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Comprehending the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is crucial for making informed investment decisions in franchising. This document outlines critical information about the franchisor, including financial obligations and potential profitability. Key sections, like Item 19, detail financial performance, whereas others reveal costs and support systems. By analyzing these factors, you can better gauge the viability of your investment. Nevertheless, identifying red flags in the FDD can greatly impact your choice. What should you look for next? Key Takeaways Review the FDD thoroughly to understand franchisor history, financial obligations, and franchisee rights before making investment decisions. Analyze Item 19 for Financial Performance Representations to gauge potential profitability and earnings variability of the franchise. Identify and evaluate all initial and ongoing costs outlined in the FDD, including franchise fees and royalties, for effective financial planning. Look for red flags such as high costs, vague operational support, or unclear financial performance that may indicate potential risks. Engage with current franchisees for insights into support effectiveness and satisfaction, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the franchise opportunity. The Importance of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) When you consider investing in a franchise, grasp of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is crucial. This legal document must be provided to potential franchisees at least 14 days before any agreements are signed. The FDD comprises 23 key items that cover critical aspects, including franchisor history, financial obligations, and franchisee rights. Item 19 of the FDD directly addresses Financial Performance Representations (FPR), offering insights into profitability and earning potential. Key Sections of the FDD Every Franchisee Should Know When reviewing the FDD, you’ll want to pay close attention to the sections that provide insights into the franchisor’s background and financial performance data. These parts help you assess the brand’s reliability and comprehend potential profitability, which are essential for making informed decisions. Grasping these key areas sets the stage for a successful franchise investment. Franchisor Background Insights Grasping the franchisor’s background is crucial for anyone considering a franchise investment, as it provides insights into the stability and reputation of the business. The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) includes critical information about the franchisor’s history, helping you assess their market presence and reliability. You should review the management team’s experience and industry track record, which can indicate their capability to support franchisees effectively. Moreover, the FDD discloses any litigation history from the past ten years, revealing potential risks. Instances of bankruptcy are significant to note, as they highlight the franchisor’s financial health. Comprehending these aspects allows you to gauge the brand’s longevity and adaptability, ultimately aiding in making informed investment decisions. Financial Performance Data Grasping the financial performance data in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is essential for evaluating a franchise opportunity. This data, found in Item 19, includes Financial Performance Representations (FPR) that reveal the profitability and earning potential of the franchise. You should carefully review both historical financial data and any projections, as discrepancies may indicate variability in earnings potential. The FDD often includes earnings claims from existing franchisees, serving as benchmarks to assess potential profitability. Moreover, pay attention to the disclaimers with the financial data, as they highlight the variability of results based on individual performance. Comprehending this information helps you compare potential returns against the required initial and ongoing costs, guiding your investment decisions effectively. Evaluating Franchise Costs and Financial Commitments When evaluating franchise costs, it’s crucial to take into account both initial fees and ongoing royalty expenses. The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) outlines these financial commitments, typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for startup costs, which can greatly impact your budget. Comprehending these obligations will help you make informed decisions about your investment and guarantee your financial plans align with the demands of running a franchise. Initial Franchise Fees Grasping initial franchise fees is fundamental for anyone considering entering the franchise business, as these fees typically range from $10,000 to $50,000 and represent the upfront investment needed to access the franchise system and brand. The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) details these costs in Item 6, which includes franchise fees, equipment purchases, and startup expenses. Comprehending this breakdown is critical for effective financial planning, ensuring potential franchisees are aware of all necessary investments before launching their operations. Evaluating initial franchise fees helps you align your financial commitments with your investment goals. Cost Component Estimated Range Purpose Franchise Fee $10,000 – $50,000 Access to brand and system Equipment Purchases Varies by franchise Key for operations Startup Expenses Varies by location Initial operating costs Ongoing Royalty Expenses After grasping the initial franchise fees, the focus shifts to ongoing royalty expenses, which play a crucial role in the financial framework of a franchise. Typically, these expenses range from 4% to 12% of gross sales, depending on the industry and brand. These fees are essential for the franchisor to maintain brand development, marketing, and ongoing support for franchisees. As a potential franchisee, you must evaluate these ongoing costs against your estimated revenues to guarantee the franchise’s financial viability. Franchise agreements often outline how royalties are calculated—whether based on gross sales, net sales, or other metrics—which can considerably impact your overall expenses. Comprehending these implications helps you plan your long-term financial commitments effectively. Identifying Red Flags in the FDD Identifying red flags in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is crucial for potential franchisees, as it can help you avoid costly mistakes. Look for high initial fees or ongoing costs that exceed industry standards, which may indicate financial strain. Vague language about operational support or franchisee obligations can reveal a lack of commitment from the franchisor. Furthermore, a lack of clarity in financial performance representations may signal unreliable earnings potential. Be cautious of numerous litigation cases or recent bankruptcies, as these indicate operational instability. Finally, unclear or overly restrictive territorial rights can limit your growth opportunities. Red Flag Type Warning Sign Potential Impact High Fees Initial costs exceed industry standards Financial strain Vague Language Unclear support or obligations Franchisor commitment Lack of Transparency Unclear financial performance Unreliable earnings Litigation History Numerous cases or recent bankruptcy Increased operational risk Restrictive Territorial Rights Unclear growth opportunities Unnecessary competition Understanding Franchisee Support and Training Opportunities When you consider investing in a franchise, grasping the support and training opportunities offered by the franchisor is vital to your success. Initial training programs typically cover fundamental operations, brand guidelines, and marketing strategies, preparing you to run your business effectively. Ongoing support often includes access to updated training resources, field representatives, and networking opportunities with other franchisees, which help maintain best practices. The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) outlines the specific training obligations of both you and the franchisor, ensuring clarity on available support. Be sure to inquire about ongoing training beyond the initial setup, as this can greatly impact your long-term success. Engaging with current franchisees during the FDD review process can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the support provided. Assessing Brand Reputation and Franchisee Satisfaction Evaluating brand reputation and franchisee satisfaction is crucial for anyone considering a franchise investment, as these factors can greatly influence your business’s potential for success. Start by reading online reviews and checking franchisee satisfaction surveys to understand the brand’s market perception. Investigate the franchisor’s track record for longevity and adaptability, which can reveal system stability. Speaking with current and former franchisees about their experiences can provide valuable insights into support and profitability levels. Furthermore, assess the frequency and nature of litigation against the franchisor, as this can indicate possible risks impacting franchisee satisfaction. A strong reputation, coupled with high franchisee satisfaction, often reflects a franchisor’s commitment to ongoing support and brand integrity, critical for long-term success. Frequently Asked Questions What to Look for in an FDD? When reviewing an FDD, focus on key sections. Start with Item 1 to comprehend the franchisor’s background and stability. Look at Item 6 for the initial fees and ongoing costs, as this affects your financial commitment. Item 19 provides insights into profitability, whereas Item 15 outlines your obligations as a franchisee. Finally, assess Item 12 to identify any potential risks associated with the franchise. Each section contributes to a well-rounded comprehension of the opportunity. How to Determine if a Franchise Is Good? To determine if a franchise is good, analyze the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Focus on Item 19 for financial performance insights, and review Item 3 to check for any litigation history. Evaluate the costs in Items 6 and 8 to guarantee they fit your budget. Speak with current franchisees about their experiences, and consider the brand’s reputation and management team’s strength, as these factors are essential for long-term success. When Should a Potential Franchisee Receive the FDD? You should receive the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before signing any agreements or paying fees. This waiting period allows you to review the document thoroughly, ensuring you understand the franchise’s risks and benefits. The FDD is provided after you submit an application, and franchisors are legally required to deliver it prior to any financial commitments. Be aware that state laws may impose additional disclosure requirements or waiting periods. What Is the Importance of FDD in Franchising? The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is vital for anyone considering a franchise investment. It provides fundamental information about the franchisor’s operations, including fees, obligations, and financial performance. Conclusion In summary, comprehension of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is crucial for making informed investment decisions in franchising. By carefully analyzing key sections such as financial performance, costs, and support systems, you can gauge the viability of a franchise. Pay attention to any red flags and research brand reputation to guarantee your investment aligns with your financial goals. A thorough evaluation of the FDD will empower you to choose a franchise that meets your expectations and improves your potential for success. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "How to Understand FDD Franchise Meaning for Better Investment Decisions" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Think smart lighting is limited to basic bulbs and LED strips? Govee proves otherwise with its unique, space-saving take on floor lamp smart lighting that actually brightens an entire room rather than acting as accent lighting. Available in three different colors, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 does everything from play music to set the mood—and right now, it's at its lowest price ever ahead of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, dropping 25% to $119.99 (originally $159.99). Govee Floor Lamp 2 $119.99 at Amazon $159.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $119.99 at Amazon $159.99 Save $40.00 At 1,725 lumens, the sleek and minimalist Govee Floor Lamp 2 is one of the brightest smart lighting options around. It supports Matter, making it compatible with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings. Lighting is highly customizable, with over 80 preset scenes and DIY modes that let you fine-tune colors, effects, and gradients. It uses RGBIC tech, which lets users display multiple colors at once, and it can sync with other Govee lights. It also has Bluetooth speakers in the base that pair with audio, creating a more immersive experience, whether you’re hosting a party or gaming. CNET notes that the lamps are designed so that light faces the wall, making them ideal for corners where you want to “paint” your wall with a glow of the almost infinite colors available for an accent wall effect. There are LEDs in the base as well as the main lights, and they can be controlled independently in the Govee app, where users can unlock most features. You can also control the lights via voice control or the included remote. It’s worth noting that the light only supports 2.4GHz wifi. If you’re looking for a stylish smart light that integrates with any smart-home setup, has a built-in speaker, and brings all the vibes, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 is an easy way to boost your ambiance and jazz up small spaces with customizable lighting, music sync and other features that punch above its price point, especially when it’s at an all-time low in this early Amazon Big Spring Sale deal. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $149.00 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam Plus 2K Wired Security Camera (White) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Amazon Kindle Colorsoft 16GB 7" eReader (Black) — $169.99 (List Price $249.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

As soon as new AI products are released, security researchers and pranksters begin probing them for weaknesses, trying to push systems to violate their own safety precautions and coax them into producing anything from offensive content to instructions for building weapons. After all, AI risks are not just theoretical. In recent months, various AI companies have faced criticism for their software allegedly contributing to mental illness and suicide, nonconsensual fake nude images of real people, and aiding hackers in cybercrime. At the same time, techniques for bypassing safeguards also continue to evolve, with recent methods including everything from malicious prompts disguised with poetry to surreptitiously planting ideas in AI assistant memories via innocuous-looking online tools. But long before new models reach the public, internal security teams are already stress-testing them. At Microsoft, that responsibility largely falls to the company’s AI Red Team, a group that since 2018 has worked with product teams and the broader AI community to pressure-test models and applications before bad actors can. In cybersecurity parlance, a red team focuses on simulating attacks against a system, while a blue team focuses on defending it. Microsoft’s AI Red Team is no exception, exploring a wide range of safety and security concerns—from loss-of-control situations where AI evades human oversight to issues around chemical, biological, and nuclear threats—across an assortment of AI software. “We see a really, really diverse set of tech,” says Tori Westerhoff, principal AI security researcher on the Microsoft AI Red Team. “Part of the kind of magic of the team is that we can see anything from a product feature to a system to a copilot to a frontier model, and we get to see how tech is integrated across all of those, and how AI is growing and evolving.” In one case, says Pete Bryan, principal AI security research lead on the Red Team, members worked with other Microsoft researchers to test whether AI could be manipulated into assisting with cyberattacks, including generating or refining malware. They experimented with framing questions in benign ways, such as describing a student project or security research scenario, then pushing systems to produce increasingly detailed outputs. The effort went beyond simple prompt testing. Researchers evaluated whether the AI could generate code that actually compiled and ran, and whether certain programming languages increased the likelihood of harmful outputs. In the worst case, Bryan says, the systems produced code comparable to what a low- to mid-level hacker might already create, but the team still refined detection systems to better flag such behavior. “In the future, if a more capable model comes along that could add value, we’ve already gotten ahead of this,” Bryan says. Today, the Red Team includes several dozen specialists with backgrounds ranging from software testing to biology. The group also works closely with external experts and peer teams across the AI industry. Bryan and Westerhoff gave a talk at the RSAC conference on March 24, and the team has released open-source tools including an automated testing framework called PyRIT (which stands for Python Risk Identification Tool), along with guidance for evaluating AI systems. The team’s efforts have recently been cited in Microsoft’s own work, including the announcement of an image generation AI model unveiled on March 19, and in third-party releases, like the “system card” explaining the functionality and testing of OpenAI’s GPT-5 model. Microsoft has also recently published AI safety research exploring potential risks around AI fine-tuning and methods for spotting hidden backdoors, or purposely hidden security and safety flaws, in open-weight models. As AI ecosystems expand to include more advanced copilots, autonomous agents, and multimodal systems capable of generating text, images, audio, and video, the Red Team’s mandate has grown more complex. Many of today’s use cases, from automated coding to AI-driven shopping and video generation, would have sounded like science fiction only a few years ago. “For my team, I think that’s part of the fun, that you see so many diverse things,” Westerhoff says. “It’s not just that we’re testing models day in and day out, but we’re actually testing how models go through the entire technological ecosystem.” View the full article

