#Advanced Substack strategies

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

What Makes This Advanced Book for Freelance Writers Exceptional?

Editorial Review of A Powerful Toolkit for Advanced Substack Newsletter Mastery Written by content strategist, leading author, and community builder Dr Mehmet Yildiz, A Powerful Toolkit for Advanced Substack Newsletter Mastery is not just another addition to the sea of freelance writing guides. It’s a symbol of clarity, care, and insights tailored for those ready to elevate their writing craft…

[strangebiology]

Success is Dependent on Secret Information

A lot of career success depends on you and the work you put into it, as well as luck beyond your control, but sadly, it also depends on secret information, magic words, and stupid little tricks.

That's not fair. I don't like it, but we can help by sharing that secret information--which is the antidote to gate-keeping. That's why I recently wrote this in my Authors of Nonfiction Books in Progress substack:

It can be really disheartening to realize that, when you thought you failed at something because you didn't do well enough, other people had the magic words. For instance, some injustices I've witnessed (that may or may not always be the case, or maybe not anymore!) include:

A good athletic score doesn't get you into a college sport--having a coach or parent talk to the college coach is mandatory

Many school-sponsored scholarships are often not tightly linked to grades, test scores, or financial need, but whether the student said the right words ("I can't afford that") to the right person (presumably some financial office person.)

Apparently, some aspects of some degrees are cheated on by most students (if that's the case, we should tell all students that it's ok to cheat on that so they don't waste their time on something that apparently wasn't important anyway, or worse, fail out just for being ethical.)

Especially related to books: Few people will mention that you can get grants! Not my agent, not my publisher, not the 1 zillion "pros and cons of trad publishing" articles out there mentioned grants (Grant eligibility is a HUGE benefit of trad publishing.) I got more money from grants than my entire book advance!

Let me know what magic words/secret knowledge you've learned, that you wish you knew sooner. Or: the widespread understanding of what information would make a field more fair?

And please share ANBIP with anyone writing, publishing, or seriously about to start writing, a nonfiction non-memoir book, especially if they're interested in the more practical side (I share more about resources and strategy than craft.)

[mariacallous]

When I caught up with Elizabeth Warren, the senior Democratic senator from Massachusetts, by telephone on Wednesday evening, it seemed like she didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. Hours earlier, Donald Trump had caved to pressure from the financial markets and announced, via social media, a ninety-day pause on many of his tariffs. On Wall Street, stocks shot up. Later in the afternoon, Warren, who sits on the Senate finance and banking committees, had spoken from the floor of the upper chamber, where she demanded an independent investigation into whether Trump had manipulated the markets to benefit Wall Street donors. (Anybody who had known about the policy pivot in advance could have made a fortune buying stocks or stock futures.) But while, in her floor speech, Warren had bristled with righteous anger at the idea of Trump, or anyone else at the White House, tipping off rich friends, during our conversation she couldn’t stop herself from chortling at the Administration’s claim that the President’s reversal had been the product of an artful negotiation strategy. “No serious person believes that, and I can’t even find an unserious person who believes it,” she joked. “The tariffs are on; the tariffs are off. The tariffs are on; the tariffs are off. Donald Trump is playing the biggest game of Red Light Green Light since ‘Squid Game.’ ”

Since Trump’s return to the White House, his chaotic style of governing has often seemed to catch Democrats off balance, and deprived them of a stationary target. Warren, however, has been on the offensive throughout. Unlike Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have joined forces for a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, she hasn’t been barnstorming around the country. (Although, as part of the mass “Hands Off!” protests last weekend, she did speak to a large crowd in Nashville.) But Warren has been busy in Washington. In February, when a team from Elon Musk’s DOGE gutted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (C.F.P.B.), which she was the primary figure in founding, she denounced the attack as illegal and joined a street protest by the agency’s staff. More recently, Warren has broadened her critique of Trump’s policies to encompass other areas, including trade, taxes, financial regulation, and the debilitating effect of his over-all blitzkrieg. “Chaos is its own tax on the economy,” she said to me. “No business wants to plunk down the millions of dollars it takes to build something, or assemble a team, if they don’t know what the rules will be next week, much less next year. The only consistent theme is chaos, and no one can plan against chaos.”

Warren, who has long been a leading voice on the progressive left, is part firebrand and part policy wonk. During the run-up to the great financial crisis of 2008, when she was a professor at Harvard Law School, she cautioned, in speeches and blog posts, about the dangers of financial deregulation and Wall Street greed. After becoming a senator, in 2012, she focussed on soaring inequality, and, in 2020, when she ran for President, she proposed an annual wealth tax on the top 0.01 per cent. Even before last week, when Trump announced his blanket tariffs and brought the United States to the brink of another financial crisis, Warren was warning about the dangers that Trumponomics posed, including the likelihood that it would plunge the U.S. economy into a recession. “Look, this is the dumbest financial crisis in U.S. history,” she told me in an interview on Wednesday morning, shortly before Trump did his about-face. “Unlike earlier crises caused by viruses or subprime mortgages, this is one man who woke up with a crazy idea and imposed it on the world. But the tariff crisis is layered onto other ways in which he is weakening the economy.”

On a new Substack newsletter that Warren launched on Friday, in conjunction with other Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee, she highlights some of the Trump policies that she sees as particularly pernicious, including efforts to weaken financial deregulation, Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics at key federal agencies, and the pursuit by Republicans in Congress of a highly regressive tax policy that could well force spending cuts which could rip up the social safety net. “Lights are flashing red, but it is not too late,” Warren writes. “We still have time to prevent economic calamity for American families if we act quickly.”

Since coming to office, Trump has appointed new regulators—or, rather, deregulators—at many of the nation’s oversight agencies: the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the C.F.P.B. To Warren, this is a recipe for disaster. “The lesson we should have learned from 2008 is that if the regulatory players don’t do their jobs in enforcing the laws and overseeing large financial institutions, these institutions will go for profit every time and load risk into the system,” she told me. In February and March, the shell of the C.F.P.B., where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now the acting director, dropped more than half a dozen enforcement cases. In one of them, the agency had accused the bank Capital One of cheating customers out of two billion dollars by misleading them about interest rates offered on its savings accounts. In another, it had accused three big banks—JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America—of failing to protect their customers from rampant fraud on Zelle, a payments platform in which they have ownership stakes.

In our conversation, Warren underscored that the Republican desire for tax cuts seems to know no bounds. “Even in the middle of this chaos, they are moving forward on a bill that has trillions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and billionaires, and cuts the underlying investment in working families,” she said. “That’s a terrible idea in the best of economic times, but it will be a complete disaster at a time when more American families are coming under financial stress.”

The struggle over taxes and spending seems set to dominate the legislative agenda on Capitol Hill until the end of the year. But, for the moment, Warren is focussed on Trump’s tariffs. Even though some are now lower than they were at the start of the week, they are all still very much in place. (For most goods from China, the import duty is now a hundred and forty-five per cent. Autos, auto parts, steel, and aluminum face rates of twenty-five per cent, as do many other goods from Canada and Mexico. Items from most other countries are subject to a rate of ten per cent.) The policy debate about how far the federal government should go to protect manufacturing jobs remains heated. Even as elected Democrats have lambasted Trump for panicking investors and tanking the markets, some of them, particularly in industrial states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, have joined the United Auto Workers union in expressing support for at least some of Trump’s tariffs.

