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T-Mobile is making moves to make sure it’s “first” among first responders. The mobile giant announced that as a part of its T-Priority solution—a portion of T-Mobile’s 5G network that’s set aside specifically for use by first responders, to avoid network congestion and slowdowns during emergencies—it’s signed a contract with the City of New York to be the single carrier for the city’s public safety network comprising more than 40,000 personnel, and is allowing free limited-time access to T-Priority through its first responder rate plans. Additionally, the company is partnering with others in the industry to create an advanced 5G ecosystem, which should help numerous tools such as drones and AI-powered deployables perform better in the field. That partnership includes companies like Samsung and Skydio. T-Mobile is also making a $2 million donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports the families of fallen first responders. “These are big investments, and it’s incredibly important work,” said Callie Field, president of T-Mobile Business Group, at an event in New York City on Thursday announcing the news. “We launched T-Priority for a reason. It was time to get this community better options . . . Even in 2025, when we expect instant communication, there are times when they can’t connect.” Field went on to say that almost two-thirds of first responders say they are concerned about network connectivity. As such, Field said T-Mobile saw the announced moves as the company’s “responsibility.” T-Mobile’s moves may be significant for emergency services, as first responders can find it difficult to communicate when cell service goes down. While fire and police departments generally do have other ways to get in touch with one another—via walkie-talkies or pagers, which should work in the event that cell service is down—when carrier networks are clogged up or otherwise crippled, it can hamper responses and potentially cost lives. T-Mobile’s data says that T-Priority can offer up to 40% more 5G capacity to ensure first responders can stay connected, and it’s designed to emphasize speed for data-intensive communications. T-Priority also meshes with T-Mobile’s plan to launch T-Mobile Starlink this year, which will help get signals through to parts of the country that are not reachable by cell towers. View the full article

Tech group says it can no longer offer advanced protection to British users after demand for ‘back door’ to user dataView the full article

Digital marketing relies in part on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to foster the success of a website. Effective strategies drive organic traffic, boosting both sales and conversions. Mistakes like not optimizing for essential keywords can lead to a drop in profits and sales. Remember, potential customers looking for online goods and services use keywords and phrases to start the process. The Impact of SEO Mistakes Understanding SEO is crucial for online success. For businesses considering how to start an SEO company, knowing these common mistakes can provide a solid foundation for offering effective SEO services. Other SEO errors can cause problems for a website’s search engine rankings: Mistakes like broken links can cause a drop in organic traffic. Misleading meta descriptions can damage the site’s credibility. Duplicate content can result in a decline in visibility on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS). The Most Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid Along with these mistakes, focusing on video SEO and YouTube SEO is equally important, as video content increasingly dominates the digital landscape. Sidestepping the following SEO mistakes can help your site rank higher and boost sales. Ignoring the Importance of Keyword Research The Mistake Neglecting this research reduces a website’s visibility and potential traffic. Keywords are the basis of SEO. In effect, they are the phrases your audience uses to look for the goods and services you have to sell. The Solution You can use several research tools, including SEMrush and Google Keyword Planner. These can help you find high-volume, low-competition keywords. One strategy is to target long-tail ones and their variations. Overlooking the Power of Meta Descriptions The Mistake Don’t underestimate the critical nature of meta descriptions. Not using them properly can affect your visibility and click-through rates. The Solution A meta description should be approximately 150 to 160 characters long, written in the active voice to emphasize unique selling points. WordPress Has some excellent SEO plugins for these descriptions. The same goes for Yoast SEO. Failing to Optimize for Mobile Users The Mistake Ignoring mobile optimization leads to lower rankings on mobile searches and higher bounce rates. The Solution A responsive design is the solution. These designs need to adapt to various devices and screen sizes. Neglecting Internal Links The Mistake User navigation can be affected when you overlook these links. Another consequence occurs with indexing by search engines. The Solution Conducting an audit will help you pinpoint pages that have outdated links or are missing internal links. It is advisable to create an internal linking strategy that emphasizes relevant content. It’s also an excellent strategy to optimize your menus and navigation bars to incorporate internal links Overusing Keywords (Keyword Stuffing) The Mistake Overusing keywords can do much more than lead to a poor user experience. Search engines impose penalties for keyword stuffing. The Solution Writing content that appeals to users is part of the solution. Use words naturally so there’s a sense of flow and readability. Keywords need to be placed in strategic locations like a meta description, headings and titles. Density matters, and you should aim for what’s organic, which is typically up to 2% of all of the content. Not Utilizing Google Search Console The Mistake Google Search Control can assist you in troubleshooting, maintaining, and monitoring your website’s presence in Google search results. If you’re not utilizing it, you’re missing out on valuable insights. The Solution Fixing this problem starts with going to Google Search Control and adding your website URL. You need to upload your site’s XML sitemap. Ignoring Local SEO The Mistake Ignoring local SEO is a big mistake if you’re looking to target local prospects. Not using the strategy will lower your rankings in local search results. The Solution Fixing this problem means creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing. It’s also essential to optimize your content and website with location-based keyword phrases and keywords. Remember to ask satisfied customers to leave reviews on your GMB page. Not Optimizing for Voice Search The Mistake Voice Search is an emerging trend that you should leverage. It has the potential to enhance your visibility. The Solution Finding conversational keywords that prospects might use when speaking is a solution. Usually, these are long-tail keywords. You’ll also need to ensure your website is mobile-friendly because most searches are done that way. Forgetting to Regularly Update Content The Mistake Your website’s authority and relevance will suffer if you don’t update content regularly. The Solution It’s easier to schedule updates when you use a content calendar regularly. You can also consider updating old posts with brand-new information or statistics. New formats are another way to increase your rankings. Think podcasts, infographics, and videos. Overlooking User Experience (UX) The Mistake Lower engagement numbers and higher bounce rates result when ignoring user experience (UX). The Solution Make sure that your website performs well on mobile devices and is responsive. Optimize images and reduce unnecessary scripts. Streamline your navigation with user-friendly categories and menus and a logical site hierarchy. Don’t forget to use bullet points and headers to make content easy to read. Poor Site Speed and Performance The Mistake Poor performance and slow speed can hinder user experience and your SEO rankings at the same time. The Solution Consider using a faster hosting provider as a potential solution. Additionally, you can decrease HTTP requests by minimizing redirects and taking advantage of browser caching. Start by using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify any performance issues. Failing to Utilize Social Media Signals The Mistake Your brand’s visibility can be limited if you ignore your social media presence and don’t maintain it properly. The Solution Sharing infographics, articles, blog posts, and videos will help engage with your target market. Remember to run contests and respond to any comments made on these channels. Not Using Analytics to Drive SEO Strategy The Mistake Optimizing your SEO strategies begins when you utilize the information you get from analytics. Ignoring this critical part of the puzzle deprives you of the tweaks necessary for any campaign. The Solution You can track user behavior and website traffic using Google Analytics. This tool helps you identify trending topics and high-performing keywords. The information you’ll get through analytics will help you align your strategies with your target market preferences. Inadequate Backlink Strategies The Mistake Your website authority will suffer, and your SEO performance drop if you don’t use quality backlinks. The Solution Ensure you reach out to relevant locations for these. Guest posting to relevant and reputable websites is a great way to get links back to your website. Overlooking the Importance of Meta Tags and Title Tags The Mistake Pay attention to title tags and the meta version. Your search visibility and click-through rates will be hampered if you don’t. The Solution One solution is descriptive, compelling titles of less than 70 characters containing your keywords. Encourage links with a meta description that is less than 160 characters. Not Addressing Broken Links The Mistake Maintaining vigilance over these links is essential, as they can adversely affect your SEO. Failing to monitor them can result in lost rankings and decreased sales. The Solution You’ll need to check for these periodically, and you can use tools like Screaming Frog. SEO Best Practices For those looking to deepen their SEO knowledge, exploring SEO courses can be incredibly beneficial. Additionally, learning how to improve writing and SEO can greatly enhance content quality and search engine rankings. Here are five strategies to help you build a successful SEO strategy and avoid mistakes. Optimizing your site’s speed means minimizing HTTP requests and compressing images. Active profiles on social media mean engagement. Respond to comments and integrate social sharing buttons. Utilize Google Analytics to make informed decisions by tracking popular content and website traffic, which encompasses choosing relevant keywords. Look for reputable backlinks from quality websites through guest posting and quality content. Don’t forget to optimize title tags and their meta counterparts. Beyond these practices, creating a well-rounded SEO strategy and improving blog SEO are crucial steps. Remember, understanding mobile SEO facts is key in an increasingly mobile-first world. Best PracticeDescriptionTools/ResourcesKey Tips Keyword ResearchIdentify relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for.Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush.Focus on long-tail keywords for less competition. Quality ContentCreate valuable and informative content that meets user needs.Content management systems, Grammarly.Regularly update your website with fresh, relevant content. On-Page OptimizationOptimize individual web pages to rank higher.Yoast SEO, Moz SEO tools.Include keywords in titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Mobile OptimizationEnsure your website is mobile-friendly.Google's Mobile-Friendly Test, responsive web design.A mobile-responsive website is crucial for better ranking. Loading SpeedImprove website loading times for better user experience.Google PageSpeed Insights, website caching tools.Fast loading speeds are crucial for both ranking and user experience. Quality BacklinksBuild high-quality backlinks from reputable websites.Backlink analysis tools like Ahrefs, guest blogging.Focus on building organic backlinks over quantity. Local SEOOptimize for local searches, especially if you have a physical location.Google My Business, local directories.Ensure your business is listed on local directories and Google My Business. Image OptimizationOptimize images for faster loading and descriptive alt-text.Image compression tools, descriptive file names.Use relevant alt-text and compress images for faster loading. Regular Analytics ReviewRegularly check analytics to understand traffic and user behavior.Google Analytics, Google Search Console.Use insights to refine your SEO strategies over time. SSL CertificateSecure your website with HTTPS for safety and ranking.SSL certificates from hosting providers.Websites with HTTPS are favored by search engines. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MrxJTEfL_Og%3Fsi%3DMWLrnBvF1Wz4WaCL FAQs: Common SEO Mistakes Here are some answers to common questions asked about these mistakes. Should a small business pay a specialist to optimize a website for search engines? Hiring a professional will give you expert implementation of the most innovative SEO strategies. How often should an SEO strategy be reviewed? Regularly reviewing your strategy every 3 to 6 months will enable you to adjust to evolving user behaviors, algorithm updates, and market trends. What are the key factors search engines consider when ranking websites? The factors search engines evaluate include: Content quality and keywords. Backlinks and user experience, which include mobile-friendliness and website speed. Technicalities like sitemaps, schema markup, and proper website structure. Domain Authority, which judges the credibility and trustworthiness of the site. Engagement metrics, which include click-through rates. How costly can an SEO mistake be? An SEO mistake can lead to a significant drop in website traffic, visibility, and rankings. That can spell a decrease in organic search traffic and a loss of revenue. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Common SEO Mistakes You Don’t Want to Be Making" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Digital marketing relies in part on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to foster the success of a website. Effective strategies drive organic traffic, boosting both sales and conversions. Mistakes like not optimizing for essential keywords can lead to a drop in profits and sales. Remember, potential customers looking for online goods and services use keywords and phrases to start the process. The Impact of SEO Mistakes Understanding SEO is crucial for online success. For businesses considering how to start an SEO company, knowing these common mistakes can provide a solid foundation for offering effective SEO services. Other SEO errors can cause problems for a website’s search engine rankings: Mistakes like broken links can cause a drop in organic traffic. Misleading meta descriptions can damage the site’s credibility. Duplicate content can result in a decline in visibility on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS). The Most Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid Along with these mistakes, focusing on video SEO and YouTube SEO is equally important, as video content increasingly dominates the digital landscape. Sidestepping the following SEO mistakes can help your site rank higher and boost sales. Ignoring the Importance of Keyword Research The Mistake Neglecting this research reduces a website’s visibility and potential traffic. Keywords are the basis of SEO. In effect, they are the phrases your audience uses to look for the goods and services you have to sell. The Solution You can use several research tools, including SEMrush and Google Keyword Planner. These can help you find high-volume, low-competition keywords. One strategy is to target long-tail ones and their variations. Overlooking the Power of Meta Descriptions The Mistake Don’t underestimate the critical nature of meta descriptions. Not using them properly can affect your visibility and click-through rates. The Solution A meta description should be approximately 150 to 160 characters long, written in the active voice to emphasize unique selling points. WordPress Has some excellent SEO plugins for these descriptions. The same goes for Yoast SEO. Failing to Optimize for Mobile Users The Mistake Ignoring mobile optimization leads to lower rankings on mobile searches and higher bounce rates. The Solution A responsive design is the solution. These designs need to adapt to various devices and screen sizes. Neglecting Internal Links The Mistake User navigation can be affected when you overlook these links. Another consequence occurs with indexing by search engines. The Solution Conducting an audit will help you pinpoint pages that have outdated links or are missing internal links. It is advisable to create an internal linking strategy that emphasizes relevant content. It’s also an excellent strategy to optimize your menus and navigation bars to incorporate internal links Overusing Keywords (Keyword Stuffing) The Mistake Overusing keywords can do much more than lead to a poor user experience. Search engines impose penalties for keyword stuffing. The Solution Writing content that appeals to users is part of the solution. Use words naturally so there’s a sense of flow and readability. Keywords need to be placed in strategic locations like a meta description, headings and titles. Density matters, and you should aim for what’s organic, which is typically up to 2% of all of the content. Not Utilizing Google Search Console The Mistake Google Search Control can assist you in troubleshooting, maintaining, and monitoring your website’s presence in Google search results. If you’re not utilizing it, you’re missing out on valuable insights. The Solution Fixing this problem starts with going to Google Search Control and adding your website URL. You need to upload your site’s XML sitemap. Ignoring Local SEO The Mistake Ignoring local SEO is a big mistake if you’re looking to target local prospects. Not using the strategy will lower your rankings in local search results. The Solution Fixing this problem means creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing. It’s also essential to optimize your content and website with location-based keyword phrases and keywords. Remember to ask satisfied customers to leave reviews on your GMB page. Not Optimizing for Voice Search The Mistake Voice Search is an emerging trend that you should leverage. It has the potential to enhance your visibility. The Solution Finding conversational keywords that prospects might use when speaking is a solution. Usually, these are long-tail keywords. You’ll also need to ensure your website is mobile-friendly because most searches are done that way. Forgetting to Regularly Update Content The Mistake Your website’s authority and relevance will suffer if you don’t update content regularly. The Solution It’s easier to schedule updates when you use a content calendar regularly. You can also consider updating old posts with brand-new information or statistics. New formats are another way to increase your rankings. Think podcasts, infographics, and videos. Overlooking User Experience (UX) The Mistake Lower engagement numbers and higher bounce rates result when ignoring user experience (UX). The Solution Make sure that your website performs well on mobile devices and is responsive. Optimize images and reduce unnecessary scripts. Streamline your navigation with user-friendly categories and menus and a logical site hierarchy. Don’t forget to use bullet points and headers to make content easy to read. Poor Site Speed and Performance The Mistake Poor performance and slow speed can hinder user experience and your SEO rankings at the same time. The Solution Consider using a faster hosting provider as a potential solution. Additionally, you can decrease HTTP requests by minimizing redirects and taking advantage of browser caching. Start by using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify any performance issues. Failing to Utilize Social Media Signals The Mistake Your brand’s visibility can be limited if you ignore your social media presence and don’t maintain it properly. The Solution Sharing infographics, articles, blog posts, and videos will help engage with your target market. Remember to run contests and respond to any comments made on these channels. Not Using Analytics to Drive SEO Strategy The Mistake Optimizing your SEO strategies begins when you utilize the information you get from analytics. Ignoring this critical part of the puzzle deprives you of the tweaks necessary for any campaign. The Solution You can track user behavior and website traffic using Google Analytics. This tool helps you identify trending topics and high-performing keywords. The information you’ll get through analytics will help you align your strategies with your target market preferences. Inadequate Backlink Strategies The Mistake Your website authority will suffer, and your SEO performance drop if you don’t use quality backlinks. The Solution Ensure you reach out to relevant locations for these. Guest posting to relevant and reputable websites is a great way to get links back to your website. Overlooking the Importance of Meta Tags and Title Tags The Mistake Pay attention to title tags and the meta version. Your search visibility and click-through rates will be hampered if you don’t. The Solution One solution is descriptive, compelling titles of less than 70 characters containing your keywords. Encourage links with a meta description that is less than 160 characters. Not Addressing Broken Links The Mistake Maintaining vigilance over these links is essential, as they can adversely affect your SEO. Failing to monitor them can result in lost rankings and decreased sales. The Solution You’ll need to check for these periodically, and you can use tools like Screaming Frog. SEO Best Practices For those looking to deepen their SEO knowledge, exploring SEO courses can be incredibly beneficial. Additionally, learning how to improve writing and SEO can greatly enhance content quality and search engine rankings. Here are five strategies to help you build a successful SEO strategy and avoid mistakes. Optimizing your site’s speed means minimizing HTTP requests and compressing images. Active profiles on social media mean engagement. Respond to comments and integrate social sharing buttons. Utilize Google Analytics to make informed decisions by tracking popular content and website traffic, which encompasses choosing relevant keywords. Look for reputable backlinks from quality websites through guest posting and quality content. Don’t forget to optimize title tags and their meta counterparts. Beyond these practices, creating a well-rounded SEO strategy and improving blog SEO are crucial steps. Remember, understanding mobile SEO facts is key in an increasingly mobile-first world. Best PracticeDescriptionTools/ResourcesKey Tips Keyword ResearchIdentify relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for.Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush.Focus on long-tail keywords for less competition. Quality ContentCreate valuable and informative content that meets user needs.Content management systems, Grammarly.Regularly update your website with fresh, relevant content. On-Page OptimizationOptimize individual web pages to rank higher.Yoast SEO, Moz SEO tools.Include keywords in titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Mobile OptimizationEnsure your website is mobile-friendly.Google's Mobile-Friendly Test, responsive web design.A mobile-responsive website is crucial for better ranking. Loading SpeedImprove website loading times for better user experience.Google PageSpeed Insights, website caching tools.Fast loading speeds are crucial for both ranking and user experience. Quality BacklinksBuild high-quality backlinks from reputable websites.Backlink analysis tools like Ahrefs, guest blogging.Focus on building organic backlinks over quantity. Local SEOOptimize for local searches, especially if you have a physical location.Google My Business, local directories.Ensure your business is listed on local directories and Google My Business. Image OptimizationOptimize images for faster loading and descriptive alt-text.Image compression tools, descriptive file names.Use relevant alt-text and compress images for faster loading. Regular Analytics ReviewRegularly check analytics to understand traffic and user behavior.Google Analytics, Google Search Console.Use insights to refine your SEO strategies over time. SSL CertificateSecure your website with HTTPS for safety and ranking.SSL certificates from hosting providers.Websites with HTTPS are favored by search engines. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MrxJTEfL_Og%3Fsi%3DMWLrnBvF1Wz4WaCL FAQs: Common SEO Mistakes Here are some answers to common questions asked about these mistakes. Should a small business pay a specialist to optimize a website for search engines? Hiring a professional will give you expert implementation of the most innovative SEO strategies. How often should an SEO strategy be reviewed? Regularly reviewing your strategy every 3 to 6 months will enable you to adjust to evolving user behaviors, algorithm updates, and market trends. What are the key factors search engines consider when ranking websites? The factors search engines evaluate include: Content quality and keywords. Backlinks and user experience, which include mobile-friendliness and website speed. Technicalities like sitemaps, schema markup, and proper website structure. Domain Authority, which judges the credibility and trustworthiness of the site. Engagement metrics, which include click-through rates. How costly can an SEO mistake be? An SEO mistake can lead to a significant drop in website traffic, visibility, and rankings. That can spell a decrease in organic search traffic and a loss of revenue. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Common SEO Mistakes You Don’t Want to Be Making" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Body Horror is one of those sub-genres that can be a bit tricky to define, though one that sometimes gets conflated with anything gory. There has to be a human body (preferably several) facing any number of forms of grotesque alteration or violation but, for my money, true body horror needs an extra layer: it has to mean something. There's no greater fear, perhaps, than the terror of our bodies breaking down and betraying us—and we're easily repulsed by the simple functions that go on within and without our own forms. Even if we've been lucky enough to have bodies that are relatively healthy and able, it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong—perhaps horribly wrong. Good body horror reminds us of our fears in that area: loss of physical control, the toll of disease, the ravages of aging, and it often adds some new ones that we maybe haven't thought of yet. It's not a genre for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but it's one that can have an awful lot to say, as is the case with writer/director Coralie Fargeat's The Substance, starring Demi Moore, which points a very sharp stick at our fears of aging and, even more, our fears of watching other people (particularly women) age. The Substance (2024) Demi Moore's comeback has made such a cultural splash that it might just pave the way for horror—and body horror, no less—to make it big at the Oscars. The movie earned five nominations, including for Best Picture. Demi (I can call her Demi, right?) plays a celebrity aging out of the A-list who learns of a black market drug that creates a younger version of herself. Of course, there are increasingly gruesome side effects. It's as good and queasy a satire of our terrible misogynistic beauty standards as you're likely to find. You can rent The Substance from Prime Video. The Substance (2024) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Fly (1986) Sometimes body horror is about how skewed out we are by our own bodies, a perfectly valid and potent topic. But, at other times, there's more going on. No one has ever done body horror like David Cronenberg, and The Fly came along at a very specific moment in history: In 1986, the AIDS crisis was at its height, and thousands were fighting and succumbing to a still mysterious disease that had seemingly come out of nowhere just a few years before. Jeff Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, a scientist working on molecular teleportation who makes one small and largely innocent mistake only to find his body betraying him in increasingly grotesque ways. Though it probably wasn't intended as a straight metaphor, the timing and the applicability to the era give the movie an added power. You can rent The Fly from Prime Video. The Fly (1986) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Thing (1982) Perhaps John Carpenter's greatest film, but certainly his goopiest, The Thing adapts the classic John W. Campbell novella Who Goes There?, which was itself adapted as The Thing from Another World, one of the best sci-fi/horror films of the 1950s. This '80s version is nearly two hours of concentrated paranoia and isolation, as a malicious alien lifeform stalks an arctic research base, sowing mutual mistrust by taking on the physical forms of the various researchers. While the earlier take hinted at Communist infiltration, Carpenter's bleak (but thrilling) film argues that our biggest threat will always be our fear of each other. Effects creator Rick Bottin's gloriously gory creature effects, capturing our alien intruder in various phases of shifting into human (and animal) forms, are an absolute highlight—for viewers with strong stomachs. You can rent The Thing on Prime Video. The Thing (1982) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Titane (2021) Just another film about a gender-fluid erotic dancer (Alexia/Adrien, played by Agathe Rousselle) who fucks a car, gets pregnant as a result, and is then taken in by a man (Vincent Lindon) who believes he's found his long lost son. Oh, and our lead character is also a serial killer. There's a lot going on in writer/director Julia Ducournau's wildly unconventional love story, but what stands out is the ways in which Alexia/Adrien's gender nonconformity is not treated as a subject of horror, but, ultimately, her greatest asset and a focus of affection. You can stream Titane on Tubi. Titane (2021) Learn More Learn More Hellraiser (1987) Let's say that you gave up your body to these sexy kinky hell priests and, while it was fun for a while, you find yourself wondering: What's next? Frank (Sean Chapman) wants his girlfriend (Clare Higgins, deliciously nasty) to bring him fresh supplies of flesh and blood so that he can gradually rebuild his human body. There's a lot here about links between pleasure and pain in an S&M kinda way, but it's also a movie that absolutely revels in the gloopy viscera of human bodies stripped of skin. You can stream Hellraiser on Tubi, Prime Video, Pluto TV, AMC+, and Shudder. Hellraiser (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cabin Fever (2002) Eli Roth (Hostel, Thanksgiving) kickstarted his directing career with this cabin-in-the-woods-style horror movie, albeit one with a giant twist. A group of college friends head out into the woods for October break when they encounter, and refuse to help, your typical weird old hermit (a slasher movie staple)—except that Henry's not trying to warn them about a human killer, but a deadly flesh-eating virus. Using slasher tropes, Roth and company tell a story about a rather gory infection that, inevitably, turns friend against friend as they each try to avoid contagion. You can rent Cabin Fever from Prime Video. Cabin Fever (2002) Learn More Learn More Thanatomorphose (2012) Laura (Kayden Rose) is a depressed and introverted young woman with an abusive boyfriend...but wait, it gets worse. She wakes up in the middle of the night to find a strange spot on her groin. And then one of her fingernails falls off. Laura begins literally decomposing, following the various stages of decay of a human body while very much alive and conscious. It's extremely visceral, but the movie has bigger ambitions than just grossing us out; Rose's impressive lead performance makes clear that we're watching a movie about psychological trauma via an extremely grisly body horror metaphor. You can stream Thanatomorphose on Tubi. Thanatomorphose (2012) at Tubi Learn More Learn More at Tubi Raw (2016) A vegetarian veterinary student develops a taste for meat. A lot of meat. All the time. Much of it human. Human cannibalism is disturbing, but hardly unheard of. Raw takes it several graphic steps further, leaving even the most jaded audiences feeling queasy, though it's also a coming-of-age story. Its director, Julia Ducournau, went on to win the Palm D’Or at Cannes for the previously discussed Titane, having already established herself as a purveyor of fucked-up modern classics. You can rent Raw from Apple TV. Raw (2016) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV Swallowed (2022) Ben (Cooper Koch) just wants to pop off to Los Angeles for an exciting new life as a gay porn star—but, first, his friend Dom (who has a secret crush) has a great idea: They'll make a quick drug run across the Canadian border for some seed money, if you will. Actually, and unsurprisingly, it's a very bad idea, as the two are forced to swallow condoms full of a mysterious...something. Some of the condoms are broken during a confrontation with a bigot in a bathroom truck stop, and things go from bad to worse when they finally meet the drug boss (Mark Patton) who's simultaneously ruthless, and also extremely hot for Ben. Oh, and did I mention that the condoms are filled with the larvae of a bug that bites to get you high and/or erect? Classify this one as Boner Body Horror. You can stream Swallowed on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Swallowed (2022) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mad Love (1935) Just a boy-meets-girl story with an A-list star from Hollywood's golden age! Except that the boy is a surgeon played by Peter Lorre, and the girl is a married actress with whom he’s obsessed. When her pianist husband’s hands are mutilated in a train accident, Lorre’s character gives him the hands of a murderer, and then proceeds to attempt to drive him mad by pretending to be the beheaded former owner of said hands. It’s gloriously demented, with bits of beautiful expressionist cinematography. For the characters of Mad Love, hands are central to every endeavor: They can make music, practice science, conduct surgery—at least when whole. When these tools are damaged, the film suggests, we are at the mercy of fate (and also of Peter Lorre). You can rent Mad Love from Prime Video. Mad Love (1935) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Eraserhead (1977) It’s the David Lynch-iest of all David Lynch films, and an early arthouse masterpiece, so it probably goes without saying that trying to sum up the plot is an exercise in futility. It’s something like: Man reconnects with an old fling just in time for her to give birth to their child, a lizard creature, while woman who lives in a radiator looks on. What stands out here is an equal fascination and horror with the reproductive impulse and act—not only birth itself, but the entire weird and disturbing process by which we propagate ourselves. You can stream Eraserhead on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Eraserhead (1977) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max From Beyond (1986)Director Stuart Gordon re-teamed with Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton from Re-Animator for a further H.P. Lovecraft adaptation that does the earlier film one better, at least in terms of horrific effects. Combs plays Dr. Crawford Tillinghast, assistant to Ted Sorel's Dr. Pretorius, both working on a machine that can make visible a world that exists just outside of our perception. It turns out that what exists just beyond the veil isn't particularly friendly, though Pretorius discovers that, by surrendering his body, he can expand his consciousness or, at least, the parts of his consciousness that are both insane and evil. Returning from the void with only a suggestion of a body, the doctor is an increasingly repulsive and generally amorphous blob, at odds with science fiction ideas about mentally evolved humans as somehow more beautiful—or at least not murderous and dripping with ooze. You can stream From Beyond on MGM+ and Pluto TV. From Beyond (1986) at Pluto TV Learn More Learn More at Pluto TV Possessor (2020) In the near future, a corporation offers assassinations to wealthy clients, by proxy: They'll kidnap and drug a friend of family member of the target and put the body in the control of a killer with 48 hours to get the job done. Andrea Riseborough plays Tasya Vos, a top assassin who is, nonetheless, starting to lose track of her own identity. Director Brandon Cronenberg (son of David and very much a chip off the ol' block) has created here a bloody, exceedingly gory science fiction story following characters with tenuous connections to their own bodies, and even more tenuous connections to other people's bodies. You can stream Possessor on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Possessor (2020) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article

