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[milfnearyou]

                 𝐤𝐢𝐦 𝐣𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧: 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞.

      “𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦.”

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 𝟑.𝟐𝐊 | 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐑 | 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐗 𝐅𝐄𝐌!𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐗 (𝐗-𝐄𝐗𝐎 𝐊𝐀𝐈)

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: KIDNAPPING. TORTURE. PTSD. TRAUMA. WHIPPING. HARASSMENT. NO SMUT IN THIS CHAPTER. MENTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS. LIGHT TALK OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA WILL BE DELVING INTO MORE DETAILS ON THE NEXT CHAPTER.

I ALSO DECIDED TO MAKE THIS A SERIES TO PREVENT MAKING THE WHOLE THING REALLY LONG ON ONE POST SINCE TUMBLR GLITCHES A LOT BUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN’T FOCUS ON VERY LONG FICS :)

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

To say that you were hurting would be an understatement.

Everything and anything served as an infernal memory. Whether it be an object or something as simple as the weather, the effect it had could potentially be triggering for you. This new way of life felt more like a slow, painful process in which you were dying.

Overwhelming, things were now always overwhelming. Your anxiety shooting through the roof, the small person inside of you crumbling away into nothing as you screamed at the top of your lungs only to never be heard.

Your life felt orchestrated, the strings and rhythms conducted by no one else but Lucifer himself. With your pain, he created a symphony for a play, one that was to be forever engrained within your mind, body and soul.

It felt surreal, a simulation with you as its subject and yet, it was in every way authentic. None of it was a figment of your imagination, it wasn't just a bad dream but it was your reality. The scars that littered your body like a tormented and abused piece of canvas served as proof that it had all happened.

Your body ached, countless spikes of excruciating pains rushing through your many vessels and arteries, the nerves on your body were almost always on edge. It was difficult to hold onto reality, the point of returning being so far away that the thought of just letting go, would be a much quicker and simple solution. After all, you were halfway to insanity and the thought of being sane no longer remained a possibility.

It didn’t stop there. Your biggest enemy was your mind. The cursed piece of soft tissue that sat right in the middle of your enclosed skull was the one thing quickest to abandon you, betraying you within a blink of an eye and letting your body act on its own. It was impossible to control your thoughts when you almost always gravitating towards self-destruction.

Day and night, your mind screamed at you, unleashing a cacophony of howling, piercing screams that made your head ring. Blaring on and on, it had no limit. Going as far as venturing into your dreams late at night, filling your only moment of peace with countless nightmares. It was driving you mad. Always pushing you to constantly fight with yourself. You tried your best to ignore the urges but it seemed impossible.

Loudly, you'd scream into the emptiness of your surroundings telling yourself to shut up, to make it stop. Occasionally going as far as becoming physical, slapping the palms of your hands against your temple in attempts to strike yourself awake or hitting your head against a flat surface in attempts to knock the thoughts out. 

But there was no chance to wake up. You were long gone. Stuck in a deep slumber that caused your physical state to act like a zombie. Almost as if your frontal lobe had shut down. Everything occurring in a rather monotone way. Laced with a sudden breakdown that hit you every other day, exploding with fear and anger. The effects of your past trauma reminding you that you still had feelings within, that you had emotions but that they were no longer positive. The negativity overflowed within you and was always ready to burst.

You saw people, individuals who claimed they could help. Medically known as psychiatrists but in your opinion, middle-aged women who seemed lonelier than you were. Portraits of Persian cats hung all over their workrooms, the scowls plastered on the faces of the felines were ones also visible on the psychiatrists themselves.

They always said it was the voices, emerging from your previously traumatic experience. Well no shit, of course, you knew that. It was a no brainer that there were voices in your head, you had diagnosed yourself of having un-welcomed people inside your mind a long time ago. 

However, unbeknownst to the therapists themselves you also knew that they'd been planted into your mind from god knows how long ago. They simply waited for something to set them free, triggering the alarm and giving them proper cause to make you lose your mind.

All they needed was freedom and they were granted access to that with the help of a certain someone. A man who shared the same looks, name and identity as someone you grew close with, someone you developed feelings for. A man you fell in love with that had a terrible secret. It was hard to determine what exactly his secret was until you came face to face with it yourself. And when you did, you wanted out. Pandora's box had been opened and yet, it wasn't even your fault that it had.

You simply had to face the consequences of falling in love with someone who had a duplicate. Was it a clone? Or was it a twin? It was hard to say because he seemed to be from another world, a different planet even but in reality, he was conceived by the hands of a twisted mind. Fabricated inside a laboratory, only to be sent out many years later to wreak havoc upon your life.

And one dreaded night, he arrived. Snatching you away and hiding you for what added up to be weeks of torture. A show in which you were the leading role, the subject to many horrendous acts that one could never imagine. Acts that he always said were done because he “loved” you.

“You know I love you?” He’d say, all while his nimble fingers danced along the grains of your skin. Brushing up and down your arm as the fear raced through your veins. Your blood running cold, the hairs on your neck standing upwards. Your body was all too familiar with reacting with terror.

A few painfully quiet moments would pass, the sound of water dripping from the faucet, filtering into your conversation until he’d clear his throat. Leaning in forwards and resting his lips just above your left ear, his hot breath burning against your skin as you feel yourself holding in your breath.

“Silence isn’t an option, you either speak or be spoken for,” He warns and you nod rapidly in response. You knew the protocol and you knew exactly what it meant when he said that.

“Do you love me like I love you?” He asks. Circling from your back as he stands in front of you, using his calloused hand to hold your face upwards. Cupping your chin, his touch is moderately tender but you know that with one wrong move, everything could change.

“Define love,” You respond, not wanting to give him the direct answer he wanted. It would feed his ego all too much if you were to be so direct and yet, secretly he enjoyed you defying him. He loved how you didn't give in so quickly, it allowed him the chance to get physical and boy, did he love to get physical.

“Define love? I— obviously, don’t understand the concept of love as much as I'd like to admit. But when I look at you, the sickening feeling that emerges within me makes me think that yes, this is love. It’s everything that suppresses inside my chest, threatening to explode at any given moment. The oxygen that carries through my blood, that fuels the life inside me is filled with the thought of you. Love is, being alive and there’s nothing else except for you that makes me feel more alive.”

You fall silent at his response. Simply because none of it made sense, a cluster of babbled words falling out of his mouth as you stare at him watching as his expression slowly falls apart. The look of love is no longer there, replaced with infatuation, obsession and anger. He acted as if he’d known you for an eternity, professing his delusional love as if it mattered. As if you’d have a change of heart and drop everything within a blink of an eye just for him.

“...You must also understand that I love you because I can’t let him be the only person who loves you too,” He adds, “So do you love me like I love you? It’s only fair you do.”

