ResidentialBusiness

With foot traffic down and Target’s stock still slumping, Taylor Swift’s new album release might be the shot in the arm the retailer needs. Target may be in the crosshairs of the culture wars, but the brand’s relationship with Taylor Swift still stands in 2025. The release of “The Life of a Showgirl” again brings a suite of special editions to Target as exclusives, luring Swifties to spread their cash around to pick up their favorite variants. But between the retailer’s faltering reputation and a smorgasbord of album options, will Swifties take their business elsewhere? Target’s very bad 2025 In January, Target announced that it would abandon longstanding initiatives tied to diversity, equity and inclusion and stop participating in external surveys focused on diversity, like the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. The news came days after the White House called for a federal ban on DEI programs. In March, Atlanta pastor Rev. Jamal Bryant called for a “Target Fast” to punish the company for turning its back on Black-owned businesses and Black consumers. “When Target broke its promises to our community — pledges made after the murder of George Floyd — we acted,” Bryant wrote on the TargetFast website. “Our response was not rooted in cancel culture, but in moral clarity.” When Target didn’t respond, what began as a limited 40-day boycott extended indefinitely, adding a call for the resignation of Target’s CEO. Boycotts don’t always end up hurting a company’s bottom line, but Target has been feeling the pain well into 2025. Target’s DEI retreat in 2025 compounded its previous decision to mute its Pride Month collection, which the company had sold for years. That decision, prompted by a conservative outcry backed by Republican lawmakers, alienated many LGBTQ customers who no longer consider the retailer a top choice when they shop. Target’s problems didn’t begin this year – the company’s share price has slumped from its pandemic peaks and trended downward since. But the brand’s carefree, youthful image has definitely taken a hit from the extended boycott and foot traffic remains down, even through the normally busy back-to-school season. Target’s CEO, who has led the company for more than a decade – including through its now-distant boom times – will depart at the beginning of next year. The Life of a Showgirl’s many faces The album, released at midnight on October 3, is available as a special limited run vinyl record at Target. The “first and only pressing” of the “The Life of a Showgirl: The Crowd Is Your King” edition is available at the retailer for $34.99. The limited edition Target version comes in pearlescent pink and light yellow (“summertime spritz pink shimmer,” for Swifties keeping track). The record is packed with a collectible double sided poster, new photos and “a poem written by Taylor herself.” Swifties that find themselves bereft of a record player can opt instead for three Target exclusive CD versions of the album (“It’s Beautiful,” “It’s Frightening” and “It’s Rapturous”) each with a special poster and unique album art for $14.99. Image via Target “At Target, every album release is a chance to celebrate with our guests,” Target’s Senior Vice President of Merchandising Cassandra Jones said in the company’s pre-sale announcement. “Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is already the year’s biggest music moment, and we’re giving fans even more reasons to get excited. From exclusive vinyl and CD editions available only at Target to midnight releases and curated music experiences in our stores, we’re proud to be a destination where fans can discover, connect and take home something truly special.” Target isn’t the only option for Swift fans hunting for special vinyl, but it might be the only choice left for fans who missed the pre-order windows. Dyed-in-the-wool Swifties likely already pre-ordered the red or white variants of the “Tiny Bubbles in Champagne Vinyl Collection” directly or the “lovely bouquet golden vinyl” or “lakeside beach blue sparkle vinyl” variants, which sold out quickly through Swift’s online store. “The Life of a Showgirl: The Shiny Bug Vinyl Collection” featuring special “violet shimmer marbled vinyl” and “wintergreen and onyx marbled vinyl” similarly sold out quickly, and is naturally all over resale websites at marked up prices. Taylor Swift speaks out Swift has broken her historical reluctance to wade into political and cultural issues in recent years. She unequivocally denounced President The President in his first term for “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism” during the protests over the murder of George Floyd, throwing the weight of her Swiftieverse behind voting him out of office. In late 2024, she backed Kamala Harris in the vice president’s last minute run, encouraging her fans to register to vote and make their own informed choices. “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post. “I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.” Swift signed off as a “childless cat lady,” a dig at JD Vance. While Swift’s politics don’t square with Target’s retreat on LGBTQ and racial justice issues, her deal with the company is nothing new. Swift has been selling exclusives through Target since at least 2008, when the retailer offered a unique collectible poster version of her album “Fearless.” For “The Death of a Showgirl,” Swift even devoted some of her prime Instagram real estate to a Target ad that depicts the star directing an awkward version of herself on set, tossing glitter at a giant sparkly pink vinyl record while almost falling over. Swift isn’t alone: Artists including Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar have promoted their own Target vinyl exclusives since the cultural fallout around the company began. Olivia Rodrigo, boygenius, Harry Styles, Lana Del Ray and many other musicians have sold their own unique vinyl exclusives through the retailer in recent years. Last year, Target carried an exclusive “phantom” clear vinyl pressing of Swift’s release, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which the company said broke its record for the largest music pre-order in its history. Over the years, Target has offered at least 13 unique versions of Taylor Swift’s albums, counting “The Life of a Showgirl.” While Swift’s ongoing Target deal might not sit well with many Swifties given the company’s recent direction, only time and sales numbers will tell if the allure of that sparkly, pink record proves too much to resist. View the full article

The idea of meditating can be intimidating. Beginners may imagine sitting uncomfortably in silence while breathing deeply and scrubbing all thoughts from their minds. The prospect of trying those techniques at work may feel embarrassing. But there are ways to bring short, inconspicuous sessions into the workday if you want to see if meditation can help you deal with challenging customers or reduce anxiety while preparing for a presentation. And experienced practitioners say there’s no right or wrong way to do it. “Meditation is quite easy, as a matter of fact. I think there’s a stigma around it, that you have to be in complete silence, and you have to have some room setup, or do some chanting, or some serious breathing,” said Michelle Beyer, a wellness coach who owns the Brooklyn women’s gym Alana Life & Fitness. “There’s one-minute meditations you can do to make yourself feel great. Nobody will even know you’re doing them.” While there are different meditation techniques, many traditions encourage focusing on breathing to help calm the mind. When thoughts pop up, imagine letting them go. Practitioners say meditating before or at work helps them maintain focus, sit still and reduce stress. “There is a calm that I am definitely missing when I have forgotten to do it for a few days,” said Brianna Healy, who meditates for 10 minutes daily before starting her job as assistant director of strategic initiatives and data solutions at Naropa University, a college in Boulder, Colorado, that is inspired by Buddhist principles. “I can always tell the difference in my demeanor.” If you feel pressed for time, try fitting meditation sessions into breaks. You can set a timer and focus on breathing while sitting at a desk, in a restroom, inside a vehicle or outside, Beyer said. Here are some easy mini-meditations to try out on the job. A pre-work pause Commuters can consider getting to work a little early and taking a pause in their cars or a quiet location to decompress from getting out the door and to your destination, said Kathryn Remati, a meditation teacher and author of “Befriend Yourself.” If you only have a minute or two, that’s still enough time to try Remati’s instructions for a quick reset. Close your eyes and take a long, slow, deep breath to fill your tummy and lungs with air, she said. Hold the breath for a second, and then slowly breathe out like you’re blowing out a candle. “You’ll immediately feel a shift and you’ll feel like a human again,” Remati said. While repeating that process, consider setting a positive intention, or goal, for the day. Instead of focusing on a to-do list, think about how you want behave towards others, she said. Some intention examples are, “Today I’m going to be productive, but I’m also going to a good listener” or “I want to have a positive attitude,” she said. Picture your bliss Visualization is another technique that experienced meditators use. Picture yourself succeeding at the challenges you’ll encounter that day. If there’s an upcoming deadline, envision yourself finishing the task 10 minutes early. Jumping for joy. Get specific like a movie director and imagine the colors in the room or the feeling of wind on your face, Remati said. Throughout the day, “you can bring up that image anytime you need it to refocus,” she said. You can also use visualization to reframe your perspective on colleagues or clients. A technique Remati recommends putting into practice before meetings may seem quirky: Envision a white light over the meeting room’s doorway that showers the people entering with brightness. Remati says it may help you imagine them in a better light. “You can even put some sort of pink bubble around people,” she added. Body scan Another short meditation that can be done almost anywhere involves breathing deeply and mentally scanning your body for sensations, a technique popularized in the U.S. by mindfulness practitioner Jon Kabat-Zinn. Depending on your location and comfort level, you can keep your eyes open or closed. Inhale through the nose and out through the mouth. Start with your feet and work your way up, noticing any areas with pain, tightness, tingling, warmth or other sensations. Think about relaxing the muscles of any spots where there’s tension. “You’re intentionally scanning your body,” Beyer said. “You’re thinking about, how do your feet feel in your shoes? How do your ankles feel? Knees, hips, ribs, shoulders, neck, head, and by the time you know it, you checked in with every part of your body.” Finger and thumb Another discreet meditation technique is breathing deeply and joining your pointer finger to your thumb to form a circle. You can do this if you feel your stress level rising. “Say to yourself, whenever I put my finger and thumb together, I will be able to be peaceful and open-minded,” Remati said. If you’re in a meeting and start to feel resentful or left out, you can do it under the table, and no one will know, she added. Remati does this herself if she notices she’s becoming judgmental or short-tempered. “You just do the finger and thumb, take a nice deep breath, get grounded, and then get back into the meeting and feeling positive,” she said. Inhaling in and humming out One of Beyer’s favorite techniques is best done when there aren’t a lot of people nearby. Truck drivers can do it in traffic. You inhale, and then when you’re breathing out, you hum with your lips closed, she said. “It’s going to immediately take down stress levels in the body and even in the mind,” Beyer said. “When you inhale and you focus on humming, then your brain is focused on that, not the ‘what ifs’ or the worries that like to take over when we feel stressed.” If you feel self-conscious about humming in a quiet office, you can step outside or head to a noisier place. Shoulder and jaw release The shoulder and jaw release technique also may help relax the bodies of train passengers or drivers or stuck in traffic, Beyer said. To start, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Repeat that, and then on the third exhale, roll your shoulders back. Inhale a fourth time and then on the next exhale relax your tongue and jaw, Beyer said. Finally, inhale again, bring your attention to your hands and just let them hang heavy, she said. Then breathe in and out a sixth time. Mantras and affirmations Another technique Remati encourages is saying mantras or affirmations, which are positive statements or slogans you repeat to yourself. You can write them down and say them in your head or out loud while breathing deeply, before a meeting or at any point throughout the day. Some phrases you might say: “I am calm.” Deep breath. “I am confident.” Deep breath. “I am ready for success,” Remati suggested. “I speak my truth. I am patient. I am here for the highest good of all.” ___ Send your workplace questions and story ideas to cbussewitz@ap.org. Follow AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health at https://apnews.com/hub/be-well. —Cathy Bussewitz, Associated Press View the full article

