The ‘Bank of Dave’ phenomenon is set to hit Netflix once more with a sequel that sees Rory Kinnear reprising his role as Dave Fishwick, this time taking on the predatory payday loan sharks. Touted to outdo its predecessor, the new film aims to shine a spotlight on the quest for financial fairness on a…
A film you’ve probably never heard of has been officially named as one of the best movies of last year. Film review website Letterboxd has shared their ‘Year in Review 2024’ and revealed Hundreds of Beavers as the highest rated comedy. The film is set in the 19th century and follows a drunken applejack salesman…
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company has reported significant growth in its business metrics for December 2024, reflecting a robust performance across various parameters.
Key Highlights:
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APE Growth: Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) increased by 15.6% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹8.66 billion for December 2024.
New Business Premium: The new business premium stood at ₹15.55 billion, marking a 3.9% YoY growth. For Q3 FY25, the cumulative premium reached ₹64.42 billion, showcasing a 56.5% YoY increase.
New Business Sum Assured: ICICI Prudential reported a sum assured of ₹1,068.26 billion for December, reflecting a 42.9% YoY growth.
Persistency Ratio: The company maintained high persistency ratios across various intervals, demonstrating strong customer retention.
Nine-Month Performance Highlights: For the nine months ended December 31, 2024:
APE grew by 27.2% YoY to ₹69.05 billion.
New business premium totaled ₹151.39 billion, up 31.3% YoY.
The new business sum assured reached ₹8,606.40 billion, a 19.1% increase YoY.
Aditya is a versatile writer and journalist with a passion for sports and a wide range of experiences in business, politics, tech, health, and the market. With a unique perspective, he captivates readers through engaging storytelling.
The 2025 Books Influence Conference is held in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Organized by the Beijing Book Fair Committee and Bookdao, a publishing and book market intelligence information platform, the 2025 Books Influence Conference was held in Beijing on Wednesday.
With the theme of “building the influence of good books and creating high-quality development together”, the event saw publishers discuss the innovative development of publishing.
Delegates say although it’s difficult to publish books, and even more difficult to publish influential works, they still believe the major task is to publish quality tomes.
A report on the influence of new books published last year across the country was released, and the event also gave awards to leading publishers.
Wu Shulin, chairman of the Publishers Association of China, said doing a good job of monitoring and evaluating the influence of books is undoubtedly an important lever for the industry to achieve high-quality development.
By promoting the influence of good books, telling stories behind some important works clearly, and encouraging publishers to follow the publishing rules better, the industry may gain higher social influence and boost morale, he adds.
Gallery Books, Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin PressFrom the most anticipated literary debuts to the return of heavyweights like Stephen King and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, there’s plenty to add to your TBR pile this year.
Steffen Haars’ Get Away is a horror comedy-drama centered around a family of four, who decided to spend a few days on the Swedish island of Svälta to witness the annual Karantan festival. The only problem was the locals were intolerant towards outsiders. According to folklore, two hundred years ago, when foreigners had arrived on the island, they had looted and plundered, and the locals had starved to death. The ones who survived had no choice but to kill and consume human flesh. On Karantan, the locals paid tribute to their ancestors for their sacrifice through a play. The Smith family assumed that, two hundred years down the line, the locals would no longer hold a grudge against outsiders, and they would be welcomed with open arms. But as it turned out, they could not have been more wrong!
Spoiler Alert
What was Matts’s motive?
The couple who owned the diner warned the family before they took the last ferry to Svälta that they would be in danger if they traveled to the island. For the next two days, as a result of the annual event, the ferry service would remain unavailable, which meant that the Smiths would be stranded on the island, and even if they tried to run away, they would not have the option to do so. The family did not pay heed to the advice and decided to stick to their plan. Upon setting foot on the island, they were surprised to see that the entire community had gathered at the harbor. They were not happy to have an English family on their island, and they clearly stated that they expected the family to leave. But the Smiths were persistent, and when their Airbnb host, Matts, came to speak on their behalf, the locals could no longer interfere.