President orders cabinet to give domestic producers preferential treatment as payback for sanctionsView the full article

Prime minister opts out of G7 call as dream of mediating between US and Europe fadesView the full article

The one-bedroom cottage with a woodsy vibe reminded Heather McAlpine of the home she lost to the brutal Los Angeles-area wildfires. But only two hours after seeing the listing, the rental was snapped up. She is one of tens of thousands of people displaced by the fires who is now competing for housing in a region that is among the most expensive and competitive in the country, partly due to lack of supply. McAlpine, had lived in her Altadena house for four years and is now staying with her boyfriend. She isn’t surprised by spiking rents. “I know they’re expensive, and it sucks,” she said. Tenants who were just getting by before the fires now face a daunting housing search after the January fires leveled entire neighborhoods. The L.A. fires destroyed more than 16,000 homes, businesses and other structures in upscale Pacific Palisades and working-class Altadena, where the U.S. Census reports 22% of homes were occupied by renters. It’s hard to quantify exactly how the wildfires are affecting the rental market, but L.A. rents rose faster than prices nationwide in January compared to the previous month, according to housing platform Zillow. The added competition from residents displaced by the fires is likely to worsen housing affordability, increase overcrowding and contribute to homelessness, says Sarah Karlinsky, research director at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley. Already, more than half of all renter households—or a little over one million households—in L.A. County spend 30% or more of their income on rent. Shane Phillips, housing initiative project manager at the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, expects prices to increase significantly for months, if not a few years. “There’s only so many people moving at any given time, and suddenly adding another 20,000 households to that amount is just an extraordinary pressure,” he said. Rental pageviews in L.A. County on the real estate platform Redfin are up 50% from a year ago, said Daryl Fairweather, the company’s chief economist. She said people will feel the impact of “shorter supply, more fierce competition for rentals.” Egregious rents cropped up soon after the fires broke out, prompting an ad-hoc group of tenant organizers, web programmers and others to crowdsource examples. The Rent Brigade found more than 1,300 examples of illegal rent increases advertised between January 7 and January 18. Many have since been removed or relisted at lower prices. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has warned repeatedly of the state’s anti-gouging laws, which limits price increases to no more than 10% from whatever the price was before the emergency. His office has so far filed three misdemeanor criminal price-gouging charges. A 10% cap is still too high for Wendy Dlakic. She was paying about $3,000 a month for a now uninhabitable two-bedroom condo in Altadena, a community she loved. She’s searched rental websites, but for now is staying with friends, family and at Airbnbs. “It was already expensive,” said Dlakic, an educator who moved to Southern California two years ago. “It’s tough to be in L.A. on one income. You’re right on the edge, you know?” The “typical rent” in the U.S. was $1,968 as of January 31—up 0.2% from the previous month, according to Zillow. But in the L.A. metro area, the typical rent was up 0.8% to $2,954. Zillow calculates the typical rent figure by averaging the middle 30% of rents. Daniel Yukelson, executive director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, says fears of rent-gouging have been overblown by tenant advocates and he’s angry that Bonta has filed criminal charges. “Some mistakes were unknowingly made,” he said. “If these infractions were pointed out to these few owners, corrections would have surely been made immediately.” McAlpine, the displaced tenant, realized the Eaton Fire was coming for her in-law unit while she was helping to evacuate neighbors as a Altadena Mountain Rescue Team volunteer. She scooped up her cat, ski gear and camera equipment and fled the 300-square-foot (28-square-meter) cottage. She’s grateful for donations through GoFundMe, which will help with essentials, but is worried about finding a standalone unit close to nature and within her monthly budget of $1,800 for rent and utilities. The cottage that McAlpine, a photographer, and her boyfriend wanted was listed for $2,750 a month. Even though they have a bigger budget together, the hunt has been dispiriting. “I’m quickly looking for the photos. ‘Oh, does this look sketchy or not?’ Or, ‘you know, is this the right price?'” she said. “It’s just very different from how I would normally look for a place to live.” —Janie Har and Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press View the full article

Losing your job can be overwhelming, but taking immediate control of your finances is crucial for maintaining stability during your job search. I've written before about the steps you need to take immediately after losing your job. One of those is to assess your budget—but what does that look like, exactly? If you've never used a formal budget before, now is the time to start. But if you already have a budget, how should you adapt it to your current situation? Here's how to evaluate your budget and make strategic cuts that will help extend your financial runway. First off, calculate your new monthly cash flowBefore making any cuts, assess your current financial situation. Here's what that looks like in actionable steps: List all sources of emergency income (unemployment benefits, severance pay, emergency savings). Calculate how many months of expenses you can cover with existing resources. Review your last three months of expenses to understand your spending patterns. Categorize expenses as essential (housing, utilities, food) vs. non-essential. Once you've listed out these numbers in a handy spreadsheet, you'll be able to map out by just how much you need to cut back your expenses. Find where to make strategic cutsThe average monthly expenses for American households total $6,440, according to the 2023 Consumer Expenditures Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and released in September 2024 (the latest data available). Using this number, and taking a look at my own bank statement, let's take a look at some sample categories where you could cut those costs immediately. Subscription services ($50-200+ monthly savings)Review all recurring charges and cancel non-essential subscriptions. This includes: Streaming services (keep one, cancel the rest) Gym memberships (switch to home workouts) Any sort of premium app features Entertainment and dining ($200-500+ monthly savings)Some ideas to adjust your social and entertainment budget: Replace restaurant meals with home cooking. Host potluck gatherings instead of going out. Use free entertainment options (libraries, parks, community events). Look for happy hour specials and restaurant deals when you do go out. Transportation ($100-300+ monthly savings)Optimize your transportation costs: Reduce non-essential driving to save on gas. Consider temporarily suspending extra car insurance coverage. Use public transportation when possible. Combine errands to minimize trips. Phone and internet ($50-150+ monthly savings)Negotiate or downgrade services: Switch to a cheaper phone plan. Remove unnecessary add-ons. Consider a prepaid plan. Downgrade internet speed if possible. Call providers to request temporary hardship rates. Bill negotiation can work because companies have incentives to keep customers happy and retain business. It costs more for them to acquire new customers than to keep existing ones. As long as you make reasonable requests and politely threaten to take your business elsewhere, many service providers will offer discounts or perks. Utilities ($50-200+ monthly savings)Minimize utility costs: Adjust thermostat settings. Use energy-efficient lighting. Fix any leaks. Line-dry clothes when possible. Shopping and personal care ($100-400+ monthly savings)One place to start with your specific spending goals is to physically write down the things you want to buy before you buy them. Another tip is before making a purchase, especially online, add items to your cart and wait at least 24 hours before completing the transaction. This cooling-off period allows you to reassess whether you truly need or want the item. Here are more of my tips to becoming a more conscientious spender, so that you can cut back on spending that isn’t adding true value to your life. Insurance and financial services ($50-200+ monthly savings)After losing your job, you'll need to review and optimize coverage: Shop around for better insurance rates. Increase deductibles temporarily. Pause credit card reward programs that cost annual fees. Review and cancel unnecessary warranty services. Consolidate accounts to avoid multiple maintenance fees. Looking forwardWhile you're focusing on reducing expenses, remember that this is a temporary situation. Maintain a balance between aggressive cost-cutting and maintaining your well-being. I recommend starting with the easiest cuts first to build momentum. From there, start to track every dollar to identify additional savings opportunities. Be realistic about what cuts you can sustain long-term, and keep some small treats to maintain morale during your job search. As you implement these budget cuts, you'll be working on an active job search strategy to minimize the time you'll need to operate on such a minimal budget. Your next steps should include: Implementing these budget cuts gradually, but systematically Creating a weekly budget review routine Setting up job search alerts and networking activities Tracking your progress in both areas Remember, the goal is to stretch the funds you have now until you can secure a new gig. Be sure to read up on your rights, apply for unemployment benefits if you qualify, and check out your health insurance options. All of this can be done within the first few days of losing your job and it will make you feel better just to get started. And for an even more stringent approach, check out our guide to a minimally viable budget. View the full article

