success in search rankings.

How good web design impacts SEO

Effective web design shapes how search engines evaluate and rank a website. It influences several technical and user-focused factors that improve a site’s visibility and performance in search results. Key elements include how easily search engines crawl and index pages, how the site performs on mobile devices, and how quickly it loads. All of these things are taken into account when an SEO company optimises your website.

Search engine crawling and indexing

Good web design ensures a clean and logical site structure. Clear navigation, simple URL schemes, and well-organised internal linking help search engines discover and understand content efficiently.

Using semantic HTML tags like headings (H1, H2) enhances content hierarchy, making it easier for crawlers to prioritise important information. Minimising duplicate content and avoiding excessive JavaScript or Flash elements prevents indexing issues.

Websites with straightforward architectures allow search engines to index all relevant pages faster. They also reduce crawl budget waste by eliminating broken links and orphaned pages.

Mobile responsiveness for SEO

Mobile responsiveness is critical for SEO since search engines prioritise mobile-first indexing. A site that adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes provides a better user experience and ranks higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).

Responsive design ensures all content, images, and navigation elements adjust without requiring zoom or horizontal scrolling. Avoiding mobile-specific errors like slow loading or inaccessible menus is essential.

Search engines favour websites that maintain consistent performance and usability across devices. Mobile-friendly sites reduce bounce rates, increase session duration, and improve user engagement signals influencing rankings.

Website speed and SEO performance

Website speed directly affects user experience and search rankings. Faster-loading pages reduce bounce rates and increase the time visitors spend on a site.

Optimising images, leveraging browser caching, and minimising HTTP requests are key strategies for improving load times. Clean code and efficient server performance also contribute.

Search engines factor in page speed as part of their ranking algorithms. A delay of even a few seconds can hurt visibility, making speed optimisation vital for SEO effectiveness.

User experience and search rankings

Effective user experience directly influences how search engines rank a website, and would be taken into account by your SEO agency when optimising your site. Factors like navigation clarity, user retention, and accessibility contribute to how search engines interpret site quality. These aspects encourage longer visits and easier content discovery, both valued by ranking algorithms.

Navigation structure and findability

A clear navigation structure helps users locate information efficiently. Well-organised menus and logical page hierarchies ensure visitors can move through the site without confusion. This reduces frustration and increases engagement.

Search engines use navigation cues to understand the relationship between pages. Properly labelled menus and internal links help distribute link equity and improve indexing. Websites with intuitive navigation tend to have higher crawl rates and better search visibility.

Important elements include:

• consistent menu placement;
• descriptive link text; and
• hierarchical page organisation.

These practices support both users and search engines, enhancing overall findability.

Reducing bounce rate with intuitive design

Intuitive design keeps visitors engaged by fulfilling their needs quickly. Simple layouts, fast loading times, and clear calls to action decrease bounce rates. A lower bounce rate signals search engines that the content is relevant and valuable.

Websites designed around user behaviour—such as predictable navigation patterns and straightforward interactions—encourage exploration. This increases dwell time, another positive factor for SEO.

Key actions to reduce bounce rate:

• minimise clutter and distractions;
• ensure mobile responsiveness; and
• use clear headings and concise content.

These contribute to smoother user journeys and improved search rankings.

Accessibility and SEO benefits

Accessible design allows all users, including those with disabilities, to navigate and consume content easily. Features like keyboard navigation, alt text for images, and readable fonts benefit users and search engines alike.

Search engines favour accessible websites because they are easier to crawl and understand. Accessibility practices often overlap with SEO best practices, such as optimised images and semantic HTML tags.

Essential accessibility elements include:

• Alt attributes for images;
• proper use of ARIA labels; and
• sufficient colour contrast.

Implementing accessibility not only broadens audience reach but also enhances SEO performance.

Visual elements that influence SEO

Visual elements affect several aspects of SEO, including page speed, user engagement, and trustworthiness. Proper handling of images, typography, and branding plays a vital role in enhancing search engine visibility and improving user experience.

Optimising images for search engines

Images must be optimised to reduce load times, which directly impacts SEO rankings. Compressing images without losing quality helps pages load faster, improving both user experience and search engine crawling efficiency.

Using descriptive, keyword-rich alt text supports accessibility, allowing search engines to understand image content. Proper file naming conventions also aid SEO by signalling relevance to search queries.

Responsive images that adjust to different screen sizes improve mobile performance, a key ranking factor. Additionally, implementing formats like WebP reduces file size compared to traditional JPEG or PNG.

Typography and readability

Typography affects how easily users consume content. Clear, legible fonts improve readability, reducing bounce rates and increasing time spent on a page, which are positive signals for SEO.

Font size and line spacing should be optimised for different devices to enhance user experience. Avoiding overly decorative or complex fonts ensures text remains accessible to all users.

Consistent use of headings (H1, H2, H3) structured around clear hierarchy helps search engines interpret the page layout and content priority. This assists in better indexing and ranking.

Consistent branding and trustworthiness

Visual consistency enhances brand recognition and user trust. When design elements such as colour schemes, logos, and layout styles are uniform, visitors are more likely to view the site as credible.

Trustworthiness influences user engagement metrics that search engines consider, such as return visits and lower bounce rates. A professional, cohesive appearance supports credibility in the eyes of both users and search engines.

Incorporating familiar visual cues and clear calls to action reassures users, encouraging interaction and extended site visits, which can indirectly support SEO performance.

