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Hiring likely remained subdued last month as many companies have sought to avoid expanding their workforces, though the job gains may be enough to bring down the unemployment rate. December’s jobs report, to be released Friday, is likely to show that employers added a modest 55,000 jobs, economists forecast. That figure would be below November’s 64,000 but an improvement after the economy lost jobs in October. The unemployment rate is expected to slip to 4.5%, according to data provider FactSet, from a four-year high of 4.6% in November. The figures will be closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington because they will be the first clean readings on the labor market in three months. The government didn’t issue a report in October because of the six-week government shutdown, and November’s data was distorted by the closure, which lasted until Nov. 12. Another wrinkle: The economy lost 105,000 jobs in October, mostly because federal government employment fell 162,000, reflecting a purge of federal workers earlier last year by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. That drop won’t be repeated. Still, sluggish hiring in December would underscore a key conundrum surrounding the economy as it enters 2026: Growth has picked up to healthy levels, yet hiring has weakened noticeably and the unemployment rate has increased in the last four jobs reports. Most economists expect hiring will accelerate this year as growth remains solid. Yet they acknowledge there are other possibilities: Weak job gains could drag down future growth. Or the economy could keep expanding at a healthy clip, while automation and the spread of artificial intelligence reduces the need for more jobs. Economists do expect Friday’s jobs report to have some good news, driven partly by a rebound from the government shutdown, which likely drove a higher unemployment rate in November. Still, should the rate remain at 4.6% or even tick higher, that would be a cause for concern. “I’m really looking for a lot of that weakness to reverse in December,” said Martha Gimbel, executive director of the Yale Budget Lab, “and if it doesn’t, I am going to start getting much iffier about the labor market.” Either way, December’s report will cap a year of sluggish hiring, particularly after “liberation day” in April when President Donald The President imposed sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries, though many were later delayed or softened. The economy generated an average of 111,000 jobs a month in the first three months of the year. But that pace dropped to just 11,000 in the three months ended in August, before rebounding slightly to 22,000 in November. Even those figures are likely to be revised lower in February, when the government completes an annual benchmarking of the jobs figures to an actual count of jobs derived from companies’ unemployment insurance filings. A preliminary estimate of that revision showed it could reduce total jobs as of March 2025 by 911,000. And last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that the government could still be overstating job gains by about 60,000 a month because of shortcomings in how it accounts for new companies as well as those that have gone out of business. The Labor Department is expected to update those methods in its report next month. Last November, the U.S. economy had just 770,000 more jobs than 12 months earlier, down from 1.9 million in the 12 months ending in November 2024 and the smallest yearly gain since early 2021. The benchmark revisions next month will likely reduce that figure even further. With hiring so weak, the Federal Reserve cut its key short-term interest rate three times late last year, in an effort to boost borrowing, spending, and hiring. Yet Powell signaled that the central bank may keep its rate unchanged in the coming months as it evaluates how the economy evolves. Should December’s jobs report come in surprisingly weak, it could strengthen case for a rate reduction at the Fed’s next meeting Jan. 27-28. Even with such sluggish job gains, the economy has continued to expand, with growth reaching a 4.3% annual rate in last year’s July-September quarter, the best in two years. Strong consumer spending helped drive the gain. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta forecasts that growth could slow to a still-solid 2.7% in the final three months of last year. Many economists are optimistic that growth will pick up in 2026, in part because The President’s tax legislation, approved last summer, should lead to outsize tax refunds this spring. If growth does accelerate, it’s possible hiring may as well. At the same time, there are signs that companies are using technology and other tools to make their workers more efficient, which can spur growth without requiring more jobs. At the same time, inflation remains elevated, eroding the value of Americans’ paychecks. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in November compared with a year ago, little changed from the beginning of the year and above the Fed’s 2% target. —Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writer View the full article

