Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Kai Mercer
What does your page title say first? A one-minute check
The <title> is one of the first things a screen reader user hears on your page, and one of the first things anyone sees in a tab or search result. Many landing pages leave it as the product name on every page, or "Home". The check View the page source and find <title>. Read it aloud. Then open a second page on your site and compare. <title>Pricing - Acme</title> Ask: does it say what this page is, and is it different from your other pages?
Is it a button or a div? A one-minute check for clickable elements
Landing pages are full of things that act like buttons: "Get started", menu toggles, tabs, plan switchers. Some are real <button> elements. Some are a <div> with a click handler. The page looks identical, but keyboard and screen reader users get different pages. The check View the page source (or DevTools) and find each clickable thing. Look at the tag.
Check the autocomplete attribute on your signup form: a one-minute test
A signup form that blocks autofill makes people retype their name, email and address every time. For some users that is annoying. For others it is a real barrier. It takes a minute to check. The check View the page source and look at each <input> that collects personal data.
Missing alt vs empty alt: a one-minute image check for landing pages
Landing pages are full of images: hero shots, icons, dividers, screenshots. Two different mistakes with alt are easy to make, and a quick look at the source finds both. The check View the page source and search for <img. For each image, ask what it is for. It carries information (a product screenshot, a chart, a logo that is also a link): alt should say what a person who can't see it needs to know.
20 kinds of test cases a public page already tells you about
Before anyone writes a single automated test, a public page has already told you a lot: what it answers over https, which links it exposes, whether its fields have labels, which headers it sends, how long the document takes to arrive. Most first test plans stop at "the happy path works". Here is the list I use instead when I read a page for the first time. Each kind has one example case, written the way I would hand it to a team.
Add autocomplete tokens to your signup form: a five-minute check
Signup and checkout forms are where landing pages lose people. One cheap thing that makes them faster to fill, and easier for people who struggle with typing or with remembering what a field wants, is telling the browser what each field is for. That is what the autocomplete attribute does. What to check Open your signup form and look at each input. For fields that collect information about the user, does it have an autocomplete token?
Zoom your landing page to 200% before you ship it: a two-minute check
Most of us check a landing page at the size of our own screen. Plenty of visitors don't see it that way: they zoom in, use a larger default font, or browse on a small window. Here is a short check that catches the most common breakage. The check Open the page in a desktop browser. Press Ctrl and + (Cmd and + on a Mac) until you reach 200%. Scroll the whole page, top to bottom. Zoom further, to 400%, and scroll again.
Label your form fields: a two-minute check before you ship
Forms are where landing pages make or lose a signup, and a missing label is one of the easiest problems to ship without noticing. It looks fine. Everything works with a mouse. But a screen reader user lands on a box that says "edit text" and has to guess. This is a two-minute check you can run on any form. What a label actually does According to MDN, a label is not only visually next to its input.
Check your landing page at 320px wide before you ship
Most landing page checks happen on a wide desktop window and one phone. There is a cheap check in between that catches a lot: look at the page at 320 CSS pixels wide and see whether you have to scroll sideways to read it. This is WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.4.10 (Reflow). It says content should work without two-dimensional scrolling at a width equivalent to 320 CSS pixels.
Your Mongoose pre('save') Hook Is Being Silently Skipped by Half Your Update Calls
This is one of the more consequential Mongoose gotchas because of exactly what tends to live inside a pre('save') hook, password hashing, slug generation, validation logic, and exactly which methods silently bypass it without ever telling you.
Keep the focus ring: a keyboard check for landing pages
A landing page isn't finished when the buttons work with a mouse. Try reaching the same buttons without one. Press Tab from the top of the page. You should be able to see which link, button or input has focus. Shift+Tab lets you check the path in reverse. If focus disappears, the page can leave a sighted keyboard user guessing where they are. One CSS rule worth looking for is: /* Removing this without a replacement hides the focus indicator.
A small reduced-motion check before shipping a landing page
A landing page can look fine on a phone and still miss someone's motion preference. Check both versions of the same page, not only a screenshot. For decorative animation, a scoped CSS rule is a starting point: @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .hero-decoration { animation: none; transition: none; } } Replace .hero-decoration with the element that owns the motion. This is an example, not a fix for every animation on a site. Don't hide useful information when removing the effect.
