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meirmakesstuff · 2 years ago

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If you're thinking of attending a synagogue service as a way to support your local Jewish community but don't know how:

I'm writing this on 10/13/23, but this applies to any occasion when the Jewish community might be in a state of fear or sadness, or when you might be moved to show support for your local Jewish community by showing up. The main comment I've gotten from people who want to do this is that they don't know how to begin, so here's a quick guide for how to actually do that if you've never been to or interacted with a synagogue before.

How to choose a synagogue

How to ask first

What to wear and bring

When you get there

Additional notes

How to choose a synagogue

Depending on where you live, googling "synagogue [zip code]" may get you a lot or very few hits. Look at the synagogue's website for hints.

If you see the words "messianic" or "yeshua" that's not a real synagogue, that's predatory Christians hoping to be mistaken for Jews. Supporting them does not support your local Jewish community.

Check for the words "Orthodox," "Conservative," "Reconstructing Judaism," or "Reform" to help know what to expect. If you would be distressed to encounter segregated seating by binary gender, that's a reason you might avoid an Orthodox synagogue. The word "Conservative" in this context does not refer to political opinions, it's the name of a denomination just like Orthodox, Reconstructing, and Reform--what's being conserved in Conservative Judaism is liturgical traditions and religious observances. In fact, in most of these settings, to a lesser or greater extent depending on your specific location, you are likely to find the majority of people leaning generally to the left of your local average, politically. Which isn't to say there won't be outliers, that's just the typical makeup. In terms of service length, a Reform synagogue service is likely the shortest. It will also likely contain the most English during the service. No mainstream denomination of Judaism practices proselytizing. You should not fear that anyone will actively try to convert you.

On the synagogue website they should list start times for Friday night and Saturday morning services. That will help you choose a service you might be able to attend. I'll add notes on the differences and what to expect from either later on.

How to ask first

Not all communities will find an unexpected visitor to be a safe situation, no matter how good your intentions may be. Before you show up at a synagogue, check the website for the email addresses for the rabbi and either the president or "info" or something similar. Here's a model script for you to use:

Hi Rabbi [Lastname], I'm not Jewish but was looking for ways to show support to our local Jewish community and wondered if it would be appropriate to attend a service this coming [Friday/Saturday] as a way of showing my local Jewish community that you are not alone. If that would not be appreciated, is there another gesture an individual could make that would help this community feel supported? Otherwise, what do I need to know in order to be respectful to your community while attending a service? Sincerely, [your name]

You can also ask about accessibility questions you might have in the same email.

In a larger city or a place that has recieved threats of violence recently, they may be more cautious, but a synagogue in a small city or suburban area may simply say that anyone is welcome to show up to any service.

What to wear and bring

If the rabbi or synagogue office emails back with clothing guidelines, follow them. If not, bet on business casual as a dress code: for a masculine presentation, slacks, a button-down shirt with or without a tie, and a blazer or sweater, and for a feminine presentation slacks or a skirt knee length or longer, with a top that covers the shoulders. for Orthodox and some Conservative synagogues, wear long or three-quarter sleeves. In an Orthodox synagogue, women typically wear dresses and skirts rather than pants. I would advise avoiding wearing a visible cross while attending a service of any Jewish denomination.

You don't need to bring anything in particular with you. Be sure to place your cell phone on silent and double-check that any alarms are turned off. In Orthodox and many other synagogues, people may avoid carrying wallets with them, but no one should be offended that you have yours with you as a visitor.

This should go without saying but do not bring any kind of weapon with you. In a large city with high security needs your bag may be searched or you may be asked to show ID before entering. It is very likely that you will see a uniformed police officer or armed security guard. Synagogues in large cities might have dramatically increased their security presence this week. A visitor who is being respectful to the community is not what they're looking for.

Jewish people attending the service may bring prayer shawls or kippot (singular: kipa, also called yarmulkes) to wear. A visitor is not expected to have these. Most synagogues have baskets of kippot available at the entrance for guests. In Orthodox communities, men should wear one while in the building and women should not. In Conservative communities men should wear one and others may decide to wear one or not. In any other community you may but are not expected to wear a kipa. There will likely also be a rack of prayer shawls at the door, but non-Jews are not expected to wear these.

When you get there

Someone may make a point of approaching you early on. Please don't be embarrassed to tell them that you're not Jewish. Some synagogues will make a point on Saturday morning of assigning an "honor," that is, a role in the service, to Jewish newcomers. If someone approaches you to offer you an honor or asks you a question you don't understand, you can say "Thank you, I'm not Jewish, I'm visiting to show support for the community." Alternately, someone may simply approach you to welcome you and help you get situated.

If not, feel free to find yourself a seat.

In an Orthodox synagogue, in which the seating will be segregated by gender, there will be a curtain or screen between the men's and women's sections. The women's section may be side-by-side with the men's, behind it, or above it in a balcony. A synagogue with a balcony should either have an elevator or a small section of the lower level set apart from the men's section for Disabled women's seating.

In any other denomination, seating is not segregated by gender. In that case there is no wrong part of the general seating area that is wrong to sit in.

There are differing norms in different communities about how much talking is appropriate during services, so go along with what you see around you. Since you will likely not know the songs and much of what happens will be in Hebrew, you may lose your place in the book. If you're not able to find the page, feel free to read something that interests you in the book or look around the room. No one would judge you as a guest for not already knowing the service. Feel free to chime in if you hear everyone saying "amen" in unison or if you catch on to a song, but don't feel pressured to do anything but be present.

There will be times during the service where people will sit, stand, bow, or make other motions. If you are not able to stand, or if you are able to stand but not safely or comfortably or for a long time, please know that it's perfectly okay to remain seated for your own safety. Otherwise, sit and stand when the people around you sit and stand, and don't feel that you have to bow or keep up with other motions.

The service will likely end with blessings over wine and bread. This is not like the Christian eucharist, it's just food, with blessings of gratitude. These blessings may be recited as the last part of the service or in a room where snacks will be laid out. Again follow people's lead on when it's the right time to start taking snacks.

During the snack period people may approach you and introduce themselves. Now is a good time to tell them that you're here to show support to the community, but don't directly mention any specific occurrence unless someone brings it up first. If people are talking about Israel or current events, listen without contributing opinions unless they ask directly. Don't try to be funny or clever about it: this is not the time to tell everyone your super great idea for how to fix everything in the Middle East by putting the pope in charge or launching it to the moon or having it annexed by Aotearoa. The Jews are tired. You're here to listen. People may say things you disagree with. It's okay. You don't have to fix anyone's opinion right now. You don't even have to come back. If someone is making you uncomfortable, excuse yourself, get a second helping of cake, and say hi to someone different. This is a good time to say hello to the service leaders if you haven't met them before the service began. You can compliment the sermon or singing, or just say "I'm glad I came, I hope I was able to help this community feel supported."

Additional notes

Almost every synagogue occasionally has non-members and non-Jewish guests take part in community activities. An exception is very small communities in places where outsiders are generally hostile. It's not weird to be present in Jewish spaces as a non-Jew unless the people in that community make it weird. If so, you don't owe them anything and you don't have to come back. Every community is different, and I've been to synagogues I wouldn't choose to return to. As a general rule though, you will almost certainly be welcomed and asked about yourself. Feel free to share a little about the conversations that led to you wanting to show up for your local Jewish community, since people will likely be curious, but also remember to ask lots of questions yourself. As a general rule, Jews love to explain ourselves, so please do ask questions about the things you see and experience in the synagogue.

Topics to avoid unless someone directly asks you:

What you personally believe about God

Your personal feelings about Israel

How you would solve the situation if you were in charge

your past experience of Christianity

Jesus, in any context

Violence of any kind

What you think this community, its rabbi, Jews in general, or the Israeli government could be doing better.

Most of these are simply a matter of that there's a time and place for everything, and a Jewish service at a time of stress and sadness is not the time for these particular topics. If you feel a strong urge to talk about these topics without being asked, find a different location and group of people to do that with. The best way to be successful at showing support is to genuinely listen.

If you are a non-Jew interested in doing this and have follow-up questions, or if you are Jewish and feel I left out important details, please go ahead. I'm also happy to talk by PM if you need help figuring out a specific synagogue website. I'm not interested in doxxing anyone.

#meir makes stuff #jewish #shabbat #antisemitism

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mariacallous · 4 months ago

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When a phalanx of the top Silicon Valley executives—Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Google’s Sundar Pichai—aligned behind President Trump during the Inauguration in January, many observers saw an allegiance based on corporate interests. The ultra-wealthy C.E.O.s were turning out to support a fellow-magnate, hoping perhaps for an era of deregulation, tax breaks, and anti-“woke” cultural shifts. The historian Janis Mimura saw something more ominous: a new, proactive union of industry and governmental power, wherein the state would drive aggressive industrial policy at the expense of liberal norms. In the second Trump Administration, a class of Silicon Valley leaders was insinuating itself into politics in a way that recalled one of Mimura’s primary subjects of study: the élite bureaucrats who seized political power and drove Japan into the Second World War. “These are experts with a technological mind-set and background, often engineers, who now have a special role in the government,” Mimura told me. The result is what, in her book “Planning for Empire” (2011), she labelled “techno-fascism”: authoritarianism driven by technocrats. Technology “is considered the driving force” of such a regime, Mimura said. “There’s a sort of technicization of all aspects of government and society.”

