#Mass Notification System Share

[marketwire]

Global Mass Notification System Market size is forecast to reach $16.8 billion by 2025, estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% during 2020-2025.

[farlynthordens]

Pillowfort vs Wafrn Comparison

hello to fellow tumblypoos who may be on the lookout for places to migrate in case tumblr does implode one day but don't know what the alternatives are like. i made accounts on 2 frequently mentioned tumblr clones, pillowfort and wafrn, and tested them as of April 2025. i hope this can be helpful!

SIGNING UP

Pillowfort: sign up free and be put on a waitlist, or pay $5 for instant access. The waitlist time was very short for me. Once you have your account, you get 50 invite links per week that you can send to others for instant signup access.

Wafrn: mods review every signup, but i still got access within a couple hours.

VIBES

Just my own personal observations from a very short period of use

Pillowfort: has a more "cozy and quiet" fandom and media-sharing vibe. it emphasizes using communities when you sign up (but you don't have to join any if you don't want to). most communities that currently exist are either super huge general ones (ex: "Anime") or tiny ones people made for their own friend group but i see potential for fandom-specific spaces to grow.

Wafrn: more unabashedly queer and chaotic (positive) like if you were in a discord server but on tumblr. it's more techy and text post/chatting focused but still has huge media-sharing capabilities. you can host your own server if you know how to. it's recommended you connect your acct to bsky if you want more fandom stuff (or consider a fandom-oriented server elsewhere, tho from what i can tell those don't have a lot of users yet)

MEDIA

Both do not allow multi-select, meaning that you have to upload files one at a time. both allow putting a shitload of images in one post (i didn't even have the patience to upload enough pics to find the limits). but i recommend against mass uploading media. those are individual ppl hosting those servers. consider paying them if you plan to upload a lot.

Pillowfort: only images/gifs, videos must be hosted externally. files must each be less than 2MB. adding additional images is a little janky and sometimes the buttons pop in/out.

Wafrn: video and images/gifs. not sure what the exact file size limit is, but i was able to upload a video that was 145MB so its decently big. media is horizontally scrolled rather than vertically stacked. also note: alt text is required by default, and the "post" button will disappear if any media is missing it.

POSTS

Pillowfort: allows turning off reblogs and comments. you can edit this at any time. seemingly no feature/option to truncate long posts you see on your dash? but i haven't come across any super long posts so maybe it's there. but there is a "read more" feature.

Wafrn: you can turn off notifications for a post, but there is no option to turn off reblogs/comments which i personally find to be a big downside. posts longer than a few sentences automatically get truncated.

LIKES, REBLOGS, COMMENTS, TAGS

Both platforms have likes, comments, reblog systems, and tagging.

Both platforms don't have a page to find all of your Likes. Likes are persistent, and you'll see the colored heart icon if something you liked before crosses your dash, but there is no dedicated Likes page from what i could find.

Reblogging works different on Wafrn, where you have 3 options: rewoot (=quick reblog with no tags), reply (=standard reblog where you have the OPTION to add your own reply and/or tags), and quote (seems to be similar to doing a quote tweet, can also add tags).

If you connect Wafrn to bsky, you can see more posts from there within the site but certain types of interactions don't work.

On Pillowfort, tagging works basically the same as it does on tumblr (can search tags site-wide or on your particular blog). on Wafrn you can currently only do site-wide tag searching, so you're not able to organize your blog if you're into that.

NSFW

Both sites allow NSFW content.

Pillowfort: new post > select checkbox to mark as NSFW (so users with "Show NSFW posts by default" turned off will see the post blurred)

Wafrn: new post > upload media, and then you can mark individual media as NSFW to blur it. Also a content warning checkbox you can select to add in cw tags (must write the tags yourself which leaves room for user inconsistency. there is no preset cw list yet)

DRAFTS, QUEUE

Pillowfort: has a draft, queue, and scheduling system. your queue schedule is editable from settings or the queue page. the queue and draft pages are underneath "Posts", but only show up when there are things in them.

Wafrn: no draft or queue system.

POST VISIBILITY

Pillowfort: in every new post, you can select if the post is public, only for logged in users, only mutuals, or private (only you). you can edit this at any time.

Wafrn: in every new post, you can select if the post is public, only for your followers, only for your server instance, or private (only you). this is not editable once a post is made

BLOG VISIBILITY

Pillowfort: in settings, you can turn on concealed mode which prevents people you're not following from following you or even viewing your blog.

Wafrn: there doesn't seem to be a way to hide your blog profile from certain users/logged out users, but you can change your default post visibility.

ASKS

Pillowfort: Does not have an Ask system, only DMs. Creating an ask system is on their to-do list.

Wafrn: has an Ask system that accepts messages from Wafrn users, logged out anons, or even other fediverse sites (there's a explanation how to do this if you go to someone's profile and try sending a message). you must go to settings to enable anon asks.

FOLLOWING

Pillowfort: by default, anyone can follow anyone. in settings, you can turn on concealed mode which prevents people you're not following from following you or even viewing your blog.

Wafrn: by default, anyone can follow anyone. in settings, you can turn on the ability to review all follow requests.

CUSTOMIZATION

Pillowfort: Dark and light mode for the whole site. blog editing is pretty basic, just changing colors of some page elements (with a little jank). in settings, you can upload multiple icons which you can swap between when making new posts. there are a bunch of pfp frames and badges.

Wafrn: Dark and light mode, plus many other preset themes. blog page editing allows for header images and custom css. you can have emojis (including animated ones) in your name.

MISC

Mobile: both have a mobile app, but Wafrn's is still a bit more experimental. both contain many bugs but when has that not been the case for tungle dot com either

Paid features: Both are free*. Wafrn has no paid features but dev has a patreon/kofi you can support to pay for servers costs. Pillowfort has options for paid icons or frames, higher file size limits (2MB->4MB), or doing a recurring monthly donation to pay server costs and seems to really need the help.

Sideblog support: neither has this yet but both seem to be exploring options for it. you cannot make more than 1 account with the same email.

Blacklist/blocking: both support blacklisting words/phrases and blocking users. Wafrn also supports muting (soft blocking), Pillowfort does not but it's on their to-do list.

Languages: both are only in english

Bugs and future updates: If you want to read more about what features each platform is working on you can check Pillowfort's staff post and Wafrn's github

--------

conclusion: no matter where you choose to migrate to, nothing will be exactly the same as tumblr and will certainly never reach its scale/longevity without consistent user support.

if we want the next gen of the internet to be free of advertising and selling user data, then we will all need to chip in for it. either you pay for your own server to host yourself/others, or you support the people/orgs hosting servers for the rest of us to make sure that the things you love can remain online. i HIGHLY recommend that if you move to any of these places, you consider doing recurring donations. this goes for not just pillowfort and wafrn, but mastodon, neocities, or any other fedi or independently hosted spaces.

fedi sites have a lot of potential, because you can theoretically CREATE a massive social network via connecting lots of little ones together. but interconnecting independent sites is still something that's very buggy and needs working out, and from what i can tell, just because sites are part of the fediverse does not make them instantly compatible/crosspost-able (ppl more experienced can correct me on this)

[prismsoup]

I shared this before but it was as a reblog of another post and I dont want to flood the OP's notifications with random spears stuff so I'm putting him here again

This is not a canon version of his structure (unfortunately, because that would've been silly- the skitterer) but it was part of a rp thing

The mass of cables and pipes under and behind (to the right) the structure are, in fact, the equivalent of its circulatory and respiratory system (water supply and void fluid supply) Most of these are not supposed to be exposed but to skitter away, he had to turn his internals into externals and tear the structure out of the earth

Is he okay ? No, he's in immense amounts of pain. Was it worth it ? Maybe ??? At least he didn't have to reduce himself to a puppet to become mobile

Skittering and on the string still !!

[ambiguous-avery]

Chasing Shadows, Part 3

Dean Winchester x OC fem!Touched!Reader/You | WC: 6647

Summary: She’s never been afraid of the dark, not really. She’s more concerned about getting lost in it. He’s haunted by every dark deed he’s ever done. It’s constantly nipping at his heels like a hell hound. He’s her light in the dark, and she’s the one bit of darkness he’s willing to embrace.

Tags/Warnings: No use of Y/N, canon-typical violence, eventual romance,  eventual smut,  fluff and angst, POV alternating (sometimes a little all over the place), no beta we die like men

Disclaimer: The base concept of Touched comes from @aylacavebear and is used with permission. I’ve taken creative liberties with it.

A/N: Well my silly little brain realized I made a slight mistake when copying and pasting stuff over to Tumblr for my previous chapter, and I missed an entire paragraph. Just in case, double check the very end of chapter two. There should be an additional paragraph between MC’s statement, “I need to find my place in the world, and I know it’s not here.” and Dean’s response. I hope you guys know how absolutely amazing it is to see familiar usernames pop into my notifications and knowing that you’re following along. Thank you so, so much! Chasing Shadows Series Masterlist

You hadn’t really thought this all through before you acted. The realization that the hunt was complete and that the boys would likely leave soon had been so jarring that you just went with your knee jerk reaction and demanded to go along with them. If you were being entirely honest with yourself, you hadn’t expected them to let you. Dean and Sam seemed like they had a system, and there was a zero percent chance that you weren’t mucking with it. But you needed answers. Your curiosity demanded it. When they had agreed, you had quickly packed together a duffel bag of clothes, naively underestimating just what you had asked for.

When Sam explained it all in full, you balked. Their home base wasn’t local, and they spent a majority of their time on the road.

But it didn’t deter you. You had marched your happy ass back upstairs, – intending to pack a full suitcase – taken one step into your room, remembered that there was a dead vampire body in there, and turned right back around to let the boys take care of it. You didn’t let yourself think too much into how they were going to deal with it and instead spent the time downstairs compiling a list of things you would need to take with you. Watching them drive off with the body had been incredibly difficult. There was literally nothing stopping them from leaving for good, your request to go with them be damned. 

You had trusted Sam and Dean with your life the night prior. Surely this was something less drastic to trust them about. Even so, you had checked the window in the front room for the Impala in between packing. They stayed true to their word and came back for you. So there you were. Two hours into a thirteen hour road trip with two absolute strangers with nothing but what would fit into a suitcase. And you were thrilled.

“So does everything in lore and mythology actually exist?” You asked excitedly. You were seated in the back seat of the Impala, your suitcase on the bench beside you, though you had spent most of the trip leaning forward as far as the seat belt would allow and peppering the boys with question after question. 

“I wouldn’t say everything. But we’ve definitely seen our fair share of creatures.” Sam had humored you most of the trip so far. The man was practically a walking textbook, and you were a sponge for information. 

“Ooh, you said that demons are real. Does that mean angels are too?” You had pieced together generic mental images of some of the creatures Sam had talked about. Most of them were cartoonish in nature, and you wondered if angels were the mass of eyes and wings that you had seen renditions of in various art pieces. Sam nodded.

