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ahecen · 4 months ago

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posting this post hoo domestic percabeth wip that i've had for more than a year bc why not. 6k and a little rough at times due to it, yk, being a wip. written to go along w this series.

Skin.

Annabeth dabs the foundation onto her jaw with a hardened gaze and burning eyes. It isn’t a new occurrence, so it’s strange that the sting resonates so deep. It's been months since they hurt each other in their sleep, so maybe what wounds Annabeth the most is that she thought they were better.

She knows she’s naive. Luke told her so many times during the years of his corruption. But when Annabeth was twelve her world turned upside down, and with it went her lack of optimism. She hasn’t been able to shake it within the last six years, not really.

She goes over what she knows to be true. Percy is at work. He will be home in two hours. Estelle is sleeping in her crib, so she should pay attention to that. Annabeth is alone, and it has been two years.

Percy had a mental breakdown half way through senior year, which was putting it lightly. Annabeth was scared for him—and of him. Sometimes she feels ashamed for thinking that way of him, but screaming fits in the middle of the night that lasted until the sun rose would have never been taken lightly.

She angles her face this way and that, testing the shadows of her jaw in the dim lighting. It’ll do. She turns on the sink, taking a final gulp of water to swish in her mouth, washing away the last bit of sourness that came from her gut ten minutes ago. Satisfied, Annabeth steps out of the small bathroom, her solitude left behind.

The Jackson apartment has only seemed to get noisier and noisier over the years. The radio is always crooning classic rock, and pots and pans clatter more often than not. When Annabeth was younger and it was just Percy and Sally, she was fascinated with how the busyness of their home was capable of drowning out the chaos of the city. Now with the addition of a baby, moments of quiet are rare.

It’s why she likes these mornings in the summer, if she can push unkind thoughts out of her mind. It’s vastly different to enjoy being alone versus feeling lonely. Garbage trucks and horns honking are a million miles away when the sun shines just right through the curtains, casting a warm glow throughout the home. It’s peaceful, and it’s so strange that her boyfriend’s empty apartment is the only place she can close her eyes without caution.

The place is too small for five people, it’s hot because the AC has a mind of its own, and Annabeth might have started a small fire trying to cook dinner the other night, but it’s home. She’ll miss everything when she moves upstate next month.

On the technical side of things, Annabeth lives with Rachel. They aren’t exactly the best of friends though, and her place always smells like weed and turpentine, so Annabeth prefers to spend her days with Percy.

Annabeth ponders waking Estelle so she can interact with, like, another living thing, but that wouldn’t be fair to the baby.

She opens her recent calls and stares at the list of names. Most from Percy, a few from Sally, and at the very top of the list reads a set of ten numbers. There’s no contact name, but the arrangement is burned into her memory.

She ignored his call four days ago. She missed it two days ago when she was showering and didn’t have it in her to return it. Last night when her father called her for the third time, Annabeth steeled her heart rate and held the phone to her ear. It may have been the bravest thing she did in months.

For the most part, Annabeth can accurately predict what her father will call her about and what the brief conversation will entail. Annabeth doesn’t like surprises. This time he surprised her.

She opens her laptop, types in the Cornell website without a thought, scrolls to check that yes it still exists, then abruptly closes the screen.

She finds the New York Times crossword and completes it in under two minutes. (She blames her lack of a restful sleep on her slow time.) She peels an orange then lays flat on the carpet to eat it, because why not.

Annabeth is extremely bored, if that was unclear.

The silence makes her feel useless, in every aspect of life. It’s at this time that Annabeth hears Estelle’s cries.

She has learned that babies can’t be, well, babied, but it must be awfully scary to be so small and wake up alone in a world so big.

Annabeth likes taking care of Estelle. Summers aren’t much different in the Jackson household than they are during the school year. Sally is a writer and Paul is a teacher which isn’t inherently an issue, but it presents problems when living in New York City with a baby and two other adults. Percy has a job because he needs to do something for his sanity. Annabeth was grateful when she was fired from her internship a few months back.

All that is to say Annabeth is happy to care of Estelle when the apartment is empty, even if Sally and Paul insisted they could take their daughter to daycare. When Annabeth said it was fine, it truly was fine. She and Estelle have a strange fascination with each other. She doesn’t have much experience with babies, but she tries to find it endearing rather than creepy when Estelle refuses to tear her eyes away from Annabeth’s face. They're the same eyes as Percy.

He's mentioned before that Annabeth shouldn’t blame Estelle for the staring, for reasons that are to be expected from her boyfriend. Annabeth rolled her eyes.

She likes holding Estelle in her arms. Her little fists find her hair and make grabbing motions, gripping her braids. It’s cute, though sometimes the baby forgets she has this thing called strength, and tugs too tightly. Or maybe she finds it entertaining to interact with the bright colors and noises and textures of the world around her, and she can use Annabeth’s hair as her first step of exploration.

Estelle is a testament to the innocence of life, and how growing up leads to breaking down. Annabeth never had much of a childhood. By the time things slowed down in her young, tumultuous life, she found she was left far behind. Annabeth wonders what her half-brothers were like as infants. She wasn’t allowed to hold them, and even if she were, her parents would still never tear their loving gazes away from their perfect, innocent sons.

She rocks the baby in her arms, her cries simmered into quiet whimpers. Annabeth’s humming something that might be Beyoncé, but Estelle doesn’t know the difference between “Flaws and All” and the rise and fall of the larynx.

Estelle is set into her play area with the bright colors and objects, and Annabeth falls over the couch, watching her. Not too much later, she hears the lock to the front door moving around, and then Percy steps through.

Estelle waddles over to her brother, which makes Annabeth only a tad nervous that she’ll fall on her little face or little behind. Percy picks up his sister, raising her into the air.

“Hey," Annabeth greets, his presence a sight for really sore eyes. "How was it?”

“Boring. Kids don’t drown like they used to.” He bends to kiss her upside down, which is only a bit disorienting. He then kisses Estelle’s forehead and her sparkly eyes go wide. The gestures are terribly domestic, and it is brought to Annabeth’s attention, not for the first time, that they live in the fantasy of playing Estelle’s mother and father while her real parents are away.

Annabeth shakes her head in sympathy. “Society is regressing.”

While a summer job as a lifeguard may not be the most optimal choice, there isn’t much about the actual work to complain about. Any excitement is better than none at all, even if that means he has to save a kid in the deep end. Or the shallows.

Chlorine makes Percy extremely uncomfortable—it’s why he chose basketball over swimming when his school forced him to play a sport, even if he was notorious for fouls.

“You smell like chemicals.”

“Annabeth, you’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you.”

She shoves him. “You didn’t shower at the pool?”

“I forgot my flip flops and I was not about to get athlete’s foot.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

“Would you want to rub fungal cream on my feet for a week?”

She cringes. “Ew, Percy. You wouldn’t make me do that.”

“You’re right,” he sighs. “I wouldn't.”

“You’re the breadwinner in this relationship, can you believe that?”

He stretches, his arms crossed behind his head. “I always was. You didn’t get paid.” His arms fall rather abruptly. “Shit, sorry.”

Annabeth furrows her eyebrows. “What for?”

“The internship.” It’s said delicately, like any other tone would set her off. It would. Annabeth was fired from her internship at an architecture firm just a few weeks ago for allegedly yelling at her boss. Annabeth thought it was simply a heated discussion on differing opinions. Apparently her behavior was inappropriate. Annabeth disagreed—and still disagrees—but there’s nothing she can do. Maybe file a report for wrongful termination, but she hated the company’s consistently boring designs anyway. It’s for the better.

“Just because I don’t have a job anymore doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to talk about yours. It’s fine. I need to get used to the real world anyway. Normal teenagers aren’t really granted full creative control over redesigning an ancient city.”

“They aren’t?”

Annabeth nods solemnly. “I know it’s hard to believe.”

“You should have prepared me better for that. I can’t believe you.”

“The betrayal.”

He smiles softly. “Sorry I fell asleep last night.”

She shrugs. “You don’t need to wait up for me.”

“I want to. Is Rachel done with her masterpiece yet?”

“You know, same old same old.”

“You don’t remember.” It’s not a dig.

“I don’t remember.”

The main draw to Rachel might be her collection of substances, so what. Annabeth knows what she’s doing. See, Rachel is a “freelancer,” which just means she paints all day and her dad pays her rent. She can virtually do whatever she wants without consequence. Annabeth doesn’t really have a right to judge though, since her own father pays for her tuition. It’s fine. Sometimes Annabeth needs a different kind of fix, one she can’t bring by herself or through others. She doesn’t talk about it with Percy, but she knows the drinking makes him uncomfortable. It’s why she keeps that lifestyle on the other side of town, where the windows reach from the top of the ceiling to the bottom of the floor.

Annabeth sneezes.

Percy gives her a look, then rises to his feet and says, “Lemme shower.”

He rounds on her to place a kiss on her temple, then leaves for the bathroom.

“Is Stelle asleep?”

He doesn’t acknowledge the darkness of the night before, nor does he bring light to what happened two years ago to the date. If he wants to be oblivious then she’ll let him, just for today.

She nods, and he responds back with, “Damn, she sleeps more than we do.”

Getting back from miles below felt like a sick nightmare crafted by monsters. It took days for Annabeth to be convinced this wasn’t a hallucination, and she truly was back in the mortal world. Sometimes at night she slips back into this untrue stream of consciousness, and she doesn’t trust anything she sees. What hurts the most is Percy. It hurts because she can’t tell if he’s real or not, the person who is the realest thing she's ever known. Annabeth is thrusted back into the pit, wandering blind and helpless as she cries for her abandonment. Clouds of smoke around her head help her forget, in a different way.

“Your mom always says she’s an easy baby. She doesn’t need to be submerged in water to stop crying,” Annabeth teases.

“That’s actually funny considering I was scared of public pools as a kid.”

“Probably because of all the chemicals.”

“Yeah, an aversion to swimming in piss would make sense.”

“How is that different from swimming in the ocean?”

“Because I’m, like, directly related to fish.”

Annabeth blinks. “I don’t want to have this conversation anymore.”

He snorts. It’s so easy to fall into his arms, focus on the warm familiarity of their banter and not the thousands of ways this moment can be interrupted with the wrong word, or an unintentional harsh tone.

“Toddlers scare me," Annabeth admits. "Their limbs are too long.”

“So dracanae in Grand Central Station is just another Tuesday, but a regular human being is what gets you going.”

He’s ridiculous. She tells him just that.

“What? My sister’s limbs are perfectly fine. She doesn’t appreciate the slander.”

They both look at her. She remains sleeping peacefully, her little nose washed with pink.

There’s another part of playing parents for Estelle. If not imagining her and Percy with their own child was a test of self control and recklessness, Annabeth would fail miserably. It makes her thankful to have an IUD. Annabeth isn’t a forgetful person. In fact, she has the best memory of anyone she knows. Reciting Macbeth is different than remembering to take a pill every day, though.

Annabeth is plenty okay with only looking forward to surviving college, thank you very much. Percy on the other hand is so incredibly family oriented, he doesn’t even see his daydreams as out of left field. Older Percy with kids of his own. Normal.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yeah,” Annabeth says. He gives her a look. “What? Coffee counts.”

“Let’s feed you then, lazyass.”

“Not lazy, ’m just tired.”

They leave Estelle to make their way to the kitchen.

“Nightmares?”

“No, I just couldn’t sleep. I hate when there’s no reason.”

Nightmares are to be expected, but they’ve become predictable.

“I would’ve stayed up with you. We could’ve watched a movie or gone on a walk or something.”

He doesn’t remember. It’s better this way, Annabeth thinks.