Choosing a web design company with SEO experience

Selecting a web design company with SEO expertise is crucial for building a website that performs well on search engines. A firm that understands SEO integrates optimisation from the start, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

They ensure technical elements like site speed, mobile responsiveness, and clean code are prioritised. This creates a solid foundation for search engines to crawl and index the site effectively.

Look for a company that offers content strategies aligned with SEO goals. These agencies often recommend a content calendar driven by keyword research to keep the website relevant and competitive.

Transparency about their SEO practices is another important factor. A reliable company should explain their methods clearly and provide measurable results.

Choosing a company without SEO knowledge risks a website that looks good but performs poorly in search rankings. Businesses benefit most when design and SEO goals are aligned from the start.

Sourced from Independent Australia

By Maria Ross

Empathetic Brands Start From the Inside Out. Here Are Three Ways to Break Down the Silos Between EX and CX.

Customer experience is everything. This is a mantra most business leaders have rallied behind by now. From initial brand awareness to personalized post-purchase support, organizations have grown increasingly intentional about making customers feel seen, heard, and valued through every interaction with their brands.

In rushing to improve customer experience (CX), many may overlook another fundamental truth: Employee experience (EX) is also vital to shaping customer outcomes. So what happens when customer experience efforts aren’t mirrored internally, and employees aren’t extended the same care and attention they’re expected to give?

A 2024 PwC report found that 82% of U.S. and 74% of non-U.S. customers want more human interaction in their brand experiences. But according to the 2024 Gallup State of the Global Workplace report, only 21% of employees globally felt engaged at work. By 2025, this decline in engagement was found to be among the top 7 workplace challenges, costing the global economy an estimated $8.8 trillion in lost productivity and poor management.

A recent Quantitative Marketing and Economics study further confirms this by finding a direct, causal link between employee engagement and customer satisfaction.

In other words: while consumer-first strategies are undoubtedly important, when they’re implemented at the expense of employee wellbeing, they backfire in costly ways.

Employees are the ones who deliver the human experience customers want. When they feel unheard and unseen, disengaged, and burned out, they can’t extend that care to customers. As one World Economic Forum article notes, empathy is one of the most critical leadership skills for the future of work, and more importantly, a key driver of innovation and employee engagement. And in an economy where both customers and employees demand meaningful engagement, empathy must flow in both directions.

To create an authentically empathetic brand, leaders can’t treat CX and EX as separate silos. Instead, they must acknowledge that one flows into the other, and align internal culture with the external promise. Here are three places to begin breaking down those silos:

Listen Like a Leader, Not Just a Manager

Many organizations typically collect customer feedback through surveys, support tickets, or NPS scores. But what about doing this internally too? According to the Center for Creative Leadership, empathetic leaders outperform in collaboration and innovation because they listen deeply and respond thoughtfully. And when employees feel safe enough to share challenges, ideas, or concerns, companies gain insight into what’s really working (or not).

In her conflict resolution framework on The Empathy Edge podcast, organizational development professional and CEO of Seattle Conflict Resolution Kristine Scott outlines three simple but powerful steps for managers navigating tough conversations: validate the emotion, state the boundary, and offer support or options. This can also mean creating intentional moments where employees feel safe to speak and confident they’ll be heard. It means investing in employee check-ins, feedback loops, and listening sessions as strategic tools, not just HR nice-to-haves. And as this Harvard Business Review article reminds us, listening well is not only a first step to aligning employee needs with business goals, it’s a teachable, trackable leadership skill that every leader can access.

Equip Managers to Model Empathy

Internal culture isn’t as shaped by C-Suite memos as it is by those everyday interactions employees have with managers. Yet they’re often undertrained, overburdened, and most overlooked when it comes to empathy training. According to Harvard’s Professional & Executive Development platform, teaching managers reflective listening, empathetic communication, and psychological safety techniques helps address burnout, distrust, and disengagement among teams.

And as MIT Sloan Management Review puts it, empathy within teams turns warm hearts into cold hard results. But it still needs systemic support, because while training leaders to be more empathetic is necessary, organizational structures must reinforce it. When empathy exists only in pockets but is not supported by the environment, that’s like planting healthy seeds in nutrition less soil and still expecting an abundant crop.

Align Policies with People, Not Just Profit

When leaders ask whether organizational policies honour their people, it might mean rethinking rigid schedules, performance metrics, or communication norms. It also means considering the mental, emotional, and psychological toll of customer-facing roles. A 2024 Current Psychology study found that emotional exhaustion in these roles has a mediating impact on employee turnover intention. But when employees know that the company has their back, not just during peak performance, but during hard seasons too, they’re more likely to stick around and go the extra mile.

Here’s the bottom line: Empathetic organizations don’t begin with clever ad campaigns. They begin at the Monday morning meeting, with leaders who listen, managers who care, and internal systems that reflect both values and humanity. For loyalty from our revenue-driving customers, we must first invest internally in empathy for our employees and understand how employee experience impacts customer experience.

Feature image credit: Getty

By Maria Ross

Sourced from Forbes

By Katie McIlvenny

Katie McIlvenny shares her key learnings from her first year as a freelance PR consultant, and how design studios can make the most of media opportunities.

I’ve worked with branding and design studios since 2017; some small and nimble, others larger and more process-heavy. But after a year flying solo as a freelance PR and media consultant, I’ve had a proper education.

If my early years taught me what makes a good story, this year showed me what actually gets published, and why some PR works while a lot doesn’t.