Deal would require debt-laden utility’s bondholders to take significant writedownsView the full article

Buying an existing business can be a quick and effective way to enter a new business venture. However, this means taking on the operations, processes, and finances that another small business owner has established. Due diligence is essential for protecting your investment. If you ask the seller the right questions, you can easily establish a quality start to your business ownership journey. You can learn more about buying an existing business by downloading a free copy of the BizBuySell Guide to Buying a Small Business. Use the BizBuySell Find a Business feature to find small businesses you might want to buy. For info on how to sell your company, see the BizBuySell Guide to Selling Your Small Business. Questions to Ask Business Owners When Buying an Existing Business Opportunity See these 50 questions to ask when looking for a small business for sale. Ask these questions of the seller, broker or lender before taking the plunge and moving ahead with the sale. Preliminary Questions for the Seller or Broker Researching an existing business should start with questions prior to an actual sale agreement. Business owners should generally be willing to discuss the following with you as they prepare to sell. Why Do You Want To Sell? Often, business owners simply want to sell to retire or focus on other ventures. However, some may not be willing to put in the time commitment or monetary investment to grow. Knowing these factors can help you determine if the business is a good fit for your lifestyle. What’s Your Asking Price — and Why? The asking price is an essential piece of information, both because you need to know if you can afford it and if the company is a good value. Even if the price of company fits within your budget, question the seller to find out why they feel the business is worth that number. How Negotiable is the Final Purchase Price? Some small business owners may set a price that’s firm. Others may be willing to negotiate. If a company is just outside your budget, flexibility from the seller can keep them on your radar. Would You Be Open to Seller Financing? This happens when the buyer essentially borrows some of the money to purchase the small business directly from the seller. This can be a good option for buyers who don’t qualify for bank loans. Ask the Seller About the Revenue Stream Finances are an essential element of buying a business. These questions can give you a full picture of this part of the company. What are your Total Revenues Annually? Total revenues should include all earnings from the past several years. These should be easy enough to obtain from recent tax returns or financial statements. How Much is Your Operating Cash Flow? Operating capital helps businesses cover expenses while bringing in more money from sales. Some wiggle room in this area can help you operate with more freedom. Can You Share any Annual Cash Flow Statements? It’s one thing to get answers from sellers. However, seeing income statements and cash flow for yourself may give you a full picture of the company’s finances. What are Your Total Annual Sales? This often goes hand in hand with the revenue question. But sales only account for the proceeds a company brings in from selling products or services to consumers, while revenue includes everything before expenses. Ask About Potential Red Flag Issues Certain questions may cause sellers to act suspiciously. If you notice an unwillingness to accommodate the following requests, it may signal that they’re hiding something. Can I See Your Financial Statements and Balance Sheets? A truthful seller should be happy to back up their financial claims with documentation. If they aren’t, things may not be as they seem. May I Speak with Some of Your Employees? If a business owner wants to portray their company as something it’s not, they may not want you talking with anyone who could dispute their claims. Team members are often uniquely familiar with a company’s daily operations. So information from them could give you a more full and truthful picture. Do You Have Any Customers or Clients I Could Interview? Similarly, speaking with members of the customer base could give you an idea of how the company operates. If the seller is unwilling to connect you with customers, they may be trying to hide certain elements. What Can You Tell Me about the Business’s Annual Tax Returns? Tax returns can tell you about a company’s finances and compliance. Some owners may not claim all income. And others may try to portray their finances differently when selling. If a seller is open about these documents, that generally means fewer financial risks for you. Ask About Assets and Capital When you buy a business, you also buy their assets. This may include a location, equipment, and money. Ask these questions to get an idea. How Much Working Capital Does the Business Have? This is the amount that is currently available to cover operating expenses. A nice cushion may help you stay afloat during hard times and grow during good times. What Real Estate, if Any, is Included with the Business? If the business operates from a physical location, it’s essential to gather specific information. Inquire about the property, its valuation, and any associated maintenance or other related expenses. What Equipment, If Any, is Included with the Business? Many also include equipment. For example, an office may own printers, servers, and phone systems. You need to know what comes with the business and what ongoing costs are associated with it. What Vehicles Does the Business Own to Help with Operations? Vehicles may also come with a business purchase. For example, a home service business likely owns trucks to bring techs to and from jobs. What Furniture or Fixtures, if Any, Are Being Sold with the Business? Furniture like desks, chairs, and reception areas may also be included. Be specific about what comes with your purchase, or you may need to make additional purchases. What Inventory for Resale, if Any, is Being Sold with the Business? Product based businesses may have a stock of inventory. Find out if this is being sold with the business or if you must purchase more stock separately. Question Seller about Their Position in their Industry Being established in an industry is a major factor for many who are interested in buying an existing business. Ask these questions to get a feel for how the company may already be established in the minds of customers. What Brand Recognition Does Your Business Have in the Marketplace? Brand recognition refers to the extent to which your target market is familiar with your name. If the current owner has made investments in marketing, it may require less effort on your part to promote your business. What Market Share Does Your Business Have in the Industry? Market share is a bit more specific. Find out how well your business performs in terms of sales and performance compared to competitors. Who Are Your Biggest Competitors? Check out your potential competition. Understanding the major players in your market can help you address them. This can also give you a picture of the industry as a whole. What Makes Your Brand Stand Out? A brand’s positioning can go a long way. Find out the competitive advantage a company has when marketing. Check Out These Important Questions for your Lender Financing can be a major benefit when purchasing an existing business. Ask these questions to get the best option. Do I Qualify for a U.S. Small Business Administration Backed Loan? SBA loans provide better rates and opportunities than many small businesses can get from large lenders. Your bank can help you determine if you qualify. What Rate Do I Qualify For? Whatever type of loan you decide to go with, your interest rate will make a major impact on your payment. Compare to find the lowest. How Much Do I Need Up Front? You may need to bring some upfront money to qualify for financing. Make sure this amount fits within your budget. What Are My Alternative Funding Options? Banks aren’t the only options. You may consider online lenders or seller financing to fill in the gaps. Ask These Questions About the Management Team The people who manage a business can make a major impact on its success. These questions can give you a feel for the team and culture. What Is Your Management Structure? Is the company split into departments? Is there a set hierarchy in place? Get to know these systems before purchasing. Will the Management Team Stay in Place? Some teams stay when a business is sold. Others may not. If this is an important element of your business purchase, find out the team’s plans. How Involved Are You in Managing the Business? The current owner might play a significant role in the management team, which could affect your own management style. Alternatively, if you intend to adopt a more relaxed approach, it may necessitate bringing in a new leader. How Does Your Team Handle Management Challenges? They are part of every business. If the team stays, find out how they normally handle issues. What Changes Would You Make to the Management Structure? This question may simply help you get to know the current situation. Perhaps the owner would rely more on their managers and be less involved. Or they might change how departments are structured. Ask These Questions about the Company’s Biggest Challenges You can’t anticipate every challenge as a new business owner. But understanding what they’ve dealt with in the past may help you greatly. What Has Been Your Biggest Challenge in the Past Year? Specifically, ask about recent adversities. Find out how they overcame this or if they expect it to continue. What Does Your Team Do When Facing a Challenge? If the team responds promptly, these situations can become less problematic. Are there established systems for handling issues such as customer service? What Challenges Are You Currently Facing? These may impact the early days of your new business. So find out beforehand to start off strong. What Challenges Have You Identified Moving Forward? If the current owner knows the industry, they may be aware of trends or issues that could impact the business’s future. Ask About Day to Day Operations in Detail Operations include the tasks you and your team handle each day. Get a feel for what you’ll be working on with these questions. What Does a Typical Day Look Like for You? Since you will be the new owner, it’s important to understand the current owner’s daily activities. While you might decide to make changes, some aspects may remain the same. What Does a Typical Day Look Like for Employees? Employees should also have a daily routine. Find out the things they work on regularly. What Are Some Essential Tasks That Must Be Completed Regularly? These encompass the key functions of your business. The response should assist you in organizing your plans more effectively. What Systems Do You Have in Place? Systems help you complete tasks more quickly. These may include tech tools or simple processes that employees work on. Ask These Questions About the Business’s History A strong history can be one of the major benefits of buying an existing business. Ask these questions to get a feel. How Long Have You Been in Business? A company with a long history may have strong community connections. One with a shorter lifespan may be more open to change. How Long Have You Owned the Business? Some owners may have been involved since the beginning. But others could have come in more recently. The answer may help you understand their exit strategy better. What Has the Company’s Growth Been Like? Has the company grown steadily, or has it been up and down? This may help you learn what to expect. What Has Been the Biggest Factor in Your Success? Learning about the company’s wins can help you focus on the most essential elements once you take over. Ask These Questions as Part of Your Due Diligence Due diligence is the period you get to research the business fully before buying. May I Review Your Vendor Information? If the business acquires supplies or inventory from a vendor, it’s important to understand these relationships, as they can affect your expenses and operations. What Are the Company’s Current Contracts? The business may have contracts with vendors, contracts, and partners. Learn about these and if they transfer. Is the Business Involved in Any Ongoing Legal Conflicts? Lawsuits or legal issues may complicate your ability to buy the business. Make sure the brand is clear before buying. Ask These Other Miscellaneous Questions These questions to ask when buying a business can fill in the gaps not covered above. What Marketing Strategies Do You Use? Find out what type of marketing the business has used. Which strategies have been successful, and which have not? Do You Rely Heavily on a Few Major Clients? Some businesses rely on contracts with a small number of large clients, which can create challenges if one of them decides to leave. Determine what percentage of revenue is derived from these few sources. Do You Belong to Any Industry Organizations? Industry organizations and local chambers of commerce provide helpful resources. If the business already has these connections, it may help you as you get started. Does the Company Have Any Debts? Buyers should ideally find out about debt while reviewing finances. But it’s worth asking about specifically since this can have a big impact on your bottom line. Take a look at all fifty questions to ask for your next business purchase. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Questions to Ask When Buying a Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Buying an existing business can be a quick and effective way to enter a new business venture. However, this means taking on the operations, processes, and finances that another small business owner has established. Due diligence is essential for protecting your investment. If you ask the seller the right questions, you can easily establish a quality start to your business ownership journey. You can learn more about buying an existing business by downloading a free copy of the BizBuySell Guide to Buying a Small Business. Use the BizBuySell Find a Business feature to find small businesses you might want to buy. For info on how to sell your company, see the BizBuySell Guide to Selling Your Small Business. Questions to Ask Business Owners When Buying an Existing Business Opportunity See these 50 questions to ask when looking for a small business for sale. Ask these questions of the seller, broker or lender before taking the plunge and moving ahead with the sale. Preliminary Questions for the Seller or Broker Researching an existing business should start with questions prior to an actual sale agreement. Business owners should generally be willing to discuss the following with you as they prepare to sell. Why Do You Want To Sell? Often, business owners simply want to sell to retire or focus on other ventures. However, some may not be willing to put in the time commitment or monetary investment to grow. Knowing these factors can help you determine if the business is a good fit for your lifestyle. What’s Your Asking Price — and Why? The asking price is an essential piece of information, both because you need to know if you can afford it and if the company is a good value. Even if the price of company fits within your budget, question the seller to find out why they feel the business is worth that number. How Negotiable is the Final Purchase Price? Some small business owners may set a price that’s firm. Others may be willing to negotiate. If a company is just outside your budget, flexibility from the seller can keep them on your radar. Would You Be Open to Seller Financing? This happens when the buyer essentially borrows some of the money to purchase the small business directly from the seller. This can be a good option for buyers who don’t qualify for bank loans. Ask the Seller About the Revenue Stream Finances are an essential element of buying a business. These questions can give you a full picture of this part of the company. What are your Total Revenues Annually? Total revenues should include all earnings from the past several years. These should be easy enough to obtain from recent tax returns or financial statements. How Much is Your Operating Cash Flow? Operating capital helps businesses cover expenses while bringing in more money from sales. Some wiggle room in this area can help you operate with more freedom. Can You Share any Annual Cash Flow Statements? It’s one thing to get answers from sellers. However, seeing income statements and cash flow for yourself may give you a full picture of the company’s finances. What are Your Total Annual Sales? This often goes hand in hand with the revenue question. But sales only account for the proceeds a company brings in from selling products or services to consumers, while revenue includes everything before expenses. Ask About Potential Red Flag Issues Certain questions may cause sellers to act suspiciously. If you notice an unwillingness to accommodate the following requests, it may signal that they’re hiding something. Can I See Your Financial Statements and Balance Sheets? A truthful seller should be happy to back up their financial claims with documentation. If they aren’t, things may not be as they seem. May I Speak with Some of Your Employees? If a business owner wants to portray their company as something it’s not, they may not want you talking with anyone who could dispute their claims. Team members are often uniquely familiar with a company’s daily operations. So information from them could give you a more full and truthful picture. Do You Have Any Customers or Clients I Could Interview? Similarly, speaking with members of the customer base could give you an idea of how the company operates. If the seller is unwilling to connect you with customers, they may be trying to hide certain elements. What Can You Tell Me about the Business’s Annual Tax Returns? Tax returns can tell you about a company’s finances and compliance. Some owners may not claim all income. And others may try to portray their finances differently when selling. If a seller is open about these documents, that generally means fewer financial risks for you. Ask About Assets and Capital When you buy a business, you also buy their assets. This may include a location, equipment, and money. Ask these questions to get an idea. How Much Working Capital Does the Business Have? This is the amount that is currently available to cover operating expenses. A nice cushion may help you stay afloat during hard times and grow during good times. What Real Estate, if Any, is Included with the Business? If the business operates from a physical location, it’s essential to gather specific information. Inquire about the property, its valuation, and any associated maintenance or other related expenses. What Equipment, If Any, is Included with the Business? Many also include equipment. For example, an office may own printers, servers, and phone systems. You need to know what comes with the business and what ongoing costs are associated with it. What Vehicles Does the Business Own to Help with Operations? Vehicles may also come with a business purchase. For example, a home service business likely owns trucks to bring techs to and from jobs. What Furniture or Fixtures, if Any, Are Being Sold with the Business? Furniture like desks, chairs, and reception areas may also be included. Be specific about what comes with your purchase, or you may need to make additional purchases. What Inventory for Resale, if Any, is Being Sold with the Business? Product based businesses may have a stock of inventory. Find out if this is being sold with the business or if you must purchase more stock separately. Question Seller about Their Position in their Industry Being established in an industry is a major factor for many who are interested in buying an existing business. Ask these questions to get a feel for how the company may already be established in the minds of customers. What Brand Recognition Does Your Business Have in the Marketplace? Brand recognition refers to the extent to which your target market is familiar with your name. If the current owner has made investments in marketing, it may require less effort on your part to promote your business. What Market Share Does Your Business Have in the Industry? Market share is a bit more specific. Find out how well your business performs in terms of sales and performance compared to competitors. Who Are Your Biggest Competitors? Check out your potential competition. Understanding the major players in your market can help you address them. This can also give you a picture of the industry as a whole. What Makes Your Brand Stand Out? A brand’s positioning can go a long way. Find out the competitive advantage a company has when marketing. Check Out These Important Questions for your Lender Financing can be a major benefit when purchasing an existing business. Ask these questions to get the best option. Do I Qualify for a U.S. Small Business Administration Backed Loan? SBA loans provide better rates and opportunities than many small businesses can get from large lenders. Your bank can help you determine if you qualify. What Rate Do I Qualify For? Whatever type of loan you decide to go with, your interest rate will make a major impact on your payment. Compare to find the lowest. How Much Do I Need Up Front? You may need to bring some upfront money to qualify for financing. Make sure this amount fits within your budget. What Are My Alternative Funding Options? Banks aren’t the only options. You may consider online lenders or seller financing to fill in the gaps. Ask These Questions About the Management Team The people who manage a business can make a major impact on its success. These questions can give you a feel for the team and culture. What Is Your Management Structure? Is the company split into departments? Is there a set hierarchy in place? Get to know these systems before purchasing. Will the Management Team Stay in Place? Some teams stay when a business is sold. Others may not. If this is an important element of your business purchase, find out the team’s plans. How Involved Are You in Managing the Business? The current owner might play a significant role in the management team, which could affect your own management style. Alternatively, if you intend to adopt a more relaxed approach, it may necessitate bringing in a new leader. How Does Your Team Handle Management Challenges? They are part of every business. If the team stays, find out how they normally handle issues. What Changes Would You Make to the Management Structure? This question may simply help you get to know the current situation. Perhaps the owner would rely more on their managers and be less involved. Or they might change how departments are structured. Ask These Questions about the Company’s Biggest Challenges You can’t anticipate every challenge as a new business owner. But understanding what they’ve dealt with in the past may help you greatly. What Has Been Your Biggest Challenge in the Past Year? Specifically, ask about recent adversities. Find out how they overcame this or if they expect it to continue. What Does Your Team Do When Facing a Challenge? If the team responds promptly, these situations can become less problematic. Are there established systems for handling issues such as customer service? What Challenges Are You Currently Facing? These may impact the early days of your new business. So find out beforehand to start off strong. What Challenges Have You Identified Moving Forward? If the current owner knows the industry, they may be aware of trends or issues that could impact the business’s future. Ask About Day to Day Operations in Detail Operations include the tasks you and your team handle each day. Get a feel for what you’ll be working on with these questions. What Does a Typical Day Look Like for You? Since you will be the new owner, it’s important to understand the current owner’s daily activities. While you might decide to make changes, some aspects may remain the same. What Does a Typical Day Look Like for Employees? Employees should also have a daily routine. Find out the things they work on regularly. What Are Some Essential Tasks That Must Be Completed Regularly? These encompass the key functions of your business. The response should assist you in organizing your plans more effectively. What Systems Do You Have in Place? Systems help you complete tasks more quickly. These may include tech tools or simple processes that employees work on. Ask These Questions About the Business’s History A strong history can be one of the major benefits of buying an existing business. Ask these questions to get a feel. How Long Have You Been in Business? A company with a long history may have strong community connections. One with a shorter lifespan may be more open to change. How Long Have You Owned the Business? Some owners may have been involved since the beginning. But others could have come in more recently. The answer may help you understand their exit strategy better. What Has the Company’s Growth Been Like? Has the company grown steadily, or has it been up and down? This may help you learn what to expect. What Has Been the Biggest Factor in Your Success? Learning about the company’s wins can help you focus on the most essential elements once you take over. Ask These Questions as Part of Your Due Diligence Due diligence is the period you get to research the business fully before buying. May I Review Your Vendor Information? If the business acquires supplies or inventory from a vendor, it’s important to understand these relationships, as they can affect your expenses and operations. What Are the Company’s Current Contracts? The business may have contracts with vendors, contracts, and partners. Learn about these and if they transfer. Is the Business Involved in Any Ongoing Legal Conflicts? Lawsuits or legal issues may complicate your ability to buy the business. Make sure the brand is clear before buying. Ask These Other Miscellaneous Questions These questions to ask when buying a business can fill in the gaps not covered above. What Marketing Strategies Do You Use? Find out what type of marketing the business has used. Which strategies have been successful, and which have not? Do You Rely Heavily on a Few Major Clients? Some businesses rely on contracts with a small number of large clients, which can create challenges if one of them decides to leave. Determine what percentage of revenue is derived from these few sources. Do You Belong to Any Industry Organizations? Industry organizations and local chambers of commerce provide helpful resources. If the business already has these connections, it may help you as you get started. Does the Company Have Any Debts? Buyers should ideally find out about debt while reviewing finances. But it’s worth asking about specifically since this can have a big impact on your bottom line. Take a look at all fifty questions to ask for your next business purchase. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Questions to Ask When Buying a Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The winter sky has some brightly lit star patterns visible this month, including a triangle featuring Mars at one of its points, making it worthwhile to brave the winter temperatures for stargazing. These shapes aren't constellations, but asterisms: groups of stars that form recognizable patterns but that don't have official locations from the International Astronomical Union. The Big and Little Dippers are asterisms, for example, though their stars are part of the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The Winter Triangle, which is especially visible now, is made up of the stars Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse, which are found within the constellations Canis Major, Canis Minor, and Orion, respectively. And the asterism is part of an even larger asterism known as the the Winter Circle (or Winter Hexagon), which is also visible in the winter sky from December to mid-April. For the next few weeks (until about mid-March), there's another triangle lighting up the night. The "Mars Triangle" is an even less official shape—not technically an actual asterism—with the name merely a suggestion by Space.com. If you connect Mars with Pollux and Castor, both from the constellation Gemini, you get smaller isosceles triangle, with the Red Planet as the brightest of the three points. This triangle will slowly shift as Mars moves relative to the fixed stars until they are all in a straight line in early April. Unlike asterisms, the so-called Mars Triangle is temporary and in flux. Where (and when) to look for the Winter and Mars TrianglesThe Winter Triangle is visible in the Northern Hemisphere now through the rest of this month. Look high in the southeast sky, near Orion's belt, after sunset. Sirius, the brightest of the three stars, will appear first, followed by Procyon and Betelgeuse. The triangle is visible until the early morning hours, when it will set toward the west-southwest. (The Winter Triangle appears in the Southern Hemisphere between May and August.) To see the Mars Triangle, Space.com suggests looking east around 6:30 p.m. local time. Mars is the brightest point and currently the vertex of the triangle, with Castor and Pollux making up the base. The triangle will be visible until about mid-March, though again, the shape will shift significantly between now and then. The Winter Circle, which includes Sirius and Procyon (from the Winter Triangle), Castor and Pollux (from the Mars Triangle), as well as Rigel, Capella, and Aldebaran, rises in the east and sets in the west throughout the winter. View the full article

