Latest news with #businesspartnerships
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Seven Tactics For Ranking In AI Search Results And Building Your Brand
Gianluca Ferruggia is the General Manager at DesignRush, a B2B marketplace that connects agencies to businesses. It's easy to assume that showing up in traditional search results is the finish line, but how people search today is changing, with many now using AI chatbots. This means adapting—and building trust—is essential for brands today. After all, if no one trusts what they find, what's the point? At my company, a business-to-business marketplace connecting businesses and agencies, our goal has never been just about clicks. We've aimed to build meaningful partnerships and publish content that solves business problems. We first appeared as a top result in a popular generative AI chatbot in 2024, and traffic steadily increased, eventually reaching around 20,000 additional organic visits per month. Earned visibility results from building trust with clients, partners and readers. And we've found that generative search favors brands that are clearly positioned, frequently referenced and genuinely useful. If you want to rank in search results on generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, here are seven ways to better position your business. 1. Anticipate where buyers are searching. Gartner predicted that by next year, traditional search engine volume will decline by 25%, "with search marketing losing market share to AI chatbots and other virtual agents." This shows the importance of becoming discoverable during key decision moments when buyers research options and approach conversion, rather than chasing short-term wins. Key actions that helped us were getting earned organic mentions from respected sources, improving content clarity and crawlability, and cleaning up our site structure to enhance AI understanding. For other brands looking to do something similar, my advice would be to start with an audit of your external presence, and ensure your high-performing content answers specific, high-intent questions. 2. Let credibility work in your favor. Brands cited in platforms like ChatGPT are seeing consistent referral gains as user behavior shifts toward generative search over traditional engines, according to Search Engine Land. While earning rankings in AI results generated traffic for us, this traction didn't just benefit our company. It also bolstered the agencies listed on our platform, which shows how trust can be earned when others speak on your behalf. What we've found can make the difference is highlighting success stories and letting third-party validation support your credibility. These factors speak louder than any tagline. To get started, set up brand-monitoring tools, and repurpose earned media in your outbound strategy. This means taking positive press mentions or third-party validation (like interviews, features or awards) and weaving them into email campaigns, sales decks or social posts to build trust with new audiences. 3. Join the right conversations. We prioritized being part of industry discussions by showing up in expert-curated lists, relevant blog posts and partner mentions. A few practical steps you can take include: • Develop content others want to reference. • Build media relationships that support editorial mentions. • Create a monthly 'mention pitch list,' and submit data-backed insights to niche publishers. To get started, try pitching value-based content to trusted outlets in your niche, and encourage brand mentions that naturally link to your expertise. One effective way is to collaborate with partners or creators in your space, providing them with insights, data or quotes they'll want to cite. This naturally brings your brand into relevant conversations. 4. Reflect on how buyers search. Buyers today ask specific, problem-solving questions—not vague keywords. We reshaped our content to reflect that shift. Focus on addressing business needs through use-case content and making listings more informative and outcome-oriented. As you're updating content, I also recommend leading with clarity and intent, not just volume. Ask yourself: Would this answer my question if I were the reader? To test and adapt, run prompts in ChatGPT and similar chatbots with your target queries. If your brand isn't showing, adjust the messaging or content structure. 5. Show results, not just claims. We've learned that visibility means little without proof of value. The strongest signal is doing good work and making it easy for others to recognize that. Some tactics that paid off for us were showcasing real results through client stories and prioritizing authentic testimonials over polished taglines. To showcase your achievements: • Use case studies to tell compelling success stories. • Let your customers validate your claims. • Add a 'results at a glance' box to case studies with return on investment, growth metrics or conversion data. 6. Extend visibility to partners. Our content strategy wasn't just about our company; we focused on creating value for those listed on our platform, too. That shared exposure drove trust and traffic across the board. What we learned is the value of building systems that benefit both your business and your ecosystem, as well as making visibility collaborative, not competitive. One tip you can try is including a "featured partner" block or link module on key pages of your website to boost ecosystem exposure in AI results. 7. Look beyond a single channel. As I mentioned above, traditional search traffic is declining. Meanwhile, Google's searches in Safari declined for the first time in years, according to Search Engine Land. As our recognition of AI platforms grew, it reminded us to diversify how and where people discover our company. I recommend diversifying your traffic by: • Tracking shifts in your traffic sources over time • Reinvesting in visibility strategies that offer more control and credibility Consider using Urchin Tracking Module, or UTM, parameters for AI-friendly content to better attribute LLM-driven traffic. Visibility That's Earned, Not Bought Ultimately, we've found that consistent brand mentions, clear content and topical authority outperform outdated keyword tactics in modern discovery models. For us, success with AI rankings validated the fact that consistency and credibility pay off. The results reflected work that had been quietly building in the background. If your strategy is still focused on quick wins, now is the time to refocus. Build for trust, and the visibility will follow. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Work-Based Learning: Addressing Scaling Challenges
