#learning the general steps to starting an online business? i can do that

[hummingbirdswords]

*drowning in research*

my little dream is starting to slowly become a reality. it's only been a week, but this is the longest I've ever stuck with a job idea that wasn't writing related. so it's starting to feel real and scary. but exciting? just wish life would stop, well, life-ing so I could focus more on this and less on worrying about the other stuff

[astercontrol]

If KOSA passes

Or if any other form of censorship (there are many in the works!) ever succeeds at stepping in to impede our ability to communicate online:

We have to make plans.

Now, I dunno who'll even see this post. The few followers I have are TRON fans (who despite the fantasy we live in, tend to have realistically dismal views IRL about Disney and the various corporate uses of software).

And this fandom, on average, is pretty tech-savvy. It's where I've encountered the most people under 20 years old who actually know how to use a desktop or laptop computer.

So, if there's any hope for what I'm thinking about, this is prolly a good place to start with it.

(As with all my posts, I encourage reblogging and containment-breaching.)

(Gifs are clips from TRON 1982, mainly the "deleted love scene," from the DVD extras.)

Anyway.

Current society has moved online communication much too far onto major social media sites for my comfort. Whoever you communicate with over the internet, chances are you do it through a service owned by a big company: Tumblr, Twitter, Discord, Telegram, Facebook, whatever. Even TikTok (shudder).

These sites, despite their many flaws, can provide experiences that are valuable and hard to get otherwise. And once all your friends are on one site, you can't just leave and stay in touch with them all, not unless they all go the same place. It's easy to see why it's hard to abandon any social media platform.

But a backup plan is important. Because, as we've seen over and over, social media sites can't be relied on. They change their policies suddenly, without good reason-- and are inconsistent, even discriminatory, about enforcing those policies.

If they're funded by ads, the advertisers are their main customers, and your posts are the product. Their goal is that the posts most valuable to the advertisers get seen by people the advertisers consider desirable customers.

Helping you communicate-- making your posts get seen by the people you want to communicate with-- is optional to them.

Not to mention that the whole business model of an ad-funded website is generally unsustainable. Many of these sites are operating at a loss, relying on shareholders in a fragile bubble, doomed to fail soon just from lack of real profit.

And the more restrictions --like KOSA-- that the law puts on freedom of online speech, the likelier they are to go down or just become unusable. Every rule a site is required to follow is another strain on its resources, and most of them are already failing badly at even enforcing their own self-imposed rules.

If we want any control over our continued ability to stay in touch with our online friends-- we need to have a backup plan. Maybe it'll be simple at first, a bare-bones system we cobble together-- but it's gotta be something that will work. For a while at least.

There are lots of really good posts about ways to build your own website, using a service like Neocities. I VERY MUCH recommend learning this skill-- learning to make websites of the very simplest, most stable, glitch-resistant type, made of html pages-- which you can upload to a host while you store backups on your home computer. If you value the writing and art that you put online, this is probably the safest you can keep it.

But that's for making your own creative work public.

As for communicating with others-- for example, receiving and answering other people's comments on your work-- that gets more complex. I personally haven't found it worthwhile to troubleshoot the problems that come with having a system that allows visitors to comment publicly on my website.

But what we do still have-- and likely will for a long time-- is email.

Those of us who came of age before social media's current hold... well, we might take this for granted. Email was the first form of online contact we ever encountered… and thus it can seem to us like the most ordinary, the most boring.

But in the current world, it is a rare and precious thing to find a method of communicating that doesn't require everyone in the chat to be signed on with the same corporation.

Email is, as of now, still perfectly legal-- as much as social media companies have been trying to herd the populace away from it. I'm sure there are other ways to share thoughts online that are not bound by laws. But I am not going to go into that here.

Email service is provided by law-abiding companies, which will comply with subpoenas if law enforcement thinks you are emailing about doing illegal things. So, email is not a surefire way to be safe, if laws become dystopian enough to threaten your freedom to talk about your own life and identity.

But it's safer than posting on a public social media page.

For now.

Email is beautifully decentralized. You can get an email address many different ways-- some reliant on a company like Gmail, others hosted on your own domain. And different people, with all different types of email addresses, hosted in all different ways-- can all communicate together by the same method.

Of course any of these people, individually, can lose their email address for some reason or other, and have to get a new one. But as long as they still know the email addresses of their contacts, they can reconnect and recover from that loss. The structure of a group linked by email is reliant not on a single company-- but on the group itself, the friends you can actually count on.

This is why I am trying to promote the idea of forming email lists, as a backup plan to give people a way to stay in touch as mainstream social media sites prove to be unsustainable.

I'm envisioning a simple system of sending emails to several addresses at once, and making each reply visible to everyone in the chat by using "reply all" (or, if desired, editing the To field to reply to only some).

If enough people get used to using email in this way, it could fill most of the needs met by any other group chat or forum …without depending on a centralized social media company that's taking dystopian measures to try and make the business profitable.

So here are some thoughts about how I personally imagine it could work.

(Feel free to comment and bring up any thoughts I haven't addressed, or suggestions to customize how specific groups could set it up. This is meant as more of a starting point for brainstorming than a catch-all solution.)

As I see it, here are the basics of what you and your friends would each need to start out:

An email address. Any kind, hosted anywhere. You should use a dedicated email account just for this group, one that you do NOT use for other communication. Being in this group will result in things you don't want happening to your main email address-- like getting a TON of email, one for every post and reply. Or someone could get your email address that you really don't want any contact with. Use a burner email account (one that you can easily replace) and change it if needed.

The knowledge of how to "REPLY ALL" in your email. This will be necessary in order to add a comment that everyone in the group can see.

The knowledge of how to EDIT THE "TO" FIELD in your email, and remove addresses from the list of all recipients. This will be necessary if you want to CHANGE WHICH PEOPLE in the group can see your comment.

The knowledge of how to FILTER WORDS in your email. This will be necessary if a topic comes up that you don't want to see any mentions of.

The knowledge of how to BLOCK PEOPLE in your email. This will be very important. If someone joins this email group who you do not want to interact with, it will be up to you to BLOCK them so that you do NOT see their messages. (If they are bad enough to evade the block with multiple burner accounts, that's what you have a burner account for. Change it, and share the new one only with those you trust not to give it to them.)

Every person in the group will be effectively a "moderator" of the group, able to remove people from it by cutting their email addresses out of the "To" field. Members will all have equal "moderator" privileges, each able to tailor the group to their own needs.

This means the group may naturally split, over time, into other groups, each one removing some people and adding others. Some will overlap, some won't. This is good! This is, in my opinion, what online interaction SHOULD be like! There should be MANY groups like this!

In this way, we can keep online discussion alive, no matter WHAT happens to any of the social media websites.

If the dystopia got bad enough to shut down email, we could even continue with postal mail and photocopies, like they did in the days of print-zine fanfiction.

If it looks like the dystopia is gonna come for postal mail too, we'll use the connection we have to preserve whatever contacts we can with people who live near us.

Not saying it's GONNA get that bad. But these steps of preparation are good no matter exactly what kind of bad stuff happens.

