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royallyjoon · 4 years

Text

flower petal

credit for the gif goes to whoever made it and posted it first 🖤

yandere! jeon jungkook x reader oneshot

reincarnation au

you were once the queen married to the most well-known king of his dynasty, Jeon Jungkook. He failed to rule his kingdom properly, however, and took to prioritizing you rather than his kingdom. As a means of escape, you helped the people sneak into the palace and overthrow the young king.

centuries later, where you may have forgotten your place by his side, Jungkook will be all too sure to remind you where you stand.

note: (M/N) is for your middle name, and not your mother’s name just to avoid any confusion :) happy reading!

warnings: yandere themes, physical altercations

A.D. 1200s-1400s, North Drokest

“A king…does that mean I can be yours?”

He balked in confusion at the dark tone in your voice.

You weren’t meant to sound like this. Your voice was the honey in his tea to soothe his aching throat, the flower petals pressed between his pages in which he left a bit of his soul.

His queen would never speak to him with such a cruel, demeaning tone.

“Answer me.” Your voice got steadily louder. “You call yourself ‘king.’ You claim you rule over this sad, desperate realm but in reality, you divide. You cause turmoil. Your people aren’t happy. They starve, and they beg you for your mercy and you have none to give.”

The throne room was vast but straightforward. High walls and ceilings held up by ornate columns, decorated in every inch with the colors of the household. Red and gold banners decorated the walls, even the carpet leading to the red, plush seats of the golden throne was red with yellow lining. The tall, wooden doors of the palace stood behind you as threatening as the presence of the man before you.

The space was empty, except for you and the king, as all the advisors and knights had been released from duty. You assumed they were happily spending their freedom buried in spirits, women, men, or something of the sort.

You stood before the king, the red and gold trim on his robes mockingly prominent.

“A king would not sit back in amusement as his land festers away with an illness, a virus that is the king himself. You poison your land, this land. You have absolutely no right to call yourself king. To me, you are nothing more than a child playing dress-up.”

He sucked in a breath, gazing at you curiously. This was the first time he was making this sort of expression to you and for some crazed reason, you thought your words were finally reaching the mind of the deranged man before you.

“As for me? I am anything but yours. My body is dust, my breath air. Everything that was given to me I intend to give back to this world. You lay no claim over me, just as you lay no claim over this earth.”

“A king is only as powerful as his people intend him to be. In accordance with your current state, the people have deemed you unworthy.”

Your words were accentuated with the crashing of the palace doors. Citizens young and old marched into the throne room, pitchforks and torches lit, clamoring for the death of the king.

His eyes never left yours as the crowds grew behind you. “So you have betrayed me, my love.”

“You lied to me. You promised that once you took the throne, you would change everything your brother and father stood for. The minute you placed yourself on their seat, you followed in their footsteps.” You had to scream over the chants now.

The crowds hushed as the village leaders climbed the steps to the throne, pausing beside you.

“This is not me enacting punishment against you, for it is not my place, but the responsibility of the people to remove a leader they deem unfit.” You said.

“This is how we end?” He asked, remaining calm. If anything, the sadness in his tone made you clench your fists tighter.

“We ended a long time ago,” you said.

Just before you stepped to the side and let the people take him away, you bowed to His Majesty one last time.

“Your flower petals lost color a long time ago,” You choked out, stumbling backward and rushing out the throne room.

Your voice was torn, he noticed. You had tears in your eyes.

That was his darling.

Breaking out of the cold, hard shell that was the woman before. You were there.

“(M/N)!” He called, watching your form retreat into the darkness. The leaders restrained him, but he fought tooth and nail to catch a glimpse of your form once more. “Petal!”

You froze, but only for a moment. You then continued on with a quickened pace, holding back sobs.

And all throughout the kingdom, up until the king’s execution, the only words that passed through his lips were your name.

In small, breathless whispers and desperate, ravaged screams.

He called for you, but you never came.

———————————————————————————

A.D. 20XX, a metropolitan city

“I don’t know why I took this course,” you muttered to your friend, sticking your phone inside your bag as you stood in line at the Treshiuan Art Museum.

The building was lined with obsidian rock, glistening in the morning sun. The steps were dark and slippery, and the glass walls that adorned the first floor reflected harshly against the material. Inside, the cool blasts of air from the ceiling didn’t make the space any more welcoming. You untied your sweater from around your waist and zipped it up.

“You didn’t want to be stuck with a science course for the optional summer colloquium,” Taehyung stated, carelessly flicking through a museum pamphlet. “You said, and I quote, ‘Memorizing old people, dates, their art, and its meaning would forever be easier than learning oxidation-reduction.’’

“But was I wrong?” you grinned at him as he rolled his eyes. Taehyung felt that you had a lack of appreciation for “the arts”. It wasn’t that you didn’t appreciate them; you just weren’t as interested as he was. You would never discredit the beauty (or lack thereof) and meaning artists placed into their pieces.

“Tell her she’s wrong, Jungkook.” The upperclassman pouted at your classmate, whose eyes were glued to the game on his cellphone.

“You’re both wrong for trying to interrupt me right now,” he muttered furiously slamming his fingers on his screen.

“Joumou University students, over here!” The art history teacher called your group out of the line, standing next to a tall, brown-skinned woman with dark eyes. She smiled ominously, eyeing your trio with something akin to amusement in her eyes.

“Good morning everyone,” her slightly accented voice rang through the students, causing even Jungkook to look up from his handheld game.

“My name is Ilyana and I will be your tour guide this morning. I have been told by your teacher that most of you know little to nothing about thirteenth to fifteenth century dynasty art. I am excited to tell you everything I can. Before we embark upon our journey to the past, are there any questions?”

“I like her,” Taehyung whispered in your ear.

“Same. Anything like ‘embark upon our journey’ would sound lame from anyone else, but she makes it elegant and exciting.” You whispered back.

Jungkook snorted and tucked his phone into his pocket.

“No? Then let’s begin. Our tour will cover pieces from the Drokest region.”

Ilyana led your group to the elevators spouting information about the formation of royal lines in Drokest, where you somehow managed to fit in with another group. Your stop was first, and as you stepped off the elevator, your jaw dropped in awe.

The room was covered wall to wall with blue, purple, and silver. Tapestries, silks, and paintings, all had the same colors with glittering figures and jewels.

“In this land, every dynasty had designated colors. The first family to rule, the Layvns, were crowned with shades of royal blue and purple underneath a full moon, depicted by the silver embroidery.”

You walked around with Taehyung and Jungkook, admiring the care and attentiveness put into the tapestries.

“They must have loved this family,” you noted.

“The royal line of the Drokest region, albeit short, was mostly highly favored,” Ilyana said as she moved into the next hall.

“Mostly?” Taehyung asked.

“That’s a story for later.” Ilyana smiled.

You giggled and glanced over at Jungkook. He had his hood fully over his head, walking past all of the artwork without so much as sparing a look.

Like this, you passed rooms and rooms of bright, blooming colors. Pink and ivory for the second family, black and green for the third, and brown and ginger for the fourth.

As you passed through each room, the amount of artwork lessened. The number of tapestries decreased, the silk wardrobes became sparse, and the only consistent painting was that of the king and queen, possibly with their royal family.

You were with Taehyung, who was commenting on the horrible color choice the fourth family made when you noticed Jungkook sitting on a bench in the middle of the room. He had been downcast since before your tour of the exhibit started.

You left your energetic, argumentative friend and sat next to Jungkook. “You know, for the actual art major, you seem less interested in these pieces than me. Is everything okay?” you asked.

He shook his head. “I’m fine…the pieces are nice and everything. I just feel like…”

“Feel like what?” You gently pressed for him to go on.

“…I feel like I shouldn’t be here.” He finished. “Like someone hurt me and I don’t want to feel that pain ever again.”

Usually, you would push the feelings off with a joke, claiming Jungkook was getting in his feels because of the art and asking him if he wanted to play his hurt girl music. But the pain in his face told you a truer picture.

“Well, we’re almost done. After this next family, we can leave the museum and head back to the hotel. Or we can go to the restaurant you were excited to check out!” You said, placing a hand on his arm. “It’s only another half an hour. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.”

Jungkook smiled weakly at you and you both stood as Ilyana called for the group to move on.

When your group entered the fifth room, it was a surprise for you to see only one painting. The room was bare of any tapestries or silks, and all of the lights were off, except for a single, dim light clearing the piece.

“Here, we have the fifth and final royal family of the Drokest region. We call them a family, but they were really just a royal couple. A young royal couple.”

“King Jeongguk and his Queen, (M/N). The two have quite a fantastic love story, full of tragedy, love, and disloyalty.” Ilyana smiled as if she had been present for the development of their story herself. “Gather for such a story, if you please.”

“King Jeongguk grew up in the palace a sheltered, careful boy. He did not have the same bloodthirsty, righteous drive his father and older brother carried. His closest companions were the walls of his bedroom; not even the chambermaids would speak to him.

“Jeongguk’s mother passed away at his birth, and he had never known the kindness of a woman’s touch. Legends say it was why he fell so hard, so fast for his future queen.”

“(M/N) was a little girl, the daughter of a flower peddler. She would stand in the streets of the capital city with her parents and older sister, charming people into buying a flower or two from her.”

“Jeongguk’s chambermaids would often purchase a bouquet of these flowers and place them in his room and the hallways of the palace. He adored their smell and look, pressed the petals between the pages of his book to save them, and talked to them in his extreme loneliness.”

“One day, the youngest prince escaped from the palace. He fled to the streets of the capital city, away from the brown and ginger flags of his father and pledged to live a simple life hidden amongst the commoners. During this short escape, he managed to meet the young girl as she and her family were selling his favorite flowers.”

Jungkook choked back a groan as he felt a sudden migraine hit. He stumbled his way to a bench and held his head in his hand as he tried not to draw too much attention to himself.

Images flashed before his eyes, with words and names that didn’t name sense. The clearest image was that of a young girl, with (h/c), (h/l) hair and the most beautiful (e/c) eyes. Her (s/c) hand extended a flower to him.

“Would you like to purchase a flower today?”

She grinned up at him, a few years younger and a few heads shorter. “I think it would look ever so lovely on your wrist or finger.”

He stood in awe until he heard the pounding feet of the palace guards.

“The palace guard found him, however, and dragged him back to the palace where he endured years of torment at the hand of his father and brother.” Ilyana continued.

Jungkook sat shaking.

How was he able to see the story in his mind?

“With every beating, the prince lost more and more of his humanity. The very viciousness that the king tried to instill in his own son was inflicted upon him and the crown prince. He slaughtered them and hung their bodies from trees in the mountains, letting the birds pick at their flesh. When nothing but bones were left, he had the soldiers throw their skeletons in the river.”

“Damn.” Taehyung whistled. You shivered, the feeling crawling down your spine.

“And once this cold-hearted prince became king, he had only one woman on his mind for him to marry. The same, precious little girl who offered to place a flower around his finger.”

“The king had her brought to the palace, where he essentially threatened her into marriage. At first, their relationship was tense but with time, the flower peddler’s daughter saw what was once in her young, sensitive prince. She brought out the best in him, hoping his kindness towards her could reflect more upon his actions in the kingdom.” Ever so often, Ilyana would pause and look you in the eye as she spoke about the queen. Her eyes carried a heaviness, a burden of emotions that you felt had no right to be turned against you.

