#who puts pop quizes in retail?

[doodlemeariver]

I swear to FUCK!

*kicks over trash bin* WHO THE FUCK DECIDED THAT POP QUIZES SHOULD BE WHAT WE START RETAIL WORK!?

*Spoilers, my job*

[starseedfxofficial]

USD Holds Strong as Euro Crumbles: Hidden Trading Opportunities Today The Underdog Moves: How Today's Forex Whisper Shifts the Market When it comes to trading Forex, you can either follow the crowd or become the whisperer—the trader who spots moves before they even begin to form. Today, let’s break down the underground currents driving the market and why most people missed them entirely. No jargon, no textbook lectures—just the essential playbook moves for those looking to outsmart the market, one quiet insight at a time. The Dollar Flexes Muscles: Will the Euro Keep Crumbling? Ah, the USD—the symbol of strength. Picture the dollar right now: it's standing tall, flexing its muscles like a champion wrestler in the middle of the ring, staring down its opponents. Except today, it's not just putting on a show, it's slamming them to the mat. The Euro, for instance, has slipped to a year-to-date low, falling to the 1.03 handle, a level not seen since December 2022. Why? Well, let’s just say the Eurozone's PMI results are as attractive as last season's leftovers. The big question is whether the Euro can bounce back from its latest stumbles. While the markets are waiting for the S&P Global PMIs to come in, it looks like the U.S. is holding all the aces, thanks to a solid outlook that could further widen the U.S.-Eurozone interest rate differential. Now, traders know what this means: more disparity equals more pressure on the Euro. Spoiler alert—it might get worse before it gets better. The Japanese Yen: Cool and Composed, But What's Next? The JPY is playing it cool after showing some promise yesterday. Think of it like the one student in class who aced the pop quiz and doesn't need to show off about it. The latest inflation data out of Japan, while mostly in line with expectations, hinted at a stronger-than-anticipated core figure. Still, it’s not enough to make the Yen break into a sprint. But keep an eye on the BOJ—they’ve got a habit of making unexpected moves, and there could be opportunities in the ripple effect when that happens. GBP and AUD: Tough Day in the Office Meanwhile, the British Pound had a bit of a tough day. Retail sales, PMIs, you name it—everything came in below expectations. The services PMI, which really carries weight, fell to neutral territory, leaving GBP/USD down to a 1.24 handle for the first time since May. It’s like taking a punch straight to the gut. Retail traders are bound to feel the pinch, but hey, this is where opportunity lies for the savvy contrarian. The Aussie Dollar isn’t feeling any better either. With a slip back onto the 0.65 handle, it’s the market’s way of reminding us that even with a resilient domestic economy, when China sneezes, Australia catches a cold. Overnight losses in Chinese equities have weighed on risk sentiment—one of those classic correlations that beginner traders often overlook. Just another reminder that every currency has its dancing partner, and when one stumbles, the other does too. PBoC and CNY: Drawing a Line in the Sand Here’s where things get a little spicy. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) set the midpoint for USD/CNY lower than expected at 7.1942 versus an expected 7.2502. What does this mean in layman’s terms? The PBoC is stepping in to make sure the Yuan doesn’t plummet too quickly. It’s like a lifeguard at the pool—they won’t let things get too out of control. They’re aiming to prevent any one-sided bets against the currency, and this is critical. Why? Because betting on currency weakness in China has become almost too easy lately. The market is wary, but the PBoC just reminded everyone they’re still watching. What Traders Can Do Today Alright, let’s take a step back. We’ve got a dollar that’s strong and pushing everyone else around, a Euro that’s crumbling under pressure, and both the Yen and Pound holding their breath. So, what's a trader to do? - Bet on Divergence: With the U.S. set to post stronger PMI figures, there’s a decent chance we’ll see the interest rate differential continue to widen. This could spell more downside for EUR/USD—if you’re not riding this move yet, it’s not too late to hop on board. - Watch for Yen Breakout Moves: Japan is playing it cool for now, but the BOJ’s unpredictability is always an underpriced event risk. If core inflation data starts ticking up more consistently, brace for a breakout—the kind that sneaks up on most traders. - Contrarian Aussie Trade: China’s weighing on Aussie sentiment, but look for a reversal once there’s some stability in Chinese equities. The AUD often springs back quicker than most think, and buying when the crowd is selling is a time-honored way to find value. - The GBP Opportunity: With UK services dipping to neutral, GBP/USD looks a bit exposed. If sentiment overcorrects, watch for buying opportunities around support levels. This isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for a bounce, it could be coming. Keep It Cool, Keep It Savvy Navigating the Forex markets isn't about knowing everything, it’s about knowing the right things before everyone else catches on. Right now, traders are spooked by weak Eurozone data and gloomy PMI releases. But for those who keep their ear to the ground, there are plenty of hidden opportunities. Remember, when the crowd is screaming doom and gloom, that’s often the best time to look for the trades they’re too nervous to take. As always, do your homework, manage your risk, and trade responsibly. Read the full article

[deargenz-blog]

The Night I Was Almost Kidnapped, Raped, & Killed

*NOT* Clickbait. A True Story | Read to the end.

There are no explicit depictions of violence, rape, or murder in this story.

Okay, this is a long one, BUT I promise that it’s important. Grab some tea and head on back here. 

Ready? Alright, this is how it happened:

It was around 7 o’clock on a November night. I was on my way to rehearsal but I stopped to return something at the supermarket.

It was uncharacteristically busy for a weekday night and there was no parking to be found in the main lot so I parked in the side-section, perhaps about 30 feet from the main action.

There were dozens of people milling around in the front, which was well-lit. I was on a mission, so I wasted no time walking in and taking care of business. I walked back out and past several groups of people. I quickly walked back to my car, and in one swift motion, popped the lock, got in, and as my lock clicked, someone started banging on my passenger side window.

“Hey! Hey! Excuse me! Could you please help me?!”

I was driving a coupe at the time, and its stance was low to the ground. He never stooped to peer inside so I had to duck down to see who was talking to me. He was silhouetted by the lights behind him but I could tell he was young — early 20s — and he was dressed in casual clothes.

“Yes?” I replied.

“Could you please roll down your window?”

I eased the passenger window down about an inch.

“Could you open it more?”

I asked him about what he needed.

Very rapidly, he said: 

“My family… we just ran out of gas. My grandma’s with us. We’re in that mini-van over there.”

He pointed behind where we were, gesturing towards the front of the store.

“Now we can’t get home. We need some help. Can you help us?”

He called over his shoulder.

“Yes! I’m just talking to her right now, Grandma! I’ll be right there!”

I started to turn to see who he was talking to. I had barely moved when he slammed on my passenger window again. BAM! BAM! BAM!

“Hey! Look at me! Look over here! Listen! I need you! Will you help us? We really need help!”

Now, let me tell you: there was no fucking way that I was getting out of that car, but I was genuinely confused. 

“What are you asking?”

He replied: “I want you to give me a ride.”

I told him that I was sorry but, no.

“What do you mean? I told you that we need help. My grandma’s waiting in the car and we have no way to get home.”

And that’s when he tried opening my door. He pulled and pulled on the handle.

“Please, I need your help! I just need a ride! It won’t take that long!”

“No.”

I started my car and put it in reverse but before it could even roll, he muttered a bunch of expletives under his breath and stormed off.

I backed out of the spot and drove towards the exit, getting a good look at the front of the store that he had been gesturing towards. He had disappeared into the crowd and, of course, there was no mini-van to be found.

The exchange lasted no more than 2–3 minutes. It all happened very quickly.

 And that’s because it was designed to.

        * * *

When I got to the theater that night, I told my cast mates about what had happened. The gals in the cast thought it was “weird” and were relieved that they didn’t live near there.

I spoke to one of my best friends on the phone the next day to firm up plans for dinner. She lived about 15 minutes away from where it had happened. She dismissed the whole incident and assured me that she would be fine because she never went to that supermarket.

Not one of them got what the point was.

Additionally, you should know that when I reported the incident to the store, they told me that I “probably shouldn’t park there in the future because there aren’t any security cameras over there”, even though it’s where their employees are told to park, and yes, this was a major retailer.

That little jewel of information isn’t pivotal to this story — I just thought it was too ridiculous not to share.

The police were more receptive but still, since nothing had really happened, I was basically just reporting it to put it on their radar (you should always do that, no matter how silly you might feel, okay?).

        * * *

There are 2 important points I want to make here:

The illusion of safety is shockingly compelling.

Muscle memory saved my life that night.

When I shared that story with people in my circle, I found it bizarre that these women all believed that they were safe as long as they didn’t go “there.” The store was located in a fine town that doesn’t routinely experience a large amount of violent crime. It’s a regular place, as common as they come. It could have happened anywhere and to anyone. It just happened to be me that night.

Believing that you can consider yourself protected as long as you stay away from certain places or don’t do certain things is incredibly dangerous. Following the “rules” can get you killed just as easily as breaking them does. It’s like when people find out that their next-door-neighbor’s a serial killer and they’re all like, “you know, I never would have guessed. He always seemed like such a nice guy...”

Because here’s the truth:

I did everything that I was supposed to do that night.

I parked in a spot as close as I could to the entrance of the store, it was in a well-lit area, I was aware of my surroundings, walked quickly to and from my car, and I locked my door the absolute second I got inside. There were many other people around that night but the idea of safety in numbers is also an illusion. Most people aren’t paying attention.

As I said, muscle memory saved my life that night. My entire childhood was my mom drilling in to me to be aware of my surroundings in public places and to always lock my door. She would literally quiz me in stores about the people around me to make sure I was paying attention. Think of the pilot for the show Psych — “how many hats are in the restaurant?” — that was my mom and me. I know that’s the exception, and not the rule — most people aren’t raised like that.

And yet, despite being as ninja-like as I had been taught to be, I never saw or heard him coming that night but he must have been damn close to get to my door as quick as he did. If I hadn’t thrown that lock, he still would have pawed the handle and would have been inside in a flash. I am so thankful for that habit.

       * * *

So, the title of this post is: “The Night I Was Almost Kidnapped, Raped, and Killed” and right about now, you’re probably thinking that this was, in fact, massive clickbait on my part, because how could I possibly know if that would have indeed been my fate if anything had gone differently?

A few days after the incident, a news story broke: In several towns in my area— including the one that I was in that night — there were reports of a group of men targeting women in supermarket parking lots, where one of them would approach her and ask for help, and then they were abducted and raped. One of them managed to get away before they could kill her.

Always remember to lock your door, kids.

[mpdtechnologyblog]

Should Digital Transformation Still be Your Goal for 2021? 

If you're reading this, you've survived your in-laws, cousins, holiday parties, and New Year's celebrations. Congrats!! You're officially out of 2020 and into a brand new year. As business leaders roll up their sleeves and get back to work, many face critical challenges and realizations. One of those is the topic of digital transformation. Digital transformation discussions were all the rage - especially by marketers - a couple of years ago and before we knew anything about COVID-19. The exciting thing is we see the topic emerging with a renewed sense of urgency. A new survey finds that responses to COVID-19 have actually sped the adoption of digital technologies by several years - and that many of these changes could be here for the long haul. IT projects are also projected to grow by 40%, and 82% of businesses are now holding their IT teams accountable to more strategic objectives. 

Take that, COVID! Digital transformation is happening anyway

These changing attitudes mean that companies need to continue to move forward with their digital transformation plans. But how? What do you need to know? Staying competitive requires businesses to find new strategies and practices that recognize IT's strategic importance. Let's dive into some significant trends emerging in 2021 and what you can do to put these ideas to work in your organization. 

Organizational changes are huge influencers - Nearly every industry has gone digital in 2020. Even those in the retail sector who are intimately familiar with online and mobile channels had to ramp up their online presence and improve their support channels and delivery options. This rapid shift toward interacting with customers through digital media is here to stay. One survey shows that business leaders are 3X more likely than before the crisis to say that at least 80 percent of their customer interactions are digital. For many companies, this rapid transition means beefing up digital or digitally-enhanced offerings. Examples might include telehealth appointments offered by doctors, virtual social events, or live streaming exercise classes - the possibilities are endless. Because consumers are shifting to online and digital solutions for everything from working out to receiving food and services, companies must continue developing a dynamic mix of digital products and services. 

Connecting with audiences using digital channels - As we highlighted above, to stay competitive, companies need to find ways to connect with customers beyond in-store or face-to-face interactions. Organizations need to get creative to connect and communicate with current and potential customers using digital channels. For example, a retailer might set up a 'digital pop-up experience' that allows customers to ask stylists' questions, take a personality quiz, or receive a personalized consultation from a company representative. How-to videos, Livestream sessions, and promotional videos can also drive excitement about their new offerings. This same type of digital storytelling and brand strategy might also work for a brewery, for example. Why not host a regional digital beer-tasting event, for instance? For the occasion, customers can sign up for the beers they want, which they can pick up. Then, the 'digital tasting' event can be a Livestream where brewers explain each beer's inspiration. The brewer can offer attendees options to chat with other participants. Taking this digital-first approach can enable any business to excel in our new world. Investing in the right technology partner can be a cost-effective alternative to building these technology capabilities in house. Skilled, MSPs or other partners can also support cloud-based technologies, develop custom services, or even recommend new streamlined processes.

