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    <item>
      <title>How to Create an AI Policy … and Why</title>
      <author>mdrewek@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>An internal AI policy provides a structured framework that helps employees understand appropriate use, data security requirements, ethical considerations, and compliance obligations.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12236</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12236-how-to-create-an-ai-policy-and-why</link>
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    <item>
      <title>You Don’t Cut Your Way to Growth: How to Market Through Uncertainty</title>
      <author>psharpe@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>If you expect growth in your business, this is something you need to hear.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12190</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12190-you-dont-cut-your-way-to-growth-how-to-market-through-uncertainty</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Unlock the Power of Easter Eggs</title>
      <author>mdrewek@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Whether it's a secret discount code, hidden website feature or gamified campaign, consider having some fun with your customers any time of year with Easter egg marketing.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12163</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12163-unlock-the-power-of-easter-eggs</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Why Teams Burn Out</title>
      <author>psharpe@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Burnout doesn’t happen because teams stop caring. It happens when too much matters at the same time.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12071</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:25:01 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12071-why-teams-burn-out</link>
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    <item>
      <title>So You Have the Leads…Now What?</title>
      <author>dlessiter@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[A large part of sales and growing your business is identifying your target market. Obtaining leads can be the first step in finding new clients, but it can’t be the only step.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12031</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/12031-so-you-have-the-leadsnow-what</link>
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    <item>
      <title>4 Reasons to Fire a Customer</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Believe it or not, the customer isn’t always right. It might seem counterintuitive… why would you fire a client who is contributing to your bottom line? I’ve detailed four valid reasons here.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11779</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11779-4-reasons-to-fire-a-customer</link>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Have You Asked Your Audience Lately?</title>
      <author>ocox@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Consumer Feedback offers a direct line to how people actually experience what you offer, whether it’s content, services, or interactions with your brand.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11772</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11772-have-you-asked-your-audience-lately</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Why Measuring Social Media Metrics Matter</title>
      <author>ocox@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[While evaluating social media performance data is a great practice in general, it’s important to ensure that the metrics you’re analyzing actually correlate with your specific goal.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11735</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11735-why-measuring-social-media-metrics-matter</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Betting on America: How WorkSaver Tripled &amp; Thrives in U.S. Manufacturing</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson and Tim Burenga take listeners on a 45-year journey of WorkSaver—from its founding by Tim’s father in 1980 to its evolution as a dual-focused manufacturer and OEM contract specialist. Tim shares hard-earned lessons in cost control, cash flow management, and the balance between growing the dealer network while protecting its value.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11716</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11716-betting-on-america-how-worksaver-tripled-and-thrives-in-us-manufacturing</link>
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    <item>
      <title>4 Ways to Align Your Marketing and Sales Teams</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Check out this list of four ways to align your marketing and sales teams to maximize growth and success within your business.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11647</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11647-4-ways-to-align-your-marketing-and-sales-teams</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Business Lessons &amp; Winning Strategies Learned from the 'Glory Days' (Part 3)</title>
      <author>lwoolf@lesspub.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[As the NCAA tournament wraps up and the baseball season is in full swing, we’re sharing lessons learned by some farm equipment leaders from their sports-playing “glory days.” In part 3, we hear from Alan Heskamp and Tim Brannon.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11581</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11581-business-lessons-and-winning-strategies-learned-from-the-glory-days-part-3</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Business Lessons &amp; Winning Strategies Learned from the 'Glory Days' (Part 2)</title>
      <author>lwoolf@lesspub.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[As the NCAA tournament wraps up and the baseball season is in full swing, we’re sharing lessons learned by some farm equipment leaders from their sports-playing “glory days.” In part 2, we hear from Curt Parker and Darrell Pankratz.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11580</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11580-business-lessons-and-winning-strategies-learned-from-the-glory-days-part-2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Business Lessons &amp; Winning Strategies Learned from the 'Glory Days' (Part 1)</title>
      <author>lwoolf@lesspub.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[As the NCAA tournament wraps up and the baseball season is in full swing, we’re sharing lessons learned by some farm equipment leaders from their sports-playing “glory days.” In part 1, we hear from Skip Klinefelter, Mark Foster, Chaney Bowen and Paul Licata.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11579</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11579-business-lessons-and-winning-strategies-learned-from-the-glory-days-part-1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Dealers Optimistic Rural Lifestyle Sector Revenues Will Improve in 2025</title>
