#now to clear my desktop of a billion screenshots
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to any of you who darklina/reylo inclined, i just did a rapid-fire thread of some all-time favourite recs using my ao3 bookmark comments <3
#i say rapid fire but it took me literally hours to organize#twitter made me restart three times#which im deciding is elon's fault#been thinking about it for a long time though so very worth it#now to clear my desktop of a billion screenshots#fic rec#trying really hard to maintain the positivity rn#darklina#reylo
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Google vs Bing: How the Search Giants Stack Up
New Post has been published on http://tiptopreview.com/google-vs-bing-how-the-search-giants-stack-up/
Google vs Bing: How the Search Giants Stack Up
Google vs. Microsoft Bing Market Share
Evaluating Google vs. Microsoft Bing’s Performance
How Google & Microsoft Bing Differ in Measurement of Index and Crawling
Variations in Person Interface & Instruments
Microsoft Bing Might Excel in Picture Search Over Google
How Microsoft Bing & Google Deal with Video Search
Map Listings on Each Search Engines Matter for Native search engine optimisation
Optimizing for Google Search vs. Microsoft Bing
Google Search vs. Microsoft Bing: The Verdict
In terms of optimizing a web site, search engine optimisation professionals sometimes concentrate on Google. In any case, it’s the world’s most popular search engine.
However what about Microsoft Bing? Is it value optimizing your website for, as effectively?
Let’s see how these two search giants, Microsoft Bing (rebranded from merely ‘Bing’ in October 2020) and Google, evaluate.
Google vs. Microsoft Bing Market Share
One of many first distinctions between Microsoft Bing and Google is market share. In keeping with Statista, in February 2021, Bing accounted for six.7% of the worldwide search market, whereas Google took 86.6%.
That’s fairly enormous.
And whereas that will make it tempting to concentrate on Google alone, Microsoft Bing supplies good conversions and has a person base that shouldn’t be ignored.
That 6.7% of search customers accounts for thousands and thousands who use Microsoft Bing day-after-day.
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It’s significantly necessary to optimize for Bing when you’re focusing on an American viewers. In actual fact, one-third of online queries within the U.S. are powered by Microsoft properties if you think about Yahoo and voice searches.
Some have wondered through the years whether or not Bing is an acronym for “As a result of It’s Not Google.” I’m undecided how true that’s, however the identify does come from a marketing campaign within the early 1990s for its predecessor, Reside Search.
One other enjoyable tidbit is that Ahrefs just lately did a examine on the High 100 Bing searches globally and the #1 query searched was [Google].
Evaluating Google vs. Microsoft Bing’s Performance
From a search performance perspective, the 2 search engines are comparable, however Google gives extra core options:
Function Google Microsoft Bing Textual content Search Sure Sure Video Search Sure Sure Picture Search Sure Sure Maps Sure Sure Information Sure Sure Purchasing Sure Sure Books Sure No Flights Sure No Finance Sure No Scholarly Literature Sure No
How Google & Microsoft Bing Differ in Measurement of Index and Crawling
Google says:
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“The Google Search index contains hundreds of billions of webpages and is well over 100,000,000 gigabytes in size.”
Even so, not even Google can crawl the complete internet. That’s simply not going to occur.
Because of this utilizing structured information is so necessary. It supplies a knowledge feed about your content material so Google can perceive it higher, which might help you qualify for wealthy outcomes and get more clicks and impressions.
Microsoft Bing hasn’t launched comparable figures. Nonetheless, this search engine index measurement estimating web site places the Microsoft Bing index at someplace between eight to 14 billion internet pages.
The 2 engines have shared a bit of about their approaches to web indexing.
Microsoft Bing says:
“Bingbot uses an algorithm to determine which sites to crawl, how often, and how many pages to fetch from each site. The goal is to minimize bingbot crawl footprint on your web sites while ensuring that the freshest content is available.”
Across the identical time the above assertion was made, John Mueller from Google said:
“I think the hard part here is that we don’t crawl URLs with the same frequency all the time. So some URLs we will crawl daily. Some URLs maybe weekly. Other URLs every couple of months, maybe even every once half year or so. So this is something that we try to find the right balance for, so that we don’t overload your server.”
Google has a mobile-first index, whereas Microsoft Bing takes a unique stance and doesn’t have plans to use a mobile-first indexing policy.
As an alternative, Microsoft Bing maintains a single index that’s optimized for each desktop and cellular, so it is very important be sure that your website expertise is optimized, hundreds rapidly, and provides customers what they want.
Google has developed into greater than only a search engine with merchandise like Gmail, Maps, Chrome OS, Android OS, YouTube, and extra.
Microsoft Bing additionally gives e mail by way of Outlook, in addition to different companies like Workplace On-line or OneDrive.
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Not like Google, nevertheless, it doesn’t have its personal working system. As an alternative, it makes use of Home windows Telephone eight or iOS on Apple units.
Now, let’s check out the place Bing is on par with Google – or superior.
Variations in Person Interface & Instruments
Google has a clear, easy interface that many individuals discover straightforward to make use of.
So does Microsoft Bing, although; for my part, Bing is definitely a bit of bit extra visible.
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Each search engines show helpful details about associated searches, photographs, corporations, and information and do an awesome job of informing customers of every little thing they should learn about a given subject.
search engine optimisation professionals love our instruments and information.
Fortunately, each Google and Microsoft Bing have first rate keyword research tools that provide insights into efficiency:
One space the place I feel Google falls behind is the info it supplies in Google Search Console. If you wish to learn to use it, take a look at How to Use Google Search Console for SEO: A Complete Guide.
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One of many cool characteristic units in Microsoft Bing is the power to import information from Google Search Console:
One other Microsoft Bing characteristic that I feel beats Google is the truth that it supplies SEO Reports.
In keeping with Bing, these experiences include widespread page-level suggestions based mostly on search engine optimisation finest practices to enhance your rankings.
The experiences are routinely generated biweekly and supply ideas as to what to work on or look into.
See A Complete Guide to Bing Webmaster Tools to be taught extra.
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Microsoft Bing Might Excel in Picture Search Over Google
In terms of image search, Microsoft Bing might have a leg up on Google by offering higher-quality photographs.
I just like the filtering options in its picture search, too, as a result of you may flip titles off and search by picture measurement, colour, or kind.
Check out Bing Visible Picture Search, which lets you do extra with photographs. Take a look at its library of specialised expertise that can assist you store, determine landmarks and animals, or simply have enjoyable.
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Then, see How Bing’s Image & Video Algorithm Works to be taught extra.
Google has extra photographs out there for viewing than Microsoft Bing. Take advantage of it with the information in A Guide to Google’s Advanced Image Search.
Nonetheless, Microsoft Bing supplies extra detailed details about the picture customers are looking for.
How Microsoft Bing & Google Deal with Video Search
Microsoft Bing supplies a a lot more visual video search outcomes web page, together with a grid view of enormous thumbnails.
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Google’s video outcomes are extra commonplace, that includes a vertical checklist of small thumbnails.
Microsoft Bing additionally supplies a preview of sure movies and clicking on them doesn’t take you away from Bing, which is cool. From my perspective, it additionally supplies rather more data in video outcomes.
As you may see from the screenshot of a film search under, they embrace rankings and critiques, in addition to the forged and even the place you may watch the film, which is nice.
I didn’t get this expertise with Google video search.
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That is one space the place Microsoft Bing positively outperforms Google.
Map Listings on Each Search Engines Matter for Native search engine optimisation
Each engines have comparable performance for maps, together with map listings and native listings within the search engine outcomes pages (SERPs).
Ensure you declare all of your listings in each Microsoft Bing and Google and optimize your profile with enterprise data, images, correct classes, and hyperlinks.
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Correct identify, deal with, and telephone quantity (NAP) data are key.
See A Complete Guide to Google Maps Marketing.
Optimizing for Google Search vs. Microsoft Bing
Google is primarily involved with E.A.T: Expertise, Authority, and Trust.
Google Searches are powered by machine-based algorithms that bear in mind customers’ earlier search historical past and site when producing outcomes.
Which means if a selected person desires to search out one thing particular on Google, it is going to be a lot simpler than on Microsoft Bing as a result of Google has a extra full image of who that particular person is earlier than they kind something within the browser.
Google has at all times been a link-orientated search engine by which the standard of hyperlinks nonetheless issues as a substitute of amount. Hyperlinks aren’t as necessary on Microsoft Bing.
In my view, Microsoft Bing has at all times been centered on on-page optimization. It places extra weight on content material that’s effectively optimized, or that features necessary on-page components like titles, descriptions, URLs, and content material.
