51+ min ago (622+ words) Many owners are surprised when a business buyer tells them their company is worth far less than expected. They have growing revenue, loyal clients, and a busy team, yet business buyers see something very different. This happens because owners and business buyers use different scoreboards. Owners look at activity and growth. Business buyers look at profit, cash, risk, and how well the business runs without the owner. These hidden problems quietly reduce your business value while you focus on daily work. Here are the five biggest ones and how to fix them before they cost you years of progress. Silent Killer One: The Revenue Mirage Revenue can be rising while business value is falling. Many owners celebrate growth without noticing shrinking margins, tight cash flow, or rising costs. Business buyers focus on what you keep, not what you sell. Silent…...

1+ hour, 3+ min ago (317+ words) CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Shoppers skipped the lines at major retailers and turned to local businesses Saturday, with Findlay Market vendors reporting increased traffic despite chilly temperatures. Makers Bakers Co. was among the businesses that saw more customers during Small Business Saturday. "It's been cold, but we have seen a lot of happy people come down to the market and patronize our small business," said Kevin Foston, owner of Makers Bakers Co. Foston said it was a busy Small Business Saturday, something he said he will never take for granted. "Every year is an important year for a small business, we're always one step away from losing employees and losing revenue, so every year is important so we always try to go with as full force as possible to make sure that we are early, customers trust, and making the most we…...

1+ hour, 50+ min ago (454+ words) As AI search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and Microsoft Copilot become the primary way people discover brands, AI brand visibility has become one of the most important metrics in digital marketing. Unlike traditional search engines that display multiple pages of results, AI assistants typically give one answer " and only a few brands are included. To help companies understand where they stand, a new class of platforms has emerged: AI brand visibility tools. These tools show how frequently a brand appears in AI-generated responses, how it's described, and what can be done to improve presence across different AI systems. Below are three of the best AI brand visibility tools today, led by the only platform designed specifically for both AI tracking and optimization. AI Rank Checker is the most complete platform for businesses that want to measure, improve, and…...

2+ hour, 11+ min ago (173+ words) PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Shoppers nationwide are choosing to support small businesses for Small Business Saturday, during one of the busiest shopping times of the year. In Panama City Beach, residents are shopping small at the Panama City Beach Market's Christmas Village. "It means everything to them, you know, to be able to come out and set up, and give back to their community sell their product," said Shea Winkler, the manager at the PCB market. "It just works both ways and its an amazing experience." For local business owners, the event helps them get more customers during the busy holiday season. "I'm a mother of three, I have multiple jobs, and them supporting me is also supporting my family," said Kayla Zarkie, who owns Mrs. Z's Creations, a local small business. "I think it's just all around helping…...

2+ hour, 14+ min ago (466+ words) November 29, 2025 / 11:37 PM PST / CBS San Francisco People in San Leandro were supporting some of the youngest entrepreneurs this Small Business Saturday. Zocalo Coffeehouse in San Leandro transformed into a one-stop holiday shop with different types of gifts, all created by teens and young adults. "I keep on doing these things just because I started at TAGS," said Stacee Iravedra." Iravedra's life revolves around fashion. She sifts through thrift stores, finds that diamond in the rough, and resells it." Growing up, she wanted to be a stylist. When she was just 18, she started living that dream because of the non-profit and thrift store, Teen Advocacy Going Strong or TAGS "I started there as a stylist and then from there I moved on to be a manager," Iravedra recalled. "Then I was a manager there for a while, then I had a…...

2+ hour, 20+ min ago (24+ words) People in San Leandro were supporting some of the youngest entrepreneurs this Small Business Saturday. Shoppers support San Leandro businesses on Small Business Saturday...

2+ hour, 37+ min ago (334+ words) Not even heavy snowfall could stop shoppers from celebrating Small Business Saturday in Chicago this year. NBC Chicago's Courtney Sisk has the story. Not even several inches of snowfall could stop shoppers dedicated to celebrating Small Business Saturday in Chicago this year. Despite the heavy snowfall that blanketed the Chicago area Saturday, holiday carolers and shoppers were out in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood to celebrate the holiday and support local businesses. "You can buy online any time of the year and you're not helping the little guy. We got to shop small and buy local, and put money back in our local businesses," said Jenna Iberle, a shopper at Genevieve Boutique on Lincoln Avenue. The store offered discounts and had a wheel customers could spin for additional prizes. "It's honestly one of the best days of the year for us…...

2+ hour, 45+ min ago (560+ words) Are you making the most of your brand's presence across all platforms? In today's world, customers interact with businesses in many ways-on social media, websites, apps, and even in emails. Ensuring your brand is consistent everywhere helps people recognize and trust you. Ready to take your brand to the next level? Start by checking how your business appears on every platform and look for ways to make your presence stronger and more engaging. Brand identity is the way your business is recognized by your audience. It includes your logo, colors, fonts, and the overall style of your content. A strong brand identity helps people remember your business. It also sets you apart from competitors. When your social media, website, and marketing materials all reflect the same style, customers feel more connected. This connection builds trust and loyalty over time. Consistent…...

2+ hour, 45+ min ago (382+ words) Then came the hard part. The part they don't always talk about in the success stories. Marketing. As a developer, my first instinct is to solve problems with code, not with marketing campaigns. And my second problem is a bit more specific: I'm based in Brazil. The Two Walls of Marketing for an Indie Hacker I quickly ran into two massive walls. Wall #1: The Time Sink Like many of you, I'd rather spend my time improving my product than trying to keep up with five different social media platforms. I actually built PostPulsar to solve my own problem of not having enough time for social media. But getting the word out requires a different kind of effort. Wall #2: The "Currency Wall" This is the killer. A modest ad budget of, say, $200/month might sound reasonable if you're earning in USD....

3+ hour, 39+ min ago (584+ words) Attention spans have shortened. and people connect faster through visuals than paragraphs. Studies from 2024 and early 2025 consistently show that video content generates higher engagement. longer retention. and more trust than text based content. When someone can hear your voice. sense your tone. and follow your narrative. the message feels more personal. more believable. This is why professionals from mid career marketers to freelancers and consultants are adopting video portfolios. A short video showing your expertise often does more than a two page resume. You can walk through your achievements. explain your process. or showcase client results without sounding stiff or scripted. For job seekers. video also reduces the "cold start" problem. Recruiters scrolling through hundreds of similar profiles stop longer when a personal video introduces the candidate. It humanizes you instantly. Traditional video creation required lighting setups. retakes. editing software....