#successful ad optimization

[brightbrainsposts]

https://www.brightbraintech.com/blog/guide-to-improving-ad-sucess-with-ab-testing/

[leparrain0071]

Mastering Instagram Marketing

In the ever-evolving world of social media, Instagram stands out as a powerful platform for businesses and individuals alike. Building a real, engaged following on Instagram can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and success. The “Modern Instagram Marketing” video course offers a step-by-step guide to achieving just that. Let’s dive into the most important features of this course and how it can help you master Instagram marketing.

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Don’t miss out on this limited special offer! Click here to download the “Modern Instagram Marketing” video course and start building a real, engaged following on Instagram today!

Why Choose the Modern Instagram Marketing Video Course?

“Modern Instagram Marketing” video course is designed to provide you with actionable strategies and insights to build a genuine following on Instagram. Here are some of the key features that make this course a must-have for anyone looking to excel in Instagram marketing:

1. Reverse Engineering Competitor Success

One of the most effective ways to understand what works on Instagram is to analyze your competitors. This course teaches you how to:

Identify and list your competitors

Analyze their Instagram profiles, content strategies, and hashtags

Reverse engineer their success to identify common hashtags, popular content, and effective sales funnel strategies

By understanding what works for your competitors, you can replicate and improve upon their strategies to gain a competitive edge.

2. Curating Top-Notch Content

Content is king on Instagram, and this course emphasizes the importance of creating high-quality, engaging content. You’ll learn how to:

Improve existing niche content by updating it, enhancing production quality, and adding more details

Use better hashtags and create a compelling series

Leverage an influencer distribution network and include effective calls to action

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Don’t miss out on this limited special offer! Click here to download the “Modern Instagram Marketing” video course and start building a real, engaged following on Instagram today!

3. Adopting a Content-First sales funnel

A content-first approach is crucial for converting raw traffic into loyal followers and customers. The course explains the KLT (Know, Like, Trust) process and how to:

Build trust through multi-page strategies

Walk visitors through the trust stage with controlled messaging

4. Utilizing Facebook’s Ad Retargeting System

Retargeting is a powerful tool for pulling Instagram users deeper into your funnel. This course teaches you how to:

Use an episodic profile link that changes based on your marketing campaign’s content

Retarget visitors who click deeper into your site or visit product/order pages

Draw truly interested people back to your content

5. Interacting with Niche-Specific Influencers

Influencer marketing can significantly boost your reach and engagement. The course provides insights into:

Identifying real influencers with genuine engagement and conversions

Avoiding fake influencers with low engagement ratios and overly commercial accounts

Starting with a low and slow buy to focus on accounts that deliver results

6. Continuously Optimizing Your Funnel

Optimization is key to maintaining and improving your Instagram marketing efforts. The course covers:

Elemental optimization of profile URLs, photos, tags, descriptions, and posting times

Looking for increased click-through rates, dwell time, deep clicks, and better conversion rates

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I identify fake influencers?

A: Look for signs such as a roughly equal number of followers and following, a low total engagement ratio, little engagement with fans, and an overly commercial account.

Q: What is the KLT process?

A: The KLT process stands for Know, Like, Trust. It’s a strategy to build trust with your audience through content marketing, walking them through the trust stage with controlled messaging.

Q: Why is retargeting important?

A: Retargeting helps remind people to come back to your content, drawing truly interested individuals deeper into your funnel and increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Don’t miss out on this limited special offer! Click here to download the “Modern Instagram Marketing” video course and start building a real, engaged following on Instagram today!

By following the strategies and insights provided in the “Modern Instagram Marketing” video course, you’ll be well on your way to mastering Instagram marketing and achieving your goals. Don’t wait—start your journey to Instagram success now!

[digitalrhetoricpune]

Facebook Ads Metrics Explained: What to Track and Why

1. Click-Through Rate (CTR)

CTR is one of the most crucial metrics in assessing the relevance and engagement level of your Facebook Ads. It is calculated as the percentage of users who clicked on your ad after seeing it. A high CTR indicates that your ad resonates with your target audience.

Why Track CTR?

Determines the effectiveness of your ad creative and messaging.

Helps in identifying underperforming ads that require optimization.

Influences your ad’s Quality Score, ultimately impacting CPM (Cost Per Mille) and ad placement.

How to Optimize CTR:

Use compelling visuals and clear calls-to-action.

Test different ad formats and copy variations.

2. Cost Per Mille (CPM)

CPM refers to the cost you pay for every 1,000 impressions of your ad. It is a critical metric for understanding the cost efficiency of your campaign.

Why Track CPM?

Provides insights into how competitive your target audience is.

Helps in budgeting for broader reach campaigns.

How to Optimize CPM:

Narrow your audience targeting to reduce competition.

Improve ad relevance by focusing on audience-specific content.

3. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

ROAS measures the revenue generated for every dollar spent on Facebook Ads. It is a direct indicator of your campaign’s profitability.

Why Track ROAS?

Helps evaluate the financial performance of your ad campaigns.

Identifies which ads, audiences, or products drive the most revenue.

How to Track ROAS Effectively:

Use Facebook’s conversion tracking tools.

Integrate Facebook Pixel to monitor website activities and sales.

4. Engagement Metrics

Engagement metrics include likes, shares, comments, and reactions. While these may not directly contribute to sales, they are essential for building brand awareness and trust.

Why Track Engagement Metrics?