As long as some organized form of communication still exists, we'll have a place where it's at least a little safer to be your true self…

to plan events and meetups…

and maybe even activities a little too risque to make the final cut of a 1982 Disney movie.

They're trying to censor us. We want a Free System. So we're gonna fight back.

For the Users. Not the corporations.

Peace out, programs. <3

[psychelis-new]

pick a pile: "How can you get more clarity/leave this rut? -career/studies"

take a breath and choose the photo or number that calls you the most to read suggestions and guidance in regard to your current work/school/studies situation. this reading is especially supposed to help those who are confused about what's ahead for them or how to reach their goals, so that they can maybe find some clarity about the next steps they should take or at least make them think about and see their situation under a new light.

don’t take the reading too seriously. only take what resonates with you and leave the rest. if you're not called by any pile, let this reading slid as it may not hold messages for you. if you're called by more than one pile, there may be messages in each of those piles. remember that is a general reading and some things may not resonate with you. energies can change and readings are based on present ones (as you read); you're always in charge of your life.

(photos found on unsplash)

- ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ -

1 2 3 4 - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ -

pile 1

I think there's something you need to overcome, some type of obstacle or something you need to learn from your present situation, before you can move on onto the next stage and leave this rut you may find yourself stuck into. I'm also hearing "ascension" so it may be something related to your spirituality too and how you live it or see it, or if you have any insecurities related with it (could be a dark night of the soul/tower moment). You may need to study more about it, about tarots for examples or learning from more other/ancient cultures (it could be either from books, online or travelling for example). Ofc, if it's not regarding your spirituality (which you may actually work with), it could be something you need to realize from your confusion, maybe a change in approach or perspective. Or it could be about communicating more your needs (or even listening to them for real and working to meet them: if something doesn't make you happy, you can do the basic and then move onto something else -I'm talking about a job you don't like anymore or school: just work to get outta there). I think you probably went through a huge blockage or a pretty tough situation that kinda made you worry about your abilities as well (eg. an exam gone bad). Try to reconnect with yourself and analyze what went wrong, see it as a lesson from which to grow instead of something that is blocking you. Things are changing (maybe you're palnning a change in your job or school or where you want to live), and this sometimes really brings in big doubts about ourselves. Try to always stay connected with yourself. Beautiful flowers can blossom after the darkest and coldest times. Let yourself do the same. Clarity will very likely hit you after you give yourself a break/take things easier (don't worry/overstress) and understand patiently the reasons behind this blockage you're experiencing. In conclusion, the main point in your pile is about learning something important that will help you move forward and maybe pass to a different level (practically, eg. by moving position in your job or even just personally, eg. by gaining more knowledge about yourself or something).

song: winter blossom | dept, ashley alisha, nobody likes you pat

- ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ -

pile 2

You are probably embraking on a new path, be it a new career or school. It could also be your first job (and it could be you starting your own business) or you're trying to apply somewhere specific through a competition (for a few; maybe you even got that position you always dreamt of). What is blocking you and causing you to not be able to really move forward and start this new thing, is probably fear. You may be having doubts about your abilities or think things may be going in a specific (not so positive) way while that's not true. You have all you need to make it, and even be successful at it. You have learned a lot in your past and prepared for this a lot, so that's just something you need to check within yourself: why are you blocking yourself/self sabotaging yourself? Why do you fear really trying and making it? You're enough and even if things won't go exactly as planned, they won't be as bad, and anyway you have the right mindset to adapt and make the best out of any situation that will come to you. I also think the Universe is going to help you somehow. For some of you, you probably fear having to leave something behind or close the door with something (eg. you need to move abroad which means you'll have to leave family and friends, maybe even a partner behind) but it's not necessarily so. These days, communications are so easy with the internet, there's no need to worry. You can still be present with them too and find solutions/compromises, if you (both) really want to commit to what you have. You don't have to close any door if you don't want to: no matter where you'll physically be, your heart can be anywhere, and you can always have days off/vacations to spend with whom and where you want. Have a real chat with yourself (and your person/people) to see what you really want for yourself (and your relationship/s). Sometimes we only need to give things a try and see if they can work or not. Sometimes we only need to communicate our fears and doubts openly to find out what to do.

song: u make me wanna | blue

- ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ -

pile 3

You're probably trying to find your call or road. You may have a dream career or you're envisioning something about how you want your future to be like, but... it's like it stops there. You're not really taking any real step towards it, it seems. Maybe you're still young and in school, so obviously you can only daydream about what you want to do (still, preparing yourself and planning future studies is good). Maybe you're just clearing your mind about this matter. Maybe you're just living day by day hoping this torture (school, yeah) will end soon so you can do something you really love. I think you're kinda bored with your life now, you don't even want to study, and daydreaming about your future is helping you trying to find a spur to go on. For some of you, no matter if you're still in school or not, you may have a dream career but it feels so unreachable that you can only imagine or daydream about it: you consciously decide to not take action about it, either to not disappoint someone else (probably your family/society) or because you don't feel good or prepared enough. Here's the thing: I understand for some cultures is hard to do it and disappoint your parents (sometimes it's also a matter of triggers you get like you need to be what they want and have their validation to live well, while you actually don't but that's what they made you believe even unconsciously), but tbh you're not living for anyone's pleasure nor to realize any of their unfulfilled desires. You're living just for you and to fulfill yourself and your wishes. As for being good or prepared enough... honestly you'll never be prepared enough for anything in this life. You just learn on the way what you need, you adapt, you change, you transform... that's a continuos work so you feeling not being good or prepared enough is basically just your mind's excuse to not let you leave this known and comfy place where you're sure of what's ahead of you and what's around you, even if you don't really like it or don't feel it's for you. Listen to your soul: if it's not a desire born just for fantasize or to escape a difficult situation but it's something you really want and need to do, then you probably should at least listen to yourself and maybe give yourself a chance. And if right now you need to give yourself a break, do that for real. You have time to plan things and even to study.

song: blue dream | jhené aiko

- ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ - ’ -

pile 4

I have the feeling that there's something you don't wanna check, and it may be something inside of you or related to your feelings/emotions. Maybe you're just having a hard time understanding what to do but... I feel there's also something you're avoiding. Maybe cause it just hurts too much, in some way. Maybe you're closing off from your creativity? You probably fear not making it if you chose any creative endeavour so you're opting for an "easier" career. I understand your reasons ofc, but I'm not sure your soul does. I think you may fear that others are better than you or there's a lot of offer in your creative field so you're just trying to apply for 9-5 jobs. Maybe, actually, you're just competing with yourself and you feel like your art (I almost wrote heart, perfect) is not able to give away what you really want to give, or that you cannot do what you want the way you want to. It's like, you're moving away from what you really want to do, just because it constantly turns out to be not exactly how you want it to be. What if it has to be different from how you want it? What if it's so just to teach you, and maybe your audience as well, something important? Like... maybe you just have to appreciate yourself for who you are, the way you are. You don't have to be better, you're already perfect, and so is your art (again, almost wrote heart). What if there's nothing more you need to do or give, cause you're already giving your all? It's okay, we cannot send our mind a signal to stamp what we envision (I mean, I don't even wanna know from where'd you stamp that), and it's okay if our hands/bodies cannot translate things into reality as we are seeing them in our mind. We're not a scanner, fr. Think that, in the process of moving from your mind to your body, you put into your reasult/art all you are, all you've seen, all you've been into, all you've practiced (but not what you can still practice and do, cause you can get better too here and there, you can smooth things over, if you don't give up and keep working with yourself). And these things are things that only you, with your own life experience, can give to your art and the people looking at it. So maybe, MAYBE, you can try to give yourself another chance and more time, and the ability to even make mistakes and change. If you want to, ofc. If not, you're ofc free to go to your 9-5 job and have it "easier" (not the right expression, but still): maybe you'll come back to art in a different time (maybe when it's the right time and you have made up your mind about it and all the issues you perceive around it and yourself), in a different way and form. And add even more to it, after this new experience.