“Unfortunately, however, it did the opposite and his reign got harsher, and the control he placed over his wife was suffocating. The citizens were taxed harshly, and corruption in the palace ran rampant. Jeongguk cared more for his wife than he did for being king. He was extremely possessive of her and forbid the chambermaids and knights from speaking to her. The queen eventually tired of this treatment and worked with the townspeople to overthrow the king. She disappeared in the night, and he was executed with her name on his lips. Thus, this was the last of the Drokest dynasty.” Your tour guide finished.

The room was hushed with the power of the story. Jungkook grit his teeth as more images flashed by in his mind.

The cracking of a whip against the air, the sting on his back and the smell of blood. His voice was hoarse from screaming.

The feeling of blood on his hands as he rid himself of his tormentors.

The joy he felt when he slipped a golden band onto his queen’s fingers.

The despair and anger that consumed him when she turned against him.

You had your eyes glued to the painting. Your chest ached painfully at the images of those two, young people. In every other portrait, the royal family is side by side staring cold and unforgivingly into the onlooker’s eyes. But in this portrait, as the queen grasps the king’s hands, she smiles gently. Her eyes are crinkled a bit, and the king beams as he turns his eyes on her.

How long must he have held his head in that position?

Since the beginning, I only ever had eyes for you. You are my saving grace, flower petal.

You turned, expecting to see someone next to you, but there was just empty space.

“Who said that?” you muttered.

Your eyes scanned the room for Jungkook, worried about how he was feeling after hearing the story. Perhaps it had hit him as hard as it hit you. Or perhaps it had made his uneasiness worse.

The young man stood in front of the painting, as close as the red rope allowed him. He scrutinized every aspect of the work.

Why did it feel so familiar?

He felt a hand on his shoulder and jolted. “Woah, are you okay?” You chuckled.

His eyes refused to land anywhere near you and his voice was currently not working, so he settled for a nod.

“The story must have gotten to you too. I was just thinking about how much love he had for her to break his neck staying in one position for the painting…” You looked at him searching for a laugh, or even a smile, but to your surprise, Jungkook had tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Jungkook?” You gasped out and reached to wipe them away.

He smacked your hand away harshly, his hood falling down to cover his eyes. Without another word, he stormed out of the gallery.

You were about to go running after him when Ilyana stepped in your path. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

“What? Oh...yes.” You said. “In another life, I’m sure they would have made a great pair.”

Ilyana laughed gracefully. “I admire the way you think. Would you like to hear a little known fact?”

“Sure,” you said trying to hide your frustration as you watched your friend get farther and farther away. “Why not?”

“Rumour has it, King Jeongguk had the sweetest nickname for his queen.” Ilyana mused. “He called her flower petal.”

Your blood froze.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the summer was extremely hard. Ever since the travel colloquium, Jungkook had been ignoring you. Two weeks into the school year his behavior hadn’t changed. He would be with Taehyung, and once you walked up to the two he found a way to step out of the conversation.

There was a day when he stopped giving excuses, and it was the same day you stopped accepting them.

“Hey, (Y/N),” Taehyung asked as you were in his dorm room one night. The two of you were eating pizza and playing video games, as usual, relaxing from a busy, stressful week of adulting. He sat relaxing in his Gucci shirt and sweatpants. “Why are you and Jungkook so tense? Are you fighting or something? Did you two have sex over the summer and then things got really awkward, so you stopped talking?”

You spluttered, choking on a slice of pizza. “Tae, what? No! Absolutely not! I don’t know what went wrong--we were looking at that painting from the Drokest dynasty and he flipped out on me and hasn’t spoken to me since. I don’t know what I did wrong...”

“You shouldn’t let him treat you that way, especially if you don’t deserve it,” Taehyung advised. “Why don’t you confront him about it?”

“You know I’m not a very confrontational person. I don’t like getting into other people’s business. Then again, Jungkook isn’t just ‘other people’. So if he’s going through something, I should at least try to meet him halfway.” Your argument changed direction in a matter of seconds as you reconsidered your thoughts.

“Most definitely!” Taehyung cheered you on. “It isn’t too late, why don’t you go over to his apartment now?”

You hesitated but grabbed your bag. “Alright. I guess I’m off, then.”

Taehyung walked you to the door, hugging you goodbye.

On the way to Jungkook’s, you thought over everything you were going to say. Things ended so awkwardly back at the museum, you hadn’t the slightest idea what to do.

You passed by a familiar green and white sign, looking at the multiple flower bouquets and stands.

This would either go horribly wrong or horribly right, but it was going to happen nonetheless.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

You stood, shaking for some reason, in front of Jungkook’s door. He resided in a quieter part of the university town, a considerable distance from campus.

When terms with you two were better, he would join you and Taehyung’s “legendary” sleepovers and rarely had to worry about the distance. Lately, according to Taehyung, he’d been shutting himself inside his house.

Jungkook was a good student--he’d show up to class, never handed assignments in late, and was virtually passing every subject. But for the past couple of days, his teachers hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him.

You gulped.

“Come now, (Y/N). You’re not walking into certain death here.” You spoke under your breath. “This is a friend of yours who is shutting himself away from you, and you care about him. This is serious.”

With that self-encouragement, you rang the doorbell twice and stuck the flowers behind your back.

It was quiet inside for a moment, but you soon heard floorboards creaking. The chain slid into place before the door slightly opened.

As he peered out the crack, he saw you standing there with a smile on your face. His eyes widened.

“Hey, Jungkook.” You rocked back and forth on your heels. “I know it’s been a while but...I’ve been worried about you since our museum trip...I’m sorry for anything I did to offend you back then and I would sincerely like to talk to you about anything you’re worried about.”

He eyed you for a few moments. Without another word, he closed the door and removed the chain.

“Come in.” He said quietly.

You smiled, entering with your front to his so that he could not see your gift.

Jungkook was never this demure before, you noticed.

The apartment was dark. All of the lights were off, save a single lamplight illuminating his desk. It looked like the apartment of a recluse.

“So you have willingly returned to me, my love?” Jungkook murmured.

“What?” You asked, turning your head to face him.

“What?” He replied, locking the door behind him. “I didn’t say anything.”

You laughed weakly, eyeing the lock he just turned. “Sure, okay. But on a more serious note...”

Rather than the usual doodles and pieces of artwork Jungkook would have strewn around his apartment, there were clippings of articles about the fifth king and queen of the Drokest dynasty pinned to the walls, curtains, and windows. From art reviews to historical findings, any piece of information he could find was stapped to a chalkboard near the desk like a considerable life map.

“Were you that fascinated with the king and queen?” You asked him. “I still find the ending unsettling. I kind of wish it had ended another way, you know?”

This was obviously dangerous territory, for the last time you tried to talk to him about them, he’d burst into tears.

Yet when you looked at Jungkook, his eyes were alight with a hope that had not been present before.

“Yes!” He said, beaming. “That’s why I’ve been trying to find out so much about them...I want to recreate ou-their story so that they can get the best ending possible.”

“That’s cute.” You chuckled. “I wish you all the success in making that happen.”

“What did you bring me?” He questioned. “I’m ever so curious.”

You blushed, ignoring his antiquated speech. “Funnily enough, I was coming from Taehyung’s dorm-”

You didn’t notice the way his face darkened.

“-and on my way here, I passed by a flower shop and saw these and, well,” You handed him the bouquet. “Aren’t they beautiful? I think they’d look adorable on someone’s wrist or-”

“Wrapped around someone’s finger, yes.” Jungkook took the flowers so carefully, treating them like precious glass.

“Yes, how did you know?” You wondered.

“It was just a feeling...” Jungkook placed the flowers on his table and started preparing a vase for them. “...you know, (Y/N), when we were at the museum listening to the story, you didn’t feel anything strange?”

“Strange? No, I-actually, there was something a little weird. I thought you or Taehyung had said it to me, but after the story ended I heard someone calling me their ‘saving grace.’ But there was no one next to me the whole time.”

Since the beginning, I only ever had eyes for you.

Your head began to pound harshly. You grimaced and sat on a chair by his living room table.

Your friend placed the vase in the center of the table, setting the flowers in the water. “So you don’t remember anything other than that?”

Jungkook’s voice was oddly menacing. He trembled in the darkness of his apartment.

“No, should I?” You said.

Why is he shaking?

“You remember nothing of our past.” Jungkook lifted his head and those deep, dark, brown eyes were teeming with rage. “You remember nothing of your betrayal, yet your actions remain the same.”

“Jungkook, what are you talking about? I never betrayed you!” Your headache wasn’t getting any better and the situation had clearly worsened.

“I’ve been using my time to find out any and all information about us,” He continued. “My death was broadcasted all over the kingdom, with the next ruler being the son of one of the village elders. You, however, you disappeared without a trace.”

Your head was spinning too fast for you to understand. “Your death? The kingdom? ...Jungkook. Do you honestly think you’re the fifth king of Drokest?”

“I don’t think! I know I am!” He hissed at you. “I didn’t ask to remember, but now that I have do you expect it, all of it, to be water under the bridge?”

“Is that why you’ve been so angry at me?” You stood now furious, head pain be damned. “You think I’m the queen from the painting? You think I want you dead?”

“Like I said, your own actions betray you.” He gestured towards the flowers you brought him. “I can clearly see that history is about to repeat itself.”

“Those people are dead, Jungkook!” You finally burst. You had had enough of his emotional tantrum and gaslighting. “They lived, they loved, they’re gone! We are us! Here! In 20XX!”

Jungkook grabbed you by the shoulders and slammed you so hard against the wall you saw stars. But they weren’t the normal stars erupting behind your eyelids.

The sky was lit with constellation upon constellation. A cool night breeze blew your (h/c) hair from your face. You reached up to brush it back for the hundredth time when another hand grabbed yours.

“For you, my love.” A young man with dark hair and dark eyes appeared next to you, holding out a beautiful hairpin. The flower on it was a dazzling red, and the beads that hung from it shimmered of gold and pink.

You accepted the gift with a bow and trembling hands. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

When you tried to fix the ornament in place, your hands were shaking so bad it would not stay still. He gracefully took it and in one swoop, locked your hair behind your ear.

“I know that you are afraid of me,” he claimed as you stiffened. “I won’t pretend that I have not done some things others may consider atrocious...”

“Yet you have nothing to fear from me, darling. Should you give yourself to me, I promise you will see me anew.” He wrapped his arms around you so easily, as if they had always been there. “As a changed man, I will do better for you.”

You relaxed some. “Your Majesty-”

“Jeongguk.” He interrupted. “Please, call me by my name.”

You blushed and whispered his birth name. “I am afraid of you. I’m not crafty enough to lie in your presence. But there is something I have wanted to ask you since the wedding.”

“Speak.” Jeongguk rubbed his head into your shoulder. “Anything you ask of, I will comply with.”

You gently pushed him off of you so that you could look him in the eyes and it would not be taken as rejection. “Why me? My family and I have done nothing but vend flowers for years. I have no special meaning to this kingdom, I truly can not comprehend how I can be its queen.”

The king was still for some moments. “Your flowers were my only friends in this palace.” He muttered at last. “In this sad, cold place where I was confined to my room, I pressed the petals between the pages of my books simply to feel their smoothness and warmth later on.”

His arms, strong and constricting, still rested around you. They tightened as he went on, holding you to the point where you felt that you could not breathe.

“When my father and brother chose to discipline me into becoming like them every day, it was the love for your flowers that they tried to beat out of me. My love for you.” He smirked. “Clearly, it didn’t work.”

You shivered and resisted the temptation to look to the mountains, where the bodies of the previous king and crown prince were still hanging, swaying in the wind.

