#we’re talking foundations of the craft here

[autism-alley]

hi originally posted this at the end of a long thread of back and forth, here’s the og post if you want full context but i feel like this needs to be its own post especially bc i keep seeing this argument being made—the argument that the kids (in this case it was annabeth) SHOULD just know the monsters are monsters and who they are and how to defeat them before ever encountering them, that it’s a problem if they don’t.

the problem is not if 12 year olds should recognize a trap when they see one, even if they’re smart 12 year olds, and if that’s realistic. that is entirely beside the point.

the problem is rick riordan wrote a book series whose formula is bringing myths to the modern age and he’s not sticking true to that in the show—percy jackson and the olympians’ Shtick is taking these classic, ancient threats and giving them a new face. these traps work because these kids are not walking into a cave marked with Get Out and getting ambushed by monsters—the monsters are disguised as harmless mortal human beings, in harmless mortal human being places (for the most part) and i think we—and more importantly, the show—are all forgetting the mist, the magic involved here. it’s not just that medusa is a “creepy lady with her eyes covered” it’s that there is ancient magic at work here, magic that, like the systems of abuse pjo exists to criticize, has been evolving and continuing its malevolence for millennia. it’s formulaic, that’s the point. it’s the same trap you’ve learned about all your childhood, the same trap a thousand children before you learned all their childhoods, and still, it works. you fall into the trap. because that’s how generational abuse works. it’s a trap. it isn’t enough to learn monsters exist, what they look like from a second hand story that originated thousands of years ago. if you want to escape alive, you have to adapt as quickly as they do, recognize their face, and ultimately, beyond any individual trap, the game itself has to change. real, generational change.

so. the problem is rick riordan wrote a series with a formula for action that perfectly captures the overarching, systemic conflicts he was commentating on, and then threw that formula out in the show because it was “unrealistic”. i don’t give a damn about realism when it works to the detriment of the story. this is a story about generational abuse, yes, but it’s told through ‘a tale as old as time’ and that’s why it works so fucking well. and when it comes to basic storytelling, if your characters know the threat before they even walk in and you do practically nothing to then make up for the stakes you have removed, that’s a flaw. now you’ve lost the entertainment value for your audience, on top of also lessening your themes.

something else that is so. honestly soul-crushing as a writer and a creative, is that to me this is reflective of the way we are now afraid to tell earnest stories. stories where we care not for listening to the people who want to pick apart fictional, mythical, fantasy stories for not being “realistic” instead of aligning with our target audience who acknowledges reality is not what makes a story. think of your favorite movie, show, book, comic, what have you—has the reason for your favoritism ever been because it is the most reasonable, the most grounded, the most practical out of any you’ve seen? or is it because of the emotion? the way it speaks to you, to your life and the person you are? the journey it takes you on? is the percy jackson and the olympians book series so good because it’s inherently realistic?

the secret to storytelling is, very simply, focus on your story. everything else is secondary. if it’s written well, it doesn’t matter to me that the characters walk into a trap that, to the audience, is obviously a trap. because i can understand how the characters don’t know it, and how the story falls apart if the narrative just tells the characters it’s a trap from the jump. that’s what dramatic irony is—first used in greek tragedies! this is literally a tale as old as time in every sense except for the end—where it’s happy. and it’s not earned if we don’t first see, over and over, the status quo as a tragic trap.

it’s not about if annabeth (or the other kids) is “smart enough” to not walk into a trap, or about if she’s just too prideful to not walk into what she knows is a trap (or any reason that could apply to the other characters), it’s that annabeth, at the end of the day, is a character. she is a storytelling tool for the messages of the narrative. that doesn’t make her any lesser. in fact ignoring it reduces her, because it reduces what she represents. it’s about how rick riordan, or whoever else at disney, has fumbled the storytelling bag so ridiculously hard that they can’t take the simple, effective formula outlined from start to finish (by good ol 2009 rick himself) and adapt it to the screen without answering the most unimportant, derailing, anti-story questions.

[redroomreflections]

Hotel California | Track 5: Heartbeat Havoc

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: Natasha Romanoff, frontwoman of the punk rock band Velvet Rebellion, falls hard for a woman she believes is too good for her. Their intense relationship unfolds in the chaotic world of rock 'n' roll, where they struggle to balance fame, personal demons, and their undeniable passion for each other.

W/c: 6.3k

Chapter 5/12

Masterlist | General Masterlist

Note: it's only up from here

18+ Minors DNI (mature)

Themes: love, fame, sex, drugs

"So, the release went well, but now we need to capitalize on the momentum. What we don't want is for you to disappear after the premiere," You leaned back into your chair, twirling a pen between your fingers as you spoke on the call. Your tone was confident but measured, ensuring there wasn't too much enthusiasm. You knew your client well enough to know this was a serious conversation.

Tanya Lawrence, an early twenties actress who had just starred in a blockbuster film, was on speaker, along with her agent and manager. You were coming up with a game plan to keep her in the spotlight and sustain the momentum—not only to continue promoting the film but to elevate Tanya herself.

Tanya's voice was thoughtful as she replied, “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. But I don’t want to do the same press rounds everyone else does. I mean, how many times can you sit on a couch and tell the same story?”

You smiled, fully expecting her reluctance. Tanya was always searching for something fresh. It was part of what made her appealing, but also part of the challenge of keeping her relevant without overexposing her.

"I hear you," You said, jotting down a note on your tablet. "The late-night circuit can get a bit tired, but we still need to keep you visible. How about this: we skip the talk shows and go for an exclusive feature with Vogue or Elle? We’ll craft a personal story—something deeper than just promoting the film. We’ll show your evolution from indie darling to blockbuster star. It’s more narrative-driven, more you."

There was a pause, then her manager chimed in, his voice skeptical but intrigued. “How personal are we talking?”

“Not too much," You assured him. "We’re not looking to dig into her private life—just enough to give the audience something to connect with. We’ll focus on her as an actress and philanthropist. Maybe highlight her charity work? The key is controlling the narrative.”

Tanya's voice came through, warmer now. “I love that idea. I’ve been wanting to talk more about the foundation. If we can connect that, it would feel real, not like I’m just selling myself.”

You nodded, already sketching out the potential angles. "Exactly. And we can play it across platforms—get some behind-the-scenes content on social media to drive engagement, maybe even a short Instagram series showing a day in your life. That way, you’re not just doing the standard PR push but building a brand around authenticity.”

The enthusiasm on the other end was palpable now. Tanya's agent was already chiming in with ideas on how to expand the campaign, and her manager was starting to see the vision.

"You’ve always got the best ideas," Tanya said, and you could hear the smile in her voice.

You chuckled. "That’s why you keep me around."

The call wrapped up, and you took a moment to breathe. Another client managed, another fire successfully put out. You were in the zone—this was what you were good at. A notification lit up the screen as you closed your notebook and checked your phone.

"Is Love in the Air? Natasha Romanoff Seen Leaving Concert with New Flame"

Your stomach did a little flip. The photo was grainy and interesting for today’s time, but you knew it was the two of you leaving the concert venue last weekend. It hadn’t taken long for people to start talking, and you weren’t sure how you felt about it all. You tried not to think about the sudden influx of followers you’d gotten or the interest of every possible gossip rag in suddenly taking a deep dive into your life.

As a publicist, you were no stranger to media frenzy, but it was different when you were the story. You’d spent years helping clients navigate this kind of attention, knowing exactly how to spin, deflect, and maintain privacy. But now, as the headlines circled you and Natasha, it felt oddly invasive.

You sighed, locking your phone and rubbing your temples. This wasn’t exactly how you imagined things going with Natasha. A quiet fling, maybe, or just a few months of fun before things inevitably fizzled. But the way her hand had lingered on yours that night, the way she looked at you when she thought no one was watching—something about it felt more... real. And now, the world was catching on.

Focus, y/n, you told yourself, pushing the thought aside. You weren’t going to let this derail your work. Natasha had dealt with the media for years—she could handle it. The question was, could you?

Your office door creaked open, and Monica strolled in, her usual swagger in every step. She leaned casually against the doorframe, crossing her arms with an amused smile.

“You see the headlines?” She asked, eyes twinkling with mischief.

You shot her a look, already knowing where this was headed. “You mean the ones making me sound like some groupie?”

Monica laughed, moving to sit across from you. “Please, Natasha Romanoff’s mystery woman has a much better ring to it. Plus, who says groupies can’t be successful?”

You rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at your lips. “I didn’t ask for this attention, Mon.”

“You’re dating a rockstar. What did you expect?” she teased before her tone softened. “But for real, how are you feeling about it?”

You hesitated, twirling the pen in your fingers, not quite sure how to put it into words. “It’s... strange. I’ve always kept my private life private, you know? And now I’m on the front page, just because I went on a date.”

Monica nodded, her expression shifting to something more serious. “It’s a lot. But you’re the queen of handling this kind of thing. You’ve dealt with bigger fires. And Natasha... well, she’s used to it.”

You sighed, leaning back in your chair. “Yeah, but this feels different. It’s one thing to be in control of someone else’s narrative, but when it’s you...”

Monica tilted her head, studying you. “You really like her, don’t you?”

Your heart skipped a beat at the question. You hadn’t even allowed yourself to fully consider that yet. Did you? The two of you were just getting to know each other. It wasn’t supposed to be serious. But the way you smiled at the thought of her, the way your stomach fluttered when her name popped up on your phone—it was all too familiar.

“I don’t know,” you admitted quietly. “It’s moving fast.”

“You fucked didn’t you?” Monica began to grin.

Your eyes widened. “Jesus, Monica." You cursed. You looked back to your office door, the one she'd decided to leave open, and then back to her. She folded her arms knowingly and you sighed.

"Maybe?" You responded with a smirk. "Or... several times? I lost count that night."

"Oh my god!" Monica cackled. "I knew it. I'm so proud of you."

"Proud shouldn't be the word used for that," You shook your head. "Oh, and Sam decided to bring Isabella home early the next morning so they met each other much sooner than I expected. She also introduced herself as my girlfriend."

"Ooh, and how did Sam react?" Monica knew your ex-husband just as well as she knew you.

"He was shocked but also not shocked." You begin. "I just hoped it wasn't something that made Natasha question what we have going on. I mean anyone would be threatened to have the ex just casually standing in the living room."

"Nah, the woman is head over heels," Monica assured. "Besides, Sam's a good guy, and he's not a possessive ex. So, back to the importance, was she good?"

You couldn't help but smirk. "Yes, she was very good."

Monica smiled, nodding approvingly. "Good. Well, I'm happy for you. It's been a while since you've had some good sex, and even longer since you've had a good woman."

"Somehow you and my daughter are the same person just in different fonts," You mused at her words. "You have no idea how much Bella asked about her."

"What can I say, we both have good taste," Monica smiled. "Anyway, back to work. I'll let you enjoy your celebrity-adjacent status. It’s interesting really how you’ve managed to stay so lowkey. I mean Sam is famous, your parents are famous…”

You chuckled. "It's a blessing and a curse. You can't blame them for being overprotective though. They just wanted to protect their daughter and granddaughter from the limelight. It's why I stayed off the radar."

Before she could question it further, there was a slight knock at the door. An unassuming man with a delivery hat and a gorgeous bouquet caught your attention.

"Are you, Y/n?" He asked.

"Yes," You replied, a little surprised. You watched as the man set the vase down, signed for the delivery, and thanked him. Monica watched in interest.

"What's that for?" Monica asked.

"I have no idea," You replied, a little puzzled. You plucked the card from the bouquet and unfolded it, curious. As your eyes skimmed the neat handwriting, your heart skipped a beat.

“Just in case you needed a little brightness in your day. My time with you was amazing, being with you makes everything even better. — N”

You couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips, warmth spreading through your chest. Natasha had a way of being sweet without overdoing it—something that caught you off guard every time.

Monica raised an eyebrow, leaning over to get a glimpse of the card. “Ohhh, so the rockstar is a romantic.”

You laughed softly, tucking the card back into the bouquet. “Apparently. She’s full of surprises.”

Monica grinned, leaning back in her chair. “Girl, you’ve got it bad.”

You tried to ignore the flush that crept up your neck, your eyes drifting back to the bouquet on your desk. Maybe you did.

**********

Natasha wiped the sweat from her forehead, adjusting her grip on the barbell before settling into her seat. The gym was practically empty, just the way she liked it. Wanda was a few feet away, doing leg presses with ease while music pulsed through the space, the rhythm of the beats syncing with the steady clank of weights hitting the floor. Just as Natasha was about to dive into her next rep, her phone buzzed on the bench beside her. She hesitated for a second, but the moment she saw your name flash across the screen, she abandoned the barbell with zero hesitation.

Y/N: Thank you for the flowers 🌸 They’re almost as beautiful as the woman who sent them. Almost.

Natasha smirked as she leaned against the bench, typing back with one hand while the other still held onto the towel slung around her neck.

Natasha: Almost? I must be slipping. I’ll have to step up my game. 😏

She hit send, already imagining the soft laugh she knew you would give at the response. She wasn’t usually one for the whole romantic gesture thing, but with you, it felt... right. You were different, and Natasha could feel herself getting pulled deeper into this thing between you.

Wanda finished her set and glanced over, eyebrow arched as she caught Natasha mid-text. “You’re supposed to be working out, not flirting,” Wanda teased, giving her a knowing look.

Natasha didn’t bother hiding her smile. “Can’t help it. It’s... motivation.”

Wanda chuckled, moving to grab her water bottle. “Yeah? Motivation or distraction?”

Natasha shrugged, her eyes flicking back to her phone as it buzzed again.

Y/n: If this is you slipping, I can’t wait to see you in top form. Maybe tonight?

Natasha’s breath hitched slightly at the invitation, her mind already racing ahead to the possibilities of your date later. She glanced over at Wanda, who was watching her with mild amusement.

Natasha: Tonight, then. I’ll pick you up. Get ready to be impressed. 😉

Wanda raised an eyebrow as she stretched her arms. “You’re really into her, huh?”

Natasha paused, glancing at her friend before nodding. “Yeah, I think I am.”

Wanda smiled, something in her expression softening. She knew how guarded Natasha could be when it came to dating, so it was a relief to see her opening up again.

"Good," Wanda said simply. "I think you two look cute together. She's a breath of fresh air."

"Yeah," Natasha agreed. "She's different."

Wanda's smile grew wider. "You're different with her."

"Different how? I mean you've only seen us together once," Natasha wiped her brow again.

"Just different, a good different. You've got that glow that you used to have when you and Carol were first starting." Wanda pointed out. "You know before shit hit the fan."

"Hmm, maybe. We'll see." Natasha took a swig from her water bottle. "She's cool. She's secure in herself which is a pretty huge deal. It doesn't come across as cocky or anything."

"That's important. Especially in our field." Wanda nodded.

Natasha smiled to herself as she thought about the last time you’d kissed her goodbye. Your lips had tasted like mint toothpaste, your hands gentle and warm against her skin. It was such a simple thing—just a goodbye kiss—but it had stayed with her all day. She couldn’t wait to spend more time with you tonight.

"Well, I’m happy for you," Wanda said, breaking Natasha from her thoughts.

"Thanks," Natasha replied, feeling her cheeks warm as she thought about you again. "I'm... happy too."

It was true. Happy wasn’t a word Natasha often used to describe herself when it came to relationships. Her past romances had always been complicated, intense, and full of drama. It was almost a given that things would eventually blow up—whether it was her fault or the other person’s. But with you? It felt different.

She wanted it to be distinguishable.

For once, Natasha didn’t want a relationship that was marked by chaos or suffocating intensity. She didn’t want someone who would cling to her or become overly dependent, and she didn’t want to lose herself in someone else’s need for attention or validation. She’d been there before—too many times—and it always ended with someone getting hurt, usually her.

But with you, it felt like things could be... simple. Easy, even.

You weren’t trying to force your way into her life or demand all her time. You didn’t seem interested in changing her, and you weren’t fazed by her fame or reputation. If anything, you were the one who kept a distance from the spotlight, which Natasha found both refreshing and grounding. She liked that you had your own life, your own career, and your daughter to focus on. You didn’t need her to complete you.

That’s what Natasha craved—someone who wanted her but didn’t need her in the way that had always made her feel trapped before. She wanted love, yes, but not the kind that suffocated. She just wanted something real, something healthy. She wanted to feel safe and comfortable, the way she already did with you.

For the first time in a long time, Natasha felt like this could work. It was early, sure, but she couldn’t help but hope that maybe this time things would be different. Maybe this time she wouldn’t screw it up.