Microsoft is rolling out the new and updated Bing Places for Business. “Today, we are excited to announce the launch of the new Bing Places for Business experience —an evolution shaped by deep user research, thoughtful design, and a commitment to help business owners thrive in local search,” the company announced today. What is new. Microsoft updated the overall design and layout for Bing Places, moved the domain name, improved the import process and added a recommendation tool. Microsoft said the updates “move simplifies access, improves trust, and aligns Bing Places with the broader Bing ecosystem.” They also moved from www.bingplaces.com to www.bing.com/forbusiness. The new import flow is faster, more reliable, and better at preserving key attributes like business name, hours, and contact details, according to the company. Plus there is a new recommendation tool that will recommend and suggest things like: Add Photos that attract attention Add key missing Business details that drive engagement like website link, hours of operations, social media links Segment specific suggestions like adding a menu link or online order link for restaurants Automated migration. Microsoft said that those on the old interface will be automatically moved to the new interface. “Our current users and their business listings will be automatically migrated to the new account and current users will be redirected to this brand-new experience when they login with their Bing Places for Business credentials,” Microsoft wrote. More to come. Microsoft said we should expect more updates and improvements to Bing Places in the future. “We are continuing to invest in features that make Bing Places for Business more powerful and accessible—from deeper integrations with Bing Maps and Copilot to expanded support for agencies and other partners.” Why we care. If you are a business or manage business listings online, you should review the new Bing Places for Business. This will help you ensure all the data is accurate for those businesses and that any recommendations Microsoft recommends are on your radar. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. I've tested a lot of smart glasses for Lifehacker, and it's tricky to compare them because the category is all over the place. Some "smart glasses," like Chamelo’s Music Shield, are stylish accessories with built-in speakers; others, like the XReal One Pro, are cutting-edge display glasses packed with tech. So lining them up side by side is like kiwis-to-tangelos. But there is one thing that almost every pair of smart glasses shares: they play sounds. So I decided to focus on just that—how these glasses actually sound—using every pair I own, from $650 XReal One Pros to $25, get-em-at-Walmart WearIQ glasses. And it was weirdly difficult. The challenge of comparing audio in smart glassesThere are two big hurdles to judging audio quality in smart glasses: Subjectivity. There’s no universal scale for “good sound.” Even if I measured the frequency response or output or something, that wouldn’t tell the whole story—mixing, balance, and how our ears interpret sound all matter too. So it's all subjective. Open-ear limitations. All open-ear audio is terrible for music compared to just about any other way of listening to it. The gap between the speaker and your ear means the bass gets lost, and the speakers are necessarily tiny, so everything trends toward the tinny side. Until someone manages to squeeze a subwoofer into a pair of sunglasses, even a $40 pair of earbuds will beat the most expensive smart glasses for playing back music. How I testedTo keep things consistent, I listened to the same track for every pair: Billie Eilish’s "Bad Guy." It’s bass-heavy, with lots of spatial production elements, which makes it a solid stress test for both low-end response and clarity; the finger-snaps are a good test of high frequencies, and Eilish's voice is a nice test for the mids. I'll start with the strongest glasses first and work my way down to the worst of the bunch. XReal One Pro XReal One Pro AR Glasses $798.00 at Amazon $968.00 Save $170.00 Get Deal Get Deal $798.00 at Amazon $968.00 Save $170.00 XReal's AR-ready display glasses are at the top of the list for audio quality. XReal One Pros are a high-end piece of kit, with audio to match. The highs and mids are subtle, they handle the spatial effects well, and the bass almost sounds like bass. These glasses' sound system, developed by Bose, is as good as I’ve heard from a pair of smart glasses. Ray-Ban Metas Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses $263.00 at Best Buy Get Deal Get Deal $263.00 at Best Buy Ray-Ban Metas are my daily drivers, so maybe I'm a little biased, but the mids sounds "warmer" than in competing glasses, and the highs sound clear. Bass isn’t amazing, but it’s serviceable. They're comfortable for everyday listening. Chamelo Music Shield Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses $259.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $259.99 at Amazon Chamelo Music Shields have “music” right in the name, so you’d expect good things, and they mostly deliver. They come closer than anything else here to sounding "bass-y," (but it's really far from shaking your guts), but the top end is a little tinny. It's a subtle difference from the Meta glasses above and the BleeqUps below, but it's there. For me, anyway. BleeqUp Cycling Glasses BleeqUp AI Sports Camera Glasses $449.00 at BleeqUp Get Deal Get Deal $449.00 at BleeqUp These audio/video sports glasses have a nice sound system, including an "extra loud" mode to account for windy conditions when you're out on a bike ride or trail run. They sound nice, warm, and balanced at medium volume, but cranking them up adds harshness and sharpness, particularly on the higher end. Reebok Audio Smart Glasses Reebok Nitrous Smart Audio Sunglasses $199.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $199.00 at Amazon The difference in audio quality between almost all of these smart glasses is subtle, even more so among the entries in the middle of the pack. Having switched between various smart glasses more times than I care to admit, I prefer the audio of Chamelo Music Shield, the closest competitor to Reebok's audio glasses, but the music controls on Reebok's smart glasses are preferable, so it's really close. Rokid Max 2 Rokid Max 2 AR Glasses $429.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $429.00 at Amazon The audio from Rokid Max 2 glasses isn't bad, but the bass is weaker than the similar display glasses from XReal, and the overall clarity feels slightly mushy. Some listeners might put these higher on the list, but for me they lag just behind the top tier. WeariQ Wireless Smart Glasses WeariQ Smart Audio Glasses $24.88 at Walmart $29.88 Save $5.00 Get Deal Get Deal $24.88 at Walmart $29.88 Save $5.00 You can buy these WeariQ "smart glasses" for about $25, so they're almost 10 times cheaper than any other glasses listed here. They work, too: the Bluetooth connects with no problem and sounds come out of the speakers. They don't sound great—the audio is tinny and distorts at high volume—but they exceeded my (very low) expectations and didn't even come in last place. Solos AI Powered Glasses SOLOS AI Powered Glasses $249.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $249.00 at Amazon Even the $25 WearIQ glasses sound better than these: in a blind test with two other people, we all chose WearIQ over Solos. The Solos are all hissy top-end with no balance—fine for voice, maybe, but music is unlistenable. To be fair, these are last year's model of glasses, so perhaps newer models have improved the audio. View the full article

A Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system is a management strategy designed to reduce waste by producing and delivering products only as needed. This approach minimizes excess stock, cutting storage costs and improving cash flow. By relying on precise demand forecasting and strong supplier relationships, businesses can respond quickly to market changes. Companies like Toyota have successfully implemented JIT, enhancing operational efficiency. Comprehending its key principles and benefits can greatly impact your organization’s performance. What factors should you consider for effective implementation? Key Takeaways Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management produces goods only as needed, minimizing excess stock and reducing carrying costs. JIT relies on accurate demand forecasting and strong supplier relationships for timely material delivery. The Kanban system is used in JIT to visually manage inventory levels and trigger reorders based on consumption. JIT enhances operational efficiency by increasing turnover ratios and reducing waiting times in production processes. It faces challenges like supply chain disruptions and inaccurate demand forecasting, necessitating proactive risk management strategies. Understanding Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory Management Comprehending Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management is essential for businesses looking to optimize their production processes and reduce costs. The JIT system focuses on producing goods only as needed, minimizing excess stock and lowering inventory costs during enhancing operational efficiency. Originating from the Toyota Production System, JIT relies heavily on accurate demand forecasting and close collaboration with suppliers to guarantee timely material delivery. A key component of this approach is the Kanban system, which uses visual signals to manage work-in-progress and trigger replenishment based on actual demand. Although JIT inventory management offers benefits like reduced carrying costs and improved cash flow, it likewise carries risks, such as vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and potential stockouts from miscalculated demand. Key Principles of JIT The key principles of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management revolve around producing goods strictly as needed, which aligns production closely with actual customer demand while minimizing excess stock. Continuous improvement is vital in JIT, as businesses must regularly assess and improve their processes to eliminate waste and boost efficiency. Strong supplier relationships play an important role, ensuring timely delivery of materials to prevent production delays. Furthermore, the use of pull systems allows for managing JIT inventory effectively, as production is triggered by actual orders rather than forecasts. Empowering employees is also significant in just in time manufacturing, as an engaged workforce can adapt to changes and actively contribute to process improvements, ultimately improving overall operational success. Benefits of JIT Inventory Management Adopting a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management system can greatly improve your business operations by streamlining processes and reducing costs. This approach minimizes excess inventory, leading to significant storage cost savings and better use of warehouse space. With JIT, you’ll notice improved cash flow since less capital gets tied up in unsold goods, allowing for immediate reinvestment opportunities. Furthermore, by focusing on producing only what’s necessary, you boost product quality, decreasing defects and returns. Increased operational efficiency is another benefit, as JIT reduces waiting times and unnecessary movements, resulting in higher inventory turnover ratios. Benefit Description Cost Reduction Lowers storage costs and improves cash flow. Product Quality Reduces defects by producing only what’s needed. Operational Efficiency Increases turnover ratios by minimizing waiting times. Space Utilization Frees up warehouse space with less inventory on hand. Market Responsiveness Enables quicker adaptation to market changes. How JIT Inventory Works In a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, you order materials based on actual customer demand rather than predicting future needs. This approach requires effective coordination with suppliers to guarantee that raw materials arrive exactly when you need them, minimizing delays and excess stock. Ordering Based on Demand Ordering based on demand is a fundamental aspect of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory systems, where production and material procurement align closely with actual customer orders rather than forecasts. This demand-driven approach helps maintain optimal inventory levels, reducing excess stock and associated costs. The Kanban system plays a significant role, using visual signals to trigger replenishment orders based on real-time usage. Accurate demand forecasting is critical, as it directly impacts production schedules and inventory management, minimizing the chances of stockouts or overproduction. Strong collaboration with suppliers is crucial in the just in time supply chain, ensuring timely delivery of materials and components. This responsiveness allows businesses to adapt quickly to changing consumer demands, enhancing overall operational efficiency. Supplier Coordination Essentials Supplier coordination is critical in a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, as it guarantees that materials arrive right when needed for production, thereby minimizing holding costs and reducing the risk of stockouts. Effective communication and collaboration with suppliers help establish reliable delivery schedules, guaranteeing an uninterrupted flow of materials fundamental for the JIT supply chain. Utilizing technologies like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) facilitates real-time information exchange, improving order accuracy and reducing lead times. Furthermore, strong supplier relationships improve negotiation terms and flexibility in responding to demand fluctuations. Regular performance evaluations are essential to verify suppliers meet quality and delivery expectations, directly impacting the reliability of your just in time delivery system and overall inventory efficiency. Pros and Cons of JIT When considering the pros and cons of a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, it’s important to recognize both its advantages and potential pitfalls. On one hand, JIT can considerably reduce inventory costs and improve cash flow by minimizing excess stock, but it furthermore requires careful coordination and reliable suppliers to avoid disruptions. Comprehending these factors will help you make informed decisions about implementing JIT in your operations. Advantages of JIT The Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system offers numerous advantages that can greatly improve a company’s operational performance. By minimizing excess stock and storage costs, JIT inventory management frees up capital for reinvestment. Furthermore, it boosts product quality through frequent production runs, enabling quicker detection of defects. Here are some key benefits you can expect from JIT: Reduced inventory costs: Lower storage needs minimize expenses and improve cash flow. Increased efficiency: Streamlined processes lead to shorter lead times, enhancing responsiveness to customer demands. Higher product quality: Focused production practices lead to fewer defects, improving customer satisfaction. Disadvantages of JIT Even though JIT inventory systems offer significant operational advantages, they likewise come with notable disadvantages that can impact a company’s performance. One major drawback is their vulnerability to supply chain disruptions; even minor delays can halt production because of minimal inventory buffers. The reliance on precise demand forecasting can lead to stockouts, resulting in lost sales and dissatisfied customers if demand exceeds expectations. Coordination and communication challenges arise, as the JIT inventory system necessitates seamless collaboration among suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers, increasing operational complexity. Furthermore, implementing JIT can be burdensome for large organizations with intricate supply chains, making them less adaptable to market changes. In the end, these disadvantages of JIT can strain relationships with suppliers and raise costs when delays occur. Risk Management Strategies Implementing effective risk management strategies in a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system is fundamental for maintaining operational efficiency during minimizing potential disruptions. To successfully navigate the challenges of JIT inventory management, consider these strategies: Strengthen supplier relationships: Establish clear communication to guarantee timely deliveries, critical for just in time delivery definition. Diversify suppliers: Reduce reliance on a single supplier to minimize risks associated with disruptions. Implement robust forecasting: Use accurate demand forecasting to anticipate needs and avoid stockouts. Although JIT can improve efficiency and reduce waste, it’s imperative to address the risks of supply chain delays and coordination challenges. Real-World Applications of JIT In today’s competitive market, companies increasingly adopt Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory systems to improve efficiency and reduce costs. A prime example is Toyota Motor Corporation, which perfected its JIT production over 20 years by ordering parts based solely on actual car orders. This approach greatly minimized inventory costs and improved operational efficiency. On the other hand, the Aisin fire incident in 1997 highlighted vulnerabilities in JIT, leading to significant production delays and a loss of 160 billion yen for Toyota. Companies like IBM and Motorola likewise implement JIT principles to support lean manufacturing. Moreover, retail giants such as Walmart exemplify just in time delivery by ensuring products reach stores based on actual customer demand, further minimizing inventory costs and boosting service levels. JIT Methodology and Techniques In the JIT methodology, the Kanban system plays an essential role by using visual signals to manage inventory levels based on actual production needs. This technique not merely helps streamline the flow of materials but additionally supports continuous improvement practices, which focus on eliminating waste and enhancing overall efficiency. Kanban System Overview During the exploration of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management, the Kanban system stands out as a vital methodology that improves production efficiency and inventory control. This visual scheduling system uses cards to manage inventory and production processes, ensuring items are replenished only as they’re consumed. Key aspects of the Kanban system include: Each Kanban card represents a specific quantity of inventory, triggering reorders when items are used. It limits work-in-progress (WIP) inventory, reducing waste and promoting continuous flow. Kanban allows quick adjustments to production schedules, responding effectively to fluctuating demand. Continuous Improvement Practices Continuous improvement practices are fundamental to the Just-in-Time (JIT) methodology, focusing on ongoing assessments and refinements of production processes. This approach promotes a culture of continuous improvement among employees and suppliers, encouraging them to identify inefficiencies and propose solutions. Utilizing tools like the Kaizen philosophy, small, incremental changes lead to significant overall improvements in efficiency and waste elimination. The Kanban system plays an essential role in this process, using visual signals to manage production schedules and guarantee materials are replenished based on actual demand. Furthermore, data-driven decision-making is critical in JIT, as real-time metrics enable you to monitor performance, predict demand accurately, and adjust processes for peak productivity in just in time inventory management. Risks and Challenges of JIT Implementation Though JIT implementation offers numerous advantages, it likewise presents significant risks and challenges that organizations must navigate. When you adopt jit inventory management, it’s imperative to remain aware of potential pitfalls, including: Inaccurate Demand Forecasting: Any miscalculation can lead to stockouts or excess inventory, directly impacting customer satisfaction. Supply Chain Disruptions: A delay from a supplier can halt production, increasing costs and resulting in lost sales opportunities. Coordination Challenges: Seamless communication among suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers is critical; without it, timely deliveries may falter. Understanding what just in time means for your operations is fundamental, as a proactive approach is necessary to mitigate these challenges and maintain flexibility within your inventory management strategy. Industries That Use JIT Inventory Management Industries around the world have recognized the advantages of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management, adopting this strategy to streamline operations and improve efficiency. The automotive sector, led by Toyota, exemplifies JIT by aligning production with customer demand, reducing excess inventory and costs. Electronics manufacturers like Dell and HP additionally utilize JIT practices to maintain minimal stock levels as they swiftly adapt to market fluctuations. In the food and beverage industry, JIT guarantees fresh products are delivered just in time, minimizing waste. Retail giants like Walmart implement JIT inventory management through advanced supply chain logistics, enabling real-time tracking and timely replenishment. Finally, aerospace companies like Boeing manage their complex supply chains with JIT, producing parts only as needed for high-quality standards. Historical Background of JIT Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management emerged in post-World War II Japan, primarily as part of the Toyota Production System (TPS), developed by Eiji Toyoda and Taiichi Ohno. This innovative approach transformed manufacturing by emphasizing efficiency and minimizing waste. JIT focuses on producing goods only as needed, moving away from traditional mass production. By the 1970s, Toyota exemplified its effectiveness. Nevertheless, incidents like the Aisin fire in 1997 highlighted vulnerabilities in JIT management, demonstrating the risks of relying heavily on timely supplier deliveries. Today, JIT principles continue to be adopted across various industries, reflecting a broader shift in the direction of operational efficiency and responsiveness to customer demands. The Future of Just-in-Time Inventory Management As manufacturing and supply chain environments evolve, the future of inventory management is set to embrace advanced technologies that boost operational efficiency and responsiveness. You’ll see just-in-time (JIT) inventory management increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning for improved demand forecasting and supply chain optimization. As global supply chains grow more complex, incorporating robust risk management strategies will be vital to mitigate vulnerabilities, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability will likewise play a critical role, with businesses aiming to reduce waste as they align with environmental goals. Furthermore, the rise of e-commerce necessitates real-time inventory tracking and dynamic supplier relationships, whereas blockchain technology will improve transparency and traceability in just-in-time operations management, ensuring better reliability in supplier performance. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Just-In-Time Inventory System? Just-in-time (JIT) inventory management is a strategy where you order materials only as needed for production, minimizing excess stock. This approach eliminates waste and reduces storage costs, enhancing efficiency. It’s vital to maintain accurate demand forecasting and cultivate strong supplier relationships to guarantee timely deliveries. Companies like Toyota exemplify JIT by producing goods based on actual orders, leading to improved cash flow and responsiveness to market changes. However, this strategy also presents risks like supply chain disruptions. What Is an Example of JIT Inventory? An example of JIT inventory is Dell’s build-to-order model, where computers are assembled only after customers place orders. This approach minimizes excess inventory, allowing Dell to respond quickly to market demands. Similarly, McDonald’s utilizes JIT by preparing food items only when ordered, ensuring freshness and reducing waste. Another example is Zara, which produces limited clothing quantities based on current trends, enabling rapid inventory turnover and minimizing markdowns on unsold items. What Is a Drawback of a Just-In-Time Inventory System? A significant drawback of a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system is its susceptibility to supply chain disruptions. If your suppliers face delays, production can halt, leading to stockouts and unmet customer demands. Furthermore, JIT requires precise demand forecasting; inaccuracies can cause missed sales or excess demand that can’t be fulfilled. This reliance on strong supplier relationships means that any failure or delay can severely disrupt your operations, impacting overall efficiency and customer satisfaction. What Is Just in Inventory? Just-in-time inventory refers to a management approach where materials and products are ordered and received only as they’re needed in the production process. This strategy minimizes inventory levels, reducing holding costs and waste. By synchronizing supply with actual demand, you improve operational efficiency. Nevertheless, it requires precise demand forecasting and strong supplier relationships to prevent stockouts, ensuring production runs smoothly without excess inventory or delays that could disrupt operations. Conclusion In summary, a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system streamlines production by ensuring materials arrive just when needed, reducing excess stock and storage costs. By focusing on demand forecasting and supplier collaboration, JIT improves efficiency and responsiveness to market changes. Although it offers significant benefits, such as improved cash flow and product quality, businesses must likewise navigate potential risks like supply chain disruptions. Overall, JIT can be a valuable strategy across various industries when implemented thoughtfully. Image Via Envato This article, "What Is a Just in Time Inventory System?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system is a management strategy designed to reduce waste by producing and delivering products only as needed. This approach minimizes excess stock, cutting storage costs and improving cash flow. By relying on precise demand forecasting and strong supplier relationships, businesses can respond quickly to market changes. Companies like Toyota have successfully implemented JIT, enhancing operational efficiency. Comprehending its key principles and benefits can greatly impact your organization’s performance. What factors should you consider for effective implementation? Key Takeaways Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management produces goods only as needed, minimizing excess stock and reducing carrying costs. JIT relies on accurate demand forecasting and strong supplier relationships for timely material delivery. The Kanban system is used in JIT to visually manage inventory levels and trigger reorders based on consumption. JIT enhances operational efficiency by increasing turnover ratios and reducing waiting times in production processes. It faces challenges like supply chain disruptions and inaccurate demand forecasting, necessitating proactive risk management strategies. Understanding Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory Management Comprehending Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management is essential for businesses looking to optimize their production processes and reduce costs. The JIT system focuses on producing goods only as needed, minimizing excess stock and lowering inventory costs during enhancing operational efficiency. Originating from the Toyota Production System, JIT relies heavily on accurate demand forecasting and close collaboration with suppliers to guarantee timely material delivery. A key component of this approach is the Kanban system, which uses visual signals to manage work-in-progress and trigger replenishment based on actual demand. Although JIT inventory management offers benefits like reduced carrying costs and improved cash flow, it likewise carries risks, such as vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and potential stockouts from miscalculated demand. Key Principles of JIT The key principles of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management revolve around producing goods strictly as needed, which aligns production closely with actual customer demand while minimizing excess stock. Continuous improvement is vital in JIT, as businesses must regularly assess and improve their processes to eliminate waste and boost efficiency. Strong supplier relationships play an important role, ensuring timely delivery of materials to prevent production delays. Furthermore, the use of pull systems allows for managing JIT inventory effectively, as production is triggered by actual orders rather than forecasts. Empowering employees is also significant in just in time manufacturing, as an engaged workforce can adapt to changes and actively contribute to process improvements, ultimately improving overall operational success. Benefits of JIT Inventory Management Adopting a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management system can greatly improve your business operations by streamlining processes and reducing costs. This approach minimizes excess inventory, leading to significant storage cost savings and better use of warehouse space. With JIT, you’ll notice improved cash flow since less capital gets tied up in unsold goods, allowing for immediate reinvestment opportunities. Furthermore, by focusing on producing only what’s necessary, you boost product quality, decreasing defects and returns. Increased operational efficiency is another benefit, as JIT reduces waiting times and unnecessary movements, resulting in higher inventory turnover ratios. Benefit Description Cost Reduction Lowers storage costs and improves cash flow. Product Quality Reduces defects by producing only what’s needed. Operational Efficiency Increases turnover ratios by minimizing waiting times. Space Utilization Frees up warehouse space with less inventory on hand. Market Responsiveness Enables quicker adaptation to market changes. How JIT Inventory Works In a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, you order materials based on actual customer demand rather than predicting future needs. This approach requires effective coordination with suppliers to guarantee that raw materials arrive exactly when you need them, minimizing delays and excess stock. Ordering Based on Demand Ordering based on demand is a fundamental aspect of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory systems, where production and material procurement align closely with actual customer orders rather than forecasts. This demand-driven approach helps maintain optimal inventory levels, reducing excess stock and associated costs. The Kanban system plays a significant role, using visual signals to trigger replenishment orders based on real-time usage. Accurate demand forecasting is critical, as it directly impacts production schedules and inventory management, minimizing the chances of stockouts or overproduction. Strong collaboration with suppliers is crucial in the just in time supply chain, ensuring timely delivery of materials and components. This responsiveness allows businesses to adapt quickly to changing consumer demands, enhancing overall operational efficiency. Supplier Coordination Essentials Supplier coordination is critical in a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, as it guarantees that materials arrive right when needed for production, thereby minimizing holding costs and reducing the risk of stockouts. Effective communication and collaboration with suppliers help establish reliable delivery schedules, guaranteeing an uninterrupted flow of materials fundamental for the JIT supply chain. Utilizing technologies like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) facilitates real-time information exchange, improving order accuracy and reducing lead times. Furthermore, strong supplier relationships improve negotiation terms and flexibility in responding to demand fluctuations. Regular performance evaluations are essential to verify suppliers meet quality and delivery expectations, directly impacting the reliability of your just in time delivery system and overall inventory efficiency. Pros and Cons of JIT When considering the pros and cons of a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, it’s important to recognize both its advantages and potential pitfalls. On one hand, JIT can considerably reduce inventory costs and improve cash flow by minimizing excess stock, but it furthermore requires careful coordination and reliable suppliers to avoid disruptions. Comprehending these factors will help you make informed decisions about implementing JIT in your operations. Advantages of JIT The Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system offers numerous advantages that can greatly improve a company’s operational performance. By minimizing excess stock and storage costs, JIT inventory management frees up capital for reinvestment. Furthermore, it boosts product quality through frequent production runs, enabling quicker detection of defects. Here are some key benefits you can expect from JIT: Reduced inventory costs: Lower storage needs minimize expenses and improve cash flow. Increased efficiency: Streamlined processes lead to shorter lead times, enhancing responsiveness to customer demands. Higher product quality: Focused production practices lead to fewer defects, improving customer satisfaction. Disadvantages of JIT Even though JIT inventory systems offer significant operational advantages, they likewise come with notable disadvantages that can impact a company’s performance. One major drawback is their vulnerability to supply chain disruptions; even minor delays can halt production because of minimal inventory buffers. The reliance on precise demand forecasting can lead to stockouts, resulting in lost sales and dissatisfied customers if demand exceeds expectations. Coordination and communication challenges arise, as the JIT inventory system necessitates seamless collaboration among suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers, increasing operational complexity. Furthermore, implementing JIT can be burdensome for large organizations with intricate supply chains, making them less adaptable to market changes. In the end, these disadvantages of JIT can strain relationships with suppliers and raise costs when delays occur. Risk Management Strategies Implementing effective risk management strategies in a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system is fundamental for maintaining operational efficiency during minimizing potential disruptions. To successfully navigate the challenges of JIT inventory management, consider these strategies: Strengthen supplier relationships: Establish clear communication to guarantee timely deliveries, critical for just in time delivery definition. Diversify suppliers: Reduce reliance on a single supplier to minimize risks associated with disruptions. Implement robust forecasting: Use accurate demand forecasting to anticipate needs and avoid stockouts. Although JIT can improve efficiency and reduce waste, it’s imperative to address the risks of supply chain delays and coordination challenges. Real-World Applications of JIT In today’s competitive market, companies increasingly adopt Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory systems to improve efficiency and reduce costs. A prime example is Toyota Motor Corporation, which perfected its JIT production over 20 years by ordering parts based solely on actual car orders. This approach greatly minimized inventory costs and improved operational efficiency. On the other hand, the Aisin fire incident in 1997 highlighted vulnerabilities in JIT, leading to significant production delays and a loss of 160 billion yen for Toyota. Companies like IBM and Motorola likewise implement JIT principles to support lean manufacturing. Moreover, retail giants such as Walmart exemplify just in time delivery by ensuring products reach stores based on actual customer demand, further minimizing inventory costs and boosting service levels. JIT Methodology and Techniques In the JIT methodology, the Kanban system plays an essential role by using visual signals to manage inventory levels based on actual production needs. This technique not merely helps streamline the flow of materials but additionally supports continuous improvement practices, which focus on eliminating waste and enhancing overall efficiency. Kanban System Overview During the exploration of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management, the Kanban system stands out as a vital methodology that improves production efficiency and inventory control. This visual scheduling system uses cards to manage inventory and production processes, ensuring items are replenished only as they’re consumed. Key aspects of the Kanban system include: Each Kanban card represents a specific quantity of inventory, triggering reorders when items are used. It limits work-in-progress (WIP) inventory, reducing waste and promoting continuous flow. Kanban allows quick adjustments to production schedules, responding effectively to fluctuating demand. Continuous Improvement Practices Continuous improvement practices are fundamental to the Just-in-Time (JIT) methodology, focusing on ongoing assessments and refinements of production processes. This approach promotes a culture of continuous improvement among employees and suppliers, encouraging them to identify inefficiencies and propose solutions. Utilizing tools like the Kaizen philosophy, small, incremental changes lead to significant overall improvements in efficiency and waste elimination. The Kanban system plays an essential role in this process, using visual signals to manage production schedules and guarantee materials are replenished based on actual demand. Furthermore, data-driven decision-making is critical in JIT, as real-time metrics enable you to monitor performance, predict demand accurately, and adjust processes for peak productivity in just in time inventory management. Risks and Challenges of JIT Implementation Though JIT implementation offers numerous advantages, it likewise presents significant risks and challenges that organizations must navigate. When you adopt jit inventory management, it’s imperative to remain aware of potential pitfalls, including: Inaccurate Demand Forecasting: Any miscalculation can lead to stockouts or excess inventory, directly impacting customer satisfaction. Supply Chain Disruptions: A delay from a supplier can halt production, increasing costs and resulting in lost sales opportunities. Coordination Challenges: Seamless communication among suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers is critical; without it, timely deliveries may falter. Understanding what just in time means for your operations is fundamental, as a proactive approach is necessary to mitigate these challenges and maintain flexibility within your inventory management strategy. Industries That Use JIT Inventory Management Industries around the world have recognized the advantages of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management, adopting this strategy to streamline operations and improve efficiency. The automotive sector, led by Toyota, exemplifies JIT by aligning production with customer demand, reducing excess inventory and costs. Electronics manufacturers like Dell and HP additionally utilize JIT practices to maintain minimal stock levels as they swiftly adapt to market fluctuations. In the food and beverage industry, JIT guarantees fresh products are delivered just in time, minimizing waste. Retail giants like Walmart implement JIT inventory management through advanced supply chain logistics, enabling real-time tracking and timely replenishment. Finally, aerospace companies like Boeing manage their complex supply chains with JIT, producing parts only as needed for high-quality standards. Historical Background of JIT Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management emerged in post-World War II Japan, primarily as part of the Toyota Production System (TPS), developed by Eiji Toyoda and Taiichi Ohno. This innovative approach transformed manufacturing by emphasizing efficiency and minimizing waste. JIT focuses on producing goods only as needed, moving away from traditional mass production. By the 1970s, Toyota exemplified its effectiveness. Nevertheless, incidents like the Aisin fire in 1997 highlighted vulnerabilities in JIT management, demonstrating the risks of relying heavily on timely supplier deliveries. Today, JIT principles continue to be adopted across various industries, reflecting a broader shift in the direction of operational efficiency and responsiveness to customer demands. The Future of Just-in-Time Inventory Management As manufacturing and supply chain environments evolve, the future of inventory management is set to embrace advanced technologies that boost operational efficiency and responsiveness. You’ll see just-in-time (JIT) inventory management increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning for improved demand forecasting and supply chain optimization. As global supply chains grow more complex, incorporating robust risk management strategies will be vital to mitigate vulnerabilities, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability will likewise play a critical role, with businesses aiming to reduce waste as they align with environmental goals. Furthermore, the rise of e-commerce necessitates real-time inventory tracking and dynamic supplier relationships, whereas blockchain technology will improve transparency and traceability in just-in-time operations management, ensuring better reliability in supplier performance. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Just-In-Time Inventory System? Just-in-time (JIT) inventory management is a strategy where you order materials only as needed for production, minimizing excess stock. This approach eliminates waste and reduces storage costs, enhancing efficiency. It’s vital to maintain accurate demand forecasting and cultivate strong supplier relationships to guarantee timely deliveries. Companies like Toyota exemplify JIT by producing goods based on actual orders, leading to improved cash flow and responsiveness to market changes. However, this strategy also presents risks like supply chain disruptions. What Is an Example of JIT Inventory? An example of JIT inventory is Dell’s build-to-order model, where computers are assembled only after customers place orders. This approach minimizes excess inventory, allowing Dell to respond quickly to market demands. Similarly, McDonald’s utilizes JIT by preparing food items only when ordered, ensuring freshness and reducing waste. Another example is Zara, which produces limited clothing quantities based on current trends, enabling rapid inventory turnover and minimizing markdowns on unsold items. What Is a Drawback of a Just-In-Time Inventory System? A significant drawback of a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system is its susceptibility to supply chain disruptions. If your suppliers face delays, production can halt, leading to stockouts and unmet customer demands. Furthermore, JIT requires precise demand forecasting; inaccuracies can cause missed sales or excess demand that can’t be fulfilled. This reliance on strong supplier relationships means that any failure or delay can severely disrupt your operations, impacting overall efficiency and customer satisfaction. What Is Just in Inventory? Just-in-time inventory refers to a management approach where materials and products are ordered and received only as they’re needed in the production process. This strategy minimizes inventory levels, reducing holding costs and waste. By synchronizing supply with actual demand, you improve operational efficiency. Nevertheless, it requires precise demand forecasting and strong supplier relationships to prevent stockouts, ensuring production runs smoothly without excess inventory or delays that could disrupt operations. Conclusion In summary, a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system streamlines production by ensuring materials arrive just when needed, reducing excess stock and storage costs. By focusing on demand forecasting and supplier collaboration, JIT improves efficiency and responsiveness to market changes. Although it offers significant benefits, such as improved cash flow and product quality, businesses must likewise navigate potential risks like supply chain disruptions. Overall, JIT can be a valuable strategy across various industries when implemented thoughtfully. Image Via Envato This article, "What Is a Just in Time Inventory System?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