Indicates the emotional and social impact of your ads.

Helps gauge audience interest in your brand.

How to Boost Engagement:

Post engaging and interactive content.

Use videos or carousel ads to capture more attention.

5. Conversion Rate

Conversion rate is the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a form.

Why Track Conversion Rate?

Measures how well your ads are driving actions aligned with your campaign objectives.

Indicates the effectiveness of your landing pages and sales funnel.

How to Improve Conversion Rate:

Ensure your landing pages are optimized for speed and relevance.

Use retargeting to re-engage users who didn’t convert initially.

6. Frequency

Frequency refers to the average number of times a single user sees your ad. While repeated exposure can increase brand recall, excessive frequency can lead to ad fatigue.

Why Track Frequency?

Helps maintain a balance between visibility and annoyance.

Affects the overall performance and ROI of your campaign.

How to Manage Frequency:

Cap the frequency in your campaign settings.

Regularly refresh your ad creatives.

7. Ad Placement Metrics

Facebook offers multiple ad placements, including the news feed, stories, and audience network. Each placement has its performance metrics.

Why Track Placement Metrics?

Identifies the best-performing placements for your ads.

Allows budget allocation to the most effective channels.

How to Optimize Placements:

Use automatic placements for better algorithm optimization.

Analyze placement-specific performance data.

8. Bounce Rate

Bounce rate measures the percentage of users who clicked on your ad but left your website without taking any action.

Why Track Bounce Rate?

Indicates the relevance of your landing page.

Helps identify issues with user experience.

How to Reduce Bounce Rate:

Ensure landing pages align with ad content.

Simplify navigation and reduce page load times.

Why Facebook Ads Analytics Matter

Understanding and analyzing Facebook Ads Performance Metrics is critical for achieving your advertising goals. Metrics like CTR, CPM, and ROAS provide actionable insights into how your campaigns are performing, enabling you to make data-driven decisions.

As a trusted PPC Marketing Agency in Pune, we specialize in CTR and CPM Optimization and helping businesses Track ROAS Effectively. By focusing on these metrics, you can measure success, refine strategies, and maximize your ROI.

[trendoptimizer]

Achieve your YouTube revenue goals faster with Tube Magic AI! 💸✨ This powerful tool helps you optimize content, increase views, and boost ad revenue effortlessly. Your path to YouTube success just got smarter! 🚀🎥 Click this link : https://tinyurl.com/3tyr7c8x

[strategichannah]

November Prep: Get Ahead for the Holidays

Get a head start on the holiday season with our November prep guide! 🎄 Learn 5 strategies to boost engagement and drive sales this November. #HolidayMarketing

November Prep: Get Ahead for the Holidays Written By: that Hannah Jones Time to Read: 6 minutes The holiday season is quickly approaching, and for businesses, that means planning for one of the busiest, most profitable times of the year. A successful holiday campaign doesn’t just happen overnight—it takes strategy, preparation, and a solid marketing plan to reach your audience and maximize…

[isubhamdas]

Remarketing Strategies for Conversion & Retention

Boost conversions by leveraging targeted remarketing strategies. Learn how to revive customer interest and increase conversions with expert insights and real-world examples. Continue reading to learn more. What Is Remarketing?Why Is Remarketing Important for customer retention?How to Implement a Successful Remarketing CampaignExpert Tips & Suggestions on Using Remarketing for customer…

[reactheme]

Classified Ad Success Metrics: Measuring and Optimizing Your Results

Running classified ads can be a powerful way to reach potential buyers or renters. But how do you know if your ads are actually working?

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key metrics you should be tracking to measure the success of your classified ads and optimize them for better results.

We’ll cover everything from impressions and click-through rates to conversion rates and cost-effectiveness. By understanding these metrics, you can ensure your classified ads are reaching the right audience and generating the results you desire. So, without further ado, let’s dig deeper. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Classified Ads

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential metrics that help assess the success and effectiveness of classified ads campaigns. When measuring the performance of classified ads, consider the following KPIs. 

i. Click-through rate (CTR)

CTR is the ratio of users who click on the ad to the number of total users who view the ad. It indicates the effectiveness of your ad in capturing the audience’s attention.

ii. Conversion rate

Conversion rate measures the percentage of users who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form, after clicking on the classified ad.

iii. Cost per click (CPC)

CPC is the amount you pay for each click on your ad. Monitoring CPC helps in managing the budget effectively and optimizing the ad campaign for cost efficiency.

iv. Ad impressions

This KPI represents the total number of times your ad is displayed to users. Higher impressions may indicate better visibility, but it’s crucial to ensure that the impressions are reaching the right target audience.

v. Ad position

Track the position of your classified ad on the platform. Ads placed higher on the page often receive more visibility and clicks.

vi. Return on investment (ROI)

Calculate the return on investment by comparing the revenue generated from the classified ad campaign to the total cost of running the campaign. A positive ROI indicates a successful campaign.

vii. Lead generation

Measure the number of leads generated through the classified ads. This could include form submissions, phone inquiries, or other actions that signify potential customer interest.

viii. Engagement metrics

Evaluate user engagement with the ad, including metrics like time spent on the landing page, the number of pages viewed, and interaction with the ad (likes, shares, and comments).

ix. Ad quality score

Some platforms assign a quality score to ads based on relevance and engagement. A higher quality score can result in better ad placement and lower costs.

x. Customer acquisition cost (CAC)

Calculate the cost required to acquire a new customer through the classified ad campaign. This helps in understanding the efficiency of your advertising spend.

xi. Ad copy and creative performance

Assess the performance of different ad copies and creatives to understand which messages and visuals resonate best with your target audience.

xii. Geographic and demographic metrics

Analyze the performance of your classified ads based on geographic locations and demographic information. This can help refine targeting strategies.

