#Best Earning apps 2022

[joblocatorsworld]

NTPC Recruitment 2022

नॅशनल थर्मल पॉवर कॉर्पोरेशन लि. भरती 2022 NTPC Recruitment 2022 NTPC लिमिटेड ही 70,234 मेगावॅटची स्थापित क्षमता असलेली भारतातील सर्वात मोठी ऊर्जा समूह आहे. आपल्या देशाच्या वाढीच्या आव्हानांच्या अनुषंगाने, NTPC ने 2032 पर्यंत 130 GW ची एकूण स्थापित क्षमता गाठण्याची महत्त्वाकांक्षी योजना सुरू केली आहे. एकूण :   864 पदाचे नाव & तपशील : इंजिनिअरिंग एक्झिक्युटिव ट्रेनी 1 इलेक्ट्रिकल 2 मेकॅनिकल 3…

[mritmind]

Best Online Earning Skill 2023 Which Gives More Money

Introduction

In today's digital age, the opportunity to earn money online has become more accessible than ever before. With the right skills and knowledge, individuals can leverage the power of the internet to generate a substantial income. This article aims to explore the best online earning skill for 2023 that has the potential to provide significant financial rewards. Whether you are a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone looking to supplement their current income, these online earning skills can open doors to a world of opportunities.

Understanding the Importance of Online Earning

The rapid advancement of technology and the increasing reliance on the internet has revolutionized the way we work and earn money. Online earning offers numerous benefits, such as flexibility in terms of working hours, the ability to work from anywhere, and the potential to earn a substantial income. With the right skillset and dedication, individuals can achieve financial independence and build a successful online career.

Developing a Highly Marketable Skillset

To succeed in the online world and maximize earning potential, it is crucial to develop a highly marketable skillset. By acquiring skills that are in high demand, individuals can position themselves as valuable assets in the digital marketplace. Let's explore some of the best online earning skills for 2023.

1. Digital Marketing: Mastering the Art of Online Promotion

Digital marketing has emerged as one of the most lucrative online earning skills in recent years. This skill involves promoting products, services, or brands through various online channels. From social media marketing to search engine optimization (SEO), digital Marketing encompasses a wide range of techniques aimed at increasing online visibility and driving targeted traffic. With businesses increasingly investing in online marketing, mastering digital marketing can lead to significant earning opportunities.

2. Web Development: Building the Foundation of the Internet

In today's digital landscape, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses and individuals alike. Web development, the process of building and maintaining websites, is a highly sought-after skill. As businesses continue to recognize the importance of having a user-friendly and visually appealing website, skilled web developers are in high demand. Learning programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can pave the way for a rewarding career in web development.

3. Content Writing: Crafting Compelling Online Narratives

In the age of information, content is king. Content writing involves creating engaging and informative articles, blog posts, and other written materials for online platforms. Businesses rely on quality content to attract and engage their target audience. By developing excellent writing skills and specializing in a niche, individuals can find lucrative opportunities as freelance writers or even start their own content writing agencies.

4. E-commerce: Building an Online Storefront

The rise of e-commerce has transformed the way we shop and do business. Building and managing an online store is a valuable skill that can lead to substantial earnings. From creating an appealing website to managing inventory and handling customer transactions, individuals skilled in e-commerce can tap into the immense potential of the online marketplace.

5. Graphic Design: Creating Visually Captivating Content

Visual appeal plays a crucial role in capturing the attention of online audiences. Graphic design is the art of creating visually captivating content for various online platforms. From designing logos and branding materials to crafting social media posts and website visuals, skilled graphic designers can command high rates for their creative expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQ 1: What are the benefits of learning an online earning skill in 2023?

Learning an online earning skill in 2023 comes with several benefits. Firstly, it provides individuals with the opportunity to take advantage of the growing digital landscape and tap into the vast online market. With more businesses transitioning to online platforms, the demand for skilled professionals is on the rise. Secondly, online earning skills offer flexibility in terms of working hours and location. Individuals can work from the comfort of their homes or while traveling, providing a better work-life balance. Lastly, acquiring an online earning skill allows individuals to become self-reliant and financially independent. By leveraging their skills, they have the potential to earn a substantial income and even build their own online business.

FAQ 2: How long does it take to learn an online earning skill?

The time required to learn an online earning 20varies depending on the complexity of the skill and the individual's dedication to learning. Some skills, such as basic content writing or social media management, can be learned within a few months with consistent practice. On the other hand, skills like web development or digital marketing may require more time and effort to master. It is essential to approach the learning skill?

FAQ 3: Can I earn a stable income with online earning skills?skills?

Yes, it is possible to earn a stable income with online earning skills. However, it is important to note that the stability of income depends on various factors, including the individual's expertise, market demand, and consistency in acquiring clients or projects. Building a sustainable online income requires continuous skill development, networking, and adapting to market trends. By staying updated with industry advancements and providing high-quality services, individuals can increase their chances of earning a stable income.

FAQ 4: Are there any risks associated with online earning?

Like any other endeavor, online earning also carries certain risks. These may include fluctuating market demands, competition from other skilled professionals, and potential scams or fraudulent activities. It is crucial to conduct thorough research, validate opportunities, and prioritize reputable platforms when starting an online earning journey. Additionally, individuals should be prepared for the possibility of facing setbacks or temporary fluctuations in income. Building a strong skillset, maintaining a professional reputation, and diversifying income streams can help mitigate risks and ensure long-term success.

FAQ 5: How can I market my online earning skills effectively?

Effectively marketing your online earning skills is essential to attract clients and secure earning opportunities. Here are a few strategies to consider:

Create a professional website or online portfolio showcasing your skills, experience, and previous work.

Leverage social media platforms to build a strong online presence and engage with potential clients.

Network with industry professionals and join relevant online communities or forums to expand your connections.

Offer valuable content through blog posts, videos, or podcasts to establish yourself as an authority in your field.

Seek testimonials and reviews from satisfied clients to build credibility and trust.

Collaborate with other professionals or businesses in complementary niches to expand your reach and client base.

FAQ 6: Are online earning skills suitable for everyone?

Yes, online earning skills can be suitable for individuals from various backgrounds and professions. Whether you are a student, a stay-at-home parent, a freelancer, or someone looking to transition into a digital career, there are online earning opportunities available. The key is to identify your strengths, interests, and areas of expertise, and then develop the necessary skills to capitalize on those opportunities. With dedication, continuous learning, and a proactive approach, anyone can harness the power of online earning and unlock their financial potential.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the digital landscape provides ample opportunities for individuals to earn a substantial income online. By acquiring highly marketable skills and staying updated with industry trends, anyone can tap into the potential of online earning. Skills such as digital marketing, web development, content writing, e-commerce, and graphic design are in high demand and offer promising earning prospects.

[online-earning-method]

Top 10 Online Earning Method

Here are 10 of the easiest methods for online earning:

Freelance work. There are many websites where you can find freelance work, such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. You can offer your services in a variety of areas, such as writing, editing, web design, and social media marketing.

Take surveys. There are many websites that will pay you to take surveys. Some of the most popular survey sites include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars.

Become a mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers are people who go to stores and restaurants and report back on their experiences. You can find mystery shopper jobs on websites like IntelliShop and Market Force.

Test websites and apps. There are websites that will pay you to test websites and apps. This involves giving feedback on the usability and design of the websites and apps. Some of the most popular website and app testing sites include UserTesting and UserZoom.

Sell your photos or videos. If you have a good camera, you can sell your photos or videos online. There are many websites where you can do this, such as Shutterstock, iStockphoto, and Adobe Stock.

Create an online course. If you have expertise in a particular subject, you can create an online course and sell it through a platform like Udemy or Teachable.

Start a blog. If you have a passion for writing, you can start a blog and make money through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products or services.

Start a YouTube channel. If you're creative and enjoy making videos, you can start a YouTube channel and make money through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products or services.

