Richard

If you’ve ever wondered how some websites consistently appear at the top of search results while others don’t, you’re not alone. SEO has evolved beyond just keywords and backlinks. Today, structured data is helping businesses climb the search rankings by making it easier for search engines to understand exactly what each webpage offers.

Think of structured data as a map for search engines — guiding them to key information on your site. This data can help your site appear in rich search results: those enhanced snippets that show extra details, like product prices, ratings or event dates. Structured data has become essential for any business looking to improve its online presence.

Related: Stop Relying on AI SEO Tools — These 5 Secrets Will Help You Rank #1 on Google Search

What is structured data — and why do AI search engines need it?

Structured data organizes content on your website so that search engines like Google can read it clearly. As AI-driven search engines evolve, they increasingly rely on structured data to understand content context, not just individual words. Structured data lets you tell search engines exactly what your page is about so it can better match people’s searches.

If you’re still focusing only on keywords, you may miss out on appearing in these enhanced, informative snippets. Structured data provides context to your content, improving your chances of appearing with rich visuals and details.

Key structured data types every business should know

Businesses can use different types of structured data to improve SEO and attract targeted audiences. Here’s how structured data can highlight what’s unique about your content:

Product schema

If you sell products, product schema helps search engines display details like product names, prices, reviews and availability, making it more likely for searchers to click on your page.

Article schema

For businesses with blogs, news or regular updates, article schema displays titles, publication dates, authors and images directly in search results, driving clicks from users looking for relevant and fresh content.

Organization schema

Service providers or local businesses can use an organization schema to showcase essential information such as the business name, address, contact details and social media links, helping them connect with local customers.

Recipe schema

Websites that share recipes can display ingredients, cooking times, and nutritional information directly in search results, making content instantly valuable for users and enhancing visibility.

Each type of structured data gives search engines a clearer picture of your content, helping it reach the right audience at the right time.

How to get started with structured data

Implementing structured data doesn’t require a full site overhaul. Free tools make it easy, even for beginners.

First, identify the types of structured data that match your business goals. For example, if you run an online store, product schema can showcase details like price and availability, while article schema is ideal for blogs, highlighting titles and publication dates. Choose the structured data type that best enhances your website’s value for visitors and helps search engines interpret your content accurately.

Once you’ve chosen the right structured data, Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper can simplify the implementation process, even if you’re not tech-savvy. This tool allows you to tag key content elements, like product names or article headings, without any coding. Follow Google’s step-by-step guide to select and apply tags, and Google will generate the necessary code for you.

After setting up your structured data, testing it with Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool is a critical step. This tool checks for errors so you can fix issues before they impact visibility.

Finally, monitor your structured data’s performance through Google Search Console, which provides insights on traffic, click-through rates, and keyword performance. Reviewing this data regularly helps you adjust your strategy and maximize visibility.

The advantages of structured data for long-term SEO success

Structured data is a powerful tool for improving both visibility and engagement by helping search engines understand your content more clearly, making it likely to appear in an appealing format in search results.

• Higher click-through rates: Enhanced snippets, such as product details or article highlights, make your listings more appealing. When users see relevant information directly in search results, they’re more inclined to click on your site.
• Improved user experience: Structured data helps visitors find what they need quickly. When users see tailored information in search results and easily locate it on your site, they’re more likely to stay longer and return, signaling quality to search engines.
• Audience insights: By monitoring structured data, you’ll gain insights into what users search for and click on most. This will allow you to refine your content strategy and focus on topics that resonate with your audience.

Structured data also strengthens your SEO in the long term. As search engines continue to rely on structured data for ranking, websites with well-organized information will likely have a competitive edge, ensuring sustained visibility in search results.

Related: AI Is Even Taking Over How We Search Online — Here’s How to Climb the SEO Ranks and Beat the Competition

The growing role of structured data in AI-driven search

AI-powered search engines are evolving fast, making structured data increasingly valuable. As AI helps search engines answer questions directly and better understand context, structured data provides the roadmap they need to interpret your site accurately.

Using structured data effectively ensures that AI-driven search engines understand your content’s purpose, increasing the chances of it being served to the right audience. As AI shapes the way people search, structured data will be essential for helping businesses connect with customers.

Final thoughts

Structured data may seem like a small addition, but it’s a powerful way to improve SEO in today’s competitive landscape. As search engines grow more sophisticated, structured data gives them the context they need to display your content effectively.

For businesses aiming to boost search rankings and reach more customers, structured data is a smart, simple addition that can make a significant difference. By making your content easier for search engines to understand, you’re ensuring that your website remains relevant, engaging, and accessible.