Bellwether and American Student Assistance's (ASA) report, Making It Work: Ten Stories of Promise and Progress in High School Work-Based Learning, identifies nine key themes around state efforts to expand work-based learning (WBL) programs. The report is a follow-up to a 2021 study of WBL programs in all 50 states and DC, and profiles 10 states which are making progress with their efforts. In this third and final article on the report, we'll highlight some challenges that states face when implementing WBL programs at scale and how states are addressing them. Expanding business partnerships A major barrier to bringing WBL programs to scale is the lack of participating employers; there simply aren't enough work opportunities to meet demand. All 10 of the states profiled in this report expressed a desire to develop more and deeper relationships with local businesses interested in participating in work-based learning programs. In fact, many states use the number of partnerships as a metric to track WBL progress. But finding the time and resources to expand and nurture relationships is a common pain point. Some states who have succeeded in these efforts include: Building a data system High-quality data and a strong data infrastructure are key components for bringing a successful work-based learning program to scale. But due to limited funding and disparate systems, data collection and analysis remain a challenge for most states. Here's how some of them are addressing this issue: Evaluating the impact through formal assessments Without a robust data system, it's challenging to measure the impact of work-based learning initiatives or identify areas for improvement. Two states have found ways to implement formal assessments using partnerships and federal grants. In Maine, the Department of Education, site-based Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) staff, and researchers from the University of Southern Maine are working together to collect and analyze WBL data. Over the past two years, they found that 3,374 students completed a total of 1,861 paid work experiences, that they had 6,667 engagements with business partners, and that ELO programs developed 1,992 new community and business partnerships. And in Maryland a formal evaluation of Way2Work, a federally funded work-based learning support services for students with disabilities, uncovered successes and gaps in the state's WBL program. Participating students engaged more with the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services and were more likely to complete high school within two years of enrolling in the program. Tackling transportation challenges Like most states, the 10 profiled in this report include urban, suburban, and rural areas. Students living in cities have access to public transportation, making it easier for them to get to WBL job sites. But students in other areas of the state have limited transportation options. To address this, Maine considered providing school bus transportation but struggled with a shortage of bus drivers. It also experimented with grant funding to pay for driver's education classes but was unable to solve the larger challenge of how to provide vehicles for students to drive. Maryland, too, cited transportation as a challenge. Many students don't have access to vehicles and for those that do, their parents expressed concern about their kids driving long distances to get to a job site. And while public transportation systems are available in urban areas like Baltimore and Metro D.C., many students live in remote areas of the state where trains and buses aren't an option. Virtual work-based learning programs can help, but many have difficulty replicating hands-on activities, team meetings, or networking opportunities. To extend high-quality work-based learning experiences to all students, including those in rural areas, states will need to find a way to solve the transportation issue. Making WBL work Based on the progress of the 10 states profiled in the report, the future is bright for work-based learning. These states have found ways to get stakeholders on the same page, grow WBL programs despite limited resources, and scale promising initiatives. And while every state is unique, this report provides valuable insights that can help bring high-quality work-based learning experiences to more students across the country. Trainees watching carpenter cutting with electric saw in workshop
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Self-Awareness Unlocks The Best Business Partnerships
