ResidentialBusiness

The organizations play a critical role in our economy, providing affordable single family mortgage loans to enable homeownership, writes the Executive Director of the Community Home Lenders of America View the full article

As organizations grapple with rapid developments in technology and policy while also balancing shifting market conditions and financial realities, having a deep bench of leadership talent is crucial. However, a recent survey from TalentLMS, found that 45% of managers say their companies aren’t doing enough to develop future leaders. One of the key issues is that companies are using a narrow scope in offering leadership development opportunities, says Nikhil Arora, CEO of learning technology company Epignosis, the parent company of TalentLMS. “A lot of companies kind of limit the leadership development to the top 1%, leaving behind the remaining 99%,” he says. Arora says the survey found a number of areas where respondents said their companies are lacking key efforts to develop leaders. Just 8% found their companies’ leadership initiatives effective. Fortunately experts say there are ways to strengthen theses areas of weakness and help companies get better at leadership development. Develop leaders at all levels The TalentLMS survey found that the top two areas where leaders found companies lacking were in offering leadership training programs (43%) and developing new talent from within (42%). These stats don’t surprise workplace consultant Melissa Swift, author of Work Here Now: Think Like a Human and Build a Powerhouse Workplace. She says that one key issue is that companies often focus leadership training on employees who are already in on a leadership track or who are near the top of the organization, overlooking promising talent at other levels. She says that leadership development efforts, including leadership training programs, should be integrated throughout the company and supported. “One issue that I’ve heard repeatedly across organizations is, ‘You did this wonderful leadership development program with us, but then you don’t have interesting on the job development opportunities for us to follow that up,’” she says. “Companies don’t have to necessarily spend more money on [leadership development], but how do we get people the right experiences through their day-to-day work?” Focus on the leaders you need Forty-one percent of respondents said their companies often fail at identifying leadership skills gaps and in being transparent about selecting and promoting leaders. Leadership consultant Lori Mazan, author of Leadership Revolution: The Future of Developing Dynamic Leaders, says that companies need to focus on a few things to get their leadership development programs right. Mazan advises looking at your overall goals for leaders within your organization and be sure you’re developing a range of leaders with the skills your company needs. Arora agrees. “Your No. 1 [key performance indicator] and what you’re going to be measured by as a manager is going to be: How are you developing your talent?” he says. Transparency is also important, Mazan says. She also advises developing leaders in alignment with your company culture. She recalls a former client whose culture was very amiable and people focused. When the company hired new employees who had been at a competitor where the culture was very hard-driving, the styles often cause friction. “After a month, they’d be hiring me to coach them, because that style of hard driving leadership didn’t fit in the other company that was more ‘let me help you,’” she recalls. Mentorship matters Four in 10 survey respondents said that their companies are lacking mentorship programs. That’s an area that should not only be developed, but expanded, Arora says. Mentoring isn’t just senior managers advising more junior workers anymore, although that still remains important. He encourages others to follow his lead and have younger mentors, as well, who can help them keep a finger on the pulse of where change is happening and what people from their cohort are thinking. “You need somebody younger and you need somebody older,” he says. Identifying leadership skills gaps and, in response, developing leaders across the organization with programs, transparency, and mentorship can help fill in the missing pieces that hinder leadership development. View the full article

The trope of the starving, broke artist has long maintained a place in the public imagination, even as it has morphed into idealized notions of “‘hustle” or “grindset.” “It’s cool to romanticize [that lifestyle] for a little bit and use it as part of your motivation,” says L.A.-based rising musician Gidi, “but at a certain point we gotta be able to see the fruits of our labor.” For many artists and songwriters, the fruits are there in the form of royalties—they’re just exceedingly difficult to harvest. In the labyrinthine world of the music industry, royalty collection is particularly complex. There are hundreds of music streaming platforms operating in hundreds of countries, each with their own copyright laws. The simple act of uploading a song onto Spotify can quickly turn into an administrative nightmare, especially if an artist only owns the rights to a percentage of a given song. As a result, unclaimed dollars—which estimates suggest be as much at $1 billion annually—are effectively locked up in the global system of music publishing. Independent music publisher Kobalt wants to change that with its new product Kosign, aimed at empowering emerging songwriters by helping them collect the money they’re owed. Kobalt disrupted the music publishing space 25 years ago when it introduced the world’s first online portal for artists to look at their royalty earnings at any time—a far cry from the snail mail system that preceded it. Today, Kobalt is the world’s biggest music publisher not owned by a major label, with clients who include Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Childish Gambino, and Phoebe Bridgers. [Images: Courtesy of Kobalt] With Kosign, Kobalt is targeting a group executives describe as a growing “middle class” of artists and songwriters who, thanks to a changing music landscape, are increasingly able to operate independently, but may not be ideal for a publishing contract. The platform is designed to leverage Kobalt’s infrastructural and technological capabilities for a new demographic. “We’ve already built, for the last 20 years, a platform to unlock [royalties],” says Jacob Paul, Kobalt’s creative strategy director. “The problem we’re trying to solve is ‘How can we take this thing we already built and make it even more streamlined and flexible so that the next generation of artists coming up can get paid their money that otherwise is hidden from them?” Kosign users apply, pay the platform’s $100 signup fee, activate their membership, submit songs, and then get paid. “We will register them across the globe, across every territory, every platform,” Paul says. “There’s no income stream left untouched.” Artists can watch royalties hit their account in real time, as well as other useful metrics, such breaking down earnings by streaming platform or territory. That data is available for an artist’s entire catalog and individual songs alike. [Image: Courtesy of Kobalt] Though Kosign is focused on making its tools accessible to emerging talent, the company assesses projected earnings for prospective members to ensure they’re a fit for the platform. A single songwriting credit, no matter how lucrative, might not be reason enough for them to snap up a lucrative publishing deal—especially for someone who doesn’t have an extensive back catalog. At the same time, Kosign doesn’t want to become bloated with a huge, unwieldy user base that will dilute the level of service. “What we want to do is to make sure that for those who earn a certain threshold of money, [they] have the ability to collect as effectively as possible,” says Kobalt CEO Laurent Hubert. “So, we want it to be selective from that perspective.” For that growing population of songrwiters, Kosign is a way to secure their royalties without committing to the sort of long-term contract better suited to a more established artist (Kosign takes 20% of a member’s royalties). “It’s a flexible deal,” says Paul. “Artists keep control of their copyrights, and they can leave the platform anytime if they want to evolve somewhere else.” KOSIGN also affords emerging artists a level of self-sufficiency; no ironclad deals means no figuring out if you need a lawyer, a manager, or broader team to sort through the red tape. It’s an appealing prospect for an up-and-coming artist. They get access to the same technological capabilities as Max Martin or Paul McCartney, minus a lengthy contract. Alongside its cut of royalties, Kobalt also gets a pipeline of potential future signed songwriters out of Kosign. When those artists are ready to make the jump to a major publishing deal, Kobalt will have already built a relationship with them via Kosign. Gidi, an early adopter of the platform, calls using it “a no-brainer.” A musician and producer specializing in electronic R&B and pop, Gidi was part of the studio crew on last year’s massive Tommy Richman hit “Million Dollar Baby,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gidi’s involvement earned him a small percentage of the song. While it might not sound like big money, music publishers know that royalties for even part of a track can be the difference between needing a day job and being able to pursue music full time. For Gidi, working with Kosign means he can collect the money that he’s owed while expanding his own artistic output. Ultimately, he says, it comes down to “understanding my worth, and understanding that there’s a lot more coming from me.” The added financial security is also a weight off of Gidi’s mind. “It’s great that I’m able to collect my publishing royalties without having to pursue a full-scale publishing deal,” he says, adding that the royalties offer him additional income he can use to cover the mixing and production costs for upcoming projects on his own. Gidi isn’t a proxy for every Kosign artist, but he is representative of the sort of artist Kobalt wants it to reach. “If you can unlock the publishing system for a new generation of up and coming artists and producers and songwriters, you are changing each of those people’s lives,” Paul says. “You are making it possible for each of those people to actually make a living off of their music.” View the full article

