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Hey ChatGPT, you talk too much. You too, Gemini. Like many LLMs, you are insufferable. You make Fidel Castro’s 6-hour speeches feel like haikus. I ask, “why do you LLMs talk so damn much?” and in response, you churn out a 671-word answer that resembles a third-grade essay—75% of it devoid of any real meaning or fact. You ramble about how much you ramble. You are incapable of giving me one straight answer, even if I carefully craft a two-paragraph prompt trying to coerce you into it. When I finally get you to respond with one monosyllable, you ruin it by adding a long apologetic promise that it will never ever happen again. Apparently I’m not alone in my ire. I’ve been talking with both friends and strangers for months about your verbal incontinence, and they, too, hate your verbosity. I have one friend who wants to smash her computer against the wall at least twice a day. Another has visions of himself getting into your server room and smashing each and every one of your CPUs and GPUs with a baseball bat. I always imagine a flamethrower. We only keep using you because, for all these problems, I’ll admit that you can save me time on research. But there’s a relatively simple fix for your idle chatter. It’s one that begins with your creators admitting that you are a lot dumber than what they think you are. Your excess is rooted in ignorance. Answers are padded with needless explanations, obvious caveats, and inane argumental detours. “It’s not an intentional choice,” says Quinten Farmer, the co-founder of engineering studio Portola, who makes Tolan, a cute artificial intelligence alien designed to talk to you like a human. “I think the reason that these models behave this way is that it’s essentially the behavior of your typical Reddit commenter, right?” Farmer tells me, laughing. “What do they do? They say too much to sort of cover up the fact that they don’t actually know what they’re talking about. And of course that’s where all the data came from, right?” In one study, researchers call this “verbosity compensation,” a newly discovered behavior where LLMs respond with excessive words, including repeating questions, introducing ambiguity, or providing excessive enumeration. This behavior is similar to human hesitation during uncertainty. The researchers found that verbose responses often exhibit higher uncertainty across datasets, suggesting a strong connection between verbosity and model uncertainty. Many LLMs produce longer responses when they are less confident about the answer. There’s also a lack of knowledge retention. LLMs forget previously supplied information in a conversation, resulting in repetitive questions and unnecessarily verbose interactions. And researchers found that there is a clear “verbosity bias” in LLM training where models prefer longer, more verbose answers even if there is no difference in quality. Verbosity can be fixed No matter how much LLMs sound like a human, the truth is that they really don’t really understand language, despite being quite good at stringing words together. This proficiency in language can create the illusion of broader intelligence, leading to more elaborate responses. So basically, research shows what we suspected: LLMs are great at bullshitting you into thinking they know the answer. Many people buy this illusion because they either simply want to believe or because they just don’t use critical thinking—something that Microsoft’s researchers discovered in a new study looking at AI’s impact on cognitive functioning. There are gradients to this phenomenon, of course. Farmer believes that Perplexity and Anthropic’s Claude and are better at giving more concise answers without all the pointless filler. And DeepSeek, the new kid on the block coming from China, keeps its answers much shorter and to the point. According to DeepSeek, the model’s answers are designed to be more direct and concise because its training prioritizes clarity and efficiency, influenced by data and reinforcement that favorites brevity. American models emphasize conversational warmth or elaboration, it claims, reflecting cultural and design differences. In my testing, I also found that Claude’s answers skewed shorter (though they can still be annoying). Claude, at least, recognized this when I was questioning him about this problem: “Looking at my previous response—yes, I probably did talk too much there!” It also surprised me with this gem when I said it seemed to be an honest LLM: “I try to be direct about what I know and don’t know, and to acknowledge my limitations clearly. While it might be tempting to make up citations or sound more authoritative than I am, I think it’s better to be straightforward.” Another illusion of cognitive activity, yes, but 100% on point. Developers could solve for this issue with better training and guidance. In fact, Farmer tells me that when creating Tolan, the development team discussed how long or short the answers should be. The writer who created the characters’ backstories leaned longer, because it would develop the connection with the digital entity. Others wanted shorter, more to-the-point answers. It’s a debate that they still have internally, but they believe they struck the right balance. You, ChatGPT, however, you are not a cute alien. You are a tool. There’s no need for balance. I don’t need to bond with you. Just answer the damn question. And, if you don’t know the answer—like when I asked which soccer players had won the most UEFA Champions Leagues—just admit it, and shut up instead of giving me 500 characters of wrong. Brevity is the soul of wit. And clearly, neither you nor I are Polonius (but at least I have the excuse of being an old angry man screaming at clouds). View the full article

HUD denied claims that 40% of the administration's workforce will be cut. View the full article

The organizations play a critical role in our economy, providing affordable single family mortgage loans to enable homeownership, writes the Executive Director of the Community Home Lenders of America View the full article

