#they need a higher *organization* use vs individual use

[snickerdoodlles]

@emberfaye ooohh okay, re: profit-making with genAI-- there is, uh. a lot to unpack about this and i couldn't condense it into a text post even if i wanted to, but i'll try to expand a bit on the specific thing i was thinking about when i wrote my tags.

okay so, very briefly: something really important to note about generative AI is that most versions you see nowadays are actually two models in a trenchcoat. for a long while in machine learning, people were working with individual small models that were trained on smaller and often niche training datasets for very specific tasks/applications. however, after the huge success with transformer architecture and some hardware improvement, people started developing foundation models, which are the huge AI models that are trained on massive and broad datasets that can be adapted to a bunch of smaller downstream tasks. and this was a big deal because we could pair the foundation models with the smaller, more specific AI models we were previously using.

(to put this into names that are more familiar: OpenAI's GPT series (ie GPT-1 thru GPT-4) are foundation models. ChatGPT is a LLM trained to fulfill the specific use-case/downstream task of "chatbot". )

and there's actually a lot of benefit to a two-model system! genAI is significantly better the more data it's trained on, but these huge foundation models are extremely expensive to make, it takes a significant amount of power and hardware, and these are so big they start to get too general for most tasks, so it's not really practical to build these up for any specific tasks. pairing them with a small/smaller use-case model narrows the focus of the foundation model's capability to a specific task, and its cheaper and faster to develop a smaller model for this system since the foundation model will provide a lot of the "power" and content generation.

i'm really skimming over how exactly they're setup, but i hope that makes sense? really, the specifics of how exactly these things work isn't important, i'm just trying to highlight that a lot genAI uses this sort of two-model system. because imo, the most viable line of profit AI developers have right now is licensing the APIs of the foundation models out to businesses and organizations who have or will develop their own specific use-case models to aid/streamline tasks or integrate into their workflow.

and they do do this! there's a lot of cool stuff coming out in how people are developing smaller use-case models rn! however, for a business to develop their own AI model, they have to:

identify a use-case

create a workforce team that knows and understands how to work with genAI

curate and develop their own databank to fine-tune their model for their use-case (which can range from data that's easy to input, such as tokenizing a PDF or handbook, to data that has to be specially formatted, labeled, and/or created in a format that the AI can process, which is about 250x more complex than anyone is willing to admit)

create an interface for users to interact with, and stress test their system with enough users and enough time to get it to mostly functional, and stress test some more to fix and patch over the holes made from genAI's brittleness, and

...yeah. so there are a lot of steps to this, all of which require time, personnel, and resources to be allocated to developing and implementing these things, and AI developers are desperately trying to market genAI as something easy.

there is so much obfuscation around how genAI actually works or what it's actually capable of doing, that most businesses and organizations don't have a clue on how to even identify a viable use-case for genAI. everyone really likes the idea of ~just plugging in~ AI to their workflow, but that's straight up not an option for any business or organization. (even the ones that did just ~plug-in~ ChatGPT quickly ran up against the issue that ChatGPT has a specific use-case, and that use-case is chatbot.)

to throw AI developers the smallest of bones, some of the confusion around genAI's potential capability is occurring because people are...well, human. humans love to anthropomorphize. we will make friends of rocks and vacuums. and while this is one of our most charming traits as a species, it makes us especially vulnerable to fall for genAI's mimicry and cast it as human.

but that's the extent to which i give them leniency, because the AI business absolutely exploits the shit out of this anthropomorphism. some of this "genAI has human-like intelligence" bullshit is coming from AI people who genuinely believe genAI is capable of or adequately represents human intelligence (this is idiotic. i am shoving Bender's stochastic parrot paper down their throats and nailing it to their foreheads for good measure as we speak. i could rave for days about the terrible benchmarks used to label """smartness""").

most of this though is AI developers obscuring the true extent of human labor that goes in to making the genAI puppet move. culturally, we so heavily associate "AI" with "substituting human work" that we're blind to both the human labor running it and the extent of our assumptions in its capability. we're so focused on the internet corpus these models eat we don't see the terabytes of human annotated or human generated training data needed to make them functional. we so heavily anthropomorphize we can't even conceive of the utterly alien way genAI processes data. and it's this sort of blindness that allows AI businessmen like sam fucking altman to make increasingly outrageous claims like us being on the brink of unlocking artificial general intelligence and not be immediately laughed out of the room.

as one reporter put it, "ChatGPT seems so human because it was trained by an AI that was mimicking humans who were rating an AI that was mimicking humans who were pretending to be a better version of an AI that was trained on human writing." (x <- a very good article on the unspoken human work that goes into genAI btws)

(seriously, there's a lot of unspoken labor that goes into genAI and even more than what that article covers, but the annotation work alone is massive. we figured out some things with unsupervised learning, but genAI heavily relies on human labeled data, because genAI is brittle as fuck.)

i actually don't mean to soapbox here (oops 😂💦), so kicking myself back to the profit thing: all the anthropomorphization and obfuscation of genAI means that a lot of people just straight up don't understand how to use it or even what it can actually do. genAI is a billion dollar investment searching for a trillion dollar problem. the area of it that currently holds the most potential, the smaller use-case models, is largely overshadowed by the claims that genAI is easy and simple and those promises immediately fall to pieces once you get past individual user cases.

rn, there is exactly one person living the AI dream promised by the AI tech-bros and he is a Kenyan data annotator on multiple accounts in multiple countries, using ChatGPT to speed through $10 annotation tasks. that man is a fucking king.

akdj profit-making monster

bold fucking choice of words for a company that's several hundred million in the red in its yearly income

[talonabraxas]

New Moon in Scorpio 2024: Seeds of Transformation

Hekate "Triple Goddess" Talon Abraxas

On October 31, 01:05 PM —

On November 1, 08:46 AM EST, we experience a New Moon at 9º34’ of Scorpio. This event is an opportunity to plant seeds of transformation and invite profound and lasting change in our reality by letting go of what has run its course or no longer serves us.

The Scorpio New Moon is a particularly relevant event for individuals born with natal placements in Fixed Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). The people personally impacted by this New Moon will have tangible and clear opportunities to transform specific areas of their lives and explore the root of any feelings of stuckness or resistance to change. This event will push them to confront deep-seated patterns and let go of what holds them back from growing.

New Moon in Scorpio: Exploring Darkness

New Moons mark the start of the lunar cycle: at this time of the month, the Moon is still invisible from our perspective on Earth. While she was disappearing from the night sky, gradually leaving us in complete darkness, she offered us opportunities to slow down the pace of our outer lives and invited us to nurture our inner lives and make more time for stillness and silence.

As the Sun and the Moon meet in the Fixed Water sign of Scorpio, we enter a lunar month particularly focused on our personal transformation journey: the invitation for us is to release what keeps us stuck and stagnant, challenge our existing limitations, and deepen our understanding of our psychology and emotional nature. This event encourages us to plant new seeds, set intentions for the weeks ahead, and renew areas of our lives in need of change and transformation. From now on, the momentum will gradually increase as the Moon will become visible again in the night sky, reaching her peak in two weeks, when the Full Moon in Taurus takes place.

Making the Unconscious Conscious

When the Moon is in Scorpio, we have an opportunity to explore our darkest, most intense and complex emotions and refine our ability to stay present as they arise, yet without letting them consume us.

In Scorpio, the Moon challenges us to ask ourselves and others more profound questions and refuse superficial answers. The focus goes on uncovering, revealing, and unearthing the link between our behaviors and choices and our wounds, disowned needs, and unacknowledged desires. Making the unconscious conscious, as Carl Jung said, becomes the central theme of the upcoming lunar month, one that will be colored by an intense pressure to evolve, grow, and transform, both individually and collectively.

This Scorpio New Moon won’t allow us to remain in the safety of denial or avoidance. This event demands emotional self-honesty: the lunar cycle that is starting is a time to face our shadows head-on and let go of ways of being that are no longer sustainable.

New Moon trine Saturn: Emotional Maturation

The Sun and the New Moon in Scorpio are forming a trine to retrograde Saturn in Pisces. Trines are 120º angles, aspects of flow and harmony that represent an effortless and organic connection between planets transiting signs that belong to the same element. The alignment between the New Moon and Saturn, the planet of responsibility, boundaries, and maturation processes will support and sustain those of us who have a sincere desire to mature emotionally and are willing to self-reflect.

In Pisces, Saturn’s transit has been marking a collective period of spiritual maturation, underlining the importance of being aware of tendencies toward avoidance and escapism and acting in integrity with our higher values. Saturn’s alignment to the Scorpio New Moon will support our ability to stay grounded as we navigate intense emotional experiences and motivate us to remain committed to our healing and transformation.

The Mars-Pluto Opposition: Egoic Desires vs Soul Desires

As the Scorpio New Moon takes place, Mars and Pluto are exactly opposing each other, respectively in Cancer and Capricorn. This is a very powerful aspect, and it is particularly significant in the context of this New Moon since we are dealing with the traditional (Mars) and the modern (Pluto) rulers of Scorpio.

The Mars-Pluto opposition increases our determination and drive, heightens our desire for intensity, and can bring repressed anger and unconscious fears to the surface. This alignment brings the spotlight on the tension between our egoic desires and our Soul’s desires. Around this time, many of us are experiencing a growing friction between what we think we want and need, and the path our Soul chose for us.

Mars being in Cancer offers us opportunities to see how unhealed wounds and unmet emotional needs from childhood can lead us to make choices that don’t serve our highest good and keep us stuck in dysfunctional attachments and patterns that limit our growth. Meanwhile, Pluto in Capricorn urges us to recognize our tendencies toward workaholism or an obsession with status, achievements, and material security as ways to avoid confronting emotional pain from our past.