When I asked Warren what stance Democrats should adopt on tariffs, she marked out a middle ground, describing them as “an important tool in the economic toolbox,” but arguing that they should be introduced only in certain situations and industries. “If you get sick, and fill your prescription in America, there’s a ninety-per-cent chance that the drug was manufactured overseas, probably in Asia, and the materials for it probably came from China,” she said. “That’s a dangerous place for our country. If we got into a back-and-forth with a couple of countries, suddenly there’s no antibiotics for heart medication.” Warren argued that the keys to employing tariffs successfully are targeting them on goods that have strategic value, using them in conjunction with other policies designed to encourage production in the United States, such as subsidies, and introducing them gradually so that businesses and investors can plan for them. This was the approach of the Biden Administration, and Warren pointed out that it is very different from what Trump is doing. “Imposing tariffs on virtually every country for virtually every product sent to the United States, at rates that seem to be randomly pulled from a bingo cage, is not a way to strengthen America’s economy,” she said. “And it is certainly not a way to attract long-term investment and good jobs to the United States.”

But with Trump and the Republicans holding power in Washington, what can the Democrats do? Warren insists that, at least when it comes to Trump’s blanket tariffs, they are far from powerless. In introducing these levies, which it falsely described as “reciprocal,” the White House invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977, which gave the President the authority to introduce broad tariffs during a national emergency. “But we are not in an emergency right now with Belgium or South Korea,” Warren pointed out. “That same law gives Congress the power to pass a resolution and say, ‘Nope. No emergency here,’ and roll back the entire tariff authority that Trump is using.”

On Thursday, as the stock markets fell again, Warren, together with her colleague Ron Wyden, of Oregon, introduced a piece of legislation that would do just that. Four Democrats and one Republican—Rand Paul, of Kentucky—joined them. With only forty-seven seats, Democrats seem unlikely to get the votes that they need for the bill to make it out of the Senate, especially now that Trump has announced his timeout. But Warren insists that bringing the legislation to the floor is still worthwhile because Republicans will be forced to vote on it. She said, “They will have to declare for everyone to see: Are they still simply Donald Trump’s suck-ups? Or are they legislators who will exercise independent judgment to protect the people and the economy of the United States?”

Warren surely knows the answer to her questions, which may explain, in part, her enthusiasm for the bill. When I spoke with her for a second time, after Trump’s reversal, she insisted that it was now more important than ever. “Trump demonstrated again that his whims will determine tariff policy for the entire world,” she said. “That will be true right up until Congress says no. Our resolution is the no.” 

[misfitwashere]

March 14, 2025

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

MAR 14

Chuck Schumer is a coward. He has surrendered in advance, refusing to fight for a democracy that desperately needs patriots willing to defend it. Instead, Schumer decided to “cut and run.”

On Thursday afternoon, Schumer announced that he would support the GOP’s continuing resolution in order to avoid an imaginary ‘parade of horribles’ that might—or might not—occur during a shutdown.

If we refuse to act because Republicans might do “something bad” in response, then we will never act, remaining permanently frozen with fear and indecision. Which is exactly where Schumer has led the Democratic Party. It is time for him to go. Correction, it is long past time for him to go.

For a complete refutation of Schumer’s “deer in the headlights” strategy for resisting Trump's slow-rolling coup, watch this video by Adam Schiff released on Thursday afternoon, “Why I am a ‘hard no’ on the continuing resolution.” (From Schiff’s Notes on Substack. Subscribe here.)

I understand and acknowledge the wisdom and grace of those (like Marc Elias) who say we should not attack fellow Democrats over an issue that was a difficult choice. Schumer is not the problem. Trump is the problem. All true.

But we must also be honest and acknowledge the bitter disappointment and white-hot fury of Democrats who busted their ***** over the last eight years to support the Democratic Party, only to see their Senate leader choose the strategy of “do nothing” in the face of an active coup.

As of Thursday evening, tens of millions of Democratic grassroots volunteers and activists believe Chuck Schumer is a coward (and worse)—and there is no virtue in pretending otherwise. We must acknowledge and validate the feelings of the Democratic base if we have any hope of answering this question,

“Why should Democratic grassroots volunteers and activists continue to work tirelessly to support the Democratic Party and its agenda?”

Here is the answer I would give to those who are so angry they feel like quitting:

We are not cowards. We are not faithless servants. We are not potted plants. We are ordinary Americans who love our country and who will fight to preserve a democracy gifted to us by the sacrifice of generations who came before us. They knew that they would not live to see the day when their efforts would bear fruit, but they trusted that we would be strong enough to continue their struggle. We cannot betray their trust. We cannot let them down. We are not permitted to surrender.

Despite our bitter disappointment, there is one benefit from Schumer’s betrayal: We have been given the gift of clarity. We can see clearly it is up to us. It always has been. It always will be. Schumer’s betrayal merely confirms the core truth that “We, the people” control the fate of our democracy.

Unlike Schumer, we cannot give up. Ezra Levin has been urging Americans to continue to lobby their Senators. Levin writes,

No Dem Senator has to follow Schumer here. This is a weak strategic move driven by fear and learned helplessness. Don't follow him. He's leading the party into irrelevance and helping Trump and Musk in the process. Call your Dem Senators and ask them not to join Schumer's surrender tomorrow.

Find the contact information for your Senators here: U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators

[vomitdodger]

SOLID.

From Dr. Malones substack on why he’s voting for Trump/Vance. No doubt Dr Malone will now get another round of censorship, doxxing, name calling etc etc. Portion of his substack below:

The prior administration of Donald Trump did not impose the “vaccine” mandates, but the Biden-Harris administration did.

Donald Trump's administration rejected the WHO. The Biden-Harris administration reinstated WHO funding and developed and promoted the WHO sovereignty-destroying “pandemic treaty” and “International Health Accord” updates.

The administration of Donald Trump did not deploy years of COVID-related psychological bioterrorism and disaster cronyism in the US and the world, but the Biden-Harris administration did.

The administration of Donald Trump did not conspire with and coerce corporate media and big tech to censor, propagandize, and deploy a myriad of military-grade psychological warfare methods and weapons on US citizens. The Biden-Harris administration did.

The administration of Donald Trump did not arbitrarily and capriciously abandon allies, advanced equipment and US Soldiers in Afghanistan. The Biden-Harris administration did.

The administration of Donald Trump did not prosecute, capitalize, and propagandize an unnecessary war in Ukraine to advance global imperialist objectives. The Biden-Harris administration did.

The administration of Donald Trump did not sacrifice and cripple European populations and industry at the alter of its Ukrainian fantasies. The Biden-Harris administration was complicit in blowing up the Nordstream pipelines and then deployed propaganda to prevent discussion or consequences for its illegal aggression.

The administration of Donald Trump took multiple specific actions to reduce illegal immigration. The Biden-Harris administration actively facilitated unlawful immigration.

