#and the app is way more optimized for what i actually searched for

[jodielandons]

is it just me or is pinterest's web version not as good as the app????

[wirewitchviolet]

Sudokuvania: Digits of Despair is one of the most impressive works of pure game design I have ever seen.

Before I say anything else, I am going to be talking about a game that is VERY new and has pretty terrible search optimization, so in case this blog post somehow came up near the top of results for someone, here is the as-of-this-writing-current 1.02 release, and for good measure, here is the official FAQ page with the full version history, any future patches, and an FAQ for some of the more confusingly worded stuff that crops up later into the game. Now on with the praise-heaping!

So... Sudokuvania pretty much exactly what the name implies. It's a -vania, that is, a Metroidvania, and specifically one styled after one of the ones that's actually in the latter Castlevania series so that naming convention actually makes sense. Exploring a big castle, fighting bosses, getting various items letting you explore more areas, maybe breaking out of the borders of the map to find cool secrets here and there.

Also, it's a variant of sudoku. And I don't mean someone sat down with some videogame designing toolkit and made a videogame where some of the gameplay is solving logic puzzles on a grid you fill with numbers (I mean, I guess technically I do). I mean that link to the game I posted takes you to a website with a little built in standard app for solving sudoku puzzles and weird variations thereof, and the particular puzzle it's pointing to, somehow, manages to have a big map to explore, boss fights, special items that give you new powers, NPCs, and for good measure, fog of war. It is, again, an absolutely amazing hacky thing and I'm flabbergasted at how well executed it is. Now you're probably wondering how that even works, and that's why I'm writing this big gushy blog post. Here's what you see when you first load it up:

You're going to notice there is some absurdly small and kind of important text you can't possibly read, and that's because again, this is kind of a hacky thing this site so was not designed for. So it's kind of annoying but if you access this through the proper introduction page, it'll explain that the first thing you need to do is click the little gear icon in the floating tool palette, toggle on Visuals: Draw arrows above lines and Disable emoji replacement, then scroll all the way down to Experimental and turn on Test Large Puzzle UI. That enables you to zoom in and out with the scroll wheel, and right-click drag to pan around. It's... a little clunky because again, this website was NOT built for this, but tada, now you can zoom in, read the text, and start solving at a reasonable size. Then there's a couple gameplay concepts it does its best to explain, but... most people I've shown it to myself included needed extra explanation of a couple important early concepts. So let me just do a little color coding here to make this easier to get...

The map is not, in fact, one great big grid. It's 9 squares (and one rectangle that's not quite square over on the east side). Each of these is its own 9x9 Sudoku grid (well, the starting one is 6x6 and has those mutant 2x3 cells instead of the usual 3x3, and there's that weird eastern mutant). If you're solving stuff in one square, you completely ignore everything outside that square, except for where they overlap, in which case the numbers you're placing have to fit for both puzzles. So if we look at the light grey/green intersection on the left, those three overlap cells respectively can't be 4 6 or 5 (and whatever use you deduce in the grey box, but the pure green cells completely ignore all that, you're just focusing on the green 9x9 (which is going to have the overlap as a starting point, naturally).

The next bit that through me off a ton is the way fog of war works. Let me reasonably zoom in and do a little solving here. One second...

Here's the whole starting area all marked up to hell like you do when you're kinda bad at Sudoku and don't know how to spot a starting point. Penciling in little numbers in the corners. You'll also notice a that... most of the map is covered in this dark grey fog of war. A lot of in-game stuff mentions that you shouldn't go clicking out into the fog of war, because it'll show you names of later areas and preview certain special rules and all, but that's talking about clicking WAY off from what you can see. You are 100% allowed to solve stuff out in the fog of war, and it's pretty stingy about de-fogging. Don't go blindly guessing because then you can maybe end up sequence breaking but... yeah. Sorry I'm spoiling the Front Gate, it's basically the tutorial though. Anyway, first move is obvious, only one place we can put that 6, and suddenly...

Tada, important space so it rewarded us with a little fog clearing. You can also see that this will handily point out stuff in your pencil notes that can't be true, but only if A- it's untrue for standard sudoku reasons not special stuff, and B- it's not in the fog of war (or on the other side of some. You also maybe noticed that weird green thing under that first hint 6? That's something we need a tool for, you don't worry about it until you have that tool. Solving this out some more...

Little more de-fogging, both of the puzzle area and the margins where we're getting new information on playing the game in general. Now right here if you're observant, you'll see that bottom right corner has to be a 6. It's out in the fog of war, but you can mark it if you know what it is. And...

I was cropping it out before but the big purple number pad is always floating off to the side there, and the green text box over it, which among other things has an area name and flavor text for whatever grid you're in. This won't ALWAYS happen when you place numbers in fog of war, but there was a trigger on this 6 to load in a little piece of the first real area, and oh hey, we unlocked "Guide THERMO!" That's our first tool, and it's described up in the upper left.

So tada, from here out in addition to standard sudoku stuff, you've got these "bronze Guide THERMOs" that show up here and there and have this extra rule. You basically never get free numbers in the grid past the Front Gate, it's all slow-marching into new areas using what you're bringing in plus some easy starting examples of how your new tools work, plowing on from there. The fog of war is pretty stingy but it keeps you focused. You'll also notice the rules here mention bosses, all the 9x9 ones have one. It's clearly marked, and you should PROBABLY expose it from the fog first, but any time you're in the area really you, if you scroll around in that green text box or hit the rules button when in a grid, there's a link you can click to go fight it. The boss fights are all separate puzzles (site's good about auto-saving so don't freak out if it takes over your tab and you have to hit back after). These are very themey, sometimes VERY evil (especially boss #1, feels a bit overtuned) self-contained 9x9 puzzles, probably using the same tools their area is themed around, and I don't think there's a single pre-placed number in any of them. Beat the boss puzzle, it gives you some flavor text and a number to place in its cell back in the main castle puzzle, plug that in and you're always going to unlock something cool. Usually a new item, sometimes other weird stuff, and it just goes on like that.

Don't expect to be able to fully solve a given grid in one go. It's a Metroidvania, backtracking is expected. Even if you've fully de-fogged a grid, later stuff might reward you by straight up adding new symbols you couldn't see before or doing weird stuff with fog. It IS all solvable with pure logic... but there ARE a few places that do that thing I hate in tougher sudokus where you just kinda have to pencil in in a different faction and explore 2 possible futures for a bit to see which eventually contradicts itself. And of course the last couple of grids do some really evil mind-bendy stuff.

But yeah aside from a couple gripes where the way a tool works could maybe be a lot more grammatically clear, that first boss being a lot to deal with as you're first getting your feet wet, and a particularly cruel twist later on, I don't really have any complaints. Well, it might need a cool soundtrack. Maybe play some Castlevania music. Maybe switch it up for some real proper boss music when you're nearing victory.

Again I am just completely blown away that someone made something so meaty in a standard sudoku site's normal UI, and really managed to make it feel so much like playing a DS Castlevania. Some real proof of game design being an art form here. And now you too can just completely lose a day or two to it!

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Dirty Minds 2

Warnings: non/dubcon and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: Thor Odinson, Loki Laufeyson

Summary: You start a new job after being fired as a programmer and it’s more than you could have anticipated. (maid AU)

Note: I should stop.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

Your second day at the House Odinson, as you call it in your mind, brings you little optimism. You spent the night trying to bleach the images from your mind. Almost literally but the internet says Clorox is no good for your eyes. You’re no prude, you admire a nice physique, but this is strictly professional. 

Just like the day before, you ring the bell, however, there is no answer. You figure that Thor would be busy. He is sort of important and well beyond this planet. As for his brother, he’ll probably want to distract himself from being stuck in the place he once tried to oppress to his will. That was a rather shady episode... 

You let yourself in with the door code on the app. The house isn’t as bad as it was. Mostly, because it hasn’t been long since your last visit. 

The deja vu continues to haunt you. You leave your shoes at the door and unpack your kit and folding vacuum. It should be quick work this time. You put in your earbuds and tap play on the podcast you downloaded last night. You don’t know much about Norse history but you figure you should learn some given the circumstances. 