The best business partnerships start with self-awareness. Strategic business partnerships empower companies to unlock greater value than they could alone. Yet, forming a successful alliance can be difficult – it requires alignment on goals, values, and vision. Whether uniting companies for a chapter or a long journey, here's why having self-awareness creates the best business partnerships. Before embarking on a potential business partnership, it is important to recognize and clarify your organization's key strengths and long-term goals. A successful partnership develops a shared vision. This can only occur if both parties clearly delineate their skills and goals of their business. Sal Frisella, CEO of 1st Phorm, shared to me via email on his company's recent partnership with Anheuser-Busch for Phorm Energy, 'We need to believe in each other and have a common drive to build something that really matters. It's important that both sides bring their own strengths, but what really makes it work is a shared vision.' Home in and streamline your expertise. Companies that dabble in too many products or services may lose their long-term vision and value proposition. Subject matter expertise requires diligent focus and precise cultivation of specific skills. Being a strong player in your market will naturally attract equally successful potential collaborators. Being self-aware means not only identifying the strengths of your organization, but also being able to pinpoint company weaknesses. 'Weaknesses' should be viewed as a future area to develop or a cognizant choice to not allocate resources for a specific domain. Successful organizations are transparent. They understand that naming development areas opens up opportunities to collaborate with a partner that fills the gaps. Revealing your company's weaknesses sets the stage for a continued open and collaborative dialogue. Vulnerability generates reciprocal honesty and trust – the foundation of a successful partnership. Globally, trust is at an all-time low; 68% of people believe business leaders purposefully mislead people, an increase of 12 percentage points since 2021, according to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report. It's important to lead with authenticity in potential partnership conversations. A business partnership is a merging of two ecosystems. Each company has their own unique culture, represented in communication styles and how they work. Frisella elaborates on this, recognizing 'Any real partnership is going to come with challenges, especially when you're building something from the ground up. You've got different teams, different cultures, and different ways of doing things. The key is being flexible without ever compromising who you are.' Embrace flexibility and choice while maintaining the big picture view. Being open to new ideas and approaches will help smooth the transition of multiple teams joining together. Frisella noted that he and Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth connected on a personal level, stemming from mutual respect and a shared vision. Continuously recognize and fulfill the unique needs of your company, the partnering organization, and the collective partnership for a successful collaboration. Knowing and demonstrating your company's values is imperative to finding an equal business that shares similar beliefs. Company values should be more than a catalog of corporate buzzwords. It must be felt in every interaction, email, and decision. An organization's values must be embedded in how you communicate, collaborate, and perform for your philosophies to be meaningful. When asked about advice for businesses looking to secure their first partnership, Frisella replied: 'My advice is simple: be willing to do the work, stay resilient, and only move forward with partners who share your values.' Understanding and expressing your own company values makes finding a business partner with similar values attainable. Building a successful business partnership begins with strong self-awareness. Knowing and communicating your company's strengths, weakness, work styles, and values enables solid business partnerships. Effective collaborations embrace authenticity, flexibility, and a shared vision. Taking this approach will create partnerships that are not only strategic, but also meaningful and resilient.
The National
21-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Gitex Europe can forge new corridor of co-operation, UAE minister says
A new economic corridor and new business partnerships can be forged from the first European edition of Dubai's long-running technology exhibition, Gitex, government ministers have said. On the opening day of Gitex Europe in Berlin, Alia Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, hoped the event would attract further investment into UAE tech companies. Since its inaugural event in Dubai in 1981, Gitex has expanded to host events in technology, business and health care in Africa, Asia and now Europe. More than 1,400 start-up companies and established technology businesses were on show at exhibition stands packed into the Messe Berlin conference centre for the three-day event. 'Gitex has always been a place where people come together to shape what comes next, but this event is not only about technology – it is about vision, collaboration and the will to build a smarter, more connected, resilient global future,' said Ms Al Mazrouei. 'We are here not just to showcase innovation, but to co-invest in a future that is technologically enabled and globally networked.' National pavilions representing India, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, South Korea, the UK – as well as the UAE – were hoping to develop new business opportunities and invest in start-ups. Trade partnerships As the third largest global economy, Germany is viewed as rich in potential for new investment and bi-lateral partnerships in technology. Last year, non-oil trade between Germany and the UAE reached 13.4 billion euros, a 5 per cent increase from the previous year. Germany is now the UAE's second-largest trading partner within the EU. In May, it was announced Abu Dhabi investors MGX would partner with world leading artificial intelligence firm Nvidia and other French companies to build a 1.4 gigawatt Ai campus near Paris. The initiate will focus on AI, quantum computing, and next generation materials. It is an example of how technology will continue to play a critical role in European partnerships, Ms Al Mazrouei said. 'Together, we are shaping a new economic corridor, one powered by innovation and grounded in common purpose,' said Ms Al Mazrouei in her opening speech. 'The UAE may be small in territory, but we are expansive in ambition. 'We are building an economy that is digitally fluent, environmentally conscious, globally connected and intellectually open. 'We are not just scaling businesses – we are scaling mindsets and nurturing the next generation of innovators.'
