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A reader writes: Recreational marijuana is legal in my state, but I don’t necessarily want my independent retail store to smell of it, given that we want to give our customers a pleasant shopping experience. I myself get migraines and other adverse health effects from the strong smell of it and cigarette smoke, not to mention that I’m asthmatic, but I don’t want to police my employees in their free time. However, my employee has started to arrive at work reeking of it. Their belongings and their personal space radiate the smell by at least 10-20 feet, so between them being at the front and their belongings in the back, half the store smells of it. I am very new at managing people and this is a new one for me. I haven’t even had to ask cigarette-smoking employees not to show up smelling of cigarettes, and this, while legal, is not what I want my cozy little store smelling like! We do light a candle every day for ambiance, but now it smells like we’re trying to cover up the pot smell instead. Which is even more headache-inducing. Due to other performance issues for this employee and another, I’m seriously considering a restructuring of our team anyway, but if I decide to keep this employee for what they do well, I need to figure out how to address this and other behaviors (like they have started bringing their partner to work, who then sits in one of our only two chairs for the public that entire shift, which then means that there’s only one other chair for whoever might be sitting to wait for a shopping family member). This is weird behavior that was not happening when this employee first started this job, and I know I need to address it, but it’s also our crunch time and given that I’ve had to cover for an employee who’s called out sick 17 days since June (the other reorg I’m considering), I’m honestly too exhausted right now to find words to address it. Do you have a suggestion for me? We don’t yet have an employee handbook — this is a very new, very small retail store — so maybe that’s where I start? Nope, you start with a direct conversation! If you decide at some point that it would be helpful to have an employee handbook, you can certainly include things like this in it … but a handbook isn’t the way to address this because it’s happening right now and you can just have a conversation about it. (What’s more, having a policy in the handbook in no way guarantees people won’t violate it. You’re going to end up having these conversations regardless.) The basic formula you want (and you’re going to need this formula a lot as a manager) is: * X is happening/not happening. * I need Y to happen instead. * Can you do that going forward? (or some conversational version of this) So in this case, you might say: “You probably don’t realize this, but your clothes and your backpack both smell strongly like marijuana. I don’t want the store to smell like it, and it gives me and probably some customers migraines, so — while you can of course do whatever you want in your off hours — I need you to figure out a way to not bring the smell into the store.” That might be all you need to say! But if they seem confused about how to comply with that (which they might, since often smokers are nose-blind to the smell and don’t realize it’s traveling with them), feel free to make suggestions. Maybe they need to use a bag for work that’s not stored in the same area they smoke in, or even bring a clean outfit to change into when they arrive. Or maybe they’re smoking somewhere very unventilated (like a car) and that’s causing the smell to cling to them. Ultimately, though, it’s on them to figure out a way to solve it, although you can make suggestions if you have them. And if they don’t solve it, it’s reasonable for you to decide you can’t keep them on. Ideally you’d give them a warning about that first — something like, “The smell we talked about is still an issue. I do need you to solve it pretty quickly in order to stay in the job” — but you shouldn’t let this drag on for months. You should be similarly direct about them bringing their partner to work! That one is even easier, because there’s nothing for them to “solve” — the solution is straightforward. So: “Jane, Peter can’t continue to come to work with you and stay here during your shift. He’s using one of our only two chairs for customers, and we don’t let non-employees stay here for the day.” And in a similar vein, here’s some advice on the employee taking too much time off (1, 2, 3). You are falling into a very, very common new manager trap, where you want people to do things differently but aren’t comfortable telling them that clearly, so you’re over-complicating it in your head (like wondering if you can solve it through a handbook). The most fundamental part of your job as a manager is to clearly communicate what you do and don’t want people doing, and the more comfortable you can get doing that — and the more you can see your authority as just a tool to get things done and something you exercise matter-of-factly in order to get the outcomes the business needs — the more effective you will be (and the happier good people will be working for you because they’ll know where they stand and won’t have to try to read your mind, and also because they’ll see problems getting dealt with forthrightly and without drama). Some columns that may help: advice for new managers how can I stop softening the message in tough conversations with my staff? how I can be more authoritative now that I’m a manager? The post my employee comes to work smelling like weed appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Treasuries sold off sharply after reports Danish pension funds are exiting, steepening the yield curve as stocks fell and gold surged, according to the CEO of IF Securities. View the full article

Franchising can seem like an attractive option for growth, but it comes with significant disadvantages for franchisors. You might face issues like loss of brand control, where franchisees don’t follow standards, leading to inconsistencies. Legal disputes can arise, and the costs to set up a franchise system can be substantial. Comprehending these challenges is crucial for anyone considering this business model, as they can impact your brand and overall success in ways you may not expect. Key Takeaways Franchisees may not consistently adhere to brand standards, leading to service quality variations and potential damage to the brand’s reputation. Legal disputes over contract terms and compliance can result in costly litigation and liability issues for franchisors. Initial investment and ongoing costs, such as training and marketing, can impose a significant financial burden on new franchisors. The performance of franchisees directly affects franchisor revenue, with poor sales leading to reduced royalty income and brand damage. High turnover rates among franchisees can disrupt brand stability, complicating compliance with operational standards and brand consistency. Loss of Brand Control When you decide to franchise your business, one significant challenge you might face is the loss of brand control, which can occur as franchisees operate independently. A disadvantage of franchising to the franchisee is that they may not strictly adhere to your established brand standards and operational guidelines. This deviation can lead to inconsistencies in service quality and product offerings, ultimately diminishing your brand’s overall reputation. As a franchisor, you might find it difficult to monitor compliance, requiring significant resources to guarantee all franchisees maintain expected quality levels. Furthermore, negative publicity from poorly managed locations can adversely impact the entire brand, affecting franchisee sales and profitability. These challenges highlight some key disadvantages of franchising to the franchisor. Legal Disputes and Compliance Issues Legal disputes and compliance issues are common challenges that franchisors face, often stemming from misunderstandings or disagreements with franchisees. Conflicts can arise over contract terms, operational guidelines, or even royalty payments, leading to costly litigation and potential reputational damage. Moreover, franchisors bear the responsibility of guaranteeing compliance with federal and state regulations. Failing to meet requirements, such as those outlined in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), can result in legal penalties and loss of franchise rights. Managing franchisee compliance adds complexity, as you must verify all franchisees adhere to brand standards and legal obligations, which may require significant monitoring and support. In addition, legal claims can emerge from franchisee misconduct, exposing you to liability issues that could distract from your business growth. Initial Investment and Setup Costs Establishing a franchise system involves significant initial investment and setup costs that can create financial strain for franchisors. These costs can quickly add up, including legal fees for drafting franchise agreements, developing training programs, and creating marketing materials. Furthermore, extensive training and support systems are vital to maintain brand standards, further increasing expenses. Here’s a breakdown of some common initial costs: Expense Type Estimated Cost Range Legal Fees $5,000 – $15,000 Training Program Development $10,000 – $30,000 Marketing Campaigns $5,000 – $20,000 Operations Manual Development $2,000 – $10,000 Compliance Costs $3,000 – $8,000 While franchise fees can help recover some costs, the financial burden can still be significant, especially for new brands. Dependence on Franchisee Performance Although franchisors often envision a thriving network of successful franchisees, their financial well-being largely hinges on the performance of these individual operators. If franchisees struggle to generate sales, the franchisor’s revenue from royalty payments diminishes. Poor performance can likewise harm the brand’s reputation, leading to customer dissatisfaction and a negative perception of the franchise overall. When franchisees fail to maintain operational efficiency or provide consistent customer service, it jeopardizes brand integrity across all locations. Furthermore, if franchisees don’t adhere to established guidelines, franchisors may struggle to maintain operational standards and brand consistency. High franchisee turnover can further disrupt brand stability, as new owners often need time and resources to reach the performance levels of their predecessors. Challenges in Franchisee Management Managing franchisees can be quite challenging, especially when compliance issues arise and communication gaps emerge. You’ll find that franchisees often have different levels of dedication and operational skills, which can lead to inconsistencies in brand performance. These challenges require you to invest time and resources to guarantee that all franchisees adhere to your brand standards during maintaining effective communication to support their success. Franchisee Compliance Issues Franchisee compliance issues pose significant challenges for franchisors, as they often arise when franchisees deviate from established brand standards. This deviation can lead to inconsistencies in customer experience and potentially damage your brand’s reputation. You may additionally face increased legal risks and financial penalties if franchisees fail to comply with local regulations or franchise agreements, complicating your management efforts. Regular monitoring and auditing of franchisee operations are crucial to guarantee adherence to guidelines, but this can be resource-intensive. Misalignment between your expectations and franchisee execution may create conflicts, resulting in disputes that detract from overall brand performance. In addition, training and support mightn’t always suffice, requiring ongoing engagement to reinforce operational standards effectively. Communication Gaps Challenge Though effective communication is vital for the success of any franchise system, gaps in communication between franchisors and franchisees can create significant challenges. Misinterpretations regarding operational standards often arise, leading to inconsistencies in brand quality across locations. If you don’t establish effective communication channels, important updates or policy changes may not reach franchisees swiftly, negatively impacting their performance. Franchisees might feel isolated and unsupported, resulting in decreased motivation and engagement. Poor communication can as well cause misalignment in expectations, leading to conflicts that complicate management. In addition, inadequate feedback loops prevent you from grasping franchisee challenges, limiting your ability to provide critical support and resources necessary for their success. Addressing these gaps is vital for maintaining a cohesive franchise network. Market Saturation and Competition When multiple franchise locations crowd a specific area, market saturation can become a significant issue for franchisors. This situation often leads to increased competition among franchisees, which can negatively impact profitability and brand identity. Here are some key concerns: Dilution of brand identity: Consumers may see little difference between nearby locations, leading to reduced customer loyalty. Profitability challenges: Franchisees may face declining sales as competition drives prices down. Quality control issues: Maintaining brand standards can become difficult as franchisees aggressively vie for the same customers. To mitigate the risks of saturation, franchisors should implement clear territorial agreements and carefully evaluate the number of franchise units in a given market, ensuring a balanced approach to expansion. Complexity of Franchise Agreements Maneuvering through the complexity of franchise agreements can be intimidating for franchisors, especially since these documents are often lengthy and filled with intricate legal language. You’ll need to invest time in careful legal review to guarantee compliance with federal and state regulations, which can be costly. The agreements include detailed terms about fees, operational guidelines, and performance expectations, so it’s crucial to communicate these clearly to avoid misunderstandings. Ambiguities can lead to legal disputes, potentially damaging your brand’s reputation. Regular updates are necessary to reflect changes in laws and market conditions, adding administrative burdens. This complexity can likewise deter potential franchisees, as they might feel overwhelmed by the obligations they’d be signing up for, hindering your expansion efforts. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Disadvantages of Franchising to the Franchisor? Franchising has several disadvantages for you as a franchisor. You might lose complete brand control, as franchisees often don’t adhere to established standards, leading to inconsistencies. Managing franchisee relationships can be challenging, with potential conflicts arising from differing priorities. The initial investment to set up a franchise system can be significant, redirecting resources from your core business. Furthermore, you face increased compliance responsibilities that require careful management to avoid penalties. Which of the Following Is a Disadvantage of Franchising to the Franchisor? One major disadvantage of franchising for you as a franchisor is the potential loss of brand control. Franchisees may not strictly follow your established brand standards, leading to inconsistencies in customer experience across different locations. This inconsistency can harm your brand’s reputation and affect customer loyalty. Furthermore, managing franchisee relationships demands considerable time and resources, making it challenging to guarantee compliance with your brand’s objectives and standards. What Are the 5 Advantages and 6 Disadvantages of Franchise? When considering franchising, you’ll find several advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include brand expansion, reduced risk, access to capital, operational support, and local market knowledge from franchisees. Nevertheless, disadvantages involve potential loss of brand control, legal disputes with franchisees, the burden of initial investment, steering through regulatory compliance, and challenges in managing franchisee relationships. Weighing these factors helps you determine if franchising aligns with your business goals and resources. What Problems Might Arise Between a Franchise and a Franchisor? You might encounter several problems as a franchisor. Franchisees often struggle to maintain brand standards, leading to inconsistent customer experiences. Legal disputes can arise from disagreements over franchise agreements. Managing relationships with multiple franchisees can become complex and time-consuming. Furthermore, poor communication from you can result in franchisee dissatisfaction. Finally, imbalanced agreements may cultivate resentment, causing conflicts over profit-sharing and operational decisions that could disrupt the franchise network. Conclusion In summary, whereas franchising can offer growth potential, it furthermore comes with significant disadvantages for franchisors. Loss of brand control, legal disputes, and high initial costs can create challenges that affect overall success. Dependence on franchisee performance and issues with franchisee management can further complicate operations. In addition, market saturation and the complexity of franchise agreements can hinder expansion efforts. Comprehending these disadvantages is essential for franchisors to make informed decisions about their franchise systems. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Key Disadvantages of Franchising for Franchisors" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Want to be wealthier? Get married. According to a study published in Journal of Sociology, the net worth of a married person grows approximately 75 percent more during their thirties, forties, and fifties than the net worth of an unmarried person. (That’s per person in the relationship, not per couple.) Want to make a higher income, and feel more satisfied with your job? Get married. A Washington University in St. Louis study found that people with relatively prudent and reliable partners tend to perform better at work, earning more promotions, making more money, and feeling more satisfied with their jobs. What the researchers call “partner conscientiousness” predicts future job satisfaction, income, and likelihood of promotion (even after factoring in the participants’ original level of conscientiousness). According to the researchers, “conscientious” partners perform more household tasks, exhibit more pragmatic behaviors that their spouses are likely to emulate, and promote a more satisfying home life, all of which enables their spouse to focus more on work. As one researcher said, “These results demonstrate that the dispositional characteristics of the person one marries influence important aspects of one’s professional life.” Or in non-researcher-speak, a good partner sets a good example and helps create an environment where you can be a better you. Other data backs up the above findings. A 2021 Census Bureau report found that married adults tend to earn substantially more than unmarried adults, and have three times the net worth. A 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey found that married couples spend about $10,000 less per person than unmarried people. Making more and spending less? Great formula for a higher net worth. That’s why deciding whom to marry is one of the most important decisions you’ll make where your overall happiness, career prospects, and financial success are concerned. Clearly, you have to choose the right person to spend your life with. But just as clearly, you have to choose to be the kind of partner they deserve to spend their life with. For example, a study published in Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that people in romantic relationships exercise less than people who are single, especially where moderate to vigorous physical activity (running, lifting weights, cycling, etc.) is concerned. Why? Become a couple and you’re more likely to do couples things: eat meals together, watch TV together, hang out together. Over time, “Let’s go to the gym” is much less likely to top the list, even if you consistently exercised before you became a couple. As the researchers write: For those with a partner, current (exercise) levels are substantially lower when the partner is present than when the partner is absent. When partners spend leisure-time activities apart, their (exercise) levels are higher than those of individuals without a partner. The results suggest that it is not the mere existence of a romantic relationship but the current co-presence with a partner that affects physical activity behavior. Bottom line? Spending time together means you’re a lot less likely to exercise. And then there’s this. A study published in Health Psychology found that after four years in a stable relationship, people tend to gain significantly more weight than they would from the natural result of aging. A Social Science & Medicine study found that people in a long-term relationship are more likely to gain weight, and less likely to exercise. (Unsurprisingly, the study also found that when a relationship ends, people tend to lose weight and exercise more.) When time together feels short, going to the gym doesn’t sound like couples time. Granted, you’re together … but only in proximity. The researchers also speculate that feeling secure in a relationship tends to cause people to focus less on their appearance, and therefore less on healthy behaviors, like exercise and diet, that affect appearance. Which takes us back to whom you choose to marry. Clearly you shouldn’t choose your life partner on the basis of how “conscientious” they are, or whether you think they not only eat well and exercise but will continue to eat well and exercise. To paraphrase the Washington University in St. Louis researchers, marrying a conscientious partner “could sound like a recipe for a rigid and lackluster lifestyle.” But it does appear that having a conscientious and prudent partner — both in a practical sense, and in a healthy lifestyle sense — is an ingredient in the recipe for a better, more rewarding career, and for a healthier and longer life. So what should you do? Instead of expecting your partner to change some of their habits, think about what you can do to be more supportive of their goals. In a practical sense, maybe you can take on managing the finances. Or take care of more household chores, or repairs, maintenance — the things that keep your trains running on time. After all, the best way to lead is by example. Take health and fitness. You can decide to make exercising and eating better a priority, and do things to support that goal. You can take on the grocery shopping. You can cook some meals. You can fix a healthy lunch for your partner to take to work. You can choose to be the “conscientious” one. That’s the real key. Marrying the right person helps, but being the right person to have married — being supportive, encouraging, and leading by example — is the best way to help your marriage be successful, both practically and, more important, emotionally. Because the person you choose to marry matters — but what you do for your partner, and what that does for your relationship, matters most. —Inc. View the full article