In the nineteen-thirties, Japan colonized Manchuria, in northeastern China, and the region became a test ground for techno-fascism. Nobusuke Kishi, a Japanese commerce-ministry bureaucrat, was appointed to head the industrial program in Manchuria, in 1936, and, with the collaboration of a new crop of the Japanese conglomerates known as zaibatsu, he instituted a policy of forced industrial development based on the exploitation of the local population. When Kishi returned to national politics in Japan, in 1939, along with a clique of other Japanese technocrats who had worked in Manchuria, he pursued similar strategies of state-dictated industrialization, at the expense of private interests and labor rights. This fascistic regime would not be structured the same way as Mussolini’s or Hitler’s, with power concentrated in the hands of a single charismatic leader, although Kishi had travelled to Germany in the nineteen-twenties, as the Nazi movement expanded, and drew inspiration from German industrialization for his Manchurian project. Instead, Mimura said, Japan “kind of slid into fascism” as bureaucrats exercised their authority behind the scenes, under the aegis of the Japanese emperor. As she explained, techno-fascist officials “acquire power by creating these supra-ministerial organs and agencies, subgroups within the bureaucracy that are unaccountable.” Today, Elon Musk’s DOGE is the Trumpian equivalent.

American corporations of the twentieth century flirted with a merging of state and industrial power. The entrepreneur Henry Ford promoted a system of industrial organization that came to be known as “Fordism,” whereby the state would intervene in the economy to guarantee mass production and consumption. In the nineteen-thirties, I.B.M. did business with the Nazi government through a German subsidiary, lending its technology to projects like the 1933 census, which helped identify Jews in the country. As a recent feature in the Guardian by Becca Lewis laid out, Silicon Valley itself has exhibited right-wing tendencies for decades, embracing misogynist and hierarchical attitudes about achievement. The journalist Michael S. Malone was issuing warnings about emerging “technofascism” way back in the late nineties, when he warned about “IQ bigotry” in the tech industry and the willingness of people to push forward digital revolution while “tossing out the weak and wounded along the way.” But our current moment marks a new conjunction of Internet entrepreneurs and day-to-day government operations. American techno-fascism is no longer a philosophical abstraction for Silicon Valley to tinker with, in the vein of intermittent fasting or therapeutic ketamine doses. It is a policy program whose constitutional limits are being tested right now as DOGE, staffed with inexperienced engineers linked to Musk’s own companies, rampages through the federal government.

Musk has slashed the ranks of federal employees, shut down agencies whose authority challenges his own, and leveraged artificial intelligence to decide where to cut, promising a government executed by chatbots such as Grok, from Musk’s own A.I. company. DOGE has gained access to Americans’ private data and developed tools to e-mail the entire federal government at once, a digital megaphone that Musk recently used to demand that employees send in a list of their weekly accomplishments. As Mimura put it, “You try to apply technical concepts and rationality to human beings and human society, and then you’re getting into something almost totalitarian.” The techno-fascist opportunism goes beyond Musk; one can sense other tech entrepreneurs and investors slavering to exploit the alliance between Trumpism and Silicon Valley capitalism, building infrastructure on a national scale. Sam Altman, the C.E.O. of OpenAI, has arranged his own deals with Trump’s government, including Stargate, a heavily hyped data-center project worth a potential five hundred billion dollars. Apple recently announced its own five-hundred-billion-dollar investment campaign in the U.S. over the next four years, including a plan to begin building A.I. servers in Texas. However nebulous, these extravagant plans signal a spirit of collaboration. On Truth Social, Trump posted approvingly that Apple’s plans demonstrated “FAITH IN WHAT WE ARE DOING.”

Erin McElroy, a geographer at the University of Washington who studies Silicon Valley, has used the term “siliconization” to describe the way that places such as San Francisco or Cluj-Napoca, Romania, to which many western tech companies have outsourced I.T. services, have been remade in the image and ideology of Silicon Valley. According to McElroy, the first signs of Washington’s current siliconization can be traced back, in part, to the Administration of Barack Obama, who embraced social-media platforms such as Facebook as a vector of government communication. For a time, digital platforms seemed to support democratic government as a kind of communal megaphone; but now, a decade later, technology seems to be supplanting the established authority of the government. “There is a crisis of the state,” McElroy said, and Silicon Valley may be “trying to corrode state power” in order to more quickly replace it.

Silicon Valley is premised on the idea that its founders and engineers know better than anyone else: they can do better at disseminating information, at designing an office, at developing satellites and advancing space travel. By the same logic, they must be able to govern better than politicians and federal employees. Voguish concepts in Silicon Valley such as seasteading and “network states” feature independent, self-contained societies running on tech principles. Efforts to create such entities have either failed or remained confined to the realm of brand-building, as in the startup Praxis, a hypothetical plan for a new tech-driven city on the Mediterranean. Under the new Trump White House, though, the U.S. government is being offered up as a guinea pig, McElroy said. “Now that we’ve got Musk running the state, I don’t know if they need their little offshore bubbles as much as they thought they did before.”

Such visions of a technologized society represent a break from the Make America Great Again populism that drove the first Trump Administration. MAGA reactionaries such as Steve Bannon tend to be skeptical of technological progress; as the journalist James Pogue has explained, their goal is to reclaim an American culture “thought to be lost after decades of what they see as globalist technocracy.” Bannon has denounced Silicon Valley’s ideology as “technofeudalism” and declared war on Musk. He sees it as antihuman, with U.S. citizens turned into “digital serfs” whose freedom is delimited by tech companies. In a January interview with Ross Douthat, of the Times, Bannon said, “They have to be stopped. If we don’t stop it, and we don’t stop it now, it’s going to destroy not just this country, it’s going to destroy the world.” Whereas the MAGA right wants to restore things as they were (or as they imagine things were), the tech right wants to, in Mark Zuckerberg’s phrasing, break things. In the Times interview, Bannon called Musk “one of the top accelerationists,” referencing another technology-inflected political ideology that treats chaos as an inevitability.

Accelerationism has been popularized in the past decade by the British philosopher Nick Land, who is part of the so-called neo-reactionary or Dark Enlightenment movement populated by figures including Curtis Yarvin, a former programmer and blogger whose proposals for an American monarchy have enjoyed renewed relevance during Trump 2.0. The accelerationist attitude is, as Andrea Molle, a professor of political science at Chapman University who studies accelerationism, put it to me, “This collapse is going to come anyway—let’s rip the Band-Aid.” Accelerationism emerged from Karl Marx’s idea that, if the contradictions of capitalism become exaggerated enough, they will inspire proletarian revolution and a more egalitarian society will emerge. But Molle identifies what he calls Muskian “techno-accelerationism” as having a different end: destroying the existing order to create a technologized, hierarchical one with engineers at the top. Musk “has to completely break any kind of preëxisting government architecture to impose his own,” Molle said. He added that a government thoroughly overhauled by Musk might run a bit like the wireless system that operates Teslas, enabling the company to theoretically update how your car works at any moment: “You’re allowed some agency, but they are still in control, and they can still intervene if the course is not going in the direction that it is supposed to go to maximize efficiency.”

Techno-fascism’s cold-blooded pursuit of efficiency quickly results in a state of alienation that may not be appealing to either side of the political spectrum. If Japan is any example, the collaboration between technocrats and right-wing politicians is unlikely to last forever. In 1940, the Japanese Prime Minister announced the New Order movement, which sought to overhaul the government’s structure to create a single-party state with absolute power. Mimura, the historian, said, “It reminds you a little bit of now: everything needs to be fixed, all at once. It is a little eerie to draw that historical comparison: this is the New Order in America.” Yet the power of Japan’s technocrats began to wane. When the country started faring poorly in the war, the military pushed to continue the campaign past the point that technocrats considered feasible. Kishi, the architect of technocratic Manchuria, left the government in 1944. Still, as Mimura explained, the bureaucrats had no political constituency or party to hold them accountable for their techno-fascistic program. When the U.S. sought to rebuild Japan, in part as a counterbalance to Soviet power in the region, Kishi and his colleagues were the ones who set about industrializing the nation once more. Their status as unelected officials meant, ironically, that they could stage a return to politics without “any blood on their hands,” Mimura said. In 1955, Kishi helped establish a new political party, and a few years later he became Prime Minister. ♦

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goemon-fan · 1 year ago

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How to Help Palestine

This post is intended to guide those who have no idea on how to help Palestine. I am making this as quick as possible, so please inform me if there is another source you would like me to add, or if any of these sources are inaccurate.

According to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, what we, the average person, can do to help Palestine is:

Educate ourselves (reading and learning Palestine's history)

Advocate for change (writing to representatives, voting, protesting, and petitions)

Staying informed and engaged (reading reputable news sources, don't stop talking about Palestine!)

Supporting Palestinian businesses (and boycotting those businesses which do not support Palestine)

Donating to reputable organizations (the PCRF is a great one, however there is also gazaesims.com, Doctors without Borders, UNWRA, and these)

Notice how many of these are free and easily available.

