#image recognition market research

[tbrcresearchreport]

The Business Research Company offers image recognition market research report 2023 with industry size, share, segments and market growth

[codetrusoftwaredeveloper]

TOP TECH TRENDS TO SHAPE YOUR CAREER IN 2022

2022 Top technologies to shape your career

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) , although started gaining popularity a decade ago, still continues to be one of the new technologies today because its remarkable effects on how we live, work, and play are still in the early stages. AI is already popular for its use in applications for image and speech recognition, navigation programs, smartphone personal assistants, voice assistants, and much more.

A B2B research firm “Markets and Markets” suggested that the AI market is expected to grow to a $190 billion industry by 2025. So, with AI spreading its wings across sectors, new jobs will be created in development, programming, testing, support, and maintenance. Even the salaries provided for these jobs will be quite high, thus, AI technology is the trend to watch out for.

Robotic Process Automation

Just like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is another trending technology that is automating jobs. RPA in general is the use of multiple software and applications used for automating business processes such as data collection and analysis, customer service, and other repetitive tasks, which were managed previously through manual processes.

RPA is a rapidly advancing technology that generates many jobs across different industries. It offers several new career options and trajectories such as a programmer, project manager, business analyst, or consultant.

Edge Computing Cloud computing previously was a new technology trend to watch, however, with major players like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform dominating the market, Cloud computing has become mainstream.

Although organizations are adopting Cloud solutions today, they have found several limitations in this technology. And thus, it is not an emerging technology trend. Edge is.

Edge computing is designed to help bypass the latency that Cloud Computing causes and helps organizations to get data into a data center for processing.

Click for more information "2022 Information Technologies" -https://codetru.com/TechTrends

[thedansemacabres]

Introduction To Supporting Sustainable Agriculture For Witches and Pagans

[ID: An image of yellow grain stocks, soon to be harvested. The several stocks reach towards a blurred open sky, focusing the camera on he grains themselves. The leaves of the grains are green and the cereals are exposed].

PAGANISM AND WITCHCRAFT ARE MOVEMENTS WITHIN A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CAPITALIST SOCIETY. As the world becomes more aware of the importance of sustainability, so does the duty of humanity to uphold the idea of the steward, stemming from various indigenous worldviews, in the modern era. I make this small introduction as a viticulturist working towards organic and environmentally friendly grape production. I also do work on a food farm, as a second job—a regenerative farm, so I suppose that is my qualifications. Sustainable—or rather regenerative agriculture—grows in recognition. And as paganism and witchcraft continue to blossom, learning and supporting sustainability is naturally a path for us to take. I will say that this is influenced by I living in the USA, however, there are thousands of groups across the world for sustainable agriculture, of which tend to be easy to research.

So let us unite in caring for the world together, and here is an introduction to supporting sustainable/regenerative agriculture. 

A QUICK BRIEF ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 

Sustainable agriculture, in truth, is a movement to practise agriculture as it has been done for thousands of years—this time, with more innovation from science and microbiology especially. The legal definition in the USA of sustainable agriculture is: 

The term ”sustainable agriculture” (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:

A more common man’s definition would be farming in a way that provides society’s food and textile needs without overuse of natural resources, artificial supplements and pest controls, without compromising the future generation’s needs and ability to produce resources. The agriculture industry has one of the largest and most detrimental impacts on the environment, and sustainable agriculture is the alternative movement to it. 

Sustainable agriculture also has the perk of being physically better for you—the nutrient quality of crops in the USA has dropped by 47%, and the majority of our food goes to waste. Imagine if it was composted and reused? Or even better—we buy only what we need. We as pagans and witches can help change this. 

BUYING ORGANIC (IT REALLY WORKS)

The first step is buying organic. While cliche, it does work: organic operations have certain rules to abide by, which excludes environmentally dangerous chemicals—many of which, such as DDT, which causes ecological genocide and death to people. Organic operations have to use natural ways of fertilising, such as compost, which to many of us—such as myself—revere the cycle of life, rot, and death. Organic standards do vary depending on the country, but the key idea is farming without artificial fertilisers, using organic seeds, supplementing with animal manure, fertility managed through management practices, etc. 

However, organic does have its flaws. Certified organic costs many, of which many small farmers cannot afford. The nutrient quality of organic food, while tending to be better, is still poor compared to regeneratively grown crops. Furthermore, the process to become certified organic is often gruelling—you can practise completely organically, but if you are not certified, it is not organic. Which, while a quality control insurance, is both a bonus and a hurdle. 

JOINING A CSA

Moving from organic is joining a CSA (“Community supported agriculture”). The USDA defines far better than I could: 

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), one type of direct marketing, consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.

By purchasing a farm share, you receive food from the farm for the agreed upon production year. I personally enjoy CSAs for the relational aspect—choosing a CSA is about having a relationship, not only with the farmer(s), but also the land you receive food from. I volunteer for my CSA and sometimes I get extra cash from it—partaking in the act of caring for the land. Joining a CSA also means taking your precious capital away from the larger food industry and directly supporting growers—and CSAs typically practise sustainable and/or regenerative agriculture. 

CSAs are also found all over the world and many can deliver their products to food deserts and other areas with limited agricultural access. I volunteer from time to time for a food bank that does exactly that with the produce I helped grow on the vegetable farm I work for. 

FARM MARKETS AND STALLS 

Another way of personally connecting to sustainable agriculture is entering the realm of the farm stall. The farmer’s market is one of my personal favourite experiences—people buzzing about searching for ingredients, smiles as farmers sell crops and products such as honey or baked goods, etc. The personal connection stretches into the earth, and into the past it buries—as I purchase my apples from the stall, I cannot help but see a thousand lives unfold. People have been doing this for thousands of years and here I stand, doing it all over again. 

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Farmers’ markets are dependent on your local area, yet in most you can still develop personal community connections. Paganism often stresses community as an ideal and a state of life. And witchcraft often stresses a connection to the soil. What better place, then, is purchasing the products from the locals who commune with the land? 

VOLUNTEERING 

If you are able to, I absolutely recommend volunteering. I have worked with aquaponic systems, food banks, farms, cider-making companies, soil conservation groups, etc. There is so much opportunity—and perhaps employment—in these fields. The knowledge I have gained has been wonderful. As one example, I learned that fertilisers reduce carbon sequestration as plants absorb carbon to help with nutrient intake. If they have all their nutrients ready, they do not need to work to obtain carbon to help absorb it. This does not even get into the symbiotic relationship fungi have with roots, or the world of hyphae. Volunteering provides community and connection. Actions and words change the world, and the world grows ever better with help—including how much or how little you may provide. It also makes a wonderful devotional activity. 

RESOURCING FOOD AND COOKING 

Buying from farmers is not always easy, however. Produce often has to be processed, requiring labour and work with some crops such as carrots. Other times, it is a hard effort to cook and many of us—such as myself—often have very limited energy. There are solutions to this, thankfully:

Many farmers can and will process foods. Some even do canning, which can be good to stock up on food and lessen the energy inputs. 

Value-added products: farms also try to avoid waste, and these products often become dried snacks if fruit, frozen, etc. 

Asking farmers if they would be open to accommodating this. Chances are, they would! The farmer I purchase my CSA share from certainly does. 

Going to farmers markets instead of buying a CSA, aligning with your energy levels. 

And if any of your purchased goods are going unused, you can always freeze them. 

DEMETER, CERES, VEIA, ETC: THE FORGOTTEN AGRICULTURE GODS

Agricultural gods are often neglected. Even gods presiding over agriculture often do not have those aspects venerated—Dionysos is a god of viticulture and Apollon a god of cattle. While I myself love Dionysos as a party and wine god, the core of him remains firmly in the vineyards and fields, branching into the expanses of the wild. I find him far more in the curling vines as I prune them than in the simple delights of the wine I ferment. Even more obscure gods, such as Veia, the Etruscan goddess of agriculture, are seldom known.

Persephone receives the worst of this: I enjoy her too as a dread queen, and people do acknowledge her as Kore, but she is far more popular as the queen of the underworld instead of the dear daughter of Demeter. I do understand this, though—I did not feel the might of Demeter and Persephone until I began to move soil with my own hands. A complete difference to the ancient world, where the Eleusinian mysteries appealed to thousands. Times change, and while some things should be left to the past, our link to these gods have been severed. After all, how many of us reading know where our food comes from? I did not until I began to purchase from the land I grew to know personally. The grocery store has become a land of tearing us from the land, instead of the food hub it should be.

Yet, while paganism forgets agriculture gods, they have not forgotten us. The new world of farming is more conductive and welcoming than ever. I find that while older, bigoted people exist, the majority of new farmers tend to be LGBT+. My own boss is trans and aro, and I myself am transgender and gay. The other young farmers I know are some flavour of LGBT+, or mixed/poc. There’s a growing movement for Black farmers, elaborated in a lovely text called We Are Each Other’s Harvest. 

Indigenous farming is also growing and I absolutely recommend buying from indigenous farmers. At this point, I consider Demeter to be a patron of LGBT+ people in this regard—she gives an escape to farmers such as myself. Bigotry is far from my mind under her tender care, as divine Helios shines above and Okeanos’ daughters bring fresh water to the crops. Paganism is also more commonly accepted—I find that farmers find out that I am pagan and tell me to do rituals for their crops instead of reacting poorly. Or they’re pagan themselves; a farmer I know turned out to be Wiccan and uses the wheel of the year to keep track of production. 

Incorporating these divinities—or concepts surrounding them—into our crafts and altars is the spiritual step towards better agriculture. Holy Demeter continues to guide me, even before I knew it. 

WANT CHANGE? DO IT YOURSELF! 

