#created by a specialist

[waydownn]

Here’s what I got…. Any input is welcome 💀 I feel like I’m going insane

[border-collie]

Four nights in a row now, so I feel like I can brag about it, but Saga is sleeping through the night!

I've got my puppy potty training routine down to a T now and I kennel them right next to my bed so they* will wake me up when they need to go. On top of that, I don't take them out at night if they don't ask to go to prevent practicing extra, unneeded potty trips. With a potty trip before bed and a potty trip when I wake up about 8 hours later, you can quickly build a routine for the pup while protecting the integrity of the daytime potty training you are doing.

*I've never had a dog that doesn't wake me up to go potty and it's something I actively shape and reward when they do so, part of this is border collies are very clean dogs so if they mess in their crate once they will actively avoid doing so again and icies seem to be in the same category. This might not be as effective in pet store puppies, rescue puppies or dirty breeds like some shepherds can be

[moongothic]

You know I realize I forgot to mention this before in the Crocodile Power Level Speculation Post/Ask (btw I did go back to edit it so it's actually legible and has a point now lmao)

I really wanna know if Croc has any new tricks with his hook

Like in Alabasta the dude had a poison hook under his regular hook, which was also hiding a tiny blade beneath it as well. This is all fine and dandy, absolutely iconic etc etc

And then we never see him reuse either feature again.

Now to be fair, the only other time we could've seen Crocodile use them would've been in Marineford, but the dude just escaped from prison. Although people are quick to meme about the Marines being 'kind enough' to let Crocodile keep his gigantic fucking hook in prison-- If we're being realistic here, they probably let him keep the base of the hook simply because without a hand any shackle would just slide off his wrist and fall off. Of course he wouldn't still be able to escape or anything since he'd still have the Seastone cuff on his right, but if they wanted to keep him properly shackled then letting him keep even just the hook base would just be the easiest option for the Marines.

It's the fact that the Marines went out of their way to retrieve his missing hook attachment and gave it back to him that's a bit wild

But let's keep in mind that Luffy did break the poison hook back in Alabasta. Even if the Marines let Croc keep the hook attachment, I find it extremely unlikely they would've gone out of their way to fix/replaced the poison hook when the guy's going to jail anyways. If anything it'd make far more sense if they got rid of whatever poison might've still been left in the base and confiscated the blade. Like there's an argument to be made for the Marines letting Crocodile keep his hook due to disability reasons, but the poison and the purely stabby weapon? Not so much

So really, it's very likely the reason Crocodile never used his other weapons in Marineford might've just been that he literally didn't have them on him at the time, just the basic hook

But hey, it's been two whole whooping years. That would be plenty of time for him to replace the broken hook and blade and get some new poison into the hook base too while he's at it

Or

Are there any new weapons Crocodile could've gotten inserted into his hook base that he could whip out

Like just because he could get a new poison hook it doesn't mean he has to get a poison hook, same for the blade as well, right

To be fair, dude feels very old fashioned so I'm not expecting any Inspector Gadget kinda tech from him. Like I don't think Crocodile's knowledgeable about stuff like that himself, at least not enough to install any technically advanced weaponry into the hook on his own, and IDK if he'd trust his hook with anyone to "upgrade it" either for an extended period of time either

But could you imagine if Croc had gotten access to a busted ass Pacifista and stole a laser and had it built into his hook base. He just pulls of the hook and starts blasting people with the laser. How fucking funny would that be. Franky eat your heart out

[keiyaku-tako]

Merry Christmas

I think you have the seasons wrong.

[savage-rhi]

HEY.

Read the tags and leave a comment or DM if interested in helping! Thank you 💙

[coffee-at-annies]

I think it’s really interesting how the stuff we create, especially after the fact, really can say something about our biases and preferences. I am not immune to this. There are so many boys on our team both new and old and 80% of the fan content I’m creating is the same half a dozen players plus or minus a dozen players that have since been traded that I occasionally have emotions about. It’s interesting who we gravitate towards to create content about, especially years down the line.

For context, I was looking at some old cup stuff that was posted during the original b2b runs and it got me thinking about what I see reblogged nowadays and how the focus has shifted. I don’t see dales dumo hags jolli in the content being created or passed around, just the sidgenotangerflower and occasionally rusty or jake. I’m not sure if muzz still gets love from the creative crew on here. So it’s interesting to me, especially as someone who lived through it and still has a genuine fondness for those players that newer fans just don’t have. But also, I don’t have the same fondness for all our newer boys. The newest boys I make content for are ned, sometimes ek, po is gone now, and I guess doc. So like. Those are my biases showing. I just don’t have the brainrot about bunts the way some of my mutuals do and that’s fine. I was staring down a significant numbers post trying to figure out if I go with dumo for 8 or bunts cause they share the number. I mean I’m still making teddy content because me and three mutuals will cry about him together and that’s good enough. I’m making this content for us and no one else and I don’t have to include everyone.