Read Full Article: https://reactheme.com/classified-ad-success-metrics/

[dotitio]

How can I create a modern and best website for my business?

To create a modern and effective website for your business, follow these steps:

Define Your Goals: Determine the primary objectives of your website, such as showcasing your products or services, generating leads, or increasing online sales.

Understand Your Audience: Identify your target audience and understand their needs, preferences, and online behavior. Tailor your website design and content to appeal to your target demographic.

Choose a Reliable Platform: Select a user-friendly website building platform that suits your needs and technical expertise. Popular options include WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify.

Design a Clean and Responsive Layout: Create a modern and visually appealing design for your website. Use a clean layout, high-quality images, and consistent branding elements to convey professionalism and trustworthiness. Ensure that your website is responsive and optimized for viewing on various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Optimize for SEO: Implement search engine optimization (SEO) best practices to improve your website's visibility in search engine results. This includes optimizing your website's structure, content, meta tags, and images for relevant keywords. Consider hiring SEO experts from dotit.io to ensure the best results.

Provide Valuable Content: Create informative, engaging, and relevant content that educates and informs your audience. Include compelling headlines, clear calls-to-action, and multimedia elements to capture visitors' attention and encourage them to explore further.

Integrate Social Media: Incorporate social media integration features into your website to encourage social sharing and engagement. Add social media buttons, feeds, and sharing options to enable visitors to connect with your brand on various platforms.

Include Contact Information: Make it easy for visitors to contact you by including clear and prominent contact information on your website. Provide multiple contact options, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and contact forms, to accommodate different preferences.

Test and Iterate: Continuously monitor and analyze your website's performance using web analytics tools. Test different design elements, content formats, and calls-to-action to optimize your website for conversions and user engagement.

By following these steps and leveraging the expertise of professionals from dotit.io, you can create a modern and best website for your business that effectively communicates your brand message, attracts visitors, and drives results.

[businesssinfo]

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[sy-on-boy]

Real talk: the fact that Anya expects to read Demetrius’ mind but sees nothing is kind of sad because Demetrius saw his 6yo brother approach and congratulate him, and had zero thoughts in his brain. But that doesn’t mean Demetrius doesn’t care about him. When Damian stutters, Demetrius initiates conversation by talking about Damian’s grades, showing that he indeed pays attention.

Demetrius seems almost resentful by Damian’s insistence to impress Donovan, giving out a snarky, passive aggressive, teen appropriate response: “How would I know? It’s not as if I’m in regular contact with him.” This is like the passive aggressive version of whatever is going on with Melinda. Damian is a relatively innocent 6yo kid seeking his father’s approval, but both his mother and his brother appear to be seriously affected (in a bad way) by Donovan, and they avoid talking about Donovan even as Damian repeatedly mentions him. Demetrius doesn’t understand Damian’s desire for their father’s approval. He also doesn’t understand his father, hinting at some sort of disconnect between them.

What also saddens me a bit is how Demetrius barely acknowledged Damian’s friends talking to him. Like, they’re six year old kids trying to make a good impression. Still, Demetrius didn’t completely ignore them, just gave a meaningless “oh” and decided to stop thinking about people. It’s very much giving “stressed (and depressed) to the point of apathy”. When facing the innocence (ignorance?) and optimism of 6yo kids, Demetrius doesn’t understand. (And maybe he doesn’t understand friendship, which is what Damian has?)

I mentioned before that characters Anya met are probably “good” characters on the side of Forgers or at least are sympathetic to readers. Because if Anya met a “bad” character and read their mind, she would be too OP and the plot could be quickly solved. It’s like how we all thought Melinda was suspicious when she met Yor, but then Anya met Melinda and read her mind to reveal that she cares about Damian (even if it’s in a twisted way). Demetrius is interesting because he subverts what I said above by thinking very little, so Anya cannot really read him. But so far, I think his portrayal is that of a typical middle schooler with middle school angst, and he cares about Damian even if he has zero thoughts on his brain (and doesn’t like the way Damian craves fatherly approval). He is still a child and presumably a victim of his father’s parenting.

The framing is also interesting. Damian telling his friends to go on without him while he waits for Demetrius. The panel of Demetrius towering over a stuttering Damian. Demetrius going away, showing a panel of him as a small figure in an otherwise blank background. That panel when Anya thinks Damian’s relatives are weird has her looking at Damian while he’s some distance away from her (and the rest of his friends). The brothers feel disconnected. Damian is both eager and nervous to talk to Demetrius. Demetrius is nonchalant and apathetic, but not impolite or outwardly wholly dismissive.

Given Damian’s wacky family situation, I’m glad he has friends at Eden. Ewen and Emile of course are steadfast and loyal companions, always eager to back up their beloved boss man. Anya can read his mind and she knows about his insecurities (and also his weird family).

Becky is also good as a friend because she doesn’t care about sucking up to Damian, she often calls him out, but she also supports Damian when he deserves it. A sweet scene here is Damian saying he’s a Desmond so he’s expected to get a star, and Becky adding “it’s still a great achievement. Congrats!”. Becky is validating his success and telling Damian it’s okay to be proud and happy for himself. Even though she’s usually judgemental towards Damian, she’s still kind to him because that’s who she is as a character.