While having lunch with a few fellow business owners recently, our conversation turned to the topic on every entrepreneur’s mind—artificial intelligence. It turns out that AI tools have quietly woven themselves into our daily routines, whether we’re brainstorming, researching, or synthesizing data, were also using it in slightly different ways. Tools like ChatGPT are like Swiss Army Knives for productivity and creativity. It’s no surprise that in the latest McKinsey Global Survey on AI, 65% of organizations reported regularly using AI—the technology is here to stay. That said, leaning too heavily on AI can go awry. If you delegate content creation to ChatGPT, for example, it runs the risk of plagiarizing. The generative AI tool is also a notorious liar. In 2023, one startup found that ChatGPT made things up about 3% of the time. That same year, a Google chatbot’s false claim caused the company’s market value to tumble by around $100 billion. The key is strategic integration with safeguards in place. If you’re curious about how to integrate AI smartly into your business, here are some friendly tips to get you started while keeping things safe and effective. Use AI’s strengths—without losing your own ChatGPT can supercharge your creativity. Wharton professor Christian Terwiesch pitted the large language model (LLM) against humans to determine which group could generate better business ideas. (Spoiler alert: The robots came out victorious.) Commenting on his findings, Terwiesch said that everybody should be using ChatGPT to help them generate ideas—if nothing else, your idea pool will improve. He called it a “no-brainer.” I like to use ChatGPT to get the ball rolling on creative brainstorming. Using simple prompts, you can ask ChatGPT to help you generate ideas and then choose and refine the best ones. ChatGPT can also summarize dense, lengthy information in seconds. It can break down concepts in as simple terms as you’d like—just begin your prompt with something like, “Pretend you are explaining this to [a 12-year-old, a college kid, etc.].” Importantly, the best practices with ChatGPT entail using the LLM as a jumping-off point, without delegating your creativity entirely. To me, the idea is to assign ChatGPT the rote or manual parts of your work to make more time and space for wide swaths of impactful, deeply creative work—the work that leads to innovation and breakthroughs. In sum, use ChatGPT for tasks like summarizing information and generating ideas, not as a replacement for your own critical thinking and expertise. Always verify information from AI Fact-checking is a practice that we sometimes take for granted. The New Yorker, known for its historically rigorous fact-checking department, employs around 30 people to verify the facts in every single story. As one former fact-checker explained, “Each word in the piece that has even a shred of fact clinging to it is scrutinized.” ChatGPT, however, has no fail-safe in place. That’s why leaders must be skeptical of anything presented as a fact, verify information with sources, and encourage employees to do the same. If ChatGPT generates a summary of something—for example, the latest news on DeepSeek—the summary will include the names of sources hyperlinked to the corresponding web addresses. I recommend checking each one, as ChatGPT has a tendency to link to a source that does not contain the relevant information. In short, never take information from ChatGPT at face value. Be clear about how AI should be used Finally, it’s critical for leaders to be transparent about how employees can use generative AI tools. For starters, this signals to employees that they should leverage LLMs—if they’re not, the company’s competitors and their colleagues will. I regularly encourage Jotform employees to seek out new ways to automate their busywork, including using generative AI tools, to make more time for tasks that feel personally meaningful, motivating, and inspiring. Failing to communicate corporate policies surrounding AI creates a risk that employees will misuse it—for example, handing over the reins for their creative work, or essentially copying and pasting other people’s work product based on the LLM’s results. Without clear guidance, employees may encounter problems with data security, ethical concerns, and regulatory compliance issues. There’s no shortage of fear and anxiety surrounding AI, especially regarding its potential to take human jobs. Transparency can help employees understand AI’s role as a productivity and creativity booster, rather than a threat, fostering innovation and meaningful productivity. By setting clear expectations, leaders create a culture where AI enhances work and advances individuals on their career paths, rather than disrupting them. View the full article

Fast-fashion clothing chain Forever 21 is reportedly getting ready to shutter hundreds of locations as it considers filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. If it does, it would be the second wave of mass store closings and second bankruptcy that the chain has undergone in less than six years. Here’s what you need to know about Forever 21’s reported closures. Forever 21 may close 200 stores—or all of them This week, Bloomberg reported that Forever 21 may close 200 locations in the United States as part of a potential second bankruptcy process that the retailer is considering. If Forever 21 can’t find a buyer during the bankruptcy process, the chain would reportedly close all of its remaining U.S. stores. The situation mirrors what’s been happening with the fabric-and-crafts chain Joann, which is in the process of trying to find a buyer and may be forced to go out of business if it is unsuccessful. A count on Forever 21’s store locator tool reveals that is has 359 stores in the United States. Forever 21’s intellectual property is owned by brand management firm Authentic Brands Group, while its operations are run by Catalyst Brands, a joint venture operated by retail group SPARC and, as of this month, JCPenney. Catalyst Brands owns other retailers including Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica. Last month, it said publicly that it was “exploring strategic operations” for Forever 21. Fast Company reached out to Forever 21 and Catalyst Brands for comment. Catalyst Brands has not confirmed that it will initiate bankruptcy proceedings for Forever 21. In a statement provided to Bloomberg, the company said, “Forever 21’s operating company, which is the brand licensee in the US, continues to explore strategic options, including a potential sale, while also reducing costs and optimizing its store footprint. The efforts are ongoing and no final decisions regarding the outcome of the process have been made.” Forever on the brink Forever 21 has been struggling for years with slowing sales, a weakening brand image, and increased competition from online retailers. In September 2019, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At the time, the company said it would be closing about 350 of its 800 stores worldwide. Less than six months later, it was announced that two of Forever 21’s biggest landlords, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, were teaming up with Authentic Brands Group to buy the struggling chain for $81 million. But since then, Forever 21 has continued to face existential pressures, including declining foot traffic and the rise of online fast fashion retailers like Temu and Shein. In 2023, Forever 21 entered a partnership with Shein that allowed its clothes to be sold on the Chinese shopping platform and saw Shein’s clothing being sold in Forever 21 stores. Still, the partnership doesn’t seem to have been enough to turn Forever 21’s fortunes around. Shein is more popular than ever, while Forever 21 still continues to struggle with much of the same pressures it has for years. Forever 21 did not respond to a request for more information about a potential bankruptcy timeline or which locations might be closed. We will update this post if we hear back. However, as Bloomberg notes, if Forever 21 does file for bankruptcy and go out of business it will not affect Authentic Brands Group’s ownership of the brand’s IP. The publication reports that Authentic already plans to license the Forever 21 brand to other parties. View the full article