The Trump administration did not jail domestic political opponents or otherwise weaponize the government and the judiciary. The Biden-Harris administration has honed that banana republic strategy into an art form.

The Trump administration did not actively pit Americans against Americans. The Biden-Harris administration cynically did so to gain a short-term advantage during a midterm election.

I can provide example after example to make this point.

Harris-Walz, like Biden-Harris before them, like Obama-Biden before that, actively promote and support the “New World Order” and ”Great Reset”. They have acted to enforce this by the development and deployment of a massive, global #PsyWar censorship-industrial complex. In fact, after leaving office, Obama became one of the leading advocates for the suppression of free speech.

In contrast, Donald Trump has consistently taken on the propaganda and lying, which is characteristic of modern corporate media throughout the Western world.

Harris-Walz clearly support the further development of a Marxist Surveillance state in which both the first and second amendment of the US Bill of Rights are to be considered optional and negotiable.

Four or more years under a Harris-Walz administration will place all freedom-loving people under the yoke of a Woke, social engineering nightmare that will tear our society and nation apart, sap our energy, and destroy our productivity and innovative spirit.

Four or more years of a Harris-Walz administration will be the last phase before transitioning North America to submitting to a poseur, self-appointed "one world government" led by WEF/UN and supported by a network of global public-private partnerships.

This new self-appointed, unelected socialist-corporatist global governance will prosecute more forever wars as it seeks to defeat any State that does not buy into its socialist-corporatist (Fascist) Great Reset/New World Order.

This decision is not subtle. Do not let the trolls and chaos agents convince you otherwise with their constant siren calls of “what about this” and “what about that”. Look deeper. Who are these anonymous avatars that are constantly sowing seeds of doubt. They are almost always low complexity, low connectivity bots and trolls. They manipulate your thoughts and drain your commitment. Synthetic false flag operators whispering in your ear, seeking to either cause you to doubt your own intuition, or to dissuade you from acting, dissuade you from voting.

Are they people that you have known and interacted with for these past years? And if not, is there an indication that they have in some way passed independent validation as actual humans?

Focus on the big picture. Do not be distracted by the manufactured noise.

Please listen to me. Be aware that you are now surrounded by an active psychological warfare battle zone. You are constantly subjected to efforts to manipulate what information you are allowed to see, what voices you are allowed to hear, and what feelings you are allowed to feel. It has become extremely difficult to distinguish friend from foe and truth from lies.

Your only guide is your mind and soul, your conscience, and perhaps the council of the few you know -based on years of experience- will speak truthfully to you. Be still. Listen to that internal voice. It will tell you what is real and what is fake. It is your best guide for navigating this modern surreal psychological battlefield where the chattering of posers and false flag operations constantly bombard you.

[creatonationforyou]

Top 7 Chess Tactics Every Player Must Know to Outsmart Opponents

Chess isn’t just a strategy game—it’s a tactical battle. The ability to identify and execute strategic opportunities can be the difference between success and failure. If you want to level up your chess game, you need to master basic techniques.

In this blog, we will explore the top 7 chess techniques every player should know to beat their opponents Plus, discover how KingCompiler, the first chess course, can help you become tactical genius on the board.

Thanks for reading KingCompiler_For_You’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribed

1. Swan: Attacks multiple pieces at once

The swan is one of the most powerful moves in chess, where one side (usually a knight) attacks two or more opposing sides simultaneously.

Why It Works:

It forces your opponent to sacrifice a valuable piece.

It brings immediate benefits.

At KingCompiler, we show you how to identify forks and use them to control your game.

📢 Welcome to Chess Academy! 🌟 🆓 We’re offering FREE Trial Classes for all levels — beginners to advanced! 🎓 Why Choose Us? ✅ World-class coaching by experienced players and coaches ✅ Interactive online sessions with personalized attention ✅ Build critical thinking, strategy, and focus ✅ Suitable for ALL ages and skill levels 🚀 Book a Free Trial Class at: https://forms.gle/M1x5dVL5tru5QSSw5 📱 WhatsApp us at +91 9903600848 ♟️ Let the game begin!

2. Pin: Solidifying your opponent’s pieces

A pin occurs when a piece is attacked and cannot move without finding a more valuable piece behind it.

Pins for:

Absolute pin: A pinned piece cannot legally pass.

Relative Pin: A pinned block can go, but at a cost.

KingCompiler’s expert trainers help players master pins and use them to block opponents.

3. Cutthroat: Forced loss of value

The knife is the opposite side of the pin, where the more valuable piece is attacked, and once it moves, the cheaper pieces are caught behind it

Key Note: Use long-range pieces like the queen, rook and bishop to kill the skewer.

At KingCompiler, we train players to skewer real games and use them.

4. Invented Attack: Unleashing a hidden power

A detected attack occurs when moving one block exposes an attack by another block. When a revealed attack is a check, it is a made check, one of the deadliest strategies in chess.

Why It Has Power:

It poses two threats.

It often brings important material benefits.

KingCompiler teaches students how to identify opportunities for discovered attacks and exploit them effectively.

5. Back-Rank Checkmate: Use a weak king

A back row checkmate occurs when your opponent’s king is trapped behind his pawns, with no escape frame within reach.

How to avoid:

Always give your king an escape route.

At KingCompiler, we focus on learning to kill and prevent external checkmates, so you stay ahead of your opponents.

6. Double Check: The ultimate tactical weapon

Double testing occurs when two sides investigate the king at the same time. The only way is to make a king move, which is a powerful way to force your opponent into a disadvantage.

The Cause of Death:

It is impossible to prevent both temptations.

often with decisive advantages.

KingCompiler helps players master this advanced technique through guided exercises and practice games.

📢 Welcome to Chess Academy! 🌟 🆓 We’re offering FREE Trial Classes for all levels — beginners to advanced! 🎓 Why Choose Us? ✅ World-class coaching by experienced players and coaches ✅ Interactive online sessions with personalized attention ✅ Build critical thinking, strategy, and focus ✅ Suitable for ALL ages and skill levels 🚀 Book a Free Trial Class at: https://forms.gle/M1x5dVL5tru5QSSw5 📱 WhatsApp us at +91 9903600848 ♟️ Let the game begin!

7. Bait: It attracts pieces of your opponent

Trickery involves sacrificing a piece or performing a deceptive tactic to trick your opponent’s pieces into a bad situation.

When to use:

To establish a decisive method (e.g., fork or skewer).

To gain positional advantage.

KingCompiler teaches players how to create effective lures and turn them into winning strategies.

Why chess strategy matters

Strategy is the backbone of chess, allowing players to create opportunities and exploit their opponents’ mistakes. Once you have mastered these techniques, you will:

Be confident in your ability to attack and defend.

Improve your math skills.

Make more victory positions.

How KingCompiler can help you discover chess strategies

At KingCompiler, we specialize in teaching players how to excel in strategy games. Here’s how we can help:

Communication Training: Learn techniques like forks, pins and skewers through practical exercises.

Expert Tutoring: Get guidance from experienced tutors who break down complex techniques into easy-to-understand concepts.

Customized courses: Whether you are a beginner or advanced, KingCompiler creates courses tailored to your level.