Matts welcomed them to his mother’s house, where the Smiths had booked their stay. His mother had been beheaded at her home, but that did not bother the family as much. Matts was quite the creep, and he immediately took an interest in Richard and Susan’s daughter, Jessie. While taking a bath, Jessie sensed someone watching her, and she was intrigued by the strange noises from the mirror fitted on the wall. She told her father about it, but Richard did not think much about it. Jessie was weirded out when she discovered that the undergarments she’d kept on her bed were gone. She was also concerned about seeing her crinkled bedsheet; she could already guess someone had been to her room, but who was it?
In Get Away, it is gradually revealed that Matts had cameras fitted all over the Airbnb, and he kept a close watch on his guests. He was a pervert who took voyeuristic pleasure in observing his guests without their consent. This was not the first time he had engaged in such an activity, and catering to his perverse interest was one of the primary reasons he perhaps listed his mother’s house on Airbnb.
How did Klara plan to take down the Smith family?
Klara was the head of the Svälta community, and she was in charge of organizing and directing the play. She was extremely passionate about Karantan, and she did not approve of the arrival of foreigners during their annual event. Since it was her last time directing the play, she decided to end it on an epic note. She gathered the people of her community to discuss her plan of celebrating the day in the old-fashioned way. The older generations used to honor the dead by sacrificing tributes, that is, by killing outsiders brought to the island. It had been decades since the last human sacrifice, and the younger generation did not have the appetite for it. As much as they appreciated the annual Karantan event and respected its cultural significance, they did not think killing people was necessary anymore. But Klara was persistent about offering the English family to their ancestors.
The crowd was not enthusiastic about her plan; they complained that they were too old to engage in a bloodbath, and the youngsters were simply not interested and proposed scaring the outsiders instead of killing and devouring them. Klara refused to take no for an answer, and she approached Matts to seek help from him. She knew that Matts was a pervert, yet she and the members of the community chose to remain silent because he was one of them. Now was the time for him to pay back the community for their silence, and Klara proposed that he help her execute her grand plan. Matts was asked to drug his guests; he could satisfy his perverse pleasure and then offer them for the rest of the community to kill and feast on. Matts agreed to the plan; after all, the entire ordeal was exciting for him as well.
Who was the serial killer?
Detective Forsberg arrived on the island to investigate a murder case. The owners of the diner were brutally murdered, and he assumed it was the punk from Svälta, Johan. He had recently been released from prison, and upon questioning the locals, Forsberg discovered that Johan had left the island to buy goods for the annual event. Klara warned the detective that they would not tolerate his presence and that he must leave the island immediately.
The fun begins when the identity of the serial killer, or rather killers, is disclosed. Matts had drugged the cookies he had left at the Airbnb for his guests to gobble on. To his surprise, instead of attending the annual event, the Smith family chose to take a swim and spend quality time together. When they returned, they ate the cookies, and Matts was visibly excited to see them lying unconscious all around the house. Just when he was about to force himself on Jessie, the Smiths revealed their little secret—they were a family of serial killers. Remember the little ‘ketchup’ stain on Robert’s shirt before they hopped on the ferry? Well, it’s safe to assume it wasn’t the ketchup, and he was responsible for the deaths of the diner owners.
Robert, Susan, Jessie, and her brother Sam repeatedly stabbed Matts, and his body was dismembered. They had been waiting for Karantan to finally reveal their true colors. We don’t know if Susan’s ancestor was one of the Englishmen who had raided the locals two hundred years ago, but they surely were fascinated by the history and wanted to repeat the massacre unleashed upon the locals by the outsiders. The Smiths started killing people at random, and panic started to spread all over the island. The locals had no way to escape; history was repeating itself. Klara was not afraid of facing the crisis. She refused to acknowledge that the people of her community were in danger and they needed to call for help. She was still hopeful about killing the English family and consuming them to pay her respects to her ancestors. The locals were not entirely sure who was behind the massacre; the Smiths pretended to be innocent and blamed the killings on Johan. Apart from attacking and killing at random, the Smiths also adopted the technique of winning the trust of the people they targeted before killing them.