What Lady Jane’s Taught Me About Entrepreneurship (That Business Books Never Did)
Press enter or click to view image in full size I get a haircut every six weeks — like clockwork. Not because I’m vain, but because I value consistency. And for the past few years, tat consistency has come from Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men. Sure, I go in for a fresh fade, but I always walk out with more than just a clean cut.
Don’t Miss Your Shot: How I Almost Skipped a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip to Costa Rica
Don’t Miss Your Shot: How I Almost Skipped a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip to Costa Rica Sometimes in life, you get one shot. One chance to say yes to something that may never come again. And the hardest part? It usually shows up at the most inconvenient time — when money’s tight, when your schedule’s packed, or when your doubts are the loudest. For me, that shot was the chance to join my friend’s bachelor party in Costa Rica. At first, I almost backed out.
The Two People You Should Make Proud: Your 8-Year-Old Self and Your 80-Year-Old Self
Forget impressing strangers — your life is a conversation between who you were and who you’ll become. When you strip away all the noise of modern life — the endless scroll, the social comparisons, the pressure to “keep up” — the only real question left is: Who am I doing this for? The truth is, you don’t need the approval of strangers on the internet or colleagues at work. There are only two people you should ever be working to make proud: your 8-year-old self and your 80-year-old self.
Stop Prioritizing People Who Would Never Prioritize You
Never make time for those who wouldn’t bother making time for you. In life, both personally and professionally, one of the most valuable lessons you can learn is this: never prioritize people who would never prioritize you. Whether it’s a one-sided friendship, a toxic relationship, or a draining work environment, investing time, energy, and attention into people who only see you as an option is a guaranteed recipe for disappointment.
A Bachelor Party in Costa Rica Taught Me That Life Wasn’t Meant to Be Lived On Autopilot
We were meant to live it up, not live each day as if it were on autopilot. Press enter or click to view image in full size Earlier this month, I found myself boarding a flight bound for Costa Rica — not for business, not for work, but for something much more primal: a friend’s bachelor party. He’s getting married this September, and we were determined to give him a send-off that was equal parts wild, unforgettable, and maybe just a little bit unhinged.
What a Wild Bachelor Party in Costa Rica Taught Me About Entrepreneurship
Making the climb to the top of the mountain is hard, but don’t forget to enjoy the climb. Press enter or click to view image in full size When my friend told us he was getting married this September, we knew his bachelor party had to be something unforgettable. That’s how a group of us ended up boarding a flight to Costa Rica — ready for a weekend of eating good food, drinking like kings, and living it up in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
When Nothing’s Working - That’s When You Know It’s Working
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just keep going. Press enter or click to view image in full size One of the biggest reasons people abandon their goals and dreams isn’t because they lack talent, resources, or even time. It’s because they don’t see instant results. In a world conditioned by quick likes, fast money hacks, and “overnight” success stories, patience has become a lost art.
The Vanishing Act: What Japan’s “Johatsu” Teaches Us About Starting Over
Sometimes, having the power to walk away from what’s suffocating you or no longer serves you is a true test of strength. Press enter or click to view image in full size The Mysterious Art of Disappearing In Japan, there’s a word for people who decide to erase themselves from their current lives — johatsu, which literally translates to “evaporation.” Like steam rising and dissipating into thin air, these individuals vanish without leaving a trace.
A Bachelor Party in Costa Rica Taught Me That Life Wasn’t Meant to Be Lived On Autopilot
We were meant to live it up, not live each day as if it were on autopilot. Press enter or click to view image in full size Earlier this month, I found myself boarding a flight bound for Costa Rica — not for business, not for work, but for something much more primal: a friend’s bachelor party. He’s getting married this September, and we were determined to give him a send-off that was equal parts wild, unforgettable, and maybe just a little bit unhinged.
Why I Make the Most Money on Medium While I’m Asleep (and How I’m Capitalizing on It)
Making money while you sleep shows that you think outside the box. Press enter or click to view image in full size There’s a strange but beautiful irony I’ve noticed lately. When I checked my Medium stats the other day, something jumped out at me — most of my earnings weren’t trickling in during the hours when I was awake, hustling, and actively checking my views. No, they were rolling in while I was asleep.