Percy kissed her forehead when he left this morning. The act woke her up, and she wasn’t able to fall back asleep, but that route was more preferable than waking with half a mind and not knowing where he was. Then she would remember, mid-panic, that Hera’s war is over, and they don’t need to have eyes on each other at every moment to know the other is okay. Annabeth doesn’t know which is easier: to fall asleep alone, or by his side just to meet her lonely soul in the mornings.

“Pancakes okay?”

Annabeth laughs through her nose. It’s basically the only thing he can make himself by scratch. “What other options are there?”

He takes a moment to consider, pulling a faux thinking face. “The most irresistible gourmet cereal.”

She narrows her eyes. “I think I can resist it.”

He actually manages to get enough done in the kitchen considering the various distractions from his girlfriend.

“What would you do if I turned into an owl?” she asks playfully, swinging her feet from up on the counter.

“I had a dream about that once.” She blinks. Percy continues, keeping his eyes on the batter in the pan. “I was a fish. You ate me.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. It was scary. Try not to eat me please.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

“Thank you." He eyes her. "Where’d that come from?”

“Where did that dream come from?��

“I asked you first. But I’m pretty sure it was from your mom because it happened around the time we started dating.”

“That’s nice. And I don’t know. It just popped into my head.”

“You have the strangest thoughts, Annabeth Chase.”

She cocks her head to the side. “What, you’ve never thought of if you were, like, a dolphin?”

“Of course I have, but not a dolphin. Dolphins are evil. I’m thinking megalodon.”

“When are you not thinking of megalodon, Shark Boy?”

“Probably when I find it. Nevermind, I will actually never shut up when I do. You’ll need to euthanize me.”

“I am honored that I’m the person elected to euthanize you when the time inevitably comes.”

“Fuck yeah.” He nods, confidence restored in being the one to find the extinct shark.

Annabeth smirks. “Name all the species of sharks in—”

“In alphabetical order?” He tilts his head towards her, curls falling with the movement. “See, you can’t make fun of me when I actually enjoy doing it.”

“I’m not making fun of you! I genuinely like it, I swear.”

He sighs. “Angel, Atlantic weasel…”

She grins incredibly wide throughout his recital. She grins at the brightness in his eyes because he’s honestly a huge nerd and refuses to admit it, at the speed at which he recites, and him being so in the groove of it all that he burns a pancake. The whole situation is a lot to smile about. It’s at times like these that Annabeth’s joy is ruined by her guilt towards how she thinks of him. How she could ever not want to be with him, not want to share his company and laughter.

But it’s different when they are caught in moments of turmoil.

She likes being here with him. He plays with the coils at the end of her braids, running his finger along the downward spirals.

Sunlight filters through the curtains. The light hits Percy’s curls in a way that makes his flyaways look like spun gold. He nuzzles his head into the warm crook of her neck, his breath tickling her skin.

He lifts her glasses off and reaches over her to set them on the night stand. He smiles in a way that makes her suspicious. “There. Now I can see your beautiful face.”

Annabeth stares at him blankly. “Never do that again. I would actually pay you to never say that ever again.”

Percy laughs brightly, the skin around his eyes crinkling. She smiles at the sight.

He’s like a boa constrictor, but a nice one, if there ever was such a thing. She feels safe.

“Is this okay?”

“Your elbow’s actually digging into my ribs a bit—”

“Shit, sorry,” Percy moves his arm to wrap around her shoulders instead, “But I meant is all of this okay? Like, are you happy staying here?”

“Of course I am. Wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.”

His hand moves down her bicep, then up, then down. Again and again in a way that leaves a trail of warmth in his path. “You kinda live with Rachel.”

“Rachel,” she repeats, testing the syllables. “She’s not really roommate material.”

“She’s your roommate though.”

“I’m a glorified squatter.”

Kids remember their moments of appraisal, times when they were singled out for being special. They also remember other kids getting rewarded, and they wonder what they did wrong. What do they have to do to get their gold star of recognition?

“My dad said he’d help me move in.”

His hand freezes, then continues its gentle movement. “Well no, right? We are.”

“I told him yes.”

His hand drops. “You already talked to him? When?”

“Two nights ago. It was time for him to cash in on his be a father twice a year check.”

Percy doesn’t say anything.

“I’m too forgiving,” Annabeth says.

“Maybe. But that's not always a bad thing.”

“When do you think it’ll finally click?”

“When he’s deserving of it. Who knows when that'll be.”

“That’s why I do it, I think,” she murmurs. “Let him in, even if it’s just for a moment. That's all I can handle.”

His arms tighten just a bit more. “You’re a good person, Annabeth. I just worry you give too many chances.”

“At least I’m consistent,” she jokes. “It’s okay. We'll be together for six hours tops.”

Moments of silence pass, and she pokes his chest. “I can hear you thinking.”

“What are you hearing then?”

“Whole lotta static. I wish I could read your mind.”

He admits, “Sometimes I think you can.”

A jolt wakes Annabeth, and she registers it as his heel digging into her shin. Her vision is blurry. She sighs deeply, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Morning, sunshine.”

She turns her head to find Percy still asleep, and shaking so infinitesimally it’s barely there. His eyes seem to be rolling back and forth behind his eyelids. Her head clears. “Percy?”

In the seconds it takes to wake him, Annabeth prays his memories will remain. It doesn’t happen often anymore, whereas a year ago his memory would lapse about once a week.

She presses her hand to his chest lightly, rising up then down to follow his breathing. Percy grasps her wrist, and she can imagine his head feels as if it’s filled with air.

His eyes open, wild, then soften in a millisecond. Annabeth examines his every feature, picking apart every quirk to figure out what’s running through his mind.

“It’s fine. ‘m fine.” He lays back down, and with his arms around her she follows him. He strokes her hair; she can feel the trembling in his fingers.

His head turns so that their foreheads connect, noses brushing. It’s enough to feel the other there, to have this undeniable proof that they’re alive and unharmed. But Annabeth knows it’s not enough for him, and it’s why she gives him what he needs when he kisses her.

She should ask what scared him. She should ask what happened in the nightmare. But picking at his cuts won’t stop the tremor in his body or the fear behind his gaze.

Sometimes words fail the both of them, and selfish desires take over, even if it leads to more hurt.

His lips lower to her neck, and a sadness falls over Annabeth at how they got here. Not in this moment specifically, it’s a selfishly good moment, but how they let silence become their method of communication, and the approval of ignorance equating bliss.

When they got back after the war there was unprecedented terror, mainly brought to the forefront through vivid flashbacks. They were delicate, carrying each other like thin glass. Then after feeling depleted for so many months, they found a way to be alive for each other, through harsh hands and scattered bruises. It felt good. It still feels good, even if Annabeth knows it’s wrong, and every time he presses against her her heart cracks a bit more. Percy and Annabeth are at their most vulnerable when with each other, no matter the state.

When his hand travels under her shirt, it should jolt Annabeth back to reality. But his touch is warm, and she’s spent too many years in the cold, so she pushes all other thoughts of opposition away. It’s not to say that she doesn’t want this. Percy isn’t taking advantage of her or ignoring her wants. Annabeth craves his closeness, and it’s intoxicating to be needed this way. It’s just that afterwards she can’t help feeling a little dirty for how they treat each other.

Soon, is her mantra. Soon soon soon.

Annabeth glances at the clock on the nightstand and her eyebrows raise in surprise at the time that has passed. Sally should be home by now. She then glances at the door, notices it’s still shut tight, and concludes if Sally opened it, she would have found them both innocently sleeping above the sheets.

Annabeth’s hand comes up to pat Percy’s arm. “Hey, stop.” Pale, inquisitive eyes meet hers. Before he can ask what’s wrong she says, “We’re getting ice cream.”

His eyebrows draw together, producing a crease in the middle that Annabeth smooths with a press of her thumb.

“Your mom’s home. We’re getting ice cream.”

That crease returns. “We have ice cream in the freezer.”

She pushes him off her and turns to plant her feet on the ground. “Get your ass up.”

2. Lungs.

The July rain leaves the air sticky and thick.

Annabeth licks the melted edges of her ice cream before the drops can coat her fingers. She looks over at Percy to find half his cone already gone.

“That good?”

“I’m all healed,” he answers.

“Ice cream has a one-hundred percent success rate. You know this.”

“The day it falls to ninety-nine is the day the world implodes.”

Annabeth hates summer. The few months of the sun high in the sky used to mean two things: she had a quest, and she had Percy. Now, it is a period of stillness. The calm before an unknown storm.

It is slowly killing Annabeth to live through these constant days of nothingness. It will kill Percy if he does anything at all. So he will stay, take care of his sister, and Annabeth will leave to start the next chapter of her life.

They pass a flower stand of sorts. It’s overflowing with a variety of flowers and color. Annabeth almost sneezes from the sweet smell.

Percy spins around and before Annabeth can even wonder as to why he did that, he produces a sunflower.

Annabeth’s grin is bright, and her laugh even more so. “Thief!”

He covers her mouth with his free hand, smiling from either his antics or her joy, she doesn’t know. “Shh! Coming from Annabeth ‘arrested for shoplifting’ Chase.”

She takes the stalk from him and twirls it between her fingers. “That got expunged last year. Asshole.”

He laughs and throws his arm around her shoulder.

They make their way to the park, thankfully finding an empty bench in the shade. The stolen sunflower rests over Annabeth's lap. As dutiful people watches, they observe the bikers and the joggers and the strollers and the couples and the solos and so on.

She could talk with him for hours about anything, really, but the silence is just as comforting. Actually, anything that isn’t revolved around her she could talk about for hours.

“Narnia freaks me out.”

He sputters a laugh. “Go on?”

She likes that she can just say things to Percy, random thoughts that spring up in her mind, and she doesn’t worry about him thinking she’s, like, weird or something. Which is a strange train of thought to go down because they’ve been best friends for years. If he didn’t like her they wouldn’t be here, but Percy liking Annabeth will always remain a cosmic mystery to her.

“I was going to say something about us actually being older than we are, then I thought of those kids living in Narnia for decades, then when they go back to the mortal world, they’re back in kids bodies.”

“Freaky,” he agrees.

“Reminds me of us a bit.”

“Yeah.”

His thumb grazed her knuckles. Percy slides his hand under her own, the other reaching over to trace the lines of her palm with his index finger.

Annabeth hums. “What’s it telling you?”

He eyes her. “The best year of your life is upon you.”

“Oh really.”

“Yeah.” He pauses to inhale, exhale. “You throw the packs into a bonfire, you smash the bottles, and you score an internship at a fancy architecture firm where you are so valuable that you’re paid more than the boss.”

“Sounds nice," Annabeth says. "Too bad that life is incomplete.”

“That’s why the next year will be better. And the year after that.”

“And after that…”

Percy nods. “And after that.”

Annabeth laces her fingers with his, holding tightly. “I believe you.”

“Good.”

The high sun leaves the streets radiating with heat. They talk and don’t talk, meaningless comments about the world around them and stupid hypotheticals. It almost feels like those first few months together, where they would fill their weekends with each other’s time. Looking back, Annabeth doesn’t know if they were making up for lost time, or they were taking advantage of an unknown future. A future where they knew stability couldn’t be promised.

3. Blood.

Annabeth stares at her reflection for so long she loses time. There’s only one bathroom in the apartment, so it’s probably rude to stay hidden for so long, but Annabeth can’t escape to solitude anywhere else.

She feels outside of her body, like her movements are being controlled by a third party entity. She absentmindedly runs her thumb across the bumps and ridges on her thighs, past scars inflicted by no one but herself. When Percy discovered what she was doing was one of the worst moments in Annabeth’s life. It was all because of the damn look he gave her. It was heartbreak, and she was the reason for it. Annabeth isn’t proud of the millions of ways she has hurt him over the years. One day it’s going to give, and Annabeth may be a horrible person for waiting for the day they leave each other for good, but at least she’ll be prepared. She thinks she could be married to Percy for twenty years and still feel the ground beneath her shake with uncertainty. It’s not a good feeling, but she doesn’t blame Percy. Annabeth Chase will always be her own worst enemy.