Dropshipping. Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without actually stocking them. When a customer makes a purchase from your store, you simply purchase the product from a supplier and have it shipped directly to the customer. This is a great way to start an online business with little upfront investment.

Invest in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that uses cryptography for security. You can buy and sell cryptocurrency through online exchanges. If you're willing to take on some risk, you could potentially make a lot of money by investing in cryptocurrency.

It's important to note that none of these methods will make you rich overnight. However, if you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can earn a decent amount of money online.

Here are some additional tips for earning money online:

Find a niche. When you're first starting out, it's helpful to find a niche market that you're interested in and knowledgeable about. This will make it easier to find customers and build a reputation.

Be consistent. If you want to be successful at making money online, you need to be consistent with your efforts. This means posting new content on your blog, creating new videos for your YouTube channel, or taking new surveys on a regular basis.

Network. One of the best ways to find new opportunities to make money online is to network with other people who are doing the same thing. Attend online conferences, join relevant Facebook groups, and connect with people on Twitter.

Don't give up. Making money online takes time and effort. There will be times when you feel discouraged, but it's important to keep going. If you keep working hard, you will eventually start to see results.

[earnmoneytipss]

“Unlock Your Online Earning Potential: 10 Free Methods to Make Money Online”

Sure! Here are ten popular methods for earning money online, all of which are free to start. Please note that individual results may vary, and success depends on various factors such as effort, dedication, and market conditions.

BEST SECRECT METHOD — Easy Earning No Invest No Hard Work JUST SMARLTY EARN

Freelancing: Offer your skills and services as a freelancer on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. You can provide services such as writing, graphic design, programming, virtual assistance, and more. Clients pay for the work you complete.

Online surveys: Participate in online surveys on websites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, or InboxDollars. These platforms reward you with cash, gift cards, or other incentives for sharing your opinions.

Content creation: Start a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast and create engaging content on a topic you’re passionate about. Monetize your content through ads, sponsorships, merchandise, or crowdfunding.

Affiliate marketing: Promote products or services through affiliate links. You earn a commission for each sale or lead generated through your referral. Join affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or ClickBank to find suitable products.

Online tutoring: Utilize your expertise in a particular subject and teach others online. Platforms like VIPKid, Tutor.com, or Chegg Tutors connect you with students seeking academic assistance.

Dropshipping: Set up an online store without stocking inventory. You promote products, and when a customer places an order, the supplier ships the products directly to the customer. Platforms like Shopify and Oberlo make it easy to start.

Create digital products: Design and sell digital products like e-books, online courses, stock photos, or templates on platforms such as Udemy, Teachable, Etsy, or Shutterstock. Once created, these products can generate passive income.

Social media management: Offer social media management services to businesses. Help them grow their online presence, engage with their audience, and manage their social media accounts effectively.

Transcription services: Transcribe audio or video files into text. Websites like TranscribeMe or Rev provide opportunities to work as a transcriptionist and earn money based on the number of transcriptions completed.

Online market trading: Engage in buying and selling stocks, cryptocurrencies, or other financial instruments through online trading platforms. Research and learn about market trends, strategies, and risk management to increase your chances of success.

Remember, while these methods can provide opportunities to earn money, they require effort, time, and sometimes initial investments to maximize their potential. It’s essential to research and choose the methods that align with your skills, interests, and goals.

[dannysullivans-blog]

Earn from mobile app

Sign up and start working from home.

[unmotivatedworld]

[magfemns]

2022 Best Money Earning App || Earn Daily ₹6000 Paytm Cash | Skkily | #Earn Money

2022 Best Money Earning App || Earn Daily ₹6000 Paytm Cash | Skkily | #Earn Money

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[hurpdurpburps]

Astoria: Fate's Kiss Is Getting Re-released On 25 July, Here Are Some Things You Should Keep In Mind

Most people don't know it (until now I guess), but I'm the founder of, and have been running the @ls-salvation-squad project since Christmas 2021. I hardly interact with the LS community outside of the project server in a personal capacity as I've largely left the fandom around 6 months before the announcement of the app's closure.

I was pretty late to the game (pun intended), having only learnt about the app in 2020, but managed to be around for 'milestone events' such as the writers' strike and the DMCA rampage on YouTube/tumblr. Thanks to certain friends and technology, I've also had privileged access to a quasi-'insider look' into Voltage's workings (and failings) as a studio, both in real time and through secondhand horror stories of the past.

This culmination of experiences has spurred me to make my first, and last, personal opinion piece regarding LS on tumblr, a corner of the community that I haven't really interacted much with.

While I understand the sheer joy, relief and excitement that comes with revived, legal access to some of the most impressive, unapologetically queer stories to have ever graced the internet, I want to point out the ugly truths that are intertwined with the revival of this troubled app:

Buying the game =/= supporting the creators. Not a cent of your money goes towards them. Even when Voltage USA used to be a thing, barely any of it went towards the employees in general either. The writers were paid 3 cents/word, and producers were working twice as hard but only paid around half of their counterparts in other companies. AFAIK the artists have kept quiet but it would be more of a surprise if they were treated any better than their peers.

Buying the game =/= supporting queer content/community. This might come as a shocker, but homophobia ran rampant within Voltage's management. The best evidence of this can be found in their history of 'peculiar' business or creative decisions - and they've made a fuckton of bad choices. Fun fact; the first queer routes were only made possible via sheer force of will of a particular producer. I'm not at liberty to share the nitty gritty on this public platform as the stories aren't mine, but maybe if you asked some of the former staff nicely, they might give you cryptic hints.

You're gonna be paying them a THIRD time. Many of us have already shelled out hundreds of dollars on heart choices - not once, but twice. Putting the whole version on Steam/Switch had always been a valid option from the beginning of the end, but they chose not to do it. Why? Because users scrambling to make bulk purchases of tickets and hearts to record routes as a last hurrah meant a last, fat cash-in. Not to mention the fact that they're selling the game at US$30 per series, for almost decade-old content, presumably without any new additions. At this point, throwing your hard earned money at them AGAIN is just rewarding scummy management and unscrupulous business models.

Do you really need to? Our team of around 100 archivists worked tirelessly in Q1 of 2022 to provide you high quality recordings of every single route. We've gone so far as to acquire recordings of pre-LS Voltage content such as Queen's Gambit and all of the soundtracks. We've put assets up for download. There are a dozen passionate creators out there who have been updating their Ren'Py recreations so that you can scratch your itch - and all for free!!! What more could you possible want or need that only the greedy bastards at Voltage can give you - apart from seeing your custom MC name on the screen and the absolutely inconsequential choices B & C that our videos didn't cover?

Is this a call for a boycott? I guess not really, or at least I didn't consciously set out to make it like this. Dissuading others from purchasing legal access to media when it's easily available goes against my general principle about responsibly and pragmatically supporting creators. And as one 'em Gays™, I know the preciousness of possessing Queer Stories Written By Queer People.

But I was concerned at what seemed to be a wave of happiness and eagerness at news of the revival, without any mention of the absolute shit show that has led us to this very point. There's a very big part of me that's absolutely pissed at being taken for a ride. News of the revival has been a bittersweet development for us all, especially those who have poured their time, money and energy over the past 2.5 years into salvaging what was thought to be a lost piece of queer media - only to find out that all that effort might only get them a slap to the face in the form of a DMCA from the grave. So yeah, fuck you Voltage.

TLDR: You should really save your money for more ethical, indie developers who have the decency to not mock your consumer intelligence. I don't think it's a crime against humanity if you end up buying it after all, but just think about it yeah?