“You know,” Dean chimed in, “we got an angel buddy we can call on. I’ll bet’cha he’ll have an answer for you.” You saw him glance at you in the rear view mirror, and the lap belt securing you creaked as you drew closer to him.

“Wait, really? It could be that easy?” A grin split across your face. “Then what?”

“What do you mean ‘then what’? Then you have your answer. And you do whatever you’re gonna do with it,” Dean said with a shrug. Your smile faltered. Why did that possibility disappoint you? You had spent countless years searching for an answer, and now that it was potentially so close, it didn’t have the same luster as before. Getting an answer directly from an angel seemed so… anticlimactic. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

If you were being entirely honest with yourself, you weren’t wholly sure why it wasn’t as appealing. There was something about the mystery of it. The search for the answer seemed more thrilling than actually having it. Your abilities have made you feel special, unique. Something that made you stand out from the crowd, a trait that all the heroes in fantasy stories you grew up reading had. What if the angel took one look at you and told you he had seen countless others like you, and you were just another run-of-the-mill creature the Winchesters hadn’t named yet? Doctors misdiagnosed all the time. Who was to say experienced hunters didn’t misidentify? You chose to hold onto the glimmer of hope that maybe you were something special.

“I just… I don’t know. I feel like it's cheating, just having someone tell me who or what I am.” You knit your brows together, leaning back in your seat. Sam turned as best as he could in his seat, having easily picked up on the change in your demeanor. 

“He’s not always available. Besides, we don’t have to ask him. If you really feel like you have to work for it, we have an entire library of knowledge you can dig through," Dean said. That lifted your spirits. A library full of information about supernatural creatures once thought to only live in stories. You were going to have a field day there.

When Dean glanced in the rearview mirror some three hours after you and Sam had momentarily stopped nerding out over the subtle differences between a strigoi and a garden variety vampire, he found that you had fallen asleep in the back seat. You had slumped over the comically overstuffed suitcase you had shoved your life into before throwing caution to the wind and hopping on the road with them. Your keys were in your hand, the LED light attached to them flashing through its colors. The sight pulled a half-smile from him.

Saving people was a natural part of the family business. He had done it time and time again, oftentimes without the victim ever knowing they had been in danger in the first place. Even when the victim knew, a ‘thank you’ was all that the Winchesters would ever ask for. But you? When he had watched you step out from the shadows, tears streaking down your face, you had looked at him with something he had never seen directed his way. He’d seen appreciative looks meant for him before, and a woman’s fancying gaze was nothing new. But the look in your wide eyes had been something more akin to the look a damsel in distress would give to the main character as he saved her in one of the old Western movies Dean had watched before. Being regarded as a hero was new.

He knew that the things he and Sam did technically classified them both as the good guys, but Dean wouldn’t delude himself into believing that he was a good guy. There was far too much blood on his hands to be the one who wore the white hat. Dean had accepted that fact long ago, ingrained it into his very being. What was the saying? Something something, take nothing and leave only footprints? It would have to do for Dean. Take nothing from the world and leave fleeting memories of him in the minds of others.

He should’ve been upset. You had absolutely no idea what you were asking to be involved in. Hunting wasn’t something people just decided to get into. The 401k and dental benefits were severely lacking, and that wasn’t even considering all the occupational hazards that went along with it. More than anything, he should’ve been angrier with himself. Saying yes and allowing you to tag along was absolutely asinine in retrospect, but the feeling of your lips against his the night prior flashed to the forefront of his mind every time he thought about saying ‘no’ and taking back the decision. Dean was no stranger to kissing people, but he was used to fast, desperate kisses that led to wrinkled bed sheets and sweet nothings gasped into existence. Even though he could clearly see that you were into him – you were awful at hiding your lingering glances – there hadn’t been any of that push for more behind your actions. Kissing had always been a means to an end, but without the promise of sex, it became a destination in and of itself. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had kissed him without the expectation of being shown a good time.

By the fourth or fifth time Dean had glanced at you in the mirror, he caught a glimpse of Sam watching him from the passenger side. He quickly reigned his thoughts in and met Sam’s gaze, letting nonchalance smooth over his features.

“What’s up, Sammy?” he asked, trying to sound more upbeat than he actually felt. Sam’s expression told Dean that he wasn’t buying it. Working so closely with Sam for as long as he had was a double edged sword. No one in the world knew him as well as Sam did. While that meant he and Sam were like extensions of each other when on a hunt, it also meant that he could read Dean like a book. Dean pretended he couldn’t.

“You said yes.” There was an edge in Sam’s voice, and Dean recognized the ‘I’m about to call you out on your bullshit’ tone.

“I say yes to a lot of things. Burgers, beer, pie... pretty women.”

“Except you wouldn’t say yes to a pretty woman asking to become a hunter. Yet here we are.”

“She didn’t ask to be a hunter, Sam. She wanted answers. Big difference. One puts you face to face with some ugly sons of bitches. The most dangerous thing about a book is a paper cut. Or dying of boredom… but I can think of a few ways to keep that from happening.” Dean quirked his eyebrows suggestively. Sam grimaced.

“Gross.”

“You’re the one who went digging for the answers.”

“You know that’s not what I was getting at.” Dean didn’t respond, so Sam veered off into a slightly safer conversation route. “Okay, fine. Any thoughts about what she is?”

It was an obvious out, and Dean was all too happy to take it.

“Well she passed the big three, so that rules out a lot. There were family photos all over the house, and a crucifix hanging above the front door.” Dean took another glance in the rearview mirror, making sure you were still passed out. He dropped his voice. “Cas can give us better clarity later. She can hunt down her answer all she wants, but I’ll feel better knowing she’s not something Cas says we need to worry about.”

“Yeah, whatever you say, Dean,” Sam said, shaking his head with a disbelieving half-smile on his face. He knew Sam wasn’t buying it, but Dean was stubborn enough that, if he dug his heels in deep, Sam would eventually let it go.

You woke with one hell of a crick in your neck. Falling asleep on your suitcase had been a terrible mistake, and now you were going to pay for it for the next day, at least. You sat up and rolled your shoulders, working out the stiffness as best as you could.

“Morning, sleeping beauty.” You met Dean’s gaze in the rear view mirror, and you could see him grinning. You smiled back.

“Good morning,” you responded, taking a look out the window. You were no longer on the highway. Instead, it looked as though you guys were traveling through a small town, not unlike the one you grew up in. “Where are we?”

“Bumfuck nowhere, Kansas,” Dean said, “Sam might have found another case, and it’s on our way. Figured it couldn’t hurt to stop by and see if it’s something down our alley.” Your next breath was sharp.

“What are we hunting?” you asked quietly, all traces of drowsiness wiped clear from your system. Dean’s grin fell.

“We,” he motioned from himself to Sam, “are hunting a possible ghost. You are staying at the motel room we’re about to get.”

To make his point, Dean turned off the main road, pulling into the parking lot of a motel that sat across the street from a small diner and a pawn shop. You frowned.

“What do you mean? I can’t come with you guys?”

“Look,” Dean said your name and slung an arm across the back of the front bench of the car, twisting to look at you fully. “Sam and I have done this hundreds of times. You haven’t even been with us for a full 24 hours, and I’m not going to put you back in the middle of a case. You asked to come along so you could get answers. This doesn’t have anything to do with answers you’re looking for.” His tone held an air of finality that reminded you of the way your dad used to sound when he had made up his mind about something. You crossed your arms, likely looking as much like a kid as you felt at the moment. When you didn’t argue back, he got out of the car and went into the office.

You turned to Sam.

“Can’t you say something to him?” you asked, motioning to Dean’s retreating back. Sam shook his head, his long hair flopping a bit with the movement. Your frown deepened.

“He’s right. There’s too much that can go wrong even when it’s him and me on a case. You’ve seen firsthand that what we do is dangerous.”

“But wouldn’t it be better to have an extra set of eyes and ears on things? What if you interview people and you miss something they say? Or what if it’s a whole pack of vampires? Wouldn’t having more people be beneficial in that scenario?”

“Can you tell me the difference between a poltergeist and a banshee?” The sudden shift in the conversation caught you off guard, and your scowl quickly gave way to a confused look.

“What?”

“How do you get rid of a vengeful spirit? What can you do to slow it down?” Sam hit you with question after question, asking another before you could even begin to say ‘I don’t know.’ “You don’t know,” he said for you. “And that’s okay. We don’t expect you to. But on a case, there are things you need to know otherwise you put everyone at risk, including yourself.” As Sam explained his reasoning, he methodically stripped away every ounce of fight you had in your system until all you could do was nod dumbly in agreement with him. You didn’t like it, but it was a sound explanation. 

The three of you settled down into the motel room rather unceremoniously. You could see it in the way that they moved that they had a routine figured out. Dean tossed a duffel bag onto the bed Sam was sitting on, and you hadn’t missed the fact that there were only two beds in the room. On one hand, it would make the most sense for the two of them to share a bed and leave the other one for yourself. On the other, though, there was a solid part of you that was sure they were going to relegate you to the loveseat by the door. Both Winchesters were tall, and there was no way either of them were going to be able to get a good night’s rest on it. 

“Scoot over, Sammy. We’re back to sharing,” Dean grunted as he collapsed on the mattress next to the bag he had just thrown. Annoyance flashed across Sam’s face, and you saw him glance from Dean to you then back to Dean.

It would be a lie if you said you were only a little disappointed this hadn’t been a full on ‘only one bed and two of us’ cliche moment. You were fairly confident that Dean had some interest in you. The few times you had caught him looking at you in the car, he had met your gaze fearlessly and flashed that toothy smile that caused your stomach to flip. Every time. This wasn’t some Hallmark movie where a traveller came through and swept a small town girl off her feet. That sort of thing didn’t happen in real life. You had barely set your suitcase down beside the bed that had been unofficially dubbed yours before the boys were back on their feet.

“We’re gonna go do some investigating. Shouldn’t take us too long. We should be back around dinner time, and we can hit up that diner across the way,” Dean unzipped the bag he had set on the bed and passed a handgun over to you.

“You have both of our numbers, right?” Sam asked, double checking that his own phone was safely tucked away in his pocket. You nodded and took the firearm, noting that it was the same one you had been given before. 

“When we leave, you lock the deadbolt and stay here. You don’t let anyone in that isn’t me or Sam, and if you aren’t sure, you call. Got it?”

“What do you mean if I’m not sure?” You paused for a second. “Wait, nevermind. You’re talking about shapeshifters, aren’t you?”

The boys had left three hours ago, and you were running out of things to keep yourself occupied. The TV in the motel room didn’t have many channels, and the only thing worth watching on any of them were reruns of old sitcoms. There were only so many mind-numbing episodes of sitcoms you could stomach, and three hours of them were pushing it. You had dug through all the drawers in the room and had a notepad and golf pencil to show for your efforts. By hour four, you had had enough. The room was stifling, and you were sure that if you had spent any more time pacing, you were going to wear through the thin carpet. Between the lack of anything engaging in the room and the gnawing concern that maybe something bad had happened to Sam or Dean, you were ready to rip your hair out. You needed something to serve as a distraction.