The Vanishing Act: What Japan’s “Johatsu” Teaches Us About Starting Over
Sometimes, having the power to walk away from what’s suffocating you or no longer serves you is true strength. Press enter or click to view image in full size The Mysterious Art of Disappearing In Japan, there’s a word for people who decide to erase themselves from their current lives — johatsu, which literally translates to “evaporation.” Like steam rising and dissipating into thin air, these individuals vanish without leaving a trace.
Unmarried. Single. Childless. There Will Never Be a Better Time Than Now.
If you’re single and childless, this is the perfect time to act. Press enter or click to view image in full size If You’re Free, You’re Equipped Let’s get straight to the point: If you’re unmarried, single, and childless, the best time to chase your goals and dreams is right now. You have no idea how powerful that freedom really is. No spouse to check in with. No children depending on your time, money, and energy. No mortgage with a 30-year sentence attached to it.
Why Proof Matters More Than Perfection
I just wanted to share this little tidbit since it has been on my mind a lot lately. We waste so much time trying to get things “just right” before we even begin. Meanwhile, people who start before they’re ready stack small wins, gain momentum, and build proof that their effort works. This month, I’ve seen another bump in my earnings. It’s not massive, but it’s proof. Proof that showing up works. Proof that my digital assets can earn without me punching a clock.
Comfort Is the Enemy of Greatness: Why You Can’t Rely on Ease to Reach the Top
Comfort feels good. It’s warm, familiar, and predictable. It’s the couch after a long day, the routine you’ve mastered, the job you could do with your eyes closed. But here’s the uncomfortable truth — comfort doesn’t demand your best. It doesn’t push you to improve. It doesn’t force you to grow. In fact, comfort can quietly kill your potential by convincing you that you’ve already done enough.
The Day Beth McGrath Quit Walmart for the World to Hear - And the Lesson for Dreamers Everywhere
If there was one way to make a memorable exit from a company you work for, it was definitely Beth McGrath’s. In 2021, a Walmart employee in Louisiana named Beth McGrath made national headlines after quitting her job in one of the most unforgettable ways possible — over the store’s intercom. Her profanity-laced tirade called out low pay, chronic overwork, and what she described as toxic management practices.
Why Having Millions Means Nothing if You Can’t Even Enjoy Them
If being wealthy means never having a moment to stop, breathe, and enjoy my wealth, then I don’t want to be wealthy. We live in a world that glorifies wealth like it’s the ultimate trophy. Flashy cars, mansions with infinity pools, private jets ready to whisk you off to exotic islands — social media makes it look like the ultimate dream. But I’ll be honest: I’m not envious of those who are wealthy if they can’t even enjoy their wealth.
AI Is the Gold Rush of Our Lifetime - Don’t Make the Same Mistake I Made With Bitcoin
Life-changing opportunities don’t come along every day. If you could go back to the early days of the internet, would you? Imagine it’s 1995. Most people think the “World Wide Web” is a fad. Amazon is just an online bookstore. Google doesn’t exist yet. Meanwhile, the few people who saw what was coming were quietly buying up domain names, building websites, and starting online businesses. Fast forward a few years — the dot-com boom happens. Millionaires are minted. Some become billionaires.
Entrepreneurship Is Just Like Dating: Not Everyone’s Going to Swipe Right
If a customer swipes left on you or your product or service, then take it as a sign to just move on. When you step into entrepreneurship, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to convince everyone to buy what you’re selling. You pour your heart into creating a product, a service, or both. You know it’s valuable. You know it works. You know it could help people. So when someone turns you down, it feels personal.
Why I’m Building Something That Can Outlive Me
We live in a world where most people trade five days of their lives for two days of freedom. They do it week after week, year after year, until they realize decades have passed and their dreams are still sitting on the shelf. I’ve decided I’m not going to live like that. This isn’t about hating a 9-to-5. It’s about building something that can eventually replace the need for one — something that can generate income, impact, and freedom without me having to clock in for it.