You start in the living room. It’s not too bad when you’re alone. When you have reign of the place without worrying about a nip slip or the like. Oh, what is that? 

You bend to pull free the belt from under the chair and let out a screech as it moves. You throw yourself back in horror as the green snake slithers away with a flick of its tongue. A snake! Just lying on the carpet?! What in the hell? Or is it Hel? 

You fix your earbuds as they move around loosely from your tumble. You catch your breath and get up. Maybe you should keep a bit of caution. 

You run the vacuum through the front room and move on to the kitchen. It's a bit messier. More take out boxes, some wine glasses, and several unsealed food goods. It’s like being back with your brothers. Oh yes, the favourites. 

You put it all away, on your toes as you search for the right place to put the muesli. As you reach up, the lights flicker and a tickle runs down both your sides. You squeal and drop the box, spinning to face your accoster. 

Loki stands close, crowding you as he smirks down at your wide gape. You snap your mouth shut as you brace the counter behind you. You clear your dry throat and press on your earbud to pause the podcast. 

“Oh, hi, I didn’t know--” 

“Maid,” he proclaims as he smirks at you. “There is a mess I require assistance with.” 

“Uh, okay,” you grab the cloth from the counter top. “Where?” 

“My bed chamber,” he says with a tilt of his brow. You don’t like the way his eyes glimmer. 

“Mhm, right, do I need a broom or mop--” 

“You would be the professional. Let me show you,” he slithers. 

You blink. Are you stupid or is he being cryptic? You shrug, “sure.” 

He turns and struts away. You follow and twist the cloth in your hands. You watch his lithe figure as he seems to walk on air. 

You stop at the threshold of his room as he passes through the door. It’s tidy despite the state you of the rest of the house when you arrived the day before. You hesitate to enter as he lingers by the door frame. According to the myths, he’s a bit of a trickster. Still, those have to have been distorted by centuries of mortal storytelling. 

You look around as you inch inside, “can you show me where?” 

“Certainly, just on the other side of the bed. It would likely be easier if you crawl across and have a look underneath,” he points with a careless flick. He doesn’t seem very concerned. Alright. 

You do as he says and get on the bed. You move on hands and knees and bend over the far edge. You don’t see anything. Just the green and black pattern of the rug beneath.  

Something winds around your ankles and you’re pulled onto your stomach. You exclaim and roll onto your back, twisting your legs as you flail and look up at Loki as he tries to constrain you. Oh Jesus, or Odin, whoever! He’s naked again. 

“What’re you doing?” You squeal. 

“Hm? Just a bit of fun, maid.” 

“Huh? Fun?! No, I’m here to clean--” 

“Yes, yes, it’ll get done but I’d prefer a bit of your other services,” he drags you across the bed as he untangles your ankles and pulls them apart. 

“Other services?” You cling to the blankets as they bunch beneath you. “I’m not... not a prostitute.” 

“No, I didn’t take you as one, but in Asgard, a maid is often a good candidate for a concubine--” 

“Concubine!” You cry out shrilly. “This-- this isn’t Asgard, Lo—uh, sir?!” 

“Don’t remind me,” he pouts and puts his knee on the bed as he pushes your legs around him. 

“Don’t, er—no, I’m not done cleaning,” you protest. 

He sighs as he catches your swatting hands and pushes them to the mattress. He bends over you as you focus on his face. Don’t look down. It’s just bobbing there, right at the edge of your sight. 

“Please--” 

“Yes, go on and beg, the maidens all do,” he purrs with a grin. 

“No-- no! That’s not—I don’t--” You writhe desperately. “You can’t do this.” 

He hums and tilts his head coyly, holding himself over you as his chest and shoulders flex. You gulp as you feel his... snake. You push your lip out and shudder. 

“Please, stop.” 

“Mm, since when do the peasantry rule the princes,” he lowers himself little by little. “You should be thanking you for prizing you with such an honour.” 

[puckpocketed]

hi!! I was wondering where or how you do you research for players and teams, and just hockey in general? do you have any favorite blogs or other resources? thank you~

okay picking thru web rot for the sharks primer has prepared me for this one lmao here's the quick answer because i really need to eat some pie and go to bed. Hockey is my all-consuming interest at the moment and I haven't watched actual television or films; or read anything non-academic that isn't about hockey in.... 9 months? If it seems like I am taking in a LOT of information in a short amount of time it's because I am. I listen to hockey things at 2-5x speed depending on if its a video on youtube (locked to 2x), a podcast (3.5x is my ideal speed), or my screenreader (5x) and often take notes, save articles as pdfs to go back to, and transcribe things for fun (only recently am putting my transcriptions as addendums to gifs... very rewarding <3). When not studying for my actual degree, I am reading about hockey or listening to something hockey related or watching hockey or writing about hockey or learning how to play hockey. i am so serious. please don't assume that this is normal, optimal, or even something I would wish upon other people. I am in Love with her in thee most wretched and irrevocable way. She's my hobby in the sense that shes my sun and im building my wax wings and looking directly at her light and thanking her for blinding me. amen.

more seriously, if I'm going down a player rabbit hole I will try many of these things - though not necessarily all of them, and not in this order (and i'm sure i've forgotten one or two things I usually try... lordy):

I go to spotify/apple podcasts and throw in player names just to see what comes up and listen to basically everything.

if they are on an NHL team, there are likely MULTIPLE podcasts dedicated to that team. trawl through their podcast archives, especially post-game podcasts where discussion is happening about their performance. sometimes there are even interviews <3

i do the same with youtube if I can...!

throw their name into reddit, tumblr, twitter and scroll. endlessly. just trawl through everything that I can possibly get my hands on. The more obscure the player the easier this is, because there really aren't that many things to find out about them and not many people are talking about them at all. <- this is how I make contact with people who are the only person that knows about this one (1) guy and then we hold fins forever. <3

find out who the teams beat reporters are. if youre looking into prospects, even juniors teams have people covering them. the writing might not be the highest quality but you WILL eventually find fun details if you go digging.

check: elite prospects articles, the hockey writers articles, find out the player's home town and see if their local paper has anything on them (basically, check any and all databases that use a tagging system or have a functional search engine)

helpful things to tack onto the end of google/youtube/database searches: "media availability" "post-game" "interview" "feature" "profile" "scouting report" "draft" "debut" "review" "highlight" "tournament"

if they're a player from a non-english speaking country it's worth throwing their non-romanized name into google to see what you can get. google translate the website // chatgpt translation are two options - not ideal and not to be trusted 100% over actual translation done by a fluent human speaker.

Instagram stories are the bane of my existence because they're so ephemeral

tiktok is a parallel universe to me. I do not have the app. any browsing I do on it is solely via googling "[team name] tiktok official" and clicking around on my desktop PC. I've only ever done this for M.Chrona's gf (who is much more famous than him) but if you're really doing down the rabbit hole of player research, some of their WAGs will post about them. <- as always, be respectful/not weird.

facebook for older stuff... genuinely makes my skin crawl so I avoid it and its a last resort LMAO but yeah teams used to post on facebook and everything!!! <- again. dont be weird and stalk peoples families or friends asjklakjl

"[player/team name] gettyimages [day/month/year]" <- substitute getty images for: flickr, hockeyshots, dreamstime, alamy

Substack is good for general hockey stuff if you can stomach the dreaded idea of subscribing via email or getting the app <3 I like: Jack Han (hockey tactics newsletter), Sean Shapiro (shap shots), Adam Gretz (adam's sports stuff), Thibaud Chatel <- for the analytics nerds, Alex MacLean <- his Scouting The Scouts series is what got me into substack in the first place, Greg Revak (hockey IQ newsletter) <- this is the one that's got me on development stuff atm SUPER rec because there's gifs and charts and many many hyperlinks included for citations <3

i should do a book rec at some point but uhhhh its getting late and im hungry <3 thank you for asking + reading if you got this far, I hope it was a helpful peek into my process?