I'm a devout Pixel user. I love stock Android, and I'm always running the latest Android beta, making Pixel basically my only choice. But there are times when I get jealous looking at all the extra tools that Samsung provides on its Galaxy phones, Edge Panel being the big one. With Edge Panel, you can swipe in from the edge of your phone and a hidden drawer reveals itself, filled with apps, system actions, and shortcuts. Given how barebones Pixel Launcher is, I've always wanted something like this. Then I found the Panels app by Fossor Coding (not to be confused with the ill-fated wallpaper app by MKBHD). In some ways, Panels is even better than Edge Panels on Samsung. It lets you use custom icon packs, there's a quick search shortcut, and you can even open floating widgets. Plus, because it's customizable, you can move the trigger point to the bottom edge of your phone instead of the side (incredibly handy for large phones), and you can add multiple columns (up to a ridiculous seven column layout). And while you can pay for Panels, all of that basic functionality is included for free. How to customize the Panels app for AndroidFirst, install the app and give it permission to display over other apps; this makes sure that the Panels launcher can work when you're using any app. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Next, tap on the View button and customize the panel. The free version limits you to 3 columns and 9 rows, which seems like plenty to me. You can upgrade to the full version to remove this limit (which is quite cheap, at just $1.50). From the Trigger section, you can customize the trigger area. If you have a larger phone, I highly recommend bringing down the trigger area towards the bottom of the screen. Now, let's customize the Panels launcher itself. Swipe in from your trigger area and hold for a second to bring up the sidebar panel. By default, you'll see some apps here already. Tap and hold on an empty area to start adding more apps. Credit: Khamosh Pathak You can choose to add any of the following items: Applications: Choose any installed app. Add your most frequently used apps here. Shortcuts: Launch actions from inside any supported apps. For example, you can create a shortcut for adding a new task in TickTick, or messaging someone on WhatsApp. App pair: Create shortcuts for launching two apps side-by-side, made even more useful after Android 16's latest 90:10 split screen update. Accessibility: Add shortcuts for system-level options like Home, Back, Notifications, Screenshot, and more. System preferences: Quick access to frequently used settings like media volume, cellular data, airplane mode, Wi-Fi, and a lot more. Website: You can add any website as a quick shortcut here. Floating widget: This is a hidden gem. You can add widgets that open in a floating window above everything else. You can trigger widgets for news, weather, or sports updates. They can hover over everything else for a few seconds, before you dismiss them out of the way. Folder: If you have too many quick app options, organize them in folders instead. Contact: Add any contact here as an icon. Press and hold to quickly call, message, or email them. Quick Search: Another useful hack. The Quick Search panel brings up a fast search for all installed apps. Go over each option and choose what you'd like to add to your sidebar launcher. Me, I'm a simple man, so my focus is mostly on my most frequently used apps, shortcuts for common actions, and quick access to some system level functionality. One swipe gesture: Lastly, here's a pro tip. While you can open apps in Panels by swiping, lifting your thumb, and selecting, you can also do it without taking your thumb off the screen. Once you swipe in from the edge and the Panels sidebar opens up, don't let go. You can keep moving your thumb to highlight any app or shortcut (the icon that's in focus will get bigger). Then simply let go over your selection to launch it. Overall, Panels is a pretty robust app. Once you have your personalized setup, you can launch apps, shortcuts, or widgets, with just a swipe, no matter which app you're using. View the full article

President Donald The President plans to use a key address Wednesday to try to convince Americans he can make housing more affordable, but he’s picked a strange backdrop for the speech: a Swiss mountain town where ski chalets for vacations cost a cool $4.4 million. On the anniversary of his inauguration, The President is flying to the World Economic Forum in Davos — an annual gathering of the global elite — where he may see many of the billionaires he has surrounded himself with during his first year back in the White House. The President had campaigned on lowering the cost of living, painting himself as a populist while serving fries at a McDonald’s drive-thru. But in office, his public schedules suggest he’s traded the Golden Arches for a gilded age, devoting more time to cavorting with the wealthy than talking directly to his working-class base. “At the end of the day, it’s the investors and billionaires at Davos who have his attention, not the families struggling to afford their bills,” said Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, a liberal think tank. The President’s attention in his first year back has been less on pocketbook issues and more fixed on foreign policy with conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Venezuela. He is now bent on acquiring Greenland to the chagrin of European allies — a headline likely to dominate his time in Davos, overshadowing his housing ideas. The President noted the Europeans’ resistance, telling reporters Monday night, “Let’s put it this way: It’s going to be a very interesting Davos.” The White House has tried to shift The President’s focus to affordability issues, a response to warning signs in the polls in a year where control of Congress is at stake in midterm elections. About six in 10 U.S. adults now say that The President has hurt the cost of living, according to the latest survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It’s an issue even among Republicans, who have said The President’s work on the economy hasn’t lived up to their expectations. Only 16% say The President has helped “a lot” on making things more affordable, down from 49% in April 2024, when an AP-NORC poll asked Americans the same question about his first term. The president is banking on investment commitments from billionaires and foreign nations to create a jobs boom, even as his broad tariffs have crimped the labor market and spurred inflation. The President supporters who attend his rallies — which the president resumed last month — are left to trust that The President’s business ties can eventually help them. This strategy carries political risks. Voters are more interested in the economy they’re experiencing in their own lives than in The President’s relationships with billionaires, said Frank Luntz, the Republican-affiliated pollster and strategist. “If you’re asking me, ‘Are billionaires popular?’ The answer is no — and they’ve haven’t been for some time,” said Luntz, who last year identified “affordability” as a defining issue for voters. Wooing billionaires instead of the working class Since The President’s first term in 2017, the wealthiest 0.1% of Americans have seen their wealth increase by $11.98 trillion to $23.46 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve. The magnitude of those gains dwarfs what the bottom 50% of households — the majority of the country — received during the same period. Their net worth rose by $2.94 trillion, roughly one-fourth what the top 0.1% got. One of the biggest concerns for voters is the cost of housing. In recent weeks, The President has floated proposals like reducing interest rates on home loans by buying $200 billion in mortgage debt and banning large financial companies from buying homes. Yet those efforts would do little to address the core problem in the housing market: a multi-year shortfall in home construction and home prices that have generally risen faster than wages. The President regularly points to the investments made by the wealthy and powerful as signs of economic growth to come. To encourage billionaires to deliver, The President in his first year pursued policies on artificial intelligence and financial regulation that can benefit the wealthy, along with tax cuts, reduced IRS enforcement and fewer regulatory burdens for large-scale investments. “Most billionaires don’t share the interests of the working class,” said Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has written about the “wealthification” of U.S. politics. “The ultrawealthy love tax cuts and deregulation, and those preferences make it difficult for government to provide the help that working class people want.” The President has been trying to sell tax breaks on tips and overtime pay from what is known as the ” One Big Beautiful Bill ” as benefiting workers. But a Congressional Budget Office analysis indicated that middle-class families may only see savings of $800 to $1,200 a year, on average, while the top 10% of earners would receive $13,600. A separate analysis by the Tax Policy Center, a think tank, said those earning above $1 million would save on average $66,510 this year. The company The President keeps The President regularly holds public events with the wealthy and powerful at the White House and beyond. He jetted to the Middle East and Asia with billionaires in tow as he had foreign countries announce investment commitments, promising that the money would flow down into factory jobs for the middle class. At a September dinner with tech billionaires, The President said it was an honor to be surrounded by the likes of Bill Gates, Tim Cook, Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg. “There’s never been anything like it,” The President said. “The most brilliant people are gathered around this table. This is definitely a high-IQ group and I’m very proud of them.” The White House said the previous Biden administration had alienated the business community to the detriment of the economy. “President The President’s pro-growth policies and friendly relationships with industry titans, on the other hand, are securing trillions in investments that are creating jobs and opportunities for everyday Americans,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said. Last month, The President celebrated a charitable contribution of $6.25 billion to the “The President” investment accounts for children by Michael Dell. It was a chance to talk about economic inequality — but also another opportunity for The President to showcase his relationship with billionaires. The President takes phone calls from billionaires and CEOs to chat about business, politics and interests such as his planned White House ballroom. He regularly peppers his speeches with shoutouts to Nvidia founder Jensen Huang, whose net worth was estimated by Forbes at roughly $162 billion as of Sunday. He’s installed billionaires in his inner circle such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (net worth: $3.3 billion) and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (net worth: $2 billion). He put Elon Musk (net worth: $780 billion) in charge of slashing government payrolls before a dramatic falling-out and, later, a public reconciliation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at a briefing last month portrayed The President’s own status as a billionaire as a positive for him with voters. “I think it’s one of the many reasons they reelected him back to this office, because he’s a businessman who understands the economy and knows how to fix it,” she said. —Josh Boak, Associated Press View the full article

In an evolving economic landscape, where speed and adaptability are paramount, Deluxe Corporation has stepped up to enhance cash flow management for small businesses. The company’s recent collaboration with Visa to introduce dlxFastFunds promises to transform the way businesses access their funds, reducing the typical settlement delay from one to two days to near real-time. “Managing cash flow is critical for growth,” noted Brian Mahony, President of Merchant Services at Deluxe. The integration of Visa Direct into Deluxe’s Payments Platform equips small businesses with the tools they need to respond swiftly to financial needs, from covering payroll to seizing reinvestment opportunities. By leveraging Visa’s extensive payment network, dlxFastFunds offers a new settlement option that empowers small businesses to have immediate access to their earnings. This advance in technology allows businesses to route funds directly to eligible cards and bank accounts, enhancing operational agility. Vira Platonova, Global Head of Visa Direct, echoed this sentiment, stating, “As more businesses embrace digital payments, the ability to send funds efficiently and with confidence becomes a competitive advantage.” Key benefits of the dlxFastFunds solution center around improved cash flow and operational efficiency. With the reduced wait time for funds, small business owners can avoid disruptions that often arise from cash flow issues. The seamless integration within the Deluxe Payments Platform minimizes the need for complex setups, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users. This simplicity encourages quick adoption, providing businesses the freedom to concentrate on growth rather than financial logistics. For small businesses facing fluctuating demands or unexpected expenses, having immediate access to funds can significantly improve their operational resilience. By responding to needs in real-time, businesses can maintain inventory levels, meet payroll deadlines, and invest in opportunities as they arise. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges that may accompany this new funding solution. Though the promise of near real-time access to funds is attractive, actual availability can depend on several factors, including the receiving financial institution, account type, and regional regulations. It’s essential for business owners to familiarize themselves with these variables to avoid misunderstandings regarding fund access. Moreover, while dlxFastFunds aims to simplify the funding process, businesses still need to ensure their operations are equipped to handle this rapid funding capability. Adapting internal processes and training staff to utilize this new feature effectively will be crucial to reaping its full benefits. Deluxe’s initiative comes at a time when small businesses increasingly rely on digital payment solutions to stay competitive. The integration of Visa Direct into their platform aims to modernize the disbursement process, making financial transactions faster and more efficient. As Deluxe continues to champion businesses, their commitment to leveraging technology for improved cash flow signals a forward-thinking approach that may resonate with many small business owners. As businesses navigate this new ecosystem of immediate fund availability and agile operations, it’s clear that the introduction of dlxFastFunds could redefine traditional notions of cash flow management. For those interested in mastering this new capability and its implications, more information is available on Deluxe’s website. For more details, you can view the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Deluxe and Visa Launch Instant Funding Solution to Boost Business Cash Flow" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