[joblocatorsworld]

CISF Recruitment 2022

केंद्रीय औद्योगिक सुरक्षा दलात भरती CISF Recruitment 2022 वेतन स्तर-5 (पे मॅट्रिक्समध्ये रु. 29,200-92,300/-) तसेच नेहमीच्या भत्त्यांमध्ये केंद्राकडून स्वीकारल्या जाणार्‍या सहाय्यक उपनिरीक्षक (स्टेनोग्राफर) ची तात्पुरती पदे भरण्यासाठी पात्र पुरुष आणि महिला भारतीय नागरिकांकडून ऑनलाइन अर्ज मागविण्यात येत आहेत. एकूण :  540 पदाचे नाव & तपशील :  1 असिस्टंट सब इंस्पेक्टर (स्टेनोग्राफर) 122 2 हेड…

[genshin-impact-updates]

"All Senses Clear, All Existence Void" Version 3.3 Update Details

Dear Travelers,

Below are the details of the Version 3.3 update "All Senses Clear, All Existence Void."

〓Compensation Details〓

Maintenance Compensation: Primogems ×300 (60 Primogems per hour the servers are down)

Issue Fix Compensation: Primogems ×300 (please refer to the relevant compensation mail for more details)

〓Scope of Compensation〓

Maintenance Compensation: Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 5 or above before 2022/12/07 06:00

Please claim before the end of Version 3.3.

Issue Fix Compensation: Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 5 or above before 2022/12/07 06:00.

Please claim the compensation mail before 2022/12/10 06:00

Our developers will distribute compensation to Travelers via in-game mail within 5 hours after the update maintenance is finished. The mail will expire after 30 days, so don't forget to claim the attached compensation in time.

〓Update Schedule〓

Update maintenance begins 2022/12/07 06:00 and is estimated to take 5 hours.

〓How to Update Game Client〓

PC: Close the game, open the Genshin Impact Launcher, and click Update.

iOS: Open the App Store and tap Update.

Android: Open the game and follow the directions on-screen.

PS5™ and PS4™: Highlight Genshin Impact from the Home Screen, press the OPTIONS button and select "Check for Update."

Please do not hesitate to contact Customer Service if you encounter any issues installing the new version. We will do our very best to resolve the issue.

〓Update Details〓

I. New Gameplay

New Gameplay: Genius Invokation TCG

Genius Invokation TCG is a tightly-paced, heart-stopping tabletop card dueling game.

Join as a "Genius Invokation TCG" player, collect cards, build your deck, and go toe-to-toe with various opponents at the table!

◇ Unlock Criteria:

• Reach Adventure Rank 32 or above

• Complete the Archon Quest "Song of the Dragon and Freedom"

◇ System Rules:

1. Find challengers in the open world or enter the tavern to play matches against weekly visiting challengers, and earn Player EXP, and Lucky Coins.

2. Player EXP can be used to increase your Player Level, which in turn unlocks new functions and more challengers. Lucky Coins can be used to purchase Genius Invokation cards and used to purchase Match Invitation Letters and various items related to Genius Invokation TCG.

3. You can use the invitation board to send invitations to registered challengers on the Player List and partake in duel matches. Should you prevail in these matches, you can also earn corresponding Character and Talent Cards.

4. You can use the invitation board and connect with your friends via Co-Op to partake in a Genius Invokation TCG match. After reaching a certain Player Level, you can also match with faraway strangers to duels of skill.

*After Genius Invokation TCG is officially launched, we will continue to adjust and optimize the balance of cards based on the duel situation and feedback of Travelers, so as to continuously improve the gameplay experience of Genius Invokation TCG.

The Genius Invokation TCG balance adjustment in the Version 3.3 update is as follows:

Adjusts Elemental Burst damage dealt by the Character Card "Maguu Kenki" in Genius Invokation TCG: "Deals 6 Anemo DMG..." is now adjusted to "Deals 4 Anemo DMG...".

II. New Characters

5-Star Character "Eons Adrift" Wanderer (Anemo)

◇ Vision: Anemo

◇ Weapon: Catalyst

◇ A wayfaring figure whose identity is a mystery. He dresses like a mountain ascetic, but he certainly does not act the part.

◆ Elemental Skill "Hanega: Song of the Wind"

◆ Deals AoE Anemo DMG before leaping into the air and entering the Windfavored state. In this state, the Wanderer is unable to use Plunging Attacks, and his Normal and Charged Attacks are converted to Kuugo: Fushoudan and Kuugo: Toufukai. The DMG they deal and their AoE will be increased, and their DMG will be considered Normal and Charged Attack DMG respectively. The Wanderer will hover persistently during this time. Consume Kuugoryoku Points to maintain this hovering state, move and sprint mid-air, and increase hovering height. Running out of Kuugoryoku Points or casting the Elemental Skill again while in this state will end the Windfavored state.

◆ Elemental Burst "Kyougen: Five Ceremonial Plays"

◆ Deals multiple instances of AoE Anemo DMG. If the character is in the Windfavored state due to the skill "Hanega: Song of the Wind," Windfavored state will end after casting.

4-Star Character "Enigmatic Machinist" Faruzan (Anemo)

◇ Vision: Anemo

◇ Weapon: Bow

◇ A researcher from "one hundred years ago." She enjoys self-identifying as everyone's senior, and has significant knowledge of ancient scripts and machines of all kinds.

◆ Elemental Skill "Wind Realm of Nasamjnin"

◆ Deploys a polyhedron that deals AoE Anemo DMG to nearby opponents. She will also enter the Manifest Gale state. While in the Manifest Gale state, Faruzan's next fully charged shot will consume this state and will become a Hurricane Arrow that contains high-pressure currents. This arrow deals Anemo DMG based on the DMG of a fully charged Aimed Shot from "Normal Attack: Parthian Shot." The Hurricane Arrow will apply a Pressurized Collapse effect to the opponent or character hit. This effect will be removed after a short delay, creating a vortex that deals AoE Anemo DMG and pulls nearby objects and opponents in. If the Hurricane Arrow does not hit any opponent or character, it will create a Pressurized Collapse effect at its point of impact.

◆ Elemental Burst "The Wind's Secret Ways"

◆ Deploys a Dazzling Polyhedron that unleashes a Whirlwind Pulse and deals AoE Anemo DMG. While the Dazzling Polyhedron persists, it will continuously move along a triangular path. Once it reaches each corner of that triangular path, it will unleash 1 more Whirlwind Pulse. When the Whirlwind Pulse is unleashed, it will apply Perfidious Wind's Bale to nearby opponents, decreasing their Anemo RES. The Whirlwind Pulse will also apply Prayerful Wind's Benefit to all nearby party members when it is unleashed, granting them an Anemo DMG Bonus.

III. New Domain

Domain of Blessing: City of Gold

◇ This stronghold, once protected by seven mighty battlements, crumbled overnight when King Deshret fell and an age of chaos ensued. Where gold-eyed warriors once stood guard over watchtowers of gilded luster, now, only a desiccated temple built upon sundered rocks remains, more akin to a tomb for an age of radiance long lost.

◇ Unlock Criteria:

• Reach Adventure Rank 22 or above

• Or complete the Archon Quest "Prologue: Act III - Song of the Dragon and Freedom"

◆ Challenge the Domain to obtain artifacts in the "Desert Pavilion Chronicle" and "Flower of Paradise Lost" sets.

IV. New Equipment

1. New Weapons

Tulaytullah's Remembrance (5-Star Catalyst)

Normal Attack SPD is increased by 10%. After the wielder unleashes an Elemental Skill, Normal Attack DMG will increase by 4.8% every second for 14s. After this character hits an opponent with a Normal Attack during this duration, Normal Attack DMG will be increased by 9.6%. This increase can be triggered once every 0.3s. The maximum Normal Attack DMG increase per single duration of the overall effect is 48%. The effect will be removed when the wielder leaves the field, and using the Elemental Skill again will reset all DMG buffs.

◆ During the event wish "Epitome Invocation," the event-exclusive 5-star weapon Tulaytullah's Remembrance (Catalyst) will receive a huge drop-rate boost!

Toukabou Shigure (4-Star Sword)

After an attack hits opponents, it will inflict an instance of Cursed Parasol upon one of them for 10s. This effect can be triggered once every 15s. If this opponent is taken out during Cursed Parasol's duration, Cursed Parasol's CD will be refreshed immediately. The character wielding this weapon will deal 16% more DMG to the opponent affected by Cursed Parasol.