If you take the time to implement structured data, you’ll likely see improved visibility and engagement, which will help your business thrive in the digital world.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming regulated industries like healthcare, finance and legal services, but navigating these changes requires a careful balance between innovation and compliance.

In healthcare, for example, AI-powered diagnostic tools are enhancing outcomes by improving breast cancer detection rates by 9.4% compared to human radiologists, as highlighted in a study published in JAMA. Meanwhile, financial institutions such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia are using AI to reduce scam-related losses by 50%, demonstrating the financial impact of AI. Even in the traditionally conservative legal field, AI is revolutionizing document review and case prediction, enabling legal teams to work faster and more efficiently, according to a Thomson Reuters report.

However, introducing AI into regulated sectors comes with significant challenges. For product managers leading AI development, the stakes are high: Success requires a strategic focus on compliance, risk management and ethical innovation.

Related: Balancing AI Innovation with Ethical Oversight

Why compliance is non-negotiable

Regulated industries operate within stringent legal frameworks designed to protect consumer data, ensure fairness and promote transparency. Whether dealing with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in healthcare, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in finance, companies must integrate compliance into their product development processes.

This is especially true for AI systems. Regulations like HIPAA and GDPR not only restrict how data can be collected and used but also require explainability — meaning AI systems must be transparent and their decision-making processes understandable. These requirements are particularly challenging in industries where AI models rely on complex algorithms. Updates to HIPAA, including provisions addressing AI in healthcare, now set specific compliance deadlines, such as the one scheduled for December 23, 2024.

International regulations add another layer of complexity. The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, effective August 2024, classifies AI applications by risk levels, imposing stricter requirements on high-risk systems like those used in critical infrastructure, finance and healthcare. Product managers must adopt a global perspective, ensuring compliance with local laws while anticipating changes in international regulatory landscapes.

The ethical dilemma: Transparency and bias

For AI to thrive in regulated sectors, ethical concerns must also be addressed. AI models, particularly those trained on large datasets, are vulnerable to bias. As the American Bar Association notes, unchecked bias can lead to discriminatory outcomes, such as denying loans to specific demographics or misdiagnosing patients based on flawed data patterns.

Another critical issue is explainability. AI systems often function as “black boxes,” producing results that are difficult to interpret. While this may suffice in less regulated industries, it’s unacceptable in sectors like healthcare and finance, where understanding how decisions are made is critical. Transparency isn’t just an ethical consideration — it’s also a regulatory mandate.

Failure to address these issues can result in severe consequences. Under GDPR, for example, non-compliance can lead to fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue. Companies like Apple have already faced scrutiny for algorithmic bias. A Bloomberg investigation revealed that the Apple Card’s credit decision-making process unfairly disadvantaged women, leading to public backlash and regulatory investigations.

Related: AI Isn’t Evil — But Entrepreneurs Need to Keep Ethics in Mind As They Implement It

How product managers can lead the charge

In this complex environment, product managers are uniquely positioned to ensure AI systems are not only innovative but also compliant and ethical. Here’s how they can achieve this:

1. Make compliance a priority from day one

Engage legal, compliance and risk management teams early in the product lifecycle. Collaborating with regulatory experts ensures that AI development aligns with local and international laws from the outset. Product managers can also work with organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to adopt frameworks that prioritize compliance without stifling innovation.

2. Design for transparency

Building explainability into AI systems should be non-negotiable. Techniques such as simplified algorithmic design, model-agnostic explanations and user-friendly reporting tools can make AI outputs more interpretable. In sectors like healthcare, these features can directly improve trust and adoption rates.

3. Anticipate and mitigate risks

Use risk management tools to proactively identify vulnerabilities, whether they stem from biased training data, inadequate testing or compliance gaps. Regular audits and ongoing performance reviews can help detect issues early, minimizing the risk of regulatory penalties.

4. Foster cross-functional collaboration

AI development in regulated industries demands input from diverse stakeholders. Cross-functional teams, including engineers, legal advisors and ethical oversight committees, can provide the expertise needed to address challenges comprehensively.

5. Stay ahead of regulatory trends

As global regulations evolve, product managers must stay informed. Subscribing to updates from regulatory bodies, attending industry conferences and fostering relationships with policymakers can help teams anticipate changes and prepare accordingly.

Lessons from the field

Success stories and cautionary tales alike underscore the importance of integrating compliance into AI development. At JPMorgan Chase, the deployment of its AI-powered Contract Intelligence (COIN) platform highlights how compliance-first strategies can deliver significant results. By involving legal teams at every stage and building explainable AI systems, the company improved operational efficiency without sacrificing compliance, as detailed in a Business Insider report.

