#full digital marketing solutions

[aarvinddigimark]

Digital Marketing: A remarkable way to transform your business

According to a reliable market research company, there are about 4.9% billion global internet users as of 2021, driven by innovation and technological advancement in the IT field and the growing credibility of digital technology. As a result, full digital marketing solutions providers have assumed significance. Over the years, businesses have realized the importance of end-to-end digital marketing providers. Rightly so!   

In this blog, we are going to highlight the benefits of digital marketing for businesses, especially small businesses. Before we take a deep dive into the subject, it makes sense to share some of the major statistics related to digital marketing.             

Around 96% of online adults use social media regularly 

Approx. 28% of marketing budgets are spent on content     by B2B Marketers 

Facebook drives more referrals than any other social     platform

The top     three marketing priorities for B2B     comprise content marketing, social media marketing, and branding & website 

Blogs that integrate appealing images attract 94% more     page views

A person spends around 2.5 hours per day     on social media    

Around 45% of consumers consider     influencer’s recommendations for a product/ service 

Around 500 million active Instagram     story users worldwide  

Facebook has around 2.3 billion active     monthly users 

Around 75% of digital marketers consider     social media marketing effective 

About 55% of social browsers leverage     social media to research products 

Around 3.75 billion people use social     media globally

About 48% of the world's     population has a presence on social media

Considering the above statistics, do you think businesses can undermine the role played by full digital marketing solutions providers, especially small businesses in changing their fortune?   

What exactly is digital marketing?     

In simple words, digital marketing is defined as a technology-driven method to connect with potential customers and drive them to spend time and buy a product or service up for sale on a website or social media. Professionally qualified full digital marketing solutions provider at the outset evaluates your business on various parameters, like the audience, age group, geography, etc. Subsequently, the professional designs a thorough digital marketing strategy comprising, goals, budget, timeline, etc.   

Track, monitor, and redefine   

With digital marketing, the biggest benefit you have is – you can easily track, and monitor the strategy. If you are not getting the result, you are looking for, you can redefine your marketing strategy. Google analytics allows you to examine the performance of your ad, the number of leads, the audience showing interest, etc. But again, it’s better to consult a full digital marketing solutions provider. 

Hiring an expert pays dividends  

We are sure, you would agree that an expert is an expert. They know what will work in your favour and what not. The world of digital marketing is so vast, full of possibilities, ways, and ideas. The more you experiment, the better you will learn. We recommend you enter into a dialogue with an end-to-end digital marketing provider. You would be surprised to learn the immense possibilities and hacks the new age technology brings along!      

Conclusion       

We think the picture is crystal clear now. Digital marketing is changing the fortune of businesses, irrespective of domain. Don’t hesitate to hire a full digital marketing solutions provider.

[ramsiyacreations01]

How to Choose the Best Digital Marketing Agency for Business

For companies of all sizes, having a strong online presence is crucial in the fast-paced digital landscape of today. Working with the best digital marketing agency may have a big impact on your brand's visibility, consumer engagement, and overall performance, whether you're a startup or an established business. But how can you select the ideal agency for your company when there are so many to choose from? This article will assist you in finding the ideal fit by focussing on the qualities that set a digital marketing agency such as Ramsiya Tech unique.

1. Define Your Business Goals

Clearly defining your marketing goals is crucial before you start your search. Do you want to improve your social media presence, get leads, or increase website traffic? Setting clear objectives will make it easier for you to locate a digital marketing company that focusses in the services you require.

Ramsiya Tech customises our strategies to your company's specific objectives, providing customised and effective marketing solutions.

2. Assess Their Range of Services

Digital marketing encompasses a wide range of services, including SEO, PPC, social media management, email marketing, and content creation. When choosing an agency, make sure they offer the services that align with your business needs. A full-service digital marketing agency like Ramsiya Tech can provide a comprehensive approach, ensuring consistency across all platforms.

Our services at Ramsiya Tech include:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to boost your organic search rankings.

PPC (Pay-Per-Click Advertising) to drive immediate traffic and leads.

Social Media Marketing for brand awareness and customer engagement.

Content Marketing to position your brand as an industry leader.

Web Design & Development to create an appealing and functional online presence.

3. Check Their Industry Experience

Expertise matters. An experienced agency will comprehend the most recent trends, algorithms, and marketing strategies improved. Enquire about the experience a digital marketing agency has in your sector while assessing them.

We at Ramsiya Tech have a wealth of experience in a variety of sectors, including real estate, healthcare, e-commerce, and more. In order to provide our clients with modern day strategies, our staff stays ahead of digital marketing trends.

4. Evaluate Their Portfolio and Case Studies

A reputable digital marketing agency should have a proven track record. Request case studies or examples of previous work to see if they’ve successfully helped businesses like yours. This will give you insight into their ability to deliver results.

At Ramsiya Tech, we take pride in our success stories. Our portfolio showcases businesses we've helped grow through tailored SEO strategies, effective ad campaigns, and innovative social media marketing.

5. Understand Their Approach to SEO

Digital marketing performance depends mostly on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Effective SEO strategies that improve your website's Google rating should be well-understood by the right agency.

To ensure durable, long-term benefits, we at Ramsiya Tech use white-hat SEO strategies. Driving organic traffic that converts is our main goal, from keyword research to on-page optimisation.

6. Check Client Reviews and Testimonials

Testimonials and evaluations from clients provide important information about the dependability and expertise of an agency. To learn more about their reputation, spend some time looking through their social media comments or Google reviews.

Positive comments from happy customers are something we at Ramsiya Tech take great delight in. We are a reputable digital marketing company in Rohini as well as worldwide, thanks to our dedication to achieving results.

7. Transparency and Communication

Open and transparent communication is essential when working with a digital marketing agency. You should be able to easily track the progress of your campaigns and understand the strategies being used.

At Ramsiya Tech, we believe in keeping our clients informed every step of the way. We provide detailed reports, regular updates, and are always available to discuss your marketing performance.

8. Budget-Friendly Solutions

While it's tempting to go with the lowest-priced agency, the best digital marketing services come at a reasonable investment. Be sure to balance your budget with the quality of services provided.

At Ramsiya Tech, we offer flexible pricing plans that fit businesses of all sizes. Our goal is to provide top-quality digital marketing services that deliver real ROI without breaking the bank.

9. Personalized Strategy

No two businesses are the same, and neither should their digital marketing strategies. Look for an agency that takes the time to understand your brand and creates a custom plan tailored to your unique needs.

At Ramsiya Tech, we believe in creating personalized strategies that resonate with your target audience and align with your business goals. Our team will work closely with you to design a roadmap that ensures success.

10. Long-Term Partnership

Digital marketing is an ongoing process, not a one-time project. Choose a digital marketing agency that is interested in forming a long-term partnership, offering continuous support and adapting strategies as your business evolves.

At Ramsiya Tech, we aim to build lasting relationships with our clients. As your business grows, we adjust our strategies to keep you ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

Choosing the best digital marketing agency for your business requires careful consideration of their expertise, transparency, and alignment with your goals. At Ramsiya Tech, we are committed to helping businesses thrive in the digital space by offering top-notch services tailored to your specific needs. Get in touch with us right now to improve your online presence!

[stands-pro-services]

We Digitize Your Brand — Best Digital Marketing Services With An ROI-Based Approach

If you are looking to harness the power of digital to maximize revenue growth and brand development, it is essential to have the best minds to meet your exact needs using an innovative outlook and professional advice.

Stands Pro Services is a fully-fledged Digital Marketing service provider with experience managing projects across every business sector and worldwide for the past decade.

With experience in Website Design & Development, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Paid Marketing, and more spheres.

Our Digital Marketing Services:

1.Search Engine Optimization: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the most important aspect of the digital marketing process. It can be described as the process of ensuring that the site is designed so that search engines can discover and rank pages that match the query. It includes actions that ensure that the site is current in accordance with search engine guidelines.

2.Content Marketing: Content Marketing is a method for connecting and communicating with your target audience, building backlinks that increase brand authority and popularity, and addressing searcher intent with the precise use of keywords. It includes creating and publishing valuable, relevant, informative, unique, and informative content to be distributed to the target audience.

3.Search Engine Marketing: Search engine marketing / Pay-Per-Click is a marketing technique used for paid advertisements. This is sponsored ad marketing, which allows instant visibility of the advertisement over digital media to attract potential customers. PPC is a model of search engine marketing specific to the Google search engine, which helps generate instant traffic results with paid advertising campaigns, wherein the ads appear on top of the organic search results.

4.Conversion Rate Optimization: With our calculated data-backed decision-making, we enhance your website’s features and aspects that work together to improve the conversion rate considerably. We consider the purchase process of your users and employ strategies to help you entice and convert your customers into paying customers efficiently.

5.Online Reputation Management: Your image projection online is important to developing trust and credibility for your brand. Online Reputation Management (ORM) helps secure your online image by ensuring satisfactory customer support, timely and effective addressing of customer complaints and issues, removing fake and negative comments, and promoting positive content.

6.Social Media Marketing: People engage with others on social media channels and search for and connect with brands. We take the necessary steps to establish a strong social media presence for your company on various social media channels. We connect with your past, current, and future customers, understand their needs, which aid in shaping your marketing strategies, and build relationships that increase your brand’s visibility and popularity.

[seo-for-startups]

Branding is the part of Digital Marketing Services .Branding and Digital Marketing Services help businesses establish a unique identity by using logo, colour, messaging and engage their target audience effectively. For more information, visit us-

https://www.goalmaximize.com/services/digital-marketing/

[hvirtuals]

Hvirtuals - How Virtual Assistants Are Revolutionizing Small Businesses

In today's fast-paced digital world, small businesses are constantly looking for ways to stay competitive and efficient. One solution that's making waves is the use of virtual assistants. Hvirtuals is at the forefront of this revolution, offering a wide range of virtual assistant services that are transforming how small businesses operate.