If you want change in the world, you have to act. And if you wish for better agriculture, there is always the chance to do it yourself. Sustainable agriculture is often far more accessible than people think: like witchcraft and divination, it is a practice. Homesteading is often appealing to many of us, including myself, and there are plenty of resources to begin. There are even grants to help one improve their home to be more sustainable, i.e. solar panels. Gardening is another, smaller option. Many of us find that plants we grow and nourish are far more potentant in craft, and more receptive to magical workings. 

Caring for plants is fundamental to our natures and there are a thousand ways to delve into it. I personally have joined conservation groups, my local soil conservation group, work with the NRCs in the USA, and more. The path to fully reconnecting to nature and agriculture is personal—united in a common cause to fight for this beautiful world. To immerse yourself in sustainable agriculture, I honestly recommend researching and finding your own path. Mine lies in soil and rot, grapevines and fruit trees. Others do vegetables and cereal grains, or perhaps join unions and legislators. Everyone has a share in the beauty of life, our lives stemming from the land’s gentle sprouts. 

Questions and or help may be given through my ask box on tumblr—if there is a way I can help, let me know. My knowledge is invaluable I believe, as I continue to learn and grow in the grey-clothed arms of Demeter, Dionysos, and Kore. 

FURTHER READING:

Baszile, N. (2021). We are each other’s harvest. HarperCollins.

Hatley, J. (2016). Robin Wall Kimmerer. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. Environmental Philosophy, 13(1), 143–145. https://doi.org/10.5840/envirophil201613137

Regenerative Agriculture 101. (2021, November 29). https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101#what-is

And in truth, far more than I could count. 

References

Community Supported Agriculture | National Agricultural Library. (n.d.). https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/community-supported-agriculture

Navazio, J. (2012). The Organic seed Grower: A Farmer’s Guide to Vegetable Seed Production. Chelsea Green Publishing.

Plaster, E. (2008). Soil Science and Management. Cengage Learning.

Sheaffer, C. C., & Moncada, K. M. (2012). Introduction to agronomy: food, crops, and environment. Cengage Learning.

Sheldrake, M. (2020). Entangled life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures. Random House.

Sustainable Agriculture | National Agricultural Library. (n.d.). https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/sustainable-agriculture

[kleopatra45]

Greetings, I had request if you can post careers related to the 10th house/MC from both western and vedic perspective... Thanking you

Careers Related to the 10th House/MC: Western and Vedic Perspectives

The 10th house, often associated with the Midheaven (MC), is a pivotal house in astrology that governs career, public reputation, achievements, and how we strive for success. Both Western and Vedic astrology provide rich insights into the career potential through the analysis of this house, though they approach the interpretation differently.

Western Astrology:

In Western astrology, the 10th house and the Midheaven (MC) reveal the nature of one's career, public image, and long-term aspirations. The sign on the MC, the ruling planet of the MC, and any planets in the 10th house shape the direction of one’s professional life. Below is a breakdown of possible career paths based on the sign on the MC and the planets associated with the 10th house.

Aries MC: Individuals with Aries on the MC are natural leaders, driven by ambition and a pioneering spirit. They thrive in careers that allow them to take charge and lead, such as entrepreneurship, military roles, sports, or any field where quick decision-making and initiative are valued.

Taurus MC: Taurus on the MC suggests a career focused on stability, security, and material success. These individuals are drawn to professions in finance, real estate, agriculture, luxury goods, and any field where their practical nature and aesthetic sensibilities can shine.

Gemini MC: With Gemini on the MC, communication is key. These individuals excel in roles that involve writing, teaching, media, journalism, marketing, or any job that requires adaptability, networking, and intellectual engagement.

Cancer MC: Cancer on the MC often indicates a nurturing career path. These individuals may be drawn to professions related to caregiving, such as nursing, childcare, social work, or real estate, hospitality, and any job where creating a sense of home or emotional security is important.

Leo MC: Leo on the MC is associated with a desire for recognition and creative expression. Careers in entertainment, acting, politics, fashion, and leadership roles are common. These individuals often seek careers where they can stand out, inspire others, and express their creative talents.

Virgo MC: Virgo on the MC points to a meticulous and service-oriented approach to work. These individuals may excel in healthcare, research, editing, service industries, and any career that requires attention to detail, organization, and a focus on improving systems.

Libra MC: Libra on the MC is linked to careers involving beauty, harmony, and relationships. These individuals might be drawn to law, diplomacy, fashion, art, counseling, or any role that involves balancing opposing forces, aesthetics, or creating harmony in social settings.

Scorpio MC: Scorpio on the MC suggests a career involving intensity, transformation, and depth. These individuals may pursue careers in psychology, research, finance, detective work, or any field where they can explore the unknown, deal with crises, or engage in transformative work.

Sagittarius MC: Sagittarius on the MC is associated with careers that involve exploration, education, and the pursuit of knowledge. These individuals may find fulfillment in teaching, travel-related jobs, publishing, philosophy, or any field that allows them to broaden their horizons and share wisdom.

Capricorn MC: Capricorn on the MC is linked to ambition, structure, and long-term goals. These individuals are often drawn to careers in government, management, business, engineering, or any field where discipline, responsibility, and strategic planning are required.

Aquarius MC: Aquarius on the MC indicates a career path that involves innovation, humanitarian work, and social reform. These individuals may excel in technology, science, social causes, or any field where they can contribute to progressive change and work towards a better future for society.

Pisces MC: Pisces on the MC is associated with creativity, compassion, and spirituality. These individuals may be drawn to careers in the arts, healing, spirituality, film, photography, or any field where they can express their imagination and connect with the emotional or spiritual dimensions of life.

Vedic Astrology:

In Vedic astrology, the 10th house, also known as Karma Bhava, represents career, professional success, and one's contributions to society. The planet ruling the 10th house, the condition of Saturn (the natural significator of career), and the placement of planets in the 10th house are crucial in determining one's career path.

Sun in the 10th House: The Sun in the 10th house signifies leadership and authority. Individuals with this placement may pursue careers in government, politics, administration, or any role where they can be in charge. They are often seen in positions of power and influence, where their leadership qualities are recognized.

Moon in the 10th House: The Moon in the 10th house brings a nurturing and emotionally responsive approach to one's career. Individuals with this placement may excel in public relations, hospitality, healthcare, real estate, or any field that involves caring for others and creating a supportive environment. Their careers often involve a connection to the public or dealing with the needs of others.

Mars in the 10th House: Mars in the 10th house indicates a dynamic and action-oriented career. These individuals are likely to be drawn to careers in the military, engineering, sports, law enforcement, or any field that requires courage, determination, and physical energy. They excel in competitive environments and are often seen in roles that involve taking decisive action.

Mercury in the 10th House: Mercury in the 10th house signifies a career involving communication, intellect, and business acumen. Individuals with this placement may excel in writing, teaching, journalism, trade, commerce, or any profession that requires intellectual skills, adaptability, and the ability to convey information effectively.

Jupiter in the 10th House: Jupiter in the 10th house indicates a career in teaching, counseling, law, or finance. These individuals are often drawn to roles that involve guiding others, sharing knowledge, and upholding ethical principles. They may find success in academic fields, religious institutions, or any profession where wisdom and morality are valued.

Venus in the 10th House: Venus in the 10th house suggests a career in the arts, entertainment, fashion, or luxury goods. These individuals are often drawn to professions where beauty, aesthetics, and creativity play a central role. They may also find success in diplomacy, public relations, or any field that requires charm, social skills, and a sense of harmony.

Saturn in the 10th House: Saturn in the 10th house indicates a disciplined and structured approach to one's career. These individuals may pursue careers in politics, engineering, construction, or labor-related jobs. They are often seen in roles that require responsibility, hard work, and long-term commitment. Saturn's influence may also lead to careers involving law, administration, or any field where persistence and patience are key.

Rahu in the 10th House: Rahu in the 10th house signifies unconventional and innovative career paths. These individuals may be drawn to careers in media, technology, foreign jobs, or any field that involves breaking new ground and challenging societal norms. They may also find success in professions that deal with mystery, research, or hidden knowledge.

Ketu in the 10th House: Ketu in the 10th house indicates a career focused on spiritual pursuits, research, or the occult. These individuals may be drawn to roles that involve detachment from material success, such as in astrology, spiritual counseling, or any field where inner wisdom and insight are valued over external recognition. Ketu's influence may also lead to careers in fields that require a deep understanding of the metaphysical or esoteric.

Additionally, the D10 chart (Dasamsa) is used for a deeper analysis of career prospects.

I hope this helps! ♥️

©️kleopatra45

[ezekiel-krishna]

Your Planet and Careers (Vedic Astrology)💼

The 10th house in Vedic Astrology is known as the Karma Bhava. This celestial abode holds the key to one's career, profession, reputation, and public image. Now let's uncover the profound impact that planets residing in the 10th house can have on an individual's career path and their potential for success in the professional realm.

Sun (Surya)

When the Sun graces the 10th house, it signifies qualities of leadership, ambition, and a strong drive for success. Those with this placement may find success in government roles, politics, administration, management, or any field that demands authority and visibility.

Moon (Chandra)

The Moon in the 10th house suggests a career in nurturing, caregiving, or public service. Individuals with this placement may excel in professions like nursing, social work, psychology, or any occupation involving interaction with the public.

Mars (Mangala)

Mars in the 10th house indicates a competitive and determined nature, making individuals suitable for careers in sports, military, law enforcement, engineering, or entrepreneurship. They may thrive in dynamic environments that require quick action and initiative.

Mercury (Budha)

Individuals with Mercury in the 10th house possess strong communication skills, analytical abilities, and a flair for intellectual pursuits. This placement can lead to success in fields such as writing, journalism, teaching, public speaking, or any profession that involves critical thinking and problem-solving.