What happened to the Smith family?
While it seemed the Smith family was a unit, we gradually discovered that it was partly pretense. Robert and Susan were a loving couple in reality as well; the fact that they discussed how the smell of burnt human corpses reminded them of their honeymoon suggested that they had been working together for quite some time. Perhaps as a couple they often raised suspicion, whereas they were never a suspect when they pretended to be a family. Jessie and Sam joined the duo to satisfy their thirst for blood. Killing as a group was easier than hunting individually. Sam and Robert were mostly not on the same page, and they had their fair share of conflicts.
During Get Away’s ending, Robert had enough and stabbed Sam in the neck, killing him almost instantly. Susan and Jessie begged him to discuss his intentions before taking action, and they dreaded going through the process of finding another serial killer to pose as their son/brother. The three lunatics decided to kill the last remaining people on the island. Klara and Sven had taken shelter in Matts’ Airbnb, and the three psycho criminals decided to win their sympathy before mercilessly killing them. They had discovered a secret passage in Matts’ cabin to enter the house; that explained the noises Jessie heard. Jessie entered the house through the front door crying and begging Klara and Sven to believe that Matts had killed her brother and father and devoured them. Klara was visibly offended that Matts had executed the plan without her. Sven decided to check the rooms to decide if Jessie was telling the truth. He discovered Matts’ mutilated body in one of the rooms. He found Robert lying in the room next door begging him to help. When he tried to help, Robert stabbed him in the neck, but before he died, Sven shot him, blowing off his hand. Klara finally realized that it was the English family who had killed everyone on the island, and she decided to seek revenge on behalf of her community. As soon as she grabbed a knife, ready to kill her enemy, Detective Forsberg shot her. Seeing the scene from a distance, he had assumed Klara was responsible for the massacre. She was extremely passionate about the festival, and he assumed her desire to kill outsiders might have resulted in the massacre. The police assisted Robert, Susan, and Jessie, assuming that they were the victims, and helped them leave the island in a speedboat.
In Get Away’s ending, Jessie exclaimed it was the best vacation she had ever spent, and together they stated that a family that slayed together stayed together. Since this is a comedy film, even though Jessie was shot in the stomach and Robert had suffered quite a lot of injuries, it did not impact their health. Meanwhile, the police shot Johan when they saw him at the harbor. They were under the assumption that Johan too was involved in the killing. He was the only member of the community who had survived the night, but unfortunately, he was misunderstood. That night was presumably the end of the Svälta community; on the day of Karantan, history repeated itself, though this time there seems to be no survivors. The Smiths will probably hire a young man to become a part of their family, and they will continue with their adventures. The goofy, typical family will continue to fool the authorities; after all, they’ve cracked the code. Serial killers are seen as introverted individuals operating on their own. But by teaming up and pretending to be just another family, they’ve managed to mix in with the crowd without raising any suspicion.