I dunno. Just been thinking about it but like in an (affectionate) way. Cause it’s people being people and I want people to be their most authentic selves, favorites and biases and all. So like if you see yourself in this post they way I see myself, know that I am giving the biggest warmest (optional) hug and telling you to keep on creating cause I love seeing it even if it’s not my specific brainrot because it’s your brainrot and that’s what’s great about it

[aidenwaites]

The thing about It Ends With Us is I have truly only seen clips of this movie and interviews for one single actor in a semi-lead role and seeing whatever cast drama is happening in relation is like seeing a distant ship pass by while on fire

[scarefox]

wtf these IG job ads get out of hand 😂

we are looking for cyber criminals (any gender)

we teach you

within 12 months

get an official legal certificate

and 1 free laptop

[kirnet]

“She is going to be just fine, you know.”

“I know.”

By Jedi standards, Kavar was a man of action. It was a task to still his movements, to keep his arms crossed and feet set even as the urge to pace crept up on him. The tall Dantooine grasses didn’t help either, itching the back of his thighs even through his layers of robes. 

Master Arekoh Ry made no attempt to hide the quirk of her lips, but she remained silent, allowing the sounds of rustling leaves and idle chatter from the other Jedi to swarm around them. The beads adorning her proud montrals swayed in the wind, reflecting the morning sun like a cluster of stars. 

She had no reason to fret, and neither did he. Kirnet would be unharmed, that he was certain of. She had found a way to run into and stumble out of every bit of trouble she could find since she was brought to the temple. Only three months old, with wide eyes and puffed-out cheeks, and she had already laid claim to every corner and person within the enclave. Master Kavar, seemingly, most of all. It hadn’t taken her long to toddle after him with comical determination, and before he knew it every scraped knee and insult the youngling was responsible for was brought to his attention, as if he had any power over what came out of her mouth.

Force, it had been a blessing when tiny Atris was brought to the enclave. Somehow, the pair had gravitated towards each other, unbending Atris and her flittering companion. Kirnet’s behavior never improved, but at least now she felt mildly ashamed when Atris gave her a disappointed sigh.

No, Kavar knew Kirnet was perfectly safe. The kinrath had all been herded from the cave the Jedi currently stood at the maw of, and the tunnels had been carefully inspected for any other possible dangers.

Yet he still remained on edge. Kirnet had been all smiles leading up to today, practically bouncing off the walls as she followed him around the council chambers. “Mine will be blue,” she stated with such confidence that even he was almost inclined to believe her. “And it’ll be double-bladed.” She quickly averted her eyes when she finished, though Kavar saw they way they had lingered on the two sabers at his hip.

“She’s-” Arekoh’s wrinkled eyes snapped to him, and he knew that she had just been waiting for him to break the silence. “She can be emotional.”

The togruta shrugged. “And I’m sure that you also were when you were a youngling. That is what being a padawan is for.”

“Atris isn’t.”

“Atris doesn’t make friends nearly as easily. Or enemies,” Arekoh added with a light chuckle. “We all have our strengths. I will never lead a Republic battalion, just as you will never uncover the secrets of ancient history. The Force has plans for us all.”

“And what if that plan is to deny her a future with the Jedi?” A knot uncoiled in Kavar’s chest as he finally spoke the words aloud. Kirnet, with all of her charm and quick wit, was middling in the Force. She showed decent proficiency with the training sabers after Kavar guided her hand, and there was no youngling as nimble as her. But theory? Technical application with the Force? The ability to listen to any amount of wisdom? Kavar had done all he could to prepare her for this moment, but despite himself, he was worried.

Either she emerged from that cave with a kyber crystal, or she didn’t. 

She would not be fine if she returned empty handed.

Arekoh smiled fully, seemingly pleased as she flashed her sharp canines. “Ah. Now we get to the heart of the issue.” She shook her heavy montrals. “Many of my padawans barely passed their trials. Many were the last to emerge from this very cave. But look at them now! All of them on their way to becoming fine Knights.”

Kavar pressed his lips into a thin line. Arekoh was a talented Master, he could never deny that, and her aptitude with padawans was proven time and time again. It is why she was trusted with four padawans at a time, all now excelling in their studies of the Force and history. 

Kirnet pulled on a kath hound’s tail before Kavar could finish his lecture on their dangers. Kirnet had stolen his short saber and taken it apart as he slept because she was simply curious.