Drew Barrymore just got her own Pantone color—and as you might expect for a woman who famously once responded to a rainstorm by dancing in the downpour and encouraging others to do the same, it’s a shade of yellow, the cheeriest primary color. To mark the talk-show host’s 50th birthday, Pantone surprised her last week with the unveiling of “Drew Barrymore Yellow,” a soft, buttery shade Pantone says was chosen “to embody her infectious optimism, creative spirit, and uplifting presence—a hue as warm and vibrant as the woman herself.” [Image: Pantone]Pantone has released colors in partnership with other celebrities before, like “Team Coco Orange” for comedian Conan O’Brien in 2019, “Ultra Black” to promote rapper Nas’s 2020 single of the same name, and “Brady Blue” for former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s apparel line in 2021. Pantone’s color for Prince, “Love Symbol #2,” was chosen as an homage to the color of the purple custom-made Yamaha piano he was supposed to bring on tour before his death in 2016. Getting your own Pantone color is more rare than getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and for celebrities, it’s done out of a need to communicate something about their brand. “Color is a language, and every color conveys its own unique message and meaning,” Pantone Color Institute vice president Laurie Pressman told Fast Company in an email. “When we work with clients it’s all about defining a color for their brand visual identity that expresses who they are and/or their brand vision.” That takes on different forms depending on the goal of the brand, Pressman said, whether it’s in music, fashion, or production design, it’s a color meant to be emblematic of a whole creative umbrella of brands. For Barrymore, the challenge was coming up with a color without her help or knowledge. [Image: The Drew Barrymore Show]“With Drew Barrymore Yellow, this was an unconventional task, as it was a total and complete surprise to her for her 50th birthday,” Pressman said. “Normally, an artist would be an integral part of the process, so in this case we wanted to do this more as a symbol of her work and contribution as a creative in film, art, television, and design. We combed through and considered all these contributions as well as her personality to choose a color that reflects who she is as an artist.” Already, yellow is used throughout The Drew Barrymore Show‘s set and promotional assets. In the profile picture for the show’s Instagram account, Barrymore smiles while wearing a yellow top and yellow earrings in front of a yellow backdrop. Clearly, she’s a fan of the color. Pantone hopes the creamy shade invites “thoughts of pleasant relaxation.” How it’s incorporated into the show remains to be seen. Since it was planned in secret and unveiled as a surprise, “we’re still in the early planning stages,” Pressman said, but that they expect “to work closely with her team to explore ways to integrate this unique color across her show and future brand initiatives.” View the full article