On episode 326 of PPC Live The Podcast I sat down down with Aashna Makin, a senior paid ads specialist with more than eight years of experience, who has managed campaigns worth over $2 million a month across a wide range of industries. She takes us through the story of how a best practice she put in place led to poor results and how looking back she should have taking more care in adding unnecessary negatives. A Costly Keyword Error Aashna recalls one of her earliest career missteps: excluding the keyword “meet up” from a client’s dating events campaign. The impact was immediate and severe—leads dropped sharply, and performance tanked. Luckily, her client success manager spotted the issue quickly. Instead of deflecting blame, Aashna owned up, corrected the mistake by removing the negative keyword, and restored the campaign. The experience became a turning point in how she approached PPC. Lessons Learned From Mistakes The key lesson? Best practices aren’t always best. Aashna realized that blindly following industry norms without understanding the client’s unique context can do more harm than good. Now, she takes extra time to understand the industries she works in, ensuring her strategy aligns with client goals and customer behaviors. She also stresses the importance of owning mistakes—informing managers or clients right away, rather than hiding errors, builds trust and accelerates recovery. Common Pitfalls in PPC Accounts Looking beyond her own experience, Aashna points out common errors she sees across accounts, such as landing page mismatches, outdated promotions, and over-reliance on automation. While checklists, processes, and automated tools can be useful, she warns against giving platforms total control, especially when it comes to ad copy and campaign structures. True value, she believes, comes from careful monitoring, structured testing, and most importantly, caring deeply about the campaigns you manage as if the budget were your own. Why Talking About Mistakes Matters Reflecting on the industry as a whole, Aashna highlights why talking about mistakes matters. PPC specialists often struggle in silence with similar challenges, and open conversations help the whole community grow. For her, mistakes are only damaging if they’re hidden; when shared, they become lessons for everyone. A Lighthearted Ending To wrap things up on a lighter note, Anu asks what Aashna would call the movie of her PPC career. Her answer? “Answer the Universe.” Because in PPC, she says, you’re always answering—to clients, to platforms, and to unexpected challenges along the way. View the full article

Apple has taken down an app that uses crowdsourcing to flag sightings of U.S. immigration agents after coming under pressure from the The President administration. ICEBlock, a free iPhone-only app that lets users anonymously report and monitor activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, was no longer available on Apple’s App Store as of Friday. The developer had confirmed its removal on Thursday evening. “We just received a message from Apple’s App Review that #ICEBlock has been removed from the App Store due to “objectionable content’,” ICEBlock said in a social media post. “The only thing we can imagine is this is due to pressure from the The President Admin. We have responded and we’ll fight this!” The developer said last month that it had more than 1 million users. Even though it has been removed from the app marketplace, those who have already downloaded the app should still be able to use it. The Associated Press reached out to ICEBlock for further comments on Friday. Apple said it removed apps like ICEBlock due to the potential for risks that were raised by law enforcement. “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,” the company said in a statement. “Based on information we’ve received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed that her office had reached out to Apple on Thursday, “demanding that they remove ICEBlock from their App Store.” In a statement sent to The Associated Press, she claimed that ICEBlock was “designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs.” Officials said last month that a gunman who opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas had searched for apps that tracked the presence of ICE agents. Bondi has previously said that crowdsourced apps that allow people to communicate about the location of law enforcement officers are not allowed, specifically referring to ICEBlock developer Joshua Aaron in a July interview on Fox News. “We are looking at him and he better watch out because that’s not a protected speech,” Bondi said at the time. But advocates say that tracking ICE activity is a form of free speech protected by the First amendment. They maintain that such platforms are primarily used among individuals looking to protect themselves from surprise raids or potential harassment from immigration officials. Downloads of apps like ICEblock have surged as the The President administration steps up immigration enforcement. ICEBlock and other crowdsourcing apps like it are being targeted, but crowdsourced technology has become common in the app store, and is still available through other apps. Navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps for Android phones have been in use for years. Part of their draw is that users are alerted to police speed traps by other drivers. Users of those apps have suggested they can be used to post updates about “icy conditions.” Waze and Google Maps have not been targeted by U.S. officials. 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. You can get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro on sale for just $10 right now on StackSocial, which would typically cost $200 at the Microsoft Store. The sale ends October 12. Once you've purchased, the redemption code and setup instructions will be sent to your inbox. Just make sure your system meets the minimum requirements (like a 1GHz processor, 4GB RAM, TPM 2.0, and UEFI firmware, among others). This isn’t an upgrade path for unsupported PCs—it’s a fresh install for machines that meet the full list of Windows 11 Pro requirements. The Windows 11 Pro layout is cleaner, Snap Layouts and virtual desktops make multitasking smoother, and redocking windows actually works like you'd expect. If you’re into voice typing or just want better search across apps and docs, it delivers. Windows 11 Pro also includes some solid professional tools, such as BitLocker for encryption, Hyper-V for virtualization, and even a sandbox mode for testing apps safely. You’re also getting DirectX 12 Ultimate, so your hardware can shine during gaming or graphics-intensive tasks, assuming your machine is sufficiently powerful. Windows 11 Pro also doubles down with biometric login, Smart App Control, and TPM 2.0 requirements, which makes it a tougher nut to crack. It also includes the new AI-powered Copilot and baked-in Microsoft Teams support, which might appeal to remote workers. Just a heads up, you won’t get an Office upgrade bundled in with this deal—this is strictly a Windows license. It will work alongside Office if you have a separate license, though (if you’re on a Mac using Parallels Pro). Overall, this $10 deal is about as straightforward and affordable as it gets. View the full article