A loss leader pricing strategy involves selling certain products at a price lower than their cost to attract customers and increase store traffic. This approach aims to boost overall sales and build customer loyalty, as it can draw shoppers in for discounted items. Nevertheless, it additionally presents challenges, such as the risk of customers only buying the low-priced items. Comprehending how to effectively implement this strategy is essential for retailers looking to improve profitability. Key Takeaways A loss leader pricing strategy involves selling products below cost to attract customers and boost overall sales. This strategy aims to increase foot traffic and customer acquisition, fostering long-term loyalty. Large retailers often use loss leaders to enhance brand awareness and compete in crowded markets. Risks include customers only buying discounted items, which can reduce overall profit margins. Successful execution requires careful planning, monitoring customer behavior, and adjusting prices as needed. What Is a Loss Leader Strategy? A loss leader strategy involves setting the prices of certain products intentionally below cost to attract customers and boost overall sales. This approach is designed to drive traffic into stores and encourage shoppers to purchase additional, more profitable items. The loss leader definition highlights that the primary goal isn’t to profit from these discounted products but to increase overall revenue through customer acquisition and repeat business. Commonly used by large retailers, loss leader pricing can be observed in everyday scenarios, like milk being placed at the back of grocery stores, enticing shoppers to buy more as they navigate the aisles. Even though effective, this strategy carries risks, particularly when customers only buy the loss leader items without making further purchases. Unlike predatory pricing, which seeks to eliminate competition, a loss leader strategy focuses on attracting customers and nurturing long-term loyalty, making it an essential tactic in many businesses. Key Takeaways In a loss leader pricing strategy, you attract new customers by offering select products at prices below cost. This approach not just boosts overall sales by encouraging additional purchases but additionally helps you compete effectively with rivals in the market. Nevertheless, it’s essential to balance these benefits with the risk of customers only buying the discounted items, which could impact your profitability. Attracting New Customers How can loss leader pricing effectively attract new customers? This strategy involves offering select loss leader products at prices below cost, creating an appealing deal that draws shoppers in. Retailers often choose frequently purchased items, like groceries, to entice customers into their stores, where they’re likely to make supplementary purchases. The benefits of loss leader pricing include increased brand awareness and foot traffic, as studies show that 88% of consumers are inclined to buy more after a positive experience with discounted items. Furthermore, this strategy can nurture customer loyalty, encouraging repeat visits for both discounted and full-priced goods. On the other hand, businesses must be cautious, as some customers may only seek out the loss leaders without making further purchases. Increasing Overall Sales Even though many retailers seek ways to boost their overall sales, implementing a loss leader pricing strategy can be particularly effective. By pricing select products below cost, you’ll attract customers who may likewise purchase additional, higher-margin items. This approach leverages loss leader pricing advantages, like increased foot traffic and impulse buying, as shoppers often buy complementary products during their time in-store or online. For instance, companies like Gillette and Microsoft have successfully used loss leader pricing strategy examples, selling razors and gaming consoles at low margins to profit from related items. Studies indicate that 88% of consumers are likely to make additional purchases after experiencing a discount, highlighting the strength of this strategy in enhancing overall sales and customer acquisition. Competing With Rivals Retailers often face intense competition, making it essential to find strategies that can effectively attract customers away from rivals. One effective approach is loss leader pricing, which many companies use to draw in shoppers. Here are some key points to take into account: Utilize staples: Offer frequently purchased items like milk at lower prices to create urgency. Strategic placement: Position loss leaders in high-traffic areas of your store to encourage additional purchases. Attract new customers: Use loss leader marketing to build a loyal customer base, especially in new markets. Balance profitability: Monitor sales to guarantee customers don’t only buy loss leader items and neglect higher-margin products. How the Loss Leader Strategy Works The loss leader strategy works by enticing new customers with products priced below cost, encouraging them to explore more profitable items during their visit. Retailers strategically place these loss leaders in high-traffic areas, like positioning milk at the back of a grocery store, to maximize additional purchases. Attracting New Business A significant aspect of the loss leader strategy is its ability to attract new business by offering select products at prices below cost. This approach not only draws traffic but likewise encourages customers to purchase higher-margin items. Here are four key points to contemplate: Increased Foot Traffic: Customers flock to stores for discounted loss leaders. Impulse Purchases: During shopping for these deals, customers often buy additional items. Long-Term Relationships: Attracting new customers can lead to repeat business. Strategic Positioning: Loss leaders are often placed in locations that encourage exploration of other products. Understanding the loss leader pricing definition and its meaning can help you leverage this strategy effectively for your business. Strategic Product Placement When implemented effectively, strategic product placement of loss leaders can greatly improve customer engagement and drive supplementary sales. By positioning loss leaders, like milk, at the back of grocery stores, you encourage customers to navigate through various aisles, increasing the likelihood of additional purchases. Retailers often select familiar items for loss leader pricing, making it easier to attract shoppers already inclined to buy. To prevent stockpiling, some stores limit the quantity a customer can purchase in one visit, which helps maintain demand. Furthermore, placing perishable items, such as fruits and pastries, as loss leaders ensures quick sales during customer traffic. This strategic product placement improves exposure to other products, leading to impulse buys and increased overall revenue. Implementing Loss Leader Strategies in Retail Implementing loss leader strategies in retail requires careful planning and execution, as retailers often set prices on select items, such as milk or bread, below their production cost to entice customers into their stores. Here are some key steps: Identify popular items: Choose high-frequency purchase items that draw customers, like staple groceries. Strategic placement: Position loss leaders in locations that encourage additional purchases, such as at the back of the store. Seasonal promotions: Use perishable or holiday-specific items as loss leaders to clear inventory as well as attracting bargain-seeking customers. Monitor customer behavior: Analyze sales data to assess the effectiveness of your loss leader pricing strategy and adjust accordingly. Although loss leader pricing can boost overall sales, it’s crucial to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages, including the risk of customers purchasing only loss leaders without additional items. Comprehending how to define loss leader pricing helps retailers maximize this strategy effectively. Challenges and Risks of Using Loss Leader Pricing Though loss leader pricing can effectively attract customers, it also presents several significant challenges and risks that businesses must navigate. The primary risk is that customers may solely purchase discounted items, leading to decreased overall profit margins if additional sales don’t occur. Smaller businesses often struggle against larger corporations employing this strategy, as they typically lack the financial resources to absorb initial losses. The following table outlines some key disadvantages of loss leader pricing: Disadvantages Impact on Business Considerations Customers only buy loss leaders Decreased profitability Long-term financial planning needed Pressure on suppliers Harm to supplier relationships Pricing discussions may be necessary Customer price expectations Difficulty selling at regular prices Brand perception may suffer In some regions, loss leader pricing is restricted or banned to prevent predatory pricing practices, limiting its applicability for businesses. Comprehending these loss leader pricing pros and cons is vital for effective strategy implementation. Example of Loss Leader Pricing: Gillette Gillette effectively demonstrates the loss leader pricing strategy by selling its razors at prices that often fall below production costs, attracting a wide customer base in the shaving industry. This approach allows Gillette to focus on generating revenue from high-margin replacement blades. Here are some key points about this strategy: Market Share: Gillette captures over 50% of the global razor market, showcasing its effectiveness. Customer Retention: Once customers buy a low-cost razor, they’re likely to return for replacement blades. Long-term Profits: The initial losses on razors turn into long-term profits through repeat purchases. Example of Leader Pricing: Gillette serves as a prominent example of loss leader pricing company examples, illustrating how businesses can utilize this strategy successfully. The Bottom Line The bottom line in loss leader pricing lies in its potential to drive customer acquisition and increase overall sales, but it moreover carries significant risks. Fundamentally, loss leader meaning involves selling select products below cost to attract customers, encouraging them to purchase other higher-margin items. Although this tactic can improve foot traffic and sales volume, it can as well lead to financial strain if customers buy only the loss leaders without additional items. Comprehending loss leaders definition is significant; they can create expectations for ongoing low prices, which may not be sustainable. Retailers like supermarkets often use this strategy effectively, but businesses must monitor it closely to manage costs. Companies such as Gillette and Microsoft have shown success with loss leader pricing, but smaller businesses might struggle to compete against larger corporations employing similar tactics. Therefore, careful execution and adjustment are critical for maximizing effectiveness and ensuring long-term profitability. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Real World Example of Loss Leader Pricing? A real-world example of loss leader pricing is Costco‘s rotisserie chicken, sold at a price below production costs. By offering this popular item at a low price, Costco attracts customers who are likely to purchase additional items during their visit. This strategy effectively increases overall sales and encourages shoppers to explore more products, enhancing the store’s profitability in spite of the initial loss on the chicken. It’s a practical application of enticing customers for broader gains. What Are the 4 Pricing Strategies? There are four primary pricing strategies you should know: cost-plus pricing, value-based pricing, competition-based pricing, and dynamic pricing. Cost-plus pricing involves adding a markup to cover production costs, ensuring profitability. Value-based pricing sets prices based on perceived customer value, often yielding higher margins. Competition-based pricing aligns your prices with competitors to stay relevant. Dynamic pricing adjusts prices in real-time according to market demand, commonly seen in e-commerce and travel industries. What Is an Example of a Leader Pricing Strategy? A clear example of a loss leader pricing strategy is when a retailer sells milk at a considerably reduced price to attract customers into the store. Although milk may be sold below cost, the goal is to encourage shoppers to purchase other items with higher profit margins. This strategy not just increases overall sales but furthermore helps build customer loyalty by drawing people into the store for vital grocery needs. Why Is Loss Leader Pricing Illegal? Loss leader pricing can be illegal in some areas as it may be considered predatory. When businesses sell goods at unsustainably low prices, they risk undermining competition, which can lead to monopolistic practices. Regulations in places like Ireland aim to protect smaller businesses from being driven out of the market by larger corporations that can afford to absorb these losses. Violating these laws can result in penalties and restrictions on pricing strategies. Conclusion To conclude, a loss leader pricing strategy can effectively attract customers and drive store traffic by offering selected products at prices below cost. Although this approach can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty, it likewise poses risks, such as potential impacts on profit margins if customers focus solely on discounted items. To succeed, businesses must conduct thorough market analysis, implement effective strategies, and continuously monitor customer behavior to guarantee long-term profitability and brand strength. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Loss Leader Pricing Strategy?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A loss leader pricing strategy involves selling certain products at a price lower than their cost to attract customers and increase store traffic. This approach aims to boost overall sales and build customer loyalty, as it can draw shoppers in for discounted items. Nevertheless, it additionally presents challenges, such as the risk of customers only buying the low-priced items. Comprehending how to effectively implement this strategy is essential for retailers looking to improve profitability. Key Takeaways A loss leader pricing strategy involves selling products below cost to attract customers and boost overall sales. This strategy aims to increase foot traffic and customer acquisition, fostering long-term loyalty. Large retailers often use loss leaders to enhance brand awareness and compete in crowded markets. Risks include customers only buying discounted items, which can reduce overall profit margins. Successful execution requires careful planning, monitoring customer behavior, and adjusting prices as needed. What Is a Loss Leader Strategy? A loss leader strategy involves setting the prices of certain products intentionally below cost to attract customers and boost overall sales. This approach is designed to drive traffic into stores and encourage shoppers to purchase additional, more profitable items. The loss leader definition highlights that the primary goal isn’t to profit from these discounted products but to increase overall revenue through customer acquisition and repeat business. Commonly used by large retailers, loss leader pricing can be observed in everyday scenarios, like milk being placed at the back of grocery stores, enticing shoppers to buy more as they navigate the aisles. Even though effective, this strategy carries risks, particularly when customers only buy the loss leader items without making further purchases. Unlike predatory pricing, which seeks to eliminate competition, a loss leader strategy focuses on attracting customers and nurturing long-term loyalty, making it an essential tactic in many businesses. Key Takeaways In a loss leader pricing strategy, you attract new customers by offering select products at prices below cost. This approach not just boosts overall sales by encouraging additional purchases but additionally helps you compete effectively with rivals in the market. Nevertheless, it’s essential to balance these benefits with the risk of customers only buying the discounted items, which could impact your profitability. Attracting New Customers How can loss leader pricing effectively attract new customers? This strategy involves offering select loss leader products at prices below cost, creating an appealing deal that draws shoppers in. Retailers often choose frequently purchased items, like groceries, to entice customers into their stores, where they’re likely to make supplementary purchases. The benefits of loss leader pricing include increased brand awareness and foot traffic, as studies show that 88% of consumers are inclined to buy more after a positive experience with discounted items. Furthermore, this strategy can nurture customer loyalty, encouraging repeat visits for both discounted and full-priced goods. On the other hand, businesses must be cautious, as some customers may only seek out the loss leaders without making further purchases. Increasing Overall Sales Even though many retailers seek ways to boost their overall sales, implementing a loss leader pricing strategy can be particularly effective. By pricing select products below cost, you’ll attract customers who may likewise purchase additional, higher-margin items. This approach leverages loss leader pricing advantages, like increased foot traffic and impulse buying, as shoppers often buy complementary products during their time in-store or online. For instance, companies like Gillette and Microsoft have successfully used loss leader pricing strategy examples, selling razors and gaming consoles at low margins to profit from related items. Studies indicate that 88% of consumers are likely to make additional purchases after experiencing a discount, highlighting the strength of this strategy in enhancing overall sales and customer acquisition. Competing With Rivals Retailers often face intense competition, making it essential to find strategies that can effectively attract customers away from rivals. One effective approach is loss leader pricing, which many companies use to draw in shoppers. Here are some key points to take into account: Utilize staples: Offer frequently purchased items like milk at lower prices to create urgency. Strategic placement: Position loss leaders in high-traffic areas of your store to encourage additional purchases. Attract new customers: Use loss leader marketing to build a loyal customer base, especially in new markets. Balance profitability: Monitor sales to guarantee customers don’t only buy loss leader items and neglect higher-margin products. How the Loss Leader Strategy Works The loss leader strategy works by enticing new customers with products priced below cost, encouraging them to explore more profitable items during their visit. Retailers strategically place these loss leaders in high-traffic areas, like positioning milk at the back of a grocery store, to maximize additional purchases. Attracting New Business A significant aspect of the loss leader strategy is its ability to attract new business by offering select products at prices below cost. This approach not only draws traffic but likewise encourages customers to purchase higher-margin items. Here are four key points to contemplate: Increased Foot Traffic: Customers flock to stores for discounted loss leaders. Impulse Purchases: During shopping for these deals, customers often buy additional items. Long-Term Relationships: Attracting new customers can lead to repeat business. Strategic Positioning: Loss leaders are often placed in locations that encourage exploration of other products. Understanding the loss leader pricing definition and its meaning can help you leverage this strategy effectively for your business. Strategic Product Placement When implemented effectively, strategic product placement of loss leaders can greatly improve customer engagement and drive supplementary sales. By positioning loss leaders, like milk, at the back of grocery stores, you encourage customers to navigate through various aisles, increasing the likelihood of additional purchases. Retailers often select familiar items for loss leader pricing, making it easier to attract shoppers already inclined to buy. To prevent stockpiling, some stores limit the quantity a customer can purchase in one visit, which helps maintain demand. Furthermore, placing perishable items, such as fruits and pastries, as loss leaders ensures quick sales during customer traffic. This strategic product placement improves exposure to other products, leading to impulse buys and increased overall revenue. Implementing Loss Leader Strategies in Retail Implementing loss leader strategies in retail requires careful planning and execution, as retailers often set prices on select items, such as milk or bread, below their production cost to entice customers into their stores. Here are some key steps: Identify popular items: Choose high-frequency purchase items that draw customers, like staple groceries. Strategic placement: Position loss leaders in locations that encourage additional purchases, such as at the back of the store. Seasonal promotions: Use perishable or holiday-specific items as loss leaders to clear inventory as well as attracting bargain-seeking customers. Monitor customer behavior: Analyze sales data to assess the effectiveness of your loss leader pricing strategy and adjust accordingly. Although loss leader pricing can boost overall sales, it’s crucial to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages, including the risk of customers purchasing only loss leaders without additional items. Comprehending how to define loss leader pricing helps retailers maximize this strategy effectively. Challenges and Risks of Using Loss Leader Pricing Though loss leader pricing can effectively attract customers, it also presents several significant challenges and risks that businesses must navigate. The primary risk is that customers may solely purchase discounted items, leading to decreased overall profit margins if additional sales don’t occur. Smaller businesses often struggle against larger corporations employing this strategy, as they typically lack the financial resources to absorb initial losses. The following table outlines some key disadvantages of loss leader pricing: Disadvantages Impact on Business Considerations Customers only buy loss leaders Decreased profitability Long-term financial planning needed Pressure on suppliers Harm to supplier relationships Pricing discussions may be necessary Customer price expectations Difficulty selling at regular prices Brand perception may suffer In some regions, loss leader pricing is restricted or banned to prevent predatory pricing practices, limiting its applicability for businesses. Comprehending these loss leader pricing pros and cons is vital for effective strategy implementation. Example of Loss Leader Pricing: Gillette Gillette effectively demonstrates the loss leader pricing strategy by selling its razors at prices that often fall below production costs, attracting a wide customer base in the shaving industry. This approach allows Gillette to focus on generating revenue from high-margin replacement blades. Here are some key points about this strategy: Market Share: Gillette captures over 50% of the global razor market, showcasing its effectiveness. Customer Retention: Once customers buy a low-cost razor, they’re likely to return for replacement blades. Long-term Profits: The initial losses on razors turn into long-term profits through repeat purchases. Example of Leader Pricing: Gillette serves as a prominent example of loss leader pricing company examples, illustrating how businesses can utilize this strategy successfully. The Bottom Line The bottom line in loss leader pricing lies in its potential to drive customer acquisition and increase overall sales, but it moreover carries significant risks. Fundamentally, loss leader meaning involves selling select products below cost to attract customers, encouraging them to purchase other higher-margin items. Although this tactic can improve foot traffic and sales volume, it can as well lead to financial strain if customers buy only the loss leaders without additional items. Comprehending loss leaders definition is significant; they can create expectations for ongoing low prices, which may not be sustainable. Retailers like supermarkets often use this strategy effectively, but businesses must monitor it closely to manage costs. Companies such as Gillette and Microsoft have shown success with loss leader pricing, but smaller businesses might struggle to compete against larger corporations employing similar tactics. Therefore, careful execution and adjustment are critical for maximizing effectiveness and ensuring long-term profitability. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Real World Example of Loss Leader Pricing? A real-world example of loss leader pricing is Costco‘s rotisserie chicken, sold at a price below production costs. By offering this popular item at a low price, Costco attracts customers who are likely to purchase additional items during their visit. This strategy effectively increases overall sales and encourages shoppers to explore more products, enhancing the store’s profitability in spite of the initial loss on the chicken. It’s a practical application of enticing customers for broader gains. What Are the 4 Pricing Strategies? There are four primary pricing strategies you should know: cost-plus pricing, value-based pricing, competition-based pricing, and dynamic pricing. Cost-plus pricing involves adding a markup to cover production costs, ensuring profitability. Value-based pricing sets prices based on perceived customer value, often yielding higher margins. Competition-based pricing aligns your prices with competitors to stay relevant. Dynamic pricing adjusts prices in real-time according to market demand, commonly seen in e-commerce and travel industries. What Is an Example of a Leader Pricing Strategy? A clear example of a loss leader pricing strategy is when a retailer sells milk at a considerably reduced price to attract customers into the store. Although milk may be sold below cost, the goal is to encourage shoppers to purchase other items with higher profit margins. This strategy not just increases overall sales but furthermore helps build customer loyalty by drawing people into the store for vital grocery needs. Why Is Loss Leader Pricing Illegal? Loss leader pricing can be illegal in some areas as it may be considered predatory. When businesses sell goods at unsustainably low prices, they risk undermining competition, which can lead to monopolistic practices. Regulations in places like Ireland aim to protect smaller businesses from being driven out of the market by larger corporations that can afford to absorb these losses. Violating these laws can result in penalties and restrictions on pricing strategies. Conclusion To conclude, a loss leader pricing strategy can effectively attract customers and drive store traffic by offering selected products at prices below cost. Although this approach can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty, it likewise poses risks, such as potential impacts on profit margins if customers focus solely on discounted items. To succeed, businesses must conduct thorough market analysis, implement effective strategies, and continuously monitor customer behavior to guarantee long-term profitability and brand strength. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Loss Leader Pricing Strategy?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