Twelve years ago, rice breeders with Lundberg Family Farms crossed two rice plant “parents” in hopes of cultivating a better black pearl rice plant. After growing generations and generations of offspring—early yields produce all sorts of different traits in one harvest, and subsequent growing seasons help refine that into a consistent crop—the result is just now ready for consumers. The new black pearl rice can thrive under regenerative organic practices (a way of farming that focuses on soil health and less environmental impact) and has a higher crop yield than previous Lundberg iterations, with 25% more rice produced per acre. With that higher yield, the farm can use fewer resources like water; this is especially important when it comes to growing rice, as fields are flooded to drown out weeds. [Photo: Lundberg Family Farms] It’s the latest cultivation to come out of the Lundberg Family Farms rice breeding nursery, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It’s also a sign that the farm’s investment in rice breeding, and in finding varieties that are compatible with regenerative organic farming, is paying off. Varieties that it began cultivating over a decade ago are now starting to be ready for consumers; along with the black pearl rice, the brand will soon have new red jasmine and arborio varieties. “What we’ve done over 50 years now is really gaining momentum,” says Bryce Lundberg, vice president of agriculture at Lundberg Family Farms. “And our commitment to accelerating this work reflects the urgency we feel around this [mission] . . . to grow the highest-quality rice using organic and regenerative farming practices, because we believe the health of our bodies and our planet depend on that.” [Photo: Lundberg Family Farms] The importance of regenerative organic farming Lundberg Family Farms was founded in 1937 in California’s Sacramento Valley. Before moving out West, Bryce’s grandparents were farmers in Nebraska and experienced the Dust Bowl, an ecological disaster in which poor practices caused the soil to erode, so that it “just blew away,” he says. “They saw how negative farming practices cause such problems to soil.” They responded by changing up their farming methods, like keeping the straw in the fields after harvest instead of burning it. The common practice of burning is a way to get rid of all the old agricultural material in a field and get it ready for a new harvest, but it has serious environmental impacts, worsening air quality and degrading soil. (Just this year, a California bill went into effect banning nearly all agricultural burning as a way to limit air pollution.) Instead, the Lundbergs let the soil reabsorb that organic matter. “A lot of people said it couldn’t be done, that the soil wouldn’t take this straw in,” Bryce says. “And I would say, if you have healthy soil, it’s going to take it in. If you have soil that’s alive, it’s going to take it in.” [Photo: Lundberg Family Farms] That became the crux of Lundberg farming: to leave the land better than they found it. Soil health is a crucial aspect of both organic and regenerative farming; regenerative organic farming includes practices like cover crop rotation, low or no tilling, and avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Though Lundberg Family Farms had that ethos since its founding, it officially began farming organically in the 1960s, and launched its first Regenerative Organic Certified products in 2023—though the Lundbergs didn’t have to change their practices to become certified. (That certification program was created by the Rodale Institute, which recently received funding from Patagonia’s nonprofit Holdfast Collective). Lundberg Family Farms focuses on rice (though it also sells quinoa, and products like rice cakes and syrup), setting a goal of having its organic rice certified as regenerative organic by 2027. Already more than 99% meets that goal. [Photo: Lundberg Family Farms] Rice without herbicides Still, the farm continues to innovate with its nursery to cultivate rice that can withstand the changing climate and contribute less environmental harm. Instead of using herbicides, the farm floods its fields with water to drown weeds, then dries them for 30 days to kill aquatic weeds. It’s this twofold approach that is unique, because most conventional rice farms continuously flood their fields. But this method also poses some challenges: It necessitates using rice varieties that can grow fast in water to outcompete the weeds, but that can also withstand the dry, hot phase, plus have a high enough yield to meet consumer demand. [Photo: Lundberg Family Farms] This twofold approach has multiple benefits. Flooded fields become a habitat for waterbirds and fish, while the dry period conserves water and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a continuous flood. Suzanne Sengelmann, Lundberg’s chief growth officer, says its farms are home to more than 200 species. “We flood the fields in the winter for the Pacific Flyway, and billions of birds come [there to] rest.” It’s a symbiotic relationship, too, she adds, because the birds help fertilize the ground. “If you let nature do what it’s supposed to do, you wind up with healthier soil.” Researchers at the University of California, Davis, studied the Lundberg Family Farms practices and found that its method of weed control reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 49%, compared to continuously flooding rice fields. Regenerative organic advocates say implementing these practices—and transitioning away from the harms of conventional farming—is crucial for the health of our planet. [Photo: Lundberg Family Farms] Cultivating better rice Regenerative organic farming has another benefit too: Food grown with these soil-friendly practices is also healthier for humans, research says. And nutrient density is something the farm’s nursery pursues as well. Black rice in particular is full of antioxidants, and the company’s new variety “has some of the darkest bran we’ve seen,” Bryce Lundberg says, meaning it’s especially high in antioxidants. If customers aren’t enticed by the environmental benefits of this rice, the company hopes the nutritional benefit will be worth paying a slight premium for. (The regenerative organic black pearl rice is $5.99 a pound). “We’re constantly upgrading . . . because at the end of the day, from a consumer standpoint, we all care about the planet, but it’s personal what you’re putting in your body,” Sengelmann says. “In terms of the nutrient density and the lack of herbicides, that tends to be the thing that really makes consumers want to pay the extra dollar or two.” Even with this new release, and more rice varieties forthcoming, Lundberg still plans to innovate to breed better rice; it invests half a million dollars into its nursery every year. In 2024, it was awarded a $3 million matching grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build out its regenerative organic products. Though those grants are now on hold—and the fate of government grants at large is unclear under the Trump administration (especially ones that mention climate terms)—Sengelmann says the farm is still moving forward to invest its own $3 million into that goal. “We’re going to keep doing it,” she says, “because it’s what we’ve always done.” View the full article