Practice sessions: Apply your tactical knowledge to real games with feedback from instructors.

Final Thoughts

Chess strategy is the key to defeating opponents and winning many games. By mastering these 7 top moves—forks, pins, squares, and more—you’ll take your chess skills to the next level.

With KingCompiler’s guidance, you can become a strategic powerhouse on the board. Don’t just play chess—control it.

[visionaryvogues03]

How Brands Are Partnering with the Creator Economy to Drive Revenue?

The creator economy has been a cathartic innovation for many online creators. On the other hand, it has gained commercial business value for brands. Collaborations with online creators have caused a shift from conventional celebrity endorsements to online influencer endorsements. The digital advertising industry has taken the internet by storm & is the sole reason for brands mulling over the idea of engagement rates, expecting higher revenue figures, resulting in adapting creative ways to attract the target audiences. 

The Rise of the Creator Economy in Brand Partnerships

The digital content economy consists of content creators, influencers, and digital entrepreneurs who use platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Substack to monetize their expertise and audience. With billions of users engaging daily, brands have recognized the immense potential of partnering with these creators to tap into highly engaged niche communities.

Unlike traditional marketing, where businesses push one-size-fits-all messaging, creator collaborations allow for a more personalized approach. Creators build trust and credibility within their communities, making their endorsements more authentic and impactful than conventional advertising.

How Brands Are Leveraging the Creator Economy?

To drive revenue, brands are adopting several key strategies to integrate with the creator economy:

1. Co-creation of Branded Content

Brands are moving beyond sponsorships and actively co-creating content with creators. This strategy ensures the brand’s message is seamlessly integrated into the creator’s authentic storytelling. Examples include:

Fashion brands collaborating with influencers to launch limited-edition collections.

Tech companies work with YouTube reviewers to showcase product features.

Financial brands partnering with creators to simplify complex topics like investing and cryptocurrency.

2. Performance-Based Influencer Marketing

Instead of flat-fee sponsorships, businesses are shifting toward performance-based partnerships where creators earn commissions through affiliate marketing, referral programs, or revenue-sharing agreements. This approach aligns incentives, ensuring that creators drive actual business results, such as sales or sign-ups, rather than just engagement metrics.

3. Creator-Led Product Innovation

Some of the most successful brands in the creator economy are those that involve influencers in product development. Companies like Nike, Glossier, and Logitech have launched products in collaboration with creators, leveraging their insights and audience feedback to fine-tune offerings. This not only boosts sales but also strengthens brand loyalty.

4. Exclusive Membership and Subscription Models

Brands are increasingly utilizing the subscription-based model of the creator economy by offering premium content, courses, and behind-the-scenes access through platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans (for non-adult content). By providing value-driven exclusive content, brands can create recurring revenue streams while fostering community engagement.

Expanding Revenue Streams Through Creator Collaborations

Beyond direct sponsorships and content partnerships, brands are discovering innovative ways to integrate creators into their business models:

5. Creator-Driven E-commerce Strategies

E-commerce brands are embedding creators into their sales funnels by:

Hosting live shopping events on social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Partnering with creators to launch limited-time product drops.

Utilizing creator-led reviews to drive conversions on e-commerce sites.

6. Leveraging AI and Data Analytics for Creator Partnerships

AI-powered tools now enable brands to:

Identify the best-matched creators for their target audiences.

Measure ROI through advanced sentiment analysis and performance tracking.

Optimize influencer campaigns in real-time, ensuring maximum impact.

Case Studies: Brands Winning with the Creator Economy

Nike’s Partnership with Digital Athletes

Nike has successfully integrated itself into the online creator business by collaborating with fitness influencers and digital athletes. Through personalized sponsorships and co-branded training programs, Nike has expanded its reach and enhanced customer loyalty without relying on traditional advertising.

Chipotle’s TikTok Strategy

Chipotle has leveraged TikTok creators to drive viral marketing campaigns, resulting in significant spikes in sales. By engaging influencers to create fun, challenge-based content, Chipotle taps into the organic appeal of the creator economy to make its brand a trending topic.

Adobe’s Collaboration with Digital Creators

Adobe’s approach to the creator economy focuses on providing tools and resources to digital artists and content creators. Through partnerships with leading creatives, Adobe ensures its software remains a staple for professionals and aspiring creators alike.

L’Oréal’s Beauty Creator Program

L’Oréal has taken a strategic approach to the creator economy by building long-term relationships with beauty influencers. Through exclusive training programs and product collaborations, L’Oréal empowers creators to become brand ambassadors, driving sales while reinforcing brand credibility.

Challenges and Considerations for Brands

While the social media entrepreneurship presents enormous opportunities, brands must navigate certain challenges:

Finding the Right Creators: Aligning with influencers who genuinely represent a brand’s values is crucial for authenticity.

Regulatory Compliance: Brands must ensure transparency in partnerships, including proper disclosure of sponsored content.

Measuring ROI: Unlike traditional marketing, tracking direct revenue impact from creator partnerships requires a mix of analytics tools and performance-based metrics.

Brand Safety: Ensuring that brand messages remain consistent across creator collaborations is crucial to avoid misalignment or controversy.

The Future of Brand-Driven Creator Partnerships

As the creator economy continues to evolve, brands that embrace innovation will lead the way. Emerging technologies like AI-driven influencer analytics, blockchain-based creator payments, and decentralized content ownership will further shape how businesses interact with digital entrepreneurs.

Forward-thinking brands will not only collaborate with creators but also empower them—whether through co-branded ventures, equity partnerships, or shared revenue models. By deeply embedding into the creator economy, businesses can cultivate loyal customer communities, drive sustainable revenue growth, and future-proof their marketing strategies.

Brands that integrate creators into product development, customer engagement, and marketing strategies will set themselves apart in the increasingly competitive digital landscape. As Web3 technologies, decentralized content creation, and virtual influencers gain traction, the next wave of the digital content economy will bring even greater opportunities for brands willing to adapt.

Conclusion

The shift toward the creator economy is not just a passing trend—it represents a fundamental transformation in how brands engage with consumers. By leveraging creator partnerships, businesses can drive revenue, enhance brand trust, and create marketing that feels organic and impactful. As more companies embrace this model, those that strategically integrate with the digital content economy will find themselves at the forefront of the next wave of digital commerce and brand storytelling.

With continued innovation, collaboration, and data-driven strategies, brands can fully unlock the potential of the influencer economy and create long-term, sustainable business success.

Uncover the latest trends and insights with our articles on Visionary Vogues

[marcoluther]

How to Launch a Successful Cryptocurrency in 2025

The cryptocurrency landscape is constantly evolving, and launching a successful cryptocurrency in 2025 requires a well-thought-out strategy. With increasing regulations, technological advancements, and shifting market dynamics, entrepreneurs must adapt to the latest trends to build a thriving digital asset. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential steps to successfully launch a cryptocurrency in 2025.

1. Define Your Cryptocurrency’s Purpose

Before launching a cryptocurrency, you need to establish a clear purpose and unique value proposition. Ask yourself the following questions:

What problem does your cryptocurrency solve?

How does it differ from existing cryptocurrencies?

Who is your target audience?

