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Farage & Co could make a big splash at the pool partyView the full article

Heavily indebted UK utility is attempting to strengthen its financesView the full article

Madrid says ‘everything remains on the table’ as it seeks to identify the cause of massive April 28 outage View the full article

Demand for battery-run cars strong in first quarter but analysts warn trend may not continueView the full article

Pinterest has announced a global rollout of new transparency tools aimed at helping users identify and manage generative AI (Gen AI) content across its platform. After months of testing, the company is officially introducing “AI modified” labels on image Pins that may have been generated or altered using AI technologies. “As people encounter AI-generated content on Pinterest, we are empowering our users to make more informed choices about the content they see,” said Matt Madrigal, Chief Technology Officer. “Gen AI content on Pinterest should enhance users’ ability to discover and act on their inspiration, and we are intentionally approaching this new landscape in a thoughtful way that benefits everyone on Pinterest.” AI Labeling on Pins The new feature introduces visible “AI modified” labels on the bottom left corner of Pins that are detected as generated or altered with AI. These labels appear in close-up view when users click on an image Pin. Pinterest developed classifiers that analyze both metadata and visual cues to detect Gen AI content—even in the absence of explicit markers. As Pinterest continues refining these classifiers, the company expects the labels to become increasingly accurate. To address potential errors, Pinterest has implemented an appeals process that allows creators and users to dispute labels they believe were applied incorrectly. Enhanced User Control Over AI Content Pinterest is also testing new controls that will allow users to filter the Gen AI content they encounter. A “see fewer” option will soon be available for Gen AI Pins in specific categories, such as beauty and art. This option can be accessed via the three-dot overflow menu on the bottom right corner of a Pin. When selected, it will signal Pinterest’s systems to reduce recommendations of similar Gen AI content. This feature is part of Pinterest’s broader effort to improve content discovery and user satisfaction by offering more tailored and transparent browsing experiences. Future Developments in AI at Pinterest According to the announcement, Pinterest plans to expand these transparency and control tools into additional content areas over time. The company emphasizes that, when thoughtfully implemented, Gen AI can enhance creativity and help users act on their inspiration. Pinterest encourages users to visit its Help Center for more details about how the platform uses AI and the company’s ongoing work in this space. Image: Pinterest This article, "Pinterest Launches Global Rollout of Gen AI Labels for Greater Transparency" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Pinterest has announced a global rollout of new transparency tools aimed at helping users identify and manage generative AI (Gen AI) content across its platform. After months of testing, the company is officially introducing “AI modified” labels on image Pins that may have been generated or altered using AI technologies. “As people encounter AI-generated content on Pinterest, we are empowering our users to make more informed choices about the content they see,” said Matt Madrigal, Chief Technology Officer. “Gen AI content on Pinterest should enhance users’ ability to discover and act on their inspiration, and we are intentionally approaching this new landscape in a thoughtful way that benefits everyone on Pinterest.” AI Labeling on Pins The new feature introduces visible “AI modified” labels on the bottom left corner of Pins that are detected as generated or altered with AI. These labels appear in close-up view when users click on an image Pin. Pinterest developed classifiers that analyze both metadata and visual cues to detect Gen AI content—even in the absence of explicit markers. As Pinterest continues refining these classifiers, the company expects the labels to become increasingly accurate. To address potential errors, Pinterest has implemented an appeals process that allows creators and users to dispute labels they believe were applied incorrectly. Enhanced User Control Over AI Content Pinterest is also testing new controls that will allow users to filter the Gen AI content they encounter. A “see fewer” option will soon be available for Gen AI Pins in specific categories, such as beauty and art. This option can be accessed via the three-dot overflow menu on the bottom right corner of a Pin. When selected, it will signal Pinterest’s systems to reduce recommendations of similar Gen AI content. This feature is part of Pinterest’s broader effort to improve content discovery and user satisfaction by offering more tailored and transparent browsing experiences. Future Developments in AI at Pinterest According to the announcement, Pinterest plans to expand these transparency and control tools into additional content areas over time. The company emphasizes that, when thoughtfully implemented, Gen AI can enhance creativity and help users act on their inspiration. Pinterest encourages users to visit its Help Center for more details about how the platform uses AI and the company’s ongoing work in this space. Image: Pinterest This article, "Pinterest Launches Global Rollout of Gen AI Labels for Greater Transparency" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Access to capital remains one of the biggest hurdles for small businesses—but the right grant can make all the difference. From covering startup costs to helping you expand operations, grant funding offers a rare chance to grow without adding debt. Each week, we bring you the newest small business grant programs from trusted sources. Whether the funding comes from government agencies, private organizations, or community initiatives, our Roundup highlights opportunities you can actually use. Here are the latest small business grants worth checking out: New Grant Program Offers Brown County (Ill.) Businesses Up to $5,000 for Innovations and Improvements Existing for-profit businesses in Brown County, Illinois, now have the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to support forward-thinking innovations and improvements. The grant cycle runs from May 1, 2025, to May 1, 2026, with funding available on a first-come, first-served basis until resources are depleted. Grant funds will be awarded as applications are received and reviewed for project qualifications. New Grant Program Launched to Boost Northeast Dairy Workforce Development The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has announced the launch of the Catalyzing Regional Dairy Workforce Grant program, aimed at expanding workforce development programming across the Northeast dairy sector. Applications for this grant opportunity will be open from April 24 through June 5, 2025. The program offers funding to support the development, expansion, and operation of existing dairy workforce programs. The Latest Small Business Grants Available to Entrepreneurs in the US Staying on top of new funding opportunities is key to growing and sustaining your small business. Grants can help you cover costs, fuel innovation, or simply provide some breathing room—without the pressure of repayment. Each week, we search for the most current small business grant programs available, so you don’t have to. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale, these grants could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Opens Applications for AGRI Value-Added and MPEM Grant Programs The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that applications are now open for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant Program. The initiative aims to boost the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors by supporting value-added businesses with targeted equipment investments. CommunityRewards Launches Grant and Mentorship Program for Miami Women-Owned Businesses CommunityRewards, powered by Points4Purpose, Inc., has announced the launch of a new Business Grant and Mentorship Program aimed at supporting women-owned businesses in the Miami area. Applications are now open through May 23, 2025, with the initiative set to award 12 local business owners a package valued at a total of $20,000. The program offers recipients AI-powered loyalty rewards software solutions along with mentorship opportunities. This article, "Fresh Grant Opportunities for Small Businesses – See What’s New This Week" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Access to capital remains one of the biggest hurdles for small businesses—but the right grant can make all the difference. From covering startup costs to helping you expand operations, grant funding offers a rare chance to grow without adding debt. Each week, we bring you the newest small business grant programs from trusted sources. Whether the funding comes from government agencies, private organizations, or community initiatives, our Roundup highlights opportunities you can actually use. Here are the latest small business grants worth checking out: New Grant Program Offers Brown County (Ill.) Businesses Up to $5,000 for Innovations and Improvements Existing for-profit businesses in Brown County, Illinois, now have the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to support forward-thinking innovations and improvements. The grant cycle runs from May 1, 2025, to May 1, 2026, with funding available on a first-come, first-served basis until resources are depleted. Grant funds will be awarded as applications are received and reviewed for project qualifications. New Grant Program Launched to Boost Northeast Dairy Workforce Development The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has announced the launch of the Catalyzing Regional Dairy Workforce Grant program, aimed at expanding workforce development programming across the Northeast dairy sector. Applications for this grant opportunity will be open from April 24 through June 5, 2025. The program offers funding to support the development, expansion, and operation of existing dairy workforce programs. The Latest Small Business Grants Available to Entrepreneurs in the US Staying on top of new funding opportunities is key to growing and sustaining your small business. Grants can help you cover costs, fuel innovation, or simply provide some breathing room—without the pressure of repayment. Each week, we search for the most current small business grant programs available, so you don’t have to. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale, these grants could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Opens Applications for AGRI Value-Added and MPEM Grant Programs The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that applications are now open for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant Program. The initiative aims to boost the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors by supporting value-added businesses with targeted equipment investments. CommunityRewards Launches Grant and Mentorship Program for Miami Women-Owned Businesses CommunityRewards, powered by Points4Purpose, Inc., has announced the launch of a new Business Grant and Mentorship Program aimed at supporting women-owned businesses in the Miami area. Applications are now open through May 23, 2025, with the initiative set to award 12 local business owners a package valued at a total of $20,000. The program offers recipients AI-powered loyalty rewards software solutions along with mentorship opportunities. This article, "Fresh Grant Opportunities for Small Businesses – See What’s New This Week" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Importance of Name: A strong cleaning business name establishes brand identity, attracts clients, and differentiates you in a competitive market.Memorable and Catchy: Aim for a name that is easy to remember, catchy, and possibly utilizes wordplay for lasting impression.Descriptive and Relevant: Choose names that provide clear insight into your services, enhancing both client understanding and SEO visibility.Keyword Integration: Incorporate relevant industry keywords to improve online searchability and clarity about your cleaning services.Target Audience Consideration: Tailor your cleaning business name to resonate with your ideal customers’ preferences and values for better customer acquisition.Creativity Matters: Use unique, trendy names to optimize branding and ensure your business stands out in the marketplace. Choosing the right name for your cleaning business is more than just a creative exercise; it’s a crucial step that can set the tone for your brand. A catchy and memorable name not only attracts potential clients but also communicates your services effectively. With the cleaning industry booming, standing out in a crowded market is essential. You want a name that resonates with your target audience and reflects your values. Whether you prefer something fun and quirky or professional and straightforward, the right name can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll explore tips and ideas to help you brainstorm the perfect name for your cleaning venture, ensuring it captures attention and leaves a lasting impression. Importance