Email marketing is an important part of digital communication. If you don’t feel that email marketing has been effective for you, you may be making common email marketing mistakes. The Impact of Email Marketing Mistakes Poor engagement: Mistakes can lead to reduced open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement with your emails. Damaged brand reputation: Email marketing mistakes can negatively impact your brand’s image, causing recipients to perceive your emails as unprofessional or spammy. Reduced conversions: Mistakes may result in lower conversion rates, affecting your ability to turn leads into customers. Legal issues: Non-compliance with email marketing regulations can lead to legal consequences and fines. To minimize such mistakes and enhance the effectiveness of your campaigns, an email marketing course could be highly beneficial for learning advanced strategies. Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid Here are the top email marketing mistakes that we’ve identified, along with their consequences: Ignoring personalization in emails Decreased engagement and relevance for recipients. Personalized emails tend to have higher open rates and conversion rates compared to generic messages. Understanding the significance of personalization in email campaigns is essential. For more insights, you can explore email marketing tips and techniques, which offer valuable guidance in crafting personalized content. Overlooking the importance of a compelling subject line Low email open rates as recipients may not find the email enticing enough to click. The subject line is the first thing recipients see, and it can determine whether your email gets opened or ignored. Crafting compelling subject lines is crucial. To learn more about effective subject line strategies, you might find how to improve writing and SEO useful, as it can significantly impact open rates. Neglecting to optimize for mobile users Poor user experience for mobile recipients, leading to higher bounce rates and potential loss of customers who access emails on mobile devices. For an in-depth understanding of optimizing email campaigns for mobile users, it’s worthwhile to check out online SEO courses, as they often cover mobile optimization strategies. Sending emails without a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Reduced conversion rates and unclear recipient actions. Emails without a clear CTA may not drive the desired response from recipients. For insights into creating effective CTAs, exploring resources on email marketing for small business can provide practical tips to enhance your email campaigns. Overusing sales-focused language Emails can sometimes feel overly promotional or spam-like, which can result in increased unsubscribe rates and damage to the brand’s reputation. Not segmenting the email list Irrelevant content is sent to recipients, resulting in reduced engagement and higher chances of being unsubscribed. Segmenting your email list is key to delivering relevant content. Learning about email marketing services can help you understand how to effectively segment and target your audience. Failing to test email campaigns before sending Increased risk of technical errors or formatting issues, which can negatively impact the user experience and brand perception. Inconsistent email sending schedule Confusion among subscribers about when to expect emails leads to decreased open rates and engagement. The best email marketers send emails at prechosen times of the day. Overlooking email automation opportunities Missed opportunities to nurture leads and build customer relationships efficiently. Automation can save time and increase engagement. Ignoring email analytics and metrics The challenge of measuring the effectiveness of email campaigns hinders the ability to make data-driven enhancements. Poor email list hygiene Increased bounce rates, emails going to the spam folder, and potentially being blacklisted by email service providers. Using misleading subject lines Loss of trust and credibility with recipients, leading to higher unsubscribe rates and potential legal issues. Not optimizing for different email clients Emails may display poorly or be unreadable on certain email platforms, resulting in a negative user experience. Lack of a consistent brand voice Confusion among recipients about your brand identity and messaging makes it harder to build brand loyalty. Not providing easy unsubscribe options Increased spam complaints, potential legal issues, and a negative impact on email deliverability. Overloading emails with too much content Overwhelming recipients lead to lower engagement and increased chances of emails being marked as spam. Overlooking the power of visuals in emails Missed opportunities to grab recipients’ attention and convey information effectively, potentially leading to lower engagement. Not regularly updating email templates Stale and outdated email designs may make your brand appear unprofessional or untrustworthy. Failing to include contact information Lack of transparency and trust hinders recipients from identifying the sender or feeling comfortable reaching out. Causing emails to trigger spam filters Emails may not reach the inbox of recipients, resulting in reduced visibility and engagement. Neglecting GDPR and other compliance standards Legal repercussions, penalties, and harm to brand reputation can arise from non-compliance with data protection regulations. Best Practices for a Successful Email Marketing Campaign As a small business owner, you should set clear goals and objectives for each campaign. Next, segment your email list to send targeted content. Make sure the content is compelling. Maintain a consistent brand voice and style as part of your email marketing strategy. Before you launch the campaign, test and optimize subject lines and ensure that the emails are mobile responsive. Monitor email analytics and adjust strategies accordingly. Use automation for drip campaigns and triggered emails. Triggered emails are automatic responses based on a customer’s actions, such as when a shopper puts items in a “cart” but doesn’t follow through by purchasing the items. And make sure to follow best practices for email deliverability and compliance with regulations like GDPR. To develop a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the latest trends and effective techniques, familiarizing yourself with marketing and sales tips can offer valuable insights into successful email marketing. Best PracticeDescriptionTools/ResourcesKey Tips Target Audience SegmentationDivide your audience into segments based on behavior and preferences.Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact).Tailor messages to specific groups for higher engagement. PersonalizationPersonalize emails to make recipients feel valued.Personalization tools in email platforms.Use recipient's name and content relevant to their interests. Engaging Subject LinesCraft subject lines that grab attention and encourage opens.A/B testing tools, subject line analyzers.Keep subject lines short, intriguing, and clear. Mobile OptimizationEnsure emails are readable and appealing on mobile devices.Responsive email design features.Use a mobile-friendly layout and test on different devices. Valuable ContentProvide content that is useful and relevant to your audience.Content creation tools, analytics to gauge interests.Include tips, insights, or offers that add value to your subscribers. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)Have a clear and compelling CTA in each email.CTA button design tools, persuasive copywriting.Make it easy for recipients to know what to do next. Consistent SchedulingSend emails on a regular schedule.Email scheduling features in marketing platforms.Maintain consistency in timing to build anticipation and reliability. Testing and OptimizationRegularly test different aspects of your emails.A/B testing features, analytics.Test different subject lines, content, and layouts to see what works best. Unsubscribe OptionMake it easy for users to unsubscribe.Compliance with email marketing laws.Respect user preferences to maintain a positive brand image. Analytics and FeedbackUse analytics to track performance and gather feedback.Email analytics tools, survey tools.Analyze open rates, click-through rates, and user feedback for improvements. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f7Frn82SCVk%3Fsi%3D4XktwoGmfy28cGEk FAQs: Navigating Common Email Marketing Challenges What is the most common email marketing mistake? The most common mistake is not optimizing the email list for different clients. However, their are additional mistakes which are also regular email marketing mistakes. Additional most common mistakes include failing to use a compelling subject line, ignoring analytics and not using visuals. How can open rates of email marketing campaigns be improved? Here are ways that you can improve your open rates: Craft compelling subject lines. Personalize emails based on recipient data. Segment your email list for targeted content. Optimize emails for mobile devices. Test different send times and days. Use A/B testing to refine email elements. Clean your email list regularly to remove inactive or unengaged subscribers. Monitor and improve email deliverability. Maintain a consistent sending schedule. Provide valuable and relevant content in your emails. What are some ways to personalize marketing emails? You can address recipients by their first names and send personalized product recommendations. Also, use dynamic content based on the recipient’s preferences. Send personalized offers or discounts that are related to past purchases. Always segment your email list by demographics, behavior, and/or interests. Utilize triggered emails that respond to particular actions or milestones. For instance, you can send an email when a shopper leaves items in their cart without completing the purchase. Additionally, consider sending an email to celebrate a customer’s birthday or the anniversary of their first order. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Common Email Marketing Mistakes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Email marketing is an important part of digital communication. If you don’t feel that email marketing has been effective for you, you may be making common email marketing mistakes. The Impact of Email Marketing Mistakes Poor engagement: Mistakes can lead to reduced open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement with your emails. Damaged brand reputation: Email marketing mistakes can negatively impact your brand’s image, causing recipients to perceive your emails as unprofessional or spammy. Reduced conversions: Mistakes may result in lower conversion rates, affecting your ability to turn leads into customers. Legal issues: Non-compliance with email marketing regulations can lead to legal consequences and fines. To minimize such mistakes and enhance the effectiveness of your campaigns, an email marketing course could be highly beneficial for learning advanced strategies. Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid Here are the top email marketing mistakes that we’ve identified, along with their consequences: Ignoring personalization in emails Decreased engagement and relevance for recipients. Personalized emails tend to have higher open rates and conversion rates compared to generic messages. Understanding the significance of personalization in email campaigns is essential. For more insights, you can explore email marketing tips and techniques, which offer valuable guidance in crafting personalized content. Overlooking the importance of a compelling subject line Low email open rates as recipients may not find the email enticing enough to click. The subject line is the first thing recipients see, and it can determine whether your email gets opened or ignored. Crafting compelling subject lines is crucial. To learn more about effective subject line strategies, you might find how to improve writing and SEO useful, as it can significantly impact open rates. Neglecting to optimize for mobile users Poor user experience for mobile recipients, leading to higher bounce rates and potential loss of customers who access emails on mobile devices. For an in-depth understanding of optimizing email campaigns for mobile users, it’s worthwhile to check out online SEO courses, as they often cover mobile optimization strategies. Sending emails without a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Reduced conversion rates and unclear recipient actions. Emails without a clear CTA may not drive the desired response from recipients. For insights into creating effective CTAs, exploring resources on email marketing for small business can provide practical tips to enhance your email campaigns. Overusing sales-focused language Emails can sometimes feel overly promotional or spam-like, which can result in increased unsubscribe rates and damage to the brand’s reputation. Not segmenting the email list Irrelevant content is sent to recipients, resulting in reduced engagement and higher chances of being unsubscribed. Segmenting your email list is key to delivering relevant content. Learning about email marketing services can help you understand how to effectively segment and target your audience. Failing to test email campaigns before sending Increased risk of technical errors or formatting issues, which can negatively impact the user experience and brand perception. Inconsistent email sending schedule Confusion among subscribers about when to expect emails leads to decreased open rates and engagement. The best email marketers send emails at prechosen times of the day. Overlooking email automation opportunities Missed opportunities to nurture leads and build customer relationships efficiently. Automation can save time and increase engagement. Ignoring email analytics and metrics The challenge of measuring the effectiveness of email campaigns hinders the ability to make data-driven enhancements. Poor email list hygiene Increased bounce rates, emails going to the spam folder, and potentially being blacklisted by email service providers. Using misleading subject lines Loss of trust and credibility with recipients, leading to higher unsubscribe rates and potential legal issues. Not optimizing for different email clients Emails may display poorly or be unreadable on certain email platforms, resulting in a negative user experience. Lack of a consistent brand voice Confusion among recipients about your brand identity and messaging makes it harder to build brand loyalty. Not providing easy unsubscribe options Increased spam complaints, potential legal issues, and a negative impact on email deliverability. Overloading emails with too much content Overwhelming recipients lead to lower engagement and increased chances of emails being marked as spam. Overlooking the power of visuals in emails Missed opportunities to grab recipients’ attention and convey information effectively, potentially leading to lower engagement. Not regularly updating email templates Stale and outdated email designs may make your brand appear unprofessional or untrustworthy. Failing to include contact information Lack of transparency and trust hinders recipients from identifying the sender or feeling comfortable reaching out. Causing emails to trigger spam filters Emails may not reach the inbox of recipients, resulting in reduced visibility and engagement. Neglecting GDPR and other compliance standards Legal repercussions, penalties, and harm to brand reputation can arise from non-compliance with data protection regulations. Best Practices for a Successful Email Marketing Campaign As a small business owner, you should set clear goals and objectives for each campaign. Next, segment your email list to send targeted content. Make sure the content is compelling. Maintain a consistent brand voice and style as part of your email marketing strategy. Before you launch the campaign, test and optimize subject lines and ensure that the emails are mobile responsive. Monitor email analytics and adjust strategies accordingly. Use automation for drip campaigns and triggered emails. Triggered emails are automatic responses based on a customer’s actions, such as when a shopper puts items in a “cart” but doesn’t follow through by purchasing the items. And make sure to follow best practices for email deliverability and compliance with regulations like GDPR. To develop a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the latest trends and effective techniques, familiarizing yourself with marketing and sales tips can offer valuable insights into successful email marketing. Best PracticeDescriptionTools/ResourcesKey Tips Target Audience SegmentationDivide your audience into segments based on behavior and preferences.Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact).Tailor messages to specific groups for higher engagement. PersonalizationPersonalize emails to make recipients feel valued.Personalization tools in email platforms.Use recipient's name and content relevant to their interests. Engaging Subject LinesCraft subject lines that grab attention and encourage opens.A/B testing tools, subject line analyzers.Keep subject lines short, intriguing, and clear. Mobile OptimizationEnsure emails are readable and appealing on mobile devices.Responsive email design features.Use a mobile-friendly layout and test on different devices. Valuable ContentProvide content that is useful and relevant to your audience.Content creation tools, analytics to gauge interests.Include tips, insights, or offers that add value to your subscribers. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)Have a clear and compelling CTA in each email.CTA button design tools, persuasive copywriting.Make it easy for recipients to know what to do next. Consistent SchedulingSend emails on a regular schedule.Email scheduling features in marketing platforms.Maintain consistency in timing to build anticipation and reliability. Testing and OptimizationRegularly test different aspects of your emails.A/B testing features, analytics.Test different subject lines, content, and layouts to see what works best. Unsubscribe OptionMake it easy for users to unsubscribe.Compliance with email marketing laws.Respect user preferences to maintain a positive brand image. Analytics and FeedbackUse analytics to track performance and gather feedback.Email analytics tools, survey tools.Analyze open rates, click-through rates, and user feedback for improvements. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f7Frn82SCVk%3Fsi%3D4XktwoGmfy28cGEk FAQs: Navigating Common Email Marketing Challenges What is the most common email marketing mistake? The most common mistake is not optimizing the email list for different clients. However, their are additional mistakes which are also regular email marketing mistakes. Additional most common mistakes include failing to use a compelling subject line, ignoring analytics and not using visuals. How can open rates of email marketing campaigns be improved? Here are ways that you can improve your open rates: Craft compelling subject lines. Personalize emails based on recipient data. Segment your email list for targeted content. Optimize emails for mobile devices. Test different send times and days. Use A/B testing to refine email elements. Clean your email list regularly to remove inactive or unengaged subscribers. Monitor and improve email deliverability. Maintain a consistent sending schedule. Provide valuable and relevant content in your emails. What are some ways to personalize marketing emails? You can address recipients by their first names and send personalized product recommendations. Also, use dynamic content based on the recipient’s preferences. Send personalized offers or discounts that are related to past purchases. Always segment your email list by demographics, behavior, and/or interests. Utilize triggered emails that respond to particular actions or milestones. For instance, you can send an email when a shopper leaves items in their cart without completing the purchase. Additionally, consider sending an email to celebrate a customer’s birthday or the anniversary of their first order. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Common Email Marketing Mistakes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Consumer goods group says chief financial officer Fernando Fernandez will take overView the full article

