#digital marketer survivor

[j-esbian]

i’ve gotta admit that, 4 years in, im still real fucking tired of people who act like Everyone In the World Had To Stay Home 24/7 when the covid pandemic started, bc as best as i can tell, that was mostly like. white collar workers and students

[putschki1969]

Dear Sarah Can't I buy Hikaru's Album "FEATURES" & EP "Mask" at places like OTOTOY,MORA? Should I buy it from a shop like Merucari? I'm having a hard time getting flac.

Hello there!

Currently, you cannot buy the albums (FEATURES, Mask) anywhere except on-site at Hikaru's live shows. However, the tracklist for both of these albums is mostly made up of prior digital single releases so you have the option to purchase the individual tracks.

So far, Hikaru has released 14 digital singles as freelance artist, titled as follows in order of release:

Survivor, Escape, Flow, Awe, Treasure, Remain, Embrace, Kiseki, Koganeiro no Yakusoku, Breathe, Lack, SHOUT (Collab), End of line, Because of Love (Collab)

All of those songs are available online for purchase. You can get them on both MORA and OTOTOY.

Out of these 14 songs, only the collab tracks are not featured on the above mentioned albums. I am assuming Hikaru and Yuki Sasaki are planning to eventually release a collab album but we'll have to wait and see...

The physical albums each contain one song which hasn't been officially released yet. For "FEATURES" that would be "Under the Rain" and for "Mask" it is "With". According to Hikaru, there are no plans to have these tracks released digitally. That might change in the future but as of right now, you can only call those songs your own if you get your hands on the physical CD.

Hikaru might be able to sell her CDs at the Kalafina Anniversary Live venue so that will give many fans the opportunity to support her. Hopefully, this can be arranged.

I've seen her recent CDs pop up once or twice on a variety of online market places so that's definitely a good option for you (especially if you are a big fan of physical items like myself). But in many cases, resellers will mark up the price considerably. For example, after a quick search, I found the "Mask" album on Yahoo Flea Market selling for over 6,000 yen which is almost double the original price. This is of course a natural thing that happens with rare products. It depends how much you are willing to spend on stuff like that.

I usually don't mind paying a bit more for super rare merch but even I draw the line at some point. Best example is the "ring your bell" LP which I've been dying to get for ages (I hate myself for not buying it when it originally came out but back then I stupidly thought I wouldn't need it) but people are selling it for horrendous prices online. There's no way I will ever pay hundreds upon hundreds of euros for something that originally only cost around 15 euros...

[a-man-for-hire-and-his-archives]

Kia EV Owners Survive Zombie-Riddled Aussie Suburbs in Latest from Innocean

Exclusive: Innocean Australia has launched Kia's EV range with a cast of zombies wearing Crocs and carrying KeepCups, creative partners Nick Cole and Pat Allenby tell LBB’s Tom Loudon

Kia has taken a fresh approach to promoting its new electric vehicle range, combining entertainment with practicality in a zombie-infested suburban setting.

Created by Innocean Australia and directed by Francois Rousselet, the campaign imagines a world overrun by zombies, where features like Smart Park Assist, Kia Voice Command, stealthy quietness, and a cool box ensure survival.

The campaign launches with a strategic tie-in to the Australian Open and aims to captivate both sports fans and electric vehicle enthusiasts. Creative partners Nick Cole and Pat Allenby told LBB they intended to bring something different to the Kia EV brand - which “has ‘survival’ written all over it” -  and stand out in a crowded market.

“Take that thought into a fun, fictional space and out pops a zombie apocalypse, where the only survivors drive various models in the range.

“Kia wants ads that are memorable, slick, have the car at the heart of the story, and entertain the audience.”

Fresh from directing films for Canal+ and A$AP Rocky, plus the John Lewis Christmas spot, Division director Francois Rousselet’s initial treatment “blew them [Nick and Pat] away,” and his storyboards even drew applause.

“What he boarded ended up being exactly what we saw on set, just heaps bigger,” they said.

“He not only wanted to bring the zombie apocalypse to leafy suburbia, but he wanted to give it a real summertime, sunny vibe, which felt really fresh for the zombie genre.

“We loved how he wanted to give each zombie a distinctly Aussie personality - a female fitspo zombie wearing Crocs carrying a KeepCup and dusty council worker zombies, for example.”

More than 100 movement artists transformed into Aussie zombies, including actors Luke Arnold, Tess Haubrich, and Chloe Zuel, as well as special guest Jamie Durie. Innocean “worked with content creators to expand the world we built. Even in the apocalypse, creators are hustling.”

The campaign leverages Kia’s Australian Open sponsorship, and features bespoke, piece-to-camera content telling a larger narrative of life in the apocalypse.

Nick and Pat said the Australian Open warranted the campaign’s “epic” scale.

“It’s probably the biggest platform during the year to launch a campaign.”

The EV range, including the EV3, EV5, and EV9, follows the debut of Kia’s first ute, the Kia Tasman, last year. That vehicle entered the highly-competitive ute market with a star-studded campaign from Innocean, ‘Kia’s Getting a Ute’. This time around, the agency had the same brief: help the brand stand out in a cluttered category.

“Unlike other car brands, they have a full range to choose from at varying price points,” Nick and Pat said.

“If the campaign serves that up in a memorable and entertaining way, then we’ll take it.”

Kia Australia GM marketing, Dean Norbiato, agrees, adding, “A zombie apocalypse set against sunny Australian suburbia is a unique creative playground to showcase Kia’s EV range in a genuinely entertaining way.”

At the end of last year, Innocean Australia hired Brendan Willenberg as ECD to replace Wesley Hawes, who became CCO at 72andSunny.

“I think I’ll bring a creative maturity burst, not necessarily through just work but throughout the customer journey as a whole,” he told LBB in an exclusive interview. 