It’s the worst fucking feeling in the world to discover that someone doesn’t love themself in the way you love them. Annabeth saw that feeling on Percy’s face.

She turns on the sink, freezing cold water pooling into her joined hands, and splashes her face.

Annabeth hears feet padding outside the door. The steps are light with a purpose, feet not dragging. She knows it’s Sally, so she’s probably putting Estelle down for the night, or just a nap (whatever the baby decides). Before she can stop herself, Annabeth twists the metal door knob. The hinges creak as she steps out.

Annabeth hovers outside the door to Estelle’s room, one foot in the hall.

“Sally?” “I just wanted to thank you for everything. For being understanding, mostly, especially when we leave you in the dark.”

“Anytime, sweetheart. You’re a part of this family too. You always will be.” Annabeth heard the unspoken even if you’re not with Percy.

“This isn’t something a good girlfriend does.”

“None of that, Annabeth. Sometimes being a good person means doing the hard thing.”

How can Sally say all this when she doesn’t know? She doesn’t know all the things they had to do to survive in the pit, she doesn’t know how they treat each other now.

“I just feel bad,” she croaks.

“There’s no need to be. You’re only eighteen. You’re expected to be the adult on the godly side of things, but there’s no need for that here.”

Her chin wobbles, tears pooling over her eyes faster than she can stop them. “I’m scared this will all be for nothing,” she sobs.

Sally opens her arms without hesitation, and Annabeth falls into them. “Oh, sweetheart. Why have you kept this all in?”

“I can’t talk with Percy about it, and you’re his mom,” she chokes out. “He’s your son first. I’m just his girlfriend.”

Sally rubs her back, like she's coaxing every bad feeling out of her. It is about as comforting as it is weakening. There’s something about Sally Jackson that doesn’t make Annabeth scared to feel. “I wish you wouldn’t think of yourself so small, sweet pea. You’re a part of this family. You always will be.”

Annabeth hears the unspoken even if you’re not with Percy.

“I don’t know, I just… I felt so lonely the last couple years. But I don’t feel that way anymore. Now I’m leaving for real, and it’s my choice to be lonely. Ithaca seems a world away.”

This home represents everything of a past life. The framed photographs on the wall are of a younger Annabeth, so in love she let it blind her. She grew out of it, like she grew out of camp after the first war.

When she opens the door to the bedroom, Annabeth isn't surprised to find the window open, and the silhouette of Percy sitting on the fire escape.

Escape serves a double meaning. Over the months, Annabeth and Percy found the rusted railings separate from the rest of the world. Here was neutral territory. Here, they could gaze into the windows of the countless homes around them, looking into glimpses of people’s lives. Sometimes it’s frustrating for Annabeth to know even after all the things they’ve been through, they’re still smaller than two insignificant specks of dust in the cosmos.

“Can I join you?” she asks, needlessly.

“Always.”

She swings her feet above the city. She feels like the little kid she was at camp, kicking her legs up and up over the lake. The world seemed so big back then. Now, Annabeth’s imagination has drifted to the stars.

It’s late, but the end of summer means that the sky is washed with a dull ocean blue. It’s another thing she dislikes about these months, how the days never want to end.

Percy is sitting at her side, their thighs touching. His forehead rests against the deteriorated railing, breathing in the warm smog of the city.

Annabeth watches him. She remembers his first days at camp, where she fell back and observed him from the shadows. He wasn’t unlike the other newcomers, but there was something about him she couldn’t get a read on. Six years later and Annabeth still feels as if she’s missing the final piece to the infinite puzzle that is Percy Jackson.

“You haven’t aged a day in six years.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere," she says. "My gray hair is all because of you.”

He chuckles, and his hand raises to her jaw, tracing the soft line. When his thumb grazes over the spot just before her chin, Annabeth jerks her head away, then winces at her blind reaction. His hand freezes.

It’s an old dance, and Annabeth’s tired, so she lets him inspect her jaw while her face burns. She feels naked under his scrutiny, with nowhere left to hide.

Percy is smart, and Annabeth knows she won't be able to lie her way out of this one.

“Annabeth…” He’s shaking his head.

“You were having a nightmare. I’m fine, I swear. It’s nothing new.”

It’s alright, really. It was Annabeth’s fault. In hurting him, she hurt herself. It only seemed fair; it’s why she no longer cries when nightmares translate to real life. This is the price she pays for selfishness.

“Nothing new… Annabeth, do you realize how fucked up that is?”

“What do you want me to say? I’ve taken countless hits to the face before. From you, might I add, in the training fields. This is honestly better than those times.”

His face is impassive. That look has always scared her more than any look he's given to an enemy. “I’m thinking maybe you were wrong for staying here.”

Her heart drops. “You want me to leave.”

“No, but." Percy exhales, frustrated and regretful. He pinches the bridge of his nose. "I’m trying not to be selfish. You’re not happy here.”

“I’m not happy anywhere but here.”

“Doesn’t that make you upset? That your happiest state is when your boyfriend hits you and he doesn’t even remember it?” His voice breaks at the end, and his expression crumbles. “I’m no better than—” He stops himself, but Annabeth knows who he was going to name.

“Percy," she says, not fucking around, "look at me. You are nothing like him, and you never could be. These situations are nowhere comparable, you have to realize that.”

He's looking all over her face and all around her, like his vision is shaky. Something has happened, but Annabeth isn't quite sure what. She can't leave. Not yet. “Fuck, I hate this.”

“What?”

“It's like..." He licks his lips. "I almost think next year could be a good thing.”

Percy gets it, but she doesn't feel that triumph in her chest that she thought she would. How can things break down even further, so so simply? Their world is crumbling, but they're only two specks of dust.

“You get it now,” she mutters. “Hopefully we’ll be better.”

Percy is no where near satisfied. “We can’t just keep saying that, Beth.”

“Yeah, but this time an actual change is being made." She takes his hand. "For real. It’s not like last summer.”

His gaze is low, watching the tiny people below them carry on with their night. “I hate the summer.”

“And the winter,” Annabeths adds.

“Fall, then.”

She shakes her head. “That’s when school starts.”

“Spring,” he finalizes.

“That’s when finals are. Peak academic stress.”

“Now you’re just being mean.”

She smiles, leaning into his chest and his arms wrap around her shoulders. She breathes deeply, his scent a beacon guiding her back to reality, but also an escape.

"I'm sorry," Percy whispers against her temple.

"It's okay. I promise. Gods, I’m never going to be able to get you out of my head.”

She feels the light laugh in his chest. “Would that be so bad? Nevermind, don’t answer that.”

“It’s just a year. Plus winter break. We’ve been apart for longer before.”

“Before we were us though.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know.”

His thumb and forefinger on her chin guides her eyes back to his. He's trying to be happy for her. She wants to tell him that the mask does more damage than good. “You’ll do great things, miss architect.”

“You will too. I know it.”

He chuckles wetly. “Why am I so sad? It’s not even…”

“It’s a change—but a good one. I’m sure of it.”

He nods. “I trust you.”

She hopes it's enough. Annabeth can't trust herself.

#I have lived so many lives since writing this #to the tumblr depths it goes #my writing #percabeth #percy jackson #annabeth chase #pjo

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 1 year ago

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AITA for not wanting to writing a positive review of my brothers moral character?

(🖌️ to find later)

TW for drug use and misogyny

My (24X) older brother (26M) recently ended up getting arrested and charged with some very serious charges due to his distribution of fentanyl. I’m not going to get too into the legal stuff for obvious reasons but he could end up in prison for up to 30 years. I’m not any type of fan of the legal system (US, for clarification) and am not a fan of the situation but can definitely see some silver linings to him being in there. I wish there was an actually system of help he could get but with the rate he has taking drugs and the way his circle of friends was dropping (4 funerals in 6 months) my mom and I were fairly certain he was going to over does soon and he showed no signs of wanting to seek help. So ya know, at least he’ll be alive.

But that’s not fully the issue. My mom and I talked and she said his public defender wanted letters from people to prove his good moral character to read in court and, as his little sibling, figured of course I would provide one. But I truly have nothing good to say about the man’s ‘moral character’ the last time we had a conversation was before I moved out over two years ago. When I moved out my roommates I was moving in with said they didn’t want him to know our address as they would be living there too and didn’t want him bringing his violence into their lives. He blew up called me a bunch of homophobic slurs and that was pretty much it.

Before that he was my biggest reason for wanting to move out. He regularly calls my mom a bitch and a c*nt. He never cleaned up after himself because ‘there was two women in the house and we were f*cking (r-slurs) if we thought he should have to do anything.’ Lovely things like that. He punches holes in the walls, says slurs like they’re the only descriptive words he knows, steals anything not locked up (and smashes through doors and windows even then to get to it), and hounds my mom for money non-stop, usually until she gives in. In short I have nothing positive to say about his moral character.

Now my mom is a very loving mom. Far more than I could be at this point and is in denial about the man her son is. She would say she’s spent the last decade living with the personification of meth and heroin and she will get her son back some day if he could only get clean. But none of that has actually been him. I just can’t have that kind of optimism or denial towards the situation. She’s going to be very upset if I don’t submit something because she (fairly, again fuck the prison system) doesn’t think he should be locked up for upwards of 30 years.

I’m a good writer. I could come up with something. None of it really true but it can sound nice. Make my mom feel better (gods know she needs a break) but just thinking about it makes me feel gross. I don’t even know if it will matter much in court, but I don’t know how awful of me it would be to abstain.

There’s obviously more nitty gritty to the situation but this is long as it is. I just hope I didn’t make my mom sound bad because I do want to say she’s a loving woman in an abusive situation and I hope it’s not to much to ask that no one be too cruel to her in the notes, thanks.

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

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lastimeexteriors-omaha · 5 months ago

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How Does Residential Metal Roofing Affect Heating Costs?

Have you ever wondered how your choice of roofing material impacts your heating costs? If you’re considering home improvements, especially regarding your roof, you might be surprised to learn just how significant that choice can be. This article will explore the relationship between residential metal roofing and your heating expenses and why it could be a smart move for your home.

Understanding Residential Metal Roofing

Residential metal roofing has gained popularity in recent years for its durability and sustainability when discussing roofing options. Unlike traditional asphalt shingles, metal roofs are made from steel, aluminum, and copper. Not only do they offer a sleek aesthetic, but they also have unique properties that can positively influence your home's heating costs.

Energy Efficiency and Insulation

One of the standout features of residential metal roofing is its energy efficiency. Metal roofs reflect a significant amount of solar radiation, which helps keep your home cooler in the summer. This reflective capability can also affect your heating costs during the winter months.

In colder climates, the heat from your home can escape through the roof if it's poorly insulated. A metal roof, especially those with reflective coatings, can help mitigate this heat loss. The better the thermal emittance of the roofing material, the more heat it can release, reducing the need for excessive heating. As a result, homeowners may find that their heating bills decrease during the winter months.

The Role of Reflectivity

Reflectivity is another key factor when discussing how residential metal roofing affects heating costs. The higher the reflectivity, the less heat from the sun is absorbed into the roof structure. This quality means that a metal roof can significantly reduce the heat penetrating your attic and living spaces in warmer climates, leading to lower air conditioning costs.

Conversely, in cooler climates, unpainted or natural metal roofs can absorb more heat, which may be beneficial for keeping homes warm during the winter. Understanding your environment can help you choose the right type of metal roofing, optimizing heating efficiency throughout the year.