This week’s SEO Pulse highlights the tensions emerging as search engines tighten quality standards for sites while defending their own AI outputs. The post SEO Pulse: Core Update Favors Niche Expertise, AIO Health Inaccuracies & AI Slop appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The 65-inch Samsung QN90F Neo QLED TV is currently $1,199.99 on Woot in "factory-reconditioned" condition. That undercuts a new unit, which sits around $1,600 on Amazon, and even slips below what some retailers ask for “like-new” stock. This deal runs for seven days or until it sells out. Shipping is free for Prime members, while everyone else pays a flat $6 fee. One thing to note before checkout: This item doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or PO boxes, and you’ll need to provide a valid phone number and physical shipping address. The QN90F isn’t a midrange panel dressed up with buzzwords. It’s Samsung’s current flagship mini-LED 4K TV, built to get extremely bright (over 2,500 nits) while still holding deep blacks and tight contrast. The screen uses Samsung’s glare-reducing coating, which won’t defeat direct sunlight but does take the edge off harsh overhead lighting. In daily use, the QN90F feels more polished than most LED TVs. The bezel-free design keeps attention on the screen, and the compact metal stand doesn’t dominate your media console. Around back, you get four HDMI ports, two USB ports, Ethernet, optical audio, and an antenna input, all tucked into a side-facing recess that keeps cables tidy. The included SolarCell Remote is refreshingly practical. It charges via USB-C or ambient light, so you’re not cycling through disposable batteries. Picture quality is where this TV earns its flagship status. Mini-LED backlighting delivers OLED-like blacks with minimal bloom, and colors stay balanced rather than oversaturated. That said, there’s no Dolby Vision support, which is still a sticking point for some buyers, but HDR10 and HDR10+ performance here is strong enough that many viewers won’t miss it. This TV also leans hard into gaming and smart features. The panel runs at 120Hz natively and supports VRR up to 165Hz, along with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Input lag stays under 10ms, which is well within “good for gaming” territory, according to PCMag’s “excellent” review of this smart TV. PC gamers can even use ultrawide 21:9 or 32:9 modes. Sound is better than average, too, thanks to a 60W 4.2.2-channel system with Dolby Atmos and support for Samsung’s Q-Symphony if you add a compatible soundbar. Tizen OS covers every major streaming service and supports Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Matter smart-home control, though the interface still feels busy and occasionally buried under layers of menus. At this price, the reconditioned QN90F makes sense for buyers who want top-tier brightness and gaming performance without paying the full flagship price. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — (List Price $24.99 With Code "FTV4K25") Dell 15 DC15255 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM) — $519.99 (List Price $688.99) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Silver) — $159.99 (List Price $219.99) Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — $279.99 (List Price $349.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Comprehending customer satisfaction and loyalty is essential for any business. By utilizing effective survey templates, you can gather insights that help refine your strategies. These templates range from Customer Satisfaction Surveys to Customer Churn Surveys, each designed to gauge different aspects of the customer experience. Implementing these tools can lead to significant improvements in service quality. Next, let’s explore each template and how they can benefit your organization. Key Takeaways Customer Satisfaction Surveys help gauge product/service feelings and identify improvement areas, customizable to fit your brand voice. Customer Loyalty Surveys assess overall satisfaction and commitment, using metrics like Net Promoter Score (NPS) for effective retention strategies. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Surveys categorize respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, tracking loyalty trends over time. Post-Purchase Surveys collect immediate feedback on customer experience and satisfaction, refining marketing strategies and enhancing customer understanding. Customer Churn Surveys provide insights into why customers leave, focusing on satisfaction levels and service quality for improvement suggestions. Customer Satisfaction Survey Template When you want to understand how your customers feel about your products or services, a Customer Satisfaction Survey Template can be an invaluable tool. This template helps you track and evaluate customer feedback, making it easier to identify areas needing improvement. With over 23,000 utilizations, it’s a proven method for gathering actionable insights. Typically, the customer satisfaction survey template includes questions about overall satisfaction, specific product features, and the likelihood of recommending your service to others. You can customize the template to align with your brand’s voice and specific customer interaction points, which boosts engagement rates. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Survey Template The Net Promoter Score (NPS) Survey Template helps you measure brand loyalty by asking customers how likely they’re to recommend your product or service on a scale from 0 to 10. This tool categorizes respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, giving you clear insights into overall customer satisfaction. Measuring Brand Loyalty How can you effectively measure brand loyalty? The Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey template is a valuable tool for this purpose. By asking customers how likely they’re to recommend your products or services on a scale from 0 to 10, you can gauge their loyalty and sentiment. Here are four key aspects to reflect on: Categorize responses into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors. Track NPS over time to identify trends in customer loyalty. Use feedback to improve customer experience strategies. Engage Promoters for advocacy as you address Detractor concerns. Utilizing this market research survey template can provide significant insights, enabling you to make informed business decisions and nurture long-term customer relationships. Identifying Improvement Opportunities Building on the insights gained from measuring brand loyalty through the Net Promoter Score (NPS), identifying improvement opportunities becomes a pivotal next step. By analyzing the NPS results, you can uncover strengths and weaknesses in your customer experience. This market survey sample allows you to classify respondents as promoters, passives, or detractors, guiding your focus on areas needing attention. Follow-up questions reveal qualitative insights that can upgrade your offerings. Here’s a simple table to help you visualize potential improvement areas: Category Strengths Weaknesses Promoters High satisfaction Limited product options Passives Moderate loyalty Slow response times Detractors Identify pain points Poor customer service Utilizing this feedback will drive strategic improvements effectively. Customer Service Feedback Survey Template When you assess your customer service, using a Customer Service Feedback Survey Template can provide valuable insights into key metrics. You’ll want to focus on effective question examples that cover response times, issue resolution, and overall experience to gain a clearer comprehension of customer satisfaction. Moreover, implementing best practices in survey distribution guarantees you gather reliable feedback that can guide your improvements. Key Metrics to Analyze Key metrics play a vital role in evaluating the effectiveness of customer service feedback surveys. By using a customer satisfaction survey template, you can focus on key performance indicators that reveal customer experiences. Here are four important metrics to analyze: Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT): Measures overall happiness on a scale. Net Promoter Score (NPS): Gauges customer loyalty and the likelihood of recommendations. Customer Effort Score (CES): Assesses how easy it’s for customers to interact with your service team. Open-ended Responses: Provides qualitative insights into specific strengths or weaknesses. Effective Question Examples How can you create an effective customer service feedback survey? Start by incorporating key questions that evaluate service quality. Use the following sample customer survey templates to guide your development: Question Type Example Question Satisfaction Rating How satisfied are you with the resolution of your issue? Open-Ended Feedback What could we improve in your customer service experience? Net Promoter Score (NPS) On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend us? Specific Feedback How would you rate our agents’ professionalism? These questions help identify areas for improvement and gauge customer loyalty. Customize these templates to fit your specific offerings and interaction channels for the most relevant feedback. Implementation Best Practices Creating an effective customer service feedback survey template requires careful attention to several best practices that improve the quality of the feedback you receive. Here are four key practices to contemplate: Use clear and concise questions: This guarantees higher response rates and accurate feedback. Aim for 10 to 20 questions for ideal engagement. Include open-ended questions: These allow customers to share qualitative insights, uncovering specific pain points or suggestions for improvement. Regularly analyze your data: This helps identify trends in customer satisfaction and informs decisions to improve service delivery. Express gratitude to respondents: Appreciation messages promote ongoing engagement and encourage future participation in feedback initiatives. Implementing these practices will improve your survey template’s effectiveness and elevate your customer service quality. Post-Purchase Survey Template Post-purchase surveys play a crucial role in gathering immediate feedback from customers after they make a purchase, and this particular template has been utilized over 10,000 times to effectively capture this information. By using the post-purchase survey template, you can ask targeted questions about the buying experience, product satisfaction, and the likelihood of recommending your product to others. This structured approach helps you identify areas needing improvement in your sales process and product offerings. The insights gained can refine your marketing strategies and promotional efforts, ensuring they align with customer expectations. In addition, utilizing this template allows you to capture valuable sentiments during a critical moment in the customer experience, improving your comprehension of customer satisfaction levels. Implementing this tool not just encourages better customer retention but also improves the overall shopping experience, making it a must-have for any business aiming to thrive. Customer Effort Score Survey Template Comprehending customer interactions is crucial for businesses looking to improve their service delivery. The Customer Effort Score (CES) survey template helps you measure how easy it’s for customers to engage with your product or service. By utilizing this customer satisfaction survey template, you can identify pain points in the customer experience. Here are four key aspects to reflect on: Simple Question: Ask, “How easy was it to complete your request?” Scalable Responses: Use a scale from “Very Difficult” to “Very Easy” for clear insights. Customization: Tailor the template to align with your business goals and branding. Actionable Insights: Analyze results to simplify processes and improve customer satisfaction. Research shows that reducing customer effort can lead to higher retention rates. Implementing the CES survey can greatly improve your overall customer experience and loyalty. Customer Loyalty Survey Template To gauge customer loyalty effectively, the Customer Loyalty Survey Template provides a structured way to assess overall satisfaction and commitment to your brand. This template helps measure key metrics like the Net Promoter Score (NPS), used by over 147,000 organizations. By segmenting customers based on their loyalty ratings, you can tailor marketing strategies and improve retention efforts. Here’s a simple table to illustrate key aspects of the customer loyalty survey template: Metric Description Importance Satisfaction with Products How satisfied are customers with your offerings? Identifies strengths Likelihood of Repurchase How likely are customers to buy again? Measures future revenue Recommendations to Others Would customers recommend your brand? Indicates brand advocacy Utilizing this template can lead to actionable insights that improve customer experience and promote long-term relationships, ultimately driving business growth. Customer Churn Survey Template Comprehending customer loyalty is important, but equally critical is recognizing when and why customers choose to leave. A Customer Churn Survey Template is a vital tool for gathering insights into customer departures, helping you pinpoint areas needing improvement. This template typically includes questions focused on: Customer satisfaction levels Quality of service provided Reasons for discontinuation Suggestions for improvement Frequently Asked Questions How Long Should a Customer Survey Typically Be? A customer survey should typically be concise, ideally ranging from 5 to 10 minutes for completion. This timeframe allows you to gather valuable insights without overwhelming respondents. Aim for about 10 to 15 questions, focusing on key aspects like satisfaction, product usability, and suggestions for improvement. What Is the Best Time to Send Surveys? The best time to send surveys typically depends on your audience and purpose. Generally, sending them shortly after an interaction, like a purchase or support call, increases response rates. Weekdays, particularly mid-morning or early afternoon, are often ideal since people are more likely to engage during working hours. Avoid weekends and holidays, as response rates may drop. Test different times and analyze results to find what works best for your specific audience. How Can I Encourage More Survey Responses? To encourage more survey responses, make your surveys concise and easy to understand. Offer incentives, like discounts or entry into a prize draw, to motivate participation. Timing matters, so send your surveys when your audience is most engaged. Personalize your outreach by addressing recipients by name and explaining the survey’s purpose. Finally, follow up with reminders to those who haven’t responded, but keep it respectful to avoid overwhelming them. What Tools Can I Use to Create Surveys? To create surveys effectively, you can use several online tools. Platforms like Google Forms and SurveyMonkey offer user-friendly interfaces and customizable templates. Typeform provides a more interactive experience, making surveys engaging. If you’re looking for advanced analytics, consider Qualtrics, which offers in-depth data analysis features. Each tool allows you to distribute surveys via email or social media, helping you reach a broader audience and gather valuable feedback efficiently. How Often Should I Conduct Customer Surveys? You should conduct customer surveys regularly to gather valuable feedback. A good starting point is quarterly surveys, which allow you to track changes in customer sentiment over time. Nevertheless, if you’re launching a new product or experiencing significant changes, consider more frequent surveys. Furthermore, pay attention to customer feedback trends; if you notice a shift, adjust your survey frequency accordingly. This approach helps you stay aligned with customer needs and expectations effectively. Conclusion Implementing these seven customer survey templates can greatly improve your comprehension of customer satisfaction and loyalty. By utilizing tools like the Customer Satisfaction Survey and Net Promoter Score, you can gather crucial feedback that informs your business strategies. These surveys help identify areas for improvement, assess customer experiences, and in the end promote stronger relationships with your clients. By regularly collecting and analyzing this data, you position your business for sustained success and increased customer retention. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Sample Customer Survey Templates You Can Use Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Comprehending customer satisfaction and loyalty is essential for any business. By utilizing effective survey templates, you can gather insights that help refine your strategies. These templates range from Customer Satisfaction Surveys to Customer Churn Surveys, each designed to gauge different aspects of the customer experience. Implementing these tools can lead to significant improvements in service quality. Next, let’s explore each template and how they can benefit your organization. Key Takeaways Customer Satisfaction Surveys help gauge product/service feelings and identify improvement areas, customizable to fit your brand voice. Customer Loyalty Surveys assess overall satisfaction and commitment, using metrics like Net Promoter Score (NPS) for effective retention strategies. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Surveys categorize respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, tracking loyalty trends over time. Post-Purchase Surveys collect immediate feedback on customer experience and satisfaction, refining marketing strategies and enhancing customer understanding. Customer Churn Surveys provide insights into why customers leave, focusing on satisfaction levels and service quality for improvement suggestions. Customer Satisfaction Survey Template When you want to understand how your customers feel about your products or services, a Customer Satisfaction Survey Template can be an invaluable tool. This template helps you track and evaluate customer feedback, making it easier to identify areas needing improvement. With over 23,000 utilizations, it’s a proven method for gathering actionable insights. Typically, the customer satisfaction survey template includes questions about overall satisfaction, specific product features, and the likelihood of recommending your service to others. You can customize the template to align with your brand’s voice and specific customer interaction points, which boosts engagement rates. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Survey Template The Net Promoter Score (NPS) Survey Template helps you measure brand loyalty by asking customers how likely they’re to recommend your product or service on a scale from 0 to 10. This tool categorizes respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, giving you clear insights into overall customer satisfaction. Measuring Brand Loyalty How can you effectively measure brand loyalty? The Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey template is a valuable tool for this purpose. By asking customers how likely they’re to recommend your products or services on a scale from 0 to 10, you can gauge their loyalty and sentiment. Here are four key aspects to reflect on: Categorize responses into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors. Track NPS over time to identify trends in customer loyalty. Use feedback to improve customer experience strategies. Engage Promoters for advocacy as you address Detractor concerns. Utilizing this market research survey template can provide significant insights, enabling you to make informed business decisions and nurture long-term customer relationships. Identifying Improvement Opportunities Building on the insights gained from measuring brand loyalty through the Net Promoter Score (NPS), identifying improvement opportunities becomes a pivotal next step. By analyzing the NPS results, you can uncover strengths and weaknesses in your customer experience. This market survey sample allows you to classify respondents as promoters, passives, or detractors, guiding your focus on areas needing attention. Follow-up questions reveal qualitative insights that can upgrade your offerings. Here’s a simple table to help you visualize potential improvement areas: Category Strengths Weaknesses Promoters High satisfaction Limited product options Passives Moderate loyalty Slow response times Detractors Identify pain points Poor customer service Utilizing this feedback will drive strategic improvements effectively. Customer Service Feedback Survey Template When you assess your customer service, using a Customer Service Feedback Survey Template can provide valuable insights into key metrics. You’ll want to focus on effective question examples that cover response times, issue resolution, and overall experience to gain a clearer comprehension of customer satisfaction. Moreover, implementing best practices in survey distribution guarantees you gather reliable feedback that can guide your improvements. Key Metrics to Analyze Key metrics play a vital role in evaluating the effectiveness of customer service feedback surveys. By using a customer satisfaction survey template, you can focus on key performance indicators that reveal customer experiences. Here are four important metrics to analyze: Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT): Measures overall happiness on a scale. Net Promoter Score (NPS): Gauges customer loyalty and the likelihood of recommendations. Customer Effort Score (CES): Assesses how easy it’s for customers to interact with your service team. Open-ended Responses: Provides qualitative insights into specific strengths or weaknesses. Effective Question Examples How can you create an effective customer service feedback survey? Start by incorporating key questions that evaluate service quality. Use the following sample customer survey templates to guide your development: Question Type Example Question Satisfaction Rating How satisfied are you with the resolution of your issue? Open-Ended Feedback What could we improve in your customer service experience? Net Promoter Score (NPS) On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend us? Specific Feedback How would you rate our agents’ professionalism? These questions help identify areas for improvement and gauge customer loyalty. Customize these templates to fit your specific offerings and interaction channels for the most relevant feedback. Implementation Best Practices Creating an effective customer service feedback survey template requires careful attention to several best practices that improve the quality of the feedback you receive. Here are four key practices to contemplate: Use clear and concise questions: This guarantees higher response rates and accurate feedback. Aim for 10 to 20 questions for ideal engagement. Include open-ended questions: These allow customers to share qualitative insights, uncovering specific pain points or suggestions for improvement. Regularly analyze your data: This helps identify trends in customer satisfaction and informs decisions to improve service delivery. Express gratitude to respondents: Appreciation messages promote ongoing engagement and encourage future participation in feedback initiatives. Implementing these practices will improve your survey template’s effectiveness and elevate your customer service quality. Post-Purchase Survey Template Post-purchase surveys play a crucial role in gathering immediate feedback from customers after they make a purchase, and this particular template has been utilized over 10,000 times to effectively capture this information. By using the post-purchase survey template, you can ask targeted questions about the buying experience, product satisfaction, and the likelihood of recommending your product to others. This structured approach helps you identify areas needing improvement in your sales process and product offerings. The insights gained can refine your marketing strategies and promotional efforts, ensuring they align with customer expectations. In addition, utilizing this template allows you to capture valuable sentiments during a critical moment in the customer experience, improving your comprehension of customer satisfaction levels. Implementing this tool not just encourages better customer retention but also improves the overall shopping experience, making it a must-have for any business aiming to thrive. Customer Effort Score Survey Template Comprehending customer interactions is crucial for businesses looking to improve their service delivery. The Customer Effort Score (CES) survey template helps you measure how easy it’s for customers to engage with your product or service. By utilizing this customer satisfaction survey template, you can identify pain points in the customer experience. Here are four key aspects to reflect on: Simple Question: Ask, “How easy was it to complete your request?” Scalable Responses: Use a scale from “Very Difficult” to “Very Easy” for clear insights. Customization: Tailor the template to align with your business goals and branding. Actionable Insights: Analyze results to simplify processes and improve customer satisfaction. Research shows that reducing customer effort can lead to higher retention rates. Implementing the CES survey can greatly improve your overall customer experience and loyalty. Customer Loyalty Survey Template To gauge customer loyalty effectively, the Customer Loyalty Survey Template provides a structured way to assess overall satisfaction and commitment to your brand. This template helps measure key metrics like the Net Promoter Score (NPS), used by over 147,000 organizations. By segmenting customers based on their loyalty ratings, you can tailor marketing strategies and improve retention efforts. Here’s a simple table to illustrate key aspects of the customer loyalty survey template: Metric Description Importance Satisfaction with Products How satisfied are customers with your offerings? Identifies strengths Likelihood of Repurchase How likely are customers to buy again? Measures future revenue Recommendations to Others Would customers recommend your brand? Indicates brand advocacy Utilizing this template can lead to actionable insights that improve customer experience and promote long-term relationships, ultimately driving business growth. Customer Churn Survey Template Comprehending customer loyalty is important, but equally critical is recognizing when and why customers choose to leave. A Customer Churn Survey Template is a vital tool for gathering insights into customer departures, helping you pinpoint areas needing improvement. This template typically includes questions focused on: Customer satisfaction levels Quality of service provided Reasons for discontinuation Suggestions for improvement Frequently Asked Questions How Long Should a Customer Survey Typically Be? A customer survey should typically be concise, ideally ranging from 5 to 10 minutes for completion. This timeframe allows you to gather valuable insights without overwhelming respondents. Aim for about 10 to 15 questions, focusing on key aspects like satisfaction, product usability, and suggestions for improvement. What Is the Best Time to Send Surveys? The best time to send surveys typically depends on your audience and purpose. Generally, sending them shortly after an interaction, like a purchase or support call, increases response rates. Weekdays, particularly mid-morning or early afternoon, are often ideal since people are more likely to engage during working hours. Avoid weekends and holidays, as response rates may drop. Test different times and analyze results to find what works best for your specific audience. How Can I Encourage More Survey Responses? To encourage more survey responses, make your surveys concise and easy to understand. Offer incentives, like discounts or entry into a prize draw, to motivate participation. Timing matters, so send your surveys when your audience is most engaged. Personalize your outreach by addressing recipients by name and explaining the survey’s purpose. Finally, follow up with reminders to those who haven’t responded, but keep it respectful to avoid overwhelming them. What Tools Can I Use to Create Surveys? To create surveys effectively, you can use several online tools. Platforms like Google Forms and SurveyMonkey offer user-friendly interfaces and customizable templates. Typeform provides a more interactive experience, making surveys engaging. If you’re looking for advanced analytics, consider Qualtrics, which offers in-depth data analysis features. Each tool allows you to distribute surveys via email or social media, helping you reach a broader audience and gather valuable feedback efficiently. How Often Should I Conduct Customer Surveys? You should conduct customer surveys regularly to gather valuable feedback. A good starting point is quarterly surveys, which allow you to track changes in customer sentiment over time. Nevertheless, if you’re launching a new product or experiencing significant changes, consider more frequent surveys. Furthermore, pay attention to customer feedback trends; if you notice a shift, adjust your survey frequency accordingly. This approach helps you stay aligned with customer needs and expectations effectively. Conclusion Implementing these seven customer survey templates can greatly improve your comprehension of customer satisfaction and loyalty. By utilizing tools like the Customer Satisfaction Survey and Net Promoter Score, you can gather crucial feedback that informs your business strategies. These surveys help identify areas for improvement, assess customer experiences, and in the end promote stronger relationships with your clients. By regularly collecting and analyzing this data, you position your business for sustained success and increased customer retention. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Sample Customer Survey Templates You Can Use Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Fans of Macy’s Inc. will be disappointed to learn that the iconic department store has announced its next round of store closures. Fourteen Macy’s locations in 12 states will shutter as a result of this move. Here’s why and when the closures will take place. What’s happened? On Thursday, Macy’s published a letter from CEO Tony Spring to its employees updating them on the company’s “A Bold New Chapter” strategy, which the department store chain unveiled in February 2024. As part of that strategy, Macy’s announced at the time that it would be closing 150 “underproductive” stores through the end of 2026. Fast Company previously reported on 66 stores marked for closure in January 2025. In his Thursday letter, Spring said that the Bold New Chapter strategy, which includes simplifying operations and investing in customer experiences that its shoppers value most, is working. “We are seeing customers respond through strong performance in our go-forward business, record Net Promoter Scores, and improved results over the first three quarters,” Spring stated. As a point used to highlight the A Bold New Chapter’s success, Spring said that the strategy’s “Reimagine” element, which is seeing Macy’s invest in 125 of its best-performing stores, was paying off. Those stores saw comparative sales grow 2.7% in the third quarter, which Spring said was the result of investment in those stores’ “elevated merchandising, store design, and customer experience.” Unfortunately for some Macy’s employees, Spring also confirmed that the next round of store closures is beginning now. How many Macy’s stores are closing? Spring’s memo confirmed that Macy’s will close additional stores. Axios reported earlier that 14 stores that are closing in this round, and those store locations have also been marked with the notation “This location is closing” on Macy’s store locator tool. The 14 stores are believed to be part of the 150 locations Macy’s previously said would close by the end of 2026 as part of its A Bold New Chapter strategy. When will the Macy’s stores close? In a FAQ about the store closures, Macy’s says the stores impacted will begin their clearance sales this month, and those sales will go on for approximately 10 weeks. That places the closing date for these 14 locations at around the third week in March. “These decisions are not made lightly,” Spring said in his letter. “We communicated directly with affected colleagues first and are providing support, including transfer opportunities where available, as well as severance and outplacement resources where applicable.” Which Macy’s stores are closing? Fourteen Macy’s stores will be closing in this round. Those 14 stores are located in 12 states. Fast Company has reached out to Macy’s to confirm. The stores include: California Grossmont Center: 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942 West Valley Mall: 3200 Naglee Rd, Tracy, CA 95304 Georgia Northlake Mall: 4880 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30345 Maryland Marley Station: 7900 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Michigan Rivertown Crossings: 3850 Rivertown Parkway SW, Grandville, MI 49418 Minnesota Crossroads Center: 4101 West Division Street, St Cloud, MN 56301 New Hampshire Fox Run: 50 Fox Run Road, Newington, NH 03801 New Jersey Livingston Mall: 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ 07039 Interstate Shopping Center: 225 Interstate Shopping Center, Ramsey, NJ 07446 New York Boulevard Mall: 1255 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY 14226 North Carolina Triangle Town Center: 3801 Sumner Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27616 Pennsylvania Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills: 100 Pittsburgh Mills Cir, Tarentum, PA 15084 Texas La Palmera Mall: 5488 S Padre Island Dr Ste 5000. Corpus Christi, TX 78411 Washington Parkway Super Center: 17855 Southcenter Pkwy, Tukwila, WA 98188 How has Macy’s store reacted? Yesterday, when Macy’s published Spring’s letter, the company’s stock price (NYSE: M) closed up for the day, around 5.5% to $23.72 per share. However, the gain in shares probably has little to do with the announcement of the closure of those 14 stores, as the company has long informed investors that it plans to close 150 locations by the end of this year. Instead, the share price gain was most likely driven by Spring’s comments about the company’s 2.7% comp growth in its Reimagine stores and 9% comp sales growth in its Bloomingdale’s stores in the third quarter. With yesterday’s share price jump, Macy’s shares are now up 7.57% for the year as of the time of this writing. Over the past 12 months, Macy’s shares have jumped nearly 48% and in the last few months have traded around levels not seen since January 2023. View the full article