Innocean’s latest for Kia rolls out across social, digital, and TVC.

Source: LLB

[luciodeldiablo]

Disabled & Homeless, PTSD Survivor

I'm officially homeless. The man I was being a 'house-boy' for let me know this morning that this wasn't going to work out. My sleep disturbances are a nuisance to him. The night sweats, the constant getting up in the middle of the night to change clothes, the sleep talking, the thrashing, it's prevented him from sleeping well since I moved in last Friday. I called CAM (Coordinated Assessment Model), I was on hold for two hours, but I was finally able to talk to someone and they found a vacant bed at St. John Community Center in Detroit's east side. I'll be living there as of today, but I am very limited to what I can bring with me. I will need to rent a storage unit and movers to get my belongings in there. I have called and they're doing three months for 100 squared feet for $161, and the movers are $250. That's $411 that I do not have. I have been unemployed since I lost my job due to my PTSD diagnosis. I used to work for a digital marketing and advertising agency here in Detroit, but have been unable to get back on my feet since. I don't have any family or friends in the area. Please consider donating to my cause, sharing this post to amplify my voice, or subscribing to my OnlyFlans 🍮 These are the only ways that I currently count on to monetize since my disability claim has not been approved yet. I plan on living at the shelter until I am able to rely on disability benefits and get a place of my own.

My LinkTree can be found here, where you will be able to donate and have access to the rest of my channels. Please share and donate 💖

$052/$411

[soleminisanction]

Saw yet another post about how all modern comics are bad and the industry is decaying etc. since you’ve seemed at least a bit more optomistic (and want to write yourself) what are your thoughts on comics, things you think are good or bad about the current state of things, and where you think it’ll go?

I don't like making predictions for the future. I make plans and I hope for the best and if the best doesn't come, I readjust.

What's true is that the industry is not exactly robust right now. There's not a lot of money in comics. From what I've heard, most companies' profit margins are razor-thin, and the Big Two may actually be operating at a loss, because their real value is as "test kitchens" for stories and characters who might conceivably spin off into the much more lucrative film, TV or video game markets.

But that's also true for most hobby industries. TTRPGs comes to mind because that's where I'm currently working -- most publishers barely scrape enough together to keep producing their content. You don't go into these markets to get rich, you go into them because you like making things.

People have saying that the industry is dying for longer than I've been alive. Probably the only times they weren't saying that was during the first big Golden Age superhero boom and the 90s speculator bubble. I personally suspect that some form of the industry will always survive as long as there are people who enjoy creating and reading sequential art. It may not be the industry as we know it -- the Big Two may well collapse, or superheroes could go out of fashion again, or the economy could get so bad that the entire direct market crashes and the only survivors will be book publishers putting out full graphic novels. But I doubt it'll get that far.

As for the quality of modern comics, anyone who says they're bad is just ignorant, full stop. If anything, one of the industry's problems on the American side is that they're putting out some really high-quality physical products and it's really pushing the boundaries of how much people are willing to pay for them -- glossy full-color digital printing is waaaaaaaay more expensive than the simple two-tone shading on newsprint that you find in, for example, manga magazines.

But there are great books being made, at the Big Two, smaller publishers, indies and self-publishing, including web comics. There's a lot of high-quality variation, a lot big topics being addressed, and a lot of gorgeous art and great writing from creative pools that are growing more and more diverse with each passing year. And sure, there are plenty of stinkers too, but that's true of literally every era of comics; people just forget that because the shit goes away and the good stuff sticks around.

So yeah, that's my two cents: it's a creative industry, the creative part is great, the industry part sucks, and this is the nature of telling stories under capitalism. Doom & gloomsayers are just too short-sighted to see it.

[stingslikeabee]

cold,

actions speak louder than words prompts . accepting

The wind had a certain bite at such an impressive height - within the slums, one barely felt it given how the plate structure messed with most of the currents and the seasons to a degree. It could get uncomfortably hot or unpleasantly cold, but it usually was nothing to do with the breeze - fresh air was not a luxury afforded to underplaters.

But now, looking at Midgar from the top of the most iconic building in all of the city, it was as if she was experiencing the metropolis for the first time. When one stood that tall and removed from the landscape composed of glowing reactors, mako particles and a million different lights from housing complexes and other office spaces, it was easy to forget all that was wrong with the city - the poverty, corruption and sickness below the plate; Corneo's cruelty staining all of Wall Market with his garish mansion and horrifying traditions.

Well - not anymore; if anything, the only reminder of the former Don of the slums was the blood that had soaked the floor of his suite and which was no longer removable from the surface without great effort. But the madame didn't care for his house at all - Melissa would have set it on fire if that didn't risk the lives of other residents.

But after Corneo fell to the blade wielded by Hikaru, there was little to no resistance to her own reign. Instead of a caged bird, Melissa felt more of a predatory animal now. A true queen with the most devoted knight at her back, with luminous eyes of ever-present danger and which contained unshakable loyalty for one without noble birth.

And that persisted as his memories start to return - even as Hikaru transitioned to Sephiroth again, former poster boy for Shinra and yet discarded as a failure and a danger the moment he was unwilling to be a pawn, it was too late to put a stop to it all. Corneo's blood was just the beginning and Melissa's cage was the first one to be smashed.

After that, it was only logical that President Shinra's would follow - dripping from the edge of the sharp sword held by digits which had never unlearned the necessary survival skills and that had brought them both freedom. As Sephiroth walked outside to meet Melissa, however, he seemed less focused on the view from the top of the tower and more so on how the brunette shivered from the harsh winds at that altitude.

He didn't speak - Sephiroth just used the free hand to remove his own jacket and placed it over Melissa's shoulders with the comforting weight of his hand. It did break the reverie that the madame had been living in - and she looked at the former SOLDIER with a soft smile on her lips, nodding as thanks and stepping closer to his taller frame. It was a simple gesture: the brunette had additional warmth thanks to his kindness and she wanted to share.