Duh, it's the cloud! For big businesses and SMBs alike, the key to survival during and after the pandemic is all about revamping IT infrastructures to pursue innovative new business models. To support digitization, companies should continue to embrace the cloud, mostly public and hybrid cloud models. A cloud computing model is attractive because it can reduce server costs, add resilience, and gives companies the ability to increase capacity on an on-demand basis. Elastic capacity expansion and the ability to set up automatic downgrades and upgrades based on traffic volume are huge differentiators. Greater reliance on cloud technologies also helps companies deliver new and improved features faster and provide a smoother customer experience. A cloud computing model can also help organizations offer greater service availability. Cloud computing and intelligent business analytics available from providers also delivers the insight needed to embrace these digital channels. For instance, to grow revenue within digital channels, customers may need to invest in digital marketing, increase their SEO programs, build out their mobile offerings, or expand their omnichannel customer service functions. Making these moves now requires a resilient, secure, and robust infrastructure. What's the best way to meet these infrastructure demands quickly and cost-effectively? You guessed it! Cloud computing. 

Do you have questions about your digital transformation journey? Need a trusted advisor to make some recommendations or bounce ideas off? Call or email us! At MPD Tek, we have a program that assesses your digital business readiness and gets you on a plan for success. Bring on 2021!

[opticien2-0]

Four ways to boost brand engagement

Graze chief executive Anthony Fletcher

Retailers that take the time to strike up and engage in conversations with existing and potential customers stand out in the IRUK Top500 Brand Engagement Report 2019. For by providing information or inspiration that’s of real value to the people considering buying their products, these traders make it that bit more likely that shoppers will buy. Here, Chloe Rigby outlines three highly-practical approaches that leading retailers are taking as they find new ways to open conversations with customers.

  1. Give shoppers good reasons to sign-up

New retail models are evolving as brands sign shoppers up to regular deliveries though subscriptions. Graze, with its through-the-door healthy snack boxes, was one of the early entrants to a market that Royal Mail now says will be worth £1bn a year by 2022. It’s now been bought by Unilever which hopes to learn more about the model and how it could work for its other brands. The model has successfully been applied to beauty, by Birchbox, while Pets at Home started by offering a regular flea powder subscription for dog and cat owners and is now expanding that to other treatments. Last year the pet supplies retailer said that subscription helped it to drive 75% growth in omnichannel revenues. Shoppers who signed up to join its VIP Puppy Club got inventives including a month’s free flea treatment subscription and a free vet nurse check – and spent 25% more on its goods and services as a result.

  Meanwhile, more people are signing up to delivery subscription schemes that include free next-day delivery and returns for a set annual fee. Shoppers benefit because they have the certainty of free fulfilment once the initial fee is paid, while retailers benefit as shoppers keep coming back to buy for just that reason. The IMRG UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2018/2019 found that 46% of respondents were members of a delivery loyalty scheme in 2018, up from 29.7% in 2017.

  2. The role of the store in brand awareness…

Around 18% of retail sales currently take place online – leaving around 80% that takes place in store. The store plays an important part in offering shoppers the convenience of buying and taking away immediately, or of picking up an online order. But just as important, it’s a reminder to shoppers of what the retailer represents. Established multichannel retailers such as Boots and Marks & Spencer continue to have a presence on high streets and in shopping centres across the UK, while for emerging retailers such as Quiz, stores play an important awareness-raising part in their expansion.

  Pop-up stores from online players including eBay and Etsy have played an important role in raising brand awareness, while giving shoppers the chance to experience the brand in a more immediate way. Other online retailers have opened up within larger department stores. Swoon Editions, for example, has showcased its furniture within branches of Debenhams to good effect.

  3. …and in brand experiences

Bringing events into store helps to create communities that are still more social, in a place where it’s easy to then go on to buy. By hosting events, retailers put their name front of mind when shoppers need to buy a product. Thus Lululemon hosts yoga classes, Rough Trade has in-store gigs, Waterstones frequently hosts talks from authors, and John Lewis holds a range of workshops to share best approaches to a number of tasks.

  4. Use content alongside commerce

Retailers that provide editorial-style content on their transactional websites go a long way to give shoppers context. By suggesting how the items they sell might fit into readers’ lives, they can inspire, explain, and show through the deft use of lifestyle imagery how products might be used in practice.

  Marks & Spencer offers advice through its Style & Living section, where recent features focused on outfits for a children’s playdate, wearing more colour, a 2019 approach to the midi skirt, and bringing spring into the home. Editorial pieces feature links to shop the look or a sign-up to a daily newsletters. The Burberry site, meanwhile, takes an image-led approach to features on areas from gift suggestions through to, recently, a collection that marked the Chinese New Year.

By providing more actively engaging content, retailers keep shoppers’ attention and boost the changes of them returning to their website to read and discover more.

  This feature first appeared in the IRUK Top500 Brand Engagement 2019 report. Click here to explore that report in full, and here to explore the Top500 series of reports.

  Image courtesy of Graze

from InternetRetailing https://ift.tt/2KAylUM via IFTTT

[elliottwkzs774-blog]

A Beginner's Guide To Entertainment

There are a couple things to consider prior to hiring a ring. Then search for another one if it refuses to play tunes that you would like. Therefore, if you would like your mobile to work with a number of bands, you have to have multi band mobiles.

You need to find out the type of singer and ring that you desire. Many singers find other types of singing jobs to permit a money to be earned by them. It's vitally important they can find the job done well with singers without sight read and the should rehearse, but many session singers simply work. Selecting a singer for your wedding can frequently be an intimidating experience.

14 Cartoons About Entertainment That'll Brighten Your Day

The song was an effort to ease her grief. In reality, his tunes sell steadily all around the globe. The song is intended to celebrate peoples diferences. You also need to be sure that the band plays music that you desire.

The planning which went to the terrorist plot was a fantastic deal of years. The music company can be a barbarous and hard spot for artists coping with capitalism. It's very glamorous to have a whole singing occupation, and they're able to provide pay that they are wanted by so many singers.

Read through our whole inventory of concert tickets that are pop discover the event you're interested in below. We've got tickets in any tier to be sure you get to do all you want on your travels if you are watching out for a more casual event! Postponed or rescheduled events won't be refunded. Highlight why you feel incident or a specific event will stay important to you.

You know the show was great. The series is certain to have you singing together with a few of the very best Bee Gees hits and dancing. You may discover it if you're attempting to find a tribute series. Just take a peek at the series was left by you in the initial site. Very near the Michael The show was a good one it was along with the performances were cool! Seeing a series is a critical part of the Vegas experience. You have to look at what you've made, if you're generating that show or TV Shows which have flopped.

A souvenir color booklet is incorporated by tickets for the first five rows. Your tickets weren't valid for entrance. Buying tickets for dinner and a series is an excellent way to spend a night in Vegas, and there are a great deal of shows to select from.

There are. It can be soothing to the body and mind. Besides the aforementioned, it can also be used for instructional purposes. Among the things for individuals is their entertainment.

Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies . It's not confined to dance and tune numbers. It may be seen as a business. A good method to receive entertainment that is free would be to pay a visit to the library and locate a film or a book.

Think You're Cut Out For Doing Wedding Singers? Take This Quiz

As the corporation will design variety of things that vary to other materials as well as invitations, you've got to supply appropriate info and your organization logo. Needless to say, not every business is able to be this avant-garde in their promotions. There are.

You are able to use music at your backyard or your house. If you are among the lucky individuals who want to know more and grow deeper into your favourite kind of music we're likely to get to have a path that is different. The fundamentals would like to be powerful since it's a kind of music in which a guitarist should play on scales and chords. Along with a lot of practice, you may be playing with a few music that is smoothjazz and quick.

If a ring doesn't have video and audio samples to their site or worse, don't have a site that raises red flags. You wish to amuse your visitors although Obviously you are likely to want to have a band that may play with a number of your songs and artists. It may indicate a fantastic deal although to is only a part of this. you might decide to initiate a fashion ring rings are rather popular! Any expert wedding ring that is great ought to have a site with video and audio.

You might never consider music after you have been exposed to the Ukes' musicology. The penalties can be a lot worse, if you trade songs either in individual or online. It is about to go and I want to think that the music I write is classic, so I want to believe it could be released by me at anytime. You don't want to be told you can just play real-time music until 6 pm as soon as you have paid their deposit to the ring.

PERFECT TIMING It can be challenging exercising as soon as you're considering getting the ring to begin and the period of time you would like them to perform for. A thing for our tribute group is the character of their promotional material. There are numerous more tribute bands out there competing for the same audience than there was so ensure your tribute group is the one that gets remembered for putting on an excellent show. Look at the gig listings and odds are you will discover as singers and many tribute bands since there are actions.

Tribute Acts: What No One Is Talking About

Your favourite recording artist likely employs a singing sound near their voice. So music is still one. D'Agostino's songs can be bought on his site or downloaded from online retailers.

In the event the celebrity has lots of info they'd like you to share with the audience, either have a little bit of paper out on stage alongside you or memorize it. The operation creates. Classic performances take the event's nature to a different level.

The procedure for growing out your hair depends on your intended length. Can you discuss the methods technology is shifting the experience of visiting the health care provider. The focus at this time is currently obtaining a couple new songs up to rate.

Unique portions of your hair will grow out at distinct rates. You're going to be in a position to hold up this in various ways if your hair is long enough. Brushing your hair gets significant. Based on how quickly your hair dries up, every two to three times you might be shampooing and conditioning your hair. As a hair which you don't wash!

Once they get to the phase their hair cuts. Your hair will get in the way and could wind up in your food! Long hair that is growing isn't for everybody.

Tribute acts have turned into a audio genre all their own. They aren't always welcomed after. The tribute act was conducted all over the nation and features two sets of the finest hits of Cole.

Every band have their own stipulations that customers must comply to appreciate their specialist services. A factor for our tribute band is the character of their promotional material. Bands begin they need to have the ability to play with instruments to start with. Beatles tribute band are popular among residents due to their electrifying concerts. Take a look at our catalog to discover the very best choice for your event if you're searching for the perfect Beatles Tribute Band for a wedding in Liverpool.

The instant that you understand exactly which sort of songs you desire in your wedding, then you're all set to have a band. It's documented that those tunes can be extremely rewarding. It is not simply the music which makes the group one of the Beatles tribute acts in Las Vegas. In addition, the ring may be a tribute act in the area where they play music from your band that is favorite. The majority of the instances, the band that is cheapest might not be the alternative. Having a site or a media site characterises the music band that is ideal.

In lots of ways, the genre has transformed into a joke. Jazz isn't dead. This music turned into a type of treatment in the center of experience. In other that are posting this audio and the case like mine, it's not for monetary gain or material. Everybody has that song. This album has to be categorized and a myth has to be dispelled.

The Ugly Truth About Elton John Tribute

There is no clearer singer, for instance. Although many session singers just work it's extremely important they can find the job done nicely with various singers without sight read and the should rehearse. Singers find other types of singing jobs to allow them to make a small money. There continue to be musicians which are still recording in their prior age. When you meet with people that are such geniuses iconic and they're really fine and normal, it's so inspiring.

The competition is quite powerful. Also, it's an attempt at attempting to mimic the manner music of various genres, to their listeners, are being introduced moreover jazz. It's very glamorous to have a singing occupation that is whole, and they're able to provide high pay that's the reason why they are wanted by so many singers. A house is more than a home. Heating up the dance floor at one of clubs is always a choice that is enjoyable, if you're searching for a enjoyable night out. The mood is somewhat depressing by means of the following along with this track.

When you look back following your marriage it becomes memories you are able to laugh for several years! It is important to enquire from individuals people who have organised weddings earlier. You might want to make sure that everybody is happy and entertained at your wedding . At the same moment, there are several which are well known for playing in weddings. Arranging a marriage on a budget that is tiny today can be a really daunting job to perform on the component of the newly engaged couple.

You don't wish to go if it's to do with obtaining the wedding singer ripped off. You might want to be certain you are currently interviewing the wedding singer to make sure that you're getting what you purchase. So the outcome is extremely professional, many wedding singers provide excellent high quality backing tracks and sound systems and a band won't be overlooked.

Wedding is the most unique day in the life of a woman and boy that are likely to begin a new life together. At length, constantly schedule a interview with the person. Without having to spend a lot on the expensive stuff you may have a wedding.

From the finish of the book you are likely to be playing some songs. You might want some tunes about love to supply the background audio, particularly if you are celebrating Valentines Day in your home. It's a fact if it's written that a song that is fantastic won't ever find old. Father daughter wedding songs are more important than you might imagine. You may locate the listing if you want to choose music for a coming wedding.

The concert will happen until the Pasadena Civic Auditorium about the plaza.

It is not straightforward to categorize the things that they do as a tribute'. Among the distinctive and original tribute indicates that has survived the test of time.

A person may receive a wide collection of premium tickets. Perhaps the tickets to listen to the artist that is authentic are too pricey. A souvenir color booklet is incorporated by tickets for the initial five rows.