She glanced at her phone again, re-reading your last message. Her heart did that annoying little flip it had been doing more often these days, and she chuckled to herself.

***********

You stood in front of the mirror, staring at the dress you’d just slipped into, second-guessing yourself for what felt like the tenth time in an hour. It was a deep burgundy, with a flattering neckline, but was it too much? You tugged at the hem, frowning.

“I don’t know about this one,” You muttered, glancing over your shoulder at Monica and Isabella, who were both sitting on your bed, staring at you with varying levels of judgment.

Monica leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed. "It’s cute, but it feels a little... formal."

"Yeah, Mom," Isabella added, making a face. "It’s like you’re going to a wedding."

You sighed dramatically, turning back to the mirror. "Why is this so hard?" you grumbled, tossing your hair over your shoulder. "It’s just a date."

Isabella giggled, swinging her legs back and forth. "Not just any date. It’s Natasha Romanoff!"

Monica snorted. "Right? Rockstar extraordinaire."

You rolled your eyes, walking over to the closet and grabbing another dress off the hanger. "She’s just... Natasha," you said, trying to sound casual, but the butterflies in your stomach betrayed you. The truth was, Natasha wasn’t just any date. She had a way of making you feel both grounded and completely out of control, and that was terrifying.

Monica raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that."

You tossed the burgundy dress on the bed and slipped into a simpler black one. “Okay, how about this?” you asked, turning to face them again.

Isabella tilted her head, considering it. “Better,” she said. “But... kind of boring.”

Monica nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it’s cute, but you can do better. You’re going on a date with a rockstar, not attending a PTA meeting."

You huffed, pulling the dress off and tossing it aside, feeling a mix of frustration and nervous energy. "I just... want to look good," you admitted. "Not too overdressed, not too underdressed. Just right."

Monica smiled gently, getting up from the bed and walking over to your closet. "You’re overthinking it," she said, flipping through the hangers. "Natasha likes you, right? So whatever you wear, she’s going to think you look great."

You sighed, sitting down on the bed next to Isabella, who leaned against you, her little arm wrapping around your waist. "You think so?"

"Definitely!" Isabella chirped. "Plus, you always look pretty, Mama."

You kissed the top of her head. "Thanks, baby."

Monica finally pulled out a deep green two-piece pantsuit, simple but elegant, with just the right amount of edge. "What about this one?" she asked, holding it up.

You stared at it for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... I like that one."

Monica tossed it over to you with a grin. "Perfect. Now go get ready so I can get the scoop later."

You laughed, slipping into the outfit and smoothing the top down over your belly. "You’re not getting any scoop."

"We’ll see about that," Monica teased, winking at Isabella, who giggled.

As you slipped on a pair of heels and checked your reflection one last time, Isabella tugged at your hand. “Mom?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

"Do you like Natasha?" she asked, her voice innocent but curious. "Like... like like her?"

You paused, looking down at your daughter’s wide eyes. Monica raised an eyebrow, waiting for your response. It was a fair question, and one you’d been asking yourself a lot lately.

"I do," You finally said, feeling a little nervous saying it out loud. "I really do."

Isabella smiled. "Good. I think she likes you too."

You chuckled, smoothing a hand over her hair. "Yeah? You think so?"

Isabella nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I saw the way she looked at you when she came over last time. She was smiling a lot."

Monica smirked from the corner of the room. "Out of the mouths of babes..."

You laughed, trying to ignore the way your heart fluttered at Isabella's words. Was it possible Natasha was already falling for you too?

A knock on the door made you jump, and Isabella squealed, running towards the door. "She's here!"

You took a deep breath, smoothing the front of your shirt and trying to calm your nerves. "Tell her I'll be right there."You called after her.

Isabella was more than happy to answer the door for Natasha. She swung it open with gusto, Bear hot on her tail, as she greeted the woman.

"Hey," Natasha said with a big smile.

"Hi, Natasha," Isabella said with a toothy grin. "Mama's almost ready. You can come in." She leads Natasha over to the living room and sits across from her on the couch. "Before she comes out I want to ask you a few questions."

Natasha was taken aback in an amused sort of way. "Questions?"

"Yup," Isabella said, a serious look on her face. "If my mom makes you mad, are you gonna write a mean song about her?"

Natasha had to hold back her laughter. She loved Isabella's forwardness and honesty. It was refreshing. "No. I don't write songs about people I care about. Plus, I'm not sure your mom could ever make me mad."

"She has her moments," Isabella shrugged. "Another question, Why do you like my mom? Not just for her body or her money or anything. I've been reading a lot of old school magazines lately and I have all of the information."

Natasha bit her lip and cleared her throat. "Uh, well, your mom is very kind and sweet. She's smart, and she has a really good sense of humor."

"And you're not using her for money?"

"Of course not."

Isabella seemed satisfied with her answers. She nodded. "Okay. Good. I like you, Natasha."

"Thanks, kiddo. I like you, too," Natasha chuckled.

"Do you think I could score backstage tickets to your next concert? I promise I'll behave."

"Isabella..."

Isabella rolled her eyes at your stern tone as you rounded the corner. "Fine." She sighed.

"Hey," You said softly, walking up to the pair, a small smile on your lips.

"Wow." Natasha breathed, taking in the sight of you. You looked incredible. "You look... good."

"Thank you so do you," You leaned into her embrace when she stood to kiss you on the cheek. You subtly glanced at her outfit, glad that you'd picked your casual one too. Natasa's dark denim jacket draped effortlessly over a loose white t-shirt. She wore Black skinny jeans, slightly distressed at the knees, and hugged her legs, giving her a subtle edge without trying too hard. Clean white sneakers grounded her look. A simple silver chain glinted at her collarbone, and her hair fell in tousled waves around her face, giving the impression that she hadn’t overthought any of it—yet still managed to look effortlessly striking.

"Thank you," Natasha said.

"You're welcome," You hummed as you pulled back from the hug, the scent of her perfume filling your nose.

"Okay, we'll be fine, Mama." Isabella gave a thumbs up. "Go have fun. Don't stay out too late."

You laughed. "We'll try not to," you promised. "And no ice cream past ten, okay?"

"Okay," Isabella rolled her eyes.

"Don't forget Bear's walk," you added.

"Mama," Isabella whined. "We got this. Go!"

"Alright, alright," You chuckled, turning to Natasha. "Ready?"

"Lead the way," Natasha smiled.

"Have a good time, ladies!" Monica called as the two of you made your way out the door.

Natasha held your hand as the two of you walked to the car, her fingers rubbing your knuckles soothingly.

"So where are we going?" You asked, glancing over at her.

Natasha grinned, squeezing your hand. "It's a surprise."

"Oh, a surprise?"

"Yup," She said. "Wait," She said just before opening the door. You turned to face her questioningly. She leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against yours.

Your heart skipped a beat at the unexpected move, and you let yourself sink into the kiss, savoring the way her lips felt against yours. It was soft and sweet.

"I figured you wouldn't want to do that in front of your daughter," Natasha mumbled awkwardly.

You laughed, resting your hands on her shoulders and pecking her lips again. "That was very thoughtful. Are you really not going to tell me where we are going?"

"I could tell you, but where's the fun in that?" She smiled, opening the car door and ushering you inside. As the car rolled down the busy streets, you found yourself stealing glances at Natasha. The way she carried herself, with a mix of confidence and ease, was enchanting. Her posture was relaxed but commanding, and even the simple act of driving seemed to radiate a kind of effortless cool.

The radio played a mix of tracks that Natasha had curated—a blend of classic rock and some modern hits that seamlessly complemented her edgy style. You could see the genuine enjoyment on her face as she sang along to the lyrics, her voice harmonizing effortlessly with the tunes. It was moments like these that made you appreciate the depth of her passion for music and the way it intertwined with every part of her life.

As the car pulled up to the restaurant, Natasha turned to you with a soft smile. "Hope you like this place. I've been wanting to check it out for a while."

You read the giant side on the outside of the building, The Cooking Institute.

"Cooking classes?" You guessed aloud. Natasha glanced over at you.

"I hope that's okay," She said quickly, suddenly a bit unsure of her plan. "I know it's a little unconventional, but I figured it could be fun. If not, we can just grab a drink somewhere or-"

"Natasha," You cut her off, resting a hand on her knee. "It's perfect."

Her shoulders relaxed, and she gave you a relieved smile. "Great. I'm glad."

You were soon ushered inside by an eager host, who led you to a spacious kitchen, equipped with every cooking appliance imaginable. You expected to see more guests inside of the space but instead only found an instructor.

"Welcome to Cooking Institute," The woman, who appeared to be in her mid-40s, greeted the two of you with a warm smile. "My name is Lisa. We're so excited to have you."

"Is this only for us?" You questioned Natasha.

"I rented it out for the night," She shrugged. "So, we could have some privacy."

You nodded, appreciating the gesture.

Lisa clapped her hands together. "Well, I'll let you two get settled and we can get started." She gave the pair of you a thumbs up and made her exit, leaving the two of you alone in the kitchen.

"So," You glanced over at Natasha. "What's the plan here?"

"Well," She grinned. "We're going to cook some food."

"Gee, I never would have guessed," You teased. "But what kind of food?"

Natasha's eyes twinkled with amusement. She leaned against the counter, her excitement barely contained as she outlined the evening’s menu. "Alright, here’s the plan," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"We’re starting with a Classic Wedge Salad—simple, and something I can make with no problem." She paused, savoring the anticipation. "Next up, we’ve got Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin." Natasha’s smile widened, clearly proud of the menu.

"And then," she continued, "we’re making Oscar-Style Beef Filet. It’s a bit fancy but worth it." She chuckled at the look of awe on your face, clearly pleased with herself. "So, ready to get cooking?"

You nodded, laughing. "This sounds amazing. Let's do it."

As the night progressed, the two of you quickly fell into a comfortable rhythm. It was easy, being around her, and the conversation flowed naturally. The host led you both to your designated cooking station, complete with all the utensils and ingredients needed for the evening’s menu. Natasha's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she glanced around, her enthusiasm contagious. You could see the genuine pleasure on her face, which made you smile even more.

"How do you like your steak?" You asked.

"Medium rare," She said.

You nodded. "Same. This looks so amazing. I can't wait to taste it."

"Me too," Natasha admitted, glancing over at you. "I love a good steak."

You smiled, shaking your head in amusement. "Of course you do."

"What?" She chuckled.

"Nothing," You said. "It's just... you're very cool, Natasha Romanoff."

She grinned, leaning closer to you. "Well, thank you. That's very sweet."

You bit your lip, feeling a blush creeping up your neck.

"See, blushing," Natasha said smugly.

You nudged her, trying to hide your grin. "Stop it."

She smiled, her eyes softening. "Never."

As the meal came together, you were surprised by how much fun you were having. It turned out your cooking ability was light years beyond Nataha's. Which wasn't that surprising. It's not like she had a child to cook for or anything.

"Nope. You've got it all wrong," You said, trying to keep a straight face.

"What?" Natasha looked at you, perplexed.

"The salt, Natasha," You chuckled. "You need a lot more salt."

"Are you sure?" Natasha looked down at her mashed potatoes.

"Yes, I'm sure," You replied, trying not to laugh. "You can't eat those."

"Aw," Natasha frowned.

"It's okay baby," You assured her, patting her shoulder. "I'm here to help."

Natasha grinned. "Okay, Chef."

You smiled, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. "You're cute."

"Thank you," Natasha said.

"Alright, enough messing around," You declared, picking up the wooden spoon. "Let's keep this going." As you both continued to cook, the kitchen became a lively space filled with laughter and playful banter. Natasha's attempts at seasoning and timing were endearing, though they often resulted in humorous mishaps. The contrast between her occasional culinary blunders and your surprisingly deft cooking skills became a running joke.

Often there were times you two forgot Lisa was even there, too wrapped up in each other to notice her. Finally, your meal was finished and you both sat in the dining area to enjoy it.

"Okay, I've got to admit, that was pretty amazing," Natasha said, sipping her wine.

You smiled, savoring the bite of tender beef. "It really was. Thanks for bringing me here."

"You're welcome," Natasha said. "I'm glad you liked it."

You looked up at her, your heart beating a little faster. She was looking at you with such fondness that it made your chest ache. "So, I figured we should get to know each other a little better."

"You mean we don't already know each other well?" She smirked, referring to your night together.

You blushed. "You know what I mean. I mean, the basic stuff. What's your favorite color? Your favorite movie? Things like that."

Natasha nodded, smiling softly. "Sure. My favorite color is blue."

"Like the ocean?" You asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "What about you?"

"Green," You answered. "Like the trees."

"Interesting," she murmured. "Movie?"

"I'm a big fan of romcoms," You confessed.

"Really?" Natasha asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah," You shrugged. "The Proposal. Anything with Sandra Bullock or Jennifer Lopez and I'm sold."

Natasha laughed. "Good to know."

"What about you?" You questioned.

"Well, I'm a sucker for anything with Ryan Gosling." She grinned.

"Good choice," You agreed.

"Favorite food?"

"Anything sweet," She winked.

"I can work with that," You chuckled.

"Favorite TV show?"

"That's a tough one," She paused, thinking. "House."

"Nice," You said.

"Favorite song?"

"Don't you already know?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Yes," You laughed. "But I want to hear you say it."

"Fine," She sighed dramatically. "The Scientist by Coldplay."

"You have a good taste," You mused.

"I think so," She said, winking at you.

"I like The Night We Met," You replied.

"Really?" Natasha asked.

"Yeah," You said. "It's a great song."

"It is," She agreed. "I just didn't think you had a real liking for that particular genre."

"I'm full of surprises," You wiggled your fingers.

Natasha took a sip of her wine. "Clearly."

"Okay, last one," You said. "Favorite band."

"The Beatles," She replied without hesitation.

"Nice," You said.

"They're classics," She shrugged. "Can't go wrong with them."

"That's true," You said. "I think I have a lot more to learn about you, Natasha Romanoff."

She smiled softly. "Same goes for you, Y/N, Y/L/N."

As the two of you finished dinner, the conversation shifted into a more relaxed tone.

"So," You said, leaning back in your seat. "What's next on the agenda?"

"That depends," Natasha replied. "Do you trust me?"

You grinned, your heart skipping a beat. "With my life."

"Well, then, let's get going."

As the night progressed, you found yourself growing more and more intrigued by Natasha. She was intelligent and witty and had a surprisingly dry sense of humor. Her eyes lit up when she spoke about the things she was passionate about, and it was clear she was truly a free spirit. You could see why she had risen to fame so quickly.

***************

The next stop was Echo Park’s Swan Boat line, the sight of the bustling park filled with families and couples enjoying the evening brought a smile to your face. The iconic swan boats bobbed gently on the water, their white feathers illuminated by the soft glow of park lights.

"This is beautiful," You breathed, taking in the sight.

"It is," Natasha agreed, slipping her hand into yours.

"You ready to get out there?" She asked, grinning.

"I'm a little nervous but I'll get over it," You held her hand. You joined the queue, the line stretching a bit as people chatted and waited for their turn on the boats. As you neared the front of the line, you noticed a group of teenagers in front of you. One of them, a lanky teen with a mop of curly hair, kept glancing back at Natasha with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. After a few moments, his eyes widened, and he nudged his friend, whispering loudly, “Hey, isn’t that Natasha Romanoff?”

Natasha caught their gaze and offered a friendly if slightly reserved, smile. She knew being recognized was part of her life, but she also valued moments like these where she could enjoy a quiet, semi-anonymous outing. There was a moment when both of them argued about who would talk to her before they made a choice.

The teen, gathering his courage, turned around and said with a shy grin, “Hi, um, I don’t mean to bother you, but are you Natasha Romanoff?”

Natasha chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Guilty as charged. How are you doing tonight?”

The teen’s friends crowded closer, their excitement palpable. “We’re huge fans! This is so cool,” one of them exclaimed.

"Would you guys mind taking a picture with us?" Another asked, pulling out their phone.

Natasha's smile grew warmer. "Of course not. " She pulled you in close, wrapping an arm around your waist. You tried not to blush as the teens gathered around you, their phones held high.

"On the count of three, smile!" The first teen instructed. You obliged, smiling brightly as the phone flashed.

"Thank you so much," he gushed. "This is so awesome. My friends won't believe this."

Natasha grinned, giving them a wink.

"Are you guys on a date?" One of the teens, a girl with an oversized hoodie and glasses asked.

"Maybe," Natasha's eyes sparkled. "Or maybe it's just a casual hangout between friends."

You laughed, shaking your head. "I can tell you that I'm a fan of hers." You played along.