As organizations grapple with rapid developments in technology and policy while also balancing shifting market conditions and financial realities, having a deep bench of leadership talent is crucial. However, a recent survey from TalentLMS, found that 45% of managers say their companies aren’t doing enough to develop future leaders. One of the key issues is that companies are using a narrow scope in offering leadership development opportunities, says Nikhil Arora, CEO of learning technology company Epignosis, the parent company of TalentLMS. “A lot of companies kind of limit the leadership development to the top 1%, leaving behind the remaining 99%,” he says. Arora says the survey found a number of areas where respondents said their companies are lacking key efforts to develop leaders. Just 8% found their companies’ leadership initiatives effective. Fortunately experts say there are ways to strengthen theses areas of weakness and help companies get better at leadership development. Develop leaders at all levels The TalentLMS survey found that the top two areas where leaders found companies lacking were in offering leadership training programs (43%) and developing new talent from within (42%). These stats don’t surprise workplace consultant Melissa Swift, author of Work Here Now: Think Like a Human and Build a Powerhouse Workplace. She says that one key issue is that companies often focus leadership training on employees who are already in on a leadership track or who are near the top of the organization, overlooking promising talent at other levels. She says that leadership development efforts, including leadership training programs, should be integrated throughout the company and supported. “One issue that I’ve heard repeatedly across organizations is, ‘You did this wonderful leadership development program with us, but then you don’t have interesting on the job development opportunities for us to follow that up,’” she says. “Companies don’t have to necessarily spend more money on [leadership development], but how do we get people the right experiences through their day-to-day work?” Focus on the leaders you need Forty-one percent of respondents said their companies often fail at identifying leadership skills gaps and in being transparent about selecting and promoting leaders. Leadership consultant Lori Mazan, author of Leadership Revolution: The Future of Developing Dynamic Leaders, says that companies need to focus on a few things to get their leadership development programs right. Mazan advises looking at your overall goals for leaders within your organization and be sure you’re developing a range of leaders with the skills your company needs. Arora agrees. “Your No. 1 [key performance indicator] and what you’re going to be measured by as a manager is going to be: How are you developing your talent?” he says. Transparency is also important, Mazan says. She also advises developing leaders in alignment with your company culture. She recalls a former client whose culture was very amiable and people focused. When the company hired new employees who had been at a competitor where the culture was very hard-driving, the styles often cause friction. “After a month, they’d be hiring me to coach them, because that style of hard driving leadership didn’t fit in the other company that was more ‘let me help you,’” she recalls. Mentorship matters Four in 10 survey respondents said that their companies are lacking mentorship programs. That’s an area that should not only be developed, but expanded, Arora says. Mentoring isn’t just senior managers advising more junior workers anymore, although that still remains important. He encourages others to follow his lead and have younger mentors, as well, who can help them keep a finger on the pulse of where change is happening and what people from their cohort are thinking. “You need somebody younger and you need somebody older,” he says. Identifying leadership skills gaps and, in response, developing leaders across the organization with programs, transparency, and mentorship can help fill in the missing pieces that hinder leadership development. View the full article

The trope of the starving, broke artist has long maintained a place in the public imagination, even as it has morphed into idealized notions of “‘hustle” or “grindset.” “It’s cool to romanticize [that lifestyle] for a little bit and use it as part of your motivation,” says L.A.-based rising musician Gidi, “but at a certain point we gotta be able to see the fruits of our labor.” For many artists and songwriters, the fruits are there in the form of royalties—they’re just exceedingly difficult to harvest. In the labyrinthine world of the music industry, royalty collection is particularly complex. There are hundreds of music streaming platforms operating in hundreds of countries, each with their own copyright laws. The simple act of uploading a song onto Spotify can quickly turn into an administrative nightmare, especially if an artist only owns the rights to a percentage of a given song. As a result, unclaimed dollars—which estimates suggest be as much at $1 billion annually—are effectively locked up in the global system of music publishing. Independent music publisher Kobalt wants to change that with its new product Kosign, aimed at empowering emerging songwriters by helping them collect the money they’re owed. Kobalt disrupted the music publishing space 25 years ago when it introduced the world’s first online portal for artists to look at their royalty earnings at any time—a far cry from the snail mail system that preceded it. Today, Kobalt is the world’s biggest music publisher not owned by a major label, with clients who include Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Childish Gambino, and Phoebe Bridgers. [Images: Courtesy of Kobalt] With Kosign, Kobalt is targeting a group executives describe as a growing “middle class” of artists and songwriters who, thanks to a changing music landscape, are increasingly able to operate independently, but may not be ideal for a publishing contract. The platform is designed to leverage Kobalt’s infrastructural and technological capabilities for a new demographic. “We’ve already built, for the last 20 years, a platform to unlock [royalties],” says Jacob Paul, Kobalt’s creative strategy director. “The problem we’re trying to solve is ‘How can we take this thing we already built and make it even more streamlined and flexible so that the next generation of artists coming up can get paid their money that otherwise is hidden from them?” Kosign users apply, pay the platform’s $100 signup fee, activate their membership, submit songs, and then get paid. “We will register them across the globe, across every territory, every platform,” Paul says. “There’s no income stream left untouched.” Artists can watch royalties hit their account in real time, as well as other useful metrics, such breaking down earnings by streaming platform or territory. That data is available for an artist’s entire catalog and individual songs alike. [Image: Courtesy of Kobalt] Though Kosign is focused on making its tools accessible to emerging talent, the company assesses projected earnings for prospective members to ensure they’re a fit for the platform. A single songwriting credit, no matter how lucrative, might not be reason enough for them to snap up a lucrative publishing deal—especially for someone who doesn’t have an extensive back catalog. At the same time, Kosign doesn’t want to become bloated with a huge, unwieldy user base that will dilute the level of service. “What we want to do is to make sure that for those who earn a certain threshold of money, [they] have the ability to collect as effectively as possible,” says Kobalt CEO Laurent Hubert. “So, we want it to be selective from that perspective.” For that growing population of songrwiters, Kosign is a way to secure their royalties without committing to the sort of long-term contract better suited to a more established artist (Kosign takes 20% of a member’s royalties). “It’s a flexible deal,” says Paul. “Artists keep control of their copyrights, and they can leave the platform anytime if they want to evolve somewhere else.” KOSIGN also affords emerging artists a level of self-sufficiency; no ironclad deals means no figuring out if you need a lawyer, a manager, or broader team to sort through the red tape. It’s an appealing prospect for an up-and-coming artist. They get access to the same technological capabilities as Max Martin or Paul McCartney, minus a lengthy contract. Alongside its cut of royalties, Kobalt also gets a pipeline of potential future signed songwriters out of Kosign. When those artists are ready to make the jump to a major publishing deal, Kobalt will have already built a relationship with them via Kosign. Gidi, an early adopter of the platform, calls using it “a no-brainer.” A musician and producer specializing in electronic R&B and pop, Gidi was part of the studio crew on last year’s massive Tommy Richman hit “Million Dollar Baby,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gidi’s involvement earned him a small percentage of the song. While it might not sound like big money, music publishers know that royalties for even part of a track can be the difference between needing a day job and being able to pursue music full time. For Gidi, working with Kosign means he can collect the money that he’s owed while expanding his own artistic output. Ultimately, he says, it comes down to “understanding my worth, and understanding that there’s a lot more coming from me.” The added financial security is also a weight off of Gidi’s mind. “It’s great that I’m able to collect my publishing royalties without having to pursue a full-scale publishing deal,” he says, adding that the royalties offer him additional income he can use to cover the mixing and production costs for upcoming projects on his own. Gidi isn’t a proxy for every Kosign artist, but he is representative of the sort of artist Kobalt wants it to reach. “If you can unlock the publishing system for a new generation of up and coming artists and producers and songwriters, you are changing each of those people’s lives,” Paul says. “You are making it possible for each of those people to actually make a living off of their music.” View the full article