Education

Decolonizepalestine.com, and more specifically its reading list, is a great start. I highly recommend this Palestine Masterlist Google Doc, it provides free resources and just about everything you need to be informed and educated. This Carrd is also informative and easy to understand. Pluto Books is having a sale on books about Palestine, and Verso Books even provides ebooks for free. Words without Borders provides free stories from Palestinian writers. This website also links to free resources. It is also worth checking out your local library to see if they have any available books about Palestine.

Advocate for Change

Email script; send the message as often as you can, and keep track of possible responses from your representatives. If they're advocating for Is---l (such as my representative is, however I do not want to doxx myself; however, they are Republican) vote them out.

Ceasefiretoday.com provides a master list of advocacy resources.

Staying Informed and Engaged

Aljazeera.com is a great resource for current news regarding Gaza, the U.S. government, and the victims of this violence.

As for staying engaged, don't stop talking about Palestine! Talk with your friends, family, anyone about what is happening, and use your newfound education to educate others! Make a stand and cut Z---ists out of your life!

Support Palestinian Businesses

This is a good beginning list, but feel free to branch out to other Palestinian brands.

However, make sure to boycott these companies, and remember to check any produce you buy (especially dates for Ramadan) to see if it is produced by Is---l.

Donating to Reputable Organizations

Here is this charity list again. Make sure that your charity of choice:

Is going to Gaza/Palestine and

Advocates for a ceasefire

Be on the lookout for scams, and if you want to help Palestinians directly without running the risk of a scam, eSims for Gaza is a great source; and, you're making history! You get to tell your ancestors how you fought for Palestinians!

What Now?

As a final note, every little bit counts. Please do not remain silent even if you run a fan account or have a particular "aesthetic," please do not allow your fandom to remain silent, please do not fall for the fallacy that there's no way you can fight against an entire government. There is strength in numbers, and every little action you make contributes, whether for better or worse. Please do not support Z-----t actors or media, please do not drink Starbucks or buy McDonalds because that is what is convenient for you, please do not choose ignorance and silence to what is happening. I am not asking you to sacrifice or put your life on hold, but you do need to care. Thank you.

#palestine #free palestine #from the river to the sea palestine will be free #i stand with palestine #🇵🇸

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genderqueerdykes · 9 months ago

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How can i find queer spaces irl? clubs arent really my thing, but its all i can find thats around me

good question!

this one can be tough, as bars/clubs are usually what come up the most readily when searching on google maps and social media. they can and do have days where the atmosphere is calmer but i still don't like being in bars. i think there may be some options for you, depending on your area

i would recommend checking your library if you can, a lot of the time they will advertise queer events if there are any going on in the area. if not they often times have information on local queer organizations. if you are unable to do this, universities usually have good lists of local queer events and spaces. usually people are going to say LGBT (event) so phrasing it that way may help a bit. but regardless universities often have groups that are open to the public so you may be able to find support there, or at least suggestions on where to look

you may have transgender resource or gay or lesbian resource centers in your area. you may have some type of organization that helps local queer folk get in touch with things like HRT, top surgery, drag shows, art/zine nights, when local queer businesses are hosting events and so on. if you use instagram or facebook, they are very good for finding these types of events if you search for lgbt (your area) and "local lgbt events", those kinds of things

you can also try to take a look at if you have a pride parade/event in June, you can try to find the information about who is organizing it and what types of organizations and businesses show up to those kinds of things. you may be able to find local social media pages that post about local queer events. sometimes it's something simple like a queer operated coffee or ice cream shop holding socials with reduced prices, for example. in a lot of places, there are spaces for queer minors who need somewhere to go away from alcohol, drugs, uncomfortable contact with adults, and so on

it can be harder to find spaces for adults that don't involve or contain alcohol which makes it difficult for someone like me who has a lot of trauma with that and bars. however, sometimes you can find small political organizations or even art collectives, who use parts of their buildings as queer hangout and event spaces. it's going to depend heavily on your area, so the best you can do is search for "lgbt events in my area" and "lgbt (your city)", things of that nature, as well as trying to keep an eye out for businesses you see when your'e out and about who have LGBT flags inside or outside. if they have even 1 progress pride flag it's worth asking if they can tell you about other LGBT businesses in your area or if they do any collaborations with other queer places and events

i hope any of that helps or makes sense. some places, people can find queer spaces very easily- in big urban cities in California like San Francisco, for example, has a lot of queer historical locations, political organizations, casual hangout spots, advocacy groups, resource centers, and more. some places may only have one or two spots where they can safely meet, and a lot of people are somewhere in the middle. good luck, i know it's not easy, but i hope you find something that works for you

folks are welcome to contribute any ideas they may have. take care for now!

#asks #answers #open to comment #open to replies #irl lgbt spaces #irl queer spaces #queer community #lgbt community #resources

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sussex-newswire · 7 months ago

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Time Magazine has named Prince Harry one of the 100 most influential people working on climate issues:

"The Duke of Sussex supports conservation groups in Africa and says he really became an environmentalist during a trip in 2012 to the Caribbean when a 7-year-old boy told him that England’s environmental impact was damaging the coral reefs. After that interaction, he was inspired to start Travalyst ('travel' and 'catalyst'), a nonprofit that provides people booking travel with emissions and other sustainability data so they can consider the lowest impact options. The aim is to help make a dent in the industry’s carbon footprint; tourism makes up about 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

"Travalyst worked with Google to create the Travel Impact Model, a free, publicly available methodology launched in 2022 that predicts per-passenger CO2 emissions produced by upcoming flights. Travalyst’s coalition of partners, representing a combined market value of $3 trillion, includes top tech companies used by tourists like Booking.com, Expedia Group, Mastercard, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor and Visa. On Sept. 12, Travalyst announced that its flight emissions data has appeared in��65 billion searches worldwide.

"Prince Harry has stressed that sustainable travel also means travel that boosts local economies and supports tourism businesses that hire local talent. He summed up Travalyst’s mission at its fifth anniversary celebration on Sept. 24 during Climate Week: 'As I sought solutions to some of the world's most pressing conservation challenges, I quickly realized just how profound an impact the travel and tourism industry has…together we are proving that travel can be a force for good. So let’s continue this journey together and make sure that travel benefits everyone everywhere.'"

#prince harry #time100 climate 2024

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thefirsthogokage · 2 years ago

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(Link to Tweet)

[Image ID: A tweet from Jenny Klein that reads:

Now 100 days into the strike, here is a roundup of places you can donate to help entertainment worker relief (all workers not just WGA) - [Click this sentence to go to the Google document] #WGAstrong #unionstrong

/End ID]

In case you can't open the link:

We are more than 75 days into the WGA strike, and now SAG-AFTRA has joined us too. Unite Here 11 hotel workers have been out all month. Teamsters and IATSE have been out of work. Here's some funds you can donate to to support everyone. I will update this often as more funds pop up!

WORKER SUPPORT

THE UNION SOLIDARITY COALITION FUND

TUSC is raising money for direct aid to IATSE and Teamsters crew -- they are notably covering people’s health insurance premiums while they’re out of work. Donate here. [501c3 - tax deductible]

ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND

Most importantly, EntertainmentCommunityFund.org gives financial aid to entertainment workers all over the industry, both WGA and non-WGA. It's a big source of assistance for IATSE people especially. [501c3 - tax deductible]

SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation provides financial assistance to members of their union in need. https://members.sagfoundation.org/donate [501c3 - tax deductible]

HUMANITAS GROCERIES

Humanitas Groceries For Writers. This helps staff writers and other early career WGA members with $100 grocery gift cards. Donate here (and select Groceries For Writers from the dropdown): https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AVJ6TL2YYPX2A

INEVITABLE FOUNDATION

Inevitable Foundation has a financial aid fund for WGA writers with disabilities. [501c3 - tax deductible] You can donate to support here: https://www.inevitable.foundation/emergency-relief-fund-donate?form=webdonate

GREEN ENVELOPE GROCERY AID

WGA captain Joelle Garfinkel helps run a grocery aid fund for entertainment workers. You can learn more about it here: https://twitter.com/msjoellegarf/status/1678522919780069377 Donate by sending money on venmo to @ Joelle-Garfinkel and if you need aid you can apply by emailing [email protected]

FOOD BANK GROCERIES FOR ACTORS/WRITERS

World Harvest Food Bank in Mid City LA is giving away free groceries to writers and actors on strike. You can donate to support those efforts here: https://www.worldharvestla.org/donate-now [501c3 - tax deductible]

UNITE HERE 11 MUTUAL AID STRIKE FUND

Unite Here 11 hotel workers, who staff many of the hotels used by the major studios for production, are on strike. If you would like to donate to their strike fund, you can do so here: https://www.unitehere11.org/donate-to-the-unite-here-local-11-strike-mutual-aid-fund/

MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION FUND

MPTF (formerly known as the Actors Fund) provides a variety of services including grants for people on strike. You can donate to MPTF here: https://mptf.com/donate/ [501c3 - tax deductible]

HOLLYWOOD SUPPORT STAFF RELIEF FUND

This is an MPTF fund specifically for Hollywood assistants impacted by the strike. https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20023a?8217.donation=form1&8217_donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=12A38B8E80F6E4250888E4E44BE1190D&df_id=8217&idb=182923308&mfc_pref=T [501c3 - tax deductible]

PICKET LINE SUPPORT

PIZZA FUND - ALL LA LOTS

Comedy writer Jess Morse maintains a pizza fund that delivers to all of the Valley pickets. You can send money to @ Jess-Morse on Venmo or paypal.me/pizzastrikefund on Paypal ($10.97 buys one pizza)

FOX LOT FOOD FUND (LA)

I run a food fund to help feed our picket line at Fox, where I am an assistant coordinator. My Venmo is @ OlgaLexell and we love to use this money on catering from local businesses so we can support them while their business is down too.