The pawn shop’s neon ‘open’ sign across the way drew your eye when you peeked out the window. Sure, you had been told to stay put, but really, how much trouble could you get into going across the way? You tucked the handgun beneath the pillow of your assigned bed, took three steps towards the door, then stopped. How much danger did a ghost pose? Did it stick to one place? Or did it choose the people it latched onto or lashed out at? What were you even thinking? If it was a ghost, then you were in no more danger across the street than you were in the motel room. You wouldn’t be far, and it wouldn’t be for long. You were a big girl who could make her own decisions. You made sure to grab the room key on your way out.

The pawn shop was small and dingy, and the bars on the windows made it feel prison-like. There was a bell above the door that jingled when you walked in. The girl sitting behind the counter didn’t even bother looking up from the book she was reading, only making a small noise of acknowledgement as you walked by her. She was dressed from head to toe in black with several face piercings that you were sure would’ve been a bitch and a half to get. Honestly, she looked as bored as you felt. The shop was dead with only the two of you in it. There were only a handful of aisles in the shop which subsequently meant that you had meandered your way through them in no time. You went through for a second look, taking any chance you could get at spending time away from the motel room. The amount of junk that people pawned off was astounding. There were several power tools that looked like they would need a prayer to start working and far too many VHS players that people had likely gotten rid of with the advent of DVDs.

“Hey,” a voice caused you to freeze midway through reaching for a closed toolbox. You looked up to see the gal from behind the counter standing at the end of the aisle. 

“Uh... yeah?” you responded, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“There’s something you might like over here,” she said, her tone deadpan. You stayed rooted to where you were standing for a moment. Something felt... off, but you couldn’t quite place your fingers on what might have been causing the feeling. The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end, and you briefly reprimanded yourself for leaving the gun back in the motel room. This was weird, too weird for your comfort. But despite it all feeling strange, it didn’t necessarily feel wrong. It would be easy to leave and book it across the way back to the room. Dean and Sam would never have any idea that you had left, and things would be fine. The worker’s face poked from around the shelf after a moment, expression still impassive. “Come on. I don’t bite, I promise.”

And that’s what did it, your honor. That’s what had you running across the parking lot and barricading yourself in the motel room, crappy wooden chair braced against the door knob and you huddling in the shower, gun in hand. You absolutely weren’t going to be another vampire’s meal, and the ghost wasn’t going to possess you without a fight. Could ghosts even possess people? Sam was right earlier. You really had no idea about anything in the realm of the supernatural. It was officially your new goal to learn anything and everything about every supernatural creature that you could. By the time you were done with the library they had promised you, you were going to be a goddamn encyclopedia. You lost track of how long you spent in the bathroom, ears straining for any hint that the girl across the way had followed after you. When you finally deemed it safe enough to step out from the shower, you brandished the gun, eyes sweeping across the room warily. Nothing seemed out of place. The chair was still tucked against the door, and the only sound in the room was the blood rushing in your ears.

This was fine. 

Everything was fine.

You took several deep breaths, centering yourself back in the moment. Okay. The question then became ‘how to tell the boys you might have found a lead without revealing that you left the room.’ You had the very distinct feeling that telling them you left wasn’t going to fly very well. Was there a lie that would sound believable enough? God, what if there wasn’t even anything going on with that girl, and she was just weird? Was this all just one big case of apophenia? Dean and Sam said they were hunting a ghost; what were the chances that you just happened to come across the thing? Logically, it didn’t make sense. But still, there was something about the place that you couldn’t shake. And your curiosity was clawing at you.

By the time the boys had come back to the room and shared their findings, you had devised the perfect plan to lead them to the possible ghost without ever letting on that you had ever stepped out of the room. To your dismay, they came back triumphant, talking about how the spirit had latched onto some ancient heirloom that was passed down in a family. When the last family member had died and given the heirloom to someone of a different bloodline, the spirit that stuck around to protect the initial family hadn’t been happy and instead killed whoever had the heirloom. It was a cut and dry case. They had destroyed the heirloom, and without it, the ghost had nothing to tether it to this realm. Your foot tapped impatiently as they spoke, pushing around the last few of your fries on your plate. You interspersed questions about ghosts here and there, slowly honing in on your theory. Only powerful ghosts could possess people, and it was very rare that a ghost possessing someone had good intentions. Could there be more than one ghost in the same town? It wasn’t impossible. Improbable, maybe. But still within the realm of possibilities. You weren’t willing to let your hunch go to waste so quickly.

“Can we go into the pawn shop next door?” you asked when the bill came around. Dean raised an eyebrow at you.

“Doubt they have anything good,” he said with a shrug as he tossed several bills onto the table.

“Please? I’ve been cooped up in the hotel room all day. I’m dying to spend some time outside of it,” you pressed, putting on your best puppy dog pout. Sam laughed.

“You two can go. After getting tossed around like a ragdoll, I need a hot shower and some sleep.” Sam brushed his hair out of his face and moved to stand up from the booth. Dean followed suit.

“Just what I need… someone else in my life who has puppy dog eyes as a weapon.” He snatched one of the fries you had left behind on your plate. “Let’s go see what kind of junk they have next door.”

As much as you had wanted Dean to walk into the pawn shop first, he kindly held the door for you and made a dramatic gesture of bowing as you walked past. “After you, princess.” You laughed and tamped down your nerves enough to place your hand on his head, briefly noting how deceptively soft his hair was, and pushed, forcing his bow to deepen.

“A real bow to royalty would expose your neck. It shows reverence,” you teased. He chuckled and turned his head enough to look at you.

“I always associated reverence with religion. I’m not a religious man, but I’d worship you if you asked.” You were pretty sure your eyes had doubled in size because wow that was a line if you had ever heard one. But also, how the hell he had delivered it in a way that didn’t make you cringe was truly a mystery. You didn’t have a response for him and instead continued into the pawn shop, warmed by the blush Dean had managed to color your cheeks with.

The same woman with piercings from earlier was seated behind the cash register again. She glanced up from her book, and you froze in place. The two of you made eye contact, but you didn’t see a hint of recognition in her eyes before she went back to the book she was reading. Despite that, you still felt on edge. Something about this place just didn’t feel... normal. Just like before, you couldn’t quite say that things felt wrong. 

“Does this place feel weird to you at all?” you asked quietly as Dean stepped into the shop behind you. 

“It’s a little musty, but you can’t really have high expectations for a small place like this,” he responded. He made a move to wander down an aisle, but you grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and tugged him in the opposite direction.

“Can... can we look over here?” you urged, pointing towards the glass jewelry case just to the right of the cashier. Maybe he just needed to get closer and his hunter senses would tingle. That was a thing, right? Definitely how those worked.

“Yeah, go for it, sweetheart. I’m gonna look over here,” he jut his thumb in the opposite direction you were hoping for. You had to suppress the frown that threatened to tug the corners of your mouth downwards. Of course he wouldn’t make this easy on you. 

You approached the jewelry case carefully, keeping the cashier in your peripheral vision. She seemed thoroughly engrossed in her book, though you weren’t ready to fully believe that she wasn’t secretly tracking you just above the pages. The jewelry case was only half full of various rings and necklaces neatly laid out for viewing. There were several commemorative coins and badges and a few knives in the case as well. Surprisingly though, none of the glittering pieces caught your eye. Instead, your gaze gravitated to a single dark pendant. You scooted closer to the side of the display case where the pendant hung. The thoughts of what the cashier might have been up to suddenly slipped from your mind as the necklace drew all of your attention to itself. 

Realistically, it wasn’t anything fancy and probably didn’t belong in the same case as the diamonds that sat next to it. It was a simple crescent moon shaped pendant that was a little smaller than a silver dollar. Silver wire was wrapped around it haphazardly, and it hung from a black, braided cord. The most interesting thing about it was that it appeared to have been chipped out from a solid piece of obsidian. You vaguely remember seeing someone at a museum forever and a day ago chipping away flakes of obsidian from a larger chunk to shape an arrowhead. This looked the same, right down to the edges that you were confident were sharp enough to leave a nasty cut if you grabbed it the wrong way. 

“Can I look at this?” you asked, momentarily forgetting all about your concerns of a possibly possessed cashier. Big mistake.

The cashier was already looking at you when you glanced at her to ask for the necklace in the case. There was a flicker of acknowledgement in her eyes, and a smile that looked entirely out of place on her crept over her features. Your hackles rose, and you spared the briefest moment of attention towards where Dean was hidden behind several shelves. If you screamed, surely he would get to you in time. You saw him tuck the handgun into the inside pocket of his jacket before dinner, so you weren’t entirely caught flatfooted. Well, he wasn’t. You, on the other hand, only had the silver pocket knife Dean had insisted you cut yourself with before he let you into the Impala. While it was better than nothing, you weren’t sure you wanted to get close enough to stab a ghost or whoever it might have possessed. 

The sound of the pendant clattering onto the glass case drew you from your thoughts. 

“This is what you were talking about, right?” the cashier asked in the same deadpan tone from earlier. You gave a single curt nod but didn’t move to touch the necklace. As if she had sensed your hesitation, the cashier took a step back, back pressed against the wall behind her. You moved slowly, half expecting her to lunge at you or screech or whatever it was that ghosts did to scare people. She didn’t budge, and as your fingertips brushed against the stone pendant, you were surprised to find that it was warm. Touching it immediately soothed your nerves, and while you were still consciously wary of your surroundings, the little voice in the back of your head that told you to run as far away as possible went quiet. Your shoulders relaxed, the tension falling away from them in large chunks the longer you held onto the moon.

“How much for it?” you asked, and when you looked at the cashier again, it seemed as though the stone’s calming effect extended to her as well. The strange smile that had split her face before was more serene and human-like. 

“Five bucks and we’ll call it even,” she said simply. You nodded, still unsettled by the entire situation. But if it were a bad situation, then Dean would’ve noticed it, right? Speaking of, you were about to turn and call out for him, wanting to know where he had gotten off to. There weren’t many places to hide in this small shop.

“What’d you find?” Dean popped up behind you, and you just about tossed the necklace into the air. You turned around to glare at him.

“Where did you go?”

“Wanted to see if they had any guns I was interested in. What have you got there?” He motioned to your hand, and you held it out to show him the necklace. Dean gave a small nod of acknowledgement, and you paid for the necklace, running a finger along the smooth surface of the moon all the while. You saw it when the cashier handed you the receipt for your purchase. Her movements, which up to that point had seemed almost stilted and awkward, evened out, and as you watched her grab her book and take a seat on the stool again, it looked like the most natural thing of all. She had gone back to ignoring you and Dean. It was fucking weird.

You stepped out of the pawn shop with Dean in tow, and you slipped your newly acquired necklace over your head. The pendant, which was still inexplicably warm, sat against your skin as you tucked it beneath your shirt. As soon as it was settled, the pendant suddenly hummed to life, vibrating gently for a few endless seconds before going quiet. 

