The Growth Engine Newshttps://growthenginenews.com/What's new in AI and marketing, and how to use it this week. For owners who sell. 36% of School Districts Flagged Air Problems in at Least One School. Contractors Push Ahead No Matter Who Winshttps://growthenginenews.com/business/36-of-schools-reported-bad-air-contractors-are-pushing-ahead-anyway/https://growthenginenews.com/business/36-of-schools-reported-bad-air-contractors-are-pushing-ahead-anyway/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA contractors' group says it will push new air-quality legislation and keep pressing lawmakers on apprenticeship policy no matter who wins, with prompt-payment measures on its state agenda. More Than Half of Campers Quit a Booking. Dealers, Check Your Phonehttps://growthenginenews.com/business/57-of-campers-gave-up-on-a-booking-dealers-thats-your-lead-problem/https://growthenginenews.com/business/57-of-campers-gave-up-on-a-booking-dealers-thats-your-lead-problem/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTMore than half of campers quit when nobody answered or the online booking would not go through — and for a dealership, my read is that the phone has the same leak. Over 6 Million AI Pages From Facebook Are Ranking in Google Right Nowhttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/6-million-ai-pages-from-facebook-are-ranking-in-google-right-now/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/6-million-ai-pages-from-facebook-are-ranking-in-google-right-now/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTOver six million AI pages built from other people's posts are now showing up in search your customers use. 75% of Shoppers Say They'd Try a New Store. Most Owners Don't Plan to Ask for an Email.https://growthenginenews.com/business/75-of-shoppers-will-try-a-dealer-once-most-never-ask-for-an-email/https://growthenginenews.com/business/75-of-shoppers-will-try-a-dealer-once-most-never-ask-for-an-email/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA new survey says shoppers are ready to visit small businesses, but most owners have no plan to ask them to join an email list or loyalty program. 76% Expect a December Rate Hike. Boat Dealers, Read Thishttps://growthenginenews.com/business/76-expect-a-december-rate-hike-boat-and-outdoor-building-dealers-read-this/https://growthenginenews.com/business/76-expect-a-december-rate-hike-boat-and-outdoor-building-dealers-read-this/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTNinety-three percent expect the Fed to hold this week, and 76% expect a December hike. Here's what that means for big-ticket buyers. 77% of Surveyed Small Business Owners Say They Use AI. What It Means for Your Sales Teamhttps://growthenginenews.com/ai/77-of-small-businesses-now-use-ai-what-it-means-for-your-sales-team/https://growthenginenews.com/ai/77-of-small-businesses-now-use-ai-what-it-means-for-your-sales-team/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTSmall business owners are already using AI to write copy, answer customer questions and write listings — here's where it hits your sales. 79% of Consumers Had Under $1,000 Set Aside for the Holidays — Your Bills Didn't Waithttps://growthenginenews.com/business/79-of-homeowners-had-under-1-000-for-the-holidays-your-payroll-didnt/https://growthenginenews.com/business/79-of-homeowners-had-under-1-000-for-the-holidays-your-payroll-didnt/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTMy read: the slow season hits remodeling and solar crews the same way — work dries up, bills don't. Here's the number behind the delay. Okta Says 80% of Agentic Commerce Projects Are Stalled — and Buyers Want a Say Before an Agent Actshttps://growthenginenews.com/ai/80-of-ai-projects-are-stalled-and-your-buyers-want-to-approve-every-purchase/https://growthenginenews.com/ai/80-of-ai-projects-are-stalled-and-your-buyers-want-to-approve-every-purchase/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTOkta says 80% of agentic commerce projects are stalled — and buyers want a say before an AI acts. 83 Questions, Most Built From Google's Own Advice — Fifty-four Land on One Dealer Pagehttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/83-questions-built-from-googles-own-advice-54-land-on-one-dealer-page/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/83-questions-built-from-googles-own-advice-54-land-on-one-dealer-page/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA consultant built a free 83-question sheet, most of it from Google's public advice. Your dealership's pages can be tested against it. 86,000 Jobs Added in October — and the Bigger Raises Went to