Longevity and Maintenance

Residential metal roofing is known for its long lifespan, often lasting between 40 to 80 years compared to the 20-year lifespan of asphalt shingles. This longevity means that once you invest in a metal roof, you'll likely see cost savings on replacements, repairs, and maintenance over time. Fewer replacements mean less disruption to your home and more consistent energy efficiency.

Moreover, metal roofs require minimal maintenance, making them a practical choice for busy homeowners. Regular inspections—at least once a year—can help ensure your roof remains in good condition and continues to perform well in terms of insulation and energy efficiency.

The Financial Incentive of Metal Roofing

Investing in residential metal roofing can also provide direct financial benefits. Many metal roofing options are made from recycled metals, which not only reduces the environmental impact but may come at a lower cost due to the use of post-consumer recycled materials. Additionally, some local governments offer tax incentives or rebates for homeowners who choose reflective roofing options that contribute to overall energy efficiency.

Furthermore, if you ever need a roof replacement, the value of the metal can be reclaimed through recycling. For certain metals, like copper, you can receive a decent sum to offset some of the costs of a rated

The Environmental Impact

In today's eco-conscious world, choosing residential metal roofing can also be viewed through the lens of sustainability. Metal roofs are fully recyclable at the end of their lifespan, unlike asphalt shingles, which often end up in landfills. By opting for a metal roof, you contribute to a more sustainable future and reduce your carbon footprint, making it a choice that aligns with modern environmental values.

Smart Choices for Your Home

When considering home upgrades, weighing the benefits of residential metal roofing is essential. From enhanced energy efficiency and reduced heating costs to financial incentives and environmental contributions, metal roofs present a compelling case for homeowners looking to improve their homes smartly and sustainably.

If you’re ready to explore the advantages of residential metal roofing further and learn how it can reduce your heating costs, visit Lastime Exteriors. Their expert team can guide you through the various energy-efficient roofing solutions available to meet your needs. Make an informed choice for your home today!

#lastime exteriors #residential metal roofing #roofing

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anti-clerical · 6 months ago

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Safely Shipping Tips: How Frequent You Need to Replace a Tire

Understanding when to replace your tires is crucial for maintaining the safety and performance of your vehicle, especially when preparing for transport. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often tires need replacement, several factors influence their lifespan.

Mileage is often used as a general guideline for tire replacement. On average, tires last between 25,000 to 50,000 miles. However, this can vary greatly depending on the type of tire, driving conditions, and maintenance practices. High-performance tires, for example, may wear out faster than all-season tires.

Age is another critical factor. Even if a tire hasn’t reached its mileage limit, it may need replacement due to age-related deterioration. Many manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are 6-10 years old, regardless of tread depth. This is because the rubber compounds in tires break down over time, even if the tire isn’t being used.

Tread depth is perhaps the most immediate indicator of when a tire needs replacement. In the United States, tires are legally required to have at least 2/32 inch of tread depth. However, performance begins to decline well before this point, especially in wet conditions. Many experts recommend considering replacement when the tread depth reaches 4/32 inches.

Driving habits and conditions significantly impact tire lifespan. Frequent hard braking, aggressive cornering, and driving on rough roads can accelerate tire wear. Similarly, extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can affect tire longevity.

Proper maintenance can extend tire life. Regular rotation, proper inflation, and wheel alignment can help tires wear more evenly and last longer. Conversely, neglecting these maintenance tasks can lead to premature tire wear and the need for early replacement.

The type of vehicle and how it’s used also play a role. Heavy vehicles put more stress on tires, as does carrying or towing heavy loads. Performance vehicles may require more frequent tire replacements due to the demands placed on the tires.

Visual inspection can reveal signs that a tire needs replacement, regardless of age or mileage. Look for cracks in the sidewall, bulges or blisters on the tire surface, or excessive or uneven tread wear. Any of these conditions warrant immediate attention and possible replacement.

It’s worth noting that tires on the same vehicle may wear at different rates. Front tires on front-wheel-drive vehicles, for example, often wear faster than rear tires. This is why regular rotation is important, and why you may sometimes need to replace tires in pairs or sets rather than individually.

Lastly, consider your driving needs. If you frequently drive in adverse weather conditions or rely on your vehicle for critical transportation, you may want to replace your tires earlier to maintain optimal performance and safety.

Before transporting your vehicle, it’s especially important to assess your tires’ condition. The stress of transport can exacerbate existing tire issues. If your tires are nearing the end of their lifespan, considering replacement before transport can prevent potential problems and give you peace of mind.

Why proper tire pressure matters more than you think—especially when shipping using an open air car shipping! Ever wonder why your car's tires keep losing air? Discover the secret!

Checking Sidewall Tires for Wear and Tear

Examining the sidewalls of your tires is a crucial part of tire maintenance, particularly when preparing your vehicle for transport. The sidewall, which is the outer face of the tire between the tread and the bead, plays a vital role in supporting the weight of your vehicle and maintaining tire shape. Damage or wear in this area can compromise the tire’s structural integrity and potentially lead to tire failure.

Start your inspection by cleaning the sidewalls. A damp cloth can help remove dirt and grime, making it easier to spot any issues. Once clean, visually inspect the entire sidewall, looking for any abnormalities.

One of the most common issues to look for is cracking. Small cracks in the sidewall, often referred to as weather checking or ozone cracking, can occur due to exposure to the elements over time. While minor cracking may not require immediate action, deep or extensive cracking is a sign that the tire needs replacement.

Bulges or blisters on the sidewall are serious red flags. These protrusions indicate that the internal structure of the tire has been compromised, often due to impact damage. A tire with a bulge or blister is at high risk of sudden failure and should be replaced immediately.

Look for any cuts or gouges in the sidewall. Even if these don’t penetrate all the way through the rubber, they can weaken the tire’s structure. Deep cuts that expose the tire’s internal components require immediate tire replacement.

Pay attention to any signs of scuffing or excessive abrasion on the sidewall. This can occur from rubbing against curbs and can weaken the tire over time. While minor scuff marks may not be cause for concern, deep or extensive abrasion may necessitate replacement.

Examine the area where the sidewall meets the tread. Any separation in this area, often visible as a bulge or distortion, indicates internal damage and requires immediate replacement.

Check for any signs of dry rot, which appears as a fine network of small cracks covering a large area of the sidewall. This is often due to age or prolonged exposure to sunlight and ozone. Tires showing signs of dry rot should be replaced, even if they still have adequate tread depth.

Look for any discoloration or fading on the sidewall. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem, it can be a sign of age or exposure to harsh conditions, which might warrant a closer inspection of the tire’s overall condition.

Don’t forget to check both the outer and inner sidewalls of each tire. The inner sidewall can sometimes sustain damage that’s not immediately visible from the outside of the vehicle.

Pay attention to any unusual wear patterns on the edge of the sidewall where it meets the tread. Excessive wear in this area can indicate alignment issues or chronic under-inflation.

Lastly, take note of any objects lodged in the sidewall. While it’s more common to find puncturing objects in the tread, occasionally they can become embedded in the sidewall. Unlike tread punctures, sidewall damage generally cannot be repaired safely, and the tire will need to be replaced.

Remember, the sidewall is a critical component of your tire’s structure. Any significant damage or wear in this area is cause for concern, especially when preparing for vehicle transport. If you’re unsure about the condition of your tire sidewalls, it’s best to consult with a professional tire technician for a thorough inspection and advice.

Don’t let flat tires derail your shipping plans. Inflate to the right pressure now! Discover more useful information on how to safely transport your car with a reliable car carrier service like Lucky Star Auto Transport with years of experience transporting all types of vehicles, for your peace of mind knowing your car will arrive at your preferred destination on time and in pristine condition.

youtube

#auto transport guide #car shipping information #car carrier service #safe transport #JELSolutions

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rosewater12345 · 15 days ago

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Remarketing Strategies for Conversion Success

In the world of digital marketing, retaining a potential customer’s interest is often more challenging than acquiring it in the first place. Visitors may come to your website, explore your products or services, and then leave without making a purchase or inquiry. That’s where a well-planned remarketing strategy comes into play.

A remarketing strategy lets you reconnect with those prospective customers who previously engaged with your website, products, or services. It’s a powerful way to keep your brand visible and persuade them to return and convert — whether it's making a purchase, signing up for your newsletter, or booking a demo.

Why Remarketing Strategy Is Crucial for Your Business

Studies show that nearly 97% of first-time website visitors do not convert immediately. It’s not because they’re not interested — often, they’re simply not ready to buy, or they may be comparing options. Remarketing lets you stay at the forefront of their consideration, allowing you to:

✅ Boost Conversion Rate: Targeted messages based on visitor behavior can lift conversion rates by up to 50%. ✅ Strengthen Brand Recall: Staying visible through tailored ads makes it more likely for your prospective customer to remember you when it's time to buy. ✅ Improve Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Remarketing typically converts at a lower cost per conversion than many other methods, yielding a strong return on your digital marketing investment.

Types of Remarketing Strategy to Implement

Your remarketing strategy can take different forms, depending on your goals and your customer’s journey. Here are a few popular methods to consider:

➥ Standard Remarketing: Shows tailored display ads to people who previously visited your website. ➥ Dynamic Remarketing: Displays products or services previously viewed by the visitor — a powerful way to bring back high-intent shoppers. ➥ Email Remarketing: Sends follow-up messages or promotions directly to the inbox of those who abandoned their carts or downloaded a lead magnet. ➥ Video Remarketing: Serves video content to viewers who previously engaged with your YouTube channel or video campaigns. ➥ Social Media Remarketing: Shows tailored messages on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, reconnecting you with a warm audience.

Best Practices for Remarketing Success

✅ Segment Your Audiences: Separate groups based on their actions — for example, product page viewers, add-to-cart but no checkout, or past purchasers — and customize messages for each. ✅ Create Compelling Ads: Your creative should reflect what the visitor was interested in previously. ✅ Set Clear Goals: Whether it's a lead form submission, a phone call, or a direct sale, be clear about what you want your visitor to do next. ✅ Limit Ad Frequency: To avoid ad fatigue, control how frequently your ads appear. ✅ Analyze and Optimize: Monitor key metrics, split-test messages, and fine-tune your campaigns for maximum performance.

#digital marketing #remarketing #marketing strategy #Conversion Success

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sagetitansteam · 4 months ago

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Conversion Rate Optimization: Proven Strategies to Turn Visitors into Customers.

Introduction

Imagine this: your sales and sign-ups stay the same although you have spent months honing your website, running advertisements, and increasing traffic. Right, frustrating? Here, conversion rate optimization (CRO) becomes absolutely crucial.

Although traffic is rising nicely, it does not ensure purchases. Your website isn't really performing if your visitors don't act—that is, whether it's making a purchase, registering for a subscription, or asking for a demo.

This article will walk over the finest tools, professional advice, and online conversion rate optimization techniques to assist companies just like yours in transforming visitors into paying consumers.

What is conversion rate optimization?

Conversion rate optimization, then, is the process of modifying a website to raise the percentage of users that perform a particular action—that is, purchase, register, or seek information. It guarantees that you're maximizing your current traffic rather than running after fresh guests nonstop.

Apart from increasing sales, a well-optimized website enhances the general user experience, therefore facilitating the navigation and action taken by possible consumers

Types of Conversion Rate Optimization

Every business has unique goals, and different types of conversion rate optimization strategies cater to them. The most often occurring ones are:

1. E-Commerce Conversion Rate Enhancement

E-commerce conversion rate optimization for online shops mostly addresses enhancing product pages, checkout systems, and the general shopping experience. Key Strategies: 🔹 High-quality product images and descriptions. 🔹 Seamless checkout with multiple payment options. 🔹 Customer reviews and testimonials for trust-building.