[bacalaofresco]

against skeuomorphism

Why I’m kinda against the skeuomorphism revival, even though I know it’s the cool thing now: Skeuomorphism is useful for new interfaces because it’s didactic. It’s also fun for the first few times but then I think it starts getting in the way. It tries to replicate physical sensations in the digital world, and that’s good for learning metaphors, but I fear that a skeuomorphic internet might be more bloated and distractive, even if it feels prettier sometimes. I mean, I think skeuomorphism has its place and time, but it shouldn’t sugar up the fact that we’re having a trivial and transactional interaction with a machine.

That’s why I think the skeuomorphism revival has good intentions but is ultimately misguided.

I’m not saying all digital interfaces should be boring, but most should! The content and tools shown in these interfaces is already interesting enough! And the minimalism I seek doesn’t mean that all interfaces look the same, just that there’s more of basic consistency in how things look. Actually I think that this simplicity should come in hand with UI modularity that gives users agency over the design of their interfaces, allowing broader customization that addresses their needs and tastes. So if someone loves skeuomorphism no matter what, just go ahead and make your computer a full-blown metaphor for real life tools! But give the user agency. Boosts are a huge advance in that direction.

If our hope is to create software with feeling, it means inviting people in to craft it for themselves — to mold it to the contours of their unique lives and taste.

(from Optimizing for Feelings)

Why you care about your phone, your computer, or AI, any of this stuff? […] Let’s just not lose the plot in the midst of all this change and these exciting inventions and developments.  These exciting inventions and developments on their own, on their face, are not that interesting; and in fact if we lose sight of what we want to use these tools for, it can get pretty grim. But I don’t think it will, and I don’t think it needs to. A question I wanna pose is like “Man are we tryna… What do we wanna use this for? What in our lives outside of our screen, outside of our devices, are we in search of?”

When I fantasize about digital products that don’t exist, they always solve a problem brought on by the massive digitalization of modern life. Sounds kind of like a paradox. But, Making An App For That is still the best way of fixing our digital problems and taking us back to the real world; sort of trying to fix the problem from the inside.

The thing is that builduing a product that attempts to make the internet beautiful while trying to make us use it less is inherently tricky.

What's beautiful about the internet in the end? It's a hard question to answer when nowadays most of it feels so disingenuous and overwhelming.

The beauty of the internet resides in connecting with other people with shared interests in meaningful ways and getting things done in a more efficient manner.

I believe digital interfaces should be an extension and expansion of our minds and ideas, and facilitators or enablers for things we ultimately want to achieve in the physical world, and for connections between humans who are far away.

Aren't all good feelings on the digital world just an imitation of good feelings in real life? What's a good-feeling-thing that's exclusive to the internet? Or better digitally than physically?

source: https://nohalo.substack.com/p/the-browser-companys-philosophical

[its-deana]

Thank goodness for the notes app cause I had some thoughts about the Langleys and the remainder of their legacy. Up until generation seven, I played the Langleys on one lot, all generations living together in harmony. But now as I near the end of things I need variety to keep it interesting for myself while also scratching the itch for other forms of gameplay like decorating a build.

I actually have four notebooks for my sims. A big one that holds are the details about all my saves and any further plans. The next notebook has similar detail but in a more condensed form, kind of like the highlights. I also keep notes about gameplay that I forget or hacks or cheats or mod info I don’t want to repeatedly search for in that same notebook. Both of those notebooks have dividers for optimal organization. I have one notebook where I flush out all my ideas, I keep a similar set of notes on my phone for easy updating. The last notebook is small in size but most important, it’s the notebook that I write down notes about what I’m currently playing. So any things I want to remember to do or come back to next time I play.

This system makes me so happy because I can combine my two favorite things: writing and the sims. I just love to write, I love the way certain pens feel on certain paper and I love that I can pair that with my love of the sims.

[techshree]

Driving Conversions with Shopify Behavioral Targeting and Recommendation Engine Optimization

ECommerce used to be like tossing spaghetti at a wall and praying something stuck. Now? If you’re a Shopify store owner still using the same bland sales pitch for everyone, you’re basically showing up to a costume party in a gray suit. Boring. Wanna be the life of the eCommerce party? You gotta get personal. Like, “I-know-you-better-than-your-Spotify-algorithm” personally.

First up: What the heck is Shopify behavioral targeting?

Think of it like being a digital detective, but less creepy. You’re watching what shoppers actually *do*—what they click, what they add to their cart at 3am, what they abandon after debating for 15 minutes. Forget demographics. Grandma could be buying skateboards at this point. Follow the clicks.

Stuff you should totally be snooping on (in a good way):

Which pages are people vibing with?

Who’s filling up their cart, then ghosting you?

What weird stuff are they typing in the search bar?

Which products are always riding shotgun together?

Who’s bailing at checkout like it’s a bad first date?

With this data, you can whip up product suggestions Shopify behavioral targeting that actually makes sense. Not just “You looked at socks, here’s a toaster.” Actual logic.

The toolkit? Oh, there’s an app for that. Plus, they’ll let you run experiments so you’re not just guessing (because guessing is so last decade).

Perks? Glad you asked:

People spend more when you show them what they want (shocker)

More clicks, more upsells, less sighing at the screen

Shopping actually feels... kind of fun

Let’s talk about that customer journey—yeah, it’s a thing

Imagine your store is a theme park. You wanna know which rides people love and where they get bored and leave for funnel cake. Map out the customer journey tracking Shopify:

Awareness: “Oh hey, cool store.”

Consideration: “Hmm, maybe I *do* I need another hoodie.”

Intent: “Let me just check shipping... yikes.”

Purchase: *throws money at screen*

Loyalty: “Back again, because why not?”

Find out where people bail, then fix it. Use Shopify’s dashboard if you like basic stuff. GA4 if you live for analytics. Littledata or Heap if you really want to nerd out.

Don’t just slap on a recommendation engine and call it a day

Cookie-cutter recs are like giving everyone socks for Christmas. Meh. Play with:

Where you stick those recs (front page, cart, surprise me)

What logic you use (best sellers, trending, the “weirdly bought together” bundle)

How personal you get (“Hey Jamie, we saw you eyeing those cat mugs”)

The whole vibe—buttons, layout, jazz hands

Wiser let you Shopify recommendation engine testing. Break stuff, see what works, repeat. “Set it and forget it” is for rotisserie chickens, not eCommerce.

Email: Not just for receipts and spam anymore

Your emails should hit inboxes like a confetti cannon, not a snooze button. Think:

Abandoned cart nudges (with a twist)

Product recs that *actually* make sense

Post-purchase “P.S. you might love this too” suggestions

Win-back emails for the ones who ghosted

Make every Shopify email marketing personalization feel like it was hand-written by a friend who knows you love snacks at midnight.

Real talk: Personalization = more money, less noise

Here’s some tea—a fashion brand plugged in Wiser, tracked everything with GA4, set up Klaviyo emails, and got real with their personalization. Result? Revenue up by 32%. People actually *wanted* to buy more. Wild, right?

Want to stand out? Get creative, get personal, and make shopping your store feel like a custom playlist. Otherwise, you’re just background noise. And who wants to be that.

[mysticalwriterwithintrusivethoug]

How to Pick the Right Keywords for Your Startup’s Website

You’ve poured your heart into your startup. The website’s up, your product’s ready, but… crickets. Nobody’s finding you online. It’s frustrating, right? That’s where SEO search engine optimization, saves the day.

It’s not some tech wizardry; it’s just making sure your business pops up when people search for what you do. Picture it like getting a global nomination for being visible, you didn’t buy your way in, you earned it by being smart.

I’m gonna walk you through why SEO’s a must for your startup, what’s going on with it right now, and how you can get your name out there. Let’s do this.

What’s SEO Like These Days?

SEO’s always shifting. Google keeps messing with its rules, and you’ve gotta keep up. Right now, in 2025, it’s all about giving people what they need.

A few years back, Google’s Helpful Content Update said, “No more keyword-stuffed nonsense, give users real answers.” Mobile’s a big deal, too. Over 60% of searches happen on phones, per Statista.