The breeze picked up, washing cool air over Kavar’s face. He closed his eyes, relaxed his tense shoulders, and pushed any bristling thoughts about Arekoh’s probing tone from his mind. “Yes,” he eventually answered. “I know.”

“You are still young.” Arekoh clicked her tongue. “And yet are already an accomplished Master and a member of the Council. Any padawan would be lucky to be under your tutelage.”

“I’m not taking a padawn.”

Arekoh’s brows shot up, but Kavar focused only on the sound of her beads clinking together. A blade of grass brushed infuriatingly light against the bottom of his robe. “I see.”

The conversation stilled as the first youngling returned from the cave, her silver hair streaming behind her as she held a crystal aloft. A round of encouragement rumbled from the assembled Jedi, and Atris walked briskly towards the group, chin raised with obvious pride. Kavar could see the way some of the Masters looked at her, many without any padawans of their own, all shining eyes and heartened smiles.

Another youngling emerged, and then another, until nearly the whole group was back, clutching their crystals close to their chest. Jedi mingled among them, patting backs and laughing, each of them making plans on who would become their own to train. Kavar remained rooted in place, as did his companion.

Minutes passed, maybe hours, as the sun soared overhead, catching the light of a hair clip as the last youngling emerged from the cave.

Kavar had been certain that they had cleared all of the kinrath before, but now he wasn’t so sure. Kirnet was caked in dirt, her long braid undone and tangled, fresh cuts all along the palms of her hands. But she beamed at him as she stumbled forward, something clutched tightly in her bloody fist. 

Atris sprang forward, and the two girls giggled as they hugged. Immediately Kirnet’s crystal was out, and she ignored the way Atris wiped down her previously-pristine robes as she held the translucent object to her snowy hair. “See? We match!” The wind carried her excited voice to him as she pulled away.

Arekoh joined in the chorus of claps, a small smile tugging at her lips. She shot Kavar one last glance before stepping forward. Kirnet looked at her with wide eyes as the togruta leaned down. They glanced past her a few times, confused as they landed on him, but soon enough Arekoh’s shoulders were shaking with laughter as Kirnet recounted her adventure with wild movements.

Kavar kept his feet set, even as the urge to move crept up to him.

[shiningclown69]

Small Rant

I very rarely scroll through tiktok for Brandon content bc its a barren desert but

Boy, the top liked tiktok under the winx brandon search never fails to piss me off. The tiktok was a screen-record of the S4 scene where Mitzi kisses Brandon and Stella is shocked.

The entire comment section is bashing Brandon like....bro.

Its flooded with comments like "Stella should have broken up with him", "All the specialists are red flags" and "Stella deserves better"

First of all, how dare you.

Second of all, is it childish to be so pressed about hate comments about a fictional character? Maybe. Am I still defending him because I'm a Brandon stan? Yes.

You best bet I am exploding all you people in the comments with my mind.

[cappurrccino]

going to gnaw my own arm off to get out of this assignment

[tchaikovskym]

I find it a bit funny that I cannot give medical advice due to not being a certified specialist, but I can give advice to certified healthcare professionals on how to treat their patients due to findings in my research.

[geeky-nightphilosopher]

There is a reason why Eliot Spencer is a retrieval specialist and not a motivational speaker.

He created a monster.

But I mean Alec Hardison needed that big brother pep talk.

[worstsequence]

[xenmagmarketing]

Uncovering the Secrets: How to Perform Competitor Analysis for Google Ads

When you’re running a Google Ads campaign, you’re bound to wonder how your competitors are performing. Are they attracting more clicks, outbidding you on key terms, or grabbing more customer attention? Knowing the answers to these questions can make a huge difference in optimizing your own ads. Competitor analysis for Google Ads is like getting a sneak peek into what’s working in your industry—without reinventing the wheel. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps and tools you can use to dive deep into your competitors’ Google Ads strategies, identify opportunities, and enhance your own campaigns.

1. Identify Your Competitors

The first step in any competitor analysis is identifying who you’re up against. Start by searching the keywords you’re targeting on Google and see which companies consistently appear in the top results. This can help you spot direct competitors, especially if they have similar products or services. For example, if you're running ads for an e-commerce site, other retailers in your niche will likely be your biggest competition.

You can also use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or SpyFu to list out competitors automatically. These tools help you view the companies ranking for your keywords, providing a comprehensive picture of who’s spending on ads in your niche.

2. Analyze Their Ad Copy and Messaging

Once you’ve identified your competitors, the next step is to study their ad copy. Take note of the language they use, their calls to action, and how they’re positioning their products. Google Ads shows various elements like headlines, descriptions, and sitelink extensions that give insight into the ad structure. Ask yourself questions like:

What’s the tone of their ad copy?