“Love is a blessing in life. Something that isn’t forced upon, a concept in which— it may hold the key to your life in its hands but cannot be obtained without the honest feelings of another. It takes two to tango, not one, but two." 

Momentarily pausing, you swallow the lump inside your throat, pushing it downwards. Allowing the newly found courage inside your body to come forward, "...And I'm afraid I can’t dance with you.” 

Your rejection is something that hits him hard. Time seems to stop as the fleshy look on his face drops, the expression in his eyes have been replaced with a newfound fury. But it quickly wipes away as you watch him throw his head back letting out a cackle, his voice echoing inside the dingy, dark basement. 

Like a slideshow, his emotions were quick to change moving from pure anger to joy as he laughs at your response. You can't help but sit there and think that he's absolutely mad. A man who shares the same body, face and voice as your lover but seems to be much more cunning and sinister. He's evil and he proves himself to be just that with his following actions and honestly, you aren't even surprised at this point. 

His large hand that once caressed your face had now found its way to the knotted locks of hair, gripping it tightly as he shoves you to the ground. Pushing you down from the chair you once sat on and glueing you to the floor. The coldness of the surface is somewhat, soothing against your painfully hot skin as he presses your face against the ground. The weight of his body adding more pressure as he straddles you from behind, moving strings of your hair aside just so he can see your face. Amused, he smirks to himself when he sees you withering in pain, strings of saliva dripping past your chapped lips and leaking onto the floor.

"Oh dear, what a waste," He pouts, bringing forward a free hand to wipe your drool away. The tip of his finger now covered in your bodily fluids as he brings it to his lips, licking his finger in excitement. His eyes practically rolling to the back of his head as he moans in delight, "Deliciously, sweet." 

Disgusted by his actions you can't help but shut your eyes. Shielding yourself one way or another from looking at his grotesquely beautiful visage. Naturally, the tears also begin to seep past your eyes, drifting down your cheeks. You can feel him lean in, hovering over you. A whimper squeaks past your lips when you feel his tongue dragging itself across your cheek, it feels like he's about to eat you alive. Like a lion licking its prey.  

Removing his tongue from your cheek, he brings it towards your ear. Licking your helix before sucking gently on your earlobe, “I hope, you consider this next special thing. Perhaps, as a warning of some sort?” 

Pushing himself off of you, you can hear him rummage around in the drawer he’s got next to the chair you once sat on. The sound of metallic objects rattling around and clinking against each other until it comes to a halt. The silence isn't soothing, it's terrifying. 

Your heart begins to thump profusely, rapidly beating. You find it hard to breathe, to possibly calm down as your mind races with all the possible objects he could’ve chosen to use on you. A knife? Perhaps a nail gun.

The possibilities were essentially endless due to his massive collection of murderous weapons. But you receive your answer when you feel the long, multiple strips of leather entwined in cotton and tiny pieces of cattle bone brushing against your skin.

“Cat o’ nine tails,” He answers, introducing the weapon to you. Teasingly he brings the weapon up and down your bareback. Shuddering in fear as you feel the item grind against your back, the softness you feel now will be nothing in comparison to what you'll actually feel. 

"Baby, remember that I have to do this because I love you."

Thwack!

The first blow that hits you makes your ears ring. The sensation feels hot, tingling at your skin. It's a mixture of pain along with pins and needles, only getting worse with each blow that he gives you. The stinging had a pain so strong and immense that it was hard for you to even lay there still, writhing around on the ground like a worm on hot pavement. You began to feel overwhelmed with pain, your nerves essentially on fire as you struggled to keep yourself awake. 

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

You could feel the skin on your back begin to rip open, the crimson blood seeping from your wounds as he kept going. There was no mercy as you screamed, your vocal cords straining so hard your voice went hoarse. Slowly, you began to shut down. First, your hands falling limp at your sides, your body cased in sweat as you felt drained to a pulp. Then your screams came to a halt, the breathing in your voice drastically slowing down. Finally, your eyes began to droop, fluttering shut as you saw nothing but black. 

Was this the end for you? 

Jolting upwards, you topple off your bed and collide with the ground. Gritting your teeth in pain when you feel your back begin to burn, your semi-healed scars becoming agitated from the impact. Slowly rising upwards you panic at your dark surroundings but calm down once you realize that you're at home. Your sweet Maison, inside your calming bedroom with your lover sound asleep on his half of the mattress.

He's at peace with his soft and supple cheek squished against the fluffy pillow. Strands of his brown hair sticking about, his eyes shut tightly. You can't help but mumble to yourself about how adorable he is before leaving your room. Quietly heading towards the kitchen and flickering on the lights, flinching when everything seemed to be much too bright.

Your eyes gravitate towards the clock on the wall, it was four in the morning. You decided that there was no way you were going back to sleep at this hour. Shuffling towards your coffee machine, you brew yourself an iced coffee mixing in a shot of almond milk with your drink. Adding in a few ice cubes, you stir your drink slowly trying your best to ignore the pain in your back.

"You alright?"

Turning around you see Jongin, standing there shirtless in his teddy bear PJ pants. He rubs his eyes a few times before putting on his circular framed glasses, giving you a sleepy smile when he finally sees you properly through the lens. He looked beautiful in his groggy state and so did you to him with your hair flowing freely. Dressed cosily in his white tee with your supreme briefs underneath it.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Did I wake you up?" You ask, taking a sip from your drink.

"No, you're good. Can you make me one too baby?"

Nodding in response you turn towards your coffee machine, your back facing towards him to brew him a drink. "Latte?" You ask.

"Mhm, you know me so well," Slowly he wraps his arms around you, failing to notice how you slightly flinch at his touch. His hands travel towards your stomach as he hugs you tightly, placing his nose in the crook of your neck as he inhales your scent, "I love you so much."

The scene feels all too familiar and it makes you nervous. Gently you push him off of you, unaware that your gesture has hurt his feelings. Departing from your back he comes to your side, leaning against the marble counter.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He questions.

"I'm fine, just...don't, do that," You reply, the tone of your voice is soft, almost delicate as if you spoke any louder something would break.

"Do what?" He asks while bringing his hand towards your shoulder, frowning when he sees you dip your shoulder away from his touch, "You don't want me to touch you?"

Sighing you turn to face him, observing his hurt expression. His eyes are slightly glassy as he looks at you for an answer.

"Nini, it's not that I don't want you to touch me. It's because I'm still injured from the incident, so everything's just a bit fragile," You explain, partially lying through your teeth. It was true you were very hurt but you also didn't want him touching you because everything he did reminded you of the other him.

He nods quietly, smiling softly at you as he slowly gestures you to have a seat at the coffee table, "I'll cover the drink, you go rest."