Do you have a knack for crafting handmade items? Have you always dreamed of turning this passion into a profitable venture? You’re in the right place. You can combine your skills and ambition to create an array of handmade items to sell. From personalizing interiors with your unique crafts to making someone’s day with a bespoke gift, your handmade creations can have countless uses and buyers. Why Should You Make and Sell Crafts? Selling handmade items is a great way to start your own craft business. Of course, establishing a business is always a nerve-wracking endeavor, but there are a variety of solid reasons why you should make and sell crafts, including: Independence – When you start your own handicraft business, you get to be your own boss. As the business owner, you make the decisions and decide when and where you want to make and sell your crafts. Monetization – By making and selling crafts, you can earn money from the skills you already have and turn a profit from what was once a hobby. Low Stress – Since you control your own craft business, you won’t have the stress of a commute, a demanding boss or even laundry since you can work from home wearing lounge clothes or pajamas. Supplemental Income – You don’t have to quit your day job to start selling handcrafted goods. Your craft business can also be a side gig that helps supplement your primary income. Sharper Skills – As you develop your own business selling handmade items, you can further enhance your skills or even learn new ones through online courses and workshops. READ MORE: 50 Craft Business Ideas Top Handmade Things to Sell for Profit Before we get into the details of making and selling these handmade items, let’s start with a quick summary. The table you’re about to see shows the main skills you need, the materials you should have, where you can sell, and how much money you could possibly make for each of the 20 handmade things. It’s like a guide, helping you see the bigger picture as you choose which handmade product fits best with what you can do and what you have. #ItemSkills RequiredMaterials NeededPotential MarketplacesProfitability Potential 1Handmade JewelryJewelry makingBeads, wire, pendantsOnline and local marketplacesHigh 2SoapSoap makingSoap base, scents, essential oilsOnline stores, craft fairsMedium 3T-shirtsGraphic design, fabric decoratingT-shirts, fabric decorating suppliesOnline marketplaces, local eventsHigh 4Subscription BoxesCuratingVaries based on box contentOnlineHigh 5Pet ProductsVaries based on productVaries based on productOnline and local marketplacesHigh 6Wall ArtPainting, printmakingCanvas, paint, printing suppliesOnline stores, local galleries, craft fairsMedium 7Tote BagsSewingFabric, sewing suppliesOnline and local shopsMedium 8Wooden ToysWoodworkingWood, woodworking toolsOnline and local marketplacesHigh 9Home DecorCraftingMason jars, canvas, ribbon, etc.Etsy, online and local shopsMedium 10SculpturesSculptingClay, sculpting toolsOnlineMedium 11DollsDoll makingFabric, fiber, plasticOnline and local shopsMedium 12Hair AccessoriesCraftingVarious crafting suppliesOnlineLow to Medium 13ScarvesKnitting or CrochetingYarnOnline and local marketplacesLow to Medium 14PillowsSewingFabric, sewing suppliesOnline and local marketplacesMedium 15HatsKnitting or fabric craftingYarn, fabricOnline and local marketplacesMedium 16FurnitureUpholstery or woodworkingFabric, wood, toolsOnline and local marketplacesHigh 17BlanketsQuilting, knitting, sewing, crochetingFabric, yarn, quilting materialsOnline and local marketplacesMedium 18CandlesCandle makingWax, wicks, fragrance oilsOnline and local marketplacesMedium 19PinsCraftingMaterials for pinsOnline and local craft fairsLow to Medium 20RugsWeavingRug materialsOnlineMedium When you’re ready to turn your hobby into a thriving small business, you just need a craft idea and supplies to sell handmade products online or at local craft fairs. Check out the following handmade things you can sell for profit: Handmade Jewelry You can easily create your own handmade jewelry by simply stringing beads onto wire to design bracelets or necklaces. Additionally, jewelry makers can purchase affordable components to craft earrings, pendants, lockets, and other accessories to sell locally or in an online marketplace. Soap With the right materials, you can craft your own handmade soaps and bath bombs to sell at craft fairs or in an online store. You can even add selected scents and essential oils to both bar soaps, liquid soaps and bath bombs to add a competitive edge to your creations. T-shirts You can make and sell a variety of handmade clothing to start your own small business. In fact, a T-shirt business is a popular way to make a profit at online marketplaces and local events. You can create designs on a computer and print them onto shirts or transfers. You also can design your own custom T-shirt designs with a variety of fabric decorating supplies. Subscription Boxes You can sell curated gifts and subscription boxes that you create at your home or office. Choose a popular product niche like candles, candy or cosmetics, then fill a box with both purchased and homemade crafts for your subscribers each month. READ MORE: The 100 Best Things to Make and Sell from Home Pet Products Pet products are in high demand and make a viable business opportunity for those seeking profitable crafts. Whether you make and sell pet toys, pet treats, or pet clothing, pet owners will be interested in your products, whether sold locally or in an online marketplace. Wall Art If you love to paint, you can place your designs onto canvas and sell the wall art online or at local galleries or craft fairs. You can even transform your handmade crafts into printed copies and sell prints to earn even more extra money from a single design. Tote Bags Tote bags, diaper bags, and other homemade items made for carrying personal goods come in a variety of shapes and sizes to satisfy a large and diverse market. Entrepreneurs who are skilled with a sewing machine can start a small business by making unique handmade bags and selling them online or in a local shop. Wooden Toys Skilled woodworkers can use their tools and create unique toys for children. Whether you’re crafting wooden blocks, wooden cars, dollhouses or even rocking horses, you can find demand from parents seeking gifts and turn a profit by selling handmade toys from wood. Home Decor Crafty and creative entrepreneurs can launch a small business by designing handmade home decor using supplies such as mason jars, canvas, ribbons, napkins, and other materials. The possibilities for crafting home decor are limited only by your imagination, making it an excellent choice for handmade items to sell in an Etsy shop. Sculptures Another form of fine art that small business owners can create and sell online is sculpture. While a sculpture may seem like just another handmade craft, it requires a significant amount of skill to produce products for an online business. Fortunately, there are numerous online DIY tutorials available for those eager to learn. More Handmade Items to Sell Online or Locally Are you seeking more inspiration for starting an online business focused on selling homemade crafts? Whether you plan to offer premium handmade furniture or affordable digital products, there are numerous ideas for handmade items to sell, both online and in your local community, including: Dolls All varieties of dolls make great gifts, keepsakes, and collectible items, so it’s no wonder they are also an effective outlet to start a small business. You can make dolls from fabric, fiber, plastic, or all sorts of other materials and place them on sale anywhere, selling craft items, toys, or collectibles. Hair Accessories Handmade accessories for hair are a simple craft that can be a profitable online business venture. If you don’t know how to make these profitable crafts, you can study online tutorials and learn to make hair accessories to sell, then decorate them in an original and creative way. Scarves Scarves are incredibly popular handmade accessories, and crafty entrepreneurs can create them by either knitting or crocheting yarn. Creative crafters even can try making scarves by combining decorative fabric, embroidering their creations or decorating them with unique and original designs. Pillows With some basic sewing skills, you can stitch together fabric and create all sorts of decorative pillows to sell. A popular handmade item for consumers to buy, pillows and pillow covers can be made in all shapes and sizes and practically any material. They also can be turned into original creations by painting or decorating them. Hats Don’t stop selling handmade scarves. You can increase your profits by also making beautifully crafted hats to coordinate with them. You can knit or crochet hats, or you can craft them from fabric or other materials. Then, put them for sale at a local shop or online marketplace Furniture Are you skilled with upholstery or woodworking? You can build furniture items and sell them online or locally. You’ll need tools and equipment, but you can sell your handmade furniture for a significant profit, provided you account for the increased cost of shipping. Blankets People love handmade blankets, and they can be crafted with a variety of techniques, including quilting, knitting, sewing, crocheting and more. Blanket sellers even can offer personalized blankets, decorated with custom names, dates and other details. Candles Much like they can with handmade soaps, crafters can create a variety of creative and unique candle products by adding signature fragrance combinations. Entrepreneurs selling candles can also use interesting and unique jars and molds to craft in-demand products that sell. Pins Creative entrepreneurs can make handmade pins in a plethora of styles and designs to sell online or at local craft fairs. Whether you are making buttons with unique graphics or enamel pins with intricate designs, you’re sure to find a market for unique handmade pins. Rugs Handcrafting full-sized rugs might require a long and complicated process, but you still can make and sell handmade rugs if you specialize in smaller rugs and mats made with similar weaving techniques. Even smaller-sized rugs will appeal to online buyers seeking to add small yet unique touches to their home decor. What Handmade Items Sell the Best? What handmade items sell the best? Whether you’re attending a local craft fair or you plan to sell crafts online, you want to choose an item that sells and generates a profit. When deciding which handmade items to make and sell, it’s really important to consider what’s currently in demand. The popularity of handmade items can depend on a variety of factors, including current trends, seasonality, and market demographics. While certain items consistently perform well, the key to success is providing a unique twist on a product that makes it stand out in the marketplace. Here are some of the most profitable and best-selling handmade items: Handmade Beaded Jewelry and Enamel Pins: Jewelry remains a cornerstone of the handmade market because of its versatility and broad customer appeal. Beaded jewelry, in particular, is not only cost-effective to produce but also offers ample opportunities for creative expression. Similarly, enamel pins have gained popularity for their uniqueness and collectible nature. By offering a range of designs and styles, you can meet the diverse tastes of your customers. Vinyl Wall Art: Vinyl wall art is another top-selling product. These items appeal to customers looking to personalize their homes or offices. From inspirational quotes to graphic designs, the possibilities are endless. As long as your designs resonate with your audience, vinyl wall art can be a profitable venture. Candles: Handmade candles, especially those with unique fragrances and attractive packaging, are in high demand. Consumers appreciate the ambiance, scent, and aesthetics of a well-made candle. Scented candles also make excellent gifts for a variety of occasions, further boosting their sales potential. DIY Bath Bombs: Bath products, such as DIY bath bombs, have seen a rise in popularity, partly due to the self-care trend. Bath bombs are fun to make and use, plus they can be customized with various scents, colors, and ingredients to cater to different preferences. Offering a range of bath bombs that cater to different skin types or moods can help broaden your customer base. However, remember that the “best” items to sell depend largely on your own skills, interests, and preferences of your target audience. It’s also important to note that what sells well in one region or platform may not necessarily sell well in another. Continually researching market trends and getting feedback from customers can help you keep your product offerings fresh and appealing. Marketing Strategies for Handmade Crafts Successfully selling handmade items often hinges on effective marketing strategies that showcase the uniqueness and quality of your crafts. Here are essential marketing tactics to consider for your handmade business: Develop a Strong Brand Identity: Your brand should reflect the uniqueness of your handmade crafts. This includes a memorable business name, a distinctive logo, and a consistent aesthetic across your products and marketing materials. Your brand identity should resonate with your target audience and set you apart from competitors. Utilize Social Media: Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are ideal for showcasing handmade items. Regularly post high-quality photos of your products, engage with your followers, and use relevant hashtags to increase your visibility. Consider collaborating with influencers or other crafters to expand your reach. Create an Engaging Online Store: Whether you use platforms like Etsy or have your own website, make sure your online store is visually appealing, user-friendly, and provides detailed information about your products. High-quality images, compelling product descriptions, and easy navigation are key. Participate in Local Markets and Craft Fairs: Physical presence in local markets and craft fairs can significantly boost your visibility. These events allow customers to see and feel your products firsthand and can help establish a loyal local customer base. Leverage Email Marketing: Collect email addresses from your customers and website visitors to build an email list. Send out regular newsletters with updates, new product launches, and exclusive offers to keep your audience engaged. Offer Customization Options: Personalization can be a unique selling point for handmade crafts. Offering customization options for your products can attract customers looking for unique, personalized items. Utilize Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers can be powerful marketing tools. Showcase these on your website and social media to build trust and credibility with potential customers. Create a Blog or Vlog: Share your crafting process, the story behind your crafts, or DIY tips through a blog or vlog. This not only engages your audience but also helps in SEO (Search Engine Optimization), driving more traffic to your site. Run Online Advertisements: Consider using paid online advertising through Google Ads or social media platforms. Target your ads to reach your specific audience based on interests, demographics, and browsing behavior. Engage in Community and Networking Events: Join crafting communities online and offline. Networking with other crafters and participating in community events can open up opportunities for collaborations, joint ventures, and gaining valuable insights into the market. READ MORE: 25 Places to Sell Handmade Crafts Online What Is the Easiest Thing to Make and Sell? In the crafts business, some products certainly are easier to make than others. One of the easiest crafts to make and sell is handmade soap and candles. The unskilled craftsperson should not be discouraged, however, as plenty of online tutorials are available to learn almost any craft, and serious entrepreneurs even can sharpen their skills by attending a workshop at a local college. Conclusion The world of handmade crafts offers an exciting and lucrative opportunity for creative individuals to turn their passion into a profitable venture. Whether you’re a seasoned artisan or just starting out, there are compelling reasons to make and sell crafts and a wide range of handmade items that can generate significant income. Starting your own craft business provides a sense of independence that many crave. You become the master of your craft, making decisions about when, where, and how you create and sell your handmade products. This level of autonomy allows you to shape your business according to your vision and preferences. Monetization is another compelling reason to delve into the world of crafting. Your skills and creativity can be transformed into a source of income. What was once a hobby can become a profitable enterprise. Many successful crafters have turned their passion into a full-time career, earning a living doing what they love. The low-stress aspect of running a craft business is particularly appealing. Say goodbye to long commutes, demanding bosses, and office attire. With a craft business, you have the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home, donning lounge clothes or pajamas if you wish. This flexibility is especially valuable for those seeking a work-life balance or juggling multiple responsibilities. Craft businesses can also provide an additional source of income. You don’t need to leave your day job to start your crafting journey. Beginning on a small scale and gradually expanding your business is a practical approach. Your craft business can offer that extra financial support, enabling you to follow your passion while still relying on your main source of income. Moreover, engaging in a craft business offers an opportunity for skill enhancement and growth. You can continuously refine your craft, learn new techniques, and even take online courses and workshops to expand your skill set. This process of self-improvement can be immensely satisfying, and it can lead to the creation of more intricate and valuable handmade products. In terms of profitability, the handmade crafts market is robust. The demand for unique, handcrafted items continues to grow as consumers seek products with a personal touch. Crafters can leverage this demand to create profitable businesses. However, success in this field requires more than just crafting skills; it involves strategic planning, marketing, and a keen understanding of market trends. The article also provides valuable insights into the top handmade things to sell for profit. From handmade jewelry and soap to T-shirts and subscription boxes, there’s a wide array of options to explore. These suggestions encompass a range of crafting skills and materials, catering to various interests and market segments. Handmade jewelry, for instance, allows for creativity with beads, precious metals, and unique designs. Crafting soap provides an opportunity to experiment with scents and essential oils, giving your products a competitive edge. T-shirt businesses leverage custom designs and fabric decorating techniques to create marketable items. Subscription boxes offer a curated selection of handmade and purchased crafts, providing customers with a delightful surprise each month. Pet products cater to the growing pet owner demographic, offering a wide range of opportunities, from toys to treats. Wall art allows painters to showcase their artistic talents, with prints expanding the reach of their work. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Handmade Items to Sell" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Do you have a knack for crafting handmade items? Have you always dreamed of turning this passion into a profitable venture? You’re in the right place. You can combine your skills and ambition to create an array of handmade items to sell. From personalizing interiors with your unique crafts to making someone’s day with a bespoke gift, your handmade creations can have countless uses and buyers. Why Should You Make and Sell Crafts? Selling handmade items is a great way to start your own craft business. Of course, establishing a business is always a nerve-wracking endeavor, but there are a variety of solid reasons why you should make and sell crafts, including: Independence – When you start your own handicraft business, you get to be your own boss. As the business owner, you make the decisions and decide when and where you want to make and sell your crafts. Monetization – By making and selling crafts, you can earn money from the skills you already have and turn a profit from what was once a hobby. Low Stress – Since you control your own craft business, you won’t have the stress of a commute, a demanding boss or even laundry since you can work from home wearing lounge clothes or pajamas. Supplemental Income – You don’t have to quit your day job to start selling handcrafted goods. Your craft business can also be a side gig that helps supplement your primary income. Sharper Skills – As you develop your own business selling handmade items, you can further enhance your skills or even learn new ones through online courses and workshops. READ MORE: 50 Craft Business Ideas Top Handmade Things to Sell for Profit Before we get into the details of making and selling these handmade items, let’s start with a quick summary. The table you’re about to see shows the main skills you need, the materials you should have, where you can sell, and how much money you could possibly make for each of the 20 handmade things. It’s like a guide, helping you see the bigger picture as you choose which handmade product fits best with what you can do and what you have. #ItemSkills RequiredMaterials NeededPotential MarketplacesProfitability Potential 1Handmade JewelryJewelry makingBeads, wire, pendantsOnline and local marketplacesHigh 2SoapSoap makingSoap base, scents, essential oilsOnline stores, craft fairsMedium 3T-shirtsGraphic design, fabric decoratingT-shirts, fabric decorating suppliesOnline marketplaces, local eventsHigh 4Subscription BoxesCuratingVaries based on box contentOnlineHigh 5Pet ProductsVaries based on productVaries based on productOnline and local marketplacesHigh 6Wall ArtPainting, printmakingCanvas, paint, printing suppliesOnline stores, local galleries, craft fairsMedium 7Tote BagsSewingFabric, sewing suppliesOnline and local shopsMedium 8Wooden ToysWoodworkingWood, woodworking toolsOnline and local marketplacesHigh 9Home DecorCraftingMason jars, canvas, ribbon, etc.Etsy, online and local shopsMedium 10SculpturesSculptingClay, sculpting toolsOnlineMedium 11DollsDoll makingFabric, fiber, plasticOnline and local shopsMedium 12Hair AccessoriesCraftingVarious crafting suppliesOnlineLow to Medium 13ScarvesKnitting or CrochetingYarnOnline and local marketplacesLow to Medium 14PillowsSewingFabric, sewing suppliesOnline and local marketplacesMedium 15HatsKnitting or fabric craftingYarn, fabricOnline and local marketplacesMedium 16FurnitureUpholstery or woodworkingFabric, wood, toolsOnline and local marketplacesHigh 17BlanketsQuilting, knitting, sewing, crochetingFabric, yarn, quilting materialsOnline and local marketplacesMedium 18CandlesCandle makingWax, wicks, fragrance oilsOnline and local marketplacesMedium 19PinsCraftingMaterials for pinsOnline and local craft fairsLow to Medium 20RugsWeavingRug materialsOnlineMedium When you’re ready to turn your hobby into a thriving small business, you just need a craft idea and supplies to sell handmade products online or at local craft fairs. Check out the following handmade things you can sell for profit: Handmade Jewelry You can easily create your own handmade jewelry by simply stringing beads onto wire to design bracelets or necklaces. Additionally, jewelry makers can purchase affordable components to craft earrings, pendants, lockets, and other accessories to sell locally or in an online marketplace. Soap With the right materials, you can craft your own handmade soaps and bath bombs to sell at craft fairs or in an online store. You can even add selected scents and essential oils to both bar soaps, liquid soaps and bath bombs to add a competitive edge to your creations. T-shirts You can make and sell a variety of handmade clothing to start your own small business. In fact, a T-shirt business is a popular way to make a profit at online marketplaces and local events. You can create designs on a computer and print them onto shirts or transfers. You also can design your own custom T-shirt designs with a variety of fabric decorating supplies. Subscription Boxes You can sell curated gifts and subscription boxes that you create at your home or office. Choose a popular product niche like candles, candy or cosmetics, then fill a box with both purchased and homemade crafts for your subscribers each month. READ MORE: The 100 Best Things to Make and Sell from Home Pet Products Pet products are in high demand and make a viable business opportunity for those seeking profitable crafts. Whether you make and sell pet toys, pet treats, or pet clothing, pet owners will be interested in your products, whether sold locally or in an online marketplace. Wall Art If you love to paint, you can place your designs onto canvas and sell the wall art online or at local galleries or craft fairs. You can even transform your handmade crafts into printed copies and sell prints to earn even more extra money from a single design. Tote Bags Tote bags, diaper bags, and other homemade items made for carrying personal goods come in a variety of shapes and sizes to satisfy a large and diverse market. Entrepreneurs who are skilled with a sewing machine can start a small business by making unique handmade bags and selling them online or in a local shop. Wooden Toys Skilled woodworkers can use their tools and create unique toys for children. Whether you’re crafting wooden blocks, wooden cars, dollhouses or even rocking horses, you can find demand from parents seeking gifts and turn a profit by selling handmade toys from wood. Home Decor Crafty and creative entrepreneurs can launch a small business by designing handmade home decor using supplies such as mason jars, canvas, ribbons, napkins, and other materials. The possibilities for crafting home decor are limited only by your imagination, making it an excellent choice for handmade items to sell in an Etsy shop. Sculptures Another form of fine art that small business owners can create and sell online is sculpture. While a sculpture may seem like just another handmade craft, it requires a significant amount of skill to produce products for an online business. Fortunately, there are numerous online DIY tutorials available for those eager to learn. More Handmade Items to Sell Online or Locally Are you seeking more inspiration for starting an online business focused on selling homemade crafts? Whether you plan to offer premium handmade furniture or affordable digital products, there are numerous ideas for handmade items to sell, both online and in your local community, including: Dolls All varieties of dolls make great gifts, keepsakes, and collectible items, so it’s no wonder they are also an effective outlet to start a small business. You can make dolls from fabric, fiber, plastic, or all sorts of other materials and place them on sale anywhere, selling craft items, toys, or collectibles. Hair Accessories Handmade accessories for hair are a simple craft that can be a profitable online business venture. If you don’t know how to make these profitable crafts, you can study online tutorials and learn to make hair accessories to sell, then decorate them in an original and creative way. Scarves Scarves are incredibly popular handmade accessories, and crafty entrepreneurs can create them by either knitting or crocheting yarn. Creative crafters even can try making scarves by combining decorative fabric, embroidering their creations or decorating them with unique and original designs. Pillows With some basic sewing skills, you can stitch together fabric and create all sorts of decorative pillows to sell. A popular handmade item for consumers to buy, pillows and pillow covers can be made in all shapes and sizes and practically any material. They also can be turned into original creations by painting or decorating them. Hats Don’t stop selling handmade scarves. You can increase your profits by also making beautifully crafted hats to coordinate with them. You can knit or crochet hats, or you can craft them from fabric or other materials. Then, put them for sale at a local shop or online marketplace Furniture Are you skilled with upholstery or woodworking? You can build furniture items and sell them online or locally. You’ll need tools and equipment, but you can sell your handmade furniture for a significant profit, provided you account for the increased cost of shipping. Blankets People love handmade blankets, and they can be crafted with a variety of techniques, including quilting, knitting, sewing, crocheting and more. Blanket sellers even can offer personalized blankets, decorated with custom names, dates and other details. Candles Much like they can with handmade soaps, crafters can create a variety of creative and unique candle products by adding signature fragrance combinations. Entrepreneurs selling candles can also use interesting and unique jars and molds to craft in-demand products that sell. Pins Creative entrepreneurs can make handmade pins in a plethora of styles and designs to sell online or at local craft fairs. Whether you are making buttons with unique graphics or enamel pins with intricate designs, you’re sure to find a market for unique handmade pins. Rugs Handcrafting full-sized rugs might require a long and complicated process, but you still can make and sell handmade rugs if you specialize in smaller rugs and mats made with similar weaving techniques. Even smaller-sized rugs will appeal to online buyers seeking to add small yet unique touches to their home decor. What Handmade Items Sell the Best? What handmade items sell the best? Whether you’re attending a local craft fair or you plan to sell crafts online, you want to choose an item that sells and generates a profit. When deciding which handmade items to make and sell, it’s really important to consider what’s currently in demand. The popularity of handmade items can depend on a variety of factors, including current trends, seasonality, and market demographics. While certain items consistently perform well, the key to success is providing a unique twist on a product that makes it stand out in the marketplace. Here are some of the most profitable and best-selling handmade items: Handmade Beaded Jewelry and Enamel Pins: Jewelry remains a cornerstone of the handmade market because of its versatility and broad customer appeal. Beaded jewelry, in particular, is not only cost-effective to produce but also offers ample opportunities for creative expression. Similarly, enamel pins have gained popularity for their uniqueness and collectible nature. By offering a range of designs and styles, you can meet the diverse tastes of your customers. Vinyl Wall Art: Vinyl wall art is another top-selling product. These items appeal to customers looking to personalize their homes or offices. From inspirational quotes to graphic designs, the possibilities are endless. As long as your designs resonate with your audience, vinyl wall art can be a profitable venture. Candles: Handmade candles, especially those with unique fragrances and attractive packaging, are in high demand. Consumers appreciate the ambiance, scent, and aesthetics of a well-made candle. Scented candles also make excellent gifts for a variety of occasions, further boosting their sales potential. DIY Bath Bombs: Bath products, such as DIY bath bombs, have seen a rise in popularity, partly due to the self-care trend. Bath bombs are fun to make and use, plus they can be customized with various scents, colors, and ingredients to cater to different preferences. Offering a range of bath bombs that cater to different skin types or moods can help broaden your customer base. However, remember that the “best” items to sell depend largely on your own skills, interests, and preferences of your target audience. It’s also important to note that what sells well in one region or platform may not necessarily sell well in another. Continually researching market trends and getting feedback from customers can help you keep your product offerings fresh and appealing. Marketing Strategies for Handmade Crafts Successfully selling handmade items often hinges on effective marketing strategies that showcase the uniqueness and quality of your crafts. Here are essential marketing tactics to consider for your handmade business: Develop a Strong Brand Identity: Your brand should reflect the uniqueness of your handmade crafts. This includes a memorable business name, a distinctive logo, and a consistent aesthetic across your products and marketing materials. Your brand identity should resonate with your target audience and set you apart from competitors. Utilize Social Media: Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are ideal for showcasing handmade items. Regularly post high-quality photos of your products, engage with your followers, and use relevant hashtags to increase your visibility. Consider collaborating with influencers or other crafters to expand your reach. Create an Engaging Online Store: Whether you use platforms like Etsy or have your own website, make sure your online store is visually appealing, user-friendly, and provides detailed information about your products. High-quality images, compelling product descriptions, and easy navigation are key. Participate in Local Markets and Craft Fairs: Physical presence in local markets and craft fairs can significantly boost your visibility. These events allow customers to see and feel your products firsthand and can help establish a loyal local customer base. Leverage Email Marketing: Collect email addresses from your customers and website visitors to build an email list. Send out regular newsletters with updates, new product launches, and exclusive offers to keep your audience engaged. Offer Customization Options: Personalization can be a unique selling point for handmade crafts. Offering customization options for your products can attract customers looking for unique, personalized items. Utilize Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers can be powerful marketing tools. Showcase these on your website and social media to build trust and credibility with potential customers. Create a Blog or Vlog: Share your crafting process, the story behind your crafts, or DIY tips through a blog or vlog. This not only engages your audience but also helps in SEO (Search Engine Optimization), driving more traffic to your site. Run Online Advertisements: Consider using paid online advertising through Google Ads or social media platforms. Target your ads to reach your specific audience based on interests, demographics, and browsing behavior. Engage in Community and Networking Events: Join crafting communities online and offline. Networking with other crafters and participating in community events can open up opportunities for collaborations, joint ventures, and gaining valuable insights into the market. READ MORE: 25 Places to Sell Handmade Crafts Online What Is the Easiest Thing to Make and Sell? In the crafts business, some products certainly are easier to make than others. One of the easiest crafts to make and sell is handmade soap and candles. The unskilled craftsperson should not be discouraged, however, as plenty of online tutorials are available to learn almost any craft, and serious entrepreneurs even can sharpen their skills by attending a workshop at a local college. Conclusion The world of handmade crafts offers an exciting and lucrative opportunity for creative individuals to turn their passion into a profitable venture. Whether you’re a seasoned artisan or just starting out, there are compelling reasons to make and sell crafts and a wide range of handmade items that can generate significant income. Starting your own craft business provides a sense of independence that many crave. You become the master of your craft, making decisions about when, where, and how you create and sell your handmade products. This level of autonomy allows you to shape your business according to your vision and preferences. Monetization is another compelling reason to delve into the world of crafting. Your skills and creativity can be transformed into a source of income. What was once a hobby can become a profitable enterprise. Many successful crafters have turned their passion into a full-time career, earning a living doing what they love. The low-stress aspect of running a craft business is particularly appealing. Say goodbye to long commutes, demanding bosses, and office attire. With a craft business, you have the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home, donning lounge clothes or pajamas if you wish. This flexibility is especially valuable for those seeking a work-life balance or juggling multiple responsibilities. Craft businesses can also provide an additional source of income. You don’t need to leave your day job to start your crafting journey. Beginning on a small scale and gradually expanding your business is a practical approach. Your craft business can offer that extra financial support, enabling you to follow your passion while still relying on your main source of income. Moreover, engaging in a craft business offers an opportunity for skill enhancement and growth. You can continuously refine your craft, learn new techniques, and even take online courses and workshops to expand your skill set. This process of self-improvement can be immensely satisfying, and it can lead to the creation of more intricate and valuable handmade products. In terms of profitability, the handmade crafts market is robust. The demand for unique, handcrafted items continues to grow as consumers seek products with a personal touch. Crafters can leverage this demand to create profitable businesses. However, success in this field requires more than just crafting skills; it involves strategic planning, marketing, and a keen understanding of market trends. The article also provides valuable insights into the top handmade things to sell for profit. From handmade jewelry and soap to T-shirts and subscription boxes, there’s a wide array of options to explore. These suggestions encompass a range of crafting skills and materials, catering to various interests and market segments. Handmade jewelry, for instance, allows for creativity with beads, precious metals, and unique designs. Crafting soap provides an opportunity to experiment with scents and essential oils, giving your products a competitive edge. T-shirt businesses leverage custom designs and fabric decorating techniques to create marketable items. Subscription boxes offer a curated selection of handmade and purchased crafts, providing customers with a delightful surprise each month. Pet products cater to the growing pet owner demographic, offering a wide range of opportunities, from toys to treats. Wall art allows painters to showcase their artistic talents, with prints expanding the reach of their work. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Handmade Items to Sell" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Ultraconservative opposition allege Tusk government planning to interfere in presidential electionView the full article