Nobody under 18 decades old is permitted. The easiest way to celebrate some special occasion or Christmas Day would be to produce dinner reservations in a charming restaurant. Day of show could be accessible. Do not neglect to take pictures, if you find yourself with a romantic day planned with the man who you love! All you need to do is be sure you have got security and crew that is able to produce your platform light up like never before and keep everybody who comes safe. Any moment you are feeling lonely, despair anger or resentment, all you need to do is consider the superb love that imagined you. You can be confident that you are not likely to have a minute's peace till you've taken your children to discover the movie.

A Cover Band Success Story You'll Never Believe

Have them perform,, if you're likely to employ a ring and find out whether it fits your motif. You can want to use a ring that plays with audio that is more relaxing, so as to heat the atmosphere up. A band with Pilipino style might be a superior alternative.

Should you would like to know how to advertise your group and raise your probability of obtaining a record deal ( quickly and cheaply), here are a few do-it-yourself ideas which will help get you started. A High School Dance Band it is possible to choose to employ a band but that will be a little more costly. You want to employ a chamber or ring orchestra.

There are a couple of things before hiring a ring to remember. If it refuses to play with tunes which you want then look for another one. Based on what exactly the bands offer, you might discover that the bands are the greater value.

Be certain they understand how to perform your songs if you decide to employ a band. You might need to employ a band that specializes in that type of music. Rings are eager to accommodate requests.

[asfeedin]

How to Segment Your Email List Using Quiz Funnels

We’re continually making snap judgments about other people. For better or worse, human beings can’t help but divide everyone they meet into some group or another. This might be based on how they speak, dress, act, etc.

These impressions then affect how we interact with people in all sorts of different ways. It determines what you talk about, and if you’re a salesperson, what product or service you sell, and how you sell it.

In the online world, this is a little trickier.

First of all, we don’t often see or hear our customers. Sure, companies like Facebook collect millions of data points on their users, but it doesn’t feel straightforward to segment your audience as a regular company. Yet, to get the best ROI from your email list, you need to do this.

With this in mind, today, I want to walk you through how to use quiz funnels to segment your email list and boost sales.

What is a quiz funnel?

As you know already, a funnel is a way of visualizing the sales process. It’s a series of steps you guide your leads through to make a conversion, whether that means making a purchase or opting in for blog updates.

A quiz funnel is a specific kind of funnel. As the name suggests, it involves using quizzes.

Much like a good story, a quiz funnel has three parts;

Lure customers in with an interesting quiz

Gather crucial information through a series of multiple-choice questions

Use their answers to place them in the right segment

You can use this strategy to get people on your email list or segment people already on your list. What’s effective about this approach is that you can send targeted and relevant emails to your subscribers. This takes a lot of the work out of warming up your leads.

Who should use a quiz funnel?

At the risk of being blunt, just about any business could take this approach to email segmentation. That is, anyone who wants to increase sales or streamline their email marketing process stands to benefit.

If you run a podcast, you can use it to recommend episodes to subscribers. More likely, though, you will use it to recommend products to buy, or articles to read.

That’s why you’ll see all sorts of brands utilizing quiz funnels. Warby Parker, the online eyewear retailer, offers a quiz on their homepage to help leads find their perfect glasses.

Home Depot does the same thing with their slightly surreal ‘What type of griller are you?’ quiz.

Each of these examples uses between five and ten questions to segment users before their email address is collected. These segments then receive different email drip campaigns based on this.

This type of segmentation has two core benefits;

You can send people content that interests them

You can generate more sales per subscriber

Enough on why you’d want to use a quiz funnel to segment your email list. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and see how to use one of this year’s top-rated marketing tactics.

How to design quiz questions

Your starting point here is how you want to divide people up. For example, GetResponse’s segments might divide leads into people who want to create more attractive emails and people who want to automate more of their marketing process.

Equally, it would be useful to separate the experience of email marketers from the non-specialists.

The key here is to have an idea of your ideal customer personas, and what their most significant pain points/ needs are. This forms the core of the audience segments you’ll create, which can then be amended with demographic information, like age or location, to fine-tune your messaging.

Once you have an idea of how you’d like to divide your audience, it’s time to start selecting questions. As we saw in the examples earlier, a good rule of thumb is between five and ten questions. This will get the insights you need, without boring your leads or causing them to give up.

Practically speaking, your quiz questions fall into four categories.

1. Background questions

These are aimed at gathering general information. An example might be, do you currently have a full-time job?

Through getting to know your audience, you can better engage with them based on the problems they face or the solutions they want. For example, you might talk about how your product can help job seekers.

2. Problem questions

A problem question helps you to figure out how you can help your leads. As such, these are arguably the most important. For GetResponse, an example might be How would you like to improve your current email marketing?

They could then be offered the following responses:

I’d like more professional looking email templates

I’d like to increase my online sales

I want to save time managing my email list.

Problem questions are crucial for both coming up with the right messaging and promoting the right products.

3. Budget questions

You use budget questions to figure out if a customer can afford your products or services, and if so, which ones. This can be as direct as asking how much they’re willing to spend.

However, you may wish to be less direct. For example, a marketing agency might ask respondents who manages their social media presence. You can then infer their budget based on whether they do this in-house, or if it’s an agency.

4. Goal questions

One of the most important parts of email marketing is understanding what your leads would like to achieve. Again, this is crucial for nailing down compelling messaging. A general example could be something like, where do you see your business in five years?

This helps you to work out the lead’s priorities, whether this is higher growth, entering new markets, or something else entirely.

Structuring your quiz

So we have four kinds of questions, and we know that the quiz should be between 5-10 questions. When it comes to structuring your quiz, you’ll want to shake things up a bit to keep your customers from getting bored.

As a rule of thumb, this means it’s best to alternate between the different kinds of questions. It’s also better to put simpler background questions at the beginning of your quiz before you move on to the big picture stuff with the goal and problem questions.

This takes a bit of trial and error. You can track how you’re doing by measuring the relevant key performance indicators (conversion rate, click-through rate, or sales).

How to set up a quiz funnel in GetResponse

Now that you know the theory behind creating an effective quiz to segment your email list, it’s time to look at the practical side of things. One of the best tools for creating your quiz with GetResponse is LeadQuizzes.

To create any type of funnel in GetResponse, try Conversion Funnel, the ultimate marketing & lead funnel machine, all in one account.

To hook this up with your GetResponse account, you’ll also need to use Zapier. This is a free service that you can use to hook up all of the different apps you use so they can communicate with each other.

Connecting GetResponse with other apps through Zapier is really easy.

Once you’ve set up your Zapier account, head over to the My Apps tab, and connect your GetResponse and Lead Quizzes accounts. Type in the name of the app you’d like to connect, like so:

You’ll be met with this pop-up, asking for your GetResponse API key. You can retrieve this in GetResponse, under Profile>Integrations & API.

Next, repeat the same process to connect Lead Quizzes to your Zapier account.

Once you’ve done this, you want to create what’s known as a Zap. In essence, this is an instruction that if something happens in one app, Zapier should trigger an action in another app.

In our case, when someone completes a quiz in Lead Quizzes, we want their answers to be picked up by GetResponse. Head over to My Zaps and click Make a New Zap.

Configure your event as a new response in Lead Quizzes.

Then, set the reaction to create a new contact within a certain segment in GetResponse.

How to segment your email list using quiz funnels

The idea behind quiz funnels is that you can reap the benefits of segmentation from the moment you collect an email address, or for people already on your list. This will help you generate more sales and more effectively engage your list.

To create a good quiz funnel, the questions you ask need to segment your audience based on their pain points. This involves asking a small number of thoughtful questions to bucket them into groups. You can then market these groups by offering a solution to the problems they face. This could be in the form of content, a product, a service, etc.

To create a quiz that connects with a funnel in GetResponse, I recommend using Lead Quizzes. You can connect GetResponse and Lead Quizzes with Zapier.

Now you understand the theory; you can create a quiz funnel for yourself. Best of luck!

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Tags: Email, Funnels, List, Quiz, Segment

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Website Builder Comparison: Which Website Builder is Best?

Whenever you want to set a model new net perform with out the anguish of coding or going via a developer, an net perform builder are a massive decision.

Internet perform builders embody simple to make ship of elements equal to customizable templates and dart-and-plunge yelp materials blocks to derive designing and launching your net perform quickly.

At the present time, I’ll stroll you via an net perform builder comparability to help you fetch the fetch perform introduction platform that may work most arresting in your perform. I’ll watch particularly at these six net perform builders:

wix

Weebly

Squarespace

SiteBuilder

GoDaddy Internet perform Builder

SITE123

Internet perform Builder Comparability Chart

Prior to diving into the actual elements of various net perform builders, let’s clutch a come across at how every of those six net perform builders stacks up in an net perform builder comparability chart:

wix SITE123 Squarespace SiteBuilder Weebly GoDaddy Internet perform Builder Recognition 109 million web sites 1 million web sites 40 million web sites 16 million web sites Ease of Make use of 5/5 5/5 4/5 4/5 4.5/5 3/5 Customization 4.5/5 4.5/5 3/5 4/5 5/5 4/5 Themes ~ 500 ~ 400 250 > 50 15 Cell Editor ✓ X X X ✓ X App Integration ✓ X X X X X Starting Label per Month (Total Plan) Free Free $12 $7.68 Free $5.99 Starting Label per Month (E-commerce) $20 $10.80 $26 $18.45 $12 $19.99

As that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood gape, wix is the most well-liked net perform builder on this guidelines with further than 100 million web sites beneath its belt. However there are numerous different elements which now we salvage to look at into.

With that overview in thoughts, let’s clutch a nearer watch at every service to further completely evaluate net perform builders.

1. wix

Urged for: people who price ease of ship.

Label from: Free

wix is the most well-liked net perform builder by far, aged by over 100 million web sites. The primary motive wix enjoys such recognition is that it is vitally user-sufficient and allows you to derive your net perform up and operating in solely a couple of hours.

To derive your net perform began, wix affords over 500 themes that might additionally furthermore be further custom-made everytime you start constructing your perform. There are an infinite variety of yelp materials blocks, any of which can per likelihood per likelihood additionally furthermore be added to your perform and moved round attributable to tug-and-plunge performance. Every time that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood like further elements, wix furthermore affords an app retailer the construct that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood get free plugins.

Plus, all wix net perform templates level out that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood hasty and easily start a weblog web page.

Elaborate, although, that the weblog isn’t moderately as customizable as with devoted running a blog platforms. You possibly can per likelihood salvage to blueprint end from understanding to be probably the most presets and shuffle together with it.

wix affords a free net perform chance, which is gigantic for getting your perform off the flooring sooner than committing to a paid conception. Then once more, free web sites present a restricted type of themes and might completely ship ‘.wixsite.com’ area. Paid plans start at $11 monthly with out e-commerce or $20 monthly for on-line outlets.

2. SITE123

Urged for: these taking a come across for an excellent eCommerce decision.

Label from: Free

SITE123 excels by the utilization of e-commerce web sites. That’s attributable to a devoted half within the platform’s on-line documentation and templates which can be designed to with out anguish adapt to the performance wished to rework firm.

On excessive of that, SITE123’s dart-and-plunge interface doesn’t cease at yelp materials blocks. It’s best to have the selection to furthermore dart-and-plunge pages to re-sing them and to customize the watch and really feel of your theme. There’s even a cell editor if you happen to occur to salvage to modify your perform on the shuffle.

Even an explicit explicit particular person with out a sAMPle skills (or sense of make) could per likelihood per likelihood derive a mental searching net perform in minutes.

Seemingly the most important advantage of SITE123 is its extraordinarily AMPle pricing. It’s best to have the selection to set a free net perform, albeit with out your maintain area. Alternatively, ‘High price’ plans price appropriate $10.80 monthly and embody e-commerce and a free area.

3. Squarespace

Urged for: clients who point of interest on make.

Label from: $12/month

Squarespace is a make-oriented net perform builder catered in path of artistic experts. All of their themes are supposed to give your net perform a manicured watch and really feel. Plus, you derive limitless yelp materials storage construct with all plans to host photographs, films, tune, and additional.

In distinction to most different perform builders, Squarespace opts for high quality over amount by the utilization of themes. There are fewer than 100 themes, however every of them is fantastically crafted and affords a needed wider differ of customization alternate options than for every other net perform builder.

Then once more, your modifying alternate options can be moderately restricted. Squarespace put a reputation of understanding within the templates – and so they furthermore offer you restrict as to how needed that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood atomize them.

Yet one more revenue to Squarespace is that every net perform comes with 24/7 email correspondence improve and a wealth of on-line documentation. So, that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood be certain if you happen to occur to could per likelihood per likelihood salvage a quiz about your net perform, it is going to be answered inside a couple of hours on the most.

The primary blueprint again to Squarespace is its designate. Plans start at $12 monthly for a total net perform, or at $26 monthly for an on-line retailer. There’s no free chance for the ship of Squarespace, although there could per likelihood be a 14-day trial.

4. SiteBuilder

Urged for: clients preferring an infinite variety of net perform templates.