Sitting down at the coffee table you quietly enjoy your beverage. Jongin soon joining you, seated at the front. The kitchen is quiet, dimly lit by the singular overhanging light you've got on. Jongin's caramel complexion shining underneath the lightbulbs rays. His eyes are affectionate, his gaze never leaving you as he chews on his bottom lip.

"I'm sorry," He starts, "I know it's been hard and I'm really sorry that you have to be hurting. I just wish that the incident could've brought us closer somehow but it's just, pushing us apart."

Drumming your fingers against the table you avoid his gaze. You don't know what to say, you can't blame him for what happened. But you also can't help but think that had you not known Jongin then you would've never met the other him. His twin or, whatever he was.

"I should've told you about him. Then maybe I could've prevented this somehow," His voice falters as you look up to see him. He's wiping his tears away, the whites of his eyes are slightly red.

"Jongin—”

"Tell me," He interrupts, "Do you see him when you look at me?"

Looking at Jongin, you can definitely see the other him. Except for the fact that the other him or Kai as he liked to call himself had dark green hair. Besides the difference in hair colours, they were pretty much identical. Opting to remain silent, he receives his answer.

"I wish it had never happened but, now that everything's passed I want to be by your side to help you heal. I want to help you through this," He explains. Nonchalantly sliding his hand forwards, he offers you to take his hand and you do, though not right away. Intertwining your fingers with his, you feel his thumb rub the skin of your palm gently.

"You know I love you?" He says and you can't help but shudder when those words come fluttering out of his mouth. Looking up at him you momentarily see Kai rather than Jongin and your heart stops. Afraid that you'll be punished for not speaking back. You say it back, in an almost trained responsive way. Even if the man that's in front of you isn't Kai but Jongin. You say it back because you're still afraid, you're still scared and those affectionate words do nothing but terrify you.

"I love you too."

   𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃: 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐅𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐎𝐔©︎

[penguiduck]

The Relationship Between Readers & Writers: Creating Motivation and Appreciation for Readers

Introduction | Part 1: What is this Relationship? | Part 2: Creating Motivation and Appreciation for Readers | Part 3: A Day in the Life of… | Part 4: Creating Motivation and Appreciation for Writers: Perspectives | Part 5: Creating Motivation and Appreciation for Writers: Implementation | Part 6: How to Write the Best Feedback |  Part 7: Where Does This Leave Us?

Last chapter, we discussed the nature of this unique relationship between readers and writers, and the currency that is exchanged between them.  This section is for the writers.  I hope to give you some insight on how to motivate your readers and let them feel appreciated for giving your work the attention it deserves.

As a reminder, currency can be provided in a number of different ways, but I’m going to focus primarily on feedback in this section because I think it is the most feasible and appropriate.

A common theme that I’ve been hearing is that readers can be shy or uncomfortable giving feedback.  This can be due to the nature of an online relationship because reading work anonymously is an option.  It can also be due to a language barrier or general reluctance to engage.  Or perhaps it’s due to a bad experience with leaving feedback in the past in which they were reproached for expressing their honest thoughts.

Writers can’t necessarily help make a reader less shy or remove the language barrier, but they can be approachable and kind.  They can welcome feedback and reward those who offer it.  If a writer is consistently welcoming, it may encourage readers to take a chance and provide much-desired feedback.

In the case of a poor experience, I think it’s especially important to be cognizant and ensure that this does not happen between you and your readers.  I will address the acceptance of criticism and opposing opinions at the end of this section to help reinforce this.

If a relationship between readers and writers is desired, writers have the responsibility of being affable and fostering an environment in which readers can provide honest feedback without fear of confrontation.  Let’s first discuss ways in which we can encourage readers to come forth with feedback.

WHAT DO READERS WANT?

They want good work, writing that can make them feel what they want to feel, whether that’s heartrending angst or tooth-rotting joy.  They want to feel respected should they choose to voice their opinions.  They want to know that writers care about their work and their relationship with readers.

Nothing I’ve said is revolutionary, but I think there are a few things writers can consistently do to stay honest with these ideas:

1. Respond to your readers.  It’s a small gesture, but if they take the time to give you feedback, the least you can do is thank them for it.

Imagine you telling someone, random stranger or not, that you like their new haircut or their shoes, and that compliment falls into an awkward silence.  You probably won’t compliment them anymore because you don’t know if your compliments are welcome.  So if you, as a writer, want more feedback, you need to acknowledge those who are currently providing it.

This doesn’t just apply to comments and reviews.  This applies to emails, Facebook chats, Tumblr asks, etc.  It’s basic manners to acknowledge feedback, no matter how short or simple.

2. Thank your readers.  You can do this comment by comment, but I like to thank my readers by name in each new update.  It lets readers know that I’ve read their feedback and that I’ve not forgotten their kindness, even as I continue to write new chapters.

A sincere thank you goes a long way in expressing that appreciation.

3. Involve your readers.  I think having reader input is instrumental to writing some types of fiction.  For example, I primarily write reader-inserts — anything from straight one-shots in second person to versions of CYOAs and WWYFFs — and sometimes my readers say things in the comments that make me pensive.

Ask readers questions.  If you’re not sure about a certain writing style, theme, or idea, just ask them.  I tend to do this at the end of every chaptered piece of fiction that I publish because it’s an opportunity to gather reader input and make myself a better writer for my audience.  An honest desire to improve is a very welcome prospect for readers — it shows that you care about their thoughts and opinions.

4. Do things for your readers to show your appreciation.  You’re a writer — I assume you like writing.  Write for your readers.

You can do this by hosting raffles or opening requests. As an example, I host a raffle every month for my readers called An Expression of Thanks. Those who leave comments on my works are eligible, and the winner of this raffle receives a written one-shot.  When the events of COVID-19 first started, I opened a request booklet called A Single Word. to help readers cope with the global pandemic. You can hold raffles for any occasion and any conditions. 

Celebrate your accomplishments to thank your readers for sticking with you.  Did you get to a certain amount of kudos on AO3? Hit chapter 100 for one of your fics? Did you just reach an anniversary for posting on a specific site? 

These are all incredible accomplishments for you, but where would you be without your loyal readers?  Raffle off one-shots, art, beta-reading services, even gift cards or other items of sentimental value. Donate to a cause on behalf of your readers. Get creative!   

5. Update consistently and complete your works, if possible.  You certainly don’t have to spend every waking moment writing.  Self-care is important, after all, but no one needs me to tell you that readers appreciate quality writing and updates to their favorite stories. 

Do whatever you need to do to nurture your love for writing, and don’t let yourself burn out.  But don’t forget that there are readers waiting on the edge of their seats for an update, and by providing a new chapter or new piece, you could very well make their day.