Virtual assistants are remote professionals who provide various administrative, technical, and creative services to businesses. They're not just glorified secretaries; they're skilled experts who can handle everything from digital marketing to software development. Let's explore how virtual assistants are changing the game for small businesses.

Boosting Productivity with Virtual Assistant Services

One of the biggest advantages of hiring a virtual assistant is the dramatic increase in productivity. Small business owners often wear many hats, juggling multiple tasks at once. By delegating time-consuming tasks to a virtual assistant, business owners can focus on core activities that drive growth.

Hvirtuals offers a range of virtual assistant services tailored to small businesses. These include managing emails, scheduling appointments, handling customer inquiries, and even managing social media accounts. By offloading these tasks, business owners can reclaim valuable time and energy.

Expanding Reach with Digital Marketing Services

In the digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for small businesses. However, many lack the expertise or resources to implement effective digital marketing strategies. This is where virtual assistants specializing in digital marketing come in.

As a digital marketing agency, Hvirtuals provides comprehensive digital marketing services. Their virtual assistants can help with everything from content creation and social media management to email marketing and SEO optimization. By leveraging these services, small businesses can expand their reach and attract more customers without the need for an in-house marketing team.

Embracing Mobile Technology

With the increasing use of smartphones, having a mobile app can give small businesses a significant edge. However, mobile app development can be costly and time-consuming. This is where virtual assistants with expertise in app development come into play.

Hvirtuals, as a mobile app development company, offers services to create custom mobile applications for small businesses. Their remote full-time software developers can build apps that enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, or even open new revenue streams. By hiring software developers from India through Hvirtuals, small businesses can access top-notch talent at competitive rates.

Enhancing Online Presence with Web Development

In today's digital landscape, a well-designed website is essential for any business. Virtual assistants specializing in web development can help small businesses create professional, user-friendly websites that attract and retain customers.

Hvirtuals offers full stack web development services, covering everything from front-end design to back-end functionality. Their web development agency approach ensures that small businesses get a comprehensive solution tailored to their specific needs. Whether it's a simple informational site or a complex e-commerce platform, their virtual assistants can deliver high-quality web development services.

Streamlining Operations with Custom Software

Every business has unique processes and challenges. Off-the-shelf software solutions don't always fit the bill. This is where custom software development comes in handy. As a custom software development company, Hvirtuals can provide virtual assistants who specialize in creating bespoke software solutions.

These virtual software developers can create tools that automate repetitive tasks, manage inventory, track sales, or handle any other specific need a small business might have. By streamlining operations with custom software, small businesses can significantly improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Finding the Right Talent with Recruitment Support

Growing businesses often need to expand their team, but finding the right talent can be challenging and time-consuming. Virtual assistants can help with recruitment support services, handling everything from writing job descriptions to screening candidates.

Hvirtuals offers recruitment support services that can streamline the hiring process for small businesses. Their virtual assistants can manage job postings, review resumes, conduct initial interviews, and even help with onboarding new employees. This allows business owners to focus on making final decisions while ensuring a thorough hiring process.

Generating Leads and Boosting Sales

Lead generation is crucial for business growth, but it can be a complex and time-consuming process. Virtual assistants specializing in lead generation can help small businesses attract and nurture potential customers.

As a lead generation agency, Hvirtuals offers services to help businesses identify and engage with potential customers. Their virtual assistants use various lead generation tools and strategies to create a steady stream of qualified leads. By hiring a lead generation expert through Hvirtuals, small businesses can boost their sales pipeline without the need for an in-house sales team.

Improving Online Visibility with SEO Services

In the digital age, being visible in search engine results is crucial for attracting customers. However, search engine optimization (SEO) can be complex and time-consuming. This is where virtual assistants with SEO expertise come in handy.

Hvirtuals offers some of the best SEO services in the industry. Their virtual assistants can optimize website content, improve site structure, build quality backlinks, and implement other SEO strategies to improve a business's search engine rankings. For those searching for "SEO services near me," Hvirtuals provides remote services that deliver local results.

In conclusion, virtual assistants are indeed revolutionizing how small businesses operate. From handling day-to-day tasks to providing specialized services like software development and digital marketing, virtual assistants are helping small businesses compete in the digital age. Companies like Hvirtuals are leading this revolution, offering a wide range of digital solutions that empower small businesses to grow and thrive. By leveraging these services, small businesses can access expertise and capabilities that were once only available to larger corporations, leveling the playing field and opening up new opportunities for growth and success.

[web2411]

[themilionpixel11]

Find Here Best Digital Marketing Companies in Mumbai | The Milion Pixel

"The Milion Pixel" encapsulates an agency at the pinnacle of digital transformation, dedicated to sculpting brands and development online growth. Best digital marketing companies in Mumbai, our name resounds as an insignia of innovation, imagination, and excellence.

[itlsmith]

Know Applications and benefits of Microsoft Applications

Microsoft has been a leading provider of software applications for decades. From Windows to Office to SharePoint, Microsoft applications have become ubiquitous in the workplace and in our daily lives. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular Microsoft applications.

Microsoft Office is perhaps the most well-known and widely used suite of applications. It includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Word is a word processing application that allows users to create documents, while Excel is a spreadsheet application that helps users organize data and perform calculations. PowerPoint is a presentation application that allows users to create and deliver presentations, while Outlook is an email and calendar application that helps users manage their email, appointments, and tasks.

Another popular Microsoft application is SharePoint, which is a web-based collaboration and content management platform. SharePoint allows users to create and share documents, collaborate on projects, and manage workflow processes. It also includes features such as enterprise search and business intelligence, making it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform that allows users to chat, make voice and video calls, and share files and applications. Teams has become increasingly popular for remote work and virtual collaboration, as it provides a central hub for team communication and collaboration.

Visual Studio is a software development environment that allows developers to create applications for various platforms, including Windows, Android, and iOS. It includes features such as code editing, debugging, and testing, making it a valuable tool for software developers.

Microsoft Dynamics is a suite of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) applications. It includes modules for finance, supply chain management, sales, and marketing, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes.

In conclusion, Microsoft applications have become an essential part of our lives, from word processing to collaboration to software development. With a wide range of applications available, Microsoft continues to innovate and provide valuable tools for individuals and businesses alike.

[atoltia]

March can be easily flustered...

...If he was aware that the things that he did or were done to him were to be taken as gestures of affection, whether it be platonic or romantic.

There was a method to his madness. Simplicity in logic was to be preferred over convoluted solutions and discussions. The most direct course of action to reach perfection, even when that particular avenue could be misconstrued into something else.

But he couldn't always see it.

When you pointed out that he was being sweet when he gave you that hoe (after fully insulting you, please do not forget) knowing full well how much pride he has on his work, how much blood and sweat he spent on meticulously crafting it to the best it could be, he was a blubbering mess.

He was sober that time so he had the mind to throw you out of the shop with a rather hasty slam to the door, leaving you cackling loud enough for him to hear from inside the blacksmith (loud enough, mind you, to wake up Olric from wherever the hell he was taking a nap).

That one moment you told him that you found it sweet that he took the time to teach you on how to use his forge (with the thickly veiled threat that he will break your arms if you so much as damage his equipment. Don't worry, you threatened to shove his sorry ass into the fire if he ever tried. Both of you had to pull Olric away from the forge because he would have actually fallen into it after laughing so much at the both of you), you were sure he was gonna have a stroke.

When you heard him mention at the Saturday market that he liked hot chocolate, he banged his shin into the stall accidentally when he saw that you bought him a cup (he did accuse you of bribing Darcy to poison it, though. Little shit had the gall to slap your hand away like a greedy little gremlin when you tried to take it back. Both of you were bickering so much that the poor cup of hot chocolate had to be saved by Olric lest it get spilled).

Little instances led you to believe that the man was just a blubbering mess of nerves and embarrassment whenever he ever gets associated with being sweet.

But then there was that time when he took your hand into his, examined every digit, ever crevice, every scratch, every contusion with such intimate concentration that you thought your heart would fail from beating so fast (you didn't even hear him lecture you about being a dumbass in the mines again while he bandaged you, so congratulations on that little victory).

There was that time where you injured your hand (again) and was unable to properly eat your meal. Josephine offered to help you but the gremlin of a man already took it upon himself to feed you himself, all the while continuing the lecture that he started two days before (don't worry, you were much too focused on his very close proximity to you and not choking on the food that you didn't have the mental capacity to process whatever the fuck he was saying).

And then there was that time, one horrible autumn morning, that that fake redhead came barreling towards you, come to a full stop, and rather abruptly press his forehead into yours. You felt yourself short circuit for a moment, hyper aware of the fact that he smelled like nice cinnamon chocolate, both his warm, calloused hands gently pressed at your shoulders to keep you steady, that you didn't even realize that he was berating you for sporting a fever after overworking yourself for the nth time this season (not even when he hauled your ass up his shoulders and dumped you at the clinic himself. Valen wasn't sure if she was impressed or horrified).

None of these changes the fact that he was a wuss at being given compliments. But maybe, just maybe, he was also too dense at being able to pick up on the way his method of care ripped your heart into a torrent of emotion, turning you into the blushing, heart clutching disaster that you often thought of him as. And yeah, maybe you were a little lovestruck. Him too, possibly. Probably. Who the fuck knows. Neither of you surely don't.

(And between you and me, you wouldn't have it any other way.)

(You still hope the son of a bitch kisses you sometime soon, though.)