If your site’s clunky on a smartphone, you’re basically invisible. And voice search? Huge. People chatting with Siri or Alexa ask questions like they’re talking to a pal, not typing like it’s 1999.

The tough part? It’s a crowded game. Big brands with bigger budgets hog the paid ads, so startups like yours are hustling for free clicks. Plus, Google’s algorithm changes are like trying to predict the weather.

Back in 2010, you could just repeat keywords like a broken record and rank. Now? Google’s too smart for that. Ahrefs says only 0.78% of web pages get decent traffic from keywords.

But here’s the upside: as a startup, you’re quick on your feet. You can outmaneuver the slow corporate types if you know where to focus.

The SEO Breakdown: Stuff You Can Actually Do

SEO’s not one big thing, it’s a bunch of little things that add up. Let’s chop it into pieces you can handle, with some examples to make it real.

On-Page SEO: Your Site’s Gotta Shine

This is about what’s on your website, the words, the setup, the whole deal. Your site needs to load fast (Google’s into 2 seconds or less), be easy to poke around, and answer what people are Googling.

Take Allbirds, the eco-shoe company. Their site’s clean, fast, and packed with info about sustainable materials, exactly what their customers search for. It’s not rocket science, just smart.

So, what’s your first step? Keywords. Grab a tool like SEMrush or Ubersuggest to see what people are typing. If you’ve got a vegan bakery in Austin, target “vegan cupcakes Austin” over just “cupcakes.”

It’s less competitive, more specific. Weave those keywords into your titles, headings, and text, but don’t overdo it, Google’s not dumb. My friend tried this with her wellness blog.

She ditched vague stuff and went for “quick stress-relief yoga.” Her traffic? Doubled in a month. Wild.

Off-Page SEO: Get People Talking

This is what happens outside your site, like when other websites link to you. Google treats those links like a thumbs-up. A 2024 Moz study said more quality backlinks mean higher rankings.

For startups, this feels like climbing a mountain, but you can do it. Guest posts on blogs or a mention in local news work. Look at Notion, the productivity app. They got big early because bloggers linked to them, sending traffic and trust their way.

How do you start? Email bloggers or local news folks. Offer something cool, like a guest post or a sample of your product. And here’s a thought, lean into social impact.

Team up with a local charity, like a food drive, and you might score a link on their site, plus some community love. I saw a little café get a shoutout on their town’s website for hosting a fundraiser. It’s slow, but it builds your rep.

Technical SEO: The Boring but Important Bits

This is the behind-the-scenes stuff — site speed, mobile-friendliness, and geeky code like structured data. If your site is sluggish, people bail, and Google notices.

A startup I heard about cut their load time by shrinking images, and their rankings jumped. Structured data, like schema markup, helps Google get your content, think star ratings on your product pages in search results.

The downside? It’s intimidating if you’re not a techie. You might need a pro, but tools like Screaming Frog can spot problems like broken links for free. It’s like checking your car’s oil not fun, but necessary.

I helped a friend with her site once, and we found a bunch of dead links dragging her down. We fixed them, and her traffic perked back up.

Content: Give People What They Want

Contents like, where you are having fun. Blogs, videos, FAQs whatever answers your audience’s questions.

Your content has go to be helpful. If you sell eco-cleaners, write about “how to clean without chemicals” or “why green cleaning matters.” HubSpot says businesses that blog regularly get 55% more traffic. That’s not nothing.

Here’s a hack: don’t guess what to write. Use AnswerThePublic to see what people are asking.

I did this for a friend’s fitness startup, and we found folks searching “easy home workouts.” A few posts later, their site was hopping. It’s less about what you think is cool and more about what your people need.

What’s the Best Way to Do SEO?

There’s no perfect plan. Some startups go all-in on content, others chase backlinks or geek out on technical fixes. Content, like blogs or videos, is cheap and builds trust, but it’s a slow burn takes months.

Backlinks, like getting featured on blogs or news sites, can lift you faster but take more effort. Technical SEO? Gotta do it, but it’s not enough alone.

I knew a startup that went hard on tech stuff lightning-fast site, flawless code but without content or links, they barely moved.

What’s your call? If you’re scraping by with $500 a month, stick with content write good stuff and share it on social media. Got more time or money? Mix in backlinks by pitching bloggers or local press.

The trap? Getting too focused on one thing. I’ve seen startups go keyword-crazy and forget that users want a site that’s easy to use. It’s a juggle, and yeah, it’s not always smooth.

What’s Coming for SEO?

SEO is getting crazier. AI is shaking things up, Google’s using it to understand users better, and tools like ChatGPT spit out content fast.

By 2026, Gartner says half of searches might be voice-based, so you’ll need to optimize for stuffs like “where’s a vegan bakery near me.” Short video content are blowing up too and YouTube is basically a search engine now.

What does that mean for you? Try short videos, quick tips or Q&As that feel real. AI can draft your content, but don’t just paste it, Google’s sniffing out lazy AI stuff. And social impact could be your ace.

People want brands with heart sustainability, community vibes. I read about a startup that got noticed just for their zero-waste blog. It’s not just about business it’s what people vibe with.

So, Where Do You Go From Here?

SEO is no quick fix, but it’s your shot at getting seen. It’s about making your site easy to find, helpful, and legit in Google’s eyes. From keywords and content to links and tech tweaks, every bit matters.

The future is all about AI, voice search, and brands that stand for something. Start small, but dream big. Nailing SEO is like winning a business award it takes grit, but it screams, “Hey, your startup’s worth noticing.”

So, what’s your move? A blog post? A site checkup? Whatever it is, just start being seen, it’s about showing up and not giving up.

[adskylar01]

Why Hiring a Shopify SEO Expert is Crucial for Your Store

Running a Shopify store is an exciting venture, but when it comes to driving traffic and generating sales, challenges do crop up. Hiring an expert for Shopify SEO is maybe one of the most intelligent decisions you can make if you want your products to rank on Google and sell more. At Adskylar, we have been helping Shopify store owners like you to increase visibility, grow traffic, and convert visitors into returning customers.

The Concept of Shopify SEO

At the beginning of their online journey, customers will start searching. Hence, SEO plays a vital role. Shopify is a powerful platform, but it does not inherently rank your store high up on Google. A Shopify SEO expert knows how search engines function and how to optimize your store to appear in top search results.

Here are some of the things a Shopify SEO expert could do for your store: 

Improve visibility of your product and category pages

Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and URLs

Build quality backlinks 

Enhance the mobile experience and page speed

Drive more organic traffic via search engines

What a Shopify SEO Expert Does

Business owners are comparing options at this stage. Now, here is how an expert like Adskylar can make a difference:

1. Keyword Research Specific to Shopify

We look for high-traffic, low-competition keywords being used by shoppers. To optimize your collections, product titles, and blog posts accordingly.

2. Technical SEO Optimization

Our experts fix any backend issues from broken links to duplicate content and slow-loading pages, making sure your store is clean according to Google's guidelines.

3. Content Marketing & Blog Optimization

From product descriptions to educational blogs, we create content that our SEO experts ensure ranks and converts.

4. Shopify Site Speed Optimization

Page speed is an important ranking factor. Our experts help shave down loading time for smooth user interaction.

5. Mobile-First SEO Strategy

Most of the customers shop on their mobile phones, so we ensure your Shopify site performs well on all smartphones and tablets.

Why Choose Adskylar as Your Shopify SEO Expert?

Once you look to growing a Shopify store, Adskylar comes in as the dependable partner you can rely on. We do have in-depth experience of working on Shopify SEO with a results-driven approach.

With not-so-common benefits of choosing Adskylar are:

Great track record for eCommerce SEO

Shopify-specific optimization techniques further for your benefit

Transparent reporting that helps you know what is going on

ROI in sales, actually increasing it.

We can work on a strategy for your brand-new store or come in as the SEO implementation team for an existing store, depending on the work you want done.

Why Hire a Shopify SEO Expert?

