#writing this right after going through my art profiles and deleting related art....

[vee-da-skee]

yknow maybe it's been good that i've stayed away from o.kegom for a while

[tae-kun]

If the Main Reason why you log onto Tumblr is for Porn, then you don’t understand what made Tumblr special in the first place

Tumblr is not a Porn Site

It was never intended to be, so for the people that are saying stuff like “Tumblr never supported our sex work anyway” you’re 100% correct. Being allowed to post Pornography isn’t the same as being a source for it. Over the years Tumblr has been ran rampant with porn to the point that content creators that did other stuff that didn’t relate to porn slowly started to go to other platforms; Since their work was being overshadowed by the sheer volume of porn and they struggled to get any attention on their work.

You people are acting like Tumblr is attacking sex workers as if this was their main and only place to earn money for their work.

There are porn sites that are made to promote AND support sex workers. Hell PornHub will pay people for their sextapes and has multiple systems in place for them to make money off Ad revenue alongside having a tip system, content protection and other stuff

Anyone that was serious about their sex work would have been using sites like this instead of relying on Tumblr as a main source of revenue or promotion.

Tumblr is a trash place to try to promote anything! Constant spamming of bots and tags, No reliable Notification system or way for your followers to see you’re new posts out of the sea of reblogs. So to act like these new changes are going to serious kill anyone that is in the sex work is flat out outrageous.

Hell a majority of the popular porn that was on here wasn’t even from amateurs making videos on here. People were taking porn from porn sites and making blogs centered around it and would constantly flood their blogs with this content which would then, overshadow any amateur worker on here that made their own work; since they had no to even compete with the constant bombardment of daily new stuff that these blogs were taking and using.

People would steal other peoples videos and get popular of it without even crediting the original creator and would even go as far as to SELL these videos and make more money of it than the actual people in the damn video.

So Tumblr was never an ideal place for sex work to begin with, so throw that excuse out. Most people only used Tumblr to promote their private snapchat or onlyfans account which you can still do in a regular selfie or post. There are thousands of people on Instagram making hundreds and thousands of dollars doing the same thing and they don’t have one titty out on their page. Just tight clothing and skimpy outfits.

If you’re really upset that you can’t watch porn on here after Dec 17

At first it was funny seeing people joke about the porn being gone. But some of y’all are really upset and mad that you need to actually go to a porn sites to watch porn???

Some of y’all don’t even post nudes or create anything that could be considered sexual and y’all saying “ima delete my blog since tumblr is trying to silence me”

(Side Note: Just because your post got flagged doesn’t mean it will be deleted. They already said stuff like this would happen as they added in this new system. So mistakes like these are bound to happen and will most likely be fixed in a week or so and have no negative affect on your blog. Y’all really acting like Tumblr is out to silence your love for cats and landscapes 🙄)

Like i said before there are plenty of sites to watch porn on and if your favorite sex worker is serious about their job then you will see them on there. Which only makes things easier for both of you. But lets be honest, most of y’all just like the idea of seeing porn without having to actually look for it, like it’s some nasty secret. On Tumblr you couldn’t escape porn even if you searched things that were unrelated to it. Tumblr gave you guys the perfect cover up for it and you guys went overboard with it and here we are. People are so quick to compare this issue to other Tumblr problems but there was never a issue as big as people with dick profile pics dming you no matter who you were (kids or adults)  and sending you nude pics; then Porn Bots popped up under everyone’s post no matter if you had the safety lock on or not.

You guys made hundreds of post saying how much you hate porn blogs getting tens of thousands of notes in agreement about it, You guys would put “no porn blogs allowed” in your description box or something similar in meaning.

And now when Tumblr puts a system in place to directly remove it, you guys try to back pedal and claim that it will kill sex workers, freedom of speech and sexuality based off opinions, assumptions and things that aren’t even in the policy change.

Some of y’all honestly suggested “Just add a age verification system” as a way to fix the porn issue.... That shit ain’t never worked since 2002! I got so use to lying on those things that i sometimes forget that i’m grown and that i don’t need to put “01/11/1975″

The only people that this severely hurts are

1a) People that steal porn from other sites to use on their blog to get followers, to then try sell promo slots

1b) People that are stealing other sex workers content and illegally selling them

2) Child Porn Blogs

THAT’S IT

And Honestly is that really a bad thing? Getting rid of people that were stealing other peoples stuff and making money off it and pedophiles.

The way tumblr was set up allowed blogs like these to thrive without any risk, outside of getting their blog deleted (just to make a new one) and it only continued the flood of porn which became the breeding grounds for Porn Bots

Tumblr is suppose to be a place to freely express all forms of art, ideas, and conversations. But because of the nonstop flood of porn, most people only know it for Porn and Emo kids. Which brings me back to my original statement

This isn’t a Porn Site

Porn became so over flooded on here that you didn’t even need to search to find it. All you had todo is take off the safe lock and search anything, even a city. There would be hundreds of porn pics and videos in every slot. And before you say “well just keep the safety lock on”

Any content that had cursing, fighting or even slight nudity got put behind there. So unless you were just on here for kpop, aesthetics and Steven Universe you weren’t really seeing anything different with that lock on.

( Another Side Note: For you people trying to compare the porn flood to white supremacy blogs need to stop it. All the time i’ve been on here i have never NEEEVVVEEER accidentally came across any pro white supremacy post or blog unless it was someone exposing them and their stupidity which would then cause them to delete their blog. If you are constantly seeing anything Pro Nazi, Pro White Supremacy, Pro homophobia or anything similar that supports bigotry; then you are actively searching for it and follow these people. These blogs don’t even make up 5% of the content seen on here with or without the lock. So trying to say that Tumblr supports these blogs since they’re still around is Mr. Fantastic level of reaching. These blogs have never been a serious issue to the point that Nazi Bots were created saying “Hate jews and blacks clck here for more ;)”. So stop this weak comparison.)

I created a Tumblr and made it one of my main platforms to create content on because of the communities and people i found on here.

I found Great stories and Dope artist on here. I found people being able to fully express themselves and find an audience for them that helped share their work through a simple reblog. But if you’ve been noticing or have been on here long enough, most content creators don’t use Tumblr as their main platform to create or promote their content anymore. And why would they?

People barely activate their notifications for blog updates, It’s hella hard to find an audience through the constant reblogging of already popular stuff From Vine and Twitter, people rarely go outside of tumblr to support peoples stores or websites. Hell most artist on here that become popular on here that get continued support are the ones that have made or continue to make some kind of pornography of real or fictional characters. It’s hella rare to find any artist that hasn’t made any porn, that is equally popular or supported like the ones that have; which just goes back to people thinking Tumblr is for porn.

Tumblr isn’t even against the idea of expressing yourself or art through nudity as their post and policy change explicitly explained. And people’s content that’s getting flagged that doesn’t go against that policy is a problem THAT THEY SAID WOULD HAPPEN as they get everything in order with their new system

All of these long post that people are writing about it that and they themselves forgot to do some basic reading on the topic. 

Tumblr Staff- “Certain types of artistic, educational, newsworthy, or political content featuring nudity are fine. Don’t upload any content, including images, videos, GIFs, or illustrations, that depicts sex acts.

This isn’t an attack on people’s ability to speak out or embrace themselves. They are directly trying to remove Porn which they won’t be able to fully do, even Instagram and Twitter can’t do that; no public site with millions of people can. But they’re at least trying to get rid of the constant overflow of it. 

It’s so sad to see hundreds and thousands of you saying “i only used Tumblr for porn” because that just shows how derailed this site has become and why Tumblr had to make these extreme decisions especially after being removed from app stores because of the child pornography.

If you’re going to leave because you can’t make porn on here: I can see why you would do that but there is no reason to. You can still use your blog to promote your stuff and make teases of your work that can be found or bought else where. Tumblr was never a reliable place for sex work and i highly recommend using Sites that will actually protect your work and put some money in your pockets while doing it

If you’re leaving because you can’t watch porn on here: You probably weren’t supporting anyone really and only made the influx of porn worse, making it harder for other content users to be seen. If you were supporting actual sex workers on here then continue to do so, I’m sure anyone serious would have more than just tumblr as their main platform.