Metaphorically or otherwise - she had only made it as far as she had thanks to him.

In an interesting parallel to their first encounter, inching closer to Sephiroth to offer him some physical comfort in return dirtied her dress with blood - and once again, Melissa didn't seem to mind. Fabric was just fabric - it could be washed or replaced. But this... What they had just done, this legacy of disposed tyrants and freedom acquired after such immense pain?

That form of liberation was just priceless. Other people would call them monsters or evil, sure; but Melissa knew they were just survivors.

[rockislandadultreads]

Libby Spotlight: Popular Mysteries

Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea

The Girl of Sugar Beach is the most watched documentary in television history—a riveting, true-life mystery that unfolds over twelve weeks and centers on a fascinating question: Did Grace Sebold murder her boyfriend, Julian, while on a Spring Break vacation, or is she a victim of circumstance and poor police work? Grace has spent the last ten years in a St. Lucian prison, and reaches out to filmmaker Sidney Ryan in a last, desperate attempt to prove her innocence.

As Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case.

Delving into Grace's past, Sidney peels away layer after layer of deception. But as she edges closer to the real heart of the story, Sidney must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career... even her life.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

It's New Year's Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey, four teenagers working late at the store are attacked. Only one inexplicably survives. Police quickly identify a suspect, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who flees and is never seen again.

Fifteen years later, more teenage employees are attacked at an ice cream store in the same town, and again only one makes it out alive.

In the aftermath of the latest crime, three lives intersect: the lone survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who's forced to relive the horrors of her tragedy; the brother of the fugitive accused, who's convinced the police have the wrong suspect; and FBI agent Sarah Keller who must delve into the secrets of both nights—stirring up memories of teen love and lies—to uncover the truth about murders on the night shift.

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey 

Bombay, 1921: Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her father's law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a legal education from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes her especially devoted to championing and protecting women's rights.

Mistry Law is handling the will of Mr. Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. But as Perveen goes through the papers, she notices something strange: all three have signed over their inheritance to a charity. What will they live on if they forefeit what their husband left them? Perveen is suspicious.

The Farid widows live in purdah: strict seclusion, never leaving the women's quarters or speaking to any men. Are they being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous guardian? Perveen tries to investigate and realizes her instincts about the will were correct when tensions escalate to murder. It's her responsibility to figure out what really happened on Malabar Hill, and to ensure that nobody is in further danger.

This is the first volume in the “Perveen Mistry” series.

The Lady in the Silver Cloud by David Handler

A 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is a fantastically expensive car, especially in the pristine condition of the one owned by Muriel Cantrell. Living in a luxury apartment building on Central Park West, the delicate, sweet 75-year-old woman is a neighbor of Merilee Nash, the beautiful movie star, and Stuart Hoag, whose first book was a sensation but whose career crashed when he became involved with drugs and alcohol. Divorced ten years earlier, Hoagy has been welcomed back into Merilee's life and apartment.

Apparently universally beloved in her building, residents are shocked when Muriel is murdered after a Halloween party. No one takes it harder than her long-time chauffeur, Bullets Durmond, whose previous job was as an enforcer for the mob. Who in the world would want to harm the silver-haired lady whose major vices were buying shoes and Chanel suits (always in cash), and watching day-time soap operas?

Lieutenant Romaine Very of the NYPD is called to investigate and again seeks help from his friend Hoagy who, along with his basset hound Lulu, has been an invaluable aide in the past. The investigation leads to the unexpected source of Muriel's wealth, the history of her early years as a hatcheck girl at the Copacabana, how her chauffeur came to be called Bullets, her desperate meth-head nephew, and her wealthy neighbors, who have secrets of their own.

This is the 13th volume in the “Stewart Hoag” series.

[steaming-goblet-of-nutte-mylk]

I understand where this post is coming from, but I don't think that's a healthy way to view things, either. Ultimately, for the purpose of mental health, "unending rage at genocidal fascists on the internet" isn't really that different from "inescapable horror at mass-scale human rights violations." There's no way to focus on a horrible atrocity in a way that somehow detracts from how horrible an atrocity it is. There's no way to see survivors without seeing what they're surviving. There's no way to view the murdered without the murderer. There's no way to know Palestine without knowing what is being done to it.

We in the digital age are tuned into suffering on a global scale, basically 24/7, through phones and TVs and social media, etc. etc. That's not normal. The information we have is near limitless, and I think that has given us an overinflated sense of our own importance. There are a million and one people who are responsible for this. War profiteers. Callous politicians. Actual, literal fascists; not the 4chan users or youtube idiots. Governments, and the people who serve them down this road. The (completely insane) Israel lobby.

And probably, you don't know a single one. These are people with power, real power, the type that influences the government, or the market, or the lobbies. You have, almost literally, nothing to do with any of this.

Likewise, anything you do will, almost literally, have absolutely ZERO impact on the situation. Sure, you can donate money, or write a post, or argue with dumbfucks on the internet, or repost horrible, heartrending videos of unfathomable crimes and human rights violations committed by an apartheid ethnostate, and all of that still amounts to zero, in the face of bombs being dropped on innocent people.

You can't get your money through Israel's blockade. Your post will never reach Congress's floor, and if it did, they'd probably laugh at you or call you a slur. You are so far removed from anyone and anything that has any control over what are literally war crimes on the other side of the planet.

I wish that weren't true. I wish we could do something. I wish there were a better, more uplifting way to end this essay than that, but there's really not. If you're struggling with mental health, stepping away and turning off the news doesn't somehow make you culpable for war crimes. Your grief and anger and horror doesn't help anyone, and it doesn't make you a good person.