-0-

check out my masterlist lmao

[mariacallous]

This story is part of a joint investigation between Lighthouse Reports and WIRED. To read other stories from the series, click here.

Mitch Daniels is a numbers guy, a cost-cutter. In the early 2000s, he tried and failed to rein in congressional spending under then-US president George W. Bush. So when he took office as Indiana governor in 2005, Daniels was ready to argue once again for fiscal discipline. He wanted to straighten out Indiana’s state government, which he deemed rife with dysfunction. And he started with its welfare system. “That department had been rocked by a series of criminal indictments, with cheats and caseworkers colluding to steal money meant for poor people,” he later said.

Daniels’ solution took the form of a $1.3 billion, 10-year contract with IBM. He had lofty ambitions for the project, which started in 2006, claiming it would improve the benefits service for Indiana residents while cracking down on fraud, ultimately saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

But the contract was a disaster. It was canceled after three years, and IBM and Indiana spent a decade locked in a legal battle about who was to blame. Daniels described IBM’s sweeping redesign and automation of the system—responsible for deciding who was eligible for everything from food stamps to medical cover—as deficient. He was adamant, though, that outsourcing a technical project to a company with expertise was the right call. “It was over-designed,” he said. “Great on paper but too complicated to work in practice.” IBM declined a request for comment. 

In July 2012, Judge David Dryer of the Marion County Superior Court ruled that Indiana had failed to prove IBM had breached its contract. But he also delivered a damning verdict on the system itself, describing it as an untested experiment that replaced caseworkers with computers and phone calls. “Neither party deserves to win this case,” he said. “This story represents a ‘perfect storm’ of misguided government policy and overzealous corporate ambition.” 

That might have been an early death knell for the burgeoning business of welfare state automation. Instead, the industry exploded. Today, such fraud systems form a significant part of the nebulous “govtech” industry, which revolves around companies selling governments new technologies with the promise that new IT will make public administration easier-to-use and more efficient. In 2021, that market was estimated to be worth €116 billion ($120 billion) in Europe and $440 billion globally. And it’s not only companies that expect to profit from this wave of tech. Governments also believe modernizing IT systems can deliver big savings. Back in 2014, the consultancy firm McKinsey estimated that if government digitization reached its “full potential,” it could free up $1 trillion every year. 

Contractors around the world are selling governments on the promise that fraud-hunting algorithms can help them recoup public funds. But researchers who track the spread of these systems argue that these companies are often overpaid and under-supervised. The key issue, researchers say, is accountability. When complex machine learning models or simpler algorithms are developed by the private sector, the computer code that gets to define who is and isn’t accused of fraud is often classed as intellectual property. As a result, the way such systems make decisions is opaque and shielded from interrogation. And even when these algorithmic black holes are embroiled in high-stakes legal battles over alleged bias, the people demanding answers struggle to get them. 

In the UK, a community group called the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People is trying to determine whether a pattern of disabled people being investigated for fraud is linked to government automation projects. In France, the digital rights group La Quadrature du Net has been trying for four months to find out whether a fraud system is discriminating against people born in other countries. And in Serbia, lawyers want to understand why the introduction of a new system has resulted in hundreds of Roma families losing their benefits. “The models are always secret,” says Victoria Adelmant, director of New York University’s digital welfare state project. “If you don’t have transparency, it’s very difficult to even challenge and assess these systems.” 

The rollout of automated bureaucracy has happened quickly and quietly, but it has left a trail of scandals in its wake. In Michigan, a computer system used between 2013 and 2015 falsely accused 34,000 people of welfare fraud. A similar thing happened in Australia between 2015 and 2019, but on a larger scale: The government accused 400,000 people of welfare fraud or error after its social security department started using a so-called robodebt algorithm to automatically issue fines.

Another scandal emerged in the Netherlands in 2019 when tens of thousands of families—many of them from the country’s Ghanaian community—were falsely accused of defrauding the child benefits system. These systems didn’t just contribute to agencies accusing innocent people of welfare fraud; benefits recipients were ordered to repay the money they had supposedly stolen. As a result, many of the accused were left with spiraling debt, destroyed credit ratings, and even bankruptcy. 

Not all government fraud systems linked to scandals were developed with consultancies or technology companies. But civil servants are increasingly turning to the private sector to plug knowledge and personnel gaps. Companies involved in fraud detection systems range from giant consultancies—Accenture, Cap Gemini, PWC—to small tech firms like Totta Data Lab in the Netherlands and Saga in Serbia.

Experts in automation and AI are expensive to hire and less likely to be wooed by public sector salaries. When the UK surveyed its civil servants last year, confidence in the government’s ability to use technology was low, with around half of respondents blaming an inability to hire top talent. More than a third said they had few or no skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automation. But it’s not just industry experience that makes the private sector so alluring to government officials. For welfare departments squeezed by budget cuts, “efficiency” has become a familiar buzzword. “Quite often, a public sector entity will say it is more efficient for us to go and bring in a group of consultants,” says Dan Sheils, head of European public service at Accenture.

The public sector lacks the expertise to create these systems and also to oversee them, says Matthias Spielkamp, cofounder of German nonprofit Algorithm Watch, which has been tracking automated decision-making in social welfare programs across Europe since 2017. In an ideal world, civil servants would be able to develop these systems themselves and have an in-depth understanding of how they work, he says. “That would be a huge difference to working with private companies, because they will sell you black-box systems—black boxes to everyone, including the public sector.” 

In February 2020, a crisis broke out in the Dutch region of Walcheren as officials realized they were in the dark about how their own fraud detection system worked. At the time, a Dutch court had halted the use of another algorithm used to detect welfare fraud, known as SyRI, after finding it violated people’s right to privacy. Officials in Walcheren were not using SyRI, but in emails obtained by Lighthouse Reports and WIRED through freedom-of-information requests, government employees had raised concerns that their algorithm bore striking similarities to the one just condemned by the court.

Walcheren’s system was developed by Totta Data Lab. After signing a contract in March 2017, the Dutch startup developed an algorithm to sort through pseudonymous information, according to details obtained through a freedom-of-information request. The system analyzed details of local people claiming welfare benefits and then sent human investigators a list of those it classified as most likely to be fraudsters. 

The redacted emails show local officials agonizing over whether their algorithm would be dragged into the SyRI scandal. “I don’t think it is possible to explain why our algorithm should be allowed while everyone is reading about SyRI,” one official wrote the week after the court ruling. Another wrote back with similar concerns. “We also do not get insight from Totta Data Lab into what exactly the algorithm does, and we do not have the expertise to check this.” Neither Totta nor officials in Walcheren replied to requests for comment. 

When the Netherlands’ Organization for Applied Scientific Research, an independent research institute, later carried out an audit of a Totta algorithm used in South Holland, the auditors struggled to understand it. “The results of the algorithm do not appear to be reproducible,” their 2021 report reads, referring to attempts to re-create the algorithm’s risk scores. “The risks indicated by the AI algorithm are largely randomly determined,” the researchers found. 

With little transparency, it often takes years—and thousands of victims—to expose technical shortcomings. But a case in Serbia provides a notable exception. In March 2022, a new law came into force which gave the government the green light to use data processing to assess individuals’ financial status and automate parts of its social protection programs. The new socijalna karta, or social card system, would help the government detect fraud while making sure welfare payments were reaching society’s most marginalized, claimed Zoran Đorđević, Serbia’s minister of social affairs in 2020. 

But within months of the system’s introduction, lawyers in the capital Belgrade had started documenting how it was discriminating against the country’s Roma community, an already disenfranchised ethnic minority group. 

Mr. ​​Ahmetović, a welfare recipient who declined to share his first name out of concern that his statement could affect his ability to claim benefits in the future, says he hadn’t heard of the social card system until November 2022, when his wife and four children were turned away from a soup kitchen on the outskirts of the Serbian capital. It wasn’t unusual for the Roma family to be there, as their welfare payments entitled them to a daily meal provided by the government. But on that day, a social worker told them their welfare status had changed and that they would no longer be getting a daily meal.

The family was in shock, and Ahmetović rushed to the nearest welfare office to find out what had happened. He says he was told the new social card system had flagged him after detecting income amounting to 110,000 Serbian dinars ($1,000) in his bank account, which meant he was no longer eligible for a large chunk of the welfare he had been receiving. Ahmetović was confused. He didn’t know anything about this payment. He didn’t even have his own bank account—his wife received the family’s welfare payments into hers. 

With no warning, their welfare payments were slashed by 30 percent, from around 70,000 dinars ($630) per month to 40,000 dinars ($360). The family had been claiming a range of benefits since 2012, including financial social assistance, as their son’s epilepsy and unilateral paralysis means neither parent is able to work. The drop in support meant the Ahmetovićs had to cut back on groceries and couldn’t afford to pay all their bills. Their debt ballooned to over 1 million dinars ($9,000). 

The algorithm’s impact on Serbia’s Roma community has been dramatic. ​​Ahmetović says his sister has also had her welfare payments cut since the system was introduced, as have several of his neighbors. “Almost all people living in Roma settlements in some municipalities lost their benefits,” says Danilo Ćurčić, program coordinator of A11, a Serbian nonprofit that provides legal aid. A11 is trying to help the Ahmetovićs and more than 100 other Roma families reclaim their benefits.

But first, Ćurčić needs to know how the system works. So far, the government has denied his requests to share the source code on intellectual property grounds, claiming it would violate the contract they signed with the company who actually built the system, he says. According to Ćurčić and a government contract, a Serbian company called Saga, which specializes in automation, was involved in building the social card system. Neither Saga nor Serbia’s Ministry of Social Affairs responded to WIRED’s requests for comment.