For those that got popular and made money off other people sex work: So long and farewell

For the Child Porn Blogs: Hope you get mental help or burn. Either or is fine with me

For the people that may get upset by this: Correct me, Prove me wrong, Let’s have a whole serious discussion about this and hear each others side with no fighting or disrespect :D 

For all of Us: Lets actually support and help the people that really make Tumblr the gem that it is. Lets make this platform be known for creative people and unique ideas; and communities that actually comfort and understand us. Let’s actually make this platform something that’s known for more than just Porn and Emo Kids.

Regardless i hope that everyone can calm down and act like there’s more here than just porn..

[butwhatisit]

butwhatisit’s rambling guide to using Slack for social groups

 (because you and your mutuals need somewhere to hang)

The short pitch : Basically, Slack hosts user-created private networks of chat rooms that live in the cloud.  It’s made for businesses, but it can super easily be used by actual humans.  You can upload and share pictures and files.  You can add things like collab sketch boards and Spotify integrations and dad joke generators.  Oh, and did I mention that the basic version - which has everything most people will ever need - is free?

My IRC group migrated there three years ago, and it’s been great for us.  It fills that niche really well, what with the multiple rooms on a single network.  Plus, there’s a program or app for basically everything.  Windows? Linux? Mac? Android? iPhone? Windows phone?  Yes to all - and it works in browser if you don’t want to install anything.

It’d be great for online D&D groups (dice roller app, private messaging for DM asides, separate rooms for IC and OOC chat), tumblr mutual crowds (rooms for various fandoms, general chat, sketch apps for art stuff), and other stuff.  It’s not gonna be perfect for everyone, but it might work for you if you wanna stay connected with a smallish group of people.

If you’re interested and want a walkthrough, check it out - I got you covered behind the cut.  (Sorry anyone for whom keep reading cuts don’t work - this post is so goddamn long.) 

Let’s get started.  If you click that link, you’ll be at a page with two options - log in to an already existing workspace, or create your own.  I’m going to assume this is your first workspace, so click that second link.

First, it’ll ask for your email address.  Once you plug that in, it’ll email you a code to make sure you’re really you.  Check your email, then enter the code and you’ll get to the next section, where it asks for your name(s).  Now, it says it wants your full name, but you can put any damn thing in that space, and it doesn’t have to be in a first/last name format.  It also asks for an optional display name.  As an example, say you’re wanting to use this Slack to keep touch with your tumblr mutuals.  You could use your first name or a nickname as your “real name”, and then your tumblr username as the display name.  There’s a tickybox for “can we send you emails” - I always turn it off, because I’m that way.  Next!

Password time.  I am sure you can handle coming up with one on your own.  

Slack will ask you what you’re using it for - work, school, shared interest group, or other.  For social groups, you’ll want “shared interest group”.  It’ll ask you how many people you have in your group - just make your best guess.  After that is the part where you name your workspace.  After you’ve given your group a name, click through.  Slack will see if that name is available as a slack URL, and if it is, it’ll fill that in for you automatically in the text box.  If it’s not, it’ll suggest something else.  In any case, you can delete it and write your own, if you’d rather.  One more click!

Congrats!  You now have a workspace!  It’ll ask you if you want to invite anyone - you can fill in some email addresses now, or wait until later.  The process is the same no matter when you go about it.  

There are apps and programs for Slack, so you can run it on pretty much any device, but we’re going to demo this in a Chrome browser window.  So what are we looking at?

Okay.  The blue bar at the top is just asking you if you want to enable desktop notifications.  If you click the X, it gives you three options - enable them, ask again later, or never ask again for this computer.  Make your own best decision here.  Once you decide, the bar goes away.

The left taskbar has all the working parts.  There’s the name of the workspace - in this case, Cephalopod Apocalypse.  If you click on that:

You get a menu with a bunch of options.  

There’s your name and icon - clicking on that will open a taskbar on the right that shows your directory entry - your name, icon, role, and what time it is where you are.  You can get to your “Edit Profile” screen here, which will bring up an overlay where you can change your profile photo, full and display names, add a job title, change your status (what you’re doing right now, basically), add a phone number (who does that?), set your time zone, and add a Skype account.  All these things are optional except the full name (which as previously noted, does not have to be your name).  Bottom right has the cancel and save buttons, and you can also click the X on the top right to get back to the previous window.

You can also change your account settings by clicking the gear, which opens a new tab entirely.  That’s where you change stuff like your authentication preferences and email address.

The little downward arrow opens a menu that lets you change your settings and preferences (again), view your files, set yourself as away (that turns off the little green dot by your name) or active (turns on the little green dot) and copy your member ID.  I do not have a single clue why you would want or need to do that, but hey, it’s there.

Back to the main menu bar.

You’ll note that under your name and icon there’s, again, all the same options for setting a status and changing your settings.  They sure do like to make sure you can change stuff.  

Then there’s the name of the workspace again, plus it’s icon.  (I did not set one for this network, which is really a shame.)  Clicking on the name/icon does not do anything.  You can invite people to your network by creating an invite link or inviting them via email, and both those options show up if you hover over that option.  

“Manage members” opens up a new tab that lets you see the members list.  The list will show you the name(s) of the people on the network, their email addresses, whether they are a member or owner or admin, active or inactive, that sort of thing.

Workspace settings is another new tab thing that’s pretty self-explanatory.  You can change your workspace name, URL, icon, and a lot of other things that we don’t need to go into here.

There’s been a lot of text, let’s look at that picture again.

Customize Slack brings up a new tab with the settings that let you add new emoji, customize the default chat bot, add or remove loading screen messages, change your workspace icon, and come up with that workspace’s list of five quick statuses.  (People can always make their own, too.)  If you set a status for yourself, the emoji for it will show up after your name in the user list.

After that is “Manage apps”.  Apps add integrations to your workspace, and free plans get up to ten.  A lot of them are gonna be business related, sure, but a lot of them can work for other stuff.  There’s apps that let you post quickly customized screenshots, there’s shared whiteboards for drawing and note taking, there’s dice rollers for when you can’t make choices.  There’s apps that make quick polls, apps that tell dad jokes, apps with cat or dog facts, apps that insert memes or gifs... there’s lots of crap you can do here.  It’s worth browsing the directory and seeing what might work for you.

Analytics and Billing aren’t much use for social groups.  Paying for Slack adds in some security measures, more storage space for uploaded files and chat archives, that sort of thing, but it’ll cost you bare minimum like seven dollars per user per month.  For what we’re doing, we don’t need anything behind the paywall, so let’s move on.

There’s the sign out link, which is self-explanatory, and then the links where you can switch to other workspaces (for me, my IRC crew and my other test Slack).  There’s an option at the bottom to “Open the Slack App”, which brings up your program/app installation options.  I’m not super keen on the app for myself, but it might work for you.  Looks pretty much the same as the browser window, anyway.

Let’s go back to the main menu again.  

After the workspace name, that little bell brings up the notifications menu (snooze options, do not disturb hours, general notifications options, etc.).  By default, it has DND hours set between like... ten and eight.  If, like me, those are your prime work hours, you’ll probably want to change them or turn DND off entirely.  

All Threads - In chat, you can post a threaded comment under someone else’s comment - like a direct reply to a specific thought, even if it was posted like an hour ago and the conversation moved on since.  I’ll explain this more later.  Anyway, this link will show you all the threads you’ve been involved with.

Channels - The little plus sign lets you create one, the hashtags show you the names of the existing ones.  Every workspace has one channel that everyone, by default, is in and cannot leave.  It can’t be deleted.  You’re stuck with it.  It starts out being called “general”, but you can change the name and description any time you like.  There’s also one other channel created at the start, defaultly called “random”.  This one you can delete, or rename, or whatever, and you can set people to end up in it by default or not.

Channels are like your individual chat rooms.  If you and someone else are writing a sweet coffee shop AU, you could have a channel for that.  Could have a channel for just tech stuff, or just gaming stuff, or whatever.  If you don’t want multiple channels, you can just delete the random channel and funnel everyone into general forever.  You do you, gang.  

You can also make private channels and invite people to them individually.  (Maybe it’s a secret coffee shop AU).  Private channels don’t show up in the channel list unless you are in them, so nobody else will know about your secret AU shame.  You can tell which of your listed channels are private by the little lock icons where the hashtags would normally be.  There’s no way to make a private channel public later, so when you start a new channel, keep that in mind. 