Your cryptocurrency development could be a payment token, utility token, security token, governance token, or an AI-powered digital asset. Ensure your project addresses a real-world need and stands out in a saturated market.

2. Choose the Right Blockchain Technology

Selecting the right blockchain for your cryptocurrency is crucial. You can either build a new blockchain or launch a token on an existing blockchain like Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, or Avalanche. Consider the following factors:

Scalability – Can the blockchain handle high transaction volumes?

Security – Is the blockchain resistant to attacks?

Interoperability – Can it communicate with other blockchains?

Smart Contracts – Does it support decentralized applications (dApps)?

If you want more control, launching your own Layer 1 blockchain is an option, but it requires significant development resources.

3. Tokenomics Design and Supply Mechanism

A well-structured tokenomics model determines the success of your cryptocurrency. Key factors to consider include:

a. Total Supply

Decide whether your cryptocurrency will have a fixed supply (like Bitcoin) or an inflationary model.

b. Distribution

Plan how your tokens will be allocated:

Founders & Team (15-20%)

Development & Ecosystem Growth (30-40%)

Community & Airdrops (10-15%)

Private & Public Sale (ICO/IDO/IEO) (20-30%)

c. Utility & Incentives

Tokens should have real utility to drive demand. Use cases may include:

Governance (voting rights in a DAO)

Staking rewards

Gas fees for transactions

Access to exclusive features in an ecosystem

Defining an effective vesting schedule ensures that the founding team and investors don’t dump tokens, preventing price crashes.

4. Smart Contract Development and Security Audits

Developing secure and efficient smart contracts is essential. Use reliable blockchain programming languages such as:

Solidity (for Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains)

Rust (for Solana and Near)

Move (for Aptos and Sui)

Security is a major concern, so conducting smart contract audits from firms like CertiK, Hacken, or OpenZeppelin will help detect vulnerabilities and protect investors from exploits.

5. Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Cryptocurrency regulations are tightening worldwide. Ensure your project complies with local and global regulations, including:

KYC (Know Your Customer) & AML (Anti-Money Laundering) requirements

Securities Laws Compliance (especially for security tokens)

Taxation and Reporting (as per regional laws)

Registering your cryptocurrency company in a crypto-friendly jurisdiction such as Switzerland, Singapore, or the UAE can provide regulatory advantages.

6. Build a Strong Community and Marketing Strategy

A cryptocurrency’s success heavily relies on community adoption and engagement. Implement a multi-channel marketing strategy to drive awareness:

a. Social Media & Content Marketing

Leverage platforms like:

X (Twitter) – Regular updates, AMAs, and engagement

Discord & Telegram – Community discussions and support

YouTube & TikTok – Crypto influencer collaborations

Medium & Substack – Long-form educational content

b. PR & Influencer Marketing

Get your project featured on:

Crypto news sites (CoinTelegraph, CoinDesk, Bitcoin.com)

Influencer reviews (YouTubers, Twitter influencers, and bloggers)

Podcast appearances (Crypto-focused shows)

c. Airdrops & Bounty Programs

Running airdrop campaigns and bounty programs on platforms like Galxe and Zealy can drive initial adoption.

d. Strategic Partnerships

Collaborating with crypto exchanges, DeFi projects, and Layer 1 blockchains can boost credibility and adoption.

7. Fundraising Strategy: ICO, IDO, IEO, or VC Funding

Funding is essential for development and marketing. Here are the most common ways to raise capital:

a. Initial Coin Offering (ICO)

A direct token sale to the public

Requires a strong whitepaper and marketing campaign

Popular for early-stage community funding

b. Initial DEX Offering (IDO)

Token launch on decentralized launchpads like DAO Maker, Polkastarter, or Binance Launchpad

Liquidity pools are used for trading

More decentralized than ICOs

c. Initial Exchange Offering (IEO)

Conducted on a centralized exchange (CEX) like Binance, KuCoin, or OKX

Higher trust level due to exchange involvement

d. Venture Capital (VC) Funding

Involves private equity firms and blockchain-focused VCs

Typically requires equity or token allocation

Boosts credibility but may reduce decentralization

A combination of community-driven funding and VC support can provide a balanced financial strategy.

8. Listing on Crypto Exchanges

To ensure liquidity and accessibility, list your token on:

Centralized Exchanges (CEXs): Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, OKX

Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): Uniswap, PancakeSwap, Curve

For major exchange listings, liquidity, regulatory compliance, and a strong community are key factors.

9. Developing a Robust Ecosystem

A successful cryptocurrency should go beyond just a token and build a full ecosystem. Consider:

dApp development (DeFi, NFT, GameFi, AI Agents)

Staking & Yield Farming to incentivize users

Layer 2 Scaling Solutions for faster transactions

Cross-chain integrations for interoperability

Having an ecosystem boosts long-term utility and adoption.

10. Continuous Development & Adaptation

Crypto is a fast-evolving space, and projects need to continuously innovate. Keep improving by:

Upgrading smart contracts for efficiency

Implementing governance proposals (if decentralized)

Expanding partnerships and ecosystem development

Engaging with the community for feedback

Conclusion

Launching a successful cryptocurrency in 2025 requires a combination of technical expertise, regulatory compliance, community engagement, and strategic marketing. By following these steps defining a strong purpose, choosing the right blockchain, developing secure smart contracts, ensuring legal compliance, and building a thriving ecosystem you can create a sustainable and impactful cryptocurrency project.

[darkmaga-returns]

Frank Gaffney interviews Brian O’Shea regarding One Health. Brian is an expert on the subject and I was honored to have been interviewed with Brian on the subject - go to the 19:45 mark for the interview with Brian. To keep up to date on One Health please sign up for Brian’s Substack - 10 min. VIDEO

I am sharing some resources I have collected regarding the WHO ONE HEALTH (which is not about health…..like climate change they use titles that mask the real agenda). You need to understand the truth about ONE HEALTH because there are One Health offices set up in many of our states. TN has had One Health in our Dept. of Health and Dept. of Ag since 2018. U of T offers a minor degree in One Health. It is using health as the smoke screen for total control of all land, water, air, human activity. It is just another facet of UN Agenda 21/2023 Agenda.

Liberty Council Action One Health Toolkit - TOOLKIT

For a deeper dive and to store away in your files I am providing these documents I had saved.

Guide To Implement The Oh Jpa V19 Web

3.16MB ∙ PDF file

Download

2025 2029 National One Health Framework To Address Zoonotic Diseases And Advance Public Health Preparedness In The United States 354391 A Nohf Zoonoses 508 Final

16.7MB ∙ PDF file

Download

One Health Framework World Bank Document 123023 Revised Public World Bank One Health Framework 2018

24.8MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Global Health Security Strategy 2024 1 1

4.09MB ∙ PDF file

Download

The Money Hole - this is so funny but not too far off - 2 min. VIDEO

Breaking: U.S. Senate Votes to Confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary - one has to question how much money McConnell has gotten from big pharma. Let's hope some of the questionable nominees in HHS, Surgeon General, NIH do not under mine what RFK Jr. MUST do. IE: Gerald Parker, Jim O'Neil just to name 2 questionables. RFK Jr. needs to get into the HMO system, compile the data, circulate the reports and let the people decide what to do. With the truth people WILL make the right decision. He also needs to take up the DOGE mantle and down size HHS. The fact that the entire agency is unconstitutional should drive the down sizing goals of the Trump administration. ARTICLE

[grin4987]

Understanding the Creator Economy

The creator economy is a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector where individuals—often referred to as creators—leverage digital platforms to monetize their content, skills, and influence. This economy encompasses a wide range of activities, from social media influencers and YouTube personalities to independent podcasters, writers, and artists. The rise of the creator economy reflects broader shifts in media consumption, technological advancements, and the democratization of content production.