Negative online reviews can have a profound impact on your business, affecting everything from sales to reputation. Research shows that potential customers often avoid businesses with low ratings, which can lead to significant revenue losses. Furthermore, these reviews can damage your brand’s trustworthiness and hinder your visibility in search engine results. Comprehending these effects is crucial for steering through today’s digital environment. So, how can you effectively manage and respond to negative feedback? Key Takeaways Negative online reviews can deter up to 80% of potential customers, significantly impacting sales and revenue. A single negative review can decrease purchase intent by 42%, affecting consumer behavior. Ratings below three stars lead to 81% of consumers avoiding the business, damaging brand reputation. Negative reviews harm search engine rankings, reducing online visibility and traffic to the business. Effective engagement with negative feedback can enhance customer trust and improve overall business credibility. Impact on Sales and Revenue When negative online reviews appear, they can profoundly impact a business’s sales and revenue. Research shows that about 80% of potential customers might be deterred by bad reviews. For instance, a furniture store could lose 160 sales out of 200 viewers when faced with negative feedback, translating to an annual revenue loss of around $80,000 if their average sale is $500. Furthermore, a single negative review can decrease purchase intent by 42%, further emphasizing the direct impact of such feedback. It’s important to note that negative reviews often rank higher in search results, diverting traffic away from your website. If your business has a star rating of 3 or lower, expect reduced foot traffic and lower sales. Knowing how to reply to negative feedback is essential, as addressing concerns can mitigate some of these detrimental effects and help restore consumer trust. Damage to Brand Reputation Negative online reviews can lead to serious damage to your brand’s reputation, impacting both trust and visibility. When potential customers see a pattern of poor feedback, they’re likely to avoid your business, which can erode loyalty and trust. Furthermore, these reviews can hurt your online presence, making it harder for new customers to find you and potentially leading to financial losses. Financial Consequences for Businesses The impact of negative online reviews on a business’s financial health can be profound, often translating into significant losses. Studies show that negative reviews can deter up to 80% of potential customers, resulting in substantial financial hits; for example, a furniture store might lose around $80,000 annually because of just a few adverse comments. One negative review can cut purchase intent by 42%, directly affecting sales. Furthermore, businesses with a star rating of 3 or lower face reduced foot traffic and online engagement, impacting revenue generation. In addition, negative reviews can harm search engine rankings, lowering visibility and traffic to your website. If you don’t respond to these reviews, you risk eroding customer trust and may experience long-term financial repercussions. Erosion of Trust Online reviews play a vital role in shaping consumer trust, and a single negative review can have lasting consequences for a brand’s reputation. Studies show that 42% of potential customers are less likely to purchase after reading just one bad review. Businesses with ratings under three stars often lose 81% of prospects, indicating a direct link between star ratings and consumer trust. Moreover, 96% of consumers consult online reviews before making a decision, so a pattern of negative feedback can severely affect your brand’s perception. Responding to reviews can help rebuild trust; 88% of consumers prefer businesses that address negative feedback. In this digital age, maintaining a positive online reputation is vital for sustaining customer confidence and loyalty. Impact on Visibility When consumers come across a business with a series of unfavorable reviews, they often choose to take their patronage elsewhere, greatly impacting the brand’s visibility. Negative reviews can notably deter potential customers, with 80% of viewers avoiding businesses with poor feedback. A single negative review can reduce purchase intent by 42%, whereas businesses with a star rating of 3 or lower face diminished foot traffic. Additionally, negative reviews adversely affect search engine rankings, lowering overall online visibility. To combat this, companies that actively engage with reviews enjoy higher consumer trust, as shown below: Factor Impact on Visibility Percentage Negative Reviews Deters Consumers 80% Reduced Purchase Intent Lowers Sales 42% Star Ratings ≤ 3 Decreased Foot Traffic Notable Search Engine Rankings Reduced Online Visibility Critical Engaging with Reviews Higher Consumer Trust 88% Erosion of Customer Trust When you encounter negative online reviews, your perception of a business’s trustworthiness likely declines. This erosion of customer trust can lead to significant consequences, including damage to reputation and the loss of loyal customers. As you weigh your options, even a single bad review can prompt you to contemplate alternatives, which highlights the critical role that customer feedback plays in shaping trust and influencing purchasing decisions. Trustworthiness Perception Decline Negative online reviews greatly impact the perception of trustworthiness for businesses, often leading to an erosion of customer trust. When you consider how consumers rely on reviews, it’s clear that negative feedback carries weight. Here are some key points: 42% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, making negativity particularly harmful. A single negative review can reduce purchase intent by 42%, showing a direct link to trust erosion. 81% of consumers avoid businesses with ratings below three stars, indicating low ratings can deter potential customers. Unanswered negative reviews create skepticism about a business’s commitment to customer satisfaction, further diminishing trust. Maintaining positive reviews is crucial for credibility and customer loyalty. Reputation Damage Consequences The consequences of reputation damage can be severe, often leading to a significant erosion of customer trust. Negative reviews can deter up to 80% of potential customers, which drastically impacts your sales and revenue. Even a single bad review can cut purchase intent by 42%, clearly showing how quickly consumer trust can wane. If your business has a star rating of 3 or lower, you’ll likely notice reduced foot traffic and sales, as customers perceive you as unreliable. Moreover, 84% of consumers consult online reviews before buying, making a positive reputation crucial. If you don’t address negative feedback, you risk losing customer loyalty, as 88% of consumers prefer businesses that engage with all reviews, regardless of sentiment. Loyalty Erosion Factors Erosion of customer loyalty often stems from the trust issues created by negative online reviews. When potential customers see poor feedback, they hesitate to engage, impacting their loyalty. Here are key factors that contribute to this erosion: High dependence on reviews: 84% of consumers check online reviews before purchasing. Significant impact of negative feedback: A single negative review can decrease purchase intent by 42%. Avoidance of low-rated businesses: 81% of consumers steer clear of companies with fewer than three stars. Unresolved complaints breed skepticism: Unanswered negative reviews can create doubt about a business’s reliability. Influence on Consumer Behavior As consumers increasingly rely on online reviews when making purchasing decisions, their behavior is markedly shaped by the feedback they encounter. A significant 84% of you consult online reviews before buying, underscoring their influence. Just one negative review can decrease your purchase intent by 42%, showcasing how damaging a single piece of negative feedback can be. In fact, 80% of viewers may be deterred by negative reviews, which can lead to substantial revenue losses for businesses. Furthermore, if a business holds fewer than three stars, 81% of you’re likely to steer clear. On the flip side, businesses that actively respond to reviews can boost consumer trust, as you’re 88% more likely to choose them. This engagement is essential in shaping your perception and trust in a brand, demonstrating the significant role online reviews play in your consumer behavior. SEO and Online Visibility Effects Negative online reviews don’t just affect consumer perception; they too greatly impact a business’s search engine optimization (SEO) and online visibility. When a business accumulates negative reviews, it can severely harm its search engine rankings. This pattern leads to decreased visibility in search results, which can result in: A drop in online traffic owing to lower click-through rates on negative reviews. A 42% reduction in purchase intent linked to a single negative review. 81% of consumers avoiding businesses with fewer than three stars. Engagement with feedback, signaling to search engines that the business is responsive, which can improve overall online presence. These factors underline the critical role that online reviews play in shaping a business’s digital footprint. Strategies for Handling Negative Reviews When you encounter negative reviews, it’s vital to approach them strategically, as how you respond can greatly influence your business’s reputation. Responding swiftly shows that you value customer feedback; 88% of consumers prefer businesses that engage with all reviews. Personalize your responses by using the reviewer’s name and addressing their specific concerns; this illustrates attentiveness. If mistakes were made, acknowledge them and offer solutions like refunds or discounts, which can improve customer satisfaction. Additionally, highlighting improvements made in response to past complaints reassures potential customers about your commitment to quality. Implementing a review management system can streamline monitoring and responding to feedback, making the process more efficient. Positive Aspects of Negative Reviews Although it may seem counterintuitive, negative reviews can actually serve as valuable assets for businesses. They offer insights that can lead to improvements in various areas. Here are some positive aspects of negative reviews: Identify Weaknesses: They highlight areas needing improvement, prompting you to enhance products or services. Build Credibility: A balance of positive and negative feedback can make your business appear more trustworthy to potential customers. Transform Loyalty: Addressing complaints effectively can turn dissatisfied customers into loyal advocates who appreciate your commitment to service recovery. Improve Public Perception: Transparent responses to negative feedback can evoke empathy and improve how potential customers view your business. The Role of Customer Service in Reputation Management Customer service plays a crucial role in managing a business’s reputation, especially in the age of online reviews. Timely and effective customer support can mitigate the impact of negative reviews, as 70% of dissatisfied customers are willing to collaborate to resolve their issues before posting publicly. Proactive engagement through customer support systems, like AI chatbots, greatly improves resolution times and helps prevent negative feedback from surfacing. When you acknowledge faults and express empathy in responses to negative reviews, you improve brand perception and rebuild customer trust, leading to potential repeat business. Companies that consistently respond to feedback, both positive and negative, show attentiveness and are 88% more likely to attract new customers. Finally, utilizing review management systems to monitor and address complaints enables you to identify and rectify issues, ultimately enhancing service quality and improving your business’s reputation in the competitive marketplace. Turning Negative Feedback Into Opportunities Negative feedback can serve as a critical tool for businesses looking to improve and evolve. By effectively addressing negative reviews, you can turn complaints into opportunities for growth. Here’s how to leverage that feedback: Identify Improvement Areas: Analyze reviews to pinpoint specific issues in your products or services that need attention. Engage with Customers: Respond publicly to negative feedback, showing your commitment to customer service, which can boost your brand’s reputation. Transform Dissatisfied Customers: Over 70% of customers may change their opinion after a positive response, potentially turning them into loyal advocates. Boost Customer Loyalty: Businesses that actively manage their reviews often see an 88% increase in customer retention by demonstrating responsiveness. Utilizing negative feedback not just refines your practices but also elevates overall customer experience, leading to better retention rates and increased revenue. Frequently Asked Questions How Do Negative Reviews Impact a Business? Negative reviews can markedly impact your business’s success. They deter up to 80% of potential customers, leading to decreased sales and revenue. A single negative review may reduce purchase intent by 42%, causing you to lose valuable opportunities. Moreover, such feedback can harm your search engine ranking, reducing online visibility. Responding to negative reviews is crucial, as businesses that engage with their customers are 88% more likely to attract new clients and build trust. Do Bad Google Reviews Hurt Business? Yes, bad Google reviews can greatly hurt your business. They deter around 80% of potential customers and reduce purchase intent by up to 42%. If your business has a star rating of 3 or lower, you might see decreased foot traffic and online visibility. This decline can directly affect your search engine rankings, harming your overall online presence. Engaging quickly with negative reviews can help regain customer trust and improve your brand’s reputation. Can I Be Sued for Posting a Negative Review? Yes, you can be sued for posting a negative review if it contains false statements. Defamation laws protect businesses from untrue claims that damage their reputation. Although you have the right to express your opinion, it’s essential your review is based on factual information. Exaggerated claims or personal attacks increase the risk of litigation. Always aim for constructive criticism to avoid potential legal consequences that could arise from a misleading review. What Are the Disadvantages of Online Reviews? Online reviews can have significant disadvantages for businesses. They can shape public perception, as potential customers often rely on these opinions before making purchases. A few negative reviews can deter many buyers, impacting sales and foot traffic. Furthermore, negative feedback can harm a business’s online visibility and search rankings. Ignoring these reviews can further damage reputation, as customers prefer businesses that engage with all feedback. This can lead to a cycle of accumulating negative comments. Conclusion In summary, negative online reviews can greatly affect your business, from lowering sales and damaging your reputation to eroding customer trust. They influence consumer behavior and can hurt your SEO rankings, reducing online visibility. Nonetheless, by proactively managing these reviews and using them as opportunities for improvement, you can improve customer service and build a stronger brand. Comprehending these impacts is vital for maintaining credibility and encouraging long-term customer loyalty in an increasingly digital marketplace. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Are the Real Impacts of Negative Online Reviews on Business?