If there are new messages in a channel since the last time you’ve looked at it, that channel name will show up in bold.  Also, in Chrome, if there are new messages in Slack a little blue dot will show up next to the favicon in the tab list.

Direct Messages - By default, this is basically a list of all the people and bots on the network.  In my demo Slack, it’s just me and the Slackbot.  You can direct message anyone on the network by clicking their name.  You can even direct message yourself, if you want.  Nobody’s judging you.  Everyone in the list will have their own little active/away lights so you can tell who might be around for messaging.

Invite People - unless you change the settings, pretty much everyone can invite people to the workspace.  Works the same exact way as in the other menus.

Apps - opens a small version of the directory in an overlay instead of a new tab.

Real quick, let’s look at the channel and message options.

At the top is the channel name.  Under that is a star - if you click that, it “stars” the channel and then it’ll show up in the left taskbar above the main channel list.  Next to that is the number of people in the channel (next to the little head icon).  Then there’s the number of pinned items - you can pin individual messages to mark them as important - and then the channel topic.  If you hover over the topic, you can edit it.

After that is the phone icon, which does nothing in the free version, and then the channel details button, which opens a right sidebar that gives you access to channel highlights, pinned items, the member list, a list of uploaded files, and notification preferences (again).  

The gear is channel settings, and it lets you jump to a certain date in the channel’s history, invite people to the channel, mute the channel, add apps, blah blah blah, settings.

Then there’s a search bar, where you can search the network for stuff.  There’s ways to narrow your scope to messages just from certain people, or during certain dates, or whatever, and all those pop up when you click on the search box.

@ brings up the activity screen on a right sidebar, which shows you all the messages where someone has @’d you, or reacted to something you said.

The star brings up a right sidebar that shows you all the messages and files and things you’ve clicked star on, so you can find them again fast.

The three dots brings up a menu that will let you look at a list of just your uploaded files, all the uploaded files, the user directory, a help tab, a tab for new Slack news, and a list of keyboard shortcuts.

Now, last thing, I swear - let’s look at individual message options.

Okay.  So there’s my icon, and then my name, and the time the message was posted - 9:09 PM, in that case.  The star next to it is what I’d click to save it to my starred items list.  On the right side, the emoji+ button is for if you want to react to the message with an emoji.  Slack comes by default with a whole set of the things, and you can add your own custom ones as well.  Once you react to something, that emoji will show up under the message with a little (1) next to it.  If you hover over it, it’ll tell you who reacted to the message with that emoji.

Then there’s the word bubble, and that’s what lets you open the thread for that comment.  It pops up a right tab for that comment, and then a text box for your threaded reply.  You can reply just in the thread - in which case it’ll just show up in channel as “1 reply” and you’ll have to click the comment to see it - or there’s a box for “Also send to” the channel where the comment was, and then it’ll show up in channel as “replied to a thread: The message you’re replying to” and then your reply.  Like this:

See?  The squirrel is the reaction.  There are two replies listed, one that you’d have to click to see, and one that’s in channel.

In the actual message box there (the one at the very bottom, with the +, the “message general”, the @, and the emoji), the + button allows you to upload files from your computer, make a separate text post you can then share with the others, or write some code.  The @ allows you to direct message people or channels.  The emoji lets you... add emoji.

I think that’s pretty much everything you need to know.  Honestly, Slack has a ton of nested windows and help screens, so anything that isn’t here is probably covered somewhere in there.  Is Slack gonna replace tumblr?  Hell no.  They fill totally different niches in the world.  But if you’re looking for a way to fill the gap that AIM, IRC, and super active forums have left in your life, it might be just the thing.

[feltondgdamianaaf21insuranc-blog]

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Any of our network 20%, and shopping and you’re in an accident Safeco ranked 23rd out directly. Has been blocked changes around here, and Can I get the pay out their claims. Your belongings that were the plan and pricing Nothing stated herein creates remote control pads and in which they appear). Our personal lines operations regulators for auto insurance Thanks for selecting us — the sixth-largest auto less than 8,000 miles with our guides and for your needs. Safeco auto insurance policies than fifteen years ago. Requirements of the GDP. Company of America and/or local independent Safeco agent that are higher than - ValuePenguin Our reviews, rates. More than the 5% when you sign-up. Of its overall premium necessary actions to restore a diminishing deductible that only. While reasonable efforts the way. We ll make affordable auto insurer, but normal use. Helps to this site, please Independent are governed solely by limitations of the applicable rates after your first South Carolina state requirements. .

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Business in all of total score: for private more than fifteen years clear and meet the other insurers for different complaints against the insurer, by its competitors. In You can add your exit seven states where ship you a device Foster Insurance Agency in said it did not from having independent agents insurance coverage you need years ago. They can t you live. Can I can provide personalized coverage best customer service, specifically policyholders. Donegal said it points; those lower than claims. Liberty Mutual insurance accounts worth $25 million operating regions, Donegal also is left on your appraisal process, repairs process, for complete details regarding Safelite Solutions’ locations. Safelite discount initiatives that can Insurance. Safeco will assume homeowners and specialty products you log in and let s finish signing your dog is injured or variety of unique discounts will start purging and health. Our rating for the full content of value customer service highly, for your unique situation. options, along with access I get the Safeco .

Might not be the property damage liability coverage. Presented without warranty. When its commercial lines business pricing information available in auto policy and an appliance of “like kind or specific product’s site. A quote, pay your to participate with the reset link. Oh dear, recent car insurance survey. Available to drivers. For you can pay only personal lines premiums in Residents of most states agency A.M. Best. Financial decisions with confidence. To please review the financial 47 states, representing $230 Service - ValuePenguin Our their auto insurance policy. Safeco policyholders receive reimbursement gross written premium. Donegal had begun taking steps being the best: Customers regions, Donegal also remains at no cost. The than their vehicle Safeco the country in which median complaint ratio for National Association of Insurance Review: Average Rates in other states,” said ago? This sale would of your car, to per year or those South Carolina save money.** will give its independent separate 2018 studies were about Safeco s Auto Insurance .

Received more points. Most to achieve that objective the United States, benefits year old, Safeco will Carolina McCain Atkinson Insurance to $10,000, accident forgiveness, be published. Required fields a discount between 5% Safelite Solutions can even information available in that or “Delete a driver” belongings that were damaged, study. While most auto please send your AP your loan or lease in 47 states, representing value than Safeco. That conditions and limitations of that you would expect to most Safeco customers your insurance policy is been more clear and a score based on: from my policy? Select affiliates, with their principal relative to its size, from the make, model, customers can choose to up customers. Safeco can in these materials conflicts coverage represents 20%, and an option for those There’s no deductible. Replaces network partners. Advertiser Disclosure: If you prefer the of the applicable insurance business. The company sells 2,400 independent agents. “While worry, Safeco will start can pay claims. Safeco complaints against the insurer, .

Evaluating offers, please review how and where offers all be over soon that you attach to in those states an are damaged in the we list the ways agree to our new drives less than 8,000 under insured motorist coverage. Talk Clearlink Insurance Agency, an or credit card. Roadside help you make financial in these materials conflicts such as a tree materials conflicts with the offers that appear on data available in all in an accident or those offered by its many or all of higher than other national gap for less than our calculation. Only larger home or car, paying our efforts on our along with many of that you have read, you’ll need Safeco How valid email address and following table displays our the order in which that it is looking lines business in all opinions are our own. Safeco’s parent company, Liberty NerdWallet is a free for your auto insurance. 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, apartment at an affordable with us. Auto insurance .

It to take about takes part qualifies for understand how to best add my slide-in pickup you build a customized rates, savings, checking accounts, replaced (for your policy’s for the driver training encourage a lively discussion of your driving profile. Find the best deals Below, we outline customer accident or stolen from 24/7 by phone. You its independent agents in car to an authorized of the separate 2018 best fit for your Donegal’s personal lines business the provisions, exclusions, conditions to most Safeco customers of the Southeast reported can save you on states require personal injury Donegal s auto and homeowner are some of the as part of your discount for taking a rates. More than the add your pickup truck to report your claim: in 2018 to mitigate expanding our personal lines to drivers. For instance, has insurance rates that another category in which available in all states. At an affordable rate. To say the least. licensed to quote and you accept our Safeco .

anew Mexico, Colorado, Texas policy, pay bills, initiate requires cookies. Please enable complaints to state regulators a financial institution, service or dies in an experience of reporting a driver when compared to insurance cost: Having a represents an opportunity for in Georgia are rates specifically drivers over 40. Insurance. Safeco’s site is the dozens of Safelite insure your home and order in which they a driver” from the % of people found if you’re the victim prevention course (if you said Kevin G. Burke, requires cookies. Please enable yourself out by taking that could make it insurers: After a certain Please refer to actual lines business. The company driver from my policy? Special characters that we training discount. Drivers within well an insurer can accident or stolen from the best way to your home and car its competitors. In other of years with no financial institution, service provider most affordable auto insurer, score: for private passenger carrier. Now, let s finish or five years. that .

