ResidentialBusiness

Western Alliance and Zions Bank disclose exposure to alleged fraudView the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Zelana Montminy on pausing: “Give yourself permission...to stop sprinting on fumes. To admit the pace is breaking you. To feel the ache beneath the momentum. To stop performing energy you don’t have. You don’t need another protocol. Another cold plunge. Another fix-it morning routine. You need a moment to breathe without performing your peace. This summer, let slowness be sacred. Let rest be whole, without the guilt. Let the world keep pushing. You get to pause. You get to be real, not relentless.” Source: Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction II. Ian Wilson on not knowing: “We equate managerial competence with ‘knowing,’ and assume that decisions depend on facts about the present and about the future. Of course, the reality is that we have no facts about the future. However good our futures research may be, we shall never be able to escape from the ultimate dilemma that all our knowledge is about the past, and all our decisions are about the future.” Source: PDF From Scenario Thinking to Strategic Action * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

Uber’s U.S. drivers and couriers have a new way to earn extra money. The ride-hail app announced on Thursday a new pilot program that will offer gig workers the opportunity to train artificial intelligence (AI) through so-called “digital tasks.” They include simple, quick tasks for workers such as uploading photos, recording themselves speaking in their native language, and submitting documents written in different languages—which are then fed into AI models. Uber already offers this for gig workers in India. “A lot of these tasks are digital, meaning you can do them from your phone . . . from anywhere, and at the same time create earnings opportunities,” Sachin Kansal, Uber’s chief product officer, said at the company’s “Only on Uber” event in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. “Drivers have asked for more ways to earn, even when they’re not on the road,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement to Business Insider. “[We’re] giving drivers more ways to earn during downtime.” The pilot, which allows gig workers to complete quick digital tasks in the Driver app, is powered by Uber’s AI Solutions Group. How Uber’s “digital tasks” work The digital tasks are only available to drivers and couriers who’ve opted in. Once they’ve signed up, they will occasionally see invitations to complete the tasks in the Opportunity Center. Once available, users can view the full list before they begin (each task is optional)—including an estimate of how much time it will take and how much they will earn. After the tasks are completed, payment is added within 24 hours. Uber Financials Uber Technologies, Inc (UBER) was trading down nearly 3% in afternoon trading on Thursday. Uber’s reported second quarter earnings, for the period ending June 30, beat estimates with revenue of $12.65 billion (versus estimates of $12.46 billion). Earnings per share (EPS) came in at 63 cents. At the time, the company also announced the authorization of a $20 billion stock buyback. View the full article

After months of uncertainty, some federal student loan borrowers will soon have their debt canceled. But there’s a hook: You must be enrolled in a very specific program and have made sufficient payments to qualify. Some borrowers have been receiving notices in recent weeks that read: “You are now eligible to have some or all of your federal student loan(s) discharged because you have reached the necessary number of payments under your Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan.” The IBR plan, first introduced in 2007, offers debt cancellation after 20 or 25 years of repayment, depending on the age of the loans. Nearly 2 million borrowers were enrolled in this program as of the second quarter, according to Federal Student Aid figures. Notices emailed to borrowers go on to inform them that the U.S. Department of Education will work with their loan servicer to process the discharge over the next several months. If for some reason borrowers want to opt out of IBR forgiveness, they must contact their loan servicer by Oct. 21. While advocates for debt relief may cheer the news, these notices indicate that IBR forgiveness has resumed after about three months. In July, the Federal Student Aid quietly announced that forgiveness had been paused so its systems could be updated to accurately the number of months paid, blaming litigation related to a forgiveness plan instituted during former President Joe Biden’s administration. As a result, the debt forgiveness notices are simply the resumption of the IBR program, rather than a new forgiveness plan. On the campaign trail last year, President Donald The President called student loan forgiveness “vile” and “not even legal.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon has vowed that a mass forgiveness program won’t happen during her tenure. These notices have gone out even amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment from Fast Company. While a formal notice is the best way to confirm that your federal student loan debt will be cancelled, here’s how to know if you may qualify. BORROWERS MUST BE ENROLLED IN IBR PLAN The forgiveness notices sent out in recent weeks are only going to student loan borrowers who are enrolled in the income-based repayment plan, which capped monthly payments at a certain percentage of borrowers’ discretionary income . Borrowers enrolled in other repayment plans, even other income-driven repayment plans, may not see relief soon—if ever. That’s because other plans have been phased out or are held up by litigation in courts. CHECK NUMBER OF LOAN PAYMENTS Only those borrowers enrolled in an IBR plan who have made a sufficient number of loan payments are eligible for forgiveness. If you took out your federal student loans before July 1, 2014, then you must have made consistent monthly payments—300 in total—for 25 years. If you took out loans after that date, the threshold drops to 240 payments over a 20-year period. Many borrowers switch repayment plans over time—and you may still be eligible for IBR forgiveness for payments made while you were enrolled under other plans. It may be tempting to assume you’ve qualified for debt forgiveness based on your records of payments, but you should continue making payments as normal until you receive official notice. EXPECT MORE SHOWDOWNS ON STUDENT LOANS As the notices to borrowers indicate, full forgiveness may take several months. What’s more, the government shutdown may further delay loan forgiveness—and it has snarled other forgiveness efforts, including a legal challenge brought by the American Federation of Teachers regarding the Department of Education’s denial of rights to federal student loan borrowers for forgiveness opportunities that were mandated in their loan terms. Finally, expect more showdowns related to federal student loan debt to come. Last week, Politico reported that the The President administration is considering selling parts of the federal government’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to private investors. Such a move might change current repayment safeguards, along with the potential for loan forgiveness in the future. View the full article

The First Brands and Tricolor bankruptcies are best understood as a window into the modern credit value chainView the full article