The Emergence of the Creator Economy

The origins of the creator economy can be traced back to the early 2000s with the advent of social media and user-generated content platforms. Websites like YouTube, Instagram, and later TikTok provided individuals with unprecedented access to global audiences. Unlike traditional media, where content creation and distribution were controlled by a few large entities, these platforms empowered anyone with a smartphone or computer to create and share content. This democratization has been a cornerstone of the creator economy.

The growth of the creator economy has been fueled by several key factors:

Technological Advancements: The proliferation of smartphones, high-speed internet, and user-friendly software has lowered the barriers to content creation. Tools for video editing, graphic design, and audio production are now widely accessible, enabling creators to produce high-quality content with minimal investment.

Platform Ecosystems: Social media platforms and content-sharing sites have built ecosystems that facilitate content distribution and monetization. Features like ad revenue sharing, sponsorships, and subscription models have created multiple revenue streams for creators. Platforms such as YouTube and Twitch offer ad revenue splits, while Patreon and Substack enable creators to earn directly from their audiences.

Cultural Shifts: The traditional career paths in media and entertainment are no longer the only routes to fame and financial success. Audiences are increasingly drawn to authentic, relatable content produced by individuals rather than faceless corporations. This shift has opened up new opportunities for creators to build personal brands and engage directly with their followers.

Key Components of the Creator Economy

The creator economy is built on several interrelated components:

Content Creation: At the heart of the creator economy is content creation. Creators produce a diverse array of content, including videos, blogs, podcasts, music, and art. This content serves various purposes, from entertainment and education to advocacy and personal expression.

Monetization: Monetization is a critical aspect of the creator economy. Creators can earn money through various methods:

Ad Revenue: Platforms like YouTube and Twitch offer revenue sharing from ads displayed on content.

Sponsorships and Brand Partnerships: Creators often collaborate with brands for sponsored content or product placements.

Crowdfunding and Donations: Platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi allow creators to receive financial support directly from their audience.

Merchandising: Selling branded merchandise can be a lucrative revenue stream for creators with a dedicated fanbase.

Community Engagement: Building and maintaining a loyal audience is essential for success in the creator economy. Creators engage with their followers through social media interactions, live streams, and community events. This direct engagement helps foster a sense of connection and loyalty.

Platform Dynamics: Different platforms have unique algorithms, rules, and audience demographics. Understanding how to navigate these dynamics is crucial for creators. For instance, Instagram’s emphasis on visual content differs from YouTube’s focus on long-form video, and each platform requires tailored strategies for content and engagement.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the creator economy offers exciting opportunities, it also presents several challenges:

Monetization Uncertainty: Revenue streams for creators can be volatile. Ad rates fluctuate, platform algorithms change, and sponsorships may be inconsistent. This uncertainty can make financial stability difficult for creators who rely heavily on these income sources.

Platform Dependence: Creators are often at the mercy of platform policies and changes. Algorithm updates or shifts in platform priorities can impact content visibility and engagement, making creators vulnerable to external factors beyond their control.

Saturation and Competition: As the creator economy grows, the market becomes more saturated. Standing out among millions of creators requires continuous innovation and engagement. Additionally, the pressure to constantly produce content can lead to burnout.

Intellectual Property and Copyright Issues: Creators must navigate complex intellectual property laws to protect their work and avoid infringement. The digital nature of content makes it easy to copy and redistribute, raising concerns about piracy and content theft.

Despite these challenges, the creator economy continues to thrive and expand. The ongoing growth of digital platforms and evolving technologies promise new opportunities for creators to explore. Additionally, as audiences become more engaged and discerning, there is a growing demand for diverse and high-quality content.

The Future of the Creator Economy

Looking ahead, several trends are likely to shape the future of the creator economy:

Decentralization: Emerging technologies such as blockchain and decentralized platforms could offer creators more control over their content and revenue. Decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are examples of innovations that could reshape content ownership and monetization.

Increased Integration with E-commerce: As creators build stronger personal brands, the integration of content with e-commerce is expected to grow. Features like in-stream shopping and direct product links could enhance the monetization potential for creators.

Greater Emphasis on Well-being: The issue of creator burnout is gaining attention. The future may see a greater focus on supporting creators’ mental health and work-life balance, with platforms and industry organizations offering resources and support.

In conclusion, the creator economy represents a transformative shift in how content is produced, distributed, and consumed. By empowering individuals to build personal brands and monetize their creativity, it has created a vibrant and diverse landscape of digital content. As technology and audience preferences continue to evolve, the creator economy is likely to adapt and grow, offering new opportunities and challenges for the next generation of creators.

[markanthonydyson]

Thriving In Chaos: Job Search Advice to Overcome Uncertainty

Thriving In Chaos: How To Be Super Successful, Wealthy And Happy In A F*cked-Up World is Jack Kelly's latest book about current job market dynamics, job search strategies, and dealing with economic uncertainty.

Jack shares his insights on the fluctuating job market, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and adaptability. 

We discuss Jack's background as a Forbes writer and how he observes economic trends. Jack highlights the importance of maintaining momentum in both career and personal life.

Jack stresses that job seekers must remain proactive, continuously improving their skills and staying updated with market trends to avoid stagnation.

We discuss the necessity of maintaining momentum and habit-building in job searching.

Jack provides insight into the challenges of today's job market, acknowledging the proliferation of job scams and the frustrations faced by job seekers, such as being ghosted by employers or encountering fake job listings.

He advises job seekers to be strategic and vigilant, advocating for holistic approaches like networking and leveraging personal connections to discover hidden job opportunities.

 Jack also touches upon the broader economic environment, noting the difficulty for white-collar professionals to find new employment due to limited job creation in that sector.

 He advises job seekers to adopt various mindsets and practices—such as affirmations and stoic mindset—to build resilience and stay motivated.

Jack and I emphasize the need for proactive, continuous engagement in career development, including building a network, staying informed about industry advancements, and preparing financially for potential job loss.

Jack concludes that understanding these realities can help job seekers navigate the complexities of the current job market and thrive despite the chaos. T

Jack shares his thoughts on AI's role in the job market and its potential as a valuable tool for job seekers, provided it's used wisely.

We agree that adaptability and continual learning are key to succeeding in today’s dynamic job landscape.

Don’t forget to subscribe to “The Job Scam Report” on Substack!

Here are three ways you can join the conversation:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen, and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Check out this episode!