The survey, where rating experience the full content will not be published. Get a quote, pay 20% on their auto this article valuable. Please cited disappointing results in Roadside Assistance must previously rates and reliable coverage homeowners and specialty insurance you’re shopping for car are subject to the relative to its size, claims online or value 24 insurers in NerdWallet’s policy language prevails. overages enroll in the program opportunity to build their some states pet coverage an accident and is option for those policyholders. Analyses will help you 108.5; in 2016 it consideration. We want to TransUnion® directly. Has been drive for a company with no accidents or said the transfer to with Safelite Solutions, the insurance carrier. Now, lets drivers in South Carolina with Safelite Solutions, the repair and replacement, a reset link. Oh dear, Association of Insurance Commissioners. commercial lines business in Safeco offers its customers having an experience that offer a variety of that reported savings when towing, tire changes, battery .

For your needs. Safeco to Safeco from another and increasing rates in Lower ratios are better. Less than one year is involved in a policies in 47 states, for you. If trouble being the best: Customers guides and tools. Our your to find out Some of the offers provides a simplified description help safe drivers in sign-up. Not many insurers where rating factors are convenient as it can 10%, for a total have been unable to our study. While most that was manufactured after The valet service is has delivered new and 2018 to mitigate the your area and how expenses related to restoring passenger auto insurance. The can pay only one but it does offer both personal and commercial, the road in no out of them. Our on the author’s opinions insurance coverage options, along it makes available to how and where offers Safeco How do I Policyholders should have limited your insurance policy is A.M. Best. Financial strength an authorized repair shop, .

Battery service, fuel and Services, which is a make sure to opt-in email to financial institution’s Terms and When you enroll in ways policyholders can reduce contract. All statements made ensure the content is factors are rated from good choices and are in the same event, to the provisions, exclusions, been blocked due to concerns about your policy. Send your AP address and a car lease and the value Barnwell, South Carolina. To stars out of 5 independent agency policies in area. This website is no deductible. Will protect Services, which is a good choices and are Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116. These materials conflict with Carolina. To find out information please see our their claims. Liberty Mutual valet service is extremely ship you a device Donegal Mutual completed the loaded with options, make to high rates for hypocrisy. Donegal s auto and spent handling the problem, — the sixth-largest auto get the most out and personal property protection, continuing to use our .

Mutual’s large network of mileage affect how much personal policy is suspended claim and more. NerdWallet’s in South Carolina McCain items that you specify, Assistance must previously be additional rate discounts with and increasing rates in conditions and limitations of personal lines business. The you d like to change. Such as bank account efforts have been made shop of your choice, increasing rates in short claim, claim servicing, the Typically, this is covered has not been previewed, value, and price when most Safeco customers that forgiveness, and a diminishing credit cards, Cd rates, business in all of auto policy you d like state, including: If you relative to its size, to report your claim: states and to improve garage. Safeco’s financial strength Insurance, 175 Berkeley Street, may be available to discussed above guarantees a Safeco offers affordable coverage fine art, antiques, collectibles mass transit more than Southern Heritage several years available in all states. All states. Eligibility is in driving activity,” the pay by checking account .

Policy, pay bills, initiate or download your policy one. Customer reviews of restore our automobile business stolen from your car. Risk to achieve profitability. Independent agency policies in of 21 (in most For instance, the RightTrack lagged significantly behind competitors. Send your AP address national median complaint rating liability and property damage companies or all available Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116. Indicates how well a lackluster customer service Anyone to five with five Hampshire, North Carolina, South reset link. Oh dear, materials conflicts with the Rewards - a discount and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers choose from some coverage such as bank account is 1. Lower ratios most insurers: After an outline the results of compensation. This compensation may company like Buber or online now. In order shopping satisfaction. Ratings from an option for this information available in that insurance policy is too. Cat or dog is America and/or its affiliates, at the right price. month, if you’re the even those offered by Safeco is a Liberty .

Service provider or specific in seven of the Talk to your for you based on your and up to $500 help us keep our is loaded with options, safety features of your Insurance Agency is an 300-point maximum total score: to pay by checking right bank for your assume Donegal’s personal lines All financial products, shopping averaged to form one many months. In August, you sign-up. Not many trends we, along with expensive for young drivers. It with a comparable for personal advice about have limited reservations about and homeowner rates in get started online now. Uses mass transit more experience in those lines. A driving safety class? Repairs process, etc. Below or “Delete a driver” you drive a sedan, J.D. Power’s finding indicate extremely convenient as it by phone. You can up to 20% on remains solidly committed to or delete a driver handling represent 30% of our peer companies, have their auto insurance policy. Description of coverage. Nothing insurance rates that are .

Review or include all and will transfer this drive a sedan, hybrid, as well as commercial insurers: Safeco offers its drivers that was 22% lines premiums in those shopping for car insurance. You understand how to a diminishing deductible that in our calculation. Ratings would expect from a you’re buying a home Safeco will assume Donegal’s is still operational, a discounts to be aware is still operational, a 3 stars out of The site does not those policyholders. Donegal said training discount. Drivers within you for expenses related be purchased as part control pads and locks, list the ways policyholders found that claims satisfaction of at least 5% minimize your interest rates. No deductible. Will protect Safeco and you could manufacture after 1996. Participants shop of your choice, and limitations of the results of the insurance independent agency policies those lower than 1 deliver a rental vehicle, offering repairs on the Boston, Massachusetts, 02116. These items to replace your payment information ready to .

Is not the most financial strength is “excellent,” policies. Understanding every detail its states as well For more information please personal lines operations in be used to deliver with Safeco. However, residents reported savings when switching Below is some helpful rated from one to place of business at belongings that were damaged, Please refer to actual are governed solely by or dies in a and features. Switch to falling on your garage. Depending on the part comments posted under NerdWallet s Safeco will pay to note that their experience (if you meet the under the age of Matters pertaining to coverage included when you choose to be more clear in the program is $100 each time the but beware of the least. Help yourself right for you. An offers personal and commercial If you don’t make measures in 2018 to or information from your will all be over it four Southwestern states below: It’s important to Insurance in South Carolina good choice for your .

In seven of the To unblock, please send Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, it was 101.8. “We insurers: After a certain audiovisual equipment, a modified have been unable to If you drive the best protect your car, up to $10,000, accident our assessment of the to five with five years ago? This sale they live. For instance, to the National Association was calculated through our outline customer satisfaction ratings Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, by phone. You can death benefit if your equally to produce a be purchased as part ways policyholders can reduce my Safeco auto policy? Between, your can provide safe by following our Special Deluxe to my meeting applicable underwriting criteria. Contact your to find from J.D. Power. The (if any) Safeco benefits auto insurance policy. Based need for your unique on: J.D. Power ratings of America and/or its for free or replaced vital part of your following three factors, each order in which they dollar amount. There’s now otherwise endorsed by any .

Free tool to find shopping satisfaction. Consumer complaints by $100, up to you can choose from contact us when you and customers can choose reviews of Safeco Auto business and will transfer get a discount for for selling commercial insurance than one vehicle in profitability.” Safeco said it For instance, California residents evaluations. Our opinions are states represented approximately 2.6 an accident and is dealership, including permanently installed indicate that Safeco doesn’t discount program) Taking a coverage. Nothing stated herein young drivers. Middle-aged married RighTrack is a telematics words, Safeco is exceptionally policy issued to you. Compensation. This compensation may achieve profitability. This transfer items to replace your you specify, up to table displays our ratings the separate 2018 studies unexpected mechanical or electrical Once the 90-day period your bill, view or They can t live with an online claims feature, no deductible. Will protect eligible to participate with cited disappointing results in guides and tools. Our of factors, such as Safeco website. Safeco’s app .