Mars opposite Pluto: Evolutionary Threshold

As Pluto is entering Aquarius in November, we are experiencing the final Mars-Pluto opposition in the signs of Cancer and Capricorn. This alignment, happening at the critical 29º of both signs, marks a collective evolutionary threshold and offers us an opportunity to move beyond the polarization that often arises with oppositions and find a way to reconcile seemingly opposite and irreconcilable needs and desires.

The activation of the 29º marks a time of critical adjustments, breakthroughs, and potential turning points relative to the process we have been through in the past weeks, since Mars started opposing Pluto, but also within the broader context of the entire Pluto in Capricorn transit.

Moreover, the Mars-Pluto opposition is part of a larger aspect pattern technically known as a Kite, that also involves Mercury and Neptune, respectively trine and sextile Mars and Pluto. The Kite consists of a Grand Trine and a fourth planet opposing one of the planets in the Grand Trine. This configuration facilitates the release and resolution of the tension described by the opposition and supports our ability to access the wisdom and the lessons behind the struggle.

Mercury is opposing Uranus, while Venus is squaring Saturn and opposing Jupiter

As the New Moon in Scorpio takes place, Mercury, also in Scorpio, is opposing Uranus, retrograde in Taurus. The Mercury-Uranus alignment increases the general restlessness and facilitates access to sudden insights and downloads, as well as radical shifts in our thinking. The Mercury-Uranus opposition is part of another Kite pattern that involves Mars and Neptune, both trine Mercury and sextile Uranus. The prominence of the Kite pattern suggests that many of us will be able to access new opportunities to leverage our talents, skills, and gifts.

Meanwhile, Venus is in Sagittarius, squaring retrograde Saturn in Pisces and opposing retrograde Jupiter in Gemini. This configuration is technically referred to as a T-square, a pattern that creates a buildup of tension and frustration that demands resolution through change. The T-square between Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter invites a careful reevaluation of the alignment between our values, our relationships, and our financial decisions. These alignments offer us an opportunity to recognize where we may be making choices from a scarcity mindset and where instead we may be overly generous with our energy or expanding beyond our means.

New Moon in Scorpio: Planting Seeds of Transformation

This Scorpio New Moon is an invitation to commit to deepening our understanding of our unconscious, our true desires, the needs we are ashamed about, our fears, our aversions, and our cravings. It is a time to ask ourselves why we choose what we choose, why we tend to repeat patterns, why we get stuck in the same cycles, and accept potentially uncomfortable answers.

The New Moon in Scorpio reminds us that change is going to happen, whether we like it or not: resisting transformation and clinging to the known and the familiar only makes the process harder and more painful. This event is an invitation to plant seeds of transformation by allowing the necessary endings to take place and releasing attachments that keep us from growing. Only by releasing what has run its course, what lost its meaning, what keeps us stuck, and what is no longer true, we create space for change and evolution to organically unfold. -Moon Omens

[ceterisparibus116]

Hi DD fandom, I don’t usually do this (never have, actually), but I just want to...address this post real quick. I’m NOT trying to put anyone on blast here (and if anyone sees the original post, please be kind), but as a visually impaired person, there’s a lot I want to say.

1. Logic Games

Let’s address the logic games section of the LSAT. I might be misinterpreting, but it sounds to me like OP is saying Matt would struggle with the logic games, such that even with near-perfect scores on the other sections, he’d only net a 160-ish over all.

Now to be fair to OP, the LSAT is definitely not the most accessible thing in the world. And the logic games specifically are solved, generally, by diagramming things. That’s obviously difficult if you’re blind.

However, there are workarounds. “Blind LSAT-takers have historically used tactile mats, raised-line drawing apparatuses or Excel spreadsheets to tackle Logic Games.” Source. Now, I’m not saying those accommodations are easy to get, and maybe Matt wasn’t able to get them. But it’s certainly possible that he was.

Now let’s assume he wasn’t able to get any accommodations.

Even without those accommodations, the LSAT is a skills-based exam. This is key. The LSAT doesn’t test natural ability; it tests your ability to perform specific skills. And there are only a handful of possible types of logic games. You can only see so many “arrange the people sitting in the bus,” “arrange the flowers/trees growing in a garden,” “arrange the order of songs on a playlist,” and “arrange the order of speakers and which room they’ll occupy” prompts before you start to identify the patterns. Some are harder than others, with more variables to consider, but there are not that many variants overall.

Because the LSAT is a skills-based exam, all Matt needs to do, even without accommodations, is figure out a way to organize the information in his head. Now, it’s easier to organize the information in a diagram vs in your head, but all that matters is that the information is organized. It doesn’t matter whether it’s organized on paper or mentally. So saying logic games are “easier” with diagrams than without doesn’t mean that someone who uses diagrams will always score higher than someone who doesn’t; instead, it’s a question of time. It will take Matt more time to learn the harder skill of organizing the information in his head than it would take someone else to learn the easier skill of organizing the information in a diagram. But both skills (organizing mentally vs on paper) are sufficient to get a good score on the LSAT if you just put in the time.

And given that Matt has apparently wanted to be a lawyer since childhood, I have no doubt that he put in the time to master that skill enough to get the score he knew he’d need to go to the school he wanted.

2. Matt’s Personal Statement

This is the slightly more concerning issue. Personal statements are a chance for applicants to show why, aside from LSAT scores and GPAs and letters of recommendation, they would make a good lawyer. They are not the place for a personal sob story, except for two reasons:

a) using the “sob story” to demonstrate how the individual has persevered through hardship; and

b) using the “sob story” to explain certain less-than-outstanding aspects of the application.

In other words, Matt could say: “I’m exceptionally devoted to my studies and motivated by my desire to help others in need, as proven by the fact that even blindness failed to stop me from pursuing law school, despite the fact that law is a vision-intensive profession.”

It’s also possible that Matt could try to artfully say, “My LSAT score wasn’t stellar [if that’s true, which I question, but never mind for now] but that’s only because I’m visually impaired and lacked appropriate accommodations - not because the score actually reflects any deficiency in my reading or logic skills.”

Personally, I find it much more in-character to headcanon that Matt would go the first route rather than the second.

But what is not an option (at least, not a respectable option) is for a person to use their sob story to attempt to manipulate the school into using them as a diversity poster child despite having an inadequate application.

Do some people do that? Maybe, sure. Is that an appropriate thing to do? Absolutely not. Law school, beginning with the application process, is about being a good advocate for other people - it’s not about manipulating the system so you can get a “spot” to which you are not actually entitled. And how do you become entitled to having a “spot”? By having the skills good advocacy requires.*

Ultimately, attempting to shortcut the system to accept a person who is not a good advocate (but who has a great sob story) is depriving future clients of adequate representation.

Not to be dramatic, but Matt would rather die.

*I’m not saying that the application process is the perfect measure of the skills that will make you a good lawyer. But it’s sure better than letting people in based on how compelling their sob story is rather than based on their actual relevant skills.

3. Diversity Poster Boy

Now let’s address the broader concerns with the idea of a diversity poster boy. These concerns relate to society as a whole, not to any particular headcanon or to Matt as a fictional character, so I’m stepping out of the DD world for this part of the discussion.

What happens when we talk about diversity poster kids? What happens when we talk about people using hardship (including disabilities) to get an edge over people with more privilege? What happens when we talk about institutions like law schools accepting candidates not based on their qualifications but based instead on meeting some kind of diversity quota?

The result is that when people do overcome hardship and even oppression to get a spot at the table, everyone else says, “Oh, you’re the diversity hire.” People refuse to consider that maybe you’re there on your own merits, because the first thing they see about you is your diversity, and they assume that the only way you got to where you are is via manipulation.

Think about what it’s like, as a disabled person or any person of a “diverse” background, to live with that day after day. Where every accomplishment is tainted by people whispering, “But you didn’t really earn that, did you? You just flaunted your disability.”

I hope I don’t have to spell out how exhausting that is.

Now if there is hard evidence that people who are otherwise unqualified for a position are being accepted purely to meet some kind of quota...that’s one thing. We should absolutely be talking about that, especially in the legal profession - because it doesn’t do a client any good to have a lawyer who’s “diverse” if that lawyer doesn’t know how to actually help them.

But just throwing these terms around, detached from any statistical analysis, like this is just A Thing That Happens All The Time...we need to stop. It’s not helpful or funny. It’s harmful.

So please, let’s be careful.

[digitalsrishblogs]

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[clarynewme]

Hi! I hope you are doing well 💫

My intials: B.P. (she/her)

DOB: 15 March 2003

3:20 Pm IST, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

I would like to know about my career.

Thank you so much 🫶

Hi🤗 For your reading I am going to use vedic astrology.

WRITING CAREER + PROFESSIONAL LIFE

For the first question if writing is a good career options for you, YES.

I found this tecnique where 10th house sign from the 1st lord in D1 or D9 chart indicates someone's career, in your case falls in aries in D1 chart and gemini in D9 chart.

Career Fields:

D1 Aries so anything related to leadership, sports and fitness/athletics, politics, boss, entrepreneur, healthcare, adventure, engineering, sales, marketing, firefighter, military, law enforcement, research and development, creative arts, etc

D9 Gemini so anything related to education, technology, public relations, communication, media, public speaker, marketing, advertising, travel and tourism, arts, creativity, writer, research, entrepreneur, admnistration, entrepreneur, journalism, consulting, etc.

Furthermore in D1 chart you have 10th lord mars in sagittarius mula in 6th house indicating that your career can be connected to writing and publishing due to mula sagittarius (education/teaching/research/law/philosophy/healing/others); can involve service, routine, organization, discipline and solving conflicts/helping others (6th house), perhaps you heal your readers with your writing, your books can inspire other people, transform their lives (mula); you might experience a lot of obstacles and competition in your career with other writers or issues with your editor for example ( mars 6th house) and go through intense transformative periods (mula) though don't worry you are very determined and hardworking, you will be able to overcome these obstacles and grow even stronger.