In contrast, the Apple Card controversy demonstrates the risks of neglecting ethical considerations. The backlash against its gender-biased algorithms not only damaged Apple’s reputation but also attracted regulatory scrutiny, as reported by Bloomberg.

These cases illustrate the dual role of product managers — driving innovation while safeguarding compliance and trust.

Related: Avoid AI Disasters and Earn Trust — 8 Strategies for Ethical and Responsible AI

The road ahead

As the regulatory landscape for AI continues to evolve, product managers must be prepared to adapt. Recent legislative developments, like the EU AI Act and updates to HIPAA, highlight the growing complexity of compliance requirements. But with the right strategies — early stakeholder engagement, transparency-focused design and proactive risk management — AI solutions can thrive even in the most tightly regulated environments.

AI’s potential in industries like healthcare, finance and legal services is vast. By balancing innovation with compliance, product managers can ensure that AI not only meets technical and business objectives but also sets a standard for ethical and responsible development. In doing so, they’re not just creating better products — they’re shaping the future of regulated industries.

What if the next wave of entrepreneurs didn’t come from Silicon Valley — but from places you’ve never heard of?

AI is tearing down the barriers that once limited innovation, creating a world where anyone, anywhere, can be the next big entrepreneur. I’ve seen it happening already — in cities, villages, and unexpected corners of the globe — and it’s nothing short of extraordinary. This isn’t about billion-dollar venture capital funds or tech giants; it’s about the untapped potential of everyday people armed with powerful tools.

We’ve talked about innovation being democratized for years, but now, it’s finally real.

The era of internet and computing democratized information, connected the world and gave rise to the digital-first economy. But I feel it’s yesterday’s news. AI is changing who gets to innovate and where the most exciting businesses of the future will come from.

Related: The Next Startup to Become a Billion-Dollar Company Probably Isn’t in Silicon Valley

AI: The next chapter in the story of human innovation

As I share in my innovation keynote presentations, every industrial revolution has reshaped entrepreneurship — and shifted the global geography of innovation.

• The First Industrial Revolution moved power to Britain, as steam and mechanization transformed production and scaled industries.

• The Second Industrial Revolution elevated the United States and Germany, where electricity and mass production redefined speed and affordability.

• The Third Industrial Revolution saw the rise of Japan and South Korea, as computers and automation revolutionized how businesses operated.

• The Fourth Industrial Revolution created the digital-first global economy, expanding Silicon Valley influence and connecting billions of people and businesses in ways that were previously unimaginable.

Now, we are at the dawn of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, driven by AI, and the shift is further global. What makes this revolution different is its ability to democratize intelligence and innovation itself. AI isn’t just a tool for big corporations — it’s empowering individuals in every corner of the world.

I’ve seen entrepreneurs use AI to accomplish what would have been impossible even months ago. A single person can now design, prototype and market a product globally from their laptop, collaborating with virtual teams powered by AI to streamline processes with unprecedented speed. With AI breaking language barriers and predictive analytics enabling sharper pivots, entrepreneurs are no longer bound by their local contexts. The multiplier effect of AI amplifies every decision, making innovation scalable like never before.

This isn’t just another technological leap — it’s a redefinition of how we build organizations, solve problems and create value.

Agentic AI: The game-changer we need to pay attention to

Agentic AI that is emerging now will take this change even further, and we’d better pay attention. Imagine entrepreneurs with entire virtual teams powered by agentic AI — working around the clock, across borders, breaking barriers of time and geography. I believe agentic AI isn’t just about working faster or smarter; it’s about something bigger. It will help entrepreneurs make decisions and scale in unprecedented ways, enabling them to compete with larger, more established players.

Related: What You Need to Know About ‘AI Agents’ and Why We Are One Step Closer to The Jetsons

The global shift: Where entrepreneurship is thriving

Here’s the most exciting part: The Fifth Industrial Revolution isn’t just happening in historically dominant regions — it’s emerging in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia and other places once overlooked. These regions often face more pressing problems and resource constraints, which fuel creativity and lead to transformative solutions.

I’ve seen it firsthand. Entrepreneurs in Mexico City are using AI to solve local healthcare challenges. Startups in Peru are innovating in logistics and ecommerce with AI tools that were once out of reach. In Morocco, founders are using generative AI to tackle education gaps. And the list goes on.

But here’s the thing: None of this happens on its own. AI is a powerful tool, but its impact depends on how we use it. The entrepreneurs who succeed in the Fifth Industrial Revolution will be those who take bold, strategic action to embrace this change.

How to lead in the Fifth Industrial Revolution

1. Think globally, act boldly: AI erases geographic barriers. Use it to connect with customers, partners and markets far beyond your local network. The best opportunities might be on the other side of the world.