[I channeled about an artistic career, but honestly it could also be any other endeavour for some of you: the focus of the reading is about how you see yourself in relation to what you want to do, how you may be trying to escape what you want to do so to not having to deal with your block/self issues and find an "easier" and/or "faster" road to success -whatever it is that you consider success, maybe getting a good amount of money and not having to worry/being too much in charge of decisions -if you work as an employee, it's your boss deciding most stuff-. You have time to deal with this, btw, if this is what you fear].

song: imagine | ariana grande

[kedreeva]

Kedreeva, may I ask your opinion on a fic commenting issue?

If a reader leaves a comment on a fic that results in the writer giving up on it, would you automatically think that reader was in the wrong?

Here's why I'm asking. I've been writing a fic for almost a year, but I've been struggling with it for the last month or so. I've lost focus, don't know what I'm doing with it anymore, can't keep the plot on track, no longer feel the joy for it that I used to feel.

This morning, a reader left a comment on the fic saying what I know in my heart. It's wandering off, it's lost focus, it's become long and bloated and isn't going anywhere anymore. I need to learn to edit, to tell a proper story instead of just wittering on and on.

Not gonna lie. The comment made me cry. But at the same time, the reader is absolutely right. Everything they said was true.

Reading the comment gave me the courage to do what I should have done two months ago. I put up a note telling readers I've lost my way with the fic and it's time to move on to other projects. I felt sad, but a little relieved at the same time.

I explained the situation to an online fic buddy, and they were furious at the reader who left the comment, said they had no business saying something like that, and the remarks were completely uncalled for.

But I feel like the reader's honesty made me realize the truth of the situation. The fic has turned into an unfixable mess - I just couldn't acknowledge that until someone said it loudly right to my face.

Was that reader in the wrong? I don't feel they were, but my buddy disagrees. Would love to know what you think.

Your buddy is right that the reader was in the wrong in so far as etiquette goes. Whether or not the reader was correct has no bearing on the etiquette of the situation, which is that (at least on AO3), unsolicited criticism is considered rude to leave.

Compare the context to another situation; if a writer makes a typo and a reader comments to correct the typo, without being asked to do so first, it doesn't matter that the spelling correction is correct. The correctness of the comment has no bearing on the etiquette of giving unsolicited criticism. It's still rude to leave because the author didn't request interference or assistance, and the reader has no idea what effect the comment will have on the author.

Now, that in no way means that you, personally, have to be angry with this particular reader or hurt by their action. If you feel it helped you, then it helped you. Individual writers may have mixed or even positive associations with crit, solicited or not, and that's totally cool. I, myself, am not going to suffer any great consequence if someone criticizes my work (I don't like it, but fuck 'em, it's not going to stop me or anything), but they're still going to get an earful back, because I have seen too many people hurt or leave because some readers can't follow the golden rule, and I don't want to see the more vulnerable people pushed out of my community.

Because the point of the etiquette here IS to protect the vulnerable people in our communities. Fandom in general is FULL of vulnerable people, and fanfiction often exposes soft bits of the author. You may have taken it well enough and resolved a personal issue because of it, but that same type of comment given to someone just starting out or to someone in a delicate/sensitive part of their life (for example, if they are experiencing hardships in real life and writing to escape that for a little while) or just simply writing as a fun hobby... that kind of comment can do a lot of damage. You chose to stop because you already knew you were having problems with the story. Another person may choose to stop not because they want to or because it's a positive step for them, but because their RSD now makes it horrifying to try to write instead of being a happy endeavor. Or a hundred other, negative reasons.

And the reason your friend is likely angry on your behalf is that the reader had no way of knowing whether you would take it well, and did not (as far as I know from what you've said here) make any attempt to inquire with you first as to whether you wanted that kind of advice. It would be different if they had said "hey, i've been reading along, and I was wondering if you'd mind some advice?" first. That at least would have given you an opportunity to talk about it willingly or say "I'm not really in a place where I want/can handle that, but thank you for the offer!" Regardless of outcome, you deserved to have had that option in the first place.

I'm glad that the comment helped you, as an individual. But your friend is also right, in that that type of comment is typically rude and potentially harmful to others. That being said, your friend should also be able to let go of their anger about it if there was no harm done in this instance. There's room for coexistence in this case; I'm sure that you can understand that just because you weren't hurt doesn't mean no one would be, and I'm sure your friend can understand that just because it was rude doesn't mean it was bad for you (specific) this once.

[ageingfangirl]

Picture Perfect (Yesung) Super Junior

Yesung had been extremely busy with Super Junior since their latest single dropped, which you dealt with because it was all a part of dating an idol and it made you smile to see your boyfriend enjoying what he did every day. Even though your relationship was secret from the public, the other members knew along with the label and they supported the two of you.

Ironically you met at a Super Junior fan event, where you gifted each member a hand-drawn portrait since you took art in school and it was actually Ryeowook who recognised your signature and gushed over your fan art of not just Super Junior but other groups along with photographs you had taken over the years and put on your Instagram. Yesung joked that you could take a photo of him any day, and you took the brave step of stating he should name a time and a place.

Yesung did get in touch with you after the event and asked you to take some photos of him for Instagram which you agreed to. During the shoot the two of you hit it off, learning you liked similar things but had enough differences to intrigue the other person. After that day the two of you continued to chat and call one another.

You were hanging out at his one day when your phone kept blowing up and Yesung had enough and took it off you. Your ex-boyfriend was begging to get back together since you’d started to get more attention online because of the photos you took of idols. Luckily Yesung didn’t judge you and instead asked you out on a date.

That was a year ago and today you were surprising him at an event which was being held in the same location as the one you met in last year. it was Valentine’s and Yesung had spoilt you rotten because he would be busy, but you had yet to give him the special gift you’d made for him.

Everyone but Yesung knew you were showing up, so the label ensured you were the last in the line for the ultimate surprise. You eventually make it up to the long table where the group is sitting and Siwon makes a heart with his hands and points to Yesung, who is sitting next to him blissfully unaware you were up next.

‘Fancy meeting you here,’ you say proudly, standing in front of Yesung who looks up with shock written across his face.

‘y/n...what are you...how?...why didn’t you tell me?’ he stutters, fumbling over the words that wasn’t like him.

‘Let me get this on camera,’ Donghae insists, pulling out his phone.

You open your bag, pull out a small photo album and place it in front of him, ‘I never got to give you your gift this morning, and you are my favourite member of Super Junior after all.’