Related
In a new book, James Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chair of the powerful US House oversight committee, claims that in a private conversation the Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward told him “everyone in DC knew” Joe Biden was financially corrupt.“Woodward explained that everyone in DC knew that Joe allowed his family to sell access to him, but as far as he was aware, that was not illegal,” Comer writes. “He added that it should be, but it wasn’t. ‘You will have to prove all of Joe Biden’s wrongdoing,’ he said, ‘and you will likely not be able to do that.’”Comer’s investigation of the Bidens might end up “bigger than Watergate”, Woodward reportedly added, though he also cautioned it could be “a big nothing burger” too.Now 81, Woodward is the author of numerous bestsellers about presidents and politics. The legendary journalist is famously well-connected and tight-lipped about the interviews and sourcing that produce his scoop-laden books. His career has been built on a scrupulously nonpartisan approach to reporting on presidents and their high-powered peers, and Comer’s recounting of an off-the-record conversation with Woodward presents a potentially rare glimpse into his work.Woodward did not respond to a request for comment about Comer’s claims about his remarks about Biden.In the last Congress, Comer mounted investigations of the president, his surviving son, Hunter Biden, and other family members, seeking to prove longstanding rightwing claims of financial impropriety linked to foreign governments which the Bidens fiercely deny and which Republicans often mix with wild conspiracy theories.Unable to prove wrongdoing, Comer’s work fizzled publicly, not least when a key Republican witness, the law professor Jonathan Turley, told a much-hyped hearing evidence against Joe Biden did not meet the threshold for impeachment and removal.Nonetheless, allegations of corruption involving the Bidens remain controversial. Hunter Biden was eventually convicted on criminal charges relating to taxation and guns. Last month, to widespread uproar, his father gave him a pardon.Biden will soon cede the White House to Donald Trump but Comer will hope to keep controversy bubbling with his book, in which he repeats a torrent of unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories and skirts over embarrassing missteps. All the President’s Money: Investigating the Secret Foreign Schemes That Made the Biden Family Rich, will be published next week. The Guardian obtained a copy.Indicating Woodward’s stature in Washington, Comer’s title is a tribute to All the President’s Men, the book Woodward wrote with his reporting partner, Carl Bernstein, recounting their work to expose the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixon in 1974 and which became a hit film starring Robert Redford as Woodward and Dustin Hoffman as Bernstein.In his own book, Comer writes that in early February 2023, he “managed to have dinner with Bob Woodward”, who “had credibility in a town full of journalists with absolutely zero credibility”.Comer says Bob Costa of CBS also attended the “quiet homemade dinner prepared by Woodward’s wife”, because the two reporters were “doing a book on Joe Biden’s presidency and wanted to interview me because they thought my investigation might have an impact”.Costa co-wrote Peril, Woodward’s third book on Trump’s presidency, published in September 2021.Comer says he gave Woodward and Costa their interview, “then asked Woodward what he thought about my investigation. He replied that he thought Biden had obviously worked the system his entire political career, and that his son and both brothers had a troubled financial history. He predicted that my investigation ‘would either be bigger than Watergate or it would end up being a big nothing burger’.“The receipts had to show the money flowed all the way to the top.”skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionComer says Woodward then made his claim “that everyone in DC knew that Joe allowed his family to sell access to him”.Comer says he told Woodward and Costa he planned to subpoena “all of the Biden characters’ bank accounts”, only for Woodward to tell him Biden’s lawyers would never allow it. “Costas [sic] piped in,” Comer adds, “and said that everyone knew Joe Biden had always been cash-strapped and always tried to live beyond his means”, but the whole family was “very good ‘at covering its tracks’”.Describing the supposedly private conversation, Comer also claims Woodward boasted about Watergate (“He proudly declared that he solved the Watergate crime, not the senators. They just copied and pasted his work”) and disparaged “today’s reporters” for having no sources “outside of politicians and political operatives”.Comer’s disdain for the press is evident throughout his book. So is vituperative abuse of fellow members of Congress. Fellow Republicans do not escape his wrath but he saves particular venom for a senior Democrat, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who as the ranking member of the House oversight committee worked closely with Comer, the two men often presenting at least an appearance of good humor before the press.A professor of constitutional law, Raskin was a member of the House January 6 committee and lead manager in Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial, over the Capitol attack. Widely respected, the author of his own bestselling book, he is now the ranking Democrat on the judiciary committee.As described in print by Comer, Raskin has a “warped partisan mind”; is “arrogant, usually dishonest”; is a “goon” and a “hoodlum”; talks to the press “with his trademark chest bowed out and head cocked back (much like what we of the Appalachian foothills call a banty rooster)”; and was guilty of telling “bald-faced lies” about an FBI document detailing a claim of wrongdoing at issue during Comer’s Biden investigations.A spokesperson for Raskin did not respond to a request for comment.