In the end, Damian still wants his father’s attention. He had no idea Demetrius wasn’t that close to their father… I would assume Demetrius spent most of his time at Eden and this is Damian’s first year at Eden, so he actually gets to interact with his brother instead of hearing things about him?

So far, Demetrius seems like a very jaded character in contrast to Damian who feels like a beam of sunshine now. He’s the heir so he’s got more troubles. But it’s nice that he’s finally debuted and no longer in mystery. Can’t wait to see what Endo has in store for him :)

[leparrain0071]

Mastering Modern Instagram Marketing: A Comprehensive Guide

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, Instagram stands out as a powerful platform for brands to connect with their audience. However, many marketers struggle to achieve success on Instagram. This article delves into the key reasons for failure and provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful Instagram marketing strategy. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting, this guide will help you navigate the complexities of Instagram marketing and achieve your business goals.

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Purchase our comprehensive guide, “Modern Instagram Marketing,” and unlock the secrets to building a successful brand persona, optimizing your content, and driving real conversions. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your Instagram strategy and achieve your business goals.

Why Most Marketers Fail on Instagram

Understanding the common pitfalls is the first step toward success. Here are the top reasons why marketers fail on Instagram:

One-time Big-time Paid Marketing Campaigns: Relying solely on a single, large-scale paid campaign is not sustainable.

Promoting Direct Conversion Links: Directly linking to sales or squeeze pages can be off-putting to users.

Unreasonable suspicion of influencers: distrusting influencers can limit your reach and engagement.

Choosing to be Anti-social: Lack of outreach and engagement with your community can hinder growth.

Relying on Sub-standard Photos or Videos: Poor quality content will not attract or retain followers.

Build it, and They Will Come Content Strategy: Simply posting content without a strategy is ineffective.

Failure to Repost Others’ Niche-specific Content: Not engaging with relevant content from others can limit your visibility.

Failing to Call IG Feed Viewers to Action: Without clear calls to action, users may not engage with your content.

Using no hashtags or the wrong ones: Incorrect use of hashtags can severely limit your reach.

Posting Off-niche Content: Content that doesn’t align with your niche can confuse your audience.

Fundamentals for Success on Instagram

To avoid these pitfalls, focus on the following fundamentals:

The Right Mindset: Approach Instagram marketing with a strategic and long-term mindset.

Consistency: Regularly post high-quality content to keep your audience engaged.

Documentation: Keep track of your efforts and results to make informed decisions.

Measure Success: Evaluate your progress based on your development stage.

Fail Quickly: Experiment with different tactics and quickly move on from those that don’t work.

Focus on Conversions: Always keep your end goal of conversions in mind.

The Secret to Instagram Success: Persona

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Purchase our comprehensive guide, “Modern Instagram Marketing,” and unlock the secrets to building a successful brand persona, optimizing your content, and driving real conversions. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your Instagram strategy and achieve your business goals.

People on Instagram follow personas, not just brands. Creating a niche-specific persona that resonates with your audience is crucial. Here’s how to do it:

Emotional Connection: Build a persona that your audience can connect with emotionally.

Aspiration: Create a persona that your audience aspires to be.

Emotional Investment: Foster a sense of investment in the success of your persona.

Building a Solid Instagram Brand Persona in 6 Key Steps

Step 1: Find Your Competitors and Reverse Engineer Them

Identify competitors: List out all your competitors and search for them on Instagram.

Analyze Their Strategies: Take note of their profiles, content strategies, and hashtags.

Reverse Engineer Success: Identify common hashtags and popular content and replicate their sales funnel strategy.

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Purchase our comprehensive guide, “Modern Instagram Marketing,” and unlock the secrets to building a successful brand persona, optimizing your content, and driving real conversions. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your Instagram strategy and achieve your business goals.

Step 2: Curate Top-notch Content

Improve Existing Content: Create better versions of your competitors’ top materials.

Enhance Quality: Focus on higher production quality, more details, and better hashtags.

Call to Action: Include clear calls to action in your content.

Step 3: Adopt a content-first sales funnel.

Content Marketing: Focus on content marketing to build trust and engage your audience.

KLT Process: Use the Know, Like, Trust process to guide visitors to the trust stage.

Step 4: Use Facebook’s Ad Retargeting System

Episodic Profile Link: Use an episodic profile link that changes based on your marketing campaign.

Retargeting: Retarget visitors who click deeper into your site or visit product pages.

Step 5: Interact with Niche-specific Influencers

Real Influence: Focus on influencers with real engagement and actual conversions.

Avoid Fake Influencers: Beware of accounts with fake followers and engagement.

Step 6: Continuously Optimize Your Funnel

Elemental Optimization: Split each item in your funnel into elements and optimize one at a time.

Traffic Testing: Run traffic tests to identify the best-performing versions of each element.

Best Practices to Keep in Mind

Document your efforts: Keep detailed records of your strategies and results.

Focus on Numbers: Use data to drive your decisions.

Start Slow with Influencers: Begin with a low and slow strategy to identify the most effective influencers.

Optimize Elementally: Break down your content into elements (picture/video, description, hashtag) and optimize each one.