2. Landing Page Optimization

A designed landing page is a big key to conversions. Key Strategies: 🔹 Simple and captivating headlines 🔹 Assertive call-to-action (CTA) buttons 🔹 Mobile-responsiveness design

3. Lead Generation Optimization

Optimization of lead capture forms is required for service-oriented businesses. Key Strategies: 🔹 Short, simple, and user-friendly forms 🔹 Offering incentives like free e-books or discounts 🔹 A/B testing form placements and designs

Now that we’ve covered the types of CRO, let’s explore the conversion rate optimization key for businesses.

Key Strategies for Higher Conversions

1. Improve Website Speed and Performance

Pages with slow loading turn away guests. Review and improve site performance with Google PageSpeed Insights. Quick Fixes:✔ Compress images ✔ Enable browser caching ✔ Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

2. Optimize for Mobile Users

With mobile traffic dominating the internet, ensuring a mobile-friendly experience is crucial. Best Practices: ✔ Responsive design for all devices ✔ Clickable buttons and easy navigation ✔ Fast mobile load times

3. Use Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

A clear CTA tells visitors what to do next. ✅ Example: Instead of “Submit,” use “Get Your Free Trial Now!” ✅ Use contrasting colors to make CTAs stand out

4. Leverage Social Proof and Trust Signals

People trust reviews and testimonials. ✔ Display customer reviews on product pages. ✔ Use security badges for safe transactions. ✔ Showcase social media endorsements.

5. Personalize the User Experience

Tailor website content based on visitor behavior. ✔ Use AI chatbots to guide users. ✔ Offer personalized product recommendations. ✔ Use retargeting ads to bring back lost visitors

6. Simplify Checkout and Payment Process

A complicated checkout process leads to abandoned carts. ✔ Offer guest checkout options ✔ Reduce form fields to the essentials ✔ Provide multiple secure payment methods

7. A/B Testing for Continuous Improvement

A/B testing compares different website elements to see what works best. ✔ Test different headlines, images, and CTAs ✔ Analyze conversion rates and adjust accordingly

Let us now review the finest tools for optimizing conversion rates to enable the application of these ideas.

Ideal Conversion Rate Optimization Instruments.

Correct conversion rate optimization tools help to simplify the optimization process. These are some great instruments:

Tool

Features

Google Analytics

Tracks visitor behavior and conversion rates

Hotjar

Provides heatmaps and session recordings

Optimizely

A/B testing for landing pages

Crazy Egg

Click tracking and heatmaps

Unbounce

Creates high-converting landing pages

These tools help businesses identify areas of improvement and implement effective changes.

How Sage Titans Can Help Improve Your Conversions

At Sage Titans, we specialize in conversion rate optimization strategies designed to maximize sales, leads, and engagement. Our expert team helps businesses:

Design high-converting landing pages.

Utilize data-driven A/B testing methodologies.

Improve user experience for easier navigation.

Optimize e-commerce checkout processes to decrease cart abandonment.

Sage Titans has the experience and resources you need to produce demonstrable outcomes with conversion rate optimization.

Conclusion: Start Optimizing Today

More traffic to your website is not enough; you must convert visitors into buyers. Companies that employ the right conversion rate optimization tactics may improve user involvement, boost revenue, and maximize ROI. If you would like to witness actual improvements in your website's performance, begin optimizing today. Need expert guidance?

Visit www.sagetitans.com website now and take your conversions to the next level!

#website conversion rate optimization #conversion rate optimization #conversion rate optimization tools #e commerce conversion rate optimization #conversion rate optimization in digital marketing #conversion rate optimization strategies #definition of conversion rate optimization #types of conversion rate optimization #conversion rate optimization benefits

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sadik666 · 1 month ago

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The Ultimate Guide to Keyword Research

In the world of digital marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization), keyword research is the foundation of a strong online presence. Whether you're creating blog posts, product descriptions, landing pages, or advertising campaigns, understanding how to find and use the right keywords is crucial.

This guide will walk you through what keyword research is, why it matters, and how to do it effectively.

What Is Keyword Research?

Keyword research is the process of identifying the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for information, products, or services. By understanding these search queries, businesses and content creators can optimize their websites to rank higher in search results, drive more traffic, and better meet the needs of their audience.

Why Keyword Research Matters

Drives Targeted Traffic Right keywords attract users who are specifically searching for what you offer.

Improves SEO Rankings Search engines like Google use keywords to understand your content. Using the right ones helps you appear in relevant search results.

Boosts Content Strategy Knowing what your audience is searching for gives you ideas for blog posts, videos, and other content.

Increases Conversion Rates Traffic from well-targeted keywords tends to convert better because it matches user intent. Read more....

#keyword research #keyword optimization #keyword

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i-am-bitterly-jittery · 10 months ago

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Soulmates? (pt 2/2)

Part 1

(fic title will change as I've decided this is a series and "Soulmates?" will be the series title)

Word Count: 1594

Rating: teen

Pairings: Royalogicality, Anxceitmus, pre-DLAMPR/LAMP

Warnings: polyamorous negotiations, anger, anxiety

~~~START~~~

It was almost two weeks before the six of them could sit down and have a conversation.

The marks on Logan’s face had barely faded at all by the time he returned to classes the next day, but any questions his students may have had were quickly silenced by what Roman called his ‘death glare’. Remy was a little harder to shake, but a promise of coffee every day for a month was enough to get them to drop the topic… for the time being, at least.

Virgil was released from the hospital the day after the crash, but Janus’s more extensive injuries kept him detained for almost a week.

Then Roman had been swamped with work since the opening night of his theater’s musical was less than a month away.

But now all of their schedules finally lined up.

Logan, Patton, and Roman were all sitting on the couch in their living room while Virgil took one arm chair and Janus took another. Remus sat on the floor between them holding on to each of their hands and blithely plowing through the obvious tension between the two in a way only Remus could.

Patton had been baking nonstop for days in preparation for this meeting, so the coffee table was laden with different types of pastries and desserts.

All of which had so far gone untouched as everyone pointed looked at anything but each other.

“I will begin if no one has any objections,” Logan said eventually, deciding that the best way to start was to just jump right in.

“That sounds perfect, Lolo.”

“Whatever.”

“Joy of joys.”

Logan ignored Virgil and Janus’s less than optimal responses.

“I am not an expert on feelings, but I am well aware that this will likely be a complicated mess of them. I have no intentions on pressuring anyone into any type of relationship that they are uncomfortable with, nor do I intend to pressure anyone to end any relationships that they are currently in, and I know that Roman and Patton feel the same.”

This last part was spoken directly towards Remus, who seemed to release some of the tension that he was very pointedly pretending that he didn’t feel.

“It’s not my intention to take anything from you,” Roman said quietly, speaking directly to his brother.

“Oh, so now Virgil and I are just objects to you?” Janus demanded, finally letting his dismissive attitude drop in favor of burning anger.

“Janus!” Virgil hissed.

“That’s not what I said!” Roman objected loudly.

“Isn’t it?” Janus snapped. “This is the problem with soulmates! The universe throws some stupid blotches on your skin and suddenly people think they have some kind of claim over you! It’s bullshit!”

“Janny–”

Janus yanked his hand out of Remus’s grasp. “I need a smoke.”

He stormed out of the room as best he could while supporting his weight unsteadily on two crutches, seconds later the walls shook slightly as the front door slammed shut behind him.

Remus looked torn for a moment before seeming to make up his mind. He hopped to his feet, kissed Virgil hand before releasing it, and hurried off after Janus.

Once Remus was gone, Virgil brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his good arm around them, curling himself into a ball on the armchair.

The four of them sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Patton decided to break it.

“I’m sure it’ll be okay, kiddo,” he said gently, looking for all the world like he’d like nothing better than to wrap the other man up in a warm blanket and hold him for a while.

“Easy for you to say,” Virgil muttered into his knees. “You’re not losing anything.”

“Oh sweetie, we’re not trying to take anything from you!” Patton gasped, jumping to his feet. He froze when Virgil shrunk into himself, looking to Logan and Roman uncertainly.

“It’s not you guys,” Virgil said, his words barely intelligible with how little escaped the fabric of his ripped jeans. “I’m sure you guys are fine or whatever. Janus hates soulmates — he thinks they’re a blight on free will.”

“I can see why that would be a mark against the three of us,” Logan conceded thoughtfully. “But why would that affect his relationship with you? As far as I’m aware, neither of you knew the other one was your soulmate, therefore you both chose each other out of your own free will.”

Virgil shrugged and didn’t reply.

Logan looked to Roman and Patton, hoping one of them would know what to do now. After a moment, Roman cleared his throat.

“And, what about you?” He asked.

“What?” Virgil lifted his head from his knees to look at the three of them again.

“What are your thoughts on soulmates?” Roman asked. “If you share in Janus’s sentiments then I believe our part in this drama has come to an end — none of us wish to pursue a relationship that is unwanted by any party involved — but if you’re amenable then perhaps… erm…”

Roman faltered, losing steam as he lost confidence in his point.

“I mean,” Virgil said slowly. “I’m not necessarily against soulmates, it’s just… fate just kinda throws you in with some strangers, y’know? And then you’re just expected to be in a relationship with them.”

“It doesn’t have to be romantic,” Patton pointed out, easing his anxiety by reorganizing his pastries on the table. “I’m not sure, I mean, after so long with Lo and Ro, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable jumping right in with more people. We can be friends! And if all we ever are is friends then that’s a-okay with me.”

“And if romantic feelings someday develop,” Logan continued. “Then we can have another discussion later. The important thing for right now is that everyone is comfortable with how we proceed.”

“I– yeah, that sounds good to me,” Virgil admitted, hiding the smile that tugged at his lips behind the sleeve of his hoodie.

<(^-^)>

By the time Janus and Remus returned, Patton had fully won over Virgil with terrible puns and delicious snacks, and Virgil and Roman were now engaged in a raging debate over Disney.

“It was to lift a curse!” Roman gasped, playfully horrified. “What’s with all the prince-hate, Doctor Gloom?”

“Gee, I wonder.” Virgil had adopted a much more relaxed pose with his back against one armrest and his legs thrown over the other. Patton had gotten him to try several of his creations, and Virgil had taken a plate of brownies to hoard in his lap and protect fiercely — not that any of them would have taken it from him.

Janus cleared his throat from the doorway and the lighthearted mood instantly died. Virgil swung his legs off of the armrest and hunched in on himself once more. Janus surveyed the scene for a moment before turning to the three soulmates sharply.

“Would you three mind giving us a minute?”

“This is our house!” Roman objected at the same time Patton said “sure thing, kiddo!”

Patton hopped to his feet and dragged Roman into the kitchen. Logan followed behind at his own pace only once Virgil had nodded in confirmation.

Remus looked like he was going to stay, but Janus snapped at him too. “You too, Re.”

Remus pouted but followed his brother and company to the kitchen.

The four of them stood around in awkward silence, whatever Janus and Virgil were saying was quiet enough that all Logan could make out was a faint rumble of voices — which may have been a good sign in and of itself as they weren’t yelling. Remus was pacing nervously and Roman, unsure of where his relationship with his brother currently stood, looked torn between comforting him and staying out of his way.

After several minutes, they heard the telltale clacking of crutches approaching the kitchen.

Remus all but jumped Janus as he walked through the doorway, Virgil behind him.

“Well?” Remus demanded, taking Janus by the shoulders.

Janus looked at Remus, a softer expression on his face than Logan had seen. “All’s well, darling. Can we go home now?”

“Yes!” Remus answered immediately.

“No!” Roman objected loudly.

Janus’s expression soured again. “Why not?”

“We haven’t settled anything!”

“What Roman means to say,” Logan cut in quickly. “Is that we still have some unresolved issues that need addressing.”

“I see no issues,” Janus said coldly. “I don’t want any type of relationship with you past you being Remus’s brother and his partners. You said you wouldn’t force me to do anything I don’t want and I don't want you.”

With that, Janus pushed past Virgil and left the house.

Remus looked after him a moment before turning to Roman. “Are you still mad at me?”

“What? No!” Roman fumbled. “Are you mad at me?”

“Nah. Talk to you later, Ro bro. C’mon Vee.”

Virgil frowned, looking extremely uncomfortable again.

“Lemme get you some leftovers before you go!” Patton insisted, taking a tupperware to the living room to fill with desserts.

Virgil shifted from foot to foot, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

“Virgil,” Logan said. Virgil turned his lead slightly, not quite looking at Logan, but enough to show he was listening. “You can do whatever if you, Remus has our numbers if you so wish.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Virgil took the desserts from Patton and followed Remus out of the house, leaving the three soulmates alone in their home once more.

“Well,” Roman said after a couple minutes. “That actually went better than I was expecting.”