◆ Toukabou Shigure (Sword) and its refinement materials can be redeemed in the event "Akitsu Kimodameshi."

2. New Artifacts

Desert Pavilion Chronicle (4-Star and 5-Star)

◇ 2-Piece Set: Increased Anemo DMG Bonus.

◇ 4-Piece Set: When Charged Attacks hit opponents, the equipping character's Normal Attack SPD will increase by 10% while Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attack DMG will increase by 40% for 15s.

Flower of Paradise Lost (4-Star and 5-Star)

◇ 2-Piece Set: Increased Elemental Mastery.

◇4-Piece Set: The equipping character's Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Burgeon reaction DMG are increased by 40%. Additionally, after the equipping character triggers Bloom, Hyperbloom, or Burgeon, they will gain another 25% bonus to the effect mentioned prior. Each stack of this lasts 10s. Max 4 stacks simultaneously. This effect can only be triggered once per second. The character who equips this can still trigger its effects when not on the field.

V. New Main Story

1. New Archon Quest

Archon Quest Interlude Chapter: Act III "Inversion of Genesis"

◆ Quest Unlock Criteria

• Reach Adventure Rank 40 or above

• Complete Archon Quest Chapter III: Act V "Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises"

• Complete Kaedehara Kazuha's Story Quest: Acer Palmatum Chapter - Act I "A Strange and Friendless Road"

◇ After the Version 3.3 update, Archon Quest Interlude Chapter: Act III "Inversion of Genesis" will be permanently available.

VI. Other Additions

New Recipes:

○ Sumeru NPC Jahangir: Samosa

○ Wanderer's specialty: "Shimi Chazuke"

○ Faruzan's specialty: Traditionally-Made Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cake

New "Genius Invokation TCG" Achievement category added, new Achievements added to the "Wonders of the World" category.

New Namecards:

"Wanderer: Drifter's Ballad": Reward for reaching Friendship Lv. 10 with the Wanderer

"Faruzan: Sealed Secret": Reward for reaching Friendship Lv. 10 with Faruzan

"Achievement: Invoker": Reward for completing all achievements under "Genius Invokation TCG"

"Travel Notes: Stellar Rivers": Reward obtained via the BP system

Adds some prompts for loading screens.

New Liyue Daily Commission:

Follow-up content of "The Sparrow Studies the Blade" - "The Day the Sword Departs" series and follow-up content of "Where Is the Unseen Razor?"

Adds a search function for Furnishings: type in keywords to search for Furnishings in the Furnishing Creation interface and Serenitea Pot editing menu.

After Trust Rank reaches Level 10, the purchase limit cap of products in Realm Depot > Furnishings will be raised.

Adds the source of the Furnishing in the item description.

Adds Coral Butterfly to items sold by the Teapot Traveling Salesman.

Stellar Reunion Adjustments:

Interface Optimization: Adds access to Genius Invokation TCG to "Returner's Journey."

Event Adjustment: Updates the completion conditions of certain "Homeward Path" missions.

Adds a new Battle Pass Mission in "Battle Pass > Weekly Missions": Complete Invokation TCG Weekly Guest Challenges 2 times.

After the Version 3.3 update, two new languages will be available for the game client: Italian and Turkish.

Spiral Abyss

Floor 11 Ley Line Disorders changed to:

• All characters in the party gain a 75% Anemo DMG Bonus.

※ After the Spiral Abyss resets on December 16, the "Deepwood Memories" and "Gilded Dreams" Artifact set rewards in "Domain Reliquary: Tier I," and "Domain Reliquary: Tier II" for Floors 9-12 will be replaced with "Desert Pavilion Chronicle" and "Flower of Paradise Lost."

Updates the monster lineup on Floor 11 of the Spiral Abyss.

Updates the monster lineup on Floor 12 of the Spiral Abyss.

Starting from the first time that the Lunar Phase refreshes after updating to Version 3.3, the three Lunar Phases will be as follows:

Phase I:

Terminal Moon

After the active character's Normal, Charged, or Plunging Attack deals DMG to an opponent, the character will gain a 10% corresponding Elemental or Physical DMG Bonus of that attack for 4s. This effect can be triggered once every 1s. Max 6 stacks. It will be removed when the character leaves the field or deals a different type of Elemental or Physical DMG.

Phase II:

Breezecall Moon

After the active character triggers a Swirl reaction, all party members will have their CRIT DMG increased by 20% for 8s. Max 3 stacks. This effect can be triggered once every 1s.

Phase III:

Supreme Moon

When the active character deals consecutive instances of Elemental DMG of the same Elemental Type using Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts to an opponent, they will gain 1 count stack. 1 stack can be gained every 1s. After 5 stacks have been gained, a shockwave will be unleashed at the opponent's position, dealing True DMG and clearing all heretofore accumulated stacks. Should the active character leave the field or deal a different type of Elemental DMG, these stacks will also be cleared. Dealing Physical DMG will not clear the stacks.

*In the content updated in version 3.3, there are text errors for some English voice-over lines.

Akitsu Yuugen should be: Akitsu Yuugei

Akitsu Hazura should be: Akitsu Haneasobi

We seek your kind understanding on this matter.

〓Adjustments & Optimizations〓

● System

Adds the feature of adding 1–3-Star Artifacts at once to the Destruction System.

Adds the function of filtering by Artifact status in Inventory > Artifacts: you can filter by Artifact Lock Status, Level Status, and Equipment Status.

● Audio

Optimizes the sound performance when a character defeats an opponent or inflicts a CRIT Hit.

Optimizes the sound performance of some objects.

Optimizes the English, Korean, and Japanese voice-over for certain characters and quests.

Optimizes the English voice-over related to a certain region's name as well as the English voice-over performances of some NPCs.

Decreases the volume of environmental sound effects under certain circumstances.

● Other

Reduces the difficulty of the Daily Commission "Hey, Come Out!" and adds gameplay tips.

Adjusts the display order of Mora converted from Adventure EXP in the Reward Preview after reaching Adventure Rank 60.

Optimizes the special effects display of the Tranquility Aura from Nilou's Elemental Skill.

Optimizes the special effects performance of Polearm characters' Plunging Attacks.

〓Bug Fixes〓

● Quests

Fixes an issue whereby under certain circumstances, during the Daily Commission "Akademiya Q&A," the corresponding achievement was not unlocked after answering all the questions correctly for the first time. If you are affected by this issue, complete the Daily Commission "Akademiya Q&A" again after the version update to unlock the achievement in question (it is not mandatory to answer all questions correctly this time around).

Fixes an issue whereby the NPC Alhaitham might abnormally disappear after completing the target "Go to Port Ormos" in the Archon Quest "A Toast to Victory."

Adds a sound effect to Nilou's voiced-over internal monologue during the Story Quest "The Reason We Are Gathered Here."

Fixes an issue with a cutscene in the Story Quest: "Astrology and the 50-Year Pact" whereby some Korean voice-over lines could not be played properly.

Fixes an issue with the Archon Quest "A Toast to Victory" whereby some characters' Japanese voice-over lines could not be played properly.

Fixes errors in the description of some Daily Commissions.

● Enemies

Fixes an issue in Co-Op Mode whereby there is a small chance that enemies would enter the parry state abnormally.

Fixes an issue whereby when challenging the boss Signora in Co-Op Mode or matchmaking mode, if Signora entered the Ice Cocoon phase before a Traveler's loadout was complete, the Crimson Lotus Moth that said Traveler used could not take effect normally.

Fixes an issue whereby wn challenging the boss "Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal," there would be a small chance that the character would remain in the high speed state when players use the Four-Leaf Sigil to move quickly at the moment of switching characters.