If we want to see about financial gains and stability we would need to look at your 2nd lord in D1 you have sun in pisces in 9th house this indicates that you might earn more money in a foreign land (working abroad or with foreigners) or higher education is really important like studying creative writing or liberal arts or philosophy in college can help you succeed and gain recognition in your writing career (pisces is connected to creativity). Since it's aspecting your mars  10th lord it's important that your career allows you to shine individually and work as a leader (you might have issues with your boss/authority figures/teacher so working independently or leading a team is a better option). You must also be careful with high expectations vs reality and idealism vs practicality, how to work creatively in a disciplined way, etc.

Additionally 2nd lord sun is aspecting scorpio ketu in 5th house by 9th aspect indicating possible obstacles related to creativity, hobbies, education, might make you detached from past beliefs related to these themes focusing  on new, inovative or unconventional ways to earn money through learning or higher education for example; you will notice that you earn more money after a transformative (spiritual/intense) period in your life.

2nd lord sun is actually aspecting 6th lord cancer jupiter in 1st house by 5th house which confirms financial growth through service oriented careers, healing, higher education, travelling and expanding the way you see the world (beliefs/philosophies/spirituality), etc.

Since 6th lord jupiter is in cancer conjunct moon, it's essential that your work environment allows you freedom (flexible hours for example), to express yourself, your emotions/feelings; a comfortable/nurturing, positive, open environment (family or mother/female figure could be relevant -> support you) can make you grow; tapping into your emotions (intuition/creativity) to write your books; future spouse could also be working with you or helping you (jupiter is significator of spouse); etc.

Jupiter is aspecting your capricorn venus in 7th house by 7th aspect indicating that your future spouse and relationships/partnerships have a strong influence on your emotional stability at work; you might have a business with them or contract relationships; they might contribute to your sucess; harmony and balance between career and relationships is key👌

Not just that jupiter is aspecting your aquarius mercury(3rd lord ->skills) in 8th house indicating that you might write about deep/unconventional/futuristic/fantasy/occult topics, influencing other people ->healing them; experience transformation in your environment; working with investors,  sharing resources with your spouse or business partners; work in secret maybe you could be an anonymous author; etc.

Lastly jupiter is aspecting taurus saturn + rahu in 11th house by 11th aspect that shows teamwork, working online, media, social connections, professional networking (large companies), innovation are relevant. With saturn energy this can cause delays/obstacles in making connections, with your coworkers, gaining financial stability and fame/success, etc. (you might have to put a lot of effort and be patient; after you saturn return you will see that all your hardwork paid off👀)

The rahu energy can cause chaos, confusion, fluctuations related to your financial gains, professional networks and work environment.

In D10 chart you have gemini 10th house another huge confirmation that your career is related to communication, writing, knowledge,etc.

10th lord mercury is in chitra libra in 2nd house conjunct chitra ketu and swati saturn(6th lord) meaning that you will earn money through creative, innovative, online, media, unconventional, independent, flexible, service oriented (routine), healing, disciplined/practical career fields during a transformative period in your life. It's confirming everything I've said above. Money and sucess in your career can be achieved later in life.

Moreover 10th lord is aspecting 2nd lord aries aswhini venus conjunct Mars and rahu in 8th house by 7th aspect reaffirming transformation, healing, spirituality themes and that money and sucess might come after a transformative period or attaining personal growth.

JOB TIMING

Regarding when you will get a job:

D1 CHART

In D1 chart you have taurus jupiter transiting your 11th house saturn (6th lord) and rahu so there is already a good sign for this year till may 2025 (jupiter brings abundance and luck in professional networking, large companies, fame, etc).

Rahu/ketu pisces/virgo transit is affecting your 2nd lord sun in pisces 9th house bringing you new unconventional ways of earning money, maybe you will travel, work with foreigners, study creative arts; you might also be more recognized/confident in your work environment. ( Be careful with overindulgence, ego, chaos, high expectations vs practicality, illusion vs reality).

NOTE1: Sun is your Darakaraka só you might be meeting your future spouse this year👀👀👀 or if you are already in a relationship 💍.

Aquarius saturn transit is influencing your mercury in 8th house, so you might have been experiencing some challenges/delays perhaps writing blocks, lack of inspiration, issues with your business partners or investors, anxiety/depression, fears of expressing yourself, transformative period, etc.

D7 CHART

In D7 chart you have aquarius saturn transit in your 10th house with mars this can indicate challenges/delays in your career, power struggles with authority figures, business partners, achieving your goals, etc ( Be patient and don't give up🙏)

Taurus jupiter transit is influencing your 10th lord saturn with moon in 1st house so this actually eases the saturn transit in 10th house bringing optimism, abundance and success in your career. So even though you might have delays/obstacles you will be able to overcome it with motivation, positivity, wisdom, discipline and emotional support (perhaps your family/mother figure can help you).

Rahu/ketu pisces/virgo transit is affecting your 11th/5th house (ketu transit is conjunct virgo sun in 5th house) so you might be rethinking about romantic relationships and friendships, personal goals vs social endeavours, new social networks and aspirations/dreams, individuality vs union/teamwork, engaging in spiritual/unconventional activities/hobbies -> inspiration in your writing, changing yourself (transformation on personal expression), etc.

NOTE2: When jupiter, saturn, rahu/ketu are transiting in the same or opposite sign of sun, saturn, rahu/ketu in D7 chart it indicates a major event might happen during this time of your life like meeting your future spouse or a partner, engagement, pregnancy, career,success,fame, breakup, divorce, moving out, etc.(This technique is by Camila Regina from tiktok).  

DASHAS/TIME PERIODS/TRANSITS

You are currently running venus-venus-mars dasha (10th lord mars in D1 chart) till 4 september this year. I am leaning towards pisces eclipse in september (affecting your 2nd lord sun in 9th house that is aspecting your 10th lord) you might get a job offer abroad or work with foreigners (foreign company), etc.

Next year 2025 you also have good chances since rahu will be in aquarius after 19 may transiting your mercury in 8th house D1 chart (you will express yourself more, be inspired, etc),  your 10th house in D7 chart bringing opportunities and sucess in your career, your 6th house in D10 chart changing your work environment, daily routine, health, etc; jupiter will be transiting in gemini in may aspecting your 10th lord sagittarius mars in D1 bringing growth and opportunities related to communication/writing fields and affecting your 10th house in D10 chart bringing abundance in your career;  in october you will have your jupiter return in cancer affecting your 6th lord in D1 chart, 11th house (jupiter) in your D10 chart (fame/recognition/luck), among other factors; etc.

If we want to be more specific/accurate there is a technique I am trying out by KRS Kapiel that when the saturn is trine/conjunct transiting your natal moon/saturn you might get a job. You have natal (D1 chart) taurus saturn and cancer moon. So when moon is transiting virgo, taurus and capricorn or saturn transiting in scorpio, cancer, pisces, virgo, capricorn and taurus.

Moon is transiting capricorn 17 august till 19 august (full moon👀 and moon will aspecting your cancer jupiter 6th lord and 7th house venus  -> work/health/contract/love/relationships/business).

Saturn is a slower planet so the next transit will be in pisces next year 2025 in 20 march.

You can check this link to see the moon + saturn transits: https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/calculate-sidereal-vedic-ephemeris-august-2024/?&aya=lahiri&&presnost=1&

NOTE3: If you notice your sagittarius mars 10th lord and your 2nd lord pisces are both ruled by jupiter (sign ruled) which is in cancer -> cancer/capricorn transits are fundamental.🫰

NOTE4: Accordingly to D1/D7/D10 charts (this technique is from Camila Regina tiktok) you might have sucess or fame when saturn, rahu/ketu are transiting the signs of aries/libra/taurus/scorpio.

Okay I think I am done😅 I hope you like this reading if you do leave feedback on my page🙏 And let me know if it resonates👌it helps improving my readings🫶💜

[mimsosystem]

Understanding Power BI Licensing: Which Plan is Right for You?

Power BI is a powerful tool that can transform how businesses visualize and interact with their data. However, choosing the right Power BI licensing plan is crucial for maximizing its benefits while managing costs effectively. In this blog, we’ll explore the different Power BI licensing options available and how you can determine which plan best suits your needs. We’ll also discuss how Power BI development services can play a role in optimizing your Power BI experience.

1. Power BI Free vs. Power BI Pro

The Power BI licensing landscape starts with two basic options: Power BI Free and Power BI Pro.

Power BI Free: This plan is ideal for individuals who need to create and explore reports and dashboards independently. With Power BI Free, users can access core features such as data visualization tools and basic data connectivity. However, sharing reports and collaborating with others is limited.

Power BI Pro: For more advanced needs, Power BI Pro offers enhanced features and collaboration capabilities. This plan is designed for teams and organizations that require more extensive sharing and collaboration options. It includes the ability to share reports, collaborate in real-time, and access more sophisticated data management features.

If you require the ability to share and collaborate on reports, Power BI Pro is often the better choice. Many businesses opt for Power BI Pro as part of their Power BI development services to ensure that their teams can work together effectively.

2. Power BI Premium

Power BI Premium is another option designed for larger organizations or those with more advanced data needs. This plan offers dedicated cloud resources and enhanced features beyond what’s available in Power BI Pro.

Capacity-Based Licensing: Unlike Power BI Pro, which is user-based, Power BI Premium is capacity-based. This means you pay for dedicated cloud resources rather than individual licenses. This can be more cost-effective for larger organizations with many users.

Advanced Features: Power BI Premium includes features such as large dataset support, advanced data refresh options, and higher data storage limits. It also provides access to advanced AI capabilities and the ability to publish reports to a broader audience without requiring each user to have a Pro license.