~~~END~~~

Two years? No I think you're mistaken, it hasn't been two years...

Taglist:

@royalty-of-all-things-snuggly @pixelated-pineapple @arsonic-knight @misunderstood-shadowling @vash-the-trans-catboy @dazzling-in-diamonds

#sanders sides #ts sanders sides #virgil sanders #patton sanders #roman sanders #logan sanders #janus sanders #remus sanders #soulmate au #royalogicality #anxceitmus #thursday writes #my writing #sanders sides fanfiction #dlampr #drlamp #lamp/calm

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theendearingdesigner · 2 months ago

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Simplest Way to Track Social Media Marketing ROI?

Social media marketing is vital for modern businesses, but many struggle with one crucial question: "Is our social media investment paying off?" If you've been searching for a straightforward way to measure your social media ROI without getting lost in complex analytics, this guide is for you.

...

What is Social Media ROI?

Social media ROI measures the value your business gets from investing time, money, and resources into social media marketing compared to what you put in. This value comes in various forms:

Direct revenue from social media campaigns

Lead generation and customer acquisition

Website traffic increases

Brand awareness growth

Community building and engagement

Understanding your social media ROI helps determine if your strategies are working and where to focus your resources for maximum impact.

...

Why Tracking Social Media ROI Matters

Smarter decision-making: Know where to allocate your budget based on what's actually working.

Accountability: Justify your social media investments to stakeholders with hard data.

Performance optimization: Identify your most successful content, campaigns, and platforms.

Resource allocation: Make informed decisions about where to spend your time and money.

Competitive advantage: Use data insights to refine strategies faster than competitors.

...

The Simplest Method for Tracking Social Media ROI

After analyzing various tracking methods, the most effective yet straightforward approach combines UTM parameters with Google Analytics for website traffic and online conversions, supplemented by unique promo codes for direct sales attribution.

Here's how to implement this method in 5 simple steps:

Step 1: Define Clear, Measurable Goals

Start by establishing what you want to achieve with your social media efforts. Your goals should be SMART:

Specific: "Increase website traffic from Instagram by 20%" rather than "Get more traffic"

Measurable: Include numbers that can be tracked

Achievable: Set realistic targets based on your resources

Relevant: Align with broader business objectives

Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe

Common measurable social media goals include:

Generate X leads per month from social media

Increase website traffic from social channels by X%

Achieve X direct sales attributed to social media campaigns

Grow follower count by X within a specific timeframe

Improve engagement rate by X% over a defined period

Step 2: Identify Your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Select KPIs that directly relate to your goals:

For brand awareness:

Reach

Impressions

Follower growth rate

Brand mentions

Share of voice

For engagement:

Likes and reactions

Comments and replies

Shares and retweets

Click-through rate (CTR)

Engagement rate

For website traffic:

Website visits from social media

Referral traffic

Bounce rate of social traffic

Average session duration

For lead generation:

Number of leads from social media

Conversion rate of social media leads

Cost per lead (CPL)

Lead quality

For sales conversions:

Direct sales attributed to social media

Conversion rate from social media traffic

Revenue generated from campaigns

Return on ad spend (ROAS)

Step 3: Calculate Your Investment Costs

Track all costs associated with your social media efforts:

Advertising budgets for paid campaigns

Content creation costs (photography, videography, copywriting)

Staff time allocated to social media management

Software and tool subscriptions

Any other resources directly invested in social media

Be thorough here—accurate cost tracking is essential for true ROI calculation.

Step 4: Implement Simple Tracking Methods

For website traffic and conversions - UTM parameters + Google Analytics:

Create unique UTM parameters for all links shared on social media using Google's Campaign URL Builder or a similar tool

Structure your UTMs consistently:

utm_source = the platform (facebook, instagram, linkedin)

utm_medium = the type of traffic (social, paid_social)

utm_campaign = your specific campaign name

utm_content = the specific post or ad

Set up goals in Google Analytics to track conversions from social media traffic

Create regular reports showing traffic and conversions from each social channel

For direct sales attribution - Unique promo codes:

Create platform or campaign-specific promo codes (e.g., INSTA25, FB25)

Share these unique codes in your social media content

Track redemptions at checkout to directly attribute sales to specific platforms or campaigns

For broader impact - Platform analytics:

Use built-in analytics tools from each platform (Meta Business Suite, Instagram Insights, TikTok Analytics, etc.) to track engagement metrics and audience growth.

Step 5: Calculate Your ROI Using a Simple Formula

The fundamental formula for social media ROI is:

Social Media ROI = ((Value Generated - Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment) × 100

For example:

If your e-commerce business generated $50,000 in sales from social media referrals

And you spent $18,000 on social media marketing

Your ROI would be (($50,000 - $18,000) / $18,000) × 100 = 178%

For B2B companies measuring lead value:

If you generated 100 qualified leads valued at $200 each (total value: $20,000)

And your social media costs were $4,000

Your ROI would be (($20,000 - $4,000) / $4,000) × 100 = 400%

...

Real-World Success Stories

Galaxy Theatres: By implementing targeted Facebook and Instagram campaigns with proper tracking, they achieved a 72% increase in ticket sales and significantly grew their Instagram engagement.

Incontact: This B2B company trained their sales team on social selling techniques with careful ROI tracking, resulting in a 215% increase in revenue.

Retro Kids: The toy company lowered their cost per acquisition by 31% and increased their return on ad spend to 4.27 through strategic social media campaigns with proper attribution.

...

Key Takeaways for Simple, Effective ROI Tracking

Focus on goals that matter to your business. Don't try to track everything—concentrate on the metrics that directly impact your business objectives.

Be consistent with your tracking methods. Use the same UTM structure and tracking processes every time to ensure accurate data.

Combine quantitative and qualitative data. Numbers tell only part of the story—customer feedback and sentiment are also valuable.

Start simple and build complexity over time. Begin with the basic tracking methods outlined here, then add sophistication as you become more comfortable.

Review and optimize regularly. Check your social media performance data at least monthly and adjust your strategy based on what's working.

By following these straightforward steps, any business can effectively track their social media ROI without getting overwhelmed by complex analytics or expensive tools. The key is consistency in tracking and a focus on the metrics that directly connect to your business goals.

Remember: The goal isn't perfect attribution, but rather a consistent framework that helps you make better decisions about your social media investments.

...

This article (https://theendearingdesigner.com/simplest-way-to-track-social-media-marketing-roi) was first published on The Endearing Designer.

#Social Media Marketing #Marketing Tips #Digital Marketing #Marketing Strategy #Social Media ROI #Content Marketing #Online Marketing #Marketing For Beginners #Track Your ROI #Marketing Hacks #Small Business Marketing #Social Media Tools #Business Growth #Marketing Guide #Social Media Tips #social media

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smitjones · 2 months ago

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Best Practices for Implementing Cloaking

Cloaking is a technique that, when used responsibly, can serve as a powerful tool in the digital marketer’s toolkit. Often misunderstood, cloaking allows content to be shown selectively to users or platforms based on specific parameters such as IP address, device type, or geographic location. It’s widely used in A/B testing, compliance management, and campaign optimization — especially in competitive niches.

Here are a few best practices to ensure your cloaking strategy is both effective and sustainable:

1. Define Your Goals Clearly

Before implementing cloaking, determine whether your goal is to protect landing pages, filter unwanted traffic, or optimize for conversion rates. Having a clear objective ensures that you deploy the right cloaking rules and avoid unnecessary complexity.

2. Segment Traffic Smartly

Use reliable signals like geolocation, device type, or user-agent to segment traffic. Avoid outdated or overly broad filters, which may lead to inconsistencies or penalties.

3. Stay Compliant with Platform Policies

Even though cloaking is a gray area, make sure your usage aligns with the policies of the platforms you’re advertising on — or at least doesn’t raise unnecessary red flags. Staying subtle and consistent with how content is served helps reduce risk.

4. Use a Trusted Cloaking Solution

The effectiveness of cloaking often depends on the reliability of the tool being used. A robust cloaking engine can help you dodge bots, avoid fake clicks, and maintain a high-quality visitor funnel. Learn more here.

5. Test and Monitor Regularly

Algorithms evolve, and what works today might need adjustment tomorrow. Keep testing your cloaking parameters and monitor your campaigns for any anomalies or performance dips.

When used with intent and intelligence, cloaking can elevate performance without compromising integrity. Like any advanced technique, the key lies in smart execution and constant optimization.

#cloaking

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digitaldetoxworld · 3 months ago

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Best Influencer Marketing Strategies: A 1000-Word Guide

Influencer advertising and marketing has come to be one of the best strategies for manufacturers seeking to construct consciousness, growth engagement, and pressure conversions. As customers increasingly more accept as true with hints from people they respect over conventional classified ads, leveraging influencers can create genuine connections and compelling narratives round products and services.

Best Influencer Marketing Strategies

This guide will explore influencer advertising strategies in-depth, masking how to pick out influencers, marketing campaign making plans, execution, and measuring success.

1. Understanding Influencer Marketing

At its core, influencer advertising and marketing is a collaboration among brands and individuals who have a faithful following on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). These influencers can sway purchasing selections because of their authority, understanding, or relationship with their audience.

Influencer advertising and marketing techniques usually goal to:

Increase emblem awareness

Promote new services or products

Drive site visitors to web sites or bodily shops

Encourage conversions or app installs

The key to fulfillment is strategic alignment among logo values and influencer personality.

2. Identifying the Right Influencers

Not all influencers are created identical. Choosing the proper influencer calls for a thoughtful evaluation of several factors:

a. Audience Relevance

Ensure the influencer's target market aligns with your target marketplace. For instance, a vegan skincare emblem could advantage greater from a beauty influencer who promotes cruelty-loose products than from a tech influencer.

B. Engagement Rate

High follower count number doesn’t always mean high engagement. Analyze likes, feedback, stocks, and the nice of interactions. A micro-influencer (10K–100K fans) would possibly have extra engaged followers than a celeb influencer.

C. Authenticity

Look for influencers who create actual content and percentage proper tales. Followers are short to notice when a collaboration feels compelled or inauthentic.

D. Platform Fit

Different platforms serve unique content types. For instance:

Instagram is super for visuals and product showcases.

TikTok is good for short, innovative, and viral films.

YouTube fits long-form storytelling or evaluations.

Blogs paintings nicely for exact evaluations and search engine optimization-pushed campaigns.

3. Setting Clear Goals and KPIs

Define your marketing campaign goals prematurely. Are you aiming for focus, engagement, or conversions?

Common KPIs consist of:

Reach and impressions

Engagement price (likes, comments, shares)

Click-via charge (CTR)

Conversion fee (income, app installs, sign-ups)

Follower increase

These metrics will help degree the campaign's overall performance and manual future strategies.