Fixes an issue with the boss Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal whereby his Setsuna Shoumetsu skill released in the second combat phase would not apply normally under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue with the boss Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal whereby when he is suppressed while unleashing certain skills in the first combat phase, those skills would still take effect abnormally under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue whereby constructs still appear abnormally after the boss Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal has been defeated (although these constructs cannot deal DMG).

Fixes an issue whereby when the enemy "Ruin Destroyer" is charging up energy, the Normal Attack of bow characters might not be able to lock on to this enemy.

Fixes an issue whereby some enemies would exit combat when they leave or move too far away.

● Characters

Fixes an issue with Nahida's Talent "Awakening Elucidated" whereby there is a small chance that the Elemental Mastery increase buff of the 4-Piece Artifact set "Gilded Dreams" was not properly included in the effect of the Talent.

Fixes an issue with Tighnari whereby during his Plunging Attack, parts of his ribbons and clothing would flap abnormally.

Fixes an issue whereby when Keqing used Normal Attacks consecutively on enemies affected by the Electro element, her Lv.2 Constellation's effects would be triggered at an abnormal interval.

Fixes an issue whereby when Cyno unleashed his Elemental Burst, the effects on his face were abnormal.

Fixes an issue with Thoma whereby after he casts his Elemental Burst, when an active character triggers Fiery Collapse, there's a discrepancy between its special effects and its actual damage location.

Fixes an issue with Candace whereby when she is frozen after casting her Elemental Skill, the position of her weapon would be displayed abnormally.

Fixes an issue with Nilou whereby part of her skirt appeared to be abnormally blurry.

Fixes an issue that caused some characters to move abnormally in an idle state under certain specific circumstances.

● System

Fixes an issue whereby the character sorting order was in disarray after clearing the Filtering Conditions on the Spiral Abyss character selection page.

● Audio

Fixes an issue whereby some audio effects of the Dusk Birds in Sumeru disappeared abnormally.

Fixes an issue whereby Mona's "When It Snows" voice line could not be triggered correctly.

Fixes an issue with Shikanoin Heizou whereby his Friendship Level and Ascension voice-over would fail to trigger properly.

Fixes an issue whereby Mona's "When It Snows" voice line could not be triggered correctly.

Fixes an issue whereby the Chinese voice-over did not match the text in some quests.

Fixes an issue of incorrect Chinese and Japanese voice-over for certain opponents.

● Other

Fixes an issue whereby the Ley Line Disorder effect "increases all party members' ATK and DEF by 6%" of Spiral Abyss Floor 6 did not take effect for characters on standby.

Fixes an issue whereby when characters on standby have 5 or more stacks of this effect, they have to cast their Elemental Burst once after they take the field to obtain the "increase character Normal Attack SPD and Movement SPD by an additional 30%" buff.

Fixes an issue with abnormal collision size in some environments.

Fixes an issue whereby Polearms would be abnormally affected by Elements under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue whereby the Elemental effect icon would appear above the opponents (even though they were not affected by said Element) under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue whereby there is a probability that the Burgeon reaction would not be properly included in the Elemental Mastery increase buff of the 4-Piece Artifact set "Gilded Dreams."

Fixes some textual errors in 13 languages and optimizes text. "Note: Related in-game functions have not changed." (Travelers can view the changes in different languages by going to the Paimon Menu > Settings > Language and changing the Game Language.)

Text-related fixes and optimizations in English include:

◆ Optimized some lines in Ganyu's Profile.

◆ Optimized some lines in the Open World.

◆ Optimized some lines in Candace's Profile.

◆ Optimized some lines in Kamisato Ayato's Profile.

◆ Optimized some lines in Arataki Itto's Profile.

◆ Optimized instances of the term "the Eremites" for consistency.

◆ Optimized instances of the term "matra" for consistency.

◆ Optimized instances of the term "chilis" for consistency.

◆ Optimized instances of "Quicksand Unagi" to "Quicksand Eel."

◆ Optimized the description for Kaeya's Constellation Lv.2

◆ Optimized the description for Lisa's Constellation Lv.4

◆ Optimized the translation "Increases the number of lightning bolts released by Lightning Rose by 1-3." to "Lightning Rose now unleashes 1-3 lightning bolts when it attacks."

◆ Optimized some of Xinyan's voiced lines.

◆ Optimized some lines in Archon Quests.

◆ Optimized some of Paimon's voiced lines.

◆ Optimized instances of a character's name from "Michihira/Doukei" to "Michihiro."

◆ Optimized instances of a character's designation from "Armory Officer" to "Vice Armory Officer."

*This is a work of fiction and is not related to any actual people, events, groups, or organizations.

"PlayStation", "PS5", "PS4", "DualSense", "DUALSHOCK" are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

[thenatashamaximoff]

The Last Day Of Christmas; Day 12

Summary: On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

List of warnings could be found on the masterlist

Words: 2,753

✎ | ☃

December 25th, 2022 (Present Day) “Waiting for the call is one of the bad parts of the job…”

It was something nobody ever wanted. It brought tears that held no end and heartbreak that will never ever mend. It brought the stages of grief and disbelief. But nothing could compare to the broken scream that came from Wanda’s throat when she had opened the door after the knock. It was a cry, a blood-curling, gut-wrenching howl that pierced the morning air to the point where they were surprised nobody had called the cops. Neither Natasha nor Clint had to even open their mouths for the witch to know, she felt it in her soul. And the sullen expressions on both agents confirmed her suspicions.

“...but the knock will always be worst.” 

They had moved to sit in the living room, cups resting untouched on the coffee table, and the house had never been so silent afterward, all of them mentally recalling how constantly noisy the house was. Whether it’d be you singing a song to Wanda, your asinine arguments with Natasha, or just you poking fun at Clint, this place was always filled with your voice. And, to Wanda, it was the best thing that came with the house.

“Anyone with decent courtesy will tell you in person.” Wanda’s voice broke the stillness first, earning Clint and Natasha’s wary gaze. She couldn’t seem to handle the unnatural silence the house was settling in, the sound of quiet bringing an emptiness that brought them to reality. “I had a feel-” The crack in her voice caused her to pause, breathing in slowly, shakily, as she processed her thoughts quickly. “The bracelet.” She cast her gaze down to the band resting around her wrist. “Be together, even when you’re apart.”

“The touch ones, right?” Clint asked softly, earning a look from Natasha, though he easily ignored it. “Yeah, she was- She was telling us about it on the way to the mission yesterday.”

Wanda nodded with a smile, though Clint and Natasha saw the way it wasn’t the same as it was when you were around. “She sent me a message. The… The last message she sent me. I just assumed it was her telling me she missed me, but it felt different when I received it. Like it was a…” She picked her head up, looking at the two. “One of you knows morse code, right? Nat? You can… read the message.” She quickly pulled her phone out, unlocking it in search of the app. “You can tell me what she said.”

“I don’t think-” Natasha cut herself off when she felt Clint send an elbow her way, looking at the archer with a raised eyebrow, but the two didn’t have time for their silent conversation before Wanda was showing them the phone. The redhead sighed softly before taking it out of the witch’s hands. It was an easy code, a simple scan of the signals retrieved from your final touch and she already knew the message.

And so did Wanda.

“Wanda-”

“What does it say?” Wanda interrupted quietly, shaking her head subtly. The tears were on the verge of returning, glossing her eyes with a thin layer. 

She knew Wanda knew what the message said, having had read her mind the moment she figured it out, but the witch wanted to hear it said out loud. “‘We’ll meet again,’” she read, pursing her lips together as she awaited for the Sokovian’s reaction. Natasha sighed out heavily as she watched her sit back down, her eyes focused on something far away as her bottom lip trembled. “Wanda-”

“I’m going to need the two of you to leave.” Her voice came out spooky calm, the stoic look on her face sent chills up and down Clint and Natasha’s spine. It was silent as they stood up, Natasha setting Wanda’s phone onto the coffee table before they left her alone. And it didn’t take long for the Sokovian to snap, not even waiting to hear the click of the door closing before she was up on her feet. Anger coursing through her veins suppressed the sadness.