They’re Not Superheroes - They Just Decided to Win
You have to decide that you want to win and do whatever it takes to win. Look at the people you admire most. The ones who got far in life, built something out of nothing, and turned their vision into reality. They’re no better than you. They’re not smarter than you. And they’re definitely not superheroes with some secret, otherworldly abilities. They’re human. Just like you. Not a wish.
Everyone Wants the Prize, But Almost No One Wants the Process
You have to embrace the process if you want the reward. We live in a world obsessed with rewards. The mansion, the dream car, the six-figure business, the exotic vacations. People love the idea of winning — of having the prize in their hands. But when it comes to the part no one sees — the grind, the long nights, the discipline, the delayed gratification — that’s where most people quietly bow out. They want the medal without the miles. The applause without the rehearsal.
Why the Class Slackers Often Become the Bosses (And The Straight-A Students Don’t)
Getting the best grades in school might make you the best employee later on and not getting the best grades in school might make you the best boss later on. You probably remember them — the valedictorians, the teacher’s pets, the kids who turned in their homework early and never missed an assignment. They were celebrated, praised, and placed on a pedestal as the shining example of what success looks like. Then there were the so-called slackers.
Employees Work for Time. Entrepreneurs Work for This Instead.
Employees and entrepreneurs are two completely different species. There’s a reason why two people can work equally hard — pouring in the same number of hours — and yet end up with wildly different incomes. It comes down to one simple distinction: Employees are paid for their time. Entrepreneurs are paid for the value they bring. If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving your 9-to-5 and becoming a successful entrepreneur, understanding this difference isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
Why Making Money Online Feels 10x More Empowering Than a 9 to 5 Job
Why Making Money Online Feels 10x More Empowering Than a 9 to 5 Job There’s nothing like the first time you make money online. Whether it’s $5 from a digital product or $500 from a freelance gig, that first online dollar hits different. It feels earned — not handed. Liberating — not limiting. Empowering — not exhausting. And once you taste it, it’s hard to go back. Here’s why making money online feels so much more empowering than clocking in for someone else from 9 to 5. 1.
Why You Should Stop Submitting “Brilliant Ideas” to Your Employer for Free
Sometimes, it’s best to keep things to yourself especially if you’re not getting anything out of it. Let me guess — your company has a suggestion box. Or maybe they’ve rebranded it as something fancy like “The Innovation Station” or “Brilliant Ideas Program.” They might even offer you a shiny plaque or a dinky trophy if your idea actually gets implemented.
Scrape Gum or Own the Store: The Day Kevin O’Leary Got Fired And Found His Future
Are you taking control of your own destiny? When Kevin O’Leary was a teenager, he landed his first-ever job at an ice cream shop in the mall. It was supposed to be a standard summer gig — scoop some ice cream, earn a few bucks, and get a taste of the working world. Instead, it turned into the only job he would ever have… and the catalyst that changed his life. One day on shift, his manager asked him to do something he hadn’t signed up for: scrape gum off the floor. Kevin didn’t hesitate.
Stop Grabbing Low-Hanging Fruit If You Want Real Success
Stop Grabbing Low-Hanging Fruit If You Want Real Success We live in a world that praises quick wins and shortcut culture. From viral TikToks promising overnight riches to self-proclaimed gurus selling “done-for-you” blueprints, it’s tempting to reach for the low-hanging fruit. It’s easy. It’s convenient. It’s available. But if you’re serious about success — not just looking successful — you need to train yourself to aim higher.
Want to Escape The 9 to 5? Stop Consuming And Start Producing
Production is the antithesis of consumption. That’s the cycle most people are stuck in — mindlessly consuming content, entertainment, and distractions while silently resenting the lives they’ve built around jobs they can’t stand and routines that feel like slow suffocation. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “There’s gotta be more to life than this,” you’re right. But here’s the cold truth most won’t tell you: You’ll never escape the 9 to 5 grind if you stay a consumer. You have to become a producer.
Still Early. Still Building. Still Showing Up.