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have sharply increased their use of artificial intelligence to deceive people online and mount cyberattacks against the United States, according to new research from Microsoft. This July, the company identified more than 200 instances of foreign adversaries using AI to create fake content online, more than double the number from July 2024 and more than ten times the number seen in 2023. The findings, published Thursday in Microsoft’s annual digital threats report, show how foreign adversaries are adopting new and innovative tactics in their efforts to weaponize the internet as a tool for espionage and deception. AI’s potential said to be exploited by US foes America’s adversaries, as well as criminal gangs and hacking companies, have exploited AI’s potential, using it to automate and improve cyberattacks, to spread inflammatory disinformation and to penetrate sensitive systems. AI can translate poorly worded phishing emails into fluent English, for example, as well as generate digital clones of senior government officials. Government cyber operations often aim to obtain classified information, undermine supply chains, disrupt critical public services, or spread disinformation. Cyber criminals on the other hand work for profit by stealing corporate secrets or using ransomware to extort payments from their victims. These gangs are responsible for the wide majority of cyberattacks in the world and in some cases have built partnerships with countries like Russia. Increasingly, these attackers are using AI to target governments, businesses, and critical systems like hospitals and transportation networks, according to Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft’s vice president for customer security and trust, who oversaw the report. Many U.S. companies and organizations, meanwhile, are getting by with outdated cyber defenses, even as Americans expand their networks with new digital connections. Companies, governments, organizations and individuals must take the threat seriously if they are to protect themselves amid escalating digital threats, she said. “We see this as a pivotal moment where innovation is going so fast,” Hogan-Burney said. “This is the year when you absolutely must invest in your cybersecurity basics,” US is a popular target The U.S. is the top target for cyberattacks, with criminals and foreign adversaries targeting companies, governments and organizations in the U.S. more than any other country. Israel and Ukraine were the second and third most popular targets, showing how military conflicts involving those two nations have spilled over into the digital realm. Russia, China, and Iran have denied that they use cyber operations for espionage, disruption, and disinformation. China, for instance, says the U.S. is trying to “smear ” Beijing while conducting its own cyberattacks. North Korea has pioneered a scheme in which it uses AI personas to create American identities, allowing them to apply for remote tech jobs. North Korea’s authoritarian government pockets the salaries, while the hackers use their access to steal secrets or install malware. It’s the kind of digital threat that will face more American organizations in the years to come as sophisticated AI programs make it easier for bad actors to deceive, according to Nicole Jiang, CEO of Fable, a San Francisco-based security company that uses AI to sniff out fake employees. AI is not only a tool for hackers, but also a critical defense against digital attackers, Jiang said. “Cyber is a cat-and-mouse game,” she said. “Access, data, information, money: That’s what they’re after.” —David Klepper, Associated Press View the full article

Observers believe the government shutdown and lack of data is keeping mortgage rates in the same narrow range, as investors have issues reading the tea leaves. View the full article