“I chose you because you are the reason I stay human. Since the beginning, I only ever had eyes for you. That precious day when we met on the market streets, and you offered to tie a flower around my finger. You are my saving grace, flower petal.”

With a harsh gasp, you were brought out of the memory. Your hands grasped Jungkook’s arms like a vice and your chest heaved as you tried to catch your breath.

The vision..the voice...they were real.

Jungkook patiently waited for you to calm down, tsking as you slid to the floor still in his arms.

“That’s just like you, petal. Blaming me for not being able to recognize your wrongdoing.”

“So I was the...” you said. “And you were...we really...why?”

“I couldn’t tell you why, (Y/N). I hardly know why myself.” Jungkook said. “I laid here in torment since the summer, trying to find a way to prove to myself that it wasn’t real.”

“The visions?” You asked.

“Your betrayal.” He gritted out. “The way you sold me out to the villagers like some common criminal. I screamed until my throat bled, begging for you to come back and you never did.”

Your eyes widened with awakened fear. “I...it was...”

“Do you still stand by that decision?” Jungkook asked as he kneeled next to you on the ground.

“I...had to...” You whispered. Even after all these years, your feelings hadn’t changed. He was destroying the country, you, and himself. “Everything you touched was poison.”

Jungkook let out a sickly, dark laugh. He wrapped his hands around your throat, squeezing tighter and tighter, bringing his lips to your ear.

“I suppose that alternate ending you were waiting for has arrived, then, hasn’t it?”

You feebly kicked at the spot between his legs but he jerked back without removing his hands. “Don’t worry, petal. I’ll make sure we go back to being happy and in love. With that, we will have the perfect ending. We can start the sixth line that never got to be.” His voice was dreamy and his eyes were light, despite the fact that he was applying enough strength to your neck to choke you out.

“N..o...” you barely managed to get the word out. It didn’t matter how much you resisted. Jungkook had centuries worth of anger backing him up.

"Don’t make me break you, petal,” he brushed tears from your eyes and shushed you like a child. “Flowers can’t grow to be as beautiful as they can be if the stems aren’t intact.”

I never should have come, you thought to yourself.

“Yes, you never should have betrayed me. But it’s alright, (Y/N). As you said, those people are dead and gone. We will start anew in this century and this life...and perhaps even the one after that.” He smiled, looking down at your unconscious figure and stroking your hair.

“I don’t care how many lives I have to live if it means I can finally be with you, petal.”

#royalty #historical #historical fiction #yandere jeon jungkook #jeon jungkook #yandere bts #yandere bts x reader #reincarnated au #reincarnation #reincarnation au #bts x reader #dark bts au #posessive jeon jungkook

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babyconnectingworld · 4 years

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Can weaning your baby cause maternal depression?

A year into nursing my third son, I went to feed him for the millionth time and the strangest thing happened: I was overcome with the almost nauseatingly strong urge to not. I knew it was time to begin the weaning process, just as I’d done before with my other two babies. It took a few weeks to fully wean him, using the same gradual approach I’d taken with his big brothers, all around the 14-month mark. I expected a smooth transition into toddlerhood and looked forward to a life without another human attached to me. But the onslaught of physical and emotional changes that soon followed was overwhelming and all-consuming. I developed seemingly random symptoms I’d never experienced before: debilitating headaches, mood swings, sadness, anxiety and lethargy—it felt like PMS with a side of the flu. It was more intense than the first months of pregnancy had been. After some passive attempts to google my symptoms and find someone who could relate online, I realized I was dealing with one of the least discussed but more difficult parts of postpartum life: an intense reaction to weaning. I can describe it only as the “weaning fog.” My always reliable social media mom groups, and even some deeper research, produced little advice and very few articles on the weaning fog. Of course, I found information on the basics of weaning: preventing engorgement and finding alternative ways to continue bonding with the baby. But this wasn’t what I was experiencing. I took pregnancy tests (negative), visited my doctor (“It’s a phase”) and talked to other moms (huge variety of experiences). I was frustrated and I needed to know why I was feeling like garbage. My husband and I now refer to what happened to me as the “dark side” of weaning. Let’s start with the facts: Research does not, technically, show that postpartum depression or anxiety surges at this time. But that’s because mothers aren’t specifically screened for depression during weaning, as it’s usually a temporary phase and everyone weans at different times—it could be three months postpartum or three years postpartum. High-quality research simply does not exist yet. However, plenty of women report feeling the effects of the hormonal changes that occur during weaning. Reproductive psychiatrist Alexandra Sacks, author of What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood and the host of the Motherhood Sessions podcast, explains it this way: “Some women are more sensitive to hormonal shifts than others; some have more dramatic mood changes around periods, during pregnancy, postpartum and around weaning, but these are individual sensitivities—so some people feel better, and some feel worse.” Others don’t notice any mood changes at all. A decline in oxytocin, the bonding hormone stimulated by breastfeeding, may lead to some women feeling low, says Sacks. She also explains that some women feel better after weaning if they had found breastfeeding to be stressful or disruptive to their own sleep (which may increase stress hormones). When you stop breastfeeding, prolactin (the milk-production hormone) drops off, estrogen shoots back up, and all of it sent me into a PMSing, semi-permanent state of terribleness. Verinder Sharma, a professor of psychiatry with a cross appointment to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Western Ontario, confirms that the prolactin decrease is the issue, but it’s not the whole story: What matters is how the prolactin affects other changes in the brain and results in depression—or even mania. Sharma says to look for a “clustering of symptoms.” Some women may experience comparatively simple hormone changes with weaning, while others might be plunged into a full-blown postpartum depression. I sure had a cluster of symptoms, but I didn’t feel they were depression-like. It felt more physical for me. “We make a distinction between symptoms and syndromes,” says Sharma. For women, all “reproductive events” related to hormonal changes—this can include pregnancy and postpartum, as well as monthly PMS, menopause, and when you’re getting your period for the very first time—increase the risk of psychiatric problems, he says. For example, bipolar disorder mania is extremely affected by hormonal changes—one in three women with bipolar disorder will experience an onset within a year of starting puberty or getting their first period. It’s also the mental disorder most exacerbated by childbirth, according to Sharma.

How to stop breastfeedingIn the 18th century, doctors and psychiatrists did, in fact, distinguish between postpartum disorders and the “lactational period,” but in contemporary studies, they haven’t done this. Sharma says we are still evaluating men and women too similarly and that a paradigm shift needs to take place for us to more holistically consider a woman’s hormones in relation to her mental health. “That change should reflect the heightened risk around the time of reproductive events,” including during weaning, says Sharma. Due to the lack of research in this area, Sharma says there are no concrete numbers on how many women experience depression or other mental disorders during weaning. He thinks screenings for mood disorders during weaning should be as commonplace as mental health assessments during the early postpartum period. Ideally, doctors should be considering and connecting potential changes at each major hormonal shift in a woman’s life. While my so-called weaning fog was nothing like bipolar mania, I’m certain it was affected by the soup of hormones flowing from my pituitary gland and swirling throughout my body. In addition to this hormonal chaos—or maybe because of it—I was also feeling a little sad that breastfeeding was over, while simultaneously feeling glad that we had stopped. After nursing three babies, I felt a sense of nostalgia and freedom at the same time. It’s that classic push-pull feeling of parenthood: Looking forward yet yearning for the past, too. Mourning the breastfeeding period and feeling a sense of grief or loss is common. Catie Agave*, a 36-year-old mom in Toronto, felt it intensely, since she knew she was most likely going to have only one child. “The journey was ending for us, so that brought on sadness as well,” she says. While she weaned her three-year-old gradually, she started to feel foggy within two weeks of completely weaning. “I wasn’t prepared for the change,” she says. “I didn’t feel like myself. I was more exhausted even though he was finally sleeping more. By week three or four, I had a lack of interest in daily activities, which is difficult when you have a child of that age.” She kept her feelings to herself at first, and then did some googling, but she found very few research-based articles and a lack of support, even in her usual go-tos: her Facebook mom groups and breastfeeding forums. “Nobody talks about it.” “There are a lot of people talking about postpartum depression,” she says. “And reading their symptoms, I thought, yeah, this is what I have—this is depression. But nobody ever said you can have postpartum depression from weaning, too. I was very sad, and it lasted for a long time. I couldn’t find anyone else going through that,” she says. “It was a scary experience.” Agave says she was hesitant to talk to her doctor because she assumed postpartum depression (PPD) was for moms of infants, not moms of toddlers or preschoolers, and she worried she’d be judged for her choice to practise extended breastfeeding. She credits her sister with encouraging her to see a doctor, in spite of her fears. “The doctor was supportive and mentioned postpartum depression can happen up until three years,” she says. Sacks is working to popularize the term “matrescence,” originally coined by an anthropologist in the 1970s, as a better way to describe and fully capture the ongoing transitions of motherhood over time, even if your baby is now growing into a toddler. “It’s a helpful framing of new motherhood as a developmental phase, like ‘adolescence’—it’s not a coincidence that the words sound similar,” she says. “Both matrescence and adolescence describe shifts that are challenging because they involve changes in so many parts of life, ranging from the physical, hormonal, social, emotional and all the rest.” Adolescence is a gradual process—it isn’t instant in the way motherhood can be divided into pre-baby and post-baby life. But we need to be forgiving of ourselves, and to acknowledge that it might take time to adjust to all the shifts and challenges happening at once. Your body, your brain chemistry and your identity are all changing. Whether it’s a few months after birth or three years later, women shouldn’t feel ashamed if they experience the weaning fog, like me, or true depression symptoms, like Agave. We all have our own recovery period. Sacks encourages moms to remember that the end of breastfeeding doesn’t mean your baby needs you any less. Agave, who had struggled with anxiety in the past—but never depression—was ultimately referred to a treatment program where she improved through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). She was relieved to know CBT was an option, in addition to taking prescription medications, such as antidepressants. (She was prescribed an SNRI but chose to focus on CBT treatment instead.) “Eventually, my hormones regulated and the feeling of depression significantly decreased, but to this day, the anxiety piece is still there. I think a lot of it is the stress of being a mom.” Around the time I was preparing to pursue professional help, my own symptoms eased up, around two months after they began. I found myself reflecting back on the previous two months, asking, “What just happened?” It had felt like the flu, mixed with mild depression, combined with all those yo-yo-ing feelings about my relationship with my baby. I felt so thankful to feel “normal,” or like myself, again. Batya Grundland, a family physician with an emphasis in obstetrics and women’s health in Toronto, and the former head of maternal care at Women’s College Hospital Family Practice, says gradual versus cold-turkey weaning can play a part in the intensity of hormonal changes. She believes weaning is unlikely to be the sole cause; rather, it’s a complex puzzle with multiple additional factors happening all at once. “The tricky thing is that it would be hard to associate symptoms only with weaning,” she says. For many mothers, reductions to the nursing schedule often coincide with a return to full-time or part-time work. Some women will also experience the return of their period, with ovulation and menstrual cycles beginning to regulate again during the same time frame. “It could make sense that describe feeling pregnant. With the prolactin and estrogen changes, you could feel a whole bunch of things,” says Grundland. Not only are hormones changing drastically during this phase, but women may also be spending long days away from their babies, weaning by necessity (or attempting to pump at work), juggling full-time employment, adjusting to the work/daycare dash, not sleeping enough at night and forgetting to take care of themselves in all of this. “Moms are so busy—they need to be reminded that self-care is important, and we need to figure out ways to better support mothers,” says Sacks. She nudges parents to ask themselves how much they’ve slept and when they ate their last real meal. Do you have time to simply go to the bathroom and brush your teeth alone? Have you had time to yourself not engaged in childcare? Sacks says moms need to reconnect to who they are outside of parenting—like seeing friends, spending time with a romantic partner or pursuing non-child-related interests. “If you cut out the majority of activities that were essential to your routine before having a baby, you may feel disconnected from your identity.” Both Sacks and Grundland also recommend seeking help if temporary feelings of sadness become long-term or interfere with daily activities, but they agree that some sadness can be normal for some individuals. Most women can expect to feel physical and emotional changes for about four to six weeks, says Grundland. My journey through the weaning fog, and my version of self-care during the recovery period, meant seeking out meals with multiple food groups, a simple thing that had fallen off the priority list when I was caring for a colicky baby and keeping my other two toddlers alive and happy. I distinctly recall a three-course lunch I bought for myself, including a rack of ribs, that reminded me how to enjoy other things again, as a separate human from my baby. I had forgotten that I needed to eat real food, too. The end of breastfeeding doesn’t mean your baby needs you any less, emotionally, says Sacks. It’s like every other bittersweet aspect of parenting: “You feel a sense of longing when you see clothes your child no longer fits into, but you’re happy they’re growing. A baby is able to eat foods, but the ‘baby phase’ is now behind you. You can want two things at once.” I wanted to be the selfless, amazing super mom, but to also feel zero guilt treating myself to that rack of ribs—alone—instead of nursing a baby for the fourth time that day. I wanted to feel even-keeled and clear-headed again, yet still bond with my baby in the ways breastfeeding had magically provided. In the end, the months-long weaning fog was just another example of the bizarre and unexpected, yet temporary, phases in my first few years of motherhood. Read the full article