Turn off the news if you need to. It'll be there when you get back.

i think anyone who is genuinely worried about their mental health bc of the situation in gaza probably needs to reformat their way of thinking about it. the answer is not to take a “mental health break” where you pretend whats happening in gaza doesnt exist and stop being vocal and refuse to hear people around you who are vocal. the way to do that “mental health break” much more effectively and not selfishly would be to remove yourself from constant streams of idiotic and/or murderously evil people. stop watching tiktok debates. stop reading genocidal reddit comments and news articles from sources you KNOW want palestine dead. stop putting the focus on the murderers and keep your attention on sympathy and love for the murdered, on hope and optimism (even if naive) and activism to do your part in making things better. dont get me wrong the murderers still need to be dealt with but if you as an individual feel like you’re getting too overwhelmed with despair to be helpful, the answer is to shift your focus away from those causing the despair, not to ignore and abandon those who have to actually live through it.

[ear-worthy]

The Marketing Swarm Around Indie Podcasters

 What is the primary reason that most people do not have phone landline service anymore? Most of the cable companies offer a Triple-Play option, where it's actually cheaper to get cable service if you accept the landline phone option. 

Sadly, landline calls are saturated by marketing calls, scammers, and criminals. If you did have a landline phone, remember that barrage of marketing and scammer calls you'd receive daily.

Now, imagine what happens to independent podcasters. If you don't know, there is a cottage industry of people offering podcast marketing services to indie podcasters. It's like bees around goldenrod, lavender and sunflowers.

It's a swarm.

Just like there are tens of thousands of podcasts -- most of them independent -- there exists thousands of podcast marketing companies.

Let me give you a sense of the marketing frenzy. My profile states that I am a podcast journalist. Nowhere does it state that I have a podcast. And I certainly do not advertise that I am the sole survivor of three failed podcasts. As a side note, I still mourn for my audio babies to this day. I still know the day each ended, and I know that I am to blame.

Anyway, even though I state upfront that I am a podcast journalist, I receive about 100 messages a month from podcast marketers (Most from Asia) offering me their services. 

I've spoken to numerous indie podcasters who identify this time-suck issue. This inundation by podcast marketers begs the existential question for indie podcasters.

Do you need the assistance of a podcast marketing company? Please don't allow your Uncle Gene, who worked in marketing 20 years ago for Circuit City, to help you. Even if it's free advice.

There's no doubt that independent podcasters need support. Even for people who begin a podcast with no technical or broadcast training, there are YouTube videos galore available on how to start a podcast or learn Audacity. 

Podcasts like One Minute Podcast Tips with Danny Brown or Podcast Workflows with Joe Casabona are small-form podcasts that can teach indie podcasters a lot in a surprisingly small amount of time.

Danny also has an informative newsletter called Be A Better Podcaster, and he should know since he’s the Head of Podcaster Support and Experience at Captivate.fm, a growth-oriented podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization platform for the serious indie podcaster.

The existential question is for indie podcasters is: Do you need help marketing your independent podcast? The irritating answer is: It depends. Some new podcasters join the industry with marketing experience in their background and as part of their skillset. They may have a leg up on others due to that background, but most likely they will still need technical support on podcast equipment, audio quality, distribution, and analytics.

One recurring belief that many indie podcasters still cling on to is that if you make a quality podcast, the audience will show up. While logic may be on your side, reality is not. The industry is overflowing with superb independent podcasts who follow that "make it, and they will come" strategy, with downloads still in the single digits. 

If an indie podcaster decides to engage a podcast marketing company, how do they do that? First, be careful. There are too many people out there claiming to be podcast promotion specialists. After all, there's no certification for such a role.

One rule I would follow is that if a podcast marketer tells you that he or she is a social media whiz and that will grow your podcast, delete their contact info and run away from them as if you're Usain Bolt.

When it comes to growing your independent podcast, social media can be a component of your marketing strategy, but in no way should it be your primary strategy. 

How do you find a reputable and effective podcast marketing company? The same way you find a good plumber? You ask around. Query other indie podcasters. Podcast marketing companies do not have to be prohibitively expensive. They can be, but the level of support each indie podcaster requires is different.

One of my rules is to find people who love podcasting. If it's just a business to them, pass on their sales pitch. For example, I know many of the people at Tink Media. They're diehard podcast fans. They're "poddies." They love podcasting like the Kardashians love attention. Tink even has a podcast about podcasts called Feed The Queue. One of the aspects I like about Tink is that the company calls itself a "podcast growth and discovery company." Now, the word "growth" is ubiquitous in podcast marketing lingo, but discovery is not. It's a recognition by Tink that discovery of a client's podcast is a necessary, key step before growth.

Also, search out podcast marketing firms that specialize. For example, Golden Goose Creative from Washington focuses on female podcasters. Here's their tagline: "At Golden Goose Creative, we provide the perfect nest for creative female podcasters, like you, who need a one-stop-shop for all your podcasting needs" clearly, they have expertise in supporting women who start podcasts.

Therefore, black, LGBTQ, neurodivergent indie podcasters should find a marketing firm that knows how to focus on their specific needs.

When I started my Make a Connection podcast in 2016, I was fortunate enough to have a friend, George Witt, who is a podcast consultant and is on the panel for Ear Worthy. George helped me with a marketing plan that cost me, well, nothing but my time. I did guest swaps, promo swaps, started a newsletter, and spoke at a few H.R. conferences about communication.

Back to the beginning, that marketing swarm surrounding indie podcasters is mostly white noise to be tuned out. If marketers begin by telling you all that they can do for your podcast, block them. Again, find people who love podcasting first and foremost.

For example, I met Mustafa Shaikh,

CEO of BRANDLIFTZ, which specializes in Digital Marketing, App & Web Development, and Advertisement services.