Are they offering special discounts, limited-time offers, or unique features?

How compelling is their call to action?

Using the Google Ads preview tool, you can get a clear view of how competitor ads appear on both desktop and mobile devices. Pay close attention to any patterns or tactics that stand out. You might notice that successful competitors use emotional language, emphasize quality, or highlight exclusivity—all elements you can adapt for your ads.

3. Check Out Their Target Keywords

Keywords are the core of Google Ads campaigns, so understanding the terms your competitors are bidding on is key. Keyword research tools like Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Semrush allow you to uncover the keywords your competitors are targeting. Look for both primary and long-tail keywords in their campaigns.

Here’s how to analyze competitor keywords:

Find the most common terms: Identify the high-volume terms competitors are using, as these are likely bringing them a lot of traffic.

Evaluate keyword intent: Are they targeting informational, navigational, or transactional keywords? This can indicate where they focus in the customer journey.

Spot keyword gaps: Look for popular terms they’re not targeting. These gaps can be opportunities for you to target valuable keywords your competitors have overlooked.

Once you have a list of competitor keywords, evaluate if any align with your campaign goals. Incorporating these keywords in your Google Ads strategy can increase your chances of competing effectively.

4. Analyze Their Bidding Strategy

Google Ads allows advertisers to bid on keywords, making it essential to understand how your competitors are spending their ad budget. Tools like SpyFu and Auction Insights show estimated CPC (cost-per-click) and bidding activity, helping you gauge your competitors’ budget commitment. Although exact bid amounts aren’t available, these insights help you understand how aggressively they’re competing for certain keywords.

If you notice that a competitor is consistently bidding high on certain terms, this suggests these keywords drive valuable conversions. While competing head-to-head with their bids might not always be practical, you can instead bid on related, long-tail keywords that have lower competition. This approach can help you capture traffic without burning through your budget.

5. Review Their Landing Pages

Analyzing the landing pages your competitors use is another insightful step in competitor analysis for Google Ads. After all, a well-designed ad is only part of the equation; the landing page experience significantly impacts conversions. By clicking on competitor ads (or using tools like SimilarWeb), you can explore their landing pages and see what’s working.

Pay attention to the following aspects:

Page layout and design: Is the page visually appealing and easy to navigate?

Content quality: Are they emphasizing product benefits, testimonials, or unique selling points?

Load speed: A fast, responsive page can improve conversions and lower bounce rates.

Consider adopting best practices you see in competitor landing pages, such as clear calls-to-action, customer testimonials, or streamlined forms.

6. Monitor Their Ad Frequency and Timing

Knowing when and how often your competitors are showing ads can give you an edge. Some companies only run ads during specific times of the day or days of the week, especially if they’ve analyzed when their audience is most active. You can monitor this using Google’s Ad Schedule report to see the timing of competitor ads in your industry.

For example, if a competitor increases ad spend on weekends, this might indicate that their audience is more active then. Adopting a similar approach with adjustments to suit your target audience can maximize your return on ad spend.

7. Observe Their Retargeting Efforts

Retargeting is a popular tactic, as it reminds potential customers of your brand after their first visit to your website. Some competitors may use Google Display Network for retargeting ads, and you can often identify this if their ads appear on multiple platforms or websites.

To analyze your competitors' retargeting strategies, consider visiting their website and checking if you see follow-up ads on other sites. This approach reveals how they engage potential customers after their first interaction. If competitors use retargeting, it might be wise to invest in similar campaigns for added exposure.

8. Track Their Performance with Tools

Finally, competitor analysis isn’t complete without tracking their performance over time. Use tools like Adbeat and iSpionage for tracking competitor trends in ad spend, ad frequency, and ad placement. These tools allow you to set alerts and receive updates when competitors make significant changes to their Google Ads campaigns.

This data helps you stay updated on any new strategies competitors may adopt, ensuring that you remain competitive and adapt as the market changes.

Wrapping Up

Competitor analysis in Google Ads gives you insights into what’s working in your industry. By studying their keywords, ad copy, bidding strategies, and landing pages, you can craft a strategy that stands out. Knowing your competitors' strengths and weaknesses allows you to tweak your own approach for maximum impact, helping you achieve more effective results in your Google Ads campaigns.

Remember, a well-informed strategy is a powerful one, so put these tips to use and let your ads shine brighter than the competition.

[sagetitansteam]

"5 Key Metrics to Track in Google Ads to Maximize ROI?"

"Track 5 key Google Ads metrics like CTR, Conversion Rate, CPA, Quality Score, and ROAS to optimize ROI and boost campaign performance for long-term growth."