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lindyhunt · 6 years

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18 of the Best Product Page Design Examples We've Ever Seen

If you look at how product pages take shape across different companies, it's clear they run the gamut. Some go for the direct approach, displaying an image of a product and explaining why someone should buy it.

Other companies create elaborate pages with moving parts and fancy, interactive elements.

Still other companies create delightful product pages that give users an authentic experience as they browse through what the company has to offer.

Believe it or not, not all of the most captivating product pages have enterprise-level programming behind them. To give you an idea of what's possible -- from the small business all the way up to the household name -- we scouted out 18 examples that we find truly admirable.

The pages below have mastered their messaging, value propositions, and general product descriptions such that these sites resonate with their unique buyer persona.

(And after checking out these pages, you might want to buy their products, too.)

18 of the Best Product Landing Page Designs

1. Bellroy

Bellroy sells thinner-than-typical wallets. There's value to that -- but what is it, and how do you get the consumer to understand it?

To answer those questions, Bellroy divided its product page into three stages of the buyer's journey -- understanding the problem, how to fix the problem, and how Bellroy can resolve the problem.

There's even an interactive section that shows how the skinny wallet will fill up in comparison to a different wallet. As users move a slider back and forth along a line, both of the wallets fill up with cards and cash, visually displaying the very problem Bellroy's skinny wallet solves.

[Click here to see Bellroy's full product page.]

2. Wistia

Wistia is a video hosting and analytics company that provides users with detailed video performance metrics. It might sound like a snooze-fest, but let's dive into what really makes this product page stand apart.

First, we're presented with five, colorful graphics illustrating their tools' value propositions. And in case that's all the user really needed to see, those graphics are followed by two calls-to-action.

But, if you continue scrolling, you'll see a video with information about Wistia's capabilities for that video -- calls-to-action, email collectors, video heatmaps, and viewing trends.

One of the best ways to explain a visual platform's features is to demonstrate them on a product page. This one shows users all of Wistia's features and how they work, day-to-day.

[Click here to see Wistia's full product page.]

3. Square

Square is a mobile transaction company that merchants can use to collect payment from customers -- anywhere, any time, as long as they have a compatible phone or tablet.

The product marketing challenge here is to show why Square is an easier alternative than a typical cash register -- and its product page displays those reasons in a visually captivating way.

Product Description

The main headline of each section of this product page has bold, succinct copy:

"Small credit card reader, big possibilities."

The rest of the page is clearly organized headlines -- which kind of read like answers to frequently asked questions -- plenty of white space, succinct copy, and appropriate images. Anyone looking into each section can understand exactly how Square works at every stage of a transaction.

[Click here to see Square's full product page.]

4. Rent the Runway

Some companies -- especially in ecommerce -- can have up to thousands of product pages. Rent the Runway, an online dress rental company, is one of them.

Rent the Runway has an individual product page for every dress it carries, with all the information a customer could want -- images, measurements, fabric, price, and reviews. So what sets them apart? The exceptional detail of the "Stylist Notes" and "Size & Fit" sections.

Product Description

These details are clearly and carefully curated from stylists and reviewers. They don't just explain what a dress is made of and how it looks -- they cover how it fits on every part of the body, which undergarments should be worn with it, and for which body types it's best suited. That kind of information not only delights customers and encourages their trust, but it also makes for a more confident buying decision.

Also, notice how there's plenty of white space surrounding the product images and description. According to research by ConversionXL, that white space creates a higher perceived value -- in this case, price -- of the product in the user's mind.

[Click here to see Rent the Runway's full product page.]

5. Daily Harvest

Daily Harvest develops superfoods in the form of smoothies, soups, and more, and delivers them to your doorstep. What makes these foods' product pages so outstanding? They show you exactly what makes these foods so super in a format that's both clear and digestible -- no pun intended.

Check out one of the Daily Harvest's smoothie product pages, below. Not only can you see what the smoothie looks like, but hovering over the lefthand preview icon, below the main image, shows you the foods used to create this drink. Scroll down, and you'll see each ingredient and a simple description of each one.

Product Description

The product description of this smoothie is just as creative as the landing page itself.

"Kicks fatigue to the curb. Leaves inflammation in the dust. Makes bloating a thing of the past. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Ginger + Greens!"

[Click here to see Daily Harvest's full product page.]

6. Oreo

If you've seen any of Oreo's marketing, you shouldn't be surprised they're on this list. But sometimes, being well known can actually make it harder to create a product page. So how did they do it?

The focus of Oreo's product page is how these simple, classic cookies can help people unleash their imaginations, dare to wonder, and become generally happier. It features a series of videos, one after another. One is accompanied by the lyrics, "It's so easy to let your imagination go when you play with Oreo," paying tribute to the age-old discussion about the "best" way to eat them. The page takes a creative, bold approach to marketing with what might otherwise be thought of as an ordinary snack.

Oreo also took a unique design to this page. Even though the cookies themselves are monochrome, the page is wonderfully colorful, from the videos, to the backgrounds, to the graphics.

[Click here to see Oreo's full product page.]

7. Fitbit Charge

When I took on this blog post, I asked a few people for their favorite product page suggestions. I was amazed how many people immediately recommended Fitbit -- and after checking out the site, I can see why.

The page below helped unveil the original Fitbit Charge -- now succeeded by the Fitbit 3 -- and starts off with a value proposition, rather than a list of features. It's a hero image of people hiking a mountain, who we can imagine are wearing Fitbits, with the copy, "Energize your day."

As you scroll down the page, it goes through four quick steps explaining how the product works. What's more, a lot of these are interactive -- the section under "Everything you need, all in one place" allows users to hover over different features to see how they appear on Fitbit's mobile app.

But the page also explains why these features are valuable. For example, one tracks everything you do from walking, to running, to sleeping. Why does that matter? Well, you can have your current records on hand, and try to beat them.

Knowing that users might not remember all of the specifics when they leave the page, Fitbit was sure to focus on how these features will actually make a difference in the visitors' lives. Well played.

[Click here for Fitbit Charge 3's new product page.]

8. Volkswagen

Volkswagen takes an interactive approach to its product marketing. Instead of listing out all of the features you can have in a car, the company walk you through the process of actually building your car. As you go through that process, Volkswagen highlights the different features you could choose, then gives you a preview of what the car will look like and how that will affect the price.

Even though I'm not currently in the market for a new car, I personally had fun tinkering with the different customization features on the page. What color do I want? Do I want premium audio? (Yes.) It's an interesting way for the brand to eliminate the notorious connotations of "car salesmen," by allowing users to learn about and select features independently.

Plus, there's a nifty matchmaking feature that allows you to see which nearby dealerships have the car with all of your preferences in its inventory.

(If you want to see a regular product page, they've got that, too.)

[Click here to see Volkwagen's full product page.]

9. Seattle Cider

The folks at Seattle Cider claim their cider is "not your standard cider." Well, neither is the product page. It reads like a story, beginning with attractive, high-definition images of the cider selection, which happen to have really cool label designs. As you hover, an explanation appears of what differentiates Seattle Cider's products from others, and what makes each variation special.

But my favorite part is what comes next: a really cool, interactive display of how cider is made from start to finish, which plays for users as they scroll. It's a surprising and delightful user experience that goes above and beyond the typical product page, because it doesn't just display the products. It shows where they come from, and how.

[Click here to see Seattle Cider's full product page.]

10. OfficeSpace Software

OfficeSpace sells facility management software to help folks manage, well, office spaces. Like the name, the product page is very clear and direct.

Each section of this product page is dedicated to a different feature of the software. The headline explains the feature, and the subheadline explains why this feature is important as you evaluate different software.

That makes it easy for prospects to quickly digest what the product offers, but also read more details on its value proposition, if they choose to. And, if someone wants to learn even more about a particular feature, there are clear calls-to-action to do so.

[Click here to see OfficeSpace's full product page.]

11. Orangina

This carbonated citrus drink has been around since 1935, and it has exactly four products -- original, red orange, light, and tropical. So, how does Orangina keep its product page both current and special?

For one, it's fun to explore. When you hover your mouse over any of the blocks, the picture or icon animates -- the bottles dance around, the orange slices in half, and the thermometer drops. The animated images and bold colors fit in perfectly with the Orangina brand's bold, fun personality.

Also, you might notice that some of the blocks are actual products, while the others are simply tips and details about their products. If you don't have a lot of products to sell, consider interspersing them with tips and information about the products you do have available.

[Click here to see Orangina's full product page.]

12. Mango Languages

Mango Languages creates "lovable" language-learning experiences for libraries, schools, corporations, government agencies, and individuals. Its homepage has illustrated calls-to-action for each of these buyer personas -- from public libraries, to government offices, to those who are homeschooling their kids. Each of those calls-to-action leads to a different product page that's colorful, clearly written, and very comprehensive.

Take a look at the example for homeschool teachers below. Like every other part of the website, it exudes Mango's friendly, approachable, and helpful brand personality. The video couldn't be more delightful. I mean, a guitar-playing mango in a top hat? Yes, please.

As you scroll, you're greeted with clear value propositions that use playful language that's true to brand. Everything about the page says "simple to use," "fun," and "effective."

[Click here to see Mango's full product page.]

13. Helix Mattresses

It's one thing to sell a mattress -- it's another thing to sell a good night's sleep. Helix Mattresses is laser-focused on the latter, having designed a product page that organizes each mattress by its level of plushness and support.

By looking at Helix's product line in chart form, website visitors don't have to examine each mattress individually to find the attributes they're looking for. Simply find the row and column that matches your bedding needs, and click through to your chosen mattress's product page to learn more.