Jupiter (Guru)

Jupiter's presence in the 10th house is considered auspicious for career growth and success. Those with this placement may excel in areas like education, law, finance, spirituality, or advisory roles. They may also find success in positions of authority and leadership

Venus (Shukra)

Those with Venus in the 10th house may find themselves drawn to careers in the arts, fashion, or beauty industries. They could excel in fields like modeling, music, or event planning, showcasing their creativity and aesthetic sense.

Saturn (Shani)

Saturn in the 10th house signifies a strong work ethic and a disciplined approach to career goals. Individuals with this placement may thrive in professions that demand patience and long-term planning, such as engineering, government roles, or business management.

Rahu or Ketu (North Node / South Node)

When Rahu or Ketu are positioned in the 10th house, individuals may face unexpected twists and turns in their professional journey. They might need to navigate through unconventional career paths and industries, adapting to challenges and changes along the way.

it can bring a sense of unpredictability and sudden changes in one's career path. Individuals with this placement may have unconventional career choices and may find themselves drawn to unique or innovative fields. Rahu in the 10th house can indicate a strong desire for recognition, fame, and success, leading individuals towards careers in media, entertainment, technology, or research. However, it can also bring challenges related to deception, illusion, and unexpected twists in one's professional life.

You may find success in careers that involve innovation, technology, and creativity. Suitable career paths may include:

Technology: Fields such as IT, software development, cybersecurity, and digital marketing where creativity and innovation are valued.

Media and Entertainment: Careers in film, television, advertising, social media, or content creation that require a flair for creativity and a desire for recognition.

Entrepreneurship: Starting a business in a cutting-edge industry or launching a startup that offers innovative solutions to existing problems.

Research and Exploration: Pursuing a career in scientific research, space exploration, or cutting-edge technologies that push the boundaries of knowledge.

Occult Sciences: Delving into astrology, metaphysics, or other mystical practices that tap into hidden knowledge and unconventional wisdom.

Ketu [South Node]

Spiritual Guidance: Becoming a spiritual leader, counselor, or teacher who helps others on their spiritual journey and inner growth.

Alternative Healing: Practicing holistic therapies, energy healing, or alternative medicine to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Meditation and Yoga: Teaching meditation, yoga, mindfulness practices, or leading retreats that focus on inner peace and self-discovery.

Charity and Nonprofit Work: Engaging in humanitarian efforts, social work, or volunteering for causes that align with one's values and principles.

Psychology and Counseling: Pursuing a career in psychology, therapy, or counseling to support individuals in their emotional healing and personal growth.

Overall, the placement of Rahu or Ketu in the 10th house can bring both opportunities and challenges in one's career journey. By embracing the unique qualities and lessons associated with these lunar nodes, individuals can navigate their professional paths with resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to explore uncharted territories in pursuit of their true calling.

Remember This is a General Analysis , Whole Chart is to be consider for Accurate Personalized Predictions.

For Paid Personalized Analysis & Reviews ➤ Check Here

Masterlist ➤ Check Here

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Kashmir Hill’s “Your Face Belongs to Us”

This Friday (September 22), I'm (virtually) presenting at the DIG Festival in Modena, Italy. That night, I'll be in person at LA's Book Soup for the launch of Justin C Key's "The World Wasn’t Ready for You." On September 27, I'll be at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles with Brian Merchant for a joint launch for my new book The Internet Con and his new book, Blood in the Machine.

Your Face Belongs To Us is Kashmir Hill's new tell-all history of Clearview AI, the creepy facial recognition company whose origins are mired in far-right politics, off-the-books police misconduct, sales to authoritarian states and sleazy one-percenter one-upmanship:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691288/your-face-belongs-to-us-by-kashmir-hill/

Hill is a fitting chronicler here. Clearview first rose to prominence – or, rather, notoriety – with the publication of her 2020 expose on the company, which had scraped more than a billion facial images from the web, and then started secretly marketing a search engine for faces to cops, spooks, private security firms, and, eventually, repressive governments:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/technology/clearview-privacy-facial-recognition.html

Hill's original blockbuster expose was followed by an in-depth magazine feature and then a string more articles, which revealed the company's origins in white nationalist movements, and the mercurial jourey of its founder, Hoan Ton-That:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/18/magazine/facial-recognition-clearview-ai.html

The story of Clearview's technology is an interesting one, a story about the machine learning gold-rush where modestly talented technologists who could lay hands on sufficient data could throw it together with off-the-shelf algorithms and do things that had previously been considered impossible. While Clearview has plenty of competitors today, as recently as a couple of years ago, it played like a magic trick.

That's where the more interesting story of Clearview's founding comes in. Hill is a meticulous researcher and had the benefit of a disaffected – and excommunicated – Clearview co-founder, who provided her with masses of internal communications. She also benefited from the court documents from the flurry of lawsuits that Clearview prompted.

What emerges from these primary sources – including multiple interviews with Ton-That – is a story about a move-fast-and-break-things company at the tail end of the forgiveness-not-permission era of technological development. Clearview's founders are violating laws and norms, they're short on cash, and they're racing across the river on the backs of alligators, hoping to reach the riches on the opposite bank without losing a leg.

A decade ago, they might have played as heroes. Today, they're just grifters – bullshitters faking it until they make it, lying to Hill (and getting caught out), and the rest of us. The founders themselves are erratic weirdos, and not the fun kind of weirdos, either. Ton-That – who emigrated to Silicon Valley from Australia as a teenager, seeking a techie's fortune – comes across as a bro-addled dimbulb who threw his lot in with white nationalists, MAGA Republicans, Rudy Guiliani bagmen, Peter Theil, and assorted other tech-adjascent goblins.

Meanwhile, biometrics generally – and facial recognition specifically – is a discipline with a long and sordid history, inextricably entwined with phrenology and eugenics, as Hill describes in a series of interstitial chapters that recount historical attempts to indentify the facial features that correspond with criminality and low intelligence.

These interstitials are woven into a-ha moments from Clearview's history, in which various investors, employees, hangers-on, competitors and customers speculate about how a facial-recognition system could eventually not just recognize criminals, but predict criminality. It's a potent reminder of the AI industry's many overlaps with "race-science" and other quack beliefs.

Hill also describes how Clearview and its competitors' recklessness and arrogance created the openings for shrewd civil libertarians to secure bipartisan support for biometric privacy laws, most notably Illinois' best-of-breed Biometric Information Privacy Act:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3004&ChapterID=57

But by the end of the book, Hill makes the case that Ton-That and his competitors have gotten away with it. Facial recognition is now so easy to build that – she says – we're unlikely to abolish it, despite all the many horrifying ways that FR could fuck up our societies. It's a sobering conclusion, and while Hill holds out some hope for curbing the official use of FR, she seems resigned to a future in which – for example – creepy guys covertly snap photos of women on the street, use those pictures to figure out their names and addresses, and then stalk and harass them.

If she's right, this is Ton-That's true legacy, and the legacy of the funders who handed him millions to spend building this. Perhaps someone else would have stepped into that sweaty, reckless-grifter-shaped hole if Ton-That hadn't been there to fill it, but in our timeline, we can say that Ton-That was the bumbler who helped destroy something precious.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/20/steal-your-face/#hoan-ton-that

[rafijaman]

The Basics of Digital Marketing For Beginners

Tips for Beginners

As a digital marketing beginner, you don’t have to feel intimidated or lost. Here are some tips to make digital marketing for beginners easier to grasp and get going.

Know everything you can about brand awareness

Building brand awareness is an essential element to your marketing strategy and your success. Start out by knowing everything you can about it and its benefits.

Essentially, brand awareness is the recognition and familiarization by others of your brand, product, or service. To boost such awareness, you will need to help consumers learn more about your business, the products or services you offer, and what makes you stand out from your competitors.

There are several ways to build brand awareness. Consistency in how you present your brand across channels and platforms will be key. Consumers will be able to look at a blog or social media post and instantly know it’s yours if you do it right.

SEO is everywhere

Search engine optimization (SEO) is everywhere today! Once you acknowledge this, it’s time to get in the game by understanding how SEO works and ways to use it to your advantage.

Sure, it can be a little intimidating at first, so start slow and easy. Identify keywords and phrases that your target audience uses to conduct searches. Incorporate these into all your content so your audience can find you more easily. From here, you’ll want to consider a link-building strategy to boost your SEO even more.

If you start feeling anxious, remember to take action one step at a time and keep learning all you can about SEO techniques and available tools. Soon you’ll be using it to increase website traffic, gain higher-quality leads, and more.

Discover the online potential of your brand

One of the most empowering moments that can occur as a digital marketer is to discover the online potential of your brand. Digital marketing is the perfect avenue for generating high-quality leads that result in more interaction with your brand and, ultimately, higher sales.

You may discover opportunities to offer webinars to customers, create courses, sponsor events, or become a thought leader in your field. The online potential of your brand is vast, and cashing in on that is possible with targeted marketing and planning.

Get to Really Know Your Customers

While you may already know everything about your product or service, it is essential to step away from that and get to really know your customers. By doing so, you can build a better marketing strategy that appeals to them and other potential customers.

Conduct your own market research by sending out surveys to existing customers and by asking for feedback. Closely study customer reviews and comments to gain a sense of what they want most. Learn all you can about who they are, what they want or need, and the type of interests they have.

Once you collect this information and start to understand your customers, develop your buyer personas. You will use these to plan your marketing strategy and the type of content to share.

Build a significant presence on social media

Consumers today spend tons of time on social media platforms. Since that is where they are, it is where you should be also. The goal is to build a significant presence on one or more platforms.