This week, yep, we had another story on Google Search ranking volatility. I posted the Google webmaster report for January 2026. Google Discover seems to be showing too many...View the full article

What if a team of super magicians used their talent and training to stage elaborate heists? That’s the high concept that drives the Now You See Me franchise. Critics were lukewarm when Now You See Me was released in 2013, categorizing the film as a heist flick with thin characters and a plot that fell apart as often as it twisted, but Now You See Me pulled off its own escape act—audiences loved the movie's flashy style, whipsaw pace, and all-star cast featuring names like Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, and Morgan Freeman. The result was box office magic: a movie with a $75M budget that returned over $300M worldwide. Now You See Me has since grown into an internationally successful, long-term franchise for distributor Lionsgate: The third installment was released on Nov. 14, and a fourth Now You See Me film is already in development. Like any long-running franchises, the Now You See Me-verse can be confusing, so we put together 10 infographics to pull back the curtain on Now You See Me's magic. First, a quick recap of each movie: Now You See Me (2013): The initial entry in the series introduces us to the thieves/illusionists known as the “Four Horsemen.” These best-in-the-business magicians are recruited by a mysterious secret society called The Eye to pull off large-scale heists in front of live audiences, then distribute the money to the needy. Now You See Me 2 (2016): The sequel expands the world of the first film, with bigger heists, deeper secrets, and funnier jokes. Having gone into hiding at the end of Now You See Me, The Horsemen resurface a year later and are coerced into a global heist by a tech mogul trying to steal all the privacy in the world. Now You See Me: Now You Don't (2025): Set a decade after the last film, Now You See Me: Now You Don't features all five Horsemen teaming up with three cocky young criminals/illusionists to pull off their most audacious caper yet: the theft of the world's most valuable diamond. The real-life magicians behind The Horsemen The Now You See Me movies present stage magic in a semi-realistic (though highly stylized) way. To nail the realism, the films draw inspiration from some of the greatest magicians in history, including: David Copperfield: The Horsemen’s larger-than-life illusions/heists like stealing the contents of a bank vault while performing a Vegas show seem inspired by the feats of magician David Copperfield, whose magical feats include flying over the Grand Canyon and vanishing the Statue of Liberty. David Blaine: Street magician David Blaine’s shadow is all over the Now You See Me Movies. Without the popularity of Blaine’s modern, gritty take on magic, the Now You See Me movies would likely not exist. Harry Houdini: Anything about stage magic is ultimately inspired by Houdini, the greatest magician of all time. Houdini's daring escape tricks inspired the series’ inciting incident, the death of magician Lionel Shrike, as well as the opening set piece where Henley Reeves escapes a water tank. Andrei Jikh: Jikh’s cardistry skills are evident in all the Horsemen, particularly in Jack Wilder. Jikh served as a consultant on Now You See Me. Keith Barry: Another Now You See Me magic consultant, Irish mentalist Keith Barry pioneered and popularized many of the hypnosis and mentalism feats used by character Merritt McKinney. The Horsemen's greatest heistsThe Horsemen are known as much for their larceny as their skills at illusion. Below are their most memorable heists, hold-ups, schemes, and burglaries. The Paris-to-Vegas bank robbery In the caper that introduces us to the Horsemen, the magicians rob a bank in Paris while performing before a crowd in Vegas. They choose a seemingly random person from the crowd and tell him he’s going to rob his own bank, the Crédit Républicain de Paris. Then they appear to teleport him to France, where he breaks into a bank vault, hits a button on a vacuum machine, and the money is seemingly sucked from Paris to Vegas where it rains down on the audience. The Tressler Insurance heist At a show in New Orleans, the Horsemen introduce their benefactor, insurance magnate Arthur Tressler, then proceed to drain his personal bank account while they’re onstage, depositing the money in the accounts of audience members, who all turn out to be victims of Hurricane Katrina that Tressler’s insurance company stiffed on repayments. The Macau data chip theft In Now You See Me 2, The Horsemen are coerced by evil tech magnate Walter Mabry to steal a cutting-edge computer chip that can decrypt and expose every system in the world. Housed in a highly secure research facility in Macau, China, the chip is conveniently the size of a playing card, allowing the Horsemen to use cardistry and sleight-of-hand skills to remove it from the building while being searched by guards. The Magic Castle: the real-life Château de Roussillon In Now You See Me Now You Don't, the Château de Roussillon is an ultimate magician's playground. The Eye's headquarters in a mansion in the French countryside is decked out with mind-bending large-scale illusions like rotating rooms and halls of mirrors. The Château de Roussillon is a real castle, but the filmmakers used Nádasdy Castle for the exterior shots in the movie. A main inspiration for the building is a real place: Los Angeles' Magic Castle. Opened in 1963, the Magic Castle is a restaurant/club/clubhouse for magicians housed in a stately Victorian mansion overlooking Hollywood. Not only is The Magic Castle credited as magic consultants on Now You See Me: Now You Don't, much of the cast trained at the Castle to prepare for their roles. If you'd like to visit, it won't be easy: The Magic Castle is an invitation-only private club, so you have to be a member of the Academy of Magical Arts or be invited by a member. But if you aren't friends with a magician, you can book a night at the nearby Magic Castle Hotel, where a stay comes with an invitation to the Castle. “How do they do that?”I analyzed the tricks in the movies with professional magician Dave Cox, and as over the top as the Horsemen's heists are, all but two of the many magic tricks presented in the Now You See Me movies could technically be done in real life—but the word “technically” is doing a lot of work here. The tricks are possible within the context of a stylized blockbuster, but would be extremely unlikely to work as well in real life: an extended, impromptu cardistry routine involving four magicians passing a playing card between themselves while security guards thoroughly search them makes for exciting cinema, but almost definitely wouldn’t go that smoothly in reality. But, here is how three of the most iconic tricks from the franchise could be done in real life. How to do Atlas’s “riffle force” card trick Now You See Me opens with a unique piece of cinematic trickery. Street magician J. Daniel Atlas is performing for a crowd on a city street. He riffles quickly through a deck of cards and asks a spectator to “see one card.” When his subject has a card in mind, a nearby building is lit up revealing a giant seven of diamonds, the card the subject was thinking of. It’s amazing if you’re “playing along at home,” because the chances are very good that you chose the seven of diamonds too. The trick is done in real life the same way it’s done in the movies: The magician uses sleight of hand or a gimmicked deck to pause on the desired card imperceptibly longer than the other cards. The director of Now You See Me added a frame or two to “pause” on the seven of diamonds, making it more likely that you think of that card. How Jack Wilder throws cards as weapons While it’s probably not possible to throw a card as accurately or forcefully as the characters in Now You See Me, you can throw playing cards really fast with the right technique and a lot of practice. How Henley Reeves escaped the water tank Henley Reeves’ introduction is a trick where she escapes from a water tank filled with piranhas, a variation of the kind of classic escape artist illusions popularized by Houdini. Water escapes are dangerous, but not as dangerous as they might seem because they’re rigged—no sane person is really going to try to escape from handcuffs and chains while underwater. Real-life heists that seem right out of the Now You See Me movies A group of thieves publicly “performing” large-scale robberies is strictly Hollywood, but the three real-life crimes below share some of the showmanship and audacity of the Horsemen’s heists: Louvre heist (2025): A recent jewelry-jacking at the Louvre involved a highly professional and brazen plan executed in broad daylight. The thieves used a truck-mounted mechanical lift to break into a second-floor balcony window and were in and out in less than eight minutes. The robbers have all been caught, but won't say where the jewels are. Stockholm helicopter robbery (2009): This thrilling heist involved a gang using a stolen police helicopter to land on the roof of a G4S cash management service building in the Stockholm suburb of Västberga. The brazen thieves smashed through a skylight, lowered themselves into the building, and stole millions while police were stymied by fake bombs placed near the police helicopter. Seven men were sentenced to prison, but authorities suspect as many as ten more people may have gotten away with the crime, and the 39 million Swedish krona loot was never recovered. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist (1990): This heist involved two men who disguised themselves as Boston police officers to gain entry into the museum just before it opened. The pair convinced one security guard to let them in, then handcuffed the rest of the guards and stole 13 priceless works of art valued at over $500 million. Despite a $10 million dollar reward, the art has never been recovered and no one has been charged with the crime. Seven more movies for fans of Now You See Me If you’ve watched all three NYSM movies and you’re still craving magical entertainment, check out these seven, all-killer no-filler movies about magic and magicians: The Prestige (2006): The Prestige is set in the late 19th century, before you could just google how any magic trick was done. Back then, the secret of sawing a lady in half was closely guarded, and The Prestige’s rival magicians–played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale–will go to any length to keep the hidden knowledge of their craft. The Illusionist (2010): This animated, silent feature provides a complete contrast to the Now You See Me movies. There’s no glitz or flash, just a quietly devastating character study of a magician’s relationship with the last person in his world who still believes in magic. Adapted from a screenplay by French cinema legend Jacques Tati, The Illusionist tells its intimate story through the evocative animation of Sylvain Chomet. It will definitely make you cry. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013): The Now You See Me movies go to great lengths to deny it, but magic is cheesy and magicians are weirdoes. Burt Wonderstone leans into the goofiness by casting Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi as Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelson, past-their-prime Vegas magicians bedeviled by Jim Carrey's Steve Gray, a Criss Angel-esque magic man who’s a different flavor of cheesy. The Magician (1958): Max von Sydow plays the title character in The Magician, where everything is shot in black-and-white and no one gets away with a bunch of money or engages in any witty banter. The Illusionist (2006): Yes, I’m recommending two movies with the same title. 2006’s The Illusionist is a moody, slow-burn mystery/romance that’s tonally a world away from Now You See Me’s glitz, but both films share a love of clever misdirection, intricate magic, “woah” reveals, and head-spinning plot twists. If you like the “magic as a means of social justice” theme of NYSM, you’ll like The Illusionist. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010): The Sorcerer’s Apprentice stars Nicolas Cage, who brings his own magic to every role, as a bonafide sorcerer who lives in modern New York City and fights a lonely war against dark magic on behalf of all mankind. Jay Baruchel plays his apprentice, and the pair use magical spells to battle a rival sorcerer. Sleight (2016): This scrappy, low-budget flick provides a very different vision of an illusionist turning to crime. Jacob Latimore plays a young street magician who’s left to care for his sister after their parents die. Magic isn’t paying the bills, so he turns to drug dealing, and must use his skills at deception and sleight-of-hand to stay alive. View the full article