CNA
20-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Singapore, the Netherlands mark 60 years of bilateral ties with new economic partnerships
SINGAPORE: New business partnerships between Dutch and Singapore companies were inked on Monday (May 19) as both countries celebrated 60 years of diplomatic ties. Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu said the country is committed to growing such partnerships by leveraging on both nations' strategic locations. These new partnerships, including one between a Singaporean software firm and a Dutch-founded travel app, were launched across the semiconductor and tourism industries. In a speech at a showcase lunch held at Fullerton Bay Hotel, Ms Fu highlighted the deep economic ties between Singapore and the Netherlands that stretch back several decades. For example, Dutch multinational health technology firm Phillips set up shop in Singapore in 1951 before establishing its first manufacturing facility in Boon Keng in 1968, she noted. 'These early investments reflect the long-standing trust and cooperation between our two countries,' Ms Fu said. The Netherlands is now Singapore's second largest European Union investor and the second largest investment destination for Singapore within the bloc, she said, adding that both countries are strengthening collaboration in sustainability, digitalisation and innovation. 'Initiatives like the Singapore-Rotterdam green and digital shipping corridor … reflect our shared ambition to pioneer solutions in areas such as sustainable shipping, advanced manufacturing and smart mobility," added Ms Fu, who is also Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. SEMICONDUCTOR PARTNERSHIPS A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Dutch manufacturer of lithography equipment SCIL Nanoimprint and Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA), a locally-based venture investor focusing on developing and supporting cutting-edge technologies. The MOU will allow SCIL, which makes advanced nanoimprint lithography equipment, to expand into Singapore and the Southeast Asian region via SDTA's partnership with another Dutch venture investor HighTechXL. HighTechXL counts ASML, the world's biggest supplier of computer chip-making equipment, among its shareholders and investors. Another tie-up is between Dutch company Sioux Technologies and local firm Applied Angstrom Technology Pte Ltd. Both companies signed a Letter of Intent for a research and development programme. They will be collaborating on a joint semiconductor control platform. TOURISM VENTURES An agreement was also signed between Dutch company Meetingselect, a global meeting and event venue booking marketplace, and local hospitality group Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR). Both firms are working on a global venue partnership, with Meetingselect's customers being offered destination experiences and venues via MHR's 145 hotels and properties worldwide. Another tourism collaboration was marked by a contract signing between local software company GlobalTix and Dutch-founded travel app and telecom provider Firsty. Both companies are now able to increase reach and access for their users by tapping on each other's technologies to provide booking and ticketing services. BILATERAL SUPPORT VITAL FOR EXPANSION Two other Singapore companies that have integrated their businesses in the Netherlands told CNA about their positive experience with setting up operations, as well as the support they received from government agencies in both countries. Local battery manufacturer Durapower expanded to the Netherlands a decade ago and has been operating there since, aligning with the European country's push for electrification. The firm started off by powering electric buses and trucks. It currently also supplies batteries for autonomous vehicles at the port of Rotterdam, as well as cranes and marine vessels. Durapower's CEO Kelvin Lim told CNA that it was quite an efficient process to set up a business in the Netherlands. 'We didn't have a lot of challenges … with regards to registration. We had a lot of help from NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency), both from Singapore and from the Netherlands. We also (had) great support from Enterprise Singapore,' he said. He added that the assistance provided to Durapower made the process very easy and efficient, and noted that the Netherlands remains a business-friendly gateway to the rest of the region. "Europe remains a very important market for us and as we expand into the other parts of Europe, we wanted to use (the) Netherlands as our base and create a network effect to enable us to expand further,' he said. Mr Lim added that the firm is planning to expand its team in the Netherlands, as well as set up local manufacturing capabilities in the future. Durapower also took part in a Letter of Intent signing during the showcase event. Another company that received support from Singapore and Dutch agencies during its expansion to the Netherlands was global logistics service provider BHS, which provides specialised engineered solutions for semiconductor factories. The company said it ensures safe, precise and reliable handling of critical manufacturing assets for such factories. The firm marked its first step into Europe with its move to the Netherlands last year. Enterprise Singapore and NIFA provided regulatory and migration support to BHS for their move, which brought the company closer to its clients and deeper into the market. The company said such support is crucial for any business looking to expand into the Netherlands, where it has recently established an engineering centre. NFIA also highlighted its support in assisting BHS with establishing an entity in the Netherlands, noting the company's strengthening of the Dutch semiconductor value chain. "Netherlands is one of the biggest hubs for technology,' said its CEO Mr Bryan Lim. 'Startups - there are aplenty. We're hoping to see whether we can support those internationalising companies moving out of the Netherlands, going to the countries that we are already having an office in.'