Yesung blushes a little picks up the album and starts to flip through it, ‘oh my god when did you take these y/n?’

You loved taking photos of people in general because you loved capturing emotions, and the best photos came when the person didn’t know they were being captured. There was a mixture of photos of the two of you, and photos you’d taken of Yesung when he wasn’t looking.

‘Do you like it? Happy Valentine’s,’ you say, whispering the last part in case anyone around you heard and assumed something was happening between the two of you.

He nods, ‘I love it y/n, if I could get up and kiss you I would.’

This time you blush, and next to him, Siwon and Donghae make kissing sounds and gestures since the fans in front of you have left.

‘You can kiss her later,’ Leeteuk calls out.

Yesung smirks and winks at you trying to be seductive, ‘Oh I intend to.’

You laugh, ‘name a time and place.’

[bronzemettle]

What's this I hear about Hero Rankings? Let me just look up who publishes those...

Are you an aspiring supervillain? You built yourself a laser sword and force field generator and you're robbing banks, but you really want to move up in the world and start making more of a name for yourself.

You need to subscribe to HenchCo Magazine!

This weekly publication contains not only a convenient shopping catalog of advanced technology (It's technically legal as long as we don't explicitly suggest what you would use it for...) (but it's Skymall for rayguns and weather machines), including coupons, plus a selection of tips for places that won't let you buy the tech, but do HAVE cool tech and coincidentally might also have weakened security soon...

You can also find the contact information for an assortment of no-questions-asked mercenary organizations at a variety of price ranges and levels of training, including discounts on HenchCo's own security contractors, all of whom will be willing to wear whatever uniform you give them! Themed, silly, demeaning, unflattering, hazardous to their personal health... Again, no questions asked.

But all that's just the back pages! In the front half of the magazine, every week you'll find the latest insider tips and tricks of the trade, interviews with recently captured supervillains explaining the mistakes they made and how you can do better, expert analysis of the more successful schemes, articles detailing the careeers of the biggest-name villains who never seem to stay down even when they fail again and again...

It's Business Insider, The Economist, Bloomberg, and Forbes all rolled into one, for supervillains! We legally have to tell you that you shouldn't imitate any of the acts described in our pages, but we will describe them in step-by-step detail.

Most of our issues are only for the eyes of paid subscribers, but the second issue of every month is publicly available for standalone purchase in most places that magazines are sold, or in digital form on our website. So you can get a taste without taking the plunge. But know that for every deal, for every tactic you learn, there's so much more behind just $70 per year, or $650 per 12 years (12 year subscription also comes with a free lidded, insulated, copper-interior beer stein that's ornately decorated with human-safe Kryptonite gemstones and contains trace amounts of salvaged Chitauri metal from the 2008 invasion of New York!)

But you may also be familiar with our Special Publications. Quarterly since Spring of 2006, we release our updated "200 Heroes You Must Plan To Defeat to Conquer The World" list, colloquelly referred to by other news outlets as the Hero Rankings.

The simple numbered list of names is available for free on our website, but if you buy the full issue (the first one of each year is available to non-subscribers), you'll find the full breakdown of all 200, who's new, why people moved up or down, full profiles for all their known powers, associates, standard operating procedures, where they patrol, whether they kill, whether they work with the police or SHIELD, and everything else you will need to know, along with another 55 honorable mentions, explanations of why they didn't make the list, and explanations for anyone who was removed from the list since the previous quarter.

Another Special Publication is the famous, infamous, ever-criticized and ever-popular Supervillain Swimsuit Calendars! Since 2010 these are released alongside the first issue of November for each upcoming year. There's a Men's Version, a Women's Version, and a Third Version with a little of everything, 36 (or more!) models every year, but each issue for that week is only packaged with one of the three variations, so your local stands might run out of the one you want! Have no fear, you can order this one online for delivery (shipping not included). Usher in the new year with saucy images from twelve of your favorite outlaws, cutthroats, and misunderstood visionaries.

There may also be... alternate takes for some of the photoshoots, dependent on whether the models were willing to go the extra distance. Available exclusively to subscribers, the Swimsuitless Version of the calendar might only feature models already in the other three variations, and might not even have unique models for every month on some years, but there are no pesky swimsuits to be seen. It's all supervillains all the time from toe to tongue!

(HenchCo Magazine is seriously a genius little bit of background worldbuilding Kim Possible set up for my headmate to wildly expand off from for an old fanfic and then me to steal wholesale for this. I love it so much.)

[hugintheraven]

I see people saying a lot "Oh, X game is too hard even on Easy" and then when they get pushback responding "I just suck at video games". And I don't think that's a good attitude to have(and the people pushing back are usually severely unhelpful). Yes, there's some games that are poorly balanced, and some people with physical or cognitive issues that make gaming much harder. But that's not what's going on in the majority of cases.

The thing is, playing video games is a skill. Gaming in general, each genre, and any individual game, all are skills. And like any skill, they can be trained. So, the key question if someone thinks they're bad at a game is, "how do we get better at this skill?" And I can't answer that for every game, but here's a basic start:

Are you fluent with all abilities? Even the one that doesn't seem to do anything? Often there's something(a boosting ability, something defensive, or something that gives information) that players can ignore early on but is vital for later portions of the game.

Pay attention to the whole experience. Games are very busy these days, and will use things like audio cues, enemy animations, or popups in the corner of the screen to tell you things. Make sure you're noticing all of that.

Manage resources well. This includes things like using healthpacks in RPGs instead of hording them and also learning when not to use them because you're near an auto heal. But also resources like your time and attention, physical space on the map, cooldowns on abilities, etc. Learn what to spend liberally and what to keep in reserve for an emergency.

Learn what is effective where. Pokemon has a type chart, FPS games have weapons with effective ranges, citybuilders yell at you for putting the coal plant in a tourism district. Learn the rules, and the resources from the previous step will be much more effective.

So how do you learn this for the game you're having trouble with? After all, if you could figure this out easily, you wouldn't be having trouble. The thing is, most of this stuff is too basic for online guides to spell out. And watching someone else's playthrough on YT/Twitch will show you what they're doing, but not why. The ideal is to have a friend who's good at the game watch you play and then yell about it, but that's not always feasible.

My trick? Restart the game, play through again on a higher difficulty. "But I'm getting my ass kicked on easy, why would normal be any better?" Thing is, you're probably getting your ass kicked BECAUSE you're on easy. You were able to make it to the midgame without developing basic skills because there was no challenge, and now the game is demanding you use skills you don't even know exist. But you have at least learned some of the game, so restart, and play through with more knowledge. Focus on beating the early portions of the game BETTER than you did your first time through, and you might be surprised how much easier the later portions are when you get there.

And don't forget that gaming is supposed to be fun. If you're not having fun, it's fine to stop. But also, developers put a lot of time into the game thinking that it would be fun*. If you're not having fun, it's also fine to ask what the designers were expecting you to do instead to make it fun.

*Gacha games need not apply

[alaffy]

Only Murders in the Building, Ep. 4x04 - The Stuntman (Spoilers)

Well, the blurb was right about the unexpected face.  Also, that ending.