Google Ads is constantly changing and evolving. With these changes come fresh mistakes PPC advertisers make in optimizing and managing their campaigns. This article breaks down the most common mistakes of 2026 so you can avoid repeating them this year. Mistake 1: Inconsistent conversion tracking setup Optimization decisions rely on conversion data. If your tracking is inconsistent, your entire account data becomes skewed. When conversions use different attribution methods, count types, and conversion windows, the data applies unevenly across your account, making it hard to judge the value of any click. In rare cases, you may override conversion tracking at the campaign level, which can make tracking accurate there but inconsistent at the account level. All paid search managers should aim to apply conversion data consistently across their accounts. Dig deeper: Accurate tracking data: The key to optimal ad performance Mistake 2: Ignoring exact match As Google pushes broad match, makes it the default in the interface, and adds settings that turn all keywords broad, exact match usage has declined. However, exact match still has many uses and consistently remains the highest-converting match type for the vast majority of accounts. Everyone should include exact match in their keyword mix. Mistake 3: Ensuring campaign settings are consistent You may have valid reasons for custom settings by campaign. However, if your account shows different excluded regions, inconsistent ad schedules, and a wide mix of bid strategies, it’s time to double-check your settings. When you run an account audit, confirming that campaigns are set up correctly should be a top priority. Campaigns are often created at different times, sometimes even years apart. Failing to check setting consistency remains one of the top Google Ads mistakes. Mistake 4: Caring about ad strength Ad strength is directly related to Google’s ability to control your ad’s messaging. The lower the ad strength, the more control you have over your message. The higher the ad strength, the more control Google has over how your ads are displayed. Our research at Adalysis (Disclosure: I’m a co-founder) has consistently found that lower ad strength ads have higher conversion rates than high ad strength ads. There is a common misconception that ad strength affects your quality score. It does not. Ad strength is a number that can generally be ignored. Mistake 5: Not adding your top search terms as keywords Your ad can show when a user’s search term matches your keyword. As match types have loosened over the past few years, a single search term can trigger multiple keywords if no exact match exists. When those keywords live in different ad groups with different ads and landing pages, the same search can surface inconsistent messaging and experiences. In addition, if you don’t have the user’s search term as a keyword, then Performance Max campaigns often The President your search campaigns. Since PMax campaigns generally have lower CTRs and conversion rates than search campaigns, this can be detrimental to your marketing. Always add your top search terms as keywords to ensure the searcher sees the correct ad group, ad, and landing page. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Mistake 6: Using broad match with non-target CPA/ROAS bid methods I’m not going to rant against broad match. It has its uses. However, your bid strategy plays a major role in how effective it is for your account. With Max bidding, whether for revenue or conversions, Google prioritizes volume and will pursue results regardless of cost. With target bidding, Google focuses on hitting the specific target you set. Because broad match can trigger for many search terms, it often performs reasonably with target bidding and poorly with max bidding options. You should also evaluate your match type usage as you change bid strategies. I did an entire session on bid strategies that includes broad match usage at SMX, and you can see the video here. Dig deeper: Target ROAS in Google Ads: 5 key considerations Mistake 7: Always using old negative keyword lists Do you have negative keyword lists you always apply without even looking at the negative keywords in the list? In almost every audit I conduct, I see negative keyword conflicts. These occur when you block your keywords from showing due to a negative keyword. Some negative keyword lists are over a decade old. Companies, products, services, and user’s search terms have changed over the years, and when you add new keywords, you should ensure you’re not blocking these keywords. This issue can be tricky to spot since these keywords can receive impressions, clicks, and conversions. This happens when the search term isn’t the same as the keyword so that you can show ads for a wide variety of search terms; you just can’t show an ad for your actual keyword. Always check the negative keywords you add to your new campaigns to ensure your new keywords can be displayed. Mistake 8: Blindly accepting Google recommendations Google’s recommendations are sometimes in your best interest. They are always in Google’s best interest. Many recommendations are controversial, and some can even cause declines in account performance. Some recommendations are useful, so do not completely ignore them. However, you need to consider what the recommendation will do to your account before accepting it. Dig deeper: Google Ads best practices: The good, the bad and the balancing act Mistake 9: Having auto-apply turned on Did you know that Google can automatically add new keywords, add broad match versions of your keywords, and even change your bid strategy without you doing anything? This can only happen if you have auto-apply turned on. I’ve seen Google’s auto-apply settings wreck accounts before. All of these settings should be turned off. If you have auto-apply turned off, you’ll see the suggested changes as recommendations so you can make an informed decision before accepting or rejecting them. Dig deeper: Improve your Google Ads performance: 3 simple setting changes Mistake 10: Believing AI is wiser than you AI is like a child eager to please. It will give you an answer, even if it’s wrong. It’s also like a teenager who thinks it knows everything, and you’ll never fully understand how it works. You are the parent of your account and ultimately responsible for its success or failure. AI has many uses, but it isn’t infallible. It excels at math and pattern recognition, but it doesn’t understand people, feel empathy, or handle outliers well. We may call AI smart, but that comes from access to data. Wisdom comes from experience. Your brain is still your best marketing tool. It has been for years, and it will be again in 2026. When you apply your knowledge and judgment to evaluate your account and avoid these mistakes, you put yourself in a strong position to drive meaningful results in Google Ads. Dig deeper: AI and Google advertising: What’s next? View the full article

Google's Danny Sullivan and John Mueller spoke on the Search Off the Record podcast about whether hiring an AEO/GEO or buying an AI-optimization tool is any different than hiring an SEO or buying an SEO tool. In short, the advice is the same - both Googlers said.View the full article

Reddit simplifies campaign setup with Max Campaigns, Google enhances creator discovery inside Ads, and Microsoft expands audience targeting The post PPC Pulse: Reddit Max Campaigns, Google Creator & Microsoft Targeting Updates appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Google's Danny Sullivan said on the Search Off the Record podcast that was published yesterday that Google does not want you to turn your content into bite-sized chunks to rank well in LLMs. He said, "we don't want you to do that" and he even spoke to Google engineers about this.View the full article

Microsoft announced its AI-agents agentic experiences under the names of Copilot Checkout and Brand Agents. Copilot Checkout lets you shop and checkout directly in the Copilot chat experience and Brand Agents lets you add AI-chat experience to your site, and the AI is trained on your product data.View the full article

The ex-spy chief on the risks of The President’s operation in Venezuela, what the US gets wrong about regime change — and why Putin badly misjudged UkraineView the full article