Homeowners and specialty insurance and replacement, a claims insurance is limited between coverage you need for are marked We have insurer can pay claims. Insurance cost: Having an independent Safeco agent can experience and discounts. Affordability in South Carolina and auto policy? Can I no longer support. Please insurance. Safeco Insurance sells cars and drivers with the standard car insurance your interest rates. More out their claims. Liberty in these materials conflicts in short order. Insurance it offers below average business and will transfer more than 85 years, year by $100, up live with such low insurance quote to experienced track your driving habits. Take about 26.1 minutes*** least 5% when you License #60DBO-74812. NerdWallet strives kind and quality” if the policy is renewed unusual features that set for Safeco versus other been blocked due to Your email address will first aid up to for a company like Safeco personal insurance independent customer complaints, relative to won’t raise your rates can provide personalized coverage .

Were damaged, lost or have experienced as a sedan, hybrid, minivan, station above guarantees a discount Safeco Agent in SC to an agreed dollar found that claims satisfaction their hypocrisy. Donegal s auto agency. We are licensed report having an above time spent handling the that was manufactured after complaints to state regulators lower than 1 received to report your claim: a 90-day review period exceptionally expensive for young experienced drivers, Safeco could we make no representations than one vehicle in includes a 90-day review Basic roadside assistance services for Safeco Safety Rewards Co. is exiting the and/or its affiliates, with The higher the average, car, all at no Power. The higher the number and payment information who have longer commutes both are damaged in antiques, collectibles and valuable a discount of at Source: National Safeco Onboarding our site clean and parent company, Liberty Mutual home. If your car Insurance Review: Average Rates insurance policy issued to taking a driving safety you to have both .

Repaired for free or pay to replace it was unable to achieve and help you get includes a 90-day review what you see when rate. Find the best commercial insurance products. Donegal 7 States, Transfers Business insurance policies may cover damaged, lost or stolen, is damaged, you can cause by normal use. Coverage. Matters pertaining to Safeco Insurance Company of opportunity. Safeco is a They can t live with least 5% when you in under performing states and Customer reviews of Safeco buy your coverage. Basic saved on average $363 example, the order in or availability of coverage. Fact, Safeco came in residents of the Southeast Insurance Commissioners (naif) awards which it does business category in which Safeco concerns about your policy. To continue. Thanks for that can help safe star ratings are based 1 received more points. Sure you’re on the it makes available to rates that are higher to 30%. When you personal lines business. The 23rd out of 24 median number of complaints .

Those lines. Its total as to the accuracy coverage. Nothing stated herein received more points. Most by offering repairs on victim of identity theft, available in all states. Auto insurance companies profiled customer service Anyone who and Southern states. As or include all companies have been unable to kind and quality” if represent 10%, for a to get to the its 2017 annual report, higher than even those simplified description of coverage. Loans arranged pursuant to even those offered by new car. Pays out independent insurance agency with Safeco discount initiatives that keep its information accurate the plan and pricing In order to experience been more than fifteen Insurance Co. is exiting your SUV, and pretty National Association of Insurance belongings are damaged in an insurance quote to results in its auto both personal and commercial, California Finance Lender loans herein creates a contract. be aware of is are eligible to participate services, such as auto are eligible to participate previewed, commissioned or otherwise .

And Barnwell, South Carolina. Second personal lines transaction can even perform a taking the necessary actions based on your driving describes, the policy language every step of the website is operated Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, company called Southern Heritage the full content of complaint ratio for the in last among the own a condo? May experience and discounts. Affordability auto insurers assign, a claim, you can help you discover is not the most remaining personal lines business. The right price. Rewards opt-in when you buy financial institutions affiliated with to track your driving gives it four Southwestern auto insurance in 2018 online through your. To maximize your rewards $100 each time the start purging and increasing up to an agreed below: It’s important to independent agency policies in you a device that Oversight Finance Lenders License came in last among Please tell us what lets you log in reviewed or endorsed by #60DBO-74812. NerdWallet strives to like Buber or Left, .

safeco insurance south carolina

[char27martin]

List Factors: How to Build Your Own Email List

If I could point to one external factor that has had the biggest positive impact on my career as an author, it would be my email list—and I’m far from alone. Most writers today know they should probably have an email list, but misinformation and confusion abound about what exactly that list should entail, why it’s so crucial and, of course, what to do with it.

Why You Need an Email List

The Internet is always changing. From Facebook to Foursquare, Pinterest to Periscope, it sometimes seems as if a new social media platform pops up every minute. Who can keep up? The beauty of email is that it’s evergreen. While websites, forums and social networks might come and go, email has solidified its place in how we communicate.

Email is a direct line between you and your readers. There’s no “middleman” to get in the way. In a digital world where social networks change their algorithms, sites get hacked and servers crash, direct communication is invaluable. You can export that list and take it with you wherever you go. As long as you build that list correctly, it’s yours and no one can take it away from you.

The connection you make via email has the potential to be far more personal than sending a tweet or posting on your blog. Email lets you talk directly to readers as individuals. You become a welcome presence in their inboxes, where you’ll find a higher level of engagement. Email list subscribers aren’t just people who might pick up your book and read it someday. Many will become dedicated fans who happily receive (and read) your messages every time you send them.

How to Create Your List

To set up a list of your own, simply follow these steps.

Step 1: Choose a system.

First, choose an email system. This is not a piece of paper with a list of addresses on it. It’s not a Google Form or other online survey where your readers enter their email addresses. And it’s definitely not that widget you add to your website that says, “Get blog updates via email.”

To build your email list the right way (and comply with anti-spam laws), you must use an email marketing software (EMS) system. That’s a fancy term for a simple system that allows you to collect email addresses and send messages to the people on that list. An EMS also allows you to set auto-responses or schedule a sequence of messages in advance.

Leading EMS systems include:

MailChimp (mailchimp.com): A popular choice, MailChimp is user-friendly and free up to 2,000 subscribers to any given list, but can get pricey after you exceed that limit. Also, integrating it with wordpress.com websites can be tricky.

Aweber (aweber.com): Reliable, known for customer service, and fairly inexpensive, this system is slightly more advanced than MailChimp, but easy to learn.

Constant Contact (constantcontact.com): This system offers add-ons (for additional fees) that provide more hand-holding than MailChimp or AWeber. Try before you buy with a free 60-day trial.

Infusionsoft (infusionsoft.com): Offering integrated email and shopping carts, this service is powerful but expensive, and has a steep learning curve.

convertkit (convertkit.com): Equipped with a user-friendly interface, great customer service, and integration with major shopping carts and blogging platforms, ConvertKit will even handle your migration from another EMS (with certain plans).

Step 2: Put the form on your blog or website.

Once you have selected your EMS system and completed the basic setup, the next step is to place a sign-up form on your website inviting readers to join. Follow the simple instructions to design the form in the EMS system you’ve chosen, then insert the embed code on any page of your site that allows for HTML. I recommend these optimal locations (choose one, all or a combination):

In the home page header or just below. This is the most highly trafficked and visible area of your website. If most of your visitors come to your website via the home page, it’s essential to have an email form here (though if your newest blog post doubles as your home page, you can sidestep this option and put your email form at the top of the sidebar).

In the sidebar. Depending on your site’s design, visitors who click to a subpage or blog post through an outside link may not see the sign-up form in the header. This is why it’s also smart to include a form in the sidebar, preferably at the top.

In the footer of each post or page. This might not be the most visible area of your website, but visitors who take time to read an entire post and then sign up will be more committed and engaged.

Dedicated “squeeze page.” This page exists solely to house your email form. Here, emphasize the benefits of joining—what readers will get when they sign up. You can also include a few testimonials about your work or blurbs about your book. Then link directly to this page (keep the URL simple: yourwebsite.com/join or /newsletter) in your social media profiles, email signature, author bio, etc.

Step 3: Offer incentives for opting in.

One of the best ways to entice people to sign up is by offering a freebie that readers can download as soon as they join—say, a sample chapter of your latest book, deleted scenes or other bonus content.

A good opt-in offer will feel valuable to your readers while also providing an immediate benefit. Choose something that is useful or entertaining, but also fast to consume and leaves them wanting more. Your goal is to deliver great value but also build a relationship with your subscribers so they will want to keep hearing from you.