ADDRESSING CRITICISM AND CONTRARY OPINIONS

I’d like to dedicate some time to criticism and how to approach it.  To level-set, allow me to define what I mean by criticism.  I am not referring to outright rude, trolling, or hateful comments.  These are of a different category and should be dealt with in another manner — they should be ignored and reported to an administrator.  For the purpose of this essay, I am specifically addressing well-intentioned feedback that is of a critical nature or a contrary opinion.

First, please realize tone is often lost in informal writing online.  It can be hard to hear when someone is being sarcastic or gentle or sheepish.  Start by believing that your readers have the best of intentions and give them the benefit of the doubt.  They’re not trying to ruin your day.

Understand that feedback is a gift, even if it’s critical.  Someone took precious time out of their day to tell you something about your writing.  They don’t have to do that, but they care enough to provide you this information.  Accept it, and thank them for their effort, even if you don’t agree.

Accepting criticism is not always easy — to be candid, not all criticism is fair.  It’s entirely possible that readers can misinterpret your meaning or, simply, be wrong.  Nevertheless, it’s vital that you remain gracious and kind.  You don’t have to agree with the criticism.  The nature of writing and art is subjectivity — some people like A, and some people like B.  That’s okay. 

What’s important is that you foster an environment in which these differences in opinion are accepted and appreciated.

Still don’t like critical feedback?

You can ask your readers to not provide any.  I’m sure they’ll kindly oblige.  However, I advise against this because if you want to grow as a writer, you need to learn to accept criticism, and even apply it to your craft.

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter pitch was rejected 12 times before she found success.  Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected by 30 publishers.  Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time was rejected 26 times before finally finding a publisher who would accept it.

My point is that these are incredibly popular books, best-selling and well-loved by a huge portion of the world population, and even they were faced with rejection by those with varying opinions.

My advice is to grow a thicker skin.  Don’t let criticism crumble your confidence.  You’re still learning as a writer, refining and polishing your craft as you continue your journey.  Even published authors had to walk this same path — and are still walking this path.

There will always be opinions that contradict yours.  Oftentimes, they won’t be right or wrong — they’re just opinions.

You have freedom of speech, not freedom from speech.  You can write whatever you’d like; people can say whatever they want to say about it.  By posting your work online, you are opening yourself up to the possibility of criticism.  

It’s a fact.  Let it be.

I loathe what I call “care bear culture.”  While I think it’s important to be polite and thoughtful when rendering opinions, writers should not be offended by or shield themselves from innocuous, well-intentioned comments.  This exposure and acceptance of criticism is a fundamental piece of learning and becoming a better writer.  If you reject constructive criticism and limit your exposure of opinions to those that agree with your own, you reject personal growth.

People are allowed to have opinions.  They are allowed to think that A is better than B or X is superior to Y; and if you’re a supporter of B or Y, you have the right to respectfully defend your position.  But do not disregard a polite comment or piece of feedback simply because it is contrary to what you have done or prefer.

Do not allow opposing opinions to break your creative spirit.  Diversity of thought is incredibly important and powerful.  If you dissuade your readers from providing this type of feedback, you may not get any feedback at all.

Some of the most useful feedback I’ve ever received was uncomfortable for me to read and hurtful to apply to my craft.  It’s not easy looking at your writing with a critical eye because what you’ve put on paper is part of you.  How can you criticize yourself and your work?

There is a piece of writing advice out there: Kill your darlings.  Sometimes your readers can give you incredible perspective on who or what your darlings are.

Allow yourself to be uncomfortable.  Embrace that discussion.  You will be a better writer for it.

In the meantime, be gracious and kind when receiving criticism.  As I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to agree with the criticism, but take it to heart.  Consider it.  If you focus too much on why it’s said and not what is said, then you’re going to struggle with accepting criticism.

Allow yourself to be a better writer.  You deserve that opportunity.

This is also posted on AO3.

[cutegirlmayra]

I’m currently working on my first Paypal-paid Story! I’m so excited!

If you’d also like me to work with you on an ‘assisted story’ you can pay $9 for one!

Here! Let me show you what I mean!

Prices:

$2 - Priority-Prompt: Consisting of your paragraph of description involving a story concept and moment you desire. (Please include where to send the finish product within your purchase.) Includes characters you wish and what you would like from the prompt’s outcome. (If you so desire to include all these things) I will then deliver a summarized plot idea with a more detailed moment that is rushed to a conclusion through time-skips or other such creative freedoms to write a satisfying conclusion if one is so desired. This purchase makes your prompt my priority to finish first. The length will be 6-9 pages, but if I write you more, will you complain? Haha!) This purchase does include Art-Prompt trades (Consisting of including an image with your request, all images must have a link to the original artists with added permission from them provided.)

$5 - One-Shot: This includes your description of a short-story with plot details you so desire, characters, and overall themes. Please include if I have artistic freedom in how you want it to be portrayed and executed. If not, please detail each thing you may desire, I will do my best, but I may change some details in hopes to surprise or make the scene better. If this is not allowed, please mention it in the purchase. (This Purchase includes 15 pages minimum or more according to how far I can take your idea, I uphold the right to give you more for your money if I’m enjoying myself, haha XD Once again, if there is a picture provided for, there must be a link and artists permission before I use it, and please inform me where to send the finish product, thank you.)

$9 – Assisted-Short Story – Your freedom (according to rules) of whatever you wish in a story, including what you will and free communication with me as well as sending you small portions of what I’m writing to make sure you like it. (Which would exclude any request for revision so be forewarned) This includes both prompts or one-shots, and you are allowed to ask for writing advice, I do not mind. ^^ (This purchase will include stories up to 20 pages or more if I so desire to give you more for your money. It will also include my creative feedback or author’s notes of my experience while writing this story, and you’ll have communications with me personally.)

$10 – Hired-Critic – This purchase will include you paying me to read your fanfiction/story but only one-shots and chapter reviews, not full stories. (Must be appropriate to rules or I shall skim/ uphold right to refuse to review.) and give you my personal feedback on your story. I will also publicly (if you so desire) post with the review of the story in advertisement on my blogs and sites. (I uphold the right to do this in anyway I see fit, but I’m nice, so no worries XD) I will also help you with advice on works not already posted by- not editing your works for you- but by commenting on where you may improve the story. (This purchase involves a personalized review from me, personal communication for feedback and advice, and advertisements on my blogs that I choose.)

I know, it’s a lot to take in. The options are all there. Affordable too!

Anything your heart desires... UNLESS IT’S NOT ACCORDING TO THE RULES!

So settle down and come back a second...