As the govtech sector has grown, so has the number of companies selling systems to detect fraud. And not all of them are local startups like Saga. Accenture—Ireland’s biggest public company, which employs more than half a million people worldwide—has worked on fraud systems across Europe. In 2017, Accenture helped the Dutch city of Rotterdam develop a system that calculates risk scores for every welfare recipient. A company document describing the original project, obtained by Lighthouse Reports and WIRED, references an Accenture-built machine learning system that combed through data on thousands of people to judge how likely each of them was to commit welfare fraud. “The city could then sort welfare recipients in order of risk of illegitimacy, so that highest risk individuals can be investigated first,” the document says. 

Officials in Rotterdam have said Accenture’s system was used until 2018, when a team at Rotterdam’s Research and Business Intelligence Department took over the algorithm’s development. When Lighthouse Reports and WIRED analyzed a 2021 version of Rotterdam’s fraud algorithm, it became clear that the system discriminates on the basis of race and gender. And around 70 percent of the variables in the 2021 system—information categories such as gender, spoken language, and mental health history that the algorithm used to calculate how likely a person was to commit welfare fraud—appeared to be the same as those in Accenture’s version.

When asked about the similarities, Accenture spokesperson Chinedu Udezue said the company’s “start-up model” was transferred to the city in 2018 when the contract ended. Rotterdam stopped using the algorithm in 2021, after auditors found that the data it used risked creating biased results.

Consultancies generally implement predictive analytics models and then leave after six or eight months, says Sheils, Accenture’s European head of public service. He says his team helps governments avoid what he describes as the industry’s curse: “false positives,” Sheils’ term for life-ruining occurrences of an algorithm incorrectly flagging an innocent person for investigation. “That may seem like a very clinical way of looking at it, but technically speaking, that's all they are.” Sheils claims that Accenture mitigates this by encouraging clients to use AI or machine learning to improve, rather than replace, decision-making humans. “That means ensuring that citizens don’t experience significantly adverse consequences purely on the basis of an AI decision.” 

However, social workers who are asked to investigate people flagged by these systems before making a final decision aren’t necessarily exercising independent judgment, says Eva Blum-Dumontet, a tech policy consultant who researched algorithms in the UK welfare system for campaign group Privacy International. “This human is still going to be influenced by the decision of the AI,” she says. “Having a human in the loop doesn’t mean that the human has the time, the training, or the capacity to question the decision.” 

Despite the scandals and repeated allegations of bias, the industry building these systems shows no sign of slowing. And neither does government appetite for buying or building such systems. Last summer, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance adopted a decree authorizing the launch of an algorithm that searches for discrepancies in tax filings, earnings, property records, and bank accounts to identify people at risk of not paying their taxes. 

But as more governments adopt these systems, the number of people erroneously flagged for fraud is growing. And once someone is caught up in the tangle of data, it can take years to break free. In the Netherlands’ child benefits scandal, people lost their cars and homes, and couples described how the stress drove them to divorce. “The financial misery is huge,” says Orlando Kadir, a lawyer representing more than 1,000 affected families. After a public inquiry, the Dutch government agreed in 2020 to pay the families around €30,000 ($32,000) in compensation. But debt balloons over time. And that amount is not enough, says Kadir, who claims some families are now €250,000 in debt. 

In Belgrade, ​​Ahmetović is still fighting to get his family’s full benefits reinstated. “I don’t understand what happened or why,” he says. “It’s hard to compete against the computer and prove this was a mistake.” But he says he’s also wondering whether he’ll ever be compensated for the financial damage the social card system has caused him. He’s yet another person caught up in an opaque system whose inner workings are guarded by the companies and governments who make and operate them. Ćurčić, though, is clear on what needs to change. “We don’t care who made the algorithm,” he says. “The algorithm just has to be made public.”

Additional reporting by Gabriel Geiger and Justin-Casimir Braun.

[eraepoch]

[Full Text] Emerging Media Companies, Tracking Cookies, and Data Privacy -- An open letter to Critical Role, Dropout, and fellow audience members

Summary / TL;DR

Both Critical Role (CR) and Dropout have begun exclusively using links provided by third-party digital marketing solution companies in their email newsletters.

Every link in each of the newsletters (even the unsubscribe link) goes through a third-party domain which is flagged as a tracking server by the uBlock Origin browser extension.

Third-party tracking cookies are strictly unnecessary and come with a wide array of risks, including non-consensual targeted advertising, targeted misinformation, doxxing, and the potential for abuse by law enforcement.

You are potentially putting your privacy at risk every time you click on any of the links in either of these newsletters.

IMO these advertising companies (and perhaps CR/Dropout by proxy) are likely breaking the law in the EU and California by violating the GDPR and CCPA respectively.

Even if Critical Role and Dropout are not directly selling or exploiting your personal data, they are still profiting off of it by contracting with, and receiving services from, companies who almost certainly are. The value of your personal data is priced into the cost of these services.

They should stop, and can do so without any loss of web functionality.

1/7. What is happening?

Critical Role and Dropout have begun exclusively using links provided by third-party digital marketing solution companies in their email newsletters.

[ID:  A screenshot of the Dropout newsletter alongside the page’s HTML source which shows that the target destination for an anchor element in the email leads to d2xR2K04.na1.hubspotlinks.com. End ID.]

[ID: A screenshot of the CR newsletter alongside the page’s HTML source which shows that the target destination for an anchor element in the email leads to trk.klclick.com. End ID.]

The domains attached to these links are flagged as advertising trackers by the uBlock Origin browser extension.

[ID: Screenshot of a Firefox web browser. The page displays a large warning icon and reads “uBlock Origin has prevented the following page from loading [...] because of the following filter: `||hubspotlinks.com` found in Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list. End ID.]

[ID: Screenshot of a Firefox web browser. The page displays a large warning icon and reads “uBlock Origin has prevented the following page from loading [...] because of the following filter: `||klclick1.com` found in Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list. End ID.]

In both cases, every link in the newsletter goes through the flagged third-party domain, and the intended endpoint (Twitter, their store page, etc.) is completely obscured and inaccessible from within the email itself. Even the unsubscribe links feed through the tracking service.

You can test this yourself in your own email client by hovering your cursor over a link in the email without clicking it and watching to see what URL pops up. You may have noticed this yourself if you use uBlock Origin as an ad-blocker.

I don’t know for certain when this first started. It’s possible that this has been going on for a year or more at this point, or it may have started just a few months ago. Either way: it ought to stop.

2/7. What is a tracking cookie?

A tracking cookie is a unique, universally identifiable value placed on your machine by somebody with the intention of checking for that value later to identify you (or at least to identify your machine).

Tracking cookies are used by companies to create advertising behaviour profiles. These profiles are supposedly anonymous, but even if the marketing companies creating them are not lying about that (a tough sell for me personally, but your mileage may vary when it comes to corporations with 9-figure annual incomes), the data can often be de-anonymized.

If this happens, the data can be used to identify the associated user, potentially including their full name, email address, phone number, and physical address—all of which may then be associated with things like their shopping habits, hobbies, preferences, the identities of their friends and family, gender, political opinions, job history, credit score, sexuality, and even when they ovulate.

Now, it is important to note that not all cookies are tracking cookies. A cookie is just some data from a web page that persists on your machine and gets sent back to the server that put it there. Cookies in general are not necessarily malicious or harmful, and are often essential to certain web features functioning correctly (e.g. keeping the user logged in on their web browser after they close the tab). But the thing to keep in mind is that a domain has absolute control over the information that has been stored on your computer by that domain, so allowing cookies is a matter of trusting the specific domain that wants to put them there. You can look at the outgoing information being sent from your machine, but its purpose cannot be determined without knowing what is being done with it on the other side, and these marketing companies ought not to have the benefit of your doubt when they have already been flagged by privacy watchdogs.

3/7. What’s the harm?

Most urgently, as I touched on above: The main source of harm is from corporations profiting off of your private data without your informed consent. However, targeted advertising is actually the least potentially harmful outcome of tracking cookies.

1/6. Data brokers

A data broker is an individual or company that specializes in collecting personal data (such as personal income, ethnicity, political beliefs, geolocation data, etc.) and selling or licensing such information to third parties for a variety of uses, such as background checks conducted by employers and landlords, two universally benevolent groups of people.

There are varying regulations around the world limiting the collection of information on individuals, and the State of California passed a law attempting to address this problem in 2018, following in the footsteps of the EU’s GDPR, but in the jurisdiction of the United States there is no federal regulation protecting consumers from data brokers. In fact, due to the rising interest in federal regulation, data broker firms lobbied to the tune of $29 million in the year 2020 alone.

2/6. De-anonymization techniques

Data re-identification or de-anonymization is the practice of combining datasets (such as advertising profiles) and publicly available information (such as scraped data from social media profiles) in order to discover patterns that may reveal the identities of some or all members of a dataset otherwise intended to be anonymous.

Using the 1990 census, Professor Latanya Sweeney of the Practice of Government and Technology at the Harvard Kennedy School found that up to 87% of the U.S. population can be identified using a combination of their 5-digit zip code, gender, and date of birth. [Link to the paper.]

Individuals whose datasets are re-identified are at risk of having their private information sold to organizations without their knowledge or consent. Once an individual’s privacy has been breached as a result of re-identification, future breaches become much easier: as soon as a link is made between one piece of data and a person’s real identity, that person is no longer anonymous and is at far greater risk of having their data from other sources similarly compromised.

3/6. Doxxing

Once your data has been de-anonymized, you are significantly more vulnerable to all manner of malicious activity: from scam calls and emails to identity theft to doxxing. This is of particular concern for members of minority groups who may be targeted by hate-motivated attacks.

