Feed aggregator

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SmartFinancial, Inc. ("SmartFinancial" or the "Company"; NYSE: SMBK), today announced net income of $13.7 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2026, compared to net income of $11.3 million, or $0.67 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2025, and compared to prior quarter net income of $13.7 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share. Highlights for the First Quarter of 2026 Operating earnings1 of $13.7 million, or

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan, Inc. today announced the advancement of the Western Gateway Pipeline following a successful second open season.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE: BXSL) (the “Company”) announced today that it will host its first-quarter 2026 investor conference call via public webcast on May 7, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. ET. The Company will report its first-quarter results prior to the call the morning of May 7, 2026. To register for the investor call, please use the following link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1759712&tp_key=af0b41e04f For those unable to listen to the live bro

HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bank of Hawai‘i Corporation (NYSE: BOH) (the “Company”) today reported diluted earnings per common share of $1.30 for the first quarter of 2026, compared with $1.39 during the linked quarter. Net income for the quarter was $57.4 million, down 5.7% from the linked quarter. The return on average common equity for the first quarter of 2026 was 13.90% compared with 15.03% during the linked quarter. “Bank of Hawai‘i began the year on firm footing,” said Jim Polk, President

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sable Offshore Corp. Provides Corporate Update

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walker & Dunlop arranged $105 million to refinance Maeve, a newly delivered 297-unit luxury high-rise community in Raleigh’s Warehouse District.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Summer Road LLC (“Summer Road” or “we”), the beneficial owner of approximately 3% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (NASDAQ: IMKTA) (“Ingles” or the “Company”), today announced that all three independent proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) and Egan-Jones Ratings Company (“Egan-Jones”), have recommended shareholders vote for the el

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grovecourt Capital, a private equity firm focused on partnering with founder-owned businesses, today announced its investment in Guide Architecture, a Dallas-based healthcare-focused architecture and planning firm serving leading health systems across the United States. Founded in 2014, Guide Architecture specializes in the planning and design of healthcare facilities, including hospitals, outpatient centers, behavioral health facilities, and medical offi

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO), following the announcement yesterday of its agreement to acquire TopBuild Corp. (NYSE: BLD) (“TopBuild”), has posted a recorded investor presentation to provide additional detail regarding the transaction. The presentation, featuring a slide deck and narrated commentary from QXO Chief Executive Officer Brad Jacobs, outlines the strategic rationale for the acquisition, anticipated financial impact, and the long-term growth opportunities p

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Erste Group Bank AG, the leading financial services provider in Central and Eastern Europe, has deployed optimization technology from FICO (NYSE: FICO) to enhance its customized pricing and limit strategies in order to offer tailored and more flexible financing terms. Customers benefit from optimization for mortgages, cash loans and other retail products. This project has earned Erste Group Bank a 2026 FICO® Decision Award for AI, Machine Learning & Optimization. Mo

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Logile, Inc., a global leader in AI-powered Connected Workforce solutions, has announced it will be exhibiting at Retail Technology Show 2026, the flagship event for retail, from April 22-23 at Excel London. At the event, Logile will highlight how retailers can bring forecasting, labour planning and in-store execution together through a single platform. UK retailers are operating in a more demanding environment, shaped by rising wage costs, tighter compliance requiremen

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Further to the announcement made on March 13, 2026, CRH (NYSE: CRH) today confirms that the listings of its ordinary shares and its 7% preference shares on the official list of the UK Financial Conduct Authority, and the admission to trading of those shares on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange, have both been cancelled with effect from 08:00 a.m. (London) today, April 20, 2026. CRH’s ordinary shares are now solely listed on the New Yor

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #EIG--ILOS Projects (“ILOS”), a Pan-European Independent Power Producer (IPP) supported by BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts (BNPP AM Alts), today announced the successful upsizing of its structured credit facility with EIG, a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, and La Caisse, a global investment group, for a total of €450 million. The increased commitment builds on deployment under the initial €250 million tranche provided by EIG a

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Strategic Capital, Inc.: To Whom It May Concern Strategic Capital, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Strategic Capital”) is under a discretionary investment contract with INTERTRUST TRUSTEES (CAYMAN) LIMITED SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS TRUSTEE OF JAPAN-UP (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”) and the Fund and Strategic Capital (hereinafter referred to as “we”) have continuously held over 300 units of voting rights in Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (hereinafter referred to

Introduction
In today’s crowded, fast-moving business environment, getting your voice heard is more difficult and more important
than ever. Whether you are speaking to customers, employees, investors, or partners, how you communicate directly
impacts your growth, reputation, and long-term success.
Too often, small business owners assume that simply “putting information out there” is enough. It is not.
Getting heard is not about volume. It is about clarity, consistency, and relevance.