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Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have recently achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of next-generation carbon-based quantum materials, opening new horizons for advancements in quantum electronics.The innovation involves a novel type of graphene nanoribbon (GNR), named Janus GNR (JGNR). The material has a unique zigzag edge, with a special ferromagnetic edge state located on one of the edges. This unique design enables the realisation of one-dimensional ferromagnetic spin chain, which could have important applications in quantum electronics and quantum computing.The research was led by Associate Professor Lu Jiong and his team from the NUS Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with international partners.Graphene nanoribbons, which are narrow strips of nanoscale honeycomb carbon structures, exhibit remarkable magnetic properties due to the behaviour of unpaired electrons in the atoms’ π-orbitals. Through atomically precise engineering of their edge structures into a zigzag arrangement, a one-dimensional spin-polarised channel can be constructed. This feature offers immense potential for applications in spintronic devices or serving as next-generation multi-qubit systems which are the fundamental building blocks of quantum computing.Janus, the ancient Roman god of beginnings and endings, is often depicted as having two faces pointing in opposite directions representing the past and the future. The term “Janus” has been applied in materials science to describe materials that have different properties on opposite sides. JGNR has a novel structure with only one edge of the ribbon having a zigzag form, making it the world’s first one-dimensional ferromagnetic carbon chain. This design is achieved by employing a Z-shaped precursor design which introduces a periodic array of hexagon carbon rings on one of the zigzag edges, breaking the structural and spin symmetry of the ribbon.Want more breaking news?Subscribe to Technology Networks’ daily newsletter, delivering breaking science news straight to your inbox every day.Subscribe for FREEAssoc Prof Lu said, “Magnetic graphene nanoribbons – narrow strips of graphene formed by fused benzene rings – offers tremendous potential for quantum technologies due to their long spin coherence times and the potential to operate at room temperature. Creating a one-dimensional single zigzag edge in such systems is a daunting yet essential task for realising the bottom-up assembly of multiple spin qubits for quantum technologies.”The significant achievement is a result of close collaboration among synthetic chemists, materials scientists, and theoretical physicists, including Professor Steven G Louie from UC Berkeley in the United States, Professor Hiroshi Sakaguchi from Kyoto University in Japan and other contributing authors.The research breakthrough was published in the scientific journal Nature on 9 January 2025.Creating the Janus graphene nanoribbonsTo produce the JGNR, the researchers initially designed and synthesised a series of special ‘Z-shape’ molecular precursors via conventional in-solution chemistry. These precursors were then used for subsequent on-surface synthesis, which is a new type of solid-phase chemical reaction performed in an ultra-clean environment. This approach allowed the researchers to precisely control the shape and structure of the graphene nanoribbons at the atomic level.The ‘Z-shape’ design allows for the asymmetric fabrication by independently modifying one of the two branches, thereby creating a desired ‘defective’ edge, while maintaining the other zigzag edge unchanged. Moreover, adjusting the length of the modified branch enables the modulation of the width of the JGNRs. Characterisation via state-of-art scanning probe microscopy/spectroscopy and first-principles density functional theory confirms the successful fabrication of JGNRs with ferromagnetic ground state exclusively localised along the single zigzag edge.“The rational design and on-surface synthesis of a novel class of JGNR represent a conceptual and experimental breakthrough for realising one-dimensional ferromagnetic chain. Creating such JGNRs not only expands the possibilities for precise engineering of exotic quantum magnetism and enables the assembly of robust spin arrays as new-generation qubits. Furthermore, it enables the fabrication of one-dimensional spin-polarised transport channels with tunable bandgaps, which could advance carbon-based spintronics at the one-dimensional limit,” added Assoc Prof Lu.Reference: Song S, Teng Y, Tang W, et al. Janus graphene nanoribbons with localized states on a single zigzag edge. Nature. 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08296-xThis article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.