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Negative online reviews can have a profound impact on your business, affecting everything from sales to reputation. Research shows that potential customers often avoid businesses with low ratings, which can lead to significant revenue losses. Furthermore, these reviews can damage your brand’s trustworthiness and hinder your visibility in search engine results. Comprehending these effects is crucial for steering through today’s digital environment. So, how can you effectively manage and respond to negative feedback? Key Takeaways Negative online reviews can deter up to 80% of potential customers, significantly impacting sales and revenue. A single negative review can decrease purchase intent by 42%, affecting consumer behavior. Ratings below three stars lead to 81% of consumers avoiding the business, damaging brand reputation. Negative reviews harm search engine rankings, reducing online visibility and traffic to the business. Effective engagement with negative feedback can enhance customer trust and improve overall business credibility. Impact on Sales and Revenue When negative online reviews appear, they can profoundly impact a business’s sales and revenue. Research shows that about 80% of potential customers might be deterred by bad reviews. For instance, a furniture store could lose 160 sales out of 200 viewers when faced with negative feedback, translating to an annual revenue loss of around $80,000 if their average sale is $500. Furthermore, a single negative review can decrease purchase intent by 42%, further emphasizing the direct impact of such feedback. It’s important to note that negative reviews often rank higher in search results, diverting traffic away from your website. If your business has a star rating of 3 or lower, expect reduced foot traffic and lower sales. Knowing how to reply to negative feedback is essential, as addressing concerns can mitigate some of these detrimental effects and help restore consumer trust. Damage to Brand Reputation Negative online reviews can lead to serious damage to your brand’s reputation, impacting both trust and visibility. When potential customers see a pattern of poor feedback, they’re likely to avoid your business, which can erode loyalty and trust. Furthermore, these reviews can hurt your online presence, making it harder for new customers to find you and potentially leading to financial losses. Financial Consequences for Businesses The impact of negative online reviews on a business’s financial health can be profound, often translating into significant losses. Studies show that negative reviews can deter up to 80% of potential customers, resulting in substantial financial hits; for example, a furniture store might lose around $80,000 annually because of just a few adverse comments. One negative review can cut purchase intent by 42%, directly affecting sales. Furthermore, businesses with a star rating of 3 or lower face reduced foot traffic and online engagement, impacting revenue generation. In addition, negative reviews can harm search engine rankings, lowering visibility and traffic to your website. If you don’t respond to these reviews, you risk eroding customer trust and may experience long-term financial repercussions. Erosion of Trust Online reviews play a vital role in shaping consumer trust, and a single negative review can have lasting consequences for a brand’s reputation. Studies show that 42% of potential customers are less likely to purchase after reading just one bad review. Businesses with ratings under three stars often lose 81% of prospects, indicating a direct link between star ratings and consumer trust. Moreover, 96% of consumers consult online reviews before making a decision, so a pattern of negative feedback can severely affect your brand’s perception. Responding to reviews can help rebuild trust; 88% of consumers prefer businesses that address negative feedback. In this digital age, maintaining a positive online reputation is vital for sustaining customer confidence and loyalty. Impact on Visibility When consumers come across a business with a series of unfavorable reviews, they often choose to take their patronage elsewhere, greatly impacting the brand’s visibility. Negative reviews can notably deter potential customers, with 80% of viewers avoiding businesses with poor feedback. A single negative review can reduce purchase intent by 42%, whereas businesses with a star rating of 3 or lower face diminished foot traffic. Additionally, negative reviews adversely affect search engine rankings, lowering overall online visibility. To combat this, companies that actively engage with reviews enjoy higher consumer trust, as shown below: Factor Impact on Visibility Percentage Negative Reviews Deters Consumers 80% Reduced Purchase Intent Lowers Sales 42% Star Ratings ≤ 3 Decreased Foot Traffic Notable Search Engine Rankings Reduced Online Visibility Critical Engaging with Reviews Higher Consumer Trust 88% Erosion of Customer Trust When you encounter negative online reviews, your perception of a business’s trustworthiness likely declines. This erosion of customer trust can lead to significant consequences, including damage to reputation and the loss of loyal customers. As you weigh your options, even a single bad review can prompt you to contemplate alternatives, which highlights the critical role that customer feedback plays in shaping trust and influencing purchasing decisions. Trustworthiness Perception Decline Negative online reviews greatly impact the perception of trustworthiness for businesses, often leading to an erosion of customer trust. When you consider how consumers rely on reviews, it’s clear that negative feedback carries weight. Here are some key points: 42% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, making negativity particularly harmful. A single negative review can reduce purchase intent by 42%, showing a direct link to trust erosion. 81% of consumers avoid businesses with ratings below three stars, indicating low ratings can deter potential customers. Unanswered negative reviews create skepticism about a business’s commitment to customer satisfaction, further diminishing trust. Maintaining positive reviews is crucial for credibility and customer loyalty. Reputation Damage Consequences The consequences of reputation damage can be severe, often leading to a significant erosion of customer trust. Negative reviews can deter up to 80% of potential customers, which drastically impacts your sales and revenue. Even a single bad review can cut purchase intent by 42%, clearly showing how quickly consumer trust can wane. If your business has a star rating of 3 or lower, you’ll likely notice reduced foot traffic and sales, as customers perceive you as unreliable. Moreover, 84% of consumers consult online reviews before buying, making a positive reputation crucial. If you don’t address negative feedback, you risk losing customer loyalty, as 88% of consumers prefer businesses that engage with all reviews, regardless of sentiment. Loyalty Erosion Factors Erosion of customer loyalty often stems from the trust issues created by negative online reviews. When potential customers see poor feedback, they hesitate to engage, impacting their loyalty. Here are key factors that contribute to this erosion: High dependence on reviews: 84% of consumers check online reviews before purchasing. Significant impact of negative feedback: A single negative review can decrease purchase intent by 42%. Avoidance of low-rated businesses: 81% of consumers steer clear of companies with fewer than three stars. Unresolved complaints breed skepticism: Unanswered negative reviews can create doubt about a business’s reliability. Influence on Consumer Behavior As consumers increasingly rely on online reviews when making purchasing decisions, their behavior is markedly shaped by the feedback they encounter. A significant 84% of you consult online reviews before buying, underscoring their influence. Just one negative review can decrease your purchase intent by 42%, showcasing how damaging a single piece of negative feedback can be. In fact, 80% of viewers may be deterred by negative reviews, which can lead to substantial revenue losses for businesses. Furthermore, if a business holds fewer than three stars, 81% of you’re likely to steer clear. On the flip side, businesses that actively respond to reviews can boost consumer trust, as you’re 88% more likely to choose them. This engagement is essential in shaping your perception and trust in a brand, demonstrating the significant role online reviews play in your consumer behavior. SEO and Online Visibility Effects Negative online reviews don’t just affect consumer perception; they too greatly impact a business’s search engine optimization (SEO) and online visibility. When a business accumulates negative reviews, it can severely harm its search engine rankings. This pattern leads to decreased visibility in search results, which can result in: A drop in online traffic owing to lower click-through rates on negative reviews. A 42% reduction in purchase intent linked to a single negative review. 81% of consumers avoiding businesses with fewer than three stars. Engagement with feedback, signaling to search engines that the business is responsive, which can improve overall online presence. These factors underline the critical role that online reviews play in shaping a business’s digital footprint. Strategies for Handling Negative Reviews When you encounter negative reviews, it’s vital to approach them strategically, as how you respond can greatly influence your business’s reputation. Responding swiftly shows that you value customer feedback; 88% of consumers prefer businesses that engage with all reviews. Personalize your responses by using the reviewer’s name and addressing their specific concerns; this illustrates attentiveness. If mistakes were made, acknowledge them and offer solutions like refunds or discounts, which can improve customer satisfaction. Additionally, highlighting improvements made in response to past complaints reassures potential customers about your commitment to quality. Implementing a review management system can streamline monitoring and responding to feedback, making the process more efficient. Positive Aspects of Negative Reviews Although it may seem counterintuitive, negative reviews can actually serve as valuable assets for businesses. They offer insights that can lead to improvements in various areas. Here are some positive aspects of negative reviews: Identify Weaknesses: They highlight areas needing improvement, prompting you to enhance products or services. Build Credibility: A balance of positive and negative feedback can make your business appear more trustworthy to potential customers. Transform Loyalty: Addressing complaints effectively can turn dissatisfied customers into loyal advocates who appreciate your commitment to service recovery. Improve Public Perception: Transparent responses to negative feedback can evoke empathy and improve how potential customers view your business. The Role of Customer Service in Reputation Management Customer service plays a crucial role in managing a business’s reputation, especially in the age of online reviews. Timely and effective customer support can mitigate the impact of negative reviews, as 70% of dissatisfied customers are willing to collaborate to resolve their issues before posting publicly. Proactive engagement through customer support systems, like AI chatbots, greatly improves resolution times and helps prevent negative feedback from surfacing. When you acknowledge faults and express empathy in responses to negative reviews, you improve brand perception and rebuild customer trust, leading to potential repeat business. Companies that consistently respond to feedback, both positive and negative, show attentiveness and are 88% more likely to attract new customers. Finally, utilizing review management systems to monitor and address complaints enables you to identify and rectify issues, ultimately enhancing service quality and improving your business’s reputation in the competitive marketplace. Turning Negative Feedback Into Opportunities Negative feedback can serve as a critical tool for businesses looking to improve and evolve. By effectively addressing negative reviews, you can turn complaints into opportunities for growth. Here’s how to leverage that feedback: Identify Improvement Areas: Analyze reviews to pinpoint specific issues in your products or services that need attention. Engage with Customers: Respond publicly to negative feedback, showing your commitment to customer service, which can boost your brand’s reputation. Transform Dissatisfied Customers: Over 70% of customers may change their opinion after a positive response, potentially turning them into loyal advocates. Boost Customer Loyalty: Businesses that actively manage their reviews often see an 88% increase in customer retention by demonstrating responsiveness. Utilizing negative feedback not just refines your practices but also elevates overall customer experience, leading to better retention rates and increased revenue. Frequently Asked Questions How Do Negative Reviews Impact a Business? Negative reviews can markedly impact your business’s success. They deter up to 80% of potential customers, leading to decreased sales and revenue. A single negative review may reduce purchase intent by 42%, causing you to lose valuable opportunities. Moreover, such feedback can harm your search engine ranking, reducing online visibility. Responding to negative reviews is crucial, as businesses that engage with their customers are 88% more likely to attract new clients and build trust. Do Bad Google Reviews Hurt Business? Yes, bad Google reviews can greatly hurt your business. They deter around 80% of potential customers and reduce purchase intent by up to 42%. If your business has a star rating of 3 or lower, you might see decreased foot traffic and online visibility. This decline can directly affect your search engine rankings, harming your overall online presence. Engaging quickly with negative reviews can help regain customer trust and improve your brand’s reputation. Can I Be Sued for Posting a Negative Review? Yes, you can be sued for posting a negative review if it contains false statements. Defamation laws protect businesses from untrue claims that damage their reputation. Although you have the right to express your opinion, it’s essential your review is based on factual information. Exaggerated claims or personal attacks increase the risk of litigation. Always aim for constructive criticism to avoid potential legal consequences that could arise from a misleading review. What Are the Disadvantages of Online Reviews? Online reviews can have significant disadvantages for businesses. They can shape public perception, as potential customers often rely on these opinions before making purchases. A few negative reviews can deter many buyers, impacting sales and foot traffic. Furthermore, negative feedback can harm a business’s online visibility and search rankings. Ignoring these reviews can further damage reputation, as customers prefer businesses that engage with all feedback. This can lead to a cycle of accumulating negative comments. Conclusion In summary, negative online reviews can greatly affect your business, from lowering sales and damaging your reputation to eroding customer trust. They influence consumer behavior and can hurt your SEO rankings, reducing online visibility. Nonetheless, by proactively managing these reviews and using them as opportunities for improvement, you can improve customer service and build a stronger brand. Comprehending these impacts is vital for maintaining credibility and encouraging long-term customer loyalty in an increasingly digital marketplace. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Are the Real Impacts of Negative Online Reviews on Business?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Most of the loans, 57.34%, are for cashout purposes and the entire loan pool are first-liens, and are of modest leverage, with an original cumulative loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 69.74%. View the full article

Facebook Marketplace is revolutionizing online selling with the introduction of new Meta AI-powered features aimed at enhancing the experience for both buyers and sellers. As small business owners increasingly seek cost-effective avenues to reach customers, these innovations promise to simplify the selling process and open up new opportunities for engagement on the platform. With over 3.5 million listings posted daily in the U.S. and Canada alone, Facebook Marketplace is already a favored destination for those looking to buy or sell a myriad of products—from home decor to vintage clothing. The recent enhancements are designed to make it even easier to navigate this bustling marketplace, particularly for small business owners who may not have dedicated resources for sales. One of the standout features is the ability to list items more efficiently. Sellers can now upload images of their products, and Meta AI will automatically generate a draft listing that includes key details and pricing suggestions based on similar items in the area. This streamlined process allows vendors to focus on other aspects of their business, making it particularly attractive for those juggling multiple responsibilities. Shipping logistics are also more user-friendly now. Sellers can expand their reach by offering shipping options, thanks to simplified management tools that allow for the generation of prepaid shipping labels in just a few clicks. Keeping track of shipped orders is centralized within a dashboard, eliminating the headaches often associated with delivery logistics. Communication barriers between sellers and buyers are also lowered with the introduction of AI auto replies. When potential buyers inquire about item availability, sellers can enable auto replies that pull information directly from their listings. This feature speeds up interaction and helps to ensure consistent communication, an essential element for customer satisfaction and trust. Building a trustworthy online presence is crucial for small business owners, and Meta AI aims to assist in this area as well. The platform now provides AI-generated profile summaries, displaying an overview of the seller’s Facebook profile. This summary includes how long the seller has been on Facebook, the number of friends they have, and a snapshot of their Marketplace activities. Such transparency could enhance buyer trust, as customers often gravitate toward sellers with established profiles and positive ratings. However, while these tools represent significant advancements, small business owners should also be aware of potential challenges. As with any automation, there’s the possibility of errors in generated content, which means sellers must still take care to review listings before they go live. The reliance on AI for auto replies may also lead to generic responses that lack the personal touch, potentially alienating some buyers who appreciate more direct engagement. Moreover, as sellers leverage these new capabilities, the increased activity on the platform could lead to stiffer competition. Business owners must remain agile, continuously adapting their strategies to distinguish themselves from others employing similar tools. In embracing these innovations, small business owners can capitalize on an expanding customer base while simultaneously reducing the time and effort spent on listing and selling items. The potential for broader market reach combined with enhanced buyer-seller communication makes Facebook Marketplace an increasingly attractive option for small businesses looking to thrive in a competitive digital landscape. As Meta continues to roll out these features, staying informed about updates and best practices will be crucial for small business owners aiming to maximize their presence on this growing platform. For more detailed insights, visit the original press release at Facebook News. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Facebook Marketplace Unleashes AI Tools for Effortless Selling and Buying" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Facebook Marketplace is revolutionizing online selling with the introduction of new Meta AI-powered features aimed at enhancing the experience for both buyers and sellers. As small business owners increasingly seek cost-effective avenues to reach customers, these innovations promise to simplify the selling process and open up new opportunities for engagement on the platform. With over 3.5 million listings posted daily in the U.S. and Canada alone, Facebook Marketplace is already a favored destination for those looking to buy or sell a myriad of products—from home decor to vintage clothing. The recent enhancements are designed to make it even easier to navigate this bustling marketplace, particularly for small business owners who may not have dedicated resources for sales. One of the standout features is the ability to list items more efficiently. Sellers can now upload images of their products, and Meta AI will automatically generate a draft listing that includes key details and pricing suggestions based on similar items in the area. This streamlined process allows vendors to focus on other aspects of their business, making it particularly attractive for those juggling multiple responsibilities. Shipping logistics are also more user-friendly now. Sellers can expand their reach by offering shipping options, thanks to simplified management tools that allow for the generation of prepaid shipping labels in just a few clicks. Keeping track of shipped orders is centralized within a dashboard, eliminating the headaches often associated with delivery logistics. Communication barriers between sellers and buyers are also lowered with the introduction of AI auto replies. When potential buyers inquire about item availability, sellers can enable auto replies that pull information directly from their listings. This feature speeds up interaction and helps to ensure consistent communication, an essential element for customer satisfaction and trust. Building a trustworthy online presence is crucial for small business owners, and Meta AI aims to assist in this area as well. The platform now provides AI-generated profile summaries, displaying an overview of the seller’s Facebook profile. This summary includes how long the seller has been on Facebook, the number of friends they have, and a snapshot of their Marketplace activities. Such transparency could enhance buyer trust, as customers often gravitate toward sellers with established profiles and positive ratings. However, while these tools represent significant advancements, small business owners should also be aware of potential challenges. As with any automation, there’s the possibility of errors in generated content, which means sellers must still take care to review listings before they go live. The reliance on AI for auto replies may also lead to generic responses that lack the personal touch, potentially alienating some buyers who appreciate more direct engagement. Moreover, as sellers leverage these new capabilities, the increased activity on the platform could lead to stiffer competition. Business owners must remain agile, continuously adapting their strategies to distinguish themselves from others employing similar tools. In embracing these innovations, small business owners can capitalize on an expanding customer base while simultaneously reducing the time and effort spent on listing and selling items. The potential for broader market reach combined with enhanced buyer-seller communication makes Facebook Marketplace an increasingly attractive option for small businesses looking to thrive in a competitive digital landscape. As Meta continues to roll out these features, staying informed about updates and best practices will be crucial for small business owners aiming to maximize their presence on this growing platform. For more detailed insights, visit the original press release at Facebook News. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Facebook Marketplace Unleashes AI Tools for Effortless Selling and Buying" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

I’m so tired. However, the reasons are good: A fun weekend away A growing business Lots of time with family and friends Still, sometimes sleep suffers. I’m well-aware of what the research says that can entail—health risks and effects on productivity and memory. The idea is that sleep is when the brain has a chance to “clean” itself at night. A recent study in Nature Neuroscience takes a more precise look at something many people have experienced: those brief, frustrating moments after a bad night’s sleep when you simply can’t focus. Instead of looking at sleep deprivation over years or even days, the researchers focused on what’s happening inside the brain at the moment attention slips. The scope of the study Researchers at MIT and Boston University recruited 26 healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 40. Each participant went through the same testing protocol twice: once after a full night of sleep and once after staying awake all night under supervision. During both sessions, the researchers tracked what was happening in real time using several methods at once: Functional MRI to monitor blood flow and fluid movement in the brain EEG to measure brain activity Eye tracking to measure pupil size Heart rate and breathing sensors Reaction-time attention tests Because the same people were tested in both conditions, the researchers could compare each person’s performance and physiology when rested versus sleep deprived. What they found It’s well-known that sleep deprivation makes it harder to concentrate. The question behind this study was narrower: What exactly is happening inside the brain when attention slips? The team suspected that the answer might involve processes that normally take place during sleep. When participants were sleep-deprived, their reaction times slowed and they missed more cues during attention tests. The most striking discovery involved what was happening at the exact moments when those mistakes occurred. Normally, during sleep, waves of cerebrospinal fluid move through the brain, helping clear away waste products that build up during the day. In this study, after a night without sleep, similar fluid surges began appearing while participants were still awake, and these events tended to line up with brief attention failures. At the same time, a coordinated set of changes unfolded across the body: Pupils constricted Breathing slowed Heart rate dropped Brain-wave patterns shifted A few seconds later, as attention returned, those signals reversed. “It’s this kind of very sleeplike moment,” study co-author Laura Lewis told the Wall Street Journal. “The person is awake, but at the same time, there’s clearly this brief breakdown of ability to focus on the outside world.” A brain trying to do two jobs at once The study suggested that the brain is juggling competing priorities. During sleep, it performs what amounts to internal housekeeping, including fluid movement linked to clearing metabolic waste. During waking hours, it prioritizes attention and responsiveness. When sleep is cut short, those maintenance processes don’t disappear. Instead, they begin to intrude into waking life in short bursts, and attention drops at the same time. Researchers observed that these lapses were tied to a coordinated shift across the brain and body that looked remarkably similar to the early stages of falling asleep. “This suggests that there’s really some very urgent function of sleep the brain is trying to get to that’s worth this cost,” Lewis told the Journal. The brain appears to be forcing essential maintenance even when we’re trying to stay awake and engaged. Why this matters Most busy adults live with at least some degree of sleep deprivation. It’s easy to assume you can power through a rough night and function close to normal the next day. However, this research suggests the effects may show up in short, subtle interruptions in attention that happen whether you intend them to or not. After just one sleepless night, participants reacted more slowly and missed more signals, alongside measurable physiological changes suggesting the brain was temporarily shifting its focus inward. In situations where attention matters—driving, decision making, managing complex tasks, or even just trying to stay present in a conversation—those brief lapses can carry real consequences. Outside experts see the findings as part of a much larger picture. “Sleep disturbances precede most neurodegenerative diseases by up to decades,” University of Rochester neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard told the Journal. “We really start to look at sleep as an opportunity to prevent many of the diseases of aging.” The practical lesson The broader takeaway lines up with decades of sleep research. Sleep supports essential processes that can’t simply be postponed. When the brain doesn’t get enough time to perform those functions overnight, it starts making room for them during the day. When that happens, attention becomes less stable. For people balancing work, family, and everything else, the implication is straightforward. Lost sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling tired. It changes how the brain operates moment to moment, sometimes in ways you don’t fully notice until focus slips at exactly the wrong time. Enjoy your life, build your business, spend time with your family and friends. However, don’t sleep on sleep. It’s part of what makes everything else possible. —Bill Murphy Jr. This article originally appeared on Fast Company’s sister website, Inc.com. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. View the full article

Finding additional memory for your PC is already a challenge. Now, connecting to the internet could get tougher, too. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a notice Monday that will prohibit all new consumer-grade routers that were not made in the United States. Routers made in other countries, the alert read, “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” At least 60% of the routers in U.S. homes are made overseas, with the majority coming from China. Officials fear China could exploit those devices to launch attacks on critical infrastructure or steal sensitive information. “Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft,” the FCC wrote. “Foreign made routers were also involved in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks targeting vital U.S. infrastructure.” The ban applies only to new routers from other countries. The agency is recommending no action for devices already in homes and businesses. Retailers can continue selling existing inventory, and routers previously authorized by the FCC can still be imported, sold, and used. That suggests any suspected risk is not viewed as immediate. The order is likely to face legal challenges. The move is the latest step in the The President Administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy, which states “the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core components—from raw materials to parts to finished products—necessary to the nation’s defense or economy.” But implementing a ban on a product where even U.S.-based companies rely heavily on overseas manufacturing could create supply headaches. The FCC included a potential loophole by allowing exemptions for companies that obtain “conditional approval” from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. (It is worth noting that the FCC’s “Covered List” of routers deemed to pose an unacceptable risk does not restrict the sale or import of routers used by the federal government. Additionally, the FCC said companies could import small batches of unauthorized devices for product development purposes, but could not market or sell those.) If you already own a router on the Covered List, you will not be stuck with an expensive paperweight. A waiver allows those devices to continue receiving software and firmware updates so they remain usable and can defend against hacker attacks. The decision will impact several manufacturers, but perhaps none more than TP-Link. The company was founded in China but has since established its headquarters in Irvine, California. It has faced prior investigations over concerns about ties to China, though no action had been taken before Monday’s announcement. (TP-Link was not specifically mentioned in the FCC announcement, and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) The new rules echo a previous ban on smartphones developed by Chinese companies, which had the biggest impact on Huawei Technologies. Investors are already betting on who benefits. Shares of Netgear rose more than 12% in early trading Tuesday, with Wall Street seemingly expecting the company to receive an exemption and face reduced competition going forward. View the full article

Spotify keeps adding new features lately. Last week, the company rolled out "Exclusive Mode" for desktop users to stream in the highest quality possible; last month, Spotify announced "Smart Reorder," which automatically sorts your songs by BPM; and in January, the company's AI-powered "Prompted Playlists" landed in the U.S. after an exclusive stint overseas. It's still not easy to pick a favorite among other services like Apple Music, but Premium subscribers can at least say Spotify is giving them something for their money. Now, the company is rolling out another new feature, one that actually seems like a cool way to learn about your music. On Tuesday, Spotify announced SongDNA, which shows you all the people who worked on a song, as well as all the samples and interpolations that song used. SongDNA lives directly under the lyrics tile in the player window. I already see it on my end, though Spotify does label the feature with a "Beta" tag to note that this feature is still in testing. How Spotify's SongDNA works When SongDNA appears under a song, you'll be able to see the artists who worked on it in one corner. That might include the main artist, but also any of the composers, producers, musicians, or writers who contributed. The SongDNA tile shows the main artist in a bubble, but tap the icon, and you'll see a map of all the people involved. You can tap on any of these names to see how many other artists they've worked with, how many songs they worked on, and what their "top song" is (presumably, what the most popular song they worked on is on Spotify). To the right of the artists' bubble is a sample and interpolations bubble: Here, you'll see all of the clips the artist or artists took from various other songs to incorporate them into their own track. On Kendrick Lamar's "King Kunta," for example, I can see they sampled a drum loop from "Kung Fu" by Curtis Mayfield, and took vocals from James Brown's "The Payback," among others. Spotify will tell you exactly where in each song the sample was taken from, and gives you a play button to listen. You also can scroll down to find songs that have sampled the song in question: "F The Disco" by Cavi samples vocals from "King Kunta" at 1:28, as does "Brain Cells" by Villain Park (at 1:59). Scroll down a bit more, and you'll find any covers of the song available on Spotify. "8-Bit Misfits" has an awesome interpretation of the song that sounds like Kendrick wrote music for the NES. Credit: Spotify I'm an Apple Music guy, truthfully, but I have to say: This rocks (no pun intended). Most of us listen to our music without really knowing much about how it was put together—outside of the headlining artist, anyway. SongDNA makes it easy to learn more about how your favorite songs were made, where they pulled inspiration from, and who actually helped make the hit besides the singer or artist. You could follow up with the lead engineer or producer of your favorite song to see what other projects they worked on, or check out the full songs that were sampled to find new music to listen to. While it's a bummer it's only available for Premium subscribers, it's a great move on Spotify's part. I reached out to Spotify asking whether SongDNA uses AI to retrieve this information, and will update this article if I receive an answer. View the full article