This is what Mustafa told me about podcasting: "What fascinates me most is how podcasts break barriers. They provide a platform for voices often unheard, tackling everything from deeply personal stories to groundbreaking ideas. Podcasts create genuine connections with listeners, something that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s fast-paced digital world."

Marketers who specialize in SEO, social media, and branding aren't generally a good fit for indie podcasters. You're never going to "brand' yourself into podcast success. In addition, many times, SEO can be DOA for your podcast.

So when the marketers buzz around you, find that marketer who knows and loves podcasts, understands your budgetary limits, doesn't overpromise, plans for the long-term, and can meet your specialized needs based on gender, lifestyle, values, or background. 

Finally, and I don't want this to sound cruel, make sure your indie podcast has potential. I remember when Pepsi marketed Crystal Pepsi in the 1990s. It was a huge flop for a multi-billion-dollar, multinational corporation who probably sunk hundreds of millions into product marketing.

Even when your Mom, Aunt Rose, your roommates, and your Sorority sisters swear that your podcast is awesome, do some soul searching before hiring a marketing firm. I review podcasts for a living. My rule is that I only review and recommend the good ones. Do you know how many bad ones I listen to every week? The ones with the bad audio. The ones with a topic covered by thousands of other podcasts. The ones where the interview sounds more like an interrogation. The ones where the attempts at humor are so inane that you want to cry instead of laugh.

Finally, if you do hire a podcast marketing firm amid the swarm of marketing firms buzzing around you, try to find the one that will bring you honey. Only you can decide what "honey" is -- downloads, podcast excellence, peer respect, monetization, helping a disadvantaged cohort, or doing good in the world.

As marketing expert Seth Grodin once said, "Don't find customers for your product. Find products for your customers."

[rockyschexneider]

The Four-Eyed Fish Formula: Seeing What Marketing Opportunities Hide Below the Surface

The Four-Eyed Fish Formula: Seeing What Marketing Opportunities Hide Below the Surface

Picture this: you're lounging near a serene lagoon in Central America, soaked in tranquility. Suddenly, a peculiar sight disrupts the calm—a fish with what seems to be four eyes. No need to rub your eyes; you're not seeing things. Meet the anableps, a fish that’s not just any ordinary creature, but a remarkable spectacle of nature’s ingenuity. Each eye of this fish is divided into two parts, allowing it to scan the world above water while simultaneously surveying the depths below. A natural-born multitasker, this fish is an elite survivor.

Now, let’s embark on a journey from the waters of Central America to the ever-changing internet marketplace. Your audience? They're swimming in two different realms too. Above the surface are the dreamers—those who whimsically float through Instagram reels, dive into aspirational YouTube videos, and curate Pinterest boards for the life they're aspiring to live. Below the surface, we find the doers—the decisive lot Googling solutions, comparing reviews, and taking action now.

The question is, are you like the anableps, seeing both worlds at once, or are you missing out on hidden opportunities lurking just below the surface? The secret to mastering marketing lies in balancing both perspectives, just as nature designed for our four-eyed fish friend.

Consider this: focusing solely on the dreamers means you're crafting enchanting visuals and inspiring content that may spark interest and gather likes, but without anchoring doers, inspiration doesn't convert into action. Conversely, targeting only the doers might translate into sales, but you risk missing out on nurturing long-term brand advocates.

To thrive like the anableps, marketers must learn to develop split vision—a harmonious blend that caters to the dreamers and doers alike. This is the essence of the Four-Eyed Fish Formula for success in marketing.

Creating content that speaks to dreamers means crafting narratives that inspire, using visuals and stories that resonate with their aspirations. It's about engaging their imagination and drawing them into a vision of what's possible. Here’s where stunning visuals, engaging storytelling, and shareable moments come into play.

Meanwhile, for the doers, it's all about precision. They're seeking information, proof, and practical solutions. This calls for data-driven strategies, comprehensive reviews, straightforward testimonials, and conversion-focused funnels. By guiding them through a seamless journey from curiosity to checkout, you fulfill their immediate needs.

Your task as a marketer? To gracefully swim between these currents, building a holistic strategy where every piece of content plays its part. Think of your marketing efforts as weaving a net that captures audiences above and below the surface.

So how can you start mastering this skill? Begin by mapping out your audience’s journey. Identify touchpoints where they might pivot from dreaming to doing. Use analytics to refine your understanding. Leverage tools that let you personalize content to cater to varying audience mindsets.

The anableps didn't develop its unique vision by chance; it was evolution fueled by necessity. In marketing, similarly, understanding both perspectives isn’t just an advantage—it's a survival skill in a crowded digital marketplace.

Are you looking at your audience with split vision like the anableps? Or are you overlooking the goldmine beneath the surface?

It’s time to learn how easy it can be to find and connect with your audience. Our 100% Free Training unveils how to make extra income online within hours! You'll receive step-by-step guidance, complete case studies, and the precise system to copy, paste, and profit—no experience necessary. Don't wait, it's only available for a limited time!

Join the ranks of marketers who see the world clearly, just like the anableps, and watch your marketing strategy transform.

[seositetool]

Limelight Inc.’s Annual Ad Network Report Hails Digital Marketing’s “Great Survivors”

White paper considers the current challenges and opportunities for the sector, amid great leaps in AI and first-party data use Ad networks face a broad range of challenges in 2025 as they grapple with privacy concerns, regulatory issues and a $50bn ad fraud threat. But the opportunities presented by new technology, contextual targeting and growth potential in emerging markets offer the promise…

[remembering-the-future]

Welcome, Future Scholars, to the Collapse of Earth Studies Seminar Lecture 42: Postmaster, Outrolling, Rugola, and Climate Change—The End of Earth as a Social Experiment

Good evening, distinguished survivors! Today, we embark on the last obligatory intellectual exercise of dissecting the masterstroke of humanity’s collapse. Specifically, we turn our attention to the pivotal trifecta of Postmaster, Outrolling, and Rugola—yes, the holy trinity responsible for the definitive plunge of Earth into climate catastrophe and the subsequent decline of life as we once pretended to know it.