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Not like Google, Microsoft Bing states in its webmaster pointers that it incorporates social indicators into its algorithm. Which means you also needs to concentrate on Twitter and Fb – together with constructing good high quality content material in your website and social platforms – if you wish to rank extremely in Microsoft Bing.
Content material is extraordinarily necessary for each search engines. At all times concentrate on high-quality content material that satisfies the person’s informational want. By creating helpful and related content material, customers will naturally find it irresistible and hyperlink to it.
So, for instance, if I’m searching for vehicles, it’s best to present me useful content material on the subject: how I should buy a automotive, price, upkeep, what the procuring expertise is like, and many others.
Each pace, mobile-friendliness, and correct tech infrastructure matter for each engines. Nonetheless, Microsoft Bing focuses extra on anchor textual content utilization. Bing has been recognized to reward websites with matching anchor textual content for a web page title, which was devalued by Google a few years in the past.
Ensure you take a look at these sources for optimizing for numerous search engines:
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Google Search vs. Microsoft Bing: The Verdict
Each Microsoft Bing and Google fulfill the informational wants of thousands and thousands of individuals day-after-day.
They each supply alternatives in your model to achieve new customers and put you in entrance of thousands and thousands of certified clients who’re searching for data, merchandise, and companies.
Optimizing for each search engines is analogous. Microsoft Bing is extra centered on on-page optimization and incorporates social indicators, whereas Google is extra centered on E.A.T. and hyperlinks.
Microsoft Bing has positively improved during the last 12 months and is extra aggressive with Google, particularly in its distinctive options.
That’s why I like to recommend optimizing for each, to achieve the lion’s share of web searches and maximize visibility.
Extra Sources:
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Picture Credit
All screenshots taken by writer, March 2021.
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Gonna Take Ya (Away From Harm)
Word Count: 2340
Genre: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort
Warnings: crying, parents yelling at their kids, emotionally abusive parents (not sure about this one, but just in case)
Summary:
Dan has a shitty night and Phil makes it better. Set in 2009, sometime before October.
A/N I’ll be getting busier throughout the next few weeks, but I’ll try to keep fics consistent.
Dan tries to pretend like it doesn’t bother him when his parents start making ever so subtly snide comments about his relatives. He doesn’t quite understand why they would – the relatives in question all seem nice enough, but apparently not.
Even so, what his parents are saying shouldn’t affect him like that. Yet it does. Dan knows that it has nothing to do with him but at the same time… He’s all too familiar with the insult-that-could-pass-as-a-joke routine. His family – both immediate and distant – enjoyed talking about him as if he wasn’t there. Dan gets it; he’s lazy, has gotten fired for his own stupidity at all jobs he has ever worked at and to top it all off, he has recently dumped his girlfriend of three years. His parents are under the impression that she dumped him. (He doesn’t say anything, just sits there as they joke about it.)
Most of the time he fades into the background during family events. He understands that he’s a pretty easy target. That doesn’t make it hurt any less though.
Instead of saying anything in defence, like he knows he should, Dan casts his eyes downward and grips his fork tighter. The conversation quickly moves on and he almost forgets it. He almost lets himself believe that nothing else will go wrong tonight.
-
Dan races to his room, fighting the urge to slam his door shut, because he knows it’ll only make things worse. He’s about to cry, he can feel it, but he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t like the fact that he’s going to cry over the stupid shit his family says. He doesn’t like that he’s proving his parents’ “too sensitive” argument they bring up every time he has the audacity to not like being yelled at.
Most of all, he doesn’t like crying. His mum might see, and he knows she’ll come in if she does and tell him to toughen up – obviously more sugar coated – in a soothing voice and he’ll accept. That’s just what he does. So instead of going out and pretending that he’s fine, Dan wraps his blankets around him tighter, furiously wipes his tears that have just started and closes his eyes. He hears his parents having fun and joking around outside, unaware that he’s currently bawling over how much of a disappointment he is to them. He chucks a pillow over his head for good measure.
-
The next thing he knows is that he’s waking up at 1am in uncomfortable jeans and a sweaty shirt.
He immediately shuffles out of them, chucks the offending articles of clothing somewhere in his room and tries to sleep. Surprise, he doesn’t.
After a few more minutes of tossing and turning, Dan gives in and pulls out his laptop from where it is under his bed and turns it on. It’s there in case he steps on it, which he has never done. (It’s actually there because his dad got mad at him for leaving it lying around and yelled at him until he moved it.)
He chews his lip while it takes forever to boot up. Every part of his body is screaming to call Phil, to hear his voice. Dan can’t do that, though. He has a feeling that as soon as Phil asks what’s wrong – and he will – Dan will break down. He can’t have that. Not now, not over his family, not in front of Phil.
The Windows loading thing that Dan never learnt the name over is replaced by his desktop background, which is most certainly not a screenshot of Phil that he captured during one of their Skype sessions. He frowns and weighs the pros and cons of calling as his mouse hovers over the Skype logo. All it takes is the memory of the disaster dinner filling the silent house for him to open it up.
Unsurprisingly, Phil’s offline. It is 1am after all, what did Dan even expect? He doesn’t know why, but this crushes him. It makes everything seem a billion times worse. He just wants to see Phil’s smile, to hear his voice. He just wants Phil to tell him everything will be okay.
Dan’s trying not to sob again. He’s tired and emotional and has no impulse control, so he sends Phil a text via his phone. He chucks the phone away a few seconds later, knowing that there’s no point staring at it and waiting for an answer. He jumps and barely stops a scream when a loud ding rings throughout the room.
(He swears that he didn’t scramble across his room to get his phone and fall off his bed in an ungraceful pile of blankets.)
DAN – 1:12am hey, you up?
PHIL – 1:15am Took a while, but I am now! Are you alright? <3
Dan almost started crying again. Phil picked up on his mood straight away. Okay, maybe texting someone at 1am was a dead giveaway that everything was most certainly not fine, but Dan couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming rush of gratitude to his best friend.
DAN – 1:15am yeah
DAN – 1:15am it’s just, sometimes i can actually convince myself that people care
PHIL – 1:15am I care :(
DAN – 1:16am
i know, i know. i know that people care, but then a night like this happens and i can’t even imagine that anybody would care if i died.
PHIL – 1:18am Dan, answer my calls. Or at least skype me <3
DAN – 1:18am can’t, sorry…
PHIL – 1:19am Why not? What happened? Are you sure you’re okay????
DAN – 1:21am …i swear i’m physically okay
PHIL – 1:21am ?
DAN – 1:21am i’m a sobbing mess right now
PHIL – 1:21am Why? :(
DAN – 1:23am idk, i’m just so upset phil. it’s like nothing i ever do is good enough for them and idk… said that twice oops
DAN – 1:24am also the other reason we can’t skype is because everyone’s asleep and i don’t want to wake them up. my dad would probably barge in and start yelling at me again >_<
PHIL – 1:24am He yelled at you?!
DAN – 1:26am don’t worry i was just being stupid and spilt water everywhere while i was trying to clear the table. i fuckup everything haha
PHIL – 1:26am You’re not stupid! None of that’s your fault and don’t you dare say you’re a fuckup ever again.
DAN – 1:30am i know, i think. get this though – i completely forgot about the mess and putting away the leftovers (literally mostly what my job is lol) and went to my room to cry so he told my brother to tell me to “clean up the mess i made”
DAN – 1:31am like i’m so dumb dad actually had to tell my bro to tell me so i got the message O.o
PHIL – 1:32am Dan…
PHIL – 1:32am Can I please call you? <3
DAN – 1:33am …fine. on skype? no video tho soz <3
Dan switches off his phone with a sigh and looks back at his laptop. It’s an old one and after twenty minutes of being on, it’s whirring dangerously. Dan is pretty sure it’s not supposed to be doing that, but he wants nothing more in the world to see Phil right now, so he dismisses it. This time, when he checks Skype, there’s a green tick next to Phil’s contact. And a new message.
PHIL – 1:40am Am I still able to call?
Dan smiles. He loves the way Phil always makes sure he’s okay with stuff. His sleep-addled brain can’t really form words to express how it feels other than warm, but that’s okay, because he doesn’t need that right now. He needs Phil.
DAN – 1:40am please.
PHIL IS CALLING.
Dan takes a deep breath and rubs his eyes a final time. They’re still wet and he knows they’re red but he doesn’t care that much anymore. He accepts, making sure to turn off the camera.
“Hey, Dan!” Phil’s sleepy but somehow cheery voice chirps as the pixels that are supposed to resemble Phil take up Dan’s screen. Phil doesn’t have his light on, but his face is dimly lit from his own laptop. Dan wishes he could see more than black and grey chunks.