Welcome to the first Fast Company’s Plugged In of 2026, and Happy New Year to you. More than 18 years ago, as the internet was transforming how we consume everything from news to music, someone called books “the last bastion of analog.” That someone happened to be Jeff Bezos. And he made the observation in a Steven Levy Newsweek article about Amazon’s original Kindle e-reader, a device designed to drag books into the digital age. Bezos’s comment resurfaced in my consciousness last week, as I read a New York Times article by Elizabeth A. Harris and Alexandra Alter on how the book publishing business fared in 2025. The upshot: It did pretty well overall, and remains a surprisingly analog enterprise. To be clear, the internet in general—and Amazon in particular—has transformed how we buy and consume books. Market share figures for booksellers are tough to come by, but estimates show the company controlling 50% or more of print book sales, leaving chains such as Barnes & Noble and independents to jostle for what’s left. That’s before you account for e-books and audiobooks, where Amazon’s Kindle and Audible platforms are overwhelmingly dominant. Despite that, paper books remain popular, and many people choose to buy them at brick-and-mortar stores. As of mid-December, roughly three-quarters of the 707 million books sold last year were of the traditional, dead-tree variety. In the first 10 months, e-books accounted for only 11% of revenue, down from 17% in 2016. The American Booksellers Association’s ranks swelled by 422 new shops—independent ones, not chain operations. On top of that, we got dozens of new Barnes & Noble locations, with more on their way. All of that suggests that books in their classic form aren’t just running on fumes of nostalgia or consumer inertia. Much of what’s delightful about the whole experience of engaging with the medium is inherently physical, in ways that other media—music, movies, newspapers, magazines—are not. I knew that a year ago when I declared that I was going to go out of my way to read dead-tree tomes in 2025, starting with the tower of them stacked on my nightstand. Taking the time to do so was a rewarding experience, and though life interfered with me reading as many as I’d hoped, I’m looking forward to continuing the quest in 2026 and beyond. As I wrote in that newsletter, I’m hardly an e-book hater. They’re often cheaper than print equivalents. They let you carry your entire library wherever you go. They can be easily searched. For nonfiction volumes being read for research purposes—a meaningful chunk of my book consumption—they beat print as the best overall format. Still, as I also wrote back then, e-books haven’t lived up to their full potential. Typographically and layout-wise, they remain rudimentary compared to paper. And even when they do things that print can’t, they don’t always do them well. That’s been my experience with a new AI-powered Kindle feature called ”Ask this book.” Introduced last month for thousands of titles in the Kindle iPhone and iPad apps, it lets you use a chatbot-style interface to pose questions about a book’s contents. To avoid spoilers, it defaults to its answers reflecting only what you’ve read so far. The tool has proven controversial, in part because authors aren’t compensated and can’t opt out. But when I tried it with my Kindle edition of Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs, the big problem was that it was terrible. Its responses repeatedly mangled factual material, from the circumstances of Jobs’ time at Reed College to the year the iPod was introduced. They also failed to provide any citations, rendering them useless as entry points for additional reading within the e-book. “Ask this book” does have the potential to evolve into something more interesting and useful. But when it comes to the shopping experience, for both digital and print books, Amazon has been marching in the wrong direction for years. Author Cory Doctorow coined the term “enshittification” to describe how tech products tend to grow customer-hostile over time. In his new book Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, he declares Amazon to have reached a “terminal stage” of the phenomenon. Indeed, the company’s original tagline—“Earth’s biggest bookstore”—now feels more like a threat than a promise. Even if you cut the company some slack for offering a shopping experience that’s relentlessly utilitarian rather than intellectually stimulating, the place is in shambles. Search results are smothered with unrelated sponsored links and blatantly AI-generated junk books. Pages devoted to specific authors may be missing books, or, worse, list ones they didn’t write. The search results for “John Grisham” started with a paperback copy of his 2002 novel The Summons for an absurd $51.76, with an estimated delivery turnaround of up to two weeks—even though Amazon also has it for under 10 bucks with free Prime overnight shipping. For decades, the fact that local book shops couldn’t compete with Amazon’s massive inventory seemed like an existential weakness. But the best ones curate their selections in ways that offer a powerful alternative to Amazon’s unedited sprawl. To my knowledge, no online merchant has replicated the artful serendipity of brick-and-mortar book browsing, where wandering the aisles and stumbling across stuff you never knew existed is part of the point, not a distraction. Recently, I did much of my holiday gift shopping at one of my favorite Bay Area bookstores, Menlo Park’s Kepler’s. A large store—but not a completely enormous one—it‘s a joy to get lost in. I didn’t have to elbow my way past AI slop or sponsored chum, and emerged with a stack of books I would never have discovered through online shopping. Unlike Amazon, Kepler’s doesn’t offer discounts off list price. Actually, it tacks on a small surcharge to pay its employees a living wage. I am happy to pay it. The 70-year-old store, which almost went out of business in 2005, doesn’t feel like a relic. Instead, like every good bookstore, it’s an idea too vibrant to be rendered irrelevant by technology. It’s heartening to think the publishing industry has settled into a groove that will keep such neighborhood gems viable for years to come. You’ve been reading Plugged In, Fast Company’s weekly tech newsletter from me, global technology editor Harry McCracken. If a friend or colleague forwarded this edition to you—or if you’re reading it on fastcompany.com—you can check out previous issues and sign up to get it yourself every Friday morning. I love hearing from you: Ping me at hmccracken@fastcompany.com with your feedback and ideas for future newsletters. I’m also on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads, and you can follow Plugged In on Flipboard. More top tech stories from Fast Company Craiglist’s founder has some simple rules for not losing your mind—or money—on the internet Craig Newmark’s ‘Take9’ campaign asks people to pause nine seconds before reacting online. Read More → LinkedIn is expanding its AI-powered job search features The platform continues to grow as a hub for seeking jobs and holding professional discussions. Read More → AI isn’t stealing your traffic. It’s stealing your authority As AI becomes the first stop for information, GEO is how you make sure your version of the story gets told. Read More → Yann LeCun: Meta ‘fudged a little bit’ when benchmark-testing Llama 4 model The testing sparked internal frustration about the progress of the Llama models. Read More → OpenAI enters the connected health space with ChatGPT Health Health is already a popular topic area on ChatGPT. OpenAI is now adding physician expertise, and plug-ins for health apps and records. Read More → Tin Can phones have been overwhelmed since Christmas The company says it’s working to fix a network issue and that paying customers won’t be charged until the devices are reliable once more. Read More → 12 CEOs share bold predictions for 2026 Market corrections, the rise of sovereign AI, and the first AI-driven attack are among the bold predictions for the coming year. Read More → View the full article

In September, we posted about a number of local pack design tests from Microsoft Bing. But now, Bing might be testing a more retro, older-looking interface for the local pack in the Bing search results.View the full article

Navah Hopkins, the Microsoft Ads Liaison, posted a reminder on LinkedIn, encouraging advertisers to ensure the email settings are all configured properly. You can get monthly invoices, billing alerts, account notifications, ad and keyword rejection notices, optimization and performance tips and more.View the full article

Doubling down on fossil fuels threatens to leave the US floundering in the AI race with ChinaView the full article

WordPress no longer your default choice? Get a clear breakdown of when Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, Ghost, Drupal, and others are the smarter move. The post 19 WordPress Alternatives: From Simple Builders To Enterprise CMS appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

One of Ikea’s most popular lamps of the past several years—nicknamed the “donut lamp”—is about to get a smart, colorful upgrade. The original donut lamp debuted back in 2023 as part of Ikea’s 20-piece Varmblixt collection with the Rotterdam-based designer Sabine Marcelis. With its glossy orange glass and soft, retro glow, the lamp quickly emerged as a fan favorite: In the three years since its debut, Ikea says one donut lamp has sold every five minutes in the U.S. It’s the company’s best-selling lamp, both in the U.S. and worldwide. Given the lamp’s popularity, Ikea has teamed up with Marcelis for a new version, this time featuring a smart function that allows it to cycle through a curated palette of colors. The new donut lamp will be available for $99.99 starting in April, alongside a $149.99 color-changing version of a pendant lamp that also debuted as part of the original Varmblixt collection. The updated lamps come as Ikea is investing more into its smart products with a new range of easy-to-use bulbs, sensors, and smart plugs that debuted in November. Both the donut lamp and the pendant lamp are compatible with Ikea’s smart home system hub, Dirigera, as well as Matter, the smart home technical standard that undergirds the rest of the company’s smart home tech. This new integration signals that as smart systems become more central to Ikea’s product approach, we might see the company begin to integrate new functions into more of its most popular items. How the donut became Ikea’s most popular lamp There’s a pretty good chance that you’ve stumbled across Ikea’s donut lamp on your feeds. Since 2023, the lamp has gone viral multiple times among design enthusiasts. It’s become so ubiquitous that Marcelis says she’s often walked past houses and seen it glowing through the windows. “It was pretty wild how viral it went,” she says. “When designing Varmblixt, I wanted to create timeless pieces that could be interpreted in many ways. The fact that the lamp can be both wall mounted and used as a table lamp already makes it very versatile. It’s a lamp that even if you have nothing else in a room, it works.” On TikTok and Instagram Reels, the donut lamp has generated an entire subgenre of videos dedicated to donut lamp “hacks” that use colorful electrical tape pasted over the interior bulb to darken the hue of the lamp. But with the smart donut lamp, Ikea fans will no longer need to risk overheating tape to curate their own lighting vibe. The donut lamp gets a colorful facelift To make the smart donut lamp compatible with a range of colors, Marcelis traded the original’s glossy orange surface for a matte white exterior that lets the interior bulb’s colors shine through. “It’s soft in texture and void of color, making the internal light source and colors it creates inside the volume glow in a really soft, diffused manner on the shell,” Marcelis says. Users can choose to connect the lamp to the Dirigera hub, which allows them to access a full color spectrum of more than 40 hues, adjust light intensity, and fiddle with dimming settings. The lamp’s default setting, however, is controlled by a remote featuring 12 colors selected by Marcelis specifically for the collection. The sequence moves through different temperatures of white light, into glowing amber and red, followed by soft pink, cool lavender, turquoise, yellow, and back to white. “I wanted the presets that you can vary between with the remote to be 12 specific atmospheres that range from alert work-mode light to party mode and all the way to cozy, calm mode,” Marcelis says. “I’ve had an early prototype in our guest room for the last six months, and this one pretty small lamp can change the hue of the whole room.” View the full article

Resilience is not an inherited trait. It is a disciplined practice—a way of showing up that is cultivated over time through deliberate training of the body, mind, and spirit. In high-stress environments, whether on the battlefield, in the boardroom, or in the quiet turmoil of daily life, the ability to remain steady amid volatility is what separates reactive living from intentional leadership. What many discover, often through hardship, is that resilience is less about bracing against impact and more about widening the internal space between stimulus and response. That space—Viktor Frankl called it the foundation of freedom—allows for clarity, intentionality, and courage. For decades, both in SEAL training and in my work with leaders, I’ve observed that individuals who perform well under pressure share one common characteristic: they have learned to work with their minds rather than be ruled by them. This does not happen in moments of crisis. It is forged through consistent practices that strengthen attention, emotional steadiness, and a grounded sense of purpose. These are the pillars of mental toughness and well-being, and research continually affirms their effectiveness. “Meeting the Witness” Mental toughness begins with self-awareness—what I call “meeting the witness.” Before a person can regulate emotions or reframe challenging situations, they must learn to observe their inner world without being consumed by it. In Unbeatable Mind, I describe how an untrained mind behaves like a restless monkey, leaping from fear to fantasy, often amplifying stress rather than resolving it. Neuroscientific research supports this observation: studies from Harvard and Yale show that mindfulness training decreases activity in the brain’s default mode network, the system associated with rumination and self-critical thought. This reduction leads to greater emotional stability and improved executive control. Breathe Once awareness is established, the next layer of resilience comes through breath control. Box breathing—a cornerstone practice in SEAL training—has profound physiological effects. Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has highlighted that controlled exhalation slows the heart rate by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting calm and clarity. Additional research from the National Institutes of Health demonstrates that slow, diaphragmatic breathing lowers cortisol levels, improves heart-rate variability (a key marker of stress resilience), and enhances cognitive performance during demanding tasks. In intense environments, breath becomes an anchor—restoring coherence when chaos presses in. Emotional regulation is equally essential, and scientific literature is increasingly clear that avoiding difficult emotions weakens resilience. Psychologist James Gross, from Stanford University, has shown that emotional suppression increases physiological stress, while emotional awareness paired with cognitive reframing reduces anxiety and improves overall well-being. Modern culture encourages distraction, numbing, or avoidance when emotions feel overwhelming. Yet true strength emerges when we turn toward discomfort and understand its message. Emotional awareness is not indulgence; it is intelligence—deeply connected to sustainable performance. Self-compassion Working with emotions also requires cultivating a compassionate inner dialogue. Research from Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer demonstrates that self-compassion reduces stress and anxiety while increasing resilience and perseverance. Many high performers assume harsh inner criticism fuels achievement, but studies continue to show the opposite: people who practice supportive self-talk persist longer, recover faster from setbacks, and perform better under pressure. This aligns closely with the warrior ethos—discipline married to self-respect. The Five Mountains Another pillar of resilience is adopting an integrative approach to growth—the Five Mountains framework. A person cannot expect to perform well under pressure when their physical, mental, emotional, intuitive, and spiritual domains are misaligned. The scientific community increasingly recognizes this integrative model. The American Psychological Association notes that resilience is multidimensional: physical fitness improves stress tolerance; emotional intelligence enhances decision-making; and spiritual or purpose-driven frameworks improve long-term well-being and post-traumatic growth. These capacities reinforce one another. Neglect one domain, and the others are forced to absorb its weight. Purpose and rituals Purpose also plays a critical role. Research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center shows that individuals with a strong sense of purpose experience lower stress, recover more quickly from adversity, and maintain higher levels of long-term motivation. Purpose acts as a stabilizing force—turning challenge into training rather than threat. When we reconnect with our deeper “why,” stress stops feeling like something to escape and becomes an arena for mastery. Finally, resilience requires consistent rituals. In SEAL culture, the saying “earn your trident every day” reflects the truth that competence and courage must be renewed continually. Behavioral science supports this principle. Studies from MIT reveal that daily habits built through small, repeated actions create long-lasting neurological pathways, making resilience more automatic over time. Rituals such as breathing, movement, meditation, journaling, and visualization condition the mind and body to return to calmness quickly, maintain perspective, and operate from clarity. When practiced consistently, they create a durable internal foundation long before stress arrives. Becoming whole High-stress environments will always challenge the mind. They compress time, elevate stakes, and magnify uncertainty. But those conditions do not diminish a person’s potential; they reveal it. Resilience grows when we learn to work with challenge rather than brace against it. It grows when we cultivate awareness, train the breath, embrace emotional truth, strengthen ourselves holistically, and commit to purposeful living. These practices form the stable internal structure that remains grounded even when the world around us feels uncertain. The ultimate aim of resilience is not to become hardened or invulnerable. It is to become whole—to act from a place of grounded presence, compassion, and courage. When you train your mind, emotions, and spirit in an integrated way, you develop a capacity for calm action that not only carries you through difficulty but enables you to serve others more powerfully. Resilience becomes less of a shield and more of an offering. This is the path of the warrior-leader. It is available to anyone willing to train deliberately, look inward honestly, and step forward courageously. In this work, there is no finish line—only deeper layers of awareness and growth. Each moment presents a new opportunity to choose steadiness, clarity, and purpose over reactivity and fear. That choice, made repeatedly, builds a resilient mind for life. View the full article