Postmaster: The Architect of Irrelevance

It’s hard to believe now, but there was once a time when communication required a network of dedicated overseers known as the "Postmasters." They ruled over digital correspondence with all the benevolence of a caffeinated dictator, ensuring that emails and messages arrived only 72 hours later than they were intended. Yet, as the planet slowly broiled under intensifying heat, Postmasters felt their responsibility shift—no longer delivering mail but the undeniable doom of missed carbon deadlines. The final straw? The Postmaster Corps decided that effective communication was irrelevant. “Who needs fast data when you’re sinking into the sea?” they declared, their motto proudly emblazoned on their sinking headquarters.

Outrolling: The Solution to All Problems, Except Every Problem

And then, there was Outrolling—a groundbreaking policy that promised to roll out green initiatives faster than humans could roll over in their graves. The irony? The rolling was literal. Thousands of wind turbines and solar panels were installed with great fanfare, but none were connected. But hey, why actually harness energy when you can just let them roll out aesthetically? The government decided to 'outroll' green tech in barren deserts, the bottom of oceans, and for some reason, next to suburban spas. The result: record-breaking renewable energy potential, with precisely zero useable output. Outrolling remains in history as humanity’s most brilliant plan to delay meaningful action while looking eco-conscious.

Rugola: The Last (and Worst) Food Trend

And finally, let us not forget Rugola, Earth’s last attempt at sustainable food before everything edible was charbroiled by climate collapse. You’ve heard of arugula? Well, its descendant Rugola was hailed as “the green of the future” for its ability to withstand droughts and nuclear fallout. Sadly, its taste was often compared to chewing on a tire fire. The people, of course, loved it—because what could be more avant-garde than dying of dehydration with a plate full of inedible, carbon-capturing leaves?

As global temperatures rose, so did Rugola's fame. It became the last crop before Earth’s soil turned to ash, proudly displayed at five-star restaurants while the rest of civilization devolved into eating shoe leather—because let’s be honest, they weren’t that different.

The Climate Change Finale: We Never Really Stood a Chance

Let’s wrap this up—like the species did, prematurely. It’s not just the rise of Postmasters who prioritized nothingness, or the Outrolling of pointless tech, or even the heroic attempts to market Rugola as the food of the end times that sealed humanity’s fate. It was the collective belief that aesthetic gestures could save a planet without real change. Who knew that when the Earth went down in flames, it would be so on-brand?

And so, dear survivors, as we float through the vast emptiness, let us toast (in recycled oxygen, of course) to the Earth that was, and to humanity’s undying commitment to form over function. Truly, we were the most stylish extinction.

[tamanna31]

Biobanks Market 2024 Analysis, Research, Review, Applications and Forecast to 2030

Biobanks Industry Overview

The global biobank market size was estimated at USD 76.74 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% from 2024 to 2030.

High investments in the R&D of advanced therapies, such as regenerative medicine, personalized medicine, and cancer genomic studies, are some of the driving factors. Moreover, the onset of COVID-19 has put biobanks at the forefront of the pandemic control measures, resulting in the organic revenue growth of the market. The COVID-19 outbreak had a major influence on the biobanking industry. Biobanking is important for the diagnosis & production of medicines for a variety of disorders. International initiatives to produce vaccines and other medicines to prevent the spread of the virus have been urgently needed.

The collection, processing, and analysis of patient samples are at the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis. For example, the Health Minister announced EUR 2 million in financing for the National Irish COVID-19 Biobank (NICB) in a July 2021 update from the Government of Ireland. The NICB has become a critical part of Ireland’s COVID-19 pandemic response. According to a February 2021 release, the Sample Collection Database was designed by the SciLifeLab Data Centre in partnership with Biobank Sweden and the research area ‘Biobanks for COVID-19’ of the SciLifeLab & KAW National COVID-19 research program.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Biobanks Market

Furthermore, Tulane University announced a new COVID-19 biobank containing blood & cell samples from survivors in July 2021 to aid researchers in determining why some people heal rapidly while others have long-term effects. As a result, such activities show that the outbreak of the pandemic boosted the demand for biobank services, benefiting the global economy.

The increasing popularity of precision/personalized medicine and genetic testing has been a key driver of the market. Biobanks have been playing a significant role in biomedical research. Over the past few decades, there have been several advances in platforms and tools used in genetic studies. This has led to an increase in demand for biospecimens from clinical labs to develop assays for genetic testing. Collaborations between private and public institutions in biobanking have played a crucial role in market progression.

Digitalization, precision medicine, and virtualization are rapidly changing the biobanking industry through the development of novel methods and concepts of synergies initiated by public and private organizations. Companies across all fields are partnering with biobanks, which accelerates the market revenue. For instance, in October 2023, UK Biobank partnered with several philanthropists. Through this partnership, UK Biobank will access USD 34.5 million in funding.

An exponential increase in the number of global cases has rendered the significance of biobanks in containing the spread of the virus. High-quality COVID-19 specimens are required and helpful for both research and diagnostic purposes, and biobanks are considered vital repositories for these samples. Thus, biobanks are gaining ground to support clinical research and drug discovery processes to combat this global disaster.

Developing countries from the Middle East region are investing in biobanks to advance the medical research domain in the country. For instance, in September 2023, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi announced the launch of a biobank to support the requirement of personalized medicine through advanced treatments that utilize human tissues and stem cells in medical research. This research will help treat over 80 diseases and immune system issues. Moreover, it strengthens the position of the UAE in the global biobanks market.

