February 10, 2025 - ZoomHoot - The Important Information You Need

10 Feb

Cold Email Outreach 101: Boost Leads and Traffic Effectively at Scale

Marketing and Sales

Cold email outreach is a strategy used by businesses to generate leads and traffic by sending unsolicited emails to potential customers. Unlike spam, effective cold emails are targeted, valuable, and reasonable, ensuring they reach the right audience without overwhelming them. To succeed, businesses should build a relevant prospect list, ensure their emails land in inboxes rather than spam folders, respond promptly to replies, and continuously improve their value offerings. This approach leverages the scalability of cold emailing while maintaining quality to foster engagement and drive revenue. ------------------------------------- Most businesses are in near-constant pursuit of more leads and traffic—the main…

10 Feb

UK shoppers influenced by health food trends boost retail sales

Health

In January, credit and debit card spending rose by 1.9% year-on-year, marking the highest increase since March 2024, according to Barclays. The surge in retail sales was driven by shoppers influenced by health food trends on social media, providing relief to high-street stores following a challenging festive season. ------------------------------ Shoppers inspired by health food trends on social media helped lift retail sales in January, easing pressure on high-street stores after a gloomy festive period. Barclays said credit and debit card spending grew 1.9% year on year in January – the highest upsurge since March 2024. The turnaround came after…

10 Feb

Who are the top users of AI? The Anthropic Economic Index provides detailed insights

Automation

A new report from Anthropic, the AI startup behind Claude, reveals how AI is being integrated into various industries. The Anthropic Economic Index analyzes millions of anonymized interactions with Claude, highlighting that while AI is not fully automating jobs, it significantly augments specific tasks, particularly in software development and technical writing. The study shows that 57% of AI usage involves collaboration, assisting workers with tasks like brainstorming and refining ideas, while 43% pertains to direct automation. Notably, only about 4% of occupations utilize AI for 75% of their tasks, indicating that AI is enhancing rather than replacing job roles. ---------------------------------------------…

10 Feb

Beer industry in decline as craft breweries face higher costs

Small business

For the first time, more craft beer breweries are shutting down than opening up. Breweries and taprooms are dealing with rising supply costs while demand for beer is slipping, according to the Brewers Association. Bart Watson is the president and chief executive officer of the Brewers Association. Watson said things got worse for many craft breweries during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The pandemic obviously also had secondary ripples for the economy, for supply chains and it changed consumer patterns overall. We are seeing people certainly spend as much at bars and restaurants as they did before, but they are doing…

10 Feb

Fifteenth Secures $8.25 Million in Seed Funding to Fuel Growth

Funding

30-Second Reading Summary: Fifteenth, a tax solution for tech professionals, has raised $8.25 million in seed funding led by A* and General Catalyst. The platform automates tax preparation, offering AI-driven support and integrations with major enterprise and fintech services. Customers save an average of $10,000 to $20,000, with some achieving six-figure reductions. Founded by Ankur Dahiya and Laura Moreno, Fifteenth aims to simplify tax filing and enhance compliance for complex financial situations. Key Words: tax solution, funding, automation, tech professionals, AI-powered -------------------------------- Fifteenth, a tax solution designed to simplify complex financial reporting for tech professionals, has secured $8.25 million in…

10 Feb

Essential Self-Care Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs to Boost Well-Being and Productivity

Staffing & HR

Female entrepreneurs often struggle to prioritize self-care amidst their busy schedules. Redefining self-care as sustainable habits rather than luxury experiences is essential. Practical strategies include creating micro-moments of self-care, meal prepping for efficiency, and maintaining an emergency snack kit. Staying active through short bursts of exercise can also boost energy levels. By integrating these habits into daily routines, women can enhance their well-being and productivity without overwhelming their schedules. --------------------------------------- As a female entrepreneur, your days often feel like you're juggling flaming torches while walking a tightrope. Between client meetings, team management, financial planning, and possibly family responsibilities, taking care…

10 Feb

Home Prices Continue to Rise in 89 Percent of U.S. Metros in Late 2024

Real Estate

WPJ News Center According to the National Association of Realtors' latest quarterly report, 89% of U.S. metro markets (201 out of 226) saw home price increases in the fourth quarter of 2024. During this period, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate ranged from 6.12% to 6.85%. Notably, 14% of tracked metro areas reported double-digit price gains, up from 7% in the previous quarter. Lawrence Yun "Record-high home prices and the accompanying wealth gains are great for property owners," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "However, renters aiming to become homeowners face significant challenges." Compared to the same period a year ago,…