Label from: $7.68/month

SiteBuilder is a really-featured net perform builder that capabilities the whole lot you salvage to derive began with a total net perform, on-line retailer, or weblog. The platform affords further than 250 templates, giving it the widest variety out of any net perform builder in my comparability other than for the GoDaddy Internet perform Builder. Clearly, all of those templates could per likelihood per likelihood additionally furthermore be totally custom-made to help your net perform pop.

The dart-and-plunge editor in SiteBuilder is extraordinarily simple to make ship of, although this alone doesn’t allow the platform to face out from the group. What does house it aside, although, is an built-in analytics suite that makes it simple to hint how firm are transferring via your net perform.

SiteBuilder’s pricing is extremely aggressive attributable to a 50% low cost throughout your first one 12 months. With out the great buy, plans start at appropriate $7.68 monthly or $18.45 monthly for an e-commerce perform. All plans furthermore embody a free area title as a bonus.

5. Weebly

Urged for: clients who want to with out anguish edit the make and yelp materials on the identical time.

Label from: Free

Weebly fastidiously resembles wix, on the constructing/customization skills is appropriate as regular – if not higher. The interactive net perform builder offers you derive entry to to yelp materials blocks and customization alternate options all in the identical house, so there’s no salvage to leap via menus to swap the looks of yelp materials as you generate it.

This net perform builder furthermore affords a great deal of hundred templates, a lot of which can also be catered in path of e-commerce web sites. For on-line sellers, the e-commerce interface is modest to make ship of and regulate. The primary blueprint again is that e-commerce plans are significantly expensive, beginning up at $25 monthly if you happen to occur to don’t want to pay fee in your transactions.

The alternative blueprint again to Weebly is that there are few alternate options for conserving concerned alongside along with your clients via your net perform. It’s best to have the selection to ship emails via GSuite, however Weebly will price $5 per email correspondence for the service.

6. GoDaddy Internet perform Builder

Urged for: clients who want to assemble a scalable e-commerce net perform.

Label from: $5.99/month

GoDaddy is most arresting recognized for its area title registration and cyber net webhosting services and products, however the agency furthermore affords a extremely purposeful net perform builder. This platform is nice of cyber net webhosting each total web sites or e-commerce outlets.

A predominant advantage of GoDaddy’s net perform builder is its flexibility, particularly for on-line product sales. There are a great deal of eCommerce plans, beginning up at $19.99 monthly, that time out that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood pay roughly depending on the forms of price concepts you want to make ship of. There’s furthermore a useful scheduling perform that allows you to invoice purchasers for the time via your net perform.

The blueprint again to GoDaddy is that the fetch perform builder’s interface isn’t moderately as intuitive as most of the totally different net perform builders in my comparability. The dart-and-plunge is clunky and requires going via a great deal of menus to fetch the yelp materials or customization alternate options that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood like.

Determine The Internet perform Builder That’s Most arresting For You

By choosing an net perform builder, it’s simple to spy why wix is the most well-liked chance. It affords low cost pricing, further than 500 themes to blueprint end from, an app retailer, and a particularly simple to make ship of dart-and-plunge interface.

Every time that you just simply could per likelihood per likelihood like further themes to blueprint end from, GoDaddy and SITE123 each present an infinite expanse of themes to derive your net perform began.

On the totally different cease of the spectrum, Squarespace affords few themes, however every is fastidiously crafted and appears totally dazzling.

Did this net perform builder comparability help you salvage out an net perform builder to set your perform? Or is there one thing else you’ll prefer to fetch out? Let me know within the suggestions beneath!

The publish Internet perform Builder Comparability: Which Internet perform Builder is Most arresting? appeared first on Internet Cyber webhosting Experiences by Correct Purchasers and Internet Cyber webhosting Specialists.

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[alwaystrustinbooks]

I saw this post on Secret Library Book Blog who had seen it on Espresso Coco. I liked the idea and so I found myself giving it a go! The A-Z of me could go any way so just be warned! I like sharing bits about my life but this will probably end up being more of an A-Z of the blogger side of myself. It will be a decent mixture at best but for those who are looking for bookish goodness then there will be plenty I promise. This is going to be quite a long post as I am going for all 26 in one go so get comfy! For those who don’t know much about me (Stuart) or Always Trust In Books, I welcome you to my slice of the book blogging world. I hope you enjoy the post and please share something about yourself in the comments to help me get to know you better!

A Is For Always (Trust In Books)

My blog is an unexpected avenue in my life that I have come to adore. Three years ago I had no idea what blogs/bloggers were really about and the challenges/rewards that awaited me. I set my eye on reviewing upcoming releases and promoting indie writers and the rest is history. ATIB isn’t the biggest, most popular or most exciting blog out there but it is genuine, honest and passionate about books.

B Is For Books…

Predictable I know but it’s true. Books are everything to me and always will be. Growing up in ‘not the best of scenarios’ made books a most satisfying escape from reality. I have been innately obsessed with books from the get go. Picking up elaborate and impressive looking tomes from the second I could lift them. Yes my nan and Harry Potter built the foundations of my love for books but it evolved so fast from there. I couldn’t imagine a world without books…

C Is For Christopher (Brookmyre)

It is this gentleman that was one of two authors (spoiler: the other is Joanne M. Harris) that influenced the creation of this blog. I was so impressed at his styles of writing that I sought out a platform to discuss it with other readers. From there it was just a small hop to becoming a book blogger and having the opportunity to review CB’s most recent novels. Good times.

D Is For Diversity

I read so many different genres of book. It is hard to put a finger on what genres define my blog but I would settle on SFF and Non-Fiction. I read everything though. I can jump from thriller to romance to horror to fantasy to Non Fiction. I think I read this way to avoid it getting stale or preventing the dreaded ‘book slump’. I am like this in every area of my life though. I hate fitting into one category. I love gaming, gardening and going to the gym. I wonder if I will ever just settle into one groove :D.

E Is For Etymology

Image from LanguageByLaura

I have always loved words and their meanings. But it was not until I came across the workings of Mark Forsyth that I really got into Etymology (the study of the origin of words). Mark’s work is fascinating, especially his history of drunkenness) and now I am able to completely lose myself in the origins of works and how they came to be. What a dork!

F Is For Freddie

Yes I am including my children in this post! Freddie is my hero and he never fails to make my day. Funnily enough he loves books too but even he thinks I have too many! I hope he reads as much as I do even in a techno-saturated existence. I can only dream!

G Is For Gaming

If I am not working, familying (not a word be should be), reading, cleaning, tidying, shopping, planning, eating, sleeping or exercising, I am gaming. It was another escape for me in youth and I never actually grew out of it. I actually own a PS4 and a XBOX ONE because I am that much of a dork. I know most people roll their eyes at the idea of playing games but as the quality and range of the technology has matured, they have become an almost exquisite style of story telling. Just take Red Dead Redemption 2 for example. That narrative is just as superb as anything I have ever read in a book. Top marks.

H Is For Hunting (Books)

Looking for a complete set of books is incredibly satisfying. I have recently finished my John Grisham collection. I am now moving my sights to an Agatha Christie set. Wish me luck!

I Is For Inspiration

Book blogging can be hard to figure out at the very beginning for many reasons. It takes time to craft a website, think up content ideas, make bookish contacts, nurture a blogging voice that represents your passions and much more. Finding inspiration at the early stages helped me to shape my blog so I just wanted to say thanks to Bibliophile Book Club, The Tattooed Book Geek, Keeper Of Pages, Swirl and Thread, Bibliobeth, Where Is My Mind?, Lovedreadingthis and Novel Delights (to name just a few) for your epicness.

J Is For Joanne (M. Harris)

I did warn you! Where to start? JHM is one of my heroes. Her mythology writings are so addictive that I started ATIB as a way to talk about it freely and endlessly. I have not stopped since. If you have never picked up a book by J. M. Harris then you need to drop what you are doing and get started. I recommend The Gospel Of Loki, Runemarks and The Blue Salt Road to start off with.

K Is For Kings Of The Wyld

Anyone who knows this blog will recognise this as my another of my endless attempts to include Nicholas Eames’ Kings Of The Wyld in a post. Anyone who is new to this blog, read Kings Of The Wyld. It is beyond amazing and it is probably the book I would take in the old ‘Desert Island’ scenario. It is fantasy in its prime, handing over the torch from the old guard to the new. Quality stuff.

L Is For Linkin Park

These guys are my idols. They taught me to be loud, creative, different and to love music. The passing of Chester was one of bleakest times for me in recent years and I still listen to his lyrics obsessively, taking his meaning to heart. Mike Shinoda is another superb musician who influenced my creativity growing up. Mike loves words even more than I do and he puts them to good use.

M Is For Movies

We love those movies. Now I am not going to list my favourite actors or movies as this post is way too long already. Films for me are a tricky thing because I am still not quite sure what makes a perfect movie for me. I love movies like The Pianist and The King’s Speech but I also enjoyed movies like Beerfest and Hot Rod. I have watched movies that have been ruined in one tiny moment and movies that have bored me until the last second. It is a mystery but like most things in my life, I like different choices!

N Is For Nature

I grew up in the middle of nowhere. A village that was an hour and a half from my school by bus. I loved it. So green. So fresh and lots of places to explore or get lost in. When I moved into the city, it was a bit drab to say the least. When we moved to my current home, it was like a breath of fresh air (pun intended). The perfect balance of green and town. Nature cheers me up!

O Is For Obsessiveness

When it comes to books, obsessiveness is pretty apt. Whether it be the amount of books I actually have or how I arrange them in my house or how I go about reviewing the books I read. If you have read one of my reviews then you will probably agree that they are too long but I do really worry that I haven’t included something so that is why they ramble on. Will the world end if I don’t keep my paperbacks and hardbacks separate? Probably not but let’s not take that risk.

P Is For Paternal

Being a dad is beyond important to me. Having kids is hard, messy, loud, sleepy and expensive but all the laughs, cuddles, legendary/mind-blowing moments and unconditional love makes it all worth it. I know… ‘wait till they grow up’… I am going to be so gutted when my boys are embarrassed of me :(.

Q Is For Quizzes

My grandfather used to put together these Christmas quizzes every year for as long as I can remember and now I can’t resist a good quiz. Me and my wife share a love of games of all varieties and one thing we bonded over was quiz night. That and charades. We love the charades.

R Is For Restaurants

Before I worked at my current job working with survival equipment, I was a waiter. Before that I was in retail but working in a restaurant/bar felt like my first real job. I know people who hate working restaurants and clubs but I loved it. Running around, the people, the music and the bonds you have with other staff. It can be surprisingly satisfying.

S Is For Short Stories

I wish I was a writer. I have so many ideas for short stories that I think would be awesome. I don’t think I have the patience to write a novel in its entirety but I would love to put a story to paper to see if I could surprise myself. I do have a story that has been digging itself into the fibres of my brain and pops up daily to remind me of its existence. I just don’t believe I am the one to write the story. Short Stories are my number one favourite styles of writing so I would be honoured if I could contribute to the cause. I will just put a pin in that I think.

T Is For Tobias

Yes! More offspring! Tobias looks exactly like his mother in every way. He gives his brother a run for his money even though he is 3 years younger. He is now just learning to talk and it seems like he has plenty to say about life.

U Is For Unboxing

I may have got the bug from my first experience with a subscription book box called MyChronicleBookBox. It is so satisfying to unbox stuff, no wonder there is a whole entertainment industry surrounding it. I am definitely an unboxer now. That is as dorky as it sounds…

V Is For Venice

I don’t really travel. I had anxiety issues as a youth which didn’t really inspire my travel curiosity. I did go to Italy for a week though and went to Venice. That was a cool trip, I never knew that Venice was made up of 118 islands. Each one has its own custom and style. We visited quite a few, including the glass blowing island, and I was blown away (bad pun… awful pun). So different from where I am from 😀

W Is For Wife (Skip this one if you can’t handle affection)

My wife is my best friend. I am not gushing, that is the truth. We could take on anything in the world when we work together and I love it. We have been married for almost six years and I dearly hope we can make it to sixty. You can call me naive or ignorant but I truly believe that we belong together. Our relationship isn’t perfect, not a single one is. But I can rely on my wife when it matters and that means the world to me. (This post should have come with a free sick bag but I couldn’t afford it so… apologies)

X Is For Xenagogy

X is a tough letter. A lot of X words are negative! So I have gone with Xenagogy which is a super posh word for………. A Guidebook. Because this post is like a guide to me. And Always Trust In Books… I’m sorry this has been a long post! But it you have to admit! It is an interesting word of the day!

Y Is For Yabbering

I do tend to yabber, especially during reviews and general conversations. My wife loves to watch me talk to people in shops and other settings as I am, for want of a better word, awkward. She’s happy to watch me go on and on not making any sense for ages until finally stepping in and clearing up any confusion with ease. Its a shame she doesn’t translate my reviews into simple, short passages but wheres the charm in that?

Z Is For Zapatos (Shoes)

I have been learning Spanish for quite some time now. On and off for years really. I couldn’t assign an element of my life or blog to the letter Z so here we are. Shoes! I do love the Spanish language and I do one day foresee myself actually speaking it properly instead of blurting out random words occasionally whenever it suits me. We can all dream. My favourite Spanish word is probably Maravilloso or Asqueroso (yes I know what the second one means) as they are fun to say.