“Dean, di–” Your vision went dark.

The Void was a familiar place to you. You didn’t know all of its intricacies, but deep down, you knew it like it was an extension of yourself. It wasn’t quite a friend, but it wasn’t an enemy either. The Void was just that – a void. A mass expanse of nothing that existed for reasons you couldn’t possibly fathom. And there was nothing there. Besides you.

And whatever that was.

Ahead of you was something you couldn’t find the words for. The Void was dark, lacking all light, but whatever you were looking at was somehow darker. If the Void was a shadow, then the thing was a negative space within the darkness. It had a vaguely humanoid shape, but the longer you stared and tried to make out a definitive shape, the more the edges of the nothingness shifted, eluding you. You swallowed hard. You hadn’t Walked into the shadows, and the only time you ever slipped into the Void by mistake was when you were sleeping and had a nightmare. Although you couldn’t make out an actual shape of whatever was in front of you, it lifted its head as though it had been hunched over with its back towards you.

It turned around, and although this other side of it was still as featureless as the first, you swore you could feel eyes on you. Its gaze pierced through you, seeing every building block that had put you together piece by piece. In that moment, you had the very distinct feeling that whatever this thing was could unmake you with little more than a thought. And it was a terrifying realization.

“Well, well, well... you aren’t supposed to be here.” The words resonated in your head. They were a whisper against your cheek. They were a song in your heart. They were everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. But most importantly, the Void didn’t eat them. The words were spoken in a voice you didn’t recognize, but it was distinctly feminine in nature. You couldn’t explain it, but you watched as the figure raised a finger to their lips. “Shh... we’re both breaking rules by being here.”

“Who are you?” Your voice sounded foreign, and you realized this was the first time you could hear in the Void. 

“That’s not the question you want to ask.” The voice’s tone was gentle but firm, like a teacher nudging a student in the direction of the correct answer.

“What are you?”

“Hmm... almost there but not quite. Give it one more try, won’t you, my dear?” 

“What am I?” The words left your lips before you realized you had even thought them.

The figure was suddenly right in front of you, invisible fingers pulling the crescent moon from beneath your shirt and unseen lips pressed against your forehead. You looked up, finding more nothingness in front of you but feeling the warm embrace of one arm wrapped around you.

“You are my Touched, and I bestow my blessing upon you.” The Void exploded, leaving you floating in a sea of stars that glittered like distant coins. It was a cloudless night, and you found yourself reaching out towards the only dark spot in the sky shaped like the crescent you wore around your neck.

“Hey, sweetheart? You in there?” Dean was snapping his fingers in front of your face. You jolted back into reality with a start, finding yourself standing just outside of the pawn shop. “You alright? Where’d you go?” Dean asked, and you watched as his eyes searched your face for any sign of... something. You weren’t sure what he was looking for.

“Yeah... sorry. Uh...” You tried running what had just happened through your head, but the harder you focused on it, the more it slipped away from you. “I wasn’t sure if I turned off the stove before I left home.” Dean laughed, your words placating him. 

“I’m pretty sure you checked everything about three times over before we left. I think it’s a safe bet that you’re okay.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

The motel room was dark when Dean pushed the door open, and when he flicked the light on, he let out a low, exasperated groan.

“Oh come on!” When you stepped inside, you saw exactly what had drawn that kind of reaction from him. Sam had followed through on his plan for the evening. You could hear the bathroom fan still humming across the room, and Sam was collapsed in a heap on top of the blankets of the bed he and Dean were sharing. Supposed to be sharing. Sam had fallen asleep right in the middle of the bed. Whether that was on purpose or not was a different question, though. 

You wet your lips. Maybe there was a god and he had heard your unsaid prayers from earlier. With a heavy sigh, Dean grabbed his duffel bag from the bed and moved it to the small wooden chair in the room.

“Do you want help moving him?” you asked. Sam was tall and decently built – if the T-shirt clinging to his back muscles was anything to go by – but his height meant that his weight was likely more spread out. You certainly wouldn’t be able to lift him, but you were confident you could probably drag him a bit with Dean’s help.

“Nah, he took the brunt of the ghosts’s attention today. He deserves it. Just toss me one of the extra pillows; I’ll make do on the couch.” Even though his tone was nonchalant, there was a hint of something more beneath it. You remembered him mentioning that he was the older brother at some point during the car ride, and while you hadn’t ever had siblings growing up, you had friends that were practically family over the years. You would’ve given up the bed for them too if it meant they got to be comfortable.

A beat passed between you two as you grabbed a pillow from the second bed.

“There’s room in my bed,” you said before you could let your nerves get the better of you. “If you want,” you added hastily. Green eyes met yours, and your fingers unconsciously found the shape of the pendant beneath your shirt. It thrummed against your skin, and you felt your nervousness melt away as Dean spoke, his million-dollar smile lighting up the room more than the overhead lamp.

“You didn’t have to conspire with Sammy just to get me in your bed. All you had to do was ask, sweetheart.”

It felt good being God’s favorite.

---

Likes, reblogs, and comments are greatly appreciated!

Taglist: @wendichester

Drop a comment, ask away, or add yourself to my taglist!

Part 2 --- Part 4

[powdermelonkeg]

I've seen some Reddit refugee PSAs going around, so I thought I'd contribute a few tips of my own that I haven't seen covered:

If you go to the original iteration of your post (not any subsequent reblogs, your ORIGINAL post) you can delete any comments you don't like. This does not apply to text added by reblog, only to the message bubble section.

Ublock Origin has trouble figuring out which parts of desktop to get rid of. If you want to delete a certain element (for example, the store widget), and your usual method isn't working, what you want to do is: - Right-click - Inspect Element/Inspect (Q) - Look at the thing that's highlighted, then go all the way up until you hit the nearest "div = class" marker - Right-click - Hover over "Copy," then pick "CSS Selector" - Click your Ublock extension icon - Click the gears - Find a blank space on the list that pops up and type "www.tumblr.com##" without the quotes - Paste whatever you copied with CSS Selector after that, with no space between it and the ## - Click "Apply changes"

You can hide your follower lists and liked lists. This is actively encouraged. Desktop solution: - Account (the person icon in the corner) - Scroll down until you find your blog name and click "Blog Settings" - Scroll through the page that pops up until you find "Share posts you like" and "Share the Tumblrs you're following" and toggle them off. This is the 3rd and 4th section of that page for me, respectively Mobile solution: - Your blog (the person icon in the bottom right corner) - Settings (gear in the top right corner) - Scroll down to "Pages" - Toggle "Likes" and "Following"

Desktop only: Left your Tumblr logged in on someone else's phone/computer? Worried about account security? No problem! - Account (the person icon in the corner) - Settings (NOT Blog Settings. Just Settings. It has a gear icon) - Scroll all the way to the bottom - You have a list of any logins that have happened on your account. They come with the IP addresses used to access it. It tells you where it happened, and from what operating system. Deleting those with the X next to the listing logs that iteration out. If you have any on that list that you DON'T recognize, I recommend logging them out and changing your password. Note: It says the list is only for the past 30 days. This is a lie. I have some that date back over a year.

Desktop only: You can make gradient text in your posts by following these instructions.

If your post has been blowing up and you're sick of the notifications, deleting the original post will delete its notes from your activity. THIS CANNOT BE UNDONE. If you would still like to check on the post, just not have it in your activity, reblog it before deleting it. You can continue to check the notes tab from the reblog while the original is gone.

It is common etiquette to tag spoilers for new games/shows/etc (ie, released in the last two months) as #[insert fandom here] spoilers, sensitive subjects as #[insert sensitive topic] tw, and long posts as #long post. Yes, even if you have a readmore (which you can add by clicking the weird squiggly line when you start a new block).

There is a bug on desktop involving readmore lines. Whenever you go back to edit a post that has a readmore in it, it moves the readmore down by one block. Make sure you move it back into its proper place each time by clicking and dragging.

You can click and drag different blocks of text to reorder them. Only regular blocks, though; not lists like this one. You can also do this with images you've inserted.

Desktop only: You can delete/remove tags/add tags en masse to posts using the Mass Post Editor. - Account (person icon in the corner) - Scroll down to your blog - Mass Post Editor - Select any posts in the grid you want. "Edit tags" is only for removing tags, you need "Add tags" to add more

Desktop only: You can see any blog's history of posts by typing in [blogname].tumblr.com/archive. The page that pops up looks very similar to the Mass Post Editor. You can filter posts on that blog by any of their most used tags, by month, or by post type. This is especially useful for locating pornbots. Some pornbots will try to legitimize their place by picking a random popular tag (for example, #horror) and reblogging the top 10-100 posts in that tag without commentary. See if they've been active for more than week with the archive month filter. Granted, the person may also be a new user, like yourself. It takes some deduction. But it's much easier to use the archive than it is to scroll through all of their posts until you hit the bottom.

Desktop only shortcuts: J = move down one post. Useful for scrolling fast or getting past a notoriously long post (as in "Do you like the color of the sky" and all its cousins) K = move up one post Shift + R = reblog a post. Does not add tags L = like a post C = create a new post (brings up options on what kind of post) . (period) = return to the top of the page Shift + Q = add a post to your queue. Does not add tags Shift + P = cycle through the color palette

[the-greatest-choice-developer]

[System Notification]

Your choice has been registered:

They both get a blue pop up.

[System Notification]

-Scene 2: The Aftermath-

-Part 6-

With a crackle and a small flash, what appeared to Javier as a shattered piece of glass materialized before him. From what he could see, one also appeared in front of Lloyd.

“Ah!” Lloyd stared at it, then noticed the one in front of Javier. “Ah?”

“… one of your ‘abilities’?” Javier asked.

“Well, sorta? Something’s not … quite right,” Lloyd answered, tentatively poking at the glass. It shattered into tiny glowing tiles, making both of them jump.

Javier moved to block Lloyd, but the glass in front of him stopped him in his tracks. Runes began appearing across its surface.

The shattered glass in front of Lloyd merged into a cracked mass as more runes appeared.

“Why is it in Korean now?—Wait, what do you mean?” Lloyd mumbled, noticing the changes.

Lloyd’s eyes darted back and forth before he let out a huff. “Is that even Korean? Did you run that through Google Translate like five times?”

The glass shifted, almost agitated, changing runes again. Lloyd smiled. “I mostly understand. No access to info for now.” he noted.

‘… Can he read those runes?’ Javier thought. 

“… Can you read those runes?” Javier finally asked aloud.

Lloyd looked at him blankly for a second. “Have you never seen foreign writing before?”

…

“Do you even know how to read?”

‘I’ll punch him.’ Javier thought to himself.

“How can you read a ‘foreign’ language?” Javier asked, trying to keep his patience.

“I told you, University of Korea,” Lloyd replied blankly.

He had said that earlier, Javier recalled. 

Why IS it in Korean? But why would Lloyd attend a foreign school? Was it even possible to study at a foreign school from here in the Magentano Empire? Javier had to admit that his knowledge of schools outside of what Julian had shared with him was lacking.