“H-hey,” he croaks out, then clears his throat. He’s so quiet that Dan’s not sure if Phil even heard him. He did.
The pixels move around a bit and suddenly everything is much brighter, making Dan squint. When he fully opens his eyes, he sees Phil frowning worriedly. He also sees the colourful bed sheets Dan has grown accustom to seeing, Phil’s toy lion and the edge of his wardrobe. The familiar scenery relaxes Dan and makes him feel at home.
“You okay?” Phil asks.
Dan knows that there’s no point in lying, because Phil knows him. He nods anyway. Then he realises that he doesn’t have video on and that he’s gotten used to video Skype calls with Phil. Dan sighs, contemplating whether or not to turn video on when he remembers that Phil asked him something.
“What?” Dan says dumbly, before recalling the question. “Oh- yeah, I’m fine.” He says it in such a resigned voice that there’s no way Phil will believe him now.
There’s an uncomfortable silence. Dan watches as Phil moves around on his bed a bit, then open his mouth only to shut it again. Phil does this quite a few times before he finally says anything.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Phil’s voice is gentle. Dan is half-tempted to. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but at the very least, could you turn on your video? Just so I know you’re okay.”
Dan knows that if he does turn on his camera, there’s no way he can tell Phil what happened without breaking down embarrassingly, and as he stated before, he most certainly did not want Phil to witness that.
He agrees and clicks on the camera button, not before messing around with his hair until he decides that nothing can be done about the curly mess on his head at the moment.
It takes a few seconds for his laptop and Skype to process the request. In those few seconds, Dan realises just how shitty he probably looks. He had fallen asleep crying and woken up forty minutes ago, his hair is a mess, his eyes are red and his cheeks are blotchy. He realises with horror that he’s also just in his boxers.
It’s too late for him to back out now because the box with the three, maybe four, pixels that are supposed to represent him is in the corner of the screen, meaning Phil can (kind of) see him.
“Hey,” Dan says lamely, then cringes because he’s already said that.
Phil shuffles closer to the screen. “Hello,” he grins, easing Dan’s nerves slightly. “I can’t really see you that much, can you turn on your light?”
Dan almost slaps himself in the forehead right then and there. Obviously Phil can’t see him. “Right, sorry, I’m such an idiot.” He forces a laugh as he reaches over and flicks the light switch. The bright light floods the room immediately, making Dan blink.
Once he can actually focus on things without seeing spots dance across his vision, he turns back to Phil. Dan notices that he’s being uncharacteristically quiet, like he’s thinking about something. Dan doesn’t push it.
“Sorry about my lack of clothes. I fell asleep in the ones I wore today and felt gross when I woke up. I honestly forgot about it until now,” he rambles.
Phil laughs. “Right,” he grins, winking. Dan blushes.
“So, how was your day?” He cringes at how awkward and forced the question sounds.
��Pretty good. My brother visited and my parents took me and him out to some fancy restaurant. Although, it did end up in us getting kicked out.” Phil laughs again, making Dan crack a smile.
“How’d you manage that?” He asks, incredulous.
“Well, it started with us seeing a goose dish on the menu...” Phil continues his storytelling and soon, Dan forgets why they started the call in the first place.
-
It’s only when Dan starts to yawn do they realise how late/early it is. They had been talking for over three hours. It may not seem like a lot, but considering they had both woken up at one and it being roughly five now, they’re entitled to feel tired.
Phil offers to leave, but something in Dan’s expression convinces him to stay just a little longer.
“You know,” Phil says, out of the blue. Dan’s droopy eyes open slightly, so Phil knows he’s listening. “I’ve been thinking. We’ve known each other for a few months now and you’re like my best friend, so I was wondering if you’d like to come over sometime? I could buy the tickets if you didn’t have the money. You would also be able to escape your parents…” He trails off nervously.
“Mmm,” Dan mumbles, not really conscious enough to comprehend anything. His brain takes a while to process what he just heard, but as soon as it does, he’s suddenly wide awake. “Wait, are you serious?”
Phil nods while his hands fiddle with each other in his lap.
“Yes! That would be the best thing ever, I’d love to come to Manchester!” Dan’s smiling so wide it hurts, but he can’t bring himself to stop.
Phil lets out a relieved sigh. “Thank god. I thought you were going to say no.”
“I’d never,” Dan swears. He’s never been more honest about something in his life.
Phil smiles. “How about we talk about this in the morning? Well, later in the morning. You should get some sleep.”
“So should you.”
“Oh, hush.”
Dan’s the first to fall asleep. Phil admires how peaceful he looks for a few minutes before deciding that he should also go to bed. With a sigh, he ends the call and turns off his laptop, making a mental note to look into tickets to Manchester tomorrow.
A/N Got really emotional last week and started writing this. On a lighter note, I got out of first period halfway in and went to the doctor (dehydration, it was fine) yesterday so that was cool. (Pun not intended.)
#phanfiction#phanfic#phandom#phan#yikes the ending seems forced#whoops#people from school are trying to find my account again#they suck at it#now time for the tags to promote my stuff#fluff#angst#hurt/comfort#crying#emotional abuse#tw; emotional abuse#2009
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PayPal’s rip-off: Clients being charged an pointless 2.9% payment
Whitney Tilson’s e-mail to buyers discussing how Amazon wove itself into the lifetime of an American metropolis; hundreds protest Amazon; PayPal’s rip-off, charging prospects an pointless 2.9% payment; The seven methods getting wealthy will increase your odds of divorce.
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1) As I took the practice to Baltimore this morning (I spend a day or two right here every week at our company companion Stansberry Analysis’s headquarters), I learn this in-depth article – which makes use of this metropolis as a case examine – about “how Amazon (AMZN) may now reach into Americans’ daily existence in more ways than any corporation in history.” It’s kind of scary – however makes me much more bullish on the inventory… Prime Mover: How Amazon Wove Itself Into the Lifetime of an American Metropolis. Excerpt:
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As federal regulators and Congress assess whether or not Amazon’s market energy needs to be curbed below antitrust legal guidelines – and whether or not, as some politicians argue, the corporate needs to be damaged up – the New York Instances has explored the corporate’s affect in a single American neighborhood: larger Baltimore.
2) As Amazon turns into increasingly more dominant, anticipate to see extra protests like these… particularly in Europe, the place organized labor is stronger: “We Are Not Robots”: 1000’s Protest Amazon As Staff Stage Black Friday Walkout. Excerpt:
1000’s of Amazon employees throughout Europe have walked out as a part of a coordinated Black Friday strike towards working circumstances on the world’s largest on-line retailer.
three) After I used digital funds large PayPal (PYPL) yesterday to ship a big sum of cash to a buddy, I encountered extremely misleading practices that I feel are a complete rip-off and might be grounds for an enormous class-action lawsuit.
I do not suppose that this, by itself, is adequate grounds to brief the inventory of this quickly rising firm… however I would need to look into it if I had been a shareholder, particularly given the inventory’s nosebleed valuation (7.2 occasions income, 37.7 occasions EBITDA, and 50.7 occasions trailing earnings).
As background, PayPal is a helpful and free method to ship cash to (or request cash from) a buddy. As well as, you should utilize it to pay for items and companies from a service provider or somebody on, say, eBay (EBAY), however on this case, the recipient pays a 2.9% payment plus $zero.30.
Honest sufficient.
However what if PayPal dupes individuals into paying the two.9% payment when two buddies are simply transferring cash to one another? That is what occurred to me…
I’ve used PayPal for years, however as a result of I used to be sending my buddy many hundreds of , I double-checked to ensure there would not be a payment. No downside – PayPal’s web site confirmed that: “There are no fees within the U.S. to send money to family and friends when you use only your PayPal balance or bank account, or a combination of your PayPal balance and bank account.”
So I went forward and initiated the switch. After I entered my buddy’s e-mail handle and the quantity, this display screen popped up:
I used to be confused for a second – I did not need Buy Safety – however with out giving it a lot thought, I figured that the plain factor to do was to click on the default, highlighted “Continue” button.
After I did, a remaining affirmation web page appeared that regarded like this (this screenshot solely exhibits a $1 switch):
So I clicked “Send Payment Now” and thought I used to be completed…
However moments later, my buddy referred to as me in a panic – he’d been charged 2.9%, equal to greater than $200!
I used to be confused as a result of I would just obtained an e-mail stating clearly:
You paid [$X]
[My friend’s name] will obtain [$X]
So I went again to PayPal’s web site and entered a brand new $1 switch to see what I would completed incorrect.