Thank you for sitting through probably my longest post to date! I am not sure why I did the whole alphabet in one go or whether it is too much of me and my blog in one place but hey, it’s finished and I am happy with how it came out. I had to cut this down btw… a lot. I hope plenty of people make it to the end. If your reading this then I thank you 1000 times over. Please tell me some things about yourself in the comments! I hope you all enjoyed this post and come back to see the 101 best things about book blogging post I am working on very soon (I am joking). It’s 1001 best things about book blogging :D.

THE A-Z OF ME #bookblogger #reader #booknerd #aboutme #reading #blog #bookaddiction #amwriting #AtoZ I saw this post on Secret Library Book Blog who had seen it on Espresso Coco…

[super-alan-3-us-blog]

BMC Answers (Bloomberg) 2019

http://assignment.store/products.php?product=BMC-Answers-%28Bloomberg%29-2019-

Economic Indicators

The Primacy of GDP (30 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

How accurately do GDP statistics portray the economy and why?

Knowledge Check 2

Consider the formula GDP = C + I + (X-M). A country is undergoing a boom in consumption of domestic and foreign luxury goods. In one year, the dollar growth in imports is greater than the dollar growth in domestic consumption. Assuming nothing else has changed, what happened to GDP?

Knowledge Check 3

Here is the most important economic data for Australia and Sweden. Which economy did better year-over-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012? Use the two charts to investigate.

Knowledge Check 4

In the US, why is there a strong correlation between unemployment and GDP?

SECTION QUIZ

Here is a chart showing both nominal GDP growth and real GDP growth for a country. Which of the following can be a true statement at the time the chart was captured?

Which of the following lines is the best leading economic factor?

The “misery index” is often cited in the media as a way to measure consumer pain. It is defined as the inflation rate plus the unemployment rate. Review and identify the country with the highest “misery index.”

What typically happens to nonfarm payrolls, the PMI indicator, and housing starts at the onset of a recession in the United States?

Monitoring GDP (10 min.)

SECTION QUIZ

Which of the following qualities of economic indicators do investors prize the most?

Why is the release of GDP statistics less interesting to investors than the release of other economic indicators?

Which of the following important U.S. economic indicators is only available on a quarterly basis?

Which economic indicator is most directly linked to unemployment?

Forecasting GDP (20 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

Here is the economic calendar for the UK for August 2013. Examine indicators like PMI, house prices, industrial production, employment, retail sales, and GDP. Based on these major indicators, how did the UK economy perform overall?

Knowledge Check 2

This chart was captured in mid-2014. At that point in time, which of the following terms would have described the growth in the Chinese economy predicted in this pop-out table?

Knowledge Check 3

How have economic forecasts for this economy evolved?

SECTION QUIZ

These charts show data for four countries as of early 2016. For each country, the purple line denotes historic real GDP growth. The white line denotes the consensus estimated real GDP growth. The red line denotes the most pessimistic analyst forecast. The green line denotes the most optimistic analyst forecast. For which country is there the most controversy among the analyst community about 2016 growth?

What is the main reason that investment banks create estimates of economic indicators?

Which of the following is the biggest pitfall of economic indicators?

Here is a chart displaying estimates of the initial jobless claims indicator, one of the main unemployment statistics in the U.S. It measures the number of new applicants for unemployment benefits. What was the level of the analyst with the most optimistic outlook?

Currencies

Currency Market Mechanics (25 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

Which country is both the fourth biggest importer and exporter?

Knowledge Check 2

In 1994, the Mexican peso declined against the U.S. dollar during the so-called “Tequila Crisis”. What exacerbating factor did Mexico’s “Tequila Crisis” have in common with the Argentine crisis of 2002?

Knowledge Check 3

Using the given chart, how many New Zealand dollars (NZD) can you buy with 100 Australian dollars (AUD)?

SECTION QUIZ

Allison lives in America and has just retired. It is early 2016. She has long had dreams of cruising the fjords on the west coast of Norway, visiting Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, seeing the cherry blossoms in Japan, and going to the top of the Eiffel Tower in France. She last considered all four options on New Year’s Day 2008. She would like to select the trip to go on based on which country’s currency has subsequently weakened the most against the U.S. dollar. Where should she go on vacation?

Review the currency pair charts for the Barbadian dollar against the Jamaican dollar, the Czech koruna against the Polish zloty, the Nigerian naira against the Ghanaian cedi, and the Hong Kong dollar against the Macanese pataca. Which pair is pegged.

Which of the following is NOT an example of a failed peg?

Use the chart below to answer the question. How many Danish crowns (DKK) will buy 100 Japanese yet (JPY)?

Currency Valuation (20 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

According to this Big Mac index screen, which of the following four countries’ currency is the most undervalued?

Knowledge Check 2

What generally happens when a central bank unexpectedly increases interest rates?

Knowledge Check 3

Which driver weakened the Swiss franc?

SECTION QUIZ

What does the Big Mac index show?

Which of the following are short-term drivers of currency valuation?

By what mechanism do interest rates affect currency values?

Which of these headlines could move a currency pair?

Central Banks and Currencies (15 min.)

SECTION QUIZ

What is the most common target inflation rate for an advanced economy?

What was the primary goal of Abenomics?

Here is the deflationary cycle. What steps connect the lower left gray arrow to the upper right blue arrow?

Were the two oil crises in the 1970s linked to deflation or inflation?

Currency Risk (15 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

On June 23, 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union. The white line shows the UK’s main equity index, the FTSE 100, from the start of 2016 of the date on which the UK government notified the European Union of its intent to leave. The orange line shows the number the number of dollars it takes to buy one pound sterling. The UK is a net importer, meaning the value of imports exceed the value of exports. What can be reasonably surmised from the chart about large UK corporations?

Knowledge Check 2

In early 2016, the same Germany machinery company has interest from four prospective clients from emerging markets: Indonesia, Brazil, Russia and South Africa. They all want to buy ten machines, but the factory can only produce ten in time. Therefore, the company has to choose only one client. Given the volatility of the domestic currencies of the four prospective clients, the CFO would like to choose the client which is least likely to cancel the order due to currency volatility. The invoice comes due on June 30, 2016. According to historical currency volatility alone, which prospective client would be least likely to cancel the order?

Knowledge Check 3

What is the median estimate for the number of Japanese yen per euro for calendar year 2020?

Knowledge Check 4

What is the different between Nomura and RBC’s estimate for the Japanese yen/euro currency pair for the end of Q1 2018?

Knowledge Check 5

Imagine you are a Dutch diamond dealer who sources diamonds from South Africa. It is March 2016. A new mine is being dug in South Africa and you have agreed with the miner to buy one million South African rands’ worth of diamond a year from today. Therefore, you will need one million rands in cash in one year’s time. The miner wants you to demonstrate your commitment by either giving him a million rands now or providing that you have an FX forward contract for the full amount. Currently, the exchange rate is 17.1 rands to the euro. You check the forward rates on offer on the Bloomberg FRD function.

You have two options. Exchange euros today at today’s exchange rate to pay him one million rands now, or lock in a forward agreement to convert euros to one million rands in one year’s time and share the forward agreement with him. If you were to do the forward instead of exchanging euros for rands today, approximately how much more or less would you end up with in a year?

SECTION QUIZ

Why would Jack Welch suggest putting all company plants on barges?

Samsung is based in South Korea and reports in South Korean won. Samsung sells its products around the world and the geographic breakdown of its 2015 revenues is in the first chart. The other charts show how some major world currencies moved against the South Korean won through the course of 2015. Of the currencies shown, which currency movement boosted Samsung’s revenue growth the most?

Legendary investor Warren Buffet said, “Gold gets dug out of the ground… Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again, and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.” Based on this quotation, what quality of gold is he referring to?

Which of the following options is the best way for investors to manage currency risk?

Fixed Income

The Roots of the Bond Market (25 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

What do the green bars at the bottom signify?

Knowledge Check 2

According to the table, who owns approximately 1.3% of actively traded US debt?

Knowledge Check 3

What quality of US government bonds causes investors to buy them when market volatility rises?

Knowledge Check 4

Why is fixed income called fixed income?

SECTION QUIZ

Why does the United States have a strong reputation for creditworthiness?

What is one reason why foreign governments lend to the U.S. government?

What does one yellow bar depict in this debt distribution diagram?

Which one of the following actors benefits when interest rates go up?

Bond Valuation (50 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

When investors doubt the creditworthiness of a borrower, how do they alter their calculation of the bond yield to take into account these doubts?

Knowledge Check 2

As a general rule, what percentage of debt to GDP will make a government bond yield spike?

Knowledge Check 3

What is true of both the UK and the US?

Knowledge Check 4

Which would you prefer?

Knowledge Check 5

Which would you prefer?

SECTION QUIZ

What is the primary reason for U.S. government bond yield to ripple through the bond market?

A rise in which of the following measures would typically send a government bond price up?

Which of the countries shown makes the greatest relative use of short-term government financing?

How do investors compare bonds?

Central Bankers and Interest Rates (25 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

Which of the following is the strongest driver of inflation?

Knowledge Check 2

This chart shows the output gap in the US from 1949 to 1973. What is the output gap in 1973?

SECTION QUIZ

Here is a chart from the ILBE function displaying U.S. 10-year inflation expectations as of early 2017. At the point in time shown, where is the country’s 10-year inflation expectation in relation to the Central Bank’s inflation target?

Investors who fear rising inflation may buy Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). How do TIPS shield lenders from inflation?

What is the Federal Reserve’s favorite inflation gauge?

Here is the output gap in the U.S. in early 1975. What was likely the Fed interest rate policy?

The Yield Curve and Why It Matters (15 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

Why does the yield curve naturally slope upwards?

Knowledge Check 2

Why did the corporate spread significantly widen during the 2008 market crash?

SECTION QUIZ

What impact will a tightening of the corporate spread most likely have on a company?

What are the three main transmission mechanisms by which the yield curve affects the economy?

What is the 10-year to 3-month term premium of the following yield curve?

The purchase of which of the following products is most affected by interest rates?

Movements in the Yield Curve (20 min.)

SECTION QUIZ

What is the primary driver of the left-hand end of the yield curve?

Which yield curve is most likely linked to a booming economy?

The two yield curve in the chart are from September 10, 2001 and from October 10, 2001. What do you think the Federal Reserve did with interest rates in the month following the attacks of September 11, 2001?

Why does the yield curve tend to invert shortly before a recession?      

EQUITIES

Introducing the Stock Market (25 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

Why do companies do IPOs?

SECTION QUIZ

Why do company manager-owners smile when they ring the stock exchange bell at their IPO?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index has an unusual weighting methodology. Unlike the S & P 500, it is weighted by share price. Here are 22 of the 30 members of the Dow Jones as of mid-June 2015. If all the shares went up by 5%, which share on the screen shown would have the biggest contribution to an upward movement in the index?

In 1999, James Glassman and Kevin Hassett published a book called “Dow 36,000.” At the time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index was just under 12,000. Which of the following is a potential substitute for the book title?

Here is a chart of the index value for the S&P 500 and the United Kingdom’s main equity index, the FTSE 100, from the end of 2008 to early 2015. The labels have been removed. One index has clearly outperformed the other. Over this period, there was a technology boom and an oil crash. Here are pie charts showing the early 2015 index compositions by industry for both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100. Which index outperformed?

The Nature of Equities (35 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

What is the prime reason that Jenny’s discretionary income is more volatile than her salary?

Knowledge Check 2

A wedding planning company has a high fixed-cost base and a lot of debt. Who would you rather be?

Knowledge Check 3

The S&P 500 stood at 1848 at the end of 2013. According to the chart, what would the approximate return be on the S&P 500 from the trough of March of 2009 to the end of 2013, ignoring dividends?

Knowledge Check 4

Assume that an investor in the S&P 500 reinvests his dividends. According to the chart, what approximate return would this investor have reaped from the early 2009 through to the endpoint of the chart?

SECTION QUIZ

Why are equities volatile?

Which of the following statements is true?

In the example highlighting the differences between bond holders and shareholders, we equated surgeon Jenny to a shareholder. Which row of the budget planning table shows the amount to which she as a shareholder would be entitled?

You but the stock of four consumer goods companies at the end of 2004 and hold them until August 2010. Here are the TRA (Total Return) charts from Bloomberg for all four stocks. The “Buy Price” in the top left-hand corner is the price you paid for each stock. The price of the stock in August 2010 is noted in the chart’s legend. The legend also states the Dividend Adjusted Value in 2010, which is the value of the stock including reinvested dividends over the holding period. For which stock did the bulk of the total return come from dividends?

Equity Research (45 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

What does the release of earning announcements have in common with the release of economic indicators?

Knowledge Check 2

The number at the bottom right of each supplier’s box shows the portion of Boeing’s costs in the last year that went to that supplier. The number at the bottom right of each customer’s box shows the portion of the customer’s capital expenditure (money spent in high value purchases) in the last year that went to Boeing. For which company shown was Boeing the primary plan supplier in the last year?

Knowledge Check 3

Which company is most exposed to the ups and downs of the aircraft engine industry?