Product Description

It can be difficult to know what "plush," "firm," or "supportive" really mean in a mattress -- they all seem so subjective. For that reason, Helix is all about brevity in its product descriptions, using evocative explanations of each category a mattress might belong to.

"Plush Feel: Soft top of your mattress that lets you sink in like a cloud."

"Balanced Support: Not too much, not too little. Best for side sleepers with thin to average body types."

"Firm feel: Firm top of your mattress with no sink or give."

[Click here to see Helix's full product page.]

14. Minwax

Minwax makes products to help people care for their wood furnishings and surfaces. Riveting, right? But the brand has managed to create a product page that's not only relevant, but also, helps users quickly and easily find what they're looking for.

That's thanks partly to the Minwax Product Finder module. It functions like a quiz, asking a series of multiple-choice questions, like "What kind of project is it?" and "What are you looking to do?" Once you answer the questions, the quiz generates recommended products, which includes a handy "Don't Forget" list with the tools you'll need to get the job done -- things like safety glasses, gloves, and sandpaper. Helpful tips like this go above and beyond a normal ecommerce product page.

[Click here to see Minwax's full product page.]

15. Ministry of Supply

Ministry of Supply specializes in comfortable formal wear, and it shows you just how comfortable in any one of its garments' product landing pages.

Take the product page for the Juno Blouse, below. Below the photo gallery of a woman modeling the product, Ministry of Supply gives visitors "proofs," revealing the blouse's thread count, materials, and other key qualities that make the product unique.

The product page's best trait might actually be its motion graphics, using basic looped videos that demonstrate the clothing's resilience and flexibility.

Product Description

Ministry of Supply describes its products' technical benefits but without sacrificing a friendly tone:

"Unlike silk, Juno is designed for everyday performance without the fuss. It's moisture-wicking, breathable, and wrinkle free, so you can dress your best without specialized care."

[Click here to see Ministry of Supply's full product page.]

16. Liulishuo

Liulishuo is a China-based startup that builds English language learning tools for personal development and test prep purposes. The company's mobile app product page offers a clean but media-rich overview of its curriculum.

As you can see below, the bottom of the page plays a crisp motion clip of the video-based coursework in action on a smartphone. It's essentially an app demo before users even download the app.

At the top of page, Liulishuo makes cool use of QR codes by allowing users to download the app just by scanning the app's QR code on their mobile device. Presenting a software product in this way is a smart effort to increase customer acquisition simply by making the product easier to get.

[Click here to see Liulishiuo's full product page.]

17. Metavrse VR Photobooth™

Metavrse, a virtual reality (VR) consultancy and product developer, has just about the most immersive product page we've ever seen. The company sells not just VR insight, but also VR tools to help modern businesses better engage their customers in their goods and services.

One of those tools, which has a killer landing page, is the VR Photobooth™.

Metavrse's VR Photobooth™ features both a VR headset and an actual cube-shaped room that people enter while wearing the headset for a 360-degree, branded experience. And what better way of demonstrating this experience than right there in the center of the product page? Check it out, below.

Metavrse displays its VR headset facing away from the website visitor, with a moving panoramic background that gives businesses a nearly firsthand demo of what's waiting for them (or, more specifically, their customers).

Product Description

Metavrse elaborates on its VR Photobooth™ via a full PDF, which website visitors can download for free at the bottom of the product page. Regarding the cube-shaped room itself, the company has some enticing but informative product copy:

"Up to 4 guests can enter the booth at once to have their photo taken among a dazzling display of video imagery and mirror magic."

[Click here to see Metavrse's full product page.]

18. Nfant®Nipple

Nfant®, an infant nursing product, takes the transition from breastfeeding to oral feeding seriously -- as is evident on the company's product page for the Nfant®Nipple.

What sets this small business apart from other nursing and parenting services is its use of data to attract customers.

The product page below touts several types of bottle top-shaped nipples, and each one offers a different level of flow when the baby is drinking. As involved as the conditions of each product are, however, the product page delivers the information gracefully using color coordination, a video demonstration, and even a graph comparing each product's flow range that nursing mothers can refer back to.

Nursing moms are always educating themselves on the resources they have for keeping their children healthy as they develop. With that in mind, Nfant's detailed but easy-to-understand product page knows its buyer persona well.

[Click here to see Nfant's full product page.]

Product Page Best Practices

So, what have these brands taught us about product pages? It boils down to a few must-haves:

Make it interesting and fun, especially if you have a less-than-riveting product.

Make it easy for visitors to find what they're looking for.

Make it personal. Allow users to "build their own" product, to show them that you can meet their preferences.

Make it informative. Without bogging it down in detail, be sure to include the right pieces of information that will show users what sets your products apart.

Want more website design examples? Check out creative 404 error messages.

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healthandfitnessrecipes-blog · 6 years

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U.S. National Debt Now Equivalent to the Amount of Money Missing from the Treasury

https://healthandfitnessrecipes.com/?p=9417

Isaac Davis, Staff Writer Waking Times

In March of 2018, the U.S. national debt topped $21 trillion dollars, and now the average debt liability for an individual taxpayer is projected to be $161,022 by 2019. This means that every American taxpayer pretty much owes the government a house, when you consider that the median house price is around $200,000.

That’s right, even your happy, bubbly one-year-old future taxpayer, who is too new to the planet to have any idea what any of this means, will owe someone else a house by the time she’s old enough to get a job.

At present, even though the government is collecting record high individual income taxes, the debt continues to rise, as do taxes, fees, permits, regulations, and government sponsored extortion of citizens. This doesn’t bode well for the average American.

“With the debt per taxpayer as high as it is, if the government continues to raise taxes on middle income earners and above, it will become increasingly difficult for many of these individuals to preserve their standard of living. This will result in a reduction of wealth that spans the entire income spectrum, excluding perhaps the super-rich.” [Source]

Remarkably, at the same time the debt hit $21 trillion, others were noticing that the publicly available number of unaccounted for, or lost or stolen, taxpayer dollars is also now at $21 trillion. Most of this seems to have gone missing from the Pentagon.

Coincidence?

READ: GLOBAL DEBT IS NOW AN INSANE $164 TRILLION, BUT WHO EXACTLY DO WE OWE?

Forbes magazine published an article on this in December of 2017, noting how year after year the defense department’s annual financial reports include insane sums of money that goes unaccounted for in the form of unsubstantiated adjustments. That is, faulty reporting, something which would land an ordinary person in jail for tax evasion.

“..data used to prepare the year-end financial statements were unreliable and lacked an adequate audit trail. The report indicates that just 170 transactions accounted for $2.1 trillion in year—end unsupported adjustments. No information is given about these 170 transactions. In addition many thousands of transactions with unsubstantiated adjustments were, according to the report, removed by the Army. There is no explanation concerning why they were removed nor their magnitude.” [Source]

Former U.S. Congressman Ron Paul recently posted about the missing money phenomenon, noting that most of this astronomical amount of money is the result of out of control military spending.

“Do you know how much the Pentagon spent between 1998 and 2015 that is “unaccounted for”? TWENTY-ONE TRILLION DOLLARS $21,000,000,000,000 Where did it go? No one knows…it’s “unaccounted for”.” ~Ron Paul

Looking at this situation in layman’s terms, there’s a criminal on the block, one that everyone knows but is afraid to confront, who steals from everyone in the neighborhood again and again. And it’s gotten to the point where the criminal is free to act with impunity, stealing ever greater amounts from his neighbors.

There is no one who can help. The police won’t do anything because they are paid off by the criminal. The criminal is well-armed because he doesn’t follow the same gun laws that the neighbors have to adhere to. He regularly flaunts his weapons and threatens anyone who looks at him wrong.

There is nothing the neighbors can do about it, and the criminal knows this and becomes more and more brazen as time goes by. And the criminal lives a life of luxury and ease, while the neighbors have to work harder and harder to recover from their ever-increasing losses.

READ: FORMER WALL ST. BANKER SUGGESTS GLOBAL DEBT MAY NOT BE OWNED BY HUMANS

The neighborhood has become a sort of feudal preying ground for the criminal, and the neighbor’s futures look more and more bleak with each passing year. They have become, in effect, slave workers for the criminal, and the situation holds no promise of improving any time soon.

While the neighbors are all honest, good, hard-working people, desperation is slowly sinking in and in time the situation will become volatile and very dangerous.

Final Thoughts

In other news, the IRS has recently been granted the power to withhold passports from citizens who owe back taxes in the amount of $50,000 or more. This could be some 362,000 people, according to Time magazine, who face the prospect of internal imprisonment for doing something the government itself does, but at a tiny fraction of the scope.

“The State Department says that violators who do not resolve their tax issues before applying for a passport will have their application delayed or denied. Meanwhile, people with seriously delinquent tax payments who have already applied for a new U.S. passport will not have a new passport issued to them until they have resolved their tax issues with the IRS.” [Source]

This is something that doesn’t seem to register on the public mind, and as long as Americans are more interested in allowing themselves to be divided and conquered by the media, we can only expect for the national debt crime to exacerbate.

Read more articles from Isaac Davis.

About the Author

Isaac Davis is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com and OffgridOutpost.com Survival Tips blog. He is an outspoken advocate of liberty and of a voluntary society. He is an avid reader of history and passionate about becoming self-sufficient to break free of the control matrix. Follow him on Facebook, here.

This article (U.S. National Debt Now Equivalent to the Amount of Money Missing from the Treasury) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Isaac Davis and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.

Like Waking Times on Facebook. Follow Waking Times on Twitter.

Credits: Original Content Source

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nofomoartworld · 7 years

Text

Hyperallergic: Required Reading

One of the final images of Saturn and its main rings captured by the Cassini space probe before it was commanded to fly into Saturn’s upper atmosphere and burn up in order to prevent any risk of contaminating Saturn’s moons. You can find more impressive images here. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)

One medieval historian explains what to do when Nazis are obsessed with your field of research. David M. Perry writes:

White supremacists explicitly celebrate Europe in the Middle Ages because they imagine that it was a pure, white, Christian place organized wholesomely around military resistance to outside, non-white, non-Christian, forces. Marchers in Charlottesville held symbols of the medieval Holy Roman Empire and of the Knights Templar. The Portland murderer praised “Vinland,” a medieval Viking name for North America, in order to assert historical white ownership over the landmass: Vinlander racists like to claim that whites are “indigenous” here on the basis of medieval Scandinavian lore. Similarly, European anti-Islamic bigots dress up in medieval costumes and share the “crying Templar” meme. Someone sprayed “saracen go home” and “deus vult”—a Latin phrase meaning “God wills it” and associated with the history of the Crusades—on a Scottish mosque. The paramilitary “Knights Templar International” is preparing for a race war. In tweets since locked behind private accounts, University of Reno students reacted to seeing classmate Peter Cvjetanovic at the Virginia tiki-torch rally, saying they knew him as the guy who said racist things in their medieval history classes.

Brigido Lara is an artist responsible for many Pre-Columbian fakes that continue to fool museums around the world. Kristen Fawcett of Mental Floss writes:

It’s not entirely clear whether Lara began making these figurines for fun or profit. But according to the man himself, traveling dry-goods merchants had noticed his talents before he had even reached his teens. They accepted his “interpretations,” as he called his early work, in lieu of cash—then sold them on the black market. Looters also came to Lara, asking him to fix and restore stolen works. Eventually, the artist wound up working in a Mexico City atelier that produced forgeries.