SONY LOT FOOD FUND (LA)

The folks coordinating the Sony lot started a food fund via GiveButter. https://givebutter.com/sonypicketlines

NETFLIX LOT FOOD FUND (LA)

Lot coordinator Danny Tolli runs a Venmo fund for food and beverages at Netflix. You can Venmo him @ dctolli to contribute.

DISNEY LOT FUND (LA)

Lot coordinator Carlos Cisco started a Venmo fund for supplies like water at Disney, which has extremely high temperatures in the summer. Venmo him at @ Carlos-Cisco to contribute.

COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY PROJECT (LA)

CSP has been delivering hot meals like breakfast burritos to all of the LA lots. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-entertainment-workers-on-the-strike-line

TARGET REGISTRY - ALL LA LOTS

Official Target registry run by the WGA West Lot Coordinators. This is to get supplies for our check-in stations, ranging from snacks to first aid to garbage bags and beyond. https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift-giver?registryId=079d5420-f35e-11ed-989e-f9022739cfe2&type=CUSTOM

NYC STRIKE SUPPLIES

NY Strike captain Steph Deluca offered to receive incoming funds to buy picket line supplies, which is something the WGAe needs help with. They are fundraising via her venmo @steph_deluca

FEEDING THE NYC STRIKERS

A group sending food and water to NYC strikers has set up a Cashapp and Paypal fund. You can send the money at $NYCStrikeFund via Cashapp or [email protected] via Paypal.

#wga strike #wga strong #sag aftra strike #sag aftra strong #local 11 #solidarity summer #hot strike summer #hot labor summer #lend a hand #strike support

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neurantics-theythem · 2 years ago

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KEEP BOYCOTTING STORES THAT SUPPORT THE ISRAELI ARMY. DO NOT STOP JUST BC OF THE “CEASEFIRE.” DO NOT STOP ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

Four days of a “ceasefire” during the year’s biggest commercial weekend means they’re actually scared of the business they will lose. So make them scared. As much as you are capable of, please do not give business to these companies during one of the most lucrative time of year. Boycotting to pressure companies can work and has worked in the past.

These are just a few basic links to information about how to boycott strategically (rather than just haphazard boycotting which is less effective) as well as a petition to ask Amazon and google to withdraw their tech and financial support for the Israeli army. These are not exhaustive and I encourage you to continue to research, as I will, to continue to make the most strategic and effective impact (this also can vary a lot depending on where you live, so research more localized info too!)

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coremediait · 5 days ago

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Best Digital Marketing Agency in Varanasi – Why CoreMediaIT Stands Out

In today’s competitive digital world, having a strong online presence isn’t optional—it’s essential. Whether you're a local business, a startup, or an established brand in Varanasi, investing in professional digital marketing can be the game-changer. And when it comes to choosing the best digital marketing agency in Varanasi, CoreMediaIT is the name that consistently stands out.

🌐 Digital Marketing in Varanasi: A Growing Need

Varanasi, known for its rich cultural heritage, is also becoming a hub for local businesses, startups, and service providers. As more customers go online to find solutions, the need for:

Higher Google rankings

Professional websites

Engaging social media presence

Paid advertising strategies

has increased rapidly.

That’s where expert digital agencies like CoreMediaIT come into play.

💡 What Makes CoreMediaIT the Best Digital Marketing Agency in Varanasi?

With a blend of experience, innovation, and local understanding, CoreMediaIT has carved a niche in the Varanasi digital marketing landscape. Here's what sets them apart:

✅ 1. Customized Strategies for Every Business

No one-size-fits-all. CoreMediaIT evaluates each client's needs and creates a tailor-made strategy aligned with their business goals, industry, and competition.

✅ 2. Data-Driven SEO Services

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is at the heart of CoreMediaIT’s services. Their SEO team helps businesses:

Rank higher on Google

Target relevant keywords

Improve website traffic organically

Generate local leads

They specialize in local SEO, which is essential for visibility in Varanasi and nearby cities.

✅ 3. Expertise in Google Ads & PPC Campaigns

Want instant visibility? CoreMediaIT runs targeted Google Ads campaigns designed to:

Minimize ad spend

Maximize conversions

Reach the right audience at the right time

Their PPC experts handle search, display, shopping, and video ad campaigns across platforms.

✅ 4. Social Media Marketing with Results

In the age of Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, CoreMediaIT helps brands:

Build and grow their followers

Launch compelling ad campaigns

Increase engagement and sales through social platforms

Their creative team handles graphics, content, and performance tracking efficiently.

✅ 5. Website Design & Maintenance

A strong website is your 24x7 salesperson. CoreMediaIT offers:

Responsive and fast-loading websites

WordPress and custom CMS builds

Landing pages for campaigns

SEO-friendly structures

They ensure that your site not only looks good but also performs well.

🧩 Services Offered by CoreMediaIT

Here’s a complete list of digital marketing services offered: ServiceDescriptionSearch Engine OptimizationRank higher on Google and get discovered organicallyGoogle Ads / PPCGet instant leads through paid search and display adsSocial Media MarketingFacebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube marketing strategiesWebsite DevelopmentMobile-friendly and SEO-optimized website solutionsLocal SEOGet found in local search and Google MapsContent MarketingBlogs, landing pages, product descriptions with SEO-rich contentGraphic DesignCreatives for campaigns, social media, and brandingOnline Reputation ManagementBuild and protect your brand's online image

⭐ Real Client Success Stories

CoreMediaIT has helped several local brands achieve measurable growth. A few examples include:

📈 Local Grocery Brand – From 0 to 10,000+ monthly visitors in 4 months via SEO

💬 Educational Institute – 300% increase in leads from Google Ads

📲 E-commerce Business – 5x ROAS from social media campaigns

Each campaign is tracked with detailed analytics and reports so clients can see the exact ROI.

👥 Why Local Businesses in Varanasi Prefer CoreMediaIT

Here’s what clients love about working with CoreMediaIT:

Transparent pricing and deliverables

Excellent customer support and follow-up

Dedicated project manager for each account

Focus on lead generation, not just traffic

Performance-first approach

📍 Location and Contact Details

If you're ready to take your business to the next level, get in touch:

🌐 Website: www.coremediait.com

📞 Phone: +91 9450496682

📍 Address: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

You can also follow them on social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for updates and case studies.

🙋‍♂️ FAQs – Best Digital Marketing Agency in Varanasi

Q1: What industries does CoreMediaIT serve? CoreMediaIT serves various industries including education, retail, healthcare, e-commerce, and local service providers.

Q2: Do they offer digital marketing packages? Yes, CoreMediaIT offers customizable digital marketing packages based on business goals and budgets.

Q3: How soon can I expect results? SEO results typically show within 3–6 months. Paid campaigns like Google Ads and Facebook Ads can bring leads in a few days.

Q4: Do they offer free consultations? Yes, you can schedule a free consultation to understand their approach and receive a business audit.

🏁 Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to work with a results-driven and trustworthy team, CoreMediaIT is undoubtedly the best digital marketing agency in Varanasi. Their deep understanding of both global digital trends and the local Varanasi market makes them the perfect partner for online growth.

Whether you need more leads, better branding, or a powerful online presence—CoreMediaIT delivers. 💼🚀

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innomaxstartup · 8 days ago

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How to Start a Business from Scratch in 2025 – A Step-by-Step Guide for New Founders

Thinking about launching your own business but don’t know where to begin? You’re not alone. In 2025, starting a business from scratch is more accessible—and more competitive—than ever before. Here’s how to do it right.

🚀 Introduction: Why 2025 Is the Perfect Year to Start a Business

The rules of entrepreneurship are changing fast. Thanks to AI tools, digital platforms, and remote work, building a business from scratch has never been more possible—or more exciting.

But with opportunity comes complexity. The startup world in 2025 is competitive, fast-paced, and constantly evolving. If you’ve got an idea and the ambition to bring it to life, this guide will walk you through how to start a business from scratch—step by step.

Whether you’re launching a tech startup, a local service, or a creative venture, this practical roadmap will help you move from dream to launch with clarity and confidence. Importance of Startups for India’s Economy

Startups play a pivotal role in shaping India’s economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and contributing significantly to GDP growth. As of 2022, startups accounted for about 2.64% of employment in the Indian market, highlighting their importance. The government of India has recognized this potential and launched various initiatives, such as the Startup India scheme, to support startup growth through funding, mentorship, and favorable policies. This ecosystem has propelled India into the ranks of top global leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Step 1: Validate Your Business Idea

Don’t build before you validate.