With budgets tighter, timelines shorter and attention spans in freefall, design studios often ask – is PR worth it? The short answer is – it depends.

Here’s what I’ve learned over the past 12 months.

1. A new project isn’t a story

Let’s start here because it’s the biggest misconception I see and the biggest shift I’ve noticed in the last year.

New work might excite your agency, but that doesn’t make it media-worthy. Ask yourself – why should anyone else care? Especially through a design lens; not just what was made but why it matters now.

Does it offer fresh perspective, useful takeaways or cultural context? If not, it’s probably better suited to your own channels. Be honest with yourself, and don’t lose it when your PR is honest with you.

This is doubly true in design, where fewer editorial staff face more agencies and studios than ever. The bar’s high. Stories that get picked up usually:

1. Tap into a wider cultural moment.
2. Offer a surprising point of view.
3. Speak to a business or societal shift.
4. Spark discussion beyond the design bubble.

Journalists aren’t your marketing team. If your pitch reads like a case study padded with adjectives, it belongs on your blog, not their inbox.

2. Think like a journalist

This is the one I’ve seen trip people up the most. Founders and design leaders often want to prove value through their creative thinking, like the layers of meaning behind a wordmark, or the strategic rigour of their grid system.

And that’s all valid. But the best PR doesn’t say, “Look how good we are.” It says, “Here’s something we’ve seen or done that adds to the conversation about design.”

Design publications want to know what’s relevant, not just what’s new. What does this say about how design is being used right now? What’s changing? What’s being challenged? Why does it matter?

If your story helps people in the industry think differently about processes, tools or the role design plays in culture or business, it’s got legs.

The most effective pieces I’ve worked on start with a half-baked idea, a hunch or even a rant about how a client brief made a creative director question everything. If there’s a sharp point of view in there, we can shape it.

That doesn’t mean being provocative for the sake of it, Just be honest. The design world doesn’t need more content, it needs authentic perspectives that add value.

3. Don’t underestimate DIY visibility – especially in design

Some of the best visibility right now happens on owned channels.

We all know LinkedIn can be a cringe wasteland (“I got married; here’s what it taught me about client services.” NO!!).
But sharing smart, funny, human takes can earn you as much credit as earned media.

Design is a visual, ideas-driven industry, so we have every reason to stop taking ourselves so seriously.

Designers who share thoughtful takes on process, early experiments or the messy parts get noticed. I’ve seen people land projects, hires and speaking gigs just by showing up consistently and talking like a human.

That said, peer applause isn’t the same as strategic storytelling. If you want to reach future clients, collaborators or where industry press look for signals, that’s where PR helps.

A good comms partner doesn’t just pitch – they help you figure out what your studio really wants to say, when to say it, and how to hit beyond the bubble.

Ever wonder how some creatives always get quoted right when a topic explodes? There’s probably a PR behind the scenes, antenna up, quotes prepped, contacts primed.

4. Old-school relationships still work, especially now

We’re solidly back in the era of “fancy a drink?” And honestly, thank god.

Journalists, like us, are exhausted. Their inboxes are chaos. If you want to stand out, don’t just send another cold pitch. Get to know them. Be curious about what inspires them. Ask questions, and show genuine interest in the answers.

A good lunch sticks way longer than an email. Relationships don’t guarantee coverage, but they give you a better chance than the 275 other unread emails in a journalist’s inbox.

It’s not about louder, it’s about clearer

With AI taking jobs and everyone chasing the same headlines, PR is changing fast.

But the fundamentals hold. Know your story. Know your audience. And know when to share it on your own channels, rather than squeezing it into a pitch.

If I’ve learned anything this past year, it’s that PR isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about being clearer, and knowing when to go big and when to hold back. Give both the media, and their audience, something worth their time.

The world doesn’t need more noise; it just needs better stories.

Feature image credit: Shutterstock

By Katie McIlvenny

Katie McIlvenny is a freelance PR and media consultant, specialising in the design and creative industries. 

Sourced from DW

By Jodie Cook

If I asked your LinkedIn connections what you did and what you believed, what would they say? Would they be able to recite your mission statement, define your dream client, and explain exactly how you help them achieve results? Most people on LinkedIn are invisible because no one knows what they stand for. They aren’t consistent with their message. And that’s a problem.

Someone with half your experience is building a bigger business because they have twice the clarity and triple the conviction. Don’t get left behind. Don’t feel the pain of missing out when you could be using LinkedIn to become successful beyond your wildest dreams.

They’re not smarter than you. They’re not more qualified. They just decided to choose a lane and stay in it. It’s your turn.

Stop hiding: stand out on LinkedIn by choosing one message

Repeat one big idea until it’s attached to your name

Pick the hill you’re willing to die on and plant your flag there. Every post, every comment, every interaction should reinforce this one core message. If your thing is “pricing psychology for SaaS founders,” talk about nothing else for six months. When you define your swim lane, the right people start showing up. People begin tagging you in pricing discussions. Potential clients DM you before making their next move.

You don’t need variety in yourLinkedIn posts. Your audience doesn’t even need you to be interesting. They need you to be useful in one specific way. Think about the most successful thought leaders on LinkedIn. Gary Vaynerchuk talks about hustle. Brené Brown talks about vulnerability. Simon Sinek talks about finding your why. They’ve been saying the same thing for years, just finding new ways to package it. You get known by saying something real, then saying it again tomorrow.