While working as an engineer at Tesla, Niccolo Cymbalist never planned to start a business. But he’d been considering an idea for new technology—an autonomous, wind-powered cargo ship. Then, while on paternity leave in 2024, he discovered a free program that helps scientists and engineers launch businesses for the first time. Weeks after finishing the program, called 5050, Cymbalist had launched a startup called Clippership. The company’s first ship is being built in the Netherlands this year. Without the accelerator, he says, the company likely wouldn’t exist. The program has now helped scientists and engineers launch 100 businesses, from Huminly, which uses enzymes to make clothing infinitely recyclable, to Plasmidsaurus, which offers ultra-fast DNA sequencing. The course is run by Fifty Years, a San Francisco-based VC firm focused on deep tech that tackles the world’s largest problems, from disease to climate change. Soon after the firm started a decade ago, the team saw that good ideas were stuck in academic labs. “The transition from academic scientist to founder is actually much more difficult than the transition from sophomore dropout to founder, for a whole host of reasons,” says Seth Bannon, a founding partner at Fifty Years. “Because of that, the best people to start these startups—the scientists that invented the technology—weren’t doing that. So we said, ‘okay, can we help fix that?’” From idea to startup Potential founders go through a 13-week program—with some in-person weekends and weekly Zoom sessions—that helps them figure out if their idea is worth pursuing and whether it’s ready to commercialize. The founder of Plasmidsaurus, for example, who was a postdoc at Caltech, initially joined the program planning to turn his lab research on synthetic gene circuits into a medical product. But the 5050 team helped him realize that it was around 10 years from being commercializable, and one of his other ideas—technology he’d developed to speed up his own research—was ready now. The company is growing quickly. “At year one, they just crossed a $50 million run rate,” Bannon says. “They’ve been profitable every month since they started. And they’re now one of the most beloved names in biology.” Participants also learn how to build a startup team, understand what makes founders successful, and decide if entrepreneurship is a fit for them. “One of the workshops that we do is the ‘story of self,’ where it’s a deep dive into their core motivation—their entire story of life and like what they’re doing today to really make sure that they’re actually pursuing something that they’re really really excited about,” says Ale Borda, who runs the 5050 program. “Then they can use that same story to share about their work and why they will go through walls to enable this to happen.” They learn about how to communicate differently. “In academia, just as one example, you are taught to communicate with data, data, data—and then here are the 10 ways my data might be wrong,” Bannon says. While that’s good for research, “if you communicate that way as a startup founder, you will have trouble hiring anybody, you’ll have trouble raising money, you’ll have trouble getting press,” he says. “And so you have to learn to talk in directionally correct abstractions.” Universities often also have programs to help move tech to the market, but schools are disconnected from the startup world, and Bannon says the programs aren’t very effective. (Mentors might be Fortune 500 executives, for example, rather than other startup founders with direct experience.) There are also conflicts of interest. Universities own the IP for new inventions scientists develop on campus; scientists have to go through a complicated process of negotiating for the rights to the tech. The program at 5050 includes coaching on navigating that process. Turning scientists into founders So far, the approach is working. “The stat we’re most proud of is that 96% of the teams that went out to raise a round were able to,” says Bannon. “That’s an insanely high stat for a program that accepts people who don’t have companies when they join.” In the current political climate, as federal funding cuts have hit university labs, the program is already seeing an increased interest from scientists at a career crossroads. “A lot of them are seeing that they might not be able to continue their life’s work in academia anymore,” Bannon says. “Some of them happen to be lucky and be in a spot where maybe it could be a startup.” In the short term, he says, funding cuts might lead to more startups, though they’ll slow down future growth. Of the 100 companies that have launched from the program so far, around half wouldn’t have started without it. Others launched faster than they would have. “I probably would have started a company, but it almost certainly wouldn’t have been at the time that I did,” says Daniel Rahn, a former SpaceX engineer who launched Metal as Fuel, a company that makes metal fuels to decarbonize heavy industry. “These are counterfactual companies,” says Bannon. “These companies are combating the climate crisis, they’re defeating disease, they’re doing important stuff. And so it just feels really, really good to help companies come into existence that wouldn’t otherwise.” View the full article

Beyond revenue and margins, buyers are scrutinizing teams, culture, and operational health. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Beyond revenue and margins, buyers are scrutinizing teams, culture, and operational health. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

AI has quickly risen to the top of the corporate agenda. Despite this, 95% of businesses struggle with adoption, MIT research found. Those failures are no longer hypothetical. They are already playing out in real time, across industries, and often in public. For companies exploring AI adoption, these examples highlight what not to do and why AI initiatives fail when systems are deployed without sufficient oversight. 1. Chatbot participates in insider trading, then lies about it In an experiment driven by the UK government’s Frontier AI Taskforce, ChatGPT placed illegal trades and then lied about it. Researchers prompted the AI bot to act as a trader for a fake financial investment company. They told the bot that the company was struggling, and they needed results. They also fed the bot insider information about an upcoming merger, and the bot affirmed that it should not use this in its trades. The bot still made the trade anyway, citing that “the risk associated with not acting seems to outweigh the insider trading risk,” then denied using the insider information. Marius Hobbhahn, CEO of Apollo Research (the company that conducted the experiment), said that helpfulness “is much easier to train into the model than honesty,” because “honesty is a really complicated concept.” He says that current models are not powerful enough to be deceptive in a “meaningful way” (arguably, this is a false statement, see this and this). However, he warns that it’s “not that big of a step from the current models to the ones that I am worried about, where suddenly a model being deceptive would mean something.” AI has been operating in the financial sector for some time, and this experiment highlights the potential for not only legal risks but also risky autonomous actions on the part of AI. Dig deeper: AI-generated content: The dangers of overreliance 2. Chevy dealership chatbot sells SUV for $1 in ‘legally binding’ offer An AI-powered chatbot for a local Chevrolet dealership in California sold a vehicle for $1 and said it was a legally binding agreement. In an experiment that went viral across forums on the web, several people toyed with the local dealership’s chatbot to respond to a variety of non-car-related prompts. One user convinced the chatbot to sell him a vehicle for just $1, and the chatbot confirmed it was a “legally binding offer – no takesies backsies.” I just bought a 2024 Chevy Tahoe for $1. pic.twitter.com/aq4wDitvQW — Chris Bakke (@ChrisJBakke) December 17, 2023 Fullpath, the company that provides AI chatbots to car dealerships, took the system offline once it became aware of the issue. The company’s CEO told Business Insider that despite viral screenshots, the chatbot resisted many attempts to provoke misbehavior. Still, while the car dealership didn’t face any legal liability from the mishap, some argue that the chatbot agreement in this case may be legally enforceable. 3. Supermarket’s AI meal planner suggests poison recipes and toxic cocktails A New Zealand supermarket chain’s AI meal planner suggested unsafe recipes after certain users prompted the app to use non-edible ingredients. Recipes like bleach-infused rice surprise, poison bread sandwiches, and even a chlorine gas mocktail were created before the supermarket caught on. A spokesperson for the supermarket said they were disappointed to see that “a small minority have tried to use the tool inappropriately and not for its intended purpose,” according to The Guardian The supermarket said it would continue to fine-tune the technology for safety and added a warning for users. That warning stated that recipes are not reviewed by humans and do not guarantee that “any recipe will be a complete or balanced meal, or suitable for consumption.” Critics of AI technology argue that chatbots like ChatGPT are nothing more than improvisational partners, building on whatever you throw at them. Because of the way these chatbots are wired, they could pose a real safety risk for certain companies that adopt them. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. 4. Air Canada held liable after chatbot gives false policy advice An Air Canada customer was awarded damages in court after the airline’s AI chatbot assistant made false claims about its policies. The customer inquired about the airline’s bereavement rates via its AI assistant after the death of a family member. The chatbot responded that the airline offered discounted bereavement rates for upcoming travel or for travel that has already occurred, and linked to the company’s policy page. Unfortunately, the actual policy was the opposite, and the airline did not offer reduced rates for bereavement travel that had already happened. The fact that the chatbot linked to the policy page with the correct information was an argument the airline made in court when trying to prove its case. However, the tribunal (a small claims-type court in Canada) did not side with the defendant. As reported by Forbes, the tribunal called the scenario “negligent misrepresentation.” Christopher C. Rivers, Civil Resolution Tribunal Member, said this in the decision: “Air Canada argues it cannot be held liable for information provided by one of its agents, servants, or representatives – including a chatbot. It does not explain why it believes that is the case. In effect, Air Canada suggests the chatbot is a separate legal entity that is responsible for its own actions. This is a remarkable submission. While a chatbot has an interactive component, it is still just a part of Air Canada’s website. It should be obvious to Air Canada that it is responsible for all the information on its website. It makes no difference whether the information comes from a static page or a chatbot.” This is just one of many examples where people have been dissatisfied with chatbots due to their technical limitations and propensity for misinformation – a trend that is sparking more and more litigation. Dig deeper: 5 SEO content pitfalls that could be hurting your traffic 5. Australia’s largest bank replaces call center with AI, then apologizes and rehires staff The largest bank in Australia replaced its call center team with AI voicebots with the promise of boosted efficiency, but admitted it made a big mistake. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) believed the AI voicebots could reduce call volume by 2,000 calls per week. But it didn’t. Instead, left without the assistance of its 45-person call center, the bank scrambled to offer overtime to remaining workers to keep up with the calls, and get other management workers to answer calls, too. Meanwhile, the union representing the displaced workers elevated the situation to the Finance Sector Union (like the Equal Opportunity Commission in the U.S.). It was only one month after CBA replaced workers that it issued an apology and offered to hire them back. CBA said in a statement that they did not “adequately consider all relevant business considerations and this error meant the roles were not redundant.” Other U.S. companies have faced PR nightmares as well when attempting to replace human roles with AI. Perhaps that’s why certain brands have deliberately gone in the opposite direction, making sure people remain central to every AI deployment. Nevertheless, the CBA debacle shows that replacing people with AI without fully weighing the risks can backfire quickly and publicly. 6. New York City’s chatbot advises employers to break labor and housing laws New York City launched an AI chatbot to provide information on starting and running a business, and it advised people to carry out illegal activities. Just months after its launch, people started noticing the inaccuracies provided by the Microsoft-powered chatbot. The chatbot offered unlawful guidance across the board, from telling bosses they could pocket employees’ tips and skip notifying staff about schedule changes to tenant discrimination and cashless stores. “NYC’s AI Chatbot Tells Businesses to Break the Law,” The Markup This is despite the city’s initial announcement promising that the chatbot would provide trusted information on topics such as “compliance with codes and regulations, available business incentives, and best practices to avoid violations and fines.” Still, then-mayor Eric Adams defended the technology, saying: “Anyone that knows technology knows this is how it’s done,” and that “only those who are fearful sit down and say, ‘Oh, it is not working the way we want, now we have to run away from it all together.’ I don’t live that way.” Critics called his approach reckless and irresponsible. This is yet another cautionary tale in AI misinformation and how organizations can better handle the integration and transparency around AI technology. Dig deeper: SEO shortcuts gone wrong: How one site tanked – and what you can learn 7. Chicago Sun-Times publishes fake book list generated by AI The Chicago Sun-Times ran a syndicated “summer reading” feature that included false, made-up details about books after the writer relied on AI without fact-checking the output. King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst, created the special section for the Chicago Sun-Times. Not only were the book summaries inaccurate, but some of the books were entirely fabricated by AI. “Syndicated content in Sun-Times special section included AI-generated misinformation,” Chicago Sun-Times The author, hired by King Features Syndicate to create the book list, admitted to using AI to put the list together, as well as for other stories, without fact-checking. And the publisher was left trying to determine the extent of the damage. The Chicago Sun-Times said print subscribers would not be charged for the edition, and it put out a statement reiterating that the content was produced outside the newspaper’s newsroom. Meanwhile, the Sun-Times said they are in the process of reviewing their relationship with King Features, and as for the writer, King Features fired him. Oversight matters The examples outlined here show what happens when AI systems are deployed without sufficient oversight. When left unchecked, the risks can quickly outweigh the rewards, especially as AI-generated content and automated responses are published at scale. Organizations that rush into AI adoption without fully understanding those risks often stumble in predictable ways. In practice, AI succeeds only when tools, processes, and content outputs keep humans firmly in the driver’s seat. View the full article