Rules

Rule 1: It can’t be inappropriate. All Shippings/ideas I write will be fairly innocent. Please keep that in mind. (I’m a good Christian woman! lol) No cussing or crude humor, I don’t indulge. Nothing super violent or super disturbing… It’s just not me :( No excessive kissing or making out either XP Nothing weird or too out there either. (I uphold right to make my own decisions on if something is too strange for me.) Again, contact me if you have specific questions before purchases. (*No refunds. So be careful and ask me first!!)

Rule 2: I only write straight pairings, mostly canon based if fanfiction because I do research to try and make it as accurate as possible. If it’s not fanfiction, I need lots of description of your characters and some lines to get a feel for who they are or how you want them to be portrayed. I also do AU (alternate universes) for fanfictions, so there’s that :) All stories must have some root in the original series, no ‘cloning’ or ‘out of context of universe’ type request, no ‘if they were married’ or ‘about to be parents’ either. Please put a well put description of the main plot key-points you may desire or at least a fully developed concept for me to go off of.

Rule 3: All writings need only one description for them. No multiple ‘continuations’, etc. Keep it all together and try to keep it all together in one request, not a few request that all connect please, it gets confusing and messy. Please keep it concise, make sure it’s a doable plot and gives me some concepts to work with. Make sure your idea is clear as possible so I can understand what you want without misunderstandings. I uphold the right to deny any requests if I feel violate a rule in any way.

Rule 4: I don’t sponsor people unless I personally know them or have offered it. I also don’t submit things that don’t relate to me or the blog. (Things that relate to blog: Prompt Trades -submitting a picture you drew for me to make a story about-, Art drawn for me, etc.) Will not post art or things that don’t pertain to these things. But for stories you pay for, I will accept appropriate pictures of either characters or the story you want to be based around your image. Remember to leave some description for me of what you would like. I will not post all my works to my sites if I don’t want too, so no requests to advertise your works that way.

Rule 5: There are no Refunds or Cancelations. If you are dissatisfied with the prompt given, I can revise it if you kindly contact me and I’ll give you the changes you require. This will only happen upon the first time you ask for a redo on one purchase at a time. Meaning that I will take my work back for revisions that you have asked for, then return it to you and nothing more. If you have a separate purchase that has not been through that process yet, and you desire its revision, I can work with you on that. But I will not revise a work more than once, so make sure you please list out kindly the changes you would like before asking me to revise it. (*Orders Due Dates require Patience due to life occurances but you can message for status updates. If there’s a delay I’ll message you and I might even send you half the unfinished work so you may have evience to see it’s being worked on. )

Rule 6: You may submit my works but only with credit given to me by linking people to my websites, and mentioning I wrote it with your idea in mind; on the page where you posted the work or other, but it must be attached with the product. I don’t require permission for this, but I would be very happy if you sent me a link where you posted it. I enjoy seeing happy smiles and people appreciating my works. You may edit for grammar and spelling only, all other edits must be done by me through my revise.

I reserve the right to change these rules when I see fit, check here often before purchasing. So there you have it! Don’t let it scare you!

I enjoy writing and creating new friendships through it! But I do have my limits and standards, here they are! just so you’re more aware :) I will be enforcing these.

See? easy peasy. Stick to the rules before purchases! No refunds, so make sure you figure out what you want and talk to me if you have any questions or concerns before you lay those greens on me.

Commission me dudes, before you com-MISS OUT- on me dudes.

http://cutegirlmayra.tumblr.com/commissions

[maritzaerwin]

9 Tactics That Helped Me Get a 6 Figure SEO Job

We all want a cushy 6 figure job, and it is possible. I did it! My name is Jess Phillips and I work at onlinecoursehow.com, and I took my skills in digital marketing and applied them correctly to get the job of my dreams. Now, I make enough to live comfortably, doing all of the things I’ve always wanted to do. You can do it, too, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. Here are 9 tactics that helped me get a 6 figure SEO job. 

How to Get a 6-Figure SEO Job

1. I Worked on a Side Project That Brought in 10k Visitors a Month

It’s important to demonstrate your value during your interview. Work hard and create something you can show to the interviewer. Many people who feel stuck at work can do this by finding outside jobs to pad their resume. By working on these additional projects, I was able to demonstrate my value as an SEO expert. 

I did not become an SEO expert overnight though. If you want to get started in the SEO field, check out these 3 beginner-friendly resources:

10 Content Marketing tactics.

Complete guide to Local SEO.

Different kind of Backlinks.

Interviewers knew that not only was I ambitious for working on additional projects but that I clearly knew how to produce results. Do the same thing in your field. It will give you confidence and something to talk about with the interviewer. 

Companies want to see measurable results. 

Get to the numbers and show the company that you’re interviewing with what you have done for companies in the past and how you can do the same thing for them. AS mentioned before, use numbers wherever possible.

Practice how to talk about your past work in the best way using industry jargon and hot phrases. You don’t only want to show your capability with numbers, but you also want to sound like an expert. 

2. Follow the Firms in Your Area

Become aware of the companies in your area that either offer SEO services or employ people to carry out these tasks as part of their team. Follow the ones that interest you the most. Learn more about their culture, the type of business they are involved in, and what they are doing within their industries.

Where possible, involve yourself with what they are doing. That could mean stepping forward to work on a project that is related to their products and services. Or, better still, approaching them and asking for the chance to work for them as an intern or maybe a volunteer if they are involved in the not for profit sector.

The more you know about these firms the easier it will be for you to convince them to employ you. It will be even easier if you already have some sort of contact with them, especially if you have worked for, or alongside, them at some point.

3. I Used Humorous Cold Emails to Founders and HR Managers

Personality is extremely important to hiring managers. They want someone who they can communicate with. You can demonstrate your unique personality when reaching out to them about possible opportunities. 

Don’t be afraid to include some humor in your emails. It will make you stand out in a good way. However, you should be mindful that some people may not appreciate all types of humor, so keep it as professional as possible. 

For advice on how to accomplish this most effectively, listen to Jon Buchan’s enlightening podcast on the topic. Getting your foot in the door can be hard. However, with the right tone and wording, you can get the break that will change your life forever. It’s a delicate balance, and this podcast explains how to do it perfectly. 

4. Start making contributions to the job you want to gain their attention

Let’s say a job you want to do, and you know you’d be good at it. You know there’s an open position, so you send in your information hoping for a response. Instead of waiting, you should reach out. Many people simply ask for an update and leave it at that. This will not do anything but annoy the people, causing them to not want to hire you. Instead, you should make a contribution. 

You should make an effort to do a little bit of work when reaching out for an update. For example, if the job consists of gathering data on a specific topic, send in some data on that topic. You are demonstrating your ability to do the job and even possibly giving them the information they might need. 

Let them know that you are available for more work. Do this regularly until they finally reach out and offer you a position. 