Ready to take your Instagram marketing to the next level? Purchase our comprehensive guide, “Modern Instagram Marketing,” and unlock the secrets to building a successful brand persona, optimizing your content, and driving real conversions. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your Instagram strategy and achieve your business goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is content marketing crucial for Instagram's success?

A: Content marketing builds trust and engagement, which are essential for converting followers into customers. Raw traffic alone doesn’t convert at a high enough ROI.

Q: How can I identify real influencers?

A: Look for influencers with real engagement and actual conversions. Avoid accounts with fake followers and engagement.

Q: What is elemental optimization?

Elemental optimization involves breaking down your funnel into individual elements and optimizing each one to maximize performance.

Don’t wait any longer—start your journey to Instagram marketing success today!

[trendoptimizer]

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[exitrowiron]

We made it! After a mere 55.5 hours of travel, we are in Queenstown!

After we missed the UA flight from SFO on Monday, UA put us on a 3 leg flight from SFO to Sydney to Auckland to Queenstown. Oof. The extra stop in Sydney may have been convenient for UA but it would have added considerably to the length of our journey.

That's another travel lesson, if a carrier has to rebook you they won't always choose the option that is optimal for you. So it helps to do your own research (I use Google flights), find the flights you want (with seats available) and ask the carrier to put you on the specific flight. Even then your success often depends on your status with the carrier and whether the agent has the time/expertise to help you.

While we were waiting in the UA lounge for 7 hours before our flight to Sydney, I asked one of the agents why couldn't fly direct to Auckland on the flight leaving 10 minutes earlier than our flight to Sydney. By this time our travel record was a mess with numerous bookings and rebookings but she considered it a challenge and spent 30 minutes getting us sorted and on the direct flight to Auckland. I was so thrilled that asked for a selfie with her.

It is great to be able to visit an airline lounge and get a 'free' drink/snack before a flight, but by far the biggest value is the availability of senior travel agents like this woman. I'm respectful of everyone when I travel but I'm especially polite to these agents because they can literally make or break your trip. Because of her we landed at 2:00 instead of 9:00.

The actual flight was great and I think I slept better than I ever have on a plane. They give Polaris passengers a little pad that was perfect for side sleepers like me.

The arrival and clearing customs in Auckland was uneventful and again, a sr agent put us on an earlier flight to Queenstown. We are happy to finally be here and anxious to start our fun activities tomorrow.

[fafnir19]

A new perspective

Dan walked into the employment office, shoulders slumped and a heavy weight of dejection hanging over him. A middle-aged clerk looked up from her desk, her disinterested expression morphing into a frown of recognition. "Are you here again?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation. Dan sighed "Yeah, I am. Another job down the drain." "What didn't go right this time?" The clerk's tone was more resigned than curious. "It's always something," Dan muttered, feeling the unfairness of it all weighing down on him. The clerk pursed her lips, her expression a mix of resignation and pity. "Maybe it's time to consider coaching," she suggested, offering Dan a sympathetic smile. "You're lucky, though. Adrian usually advises CEOs, but he's offering his services to the unemployed now." Coaching? Dan had never considered it, but he figured it couldn't hurt at this point. "Sure, sign me up for whatever you think might help," he replied, trying to muster a hint of optimism.

A few days later, Dan found himself standing outside an elegant apartment building in the heart of the city. He checked the address on the slip of paper in his hand, making sure he was in the right place. This was where the coaching sessions were supposed to take place. As he stepped into the building's opulent lobby, he couldn't help but feel out of place in his worn jeans and faded hoody. But Dan squared his shoulders and climbed the stairs to the top floor. This was an opportunity for a fresh start, and he was determined not to let it slip through his fingers.

The door to Adrian's apartment was opened by a man who exuded an effortless charm and confidence that instantly made Dan feel self-conscious about his rumpled appearance. "Welcome, Dan. I'm Adrian," the man said, his warm smile putting Dan at ease.

"Dan, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting," Adrian added, his voice smooth as silk. "I've had to handle everything myself since my assistant left. Come in, come in." Dan followed Adrian into the elegant apartment that doubled as the coach's practice. The pristine white walls and tasteful artwork spoke of refinement and success, and Dan couldn't help but feel like a bull in a china shop as he hesitantly took a seat in the impeccably furnished living room. As Adrian settled into a chair opposite him, a friendly smile on his lips, Dan couldn't help but feel a surge of discomfort. The man exuded a polished charisma that made Dan acutely aware of his own scruffy appearance and lack of confidence.

Adrian leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Dan. "So, tell me about your previous job. What went wrong there?" Dan shifted nervously in his seat, his eyes flicking to the intricate pattern of the rug beneath his feet, expecting a lecture or, worse, pity. "You see," he began, "my work's always been top-notch, but my bosses just never seemed to appreciate it." To his surprise, Adrian listened intently, nodding sympathetically. "Dan, it's clear that you're a top-tier employee. It's just that your potential is overshadowed by something else," he remarked, eyes glinting thoughtfully. "Wait, what? You actually think I'm not the problem?" Dan's eyes widened, disbelief coloring his tone. Adrian leaned back, exuding an air of wisdom. "It's not you, Dan. It's how others perceive you. Your appearance might be sending the wrong signals," he explained, tapping a finger against his chin. Dan's heart fluttered with hope. Finally, someone understood! "So, what do I need to change?" he asked eagerly, leaning in.