Oliver’s afraid he’s being cheated on because of an arm in a few photographs.  So, Oliver created a fake online profile to find out if he’s right.  This is creepy bs, and I won’t be focusing on this.  Although we do find out the Sazz was following Loretta on Instagram. 

There’s really two stories going on here.  One has to do with Mabel squatting in the apartment.  Well, she’s busy solving crime; so Howard steps in.  He’s doing it because he wants Mabel to help with his podcast.  But then a poster for tryouts to be in the movie is slipped under the door and so he leaves. Long story short, Mabel comes back to the apartment and sees the other tenants from the tower trying to move her bed. 

They finally decide to tell Mebel their secret.  Given her living situation, they figure they can cut her into their deal.  Mabel says she has to tell Charles and Oliver, but this won’t go into the podcast.  So, supposedly Dudenoff is a retired Professor who does live out of the country.  He acquired, well, essentially a floor (or most of one) in the West Tower ages ago and now rents portions of that floor to the families of the West Tower at an extremely low price as what he pays is Rent Controlled.  The woman on the radio is, supposedly, Christmas Guy’s ex and they say she’s not mentally sound.  In other words, she didn’t know anything about Sazz’s death.  I feel as though they are telling the truth about the rent, but not about the woman on the radio.

The main story, though, revolved around a bar where Stunt people used to hang out.  Also, around the dreams Charles keeps having about Sazz and how she kept telling him she was going to Paradise.  At first, no one in the bar wants to talk with them.  Especially Ben’s stunt double (that’s right, Paul Rudd is back).   

Except that’s not strictly true.  He’s hoping to get hired onto the movie being made about the podcast.  And, while the episode is quite funny, I’m just going to skip to the parts that are important about Sazz’s murder.  Charles discovers two things.  One, Sazz was in a lot of pain and was planning on retiring.  Two, Sazz mentioned a relationship she had with someone that the person was getting more out of than Sazz was; almost in the sense they were using Sazz.  Charles, as he’s learning things about Sazz that he didn’t realize, thinks that the relationship Sazz was talking about was with him (I have my doubts).

The reason why I question this is because we find out later, after Charles get knocked unconscious standing in as Sazz during her Wake (long story), that Sazz confided things to Charles that she normally wouldn’t tell others.  Specifically, Charles remembers a day where they were filming Brozos and that Sazz said that, when she retires, she planned to open up a place to train the next generation of stunt people.  Charles suggested that she buy the land that they were filming on because, once the government cleaned up the toxins from the environment (!), they were planning to sell the land. 

Sure enough, at the end of the episode, the trio go to the land and discover that Sazz was planning to build.  The trio start to snoop around, when they hear a noise coming from a shed.  Inside, they find (of all people) the Producer from the movie.  However, the Producer immediately pulls out a gun and threatens them. 

At the moment, I don’t have to much in the way of theories simply because right now we have all these parts, but nothing to connect them together.  We don’t even know who the intended victim is yet.  In fact, the whole thing has become so convoluted that they actually have two murder boards.  I’m still leaning towards the idea that Sazz was the intended victim because she got close to something that somebody didn’t want revealed; but I also feel like this plot of land…too much was made of it to not be important. 

[literaticat]

From your perspective, what are the best resources to send to a true beginner (someone who knows absolutely nothing at all about children's publishing but says they have a story idea) for learning the craft and business of writing picture books?

Well, first I'd probably tell them that EVERYONE has story ideas -- trust me, if I tell people I work in publishing, I hear "I have a great story idea!" or "Wow, I've always wanted to write a book!" from anyone from dentist to dog-walker. Actually doing the hard work to study the market, write a book, revise the book, etc, is generally a bridge too far for most. And that's fine.

If they are serious about it, though, they should figure out what kinds of books exist, and what kind they are writing or looking to write. (Many adults don't remember much about kid's books, really, and have NO IDEA how much variety exists in the kid's section, or how to tell these books apart, but it's important! And if they walk in and are just lost, they can always ask a nice librarian or bookseller for some guidance!).

Are they looking to write a picture book? A chapter book? MG/YA? Fiction, nonfiction? Each category of books has its own rules and norms, and you kinda need to know them if your goal is to get published. So they should take some time at the bookstore or library to really get to know the different age levels and categories, and immerse themselves in various books that are in the category they want to write. How long are those books? What is the vocabulary like? What's popular? Which publishers are publishing those books? They will likely come to see that there are patterns -- like, most picture books are 32 pages long and under 500 words (much shorter than their faves as a kid might have been!), most chapter books are in series, etc. (Protip: If you hate this step, and reading a bunch of children's books isn't fun for you, you probably should NOT be writing for kids!)

Now that they know their way around the kid's section, it's time for a little online investigation. There are free Facebook groups, for example, like KidLit411, where newbies can observe and ask questions and there are people a little further along in the journey can help answer them. They will see a lot of jargon and things they probably won't understand immediately (like "queries", "R&R", "twitter pitch" or whatever, that we take for granted that people know, but they won't!) -- so, great, they can google and get more familiar with the lay of the land. They will quickly start to realize just how much they really DON'T know, but they'll also start to pick it up.

They should also think about their GOALS. WHY do they want to write children's books? WHO are they trying to reach with their stories? Do they want to be an agented and traditionally published author, where their books are available in regular bookstores for a general audience? OR, do they want to write a very specific niche kind of book for a very specific audience? (Like, a book about dealing with XYZ Illness, aimed at children with that illness and their caretakers, for example, or a book about a specific regional event that is likely to sell A LOT of copies in one small part of the country, and zero copies outside of it) That might mean that a small niche publisher dealing with that thing/locale/whatever exists -- or it might mean that self-publishing is their best bet. (None of these options are BAD, mind you, they are just different, and might mean the paths they will take are different, and they should be aware of that).

If they find all of this research invigorating / exciting, they should continue to the next step. If they find this daunting and awful, they should STOP and go live their lives!

Once they are clear that a) yes this is work, and will take time and effort to master, and it is FAR from a get-rich-quick scheme, and b) they are up for the challenge, and passionate about the stories they want to tell, and c) yes they not only have "an idea" but also know what KIND of book they are going to be writing and what they should be aiming for, and d) they have some idea of their own motivation and goals...

THEN, I'd tell them to sit their butts down and start writing, and if they are enjoying it and want to go to the NEXT step, look into joining the SCBWI.

The SCBWI has huge conferences, of course, but they also have LOADS of free resources for members, and smaller regional events all over the world that are often free or inexpensive; if you happen to live in an active region there are often meet-ups, critique opportunities, etc -- getting to know other authors and getting access to these resources can be REALLY valuable for newbies. But I would just suggest those other steps FIRST, because it's pointless to spend the money to join if you aren't really committed, and you won't know if you are committed until you know more about what it all even is and actually are writing things. You know?

[capitalism-and-analytics]

Hi hi. Question: how does one start investing? Like, can I straight up go to the business' or a financial website and buy stock like that, or do I first need to open a special account to put my intended stock'ing money in? Do I need a middleman to move the money around, or can I do it myself?