Create your social profile to match your brand and how you present yourself on your website. Now it’s time to start publishing content. Consider mixing it up a bit at times, providing informative, educational, or entertaining content to show your brand’s confidence and personality. Don’t just focus only on your products or services, but add posts that speak to your target audience’s interests and desires.

Online consumers are highly visual these days, so be sure to always include the highest quality videos and images with your posts. As you gain more followers, increase your interaction with them by responding to comments. You can even use interactive content to draw them in further.

[yvetteheiser]

Yvette Heiser -How to go viral with your photography? 

Social media is booming and reaching its highest peak these days. These indispensable tools provide various opportunities for marketing, promotions, showcasing talents, etc. With millions of images and videos uploaded daily across various platforms, standing out from this digital noise can be an extremely daunting task. But since it is not an impossible thing to do. With the right strategies and approach, photographers can increase their chances of going viral and achieving widespread recognition for their artistry.

Where to start?

Social media platforms offer photographers a global stage to exhibit their work and engage with a diverse audience. With platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube boasting billions of active users, entering into these networks can significantly amplify your reach and visibility.

1. Choose the Right Platform

Selecting the appropriate platform to showcase your photography is crucial. While Instagram is renowned for its visual-centric nature and massive user base, other platforms like Pinterest and TikTok cater to different demographics and content formats. Take a minute and look at Yvette Heiser - 4 Best Experts Tips in Photography, which willprovide expert advice to get started with photography. Understanding your target audience and the unique features of each platform will help you tailor your content effectively.

2. Invest in Video Content

While photography remains the primary medium for visual storytelling, incorporating video content into your social media strategy can enhance engagement and virality. Platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube offer opportunities to create short, captivating videos that showcase your creative process, behind-the-scenes footage, or tutorials. By leveraging the dynamic nature of video, photographers can capture the attention of viewers and increase their chances of going viral.

3. Cultivate Authenticity

Share personal stories, insights into your creative journey, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your photography process. By showcasing the person behind the lens, you humanize your brand and invite viewers to connect on a deeper level. Authenticity resonates with audiences and increases the likelihood of your content being shared virally. Watch Yvette Heiser Texas – New dynamics of capturing photographs to get an idea of utilizing new angles and perspectives in photography.

4. Utilize the Power of Hashtags

Hashtags are crucial in enhancing the discoverability and reach of your photography content on social media platforms. Research and utilize relevant hashtags that align with your niche, style, and target audience. Experiment with trending hashtags, location-based tags, and branded hashtags to expand your reach and attract a broader audience. Effective hashtag usage can significantly boost the visibility and virality of your posts.

5. Foster Engagement and Consistency

Post high-quality content that aligns with your brand and resonates with your audience regularly. Respond to comments, engage with other users' content, and participate in relevant communities and discussions. By fostering meaningful connections and engaging with your audience, you create a supportive community that organically shares and promotes your content.

Bottom line 

While the path to viral success may be challenging, the rewards of widespread recognition and acclaim for your artistry make the journey worthwhile. With dedication, innovation, and a dash of creativity, photographers can elevate their work to viral status and make a lasting impact in the digital era.  

[jkdigitalmarketingblogs]

Mastering Creative Branding: A Comprehensive Guide

How to do Branding for a Company?

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, branding plays a pivotal role in shaping a company’s identity and success. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, mastering creative branding techniques is essential to stand out in the competitive market. This guide delves into the intricacies of branding, offering valuable insights and tips to elevate your brand identity.

Understanding the Essence of Branding

Branding goes beyond just a logo or a tagline; it encompasses the core values, mission, and visual elements that define your business. A strong brand identity creates a lasting impression on customers and fosters loyalty. Effective branding is about telling a compelling story that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from competitors.

Key Elements of Brand Identity

Logo: Your logo is the face of your brand and the first thing people notice. It should be unique, memorable, and reflective of your brand’s personality.

Color Palette: Colors evoke emotions and influence consumer behavior. Choose a color scheme that aligns with your brand values and appeals to your target demographic.

Typography: The fonts you use convey a message about your brand’s style and tone. Consistent typography across all marketing materials creates brand cohesiveness.

Brand Voice: Define your brand voice — formal, friendly, or humorous — and maintain consistency in all communication channels.

Crafting a Strong Brand Strategy

A well-defined brand strategy is a roadmap for your branding efforts, guiding every aspect of your marketing initiatives. Here’s how you can develop a robust brand strategy:

1. Define Your Brand Mission and Values

Clearly articulate your brand’s mission, vision, and values. Your brand story should convey why you exist, what you stand for, and what sets you apart from others in your industry.

2. Know Your Target Audience

Understanding your target audience is crucial for crafting a brand message that resonates with them. Conduct market research to identify their needs, preferences, and pain points.

3. Create a Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Your Unique Selling Proposition should communicate your product’s or service’s unique benefits and why customers should choose you over competitors.

4. Be Consistent Across All Channels

Consistency is key to building brand recognition and credibility. Ensure that your brand elements, messaging, and tone remain consistent across all platforms.

Leveraging SEO for Branding Success

In today’s digital landscape, SEO plays a vital role in enhancing brand visibility and attracting organic traffic to your website. Here are some SEO branding tips to boost your brand’s online presence:

1. Optimize Your Website

Ensure your website is SEO-friendly by optimizing meta tags, headings, and image alt text. A well-structured and fast-loading website improves user experience and search engine rankings.

2. Create High-Quality Content

Producing relevant, engaging, and optimized content not only drives traffic but also builds authority and credibility for your brand. Regularly update your blog with valuable information related to your industry.

3. Build Quality Backlinks

Backlinks from reputable websites signal to search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative. Focus on building high-quality backlinks through guest posting, collaborations, and content partnerships.

4. Monitor and Analyze Performance

Use analytics tools to track your SEO performance and identify areas for improvement. Monitor keyword rankings, organic traffic, and user engagement metrics to fine-tune your SEO strategy.

Conclusion

Mastering creative branding is an ongoing process that requires dedication, creativity, and a deep understanding of your target audience. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can elevate your brand identity, increase brand awareness, and drive business growth in the digital age.

Remember, successful branding is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a meaningful connection with your customers that goes beyond products and services. Embrace the power of branding to leave a lasting impact on your audience and establish a strong brand presence in the market.

Let your brand story be the driving force behind your success in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. For learning more about how to do Branding for small businesses J.K Digital is the online platform that provides solutions and also created meaningful branding for many startups that got success and ran with their desired best outcomes.

[fragile-practice]

Week in Review

October 23rd-29th

Welcome to Fragile Practice, where I attempt to make something of value out of stuff I have to read.

My future plan is to do longer-form original pieces on interesting topics or trends. For now, I'm going to make the weekly reviews habitual and see if I have any time left.

Technology

OpenAI forms team to study ‘catastrophic’ AI risks, including nuclear threats - Tech Crunch; Kyle Wiggers

OpenAI launched a new research team called AI Safety and Security to investigate the potential harms of artificial intelligence focused on AI alignment, AI robustness, AI governance, and AI ethics.

Note: Same energy as “cigarette company funds medical research into smoking risks”.

Artists Allege Meta’s AI Data Deletion Request Process Is a ‘Fake PR Stunt’ - Wired; Kate Knibbs

Artists who participated in Meta’s Artificial Intelligence Artist Residency Program accused the company of failing to honor their data deletion requests and claim that Meta used their personal data to train its AI models without their consent.

Note: Someday we will stop being surprised that corporate activities without obvious profit motive are all fake PR stunts.

GM and Honda ditch plan to build cheaper electric vehicles - The Verge; Andrew J. Hawkins

General Motors and Honda cancel their joint venture to develop and produce cheaper electric vehicles for the US market, citing the chip shortage, rising costs of battery materials, and the changing market conditions.

Note: What are the odds this isn’t related to the 7 billion dollars the US government announced to create hydrogen hubs.

'AI divide' across the US leaves economists concerned - The Register; Thomas Claburn

A new study by economists from Harvard University and MIT reveals a significant gap in AI adoption and innovation across different regions in the US.

The study finds that AI usage is highest in California's Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, but was also noted in Nashville, San Antonio, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Diego, and Tampa, as well as Riverside, Louisville, Columbus, Austin, and Atlanta.

Nvidia to Challenge Intel With Arm-Based Processors for PCs - Bloomberg; Ian King

Nvidia is using Arm technology to develop CPUs that would challenge Intel processors in PCs, and which could go on sale as soon as 2025.

Note: I am far from an NVIDIA fan, but I’m stoked for any amount of new competition in the CPU space.

New tool lets artists fight AI image bots by hiding corrupt data in plain sight - Engadget; Sarah Fielding

A team at the University of Chicago created Nightshade, a tool that lets artists fight AI image bots by adding undetectable pixels into an image that can alter how a machine-learning model produces content and what that finished product looks like.

Nightshade is intended to protect artists work and has been tested on both Stable Diffusion and an in-house AI built by the researchers.

IBM's NorthPole chip runs AI-based image recognition 22 times faster than current chips - Tech Xplore; Bob Yirka

NorthPole combines the processing module and the data it uses in a two-dimensional array of memory blocks and interconnected CPUs, and is reportedly inspired by the human brain.

NorthPole can currently only run specialized AI processes and not training processes or large language models, but the researchers plan to test connecting multiple chips together to overcome this limitation.

Apple’s $130 Thunderbolt 4 cable could be worth it, as seen in X-ray CT scans - Ars Technica; Kevin Purdy

Note: These scans are super cool. And make me feel somewhat better about insisting on quality cables. A+.