Prime minister’s note to ministers repudiates older views on globalisation and immigration View the full article

I was watching comedian and political commentator Bill Maher talk about Reverse Improvement (RI), and it struck me how profoundly relevant this idea is to the leadership challenges highlighted in this article and the themes we’ve explored in my upcoming book, TRANSCEND: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI. Reverse Improvement, as Maher describes it, occurs when technological progress unintentionally diminishes core human skills and values. Maher’s idea of RI isn’t just about clunky tech updates or frustrating software upgrades—it’s about a much larger, more insidious phenomenon: how technological “advancements” can subtly, and sometimes drastically, lead to the erosion of fundamental human skills and values. The concept of RI highlights a key dilemma facing leaders in the age of AI: When does technological progress stop being an improvement and start becoming a regression? As AI and automation handle tasks once dependent on human creativity, intuition, and problem-solving, we risk outsourcing not just labor but also our intellectual and emotional core. RI warns us of this subtle decay—a decline that happens not in obvious ways but slowly, through overreliance on tools meant to help us. As AI transforms the workplace, it’s easy to view automation as a form of progress. But if AI makes us less self-aware, less creative, and less empathetic, are we truly improving? Or are we succumbing to RI—replacing meaningful human effort with efficiency at the cost of long-term growth? This tension is exactly why mindful leadership, grounded in principles like self-awareness, right intention, and resilience, is more important than ever. AI, Reverse improvement, and the risks of dependency Not all technological upgrades lead to better outcomes. Many improvements, particularly in the context of AI, can unintentionally diminish the very skills that made us successful in the first place. A leader who once relied on keen observation and strategic thinking may, over time, rely on AI-generated insights without questioning their validity. An employee who once developed persuasive narratives may now rely on AI to draft content, losing the ability to connect ideas creatively. This erosion of skills is why leaders must maintain mindfulness in how they integrate AI into their workflows. Mindfulness, as taught by Eastern and Buddhist philosophy, emphasizes the importance of being present, aware, and intentional. Leaders who embody these qualities recognize when AI is genuinely enhancing their abilities versus when it’s causing stagnation. Reverse Improvement occurs when leaders fail to pause and evaluate whether technological progress aligns with long-term human development. AI may offer convenience, but convenience can come at the cost of resilience, problem-solving, and self-reflection—skills critical to effective leadership. Recognizing when AI helps vs. when it hurts We don’t lose skills all at once—we lose them gradually, as dependency on AI subtly erodes our mental muscles. Self-awareness, a core tenet of mindfulness, helps leaders recognize when this erosion is happening. Self-aware leaders evaluate whether they are engaging with AI as a tool or relying on it as a crutch. For example, a marketing leader who once crafted compelling campaigns may now rely on AI-driven algorithms to optimize strategies. Without self-awareness, they may stop developing their storytelling abilities, assuming the AI will always “know best.” But self-aware leaders pause, reflect, and ask: “Am I still growing, or am I letting AI take over my creative instincts?” Action Plan: Leaders should integrate mindfulness practices directly into their daily routines and team interactions. This can include short reflective meetings where leaders and teams pause to evaluate decisions and their alignment with long-term goals. Additionally, conducting regular assessments of AI’s role within workflows will ensure leaders remain in control, using AI to complement rather than override human judgment. By fostering an environment of ongoing reflection, leaders can continuously recalibrate their strategies to balance innovation with intentional decision-making. Leading with purpose, not automation for automation’s sake Purpose-driven leadership ensures that leaders consider the ethical, human, and long-term consequences of their decisions. RI occurs when leaders pursue technological upgrades without questioning their value beyond short-term productivity gains. AI should free up human potential for higher-order tasks, such as creative problem-solving and relationship-building. However, when AI is implemented without the right intention, it can lead to the opposite effect—de-skilling employees and fostering dependency. Leaders with the right intention ask: “How does this technology enhance, rather than replace, human growth?” Action Step: Leaders should develop a structured framework for evaluating new AI tools by integrating key criteria such as ethical considerations, employee impact, long-term strategic alignment, innovation potential, and risk management. This framework should assess the tool’s ability to foster creativity and innovation while identifying potential operational disruptions, ethical risks, and unintended consequences. To ensure comprehensive evaluation, governance protocols should be established to monitor compliance with organizational policies, data privacy standards, and ethical guidelines. In addition, diverse stakeholders across departments should be involved to assess both short-term efficiency gains and long-term human development outcomes. By embedding periodic reviews of AI’s effectiveness, leaders can balance technological progress with sustainable, human-centered growth while mitigating risks and driving continuous innovation. Building human strengths alongside technological progress Resilience in leadership means embracing change without losing core strengths. Technological progress can undermine resilience when we allow machines to do the hard work that builds character and cognitive stamina. Leaders who embrace resilience understand that problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence are developed through struggle, effort, and reflection—not instant solutions. AI can certainly assist with repetitive tasks, but leaders must ensure that the hard, growth-oriented work of leadership remains intact. For example, instead of relying solely on AI to analyze market trends, resilient leaders involve their teams in brainstorming sessions to sharpen their strategic thinking. Action Step: Leaders can prioritize activities that involve manual problem-solving, creative brainstorming, and team collaboration. These exercises help maintain and strengthen cognitive and strategic thinking abilities, preventing skill atrophy in a tech-driven world. Resilience also requires leaders to create a culture that values learning through experience. Rather than shielding teams from challenges by automating solutions, resilient leaders encourage problem-solving, risk-taking, and adaptive learning. By facing difficulties head-on, teams can strengthen their critical thinking and innovation skills. Balancing AI and humanity: Avoiding RI through the middle way Buddhist philosophy’s middle way teaches us to avoid extremes and seek balance. In the context of AI and RI, this means integrating technology thoughtfully, ensuring that it complements human effort rather than replacing it. The key to leadership in a tech-driven world is not to reject AI, but to integrate it in ways that amplify human strengths while preserving creativity, empathy, and resilience. Leaders who follow the Middle Way avoid the extremes of either over-relying on AI or rejecting its benefits entirely. They understand that technology can enhance human potential, but only when used with mindful intention and purpose. From reverse improvement to mindful progress Technological progress sometimes can be deceptive. What appears to be an upgrade may, in fact, be a step backward if it causes us to detach from our core human capacities. True progress isn’t measured by how much we automate or accelerate—it’s measured by how much we grow, both individually and collectively. Mindful leaders will recognize that AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment. We must remain devoted to creating a future where technological innovation drives genuine improvement—not just in productivity but in the development of resilient, purposeful, and empathetic individuals. View the full article

Disability rights could be under threat. People with disabilities are protected from discrimination and given equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and public services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. However, Republican attorneys general in 17 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia) have sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), asking courts to declare Section 504 unconstitutional. Last May, HHS required that 504 services be provided to people experiencing gender dysphoria. The lawsuit argues that gender dysphoria doesn’t fall under the definition of who should get 504 services. However, it then goes on to ask that 504 be eliminated entirely. “Because Section 504 is coercive, untethered to the federal interest in disability, and unfairly retroactive, the Rehabilitation Act is not constitutional,” the lawsuit argues. What will happen if 504 is eliminated? If 504 is rolled back, it would be up to individual states to decide how much they want to protect people with disabilities from discrimination, as well as which services—if any—they want to provide. This includes services like 504 plans, in which schools lay out the individual accommodations that students with disabilities will receive (for example, extra time on tests or braille notes) so these students can participate in class. Currently, 8.5 million students in public schools have 504 plans. The first round of legal briefs is due on February 25. How to support disability rights ADDitude magazine is encouraging people to contact their state representatives and senators and voice their support for 504. If you live in a state that’s suing to eliminate 504, you can also contact your attorney general and request that your state withdraw from the lawsuit. If you live in a state that’s not suing to eliminate 504, you can contact your attorney general and ask that your state submit a brief on the importance of 504 protections. View the full article

Yellowjackets is back with more chaos, more wilderness—and a main title that is grungier than ever. Ever since the first season premiered in 2021, the show’s opening credits have been one of the most frenetic on television. Blink and you’ll miss something. Set against the grungy song “No Return” by Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker, the title is meant to feel like an assault on the senses. It is 90 seconds long, and the longest frame lasts about a second. This makes for a tense intro, in which our brains are bombarded with flickering images faster than we can process them. And that’s precisely the point. “We want this to be glitched so much that if someone takes a still, they can’t really figure it out,” says Mason Nicoll, executive creative director of creative studio Digital Kitchen. Digital Kitchen, which has designed main titles for True Blood, Narcos, and Dexter, first dreamed up the concept for the Yellowjackets’ main title in 2021, when season one premiered. The show is set in the ’90s, and the team drew inspiration from ’90s skater videos, and drew from the jittery, low-fi aesthetic of the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project. The result was borderline chaotic, but the distressed look provided an additional benefit: it helped disguise key shots by distorting them beyond recognition. [Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]The team has replicated this approach ever since. But with each season, they swap old frames for new ones that hint at what’s to come. Season one teased the show’s mysterious symbol, season two introduced eerie snowy landscapes and blood-soaked imagery. Season three now features dark caves, an upside-down image of a bleeding Jesus, and a lot of screaming faces. It’s also glitchier than ever. “We went to town,” says Nicoll, noting that the first cut was about 30% more hectic than the final version. Does this hint at even more madness to come? “It seems like it,” he says. “It does feel like every season just escalates and gets crazier.” Season 3 title sequence: No context, just vibes The truth is, Nicoll doesn’t know what will happen this season. Not exactly. Sometimes, main title designers get a full synopsis to help them sprinkle in clues. Other times, they only see the pilot and work with the showrunners to create the right tone. With Yellowjackets, Nicoll says he knew the most in season one—and the least in season three. This year, the showrunners sent the team a whopping 70 shots to work with, but Nicoll explains the shots were all out of context, so his team had to piece the story together and interpret it themselves. It goes without saying they have more insight than the average viewer, but when the shots arrive at random, some mystery remains inevitable. [Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]Sometimes, the team gave away too much without even realizing it. That’s what happened when the team initially included a new shot of the Antler Queen from season three in the title sequence. If you remember, the identity of the Antler Queen was shrouded in mystery for the first two seasons. At first, we thought it was Lottie. Then—spoilers ahead—we learned it was actually Natalie. So, when Digital Kitchen added this new shot of the Antler Queen, the showrunners’ reaction, as Nicoll remembers it, was something along the lines of: “hell no!” The team quickly reworked the shot, glitching it so much that viewers could no longer tell who was under the antlers. The obscured frame now appears around the one-minute mark—and we are left to wonder: has the wilderness chosen a new Antler Queen? A ‘Blair Witch Project’ fever dreamAbout half of the shots in the main title come from the show, but the intro wouldn’t be the disquieting fever dream it is today without the other half. From the very beginning, Digital Kitchen leaned into The Blair Witch Project’s “found footage” aesthetic, making it seem like the images were filmed by the high school girls themselves. [Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]To make this footage appear authentic, the team hired lookalike actors in L.A. and shot additional scenes with an old DV camcorder from the ’90s. In one scene, art director Rachel Brickel filmed the actors running into a parking lot while she was crouched inside a shopping cart that Nicoll was pushing. “I remember thinking ‘I see a speed bump in front of us,’ and I’m like ‘oh man this is going to hurt,'” she recalls with a laugh. It did hurt, but she got the shot. [Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]To achieve the look of a worn-out VHS tape with a “corrupted” signal, Brickel’s team played the footage through a “really old” tube TV from the ’90s and ran it through special equipment to further remix and distort the picture. Then, they took that altered footage and glitched it even more on the computer. “We wanted to show the beauty of glitches,” she says. [Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]The resulting aesthetic of the Yellowjackets season 3 title sequence may not be ideal for someone prone to migraines. I, for one, can’t watch it more than twice in a row without needing to rest my eyes. But for the average viewer who isn’t poring over every single frame, the intro isn’t meant to be fully absorbed in one sitting. It’s designed to reveal itself as the season unfolds—and to keep you away from that dreaded “skip” button. View the full article