Browse through Grand View Research's Biotechnology Industry Research Reports.

The global plasmid purification market size was estimated at USD 1.72 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.60% from 2024 to 2030. 

The global enzymatic DNA synthesis market size was estimated at USD 232.4 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 26.4% from 2024 to 2030.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Some of the key players operating in the market are adopting various organic & inorganic strategies such as collaborations with biobanking service providers and technological innovation to advance their product offerings in the biobanking industry. 

Key Biobanks Companies:

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Merck KGaA

Qiagen

Hamilton Company

Tecan Trading AG

Danaher Corporation

Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD)

Biocision, LLC.

Taylor-Wharton

Charles River Laboratories

Lonza

Stemcell Technologies

Biovault Family

Promocell Gmbh

Precision Cellular Storage Ltd. (Virgin Health Bank)

Recent Developments

In October 2023, AstraZeneca research announced unique relationships between rare changes in plasma proteins and genes that could enhance drug discovery with data from more than 50,000 UK Biobank participants.

Similarly, in January 2023, Hamad Medical Corporation, in collaboration with Qatar BioBank, launched a Tissue Biobank Service in Qatar. This biobank will focus on collecting samples and finding new potential treatments for heart diseases & cancer.

In January 2023, Quibim and European Commission launched European Commission’s European Federation for Cancer Images (EUCAIM) biobank. This biobank will focus on developing treatments for cancers along with early detection techniques.

In December 2023, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. announced an agreement with CELLphenomics to expand 3D In Vitro Services for drug screening of cancer therapy. CELLphenomics biobank has over 500 in vitro models from around 20 tumor entities. It offers one of the largest complex in vitro models of rare and ultra-rare tumors like thymomas or sarcomas.

. In July 2023, Tecan announced the launch of Phase Separator. It has several applications in biobanking and liquid biopsy and is expected to benefit proteomics, genomics and across numerous disease areas, from neurodegenerative and oncology diseases to metabolic disorders.

In January 2023, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. announced its participation as a founding sponsor of Momentum Labs, a new biotech hub located in Alachua, Florida. This collaboration aims to support the growth of innovative biotech startups and drive advancements in the industry. With Thermo Fisher's expertise in the life sciences and its commitment to innovation, the company is well-positioned to play a significant role in the success of Momentum Labs and the companies it supports. The establishment of this hub is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and further solidify Florida's position as a hub for biotech innovation.

In February 2022, Hamilton company expanded its range of VersoQ series of storage systems at a debut at SLAS 2022 conference. This would increase the company’s product offerings in biobanking.

Order a free sample PDF of the Biobanks Market Study, published by Grand View Research.

[jackmasonincandco]

CEO Spotlight: Jack Mason Inc & Co Interview Questions

As the CEO of digital disruptor Inc & Co, Jack Mason is an entrepreneurial business leader with a people-focussed outlook who uses his consultancy-led approach to reform struggling businesses. Jack directs Inc & Co’s acquisitions through strategic business frameworks and methodologies, questioning the status quo to form creative solutions. 

His innovative marketing models and technical systems form the growth solutions that Inc & Co’s acquisitions need to thrive. Jack places a strong emphasis on surrounding himself with experts – the great team that surrounds him are the backbone of everything he does.

After studying Business Enterprise at the Manchester Metropolitan University, Jack Mason Inc & Co went on to found Dreamr. In 2019, he launched Inc & Co to provide a collaborative space and knowledge hub for digital enterprises specialising in software, server technologies, PR, marketing, and design. Now, Inc & Co’s ever-growing collection of acquisitions has access to more business advice and guidance than ever before.

Inc & Co’s acquisitions include the global analytics firm Insight Analysis, which drives success for sports organisations such as the Premier League, LTA Tennis, and British Athletics; sport brand-building agency Skylab; charity data-management firm Wood for Trees; data preference and consent management specialists MyLife Digital; creative agency Neon; award-winning marketing agency Brass; mobile app development firm Cuhu; and leading laundry service Laundrapp.

This year, Jack has also launched Inc & Co’s sister company Inc & Co Property Group. He worked with his partners to acquire and develop Prospect Business Centres into incspaces, which offers ergonomic serviced office spaces for freelancers and business teams of all sizes. incspaces currently provide business-grade workspaces in Manchester, London, and Leeds and plans to expand further.

Additionally, Jack serves as a member of the Forbes Business Council, which comprises a collective of invite-only entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs meet regularly to prepare business guidance for companies looking to scale their services and product offerings.

Learn more about Jack Mason and find out how Inc & Co could refresh your business.

When did you realise you wanted to pursue a career in your industry? Did anything in particular bring you there?

I’ve always been interested in business in general, and this started when I was in secondary school, going to the shops before school to buy a bulk amount of chocolate bars, and then selling them to other students at lunch and making a profit. Now things are a lot bigger than that, with over 180 staff across the U.K, I have bigger challenges than where to source my Mars bars!

What is advice you wish you had received when you were younger?

The advice would be, things will be tough, you won’t always get it right the first time, so don’t be too hard on yourself when you fail, just get back up and try again. A lot of time in business, there’s a lot of pressure to be perfect, not have any failures and to always look your best. I’m challenging that status quo as I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, but what matters is that you use them to build on your experience, and do better next time.

Have you ever experienced an unexpected lesson or realisation at any point in your career? What was it?

Knowing that you can’t please everyone is a huge realisation I had in the past year. When you’re responsible for hundreds of people, you need to know that you will never be able to please everyone. A decision that I make, has the chance to affect a lot of people, and some of those people won’t like you, sometimes. Obviously you need to do what you can to minimise that, but at the same time you need to realise that you will never please everyone.

Do you have experiences outside of work that impacted your perspective or trajectory within your career?