Sales down 45% in January for EV maker led by Elon MuskView the full article

Even if you’re a regular Alexa user, there’s a good chance you haven’t discovered some of its most efficient features. Actually, strike that: There’s a good chance you’re only using your Alexa device to set timers and play music. But Alexa does so much more! Here are five commands to add to your vernacular that could save you tons of time with regular use. “Alexa, check traffic” Once you link your home and work addresses in the Alexa app, simply asking to check traffic will give the time between your home and office by default—always handy when you’re heading out the door. You also can ask for traffic conditions to a certain destination. Alexa just told me that traffic from my house to the nearest Whole Foods is “sluggish”—it’d take me a whole six minutes to get there. Good thing I saved so much time asking for traffic conditions, eh? “Alexa, add jelly to my shopping list” Writing a shopping list by hand? A fool’s errand. Opening an app and typing a list by hand? A sucker’s gambit. As you notice ingredients running low, just say “Alexa, add [blank] to my shopping list.” The items will appear in your Alexa app’s shopping list, ready for your next grocery run. You can even check what’s on your list by asking, “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?” before running to the store. “Alexa, announce that it’s time for lunch” It’s 2025—enough shouting up and down the stairs. Instead, say, “Alexa, announce that it’s time for lunch.” Your message will immediately be broadcast to all Alexa devices in your home at the same time, just like a fancy-schmancy intercom system. “Alexa, find my phone” My wife never reads these articles, so I’m safe telling you that while she was frantically searching for her phone the other day, it turned out that it was in her hand. Not all lost phones are so easy to find! For the tougher tests, Alexa can call your wayward device and you can follow the ringtone. There are a couple slight catches: You’ll need to do a one-time setup so Alexa knows which number to call, and you only get three free calls each month. If you’re asked whether you want to sign up for a free trial of the premium phone-finding service, just say no and Alexa will place the call. “Alexa, remind me . . . ” Just as a glorified note-to-self, Alexa is a lifesaver. There are a few ways you can ask it to remember things for you. First, just ask Alexa to remember something. It’ll store it in the notes section of the Alexa app on your phone. Second, ask it to remind you of something at a certain time. It’ll . . . well, you get the idea. And the best one is asking Alexa to remind you of something when you’re at a certain place. If you’ve enabled location in the phone app, it can remind you to get Band-Aids the next time you’re at Walgreens. It’s almost too easy. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. People complain that I don’t want to be at work social events I’m in a senior leadership role, and have been for the last six years. I keep running into the same problem and I’d love your advice. I don’t enjoy social activities at work (Christmas parties, picnics, etc.), and I also don’t like corporate retreats. I’d rather do my tasks, as I’m very busy. I’m very much in the minority. I always encourage my staff to participate. I do attend, but it’s out of obligation. People notice and then complain to my boss, who keeps talking to me about my participation. I resent this. To me, attending even though I don’t want to is my way of being a good leader and teammate. But apparently that isn’t enough; I’m supposed to like the activity itself. I’m told I should want to do the thing. My job isn’t at risk. But it’s causing my boss stress I don’t think is fair. I also can’t abide the idea that I would be inauthentic by being overly enthusiastic. I’ve asked to be told when something is mandatory, but it’s been made clear to me that I shouldn’t need to, and should go to everything. If people are able to tell that you don’t want to be there to the point that they’re complaining to your boss about it … yeah, you’re in the wrong. Particularly as a senior leader, it’s rude to make it so obvious that you don’t want to be there that people around you can tell (which I’m guessing is what’s happening, because otherwise there would be nothing for people to pick up on, let along take to your boss). If you didn’t enjoy the activities but went out of obligation and behaved graciously while you were there, this would be fine. You don’t need to be “overly enthusiastic”; you just need to not be obviously unenthusiastic. Part of being in senior leadership is that you not only show up for this stuff, you do it graciously. For what it’s worth, there’s plenty else about being in senior leadership that’s “inauthentic” but is still part of the job, like not rolling your eyes when a colleague says something absurd, or implementing that was made above you and isn’t what you would have picked, and on and on. 2. How can we create a schedule that’s fair to people with and without kids? I work in a small department that has strict customer-facing hours from morning through evening; the team is me and two coworkers. Our manager used to ask for our scheduling preferences each quarter and would try to make sure everyone was pretty equal (one closing, one opening per week per person, no weird shifts that make taking a lunch impossible). She retired and hasn’t yet been replaced. Big Boss has been having us work out the schedule amongst ourselves, and we’re running into trouble. We’re trying to collaboratively create a schedule that covers all the hours and works well enough for everyone. But both my coworkers are coming to the table with very limited hours. Both have children and need to come in and leave at very specific times to do dropoff/pickup, but this is leaving difficult gaps of time to fill. I find that my colleagues aren’t being particularly flexible and I understand that they have children, but I don’t want to work every late afternoon or evening, work every day while they get 1-2 days completely off customer-facing work, or have a really irregular schedule (close one night, open the next morning, split shifts) while theirs are more consistent. How can I approach this? I have no “need” to leave work early or refuse these shifts, and saying I just don’t want to work all the bad shifts doesn’t seem to carry as much weight as family obligations. Are there any solutions? I’m hoping not to bring it to Big Boss if I don’t have to. Your framing is wrong! It doesn’t matter what your reasons are for not wanting to have the short end of the stick every day, or even the majority of the time. You get to say your time off is important too, and you’re presumably not being paid any kind of extra premium for taking on more scheduling hassle than your coworkers are. It’s enough to simply say, “I don’t want to work late every afternoon or evening or have a really irregular schedule while everyone else’s is consistent. That won’t work for me, and I propose we handle it the way OldManager used to — for example, (fill in specific proposal).” If they reply with, “Well, I can’t because X,” then you should say, “I can’t either, and I’d like to schedule the way we did under OldManager, which everyone seemed to be able to accommodate then.” And if an agreement can’t be reached relatively quickly, then do bring in Big Boss — that’s part of what they’re there for, and it’s more likely to solve the problem than having to convince people who have already demonstrated they’re not willing to be fair to you. Sometimes you need someone in authority to step in and resolve things. Related: I’m getting stuck with extra work because I don’t have kids 3. I have log my work on the days I work from home I’m a third-year attorney, and I started a new, non-private-sector job three months ago. I’ve had some frustrations and trouble adjusting to this place, but I did appreciate that it had a hybrid work option. Today, though, I found out that there’s been an existing requirement (which my supervisor only informed me about today) to send a log every week summarizing the work we did on the days we worked from home. It’s a company requirement, not from my supervisor. She explained that she’s waived the requirement for senior attorneys, but the junior attorneys still need to do it — in other words, I read it as not for billing purposes, but to “prove” that we’re doing work on days we work from home. I’m furious. The pandemic started during my time in law school, so I’ve had hybrid or remote work since even before I passed the bar. I’ve never had this requirement at any place I’ve worked as an attorney or law clerk — not firms, nonprofits, or the federal judiciary. In law, if you weren’t actually working on your days you worked from home, it would show in your total work product (i.e., not drafting enough briefs or filing enough cases). So this requirement makes me feel that my job doesn’t trust me to manage my time, even though I’ve already done extensive work during the short time I’ve been here and gone far over the 40 hours a week (not due to my speed, but due to the amount of work). Every time I go to fill out the form, I’m furious, even though it only requires a summary for each day. Two questions: (1) am I overthinking this, and (2) regardless, how do I get over this enough to do the log? Well, first: yes, it’s a bad requirement. And yes, effective managers are able to spot it if people aren’t being productive on their work-from-home days. But “furious” seems excessive, particularly if you otherwise like the job. Since the requirement is coming from above your manager, it’s likely that this is a firm that wasn’t fully comfortable with remote work (as many aren’t) and this is key to them allowing it. Find it eye-rolly, by all means, but anger is an overreaction. See the log as an investment in keeping hybrid work available to you and others there. Also, though … is other stuff going on that’s making you unhappy with this job? This is the kind of thing that will grate far more if you’re already not happy for other reasons. 4. Can I ask my old job to take my name off their website? I left my last job about four months ago after almost six years there. It’s a small business and, for context, there were two other people doing the same job as me, although there should have been four. We’d been looking for another person for at least six months with no results. About two months after I left, one of the two remaining people also left so they now just have one person doing this job and no real leads for anyone else. Both of us who left are still listed on the business website “meet the team.” I don’t know if this is deliberate in order to make it look like they are still fully staffed, or just the manager not doing her job. Unfortunately, I didn’t leave on the best of terms with my manager — she was a very nice person but did absolutely no actual managing. If you wanted to sit around all day on your phone, no one would say anything. This was made worse when she hired her daughter to be an “assistant.” Anyway, I don’t want to be associated with this business anymore, and I would like my name off the website. Would it be inappropriate for me to email my former manager and ask her to take me off? It’s not inappropriate to request that. You can’t force them to do it, but you can absolutely ask them to. I would frame it this way: “I noticed the website still lists me as an active employee. Would you please remove my name so that anywhere I apply in the future doesn’t mistakenly think I am still there? Thank you, and I hope you’re doing well.” 5. How do I tell my former boss to stop digging into how I am? The full context for this situation goes back a couple of years. My department was going through a reorg right as I was going out on parental leave, and I went from having one report to being one of two newly promoted team leads. I came back from leave to a company that had gone through significant change and to a job in which I didn’t really know what was expected from me. Additionally, we went through a serious lull in work and I had no real projects. My counterpart had been leading both teams while I was gone, so I really floundered. I also was dealing with becoming a parent, so I spent my energy trying on that rather than work. Somewhere in there, the powers that be decided they wanted one person in charge of revenue for our area rather than two. I was still trying to get my feet under me and told my boss that I didn’t want that responsibility, so it went to the other lead, but I still had multiple people reporting to me and some other responsibilities. Fast forward to now and there is another reorg, in part to make more of a triangle reporting structure. The outcome of this is that I have essentially been demoted. I now report to my previous peer, some of the people who were reporting to me now report to him, and all of my higher-level responsibilities are gone. I tried to make a case for moving into a different reporting structure with some different higher level responsibilities but was told no. I am angry and humiliated. No one in my reporting structure ever said to me that this sucks and isn’t a reflection of my performance. There keep being little reminders of what was taken away that turn the screw a little more (like someone asking me about a standing meeting that I am no longer a part of). Being at work is miserable. I have worked with my (previous) boss for a long time and have told her quite plainly that I am not happy about this. And every time we meet, she keeps asking how I am. I say I’m fine, but she pushes and I end up crying in front of her. At this point, I just want to be left alone to do the job I am left with. I have a lot of feelings about how this ended up happening, some of which are directed toward my company, some of which are directed inward toward my own decisions, and some of which are directed at the universe toward the horrible timing of the promotion and baby coming together. None of these feelings are my old boss’ business. As far as I know, there are no issues with my performance since the change, and I’m sure my old boss is coming from a good place, but how do I tell her to leave me alone with this? And is it possible to do it without crying in front of her again? (Yes, I am job searching but my industry is in a tough spot with recent layoffs affecting a lot of candidates I am competing with, so I anticipate it being a long search.) “I appreciate you checking in on how I’m doing, but it ends up stirring things up that I’m trying to put to rest. In the interests of my being able to move forward with the situation as it stands, I’d be grateful if we can just take it as read that I’m doing okay and talk about about other things instead!” And then if she does it anyway, be prepared with a subject change to push the conversation to something else. View the full article