Microsoft launched a new Bing Places with a recommendation tool, faster Google Business Page import, and automatic migration for existing users. The post Microsoft Launches New Bing Places For Business appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Artificial intelligence is doing more than just automating workflows in 2025: It’s dismantling the very idea of education. Once seen as one-time achievements, a bachelor’s degree, a professional certificate, or an annual corporate training session, are no longer guarantees of relevance in a world where knowledge ages almost as quickly as technology itself. Nearly half of talent development leaders surveyed in LinkedIn’s 2025 Workplace Learning Report say they see a skills crisis, with organizations under pressure to equip employees for both present and future roles through dynamic skill-building, particularly in AI and generative AI. Likewise, the AI in education market that includes K–12, higher education and corporate training is projected to grow to between $32.27 billion by 2030 and $127.2 billion by 2035, driven by a surge in demand for personalized learning in workforce-aligned corporate skills training and scalable edtech solutions. “We’re seeing skills become obsolete in two to three years instead of decades. Demand on our platform shows professionals know learning can’t stop at graduation in an AI-driven world,” says Hugo Sarrazin, CEO of Udemy, one of the world’s largest online learning platforms. He predicts that universities will increasingly serve as launchpads, awarding degrees alongside lifelong digital memberships. “Think of it like Netflix, but for education,” he says. Sarrazin says that every minute, roughly five to eight people sign up for an AI course on the platform. According to Udemy’s 2026 Global Learning and Skills Trends Report, AI-related enrollments have surged fivefold in the past year, surpassing 11 million globally. The study also found rising interest in AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot, underscoring a strong demand for practical AI proficiency. That surge has likely bolstered Udemy’s market growth, with the company reporting $199.9 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2025, a 3% increase from a year earlier. “Companies are realizing employees who can use AI fluidly while thinking critically about its risks, outputs, and impacts will drive the biggest business gains. We’re seeing budgets shift from annual training events to continuous, integrated skill-building happening in daily workflows, helping employees learn skills precisely when they’re needed,” Sarrazin says. Skill fitness and adaptability in the AI era Sarrazin describes this shift as the dawn of the “skill fitness” era, where learning becomes akin to working out: AI fluency is strength, critical thinking is cardio, and communication is flexibility. Education is no longer a stopover, but a lifelong regimen. “In fitness, you don’t go to the gym once and then declare yourself fit for life. But, that’s how we have traditionally approached learning,” he says. But skills only stick when they’re exercised in context—AI is enabling this kind of practice at scale. Udemy’s AI Role Play, launched in May of this yaer, enables employees to rehearse real-world scenarios such as negotiation, feedback conversations, or conflict resolution through AI-driven simulations. “I anticipate in the coming year, the use case of play and test runs using AI will explode, going beyond conversations to action,” Sarrazin says. Gen Z, poised to dominate the workforce, recognizes that in an AI-saturated world, its real advantage is adaptability. According to Udemy’s Gen Z in the Workplace report, 84% of Gen Z professionals now prioritize developing adaptive skills such as decision-making, communication, and critical thinking over purely technical training. “Gen Z grew up with technology that evolved constantly,” Sarrazin says. They’re becoming the first generation that’s truly AI-native while remaining distinctly human-centered.” Cautious integration for a responsible future While AI integrations are set to make learning easier, experts caution that it is critical to separate genuine progress from marketing noise. “While the technology holds great promise for improving education quality, its full impact is still being measured,” says Shai Reshef, education expert and president of University of the People. “Responsible institutions must ensure that claims are backed by real evidence and that their deployment actually benefits students globally, especially those turning to online options out of necessity.” He added that while personalization through AI is a powerful opportunity, it also carries risks of isolation and bias. “If the underlying datasets within AI-powered education systems are flawed, or if algorithms reinforce existing inequalities, the technology might amplify problems instead of solving them.” Kavitta Ghai, CEO of Nectir, echoed the concern, noting that a single poorly designed AI-powered education rollout can spark headlines about “AI hurting learning,” even though the reality is more nuanced. “It’s all about how responsibly institutions deploy and maintain it,” Ghai says. “The responsible path is running controlled pilots, measuring outcomes, and iterating.” She also notes that while AI tools have made it easier to gain workforce and technical skills, formal education and degrees still play a critical role in developing strong fundamentals and depth of expertise. “The real danger is that students and professionals might stop learning how to recognize what ‘good’ work looks like. Without that foundation, they can’t judge quality or innovate,” she says. “The real opportunity is to use AI as a Socratic tutor; guiding individuals through mistakes, not doing the work for them. That’s what keeps critical thinking alive in an AI-first world.” That perspective underscores a deeper truth: education might soon become less about consuming content and more about cultivating culture. Organizations and universities will need to treat learning as a shared value, a collective discipline that keeps pace with technological change. “Like electricity or the internet, I believe AI will become an invisible infrastructure. You won’t think about “using AI to learn,” because learning will simply be AI-enhanced by default,” says Sarrazin. “Rather than competing, AI and universities will complement one another, helping learners build skills in a format that works best for their unique needs.” View the full article

Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown were fading Friday as Republicans and Democrats dug in for a prolonged fight and President Donald The President readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government. Senators were headed back to the Capitol for another vote on government funding on the third day of the shutdown, but there has been no sign of any real progress toward ending their standoff. Democrats are demanding that Congress extend health care benefits, while Republicans are trying to wear them down with day after day of voting on a House-passed bill that would reopen the government temporarily, mostly at current spending levels. “I don’t know how many times you’re going to give them a chance to vote no,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said at a news conference Friday. He added that he would give Democratic senators the weekend to think it over. Although Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, the Senate’s filibuster rules make it necessary for the government funding legislation to gain support from at least 60 of the 100 senators. That’s given Democrats a rare opportunity to use their 47 Senate seats to hold out in exchange for policy concessions. The party has chosen to rally on the issue of health care, believing it could be key to their path back to power in Washington. Their primary demand is that Congress extend tax credits that were boosted during the COVID-19 pandemic for health care plans offered under the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “Understand this, over the last few days and over the next few days, what you’re going to see is more than 20 million Americans experience dramatically increased health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of the Republican unwillingness to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.” The shutdown gamble Democrats are running the high-risk strategy of effectively voting for a government shutdown to make their stand. The President has vowed to make it as painful as possible for them. The Republican president has called the government funding lapse an “unprecedented opportunity” to make vast cuts to federal agencies and potentially lay off federal workers, rather than the typical practice of furloughing them. White House budget director Russ Vought has already announced that he is withholding billions of dollars for infrastructure projects in states with Democratic senators. On Friday morning, Vought said he would withhold another $2.1 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects to extend its train system to the city’s South Side. Jeffries has displayed no signs of budging under those threats. “The cruelty that they might unleash on everyday Americans using the pretense of a shutdown is only going to backfire against them,” he said during an interview with The Associated Press and other outlets at the Capitol. Still, the shutdown, no matter how long it lasts, could have far-reaching effects on the economy. Roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, and they could lose out on $400 million in daily wages. That loss in wages until after the government reopens could drive down wider demand for goods and services. “All around the country right now, real pain is being endured by real people because the Democrats have decided to play politics,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday. Who will take the blame? The American public usually spreads the blame around to both major political parties when it comes to a government shutdown. While The President took a significant portion of the blame during the last partial government shutdown in 2018 as he demanded funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, this standoff could end differently because now it is Democrats making the policy demands. Still, lawmakers were relentlessly trying to make their case to the American public with a constant beat of news conferences, social media videos and livestreams. Congressional leaders have been especially active. Both sides expressed confidence that the other would ultimately be found at fault. And in the House, party leaders seemed to be moving farther apart rather than closer to making a deal to end the shutdown. Jeffries on Thursday called for a permanent extension to the ACA tax credits. Meanwhile, Johnson and Thune told reporters that they would not negotiate on the tax credits until the government is reopened. Talks in the Senate A few senators have engaged in bipartisan talks about launching negotiations on extending the ACA tax credits for one year while the Senate votes to reopen the government for several weeks. But those discussions are in their early stages and appear to have little involvement from leadership. As senators prepared for their last scheduled vote for the week on Friday, they appeared resigned to allow the shutdown to continue at least into next week. Thune said that if the vote failed, he would “give them the weekend to think about it” before holding more votes. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, in a floor speech, called for Republicans to work with her and fellow Democrats to find “common ground” on the ACA subsidies, saying their expiration would impact plenty of people in states with GOP senators — especially in rural areas where farmers, ranchers and small business owners purchase their own health insurance. “Unfortunately, right now our Republican colleagues are not working with us to find a bipartisan agreement to prevent the government shutdown and address the health care crisis,” she said. “We know that even when they float ideas — which we surely do appreciate — in the end the president appears to make the call.” —Stephen Groves and Matt Brown, Associated Press Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and Joey Cappelletti contributed. View the full article

With the Conservatives at their lowest ebb ever, leader Kemi Badenoch faces a fierce struggle to maintain the party’s relevanceView the full article

If you’re like most freelancers, many of your best clients come from referrals, word of mouth, and your network. But this is a recipe for feast-and-famine months. Your network is finite. If something unexpected happens — like a client has to reduce your hours or end a contract early — you could have a dip in income without a warm pipeline of high-quality leads. If you’ve never done proactive marketing and lead generation before, you’re not alone. Freelancers and consultants often come to me after three, five, even ten successful years in business because their referrals dry up and they realize they never built a proactive marketing strategy. Believe me, I’ve heard it all. “I just want to do the work; I hate marketing and selling myself. I don’t want anyone to think I’m spammy.” I have bad news for you: The only thing you need to have a business is sales. If you don’t have a reliable, repeatable way to attract, nurture, and convert high-quality cold leads, your business isn’t going to be sustainable. This is the difference between being able to say “no” to a red flag client versus taking on work you don’t love because you have to pay the bills. So let’s fix that! And if you’re in New York, make sure to come to my in-person workshop at Freelancer’s Union on October 8th: The Freelancer’s Guide to a Consistent Pipeline of Premium B2B Leads. Here are three simple shifts you can implement today to stop relying on referrals and start attracting high-quality leads: Build a compelling, outcome-driven offer for premium buyers. If you’re frustrated with the quality of your clients, you need to look at where and how you’re calling them in. Remember: You’re the boss, and you get to decide what you’re available for. If you want premium clients? They want the best. Premium clients look for freelancers who can solve their exact problem, have a proven track record of helping people like them, make them feel seen and understood, and will get them high-quality results — quickly. They expect a premium price point. If you’re not demonstrating that you solve a premium problem for a premium buyer and confidently communicating the return on the investment, you’re not going to attract premium clients. One of my clients went from earning $50k per year to $50k per quarter simply by changing his offer and positioning it for a premium buyer at a premium price point.Develop messaging that calls in higher-quality, more aligned clients. Most of the time, what you think is a visibility problem is actually a messaging problem. It’s not that you need to get in front of more prospects or better prospects, it’s that you need to do a better job showing your ideal client that you understand them specifically and are the best choice to solve their specific problem in the best and most efficient way. If your messaging isn’t powerful enough to attract cold leads, you need better messaging. Some common mistakes you might be making: 1. Speaking to “everyone” instead of your ideal client. 2. Not being specific enough about who you help, how you help them, what you do, why you do it, and what differentiates you. 3. Focusing on yourself, not them (less “it includes this;” more “here are the results you’ll get”). 4. Not saying what you really think; instead, demonstrate you're an industry leader and share your unique perspective and values. One of my copywriting clients went from $5k/month to $12k/month simply by refining her messaging so her target audience was hyperspecific, the impact of her work was clear, and her values and perspective (for example, taking a stand against AI), were front and center.Be proactive about getting visible and generating leads. Once you have a compelling premium offer and premium positioning, now it’s time for a legitimate marketing strategy! There is no one way to do marketing or generate leads. You don’t have to dance on TikTok or learn Pinterest if you hate it. You need a marketing strategy that’s a match for your services, where your target audience is, and where you feel comfortable, and what works for your lifestyle. Freelancers often think that if they try the latest new shiny marketing tactic — podcasts, YouTube, Instagram Reels — it will bring them clients. It’s not about where you are. If you have the right offer, messaging, and strategy, you’ll attract high-quality cold leads on any platform.Effective marketing is just sharing the right message, at the right time, in the right place. I’ve had clients go from zero to 10k followers, get $16k retainer clients from a comment on LinkedIn, and land their first $30k contract from the marketing strategies we’ve developed. Get over your fear of being cringe and put yourself out there! And if you’re in New York, make sure to come to my in-person workshop at Freelancer’s Union on October 8th: The Freelancer’s Guide to a Consistent Pipeline of Premium B2B Leads. Sign up today! View the full article