4/6. Potential for abuse by government and law enforcement

Excerpt from “How period tracking apps and data privacy fit into a post-Roe v. Wade climate” by Rina Torchinsky for NPR:

Millions of people use apps to help track their menstrual cycles. Flo, which bills itself as the most popular period and cycle tracking app, has amassed 43 million active users. Another app, Clue, claims 12 million monthly active users. The personal health data stored in these apps is among the most intimate types of information a person can share. And it can also be telling. The apps can show when their period stops and starts and when a pregnancy stops and starts. That has privacy experts on edge because this data—whether subpoenaed or sold to a third party—could be used to suggest that someone has had or is considering an abortion. ‘We're very concerned in a lot of advocacy spaces about what happens when private corporations or the government can gain access to deeply sensitive data about people’s lives and activities,’ says Lydia X. Z. Brown, a policy counsel with the Privacy and Data Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology. ‘Especially when that data could put people in vulnerable and marginalized communities at risk for actual harm.’

Obviously Critical Role and Dropout are not collecting any sort of data related to their users’ menstrual cycles, but the thing to keep in mind is that any data that is exposed to third parties can be sold and distributed without your knowledge or consent and then be used by disinterested—or outright malicious—actors to de-anonymize your data from other sources, included potentially highly compromising data such as that collected by these period-tracking apps. Data privacy violations have compounding dangers, and should be proactively addressed wherever possible. The more of your personal data exists in the hands of third parties, the more it is to be de-anonymized.

5/6. Targeted misinformation

Data brokers are often incredibly unscrupulous actors, and will sell your data to whomever can afford to buy it, no questions asked. The most high-profile case of the consequences of this is the Facebook—Cambridge Analytica data scandal, wherein the personal data of Facebook users were acquired by Cambridge Analytica Ltd. and compiled alongside information collected from other data brokers. By giving this third-party app permission to acquire their data back in 2015, Meta (then Facebook) also gave the app access to information on their users’ friend networks: this resulted in the data of some 87 million users being collected and exploited.

The data collected by Cambridge Analytica was widely used by political strategists to influence elections and, by and large, undermine democracy around the world: While its parent company SCL had been influencing elections in developing countries  for decades, Cambridge Analytica focused more on the United Kingdom and the United States. CEO Alexander Nix said the organization was involved in 44 American political races in 2014. In 2016, they worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as well as for Leave.EU, one of the organisations campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

6/6. The Crux: Right to Privacy Violations

Even if all of the above were not concerns, every internet user should object to being arbitrarily tracked on the basis of their right to privacy. Companies should not be entitled to create and profit from personality profiles about you just because you purchased unrelated products or services from them. This right to user privacy is the central motivation behind laws like the EU’s GDPR and California’s CCPA (see Section 6).

4/7. Refuting Common Responses

1/3. “Why are you so upset? This isn’t a big deal.”

Commenter: Oh, if you’re just talking about third party cookies, that’s not a big deal … Adding a cookie to store that ‘this user clicked on a marketing email from critical role’ is hardly [worth worrying about].

Me: I don’t think you understand what tracking cookies are. They are the digital equivalent of you going to a drive through and someone from the restaurant running out of the store and sticking a GPS monitor onto your car.

Commenter: Kind of. It’s more like slapping a bumper sticker on that says, in restaurant-ese, ‘Hi I’m [name] and I went to [restaurant] once!’

This is actually an accurate correction. My metaphor was admittedly overly simplistic, but the correction specifies only so far as is comfortable for the commenter. If we want to construct a metaphor that is as accurate as possible, it would go something like this:

You drive into the McDonald’s parking lot. As you are pulling in, unbeknownst to you, a Strange Man pops out of a nearby bush (that McDonald’s has allowed him to place here deliberately for this express purpose), and sticks an invisible bumper sticker onto the back of your car. The bumper sticker is a tracker that tells the Strange Man which road you took to drive to McDonald’s, what kind of car you drive, and what (if anything) you ordered from McDonald’s while you were inside. It might also tell him where you parked in the parking lot, what music you were listening to in your car on the way in, which items you looked at on the menu and for how long, if you went to the washroom, which washroom you went into, how long you were in the washroom, and the exact location of every step you took inside the building.

Now, as soon as you leave the McDonald’s, the bumper sticker goes silent and stops being able to report information. But, let’s say next week you decide to go to the Grocery Store, and (again, unbeknownst to you), the Strange Man also has a deal with the Grocery Store. So as you’re driving into the grocery store’s parking lot, he pops out of another bush and goes to put another bumper sticker onto your car. But as he’s doing so, he notices the bumper sticker he’s already placed there a week ago that only he can see (unless you’ve done the car-equivalent of clearing your browser cache), and goes “ah, it’s Consumer #1287499290! I’ll make sure to file all of this new data under my records for Consumer #1287499290!”

You get out of your car and start to walk into the Grocery Store, but before you open the door, the Strange Man whispers to the Grocery Store: “Hey, I know you’re really trying to push your cereal right now, want me to make it more likely that this person buys some cereal from you?” and of course the Grocery Store agrees—this was the whole reason they let him set up that weird parking lot bush in the first place.

So the Strange Man runs around the store rearranging shelves. He doesn’t know your name (all the data he collects is strictly anonymous after all!) but he does know that you chose the cutesy toy for your happy meal at McDonald’s, so he changes all of the cereal packaging labels in the store to be pastel-coloured and covered in fluffy bears and unicorns. And maybe you were already going to the Grocery Store to buy cereal, and maybe you’re actually very happy to buy some cereal in a package that seems to cater specifically to your interests, but wouldn’t you feel at least a little violated if you found out that this whole process occurred without your knowledge? Especially if you felt like you could trust the people who owned the Grocery Store? They’re not really your friend or anything, but maybe you thought that they were compassionate and responsible members of the community, and part of the reason that you shopped at their store was to support that kind of business.

2/3. “Everyone does it, get over it.”

Commenter: [The marketing company working with CR] is an industry standard at this point, particularly for small businesses. Major partner of Shopify, a fairly big player. If you don't have a software development team, using industry standard solutions like these is the easy, safe option.

This sounds reasonable, but it actually makes it worse, not better, that Critical Role and Dropout are doing this. All this excuse tells me is that most businesses using Shopify (or at least the majority of those that use its recommended newsletter service) have a bush for the Strange Man set up in their parking lot.

Contracting with these businesses is certainly the easy option, but it is decidedly not the safe one.

3/3. “They need to do it for marketing reasons.”

Commenter 1: Email marketing tools like [this] use tracking to measure open and click rates. I get why you don’t want to be tracked, but it’s very hard to run a sizeable email newsletter without any user data.

Commenter 2: I work in digital marketing … every single email you get from a company has something similar to this. Guaranteed. This looks totally standard.

I am a web programmer by trade. It is my full time job. Tracking the metrics that Critical Role and Dropout are most likely interested in does not require embedding third-party tracking cookies in their fans’ web browsers. If you feel comfortable taking my word on that, feel free to skip the next section. If you’re skeptical (or if you just want to learn a little bit about how the internet works) please read on.

5/7. Tracking cookies are never necessary

We live in a technocracy. We live in a world in which technology design dictates the rules we live by. We don’t know these people, we didn’t vote for them in office, there was no debate about their design. But yet, the rules that they determine by the design decisions they make—many of them somewhat arbitrary—end up dictating how we will live our lives. —Latanya Sweeney

1/3. Definitions

A website is a combination of 2 computer programs. One of the two programs runs on your computer (laptop/desktop/phone/etc.) and the other runs on another computer somewhere in the world. The program running on your computer is the client program. The program running on the other computer is the server program.

A message sent from the client to the server is a request. A message sent from the server to the client is a response.

Cookies are bits of data that the server sends to the client in a response that the client then sends back to the server as an attachment to its subsequent requests.

A session is a series of sequential interactions between a client and server. When either of the two programs stops running (e.g. when you close a browser tab), the session is ended and any future interactions will take place in a new session.

A URL is a Uniform Resource Locator. You may also sometimes see the initialism URI—in which the ‘I’ stands for Identifier—but they effectively refer to the same thing, which is the place to find a specific thing on the internet. For our purposes, a “link” and a URL mean the same thing.

2/3. What do Critical Role and Dropout want?

These media companies (in my best estimation) are contracting with the digital advertising companies in order to get one or more of the following things:

Customer identity verification (between sessions)

Marketing campaign analytics

Customer preference profiles

Customer behaviour profiles

3/3. How can they get these things without tracking cookies?

Accounts. Dropout has an account system already. As Beacon is a thing now I have to assume Critical Role does as well, therefore this is literally already something they can do without any additional parties getting involved.

URL Query Parameters. So you want to know which of your social media feeds is driving the most traffic to your storefront. You could contract a third-party advertising company to do this for you, but as we have seen this might not be the ideal option. Instead, when posting your links to said feeds, attach a little bit of extra text to the end of the URL link so: becomes or or even These extra bits of information at the end of a URL are query parameters, and act as a way for the client to specify some instructions for the server when sending a request. In effect, a URL with query parameters allows the client to say to the server “I want this thing under these conditions”. The benefit of this approach is, of course, that you actually know precisely what information is being collected (the stuff in the parameters) and precisely what is being done with it, and you’ve avoided exposing any of your user data to third parties.

Internal data collection. Optionally associate a user’s email address with their preferences on the site. Prompt them to do this whenever they purchase anything or do any action that might benefit from having some saved preference, informing them explicitly when you do so and giving them the opportunity to opt-out.

Internal data collection. The same as above, but let the user know you are also tracking their movements while on your site. You can directly track user behaviour down to every single mouse movement if you really want to—again, no need to get an outside party involved to snoop on your fans. But you shouldn’t do that because it’s a little creepy!