Her phone was the first thing she had grabbed, throwing it across the room with all her strength to watch it smash into the wall. For a moment, it gave her a sense of serenity, however brief that feeling was. It distracted her from the fact that you were gone, that you were never coming home. She was throwing another item before she could stop herself, having picked up the small, decorative bowl resting on the coffee table. The shattering of the dish seemed to have lifted the burden off of her shoulders. She was desperate to feel more of that, picking up the cups resting on the table in need of a diversion from the pain filling her heart, ignoring the water pouring out of them as she hurled them across the room, listening to them smash against the wall with a satisfying crunch. 

She released a small, sharp breath when she saw the crack on the picture hanging on the wall. Your smiling, 2D face met her red, tear-stained one through the fractures in the glass. But the longer she stared at your face, the more angry she grew. She could feel the fury rip through her in a painful way, tearing at her insides with a fire that she didn't think would ever be extinguished. “See?” she expressed through clenched teeth, hot tears streaming down her face as she continued to stare you down. “This is what happens when you don’t kiss me before you leave for a mission.” She sucked air through her locked jaw, refilling her lungs as her hands formed tight fists by her sides. “You end up in the ground.”

The bracelet around her wrist ripped off with ease, the tears blurring her eyes as the last gift you had given her flew into the wall with a sickening crack, but the rage coursing through her veins caused her to pay no mind to the object. She was quick to run out of handy things to throw, the anger still boiling in her blood as her eyes searched the room for something else. It didn’t take her long for her to make her way towards the tree sitting in the room, decorated with memories of the time you and her set it up. She picked up one of the presents, her fingers digging into the wrapping paper as she gripped it tightly, her eyes burning as she launched it across the room, turning away before it hit the wall. She grabbed another one, unintentionally tearing off the gift wrap and sneaking a quick peek at the present - a framed map of the states - before flinging it into the wall once more.

The tears streamed down her face, her chest convulsing painfully as she smashed your unopened presents, but everything seemed to stop when her hands found one last gift. Wrapped delicately in a paper she hasn’t seen before, her name written on the small box in the familiar handwriting she had come to know. She felt her knees give out beneath her, collapsing to the ground as she stared at the gift.

In the wake of destruction with broken objects surrounding her, she settled down as she moved to sit cross-legged on the floor. Her hands shook as she quickly blinked the rest of the tears away, managing to calm down long enough for her to slowly unwrap the present with care.

She felt her heart stop as she flipped open the box.

━━━ᗢ━━━

November 5th, 2022 “Thanksgiving is coming up. Are we going to do our own little dinner or are we going to the compound this year?”

Wanda hummed at your question, picking her head up to watch as you strolled out of the bathroom. She picked up one of the pillows to toss it onto your side of the bed as you stopped walking to watch her. “I already told Steve and Tony that I was going to make everybody food.” She tugged the corner of the blankets to reveal the mattress underneath before looking at you. “Everybody’s bringing someone. Tony’s bringing Pepper, Clint’s bringing his family, Bruce-”

“Alright, alright, I get it, Hex,” you interrupted, laughing as you took a step forward. “We’ll do Thanksgiving at the compound.” You rested your hands on your hips, taking a moment to stare at her a bit longer as she plugged her phone into the charger before setting it onto the nightstand. “We should get married.”

She scoffed a light chuckle, straightening her posture and turning to you. “Is that your idea of a proposal, Y/N?”

“Certainly not,” you assured her, grinning as you stepped up to the foot of the bed. “I’d do something much more memorable than just laying in bed.” You smiled at her, eyes shimmering in the light. “I want to know so I what to expect if it ever happens. Would you marry me?”

She hummed lightly, wrapping her arms around herself as she raised an eyebrow skeptically. “What are these plans of yours?”

“I had Steve pull some strings,” you told her. “Our next mission together, I’m going to pull out a ring as we’re getting shot at.” She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she turned away from you. “Hey, that’s fine. I have other ideas. I can steal one of Tony’s jets, we can travel the world, and I can propose to you in Paris.”

She repositioned the pillows on the bed. “You don’t even know how to fly, Y/N.”

“You’re right. The stubborn redhead’s refusing to teach me.” You rolled your eyes and shook your head mockingly. “Besides, traveling around the world would definitely be our honeymoon.” You sighed softly, sending her a warm smile. “No, it’d just be us. Me and you, nobody else. You’d never see it coming.” You moved closer to her, placing your hands on her shoulders to make her face you once more. “Maybe I’ll reenact our first date. Maybe I’ll play a song on my phone, lead you throughout the park in another dance.” You pulled her to you, resting your palms on her hips as she draped her arms over your shoulders on instinct. She seemed to be having trouble concealing the smile growing on her face. 

“Y/N…” She let you sway her back and forth to silent music. “You’re not the type to dwell on the past.”

“People change,” you whispered softly, noticing just how much closer she had gotten in the past five seconds. “I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately.” You pulled her into you, closing the small space in between your bodies as your nose brushed across hers. “We wouldn’t be able to get to the first kiss part.”

“And why’s that?” She smiled teasingly at you, her eyes flickering down to your lips before they snapped back onto your eyes, and your soft chuckle caused your minty breath to fan over her face.

“That’s when I’d get down on my knee,” you answered, your voice still a delicate murmur as you spun around, not letting her body leave yours even for a second, “with a ring in my hand. And I’d say, ‘Forever wouldn’t be long enough for me to spend with you, but it’s a place to start. Marry me?’”

Wanda blinked as she stopped moving, your dance ultimately coming to an end as you moved a hand up to swap your thumb across her cheek, catching the stray tear that had slipped on by.

You sighed heavily, seemingly in defeat, as you took a step away from her with a small shrug. But her eyes were glued to you as you turned your back onto her, slowly making your way around the bed as you said, “It’s only a thought, my love.” You moved the blanket off of your side, doing everything you can to avoid eye contact. “There’s no rush.” You grinned, placing your phone onto the nightstand as you finally met her gaze. “We have all the time in the world to tie the knot and care for an extra mouth.”

She was pulled out of her daze, eyebrows knitting together tightly with confusion as her head tilted to the side ever so slightly. “An extra mouth?” She took a step forward, a small, humorless laugh passing her lips, but the grin on your face has yet to waver. “You don’t want kids, Y/N.” She breathed out stiffly, crossing your arms over your chest as you didn’t dare look away from her. She said your name once more, desperate to get a response as her heart hammered steadily against her ribcage.

“I didn’t,” you confirmed, shaking your head, “but I’ve been thinking about it lately and… I want to start a family with you.”

“Y/N…” Her voice came out broken, hesitant to believe if this was some sort of joke or if you were being genuine. The look in your eyes told her it was the latter. “You… You want to start a family?”

“With you.”

“A-Are you sure?”

You nodded confidently, laughing softly when another tear slowly crawled down her cheek, and you were itching to swipe it away again. “I love you,” you expressed, uncrossing your arms from your chest and taking another step forward, your knees pressing against the edge of the bed. “Always and forever, Wanda Maximoff, and I’m so ready to take the next step with you.” You hadn’t realized you were crossing over the mattress until you were directly in front of her, sitting on your knees as you brought her face in between your hands in a fragile hold. “So… would you say yes if I asked you to marry me in the near future?”

She cleared her throat, closing her eyes as she sucked in a deep breath, seemingly giving herself a moment to reset. And the next time she met your gaze, the warm, loving glint that had built up in her irises had turned mischievous, and you could feel your stomach flip as she breathed out. “You’re going to have to ask me to find out, darling,” she whispered, smirking wickedly as her chin moved forward ever so slightly. Her lips brushed across yours, and you gave in to the desire to close the distance, but she only left you chasing after her. “How many?”

“What…?” You were distracted, staring at her mouth as you seemed to be trying to devise a plan to get that kiss.

“How many kids?” You blinked out of your daze, looking into her eyes as a smile teased a corner of your lips.