If you’re like most freelancers, many of your best clients come from referrals, word of mouth, and your network. But this is a recipe for feast-and-famine months. Your network is finite. If something unexpected happens — like a client has to reduce your hours or end a contract early — you could have a dip in income without a warm pipeline of high-quality leads. If you’ve never done proactive marketing and lead generation before, you’re not alone. Freelancers and consultants often come to me after three, five, even ten successful years in business because their referrals dry up and they realize they never built a proactive marketing strategy. Believe me, I’ve heard it all. “I just want to do the work; I hate marketing and selling myself. I don’t want anyone to think I’m spammy.” I have bad news for you: The only thing you need to have a business is sales. If you don’t have a reliable, repeatable way to attract, nurture, and convert high-quality cold leads, your business isn’t going to be sustainable. This is the difference between being able to say “no” to a red flag client versus taking on work you don’t love because you have to pay the bills. So let’s fix that! And if you’re in New York, make sure to come to my in-person workshop at Freelancer’s Union on October 8th: The Freelancer’s Guide to a Consistent Pipeline of Premium B2B Leads. Here are three simple shifts you can implement today to stop relying on referrals and start attracting high-quality leads: Build a compelling, outcome-driven offer for premium buyers. If you’re frustrated with the quality of your clients, you need to look at where and how you’re calling them in. Remember: You’re the boss, and you get to decide what you’re available for. If you want premium clients? They want the best. Premium clients look for freelancers who can solve their exact problem, have a proven track record of helping people like them, make them feel seen and understood, and will get them high-quality results — quickly. They expect a premium price point. If you’re not demonstrating that you solve a premium problem for a premium buyer and confidently communicating the return on the investment, you’re not going to attract premium clients. One of my clients went from earning $50k per year to $50k per quarter simply by changing his offer and positioning it for a premium buyer at a premium price point.Develop messaging that calls in higher-quality, more aligned clients. Most of the time, what you think is a visibility problem is actually a messaging problem. It’s not that you need to get in front of more prospects or better prospects, it’s that you need to do a better job showing your ideal client that you understand them specifically and are the best choice to solve their specific problem in the best and most efficient way. If your messaging isn’t powerful enough to attract cold leads, you need better messaging. Some common mistakes you might be making: 1. Speaking to “everyone” instead of your ideal client. 2. Not being specific enough about who you help, how you help them, what you do, why you do it, and what differentiates you. 3. Focusing on yourself, not them (less “it includes this;” more “here are the results you’ll get”). 4. Not saying what you really think; instead, demonstrate you're an industry leader and share your unique perspective and values. One of my copywriting clients went from $5k/month to $12k/month simply by refining her messaging so her target audience was hyperspecific, the impact of her work was clear, and her values and perspective (for example, taking a stand against AI), were front and center.Be proactive about getting visible and generating leads. Once you have a compelling premium offer and premium positioning, now it’s time for a legitimate marketing strategy! There is no one way to do marketing or generate leads. You don’t have to dance on TikTok or learn Pinterest if you hate it. You need a marketing strategy that’s a match for your services, where your target audience is, and where you feel comfortable, and what works for your lifestyle. Freelancers often think that if they try the latest new shiny marketing tactic — podcasts, YouTube, Instagram Reels — it will bring them clients. It’s not about where you are. If you have the right offer, messaging, and strategy, you’ll attract high-quality cold leads on any platform.Effective marketing is just sharing the right message, at the right time, in the right place. I’ve had clients go from zero to 10k followers, get $16k retainer clients from a comment on LinkedIn, and land their first $30k contract from the marketing strategies we’ve developed. Get over your fear of being cringe and put yourself out there! And if you’re in New York, make sure to come to my in-person workshop at Freelancer’s Union on October 8th: The Freelancer’s Guide to a Consistent Pipeline of Premium B2B Leads. Sign up today! View the full article

Synagogue attack comes amid a sharp rise in anti-Jewish prejudiceView the full article

VantageScore's claims of outperforming Classic FICO rely on flawed methods and biased comparisons that overstate its impact, according to analysts from AEI Housing Center. View the full article

On Monday evening at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City’s last-standing mayoral candidates—Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa—took the stage to address their plans to meet the needs of Black women in New York should they take on the role. New York’s mayoral election has captured global attention, with an international audience deeply invested in the outcome after newcomer and current state assemblyman Mamdani beat former governor Cuomo as the Democratic nominee in June. Noticeably absent was the city’s current mayor, Eric Adams. The forum took place on the heels of Adams dropping his bid for mayoral reelection just one day prior, bringing renewed interest in the battle to win the hearts of New Yorkers—or at least their votes. The event was organized by The Links, Incorporated, an international service nonprofit for African American women; Higher Heights Leadership Fund; the National Action Network; the National Urban League; and the New York Urban League, and took place at the Apollo Stages at the Victoria where it was open to the public. “The importance of our voices in today’s world is crucial,” said Jamila Beckford, president of the Greater Bronx chapter of The Links, Incorporated The group tapped NY1 news anchor Cheryl Willis to interview each mayoral candidate on how they intended to address various issues as they are uniquely experienced by Black women—particularly topics related to healthcare, domestic violence, entrepreneurial efforts, and the workforce. Interestingly, the forum was devoid of face-to-face contact between the candidates: They were individually brought before the audience to participate in a series of 20-minute-long interviews. On housing Housing insecurity is a major challenge experienced by Black women. When asked about his plans to secure safe and affordable housing, Sliwa suggested opening the 8,000 NYCHA apartments that are currently unoccupied—which Willis was quick to shut down, pointing out how the empty apartments are “dilapidated” and therefore unhabitable. Sliwa replied by stating that he would devise plans for New Yorkers to become homeowners, particularly for apartments they had resided in for years. “I think I know what can be done, and the fiscal limitations for what can’t be done,” he said. Mamdani, whose mayoral campaign has championed a rent freeze for two million New Yorkers living in rent-stabilized apartments, reiterated these plans and points to how such a tactic would impact Black families. “The previous mayoral admin did it three times,” he said. “We know it’s a question of political will.” He added that affordability isn’t just about tenants, but landlords and homeowners, pointing to the issue of deed thefts and his plans to protect homeowners. Cuomo’s solution was to “build more housing,” though Willis clarified that new housing was usually priced at market rate “What we are doing now is destroying historically Black communities with gentrifiers, where people have to move out because they are being priced out of their neighborhoods,” he said. On the workplace and leadership Willis pressed each candidate about their take on the attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies by the The President administration as well as the purging of government jobs, which, among other factors, has reportedly led to an exodus of 300,000 Black women from the U.S. workforce. A concern for many in the room was the visibility of Black women in senior leadership positions. Mamdani, often critical of Eric Adams’s tenure as mayor, made a positive observation about his opponent: “His leadership team looks like the city.” “When we speak about the necessity of excellence and diversity and a team that looks like the city that it serves, that it’s intentional,” Mamdani added. Emphasizing the need for vocational school and training, Sliwa said, “Obviously, qualified Black women have to be prioritized. They’re raising families for a future generation.” Willis rebutted by mentioning that many Black women are highly educated beyond vocational school. As for Cuomo, he stressed that his administration would look like New York City. “I believe deeply in the power of Black women,” he said. In response to a question about widening pay gaps between white men and Black women, he insisted that lawsuits were the answer. On mental health Willis mentioned that domestic and intimate partner violence against women are especially high among Black women. When asked what he would do to protect this vulnerable population, Sliwa stated that “sending social workers is not the answer”—an apparent dig at Mamdani, who has previously shared this strategy as part of his public safety plans. “You team up police with social workers—if a man is continually abusive, he has to be out of the house, he has to go through therapy,” Sliwa said, citing his experience as founder of the Guardian Angels. The volunteer-based organization enlists people to defend against crime on the city’s public transit system and, most recently, perform wellness checks on homeless people. Mamdani, in his response, stated plainly, “One of my primary responsibilities is to uplift the existing agendas.” The The President administration’s deliberate takedown of DEI efforts and its subsequent impact on the Black community was a charged topic, and one that the candidates appeared aligned on pushing back against. When asked how he would deal with The President’s attempts to meddle in local politics, Mamdani said, “I would remind them who I work for, which is the people of New York City.” Cuomo, who has dealt with The President’s many threats during his prior tenure as New York State governor, said “Let him come with his demands, and we’ll say hell no, we won’t go.” New York’s mayoral election is on November 4. Most polls show Mamdani in the lead by a significant margin. View the full article