No detail was too tiny for Lara. He visited archaeological sites to study just-dug-up artifacts, and harvested clay from the surrounding region to sculpt exact likenesses. He later told Connoisseur magazine that for true authenticity, he even crafted his own primitive tools and stockpiled 32 grades of cinnabar—a reddish form of mercury used by the Olmec, an ancient Mesoamerican civilization that existed between 1200 BCE and 400 BCE—for precise pigmentation. He finished his works with a ancient-looking patina made from cement, lime, hot sugar water, urine, and other ingredients, and coated the final products with a seal made from dirt and glue.

Hank Willis Thomas’s new public art work in Philadelphia is getting a lot of attention, including on our Instagram account, but did you know the source image? Introducing the history of the black fist afro comb:

This iconic comb represents the ethos of the civil rights movement, with the power of the clenched fist and the peace sign in the centre. For subsequent generations the comb has a range of meanings. In preparation for the 2013 exhibition ‘Origins of the Afro Comb’ at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, whenever I met someone who had a black fist comb I asked what it meant to him or her. Answers have ranged from: ‘Black Power’; ‘Black pride’; ‘Nelson Mandela’s release’;‘ it’s just a nice shape’; and ‘unity’. For younger generations the combs also seem to take on a sense of the retro or ‘old skool’. It is perhaps the comb’s multiple associations that have ensured its success across generational divides and time. Whereas some of the young people I spoke to were not aware of the details of the American Black Power movement, their own associations with the design were nonetheless linked to ‘Black’ culture and identity.

RELATED: A Signe Wilkinson editorial comic.

This is your brain on art:

If you think about it, having a great time at the theater defies logic in many ways. We’re surrounded by strangers, bombarded with unusual images and often faced with a wordless language of symbols. Yet, on a good night, we generally laugh more, cry more and enjoy ourselves more at a live performance than when we’re watching TV at home. We may even lose ourselves and feel connected to something larger. How does this happen?

… Social connection is one of the strengths of our species — it’s how we learn from others by imitation. We’re keenly attuned to the emotions and actions of people around us, because our brains are designed for this.

If, for example, you’ve ever gone to an experimental performance-art piece where there’s hardly anyone in the audience but you, and you’ve felt a little exposed and awkward, this is why. We crave social connection. And the cues we get from those around us help our brains make sense of our surroundings. This starts from the moment we walk into a crowd.

There’s a board game that takes 1,500 hours to complete (kill me):

It’ll take you about 1,500 hours (or 62 days) to complete a full play of The Campaign For North Africa. The game itself covers the famous WWII operations in Libya and Egypt between 1940 and 1943. Along with the opaque rulebook, the box includes 1,600 cardboard chits, a few dozen charts tabulating damage, morale, and mechanical failure, and a swaddling 10-foot long map that brings the Sahara to your kitchen table. You’ll need to recruit 10 total players, (five Allied, five Axis,) who will each lord over a specialized division. The Front-line and Air Commanders will issue orders to the troops in battle, the Rear and Logistics Commanders will ferry supplies to the combat areas, and lastly, a Commander-in-Chief will be responsible for all macro strategic decisions over the course of the conflict. If you and your group meets for three hours at a time, twice a month, you’d wrap up the campaign in about 20 years.

The urge to take photos of tragedies fascinates me, so this man’s explanation for the reasons why Omega Mwaikambo took photos of the Grenfell fire victims in London is quite a read. He tells the BBC:

It was about 05:00, as he returned home to his flat, that Mwaikambo spotted the body. A corpse, wrapped in plastic, apparently dumped in the enclosed courtyard area outside his flat’s front door. “God knows what I was thinking in my head,” he explained. “But I was holding my iPad. The body was not wrapped tightly; it was loosely wrapped. “Inside I was just saying to myself ‘does anybody know this person?’ I just took the picture.” Mwaikambo started off by taking photos of the body bag from a distance. Then he went further. He lifted the plastic sheeting around the corpse’s face, and took more. “[I was] not even knowing what I was doing.” he said.

Font detectives exist, according to Glenn Fleishman at Wired:

Detecting fraud via fonts isn’t as sexy as sleuthing art forgery; it often involves tedious measurements with digital calipers, examinations under loupes and microscopes, charts that track the slight differences between two versions of the Times Roman face, or evidence that a particular form of office printer didn’t exist at the document’s dated execution.

Even so, such measurements can be worth millions—and can even be lucrative, for the handful of experts (maybe a dozen) who have hung out a font-detective shingle. Phinney had an expert declaration filed last month as part of a lawsuit against Justin Timberlake, will.i.am, their labels, and others. The suit is about a sample used in Timberlake’s 2006 “Damn Girl,” but the case might hinge on the size and clarity of the type on Timberlake’s CD cover. (How could that be? Read on.)

How filmmakers have finally been able to light actors with darker skin and get it right. Nadia Latif writes:

Lighting should be used to sculpt, rather than bleach, an actor’s skin, a technique championed by Charles Mills in Boyz N the Hood in his night-time exterior shots. Although many directors lament the shift from shooting on film to digital cameras, one of the advantages is that one can digitally recreate the effects of shooting on extinct Fuji, Kodak or Agfa film stocks, which were particularly good for capturing the richness of black skin. The colour palette is key, whether in the production design or the post-production grade – drawing a rainbow of colours from the actors’ skin itself to create something more vibrant and less concerned with being “real”. After all, the original title for Moonlight was In Moonlight Black Boys Appear Blue.

The last of Calabria’s ancient Greek community:

There are many theories or schools of thought regarding the origin of the Greko community in Calabria. Are they descendants of the Ancient Greeks who colonized Southern Italy? Are they remnants of the Byzantine presence in Southern Italy? Did their ancestors come in the 15th-16th Centuries from the Greek communities in the Aegean fleeing Ottoman invasion? The best answers to all of those questions are yes, yes, and yes. This means that history has shown a continuous Greek presence in Calabria since antiquity. Even though different empires, governments, and invasions occurred in the region, the Greek language and identity seemed to have never ceased. Once the glorious days of Magna Graecia were over, there is evidence that shows that Greek continued to be spoken in Southern Italy during the Roman Empire. Once the Roman Empire split into East (Byzantine) and West, Calabria saw Byzantine rule begin in the 5th Century. This lasted well into the 11th Century and reinforced the Greek language and identity in the region as well as an affinity to Eastern Christianity.

Today, there is more evidence of a Byzantine legacy rather than an Ancient Greek or Modern Greek footprint.

The small European nation of Luxembourg has shown how far a tiny country can go by serving the needs of global capitalism, now they are helping private companies colonize outer space. Atossa Araxia Abrahamian reports:

Space is becoming a testing ground for these thorny ethical and legal questions, and Luxembourg – a tiny country that has sustained itself off of regulatory intricacies and tax loopholes for decades – is positioning itself to help find the answers. While major nations such as China and India plough increasing sums of money into developing space programmes to rival Nasa, Luxembourg is making a different bet: that it can become home to a multinational cast of entrepreneurs who want to go into space not for just the sake of scientific progress or to strengthen their nation’s geopolitical hand, but also to make money.

It already has a keen clientele. Space entrepreneurs speak of a new “gold rush” and compare their mission to that of the frontiersmen, or the early industrialists. While planet Earth’s limited stock of natural resources is rapidly being depleted, asteroid miners see a solution in the vast quantities of untapped water, minerals and metals in outer space. And the fledgling “NewSpace” industry – an umbrella term for commercial spaceflight, asteroid mining and other private ventures – has found eager supporters in the investor class. In April, Goldman Sachs sent a note to clients claiming that asteroid mining “could be more realistic than perceived”, thanks to the falling cost of launching rockets and the vast quantities of platinum sitting on space rocks, just waiting to be exploited.

A pretty impressive drone video:

Goldenboye:

G O L D E N B O Y E doin a heckin perfection from rarepuppers

And a new Saudi textbook strangely features an image of Yoda (from Star Wars) with King Faisal (tweet):

https://twitter.com/SilentRuins/status/910757978306961409/photo/1

Required Reading is published every Sunday morning ET, and is comprised of a short list of art-related links to long-form articles, videos, blog posts, or photo essays worth a second look.

The post Required Reading appeared first on Hyperallergic.

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allinfozone-top-news22-blog · 7 years

Text

Ed Sheeran: 'I've got a song that is higher than Thinking aloud'

Ed Sheeran: ‘I’ve got a song that is higher than Thinking aloud’

In the initial instalment of associate exclusive on-line two-part interview, dysfunction Sheeran takes BBC Music newsperson Mark Savage behind the scenes of his third album, ÷ (Divide). In the lobby of Atlantic Records in West London, an advert of dysfunction Sheeran’s huge face peeks out from behind a pendant, smiling beatifically at you. As you get within the carry, there he’s once more. And…

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marie85marketing · 7 years

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Attribution Modeling for E-Commerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know

I’m not going to lie to you: this can get very tricky. It’s so complex that many e-commerce platforms don’t even bother with it.

An attribution model is how you assign credit or value for sales and conversions across various customer touchpoints. It includes all your digital channels – paid search, display, email, social media, organic search, referrals – and the impact that each one has on the eventual conversion.

In the good old days, this was easy. You ran a radio ad, for example, and that brought in five new customers worth $250. That one touchpoint – the ad – got 100% of the credit for those sales. Simple.

But today? According the Content Marketing Institute’s annual report, marketers use an average of 13 tactics, seven different social media platforms, and three paid advertising channels in their efforts.

The route people take to find out about you, learn about you, and ultimately buy something from your e-commerce store can be long and convoluted. Your sales funnel can be big…very big.

How are you supposed to keep track of effectiveness?

Attribution modeling.

But just as the tactics, strategies, and channels have gotten more complicated, so too have the models to assign value to them. They can be basic and rules-based, or elaborate and algorithm-based. Single-touch or multi-touch.

In fact, there are at least five different models that are widely used, and even more depending on how you define and break them down:

First Touch (aka First-Click) assigns 100% of the credit to the first touchpoint in a conversion path. This is great for insight into how people find you (and the top of your funnel), but if they hit three other touchpoints before converting, does it really deserve all the glory?

Last Touch (aka Last-Click) gives the very last touchpoint full credit, no matter how many others they may have traversed. Easy to track and set-up, but almost universally considered worthless nowadays. There’s too much going on beforehand, and it gives zero notice to the top and middle of the funnel activities.

Linear assigns equal value to each step in the conversion path. If a customer traveled through four touchpoints before buying, each would get 25%. This is better – every point is considered and valued – but it tends to overvalue minor ones and undervalue key touchpoints.

Positional favors both the first and last touch – typically giving them each 40% of the credit – while dividing the remaining 20% amongst the middle touchpoints. Obviously, the model can drastically undervalue the middle, especially in a long path.

Time-decay is a simple algorithmic model that gives most credit to the point closest to conversion, and increasingly less as you move away from it. While it still favors the last touch, it does give some kudos to every step along the way, and as such, it’s the preferred model for many marketers and business owners.

And I haven’t even mentioned your best bet: the custom option (a model based on your platform, audience, marketing, and specific business goals). Avinash Kaushik has a great walkthrough of setting up your own custom model on Google Analytics over at Occam’s Razor.

But be prepared. He begins the post with these ominous words: “There are few things more complicated in analytics (all analytics, big data and huge data!) than multi-channel attribution modeling.”

And he’s not lying. It can be – and usually is – complex, tedious, and frustrating. A lot of it is trial and error over time.

That said, it’s absolutely worth it. Implementing an attribution model helps you understand what’s influencing customers to buy, how they shop, where they’re coming from, and what channels and tactics deserve the lion’s share of the credit (and therefore increased allocation of your marketing budget).