Many new entrepreneurs fall in love with their idea before checking if people actually need it. In 2025, with customer attention at a premium, market validation is non-negotiable.

Here’s how to validate:

Talk to potential customers (online or offline).

Use tools like Google Trends, Reddit, and Quora to check demand.

Launch a quick landing page with tools like Carrd or Webflow and collect signups.

Offer a pre-sale or pilot to gauge interest.

If no one bites, pivot or refine.

Step 2: Do Market Research

Understand your customers, competitors, and trends.

Before spending time or money, study the landscape. What’s trending in your industry? Who else is offering similar products or services?

Use:

Google & YouTube for trend spotting.

SEMrush or Ubersuggest for keyword and competitor analysis.

Statista, CB Insights, or even Instagram/TikTok for emerging consumer behavior.

Find your edge. Your unique value proposition (UVP) is what will separate you from the noise in 2025.

Step 3: Write a Simple Business Plan

This isn’t corporate homework—it’s your action blueprint.

In 2025, your business plan doesn’t have to be 40 pages long. Keep it lean, focused, and useful. Include:

What you’re selling

Who it’s for

How you’ll reach customers

Cost to build/operate

Revenue model (how you’ll make money)

Short-term and long-term goals

Tools like Notion, LivePlan, or Canva Business Plan templates can help make it painless.

Step 4: Choose a Business Name & Register It

Your brand starts with a name.

Make it:

Easy to remember

Easy to spell

Relevant to your offering

Available online (domain + social handles)

Use tools like Namechk, GoDaddy, or NameMesh to check availability. Once chosen, register it in your country or state. In India, use the MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) portal. In the US, check with your Secretary of State’s website.

Don’t forget to buy the domain and secure the social media handles.

Step 5: Handle Legal & Financial Basics

Yes, it’s boring—but skipping it can cost you.

Choose a business structure (sole proprietorship, LLP, private limited, etc.)

Apply for licenses or permits based on your industry.

Open a business bank account.

Set up accounting tools like Zoho Books, QuickBooks, or even Excel if you're bootstrapping.

Separate personal and business finances from day one.

If unsure, talk to a startup consultant or accountant. Step 6 : Choose the Right Business Structure

In 2025, many new founders prefer flexible setups that protect their personal assets and allow easy growth. You can choose from:

Sole Proprietorship (easy, but less protection)

LLP/LLC (more legal protection, preferred for small businesses)

Private Limited Company (ideal for startups looking to raise funds)

Each country has its own rules, so check your local regulations or consult a business advisor.

Step 7 : Build Your Online Presence

If you’re not online, you’re invisible.

In 2025, your digital presence is as important as your product. Get started with:

A clean, responsive website (WordPress, Wix, or Webflow)

Active social media profiles (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, depending on your audience)

A basic Google Business Profile if you’re local

Email marketing tools like Mailchimp or Beehiiv

Build credibility through consistency, not perfection.

Step 8: Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Start simple, launch fast.

Whether it’s a physical product, digital service, or mobile app, launch with the minimum set of features needed to test real demand.

Your MVP might be:

A no-code app built with Glide or Bubble

A service offered through DMs and GPay

A prototype product made by hand

Speed is your friend. Launch. Learn. Improve.

Step 9: Start Marketing Early

If you build it, they won’t come—unless you market it.

Use cost-effective methods to start:

Organic social media content

Blogging and SEO (try ChatGPT to draft posts!)

Influencer partnerships or product seeding

Referral programs or giveaways

Cold outreach (emails, DMs, calls)

In 2025, community is currency—build yours early and nurture it.

Step 10: Explore Funding Options (If Needed)

If your startup requires capital, explore:

Bootstrapping (your own savings)

Friends & family

Crowdfunding (Kickstarter, Ketto, etc.)

Angel investors or venture capital

Startup accelerators or incubators

Pro tip: Even if you’re not raising money yet, create a pitch deck. It clarifies your vision and makes you look investor-ready.

Benefits of Government Schemes for Startups1. Financial Support: 2. Tax Exemption 3. Simplified Compliance 4. Easier Public Procurement 5. IPR Support 6. Access to Funding 7. Incubation and Mentorship 8. Mentorship and Skill Development 9. Networking Opportunities 10.Promotion of Innovation

Conclusion: 2025 Is the Best Time to Build. So Start.

Starting a business from scratch isn’t about waiting for the “perfect” moment. It’s about taking the first small step, validating, building smart, and learning fast.

In 2025, you don’t need a million-dollar idea. You need clarity, a problem to solve, and the grit to keep going.

✅ Ready to launch your startup?

At Innomax Startup Advisory, we help first-time founders go from idea to impact with mentorship, incubation, funding support, and everything in between. Don’t do it alone—get expert help that actually moves you forward.

👉 Visit https://innomaxstartup.com/ to get started. Your business starts now Let’s build it—step by step.

#startup #entrepreneurship #founders #startuplife #startuptips #businessideas

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onlinrankers123 · 10 days ago

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Google My Business Suspended? Restore It with Our Proven Suspension Removal Services

In today’s digital age, your Google My Business (GMB) profile is one of the most powerful tools for attracting local customers. It helps potential clients discover your business, read reviews, and contact you directly. But what happens when your GMB listing gets suspended?

A suspended Google My Business profile can bring your local visibility to a standstill — impacting calls, walk-ins, website visits, and most importantly, trust. If you're facing this situation, you're not alone. Many business owners encounter GMB suspensions without clear explanations or guidance. That’s where our Google My Business Suspension Removal Services come in.

Why Was Your GMB Profile Suspended?

Google suspends GMB listings for a range of reasons, many of which are tied to violations of its guidelines. Some of the most common causes include:

Using a P.O. Box or virtual address

Keyword stuffing in the business name

Multiple listings for the same location

Incomplete or misleading business information

Operating in a high-risk category (like locksmiths, pest control, etc.)

Sudden changes in address, name, or category

Sometimes, a suspension is triggered by a minor update or even a competitor's report. Regardless of the cause, the result is the same: your business disappears from local search results.

What Are the Types of Suspensions?

Before we talk about solutions, it’s important to understand the type of suspension you're facing:

Soft Suspension: Your listing is still visible on Google, but you can’t manage or edit it.

Hard Suspension: Your listing is completely removed from Google Maps and search results.

Each type requires a different approach. Attempting to fix the issue without understanding the root cause can lead to further delays or even permanent suspension.

The Risks of a Suspended GMB Listing

Many businesses rely on their GMB listing for local discovery. A suspension can affect:

Online Visibility: You won't appear in Google Maps or local search results.

Customer Trust: People may think your business is permanently closed.

Revenue: With fewer calls and visits, your sales could take a hit.

Reputation: A suspended profile reflects poorly on your online presence.

That’s why it’s crucial to act quickly and strategically.

Our Proven GMB Suspension Removal Services

We specialize in identifying the core issue behind your suspension and taking the right steps to restore your listing without violating any Google policies. Here's how we help:

1. Suspension Diagnosis

We start by thoroughly analyzing your GMB profile, business category, address, and listing history to identify the exact reason for suspension.

2. Policy Compliance Audit

Our team checks your business info against Google’s guidelines to ensure there are no hidden violations. This includes your NAP (Name, Address, Phone), website, and category settings.

3. Documentation & Appeal Submission

If your listing requires verification or documentation (like licenses, utility bills, storefront photos), we help you prepare everything correctly. We then submit a professional appeal to Google on your behalf.

4. Communication with Google

We manage the back-and-forth with Google support teams to ensure your case is handled properly. Our experience helps us avoid common pitfalls that could delay the process.

5. Ongoing Support

Even after reinstatement, we offer guidance to help keep your listing safe from future suspensions. This includes optimization tips, periodic audits, and updates as per Google’s changing policies.

Why Choose Us?

Experienced Team: We’ve helped dozens of businesses recover suspended listings successfully.

Quick Turnaround: Most listings are restored within 5 to 10 business days.

Transparent Process: We explain every step and keep you updated throughout.

Local Expertise: We understand the unique needs of businesses in various industries and local areas.

Real Results for Real Businesses

Whether you're a local restaurant, pest control service, clinic, or service provider, we have helped businesses like yours regain their online visibility — and their customers. A reinstated GMB profile means your business can once again show up on Maps, respond to reviews, and generate local leads.

Don’t Let Suspension Stop Your Growth

Your Google My Business profile is the digital storefront of your business. Losing it — even temporarily — can mean lost opportunities every single day. But with the right support, recovery is possible, and in most cases, quick.

If your Google My Business is suspended, don’t panic. Reach out to our professional GMB Suspension Removal Service today. We'll get your listing back on track and ensure it stays compliant moving forward.

Ready to Restore Your GMB Listing? Contact us now for a free evaluation and let us help your business get back where it belongs — on the map.