"Me too!" The girl squealed. "I'm your biggest fan, Ms. Romanoff."

"I'm flattered," Natasha chuckled. "Well, have a good night, everyone." She pulled you toward the front of the line as it was now your turn to ride.

"Thank you, Ms. Romanoff!" The girl called out. "This is the best night ever!"

"Any time," Natasha called back. You couldn't help but smile as the teens began animatedly talking amongst themselves.

"That was nice of you," You murmured.

Natasha's gaze softened. "They were sweet kids. Besides, I don't mind the occasional photo op. It's all part of the job. You ready?"

You looked at the small boat tethered to the dock, a mix of nervousness and excitement fluttering in your chest. "Is it safe?"

Natasha laughed softly. "It's perfectly safe. I promise."

With a deep breath, you nodded. "Alright, let’s do it."

You both climbed into the boat, Natasha taking the oars and maneuvering it gently away from the dock. As the boat drifted into the middle of the pond, the moonlight cast a soft glow over the water, creating a serene and almost magical atmosphere.

The gentle lapping of the water against the boat was soothing, and you glanced at Natasha, who was focused and confident as she rowed. After a few moments, she set the oars aside and leaned back, her gaze meeting yours.

"How are you holding up?" she asked, a teasing smile on her lips.

"Surprisingly well," you replied, your heart racing a little from the adventure. "This is actually kind of thrilling."

"I'm glad," Natasha grinned, reaching for your hand and squeezing it.

You gazed up at the night sky, admiring the twinkling stars and the bright moon. It was a beautiful night, and you were happy to be sharing it with her.

"I know this is a little cheesy," She started, her gaze turning soft. "But I've always loved the idea of a first date."

"I love a good first date," You chuckled. "I think you knocked it out of the park for sure." You said.

"I'm glad," She whispered. "I was hoping you'd like it."

You smiled, your chest tightening with emotion. You felt a connection with Natasha that you couldn't explain.

"So, my girlfriend..." You grinned, alluding to Natasha's introduction of herself to Sam.

"It has a nice ring to it," She laughed aloud. "I saw you fumbling and took the opportunity."

"Thank God for it," You shook your head. "I don't think I would have known what to say."

"You would have figured it out," She assured.

"Not fast enough," You replied. "I want you to be my girlfriend." You said with such confidence Natasha's head whipped over to you.

"Wait, really?" She asked. 

"Really," You nodded.

Natasha smiled, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

"I was hoping you would," She replied.

"Well, consider me your girlfriend," You declared, feeling your stomach do flips.

Natasha's gaze met yours, and she leaned in, kissing you tenderly. The kiss was soft and sweet, filled with the promise of something more.

"Thank you," She whispered, her breath warm against your skin.

"You're welcome," You murmured, your heart pounding.

You sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, simply enjoying each other's presence.

"So," She finally spoke, her voice quiet. "Where do we go from here?"

"I guess we figure it out together," You replied, your gaze locked on hers.

"I can't wait," She said, her eyes shining.

--->

[rottenshotgungames]

I have to publish this one before I can talk about stealth

Footfall Devlog 3

This Devlog will be covering the basics of what Footfall is and the challenges of making a game so heavily inspired by immersive sims.

So, without further ado:

What is Footfall?

Footfall is an occult-industrial stealth-action rpg inspired by Dishonored, Mistborn, and Bloodborne. It aims to emulate the systemic ecosystem and emergent gameplay of immersive sims, particularly the fast, creative, movement-centric gameplay of Dishonored.

You play as Gifted of the Watchman, the god of stories and action. You are functional demigods, arcane in nature and forever part of a great cosmic play of chaos and change.

The Other Half

Editing note: This portion of the devlog covers my design philosophy reasons for talking about this particular topic today. As such, its tone (which is academic in nature) is a bit different from the other devlogs as well as the other sections of this devlog. If you, at any point, find yourself confused or bored, feel free to skip ahead to the next section.

As far as I’m concerned, all action taken within Footfall can be placed within a venn diagram composed of two circles labeled “Movement” and “Interaction.” We’ve talked about the nuances and foundational mechanics of the “movement” circle in the last two devlogs (which cover the physics engine and power sets); to delve into the majority of Footfall’s design—which lies in the intersection—we must now explore the foundational mechanics of the “Interaction” circle. This begs the question, what’s the difference?

Here, “Movement” can be defined as mechanical levers that are only limited by the “physical world” of the narrative space as well as player knowledge. What can prevent you from moving? A wall, a chain, hesitation to open a door, the lack of a specific key, so on and so forth. Movement is defined by external barriers; some movement may be able to ignore some of these barriers, and some movement may occur without the consent of that player or their character, but it will still only be limited by the physical world and interaction there with.

“Interaction,” on the other hand, is best defined as mechanical levers that impact the narrative and its presented barriers, but are limited by character proficiency and comfortability. Interacting may allow you to break down a door, pick a lock, convince a guard to turn their head, but all of that is locked behind how much knowledge that character has about those specific subjects and how comfortable they are with the approach they take.

These definitions provide us with two major points of distinction:

“Movement” is defined by the external, “Interaction” is defined by the internal

“Movement” must always be certain, “Interaction” cannot always be certain.

This is why there’s little-to-no randomization within Gifted powers, because they are (often) a pure expression of “Movement” in this system.

Before we continue, I want to say that there are a lot of games that don’t use RNG task resolution, and instead rely on resource pools or group fiat to determine whether or not an action succeeds. To me, these games still represent a degree of uncertainty with their “Interaction” mechanics, but they often include far more “player knowledge” limitation and may even add another kind to the mix (such as “dramatic desires of the group” in the latter example). The definition of “Interaction” that I’m using here, while able to be expanded upon and therefore used broadly, is crafted to represent my conceptualization of it in specific reference to Footfall.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, today we’re talking about the

Dice System and Task Resolution

Yay! Everybody’s favorite subject (on Reddit, specifically)!

I’m about to be incredibly real with you. I love skill-based games. Traveller and Call of Cthulhu are my bread and butter (even if I never get to run the CoC), and Cyberpunk 2020 is a game I think about constantly. Skill based games have this degree of free form-ness and ability for mechanical characterization that I don’t really get from playbooks and classes, and it makes them a perfect playground for all my little character ideas. That being said, they do have a key flaw.

By trying to encompass everything through the LONGEST LIST EVER, you inevitably run into the issue of “What? Why??” You have to make decisions about the skills you include and what they encompass, and often the reasoning for such decisions can feel esoteric to an outside observer. An incredible example of this can be found within Cyberpunk 2020’s “Interrogation” skill. How does one normally go about interrogating someone? I would assume through a coercion of sorts, promising to give someone what they want or take away what they have, right? Now, that sounds like a combination of Human Perception (used to figure out what will impact them the most) and Persuasion or Intimidation (respectively). So why is Interrogation its own skill? I could not tell you for the life of me. This is the issue, if you go too specific while still having more generalized skills, you’ll get noticeable overlaps over and over again, and any attempt to list everything humans can be good at is bound to have a few generalized points on that list. Skill list based games are always playing this balancing game between overly-general and overly-specific with every skill, and they’re bound to mess up eventually.

So, if the problem is balancing the overly-general with the overly-specific, why not use a combination of general attributes to create specific interactions? This lead me back to where it all started: Modiphius’ Dishonored RPG. The Dishonored RPG uses a set of Skills (which define what you’re doing) and Styles (which define how you’re doing that thing) which combine to form your Target Number on a check (e.g. You decide to try stalling for time by telling the enemy your full plan from start to finish, hopefully giving your allies enough time to see it through and rescue you. That would be a check to Talk Boldly). To those who have read FATE Accelerated, Styles should look familiar. This manages to maintain the narrative aspect of interaction, cover all circumstances, and avoid the over-specificity that makes long skill-lists kinda clunky . . . well, if well-implemented, that is.

See, I have two big problems with the Dishonored RPG’s approach to this kind of task resolution:

It’s attached to Modiphius’ design limiting 2d20 system, which pisses me off INFINITELY!

It runs back into the specificity issue we discussed earlier, although to a far lesser extent.

Dice and Differentiation

For those that don’t know, 2d20 is TTRPG publisher Modiphius’ mainline, in-house system that they’ve used for basically every licensed RPG that they’ve made. It’s a dicepool system that uses a combination of some Attribute and Skill to form the Target Number that a d20 must roll under in order to produce a success. In each 2d20 system minor alterations are made to the foundation to flavor it for the specific IP being represented, but it’s still a copy-paste dice system and therefore nothing too substantial can be changed.

Here’s the issue: I think that they struck GOLD when combining Skill proficiency with Style of approach. You can achieve almost any specific solution to solving a problem in this framework, it’s absolutely brilliant—but they missed out by having them both act as a numerical bonus toward the same Target Number. These two attribute pools (as I will be calling them) represent completely different concepts, far more so than in most of their other games, which tend to have one acting as a subsidiary of the other rather than combining to form something new.

It was a specific goal of mine to have the equivalents of these two attribute pools be mechanically differentiated in Footfall’s task resolution system. The easiest way to do that seemed, to me, to be that one should impact the dice rolled and the other should be a flat bonus to the die roll. After that it was pretty easy to figure out which was which, it just makes sense for one’s proficiency in an area of skill to provide consistency.

Finally, I had to actually decide on the mechanical feature of the Style equivalent. A dice mechanic. I knew I wanted it to be a bit swingy, after all your Skill acts as your minimum, the die should be there to increase your maximum. Because of that same little piece of design, which had wriggled its way into my brain unprompted, I also knew I didn’t want it to be a dicepool (as much as I love them). Somewhat swingy, with variety, and increasing maximum rolls as determined by the die and the bonus? Why, that sounds like a variation on the dice mechanic of Jon Gilmour’s Kids on Bikes! Yeah, that works.

Two attribute pools, one representing character proficiency and the other being approach; character proficiency provides a flat bonus to the die roll, while approach determines how large the die is (on a scale of 1d4 to 1d12, excepting exceptional circumstances). It works, and it works well.

But there’s still that second issue to take care of

6 and 6

The two attribute pools in Modiphius’ Dishonored RPG both consist of 6 attributes. This is too many, for both of them. To explain what I mean, I have reproduced them both in full:

Skills:

Fight

Move

Study

Survive

Talk

Tinker

Styles:

Boldly

Carefully

Cleverly

Forcefully

Quietly

Swiftly

Do you see the issue here? The useless stats that make literally no sense? I’m sorry for ragging on you, Modiphius, but this one hurts.

Survive isn’t a real skill. Survive is almost always an overly specific form of either Move or Fight, and as such should be erased and rolled into them. The only reason it exists normally is to inform your stress track, making it the functional equivalent of D&D’s Constitution ability score. It’s getting cut.

Study is also overly specific and feels like it’s only there to learn information to help with Tinker, or maybe Talk in the case of a psychiatrist. If defined further as any means of gathering information, it’s even further stepping on the toes of Move (interacting with and spotting minute details within your environment), Talk and Tinker. Either way, erase it and roll its function into them.

Quietly isn’t a real Style. I’m sorry, it just isn’t. If I’m trying to Move Quietly, y’know what I’m actually doing? I’m moving Carefully so as to avoid making noise! Quiet makes absolutely no sense to me, and the only reason I can think that anyone would ever bother even trying to include it is as a stealth catch-all, which would actively make the game less interesting. Fuck you, it’s getting erased.

This leaves us with 4 distinct Skill equivalents (Fight, Move, Talk, and Tinker) and 5 distinct Style equivalents (Bold, Careful, Clever, Forceful, Swift). This leaves us just enough Style equivalents to work for the 5 dice we’ll be using, and a total of 20 different possible combinations of rolls.

Putting It Together

Alright, long walk for a short drink of water, but here ya go! The task resolution / dice mechanic as it appears in Footfall:

Each character has four Skills and five Temperaments. When asked to roll a check, the player will describe how they are performing the action then the Watchman will tell that player which Skill and Temperament is applicable to that description (e.g. “I’m gonna wait until I’m sure the guards have turned around, then slowly make my way across the room as silently as possible.” “Alright, that would be a Careful Move check”).

After the Watchman and player agree on the Temperament and Skill, the player rolls a die determined by the Temperament used (1d4 through 1d12) and adds a numerical score determined by which Skill is being used (+1 through a maximum of +10 unless stated otherwise) to the result. If the total result matches or exceeds a Difficulty set by the Watchman, the character succeeds.

- Skills -

Skills are aptitudes for particular tasks and represent a degree of knowledge and experience held by the character in the associated subject. Following is a list and brief description of each Skill:

Fight - Governs your knowledge of and ability to participate in violence.

Move - Governs your awareness of and ability to navigate your environment.

Talk - Governs your ability to understand people and navigate conversation.

Tinker - Governs your ability to repair, understand, and use technology and the arcane arts.

- Temperaments -

Temperaments are specific approaches to performing tasks and solving problems, and tend to speak to a character’s mentality and personality. Following is a list and brief description of each Temperament:

Bold - Brash, brazen, and passionately.

Careful - Quiet, tactful, and precisely.

Clever - Intelligent, calculated, and creatively.

Forceful - Blunt, direct, and violently.

Swift - Quick, abrupt, and instinctively.

Conclusion

I honestly want to keep talking about the mechanics that surround and interact with dice, but I think over 2000 words might be pushing my luck.

There’s a lot of talk online about what makes a good dice mechanic—probability curves, predictability, the feeling of making a roll—I’m not really smart enough to talk about those things. Hell, I couldn't even tell you what makes a good Task Resolution mechanic. What I can tell you is this: You can learn a lot from those who came before.

I talk quite a bit about disliking 2d20 in this blog post, and my disappointment with the Dishonored RPG is partially what compelled me to make Footfall, but the core of its Task Resolution encourages mechanical characterization in such an incredibly interesting way. For all the flaws I found and decided to fix in my run around, I probably would've never caught those if I were the one to create the first draft. Even then, I kept what made it interesting and combined it with other sources of inspiration to create a Task Resolution mechanic that's wholly my own.

My point is that you can always learn something, even from the things that you hate—whether that be a brilliant piece of design hiding amongst a million little mistakes, or how to avoid making those same mistakes yourself.

Self Promotion

Hey y'all. Thanks for sticking with me through this one, I know it was long . . . and maybe a bit rambling. That being said, we're done with dice mechanics (for right now)! Which means that I can finally talk about Stealth mechanics in the next post.

If you wanna check out my other games, and get updated when the Footfall free playtest goes live, follow me on Itch.io! If you're just looking for more Footfall status updates, or want to have an impact on the design, you can always join my public Discord (which is where I post all of the pre-public playtest changelogs). If you want more devlogs, and more rpg design talk, follow me here or on twitter.

Either way, I hope you have a great night and a great day.

[aparticularbandit]

Of An Endless Infinity: Remnants (III)

Summary: What does it mean to be the Ultimate Hope?

Is it only hope on the big scale?  That the world is not so dark and depressing and destructive as the villain in front of you says it is?  That you can win, even when everything else says that you can’t?  That maybe it is better to live your life, even afraid, than it is to keep yourself sequestered away, alone?

Does it not also mean hope on the small scale?

Or: Makoto sacrifices himself in the hope that the other survivors might be able to help Junko. It remains to be seen whether this will actually succeed.

Chapter Rating: T. Fic Rating: M for Danganronpa reasons.

AO3

previous chapter | next chapter

Elsewhere….

“I knew ya’d come ta see me soon!”

His teeth are still filed into points.  He’s not the sort to eat people – that’s Teruteru’s specialty, something he makes explicit note of saying has more than one meaning – but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still bite them or shred their skin with his teeth if attacked.  Most people don’t get that close to him, though; he’s got more than enough machine guns fixated everywhere to kill them if—

Well.

He is the one who put the guns on top of the school in the first place, isn’t he?  The one who helped craft all of the mechanics in those executions her beloved put on during the show?

If your most qualified Future Foundation member couldn’t get to the school, then they couldn’t get to him either.

The only reason she and that hope-obsessed fool can get through is because she alerted him to their coming, using the same messenger he’d created for them all when her beloved first started this whole thing, when she’d first chosen to live undercover with her classmates rather than stay with her horrors.

She’d hidden, and he’d given them a way to keep in contact no matter where in the world they were: a small plush bear like Monokuma, designed after the first one her beloved created.  He’d modified that one, too, of course, after her beloved gave him permission to do it, but that one had gone dark after the last Trial.

Her beloved told them not to contact her during the Game.  She couldn’t afford any distractions.

She’d tried to contact her so many times since then, but there’s nothing.