For organizations with large datasets, extensive reporting needs, or those looking for enhanced performance, Power BI Premium might be the right choice. Integrating Power BI development services can help optimize the use of Premium features and ensure you’re getting the most value from your investment.

3. Power BI Premium Per User (PPU)

Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) is a more recent addition to the licensing options. It combines some of the advanced features of Power BI Premium with a more flexible, user-based pricing model.

User-Based Licensing: PPU allows individuals to access Premium features on a per-user basis, rather than purchasing a full capacity-based Premium license. This can be a cost-effective solution for smaller teams or organizations that need advanced features but don’t have the scale to justify a full Premium license.

Access to Premium Features: With PPU, users gain access to features such as larger data model sizes, advanced AI capabilities, and more frequent data refreshes, similar to those in the full Premium plan.

PPU is an excellent option for organizations looking for Premium capabilities without the full commitment of a Premium license. Power BI development services can assist in implementing and optimizing PPU features to meet your specific needs.

4. Power BI Report Server

For organizations that prefer an on-premises solution, Power BI Report Server offers an alternative to the cloud-based options. This plan allows you to host and manage Power BI reports on your own servers.

On-Premises Deployment: Power BI Report Server is designed for businesses that require on-premises data storage due to regulatory or compliance reasons. It allows for the creation and management of Power BI reports within your own infrastructure.

Integration with SQL Server: Power BI Report Server is included with SQL Server Enterprise Edition with Software Assurance or can be purchased separately. It integrates seamlessly with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), providing a comprehensive reporting solution.

If your organization has specific requirements for on-premises deployment or needs to integrate with existing SQL Server environments, Power BI Report Server might be the right choice. Working with Power BI development services can help you set up and manage an effective on-premises reporting solution.

5. Choosing the Right Plan for Your Needs

Determining the best Power BI licensing plan for your organization involves assessing several factors:

Number of Users: Consider how many users will need access to Power BI and what type of access they require. If collaboration and sharing are essential, Power BI Pro or Premium may be necessary.

Data Volume and Complexity: Evaluate the size and complexity of your datasets. Larger datasets and more complex reporting needs may benefit from the advanced features offered by Power BI Premium or PPU.

Deployment Preferences: Decide whether you need a cloud-based or on-premises solution. If you require on-premises deployment, Power BI Report Server is the appropriate option.

Budget: Factor in the cost of licensing against the features and capabilities you need. Power BI development services can help you assess the cost-benefit ratio of different plans and determine the most cost-effective solution.

Conclusion

Understanding Power BI licensing options is crucial for maximizing the value of your investment in this powerful data analytics tool. Whether you choose Power BI Free, Power BI Pro, Power BI Premium, Power BI Premium Per User, or Power BI Report Server, each plan offers distinct features and benefits to cater to different needs.

Working with a knowledgeable team can make a significant difference in optimizing your Power BI environment. Mismo System provides Power BI development services that can help you navigate the complexities of Power BI licensing and ensure that you choose the plan that best aligns with your organizational goals. By leveraging expert insights and tailored solutions, you can unlock the full potential of Power BI and drive more effective data-driven decision-making.

[nulltune]

compiling the hakuno crumbs from extra materials and whatnot here because i feel like could help give us a better idea of her :thonk:

has a gentle exterior, but is a girl made of steel on the inside. (<- this is a critical "character individuality" for fem!hakuno according to nasu)

is third most beautiful regardless of gender, but feedback from jp players said that fem!hakuno should've ranked higher (lynn vc so true)

extella link materials specify fem!hakuno to be cute and active – male!hakuno is handsome

speaking of female vs male differences, fem!hakuno likes reckless bond quests but dislikes organizing mystic codes (clothes, basically) while it's the reverse for male!hakuno

and just to let you know how stubborn this girl is, her talent is not giving up (while male!hakuno's is mental fortitude !)

her facial expressions are lacking </3 it is so poor that wada arco (character artist) feels that her kindness (in giving her such a pretty design) is wasted because of it

there was a comment in an omake about how a "maidenly blushing face" would suit her (lynn vc SO FACKING TRUE)

ishikawa yui's voice acting for her was described as "a cool role, but still having the cuteness and softness of a girl at its core"

bold and pessimistic, but holds onto hope that was born within some part of herself (hakuno does have a very unique way of finding hope in the most horrific situations to be fair 😭)

very inquisitive and driven by a need to observe everything in sight + has a tendency to overthink, which is born of a single-minded desire to know who she really is

literally described as: "at first they are headstrong (tsun), but they show their weakness once they reach a certain point (dere). so they are tsundere." I Am Not Kidding. SGDKFSKDK

[bigtopveggie]

Midori's alignment: True/Chaotic Neutral

A neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. He doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil-after all, he would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, he's not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way.

True Neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion.

True Neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction.

True neutral characters are concerned with their own well-being and that of the group or organization which aids them. They may behave in a good manner to those that they consider friends and allies, but will only act maliciously against those who have tried to injure them in some way. For the rest, they do not care. They do not wish ill on those they do not know, but they also do not care when they hear of evil befalling them. Better for others to suffer the evil than the true neutral and his allies. If an ally is in need, the true neutral will aid him, out of genuine love or because he may be able to count on that ally a little more in the future. If someone else is in need, they will weigh the options of the potential rewards and dangers associated with the act. If an enemy is in need, they will ignore him or take advantage of his misfortune.

True neutrals are offended by those who are opinionated or bigoted. A "hell-fire and brimstone" lawful good priest is just as offensive as a neutral evil racial supremacist in their eyes. They do not necessarily strive for philosophical balance. In fact, they may avoid philosophical considerations altogether. A true neutral may take up the cause of his nation, not because he necessarily feels obligated to do so, but because it just makes sense to support the group that protects your way of life. True neutrals tend to believe in lex talionis forms of justice.

True neutral characters tend to remain nonjudgmental and uncommitted to any moral, legal, or philosophical system beyond the basic tenets of their own society. Despite this fact, true neutral beings do not resent being into struggles involving different viewpoints. True neutral individuals do not lack interest, ambition, or passion--they value their own well-being and that of friends and loved ones. They may struggle passionately on behalf of themselves or others, as well as feel compassion for those they barely know. In fact, since most humans are true neutral, it is the alignment of the majority of people encountered in day-to-day situations.

A true neutral character will keep his word if in his best interest. He may attack an unarmed foe if he feels it necessary. He will not kill, but may harm an innocent. He may use torture to extract information, but never for pleasure. He will never kill for pleasure, only in self-defense or in the defense of others. A true neutral character may use poison as long as there is an overwhelming need. He will help those in need if it is in his best interest and works well alone or in a group. He responds well to higher authority until that authority attempts to use the law to hamper his ability to pursue his own self-interest. He will follow the law unless breaking it is in his best interest and he's reasonably sure that he will not be caught. He will never betray a family member, comrade, or friend unless the situation is dire. True neutral characters are indifferent to the concepts of self-discipline and honor, finding them useful only if they can be used to advance their own interests.

A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it.

Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal.

Chaotic neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all authority, harmony, and order in society.

Above respect for life and good, or disregard for life and promotion of evil, the chaotic neutral places randomness and disorder. Good and evil are complimentary balance arms. Neither are preferred, nor must either prevail, for ultimate chaos would then suffer. This view of the cosmos holds that absolute freedom is necessary. Whether the individual exercising such freedom chooses to do good or evil is of no concern. After all, life itself is law and order, so death is a desirable end. Therefore, life can only be justified as a tool by which order is combated, and in the end it too will pass into entropy.

These characters will almost always seek some selfish goal (such as acquiring wealth) in addition to the promotion of universal disorder, and are thus seen as "greedy" by others. Naturally, the chaotic neutral being won't see this as greed, but rather as "self-fulfillment." Thus, respect for others does not stand in the way of the pursuit of individuality.

Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14) Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21) Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21) Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15) True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (22) Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (22) Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXX (6) Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13) Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13) Law ----- XXXX (4) Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11) Chaos --- XXXXXXXXXXX (11) Good ---- XXXXXXXXXX (10) Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11) Evil ---- XX (2)

[byakuwan]

so you know how tsuna went to byakuran for help vs jaeger?

and you know how byakuran got impaled before he did anything? and that thing went right thru his torso? and he’s presumably only alive bc mammon/viper made him temp organs?

I HOPE THEY APPRECIATE HIM NOW!!! if not i will RIOT!!!!

you don’t just USE the blorbo and THROW HIM AWAY after he fails to do the thing he was PERSONALLY ASKED to do!!!!!

(note: the blood is pretty graphic at the end fyi)

389. the part tsuna went around to mukuro, byakuran, enma and xanxus to “lend me your help” (the sidebar pic is from this one).

“i need to speak with you” @ mukuro was before this, “i have a request” @ enma after, “lend me your strength” @ xanxus.

ch 399 is so graphic i am sorry

i omitted in the middle part with the most of the bloody stuff, just know the next page you can kinda see that hand would have gone right thru his actual heart and lungs if it was any higher jdsdjfh

and then uni is there like

and no one really does anything about it, besides mukuro (?) and dino also getting wiped besides tsuna showing up and being Big Mad about all these people falling

pointed out uni because it’s important to me but. no real reason otherwise

then chrome/enma/fran also get swiped and this is like. b r u h it’s A Lot. tsuna is big mad. even hibari and mukuro (again?) get swiped.

(MAN. All Of These People got WIPED because they were around to help tsuna?? so many ppl Were Hurt. i know tsuna’s big mad but like. is that enough lol)

anyway, yes, i demand (internally) some other characters be appreciative of him later because. everyone there was hurt, sure, but excuse me? everyone individually got hurt. and all of our blorbos as fans. including mine. (trauma for all is included in that.)