#GMB Suspension Removal Services in India

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seoreimaginedtx · 23 days ago

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Dominate Local Search with Richardson’s Leading SEO Company: SEO Reimagined

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In today’s fast-paced digital world, your online presence is everything. Whether you're running a cozy boutique on Main Street or leading a cutting-edge tech startup in the Richardson Innovation Quarter, getting noticed online can make or break your success. That’s where SEO Reimagined steps in — a premier SEO company based in Richardson, Texas, dedicated to helping local businesses dominate search engine results and reach more customers right in their backyard.

Why SEO Matters More Than Ever Search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t just about stuffing keywords into your website or chasing Google’s ever-changing algorithm. It’s a strategic approach to increase your visibility when potential customers search for products or services like yours. With more people turning to Google to find local businesses, a strong SEO strategy is crucial — especially in a thriving city like Richardson, where competition can be fierce.

Consider this: 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere else. If your business isn’t showing up in those top search results, you’re likely losing customers to competitors who are.

The Richardson Advantage – Go Local, Win Big Richardson is more than just a suburb of Dallas. It’s a bustling community known for its rich cultural diversity, high-tech economy, and supportive environment for entrepreneurs. From telecom giants and software developers to unique eateries and boutique shops, businesses here are as varied as the people they serve.

But with great opportunity comes the challenge of visibility. How do you make sure your business isn’t lost in the noise? By partnering with a reliable SEO company like SEO Reimagined, you’ll have the tools and expertise needed to rise to the top of local search results and stand out in your industry.

What Makes SEO Reimagined Different? At SEO Reimagined, we believe that SEO should be more than just technical jargon and generic strategies. We reimagine the SEO process to fit your business goals, your audience, and your local landscape. Here’s how we do it:

Local SEO Focused Our primary goal is to help Richardson businesses succeed locally. That means optimizing your Google Business Profile, targeting location-based keywords, earning high-quality local backlinks, and ensuring your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all platforms.

Tailored SEO Strategies No two businesses are the same — and neither should their SEO strategies be. We take the time to understand your business, your competitors, and your customers before crafting a personalized SEO roadmap that aligns with your goals.

Transparent Reporting With SEO Reimagined, you’re never left in the dark. We provide clear, monthly reports that show real results — traffic growth, keyword rankings, conversion rates, and more — so you know exactly how your investment is paying off.

Content That Converts We create high-quality, keyword-rich content that not only ranks well but also speaks to your audience. Whether it’s blog posts, service pages, or FAQs, our content strategy is designed to attract, engage, and convert.

Ongoing Optimization SEO isn’t a one-time task — it’s an ongoing process. Our team continuously monitors your performance, adapts to algorithm changes, and refines your strategy to ensure you stay ahead of the competition.

Services Offered by SEO Reimagined We offer a full suite of SEO services tailored to help Richardson businesses succeed:

Local SEO Optimization – Get your business in front of nearby customers ready to buy.

On-Page SEO – We fine-tune your website’s structure, content, and metadata for peak performance.

Off-Page SEO – Boost your site’s authority through strategic link-building and online reputation management.

Technical SEO – From site speed to mobile responsiveness, we handle the backend optimizations that impact rankings.

Content Marketing – We craft SEO-friendly content that tells your story and builds trust with your audience.

Analytics and Reporting – Get clear insights into how your SEO is performing and where there’s room to grow.

Who We Work With Whether you're a new business trying to get noticed or an established brand looking to scale, SEO Reimagined is the SEO company Richardson businesses trust. We work with:

Local service providers (plumbers, electricians, landscapers)

Healthcare clinics and dental offices

Restaurants and coffee shops

Legal and financial professionals

E-commerce stores and online retailers

Startups and tech companies

The SEO Reimagined Promise We’re not just another SEO agency. We’re your partner in growth. When you work with us, you get more than rankings — you get real, measurable business results. Our team is passionate about helping Richardson businesses flourish in the digital age, and we’re committed to going above and beyond to help you succeed.

Ready to Grow? Let’s Talk If you're looking for a trustworthy, experienced SEO company in Richardson, Texas, SEO Reimagined is ready to help. We bring a local-first mindset, proven strategies, and a results-driven approach to every campaign. Let us help you turn online searches into real-world customers — and real growth for your business.

#Seo company #seo company near me #seo #Youtube

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japannakamauk · 1 month ago

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What You Need to Know Before Visiting Japan

Thinking of visiting Japan? Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure filled with tradition, tech, and unforgettable sights. But before you pack your bags, there are a few key things to know that’ll make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.

From navigating subways to mastering etiquette, this guide breaks down the essentials—money tips, mobile internet, cultural dos and don’ts, and more. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, being prepared helps you explore Japan with ease and confidence.

Pre-Trip Essentials for Visiting Japan

Going to Japan can be super fun, but you gotta prepare first. Here’s what you should know about currency exchange, internet options, and packing smart.

Currency Exchange & Airport Services

You’ll need to deal with currency exchange Japan when you arrive. The money there is called yen (JPY). You can get cash a few ways:

Currency Exchange Counters at airports and big stations.

International ATMs Japan are easy to find. Look for ones that take foreign cards, like 7-Eleven or Citibank ATMs.

Cash still works best in many places. Cards work too but mostly in cities and big shops. Carry some yen just in case smaller spots only take cash.

Also, the airport Wi-Fi Japan lets you check maps and apps right when you land. That helps with travel preparation.

SIM Card Options: eSIM, Prepaid, and Pocket Wifi

Staying online in Japan helps a lot. You can pick from a few choices:

Japan tourist SIM card: These prepaid SIMs are great if you’re there for a short time.

eSIM Japan: If your phone supports it, this is a neat option without needing a physical card.

Pocket WiFi in Japan: This small device lets several gadgets connect at once — handy for groups.

Pick whichever fits your internet needs best while you’re in the country.

Suitcase Travel Tips: Packing Light for Japan

Packing light makes getting around easier and cheaper. Try these tips on your packing list for Japan:

Choose clothes that match easily.

Pack layers because the weather can change fast.

Bring comfy shoes since you’ll walk a lot.

Follow these simple tips on money, internet, and packing to help make your trip smooth and easy!

Navigating Japan with Ease

Traveling to Japan can be really fun, but it can also feel a bit tricky. Planning ahead helps a lot. Knowing some insider tips and helpful advice makes your trip easier.

Before you go, learn about local transport, culture, and how things work. This way, you avoid getting lost or stuck with cash-only spots. Whether you’re in Tokyo or Kyoto, having a plan lets you enjoy the trip more.

Google Maps & Subway Connections in Tokyo & Kyoto

Tokyo’s transit system works well but is pretty complex. Different companies run many subway lines that cross paths in big stations like mazes. Without help, finding your way can take time.

Google Maps makes this easier. It shows train times and tells you how to walk between platforms inside huge stations like Shinjuku.

Kyoto’s subway is smaller but connects to buses that reach major tourist places fast. The city’s central spots make it easy to visit temples and shrines quickly.

Try these tips to save time:

Travel outside rush hours.

Check station maps online before you go.

Use apps that guide you step-by-step inside stations.

These tricks help you move around busy stations without confusion.

Japan Rail Pass vs. Suica Card: Which Is Right for You?

Picking between a Japan Rail Pass and a Suica card depends on your trip style:

Japan Rail Pass

Good if you travel long distances across many places.

Covers JR trains including Shinkansen (except Nozomi).

You must buy it before arriving in Japan.

Suica Card

Prepaid card mainly for short trips in cities like Tokyo.

Works on subways, buses, vending machines, stores.

Easy to add money at stations; no need for tickets every time.

Cash still works in many places but cards are faster when switching trains often.

Some tips for public transport:

Check if your route needs JR trains before buying passes.

Carry both cards if possible; some spots accept only one kind.

Report lost cards fast online to protect your balance if allowed.

If you stay mostly in cities without lots of long trips, Suica fits well. For trips covering multiple cities with daily long rides, the JR Pass might save money.

Subway Etiquette and Navigating Public Transport

Knowing Japanese subway manners makes travel polite and smooth:

Speak quietly; phone calls inside trains are not ok.

Give up priority seats for older people, pregnant women, or disabled passengers.

Wait in line behind marked spots until the doors open; pushing isn’t allowed even when it’s crowded.

Japanese public transport shows respect and order among riders.

Other customs include taking off backpacks when places get tight so they don’t block aisles or seats — a simple way to show care for others around you.

Following these rules helps avoid awkward moments and shows locals that you respect their culture.

Using these basics—like planning routes with Google Maps or choosing the right transport card—you’ll get around Japan without much hassle and show respect for local ways. At Japan Nakama, we want travelers to have better experiences with less stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use my credit card instead of Suica?

A: Many shops take credit cards but transit fares usually need IC cards like Suica for easy riding around cities such as Tokyo.

Q: How do I know which train line belongs to JR?

A: Look for “JR” signs near platforms; apps like Hyperdia mark JR lines clearly so you can plan transfers well.

Ready To Explore?

Start planning now! Download trusted navigation apps—smooth rides await across Japanese cities!

Understanding Japanese Culture & Etiquette

Traveling to Japan gives you a chance to see a culture full of old traditions and polite ways. Knowing some Japanese etiquette helps you meet locals better and avoid problems. Here are some key Japan cultural tips and must-know advice for respectful travel.