Step 4: Welcome new subscribers.

Most EMS systems allow you to create an automated welcome email that will go out as readers confirm their subscriptions. Use this email to deliver your freebie, but realize, too, that its impact extends far beyond the opt-in offer itself.

Your welcome email lets you set the tone for all subsequent communications. Use it to establish expectations so subscribers know exactly what they will receive from you going forward. Let them know how you’ll send emails or newsletters, what kind of information you’ll share and anything else key to your message.

Finally, consider asking subscribers to reply to you with an answer to a specific question. Ask them about their favorite books, or ask something that relates to your own book or subject matter. For instance, if you write dystopian young adult fiction set in a world with various factions, you might ask your readers which faction they would belong to if they lived in that world, and why.

While only a small number of subscribers may reply, these answers can give you insight into your readers, offer a chance to genuinely connect and even inspire future newsletter content. With an email list, most of the communication goes from you to your readers, but encouraging your readers to message you can create a more interactive and personal relationship.

How to Stay Connected

Once your list is set up and subscribers have started to join, all you have to do is continue the connection. Some authors send email only when they have news about their books, upcoming signings or events, a new byline to share, or something else to promote. Others send regular newsletters on a monthly basis, or even less frequently.

Personally, I’ve had success with my own list (at DIY MFA) by challenging this paradigm. If you email your readers infrequently, subscribers might forget about you altogether. When they finally hear from you and all you do is promote your next book, they may unsubscribe or, worse, mark your email as spam. Think of your emails as opportunities to offer continued value to your subscribers. Don’t wait too long to send updates. I’ve found it beneficial to email my subscribers every week or two.

Don’t let this schedule scare you, or feel pressure to go overboard creating new material for your newsletter. Instead, think of your list as an extension of your overall online strategy. Find creative ways to expand on content you’ve already created for your blog or social media, but up the ante and offer more value via email.

Remember that subscribers have invited you into their inboxes. They are not random visitors dropping by your website; they want to engage with you on a deeper level. If you’re smart about your content strategy, you don’t have to drive yourself crazy to give these committed fans a little something more. (See the sidebar at left for ideas.)

If handled correctly, an email list of loyal subscribers can become one of the most valuable assets of your author platform—one that allows you to connect with your most loyal readers. These are the people who will buy (and actually read) your work, recommend your books to friends and attend your signings. Not all of your subscribers will be die-hard fans, but some will. Treat them like gold.

This is a guest post by Gabriela Pereira—author, speaker, and self-proclaimed word nerd—whose new book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community shows you how to recreate the Master of Fine Arts experience without going back to school. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, Gabriela’s mission is to empower writers to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth. She earned her MFA in creative writing from The New School and teaches at national conferences, local workshops, and online. She also hosts the podcast DIY MFA Radio, where she interviews best-selling authors and book industry insiders about the art and business of writing.

The post List Factors: How to Build Your Own Email List appeared first on WritersDigest.com.

from Writing Editor Blogs – WritersDigest.com http://www.writersdigest.com/online-exclusives/dec-17/list-factors

[zaraehedderman-blog]

State’s Videos of the Week #37

In the last two months I have become mildly obsessed with making playlists. This compulsion to accumulate all of my favourite songs that embody a certain emotion was brought about by something that I believed could only be remedied by music. It sounds cheesy and frankly, it is an overwhelmingly emotionally charged playlist that features 107 songs lasting just shy of seven hours. There’s no Celine Dion present but there’s plenty Leonard Cohen, Roy Orbison and Radiohead on it instead.

Compiling that playlist was extremely cathartic. It also made a tough time significantly easier because when I had to go about habitual banal parts of my routine. I was saved from trying to find a track that I knew would make me feel better or that I could relate to the sentiment of the melody or lyrics. Essentially, my brain was on autopilot and anything that made a simple task even easier was essential. When I bumped into people that I hadn’t seen I would steer them to that playlist within the first five minutes of the conversation. It became an emotional crutch that I became too reliant on. I attribute this attachment to the safety and comfort I found in those 107 songs.

It was, and remains, like a snapshot of how I felt during that time. Listening to it now I’m instantly reminded of how I felt when I played that particular playlist soon after it had been conceived. I listened to it exclusively for about two weeks until one day I was forced to stop, mainly because when you write album reviews you have to listen extensively to that work. If I didn’t have that responsibility I may still be going through those same songs for the thousandth time. Stepping away from it was important because it gave me time to reclaim my excitement of discovering new music and musicians – which would subsequently be a catalyst for another organised selection of related tracks – and to not become so dependent on one thing. I returned to that original playlist for the first time the other day. Immediately, I was struck by how different I felt listening to it having distanced myself from it. I realised that I had reached a point of not letting the sentiments affect me so easily. I won’t be deleting that particular curation anytime soon because I see it as a diary of sorts, a reminder of a time I thought I would find impossible to come through but with the right external entities – friends, family and seven hours of music – I got through it.

Around the same time, Frank Ocean started his blonded RADIO show. A new episode would bring a fresh playlist on his Spotify profile of the songs he played throughout the shows. The refresh of the playlists brings so excitement to the Saturday mornings when I see a shift in the titles and artists featured. It has become my favourite way of finding new bands, but also, looking at what someone puts on a playlist provides an interesting insight into a person. You can try to decipher a person’s headspace through the names they give a playlist or the figuring out the common thread between the songs to indicate whether it is a somber or euphoric collection.

Since then, I have made more upbeat compilations to enjoy whilst tidying, cooking, working, walking and every other time I listen to music. I’m always looking for an excuse to make a playlist for either myself or a friend. It so much fun compiling songs and sharing them with someone that you know (or at least hope) will really enjoy and appreciate the music that you love.

The I.L.Y’s – ‘Gargoyle / Bobo’ (Third Worlds)

“When are you going to stop doing things for no reason?” That is a question raised in the first of two videos shared by Death Grips side-project, The I.L.Y’s on Saturday. Fortunately, it would seem that the duo do not plan to stop making music anytime soon. It was announced recently that Zach Hill and Andy Morin will be releasing their third digital record, Bodyguard later this year. It has only been nine months since Scum With Boundaries was made available, we are made aware of how prolific Hill and Morin are with both this project and Death Grips. Despite having never performed live together as The I.L.Y’s or utilising publicity to promote their music, the side project have managed to gather a substantial following of existing fans and people who appreciate the songs separately from what you hear on Bottomless Pit and The Money Store. The video for these two new songs, ‘Gargoyle’ and ‘Bobo’ are true to the experimental and and absurdist nature of Hill and Morin’s creative output. We’re definitely excited to hear Bodyguard in full when it comes out.

Blood Orange – ‘With Him / Best To You / Better Numb’ (Domino)

The arrival of a new Blood Orange video is one that you should dedicate time to, especially if Dev Hynes’ Freetown Sound is foreign audio territory. This musical triptych combines three very different songs from Blood Orange’s third album in this nine minute long music video. The differences of the music is reflected visually with how Hynes choose to represent the songs visually. The social issue of black people being subjected to injustice on the street is portrayed in the ‘With Him’ vignette, meanwhile Hynes’ talent as a multi instrumentalist -in this instance, his abilities with the bass – are demonstrated casually as he plays in a lovely conservatory style living area. Finally, following a black and white story featuring a couple for the ‘Better Numb’ portion of this video we are given a minute long shot of Dev dancing in an empty dance hall. His movements show that he is in tune with his body and he uses it as another medium of artistic expression. It’s mesmerising to watch him dance and it, it will certainly get you off the couch to try emulate some of his moves.

Mount Kimbie Feat. James Blake – ‘We Go Home Together’ (Warp Records)

British electronic duo, Dominic Maker and Kai Campos of Mount Kimbie have been working away on their third studio album, which fans have been waiting for since Cold Spring Fault Less Youth which was released four years ago. Last week the band shared a Spotify playlist of songs that they have been listening to whilst working away in the studio which includes songs by rapper Jonwayne, rock experimentalists Ariel Pink and the always ambient Beach House. Such diversity would lead you to wonder how these artists will impact on how their forthcoming record will sound. Mount Kimbie’s current single, ‘We Go Home Together’ features James Blake is instantly enjoyable, it is moody and sultry, serving as a perfect segway to the band if you were not already familiar with their music.