Knowledge Check 4

Engines are the most expensive, heavy component on an aircraft and are designed with detailed specifications. Which of the following would likely be the best theme for a Rolls-Royce analyst research note to help a portfolio manager decide between investing in Rolls-Royce or United Technologies?

Knowledge Check 5

You are building a financial model of a bifocal lens manufacturer. Which of the following is the best driver to use?

Knowledge Check 6

Here is a table from the Bloomberg Intelligence aluminum dashboard which shows the different end-uses of aluminum in China. Which of the following Bloomberg headlines would be of most interest to an aluminum trader in China?

SECTION QUIZ

When an analyst is looking at a company for the first time, which of the following four activities does he do first?

Here is a table from the Bloomberg Intelligence copper dashboard which shows the different end-users of the “red metal.” Which of the following Bloomberg headlines would likely be of most interest to a copper trader?

Here is a breakdown of post-it note inventor 3M’s revenue by industry. Which of the following industry drivers should be of most interest to a prospective investor of 3M?

Company X was expected to have earnings per share of $0.52 for the upcoming quarter. On the day of the results, the company reported earnings per share of $0.83. What happened to the share price when the stock market opened?

Absolute Valuation (50 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

Which company is worth more, Coca-Cola or Pepsi?

Knowledge Check 2

Widget Co has a market capitalization of $ 100M. It does a 10-for-1 stock split. It then does a 1-for-16 reverse stock split. Finally, it does a 35-for-1 stock split. Nothing else changes. What’s the new market cap?

Knowledge Check 3

What input do both absolute valuation and relative valuation typically require?

Knowledge Check 4

Which if the following is most likely to be the most challenging part of this step of the absolute valuation process?

Knowledge Check 5

What is a reason one discounts future cash flow as part of the absolute valuation process?

Knowledge Check 6

What role does beta play in absolute valuation?

Knowledge Check 7

Here is the capital structure of Microsoft. What part of the $42.03 share price (to the nearest dollar) is represented by cash?

Knowledge Check 8

How is enterprise vale calculated?

SECTION QUIZ

Which of the following stocks is most sensitive to the movement of the overall stock market?

Which of the following assigns the same relative weightings to short-term and long-term outcomes as the absolute variation process?

Here is the WACC function for U.S. drug company Pfizer. The WACC calculation has been hidden. What is the WACC?

A rise in which of the following inputs will increase an absolute variation?

Relative Valuation (45 min.)

Knowledge Check 1

How do earnings yields differ from bond yields?

Knowledge Check 2

At its peak at the end of 1999, Microsoft had a market cap of $600B. PC sales were booming and most PCs ran on Microsoft software. Revenue was growing 30% per year. The P/E ratio peaked at nearly 80.0X in 1999. Looking at this chart, what happened in the subsequent 15 years?

Knowledge Check 3

What is one possible weakness of this peer approach to valuation?

Knowledge Check 4

What may be a problem of comparing the P/E of a stock to the P/E of the overall market?

SECTION QUIZ

Here is a chart of the NASDAQ Composite, the world’s main technology index. It peaked in the dotcom bubble on March 10, 2000. The P/E ratio later peaked above 500. In hindsight, this is widely agreed to have been a bubble. In March 2015, the index value for the first time since then surpassed the peak. Why might some investors at that point have argued “this time it’s different”?

The World Equity Index function shown contains two valuation metrics for the S&P 500. The Nike description contains the same two valuation metrics. How does Nike’s valuation compare to that of the S&P 500?

If the earnings per share of a company is $1 and the earnings yield is 2%, what is the price per share?

This chart shows a scatterplot with the x-axis being the estimated sales growth and the y-axis being the estimated P/E multiple. Given this data alone, which of the following companies may warrant further analysis by a portfolio manager looking to buy an insurance company for her portfolio?

[alihawame-blog]

How to Use WhatsApp for Business & 4 Ideas to Get Started

WhatsApp has grown immensely popular over the last years, and it’s even gotten to the point where any type of business (especially restaurants and retail stores) can take advantage of it to increase customer engagement. Still, we know it’s completely possible that not every one of you is familiar with what WhatsApp is and how it can be a valuable business marketing tool (not everyone has enough time at their disposal to spend on the app, after all). So, before we offer some useful marketing ideas for this app, we’ll also discuss why you should think about using WhatsApp, and how you can use it. In case you’re already familiar with the app, you can just skip to the section that details the marketing tips. What Is WhatsApp , and Why Should Your Business Use It? Essentially, WhatsApp is a mobile app that’s free, and which lets users chat with each other by using their phone’s Internet connection without having to deal with text message charges. The app also offers free video and voice calls, lets users share files and images among themselves, and supports various types of phones (Windows phone, iPhone, BlackBerry, and so on). As for how it works, you just need to download the app, install it, confirm your country and enter your phone number. You then set up a profile, and the app shows you a list of users you can interact with based on the phone numbers in your phone’s contact list. Now, there are 3 ways to interact with other users: One-on-One Chat – Basically, you can easily chat with anyone in your phone list (voice or video), and share files with them. If you want, you can also record snippets of audio text and send them over. Group Chat – A group chat supports up to 256 people, and each one of them can talk and share photos, files, and videos. Broadcast Lists – Sending a message to a broadcast list means it will be received by anyone in said list who has your number saved in their phone’s address book (the number of people is limited to 256). The message will show up as a normal one for them (think of it as the BCC function with emails). If you get a reply from anyone, the chat will act like a normal one-on-one discussion. Even though WhatsApp has been bought by Facebook back in 2014 , the app has yet to be redefined with features that are marketing-friendly (like Facebook Messenger has, for example). So, given all that, why should you use it as a business marketing tool? Well, the audience, for one. WhatsApp has about 1 billion active users – per day. Out of those, around 20.5 million are from the US alone (and the numbers are only expected to grow in the next years). So, it’s quite clear that, marketing-wise, you’d have access to a very large number of consumers. On top of that, it’s highly likely that many of your existing customers (or potential clients too) are already using the app. Another reason would be the fact that modern consumers are actually expecting to interact with businesses (now and in the future) through messaging apps like WhatsApp . In fact, according to a survey , 67% of consumers feel that way. At the same time, 53% of the people who participated in that survey said that they are more likely to do business with a brand they can message directly. Lastly, one more reason we strongly believe you should use this app for your business is because its engagement rates are simply amazing. 98% of mobile messages are actually opened (with 90% of them being opened within 3 seconds of being received). 4 WhatsApp Marketing Ideas for Your Business Before we discuss the marketing ideas , we need to make one thing clear: It’s paramount to understand that WhatsApp doesn’t have any features you can actually use to promote your business, nor do they sell any ad space on their app. Furthermore, you must understand that you cannot create a business account – there’s no such thing like that on WhatsApp . That essentially means you’ll need to create a basic user account for your brand. Also, please keep in mind that any business marketing strategy you employ must be have a personal side to it first and foremost. That’s the nature of this app, and doing anything else will make your approach feel extremely salesy. So, with that out of the way, here are 4 WhatsApp marketing ideas you should try to improve your brand’s image and boost customer satisfaction while also attracting new clients: 1. Offer Customer Support Through WhatsApp Before you ask, no, we’re not referring to literally offering customer support to every single one of your clients through this app – it just wouldn’t be feasible. What you can – and should – do is to set up a branded customer support account that caters to your most loyal clients. Basically, the ones who buy from you the most and who promote your brand too, or clients who are part of your loyalty program (if you have one). There are plenty of possibilities with this. If you run a restaurant or a QSR, you can use such an account to handle more sensitive or serious complaints, or address all sorts of questions customers might have about future or potential products (they’re more likely to interact with you here since they know they have more chances to get a response. If you run a retail chain, you can use this type of premium support to let your top customers know about new products and events, and also keep them updated about any online orders they might have placed. You can advertise this feature on your website and on social media, and also make it a feature that’s part of your loyalty program. Calling it “VIP Customer Support” is an excellent idea, and one that’s sure to get plenty of engagement. And in case you have a loyalty program and want to offer this feature to your most profitable customers but don’t know how to get access to such info, we recommend giving our platform a try – it can offer you the customer insights you need. 2. Create a Relevant Brand Persona Just because you must have a basic user account doesn’t mean you can’t personalize it to the point where it represents your brand in a decent manner. The persona you create can be both imaginary or played by someone within your company (or, why not, someone outside the company who you hire). You can do this to simply promote your brand, or raise awareness about new products, services, or business locations. The catch here is that you need to make people interested enough to contact said persona by using WhatsApp . You can contact them, but it’s not really worth it in this scenario given the limitations we previously discussed. Here’s an example to give you a better idea of what we’re talking about. Say you run a retail store chain, and you’re about to open a new location. To create a lot of hype around it, you’re planning on offering a wide range of discounts (or other potential rewards) during the opening day. However, since there’s likely to be too many people attending because of that, only a certain number of customers will be allowed in during that day. And the only way for people to gain entrance would be to talk with the brand persona you created on WhatsApp (it can represent the store owner or manager, or – why not – even the store doorman) to convince him/her to let them in over other people. People can do that by chatting with the brand persona or sharing files with them (photos of products they bought before to prove they’re loyal customers, and things like that). The idea is that you’ll end up creating a lot of buzz and engagement over your new retail store. The “winners” could be awarded with a QR code (which you can easily send over), which they can show on their phone during the opening to gain access. And if you don’t want to alienate the ones who don’t get in during the first day, you can send over a coupon through the WhatsApp account to make up for it. Naturally, you won’t just set everything up and wait for people to contact you. You should also promote this marketing strategy on your other social media accounts and pages, as well as your website. This is just an imaginary example to help you understand what can be done with a WhatsApp brand persona, of course. All the details of this fictional campaign can be changed according to your needs. 3. Offer One-on-One Help Through WhatsApp No, this is not the same as the VIP customer support bit. This is more marketing-oriented, and more focused on promoting your products and services than addressing customer issues and complaints. For instance, if you have a restaurant or QSR chain, you could connect existing or potential customers to some of your chefs through WhatsApp who can offer them step-by-step assistance with cooking a dish similar to what you offer on your menu. If you have a retail store chain, you could have some brand specialists offer customers help through the app with putting together outfits that incorporate your products. And it’s all pretty straightforward thanks to how easy it is to use the app, and how flexible its file-sharing features are. Once more, you should definitely promote this feature online. 4. Organize a Quiz Quizzes (like contests) are extremely engaging, and – actually – some people might be more inclined to partake in quizzes since they don’t solely rely on luck but skill as well. So, they end up being more satisfying. Whether you run a retail or restaurant/QSR business, setting this up is quite easy. During the promotion, just let customers (and potential clients) know that if they add your number on WhatsApp, they can participate in a quiz to win coupons, discount, or redeemable rewards. They’ll just need to get in touch with you through the app, and answer 3-5 questions. The questions can be about your brand, relevant pop culture, or your products – it’s all up to you, ultimately. Best of all – you can also tie this in with your loyalty program. For example, you can offer winners to chance to sign up for your program when they use their discounts/coupons or redeem their rewards. Offer them an incentive by adding some extra loyalty points into the mix too. As for people who don’t win the quiz, let them know they can enjoy the same rewards (and more) if they sign up for your loyalty program and accumulate points. What about Business Marketing Tools for WhatsApp ? We expected you’d be asking yourself this. Truth be told, there are various marketing tools you can use for this app. However, we don’t recommend doing this at all. Why? Well, to quote WhatsApp ’s own terms : “You will not use (or assist others in using) our Services in ways that involve sending illegal or impermissible communications such as bulk messaging, auto-messaging, auto-dialing, and the like.” That’s pretty obvious that if you try to use any marketing tools, you’re likely to get banned or temporarily suspended (and that’s a best case scenario). Plus, let’s face it: Even if you don’t get caught, mass-messaging users in this type of context and with this app will most likely backfire and ruin the image of your brand. Interacting with them has to feel natural, otherwise they’ll easily catch on to what you’re doing. We know that doesn’t sound too great, but look on the bright side: WhatsApp is at least working on future features that will make it easier for businesses to engage with users. Have Other WhatsApp Marketing Ideas You’d Like to Highlight? Then feel free to share them with us in the comment section below. And if you felt that this article was really insightful, please remember to share it with anyone you think it might really help.

[notable-law-music-tech-news]

What’s really going on with Spotify’s fake artist controversy

Last week, Vulture published a report suggesting, among other things, that music streaming service Spotify games its own royalty system by creating and promoting in-house, or “fake” artists. The allegation isn’t new. Almost a year ago, the industry blog Music Business Worldwide wrote a piece that suggested Spotify was paying producers a flat fee to create tracks for its playlists — some of which garner over 1 million subscribers — instead of licensing the content and paying out royalties to the rights holders. In these alleged deals, Spotify would control the master copyright (with publishing potentially negotiable). If true, Spotify would be partaking in a stunning scheme: secretly astroturfing its playlists with undercover in-house artists, saving itself a fortune as those tracks racked up millions of streams.

MBW’s initial story went stagnant for nearly a year until Vulture’s piece pointed out playlists like Ambient Chill, which features a song from an obscure band called Deep Watch that has no footprint outside of Spotify. Another playlist — Sleep — features an unknown, Spotify-only artist by the name of Enno Aare. Vulture suggested that these may be the so-called fake artists MBW warned us of last summer.