Japanese people care a lot about politeness and keeping peace. Instead of shaking hands, they bow to show respect.

You should keep your voice down in public places because loud talking is rude there. Spotting these cultural differences will make your trip nicer and stop any mix-ups.

Basic Japanese Phrases and Using Google Translate

Knowing simple Japanese phrases can help a lot when you talk with people each day. Greetings like konnichiwa (hello), arigatou (thank you), and sumimasen (excuse me or sorry) show good manners.

Language barriers happen, but tech makes it easier. People use Google Translate in Japan a lot. Its camera feature translates signs right away—very handy for reading menus or maps. Make sure you download the app before your trip.

Here are some must-know phrases:

Onegaishimasu – Please

Wakarimasen – I don’t understand

Toire wa doko desu ka? – Where is the restroom?

Using these phrases with Google Translate will make talking easier during your stay.

Japanese Etiquette: Do's and Don'ts for Smooth Travel

Knowing what to do and what not to do stops you from being rude by mistake around polite locals.

Do’s:

Take off your shoes before entering homes or some traditional places.

Use both hands when giving or taking things.

Follow eating manners, like don’t stick chopsticks straight up in rice.

Wait calmly in line at train stations; pushing is not okay.

Don’ts:

Don’t tip; tipping can confuse or offend because it’s not normal there.

Don’t talk loudly on trains; keep phones silent too.

Don’t point with chopsticks or pass food from one chopstick to another—that reminds people of funeral customs.

Following these easy rules keeps good vibes with local customs during your visit.

Dealing with Rubbish Bins and Public Spaces

Japan has strict rules for trash, but public trash bins are hard to find.

Usually, people carry their rubbish until they see bins near convenience stores or train stations. They separate trash into burnable, non-burnable, and recyclables—even when walking around.

On public transportation:

Keep noise low out of respect for others.

Eating on trains depends on where you are; avoid strong-smelling foods unless you ride long-distance trains where it’s allowed.

Being careful about throwing away trash shows respect for Japan’s clean streets—an important part of local etiquette all visitors should know.

By learning these key parts of Japanese culture, language basics, etiquette do’s-and-don’ts, plus trash habits, you’ll have better experiences while visiting Japan. For expert tips that first-timers really need, look for guides who share what they wish they knew before going to Japan for smoother trips ahead!

Accommodation Types: Ryokans, Business Hotels, Capsules, Hostels

Japan offers a wide variety of accommodation options to suit every budget and travel style. Whether you're looking for a traditional experience, a practical stay in the city, or something unique, choosing the right place can make your trip more enjoyable.

Here's a breakdown of four common accommodation types in Japan:

Ryokans

Ryokans are old-fashioned Japanese inns with tatami mat floors and sliding doors. Many feature shared hot springs called onsen, providing a relaxing and cultural experience.

Guests enjoy traditional kaiseki meals and quiet, peaceful surroundings. Remember to remove your shoes indoors and keep your voice low to respect the atmosphere.

Business Hotels

Business hotels offer small, simple rooms that include essentials like Wi-Fi and breakfast. They’re ideal for solo travelers or those making short stops in busy city centers.

Capsule Hotels

Capsule hotels offer tiny sleeping pods just big enough for one person. Found all over Japan, they are a budget-friendly and unique option. However, they don’t provide much space beyond the capsule itself.

Hostels

Hostels are a good choice for travelers on a tight budget. You can stay in a dorm bunk bed or choose a private room.

Many hostels have shared spaces that encourage socializing, but guests are still expected to follow Japanese customs like staying clean and keeping quiet.

Choose your accommodation based on your preferences and space needs. For a traditional experience, go with a ryokan.

Convenience Stores: Your Unexpected Travel Companion

In Japan, convenience stores, or konbini, are everywhere and open all day and night. They are super handy for travelers on the move.

You’ll find fresh food like bento boxes, sandwiches, rice balls (onigiri), plus snacks and drinks. Need toiletries or some medicine? Konbini usually carry those too.

Japanese vending machines fill in when you can’t reach a store. You can grab hot coffee or cold drinks anytime outside without waiting.

Snacks from these places show off local tastes well. Try matcha sweets or fried chicken bites while walking around town.

Hotel Location: Choosing the Right Neighborhood

Choosing the right place to stay can shape your entire Japan travel experience. The neighborhood you pick affects how much you see, how easily you get around, and how comfortable your daily routine feels.

Here are key factors to consider when selecting your hotel location in Japan:

Stay Near Major Attractions

Booking a hotel close to popular sites like Tokyo Tower or Kyoto’s temples helps you save time and see more. You’ll spend less of your day commuting and more of it enjoying the sights.

Choose Hotels Near Major Train Stations

Accommodations near major train stations offer easy access to subways, buses, and airport transfers. These locations are ideal for navigating the city and even taking day trips to rural areas.

Look for Central Areas with Late-Night Options

Central neighborhoods typically have restaurants that stay open late. This gives you flexibility for evening meals and snacks after a long day of sightseeing.

Find Tourist-Friendly Services Nearby

Staying in well-connected areas means easy access to traveler-friendly services like currency exchange and luggage storage—helping to simplify your trip.

Prepare for Japan’s Hospitality Scene

Knowing where to stay, what food is available nearby, and how different accommodations work helps reduce stress before your journey begins.

Popular Attractions Booking: Avoiding Long Queues

Booking tickets before you go helps you skip long lines at Japan’s top spots. Places like Universal Studios Japan (USJ), TeamLab exhibitions, and Chureito Pagoda get really crowded.

Using sites like Klook to book ahead saves a lot of waiting time. Some tours even offer skip-the-line passes, which can save you hours during busy times.

If you plan to visit Mt Fuji viewpoints or popular city attractions, check their official sites for timed tickets. Early morning visits usually have fewer people. Trusted booking services also give you cancel options and local help if needed.

Getting your tickets in advance means you spend more time enjoying and less time standing around. This is one of the best Japan sightseeing tips for a smooth trip.

Eating and Drinking Etiquette: Cultural Considerations

Japanese food has lots to offer—from casual izakayas to fancy multi-course kaiseki meals. Knowing the right manners makes eating there better and shows respect for the culture.

Some important tips:

No tipping: Tipping isn’t done in Japan. It can even be seen as rude.

Chopstick rules: Don’t stick chopsticks straight up in rice or pass food chopstick-to-chopstick. Both remind people of funeral customs.

Slurping noodles: It’s polite to slurp noodles softly but don’t chew loudly.

Drinking together: Wait until everyone has a drink before starting. Saying “Kanpai!” (cheers) together is usual.

Izakayas are lively places where sharing small dishes brings people closer. Kaiseki meals use seasonal ingredients with beautiful plating—great for tasting real Japan food culture.

Following these rules helps you avoid mistakes and enjoy meals more.

Weather in Japan: Packing for Different Seasons

Japan’s weather changes a lot by season. Packing right lets you feel comfy all trip long.

Spring (March–May): Temps are mild with cherry blossoms everywhere. Bring light jackets and layers.

Summer (June–August): Summers get hot and sticky, often over 30°C (86°F). Wear breathable clothes, use sunblock, and drink water.

Autumn (September–November): Cool air and colorful leaves appear. Pack sweaters or light coats for evenings.

Winter (December–February): It gets cold, especially in the north. Bring warm gear like hats and gloves if you visit snowy areas.

Seasonal events match the weather—hanami flower parties in spring or fall festivals celebrating colors happen then. Checking a good Japan weather guide helps you pack smartly and enjoy cultural events well.

Picking outfits for these conditions makes walking around easier—whether hiking near Mt Fuji or strolling city streets after dark.

For those wanting tips I wish I had before going to Japan—these simple ideas make travel smoother by mixing culture, food, and comfort without fuss.

Safety Tips for Travelers in Japan

Japan is considered one of the safest countries to visit, but staying alert and prepared can help ensure a smooth and stress-free trip. Here are practical safety tips to keep in mind while traveling in Japan:

Check Travel Warnings Before Departure: Before you leave, review any current travel advisories related to Japan. This helps you stay informed about potential issues.

Keep Emergency Contacts Handy: Save important emergency numbers:

110 for police

119 for fire or medical assistance Also, carry copies of your passport and key documents in a separate location from the originals.

Avoid Dark or Isolated Areas at Night: Stick to well-lit and populated places after dark. This reduces risk and helps you feel more secure while exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Respect Local Customs: Following Japanese etiquette helps avoid misunderstandings. Being polite, quiet, and aware of cultural norms keeps interactions smooth.

Prepare for Common Travel Challenges: Language barriers and crowded trains—especially during rush hours—can be tricky. Learning a few basic Japanese phrases can make navigating these situations easier.

Plan Routes Using Trusted Apps: Map out your transportation in advance using reliable travel apps. This reduces confusion and keeps you on track throughout your journey.

Stay Alert for Natural Disaster Warnings: Japan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons. Pay attention to alerts and know how to respond if a natural disaster occurs.

Register with Your Embassy: If possible, register your travel plans with your country’s embassy upon arrival. This step helps authorities assist you in emergencies.