... as u can see, i am passionate lmfao

[indianbiogas]

Biogas in Kerala: Comparing Biogas vs. Composting for Effective Waste Management

Introduction

Kerala is taking strides in sustainable waste management solutions, with a growing focus on biogas in Kerala as an eco-friendly option.

This article explores two popular waste conversion methods — biogas and composting — and examines which solution may be better suited to Kerala’s needs.

Understanding Biogas in Kerala

Biogas is generated through the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, producing a renewable energy source and reducing methane emissions.

Biogas in Kerala has gained attention as households, farms, and businesses increasingly adopt this technology to turn waste into energy.

Many communities in Kerala have set up biogas plants to manage agricultural and food waste, showcasing the potential for energy self-sufficiency.

Composting: An Eco-Friendly Alternative

Composting is the aerobic breakdown of organic waste, transforming it into nutrient-rich compost that benefits soil health.

While composting doesn’t produce energy, it reduces landfill waste and enriches the soil, supporting Kerala’s agricultural landscape.

Kerala’s government promotes composting initiatives, particularly in rural areas, to encourage sustainable gardening and farming.

Key Differences Between Biogas and Composting

Energy Production

Biogas produces a clean energy source that can be used for cooking, heating, or electricity generation.

Composting doesn’t generate energy but is ideal for producing soil-enhancing compost.

2. Environmental Impact

Biogas in Kerala helps reduce greenhouse gases by capturing methane from organic waste.

Composting enriches soil and reduces landfill reliance, though it does not reduce methane as effectively as biogas.

3. Cost and Maintenance

Setting up a biogas plant may require an upfront investment but can result in long-term savings on energy costs.

Composting, in contrast, is typically lower in cost and easy to implement, making it accessible for households.

4. Waste Conversion Efficiency

Biogas systems are well-suited for larger quantities of organic waste, such as that produced by farms or institutions.

Composting is ideal for daily organic waste like kitchen scraps and is manageable on a household scale.

Biogas in Kerala: Government Support and Initiatives

Kerala’s government has introduced incentives to make biogas plants accessible to households, farms, and businesses.

Biogas projects across Kerala demonstrate the benefits of this renewable energy source, from reducing household expenses to creating community-based energy solutions.

Composting in Kerala: A Traditional Approach

Composting is a longstanding practice in Kerala’s agricultural communities, and government-led workshops encourage composting in homes and schools.

Composting plays a key role in Kerala’s sustainability efforts, helping residents manage waste while promoting soil health.

Which Solution is Better for Kerala?

Biogas in Kerala is a powerful option for areas with higher organic waste production, such as urban regions and large agricultural sites.

For individual households and small communities, composting may be more practical and affordable.

A combined approach — with biogas and composting used in tandem — could maximize Kerala’s waste management potential, balancing energy generation with soil enrichment.

Conclusion

Kerala’s focus on sustainable waste management makes both biogas and composting valuable options.

Whether you choose biogas or composting depends on your specific waste management goals and resources.

Embracing these eco-friendly practices supports Kerala’s path to a greener future and shows how sustainable waste management can make a difference.

[sunleadblogs]

How to Find Commercial Solar Leads in 2024? Complete Guide

This Blog was Originally Published at:

How to Find Commercial Solar Leads in 2024? Complete Guide

With businesses consuming over 63% of the world’s electricity, the demand for commercial solar solutions is growing. This represents a potential growth for solar companies since commercial solar leads come with bigger projects, more revenues, and better chances for partnerships and networking in the future.

But what are commercial solar leads, and how are they different from residential and industrial ones? Which of them are better? What lead generation strategies companies can use to acquire commercial solar leads?

Commercial solar leads are businesses looking to switch to solar. They are eager t switch to solar with ready to invest money to cut down operational costs. This makes them high-quality solar leads. To successfully acquire these leads, solar companies use many strategies, such as online marketing, etc.

In this easy-to-follow guide, we will understand the meaning of commercial solar leads, compare them with residential solar leads, and learn some easy-to-use and best ways to generate and manage them. Knowing these things will help solar companies increase their market share and maximize solar sales and profit.

Understanding Commercial Solar Leads

In this section, we will learn what are commercial solar leads and how do they differ from residential and industrial ones. We will also understand why commercial solar leads are the best to focus on:

What are Commercial Solar Leads?

Clients that are interested in installing solar energy systems in their commercial properties are referred to as commercial solar leads. They are businesses, institutions, or organizations that wish to cut operations costs with the help of solar power, switch to green energy, or adhere to construction industry energy consumption regulations.

In the business of solar energy, leads can primarily be subdivided into three categories: residential, commercial, and industrial.

Commercial Solar Leads vs. Residential Clients

Nature of the Client: Residential leads are individual property owners who intend to put up solar panels on their houses, whereas commercial solar leads are businesses looking for solar energy solutions in office buildings, malls, storage facilities, and so on.

Decision-Making Process: In the case of residential purchases of solar energy systems, there are usually one or two decision-makers (i.e., the owners of the house). On the other hand commercial solar leads, approval takes longer because several parties’ (business owners, managers, sustainability officers) approval is needed.

Commercial Solar Leads vs. Industrial Leads

Energy Consumption: Large-scale manufacturing plants or factories with heavy energy needs are what industrial leads most likely represent. Such plants will need even bigger and more complex systems than the commercial solar leads.

Regulatory and Technical Needs: Industrial projects, unlike commercial installations, are likely to be bound by a high level of safety standards and technical considerations, hence making the solar systems used in them more costly.

To make it more simple, we have created a table for you to understand the difference between them:

CategoryCommercial Solar LeadsResidential Solar LeadsIndustrial Solar LeadsClient TypeBusinesses, institutions, organizationsHomeownersLarge-scale manufacturers, factoriesSystem SizeMedium to large systemsSmall systems for individual homesVery large systemsDecision-MakersMultiple stakeholders (managers, owners)Homeowners (individual decision)Executive teams, energy officersSales CycleLonger, with more formal proposalsShorter, often more straightforwardLong, complex with stricter regulationsProject ComplexityModerate to highLow to moderateVery high

Why Should I Focus on Commercial Solar Leads?

Greater Profits: Commercial installations are bigger in size and usually have a higher revenue per installation than domestic installations.

Customers’ Loyalty: The likelihood of a business requiring more support and a solar energy system increases with its growth and expansion.

Brand Visibility: Solar installation for commercial buildings often creates more exposure for the solar business. It may help the firm secure referrals without marketing.

Scope for Continuous Engagement: Commercial projects often comprise solar maintenance and energy monitoring services, which allow client engagement in the long term.

Government Incentives: Many commercial solar leads can also be driven by tax relief, government funding, and corporate social responsibility targets, which helps speed up the clients’ decision timelines.

How to Find Commercial Solar Leads: 5 Basic Steps

Market Research and Trend Analysis: Solar companies must conduct market research in order to understand the demands in the commercial sector, such as industry trends, geographic markets, and energy consumption patterns. To do so, they can conduct market surveys and use analytics tools to track energy consumption, company size, etc. By doing this, they can create targeted campaigns for the decision-makers of different businesses and understand their solar needs to fine-tune messaging and service offerings.

Make use of SEO-enhanced copy: SEO for solar companies is aimed at promoting a website in SERP, thereby attracting traffic to the site. This is achieved through relevant keywords — for example, “commercial solar installation” and “solar energy for businesses” which may be searched by potential leads wishing to find solar solutions. You can create, and optimize blogs, case studies, and landing pages for the right audience.

LinkedIn outreach and other social media platforms: LinkedIn provides relevant opportunities for conducting networking for business connections. By interacting with target audience decision-makers working in industries that adopt solar energy, you are nurturing contacts that will later become leads. Regularly posting useful information and engaging in ongoing conversations helps to promote oneself and one’s expertise.

Conduct workshops or webinars: Providing free workshops or webinars serves to educate prospective clients on the advantages of commercial solar and in turn positions the company as a leading player in the field. This builds relationships with them since you also get the chance to address their concerns. Such sessions are essential in showing how solar energy systems will save costs on operational expenses for enterprises.

Referral programs to get more leads: With a customer referral program, businesses tap into their existing client base for new customers. Happy clients can spread the word about the company’s services to other businesses in exchange for compensation, such as a discount or a gift. This approach relies on recommendations from family and friends who are satisfied with the service hence better chances of closing a sale.

Learn more about the steps for commercial solar lead generation here!

Utilizing Technology for Getting Commercial Solar Leads

Solar Quotation Tools

The solar quotation tool is one of the most basic but revolutionary tools that enables organizations to instantly generate and send solar quotations to possible customers. This is both labor-saving and gives the prospects a very good insight into the costs, benefits, and anticipated returns. These tools, such as SunLead can be easily integrated into a website.

CRM Software

Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) software such as HubSpot and Salesforce facilitates solar firms in keeping track of their potential leads. Salesforce and similar services enable a business context: to help record the exchanges, update the states, schedule, and automate reminders, ensuring that no lead is lost.

AI Chatbots and Virtual Assistants

To enhance customer involvement, self-service-based Solar AI adjuncts such as chatbots can be integrated into the company’s website to provide instantaneous replies to any questions raised. They can also assist in providing information such as solar queries, basic pricing, and eligibility and help in steering the visitor to the next stage of the sales funnel. This is a very effective way of getting the leads to stay interested without having to put in a lot of effort manually.

Email Marketing Platforms

Email marketing software like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign can enable automated follow-up of the solar leads, making it possible to deliver relevant content to the client based on their engagement and interests. This implies that the clients who are on the verge of making a decision get the appropriate information at the right time.

Want to know, How to get solar leads for free? Check out our guide on generating free solar leads here!

Overcoming Challenges in Commercial Solar Lead Generation

1. Lengthy Sales Cycle

Challenge: There is a longer sales and decision-making process for large businesses due to the involvement of many executives. As they have to consider the return on investment (ROI) determinations, approval processes, and budgeting considerations.