Hello there, and welcome once again to Fast Company’s Plugged In. For something that continues to suck up so much of the world’s attention, social networking has not exactly been a font of wild innovation in recent years. Its big names are all up there in years and showing their age: Facebook is 21, Twitter is 19. Instagram is 15, Snapchat is 14. Newer entrants, such as BeReal, rarely live up to their early great expectations. Even Bluesky, where many of us have found a home after fleeing the Elon Muskified version of Twitter, isn’t growing at its old clip. So I was intrigued when two new social networking experiences debuted in rapid succession in late September: Meta’s Vibes and OpenAI’s Sora. Thanks to the fact that both focus on letting people share AI-generated imagery, they compete directly with each other. But their all-AI format also sets them apart from existing social networks, where generative AI is most often a distraction from human contact, not the main attraction. Personally, I like the idea of AI being cordoned off into its own social app. Most examples of the technology showing up in other social feeds have a dystopian tinge, from Twitter’s Grok bot going full Hitler to the maudlin deepfakes that have recently become an unwelcome element of my Facebook time. (For some reason, Paul McCartney stars in many of the newest ones—in one instance shown dolefully strumming a guitar at Charlie Kirk’s funeral.) Plenty of my friends get downright surly when they encounter AI on their feeds; to avoid making them unhappy, I have gone cold turkey on sharing it. Isolated in its own apps, however, AI imagery only gets exposed to people who want to see it. And everyone who does see it will understand that it’s synthetic—or so I hope. While I was waiting to snag an invite code for the Sora app—a requirement to try it at the moment—I dived into Vibes, which is not an app unto itself. Instead, it’s an element of the Meta AI app, which also includes a general-purpose chatbot and serves as a companion for the Meta-powered smart glasses from Ray-Ban and Oakley. Meta is billing Vibes as “an early preview” and says additional personalization and creation tools are in the works. In its debut incarnation, Vibes doesn’t do all that much. You can enter prompts to create brief AI videos, add music, and then post them to the Vibes feed (or Instagram or Facebook—although I kind of hope you won’t). A Discover feed lets you flip through clips posted by other users, TikTok style, and there’s a remix option that enables you to modify those clips and reshare them. I cheerfully admit that I found thumbing my way through Vibes mildly entertaining in a hypnotic, untaxing way. Ultimately, though, it felt a little like snacking on Chex Mix—unrelenting sameness, packaged as variety. Little about the videos I saw felt like an expression of individual creativity: I lost track of the number of buttery-smooth tracking shots of obsessively detailed, Pixar-esque orange monsters I saw. The image-generating algorithms—not the humans typing the prompts—are the stars here. Which brings us back to Sora. Its biggest differentiator from Vibes is that you can create a “cameo” digitized version of yourself and make it the main character of your AI clips. You can also make your cameo available for incorporation into your friends’ videos, or even ones credited by the entire Sora community. Moreover, cameos and other characters in Sora videos talk; in Vibes, audio is limited to music you pick from its library. Once I got into Sora, it took only a minute or two of exposure to realize that the experience it offers is vastly richer than Vibes. Its clips aren’t just demos of what the technology can do—they’re wacky 10-second mini-movies, sometimes with multiple shots, that occasionally provoked me to literally LOL. Thanks to cameos and OpenAI’s decision to allow depiction of copyrighted property unless its owners explicitly request otherwise, the cast of characters is dazzling: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Pikachu, SpongeBob, JFK, Martin Luther King Jr., Betty White, Mister Rogers, and several tech journalists of my acquaintance all made multiple appearances in my feed. Just in its first few days, Sora seems to have spawned a billion memes, such as a dog being pulled over for speeding, that users riff on by remixing them. In remixes I saw, the driver was a fish, a cow, a giraffe, and Dora the Explorer. No equivalent kindling of community-based humor seemed to be going on over at Vibes. In other words, Sora feels far more like a killer app with a truly social angle than Vibes. It’s hard to imagine that Meta—which turned imitating (and sometimes improving upon) Snapchat into Instagram’s entire modus operandi—isn’t working furiously on similar functionality. But even if it catches up, OpenAI got there first. Which means that it also has to worry about its app causing problems that the current, more anodyne Vibes probably won’t. To its credit, OpenAI has clearly done a lot of thinking on that topic. When I signed into Sora for the first time, I got a full-screen disclaimer: “You are about to enter a creative world of AI-generated content. Some videos may depict people you recognize, but the actions and events shown are not real.” I wasn’t able to create videos of living celebrities—I tried Donald The President, Taylor Swift, and Bad Bunny—except for Altman, who created a cameo of himself and set it to allow open usage. Some baseline of good taste is being imposed: My attempt to create a clip of my own cameo punching out people resulted in an odd effect where the blows didn’t quite land. The most worrisome misuse of Sora might involve it being used as a tool for deepfake-assisted bullying. OpenAI says it’s putting limits on teenagers’ use of the app, including tighter rules for cameo appearances. You can even see other people’s unpublished draft videos if they depict your cameo, a pretty important measure given that it’s possible to download Sora videos for use elsewhere without ever posting them in the app. (They carry Sora watermarks, indicating their provenance and fictional nature.) No matter how hard OpenAI works to keep Sora healthy, it’s tough to imagine there won’t be instances of users with bad intent successfully jumping over its guardrails. Sora-generated slop could also overwhelm other social networks where AI is less welcome. Or maybe the app will simply grow tiresome once its novelty has worn off. For now, Sora is easily the most interesting consumer product that OpenAI has come up with since ChatGPT. More significantly, it’s the rare new social network that feels like it might have legs. I’m @harrymccracken there—and hope it remains a silly ingredient in my social-media diet for the foreseeable future. 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 ChatGPT can now spend your money for you It’s a huge deal for users, brands, and the future of agentic AI. Read More → How the White House redesigned its website to blame Democrats for the shutdown WH.gov transformed into a billboard for a government shutdown publicity moment. Read More → One in five Americans now regularly get news on TikTok, up sharply from 2020 ‘No social media platform we’ve studied has experienced faster growth in news consumption.’ Read More → Peloton is pivoting to AI. Here’s how it’s using custom-built models to improve your workout The embattled at-home fitness company is raising its prices and using machine learning to personalize members’ workouts. Read More → Why Amazon went all-in on balls for its new line of speakers Three years in the making, Amazon’s new spherical Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max are built to raise the bar of Amazon’s audio quality and usher in the next generation of smart home. Read More → Who controls the machines that control Artificial Intelligence? The hidden arms race of AI supercomputers. Read More → View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. When you're looking to top off your iPhone's battery, you might not think much about the actual plug you're using. The thing is, it actually matters quite a bit, especially if you care about charging speeds. But even knowing that, you might take a look at Apple's newest power adapter and think "$40? Without a cable? No way." It's certainly a steep price for a power adapter, especially as you can find other options for literally half the price. But there's something interesting about this particular charger. It might not necessarily be worth $40, but there's a reason it's not cheap: This thing might be the only power adapter you need in your tech tool box. Dynamic power outputAs you can see from the product listing, Apple's power adapter is advertised as a 40W charger. However, it is also advertised as being able to deliver up to 60W. You don't typically see that from a power adapter, as the wattage you see is the wattage you usually get. As CNET's Bridget Carey explains, this is made possible through some clever engineering. The power adapter will start by offering the maximum charging output your device in question can take in, up to 60W. iPhones can't accept 60W of charging, for example, but MacBooks can: So this 40W power adapter can actually deliver 60W of power when connected to something like your MacBook—at first. Since the power adapter isn't actually a true 60W charger, it can't sustain that power output for long periods of time. As such, it pulls back the power draw over time. In practical terms, it means you can get an initial 60W charge on a device that can accept it, which can help charge your larger devices faster at the start. Rather than bring a power adapter for your iPhone, and a larger one for your MacBook, or tote a huge power adapter for both, you get a compact power adapter that can offer the best of both worlds. There's also a reason Apple chose 40W for this power adapter's "standard" output. The new iPhone 17 series has the quickest charging speeds of any iPhone device so far, charging up to 50% in just 20 minutes. (The exception is the iPhone 17 Air, which can charge to 50% in 30 minutes.) However, you need the right power adapter to take advantage of these charging speeds—at least 40W. (Again, the iPhone 17 Air is the exception, as it can charge to 50% in 30 minutes with 20W or higher.) That's really the perk of this dynamic power adapter. It's powerful enough to offer the fastest charging speeds for your iPhone 17, while also offering a power boost to give something like a MacBook a faster charge, at least for a little while. That being said, there are plenty of power adapter options out there, including ones that offer outputs in the 60W range. No matter what power adapter you end up going with, just keep two things in mind: the maximum power output of the adapter itself, but also your charging cable. If your cable can't support the wattage, it doesn't matter how large the adapter is. View the full article

Economists and investors say there are scattered signs of self-censorshipView the full article