At the end of the day, it will of course be more work to set up and maintain these things, and thus it will inevitably be more expensive—but that discrepancy in expense represents profit that these companies are currently making on the basis of violating their fans’ right to privacy.

6/7. Breaking the Law

The data subject shall have the right to object, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her [...] The controller shall no longer process the personal data unless the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. Where personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. Where the data subject objects to processing for direct marketing purposes, the personal data shall no longer be processed for such purposes. At the latest at the time of the first communication with the data subject, the right referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be explicitly brought to the attention of the data subject and shall be presented clearly and separately from any other information. — General Data Protection Regulation, Art. 21

Nobody wants to break the law and be caught. I am not accusing anyone of anything and this is just my personal speculation on publicly-available information. I am not a lawyer; I merely make computer go beep-boop. If you have any factual corrections for this or any other section in this document please leave a comment and I will update the text with a revision note. Before I try my hand at the legal-adjacent stuff, allow me to wade in with the tech stuff.

Cookies are sometimes good and sometimes bad. Cookies from someone you trust are usually good. Cookies from someone you don’t know are occasionally bad. But you can take proactive measures against bad cookies. You should always default to denying any cookies that go beyond the “essential” or “functional” categorizations on any website of which you are remotely suspicious. Deny as many cookies as possible. Pay attention to what the cookie pop-ups actually say and don’t just click on the highlighted button: it is usually “Accept All”, which means that tracking and advertising cookies are fair game from the moment you click that button onward. It is illegal for companies to arbitrarily provide you a worse service for opting out of being tracked (at least it is in the EU and California).

It is my opinion (and again, I am not a legal professional, just a web developer, so take this with a grain of salt) that the links included in the newsletter emails violate both of these laws. If a user of the email newsletter residing in California or the EU wishes to visit any of the links included in said email without being tracked, they have no way of doing so. None of the actual endpoints are available in the email, effectively forcing the user to go through the third-party domain and submit themselves to being tracked in order to utilize the service they have signed up for. Furthermore, it is impossible to unsubscribe directly from within the email without also submitting to the third-party tracking.

[ID: A screenshot of the unsubscribe button in the CR newsletter alongside the page HTML which shows that the target destination for the anchor element is a trk.klclick.com page. End ID.]

As a brief aside: Opening the links in a private/incognito window is a good idea, but will not completely prevent your actions from being tracked by the advertiser. My recommendation: install uBlock Origin to warn you of tracking domains (it is a completely free and open-source project available on most major web browsers), and do not click on any links in either of these newsletters until they change their practices.

Now, it may be the case that the newsletters are shipped differently to those residing in California or the EU (if you are from either of these regions please feel free to leave a comment on whether or not this is the case), but ask yourself: does that make this any better? Sure, maybe then Critical Role and Dropout (or rather, the advertising companies they contract with) aren’t technically breaking the law, but it shows that the only thing stopping them from exploiting your personal data is potential legal repercussions, rather than any sort of commitment to your right to privacy. But I expect that the emails are not, in fact, shipping any differently in jurisdictions with more advanced privacy legislation—it wouldn’t be the first time a major tech giant blatantly flaunted EU regulations.

Without an additional browser extension such as uBlock Origin, a user clicking on the links in these emails may not even be aware that they have interacted with the advertising agency at all, let alone what sort of information that agency now has pertaining to them, nor do they have any ability to opt out of this data collection.

For more information about your right to privacy—something that only those living in the EU or California currently have—you can read explanations of the legislations at the following links (take note that these links, and all of the links embedded in this paper, are anchored directly to the destinations they purport to be, and do not sneakily pass through an additional domain before redirecting you):

7/7. Conclusion

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect, ignorance or incompetence. —Hanlon’s Razor

The important thing to make clear here is this: Even if Critical Role and Dropout are not directly selling or exploiting your personal data, they are still profiting off of it by contracting with, and receiving services from, companies whom I believe are. You may not believe me.

I do not believe that the management teams at Critical Role and Dropout are evil or malicious. Ignorance seems to be the most likely cause of this situation. Someone at some marketing company told them that this type of thing was helpful, necessary, and an industry standard, and they had no reason to doubt that person’s word. Maybe that person had no reason to doubt the word of the person who told them. Maybe there are a few people in that chain, maybe quite a few. I do not expect everyone running a company to be an expert in this stuff (hell, I’m nowhere close to being an expert in this stuff myself—I only happened to notice this at all because of a browser extension I just happened to have installed to block ads), but what I do expect is that they change their behaviour when the potential harms of their actions have been pointed out to them, which is why I have taken the time to write this.

PS. To the employees of Critical Role and Dropout

It is my understanding that these corporations were both founded with the intention of being socially responsible alongside turning a profit. By using services like the ones described above, you are, however unintentionally, profiting off of the personal datasets of your fans that are being compiled and exploited without their informed consent. You cannot say, implicitly or explicitly, “We’re not like those other evil companies! We care about more than just extracting as much money from our customers as possible!” while at the same time utilizing these services, and it is my hope that after reading this you will make the responsible choice and stop doing so.

Thank you for reading,

era

Originally Published: 23 May 2024

Last Updated: 28 May 2024

[sunshinesmebdy]

Uranus Awakens: How the Rebellious Bull Shakes Up Business and Finance in 2024

Prepare for disruption, fellow stargazers! As the revolutionary planet Uranus stations direct in the grounded sign of Taurus on January 27, 2024, a cosmic earthquake ripples through the world of business and finance. Get ready for unexpected twists, innovative breakthroughs, and a complete reshaping of the economic landscape. Buckle up, entrepreneurs, investors, and everyone in between — Uranus is here to shake things up!

The Cosmic Cocktail:

Imagine the stoic, earth-loving Taurus as a well-established bank, steeped in tradition and conservative practices. Now, picture the rebellious Uranus, bursting in with a briefcase full of digital currency and blockchain ideas. That’s the essence of this transit — a clash between old and new, stability and revolution, practicality and radical transformation.

Impacts to Expect:

Technological Disruption: Brace yourself for a wave of innovation in finance and business. Cryptocurrency, blockchain, and decentralized finance (DeFi) will take center stage, challenging traditional banking systems and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Prepare for a digital gold rush as Uranus throws open the vault of financial innovation! Cryptocurrency will erupt into mainstream commerce, blockchain will become the new ledger, and DeFi will democratize finance like never before. Traditional banks better dust off their abacus and learn to code, because digital cowboys are charging onto the financial frontier, redefining how we value, exchange, and invest. From peer-to-peer microloans to fractionalized real estate ownership, the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination. Buckle up, because the tectonic plates of finance are shifting, and the digital revolution is rewriting the rules of the game!

Shifting Market Dynamics: Expect volatility and unexpected shifts in established industries. Old guard companies might scramble to adapt, while nimble startups with innovative ideas flourish. Think green energy disrupting fossil fuels, or AI revolutionizing the service industry.

Be prepared for market earthquakes! Uranus, the cosmic trickster, will send shockwaves through established industries, causing titans to tremble and upstarts to dance. Picture fossil fuels choking on the dust of solar panels, brick-and-mortar stores gasping as virtual bazaars boom, and customer service bots replacing flustered clerks. AI will infiltrate every corner, from crafting personalized shopping experiences to streamlining logistics, while sustainable solutions crack open resource-hungry giants. It’s a Darwinian playground for businesses — adapt or face extinction. This isn’t just a market shuffle, it’s a complete reshuffle of the deck, and the cards are dealt anew. Get ready for the thrill of the unexpected, because the only constant in this dynamic landscape is change itself!

Evolving Values: Sustainability, ethical practices, and social responsibility will become increasingly important for consumers and investors alike. Businesses that prioritize these values will thrive, while those stuck in outdated models might struggle.

Get ready for a values revolution! Consumers and investors will turn from price tags to purpose tags, demanding businesses that go beyond profit and prioritize sustainability, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility. Imagine carbon-neutral factories replacing smog-belching behemoths, fair-trade coffee beans eclipsing exploitative practices, and employee well-being becoming a non-negotiable bottom line. Businesses that cling to outdated models will find themselves gasping for air as ethical alternatives steal the oxygen. It’s not just a trend, it’s a tidal wave of conscious consumerism sweeping away the tide of greed. So, businesses, listen up: embrace responsible practices, champion inclusivity, and weave sustainability into your very fabric, or risk being swept away by the rising tide of conscious capitalism. The future belongs to those who do good, not just those who do well!

Collaborative Entrepreneurship: Collaboration and community-driven ventures will rise in prominence. Shared workspaces, cooperatives, and peer-to-peer platforms will gain traction, challenging the traditional top-down corporate structure.

Picture the corporate pyramid crumbling as the cosmic crane hoists the collaborative flag! Uranus, the revolutionary, encourages a seismic shift: from isolated silos to thriving beehives. Shared workspaces buzz with creative collisions, cooperatives blossom out of shared passions, and peer-to-peer platforms become the new marketplace, fueled by trust and mutual aid. The top-down hierarchy shivers as horizontal networks rise, blurring the lines between boss and worker, replacing command with consensus. Collaboration takes center stage, not competition, as communities band together to tackle challenges and build innovative solutions. So, entrepreneurs, shed your solopreneur capes and embrace the power of the collective! In this new social business ecosystem, where synergy triumphs over supremacy, the future belongs to those who share, empower, and co-create a brighter tomorrow. Let the collaborative revolution begin!

Focus on Personal Values: Individuals will increasingly prioritize work that aligns with their personal values and passions. Entrepreneurship fueled by purpose and authenticity will flourish, shaping a more diverse and fulfilling business landscape.