A soft chiming interrupted their conversation, and Adrian's eyes flicked to his phone on the coffee table. "I'm so sorry, Dan. I need to take this." He rose from his seat, all charm and confidence as he answered the call. Alone in the luxurious apartment, Dan couldn't help but marvel at the stark contrast between his own life and the world Adrian inhabited. He longed to break free from the cycle of dead-end jobs and unfulfilled potential, but the gulf between where he was and where he wanted to be seemed insurmountable.

Dan sat in the elegant chair, feeling a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as Adrian circled around him, eyeing Dan’s rebellious mane with a critical gaze. Adrian leaned in closer, his fingers grazing Dan’s scalp.

"Let's start with your hair," Adrian suggested. "That long, unkempt style might be a bit off-putting." Dan ran a hand through his hair, a touch of defiance in his eyes. "I'm proud of my rebellious hair, but okay. Let's try it." Adrian's fingers moved with a strange yet gentle pressure, and suddenly Dan felt a strange sensation, like a cool breeze across his head. Sitting up straight, Dan touched his head, feeling a neatly trimmed fade-cut with shaved sides.

"How did you… What just happened?" Dan sputtered, utterly bewildered. Adrian's grin grew wider. “Just a little magic,” he said, winking at Dan. “I used to work as a magician.” Dan, dumbfounded yet impressed, let out a chuckle. "Can you make my bank account disappear too?" "I might just have a trick or two up my sleeve for that," Adrian teased, his eyes gleaming.

Adrian stepped back to fully appreciate Dan's figure. “You seem a bit skinny, Dan. It might give off the impression of being sickly. People tend to avoid sickly individuals as nature's protective mechanism. How about we work on that and give you some muscle?" Dan laughed "I've tried that before. Didn't really work out for me." "Leave it to me," Adrian declared with a wink, a mischievous glint in his eye. Without another word, Adrian's fingers traced an invisible line in the air, and suddenly, Dan's frame transformed Dan blinked in surprise as tingling sensations ran through his body, and suddenly his form seemed more defined, muscles sculpted in all the right places. "Look at you," Adrian praised, a hint of pride in his tone. "That's the spirit, Dan. A little magic goes a long way." The fabric of Dan's previously baggy clothes now clung snugly to his toned physique, accentuating his newfound athleticism.

"I feel… different," Dan stammered, sensing a surge of confidence coursing through him. "You are not alone, Dan. You just have to get help,” Adrian encouraged, his voice carrying a note of assurance. “Do you trust me?” Dan nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with a newfound trust in Adrian's unconventional methods. "Great. Now, let's address your attire. Your current style might not be doing you any favors," Adrian observed, taking in Dan's outfit. "My clothes? What’s wrong with them?" Dan asked, looking down at himself. "They're a bit too casual. Let's upgrade your look and see how it changes things," Adrian suggested, pulling out a pair of tight silk pants and a fitted silk shirt. "Uh, this is a bit much, don't you think?" Dan hesitated, eyeing the clothing warily. Adrian smiled. "Trust me, Dan. It may not seem conventional, but it has its perks. It commands attention and presence. You’ll see," he assured Dan. After changing into the new outfit, Dan felt a bit exposed. "I don't even have underwear on with this," he mentioned, adjusting the unfamiliar clothing. "It's all part of the look. Trust me," Adrian reiterated, his tone unwavering. "Alright, if you say so," Dan said, trying to get used to the unfamiliar sensation.

Before Dan could voice any further protest, Adrian had already moved onto the next phase of his master plan. "Now, Dan, let's work on your attitude," he said, his voice low and commanding. "My attitude?" Dan asked, a note of uncertainty tugging at the edge of his words. "Yes, your perspective, your demeanor," Adrian replied, his tone firm. "Sometimes, a change in posture can yield a change in perspective. Kneel before me, Dan." Hesitant but willing to play along, Dan lowered himself to the floor, gazing up at Adrian with a mix of curiosity and obedience.

"Now, isn't this a far more comfortable position?" Adrian asked, an air of authority lingering in his voice. Dan couldn't help but agree, feeling an odd sense of ease as he knelt before Adrian. "It... it is, actually." "You see, Dan," Adrian said, his eyes holding a mesmerizing intensity, "your doubts were unfounded. Trust in me, and I shall guide you to your true potential." Dan pondered Adrian's words, finding a strange sense of reassurance in them. "You're right, Adrian. I shouldn't have doubted." With each passing moment, Dan found himself falling deeper under Adrian's enigmatic spell, his very being seemingly attuned to every word and command Adrian imparted. Adrian's piercing gaze held Dan in place, the sense of power and control in his eyes making Dan shiver with a strange blend of excitement and apprehension. "Relax, Dan," Adrian purred, his voice smooth and persuasive. "You're doing so well. Trust me on this. You're on the right path now."

"Now, let's try something else," Adrian suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Kneel with both feet on the floor. It'll be more relaxing for you." Dan complied, shifting his position as Adrian had instructed, feeling an odd sense of ease washing over him.

Adrian's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You look good down there, Dan," he praised, his voice smooth as velvet. Dan's cheeks flushed at the unexpected compliment, a warmth spreading through his body. "Now, Dan, I want you to spread your legs and pull down your pants," Adrian instructed, his tone authoritative yet strangely alluring. Dan hesitated for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. "Uh, I'm not sure about this," Dan murmured, his hesitance evident in his voice. But before he could vocalize his doubts further, Adrian's persuasive words echoed in his ears. "You've come so far, Dan. Don't stop now. Trust me," Adrian's voice coaxed, wrapping around Dan's thoughts like a seductive melody. Dan swallowed hard, his heart racing as he complied with Adrian's request.