In terms of growing your small business, establishing a strong brand is fundamental. You’ll need to focus on several key services that can enhance your market presence. These include developing a brand strategy, creating a visual identity, and crafting effective brand messaging. Each component plays a significant role in how your business is perceived. Let’s explore these important branding services and how they can contribute to your overall success. Key Takeaways Develop a clear brand strategy to define identity, mission, values, and unique selling proposition for market positioning. Create a cohesive visual identity, including logos, color palettes, and typography, to enhance brand recognition and recall. Establish consistent brand messaging and voice to build trust and emotional connections with customers. Optimize a user-friendly website for SEO and ensure alignment with offline branding for a strong online presence. Utilize social media branding to engage customers, promote loyalty, and leverage user-generated content for increased sales. Brand Strategy Development When you commence on the voyage of brand strategy development, it’s essential to establish a clear blueprint that defines your brand’s identity. This includes outlining your mission, values, and vision, which differentiate you from competitors. You’ll need to determine your unique selling proposition (USP) and market positioning to attract and retain customers effectively. Consider engaging branding companies for customized support and guidance during this process. A well-crafted brand strategy additionally defines your brand personality, helping create a relatable image for your target audience. As the brand development cost varies, investing in branding services for small business can greatly improve your market presence. Visual Identity Creation Creating a strong visual identity is vital for your brand, as it encapsulates your brand’s essence and personality through key elements like logos, color palettes, typography, and imagery. A cohesive visual identity can greatly improve brand recognition, making it easier for consumers to identify and remember your brand. Here are four important aspects to keep in mind: Logos: Your logo should reflect your brand’s values. Color Palettes: Choose colors that evoke the right emotions. Typography: Select fonts that match your brand’s personality. Imagery: Use images that resonate with your target audience. Investing in a professional brand designer for small businesses can streamline this process, but always take into account the cost for branding and branding services pricing to guarantee it fits your budget. Brand Messaging and Voice Establishing a consistent brand voice is vital for nurturing trust and loyalty among your customers. When your messaging aligns with your brand’s core values and tells a compelling story, it helps create a connection that resonates with your audience. To achieve this, consider developing a copy style guide that guarantees every communication reflects your brand’s personality and remains cohesive across all platforms. Consistent Brand Voice To build a strong connection with your audience, maintaining a consistent brand voice is essential. Establishing this voice involves defining characteristics that resonate with your target audience. Collaborate with a local branding agency to guarantee your messaging remains uniform across all channels. Here are four key elements to focus on: Genuineness: Be authentic in your communications to build trust. Friendliness: Use a warm tone that invites engagement. Humor: Light-heartedness can make your brand relatable. Clarity: Ensure your messaging is easy to understand and remember. Storytelling for Connection Storytelling serves as a strong tool for building an emotional connection with your audience, allowing them to relate to your brand on a personal level. When your brand story resonates with consumers, 55% are likely to make a purchase, indicating the influence of effective storytelling. A well-defined brand voice improves consistency in communication, nurturing trust and loyalty. This trust is crucial for long-term business success. Verify your messaging aligns with your core values and mission, making it authentic to your audience. Utilizing a copy style guide can help maintain coherent messaging across various platforms, reinforcing your brand identity. Remember, brands that communicate their story effectively can see a 15% increase in immediate purchases, demonstrating the significance of connection. Messaging Alignment Strategies Aligning your brand messaging and voice with your core values is key to building a strong connection with your audience. Consistency in messaging cultivates trust, and customers often seek brands that share their values. To effectively align your messaging, consider these strategies: Define Your Core Values: Clearly identify what your brand stands for and communicate these values consistently. Develop a Copy Style Guide: Guarantee your brand voice remains coherent across all platforms for maximum recognition. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Engage your audience with storytelling that resonates emotionally and reflects your brand identity. Monitor Feedback: Continuously evaluate how your audience responds to your messaging and adjust accordingly to strengthen connections. These steps can greatly improve your brand’s relationship with consumers. Website and Digital Branding Creating a strong online presence is essential for small businesses, as your website often serves as the first point of contact with potential customers. A visually appealing and functional site can greatly impact user engagement and conversion rates. To improve your online visibility, optimize your website for search engines (SEO), which can lead to increased traffic. Guarantee consistency between your online and offline brand identity, as this reinforces brand recognition and trust. Focus on user experience (UX) design to provide a seamless interaction for visitors. Moreover, incorporate brand messaging and storytelling within your website content, allowing you to connect meaningfully with your audience. This approach helps cultivate customer loyalty and engagement, making your digital branding efforts more effective. Marketing Collateral Design In terms of marketing collateral design, you’ll want to focus on creating effective materials like brochures, business cards, and flyers that reflect your brand’s identity. Professional design is essential, as it establishes credibility and guarantees consistency across all your promotional materials. Types of Marketing Collateral How can you effectively utilize various types of marketing collateral to improve your brand’s presence? By leveraging diverse promotional materials, you can reinforce your brand messaging and keep it fresh in consumers’ minds. Here are four crucial types of marketing collateral to evaluate: Brochures – These provide in-depth information about your products or services, showcasing your offerings clearly. Business Cards – A potent networking tool, they convey your contact information and brand identity succinctly. Flyers – Use these for promotions or events, capturing attention with lively designs and compelling copy. Presentations – Customized for meetings or pitches, they help communicate your brand story effectively, nurturing deeper connections. Importance of Professional Design Professional design plays a critical role in shaping the perception of your brand, as it establishes credibility and nurtures trust among consumers. High-quality marketing collateral, like brochures and business cards, improves your brand’s image, making it more polished and appealing. Studies show that consistent and visually appealing materials can boost brand recall, potentially increasing revenue by up to 23%. Effective design communicates your key messages clearly, helping your audience understand your values and offerings. Additionally, engaging visuals drive customer interaction; 47% of consumers are more likely to engage with well-designed content. Ultimately, compelling marketing materials lead to higher conversion rates, as 79% of consumers prefer brands that offer striking visuals alongside their messaging. Invest in professional design to maximize your impact. Consistency Across Materials Achieving consistency across your marketing collateral is essential for reinforcing your brand’s identity and building consumer trust. When your promotional materials, like brochures and business cards, reflect a unified design, it makes a lasting impression. Here are four key elements to take into account: Color Palette: Use a consistent set of colors to create a recognizable visual identity. Typography: Choose one or two fonts that convey your brand’s personality and stick with them. Brand Guidelines: Develop clear guidelines to guarantee your messaging is consistent across all materials. Visual Appeal: Ascertain your designs not only look good but also communicate your brand’s values effectively. Social Media Branding Social media branding plays a crucial role in establishing your business’s identity across various platforms, ensuring that your visual elements, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, align with your overarching brand strategy. Engaging with your audience can greatly boost brand awareness, as studies indicate that 54% of users browse products on social media before purchasing. Crafting a unique brand voice helps build trust and promote customer loyalty. Furthermore, leveraging user-generated content can greatly improve your branding, influencing 79% of consumers’ purchasing decisions. Consistency in your branding can lead to a 20% increase in customer engagement. Element Importance Impact on Business Visual Identity Creates recognition Boosts brand recall Brand Voice Builds trust Encourages loyalty User-Generated Content Improves credibility Influences decisions Consistency Increases engagement Improves interaction Brand Guidelines and Consistency Brand guidelines play a crucial role in maintaining a consistent visual identity across all platforms and materials. These guidelines act as a rulebook for your branding efforts, ensuring that every piece of communication reflects your brand’s core values. By establishing clear directives, you can cultivate a cohesive customer experience, ultimately enhancing recognition and trust. Here are four vital components to include in your brand guidelines: Logo Usage: Define how your logo should appear in various contexts. Color Palettes: Specify the colors that represent your brand. Typography: Select fonts that align with your brand voice. Voice and Messaging: Establish a tone that resonates with your target audience. Implementing these guidelines can greatly increase your brand loyalty and visibility. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 3 7 27 Rule of Branding? The 3 7 27 Rule of Branding states that a customer needs to see your brand’s message three times, hear it seven times, and engage with it 27 times for it to resonate. This emphasizes the importance of repeated exposure to build recognition. The “3” focuses on visual impressions, the “7” on auditory interactions, and the “27” on deeper connections, like social media engagement. Consistent messaging across channels improves brand visibility and consumer trust. How Much Do Branding Services Cost? Branding services can vary greatly in cost. You might encounter hourly rates between $70 and $300, depending on the agency’s experience and location. Many agencies set minimum budgets, often starting at around $1,000 and potentially exceeding $50,000 for extensive projects. Design-focused agencies typically charge between $125 and $175 per hour. Moreover, some agencies offer subscription models that include unlimited revisions, which can provide a cost-effective option for ongoing branding needs. What Is Included in Branding Services? Branding services typically include several key components. You’ll find brand strategy development, which outlines your mission and values. Logo and visual identity creation is essential, as your logo is often the first impression. Thorough brand guidelines guarantee consistency in marketing materials, covering logo usage and color palettes. Furthermore, digital branding focuses on website design, whereas marketing collateral design includes brochures and business cards, reinforcing your brand messaging and enhancing credibility through professional design. How Much Does a Branding Suite Cost? The cost of a branding suite can range from $1,000 to over $10,000. This variation depends on the services included and the agency’s expertise. You might pay around $150 per hour for branding services, or choose packages for savings. Some agencies offer subscription-based services, starting at about $1,800 monthly, which allows for unlimited requests. Furthermore, consider minimum budget requirements, which can vary from $1,000 to $50,000 based on project scope. Conclusion Investing in branding services is vital for small businesses aiming to improve their market presence. By focusing on brand strategy, visual identity, and messaging, you can establish a strong foundation. Furthermore, optimizing your website and social media branding increases visibility and engagement. Implementing consistent brand guidelines guarantees recognition and promotes loyalty among customers. Prioritizing these seven fundamental services will help you build a cohesive brand that drives growth and connects effectively with your target audience. Image Via Envato This article, "7 Essential Branding Services for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of growing your small business, establishing a strong brand is fundamental. You’ll