2. Get ready for agentic AI: Don’t just automate tasks — use AI to identify opportunities, predict trends and make smarter decisions. Let AI be more than a tool; let it be your partner in innovation.

3. Ask “should” before “can:” Not every idea needs to become reality. Solve problems that matter, not just ones that are possible. Focus on creating value for your customers and your community.

4. Launch fast, iterate faster: AI rewards speed. Prototype, test, and adapt in real time. The market is your best teacher — listen and evolve with it.

5. Invest in skills and networks: Entrepreneurs who understand AI’s potential will lead the way. Upskill yourself and your team, and build connections in regions where innovation is thriving. The future belongs to those who are constantly learning.

Related: 6 Ways AI Is Revolutionizing Startup Ecosystems

The next wave of innovation won’t be defined by geography, capital or connections; it’ll be defined by ideas. AI is making the extraordinary accessible, the impossible achievable and the local global. The question isn’t whether you’re ready for this revolution — it’s whether you’re ready to lead it.

‘Tis the season to start a side hustle. Many Americans are eager to earn some extra cash ahead of an anticipated holiday spend of $1,778, an 8% increase over last year, according to Deloitte’s 2024 holiday retail survey.

Although not quite seasonal, online freelance work is the most popular side hustle to offset holiday-related expenses, SideHustles.com revealed last month.

Related: More Than 75% of Americans Have Side Hustles During the Holidays — Here Are the Most Popular Gigs This Season

However, for those who want to take advantage of some winter-specific side gigs with lucrative potential, SideHustles.com compiled a list of the best-paying opportunities.

Side hustlers dwelling in snowy regions can cash in on the No. 1 gig: snow removal and shoveling. The work might require purchasing a snow blower or heavy duty shovel, but with a relatively high earning potential of $25 to $75 per hour, it might be worth the investment.

The next three winter side hustles with the best earning potential put a seasonal spin on year-round classics: winter event photography, winter sports instruction and winter-themed digital design, all of which typically offer anywhere from $20 to $50 an hour.

Related: How to Start a Side Hustle With Facebook, From 4 People Who Did It and Are Earning More Than $1 Million a Year

A gift-wrapping side hustle can also bring in some serious cash, with the potential to earn $20 to $40 per hour.

Last month, Entrepreneur sat down with Nifty Package Co. founder Michelle Hensley, who successfully turned her gift-basket side hustle into a full-fledged business with a strategic gift-wrap offer — one that made more than $300,000 in 2023.

“Take your time to wrap the gift,” Hensley suggests to anyone who might want to start their own gift-wrapping side hustle. “There are a lot of great gift-wrappers out there, but they do a lot of foo foo on everything. That isn’t always the most beautiful, elegant or trendy. Your quality of paper is going to make it the difference — [and your ribbon]. We use all fabric ribbons.”

Related: Easy and Lucrative Side Hustles to Try This Holiday Season for Extra Pay Amid Inflation and High Interest Rates

Holiday decorating ($25-$50 per hour), pet sitting or dog walking ($15-$30 per hour) and baking seasonal treats ($15-$35 per order) round out the rest of the highest-earning side hustles from SideHustles.com.

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As a Dropbox alternative, Twidget.io is designed with businesses in mind. It offers the tools you need to keep your workflow efficient, including intuitive file management and team-friendly features that scale with your business. With this deal, you’ll save big — this lifetime subscription is not available at a lower price anywhere else.

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If you want to build a lasting business, long hours are the norm. It’s not just in the early days of the business, either. I’ve been at it for over ten years, and the ambition to grow my CPG startup is as strong as ever, meaning that, after all this time, 16-hour work days are nothing extraordinary.

The cause? Back-to-back investor meetings, intense work sprints, putting out fires and more, all of which are in addition to the day-to-day duties and responsibilities.

Popular wisdom says most people max out at around six productive hours a day. But, as a CEO, I cannot afford to spend the remaining 10 hours in zombie mode. I pride myself on putting 100% into everything I do — and the growth of my business depends on it. While 16-hour days certainly test this ambition, I make the most of every minute thanks to three practices I’ve developed over the years.

Related: Employees Are Burning Out — and the Culprit Isn’t What You Think

1. Planning the work

The main difference between 16-hour work days early on in your entrepreneurial journey and 16-hour work days when your business is well-established is that, in the latter case, you generally know when and why the long days are coming. This allows you to prepare accordingly.

Every Friday, I prepare my tasks for the upcoming week. This includes both the regular to-dos as well as anything out of the ordinary. Essentially, this means treating 16-hour workdays like any other workday.