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A new year is the perfect time to shake off the old and prepare for success in the first quarter. Still, a strong start for your business goes beyond writing down new goals — it demands making strategic moves that make an impact.
“Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just launching your startup, getting a head start in Q1 can set the tone for the year,” emphasized Francesco Gatti, CEO of Opensend, the company winning the battle of Opensend vs. Retention. “The trick is knowing how to make a plan without getting lost in the details.”Interested in discovering more? This article has you covered. Read on to learn seven ways you can position your business for an epic year ahead.
Why Is Q1 Important?
Q1 marks the beginning of the calendar and fiscal years, making it an important period for businesses to set a clear direction. It’s a time to evaluate past performance, outline new objectives, and implement strategies that align with annual goals. This early momentum can influence results for the entire year.
“As the first quarter of the new fiscal year unfolds, it’s crucial for companies, regardless of their size or sector, to set clear, achievable goals. This period is not just about getting a strong start; it’s about laying the groundwork for year-long success,” said Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato from Zama.
Q1 gives businesses the chance to establish a solid foundation. With the right focus, companies can build momentum that supports sustainable growth and a successful year ahead.
What Happens if Businesses Aren’t Set Up for Q1 Success?
Starting the year without a strong Q1 plan can mean a lot of lost ground. Instead of hitting goals, companies may find themselves scrambling to keep up with the competition, adjusting plans that should already be in motion.
“A slow start can throw off your rhythm for the entire year, adding stress to teams and putting extra pressure on resources,” pointed out Bob Craycraft, CEO of Cadence. “It can also give competitors a head start, leaving you to fight for space in the market that could have been yours from the beginning.”
We touched on how preparing well for Q1 sets the stage for a smooth, productive year. In addition, businesses risk missing out on early momentum that drives growth without setting up for Q1 success, making it harder to achieve large goals down the line.
How Can Your Business Optimize Q1?
Ready to kick off Q1 with confidence? Here are seven strategies that can give your business the momentum to start strong and stay on track throughout the year.
1. Set Clear, Achievable Goals
By defining clear targets, businesses provide a roadmap for the quarter, helping each team member understand priorities and stay motivated as they work toward common objectives. Without this structure, losing focus is easy, especially with new projects or unexpected changes.
“Establishing goals at the beginning of the quarter creates direction and purpose. It’s not just about what needs to get done but why each goal matters to the bigger picture,” said Emily Greenfield, Director of Ecommerce at Mac Duggal, a company known for their mother of the bride dresses.
To set effective goals, break larger objectives into manageable steps, and assign measurable outcomes. Aim for goals that challenge the team but are realistic enough to achieve within the quarter. Regularly revisiting these goals in team meetings helps keep everyone aligned and aware of progress.
2. Review Last Year’s Performance
Reflecting on last year’s wins and challenges is key to hitting the ground running this quarter. Looking back at what worked (and what didn’t) gives a solid foundation to build on for Q1. This step helps you pinpoint areas that need improvement and shows you where to double down on strategies that brought success.
“Reviewing last year’s results is a valuable step in the process,” noted Leah Francis, Head of Growth at Postable, a company that specializes in holiday cards. “It gives you a chance to learn from experience and move forward with a sharper focus.”
To start, gather data on last year’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and sit down with your team to review it together. Identify the tactics that brought good results and where you might want to tweak things. With these insights, you’ll have a clearer picture of what to focus on for a successful Q1.
3. Align Your Team
Starting Q1 with a well-aligned team can make everything run smoother. A quick kickoff meeting or a relaxed workshop can help everyone clarify their roles and feel excited about the goals ahead.
“Having clarity from day one boosts confidence and accountability,” suggested Kit Ng, General Manager of RedWolf Airsoft, a company that specializes in airsoft guns. “It really helps people see how their work fits into the bigger picture.”