need to focus on several key services that can enhance your market presence. These include developing a brand strategy, creating a visual identity, and crafting effective brand messaging. Each component plays a significant role in how your business is perceived. Let’s explore these important branding services and how they can contribute to your overall success. Key Takeaways Develop a clear brand strategy to define identity, mission, values, and unique selling proposition for market positioning. Create a cohesive visual identity, including logos, color palettes, and typography, to enhance brand recognition and recall. Establish consistent brand messaging and voice to build trust and emotional connections with customers. Optimize a user-friendly website for SEO and ensure alignment with offline branding for a strong online presence. Utilize social media branding to engage customers, promote loyalty, and leverage user-generated content for increased sales. Brand Strategy Development When you commence on the voyage of brand strategy development, it’s essential to establish a clear blueprint that defines your brand’s identity. This includes outlining your mission, values, and vision, which differentiate you from competitors. You’ll need to determine your unique selling proposition (USP) and market positioning to attract and retain customers effectively. Consider engaging branding companies for customized support and guidance during this process. A well-crafted brand strategy additionally defines your brand personality, helping create a relatable image for your target audience. As the brand development cost varies, investing in branding services for small business can greatly improve your market presence. Visual Identity Creation Creating a strong visual identity is vital for your brand, as it encapsulates your brand’s essence and personality through key elements like logos, color palettes, typography, and imagery. A cohesive visual identity can greatly improve brand recognition, making it easier for consumers to identify and remember your brand. Here are four important aspects to keep in mind: Logos: Your logo should reflect your brand’s values. Color Palettes: Choose colors that evoke the right emotions. Typography: Select fonts that match your brand’s personality. Imagery: Use images that resonate with your target audience. Investing in a professional brand designer for small businesses can streamline this process, but always take into account the cost for branding and branding services pricing to guarantee it fits your budget. Brand Messaging and Voice Establishing a consistent brand voice is vital for nurturing trust and loyalty among your customers. When your messaging aligns with your brand’s core values and tells a compelling story, it helps create a connection that resonates with your audience. To achieve this, consider developing a copy style guide that guarantees every communication reflects your brand’s personality and remains cohesive across all platforms. Consistent Brand Voice To build a strong connection with your audience, maintaining a consistent brand voice is essential. Establishing this voice involves defining characteristics that resonate with your target audience. Collaborate with a local branding agency to guarantee your messaging remains uniform across all channels. Here are four key elements to focus on: Genuineness: Be authentic in your communications to build trust. Friendliness: Use a warm tone that invites engagement. Humor: Light-heartedness can make your brand relatable. Clarity: Ensure your messaging is easy to understand and remember. Storytelling for Connection Storytelling serves as a strong tool for building an emotional connection with your audience, allowing them to relate to your brand on a personal level. When your brand story resonates with consumers, 55% are likely to make a purchase, indicating the influence of effective storytelling. A well-defined brand voice improves consistency in communication, nurturing trust and loyalty. This trust is crucial for long-term business success. Verify your messaging aligns with your core values and mission, making it authentic to your audience. Utilizing a copy style guide can help maintain coherent messaging across various platforms, reinforcing your brand identity. Remember, brands that communicate their story effectively can see a 15% increase in immediate purchases, demonstrating the significance of connection. Messaging Alignment Strategies Aligning your brand messaging and voice with your core values is key to building a strong connection with your audience. Consistency in messaging cultivates trust, and customers often seek brands that share their values. To effectively align your messaging, consider these strategies: Define Your Core Values: Clearly identify what your brand stands for and communicate these values consistently. Develop a Copy Style Guide: Guarantee your brand voice remains coherent across all platforms for maximum recognition. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Engage your audience with storytelling that resonates emotionally and reflects your brand identity. Monitor Feedback: Continuously evaluate how your audience responds to your messaging and adjust accordingly to strengthen connections. These steps can greatly improve your brand’s relationship with consumers. Website and Digital Branding Creating a strong online presence is essential for small businesses, as your website often serves as the first point of contact with potential customers. A visually appealing and functional site can greatly impact user engagement and conversion rates. To improve your online visibility, optimize your website for search engines (SEO), which can lead to increased traffic. Guarantee consistency between your online and offline brand identity, as this reinforces brand recognition and trust. Focus on user experience (UX) design to provide a seamless interaction for visitors. Moreover, incorporate brand messaging and storytelling within your website content, allowing you to connect meaningfully with your audience. This approach helps cultivate customer loyalty and engagement, making your digital branding efforts more effective. Marketing Collateral Design In terms of marketing collateral design, you’ll want to focus on creating effective materials like brochures, business cards, and flyers that reflect your brand’s identity. Professional design is essential, as it establishes credibility and guarantees consistency across all your promotional materials. Types of Marketing Collateral How can you effectively utilize various types of marketing collateral to improve your brand’s presence? By leveraging diverse promotional materials, you can reinforce your brand messaging and keep it fresh in consumers’ minds. Here are four crucial types of marketing collateral to evaluate: Brochures – These provide in-depth information about your products or services, showcasing your offerings clearly. Business Cards – A potent networking tool, they convey your contact information and brand identity succinctly. Flyers – Use these for promotions or events, capturing attention with lively designs and compelling copy. Presentations – Customized for meetings or pitches, they help communicate your brand story effectively, nurturing deeper connections. Importance of Professional Design Professional design plays a critical role in shaping the perception of your brand, as it establishes credibility and nurtures trust among consumers. High-quality marketing collateral, like brochures and business cards, improves your brand’s image, making it more polished and appealing. Studies show that consistent and visually appealing materials can boost brand recall, potentially increasing revenue by up to 23%. Effective design communicates your key messages clearly, helping your audience understand your values and offerings. Additionally, engaging visuals drive customer interaction; 47% of consumers are more likely to engage with well-designed content. Ultimately, compelling marketing materials lead to higher conversion rates, as 79% of consumers prefer brands that offer striking visuals alongside their messaging. Invest in professional design to maximize your impact. Consistency Across Materials Achieving consistency across your marketing collateral is essential for reinforcing your brand’s identity and building consumer trust. When your promotional materials, like brochures and business cards, reflect a unified design, it makes a lasting impression. Here are four key elements to take into account: Color Palette: Use a consistent set of colors to create a recognizable visual identity. Typography: Choose one or two fonts that convey your brand’s personality and stick with them. Brand Guidelines: Develop clear guidelines to guarantee your messaging is consistent across all materials. Visual Appeal: Ascertain your designs not only look good but also communicate your brand’s values effectively. Social Media Branding Social media branding plays a crucial role in establishing your business’s identity across various platforms, ensuring that your visual elements, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, align with your overarching brand strategy. Engaging with your audience can greatly boost brand awareness, as studies indicate that 54% of users browse products on social media before purchasing. Crafting a unique brand voice helps build trust and promote customer loyalty. Furthermore, leveraging user-generated content can greatly improve your branding, influencing 79% of consumers’ purchasing decisions. Consistency in your branding can lead to a 20% increase in customer engagement. Element Importance Impact on Business Visual Identity Creates recognition Boosts brand recall Brand Voice Builds trust Encourages loyalty User-Generated Content Improves credibility Influences decisions Consistency Increases engagement Improves interaction Brand Guidelines and Consistency Brand guidelines play a crucial role in maintaining a consistent visual identity across all platforms and materials. These guidelines act as a rulebook for your branding efforts, ensuring that every piece of communication reflects your brand’s core values. By establishing clear directives, you can cultivate a cohesive customer experience, ultimately enhancing recognition and trust. Here are four vital components to include in your brand guidelines: Logo Usage: Define how your logo should appear in various contexts. Color Palettes: Specify the colors that represent your brand. Typography: Select fonts that align with your brand voice. Voice and Messaging: Establish a tone that resonates with your target audience. Implementing these guidelines can greatly increase your brand loyalty and visibility. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 3 7 27 Rule of Branding? The 3 7 27 Rule of Branding states that a customer needs to see your brand’s message three times, hear it seven times, and engage with it 27 times for it to resonate. This emphasizes the importance of repeated exposure to build recognition. The “3” focuses on visual impressions, the “7” on auditory interactions, and the “27” on deeper connections, like social media engagement. Consistent messaging across channels improves brand visibility and consumer trust. How Much Do Branding Services Cost? Branding services can vary greatly in cost. You might encounter hourly rates between $70 and $300, depending on the agency’s experience and location. Many agencies set minimum budgets, often starting at around $1,000 and potentially exceeding $50,000 for extensive projects. Design-focused agencies typically charge between $125 and $175 per hour. Moreover, some agencies offer subscription models that include unlimited revisions, which can provide a cost-effective option for ongoing branding needs. What Is Included in Branding Services? Branding services typically include several key components. You’ll find brand strategy development, which outlines your mission and values. Logo and visual identity creation is essential, as your logo is often the first impression. Thorough brand guidelines guarantee consistency in marketing materials, covering logo usage and color palettes. Furthermore, digital branding focuses on website design, whereas marketing collateral design includes brochures and business cards, reinforcing your brand messaging and enhancing credibility through professional design. How Much Does a Branding Suite Cost? The cost of a branding suite can range from $1,000 to over $10,000. This variation depends on the services included and the agency’s expertise. You might pay around $150 per hour for branding services, or choose packages for savings. Some agencies offer subscription-based services, starting at about $1,800 monthly, which allows for unlimited requests. Furthermore, consider minimum budget requirements, which can vary from $1,000 to $50,000 based on project scope. Conclusion Investing in branding services is vital for small businesses aiming to improve their market presence. By focusing on brand strategy, visual identity, and messaging, you can establish a strong foundation. Furthermore, optimizing your website and social media branding increases visibility and engagement. Implementing consistent brand guidelines guarantees recognition and promotes loyalty among customers. Prioritizing these seven fundamental services will help you build a cohesive brand that drives growth and connects effectively with your target audience. Image Via Envato This article, "7 Essential Branding Services for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The Detroit-based mortgage bank's announcement trailed competitors' by over two weeks, but is taking a more aggressive risk-reward stance on the limit. View the full article