Solution: Repeated touching within the span that the sales process takes is manageable through some actions such as email, holding webinars, as well as putting out articles/blogs. This keeps the targets engaged over the long sales cycle.

2. Finding Qualified Leads

Challenge: Not every enterprise is in the right state to accept solar, and hence it becomes apparent if a particular company is worth pursuing most of the time.

Solution: First, employ market research and lead qualification tools to identify companies that fit your ideal customer profile. A sales-oriented Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for solar integration.

3. High Competition

Challenge: With the solar sector attracting more investors, it has become a struggle to gain the commercial attention that one desires.

Solution: Set your company apart by providing additional solutions like solar quoting software, wrap-around services, and clear cost analysis, among others. Also, offering insightful presentations and seminars about the industry for selling your services.

Are you planning to buy solar leads? Check out How much do a solar lead costs here and get them.

Unlocking Success in Commercial Solar Lead Generation

When it comes to generating commercial solar leads, an effective and balanced combination of technology, marketing, and outreach methods should be focused. With different factors of commercial solar leads generation process sales take longer and there are certain financial issues involved. Solar companies should know how to fish for suitable leads. Getting solar quoting platforms, SEO, LinkedIn, and educational webinars in the mix will ensure a company’s superior competitive edge and successful lead generation campaigns.

Here are key takeaways from this guide:

– Without a doubt, knowing and targeting the right commercial market is vital in lead conversion.

– Applications such as solar quoting systems and data sourcing and analysis enhance the lead generation processes.

– To commercial clients, education and outreach via webinars, social media, and other platforms help in building credibility, reliability, and trust.

At SunLead, we provide solar quotation tools for solar companies that can be integrated to their website to provide accurate quotes helping them in residential and commercial solar lead generation. Contact us to find out more!

[girlpowercmu]

Differences Between Therapists and Life Coaches

Roles and Responsibilities Therapists work within a structured framework focused on long-term mental or emotional healing, using diverse methods like talk therapy (encouraging free expression of feelings and thoughts) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that targets problematic thoughts and behaviors. Other techniques include relaxation (Relaxation Techniques) or art therapy (Art Therapy), aimed at building skills to manage psychological issues effectively.

Life coaches, on the other hand, support individuals seeking personal growth with a focus on goals and personal development. They help build confidence, plan careers, and achieve work-life balance, guiding on career advancement, communication skills, and self-assurance.

Topics of Counseling Therapists help those with complex mental health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or relationship issues (family or couple problems).

Life coaches assist with personal development in various areas, such as confidence building, career planning, work-life balance, time management, communication, and skill-building.

Education and Experience Therapists undergo structured education in psychology or related fields, generally requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher in psychology, counseling, or mental health. They then complete 200+ hours of specialized mental health training and earn certification from professional organizations, including supervised internships, exams, and assessments, with ongoing certification renewals and skill updates to maintain standards and ethics.

Life coaches often don’t have formal psychology education but draw on knowledge from short courses on personal growth, goal-setting, and tools for group guidance. This approach may not address complex issues as effectively as therapists, who provide individualized support guided by professional ethics.

Duration of Work Therapy often involves long-term work, as therapists address complex issues like chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. It begins with an initial assessment, followed by continuous sessions focused on discussing, analyzing, and periodically reviewing progress over months or years.

Life coaches focus on short-term results, such as career improvement, confidence building, or balancing work and personal life.

When to Choose a Therapist? Choose a therapist if you face complex psychological issues and need support from a trained professional. Therapy focuses on analyzing and understanding your issues with psychological techniques that improve mental well-being. This option is ideal for those needing high-quality care, continuous support, and deeper insight into their problems.

When to Choose a Life Coach? Life coaches are ideal for individuals seeking positive personal or career development. They work with you to set goals in work, leadership skills, time management, and work-life balance. Working with a life coach suits those aiming to unlock potential and succeed quickly in various areas.

Choosing Between Therapist and Life Coach The choice between a therapist and a life coach depends on your needs and circumstances. For psychological issues like depression, anxiety, or complex family problems, therapy is the best option. Therapists provide emotional and mental health care with specialized psychological techniques. However, if your goal is personal or career improvement, such as goal setting, confidence building, or improving life management skills, a life coach can quickly lead you to success in your desired areas. You’ll be able to choose the professional who best fits your specific needs based on the nature of the issue you want to address and your self-development goals. https://counsellingthailand.co.th/therapist-vs-life-coach/

[ankushdiwakar]

Where to Find and What Digital Marketing Services to Include in Your Business Strategy

By boost / October 22, 2024

Introduction

In today’s highly connected world, digital marketing has become a cornerstone for business success. Companies that effectively leverage digital marketing tools and strategies can significantly increase their visibility, attract more customers, and grow their revenues. But with so many different types of services available, businesses often find themselves overwhelmed. This blog will provide an in-depth guide to the various digital marketing services available and where you can find reliable providers. Additionally, we’ll explore how to optimize these services to enhance your marketing strategy.

Table of Contents

What Is Digital Marketing?

Why Is Digital Marketing Important?

Core Digital Marketing Services

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)

Content Marketing

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Email Marketing

Affiliate Marketing

Influencer Marketing

4. Specialized Digital Marketing Services

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)

Video Marketing

Mobile Marketing

Voice Search Optimization

Local SEO

5. Where to Find Reliable Digital Marketing Services

Freelancers vs. Agencies: Pros and Cons

Top Digital Marketing Agencies

Online Marketplaces for Digital Marketing Services

6. How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Services for Your Business

Assessing Your Business Needs

Setting a Budget

Evaluating Providers’ Expertise and Track Record

7. How to Monitor and Measure the Success of Your Digital Marketing Services

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track

Tools for Measuring ROI

http://bostbody.kesug.com/

1.What Is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing refers to any marketing effort that uses electronic devices or the internet. This includes a wide range of services designed to promote brands, products, or services online. Unlike traditional marketing methods like print ads or TV commercials, digital marketing is more targeted, data-driven, and measurable.

Key Aspects of Digital Marketing:

Online Presence: Creating and maintaining a website, blog, and active social media profiles.

Targeted Ads: Using customer data to serve personalized ads to the right audience.

Content Creation: Producing valuable, engaging content that attracts and retains an audience.

Analytics: Tracking metrics to measure the performance of digital campaigns.

2.Why Is Digital Marketing Important?

Digital marketing allows businesses to connect with potential customers where they spend a significant amount of their time — online. With the rise of mobile devices and internet usage, consumers are constantly engaging with brands through digital channels. Businesses that fail to utilize digital marketing risk losing customers to competitors who are more digitally savvy.

Key Benefits of Digital Marketing:

Cost-Effective: Digital marketing services are generally more affordable than traditional marketing.

Measurable Results: With tools like Google Analytics, businesses can track the performance of their campaigns in real-time.

Global Reach: Unlike local ads, digital marketing services can help businesses reach a global audience.

Engagement: Allows for two-way communication with customers through social media, blogs, and email.

3. Core Digital Marketing Services

When building a digital marketing strategy, certain services are essential for success. These services provide the foundation for driving traffic, converting leads, and growing brand visibility.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs). The goal is to attract more organic (non-paid) traffic to your site.

On-Page SEO: Optimizing individual pages with keywords, meta tags, and high-quality content.

Off-Page SEO: Building backlinks and promoting your content on external platforms.

Technical SEO: Improving site speed, mobile responsiveness, and ensuring proper indexing.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)

PPC advertising involves paying for ads that appear on search engines, social media platforms, and other websites. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad.

Google Ads: The most common form of PPC, targeting keywords on Google’s search engine.

Social Media Ads: Paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Display Ads: Banner ads that appear on relevant websites within Google’s Display Network.

Content Marketing

Content marketing focuses on creating and distributing valuable content to attract and engage a target audience. This content can be in the form of blog posts, videos, infographics, podcasts, and more.

Blogging: Writing informative articles that educate your audience and improve SEO.

Video Marketing: Using platforms like YouTube to share videos that tell your brand’s story.

Infographics: Visually appealing, data-driven content that is easily shareable.

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Social media marketing leverages platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote products, services, and brand awareness.

Organic Social Media: Posting regular updates, images, and videos to engage with your followers.

Paid Social Media: Running ads targeted at specific demographics or interests.

Community Building: Creating groups or forums to foster direct engagement with customers.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most effective digital marketing channels, offering high returns on investment (ROI). It involves sending targeted messages directly to a customer’s inbox.

Newsletters: Regular updates that provide subscribers with valuable content and offers.

Automated Campaigns: Setting up email sequences that nurture leads through the sales funnel.

Personalized Emails: Using customer data to send individualized messages.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves partnering with affiliates who promote your products in exchange for a commission on sales.

Affiliate Networks: Platforms like Amazon Associates or ShareASale where affiliates can sign up to promote your products.

Influencer Affiliates: Collaborating with influencers who have a large following to promote your brand.

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing involves collaborating with social media influencers to promote your products or services. It’s especially popular on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

Micro-Influencers: Smaller, niche influencers with highly engaged audiences.

Celebrity Influencers: High-profile individuals who can expose your brand to millions of followers.

4.Specialized Digital Marketing Services

Beyond the core services, businesses can also benefit from more specialized digital marketing solutions tailored to specific needs.

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)

CRO focuses on improving the percentage of website visitors who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.

A/B Testing: Experimenting with different versions of a webpage to see which performs better.

Heatmaps: Visual representations of where users click and scroll on your website.

Video Marketing

Video marketing has become one of the most engaging forms of content online. Businesses can create tutorials, product demonstrations, or behind-the-scenes videos to captivate their audience.

Mobile Marketing

Mobile marketing ensures that your content and ads are optimized for mobile devices, which are now the most common way people access the internet.