Of A Good Cleaning Business Name A strong cleaning business name is essential for establishing your brand identity. It attracts potential clients and communicates the services you’ll provide. In a competitive industry, a unique name differentiates your startup from others, making it easier for you to gain visibility in the market. A memorable name aids in your marketing efforts and enhances brand recognition. When creating your business plan, consider how the name reflects your target audience’s values. Whether your approach is fun and quirky or professional and straightforward, clarity is crucial in conveying your business model. Customizing your business name not only helps in customer acquisition but also aids in your sales strategy. It builds trust and sets the tone for customer service, while aligning with your overall growth strategy. Moreover, ensure your name can be easily indexed for SEO, enhancing your online presence through digital marketing efforts. As an entrepreneur, you might also think about the legal structure of your business. Names that are easy to trademark protect your intellectual property and prevent legal issues down the line. Additionally, a good name simplifies the process of business registration and licensing. Overall, investing time in selecting an effective cleaning business name is a strategic move that contributes to your startup’s success. It serves as the foundational element of your brand, guiding your marketing, client relations, and long-term growth ambitions. Characteristics Of Effective Cleaning Business Names Choosing an effective name for your cleaning business involves key characteristics that attract clients and convey the brand’s identity. Memorable And Catchy A memorable name remains at the forefront of potential customers’ minds. Opt for something catchy and easy to pronounce. Consider utilizing puns, wordplay, or alliteration, as these techniques can create a lasting impression. Names like “Dust Busters,” “Swept Away,” and “Suds & Sparkles” illustrate how creative word choices can be inviting. Rhyming names, such as “Clean Scene” or “Tidy Tide,” also enhance memorability. Descriptive And Relevant Choosing a descriptive name offers clarity about your services. Select names that provide insight into what your business specializes in. For instance, “Sparkling Cleaners,” “Crystal Clear Cleaning,” or “Spotless Services” outline the core focus of your offerings. Highlighting specific services can strengthen your market positioning and resonate with your target audience. A relevant name not only aids in customer acquisition but also boosts your brand’s online visibility and SEO efforts. Tips For Choosing Cleaning Business Names Choosing the right name for your cleaning business plays a critical role in establishing your brand identity. Here are some key tips to help you select an effective name that resonates with your target audience. Incorporate Keywords Using relevant industry terms helps communicate the nature of your services. Incorporating keywords like “cleaning,” “organizing,” “maintenance,” and “sanitizing” creates clarity. When potential clients search for services, these keywords improve your visibility online. Think about niche terms too. If your specialty is eco-friendly cleaning, names such as “Green Glide” can differentiate your brand in a crowded market. Consider Your Target Audience Understanding your target audience influences your cleaning business name significantly. Research your ideal customers’ preferences and values, as well as local market trends. Use language that resonates with them. For example, if your audience values professionalism, opt for names like “Professional Clean Co.” Alternatively, if they appreciate a more casual vibe, names like “Tidy Up Team” might be more appealing. Tailoring your choice to their preferences enhances customer acquisition efforts from the outset. Creative Ideas For Cleaning Business Names Selecting an appropriate name for your cleaning business can significantly influence your branding and marketing efforts. Here are some creative ideas tailored for your small business: Unique and Catchy Names Clean Sweepers Evokes a feeling of thorough cleanliness. Spotless Cleaning Clearly conveys a promise of flawless results. Sparkling Clean Suggests vibrant, refreshing spaces after each clean. Dust Busters Informal and playful, appeals to a broad audience. The Cleaning Crew Indicates teamwork and reliability. Tidy Touch Reflects a service that pays attention to detail. Pristine Clean Communicates high standards in cleaning services. Clean and Green Emphasizes eco-friendly practices, appealing to environmentally conscious customers. Eco Clean Reinforces a commitment to sustainability. Green Clean Co. Establishes brand identity in the green cleaning sector. Trendy and Modern Names Spark & Shine Defines a contemporary approach to cleaning, enhancing market appeal. Pristine Crew Suggests professionalism and excellence in service delivery. The Fresh Touch Implies revitalization and enhancement of spaces. EcoGlow Cleaning Highlights green services that promote a healthy environment. PureVibe Cleaners Reflects a modern, upbeat brand image. Luxe Clean Co. Conveys a high-end, premium service offering. Choosing the right name can optimize your branding and enhance customer acquisition. Use these examples as inspiration for your cleaning business and ensure your name resonates with your target audience while reflecting your services and values. Conclusion Choosing the right name for your cleaning business is more than just a creative exercise. It’s a strategic decision that sets the tone for your brand and influences how potential clients perceive your services. A well-thought-out name can enhance your marketing efforts build trust and improve your online visibility. Take the time to brainstorm names that resonate with your target audience and reflect your business values. Remember to keep it memorable and relevant. This investment in your brand identity will pay off as you attract clients and establish a strong presence in the competitive cleaning industry. Your name is the first impression potential customers will have—make it count. Frequently Asked Questions Why is choosing the right name for a cleaning business important? Choosing the right name is crucial as it establishes your brand identity and helps attract clients. A memorable and appealing name effectively communicates your services and sets you apart in a competitive market. What are the key characteristics of an effective cleaning business name? An effective name should be memorable, catchy, and descriptive. Using puns, alliteration, or relevant industry keywords can enhance brand recognition and clarity about your offerings, aiding customer acquisition. How can I brainstorm names for my cleaning business? To brainstorm names, consider your target audience’s preferences, use relevant keywords, and think about catchy phrases. Explore wordplay, alliteration, or even humorous options to create a lasting impression. Should I consider SEO when naming my cleaning business? Yes, incorporating industry-related keywords in your business name can greatly improve your online visibility. It simplifies business registration and enhances your chances of being indexed by search engines. Can you give examples of creative cleaning business names? Sure! Some creative names include “Dust Busters,” “Suds & Sparkles,” “Eco Clean,” and “Sparkling Cleaners.” These names reflect services while being catchy and engaging for potential customers. How does a strong business name affect customer acquisition? A strong business name helps build trust with potential clients and provides clarity about your services. When customers easily remember your name, they are more likely to reach out and choose your business. What should I avoid when naming my cleaning business? Avoid names that are too complex, hard to spell, or close to existing brands. Ensure your name is unique and does not infringe on trademarks to avoid legal issues. Image Via Envato This article, "Catchy and Creative Cleaning Business Names to Stand Out in the Industry" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Importance of Name: A strong cleaning business name establishes brand identity, attracts clients, and differentiates you in a competitive market.Memorable and Catchy: Aim for a name that is easy to remember, catchy, and possibly utilizes wordplay for lasting impression.Descriptive and Relevant: Choose names that provide clear insight into your services, enhancing both client understanding and SEO visibility.Keyword Integration: Incorporate relevant industry keywords to improve online searchability and clarity about your cleaning services.Target Audience Consideration: Tailor your cleaning business name to resonate with your ideal customers’ preferences and values for better customer acquisition.Creativity Matters: Use unique, trendy names to optimize branding and ensure your business stands out in the marketplace. Choosing the right name for your cleaning business is more than just a creative exercise; it’s a crucial step that can set the tone for your brand. A catchy and memorable name not only attracts potential clients but also communicates your services effectively. With the cleaning industry booming, standing out in a crowded market is essential. You want a name that resonates with your target audience and reflects your values. Whether you prefer something fun and quirky or professional and straightforward, the right name can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll explore tips and ideas to help you brainstorm the perfect name for your cleaning venture, ensuring it captures attention and leaves a lasting impression. Importance Of A Good Cleaning Business Name A strong cleaning business name is essential for establishing your brand identity. It attracts potential clients and communicates the services you’ll provide. In a competitive industry, a unique name differentiates your startup from others, making it easier for you to gain visibility in the market. A memorable name aids in your marketing efforts and enhances brand recognition. When creating your business plan, consider how the name reflects your target audience’s values. Whether your approach is fun and quirky or professional and straightforward, clarity is crucial in conveying your business model. Customizing your business name not only helps in customer acquisition but also aids in your sales strategy. It builds trust and sets the tone for customer service, while aligning with your overall growth strategy. Moreover, ensure your name can be easily indexed for SEO, enhancing your online presence through digital marketing efforts. As an entrepreneur, you might also think about the legal structure of your business. Names that are easy to trademark protect your intellectual property and prevent legal issues down the line. Additionally, a good name simplifies the process of business registration and licensing. Overall, investing time in selecting an effective cleaning business name is a strategic move that contributes to your startup’s success. It serves as the foundational element of your brand, guiding your marketing, client relations, and long-term growth ambitions. Characteristics Of Effective Cleaning Business Names Choosing an effective name for your cleaning business involves key characteristics that attract clients and convey the brand’s identity. Memorable And Catchy A memorable name remains at the forefront of potential customers’ minds. Opt for something catchy and easy to pronounce. Consider utilizing puns, wordplay, or alliteration, as these techniques can create a lasting impression. Names like “Dust Busters,” “Swept Away,” and “Suds & Sparkles” illustrate how creative word choices can be inviting. Rhyming names, such as “Clean Scene” or “Tidy Tide,” also enhance memorability. Descriptive And Relevant Choosing a descriptive name offers clarity about your services. Select names that provide insight into what your business specializes in. For instance, “Sparkling Cleaners,” “Crystal Clear Cleaning,” or “Spotless Services” outline the core focus of your offerings. Highlighting specific services can strengthen your market positioning and resonate with your target audience. A relevant name not only aids in customer acquisition but also boosts your brand’s online visibility and SEO efforts. Tips For Choosing Cleaning Business Names Choosing the right name for your cleaning business plays a critical role in establishing your brand identity. Here are some key tips to help you select an effective name that resonates with your target audience. Incorporate Keywords Using relevant industry terms helps communicate the nature of your services. Incorporating keywords like “cleaning,” “organizing,” “maintenance,” and “sanitizing” creates clarity. When potential clients search for services, these keywords improve your visibility online. Think about niche terms too. If your specialty is eco-friendly cleaning, names such as “Green Glide” can differentiate your brand in a crowded market. Consider Your Target Audience Understanding your target audience influences your cleaning business name significantly. Research your ideal customers’ preferences and values, as well as local market trends. Use language that resonates with them. For example, if your audience values professionalism, opt for names like “Professional Clean Co.” Alternatively, if they appreciate a more casual