Apparently, as a substitute of clicking “Continue” on the primary affirmation web page, I ought to have clicked “Send to someone you trust.” However this was unclear and there was no disclosure that a payment can be charged if I clicked “Continue.” Deception No. 1.
Then on the ultimate affirmation web page, I found this, which I hadn’t seen the primary time:
I’ve three issues with this: a) It wasn’t seen on my display screen after I went to click on the “Send Payment Now” button – I needed to scroll as much as the highest to see it… b) Solely within the high quality print does it say “Paying for an item or service”… and c) There isn’t any disclosure wherever on the web page that PayPal goes to cost a payment on this transaction. Deception No. 2.
Lastly, the e-mail I obtained was a flat-out lie. It mentioned that my buddy would obtain the total quantity that I despatched him, when in actual fact PayPal had deducted greater than $200! Deception No. three.
None of that is by chance… Each subtle firm fastidiously designs and exams each ingredient of their web site and buy/cost course of, so I am sure that it is a fastidiously orchestrated plan – what I name a rip-off – to extend the variety of individuals paying charges unnecessarily.
PayPal is big, so if the misleading and deceptive course of that fooled me – regardless of a acutely aware effort on my half – leads to even a small incremental share of its prospects paying charges they should not, the corporate might be harvesting massive cash.
This is some back-of-the envelope math: in its third-quarter earnings launch, PayPal boasted that person-to-person (“P2P”) quantity grew 39% to $51 billion – representing 28% of its $179 billion whole cost quantity, or $50 billion. Annualized, that is $200 billion of P2P funds just like the one I made yesterday to my buddy.
If this rip-off leads to 10% of its prospects – to select a quantity out of the air – paying a payment they should not, that is $20 billion of quantity being charged an pointless 2.9% payment. That is $580 million of pure extra revenue for PayPal, equal to 22% of the corporate’s trailing 12-month working revenue of $2.6 billion.
Disgrace, disgrace!
Any class-action attorneys on the market searching for an easy-to-win, big-dollar lawsuit towards a deep-pocketed firm?
(I refused to be scammed over the two.9% payment, so I referred to as PayPal’s customer support line and browse them the riot act. They mentioned they could not waive the payment, so my buddy has to reject the transaction as soon as it clears – they instructed us often inside 24 hours – after which I’ve to resend it.)
four) Over the Thanksgiving break, after two years of on-and-off effort, I lastly completed the primary draft of one of many two books I am engaged on, tentatively entitled, All I Need to Know Is The place I am Going to Die: The 5 Calamities That Can Destroy Your Life – And Keep away from Them. It is nonetheless fairly a methods from being completed, however it’s an incredible feeling to have reached this milestone!
Close to the tip of the chapter on calamity No. 2, “A Bad Marriage, Often Ending in Divorce,” I write:
Most individuals suppose that having some huge cash is nice for a wedding. As much as a sure level, that is true – monetary pressures can undoubtedly put pressure on a wedding.
However, paradoxically, making a ton of cash can truly improve the chances of divorce for the next seven causes (I’ve seen all of them up shut).
On this e-mail and the following six, I will undergo every of them.
Cause No. 1 is that divorce is loopy costly (each the short-term price for attorneys, in addition to the long-term larger bills as a result of two houses, much less favorable tax therapy, and so forth.), so having some huge cash reduces this barrier.
I do know one man whose spouse out of the blue inherited an enormous sum of money – and instructed him she was divorcing him that very day. My spouse and I joke (no less than I hope she’s joking!) that, even when we wished to, we could not afford to get divorced. Though it isn’t technically true, I am glad she thinks it’s – LOL!
Greatest regards,
Whitney
from Job Search Tips https://jobsearchtips.net/paypals-rip-off-clients-being-charged-an-pointless-2-9-payment/
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How to Create Great Facebook Cover Photos: Sizes, Styles, Examples
When someone visits your Facebook page, the first thing they see is a large splash image taking up almost a quarter of the screen: your Facebook cover photo. This is your profile’s headline, a big, bold banner image that introduces your brand to potential Facebook followers.
You can feature a lot in your Facebook cover photo: images of your product or team, ads and promotions, or even something as simple as graphic that sets the right mood. A good cover photo can result in increased engagement, whether that’s more page likes or boosted traffic to your website or other social channels.
So, how do you make Facebook cover photos—and get the most out of them?
This article will go over everything you need to know about Facebook cover photos, from the ideal Facebook cover photo size, to picking attention-grabbing images—or videos!—that set the right tone and convince people to interact with your page. I’ll also highlight some best practices, share good examples, and explain why they’re successful.
Let’s start with the basics: making sure your image fits the Facebook cover photo size guidelines (and their other guidelines, too).
Bonus: Download a free cheat sheet to quickly find the best image sizes for every social network and learn how you can use Hootsuite to easily add them to any post.
Facebook cover photo size: 851 x 315 pixels
The minimum dimensions for a Facebook cover photo (sometimes referred to as “Facebook banner size”) are 851 x 315 pixels. This is the best size to choose if you’re making a cover photo and want to know exactly how it will look before you upload it.
For the highest quality photographic experience, Facebook recommends using a PNG file. Choose this option if you want to display a high definition logo in your cover image, or if your cover image contains copy that really needs to stand out.
On mobile, it’s often better to prioritize image types that load quickly and don’t use a lot of data. In this case, Facebook recommends uploading an sRGB JPEG file that also follows these two requirements:
Dimensions: 851 x 315 pixels
File size: less than 100 kb
Remember, on desktop, Facebook cover photos are more rectangular, accounting for larger/widescreen displays. On mobile, the cover photo is more square, allowing it to fit on a portrait-oriented screen.
While 95 percent of Facebook users access the site via mobile, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the 31 percent of users who also browse via desktop. For a Facebook cover photo that looks good on any screen, Facebook recommends an image that’s 820 pixels x 462 pixels. This also applies to the platform’s newer cover format: Facebook cover videos.
Facebook cover video size: 820 x 462 pixels
Facebook cover videos are another way to grab a user’s attention and drive user interactions on your page. On desktop, cover videos definitely look more engaging than static photos, and can really bring your page to life. However, they’re less effective on mobile, as they don’t autoplay, and instead load as a thumbnail.
Here’s Facebook’s recommended settings for cover video size and duration:
Dimensions: 820 x 462 pixels (820 x 312 minimum)
Duration: 20 to 90 seconds (no more, no less!)
Note: Facebook cover videos can have audio, but it won’t play unless you actually click on the video. For best results, make sure the video you upload works equally well with or without sound. This is something you should keep in mind even outside cover videos: 85 percent of Facebook users watch videos with the volume turned off.
Other requirements for Facebook cover photos and videos
Besides these technical requirements, there are specific rules for the kinds of content you can display in Facebook cover photos and videos. These rules are fairly standard:
Make sure you’re not violating anyone’s copyright.
Make sure your cover photo or video is family-friendly and safe-for-work.
Make sure that if you’re advertising a product with your cover photo or video, you’re not breaking any of Facebook’s advertising rules.
For a full breakdown of these policies, check out the Facebook page guidelines.
How to make a Facebook cover photo
Note: all screenshots used in this article are from Adobe Photoshop CC 2018 (19.1.2 release).
The best way to make Facebook cover photos is by creating a template in Adobe Photoshop and saving it for all your future needs. Once you’ve followed these six easy steps, you’ll be good to go for all your future cover photo needs.
1. Create a Facebook cover photo template
a) Open Photoshop, and go to File > New. b) Now you’ll be presented with the screen where you set your template dimensions. c) Name your file (spoiler alert: my cover photo is sushi!) and enter your image dimensions. I’m making a Facebook cover photo for desktop, so I’ve entered 851 for width and 315 for height.
d) Once you’ve done this, click the blue Create button in the bottom right, and you’ll arrive at this screen showing a blank template.
2. Select your Facebook cover photo image
Go to File > Open and select the photo you’d like to see appear on top of your Facebook profile. It will open in a new tab in Photoshop.
3. Make a copy of your photo and move it to your template
a) In the bottom right corner, right click the Layers panel and select Duplicate Layer. This will open up a dialogue box, as seen in the second image.
b) Under Destination, change the file name to the one you named your template—in my case, it’s “Best Sushi Ever.” Click OK.
4. Resize the photo in your template
a) Tab back to your template file. You’ll see the formerly white space is now filled with an image. When I first did this step, I ended up with this, which looks like a hot mess. But don’t worry! This happened because I didn’t resize the image within the template yet.
b) To resize the image to fit the template, go to Edit > Free Transform (or press Control/Command + T).
c) A border (bounding box) encompassing all the cropped-off parts of your image will appear around the template. If you’re too zoomed-in you won’t be able to see it; zoom out if this is the case.
d) Shift-click one of the corners of the bounding box and drag it inwards to scale your image down so the sections you want to be visible appear within the template. Once you’ve scaled it the way you want, press the Enter key to lock in your image.