Four. Types of Influencer Campaigns

a. Sponsored Content

Brands pay influencers to create posts, testimonies, or motion pictures providing their services or products. The content material is commonly labeled as "subsidized" or “paid partnership.”

b. Product Seeding

This involves sending loose products to influencers within the wish they’ll publish approximately them. While there’s no guaranteed insurance, it’s a low-threat way to construct relationships and earn natural merchandising.

C. Giveaways and Contests

Influencers host giveaways to force engagement and brand attention. This tactic is specifically powerful for increasing followers and reach in a quick time.

D. Affiliate Marketing

Influencers sell merchandise the usage of unique referral hyperlinks or cut price codes. They earn a commission for each sale generated, making it a overall performance-based totally approach.

E. Brand Ambassadorships

Long-time period partnerships wherein influencers represent a brand continually over the years. This allows construct deeper agree with and more sustained visibility.

Five. Crafting the Campaign Brief

A specified quick ensures influencers recognize your expectations and may supply aligned content. Include the following factors:

Campaign objectives

Key messages and hashtags

Visual fashion and tone of voice

Mandatory call-to-moves (e.G., “Swipe up to shop”)

Posting schedule and time limits

Disclosure requirements (#ad, #sponsored)

While hints are critical, permit influencers innovative freedom to hold authenticity.

6. Budgeting and Compensation

Influencer expenses range broadly based on reach, engagement, content layout, and platform. Micro-influencers may price a few hundred bucks per publish, while top-tier influencers can command thousands or more.

Also don't forget:

Production prices (e.G., video editing)

Giveaway prizes

Paid amplification (boosting influencer content material through commercials)

Negotiate pretty, and do not forget providing a mix of financial compensation, free merchandise, and affiliate opportunities.

7. Legal Considerations and FTC Compliance

Influencer marketing is situation to advertising policies. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that influencers truely expose sponsored content. Typical disclosure techniques encompass:

#ad or #sponsored at the start of captions

Verbal disclosures in motion pictures

Clear labeling of paid partnerships

Ensure contracts define deliverables, utilization rights, deadlines, and confidentiality clauses to guard both events.

8. Amplifying Influencer Content

Once content is stay, maximize its reach through:

Sharing to your brand’s social media channels

Featuring it in e-mail advertising and marketing

Embedding movies or opinions for your website

Running paid ads using influencer content material (with permission)

This technique extends the content material’s lifespan and boosts ROI.

Nine. Measuring and Analyzing Results

Use monitoring equipment and analytics to evaluate the overall performance of your influencer campaigns. Key metrics consist of:

Engagement (likes, comments, shares)

Reach and impressions

Website site visitors (via UTM hyperlinks or Google Analytics)

Conversion metrics (sales, downloads, sign-ups)

Some famous influencer advertising gear consist of:

Upfluence

GRIN

AspireIQ

HypeAuditor

CreatorIQ

Use this information to become aware of top-acting influencers and content material formats for future campaigns.

10. Building Long-Term Relationships

Treat influencers as partners, now not simply content material creators. Long-time period collaborations foster:

Greater logo loyalty

More actual endorsements

Improved audience consider

Engage with their content, offer everyday feedback, and contain them in product development or distinct occasions to deepen the connection.

11. Trends in Influencer Marketing

To live in advance, hold an eye fixed on rising trends:

Nano-influencers (1K–10K fans) are gaining traction for hyper-local engagement.

AI influencers like Lil Miquela are starting new frontiers in digital advertising.

Live purchasing via platforms like TikTok Shop is blurring the road among content and commerce.

User-generated content (UGC) from influencers is being repurposed in paid advertisements and branded pages.

Best strategies for influencer outreach in 2025

#digital marketing #social media optimization #social media marketing #Best Influencer Marketing Strategies

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vsomarketing · 3 months ago

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Voice Search Optimization

What is Voice Search Optimization?

Voice search optimization refers to the process of tailoring your website and content to improve visibility in voice search results. Unlike traditional text-based searches, voice searches are typically longer, more conversational, and often framed as questions.

The Rise of Voice Search

The rise of smart devices and virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant has transformed how users interact with search engines. According to recent statistics, nearly 28% of consumers in the U.S. use voice assistants daily, indicating a significant shift in user behavior towards voice-activated searches

Why Optimize for Voice Search?

Enhanced User Experience

Voice search provides a more seamless and efficient user experience. Users can quickly obtain answers without having to type their queries. By optimizing for voice search, businesses can enhance user satisfaction and engagement, leading to higher retention rates.

Increased Traffic Opportunities

As more users adopt voice technology, optimizing for voice search can open new avenues for traffic. Voice searches often yield different results than text-based searches, allowing businesses that optimize their content accordingly to capture a larger audience.

Local SEO Benefits

Many voice searches are local in nature. Users frequently ask for recommendations or directions to nearby businesses. By optimizing for local voice searches, businesses can increase their visibility in local markets and attract more customers

Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

To effectively optimize your content for voice search, consider implementing the following strategies

1. Use Conversational Language

Voice searches are typically more conversational than typed queries. To align with this trend, use natural language in your content. Avoid overly formal language and focus on creating a friendly tone that mimics how people speak.

2. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords

Voice search queries tend to be longer and more specific than traditional searches. Incorporate long-tail keywords into your content that reflect natural speech patterns. For example, instead of targeting "Italian restaurants," consider phrases like "What’s the best Italian restaurant near me?" This approach not only improves SEO but also aligns with how users phrase their inquiries

3. Target Question-Based Keywords

Many voice searches are framed as questions. Incorporate question-based keywords into your content strategy. Use question words like "what," "where," "how," and "why" to create relevant content that directly answers common queries in your niche

4. Optimize for Local Searches

Given that many voice searches are location-specific, ensure your business is optimized for local SEO. This includes claiming your Google My Business listing, ensuring NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across platforms, and incorporating local keywords into your content

5. Implement Structured Data

Structured data helps search engines understand the context of your content better. By adding schema markup to your website, you can provide specific information about your business (like location or services offered), which can enhance your chances of being featured in voice search results

6. Create FAQ Sections

Adding an FAQ section to your website can significantly enhance its relevance for voice searches. By anticipating common questions related to your business or industry and providing clear answers, you improve the likelihood of being featured in direct responses from voice assistants9.

7. Ensure Mobile Optimization

Since many voice searches occur on mobile devices, ensure that your website is mobile-friendly. A responsive design improves the user experience and can positively impact your rankings in both traditional and voice search results

8. Monitor Performance Metrics

Regularly track the performance of your voice search optimization efforts using tools like Google Analytics or Ubersuggest. Analyze which keywords drive traffic through voice searches and adjust your strategy accordingly

#digital marketing agency #seo services #online marketing #social media marketing #search engine marketing

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hirechandrani · 3 months ago

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Social Media Algorithms: What Marketers Need to Know!

Introduction

Social media algorithms are the invisible forces that determine what content users see on their feeds. These algorithms analyze user behavior, engagement, and preferences to curate personalized content. For marketers, understanding these algorithms is crucial to maximizing reach, engagement, and conversions. This article delves into how major social media platforms use algorithms and how marketers can optimize their strategies accordingly.

Understanding Social Media Algorithms

Social media algorithms use machine learning and artificial intelligence to prioritize content based on relevance, rather than chronology. They consider various factors such as engagement, user interactions, and content type to tailor feeds.

Key Factors Influencing Social Media Algorithms

Engagement Metrics – High interaction rates increase content visibility.

Relevance – Algorithms analyze user preferences to suggest content.

Regency – Newer posts often get priority.

User Activity – Frequency and type of content users engage with affect what they see.

Content Type – Video, images, and interactive content tend to perform better.

Paid Promotions – Ads and sponsored content get preferential treatment.

Platform-Specific Algorithm Insights

1. Facebook Algorithm

Prioritizes content from family, friends, and groups over brand pages.

Uses machine learning to rank posts based on interactions.

Factors include meaningful engagement and video watch time.

Marketing Tips: Use interactive posts, live videos, and encourage discussions.

2. Instagram Algorithm

Ranks posts based on interest, relationship, timeliness, and usage patterns.

Gives priority to Reels and Stories due to high engagement.

Shopping features impact content visibility for e-commerce brands.

Marketing Tips: Utilize hashtags, post consistently, and engage with users through Stories and interactive stickers.

3. X (formerly Twitter) Algorithm

Mixes real-time tweets with ranked content.

Prioritizes tweets with high engagement within the first few minutes.

Factors include recency, engagement, and media type.

Marketing Tips: Tweet frequently, use trending hashtags, and engage with followers.

4. LinkedIn Algorithm

Prioritizes professional content with high engagement and comments.

Encourages long-form content, videos, and industry discussions.

Marketing Tips: Post valuable insights, engage with other posts, and use LinkedIn polls and articles.

5. TikTok Algorithm

Relies on user interaction, video information, and device settings.

The “For You” page is personalized for each user.

Marketing Tips: Create engaging, short-form content, participate in trends, and use viral sounds.

6. YouTube Algorithm

Recommends videos based on watch history, engagement, and subscriptions.

Encourages longer watch times.

Marketing Tips: Optimize video titles, descriptions, and use compelling thumbnails.

Strategies to Work with Social Media Algorithms

1. Focus on High-Quality Content

Create engaging, valuable, and shareable content.

Use storytelling to captivate audiences.

2. Leverage Video Content

Short-form videos perform exceptionally well.

Live streaming boosts engagement rates.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Respond to comments and messages promptly.

Encourage discussions and user-generated content.

4. Optimize Posting Times

Identify peak engagement hours for each platform.

Post consistently to maintain visibility.

5. Utilize Hashtags and Keywords

Use relevant hashtags to expand reach.

Incorporate SEO-friendly keywords in captions and descriptions.

6. Invest in Paid Advertising

Run targeted ad campaigns to reach specific demographics.

Use A/B testing to optimize ad performance.

7. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with influencers to amplify reach and credibility.

Micro-influencers often provide better engagement than celebrities.

The Future of Social Media Algorithms

As AI technology evolves, social media algorithms will become more personalized and predictive. Future trends include:

Increased AI and Machine Learning – Enhanced content recommendations.

Greater Focus on Privacy – More transparency in algorithm operations.

Rise of Decentralized Social Platforms – Users may gain more control over their feeds.

Conclusion

Understanding and adapting to social media algorithms is key to digital marketing success. By leveraging high-quality content, engagement strategies, and data-driven insights, marketers can navigate algorithm changes effectively. Staying informed and flexible will ensure sustained growth and visibility in an ever-changing digital landscape.

#digital marketing

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golden42 · 4 months ago

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Radish Growing Guide: Seed to Table in Just Four Weeks

Radishes are one of the quickest and easiest vegetables to grow, making them perfect for both beginner gardeners and seasoned green thumbs. Whether you’re looking to add a peppery crunch to your salads or a vibrant pop of color to your garden, radishes can go from seed to table in just four weeks. Let's dive into the essentials of growing radishes successfully.

Key Takeaways

Radishes can be harvested in as little as four weeks from planting.

Choose seeds based on the radish variety that suits your climate and taste preference.

Plant radishes in well-drained, loose soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 for optimal growth.

Space seeds 1 inch apart and sow them at a depth of 1/2 inch for best results.

Ensure consistent watering, especially during dry spells, to prevent radishes from becoming woody.

Getting Started with Radishes

Before planting radishes, it's crucial to understand what makes them thrive. Radishes are cool-season crops, which means they prefer the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. They grow best in full sun, but they can tolerate partial shade, especially in warmer climates. Most importantly, radishes require well-drained soil to prevent root rot and other moisture-related issues.

One of the most exciting aspects of growing radishes is their rapid growth rate. With some varieties ready to harvest in just 25 days, they are ideal for gardeners who want quick results. Plus, their short growth period allows for multiple plantings throughout the season.