It was as if Dan's body was moving of its own accord, his hands gripping the waistband of his pants and obediently lowering them to reveal himself to Adrian. As Adrian took advantage of the vulnerable position, Dan's body became a whirlwind of conflicting sensations. A surge of warmth and pleasure ignited within him, and he couldn't deny the undeniable ecstasy coursing through his veins. "This is so wrong," Dan gasped, his voice strained with conflicting desires. "But it feels so right, doesn't it?" Adrian's words were like a caress, lulling Dan into a state of surrender. Dan's thoughts were a jumble of confusion and arousal, his body betraying his mind's protests. "You belong to me now, Dan," Adrian asserted, his tone laced with command. "You're mine to mold and guide." With each electrifying touch, Dan found himself slipping further into a state of blissful submission. "Yes, sir," Dan murmured, a newfound sense of purpose blooming within him. "I want this." The air crackled with tension as Dan relinquished himself to the overwhelming sensations engulfing him and made him finally cum.

"You are free now, my dear Dan," Adrian's voice caressed him like a tender embrace. "Embrace your true self." "But what about my job, my future?" Dan's voice wavered with uncertainty. "You have a new path now, one that fits you perfectly," Adrian assured, his gaze unwavering. Dan's breaths came in shallow gasps, and yet, a strange sense of liberation burgeoned within him. "You've always longed for guidance and structure, haven't you, Dan?" Adrian's words resonated within him, striking a chord deep within his being. "I never realized," Dan breathed, his eyes glistening with newfound clarity. "Now you have found your purpose," Adrian declared, his gaze piercing through Dan's uncertainties. "You will be my assistant, Dan. You will serve me and obey my every command. You will make coffee, answer the door and obey everything else I order you to do," Adrian declared, his words ringing in the air with an undeniable authority.

Dan felt a surge of determination welling up within him, an unshakeable resolve to fulfill Adrian's every wish. It was a curious sensation, one that filled him with a strange sense of fulfillment. "Yes, sir," Dan replied, his voice tinged with a fierce determination that surprised even himself. "I will serve you. I am yours to command." And as the aftershocks of pleasure subsided, Adrian's voice sliced through the lingering silence.  Adrian quickly called the employment office and his voice pierced through the haze of pleasure. "I've solved the problem," he declared, an air of satisfaction in his tone. "He's so receptive now, that he unhesitatingly embraced his newfound submissive and gay identity. I've brought him on as my devoted assistant - you can remove him from your list." Dan blinked in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded. Did he truly agree to everything? Was this newfound revelation his reality now? In the midst of his bewilderment, Dan glanced up at Adrian, who wore a knowing smirk that set his heart aflutter. In that moment, Dan realized the truth - Adrian had molded him into something new, something he never knew he desired. Adrian's smile was triumphant as he gazed down at Dan, his voice filled with authority, "Now, go make us some coffee, and remember, you live to serve me, and only me." Dan nodded, "At your command, sir. I exist to fulfill your wishes." With a snap of Adrian's fingers, Dan rose from his kneeling position and went to prepare the coffee, his mind filled with nothing but unwavering obedience.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Live Nation/Ticketmaster is buying Congress

I'm touring my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me THURSDAY (May 2) in WINNIPEG, then Calgary (May 3), Vancouver (May 4), Tartu, Estonia, and beyond!

Anything that can't go on forever eventually stops. Monopolies are intrinsically destabilizing and inevitably implode…eventually. Guessing which of the loathesome monopolies that make us all miserable will be the first domino is a hard call, but Ticketmaster is definitely high on my list.

It's not that event tickets are the most consequential aspect of our lives. The monopolies over pharma, fuel, finance, tech, and even beer are all more important to our day-to-day. But while Ticketmaster – and its many ramified tentacles, like Live Nation – may not be the most destructive monopoly in our world, but it pisses off people with giant megaphones and armies of rabid fans.

It's been a minute since Ticketmaster was last in the news, so let's recap. Ticketmaster bought out most of its ticketing rivals, then merged with Live Nation, the country's largest concert promoter, and bought out many of the country's largest music, stage and sports venues. They used this iron grip on the entire supply chain for performances and events to pile innumerable junk fees on every ticket sold, while drastically eroding the wages of the creative workers they nominally represented. They created a secret secondary market for tickets and worked with ticket-touts to help them run bots that bought every ticket within an instant of the opening of ticket sales, then ran an auction marketplace that made them gigantic fees on every re-sold ticket – fees the performers were not entitled to share in.

The Ticketmaster/Live Nation/venue octopus is nearly impossible to escape. Independent venues can't book Live Nation acts unless they use Ticketmaster for their tickets. Acts can't get into the large venues owned by Ticketmaster unless they sign up to have Live Nation book their tour. And when Ticketmaster buys a venue, it creams off the most successful acts, starving competing venues of blockbuster shows. They also illegally colluded with their vendors to jack up the price of concerts across the board:

https://pascrell.house.gov/uploadedfiles/ful.pdf

When Rebecca Giblin and I were writing Chokepoint Capitalism, our book about how tech and entertainment monopolies impoverish all kinds of creative workers, we were able to get insiders to go on record about every kind of monopoly, from the labels to Spotify, Kindle to the Big Five publishers and the Google-Meta ad-tech duopoly. The only exception was Ticketmaster/Live Nation: everyone involved in live performance – performers, bookers, club owners – was palpably terrified about speaking out on the record about the conglomerate:

https://chokepointcapitalism.com/

No wonder. The company has a long and notorious history of using its market power to ruin anyone who challenges it. Remember Pearl Jam?