5. (Optional step) add text or other design elements
Here’s when you can add your logo, ad copy or other text/design elements. I went with some thematically-appropriate kanji (“Best sushi ever!”) for this example.
6. Save your Facebook cover photo
Go to File > Save. Name your cover photo and select a file format. I picked PNG as recommended for maximum, mouth-watering detail.
Ta-da! Here’s a cover photo that will look delicious on desktop or mobile.
Now that you’ve made a template, you can skip step 1 when making your cover photos in future.
How to upload Facebook cover photos
Once you’re finished making your Facebook cover photo, uploading it is easy.
Navigate to your Facebook business page and mouse over the cover photo space at the top.
Click Add a Cover in the top left corner.
Click Upload Photo/Video and select the photo you’d like to upload.
A preview of your photo will appear in the cover space. Click the photo and drag it up or down to the vertical orientation of your liking.
Click Publish.
If you don’t like how your Facebook cover photo is positioned after you’ve published it, you can click Update Cover and then Reposition, which will return you to step 4.
As you upload more cover photos, you’ll build up a library. If you ever want to replace your current cover photo with an older one, click Select Photo instead of Upload Cover Photo in step 3, and you’ll be able to choose from previously uploaded images.
Finally, the Select Artwork button contains a number of premade background images for your cover photo space. These look fine in a pinch, but I’d recommend creating branded images for your business page that showcase your organization’s personality, products, or services.
How to upload Facebook cover videos
Uploading a Facebook cover video is almost the same as uploading a cover photo, with a couple of extra steps.
Navigate to your company page and mouse over the space at the top.
Click Add a Cover in the top left corner.
Click Upload Photo/Video and select the video you’d like to upload.
A preview of your video will appear in the cover space. Click the video and drag it up or down to the vertical orientation of your liking.
Choose a thumbnail from the 10 available options Facebook provides (hint: pick the one that’s most likely to pique interest and reel someone in).
Click Publish.
Facebook cover photos: best practices
Now that you know the basics of creating and uploading cover photos, it’s time to look at some powerful examples, and the strategies behind them.
1. Use a simple image with a clear focal point
The whole point of your profile banner is to grab attention and elicit curiosity so people take action on your page. Use memorable imagery with colors that reflect your brand, and don’t be afraid to make use of negative space, particularly if you’re including copy: it’ll help your words stand out.
This playful cover photo from Zendesk uses bright colors and negative space to make their copy pop.
2. Pair your Facebook cover photo with your profile picture
A Facebook cover photo that matches with the profile picture always looks professional and put-together. It might sound limiting, but it’s also a good opportunity to get creative.
Target’s eye-catching Facebook cover photo makes clever use of their bullseye logo. The optical illusion caught me off-guard, earning this cover photo my full attention.
3. Optimize your cover photo for mobile
When you’re choosing an image for your Facebook cover photo, think about how it’s going to look on the screens of Facebook’s 1.15 billion smartphone users. If there’s tiny text, will it be readable? How will the finer details look on a smaller screen? What’s being cut off when your cover photo is panned-and-scanned to mobile format?
I was surprised to find that many companies (big companies!) don’t actually bother to optimize for this, making it an easy way to provide a better page experience than your competitors.
Duolingo has smartly chosen an image that doesn’t change too much between desktop and mobile. Nothing is lost in translation, providing both audiences with an equally good browsing experience.
As an added bonus, the brand name in the banner leaves the profile picture open for Lingo (their company mascot) to greet visitors to the page.
4. Balance your Facebook cover photo with right-aligned elements
Centered images work well on cover photos, but aligning your image content to the right is aesthetically pleasing and has strategic value. Facebook’s call-to-action buttons appear on the right side of your profile; ideally, your images should draw the eye to that section of the page. If possible, include elements that draw attention to your CTA.
Here, YouTube star and cake-decorating sensation Yolanda Gampp uses the cover photo to advertise her new cookbook, How to Cake It. This banner effectively leads the eye, starting with the copy, then to the book cover, which is placed right over the Watch Video CTA. It’s a direct route to her YouTube channel—and an invitation join her 3.6 million subscribers!
5. Update your cover photo regularly
Your Facebook cover photo is the ideal place to announce what’s new at your company. Keep this space updated with fresh content, whether you’re promoting a new product or service, or referencing current events in relation to your brand.
Here, KFC uses their cover video to advertise the Canadian launch of the latest twist on the infamous Double-Down. This profile video works well because the animation is on a short loop so it’s not too distracting. It really creates a mood!
6. Link out from your Facebook cover photo
Including a link within the cover photo page itself is a good way to drive traffic to your other pages via Facebook. Use a link shortener like ow.ly to create a customized URL format that’s unique to your brand. It makes links more manageable, and conceals the UTM code you should be using to track your traffic sources.
Here, Threadless uses an all-too-relatable drawing of a cat to drive traffic to their website. When you click the cover photo, you find a link directing you to purchase the T-shirt. The link contains a UTM code, allowing Threadless to track page views from their Facebook cover photo.
Although they haven’t done it here, another strategy is to have this URL direct to the same page as the CTA on your main profile, offering another chance for conversion. This also lets you experiment with other CTAs on your Facebook page (Facebook currently has seven to choose from).
Check out this post if you want to more about how to write an irresistible call to action.
7. Pin important updates below your Facebook cover photo
Remember, the goal of a headline is to get you to read the article below, and Facebook cover photos are no different. Pin your most important current content to the top of your Facebook page.
When people are drawn in by your cover photo, they’ll see the most relevant information as soon as they scroll down.
Hootsuite is currently promoting an upcoming webinar series on Demystifying Social ROI. In addition to a cover video highlighting the event, we’ve pinned it as the first post on our page so people remember to sign up.
Manage your brand’s Facebook presence and your new Facebook cover photo with Hootsuite. Engage followers, track results, and schedule new posts from a single dashboard. Try it free today.
Get Started
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GUEST OPINION 5 ways retailers can get better at mobile
Mobile is becoming the channel of choice for shoppers, but many retailers are still doing it really poorly. So what can you do? Michelle Fotopoulou, Director of Mobile Marketing, Webloyalty offers five top tips
You don’t need to look far to find a huge statistic about the scale of m-commerce today. According to Oppenheimer, half of US shoppers use Amazon’s mobile app, and Alibaba revealed in its 2017 fiscal year statement that mobile revenue for its e-commerce business increased 80% to US$13.18 billion – generating 80% of its total retail revenue in the country. Consumers are embracing the ease and flexibility mobile can offer.
But despite the surge in traffic and consumer adoption, there is a problem. Retailers are struggling to convert – statistics show the industry average card abandonment rate on mobile is 69%. There are several key reasons for this: poor UX, scepticism about the security of paying on mobile, and viewing mobile as a research tool rather than a place to order. It’s clear there is a huge missed opportunity for retailers to capitalise on the potential of this shift in traffic. So, what can retailers do to improve their mobile offering?
UX: Get back to basics
Apps are a constant work in progress, requiring ongoing testing and experimenting to make the customer experience as engaging and intuitive as possible. We know from the development of ShopAppi, our mobile shopper loyalty programme, that offering too much – and trying too hard to be ‘hip’ – isn’t what consumers want.
My advice to retailers is to get rid of anything superfluous that doesn’t enhance the business proposition or encourage conversion. We use analysis metrics on an ongoing basis to understand where the critical ‘drop off’ points are in the process.
Faster is better on mobile
Speed is key. Research by Aberdeen found that a one second delay in load time equals a 7% loss in conversion. Retailers need to think about what will make the experience faster and simpler. After all, this is one of the main reasons why people choose mobile over desktop.
Firstly, don’t make signing up – or the payment process – a chore, as it will decrease conversion rates. Consumers don’t have the time (or patience) to fill out their life history. Simple things like including ‘.com’ prompts when entering an email address, and automatic number fields when filling in card numbers, are the kind of quick wins that are easily to implement – and consumers respond well to these simple improvements. Investing in these useful, non-gimmicky functions will lead to more positive app/mobile engagement, which in turn will lead to higher transactions, ratings and brand impressions.
Use mobile to personalise the in-store experience
Mobile is the bridge between the real life and digital experience – and retailers need to examine how they can leverage this, as customers move fluidly between online and offline channels. Research by Accenture found 46% of Generation Z consumers will go in-store to get more information about a product before making a purchase. For retailers with a high street presence, mobile is key for linking the online and offline experience, using go-targeting marketing tactics such as highlighting in-store promotions to drive footfall.
Waitrose is a good example of a retailer integrating mobile into the in-store experience. grocer has just announced the development of its QuickCheck app, which allows consumers to scan items using their smartphone cameras. This replaces the traditional handheld scanners, making the shopping experience more seamless for customers. The benefit for Waitrose is it can collect shopping data to use for targeted online marketing, such as offering recipes and menus, or deliver special offers.
Learn from the best
ASOS is a leading force when it comes to mobile – it was voted the most popular retail app in the UK by customers in a survey by ARC. And 70% of the site’s traffic, and 58% of all its orders, now come from mobile. One of the reasons it’s earned this accolade is because of its excellent search function – which is soon to become even more sophisticated. Chairman Nick Beighton recently announced the retailer is experimenting with visual search technologies based on screenshots and social media pictures, as well as photographs. Its loyalty programme also rewards consumers with a £5 voucher for every £100 spent – an incentive for consumers to return.
With its millennial focus, ASOS was quick to recognise the power of social media as a place to drive brand engagement and inspire purchases. Its social strategy is paying off – earlier this year it announced it has seen a 25% increase in its global audience during the six-month period to 21.3 million followers. Social media platforms are becoming part of the e-commerce journey; the Accenture study found 68% of UK shoppers aged 20 and under are interested in buying goods directly through social media channels. And there’s evidence this interest is leading to conversion – Shopify estimates Facebook has the highest conversion rate for all social media ecommerce traffic at 1.85%. Retailers should learn from ASOS’ inspiring, engaging social content which is an important step towards conversion.
Understand your proposition
One of the mistakes I see retailers make is creating an app because they feel they ‘should’ have one. This isn’t enough of a reason. It needs to make sense as part of the overall business proposition. Examine your brand to understand what makes sense in terms of mobile engagement. Innovations should add to your proposition, enhance the customer experience and increase loyalty. If your user experience is bad, word will spread quickly and the financial implications can be huge. Look at the app economy for insights and learn from the key players. M-commerce is only going to increase in the coming years, so take the time to invest in a strategy that makes sense as part of the long-term vision for the brand.
The post GUEST OPINION 5 ways retailers can get better at mobile appeared first on InternetRetailing.
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New Post has been published on Payment-Providers.com
New Post has been published on https://payment-providers.com/guest-opinion-5-ways-retailers-can-get-better-at-mobile/
GUEST OPINION 5 ways retailers can get better at mobile
Mobile is becoming the channel of choice for shoppers, but many retailers are still doing it really poorly. So what can you do? Michelle Fotopoulou, Director of Mobile Marketing, Webloyalty offers five top tips
You don’t need to look far to find a huge statistic about the scale of m-commerce today. According to Oppenheimer, half of US shoppers use Amazon’s mobile app, and Alibaba revealed in its 2017 fiscal year statement that mobile revenue for its e-commerce business increased 80% to US$13.18 billion – generating 80% of its total retail revenue in the country. Consumers are embracing the ease and flexibility mobile can offer.
But despite the surge in traffic and consumer adoption, there is a problem. Retailers are struggling to convert – statistics show the industry average card abandonment rate on mobile is 69%. There are several key reasons for this: poor UX, scepticism about the security of paying on mobile, and viewing mobile as a research tool rather than a place to order. It’s clear there is a huge missed opportunity for retailers to capitalise on the potential of this shift in traffic. So, what can retailers do to improve their mobile offering?
UX: Get back to basics
Apps are a constant work in progress, requiring ongoing testing and experimenting to make the customer experience as engaging and intuitive as possible. We know from the development of ShopAppi, our mobile shopper loyalty programme, that offering too much – and trying too hard to be ‘hip’ – isn’t what consumers want.
My advice to retailers is to get rid of anything superfluous that doesn’t enhance the business proposition or encourage conversion. We use analysis metrics on an ongoing basis to understand where the critical ‘drop off’ points are in the process.
Faster is better on mobile
Speed is key. Research by Aberdeen found that a one second delay in load time equals a 7% loss in conversion. Retailers need to think about what will make the experience faster and simpler. After all, this is one of the main reasons why people choose mobile over desktop.
Firstly, don’t make signing up – or the payment process – a chore, as it will decrease conversion rates. Consumers don’t have the time (or patience) to fill out their life history. Simple things like including ‘.com’ prompts when entering an email address, and automatic number fields when filling in card numbers, are the kind of quick wins that are easily to implement – and consumers respond well to these simple improvements. Investing in these useful, non-gimmicky functions will lead to more positive app/mobile engagement, which in turn will lead to higher transactions, ratings and brand impressions.
Use mobile to personalise the in-store experience
Mobile is the bridge between the real life and digital experience – and retailers need to examine how they can leverage this, as customers move fluidly between online and offline channels. Research by Accenture found 46% of Generation Z consumers will go in-store to get more information about a product before making a purchase. For retailers with a high street presence, mobile is key for linking the online and offline experience, using go-targeting marketing tactics such as highlighting in-store promotions to drive footfall.
Waitrose is a good example of a retailer integrating mobile into the in-store experience. grocer has just announced the development of its QuickCheck app, which allows consumers to scan items using their smartphone cameras. This replaces the traditional handheld scanners, making the shopping experience more seamless for customers. The benefit for Waitrose is it can collect shopping data to use for targeted online marketing, such as offering recipes and menus, or deliver special offers.
Learn from the best
ASOS is a leading force when it comes to mobile – it was voted the most popular retail app in the UK by customers in a survey by ARC. And 70% of the site’s traffic, and 58% of all its orders, now come from mobile. One of the reasons it’s earned this accolade is because of its excellent search function – which is soon to become even more sophisticated. Chairman Nick Beighton recently announced the retailer is experimenting with visual search technologies based on screenshots and social media pictures, as well as photographs. Its loyalty programme also rewards consumers with a £5 voucher for every £100 spent – an incentive for consumers to return.
With its millennial focus, ASOS was quick to recognise the power of social media as a place to drive brand engagement and inspire purchases. Its social strategy is paying off – earlier this year it announced it has seen a 25% increase in its global audience during the six-month period to 21.3 million followers. Social media platforms are becoming part of the e-commerce journey; the Accenture study found 68% of UK shoppers aged 20 and under are interested in buying goods directly through social media channels. And there’s evidence this interest is leading to conversion – Shopify estimates Facebook has the highest conversion rate for all social media ecommerce traffic at 1.85%. Retailers should learn from ASOS’ inspiring, engaging social content which is an important step towards conversion.
Understand your proposition
One of the mistakes I see retailers make is creating an app because they feel they ‘should’ have one. This isn’t enough of a reason. It needs to make sense as part of the overall business proposition. Examine your brand to understand what makes sense in terms of mobile engagement. Innovations should add to your proposition, enhance the customer experience and increase loyalty. If your user experience is bad, word will spread quickly and the financial implications can be huge. Look at the app economy for insights and learn from the key players. M-commerce is only going to increase in the coming years, so take the time to invest in a strategy that makes sense as part of the long-term vision for the brand.
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New Post has been published on Globeinfrom
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Apple now forbids apps to mention charge of their call
For a long time, iOS and Mac builders have published apps on the App Store which reference the software program’s fee inside the name. It may seem a bit crude to jot down “[Your App Name Here] — Free [App Function],” however it places essential information in which users can easily see it. (And the word “Unfastened” is more attractive than the word “Get,” which Apple uses for its Free-to-down load apps.) Now, although, the iPhone-maker is cracking down on this practice, which it’s long discouraged.
Consistent with a report from VentureBeat, filing an app to the App Save or Mac App Keep with the word “Unfastened” in the title now earns you a rejection, and this response:
Your app’s call, icons, screenshots, or previews to be displayed on the App Store encompass references on your app’s price, which isn’t taken into consideration a part of these metadata objects.
Please get rid of any references to your app’s price out of your app’s call, consisting of any references to your app being Unfastened or discounted. If you would like to put it on the market changes to your app’s rate, it might be suitable to encompass this statistics in the app description. modifications for your app’s fee can be made within the Pricing and Availability segment of iTunes Connect. Apple confirmed the newly enforced policy (which additionally applies to screenshots of apps) to VentureBeat and AppleInsider. However, it’s not clear if or when existing apps which mention fee in their name can also be compelled to change. Google’s iOS Pressure app, as an example, is listed at the App Shop as “Google Force — Unfastened online storage.”
Apple App Save Birthday party Marks five Years of Fulfillment
Ought to you’ve got imagined a time whilst you performed a number of video games, took images and downloaded it in your Instagram, then shared your experiences with the sector out of your Apple app Shop? Honestly, we now realize they’re referred to as Apps. Sure, they’re part of our existence now. they may be on tablets and Smartphones and that they deliver us color to our generation enjoy. In terms of the most important series of mobile apps, Apple grabs the crown Apple’s iPhone constantly gives a better experience in view that they took gain of the technology that is built inside the tool Apple began the apps 5 years in the past, July. 10, 2008.
Apple App Shop and iPhone enjoy
Apple’s iPhone is new to the world in spite of the 5 years experience of Apple app Store. With about ten pre-loaded apps, which includes YouTube, the digital camera, and Google Maps. Apple’s innovative philosopher-CEO Steve Jobs defined the iPhone as new software program this is an expanding universe that might be acquired effortlessly with the aid of clicking the icon on the tool’s domestic display screen. From the iTunes Save, there are about 500 apps consisting of Fb, eBay and Notable Monkey Ball. Some 900,000 apps at the moment are to be had. About 50 billion have been downloaded.
Consistent with Richard Doherty of Envisioneering Institution, the five-12 months anniversary of the Apple Keep is a huge deal than the (contemporary sixth) anniversary of the iPhone because things have modified a lot. Since the Apple app Store has boomed, most of the people have forgotten about the traditional laptop and computer systems. The sales of Pc have always been stagnating, and of the path, human beings knew that Microsoft has an extended dominance. However, the beginning of Apple app Save has changed the world of generation. It helped the narrow room to turn into a large billion greenback idea for hundreds of app developers, and as a consequence restored the fortunes of the suffering tune facility.
Apple App Shop revel in With Google Play
At some point of the Apple App Shop launches, the iPhone grabbed the identity because the satisfactory-acquired Smartphone Google added, forty-eight billion apps which have been downloaded from Google Play Save for Android gadgets, launched as an Android Market in October 2008. These days, there are extra Android telephones in use than Apple’s iPhone due to the popular Samsung Galaxy S.
The Forecasted Destiny of the Apps
The 0.33 maximum downloaded apps from Apple Save is Instagram, with Pandora the personalized music career as wide variety two and Facebook as the number one. Pandora executives left a declaration that the iPhone app has modified the whole lot for the organization and became supplied because of the first broadly disbursed Free tune app. Throughout the primary release of the App Save, Pandora had registered customers of around 13 million. Today, it reached two hundred million.
10 Belongings you Want Earlier than You Write An Apple App
You’ve got seen the wonderful data on Apple Apps and the way everyday parents are achieving Achievement with writing apps for the iPhone and iPad. Nicely, the primary component I can let you know is which you’re proper! The Apple App Store is taking the world by a hurricane (exceeding greater than 2 billion downloads). And my suspicion is that that is all simply the start.
The problem is, how do you move about writing an app? In truth, what do you Want Earlier than you being app development? Nicely, it really is in which this text will assist. I will offer you with 10 Belongings you Want Earlier than you begin writing your Apple app. Even In case you’ve never advanced content material for a mobile device, or In case you’re new to software program improvement, you should realize that getting to know iPhone improvement can be a fun and worthwhile experience.
1. Get a Mac OS X Pc To expand programs for the iPhone OS, you Need a Mac OS X Computer walking the Xcode tools. Xcode is Apple’s suite of development tools that provide help for challenge control, code editing, building executables and debugging.
I know many of you is probably Computer users are some of you would possibly balk on the concept of the use of a Mac. Properly, my advice is – supply the Mac a chance. I have many pals who had been once die-tough Pc users who’ve now converted to the Mac. Why? because they want to put in writing apps! And once they made the switch – they determined the Mac to be a lot less complicated to use and an actually enjoyable revel in.
2. download the SDK Apple distributes an iPhone app software program development kit (SDK). You’ll absolutely Need to download this and read it from front to returned. Do not worry, it’s extra complicated than it appears. supply it time and you may soon be on the app development bandwagon.
three. Analyze Goal-C Mac packages are written in Goal-C Apple additionally delivered a unique abstraction API for Goal-C referred to as Cocoa Contact for iPhone (and iPod Contact) development.
Goal-C will come pretty naturally to those who’ve programmed in C, C++ or Java Earlier than. Now, In case you’re new to programming, Objective-C might be a project.
Try and seize a primary e-book on programming to Earlier than you get into the nuts and bolts of Goal-C. One of the higher books for getting to know Goal-C is the Programming in Goal-C by Stephen G. Kochan. It does no longer count on you have got any previous understanding of this area.
4. Grow to be An Authorised Apple Developer Turning into a Permitted developer for Apple apps takes some time. Many humans do now not realize this. I listen that there may be a six-month ready list to be an Authorised developer. A few have speculated that the time to wait may additionally decrease now that interest within the iPhone and iPad has hit the roof worldwide.
Becoming a standard developer best gets you into the App Keep. Of direction, it truly is the only manner to distribute your programs, so it is a necessary a part of the method.
five. Studies Your App As in all matters associated with software development, the intention of your app can be to provide a way to a hard and fast of quit customers.
Ensure you Research your app. There may be no point just jumping in to put in writing apps which don’t meet any consumer needs. 12 months ago you could easily write an app that did A few nonsense (e.G. Make a fart noise) and expect humans to download it. it really is no longer going to happen anymore. If you need an app this is famous, you Need to make it useful.
Generally, in cell device improvement, your target market is a person on the cross. Those who use mobile programs need to have quick interactions. They honestly do not need to jot down a phrase document on the cross. They want to do useful matters by means of simply urgent a button or.
The opposite tip I have is to think of the Apple iPhone as a pocket Pc. for instance, successful applications like Pandora that have normally struggled in a desktop setting now flourish as a pocket Laptop solution. when making plans your application reflect consideration on what is specific to the iPhone that may be applied to your app.
6. Write For Portability What do I mean by portability? Properly, relying on which frameworks (major components of the iPhone SDK) are used to your utility, your app may not paintings on every iPhone device. for instance, a software that makes use of the digital camera, compass or microphone will work on an iPhone however no longer an iPod Touch.
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Everything Marketers Need to Know About Instagram Reels
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Everything Marketers Need to Know About Instagram Reels
Throughout the past two years, two of the most popular apps used by Gen Z and younger millennials were Instagram and TikTok.
While Instagram steadily pulled in more than 1 billion active users since its 2016 debut, TikTok made news when it surpassed 1 billion global downloads within 18 months of its launch.
Both networks have solid benefits and entertainment factors.. While Instagram’s visual layout allows users to see images, videos, Stories, and live streams from their favorite accounts, TikTok provides an endless feed of short, entertaining video clips.
But, late this summer, as countries including the U.S. considered banning TikTok due to privacy concerns, Instagram launched a handful of new audio and video editing features that are quite similar to what users would find on TikTok. This new set of mobile features, which can be accessed in the Stories section of the Instagram app, has been dubbed Instagram Reels.
What is Instagram Reels
Reels is an Instagram app feature that allows users to film or upload three to 15-second videos that they can edit, sound dub, or add effects to before sharing in their feed, Stories, or Instagram Explore tab.
Aside from allowing users to record videos with sound or audio overlays, the Reels camera and editor also includes the following features:
More editing tools: These include augmented reality effects, transitions, and the ability to speed up or slow down videos.
Audio attribution: If a user uploads native audio, other users can overlay the sound in their videos while the app credits the original user’s account for it.
Stitchable takes: This enables users to share a video with just one long take or a combination of quicker takes.
Shareability on the Instagram Feed, Explore, Stories, and your profile: Depending on the privacy settings of your profile, you can share Reels with just friends on your Stories or profile, or publicly in the Reels area of Explore.
Mobile-only: Unlike Instagram profiles and Stories, you can’t view or upload Reels on a desktop.
Right now, it’s worth noting that ads are not yet supported in the Reels area of Instagram Explore. But since Reels show up in this public part of the app, and can be seen by people who don’t follow your brand, your business has the opportunity to reach new audiences across the globe.
At the time of this post, we also don’t know how the Instagram algorithm works for presenting Reels to audiences. But, based on our exploration of the Reels feed within Explore, it seems much like TikTok in that it prioritizes posts by location, people you follow, and content similar to what you’ve engaged with recently.
Why Instagram Launched Reels
According to Instagram — which started testing Reels in Brazil in November 2019 and launched the feature globally this August — the brand wanted to give users more content creation opportunities on its app.
“We’re excited to introduce Instagram Reels: a new way for anyone — people, creators, and businesses — to create and discover short, entertaining videos on Instagram,” notes an August announcement from Instagram.