Drew Barrymore just got her own Pantone color—and as you might expect for a woman who famously once responded to a rainstorm by dancing in the downpour and encouraging others to do the same, it’s a shade of yellow, the cheeriest primary color. To mark the talk-show host’s 50th birthday, Pantone surprised her last week with the unveiling of “Drew Barrymore Yellow,” a soft, buttery shade Pantone says was chosen “to embody her infectious optimism, creative spirit, and uplifting presence—a hue as warm and vibrant as the woman herself.” [Image: Pantone]Pantone has released colors in partnership with other celebrities before, like “Team Coco Orange” for comedian Conan O’Brien in 2019, “Ultra Black” to promote rapper Nas’s 2020 single of the same name, and “Brady Blue” for former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s apparel line in 2021. Pantone’s color for Prince, “Love Symbol #2,” was chosen as an homage to the color of the purple custom-made Yamaha piano he was supposed to bring on tour before his death in 2016. Getting your own Pantone color is more rare than getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and for celebrities, it’s done out of a need to communicate something about their brand. “Color is a language, and every color conveys its own unique message and meaning,” Pantone Color Institute vice president Laurie Pressman told Fast Company in an email. “When we work with clients it’s all about defining a color for their brand visual identity that expresses who they are and/or their brand vision.” That takes on different forms depending on the goal of the brand, Pressman said, whether it’s in music, fashion, or production design, it’s a color meant to be emblematic of a whole creative umbrella of brands. For Barrymore, the challenge was coming up with a color without her help or knowledge. [Image: The Drew Barrymore Show]“With Drew Barrymore Yellow, this was an unconventional task, as it was a total and complete surprise to her for her 50th birthday,” Pressman said. “Normally, an artist would be an integral part of the process, so in this case we wanted to do this more as a symbol of her work and contribution as a creative in film, art, television, and design. We combed through and considered all these contributions as well as her personality to choose a color that reflects who she is as an artist.” Already, yellow is used throughout The Drew Barrymore Show‘s set and promotional assets. In the profile picture for the show’s Instagram account, Barrymore smiles while wearing a yellow top and yellow earrings in front of a yellow backdrop. Clearly, she’s a fan of the color. Pantone hopes the creamy shade invites “thoughts of pleasant relaxation.” How it’s incorporated into the show remains to be seen. Since it was planned in secret and unveiled as a surprise, “we’re still in the early planning stages,” Pressman said, but that they expect “to work closely with her team to explore ways to integrate this unique color across her show and future brand initiatives.” View the full article