“Fifteen,” you claimed, leaning back on your feet. She scoffed, her head shaking at your answer. “Don’t you want a big family?” You smirked at her when she rolled her eyes.

“How about three?”

“Let’s start with two,” you suggested, your voice a bit more serious, “and we’ll go from there.”

She stared into your eyes, half expecting to find some doubt, some hesitation, yet all she could find was love and confidence. You truly wanted this with her, and her heart was more than happy to oblige. “Two,” she confirmed with one stiff nod, leaning forward to catch your lips against hers to feed that burning hunger that had forged inside her chest.

━━━ᗢ━━━

Present Day Wanda picked her head up, tearing her eyes away from the box in her hands as she looked at the tree in front of her. “Y/N…” she murmured, biting her bottom lip to prevent the tremble. She sucked in a breath, looking back down at the ring nestled in the case. So elegant, so beautiful. “Yes.” She nodded, feeling the hot tears crawl down her cheeks as she took the small band in between delicate fingers. “I’ll marry you.” Her chin fell to her chest, her eyes squeezed close, but that didn’t stop the tears from coming. 

Today would’ve been the start of something she had always wanted. A family all of her own. All with you. But what was once a happy, attainable wish is now just a broken, impractical dream. A future that’ll never come to be. Instead, while everybody else is celebrating the season with their families, with joy and laughter and hearts that are whole, she’ll always think of today as the day she lost it all.

Christmas isn’t Christmas anymore. Not to her.

[dannysullivans-blog]

Daily Earn $30 Earn from mobile app Sign up and start working from home.

[gemsofgreece]

Hello! I'm sure you've been asked this a myriad times over and I'm so sorry if I urge you to repeat yourself! but do you have recommendations as to what apps to use for Greek language learning? I've tried out GreekPodcast and Duolingo but I feel like there might be something more well-structured? Any advice? Thank you, lovely blog!

Thank you! I might not be the right person to answer this because I am a big Duolingo fan and I find it very helpful.

In fact, I once checked the Greek course so I could have an opinion on it and I was pleasantly surprised that it reaches a low intermediate level. Honestly, I don’t think you will easily find other apps reaching that level in Greek and certainly not for free. I found it very good so perhaps we approach learning differently and any recs from me might not be suitable.

I have seen some GreekPod stuff and I don’t like it. It feels very 90s learning method. Old school, a bit sterile, for me anyway.

I found a list with recs on the internet though, here it is:

This might help you out. I’d say free Duolingo is probably better than half of the paid ones but that’s just the feel I personally get. Also read the full article for more insight:

You said you want more structure so according to this list Mango Languages might be a good one. I downloaded just to check it out myself a bit and:

I think Mango is the only one which pulls the flex of featuring all three lingual eras! Also I love that they have a temple, a church and a beach for each era. Mango has earned my respect. I will actually keep the app and go with the ancient course which is free too! But I checked it out and I was a little disappointed because it literally starts with the Iliad and I am already reading the Iliad on my own and the course, I don’t know, the very first lesson just dropping you first thing in the Iliad… how can this be effective for someone not knowing Greek beforehand?! Literally, a full blown paragraph of poetry in the first lesson! Maybe chill a bit my dude! This felt more for someone like me, who knows Greek or just wants to improve their Ancient Greek. Also, the course kinda focuses on speaking and I predict I am gonna have a lot of rows with this app which teaches it in Erasmian and it is gonna tell me “you said it wrong!!!1!” and I am gonna scream back “I said it right f* you”. 😂😂😂😂😂 But Koine Greek is fortunately in modern pronunciation which btw is semi-accurate historically, therefore Mango redeems itself and we keep respecting it in this blog. Well, until Duolingo releases a course on Ancient. They already have Latin so there’s no excuse. I am waiting.

……… but to leave aside my meltdown and return to your question, the Modern Greek course starts with “good morning” so I guess it will be more structured if they say so. There you go I guess! Hope I helped 😂

[cindylouwho-2]

Etsy Fourth Quarter Earnings 2023 - Still Banking on Improving Marketplace Sales, But Not Revealing Many Plans

Slide 23 from Etsy's 4th quarter 2023 earning report, © Etsy. it shows what percentage of sales each major category has, with performance in the quarter.

Etsy’s fourth quarter results for 2023 were as uninspiring as expected, but despite revealing few plans, the corporation is convinced it can increase gross marketplace sales through its gifting and other initiatives. There was a lot of interesting information for shop owners, though, so let’s get right to it. 

First, here are the resources that you should read/watch yourself, if you want to know more:

the press release

transcript of the conference call

slides from the conference call

video of the call (click on “Webcast” under “Latest Quarterly Results”)

my summaries of the fourth quarter 2022, and the third quarter 2023 for comparison

Then, the basic numbers (covering October to December 2023, compared to the same period in 2022):

Sales on Etsy were $3.6 billion, down 1.4% year over year

Total sales for all 3 marketplaces (Etsy, Reverb, and Depop) were $4.0 billion, down 0.7%. [Elo7 was officially sold in mid August; its numbers were still included in the comparison totals of 2022]

Etsy’s revenue (including all 3 sites) was $842.3 million, up 4.3%

Seller service revenue was up 9.4% to $226.5 million, while marketplace revenue was up 2.6% to $615.8 million

Net income was $83.3 million, down 24% (mostly due to the layoff costs of $27 million in the quarter)

Active buyers on Etsy alone stand at 92 million, a third consecutive all-time high

Active sellers on Etsy alone are now 7 million, the fourth large jump in a row compared to the previous quarter; numbers had been stagnant through the end of 2021 and all of 2022 [Note that “active” means one charge or transaction in the past 12 months; many “active” shops currently have nothing for sale.]

Sales where the buyer and/or the seller was not in the United States were 45%, up from 44% last year, but down from 47% in the previous quarter

Sales on mobile are 68%, up from 67% last year [this includes both the buyer app and mobile browsers]

As always, I am reporting what Etsy’s representatives said in the main text, with my commentary in square brackets.

Etsy Search

At the moment, Etsy’s search algorithms aim to show shoppers things they are most likely to buy. They are currently working on changing that to showing what buyers are most likely to love after the purchase. They refer to items that consistently get high reviews, have good photography, and whose shop owner provides good customer service, has quality return policies and ships on time, as “quality” items, or, “the best stuff.” 

This is all a work in progress, so search may not change drastically any time soon. Past calls and interviews have related this to the increase in Etsy Picks assigned in the past few months; they plan on using those Picks to train the algorithm to find “quality”, especially quality photos. The items staff identify as “quality” convert twice as well as other listings, so there is obvious benefit to Etsy showing them higher up in search results. 

Etsy has added some of the features in its “neural ranking model” to non-US searches; previously it was only in the US searches. 

Advertising

Offsite Ad spending was down 4% in the quarter vs. 2022, in part due to competition bidding higher than Etsy thought was worthwhile. At the time of the call, that spending was back to normal. Per slide 21, money from Offsite Ads fees covered about 35% of what Etsy spent on the ads during the quarter. 

CEO Josh Silverman explained why the performance marketing (Offsite Ads) spend can be unpredictable.

“So performance is dynamic on a, really, hour-to-hour basis depending on the ROI we're seeing on every dollar we're spending. And we've got pretty sophisticated algorithms that work on, is this bid -- is this click worth this much right now and how much should we bid. And so to the extent that CPCs rise, we naturally pull back, or to the extent that CPCs lower, we naturally lean in. The other thing, by the way, it's not just CPCs, it's also conversion rates. So in times when people are really budget constrained, we see them actually -- we see conversion rate across the industry go down. We see people comparison shop a lot more. And so we are looking at all of that. And not humans, but machines using AI are looking at a very sophisticated way of what's happening with conversion rate right now, what's happening with CPCs right now.”