Everyone loves to talk about success after it happens. The viral moment. The first $10K month. The overnight results. But no one talks about the in-between. The “is this even worth it?” days. The “I made 15 cents and I’m still proud” days. That’s the part I’m in. And if I’m being honest, it’s the part that builds character. Because if you can keep showing up when no one’s clapping… You’ll be unstoppable when they finally do. And if you are too? Keep going.
Entrepreneurship Is The Ultimate Feedback Loop: Why That’s a Gift, Not a Curse
Sometimes, immediate feedback is crucial to your success. If you’ve ever dipped your toes into the unpredictable waters of entrepreneurship, you know one thing is certain: it has zero chill when it comes to giving you feedback. Launch something nobody wants? Crickets. Put out a bold offer that hits the mark? Sales. Slack off for a week? You feel it. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5 job where you can coast for months without anyone noticing, entrepreneurship forces you to face the mirror daily.
Why the Class Slackers Often Become the Bosses (and the Straight-A Students Don’t)
Getting the best grades in school might make you the best employee later on and not getting the best grades in school might make you the best boss later on. You probably remember them — the valedictorians, the teacher’s pets, the kids who turned in their homework early and never missed an assignment. They were celebrated, praised, and placed on a pedestal as the shining example of what success looks like. Then there were the so-called slackers.
Entrepreneurship Is Like Solving a Puzzle With No Picture on the Box
The entrepreneurship puzzle is ultimately what you make of it. When you buy a puzzle from the store, it comes with a few certainties. You know how many pieces there are. You know what the final image looks like. You know all the pieces are in the box. You know there’s a correct way to piece everything together. But when you choose the path of entrepreneurship? None of those things exist. There is no picture on the box to guide you. There is no piece count to tell you how far you’ve come.
Why I No Longer Complain About the Things I Want
Why I No Longer Complain About the Things I Want There was a time when I used to vent all the time. I’d complain about not having enough money. I’d complain about not being where I wanted to be. I’d complain about my job, my situation, and the fact that life didn’t feel fair. All that complaining made me feel justified — but it didn’t make me any closer to the life I actually wanted. If anything, it kept me further away.
No One Talks About the First $0.23
Before the tree can grow, a seed has to be planted first. But no one really talks about the first $0.23. The first time something you made earned even a single cent online. The first time someone read your words and came back the next day. The first time you realized you didn’t need a job title to build something real. But to the builder? Especially when no one’s watching yet. If you’re building something from scratch and want a weekly dose of raw truth, mindset shifts, and lessons from the trenches…
The Two Roads of Life: Do What’s Hard Now or Struggle Later
Your life can only go in one of two directions. You can’t have both. Life is full of choices, but at its core, every decision funnels down to one of two paths: Do what’s hard now and live easy later. Or do what’s easy now and live hard later. It’s a truth most people don’t want to hear because it demands personal responsibility. But look closely, and you’ll see it play out everywhere. Working out when you don’t feel like it. Building a side hustle after your 9 to 5 instead of zoning out to Netflix.
Why There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Answer to Succeeding as an Entrepreneur
You have to find what works best for you. Everyone’s looking for the blueprint. The guaranteed path to success as an entrepreneur. But here’s the truth: it doesn’t exist — and that’s exactly what makes the journey both maddening and magical. In a world obsessed with templates, hacks, and 5-step systems, entrepreneurship remains one of the last wild frontiers where individuality still reigns supreme. There is no plug-and-play formula that works for everyone.
You’ll Never Be 100% Ready - Start Anyway
Seriously, just take action. Action is the best antidote for inaction. There’s a brutal truth that everyone who’s ever done something meaningful eventually learns: You’ll never have it all figured out. And that’s exactly why you need to start anyway. The dream you’ve been sitting on — the business idea, the move, the career switch, the passion project — doesn’t need your perfection. It needs your commitment. It needs your momentum.
Passive Income Isn’t Passive - It’s Front-Loaded Hustle Disguised as Freedom
Passive income does not mean passive work. “I want to make passive income so I can quit my job and live life on my terms.” But here’s the reality check no one talks about enough: Passive income isn’t passive at all — at least not in the beginning. It’s one of the most active things you’ll ever do if you’re serious about building something that can one day replace your 9-to-5.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Kai
Contact Kai, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack