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GM announces plant closures, Trump threatens to cancel subsidies
Michelle R. Matisons Transportation Technology & AutomotiveIf we need any more proof of the disparities between campaign promises and economic realities, consider that automotive giant General Motors has announced a restructuring that includes laying off 15 percent of its salaried employees and 25 percent of its executive employees. That’s 14,700 more North American workers without jobs by 2019. GM plans to "focus on electric and self-driving vehicles and prepares for a downturn in the auto market or a weakening on the U.S. economy." The company’s new motto? "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, Zero Congestion." But, for some, Zero Jobs is all they see.
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How to quickly improve Facebook ads this holiday season
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingUh-oh! After months of planning and crafting, is no one unwrapping (err… clicking) your Facebook ad? Well, luckily, you don’t need to return it for something better. In this case, a few minor tweaks can make all the difference. Or if you have the time, do some A/B testing, which entails changing one variable at a time to see what’s moving the needle. Without further ado, here’s the five-step check to perform to make sure your Facebook ad is just right.
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5 surefire ways to kill your company’s innovation
Steven L. Blue Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementInnovation is difficult to come by. It is a fleeting concept that eludes most companies. In fact, the odds of a new product idea reaching full commercialization are less than 4 percent. And that is the best case. But, there are five surefire ways you can make certain innovation never sees the light of day at your company.
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Why you should make more Instagram stories — and how to improve them
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingLast September, Facebook accounted for 16.5 percent of all digital content consumption. This September, it was only 14.3 percent. While a 2.2 percent drop doesn’t sound dire, or even all that bad, its implications are enormous. That equates to each Facebook user reading, on average, 20 percent less content, estimates Pivotal’s Brian Wieser in a Fast Company article. Right now, Facebook is a tough place for brands. Instead, go where the getting is good — Instagram Stories! Because the people are aplenty, it's cheaper to reach your audience.
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Black Friday, Cyber Monday joined by a travel companion
Katherine Radin RetailPerhaps the official start to the holiday shopping season, Black Friday has long served as a chaotic day of consumerism to follow Thanksgiving. However, a recent survey by OpenX and The Harris Poll showed that, this year, shoppers are skipping the day altogether. Given the current state of brick-and-mortar retailers, it seems that retailers may have to rethink their Black Friday strategies in the years to come. But it also appears that a new discounted shopping day is on the horizon, reflecting current consumer behavior.
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Direct-to-consumer company wrongly claims ADA approval in recent social…
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareNo one was smiling last week when an Instagram post attributed to SmileDirectClub — a direct-to-consumer clear aligner company — falsely claimed approval by the American Dental Association (ADA). Oops. Cue the frowns. Lots of serious, brooding frowns. Especially over at SmileDirectClub. And a few at the ADA. The incorrect statement was made in an Instagram post the week of Nov. 5. Only trouble was, the ADA was watching.
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Has your business explored new ‘channels’ the way Hallmark…
Bob Kowalski MarketingAt this time of year, we’re likely to bump into someone who’s hooked on the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies. For many people, those annual holiday airings are the basis for their awareness of Hallmark. The greeting card company is a great example of extending its brand through multiple channels — literally, including TV, streaming channels and this year: a branded satellite radio channel. It shows how a business can grow by exploring unexplored — and seemingly unrelated — avenues. So where can you take your company following Hallmark’s example?
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If you hit a wrong note, hit it again
Patrick Gleeson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOn my first night on the bandstand in Herbie Hancock’s band, I was somewhere between panicked and terrified. As we began the first song, I made the mistake of looking out at the audience. A few rows away sat famed jazz arranger Gil Evans with his best buddy… Miles Davis. At that point I left merely panicked far behind and advanced well into terrified. One horrible mistake would brand me an incompetent newbie, not only in the eyes of my fellow band members, but in the presence of Gil and Miles, both of whom I idolized. It would have helped if I’d known what Miles regularly told his band members: If you hit a wrong note, hit it again!
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Thanksgiving trivia to enjoy with the turkey
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureCelebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving leads off the winter holiday season in America. While it has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions — beginning as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of a harvest — it has evolved into a largely secular holiday. Thanksgiving has been with us since Europeans first landed on our shores, so there’s plenty of history, some mystery, and plenty of fun facts and figures associated with the holiday. So here’s a bit of turkey day trivia to mull over as Thanksgiving 2018 approaches.
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Trends revealed at massive hospitality trade show in New York
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementOver Veterans Day weekend, I attended the HX: The Hotel Experience 2018 and the BD | NY: A Boutique Design Trade Fair in New York City with a group of students from the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona. Also known as the "Hotel Show," the HX: The Hotel Experience 2018 is often perceived as the largest hospitality trade show in North America. There were four components in the trade show, including HX: The Marketplace, HX: The Conference, Boutique Design New York (#BDNY), and the STR Market Study Competition.
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