While obvious to me, it’s a mistake I see many others make — they make no plans or schedules for their “second shift,” believing that any and all work beyond the usual eight hours is productive. Not only is it not true, it also surprises me that people are willing to do more work, less effectively. If you have to sacrifice rest and family time for work, surely you should strive to tackle the workload as efficiently as possible. That means treating it like any other work.

2. Getting enough sleep

Seven hours a night is non-negotiable. While 16-hour days happen every now and again, 18-hour days are out of the question. I cannot stay productive or sharp if I haven’t had sufficient sleep. I used to think I could, but, in retrospect, I see that I was confounding participation for productivity.

The extra hours of work you gain at the cost of sleep is like going to a loan shark — after immediate gains, you’ll be repaying your debt with crazy interest.

Please don’t focus on the number, though. While seven hours is a sweet spot for me, it might not necessarily work for you. In case you haven’t yet, it falls on your shoulders to determine your optimal sleep schedule. Once you find it, follow it diligently, and while it may be difficult at first, your body will adapt to the routine.

3. Keeping the energy up through physical activity

Surviving 16-hour workdays isn’t just about the mental side — it’s a physical challenge, too, and one that you must respond to with the same amount of preparation as anything else. My routine might sound unconventional, but it keeps me operating at maximum efficiency. I try to keep things simple: one meal per day, intensive HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts — often in the middle of the day — and always taking cold showers.

These practices aren’t just random habits. They’ve been carefully curated over the span of several years after proving their worth in ensuring my productivity remains at its peak. The mid-day intensive workouts, in particular, are a game-changer. They inject a burst of energy that carries me through the most demanding parts of my work day. And the cold showers? They’re my secret weapon for staying sharp and focused.

It’s not about creating a complicated system. It’s about finding what works and sticking to it religiously. Some entrepreneurs get caught up in elaborate fitness plans or extreme diets. I’m not interested in that. My approach is simple: keep moving, stay disciplined and listen to your body.

The result? A consistent energy level that allows me to tackle those long days without burning out. When you’re running a startup, that’s worth its weight in gold.

Perhaps the highest added value of such routines is that they eliminate the need for additional decision-making. Even the most mundane decisions — what should I eat? What should I wear? Should I go to the gym? It takes a lot out of you. Eliminating them from your daily itinerary frees you up to focus on value-added activities.

Related: How to Maximize Every Hour of Your Day for Unstoppable Productivity

Putting it all together

This systematic approach has allowed me to avoid burnout and always bring my A-game, whether it’s an early-morning team standup or a late-night investor call.

All of the above is combined with other productivity practices, such as journaling and mindfulness. However, these are more general and geared toward general productivity rather than surviving those long days.

Of course, life and business will inevitably throw a spanner in the works. Business trips and unpredictable events can disrupt even the most carefully crafted routines and practices. That said, it’s essential to recognize these as the exceptions they are and do your utmost to maintain — or return to — the routine as soon as possible.

Look, when you hear the term “franchising” very few people picture a glamorous lifestyle. Fast food? Cleaning services? Home care? No, thank you. Often there’s a level of apprehension or hesitancy associated with that all-powerful “ick” factor.

Hey, I get it. Long before entering the world of franchising, I was working in corporate America when a franchise consultant approached me about franchising opportunities. Was I happy in my corporate career? No. But it was stable, right? It was the “smart” choice. The “right” choice. Okay, maybe the “conditioned” choice is more accurate. But still, I was in my late forties and had chosen my path.

It wasn’t until a friend who owned a franchise started growing his multi-unit operation and decided to sell out in a multi-million dollar deal that my ears perked up. It never occurred to me that franchising might scale like that. I decided to give franchising a real look and dig into the research.

Now, having owned a franchise myself and having worked in the industry for eight years, my perspective on many “ick” franchise industries has changed dramatically. Are drain cleaning services, roofing repair, and pest control sexy now? No, but I’ll worry about that perception as I watch my kids graduate from college debt-free and my retirement savings grow. What I’ve learned is that there is real value in those everyday essential industries that, if given the chance, have real material benefits that just might be the right fit for your goals, too.

So what makes these “ick” franchise industries so valuable?

1. Unlimited Demand

Consider franchises that offer home care services. Think drain cleaning, house cleaning, pest control, plumbing, hvac, electric, lawn care, junk removal, etc. These service-based companies offer evergreen services that people need in almost every corner of the United States. No matter what, home ownership, apartment management, commercial development means ongoing maintenance that requires specialty services. Specialty services that are frequently provided by a local franchise brand with national recognition.