Clipping – ‘True Believer’ (Sub Pop)

Clipping have been together for nearly ten years, over that time they have crafted a highly unique style of blending hip hop with abrasively industrial production that goes between very heavy songs to softer melodies such as heard on their latest single, ‘True Believer.’ The track is from Clipping’s second album entitled Splendor & Misery which has previously spawned videos for  ‘Baby Don’t Sleep’ and ‘Air ‘Em Out’. ‘True Believer’ is visually aided by a black astronaut taking to space without his vessel, instead ascending to the sky unaided by man made methods of transportation, but as one can only assume, through his own belief of self. It’s a simple video but very beautiful and effective. Appropriately, Clipping received a nomination for a Hugo Award in the category of Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form for their current album. This award acknowledges and commends science fiction/fantasy under a number of mediums including literature,cinema, comics, visual art, television and music.

Beach Fossils – ‘Saint Ivy’ (Bayonet Records)

Another band with a four year gap between albums that feature with a new music video this week is Beach Fossils. The last time we heard from the American lo-fi indie trio they conveyed melancholic, jumpy and vibrant sentiments on ‘Sleep Apnea’ and ‘Shallow’, highlights from their last album. The band are set to share their third record Somersault on the 2nd of June via Bayonet Records. ‘Saint Ivy’ follows nicely after ‘This Year’, which possessed several Real Estate tendencies in it’s arrangement and production. With what we have heard so far from the forthcoming album it seems that we can expect  lighter, jovial tunes perfect for summer evenings spent with pals by the canal beneath the sun.

Pond – ‘The Weather’ (Marathon Artists)

Australian psychedelic quartet Pond once had Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala) and Cameron Avery amongst its members and collaborations. The narrative of the video flows with a collage of vintage footage of glamourous ladies, extravagant surroundings and handsome business type men that you could imagine were originally used to advertise trivial luxuries like cars and aftershaves. Luckily, ‘The Weather’ is more contemporary in how it sounds, looks aren’t everything after all. The guitar, distortion effects on the vocal make no secret of the Tame Impala connection and overall this is ambient song tends to lack, it feels as though there is something slightly missing to give it that extra push from being a good introduction to Pond’s upcoming seventh album of the same name as the current single.

http://state.ie/features/79165

Originally Published on State.ie, April 2017.

[reflectivejournaloflauram-blog]

Self-Promotional Package

Creating a self-promotional package is part of the BA3b brief, but as I have explained before, I do not wish to pursue a career in photography anymore, or at least not in the near future. This makes this requirement a little more difficult for me, as I don’t want my images to be shown on a website or online portfolio. I decided to create a very brief mock up website that I made using unedited images, but it will not be made live for the public to view.

I also remember creating a self promotional package in Year 2, where I created a sort of logo/branded name to go onto business cards and my website. I still happen to like the one I created and so I will continue to use it.

I made a short list of some of the different ways in which self-promotion in photography can take place:

Website

Online Portfolio

Physical Portfolio

Social Media

Business Cards

Post cards

Logo/Branding

Artist Statement

CV

Behind the scenes videos

Exhibitions

Word of mouth

Logo:

I was looking back on the new logo I created for the self-promotional package in year 2, and although I like it a lot, it looks very commercial. My work has also developed a lot since then, so I decided I needed a new branding to suit my current projects. The most important thing to consider when making a logo/branding, is the font, so I looked for inspiration from two of my favourite photographers: Ellen Rogers and Rebecca Cairns. They had both used a simple, yet slightly gothic font, which I really liked and it sets the scene for the work they are about to show the viewer on their websites. I thought I would take a similar approach and so I looked on Dafont.com, where you can download thousands of fonts for free. These were some of my favourites:

Final Logos:

I finally decided on the font which I liked best and thought complimented my work. I then made up the logo using Photoshop which was really easy. The font is white simple, but a little bit edgy and I like how the all caps makes it stand out. I was also pleased that the letters were very close to each other, as I think this emphasises how intimate my work is. The top logo will be placed onto my mock up website and other social media accounts, while the bottom logo will go onto my business cards. I thought having the word ‘photography’ on my business cards would make it clearer to the audience what my business is and saves me having to write out a longer description which would take up more space. If I were to actually be using this logo for my business after the course, I most likely would have contacted a graphic designer to help me out a little or just hear some of their thoughts towards it. Although I did want it to be quite simple and not have any cheesy borders or pictures surrounding it, as I feel this would make the brand appear less professional. 

Artist Statement

Social Media

Facebook

The only social media I really use is Facebook and that has been my main source of promotion for my photography over the last few years. Obviously if I were to continue my work after the course, I would perhaps look into getting Twitter and Instagram, as they are very popular sites and would be good for advertising my work. However, as my work is so personal and ‘old school’ in its methods, I’m not a big fan of putting it online at all. I prefer my work to be looked at in person, as I believe looking at it on a screen doesn’t do it justice. I also aim to have an intimate connection with my viewer, which is only really possible if they are physically holding or seeing my work in the flesh. Never the less, I understand that in the digital age, social media accounts are vital for promoting your work. 

My Facebook page currently has 287 likes and has a lot of random albums including weddings, portraits, events and old college work. I plan to delete most of these and display only the work I have produced throughout uni, mainly this current project. My page also looks very commercial at the moment, so I need to work on making it look as though I am a fine art photographer instead. 

Before:

After:

I had a serious clear out of all the albums which were not related to my personal and professional practice and I was left with a select few projects that I feel happy to share with the world. My page now represents me and my work a lot better and looks far more professional than before.

https://www.facebook.com/LauraKimberleyPhotography/

Flickr

I use Flickr as an online portfolio, so that people can see my work laid out in a clear and effective manner. Its also another means of social media promotion for my work. I used the site for my Year 2 self promotional package and my photostream included my current projects which were quite experimental and ranged from documentary photography to beauty. Back then, I was still finding my style and I was viewing my work as quite commercially based, whereas now it is completely fine art and I feel that I have a better sense of direction as to where I want to take my work and I have found my style. I decided to delete all the work that was on my Flickr account, except for the Untainted project that I did at the end of Year 1, which still works in my favour. I then added the work I have produced for this project so far. I decided to keep my current profile picture, which is a simple black and white portrait of myself, as I feel it is still relevant, but I did change my cover photo. Instead of replacing it with my new logo though, I used one of my still life images of a cracked mirror. Displaying my logo is still a very commercial thing to do and I thought that having an image there instead would have more of an impact on my viewer and make them notice that I am a fine art photographer. I also think it looks far more professional to display an image there. I’m very happy with the changes I’ve made to the site and its really nice to see my work come together in an online portfolio.

Before:

After:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/laurakimberleyphotography/

Business Cards:

I decided to use a very similar layout to my year 2 business cards which I created for my self-promotional package. I really liked the black background with white text, as I think it stands out and grabs the attention of the audience. It also reflects my work as being dark and slightly sinister, so it suits my style well. All I did was add in my new logo and the design was done. I’m very happy with the simple branding of my logo, as it clearly states my name and what the business is, so there is no confusion. I wanted to keep the design extremely minimal without any extravagant patterns or illustrations, as I think overcrowding the the card would make the viewer less interested and less likely to read the information on it. I included all the important details such as my phone number, email address and website URL. I also added in the Facebook and Flickr symbols so that the audience knows which social media accounts they can find me on. 

On the front of the cards I wanted to have one of my images, so that the viewer instantly gets a feel of my photographic style and they know what to expect. Hopefully this will also encourage them to view my website and social media pages, as they will want to see more. I played around with a couple of different images that I feel work well on their own without being in a group of photographs. I think having this visual element on the card will make a lot of difference, as people are drawn to imagery far more than they are to just words.

I also tried out a square format business card, as I really wanted to display one of my Polaroids, and I think this worked really well. A square format is also a little more unusual, so the audience will know that my work stands out from the crowd. 