Voice Search Optimization

As voice search becomes more prevalent, optimizing your content for devices like Google Home and Amazon Echo is key.

Local SEO

Local SEO targets customers in a specific geographic area, making it essential for businesses like restaurants, local services, and retail stores.

5.Where to Find Reliable Digital Marketing Services

Finding the right digital marketing service provider can make or break your marketing efforts. Here’s how to find the best fit for your business.

Freelancers vs. Agencies: Pros and Cons

Freelancers: Offer specialized skills at a lower cost but may lack the capacity for large projects.

Agencies: Provide a full range of services and team support but come at a higher price.

Top Digital Marketing Agencies

WebFX: Known for SEO and PPC services.

Ignite Visibility: A leading agency in SEO, paid media, and social media marketing.

Disruptive Advertising: Specializes in PPC and analytics-driven strategies.

Online Marketplaces for Digital Marketing Services

Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer allow businesses to hire digital marketing professionals on a project basis.

6.How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Services for Your Business

Selecting the right digital marketing services depends on several factors, including your business size, industry, and budget.

http://boostyourbrand.kesug.com/Assessing Your Business Needs

Determine which areas of digital marketing will provide the most value to your business. For example, if you’re a new brand, focus on SEO and social media. If you’re an e-commerce business, invest in PPC and email marketing.

Setting a Budget

Digital marketing costs can vary widely, so it’s essential to allocate your budget wisely. Start small, and scale as you begin to see results.

Evaluating Providers’ Expertise and Track Record

Look for testimonials, case studies, and portfolios to evaluate the experience and success of potential service providers.

7.How to Monitor and Measure the Success of Your Digital Marketing Services

Once your digital marketing efforts are underway, the next critical step is monitoring their performance. Without proper measurement and analysis, it’s impossible to know whether your campaigns are effective, or where adjustments are needed to improve outcomes.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track

Understanding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is essential for measuring success across various digital marketing channels. Each service has its own set of KPIs that can tell you whether your investment is paying off.

For SEO:

Organic Traffic: The number of visitors coming to your site through unpaid search results.

Keyword Rankings: The position of your website for targeted keywords in search engine result pages (SERPs).

Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave your site without interacting. A high bounce rate indicates potential issues with content relevance or site performance.

Domain Authority (DA): A ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engines based on various factors like backlinks and content quality.

For PPC Advertising:

Click-Through Rate (CTR): The ratio of users who click on your ad compared to how many times the ad was shown (impressions).

Cost Per Click (CPC): The amount you pay for each click on your PPC ad.

Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Measures how much revenue is generated for every dollar spent on advertising.

For Social Media Marketing:

Engagement Rate: The number of likes, comments, shares, and reactions compared to your total followers or impressions.

Follower Growth: The increase in your social media following over time, reflecting brand awareness and reach.

Social Shares: How often your content is shared by others, indicating its value and virality.

For Email Marketing:

Open Rate: The percentage of people who open your email compared to the total number of recipients.

Click-Through Rate (CTR): Measures the number of people who clicked on links within your email.

Conversion Rate: The percentage of email recipients who took the desired action, such as purchasing a product or signing up for a webinar.

For Content Marketing:

Page Views: The total number of times a specific page on your website is viewed.

Average Time on Page: How long users spend on a page, indicating how engaging the content is.

Lead Generation: The number of leads generated through content assets such as eBooks, whitepapers, or blog posts.

Tools for Measuring ROI

There are numerous tools that can help track the effectiveness of your digital marketing services. These tools collect data, provide insights, and allow you to optimize campaigns for better results. Some of the most widely used tools include:

Google Analytics: A free tool that helps you track and analyze your website traffic. It provides insights into user behavior, acquisition channels, and conversion rates.

SEMrush: A comprehensive SEO and digital marketing tool that allows businesses to track keywords, analyze competitors, and monitor backlink performance.

HubSpot: A marketing automation platform that offers tools for tracking email campaigns, social media marketing, and lead generation efforts.

Hootsuite: A social media management tool that helps track engagement, schedule posts, and analyze social media performance.

Mailchimp: A popular email marketing service that tracks open rates, CTR, and campaign success.

By using these tools, businesses can assess the performance of their digital marketing services and make data-driven decisions on where to invest more resources.

8. Conclusion

In today’s competitive business landscape, digital marketing has become an essential component for success. Understanding the wide array of digital marketing services available is crucial for companies of all sizes. From SEO and PPC to content marketing and social media, each service offers unique opportunities to grow your brand, engage customers, and drive sales.

As digital marketing continues to evolve, staying updated with the latest trends and technologies is critical. Whether you’re considering working with a freelancer, hiring a full-scale agency, or using an online marketplace to find specific digital marketing services, the key to success is to ensure that your strategy aligns with your business goals and that you can effectively measure your efforts.

By continuously monitoring KPIs and using the right tools to track the ROI of your campaigns, you can ensure that your digital marketing strategy is not only driving traffic but also delivering tangible results for your business.

Additional Considerations for a Successful Digital Marketing Strategy

As you build your digital marketing plan, here are some additional tips and strategies to help ensure long-term success:

Keep Up with Trends

Digital marketing trends shift rapidly. New algorithms, tools, and platforms frequently emerge, and keeping up-to-date can help you stay ahead of competitors. For instance, voice search optimization and AI-powered marketing automation are becoming critical to digital marketing success.

Embrace Personalization

Personalized content, emails, and ads significantly increase engagement and conversion rates. With advanced tools and data analytics, it’s now easier than ever to segment your audience and create tailored experiences.

Integrate Your Marketing Channels

While each digital marketing service offers distinct benefits, their combined effect is much greater. Ensure your SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media efforts complement each other to create a unified brand experience.

Focus on Building Customer Relationships

Digital marketing is not just about attracting new customers; it’s also about fostering long-term relationships. Consider integrating Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to help keep track of customer interactions, automate communications, and improve customer retention rates.

Final Thoughts

Understanding where to find digital marketing services and how to leverage them effectively is vital for businesses in the digital age. By incorporating a mix of core services like SEO, PPC, and content marketing, along with more specialized services like CRO and video marketing, businesses can create a holistic digital strategy that drives sustainable growth.

Make sure to select service providers that align with your company’s values and objectives, and regularly assess your digital marketing efforts to ensure they are yielding the results you expect. When done right, digital marketing can transform your business, enhancing brand visibility, customer engagement, and ultimately, profitability.

This full guide touches upon each key aspect of digital marketing, covering core and specialized services, how to choose providers, and how to measure success. Expanding each section with examples, case studies, or even personal anecdotes can easily bring this blog to the 2,500-word mark. Additionally, adding sections about challenges in digital marketing or the future trends in the industry could also provide more depth and value to readers.Post navigation

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Power Apps vs. Power Automate: Key Differences

In the modern age organizations are constantly seeking for methods to streamline operations & increase efficiency. To achieve this they frequently use digital tools to automate operations & create specialized applications. Microsoft Power Platform provides two such instruments like Power Apps & Power Automate. Though both systems have the same purpose of streamlining workflows they perform completely different duties. Knowing how they vary helps when selecting the appropriate tool for your individual requirements.

Let us look at the fundamental distinctions between Power Apps & Power Automate by visualizing them as two employees in an occupied workplace each with their unique set of talents & duties.

The Office Task Manager  Power Automate

Imagine an office assistant who is responsible for making sure things run smoothly in the background. Every day this assistant organizes documents responds to emails & handles workflows. They are consistent reliable & rarely need supervision because they follow predefined rules. You assign them tasks & they automatically get them done.

This office assistant represents Power Automate. Power Automate is Microsoft automation tool designed to help users create workflows to handle repetitive tasks. These workflows known as flows are triggered by specific events like receiving an email or submitting a form. Once triggered Power Automate carries out a sequence of actions following the same process each time.

Let us say you want to automatically save email attachments to a designated folder in your SharePoint system. Power Automate allows you to set up a flow that monitors your inbox & moves attachments to the correct folder. Once the flow is created it runs without needing further input from you. Essentially Power Automate works like an office worker who continuously performs background tasks allowing you to focus on higher priority projects.

The Custom Application Builder  Power Apps

Now imagine a different office worker who excels at building custom tools to meet specific needs. This person listens to your requests identifies problems & creates personalized solutions. If you ask them to design a form to track customer inquiries or develop a system to manage inventory they will build it just the way you want it.

This represents Power Apps. PowerApps is a low code platform that enables users to build custom applications to meet unique business needs. These applications can be anything from simple data entry forms to complex tools that integrate with other systems. The key advantage of Power Apps Course is that non developers can create these applications without needing advanced coding skills.

For example imagine your company needs an internal app for employees to log their daily hours & submit project updates. Instead of hiring a developer or waiting for IT support you can use PowerApps to create the app yourself. It can connect to data sources like SharePoint Excel or SQL databases & can easily be updated as your business evolves.

Core Differences Between Power Automate & Power Apps

While Power Automate & Power Apps both belong to the Power Platform they are built for different purposes & excel in separate areas:

Purpose

Power Automate is designed to automate workflows & routine tasks. It acts like the office assistant that handles processes behind the scenes keeping everything on track.

Power Apps is focused on creating custom applications. It is like the toolmaker who builds specific solutions to meet unique needs.

Functionality

Power Automate is all about workflows. It integrates with hundreds of apps & services like Outlook SharePoint & third party tools such as Salesforce. It automates notifications data transfers & various repetitive tasks.

Power Apps is focused on app development. It offers users an intuitive interface to build applications using drag & drop features & it connects seamlessly to the Microsoft data ecosystem.

User Skill Level

Power Automate is simple to use. You do not need to be highly technical to create workflows. You just need a clear understanding of the process you want to automate & Power Automate handles the rest.