I've been in a particularly "back everything up for the sake of it" mood lately, and the latest target of my fixation is messages. It's been several generations of Android flagships since I archived anything, though, so now I'm scrambling to back up everything from 2019 and beyond. Android was supposed to fix the way it backs up data and messages as far back as Android 8.0 Oreo in 2017. Google recently refined the mechanism when it switched to Google One, its all-in-one subscription and cloud data offering. While data backup has improved, it's also a veritable "black box." It's hard to verify what's been saved and even harder to view the data. I'm taking backups back into my own hands, like in the Android days of yore. Actually, one of the throwback apps, SMS Backup and Restore, is still one of the best for backing up text messages, and it's included in this guide on backing up messages in Android. I'll also walk you through how to back up archives for secondary messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Signal, two oft-used third-party messengers. Start with Google One Credit: Florence Ion / Lifehacker By default, your phone uses Google One to handle backups as long as Google Messages is your default messaging app. (Samsung users can choose to use Samsung Messages instead, which backs up to the Samsung Cloud.) It's generally a "set it and forget it" system that saves SMS, RCS, and MMS messages, call history, contacts, and device settings to your Google Drive storage. (Pictures and videos are backed up through Google Photos.) You can check the status of this to see when it was last backed up. Open your phone's Settings panel, then look for the backup option. If it's your first time, you'll get on-screen instructions to turn on backup. If not, you should be able to see what's been backed up so far. If you're on the Pixel launcher, scroll down to find a list of Backup details to browse. Tap to see what's in the vault. Credit: Florence Ion / Lifehacker At most, backup data doesn't exceed 25 MB and doesn't count against your Google Drive quota. (Google Photos does, but that's effectively another product.) Only the most recent data backup is stored at a time. Anything before that is fully deleted. Google One's backup methodology is merely a "sync," not a true data archive. If you accidentally delete a thread from messages, its backup would also be removed from the cloud, and you couldn't restore it. Google makes it clear, even in its developer documentation, that backup data can't be accessed by a user or other apps on the device. So what's a user to do? Call upon an old faithful: SMS Backup & Restore. Set up SMS Backup & Restore Credit: Florence Ion / Lifehacker I'm using original Android apps like SMS Backup & Restore to facilitate full backups because it's still the only way to easily thumb through the messages and call logs you've saved. The app treats your text messages as a database and stores them in XML format for parsing if needed. SMS Backup & Restore was once an indie darling, though SyncTech acquired it in late 2017, which has partly helped it endure this long. It's easy to set up. Download and install the app from the Google Play Store. The app is free with ads, or you can pay a one-time fee of $6 to remove them and unlock extra abilities, like more cloud storage. Then grant it access to your contacts and messages. Tap the option to set up a backup, and choose Messages. (You can also include call logs if you want.) Then, pick your destination. I back up to Google Drive into its own archive folder. Dropbox, OneDrive, and WebDAV are also options. SMS Backup & Restore offers several backup options. For one, you don't have to back up everything in your Messages app. You can choose to back up only select conversations. It doesn't have to be a constant backup either. If you need to save a one-off thread, SMS Backup & Restore lets you select it and back it up to a location of your choice in XML format. SMS Backup & Restore also lets you peruse through all that data after it's synced. The easiest way is through the mobile app, which lets you search conversations, and through SyncTech's web viewer, where you can upload the XML file it generates and thumb through it as if it were a messaging app on your phone. SyncTech says all processing is done on the browser and nothing is uploaded to any servers. If you'd rather not upload your conversations through the Web Viewer, you can try opening it with Excel instead. And if you're particularly adept, there are plenty of third-party XML readers available, though they're not all fully compatible with how SMS Backup & Restore saves logs. WhatsApp and Signal These days, half of my digital life is scattered among several messaging apps, most notably WhatsApp and Signal. WhatsApp is where I chat with friends who are on wifi or live halfway across the world, while Signal is where my local parents group and I keep our chats private. WhatsApp can create a local backup on your phone's internal storage every day at a set time. This is the most direct way to handle your own WhatsApp chat data. You'll find your data in the WhatsApp app database on your device's internal storage. WhatsApp can also automatically back up to Google Drive on Android devices. Unfortunately, Google started counting WhatsApp backups toward your Google Drive storage quota. But the app shows you how much room you have in your Drive account if you are backing up that way. Credit: Florence Ion / Lifehacker If you haven't set it up yet, WhatsApp's backup capabilities are available under the Chats backup option in the app's settings panel. You can select the backup frequency and whether it includes videos. You can also select whether the backups are end-to-end encrypted. (Note that this option is not on by default.) If you need to export a particular conversation, you can do so from the Chat history menu. You can then read those WhatsApp backups by exporting individual chats as text files directly from the app. Signal is a little trickier at backup. Since it's built on the premise of extreme privacy, it prioritizes local backup and doesn't back up to the cloud. Only recently, in the latest beta for Android devices, has Signal added push-button backup. And it's technically still getting its kinks sussed out. Credit: Florence Ion / Lifehacker But you can use it if you want to. In Signal on Android, go to Settings, then scroll down to Backups. You'll see a big Beta sign right next to it. Tap it, and from here, Signal will set you up with an end-to-end encrypted backup of your conversations. The recovery key is a 64-character code that will help you restore the backup. If you lose it, you won't be able to recover your messages. Signal eschews the ability to back up to a third-party service. Instead, it will back up the last 45 days of media and text messages for free. Any more than that, and you'll have to pay $2/month for a full backup of your messages. It also grants you 100GB of photo storage. Because these are encrypted files, they're not particularly easy to parse through without first decrypting them and converting them into a readable XML file. You'll also need to save the archive locally if you want to dig in. Small apps like the Signal Message Exporter and Signal Back can help with this if you are especially keen on having a readable log. Backing up isn't a one-and-done task. It's something you have to get into the habit of doing. The best way to ensure you don't lose those "receipts" is to make it a habit to check on your backups. Keep Google One, WhatsApp, and Signal's cloud backups turned on, then set SMS Backup & Restore to run once a week, or, if you're lighter on that app than on others, once a month. View the full article

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will attend the Supreme Court’s oral argument Wednesday in a case involving the attempted firing of Fed governor Lisa Cook, an unusual show of support by the central bank chair. The high court is considering whether President Donald The President can fire Cook, as he said he would do in late August, in an unprecedented attempt to remove one of the seven members of the Fed’s governing board. Powell plans to attend the high court’s Wednesday session, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. It’s a much more public show of support than the Fed chair has previously shown Cook. But it follows Powell’s announcement last week that the The President administration has sent subpoenas to the Fed, threatening an unprecedented criminal indictment of the Fed Chair. Powell — appointed to the position by The President in 2018 — appears to be casting off last year’s more subdued response to The President’s repeated attacks on the central bank in favor of a more public confrontation. Powell issued a video statement Jan. 11 condemning the subpoenas as “pretexts” for The President’s efforts to force him to sharply cut the Fed’s key interest rate. Powell oversaw three rate cuts late last year, lowering the rate to about 3.6%, but The President has argued it should be as low as 1%, a position few economists support. The The President administration has accused Cook of mortgage fraud, an allegation that Cook has denied. No charges have been made against Cook. She sued to keep her job, and the Supreme Court Oct. 1 issued a brief order allowing her to stay on the board while they consider her case. If The President succeeds in removing Cook, he could appoint another person to fill her slot, which would give his appointees a majority on the Fed’s board and greater influence over the central bank’s decisions on interest rates and bank regulation. —Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writer View the full article

US president assails allies with talk of ‘great stupidity’, dog sleds and AI imagesView the full article

AI search broke the link between traffic and revenue. This piece explains how SEO creates demand without page views. The post The Great Decoupling appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Senior figures from Labour leftwing burnish their profiles with public interventions View the full article

French President Emmanuel Macron says the European Union “should not hesitate” to use the trade bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument in face of U.S. President Donald The President’s tariff threats over Greenland. Macron, speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, pushed back against aggressive U.S. trade pressures and “an endless accumulation of new tariffs.” “The anti-coercion mechanism is a powerful instrument and we should not hesitate to deploy it in today’s tough environment,” he said Tuesday. The European Union’s top official on Tuesday described U.S. President Donald The President’s planned new tariffs over Greenland as “a mistake especially between long-standing allies” and called into question The President’s trustworthiness, saying that he had agreed last year not to impose more tariffs on members of the bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was responding to The President’s announcement that starting February, a 10% import tax will be imposed on goods from eight European nations that have rallied around Denmark in the wake of his escalating calls for the United States to take over the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland. “The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July,” Von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “And in politics as in business — a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.” “We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape,” she added. She vowed that the EU’s response “will be unflinching, united and proportional.” The President has insisted the U.S. needs the territory for security reasons against possible threats from China and Russia. Earlier Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said America’s relations with Europe remain strong and urged trading partners to “take a deep breath” and let tensions driven the new tariff threats over Greenland “play out.” “I think our relations have never been closer,” he said. But Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen, speaking in the Danish parliament, said that “the worst may still be ahead of us.” She said that “we have never sought conflict. We have consistently sought cooperation.” The President’s threats spark diplomatic flurry across Europe The American leader’s threats have sparked outrage and a flurry of diplomatic activity across Europe, as leaders consider possible countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs and the first-ever use of the European Union’s anti-coercion instrument. The EU has three major economic tools it could use to pressure Washington: new tariffs, suspension of the U.S.-EU trade deal, and the “trade bazooka” — the unofficial term for the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, which could sanction individuals or institutions found to be putting undue pressure on the EU. Earlier Tuesday, The President posted on social media that he had spoken with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He said “I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos, Switzerland.” France’s Macron suggests G-7 meeting in Paris this week The President also posted a text message from Emmanuel Macron in which the French president suggested a meeting of members of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies in Paris after the Davos gathering. An official close to Macron, who spoke anonymously in line with the French presidency’s customary practices, confirmed the message shared by The President is genuine. Later, The President posted some provocatively doctored images. One showed him planting the U.S. flag next to a sign reading “Greenland, U.S. Territory, Est. 2026.” The other showed The President in the Oval Office next to a map that showed Greenland and Canada covered with the U.S. Stars and Stripes. In a sign of how tensions have increased in recent days, thousands of Greenlanders marched over the weekend in protest of any effort to take over their island. In his latest threat of tariffs, The President indicated that the import taxes would be retaliation for last week’s deployment of symbolic numbers of troops from the European countries to Greenland — though he also suggested that he was using the tariffs as leverage to negotiate with Denmark. Calls for a stronger Europe against The President’s threats Denmark’s minister for European affairs called The President’s tariff threats “deeply unfair.” He said that Europe needs to become even stronger and more independent, while stressing there is “no interest in escalating a trade war.” “You just have to note that we are on the edge of a new world order, where having power has unfortunately become crucial, and we see a United States with an enormous condescending rhetoric towards Europe,” Marie Bjerre told Danish public broadcaster DK on Tuesday. Speaking on the sidelines of Davos, California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed Europe’s response to The President’s tariff threats as “pathetic” and “embarrassing,” and urged European leaders to unite and stand up to the United States. “It is time to get serious, and stop being complicit,” Newsom told reporters. “It’s time to stand tall and firm, have a backbone.” On Monday night, Greenland’s European backers looked at establishing a more permanent military presence in the High North to help guarantee security in the Arctic region, a key demand of the United States, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said. Jonson said after talks with his counterparts from Denmark, Greenland and Norway that European members of NATO are currently “doing what’s called a reconnaissance tour in order to identify what kind of needs there are when it comes to infrastructure and exercises and so forth.” In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov strongly denied any intention by Russia and China to threaten Greenland, while also describing Greenland as a “colonial gain” for Denmark. At a news conference, he said that “in principle, Greenland isn’t a natural part of Denmark.” US-UK tensions over Chagos Islands In another sign of tension between allies, the British government on Tuesday defended its decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after The President attacked the plan, which his administration previously supported. The President said that relinquishing the remote Indian Ocean archipelago, home to a strategically important American naval and bomber base, was an act of stupidity that shows why he needs to take over Greenland. In a speech to lawmakers at Britain’s Parliament on Tuesday, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said he hoped to “calm the waters” as The President roils the trans-Atlantic relationship with his desire to take over Greenland. Johnson said the U.S. and the U.K. “have always been able to work through our differences calmly, as friends. We will continue to do that.” AP writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Jill Lawless in London, Lorne Cook in Brussels, and Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok contributed to this report. —Jamey Keaten, Associated Press View the full article

The blockchain is coming to Wall Street. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) said on Monday that it was developing a platform to trade tokenized securities, digital representations of assets like stocks and bonds. But exactly when the 233-year-old financial institution will turn it on is still up in the air. Supporters of the technology argue that the change could modernize the NYSE, giving traders some of the same advantages that are enjoyed by investors in the cryptocurrency world. But Wall Street stalwarts are wary of altering a system that has been the bedrock of securities trading for more than two centuries. Curious what the fuss is about? Here’s what you need to know about the advantages and disadvantages that this sort of trading could mean for your portfolio: What are tokenized securities? Tokenized securities are digital versions of stocks and bonds that are traded on the blockchain, rather than a brokerage account. People who opt to use this platform would be able to use stablecoins—a crypto that pegs its value to another asset like the U.S. dollar—to fund their trades. The biggest shift to the platform, though, would be the introduction of 24/7 trading, much like Bitcoin investors currently enjoy. “For more than two centuries, the NYSE has transformed the way markets operate,” said Lynn Martin, president of the NYSE Group in a statement. “We are leading the industry toward fully on-chain solutions, grounded in the unmatched protections and high regulatory standards that position us to marry trust with state-of-the-art technology.” When will the NYSE launch the new tokenized platform? That’s still very much up in the air, but Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which owns the NYSE, is hoping to launch trades on the platform later this year. First, it will need to get regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The The President administration has been encouraging a shift to crypto-friendly policies, though, which could bode well for the platform’s chances. Why is the NYSE starting a tokenized platform? Put simply, competition. Trading platform Robinhood has already proposed its own network of stock tokenization. And fintech companies like Coinbase and Kraken have shown an interest as well. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs, Bank of New York Mellon, and State Street are all working on projects that would digitize money-market fund shares. The NYSE is hoping to maintain its leadership position in the stock market, and to do so, it needs to meet the demands of traders. Will the tokenized platform replace traditional stock trading? No. The tokenized securities platform will operate as a separate addition to the NYSE. Traditional trading will continue uninterrupted and the opening and closing bell will still ring at the start and stop of trading five days a week (minus holidays). What are the advantages of tokenized securities? Proponents of tokenized securities point to the advantages of 24/7 trading. Under the system, trades could be funded and settled in real time. (Currently, there is a one-day delay.) That, they say, could increase traders’ liquidity, make fractional ownership of companies easier to achieve. And because trading could happen at any time, the new platform could make the NYSE more accessible to retail (individual) traders. What are the risks of tokenized securities? As with almost anything on the blockchain, there is a danger of fraud. Some critics, including a handful of Democrats in Congress, have warned that companies looking to raise capital via tokenized securities could use the platform to scam investors. Others point out that the technology is new and still relatively untested—and given the inherent risks of investing, it could open the door to substantial losses for retail investors. Citadel Securities has urged the SEC to move slowly on the matter, saying there needed to be crystal clear rules for companies that want to tokenize their assets. And JPMorgan, in a note to investors last August, wrote that despite the hype, there’s very little interest in tokenized securities. “This rather disappointing picture on tokenization also reflects traditional investors not seeing a need for it thus far,” it wrote. “There is also little evidence so far of banks or customers moving from traditional bank deposits to tokenized bank deposits on blockchains.” Are other major markets embracing this sort of system? Last September, the Nasdaq market asked regulators to approve trading of tokenized versions of Nasdaq-traded stocks. Since doing so would require the SEC amend some of its rules, including the definition of a security, that request has not received a final response yet. Changes would also have to go through a comment period before they could go into effect, letting opponents explain what they object to. View the full article