While Javier pondered this, he didn’t notice the glass runes next to him changing or Lloyd walking up to him. “Javier!” Lloyd’s voice snapped him back to the moment. “Try sensing if you can use any magic or something.”

“Magic?…” Javier recalled the distortions had given Lloyd abilities outside of Javier’s normal skill set. 

Concentrating, Javier focused on his mana heart at first, then on the mana rings, and finally on the foreign sensation of Lloyd’s mana. It felt strange.

“G-get away from that thing!” A voice shouted nearby causing them both to whip around.

The faint sound like a pig’s squeal and orders being barked.

The two exchanged a glance. Javier gestured that he was going to help, while Lloyd grimaced and motioned toward the tree where they needed to dig up the root. Javier sighed in resignation, then nodded toward the sound of the fighting. Lloyd pouted, pulling out Javier’s sword before heading toward the scene.

When Lloyd arrived, it was a sight to behold. The creature before him was not one he had ever seen.

It had a lean body covered in short, bristly fur, with powerful back legs built for jumping. Its long ears are upright. Its head is broad and flat with a wide snout, and two small tusks jut from its lower jaw. It stood on thick, split hooves that seemed disproportionate to its body. Oh yeah, and it was freaking huge! Twice as tall as any of the elves nearby.

‘It’s like a deer drawn by an alien.’ Lloyd thought to himself, tilting his head. Or is it like a pig’s limbs on a rabbit’s body? A pig-bit… a rig?

He had agreed to come check things out, but he wasn’t in any hurry to face that thing.

He noticed one of the elves notice him, but before they could react, a giant gust of wind swept them all off their feet, followed by an ear-piercing screech. Lloyd turned around just in time to see the rig pinned to the ground by an enormous, scaled claw.

Red scales… Lloyd’s eyes slowly traveled upward, only to find an entire dragon standing before them.

“You seem to be struggling with a … unique creature,” the dragon’s voice rumbled.

Lloyd’s fight-or-flight instincts were battling each other, recalling the horror he had felt from the other dragon. This one wasn’t nearly as intimidating… but it was still a dragon.

[pranjaldalvi]

Mass Notification System Market Analysis: Driving Safety, Communication, and Business Continuity

In an age where real-time communication is critical to public safety, operational efficiency, and crisis management, Mass Notification Systems (MNS) have become indispensable across multiple sectors. These systems deliver critical messages during emergencies, natural disasters, IT disruptions, and public safety threats. As organizations recognize the importance of rapid, reliable communication, the Mass Notification System market is poised for significant expansion.

This article delves into the market dynamics, key trends, segment analysis, and competitive landscape that define the current and future trajectory of the MNS market.

Market Overview

The global Mass Notification System market has experienced strong growth and is expected to reach approximately USD 41.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of over 20% from 2021 to 2026. This growth is fueled by increasing threats from natural disasters, terrorism, cyberattacks, and public health emergencies—as seen with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The adoption of MNS solutions is expanding beyond traditional use in government and emergency services to encompass education, healthcare, corporate, transportation, and industrial sectors. The demand is particularly high in regions with stringent compliance requirements and high population density.

Key Market Drivers

Increased Need for Emergency Communication The growing frequency of natural disasters, mass shootings, and health emergencies has amplified the need for timely mass alerts. Governments, schools, and enterprises are investing in systems that can alert large groups within seconds.

Regulatory Compliance Compliance with safety and communication standards, such as OSHA, Clery Act, and GDPR, mandates the implementation of effective communication protocols. Organizations are adopting MNS to meet these legal requirements.

Integration with Smart Technologies The integration of MNS with Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and geospatial analytics allows for smarter and more targeted messaging, enhancing responsiveness and personalization during crises.

Remote Workforce Trends The shift to remote work has increased the need for distributed communication tools. MNS platforms are being adopted to provide secure, multi-channel communication across mobile apps, SMS, voice, email, and social media.

Market Segmentation Analysis

By Component

Software: The largest and fastest-growing segment, with solutions offering customizable alert rules, dashboards, and real-time analytics.

Services: Includes installation, integration, maintenance, and consulting services critical for effective system deployment.

Hardware: Comprises PA systems, display boards, sirens, and alarms used in on-premises deployments.

By Deployment

On-Premise: Preferred in high-security environments like military and defense.

Cloud-Based: Gaining popularity due to scalability, lower upfront costs, and remote accessibility.

By Application

Emergency Response

Business Continuity

Disaster Recovery

Public Alerts and Warnings

IT Alerting

By End-User

Government & Public Sector

Healthcare

Education

Energy & Utilities

Transportation and Logistics

Enterprise

Regional Insights

North America holds the largest market share, driven by advanced infrastructure, regulatory mandates, and the presence of leading vendors.

Europe follows, supported by high public safety investments and GDPR-driven compliance efforts.

Asia-Pacific is emerging as a lucrative market due to rapid urbanization, smart city initiatives, and growing digital awareness in countries like India, China, and Japan.

Latin America and MEA are also investing in modern alert systems, especially in disaster-prone and politically volatile regions.

Competitive Landscape

The MNS market is competitive and fragmented, with global and regional players offering diverse solutions. Key players include:

Everbridge Inc.

Siemens AG

Honeywell International

Eaton Corporation

Blackboard Inc.

AtHoc (BlackBerry)

Singlewire Software

Alertus Technologies

These companies are investing in R&D, strategic acquisitions, and global partnerships to expand their reach and enhance product capabilities.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its growth, the MNS market faces certain challenges:

Privacy and Data Security: Cloud-based deployments raise concerns about data breaches and misuse of personal information.

Cost Constraints: Small and medium enterprises may find initial deployment costs prohibitive.

Integration Complexity: Ensuring compatibility with legacy systems and existing infrastructure remains a technical hurdle.

False Alerts and System Reliability: Malfunctions or errors in alert delivery can undermine trust in the system.

Vendors must address these challenges to ensure widespread adoption and long-term success.

Future Outlook

The future of the Mass Notification System market lies in intelligent, scalable, and integrated platforms. Emerging technologies like AI-powered analytics, real-time language translation, geofencing, and wearable alert devices will further revolutionize how notifications are sent and received.

As threats become more complex and widespread, organizations will continue investing in robust communication strategies. MNS will no longer be optional—it will be an essential component of risk management, public safety, and digital resilience.

Conclusion

Mass Notification Systems are playing a pivotal role in building resilient organizations and safe communities. As the market evolves with new technologies and use cases, vendors and users must stay ahead by embracing innovation, ensuring compliance, and maintaining a user-first approach. The demand for faster, smarter, and more reliable communication will drive the market toward even greater growth and transformation in the years ahead.

[itsolution4indiablog3]

Boost Your Business with WhatsApp Business API Noida

In today's fast-paced digital world, communication is key to business success. Companies need reliable, real-time platforms to engage with their customers, and WhatsApp Business API has emerged as one of the most effective tools for this purpose. For businesses in Noida looking to enhance their customer communication, the WhatsApp Business API Noida solution offers a seamless, scalable, and secure way to stay connected with clients.

What is WhatsApp Business API?

The WhatsApp Business API is a powerful interface that allows medium and large businesses to communicate with their customers using the WhatsApp platform. Unlike the regular WhatsApp Business App designed for small businesses, the API allows for automation, integration with CRM tools, and mass communication with high reliability.

With the API, businesses can:

Send notifications, alerts, and updates

Offer customer support with chatbot integration

Manage large volumes of messages

Integrate with backend systems like CRMs and ERPs

Why Choose WhatsApp Business API in Noida?

Noida is a growing business hub with a thriving ecosystem of startups, IT companies, and SMEs. As competition grows, personalized and timely communication becomes a vital differentiator. The WhatsApp Business API Noida solution is tailor-made for businesses in this region, offering localized support, easy onboarding, and strategic integration to suit specific business needs.

Key benefits include:

Localized customer service and support

Fast API deployment and onboarding

Compliance with Indian business regulations

Affordable pricing plans for SMEs

Key Features of WhatsApp Business API

Automated Messaging Set up automated replies for common queries, confirmations, and customer support.

Rich Media Sharing Share images, videos, documents, and more to enhance customer engagement.

End-to-End Encryption Ensure data privacy with WhatsApp’s secure communication protocol.

Multi-Agent Support Multiple support agents can use the same WhatsApp number simultaneously, improving response times.

CRM and ERP Integration Easily integrate with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or custom CRMs to centralize your communication strategy.

Use Cases for WhatsApp Business API

E-commerce and Retail Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and promotional offers.

Healthcare Offer appointment reminders, prescription updates, and health tips via WhatsApp.

Education Notify students and parents about schedule changes, exam dates, and important announcements.

Finance and Banking Provide real-time alerts for transactions, statements, and account updates.

Customer Support Use chatbots and live agents to resolve queries quickly and efficiently.

How to Get Started with WhatsApp Business API in Noida

Getting started is easier than ever with trusted local providers like IT Solution 4 India. Their WhatsApp Business API Noida service ensures businesses can integrate quickly with ongoing support and guidance.

Steps to get started:

Contact a verified solution provider

Submit your Facebook Business verification

Choose a phone number for your business

Set up and configure your API

Start communicating with your customers!

Why Choose IT Solution 4 India?

Local Expertise: Deep understanding of Noida’s business landscape

Affordable Plans: Packages designed for startups to enterprises

24/7 Support: Technical support to ensure smooth operations

Customization: Personalized solutions based on your business type

Whether you're a startup or an established enterprise, IT Solution 4 India provides a robust platform to scale your communication efforts through the WhatsApp Business API Noida solution.

Conclusion

The WhatsApp Business API is not just a messaging tool—it's a complete customer communication solution. Businesses in Noida can unlock new levels of customer engagement, operational efficiency, and brand trust by leveraging this powerful tool.

If you're ready to transform the way you connect with your customers, it's time to explore the potential of the WhatsApp Business API Noida platform.

[lacthehumann]

WEEK 10

Digital Citizenship & Social Media Conflict: Real-World Applications

Posted on March 17, 2025

Hey Tumblr fam! Today I'm exploring how theories of digital citizenship and social media conflict play out in our everyday online experiences. Let's look at real examples that showcase these concepts in action! ✨🌐

#BlackLivesMatter: Digital Citizenship in Practice

The #BlackLivesMatter movement exemplifies Mossberger et al.'s (2008) concept of digital citizenship as participation that benefits society. When George Floyd was murdered in 2020, social media became a crucial platform for organizing protests, sharing educational resources, and documenting police actions. Twitter users employed strategic hashtags to coordinate efforts, Instagram accounts compiled bail fund information, and TikTok creators explained complex concepts of systemic racism in accessible ways.