Why Your Voice Matters
Your voice is more than communication; it is your positioning in the market.
A clear and consistent voice helps you:
* Differentiate in a crowded market
* Build trust and credibility
* Align employees and partners toward common goals
* Reinforce your brand and value proposition
Without it, even strong businesses become overlooked or worse, misunderstood.

The Shift: From Volume to Resonance
There is a persistent myth that being heard requires the biggest marketing budget or the loudest megaphone.
That model is breaking down.
Customers today are not looking for more noise; instead, they are looking for alignment, authenticity, and value. They
want to understand what you stand for and why it matters to them.
For small businesses, this is an advantage. You do not need to be everywhere. You need to be clear.

Start With Clarity
Before you amplify your voice, define it.
Be explicit about:
* Your purpose (why you exist)
* Your value proposition (what you deliver and to whom)
* Your key messages (what must be consistently understood)
A simple test: if different stakeholders describe your business in different ways, your message is not yet clear.

Clarity must precede activity.
Know Your Audience—Precisely
Trying to speak to everyone is one of the fastest ways to be ignored.
Instead, narrow your focus, Here are some examples:
* Not “small businesses” → but “early-stage service firms scaling operations”
* Not “homeowners” → but “first-time, eco-conscious buyers”
The more specific your audience, the more your message resonates.

Understand Your Audience
Customers want benefits and solutions.
Employees need direction and transparency.
Investor look for strategy and growth.
Consistency Builds Trust
Many businesses dilute their voice by being inconsistent across channels.
Your website, social media, emails, presentations, and conversations should reinforce, not contradict, each other.

Consistency requires:
* Aligned messaging
* Stable tone and positioning
* Repetition of core ideas
Recognition builds trust. Trust builds traction.

Deliver Value, Not Noise
There is no shortage of content. What is scarce is useful content.
Every communication should answer:
What value does this provide to the recipient?
Leverage the Right Channels (Not All of Them)
Utilize the ones that your target audience is often on.
Be Consistent Across Channels
Use the same tone and language everywhere.
Align your message on every platform you use.
Reinforce your value proposition.
Build Authority Through Education
Position yourself as a resource, not just a seller.

Engage, Listen, and Adapt
Getting heard is not one-directional.
Use AI Strategically
AI is increasingly a practical tool for small business owners—but it should refine your voice, not replace it.
Build Credibility Over Time
Do what you say you will do.
Be accurate and open.
Do not over promise.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Too much noise, not enough focus.
Constantly changing your message.
Ignoring your audience’s needs.
Chasing volume over value.

Final Thought
Getting your voice heard is not a one-time effort. It is a disciplined, ongoing process.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the sale of TopBuild Corp. (NYSE: BLD) to QXO, Inc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, TopBuild shareholders will have the right to elect to receive $505.00 in cash or 20.2 shares of QXO common stock for each TopBuild share held.Halper Sadeh encourages TopBuild shareholders to click here to learn more about their rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper free of charge at (212)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the merger of QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) and TopBuild Corp.Halper Sadeh encourages QXO shareholders to click here to learn more about their rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper free of charge at (212) 763-0060 or sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com.The investigation concerns whether QXO and its board of directors violated the federal securities laws and/or breached their fid

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds investors about a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) common stock between February 8, 2024 and February 2, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). PayPal enables digital payments. For more information, submit a form, email attorney Phillip Kim, or give us a call at 866-767-3653. The Allegations: Rosen Law Firm is Investigating the Allegations that PayPal Holdings

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #ExitPlanning--Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) announced today the winners of the annual Excellence in Exit Planning Awards.

GREENWICH, Conn. & DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire TopBuild Corp. (NYSE: BLD) (“TopBuild”) for approximately $17 billion, significantly expanding QXO’s scale and capabilities across the building products value chain. The transaction is expected to be immediately and substantially accretive to the company’s earnings. TopBuild is the largest distributor and installer of insulation and related bu