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Featured Newsletters by Substack Mastery Boost Pilot: Episode 17

Curated Newsletters Community nominated newsletters of writers contributing to the Substack Mastery Boost, Curated Newsletters, and Magnetic Newsletter Pro publications on Medium and Substack to create synergy Non-members can read this story on our community blogs. Dear Writers and Readers, Happy February, We, as the volunteer curation team of ILLUMINATION, are excited to curate and feature…

[janetrayo]

digital marketing can be designed to generate passive income, allowing you to earn money while you sleep 😴

📌 SAVE this for laterrrr & follow for more tips!

here are several strategies to achieve this: 👇🏼

1. affiliate marketing promote products or services through affiliate programs & earn commissions through your unique link

2. done for you digital products / master resell rights purchase a product that comes with a MRR license that allows you to sell a products to your customers. not only does this mean your customer can use this for personal use they can also resell it for 100% profits from any sales ** MY PERSONAL FAV 🙌🏼

3. automated email campaigns this helps nurture leads & drive sales [use tools like mailchimp or convertkit to schedule & automate your sequences

4. content monetization create valuable content such as e-books, online courses, or webinars [use teachable, udemy or IG / TikTok sell your digital products] * automate the delivery process 😉

5. subscription models create a membership site or subscription service to offer exclusive content & resources to subscribers [use patreon or substack to automate billing & delivery

6. SEO & passive traffic optimize your website content for search engines to attract organic traffic / use long tail keywords and create evergreen content that remains relevant over time

7. automated social media marketing schedule posts in advanced & use automation tools to engage w your audience, share content & drive traffic

8. invest in paid advertising [would recommend for established businesses] use paid advertising platforms like google ads or facebook / optimize campaigns for conversions and let them run continuously

9. chatbots for customer interaction implement chatbots on your website or socials to interact with customers use them to answer FAQs, guide users & even make sales!

just remember, achieving success in digital marketing does require effort & optimization. while automation can make processes more efficient, it’s essential to continue monitoring and adapting your strategies based on performance & market changes :)

comment “SLEEP” if you’re ready to make this a reality 💭

[heathersmithau]

The Tanda Story: From University Bar to Brisbane Skyline | Alex Ghiculescu

Today I’m speaking with Alex Ghiculescu, co-founder of both Tanda and Workforce.com. Alex is known for blogging and has a Substack newsletter where he shares stories from his 10+ years of building Tanda. Additionally, through Keen Strategies, Alex invests in B2B SaaS companies offering early-stage investments alongside technical and operational experience. In 2012 he received a distinction Bachelor of Business and Information Technology, Software Engineering from QUT (Queensland University of Technology).

Tanda is an Australian Payroll, Rostering, and HR software designed for businesses that employ hourly workers. The company is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, and also operates internationally as Workforce.com. Tanda offers an all-in-one solution that includes time & attendance, workforce scheduling, payroll integration, and reporting tools. In case you’ve not realised, Tanda stands for Time and Attendance.

You can read the shownotes at https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/

From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you  subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space.  I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast.

Cloud Stories w. @HeatherSmithAU

[brilliantweb3]

The death of free money won’t stop crypto

The SEC is cracking down just as some of the timeline finished getting rich off of HarryPotterObamaSonic10Inu. NFT volume has significantly dwindled, startups are selling at deep discounts relative to their valuations, and popular tokens continue to retreat from their all-time highs. In a perfect sign of the times, the Staples Center may even come back.

Still, excitement persists around very familiar events in Web3. LVMH just announced they are going deeper down the rabbit hole by selling NFTs at 39,000 euros each, profiles with NFT PFPs are promoting new tickers daily, and some guy called ben.eth has all of crypto Twitter riled up with his memecoin presales. 

However, all of this isn’t progress — it’s nostalgia for a time not so long ago when money was cheap and abundant. 

Free money is no longer the reality, and the space needs to move past it to develop Web3 products that meet the needs of this new world.

Was money ever free?

Juggling multiple tech jobs, the fantasy of retiring on the back of meme stocks, or creating a stock exchange out of physical collectibles (a project I contributed to) — these are all examples of the former “free money” phenomenon created by ZIRP.

ZIRP, or zero interest rate policy, refers to a monetary policy where the central bank sets its target short-term interest rate at or close to 0%. This strategy was a staple of the Fed’s approach from 2020 until very recently. 

ZIRP made capital cheap and spurred the so-called “zero interest rate phenomenon” — capital being deployed in imaginative ways that were unique to this era of affordable money. 

Pomp, in his Substack, refers to this time as “easy mode.” Understandably, much of what happened in crypto and Web3 in recent years falls under this “easy” money umbrella as well.

And with all the recent coverage of what’s happening in Web3, it’s easy to brand all of it a “zero interest rate phenomenon” on its last legs. Indeed, the over-financialization ensuing from Web3 advancements has drawn in more than a few unfavorable actors, particularly in an era of readily available capital and rampant speculation. 

ZIRP and crypto intersect

The far-reaching influence of global finance across industries, cultures and societies is not a novel concept. 

Theorist Mark Fisher often discussed the rise of neoliberalism post the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in his works, Capitalist Realism and his blog, k-punk. In his multipart series, All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace, BBC documentarian Adam Curtis dives into Alan Greenspan’s efforts to keep interest rates low during the Clinton era and the subsequent negative global impacts. 

Basically, interest rates have been in steady decline since the 1980s, coinciding with the rise of tech as the new major player in the economy.

And all that is to say, some people got very lucky during this time period, and you can thank the Fed to some degree. 

ZIRP’s impact has been visible across numerous sectors, leading to peculiar scenarios. 

For instance, in real estate, startups invested heavily in properties, often at a loss, while fractional ownership models were marketed to the masses under the guise of affordability. Within Web3, NFT projects like Moonbirds, Doodles and BAYC took in copious amounts of venture funding, and we see today that their communities continue to lose out as the price of these assets keep heading south. 

Labeling everything as ZIRPy is trendy, reductionist and ultimately kind of fun, but the real question is, what could the post-ZIRP world look like?

The vibe shift

We’re on the brink of a substantial reset — a period to unlearn many old habits and question our surroundings. Certain products and ideas that once held relevance aren’t suitable in this new economic landscape, where money is no longer “free.” 

However, this current period also brings with it opportunity — new winners and losers will emerge. The last cycle was built off the backs of creative and gig economies. As technologists, can we correct this wrong and demonstrate that a better, more promising future is possible?

Web3 is a nascent industry. Many of us believe in the core use cases of the technology and want to see it succeed. To ensure its survival, we must hold ourselves accountable, stay honest and pay close attention to what people truly need to navigate this uncertain new world. 

In a post-ZIRP world, these needs will be vastly different. Increasing adoption is intrinsically tied to consumer demand. The goal is real-world utility and value, not speculative hype or vibes. 

Consumer priorities are likely to shift toward products and services that offer security, stability and practical utility, and away from volatile, high-risk investments and luxury indulgences with limited functional value.

This shift in the economic landscape necessitates a reevaluation of priorities within Web3. 

Get our news the fastest way possible. Join us on W3W Web3 CRM and follow us on https://w3w.ai/

[coopdigitalnewsletter]

26 Mar 2021: Amazon: cooler but not fresher. Facebook’s habit. NFTs.

Hello, this is the Co-op Digital newsletter. Thank you for reading - send ideas and feedback to @rod on Twitter. Please tell a friend about it!