No response.

She can only imagine what her beloved’s old classmates might be doing to her to prevent her from—

“We need your help, Kaz.”  She tugs on the chain wrapped around the fool’s neck, grins when he stumbles, when Kaz laughs, loud, at him.  It’s a form of appeasement, at least.  “We’re trying to get to her.”

Kaz’s once pink eyes darken, that sharp, sharp maroon a reflection of who he is now, the same that the once faded bruise of her own eyes now holds the tint of something redder, fresher.  “You saying ya want me ta shut off my guns?  I can’t do that.  She told me ta—”

“Now, now, Kaz,” the fool chides.  “She said no such thing.”

“Shut your mouth!”

Kaz jumps down from his pile of – it’s probably a bunch of half-finished projects, or completely finished ones that he’s still tinkering with, but mostly it looks like a throne of trash to her – and shoves his hands into his pockets as he stalks towards the fool.  “You’re trying to get to her, which means ya gotta go through my guns, which means you’re going ta get shot, which means you’re only here to get me ta shut ‘em off.  And she told me ta—”

She places a hand on his arm, and he stills.  “You’re so much smarter than that, Kaz,” she purrs.  “I’m sure you can think of some way to get us through without turning them off.  Can’t you?”  She leans in close, smells the putrid copper on his breath, and whispers, “If you do, I’ll tell Sonia you helped us.  You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Sonia hasn’t talked to him since the Game began.  She’s complained about it with her.  Kaz kept trumpeting about how much he helped her beloved, as though it was about him instead of about her.  (She would have been just as frustrated as Sonia was, if she’d heard it from him, but she would have responded in a much more…physical way.)

Once, she told her beloved that maybe someone should tell him to stop pining for Sonia, as it obviously made both of them uncomfortable.  But her beloved said that his constant hope that something might happen was also a source of constant despair for him, that Sonia’s constant hope that he would stop was a constant source of despair for her.

It was only then that she understood.

This, too, is a gift.

One that Kaz gave to Sonia; one that she gave right back to him.

And yet Kaz still shivers at her words, which is how she knows that she has him.  He leans back, shoves a hand through his spiked pink hair, a brighter color than her beloved’s has ever been, and shoves his other hand deeper into his pocket.  “Well, I can get ya through the guns; that’s for sure.  But even if ya get through the guns, ya gotta get through the door, and I can’t do nothing about that thing.”

“You can’t?” she asks with a hum.  “Just imagine how proud Miss Sonia would be of you, if you helped us save—”

“I got an idea!”

Kaz grins, hands clenched into fists, his tongue stuck out in his excitement.  His eyes sparkle, gleam, bright as stars in the sky.  (Bright as they used to be, anyway.)  He leans forward, right into her face.  “I just got one question for ya.”

She raises a brow and tries not to recoil at his breath.  “What’s that, Kaz?”

“How much of a ruckus we causing here?”

[nekropsii]

How do you create such a cool fanadventure like yours, and how do you make character bibles?

Aw, thank you, that's very flattering!! I'll be sure to pass your compliments onto the rest of the team, too, lol!!

I don't know how much help my advice will be here, since we're still in the Active Development stages, but I'll give what I've learned anyways, both through the project and through other means. Here are some things that will be your best friend in the long run!! Feel free to ask for follow ups or clarification!!

Content Warning: Long, I Guess!

The first thing you need is an idea. I know, that's the most basic thing to start with, but when you have some kind of base concept you want to work with, everything else falls into place with it. Hopefully, anyways. As you develop the story, this foundational concept will also develop. You can have as many beautifully crafted characters as you want, but if you have no plot, or no unifying concept behind the story, they'll go completely to waste.

The second thing you need is something I don't see a lot of people spare themselves, and it ultimately leads to their downfall: TIME. Things like this take a lot of time, and that's not just referring to the active run of the comic. You'll want to give yourself plenty of time to develop the story and it's characters before you really make any publishing moves. Don't just make a basic concept and your main cast and post your first page on the spot- give yourself some time to develop things and get as much planned out as possible for the scope of your story. You'll save yourself a lot of stress.

Dedication!! So much dedication!! Commitment, commitment, commitment. Lots and lots of it. So, so, SO much dedication to the craft. You have to really be passionate what you're doing if you wish to carry through with it and have a good time whilst doing so.

The question here about Character Bibles is very interesting, and very important!! I don't see a lot of people talk about Character Bibles in their writing advice online, and I feel like that's a bit of a crime. To those uninitiated, a Character Bible is an outline document that tells you and whoever else is working on the project everything they need to know about a specific character. It harbors every character detail you could possibly think of- their basic introductory details, their personal history, personality, quirks, everything!! They're incredibly important when it comes to this kind of project- an absolutely necessary thing to have on hand for quick and easy reference!! The aim of the game with them is to not forget literally anything. It's all about consistency and cohesion.

Personally, for Sovereignstuck, we have several bibles per character using varying levels of detail on their specified subject matter. No clue if this is a common method or not, but it’s what works for us. There are some good outlines for what you could write in them online, but my personal advice is to start with charts of the most basic information you have on a character- name, age, orientation, gender, race, class, aspect, et cetera. After that, you can get into the more in-depth stuff. I recommend having a little “Stream of Consciousness” document where all you do is ramble about whatever comes to mind first with the character, write down any questions you have for yourself, figure out answers when you can, et cetera. Stream of Consciousness is a lot more approachable than just pumping out a well structured, well formatted chronological essay on the character off the bat, especially when you’re in early stages and aren’t too familiar with them yet.

If you’re working with large casts, which you most certainly will be if we’re talking traditional SBURB-type fanventures, then spreadsheets are your friend- they are fantastic methods of keeping track of a lot of basic information at once, all with ease of quick reference + comparison. I can maybe make a spreadsheet template for fanventure setups later, if anyone’s interested.

Also, you’ll probably need bibles to keep track of a lot of things in the story! A great example is your personal interpretation of Mythological Roles. It��s generally just a good idea to have some kind of reference page on what your magic system is. Doing all this writing seems overwhelming at first, but you really get the hang of it as you keep doing it.

Also, as general advice, be selfish. This is a project you’re working on for fun, so if you stop having fun, feel free to drop it- whether that’s temporarily or permanently. Put yourself first. Ideally, you will be having fun working on this, and that’s the most important aspect of it all. If you stop having fun, find out why and try to solve the issue! Feel free to hit the bricks literally whenever! Even Hussie did!

Hope this helps at all! Have a lovely day!

[aith-art]

Falloutober 2023 - Day 29

"Shrapnel"

Prompt by @falloutober

Word Count - 1290

Zap. Dana materialised in the doorway of the small crypt. Without a moment to reorientate herself, she sprinted down the small staircase towards Myself and Desdemona. I had been looking over the old maps of the sewage system, the metro tunnels, any form of underground access through Boston. But I’d been drawing nothing but blanks. Desdemona had just lit another cigarette when Dana ran into the other side of the makeshift table. 

“We have a problem.” She was panicked. Instantly I moved round the table, standing at her side to ensure she wasn’t injured. 

“Something wrong with the rebellion?” Desdemona questioned.

“No, Z1’s rebellion is ready to go. It’s- It’s the brotherhood. They’re-” She took a shaky breath, “They’re on their way here.” 

“What, what are you talking about?” She put out the cigarette. Concern flooding her face. 

“The Institute. They- they caught wind of a surprise attack.” 

“Jesus.” 

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath. 

“Take this,” Desdemona handed me a gun, crudly crafted but functional, “Tom made if for you. Sound’s like we’re gonna need it.” Desdemona turned to the rest of HQ, “Everyone else, mobalize. We’ve got Brotherhood incoming.” 

Deacon was at my side. I placed the gun on the table, a nice gesture but too heavy for my style. While people rushed to defensive positions I turned to Dana. 

“Are you alright?” I asked in a hushed tone. 

She gave me a nod. A sight tremmer in her body. 

Desdemona was still giving orders when the foundations shook. 

Gunfire erupted from the alternate exit. Drawing my shotgun from my back, I openned fire. 

Their power armour did little against the modified shotgun, but enough to recoil some of the shrapnel. Pain shot through my left side. Something had bounced back at me. 

Through the pain I kept firing. The soldiers falling heavily. Our safe exit no long a viable option. Deacon watched as I pulled some bandages from my bag. Quickly and crudely I put pressure on the wound. I had no time to worry the quality of my bandaging. Deacon said nothing as I turned back to Desdemona. 

“We’re cut off.” She stated. “The catacombs are now our only way out. Glory was guarding the entrance, but she may already be overwhelmed by the Brotherhood.” 

Dana, now alert to the reality of the situation, stated “No one died yet.” 

“We’ve been lucky so far.” I added. 

“Your warning saved us. Thank God for that.” Her tone changed. “You and the others go help Glory. Win that fight or we’re all dead.” 

I nodded. She was right. 

Running ahead of the others, I made it into the catacombs. Bodies littered the floor. Brotherhood members. Across the room I saw her, Glory. Hands held tight to her stomach. Dana and Deacon entered the room as I jumped down, clearing the space between myself and Glory in a second despite the dull throb in my own side. 

“None of them got past me.” She winced, “Damn… that stings… Listen.” She grasped my arm. “The Railroad’s always sitting on it’s hands… Ahh…” I tried to get closer, examine the wound but she wouldn’t let me. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened.” Her grip on my arm tightened. “Promise me you’ll free them. All of them.”

“I’m not gonna let you die on me Glory.”

“How bad is it?” A small voice came from behind. Dana, rounding the corner and standing beside me. 

Deacon piped up from behind me. “... Not Good, kid.” 

“No escape, this time…” Her breathing was becoming more and more unstable. 

“You’ll make it through. You’ve got to.” 

Dana knelt down beside her, giving her a hug. “Please don’t die.” She whispered. Before stepping back. 

Glory looked up at me, still gripping my arm. “I need you to promise me.” 

“I promise.” 

“I know my word is worth Jack, but. I promise to, Glory.” 

She smiled, released my hand, “Isn’t there… supposed to be a light.” 

She slumped. The room seemed somehow colder. I closed her eyes. We had to keep moving. 

Dragging myself from the floor, taking a sharp inhale through my teeth, I dusted myself off. Prepared to keep moving and for a moment removing all pain I had for killing members of the Brotherhood. 

The hidden entrance exploded. The only way out was to fight. 

Systematically Deacon, Dana, and I worked our way through the catacombs, taking out every soldier we could find. I through a pulse grenade down the tunnel, short circuiting the suits of power armour and allowing for Deacon and Dana to make short work of the men. 

Powering through the evergrowing pain in my side, we made it into the Church. Four soldiers in power armour had taken posts throughout the pews and upon the balcony. Atleast one would have a minigun. I just couldn’t tell which until gunfire rained down on us from the broken pews. 

“You two stay here. Pick off the fuckers on the balcony. I’ll try to swing around the room and get the minigun off of you.” They nodded. With a deep breath I ran. 

I dived behind the broken pews that filled the centre of the church, moving swiftly behind the pillar for better cover. The minigun followed my movements as Dana and Deacon picked off of the two men on the balcony. When the guy holding the minigun bgan to reload, I ducked from cover, threw the last of my pulse grenades then unloaded a magazine’s worth of 12 guage into his power armour. He fell. The last man standing was shot from the enterence to the catacombs. Dana stood there with a smoking magnum. 

Desdemona appeared from behind them. Releasing a shaky breath I made my way over, hand openly grasping at my shrapnel wound. 

“You’ve killed the last of them. And you’re still standing. I wish the same could be said for Glory.” She shook her head. “No time for that, though. The Brotherhood underestimate us. Badly. Their next attack will be far, far worse.” I nodded in agreement. I knew how bad an all out frontal assault from the Brotherhood could be. It had wiped the Enclave off the East Coast with the Brotherhood at only a fraction of their current power. 

As Desdemona kept talking to Dana and Deacon. I shrunk away from the conversation. I knew I should be listening, but I needed to get some fresh air. Before anyone could notice, I had left the old church gripping my wound and letting my guard down. 

I found a ledge. Somewhere quiet but still close enough that once I’d tended to my wound I could go back. Glory should not have died. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised it was what she wanted. She would have never accepted a death outside of combat. It had been all she’d known outside the Institute. 

Cleaning my wound, I wondered weather I’d accept death like that. Not knowing if the very thing I’d give my life for would come to fruition. But I wouldn’t. I hadn’t. I should have died six years ago in a graveyard in the Mojave. But here I sat. Tending to a wound similar to that which had just killed somebody. What kind of cosmic bad luck must I have to have survived these things that should have killed me while I watch everyone I care for die around me. 

My head had been flooded with questions. Questions I had been asking for the last six years and gotten nowhere with the answers. 

An electric Zap came from behind me. 

Before I could turn and greet whom I had assumed was Dana. Something hit me over the head. 

Everything faded to black.

[jeanmoreausautismstickers]

Baby Dove

You could hear Harry crying before you saw the house. It was a sort of wail you wouldn’t be able to recreate, not without feeling the loss of someone so close to you. Sirius had let out the same anguished wail when he found out.

It immediately set him in motion, bounding up the street. He only stopped, nearly toppling over, when he saw what little remained of the cottage. The same cottage he’d helped James and Lily move into. The same cottage where he’d crashed at night when Remus was out on missions, and Sirius’s anxiety couldn’t be quelled by a bottle of firewhiskey.

The cottage that had been his second home for the last year was now shambles, barely held together on it’s foundation. The magic stunk so badly Sirius could smell it, he didn’t even need to shift into Padfoot to do so. He wanted to. Merlin, did he want to. Being Padfoot would make it easier, he wouldn’t have to deal with the tangle of emotions currently cracking his heart open. 

Being Padfoot felt like running a brush through the mess that was Sirius’s soul. But he couldn’t. Not with Harry’s agonised cries ringing out. Not when he could see a body lying on the stairs from the street. 

So he trudged up the stone walk way. The stone walk way he’d lovingly helped Lily garden around, turning the front of the house into a gorgeous garden, one that was crafted with so much love and joy.

Reaching the front of the house was hard. Stepping through the arch where the door no longer was? That was even harder. Sirius could feel his heart breaking, Harry’s screams getting louder the closer he got. 

It was when he shifted the busted down front door off the stairs, moving it so he could fully see who was under it, that Sirius broke down again.

James. His James. The James who had rescued him from his family, who had invited him into his own family with open arms and a blinding smile. James who’s eyes lay open in terror, glasses cracked and skewed from where they rested on his face.

Sirius tried to keep his dinner down as he gently lay his hand over his best friend’s eyes and closed them. Taking his glasses and folding them up before gently tucking them into the collar of his jumper. 

Sirius had given him that jumper. He gifted it to him for Christmas just last year. He’d given Harry and Lily matching one’s, and James had loved it so much he pulled it over the ugly-sweater he’d made. 

Swallowing a sob, Sirius quietly stepped over James’s body, slowly making his way up the stairs. The same stairs that Harry had first learnt to stand up with. The stairs that James had installed a baby gate for. Sirius realised, another sob threatening to shatter him, the baby gate was not longer on it’s hinges.

Sirius finally reached the nursery, heart stopping as he looked at Lily, lying on the floor of the nursery she’d spent months preparing. She’d started fixing it up a week after she and James found out. 

Sirius glanced around at everything. At the rocking chair he’d seen Lily cuddle Harry in. The changing table she’d so lovingly changed his clothes on. The books that she and James had read to the little boy, before he’d even been born. They now lay scattered on splintered, wooden remains of the bookshelf Remus had built them.

It hurt, all of the memories he knew were tainted forever. The memories that he could no longer look back without thinking of Harry’s sobs for a mother he didn’t realise he’d lost. 

Sirius leaned down, closing Lily’s eyes as well, and gently brushing her hair away from her face. She’d always hated having her hair in her face, and had been talking about cutting it off until Harry was out of, what she’d so lovingly called, his “grabby phase.”

After he’d gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, he turned, lifting Harry from the cot. “Oh little dove... I know. I know. I’m here...” he murmured, rocking Harry the way Lily had showed, rubbing his back the way James had rubbed his after Regulus’s death was announced.

  “We’re going to make it out, little dove. It’s going to be all right. I promise. No one’s going to hurt you now.”

[soundorp]

How to Interview in a Podcast?

Okay, so you’re holding a microphone, ready to talk to someone on a podcast. Suddenly, you feel confident and brave, like you can handle anything. You’re like the big-time interviewers you’ve seen on TV, asking all the important podcast questions to learn about your guest.