Public Holidays and Event Planning

Knowing Japan public holidays helps you plan better trips. Golden Week happens from late April to early May. Many locals take vacation then, so trains get packed and hotels fill up fast.

Japan has local festivals all year round—from cherry blossom events in spring to lively summer matsuri (festivals). Seasonal events give you cool cultural experiences but might change bus or store hours.

Check the calendar for festival seasons near where you’ll be. That way, you can join fun events or skip crowds if you want. This info makes your trip easier and more fun.

Travel Insurance: Protecting Your Investment with Japan Nakama

Travel insurance in Japan is really important because unexpected things can cost a lot. Medical emergencies or trip cancellations happen sometimes and cost money.

Japanese travel insurance plans often cover hospital stays, lost luggage, and delays that mess up your plans.

Japan Nakama suggests Covermore travel insurance because it fits travelers going to Japan well. They offer 24/7 English support—super helpful when you're far from home.

Getting good travel insurance protects your money and gives peace of mind while you're there. Don’t skip this step if you want a smooth trip through Japan’s culture and sights.

FAQs

What Are the Japan Visa Requirements for Travelers?

Most visitors need a visa to enter Japan unless their country is part of Japan’s visa exemption program. Requirements vary by nationality, so it’s essential to check the latest visa guidelines on the official Japanese immigration website before making travel plans.

How Can I Plan My Japan Itinerary Effectively?

Use reliable travel apps and online guides to map out attractions, festivals, and public transportation routes. Organizing your trip around regional highlights can help you save time and make the most of your journey.

What Should I Know About Cash vs. Card Usage in Japan?

Japan is still largely cash-based, particularly in rural areas and small businesses. Credit and debit cards are more common in major cities and larger stores, but it’s wise to carry some yen for transportation, local eateries, and smaller purchases.

Are Capsule Hotels a Good Accommodation Option in Japan?

Capsule hotels are a unique and budget-friendly option, especially for solo travelers. They offer compact sleeping pods with essential amenities, often located near train stations or in busy urban areas.

How Can I Overcome the Language Barrier in Japan?

Learning a few key Japanese phrases can go a long way. Additionally, translation apps like Google Translate and image-based language tools can help you navigate signs, menus, and conversations with ease.

What Safety Tips Should I Follow While Traveling in Japan?

Japan is generally very safe, but it’s smart to keep emergency contacts on hand, stay in well-lit areas after dark, and monitor local news or travel advisories, especially during typhoon or earthquake seasons.

How Do I Book Popular Japan Attractions Like USJ or TeamLab Exhibitions?

Book tickets in advance through official websites or trusted platforms like Klook or GetYourGuide. This ensures guaranteed entry and helps you skip long queues at popular sites.

What Is the Best Time to Visit Japan for Pleasant Weather and Festivals?

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable weather, with stunning cherry blossoms or colorful foliage. These seasons also host many cultural festivals, making them ideal times to visit.

Essential Tips & Insights for Your Japan Trip

Understand Japan travel insurance options to cover medical emergencies and trip changes. Covermore travel insurance offers reliable support.

Know Japan mobile internet choices such as eSIMs or pocket WiFi for staying connected on-the-go.

Be aware of Japan trash bins rules; public bins are scarce so carry your rubbish until you find designated disposal points.

Use Japan prepaid cards like Suica or Pasmo for convenient payment on public transport and shops.

Learn Japan metro etiquette, including queuing properly and avoiding phone calls on trains to respect others.

Utilize Takkyubin service, a luggage forwarding option that helps move your bags between hotels or airports easily.

Consider Japan travel budget planning, including daily costs, transportation fees, meals, and shopping expenses.

Familiarize with Shinkansen rules, such as reserved seating, luggage limits, and etiquette onboard bullet trains.

Explore Kyoto itinerary, including day trips to Nara temples and nearby attractions for cultural immersion.

Try local specialties at Kobe cuisine, Osaka street food, and authentic Japanese multi-course meals (kaiseki).

Use trusted navigation apps for smooth Japan city navigation, especially in complex systems like Tokyo transit system.

Visit seasonal events during Japan festival seasons, from spring cherry blossom celebrations to lively summer matsuri.

Check emergency numbers under Japan emergency contacts, like 110 for police and 119 for ambulance/fire services.

Avoid common Japan travel mistakes by planning ahead with local customs knowledge, transport tips, and accommodation bookings.

Respect Japanese social norms, such as removing shoes indoors, using polite language, and proper dining manners.

#japan travel #japan travel tips #japan culture #japan nakama #japan trip #japan tourism

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natalioamadofakhre1 · 1 month ago

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How Natalio Amado Fakhre Helps Brands Dominate Google Rankings Across Europe

An organization's visibility on Google can make or break its success in the crowded digital marketplace. Across Europe, one digital strategist is helping companies rise to the top of search results—Natalio Amado Fakhre. Based in Madrid, Spain, Natalio is known for his sharp SEO strategies, social media expertise, and brand-building capabilities that consistently deliver results.

Let’s examine how Natalio helps brands claim top positions on Google and build sustainable search engine dominance.

Who Is Natalio Amado Fakhre?

Natalio Amado Fakhre is a Madrid-based digital marketing expert focused on SEO, social media marketing, and branding. Over the years, he has worked with businesses across multiple European markets—developing and executing data-driven campaigns that directly increase visibility, traffic, and conversions.

His approach is technical, creative, and laser-focused on what Google values most: quality content, authority, and user experience.

Foundations of His SEO Success

1. Fixing What Holds Brands Back

Natalio starts with deep technical SEO audits, identifying and resolving issues that hinder performance:

Page speed and core web vitals

Broken links and crawl errors

Mobile responsiveness

Duplicate content and indexing gaps

These elements lay the groundwork for everything else—because even the best content can’t rank if a site’s foundation is flawed.

2. Keyword Targeting That Matches User Intent

Ranking is only valuable if it matches what users are actually searching for. Natalio conducts intent-focused keyword research, building strategies that cover:

Informational queries (e.g., guides, tips)

Transactional searches (e.g., buy, hire, services)

Regional keywords tailored for each European market

This precision helps generate not just traffic—but qualified, conversion-ready visitors.

3. Strategic On-Page Optimization

Every page is optimized with:

Clear heading structures (H1-H3)

Internal linking to boost topical relevance

Optimized images with alt tags

Schema markup to improve search visibility

His focus on semantic SEO ensures that content communicates value to both users and Google’s crawlers.

Localizing SEO for European Markets

Natalio understands that SEO in Europe isn't one-size-fits-all. Search behaviors, languages, and competitors vary across countries. He tailors strategies with:

Local keyword research (Spanish, French, German, etc.)

Region-specific backlink outreach

Hreflang implementation for multilingual targeting

This attention to regional detail gives his clients an edge in markets like France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and beyond.

Creating Content That Drives Rankings

Tone and Voice

Natalio builds a consistent brand voice that aligns with each client’s identity. Whether it's professional, approachable, or bold, the tone remains uniform across:

Blog posts

Service pages

Landing pages

Social content

Content Formats That Work

He favors high-performing formats such as:

1000–2000 word blog posts

How-to guides

Comparison articles

Case studies

Listicles and resource hubs

These formats naturally earn backlinks, increase time on page, and support Google’s E-E-A-T principles (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust).

Visual & Interactive Elements for Better UX

User experience is now a direct ranking factor. Natalio boosts engagement by incorporating:

Optimized Images: Branded graphics with alt text and compression

Infographics: Great for link-building and quick summaries

Embedded Videos: Increases time-on-site and builds trust

Interactive FAQs and Sliders: Enhances UX and improves mobile engagement

This reduces bounce rates and encourages deeper content exploration.

Safe, Scalable Link-Building

Natalio doesn’t chase shortcuts. His white-hat link-building tactics include:

Guest posting on relevant, high-authority blogs

Securing digital PR coverage in European outlets

Collaborating with influencers for natural link placements

Building citation links for local SEO strength

These efforts improve domain authority and create ranking durability—especially useful in algorithmic volatility.

Performance Tracking That Matters

Every strategy is backed by clear reporting. Natalio tracks and shares progress through:

Google Analytics 4

Google Search Console

SEO tools like Semrush or Ahrefs

Custom dashboards tracking key KPIs

From organic traffic to keyword rankings and goal completions, clients see exactly where their growth comes from—and what to optimize next.

Notable Results Across Europe

Clients across industries and regions have experienced:

+200% organic traffic growth in 6–9 months

Page one rankings for competitive keywords

Reduced paid ad spend due to organic lead generation

Improved domain authority across multilingual sites

Whether it’s a Spanish B2B SaaS, a French luxury e-commerce brand, or a German real estate agency, Natalio’s SEO blueprint adapts to deliver.

Final Words

Natalio Amado Fakhre isn’t just helping brands appear on Google—he’s helping them stay at the top. His strategies are rooted in data, refined through experience, and shaped for performance in diverse European markets.

For businesses aiming to lead their niche online, partnering with a digital strategist like Natalio can be the difference between showing up—and dominating.

#digital marketer #digital marketing #marketing #natalio amado fakhre #advertising #paid ads

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