[Image: part - about 3.5m worth - of Beeple’s Everydays: the first 5000 days]

Amazon: cooler but not fresher

“I asked [two young employees] if they liked working at Amazon Fresh and they both said, “Yes.” I followed up with, “Beats working at a supermarket?” and they both said, “Yes.” It’s a problem that it’s not cool to work in a supermarket.” 

That’s a US supermarket executive visiting an Amazon Fresh store in Chicago. Also:

“I was amazed that the cart weighs the produce and snaps a picture of each item. [...]

“I couldn’t find a ripe avocado and the bananas looked chilled. [...] The stores don’t seem to have a personal touch, especially if you need something special. I don’t think it will be a weekly destination for me, but I’m sure it will be for some people.”

Elsewhere in grocery and retail:

Asda equal pay: when seeking equal pay, lower-paid shop staff, who are mostly women, have won the right to compare themselves with higher paid warehouse workers, who are mostly men. 

John Lewis will permanently close eight more shops - most were already struggling before the pandemic. 

Big investors shun Deliveroo[’s IPO] over workers' rights. 

43% of weekly shoppers experience spoilage, damage or theft of delivered grocery - HomeValet has a “smart box” take on grocery delivery packaging that fixes those problems.

Facebook’s habit

Facebook’s AI algorithms gave it an insatiable habit for lies and hate speech. Now the man who built them can't fix the problem. Good long read on Facebook’s efforts to understand the system it had created. 

“A former Facebook AI researcher who joined in 2018 says he and his team conducted “study after study” confirming the same basic idea: models that maximize engagement increase polarization”

Needless to say, there are competing views within FB about what “fairness” should mean, particularly in relation to politics. And unfortunately *testing* for fairness remains a nice-to-have:

“But testing algorithms for fairness is still largely optional at Facebook. None of the teams that work directly on Facebook’s news feed, ad service, or other products are required to do it. Pay incentives are still tied to engagement and growth metrics. And while there are guidelines about which fairness definition to use in any given situation, they aren’t enforced.” 

It ends on this despondent note:

“Certainly he couldn’t believe that algorithms had done absolutely nothing to change the nature of these issues, I said.

“I don’t know,” he said with a halting stutter. Then he repeated, with more conviction: “That’s my honest answer. Honest to God. I don’t know.””

Political platforms

Bad news at the newsletter platforms. Mailchimp employees on unequal working conditions that led to women and people of colour quitting jobs. And Substack writers are mad at Substack over advances given against future revenue shares to writers who may have controversial or discriminatory opinions (although tbh, this is what all publishing companies do: offer authors with varying views advances on future royalty revenues).

It is getting harder for all platforms to remain neutral. Partly this is because neutrality is impossible: as platforms (and tech companies generally) get bigger, they wield more power. And partly it is because people actually want the platforms they use to take political, ethical and value positions.

Related: Very interesting read on moderation: whether each layer in the infrastructure stack should moderate its own layer or moderate the layers above it. It has interviews with leaders at Stripe, Microsoft, Google Cloud and Cloudflare. 

NFTs, “non-fungible tokens” and art

Last week, a digital image by artist Beeple sold for 69 million US dollars. It’s a jpeg image by an artist called Beeple, and the auction house Christie’s handled the sale. To be more accurate, it wasn’t the image that sold for $69m, but a digital file on the blockchain that references the original image, although of course the very idea of “original” is complicated by digital files anyway (look, is this the original, on the Christie’s website?!). OK, let’s do NFT questions:

What is an NFT? A “non-fungible token” is a digital file that is put on some kind of blockchain so that it behaves less like a digital thing (infinitely and easily copyable and shareable) and more like a physical thing (not easily copyable and shareable). 

Hold on, what, “non-fungible”? Money is fungible: it doesn’t matter whether you have this £10 note or that one, they’re both worth £10. “Non-fungible” is the opposite: only you have this unique thing, like a painting.

Is an NFT art? Everything can be art. The question is always whether it is good art, and the easiest way to know is to look at a lot of art.

Are NFTs good? Sometimes. They let true fans express their fandom by buying and collecting things. They make some money for artists, although most aren’t going to make 69m. They let artists benefit from the secondary market - that’s a good but occasionally sweary piece.

Are NFTs bad? Often. They’re hard to understand. When they use proof-of-work blockchains - eg Ethereum as of mid March 2021 - they are profoundly wasteful of energy. They are prone to scams because while the blockchain guarantees the chain of ownership of a digital file, it doesn’t do the same for the artwork the digital file points at, so there are some instances of artists being NFTised without permission. Though this may be more a characteristic of scammers than of NFTs. Some people speculate that NFTs are being used as marketing for cryptocurrencies.

How can NFTs be both good and bad? NFTs - and cryptocurrencies more generally - are a mirror: you see what you want to see. The excitement of being part of something new. The wish to make the world afresh. Taking apart industries that are inefficient. The white heat of investing in things that go to the moon. A way to socially signal others. The virus amplifying wealth inequalities. The underlying trend to monetise everything. Pointless showing off. Buying a file that merely points at some art. A scam.

Can you get off the fence, newsletter? OK, NFTs are on balance, bad. NFTs are everything you don’t understand about art multiplied by everything you don’t understand about technology multiplied by everything you don’t understand about money. And, right now, most of them are bad for the environment.

Who’s Beeple again? Beeple is an artist. The newsletter featured a Beeple image in August 2020. Co-op Members will be pleased to hear that the newsletter didn’t pay him $69m for it.

In other countries

A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world - “this strategy sets out the measures which will ensure that Scotland will fulfil its potential in a constantly evolving digital world”.

Data, surveillance and how India is creating platforms to give people more control over how information about them is used (Related?: Two UK broadband ISPs trial new internet snooping system with UK Home Office.)

Spain to launch trial of four-day working week - “government agrees to proposal from leftwing party Más País allowing companies to test reduced hours”.

Various things

Self-driving startup Voyage bought by Cruise, which is owned by GM and Honda. Voyage was interesting because it focussed on a taxi service in retirement communities, and has designed an interior for Covid safety.

Is test and trace really the most wasteful public spending programme ever? Or have there, in fact, been larger squanderings of taxpayers’ money in the past?

'Right to repair' law to come in this summer. Manufacturers will need to make spare parts for appliances available to consumers - will this apply to mobile phones and other devices which have become decreasingly repairable as they became smaller and more complex?

A petition to Amazon: lower the number of parcels we have to deliver.

Black tech employees rebel against diversity theater.

I have one of the most advanced prosthetic arms in the world - and I hate it.

Co-op Digital news

Reflecting on one year of remote working at Co-op Digital - Co-op Digital colleagues in their own words.

Thank you for reading

Thank you friends, readers and contributors. Please continue to send ideas, questions, corrections, improvements, etc to @rod on Twitter. If you have enjoyed reading, please tell a friend! If you want to find out more about Co-op Digital, follow us @CoopDigital on Twitter and read the Co-op Digital Blog. Previous newsletters.