How we did Lifehacker in 2021
Miscellaneous / / December 31, 2021
Projects, articles and achievements that we are proud of.
Oksana Zapevalova
Chief editor of Lifehacker.
The year 2021 did not give the world a break from shocks and instability, but it seems that it taught us how to live with them. We tried to support you (and ourselves) on this path: we told you how to stay healthy, helped to save and earn more, energized and distracted from worries.
More than a hundred people work on Lifehacker every day, and the main thing in this whole story is you, our readers. We always remember this and we will be glad to receive your comments: they help us to do our job better, no matter how trite it may sound.
In the meantime, let's talk about what cool happened with the project this year, and let's look a little into the future.
Updated the site and applications
To make it more convenient for readers, we made a compact feed on the site and diluted it with accent cards. The home page is lighter and faster, with more content displayed by default. So now there is less risk of missing interesting text. And what you like can be saved to any previously created folder in the "Favorites" - we have also optimized this section.
Sergey Chigodaikin
Product Manager
In April 2021, readers were able to see the result of our work, which lasted a year and a half. During this time, we have been constantly improving the site.
For users, Lifehacker looks like a complete product. For us, it is divided into several parts, which we try to improve through experiments. Many hypotheses were tested by the team at the time of release. Eight months have passed, and we can honestly say that not all of them have been confirmed. And the redesign process, launched more than two years ago, continues. We still have a lot to improve, we do not stop there.
In addition, we have updated the iOS and Android apps to make accessing content even easier. For example, now you can read Lifehacker even without connecting to the Network. It is enough to add the article to the favorites list, and you can return to it offline. The section with saved texts itself has also changed: now you can create folders and manage them not only in the web version. Add to this the high speed and responsive interface.
Sergey Varlamov
Product Manager.
This year we have worked on both the functionality and the look of the application. We introduced folders to make it easier to sort the articles you like and return to them. Added a notification feed. Thanks to her, users will not miss a single response to comments and will always be able to learn about a new discussion in the selected material.
In addition, we reworked icons, fonts, indents and styles, as well as changed the navigation in the application - this is necessary in order to be able to develop further.
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The culinary service "Time is" has become even more beautiful and convenient. Pages load faster, and recipes can be saved directly to specific Favorites folders.
Sergey Chigodaikin
Product Manager
Updating "Time is" is part of our concept of continuous improvement of the Lifehacker and the formation of a unified system. This is a very important project for us. There was no doubt that it needed to be transformed. We applied the developments that appeared after the Lifehacker redesign, and, of course, came up with something new for users. Spoiler alert now! - we are introducing "Time is" into our applications for iOS and Android and expect updates to appear in stores early next year.
Restarting mailing lists
You waited, and they are back - three interesting and useful newsletters at once for discerning readers.
Lifehacker's Digest
Twice a week, subscribers receive a selection of the best articles from the past few days. It is worth subscribing to the newsletter if you do not have time to read all the materials, but do not want to miss the most useful and interesting of them.
Digest
Only the best Lifehacker articles twice a week: on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Iodine
The selection includes the best health materials, written with the support of reputable medical sources. They tell you what diseases are, which doctor to go to, what to do and - importantly - what not to do with certain symptoms. And most importantly, the texts do not intimidate, so you can read them without the risk of getting a heart attack (but in such a case, we have an article too there is).
Iodine
Scientifically proven facts and evidence-based medicine for everyone who wants to be healthy. Letters arrive on Thursdays.
Caretaker
This is a newsletter for those who often do not know what to see. Subscribers receive article lists from our editorial film critics Alexey Khromov and Linda Zhuravleva with reviews of new films, selections of TV series and films and other interesting materials on the topic.
Caretaker
We collect the most interesting from the world of cinema and TV series so that you do not get bored. Every Wednesday in your box.
Made our podcasts more useful and interesting
This year we continued to release old projects: “Lifehacker's podcast»For those who like to listen to articles, not read; «Life hack», Where we talk about useful things as briefly as possible; «Look who's Talking"- a talk show about relevant, important, funny. And something new has also appeared.
Now it is clear
In this podcast, we debunk myths and fight stereotypes. And we also tell how it was in fact in the Wild West and in Ancient Egypt, what is happening in space and why a worldwide conspiracy does not exist.