2. Recession Resistant

Working hand-in-hand with the unlimited demand, regardless of what’s happening in the economy, many services are not a “nice to have” but a “need to have.” Medical waste removal? Senior care? Child care? If you think back to the thick of the pandemic, there were a plethora of services that were in-demand regardless of lock-down.

A variety of franchise brands that offer these vital services and many more were in the mix supporting people who needed care. Time and again, I’ve seen how services that are frequently shrugged off with the phrase “someone’s got to do them” overlaps with franchise industries.

3. Low Initial Investment

One of the main benefits of service-based franchise businesses is the relatively low-cost barrier to entry. These brands do not require a storefront or customer facing real estate, and the service itself is provided at the customer’s location.

It’s worth noting that not all franchises are synonymous with “ick” – consider boutique fitness, salon services, pet motels, etc. However, these location-based businesses that include retail storefronts where the customer receives services at a fixed-base location are often associated with higher initial investment costs.

4. Lower Fixed Overhead

In addition to low initial investments, service-based brands often have a lower fixed overhead cost. In contrast, location-based brands (think salons, boutique fitness, pet care, etc) often have higher fixed overhead costs – which can have more competition due to the fact that these are passion-based industries.

Let’s consider a niche franchise that provides roofing solutions for a particular territory. As the franchise owner, you’re getting called to do that service on a need basis. However, as roofing is a large ticket item, it isn’t a frequently recurring service. In this business model, you may only need a salesman – possibly the franchise owner – and a project manager to see the installation through. As for the labor, in this model, it can be provided by hired contractors, keeping the fixed overhead cost low.

In fact, many of these project-based service brands have contractor models which means you aren’t spending on labor without contracts to fill. This model helps you get to profitability faster without increasing your overhead costs.

5. Franchisor Support

One of the many benefits of working within a franchise system is the ongoing support you’ll receive from the franchisor. While every reputable franchisor will assist with initial set-up and operations, service-based franchisors frequently include additional services like call centers that provide back-office support. They may assist in scheduling customer visits, determining which services are needed, and more. This cuts out the need for you to hire an in-office worker, allowing you to be more time-leveraged and can even allow you to retain your corporate job while building your franchise business.

Since becoming a franchise consultant, time and time again I’ve seen initial resistance to a particular industry dissolve into possibility. The “ick” factor is real, and while you should never get into an industry that you can’t get behind, it’s important that you aren’t letting an initial hesitation discourage you from pursuing a business opportunity that supports your professional goals.

Ever wished you could achieve superhuman focus? In 2025, AI can make it a reality. In this video, I’ll show you how to use Google AI Studio to analyze your own behavior, identify your focus patterns, and unlock peak productivity. Discover how to pinpoint exactly where your focus breaks down and get actionable strategies to make it unbreakable.

You’ll learn how to feed this powerful, free AI tool your calendar data, journal entries, and even your email habits to uncover the hidden triggers affecting your concentration. I’ll provide you with the exact prompts to use, transforming Google AI Studio into your personal productivity coach. Imagine understanding precisely when you’re most productive, what tasks drain your energy, and how to structure your day for maximum impact. This isn’t just about getting more done; it’s about aligning your work with your natural rhythms for effortless focus.

Download the free ‘AI Success Kit’ (limited time only). And you’ll also get a free chapter from Ben’s brand new book, ‘The Wolf is at The Door – How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World.’

The company you founded is turning a healthy profit and has become a market leader, so you’ve decided to sell it and are expecting a respectable return. You could wait and keep growing it so it fetches a better price, but you need capital and a management team with the vision and resources to make it happen. Selling to a private equity firm while remaining involved during the growth phase could be the strategy you need — if you’re willing to lose everything to try to hit that mark.

Losing everything is always a possibility in business, but equity sales take the stakes even higher. These investors typically look for a return as much as seven times EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) at the time of acquisition, in as little as three to seven years. If the bet pays off, everyone is happy. If it doesn’t, they can lose everything. What’s worse, you probably won’t have a say in how the new owners play their hand.

Private equity firms have become more discerning and particular about acquisitions, but there are always opportunities if your company is successful, has room to grow and shows it can realize its potential. They tend to look for companies in industries with a proven recurring revenue model. That’s what the equity firm Blackstone saw when it moved to acquire a majority share of Spanx from founder Sara Blakely in 2021.

After transforming the shapewear industry in the early 2000s, Spanx found its success stagnating during the pandemic and in the face of an expanding field of competitors. Blakely also wanted to develop more products and channel expansions but needed partners to help her. The deal she struck with Blackstone valued the company at $1.2 billion and put her personal worth back in the billions. Blakely remains a “significant” shareholder in the company.