The Shifting Web

On-by-default video calls come to X, disable to retain your sanity - The Register; Brandon Vigliarolo

Video and audio calling is limited to anyone you follow or who is in your address book, if you granted X permission to comb through it.

Calling other users also requires that they’ve sent at least one direct message to you before.

Only premium users can place calls, but everyone can receive them.

Google Search Boss Says Company Invests to Avoid Becoming ‘Roadkill’ - The New York Times; Nico Grant

Google’s senior vice president overseeing search said that he sees a world of threats that could humble his company at any moment.

Google Maps is getting new AI-powered search updates, an enhanced navigation interface and more - Tech Crunch; Aisha Malik

Note: These AI recommender systems are going to be incredibly valuable advertising space. It is interesting that Apple decided to compete with Google in maps but not in basic search, but has so far not placed ads in the search results.

Reddit finally takes its API war where it belongs: to AI companies - Ars Technica; Scharon Harding

Reddit met with generative AI companies to negotiate a deal for being paid for its data, and may block crawlers if no deal is made soon.

Note: Google searches for info on Reddit often seem more effective than searching Reddit itself.  If they are unable to make a deal, and Reddit follows through, it will be a legitimate loss for discoverability but also an incredibly interesting experiment to see what Reddit is like without Google.

Bandcamp’s Entire Union Bargaining Team Was Laid Off - 404 Media; Emanuel Maiberg

Bandcamp’s new owner (Songtradr) offered jobs to just half of existing employees, with cuts disproportionately hitting union leaders. Every member of the union’s eight-person bargaining team was laid off, and 40 of the union's 67 members lost their jobs.

Songtradr spokesperson Lindsay Nahmiache claimed that the firm didn’t have access to union membership information.

Note: This just sucks. Bandcamp is rad, and it’s hard to imagine it continuing to be rad after this. I wonder if Epic had ideas for BC that didn’t work out.

Surveillance & Digital Privacy

Mozilla Launches Annual Digital Privacy 'Creep-o-Meter'. This Year's Status:  'Very Creepy' - Slashdot

Mozilla gave the current state of digital privacy a 75.6/100, with 100 being the creepiest.

They measured security features, data collection, and data sharing practices of over 500 gadgets, apps, and cars to come up with their score.

Every car Mozilla tested failed to meet their privacy and security standards.

Note: It would be great if even one auto brand would take privacy seriously.

EPIC Testifies in Support of Massachusetts Data Privacy and Protection Act -Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)

Massachusetts version of ADPPA.

Note: While it may warm my dead heart to see any online privacy protections in law, scrambling to do so in response to generative AI is unlikely to protect Americans in any meaningful way from the surveillance driven form of capitalism we’ve all been living under for decades.

Complex Spy Platform StripedFly Bites 1M Victims - Dark Reading

StripedFly is a complex platform disguised as a cryptominer and evaded detection for six years by using a custom version of EternalBlue exploit, a built-in Tor network tunnel, and trusted services like GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket to communicate with C2 servers and update its functionality.

iPhones have been exposing your unique MAC despite Apple's promises otherwise - Ars Technica

A privacy feature which claimed to hide the Wi-Fi MAC address of iOS devices when joining a network was broken since iOS 14, and was finally patched in 17.1, released on Wednesday.

Note: I imagine this bug was reported a while ago, but wasn’t publically reported until the fix was released as a term of apple’s bug bounty program.

What the !#@% is a Passkey? - Electronic Frontier Foundation

Note: I welcome our passkey overlords.

[aiinnovationsjournal]

Discover the Future of Image Search with Galambo: AI-Powered Insights at Your Fingertips

Ever wished you could unlock hidden details in your images with a single click? Galambo, the state-of-the-art AI-driven image search engine, turns that wish into reality by offering an unprecedented level of detail and context for every photo.

Galambo is revolutionizing how we interact with visual content through its advanced artificial intelligence technology. Unlike traditional image search tools, Galambo delves deep into each image, providing a rich tapestry of information that goes far beyond simple recognition. This enhanced capability makes it a game-changer for anyone looking to gain more from their visual assets.

The heart of Galambo’s technology lies in its AI-powered predictive search. When you upload an image, Galambo’s sophisticated algorithms analyze its contents and suggest relevant queries based on the image's details. This feature significantly speeds up the search process and ensures that you get highly accurate results, optimizing your workflow and saving valuable time.

Another notable aspect of Galambo is its dynamic interactive search feature. Instead of passively viewing images, you can click on various elements within them to access additional information and related content. This interactive approach transforms image searching into an engaging and informative experience, allowing you to explore visuals in a more meaningful way.

Galambo’s integration capabilities further enhance its usefulness. It links with mapping services to identify locations, taps into extensive databases for in-depth information, and connects with social media platforms to provide broader context. This seamless integration makes Galambo a versatile tool for multiple applications, from research to marketing and beyond.

Security is a priority for Galambo, with robust measures in place to protect your data. This ensures that your image searches and analyses are conducted with the highest level of privacy and security.

In conclusion, Galambo stands out as a leading AI-powered image search engine, offering advanced features that redefine how we interact with visual content. Its predictive search capabilities, interactive features, and comprehensive integrations make it an indispensable tool for those seeking to maximize their image analysis. Discover how Galambo can elevate your approach to visual content by visiting Galambo.

[net-craft]

Why Mobile-First App Design is a Good Business Strategy (Phoenix Mobile App Design Agency)

In today's mobile-driven world, consumers rely on their smartphones for everything from communication and entertainment to shopping and banking. This shift in user behavior necessitates a mobile-first approach for businesses. Here at Net-Craft.com, a leading Phoenix mobile app design agency, we understand the power of mobile-first app design and its ability to fuel business growth.

This article explores the advantages of prioritizing mobile-first app design and how it can benefit businesses of all sizes in Phoenix and beyond.

The Rise of Mobile Users

Statistics are undeniable: mobile usage continues to soar. According to [source: Statista mobile usage statistics], over 6.6 billion people worldwide own smartphones in 2023. This translates to a massive audience readily accessible through mobile apps.

Furthermore, mobile devices are no longer just for browsing; they're primary tools for research, purchasing, and interacting with businesses. A study by [source: Business Insider mobile app usage] revealed that users spend an average of 4.2 hours daily on their smartphones, with a significant portion of that time spent on apps.

Benefits of Mobile-First App Design

By prioritizing mobile-first app design, Phoenix businesses can reap numerous benefits:

Enhanced User Experience: Mobile users expect a seamless and intuitive experience. A mobile-first approach ensures your app is optimized for smaller screens, touch interactions, and on-the-go usage, leading to higher user satisfaction and engagement.

Increased Accessibility: A mobile app makes your business accessible to users anytime, anywhere. This expands your reach and allows you to tap into a wider customer base compared to a traditional website alone.

Improved Brand Recognition: A well-designed and user-friendly mobile app strengthens your brand image and positions you as a forward-thinking, tech-savvy company.

Enhanced Customer Engagement: Mobile apps offer unique opportunities to connect with customers. Push notifications, loyalty programs, and in-app features can foster deeper engagement and build stronger customer relationships.

Data-Driven Insights: Mobile apps generate valuable user data about behavior and preferences. This data can be leveraged to personalize your marketing efforts, improve your app's functionalities, and ultimately drive business growth.

Increased Sales and Revenue: Mobile apps can streamline the purchasing process, enabling in-app purchases and convenient payment options. This can lead to increased sales and revenue for your business.

How Phoenix Mobile App Development Firms Can Help

Partnering with a Phoenix mobile app development firm like Net-Craft.com offers several advantages when implementing a mobile-first app design strategy:

Expert Design and Development: Our team of experienced mobile app designers and developers understands the nuances of mobile-first design and can create an app that is both visually appealing and functionally superior on mobile devices.

Usability Testing and Optimization: We prioritize usability testing to ensure your app is intuitive and easy to navigate on smaller screens. We iterate and optimize based on user feedback to deliver an exceptional user experience.

Cross-Platform Development: We offer cross-platform development solutions to ensure your app functions flawlessly on both iOS and Android devices, maximizing your reach and potential user base.

Mobile App Consulting in Phoenix AZ: Getting Started with Mobile-First Design

Net-Craft.com, a trusted mobile app consulting firm in Phoenix AZ, can guide you through every stage of the mobile-first app design process:

Concept Development: We work closely with you to understand your business goals and target audience. We then brainstorm app concepts and define key features that align with your mobile-first strategy.

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design: Our design team focuses on creating an intuitive and user-friendly interface specifically optimized for mobile devices.

App Development and Testing: We leverage cutting-edge technology to develop your app and conduct rigorous testing to ensure functionality, performance, and a seamless user experience.

Deployment and Ongoing Support: We assist with app store deployment and provide ongoing support to maintain your app and address any future technical issues.

Embrace the Mobile Future with Net-Craft.com

In today's mobile-first world, a well-designed mobile app is no longer a luxury; it's a business necessity. Partnering with Net-Craft.com, a leading Phoenix mobile app design agency, can provide your business with a powerful tool to reach a wider audience, enhance customer engagement, and drive sustainable growth.

Contact us today to discuss your mobile app vision and discover how a mobile-first design approach can empower your business to thrive in the digital age.

Know more https://www.net-craft.com/blog/2024/06/28/mobile-first-app-design-phoenix/

[probacklinker]

There is 3 parts of SEO

Understanding SEO: On-Page, Off-Page, and Technical SEO.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial digital marketing strategy that helps improve the visibility and ranking of a website on search engines like Google. SEO can be broadly categorized into three main parts: On-Page SEO, Off-Page SEO, and Technical SEO. Each of these components plays a vital role in driving organic traffic and enhancing the overall performance of a website. In this article, we will delve into each of these parts and highlight the significance of backlinks in Off-Page SEO.