Prepare for a workplace metamorphosis! Uranus, the cosmic butterfly, flutters wings of purpose, urging individuals to shed the career chrysalis and soar towards fulfilling their true potential. Gone are the days of soul-sucking jobs; now, personal values take center stage as the compass guiding career choices. Imagine passionate bakers opening community cafes, eco-conscious designers launching upcycled fashion lines, and tech whizzes crafting apps that tackle social issues. Authenticity becomes the new currency, with entrepreneurs weaving their passions into the fabric of their ventures, creating a mosaic of purpose-driven businesses that cater to every corner of the human experience. This isn’t just a career shift, it’s a heart shift, transforming the business landscape into a vibrant tapestry of diverse talents and fulfilled souls. So, listen to your inner compass, embrace your unique spark, and let your passion ignite the world — the future of work belongs to those who dare to be true to themselves!

Tips for Navigating the Cosmic Chaos:

Embrace innovation: Don’t cling to the old ways. Stay open to new technologies, trends, and business models. Be curious, explore, and experiment.

Adapt and evolve: Be prepared to change course quickly. Agility and responsiveness will be key to success in this dynamic environment.

Prioritize sustainability and ethics: Integrate environmental and social responsibility into your business practices. Consumers and investors are increasingly drawn to values-driven companies.

Collaborate and connect: Build partnerships, join communities, and leverage the power of collective action. Collaboration will be crucial for navigating the changing landscape.

Follow your passion: Don’t be afraid to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. Uranus encourages authenticity and purpose-driven ventures.

Remember, Uranus isn’t about chaos for chaos’ sake. It’s about dismantling outdated structures and paving the way for a more progressive, sustainable, and fulfilling economic future. By embracing the change, staying adaptable, and aligning your business with your values, you can not only survive this cosmic revolution but thrive in the exciting new world it creates. So, let your inner rebel loose, embrace the disruption, and ride the wave of innovation — the economic future is bright for those who dare to dream big!

[acceptccnow]

Accept Credit Cards: Key to Unlocking Subscription-Based Growth

Article by Jonathan Bomser | CEO | Accept-Credit-Cards-Now.com

In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, keeping ahead of the competition is a top priority. To tap into the full potential of your subscription-based business, you need a payment processing solution that can keep up with your growth. Join us on this journey as we uncover the transformative power of embracing credit card payments for your business.

DOWNLOAD THE KEY TO UNLOCKING INFOGRAPHIC HERE

The Essence of Payment Processing Payment processing stands as the backbone of high-risk merchant processing and merchant accounts. It's the engine that powers the convenience of customers making payments, which, in turn, leads to increased sales and enhanced customer satisfaction. Without a dependable credit card processing system, you risk losing potential customers and, consequently, revenue.

Empowering E-Commerce In today's digital age, e-commerce payment processing is no longer an option but a necessity. To compete effectively, you must adopt e-commerce merchant accounts and provide a streamlined online credit card processing experience. This approach not only broadens your customer base but also streamlines your operations, saving you time and resources.

Credit Repair and Beyond For businesses in the credit repair industry, credit repair merchant processing is a lifeline. It allows you to provide your services with ease, ensuring that clients can conveniently pay for the help they need. Accepting credit cards for credit repair transcends mere transactions; it's about empowering individuals to take control of their financial future.

Riding the CBD Wave As the CBD industry continues to boom, CBD payment processing becomes increasingly critical. CBD merchant accounts and CBD payment gateway solutions empower you to tap into this high-demand market. By accepting credit cards for CBD, you cater to the preferences of modern consumers and expand your reach.

Seamless Payment Solutions To succeed, you need more than just credit card payment processing; you need a comprehensive payment processing system. This encompasses robust payment gateway solutions that boost security and efficiency. By offering a variety of credit card payment gateways, you accommodate diverse customer preferences.

Embracing Subscription Models Businesses built on subscription-based models thrive on predictability and convenience. Accepting credit card payments aligns perfectly with this model, as it allows for recurring billing. Customers appreciate the simplicity, and you benefit from steady revenue streams.

Building Customer Trust When you accept credit cards, you convey professionalism and reliability. Credit card payment services provide additional layers of security, assuring customers that their sensitive information is protected. This builds trust and encourages repeat business.

Scaling for Future Growth As your business expands, so do your requirements. High-risk payment processing and high-risk credit card processing enable you to confidently venture into new markets and tackle more substantial challenges. Your payment processing partner should grow with you.

The significance of accepting credit cards cannot be overstated. It represents the key to unlocking growth for subscription-based businesses, enhancing e-commerce operations, supporting the credit repair industry, and fueling the CBD revolution. By embracing dependable payment processing solutions and extending multiple credit card payment gateways, you position your business on a trajectory toward success. Don't miss out on the opportunity to scale, foster trust, and cater to the diverse needs of your customers.

[rhysdarbinizedarby]

Our Flag Means Death Season 2

The New Zealand Film Commission and Tourism New Zealand partner with Max for season two of Our Flag Means Death to showcase New Zealand to international audiences.

Fast Facts

96% New Zealand crew

78% New Zealand cast

Production based at Kumeu Film Studios

Post-production took place in Auckland

10 New Zealand HODs

67 shoot days

35 sets built

780 Crew

Our Flag Means Death is executive produced by creator-showrunner David Jenkins and Emmy®-nominated star and New Zealander Taika Waititi. In addition to his duties as showrunner, Jenkins directed the first two episodes of season two. Garrett Basch, Dan Halsted, Adam Stein, and Antoine Douaihy also serve as executive producers. Production for the show moved from Los Angeles to New Zealand for its second season.

Our Flag Means Death stars New Zealanders Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby and David Fane, as well as Madeleine Sami (most recently of the Australian mystery-comedy Deadloch) and Samoan-born Anapela Polataivao.

Many of the key creatives and department heads are New Zealanders, including writer Maddie Dai, production designer Ra Vincent, hair and makeup designer Nancy Vincent and art decorator Megan Vertelle. Together, this talented team elevated Our Flag Means Death, contributing their individual expertise to create a visually stunning and emotionally engaging viewing experience. Of the 780 crew contracted onto the show, 350 worked full time.  

Creative talent and picturesque landscapes were key motivators for the move Down Under. Showrunner David Jenkins said “We were looking at the season two budget and asking ‘How do you get the most money on screen?’ New Zealand was the answer. I’ve seen more of our budget end up on screen than it did in the U.S. in season one.”

New Zealand also added a breath-taking backdrop to the swashbuckling adventures of the crew. The lush greenery and stunning coastline provided the perfect setting for the 67-day shoot in Auckland at the end of 2022. There were around 50 sets involved, including the 30-acre forest behind the Kumeu Film Studio, Piha Beach, Howick Historical Village and the wild, black sand Bethells Beach.

And there’s one returning figure impossible to miss on the soundstage: The Revenge, the stately ship that Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard (a.k.a. Ed) commandeered at the end of season one. In real life, it was carefully transported across the Pacific Ocean from the show’s original Los Angeles soundstage. The Revenge is approximately 7m x 28m and there were 3x boat sets that were used to create 10 different boats. The production shot in the Dive Tank at Kumeu Film Studios, built a floating market in the Republic of Pirates, and provided storm water effects for The Revenge.

Virtual Production

Given that many scenes in Our Flag Means Death take place on the deck of a ship at sea, virtual production was the most practical and cost-effective way of filming.

Virtual production is the process of generating motion picture or computer-generated photorealistic imagery displayed on a dynamically active large scale LED wall to create a ‘virtual’ environment or location on a soundstage.

Surrounding the ship was a giant “volume” wall comprised of 1700 LED monitors displaying a photorealistic ocean background with rolling waves. As a crane-mounted camera weaved around, the images on the digital display moved with it, creating a seamlessly integrated backdrop.

The New Zealand vendors that worked on the screen were NEP Sweetwater, NEP Big Picture, Riggaz with Attitudes, Theatrical Solutions, Xytech and Disguise.

The creative benefit of shooting on the volume wall was that the production could shoot in multiple locations and times of day all within just a few hours. Additionally, the actors could interact with what they are seeing and the lighting shifted in real time.

Careful planning of scenes and shots resulted in the rapid and efficient deployment of a select number of pre-processed moving plates (backgrounds) on set. Paihia, Bay of Islands, Mercer Bay Loop and Waitakere were among the New Zealand locations featured in the plate shots.

The New Zealand Screen Production Rebate - (International) and 5% Uplift

The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) partnered with Max on season two of the show as a part of the New Zealand Screen Production Grant 5% Uplift.

The partnership recognised the significant economic, cultural and industry benefits the Our Flag Means Death production brought to New Zealand. This included a marketing partnership with TNZ and NZFC to promote New Zealand as a tourism and filmmaking destination. It also included a knowledge-sharing programme related to the LED Volume Wall used during production, and collaborations with New Zealand-based virtual production companies and a wider industry workshop.

The 5% Uplift has now been redeveloped:It’s simple to navigate, and the criteria is clearer and more objective. Has increased opportunities to earn points in the test. Has increased weighting on New Zealand screen workforce development and production activity. Recognises repeat business to encourage studios and productions to return. Introduces sustainability criteria to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s shift to a low-emissions economy.

Applications open for the redeveloped 5% Uplift on 1 November 2023, documentation and guidance will be provided before this date.

The New Zealand Film Commission administers the NZSPR for International Productions on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The purpose of the NZSPR for International Productions is to incentivise the production of foreign and domestic large budget films, television and other format productions in New Zealand in order to provide economic and industry development benefits to New Zealand. More information here.

A domestic rebate is also available to New Zealand productions and Official Co-productions. Click here for more information.