But what makes you different from those famous interviewers? It’s not just about confidence; it’s about skill. Hosting a good interview is actually pretty tricky. Sure, people like James Lipton make it look easy on shows like “Inside the Actor’s Studio,” but trust me, it’s not a walk in the park. It’s an art, and you need practice to get good at it.

The good news is, everyone starts somewhere, even those big-name interviewers. Podcasting is a fantastic way to practice and improve your interview skills. But, you’ll want to start with a solid foundation to build on.

We’re here to help you with that. Soundorp assists you in setting up interviews, getting you ready for them by recommending reliable equipment and software, teaching you how to ask interesting questions to keep the conversation lively, and even showing you examples of questions you should avoid. Plus, we’ll share some behind-the-scenes tips to make sure your interviews run smoothly.

Prepare really good questions for podcast

Chances are good that if you’re new to podcasting, you’ve never held an interview quite like this — an interpersonal, casual chat that could get a bit thought-provoking or downright controversial, depending on your podcast’s subject matter. The interview may be arranged by you, or it may be prearranged for you, but if you think what reporters do is easy, it isn’t. There’s a science to it, and here are just a few tips to take to heart so you can hold a good, engaging interview:

Know Your Guest and Their Topic

Before the interview, take some time to learn about the person you’re talking to and what they’re known for. For example, if they wrote a book about Charlemagne, do some research about Charlemagne so you can ask informed questions. This not only makes you sound knowledgeable but also helps you ask better questions that lead to more interesting conversations.

Do Your Homework

If your guest has a website, check it out to get more information about them and their work. You don’t have to be an expert in their field, but having some background knowledge will help you steer the conversation in the right direction.

Follow this Progression

When you’re interviewing someone, it’s important to structure your questions in a logical way. Let’s say you’re interviewing a filmmaker who’s making a horror movie. Here’s an example of how you could progress your podcast questions:

Starting Point: Begin by asking what inspired them to make a horror movie. This sets the stage for the conversation and lets them talk about their passion for the genre.

Exploring the Genre: Next, delve into what they think makes a great horror film. This allows them to share their insights and expertise, giving listeners a deeper understanding of the craft.

Influences: Ask about who inspired them in the horror genre. This gives listeners insight into the filmmaker’s creative influences and helps contextualize their work.

Personal Opinion: Wrap up by asking for their opinion on the scariest film ever made. This brings the conversation back to their personal tastes and allows them to share a memorable moment with the audience.

By following this progression, you’re starting with a specific topic (the filmmaker’s current project) and gradually broadening the discussion to explore their broader interests and expertise in the genre. This keeps the conversation engaging and allows for a natural flow of ideas.

Ask Open Ended podcast Questions

Closed-ended questions are the ones that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” or with just a few words. For example, “How long have you been studying plate tectonics?” This kind of question doesn’t leave much room for a detailed or interesting response.

Open-ended questions, on the other hand, are designed to encourage a more detailed and thoughtful answer. Instead of asking, “How long have you been studying plate tectonics?” you could ask, “What got you interested in plate tectonics?” This gives the person you’re interviewing the opportunity to share more about their background, interests, and experiences, leading to a richer and more engaging conversation.

So, closed-ended questions limit the response, while open-ended questions invite the interviewee to share more information and insights.

Prepare twice the number of podcast questions that you think you’ll need

Some interviews you hear grind to a halt for no other reason than the interviewer believed that the guest would talk his head off on the first question. You’re certainly in for a bumpy ride when you ask a guest, “Tell the listener a little bit about your experience at WidgetCo” and the guest replies, “It was a lot of hard work, but rewarding.” (Yeah, this is going to get painful.) Write down a series of podcast questions that could fill your podcast with brief, one-or-two-word answers. This way, if you find yourself struggling, you have a hidden stockpile of questions to call upon. After a few quick answers, you can always fall back on the “Would you expand a bit on that please?” question.

Never worry about asking a stupid question

When asking questions that may sound obvious or frequently asked, remember: Chances are good that your audience has never heard them answered before. Okay, maybe a writer has been asked time and again, “Where do your ideas come from?” or a politician has heard, “So, when did you first start in politics?” often. When you have a guest present for a podcast, there’s no such thing as a stupid question; what’s really dumb is not to ask a question that you think isn’t worth the guest’s time. He or she may be champing at the bit in hopes you will ask it.

Avoid bad podcast questions

It’s crucial to take a step back and learn from the mistakes of others. We’ve all cringed at interviews where things took an unexpected turn for the worse. We’ll explore some common blunders that can sour even the most promising conversations.

Asking Inappropriate podcast Questions

Know Your Audience: Your podcast isn’t a tabloid show; consider who’s listening and tailor your questions accordingly.

Respect Boundaries: Avoid questions that are too personal, irrelevant, or downright bizarre.

Example: Neil Gaiman was once asked about his bowling score during an interview, leaving both him and the audience puzzled.

Takeaway: Think twice before asking a question that could derail the conversation.

Pursuing Inappropriate podcast Questions

Respect the Guest: If a question makes the guest uncomfortable, gracefully move on to the next topic.

Maintain Professionalism: Podcasting isn’t about putting guests on the spot; it’s about fostering engaging conversations.

Example: Imagine persistently asking a guest about their personal life against their wishes – it’s a recipe for disaster.

Exception: In certain contexts, such as comedy podcasts, pushing boundaries may be acceptable, but always gauge your guest’s comfort level.

Making it All About You

Remember Your Role: As the host, your job is to facilitate the conversation, not overshadow your guest.

Shift the Spotlight: Let your guest shine by focusing on their expertise and insights.

Audience Perspective: Put yourself in the listener’s shoes and ask questions that they would find valuable.

Example: Imagine a host who constantly interrupts their guest to share their own anecdotes – it’s a turn-off for both guests and listeners.

Benefit: By allowing your guest to take center stage, you enhance the overall listening experience for your audience.

Additional Tips

Preparation is Key: Research your guest and brainstorm relevant questions beforehand.

Active Listening: Pay attention to your guest’s responses and follow up with thoughtful inquiries.

Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt your questions based on the flow of the conversation.

Respect and Courtesy: Treat your guests with professionalism and kindness throughout the interview process.

Mastering interviewing is a skill that takes time and practice. By avoiding common stuffs such as asking inappropriate questions, pursuing uncomfortable topics, and making the interview all about yourself, you can create engaging and respectful conversations that resonate with your audience. Remember, the spotlight belongs to your guest, so let them shine.

Feel the Synergy

Many people approach interviews with the mindset that they’re doing the other party a favor. However, this perspective misses the mark entirely. In reality, both the interviewer and the guest are equal partners in creating something valuable for their audience. Let’s explore why this mindset shift is crucial.

The Guest’s Perspective

The Guest’s Perspective

On the other hand, guests benefit from interviews by gaining exposure to a wider audience and promoting their work or ideas. It’s a platform to share insights, stay relevant in the public eye, and generate interest in their upcoming projects. By working hand in hand with hosts, guests can leverage the interview to improve their visibility and credibility.

For hosts, interviews are an opportunity to expand their audience reach and showcase their interviewing skills. It’s a chance to demonstrate mastery in journalistic techniques and captivate listeners with compelling content. By collaborating effectively with guests, hosts can elevate the quality of their shows and attract more followers.

When host and guest come together, they form a powerful promotional machine. Each party contributes unique perspectives and expertise, resulting in engaging and informative content. By recognizing and embracing this synergy, both host and guest can maximize the impact of the interview and create something truly special for their audience.

Remember, it’s not just about asking questions; it’s about building relationships and fostering meaningful connections. So, the next time you prepare for an interview, keep these insights in mind, and watch as you and your guests create magic together.

Conclusion

In podcasting, interviews offer a unique opportunity for hosts and guests to collaborate and create something truly special. Remember, it’s not just about asking questions; it’s about building relationships and fostering meaningful connections. So, the next time you prepare for an interview, keep these insights in mind, and watch as you and your guests create magic together.

I have discussed in my full article about 5 Types of podcast Questions to ask with some more tips. Check out!

[ultramagicalternate]

UMAE - Haze and Chaos

Master Post - Patreon

Suggested Reading (but not mandatory):

ULTRAMagic Interlude: Shadowland

ULTRAMagic Interval

ULTRAMagic Eon 1

“Adrien, does this VTOL go any faster?” Will complained.

He laughed. “Sorry, Amigo, but we have speed limits, even up here.”

“Don’t worry, Will,” the pilot reassured him as Will stuck his head into the cockpit. “We’re not too far off from Sky Fortress Camelot. If the noise is bothering you, I can increase the sound dampening.”

Will felt a little embarrassed. “Uh, no, it’s alright. I’m just a little bored is all.”

“I gave you a few movies to watch, didn’t I?” Adrien asked.

“Yeah, but I’ve seen them too many times recently… also really? You just had to include Dr. Strangelove, didn’t you?”

Adrien laughed again. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. How about you sit down and talk? Tell us about the guild and The Unlight while we wait.”

“Are you sure?” Will tilted his head towards the pilot.

“Yeah. Don’t worry, Beckenbauer is a great multitasker.”

The Pilot chuckled. “Well we have to be in order to pilot these crafts.” He then flipped a few switches. “Besides, I can put her on autopilot since we’re so close to Camelot.”

Feeling better, Will took a seat. “So my most recent mission was something else…”

“Yeah, you seem different because of it,” Adrien pointed out. “I was actually able to get you into the VTOL this time, ha!” Beckenbauer laughed.

Will nodded with a chuckle. “I got to meet the early ULTRAMagic Guild, where I messed things up… but I also got to hang out with Aureolus and Queen Dunja who gave me a pep talk and started to teach me void magic.”

“Very cool,” Adrien replied. “Know any spells yet?”

“I’m still working on that. Also good lord, Blood-Wraith back then was so much more cheerful compared how moody he is nowadays.”

“Really? Do you have any idea what happened?”

Will shook his head. “I know there’s a major event that happened a year or two after I returned to our time, but I’d have to ask someone like Scholar or Vanguard about it.”

Beckenbauer checked the instrument panel, then looked out the windshield. “Good news, Will; Camelot is right ahead of us.”

“Finally,” he said with another chuckle.

Sky Fortress Camelot was a grand achievement for The Liger Brigade. The colossal, aerial base invoked the image of a galleon, widened and expanded to truly immense proportions. Jets, helicopters, and other VTOLs were coming and going as Camelot sailed proudly amongst the fluffy clouds. After going through basic protocols and getting clearance to land, Beckenbauer brought the VTOL into one of the hangar bays. Once they were landed, Adrien led Will to the hangar operations center. The hangar staff were quite busy, but Adrien approached one at a desk who was writing things down.

“Barclay, how are you doing today?”

“Hello, Captain Adrien. Just knee deep in paperwork, as usual.” He then noticed who was with Adrien. “Will, good to see you again!”

“Hey, Scot.” Will replied, a little shy as he typically was.

“Want me to get Antares’ attention?” Adrien nodded, so Scot picked up a telephone and dialed a special number. After a quick exchange, he set the phone down. “Alright, Bran and Antares are waiting in Containment Wing X.”

“Very good. Let’s go, Will.”

The two made their way past staff and military personnel as they walked through the various halls and wings. Something Will could not get used to was the impossible space technology Camelot used. One would have thought that his experiences in The Unlight would have helped with this. On the bright side, all of it helped him stay calm. Being in flight always made Will nervous, but heading deeper in gave him the illusion that he was back on the ground. Adrien on the other hand was fine, albeit he was always slightly unnerved by the impossible space.

Containment Wing X was used for dealing with anomalies that could cause trouble for the public. The Liger Brigade worked closely with The Anomaly Containment Foundation (The ACF) and The Magic Anomaly Investigation Group (M.A.I.G.) in this regard. Usually the brigade handled anomalies of the extra terrestrial variety.

The wing itself was denoted by its dark gray walls and red lights along said walls. Staff in special uniforms were moving about, some carrying documents and boxes. All of it gave off an aura of unease. Fortunately Will and Adrien’s nerves were relaxed when they saw a small alien run by with a birthday hat on, being followed by a staff member trying to catch up with them. They chuckled alongside the staff at the check-in and proceeded to decontamination. Once ready, the two were escorted to a room with a large cell in it. Two men were already there, accompanied by two guards.

“Captain Adrien, Private William,” a man with subtle purple hair stated, expecting them to stand at attention. He looked strong and wore a uniform indicating a commanding officer.

“Sir!” Adrien and Will said in unison.

“Well done, Private. You’re getting better at this…”

“Considering you drafted him…” a man with hot pink hair cheekily chided. He had a different uniform on that indicated he was a scientist from another organization.

“Quiet, Bran…”

“Permission to speak, Captain Briggs!” Will requested.

“Granted, but I’m not a captain anymore. It’s Lt. Colonel Briggs now.”

“No way!” Will exclaimed as he shook his hand. “Congratulations, Antares!”

Adrien chuckled. “He did so well in the Bethany situation that he shot right past Major.”

“And if everything goes well with getting Bethany all sorted out, I’ll be promoted to Colonel proper” Antares elaborated. He then felt a chill run up his spine. “She broke containment again and is right behind me, isn’t she?” The other three nodded.

A girl behind him promptly blew a raspberry and ran through the wall. “Nana nana nah nah!” she taunted.

Antares angrily inhaled and went for the communications panel. “Alert, Bethany is out and about again.” No alarm was triggered as this had happened before.

Will studied the ectoplasm left behind on the wall. “Not to downplay Beth here, but Darkmage Valerie makes her kind of pale in comparison…”

“Out of turn, Private, but I’ll let it slide as I want to hear about that eventually.”

Bran went up and shook Will’s hand. “Nice to see you again, Will. You had Kyu update your computer, right? Because I snuck a peak at your private art while you were gone.”

Will went bright red. “Oh, Um… Uh…”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, I only looked and won’t tell. Succubus’ honor…”

“Honor?” Adrien lightheartedly scoffed. “Male succubi aren’t even supposed to exist, let alone the amount of time you’ve been spying on Will and Sam for M.A.I.G.”

This warranted a groan. “Anyways, what we have here today is Haze, as the entity has been identifying itself as. It has been nothing but trouble for us and The ACF.”

Will nodded in confirmation. “So what do you need me for?”

“We firmly believe Haze is from The Unlight, given that we can’t make heads or tails of whatever it is.”

“Plus your status as a Dullahan may help here, Will,” Antares added. “We also suspect that this could be a type 3 or 4 ghost.”

“I see,” Will replied. “What has it done?”

“Aside from interrupting my experiments and AMVs?” Bran sarcastically asked. “Well the first ones to catch him were the ACF. Haze was then turned over to us to see if we could learn anything after it nearly caused several mass containment breaches. Between our organizations, we have discovered that Haze can theoretically possess anyone with emotions. This is what allows ANTIMagic Haze to manifest…”

“We’re classifying it as an ANTIMagic mage? Like how Beth is ANTIMagic Phobos?”

Antares nodded. “Certainly, Private.”

Bran continued. “ANTIMagic Haze appears to have a sense of vigilante justice that can override the will of weaker individuals. They then proceed to attack any criminal in sight. And if Haze can’t possess anyone to do that, it’ll just consume the criminal, leaving nothing behind. How do we know? The ACF threw some death row inmates at it and found out by accident.”

Will shuddered and gagged a little, with Adrien rubbing his back. “So why is it here then?” the private asked.

“Because it keeps breaking containment” Bran answered. “The Liger Brigade offered to take it off our hands and take a crack at it.”

“Would you like to take a look, Will?” Antares asked.

Will accepted and Antares pressed a few buttons on a control panel. A black, glass pane in the heavy iron door went clear, showing the cell inside. Looking around, there was nothing to be found. Will was a little worried, questioning if he had messed something up. He pretended to make observations, hoping the others bought it. After turning to face the group, Will noticed they were all looking concerned.

“Is Haze supposed to be invisible?” he sheepishly asked.

“No, you should have seen a red cloud of smoke…” Antares noticed one of the guards was staring at Will. “Jones, why are you looking at the Private like that?”

What happened next was sheer chaos. The guard lept at Will, pinning him to the ground. Antares, Adrien, and Bran were knocked back by a shockwave as Jones began vomiting a black and red sludge into Will’s mouth. The other guard tried to get Jones off of the Private, but it was no use. Once Jones was done, he rolled over and moaned in agony. Will was transforming, his body turning into a shiny, black substance. Antares regained his bearings and scrambled for the alarms, warning everyone that Haze had broken containment.