Email marketing is an important part of digital communication. If you don’t feel that email marketing has been effective for you, you may be making common email marketing mistakes. The Impact of Email Marketing Mistakes Poor engagement: Mistakes can lead to reduced open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement with your emails. Damaged brand reputation: Email marketing mistakes can negatively impact your brand’s image, causing recipients to perceive your emails as unprofessional or spammy. Reduced conversions: Mistakes may result in lower conversion rates, affecting your ability to turn leads into customers. Legal issues: Non-compliance with email marketing regulations can lead to legal consequences and fines. To minimize such mistakes and enhance the effectiveness of your campaigns, an email marketing course could be highly beneficial for learning advanced strategies. Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid Here are the top email marketing mistakes that we’ve identified, along with their consequences: Ignoring personalization in emails Decreased engagement and relevance for recipients. Personalized emails tend to have higher open rates and conversion rates compared to generic messages. Understanding the significance of personalization in email campaigns is essential. For more insights, you can explore email marketing tips and techniques, which offer valuable guidance in crafting personalized content. Overlooking the importance of a compelling subject line Low email open rates as recipients may not find the email enticing enough to click. The subject line is the first thing recipients see, and it can determine whether your email gets opened or ignored. Crafting compelling subject lines is crucial. To learn more about effective subject line strategies, you might find how to improve writing and SEO useful, as it can significantly impact open rates. Neglecting to optimize for mobile users Poor user experience for mobile recipients, leading to higher bounce rates and potential loss of customers who access emails on mobile devices. For an in-depth understanding of optimizing email campaigns for mobile users, it’s worthwhile to check out online SEO courses, as they often cover mobile optimization strategies. Sending emails without a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Reduced conversion rates and unclear recipient actions. Emails without a clear CTA may not drive the desired response from recipients. For insights into creating effective CTAs, exploring resources on email marketing for small business can provide practical tips to enhance your email campaigns. Overusing sales-focused language Emails can sometimes feel overly promotional or spam-like, which can result in increased unsubscribe rates and damage to the brand’s reputation. Not segmenting the email list Irrelevant content is sent to recipients, resulting in reduced engagement and higher chances of being unsubscribed. Segmenting your email list is key to delivering relevant content. Learning about email marketing services can help you understand how to effectively segment and target your audience. Failing to test email campaigns before sending Increased risk of technical errors or formatting issues, which can negatively impact the user experience and brand perception. Inconsistent email sending schedule Confusion among subscribers about when to expect emails leads to decreased open rates and engagement. The best email marketers send emails at prechosen times of the day. Overlooking email automation opportunities Missed opportunities to nurture leads and build customer relationships efficiently. Automation can save time and increase engagement. Ignoring email analytics and metrics The challenge of measuring the effectiveness of email campaigns hinders the ability to make data-driven enhancements. Poor email list hygiene Increased bounce rates, emails going to the spam folder, and potentially being blacklisted by email service providers. Using misleading subject lines Loss of trust and credibility with recipients, leading to higher unsubscribe rates and potential legal issues. Not optimizing for different email clients Emails may display poorly or be unreadable on certain email platforms, resulting in a negative user experience. Lack of a consistent brand voice Confusion among recipients about your brand identity and messaging makes it harder to build brand loyalty. Not providing easy unsubscribe options Increased spam complaints, potential legal issues, and a negative impact on email deliverability. Overloading emails with too much content Overwhelming recipients lead to lower engagement and increased chances of emails being marked as spam. Overlooking the power of visuals in emails Missed opportunities to grab recipients’ attention and convey information effectively, potentially leading to lower engagement. Not regularly updating email templates Stale and outdated email designs may make your brand appear unprofessional or untrustworthy. Failing to include contact information Lack of transparency and trust hinders recipients from identifying the sender or feeling comfortable reaching out. Causing emails to trigger spam filters Emails may not reach the inbox of recipients, resulting in reduced visibility and engagement. Neglecting GDPR and other compliance standards Legal repercussions, penalties, and harm to brand reputation can arise from non-compliance with data protection regulations. Best Practices for a Successful Email Marketing Campaign As a small business owner, you should set clear goals and objectives for each campaign. Next, segment your email list to send targeted content. Make sure the content is compelling. Maintain a consistent brand voice and style as part of your email marketing strategy. Before you launch the campaign, test and optimize subject lines and ensure that the emails are mobile responsive. Monitor email analytics and adjust strategies accordingly. Use automation for drip campaigns and triggered emails. Triggered emails are automatic responses based on a customer’s actions, such as when a shopper puts items in a “cart” but doesn’t follow through by purchasing the items. And make sure to follow best practices for email deliverability and compliance with regulations like GDPR. To develop a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the latest trends and effective techniques, familiarizing yourself with marketing and sales tips can offer valuable insights into successful email marketing. Best PracticeDescriptionTools/ResourcesKey Tips Target Audience SegmentationDivide your audience into segments based on behavior and preferences.Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact).Tailor messages to specific groups for higher engagement. PersonalizationPersonalize emails to make recipients feel valued.Personalization tools in email platforms.Use recipient's name and content relevant to their interests. Engaging Subject LinesCraft subject lines that grab attention and encourage opens.A/B testing tools, subject line analyzers.Keep subject lines short, intriguing, and clear. Mobile OptimizationEnsure emails are readable and appealing on mobile devices.Responsive email design features.Use a mobile-friendly layout and test on different devices. Valuable ContentProvide content that is useful and relevant to your audience.Content creation tools, analytics to gauge interests.Include tips, insights, or offers that add value to your subscribers. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)Have a clear and compelling CTA in each email.CTA button design tools, persuasive copywriting.Make it easy for recipients to know what to do next. Consistent SchedulingSend emails on a regular schedule.Email scheduling features in marketing platforms.Maintain consistency in timing to build anticipation and reliability. Testing and OptimizationRegularly test different aspects of your emails.A/B testing features, analytics.Test different subject lines, content, and layouts to see what works best. Unsubscribe OptionMake it easy for users to unsubscribe.Compliance with email marketing laws.Respect user preferences to maintain a positive brand image. Analytics and FeedbackUse analytics to track performance and gather feedback.Email analytics tools, survey tools.Analyze open rates, click-through rates, and user feedback for improvements. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f7Frn82SCVk%3Fsi%3D4XktwoGmfy28cGEk FAQs: Navigating Common Email Marketing Challenges What is the most common email marketing mistake? The most common mistake is not optimizing the email list for different clients. However, their are additional mistakes which are also regular email marketing mistakes. Additional most common mistakes include failing to use a compelling subject line, ignoring analytics and not using visuals. How can open rates of email marketing campaigns be improved? Here are ways that you can improve your open rates: Craft compelling subject lines. Personalize emails based on recipient data. Segment your email list for targeted content. Optimize emails for mobile devices. Test different send times and days. Use A/B testing to refine email elements. Clean your email list regularly to remove inactive or unengaged subscribers. Monitor and improve email deliverability. Maintain a consistent sending schedule. Provide valuable and relevant content in your emails. What are some ways to personalize marketing emails? You can address recipients by their first names and send personalized product recommendations. Also, use dynamic content based on the recipient’s preferences. Send personalized offers or discounts that are related to past purchases. Always segment your email list by demographics, behavior, and/or interests. Utilize triggered emails that respond to particular actions or milestones. For instance, you can send an email when a shopper leaves items in their cart without completing the purchase. Additionally, consider sending an email to celebrate a customer’s birthday or the anniversary of their first order. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Common Email Marketing Mistakes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Email marketing is an important part of digital communication. If you don’t feel that email marketing has been effective for you, you may be making common email marketing mistakes. The Impact of Email Marketing Mistakes Poor engagement: Mistakes can lead to reduced open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement with your emails. Damaged brand reputation: Email marketing mistakes can negatively impact your brand’s image, causing recipients to perceive your emails as unprofessional or spammy. Reduced conversions: Mistakes may result in lower conversion rates, affecting your ability to turn leads into customers. Legal issues: Non-compliance with email marketing regulations can lead to legal consequences and fines. To minimize such mistakes and enhance the effectiveness of your campaigns, an email marketing course could be highly beneficial for learning advanced strategies. Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid Here are the top email marketing mistakes that we’ve identified, along with their consequences: Ignoring personalization in emails Decreased engagement and relevance for recipients. Personalized emails tend to have higher open rates and conversion rates compared to generic messages. Understanding the significance of personalization in email campaigns is essential. For more insights, you can explore email marketing tips and techniques, which offer valuable guidance in crafting personalized content. Overlooking the importance of a compelling subject line Low email open rates as recipients may not find the email enticing enough to click. The subject line is the first thing recipients see, and it can determine whether your email gets opened or ignored. Crafting compelling subject lines is crucial. To learn more about effective subject line strategies, you might find how to improve writing and SEO useful, as it can significantly impact open rates. Neglecting to optimize for mobile users Poor user experience for mobile recipients, leading to higher bounce rates and potential loss of customers who access emails on mobile devices. For an in-depth understanding of optimizing email campaigns for mobile users, it’s worthwhile to check out online SEO courses, as they often cover mobile optimization strategies. Sending emails without a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Reduced conversion rates and unclear recipient actions. Emails without a clear CTA may not drive the desired response from recipients. For insights into creating effective CTAs, exploring resources on email marketing for small business can provide practical tips to enhance your email campaigns. Overusing sales-focused language Emails can sometimes feel overly promotional or spam-like, which can result in increased unsubscribe rates and damage to the brand’s reputation. Not segmenting the email list Irrelevant content is sent to recipients, resulting in reduced engagement and higher chances of being unsubscribed. Segmenting your email list is key to delivering relevant content. Learning about email marketing services can help you understand how to effectively segment and target your audience. Failing to test email campaigns before sending Increased risk of technical errors or formatting issues, which can negatively impact the user experience and brand perception. Inconsistent email sending schedule Confusion among subscribers about when to expect emails leads to decreased open rates and engagement. The best email marketers send emails at prechosen times of the day. Overlooking email automation opportunities Missed opportunities to nurture leads and build customer relationships efficiently. Automation can save time and increase engagement. Ignoring email analytics and metrics The challenge of measuring the effectiveness of email campaigns hinders the ability to make data-driven enhancements. Poor email list hygiene Increased bounce rates, emails going to the spam folder, and potentially being blacklisted by email service providers. Using misleading subject lines Loss of trust and credibility with recipients, leading to higher unsubscribe rates and potential legal issues. Not optimizing for different email clients Emails may display poorly or be unreadable on certain email platforms, resulting in a negative user experience. Lack of a consistent brand voice Confusion among recipients about your brand identity and messaging makes it harder to build brand loyalty. Not providing easy unsubscribe options Increased spam complaints, potential legal issues, and a negative impact on email deliverability. Overloading emails with too much content Overwhelming recipients lead to lower engagement and increased chances of emails being marked as spam. Overlooking the power of visuals in emails Missed opportunities to grab recipients’ attention and convey information effectively, potentially leading to lower engagement. Not regularly updating email templates Stale and outdated email designs may make your brand appear unprofessional or untrustworthy. Failing to include contact information Lack of transparency and trust hinders recipients from identifying the sender or feeling comfortable reaching out. Causing emails to trigger spam filters Emails may not reach the inbox of recipients, resulting in reduced visibility and engagement. Neglecting GDPR and other compliance standards Legal repercussions, penalties, and harm to brand reputation can arise from non-compliance with data protection regulations. Best Practices for a Successful Email Marketing Campaign As a small business owner, you should set clear goals and objectives for each campaign. Next, segment your email list to send targeted content. Make sure the content is compelling. Maintain a consistent brand voice and style as part of your email marketing strategy. Before you launch the campaign, test and optimize subject lines and ensure that the emails are mobile responsive. Monitor email analytics and adjust strategies accordingly. Use automation for drip campaigns and triggered emails. Triggered emails are automatic responses based on a customer’s actions, such as when a shopper puts items in a “cart” but doesn’t follow through by purchasing the items. And make sure to follow best practices for email deliverability and compliance with regulations like GDPR. To develop a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the latest trends and effective techniques, familiarizing yourself with marketing and sales tips can offer valuable insights into successful email marketing. Best PracticeDescriptionTools/ResourcesKey Tips Target Audience SegmentationDivide your audience into segments based on behavior and preferences.Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact).Tailor messages to specific groups for higher engagement. PersonalizationPersonalize emails to make recipients feel valued.Personalization tools in email platforms.Use recipient's name and content relevant to their interests. Engaging Subject LinesCraft subject lines that grab attention and encourage opens.A/B testing tools, subject line analyzers.Keep subject lines short, intriguing, and clear. Mobile OptimizationEnsure emails are readable and appealing on mobile devices.Responsive email design features.Use a mobile-friendly layout and test on different devices. Valuable ContentProvide content that is useful and relevant to your audience.Content creation tools, analytics to gauge interests.Include tips, insights, or offers that add value to your subscribers. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)Have a clear and compelling CTA in each email.CTA button design tools, persuasive copywriting.Make it easy for recipients to know what to do next. Consistent SchedulingSend emails on a regular schedule.Email scheduling features in marketing platforms.Maintain consistency in timing to build anticipation and reliability. Testing and OptimizationRegularly test different aspects of your emails.A/B testing features, analytics.Test different subject lines, content, and layouts to see what works best. Unsubscribe OptionMake it easy for users to unsubscribe.Compliance with email marketing laws.Respect user preferences to maintain a positive brand image. Analytics and FeedbackUse analytics to track performance and gather feedback.Email analytics tools, survey tools.Analyze open rates, click-through rates, and user feedback for improvements. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f7Frn82SCVk%3Fsi%3D4XktwoGmfy28cGEk FAQs: Navigating Common Email Marketing Challenges What is the most common email marketing mistake? The most common mistake is not optimizing the email list for different clients. However, their are additional mistakes which are also regular email marketing mistakes. Additional most common mistakes include failing to use a compelling subject line, ignoring analytics and not using visuals. How can open rates of email marketing campaigns be improved? Here are ways that you can improve your open rates: Craft compelling subject lines. Personalize emails based on recipient data. Segment your email list for targeted content. Optimize emails for mobile devices. Test different send times and days. Use A/B testing to refine email elements. Clean your email list regularly to remove inactive or unengaged subscribers. Monitor and improve email deliverability. Maintain a consistent sending schedule. Provide valuable and relevant content in your emails. What are some ways to personalize marketing emails? You can address recipients by their first names and send personalized product recommendations. Also, use dynamic content based on the recipient’s preferences. Send personalized offers or discounts that are related to past purchases. Always segment your email list by demographics, behavior, and/or interests. Utilize triggered emails that respond to particular actions or milestones. For instance, you can send an email when a shopper leaves items in their cart without completing the purchase. Additionally, consider sending an email to celebrate a customer’s birthday or the anniversary of their first order. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Common Email Marketing Mistakes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Consumer goods group says chief financial officer Fernando Fernandez will take overView the full article