vibe, names like “Tidy Up Team” might be more appealing. Tailoring your choice to their preferences enhances customer acquisition efforts from the outset. Creative Ideas For Cleaning Business Names Selecting an appropriate name for your cleaning business can significantly influence your branding and marketing efforts. Here are some creative ideas tailored for your small business: Unique and Catchy Names Clean Sweepers Evokes a feeling of thorough cleanliness. Spotless Cleaning Clearly conveys a promise of flawless results. Sparkling Clean Suggests vibrant, refreshing spaces after each clean. Dust Busters Informal and playful, appeals to a broad audience. The Cleaning Crew Indicates teamwork and reliability. Tidy Touch Reflects a service that pays attention to detail. Pristine Clean Communicates high standards in cleaning services. Clean and Green Emphasizes eco-friendly practices, appealing to environmentally conscious customers. Eco Clean Reinforces a commitment to sustainability. Green Clean Co. Establishes brand identity in the green cleaning sector. Trendy and Modern Names Spark & Shine Defines a contemporary approach to cleaning, enhancing market appeal. Pristine Crew Suggests professionalism and excellence in service delivery. The Fresh Touch Implies revitalization and enhancement of spaces. EcoGlow Cleaning Highlights green services that promote a healthy environment. PureVibe Cleaners Reflects a modern, upbeat brand image. Luxe Clean Co. Conveys a high-end, premium service offering. Choosing the right name can optimize your branding and enhance customer acquisition. Use these examples as inspiration for your cleaning business and ensure your name resonates with your target audience while reflecting your services and values. Conclusion Choosing the right name for your cleaning business is more than just a creative exercise. It’s a strategic decision that sets the tone for your brand and influences how potential clients perceive your services. A well-thought-out name can enhance your marketing efforts build trust and improve your online visibility. Take the time to brainstorm names that resonate with your target audience and reflect your business values. Remember to keep it memorable and relevant. This investment in your brand identity will pay off as you attract clients and establish a strong presence in the competitive cleaning industry. Your name is the first impression potential customers will have—make it count. Frequently Asked Questions Why is choosing the right name for a cleaning business important? Choosing the right name is crucial as it establishes your brand identity and helps attract clients. A memorable and appealing name effectively communicates your services and sets you apart in a competitive market. What are the key characteristics of an effective cleaning business name? An effective name should be memorable, catchy, and descriptive. Using puns, alliteration, or relevant industry keywords can enhance brand recognition and clarity about your offerings, aiding customer acquisition. How can I brainstorm names for my cleaning business? To brainstorm names, consider your target audience’s preferences, use relevant keywords, and think about catchy phrases. Explore wordplay, alliteration, or even humorous options to create a lasting impression. Should I consider SEO when naming my cleaning business? Yes, incorporating industry-related keywords in your business name can greatly improve your online visibility. It simplifies business registration and enhances your chances of being indexed by search engines. Can you give examples of creative cleaning business names? Sure! Some creative names include “Dust Busters,” “Suds & Sparkles,” “Eco Clean,” and “Sparkling Cleaners.” These names reflect services while being catchy and engaging for potential customers. How does a strong business name affect customer acquisition? A strong business name helps build trust with potential clients and provides clarity about your services. When customers easily remember your name, they are more likely to reach out and choose your business. What should I avoid when naming my cleaning business? Avoid names that are too complex, hard to spell, or close to existing brands. Ensure your name is unique and does not infringe on trademarks to avoid legal issues. Image Via Envato This article, "Catchy and Creative Cleaning Business Names to Stand Out in the Industry" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

After teasing the device in January at Unpacked 2025, Samsung is ready to make the Galaxy S25 Edge official. The company revealed latest device in the S25 series during a special Monday night event. While there are many similarities between the Edge and the other S25 devices, what makes this particular model stand out from the rest is how slim it is: The S25 Edge is just 5.8mm thick, 1.4mm thinner than the standard S25, and Samsung's thinnest phone yet. Everything Samsung revealed about the S25 EdgeJust like the rest of the S25 phones, the new Galaxy S25 Edge is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip. That SoC (system on a chip) brings a number of improvements to the entire S25. According to Qualcomm, that includes a 45% boost in performance, and a 44% better power efficiency when compared to the S24's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. The chip also includes a new Adreno GPU which Qualcomm says adds a 40% performance boost over the previous generation. There's also 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. The S25 Edge features a 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a QHD+ screen resolution of 3120 x 1440 that supports an adaptive refresh rate. That means the display can refresh anywhere from one to 120Hz, depending on the situation. For biometrics, the phone has an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor along with face recognition. On the camera side, the Galaxy S25 Edge has a dual camera setup with a 200 MP wide lens and 12 MP ultra-wide and front lenses. The periscope lens offers 10x optical zoom. This is one of Samsung's strengths, since most smartphone makers resort to digital zoom, or, essentially, cropping the image rather than offer a dedicated zoom. Samsung is focusing a lot on how thin this phone is, but there's a trade-off for that form factor: The S25 Edge has a 3,900 mAh battery, which is the smallest battery of all the Galaxy S25 phones. But there's still support for 25W wired charging and up to 15W wireless charging. Just like the rest of the S25 series, you'll get access to all the latest Galaxy AI features. That includes the Now Brief, which uses AI to show you prevalent info throughout the day; Note assist, which will transcribe your notes, Live translate, and much more via Galaxy AI's integration with Google Gemini. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be available in Titanium Black and Titanium Silver. View the full article

Soccer, football, futebol, voetbal. Whichever moniker the world’s favorite game’s 3.5 billion fans use to describe this mega sport, this beautiful game is going through a cultural evolution creating more impact beyond the game than ever before. When I joined Manchester City FC in 2009, soccer clubs and the broader sport were just starting to open their eyes beyond the traditional rules of category marketing for the game and its impact was felt in soccer only. At Manchester City FC, we saw an opportunity to do something different. Very quickly we went on a journey from being a “soccer club that sold entertainment” to strategically pivoting to be an “entertainment brand that sold soccer,” winning the Premiership, becoming a global football brand, and kick-starting a journey for all clubs to evolve beyond the game. Looking back now, this sounds like an obvious nuance. But the unlock reframed everything we did through this entertainment lens. From the match day experience to community involvement to purpose-led endeavors to new market expansion—thinking of ourselves as an entertainment property with a soccer capability created a new way to connect to fans, creating meaningful impact on and beyond the field of play. More than a game Cut to today. This thinking is now deep within the game at every level, and with the record breaking three consecutive promotions by Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham FC—the Hollywood epitome of an entertainment story that sells soccer—we see a trend of clubs, players, and brands gaining as much money and influence from their off-field “controllable” entertainment revenue as from traditional on-field football activities. As we near the one year mark until the World Cup lands in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico (June 2026), it feels like soccer is entering its next stage of evolution in how it resonates and creates impact globally. We are seeing that soccer is much more than the game that it represents on the field. The game, its players, and its global influence are transcending into culture and creating a deeper societal impact than ever before. From driving their local and global economies, to leading the fashion and music industry, to creating new rules for the celebrity economy, to partnering with brands to create real consumer connections, and even to shaping politics and broader society, we are on a journey to a World Cup where soccer will be more than just a game. The best example of the game’s growing large-scale economic impact is with the Messi effect raising the value of Inter Miami to over $1.2 billion and helping the club become the most followed U.S. sports team, while bringing economic prosperity and sky-rocketing real estate to the area. We also see this economic impact spreading around the world with the rise of “destination football.” The purchase of and growing relevance of football clubs in tourism geographies impact and make revenue from their destinations like Como 1907 and Venezia FC. Football and impact Venezia FC is a helpful segway into understanding how football is leading fashion and music as it counts the musician Drake as an investor and it was recently crowned the coolest brand in football. We also see more players stepping off the field into the recording studio creating music, led by Alex Iwobi, or players stepping out of the changing room onto the catwalk, leading fashion with the deep cultural influence of the “footballer fit.” The front row of most fashion weeks looks like a players’ bench at a top tier game, culminating in brand Labrum London debuting its collecting at the Arsenal FC stadium. This fashion and music resonance is creating a new mindset for Gen Z fandom to express themselves in new ways, paving a way for a new generation shaping a fresh version of soccer as channeled by the likes of Adama and Awa in partnership with Nike and soccer culture platform Versus. The game’s power stretches beyond the players to the brands, creating meaningful impact in the purposes they challenge together and creating real resonance for consumers with brands via the game. UK telco brand EE created an amazing example of this at the last Women’s Euro, challenging the UK Parliament and bringing fans and players together to change a safety bill against online hate. So did cosmetic brand e.l.f. with its recent U.S. National Women’s Soccer League partnership to empower more women in sport helping raise a new generation of future industry leaders. We also see the cultural impact and power of the game with the immense value of the player celebrity platform wielding more power and influence than the traditional sporting brands they used to rely on for a broadcast voice. The most startling example is comparing player and sporting brands’ social reach. Nike-sponsored Ronaldo has 652 million Instagram followers, double sponsor Nike’s 301 million. And the most followed female footballer, Alisha Lehman, playing for Italian team Juventus, has 17 million Instagram followers, 17 times more than traditional soccer brand Umbro. This is leading clubs and brands to rethink how they partner with players—and beyond to fans—to create content. A great example is Juventus FC’s creator lab, capitalizing on this impact. Football shapes culture and society We also see the rising power of the game as it truly stretches into shaping culture and society as these platforms and influence are used way beyond the beautiful game itself. Football can shape the political spectrum, judging from Marcus Rashford’s social activism that during COVID-19, extended free school meals for vulnerable children in the UK. His actions forced the government to reverse its decision, impacting millions of lives. His efforts earned him an Order of the British Empire MBE award. It extends to a greater impact on politics, with a move from former football players becoming politicians, ranging from George Weah moving from World Player of the Year to Liberian president, to the more recent Georgian ex-Manchester City player Mikheil Kavelashvili becoming a prominent political leader in his home country. It’s this power of the fandom, the players, the clubs, the brands, and the category itself coming together to harness an evolving and growing cultural impact that makes this coming World Cup a moment where the game and its impact will extend beyond the game itself. Maybe it will even breathe new life into the famous Liverpool manager quote from Bill Shankly, who said that “Some people think football is a matter of life of death. I can assure them it’s much more serious than that.” Chris Kay is the international president of 72andSunny. View the full article