Before you start investing, it's important to understand that investing involves risk and you could lose money. That being said, here are some general steps to help you get started:

Educate yourself: Learn as much as you can about investing. Read books, articles, and watch videos to get a basic understanding of how the stock market works, different types of investments, and strategies for investing.

Determine your goals and risk tolerance: Figure out why you want to invest and how much risk you're willing to take. Your investment goals and risk tolerance will help you choose the right investments for you.

Open an investment account: You'll need to open a brokerage account to invest in the stock market. There are many online brokers that offer easy account setup and low fees, such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Robinhood.

Fund your account: You'll need to transfer money into your brokerage account before you can start investing. You can usually transfer money directly from your bank account.

Choose your investments: Once you have money in your account, you can start choosing investments to buy. You can buy individual stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more.

Place your order: Once you've chosen your investments, you can place an order to buy them. You can do this online through your brokerage account.

Monitor your investments: Keep an eye on your investments and make adjustments as needed. The stock market can be volatile, so it's important to stay informed about your investments and be prepared to make changes if necessary.

While you can certainly invest on your own, it may be helpful to work with a financial advisor if you're new to investing or if you have a significant amount of money to invest. A financial advisor can help you develop an investment plan that aligns with your goals and risk tolerance and provide guidance along the way.

[buisnessmarshall]

Social Media Monetization Secrets for Successful Online Income

The rise of social media has opened a treasure trove of opportunities for individuals and businesses alike. With billions of active users worldwide, these platforms offer an unparalleled chance to connect, engage, and build communities. But for many, the question remains: how can I transform my social media presence into a sustainable source of income?

The good news is, monetization through social media is not just a dream, it's a reality. Whether you're a budding influencer, a seasoned entrepreneur, or simply someone passionate about sharing your expertise, there are proven strategies you can leverage to turn your online engagement into financial success.

Unlocking the Secrets

Identify Your Niche and Build an Audience: The first step is defining your unique value proposition. What are you passionate about? What knowledge or skills can you offer your audience that they can't find elsewhere? Focus on building a targeted following by creating high-quality content that resonates with their interests and pain points.

Embrace Content Diversification: Gone are the days of relying solely on text-based posts. Experiment with different formats like captivating videos, informative infographics, interactive polls, and engaging live sessions. This keeps your audience hooked and increases your reach.

Master the Art of Storytelling: People connect with stories. Weave narratives into your content to evoke emotions, inspire action, and create a lasting impression. Remember, authenticity is key. Share your unique experiences, challenges, and successes to build trust and relatability.

Collaborate and Network: The power of community is undeniable. Collaborate with other influencers in your niche for joint projects, giveaways, or cross-promotion. Attend industry events and actively participate in online discussions to expand your network and reach new audiences.

Explore Diverse Monetization Channels: There's no one-size-fits-all approach to earning from social media. Consider options like:

Affiliate marketing: Promote relevant products or services and earn commissions on sales generated through your unique affiliate link.

Brand partnerships: Collaborate with brands that align with your values and audience for sponsored content, product placements, or ambassador programs.

Freelance services: Leverage your social media expertise to offer community management, content creation, or social media strategy consulting services.

Sell your own products: Do you create art, crafts, or digital products? Utilize your social media platform to showcase and sell them directly to your audience.

Building a successful social media presence takes time, dedication, and consistent effort. Be patient, track your progress, analyze results, and adapt your strategies accordingly.

Ready to Turn Your Social Media Passion into Profit?

Contact Business Marshall for in-depth guides, expert advice, and the latest trends in social media marketing. Learn from successful entrepreneurs, discover lucrative monetization strategies, and start to earn money from your social media presence today!

[kindheart525]

Tag yourself! I’m Slowly Dying, Discord Server Mod, and Poor Little Neigh Neigh

[Image Description: Chibi-styled headshots of the Thirdverse cast with the following descriptions under them (character names indicated in parentheses, not part of image):

Homophobic Dog (Celestial Blessing)

Would rather drink a smoothie than go to therapy

“You have depression? Just cheer up”

Gives you a dirty look if you start crying

Constantly judging everyone

Slowly Dying (Bismuth Sun)

Full time student with a job, doesn’t even need it to survive

Three majors and five minors, considering another

Attends every single community event

Somehow has time for online discourse too

Quiet Quitter (Evergreen Blaze)

Does the bare minimum at work

Works with someone for 5 years and never learns their name

His favorite color is “personal information”

Avoids his coworkers at the grocery store

Influencer (Moonray Chill)

Goes on annual trips to Disney, thinks this is normal

Believed in Santa until she was 14

“If you’re homeless, just buy a house!”

No concept of money whatsoever

Common L (Lantern Glow)

Looks at themselves crying in the mirror when they have a breakdown

Has daddy issues or mommy issues if not both

Finds comfort in their childhood interests well past that age

Can’t find a therapist so they have several diaries

iPad Kid (Strawberry Breeze)

Bites people like a rabid dog

Life goal is to scream louder than Krakatoa

Picks her nose and wipes it on the wall

First word was fuck

Better Than You (Earth Day)

Always dresses in style

��I won’t have my son doing makeup like that, his eyeliner is all wrong”

Can convince you that you need something you had no interest in

Joins every single conversation just to be the center of attention

Nepo Baby (Princess Cut)

How much could one banana be? 10 dollars?

Thinks Kim Kardashian is a self-made millionaire

Saves money by cutting out avocado toast and Netflix

Also dad owns a business

Chihuahua In An Itchy Sweater (Sunny Sweet Dreams)

“It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me”

Takes even the slightest teasing personally

Selective in showing affection including to herself

Thinks being school project partners is "too intimate"

Dont Mine At Night (Laffy Taffy)

Curses at you in the Call of Duty lobby

Has a meltdown when the game lags

Fall Out Boy blaring in headphones 24/7

No sleep, bad grades, but defeating the final boss was worth it

Shallow (Galatea Candyheart)

Everyone wants to be her friend

Because she has the cool 24 pack of crayons with the sharpener on the back

She has to check her schedule to plan playdates…in preschool

Calls people she just met her best friend

Oh Worm? (Tiger Lily)

Says I love you to the cashier at McDonalds

Holds the door open for people who didn’t ask

Offers snacks and band-aids to everyone including strangers

Cries harder than you do when you scrape your knee

Discord Server Mod (Daisy Wasp)

The only one with conflict resolution skills

Stays up till 3am to moderate the group discussion

“No venting in the general chat”

Calls herself the friend group babysitter

Poor Little Neigh Neigh (Fairyfly)

Puts all the pressure on himself because his parents won’t do it

Complains about the stress he’s under as if it isn’t self-imposed

Thinks it makes him a better person

“Shut up I’m not short I just hit 4’11”

International Harvester (Blackberry Maple)

Posts travel pics at 12pm on a Tuesday

Accepts every single friend request on Facebook

Knows every stranger’s life story

You only ever see him at Thanksgiving dinner

Living Pinterest Board (Orchard Sunrise)

Does school notes about horrible tragedies in cursive with a pink highlighter

Every outfit is coordinated, even the work clothes

Spends hours in the bathroom doing her makeup

Asks you for help but nitpicks every step of the way

Useless Little Fuck (Fireside Jam)

Quotes distracting vines while his family does dangerous yardwork

Tries to carry the groceries inside but spills the whole bag

Offers to carry one (1) thing and hands it back to mom when it gets too heavy

Parents have to re-do all the chores he did badly

End Description.]