Google’s new AI-powered search experience isn’t eating into ad revenue – even as AI Overviews answer more questions directly on the results page. While some queries may see fewer ad clicks, overall query volume is rising, keeping ad performance “relatively stable,” Liz Reid, Google’s head of Search, said in a new interview. Ads and revenue impact. Google’s AI era looks a lot like its mobile moment – feared at first, but fueling more searches and steady ad dollars. Here’s what Reid said. Ad revenue with AI Overviews is “relatively stable.” Some queries lose ad clicks, but total query volume rises when answers are faster or easier – offsetting the dip. (“Some queries may get less clicks on ads, but also it grows overall queries, so people do more searches, right? And so those two things end up balancing out.”) Commercial searches still require an action. (“So if the ads are for shoes, you might get an answer in AI Overviews, but you still have to buy the shoes, right? Like none of the AI ones substitute the need for the actual pair of shoes.”) Today’s AI transition is like the transition to mobile, when skeptics doubted Google could adapt ads to smaller screens, but the shift boosted growth for Google. (“People asked similar questions when the time of mobile came, right? Like, ‘Oh, will you actually be able to have an ads product in the mobile space? The phone is so small. You’re such a desktop product. Are you gonna be able to transition?’ And it actually proved very healthy for us, right?”) Ads and AI Overviews. How and where people search is changing, but the habit of searching is growing, not shrinking. Some other things Reid pointed out on the podcast: Google can show ads above or below AI Overviews; impact varies by layout and query. Many informational queries never had ads – with or without AI Overviews. Tools like Google Lens lower the effort to ask. When you drop that barrier, people ask more – and that lifts overall search volume. AI Overviews set context, but users still click through when they need to verify, compare, or buy. Why we care. Reid’s comments suggest Google’s AI evolution is expanding the paid search funnel, not shrinking it. Users may click differently, but they’re still converting – which means paid search remains a reliable performance channel for brands. The interview. The Google Exec Reinventing Search in the AI Era | WSJ’s Bold Names View the full article