I’m a cancer survivor. When I was young I beat cancer, and this has shaped who I am today. I never give up and I know that if I can beat an invisible disease, I can beat anything!

How do you define success? Has this definition changed over time?

Success is so subjective, and I try to explain this to young entrepreneurs I meet. It takes you a long time to figure out what it means to you, but most of the time we spend our life chasing other people’s dreams and ideas of success. You see a rich person on Instagram with a Porsche, and you chase their dream of also owning a porsche. There’s a utopia when you find out what makes you happy and if you can figure that out, and you know what you need to do to feel that way, you will be the happiest person alive. By the way, success or happiness isn’t a destination, it’s a journey you go on, that has no ending.

Do you do anything in your free time that you feel has impacted your work (or allowed you to step away from it)?

I like to get out in the outdoors and away from technology. I spend all my working day surrounded by technology, and its Inc & Co’s bread and butter. So when I spend the weekend relaxing and out of the office, it really allows me to reset my mind and body so that when I’m back in on the Monday, I have a fresh perspective to my work and the 9 companies we have in the group.

What has been your best moment to date with Inc & Co?

Every day is a great moment, whether that’s hiring a new head of commercial, or planning for our group Covid christmas party. As I was saying earlier, you have to enjoy the moments along the way, otherwise you will always be chasing a bigger, better moment. Every moment is special, you just need to take a step back to enjoy it sometimes.

What exciting future projects can you talk about?

There’s one really big thing we’re working on that is in the pipeline, but I genuinely can’t say anything until it’s launched. Watch this space!

[afiqakmar]

Week 5 Digital Community and Fandom: Reality TV Case Study

Admit it or not, reality television is a genre that you either love or detest. It has existed for close to thirty years in Australia. Since the early 1990s and 2000s, the majority of reality TV programmes have remained popular and are currently in production. The Block, Dancing With the Stars, Big Brother, and Survivor are a few examples. Why, therefore, does no one want to acknowledge that they like watching reality TV, given that the shows have been around for decades and have continuously high ratings?

66% of Australians admit to watching reality TV, especially dating shows, according to new AMPD Research research, yet 34% of those people lie about it. People who took part in the study admitted lying because they were embarrassed to say so. These Aussies are pretty comical in their contradictions about lying to each other. Imagine a bunch of coworkers who pretend to be friends and pretend that they haven't watched the newest season of "trash TV," but in fact, they are all sneaking home to watch Married at First Sight together. Reality television has been extending beyond television to other platforms since social media was introduced ten years ago. 

Reality TV consumption and distribution have been greatly influenced by social media. Social media engagement is becoming the main focus of producers' marketing strategies as they use it to engage audiences. This method was called a "feedback loop whereby television and social media content feedback onto each other in a cycle" by L'Hoiry. The audience is being pushed to interact on several channels by this. In addition to developing memes about the programme that encourage fans to share, producers are posting "first looks" and "exclusive behindhe-scscenes content" on social media.

Reality television is generating new markets and greater viewer involvement by fostering multi-platform engagement through social media. Despite the widespread stigma associated with admitting to watching reality TV, the growing consumption across platforms is increasing viewer engagement, whether or not the public admits to it.

References

AMPD Research 2019, Australia: SVOD Study, pp. 3-16.

Graham, T & Hajru, A 2011, “Reality TV as a trigger of everyday political talk in the net-based public sphere”, European Journal of Communication, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 18-32.

L'Hoiry, X 2019, “Love Island, Social Media, and Sousveillance: New Pathways of Challenging Realism in Reality TV”, Frontiers in Sociology, vol. 4.

[atomxmedia]

Reasi Terror Attack: 9 Pilgrims Killed, LG Manoj Sinha Announces ₹10 Lakh Ex-Gratia

In a tragic incident in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing nine and injuring 33. Around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, the 53-seater bus was ambushed and crashed down a rocky canyon on its way from the Shiv Khori cave temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra.

Details of the Incident

Mohita Sharma, the SSP for Reasi, said that a group of militants targeted the Yatri bus in the Ransoo area of the district. The attack caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which crashed into a gorge near Pouni’s Kanda region. The terrifying attack caused instant casualties and injuries among the passengers.

Official Reactions and Condemnations

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh for the families of those slain and ₹50,000 for the injured. The declaration highlights the administration’s prompt action to assist the impacted families during this difficult time. President Droupadi Murmu was deeply saddened by the tragedy, describing it as a “crime against humanity” that must be strongly condemned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, was quick to respond. He asked LG Sinha to closely monitor the issue and provide extensive aid to the victims’ relatives. PM Modi highlighted that the perpetrators of this horrific act would face severe consequences.

Union Minister Amit Shah, immediately after his oath-taking ceremony, condemned the attack, reiterating that those responsible would not be spared. Shah has been in constant communication with LG Sinha and DGP R R Swain to assess the situation and expedite measures to bring the attackers to justice.

Security Measures and Rescue Operations

SSP Sharma declared the incident a clear case of a terror attack and detailed the prompt rescue operations initiated. The injured were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals, and a detailed operation to identify and hunt down the terrorists was launched. The SSP mentioned that while the identities of the deceased and injured are yet to be confirmed, it is likely that they were from Uttar Pradesh.

Local residents played a crucial role in the immediate aftermath, assisting the victims and providing first-hand accounts of the attack. One survivor recounted how the bus was showered with 25 to 30 bullets before it veered off the road. Another witness saw a masked attacker, identifiable by a red muffler, shooting at the bus.

Enhanced Security Measures

In response to the attack, security forces have heightened their vigilance, particularly around the Shiv Khori temple. Regular area domination patrols are being conducted, and the Village Defence Guards have been put on high alert with frequent firing practice sessions.

Read more: Marketing News, Advertising News, PR and Finance News, Digital News