Trust hasn’t disappeared from business. It’s been renegotiated. As artificial intelligence moves from novelty to infrastructure, people are changing how they decide who deserves credibility. In Mission North’s 2026 Brand Expectations Index, we surveyed more than 1,500 U.S. adults and knowledge workers to understand what builds trust today, and what quietly undermines it. Some of the results run directly against conventional thinking. Here are five rules for 2026. 1. Visibility alone doesn’t build credibility For years, executive communications equated presence with power: more interviews, more panels, more posts. But only 24% of respondents say frequent CEO visibility increases their trust. That doesn’t mean leaders should disappear. It means audiences can tell the difference between showing up and taking responsibility. What actually moves trust? Protecting customer data. Admitting mistakes. Listening and responding. Visibility without substance now reads as noise. The message is clear: Awareness and credibility are no longer interchangeable. 2. Generational expectations are diverging Where leaders show up matters—and it matters differently depending on who’s watching. Younger generations expect leaders to appear on social media, with 47% of Gen Z and 42% of millennials expecting them to appear on YouTube. Among those groups, trust rises when companies show up on YouTube (38% Gen Z and 37% millennials) and on TikTok or Reels (35% and 21% respectively). Older generations tell a different story. Across the full sample, 56% expect leaders to appear on broadcast TV news—and among knowledge workers, 45% say those appearances increase trust. For many audiences, traditional media still carries legitimacy. But another pattern emerges when you look at trust conversion: Longer-form, explanatory environments consistently generate stronger credibility returns than compressed, reactive formats. Platforms that allow leaders to explain decisions, demonstrate expertise, and show their thinking—whether that’s broadcast interviews, YouTube explainers, podcasts, or substantive LinkedIn posts—convert visibility into trust more effectively than short-form performance. The lesson isn’t that traditional media is irrelevant, or that digital replaces broadcast. Traditional media drives awareness, which is a key element of a strategic communications program. The nuance is that credibility follows depth. The more space leaders have to demonstrate clarity and accountability, the more trust they earn. 3. AI can strengthen trust—or erode it Across generations, one principle holds: Accountability must stay visible. Roughly seven in 10 respondents say their trust would decline if a company used undisclosed AI-generated executive messaging. At the same time, millennials are broadly comfortable with AI integration—60% say they’re fine with AI-generated executive avatars delivering public statements. Among baby boomers, however, that drops to 20%. The divide isn’t about innovation; it’s about accountability. People don’t object to technology; they object to leaders hiding behind it. 4. Silence is sometimes the smarter move Crisis playbooks have long prioritized speed, but our data suggests that instinct deserves a second look. Fifty-seven percent of adults—and 67% of knowledge workers—prefer leaders to say nothing rather than risk being wrong. Nearly seven in 10 would rather companies wait for verified facts than release unconfirmed information. In a media environment that rewards instant reaction, restraint can signal discipline. Accuracy reads as leadership. 5. Substance always wins We also tested whether gender shapes trust in crisis communication by presenting identical statements under the names “John Reed, CEO” and “Jessica Reed, CEO.” Among the general population, subtle perception gaps emerged: John was rated slightly higher on authority (+4 points) and empathy (+5 points). First impressions aren’t neutral. But when respondents evaluated what truly drives credibility—trustworthiness and effectiveness—those gaps nearly disappeared (+1 and +2 points). Among knowledge workers, differences fell within the margin of error. The takeaway? Bias may influence the opening frame, but performance determines the outcome. What leaders need to get right Across the research, a consistent pattern emerges: Accountability beats amplification. Expertise builds more credibility than hierarchy. Transparency is non-negotiable in AI adoption. Tone matters—and varies by audience. Values and clarity stabilize trust under pressure. This isn’t a case for less communication. It’s a case for more disciplined communication. AI can accelerate output, scale messaging, and compress timelines. What it cannot automate is responsibility. The leaders who earn trust this year won’t be the most visible. They’ll be the most accountable. Tyler Perry is co-CEO of Mission North. View the full article

Americans’ outlook on the job market has turned increasingly pessimistic, a surprisingly negative shift given the low unemployment rate but one that likely reflects an ongoing hiring drought. Just 28% of workers in a quarterly Gallup survey conducted late last year said now is a “good time” to find a quality job, with 72% saying it is a bad time. Those figures are a sharp reversal from just a few years ago, in mid-2022, when 70% said it was a good time. Americans have quickly gotten more pessimistic: As recently as late 2024, just under half of workers still said it was a good time to search for a job. The current survey was conducted during the final three months of 2025, long before the Iran war that has sent oil and gas prices soaring and threatens to slow the economy as Americans redirect more of their dollars to filling gas tanks and away from other spending. The figures help explain other surveys that show Americans have a largely bleak view of the economy, even as many headline measures suggest it has been growing and job losses are low. College graduates are especially gloomy Job pessimism is especially pronounced among college graduates. The shift is likely because hiring in many white-collar professions has been unusually weak for the past two years, in areas such as software, customer service and advertising. The survey found a split based on education levels, with just 19% of workers with a college degree thinking that now is a good time to find a quality job, while 35% of workers without a college degree are optimistic. A separate Gallup survey of U.S. adults overall found that college graduates’ optimism about the job market is the lowest it’s been since 2013. Meanwhile, the gap in job market sentiment between Americans with and without a college degree was at its widest in that survey since Gallup started asking the question in 2001. Signs of broad discontent among young workers Just about 2 in 10 workers ages 18-34 think now is a good time to find a job, compared to about 4 in 10 workers ages 65 and older who say the same. Gallup’s survey is consistent with what economists call the “low-hire, low-fire” job market: Businesses are largely holding onto their workers and measures of layoffs remain quite low. As a result, older workers are largely secure in their jobs. But hiring is also quite sluggish, making it harder for younger workers to break in and find permanent work. It also found that younger workers are much likelier than older workers to say they’re actively looking for a new job or watching for opportunities. Most Gen Z and Millennial workers say they’re at least watching for opportunities, while about three-quarters of baby boomers say they’re not looking at all. Other surveys signal negative economic views The Gallup results come as government data shows that overall hiring is at its weakest level in more than a decade. The Labor Department tracks a “hiring rate,” or the proportion of people who are hired each month as a percent of those with jobs. The hiring rate dropped to 3.2% last November, around when Gallup conducted its survey, the lowest since March 2013. It was 3.9% before the pandemic. A hiring rate at that 3.2% is quite low: When it was last reached in March 2013, the unemployment rate was 7.5%, as millions of Americans were still struggling to find work after the 2008-2009 Great Recession. It suggests it is much harder to find a job now than the unemployment rate would indicate. Government data also shows that there are more unemployed people — 7.4 million — than available jobs, at 6.9 million. That is a reversal from the first few years after the pandemic, when vacancies outnumbered those out of work. Gallup’s survey also found that workers have a dimmer view of their current life and future prospects than at any point since 2009, when the firm began measuring the workforce’s life evaluations. Other surveys echo Americans’ generally dark view of the economy. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence survey was just 91.2 in February, not far from its pandemic-era lows and down from nearly 130 before the pandemic. More people believe jobs are “easy to get” than “hard to find,” the Conference Board’s survey finds, but the gap has narrowed steadily in recent years. The Gallup poll of 22,368 U.S. adults who are working full-time and part-time for organizations in the U.S. was conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 13, 2025, using a sample drawn from Gallup’s probability-based panel. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 1.0 percentage points. —Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writer View the full article

Most technology companies treat brand or product names like marketing. That’s a mistake. Names are infrastructure—not cosmetic choices or launch-day deliverables. When names are wrong, everything built on top of them pays a quiet, compounding price. We tend to think of infrastructure as physical or technical systems: roads, power grids, cloud platforms. But infrastructure is really something more precise: It’s the invisible system that enables everything else to function. When it works, no one notices. When it doesn’t, nothing scales. Language behaves the same way. Before anyone buys a new technology, it must be named. Before they adopt it, they must talk about it. Before it spreads, it must be searchable, repeatable, explainable, andtrustable. All of that happens in language. Tech companies often come to us for help. We work best before a new technology enters the world. Our role isn’t to hype it or decorate it. It’s to build the language that allows the technology to be understood, adopted, and scaled over time. WHEN NAMING BREAKS, EVERYTHING BREAKS In earlier eras of software, language mostly described technology. Buttons were clicked. Menus were navigated. Documentation translated machine logic into human terms. Today, language increasingly is the interface. We talk to systems. We prompt them. We name models, agents, tools, and modes. Words don’t just explain behavior—they trigger it. In an AI-driven world, language has become operational. Consider Google Antigravity, an AI-powered, agent-first development platform released alongside Gemini 3 that lets autonomous AI agents plan, write, test, and validate code within a rich interface. The choice of the name Antigravity is more than playful branding; it suggests a paradigm shift where development feels lighter and more fluid. That name sets expectations about what the product allows users to do before anyone ever opens it. In other words: Linguistic choices shape adoption. Ambiguous language doesn’t just confuse users; it creates unpredictable behavior. Overly technical language narrows who feels permitted to engage with a product. Overly familiar language changes how much people trust systems that are, at their core, probabilistic and opaque. There needs to be a balance based on a brand’s goals and ambitions. THE COST OF GETTING IT WRONG Poor linguistic infrastructure taxes everything built on top of it. A weak name forces explanation. Explanation adds friction. Friction slows adoption, complicates sales narratives, distorts perception, and increases support costs. None of this shows up immediately on a balance sheet—but it compounds over time. A strong name does the opposite. It collapses complexity. It sets expectations. It makes something unfamiliar feel legiblebefore anyone understands how it works. Look at the name Vercel, a platform that helps developers build and deploy websites. It doesn’t literally describe hosting, deployment, or edge functions. Yet it feels structural and capable—a place, a velocity, a vector. It carries confidence without specifying category. The name Vercel scales as the product does because it functions like infrastructure, not décor. LANGUAGE AS SYSTEMS DESIGN Most companies approach naming as a moment. We approach it as a system. We study how names perform across languages, cultures, and cognitive contexts. We test how they are heard, processed, misheard, remembered, or misunderstood. We think about how they age. How they stretch as products expand. How they fail under pressure. Because a name isn’t a slogan. It’s the beginning of a language system—one that will be repeated millions of times by people who had no role in creating it. In today’s AI era, this matters more than ever. AI collapses the distance between word and action. Prompts become commands. Names become interfaces. Language becomes the control surface through which humans steer increasingly complex systems. When language is imprecise, the system inherits that imprecision. When it’s clear, the system becomes more usable, more trustworthy, and more scalable. The most successful technology companies rarely talk about naming. Their language simply works. It carries the brand meaning without explanation and scales as products evolve and categories shift. That invisibility is the goal. Good linguistic infrastructure disappears. Teams stop debating what to call something and start building. Users stop asking what a product is and start using it. Markets form more quickly around ideas that feel understandable—even when the underlying technology is complex. In a world where intelligent systems are everywhere, the companies that win won’t just have better models—they will have better language. Because language is how humans interface with complexity. Once you see language this way, you see that naming isn’t a craft. It’s infrastructure engineering. David Placek is founder and CEO of Lexicon Branding. View the full article

Handling sales objections is a vital skill for anyone in sales. You’ll encounter various types of objections, and comprehending them is the first step. Effective discovery processes can help you identify concerns early on. Acknowledging objections with gratitude builds rapport, whereas empathizing with the prospect’s feelings nurtures trust. By asking open-ended questions, you can uncover root causes, allowing you to provide customized solutions. But how do you make sure those solutions resonate? Key Takeaways Utilize the BANT framework to uncover the root causes of objections related to budget, authority, need, and timing. Acknowledge and express gratitude for objections to foster rapport and encourage open dialogue. Employ empathetic language to validate the prospect’s feelings and create a comfortable environment for discussion. Provide value by linking your solutions directly to the prospect’s specific needs and challenges. Support your claims with proof, such as testimonials, case studies, and metrics, to build credibility and trust. Understand the Types of Sales Objections When you’re steering through the sales process, it’s crucial to understand the types of sales objections that may arise, as each one points to a specific barrier in the purchasing decision. Common objections typically fall into categories like budget, authority, need, and timing. For instance, a prospect might feel they don’t have the budget or may not recognize the urgency of your solution. Other objections could stem from a lack of trust in you as the seller. By employing the BANT framework—Budget, Authority, Need, Timing—you can identify the root causes of these objections. Recognizing patterns from past interactions can likewise streamline your responses, allowing you to address underlying concerns effectively and improve your overall sales effectiveness. Conduct an Effective Discovery Process Comprehending the various types of sales objections provides a solid foundation for the next step in the sales process: conducting an effective discovery process. This involves asking open-ended questions to uncover your prospect’s pain points and specific needs. Use the P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. framework to guide your conversations and align their goals with your solutions. Prioritize active listening to validate their feelings, which builds trust. Incorporate insights from previous interactions and industry research to customize your approach, showing genuine interest. Adapt your questions based on their responses for a more personalized conversation that addresses their objections effectively. Discovery Technique Purpose Open-Ended Questions Uncover pain points Active Listening Build rapport and trust Customized Insights Demonstrate genuine interest Acknowledge Objections With Gratitude When you acknowledge objections with gratitude, you build rapport with your prospect, making them feel valued and understood. This approach encourages open dialogue, allowing you to explore their needs more effectively. Build Rapport Effectively Building rapport effectively during sales conversations is crucial, and one of the most impactful ways to achieve this is by acknowledging objections with gratitude. When you express appreciation for a prospect’s concerns, it not only validates their feelings but also strengthens the connection between you. This practice is particularly important for overcoming objections in car sales, as it promotes trust and encourages open dialogue. Acknowledge objections with a “Thank you” Set a positive tone for conversation Reinforce commitment to comprehending their perspective Transform objections into opportunities for deeper discussions Foster Open Dialogue How can you encourage open dialogue during sales conversations? Start by acknowledging customer objections with a simple “Thank you.” This approach shows appreciation, making prospects feel valued and heard. When you express gratitude for their concerns, it opens the door for deeper conversation, allowing them to elaborate on their needs. Recognizing objections as a natural part of the sales process helps maintain a positive tone, reinforcing trust. By validating