Choosing the Right Seeds

The first step in your radish growing journey is selecting the right seeds. Radishes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. From the classic red globe radishes to the elongated white daikon, there's a radish for every palate and garden. When choosing seeds, consider your climate, the space you have available, and your taste preferences.

Here are a few popular radish varieties to consider:

Cherry Belle: A classic round, red radish that matures in about 22 days.

French Breakfast: An oblong radish with a mild flavor, ready in 25 days.

Daikon: A large, white radish often used in Asian cuisine, taking 60 days to mature.

Watermelon Radish: Known for its vibrant pink interior, it matures in 60 days.

Understanding Seed Varieties

Different radish varieties have different growing requirements and flavors. For instance, if you live in a region with a short growing season, opt for faster-maturing varieties like Cherry Belle. Conversely, if you have a longer growing season, you might enjoy experimenting with slower-growing types like Daikon.

Besides that, consider the culinary uses of each variety. While Cherry Belle is perfect for salads and garnishes, Daikon is excellent for pickling and cooking. Knowing the characteristics of each type can help you make an informed decision and ensure a successful harvest.

Best Time to Plant

Timing is everything when it comes to planting radishes. They thrive in cooler temperatures, so aim to plant them in early spring or fall. If you’re planting in spring, sow seeds as soon as the soil is workable. For fall planting, start sowing seeds about four to six weeks before the first expected frost.

One key advantage of radishes is their ability to be succession planted. By sowing seeds every two weeks, you can enjoy a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. This technique is particularly useful for maintaining a steady supply of fresh radishes for your kitchen.

"For a continuous harvest, plant radish seeds every two weeks throughout the growing season."

Optimal Soil Preparation

Preparing the soil properly is crucial for growing healthy radishes. They prefer loose, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Heavy clay soils can impede root development, so consider amending such soils with organic matter or sand to improve drainage.

Before planting, work the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches and remove any rocks or debris that might obstruct root growth. Adding compost or aged manure can enhance soil fertility and support robust radish growth.

Planting Techniques for Success

Once your soil is ready, it's time to plant your radish seeds. Planting radishes is straightforward, but following a few key steps can make all the difference in your harvest.

First, make shallow furrows in the soil, about 1/2 inch deep. Space the rows about 12 inches apart to give the radishes room to grow. Next, sprinkle the seeds evenly along the furrows, aiming for a spacing of about 1 inch between seeds. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and water gently to ensure good soil contact.

Sowing Seeds Correctly

Sowing radish seeds at the correct depth and spacing is essential for healthy growth. If seeds are planted too deep, they may struggle to germinate. Conversely, if they are too shallow, they might dry out or be disturbed by wind and rain.

Once planted, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Radishes require regular watering, especially during dry spells, to prevent the roots from becoming woody and bitter.

Spacing and Depth Guidelines

Proper spacing is crucial for radishes to develop fully. If planted too closely, they may compete for nutrients and space, resulting in smaller, less flavorful roots. Therefore, thin seedlings to about 2 inches apart once they have two true leaves. This spacing allows each radish ample room to grow without competition. For more detailed planting advice, consider resources like The Self-Sufficient Backyard.

Timing for the Fastest Growth

Radishes are fast-growing plants, but certain factors can influence their growth rate. For the quickest harvest, plant radishes in full sun and ensure they receive at least six hours of sunlight per day. Additionally, maintaining consistent soil moisture and avoiding extreme temperature fluctuations can help radishes grow rapidly and uniformly.

As radishes mature, keep an eye on their growth. Most varieties are ready to harvest when the roots are about an inch in diameter. Harvesting promptly prevents them from becoming overgrown and woody.

Care and Maintenance

Once your radishes are planted, proper care and maintenance will ensure they thrive and reach their full potential. Radishes are relatively low-maintenance, but they do have specific needs that, when met, lead to a bountiful harvest.

One of the most important aspects of radish care is maintaining consistent soil moisture. Radishes need regular watering, particularly during dry spells, to develop crisp and tender roots. Uneven watering can lead to split or misshapen radishes.

Besides watering, keeping the area around your radishes free of weeds is crucial. Weeds compete for nutrients and space, which can hinder the growth of your radishes. Regularly check your garden beds and remove any weeds by hand or with a hoe, being careful not to disturb the shallow roots of the radishes.

Watering Schedule and Tips

Radishes require about an inch of water per week, whether from rainfall or supplemental watering. It's best to water deeply and less frequently to encourage roots to grow deeper into the soil. This practice also helps prevent the soil surface from drying out too quickly.

Water your radishes in the early morning or late afternoon to reduce evaporation and allow the plants to absorb moisture more effectively. Avoid overhead watering, which can encourage fungal diseases; instead, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation system to deliver water directly to the soil.

Fertilizing for Healthy Growth

Radishes are light feeders, so they typically don't require much fertilization. However, if your soil is lacking in nutrients, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer can support healthy growth. Apply the fertilizer at planting time or when the seedlings are a few inches tall.

Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can promote leafy growth at the expense of root development. Instead, look for fertilizers with a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, such as a 10-10-10 formula.

Pest and Disease Management

Although radishes are generally hardy plants, they can still fall prey to pests and diseases. Common pests include flea beetles, aphids, and root maggots. To protect your radishes, consider using row covers to create a physical barrier against these pests.

If pests become a problem, try introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings to your garden, as they can help control pest populations naturally. For disease management, practice crop rotation and avoid planting radishes in the same spot each year. This helps prevent the buildup of soil-borne pathogens. For more tips on sustainable gardening, consider exploring The Self-Sufficient Backyard.

Additionally, ensure good air circulation around your radishes by not overcrowding your plants. This can help reduce the risk of fungal diseases, such as downy mildew and damping-off.

Harvesting Radishes

Harvesting radishes at the right time is key to enjoying their crisp, peppery flavor. Radishes that are left in the ground too long can become woody and bitter, so it's important to monitor their growth closely. For those interested in sustainable gardening practices, The Self-Sufficient Backyard provides valuable insights.

Most radish varieties are ready to harvest when the roots reach about one inch in diameter. Regularly check your radishes by gently pulling back the soil to expose the tops of the roots. If they appear to be the right size, it's time to harvest!

Signs of Readiness

Besides size, another sign that your radishes are ready to harvest is the appearance of their tops. Healthy radish tops should be vibrant green and firm. If the leaves start to yellow or wilt, it's a sign that the radishes may be past their prime.

Remember, radishes grow quickly, so check them often. Harvesting them promptly ensures the best flavor and texture.

Harvesting Techniques

To harvest radishes, simply grasp the tops of the plants and gently pull them from the ground. If the soil is compacted or the roots are stubborn, use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the plants before pulling.

After harvesting, rinse the radishes under cool water to remove any soil. Trim the tops and roots to about an inch long to help them store better. Freshly harvested radishes can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or pickled.

Post-Harvest Storage Tips

Radishes are best enjoyed fresh, but if you need to store them, there are a few tips to keep them crisp and flavorful. First, remove the tops, as they draw moisture away from the roots. Store the roots in a plastic bag in the refrigerator's crisper drawer.

To keep them crisp, wrap the radishes in a damp paper towel before placing them in the bag. Stored this way, radishes can last up to two weeks. If your radishes become soft, you can revive them by soaking them in ice water for a few hours before using them.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Growing radishes is generally straightforward, but like any crop, they can face challenges. Whether it's slow growth, pest issues, or splitting, understanding these problems and their solutions can help you achieve a successful harvest.

Most importantly, addressing these challenges early can prevent them from affecting your entire crop. Let's explore some common issues and how to overcome them with insights from The Self-Sufficient Backyard.

Addressing Slow Growth

If your radishes are growing slowly or seem stunted, it could be due to several factors. Poor soil quality, inadequate sunlight, and inconsistent watering are common culprits. Ensure your radishes receive at least six hours of sunlight daily and that the soil is well-drained and nutrient-rich.

Additionally, check for signs of overcrowding. Thinning seedlings to the recommended spacing can improve air circulation and reduce competition for resources, encouraging faster growth.

Dealing with Pests Naturally

To manage pests naturally, consider companion planting. Certain plants, like marigolds and nasturtiums, can deter pests and attract beneficial insects. Additionally, rotating crops each season helps prevent pest populations from becoming established.

For an immediate solution, handpicking pests off your plants can be effective, although time-consuming. Regular monitoring and quick action can help keep pest populations under control and protect your radish crop.

Preventing Radish Splitting

Radish splitting often occurs when the plants receive irregular watering, causing them to absorb too much water too quickly. To prevent this, maintain consistent soil moisture throughout the growing season. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings, as this can lead to rapid water uptake when the plants are watered again.

Another factor that can cause splitting is over-maturity. Harvest radishes promptly when they reach the desired size, as leaving them in the ground too long increases the risk of splitting. Regularly checking your radishes and harvesting them at the right time will ensure they remain crisp and intact.

Culinary Uses and Recipes

Radishes are versatile in the kitchen, adding a peppery crunch to a variety of dishes. They can be enjoyed raw, pickled, roasted, or even sautéed. Their vibrant colors and unique flavors make them a delightful addition to both simple and gourmet meals.

Raw in Salads: Thinly sliced radishes add a refreshing crunch to green salads, slaws, and grain bowls.

Pickled: Quick-pickling radishes in vinegar and spices creates a tangy condiment that pairs well with tacos, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards.

Roasted: Roasting radishes mellows their spiciness and brings out their natural sweetness, making them a great side dish.

Sautéed: Sautéing radishes with butter and herbs creates a simple yet flavorful dish that complements a variety of proteins.

Besides these ideas, radishes can also be used as a garnish, adding visual appeal and a hint of spice to dishes like soups and omelets.

Simple Salad Ideas

One of the simplest ways to enjoy radishes is in a salad. For a classic radish salad, thinly slice fresh radishes and toss them with arugula, feta cheese, and a lemon vinaigrette. The peppery radishes and arugula are balanced by the creamy feta and tangy dressing, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

Incorporating Radishes in Cooked Dishes

Radishes aren't just for raw dishes; they can also be cooked to bring out different flavors. Try roasting radishes with olive oil, salt, and pepper until they're tender and caramelized. Roasted radishes make a delicious side dish for roasted meats or fish.

Alternatively, sauté sliced radishes with garlic and butter for a quick and tasty side. The cooking process softens their texture and mellows their spiciness, resulting in a delightful dish that's sure to please.

Savory Snacks Featuring Radishes

Radishes can also be transformed into savory snacks. For a healthy and flavorful treat, spread a layer of herbed cream cheese on whole-grain crackers and top with thinly sliced radishes. The combination of creamy, crunchy, and spicy elements makes for a satisfying snack that's perfect for any time of day.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you embark on your radish-growing journey, you may have some questions. Here are answers to common queries that can help you cultivate a successful radish crop.

What is the fastest-growing radish variety?

The Cherry Belle radish is one of the fastest-growing varieties, maturing in just 22 to 28 days. Its quick growth makes it a favorite among gardeners looking for a speedy harvest.

How often should I water radishes?

Radishes require consistent moisture, so water them about once a week, ensuring the soil stays evenly moist. During hot or dry spells, you may need to water more frequently to prevent the soil from drying out completely.

When should I plant radish seeds?

Plant radish seeds in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in late summer for a fall harvest. Radishes thrive in cool weather, so timing your plantings to avoid the heat of summer will yield the best results.

What are some common pests of radishes?

Common pests that affect radishes include flea beetles, aphids, and root maggots. To manage these pests, use row covers, introduce beneficial insects, and practice crop rotation to reduce pest populations.

Can I grow radishes indoors?

Yes, radishes can be grown indoors in containers. Choose a sunny spot or use grow lights to provide sufficient light, and ensure the containers have good drainage. Indoor-grown radishes may take slightly longer to mature, but they can be a rewarding addition to your indoor garden.

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