When Will was done, he stood there laughing. His hair was sterling white, his eyes were hidden, and his mouth was a mischievous grin full of shark-like teeth. What became of his body was similar to rubber and giant, red zippers were all over. Specifically they were on his upper arms, upper legs, around his abdomen, and one was in the spot where his neck split for his Dullahan nature. Bran and Adrien were in awe of this transformation, but also beside themselves in confusion.

Will noticed Antares going for the door. “RUN RUN RUN, AS FAST AS YOU CAN” he exclaimed as he deformed and stretched through the door crack. “YOU CAN’T CATCH ME, I’M THE GINGERBREAD MAN!” He cackled as he went into the air duct before anyone could catch him.

“DAMN IT!” Antares cursed as the rattling of the ducts trailed off. He then turned to the other guard. “Howell, get Jones to the medical wing…”

He was interrupted by a rumble that shook the whole ship. “CODE RED: SKY FORTRESS UNDER ATTACK” an automated alarm repeated as harsh sirens blared throughout the halls.

“WELL THAT’S JUST PRIME” Antares growled. “Adrien, battle stations! Bran, stay out of trouble. I’m heading to the bridge!”

Everything was a mess as staff hurried into battle shelters and soldiers raced to wherever they were needed. Antares gave orders as he ran, eventually running into a group of Shadow Constructs. These ones were in the form of Shadow Robots and attacked anything in sight. They were in his way, so Antares created a flame sphere. After hurling it forward, he snapped his fingers which led to a violent explosion of flames that destroyed the robots.

The bridge was just as chaotic, with a tall, muscular commanding officer giving orders to everyone there. “Scramble the jet squadrons! Get those rear batteries firing! Where are these things coming from!? And someone get General Lundberg and the Pentagon on the horn now!!” 

He was cut off by two, large display screens showing a feed of a pair of individuals. One looked vaguely like a German general and the other was what was best described as a psychotic jester. Both of them had a clear, villainous disposition.

“Despot and Valentin. Of what do I owe this utmost displeasure?”

“We have no time for your formalities, Commander. Hand over Camelot and Bethany or die.”

“Or just die! THAT WORKS TOO!” Valentin said with a maniacal, unhinged laugh.

“Over my dead body.” The commander then signaled to cut the feed as Antares came running in.

“Commander Aalders! What are Perkele and Despot even thinking?!”

He cracked his knuckles and growled. “No idea, but it can’t be good if they want Bethany. Take control of the bridge, Lt. Colonel. I’m going to get in contact with Archmage Milan.”

While all of that was happening, Will was hiding out in a store room. Haze had caused his mind to go wild, but he was back in control, for the most part. He thrashed around, trying to maintain his composure. A voice kept telling him to go wild and vanquish the criminals and villains. Will then shouted at the top of his lungs for the voice to stop.

“Wait, you can hear me?” Haze asked.

“YES! STOP ORDERING ME AROUND!” Will was at his wits end.

“Oh my goodness… you can hear me! Yes! Finally, a viable partner to work with!”

Will inhaled and exhaled. “FINE. Just stop ordering me around!”

Sensing his rising emotions, Haze froze Will in his tracks. “Easy, I’m not going to hurt you or your friends. I just need help fulfilling my promise to someone special…”

“And who’s that?” Will inquired as everything shook.

“Queen Dunja. She spared me back in Shadowland, so now I owe her…”

“Dunja? I know her!”

Haze was surprised. “Really?” He went through Will’s memories, causing him to convulse a little. “Can you help me out then? With my mission?”

Another rumble knocked them to the ground. “After we help out! Camelot is in danger!” Will stated.

Haze returned control of his body to WIll, allowing him to provide assistance. The Liger Soldiers were doing a good job, but the Shadow Robots were persistent. Will was able to enlarge his fists and sling his punches, devastating any Shadow Construct that was his target. He also discovered that he had access to a grisly, red fire that burnt his foes to cinders.

It took some effort, but the Liger Soldiers eliminated the small army of Shadow Robots. Will and Haze took to the exterior where they swung off of enemy aircrafts, destroying them as they went. Many were being shot down, so the two had to be careful as bullets occasionally whizzed past Will’s head. Haze spotted one last aircraft and told WIll to jump for it. This was a good call as it crashed on the sky deck, allowing them to get back onto Camelot.

“Okay, that was dangerous, but fun,” Will admitted as he collected his bearings.

Bran came running up to him. Camelot had slowed its speed, so it was easier to walk up on the sky deck. “Will! Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I guess. Me and Haze… Do you have anything on this?” Will held his arms, causing them to stretch a little.

Bran stared at Will, completely baffled. “Sorry, kid, I got nothing on this.”

Will inhaled and exhaled in a worried manner. “Really, Bran?”

The Liger Soldiers that had accompanied Bran finally caught up with him. “Don’t worry, Will’s back in control” he assured them.

Before anything else could be said, something landed on the sky deck with a massive thud. It was an ugly, grotesque serpent that towered above them. The monstrosity had a glowing, red eye and oozed black sludge everywhere. Two soldiers rushed Bran and Will to cover as the others began firing upon the monster. It roared and bellowed as it shot beams from its eye.

Panic set in for WIll. “What is that thing!?”

“I think it’s a Shadow Wyrm…” Bran said as they instinctively ducked in response to a beam blast.

Haze was all too familiar with such a hideous creation. “Will, I know how to defeat it!”

“Really? How?” The others were giving him weird looks as he was clearly talking to himself.

“Aim for the eye. That’ll destroy it! You should be able to use anything given how sloppy of a Shadow Construct it is.”

Will presented this idea to Bran and the soldiers. It was worth a shot, so they handed him a combat machete and provided cover fire. With a mighty leap, Will and Haze latched onto the head of the Wyrm. The creature tried to shake them off, but they held on tight. Once he was in position, Will relentlessly stabbed the creature over and over again. The Shadow Wyrm screeched in pain, managing to finally fling him off. Will then landed at the feet of a familiar individual.

Above Will stood a confident, handsome man with silver hair. His brilliant, black and red robes shone in the evening sunlight as he snapped his fingers to cast a spell. A bow made of magical energy appeared before him. Grabbing it, he readied an arrow and prepared to fire.

“Don’t worry, Will. I’ll finish it off!” Letting loose the arrow, it hit what remained of the eye dead on. After one last wail of pain, the Shadow Wyrm collapsed in on itself and began fading away.

“Archmage Milan! Nice shot!” Will complimented.

He chuckled as he helped Will up. “Thanks, but I was showing off a bit…”

“A truer shot was never had, Milan” Commander Aalders also complimented as he approached. Antares was with him. “And good work, Private William. I’d dare say your trips to The Unlight brought out the soldier in you.”

“Sir, thank you sir!” Will replied at attention.

“How’s Will doing, Bran?” Antares asked.

He shrugged. “Fine, I guess? I have no precedent for this, but he handled the Shadow Wyrm just fine.”

“Well I’d dare say we don’t have to worry about containment at the moment then…” Antares remarked.

Milan stepped forward to inspect Will. “Intriguing, it feels like I’ve met this entity before…” He then shuddered after a dreadful feeling overwhelmed him. “Commander, how about we talk to Will about this?”

“I was just about to say the same thing, Milan. Private, Lt. Colonel, Bran, meet me in my personal meeting room for debriefing.”

“Sir, yes sir!” Will and Antares replied.

“Everyone else? Let’s head in before Camelot returns to full speed.”

As everyone went inside, Haze began to speak to Will. This time he indicated for him to talk with his thoughts. “Will, Milan concerns me.”

“Why’s that, Haze?”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that was Milosh Proch…”

Will was taken aback. That was quite the infamous name amongst the guild. “Are you sure about that?”

“Positive. That soul is too close to not be his.”

“Well, I mean, Milan is a little awkward, but he’s not bad. He's a pretty cool dude and I’d trust him with my life. Are you sure he’s not Milosh’s twin or something like that?”

Haze had no idea what to think. He was praying it was not his foul creator who returned to haunt him. “Be careful around him, Will.”

Will patted his shoulder, as if reassuring Haze. “Don’t worry, Haze. Milan is one of the best mages I know. Also speaking of which, we need to introduce you to everyone else. I really think you’re going to like my girlfriend and our roommates.”

Next: ???

ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)

[deepaksinghmarketing01]

Understanding User Intent: How Google Ads Can Drive Higher Conversion Rates

Hey there! I’m thrilled you’re here, ready to dive into one of the most intriguing and impactful aspects of digital marketing. We’re talking about user intent and how it can transform your Google Ads campaigns from just another line item in your budget to a powerhouse for driving conversions. If you’re working with a digital marketing agency in Aurangabad or are just keen on making your marketing strategies more effective, this guide is tailor-made for you.

Grab a comfy seat and maybe a snack, because we’re about to get into the nitty-gritty of understanding user intent and leveraging it to make your Google Ads campaigns soar. Ready? Let’s jump in!

What Is User Intent?

First things first—let’s define what we mean by user intent. In the simplest terms, user intent is the reason behind a user's search query. It's what the user is hoping to achieve by entering those keywords into Google. Understanding this can make all the difference in crafting ads that resonate, engage, and convert.

The Three Types of User Intent

To truly harness the power of Google Ads, you need to grasp these three core types of user intent:

Navigational Intent: When users are searching for a specific website or brand. For example, someone searching for “Nike official site” is clearly looking to visit Nike’s website directly.

Informational Intent: Users with this intent are seeking information or answers to questions. For example, a query like “how to set up Google Ads for beginners” indicates a desire to learn more about a topic.

Transactional Intent: This is where users are ready to make a purchase or take a specific action. Queries like “buy running shoes online” or “book a hotel in Aurangabad” indicate a high likelihood of conversion.

Why Understanding User Intent Matters

Grasping user intent allows you to tailor your Google Ads campaigns to meet users’ specific needs at different stages of their decision-making process. This means you’re not just throwing ads out there and hoping they stick; you’re strategically placing them where they’re most likely to drive action.

How Google Ads Can Target User Intent

Google Ads is a powerful tool for targeting user intent. With its sophisticated targeting features, you can ensure your ads reach the right audience with the right message. Here’s how:

1. Keyword Targeting

Keywords are the foundation of Google Ads. By choosing the right keywords, you can align your ads with the user’s intent. Here’s how to do it effectively:

1.1. Conduct Keyword Research

Start with thorough keyword research. Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner to identify keywords that match the different types of user intent. Look for:

High Search Volume: Keywords with a large number of searches indicate strong interest.

High Relevance: Ensure keywords align with the content or products you’re promoting.

Competitive Analysis: Understand how competitive certain keywords are to gauge the effort required for ranking.

1.2. Group Keywords by Intent

Organize your keywords based on user intent. Create separate ad groups for each type of intent:

Navigational Keywords: For users looking for specific brands or sites.

Informational Keywords: For users seeking information or answers.

Transactional Keywords: For users ready to make a purchase.

1.3. Use Negative Keywords

Negative keywords help filter out irrelevant traffic. For example, if you’re selling premium products, you might want to exclude keywords related to discounts or free items.

2. Ad Copy that Resonates

Crafting ad copy that aligns with user intent is crucial. Here’s how to ensure your ads are compelling and relevant:

2.1. Match Ad Copy to User Intent

Your ad copy should directly address the user’s intent. For example:

Transactional Intent: Highlight promotions or unique selling points. “50% off on running shoes – Shop Now!”

Informational Intent: Offer valuable content or solutions. “Learn how to set up Google Ads with our free guide!”

2.2. Include Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

CTAs guide users toward taking the desired action. Use action-oriented language like “Buy Now,” “Get Started,” or “Learn More.” Ensure your CTA aligns with the intent behind the search query.

2.3. Use Ad Extensions

Ad extensions provide additional information and increase ad visibility. Utilize:

Sitelink Extensions: Direct users to specific pages on your website.

Callout Extensions: Highlight key features or offers.

Structured Snippet Extensions: Showcase specific aspects of your products or services.

3. Landing Pages that Convert

A great ad can drive traffic, but a well-designed landing page will convert that traffic into leads or sales. Here’s how to optimize your landing pages:

3.1. Ensure Relevance

The content of your landing page should match the user’s search intent and the promise made in your ad. If your ad promotes “best running shoes,” your landing page should focus on showcasing top running shoes.

3.2. Optimize for User Experience

Design your landing page for a seamless user experience. This includes:

Fast Load Times: Ensure your page loads quickly to reduce bounce rates.

Mobile-Friendly Design: Optimize for mobile users, as many searches are done on smartphones.

Clear Navigation: Make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for.

3.3. Include Strong CTAs

Your landing page should have clear, compelling CTAs that encourage users to take action. Position CTAs prominently and ensure they align with the user’s intent.

4. Utilize Audience Targeting

Google Ads offers various audience targeting options to reach users based on their behavior, interests, and demographics. Here’s how to use these effectively:

4.1. Custom Audiences

Create custom audiences based on user behavior. For example, target users who have previously visited your website but didn’t convert. This can help re-engage potential customers and drive them back to your site.

4.2. In-Market Audiences

Target users who are actively searching for products or services similar to yours. Google identifies these users based on their recent search activity, making them prime candidates for conversion.

4.3. Similar Audiences

Use similar audiences to find new users who share characteristics with your existing customers. This can help expand your reach while maintaining relevance.

5. Leveraging Google Analytics

Google Analytics provides valuable insights into user behavior and campaign performance. Here’s how to use it to refine your Google Ads strategy:

5.1. Analyze User Behavior

Track user interactions on your website to understand how visitors are engaging with your content. Look at metrics like bounce rates, time on page, and conversion paths to identify areas for improvement.

5.2. Track Conversions

Set up conversion tracking to measure the effectiveness of your ads. Monitor metrics such as conversion rates, cost per conversion, and return on ad spend (ROAS) to gauge performance.

5.3. Adjust Based on Insights

Use insights from Google Analytics to make data-driven adjustments to your campaigns. For example, if certain keywords or ad groups are underperforming, consider tweaking your ad copy or adjusting your bids.

Case Study: How a Digital Marketing Agency in Aurangabad Achieved Success

Let’s bring these concepts to life with a real-world example. Imagine you’re a local business in Aurangabad working with a digital marketing agency. Here’s how the agency might apply these principles to drive higher conversion rates:

1. Understanding Local User Intent

The agency starts by analyzing local search trends and user intent. They identify that many users in Aurangabad are searching for “best restaurants near me” and “affordable wedding venues in Aurangabad.”

2. Crafting Targeted Ad Campaigns

The agency creates separate ad campaigns for each type of user intent:

For Restaurants: They use transactional keywords and highlight special offers, such as “25% off on your first meal – Book Now!”

For Wedding Venues: They target users with informational and transactional intent, offering guides on planning weddings and showcasing venue options.

3. Designing Effective Landing Pages

Landing pages are optimized to align with the ad copy and user intent. For the restaurant campaign, the landing page features a reservation system and details on special offers. For the wedding venues, the page includes a venue gallery, pricing information, and a contact form for inquiries.

4. Analyzing and Optimizing

The agency monitors campaign performance using Google Analytics. They track metrics like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and cost per conversion. Based on these insights, they make data-driven adjustments to improve results, such as tweaking ad copy, adjusting bids, or refining audience targeting.

Tips for Maximizing Your Google Ads Campaigns

Here are some additional tips to ensure your Google Ads campaigns are as effective as possible:

1. Continuously Test and Optimize

Regularly test different ad variations and landing pages. A/B testing can help you identify what works best and optimize for better performance.

2. Stay Updated with Trends

Google Ads and digital marketing are constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest trends, features, and best practices to keep your campaigns ahead of the curve.

3. Focus on Quality Score

Google’s Quality Score impacts your ad rankings and cost-per-click. Improve your Quality Score by ensuring your ads, keywords, and landing pages are relevant and of high quality.

4. Invest in Ad Extensions

Ad extensions enhance your ads’ visibility and provide additional information. Use them to showcase key features, offers, and contact details.

5. Monitor Competitors

Keep an eye on your competitors’ ad strategies. Analyze their keywords, ad copy, and offers to identify opportunities and stay competitive.

Conclusion

Understanding user intent is the key to unlocking the full potential of your Google Ads campaigns. By aligning your ads with the specific needs and desires of your target audience, you can drive higher conversion rates and achieve better results. Whether you’re working with a digital marketing agency in Aurangabad or managing your campaigns in-house, leveraging user intent can make a significant difference in your advertising success.

So, the next time you’re setting up a Google Ads campaign, remember: it’s not just about the keywords or the ad copy; it’s about understanding what your audience is looking for and delivering it in a way that resonates. With the right approach, your Google Ads campaigns can become a powerful tool for driving conversions and growing your business.