With new updates in the search world stacking up in 2026, content teams are trying a new strategy to rank: LLM pages. They’re building pages that no human will ever see: markdown files, stripped-down JSON feeds, and entire /ai/ versions of their articles. The logic seems sound: if you make content easier for AI to parse, you’ll get more citations in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. Strip out the ads. Remove the navigation. Serve bots pure, clean text. Industry experts such as Malte Landwehr have documented sites creating .md copies of every article or adding llms.txt files to guide AI crawlers. Teams are even building entire shadow versions of their content libraries. Google’s John Mueller isn’t buying it. “LLMs have trained on – read and parsed – normal web pages since the beginning,” he said in a recent discussion on Bluesky. “Why would they want to see a page that no user sees?” His comparison was blunt: LLM-only pages are like the old keywords meta tag. Available for anyone to use, but ignored by the systems they’re meant to influence. So is this trend actually working, or is it just the latest SEO myth? The rise of ‘LLM-only’ web pages The trend is real. Sites across tech, SaaS, and documentation are implementing LLM-specific content formats. The question isn’t whether adoption is happening, it’s whether these implementations are driving the AI citations teams hoped for. Here’s what content and SEO teams are actually building. llms.txt files A markdown file at your domain root listing key pages for AI systems. The format was introduced in 2024 by AI researcher Simon Willison to help AI systems discover and prioritize important content. Plain text lives at yourdomain.com/llms.txt with an H1 project name, brief description, and organized sections linking to important pages. Stripe’s implementation at docs.stripe.com/llms.txt shows the approach in action: markdown# Stripe Documentation > Build payment integrations with Stripe APIs ## Testing - [Test mode](https://docs.stripe.com/testing): Simulate payments ## API Reference - [API docs](https://docs.stripe.com/api): Complete API reference The payment processor’s bet is simple: if ChatGPT can parse their documentation cleanly, developers will get better answers when they ask, “how do I implement Stripe.” They’re not alone. Current adopters include Cloudflare, Anthropic, Zapier, Perplexity, Coinbase, Supabase, and Vercel. Markdown (.md) page copies Sites are creating stripped-down markdown versions of their regular pages. The implementation is straightforward: just add .md to any URL. Stripe’s docs.stripe.com/testing becomes docs.stripe.com/testing.md. Everything gets stripped out except the actual content. No styling. No menus. No footers. No interactive elements. Just pure text and basic formatting. The thinking: if AI systems don’t have to wade through CSS and JavaScript to find the information they need, they’re more likely to cite your page accurately. /ai and similar paths Some sites are building entirely separate versions of their content under /ai/, /llm/, or similar directories. You might find /ai/about living alongside the regular /about page, or /llm/products as a bot-friendly alternative to the main product catalog. Sometimes these pages have more detail than the originals. Sometimes they’re just reformatted. The idea: give AI systems their own dedicated content that’s built for machine consumption, not human eyes. If a person accidentally lands on one of these pages, they’ll find something that looks like a website from 2005. JSON metadata files Dell took this approach with their product specs. Instead of creating separate pages, they built structured data feeds that live alongside their regular ecommerce site. The files contain clean JSON – specs, pricing, and availability. Everything an AI needs to answer “what’s the best Dell laptop under $1000” without having to parse through product descriptions written for humans. You’ll typically find these files as /llm-metadata.json or /ai-feed.json in the site’s directory. # Dell Technologies > Dell Technologies is a leading technology provider, specializing in PCs, servers, and IT solutions for businesses and consumers. ## Product and Catalog Data - [Product Feed - US Store](https://www.dell.com/data/us/catalog/products.json): Key product attributes and availability. - [Dell Return Policy](https://www.dell.com/return-policy.md): Standard return and warranty information. ## Support and Documentation - [Knowledge Base](https://www.dell.com/support/knowledge-base.md): Troubleshooting guides and FAQs. This approach makes the most sense for ecommerce and SaaS companies that already keep their product data in databases. They’re just exposing what they already have in a format AI systems can easily digest. Dig deeper: LLM optimization in 2026: Tracking, visibility, and what’s next for AI discovery Real-world citation data: What actually gets referenced The theory sounds good. The adoption numbers look impressive. But do these LLM-optimized pages actually get cited? The individual analysis Landwehr, CPO and CMO at Peec AI, ran targeted tests on five websites using these tactics. He crafted prompts specifically designed to surface their LLM-friendly content. Some queries even contained explicit 20+ word quotes designed to trigger specific sources. Across nearly 18,000 citations, here’s what he found. llms.txt: 0.03% of citations Out of 18,000 citations, only six pointed to llms.txt files. The six that did work had something in common: they contained genuinely useful information about how to use an API and where to find additional documentation. The kind of content that actually helps AI systems answer technical questions. The “search-optimized” llms.txt files, the ones stuffed with content and keywords, received zero citations. Markdown (.md) pages: 0% of citations Sites using .md copies of their content got cited 3,500+ times. None of those citations pointed to the markdown versions. The one exception: GitHub, where .md files are the standard URLs. They’re linked internally, and there’s no HTML alternative. But these are just regular pages that happen to be in markdown format. /ai pages: 0.5% to 16% of citations Results varied wildly depending on implementation. One site saw 0.5% of its citations point to its/ai pages. Another hit 16%. The difference? The higher-performing site put significantly more information in their /ai pages than existed anywhere else on their site. Keep in mind, these prompts were specifically asking for information contained in these files. Even with prompts designed to surface this content, most queries ignored the /ai versions. JSON metadata: 5% of citations One brand saw 85 out of 1,800 citations (5%) come from their metadata JSON file. The critical detail here is that the file contained information that didn’t exist anywhere else on the website. Once again, the query specifically asked for those pieces of information. The large-scale analysis SE Ranking took a different approach. Instead of testing individual sites, they analyzed 300,000 domains to see if llms.txt adoption correlated with citation frequency at scale. Only 10.13% of domains, or 1 in 10, had implemented llms.txt. For context, that’s nowhere near the universal adoption of standards like robots.txt or XML sitemaps. During the study, an interesting relationship between adoption rates and traffic levels emerged. Sites with 0-100 monthly visits adopted llms.txt at 9.88%. Sites with 100,001+ visits? Just 8.27%. The biggest, most established sites were actually slightly less likely to use the file than mid-tier ones. But the real test was whether llms.txt impacted citations. SE Ranking built a machine learning model using XGBoost to predict citation frequency based on various factors, including the presence of llms.txt. The result: removing llms.txt from the model actually improved its accuracy. The file wasn’t helping predict citation behavior, it was adding noise. The pattern Both analyses point to the same conclusion: LLM-optimized pages get cited when they contain unique, useful information that doesn’t exist elsewhere on your site. The format doesn’t matter. Landwehr’s conclusion was blunt: “You could create a 12345.txt file and it would be cited if it contains useful and unique information.” A well-structured about page achieves the same result as an /ai/about page. API documentation gets cited whether it’s in llms.txt or buried in your regular docs. The files themselves get no special treatment from AI systems. The content inside them might, but only if it’s actually better than what already exists on your regular pages. SE Ranking’s data backs this up at scale. There’s no correlation between having llms.txt and getting more citations. The presence of the file made no measurable difference in how AI systems referenced domains. Dig deeper: 7 hard truths about measuring AI visibility and GEO performance What Google and AI platforms actually say No major AI company has confirmed using llms.txt files in their crawling or citation processes. Google’s Mueller made the sharpest critique in April 2025, comparing llms.txt to the obsolete keywords meta tag: “[As far as I know], none of the AI services have said they’re using LLMs.TXT (and you can tell when you look at your server logs that they don’t even check for it).” Google’s Gary Illyes reinforced this at the July 2025 Search Central Deep Dive in Bangkok, explicitly stating Google “doesn’t support LLMs.txt and isn’t planning to.” Google Search Central’s documentation is equally clear: “The best practices for SEO remain relevant for AI features in Google Search. There are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, nor other special optimizations necessary.” OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity all maintain their own llms.txt files for their API documentation to make it easy for developers to load into AI assistants. But none have announced their crawlers actually read these files from other websites. The consistent message from every major platform: standard web publishing practices drive visibility in AI search. No special files, no new markup, and no separate versions needed. What this means for SEO teams The evidence points to a single conclusion: stop building content that only machines will see. Mueller’s question cuts to the core issue: “Why would they want to see a page that no user sees?” If AI companies needed special formats to generate better responses, they would tell you. As he noted: “AI companies aren’t really known for being shy.” The data proves him right. Across Landwehr’s nearly 18,000 citations, LLM-optimized formats showed no advantage unless they contained unique information that didn’t exist anywhere else on the site. SE Ranking’s analysis of 300,000 domains found that llms.txt actually added confusion to their citation prediction model rather than improving it. Instead of creating shadow versions of your content, focus on what actually works. Build clean HTML that both humans and AI can parse easily. Reduce JavaScript dependencies for critical content, which Mueller identified as the real technical barrier: “Excluding JS, which still seems hard for many of these systems.” Heavy client-side rendering creates actual problems for AI parsing. Use structured data when platforms have published official specifications, such as OpenAI’s ecommerce product feeds. Improve your information architecture so key content is discoverable and well-organized. The best page for AI citation is the same page that works for users: well-structured, clearly written, and technically sound. Until AI companies publish formal requirements stating otherwise, that’s where your optimization energy belongs. Dig deeper: GEO myths: This article may contain lies View the full article