[fangirl94stuff]

Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low)

Alex had been extremely busy with All Time Low since their latest single dropped, which you dealt with because it was all a part of dating a band member and it made you smile to see your boyfriend enjoying what he did every day. Even though your relationship was secret from the public, the other members knew along with the label and they supported the two of you.

Ironically you met at an All Time Low signing event, where you gifted each member a hand-drawn portrait since you took art in school and it was actually Rian who recognised your signature and gushed over your fan art of not just All Time Low but other bands along with photographs you had taken over the years and put on your Instagram. Alex joked that you could take a photo of him any day, and you took the brave step of stating he should name a time and a place.

Alex did get in touch with you after the signing and asked you to take some photos of him for Instagram which you agreed to. During the shoot the two of you hit it off, learning you liked similar things but had enough differences to intrigue the other person. After that day the two of you continued to chat and call one another.

You were hanging out at Alex's one day when your phone kept blowing up and Alex had enough and took it off you. Your ex-boyfriend was begging to get back together since you’d started to get more attention online because of the photos you took of bands. Luckily Alex didn’t judge you and instead asked you out on a date.

That was a year ago and today you were surprising him at a signing which was being held in the same location as the one you met in last year. it was Valentine’s and Alex had spoilt you rotten because he would be busy, but you had yet to give him the special gift you’d made for him.

Everyone but Alex knew you were showing up, so the label ensured you were the last in the line for the ultimate surprise. You eventually make it up to the long table where the band is sitting and Zack makes a heart with his hands and points to Alex, who is sitting next to him blissfully unaware you were up next.

‘Fancy meeting you here,’ you say proudly, standing in front of Alex who looks up with shock written across his face.

‘y/n...what are you...how?...why didn’t you tell me?’ he stutters, fumbling over the words that wasn’t really like him.

‘Let me get this on camera,’ Jack insists, pulling out his phone.

You open your bag, pull out a small photo album and place it in front of Alex, ‘I never got to give you your gift this morning, and you are my favourite member of All Time Low after all.’

Alex blushes a little picks up the album and starts to flip through it, ‘oh my god when did you take these y/n?’

You loved taking photos of people in general because you loved capturing emotions, and the best photos came when the person didn’t know they were being captured. There was a mixture of photos of the two of you, and photos you’d taken of Alex when he wasn’t looking.

‘Do you like it? Happy Valentine’s,’ you say, whispering the last part in case anyone around you heard and assumed something was happening between the two of you.

Alex nods, ‘I love it y/n, if I could get up and kiss you I would.’

This time you blush, and next to Alex, Jack and Rian make kissing sounds and gestures since the fans in front of you have left.

‘You can kiss her later,’ Zack calls out.

Alex smirks and winks at you trying to be seductive, ‘Oh I intend to.’

You laugh, ‘name a time and place.’

[hashtagveganproblems]

Hello! I’ve just decided quite literally yesterday to go vegan, and I’ll be honest, the start is much more difficult than I assumed it would be. Do you have any tips for beginners? Thanks in advance!

Hi hello! First of all, congratulations!! Welcome to veganism!! ☺️🎉

Do you have any more specific questions/ concerns? I'm terrible at general advice but I'll do my best😆 If you're talking food wise, I'd say the easiest thing to do when you first get started is just buy already veganized versions of products you'd usually eat. Look for clearly vegan labeled packaging if reading ingredients gets overwhelming! Over time you learn what main ingredients to look out for when checking labels, and anything you're not sure about is just a google away. There are also a lot of "accidentally" vegan products that you have probably been eating without even knowing! (pastas, some big chip brands, oreos etc)

In my opinion, veganizing dishes is usually pretty easy for the most part. If a recipe calls for milk I use almond/soy/oat milk. If it asks for eggs I use egg replacer (there are also LOTS of vegan egg alternatives that you may already have in your pantry like flax seeds or apple sauce) I use vegan ground or tofu instead of meat, you get the point- Thankfully in 2023 there are way more vegan options and alternatives than there used to be, and being vegan is easier than ever!🙌🏻

I have a list of vegan alternative brands on my blog that I've been meaning to update, while not every brand is on there, there's still some really good ones to keep an out for at the grocery store! When shopping for skin/hair/beauty products or clothing, a good rule of thumb is to look for the vegan and/or cruelty free labels, or search the brand online👌🏻

I have a resources page on my blog (which also really needs to be updated, a bitch be busy sorry lol) and I run a vegan Discord server with some friends if you're interested/ would like a support group and people to help answer questions 24/7! In general, I find ethicalelephant.com is a SUPER helpful website with tonssss of resources and information, along with worldofvegan.com! Here is a quick label reading guide to help you get started too- however I usually google the actual product itself to see if it's vegan, I find that most of the time what you need to know is online!

If going cold turkey is too much for you that's okay, phasing out animal products at your own pace works too! What matters is that you're doing our best/ what you can. It still makes a huge difference and the fact that you're taking steps towards veganism is amazing in itself!! I'm sorry if that was too much information thrown at you all at once, but I hope this is helpful!! Good luck☺️

[affiliatemarketinguides]

Affiliate Marketing On Pinterest: The Definitive Guide

Intro

Pinterest is an excellent platform for affiliate marketers, and it can help you generate traffic to your website. Follow the steps in this article to learn how to start a successful affiliate marketing business on Pinterest.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by referring customers to other companies, who then pay you when they make a sale.

You can find affiliate programs in almost every industry, including travel and tourism, retail stores (such as Amazon), clothing brands, and more.

Let’s say that you want to promote the latest iPhone from Apple Inc., but don’t have the budget for advertising or marketing materials yourself.

You could sign up for an affiliate program with Apple–and then earn a commission when someone buys the phone through your link or banner ad!

Who Should Consider Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online. But, it’s not for everyone. Here are some of the people who should consider affiliate marketing:

Anyone with a passion for a subject and an audience to share it with

Anyone who has a website

Anyone who wants to make money online

Anyone who is looking to build their brand and establish themselves as an authority in their industry or niche market

How to Get Started in Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest

When you begin to explore the world of affiliate marketing, it’s important to understand what it is and who should consider it.

Affiliate marketing is when an individual or company earns a commission by promoting third-party products and services.

If you have a blog or website, then this can be a great way to earn some extra income from your existing content.

In order for a seller (the person who owns the product) to pay out commissions, they must first agree with you on how much they will pay per sale (called a CPA).

Once this has been established between both parties involved in an affiliate program relationship, all that remains is for someone like yourself who wants their products/services promoted through Pinterest accounts like yours!

First things first: create an account on Pinterest if you haven’t already done so! Once logged into your new account, go ahead, and take advantage by linking up any site-related pages such as the “About” section where possible so people know exactly where everything comes from before clicking away into unknown territory.”

Create a Pinterest Account and Link to an Established Website

The first step to becoming an affiliate marketer on Pinterest is to create a Pinterest account. To do this, you’ll need to sign in with your email address and password, then choose a username (not necessarily your name) and password that is memorable but not too obvious.