Write like you’re already leading the industry

Your energy shows up in every word you type. When you write from a place of desperation, trying to prove you belong, people can smell it through their screens. Compare “I’ve been thinking about customer retention strategies” with “Customer retention is broken. Here’s what we’re doing differently.” One sounds like you’re asking permission to speak. The other sounds like you’re already in charge. Imposter syndrome has no place in your world.

Claim your authority without years of experience or fancy credentials. Speak with the confidence of someone who’s already arrived. Position yourself as the expert rather than the student. What happens next: people start treating you like an expert. They share your posts with their teams. They screenshot your advice. They come to you with their biggest challenges because you sound like someone who’s already solved them.

Share wins as punchy screenshots

Nobody has time for your three-paragraph humble brag about closing a big deal. But a screenshot of that contract value with one powerful line makes people pay attention. Visual proof is worth more written claims. When you share your client’s 400% revenue increase, don’t write an essay. Show the graph and add a few words. Simple.

Your proof should be easy to scan and impossible to ignore. Screenshots of client testimonials, before-and-after metrics, calendar bookings, and revenue dashboards tell your story fast. The most engaging posts on LinkedIn include evidence. Show the Slack message where your client says you changed their business. Show the waitlist for your program. Show the DM from someone implementing your advice. Let your results do the talking.

Turn your comment section into your next post

Another month of LinkedIn posts are in the comments you left on other people’s posts. That off-the-cuff response where you broke down your entire pricing philosophy becomes next week’s viral post. The framework you sketched out to help someone struggling with team management is a carousel waiting to happen. Most of your best content is hidden in replies because that’s where you (and everyone else) are most real.

Start treating every comment like potential content. When someone asks a great question, give them an answer worth stealing. Create a feedback loop of engagement. Then trawl through those conversations for insights, or paste them into ChatGPT and ask questions. Your audience is literally telling you what they want to know more about. Expand detailed responses into full posts and weekly series.

Update your profile headline to include your target client

Your LinkedIn headline is so important and most people waste on job titles. “Marketing manager at generic company” tells me nothing about why I should care. But “I help busy mums get more sleep without taking pills”? Now they are listening. Your headline should make your ideal client think two things: “This person gets me” and “I need what they’re offering.”

Make it undeniable. Lead with your strongest belief about your industry. Call out exactly who you serve. Promise the transformation they’re desperate for. Watch your inbound inquiries triple. Finally say what you mean, not what you think you’re meant to say. Your headline should feel like a belief statement, not a business card.

Own your space on LinkedIn without apology

You don’t need a huge audience to win on LinkedIn. You need clarity about what you stand for and the courage to say it repeatedly. Consistency over creativity, conviction over consensus. While everyone else is trying to go viral with motivational quotes, you’ll be building an audience of buyers by solving one specific problem better than anyone else. Stand out by owning one thing, and owning it loudly. Pick your message, perfect your proof, and keep showing up.

Update your LinkedIn profile to attract ideal coaching and consultancy clients.

Feature image credit: Getty

By Jodie Cook

Find Jodie Cook on LinkedIn. Visit Jodie’s website.

Sourced from Forbes

By Amanda Breen • Edited by Jessica Thomas

Ruth Sack seized an opportunity to expand the brand’s customer base.

Ruth Sack, 27, grew up with Streets Ahead, the luxury leather accessories brand her father, David Sack, founded in 1982. She and her siblings painted belts with nail polish in the Los Angeles factory and attended trade shows across the country with their parents.

But it wasn’t until 2020 that Sack considered dedicating significant time to the brand. “I went to UCLA and studied gender studies, and then Covid hit,” Sack says. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I started helping out with the family business because things were pretty tough, and I actually sort of loved it.”

Sack went on to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and step in as Streets Ahead’s head of marketing and design.

Streets Ahead’s products are made locally in California with leather and hardware sourced from Italy, and the brand is known for its novelty pieces —  ”bestselling belts [with] crazy heart hardware with chains and snakes and things like that” — that have been spotted on numerous celebrities, including Beyoncé during her Cowboy Carter tour.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Streets Ahead}

The brand built on its success as a legacy wholesale business over the decades, but when Sack joined the team, she wanted to explore its potential in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) space.

As it turns out, there was a lot: In just a few years, Sack grew DTC revenue from $60,000 to more than $500,000. Streets Ahead is projected to hit $3.2 million to $3.5 million in total revenue in 2025, with $2.7 million to $3 million from wholesale and $500,000 to $600,000 from DTC.

“I came in and changed the platform to Shopify, kind of just revamped the whole thing.”

Streets Ahead’s foray into DTC sales started with a website refresh.

“We always had a website, but [no one ran it],” Sack says. “It didn’t really make any money. It was never up to date. So I came in and changed the platform to Shopify, kind of just revamped the whole thing, and started adding products and keeping it up to date. And immediately we saw a difference.”

Once her parents saw the results, they were even more willing to invest in the brand’s DTC strategy. Streets Ahead leaned into professional content creation and advertising and continued to see its DTC sales grow.

Part of the brand’s digital transformation also included a logo overhaul, Sack says.

The company featured the new design across its social media platforms and started to generate interest from major influencers like Rocky Barnes, who boasts more than three million followers on Instagram and 200,000 followers on TikTok.

“ She found us through an ad that we were running, and she wanted the exact belts from the ad,” Sack recalls. “So we started doing some gifting, and we could see that it worked. As we built our social presence, especially Instagram and ads, we got so many DMs, and now they keep coming.”