A straightforward approach works best: Outline each person’s responsibilities and discuss how their roles relate to the team’s goals. This clarity fuels motivation and keeps everyone on the right track.
4. Prioritize Cash Flow Management
Staying on top of cash flow from the beginning of Q1 helps avoid financial stress later. When you have a clear picture of your budget, you can focus on growing the business without worrying about unexpected cash shortages.
“Managing cash flow right at the start can make a big difference,” shared George Fraguio, Vice President of Bridge Lending at Vaster. “It gives you the flexibility to adapt to changes without the added stress.”
Map out your expected expenses and revenue for the quarter, then set a realistic budget that covers your essentials and includes a cushion for any surprises. Regular check-ins on cash flow can help you stay on track and adjust as needed.
5. Optimize Marketing Efforts
Q1 is a great time to revisit your marketing plan. Review your current strategies and decide where to focus your energy for the best returns. You can zero in on campaigns that resonate with your audience and promise a strong ROI. The idea is to make every dollar count early in the year.
“Investing in the right marketing efforts from the start can boost brand visibility and drive meaningful results,” emphasized Greg Hannley, Founder and CEO of Soba Mesa. “You want to reach the right people with messages that click with them.”
To kick off, review past campaigns to see what worked well and what didn’t. Then, focus your Q1 marketing on the channels and messages that bring in the best engagement. A targeted approach now can set a strong pace for the coming months.
6. Strengthen Customer Relationships
Touching base with your key clients and customers early in the year can really help strengthen your ties. A simple check-in or a thank-you can show them they matter to you, and that can keep them sticking around.
“Kicking off the year by just saying ‘Hi’ to your customers can make them feel special. It’s the little things that keep them connected,” pointed out Titania Jordan, CMO of Bark Technologies, a company known for their safer kids GPS watch, the Bark Watch.
Try sending a personalized message or asking for their input on how you can serve them better. These small steps can make a big difference in keeping your business in their thoughts and encouraging a lasting relationship.
7. Encourage Continuous Improvement
Focusing on continuous improvement can lift your team’s performance. Encouraging a mindset of learning and adapting helps everyone stay sharp and ready for whatever Q1 brings.
“Continuous improvement helps organizations identify and eliminate wasteful practices, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies. By streamlining workflows, optimizing resources, and reducing cycle times, organizations can significantly improve their efficiency and productivity, leading to cost savings and increased output,” explained Claudio Gutierrez from Valens Project Consulting.
Get your team involved in finding better ways to work. Both small tweaks and bigger process changes can help your business. Invite feedback and encourage fresh ideas to keep things moving forward. This way, you’re always evolving, ready to keep pace, and set up for a productive year.
Challenges to Steer Clear Of
With these strategies to set your business up for success in mind, it’s also important to be aware of some common pitfalls. Even the best plans can get sidetracked if you don’t keep an eye on potential obstacles that can slow down progress or derail your focus.
Always double-check your progress against your goals, make it a point to seek feedback regularly, and be willing to pivot quickly if something isn’t working. Staying flexible and responsive can help you avoid common pitfalls that might otherwise hinder your Q1 success.
Ready to Start the Year Off Right?
By focusing on the strategies above, you can set a strong pace for the entire year.
“Whether you’re just starting out or running a well-established company, actively planning for Q1 can take your business from good to great,” said Chyngyz Dzhumanazarov, CEO of Kodif, a company that provides empathetic AI customer service automation.
Dive into these approaches, tweak them to fit your needs, and push ahead. With careful planning and real drive, you’re well on your way to a standout year.
From Delco to Chesco and Montco to Bucks, what about life in Philly’s suburbs do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know! The Denmark-based Human Library — that’s “Menneskebiblioteket” in Danish — has traveled around the world since 2000, fostering conversations between people who might not normally interact. Now, 80 countries later, the…