As you start out on your attribution adventure in the e-commerce sphere, there are five things you’ll want to keep in mind before you take that all-important first step.

Assisted Conversions Are the Bulk of Your Sales

Up to 98% of visitors to your site will not buy on their first visit. 55% will leave within 15 seconds of arriving.

84% of consumers say they either “completely” or “somewhat” trust recommendations from family, friends, and colleagues about products. 88% trust reviews from strangers as much as those from people they know.

Average cart abandonment rate is 68.81%.

Econsultancy found that 88% of consumers turn to online reviews when considering a purchase.

All of this is just to point out the obvious: few people are showing up at your digital storefront and buying something on their first visit. They drop by, do some poking around, check out some online reviews, explore your social media accounts, search for upcoming sales or coupons, do a little more virtual window shopping, check out what others are saying about you on Twitter, and finally return to your site when they’re ready to slap down that cash.

Each of those leads them just a little closer to the sale. Each interaction assists in the eventual conversion. The bulk of your sales come from these assisted conversions, so you’d best be tracking them and giving at least some credit to each one so you truly understand your customer behavior and how you should be marketing to them.

Want to see for yourself? Head on over to Google Analytics and check out Conversions > Multi-Channel Funnels > Path Length to see exactly how many conversions are happening after just one interaction, two interactions, three interactions, and so on. You’ll be amazed.

Next, look at Conversions > Multi-Channel Funnels > Assisted Conversions. Take a close look at the last column labeled “Assisted/Last Click or Direct Conversions”. A value less than 1? That channel is typically the last touch point before a conversion (i.e. sale). Greater than 1? It’s a step along the way. Using either first or last touch attribution? Those valuable cogs in the machine are being ignored.

I’ll say it again: assisted conversions are the bulk of your sales. Your model needs to recognize that.

There is No Ideal Attribution Model

Every model has its limitations and shortcomings. In a perfect world, we could just point at the one model to rule them all and be done with it. But it doesn’t work that way.

A custom model is best, but it does take awhile to collect the necessary data and customer understanding to pull it off. And if your data is wonky, it’s going to give you wonky insight.

Attribution modeling is as much art as science. And as much data-supported fact as intuition and educated guesswork.

Your custom model has to reflect your customers and your business. You need to consider the behavior that’s important to your goals, and the “soft” conversions (signing up for the newsletter, requesting a customer rep contact them, and so on) that ultimately carry value because they result in sales…no matter how far down the line.

What are your top conversion paths and top assisted conversions? That tells you what your customers are doing. Are you using those to their full potential? Are you throwing money away on channels that don’t make an appearance in those reports?

Customers search, consider, and buy in different ways. Make a model that works for them. And you.

You Need to Rely on Data

There’s no room in attribution modeling for blind guesses. Your efforts should be guided by hard data at all times and in all things.

Rely on Google Analytics and the enhanced ecommerce plugin to collect the data you need. Set up goals and funnels. Turn to the reports to inform your decisions.

You should be tracking all your efforts as accurately as possible to guarantee solid data and insight.

Use auto-tagging options in Adwords, Bing Ads, and DoubleClick.

Use UTM parameters for social campaigns.

If you’re spending time, energy, or money on something, you should be collecting data on it. Far too many e-commerce platforms don’t actively check and use their analytics. Don’t fall into that group. You’re a savvy business owner, not a statistic, right?

Analytics should not scare you. Anyone can get started with it, regardless of their comfort level with technology (and you more than likely won’t even need to mess around with the code thanks to easy integration with platforms like Magento, Shopify and WordPress plugins).

The more data you have, crunch, and consider, the more accurate your decisions, and the better your understanding on the conversion paths your customers are actually taking to the (virtual) checkout counter.

Want to grow your business and revenue? Get the data. Use the data.

You’re spoiled for choice in the 21st century, and practically every third-party service you employ offers its own set of data collection and analysis (and/or streamlined integration with the most popular analytics platforms) for their particular area. Take advantage of the windfall.

LTV Should be Factored In

Do you want to sell once and be done with it? Or would you prefer customers return again and again? Let’s assume the answer is obvious (because it is).

Consequently, you need to consider the lifetime value (LTV) of each customer. Your top customers – the creme de la creme in the top 1% – are worth up to 18x more than an average customer.

Far too often, though, we give little to no thought to those returning customers and the value they bring with them.

They get ignored, and the conversion path for them might slip through the cracks. Not good. They’re not coming back the same way new customers are discovering you. Their path is unique and needs to be recognized…because it deserves credit for the revenue it’s bringing in.

So look at the traffic in your entire funnel, especially at the top. Chances are, you’ll find a good chunk of those returning customers are coming via direct (entering the address or using a bookmark), social media (when you tweet or post about sales and specials), or email (permission-based marketing is a godsend, so don’t ignore it…get those details early to keep everyone informed and in your funnel).

New customers are more likely showing up via paid ads, organic search, referrals, affiliates, and social media.

It’s all important, but you also know that it’s cheaper to retain a customer than it is to acquire a new one. You’d better make sure you’re recognizing the paths that are bringing them back in your attribution model, and they should carry more weight than those that bring in the new folk.

Step away from single conversion events and think long-term. Consider the lifetime value, not just the order value. Optimize the channels that matter.

Campaign Tracking is a Must

Remember that famous saying: he or she who tracks, survives. Or words to that effect.

We’ve already mentioned how crucial data is to, well, everything. To keep a steady supply of that rich, zesty data flowing, you need to track your marketing campaigns. Each campaign. Every channel.

Email tracking is easy with MailChimp and AWeber. The tools are already in place.

Use UTM parameters to generate custom URLs for your campaigns. Either manually add the tags to the end, or create them quickly with an online generator. You can use them in email, social media, newsletters, guest posting, paid ads, banners, and more. With them, you can effortlessly track each campaign.

Get set-up on both Google Analytics and Bing Webmaster Tools. They’re your one-stop shop for all things data and tracking. Want to understand your customer behavior and click actions better? Seek and ye shall find.

If you’re using more than one marketing channel, campaign tracking is an absolute must. Without it, you really have no idea what’s working, who’s coming from where, what to optimize, and what to scale back.

Analytics shows behavior, while attribution explores the effectiveness of the channels you’ve got in the mix. It’s the perfect pairing.

Here’s what we know for sure:

Attribution is getting harder as marketers turn to more and greater channels, methods, and campaigns.

The bulk of your conversions involve multiple interactions – nearly 80% according to some research.

Despite this, 55.2% of marketers use single-touch attribution models (while only 16.4% use multi-touch, and a frightening 28.4% use either none or don’t know).

Be different. Do the right thing. Build an attribution model that reflects what’s really going on (and for some extra oomph, explore the Attribution Model Comparison Tool on Google Analytics).

Are you on the multi-touch attribution train? What type of model are you currently using? What do you wish you knew when first starting out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

About the Author: Mo Harake brings over 12 years of ecommerce and digital marketing experience leading brands like FIJI Water, 7Diamonds, Kill Cliff and venture-backed startups to his work as Managing Director of Stray Digital. For more on his approach to ecommerce, content marketing and growth hacking, visit him on LinkedIn or at the Stray Digital blog.

0 notes

samiam03x · 7 years

Text

Attribution Modeling for E-Commerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know

I’m not going to lie to you: this can get very tricky. It’s so complex that many e-commerce platforms don’t even bother with it.

The route people take to find out about you, learn about you, and ultimately buy something from your e-commerce store can be long and convoluted. Your sales funnel can be big…very big.

How are you supposed to keep track of effectiveness?

Attribution modeling.

In fact, there are at least five different models that are widely used, and even more depending on how you define and break them down:

And he’s not lying. It can be – and usually is – complex, tedious, and frustrating. A lot of it is trial and error over time.

As you start out on your attribution adventure in the e-commerce sphere, there are five things you’ll want to keep in mind before you take that all-important first step.

Assisted Conversions Are the Bulk of Your Sales

Up to 98% of visitors to your site will not buy on their first visit. 55% will leave within 15 seconds of arriving.

Average cart abandonment rate is 68.81%.

Econsultancy found that 88% of consumers turn to online reviews when considering a purchase.

I’ll say it again: assisted conversions are the bulk of your sales. Your model needs to recognize that.

There is No Ideal Attribution Model

Every model has its limitations and shortcomings. In a perfect world, we could just point at the one model to rule them all and be done with it. But it doesn’t work that way.

A custom model is best, but it does take awhile to collect the necessary data and customer understanding to pull it off. And if your data is wonky, it’s going to give you wonky insight.

Attribution modeling is as much art as science. And as much data-supported fact as intuition and educated guesswork.

Customers search, consider, and buy in different ways. Make a model that works for them. And you.

You Need to Rely on Data

There’s no room in attribution modeling for blind guesses. Your efforts should be guided by hard data at all times and in all things.

Rely on Google Analytics and the enhanced ecommerce plugin to collect the data you need. Set up goals and funnels. Turn to the reports to inform your decisions.

You should be tracking all your efforts as accurately as possible to guarantee solid data and insight.

Use auto-tagging options in Adwords, Bing Ads, and DoubleClick.

Use UTM parameters for social campaigns.

Want to grow your business and revenue? Get the data. Use the data.

LTV Should be Factored In

Do you want to sell once and be done with it? Or would you prefer customers return again and again? Let’s assume the answer is obvious (because it is).

Consequently, you need to consider the lifetime value (LTV) of each customer. Your top customers – the creme de la creme in the top 1% – are worth up to 18x more than an average customer.

Far too often, though, we give little to no thought to those returning customers and the value they bring with them.

New customers are more likely showing up via paid ads, organic search, referrals, affiliates, and social media.

Step away from single conversion events and think long-term. Consider the lifetime value, not just the order value. Optimize the channels that matter.

Campaign Tracking is a Must

Remember that famous saying: he or she who tracks, survives. Or words to that effect.

We’ve already mentioned how crucial data is to, well, everything. To keep a steady supply of that rich, zesty data flowing, you need to track your marketing campaigns. Each campaign. Every channel.

Email tracking is easy with MailChimp and AWeber. The tools are already in place.

Analytics shows behavior, while attribution explores the effectiveness of the channels you’ve got in the mix. It’s the perfect pairing.

Here’s what we know for sure:

Attribution is getting harder as marketers turn to more and greater channels, methods, and campaigns.

The bulk of your conversions involve multiple interactions – nearly 80% according to some research.

Despite this, 55.2% of marketers use single-touch attribution models (while only 16.4% use multi-touch, and a frightening 28.4% use either none or don’t know).

Be different. Do the right thing. Build an attribution model that reflects what’s really going on (and for some extra oomph, explore the Attribution Model Comparison Tool on Google Analytics).

Are you on the multi-touch attribution train? What type of model are you currently using? What do you wish you knew when first starting out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

http://ift.tt/2jwOmir from MarketingRSS http://ift.tt/2jvHDVW via Youtube

#MarketingRSS

0 notes

dianesaddler · 7 years

Text

Attribution Modeling for Ecommerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know

I’m not going to lie to you: this can get very tricky. It’s so complex that many ecommerce platforms don’t even bother with it.

The route people take to find out about you, learn about you, and ultimately buy something from your ecommerce store can be long and convoluted. Your sales funnel can be big…very big.

How are you supposed to keep track of effectiveness?

Attribution modeling.