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Streets Ahead}

“99% of the time we’re making it from scratch.”

Sack would love to sell more on TikTok, but the platform’s quick-ship requirements prove challenging for the made-to-order brand, as “everything is essentially custom” and takes time to manufacture.

Whereas other companies might have thousands of units sitting in a warehouse ready to ship, every time Streets Ahead receives an order, that request is sent down to the factory, which starts the production process.

“We don’t have anything made here unless there was a return and we have [that returned product],” Sack says. “99% of the time we’re making it from scratch.”

Because of Streets Ahead’s branding and social media presence, it can get “a little bit lost” on people that each item really is custom-made for them, Sack notes. The company follows up on particularly large orders to confirm them before moving forward with fulfilment.

What’s more, despite the business’s made-to-order model, Streets Ahead does accept returns.

“ I buy things that I want to try and might return — we all do it,” Sack says. “If we want to have this type of direct-to-consumer [platform], there has to be some kind of return. People need to try things on. They don’t know their size. So we do allow returns, [but] we’ve now started to put a little tag on [products] that says, If this tag is removed, we can’t accept the return, to prevent people from wearing it and then sending it back.”

“You have to be okay doing the grunt work.”

As Sack considers Street Ahead’s future and her own role within it, she’s excited to expand the brand’s offerings beyond belts. The brand dropped its first handbag collection last month, and Sack says she’d love to branch into shoes, particularly leather boots and sandals with hardware, down the line.

For young professionals or aspiring entrepreneurs who hope to make their mark on the fashion industry, Sack says it’s important to “learn a little bit of everything” — and be prepared to do your part.

“You have to be okay doing the grunt work,” Sack says. “There are some days I’m down shipping, some days I’m cleaning buckles, things that someone as a designer or creative director doesn’t necessarily want to do. But you need to be a team player and be willing to know every single role.”

Feature image credit: Streets Ahead. Ruth Sack.

By Amanda Breen

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Edited by Jessica Thomas

Sourced from Entrepreneur

Sourced from OCCRP

Professional scammers call upon a global network of service providers to execute their work in a sophisticated, streamlined fashion. Here are some of their names.

Feature image credit: Banner: James O’Brien / OCCRP

Sourced from OCCRP

By Kyle Christie Edited by Maria Bailey

How solopreneurs can use YouTube and AI to stay discoverable and build trust in a changing search landscape.

The digital space is noisy and fast-moving. For solopreneurs, staying visible is one of the biggest challenges. While many chase quick wins on Instagram or LinkedIn, the most reliable platform for long-term visibility remains YouTube. As artificial intelligence changes how people search for information, YouTube isn’t just useful — it’s essential.

A 2024 Statista survey found that 63% of Gen Z prefer YouTube over traditional search engines, and 58% turn to TikTok. This signals a major shift in behaviour: people want video content that is direct, trustworthy and easy to engage with. And as AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini become more embedded in everyday searches, video is becoming the format people trust most when they need real answers.

Why YouTube still works

Unlike social platforms where content disappears in hours, YouTube acts more like a searchable library. A single helpful video can be discovered, indexed and recommended for months or even years. That gives solopreneurs a major advantage — a way to stay visible without constantly churning out new content.

AI is supercharging this effect. When someone types a question into tools like Google, ChatGPT or Gemini — “How do I price my services as a freelance designer?” for example — the answer often includes a recommended YouTube video. That video is usually pulled from a channel that’s clear, specific and helpful. This creates a major opportunity for small business owners to show up right when potential clients are looking.

My experience: showing up when it matters

I started my YouTube channel, See Your House Now, 14 years ago. We have just over 1,000 subscribers — not a massive number — but that’s not the point. People find us when they need us. Our most-watched video is titled Who is the best real estate photographer in Waterloo Region? That’s a question people search using AI tools, and because of that video, we stand out and get clients.

For us, it’s never been about going viral. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. Most of our in-person video service inquiries come from people who first found us on YouTube. We also host client real estate tours on the channel, which adds more value. It’s a quiet engine for our business — and best of all, it’s free.

Five steps to build a YouTube presence that lasts

Start a purpose-driven channel
If you don’t already have a channel, start now. Focus your content on the specific questions your audience is asking. Instead of broad topics like “how to grow a business,” choose direct, niche-specific titles like “how to get clients as a solo architect” or “how to raise rates as a copywriter.” Make each video answer a real question your ideal client would type into a search bar.

Use AI to reverse engineer your titles
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to use ChatGPT or Gemini. Ask what questions your audience might be searching or request optimized title suggestions for your niche. Try prompts like, “What would a real estate agent in Houston search for on YouTube right now?” These insights help build a stronger content calendar that aligns with what people actually want to watch.

Optimize your metadata
Help both people and algorithms understand your videos. Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions, relevant tags and upload transcripts to boost accessibility and search ranking. Small details like this help your videos surface when and where they matter most.

Design thumbnails that stand out
Your thumbnail is often the first impression. Keep it bold, simple and consistent. Use a high-quality image of your face, a short phrase with large text, and a clear visual identity so people instantly recognize your videos. Free tools like Canva make this easy — just search for “most popular” templates to get started.

Create a content series
Don’t think in one-off videos. Build short series around your core topics. This improves discoverability — no matter how someone phrases a question, they’re more likely to land on your channel. A focused series also builds trust faster than scattered videos.