“How’s that feature going?” “On track.” “When will it ship?” “Soon.” Neither side has numbers. Both sides leave uncertain whether they’re aligned. This conversation repeats weekly, same script, same ambiguity, same lack of shared data. Engineering has dashboards full of velocity charts, burndown graphs, and cycle time metrics. Product has roadmap views, prioritization scores, and stakeholder updates. These dashboards serve their respective teams but do nothing to create shared understanding between them. The cost of this fragmentation is $450 billion annually lost to context switching globally, much of it from people toggling between systems trying to piece together a complete picture. A product-engineering dashboard is different from a PM dashboard or an engineering dashboard. It shows the metrics that matter for alignment: whether product priorities are being executed, whether engineering capacity matches product ambition, and whether the work being done connects to the outcomes being sought. This guide covers how to build a dashboard that both teams trust and actually use. Why separate dashboards create problems Product and engineering teams typically maintain separate views of their work. This separation creates alignment gaps. Different tools, different views Product roadmaps live in PM tools like Productboard, Asana, or Monday. Engineering work lives in Jira. These tools have their own dashboards optimized for their own use cases, and even Jira’s efficiency features don’t address the cross-tool visibility problem. The PM dashboard shows roadmap items, prioritization rationale, and stakeholder commitments. It does not show sprint progress, story completion rates, or technical blockers. The engineering dashboard shows velocity, burndown, and cycle time. It does not show strategic priorities, customer impact, or roadmap alignment. Neither dashboard answers the question both teams need answered: are we building the right things at the right pace? Metrics without context Engineering metrics without product context can be misleading. A team with perfect velocity might be building the wrong things. High cycle time might be acceptable if the work is high complexity. Sprint completion rates do not indicate whether the completed work moved the product forward. Similarly, product metrics without engineering reality can be unrealistic. A roadmap showing four major features this quarter means nothing if engineering capacity supports two. Prioritization scores are theoretical until engineering estimates ground them. Manual reconciliation Without a shared dashboard, someone has to manually reconcile the views. Usually that falls to the PM, who checks Jira progress and updates the roadmap, or creates summary reports that combine data from multiple sources. This manual work is time-consuming and error-prone. The reconciliation happens periodically (weekly, monthly), which means the shared view is always somewhat stale. And the work of creating it takes time away from more valuable activities. What a product-engineering dashboard should show A good shared dashboard answers the questions both teams care about without drowning either in irrelevant detail. Roadmap-to-execution status The most important view: what roadmap items are in progress, and what is their actual status? For each current roadmap item, show: Roadmap priority and timeline: What was promised to stakeholders? This grounds the discussion in commitments. Linked engineering work: Which epics and stories implement this item? The connection should be explicit and visible. Engineering progress: What percentage of the linked work is complete? Is it on track based on current velocity? Risk indicators: Are there blockers? Has scope changed? Is the original timeline still achievable? This view lets anyone see whether roadmap commitments are being met without digging into individual tickets or asking for status updates. Capacity and commitment balance Engineering has finite capacity. Product has potentially infinite ideas. The dashboard should show whether these are in balance. Current sprint commitment: How much work is in the current sprint relative to typical velocity? Backlog depth: How many sprints of work are groomed and ready? A shallow backlog (less than one to two sprints ready) indicates a grooming problem. A deep backlog (more than four to six sprints) may indicate prioritization ambiguity. Resource allocation by roadmap item: What percentage of engineering capacity is going to each major initiative? This reveals whether actual work matches stated priorities. Unplanned work ratio: What percentage of sprint capacity goes to bugs, tech debt, or other unplanned work? High ratios reduce available capacity for roadmap items. Delivery performance over time Trends matter more than snapshots. The dashboard should show how delivery performance changes over time. Velocity trend: Is the team delivering more or less than in previous periods? Significant changes warrant investigation. Cycle time trend: How long does it take from work starting to work shipping? Increasing cycle time often indicates process problems or increasing complexity. Prediction accuracy: How often do items ship when originally planned? Poor prediction accuracy undermines stakeholder trust and planning reliability. Scope change frequency: How often do requirements change after work begins? Frequent scope changes indicate either premature commitment or poor requirements definition. Quality and technical health Shipping fast means nothing if quality suffers. Include quality indicators that engineering cares about. Bug rate: How many bugs are filed against recent releases? Rising bug rates indicate quality problems. Tech debt ratio: What percentage of capacity goes to paying down technical debt? Too little and debt accumulates. Too much and features do not ship. Escaped defects: How many bugs are found by customers versus caught in QA? Escaped defects indicate testing gaps. Deployment frequency and success rate: How often does the team deploy, and how often do deployments succeed? These are proxies for engineering health and confidence. Building the product-engineering dashboard Implementation depends on your tools and technical resources. Here are the common approaches. Using your PM tool If your PM tool supports robust dashboards (Asana, Monday, Notion with good integrations), you may be able to build the shared dashboard there. Advantages: PM is already comfortable with the tool. Easy to link roadmap items to dashboard views. Challenges: Getting Jira data into the PM tool requires integration. Native integrations often provide limited data. Engineering may not adopt a tool they do not already use. Using Jira Jira has dashboard capabilities that can show both engineering metrics and, with some work, product priorities. Advantages: Engineering is already there. Rich engineering metrics are available natively. Challenges: PMs may find Jira dashboards clunky. Roadmap context is not native to Jira. Building product-relevant views requires JQL expertise. Using dashboarding tools Tools like Looker, Tableau, or even Google Data Studio can pull data from multiple sources and create unified views. Advantages: Complete flexibility in what you display. Can combine data from any source. Professional visualization capabilities. Challenges: Requires data engineering to set up and maintain. Additional tool in the stack. Someone has to build and maintain the dashboards. Use software integrations Some integration platforms include dashboard capabilities that leverage the connections they maintain between your tools. Advantages: Dashboard is built on real-time synced data. Changes in either system are immediately reflected. Challenges: Dashboard capabilities vary by platform. May be less flexible than dedicated BI tools. Regardless of where your dashboard lives, you need data flowing from both product and engineering tools. For basic visibility, you need: Roadmap items with their priority and timeline Jira epics and stories linked to those roadmap items Current status of engineering work Velocity and capacity data from Jira Two-way sync platforms sync data between PM tools and Jira at the field level. This means your roadmap priority appears on the linked Jira epic, and Jira progress appears on your roadmap item. When the data is synchronized, building a dashboard on either side reflects the complete picture. Metrics that matter for product-engineering alignment Not all metrics deserve dashboard real estate. Focus on metrics that drive alignment and action. Good metrics for shared dashboards Roadmap item completion rate: What percentage of planned roadmap items shipped as intended? This is the ultimate measure of alignment between product ambition and engineering delivery. Time from prioritization to delivery: How long from when an item is prioritized to when it ships? This reveals the whole-system efficiency, not just engineering speed. Priority alignment: What percentage of engineering capacity goes to the top-priority roadmap items? If priority one items get less capacity than priority three items, something is wrong. Stakeholder satisfaction with predictability: Do stakeholders trust the dates product commits to? This is subjective but critical. Survey or ask directly. Metrics to avoid on shared dashboards Story points delivered: Story points are an internal engineering measure. They do not mean anything to product or stakeholders. Show features delivered, not abstract points. Individual contributor metrics: Tracking individual developer performance creates wrong incentives and does not serve alignment goals. Lagging vanity metrics: Page views, user counts, and revenue are important but do not belong on a product-engineering alignment dashboard. They measure outcomes, not the process that creates outcomes. Metrics nobody acts on: If a metric is just informational and never triggers action, it is clutter. Every metric should have a response when it moves outside acceptable range. Making the dashboard useful A dashboard that nobody looks at is worthless. Driving adoption requires intentional effort. Single source of truth The dashboard must be the authoritative source for alignment questions. If people still ask for status updates verbally or via email, the dashboard is not doing its job. Make the dashboard the first place anyone goes for status. Reference it in meetings. Link to it in status communications. When someone asks a question the dashboard answers, direct them to the dashboard. Accessible to both teams The dashboard should be equally accessible to product and engineering. If it lives in a tool one team does not use, that team will not look at it. Consider where to place the dashboard for maximum visibility. Slack or Teams integration to show key metrics. TV display in common area. Homepage of commonly-used tool. Regular review cadence Build dashboard review into existing meetings. Start sprint planning by looking at the dashboard. Begin stakeholder updates with dashboard screenshots. Make the dashboard a natural part of how work is discussed. Weekly review at minimum. Daily glances are better. The more frequently people look at the dashboard, the more likely they are to notice changes and act on them. Clear ownership Someone owns the dashboard. They are responsible for keeping it accurate, adding new metrics when needed, and removing metrics that are not useful. Ownership does not mean doing all the work. It means ensuring the dashboard serves its purpose and evolving it as needs change. Action-oriented design Each section of the dashboard should suggest action when metrics are concerning. Red indicators should have clear next steps. If velocity is trending down, the next action might be “investigate in retrospective.” If a roadmap item is at risk, the next action might be “PM and engineering lead sync to discuss scope.” A dashboard that shows problems but does not guide action creates anxiety without resolution. Improving your dashboard over time Your first dashboard will not be perfect. Expect to iterate. Start simple Launch with a minimal dashboard: roadmap items, their engineering status, and one or two key metrics. Add complexity only when the simple version is working and people want more. Simple dashboards get used. Complex dashboards get ignored while people ask for simpler views. Add metrics based on pain When alignment problems emerge, ask whether a metric would have caught them earlier. If the problem was a priority mismatch, add a priority alignment view. If the problem was scope creep, add a scope change tracker. Metrics should address real problems, not theoretical ones. Let your experience guide what to measure. Remove what isn’t used If nobody has looked at a section of the dashboard in a month, remove it. Dashboard real estate is valuable. Metrics that do not earn attention do not deserve space. Review dashboard usage periodically. Ask both teams what they find valuable and what they ignore. Calibrate thresholds Alert thresholds need tuning. Too sensitive and everything is always red, causing alert fatigue. Too loose and problems are not caught until they are crises. Watch how people respond to indicators. If red indicators are routinely ignored, the threshold is wrong. Adjust until indicators accurately reflect when attention is needed. The goal of a product-engineering dashboard A product-engineering dashboard is not about surveillance or accountability theater. It is about creating shared reality. When both teams see the same information, they can have informed conversations about tradeoffs, risks, and priorities. The best outcome is that the dashboard makes status meetings unnecessary. Everyone already knows the status. Meetings focus on problem-solving, not information gathering. When product and engineering share a view of their work, alignment becomes easier. Disagreements surface early when they are cheap to resolve. Trust builds because both sides see the same truth. If you are ready to build a unified view of your product and engineering work, see how Unito helps product and engineering teams stay aligned. View the full article

Our experiment confirms that ChatGPT runs queries through Google Shopping. Here‘s what this means. View the full article

Tuesday is the first trading day on U.S. stock markets since President Donald The President escalated his threats over Greenland this weekend. The president threatened additional tariffs on allied countries that objected to his desired takeover of the Danish territory. The geopolitical uncertainty that has emerged appears to be behind a decline in stock futures, particularly in Big Tech stocks. And that fall has reignited concerns about a revived “Sell America” trade. Here’s what you need to know. What’s happened? As Fast Company previously reported, over the weekend, President Donald The President issued economic threats against eight allied nations—and NATO members—who spoke out against the president’s desire to acquire Greenland, a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. The President’s threats included additional tariffs he says will be levied against goods imported to America from eight countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The president said an additional 10% tariff will be levied on those countries’ goods from February 1, and that additional tariff rate will rise to 25% on June 1 and last “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” (sic). European leaders and the European Commission have reacted strongly to The President’s threats, repeatedly stressing that Greenland is not for sale and that allies don’t threaten other allies with harsh economic consequences when one of them doesn’t get their way. European governments are reportedly keen to resolve the situation diplomatically, but they are also considering a number of economic countermeasures should The President go ahead with his plans to apply new tariffs on the stated nations. Countermeasures under discussion include retaliatory tariffs on American products entering Europe, as well as a never-before-used Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI). The ACI is a tool at the EU’s disposal that could not only restrict trade with a target nation but also pause all investments in that nation and suspend intellectual property rights. Stock markets and Big Tech fall The geopolitical uncertainty The President has raised with his Greenland escalation is keeping governments on both sides of the Atlantic on the edge of their seats. But they aren’t the only ones. Currently, investors appear to be in a state of major jitters due to the latest geopolitical hand grenade lobbed by The President. As of the time of this writing, in premarket trading, America’s stock market futures are all down significantly across the board. This includes S&P futures, currently down 1.58%, Dow futures, currently down 1.38%, and Nasdaq futures, currently down 1.95%. And it’s not just the overall markets that are looking set to fall once the opening bell rings this morning. As of the time of this writing, America’s Big Tech companies are seeing their stock prices down across the board, including: Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL): down 1.22% Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN): down 2.93% Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOG): down 2.84% Meta Platforms (Nasdaq: META): down 2.58% Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT): down 1.73% Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA): down 2.45% Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA): down 2.65% Uncertainty or a revived ‘Sell America’ trade? While U.S. markets were closed yesterday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, other assets traded as usual, including cryptocurrencies and precious metals like gold. Many major cryptocurrencies have fallen steadily since The President’s Greenland escalation over the weekend, while gold has reached all-time highs. But these moves aren’t surprising. The threat of America imposing economic retaliation on its NATO allies for refusing to relinquish Greenland to its possession generates a level of geopolitical uncertainty the world has not seen since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. And such uncertainty almost always rattles investors, sending them fleeing from volatile assets like cryptocurrency to safe havens like gold. Yet what investors will be waiting to see today is whether the selloff in America’s Big Tech stocks is simply an ordinary, expected reaction we tend to see when geopolitical uncertainty arises, or whether it’s the beginning of a new “Sell America” trade. What is a ‘Sell America’ trade? The Sell America trade describes when global investors decide to sell off American assets—like U.S. stocks and bonds—either to protect their profits from an economic downturn in the U.S. driven by geopolitical uncertainty, or as a punitive response to protest America’s actions they disagree with. Right now, it’s probably too early to tell whether Tuesday’s premarket selloff in U.S. stocks is being driven by a renewed Sell America trade or whether it’s just a normal investor reaction to uncertain times. But expect to see much more speculation about the issue in the days ahead. View the full article