More organic traffic without spending too much on ads

Ranking better for your most relevant keywords

Better conversion rates from qualified traffic

More trust for your brand and visibility to the right audience in search engines

Long-term solid results reinforcing themselves along the way

Conclusion

Just because you hired a Shopify SEO expert doesn't mean your SEO is going to improve; it means you put your business on a sustainable growth path. From awareness to decision, SEO entails all parts of your customer's journey. At Adskylar, we know what it takes to make your Shopify store a success. Let us make your brand visible to the perfect audience — in an organic way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What does a Shopify SEO expert do differently than a general SEO specialist?

The real meaning behind this is that a Shopify SEO expert knows the platform's unique structure and how best to optimize product pages, collections, apps, and themes specific to Shopify.

Q2: How much time does Shopify SEO take for one to see results?

One may start observing some obvious improvements in two to three months, but SEO is a long-term strategy that builds on stronger results over time.

Q3: Can I do Shopify SEO myself?

Sure, basic SEO can be done by store owners. However, top rankings and long-term growth require an expert's insight, tools, and experience.

Q4: How does Adskylar improve SEO on a Shopify Store?

Adskylar helps with keyword research, content optimization, technical SEO, and speed enhancement, while giving a bigger attention to the best practices relevant to Shopify.

Q5: Is doing SEO worth it when paid marketing or Ad campaigns can bring quick traffic?

Definitely. Paid campaigns bring in traffic temporarily, and once you stop paying, they run dry. SEO brings in traffic continuously without paying anything for ads.

[dhivyavignesh]

Pune’s Best Digital Courses 2025

Hey There, Future Digital Star! 👋

Are you living in Pune and wondering, “Where can I learn cool stuff like social media, ads, and digital tricks?” You're in the right place! 😄

Welcome to your simple and fun guide to Pune’s best digital courses in 2025.

Whether you’re a student, a working professional, or just super curious, these courses can help you learn skills that are in high demand — and yes, that means more job chances, better pay, and maybe even your own online business! 💼✨

Let’s dive in!

🌟 Why Learn Digital Skills in 2025?

Digital is everywhere — Instagram, YouTube, Google, ads, apps... even this blog you’re reading! 📱💻

Here’s why digital courses are so cool and important today:

You can get a job in top companies

Start your own freelancing business

Work from home or anywhere in the world

Use your skills to grow a family business

Help small businesses with online marketing

Sounds awesome, right? Now let’s see which digital marketing courses in Pune are the best for you!

🏆 Top Digital Courses in Pune (2025)

We’ve picked some of the best and most loved courses in Pune. These are chosen based on reviews, teaching quality, practical training, and how helpful they are for real careers!

1. Digital Scholar – Learn from Experts Who’ve Been There!

Location: Chennai (But Offers Online Learning in Pune Too!) Address: 1B, Sapna Trade Centre, 135, Poonamallee High Rd, Purasaiwakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600084 Phone: 095136 32705

If you want to learn from industry pros and get agency-style training, Digital Scholar is a top choice! 🧑‍🏫✨

They offer online and offline digital marketing courses that are fun, practical, and full of real-world projects.

Why Choose Digital Scholar?

Created by Sorav Jain, a digital marketing expert

Rishi Jain, the co-founder, is young, smart, and super motivating!

You learn SEO, social media, email marketing, Google Ads, and much more

Perfect for beginners and advanced learners

Offers a paid internship and job help

Super friendly online classes with real-time practice

💬 “It’s not just learning – it’s doing real work like a pro!”

2. Digital Pro Institute – Focus on Practical Work

If you love hands-on learning, this place offers great practical sessions. You work on real websites and social media accounts to learn how to run ads and get leads.

Includes certifications

Best for college students and working people

Weekend batches available

3. DigiSkills Pune – Beginner-Friendly

A perfect place if you’re just starting. They explain everything in a simple and fun way. Teachers are very patient and helpful.

Good for school and college students

Affordable fees

Great reviews from past students

4. Pune Digital Academy – Learn with Live Projects

This course is known for its live client work and projects. You get to learn by doing!

Includes resume building and interview prep

Offers Google certifications

Covers content writing, email marketing, and more

5. WebTech Learning – Good for Career Switchers

Want to shift careers and move into digital? This is a solid choice.

Special classes for working professionals

One-on-one support

Teaches content marketing and automation tools too

💰 What’s the Fee Like?

Fees for digital marketing courses in Pune range from:

👉 ₹20,000 to ₹75,000 Depending on the course level (basic to advanced), certifications, trainers, and duration.

Digital Scholar, for example, offers premium training with internship + certifications + live projects, making it a top value-for-money program.

🧠 What Will You Learn in These Courses?

Here’s what most good digital marketing courses teach:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – Get websites to show up on Google 🕵️‍♂️

Social Media Marketing – Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn 📱

Email Marketing – Send emails that actually get read 💌

Google Ads & PPC – Paid advertising that brings traffic fast 🚀

Content Writing – Write blogs, posts & ads that work ✍️

Analytics – Understand what’s working and what’s not 📊

Website Building (using WordPress) – Make your own site without coding 🧱

And a lot more!

💼 What Happens After the Course?

After you complete a good digital course, here’s what’s next:

Get a certificate (Google, HubSpot, Facebook, etc.)

Build a cool portfolio

Start applying for jobs or freelancing gigs

Some even start their own digital marketing agencies!

🎯 Who Can Join?

These digital courses are open to everyone!

School & college students 👩‍🎓

Working professionals 👨‍💻

Homemakers 👩‍🍳

Business owners 🧑‍💼

Freelancers 🧑‍🎨

You just need basic computer knowledge and internet access. That’s it!

⭐ Why Digital Scholar Stands Out

Let’s be honest – there are many good courses, but Digital Scholar has something extra: FeatureDigital ScholarLive Projects✅ YesInternship✅ YesCertifications✅ Google, HubSpot & morePlacement Help✅ 100% SupportCourse Access✅ Online & OfflineTrainers✅ Industry ExpertsCommunity✅ Lifelong Support

📞 Want to talk to them? Call: 095136 32705 Visit: 1B, Sapna Trade Centre, 135, Poonamallee High Rd, Chennai

🔥 Tips to Pick the Right Course for You

Still confused? Here are some easy tips:

Check Reviews – What do other students say?

See the Modules – Do they cover everything?

Ask About Projects – Will you work on real stuff?

Compare Fees – Don’t go for the cheapest, go for the best value.

Talk to Alumni – Ask how their careers changed.

📌 Final Thoughts

Pune is full of opportunities — and learning digital skills in 2025 is one of the smartest things you can do.

Whether you're a teenager dreaming of social media fame, or a working adult looking to upgrade your career, these digital marketing courses will change your life.

So go ahead — pick a course, sign up, and get ready to shine online! 💡🌐

✅ Ready to Learn?

Start with Digital Scholar if you want professional-level training from India’s top digital experts.

📍 Digital Scholar Address: 1B, Sapna Trade Centre, 135, Poonamallee High Rd, Purasaiwakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600084 📞 Phone: 095136 32705 🔗 Explore their digital marketing courses today!

Want help picking the right course or have questions? Drop a comment or give them a call — they’re super friendly!

Let your digital journey begin! 🚀

[lily22223]

Marketing Your Food Delivery App in Dubai: What Works in 2025

Let’s face it—just building a food delivery app isn’t enough anymore. In a fast-paced and competitive city like Dubai, launching your app is just the beginning. The real challenge? Getting people to actually download it, use it, and keep coming back.

As someone who’s been watching the food delivery space evolve, I’ve picked up on what’s working right now when it comes to marketing a food delivery app in Dubai—and I’m here to share that with you.

Whether you’re running a cozy local restaurant, managing a growing food brand, or leading an enterprise looking to scale, these tips are tailor-made for you.

1. Start with a Solid Product (It’s Your Best Marketing Tool)

Before I dive into strategies, here’s the truth: no amount of marketing will save an app that doesn’t perform well. That’s why I always recommend working with a reliable food delivery app development company in Dubai. They’ll help you build an app that’s not only beautiful but also fast, secure, and user-friendly.