An Employee Development Plan (EDP) is a detailed framework that outlines your skills, career aspirations, and the necessary steps for your professional growth. It’s essential for aligning your goals with your organization’s objectives, eventually enhancing your job satisfaction. Comprehending the importance of EDPs can greatly impact your career trajectory and workplace engagement. As you explore this topic, consider how an effective EDP could shape your future and the strategies involved in creating one. Key Takeaways An Employee Development Plan is a structured framework for assessing skills and setting career goals for professional growth. It provides personalized paths for employees to enhance their skills and achieve their career aspirations. Development opportunities significantly reduce employee turnover and increase job satisfaction and engagement. Continuous training is vital as 44% of skills are projected to be disrupted in five years. Regular feedback and support from managers are essential for effective implementation and success of development plans. Definition of Employee Development Plans An employee development plan is a structured framework designed to guide you in evaluating your current skills and identifying your career aspirations. This strategic outline typically details your goals, the skills you need to develop, and the steps required to achieve professional growth within your organization. Employee development plan examples often highlight measurable objectives, timelines, and resources customized to support your path. When exploring individual development plan examples for employees, you’ll notice that these plans encourage a sense of belonging and engagement, allowing you to master specific job aspects as you learn new skills. In addition, a well-crafted career development plan for employees aligns not just with your aspirations but likewise with company goals, enhancing productivity and satisfaction. By implementing these plans, organizations can expect significant performance improvements, showcasing the importance of structured development in the workplace. Importance of Employee Development As the workplace constantly evolves, recognizing the importance of employee development becomes vital for both individual and organizational success. With 44% of employees’ skills expected to be disrupted in the next five years, ongoing training and growth opportunities are fundamental. Employee development plan examples, such as structured mentorship programs or skills workshops, can greatly improve your career growth plan for employees. Companies that offer development opportunities for employees examples, like tuition reimbursement or leadership training, can reduce turnover by up to 34%. Engaged employees, who see their interests aligned with their development paths, are 46% more likely to be involved in their work. In addition, a clear development path boosts employee performance ratings by an average of 30%, contributing to overall productivity. Investing in employee development not just improves retention but additionally bolsters the organization’s reputation, making it a fundamental strategy for long-term success. Benefits of Employee Development Plans Employee development plans greatly improve employee engagement and help reduce turnover costs. When you invest in your team’s growth, you’ll likely see improved motivation and performance, leading to greater retention rates. In the end, prioritizing these plans not only cultivates a more committed workforce but additionally positively impacts your organization’s bottom line. Enhances Employee Engagement When organizations invest in employee development plans, they not just improve individual skills but also promote a more engaged workforce. By implementing clear development objectives for employees, you create a pathway for growth that keeps them motivated. Engaged employees—who feel supported by their managers—report a 21% increase in workplace motivation. When you align these plans with employee growth plans, your team becomes 46% more committed to their roles. This commitment is essential in today’s competitive job market, where 94% of employees are likely to stay longer if they see investment in their development. Utilizing employee development plan examples helps illustrate successful strategies, ensuring that your organization reaps the benefits of increased engagement and improved performance. Reduces Turnover Costs Investing in employee development plans not only improves individual skills but also plays a crucial role in reducing turnover costs for organizations. Companies that focus on development are twice as likely to retain employees, leading to significant savings. With turnover costs averaging six to nine months of an employee’s salary, the impact is substantial. Personalized development opportunities can boost motivation by 21%, encouraging employees to stay. Clear development paths can improve performance ratings by 30%, further promoting retention. In the end, companies that prioritize these strategies are 11% more profitable. Below are some employee development plan examples that illustrate effective strategies: Development Plan Examples Benefits Impact on Turnover Costs Mentorship Programs Skill improvement Reduced turnover Training Workshops Increased motivation Cost savings Career Pathing Enhanced performance Higher retention Online Learning Flexibility in learning Engaged employees Cross-Training Versatile skill sets Loyalty to organization Types of Employee Development Plans In terms of employee development plans, you’ll find several key types that cater to different needs. General development plans provide a broad framework for skill improvement, whereas leadership programs focus on nurturing future leaders within your organization. Furthermore, specialized knowledge development targets specific expertise, helping employees deepen their industry knowledge and increase their overall value. General Development Plans General development plans serve as a foundational tool for employees, allowing them to articulate their skills, aspirations, and career objectives within a structured framework. These development plans provide a broad overview, helping you identify personal ambitions aligned with company goals without focusing on specific actions or timelines. By engaging with general development plans, you gain a clearer comprehension of growth opportunities within the organization, which can improve your job satisfaction and investment in your professional path. Companies that adopt these employee development plans often see improved retention rates, as regular updates nurture a culture of continuous development. Individual development plan examples illustrate how these frameworks can lead to meaningful conversations about your career path and professional growth. Leadership and Specialized Programs Leadership and specialized programs play an important role in employee development plans by targeting specific skills and knowledge critical for both individual and organizational growth. Leadership development programs are designed for high-potential employees, equipping them with fundamental skills for future roles, thereby creating a robust leadership pipeline. Furthermore, specialized knowledge development allows employees to deepen their expertise in specific fields, preparing them to tackle complex challenges effectively. Customization in these plans is significant; incorporating various learning styles—like classroom training, webinars, and job-shadowing—enhances learning effectiveness. For instance, a professional development plan example might include both leadership training and specialized workshops. Companies that invest in these programs often see increased employee retention and performance ratings, highlighting their importance. Responsibility for Employee Development Responsibility for employee development typically lies with both managers and employees, creating a shared partnership that nurtures growth. You, as an employee, should take ownership of your development by actively engaging in discussions with your manager about your goals. Managers, conversely, need to provide support through regular feedback and guidance. Utilizing individual development plans for employees helps to clarify these goals and expectations. Organizations can benefit from various staff development plan examples, including customized strategies that cater to individual learning styles. Development plan examples for managers can illustrate effective ways to encourage this collaboration. A balanced approach, where both parties are involved, promotes a culture of continuous improvement. When employees feel empowered and supported, they become more engaged, in the end aligning their growth with the organization’s objectives, enhancing retention rates, and cultivating future leaders. How Employee Development Plans Help Employees Employee development plans play a crucial role in enhancing your career by aligning your personal goals with the organization’s objectives. When you engage with a structured development plan, you gain clarity on your career path, which signals the organization’s commitment to your long-term success. For example, employee development plan examples often highlight personalized goals that can lead to a 21% increase in your motivation and job satisfaction. How Employee Development Plans Help Employers Even though it’s often easy to overlook the broader benefits of employee development plans, they play an essential role in improving organizational performance. By implementing a robust employee development plan template, you can boost employee engagement and retention. Companies investing in learning and development are twice as likely to retain talent, leading to increased profitability. Moreover, effective development plans reduce costs linked to voluntary turnover, which can average six to nine months of an employee’s salary. Customized initiatives address skill shortages and promote upskilling, ensuring your workforce meets evolving industry demands. A well-structured employee development plan cultivates a culture aligned with your company’s vision, driving better business outcomes. Here’s a quick overview: Benefits of Employee Development Plans Examples Improved employee retention Development plan example Reduced turnover costs Management individual development plan examples Increased internal efficiency – Better customer experience – Fostering Continuous Employee Development Nurturing continuous employee development is vital for creating a dynamic workplace where learning thrives. When you focus on staff development examples like leadership training in coaching techniques and emotional intelligence, you empower your managers to effectively guide employee growth. Utilizing a variety of training formats, such as online courses, job-shadowing, and mentorship programs, caters to different learning styles and encourages ongoing learning. An effective employee development plan format includes regular feedback, which is critical for enhancing performance insights and identifying growth areas. This feedback loop not only boosts engagement but also increases job satisfaction. Moreover, leveraging technology, like platforms such as Chronus, can streamline management of your employee development programs. These tools offer personalized learning pathways and facilitate mentor-mentee relationships, providing employees with a thorough professional development plan sample that meets their unique needs. Creating a Supportive Environment Creating a supportive environment is vital for nurturing employee growth and development within an organization. In such an environment, psychological safety allows you to make mistakes and ask questions without fear of negative repercussions. This openness encourages collaboration, as sharing ideas improves innovation. Celebrating risk-taking, regardless of the outcome, promotes a growth mindset, motivating you to tackle new challenges and learn from experiences. Incorporating regular feedback mechanisms is fundamental; they provide insights into your performance, helping you identify areas for improvement. When developing your employee development plan, consider using a development plan template that emphasizes these aspects. Look at employee development plan examples to see how others have successfully implemented supportive structures. In the end, a workplace development plan that prioritizes support can greatly boost engagement and retention, as many employees express a desire to stay longer when companies invest in their development. Leadership and Mentorship in Employee Development Effective leadership and mentorship play crucial roles in employee development, directly influencing both individual and organizational success. Leadership training focused on coaching techniques and emotional intelligence equips future leaders to support their teams effectively. By implementing mentorship programs that pair experienced employees with mentees, organizations promote knowledge transfer and create supportive learning environments, improving retention rates for new hires. Regular development conversations between mentors and mentees help clarify career aspirations and align individual goals with organizational objectives, boosting engagement and motivation. Research shows that 74% of employees feel they aren’t reaching their full potential because of a lack of opportunities. This highlights the need for a strong emphasis on leadership and mentorship to create a continuous learning culture. Organizations that prioritize these elements not only cultivate high-potential talent but additionally improve adaptability and innovation in the workplace, ultimately driving overall success. Utilizing Technology for Employee Development Utilizing technology in employee development can greatly improve program management and create customized learning pathways. Tools like Learning Management Systems centralize training resources, making it easier for you to access materials and track progress. Development Program Management Technology greatly improves development program management by streamlining various processes essential for employee growth. By leveraging specialized tools, you can elevate your employee development initiatives considerably. Utilize Learning Management Systems (LMS) for easy access to training resources. Implement automated systems for conducting skills gap analyses. Collect feedback efficiently to assess program effectiveness. With technology, you can design and manage development plans more effectively. For instance, using a development plan sample can guide your structure, whereas employee development plan examples in PDF format can offer insights into best practices. Furthermore, learning how to create a development plan has never been easier, enabling collaboration between employees and managers to track progress and allocate resources efficiently. Personalized Learning Pathways How can personalized learning pathways transform employee development? By aligning training with individual skills and goals, personalized pathways improve engagement and retention. Technology, like Adobe’s Learning Management Systems (LMS), enables customized training modules, boosting skill acquisition efficiency. Companies leveraging personalized learning report higher profitability and employee retention rates. Personalized Learning Pathways Benefits Customized training modules Aligns with individual needs Microlearning techniques Offers flexibility and immediate access Progress tracking Provides timely feedback for continuous growth Individual development plan templates Standardizes personal development plans Employee development plan form Guarantees structured and measurable progress Utilizing these tools, such as a personal development plan completed example, can greatly improve the development experience for employees. Examples of Effective Employee Development Plans Effective employee development plans are designed to meet the unique needs of individuals at various stages in their careers, ensuring that each plan aligns with specific goals and aspirations. Here are some examples of effective plans: Entry-Level Development Plan: For someone like Alex, a Customer Support Associate, the focus is on skill-building, particularly in communication and troubleshooting, to advance into customer success roles. Mid-Career Development Plan: Jordan, a senior Software Engineer, benefits from a plan that emphasizes leadership skills and specialization, setting clear goals for future leadership positions. Executive Development Plan: Executives like Riley, a VP of Sales, require customized plans focusing on succession planning and mentorship, refining strategic vision and stakeholder management for potential roles like Chief Revenue Officer. These employee individual development plan samples illustrate how personalized growth paths cater to diverse learning styles and career aspirations, showcasing the importance of a development plan for managers. Steps to Create an Employee Development Plan Creating an employee development plan requires a structured approach that’s customized to individual needs and career aspirations. Start by identifying the employee’s strengths, skills gaps, and career goals. Use self-reflection exercises to shape a personalized development path. Next, set structured growth plans with measurable milestones, focusing on one growth area at a time. Utilize the three E’s: experience, exposure, and education for effective goal setting. Engage in ongoing conversations with employees, scheduling regular check-ins to discuss progress and address challenges, ensuring alignment with business needs. Keep development plans flexible to adapt to evolving needs during providing a structured timeline for activities. Incorporate support mechanisms, such as access to training resources and regular feedback, to facilitate successful execution. For further insights, consider employee development examples and individual development plan (IDP) examples as references to guide your planning process. Frequently Asked Questions What Is an Employee Development Plan? An employee development plan is a structured approach that helps you identify your current skills and future career aspirations. It outlines the training and resources you need to achieve your goals. This plan acts as a roadmap for your professional growth, aligning your ambitions with the organization’s objectives. Regular feedback and analysis guarantee it adapts to your evolving needs, enhancing your engagement and satisfaction during the process of benefiting the company’s retention efforts. What Are the 5 Components of a Personal Development Plan? A Personal Development Plan (PDP) includes five key components. First, it sets SMART goals, ensuring objectives are clear and measurable. Second, it identifies development areas, focusing on both technical and interpersonal skills. Third, it outlines support resources, such as training programs and mentorship. Fourth, it establishes a review timeline for evaluating progress and adjusting goals. Finally, it emphasizes accountability, detailing responsibilities for both you and your manager in the development process. Why Is a Development Plan Important? A development plan‘s important since it guides your professional growth, helping you acquire new skills and advance in your career. It provides clarity on your goals, aligning them with your organization’s objectives. This alignment boosts your motivation and engagement, making you more committed to your work. Furthermore, when you have a clear path to follow, you’re more likely to perform better, in the end benefiting both you and the organization you work for. What Is the Main Goal of Employee Development? The main goal of employee development is to improve your skills and knowledge, enabling you to grow professionally and meet organizational objectives. By identifying skill gaps, you can master your current role as you prepare for future opportunities. Development plans establish clear, actionable goals that motivate you and increase engagement. In the end, these plans aim to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement, essential for talent retention in a competitive job market. Conclusion In conclusion, an Employee Development Plan is essential for aligning personal goals with organizational objectives. It promotes professional growth, improves job satisfaction, and reduces turnover costs. By implementing structured development strategies, organizations can create a skilled workforce ready to tackle future challenges. Responsibility for these plans lies with both employees and leadership, ensuring collaboration in career progression. Utilizing technology can streamline this process, making it easier to track progress and outcomes, eventually benefiting both the individual and the organization. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Is an Employee Development Plan and Its Importance?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