The economic consequences of the current federal government shutdown hinge critically on how long it lasts. If it is resolved quickly, the costs will be small, but if it drags on, it could send the U.S. economy into a tailspin. That’s because the economy is already in a precarious state, with the labor market struggling, consumers losing confidence and uncertainty mounting. As an economist who studies public finance, I closely follow how government policies affect the economy. Let me explain how a prolonged shutdown could affect the economy—and why it could be a tipping point to recession. Direct impacts from a government shutdown The partial government shutdown began on Oct. 1, 2025, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a deal on funding some portion of the federal government. A partial shutdown means that some funding bills have been approved, entitlement spending continues since it does not rely on annual appropriations, and some workers are deemed necessary and stay on the job unpaid. While most of the 20 shutdowns that occurred from 1976 through 2024 lasted only a few days to a week, there are signs the current one may not be resolved so quickly. The economy would definitely take a direct hit to gross domestic product from a lengthy shutdown, but it’s the indirect impacts that could be more harmful. The most recent shutdown, which extended over the 2018–2019 winter holidays and lasted 35 days, was the longest in U.S. history. After it ended, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the partial shutdown delayed approximately US$18 billion in federal discretionary spending, which translated into an $11 billion reduction in real GDP. Most of that lost output was made up later once the shutdown ended, the CBO noted. It is estimated that the permanent losses were about $3 billion—a drop in the bucket for the $30 trillion U.S. economy. The indirect and more lasting impacts The full impact may depend to a large extent on the psychology of the average consumer. Recent data suggests that consumer confidence is falling as the stagnation in the labor market becomes more clear. Business confidence has been mixed as the manufacturing index continues to indicate the sector is in contraction, while other business confidence measures indicate mixed expectations about the future. If the shutdown drags on, the psychological effects may lead to a larger loss of confidence among consumers and businesses. Given that consumer spending accounts for 70% of economic activity, a fall in consumer confidence could signal a turning point in the economy. These indirect effects are in addition to the direct impact of lost income for federal workers and those that operate on federal contracts, which leads to reductions in consumption and production. The risk of significant government layoffs, beyond the usual furloughs, could deepen the economic damage. Extensive layoffs would shift the losses from a temporary delay to a more permanent loss of income and human capital, reducing aggregate demand and potentially increasing unemployment spillovers into the private sector. In short, while shutdowns that end quickly tend to inflict modest, mostly recoverable losses, a protracted shutdown—especially one involving layoffs of a significant number of government workers—could inflict larger, lasting impacts on the economy. US economy is already in distress This is all occurring as the U.S. labor market is flashing warnings. Payrolls grew by only 22,000 in August, with July and June estimates revised down by 21,000. This follows payroll growth of only 73,000 in July, with May and June estimates revised down by 258,000. In addition, preliminary annual revisions to the employment data show the economy gained 911,000 fewer jobs in the previous year than had been reported. Long-term unemployment is also rising, with 1.8 million people out of work for more than 27 weeks—nearly a quarter of the total number of unemployed individuals. At the same time, AI adoption and cost-cutting could further reduce labor demand, while an aging workforce and lower immigration shrink labor supply. Fed Chair Jerome Powell refers to this as a “curious kind of balance” in the labor market. In other words, the job market appears to have come to a screeching halt, making it difficult for recent graduates to find work. Recent graduate unemployment—that is, those who are 22 to 27 years old—is now 5.3% relative to the total unemployment rate of 4.3%. The latest data from the ADP employment report, which measures only private company data, shows that the economy lost 32,000 jobs in September. That’s the biggest decline in 2½ years. While that’s worrying, economists like me usually wait for the official Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers to come out to confirm the accuracy of the payroll processing firm’s report. The government data that was supposed to come out on Oct. 3 might have offered a possible counterpoint to the bad ADP news, but due to the shutdown BLS will not be releasing the report. Problems Fed rate cuts can’t fix This will only increase the uncertainty surrounding the health of the U.S. economy. And it adds to the uncertainty created by on-again, off-again tariffs as well as the newly imposed tariffs on lumber, furniture and other goods. Against this backdrop, the Fed is expected to lower interest rates at least two more times this year to stimulate consumer and business spending following its September quarter-point cut. This raises the risk of reigniting inflation, but the cooling labor market is a more immediate concern for the Fed. While lower short-term rates may help at the margin, I believe they cannot resolve the deeper challenges, such as massive government deficits and debt, tight household budgets, a housing affordability crisis and a shrinking labor force. The question now is not will the Fed cut rates, because it likely will, but whether that cut will help, particularly if the shutdown lasts weeks or more. Monetary policy alone cannot overcome the uncertainty created by tariffs, the lack of fiscal restraint, companies focused on cutting costs by replacing people with technology, the impact of the shutdown and the fears of consumers about the future. Lower interest rates may buy time, but they won’t solve these structural problems facing the U.S. economy. John W. Diamond is the director of the Center for Public Finance at the Baker Institute at Rice University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Creating a winning marketing strategy requires a clear, step-by-step approach. First, you’ll want to conduct thorough market research to understand your audience and competitors. Next, developing detailed buyer personas will help you tailor your offerings. After that, crafting a compelling messaging framework is essential for articulating your unique value proposition. Then, it’s time to design targeted marketing strategies. Finally, continuous measurement and refinement guarantee your strategy remains effective. Let’s explore each of these steps in detail. Key Takeaways Conduct thorough market research to identify customer needs and analyze competitors for effective positioning. Develop detailed buyer personas to understand demographics, psychographics, and customer pain points. Craft a compelling messaging framework that highlights your unique value proposition and aligns with customer motivations. Design tailored marketing strategies incorporating the 4 Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion, based on research insights. Continuously measure and refine performance using KPIs, analytics tools, and customer feedback to adapt to market changes. Conduct Thorough Market Research Conducting thorough market research is essential for any business looking to succeed in today’s competitive environment. You need to understand customer preferences, as 42% of startups fail because of a lack of market need. By using both qualitative and quantitative methods, you can gather extensive data on demographics, psychographics, and industry trends. Analyzing competitors’ strengths and weaknesses will also provide insights into your market positioning, helping you identify unique selling propositions. Furthermore, identifying industry trends through research can reveal opportunities for innovation. Regularly updating and refining your market research based on new data will guarantee that your marketing strategy remains relevant and effective, ultimately improving your chances of success in a dynamic market terrain. Develop Detailed Buyer Personas Creating detailed buyer personas is an essential step in developing a successful marketing strategy. To start, analyze demographic data like age, gender, income, and education. This helps you define marketing initiatives that target your ideal customer profile. Incorporate psychographic factors such as interests, attitudes, and lifestyles to better understand buyer motivations. Researching customer challenges and pain points allows you to tailor your products or services, enhancing your value proposition. Utilize qualitative and quantitative methods, like surveys and focus groups, for robust data. Continuously refine these personas based on new insights, ensuring your marketing strategy remains relevant and effective in addressing evolving customer behaviors. This approach will notably contribute to building a marketing strategy that resonates with your audience. Craft a Compelling Messaging Framework To craft a compelling messaging framework, start by clearly defining your unique value proposition (UVP), which outlines how your product or service addresses specific pain points faced by your target audience. Next, identify key messaging pillars that align with your buyer personas’ motivations and challenges. This guarantees your communications resonate effectively. Incorporate a consistent brand voice across all channels, whether formal or conversational, to build trust and recognition. Utilize feedback from customer interactions and market research to refine your messaging framework, enabling you to adjust to evolving preferences. Finally, regularly review and update your framework based on analytics to guarantee your marketing remains relevant, maximizing engagement and conversion rates as you learn how to create a marketing strategy and develop your product marketing plan. Design Tailored Marketing Strategies Designing customized marketing strategies is essential for connecting with your target audience effectively. Start with in-depth market research to understand customer demographics and preferences. Use this information to create detailed buyer personas that reflect their motivations and challenges. This approach helps you craft personalized marketing messages that resonate. Incorporate the 4 Ps of marketing—Product, Price, Place, and Promotion—to align your offerings with customer needs and market trends. Furthermore, leverage data analytics tools to track interactions and campaign performance, allowing you to continuously refine your strategies. Finally, implement A/B testing to determine which messages and channels yield the best results. Continuously Measure and Refine Performance During the implementation of your marketing strategy, it’s crucial to continuously measure and refine your performance. Regularly analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) like website traffic and conversion rates, which help assess how effective your strategy is. Use analytics tools for data collection, allowing you to adjust tactics based on trends. A/B testing various campaigns can reveal which strategies yield the best ROI. Schedule quarterly reviews to align with market changes and consumer preferences. Moreover, create a feedback loop by gathering insights from customers and sales teams to refine your messaging and tactics effectively. Action Purpose Analyze KPIs Assess effectiveness Conduct A/B Testing Identify high-performing tactics Schedule Reviews Guarantee strategy alignment Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Steps of Marketing Strategies? To develop effective marketing strategies, follow these five steps. First, define your business and marketing goals clearly. Next, conduct thorough market research to understand competitors and customer preferences. Then, create detailed customer profiles to tailor your messaging. After that, synthesize your findings to align goals with market insights. Finally, implement an action plan that outlines responsibilities, timelines, and budgets, ensuring your marketing efforts are organized and focused on achieving desired outcomes. What Are the 5 P’s of Marketing Strategy? The 5 P’s of marketing strategy are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. Product involves what you’re offering, focusing on features and quality. Price refers to your pricing strategy, reflecting value during a competitive landscape. Place deals with distribution channels, ensuring customers can access your product easily. Promotion encompasses your marketing communications to engage your audience. Finally, People address the target market, emphasizing comprehension of customer needs and preferences for effective marketing. What Is the 5S Marketing Strategy? The 5S marketing strategy focuses on five key elements: Sell, Serve, Speak, Save, and Sizzle. You start with “Sell,” which emphasizes effective promotion of products. Next, “Serve” involves delivering excellent customer service to nurture loyalty. “Speak” means engaging customers with relevant communication. “Save” aims to attract price-sensitive consumers through promotions. Finally, “Sizzle” creates excitement around your brand, enhancing customer experience. Together, these elements drive customer engagement and boost sales effectively. What Are the 5 P’s of Strategic Marketing? The 5 P’s of strategic marketing are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. First, define your Product by comprehending its features and benefits to meet customer needs. Next, determine the right Price to reflect value and competition. Then, choose the appropriate Place for distribution, ensuring accessibility. After that, craft your Promotion strategy to raise awareness. Finally, consider People, focusing on your target audience’s demographics and preferences to improve engagement and effectiveness. Conclusion In summary, creating a winning marketing strategy requires careful planning and execution. By conducting thorough market research, developing detailed buyer personas, crafting a compelling messaging framework, designing customized marketing strategies, and continuously measuring performance, you can effectively meet customer needs. Stay adaptable and responsive to feedback, ensuring your strategy remains relevant in a changing market. Follow these steps, and you’ll improve your chances of achieving your marketing goals and driving business success. Image Via Envato This article, "How to Create a Winning Marketing Strategy in 5 Steps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating a winning marketing strategy requires a clear, step-by-step approach. First, you’ll want to conduct thorough market research to understand your audience and competitors. Next, developing detailed buyer personas will help you tailor your offerings. After that, crafting a compelling messaging framework is essential for articulating your unique value proposition. Then, it’s time to design targeted marketing strategies. Finally, continuous measurement and refinement guarantee your strategy remains effective. Let’s explore each of these steps in detail. Key Takeaways Conduct thorough market research to identify customer needs and analyze competitors for effective positioning. Develop detailed buyer personas to understand demographics, psychographics, and customer pain points. Craft a compelling messaging framework that highlights your unique value proposition and aligns with customer motivations. Design tailored marketing strategies incorporating the 4 Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion, based on research insights. Continuously measure and refine performance using KPIs, analytics tools, and customer feedback to adapt to market changes. Conduct Thorough Market Research Conducting thorough market research is essential for any business looking to succeed in today’s competitive environment. You need to understand customer preferences, as 42% of startups fail because of a lack of market need. By using both qualitative and quantitative methods, you can gather extensive data on demographics, psychographics, and industry trends. Analyzing competitors’ strengths and weaknesses will also provide insights into your market positioning, helping you identify unique selling propositions. Furthermore, identifying industry trends through research can reveal opportunities for innovation. Regularly updating and refining your market research based on new data will guarantee that your marketing strategy remains relevant and effective, ultimately improving your chances of success in a dynamic market terrain. Develop Detailed Buyer Personas Creating detailed buyer personas is an essential step in developing a successful marketing strategy. To start, analyze demographic data like age, gender, income, and education. This helps you define marketing initiatives that target your ideal customer profile. Incorporate psychographic factors such as interests, attitudes, and lifestyles to better understand buyer motivations. Researching customer challenges and pain points allows you to tailor your products or services, enhancing your value proposition. Utilize qualitative and quantitative methods, like surveys and focus groups, for robust data. Continuously refine these personas based on new insights, ensuring your marketing strategy remains relevant and effective in addressing evolving customer behaviors. This approach will notably contribute to building a marketing strategy that resonates with your audience. Craft a Compelling Messaging Framework To craft a compelling messaging framework, start by clearly defining your unique value proposition (UVP), which outlines how your product or service addresses specific pain points faced by your target audience. Next, identify key messaging pillars that align with your buyer personas’ motivations and challenges. This guarantees your communications resonate effectively. Incorporate a consistent brand voice across all channels, whether formal or conversational, to build trust and recognition. Utilize feedback from customer interactions and market research to refine your messaging framework, enabling you to adjust to evolving preferences. Finally, regularly review and update your framework based on analytics to guarantee your marketing remains relevant, maximizing engagement and conversion rates as you learn how to create a marketing strategy and develop your product marketing plan. Design Tailored Marketing Strategies Designing customized marketing strategies is essential for connecting with your target audience effectively. Start with in-depth market research to understand customer demographics and preferences. Use this information to create detailed buyer personas that reflect their motivations and challenges. This approach helps you craft personalized marketing messages that resonate. Incorporate the 4 Ps of marketing—Product, Price, Place, and Promotion—to align your offerings with customer needs and market trends. Furthermore, leverage data analytics tools to track interactions and campaign performance, allowing you to continuously refine your strategies. Finally, implement A/B testing to determine which messages and channels yield the best results. Continuously Measure and Refine Performance During the implementation of your marketing strategy, it’s crucial to continuously measure and refine your performance. Regularly analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) like website traffic and conversion rates, which help assess how effective your strategy is. Use analytics tools for data collection, allowing you to adjust tactics based on trends. A/B testing various campaigns can reveal which strategies yield the best ROI. Schedule quarterly reviews to align with market changes and consumer preferences. Moreover, create a feedback loop by gathering insights from customers and sales teams to refine your messaging and tactics effectively. Action Purpose Analyze KPIs Assess effectiveness Conduct A/B Testing Identify high-performing tactics Schedule Reviews Guarantee strategy alignment Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Steps of Marketing Strategies? To develop effective marketing strategies, follow these five steps. First, define your business and marketing goals clearly. Next, conduct thorough market research to understand competitors and customer preferences. Then, create detailed customer profiles to tailor your messaging. After that, synthesize your findings to align goals with market insights. Finally, implement an action plan that outlines responsibilities, timelines, and budgets, ensuring your marketing efforts are organized and focused on achieving desired outcomes. What Are the 5 P’s of Marketing Strategy? The 5 P’s of marketing strategy are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. Product involves what you’re offering, focusing on features and quality. Price refers to your pricing strategy, reflecting value during a competitive landscape. Place deals with distribution channels, ensuring customers can access your product easily. Promotion encompasses your marketing communications to engage your audience. Finally, People address the target market, emphasizing comprehension of customer needs and preferences for effective marketing. What Is the 5S Marketing Strategy? The 5S marketing strategy focuses on five key elements: Sell, Serve, Speak, Save, and Sizzle. You start with “Sell,” which emphasizes effective promotion of products. Next, “Serve” involves delivering excellent customer service to nurture loyalty. “Speak” means engaging customers with relevant communication. “Save” aims to attract price-sensitive consumers through promotions. Finally, “Sizzle” creates excitement around your brand, enhancing customer experience. Together, these elements drive customer engagement and boost sales effectively. What Are the 5 P’s of Strategic Marketing? The 5 P’s of strategic marketing are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. First, define your Product by comprehending its features and benefits to meet customer needs. Next, determine the right Price to reflect value and competition. Then, choose the appropriate Place for distribution, ensuring accessibility. After that, craft your Promotion strategy to raise awareness. Finally, consider People, focusing on your target audience’s demographics and preferences to improve engagement and effectiveness. Conclusion In summary, creating a winning marketing strategy requires careful planning and execution. By conducting thorough market research, developing detailed buyer personas, crafting a compelling messaging framework, designing customized marketing strategies, and continuously measuring performance, you can effectively meet customer needs. Stay adaptable and responsive to feedback, ensuring your strategy remains relevant in a changing market. Follow these steps, and you’ll improve your chances of achieving your marketing goals and driving business success. Image Via Envato This article, "How to Create a Winning Marketing Strategy in 5 Steps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Microsoft Advertising is shutting down its Ads for Social Impact grant program, which provided free ad credits to nonprofits. Final grants will be issued November 30, 2025, with a 45-day window to spend them. Why we care. The decision ends a program that helped nonprofits amplify their missions through free advertising dollars. Starting in 2026, nonprofits that don’t pause campaigns risk being automatically charged on the payment methods tied to their accounts. Driving the news: The program officially ends December 2025, with campaigns required to be paused by early January if funds are exhausted. Microsoft says nonprofits will still have access to discounted tools through its broader Tech for Social Impact offerings, including Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365. Employees can continue supporting nonprofits through Microsoft’s volunteer and donation matching programs. If you forget to pause your campaigns, Microsoft will automatically start charging your credit card on Jan 1. What they’re saying. George Weiner, Founder of digital agency Whole Whale, who also posted the message he received on LinkedIn, argues the cut sends the wrong signal at a company worth over $3 trillion, especially given Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in AI. He sees it as a cost-savings move tied to AI priorities and that the goodwill generated from free ads didn’t justify the spend. Microsoft Ads Liaison Navah Hopkins confirmed the news, acknowledging disappointment but emphasizing Microsoft’s other nonprofit initiatives. The bottom line. Nonprofits will need to pivot—either budgeting for Microsoft Ads or shifting spend elsewhere—as one of the few big tech ad grant programs winds down. View the full article