On-Page SEO  



On-Page SEO refers to the optimization techniques that are applied directly on the website to improve its search engine rankings. This involves optimizing individual web pages to make them more search engine-friendly and relevant to users. Key elements of On-Page SEO include:

Keyword Research and Optimization: Identifying relevant keywords and incorporating them naturally into the content, titles, headings, and meta descriptions.

Content Quality and Relevance: Creating high-quality, informative, and engaging content that meets the needs and interests of the target audience.

Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Crafting compelling and keyword-rich title tags and meta descriptions to improve click-through rates and search engine visibility.

Header Tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.): Structuring content with appropriate header tags to enhance readability and provide search engines with a clear understanding of the content hierarchy.

Internal Linking: Linking to other relevant pages within the website to improve navigation, user experience, and the distribution of link equity.

Image Optimization: Using descriptive file names, alt text, and optimized image sizes to improve image searchability and page load speed.

URL Structure: Creating clean, descriptive, and keyword-rich URLs to enhance user experience and search engine indexing.

Off-Page SEO              



Off-Page SEO involves activities conducted outside the website to improve its authority, relevance, and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines. One of the most critical aspects of Off-Page SEO is building high-quality backlinks. Backlinks, also known as inbound links, are links from other websites that point to your website. They act as votes of confidence and signal to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.

The Importance of Backlinks in Off-Page SEO

Backlinks are considered one of the most influential ranking factors in SEO. Here’s why they are crucial:

Increased Website Authority: When reputable websites link to your content, it enhances your website’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines.

Higher Search Engine Rankings: Websites with a robust backlink profile are more likely to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs), driving more organic traffic.

Referral Traffic: Backlinks from high-traffic websites can generate referral traffic, bringing more visitors to your site.

Faster Indexing: Search engines discover new content faster through backlinks, leading to quicker indexing and improved visibility.

Enhanced Brand Visibility: Backlinks from authoritative sources can increase your brand’s visibility and recognition within your industry.

Strategies for Building High-Quality Backlinks  



To maximize the benefits of backlinks, it’s essential to focus on quality over quantity. Here are some effective strategies for building high-quality backlinks:

Guest Blogging: Writing and publishing articles on reputable websites within your niche to gain exposure and earn backlinks.

Content Marketing: Creating valuable and shareable content, such as infographics, case studies, and whitepapers, that naturally attract backlinks.

Outreach Campaigns: Reaching out to industry influencers, bloggers, and webmasters to promote your content and request backlinks.

Social Media Engagement: Sharing your content on social media platforms to increase its reach and potential for earning backlinks.

Broken Link Building: Identifying broken links on other websites and offering your content as a replacement to earn backlinks.

Technical SEO          

Technical SEO focuses on optimizing the technical aspects of a website to ensure it meets the requirements of search engines for crawling, indexing, and ranking. It involves improving the backend structure and performance of the website to enhance its visibility and user experience. Key elements of Technical SEO include:

Website Speed and Performance: Ensuring fast page load times by optimizing images, leveraging browser caching, and minimizing HTTP requests.

Mobile-Friendliness: Creating a responsive design that provides a seamless user experience across different devices, especially mobile phones.

XML Sitemaps: Creating and submitting XML sitemaps to search engines to help them discover and index your website’s pages efficiently.

Robots.txt File: Using the robots.txt file to control and direct search engine crawlers on which pages to crawl and index.

Structured Data and Schema Markup: Implementing structured data and schema markup to provide search engines with additional information about your content, improving search visibility and rich results.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): Ensuring your website uses HTTPS to provide a secure connection, which is a ranking factor for search engines.

Canonical Tags: Using canonical tags to prevent duplicate content issues and consolidate link equity to the preferred version of a webpage.

Error Handling and Redirections: Managing 404 errors, setting up 301 redirects for moved or deleted pages, and ensuring a smooth user experience.

Conclusion              



SEO is a multifaceted strategy that involves On-Page SEO, Off-Page SEO, and Technical SEO. Each component plays a crucial role in enhancing the visibility, authority, and performance of a website. Among these, Off-Page SEO, particularly backlinks, stands out as a vital factor for improving search engine rankings and driving organic traffic. By understanding and implementing effective SEO practices, businesses can achieve long-term success in the competitive digital landscape.

[apcseo]

Leveraging Social Media for Brand Success: Tips and Tricks

Explore effective strategies to leverage social media for brand success. Find out how to identify the right platforms, create engaging content,utilize influencer partnerships, and measure your success

In this blog post, we will explore the power of social media in building brand success and provide actionable tips and tricks to help you leverage these platforms effectively.

Understanding the Role of Social Media in Brand Building

Social media plays a crucial role in brand building by providing businesses with a powerful platform to connect and engage with their target audience. It allows brands to showcase their personality, values, and products or services to a wide range of potential customers. Through social media, brands can establish a strong online presence and build relationships with their audience.

Additionally, social media allows brands to gather valuable insights about their customers' preferences, interests, and behaviors. By analyzing this data, brands can tailor their marketing strategies to better meet the needs of their target audience and improve their overall brand perception.

Furthermore, social media enables brands to amplify their reach and increase brand awareness. Through sharing and engagement, content can quickly spread across social media platforms, reaching a larger audience than traditional marketing methods. This increased visibility can lead to greater brand recognition and customer loyalty.

Identifying the Right Social Media Platforms for Your Brand

When leveraging social media for brand success, it is important to identify the right platforms that align with your brand's target audience and objectives. Each social media platform has its own unique features and user demographics, so it is essential to understand which platforms will provide the greatest reach and engagement for your brand.

Start by researching the demographics and user behavior of each platform to determine which ones are most relevant to your target audience. For example, if your brand targets a younger demographic, platforms like Instagram and TikTok may be more effective. On the other hand, if your brand targets professionals, LinkedIn may be a better choice.

Consider the type of content your brand wants to create and the capabilities of each platform. Some platforms, like YouTube, are ideal for video content, while others, like Twitter, are better suited for short and snappy updates. Choose platforms that allow you to showcase your brand's unique strengths and engage with your audience in a meaningful way.

Creating Engaging and Consistent Content

Creating engaging and consistent content is crucial for building a strong brand presence on social media. Your content should resonate with your target audience and provide them with value, entertainment, or inspiration.

Start by understanding your audience's interests, pain points, and preferences. This will help you create content that is relevant and engaging to them. Use a mix of formats, such as images, videos, and text, to keep your content fresh and varied.

Consistency is key when it comes to brand perception on social media. Develop a content calendar and stick to a regular posting schedule to maintain a consistent presence. This will help you build trust and credibility with your audience.

Additionally, be responsive to comments, messages, and feedback from your audience. Engage in conversations, answer questions, and address any concerns or issues promptly. This will show your audience that you value their input and are committed to providing a positive experience.

Utilizing Influencer Partnerships and Collaborations

Influencer partnerships and collaborations can be a powerful strategy for leveraging social media to enhance brand success. Influencers have a loyal and engaged following, and partnering with them can help you expand your reach, build credibility, and increase brand awareness.

When identifying influencers to collaborate with, consider their relevance to your brand and target audience. Look for influencers who align with your brand values and have a genuine connection with their followers. This will ensure that the partnership feels authentic and resonates with your audience.

Work with influencers to create content that showcases your brand in a natural and organic way. This can include sponsored posts, product reviews, or influencer takeovers. Encourage influencers to share their honest opinions and experiences with your brand to build trust with their audience.

Measure the success of influencer partnerships by tracking key metrics such as reach, engagement, and conversions. This will help you assess the impact of these collaborations on your brand's social media success and make informed decisions for future partnerships.

Measuring and Analyzing Your Social Media Success

Measuring and analyzing your social media success is essential for understanding the impact of your efforts and making data-driven decisions to improve your brand's performance.

Start by defining your key performance indicators (KPIs) based on your brand objectives. These could include metrics such as reach, engagement, conversions, or brand sentiment. Use social media analytics tools to track these metrics and gain insights into your audience's behavior and preferences.

Regularly monitor your social media performance and identify trends or patterns in your data. This will help you understand what content or strategies are resonating with your audience and what areas may need improvement.

Use A/B testing to experiment with different content formats, messaging, or posting times to optimize your social media strategy. Analyse the results and adjust your approach accordingly.

Here in Apppl Combine (Social media marketing agency) we assist in leveraging social media for brand success by monitoring platforms to gauge audience sentiment and trends, enabling timely engagement and response. We craft tailored content strategies to align with brand values and resonate with target audiences, fostering positive perception and brand loyalty. Utilizing analytics tools, agencies track performance metrics to refine strategies and optimize campaigns for maximum impact. By actively managing brand presence across various social channels, agencies enhance visibility, credibility, and engagement, ultimately driving growth and shaping a favourable brand image in the digital landscape.

Leveraging Social Media for Brand Success: Tips and Tricks

In this blog post, we will explore the power of social media in building brand success and provide actionable tips and tricks to help you leverage these platforms effectively.

Understanding the Role of Social Media in Brand Building

Social media plays a crucial role in brand building by providing businesses with a powerful platform to connect and engage with their target audience. It allows brands to showcase their personality, values, and products or services to a wide range of potential customers. Through social media, brands can establish a strong online presence and build relationships with their audience.

Additionally, social media allows brands to gather valuable insights about their customers' preferences, interests, and behaviors. By analyzing this data, brands can tailor their marketing strategies to better meet the needs of their target audience and improve their overall brand perception.

Furthermore, social media enables brands to amplify their reach and increase brand awareness. Through sharing and engagement, content can quickly spread across social media platforms, reaching a larger audience than traditional marketing methods. This increased visibility can lead to greater brand recognition and customer loyalty.