Google's AI Overviews link back to Google 43% of the time, furthering its walled garden effect, according to new data. The post Google Links To Itself: 43% Of AI Overviews Point Back To Google appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Data is everywhere, but insights are rare. I know this firsthand from years working agency-side in digital marketing and analytics for global brands—optimizing billions in media spend, tracking behaviors across platforms, and measuring every available data point across the customer journey. We operated inside complex martech platforms, developed and owned by big tech companies, designed to automate and optimize a massive online ecosystem of messaging and signals. Managing these systems required deep expertise and continual training. Entire agency teams were dedicated to client accounts, structured by campaign and channel. Being “data-driven” was tablestakes. We continually optimized ad copy, inventory sources, channel mix, tactics, spend rates—you name it. We endlessly reviewed ad exposure reports and conversion models, aiming to give clients a clear view of campaign performance. Yet, year after year, many media plans looked remarkably similar, and many of the dashboards and reports we built went largely unused. It wasn’t for lack of effort or interest—it was because the sheer volume of information (and competing priorities) made it difficult to extract clear, actionable insights. Clients didn’t need more information; they needed more direction. Here’s the truth: Most dashboards are dense, nuanced, and missing the context or causality needed to drive strategic change. Clients aren’t looking for more charts. They’re looking for clear answers. Our brains are wired for clarity, not clutter A recent Caltech study found that while our sensory systems can intake up to 1 billion bits of information per second, our conscious minds can process only about 10 to 60 bits per second. This staggering gap highlights the brain’s limited capacity to consciously manage the flood of incoming data. Our sensory systems—optimized for speed and pattern recognition—operate largely automatically and unconsciously. In contrast, higher-order cognitive functions like decision making and reasoning, managed by the prefrontal cortex, are slow, effortful, and resource-intensive. Dashboards often overload our fast, automatic brain systems without effectively supporting the slower, more deliberate systems we rely on to make meaningful decisions. The real competitive edge: Turning data into insight Over the past few years, I’ve combined my background in architectural design, marketing, and cloud technology to create solutions that bring new visibility into built environments. Brands today are seeking tools to power and measure their in-person spaces and many existing platforms fall short. They often fail to integrate critical variables like behavioral patterns, emotional sentiment, geography, time of day, affect heuristics, and even weather. By weaving deeper, real-time context into physical spaces, brands can create more responsive, more personalized, and ultimately more valuable experiences. We’re entering a new phase where platforms must go beyond tracking—they must deliver strategic, insight-rich functionality. They must act like trusted confidants: capable of processing vast amounts of data behind the scenes and surfacing simple, powerful next steps. In this new era, decision making should feel more intuitive and more informed at the same time. Welcome to the age of answers The online dashboard era is ending. We’re entering what I call “the age of answers”—where the next generation of tools, especially in the real world, will surface context, causality, and clear actions. These tools will make us feel smarter, faster—unlocking new forms of value, new competitive edges, and a better relationship with the flood of data surrounding us. James Chester is cofounder and CEO of WVN. View the full article

A digital asset management (DAM) system allows organizations to organize and categorize digital assets like videos, images, audio, and more. By using this system, an organization can ensure all its teams use the most up-to-date versions of its assets. DAM also ensures only people who have the proper permissions use specific assets, that they’re used consistently, and always used in a way that matches their brand. What is a digital asset? A digital asset is a digital file your organization uses in internal communications, marketing channels, websites, products, and more. These files might include product snapshots in .jpeg format, a white paper as a PDF, a background music track in .mp3 format, or even a whole webpage. Any file that your organization uses qualifies as a digital asset. What is digital asset management? Digital asset management (DAM) is a system organizations use to keep track of the digital assets they produce and use. This is typically done with one or more software platforms — a digital asset management system. Digital asset management ensures that only people who should be using a specific digital asset have access to it, that it’s used in a consistent way, and that it’s only used in the appropriate channels. Digital asset management can help lighten the load for other platforms (like your content management system) by preventing the duplication of larger assets. It can improve the utilization of assets you’ve already created, saving you budget on creating new assets. It also ensures every use of an asset is on-brand and matches its intended use. What is a digital asset management system? A digital asset management system is a platform used to manage digital assets, whether that’s white papers, images, audio, or other files. Some of these platforms are built specifically for this purpose, like Adobe Experience Manager Assets. However, others, like Airtable or Google Drive, are used as ad-hoc digital asset management systems, requiring some setup and upkeep to work correctly. No matter which system you use, they’ll share a few essential elements. Essential elements of a digital asset management system Every digital asset management system should be able to handle the following elements of digital asset management: Asset creation: While you might use different tools for creating some assets (like Figma for design assets), a digital asset management system can supply users with templates and guidelines for creating them consistently. Encoding and indexing: Your digital asset management system will serve as a database that employees can search for the assets they need. That means it needs to be properly coded through characteristics like asset type, version, media type, or the platforms used to create it. So a file that might just be called Executive Decision-Making White Paper in Google Drive, with no extra information, might be indexed as a new white paper, written by marketing, last updated in 2024, used for high-value prospects. Automations: Digital asset management shouldn’t just make it easier to find and organize the assets your organization produces, it should also automate the managing of those assets. That could mean automatically adding new assets to your database, categorizing them, or even using AI to create summaries and keywords to organize them. For example, Loom, a screen recorder that also allows teams to organize the videos they record, automatically generates titles and summaries for videos. Version control: Without a digital asset management system in place, your teams will struggle to find the best version of an asset. You might have multiple copies of the same asset, all named some version of “Final_Copy1” making it difficult to use the right one. With the right system, users are always accessing the most up-to-date version of an asset. Governance through permissions: Not every team should have access to every asset. A digital asset management system that allows administrators to restrict permissions for specific assets can ensure they’re used appropriately. Auditing: Many organizations need to regularly audit their internal tools and processes to comply with regulations and certifications. Your DAM system should have measures in place to get you prepared for these audits without requiring significant manual work from your IT team. 5 examples of digital asset management systems There are plenty of DAM systems on the market that you can deploy immediately and start loading with your data. Here are just a few of the most popular examples: Adobe Experience Manager Assets MediaValet Brandfolder Air Bynder You might need some IT resources to properly deploy some of these platforms, but they’ll give you the quickest route to establishing a DAM process. Can you build your own digital asset management system? Whether you don’t want to spend your budget on dedicated digital asset management software or existing solutions don’t suit your needs, it’s possible to build your own. You’ll usually need the following to do so: A databasing tool, even if it’s just a spreadsheet, that can serve as a repository for records representing each asset. A server or hosting tool, if the database you use can’t support the actual files representing your assets. An integration or automation platform that can seamlessly sync assets between platforms so your teams always have access to the latest versions. Building your own digital asset management system can take time, but it’ll give you a platform you can tailor to your needs as they change. FAQ: Digital asset management systems What is the best DAM software? Finding the digital asset management software for your needs can take some trial and error, but here are some of the most popular options: Adobe Experience Manager Assets MediaValet Brandfolder Air Bynder Is Google Drive a DAM platform? Google Drive is technically a file-sharing platform. That said, it can be used as a rudimentary alternative to dedicated digital asset management software, though this can create some issues: No versioning, meaning users may have to spend more time finding the latest version of an asset. Permission control and governance are handled manually, creating significant administrative work to maintain. Categorizing assets is done manually, meaning most organizations abandon this altogether. What is the difference between DAM and PIM? Digital asset management (DAM) allows organizations to properly categorize and organize assets like images, video, audio content, and white papers. In contrast, product information management (PIM), is the organization and management of product-specific information. That information can include product descriptions, specifications, and digital assets. This means there is some overlap between DAM and PIM, but DAM is specific to assets while PIM covers all product information. View the full article

Airline had been grappling with a rising number of disrupted flights since the end of the pandemicView the full article

Retail sales increase at an annual rate of 7 per cent in April despite uncertainty over US tariffs View the full article

If you’ve ever felt like your pet knows exactly when to pull you away from the stress of your computer screen, you aren’t alone. A landmark study surveying over 30,000 pet owners in 20 different countries found that 78% of dog or cat owners report that their pets remind them to take breaks during work or tasks, with 50% of the participants saying this happens daily. The study, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Mars, is the largest international survey of its kind in the world. The findings resonated deeply with David Reilly, global VP at Mars. “If my dog’s at daycare, I don’t take a break at lunch time,” he says. “But if my dog’s not at daycare, somehow miraculously, I find the space to create up an hour to take my dog on a walk.” Knowing that his relationship with his own pet had such an impact on his mental health, Reilly was excited by the data. “I think 46% of people globally report their mental well-being is their number-one health priority and 56% of the population of the world has a pet. So if we can help unlock this idea that the pet could be your well-being superhero . . . then there’s a real opportunity there,” he says. To do this, the Mars team needed to seek further expertise. “We have a deep knowledge of pets and we actually have a deep knowledge of the bond between people and pets. But we aren’t experts in human mental health,” says Reilly. The solution was to collaborate with consumer mental health company Calm. Together, Mars and Calm collaborated on a collection of content meant to help pet lovers think about their bond with their pets as ways to improve their own well-being. Its launch marks the first pet-inspired collection featured on Calm. The content on Calm will include: A series of sleep stories inspired by the emotional connection between people and their pets. A series of guided meditations meant to help listeners reflect on the ways pets support their mental wellness. A series of breathing exercises. On Mars’s pet advice platform Kinship, Mars and Calm are launching the interactive quiz My Pet Guru, which helps pet owners learn which of six “wellbeing superpowers” their pet has based on questions about their personalities and behaviors. “Together, we’re helping more people—and their pets—experience the proven benefits of the human-animal bond through real stories, science-backed tools, and supportive content,” says Greg Justice, chief content officer at Calm. “Once the insights are rich . . . it doesn’t need to be overly clinical” says Reilly. The researchers, pet experts, and content creators, “worked together to find the sweet spot of ensuring that the content was true to what we’d heard, but also really accessible and also engaging for pet owners or other people who love pets.” Mars and Calm are also seeking touching stories from pet owners to inform the wave of pet stories from Calm. “What I’m looking forward to, honestly, is hearing the stories that people share. Pets genuinely make a really incredible impact on people’s lives,” says Reilly. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. The world is at an inflection point unlike any before. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a tidal wave, rewriting the rules of power, wealth, and survival. The corporate dream is in flux. The systems we were taught to trust—college degrees, career ladders, the safe path to success—are morphing in real time. AI is detonating industries, stripping white collar jobs down to algorithms, while the value of human labor is being rewritten before our eyes. The workers we once ignored—the welders, the electricians, the builders—are skyrocketing in demand. This is not a prediction. It’s happening now. The AI arms race: The new Manhattan Project AI is both an unprecedented tool of creation and a force of destruction, reshaping economies, governments, and labor forces at breakneck speed. According to Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, “AI is the defining technology of our era—an essential utility that will reshape economies and societies, much like electricity did in the past.” AI is recalibrating industries at an unimaginable pace. Meanwhile, the jobs AI can’t touch—construction workers, electricians, welders, mechanics—are becoming more valuable than ever. The AI wrecking ball: Skip Wharton? In 2019, an MBA from an elite school was the equivalent of winning the professional lottery. Today? AI-powered algorithms run finance, operations, and consulting—faster, cheaper, and without a 401(k). Companies like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic have unleashed AI models that make traditional knowledge workers obsolete. Banks are automating the work of employees. At the Cisco AI Summit in Palo Alto this year, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon noted that AI could draft 95% of an S1 document for IPO filing. A recent report states that 23% of 2024 Harvard Business School grads were still unemployed 3 months after graduation. Over 4 million members of Gen Z in the U.S. are currently not employed nor matriculated in school, joining the “NEET” movement instead: not in education, employment, or training—and prioritizing self-actualized careers outside of traditional degrees. Meanwhile, something unexpected is happening on the other side of the labor market… The jobs AI can’t kill (yet) AI can’t repair a busted water main, install solar panels, or build a skyscraper. Industry-defining laborers don’t disappear—they evolve. In the 19th century, steam engine workers shaped economies. In the 20th century, oil refinery workers fueled the modern world. In the 21st century, AI maintenance workers, robotics technicians, and skilled tradespeople will be the ones keeping automation in check. Skilled labor jobs—once dismissed as “fallback careers”—are now in high demand. The average salary for an electrician in major U.S. cities now outpaces some college-degree salaries. An achievable salary for an elevator technician or power plant operator? Over $100,000. In an age where AI strips knowledge jobs down to data points, the ability to physically build and repair may become the new currency of success. Geopolitics, immigration, and the 2025 labor crisis There’s another wrench in the system—immigration crackdowns and labor shortages. The U.S. has escalated mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. The fallout? Potentially, abandoned construction sites, rotting crops, and shuttered restaurants. The solution? More automation. Chick-fil-A introduced lemon-squeezing robots, cutting 10,000 hours of labor. But here’s the twist: Robots break down. Robots need maintenance. AI can’t currently fix AI. The labor shortage is fueling demand for highly paid, hands-on workers who keep machines—and society—running. AI: The new arms race The world is racing to control AI, much like the atomic race of the last century. But this war isn’t fought with bombs—it’s fought with data, computing power, and intelligent automation. Nations, tech giants, and corporate behemoths are pouring trillions into agentic AI—a new breed of AI that autonomously executes tasks. Yet even with AI agents taking over workflows, humans will still be essential. AI still needs oversight. AI still needs repair. AI still needs direction. Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, says it best: “No AI can replace 100% of a job, but many can replace 80% of what we do. We are literally at the beginning of a new Industrial Revolution.” Social media and the collapse of the corporate dream Some Gen Z and Millennials are rejecting corporate jobs. Social media has reshaped the perception of work. Why grind in a cubicle when you can make a living flipping houses on YouTube? Why get an MBA when you can have a lucrative career teaching people how to weld on TikTok? Why work a 9-to-5 when Kylie Jenner built a billion-dollar empire from Instagram? At the same time, these generations are about to inherit an unprecedented $100 trillion from baby boomers—the wealthiest generation in history. But this isn’t just a transfer of capital; it’s a transfer of knowledge, control, and priorities. The new elite aren’t climbing the corporate ladder—they’re building their own empires. As MrBeast puts it: “The creator economy is only going to get bigger.” The new workforce hierarchy: Who wins and who loses? AI isn’t eliminating labor—it’s creating a new elite class of skilled workers required to manage and maintain automation. While AI wipes out jobs, the long-term trajectory is clear: New industries will emerge. Humans will train AI-powered agents and tools. AI maintenance, robotics, and automation oversight will become critical fields. History proves that every disruptive technology creates new opportunities. Wages for some technical jobs are soaring past white collar salaries. The real winners of the AI revolution won’t be consultants in boardrooms—they’ll be the workers keeping the machines running. Elon Musk once said: “AI will make jobs kind of pointless.” Correction: AI might make your degree pointless. The future belongs to those who can do what AI can’t. Scott Cullather is chairman and chief growth officer of INVNT. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Imagine someone with Parkinson’s sipping their morning coffee with a steady hand. A person with chronic pain or overactive bladder enjoying simple pleasures like going to the movies, taking a road trip, and a restful sleep. A life changed and potentially saved because signs of colorectal cancer were caught and treated early. These examples represent real people whose lives were changed with healthcare technology. Medical devices and therapies that once seemed like sci-fi are now alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending lives. Artificial intelligence, data, and robotics rightfully get credit for supercharging many recent health tech breakthroughs, but innovation will always be powered by people. Behind every new product is a team of individuals who grew up tinkering, dreaming, and embracing challenges, while ultimately dedicating their careers to improving lives. Yet, as optimistic as we are about the future of health tech and the people behind it, a global talent shortage of 4.3 million tech workers by 2030 threatens innovation. Making matters more urgent, a looming shortage of 11 million health workers could disproportionately impact health outcomes in low-income regions. These aren’t merely statistics. If left unaddressed, workforce shortages could stall the development of life-saving therapies and compromise the quality of care that all of us deserve. We can’t allow that to happen. Could a global challenge also be a needed solution? We think so. Despite global workforce shortages, there’s a generation at risk of being left behind. Currently 80% of young adults from low-income communities globally are not able to find a secure job and 65% of students in primary school today will work in jobs that don’t currently exist. Many of these will be in fields where early exposure to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is critical. This raises important questions: What if we could equip a generation with the critical skills needed to meet workforce shortages while also breaking cycles of poverty? And, what if we could change the trajectory of lives while also saving them? We believe this isn’t only possible—it’s essential. Here are three key things that need to happen: 1. College degrees are valuable, but can no longer be the only path to entry In health tech we see how personalization is driving better health outcomes. Now, paths and preparation for careers in our industry (and other innovation-driven fields) must follow suit. The next idea that sparks a health tech breakthrough could come from anywhere—or anyone. But here’s the stark reality. There are bright students who face significant barriers to a post-graduate degree, even after they’re accepted into a program. According to Jobs for the Future, only 14% of low-income students who attend a four-year college will graduate. We must open new paths to health tech jobs; skills-based training, apprenticeships, and credentialing can all be effective alternatives. At Medtronic we’ve already worked with InStride to shift 150+ roles from degree-based to skills-based hiring, but we know more must be done. 2. Students need hands-on STEM experiences—early and often Research from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation found that three-quarters of Gen Z youth are enthusiastic about STEM fields, but only 29% would rank a STEM role as their top career choice. Lack of exposure to STEM concepts, and their real-world application, could be fueling this gap. Similarly, the Smithsonian Science Education Center conducted a five-year study in North and South Carolina. They found that hands-on, innovative STEM education not only improved science achievement but also enhanced reading, math skills, and essential workforce skills like collaboration, problem solving, and creativity. These foundational skills are key to preparing students for future jobs. But students must also know jobs exist—and see themselves in them. 3. Building awareness of health tech careers must be a priority Every day, health tech innovators are harnessing groundbreaking technologies to improve lives and help close critical gaps in our global healthcare system. Yet despite its “cool factor” most students will never hear about the health tech industry unless they or a loved one need it. To combat this, we are launching Medtronic Spark—a 10-year initiative that aims to address the growing health tech talent gap through three programs: Medtronic Spark Innovator Labs, Medtronic Spark Credentials, and the Medtronic Spark Scholarship. These programs aim to propel 1 million students from low-income households into health tech careers. We know we can’t do it alone, but we’re committed to sparking a conversation that we believe can help fuel the future of healthcare. Our goal isn’t to merely touch young people’s lives. It is to truly change the trajectory of their lives with opportunities in health tech that have potential for lasting generational impact. Because at its core, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. Torod Neptune is senior vice president corporate marketing and global chief communications officer at Medtronic and chairman of Medtronic Foundation. Sally Saba, MD is the president of Medtronic Foundation and global chief inclusion and diversity officer at Medtronic. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. “Skinny” is such an outdated concept; too diet culture for 2025. “Flat belly” sounds better, but we’re tired of that, too. What is the trend-dependent online influencer culture to do? Enter “gut health,” the current euphemism for having a thin waist—this time with extra wellness baggage. It sounds like it’s all about a science-based journey toward better nutrition, but really it’s more bullshit. So let’s explore the most questionable gut health hacks out there. Grab a towel, because it’s time for your internal shower! Taking an 'internal shower'The "internal shower" is meant to clean you from the inside. The metaphor evokes more than just relieving constipation, and implies that your guts are dirty and need to be made sparkling clean. That's not how gut health works—things should keep moving, sure, but there's no need to fully clean everything out unless you're preparing for a colonoscopy (which has its own protocol). Though “internal shower” sounds fancy, it's really just a drink that contains two full tablespoons of chia seeds, plus a squeeze of lemon. Chia seeds swell in water, forming a lumpy, gel-like texture. (This is both what makes them good in pudding, and what allows them to adhere to the terra-cotta planters of Chia Pet fame.) So why drink them? Well, they’re high in fiber, and you also consume a glass of water in the process. In other words, it’s a trendier version of Metamucil. Be warned: the sudden increase of fiber in your diet can lead to bloating and diarrhea if you’re not used to it, but isn’t likely to be harmful otherwise. Avoiding cheeseIt’s true that a diverse diet with plenty of plant foods is probably better for your gut than a crappy diet—but not for any game-changing, gut-specific reason. Your gut is healthy when your body is healthy, and a varied diet involving fiber and other nutrients is good for your gut microbes and for the rest of you. This amounts to “eat your vegetables,” and is thus not an exciting viral tip. Gut health advice often gives you a list of foods not to eat, or demonizes specific foods. There are no common foods known to be particularly destructive to gut health—we're built to handle just about anything—but influencers often target processed foods and dairy foods. This means that cheese has emerged as a mythically problematic food, when in fact it's probably fine—and some studies suggest that it may even be particularly beneficial. Taking L-glutamineThe pursuit of “gut health” has led influencers to tell you that you need to go out and get some L-glutamine (available in any store’s supplement aisle) to heal or prevent your leaky gut. Some of these videos include actual scientific facts about what we understand glutamine to do in the body. But that itself should set off alarm bells: When somebody talks about the mechanism of how something is supposed to work, without presenting data on whether it actually works for the intended outcome, chances are you’re on the wrong path. L-glutamine is an amino acid that our body can usually make for itself. There is evidence that supplementing it is helpful for people with serious bowel diseases, sepsis, injuries like extensive burns, and immune disorders. The Canadian Society for Intestinal Research notes that you should consult a physician if you think you have conditions serious enough to affect your body’s ability to make enough glutamine. Anything called an "elixir" There’s an incredible depth and breadth of "gut health elixir" recipes available on TikTok and other platforms. There are gut health elixirs with aloe juice and coconut water, or with olive oil and lemon, or with hibiscus and kombucha, or with turmeric and ashwagandha. What do any of these have in common? Gut health, of course. What a silly question. Washing our fruit (for gut health)Washing your fruit is fine. Believing that unwashed fruit is the only thing standing between you and a snatched stomach—that I can't get behind. The idea is that fresh produce has pesticides on it, and those pesticides are killing your good gut bacteria. It is a good idea to rinse fruit before you eat it, but there’s no link between the barely-detectable trace amounts of pesticides on fruit and the health of your gut or the size of your waistline. This isn’t a gut health tip, it’s just sensible food prep. Pilates (for gut health)Pilates is low-key strength training. It can be good for you, as almost any exercise can, but it doesn't work miracles. I've already covered the trend of TikTok influencers making up imaginary benefits of Pilates, but “gut health” is a stretch. Influencers claim (as in this video) that the breathwork and twisting motions of Pilates "massage" your gut to cure constipation, sometimes also referencing the complete myth that we have pounds of "stuck" poop inside our guts. Eating 30 plants a dayI actually like this as a hack for increasing the diversity of your diet: count up the number of plant species you eat each week, and aim to get more than you currently do. Lettuce and tomato on your sandwich? Add the wheat from the bun and you’re already up to three. This idea got its start with research from the American Gut Project, which found people who ate a more varied diet had a more diverse gut microbiome—although there is no specific link to health, and scientists still haven’t found a way of determining what a “healthy” microbiome looks like. But all of that has mutated quite a bit on social media. In one clip I remember watching, the narrator tells us that the difference between her before and after pictures is not due to “cardio and a restrictive diet.” But she has clearly lost fat. Gut health is just the new code word for losing fat. Nearly every one of the videos I’ve highlighted here starts with a before-and-after of somebody’s soft, then toned, tummy. If it were really about “bloating,” you’d be able to see the same abs in both pictures. Going for a walk every morningWalks are good! Morning routines are good! And it’s true that your gut has its own “clock” for telling what time it is. Some influencers get it backwards, though, when they suggest getting morning light to set your gut’s clock. In truth, the gut sets its clock based on when you feed it. If you want to set your gut’s clock in the morning, try eating breakfast. Like a whole, actual breakfast, not a glass of lemon water. Going for a walk may help your digestion—that's the whole idea of the "fart walk," a walk taken after dinner that may relieve feelings of bloating and that can also help your body to control glucose levels. Feel free to take one after breakfast instead of waiting until dinnertime. Oil pullingThis old thing? (I need to stop being surprised when old health trends make a comeback.) Oil pulling is when you swish coconut oil around your mouth, sometimes for up to 20 minutes, in addition to (or in place of) brushing your teeth. It’s not particularly good at that job, and there’s no reason to believe it will do anything for your gut health or your abs. ChewingAnother archaic one that keeps popping up. The idea of over-chewing your food always reminds me of that scene in The Road to Wellville where the dining hall erupts in a chorus of “Chew chew chew, that is the thing to do/Chew chew chew, good food is good for you.” Yes, your mouth produces salivary amylase to help break down your food. But there is plenty of amylase in your small intestine as well. Studies have shown potential, subtle effects of extended chewing on satiety (how hungry you feel), but the idea that you’ll get a TikTok flat belly by spending more time chewing is unsupported. View the full article

AI isn't coming for your job. Probably? Look, it's complicated. And anyone who has ever played around with a chatbot has likely asked themselves, "This is what they want to replace a human with?" It's a valid concern, because generative AI chatbots like Google's Gemini aren't super useful. To my surprise, though, Gemini's Canvas feature can be. I will say up front, I'm coming at this as a generative AI skeptic, but I'm also not an AI doomer. There are some situations—like creating alt text for images to boost accessibility—where AI-based tools can come in handy. I prefer to find where tools can be genuinely useful, and ignore the noise. To that end, Gemini's Canvas is the one thing that's made Gemini genuinely useful to me. Instead of just asking an AI to write for me, it gives me a workspace where I can do things, and occasionally ask for help or tasks as I need it. What is Gemini Canvas?Canvas is an optional tool that you can enable in a conversation with Gemini. This additional workspace can function as a text editor and a coding tool. Any documents or code you create with this tool, you can also edit directly just like any other editor. You can then export documents you create to Google Docs when you're ready to move on to another phase of the project. If you're using it for coding, you can run code directly inside Canvas. This is particularly useful for HTML-based applets when you're using Gemini in a web browser, since it's already designed for HTML. The window can switch between a preview running the code, or a text editor to manipulate it directly. To use Canvas, just click on the Canvas button at the bottom of your prompt window (or under the + icon on mobile). Your first prompt will open Canvas, and I usually prefer to start with a blank one, so I'll say something like "Give me a blank canvas window to start with." You can also ask Gemini to generate something to start with, and depending on whether it's a text document or code, it will default to the proper Canvas window for it. If that sounds like a much wordier way to just ask for a blank document, well, it is. LLMs are surprisingly good at understanding natural language commands, but aren't always great at succinct instructions (more on that later). What this means, though, is that it lends itself well to verbal commands. I often use tools like Windows dictation to write text, rather than type it all out by hand. It's a great tool on its own to reduce the constant wrist strain that comes from a career of typing all day, or if you're more of the stream-of-consciousness type. In some cases, dictating commands and having Gemini interpret them can be faster for me than doing things manually. With that in mind, here are a few use cases I've found that are actually more helpful than doing things the normal way. Organizing brainstorms and drafts"AI for brainstorming" is often the first thing people suggest, and it's not very useful—if your goal is to get the tool to do your thinking for you. I would like to suggest something slightly different. When I brainstorm ideas, instead of using Gemini to come up with my ideas for me, I'll use it to organize my ideas and notes, and turn approved pitches into outlines. The trick here is that Gemini can create, manage, and most importantly understand the differences between multiple different documents. For example, I sometimes use Gemini to write pitches for articles in one document, and then turn those into a draft in another. While working on the draft, I can ask Gemini to "change the status of [x] pitch to 'Finished' in the pitch doc." When I tested this, I expected Gemini to do something ridiculous and wrong. My "status" tracker is just an extra line under the paragraph that says something like "Status: Approved." But Gemini understood what this meant, and changed the text, all while I was working in another document. It's a small thing, but it demonstrates how handy it can be to have an assistant that understands what you're trying to accomplish. As a side note, Google Docs also has an "Ask Gemini" tool embedded in it, and you'd think that this would be a better way to accomplish the same task, but for some reason, it's not. I've tried asking Gemini to make small changes to a Google Doc, but it won't actually change anything unless I manually select the text. It also can't refer out to other Google Docs in your drive, so it's weirdly more limited than Canvas in Gemini. I'll still usually copy my drafts to Docs later in the process, but for some early brainstorming, Canvas is a handy tool. Edit formatting and presentation (in Markdown!)Gemini (and, frankly, every generative AI tool I've tried) is absolutely awful at writing anything of interest. Purely out of curiosity, I've tested whether Gemini could write a draft of an article for me, and I just make edits. In every instance, I had to rewrite every single word. Not just because they're often wrong, but because they're bland, boring, and cringey. Formatting the words you write is another story. When using Canvas, Gemini can understand conversational commands like "convert all subheadings to H2" or "move the second subhead section above the first" and apply them directly. It's also great for more complex style choices, like "convert all H2 subheads to sentence case" or "if there are any semicolons in this document, obliterate them." As a bonus, Canvas uses Markdown formatting by default (unlike Google Docs), which makes it extra useful for creating drafts you'll copy over somewhere else later. This isn't really a feature of Gemini or Canvas per se, it's just a nice touch that I find makes it easier to work with. Make your own shortcuts for complex edits and commandsEverything I've talked about so far is true and helpful, but if I'm honest with myself, it's not quite enough to convince me to fully integrate Canvas into my workflow. What pushed me over the edge was when I figured out how to create my own shortcuts. This trick is tucked away under Settings > Saved info. Google presents this as a way to store "info about your life and preferences" but it's really a place to put any instructions you want Gemini to always keep in mind. So, for example, I have a saved block that reads "If the entire prompt is 'H2s', then convert all subheadings in the Canvas window into H2s." From then on, I only need to type "H2s" to perform the action. It's a handy way to make your own custom shortcuts for any instruction you like. You can use this for more complex guidelines, like "When I ask for an outline, format it [however you like]". Or, if you're coding (more on that below), "When I ask for an applet, assume I want it written in HTML5." You can make these instructions conditional—as I have here—so that they only trigger when you need them. Create small, personalized applets for niche usesA while back, someone I knew was struggling with visualizing parking in tight spaces. At the time, I opened up Blender, a 3D modeling and animation tool, to visualize an example for her. More recently, I tried to see if I could make a similar tool in Gemini. It took one prompt. I asked for an HTML5 animated tool to demonstrate parking, gave a few specific for what I wanted, and soon had a little applet that was way easier to make than what I showed my friend. One might very reasonably argue that there are easier ways to code this, or that the code it came out with is bad for some reason. But I don't know how to code, at least not that well. Gemini, however, is pretty great at very simple little applets like this. Just don't expect to turn anything it generates in to your boss if you're a developer. Don't use it to replace creative or rigorous workIt should go without saying, but Gemini (and at this point, any AI chatbot) isn't going to be a substitute for thinking for yourself. It's godawful at writing anything interesting or creative, it can get facts or sources wrong, and most damningly, it will confidently say it can do or has done something that it's incapable of doing. At the end of the day, you still have to put in the work. Setting aside that AI tools often produce low-effort work, there's the open question of whether it's even ethical to use AI for work or creativity. Most AI tools were created by scraping copyrighted data, including from people that those same tools would then try to replace. (To say nothing of the rising electricity costs that training generative AI models takes.) AI tools can be extremely useful when they're put to the right purpose. I'll admit, I'm partly writing this aspirationally. Using Gemini's Canvas gave me a glimpse into how useful AI tools could be if they focused on being an interpretive layer for applications, rather than a replacement for doing real work. View the full article