a prospect’s feelings, you create a comfortable environment for discussing pain points. Engaging with empathy and gratitude when addressing objections strengthens relationships, eventually leading to higher customer loyalty. This practice not just improves dialogue but also cultivates long-term connections vital for successful sales. Empathize With the Prospect’s Concerns Empathizing with a prospect’s concerns is crucial for effective sales communication, as it allows you to comprehend their feelings and perspectives regarding sales objections. By recognizing their concerns, you build trust and cultivate a stronger relationship. Here are some key strategies to employ: Use empathetic language, like “I comprehend how you feel.” Actively listen to their concerns without interrupting. Validate their feelings to encourage open dialogue. Create a comfortable environment for sharing fears. When you demonstrate empathy, you’re more likely to uncover deeper issues that your prospect may not express outright. This comprehension can lead to customized solutions, making it easier to handle objections and finally increasing your chances of closing the deal. Ask Open-Ended Questions to Uncover Root Causes What techniques can you use to dig deeper into a prospect’s objections? One effective method is to ask open-ended questions. This approach encourages prospects to elaborate on their concerns, helping you uncover deeper issues that may not be immediately clear. By avoiding yes/no questions, you gather nuanced information about their motivations, which is vital when figuring out how do you handle customer objections. Utilizing insights from earlier conversations can help you craft relevant questions that resonate with their needs. Engaging prospects in this way cultivates a sense of partnership, making them feel valued and heard. In the end, this dialogue not only improves your comprehension of their priorities but also builds trust and rapport, paving the way for customized solutions. Provide Value and Tie Solutions to Needs After uncovering the root causes of a prospect’s objections through open-ended questions, the next step is to provide value by clearly linking your solutions to their specific needs. Address car sales objections effectively by focusing on how your product alleviates their pain points. Use a car sales objections and responses template to craft your message. Consider these strategies: Articulate how your offering addresses their challenges. Highlight unique selling propositions that align with their priorities. Emphasize the ROI potential, helping them visualize long-term benefits. Share relevant case studies or testimonials to reinforce your value proposition. Back Claims With Proof and Customer References When addressing sales objections, it’s crucial to back your claims with solid proof and customer references. Utilizing testimonials and case studies from satisfied customers provides tangible evidence of your product’s effectiveness. Highlight specific metrics, like a 30% increase in efficiency or a 25% reduction in costs, to substantiate your claims. Incorporating third-party reviews or industry awards improves your credibility and alleviates trust objections. Providing references from similar IBM creates relatable context, reinforcing your solution’s relevance to their specific challenges. Furthermore, sharing success stories where clients faced similar objections but benefited from your solution can help prospects visualize positive outcomes. This approach effectively addresses objection questions and builds confidence in your offering. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 4 P’s of Objection Handling? The 4 P’s of objection handling are Prepare, Probe, Provide, and Practice. First, you prepare by anticipating objections and crafting responses. Next, you probe by asking open-ended questions to understand the prospect’s concerns better. Then, you provide relevant information and solutions that address those objections, highlighting the value of your offering. Finally, you practice objection handling scenarios to boost your confidence and improve your ability to respond effectively in real situations. What Are the 3 F’s for Handling Objections? The 3 F’s for handling objections are Feel, Felt, and Found. First, you acknowledge your prospect’s feelings, showing their concerns are valid. Next, you share a relatable story of someone who felt similarly, which helps build rapport. Finally, you present how others have found success after overcoming that objection, providing social proof. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVbvhPGFi6E Using this framework creates deeper conversations and encourages collaboration, transforming objections into opportunities for engagement and comprehension. What Are the 7 Methods for Handling Objections? To effectively handle objections, you can employ seven methods. First, listen actively to understand concerns. Next, validate those concerns to build trust. Then, ask open-ended questions to encourage deeper dialogue. You can additionally reframe the conversation by focusing on the value your product offers. Address objections directly and provide relevant information. Follow up after the conversation to reinforce your commitment. Finally, be prepared with clear answers for common objections to improve your overall approach. How to Best Handle Objections in Sales? To best handle objections in sales, start by acknowledging the prospect’s concerns with a simple “Thank you.” This builds rapport and encourages dialogue. Actively listen and ask clarifying questions to understand their underlying issues. Use the P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. framework to address their Pain points and needs during focusing on value. Demonstrate empathy and reassure them of the benefits, emphasizing urgency and long-term advantages to facilitate resolution and strengthen the relationship. Conclusion In summary, effectively handling sales objections involves comprehending their types, conducting a thorough discovery process, and acknowledging concerns with gratitude. By empathizing with prospects, asking open-ended questions, and tying your solutions to their specific needs, you can build trust. Remember to back your claims with proof, such as testimonials or case studies, to improve credibility. Implementing these strategies will not just address objections but additionally cultivate stronger relationships with potential customers, finally driving sales success. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Essential Tips for Handling Sales Objections" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Handling sales objections is a vital skill for anyone in sales. You’ll encounter various types of objections, and comprehending them is the first step. Effective discovery processes can help you identify concerns early on. Acknowledging objections with gratitude builds rapport, whereas empathizing with the prospect’s feelings nurtures trust. By asking open-ended questions, you can uncover root causes, allowing you to provide customized solutions. But how do you make sure those solutions resonate? Key Takeaways Utilize the BANT framework to uncover the root causes of objections related to budget, authority, need, and timing. Acknowledge and express gratitude for objections to foster rapport and encourage open dialogue. Employ empathetic language to validate the prospect’s feelings and create a comfortable environment for discussion. Provide value by linking your solutions directly to the prospect’s specific needs and challenges. Support your claims with proof, such as testimonials, case studies, and metrics, to build credibility and trust. Understand the Types of Sales Objections When you’re steering through the sales process, it’s crucial to understand the types of sales objections that may arise, as each one points to a specific barrier in the purchasing decision. Common objections typically fall into categories like budget, authority, need, and timing. For instance, a prospect might feel they don’t have the budget or may not recognize the urgency of your solution. Other objections could stem from a lack of trust in you as the seller. By employing the BANT framework—Budget, Authority, Need, Timing—you can identify the root causes of these objections. Recognizing patterns from past interactions can likewise streamline your responses, allowing you to address underlying concerns effectively and improve your overall sales effectiveness. Conduct an Effective Discovery Process Comprehending the various types of sales objections provides a solid foundation for the next step in the sales process: conducting an effective discovery process. This involves asking open-ended questions to uncover your prospect’s pain points and specific needs. Use the P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. framework to guide your conversations and align their goals with your solutions. Prioritize active listening to validate their feelings, which builds trust. Incorporate insights from previous interactions and industry research to customize your approach, showing genuine interest. Adapt your questions based on their responses for a more personalized conversation that addresses their objections effectively. Discovery Technique Purpose Open-Ended Questions Uncover pain points Active Listening Build rapport and trust Customized Insights Demonstrate genuine interest Acknowledge Objections With Gratitude When you acknowledge objections with gratitude, you build rapport with your prospect, making them feel valued and understood. This approach encourages open dialogue, allowing you to explore their needs more effectively. Build Rapport Effectively Building rapport effectively during sales conversations is crucial, and one of the most impactful ways to achieve this is by acknowledging objections with gratitude. When you express appreciation for a prospect’s concerns, it not only validates their feelings but also strengthens the connection between you. This practice is particularly important for overcoming objections in car sales, as it promotes trust and encourages open dialogue. Acknowledge objections with a “Thank you” Set a positive tone for conversation Reinforce commitment to comprehending their perspective Transform objections into opportunities for deeper discussions Foster Open Dialogue How can you encourage open dialogue during sales conversations? Start by acknowledging customer objections with a simple “Thank you.” This approach shows appreciation, making prospects feel valued and heard. When you express gratitude for their concerns, it opens the door for deeper conversation, allowing them to elaborate on their needs. Recognizing objections as a natural part of the sales process helps maintain a positive tone, reinforcing trust. By validating a prospect’s feelings, you create a comfortable environment for discussing pain points. Engaging with empathy and gratitude when addressing objections strengthens relationships, eventually leading to higher customer loyalty. This practice not just improves dialogue but also cultivates long-term connections vital for successful sales. Empathize With the Prospect’s Concerns Empathizing with a prospect’s concerns is crucial for effective sales communication, as it allows you to comprehend their feelings and perspectives regarding sales objections. By recognizing their concerns, you build trust and cultivate a stronger relationship. Here are some key strategies to employ: Use empathetic language, like “I comprehend how you feel.” Actively listen to their concerns without interrupting. Validate their feelings to encourage open dialogue. Create a comfortable environment for sharing fears. When you demonstrate empathy, you’re more likely to uncover deeper issues that your prospect may not express outright. This comprehension can lead to customized solutions, making it easier to handle objections and finally increasing your chances of closing the deal. Ask Open-Ended Questions to Uncover Root Causes What techniques can you use to dig deeper into a prospect’s objections? One effective method is to ask open-ended questions. This approach encourages prospects to elaborate on their concerns, helping you uncover deeper issues that may not be immediately clear. By avoiding yes/no questions, you gather nuanced information about their motivations, which is vital when figuring out how do you handle customer objections. Utilizing insights from earlier conversations can help you craft relevant questions that resonate with their needs. Engaging prospects in this way cultivates a sense of partnership, making them feel valued and heard. In the end, this dialogue not only improves your comprehension of their priorities but also builds trust and rapport, paving the way for customized solutions. Provide Value and Tie Solutions to Needs After uncovering the root causes of a prospect’s objections through open-ended questions, the next step is to provide value by clearly linking your solutions to their specific needs. Address car sales objections effectively by focusing on how your product alleviates their pain points. Use a car sales objections and responses template to craft your message. Consider these strategies: Articulate how your offering addresses their challenges. Highlight unique selling propositions that align with their priorities. Emphasize the ROI potential, helping them visualize long-term benefits. Share relevant case studies or testimonials to reinforce your value proposition. Back Claims With Proof and Customer References When addressing sales objections, it’s crucial to back your claims with solid proof and customer references. Utilizing testimonials and case studies from satisfied customers provides tangible evidence of your product’s effectiveness. Highlight specific metrics, like a 30% increase in efficiency or a 25% reduction in costs, to substantiate your claims. Incorporating third-party reviews or industry awards improves your credibility and alleviates trust objections. Providing references from similar IBM creates relatable context, reinforcing your solution’s relevance to their specific challenges. Furthermore, sharing success stories where clients faced similar objections but benefited from your solution can help prospects visualize positive outcomes. This approach effectively addresses objection questions and builds confidence in your offering. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 4 P’s of Objection Handling? The 4 P’s of objection handling are Prepare, Probe, Provide, and Practice. First, you prepare by anticipating objections and crafting responses. Next, you probe by asking open-ended questions to understand the prospect’s concerns better. Then, you provide relevant information and solutions that address those objections, highlighting the value of your offering. Finally, you practice objection handling scenarios to boost your confidence and improve your ability to respond effectively in real situations. What Are the 3 F’s for Handling Objections? The 3 F’s for handling objections are Feel, Felt, and Found. First, you acknowledge your prospect’s feelings, showing their concerns are valid. Next, you share a relatable story of someone who felt similarly, which helps build rapport. Finally, you present how others have found success after overcoming that objection, providing social proof. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVbvhPGFi6E Using this framework creates deeper conversations and encourages collaboration, transforming objections into opportunities for engagement and comprehension. What Are the 7 Methods for Handling Objections? To effectively handle objections, you can employ seven methods. First, listen actively to understand concerns. Next, validate those concerns to build trust. Then, ask open-ended questions to encourage deeper dialogue. You can additionally reframe the conversation by focusing on the value your product offers. Address objections directly and provide relevant information. Follow up after the conversation to reinforce your commitment. Finally, be prepared with clear answers for common objections to improve your overall approach. How to Best Handle Objections in Sales? To best handle objections in sales, start by acknowledging the prospect’s concerns with a simple “Thank you.” This builds rapport and encourages dialogue. Actively listen and ask clarifying questions to understand their underlying issues. Use the P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. framework to address their Pain points and needs during focusing on value. Demonstrate empathy and reassure them of the benefits, emphasizing urgency and long-term advantages to facilitate resolution and strengthen the relationship. Conclusion In summary, effectively handling sales objections involves comprehending their types, conducting a thorough discovery process, and acknowledging concerns with gratitude. By empathizing with prospects, asking open-ended questions, and tying your solutions to their specific needs, you can build trust. Remember to back your claims with proof, such as testimonials or case studies, to improve credibility. Implementing these strategies will not just address objections but additionally cultivate stronger relationships with potential customers, finally driving sales success. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Essential Tips for Handling Sales Objections" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Less than two years ago, Sam Altman described advertising as a “last resort” for OpenAI’s ChatGPT, during a Harvard Business School interview. He said he would pursue it if it were the only way to provide global access to high-quality AI services. At the time, the comment stood out—not because ads seemed unlikely, but because it underscored what was at stake. ChatGPT doesn’t win attention the way social platforms do. It wins trust. That’s why ChatGPT’s recent ad launch matters far beyond just the creation of a new advertising surface. It’s a real-time test of whether a product built almost entirely on trust can monetize without fundamentally changing user behavior. OpenAI rival Anthropic signaled skepticism in a Super Bowl ad that humorously questioned whether introducing ads risks eroding user trust. From a business perspective, OpenAI’s move is understandable, not because leadership abandoned its principles, but because scale forces a choice. ChatGPT now serves hundreds of millions of weekly users, processes billions of prompts per day, and is investing heavily in infrastructure to support that scale. Monetization was inevitable. But inevitability doesn’t reduce risk—it concentrates it. THE TRUST THRESHOLD ChatGPT is not a passive discovery environment. Consumers use it to make decisions: what to buy, how to plan a trip, how to manage finances, even how to think through health and relationship questions. That level of reliance creates an unusually high trust bar. If users didn’t trust the interface, they wouldn’t engage with it so deeply or so personally. That’s what makes advertising in AI fundamentally different from advertising in social feeds or search results. WHY ADVERTISING ON AI PLATFORMS IS SO DIFFERENT The risk isn’t that ads exist. It’s that they subtly change how people interpret answers. Once users begin questioning whether a response is genuinely helpful or commercially motivated, the experience shifts. And in trust-based products, behavioral shifts like that are difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. OpenAI has acknowledged this tension directly. The company has said that ads will be clearly labeled, visually separated from model-generated responses, and not driven by the sale of user conversation data. Also emphasized, “Ads do not influence the answers ChatGPT gives you. Answers are optimized based on what’s most helpful to you.” That framing matters, because it highlights the real challenge ahead. This isn’t an ad-tech problem. It’s an experience problem. History offers plenty of cautionary examples. Platforms that initially earned consumer trust often introduced monetization that optimized for revenue before experience. The result wasn’t immediate abandonment, but gradual erosion. Users stayed, but engagement became more transactional. Loyalty weakened. Trust thinned. Meta’s own evolution offers a cautionary signal. As feeds evolved toward algorithms and monetization, the share of time spent on friends’ content declined—from 22% to 17% on Facebook and from 11% to 7% on Instagram—even as social media advertising market globally is anticipated to reach $317 billion this year. The platforms didn’t lose users. They lost intimacy. Engagement persisted, but the experience became more transactional. That’s the risk AI platforms now face. Not backlash—but a quieter transformation in how users relate to the product itself. WHAT THIS MOMENT REVEALS This is ultimately a test of platform design. Trust rarely erodes because a single brand gets it wrong. It erodes when monetization is allowed to interfere with utility. The platforms that have avoided this outcome—best-in-class commerce media operators—did so by designing monetization into moments where users are already receptive, not interruptible. Ads are not placed inside core decision-making experiences; timing, context, and boundaries are controlled by the platform itself. When monetization is architected this way, advertising doesn’t feel intrusive. It feels useful. And brands benefit not by borrowing trust from the platform, but because the platform protects the trust it has already earned. The question isn’t whether AI can integrate advertising. It’s whether it can do so without compromising the trust that made it indispensable in the first place. Elery Pfeffer is CEO of Nift. View the full article

After smashing March heat records in 14 states and the U.S. as a whole, the gigantic heat dome that’s baked the Southwest is creeping eastward and may end up being one of the most expansive heat waves in American history, meteorologists and weather historians said. And it’s not going away for awhile, maybe not till the middle of the next week as April starts, said meteorologist Gregg Gallina of the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. “Basically the entire U.S. is going to be hot,” Gallina said Monday. “The area of record temperatures is extremely large. That’s the thing that’s really bizarre.” This heat dome — in which high pressure is acting like a pot lid trapping hot air over a region — will leave Flagstaff, Arizona, with 11 or 12 straight days of temperatures higher than the city’s previous March record, said meteorologist Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections. Gallina said the dome’s eastward movement will mean temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius) by Wednesday over the southern and central Plains. From one-quarter to one-third of the 48 continental states will be flirting with records for March, Gallina said. The physical area of this heat wave likely dwarfs two other historic heat waves — one in 2012 in the Upper Midwest and Northeast and another in 2021 in the Pacific Northwest — according to weather historian Chris Burt, author of the book “Extreme Weather.” It may not be as large as the Dust Bowl heat waves of 1936, but that was a series of heat waves over two months during summer, not a single big event like now, Burt said. Both the Dust Bowl and the 2021 heat wave were more intense, with higher temperatures that hurt people more because they fell in June and July, Gallina said. Another saving grace for people in this heat wave is that it’s not as humid as it would be if the temperatures rose in the summer, Gallina said. On Friday, four places in Arizona and California hit 112 degrees (44.4 degrees Celsius), according to the Weather Service. Not only did that smash the record for the hottest March day in the continental United States by 4 degrees (2 degrees Celsius), but it was only 1 degree shy of the hottest day recorded in the Lower 48 in April. Climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera, who tracks global weather records, compiled a list of 14 states that have notched their hottest March day on record since this heat dome started: California, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, South Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota and Idaho. “In Mexico, even May records were trashed with March records broken by as much as 14 (degrees Fahrenheit), far more than July 1936, March 1907 or June 2021,” Herrera wrote in an email. The National Center for Environmental Information registered at least 479 weather stations breaking records for March from Wednesday through Saturday, based on its network of stations. Herrera, who analyzed a broader set of data, said the true number is likely higher. Another 1,472 daily records — which are easier to break — were shattered at the same time, the center said. What’s happening is the jet stream — which moves weather systems from west to east — is pretty much stuck as far westward as the storms dousing Hawaii, where people are seeing torrential rains and flooding, Masters and Gallina said. On Friday, a group of international climate scientists called World Weather Attribution determined that the record heat was “virtually impossible” and 800 times more likely because of climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. The result of those activities added at least 4.7 degrees (2.6 degrees Celsius) to the heat, said report co-author Clair Barnes, an Imperial College of London scientist with the group. The heat dome will move on by late next week, Masters said: “We just have to give it time.” The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Two years ago, I reluctantly inherited a cat. The cat is both mine and not mine: Sky belongs to my daughter, who owns her in the way a pet can "belong" to a minor while an adult operates silently in the background, managing its costs and responsibilities. Chalking it up as an opportunity to teach my kid new skills, I rarely feed Sky, brush her coat, or clean her litter box. Instead, I chose the worse task of incessantly reminding a teenager to do them. If you have a cat, you're likely familiar with the challenges that come from a dirty litter box. And if you have a teenager, you know how frequently they can resist completing tasks. But only if you have both can you understand just how bad Sky's litter box situation became: the rancid smell, the spilled litter across the floor, and a cat who looked for alternatives to their unsanitary box. Stubbornly, I wanted a solution that would address both my cat litter problem and my desire to teach my kid to take responsibility for her cat. The outcome was testing self-cleaning litter boxes that could manage both Sky and my daughter on my behalf. I tested two self-cleaning litter boxes from prominent companies that fall on opposite ends of the spectrum. The first I tried was the Petkit Purobot Ultra, a high-end self-cleaning litter box with premium features like an AI-powered camera and video recording. Its large size, space-age shape, and automatic video camera beg for attention, and it's a good choice for owners who need a litter box that can accommodate multiple cats. The other was the popular Litter-Robot by Whisker, a more discreet automatic litter box that blends in more easily with most decor. I used the EVO model, a more compact version of the Litter-Robot 4, suitable for single-cat owners. Litter-Robot 4 Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box with Step, Black $699.00 at Walmart Get Deal Get Deal $699.00 at Walmart The benefits and downsides of automatic litter boxesLitter boxes have come a long way since the first patent for an automatic, self-cleaning litter box was granted in 1991. You may recall litter boxes with mechanical rakes that comb waste into a bin. Those have since given way to barrel drum models like the Petkit Purobot Ultra, Whisker Litter-Robot, and others you've likely seen, which use a rotating barrel-and-grate system. When a cat uses the litter box, sensors detect when the cat has left, and the barrel automatically begins to cycle. As the drum cycles, clean litter is filtered through a grate, while waste falls into a separate compartment for manual emptying later. Once my cat acclimated to her new self-cleaning litter boxes, the benefits were obvious: The litter was always clean, there was far less odor, and I tossed our litter scoop. Our home has a cleaner, more sanitary litter box area. Other benefits of a self-cleaning litter box include cleaning when I'm away for unexpected periods, tracking our cat's weight, and, in the long run, saving money on cat litter. Since automatic litter boxes are cleaned after each use, it's less likely that broken clumps will contaminate the clean litter. It can also look cool. (But it can also look ugly. Your mileage will vary based on the model you choose and where you place it in your home.) The downsides of switching to a self-cleaning litter box can include the high upfront cost, the risk of choosing a faulty knock-off model, and the fact that automatic litter boxes aren't good for kittens (typically, you want to wait until cats are litter-trained, older than six months, and weigh more than three pounds). If you decide to add an automated, self-cleaning litter box to your home, there are steps you can take to ease your cat's transition. We have a shy cat who was pretty timid when we switched from her standard litter boxes to automatic ones, but a few steps helped her acclimate. First, we placed the new box next to the old one so our cat could associate the new litter box with the same area as her old one. Then, we added a small amount of litter from her old litter box to her new one to help it carry a familiar scent. After she used the new litter box a few times, we got rid of the old one entirely. Making the change was long overdue, and I wish I'd done it sooner, because switching to an automated, self-cleaning litter box is the best decision I've ever made as a cat owner. 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Chancellor tells MPs that any support this winter will be targeted and will stay within fiscal rules View the full article

Financier gives evidence for first time in his appeal against FCA ban and £1.8mn fineView the full article

If you’re looking to save on shoes at Macy’s, there are some valuable coupon codes you should know about. You can start with 25% off your first order by signing up for their email list. During Black Friday, expect up to 60% off select footwear. Creating a profile can net you an additional 25% discount. Plus, there are savings of 35% when you buy three or more items, and up to 40% off on select women’s shoes. Want to learn more about these deals? Key Takeaways 25% Off First Purchase: Sign up for Macy’s email list to receive a promo code for your first online or in-store shoe order. Black Friday Star Deals: Enjoy up to 60% off select shoes during Black Friday, including popular brands like Nike and adidas. Extra 25% Off with Profile Creation: Create a profile on Macy’s website for an additional 25% off your next online shoe purchase. 35% Off When Buying 3 or More Items: Use a specific coupon code to save 35% on your total order when purchasing three or more shoes. Up to 40% Off Select Women’s Shoes: Shop for women’s footwear and get up to 40% off on select styles, both online and in-store. 25% Off Your First Online or In-Store Order If you’re looking to save on your first purchase at Macy’s, signing up for their email list is a smart move. When you do, you’ll receive a promo code for 25% off your first online or in-store order. This offer applies to a great selection of shoes, including popular brands that you might be eyeing. The discount provides an excellent opportunity to kickstart your shopping experience, especially during sales or seasonal promotions. Furthermore, to maximize your savings, consider combining this promo with other ongoing offers. As you shop for shoes, you might likewise come across a Macy’s furniture free shipping coupon or a Macy’s furniture coupon code free shipping, but these won’t apply to footwear. Up to 60% Off Black Friday Star Deals on Shoes As you prepare for the holiday shopping season, Macy’s Black Friday Star Deals present a fantastic opportunity to plunge up to 60% on a diverse selection of shoes. This sale features discounts on select women’s, men’s, and children’s footwear, ensuring there’s something for every family member. You’ll find popular brands like Nike, adidas, and Under Armour, allowing you to choose high-quality options at considerably reduced prices. Additionally, you can combine these discounts with other promotions for even greater savings, enhancing the value of your purchase. For instance, first-time online orders can qualify for an extra 25% off, making this an ideal time to shop. Plus, with free shipping on orders over $49, you can enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience. Don’t miss your chance to take advantage of these substantial savings during Macy’s Black Friday event, as it’s an excellent opportunity to refresh your shoe collection at a fraction of the cost. Extra 25% off With Profile Creation Creating a profile on Macy’s website can reveal an extra 25% off your next online order, making it a smart move for anyone looking to save on shoes. This promotion encourages customer engagement and loyalty, allowing you to maximize your savings on footwear purchases. Benefit Details Action Required Extra 25% Off Discount applies to shoe purchases Create a profile online Exclusive Offers Receive promotions via email Sign up for notifications Seamless Checkout Easy application of discounts Complete your purchase Ongoing Promotions Access to future deals Regularly check emails To redeem this discount, simply sign up for an account before completing your purchase. By doing this, you not only get instant savings but additionally stay informed about exclusive offers customized to improve your shopping experience. 