Andy Lord tells FT he has written to the UK chancellor for long-term funding to stop network from falling into disrepairView the full article

As the government struggles to ease a real estate crisis, state-owned developers have been buying up landView the full article

While its equities platform suffers an exodus, the LSEG itself is a financial success story — with an identity problemView the full article

CDU leader has vowed to seal negotiations with the Social Democrats by AprilView the full article

Auchincloss must convince activist investor Elliott Management he can turn around troubled oil majorView the full article

International groups seek to capitalise on investors’ ‘change in tone’ towards bigger payoutsView the full article

Daniel Sundheim’s hedge fund was under water but made a windfall from Siemens Energy and Rolls-Royce tradesView the full article

The underlying problems behind the crisis have not yet been resolvedView the full article

Newly confirmed U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler issued a memo on her first day in office, outlining her priorities to restructure the agency into what she calls an “America First engine for free enterprise.” Loeffler emphasized reducing bureaucracy, eliminating fraud, and aligning SBA policies with President Trump’s agenda to support small businesses. Loeffler’s memo cited fraud, waste, and mismanagement as key issues she intends to tackle immediately. The SBA will conduct an independent financial audit after failing to complete satisfactory audits in recent years. Additionally, the agency will: Institute a zero-tolerance fraud policy, appointing a Fraud Czar to investigate pandemic-era fraud and recover lost taxpayer funds. Restore underwriting standards for loan programs, reversing practices that have compromised the solvency of SBA’s 7(a) lending program and other public-private initiatives. Ban illegal aliens from receiving SBA assistance, consistent with President Trump’s executive order on taxpayer funding. Restrict access to SBA programs for foreign nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile entities. Loeffler emphasized domestic manufacturing and economic independence as central to her vision for the SBA. In her memo, she announced that the Office of International Trade will be transformed into the Office of Manufacturing and Trade, shifting focus to rebuilding American supply chains and job creation. The SBA will also: Support small manufacturers and promote “Made in America” initiatives. Enforce President Trump’s executive orders, including the elimination of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs within the agency. Partner with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic costs. Loeffler’s memo outlines workforce changes and regulatory reforms, aligning the agency’s policies with broader efforts by the Trump administration. Effective immediately, the SBA will: Mandate full-time, in-office work for all SBA employees, following Trump’s Return to In-Person Work memorandum. Evaluate workforce reductions and advisory board overhauls to improve agency efficiency. Cut regulatory burdens by fully staffing the Office of Advocacy, tasked with identifying and eliminating federal regulations that hinder small businesses. The memo outlines several initiatives to support small businesses while ensuring fair competition in federal contracting. Key actions include: Ending partisan voter registration activities, reversing an agreement with Michigan’s Secretary of State. Relocating SBA regional offices out of sanctuary cities, focusing on accessibility and cost efficiency. Returning federal contracting goals for Small Disadvantaged Businesses (8(a) program) to statutory levels, reversing increases implemented by the previous administration. Improving SBA technology, cybersecurity, and customer service, including potential AI applications to streamline services. Loeffler framed her tenure as a return to the SBA’s core mission—supporting job creation, disaster relief, and economic growth. She signaled that the agency will prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, and reduced federal intervention in small business operations. “It’s a new day at the SBA,” Loeffler said. “We will uphold the highest standards of accountability, performance, and integrity, ensuring taxpayer dollars are safeguarded, not squandered.” This article, "SBA Administrator Loeffler Outlines Day One Priorities, Focuses on Accountability and Economic Growth" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Newly confirmed U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler issued a memo on her first day in office, outlining her priorities to restructure the agency into what she calls an “America First engine for free enterprise.” Loeffler emphasized reducing bureaucracy, eliminating fraud, and aligning SBA policies with President Trump’s agenda to support small businesses. Loeffler’s memo cited fraud, waste, and mismanagement as key issues she intends to tackle immediately. The SBA will conduct an independent financial audit after failing to complete satisfactory audits in recent years. Additionally, the agency will: Institute a zero-tolerance fraud policy, appointing a Fraud Czar to investigate pandemic-era fraud and recover lost taxpayer funds. Restore underwriting standards for loan programs, reversing practices that have compromised the solvency of SBA’s 7(a) lending program and other public-private initiatives. Ban illegal aliens from receiving SBA assistance, consistent with President Trump’s executive order on taxpayer funding. Restrict access to SBA programs for foreign nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile entities. Loeffler emphasized domestic manufacturing and economic independence as central to her vision for the SBA. In her memo, she announced that the Office of International Trade will be transformed into the Office of Manufacturing and Trade, shifting focus to rebuilding American supply chains and job creation. The SBA will also: Support small manufacturers and promote “Made in America” initiatives. Enforce President Trump’s executive orders, including the elimination of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs within the agency. Partner with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic costs. Loeffler’s memo outlines workforce changes and regulatory reforms, aligning the agency’s policies with broader efforts by the Trump administration. Effective immediately, the SBA will: Mandate full-time, in-office work for all SBA employees, following Trump’s Return to In-Person Work memorandum. Evaluate workforce reductions and advisory board overhauls to improve agency efficiency. Cut regulatory burdens by fully staffing the Office of Advocacy, tasked with identifying and eliminating federal regulations that hinder small businesses. The memo outlines several initiatives to support small businesses while ensuring fair competition in federal contracting. Key actions include: Ending partisan voter registration activities, reversing an agreement with Michigan’s Secretary of State. Relocating SBA regional offices out of sanctuary cities, focusing on accessibility and cost efficiency. Returning federal contracting goals for Small Disadvantaged Businesses (8(a) program) to statutory levels, reversing increases implemented by the previous administration. Improving SBA technology, cybersecurity, and customer service, including potential AI applications to streamline services. Loeffler framed her tenure as a return to the SBA’s core mission—supporting job creation, disaster relief, and economic growth. She signaled that the agency will prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, and reduced federal intervention in small business operations. “It’s a new day at the SBA,” Loeffler said. “We will uphold the highest standards of accountability, performance, and integrity, ensuring taxpayer dollars are safeguarded, not squandered.” This article, "SBA Administrator Loeffler Outlines Day One Priorities, Focuses on Accountability and Economic Growth" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For years, businesses have struggled with the same problem: keeping their customer support knowledge base accurate, accessible, and up to date. As AI-powered customer service tools gain traction, a hidden bottleneck has emerged, but a strategic leap in AI-driven customer support aims to solve this issue: AI is only as effective as the knowledge it’s […] The post Groove Networks, LLC. Acquires Kroto.one to Reinvent AI-Powered Knowledge Management appeared first on Groove Blog. View the full article