Related: Every Business Owner Needs an Exit Plan — It’s Time You Develop Yours.

Making the perfect equity match

Spanx may have lost some of its sheen before the deal, but its foundation must have been strong, or Blackstone wouldn’t have done more than glance at it. Most private equity groups look first for profitability, usually with at least $1 million in EBITDA earnings. But they also want a well-structured leadership team. After all, a private equity group is really just a group of investors with a lot of money and other financial resources. They don’t have staff who come in and help execute the business. So, they need people in the industry to continue to run it even if the owner steps out or steps aside. They can open some doors, but it’s up to the original team to walk through them and make the plan work.

You should also ensure that everyone has the same expectations for why they’re bringing on investors, the results they want to achieve and how they’ll achieve them. Lack of clarity can lead to unhappy endings.

One regional consulting company I worked with had grown significantly, and the owner wanted to go national but felt he had taken it as far as he could. He brought in a really well-known private equity firm that bought a major portion of the company. He and his partner planned for one to retire and the other to stay on and manage the firm. But they weren’t clear on what the metrics were for success at the next level of the exit, and worse, they didn’t align with the equity firm’s strategy. The company went out of business in only a few years. Both partners lost their equity and some money that was owed to them from the deal.

The lesson here: You’ve got to be clear across the board. Take these steps to get the clarity you need:

Understand what equity investment can and can’t do

Many business owners have the misconception that it’s the best thing in all situations — that it’s going to pay and grow them the most. It may not actually work in your specific case.

Be clear on your strategy for selling to the equity firm

Do you want to get out completely and sell 100% to the investors, or stay on to get “a second bite of the apple” in higher returns after the equity group grows your company?

Interview other entrepreneurs who have worked with this private equity firm

Most private equity groups have a full list of all the companies they’ve invested in and bought. You’re getting into a partnership with these people, so you want to vet them like you would when bringing on any other partner in your business.

• Talk to the founders of those companies and ask how well the investors executed their strategy. Did they have results? What was the process like?
• Ask about the company’s cultural transition. How did the founder feel moving from being at the top to being more of an employee or manager? Was it a good culture overall? Were the employees happy that they stayed?
• Find an outside advisor.

Private equity is a small specialty in the financial sector and doesn’t do a lot of deals, so news like the Spanx deal gets a lot of attention. Equity investment also gets a lot of informal (and often uninformed) word-of-mouth coverage; other business owners will sometimes make decisions based on this. An expert advisor can get you the right information to make the right decision for you. Going the private equity route could be a lucrative exit plan for your business, so it’s worth considering.

Related: Private Equity is Vital to Entrepreneurs as it Grows and Adapts to Changes on the Horizon

Begin with the exit in mind

Before you do any of this, have a full exit plan and succession strategy that spells out what the end looks like and how you can best get there. Don’t only consider the valuation you want but also look at how you want the transition to proceed – from details like how you want employees taken care of to big-picture goals like the legacy you leave. Sit down and give some real thought to your exit strategy.

Exhaust all your growth opportunities before you bring in outsiders, and they’re more likely to seek you out.

In today’s digital-first retail environment, smaller brands often face an uphill battle when competing with industry giants’ massive marketing budgets. Advertising costs on most platforms continue to escalate, making it difficult for smaller ecommerce business owners to drive sales and scale cost-effectively.

One effective and cost-effective strategy that empowers upstart brands to drive sales without the hefty upfront costs associated with traditional advertising is affiliate marketing. In this model, online retailers partner with website publishers that feature content and have an audience that is also relevant to the online retailer. The retailer only pays publishers when a sale is actually completed, typically as a commission represented as a percentage of that sale, making affiliate marketing a low-risk, high-reward marketing strategy.

Cashback rewards programs such as Rakuten, PayPal Honey and Capital One Shopping, which operate as publishers in the affiliate marketing model, incentivize customers by delivering a small percentage of their earned commissions as cashback on consumers’ purchases. These programs, and others like them, are used by millions of online shoppers. By working with cashback browser extension publishers through an affiliate program, smaller retailers can tap into the potential of this performance-based marketing channel, and reach value-conscious consumers without overextending their budgets.

But, smaller online retailers may have concerns about browser extensions and their impact on a brand. They may have concerns about margins or of losing control of pricing and the discounts they offer or if their customers will value their products less because they’re getting cashback. But if a brand offers an affiliate program, they are already paying commission rates on sales which should be reflected in their margin calculations. The cashback rewards are paid to the customer from the commissions the publishers earn on sales. And retailers concerned about whether customers will value their brand less for offering cashback rewards through a browser extension can take heart in knowing even some luxury brands are beginning to offer cashback rewards.