This wasn't just "slacktivism" - the online actions translated to offline impact. Research by Jackson et al. (2020) found that digital organizing directly contributed to record-breaking protest participation across all 50 US states and internationally (https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1777360).

r/wallstreetbets and GameStop: Multi-Level Governance in Action

The 2021 GameStop stock situation perfectly illustrates how social media governance operates at both micro and macro levels. Within the r/wallstreetbets subreddit, moderators (everyday users with no formal authority) suddenly found themselves managing an explosive growth in membership and coordinating a financial movement that challenged Wall Street.

At the macro level, this online community's actions triggered responses from multiple governance stakeholders. Robinhood (commercial interest) restricted trading, congressional hearings were held (state actors), and the SEC launched investigations (regulatory bodies). The case demonstrates how online communities can disrupt traditional power structures, forcing governance adaptations across systems (Chohan, 2021, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3774019).

Gamergate: The Playbook for Networked Harassment

What began as targeted harassment of game developer Zoë Quinn in 2014 evolved into what Marwick & Caplan (2018) identify as a perfect example of networked harassment. The coordinated attacks against women in gaming weren't just random trolling—they were organized across platforms including 4chan, Reddit, and Twitter.

Techniques refined during Gamergate continue to be used in online harassment campaigns today:

Doxing: Anita Sarkeesian had her address published, forcing her to leave her home

Brigading: Coordinated mass reporting of targets' accounts to get them suspended

Sea-lioning: Bad-faith "just asking questions" tactics used to exhaust targets

These methods were later deployed against journalists, politicians, and activists from marginalized groups, showing how online harassment techniques evolve and spread (Massanari, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444815608807).

Noelle Martin's Fight: Legal Remedies in Practice

Australian activist Noelle Martin discovered at age 18 that her social media photos had been stolen, digitally edited onto pornographic images, and shared on multiple websites without her consent. When she sought help, she found Australia lacked sufficient laws addressing this form of abuse.

Martin turned her traumatic experience into advocacy, campaigning for legislative change. Her efforts contributed to the criminalization of image-based sexual abuse in Western Australia in 2019 and informed Australia's Online Safety Act 2021, which now requires platforms to remove such content within 24 hours of notification.

Her case demonstrates how individual advocacy can drive legal reform, creating new protections for digital citizens (McGlynn & Rackley, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqw033).

Clementine Ford's Screenshot Strategy: Humor as Resistance

When Australian feminist writer Clementine Ford received messages calling her a "fat ugly slut" and worse, she employed what Vitis & Gilmour (2016) identify as humor-based resistance. Rather than silently blocking harassers, Ford began publishing screenshots of abusive messages alongside the sender's name and profile photo.

In one notable case, a man who sent Ford an abusive message lost his job after she shared the screenshot and tagged his employer. Her approach turned traditional power dynamics upside down—using visibility as a weapon against harassers who typically rely on anonymity and platform inaction.

This strategy of "naming and shaming" transformed individual harassment into a public conversation about online abuse, particularly against women (Vitis & Gilmour, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1177/1741659016652340).

Instagram's Anti-Bullying Features: Platform Pressure Success Story

After years of criticism regarding rampant harassment on their platform, Instagram introduced several anti-bullying features that demonstrate how user advocacy can drive corporate social responsibility:

Restricted accounts: Users can limit interactions with specific accounts without blocking them

Warning prompts: AI detects potentially offensive comments and asks users "Are you sure you want to post this?"

Hidden words: Automatic filtering of potentially offensive DM requests

According to Instagram's internal research, the warning prompt resulted in 40% of users editing or deleting their comment when prompted. This example shows how persistent user pressure can lead platforms to implement meaningful changes to governance structures, though critics rightfully note these changes came only after years of documented harm (Jhaver et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1145/3274433).

What Has Your Experience Been?

Digital citizenship isn't abstract theory—it's lived every day as we navigate online spaces. Have you witnessed these dynamics in your own communities? Have you used any of these resistance strategies? Share your experiences below! 💭👇

References

Chohan, U. W. (2021). Counter-hegemonic finance: The Gamestop short squeeze. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3774019

Jackson, S. J., Bailey, M., & Welles, B. F. (2020). #HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1777360

Jhaver, S., Ghoshal, S., Bruckman, A., & Gilbert, E. (2018). Online harassment and content moderation: The case of blocklists. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 25(2), 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1145/3274433

Marwick, A. E., & Caplan, R. (2018). Drinking male tears: Language, the manosphere, and networked harassment. Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), 543-559. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568

Massanari, A. (2017). #Gamergate and The Fappening: How Reddit's algorithm, governance, and culture support toxic technocultures. New Media & Society, 19(3), 329-346. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444815608807

McGlynn, C., & Rackley, E. (2017). Image-based sexual abuse. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 37(3), 534-561. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqw033

Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C. J., & McNeal, R. S. (2008). Digital citizenship: The internet, society, and participation. MIT Press.

Vitis, L., & Gilmour, F. (2016). Dick pics on blast: A woman's resistance to online sexual harassment using humour, art and Instagram. Crime, Media, Culture, 13(3), 335-355. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741659016652340

[msg24hrs]

Top Benefits of Using WhatsApp Business API for Enterprises

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses need an efficient and effective communication channel to connect with their customers. With over 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp has become a powerful platform for customer engagement. The WhatsApp API offers enterprises a seamless way to automate and enhance their interactions. In this blog, we will explore the top benefits of using the WhatsApp Business API and how it can revolutionize customer communication for businesses.

1. Improved Customer Engagement

Customer engagement is the key to business success, and the WhatsApp Business API provides an interactive platform for real-time conversations. Unlike traditional messaging channels, WhatsApp allows businesses to send rich media, such as images, videos, documents, and quick reply buttons, making interactions more engaging and effective. Enterprises can use automated replies and chatbots to provide instant responses to customer queries, ensuring 24/7 availability.

2. Enhanced Automation and Scalability

Enterprises handling a high volume of customer interactions require automation to streamline their processes. The API for WhatsApp enables businesses to integrate automated messaging, chatbots, and CRM systems, allowing seamless communication. With automation, companies can handle customer queries, send transactional notifications, and provide support without manual intervention, enhancing operational efficiency.

3. Secure and Reliable Communication

Security and reliability are crucial for enterprises dealing with sensitive customer data. The WhatsApp API ensures end-to-end encryption, providing a secure messaging environment for businesses and customers. Unlike traditional SMS and email, WhatsApp messages have a higher delivery rate, reducing the chances of messages getting lost or marked as spam. Enterprises can confidently use the platform to share important updates, invoices, and OTPs with their customers.

4. Cost-Effective Customer Support

Traditional customer support methods, such as phone calls and emails, can be costly and time-consuming. By using a WhatsApp Business API provider in India, enterprises can significantly reduce support costs while improving response times. Automated chatbots can handle FAQs, order tracking, and service requests, reducing the need for human agents. Additionally, WhatsApp’s multimedia capabilities allow businesses to provide interactive troubleshooting guides and video support, enhancing the overall customer experience.

5. Personalized Marketing Campaigns

With the Best WhatsApp API provider in India, businesses can leverage WhatsApp for personalized marketing campaigns. Unlike mass emails and SMS, WhatsApp messages feel more personal and have higher open and response rates. Enterprises can send targeted promotions, special offers, and product recommendations based on customer preferences and purchase history, resulting in better engagement and conversion rates.

6. Faster Transactions and Payment Integration

The WhatsApp Business API allows businesses to integrate payment solutions, enabling customers to make transactions directly through WhatsApp. This feature is especially beneficial for e-commerce businesses, where customers can browse products, place orders, and complete payments within the chat interface. Enterprises can also send automated order confirmations, invoices, and delivery updates, enhancing customer satisfaction.

7. Multi-Agent Support with CRM Integration

Large enterprises require a structured communication system to handle multiple customer interactions simultaneously. The API for WhatsApp supports multi-agent access, allowing different team members to manage conversations efficiently. Integration with CRM systems ensures that all customer interactions are recorded, enabling businesses to provide personalized support and maintain detailed customer histories.

8. Detailed Analytics and Insights

Understanding customer behavior is essential for business growth, and the WhatsApp Business API offers valuable analytics and insights. Enterprises can track message delivery rates, response times, and customer engagement metrics. By analyzing this data, businesses can optimize their messaging strategies, improve customer service, and enhance marketing campaigns.

9. Competitive WhatsApp API Pricing

For enterprises looking to leverage the power of WhatsApp, understanding WhatsApp API pricing is essential. Pricing varies based on the number of messages sent, session-based charges, and the WhatsApp Business API provider in India chosen. Compared to traditional customer communication channels, WhatsApp API is cost-effective, offering a higher return on investment due to its superior engagement rates.

10. Industry-Specific Use Cases

The WhatsApp API can benefit various industries, including e-commerce, healthcare, travel, and banking. E-commerce businesses can use it for order confirmations and promotions, healthcare providers can send appointment reminders, and banks can notify customers about transactions and security alerts. The flexibility of WhatsApp makes it a valuable tool across different sectors.

The WhatsApp Business API is a game-changer for enterprises looking to enhance customer communication and engagement. With its automation capabilities, security features, personalized marketing options, and cost-effective pricing, it is an essential tool for modern businesses. By partnering with the best WhatsApp API provider in India, enterprises can unlock the full potential of WhatsApp for improved customer interactions and business growth. If you’re looking to integrate WhatsApp into your business strategy, now is the time to explore the possibilities and take advantage of this powerful communication tool.

[kavita2025]

WhatsApp Business API Onboarding – A Complete Guide to Streamline Customer Communication

In an era where instant and seamless communication is a key driver of customer satisfaction, businesses need reliable tools to connect with their audience effectively. With over two billion active users, WhatsApp has become an essential platform for customer engagement. The WhatsApp Business API is a powerful tool that allows businesses to automate customer communication, scale interactions, and improve overall operational efficiency.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the WhatsApp Business API onboarding process, helping you unlock its full potential to strengthen customer relationships and grow your business.

What is WhatsApp Business API?

The WhatsApp Business API is designed for medium and large enterprises that require a scalable solution for managing high volumes of customer interactions. Unlike the standard WhatsApp Business App, the API offers a wide range of advanced features, including:

Automated customer support with AI-powered chatbots

Bulk messaging capabilities for promotions, updates, and alerts

Integration with CRM and e-commerce platforms

Multi-agent support to handle thousands of conversations simultaneously

End-to-end encrypted messaging for secure communication

With these features, businesses can streamline their communication processes and offer a superior customer experience.

Why Choose WhatsApp Business API?

1. 24/7 Automated Customer Support Leverage AI-driven chatbots to provide instant responses to customer queries, ensuring round-the-clock availability.

2. Bulk Messaging & Campaign Management Send out mass notifications, promotional messages, and transactional alerts to a large customer base with ease.

3. Verified Business Profile Build trust and credibility with an official verified business account, reassuring customers that they are communicating with a legitimate business.

4. Seamless CRM Integration Integrate the WhatsApp Business API with your existing CRM systems to streamline customer data management and personalize conversations.

5. Rich Media Messaging Enhance user engagement by sharing images, videos, documents, and product catalogs directly through WhatsApp.