Identifying the Right Social Media Platforms for Your Brand

When leveraging social media for brand success, it is important to identify the right platforms that align with your brand's target audience and objectives. Each social media platform has its own unique features and user demographics, so it is essential to understand which platforms will provide the greatest reach and engagement for your brand.

Start by researching the demographics and user behavior of each platform to determine which ones are most relevant to your target audience. For example, if your brand targets a younger demographic, platforms like Instagram may be more effective. On the other hand, if your brand targets professionals, LinkedIn may be a better choice.

Consider the type of content your brand wants to create and the capabilities of each platform. Some platforms, like YouTube, are ideal for video content, while others, like Twitter, are better suited for short and snappy updates. Choose platforms that allow you to showcase your brand's unique strengths and engage with your audience in a meaningful way.

Creating Engaging and Consistent Content

Creating engaging and consistent content is crucial for building a strong brand presence on social media. Your content should resonate with your target audience and provide them with value, entertainment, or inspiration.

Start by understanding your audience's interests, pain points, and preferences. This will help you create content that is relevant and engaging to them. Use a mix of formats, such as images, videos, and text, to keep your content fresh and varied.

Consistency is key when it comes to brand perception on social media. Develop a content calendar and stick to a regular posting schedule to maintain a consistent presence. This will help you build trust and credibility with your audience.

Additionally, be responsive to comments, messages, and feedback from your audience. Engage in conversations, answer questions, and address any concerns or issues promptly. This will show your audience that you value their input and are committed to providing a positive experience.

Utilizing Influencer Partnerships and Collaborations

Influencer partnerships and collaborations can be a powerful strategy for leveraging social media to enhance brand success. Influencers have a loyal and engaged following, and partnering with them can help you expand your reach, build credibility, and increase brand awareness.

When identifying influencers to collaborate with, consider their relevance to your brand and target audience. Look for influencers who align with your brand values and have a genuine connection with their followers. This will ensure that the partnership feels authentic and resonates with your audience.

Work with influencers to create content that showcases your brand in a natural and organic way. This can include sponsored posts, product reviews, or influencer takeovers. Encourage influencers to share their honest opinions and experiences with your brand to build trust with their audience.

Measure the success of influencer partnerships by tracking key metrics such as reach, engagement, and conversions. This will help you assess the impact of these collaborations on your brand's social media success and make informed decisions for future partnerships.

Measuring and Analyzing Your Social Media Success

Measuring and analyzing your social media success is essential for understanding the impact of your efforts and making data-driven decisions to improve your brand's performance.

Start by defining your key performance indicators (KPIs) based on your brand objectives. These could include metrics such as reach, engagement, conversions, or brand sentiment. Use social media analytics tools to track these metrics and gain insights into your audience's behavior and preferences.

Regularly monitor your social media performance and identify trends or patterns in your data. This will help you understand what content or strategies are resonating with your audience and what areas may need improvement.

Use A/B testing to experiment with different content formats, messaging, or posting times to optimize your social media strategy. Analyse the results and adjust your approach accordingly.

Here in Apppl Combine Digital marketing agency we assist in leveraging social media for brand success by monitoring platforms to gauge audience sentiment and trends, enabling timely engagement and response. We craft tailored content strategies to align with brand values and resonate with target audiences, fostering positive perception and brand loyalty. Utilizing analytics tools, agencies track performance metrics to refine strategies and optimize campaigns for maximum impact. By actively managing brand presence across various social channels, agencies enhance visibility, credibility, and engagement, ultimately driving growth and shaping a favourable brand image in the digital landscape.

This post was originally published on: Apppl Combine

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS (INCLUDING ETSY), March 2024

Since I wrote so many articles on Etsy in the past 2 months, it took longer than usual for me to get the full ecommerce update out. Sorry about the delay, but here it is!

For fresher and more frequent updates, please follow me on Bluesky or on LinkedIn, or become a member of my Patreon.

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

Etsy’s fourth quarter 2023 financial results came out February 21; I did a deep dive into all the announcements here. In short, there are a lot of new things coming, and some changes that may have affected some sellers already, including:

plans for more predictable shipping costs for buyers and sellers (what does that mean?)

Etsy Ads are now localized outside of the United States

search will be shifting to boost "high quality" items, going from highlighting what shoppers are most likely to buy to what shoppers are most likely to love

a buyer loyalty program is coming

the goal of “shortening our estimated delivery dates this year by at least 2 days”

This recent post on Bluesky indicates that Etsy is surveying buyers on what they would pay for shipping, which could be related to the “predictable shipping costs” mentioned. A recent Etsy presentation at an investor conference provided a few clarifications on points discussed during the 4th quarter call, and in previous interviews and announcements.

“Our research showed that 10% off is a waste in this market. It's not enough to drive an incremental conversion, so all you did is give up margin. So recently, you've seen us both change the default and talk to sellers about how if you're going to put something on sale in this environment, it needs to be at least 25% off.” [my emphasis] Silverman has previously mentioned that buyers want discounts these days. 

Since the information sellers provide when listing (i.e., titles, tags, descriptions, attributes) “is not always very reliable”, Etsy uses image recognition to classify items as well

They are working on improvement for international fulfillment

Most orders on Etsy aren’t impulse buys; 70% involve 2 or more visits, and 50% involve 4 or more visits

“only one out of every three women in the United States bought something on Etsy last year…. only one out of every 10 men bought something on Etsy last year.”

Etsy’s use of AI in places such as Gift Mode is not in-house. (We already knew they used OpenAI’s GPT-4 for Gift Mode.) 

eBay increased the transaction fee from 30 to 40 cents as of March 15, for all orders over $10. 

An Etsy fee increase of some sort is likely coming soon, as Etsy has surveyed sellers on which options they would most prefer. While I was not picked to take the survey, a few people who did have contacted me with screenshots and details, which I wrote about in some detail. 

Packaging laws are becoming quite onerous for some ecommerce microbusinesses, but fortunately the Etsy forum crew has helped out with a recent summary of which countries in Europe require registration or payment to ship into the jurisdiction. Thanks to Claudia of https://www.etsy.com/no-en/shop/DoceVikaVintage for doing most of the legwork. 

ETSY NEWS 

Etsy is once again changing some sellers’ processing days, adding Saturday or Sunday into the mix when the shop owner only selected Monday to Friday. Some are seeing a notice on their dashboard, while others received an email.

Remember, in the 4th quarter 2023 earnings report, Silverman said “shortening our estimated delivery dates this year by at least 2 days” was a goal, and unilaterally changing your processing times is one step towards that goal. Please check your shipping settings, as this could mean you need to ship earlier than you realize, and Etsy could put you on reserve, remove your Star Seller badge, and deny you Seller Protection when you ship later than Etsy thinks you should.

If that wasn’t bad enough, some sellers are reporting that Etsy has changed the timing of sending the Abandoned Cart discount to almost immediate, and changed the official Help file on the topic to say the coupon was sent just 2 hours after the listing was carted, down from 24 hours. Others say they can no longer deactivate these coupons, and that Etsy Support told them it was a known bug. 

If you want to learn how Etsy's algorithms work and what they favour, the company has added more details on "recommendations" modules we see all over the site to the legal policy page. I've written a short piece highlighting what sellers should pay attention to if they want visibility on Etsy.

Etsy is adding Regulatory Operating Fees to orders in India (0.29%) and Vietnam (1.24%) as of April 1, 2024. On the same day, the Regulatory Operating Fee in Spain will increase to 0.72% (from 0.4%), and the fee for Türkiye goes up to 2.27% (from 1.1%).

The Prohibited Items Policy has been updated in several places, as of March 5 2024. Some of the new sections are covered in this article. As always, the most important parts of these changes will be how Etsy chooses to interpret them, so for the moment I don’t have any further comment, other than to say these types of changes are sometimes driven by law, and sometimes by previous incidents in which Etsy is unhappy with the outcome. 

Looks like businesses in China will soon be able to use Etsy Payments, meaning new shops in China may be able to open for the first time since 2021. (It's not unusual for Etsy to beta test new countries before announcing them officially; it’s hard to say if that is what is happening here or not.)

Etsy's forum restrictions - requiring a signed-in seller account to view most posts - will start on March 26. Only posts in the Announcements and Technical Issues sections will still be visible to everyone. 

There has been some speculation that this is to reduce spamming of Etsy sellers after they post, but the change will also have the bonus of journalists, investors and others not being able to read Etsy sellers' complaints about the platform.

It’s possible to have your product photos featured on the persona page of Etsy's Gift Mode but not have the product available for sale in Gift Mode. I’ve checked several times, and have never seen that seller’s embroidery piece in the featured listings. If you missed my blog post on Gift Mode, check it out here. Note that Etsy seems to have made some changes since I originally released the post. Among other Gift Mode promotions, Etsy employees rang the opening bell at Nasdaq the day after the Super Bowl. Did you know that this year’s Super Bowl was the most watched show in the US since the 1969 moon landing? Etsy hired Drew Barrymore to promote the corporation's new gifting push, which will continue all year. And the company has also released a new “gift teaser” email that buyers can have sent to recipients, which is useful for last-minute shoppers. 

Elliott Management now owns 13% of Etsy shares and options - making it the largest investor -  and now has a board member at the corporation. Known as activist investors, they usually force companies to cut costs ; for example they pressured “Salesforce, in which it has a multibillion-dollar investment, to harsh new policies for engineers and salespeople aimed at reducing headcount.”

Newly-opened Etsy shops will soon be subject to stricter ID requirements, a $15 fee, and longer holds on their early sales; I covered the details we know on LinkedIn. 