Job-Changershttps://growthenginenews.com/business/86000-jobs-added-in-october-job-changers-got-bigger-raises/https://growthenginenews.com/business/86000-jobs-added-in-october-job-changers-got-bigger-raises/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTHiring held steady and quits hit their highest level since March 2025, which changes who walks onto your lot. 900,000 Dealer Leads: Only 2 of 12 Paid Lead Sources Beat 4.5%https://growthenginenews.com/business/900-000-dealer-leads-only-2-of-12-paid-lead-sources-beat-4-5/https://growthenginenews.com/business/900-000-dealer-leads-only-2-of-12-paid-lead-sources-beat-4-5/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTMeanwhile repeat and referral customers closed at more than 34%. She Became CFO at 25. The Roofer Went From $30M to $75Mhttps://growthenginenews.com/business/a-25-year-old-cfo-helped-grow-this-roofer-from-30m-to-75m/https://growthenginenews.com/business/a-25-year-old-cfo-helped-grow-this-roofer-from-30m-to-75m/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTShe helped guide that growth while insurance claim denials squeeze roofing contractors' margins. Here's what she says actually works. A Marketing Firm Ranked Itself #1. Contractors, Read the Fine Printhttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/a-marketing-firm-ranked-itself-1-contractors-read-the-fine-print/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/a-marketing-firm-ranked-itself-1-contractors-read-the-fine-print/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTOne agency published the ranking it won — and the 25-to-155 lead jump inside it is worth your time. A Roofing Crew Saved About $76,500 in 15 Days — Dealers, Do the Mathhttps://growthenginenews.com/business/a-roofing-crew-saved-76-500-in-15-days-dealers-do-the-math/https://growthenginenews.com/business/a-roofing-crew-saved-76-500-in-15-days-dealers-do-the-math/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTOne equipment change cut a courthouse job's costs by thousands a day. Your store probably has the same kind of leak. A Third-Generation Roofer Just Handed Off Payroll. What It Means for Your Businesshttps://growthenginenews.com/business/a-third-generation-roofer-just-handed-off-payroll-what-it-means-for-your-crew/https://growthenginenews.com/business/a-third-generation-roofer-just-handed-off-payroll-what-it-means-for-your-crew/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe owner of an award-winning Arizona roofing company handed off the books, the paychecks and supplier pricing, and kept operations and hiring. AI Agents Nearly Doubled in 3 Weeks — and They Book Appointments on Your Sitehttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/ai-agents-nearly-doubled-in-3-weeks-and-they-book-appointments-on-your-site/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/ai-agents-nearly-doubled-in-3-weeks-and-they-book-appointments-on-your-site/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTMicrosoft just added a dashboard that shows which AI agents hit your site and what they do there — including booking appointments. One Test Logged 150+ Contacts in 36 Hours. Only 1 in 10 Got a Rep.https://growthenginenews.com/ai/ai-made-150-contacts-in-36-hours-only-1-in-10-got-a-rep/https://growthenginenews.com/ai/ai-made-150-contacts-in-36-hours-only-1-in-10-got-a-rep/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA new voice AI reports response times of about 600 milliseconds. Here is what powersports and golf cart dealers should do about it. Pypestream's AI Agents Now Resolve About 9 of 10 Inquiries — and Dealers Are About to Feel Ithttps://growthenginenews.com/ai/ai-now-resolves-9-of-10-calls-and-dealers-are-about-to-feel-it/https://growthenginenews.com/ai/ai-now-resolves-9-of-10-calls-and-dealers-are-about-to-feel-it/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe same AI that handles the inquiry can hand a live rep the whole conversation — and that raises the bar on your follow-up. AI Takes Routine Customer Service. Your Team Gets the Hard Caseshttps://growthenginenews.com/ai/ai-takes-routine-customer-service-your-sales-team-gets-the-hard-cases/https://growthenginenews.com/ai/ai-takes-routine-customer-service-your-sales-team-gets-the-hard-cases/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe easy questions are getting automated. The hard ones are landing on people who are already busy. Alphabet Lost $500 Billion — Its Own AI Search Hit Ad Revenuehttps://growthenginenews.com/business/alphabet-lost-500-billion-its-own-ai-search-cut-ad-revenue/https://growthenginenews.com/business/alphabet-lost-500-billion-its-own-ai-search-cut-ad-revenue/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTAlphabet's own AI search hit its ad money. Here is what I would watch if your leads come from search. Canva Shook Up 22% of Its Team. The AI Warning for Car and Boat Dealershttps://growthenginenews.com/business/canva-cut-22-of-its-team-the-ai-warning-for-car-and-boat-dealers/https://growthenginenews.com/business/canva-cut-22-of-its-team-the-ai-warning-for-car-and-boat-dealers/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTIf your sales team builds listing ads in Canva, here's why dealers should care. Carrier Residential Sales Jumped More Than 30% — and an 8% Price Hike Is Cominghttps://growthenginenews.com/business/carrier-sales-jumped-30-and-your-equipment-bill-just-went-up-8/https://growthenginenews.com/business/carrier-sales-jumped-30-and-your-equipment-bill-just-went-up-8/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe maker of the units you install says residential sales are back. So is the price you pay for them. ChatGPT's Search Volume Is Now a Fifth of Google's — and It Carries Adshttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/chatgpt-search-volume-is-now-a-fifth-of-googles-and-it-carries-ads/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/chatgpt-search-volume-is-now-a-fifth-of-googles-and-it-carries-ads/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTChatGPT's query volume is now a fifth of Google's, it carries ads, and open-web ad companies are already reporting the bill. Criteo's Profit Fell 85% — While Advertisers Spent 9% Morehttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/criteos-profit-fell-85-while-advertisers-spent-9-more/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/criteos-profit-fell-85-while-advertisers-spent-9-more/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTAd money is still flowing, but the companies in the middle are getting squeezed — and the numbers they hand you are changing. CrowdStrike Just Built an Off Switch for Rogue AI. Dealers and Contractors Should Carehttps://growthenginenews.com/ai/crowdstrike-just-built-an-off-switch-for-rogue-ai-dealers-and-contractors-should/https://growthenginenews.com/ai/crowdstrike-just-built-an-off-switch-for-rogue-ai-dealers-and-contractors-should/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTOne new kill switch and one new paper point at the same gap: someone has to check the work before it reaches a customer. Dealers: Nearly 69% of Consumers Switch Who They Hire After Reading Public Ratingshttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/dealers-69-of-buyers-change-their-mind-after-reading-your-reviews/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/dealers-69-of-buyers-change-their-mind-after-reading-your-reviews/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA new article ties review counts to booked appointments and revenue. Here is what it means for your store. Dealers Report Sales Drops of Up to 30%. A Trainer Says the Fix Is in Your Store.https://growthenginenews.com/business/dealers-report-30-sales-drops-a-trainer-says-the-fix-is-in-your-store/https://growthenginenews.com/business/dealers-report-30-sales-drops-a-trainer-says-the-fix-is-in-your-store/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTOne sales trainer says process, training and management can hold up sales even when traffic dries up. AI Tools Are Everywhere Now. What Actually Separates the Winnershttps://growthenginenews.com/business/everyone-is-using-ai-now-heres-what-sets-winning-contractors-apart/https://growthenginenews.com/business/everyone-is-using-ai-now-heres-what-sets-winning-contractors-apart/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA new piece in Entrepreneur says the tool is no longer the edge. My read: how you run follow-up and quotes is. Ford EV Sales Fell 71% as Big SUVs Had Their Best Since 2002https://growthenginenews.com/business/ford-ev-sales-fell-71-while-big-suvs-hit-best-since-2002/https://growthenginenews.com/business/ford-ev-sales-fell-71-while-big-suvs-hit-best-since-2002/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTFord's October total fell 0.8%, but the mix underneath it moved sharply — and your lot probably has the same split. Fresh Step Made 3 TV Ads in 30 Days at One-Tenth the Costhttps://growthenginenews.com/marketing/fresh-step-made-3-tv-ads-in-30-days-at-one-tenth-the-cost/https://growthenginenews.com/marketing/fresh-step-made-3-tv-ads-in-30-days-at-one-tenth-the-cost/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMTA cat litter brand went from a brief to three finished spots in 30 days for a tenth of the price. Your dealership can copy the playbook.