U.S. Copyright Office report identifies copyright risks at every step of generative AI training and deployment The post U.S. Copyright Office Cites Legal Risk At Every Stage Of Generative AI appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Key Takeaways Exceptional Customer Service is Essential: High levels of customer satisfaction lead to increased retention, repeat business, and valuable referrals, directly impacting revenue growth. Key Characteristics of Excellent Service: Responsiveness, knowledge, empathy, consistency, follow-up, and adaptability are crucial traits that enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Active Listening and Empathy Matter: Understanding customer needs through active listening and showing empathy are vital for building trust and rapport with clients. Prompt Responses and Follow-Ups: Quick replies to customer inquiries and regular follow-ups strengthen relationships, improve retention, and encourage referrals. Ongoing Staff Training: Regular training equips employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide excellent customer service, ultimately enhancing the customer experience. Leverage Technology and CRM: Utilizing technology and customer relationship management tools helps streamline communication, track interactions, and improve overall service quality. In today’s competitive market, exceptional customer service can set you apart from the crowd. You know that a satisfied customer is more likely to return and recommend your business to others. That’s why mastering the art of customer service is crucial for your success. Overview Of Customer Service Exceptional customer service serves as the backbone for any small business. Achieving high levels of customer satisfaction leads to increased retention, repeat business, and valuable referrals, directly impacting your revenue. Importance Of Customer Service Customer service plays a crucial role in your sales strategy. Satisfied customers often convert into repeat clients and advocate for your business, driving customer acquisition. Prioritizing excellent service fosters customer engagement and builds loyalty, providing a solid foundation for your sales pipeline. Understanding customer needs and effectively handling objections enhances the sales process and can lead to higher sales conversion rates. Investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems streamlines interactions and improves overall service quality. Key Characteristics Of Excellent Service Excellent customer service includes several key characteristics: Responsiveness: Quickly addressing inquiries or issues can significantly enhance customer satisfaction. Knowledge: Possessing in-depth product knowledge allows you to effectively demonstrate value and meet customer needs. Empathy: Understanding customer emotions and perspectives builds trust and strong relationships. Consistency: Providing a uniform experience across all interactions ensures reliability and fosters loyalty. Follow-Up: Regular follow-ups ensure customers feel valued and can lead to additional sales opportunities. Adaptability: Being flexible in problem-solving meets varying customer expectations and enhances satisfaction. Embracing these characteristics enables your sales team to engage effectively with customers, motivating them toward positive outcomes like upselling and cross-selling. Apply these strategies to strengthen your customer service approach and cultivate lasting relationships. 20 Customer Service Tips Exceptional customer service is vital for sales growth in small businesses. Implementing effective strategies fosters customer loyalty and drives repeat business. Here are 20 essential tips to enhance your customer service: Tip 1: Listen Actively Active listening helps you understand customer needs and intent. Pay attention, respond thoughtfully, and clarify if necessary. This fosters trust and builds rapport, creating a strong customer relationship. Tip 2: Be Empathetic Empathy in customer interactions shows you value their perspective. Acknowledge feelings and express understanding. This approach enhances customer engagement and promotes positive experiences. Tip 3: Stay Positive A positive tone can defuse customer frustration. Use encouraging language and remain calm, especially during difficult interactions. Positivity contributes to a pleasant atmosphere and leaves a lasting impression. Tip 4: Personalize Interactions Personalization creates a connection with your customers. Use their names and reference past interactions. This individual approach can increase customer loyalty and enhance the overall sales experience. Tip 5: Use Clear Communication Clear communication reduces misunderstandings. Be straightforward in your messages and avoid jargon. This ensures customers grasp your service offerings and feel supported throughout their journey. Tip 6: Respond Promptly Quick responses show commitment to customer satisfaction. Aim to address inquiries within 24 hours. Timely responses can improve customer retention and support your sales pipeline. Tip 7: Follow Up Following up post-interaction strengthens relationships. Reach out to check on satisfaction or offer further assistance. This effort elevates customer service and can lead to valuable referrals. Tip 8: Train Your Staff Regular training equips your staff with essential skills in customer service. Emphasizing product knowledge and objection handling enhances their ability to support customers effectively. Tip 9: Handle Complaints Gracefully Address complaints with professionalism and patience. Acknowledge the issue, seek solutions, and follow up after resolution. Graceful handling builds trust and improves overall satisfaction. Tip 10: Empower Employees Empower your team to make decisions that benefit customers. Granting autonomy encourages swift resolution of issues, enhancing the overall customer experience. Tip 11: Provide Consistent Service Consistency builds customer trust. Ensure your team delivers the same high-quality service every time. This reliability strengthens your brand and fosters long-term relationships. Tip 12: Be Knowledgeable Maintain deep product knowledge to answer inquiries effectively. Understanding customer needs allows you to make informed recommendations and enhances the sales process. Tip 13: Showcase Patience Showing patience, especially during challenging conversations, demonstrates your commitment to helping customers. This approach leads to stronger relationships and improves customer satisfaction. Tip 14: Encourage Feedback Soliciting customer feedback shows you value their opinions. Use surveys or direct communication to gather insights. This information can guide service improvements and enhance customer engagement. Tip 15: Utilize Technology Embrace customer relationship management (CRM) tools to streamline communication and track interactions. Technology can improve customer insights and facilitate follow-ups, enhancing overall service. Tip 16: Maintain Professionalism Professional interactions project credibility and trustworthiness. Always communicate respectfully and adhere to your business’s standards, ensuring customers feel valued. Tip 17: Create a Friendly Atmosphere A welcoming environment encourages customer engagement. Train your staff to greet customers warmly and foster positive interactions. This atmosphere can influence repeat business. Tip 18: Set Realistic Expectations Clearly communicate what customers can expect regarding service timelines and outcomes. This transparency helps manage customer expectations, reducing potential frustrations. Tip 19: Stay Available Ensure customers can reach you through various channels. Availability encourages communication and demonstrates your commitment to customer service, vital for customer acquisition. Tip 20: Celebrate Achievements Acknowledge and celebrate milestones within your team. This practice fosters a positive work environment and motivates staff to deliver exceptional customer service consistently. Best Practices For Effective Customer Service These best practices help small businesses enhance their customer service, driving customer loyalty and contributing to overall revenue growth. Building Customer Relationships Building strong customer relationships forms the foundation of repeat business and referrals. You can strengthen these connections by actively listening to your customers and acknowledging their needs. Use their feedback to personalize your interactions, tailoring your sales approach to address specific concerns. Show empathy during customer interactions; understanding their perspective fosters trust. Engaging customers through consistent communication keeps them informed and connected. Consider utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track interactions, ensuring you remember critical details and maintain a seamless flow in your sales pipeline. Measuring Success In Customer Service Measuring the effectiveness of your customer service requires establishing key performance metrics. Track customer satisfaction through surveys and feedback forms, capturing insights that can drive improvement. Monitor customer retention rates to evaluate the success of your relationship-building efforts. Analyze metrics such as first response time, resolution time, and follow-up effectiveness to identify areas for growth. Employing data-driven insights can refine your sales strategy, ensuring you address customer needs efficiently. Regularly reviewing these metrics helps optimize your sales process and enhances overall customer experience, leading to improved sales performance and higher revenue. Conclusion Exceptional customer service isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical component of your business success. By implementing the tips shared, you can create meaningful connections with your customers that lead to loyalty and repeat business. Remember that every interaction is an opportunity to impress and retain clients. Stay committed to continuous improvement and adapt your strategies based on feedback and changing customer needs. Ultimately, investing in stellar customer service pays off in increased satisfaction and revenue. Prioritize these practices to set yourself apart in a competitive market and watch your business thrive. Frequently Asked Questions What is the importance of customer service in a competitive market? Exceptional customer service is crucial because it helps businesses retain customers and encourages them to make recommendations. Satisfied customers are more likely to return, making customer service a key factor in achieving success and driving growth. How can excellent customer service impact sales? Excellent customer service fosters loyalty among clients, turning satisfied customers into repeat buyers and advocates. This loyalty enhances customer acquisition, leading to increased sales and revenue for businesses. What are the key traits of exceptional customer service? Key traits include responsiveness, knowledge, empathy, consistency, follow-up, and adaptability. These characteristics are essential for sales teams to effectively engage with customers and enhance overall satisfaction. What are some tips for improving customer service? To improve customer service, businesses should listen actively, show empathy, personalize interactions, communicate clearly, respond promptly, and train staff to manage complaints. Consistent service, empowering employees, and soliciting feedback are also effective strategies. How can technology enhance customer service? Utilizing technology, such as customer relationship management (CRM) tools, can streamline interactions and improve service management. These tools help maintain a seamless sales pipeline and ensure better tracking of customer preferences and needs. What metrics should businesses use to measure customer service success? Key performance metrics for customer service include customer satisfaction, retention rates, and response/resolution times. Analyzing these metrics helps businesses optimize their sales processes and enhance customer experiences. How does customer service contribute to building strong relationships? Good customer service builds strong relationships by fostering trust through active listening and personalized interactions. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also creates loyal clients who are more likely to refer others. What role does feedback play in customer service? Soliciting customer feedback is vital for understanding their needs and areas for improvement. Regularly gathering and acting on feedback helps businesses evolve their service offerings and ensure customer expectations are met. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Customer Service Tips to Enhance Satisfaction and Build Loyalty" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Exceptional Customer Service is Essential: High levels of customer satisfaction lead to increased retention, repeat business, and valuable referrals, directly impacting revenue growth. Key Characteristics of Excellent Service: Responsiveness, knowledge, empathy, consistency, follow-up, and adaptability are crucial traits that enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Active Listening and Empathy Matter: Understanding customer needs through active listening and showing empathy are vital for building trust and rapport with clients. Prompt Responses and Follow-Ups: Quick replies to customer inquiries and regular follow-ups strengthen relationships, improve retention, and encourage referrals. Ongoing Staff Training: Regular training equips employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide excellent customer service, ultimately enhancing the customer experience. Leverage Technology and CRM: Utilizing technology and customer relationship management tools helps streamline communication, track interactions, and improve overall service quality. In today’s competitive market, exceptional customer service can set you apart from the crowd. You know that a satisfied customer is more likely to return and recommend your business to others. That’s why mastering the art of customer service is crucial for your success. Overview Of Customer Service Exceptional customer service serves as the backbone for any small business. Achieving high levels of customer satisfaction leads to increased retention, repeat business, and valuable referrals, directly impacting your revenue. Importance Of Customer Service Customer service plays a crucial role in your sales strategy. Satisfied customers often convert into repeat clients and advocate for your business, driving customer acquisition. Prioritizing excellent service fosters customer engagement and builds loyalty, providing a solid foundation for your sales pipeline. Understanding customer needs and effectively handling objections enhances the sales process and can lead to higher sales conversion rates. Investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems streamlines interactions and improves overall service quality. Key Characteristics Of Excellent Service Excellent customer service includes several key characteristics: Responsiveness: Quickly addressing inquiries or issues can significantly enhance customer satisfaction. Knowledge: Possessing in-depth product knowledge allows you to effectively demonstrate value and meet customer needs. Empathy: Understanding customer emotions and perspectives builds trust and strong relationships. Consistency: Providing a uniform experience across all interactions ensures reliability and fosters loyalty. Follow-Up: Regular follow-ups ensure customers feel valued and can lead to additional sales opportunities. Adaptability: Being flexible in problem-solving meets varying customer expectations and enhances satisfaction. Embracing these characteristics enables your sales team to engage effectively with customers, motivating them toward positive outcomes like upselling and cross-selling. Apply these strategies to strengthen your customer service approach and cultivate lasting relationships. 20 Customer Service Tips Exceptional customer service is vital for sales growth in small businesses. Implementing effective strategies fosters customer loyalty and drives repeat business. Here are 20 essential tips to enhance your customer service: Tip 1: Listen Actively Active listening helps you understand customer needs and intent. Pay attention, respond thoughtfully, and clarify if necessary. This fosters trust and builds rapport, creating a strong customer relationship. Tip 2: Be Empathetic Empathy in customer interactions shows you value their perspective. Acknowledge feelings and express understanding. This approach enhances customer engagement and promotes positive experiences. Tip 3: Stay Positive A positive tone can defuse customer frustration. Use encouraging language and remain calm, especially during difficult interactions. Positivity contributes to a pleasant atmosphere and leaves a lasting impression. Tip 4: Personalize Interactions Personalization creates a connection with your customers. Use their names and reference past interactions. This individual approach can increase customer loyalty and enhance the overall sales experience. Tip 5: Use Clear Communication Clear communication reduces misunderstandings. Be straightforward in your messages and avoid jargon. This ensures customers grasp your service offerings and feel supported throughout their journey. Tip 6: Respond Promptly Quick responses show commitment to customer satisfaction. Aim to address inquiries within 24 hours. Timely responses can improve customer retention and support your sales pipeline. Tip 7: Follow Up Following up post-interaction strengthens relationships. Reach out to check on satisfaction or offer further assistance. This effort elevates customer service and can lead to valuable referrals. Tip 8: Train Your Staff Regular training equips your staff with essential skills in customer service. Emphasizing product knowledge and objection handling enhances their ability to support customers effectively. Tip 9: Handle Complaints Gracefully Address complaints with professionalism and patience. Acknowledge the issue, seek solutions, and follow up after resolution. Graceful handling builds trust and improves overall satisfaction. Tip 10: Empower Employees Empower your team to make decisions that benefit customers. Granting autonomy encourages swift resolution of issues, enhancing the overall customer experience. Tip 11: Provide Consistent Service Consistency builds customer trust. Ensure your team delivers the same high-quality service every time. This reliability strengthens your brand and fosters long-term relationships. Tip 12: Be Knowledgeable Maintain deep product knowledge to answer inquiries effectively. Understanding customer needs allows you to make informed recommendations and enhances the sales process. Tip 13: Showcase Patience Showing patience, especially during challenging conversations, demonstrates your commitment to helping customers. This approach leads to stronger relationships and improves customer satisfaction. Tip 14: Encourage Feedback Soliciting customer feedback shows you value their opinions. Use surveys or direct communication to gather insights. This information can guide service improvements and enhance customer engagement. Tip 15: Utilize Technology Embrace customer relationship management (CRM) tools to streamline communication and track interactions. Technology can improve customer insights and facilitate follow-ups, enhancing overall service. Tip 16: Maintain Professionalism Professional interactions project credibility and trustworthiness. Always communicate respectfully and adhere to your business’s standards, ensuring customers feel valued. Tip 17: Create a Friendly Atmosphere A welcoming environment encourages customer engagement. Train your staff to greet customers warmly and foster positive interactions. This atmosphere can influence repeat business. Tip 18: Set Realistic Expectations Clearly communicate what customers can expect regarding service timelines and outcomes. This transparency helps manage customer expectations, reducing potential frustrations. Tip 19: Stay Available Ensure customers can reach you through various channels. Availability encourages communication and demonstrates your commitment to customer service, vital for customer acquisition. Tip 20: Celebrate Achievements Acknowledge and celebrate milestones within your team. This practice fosters a positive work environment and motivates staff to deliver exceptional customer service consistently. Best Practices For Effective Customer Service These best practices help small businesses enhance their customer service, driving customer loyalty and contributing to overall revenue growth. Building Customer Relationships Building strong customer relationships forms the foundation of repeat business and referrals. You can strengthen these connections by actively listening to your customers and acknowledging their needs. Use their feedback to personalize your interactions, tailoring your sales approach to address specific concerns. Show empathy during customer interactions; understanding their perspective fosters trust. Engaging customers through consistent communication keeps them informed and connected. Consider utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track interactions, ensuring you remember critical details and maintain a seamless flow in your sales pipeline. Measuring Success In Customer Service Measuring the effectiveness of your customer service requires establishing key performance metrics. Track customer satisfaction through surveys and feedback forms, capturing insights that can drive improvement. Monitor customer retention rates to evaluate the success of your relationship-building efforts. Analyze metrics such as first response time, resolution time, and follow-up effectiveness to identify areas for growth. Employing data-driven insights can refine your sales strategy, ensuring you address customer needs efficiently. Regularly reviewing these metrics helps optimize your sales process and enhances overall customer experience, leading to improved sales performance and higher revenue. Conclusion Exceptional customer service isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical component of your business success. By implementing the tips shared, you can create meaningful connections with your customers that lead to loyalty and repeat business. Remember that every interaction is an opportunity to impress and retain clients. Stay committed to continuous improvement and adapt your strategies based on feedback and changing customer needs. Ultimately, investing in stellar customer service pays off in increased satisfaction and revenue. Prioritize these practices to set yourself apart in a competitive market and watch your business thrive. Frequently Asked Questions What is the importance of customer service in a competitive market? Exceptional customer service is crucial because it helps businesses retain customers and encourages them to make recommendations. Satisfied customers are more likely to return, making customer service a key factor in achieving success and driving growth. How can excellent customer service impact sales? Excellent customer service fosters loyalty among clients, turning satisfied customers into repeat buyers and advocates. This loyalty enhances customer acquisition, leading to increased sales and revenue for businesses. What are the key traits of exceptional customer service? Key traits include responsiveness, knowledge, empathy, consistency, follow-up, and adaptability. These characteristics are essential for sales teams to effectively engage with customers and enhance overall satisfaction. What are some tips for improving customer service? To improve customer service, businesses should listen actively, show empathy, personalize interactions, communicate clearly, respond promptly, and train staff to manage complaints. Consistent service, empowering employees, and soliciting feedback are also effective strategies. How can technology enhance customer service? Utilizing technology, such as customer relationship management (CRM) tools, can streamline interactions and improve service management. These tools help maintain a seamless sales pipeline and ensure better tracking of customer preferences and needs. What metrics should businesses use to measure customer service success? Key performance metrics for customer service include customer satisfaction, retention rates, and response/resolution times. Analyzing these metrics helps businesses optimize their sales processes and enhance customer experiences. How does customer service contribute to building strong relationships? Good customer service builds strong relationships by fostering trust through active listening and personalized interactions. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also creates loyal clients who are more likely to refer others. What role does feedback play in customer service? Soliciting customer feedback is vital for understanding their needs and areas for improvement. Regularly gathering and acting on feedback helps businesses evolve their service offerings and ensure customer expectations are met. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Customer Service Tips to Enhance Satisfaction and Build Loyalty" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article