Trust me—when customers have a smooth ordering experience, they’ll tell their friends. Word of mouth still matters, even in 2025.

2. Local SEO and Google My Business Are Your Best Friends

When people search for “best biryani near me” or “late-night delivery in Dubai,” you want your business to show up. That’s where local SEO comes in.

Make sure your Google Business profile is fully updated with your app download links. It’s one of the simplest (and free!) ways to drive app installs.

And if you're working with the best food delivery app development company in UAE, ask them to optimize your app for App Store and Google Play search as well.

3. Influencers & Food Bloggers? Still Powerful

Influencers aren’t going anywhere in 2025. In fact, micro-influencers—those with smaller but highly engaged followings—are becoming even more valuable for niche food businesses.

I always suggest partnering with local Dubai foodies who can review your app, try your service, and share it with their loyal followers. It gives your app real credibility.

4. Offer App-Exclusive Promotions

Let’s be honest—we all love a good deal. Giving app-only discounts or loyalty rewards is a smart way to get more downloads and repeat orders.

Here’s a trick that’s working wonders: limited-time “download to unlock” campaigns. Promote a free dessert or 15% off the first order—only available through the app.

Your food delivery app development company in Dubai should be able to set up promo code functionality, referral systems, and loyalty programs to make this easy.

5. Don’t Underestimate Social Media Ads

Instagram and TikTok are still huge in Dubai—and short, engaging videos showing food delivery in action work really well.

What I’ve found is that behind-the-scenes kitchen videos, unboxing deliveries, and “delivery in 30 mins” challenges make for great ad content. Keep it real, keep it local, and always include a strong call to action to download the app.

6. Retarget, Retarget, Retarget

People get distracted. If someone visits your website or installs the app but doesn’t place an order, retargeting ads can bring them back.

Facebook Ads, Google Display Network, and even in-app notifications all help you stay top-of-mind.

This is where working with the best food delivery app development company in UAE becomes a real asset—they can help you integrate smart push notifications, offer reminders, and track user behavior for better targeting.

7. Partner with Local Communities and Events

In 2025, hyper-local marketing is everything. Think partnerships with fitness studios (healthy meal delivery), late-night cafes, or local events and markets.

These partnerships give you visibility in places where your target customers already are—and it helps you build a brand that’s more than just a delivery app.

Final Thoughts

Marketing your food delivery app in Dubai isn’t just about big budgets or viral videos—it’s about building connections, offering real value, and showing up where your audience hangs out.

But above all, it starts with having a solid, functional app—and for that, I always recommend partnering with a trusted food delivery app development company in Dubai or even the best food delivery app development company in UAE if you want regional scalability.

If you’re thinking about launching or growing your food delivery business, I’d love to help you brainstorm strategies that actually work for your unique goals.

Let’s make 2025 the year your app becomes a household name in Dubai!

[gearupurcareer]

How I Found My Way To Digital Marketing

I never thought I’d say this, but digital marketing changed my life.

It wasn’t something I planned. I wasn’t looking for a new passion or a new skill. In fact, for a long time, I was stuck—confused, unsure of what to do next, and honestly, a bit lost.

The Waiting Phase

A year ago, I had finished my degree in business. Like most people around me, I imagined I’d walk straight into a job. But reality was different. I sent out resume after resume and heard nothing back. The few interviews I landed were either for roles that paid too little or didn’t feel right. I started to feel like I was falling behind while everyone else was moving forward.

What made it harder was the silence. I was home all day, scrolling on my phone, feeling this strange mix of pressure and boredom. I knew I wanted to work, to do something meaningful—but I didn’t know what.

The Spark

One day, while scrolling through Instagram (yes, the very app that used to eat up hours of my time), I saw a post about how businesses use social media to grow. I’d never thought about it that way. I always saw ads online but never really considered who created them or why they showed up on my feed.

That night, I went down a rabbit hole—searching videos about digital marketing, watching creators talk about SEO, ads, content creation, analytics. It was the first time in a while that something felt interesting again. I found myself reading articles late into the night. It felt like something clicked.

Taking the First Step

It took me a few weeks to actually do anything about it. I was nervous—what if it was too technical? What if I didn’t understand it? But deep down, I knew I had to give it a shot.

I started small. Free videos, articles, a few blogs here and there. The more I learned, the more I realized how big the world of digital marketing really was. From social media and email campaigns to content writing and search engine optimization—there was so much to explore.

At some point, I knew I wanted to go deeper. That’s when I started looking for the best digital courses.

Learning Something New—Finally

Finding the right course wasn’t easy. I didn’t want something too expensive or too fast-paced. I wanted to truly understand what I was learning, not just watch videos passively.

Once I enrolled, I felt nervous again—like the first day of school. But that faded quickly. The classes were broken down into simple steps, and I could go at my own pace. I remember the first time I created a basic Google ad campaign—I felt like I had done something powerful. I had built something with real potential.

Each day, I got a little more confident. I started applying what I learned to a small family business my cousin runs. We set up a Facebook page, posted content regularly, and even ran a small ad. Watching the number of people who visited the page grow felt like magic—but it wasn’t magic. It was digital marketing.

Feeling Capable Again

The biggest shift didn’t come from learning tools or getting certificates. It came from feeling capable again.

Before this journey, I felt invisible. Like I had nothing to offer. But through this course, I started to realize that I could create, analyze, improve—and that my work could actually help people. It sounds small, but for me, it meant the world.

It gave me direction. It gave me a reason to wake up and feel excited again.

More Than a Career

Now, I won’t say I have it all figured out. I’m still learning. But for the first time in a long time, I know where I’m headed. I’ve started freelancing for small clients, helping them grow their presence online. It’s not about making big money yet—it’s about making progress.

And it all started because I followed a spark, and kept following it until it became a path.

Looking Back—and Forward

When people ask me what made the difference, I say it was a mix of curiosity, patience, and finding the best digital courses that matched my pace and interest. I don’t mean “best” as in fancy or expensive. I mean the kind of course that speaks to you, that gives you room to grow, and makes you feel like you can actually do this.

To anyone who feels lost, like I did—I see you. I know how heavy that feels. But sometimes, something unexpected can open a door. For me, it was digital marketing.

For you, it might be the same. Or maybe something else. But don’t ignore that tiny spark. Follow it. See where it takes you.

[fitnessandflavors]

Why Misinformation Spreads So Fast

Let’s do a little experiment. Open Instagram and search “fitness”. Scroll for 30 seconds and you’ll probably see:

Some bodybuilders flexing

Three different “5 Foods to foods to avoid” videos

A shirtless dude telling you that cardio is unnecessary and hurting your gains.

Welcome to the modern day gym. The deeper I get into lifting, the more I realize that one of the biggest threats to actual progress isn’t lack of motivation or incorrect form when lifting, it’s the misinformation being given out. Social media is where bad fitness advice gets served up all day everyday. So how did this happen?

Clicks > Credibility

It’s not hard to understand why misinformation spreads, because everyone knows the ways of social media and the internet nowadays. Nothing grabs attention like crazy titles like “Get Shredded in 2 Weeks” ,or “Why Protein is Killing You”. Evidence based training is usually not flashy, or modifying different machines to make them “more optimal”. You don’t see the viral TikToks titled “Caloric Surplus with Progressive Overload Enhances Muscle Hypertrophy in a Sustainable Manner”, because the truth is that no one would watch that! Even though it’s what the science actually says (Levers & Vargo, 2018).

Creators know this. The crazier the claim on the front page of the video, the more likely it is to go viral. If it sells a product (which it usually does), even better. All this being said it causes influencers to be incentivized to prioritize engagement over truth or facts. This is a recipe for disaster when there are so many individuals now with their health on the line after trusting the bad advice.

Who’s Actually Behind the Posts?

A big issue is that fitness advice online often comes from people who look fit, not people who truly understand fitness. There’s a major difference. Genetics, lighting, and PEDs are all things that can make someone look like they know what they’re doing, even if their advice is dangerous or straight up wrong.