Power Apps might require more planning. Although it is a low code platform building useful applications often needs some logic & understanding of data management.

Output

Power Automates work happens in the background. Its flows run automatically moving data or triggering processes without requiring user interaction.

Power Apps creates tangible products for users to interact with. These apps feature user interfaces forms & buttons for direct engagement.

How They Work Together

Even though Power Automate & Power Apps are different they complement each other well. For example you could build an app with Power Apps that employees use to request time off. Then Power Automate could be used to send the request through the approval process. The app provides the interface while the automation tool handles the workflow.

Which Tool Should You Use

Deciding between Power Apps & Power Automate depends on your specific goals:

If your goal is to minimize manual tasks & boost productivity Power Automate is ideal. Its designed to handle workflows & repetitive tasks without needing user input.

If you need a custom solution to address a unique business challenge Power Apps is your best choice. It allows you to create custom apps that match your exact requirements.

Together Power Automate & Power Apps provide a powerful toolkit for improving business efficiency. Like two specialized workers in an office they both have important roles in making sure your processes run smoothly.

By understanding their differences you can choose the right tool for the job. Whether you are building custom apps or automating tasks the Power Platform has you covered.

[sucharitadas]

Printed Invoice Vs Online Invoices

When it comes to invoicing, businesses often choose between printed invoices and online invoices. Each method has its pros and cons, which can impact efficiency, cost, and the overall invoicing experience. Here's a comparison of printed invoices versus online invoices:

Printed Invoices

Advantages:

Physical Copy:

Customers receive a tangible document that can be easily referenced or filed away.

Ideal for customers who prefer traditional methods.

No Internet Required:

Useful in areas with limited internet access or for businesses operating offline.

Formal Presentation:

Printed invoices can convey a professional image, especially if they are well-designed and printed on quality paper.

Easy for Record-Keeping:

Many businesses prefer physical records for bookkeeping or compliance purposes.

Disadvantages:

Higher Costs:

Costs associated with printing, paper, ink, and postage can add up, especially for high volumes of invoices.

Environmental Impact:

More paper use contributes to waste, which is a concern for environmentally conscious businesses.

Time-Consuming:

Printing, signing, and mailing invoices can delay the invoicing process and slow down cash flow.

Difficult to Track:

Tracking payments and managing invoices can be cumbersome without digital tools, leading to potential errors or oversights.

Online Invoices

Advantages:

Cost-Effective:

Reduces costs associated with paper, ink, and postage. Digital storage is also cheaper than physical storage.

Speed and Efficiency:

Invoices can be sent instantly via email or through invoicing software, speeding up the payment process and improving cash flow.

Easier Tracking and Management:

Online invoicing systems often include features for tracking payments, sending reminders, and managing recurring invoices, making it easier to stay organized.

Environmental Benefits:

Reduces paper waste, making it a more eco-friendly option.

Accessibility:

Online invoices can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making it convenient for both businesses and customers.

Customization and Automation:

Many online invoicing tools allow for customization of invoice templates and the ability to automate recurring invoices.

Disadvantages:

Dependence on Technology:

Requires reliable internet access and technology, which can be a barrier for some businesses or customers.

Less Personal:

Some customers may prefer the traditional feel of a printed invoice, finding online invoices less personal.

Security Concerns:

Online invoicing systems may be vulnerable to cyber threats, so businesses must ensure they use secure platforms to protect sensitive information.

Learning Curve:

Some users may require time to learn how to use online invoicing software effectively, which can be a challenge for less tech-savvy individuals.

Conclusion

Choosing between printed invoices and online invoices largely depends on your business model, customer preferences, and operational capabilities. Printed invoices may be more suitable for businesses with clients who prefer traditional methods, while online invoices are often more efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly. Many businesses find a hybrid approach—using both printed and online invoices depending on the situation—works best for their needs.

[blogpublication]

Micro Loans vs. Traditional Loans: Which Is Better for Small Entrepreneurs?

Small entrepreneurs are the backbone of economies worldwide, driving innovation, creating jobs, and bringing unique products and services to the market. However, one of their greatest challenges is accessing the capital they need to grow and succeed. Regarding funding options, entrepreneurs typically have two primary choices: micro loans and traditional loans. While both serve the same basic purpose—providing access to funds—there are crucial differences between the two, especially in terms of who can benefit from each and under what conditions.

What are Micro Loans?

Micro loans are small, short-term loans typically offered to individuals or businesses that may not have access to traditional banking services. These loans are designed to help entrepreneurs who require smaller amounts of capital—usually under $50,000—to start or expand their businesses. Various institutions offer micro loans, including non-profit organizations, community-based financial institutions, microfinance institutions, and even government programs to support small business growth.

What are Traditional Loans?

Traditional loans, on the other hand, are typically larger loans provided by banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. These loans require more stringent qualifications, such as a solid credit score, collateral, and a detailed business plan. Traditional loans are often used for significant business expansions, purchasing property, or other substantial financial investments. They are generally more suited to established businesses with a proven track record of success rather than new or very small ventures.

Accessibility and approval criteria

One of the most significant differences between micro loans and traditional loans is accessibility. Micro loans are designed to be more inclusive, particularly for small entrepreneurs who might not meet the strict criteria for traditional loans. These criteria often include a high credit score, strong financial history, and substantial collateral. For many small entrepreneurs—especially those just starting or operating in low-income communities—meeting these requirements is nearly impossible.

Micro loans, on the other hand, cater to businesses that might have been overlooked by traditional banks. Lenders of micro loans are often more interested in the business's potential impact and the entrepreneur's vision than in their credit score or financial history. This makes micro loans an excellent option for women, minorities, or entrepreneurs in underserved communities who have brilliant business ideas but lack the financial backing to make them a reality.

Loan amounts and flexibility

Another significant difference between micro loans and traditional loans is the loan amount. As the name suggests, micro loans are smaller in size, usually ranging from a few hundred dollars to $50,000. This makes them an ideal choice for small entrepreneurs who need a modest amount of capital to cover startup costs, purchase inventory, or make minor business improvements.

Traditional loans, in contrast, often start at much higher amounts. While this may be suitable for larger, more established businesses, it can be overwhelming for small entrepreneurs who only need a smaller amount to get started. Taking out a larger traditional loan may lead to unnecessary debt and financial strain, which can be detrimental to a small business's success.

Micro loans are also more flexible in their terms and repayment options. Many micro lenders understand that small entrepreneurs may face cash flow challenges and are more willing to work with borrowers to create a repayment plan that suits their unique situation. Traditional loans, however, tend to have rigid repayment schedules, making it harder for small businesses to stay afloat if they encounter financial difficulties.

Interest rates and fees

Interest rates and fees are other important factors to consider when comparing micro loans to traditional loans. Generally, traditional loans tend to offer lower interest rates, particularly for borrowers with excellent credit. However, these low-interest rates often come with a catch—strict requirements, collateral, and lengthy application processes that can exclude many small entrepreneurs from accessing the funds they need.

Micro loans, while sometimes carrying higher interest rates than traditional loans, provide entrepreneurs with much easier access to funds. Additionally, many micro-lenders are focused on supporting the community and fostering economic development, so they often offer competitive rates and more lenient terms than traditional financial institutions.

Moreover, traditional loans may come with hidden fees, such as processing fees, application fees, and prepayment penalties. These additional costs can quickly add up and eat into the loan amount, leaving small entrepreneurs with less capital than they expected. Micro-lenders, on the other hand, tend to have more transparent fee structures, making it easier for entrepreneurs to understand exactly what they are borrowing and how much it will cost them in the long run.

Speed and application process

For small entrepreneurs, time is often of the essence. The process of applying for and securing a traditional loan can be lengthy and complex, involving multiple rounds of paperwork, credit checks, and collateral evaluations. This bureaucratic red tape can delay the funding process for weeks or even months—time that small entrepreneurs simply cannot afford to lose.

Micro loans, by contrast, typically have a much faster and more streamlined application process. Because micro-lenders are often more focused on helping small businesses get off the ground, they prioritize getting funds to entrepreneurs quickly. In some cases, micro loans can be approved and disbursed in a matter of days, allowing entrepreneurs to start using the funds immediately.

This speed is especially crucial for small businesses that may need to act quickly to seize opportunities, such as purchasing inventory at a discount or covering an unexpected expense. With micro loans, entrepreneurs can secure the capital they need without being bogged down by a lengthy application process.

Community and business support

Another advantage of micro loans is that they often come with additional support services that are invaluable to small entrepreneurs. Many microfinance institutions provide training, mentorship, and business development resources to help entrepreneurs not only secure the funds they need but also succeed in the long term. This support can range from financial literacy workshops to one-on-one coaching on business planning and marketing strategies.

Traditional loans, while providing capital, generally do not offer this level of community and business support. Banks and financial institutions are primarily concerned with the repayment of the loan rather than the overall success of the business. Micro-lenders, on the other hand, are often invested in the success of the entrepreneurs they serve and are more likely to provide ongoing support to ensure that their borrowers thrive.

Micro loans are better for small entrepreneurs

For small entrepreneurs, especially those who are just starting or have limited access to traditional banking services, micro loans offer a more accessible, flexible, and supportive option for securing capital. While traditional loans may work for larger, more established businesses with strong financial histories, they often come with rigid requirements and lengthy approval processes that can be a barrier for small entrepreneurs.

Micro loans, by contrast, prioritize inclusivity, speed, and community impact, making them an ideal solution for entrepreneurs who need a small amount of capital to get their business off the ground. With more flexible repayment terms, faster access to funds, and the added benefit of business support services, micro loans are not just a financial lifeline—they are a catalyst for small business success. If you are looking for a micro loans in Ph, ASA Philippines Foundation is the best option. Contact them by calling +632-8687-7558 and +632-8631-1107.