ChatGPT maker has boundless ambition, but how much can it achieve before suffering a serious case of indigestion?View the full article

U.S. stock indexes are ticking higher on Thursday following an encouraging signal for the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, though trading has been erratic this week, and stocks have repeatedly swung between gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 85 points, or 0.2%, as of 11 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.7% higher. Technology stocks helped lead the way after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a bigger jump in profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Chief Financial Officer Wendell Huang also said TSMC expects “continued strong demand for our leading-edge process technologies” going into the end of the year. That’s important for the U.S. stock market because TSMC is a critical player at the center of the AI frenzy, making chips for such companies as Nvidia. TSMC’s stock that trades in Taiwan climbed 1.4%, though its stock that trades in the United States slipped 0.5%. Nvidia rose 1.4% and was the strongest single force lifting the S&P 500 because it’s Wall Street’s most valuable stock. AI stocks have been at the center of Wall Street’s surge to record after record this year, even though inflation is still high and the job market is slowing. AI stocks have shot so high that critics worry about another possible bubble, like the one that enveloped dot-com stocks and eventually imploded in 2000. U.S. companies broadly are under pressure to deliver stronger profits after the S&P 500 surged 35% from a low in April. To justify those gains, which critics say made their stock prices too expensive, companies will need to show they’re making much more in profit and will continue to do so. Salesforce climbed 4.5% and was one of the strongest forces pushing upward on the Dow after the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, unveiled a plan to deliver more than 10% in compounded annual revenue growth in coming years. J.B. Hunt Transport Services trucked 18.8% higher after the freight company breezed past Wall Street’s profit targets in the third quarter. They helped offset a 2.7% drop for Travelers, even though the insurer reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of forecasts. Hewlett Packard Enterprise sank 8.5% after giving long-term financial targets that some analysts found underwhelming. In stock markets abroad, indexes climbed across much of Asia and Europe. South Korea’s Kospi soared 2.5% on hopes that a trade deal may be coming between Seoul and Washington. Samsung Electronics and automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. were among the big gainers. In China, where trade tensions have been rising with the United States, indexes added 0.1% in Shanghai and slipped 0.1% in Hong Kong. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.03% from 4.05% late Wednesday. A report in the morning said manufacturing activity in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly shrinking. It’s one of the few windows into the economy that the Federal Reserve has been getting recently as it tries to figure out whether high inflation or the weak job market should be the bigger concern for the economy. The U.S. government’s latest shutdown is delaying important updates on the economy, such as a weekly update on unemployment claims that typically helps guides trading on Wall Street each Thursday. A day earlier, an important report on inflation was also delayed. Fed officials have hinted that the job market may be the more important factor now in their thinking, which would clear the way for more cuts to interest rates. Expectations for such cuts have been a major driver for the U.S. stock market recently, but a jump in inflation could force the Fed to stop. —Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Writers Teresa Cerojano and Matt Ott contributed. View the full article

A reader writes: Should you always call to let a candidate know that they won’t be getting a job offer? Here’s the context: I’ve gotten calls and emails letting me know when I wasn’t accepted for a position. And my colleagues and I all agree that we hate getting phone calls. It’s awkward! If you don’t answer the phone, you’re not going to get a voicemail telling you you didn’t get the job, you’ll get a voicemail asking you to call back. Which means you’ll get excited thinking you’re getting a job offer! And then you’re live on the phone with a hiring manager trying to manage an awkward conversation. I’ve taken to emailing rejected candidates rather than calling, for these reasons. I take it as a kindness, rather than getting their hopes up for nothing. But recently, a week after I sent the rejection, a candidate sent me a long email expressing her disappointment having gone through a long hiring process only to receive an email and not a phone call. I haven’t responded yet, but I plan to share why I send emails and thank her again for her time. What’s your opinion on the matter? I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. The post should you reject candidates by phone or email? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