For example, one influencer I used to follow claimed you could bulk and cut at the same time by eating "anabolic French toast" and training every day at 5 AM. Did it sound like it works and looked really cool? Yes. I then tried for about 4 weeks to do all these different things every single day. Don’t ask me if it worked, you already know the answer.

That’s when I realized credentials, and education matters. There's a reason we listen to people with PHDs, personal trainers, and specialized exercise doctors. They’ve spent years studying this stuff, and it shows in their work. If you compare that to your favorite TikTok fitness influencer, their only credentials are “I have big muscles, listen to me”.

Real World Consequences

It’s easy to laugh at weird trends like dry scooping pre workout or doing bicep curls while at an incline on a Bosu ball. Some of these things do not make any sense on how they would be better than a simple exercise like curls. But misinformation isn’t just funny, it can also be harmful. Bad advice leads to many bad things related to health, but mostly just wasted time. The worst part is that most people don’t even realize they’re being misled. They think they’re doing the right thing and wondering why they feel worse instead of better.

Hitting Back with Knowledge

The thing is that we can’t stop influencers from posting bad advice. But we can help people get better at recognizing it.

One solution I’ve been thinking about is making fitness easily understandable as a bigger priority, especially in online spaces. Imagine if more fitness apps,or even social media platforms had disclaimers or maybe a verified tag that lets the audience know their words are science backed. Also imagine if coaches and content creators were required to cite actual studies or provide sources, like article writers and journalists do.

Another thing that could be done is closing the gap between the science community and the people in the gym. Research is amazing, but it’s not any good if nobody reads it. That’s why I love creators like Jeff Nippard, who take hard topics like protein timing or training volume and break them down in a way anyone can understand. No gatekeeping, no bs, just useful info backed by evidence (Schoenfeld et al., 2013).

What I'm Starting to See

The more I learn, the more I realize that fitness is about more than just lifting, and meals. It’s more about who you trust. Currently we are in a spot where good advice is hard to find. Not getting as many views causing it to become hidden from the average person's feed.

But it doesn’t have to stay like this. If we start questioning what we see, looking for quality sources in everyday advice that you see online. We can change the confused gym culture of today. By eliminating one myth at a time.

Until that time comes, I’ll keep scrolling past the protein French toast and sticking with the stuff that actually works. Even if it doesn’t come with a 15% off discount code.

References

Levers, K., & Vargo, K. (2018). Effects of supplementation on muscle hypertrophy: A systematic review. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15(1), 38. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1186/s12970-018-0215-1

Schoenfeld, B. J., Aragon, A. A., & Krieger, J. W. (2013). The effect of protein timing on muscle strength and hypertrophy: A meta-analysis. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(1), 53. https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-10-53

[giafluffer]

ive been journalling on my facebook and some people react to it positively but it i daresay something someone finds negative , basically his best guy friend called him to complain about my post. so i won't be sharing on fb anymore. it's true im jealous, detective ish, and paranoid. but ive found so much truthful thangs thru this "detective" work on my bf. like he went on a date with shannon at TGIF the day before we broke up the day before i called cops on him for threatening to strangle me. and he had secretly behind my back been sending her money through cash app i found through snooping~sending her money behind my back secretly, more than a month before we broke up.

anyway his best guy friend called to complain about me and my bf talked so much shiz about me while im in the same room. better in the same room than privately.

also my boyfriend found out i changed his passwords to get into his facebook and email. well i told on myself of course and now from now on i am not allowed to be "super detective gia". i won't try it again but that doesn't mean i won't stop snooping and searching for the truth, our relationships truth, within the limits.

i drank a caffeinated beverage and i keep trembling. im a fragile soft weird human. i think im malnourished and still haven't been to grocery store even tho i gots food stamps. it's jus cold ❄️ and yesterday the uber was one heck of a ride they missed the grocery store and my bf got big attitude w me and i idiotically defended myself as usual.

it's idiotic to defend myself against him because it hurts the relationship. he says it's often "gia's way or the highway" but it actually quite close to the opposite.

if he tells me shut up i must shut up. I must be quiet. it's good for me i think. ive learned a lot through this relationship and darn it's been great. i mean that. optimism carries me to the feary future.

when i tell him i love him he denies it. he says i don't love him or else i would act differently. do you know how much i take care of him in small unappreciated ways? alot. i hope with all my heart he realizes i truly love him and we can be together again. lately he often tells me to leave or breaks up with me. but he told me im supposed to wait five minutes each time and be silent and don't act on it.

well last night he broke up with me in uber and i acted on it like a wild beast. i explained (embarrassing him) his abuse of me and complained. he tried telling the female driver he would give her an extra twenty but she wasn't having it and she also drove away with his favorite water bottle in stow.

we are a couple still but i currently have to be quiet and stay put. it's weird being human with other humans. my jupiter is in gemini in the 7th(love life house) i feel most happy being in a close relationship with someone interesting, intellectual, and appealing. the most comfy and at home ive felt is through relationship with another. rarely alone ive felt precisely *at home* ~meaning "comforted". in the company of jackie my ex best friend, the company of my cat flicker (r.i.p.), and the company of z my bf.

in this isolative capitalist consumerism it is so hard and tiresome to "connect"~ though very convenient simultaneously.

i wonder if my bf breaks up with me ...what will i have to write about? my daily life with family? its interestingness pales in comparison to my daily life with z. but ive always been jealous and admiring of bookish boring quiet girls.

depressing that im not bookish, but i am a philosopher and intellectual. and i am very introverted and the quieter one when surrounded by others. i try to include myself through laughing on cue or spontaneously in response..

i am interested in others lives but sometimes admittedly i scroll through ,skimming diary entries, unless it's someones writing i really have an interest in. im sorry. many times i force myself to read through so that i can better connect with the writer and emotionally n spiritually support them.

also it's kinda rare that people DO journal on here~as the law of attraction people say to keep your life private and "glow up".

i just love to type cus im faster than my boyfriend at typing we did a competition a few times. it's something im assured with. also it helps to connect and freakishly find out that some mutuals DO read my writing and DO care.

my heart is filled with love for yall. i don't know what's next for me. trepidation and strangeness awaits.

[doctor-says-im-alright]

Honeslty I dont entirely get it as a 24 year old fully able to do those things. Phones have apps that scan things into pdf and clean up the document, as an example. But also I grew up rural and honestly I think that helped me because everything rural comes late and everyone has to figure it out and teach each other.

But I will say technology has far surpassed intuitive abilities. It is now very money making oriented with 3 4 minute ads in a row if you want to do anything, pop up after pop up ad trying to read any website making it completely unusable. Yea… theres ad blockers. How do you find those? You search for them.

Heres the thing though. Google and other search engines frankly no longer work. I dont know if any of you have noticed this. I used google a lot in school and work to figure things out. Nothing about me has changed in my ability to search for things.

But my ability to get an answer has just about vanished seemingly overnight.

First 10 results of google are ads it feels like. Not even relevant. Past that is all SEO optimized shit that perhaps had some resemblance to a word I wrote but isnt helpful. Also the page descriptions are no longer decent which requires me to click on the page to figure out if its what I want and then its a war through the pop ups, glitching ads, newsletter requests, etc. google and many other search engines are literally becoming useless. Books arent so easy to get ahold of now, either, and get the specific information you want. (Seriously. When youre burnt out of trying desperately to figure something out, how do you figure out which book will tell you what you need?)

Also there isnt as much standardization anymore. Like I actually have no idea how to take a screenshot on my new laptop. I cant figure it out for the life of me despite watching my statistics teacher do it. I can print screen and save as pdf, but I cant take a screen grab and put it in a file. The keys she uses doesnt do anything on mine and actually Im pretty sure this laptop straight up doesnt have the function. Apple products have become weird about things like this, too.

Like technology is not intuitive anymore. It really sort of was to begin with. Kids could grasp it a little easier because it was meant to be easy! But it still required teaching and practice, and its only gotten more complicated, more cluttered and busy with too many buttons and no explanation and 75% of what youre looking at is actually not even relevant.