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pearl-jam-taking-on-ticketmaster-67440/

But anything that can't go on forever eventually stops. Not only is Ticketmaster a rapacious, vindictive monopolist – it's also an incompetent monopolist, whose IT systems are optimized for rent-extraction first, with ticket sales as a distant afterthought. This is bad no matter which artist it effects, but when Ticketmaster totally, utterly fucked up Taylor Swift's first post-lockdown tour, they incurred the wrath of the Swifties:

https://www.vox.com/culture/2022/11/21/23471763/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-monopoly

All of which explains why I've always given good odds that Ticketmaster would be first up against the wall come the antitrust revolution. It may not be the most destructive monopolist, but it is absurdly evil, and the people who hate it most are the most famous and beloved artists in the country.

For a while, it looked like I was right. Ticketmaster's colossal Taylor Swift fuckup prompted Senator Amy Klobuchar – a leading antitrust crusader – to hold hearings on the company's conduct, and led to the introduction of a raft of bills to rein in predatory ticketing practices. But as David Dayen writes for The American Prospect, Ticketmaster/Live Nation is spreading a fortune around on the Hill, hiring a deep bench of ex-Congressmen and ex-senior staffers (including Klobuchar's former chief of staff) and they've found a way to create the appearance of justice without having to suffer any consequences for their decades-long campaign of fraud and abuse:

https://prospect.org/power/2024-04-30-live-nation-strikes-up-band-washington/

Dayen opens his article with the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which is always bracketed by a week's worth of lavish parties for Congress and hill staffers. One of the fanciest of these parties was thrown by Axios – and sponsored by Live Nation, with a performance by Jelly Roll (whose touring contract is owned by Live Nation). Attendees at the Axios/Live Nation event were bombarded with messages about the essential goodness of Live Nation (they were even printed on the cocktail napkins) and exhortations to support the Fans First Act, co-sponsored by Klobuchar and Sen John Cornyn (R-TX):

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/08/arts/music/fans-first-act-ticket-bill.html

Ticketmaster/Live Nation loves the Fans First Act, because – unlike other bills – it focuses primarily on the secondary market for tickets, and its main measure is a requirement for ticketing companies to disclose their junk fees upfront. Neither of these represents a major challenge to Ticketmaster/Live Nation's control over the market, which gives it the ability to slash performers' wages while jacking up prices for fans.

Fans First represents the triumph of Ticketmaster/Live Nation's media strategy, which is to blame the entire problem on bottom-feeding ticket-touts (who are mostly scum!) instead of on the single monopoly that controls the entire industry and can't stop committing financial crimes.

Axios isn't Live Nation's only partner in selling this distraction tactic. Over the past five years, the company has flushed gigantic sums of money through Washington. Its lobbying spend rose from $240k in 2018 to $1.1m in 2022, and $2.38m in 2023:

https://thehill.com/business/4431886-live-nation-doubled-lobbying-spending-to-2-4m-in-2023-amid-antitrust-threat/

The company has 37 paid lobbyists selling Congress on its behalf. 25 of them are former congressional staffers. Two are former Congressmen: Ed Whitfield (R-KY), a 21 year veteran of the House, and Mark Pryor (D-AR), a two-term senator:

https://www.bhfs.com/people/attorneys/p-s/mark-pryor

But perhaps the most galling celebrant in this lavish hymn to Citizen United is Jonathan Becker, Amy Klobuchar's former chief of staff, who jumped ship to lobby Congress on behalf of monopolists like Live Nation, who paid him $120k last year to sell their story to the Hill:

https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/lobbyists?cycle=2023&id=D000053134

Not everyone hates Fans First: it's been endorsed by the Nix the Tix coalition, largely on the strength of its regulation of secondary ticket sales. But the largest secondary seller in America by far is Live Nation itself, with a $4.5b market in reselling the tickets it sold in the first place. Fans First shifts focus from this sleazy self-dealing to competitors like Stubhub.

Fans First can be seen as an opening salvo in the long war against Ticketmaster/Live Nation. But compared to more muscular bills – like Klobuchar's stalled-out Unlock Ticketing Markets Act, it's pretty weaksauce. The Unlocking act will "prevent exclusive contracts between ticketing services and venues" – hitting Ticketmaster/Live Nation where it hurts, right in the bank-account:

https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/4/following-senate-judiciary-committee-hearing-klobuchar-blumenthal-introduce-legislation-to-increase-competition-in-live-event-ticketing-markets

It's not all gloom. Dayen reports that Ticketmaster's active lobbying in favor of Fans First has made many in Congress more skeptical of the bill, not less. And Congress isn't the only – or even the best – way to smash Ticketmaster's criminal empire. That's something the DoJ's antitrust division could power through with a lot less exposure to the legalized bribery that dominates Congress.

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

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/30/nix-fix-the-tix/#something-must-be-done-there-we-did-something

Image: Matt Biddulph (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/mbiddulph/13904063945/

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

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Flying Logos (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Over_$1,000,000_dollars_in_USD_$100_bill_stacks.png

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