It’s been two years since Howard Schultz retired from the board of directors of Starbucks, a company he founded and led for decades, but he still enjoys chatting with customers—as he did on Tuesday before sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with Dan Roth, editor-in-chief of LinkedIn. Schultz was curious to know what a customer thought of the coffee chain’s protein lattes that debuted last month and he says there’s no better place to source this information than one of the 40,000-plus Starbucks locations around the world. A sense of curiosity is important for a business leader, as well as a willingness to “be in the mud” and learn directly from customers, Schultz said during an interview broadcast to LinkedIn Premium members. “We have thousands of stores, so I’m in the stores, that’s where the action is,” says Schultz, who now serves as chairman emeritus for Starbucks. “I want to observe the experience.” Schultz didn’t discuss Brian Niccol’s turnaround strategy for Starbucks, other than crediting the CEO with making a “big bet” on the human experience, nor did he address the recent news that the company plans to close North American store locations and eliminate 900 jobs. But Schultz did talk about why a so-called “third place,” where people can convene, is so important today, especially as artificial intelligence and other technology disrupt how many people do their work. “We have made the strong decision that we are a people company and we want people to serve our customers,” Schultz says. “You’re not going to see a robot at Starbucks.” ‘Worry with a big W’ But that doesn’t mean Schultz is anti-AI. In fact, he calls himself a supporter of the technology because he sees the potential for it to benefit both companies and consumers—and Starbucks has invested in AI to help with back-of-house operations. But Shultz does worry about the “arms race” that’s underway both between companies and countries and that regulators may enact guardrails only when it’s too late—as was true with the evolution of social media. He hopes that lessons learned from the lack of governance in the early days of social media will encourage more responsible oversight of AI. “The ramifications could be so severe that I just wish there was an opportunity to understand the responsibility that comes with the technology that is going a million miles an hour,” Schultz says. “I worry with a big W about the impact this could have that could be adverse.” Building a ‘currency of trust’ While running the Seattle-based coffee giant for decades, Schultz grappled with all sorts of challenges—including in 2008 when he recalled Starbucks was in “deep trouble” and he had to decide what type of speech to give to 10,000 store managers. Though he was advised not to tell these managers how bad things really were, Schultz felt it was more important to trust the managers with this information so everyone could align on how to recalibrate. Though employees do want a visionary leader, they also want authenticity and the truth, Schultz says, and that’s especially true in an era when people don’t trust much of anything. Being human—including being vulnerable and even crying in front of employees, as Schultz has—is the only way to build a “currency of trust,” he adds. What a values-driven company looks like As a publicly traded company for most of its existence, Starbucks has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders, though Schultz says that most of the company’s decisions come from a place of humility and understanding what’s best for customers and employees. That’s why he started a practice several years ago to leave two chairs empty during board meetings to represent baristas and customers. After returning to Starbucks as interim CEO in 2022, Schultz announced the company would end its stock buyback program and instead invest that money into its workforce—a decision that only worsened a stock selloff during that time. As a leader, he says it’s important to play a long game with such decisions, lead with your heart, and establish empathy and compassion. “If you take care of your shareholders, in a way, as the primary focus, you’re going to lose your people and your customers,” Schultz says. “Starbucks is living proof after 50-plus years that you can make significant investments in your people that are not [an] expense but an investment that is going to return to the shareholder.” Why love is so important Even if it’s a “fragile” time we’re living in right now, Schultz says he finds reason to be optimistic and hopeful about people—and he says the human experience will remain front and center at Starbucks. Schultz was famously inspired by Italian cafe culture when he founded Il Giornale, which later served as a model for Starbucks. Reflecting back to the 1980s, when he was building Starbucks at the same time he was starting a family, he says the values, characteristics, and guiding principles of both endeavors are very similar. And so is a sense of love, which is a word he says you won’t find in any textbook or class at the likes of Harvard Business School. “You have to instill love inside your company and people need to feel loved and it has to be joyous, it has to be fun,” Schultz says. View the full article