“We do not and have never created 'fake' artists and put them on Spotify playlists.”

On Sunday, Spotify issued a strong denial in Billboard. “We do not and have never created 'fake' artists and put them on Spotify playlists. Categorically untrue, full stop,” a Spotify spokesperson said. In a statement to The Verge, Spotify denied the claims that it was paying flat fees for song rights. “We do not own any song rights, we’re not a label. All our music is licensed from rights holders and we pay royalties for all tracks on Spotify.”

In response, MBW published a list of 50 artists with millions of streams it says fit the profile of “fake artists” and suggested that if Spotify wasn’t buying the tracks outright, it may be arranging reduced royalty rates. The story has since been picked up by other outlets, including Variety, which quoted a “former Spotify insider” who said that the practice is “one of a number of internal initiatives to lower the royalties they’re paying to the major labels,” in order to help “them in their negotiations with the record companies.”

MBW’s piece focused in on the Jazz, Chill, and piano genres, each of which boast substantial playlists. “These non-existent acts are deliberately being chosen for inclusion, time and time again, on first-party playlists with millions of followers at the expense of label-signed music,” the publication wrote, implying that Spotify is getting away with siphoning money away from legitimate artists signed by labels.

After going through MBW’s list of 50 artists, The Verge has learned that most of the artists on the list are pseudonyms for real musicians. Just a handful of those real musicians account for a huge chunk of the list. But a source confirms that Spotify does reach out to labels to request specific types of tracks to fill out its playlists.

By way of interviews with the artists behind some of the tracks on the list, The Verge can confirm that many of the artists behind the names on the list are independent musicians. Some have public careers of their own, while others have taken on various roles behind the scenes as producers, commissioned soundtrack artists, or session musicians.

A source confirms that Spotify does reach out to labels to request specific types of tracks to fill out its playlists

One of the musicians on MBW’s list who has written under several aliases is Andreas Aleman, a songwriter, singer, and keyboardist. His artist profile on Spotify contains the funk-driven music Aleman performs publicly. But he also posts music under aliases found in MBW’s report, which include Allysa Nelson, Wilma Harrods, Amy Yeager, and Milo Stavos — piano instrumentals that pepper Spotify playlists. Another musician, Magnuz Folke, is a piano teacher whose public SoundCloud has an array of rock- and pop-infused songs. On Spotify, he releases instrumental piano songs that appear under aliases like Saga Rosen, Jean Petri, Agatha Reilly, and Pernilla Mayer, the latter of which is included on MBW’s list.

The notion that these writers are intentionally obscuring themselves is not entirely accurate. As long as they have registered their work with a performing rights organization like ASCAP, their name is readily available when looking up a song’s information.

There are a variety of reasons why musicians create music under aliases. One songwriter behind numerous names on MBW’s list wished to remain anonymous but explained, “I am not and have no intention of ever becoming an artist in any sense of the word. I don't perform live and hence I don't need or seek publicity. I am a songwriter [and] composer with a broad taste and understanding and a wide variety of skills in many musical areas… This is an artistic outlet for me.” The songwriter noted that having an expansive, unfocused public personal discography can actually be detrimental. To avoid this, they release these instrumental piano songs under a roster of different names.

According to the songwriter, Spotify doesn’t own any rights to their music. When asked why these songs were only released on Spotify, they said, “If you can name any other platform where this type of low-key instrumental music is appreciated to a higher degree than Spotify I will most definitely give it a try.” It’ll eventually be distributed more widely, the songwriter noted, but “I just haven't gotten around to it yet.”

Another producer who worked on a number of tracks on MBW’s list said, “I'm just a songwriter / producer / pianist, and also work as a session musician. Nothing to be curious about, really.” As for collusion with Spotify? “Unfortunately I don't know anyone at Spotify, but I'm fortunate that my music has been added to some playlists.”

The popularity of piano-driven songs on Spotify is not new. The chill and piano playlists offer perfect background tracks for retail stores, or offices. In 2015, The Guardian noticed a surge in Spotify’s “environmental/sleep/relaxative” category, and in 2016, it published an essay by pianist Neil Cowley describing how one of his solo piano pieces was plucked to be on Spotify’s “Peaceful piano” playlist, which has around 2 million followers. It was not planned, and he did not know anyone at Spotify. Thanks to the playlist, Crowley’s song, which he had expected to get around 3,000 plays in the first few days, wound up acquiring around 2 million plays in the first eight weeks.

Artists on those labels then generate the content, occasionally using a pseudonym

How does Spotify pick the songs for these playlists? Typically, Spotify uses its normal operating procedures of algorithms and human curation to pick out songs for playlists. But sometimes there aren’t enough tracks to fill out a list. Though The Verge found no evidence of Spotify independently commissioning music, a source close to Spotify confirms that the streaming service will reach out to labels — usually independent ones — to ask to license content to fill out certain playlists. That content is licensed in a non-exclusive manner; Spotify does not own the rights to the tracks. Artists on those labels then generate the content, occasionally using a pseudonym. It is unclear whether Spotify negotiates a separate royalty structure for these artists.

In an additional follow-up article published today by MBW, it was discovered that some of the artists that could not be found on databases like ASCAP were composers that create library content for Swedish company Epidemic Sound. Library content companies work with composers to create stock music for ads, soundtracks, video games, and other kinds of commercial background music. Unlike a traditional music publishing structure, library content companies own all the copyrights to their music, allowing them to license it out without the composer’s permission.

According to MBW, Epidemic entered into a distribution agreement with Spotify a year ago. Similar to what artists told us independently, Epidemic CEO Oscar Hoglund told MBW, “These are professional composers, who earn a living by creating quality music. As is often the case with songwriters and indeed mainstream pop artists, some composers choose to work under their real names whilst some prefer to use pseudonyms.”

MBW notes that Epidemic’s website states they do not pay royalties, but Spotify has said in statements that royalties are paid for every song on the platform. The Verge reached out to Hoglund to inquire if Epidemic had a royalty structure exclusive to their Spotify deal not published on their website. Hoglund declined to disclose specific details of Epidemic’s deal with Spotify, but said the company has a traditional royalty deal with Spotify and noted “we share [royalty] revenue from Spotify 50/50 with our composers.”

As far as publishing rights, many of the artists on MBW’s list were tied to a handful of firms including Q&L Publishing, Firefly Entertainment AB, and Universal Music Group. Q&L Publishing is run by Andreas Romdhane (aka Quiz) and Josef Svedlund (aka Larossi), a Swedish-based duo who have written and produced songs for acts like Kelly Clarkson and Diana Ross. Firefly Entertainment AB is a Swedish music publishing and television company with seven signed songwriters and one artist who release music under their own names but are also accomplished writers and session musicians. Many of the artists on MBW’s list also retain all rights to their publishing, using publishing companies they’ve founded themselves.

“We do not own any of the music rights and we do not own any music publishing companies or parts of any music publishing companies.”

We asked Spotify if it owned any music publishing companies in part or as a whole, as MBW’s sources claimed it did. “We do not own any of the music rights and we do not own any music publishing companies or parts of any music publishing companies,” Spotify told The Verge.

There is the curious fact that most of the artists on MBW’s list are based in Sweden, where Spotify was founded. Is Spotify getting artists in its backyard to work on the cheap, or is Sweden just a musical juggernaut? It’s unclear why there’s a disproportionate amount of Swedish artists appearing on the playlists, thought it should be noted that the Nordic nation is something of a powerhouse when it comes to music. In 2011, the country of 9.5 million people produced music exports worth $150 million, the highest per capita on Earth. And Sweden has produced Spotify, SoundCloud, and Max Martin, the most successful songwriter on the planet. However, the answer could be much simpler. Spotify also has an outsized influence in the region.

“Infrastructure and access are a huge part of the answer to a pretty complicated question. Spotify has a huge chunk of the market in the Nordics, well over 90 percent,” says Dan Roy Carter, founder of Above Board, a Stockholm-based music marketing and publicity company with clients like Zara Larsson and Icona Pop. “This means that for so many labels and publishers, Spotify is almost an exclusive strategic focus.”

So here’s what we know: the majority of the artists listed by MBW are legitimate artists, writers, and session musicians using pseudonyms for a variety of personal and business reasons. Many of them use seemingly legitimate publishing companies — including Universal Music Group’s publishing arm — to primarily publish instrumental piano songs that have a higher chance to make it onto piano playlists. Some of them use library music company Epidemic Sound, which has a royalty agreement with Spotify.

We also know that Spotify asks labels for songs to fill out certain playlists in these genres, and that labels will also offer Spotify tracks it may think will fit on the playlist. We know that legitimate publishing companies like Firefly Entertainment AB are also behind some of these artists. Spotify says that it does not own in whole or in part any music publishing companies that would allow it to save money on the backend.

We don’t know whether there’s any secret machination behind the fact that single-track artists, even under pseudonyms, are appearing on playlists. Spotify’s playlists are built by a team of curators who use data to make adjustments to the playlists based on user interaction, according to a report from BuzzFeed. It’s possible that Epidemic and publishing companies like Firefly have established relationships with curators, and send them songs in consideration for playlist inclusion.

Using in-house artists for leverage in contract negotiations wouldn’t have much of an effect

We also don’t know whether Spotify is paying a lower rate per stream for these tracks. It’s unlikely, given that some of these artists may already have existing deals in place with Spotify through music publishers associations, or are working with independent labels under the Merlin Network which negotiates deals for thousands of labels at once.

Is Spotify really astroturfing its jazz and chill playlists by hiring artists directly? Not that we can tell. And the incentive for doing so would be minimal: using in-house artists for leverage in contract negotiations wouldn’t have much of an effect, as all the major labels have Most Favored Nation clauses that allows labels to match the best deal attained by another. (This is why Spotify and Sony recently agreed to a 52 percent revenue share as reported by Billboard, the same deal that Spotify and Universal Music Group agreed to earlier this year.)

In addition, the estimated total revenue garnered by the 520 million streams of the 50 artists MBW listed adds up to $3 million. Given that Spotify earned $3.3 billion in revenue last year, $3 million seems like a paltry amount of money to save while potentially committing fraud. The risk Spotify runs — alienating major labels during a negotiation period, infuriating music publishers, and confirming its reputation as the streaming service least-friendly to artists — seems far greater than the $3 million they stand to gain.

from The Verge - All Posts http://ift.tt/2uf1Vri

[sh-lan]

OMFG LAST QUARTER EVER + some spring break stuff???

Took a weekend off of life Retail therapy at its finest today Even though new jeans were overdue

It’s crazy how it still came I guess it’s a force of nature But omg it’s gonna be here on the concert T^T

This nerd would have mitsuha’s theme on his playlist smh #nochu

April 2nd, 2017 BTS Wings Tour I still can’t believe it happened I’ve been awake since 8am lol and it’s like 1:54am and i’m still trying to process and remember everything that happened today It felt like a dream! I can’t believe I saw them in real life. ohmygod Hands down, easily one of the best day of this week - if not this entire year so far holy shit will continue this tomorrow as i reminisce ok but one thing i noticed is that jungkook’s thighs are actually so real like wtf? shookt EDIT: lol i never finished this but oh well

oop i just bought more rings goodbye money

my charger broke gg time to get another one

I have a newfound appreciation for the color pink or more like my appreciation for pink is coming back

When you get anxious because bts hasnt posted on twitter for 3 days but then you also know they’re resting and that they deserve this break

SPRING QUARTER LEGGO tu/th schedule let’s hope this all works well keke

week 1 recap tuesday - sees everybody in freaking AB LOL sees harry after walking out of my tdpw sees alana and dylan outside my global health class which alana is also taking, and becca and tanya lOL goes to cogs 122 to find chen screaming my name - also vania and stella <3 last class is normal - with nobody in management BUT LOL LEIGHTON ADDED THE CLASS ON THURSDAY HAHA there’s also this girl in my tdpw class who looks like lindsay lohan and her name is also lindsey but with an e cause i saw it on the email lol not a stalker

Decided to gel nails it out friday of week 1 whut whut

First attempt at 양념치킨~

been using the soundtrack of your name this past week to get over pcd it’s been a week and i still haven’t recovered T^T

went to kbbq with harry! lol week 1 sunday started at manna….having an adventure in between at manna keke “started here and ending it here?” LOL

currently craving anything strawberry

don’t understand why i need to have my email as a send&receive in order to sms to work on my laptop bb why are you being stubborn when you’ve been working fine all this time

under yuri’s recommendation, i microwaved my coffee because it was lukewarm and she called me extra LOL

i’m getting nervous about a presentation when i shouldn’t be because ?? my AB service leader self is like completely gone i wanna crawl into a hole

i just finished season 2 and 3 of htgawm in less than a week… how they gonna do season 4 i wonder

Week 2 thursday I was actually really looking forward to class today Also my rings came! Though were they worth the $50….not so sure Were they cute? Yes But not as cute as the other one T^T So i mustnt give in to temptations nowww

I found out what matcha powder mom uses to make their matcha latte Cappuccine frappe mix But it’s sadly not on amazon ):