6. Multi-Agent Support Allow multiple customer support agents to handle conversations simultaneously under a single WhatsApp business number, boosting operational efficiency.

7. End-to-End Encryption for Security Ensure data privacy and protect sensitive customer information with end-to-end encryption.

Step-by-Step WhatsApp Business API Onboarding Process

1. Verify Business Requirements

Before starting the onboarding process, ensure your business meets the following criteria:

A registered legal business entity

A dedicated phone number not linked to an existing WhatsApp account

A verified Meta Business Manager account

Compliance with WhatsApp’s Business and Commerce Policies

2. Select a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP)

The WhatsApp Business API is not directly accessible to businesses. Instead, you must work with an authorized WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP). BSPs assist with:

API setup and integration

Ensuring compliance with WhatsApp’s policies

Providing ongoing technical support

3. Complete Business Verification

To access the WhatsApp Business API, businesses must undergo a verification process via Meta Business Manager:

Submit official business documents, such as tax identification numbers and registration certificates

Choose an appropriate display name for your WhatsApp account that aligns with branding guidelines

Provide additional business information, including your website and business category

4. Configure the WhatsApp Business API

Once verified, proceed with the API setup and configuration:

Integrate with CRM and E-commerce Platforms – Streamline customer data management and automate workflows

Set Up Webhooks – Receive real-time notifications on message delivery, customer responses, and chatbot interactions

Create Pre-Approved Message Templates – For sending transactional messages, notifications, and promotions

Deploy AI Chatbots – Automate responses to FAQs, manage order tracking, and handle lead generation

5. Test the API Integration

Before going live, it’s essential to run comprehensive tests to ensure seamless functionality:

Send test messages to verify delivery and chatbot responses

Test data synchronization between WhatsApp and CRM platforms

Ensure compliance with messaging templates and policies

6. Launch and Scale

Once testing is complete:

Launch the WhatsApp Business API to a small group of customers

Gradually scale up to a larger audience while optimizing workflows

Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as open rates, click-through rates, response times, and customer satisfaction scores

Best Practices for Using WhatsApp Business API

Personalize Customer Interactions: Use CRM data to send tailored messages based on customer preferences and past interactions.

Use Approved Templates: Ensure that all promotional and transactional messages adhere to WhatsApp’s messaging guidelines.

Optimize Chatbot Workflows: Continuously improve chatbot responses based on customer feedback and engagement data.

Leverage Rich Media: Share product images, catalogs, videos, and documents to keep users engaged.

Prioritize Data Privacy: Follow global data protection laws like GDPR and maintain customer trust by ensuring data security.

Industries That Can Benefit from WhatsApp Business API

E-commerce & Retail

Send order updates, abandoned cart reminders, and personalized product recommendations

Healthcare

Schedule appointments, send medical reports, and share health tips

Finance & Banking

Notify customers about transactions, payment reminders, and security alerts

Education

Share enrollment information, exam schedules, and course updates

Real Estate

Provide virtual property tours, share listings, and manage client inquiries

Travel & Hospitality

Send booking confirmations, itinerary updates, and real-time travel alerts

Advantages of WhatsApp Business API

Scalability: Manage thousands of conversations simultaneously without sacrificing efficiency

Automation: Streamline repetitive tasks like order tracking and customer support using AI-powered chatbots

Enhanced Customer Engagement: Reach customers on a platform they use daily, boosting interaction rates

Data Security: Protect customer data with end-to-end encryption, ensuring secure communication

Conclusion

The WhatsApp Business API is more than just a messaging tool—it’s a comprehensive platform for automating customer communication, improving engagement, and scaling business operations. With its powerful features, businesses can streamline workflows, reduce operational costs, and strengthen customer relationships.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully onboard the WhatsApp Business API and transform the way your business interacts with customers. Unlock the full potential of WhatsApp today and elevate your customer engagement to new heights.

[maryyclark]

Mass Notification Market to Hit USD 88.17 Billion by 2033: Key Growth Drivers

Mass Notification System Market Report: Key Insights & Trends (2025–2033)

The Mass Notification System Market encompasses technology solutions designed to disseminate crucial information to a large audience rapidly and efficiently through various communication channels, such as text messages, email alerts, voice calls, and social media notifications. These systems are vital for organizations across sectors, including healthcare, government, education, and transportation, to ensure timely communication during emergencies, business operations, and public announcements.

The global mass notification system market size was valued at USD 15.39 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach from USD 18.69 billion in 2025 to USD 88.17 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 21.4% during the forecast period (2025–2033).

Access for request sample @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/mass-notification-system-market/request-sample

Latest Market Trends and Insights

Surging Demand for Emergency Communication Systems: With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and security threats, organizations are investing heavily in mass notification solutions to ensure the safety of personnel and assets.

Integration of AI and Machine Learning: Advanced mass notification systems are incorporating AI and machine learning capabilities to provide real-time analytics and predictive alerts, enhancing the efficiency of communication strategies.

Cloud-Based Solutions on the Rise: The shift towards cloud-based mass notification systems is gaining traction due to their scalability, cost-efficiency, and ease of deployment.

Statistical Insights: The market was valued at USD 3.50 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 6.80 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period (2025–2033).

Adoption Across Verticals: The healthcare sector is emerging as a major adopter, driven by the need for real-time communication during critical events.

Penetration Rate: Mass notification systems registered soaring growth in 2022 with worldwide revenue up 16.1% year-over-year

Integration with IoT and AI: The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing mass notification systems, enabling real-time data analysis and automated alerts.

Increased Focus on Interoperability: Governments and organizations are prioritizing interoperable systems that can seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure, ensuring efficient communication during emergencies.

Growing Demand for Mobile-Based Alerts: With the proliferation of smartphones, mobile-based mass notification systems are becoming increasingly popular, accounting for 35% of the market share in 2023.

Regulatory Compliance: Stringent government regulations mandating the implementation of mass notification systems in public spaces and workplaces are driving market growth.

Key Market Opportunities

Emerging Economies: The expansion of digital infrastructure in emerging markets presents significant growth potential for mass notification system providers.

Data Security and Compliance: As regulatory frameworks surrounding data privacy become more stringent, there is a rising demand for notification systems that prioritize data protection.

Industry-Specific Applications: Customized solutions for sectors like education, retail, and manufacturing are creating niche growth avenues.

Key Players in the Mass Notification System Market

Everbridge, Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

OnSolve LLC

Siemens AG

Singlewire Software, LLC

Desktop Alert, Inc.

Blackboard Inc.

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

xMatters, Inc.

Alertus Technologies LLC

Market Segmentations

By Component:

Software

Hardware

Services

By Deployment Mode:

On-Premise

Cloud-Based

By Application:

Emergency Response

Business Communications

Public Safety Notifications

IT Alerts

By Industry Vertical:

Healthcare

Government

BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance)

Education

Retail

Transportation and Logistics

Others

Market Segmentation with Insights-Driven Strategy Guide @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/mass-notification-system-market/segmentation

Regional Analysis

North America: The region holds the largest share in the global mass notification system market, driven by advanced technological infrastructure and the presence of major industry players. The rising demand for public safety solutions and emergency communication systems contributes to the region's dominance.

Europe: Europe is expected to grow at a notable CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period, fueled by government initiatives focused on public safety and security. Countries like Germany, France, and the UK are leading the adoption of advanced notification systems.

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the fastest growth, with a CAGR of 11.4% over the forecast period. The proliferation of smartphones, the expansion of 4G/5G networks, and increased investments in smart city projects are driving demand in countries like China, India, and Japan.

Middle East and Africa: The adoption of mass notification systems in the region is growing steadily, particularly in sectors like oil and gas, government, and education.

Latin America: The market in Latin America is gaining momentum, driven by increasing awareness of emergency communication systems and advancements in digital infrastructure.

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About Straits Research

Straits Research is a top provider of business intelligence, specializing in research, analytics, and advisory services. Our mission is to deliver in-depth insights through comprehensive reports, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and achieve sustainable growth.

Contact Us

Email: sales@straitsresearch.com

Address: 825 3rd Avenue, New York, NY, USA, 10022

Tel: +1 6464807505, +44 203 318 284

[imsnhance]

Types of SMS Marketing Campaigns (Transactional, Promotional, Conversational)

What is SMS marketing?

SMS marketing, often known as text message marketing, is a direct approach to communicating with clients by sending promotional, informative, or transactional text messages. SMS marketing systems allow businesses to send texts to a list of subscribers who have signed up to receive these messages.

There is good news for businesses: eCommerce SMS marketing is carefully controlled, and users must approve before receiving messages. This ensures that customers only receive the messages they desire.

A mass SMS marketing technique is like email marketing in that it enables organisations to contact many clients simultaneously. Another advantage is that it reaches them directly via their mobile devices, which we all know are extensions of themselves.

Three Types of SMS Marketing Campaigns

1. Promotional SMS Marketing

Promotional SMS marketing is delivering messages to clients to promote a product, service, or special offer. These communications are often brief, direct, and time-sensitive, with the goal of generating instant attention and eliciting prompt action.

Marketers employ promotional SMS campaigns to boost engagement and sales by motivating consumers to act fast and take advantage of the deal.

2. Transactional SMS Marketing

Transactional SMS are automated messages that do not promote a product or service and instead give customers useful updates or information, such as shipment status, delivery notifications, billing alerts, etc.

Among the most popular transactional SMS kinds are:

● Order Confirmations: Messages verifying that an order was successfully placed and sharing details such as the order number and estimated delivery date.

● Booking and Reservation Updates: Notifications on the customer’s bookings or reservations, such as airline confirmations, hotel bookings, or appointments.

● Account Notifications: These are notifications of account actions or modifications, such as account balances, payment receipts, or password reset confirmations.

● Delivery Updates: Information about the status of a delivery, such as tracking numbers and projected delivery timings.

● Transactional Alerts: Alerts about consumer transactions, such as withdrawals from bank accounts or credit card transactions.

These messages are often generated automatically in response to specified triggers or events and provided quickly to ensure that consumers receive timely and relevant information about their transactions or contacts with the company.

3. Conversational SMS Marketing

An estimated 64% of customers prefer businesses that provide two-way contact via SMS, which is exactly what conversational SMS marketing does. This method encourages communication, allowing companies to engage with consumers in real-time.

However, conversational SMS is especially efficient for answering consumer questions, giving help, and gathering important feedback.

Benefits of SMS Marketing

With 7.3 billion people expected to use smartphones by 2026, wouldn’t you rather leverage this to reach your intended audience? Here are five advantages of SMS marketing.

1. Reach Consumers Quicker

If you have time-sensitive information to present, SMS is the best media since 95% of text messages are opened within three minutes of delivery. For example, if you have a limited-time deal, you may utilise SMS to notify your clients.

2. Increase The Response Rate

Unlike other marketing channels, SMS enables you to reach out to clients directly on their mobile devices, and customers are 134% more likely to reply to an SMS than an email. Because text messages have a far greater response rate, they may keep your clients interested in your SMS marketing and provide prospects for future offers.