Happy advertising, and may your campaigns be ever successful!

[thedmschool24]

How to Target Purchase-Ready Shoppers with Facebook Ads: A Guide from a Digital Marketing Agency in Pune

Hey! So, you’re diving into Facebook ads, huh? Trying to figure out how to catch those shoppers who are just itching to buy? I totally get it—Facebook ads can be a bit tricky, especially when you’re looking to target the right audience who’s ready to make a purchase. But don’t worry; I’ve got your back! Let’s break it down together, like we’re just chatting over a cup of coffee.

Why Facebook Ads Are Your Go-To Tool

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about why Facebook is the platform to focus on. I mean, billions of active users—it’s not just another social media site; it’s practically a marketplace. What’s great about Facebook is its insane targeting capabilities. You can literally reach the exact person who’s ready to click "Buy Now."

Now, if I were a digital marketing agency in Pune, I’d tell you straight up—if you’re not using Facebook ads to target purchase-ready shoppers, you’re missing out. Big time. So let’s dive into the how-to, shall we?

1. Know Your Audience Like the Back of Your Hand (Pune-Style)

First things first—who are you trying to reach? If your answer is “everyone,” we’ve got a problem. You’ve got to narrow it down. Think about it: if you were a digital marketing agency in Pune, you’d know the local market inside out, right? You’d understand the demographics, interests, and behaviors of your ideal customers. That’s exactly what you need to do here.

Ask yourself: Who’s most likely to buy from me? What are their pain points? What do they need? This understanding is the foundation of everything else.

2. Build Detailed Buyer Personas (Pune Expertise at Work)

Now, I know this might sound a bit corporate, but trust me, creating buyer personas is worth every minute. A buyer persona is like a detailed profile of your ideal customer. It includes everything from their age, gender, and occupation to their hobbies, challenges, and buying behaviors.

Here’s a tip from a digital marketing agency in Pune: Use data to back up your personas. Don’t just guess—look at your social media analytics, customer feedback, and website data to create accurate personas. The more specific you get, the better your targeting will be.

3. Leverage Facebook’s Advanced Targeting Tools (Like a Pro in Pune)

Facebook is a goldmine when it comes to targeting options. You can narrow down your audience by location, age, gender, interests, and behaviors. But here’s where it gets interesting: Facebook’s Custom Audiences feature. This lets you target people who’ve already shown interest in your brand—maybe they visited your website, engaged with your Facebook page, or subscribed to your newsletter.

And then there’s Lookalike Audiences. Imagine you have a list of your best customers. Facebook can find new people who share similar characteristics. It’s like magic, and it’s something every digital marketing agency in Pune would swear by.

4. Craft Compelling Ad Copy (Inspired by Pune’s Vibrant Energy)

Once you know who you’re targeting, it’s time to grab their attention. Your ad copy needs to be more than just informative—it needs to be persuasive. Think about it: you’re not just selling a product, you’re solving a problem or fulfilling a need.

A digital marketing agency in Pune would tell you to use language that resonates with your audience. Speak directly to their needs and desires. And don’t forget to create a sense of urgency—phrases like “Limited Time Offer” or “Don’t Miss Out” can work wonders.

5. Invest in Eye-Catching Visuals (Inspired by Pune’s Culture)

In a world where everyone is constantly scrolling through their feeds, you’ve got just a few seconds to grab attention. This is where visuals come in. Whether it’s a high-quality image, a striking graphic, or a short video, your visuals need to pop.

Think of it like this—Pune is full of vibrant, colorful markets. Your ad visuals should have that same energy. They should be something that makes people stop and take notice, just like a bustling street in Pune.

6. Optimize Your Call-to-Action (With a Pune Twist)

Your call-to-action (CTA) is the bridge between grabbing attention and making a sale. It needs to be clear, direct, and compelling. Whether it’s “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up,” your CTA should tell people exactly what you want them to do next.

Here’s a pro tip from a digital marketing agency in Pune: Make your CTA stand out. Use contrasting colors, larger fonts, or even a button to draw attention to it. And remember, a great CTA can be the difference between a scroll and a click.

7. Implement Retargeting Strategies (The Pune Expertise)

Ever noticed how after you visit a website, ads for that product start following you around the internet? That’s retargeting, and it’s incredibly effective.

Facebook allows you to create retargeting campaigns that specifically target users who’ve interacted with your brand but haven’t made a purchase yet. It’s like giving them a gentle nudge, reminding them that they were interested. A digital marketing agency in Pune would tell you that this is one of the most powerful tools in your Facebook ads arsenal.

8. Monitor and Optimize Your Campaigns (Pune-Style Analytics)

Once your ad is live, your job isn’t done. In fact, it’s just beginning. You need to keep a close eye on your campaign’s performance and be ready to make adjustments as needed.

Key metrics to monitor include click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS). A digital marketing agency in Pune would use these insights to continuously optimize the campaign, ensuring it’s performing at its best.

9. Budget Wisely (Lessons from a Digital Marketing Agency in Pune)

You don’t need a huge budget to get results with Facebook ads, but you do need to spend smartly. Start small, test different ad sets and targeting options, and then scale up what works.

A digital marketing agency in Pune would tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Spread your budget across different ads and audiences to see what resonates the most. And don’t be afraid to pause or tweak campaigns that aren’t performing as expected.

10. Stay Updated with Trends (Pune’s Innovative Edge)

The world of digital marketing is always evolving, and Facebook is no exception. New features, tools, and best practices are constantly emerging, so staying informed is key.

A digital marketing agency in Pune would recommend keeping up with industry blogs, attending webinars, and being part of online communities where you can learn about the latest trends and techniques. The more you know, the better your ads will perform.

Final Thoughts: Why a Digital Marketing Agency in Pune Could Be Your Secret Weapon

Targeting purchase-ready shoppers with Facebook ads requires a combination of creativity, strategy, and constant optimization. It’s not just about running ads; it’s about running the right ads to the right people at the right time.

And while you can certainly do it on your own, there’s a lot of value in having an expert partner by your side. A digital marketing agency in Pune knows the local market, understands the nuances of Facebook advertising, and can help you craft campaigns that truly resonate with your audience.

So, whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your existing strategy, consider teaming up with a digital marketing agency in Pune. With their expertise, you’ll be well on your way to turning those clicks into conversions and making the most out of your Facebook ads.

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From our pride award-winning, global but based design studio London, we are really dedicated to the discipline of strategy and branding that feels authentic and is clear. We work to develop your brand into a leader with a compelling story and versatile presence.

Why Choose Us?

Authenticity: craft brands that are true to themselves.

Clarity: convey your message in the best way.

Our Services

Design : The most personalizing graphic design agency London has to offer for your digital and print media

Editing: The most highly favored video editing company for turning your images into enticing professional media.

Strategic Approach

Our brand strategy agency London works using the image that each design tells a story and is, therefore, impacting your long-term goal positively. By doing this, the brand asset will grow, and your brand will be advanced and well-distinguished.

Cooperative Approach: We work together with you to hear your vision.

Ground-Breaking Design: Applying leading technology production and techniques with intent.

Get in Touch

Discover why we’re one of the best graphic design agencies London, and video editing agencies across the globe. Get in touch today, and let take your brand to another level with our digital and graphic design agency prowess.

Elevate Your Presence with Our London-Based Award-Winning Global Design Studio

At our London-based award-winning global design studio, we specialize in brand design services that redefine authenticity and clarity. Our mission is to transform your brand into its best version by building on a solid strategic foundation. Here’s how we ensure your brand stands out:

Authenticity: We are believers in creating brands that are true to their essence.

Clarity: To tell vivid and engaging brand stories that truly resonate.

Versatility: Design brands that rebrand and excel in all environments.

Whether you need an ecommerce web design agency or comprehensive brand strategy, we tailor solutions that propel your brand forward. Discover how we can elevate your brand’s presence with innovative design and strategic insights.

Bringing Real Stories to Life with Our London-Based Brand Strategy Agency

From the heart of London, inside our award-winning global design studio, is where we offer brand strategy services that far outreach its aesthetics. We’ve finely honed our skills when it comes to creating brands that exude authenticity, clarity, outspokenness, and versatility. With a solid strategic base, we’ll make sure your brand tells a story worth telling.

Why us?

Expertise: brand strategy agency London and branding expertise.

Innovation: We mix creativity with strategic insight to take your brand to new heights.

Global Reach: Dealing with different clients across the world from our hub of London.

Whether you’re launching a completely new brand or refreshening an existing one, we will work tirelessly to see your vision come to life through a transformed brand. Contact us today for how our branding agency London can take you further down the road to success.

Brand Transformation: Professional Brand Design and Branding Services

Welcome to our London-based award-winning global design studio, experts in brand design experts with comprehensive branding services. We believe in constructing brands that exude authenticity, clarity, outspokenness, and versatility.

How We Do It:

Authenticity: We dig deep into what your brand stands for.

Clarity: Refine the message to really talk to them.

Outspokenness: Defining clearly who you are and what you stand for.

With a high strategic base, we make sure your brand has a compelling story going on that moves it forward. Let our expertise transform your brand into the best version of itself.

Customize Your Brand with the leading Design Studios in London.

At Motion Identity Design Company, based in London, we specialize as a professional brand studio in the creation of original and transparent brand identities that go beyond borders. Our award-winning team wants to show the world the power behind versatile branding strategies with a solid-base approach. We put emphasis on strategy and branding to make ordinary stories propel your brand forward. Let us bring your brand up to the best possible version from our premier design studios London.

Why Motion Identity Design Company?

Original branding for reflecting the real you

Crystal clear messaging that says it all

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Global reach through impactful strategies to any audience

Let us change the narrative of your brand. Discover how our professional brand studios London bring the branding vision into life today.

Welcome to our award-winning digital design agency London, where we specialize in strategy and branding. At our studio, we believe in creating brands that are not just authentic and clear, but also outspoken and versatile. Our approach is rooted in a solid strategic foundation that ensures your brand story is compelling and propels you forward in the marketplace.

Why Choose Us?

Award-Winning Excellence: Recognized globally for our innovative designs and strategic insights.

Local Expertise, Global Reach: Based in London, serving clients worldwide.

Crafting Authentic Brands: We transform your brand’s essence into its best version.

Whether you’re looking for a digital design agency in London or searching for design companies near me, our team is here to elevate your brand presence. Contact us today to embark on a journey of brand transformation that is both impactful and enduring.

Transforms Brands: Your Connected Brand Development Agency in London

In our award-winning brand development agency in London, we deal with authentic and versatile brands. We will give strategic clarity and storytelling that speaks volumes, to help your brand evolve into the best version of itself. From there, be ranked as one of the top video editing company, taking it further by adding some smooth visuals that really bring your brand’s story alive. Now is the time to take your brand to new heights with the creativity and accuracy our team provides.

Transparent and authentic brand development strategies.

Indeed, Compelling Storytelling for Brand Evolution.

Expert video editing services for brand narratives.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What services do you offer at Transforms Brands?

A: We offer a range of services including brand strategy, storytelling, visual content creation, and video editing.

Q: How does your agency approach brand development?

A: Our approach involves understanding your brand’s core values, crafting strategic clarity, and developing compelling narratives that align with your brand identity.

[dentalprecinct]

How Long Do Dental Implants Last? Is It Worth the Money? - Dental Precinct

Dental Implants Townsville - Fix Your Missing Teeth

Say goodbye to your missing teeth problems with our best Dental Implants Townsville services. Restore one or all of your teeth with our affordable solutions.

Explore the lifespan and cost-effectiveness of dental implants in our comprehensive guide. Discover insights on their durability and long-term benefits. Read now!

How Long Do Dental Implants Last? Is It Worth the Money?

Welcome to Dental Precinct, your trusted source for comprehensive dental care in Townsville! When a tooth is lost due to decay, cavities, periodontal disease, or injury, implants can provide a strong foundation for permanent or removable teeth that look like natural teeth.

Are you contemplating getting dental implants?” but unsure about their longevity and value for money? It’s a widespread concern among dental patients seeking a permanent solution for missing teeth. But don’t worry; I will give valuable information about dental implants through this comprehensive guide. Let’s dive into the details to understand how long dental implants last and whether they are worth the investment.

Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace missing teeth roots. They provide a stable foundation for artificial teeth such as crowns, bridges, or dentures. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants are a long-term solution that mimics natural teeth look, feel, and function.

Picture this: You’re missing a tooth or two and tired of dealing with the hassles of traditional dentures or bridges. That’s where dental implants swoop in to save the day! These nifty little titanium posts work magic by acting as artificial tooth roots, providing a solid foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like the real deal.

Longevity of Dental Implants

One of the most significant advantages of dental implants is their longevity. With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last a lifetime. Unlike traditional dental restorations that may need replacement every 5-10 years, dental implants offer a permanent solution for tooth loss.

The longevity of dental implants depends on several factors, including oral hygiene, overall health, and lifestyle. However, when properly cared for, dental implants can last decades. Here’s why:

Osseointegration: Your bone fuses tightly around the titanium post after implant placement. This process, called osseointegration, ensures stability and durability.

Quality Materials: Dental implants are crafted from biocompatible materials, making them resistant to decay and wear.

Maintenance: Regular dental check-ups and diligent oral hygiene are crucial. Brush, floss, and visit your dentist to ensure your implants stay top shape.

Pro tip: Dental implants can last for ages with proper care and attention – we’re talking a lifetime! You heard that right – these bad boys are in it for the long haul.

Factors Influencing Implant Longevity

Several factors contribute to the longevity of dental implants:

Quality of Implant: Choosing a reputable dental practice like Dental Precinct in Townsville ensures you receive high-quality implants from durable materials.

Oral Hygiene: Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial for the longevity of dental implants. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups help prevent gum disease and implant complications.

Bone Health: Adequate bone density and good oral health are essential for the success of dental implant surgery. Patients with sufficient bone volume are more likely to experience long-term implant success.

Lifestyle Habits: Avoiding habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to the longevity of dental implants. These habits can compromise oral health and increase the risk of implant failure.

Is It Worth the Money?

While dental implants require a higher upfront investment compared to traditional restorations, their long-term benefits outweigh the initial cost. Dental implants offer superior durability, functionality, and aesthetics, providing patients with a confident smile and improved quality of life.

On average, you’re looking at shelling out anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 for one implant. And if you need more than one tooth done, you do the math – it adds up quickly.

Now, we get it – that’s a pretty penny to drop upfront. But here’s the thing: before diving headfirst into implants, it might be worth exploring other options. Think veneers or dentures – they might not last as long as implants, but they can still give you a killer smile without breaking the bank immediately.

Consider these points:

Cost: While dental implants may seem expensive upfront, their long-term benefits outweigh the initial expense.

Quality of Life: Implants enhance your appearance, self-esteem, and ability to enjoy food. Can you put a price on that?

Avoiding Future Costs: Implants prevent adjacent teeth from shifting and maintain jawbone health, potentially saving you from future dental issues.

Wrapping Up

Have you got questions? Are you curious about how long implants last and what factors come into play? We’re all ears! Drop us a line today, and let’s discuss your smile goals.

At Dental Precinct in Townsville, we understand the importance of quality dental care and offer various services to meet your needs. Our leading dental practice is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Our highly trained dentists are committed to providing personalised care in a welcoming environment. With interest-free payment plans and extended hours, we make dental care accessible and convenient for everyone.

Invest in your oral health and confidence with dental implants at Dental Precinct. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step towards a healthier, more beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

Dental Implants Townsville

Dental implants are today’s standard of care when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Implants are designed to mimic the shape and function of natural teeth, making them beneficial for both your smile and your lifestyle.

Say goodbye to your missing teeth problems and hello to a perfectly full smile with dental implants in Townsville. Our experienced team of dentists provides affordable solutions for missing teeth.

What is a Dental Implant?

Implants are biocompatible restorations that serve as artificial tooth roots. When installed, they can support a permanent restoration and are more durable than healthy teeth.

Since implants are set into the bone, they help preserve natural tooth spacing and are non-invasive to neighbouring teeth. When cared for properly, your new implant should last the rest of your life. Plus, they’re just as easy to maintain as the rest of your teeth.

What to Expect During Implant Treatment

Getting dental implants does require a few separate appointments, since the prosthesis needs to integrate with your mouth. Usually, Dr. Vikram (Vik) Vasisht schedules the installation and restoration visits across the span of 3-6 months to allow for full healing and integration. The best part is that implants only require a small amount of local anaesthetic to numb your mouth and comfortably place them.