The future of being found

For solopreneurs, the biggest challenge isn’t making great content — it’s making sure people find it long after you’ve posted. YouTube solves that problem. Especially when paired with smart AI tools, it gives your work a longer shelf life and higher impact.

This isn’t about chasing trends or going viral. It’s about showing up with clarity, consistency, and value when your audience is ready. If you create content that answers real questions, YouTube will continue to work for you long after it’s posted. And that’s the kind of strategy that leads to sustainable growth

By Kyle Christie 

Founder & Creative Director at See Your House Now Inc. at The Listing Lounge. Kyle Christie has taken all of the editorial and production skills learned in his career as a television journalist and applied them to real estate. The result is a marketing agency that provides clear messaging, imagery and promotional content to help real-estate professionals stand out.

Edited by Maria Bailey

Sourced from Entrepreneur

By Jodie Cook

You know you should be posting online every day, so you do. But your focus on quantity is leaving quality behind. Most content sucks, and some of yours probably does. It’s safe, predictable, and instantly forgettable. You’re doing it to hit a quota, not to make a real difference. Hitting publish is no use if the words don’t hit home. You’re simply training your audience to ignore your work.

The difference between viral and invisible is the courage to say what you really mean. The courage to share what people are really thinking. ChatGPT can help. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Transform boring content ideas into viral hits with ChatGPT

Say what your industry gets wrong

Boring content happens when you’re scared to have a real opinion. Everyone nods along to the same tired advice. Nobody challenges the status quo. Your industry has sacred cows that need slaughtering, and you know what they are. Call them out with proof and confidence. Say what others won’t, and people pay attention.

“Based on what you know about my industry expertise and opinions, identify the top 5 things I believe my industry gets completely wrong. For each one, help me craft a bold statement that challenges conventional wisdom, backed by specific evidence or examples. Make each statement direct and provocative enough to stop scrollers in their tracks. Focus on beliefs that are widely accepted but actually harmful or outdated.”

Transform a bland draft into a controversial opener

You’ve written something safe and sensible. Great. Now make it dangerous. Take that boring post sitting in your drafts and give it the edge it needs to grab attention. Your first draft is never your best work especially when you’re playing it safe. Find the controversy hiding in your careful words.

“Take this draft post I’ve written: [paste your boring content]. Rewrite the opening to be controversial and attention-grabbing. Challenge a common assumption, make a bold claim, or start with a counterintuitive statement. Keep my core message but make it impossible to scroll past. Give me 3 different controversial angles I could take with this same content.”

Turn client wins into standalone hooks

Long case studies put people to sleep. But when you turn a client transformation into one punchy line, it hits them right in the feels. Your clients’ success stories contain viral gold. You just need to extract the message. These become your best hooks, opening lines, and standalone posts that stop the scroll.

“Based on what you know about my business and the transformations I create for clients, help me turn a recent client success into 5 different viral content hooks. Each should be under 15 words and work as a standalone post opener or complete tweet. Focus on the surprising insight or counterintuitive result that makes people stop and think. Make them screenshot-worthy.”

Hijack trending content with your take

That viral post everyone’s sharing? It’s probably wrong. Or at least incomplete. When everyone zigs, you should zag. Take what’s already working and add your controversial spin. Ride the wave while making your own splash. The best viral content builds on what’s already capturing attention, then flips the narrative.

“Here’s a post getting traction on social media: [paste the content]. Based on what you know about my expertise, help me craft the opposite take that adds value while standing out. Create a response that acknowledges why people love the original but offers a better, more nuanced perspective. Structure it to get attention from people already engaging with the trending topic.”

Write what scares you to publish

You know that post sitting in your drafts? The one that feels too real, too raw, too risky? That’s the one to publish. Fear is your guide, and it’s pointing toward viral content. If a post doesn’t make your heart race before hitting publish, it’s probably too safe. The content that scares you is what people remember.

“Based on what you know about my experiences and challenges, help me identify the story or insight I’m most afraid to share publicly. Then help me structure it into a post that’s vulnerable but valuable. Balance the personal revelation with actionable insights others can use. Make it real enough to connect but professional enough to position me as an expert. Ask for more information if required.”

Stop playing safe and start creating content that explodes your reach

Going viral with your content happens when you have the guts to say what you really think. Challenge industry norms with the first prompt. Turn boring drafts controversial with the second. Extract viral hooks from client wins. Hijack trending topics with your unique angle. Share the stories that scare you. Each prompt pushes ChatGPT to help you create content that actually goes viral, not just exists. You don’t need more time to create better content. You need more courage.

Feature image credit: Getty

By Jodie Cook

Find Jodie Cook on LinkedIn. Visit Jodie’s website.

Sourced from Forbes

By Laura Michelle Davis

If you want to break into freelancing, here’s a practical guide to building your reputation, finding your network and working on your own terms.

Jamie Brindle has been freelancing for 16 years and is on a mission to “demystify” the freelance world. In 2020, amid a shaky job market and widespread rejection of corporate hustle culture, he started helping beginner freelancers become their own bosses.

The expansion of remote work, advances in AI and the growth of influencer platforms have all led to a kind of self-employment boom. As Gen Zers and millennials find new ways to upgrade their skills in a flexible work setting, the traditional 9-to-5 has become less inviting — and less reliable.

“People are finally coming over to my side and agreeing that building something for yourself is the safe option now,” Brindle told me.

Financial instability is not a minor factor. Plenty of full-time professionals rely on part-time side hustles and gig work to compensate for stagnant wages and the high cost of living. Working as an independent contractor can feel like a life raft during tough economic times. Whether by choice or necessity, millions of people are turning to freelancing as a long-term business strategy.