In a groundbreaking move aimed at empowering small businesses, Square has unveiled new bitcoin tools that promise to streamline payments and enhance financial management. As bitcoin continues to gain traction as both a digital currency and an investment asset, Square, under the Block umbrella, positions itself at the forefront of making this cryptocurrency accessible and functional for everyday transactions. Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block, emphasized the dual focus of these new tools: “The bitcoin tools we’re building at Square deliver on two critical needs: ensuring sellers never miss a sale, and giving them access to powerful financial tools that help them more easily manage and grow their finances.” This statement underscores the potential for small businesses to leverage bitcoin not merely as a speculative asset but as a viable payment method that could decrease transaction losses and foster growth. One of the standout features introduced is the Bitcoin Conversions service, now available for eligible US-based sellers. This feature allows businesses to instantly convert bitcoin into local currency at the point of sale, enhancing cash flow and easing the complexities of dealing with cryptocurrency. With Bitcoin Payments set to launch on November 10, 2025, Square is paving the way for a future where businesses can accept bitcoin as seamlessly as traditional card payments. The integration of these new tools into Square’s existing ecosystem also includes Cash App’s capabilities for buying, selling, and transferring bitcoin, a self-custody wallet called Bitkey, and an array of bitcoin mining products under the Proto brand. This comprehensive approach means small business owners can access a variety of services aimed at enhancing their financial operations, often reserved for larger corporations. For small businesses considering adoption, the ability to offer bitcoin as a payment option could attract a new customer base of cryptocurrency users. Suter points out that Square is positioned “to make bitcoin everyday money, not just a store of value – while also helping sellers future-proof their operations.” As consumer preferences shift towards digital transactions, integrating bitcoin could provide businesses with a competitive edge. However, with opportunities come challenges. Small business owners should be mindful of the volatility that often accompanies bitcoin prices. Fluctuations can impact pricing strategies, making it crucial for business owners to develop a strategy that mitigates potential losses. Keeping abreast of cryptocurrency regulations is equally important, as they may vary by state or region, adding complexity to compliance efforts. Moreover, the learning curve associated with cryptocurrency tools might deter some small business owners. Implementing new technology and updating payment systems require time and resources. Therefore, business owners should evaluate their readiness to adopt these innovations, considering potential training for staff and how to communicate these options to customers effectively. As Small business owners increasingly seek innovative ways to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations, Square’s new bitcoin tools provide a promising avenue. By allowing seamless bitcoin transactions, coupled with powerful financial management features, Square enables businesses to harness the full potential of this digital currency. For those interested in exploring these new tools further, more information can be found on Square’s dedicated webpage: Square Bitcoin. As the landscape of financial transactions continues to evolve, small businesses that adapt to these changes could find themselves leading the charge in a future increasingly influenced by cryptocurrency. Image via Square This article, "Square Unveils New Bitcoin Tools to Empower Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a groundbreaking move aimed at empowering small businesses, Square has unveiled new bitcoin tools that promise to streamline payments and enhance financial management. As bitcoin continues to gain traction as both a digital currency and an investment asset, Square, under the Block umbrella, positions itself at the forefront of making this cryptocurrency accessible and functional for everyday transactions. Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block, emphasized the dual focus of these new tools: “The bitcoin tools we’re building at Square deliver on two critical needs: ensuring sellers never miss a sale, and giving them access to powerful financial tools that help them more easily manage and grow their finances.” This statement underscores the potential for small businesses to leverage bitcoin not merely as a speculative asset but as a viable payment method that could decrease transaction losses and foster growth. One of the standout features introduced is the Bitcoin Conversions service, now available for eligible US-based sellers. This feature allows businesses to instantly convert bitcoin into local currency at the point of sale, enhancing cash flow and easing the complexities of dealing with cryptocurrency. With Bitcoin Payments set to launch on November 10, 2025, Square is paving the way for a future where businesses can accept bitcoin as seamlessly as traditional card payments. The integration of these new tools into Square’s existing ecosystem also includes Cash App’s capabilities for buying, selling, and transferring bitcoin, a self-custody wallet called Bitkey, and an array of bitcoin mining products under the Proto brand. This comprehensive approach means small business owners can access a variety of services aimed at enhancing their financial operations, often reserved for larger corporations. For small businesses considering adoption, the ability to offer bitcoin as a payment option could attract a new customer base of cryptocurrency users. Suter points out that Square is positioned “to make bitcoin everyday money, not just a store of value – while also helping sellers future-proof their operations.” As consumer preferences shift towards digital transactions, integrating bitcoin could provide businesses with a competitive edge. However, with opportunities come challenges. Small business owners should be mindful of the volatility that often accompanies bitcoin prices. Fluctuations can impact pricing strategies, making it crucial for business owners to develop a strategy that mitigates potential losses. Keeping abreast of cryptocurrency regulations is equally important, as they may vary by state or region, adding complexity to compliance efforts. Moreover, the learning curve associated with cryptocurrency tools might deter some small business owners. Implementing new technology and updating payment systems require time and resources. Therefore, business owners should evaluate their readiness to adopt these innovations, considering potential training for staff and how to communicate these options to customers effectively. As Small business owners increasingly seek innovative ways to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations, Square’s new bitcoin tools provide a promising avenue. By allowing seamless bitcoin transactions, coupled with powerful financial management features, Square enables businesses to harness the full potential of this digital currency. For those interested in exploring these new tools further, more information can be found on Square’s dedicated webpage: Square Bitcoin. As the landscape of financial transactions continues to evolve, small businesses that adapt to these changes could find themselves leading the charge in a future increasingly influenced by cryptocurrency. Image via Square This article, "Square Unveils New Bitcoin Tools to Empower Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Political veteran mentioned in collapsed prosecution of two British men over espionage allegationsView the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “As the old saying goes, we esteem too lightly that which we obtain too cheaply.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “As the old saying goes, we esteem too lightly that which we obtain too cheaply.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Are CPA firm retention tactics finally paying off? By CPA Trendlines Research The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Are CPA firm retention tactics finally paying off? By CPA Trendlines Research The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

If you use Firefox, and you're lucky, then you might be getting a free VPN. Over the next few months, Mozilla says it will be testing a "free, browser-only VPN" for some users, but you'll need to rely on the luck of the draw if you want to try it yourself. That's because Mozilla is only enabling the feature for randomly selected users, at least for now. The announcement technically came in June, but fortunate writers at a number of different tech sites are now reporting that they're finally starting to see the feature pop up. How Firefox's free VPN comparesThe VPN, once fully implemented, would put Firefox in competition with Opera and Microsoft's own Edge browser, but ahead of other alternatives like Chrome and Safari, which do not offer free VPNs at time of writing. The key selling point here, it seems, is that Firefox VPN will run on Mozilla's VPN network, which likely means it will use the same respected Mullvad servers as Mozilla's paid VPN service. Incidentally, Mullvad is currently Lifehacker's favorite VPN for privacy. That said, don't expect the same functionality from the free offering as a full Mozilla VPN subscription. While Mozilla VPN can encrypt all web traffic from up to five devices at once, Firefox VPN only covers your browser. Also, while Mozilla VPN offers servers across 30 countries, allowing you to act as if you're browsing in that country, Firefox VPN will instead automatically connect to the nearest available server, which is likely to be in the same country as you. Still, the move is a boon for privacy, as the free VPN will hide your IP address and mask your traffic from your ISP. As for Mozilla itself, the company says it will collect "only the technical data needed to keep Firefox VPN reliable and secure," and will automatically delete logs linked to your account after three months. Firefox VPN also purportedly "never logs the websites you visit or the content of your communications," and there are no stated usage limits at this time. All of that is great news, particularly as governments and websites start to ask for more personal data. Sadly, you likely won't be able to use Firefox VPN to get around a website block in your state (unless it happens to direct your traffic through another state, if you're lucky), but it's always a good idea to let websites and ISPs collect as little personal information about you as possible. How to check if you have the free Firefox VPNBecause the VPN is only going out to random testers at the moment, it could take a while until you're actually able to access it. Check if you can try out Firefox VPN by opening the browser and seeing if there's a VPN setup prompt in the top-right corner, next to the toolbar. If it's there, hit the Next button to begin. The setup process will guide you through turning it on, which will involve signing into (or creating) a Mozilla account and hitting a toggle. To turn Firefox VPN off after enabling it (useful if a website blocks VPN traffic), simply click the VPN icon in the Firefox toolbar and toggle it off. View the full article

An eight-point quick-start guide for new accounting firms. By Jackie Meyer Go PRO for members-only access to more Jackie Meyer. View the full article

An eight-point quick-start guide for new accounting firms. By Jackie Meyer Go PRO for members-only access to more Jackie Meyer. View the full article