If you use the new listing form, you may see a new pricing tool pop up. (It’s not on the old listing form.) Ridiculously, Etsy calls it an “estimated profit calculator”, when really, it’s just an Etsy fee calculator, and not a good one at that. It includes the lowest processing fee possible (some countries have a range of processing fees) and also excludes taxes you may pay on your fees. I don’t know if it includes country-specific fees such as regulatory fees, as Canada does not currently have those.

Etsy has several sales events coming up, including the “spring refresh” which has already started and continues until April 15. 

There are reports of Etsy now advertising its commercials in Canada, which is a first as far as I know. 

Struggling to update your tax information on Etsy? One tip is to use a different link to enter the updates. Another is to use a pdf or png file, not a jpg, when uploading documents, and to combine multiple documents into one. If Etsy is asking your LLP/LLC or corporation to upload ID, I’ve had multiple people report that personal ID should work, even if the wording of the page says it won't. 

If you are frustrated by the recent Etsy test removing the total number of items in a search, I explained here how to determine the exact number of results if there are less than 16,000 listings. Also, you can just try another browser or device because it is a test (I do not have it on desktop). 

Remember when The Smiley Company sued tons of small sellers for trademark infringement, and asked for damages? Some Etsy sellers fought back - and won.

Who is removing Taylor Swift-themed items from Etsy - the artist, or the marketplace?  Swift has sent cease and desist letters to Etsy shops in the past. 

The articles about Etsy being awash with non-handmade and counterfeit goods never end. Here’s one from Australia. Here’s one about Etsy sellers publishing fan fiction that is already free on the web and charging a huge amount. And the media attention to deepfake porn on Etsy also continues. AI use is also subject to media scrutiny. 

TikTok’s push to attract more sellers apparently involves approaching Etsy shop owners. [soft paywall; Modern Retail] 

Josh Silverman has sold off most of his remaining Etsy stock. 

I did a short report on who Etsy laid off in December. 

The scammers advertising a fake Etsy customer support phone number on Google are catching buyers too - why can't this be stopped? "Anyone looking to contact Etsy for customer service issues should be aware that there is no phone number to contact for Etsy support." It’s a big problem that Google seems unable to control, given this study on other fraudulent Google Ads.  

Speaking of scammers, there is a new version of fake copyright takedowns affecting numerous sellers; the person who files the DMCA then offers to remove it for a fee, or even file takedowns against your competitors for a bigger fee. Etsy did fix the first round after 3-4 days, but the perpetrator then filed new DMCAs from a different email address. 

ECOMMERCE NEWS (minus social media)

General

Michael’s Makerplace is beta testing selling third-party items in Michael’s brick and mortar stores. “Michaels says that MakerPlace garnered interest from thousands of sellers during its initial beta period, mainly through word-of-mouth. The company declined to disclose how many sellers are on the platform currently and is now focused on growing customers for those vendors to sell to. Buchanan says the next month will be "critical to make sure [the platform gets] some mass engagement from a buyer perspective."

Some Depop sellers had issues with deposits recently, with the money never being sent to their bank accounts, and instead the deposit was continually rescheduled for the next day. This may or may not be related to similar issues on Etsy. Depop is also immediately scrapping seller fees for the UK (as long as the account sells in GBP), but is adding a 5% fee for buyers in the UK as of April 15. Clearly the site thinks it has more UK demand than UK inventory, and that at least some of those buyers will pay for the ability to buy second-hand. Depop press release. 

Beni is a new “secondhand search engine” that pulls up used apparel from multiple different marketplaces such as eBay, Poshmark, and ThredUp. It offers an app and a Chrome browser extension. 

Temu is subject to a class-action lawsuit claiming that the company’s app is highly intrusive and can read "literally everything on your phone." Also, businesses in the United States can now sell on Temu. 

There are many different platforms and marketplaces to sell digital products such as ebooks, templates and courses; here are 20. 

Amazon

If you sell on Amazon, make sure you have 2-factor authentication set up, as it will be a requirement starting March 28th. Users will need a mobile number or authenticator app. 

Amazon is using generative AI to create new listings for merchants who enter a link of the product on another site. “The goal is to help sellers reduce the time it takes to bring the product from a different website onto Amazon.”

If you don’t use at least 3 images per product page, Amazon will now add in photos from other merchants on the site. 

Amazon had a strong fourth quarter in 2023, beating all estimates.  Amazon Lending has been discontinued, but existing loans do not change until the term ends.

eBay

eBay agreed to a $59 million settlement in the US Department of Justice’s case regarding the selling of tools to make counterfeit drugs. The company must also modify its restricted items policies. 

eBay joined the layoff race on January 23 when it let go 9% of its staff (~1000 people). Those layoffs were spread throughout the company, including plenty of engineers, legal and PR staff, and several recruiters, as well as authentication staff. The company also made upper-management changes. 

eBay’s 4th quarter financial results were up a bit, but active buyers keep dropping. 

Jewellery sellers in the UK faced an across-the-board fee hike as of March 7, adding 2% to the final value fee. This appears to be related to covering the authenticity process, which only applies to certain items above £500. 

Be careful when you confirm your Promoted Listings Standard campaign on eBay - a few sellers report accidentally upgrading to a far more expensive Advanced Cost Per Click campaign.

Walmart

Walmart is offering discounts for new sellers, covering part of fees for up to 90 days. 

If you sell on the Walmart marketplace, beware of the new rules on making authenticity claims.

Payment Processing

Klarna is now offering a monthly subscription to be able to use it at brick and mortar retailers without additional fees. The Verge speculates this may be related to Klarna’s rumoured pending IPO. The company has also employed an AI chatbot to do the work of 700 customer support employees. 

A US study reports that at least 20% of US consumers have used buy now, pay later options at least once. 

PayPal joined the tech layoff trend, getting rid of 9% of staff in January.

Venmo settings are public by default; here’s how to change that. [Washington Post gift link]

Shipping 

Is “free shipping” becoming less common? It appears so. [soft paywall: Business Insider]

Apparently USPS has significant delays in the Atlanta area, leaving packages in limbo for weeks. (Strangely, I had a shipment held up in Atlanta in late January even though the new processing centre did not open until February 24, and that package was finally delivered last week.)

Good basic post on return policies (from a Canadian perspective). Note that half of those surveyed say that return policies affect their purchase decisions.

Canada Post has sold its logistics and IT companies as it struggles to become profitable, and may be looking towards more ecommerce options. 

UPS will be laying off 12,000 employees this year, to save around $1 billion. The company is also starting to deliver to homes on Saturdays in major Canadian cities by March.

That's it for now! I hope to have the full SEO & marketing report out next week.

[nishakrishnan1996]

Harnessing SEO's Potential in Digital Marketing: A Complete Handbook

In the realm of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) stands as a cornerstone strategy aimed at enhancing a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). This comprehensive approach involves optimizing various elements of a website to elevate its ranking in organic search results, thereby attracting more traffic and boosting its online presence.

Understanding SEO: A Holistic Approach to Digital Marketing

SEO comprises several key components, each crucial for achieving optimal results:

1. On-Page Optimization: At the core of SEO lies on-page optimization, which involves fine-tuning individual web pages to align with specific keywords and phrases. This process includes meticulous keyword research, crafting compelling meta tags (title and description), structuring headings (H1, H2), refining URL structures, optimizing images, and ensuring the quality and relevance of content.

2. Off-Page Optimization: Off-page optimization extends beyond the website itself and focuses on activities undertaken externally to enhance its search engine rankings. This entails building authoritative backlinks from reputable websites, engaging in social media marketing, conducting influencer outreach, and managing online reputation to bolster the website's credibility and authority.

3. Technical SEO: Technical SEO revolves around optimizing the technical aspects of a website to improve its crawlability, indexability, and overall user experience. This entails optimizing website speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, fine-tuning site structure, implementing URL canonicalization, generating XML sitemaps, and incorporating schema markup to enhance search engine visibility.

4. Content Marketing: Content serves as the backbone of SEO, as search engines prioritize delivering relevant and valuable content to users. Content marketing involves creating high-quality, informative, and engaging content that addresses user intent and fulfills their needs and interests. This encompasses various formats such as blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, and more.

The Advantages of SEO in Digital Marketing

Embarking on an SEO journey offers several compelling benefits for businesses:

1. Increased Website Traffic: Optimizing a website for relevant keywords can significantly boost organic traffic from search engines. Achieving higher rankings in SERPs enhances visibility and exposes the website to potential customers actively seeking relevant products or services.

2. Enhanced User Experience: SEO involves improving various aspects of a website, such as page speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall usability, resulting in a superior user experience. A well-optimized website fosters user engagement, reduces bounce rates, and enhances conversions.

3. Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to paid advertising, SEO proves to be a cost-effective strategy for driving targeted traffic to a website. While it demands initial investments in time and resources, the long-term benefits of organic search traffic outweigh the costs associated with paid advertising.

4. Long-Term Sustainability: Unlike paid advertising campaigns, which cease to generate traffic once the budget depletes, the results of SEO efforts endure over time. With continuous optimization and maintenance, a website can sustain its rankings in search results and attract organic traffic consistently.

5. Brand Visibility and Authority: Securing higher rankings in search results elevates a brand's visibility and authority within its industry. Consistently appearing at the top of search results fosters trust and credibility among users, leading to increased brand recognition and loyalty.

In essence, SEO serves as a fundamental aspect of digital marketing, enabling businesses to enhance their online visibility, attract targeted traffic, and achieve sustained success in the competitive digital landscape. By optimizing their websites for search engines and delivering valuable content to users, businesses can strengthen their online presence, engage their audience, and drive tangible results.