Etsy also does testing twice a year where they stop running ad such as Google Shopping ads in part of the country, and then compare with the areas still advertising to see if the buyer still would have bought. Silverman admitted that the data shows “often the answer may be yes.”

Overall marketing costs went up 7% in the year. 

The Gifting Initiative

Etsy is now aiming to brand itself as the place to go to buy gifts. Gift Mode is just the start of this campaign. Their surveys report that more than half of US gift giving is based on personal occasions that occur year round, such as birthdays, or “just because”. People in the US spend an average of $1600 a year on gifts, but Etsy’s US buyers only average $38 spent per year on gifts from Etsy. They estimate that less than half of Etsy buyers in 2023 used the site to buy at least one gift. There is obviously an opportunity to do better. 

The percentage of US residents thinking of Etsy as a good place to buy a gift is now down to 10%. [Previously, the company reported it was 12%, and I commented last quarter that I’d like to see a more recent survey to judge if they have used this knowledge to improve. 

“Only 12% of buyers will name Etsy top of mind as the place to shop for gifts.” They don’t seem to have any updated numbers showing how they’ve been improving that situation. [It’s time to go after that “enormous opportunity”, Josh!]”

So despite wanting to grab a bigger gifting share before now, Etsy has managed to lose ground. This is my biggest fear about the gift push: the market was there before now, and Etsy’s own research demonstrated that. Are they only going all in now that they have run out of other ideas?] 

There were 6 million visits to Gift Mode in the first 2 weeks. [I am not really impressed, given that they promoted it very heavily, and I was personally responsible for over 100 of those visits while researching my Gift Mode blog post.]

Other plans to bring in buyers

Silverman stated “[o]ur focus will be to make Etsy even more Etsy”, and to differentiate the marketplace from sites that sell everyday needs. The following quote deserves to be read in full:

“Most other players are competing head-to-head to sell the exact same merchandise, focused on selling at $0.02 cheaper or shipping it two hours faster, and this has resulted in the commoditization of the entire experience. But that's just not Etsy.”

[This seemed to be a completely unironically-intended comment, with no recognition of the fact that he actually discussed speeding up shipping times in the same presentation, nor of the well-known fact that so much on Etsy these days can usually be bought cheaper on Aliexpress or Shein.]

He also said that the “special” aspect of Etsy is what sometimes holds the site back, as buyers might consider Etsy limited to specific items, or might “worry about the post-purchase experience”. Bringing people back more often is a goal. [They’ve been saying that for years now, though.]

The company is currently doing buyer loyalty program research, but gave no further details. He also cited “shortening our estimated delivery dates this year by at least 2 days” as something that buyers should like, but it is unclear to me reading this if the work done last year (the year discussed in this call) already shaved 2 days off of delivery dates, or if the statement is this year’s goal. I think it is the latter [but the only ways to do that are to improve the accuracy of their tools - and I am not sure that they are currently 2 days longer than reality on average - or to pressure sellers to ship faster. Since Etsy is once again updating shop settings to add weekends to shop processing times without notifying us, I guess we can assume the latter? UPDATE (Mar 19): Silverman clarified at a recent talk that "we think we can cut shipping times on Etsy by at least two days this year."]

Other things sellers need to know

Etsy Ads now involve some localization outside of the US, which increased conversion rates. [If your ad performance changed in non-US countries during the quarter, this is the most likely reason.]

Neither sales or Etsy’s revenue are expected to increase until the second quarter, and they expect revenue to grow faster than sales this year. [Revenue is almost certain to increase, as the corporation has been surveying sellers on what they would be willing to pay more for.]

“In 2023, we removed approximately 140% more listings for violations of our Handmade Policy than in 2022.” [No word on how many of them were removed erroneously, though, as we know the “Temu” bots pulled a lot of truly handmade items that had photos stolen and listed on other sites.]

Silverman promised “innovation planned to improve the predictability of shipping costs for both buyers and sellers”, but provided no details. [I am not sure what would make my personal costs more predictable, given they change every single week with Canada Post’s fuel surcharge right now. Is it going to be forcing people to use Etsy Labels with calculated shipping? Or is this more calculated shipping options for countries outside of the US, and for new carriers? Restricting the amount a listing can charge for shipping? I really have no idea, but I hope all those people they hired for “fulfillment” jobs a few years back are coming up with something that is actually useful.] 

Miscellaneous

Depop had a decent quarter in sales and revenue. 

Reverb sales were flat. “The Reverb team made some organizational changes late in the year” which are expected to be profitable [i.e., they laid off over 30 people in October].

The Etsy layoffs in December were referred to by CFO Rachel Glaser as “our recent workforce realignment”. [At least she didn’t call those former employees churn.] The call provided no details on the restructuring they previously said would be done by the end of this quarter. 

October sales were not good, but November and December improved. January “was a little bumpy.”

Outside of the US, sales in Germany were mostly steady, while the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria improved.

The upcoming $15 fee for newly-opened shops will largely go to paying the costs of the technology for vetting sellers; it is not expected to result in much profit. 

My thoughts: this is going to be a rough year for many Etsy sellers

As I discussed last quarter, Etsy’s upper brass didn't seem to think they were responsible for the lackluster sales performance of their marketplace, and this quarter that extended to not admitting they overhired since early 2022, and not acknowledging that Etsy’s reputation as a gift site actually dropped over the past few years. The last one is particularly galling. Why keep talking about how there was great room for improvement in Etsy brand recognition for gift buyers and then fail to improve even a tiny bit? What were these folks doing the past 2 years? 

It’s clear they think bravado will get them through this, including the bold move of claiming everything will improve in the second quarter and throughout the year without revealing any real details. No wonder the stock dropped yet again. 

That said, they likely have some reasons for thinking that revenue will pick up at least, if not sales. As mentioned above, they have been extensively surveying sellers about raising fees and/or charging us for things we currently get for free (or mostly do not want). Possible downsides for Etsy include the fact that the Indie Sellers Guild and the Artisans Cooperative (among others) are likely to get more negative press for Etsy if fees are raised yet again, just as happened in 2022. It does not help that Etsy didn’t really follow through on improved services the last time they raised fees. 

And the more I think about the comment on shipping costs, the more I believe they are considering making Etsy Labels compulsory for at least some in the US, with set shipping charges sellers won’t be able to change. Bonanza did this last year, charging its US sellers $2 per order extra if they didn’t use Bonanza labels and didn’t get an exemption from the program. Most Etsy sellers using the labels and being forced to show that price as the shipping cost for buyers is the only way I can think of making shipping prices more predictable for buyers, other than capping shipping charges outright (and that sounds like a nightmare to implement). eBay does it, though. Am I missing something? [UPDATE Mar. 5, 2024: Etsy is surveying buyers about how much they like cheap shipping.]

Perhaps more importantly, the planned search changes have the potential to disrupt the status quo a great deal. We know that Etsy frequently takes a lot longer to develop these types of technologies than they expect, so it may not happen this year, but the work on promoting “quality” listings will continue, and that is already affecting some shops that used to do better in Etsy search. Do everything you can to make sure your images are "high-quality". If you rely on internal search to get most of your Etsy sales, this is a very good time to follow my usual advice and diversify your traffic sources. 

Etsy’s branding pivot to being the place to get gifts could also have a big impact on some shops and categories, if it is successful - and that is a big “if”. I’m not thoroughly convinced Etsy can manage this change in consumer consciousness, considering that the site’s reputation continues to be hammered by controversies around scams and non-handmade items. Kitkats, anyone? 

Many other comments do not bode well for most shop owners: a continuing push for discounting, emphasis on faster shipping times, and financial restrictions/impositions on “newly-opened” shops all indicate that traffic may flow away from small business owners who choose not to comply, or are unable to comply. 

Last quarter I said “[d]on’t be surprised if there are major site changes in 2024”, and I appear to have been correct. But really, anyone reading these reports over the past few years could have seen it coming.

Stay well informed, everyone! It’s the best weapon we have.

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UPDATED March 19, 2024