After years of working in PR and branding for luxury beauty, Jaimee Lupton decided to break away and disrupt the space by making beauty products that are accessible. With her business partner and real-life partner Nick Mowbray, she launched Monday haircare in 2020. Lupton saw a gap in the market for a brand that was targeted toward a younger demographic. There were few haircare brands that addressed the needs of younger customers, and even fewer who knew how to speak to those customers through their branding, messaging, and packaging. Lupton knew the power of a personalized message, and she created Monday with that in mind. The haircare company has received its fair share of accolades since it launched. Beauty outlet Glossy named Monday Haircare Brand of the Year for 2024, and the company has 21 other major beauty awards to its name, including from Allure, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and InStyle. It’s currently the number-one haircare brand globally on TikTok, according to statistics from the platform measured by the most liked and most followed haircare brands. The brand is on track to reach half-a-billion dollars of retail sales—no easy feat for five years of business. The success of Monday then set her up to self-fund other brands. It also put her on the radar of retailers, which began to ask Lupton to work with them to create new bespoke brands. She has since done so with retail partners including Target, Walmart, and Ulta. In the span of five years, Lupton founded five other beauty brands, with more currently in development, maker her a kind of big box Gen Z beauty whisperer in the process. [Photo: Monday] Lupton’s bespoke portfolio of accessible brands Lupton’s most recent brand launch is Daise, a range of playful, mood-matching fragrance and bodycare, which launched February 1 at Target. It’s a clear play for younger, emerging markets, Lupton says, referring to the specific spending potential of Gen Z. “They’re in control of $450 billion of spending power, and that’s set to increase by 48% before 2030, so they’re a huge demographic that we need to be able to target,” says Lupton, referring to a 2021 World Economic Forum statistic cited by Snapchat and November 2022 Gen Z report by Afterpay. She also notes, referring to a report by consumer insights platform aytm, that Gen-Alpha is now the fastest emerging group of beauty consumer. Daise is a way to tap into that purchasing power early, too. [Photo: Daise] It seems to be working. The brand had $1 million in retail sales in just one week, according to Daise sale statistics, and is forecasting over $50 million in retail sales in the first year. The company hit $400,000 of sales in the first four days of launch in Ulta. On February 1, Daise launched at Target. Lupton says that the number of sales are looking more impressive every day as the brand builds. Lupton described Daise’s creation as a way to build a fun self-care brand where beauty could meet play, and isn’t taken too seriously. This manifests in the fragrance’s many form factors, like spritz, mists, and foams, all with youthful appeal. The visual brand is all very Gen Z-oriented, utilizing many of the visual tools of brands targeting similar demographics. It includes bright, sunny colors, like yellow and light purple, with a sans serif all caps type, and bold gradients with combinations such as pink and orange or blue and green that seem to speak to a younger generation. Its form factors also stand out on the shelf. The body foam, which comes in a uniquely styled body whip, is one example. Daise is one of the first brands to do this at Target and Ulta, creating a product range that is unique to consumers, especially for younger consumers. (Suncare brand Vacation is perhaps most known for popularizing this novel form factor, with its whipped sunscreen that comes in a spray can.) The body mist, bath bombs, and lip balm come in the shape of a flower, with designs including sprinkles or daisies. [Photo: Being] Prior to Daise, Lupton launched Being Haircare in July of 2024 with Walmart, after the mega-retailer asked Lupton to create a haircare brand that was in one aisle and on one shelf, and that could target everyone across demographics and for every hair type. The brand has vivid, color-on-color packaging that carries through to its website, type, photography, and styling. Being was the number-one brand for the retailer in the haircare space in the first three months of its launch. Similarly to Daise, Lupton harnessed Instagram and TikTok marketing as they launched in store aisle endcaps. “It’s all around being you,” says Lupton. “And it’s not a segregation of brands. We’re a unisex brand, and the products are shopping arranged for each hair type,” noting it will expand into masks and treatments. [Photo: Being] Lupton has a few other brands in her portfolio. There’s Châlon, which according to its website, she made with a leading Parisian perfumer to create scents that convey elegance and tradition but “fit into modern life.” Then there’s Osāna Naturals, which is described on its website as a skin- and haircare range “crafted with care to nourish both body and mind.” Both ranges are free from sulfates, phthalates, and parabens, and are certified cruelty-free, dermatologically tested, and suitable for all skin types. While the brands may target different sectors, the mission across her portfolio of brands stays the same: providing accessible beauty for everyone. Digital-first with a major retail footprint Lupton’s “North Star” is to be a modern day L’Oreal: creating accessible brands that modern consumers want. To do so, Lupton has taken a two-prong approach: the brands have an in-house digital team, but they are also partnering with big retailers. With this strategy, she taps into a beauty business model that has proven success: launching a digital-first brand with a brick-and-mortar retail footprint. “I would say we’re 90% digital in terms of our marketing spend, and we create really unique ways in which we speak to [consumers] on digital platforms,” Lupton says, citing the brand’s “creator studios,” influencers its consumers “naturally migrate toward,” and UGC content which together creates a multiplatform digital brand destination. Though Lupton markets her brands as a direct-to-consumer, the digital-first marketing approach is complimented by physical presence in stores like Target, which she views as tween destinations. She explained that the goal is to make the products accessible in terms of price point and purchasability—being able to go to a store and grab a product off the shelf. Retail partners are a big part of how far they have been able to go. Lupton plans on continuing to grow her brands and expand her portfolio into a bigger range, including treatments and styling. There is a lot in the pipeline for Lupton. She has about 22 brands in development, and intends to roll out all of them in the next three years. View the full article