About Our Flag Means Death

Our Flag Means Death is based (very) loosely on the true adventures of 18th century would-be pirate Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby). After trading the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede became captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes changed after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). To their surprise, the wildly different Stede and Blackbeard found more than friendship on the high seas…they found love. Now, they have to survive it.

In New Zealand, season two debuts on Neon on October 6 and is coming soon to Sky Open.

Source: New Zealand Film Commission

[odeskstudio]

Title: Inside ODeskStudio: Transforming Service Businesses with Smart Marketing Solutions

Description: Welcome to Inside ODeskStudio, your behind-the-scenes look at how we empower service-based businesses to thrive in a competitive digital landscape. Founded in 2022, ODeskStudio is a data-driven digital marketing agency specializing in tailored strategies for industries such as electricians, plumbers, and our primary focus—legal support service providers, especially process servers.

Our mission is simple: help small businesses unlock their potential through effective marketing campaigns. From SEO and PPC to web design and Google Ads, we craft solutions to increase visibility, drive traffic, and boost conversions. We are committed to growing with our clients, ensuring they stay ahead of the curve in their niche markets.

Explore our blog to stay updated on the latest marketing trends, success stories, tips, and strategies we use to help process servers, electricians, and other professionals grow. Whether you’re a small business owner or just curious about digital marketing, there’s something here for you.

Ending: Join us on this journey as we continue to refine our expertise, support local businesses, and build lasting partnerships. Welcome to Inside ODeskStudio—where data meets creativity, and businesses flourish.

[123gracker]

Cybersecurity vs. SaaS Marketing: Why Selling Security Is a Whole Different Game

Selling cybersecurity isn't the same as selling SaaS. This post explores the unique challenges and strategies involved in marketing security solutions. Learn why trust, risk aversion, and compliance play a crucial role in cybersecurity sales, and how to tailor your approach for success.

In the world of B2B tech, marketing cybersecurity solutions is like playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. It's more complex, higher stakes, and requires a completely different strategy. This article dives into why marketing cybersecurity products is so different from selling your average SaaS solution, and why it matters for your business.

Think about it: When you're marketing a typical SaaS product, you're selling efficiency, productivity, or cost savings. But with cybersecurity? You're selling peace of mind in a digital world full of threats. It's not just about making life easier—it's about keeping businesses safe from invisible dangers.

Here's what we'll uncover:

Why cybersecurity products are trickier to explain (and sell)

How building trust is your secret weapon in security marketing

The constant race against new threats (and how it affects your marketing)

Why your customers might not know they need you (until it's too late)

Navigating the maze of regulations and compliance

Whether you're a marketer looking to level up your skills, a business owner trying to protect your digital assets, or just curious about how the world of cybersecurity ticks, this article will shed light on why marketing in this field is a unique challenge—and an exciting opportunity.

The Need for Specialized Marketing Skills in Cybersecurity

Before we dive into the specific differences, it's crucial to understand why cybersecurity marketing requires a specialized skill set:

Technical Proficiency: Cybersecurity marketers need a deep understanding of complex technical concepts to effectively communicate product value.

Risk Communication: Balancing the need to convey urgency without resorting to fear-mongering requires a nuanced approach.

Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with various compliance standards and regulations is essential for credible marketing in this space.

Rapid Adaptation: The ever-evolving threat landscape demands marketers who can quickly pivot strategies and messaging.

Trust Building: In a field where skepticism is high, marketers must excel at building and maintaining trust through every interaction.

Now, let's explore the five critical areas that make cybersecurity marketing a different beast from its SaaS counterparts, and learn how savvy marketers are rising to meet these challenges head-on.

1. Complexity of the Product

Cybersecurity Marketing

Cybersecurity solutions often involve intricate technologies and specialized knowledge. The products are designed to protect against sophisticated threats and vulnerabilities, which can be difficult for non-experts to fully grasp. As a result, cybersecurity marketers face the challenge of:

Simplifying complex concepts without losing their technical essence

Educating potential customers on the importance and functionality of various security measures

Balancing technical accuracy with accessibility to appeal to both IT professionals and business decision-makers

Specialized Skill: The ability to translate highly technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Traditional SaaS Marketing

While SaaS products can also be complex, they often focus on solving more straightforward business problems. Marketers of traditional SaaS products typically:

Highlight user-friendly interfaces and intuitive functionality

Focus on immediate business benefits and ROI

Use less technical jargon in their marketing materials

2. Emphasis on Trust and Credibility

Cybersecurity Marketing

Trust is paramount in cybersecurity. Organizations are essentially entrusting their digital assets and sensitive information to the cybersecurity solution provider. To build this trust, cybersecurity marketers must:

Demonstrate deep expertise in the field

Showcase a proven track record of protecting against threats

Utilize case studies and customer testimonials extensively

Produce thought leadership content to establish authority

Highlight certifications, compliance, and industry recognition

Specialized Skill: The ability to build and maintain trust through every marketing touchpoint, from content creation to customer interactions.

Traditional SaaS Marketing

While trust is important for all SaaS products, the stakes are generally lower. Traditional SaaS marketers focus on:

User reviews and ratings

Ease of use and customer support

Integration capabilities with other tools

Cost-effectiveness and scalability

3. Rapidly Evolving Threat Landscape

Cybersecurity Marketing

The cybersecurity field is in a constant state of flux, with new threats emerging regularly. This dynamic environment requires cybersecurity marketers to:

Stay informed about the latest threats and trends

Quickly adapt marketing messages to address emerging challenges

Demonstrate how their solutions evolve to counter new risks

Educate the market about new types of threats and vulnerabilities

Position their products as forward-thinking and proactive

Specialized Skill: The ability to rapidly assimilate new information about emerging threats and translate it into compelling marketing messages and strategies.

Traditional SaaS Marketing

While innovation is important in SaaS, the pace of change is typically slower. SaaS marketers often focus on:

Long-term value proposition and stability

Gradual feature improvements and updates

Industry trends rather than immediate threats

4. Target Audience's Risk Awareness

Cybersecurity Marketing

Many organizations take a reactive approach to cybersecurity, only prioritizing it after experiencing a threat. This creates unique challenges and opportunities for marketers:

Educating potential clients about the importance of proactive measures

Using fear-based marketing carefully to highlight risks without being alarmist

Demonstrating the cost of inaction through real-world examples

Targeting both technical (CISOs, IT managers) and non-technical (CEOs, CFOs) decision-makers

Specialized Skill: The ability to effectively communicate risk and urgency without resorting to fear-mongering, while also tailoring messages to different stakeholders within an organization.

SaaS Marketing

Traditional SaaS products often address known pain points or inefficiencies. Marketers typically focus on:

Highlighting productivity gains and cost savings

Showcasing how the product solves existing problems

Appealing to a more defined set of decision-makers within an organization

5. Regulatory and Compliance Considerations

Cybersecurity Marketing

Cybersecurity solutions must often adhere to specific regulatory standards, adding another layer of complexity to marketing efforts:

Communicating compliance capabilities effectively

Addressing concerns related to data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA)

Highlighting adherence to industry-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA for healthcare)

Demonstrating how the solution helps clients meet their own compliance requirements

Specialized Skill: A deep understanding of various regulatory frameworks and the ability to articulate how cybersecurity solutions address compliance requirements.

General SaaS Marketing

While some SaaS products may need to address compliance, it's typically not as central to the marketing message:

Focus on general data security and privacy features

Highlight any relevant certifications (e.g., SOC 2)

Address compliance as a feature rather than a core selling point

The Learning Curve for B2B SaaS Marketers

For B2B SaaS marketers transitioning into cybersecurity, the learning curve can be steep and time-consuming. Here's why:

Technical Knowledge Acquisition: Understanding the intricacies of cybersecurity technology, threat landscapes, and defense mechanisms requires significant study and often hands-on experience.

Regulatory Comprehension: Grasping the nuances of various compliance standards and their implications for different industries takes time and continuous learning.

Risk Communication Skills: Developing the ability to effectively communicate about risks without causing panic or disengagement is a delicate skill that takes practice to master.

Trust-Building Expertise: Learning how to establish and maintain trust in a highly skeptical market requires time to build credibility and refine communication strategies.

Rapid Adaptation Abilities: Cultivating the agility to quickly understand and respond to new threats and market changes is an ongoing process that improves with experience.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Developing the ability to work effectively with technical teams, compliance officers, and C-suite executives requires time to build relationships and understand diverse perspectives.

Industry-Specific Knowledge: Each industry (e.g., healthcare, finance, government) has unique cybersecurity needs and regulations, requiring marketers to develop sector-specific expertise.

Typically, it can take 2-3 years for a B2B SaaS marketer to become proficient in cybersecurity marketing, and 3-5 years to be considered an expert in the field. This timeline can vary based on the individual's background, the complexity of the cybersecurity solutions they're marketing, and the resources available for professional development.

Conclusion

Marketing cybersecurity solutions requires a unique approach that goes beyond traditional SaaS marketing strategies. The complexity of the products, the critical need for trust and credibility, the rapidly changing threat landscape, the varying levels of risk awareness among potential clients, and the intricate regulatory environment all contribute to making cybersecurity marketing a distinct challenge.

Successful cybersecurity marketers must balance technical expertise with clear communication, educate their audience while building trust, and stay agile in response to new threats and regulations. By understanding these key differences and investing in specialized skills, marketers can create more effective strategies that resonate with the specific needs and concerns of the cybersecurity market.

For B2B SaaS marketers looking to transition into this field, patience and dedication are key. The journey to becoming a proficient cybersecurity marketer is demanding but rewarding, offering the opportunity to play a crucial role in protecting organizations and individuals in our increasingly digital world.

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