3. Complements Other Marketing Channels

An SMS marketing approach is effective on its own, but it may also be utilised to supplement other marketing channels. You might, for example, use SMS to promote a social media contest or sale or to raise the number of subscribers to your email newsletter. You could also use SMS to notify clients about a future event or webinar to promote signups.

4. Increase Consumer Loyalty

SMS marketing may help you increase client loyalty by providing targeted messages and offers to certain consumers. This is an excellent method of making your consumers feel appreciated and enhancing their likelihood of returning to your organization.

5. Increase Revenue

SMS marketing solutions may increase income by directing customers to your business or website. SMS messages may also be used to promote special promotions and events and remind consumers to finish their shopping cart orders. This mobile commerce technique capitalizes on SMS’s accessibility and effortlessly integrates with your brand’s marketing activities.

Take Advantage of SMS Marketing

SMS marketing may help you reach your intended audience and boost interaction. Marketing to your clients where they are most engaged increases your chances of holding their attention.

Do not be scared to experiment with various SMS techniques at first. Some clients may prefer discounts or bargains, but others may want customer care assistance via purchase confirmation or shipment updates. SMS marketing may help you enhance and clarify your social media marketing approach.

[trendingreportz]

Intelligent Emergency Response Systems & Infrastructure Market - Forecast (2024-2030)

The report predicts the Intelligent Emergency Response System market to grow with a CAGR of 10.14 % over the period of 2017 - 2023. The global market for Intelligent Emergency Response System at $103.1 billion in 2017 is anticipated to grow in 2023.  Video Surveillance System displays the highest market share contributing to about $1.1bn in 2017 and growing at a CAGR of about 4.3%. The global market was highest for Americas followed by Europe and APAC. The market for America was forecasted to at $48.767 Billion with a CAGR of 8.95%. The growth of this market can be highly attributed to the growing awareness, as well as increased penetration in high hazard industries and personal security market.

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What is Intelligent Emergency Response System? 

Intelligent emergency response system is a technology based automated infrastructure which responds through various medium in case of natural and manmade situational crisis, such as floods, earth quakes, and terrorist attacks, for which these responders give an immediate alert to the government and nearby medical provisions. These responders are capable to alert a large number of populations in a particular region any form of content and in any direction.

What are the major applications of Intelligent Emergency Response System?

  The major application of the system is automatic messaging of any natural or man-made accidents to wide range of geographical and population in any form such as voice or text, e-mails to any available or integrated medium such as pagers, smartphones and alarms. The system has the capability to contact the respective decision maker or the immediate actioner such ambulance services in case of medical emergence, and police station in case of other unfavorable situational emergencies. 

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Market Research and Market Trends of Intelligent Emergency Response System.

A Seamless System for Mass Notification and Emergency Messaging 

The difference between minor and major emergency crisis made by direct communications with different levels of audiences. This Instant Alert and Instant Alert Plus are adaptable, cloud-based emergency and mass alert system that provides smooth and flexible solution. The system gives information that the emergency situation have to be handled direct interruption or by just a control message. The user can give a different form of control messages such as text, voice and email messages.

Honeywell Launches Amazon Alexa Voice-ready Thermostat For Hotels

This new launch from Honeywell is a next generation of thermostat for hotel industry. This e7 thermostat is the first solution for managing environmental control and energy for enterprises, which is integrated with Amazon Alexa voice control for notifying room temperature, drapery, lighting and amenities services. This e7 thermostat is the first innovative in guest room control with voice-ready integrated solution for enterprise level.

When a work emergency strikes, this tool will get you out of bed

Pager Duty is a techno-alert tool that has its wide range of application in companies working on application programming platform. Application programs are vulnerable to any kind of malware attacks. This tool will alert the authorized programmer whenever any malware issue or program crash occurs. This emergency response system has been welcomed by Top techie and non-techie players such IBM, Gap Inc., World Bank and other more than 10,000 companies. PagerDuty wants to provide always-on-call to all levels of employees including both technical and functional and those in executive roles.

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Who are the Major Players in market?

The key players operating in the Intelligent Emergency Response System are Honeywell International., TOA Corporation., Cobalt., Eaton Corporation PLC., Axis Communications., Micron Technologies.,  Denyo Co Ltd.,  UNI-PEX  Co Ltd. and other 10 more companies. 

 What is our report scope?

The report incorporates in-depth assessment of the competitive landscape, product market sizing, product benchmarking, market trends, product developments, financial analysis, strategic analysis and so on to gauge the impact forces and potential opportunities of the market. Apart from this the report also includes a study of major developments in the market such as product launches, agreements, acquisitions, collaborations, mergers and so on to comprehend the prevailing market dynamics at present and its impact during the forecast period 2017-2023.

All our reports are customizable to your company needs to a certain extent, we do provide 20 free consulting hours along with purchase of each report, and this will allow you to request any additional data to customize the report to your needs.

Buy Now

Key Takeaways from this Report

Evaluate market potential through analyzing growth rates (CAGR %), Volume (Units) and Value ($M) data given at country level – for product types, end use applications and by different industry verticals.

Understand the different dynamics influencing the market – key driving factors, challenges and hidden opportunities.

Get in-depth insights on your competitor performance – market shares, strategies, financial benchmarking, product benchmarking, SWOT and more.

Analyze the sales and distribution channels across key geographies to improve top-line revenues.

Understand the industry supply chain with a deep-dive on the value augmentation at each step, in order to optimize value and bring efficiencies in your processes. 

Get a quick outlook on the market entropy – M&A’s, deals, partnerships, product launches of all key players for the past 4 years. 

Evaluate the supply-demand gaps, import-export statistics and regulatory landscape for more than top 20 countries globally for the market. 

[kuldeep7417]

What are the benefits of bulk SMS service

Bulk SMS services offer several benefits for businesses, organizations, and individuals looking to communicate with a large audience efficiently and cost-effectively. Some of the key benefits include:

Reach: Bulk SMS allows businesses to reach a large audience quickly. With one message, you can communicate with hundreds, thousands, or even millions of recipients simultaneously, making it an effective tool for mass communication.

High Open Rates: SMS messages have high open rates compared to other communication channels such as email. Most SMS messages are read within minutes of being received, ensuring that your message gets seen by a significant portion of your audience.

Immediate Delivery: SMS messages are delivered almost instantly, making them ideal for time-sensitive communications such as promotions, alerts, reminders, and emergency notifications. You can be confident that your message will reach recipients promptly.

Cost-Effective: Bulk SMS is a cost-effective communication solution compared to traditional advertising channels such as print, radio, or television. With bulk SMS, you only pay for the messages you send, and there are no upfront costs or minimum spending requirements.

Personalization: Many bulk SMS services allow you to personalize messages with recipient names or other relevant information. Personalized messages are more engaging and can help increase response rates and customer engagement.

Easy to Use: Bulk SMS platforms are user-friendly and easy to use, even for users with minimal technical expertise. You can quickly compose messages, upload contact lists, schedule delivery, and track responses using intuitive interfaces.

Analytics and Reporting: Bulk SMS services provide tools for tracking the performance of your campaigns, including delivery reports, open rates, click-through rates, and conversion metrics. This data allows you to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions to optimize future efforts.

Automation and Scheduling: Many bulk SMS services offer automation features that allow you to schedule messages in advance, set up recurring campaigns, and trigger messages based on specific events or conditions. Automation saves time and ensures timely delivery of messages.

Opt-Out Management: Bulk SMS services typically include opt-out management features that allow recipients to unsubscribe from receiving further messages. This helps businesses stay compliant with regulations and ensures a positive user experience for recipients.

Integration: Bulk SMS services often integrate with other marketing tools and platforms, such as CRM systems, email marketing software, and e-commerce platforms. Integration allows for seamless data sharing and coordinated multi-channel marketing campaigns.

Overall, bulk SMS services offer a powerful and versatile communication solution for businesses and organizations looking to engage with their audience effectively and drive results. Whether you're running marketing campaigns, sending notifications, or providing customer support, bulk SMS can help you reach your goals efficiently and cost-effectively.

[aurafms]

Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity in Facilities Management

In the realm of facilities management, preparedness for emergencies is not just a good practice; it’s a critical component of ensuring business continuity. From natural disasters to unexpected disruptions, having robust emergency preparedness measures in place can minimize downtime, protect assets, and safeguard the well-being of employees and occupants. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of emergency preparedness and business continuity in facilities management and provide actionable strategies to enhance resilience.

Understanding the Risks:

The first step in effective emergency preparedness is understanding the potential risks and vulnerabilities that your facility may face. Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to identify hazards such as floods, fires, power outages, or security breaches. Consider both internal and external factors that could impact your facility’s operations and develop mitigation strategies accordingly.

Developing a Comprehensive Plan:

Once you’ve identified potential risks, develop a detailed emergency preparedness plan tailored to your facility’s specific needs. This plan should outline procedures for responding to various emergencies, including evacuation protocols, communication strategies, and coordination with emergency responders. Assign roles and responsibilities to key personnel, and ensure that all employees are trained and familiar with the plan.

Investing in Resilient Infrastructure:

Investing in resilient infrastructure can significantly enhance your facility’s ability to withstand and recover from emergencies. Consider implementing measures such as backup power systems, fire suppression systems, and structural reinforcements to mitigate risks and minimize damage. Regular maintenance and inspections are also crucial to ensure that these systems remain operational and effective.

Establishing Communication Channels:

Effective communication is essential during emergencies to ensure that critical information is disseminated promptly and accurately. Establish multiple communication channels, including phone trees, mass notification systems, and digital signage, to reach employees and occupants across various platforms. Maintain updated contact lists and ensure that communication protocols are regularly tested and refined.

Collaborating with Stakeholders:

Collaboration with external stakeholders, such as local authorities, emergency responders, and neighboring businesses, is essential for effective emergency preparedness. Establish partnerships and engage in joint planning exercises to coordinate response efforts and share resources during emergencies. Participating in community initiatives and sharing best practices can also strengthen resilience across the broader region.

Testing and Training:

Regular testing and training are essential to ensure that your emergency preparedness plan remains effective and actionable. Conduct drills and exercises to simulate various emergency scenarios and evaluate the response of personnel and systems. Use these opportunities to identify areas for improvement and refine your procedures accordingly. Additionally, provide ongoing training to employees to ensure that they are prepared to respond effectively during an emergency.

Conclusion:

In today’s unpredictable world, effective emergency preparedness is a cornerstone of successful facilities management. By understanding risks, developing comprehensive plans, investing in resilient infrastructure, establishing communication channels, collaborating with stakeholders, and conducting regular testing and training, facilities can enhance their resilience and ensure business continuity even in the face of adversity. Embrace a proactive approach to emergency preparedness and empower your facility to weather any storm. Source: https://aurafms.wordpress.com/2024/01/28/emergency-preparedness-and-business-continuity-in-facilities-management/