Just like everyone else, we all have our share of embarrassing email stories. Perhaps you’re wondering how to recall an email in Outlook after having sent a message to the wrong person, forgetting to enclose an attachment, sending an offensive email in the heat of the moment, or making a silly typo. These are just a few examples of email blunders that many of us would like to correct as soon as we realize them, and the ability to recall an email provides a way to do just that. In this article, we will learn more about how to effectively use this feature and more. A Quick Guide to Recall an Email in Outlook Open Outlook > go to Sent Items > click Message > Actions > Recall This Message. To confirm a recalled message, check the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient check box. You’ll need an Exchange server email and both you and the recipient will need to be using Outlook for this process to work. How to Recall an Outlook Email The following is a step-by-step process to recall an email: Step 1 – Pick the Email in Outlook to Recall the Message Open your Microsoft Outlook and go to the Sent items to pick an email you want to recall. Step 2 – Recall Message In the ribbon area, you will see the Actions tab having an option- Recall This Message. If you have a simplified ribbon, you may not see the Actions tab there. That being the case, open a sent message you want to recall and click on the three dots at the top right side of the ribbon. You will find the Actions tab in the drop-down menu. When you select the Actions tab, an option to Recall This Message tab appears on the right side. Step 3 – Delete Unread Copies and Optionally Create a New Message When you click on the Recall This Message option, a new Outlook window pops up. You have two options to recall your message: Delete unread copies of this message Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message Pick the option you want. In case you want to know if the recall succeeds or fails, check the box for recall succeeds or fails. Click on the Ok button to recall the message. Step 4 – Confirm Recalled Messages You will get a confirmation on the screen to inform you that you have recalled a message. If the message is successfully recalled, you will get a notification. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: StepsHow to Recall an Email in Outlook Step 1Open your Microsoft Outlook and go to the "Sent Items" folder to select the email you want to recall. Step 2In the ribbon area, find the "Actions" tab and select "Recall This Message". If you have a simplified ribbon, open the sent message you want to recall, click on the three dots at the top right side of the ribbon, and find the "Actions" tab in the drop-down menu. Step 3Once you click "Recall This Message", a new Outlook window will appear with two options: "Delete unread copies of this message" or "Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message". Choose your preferred option. If you want to know whether the recall succeeds or fails, check the respective box. Click "OK" to recall the message. Step 4After recalling the message, you will receive a confirmation notification. If the recall is successful, you will receive a success notification. Recalling a Message in Outlook on the Web Outlook on the web doesn’t have a recall option for sent items. But you can undo send within 10 seconds. Here is how to do it: Step 1 – View All Outlook Settings Click on the cog icon in Outlook on the web and go to the View All Outlook Settings menu. Step 2 – Set Undo Send Cancellation Period Navigate to the Compose and Reply section, then scroll through the drop-down list to locate the Undo send option. Set the cancellation period to 10 seconds. Presently, you cannot have a cancellation period of more than 10 seconds. Step 3 – Undo the Send Button Write an email in Outlook on the web and send it. On the bottom of the email pane, you will see the Sending pop-up window with an Undo option. Click on the Undo button to stop sending the message. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: StepsRecalling a Message in Outlook on the Web Step 1Click on the cog icon in the upper right corner of the Outlook on the web interface and select "View All Outlook Settings". Step 2Navigate to the "Compose and Reply" section. Scroll down until you find the "Undo send" option. Set the cancellation period to 10 seconds. Note that currently, the maximum cancellation period is 10 seconds. Step 3Compose an email and hit "Send". A "Sending" pop-up window with an "Undo" option will appear at the bottom of the email pane. Click on the "Undo" button within the cancellation period (10 seconds) to stop the message from being sent. Alternatives to Recalling a Sent Outlook Email If you are not able to use the recall feature in Outlook, the following are a few alternatives to recalling a sent Outlook message: Send an Honest Apology Email To make a mistake is only human. If you realize your mistake soon enough, the best option is to send an honest apology email. Be sure to explain in detail why you are apologizing and how you will make sure it doesn’t happen in the future. You could also offer to help resolve any issues or problems that may have been caused by your mistake. Request a Follow-Up Conversation If you think it might be better to address the situation in person or on the phone, you can ask for a follow-up conversation. This will give you the chance to explain the situation and apologize in person or on the phone. Delay Sending Your Outlook Emails Multiple factors determine the fate of a recall request. So many a time, email recall fails. A safe alternative is to delay sending your Outlook emails. This will give you enough time to review your email message later to check if everything is right. Here is how to defer the delivery of your emails in Outlook: Step 1 – Manage Rules & Alerts Click on the three dots at the right corner of your ribbon, then hover on Rules. Click on the Manage Rules & Alerts tab. Step 2 – Applying New Rules Click on the New Rule tab in the Rules and Alerts pop-up. A new Rules Wizard window will open. Select the Apply rule on the Messages I Send tab and click on the Next button. Step 3 – Confirm Application of Rules Now, the Rules wizard will ask which condition(s) do you want to check. Don’t check anything and click on the next. A confirmation screen will pop up, stating that this rule will be applied to every message you send. Click on Yes. Step 4 – Defer Delivery A new Rules wizard window will open, asking you what you want to do with the message. Check the defer delivery box and edit the rule description to select the minutes you want to delay your sending emails. Step 5 – Name and Turn the Rule On Click on the Next button, and a new window will open to let you create an exception to this rule. Uncheck every box and click on the Next button. In the new Rules Wizard window, you can give a name to this rule. Click on the Finish button. And apply the rule. Now, if you send an email, Outlook will delay delivery by 5 minutes. The email will stay in the Outbox for this period, and you can make any change to the email and send it again. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: StepsHow to Delay Sending Your Outlook Emails Step 1Click on the three dots at the right corner of your ribbon, then hover over "Rules". Click on the "Manage Rules & Alerts" tab. Step 2Click on the "New Rule" tab in the "Rules and Alerts" pop-up. A new "Rules Wizard" window will open. Select the "Apply rule on the messages I send" tab and click on the "Next" button. Step 3The "Rules Wizard" will ask "Which condition(s) do you want to check?" Don't check anything and click on "Next". A confirmation screen will pop up, stating that this rule will be applied to every message you send. Click on "Yes". Step 4A new "Rules Wizard" window will open, asking "What do you want to do with the message?" Check the "Defer delivery" box and edit the rule description to select the minutes you want to delay your emails. Step 5Click on the "Next" button, and a new window will open to let you create an exception to this rule. Uncheck every box and click on the "Next" button. In the new "Rules Wizard" window, give a name to this rule and click on the "Finish" button. Apply the rule. Now, if you send an email, Outlook will delay delivery by the specified minutes. The email will stay in the Outbox for this period, during which you can make any changes to the email and send it again. How to Recall an Outlook Email by Adding a Delay A delay can be added to emails you don’t want to send out immediately for whatever reason. If you need to recall an email with an added delay, then follow these steps. Step 1 – Open Outlook After opening Outlook, click File at the top-left corner. Step 2 – Manage Rules & Alerts After clicking on the three dots at the top right corner, hover over Rules and click on Manage Rules & Alerts. Step 3 – Select New Rule You’ll see a window popup that will allow you to set different rules. Select New Rule. Step 4 – Apply Rule A new window will pop up over the old one with many options to choose from. Click on Apply rule on messages I send then on Next. Step 5 – Set Desired Delay At this point, you’ll see various conditions you can choose from, but leave them as-is and click on Next. Then click Yes on the confirmation screen. Click the checkbox next to defer delivery by a number of minutes to activate it. Click the link within the sentence and set your desired delay. Step 6 – Add Exceptions if Needed During this step, you’ll be able to add exceptions. If any of them will benefit you in any way, select them. Otherwise, click Next. Step 7 – Name Your Rule During this last step, you can name your rule. After naming it, click Finish, and your new rule will be saved and activated. How to Find Out if Your Email Recall Has Been Successful When an email is successfully recalled in Outlook, you can easily identify it by the recall success note at the beginning of the email’s subject line. What Does it Mean When You Recall an Email? When you recall an email, it means that you are taking proactive steps to ensure the message does not reach recipients. Recalling an email gives you the chance to prevent an important or confidential message from getting into the wrong hands, or simply undoing a mistake before it’s too late. This process varies based on the email service provider. So how to recall an email in outlook may be different than how to recall an email in Gmail. Here’s a brief message from Kevin Stratver on “How to Recall Mail in Outlook | Undo Send Any Email” if you’re interested in learning through video. It serves as a great complement to this article. Requirements for Recalling a Sent Email in Outlook To successfully recall a sent email in Outlook, both you and your recipient must have Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email accounts within the same organization. So you cannot recall a message sent to Gmail, Yahoo, or any other email clients. Outlook on the Web doesn’t have the feature to recall an email. Messages that are protected by Azure Information Protection cannot be recalled. You should also make a note that you cannot recall messages that have been opened by your recipients. Email Protocols and Recall Limitations Email recall is a valuable feature, but its effectiveness largely depends on the underlying email protocols. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the standard protocol for sending emails, doesn’t inherently support recalling an email once it has left the sender’s outbox. This is why recalling an email is typically only successful within the same email system, such as Microsoft Exchange, used by Outlook. SMTP was created for the purpose of forwarding messages rather than retrieving them. After an email is sent, it travels through multiple servers before arriving at the recipient. This process makes it impossible to “pull back” the email via SMTP once it is in transit. Therefore, the recall function in Outlook works effectively only if both the sender and the recipient are within the same Exchange environment, where the server can intercept and retract the email before it is read. Variations Between Different Versions of Outlook Overall, most of the services offered by Microsoft are not very different and offer similar options. While this guide was made for the latest version of Outlook, you can follow along and may still find the recall option as long as you use the guide as a general outline. If you can’t find this option in your version of Outlook, it may not be supported. Why Does My Email Recall Not Work? Here are a few possible reasons why your email recall doesn’t work: You and the recipient don’t have Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email accounts in the same organization Your recipient has opened the message already The message is redirected to another folder by the recipient or due to any Outlook rule Is recalling an email in different versions of Outlook the same? Yes, recalling an email in different versions of Outlook is consistent. However, in Outlook 2007, some options are labeled a bit differently. If you choose to recall an email in Outlook 2007, you will see the option to “delete unread copies” instead of “recall this message.” Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013 both provide the option to “recall this message.” Does the Recipient Know if You Recall an Email in Microsoft Outlook? Yes, the recipient will know if you recall an email in Outlook. How long does it take to see if a recall succeeds on Outlook? It can take a few seconds to several minutes to see if a recall succeeds on Outlook. The amount of time it takes to process a recall request depends on the size of the email and how many recipients are included. If you’re sending a large message, it can take longer to recall. Additionally, if there are a lot of recipients, Outlook may need to process the recall request for each one, which can also increase the amount of time it takes to see if a recall was successful or not. Is there a deadline for recalling emails in Outlook? No, there is no deadline for recalling emails in Outlook. For a recall attempt to be successful in Outlook, the recipient must not have opened the email. Unfortunately, this means there is no assurance that the recipient won’t open the email before the recall attempt occurs. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to try to recall an email if you made an error or need to revise the content. The Psychology Behind Email Mistakes and How to Prevent Them Sending an email too soon is a frequent mistake that many of us encounter. This often happens because of the fast-paced work environments we operate in, where prompt replies are highly regarded. However, rushing can lead to errors or sending emails to unintended recipients. To mitigate this, it’s essential to adopt a more mindful approach to emailing. One effective method is to compose emails in a draft format first, giving yourself time to review and reflect before sending. Proofreading is not just about checking for grammatical errors but also evaluating the tone and content for appropriateness. Additionally, using tools like Outlook’s delayed send feature can be a safety net, providing a buffer period to cancel or modify emails. Creating a mental checklist or establishing personal guidelines for email communication can be advantageous. For instance, you may choose to avoid sending emails when you are feeling emotional or to take a few minutes to review your email after writing it before hitting send. These small habits can significantly reduce the likelihood of email mistakes. Alternatives to Email Recall in Professional Settings When an email recall is not possible or fails, there are other ways to professionally handle the situation. One direct approach is to send a follow-up email. This email should acknowledge the mistake, offer the correct information if necessary, and apologize for any confusion caused. It’s essential to be clear and concise in your follow-up to avoid further misunderstanding. In scenarios where sensitive information was sent to the wrong recipient, it’s crucial to also inform your IT department or security team. They can guide you on the next steps and, if necessary, involve legal or compliance teams. Another preventative strategy is to utilize email encryption, especially for sensitive or confidential information. Encrypted emails add a layer of security, ensuring that only intended recipients can read the content, even if it lands in the wrong inbox. Lastly, fostering a culture that understands and accepts that email errors can occur is vital. Encouraging double-checking recipient lists and subject lines before sending emails can create a more mindful emailing environment. Conclusion Outlook is an incredibly powerful email tool, but it can be even more useful when you research Outlook productivity tips and know how to use its features to your advantage. With the ability to recall emails, you can ensure that you never send a message that you’ll regret. And while Outlook doesn’t automatically process requests to recall messages, by following the simple steps in this guide, you’ll be able to manually start using this handy feature right away. And while Outlook’s recall feature isn’t perfect, it can still be a lifesaver especially when you can’t unsend an email. To avoid even having to use the recall feature, practice good email etiquette and review messages before you hit “Send” so that you can avoid embarrassing or costly mistakes. How Do I Recall a Message in Outlook Without a Tab? Recalling a message in Outlook without a tab is very simple. All you need to do is click on File and then click on Account Settings. Next, navigate to Email and look for Type options. After making sure it says “Microsoft Exchange/Office 365” account, you’ll see the recall option as long as all features are enabled. How Do I See Recalls in Outlook? To check the status of a recall, simply open the Sent folder, click on the specific email you recalled, and then click on the Tracking button in the bar. Repeat this process for each email you want to check the recall message status on. How Do I Recall an Email in Outlook After 1 Hour? You can recall a message in Outlook as long as the sent email hasn’t been opened by the recipient yet. In this case, all you have to do is go to Message, then Actions, and click Recall This Message. When the popup menu appears, select your desired option to send your recall message request. Can You Recall an Email Already Sent? Yes, you can. To do so, simply open Outlook and go into Sent Items. You’ll then click the email you’d like to recall, select Actions, then click Recall This Message. However, as mentioned above, if the recipient has already opened the email you sent them, then you won’t be able to recall it. How to Make a Mailing List in Outlook? Here is how to make a mailing list in Outlook. First, navigate to Home, then choose New Items > More Items > Contact Group. Within the Contact Group, click on Add Members > From Outlook Contacts. Select a contact from your list and add them to the group by clicking on Members. You can add more members as necessary. Keep in mind that email etiquette is crucial when sending messages to a mailing list. For tips on crafting the ideal message, take a look at these email greeting examples. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Recall an Email in Outlook: A Step by Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Just like everyone else, we all have our share of embarrassing email stories. Perhaps you’re wondering how to recall an email in Outlook after having sent a message to the wrong person, forgetting to enclose an attachment, sending an offensive email in the heat of the moment, or making a silly typo. These are just a few examples of email blunders that many of us would like to correct as soon as we realize them, and the ability to recall an email provides a way to do just that. In this article, we will learn more about how to effectively use this feature and more. A Quick Guide to Recall an Email in Outlook Open Outlook > go to Sent Items > click Message > Actions > Recall This Message. To confirm a recalled message, check the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient check box. You’ll need an Exchange server email and both you and the recipient will need to be using Outlook for this process to work. How to Recall an Outlook Email The following is a step-by-step process to recall an email: Step 1 – Pick the Email in Outlook to Recall the Message Open your Microsoft Outlook and go to the Sent items to pick an email you want to recall. Step 2 – Recall Message In the ribbon area, you will see the Actions tab having an option- Recall This Message. If you have a simplified ribbon, you may not see the Actions tab there. That being the case, open a sent message you want to recall and click on the three dots at the top right side of the ribbon. You will find the Actions tab in the drop-down menu. When you select the Actions tab, an option to Recall This Message tab appears on the right side. Step 3 – Delete Unread Copies and Optionally Create a New Message When you click on the Recall This Message option, a new Outlook window pops up. You have two options to recall your message: Delete unread copies of this message Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message Pick the option you want. In case you want to know if the recall succeeds or fails, check the box for recall succeeds or fails. Click on the Ok button to recall the message. Step 4 – Confirm Recalled Messages You will get a confirmation on the screen to inform you that you have recalled a message. If the message is successfully recalled, you will get a notification. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: StepsHow to Recall an Email in Outlook Step 1Open your Microsoft Outlook and go to the "Sent Items" folder to select the email you want to recall. Step 2In the ribbon area, find the "Actions" tab and select "Recall This Message". If you have a simplified ribbon, open the sent message you want to recall, click on the three dots at the top right side of the ribbon, and find the "Actions" tab in the drop-down menu. Step 3Once you click "Recall This Message", a new Outlook window will appear with two options: "Delete unread copies of this message" or "Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message". Choose your preferred option. If you want to know whether the recall succeeds or fails, check the respective box. Click "OK" to recall the message. Step 4After recalling the message, you will receive a confirmation notification. If the recall is successful, you will receive a success notification. Recalling a Message in Outlook on the Web Outlook on the web doesn’t have a recall option for sent items. But you can undo send within 10 seconds. Here is how to do it: Step 1 – View All Outlook Settings Click on the cog icon in Outlook on the web and go to the View All Outlook Settings menu. Step 2 – Set Undo Send Cancellation Period Navigate to the Compose and Reply section, then scroll through the drop-down list to locate the Undo send option. Set the cancellation period to 10 seconds. Presently, you cannot have a cancellation period of more than 10 seconds. Step 3 – Undo the Send Button Write an email in Outlook on the web and send it. On the bottom of the email pane, you will see the Sending pop-up window with an Undo option. Click on the Undo button to stop sending the message. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: StepsRecalling a Message in Outlook on the Web Step 1Click on the cog icon in the upper right corner of the Outlook on the web interface and select "View All Outlook Settings". Step 2Navigate to the "Compose and Reply" section. Scroll down until you find the "Undo send" option. Set the cancellation period to 10 seconds. Note that currently, the maximum cancellation period is 10 seconds. Step 3Compose an email and hit "Send". A "Sending" pop-up window with an "Undo" option will appear at the bottom of the email pane. Click on the "Undo" button within the cancellation period (10 seconds) to stop the message from being sent. Alternatives to Recalling a Sent Outlook Email If you are not able to use the recall feature in Outlook, the following are a few alternatives to recalling a sent Outlook message: Send an Honest Apology Email To make a mistake is only human. If you realize your mistake soon enough, the best option is to send an honest apology email. Be sure to explain in detail why you are apologizing and how you will make sure it doesn’t happen in the future. You could also offer to help resolve any issues or problems that may have been caused by your mistake. Request a Follow-Up Conversation If you think it might be better to address the situation in person or on the phone, you can ask for a follow-up conversation. This will give you the chance to explain the situation and apologize in person or on the phone. Delay Sending Your Outlook Emails Multiple factors determine the fate of a recall request. So many a time, email recall fails. A safe alternative is to delay sending your Outlook emails. This will give you enough time to review your email message later to check if everything is right. Here is how to defer the delivery of your emails in Outlook: Step 1 – Manage Rules & Alerts Click on the three dots at the right corner of your ribbon, then hover on Rules. Click on the Manage Rules & Alerts tab. Step 2 – Applying New Rules Click on the New Rule tab in the Rules and Alerts pop-up. A new Rules Wizard window will open. Select the Apply rule on the Messages I Send tab and click on the Next button. Step 3 – Confirm Application of Rules Now, the Rules wizard will ask which condition(s) do you want to check. Don’t check anything and click on the next. A confirmation screen will pop up, stating that this rule will be applied to every message you send. Click on Yes. Step 4 – Defer Delivery A new Rules wizard window will open, asking you what you want to do with the message. Check the defer delivery box and edit the rule description to select the minutes you want to delay your sending emails. Step 5 – Name and Turn the Rule On Click on the Next button, and a new window will open to let you create an exception to this rule. Uncheck every box and click on the Next button. In the new Rules Wizard window, you can give a name to this rule. Click on the Finish button. And apply the rule. Now, if you send an email, Outlook will delay delivery by 5 minutes. The email will stay in the Outbox for this period, and you can make any change to the email and send it again. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: StepsHow to Delay Sending Your Outlook Emails Step 1Click on the three dots at the right corner of your ribbon, then hover over "Rules". Click on the "Manage Rules & Alerts" tab. Step 2Click on the "New Rule" tab in the "Rules and Alerts" pop-up. A new "Rules Wizard" window will open. Select the "Apply rule on the messages I send" tab and click on the "Next" button. Step 3The "Rules Wizard" will ask "Which condition(s) do you want to check?" Don't check anything and click on "Next". A confirmation screen will pop up, stating that this rule will be applied to every message you send. Click on "Yes". Step 4A new "Rules Wizard" window will open, asking "What do you want to do with the message?" Check the "Defer delivery" box and edit the rule description to select the minutes you want to delay your emails. Step 5Click on the "Next" button, and a new window will open to let you create an exception to this rule. Uncheck every box and click on the "Next" button. In the new "Rules Wizard" window, give a name to this rule and click on the "Finish" button. Apply the rule. Now, if you send an email, Outlook will delay delivery by the specified minutes. The email will stay in the Outbox for this period, during which you can make any changes to the email and send it again. How to Recall an Outlook Email by Adding a Delay A delay can be added to emails you don’t want to send out immediately for whatever reason. If you need to recall an email with an added delay, then follow these steps. Step 1 – Open Outlook After opening Outlook, click File at the top-left corner. Step 2 – Manage Rules & Alerts After clicking on the three dots at the top right corner, hover over Rules and click on Manage Rules & Alerts. Step 3 – Select New Rule You’ll see a window popup that will allow you to set different rules. Select New Rule. Step 4 – Apply Rule A new window will pop up over the old one with many options to choose from. Click on Apply rule on messages I send then on Next. Step 5 – Set Desired Delay At this point, you’ll see various conditions you can choose from, but leave them as-is and click on Next. Then click Yes on the confirmation screen. Click the checkbox next to defer delivery by a number of minutes to activate it. Click the link within the sentence and set your desired delay. Step 6 – Add Exceptions if Needed During this step, you’ll be able to add exceptions. If any of them will benefit you in any way, select them. Otherwise, click Next. Step 7 – Name Your Rule During this last step, you can name your rule. After naming it, click Finish, and your new rule will be saved and activated. How to Find Out if Your Email Recall Has Been Successful When an email is successfully recalled in Outlook, you can easily identify it by the recall success note at the beginning of the email’s subject line. What Does it Mean When You Recall an Email? When you recall an email, it means that you are taking proactive steps to ensure the message does not reach recipients. Recalling an email gives you the chance to prevent an important or confidential message from getting into the wrong hands, or simply undoing a mistake before it’s too late. This process varies based on the email service provider. So how to recall an email in outlook may be different than how to recall an email in Gmail. Here’s a brief message from Kevin Stratver on “How to Recall Mail in Outlook | Undo Send Any Email” if you’re interested in learning through video. It serves as a great complement to this article. Requirements for Recalling a Sent Email in Outlook To successfully recall a sent email in Outlook, both you and your recipient must have Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email accounts within the same organization. So you cannot recall a message sent to Gmail, Yahoo, or any other email clients. Outlook on the Web doesn’t have the feature to recall an email. Messages that are protected by Azure Information Protection cannot be recalled. You should also make a note that you cannot recall messages that have been opened by your recipients. Email Protocols and Recall Limitations Email recall is a valuable feature, but its effectiveness largely depends on the underlying email protocols. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the standard protocol for sending emails, doesn’t inherently support recalling an email once it has left the sender’s outbox. This is why recalling an email is typically only successful within the same email system, such as Microsoft Exchange, used by Outlook. SMTP was created for the purpose of forwarding messages rather than retrieving them. After an email is sent, it travels through multiple servers before arriving at the recipient. This process makes it impossible to “pull back” the email via SMTP once it is in transit. Therefore, the recall function in Outlook works effectively only if both the sender and the recipient are within the same Exchange environment, where the server can intercept and retract the email before it is read. Variations Between Different Versions of Outlook Overall, most of the services offered by Microsoft are not very different and offer similar options. While this guide was made for the latest version of Outlook, you can follow along and may still find the recall option as long as you use the guide as a general outline. If you can’t find this option in your version of Outlook, it may not be supported. Why Does My Email Recall Not Work? Here are a few possible reasons why your email recall doesn’t work: You and the recipient don’t have Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email accounts in the same organization Your recipient has opened the message already The message is redirected to another folder by the recipient or due to any Outlook rule Is recalling an email in different versions of Outlook the same? Yes, recalling an email in different versions of Outlook is consistent. However, in Outlook 2007, some options are labeled a bit differently. If you choose to recall an email in Outlook 2007, you will see the option to “delete unread copies” instead of “recall this message.” Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013 both provide the option to “recall this message.” Does the Recipient Know if You Recall an Email in Microsoft Outlook? Yes, the recipient will know if you recall an email in Outlook. How long does it take to see if a recall succeeds on Outlook? It can take a few seconds to several minutes to see if a recall succeeds on Outlook. The amount of time it takes to process a recall request depends on the size of the email and how many recipients are included. If you’re sending a large message, it can take longer to recall. Additionally, if there are a lot of recipients, Outlook may need to process the recall request for each one, which can also increase the amount of time it takes to see if a recall was successful or not. Is there a deadline for recalling emails in Outlook? No, there is no deadline for recalling emails in Outlook. For a recall attempt to be successful in Outlook, the recipient must not have opened the email. Unfortunately, this means there is no assurance that the recipient won’t open the email before the recall attempt occurs. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to try to recall an email if you made an error or need to revise the content. The Psychology Behind Email Mistakes and How to Prevent Them Sending an email too soon is a frequent mistake that many of us encounter. This often happens because of the fast-paced work environments we operate in, where prompt replies are highly regarded. However, rushing can lead to errors or sending emails to unintended recipients. To mitigate this, it’s essential to adopt a more mindful approach to emailing. One effective method is to compose emails in a draft format first, giving yourself time to review and reflect before sending. Proofreading is not just about checking for grammatical errors but also evaluating the tone and content for appropriateness. Additionally, using tools like Outlook’s delayed send feature can be a safety net, providing a buffer period to cancel or modify emails. Creating a mental checklist or establishing personal guidelines for email communication can be advantageous. For instance, you may choose to avoid sending emails when you are feeling emotional or to take a few minutes to review your email after writing it before hitting send. These small habits can significantly reduce the likelihood of email mistakes. Alternatives to Email Recall in Professional Settings When an email recall is not possible or fails, there are other ways to professionally handle the situation. One direct approach is to send a follow-up email. This email should acknowledge the mistake, offer the correct information if necessary, and apologize for any confusion caused. It’s essential to be clear and concise in your follow-up to avoid further misunderstanding. In scenarios where sensitive information was sent to the wrong recipient, it’s crucial to also inform your IT department or security team. They can guide you on the next steps and, if necessary, involve legal or compliance teams. Another preventative strategy is to utilize email encryption, especially for sensitive or confidential information. Encrypted emails add a layer of security, ensuring that only intended recipients can read the content, even if it lands in the wrong inbox. Lastly, fostering a culture that understands and accepts that email errors can occur is vital. Encouraging double-checking recipient lists and subject lines before sending emails can create a more mindful emailing environment. Conclusion Outlook is an incredibly powerful email tool, but it can be even more useful when you research Outlook productivity tips and know how to use its features to your advantage. With the ability to recall emails, you can ensure that you never send a message that you’ll regret. And while Outlook doesn’t automatically process requests to recall messages, by following the simple steps in this guide, you’ll be able to manually start using this handy feature right away. And while Outlook’s recall feature isn’t perfect, it can still be a lifesaver especially when you can’t unsend an email. To avoid even having to use the recall feature, practice good email etiquette and review messages before you hit “Send” so that you can avoid embarrassing or costly mistakes. How Do I Recall a Message in Outlook Without a Tab? Recalling a message in Outlook without a tab is very simple. All you need to do is click on File and then click on Account Settings. Next, navigate to Email and look for Type options. After making sure it says “Microsoft Exchange/Office 365” account, you’ll see the recall option as long as all features are enabled. How Do I See Recalls in Outlook? To check the status of a recall, simply open the Sent folder, click on the specific email you recalled, and then click on the Tracking button in the bar. Repeat this process for each email you want to check the recall message status on. How Do I Recall an Email in Outlook After 1 Hour? You can recall a message in Outlook as long as the sent email hasn’t been opened by the recipient yet. In this case, all you have to do is go to Message, then Actions, and click Recall This Message. When the popup menu appears, select your desired option to send your recall message request. Can You Recall an Email Already Sent? Yes, you can. To do so, simply open Outlook and go into Sent Items. You’ll then click the email you’d like to recall, select Actions, then click Recall This Message. However, as mentioned above, if the recipient has already opened the email you sent them, then you won’t be able to recall it. How to Make a Mailing List in Outlook? Here is how to make a mailing list in Outlook. First, navigate to Home, then choose New Items > More Items > Contact Group. Within the Contact Group, click on Add Members > From Outlook Contacts. Select a contact from your list and add them to the group by clicking on Members. You can add more members as necessary. Keep in mind that email etiquette is crucial when sending messages to a mailing list. For tips on crafting the ideal message, take a look at these email greeting examples. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Recall an Email in Outlook: A Step by Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article