While Instagram hasn’t acknowledged TikTok’s success or competition as a reason for launching Reels, several tech journalists have suggested that this was a strategic move.
“Instagram’s short-form video feature, Reels, launched Wednesday. Instagram is swooping in at a vulnerable time for its largest competitor, TikTok. Reels allows users to create 15-second clips, like TikTok, and share them publicly or with friends within the Instagram app,” wrote CNBC’s Jessica Bursztynsky.
While Reels is Instagram’s first attempt at launching similar features to TikTok, this certainly isn’t the first time a Facebook-owned company has launched similar video editing offerings.
In 2018, amid TikTok’s early success, Facebook quietly launched a competing app called Lasso.
Lasso, which offered similar portrait-style feed and video editing tools to TikTok, had fewer than 80,000 app downloads by June 2020. In July, one month before the launch of Reels, Lasso was discontinued.
“We place multiple bets across our family of apps to test and learn how people want to express themselves. One of these tests was Lasso, our stand-alone short-form video app, which we have decided to shut down. We thank everyone who shared their creativity and feedback with us, which we’ll look to incorporate in our other video experiences,” a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch.
At this point, knowing the history mentioned above, some marketers might wonder, “Will Instagram Reels be a great TikTok alternative for my brand, or will it fail like other TikTok competitors?”
The question above is fair. After all, as a marketer, you’ll only want to invest time and money into platforms with a solid track record, loyal audience, and great brand awareness opportunities, rather than those that could be discontinued a short time later.
While Reels might have been flocked to by Gen Z if TikTok were banned, TikTok’s partnership deal with Oracle and Walmart has ensured that this app will remain active in many countries — at least for now. This means that even if Reels is successful, some audiences might still spend all of their time surfing TikTok.
On the other hand, Instagram is a widely-used platform that has successfully launched competitive social media features before. Remember when the brand launched Stories and eventually surpassed the user count of Snapchat, which launched this feature first?
At the moment, it’s not clear whether Reels will be as successful as TikTok. But, since the feature only requires you to expand your Instagram strategy, rather than building out TikTok tactics from scratch, it could still be a great place for brands to test out highly experimental short-form content.
If you’re intrigued by Instagram Reels and ready to try it out, below I’ll walk through how brands are already using the feature, steps for creating Reels content, and a few takeaways marketers should keep in mind as they build it into their Instagram marketing.
How Brands Already Use Reels
Emmy Mae Bridal
Fashion and beauty are perfect for Reels, as is evident by this Reel from Emmy Mae Bridal in Queensland, Australia.
In Emmy Rae’s Reels, the brand presents videos and imagery of their wedding attire to the sounds classy music. Although we can’t embed Reels, here’s a screenshot of recent content the company posted.
Earth Official
The travel industry is also finding Reels to be an excellent way to reach people. In this piece of Reels content, Earth Official, an account that highlights travel content, deals, and influencers, shows beautiful footage of Thailand’s lantern festival with native audio.
Critical Care Now
If your business isn’t exactly consumer-facing, Reels might still fit into your Instagram strategy, depending on how well you’ve cultivated your audience and how creative your content team is.
In the Reels post below from CriticalCareNow, an informative Instagram account run by resuscitation expert Haney Mallemat, Mallemat educates viewers about central and peripheral arterial lines used in the emergency response field.
Think the topic of the Reel above was too informative or formal for Instagram’s audience? Think again. At the time this blog post was written, this Reel had more than 30,200 views. Pretty amazing for content that isn’t the latest dance move.
Haney’s Reel might be so engaging because he’s done a great job of building a large, niche audience of over 24,000 Instagram followers and learned what types of content they value. While more followers could certainly get you more views, creating Reels around what your audience and similar users want to watch can also take your engagement a long way.
How to Use Instagram Reels
Enter Reels mode within Instagram Stories.
Explore the editing tools.
Hold Record to begin filming, or upload a pre-recorded video.
Add last-minute effects.
Prepare to publish your Reel.
View your Reels.
Share your Reels.
Monitor your performance.
Watch Reels from other accounts.
1. Enter Reels mode within Instagram Stories.
To get started with Reels, open the Instagram Stories camera and tap Reels.
2. Explore the editing tools.
Before and after you record footage on your Reels camera, you’ll see four editing icons on the left side of your camera screen.
The tools you’ll see include:
Sound: Which enables you to add a pre-recorded sound from other users or Reels’ featured song list to your content.
Playback Speed: This allows you to speed up or slow down content.
Effects: Tapping this icon, which looks like an emoji outline, allows you to add stickers and filter effects to your video. The filters for Reels are similar to Instagram Stories and many of these effects crossover between both video formats
Timer: If you can’t hold down the Record button for the full clip, but want to make a video that lasts for a certain amount of time, you can tap this icon to set recording time for your clip. When you press record, a countdown of three seconds will appear on your screen before Reels starts to record. Then Reels will automatically film for the amount of time you designated.
3. Hold Record to begin filming, or upload a pre-recorded video.
Once you press and hold the record button, you’ll start filming a clip. If you let go of the record button, but still have time left in your Reel video, you can hold the record button again to start a second clip that will begin immediately after the first ends.
As you record one or multiple clips for your Reel, the progress bar at the top of the screen shows you how much recording time you have left.
Alternatively, if you’ve already recorded a great video or TikTok that you think will be engaging on Reels, you can tap the camera icon to upload clips from your camera roll.
4. Add last-minute effects.
If you didn’t add effects before the video started recording, but want to after seeing how it came out, you can add stickers, drawings, and text to your Reel before publishing.
When you are finished, tap the arrow at the bottom when you’re ready to publish. Again, these effects are nearly the same as those you’ll see on Instagram Stories.
5. Prepare to publish your Reel.
When you press the arrow after reviewing the video and adding any last-minute effects, you’ll be taken to the post screen, where you can choose a cover image, write a caption, add hashtags, and publish your video to Reels.
6. View your Reels.
Once you’ve published one or more Reels, this content will appear on the Explore page, as well as a tab on your profile.
7. Share your Reels.
Along with posting Reels for Explore audiences, you can also post them to your feed which will also cause them to appear on your main profile grid. Reels can also be sent as direct messages or even posted to your Instagram Stories. Unless you share a Reel so it appears on your main grid, the content will behave like a Story and disappear within 24 hours.
8. Monitor your performance.
Currently, to view any insights for a Reel, you need to view the post itself. At this time, there isn’t a way to view the analytics of your Reels within Instagram Insights. Instead, look at the likes and comments to get a sense of engagement.
9. Watch Reels from other accounts.
To access Reels, simply go to search and you’ll see a featured Reel. Tap that and then you can easily scroll through the clips. From there, you can follow users and like, share, and comment on reels directly. You can find Reels on specific topics by searching for hashtags.
What to Keep in Mind with Instagram Reels
As you consider Reels, TikTok, and other emerging social media platforms in your marketing strategy, it’s important to weigh the pros, cons, and key marketing takeaways when determining if a channel or feature is right for your team.
Here are just a few things to remember as you consider Reels:
Reels competes against a unique, viral sensation:
Although Instagram has a huge audience that is loyal to its platform, many Gen Z users are used to going to TikTok for viral videos and general entertainment. Because the app has pulled in astounding fan loyalty in its short lifespan, you might find that Reels don’t have the same viral opportunities that TikTok videos might have.
What works on TikTok might not work on Reels
TikTok is a highly experimental platform with a younger, but huge, global audience. Because of these factors, there aren’t many rules about what you should and shouldn’t post on there. Meanwhile, Instagram has been around for years, has a slightly older audience, and has some content norms or audience expectations set in place
If you’ve already posted a handful of TikTok videos and want to test them on Reels, you can consider uploading a few, watching how they perform, and learning more about what works well on both platforms.
However, as you learn the differences between TikTok and Instagram audiences, you might find that high-performing TikToks aren’t as engaging to your Reels audience. If this is the case, you might want to consider creating specialized content for Reels.
There aren’t ad opportunities just yet.
Although you’ll want to keep the points above in mind as you consider testing out Reels, you’ll also want to remember the opportunities it offers. For example, Reels might be a great option for you if you’ve mastered Instagram, know what content your audiences want, and are eager to test out TikTok-styled content without using time and resources to build a full TikTok app strategy.
If you do begin to test out Reels, it can’t hurt to brush up on your Instagram marketing skills and Instagram platform knowledge to ensure that your profile, other content, and — ultimately — your Reels will be on point for your brand and optimized for brand awareness.
Be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide for Instagram Marketing, or sign up for the free HubSpot Academy course below.
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