Sales down 45% in January for EV maker led by Elon MuskView the full article

Even if you’re a regular Alexa user, there’s a good chance you haven’t discovered some of its most efficient features. Actually, strike that: There’s a good chance you’re only using your Alexa device to set timers and play music. But Alexa does so much more! Here are five commands to add to your vernacular that could save you tons of time with regular use. “Alexa, check traffic” Once you link your home and work addresses in the Alexa app, simply asking to check traffic will give the time between your home and office by default—always handy when you’re heading out the door. You also can ask for traffic conditions to a certain destination. Alexa just told me that traffic from my house to the nearest Whole Foods is “sluggish”—it’d take me a whole six minutes to get there. Good thing I saved so much time asking for traffic conditions, eh? “Alexa, add jelly to my shopping list” Writing a shopping list by hand? A fool’s errand. Opening an app and typing a list by hand? A sucker’s gambit. As you notice ingredients running low, just say “Alexa, add [blank] to my shopping list.” The items will appear in your Alexa app’s shopping list, ready for your next grocery run. You can even check what’s on your list by asking, “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?” before running to the store. “Alexa, announce that it’s time for lunch” It’s 2025—enough shouting up and down the stairs. Instead, say, “Alexa, announce that it’s time for lunch.” Your message will immediately be broadcast to all Alexa devices in your home at the same time, just like a fancy-schmancy intercom system. “Alexa, find my phone” My wife never reads these articles, so I’m safe telling you that while she was frantically searching for her phone the other day, it turned out that it was in her hand. Not all lost phones are so easy to find! For the tougher tests, Alexa can call your wayward device and you can follow the ringtone. There are a couple slight catches: You’ll need to do a one-time setup so Alexa knows which number to call, and you only get three free calls each month. If you’re asked whether you want to sign up for a free trial of the premium phone-finding service, just say no and Alexa will place the call. “Alexa, remind me . . . ” Just as a glorified note-to-self, Alexa is a lifesaver. There are a few ways you can ask it to remember things for you. First, just ask Alexa to remember something. It’ll store it in the notes section of the Alexa app on your phone. Second, ask it to remind you of something at a certain time. It’ll . . . well, you get the idea. And the best one is asking Alexa to remind you of something when you’re at a certain place. If you’ve enabled location in the phone app, it can remind you to get Band-Aids the next time you’re at Walgreens. It’s almost too easy. View the full article

As the government struggles to ease a real estate crisis, state-owned developers have been buying up landView the full article

While its equities platform suffers an exodus, the LSEG itself is a financial success story — with an identity problemView the full article

CDU leader has vowed to seal negotiations with the Social Democrats by AprilView the full article

Auchincloss must convince activist investor Elliott Management he can turn around troubled oil majorView the full article

International groups seek to capitalise on investors’ ‘change in tone’ towards bigger payoutsView the full article

Daniel Sundheim’s hedge fund was under water but made a windfall from Siemens Energy and Rolls-Royce tradesView the full article

The underlying problems behind the crisis have not yet been resolvedView the full article

Andy Lord tells FT he has written to the UK chancellor for long-term funding to stop network from falling into disrepairView the full article

Small business owners are entering 2025 with heightened confidence despite persistent economic uncertainty, according to Bluevine’s 2024 End-of-Year Business Owner Success Survey (BOSS) Report. The survey of 1,200 small business owners (SBOs) found that 79% expressed confidence in their business outlook, an increase from 73% in mid-2024. Expectations for profitability and revenue growth have also risen, reflecting resilience among small businesses. Despite optimism, SBOs continue to navigate inflation and rising costs. The report found that 64% of respondents identified inflation as a top concern, while 55% cited taxes and fees. Concerns over tariffs have more than doubled, increasing from 5% in mid-2024 to 13%. To mitigate these challenges, 41% of SBOs adjusted their 2025 spending plans, up from 35% last year. Payroll remains the largest expense, followed by materials, supplies, and rent. Material costs have become a growing concern for solo business owners, with 56% listing it as a top issue, compared to 43% in mid-2024. To counter rising costs, two-thirds of SBOs have raised prices on some or all of their products or services, an increase from 61% mid-year. Business owners continue to adjust their pricing strategies to maintain profitability in an inflationary environment. Access to capital remains essential for small businesses, with “growth and expansion” and “working capital” cited as the primary reasons for seeking funding. Three out of four SBOs prefer traditional bank loans, while demand for debt restructuring among solo business owners has increased significantly, jumping from 10% to 38%. “Despite the challenges small business owners are facing, the demand for capital and investment in growth is unwavering,” said Eyal Lifshitz, co-founder and CEO of Bluevine. “Even with inflation, rising costs and a rocky economy, these business owners are staying the course, investing in growth and looking at the long game. It’s clear that even in uncertain times, they’re committed to making things work and positioning themselves for success.” The survey was conducted by Bredin, an independent research firm specializing in SMB market trends. The study surveyed 1,200 small business owners nationwide between November 14 and 27, 2024. Respondents reported annual revenues between $100,000 and $5 million. This article, "Small Business Confidence Surges Despite Economic Challenges, Bluevine Survey Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are entering 2025 with heightened confidence despite persistent economic uncertainty, according to Bluevine’s 2024 End-of-Year Business Owner Success Survey (BOSS) Report. The survey of 1,200 small business owners (SBOs) found that 79% expressed confidence in their business outlook, an increase from 73% in mid-2024. Expectations for profitability and revenue growth have also risen, reflecting resilience among small businesses. Despite optimism, SBOs continue to navigate inflation and rising costs. The report found that 64% of respondents identified inflation as a top concern, while 55% cited taxes and fees. Concerns over tariffs have more than doubled, increasing from 5% in mid-2024 to 13%. To mitigate these challenges, 41% of SBOs adjusted their 2025 spending plans, up from 35% last year. Payroll remains the largest expense, followed by materials, supplies, and rent. Material costs have become a growing concern for solo business owners, with 56% listing it as a top issue, compared to 43% in mid-2024. To counter rising costs, two-thirds of SBOs have raised prices on some or all of their products or services, an increase from 61% mid-year. Business owners continue to adjust their pricing strategies to maintain profitability in an inflationary environment. Access to capital remains essential for small businesses, with “growth and expansion” and “working capital” cited as the primary reasons for seeking funding. Three out of four SBOs prefer traditional bank loans, while demand for debt restructuring among solo business owners has increased significantly, jumping from 10% to 38%. “Despite the challenges small business owners are facing, the demand for capital and investment in growth is unwavering,” said Eyal Lifshitz, co-founder and CEO of Bluevine. “Even with inflation, rising costs and a rocky economy, these business owners are staying the course, investing in growth and looking at the long game. It’s clear that even in uncertain times, they’re committed to making things work and positioning themselves for success.” The survey was conducted by Bredin, an independent research firm specializing in SMB market trends. The study surveyed 1,200 small business owners nationwide between November 14 and 27, 2024. Respondents reported annual revenues between $100,000 and $5 million. This article, "Small Business Confidence Surges Despite Economic Challenges, Bluevine Survey Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The confabs are a sign that Republicans are getting serious about negotiating the contours of a tax deal, even as the House and Senate are pursuing separate strategies. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Most ordinary people know little about the calculus, statistics, linear algebra, logic, and programming languages required to design projects and products to leverage artificial intelligence. However, we are not exempt from using products and services that rely on AI. If we do not learn how to maximize these tools, our organizations—businesses, schools, and governments—will have less ability to generate income and a lower quality of life compared to those who do. What is most unsettling is the general lack of knowledge about logic, mathematics, and grammatical syntax that may affect AI’s creation and usage. Set theory Consider set theory in mathematics, introduced indirectly in elementary school. Basic concepts like classification, grouping, and counting objects, form its foundation. During middle school, students learn set definitions, notation, and representations (listing elements, Venn diagrams), set operations (union, intersection, difference, and complements), and relationships between sets (subsets, empty sets, disjointed sets, universal sets). By high school, students face set theory with greater complexity. Applications are presented in discrete mathematics, relationships between sets and probabilities, numerical sets and related algebraic operations, and advanced concepts to introduce mathematical logic. You might be wondering where this is going. Logical reasoning Set theory feeds into logic: the science and art of reasoning correctly. Logic studies the principles of valid thought, structuring rules and methods that help evaluate the consistency and validity of arguments, deductions, and propositions. Modern mathematics is built on set theory, itself a logical system. Logic provides the structure and principles underpinning mathematical reasoning. Concepts such as implication, equivalence, negation, and quantification are fundamental logical tools used in mathematics. Logical reasoning uses symbols and formulas to represent propositions and inferences. It is essential for solving mathematical problems. In mathematics, logic explores topics like set theory and computability theory. We’re circling back to the topic again. Logic helps children (and adults) break problems into smaller, more manageable parts and tackle them systematically. When solving a puzzle, logical reasoning helps them identify patterns, rules, or constraints. Chess, Sudoku, mazes, and building blocks simultaneously develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. In math and science, solving problems logically is intrinsic to solving equations, understanding patterns, and conducting experiments. Grammar And what about grammar? Although the proposition might seem counterintuitive, grammatical syntax has a direct relationship with mathematics, particularly set theory and logic. In traditional grammar, syntax refers to the set of rules dictating how words and phrases are organized to form sentences. Grammatical classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives) combine according to rules, and sentences have hierarchical structures (clauses, phrases). Syntax rules determine whether a sentence is grammatically correct, and in linguistic analysis (parsing), understanding sentences involves breaking them into parts. Noam Chomsky’s generative grammar theory describes the implicit rules and principles underlying natural language structure. It demonstrates how sentences are generated from a finite set of rules to create infinite possible expressions in a language. Programming languages also have syntax—rules determining the correct structure of commands and expressions. Code elements (variables, functions, loops) combine using the specific rules of the language to form programs, which also have hierarchical structures (functions, blocks, modules). Like linguistic analysis, compilers and interpreters analyze code by breaking it into tokens (parts) and examining its structure. Algorithms and AI You might think this article was supposed to be about using artificial intelligence, not creating computational models. And you’re right. One important concept for using AI’s capabilities is the notion of intervals. Defining intervals enable users to separate, structure, search, and manipulate information in databases or directly within documents. This concept, widely used in set theory, is fundamental to logic, and connects logic to computer science, artificial intelligence, and dynamic systems. It also plays a critical role in syntax, particularly in structural analysis, grammatical hierarchy, and even natural language processing. Ultimately, mathematics, logic, and grammatical syntax are fundamental to structuring algorithms. It’s worth emphasizing the classical definition of an algorithm, originating in the 9th century: a finite set of well-defined, step-by-step instructions for completing a task or solving a problem. Develop natural algorithms The brain has specialized areas for numerical and logical processing (parietal lobe) and specific regions dedicated to grammar and syntax (Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas). These regions integrate their functions to create dynamic problem-solving strategies that mimic algorithmic thinking, unconsciously generating “natural algorithms” to tackle everyday challenges, such as planning a route or making decisions based on available data, evaluating options, and predicting outcomes. The correlation between mathematics, grammar, and the brain’s ability to create natural algorithms for solving daily problems reveals a shared reliance on structured logical thinking and generative creativity. This interconnectedness highlights the brain’s remarkable ability to abstract rules, recognize patterns, and develop natural algorithms to navigate the complexities of daily life. A logical proposition is that our young people must be well-versed in fundamental mathematics and written language proficiency for a single purpose: to train their cognitive engines to develop natural algorithms, and then artificial ones, which increasingly mimic the human brain. This way they can keep up with the times, which are being radically reshaped by humanity’s computational capabilities. For parents, a logical takeaway is the idea of increasing their children’s instructional time in this cognitive set. What skills are most important? Calibrating the educational curriculum and workload has been a persistent challenge for educators. The current technological revolution makes this challenge even more pronounced. What is the correct workload for each subject to keep young people in step with evolution? Will mathematics, logic, and grammar gain more importance than subjects like history, geography, or chemistry? A realistic perspective considers these skills as foundational as others, which are also taught in knowledge blocks—lessons, sections, chapters, numbered exercises, and, ultimately, structured intervals. Indeed, this structure is what students use globally, with tools like Google and now ChatGPT to support their studies (in best-case scenario). Value creation We are not looking for passive users if we aim for a better world. Technologies based on set theory, grammar, and logic were the foundation for social media and other revolutionary applications in recent years. Billions around the world improved their cultural awareness and their daily life, but we can’t exactly say that these applications created value for all of them. The common usability of AI, such as addressing everyday inquiries, solving household essentials, drafting texts, creating videos, or using preset tools in the workplace, will certainly deliver significant benefits to the general population, much like its predecessor technologies did. However, this time, technology should go further by driving value creation that is more equally distributed, enhancing economic output for people around the world. Rodrigo Magnago is the director of rere.eco. View the full article

Think-tank’s findings show need to change financial incentives to help ill and disabled people return to employmentView the full article

Government-backed review says pace of change in top roles has ‘slowed’ among UK’s biggest companies View the full article