You’ll want people who visit your page to be able to easily find out who owns it, so don’t use anything too generic like “Pinterest” or “pin.”

The next step is linking your website with the newly created account by adding its URL at the bottom of each pin description.

This can be done by copying and pasting the code provided by Pinterest into each pin description box before hitting “save draft.”

Once this has been done for all pins on your board(s), they should appear live on both Facebook pages associated with them as well as inside search results when users type in keywords related specifically to those topics!

The last thing I recommend doing before moving forward would be checking out some other successful marketers’ boards; there’s no better way than learning from others’ mistakes than from making them yourself firsthand!”

Start Pinning and Creating Great Content for Your Users

You can pin affiliate links to your own boards, or you can pin them on other people’s boards. You don’t have to be the owner of a board or even have permission from the owner to pin an affiliate link there–but if you do, it will help both Pinterest and yourself if you let them know that you’re planning on sharing their content with your followers!

If you’re trying out this strategy for the first time with someone else’s content, make sure it’s something that would be relevant to your audience and not just filler content (like cat photos).

Keep in mind that Pinterest has rules about what you can and cannot pin, so be sure to check out this page before posting affiliate links.

2. Pin your own affiliate links on boards that are relevant to your audience.

This is a great way to get the most bang for your buck. If you’re promoting affiliate links on Pinterest, it’s important to make sure that you’re only promoting products that are relevant to your audience.

For example, if you sell makeup brushes and want to promote an affiliate link for a popular brand of lipstick or eyeshadow–make sure that the brand is one that would be relevant for people who follow your boards!

3. Pin some content from other sources (like blogs).

Promote Products on Pinterest With Links

Pinterest is a social media site that allows users to share images, videos, and other content with their followers. It’s also one of the most popular social media sites for affiliate marketers because it has such a large audience.

Unlike Facebook and Instagram, Pinterest doesn’t have an algorithm that filters out your posts based on what they think you want to see in your feed; instead, it relies on algorithms based on engagement (likes), repins, and comments as well as how many people follow you.

In order to make sure your pins get seen by as many people as possible–and thus increase the chances they’ll be viewed -you need to optimize each pin so that it appeals specifically to its target audience (which may include multiple audiences).

Use Mentioning Other Pinners In Your Pins To Help Build Your Following and Authority

Mentioning other Pinners in your pins is a great way to build your following and authority.

It shows that you’re an expert in your niche, and it builds relationships with other pinners.

Learn how to start a successful affiliate marketing business on Pinterest.

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money while you’re working on your own terms. You don’t need to have a website or product of your own, and you can start making money right away by promoting other people’s products.

Pinterest is an especially great place for affiliate marketers because it has so much traffic and users who are interested in buying things online. If you know how to use Pinterest as an affiliate marketer, then there are plenty of opportunities for you!

To get started with affiliate marketing on Pinterest:

Create an account at https://www.pinterest.com/signup/. Once this is done, log into the account and link it to an established website where you want people to go when they click on one of your pins (this could be another blog or even just a Facebook page).

Start pinning content that generates interest among potential customers by adding text descriptions about each image along with links back up onto these pages where they can learn more about whatever topic it was that caught their eye originally before clicking over here now!

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online, but it’s not something that you can do overnight. You need to build up your following and authority on Pinterest before trying to promote any products or services on there.

If you’re looking for an easy way to get started in affiliate marketing without having to spend too much time or money, then this guide will help!

if you want to get unlimited free traffic to your affiliate links for free click here

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Article Writing Tips: 8 Tips to Make Your Content Stand Out

Thousands of how-to articles are available online where interested readers can learn how to change a car tire, create a website, or swaddle a baby. There should be a list of steps that fleshes out each phase of the process until it is completed in the article. Regardless of whether you're a professional writer or just a casual blogger, any person with a bit of knowledge can write a how-to article.

These articles provide step-by-step instructions on how to do something, such as changing a car tire, creating a website, or swaddling a baby. In a good article, each phase of the process is fleshed out in a list of steps. Anyone with a basic understanding of a subject and access to some reliable sources can create a how-to article, regardless of how much experience you have in writing.

To write a good article in record time, here's a step-by-step guide full of tips:

1. Select a topic.

Choosing a specific aspect of a subject in your life that you are relatively knowledgeable about will help you focus your article writing. For example, if you are an experienced chef, you could write a great how-to article about how to make the perfect au jus. An article on how to start a small business could be written by you if you are a successful small business owner. It's important to pick a topic you're well-versed in or passionate about because it'll not only make for great content but also keep you interested as you write about it.

2. Analyze your audience.

To identify the target audience you're trying to reach, you should take the reader's perspective. Identifying the right target audience also requires consideration of the following factors: DemographicsBehaviors and interestsBuying habitsIf you write too many complex terms in your article on fixing a bike chain, a teenager may not be able to understand what you're saying, making your article ineffective. Keep the reader's attention and maximize comprehension by tailoring your style to your target audience.

3. Do your own research.

Be as thorough as possible with your research. It is important that your readers trust the information you provide. It is important to provide credible, supportive resources when writing articles regardless of how much you know about the subject matter.

4. Reduce your entry barrier.

Don't make it hard for your reader to get sucked into your story.

The opening paragraph of an article can be a significant barrier to entry. Before the reader can decide whether the article is really interesting and worth reading, he or she must wade through a large wall of text. In order to accomplish this, a great deal of effort must be expended. It won't be worth their time for most people.

Make your opening short and punchy. An easy way to get buy-in is with a one-sentence or two-sentence leading paragraph. In a matter of seconds, you can skim it and read it.

Try something short and engaging to get people's attention. If you want your reader to expend effort, prove that you're adding value.

5. Use short paragraphs and visuals.

It is generally a good idea to shorten everything.

Have you ever lost interest after reading rows and rows of dense paragraphs? Let's be honest. Once you've sold a reader on committing, if consumption becomes too laborious, you could lose them.

A short paragraph is tantalizing, on the other hand. You don't have to worry about anything complicated with them. I feel accomplished after completing them. Your eye gets drawn down the page as you read - you always want to read one more. It's best to break up your text. The words should be chased from paragraph to paragraph to keep your reader interested. Don't rush them. Space should be provided between ideas.

The breath between spoken sentences is a good example of how to balance words with empty spaces.

A short piece of writing does not mean it cannot be stylish and beautiful. Shorts need not be bland. That's what I thought once, and it's not true.

It's important that you don't use simple, cheap words when you're brief. They're powerful.

6. Keeping it simple is key.

The reader will be confused and lost if you overexplain, go off on tangents, or include irrelevant information. It is important to simplify your solution clearly and efficiently from your first sentence until the end of your how-to article. You should pay particular attention to this when your how-to steps don't follow a chronological order. For the person reading the process, you are responsible for making it easy to follow.

7. Keep it friendly.

It is important that a writer uses a tone that is helpful and assertive, rather than condescending or arrogant. Everyone dislikes being talked down to, no matter what their demographic is. As a speaker, you want your audience to trust you know what you're talking about and stay with you throughout your presentation.

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