5. Join Marketing Courses Communities 

It is never too early to start networking. Start from the first day you get involved in the world of SEO. You need to get involved in professional networking to find opportunities. Look for Online courses and events in your area that relate to your field. When you attend these events, be sure to speak up and show people what you know. 

Getting the right job is all about convincing the right people that you are an expert at what you do. Be prepared with information that can enlighten those around you while not making them feel belittled or patronized.

You don’t necessarily need to be a know-it-all to get attention, either. Asking intelligent and well-thought-out questions can also make a great impact. Research the event and speakers to come up with valuable questions ahead of time. When people see your passion and quest for knowledge, they may give you the chance to use this to their benefit and hire you.

If the courses you are taking have forums get involved there too. You will learn more and start to make connections with your teachers and other students. If you can do so, help others by answering their questions. This is a particularly good way to get noticed and build relationships. In time, the people you engage with as a student could become your employers or partners.

6. Setting up a Website to Share What You Are Learning, as You Learn It

Above, I mentioned spending a little time in forums answering questions. This next suggestion builds on that. I realized quite early on that if I sat down and tried to explain something I had not long learned to someone else that things made far more sense to me too.

Explaining things made me go through the process in my head from A to Z. Pushing me to review what I had learned and go back over anything I had not fully understood.

When you are explaining something to someone else, you can´t dodge learning the tricky stuff. It helps to keep you on track and stay more disciplined. I used to spend about 10 minutes after completing each section of a course, writing a summary of what I had just learned. Often, I would end up sharing them with other students who were a bit stuck.

One of the best ways to do this is to set up your own website and share your journey into the world of SEO. You will be helping others, cementing what you learn, and building your brand.

Most companies work hard to give back to their communities. So, when they see a candidate that has been doing this themselves they are usually very keen to hire you. I didn´t personally do this, but do know a few people who have and it has helped them a great deal.

Of course, the other advantage to running your own site is that you are putting what you are learning into practice. You are doing the kind of work you will be doing for clients for your own site.

7. Always Ask for Feedback From the HR Manager 

You’re not going to get every job you apply for. However, that doesn’t mean you wasted your time. After you receive a rejection for a position, kindly ask for feedback. They may be able to give you insight on how to improve your interview skills.

They can also give you feedback on what aspects of your resume you need to focus on most. The truth of the matter is that you might not have described your experience in a way that showed your wroth.

This information can be utilized in your next interview to hopefully get the position. Remember to always be kind, even if you disagree with the feedback. If you communicate well with the person giving you feedback, you may be invited back the next time they interview for that position. 

I love my work. One of the main reasons that I love my work is the large paycheck that comes with it. No matter what industry you are in, you can use these tactics to help you pull the better job you’ve been looking for. All it takes is a little bit of gusto and a lot of work. 

8. Stay Ahead of the Trends

The world of SEO is a fast-moving one. The fact that search engines are constantly changing their rankings algorithm, ensures that this is the case. So there is always something new to learn. Keeping up can be a struggle. But it is vital that you make the effort to do so.

Firms want to hire people who are flexible and have a good overall understanding of digital marketing. In particular, to fill the more well-paid roles. Often, these involve your leading a multi-disciplinary team, so you need to have a broad understanding of all of the SEO job skills.

It is also important to know about the latest algorithm changes and what new techniques are starting to emerge to keep your firm´s site ranking. You also need to be familiar with emerging social media platforms and how to market on them. As well as keep an eye on other digital mediums.

9. Become a Public Speaker

Not everyone feels comfortable speaking publically. If are one of the lucky ones who can do it, seek out opportunities to do so. It is a great way to get noticed, to be seen as an expert, and to grow your personal brand. You will also hone your presentation skills and greatly improve your confidence.

You don´t even have to speak at a huge conference to tick this box. Some local meet-ups start with a short talk. Or, you could opt to speak at a smaller conference. 

It does not matter too much what kind of public speaking you do, the fact that you can do it is a big draw for many firms. They need their executives to be able to act as advocates for them and their brand. The fact that so few people have the confidence to speak publicly means that this is an excellent way to stand out from the crowd. it is a desirable skill and one that makes you appear to be exceptionally competent.

This is how I prepared myself to land and take on a six-figure SEO job. Anyone can do the same. But it is important to find your own way. Playing to your strengths will help you to progress quicker than if you force yourself to follow the exact same path as someone else.

The post 9 Tactics That Helped Me Get a 6 Figure SEO Job appeared first on CareerMetis.com.

9 Tactics That Helped Me Get a 6 Figure SEO Job published first on https://skillsireweb.tumblr.com/

[goodra-king]

Important Changes to the Google My Business Tool

Important Changes to the Google My Business Tool written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on Important Changes to the Google My Business Tool

Do you know about the Google My Business tool? Google has been playing around with the idea of a local directory for years, but it seems like they’ve really settled into Google My Business. They’re bringing everything together under the Google My Business umbrella, and there’s even some talk about them charging for advanced services there.

Every business should have a Google My Business profile, but if you’re a local business, it’s all the more critical.

First and foremost, if you don’t know what your Google My Business Page is, start by Googling the name of your business and location (city and state). In the righthand panel, there should be a directory listing with your business’s name and information. If you’ve claimed your profile, it’s populated with information you’ve put down. If you haven’t claimed your profile, Google’s cobbled together information from public sources and have built one for you.

The real telltale sign of whether or not you’ve claimed your business is this: If the panel says “Own this business?” it means you haven’t claimed your profile yet.

You can find, claim, and edit your page by going to business.google.com. Bookmark that page and go there often, because there’s a lot you can learn from your Google My Business page. Your profile isn’t something you can set and forget for years at a time; it’s something you should be interacting with on a weekly basis.

Get the Basics Right

I’ll be walking you through some recent updates to the platform below, but there are a couple of basic elements that every business owner should be aware of, whether they’re new to the platform or not.

The most important component of your profile is accuracy. Having consistent information about your business available out there online is one of Google’s ranking factors. So for starters, you want to make sure that the name, address, phone number, and website URL of your business as listed on Google My Business are accurate and are exactly the same as what you have on your website.

Describe What You Do

Once you have your name and basic contact information updated on Google My Business, you can get more deeply into the specifics of what your business does. Google has added the option for business owners to write a thorough description of their business. It’s a smart idea to fill that out, and work some crucial keywords in there for ranking purposes.

You also need to select a category for your business. Some business owners are casual about this step, but it’s important to be precise in the category you pick. If you do kitchen renovations, don’t select contractor as your category. Go for something more specific, like kitchen remodeler. There is a whole dropdown list of categories to choose from. If you have other related services that you offer, you can indicate them as secondary categories, but whatever it is you’d most like to rank for and be known for is the category you should select as your main offering.