The truth is, cashback browser extensions have evolved into a powerful marketing tool that benefits both consumers and merchants. They can drive sales, increase average order values and help independently-owned ecommerce businesses reach new customers.

Related: How Brands Can Turn Short-Term Rewards Into Long-Term Loyalty

Why consumers love browser extensions

The consumer appetite for savings is bigger than ever. In a consumer survey commissioned by Wildfire and conducted by the research firm Big Village in May 2024, we examined consumer attitudes towards various savings tools, including cashback and coupon browser extensions, that online shoppers are using. In one finding, 77% of consumers said they are more interested than ever before in earning cashback rewards for shopping, and 72% said they are more interested in using online coupons and discounts for shopping.

These tactics were second only to shopping during sales and promotional events. In fact, these tactics were ranked higher than shopping at discount retailers or buying generic products.

Wildfire’s report also shows that nearly one in three consumers (27%) use browser extensions to earn cashback more this year than last, and that 70% of consumers who have ever installed a browser extension use it frequently for cashback rewards.

These findings highlight that savings-focused shopping tools are becoming integral to the online shopping experience. However, browser extensions are not just about discounts — they boost consumer confidence. Respondents in the Wildfire survey gain many benefits from cashback browser extensions, including:

• 86% find offers in their extension to be valuable
• 84% trust the offers they get through their extension
• 83% report they save time by getting coupons in their extension

For small to mid-sized retailers, offering deals through extensions can help ensure consumers feel they’re making the right choice in their purchases, which can translate into higher conversion rates.

Related: 11 Effective Marketing Strategies to Help Streamline Your Startup

Understanding the impact of browser extensions on merchants

One of the most common concerns among smaller, niche brands is that offering deals through cashback browser extensions will reduce the perceived value of their products. However, the data tells a different story. Cashback browser extensions don’t just deliver consumers discounts — they help merchants expand their reach and increase sales in several important ways. Wildfire’s 2024 survey, as well as a landmark 2023 study conducted by CJ and Namogoo across 67 million shopping journeys, focused on the business value of browser extensions, illustrating some of the impacts on merchants.

1. Improved merchant preference: The use of cashback browser extensions influences online shoppers’ choice of retailer: 88% of respondents in Wildfire’s survey who use a cashback browser extension choose to shop at merchants that offer deals.
2. Increased conversion rates: Conversion rates are critical for any ecommerce business. Wildfire’s survey showed that the use of cashback browser extensions can positively affect merchant conversion rates. In fact, 93% of respondents using extensions are more likely to complete their purchase. The CJ/Namogoo report illustrated that extensions increased conversions by 25% even for shoppers whose carts contained no discounted items;, and further, that shoppers who received a pre-checkout alert from their cashback browser extension were 64% more likely to complete a purchase compared to extension users who did not see an alert.
3. Higher average order values: Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of cashback browser extensions for merchants is the increase in average order value (AOV). A total of 60% of consumers in the Wildfire survey reported spending more when they knew they were getting a deal through their extension because they believed they were maximizing value through cashback or coupon offers. Further, the CJ/Namogoo report showed shopping browser extensions resulted in a 38% increase in shoppers’ “add-to-cart” rates, and 65% more revenue per shopping session when an alert from the extension appeared.

The upside to understanding browser extensions

It’s understandable that independent retailers might be cautious when it comes to allowing their affiliate offers to be featured in browser extensions. Concerns about pricing control and margin compression often arise. However, cashback browser extensions are not about slashing prices or devaluing your brand — they’re about creating a win-win situation for both brands and the consumer.

Three key reasons why browser extensions make sense are:

• Increased visibility: Being featured in a cashback extension can introduce a brand to new customers who might have otherwise shopped elsewhere. Many extensions can trigger notifications on a Google search results page, helping retailers in the results stand out with a cashback offer alert.
• Low-risk: Unlike traditional advertising, retailers only pay when a sale is made, ensuring they get tangible results from your marketing efforts.
• Ability to compete with larger brands: Cashback browser extensions help level the playing field. Larger brands often have more resources for extensive marketing campaigns, but smaller retailers can leverage extensions to display their own cashback offers, too. This can help smaller retailers enter the consideration set for value-minded shoppers.

Conclusion

The ecommerce landscape is increasingly competitive, and retailers that don’t have the global customer reach of a Walmart, Target, Amazon or Temu need every advantage they can get. Embracing cashback browser extensions as part of an affiliate marketing strategy can be a smart move that not only boosts the bottom line but also builds long-term customer loyalty. In a world where shoppers are continually searching for the best price and value, your brand can be the one they turn to when their browser extension alerts them to your next great offer.