[arisiontreatmentwoodlandhills]

An Intensive Outpatient Program in Woodland Hills for Those Who Expect More

Have you been looking for treatment in the Woodland Hills area but don’t want to settle? Are you concerned that going in for residential treatment could be too much of a strain on your life? If so, then our intensive outpatient program in Woodland Hills may be able to help. Here at Arision, we’ve created an IOP that incorporates the best of what our staff has learned elsewhere.

Freedom to Live Your Life While You Recovery One of the most popular benefits of an IOP is that, at the end of the treatment session, you leave. You don’t stay here. Instead, you return to your own bed and then come back for the next session. Additionally, you return to your support system, to your family, to your friends, to your job, and so forth. You can continue to live your life all while receiving the treatment that you need. Moreover, you can incorporate what you’re learning and developing at Arision into your life in “real-time,” so to speak. We can put together a personalized treatment plan that’s right for your needs.

Therapy to Discover and Develop Every treatment plan at Arision is different, crafted solely for the patient’s needs. That said, just about every single treatment plan will incorporate some kind of therapy. In fact, a majority will have multiple forms of therapy: individual therapy, group therapy, and more. Our therapists will work with you to not treat the addiction, but to treat what’s causing it, those underlying causes which, when overcome, can help you to take those next steps towards a happy, healthy, and sober life.

Building a Foundation Through Learning and Doing It’s important to note that, while therapy is very important, talking to a therapist one on one is by no means the extent of treatment here at Arision. Far from it. Indeed, in our group therapy sessions, you’ll learn from those who have been in treatment longer, finding your voice and strengthening skills that may have slipped. Additionally, the amenities here are the very top of the line, the best in Woodland Hills and elsewhere. They’re incorporated into every treatment plan, so as to provide the best and most effective intensive outpatient experience when you are here. Then, once you have completed the program, we can help you through the Aftercare program, too.

Starting at our Intensive Outpatient Program in Woodland Hills Sending that first message or making that first phone call to an IOP can be one of the hardest steps of the recovery journey. Each step comes with its own difficulties that must be overcome, but starting can be as hard as any of them. We’re glad to do everything possible to alleviate the burden of this step and all subsequent ones. As such, we can provide more information so that you can know everything you need to know before making a decision. To learn more or to start intake, you can message us through our site or call.

[profitfromai1]

How can I increase the traffic on my website?

Increasing website traffic is a key goal for website owners looking to expand their online presence. Whether through organic methods like SEO and content creation, or paid strategies like advertising and affiliate programs, there are various effective ways to drive traffic to your website. In this article, we will explore some of the most impactful methods to boost your website’s traffic and engagement levels.

Key Takeaways

Optimizing your website for search engines is crucial for improving visibility and attracting organic traffic.

Quality content creation is essential for engaging visitors and keeping them on your site.

Engaging on social media platforms can help you reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your website.

Improving website performance, such as speed and user experience, can positively impact traffic and retention rates.

Collaborating with influencers can leverage their audience to drive traffic and increase brand awareness.

Effective Ways to Drive Website Traffic

Optimize Your Website for Search Engines

Getting your website to the top of search engine results is a game-changer. Start by analyzing your site data and conducting keyword research. This foundational step sets the stage for optimizing both on-page and off-page SEO elements. Remember, a knowledge of basic SEO can have a noticeable impact.

Keyword optimization is crucial, but it’s just the beginning. You’ll want to collect quality backlinks and ensure your site architecture facilitates clear navigation. Here’s a quick checklist to keep you on track:

Include video content to engage users

Produce relevant and trendy content

Work on improving site architecture

Create clear and intuitive navigation

Boosting your page speed is also vital. Google even tags results that use Accelerated Mobile Page (AMP) hosting, so consider this in your strategy.

Finally, always aim for a mobile-friendly design. With the majority of web searches now performed on mobile devices, it’s essential for your website to be compatible with all screen sizes.

Utilize Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a fantastic way to spread your wings beyond your own website. Reach out to fellow bloggers or influencers in your niche and offer to write a post for their site. This not only gets your name out there but also drives traffic back to your site through backlinks. Here’s how to nail it:

Identify your target audience and find blogs that they frequent.

Craft a personalized pitch that showcases your expertise and how it can benefit their readership.

Write valuable content that resonates with the audience and includes relevant keywords.

Also read :Unlocking Earnings: A Guide on Making Money with AI Blogging in 2024

Be prepared to answer any questions and provide a smooth collaboration experience.

Remember, the key is to create a win-win situation where both you and the host blog benefit from the exchange.

It’s not just about getting your content out there; it’s about building relationships. Be active in communities and attend events related to your site’s niche. This will help you expand your network and find more opportunities for guest blogging. And when you do land a guest post, make sure it’s well-written and informative — quality is crucial!

Create Quality Content

Let’s get real, folks — content is king. But not just any content; we’re talking about the kind that hooks your readers from the get-go. It’s all about delivering value, answering those burning questions, and solving problems. Imagine stepping into your audience’s shoes — what would you want to read? That’s the golden ticket.

Remember, it’s not about padding your word count with fluff. Quality trumps quantity every time.

Here’s a quick rundown on making your content shine:

Answer the Big Questions: Get straight to the point and address the issues your audience cares about.

Break It Up: Nobody likes a text monolith. Use images, videos, and headings to keep things interesting.

Polish to Perfection: Tools like Grammarly are your best friends for error-free writing.

Creating top-notch content might seem like a Herculean task, but it’s a game-changer for driving traffic. It’s the kind of stuff that gets shared, linked to, and talked about. So roll up your sleeves and start crafting — your website will thank you for it.

Engage on Social Media

Hey there, web wizards! Want to see your website traffic skyrocket? Dive into the social media pool! It’s not just about posting willy-nilly; it’s about crafting a strategy that resonates with your audience. Engage, engage, engage

Host giveaways and contests: Who doesn’t love free stuff? Hosting giveaways and contests is a surefire way to get people buzzing about your site.

Interact with your peeps: Reply to comments, like posts, and show your followers some love. This builds a loyal community that’ll champion your content.

Visuals are your best friend: A picture is worth a thousand clicks. Make sure your posts pop with eye-catching images.

Hashtag it up: Use relevant hashtags to help your content get found by the right eyeballs.

Remember, it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about building relationships. When you connect with your audience on a personal level, they’re more likely to visit your site and stick around for the long haul.

Pick the platform that vibes with your crowd. Instagram’s great for the youngsters, while Facebook’s got the adulting crowd covered. And don’t forget to sprinkle in some influencer magic by tagging industry bigwigs when it makes sense. Just don’t overdo it — nobody likes a try-hard.

Improve Website PerformanceTraffic

Ever wondered if poor performance is costing you visitors? It’s time to crunch the numbers and see what’s at stake. A snappy website not only keeps your audience hooked but also plays a big role in search engine rankings. Here’s a quick rundown on how to give your site the speed boost it deserves:

Step #1: Test your current website speed to establish a baseline.

Also read :How can I increase the traffic on my website?

Step #2: Install a caching plugin to reduce load times.

Step #3: Optimize your images to prevent unnecessary lag.

Step #4: Implement LazyLoad for images and videos to save bandwidth.

Step #5: Set up CloudFlare or another Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute the load.

Step #6: Test your site again to measure improvements.

Remember, a faster site improves user experience and can lead to better engagement and conversions.

Don’t let a sluggish site be the bottleneck of your success. By following these steps, you can ensure that every effort to drive traffic to your website pays off in the long run.

Explore Paid Advertising

Diving into the world of paid advertising can be a game-changer for your website traffic. Pay-Per-Click (PPC), for instance, is a popular strategy where you only shell out cash when someone clicks on your ad. It’s like a digital high-five that costs you a little, but the potential returns? Huge!

Platforms like Google AdWords and Bing Ads are the go-to for search engine marketing, where you bid on keywords to make your site the belle of the search ball. But don’t forget about social ads! With everyone and their grandma scrolling through social media, platforms like Facebook offer a goldmine for targeted advertising.

Here’s a pro tip: Tailor your campaigns to your audience and budget. It’s not just about splashing the cash; it’s about smart spending for the best return on investment.

Ready to get started? Here’s a quick checklist to kick off your paid advertising journey:

Define your target audience

Choose the right platforms (Google, Bing, Facebook, etc.)

Set a budget and bid strategically

Create compelling ad copy

Monitor and adjust your campaigns for optimization

Utilize Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs can be a game-changer for your website traffic. Create a dedicated landing page for your affiliate program to make it easy for potential partners to find you and sign up. This page should clearly explain the benefits and include a call-to-action to join your network.

Offer competitive yet reasonable commission rates to attract and retain affiliates. If you’re a small business, consider offering free products instead of cash as compensation.

Also read :How can I increase the traffic on my website?

Here’s a quick rundown of best practices:

Establish clear terms and conditions to avoid misunderstandings.

Incentivize your affiliates with bonuses or higher commissions for hitting sales targets.

Keep in touch with a regular newsletter, updating them on new products and success stories.

Remember, the key is to collaborate with individuals who resonate with your target audience. If you’re in the IT space, reach out to influential tech bloggers for a partnership that benefits both parties. By leveraging their credibility, you can drive more traffic to your site while providing value to your affiliates.

Build External Link ‘s

Building external links is like networking for your website — it’s all about making connections that count. External backlinks are like digital high-fives from other websites, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable. But remember, it’s not just about quantity; the quality of the backlinks matters too.

To get started, here’s a simple list to guide you:

Identify authoritative sites in your niche.

Create engaging content they would want to link to.

Reach out and build relationships with website owners.

Offer value through guest posts or resourceful insights.

Remember, earning backlinks is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time and effort to build a network of quality links, but the payoff in traffic and credibility is well worth it.

Speed up Your Site

Nobody likes to wait, especially online. If your website takes too long to load, visitors might just bounce off to a competitor. Speed is a crucial factor in not only keeping your visitors happy but also in improving your site’s SEO ranking. Start by testing your current website speed to identify what needs improvement.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you get started:

Test your site with speed test tools

Minify your site’s files using plugins like Autoptimize

Optimize your images before uploading

Enable browser caching to reduce load times for repeat visitors

Consider using a content delivery network (CDN) to improve access speed globally

Also read :How can I increase the traffic on my website?

Remember, a faster site can lead to better user engagement, higher SEO rankings, and ultimately, more traffic.

After making these changes, don’t forget to test your site again. It’s important to measure the impact of your optimizations and keep looking for ways to improve. With tools like WPRocket and ShortPixel, you can further enhance your site’s performance. And if all else fails, it might be time to look at your hosting solution.

Collaborate with Influencers

In the digital age, leveraging the power of influencers can be a game-changer for driving traffic to your website. Identify influencers who resonate with your target audience and are authorities in your niche. For example, if your audience is Instagram-savvy, teaming up with an Instagram influencer can yield better results than other platforms.

Collaborating with influencers should be a strategic partnership. It’s crucial to choose someone who not only has a significant following but also enjoys a positive reputation and creates content that aligns with your brand values. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Identify the right platform for your audience.

Select influencers with a strong presence and credibility in your niche.

Establish clear but flexible collaboration guidelines.

Allow creative freedom to ensure authentic promotion.

Remember, influencers have a unique understanding of their audience. By giving them the creative space to promote your brand, you tap into their ability to engage and persuade their followers effectively.

By following these steps and maintaining open communication, you can create a mutually beneficial relationship that not only increases your website traffic but also enhances your brand’s visibility and credibility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, increasing traffic to your website is a goal that is definitely achievable with the right strategies and dedication. By implementing a combination of organic methods like SEO optimization and quality content creation, along with paid strategies such as social media advertising and affiliate programs, you can attract more visitors to your site. Remember, it’s important to continuously analyze and adapt your approach to find what works best for your specific audience and budget. Good luck on your journey to boosting your website traffic!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I optimize my website for search engines?

To optimize your website for search engines, you can start by implementing SEO best practices such as improving meta titles, descriptions, and headers. Research and use relevant keywords, including long-tail keywords, to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Additionally, create high-quality and valuable content based on popular keywords.

What is guest blogging and how can it increase website traffic?

Guest blogging is when you write and publish a blog post on another website to reach a new audience. By guest blogging on relevant websites, you can generate backlinks to your site and increase visibility. Building relationships, offering valuable content, and targeting the right audience are key strategies to increase website traffic through guest blogging.

How can social media engagement help drive traffic to my website?

Engaging on social media platforms can help drive traffic to your website by increasing brand awareness, promoting your content, and engaging with your audience. By sharing your website content on social media, interacting with followers, and participating in relevant conversations, you can attract more visitors to your site.

What are the benefits of utilizing affiliate programs to increase website traffic?

Utilizing affiliate programs can help increase website traffic by partnering with affiliates who promote your products or services to their audience. Affiliates earn a commission for driving traffic and sales to your site, incentivizing them to promote your offerings. This can lead to increased visibility, targeted traffic, and potential conversions for your website.

How important is building external links for improving website traffic?

Building external links, also known as backlinks, is important for improving website traffic as it enhances your site’s credibility and authority in the eyes of search engines. When reputable websites link back to your content, it signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and valuable, potentially leading to higher rankings and increased organic traffic.

Why is website performance crucial for driving traffic to my site?

Website performance is crucial for driving traffic to your site because a fast and responsive website enhances user experience, reduces bounce rates, and improves search engine rankings. Slow-loading websites can deter visitors and impact your site’s visibility in search results. By optimizing website performance through speed improvements and reliable hosting, you can attract and retain more visitors.

How can collaborating with influencers help increase website traffic?

Collaborating with influencers can help increase website traffic by leveraging their audience and credibility to promote your brand or content. Influencers have a loyal following who trust their recommendations, making them valuable partners for driving traffic to your site. By partnering with influencers relevant to your niche, you can reach a targeted audience and attract new visitors to your website.

What are some effective ways to speed up my website for better traffic performance?

To speed up your website for better traffic performance, you can optimize images and videos, minify CSS and JavaScript files, enable browser caching, and use a content delivery network (CDN) to reduce loading times. Improving website speed not only enhances user experience but also boosts search engine rankings, leading to increased traffic and engagement on your site.

Originally published: https//:profitfromai.in

[aadils-mom-creativity]

3 Basic Stitches of Embroidery Every Beginner Should Know!

3 basic stitches, 3 basic stitches embroidery, 3 basic stitches embroidery for beginners, basic stitches, basic stitches embroidery, basic stitches embroidery for beginners, basic embroidery stitches by hand, basic stitches for beginners, basic stitches of hand embroidery 👋 Hey & Assalamualikum to all of viewers who comes to my video! 🌟 Welcome to the awesome world of embroidery! In this video, we're here to help you learn the very basics that every new embroiderer should know. 🧵✨ Let's explore the beauty of simple stitches with our easy guide covering 3 important techniques. Whether you're just starting out or you're a complete beginner in embroidery, these stitches will be like your key to making really cool, handmade designs. 🎨 Get ready to understand the art of basic stitches that build the foundation of hand embroidery. Follow along with us as we explain each stitch in a way that's easy and fun for beginners. We'll be talking about the straight and easy back stitch, the classic satin stitch, and the cool chain stitch – we've got it all covered! 👩‍🎨 Improve your craft with our step-by-step help on these 3 basic stitches. Feel more confident as you try out stitches designed just for beginners. Perfect your technique and add your own personal touch to your creations with these important skills. 🔍 In this video, we'll show you: 1️⃣ Back Stitch: It's like the main stitch for outlining and making really straight lines. 2️⃣ Split Stitch: Awesome for filling in shapes and adding bright colors to your designs. 3️⃣ Running Stitch: A handy, decorative stitch that gives your work a bit of texture and dimension. 🌈 Join us as we dive into the world of basic stitches, unlocking your creativity. Boost your embroidery skills and make some really beautiful handmade pieces. Don't miss this easy-to-follow guide for beginners to the 3 basic stitches in embroidery! 👉 If you want more easy embroidery tips, hit that subscribe button, give us a like, and share this with your friends who love embroidery too! Let's stitch happily together! 🌟 ► Connect with us on social media for more fun and creativity! 🌟 Explore new designs, trends, and crafts on our channel. 🎨 Join the community: ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... ► Youtube:   / @aadilmomcreativi.  .                         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #embroidery #handembroidery #needlework #diyembroidery #basicembroidery #embroiderytutorial #embroiderystitches #embroideryflowers #embroiderydesign #ModernEmbroidery #embroiderydesign #embroiderystitches #embroiderypatterns #splitstitch #runningstitch #backstitch #basicembroidery #basicembroiderystitches #Aadilsmomcreativity #aadilmomcreativity