Be in The Know
✂️ Instagram’s video editing app, Edits, is here.
🤷 Google won’t ditch third-party cookies in Chrome after all.
✌️ And btw, Google will allow the same advertiser to show ads in top ads and bottom ads.
💸 How “recessionposting” is reshaping social content.
▶️ Netflix is eyeing video podcasts as it expands beyond TV and film.
👀 Tesla faces criticism over “Made In USA” claims.
💔 Remember when the world connected on Skype? RIP.
🎂 The New Yorker at 100: how bold, illustrated, wordless covers helped define the mag.
How to Write Helpful Error Messages
Digital products focus only on “happy paths,” neglecting what happens when things go wrong.
As Amy Hupe points out, error messages are a vital but often overlooked part of UX. Poor error messages can leave users frustrated, confused, or even drive them away.
Here’s how to create better error messages:
- Identify potential errors. Audit your experience for all possible failure points (e.g., form errors, 404 pages, lost connections).
- Write like a human. Avoid robotic language. Imagine sitting next to the user and guiding them calmly.
- Skip the whimsy. Humor can easily feel dismissive during stressful moments. Prioritize empathy and clarity.
- Use active voice. Make actions and responsibilities clear, like “We couldn’t process your payment” instead of “Payment could not be processed.”
- Give a clear next step. Whether users can fix the error or not, always suggest what to do next.
- Be consistent. Use repeatable patterns for common errors to make guidance easier to scan and act on.
Check out Piccallili for more.
Smash or Pass
Tubetrackr
If the YouTube algo has you missing some of your favorite channels’ new videos—or you’re just too swamped to keep up—check out Tubetrackr for concise, tailored video summaries from all your faves, straight to your inbox or Discord.
Just add channels to your dashboard, set your preferences for delivery method and frequency, and enjoy bullet-point summaries every time a new video drops.
Campaign
Butterfly Food
Using our marketing superpowers to protect the environment? We’re all in on that, every time.
Milkweed is an essential plant that Monarch butterflies rely on, but its name doesn’t do a great job of inspiring conservation efforts.
That’s why Lafayette American has released new Butterfly Superhighway seed packs featuring three finalist names: Butterfly Landing, Monarch Milk, and Milky Way, with packaging inspired by Alexander Girard.
This marks the final year of the crowdsourced rebrand, which has seen playful suggestions like “Snacky Snack” and “Milk Map.”
Monarch populations have dropped 22% over the past century, so go plant some Milky Way, will ya?