This new tumblr function is really inconvenient cause i cant tell how many thing i have on queue brcause i have to keep switching blogs -_-

Han came to visit! Friday Papa johns Saturday Snooze brunch Infinitea Abeh hangout In n out Sunday Aquarium! Koon thai Ramen yamadaya Boba bar and then i drove him to irvine where we got coco curry! and then i drove back and he bought me milk tea with pudding

Had an epiphany It’s not anenome It’s anemone

Omg but like why dont people call spoiler alerts “spoilerts”

Started 13 reasons why with Han Finished it, tuesday week 3 Hmmm How to feel

finished strong woman park hyung sik is so…adorable? IT’S SO WEIRD. HIS AEGYO LEVEL IS INSANE

When you realize that 둘! 셋! is probably the title of the fan song because that’s what BTS always say when they introduce themselves And that BTS + ARMY forever ㅠㅠㅠ�� I’m not crying r u crying ;___;

어떻게

Omg when you wake up for reorientation and jungkook does lives <3

highkey need to crawl into a hole tbh

You know what i want to do? Go to an olive garden Even though i know it’ll taste bad lol

Not really sure what i want… But i dont want my 4 years to be a waste ):

i….skipped out on an interview today was it the right choice i may never know

most recent ep of snk got me fucked up SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT YMIR AND CHRISTA’S RELATIONSHIP IS WHO IS CHRISTA

Lol i hella bombed my quiz GOODBYE GONNA P/NP HAHA

Week 4 weekend Fuck me in the ass i twisted my ankle and i am in irvine had to pop an advil and cruise control all the way back thank god there weren’t many cars lol 0/10 do not recommend

Slept on the couch the past two days to elevate my ankle Glad to be back in bed But i think i might be a little…sick? Fuck Need to grocery shop

Dammit i got called for jury duty

Ok but i twisted my ankle and two recruiters emailed me back the next day so was it really a loss

Week 5 i’m sick…

just watched 5 centimeters per second a little sadder than i was an hour ago

fuck i forgot that my jeans are new and i washed it and my pink shirt is ruined fml triggered

thursday after rolling over ma ankle i can finally see that it is a lil swollen and there is bruising LOL also saw an owl at school today and a bunny while leaving to go to meeting

week 5 tuesday saw two bunnies on my way out to school

I just saw two hummingbirds! 😍

I cant believe yuri and i finished twenty SMH

ABCD today Some qualitee photos were taken Im tired now

Really debating the 4th term

third day of back pain flexibility dying wow what is happening???

…..army 4th term is $75 cries EDIT: it’s $66 because i forgot exchange rate but still cri EDIT EDIT: it’s $45 if i ship it to taiwan - seriously really highkey considering that now oh dear

bro i think i just experienced katawaredoki whut

i keep thinking that my ankle is ok but i always end up doing something that ends up hurting it like hella im

Week 6 thursday last leadership meeting one of my favorite meetings because whoa INFORMATION!? it was nice wanted to discuss and add in my two cents but i honestly just wasn’t able to wrap my head around everything loool then…we decided to go to PB LOL chen, jeong, yuri, justin and his friends (including nicole, nicole, sandy) and then more people. we also met leslie, brett, dexter, allison, kenny, peter, abby, ben…and more? at pb lolol and also we saw miguel and anthony - it was like a freshman year flashback tbh lOL went to vallartas after and then came home to shower and finally sleep at 3:30am wot is life NEXT DAY ADVENTURES - leighton and i finally pulled out the weeds and now we’re tired

salty that i wasnt invited to the birthday celebration, not that i would really make the trip per say but wtf gurl

I just had this really sad thought that i’m probably never gonna ever get to know bts like friends y i do dis to meself

Wait so like i got sick while at clew’s and it didnt happen until week 5 and so i was sick from week 5 through week 6 and at this one point i couldnt taste my food it was terribad

May 12th I bought the membership LOL Hopefully it mails it correctly back to Taiwan ☺️

im dumb i didn’t save the color i wanted for my hair

omg the song vania recommended to me a few days ago was recommended by jungkook like a year or so ago on twitter lOOOOL

Just tryna level up here :<

Struggles when places are in the east coast and phone calls are early in the fckin morning

Note to self: Ridge cut potato chips with sea salt is good for stuff with dip Ridge cut salt and pepper is good for regular eating, but gets salty at the bottom LOL EDIT: per vania’s suggestion, i salted and peppered my chips

watching jungkook’s vlive AND HE JUST HARMONIZED WITH HIMSELF IM DED

Just woke up from a dream where someone hurt my brother/nade him fall and i was so angry? Was about to go ape shit on that person im ded lol who is rhis angry me

Rewatched and finished reply 1997 Wow what is life when yoon jae is life But also what is life when your idols are life Daily reminder to not be as obsessed as shiwon LOLOL

i can’t go to giraffage and elephante anymore im on the otherhand i get to go to virginia???

lol but like i haven’t been writing drafts because i often write in my notebook now but here are some updates - my nails are constantly chipping - forgot about grad photos that clashed with the weekend han is coming - im ded because i probs won’t have a weekend to myself until week 10 - struggles to figure out graduation things - paid my $54 to walk #mostexpensivewalkever

LAST LEADERSHIP MEETING (turnover) what am i going to do with my thursday nights now? it’s been a good run

Jealous of the staff that holds and records the camera during vlives? LOL who am i

When you forget that jeon jungkook did taekwondo before Hnnnngh

i just reaffirmed? or discovered? that i don’t like fruity pebbles o_o

Trying to think of a thing to put on my grad cap Tis hard Let’s make a list: 花樣年華 Strong power thank you You never walk alone Ireumeun deborah LOL Lol omg but why is yoongi’s “cheater never win but i just graduated” quote so appropriate for grad EXTRA + ORDINARY* Lost my way/found my way* Click clack to the bang Smile with me, cry with me, fly with me (you make me begin, you made me again) Ctrl+c, ctrl+v do you know “____” (hci? annyeonghasaeyo) To lose your path, Is the way to find that path* 꽃길만 걷자* Let’s fly with our beautiful wings in 2017 EDIT: i’m too lazy, i didn’t do anything to my cap lOL

Im shookt cause namjoon doesnt say 이제 feelin the vibe. HE SAYS IF YOU FEELIN THE VIBE. I feel…betrayed

Non whitewashed bangtan gives me life

May 21st My first haircut since… Since i got it cut over the summer?????

Bought me stole and tassel today Smh that i cant grab my muir tickets?? Cause i ordered all commencwment tickets SMH

Lowkey afraid of not passing mgt LOL

Omfg i knew we were going to have a pop quiz. It really happened

nicole and evelyn commented that they liked my hair and audrey and malia agreed i gotta say i’m so glad people remember me in my tdpw class LOOL

Cant get the seventeen song outta my head Shookt by the choreography

Y'all im so fckin shookt First the chainsmokers post on twitter like “see you in the summer” Then they win the BBMAs like a boss Then you see them on halsey + steve aoki’s snapchat Next things you know steve aoki is postin shit like “BTS x AOKI COMING SOON” Im SCREAMING

Yo my lyft driver dropped some knowledge again and told me his life story lmao he was a police officer in chicago and he was forced to retired and then ?? after chasing down a rapist and getting into a fight, he was seriously injured. but his dad (a judge or someone powerful idk) forced him out of retirement by telling everyone to not give him his benefits and shit and i was like. whoa bro. slow down? “embrace the unknown”

I finally tried the coconut black tie at peet’s 10/10 a mistake

Okay but can we talk about how on point everybody looked in the comeback Esp wonwoo and dk But also vernon 👌🏼

First time in virginia/ being so close to washington dc! Whoa Also gonna pass by texas too :O Knocking some states off my list

I WITNESSED MY FIRST CIRCLE RAINBOW THINGY ON THE PLANE FROM VIRGINIA TO DALLAS TODAY HOLY IT WAS V COOL

i don’t know why i never realized this about myself before but i need to be/live by a body of water at all times or i won’t feel comfortable this is weird

i told han i joined the fanclub and he like died for like 2 seconds lOL

ok but like i bought a carton of eggs and 6 or 7 of them were double yolks and i have 2 more eggs left im starting to think i’m eating some weird hybrid chickens EDIT: those last two eggs were both double yolks. this was a wild adventure

omg i knew that the TA MOST LIKELY RYAN WOULDNT UNDERSTAND OUR IDEA JUST LIKE HOW HE ALWAYS MISINTERPRETS THEM??? like what kind of constructive feedback is that if he doesn’t understand what we’re trying to do im… sigh

Already excited about the festa But like omfg they released the schedule today And just WE DONT TALK ANYMORE PT 2?? SO FAR AWAY FEATURING JIN AND JUNGKOOK? Im IM SCREAMING also sad but the radio show is right before my finals gotta prioritize, no bts fo me ;__;

after waiting two weeks, my application to get leveled up was rejected *cries* time to try again! *^*

okay but really feeling seventeen’s song as well as suran’s song like hIGHKEY

i finally got my commencement tickets the third time that i went to the bookstore third time’s the charm right? also whytf is the parking pass for all campus commencement so huge -_-

hnngh omg that feel when you have hella shit to do TPDW1 final play due week 9 friday because we won’t have class at all on week 10 then there’s the presentation (elevator pitch) that happened today week 9 thursday but also just hauling ass on things for A5 tbh what is this what is everything wot is the meaning of life when vania and i stay up till 3:30am lol… and then there’s me. tired af but didn’t sleep til 4:30 anyways cause i’m a dumbass l e l let’s not be a potato this last week k?

burger king in pc has its own free wifi called WhopperWifi and it’s so much faster than school wifi this is revolutionary

week 9 weekend to irvine irritated on the way over irritated on the way back lol wot is life i should’ve just turned around to go back home

NO TDPW1 WEEK 10 WOOT wow that means i won’t have class until 2pm whoa

“why are you reading math formulas” - yuri i was actually reading bts profiles lOLOL she just dissed their handwritings

Just spent the past hour or so looking at kakao friends merchandise And discovering that apeach is a genetically modified peach lol

that moment when you ask for a png file but get a jpg

dyed my hurr twice today for a darker shade still not what i was going for but this will do for now

Omfg i slept through my alarm until 1pm Goodbye study time?? Also omg i like it pt 2 video SHIT SHIT SHIT THEY KNOW WE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. HAD IT SINCE BAEPSAE DAYS. BUT DIDNT RELEASE IT. Freakin bighit

My request to level up on the fancafe has once again been rejected ); EDIT: oMFG IT’S BECAUSE I DIDN’T CHANGE THE SETTING TO SOMETHING im screaming, what a first world problem THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM AMIRITE

Doesnt feel like it… But thursday was my last time going to class…pretty much like ever unless i go to more school Holy shit

Oh man I didnt think i’d have THAT much shit. But…i think i have A LOT of shit….

saw bts MBIT and i was like omfg! knew that i was INFJ but took the test again yesterday and ended up INFP….but just barely P so i think i’ll stick with INFJ lol EDIT: i took the test again today because vania and yuri were talking about it again and i am still INFP…and more P this time. SO LOST. WHO AM I

put my things up for sale i forgot that i might need my light el oh el crying on the inside cause i want to keep my desk but then i’m selling it off because i don’t think i’ll have space for it and i just CRYING ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE IT’S BEEN WITH ME FOR SO LONG T^T

ON ANOTHER NOTE. THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM LEVELED UP ON JUNE 12TH AT ONE SOMETHING AM

JUNE 12TH FINISHED MY FIRST AND LAST FINAL I AM OFFICIALLY DONE WITH MY UNDERGRADUATE CAREER??? also lmao i spent 45 min on the final wot

i dyed my hair darker but now it’s become lighter? wait wtf wait no go back EDIT: wait no it went back to being dark? is this a thing? when i get exposed to the sun it gets lighter and when i sleep it gets darker??? smh at light for fckin with me

so i set an alarm to watch the bts home party last night for like 3:57am and i didn’t hear it but i guess i kinda did cause i woke up at 4:05am and was like ??? i decided to watch a bit of it but ended up streaming the whole thing until 5:45am looooool also watched the numbers grow from the 500,000 all the way to 2,000,000 and then 3,000,000? it was nuts

omfg all these years of rereading chapters and only now do i realize that i could save bookmarks on mangahere *slaps forehead*

Moment of silence cause i sold my desk that’s accompanied me for almost 10 years It even has battlescars (aka X marks by Jacky, 3 of them) LOL memories ;___; Oh and i guess my chair too

lol was gonna sell that yamaha guitar for $45 but it’s going for like $190 on ebay?? so ima just bring it home

finals week hangout list: tuesday: fud with kimberly, peyton, harry wednesday: more fud with stephanie and ellius thursday: KBBQ FOR LUNCH with jeong, justin, yuri, harry LOOOOL

and so...that’s the end of the quarter. my last quarter of school ever (unless i decide to go to more school...which seems unlikely as of right now) it feels weird.................................. but! onto graduation~ looking forward to being reunited with family and whatever’s gonna hit me in the face LOL

and with that goodbye undergrad, hello world ㅇㅅㅇ