      <author>kschmidt@lessitermedia.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Following a challenging year in 2024, rural lifestyle dealers are maintaining an optimistic outlook for business in the year ahead.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11519</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11519-dealers-optimistic-rural-lifestyle-sector-revenues-will-improve-in-2025</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Q&amp;A Series: “I Know My Gross Profit- Now How Much Can I Pay My Employees?”</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[You have done the work. You know your gross profit and you’re ready to determine each employees pay rate. Check out the video for our simple process that keeps cash in your pocket while also paying your employees fairly.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11157</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11157-q-and-a-series-i-know-my-gross-profit-now-how-much-can-i-pay-my-employees</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Q&amp;A Series: “How do we keep a positive culture in the Service Department?”</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Culture issues in the Service department almost always start with the *gasp* Service Manager! The first step to getting a positive culture in the Service Department is to have a trained and excited Service Manager leading your team.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11156</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11156-q-and-a-series-how-do-we-keep-a-positive-culture-in-the-service-department</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Q&amp;A Series: Do We Really Need an Employee Handbook?</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[You didn’t start your dealership because you love HR, but my guess is that as your Parts, Service, and Sales departments grow, so do your headaches with the people in your dealership. One of the most powerful tools you have, as you work with people, is an Employee Handbook because it creates clarity for every single person at your dealership (yes, that includes you!)]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11155</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11155-q-and-a-series-do-we-really-need-an-employee-handbook</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Q&amp;A Series: How Do We Start an Off-Season Service Special?</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[How do we start an off-season Service Special?]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11153</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11153-q-and-a-series-how-do-we-start-an-off-season-service-special</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Q&amp;A Series: How Do We Keep PDI/Entry-Level Techs Excited and Engaged?</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Check out this video for Bob Clement’s tips on how to grow your entry level employees into your best A-level technicians!]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11152</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11152-q-and-a-series-how-do-we-keep-pdi-entry-level-techs-excited-and-engaged</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Q&amp;A: How Do I Determine My Labor Rate?</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[When it comes to determining your labor rate, you must establish how much you need to pay your employees before you start to determine how much you need to bill customers hourly.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11150</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11150-q-and-a-how-do-i-determine-my-labor-rate</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Determining Your Labor Rate in 2024</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Was your Service Department ever scheduled out over two weeks last year? If your answer is “yes”, it’s time to raise your labor rate!]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11149</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11149-determining-your-labor-rate-in-2024</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How To Move Equipment Through Service at Record Speed!</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[How do you move equipment through your Service Department more efficiently? Triage! To remove the bottleneck of waiting for parts, make a habit of triaging each unit as they enter your dealership!]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11148</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jul 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11148-how-to-move-equipment-through-service-at-record-speed</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Parts Pricing That Can Make You Money Today!</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[When was the last time you evaluated your parts margins? Increasing your margins on parts can open up valuable income for your dealership, allowing you to better support your employees.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11147</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11147-parts-pricing-that-can-make-you-money-today</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Minimize Service Department Backlog With High Volume Days</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Picking a weekday dedicated to basic servicing jobs allows your dealership to communicate with your customers directly and sets your technicians up to be efficient through repetition.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11146</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Jun 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11146-minimize-service-department-backlog-with-high-volume-days</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Negotiating Without Losing Margin</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<span style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none;">What can you do to set yourself up for success? Sell the full experience! Take the time this month to decide on sales packages before Summer starts so you can promote them through your marketing!</span>]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11145</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 23 Jun 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11145-negotiating-without-losing-margin</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How To Make Money in Service Year-Round!</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[What is your Service Department turn-around time right now? If your answer is more than “one week,” you need to start making your off-season service plans!]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11143</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11143-how-to-make-money-in-service-year-round</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Make the Service Department the Easiest to Operate </title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">You set the labor rate. You choose the salary of your technicians. You purchase parts from your own parts department.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11126</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:30:38 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11126-make-the-service-department-the-easiest-to-operate</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Setting Up a Proactive Marketing Plan </title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When considering marketing during your busy season, you must practice proactive marketing, not reactive marketing. How do you set up a proactive plan?</p>]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11117</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2024 16:00:15 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11117-setting-up-a-proactive-marketing-plan</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Dealers Beat 2023 Wholegoods Sales Forecasts, Look to Aftermarket Revenue in 2024</title>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Even as inventories rise and interest rates remain high, rural lifestyle dealers are maintaining healthy optimism as they begin the year.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11001</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/11001-dealers-beat-2023-wholegoods-sales-forecasts-look-to-aftermarket-revenue-in-2024</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Schiller Grounds Care: Rededicating Brands, Expanding Dealer Networks</title>
      <author>jdobberstein@lesspub.com</author>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Interview with Tony Weber, Brand Manager, BOB-CAT, Schiller Grounds Care, Johnson Creek, Wis.]]>
      </description>
      <guid>http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/10677</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/articles/10677-schiller-grounds-care-rededicating-brands-expanding-dealer-networks</link>
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