Maneuvering through the product return process can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By comprehending the retailer’s return policy and following a clear step-by-step approach, you can simplify the experience. Start by checking if your item is eligible for return, then initiate the process online. Properly packaging the item and using the provided return label is essential for a smooth return. Stay tuned to learn more about each step to guarantee you handle your return effectively. Key Takeaways Review the retailer’s return policy to ensure item eligibility and understand specific deadlines and exclusions. Initiate the return process using the online form for efficiency and receive return labels upon approval. Securely package the item in original condition with all accessories, including necessary documentation for return processing. Track the return shipment using the provided tracking number to monitor its status and expected refund timelines. Communicate with customer service for any questions and to resolve issues during the return process. Understanding the Return Policy When you shop online or in-store, comprehending the return policy is crucial for guaranteeing a smooth experience if you need to return a product. A well-defined policy outlines eligibility criteria and specific exclusions, so you’ll know which items can be returned. Look for clear deadlines that indicate when you can initiate a return and how long processing will take. This helps manage your expectations regarding refunds or exchanges. You’ll likewise want to check the return info for the refund options available. Some Refund Retriever may offer a full refund, whereas others might provide partial refunds, store credit, or exchanges. Confirm the return policy is easily accessible, whether on the company’s website or included in the product packaging. This way, you’ll be informed of the rules before making a purchase, and you’ll be ready to provide a reason for return if needed, making the process smoother for everyone involved. Initiating the Return Process To initiate the return process, you should first check the retailer’s return policy to verify your item meets the eligibility criteria. Most retailers offer a straightforward online form where you can submit your return request, making the process quick and efficient. Once approved, you’ll receive return labels and instructions, so you can track your shipment and stay updated on your return status. Clear Return Policy A clear return policy is essential for managing customer expectations and ensuring a smooth return process. It should outline eligibility criteria, such as timeframes and specific product exclusions, so you know how to return something. Clear communication about the return process, including the necessary information and steps, is critical for a seamless experience. Moreover, defining refund options—like full refunds, partial refunds, store credit, or exchanges—helps clarify what to expect during your orders and returns. Make sure this policy is visible across all sales channels, including your website and product packaging, to minimize confusion. Criteria Details Examples Timeframe Returns must be initiated within 30 days 30-day return window Product Exclusions Non-returnable items are clearly listed Opened electronics Refund Options Options include full refunds or exchanges Store credit available Communication Channels Policy shared via website and packaging Emails and receipts Easy Return Initiation How can you easily initiate the return process for a product you no longer want? Start by visiting the retailer’s website or customer portal, where you’ll find a section dedicated to returns. Here, you can follow the steps to begin your return request. Most retailers will ask you to provide a reason to return the product, which helps them improve their services. Make sure you initiate the return within the timeframe specified in the return policy, usually between 14 to 30 days from your purchase date. Once your return request is approved, you’ll typically receive a prepaid return label via email, making it easy to return the item from home. Tracking Return Progress Once you’ve initiated the return process, tracking your return progress becomes essential to guarantee everything goes smoothly. You’ll typically receive tracking information via email or find it on the retailer’s website. This allows you to monitor your returned item’s status efficiently. If you’re wondering, “can I return?” rest assured that many Amazon retailers offer pre-paid shipping labels, which you can print directly from the return initiation page. Keep an eye on the estimated timeline, as most companies aim to process refunds within a few days after they receive the returned item. If you have questions or concerns during this process, don’t hesitate to utilize customer support channels for assistance, ensuring clarity and improving your overall experience. Preparing the Item for Return When you’re preparing an item for return, it’s vital to package it securely and include all necessary documentation. Start by placing the item back in its original packaging along with any accessories and manuals to meet the retailer’s return policy. Finally, verify to clearly label the package and include any required authorization codes to guarantee a smooth return process. Packaging the Product Securely Packaging the product securely is crucial for ensuring it arrives back to the retailer in good condition. Whenever possible, use the original packaging, as it’s designed to protect the item during transit and minimizes the risk of damage. Make sure to include all items, such as accessories, manuals, and warranty information, to comply with the retailer’s return policy. Securely seal the package with strong tape to prevent it from opening during shipping; open packages can lead to missing items or damage. If you don’t have the original packaging, choose a sturdy box or envelope that can withstand shipping conditions and keep the item from shifting. Finally, clearly label the package with the return address provided by the retailer. Including Required Documentation How can you guarantee your return is processed smoothly? Start by ensuring you include all required documentation. This means packing the item with its original packaging, accessories, and any bonus items. Don’t forget to print and attach the return label provided by the retailer. Including a copy of the original receipt or packing slip inside the package helps facilitate a smoother return process. Follow the retailer’s specific packaging instructions carefully to avoid damage, which could lead to a denied return. Finally, double-check that the item is in its original condition, as many retailers only accept returns of unused products in their original packaging. Required Documentation Purpose Notes Original Packaging Meets return policy Must be undamaged Return Label Track item Provided by retailer Original Receipt Facilitate refund Include in return package Accessories & Bonus Items Complete return Include all original items Follow Instructions Prevent damage Adhere to retailer guidelines Shipping the Returned Item To guarantee a smooth return process, using the pre-paid return label provided by the retailer is important, as it helps you avoid unnecessary shipping costs. Start by properly packaging the item, ideally in its original packaging, to prevent any damage during transit. This guarantees it arrives in good condition. Inside the package, include all relevant documentation, such as the return authorization form or packing slip, which facilitates the processing of your return. Next, drop off the package at the designated shipping carrier location or schedule a pickup. It’s significant to obtain a tracking number to monitor the return shipment, confirming it reaches the retailer. Keep in mind the return shipping deadline set by the retailer; this is critical for a successful return. By following these steps, you can efficiently manage the shipping process and minimize any potential issues with your return. Tracking Your Return Status Once you’ve shipped your returned item, the next step involves tracking its status to stay informed about its path back to the retailer. Most retailers provide a tracking number or link via email or their website, allowing you to monitor your return shipment in real-time. You can expect updates on your return status, including confirmation when the item arrives at the warehouse and when the refund process begins. Some retailers even offer automated notifications for key milestones, such as when your return is processed. Tracking your return helps manage your expectations regarding timelines, as many retailers aim to process refunds within a few days of receiving the item. If you run into any issues tracking your return, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service for assistance; they can provide timely updates and help resolve any concerns regarding your return status. Processing Refunds and Exchanges When you initiate a return, comprehending the processing of refunds and exchanges is crucial for a smooth experience. Establishing a clear timeline is key; aim to complete transactions within a few days to improve your satisfaction and trust. Implementing a tracking system for your returns allows you to remain informed about your return status, ensuring transparency throughout the process. You’ll appreciate having multiple refund options available, such as full refunds, partial refunds, or store credit, catering to your preferences. Regular communication is significant; expect updates regarding your return, including confirmation of receipt, processing stages, and the final outcome of your refund or exchange. To boost efficiency, businesses should monitor turnaround times and gather customer feedback, identifying areas for improvement. Common Reasons for Returns Returns can often be a source of frustration for both customers and businesses. One of the leading causes of returns is unmet customer expectations, which usually arise from discrepancies between product descriptions and what you actually receive. Furthermore, product defects, like manufacturing errors or quality issues, contribute greatly to the return rate, highlighting the need for effective quality control. Customer errors, such as ordering the wrong size or color, likewise play a role, making clear product information and size guides crucial. Shipping issues, including damage during transit or receiving incorrect items, are common reasons for returns as well, pointing to the importance of collaborating with shipping providers to improve delivery processes. Tips for a Smooth Return Experience Maneuvering the return process doesn’t have to be a hassle, especially when you’re equipped with the right knowledge. First, make certain you understand the retailer’s return policy, focusing on eligibility criteria and deadlines. This awareness can prevent confusion and guarantee a smoother experience. Utilize pre-paid return labels provided by the retailer; they simplify shipping and reduce your out-of-pocket costs. It’s important to initiate your return quickly, as many retailers require returns to be started within 30 to 90 days for refunds or exchanges. Keep a record of your return tracking number, as this helps you monitor the status of your item and guarantees efficient processing. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to contact customer service directly; they can provide immediate assistance and solutions to expedite your return. Following these tips can make your return experience much more seamless. Managing Future Returns To effectively manage future returns, it’s essential to analyze return data regularly, which helps you identify trends in the reasons customers are sending items back. By pinpointing these issues, you can address common problems and reduce future returns. Implementing quality control measures will further improve product satisfaction and minimize defects. Moreover, you should refine product descriptions and images to guarantee they align with customer expectations, as inaccuracies often lead to returns. Soliciting customer feedback through surveys and reviews provides valuable insights into their experiences, allowing you to make necessary adjustments to products or processes. Finally, monitor your shipping practices and collaborate with shipping providers to assure reliable delivery. This can markedly reduce damages during transit, ultimately contributing to lower return rates. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Steps Involved in Return Processing? To process a return, you start by submitting an online form with your return reason and resolution preference. After that, the return request is reviewed for eligibility. If approved, you’ll receive a return shipping label and instructions. Once you send the product back, the warehouse inspects it to determine its condition. Finally, you’ll be informed of the outcome, and refunds, exchanges, or store credits will be issued according to the policy timeline. What Is the Process of Product Return? The product return process starts with you initiating a return request, usually through an online portal or customer service. You’ll specify the reason for the return and what resolution you want. Once approved, you’ll receive shipping labels and packaging instructions. After you send the item back, the retailer inspects it to determine its condition. Finally, they’ll process your refund or exchange, aiming to complete this within a few days for your convenience. What Is the Big 5 Return Policy? The Big 5 return policy refers to the return practices of Amazon, Zappos, Nordstrom, Walmart, and Target. You’ll find that these retailers typically offer extended return windows, ranging from 30 to 90 days, allowing you ample time to decide on your purchases. They often provide free return shipping and easy-to-use online return portals, enabling you to initiate returns quickly and receive prepaid shipping labels, all while clearly communicating their return conditions. What Is the Return Process Flow? The return process flow starts when you initiate a return request, stating your reason and preferred resolution. The retailer then reviews your request based on their return policy, which considers factors like time limits and product condition. If approved, you’ll receive a return shipping label and instructions. After you ship the item back, it undergoes inspection. Finally, refunds or exchanges are processed, typically within a few days, ensuring a smooth resolution. Conclusion By following these steps, you can navigate the product return process efficiently. Always start by reviewing the retailer’s return policy to confirm eligibility, then initiate your return and prepare your item carefully. Use the provided shipping label and track your return to stay updated. Comprehending refund timelines and maintaining communication with customer service will further guarantee a smooth experience. With these guidelines, you can manage returns effectively, making future transactions easier. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Navigating the Product Return Process: A Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Maneuvering through the product return process can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By comprehending the retailer’s return policy and following a clear step-by-step approach, you can simplify the experience. Start by checking if your item is eligible for return, then initiate the process online. Properly packaging the item and using the provided return label is essential for a smooth return. Stay tuned to learn more about each step to guarantee you handle your return effectively. Key Takeaways Review the retailer’s return policy to ensure item eligibility and understand specific deadlines and exclusions. Initiate the return process using the online form for efficiency and receive return labels upon approval. Securely package the item in original condition with all accessories, including necessary documentation for return processing. Track the return shipment using the provided tracking number to monitor its status and expected refund timelines. Communicate with customer service for any questions and to resolve issues during the return process. Understanding the Return Policy When you shop online or in-store, comprehending the return policy is crucial for guaranteeing a smooth experience if you need to return a product. A well-defined policy outlines eligibility criteria and specific exclusions, so you’ll know which items can be returned. Look for clear deadlines that indicate when you can initiate a return and how long processing will take. This helps manage your expectations regarding refunds or exchanges. You’ll likewise want to check the return info for the refund options available. Some Refund Retriever may offer a full refund, whereas others might provide partial refunds, store credit, or exchanges. Confirm the return policy is easily accessible, whether on the company’s website or included in the product packaging. This way, you’ll be informed of the rules before making a purchase, and you’ll be ready to provide a reason for return if needed, making the process smoother for everyone involved. Initiating the Return Process To initiate the return process, you should first check the retailer’s return policy to verify your item meets the eligibility criteria. Most retailers offer a straightforward online form where you can submit your return request, making the process quick and efficient. Once approved, you’ll receive return labels and instructions, so you can track your shipment and stay updated on your return status. Clear Return Policy A clear return policy is essential for managing customer expectations and ensuring a smooth return process. It should outline eligibility criteria, such as timeframes and specific product exclusions, so you know how to return something. Clear communication about the return process, including the necessary information and steps, is critical for a seamless experience. Moreover, defining refund options—like full refunds, partial refunds, store credit, or exchanges—helps clarify what to expect during your orders and returns. Make sure this policy is visible across all sales channels, including your website and product packaging, to minimize confusion. Criteria Details Examples Timeframe Returns must be initiated within 30 days 30-day return window Product Exclusions Non-returnable items are clearly listed Opened electronics Refund Options Options include full refunds or exchanges Store credit available Communication Channels Policy shared via website and packaging Emails and receipts Easy Return Initiation How can you easily initiate the return process for a product you no longer want? Start by visiting the retailer’s website or customer portal, where you’ll find a section dedicated to returns. Here, you can follow the steps to begin your return request. Most retailers will ask you to provide a reason to return the product, which helps them improve their services. Make sure you initiate the return within the timeframe specified in the return policy, usually between 14 to 30 days from your purchase date. Once your return request is approved, you’ll typically receive a prepaid return label via email, making it easy to return the item from home. Tracking Return Progress Once you’ve initiated the return process, tracking your return progress becomes essential to guarantee everything goes smoothly. You’ll typically receive tracking information via email or find it on the retailer’s website. This allows you to monitor your returned item’s status efficiently. If you’re wondering, “can I return?” rest assured that many Amazon retailers offer pre-paid shipping labels, which you can print directly from the return initiation page. Keep an eye on the estimated timeline, as most companies aim to process refunds within a few days after they receive the returned item. If you have questions or concerns during this process, don’t hesitate to utilize customer support channels for assistance, ensuring clarity and improving your overall experience. Preparing the Item for Return When you’re preparing an item for return, it’s vital to package it securely and include all necessary documentation. Start by placing the item back in its original packaging along with any accessories and manuals to meet the retailer’s return policy. Finally, verify to clearly label the package and include any required authorization codes to guarantee a smooth return process. Packaging the Product Securely Packaging the product securely is crucial for ensuring it arrives back to the retailer in good condition. Whenever possible, use the original packaging, as it’s designed to protect the item during transit and minimizes the risk of damage. Make sure to include all items, such as accessories, manuals, and warranty information, to comply with the retailer’s return policy. Securely seal the package with strong tape to prevent it from opening during shipping; open packages can lead to missing items or damage. If you don’t have the original packaging, choose a sturdy box or envelope that can withstand shipping conditions and keep the item from shifting. Finally, clearly label the package with the return address provided by the retailer. Including Required Documentation How can you guarantee your return is processed smoothly? Start by ensuring you include all required documentation. This means packing the item with its original packaging, accessories, and any bonus items. Don’t forget to print and attach the return label provided by the retailer. Including a copy of the original receipt or packing slip inside the package helps facilitate a smoother return process. Follow the retailer’s specific packaging instructions carefully to avoid damage, which could lead to a denied