An Employee Development Plan (EDP) is a detailed framework that outlines your skills, career aspirations, and the necessary steps for your professional growth. It’s essential for aligning your goals with your organization’s objectives, eventually enhancing your job satisfaction. Comprehending the importance of EDPs can greatly impact your career trajectory and workplace engagement. As you explore this topic, consider how an effective EDP could shape your future and the strategies involved in creating one. Key Takeaways An Employee Development Plan is a structured framework for assessing skills and setting career goals for professional growth. It provides personalized paths for employees to enhance their skills and achieve their career aspirations. Development opportunities significantly reduce employee turnover and increase job satisfaction and engagement. Continuous training is vital as 44% of skills are projected to be disrupted in five years. Regular feedback and support from managers are essential for effective implementation and success of development plans. Definition of Employee Development Plans An employee development plan is a structured framework designed to guide you in evaluating your current skills and identifying your career aspirations. This strategic outline typically details your goals, the skills you need to develop, and the steps required to achieve professional growth within your organization. Employee development plan examples often highlight measurable objectives, timelines, and resources customized to support your path. When exploring individual development plan examples for employees, you’ll notice that these plans encourage a sense of belonging and engagement, allowing you to master specific job aspects as you learn new skills. In addition, a well-crafted career development plan for employees aligns not just with your aspirations but likewise with company goals, enhancing productivity and satisfaction. By implementing these plans, organizations can expect significant performance improvements, showcasing the importance of structured development in the workplace. Importance of Employee Development As the workplace constantly evolves, recognizing the importance of employee development becomes vital for both individual and organizational success. With 44% of employees’ skills expected to be disrupted in the next five years, ongoing training and growth opportunities are fundamental. Employee development plan examples, such as structured mentorship programs or skills workshops, can greatly improve your career growth plan for employees. Companies that offer development opportunities for employees examples, like tuition reimbursement or leadership training, can reduce turnover by up to 34%. Engaged employees, who see their interests aligned with their development paths, are 46% more likely to be involved in their work. In addition, a clear development path boosts employee performance ratings by an average of 30%, contributing to overall productivity. Investing in employee development not just improves retention but additionally bolsters the organization’s reputation, making it a fundamental strategy for long-term success. Benefits of Employee Development Plans Employee development plans greatly improve employee engagement and help reduce turnover costs. When you invest in your team’s growth, you’ll likely see improved motivation and performance, leading to greater retention rates. In the end, prioritizing these plans not only cultivates a more committed workforce but additionally positively impacts your organization’s bottom line. Enhances Employee Engagement When organizations invest in employee development plans, they not just improve individual skills but also promote a more engaged workforce. By implementing clear development objectives for employees, you create a pathway for growth that keeps them motivated. Engaged employees—who feel supported by their managers—report a 21% increase in workplace motivation. When you align these plans with employee growth plans, your team becomes 46% more committed to their roles. This commitment is essential in today’s competitive job market, where 94% of employees are likely to stay longer if they see investment in their development. Utilizing employee development plan examples helps illustrate successful strategies, ensuring that your organization reaps the benefits of increased engagement and improved performance. Reduces Turnover Costs Investing in employee development plans not only improves individual skills but also plays a crucial role in reducing turnover costs for organizations. Companies that focus on development are twice as likely to retain employees, leading to significant savings. With turnover costs averaging six to nine months of an employee’s salary, the impact is substantial. Personalized development opportunities can boost motivation by 21%, encouraging employees to stay. Clear development paths can improve performance ratings by 30%, further promoting retention. In the end, companies that prioritize these strategies are 11% more profitable. Below are some employee development plan examples that illustrate effective strategies: Development Plan Examples Benefits Impact on Turnover Costs Mentorship Programs Skill improvement Reduced turnover Training Workshops Increased motivation Cost savings Career Pathing Enhanced performance Higher retention Online Learning Flexibility in learning Engaged employees Cross-Training Versatile skill sets Loyalty to organization Types of Employee Development Plans In terms of employee development plans, you’ll find several key types that cater to different needs. General development plans provide a broad framework for skill improvement, whereas leadership programs focus on nurturing future leaders within your organization. Furthermore, specialized knowledge development targets specific expertise, helping employees deepen their industry knowledge and increase their overall value. General Development Plans General development plans serve as a foundational tool for employees, allowing them to articulate their skills, aspirations, and career objectives within a structured framework. These development plans provide a broad overview, helping you identify personal ambitions aligned with company goals without focusing on specific actions or timelines. By engaging with general development plans, you gain a clearer comprehension of growth opportunities within the organization, which can improve your job satisfaction and investment in your professional path. Companies that adopt these employee development plans often see improved retention rates, as regular updates nurture a culture of continuous development. Individual development plan examples illustrate how these frameworks can lead to meaningful conversations about your career path and professional growth. Leadership and Specialized Programs Leadership and specialized programs play an important role in employee development plans by targeting specific skills and knowledge critical for both individual and organizational growth. Leadership development programs are designed for high-potential employees, equipping them with fundamental skills for future roles, thereby creating a robust leadership pipeline. Furthermore, specialized knowledge development allows employees to deepen their expertise in specific fields, preparing them to tackle complex challenges effectively. Customization in these plans is significant; incorporating various learning styles—like classroom training, webinars, and job-shadowing—enhances learning effectiveness. For instance, a professional development plan example might include both leadership training and specialized workshops. Companies that invest in these programs often see increased employee retention and performance ratings, highlighting their importance. Responsibility for Employee Development Responsibility for employee development typically lies with both managers and employees, creating a shared partnership that nurtures growth. You, as an employee, should take ownership of your development by actively engaging in discussions with your manager about your goals. Managers, conversely, need to provide support through regular feedback and guidance. Utilizing individual development plans for employees helps to clarify these goals and expectations. Organizations can benefit from various staff development plan examples, including customized strategies that cater to individual learning styles. Development plan examples for managers can illustrate effective ways to encourage this collaboration. A balanced approach, where both parties are involved, promotes a culture of continuous improvement. When employees feel empowered and supported, they become more engaged, in the end aligning their growth with the organization’s objectives, enhancing retention rates, and cultivating future leaders. How Employee Development Plans Help Employees Employee development plans play a crucial role in enhancing your career by aligning your personal goals with the organization’s objectives. When you engage with a structured development plan, you gain clarity on your career path, which signals the organization’s commitment to your long-term success. For example, employee development plan examples often highlight personalized goals that can lead to a 21% increase in your motivation and job satisfaction. How Employee Development Plans Help Employers Even though it’s often easy to overlook the broader benefits of employee development plans, they play an essential role in improving organizational performance. By implementing a robust employee development plan template, you can boost employee engagement and retention. Companies investing in learning and development are twice as likely to retain talent, leading to increased profitability. Moreover, effective development plans reduce costs linked to voluntary turnover, which can average six to nine months of an employee’s salary. Customized initiatives address skill shortages and promote upskilling, ensuring your workforce meets evolving industry demands. A well-structured employee development plan cultivates a culture aligned with your company’s vision, driving better business outcomes. Here’s a quick overview: Benefits of Employee Development Plans Examples Improved employee retention Development plan example Reduced turnover costs Management individual development plan examples Increased internal efficiency – Better customer experience – Fostering Continuous Employee Development Nurturing continuous employee development is vital for creating a dynamic workplace where learning thrives. When you focus on staff development examples like leadership training in coaching techniques and emotional intelligence, you empower your managers to effectively guide employee growth. Utilizing a variety of training formats, such as online courses, job-shadowing, and mentorship programs, caters to different learning styles and encourages ongoing learning. An effective employee development plan format includes regular feedback, which is critical for enhancing performance insights and identifying growth areas. This feedback loop not only boosts engagement but also increases job satisfaction. Moreover, leveraging technology, like platforms such as Chronus, can streamline management of your employee development programs. These tools offer personalized learning pathways and facilitate mentor-mentee relationships, providing employees with a thorough professional development plan sample that meets their unique needs. Creating a Supportive Environment Creating a supportive environment is vital for nurturing employee growth and development within an organization. In such an environment, psychological safety allows you to make mistakes and ask questions without fear of negative repercussions. This openness encourages collaboration, as sharing ideas improves innovation. Celebrating risk-taking, regardless of the outcome, promotes a growth mindset, motivating you to tackle new challenges and learn from experiences. Incorporating regular feedback mechanisms is fundamental; they provide insights into your performance, helping you identify areas for improvement. When developing your employee development plan, consider using a development plan template that emphasizes these aspects. Look at employee development plan examples to see how others have successfully implemented supportive structures. In the end, a workplace development plan that prioritizes support can greatly boost engagement and retention, as many employees express a desire to stay longer when companies invest in their development. Leadership and Mentorship in Employee Development Effective leadership and mentorship play crucial roles in employee development, directly influencing both individual and organizational success. Leadership training focused on coaching techniques and emotional intelligence equips future leaders to support their teams effectively. By implementing mentorship programs that pair experienced employees with mentees, organizations promote knowledge transfer and create supportive learning environments, improving retention rates for new hires. Regular development conversations between mentors and mentees help clarify career aspirations and align individual goals with organizational objectives, boosting engagement and motivation. Research shows that 74% of employees feel they aren’t reaching their full potential because of a lack of opportunities. This highlights the need for a strong emphasis on leadership and mentorship to create a continuous learning culture. Organizations that prioritize these elements not only cultivate high-potential talent but additionally improve adaptability and innovation in the workplace, ultimately driving overall success. Utilizing Technology for Employee Development Utilizing technology in employee development can greatly improve program management and create customized learning pathways. Tools like Learning Management Systems centralize training resources, making it easier for you to access materials and track progress. Development Program Management Technology greatly improves development program management by streamlining various processes essential for employee growth. By leveraging specialized tools, you can elevate your employee development initiatives considerably. Utilize Learning Management Systems (LMS) for easy access to training resources. Implement automated systems for conducting skills gap analyses. Collect feedback efficiently to assess program effectiveness. With technology, you can design and manage development plans more effectively. For instance, using a development plan sample can guide your structure, whereas employee development plan examples in PDF format can offer insights into best practices. Furthermore, learning how to create a development plan has never been easier, enabling collaboration between employees and managers to track progress and allocate resources efficiently. Personalized Learning Pathways How can personalized learning pathways transform employee development? By aligning training with individual skills and goals, personalized pathways improve engagement and retention. Technology, like Adobe’s Learning Management Systems (LMS), enables customized training modules, boosting skill acquisition efficiency. Companies leveraging personalized learning report higher profitability and employee retention rates. Personalized Learning Pathways Benefits Customized training modules Aligns with individual needs Microlearning techniques Offers flexibility and immediate access Progress tracking Provides timely feedback for continuous growth Individual development plan templates Standardizes personal development plans Employee development plan form Guarantees structured and measurable progress Utilizing these tools, such as a personal development plan completed example, can greatly improve the development experience for employees. Examples of Effective Employee Development Plans Effective employee development plans are designed to meet the unique needs of individuals at various stages in their careers, ensuring that each plan aligns with specific goals and aspirations. Here are some examples of effective plans: Entry-Level Development Plan: For someone like Alex, a Customer Support Associate, the focus is on skill-building, particularly in communication and troubleshooting, to advance into customer success roles. Mid-Career Development Plan: Jordan, a senior Software Engineer, benefits from a plan that emphasizes leadership skills and specialization, setting clear goals for future leadership positions. Executive Development Plan: Executives like Riley, a VP of Sales, require customized plans focusing on succession planning and mentorship, refining strategic vision and stakeholder management for potential roles like Chief Revenue Officer. These employee individual development plan samples illustrate how personalized growth paths cater to diverse learning styles and career aspirations, showcasing the importance of a development plan for managers. Steps to Create an Employee Development Plan Creating an employee development plan requires a structured approach that’s customized to individual needs and career aspirations. Start by identifying the employee’s strengths, skills gaps, and career goals. Use self-reflection exercises to shape a personalized development path. Next, set structured growth plans with measurable milestones, focusing on one growth area at a time. Utilize the three E’s: experience, exposure, and education for effective goal setting. Engage in ongoing conversations with employees, scheduling regular check-ins to discuss progress and address challenges, ensuring alignment with business needs. Keep development plans flexible to adapt to evolving needs during providing a structured timeline for activities. Incorporate support mechanisms, such as access to training resources and regular feedback, to facilitate successful execution. For further insights, consider employee development examples and individual development plan (IDP) examples as references to guide your planning process. Frequently Asked Questions What Is an Employee Development Plan? An employee development plan is a structured approach that helps you identify your current skills and future career aspirations. It outlines the training and resources you need to achieve your goals. This plan acts as a roadmap for your professional growth, aligning your ambitions with the organization’s objectives. Regular feedback and analysis guarantee it adapts to your evolving needs, enhancing your engagement and satisfaction during the process of benefiting the company’s retention efforts. What Are the 5 Components of a Personal Development Plan? A Personal Development Plan (PDP) includes five key components. First, it sets SMART goals, ensuring objectives are clear and measurable. Second, it identifies development areas, focusing on both technical and interpersonal skills. Third, it outlines support resources, such as training programs and mentorship. Fourth, it establishes a review timeline for evaluating progress and adjusting goals. Finally, it emphasizes accountability, detailing responsibilities for both you and your manager in the development process. Why Is a Development Plan Important? A development plan‘s important since it guides your professional growth, helping you acquire new skills and advance in your career. It provides clarity on your goals, aligning them with your organization’s objectives. This alignment boosts your motivation and engagement, making you more committed to your work. Furthermore, when you have a clear path to follow, you’re more likely to perform better, in the end benefiting both you and the organization you work for. What Is the Main Goal of Employee Development? The main goal of employee development is to improve your skills and knowledge, enabling you to grow professionally and meet organizational objectives. By identifying skill gaps, you can master your current role as you prepare for future opportunities. Development plans establish clear, actionable goals that motivate you and increase engagement. In the end, these plans aim to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement, essential for talent retention in a competitive job market. Conclusion In conclusion, an Employee Development Plan is essential for aligning personal goals with organizational objectives. It promotes professional growth, improves job satisfaction, and reduces turnover costs. By implementing structured development strategies, organizations can create a skilled workforce ready to tackle future challenges. Responsibility for these plans lies with both employees and leadership, ensuring collaboration in career progression. Utilizing technology can streamline this process, making it easier to track progress and outcomes, eventually benefiting both the individual and the organization. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Is an Employee Development Plan and Its Importance?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article