It’s also wise to limit the number of categories you select—don’t go for more than a few. Selecting too many categories defeats the purpose of the exercise and leaves readers confused about your area of expertise.

Finally, take the time to upload lots of photos and videos. Show people around your office, include pictures of job sites, or highlight product offerings. The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words is still true, and visuals will help you pop on a text-heavy screen.

Correct Your Hours

If you own a store or business that includes a physical location you want people to visit, ensure that your hours are accurate. There’s nothing more frustrating for consumers than to find that the store they just drove to is actually closed! Not only that, Google will penalize businesses that have incorrect information (or information that doesn’t sync up with the times listed on their website) by not displaying your business in search results.

New Google My Business Features

As Google continues to invest in this platform, they’re adding more and more features. These newer elements can provide a lot of value for small business owners, so I recommend you take the time to fill out information and activate relevant features.

Posts

Posts are like blog posts, except they appear within your Google My Business profile. Increasingly, people are finding that these posts are helpful in SEO.

Additionally, they’re a great way to get useful information out there about your business. What you put in the posts is up to you, so they’re a versatile tool. You can share information about an upcoming sale, provide a discount on a product that consumers can find on your website, or it can be a post with helpful tips about something related to your field or industry. Posts can be updated frequently, so you can make them a go-to source for current information about your business.

Appointment Calendar

From hair salons to plumbers, there are service providers across many industries that need to manage appointments from clients. This new feature on Google My Business allows you to display a calendar of open spots, and prospects and customers can book directly through your Google My Business page.

Direct Messaging

Google has created a direct messaging option, so that people can send you messages right through the platform. You can set these chats to come directly to a phone line you’ve established for texting. Your number itself won’t be displayed on Google; rather, anyone clicking the messaging link will be able to send a note from their computer or mobile device and it will come through to you as an SMS on your phone.

Q&A

This can be a tricky feature to manage, but Google now includes a Q&A section where customers can ask a question, and either you as the business owner or other Google users can respond. It’s a good practice to keep an eye out for Q&As so that you are the one to answer them. Sometimes when your fans get to it first, they inadvertently provide incorrect information about your business, and you don’t want that out there on the internet!

Google Reviews

Google My Business is the house for Google reviews. Over the years, reviews have become a huge ranking factor, so they’re important for SEO. But perhaps even more critically, they serve as social proof. Many people won’t buy from businesses that have either low or no ratings.

That’s why it’s important to respond to all reviews, whether they’re good, bad, or indifferent. Let people know you appreciate their positive feedback. For those who have a complaint or issue, responding kindly and positively can help not only win back that customer, but impress others who happen upon your professional response to the unhappy person.

Don’t stress out about a bad review. In fact, there’s research that shows people don’t trust a business that has a perfect 5/5. You’re actually better off with an aggregate rating of between 4.2 and 4.5.  And in the end, how you respond is more important than the bad review itself.

Driving Traffic to Your GMB Page

There are lots of reasons you might want to drive traffic directly to your Google My Business page (soliciting reviews is certainly one of them!). Google now allows business owners to create a short branded URL so that you can share that with people and people easily direct them to your Google My Business page.

Don’t try to get creative with the creation of this URL. Pick something that makes sense with your business name, so that it’s easily identifiable as a URL that’s linked to you. Once you’ve created this URL, you can include it in your email signature, on store receipts, or on printed materials your technicians hand out to customers in order to drive reviewers to your Google My Business page.

Insights

Once you’ve gotten all of the features of your Google My Business page up and running, it’s time to take a look at the analytics on the back end of the platform. There is a treasure trove of information here, and Google keeps adding stuff to make it even more useful.

You can see data about how people are interacting with your Google My Business Page. The performance tab will give you an overview of the traffic to your page. You can see the number of views, searches, and actions for your listing on a week-by-week basis.

You can see information about who’s asking for driving directions to your store. Google will break it down by zip code, showing where most of your customers are coming from.

Google also tracks phone call activity. You can see when customers call your business, broken down by days and times. A lot of businesses have certain days or times of the day when they get most of their calls. Knowing this information can inform how you staff your phones. For example, if you get a high volume of sales calls on Monday mornings, you might want to make sure you always have a salesperson in the office at that time, rather than relying on your receptionist to forward those calls to a voicemail.

And last but certainly not least, check out search queries. You can see which search terms are leading people to your Google My Business profile. This is not only helpful information here, it can also inform what you do in terms of website SEO and outlining keywords for paid search efforts.

Google My Business is an invaluable tool for local business owners. It’s another way to get noticed on Google. It can boost your search rankings. It allows customers to get in touch with you directly and book services seamlessly through the platform. Plus, it provides you with lots of detailed reporting on the back end so that you can better understand your customers and their needs. If you’re not already on Google My Business, now is the time to claim your profile, and if you haven’t been too active there thus far, I hope this information inspires you to get the most out of the platform.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Smartpress, a premium online printing company. Since 2009, Smartpress has been on a mission to enable professionals to create brilliant print by providing them with a powerful online ordering platform, expert service, and uncompromising print produced with world-class print technology.

Check out smartpress.com/dtm to find out more about Smartpress and get a free paper sample book, exclusively for Duct Tape Marketing Podcast listeners.

from http://bit.ly/2JFzfiF

[topicprinter]