“If you lose a client, you’re inconvenienced,” said Brindle. “If you lose your job, you’re unemployed.”

The term “freelancer” often brings to mind ride-share drivers or creators working from home. Yet the self-employed span nearly every industry and skill level, from entry-level musicians to highly specialized brand consultants. In my research, I discovered a world of artists, technicians, developers, strategists, writers, coaches and tradespeople, each carving their own path.

In 2027, freelancers are projected to make up more than half the US workforce, according to Statista. A majority freelance workforce has numerous political and economic implications for future generations. What does a country of nearly 90 million independent contractors look like?

Better yet, should you follow the trend? Whether you’ve recently lost your job or you’re following your passion, this article focuses on tips to get started building your own business. Shaped by real-life insights from seasoned freelancers, this practical guide can help you thrive in this expanding work model.

How to move from full-time employment to freelance work

Freelancing is not always a choice. If you’ve recently been laid off or left your job out of necessity, you won’t necessarily have the luxury to plan for self-employment. But in today’s competitive job market, setting up your own gig could be the easiest way to guarantee some income.

One of the biggest hurdles is getting started. First, identify your strengths and narrow in on what you’re offering. Then tell everyone you’re available for work.

“If you create a persona for yourself, market yourself and your business, and create that reputation, that’s what eventually will bring people to you,” said Jeanette Smith, a freelance content writer and editor. Over the years, Smith has cultivated an impressive following, with 11,000 connections on LinkedIn.

When making the leap from a conventional employee to an independent contractor, don’t wipe your slate clean. Use the experience and connections you’ve built over the years to devise a business plan and reach out to prospective clients.

“Everything that you’ve done in your 9-to-5 is a launch pad for your freelance work, your network, your skills,” said Tia Meyers, CEO and founder of Freelancing Females, the world’s largest community of women in the freelancing field.

If you need guidance, the Freelancers Union, a non profit with over 500,000 members, can provide advocacy, education and access to benefits. Executive director Rafael Espinal said the organization can connect you to fellow freelancers and provide assistance for everything from creating contracts to setting rates.

1️⃣ Understand the business

If you’re committing to freelance work full time, you might need to formalize your business by registering with the state. Setting up a separate legal structure will give you liability protection, tax flexibility and the ability to secure loans. In Smith’s case, she created an LLC (a limited liability corporation) that allowed her to open a business bank account and keep her personal and business finances separate.

Alternatively, anyone who is freelancing for occasional side income can be classified as a sole proprietorship. If you don’t want to incorporate or form a legal entity to run your business right away, you’ll report your income on your personal tax return. “Just be aware that as a 1099 employee (freelancer), no taxes are being withheld,” said Smith. “It is your responsibility to estimate your taxes due and pay them quarterly.”

Ultimately, how you decide to structure your business entity depends on your goals as a freelancer and what legal and tax benefits you’re looking for.

2️⃣ Build your reputation

A freelance business doesn’t grow magically. Once you begin taking on projects, it takes time to find your footing. Depending on the industry and your persistence, Meyers told me to expect anywhere from three months to 12 months to get consistent income and inquiries from clients.

To build your reputation, Brindle recommends boosting your visibility on the professional networking platform LinkedIn, which he calls a “24-hour business conference.” But don’t treat the site like a portfolio or an online resume. Instead, use social media for discussion and commentary, where you can make ongoing contributions and maintain engagement.

Brindle said that sharing posts about what your clients find valuable will favour the algorithm, which is designed to keep users on the platform as long as possible.

3️⃣ Find your network

No one will know you’re looking for work unless you tell them. “Go to your past co-workers, send notes to friends, find a collective of people,” said Meyers. Communities like Freelancing Females, the Freelancers Union and local job boards advertise openings, help you collaborate on work and share client bases.

Creating a profile on talent marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork can also do some of the lifting. According to Nikhil Purwaha, senior director of project management at Upwork, the site has thousands of job posts for freelancers across more than 125 categories, from marketing to software development to customer service.

“We recommend creating a profile that highlights your core strengths, then browsing open projects that match your background,” Purwaha told me in an email. “Clients are often more interested in outcomes than credentials, and many are open to giving newer freelancers a shot if they show commitment, skill and professionalism.”

4️⃣ Grow your client base

To generate a loyal clientele, your outreach should be ongoing and diverse, ranging from in-person referrals and professional associations to smaller contract agencies. Once you start completing assignments and proving your reliability, clients are likely to come back to you.

“The trust factor is the most important thing to build,” said Smith. “If clients like you, they will eventually trust you. And people tend to only buy from people they trust.”

Though Fiverr and Upwork can help you get started, many independent contractors don’t recommend relying on them as the foundation of your business. Sites like these have “pay to play” elements or take a percentage of each transaction as commission. As a result, online gig-work marketplaces are often saturated with low-paying clientele. “They can create a race-to-the-bottom mentality, where freelancers are outbidding each other to secure work,” said Espinal.

According to Brindle, the majority of your clients should come from your own networking and promotion, and only 10-15% from freelancer platforms.

5️⃣ Market your niche

Marketing involves educating prospective clients about your unique service and demonstrating your brand’s niche — a way of planting the flag as a category leader. “If a freelancer comes to me and says, ‘I don’t know how to get leads,’ 99.9% of the time it’s because they don’t have a niche,” Brindle said.