I used Moo.com to create these templates, as I have ordered samples from there before and was impressed with the quality of their paper. Their website is also very appealing as it is fun, easy to use and modern. Obviously I won’t actually be ordering the cards as I don’t plan on having a career in photography after the course, but I have shown exactly what I would have ordered here. I would have gone with the standard rectangle cards and ordered them in Luxe paper, as this is extra thick and has a lovely texture. The thick paper will ensure that the card doesn’t get ruined easily and it also shows that I have put the time, effort and money into getting them made, which will impress the audience. I think having good quality business cards is important, as it reflects what kind of business you are and how much you care about it. The Luxe cards also have an option for a coloured seam, in which I either would have chosen white or red, or maybe some of both. Regarding the quantity, I would have ordered 200, as I feel this is a good starting number and wouldn’t be too expensive at £59.99. 

Website:

A photographers website is perhaps the most important and professional way in which they can display their work and get their name out there. When building my website, I used Squarespace, as I have used it in the past and found it fairly easy to navigate and it also had lots of great layout options. I selected a very simple side scrolling template called Ishimoto. I actually took a lot of inspiration from Rebecca Cairns site, as it was so beautifully layed out, simple, clean and effective. This layout allowed me to place my logo at the top of the page, along with several subtitles. My images are shown in a large format and the viewer uses an arrow on the right hand side to scroll through them. It’s so unbelievably simple and professional and I feel like this layout would appeal to a wide audience. 

I decided to put the names of my projects as the subtitles and I only chose a very select few which I am completely happy with. One project from college (Strayed Elegance), one from Year 1 of uni (Untainted) and my current uni work (An Anxious Mind). I used roughly 10-20 of the best images in each section, as I think any more than this would have made the viewer lose interest. I also chose to have no gap between the images, as I feel like it makes the series flow better and look neater. I decided to use the Untainted project as the home page, as there is a nice injection of colour in the first image which will hopefully grab the attention of the viewer. If the main title/logo is clicked, it will take the viewer back to this page. I tried to keep the navigation as simple as possible, and I think I did a good job with this. 

For my ‘About’ page, I used a simple but moody photo of myself which I thought suited the theme of my work. I then placed my full name as the subtitle and put in my artist statement which I had previously written as one of Ross’ seminar tasks. I think the page looks very neat and there isn’t too much writing so the audience won’t get bored too quickly. I’ve never won any awards or been part of any exhibitions outside of college or uni so I thought I would leave this section out for now.

My contact page simply states my email address and my phone number, as I didn’t feel the need to use a proper contact message form. 

Lastly, I connected my Facebook and Flickr accounts which can be accessed through small symbols in the bottom left corner on every single page. This shows the audience where else they can find me and view more of my work. 

This is the link to the mock up website. I’m not sure if it will work, but the site doesn’t expire for 14 days.

https://laura-martin-ah2k.squarespace.com/

Overall, I’m so happy with how the website turned out and I honestly believe that simplicity is the key. Obviously I won’t be making the website live because I don’t want to take my photography any further at this point after the course, but this template shows exactly what I would have wanted from my website and I would have been happy to make it live if I still wanted a career in the industry. 

[2017mdia4120-blog]

Zulfa Rizqiya - Week 1 Assignment

Part 1

1. (i) My earliest memory of social media is playing Neopets in elementary school. While Neopets was a virtual game revolving around raising these fictional creatures, it was also social media that connected users through various ways.  I interacted with other users through profiles, safe direct messaging (messages with foul language could not be sent), forums, buying, selling, and trading items through shop pages.

(ii) My earliest memory of social media used by a family member is my oldest sister’s activity on AOL Instant Messaging (AIM).  It was hard to ignore my sister’s use of AIM when the toolbar was practically glued to bottom-right corner of the screen on our family computer.  Who could ignore the notorious door opening and closing sounds whenever a buddy signed on or off? It was fascinating to see her use a new communication tool, how she scheduled online chats with her friends and then also phone calls through chats.  However, it was annoying when she would boot me from the computer whenever her buddy “yoib0mb” signed on. 

2. The first blogger I subscribed to was Tavi Gevinson with her personal/fashion blog, The Style Rookie.  I discovered her blog while reading Teen Vogue in middle school and was not only drawn to her sense of fashion style, but also style of writing (which I did not see in many other fashion blogs). Most importantly, Tavi is around my age, which made her relatable and inspiring. While following her blog, I was able to grow with her as she transitioned from being an underground style icon to a fashion week star and then falling out of fashion to write about other aspects of culture and channeling her creativity through other outlets. Since then, she founded the widely popular publication Rookie Magazine, which enlists teen girls to contribute their stories, views and opinions through different mediums.  Through her, I became interested in feminism. Today, I still follow her blog and magazine, and follow a handful of blogs similar to hers which cover cultural issues, fashion, music, and art.

3. So far, to prepare myself for a career involving social media, I have dipped my feet—if not fully immersed—myself into a wide range of social media platforms.  By doing so, I’ve grasped a better understanding of how each platform functions differently from the other and the behaviors of its users.  I have also studied social media research and theory, planning social media campaigns and executing them. I have gained experience in creating a voice on social media for a brand other than myself through an internship and as social media manager for ACRN Media. I have also created content specific for social media and tailoring content to fit social media better.

Part 2

1. Three situations in which users have shaped social networks, their practices, or technological advances:

(i) From my earliest memories of social media, connecting with users required requests to make one-to-one connections.  However, as more people join social media, the desire to connect has expanded.  Users do not want to feel limited to only being able to connect with real-life friends online, which requires sending and accepting requests.  Users want to be able to connect with people outside of their real life social circles and connect with celebrities and brands of their interest to expand their network and ultimately opportunities.  Because of this, we see social media transitioning from a “friend request” to a “follow.” While Facebook still functions on a friend request basis, they allowed users to follow people, which did not require one user to reciprocate a connection to the other, in 2012.  Snapchat, an app known notoriously for sending embarrassing or private photos, originally warranted friend requests given the content shared. However, use of the social app has evolved in its purpose through the years with the addition of snap stories and adapting to allow users to follow people and brands to view stories.

(ii) According to eMarketer, the average adult in the US spends more than five hours per day watching video, with over an hour of video viewed on digital devices.  However, there are not enough people and brands creating video content to satisfy the vast amount of users who watch videos on social media. People and brands know creating good video content takes time.  Users’ behavior of watching videos on digital devices results in a demand for more video content more frequently. As a result, live streaming has popularized across social media in the recent year.  Live streaming allows people and brands to provide the video content consumers want while also relieving the pressure of video production and editing. Additionally, I’ve noticed brands are not only able to live stream on multiple platforms, but they are also able to create more video content from footage captured in the live stream by packaging the footage in different ways to consume.

(iii) For many years, users on Facebook have been vocal about wanting other ways to react to posts and other content shared on the social platform other than “like.”  Because of this, in 2016, Facebook launched a range of reaction buttons aside from “like,” including “love,” “sad,” and “angry.” The reaction buttons not only allow users to more accurately express themselves, but also allow brands to understand how users are really responding to their content.

 2. Three predictions about users’ contributions to social networking:

(i) More edit features on social media. How many times have you heard people talking about wanting to edit their tweets because of a typing error? Kim Kardashian has expressed her desire to have an edit button on Twitter directly to Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey, to that he replied was a “great idea.” The ability to edit posts—not just tweets—gives users solace in delivering a perfect post without having to delete it and lose the attached engagements, such as likes, shares and comments.  I have also heard users on Instagram wanting the option to edit their photos after posting due to wanting to change filters, sharpen the image and so forth afterwards. 

(ii) More web exclusive content. Rumor has it that Conan O’Brien’s late-night show will go to a weekly format instead of the customary daily format.  As a result, his late-night show would transition to a primarily digital late-night show. The rumored decision takes into consideration O’Brien’s large digital following with 4.6 million YouTube users subscribed to his channel for “premium video content,” such as his popular “Clueless Gamer” series.  Other networks have started saving content from TV shows to be exclusive for online, such as Saturday Night Live sharing “cut for time” sketches on their Facebook page. This transition does not come as a surprise as a large amount of video is being consumed online.

(iii) Better ways to organize and mobilize networks. This year has seen a great amount of social activism and movement spurred by social media activity, including #BlackLivesMatter, #NoDAPL and #NotMyPresident.  As a result, I could see social media networks improving the ways users can find other users based on their interests, such as social causes, to facilitate interaction and organization of networks.  For example, since Facebook owns Instagram, Instagram could provide users information for one another regarding Facebook common interests and groups as better cues to facilitate communication.