Also the keyboard thing is weird. Dont know why its not being taught, it is a skill and a hard one. Kids arent growing up with keyboards, they are growing up with touch screens that dont require that skill. Weve surpassed that.

Ill also add that the helpless feelings I imagine are getting more rampant and the kids are no longer able to believe they can figure it out and dont try. As everything gets more complicated, parents are the same way. Snappy and frustrated the kid doesnt get it, tells them their stupid or do it for them, and they never learn and learn they cant ever. This society is becoming extremely helpless and its being forced to be.

seriously, though. i work in higher education, and part of my job is students sending me transcripts. you'd think the ones who have the least idea how to actually do that would be the older ones, and while sure, they definitely struggle with it, i see it most with the younger students. the teens to early 20s crowd.

very, astonishingly often, they don't know how to work with .pdf documents. i get garbage phone screenshots, sometimes inserted into an excel or word file for who knows what reason, but most often it's just a raw .jpg or other image file.

they definitely either don't know how to use a scanner, don't have access to one, or don't even know where they might go for that (staples and other office supply stores sometimes still have these services, but public libraries always have your back, kids.) so when they have a paper transcript and need to send me a copy electronically, it's just terrible photos at bad angles full of thumbs and text-obscuring shadows.

mind bogglingly frequently, i get cell phone photos of computer screens. they don't know how to take a screenshot on a computer. they don't know the function of the Print Screen button on the keyboard. they don't know how to right click a web page, hit "print", and choose "save as PDF" to produce a full and unbroken capture of the entirety of a webpage.

sometimes they'll just copy the text of a transcript and paste it right into the message of an email. that's if they figure out the difference between the body text portion of the email and the subject line, because quite frankly they often don't.

these are people who in most cases have done at least some college work already, but they have absolutely no clue how to utilize the attachment function in an email, and for some reason they don't consider they could google very quickly for instructions or even videos.

i am not taking a shit on gen z/gen alpha here, i'm really not.

what i am is aghast that they've been so massively failed on so many levels. the education system assumed they were "native" to technology and needed to be taught nothing. their parents assumed the same, or assumed the schools would teach them, or don't know how themselves and are too intimidated to figure it out and teach their kids these skills at home.

they spend hours a day on instagram and tiktok and youtube and etc, so they surely know (this is ridiculous to assume!!!) how to draft a formal email and format the text and what part goes where and what all those damn little symbols means, right? SURELY they're already familiar with every file type under the sun and know how to make use of whatever's salient in a pinch, right???

THEY MUST CERTAINLY know, innately, as one knows how to inhale, how to type in business formatting and formal communication style, how to present themselves in a way that gets them taken seriously by formal institutions, how to appear and be competent in basic/standard digital skills. SURELY. Of course. RIGHT!!!!

it's MADDENING, it's insane, and it's frustrating from the receiving end, but even more frustrating knowing they're stumbling blind out there in the digital spaces of grown-up matters, being dismissed, being considered less intelligent, being talked down to, because every adult and system responsible for them just

ASSUMED they should "just know" or "just figure out" these important things no one ever bothered to teach them, or half the time even introduce the concepts of before asking them to do it, on the spot, with high educational or professional stakes.

kids shouldn't have to supplement their own education like this and get sneered and scoffed at if they don't.

[dailydosetech]

UI/UX Design in E-Commerce: How to Create Seamless Shopping Experiences

Creating a clean and enjoyable online buying experience is critical for e-commerce fulfillment. When people visit your on-line store, they need to locate what they’re seeking out quick, without difficulty, and without frustration. This is where UI/UX layout performs a key role.

What are UI and UX, and why should it be of interest for e-commerce?

What Are UI and UX?

UI (User Interface) It’s not the texts, links or buttons that people read; it’s the design of the website or app itself — the layout, buttons, fonts, colors and everything else they interact with. That is about how the website looks and how easy it is to navigate.

UX (User Experience) focuses on how users feel when interacting with your website or app. It’s about creating a seamless, enjoyable, and efficient journey for your customers. UX involves making sure that everything on your site works well and makes sense to the user.

Putting both UI and UX together produces a smooth, pleasant experience that will have customers coming back again and again.

Why UI/UX Matters for E-Commerce

A great UI/UX design directly impacts your sales. Here’s why:

Easy Navigation: Good design helps users find what they want without confusion. If a customer can’t figure out how to use your site, they’ll leave and likely never come back.

Faster Checkout: A few simple, intuitive, checkout options reduce cart abandonment. Customers will leave before buying if it is difficult, or takes too long.

Builds Trust: Professionalism — they don’t want to visit a site which is not well designed, which looks just like a resume and the wording is uninspired. Customers might start doubting your credibility if your site is too cluttered or too hard to use.

Mobile-Friendly: More and more people shop their phones. Your store will look just like it does on desktop when it’s worked on mobile, as well, thanks to a responsive, mobile friendly design.

How to Create a Seamless Shopping Experience

We know by now why UI/UX design matters, or else I wouldn’t be writing this. So let’s talk about how to create a smooth shopping experience for your customers.

1. Keep It Simple and Clean

Customers don’t want to be beaten by way of an excessive amount of information. Use smooth, minimalist design with plenty of white space. The easier your website, the easier it's far for customers to discover what they’re seeking out. Use clear, readable fonts and maintain text to a minimal.

2. Make Navigation Easy

Your website’s menu needs to be simple and easy to recognize. Categories ought to be actually categorized, and merchandise should be smooth to find. A good practice is to have a search bar at the top of every page, so clients can quickly search for merchandise.

3. Optimize the Product Pages

Product pages ought to provide all of the facts customers need to come to a decision, such as splendid photos, particular descriptions, and rate. A proper UI layout will allow users to zoom in on product pix and consider them from extraordinary angles.

And make the product page add customer reviews, ratings, etc. for easy users to pick the correct product.

Prominent and easy to find the “Add to Cart” button is.

4. Streamline the Checkout Process

A complicated checkout process is one of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts. To avoid this, make your checkout process as simple and quick as possible:

Provide guest checkout features (less people want to sign up with you).

Save time using auto fill for Address and Payment details.

Include many different payment methods, like credit card, PayPal, mobile payments.

Before customers purchase, show a clear summary of the order including shipping costs.

5. Responsive Design for Mobile

A responsive design means that your website adjusts to look great on any device. Since so many people shop on their phones, it’s essential to make sure your site is mobile-friendly.

Make sure the buttons are big enough to tap on mobile.

Using a simple, easy to access menu, make navigating the website easy.

Mobile users will leave if the page takes a long time to load so keep the page load time fast.

6. Fast Loading Times

If your website takes too long to load, customers will get frustrated and leave. A slow site can hurt your sales and also negatively affect your SEO ranking. To improve load times:

Reduce file sizes of images and optimize.

Use as little heavy graphics or scripts as possible.

Pick a solid web hosting service.

7. Personalization

A part of that love is expecting a personalized shopping experience. With design you can provide personalized product recommendations based on a user’s browsing history, wish lists or previous purchases.

Include "Recently Viewed" products.

Based on their shopping behavior they can offer those personalized discounts or promotions.

8. Clear Calls to Action

A call to motion (CTA) tells customers what you need them to do subsequent. Whether it’s "Add to Cart," "Buy Now," or "Sign Up for Newsletters," make sure your CTAs are clean and smooth to discover.

Contrasting colors of the color will help your CTAs to stand out.

The wording should be simple, and action orientation is always the best.

Conclusion

UI/UX design in e-commerce is more than just making your site look pretty. It’s about creating a shopping experience that’s enjoyable, easy, and efficient for your customers. A seamless shopping experience builds trust, boosts sales, and encourages repeat customers.

By that specialize in simplicity, clean navigation, mobile responsiveness, and a clean checkout device, you may create an internet keep that customers love to shop at. Keep finding out and improving your format to fulfill the ever-changing needs of your audience, and watch your e-trade commercial organization grow.