35% Off When Buying 3 Items or More When you purchase three items or more at Macy’s, you can save an impressive 35% off your total order using a specific coupon code. This offer applies to a variety of shoe styles, making it easy to mix and match different pairs to maximize your savings. Whether you’re looking for seasonal footwear or gifts for friends and family, this discount provides an excellent opportunity to stock up. To take advantage of this deal, it’s important to apply the coupon code at checkout for the discount to reflect correctly on your order. Furthermore, be sure to check the expiration date of the coupon code. It’s vital to confirm you use it before it becomes inactive, as these offers can change frequently. With this promotion, you can improve your shoe collection as you enjoy significant savings at Macy’s. Up to 40% Off Select Women’s Shoes Macy’s is currently offering up to 40% off on select women’s shoes, making it an excellent time to explore a wide variety of fashionable footwear. This promotion includes diverse styles such as boots, sneakers, and dress shoes, catering to any occasion you might’ve in mind. Whether you’re dressing up for a night out or need comfortable shoes for everyday wear, there’s something for everyone. The discount applies to both in-store and online purchases, ensuring you can shop conveniently from anywhere. Furthermore, you can combine this offer with other Macy’s promotions, including extra savings through the Star Rewards program, maximizing your savings. With such a wide selection available, it’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your shoe collection at a reduced price. Don’t miss out on these significant savings, as they can help you step out in style without breaking the bank. Frequently Asked Questions How to Get 25% off Macys? To get 25% off at Macy’s, start by signing up for their email list, which often offers a promo code for first-time shoppers. You can furthermore create a profile on their website to access additional discounts on your next purchase. Keep an eye out for seasonal promotions and combine these discounts with ongoing sales events. Finally, using specific promo codes during checkout can improve your savings even further. What Is the TRIPLE10 Promo Code? The TRIPLE10 promo code gives you an extra 10% off select shoe purchases at Macy’s. You can use it on various footwear brands, boosting your savings. Just remember to check the code’s expiration date, as it may change frequently. Furthermore, verify you meet any minimum purchase requirements to apply the discount successfully. This code can often be combined with other ongoing promotions, enhancing your overall savings on shoe purchases. What Is Macy’s VIP Code? Macy’s VIP Code is a special promotional code that offers exclusive discounts to loyal customers. When you use this code, you can receive a percentage off your purchase, both online and in-store. These codes may vary and are often time-sensitive, so you should act quickly to maximize savings. To access these codes, consider signing up for Macy’s email newsletters, as they frequently distribute them through these channels. Simply enter the code at checkout to redeem your discount. Can You Use Two Promo Codes at Macy’s? You can’t use two promo codes at Macy’s for a single order. Only one code can be applied, but you can combine that code with Star Money rewards or other discounts from the Star Rewards program. Always check the terms of the promo code, as some may exclude certain items. To maximize your savings, consider shopping during promotional events and signing up for Macy’s newsletter for exclusive offers that complement your rewards. Conclusion In summary, taking advantage of these Macy’s coupon codes can greatly improve your shoe shopping experience. Whether you’re a new customer looking for 25% off your first purchase, or you’re interested in saving on multiple items, there are plenty of opportunities to save. Don’t forget about the seasonal deals, like the Black Friday Star Deals offering up to 60% off. By utilizing these codes, you can refresh your footwear collection as you keep your budget in check. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Best Macy’s Coupon Codes for Shoes You Can’t Miss" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re looking to save on shoes at Macy’s, there are some valuable coupon codes you should know about. You can start with 25% off your first order by signing up for their email list. During Black Friday, expect up to 60% off select footwear. Creating a profile can net you an additional 25% discount. Plus, there are savings of 35% when you buy three or more items, and up to 40% off on select women’s shoes. Want to learn more about these deals? Key Takeaways 25% Off First Purchase: Sign up for Macy’s email list to receive a promo code for your first online or in-store shoe order. Black Friday Star Deals: Enjoy up to 60% off select shoes during Black Friday, including popular brands like Nike and adidas. Extra 25% Off with Profile Creation: Create a profile on Macy’s website for an additional 25% off your next online shoe purchase. 35% Off When Buying 3 or More Items: Use a specific coupon code to save 35% on your total order when purchasing three or more shoes. Up to 40% Off Select Women’s Shoes: Shop for women’s footwear and get up to 40% off on select styles, both online and in-store. 25% Off Your First Online or In-Store Order If you’re looking to save on your first purchase at Macy’s, signing up for their email list is a smart move. When you do, you’ll receive a promo code for 25% off your first online or in-store order. This offer applies to a great selection of shoes, including popular brands that you might be eyeing. The discount provides an excellent opportunity to kickstart your shopping experience, especially during sales or seasonal promotions. Furthermore, to maximize your savings, consider combining this promo with other ongoing offers. As you shop for shoes, you might likewise come across a Macy’s furniture free shipping coupon or a Macy’s furniture coupon code free shipping, but these won’t apply to footwear. Up to 60% Off Black Friday Star Deals on Shoes As you prepare for the holiday shopping season, Macy’s Black Friday Star Deals present a fantastic opportunity to plunge up to 60% on a diverse selection of shoes. This sale features discounts on select women’s, men’s, and children’s footwear, ensuring there’s something for every family member. You’ll find popular brands like Nike, adidas, and Under Armour, allowing you to choose high-quality options at considerably reduced prices. Additionally, you can combine these discounts with other promotions for even greater savings, enhancing the value of your purchase. For instance, first-time online orders can qualify for an extra 25% off, making this an ideal time to shop. Plus, with free shipping on orders over $49, you can enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience. Don’t miss your chance to take advantage of these substantial savings during Macy’s Black Friday event, as it’s an excellent opportunity to refresh your shoe collection at a fraction of the cost. Extra 25% off With Profile Creation Creating a profile on Macy’s website can reveal an extra 25% off your next online order, making it a smart move for anyone looking to save on shoes. This promotion encourages customer engagement and loyalty, allowing you to maximize your savings on footwear purchases. Benefit Details Action Required Extra 25% Off Discount applies to shoe purchases Create a profile online Exclusive Offers Receive promotions via email Sign up for notifications Seamless Checkout Easy application of discounts Complete your purchase Ongoing Promotions Access to future deals Regularly check emails To redeem this discount, simply sign up for an account before completing your purchase. By doing this, you not only get instant savings but additionally stay informed about exclusive offers customized to improve your shopping experience. 35% Off When Buying 3 Items or More When you purchase three items or more at Macy’s, you can save an impressive 35% off your total order using a specific coupon code. This offer applies to a variety of shoe styles, making it easy to mix and match different pairs to maximize your savings. Whether you’re looking for seasonal footwear or gifts for friends and family, this discount provides an excellent opportunity to stock up. To take advantage of this deal, it’s important to apply the coupon code at checkout for the discount to reflect correctly on your order. Furthermore, be sure to check the expiration date of the coupon code. It’s vital to confirm you use it before it becomes inactive, as these offers can change frequently. With this promotion, you can improve your shoe collection as you enjoy significant savings at Macy’s. Up to 40% Off Select Women’s Shoes Macy’s is currently offering up to 40% off on select women’s shoes, making it an excellent time to explore a wide variety of fashionable footwear. This promotion includes diverse styles such as boots, sneakers, and dress shoes, catering to any occasion you might’ve in mind. Whether you’re dressing up for a night out or need comfortable shoes for everyday wear, there’s something for everyone. The discount applies to both in-store and online purchases, ensuring you can shop conveniently from anywhere. Furthermore, you can combine this offer with other Macy’s promotions, including extra savings through the Star Rewards program, maximizing your savings. With such a wide selection available, it’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your shoe collection at a reduced price. Don’t miss out on these significant savings, as they can help you step out in style without breaking the bank. Frequently Asked Questions How to Get 25% off Macys? To get 25% off at Macy’s, start by signing up for their email list, which often offers a promo code for first-time shoppers. You can furthermore create a profile on their website to access additional discounts on your next purchase. Keep an eye out for seasonal promotions and combine these discounts with ongoing sales events. Finally, using specific promo codes during checkout can improve your savings even further. What Is the TRIPLE10 Promo Code? The TRIPLE10 promo code gives you an extra 10% off select shoe purchases at Macy’s. You can use it on various footwear brands, boosting your savings. Just remember to check the code’s expiration date, as it may change frequently. Furthermore, verify you meet any minimum purchase requirements to apply the discount successfully. This code can often be combined with other ongoing promotions, enhancing your overall savings on shoe purchases. What Is Macy’s VIP Code? Macy’s VIP Code is a special promotional code that offers exclusive discounts to loyal customers. When you use this code, you can receive a percentage off your purchase, both online and in-store. These codes may vary and are often time-sensitive, so you should act quickly to maximize savings. To access these codes, consider signing up for Macy’s email newsletters, as they frequently distribute them through these channels. Simply enter the code at checkout to redeem your discount. Can You Use Two Promo Codes at Macy’s? You can’t use two promo codes at Macy’s for a single order. Only one code can be applied, but you can combine that code with Star Money rewards or other discounts from the Star Rewards program. Always check the terms of the promo code, as some may exclude certain items. To maximize your savings, consider shopping during promotional events and signing up for Macy’s newsletter for exclusive offers that complement your rewards. Conclusion In summary, taking advantage of these Macy’s coupon codes can greatly improve your shoe shopping experience. Whether you’re a new customer looking for 25% off your first purchase, or you’re interested in saving on multiple items, there are plenty of opportunities to save. Don’t forget about the seasonal deals, like the Black Friday Star Deals offering up to 60% off. By utilizing these codes, you can refresh your footwear collection as you keep your budget in check. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Best Macy’s Coupon Codes for Shoes You Can’t Miss" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A little less than eight months ago, Crusoe and Redwood Materials launched a new kind of project: a modular data center powered by solar panels and repurposed EV batteries. Now they have data showing it works—and they’re scaling up. Over the months that the solar microgrid has been in use, it’s run 99.2% of the time, outperforming the companies’ targets. And unlike other data centers that rely on fossil fuels, this one uses only clean power. It’s very different from the standard way to build a data center. “The normal approach would be to get in line with a utility, wait for any number of years, and hopefully one day get an approval and join the grid,” says Cully Cavness, cofounder, president, and chief strategy officer at Crusoe. “This is a pretty innovative approach that bypasses a lot of that timeline and lets us take our outcome into our own hands by really going off-grid with renewables in a very fast timeline.” Solar power was already cheap to deploy. But Redwood Materials, the country’s largest recycler of EV batteries, recognized that reusing those batteries could help dramatically drop the cost of energy storage for solar or other power sources. “Storing [solar] overnight and making that into a base load resource that can be dispatched 24/7 historically has been very, very expensive,” Cavness says. “What Redwood has done is they’ve made a 24/7 battery solution with renewables economic and scalable.” When Redwood receives used EV batteries to recycle, most of them still have enough power for a second life. The company tests each battery, and also developed technology to monitor and manage the batteries in a microgrid. Crusoe developed modular data centers, each the size of a shipping trailer, that can be built in a factory and then shipped to a site to be quickly connected, unlike larger construction projects that take much more time. The first site sits at Redwood’s campus in Nevada, where the company built out a small solar field and a network of hundreds of used EV batteries over a few months last year. Initially Crusoe connected four of its modular units, called Spark data centers, to the microgrid. Now, at a new Colorado factory, it plans to build another 20, boosting compute power nearly sevenfold. (Because Redwood intentionally built a large amount of solar power, it likely won’t need to add more; the new units will just ensure that 100% of the solar is used.) Because so many more EV batteries exist than batteries for the electric grid, there’s an ample supply. “It’s still a very small percentage of EVs that are coming off the road, but it only takes a very small percentage to start to be a big number that’s relevant to the stationary market,” says JB Straubel, founder and CEO of Redwood Materials. Crusoe develops a range of data centers—from huge projects like a gigawatt-scale campus in Abilene, Texas, to the small, modular Spark units. But it sees the potential for used EV batteries in projects at all scales. “Through our conversations, it’s been pretty clear to me that we could go to hundreds of megawatts and beyond with this solution,” Cavness says. Without sharing details about specific new projects, he says the company is looking at ways to expand now. It’s a model that could solve many of the current challenges for AI. “I really think that more of the data center power is going to look like this,” says Straubel. “Grid interconnect timelines are getting longer and worse. The pricing and political problems around energy pricing, I think that’s kind of intractable. I don’t see that going away. To really defensively solve how you can decouple a data center’s impact on regional pricing or any grid dynamics, having extensive behind-the-meter power or entirely off-grid data centers, I think, is the path. I don’t see another really clear path. And it can happen quickly.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re building a cordless tool set for the first time, or replacing an older set that’s worn out, a combo kit is a good way to save money on several tools as well as batteries and chargers. Because batteries can be an expensive component to a cordless tool set, getting a kit that includes them is a good way to keep your costs down. If you’re trying out a new battery platform, you can expand your set as your needs change by adding new tools that will work with your existing batteries. Why the Milwaukee five-tool combo set is a good dealThe Milwaukee five-tool combo set is on sale at Home Depot for $299, 50% off its regular price, and it has some of the most useful tools they make. Milwaukee five-tool combo set $299.00 at Home Depot $599.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.00 at Home Depot $599.00 Save $300.00 Since a battery and charger set on its own can cost up to $200, depending on the battery capacity, getting five tools as well as two batteries with a charger is a big savings. Since the 18-volt Milwaukee batteries are compatible with all of their 18-volt tools, the set is versatile and can be added to without needing to replace the batteries. Since these tools are known for being durable, you can also save money on replacing worn out tools and batteries every few years. My set of 18-volt Milwaukee batteries have lasted at least 10 years, and some of them are going strong 15 years in. What comes with the Milwaukee five-tool combo set The Milwaukee five-tool combo set comes with a ½-inch chuck drill, a ¼-inch chuck impact driver, an oscillating multitool, a compact reciprocating saw, a work light, a three-amp-hour battery, a 1.5-amp-hour battery, a charger, and a tool bag. The drill and impact driver are the foundation of a cordless tool set, allowing you to drill holes and drive screws and other hardware for DIY projects. These tools are the basics for a DIY tool set. The oscillating multitool can trim material from metal to PVC and can perform plunge cuts into plaster and drywall. You can also use it with a sanding attachment to get into tight spaces. I used my oscillating multitool when I needed to replace my bathroom sink, and I used one tool with multiple blades instead of three or four different tools for the job. The work light might not seem like a crucial piece of the set, but if you’ve ever needed to turn off the breaker to an outlet you’re working on, or needed to see into a dark corner of your basement when you’re connecting a dryer vent, you’ll be glad you have a portable work light that you can aim anywhere you need. Why I recommend Milwaukee toolsI use Milwaukee tools in my personal tool set, and as a professional woodworker, I often rely on my 18-volt set for building furniture and installing shelves. I’ve had the same battery set since I bought my tools and I’ve only had one battery wear out—and that was after a decade of use, both outside and in a shop in hot, wet, and muddy conditions. Milwaukee has been making tools for over 100 years, and their line of cordless tools has been a trusted brand for contractors since the 1990s. Because their first cordless tools were made mainly for professional use, they developed a reputation for being long-lasting and durable. Now that their battery system and tools are more affordable, lots of DIYers use them in their home tool kits as well. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $149.00 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam Plus 2K Wired Security Camera (White) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Amazon Kindle Colorsoft 16GB 7" eReader (Black) — $169.99 (List Price $249.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article