Listen →
Overseer: Season Two
We launched an author's podcast about cinema in 2020. But the second season was released in an updated format, and the presenter Mikhail Volnykh joined the film critic Alexei Khromov. Together they discuss different genres of films and TV series, the peculiarities of filming, antiheroes and antagonists, and, of course, they recommend good films.
Alexey Khromov
Film critic.
This year we released the second season of The Caretaker, and we did it according to all the rules of movie sequels. The sequel turned out to be brighter and more exciting. Just like Terminator 2. Major update: I've got a co-host, Misha Volnyh. Therefore, podcasts, which previously looked like boring lectures, turned into a fun dialogue between two people on the same wavelength.
And there are more issues themselves: we started in February, and finished only in the fall. And what we just didn’t discuss during this time: from the stereotype that Soviet cinema was extremely interesting and of high quality, to filming sex. The latter, by the way, turned out to be one of the funniest episodes of the season. I hope that the drafts, where we laugh for five minutes, will remain in the darkest caches.
Summing up the season, the main thing I want to say is that it was interesting and fun for us, the hosts. And I believe that the listeners felt it and were charged with the mood.
Listen →
Plantain
This is the fourth season of the joint podcast by Lifehacker and Yandex Go. The 2021 episodes are collectively titled “Route Built,” and in it we show you how to become the best version of yourself. Development consultants, self-realization specialists, doctors of sciences help us in this. Moreover, to learn the methods of self-improvement, just 20 minutes is enough - this is how long one edition lasts on average.
Listen →
Fin or Tech
We make a podcast about new technologies and money with Visa. Together with fintech experts who are innovating on the market right now, we are discussing how soon we can pay for goods by a person, why does a business need digital ecosystems, what is artificial intelligence capable of, and so Further. It is better to start listening to the podcast today, because tomorrow everything discussed may become reality. And you will be ready for it!
Listen →
Kirill Krasnov
Head of the podcast department.
Several of our projects entered the top “Yandex. Music ". "Now I understand" got into hit parade new podcasts. Lifehack and Lifehacker Podcast ended up in list of the best audio shows for 2021. This recognition is very valuable for us, so we will continue to develop our flagship projects to make them even better and more interesting.
But these are not all plans for the future. The main thing we have to work on is fresh formats. We want to grab the attention of new listeners and do our best to make podcasts not only useful, but also cool. Conversational and narrative shows are what we'll be focusing on soon. The more popular yet high-quality podcasts we manage to launch in 2022, the better.
Join our chat on Telegram and stay tuned for the latest news! And if you have been listening to our podcasts for a long time and you are not indifferent to the fate of future projects, go survey. This way we can get to know better about you and your preferences.
Launched new projects
Game "Coincidence? I do not think!"
There are many conspiracy theories in the world - from more or less logical to completely wild. They appear due to the desire of a person to see structural connections in everything and other errors of thinking. But now it's not about that (about this - in a special article)! How do you look at creating your own conspiracy theory?
We made a game where this is possible. Try and find out who is responsible for the troubles of this world and why they need it. Don't forget to share with your friends, let everyone know the truth. Then don't be surprised when your conspiracy theory goes viral on social media as credible.
Play →
New Year's fortune telling on the articles of Lifehacker
If you have been with us for a long time, then you know that fortune-telling does not work. If the prediction comes true, it is only because a person believes in it so desperately that he does everything to fulfill it. It is called self-fulfilling prophecy, and you can turn the phenomenon to your advantage: find a good prediction and believe in it.
And where to look for cool prophecies, if not in the publication about the benefits? Find out your destiny by receiving from fortune a line from a random article by Lifehacker. At the same time, there will be a reason to re-read the good material.
Play →
We wrote many interesting and useful texts
9 real historical facts that sound like a joke
Dmitry Sazhko plunged into scientific sources and found there interesting facts that are difficult to read without a certain amount of skepticism. For example, how do you like this: one of the popes was interrogated at the trial, having previously exhumed, and the Roman Empire was once sold at an auction? It seems that this is an invention of historians who love black humor. But sources confirm: it's true.
Read the article →
8 myths about life in the USSR
Andrei Vdovenko (by the way, a historian by training) collected popular misconceptions about the Soviet Union and refuted them, relying on research and scientific documents. Moreover, the myths both denigrate and praise the era got. It turned out very informative. And the comments are really hot!
Read the article →
"Doing good": why you shouldn't do anything for the good of others, if you were not asked
From childhood we are taught to help. But they often forget to tell how to do it correctly. Natalia Kopylova found out why our good aspirations can only harm and how to become really useful to others.