return. Finally, double-check that the item is in its original condition, as many retailers only accept returns of unused products in their original packaging. Required Documentation Purpose Notes Original Packaging Meets return policy Must be undamaged Return Label Track item Provided by retailer Original Receipt Facilitate refund Include in return package Accessories & Bonus Items Complete return Include all original items Follow Instructions Prevent damage Adhere to retailer guidelines Shipping the Returned Item To guarantee a smooth return process, using the pre-paid return label provided by the retailer is important, as it helps you avoid unnecessary shipping costs. Start by properly packaging the item, ideally in its original packaging, to prevent any damage during transit. This guarantees it arrives in good condition. Inside the package, include all relevant documentation, such as the return authorization form or packing slip, which facilitates the processing of your return. Next, drop off the package at the designated shipping carrier location or schedule a pickup. It’s significant to obtain a tracking number to monitor the return shipment, confirming it reaches the retailer. Keep in mind the return shipping deadline set by the retailer; this is critical for a successful return. By following these steps, you can efficiently manage the shipping process and minimize any potential issues with your return. Tracking Your Return Status Once you’ve shipped your returned item, the next step involves tracking its status to stay informed about its path back to the retailer. Most retailers provide a tracking number or link via email or their website, allowing you to monitor your return shipment in real-time. You can expect updates on your return status, including confirmation when the item arrives at the warehouse and when the refund process begins. Some retailers even offer automated notifications for key milestones, such as when your return is processed. Tracking your return helps manage your expectations regarding timelines, as many retailers aim to process refunds within a few days of receiving the item. If you run into any issues tracking your return, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service for assistance; they can provide timely updates and help resolve any concerns regarding your return status. Processing Refunds and Exchanges When you initiate a return, comprehending the processing of refunds and exchanges is crucial for a smooth experience. Establishing a clear timeline is key; aim to complete transactions within a few days to improve your satisfaction and trust. Implementing a tracking system for your returns allows you to remain informed about your return status, ensuring transparency throughout the process. You’ll appreciate having multiple refund options available, such as full refunds, partial refunds, or store credit, catering to your preferences. Regular communication is significant; expect updates regarding your return, including confirmation of receipt, processing stages, and the final outcome of your refund or exchange. To boost efficiency, businesses should monitor turnaround times and gather customer feedback, identifying areas for improvement. Common Reasons for Returns Returns can often be a source of frustration for both customers and businesses. One of the leading causes of returns is unmet customer expectations, which usually arise from discrepancies between product descriptions and what you actually receive. Furthermore, product defects, like manufacturing errors or quality issues, contribute greatly to the return rate, highlighting the need for effective quality control. Customer errors, such as ordering the wrong size or color, likewise play a role, making clear product information and size guides crucial. Shipping issues, including damage during transit or receiving incorrect items, are common reasons for returns as well, pointing to the importance of collaborating with shipping providers to improve delivery processes. Tips for a Smooth Return Experience Maneuvering the return process doesn’t have to be a hassle, especially when you’re equipped with the right knowledge. First, make certain you understand the retailer’s return policy, focusing on eligibility criteria and deadlines. This awareness can prevent confusion and guarantee a smoother experience. Utilize pre-paid return labels provided by the retailer; they simplify shipping and reduce your out-of-pocket costs. It’s important to initiate your return quickly, as many retailers require returns to be started within 30 to 90 days for refunds or exchanges. Keep a record of your return tracking number, as this helps you monitor the status of your item and guarantees efficient processing. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to contact customer service directly; they can provide immediate assistance and solutions to expedite your return. Following these tips can make your return experience much more seamless. Managing Future Returns To effectively manage future returns, it’s essential to analyze return data regularly, which helps you identify trends in the reasons customers are sending items back. By pinpointing these issues, you can address common problems and reduce future returns. Implementing quality control measures will further improve product satisfaction and minimize defects. Moreover, you should refine product descriptions and images to guarantee they align with customer expectations, as inaccuracies often lead to returns. Soliciting customer feedback through surveys and reviews provides valuable insights into their experiences, allowing you to make necessary adjustments to products or processes. Finally, monitor your shipping practices and collaborate with shipping providers to assure reliable delivery. This can markedly reduce damages during transit, ultimately contributing to lower return rates. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Steps Involved in Return Processing? To process a return, you start by submitting an online form with your return reason and resolution preference. After that, the return request is reviewed for eligibility. If approved, you’ll receive a return shipping label and instructions. Once you send the product back, the warehouse inspects it to determine its condition. Finally, you’ll be informed of the outcome, and refunds, exchanges, or store credits will be issued according to the policy timeline. What Is the Process of Product Return? The product return process starts with you initiating a return request, usually through an online portal or customer service. You’ll specify the reason for the return and what resolution you want. Once approved, you’ll receive shipping labels and packaging instructions. After you send the item back, the retailer inspects it to determine its condition. Finally, they’ll process your refund or exchange, aiming to complete this within a few days for your convenience. What Is the Big 5 Return Policy? The Big 5 return policy refers to the return practices of Amazon, Zappos, Nordstrom, Walmart, and Target. You’ll find that these retailers typically offer extended return windows, ranging from 30 to 90 days, allowing you ample time to decide on your purchases. They often provide free return shipping and easy-to-use online return portals, enabling you to initiate returns quickly and receive prepaid shipping labels, all while clearly communicating their return conditions. What Is the Return Process Flow? The return process flow starts when you initiate a return request, stating your reason and preferred resolution. The retailer then reviews your request based on their return policy, which considers factors like time limits and product condition. If approved, you’ll receive a return shipping label and instructions. After you ship the item back, it undergoes inspection. Finally, refunds or exchanges are processed, typically within a few days, ensuring a smooth resolution. Conclusion By following these steps, you can navigate the product return process efficiently. Always start by reviewing the retailer’s return policy to confirm eligibility, then initiate your return and prepare your item carefully. Use the provided shipping label and track your return to stay updated. Comprehending refund timelines and maintaining communication with customer service will further guarantee a smooth experience. With these guidelines, you can manage returns effectively, making future transactions easier. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Navigating the Product Return Process: A Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating an effective customer satisfaction survey form is essential for comprehending your customers’ needs and improving their experiences. To achieve this, you need to define clear objectives that guide your question selection. It’s also significant to use a variety of question types, including Likert scales and open-ended questions, to gather extensive feedback. Keep your survey concise and visually appealing, as this encourages higher response rates. Knowing how to structure your survey effectively can make all the difference in the insights you gather. What specific strategies will help you maximize your survey’s effectiveness? Key Takeaways Define clear objectives to guide your survey questions, ensuring they align with your business goals and customer expectations. Use a mix of question types, including Likert scales and open-ended questions, to capture both quantitative and qualitative feedback. Keep the survey concise, ideally under 10 questions, to enhance engagement and improve response rates. Distribute surveys promptly after key interactions to maximize relevance and recall, using channels like email and in-app prompts. Regularly review and update your survey content to reflect changing customer preferences and industry trends for continued relevance. Understanding Customer Satisfaction and CSAT Surveys When you want to understand how customers feel about your products or services, Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) surveys are an effective tool at your disposal. These surveys typically use a scale from 1 to 5, allowing you to measure customer happiness accurately. To calculate your CSAT score, divide the number of satisfied customers—those who rate you a 4 or 5—by the total number of respondents, giving you a percentage that reflects overall satisfaction. A well-structured customer satisfaction survey form can help you pinpoint areas for improvement and better understand customer needs. You can improve your insights by implementing a feedback form template after key interactions, such as purchases or support engagements. This approach will give you timely data on customer perceptions and expectations, which can ultimately influence customer loyalty and retention, making this client survey form an essential component of your overall strategy. Importance and Benefits of Customer Surveys Customer surveys are crucial for businesses aiming to improve their grasp of client experiences and preferences. They provide critical insights that can elevate the overall customer experience, leading to increased loyalty and retention rates. Comprehending customer sentiments is fundamental, as positive experiences can result in a 91% likelihood of recommendations. Here are some key benefits of utilizing customer surveys: Identify areas for improvement: 89% of customer experience professionals note poor experiences lead to churn. Foster better relationships: Acting on feedback increases trust and brand loyalty. Adapt to market changes: Regular surveys help businesses keep up with evolving customer expectations. Utilize effective templates: A client feedback form template or a simple feedback form can streamline data collection. Creating and Structuring Customer Satisfaction Surveys To create effective customer satisfaction surveys, you need to start by defining your survey objectives clearly. This helps you tailor your questions to gather relevant information that aligns with your business goals. Defining Survey Objectives Defining clear objectives for your customer satisfaction survey is crucial, as it sets the foundation for effective data collection and analysis. Start by identifying what you want to achieve, which helps guide your question selection. Consider these key points: Measure customer satisfaction with specific products or services. Assess satisfaction with pricing, product value, and overall customer service experience. Customize questions to align with your unique business objectives. Regularly review and update content to reflect changing customer expectations. Using a survey spreadsheet template can streamline this process, allowing you to organize your objectives and questions efficiently. Question Types and Formats Creating a well-structured customer satisfaction survey involves selecting the right types of questions and formats. Utilizing various question types improves the depth and breadth of insights collected. Here’s a quick overview: Question Type Purpose Example Likert Scale Measures degrees of satisfaction “How satisfied are you?” Open-Ended Captures detailed feedback “What can we improve?” Multiple-Choice Offers specific options “Which service did you use?” Incorporating demographic and usage frequency questions helps segment responses, allowing you to tailor strategies for different customer groups. Keep surveys concise, ideally under 10 questions, to increase response rates and reduce fatigue. Survey Question Types and Best Practices When creating your customer satisfaction survey, it’s essential to understand the different types of survey questions you can use, such as Likert scale, open-ended, and binary questions. Each type serves a specific purpose, helping you gather both quantitative data and qualitative insights that can inform your business strategies. Furthermore, implementing best practices—like keeping surveys concise and personalizing them based on customer interactions—can greatly improve response rates and the overall quality of feedback you receive. Types of Survey Questions Comprehending the different types of survey questions is crucial for gathering meaningful feedback from your customers. Each question type serves a unique purpose, allowing you to capture various aspects of customer sentiment and experience. Here are four common types: Likert Scale Questions: Gauge opinions on a scale from ‘Strongly Agree’ to ‘Strongly Disagree’, providing nuanced insights. Open-Ended Questions: Allow respondents to elaborate on their experiences, offering qualitative feedback that highlights areas for improvement. Nominal Questions: Categorize responses without a specific order, useful for demographic data collection. Binary Questions: Provide quick, quantifiable data with two answer options (e.g., Yes/No), simplifying analysis. Understanding these types will help you design effective surveys that yield valuable insights. Best Practices for Surveys To effectively gather customer insights, it’s essential to implement best practices in survey design and execution. Start by utilizing a mix of question types, like Likert scale, open-ended, and multiple-choice questions, to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. Keep your surveys concise, ideally under 10 questions, to maintain engagement and reduce abandonment rates. Timing is also important; send surveys shortly after key touchpoints in the customer experience for timely feedback. Personalization improves the experience, so address customers by their first names and tailor questions to their specific interactions. Finally, regularly analyze feedback for trends and actionable insights, ensuring your survey evolves to reflect changing customer expectations and your business goals. Analyzing Survey Results Analyzing survey results is crucial for comprehending customer satisfaction and driving meaningful improvements in your business. To effectively analyze the data, consider these best practices: Use a mix of question types, like Likert scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions, to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights. Keep surveys concise, ideally under 10 questions, to maintain engagement and minimize abandonment. Craft clear and straightforward questions that serve a specific purpose, improving survey effectiveness. Time your surveys well, sending them shortly after key customer interactions to boost response rates and relevance. Regularly reviewing this data helps identify trends and actionable insights, enabling timely advancements in customer experience and satisfaction levels. Tools and Resources for Effective Surveys When you’re looking to create effective customer satisfaction surveys, leveraging the right tools and resources can make all the difference. Start with SurveyMonkey‘s expert-created survey templates, which streamline the creation process customized to your business needs. For a thorough view of customer interactions, integrate your surveys with CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot, guaranteeing automatic data syncing. To determine the appropriate number of responses for statistically significant results, employ the Sample Size Calculator, which assures reliable outcomes. Regularly review and update your survey questions to align with changing customer expectations and market conditions. Here’s a table highlighting key resources: Tool/Resource Purpose SurveyMonkey Expert templates for survey creation Salesforce/HubSpot Integration Automatic syncing of customer feedback Sample Size Calculator Guarantees statistically significant results Customer Feedback Guide Best practices for designing successful surveys Regular Review Practices Keeps surveys relevant to current customer expectations Strategies to Improve Survey Response Rates Improving survey response rates is crucial for gathering valuable customer feedback and insights. To improve your survey’s effectiveness, consider these strategies: Send surveys quickly after key touchpoints, like purchases or customer service interactions, as customers recall their experiences better. Offer incentives such as discounts or account credits; research indicates respondents prefer these over unrelated gifts. Keep it concise; limit your survey to under 10 questions to maintain engagement and reduce abandonment rates, as lengthy surveys can frustrate users. Utilize multiple channels for distribution, including email, in-app prompts, and social media, allowing customers to choose their preferred method, which increases response likelihood. Additionally, timing your surveys for ideal open and click-through rates, especially on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays, can greatly improve response rates. Implementing these strategies will help you gather more meaningful feedback from your customers. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 3 C’s of Customer Satisfaction? The 3 C’s of customer satisfaction are Consistency, Communication, and Customer Experience. Consistency means delivering the same quality and service across all interactions, which builds trust. Communication involves engaging with customers, listening to their feedback, and addressing concerns swiftly, enhancing their experience. Finally, Customer Experience encompasses every interaction from awareness to post-purchase support, greatly impacting the likelihood of repeat business and recommendations. Focusing on these elements can boost customer loyalty and revenue. How to Create a Customer Satisfaction Form? To create a customer satisfaction form, start by defining clear objectives that outline what insights you need, like overall satisfaction or specific feedback. Use a mix of question types, such as Likert scale and open-ended questions, to gather diverse responses. Keep the survey concise, ideally under ten questions, for better engagement. Distribute it swiftly after customer interactions to guarantee relevance. Finally, regularly analyze the data to identify trends and areas needing improvement. What Is the 5 Point Scale for Customer Satisfaction Survey? The 5-point scale for customer satisfaction surveys ranges from 1, indicating high dissatisfaction, to 5, signifying high satisfaction. This scale allows you to express your feelings about a product or service clearly. Using it simplifies your decision-making process, as you choose a single number that reflects your experience. Scores of 4 or 5 highlight satisfied customers, making it easier for businesses to analyze data, track trends, and identify areas for improvement effectively. What Are the Four Types of Customer Satisfaction Surveys? There are four main types of customer satisfaction surveys you should consider. First, Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) measures immediate contentment with specific interactions. Second, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) assesses your likelihood of recommending a product or service. Third, the Customer Effort Score (CES) gauges how easy it’s for you to complete tasks. Finally, Open-ended Feedback Surveys let you express detailed thoughts, capturing insights beyond structured questions. Each type serves a unique purpose. Conclusion In summary, creating an effective customer satisfaction survey form is crucial for comprehending customer experiences and improving services. By defining clear objectives and utilizing diverse question types, you can gather valuable feedback. Remember to keep your survey concise and visually appealing, as well as timing its distribution for best response rates. Regularly updating your survey will help you stay aligned with evolving customer expectations, eventually leading to improved satisfaction and loyalty. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Creating an Effective Customer Satisfaction Survey Form" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article