Real talk: Customer service can be hard.As a business owner, you have loads of important things to do. Customers can seem like a massive distraction from your goal.However, customer service is what sets you apart. If you slack in this area, you'll lose your most important asset: Your customers.Formilla created this neat handbook as a quick reference guide to handle nearly any customer service scenario.I'll give you the sparknotes version, but the full, prettier version (with extra tips) can be seen here: http://ift.tt/2kWpuQF: How to Greet Your Customers via Live Chat“Hey, [their name]! Thanks for contacting [your company]. I’m [your name]. How can I help you?”#2: How to Tell Customers You Need Some Time to Resolve Their Issue“I apologize, but I need a few moments to solve this issue. Do you mind holding on for a few minutes while I look up the solution?”You can even ask the customer to leave their contact information with you in case they’re in a rush: “If you’re in a hurry, I’d be happy to call or email you back with an answer instead.”#3: How to Transfer a Customer to a Different Chat or Phone Call“[Their name], I’m going to transfer you to the [related department] department. [Employee’s name] can help you with this, he/she’s awesome! I’ve also gone ahead and briefed them about your situation, so you won’t have to re-explain anything. Have a great day! ”#4: How to Admit Fault & What to Do About It“I’m really sorry, [their name]. We made a mistake by [explain your mistake]. We will fix it immediately, but it may take up to [number] days/hours to fully resolve. We’ll keep you posted as quickly as possible, and will [explain preventative steps] to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”#5: What to Say When You Can’t Resolve the Issue“Well, [their name], we really appreciate you telling us about this situation. Unfortunately, we tried to [explain the situation], however, there’s nothing we can do to resolve it. To make it up to you, here’s a coupon for X% off your next order! ”#6: Following Up With a CustomerIf you didn’t solve their problem: “Hey, [their name]! [Your name] here, I just wanted to let you know we’re still working on resolving your situation. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s been fixed!” If you did solve their problem: “Hey, [their name]! We’re all squared away – your problem has been solved. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you!”#7: Responses for Dealing with Angry Customers“I’m really sorry you’re experiencing this problem. I understand how frustrating it must be. I’ll work on finding a solution right away!”#8: Responses for Ending the Chat“Well, [their name], it’s been great chatting with you! I hope we resolved your issue thoroughly. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you! You can always reach me directly at [your email]. Have a wonderful day. ”#9: How to Handle a Customer Requesting a Refund“I’m sorry to hear you didn’t find a use for our product/service. We truly care about our customers getting the right product fit, so we’ll process your request for a refund right away.Keep in mind, however, it can take up to [number] days to process a refund request. I promise to personally keep you updated on the status of your request so you’re never left in the dark.If your request is approved, you can expect the funds to hit your account within [number] days. If you have any other problems or requests, you can reach me at [your email]. Thanks for reaching out! ”#10: How to Handle a Customer Asking for a Discount“I understand you want the best deal possible on our product/software. We currently do not have a promotion running at this time, although perhaps I can recommend the best package for you based on your needs? Otherwise, I can let you know if we have an upcoming promotion soon if you give me your email address. How does that sound?”#11: How to Respond to a Customer Asking for a Product or Feature You Don’t Currently Have“Hi [their name], Thanks for reaching out! We currently only have a WIndows Desktop app (replace this sentence with whatever you currently have), however we have plans to introduce a desktop app for Mac in the future (if you’re planning to build this feature at some point). I’m not sure exactly when that might be just yet (no firm date b/c it’s not slotted yet), but I’d be happy to let you know once it’s launched (kindly offering to follow-up for convenience). In the meantime, we recommend logging into the web dashboard at http://ift.tt/2kWmaor to answer incoming chats, or use our mobile apps for iPhone and Android as an alternative. You can also check ‘Keep me logged in’ so you don’t have to login each day as the system will remember you for 30 days. (Offer an alternative solution to help ease the pain in the meantime.) Please let me know if you have any additional questions, and have a great day!”#12. What to Say to a Customer Asking to Cancel Their Subscription“I’m sorry to hear our product/service didn’t fit your needs, [their name]. I can certainly cancel your subscription. However, would you mind telling me why you’re canceling so we can improve for future customers?”#13. How to (Tactfully) Let a Customer Know It’s Their Mistake“Dear [their name], We really appreciate your business and we’re sorry this happened to you. While we can help you with [problem X], we can’t help with (problem Y) due to our [policy]. If you’d like help with [problem X] or if there’s anything else we can do for you, please let us know! We’re here to help.Thanks, [Your name]”#14. What to Do When a Customer Reaches You in Error (Contacted the Wrong Company)“Sorry, [their name], it sounds like you may have reached us in error. We’re a live chat software provider, although you may be better off visiting www.ugallery.com. We can’t help you find art, but we may be able to help you artfully deliver great customer service! Is that something you could find useful? ”#15. How to Respond to a Customer Asking How Your Product Differs From Other Products“Hello, [their name]! Thanks for reaching out. What makes us different from our competitors is our absolute focus on customer service, reliability, and simplicity. We also happen to be more affordable than most of the other services out there. Can I ask what it is you’re looking for in [service you offer]? Do you currently use [service you offer] on your website?”#16. How to Respond to a Customer Asking How Secure Your Website or Service is“It’s great that you’re concerned for your online security! Many people today don’t realize how important that is. Here at [your company], our website is extremely secure. We [insert what you do – i.e. encryptions, changing passwords, etc.]. Is there anything else I can help you with?”#17. How to Respond to a Customer that Forgot Their Password“Sorry to hear you forgot your password, [their name]. You can easily reset it by going to [your forgot password link]. If you have any trouble, let me know and I can manually reset it for you!”#18. How to Request Feedback from a Customer“[Their name], it’s been great chatting with you! I see you’ve been a member with us for [number] days/weeks/months/years, so I wanted to take this opportunity to ask you about your experience with [your company]. I want to ensure our customers are having the best possible experience. Would you mind taking a few minutes to give me some feedback?”#19. How to Request a Review of Your Product or Service at the Right Time“[Their name], we’re really glad we were able to solve this problem for you. If you feel we were helpful, would you mind leaving [your product or service] a 5-star review? You can leave a review by going to [link to review].If you don’t feel we deserve a 5-star review, what can we do to better serve you?”#20. What to Say When You’re Too Busy to Respond Right Away“Hello, [their name]! Unfortunately, I am away from my desk at the moment. I’ll get back to you within 24 hours. If you require a faster response, please contact [employee name] by emailing [their email] or call [your support number]. Thanks, and have a great day! ”#21. How to Point a Customer to an Existing FAQ or Tutorial Without Sounding Rude or Dismissive“We worked really hard to create a thorough FAQ/tutorial for that exact problem. You can find it at [link]. If you find it doesn’t help solve your problem, please don’t hesitate to reach me again at [your email] or by opening another chat message!”#22. How to Respond to a Customer That Speaks a Language You Don’t Understand“Sorry, I don’t speak [their language]. However, I will use Google Translate to try and solve your issue! ”#23. How to Politely Tell Someone They Are in Violation of Your Terms of Use or Policies“Hello, [their name].I’m reaching out to you because it seems you’ve violated our terms of use. It’s entirely possible it was done by mistake without you even realizing. According to Section [section number], you [did whatever they did to violate your ToU]. As I realize this may have been an accident, I wanted to give you the opportunity to [do something to rectify the situation]. Please comply as soon as possible so there are no interruptions to your service. Thank you for your understanding and prompt reply, [Your name]”#24. How to Tell a Customer Their Account is Overdue or Expired“Hello, [their name], I hope you’re having a good day so far! I’m just writing to let you know that your account has recently become overdue. If you plan to continue your service, please submit a new payment by [date], otherwise your account will deactivate soon (assuming that’s true – this is to instill urgency). If you need to choose a new plan or cancel your account, you may do so at any time by visiting your account page at [link]. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, [Your name]”#25. How to Respond to a Service Interruption Question“Hello, [their name].We’re currently having a server issue which has knocked out our service for the time being. We’re aware of the problem and are working hard to solve it. We’ll be posting status updates every [number] minutes on this page: [link]. You can also follow us on Twitter at [link] for real time updates.Thank you for your patience as we work through this issue!”