In fact, there are at least five different models that are widely used, and even more depending on how you define and break them down:

And he’s not lying. It can be – and usually is – complex, tedious, and frustrating. A lot of it is trial and error over time.

As you start out on your attribution adventure in the ecommerce sphere, there are five things you’ll want to keep in mind before you take that all-important first step.

Assisted Conversions Are the Bulk of Your Sales

Up to 98% of visitors to your site will not buy on their first visit. 55% will leave within 15 seconds of arriving.

Average cart abandonment rate is 68.81%.

Econsultancy found that 88% of consumers turn to online reviews when considering a purchase.

I’ll say it again: assisted conversions are the bulk of your sales. Your model needs to recognize that.

There is No Ideal Attribution Model

Every model has its limitations and shortcomings. In a perfect world, we could just point at the one model to rule them all and be done with it. But it doesn’t work that way.

A custom model is best, but it does take awhile to collect the necessary data and customer understanding to pull it off. And if your data is wonky, it’s going to give you wonky insight.

Attribution modeling is as much art as science. And as much data-supported fact as intuition and educated guesswork.

Customers search, consider, and buy in different ways. Make a model that works for them. And you.

You Need to Rely on Data

There’s no room in attribution modeling for blind guesses. Your efforts should be guided by hard data at all times and in all things.

Rely on Google Analytics and the enhanced ecommerce plugin to collect the data you need. Set up goals and funnels. Turn to the reports to inform your decisions.

You should be tracking all your efforts as accurately as possible to guarantee solid data and insight.

Use auto-tagging options in Adwords, Bing Ads, and DoubleClick.

Use UTM parameters for social campaigns.

If you’re spending time, energy, or money on something, you should be collecting data on it. Far too many ecommerce platforms don’t actively check and use their analytics. Don’t fall into that group. You’re a savvy business owner, not a statistic, right?

Want to grow your business and revenue? Get the data. Use the data.

LTV Should be Factored In

Do you want to sell once and be done with it? Or would you prefer customers return again and again? Let’s assume the answer is obvious (because it is).

Consequently, you need to consider the lifetime value (LTV) of each customer. Your top customers – the creme de la creme in the top 1% – are worth up to 18x more than an average customer.

Far too often, though, we give little to no thought to those returning customers and the value they bring with them.

New customers are more likely showing up via paid ads, organic search, referrals, affiliates, and social media.

Step away from single conversion events and think long-term. Consider the lifetime value, not just the order value. Optimize the channels that matter.

Campaign Tracking is a Must

Remember that famous saying: he or she who tracks, survives. Or words to that effect.

We’ve already mentioned how crucial data is to, well, everything. To keep a steady supply of that rich, zesty data flowing, you need to track your marketing campaigns. Each campaign. Every channel.

Email tracking is easy with MailChimp and AWeber. The tools are already in place.

Analytics shows behavior, while attribution explores the effectiveness of the channels you’ve got in the mix. It’s the perfect pairing.

Here’s what we know for sure:

Attribution is getting harder as marketers turn to more and greater channels, methods, and campaigns.

The bulk of your conversions involve multiple interactions – nearly 80% according to some research.

Despite this, 55.2% of marketers use single-touch attribution models (while only 16.4% use multi-touch, and a frightening 28.4% use either none or don’t know).

Be different. Do the right thing. Build an attribution model that reflects what’s really going on (and for some extra oomph, explore the Attribution Model Comparison Tool on Google Analytics).

Are you on the multi-touch attribution train? What type of model are you currently using? What do you wish you knew when first starting out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Attribution Modeling for Ecommerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know posted first on Kissmetrics Blog

from Blogger http://scottmcateerblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/attribution-modeling-for-ecommerce-5.html

from Scott McAteer https://scottmcateer.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/attribution-modeling-for-ecommerce-5-things-all-sellers-need-to-know/

from WordPress https://dianesaddler.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/attribution-modeling-for-ecommerce-5-things-all-sellers-need-to-know/

#Uncategorized #Scott McAteer

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scottmcateer · 7 years

Text

Attribution Modeling for Ecommerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know

I’m not going to lie to you: this can get very tricky. It’s so complex that many ecommerce platforms don’t even bother with it.

The route people take to find out about you, learn about you, and ultimately buy something from your ecommerce store can be long and convoluted. Your sales funnel can be big…very big.

How are you supposed to keep track of effectiveness?

Attribution modeling.

In fact, there are at least five different models that are widely used, and even more depending on how you define and break them down:

And he’s not lying. It can be – and usually is – complex, tedious, and frustrating. A lot of it is trial and error over time.

As you start out on your attribution adventure in the ecommerce sphere, there are five things you’ll want to keep in mind before you take that all-important first step.

Assisted Conversions Are the Bulk of Your Sales

Up to 98% of visitors to your site will not buy on their first visit. 55% will leave within 15 seconds of arriving.

Average cart abandonment rate is 68.81%.

Econsultancy found that 88% of consumers turn to online reviews when considering a purchase.

I’ll say it again: assisted conversions are the bulk of your sales. Your model needs to recognize that.

There is No Ideal Attribution Model

Every model has its limitations and shortcomings. In a perfect world, we could just point at the one model to rule them all and be done with it. But it doesn’t work that way.

A custom model is best, but it does take awhile to collect the necessary data and customer understanding to pull it off. And if your data is wonky, it’s going to give you wonky insight.

Attribution modeling is as much art as science. And as much data-supported fact as intuition and educated guesswork.

Customers search, consider, and buy in different ways. Make a model that works for them. And you.

You Need to Rely on Data

There’s no room in attribution modeling for blind guesses. Your efforts should be guided by hard data at all times and in all things.

Rely on Google Analytics and the enhanced ecommerce plugin to collect the data you need. Set up goals and funnels. Turn to the reports to inform your decisions.

You should be tracking all your efforts as accurately as possible to guarantee solid data and insight.

Use auto-tagging options in Adwords, Bing Ads, and DoubleClick.

Use UTM parameters for social campaigns.

Want to grow your business and revenue? Get the data. Use the data.

LTV Should be Factored In

Do you want to sell once and be done with it? Or would you prefer customers return again and again? Let’s assume the answer is obvious (because it is).

Consequently, you need to consider the lifetime value (LTV) of each customer. Your top customers – the creme de la creme in the top 1% – are worth up to 18x more than an average customer.

Far too often, though, we give little to no thought to those returning customers and the value they bring with them.

New customers are more likely showing up via paid ads, organic search, referrals, affiliates, and social media.

Step away from single conversion events and think long-term. Consider the lifetime value, not just the order value. Optimize the channels that matter.

Campaign Tracking is a Must

Remember that famous saying: he or she who tracks, survives. Or words to that effect.

We’ve already mentioned how crucial data is to, well, everything. To keep a steady supply of that rich, zesty data flowing, you need to track your marketing campaigns. Each campaign. Every channel.

Email tracking is easy with MailChimp and AWeber. The tools are already in place.

Analytics shows behavior, while attribution explores the effectiveness of the channels you’ve got in the mix. It’s the perfect pairing.

Here’s what we know for sure:

Attribution is getting harder as marketers turn to more and greater channels, methods, and campaigns.

The bulk of your conversions involve multiple interactions – nearly 80% according to some research.

Despite this, 55.2% of marketers use single-touch attribution models (while only 16.4% use multi-touch, and a frightening 28.4% use either none or don’t know).

Be different. Do the right thing. Build an attribution model that reflects what’s really going on (and for some extra oomph, explore the Attribution Model Comparison Tool on Google Analytics).

Are you on the multi-touch attribution train? What type of model are you currently using? What do you wish you knew when first starting out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Attribution Modeling for Ecommerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know posted first on Kissmetrics Blog from Blogger http://scottmcateerblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/attribution-modeling-for-ecommerce-5.html

0 notes

ericsburden-blog · 7 years

Text

Attribution Modeling for Ecommerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know

I’m not going to lie to you: this can get very tricky. It’s so complex that many ecommerce platforms don’t even bother with it.

The route people take to find out about you, learn about you, and ultimately buy something from your ecommerce store can be long and convoluted. Your sales funnel can be big…very big.

How are you supposed to keep track of effectiveness?

Attribution modeling.

In fact, there are at least five different models that are widely used, and even more depending on how you define and break them down:

And he’s not lying. It can be – and usually is – complex, tedious, and frustrating. A lot of it is trial and error over time.

As you start out on your attribution adventure in the ecommerce sphere, there are five things you’ll want to keep in mind before you take that all-important first step.

Assisted Conversions Are the Bulk of Your Sales

Up to 98% of visitors to your site will not buy on their first visit. 55% will leave within 15 seconds of arriving.

Average cart abandonment rate is 68.81%.

Econsultancy found that 88% of consumers turn to online reviews when considering a purchase.

I’ll say it again: assisted conversions are the bulk of your sales. Your model needs to recognize that.

There is No Ideal Attribution Model

Every model has its limitations and shortcomings. In a perfect world, we could just point at the one model to rule them all and be done with it. But it doesn’t work that way.

A custom model is best, but it does take awhile to collect the necessary data and customer understanding to pull it off. And if your data is wonky, it’s going to give you wonky insight.

Attribution modeling is as much art as science. And as much data-supported fact as intuition and educated guesswork.

Customers search, consider, and buy in different ways. Make a model that works for them. And you.

You Need to Rely on Data

There’s no room in attribution modeling for blind guesses. Your efforts should be guided by hard data at all times and in all things.

Rely on Google Analytics and the enhanced ecommerce plugin to collect the data you need. Set up goals and funnels. Turn to the reports to inform your decisions.

You should be tracking all your efforts as accurately as possible to guarantee solid data and insight.

Use auto-tagging options in Adwords, Bing Ads, and DoubleClick.

Use UTM parameters for social campaigns.

Want to grow your business and revenue? Get the data. Use the data.

LTV Should be Factored In

Do you want to sell once and be done with it? Or would you prefer customers return again and again? Let’s assume the answer is obvious (because it is).

Consequently, you need to consider the lifetime value (LTV) of each customer. Your top customers – the creme de la creme in the top 1% – are worth up to 18x more than an average customer.

Far too often, though, we give little to no thought to those returning customers and the value they bring with them.

New customers are more likely showing up via paid ads, organic search, referrals, affiliates, and social media.

Step away from single conversion events and think long-term. Consider the lifetime value, not just the order value. Optimize the channels that matter.

Campaign Tracking is a Must

Remember that famous saying: he or she who tracks, survives. Or words to that effect.

We’ve already mentioned how crucial data is to, well, everything. To keep a steady supply of that rich, zesty data flowing, you need to track your marketing campaigns. Each campaign. Every channel.

Email tracking is easy with MailChimp and AWeber. The tools are already in place.

Analytics shows behavior, while attribution explores the effectiveness of the channels you’ve got in the mix. It’s the perfect pairing.

Here’s what we know for sure:

Attribution is getting harder as marketers turn to more and greater channels, methods, and campaigns.

The bulk of your conversions involve multiple interactions – nearly 80% according to some research.

Despite this, 55.2% of marketers use single-touch attribution models (while only 16.4% use multi-touch, and a frightening 28.4% use either none or don’t know).

Be different. Do the right thing. Build an attribution model that reflects what’s really going on (and for some extra oomph, explore the Attribution Model Comparison Tool on Google Analytics).

Are you on the multi-touch attribution train? What type of model are you currently using? What do you wish you knew when first starting out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Attribution Modeling for Ecommerce: 5 Things All Sellers Need to Know

0 notes