Small business owners are entering 2025 with heightened confidence despite persistent economic uncertainty, according to Bluevine’s 2024 End-of-Year Business Owner Success Survey (BOSS) Report. The survey of 1,200 small business owners (SBOs) found that 79% expressed confidence in their business outlook, an increase from 73% in mid-2024. Expectations for profitability and revenue growth have also risen, reflecting resilience among small businesses. Despite optimism, SBOs continue to navigate inflation and rising costs. The report found that 64% of respondents identified inflation as a top concern, while 55% cited taxes and fees. Concerns over tariffs have more than doubled, increasing from 5% in mid-2024 to 13%. To mitigate these challenges, 41% of SBOs adjusted their 2025 spending plans, up from 35% last year. Payroll remains the largest expense, followed by materials, supplies, and rent. Material costs have become a growing concern for solo business owners, with 56% listing it as a top issue, compared to 43% in mid-2024. To counter rising costs, two-thirds of SBOs have raised prices on some or all of their products or services, an increase from 61% mid-year. Business owners continue to adjust their pricing strategies to maintain profitability in an inflationary environment. Access to capital remains essential for small businesses, with “growth and expansion” and “working capital” cited as the primary reasons for seeking funding. Three out of four SBOs prefer traditional bank loans, while demand for debt restructuring among solo business owners has increased significantly, jumping from 10% to 38%. “Despite the challenges small business owners are facing, the demand for capital and investment in growth is unwavering,” said Eyal Lifshitz, co-founder and CEO of Bluevine. “Even with inflation, rising costs and a rocky economy, these business owners are staying the course, investing in growth and looking at the long game. It’s clear that even in uncertain times, they’re committed to making things work and positioning themselves for success.” The survey was conducted by Bredin, an independent research firm specializing in SMB market trends. The study surveyed 1,200 small business owners nationwide between November 14 and 27, 2024. Respondents reported annual revenues between $100,000 and $5 million. This article, "Small Business Confidence Surges Despite Economic Challenges, Bluevine Survey Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are entering 2025 with heightened confidence despite persistent economic uncertainty, according to Bluevine’s 2024 End-of-Year Business Owner Success Survey (BOSS) Report. The survey of 1,200 small business owners (SBOs) found that 79% expressed confidence in their business outlook, an increase from 73% in mid-2024. Expectations for profitability and revenue growth have also risen, reflecting resilience among small businesses. Despite optimism, SBOs continue to navigate inflation and rising costs. The report found that 64% of respondents identified inflation as a top concern, while 55% cited taxes and fees. Concerns over tariffs have more than doubled, increasing from 5% in mid-2024 to 13%. To mitigate these challenges, 41% of SBOs adjusted their 2025 spending plans, up from 35% last year. Payroll remains the largest expense, followed by materials, supplies, and rent. Material costs have become a growing concern for solo business owners, with 56% listing it as a top issue, compared to 43% in mid-2024. To counter rising costs, two-thirds of SBOs have raised prices on some or all of their products or services, an increase from 61% mid-year. Business owners continue to adjust their pricing strategies to maintain profitability in an inflationary environment. Access to capital remains essential for small businesses, with “growth and expansion” and “working capital” cited as the primary reasons for seeking funding. Three out of four SBOs prefer traditional bank loans, while demand for debt restructuring among solo business owners has increased significantly, jumping from 10% to 38%. “Despite the challenges small business owners are facing, the demand for capital and investment in growth is unwavering,” said Eyal Lifshitz, co-founder and CEO of Bluevine. “Even with inflation, rising costs and a rocky economy, these business owners are staying the course, investing in growth and looking at the long game. It’s clear that even in uncertain times, they’re committed to making things work and positioning themselves for success.” The survey was conducted by Bredin, an independent research firm specializing in SMB market trends. The study surveyed 1,200 small business owners nationwide between November 14 and 27, 2024. Respondents reported annual revenues between $100,000 and $5 million. This article, "Small Business Confidence Surges Despite Economic Challenges, Bluevine Survey Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The confabs are a sign that Republicans are getting serious about negotiating the contours of a tax deal, even as the House and Senate are pursuing separate strategies. View the full article