For example, if you’re trying to generate clients as a personal fitness trainer, you’ll stand out if you specialize in something more exclusive, like helping executive women over 50 reach their strength-training goals. “Specificity is your ally,” he said.

Once you’ve found your niche, focus on the deliverables, not the skill itself. What will the results be? What should your clients expect? What problem will you solve? Translate everything to the language of ROI to guarantee a solid return on investment, said Brindle.

6️⃣ Determine your price

Before you set a price for your services, create a budget sheet of your business costs and work backwards. Independent contractors should put aside 40% of their take-home earnings to cover taxes and professional expenses, according to Espinal.

“Consult with other freelancers in your industry and see what they charge,” said Smith. Then figure out your “happy price” by considering all the project details — length, time commitment, resource costs — to set a figure that feels fair for the value you’re offering. Though you might not have a set price for your services out of the gate, have a goal of what you’d like to be charging in a year or two.

Ideally, according to Brindle, you’re pricing in a way where you could technically subcontract every job — i.e., hiring another freelancer to do the work — and still meet your annual revenue goals. Though a lot of freelancers advertise hourly rates, consider charging based on the project or the solution you’re offering, not the time it takes. Brindle says not to allow the client to set a ballpark figure. “You’re the expert, so you should be the one to present a budget to them,” Brindle said.

The benefits of freelance work

Becoming a business owner comes with different responsibilities, new types of management and increased flexibility. While you might start off working more hours than you had in the past, you’ll eventually familiarize yourself with pacing, tracking your hours and working when you’re most productive. You also aren’t limited by an income ceiling, so you can always make more money by taking on more projects.

“The beauty of freelancing is your choice to work when you want, and to work with the clients you actually want to work with,” said Meyers. Whereas traditional employment locks you into the same focus area, freelancing allows you to take your skills to the next level or build something unique based on what you love to do.

In today’s uncertain job market, being an independent contractor can give you increased freedom, according to Espinal. “In a traditional 9-to-5, you don’t have control over whether or not you go to work the next day. You have an employer who makes that decision for you,” he said.

Top advantages to freelance work: 

☑️ Set your own schedule 

☑️ Choose your own clients 

☑️ No salary ceiling  

☑️ Flexibility to pivot 

The downside of freelance work

Not everyone is comfortable with marketing their business or managing their time and finances. As a freelancer, you’ll have to be willing to sell your services and get used to keeping receipts for expenses, paying quarterly taxes and reconciling your finances monthly. “I recommend getting a bookkeeper if you can, because there are just so many rules that change every single year,” said Meyers. If you can’t afford to hire someone, try different platforms or accounting software such as QuickBooks and HoneyBook.

One major disadvantage to freelance work is the lack of benefits. You won’t get paid time off, a retirement account match, short-term disability, health insurance or anything else that typically comes with an employment compensation package.

You’ll also need to be prepared to give up a steady pay check and get used to a more erratic income stream. “Payments from clients aren’t always prompt, and sometimes you have to chase them down,” said Smith. In some cases, clients could refuse to pay entirely, which makes it even more important to have a written agreement when taking on projects. According to Espinal, around 75% of freelancers accept work without a contract, leaving them vulnerable to noncompliant clients.

If you go into freelance work to fulfil your passion on a full-time basis, be careful you’re not living and breathing work. An otherwise fun hobby, like baking, could become particularly gruelling if you’re trying to transform your personal kitchen into a cookie factory. Staying motivated requires being cognizant of work-life balance to avoid burnout.

Main disadvantages of freelance work: 

☑️ Inconsistent payments from clients

☑️ No included insurance or retirement benefits

☑️ Ongoing expenses and taxes

☑️ Fatigue from not setting boundaries 

Final tips for new freelancers

➡ Be bold

When starting out, you’ll face a lot of rejection and ghosting. “But you have to keep believing that the next opportunity is going to be the big break,” said Smith. Don’t be ashamed to market your business however you need to, she added.

Remember that a lot of your clients will hire you not only because of your skills, but also your character. “Don’t be afraid to share your personality,” said Meyers.

➡ Get a website

A business website shows off your portfolio and is great for search results. It also demonstrates that you’re human, Smith told me. If you don’t have a website, make sure you have some type of web presence (substack, landing page, social media), so clients can see your work and contact you easily.

Once you have a web presence, don’t force your clients to scroll through multiple pages to know what you’re selling. Meyers recommends creating clear packages and service offerings.

➡ Prepare the financials

First, prioritize building up an emergency fund to cover at least six months of expenses in case of unexpected circumstances. Factor in all your business overhead expenses ahead of time: software, equipment, gas, meals. Study the tax rules to know exactly what you can claim as a deduction.

You’ll also want to make sure you can afford to pay health insurance out of pocket and contribute to a retirement fund. If you’re interested in other insurance offerings besides health insurance, Espinal said the Freelancers Union provides some benefits, including disability, liability, and life insurance, to members at a fraction of the cost.

Feature image credit: Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

By Laura Michelle Davis

Laura is a professional nitpicker and good-humored troubleshooter with over 14 years of experience in print and digital publishing. She currently oversees CNET Money’s housing market coverage. Before becoming an editor with CNET, she worked as an English teacher, Spanish medical interpreter, copy editor and proofreader. She is a fearless but flexible defender of both grammar and weightlifting, and firmly believes that technology should serve the people. Her first computer was a Macintosh Plus. Read full bio

Sourced from CNET