Read the article →
5 Science-Proven Rules of 21st Century Training
Iya Zorina explains how to change your approach to sports to get more benefit from them. All advice is based on major research.
Read the article →
What is chronic fatigue syndrome and how to treat it
If a person constantly feels a lack of energy, the reasons are not necessarily laziness or loss of motivation. He may be sick. Ekaterina Komissarova figured out how to recognize chronic fatigue syndrome.
Read the article →
The Mandela Effect in Films: 10 Famous Moments Everyone Remembers Wrong
But what if Darth Vader never said "Luke, I'm your father," and Cheburashka didn't sing in the cartoon about mongrels who serve their paws when they meet? Alexey Khromov collected the most common misconceptions and dispelled them.
Read the article →
12 great films that undeservedly did not receive an Oscar
Film critic Linda Zhuravleva talks about films that academics did not notice at the time. But this did not stop the paintings from becoming generally recognized masterpieces.
Read the article →
Helped advertisers solve business problems
From year to year, the commercial service of Lifehacker grows and develops in order to solve the problems of our advertisers and, of course, delight readers with new formats, useful articles and cool gaming mechanics. 2021 was no exception: we did a lot of cool things!
Plants under cover
For this project, we took the mechanics of the classic card Memory and adapted it a little: players need to find pairs not for jacks, queens and aces, but for plants - and unusual ones! All cards show the ingredients that are included in the Clarins cosmetics. It turned out incredibly beautiful! And also informative: for example, from the game you will learn which plant was called "kangaroo paw" and why macadamia nuts can only be picked by women.
Play →
Everything you need to know about contraception
You can find even more useful information in the guide on modern contraception, which we made together with the pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter. We have studied dozens of scientific studies, compared the effectiveness of various methods of protection and compiled a real encyclopedia. By the way, here you can find answers to questions that are sometimes embarrassing to ask even your gynecologist.
Read →
Anatomy of an engine
A car has a heart - we proved it in our joint project with Lukoil. And they not only proved, but also showed how it looks and works - on detailed 3D-models of engines. In general, if you are interested in what is happening inside your car, you can look not under the hood, but at the page of our special project. We promise you will love it!
Read →
Anna Krachek
Chief editor of special projects.
For 2021, Lifehacker's commercial service has released more than 600 partner materials. Choosing a few favorites is an asterisk problem, because they are all cool. For example, we made an incredibly beautiful and funny test - he will show you which side you will take when the machine uprising happens. And in this the game you can collect the prince of dreams (even if your ideal is a giant hamster). We also have a favorite nursery the game about a wolf and eggs in a modern reading: the hero has learned the basics of financial literacy and is now catching cashback. Well, for the most dexterous, we came up with new year simulator: Try to get home after the party without bumping into the courier or tripping over the cat. And while you train, we will prepare even more awesome projects for 2022!
Researched the native advertising market
In 2021, Lifehacker conducted a study of the native advertising market for the fourth time. It helps to understand what is happening in this area, which formats are gaining popularity, which industries and categories of advertisers are using native advertising more actively.
Masha Pcheolkina
Development Director of Lifehacker.
This year, we studied not only the main media pages, but also their social media accounts. We learned a lot of interesting things! For example, the coronavirus agenda has almost completely "let go" of the advertising market, and financial services in 2021 is the most popular category of placements.
Year after year we try to make the research useful for the industry. We add and remove some parameters, adjust the methodology. After all, we seem to be still the only ones who study the native advertising market. We have already figured out what metrics we will introduce in 2022!
According to the research results, Lifehacker became the leader in the number of advertising publications for the second time in a row. This is definitely a reason to be proud of our team. But not only to her. We are also very proud of our readers who understand how and why we publish affiliate materials. Thanks for all the kind comments left under the sponsored articles. We work on them as carefully as on the editorial ones, so that even when you read the advertisement, you still get verified and interesting information.
You can read more about the research results on VC in Lifehacker's blog. There we also share our professional experience, which may be of interest to those who make media.
We do not plan to stop
Oksana Zapevalova
Chief editor of Lifehacker.
We have big plans for next year: we are already preparing a thematic mailing list and new podcasts, we will seriously pump up our social networks, and we will work more closely with experts. But we will not reveal all the cards! Stay with us and see for yourself. See you in 2022! 🧡
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