#ebay marketing tools

[salesoperator1234]

Mastering Your Amazon Business: A Guide to Amazon Seller Tools

So, you've decided to dip your toes into selling on Amazon. Congratulations! Whether you're a seasoned seller or just starting, you probably realise that managing your Amazon business can be quite an adventure. But fear not! With the right tools in your arsenal, you can streamline your operations, boost your sales, and take your Amazon business to new heights. This guide will explore the wonderful world of Amazon seller tools and how they can help you succeed in the competitive online marketplace.

But first things first, what exactly are Amazon seller tools? Well, think of them as your trusty sidekicks in the world of e-commerce. These tools are designed to help you with everything from product research and inventory management to marketing and customer service. In other words, they're like having a team of virtual assistants working tirelessly behind the scenes to support your Amazon business.

Now, let's dive into some of the essential Amazon seller tools that every seller should have in their toolbox:

Product Research Tools: One of the keys to Amazon's success is finding profitable products to sell. Product research tools like Jungle Scout, Helium 10, and AMZScout can help you identify high-demand products with low competition, giving you a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Keyword Research Tools: Keywords are the lifeblood of Amazon SEO. Keyword research tools like MerchantWords and Sonar can help you discover the most relevant keywords for your products, allowing you to optimise your listings and improve your visibility in search results.

Inventory Management Tools: Keeping track of your inventory levels can be daunting, especially as your business grows. Inventory management tools like InventoryLab and RestockPro can help you stay organised by tracking your inventory levels, forecasting demand, and automating the reordering process.

Listing Optimization Tools: Your product listings are your digital storefront on Amazon, so making them as compelling as possible is crucial. Listing optimization tools like Sellics and AMZDataStudio can help you optimise your product titles, bullet points, and descriptions to maximise your visibility and conversion rates.

Review Management Tools: Positive reviews are essential for building trust and credibility with potential customers. Review management tools like FeedbackWhiz and Feedback Genius can help you monitor and manage your reviews, automate review requests, and respond to customer feedback promptly.

Marketing Tools: Driving traffic to your Amazon listings is critical to increasing sales and growing your business. Marketing tools like Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising and external traffic platforms like Facebook Ads and Google Ads can help you reach new customers and drive targeted traffic to your listings.

Analytics Tools: To make informed decisions about your business, you need access to accurate data and insights. Analytics tools like SellerApp and ManageByStats can help you track your sales performance, analyse key metrics, and identify growth opportunities.

Customer Service Tools: Providing exceptional customer service is crucial for building long-term customer relationships. Customer service tools like Zendesk and Freshdesk can help you quickly manage customer inquiries, resolve issues, and provide personalised support.

By harnessing the power of these Amazon seller tools, you can streamline your operations, optimise your listings, and scale your business more efficiently than ever before. So, whether you're a one-person operation or a full-fledged e-commerce empire, investing in the right tools can make all the difference in your Amazon success story.

 in conclusion, Amazon seller tools are essential for anyone looking to succeed in the competitive world of e-commerce. From product research and inventory management to marketing and customer service, these tools can help you streamline your operations, optimize your listings, and grow your business more effectively. So, why wait? Start exploring the world of Amazon seller tools today and take your business to new heights!

[dratefahmed1]

#UnlockTheSecret! 15 Million Digital Products in a Crazy Bundle #Free #Downloads #Design #EarnOnline

#Free #Downloads #Design #EarnOnline #SpecialOffers #Freelance #workonlinefromhome Unlock Unlimited Potential with Our 15+ Million Resell Digital Products Bundle! Art u0026 Collectibles,Drawing u0026 Illustration,Digital,digital products,ebooks,plr,template,digital assets,passive income,entrepreneur,online business,plr templates,adobe photoshop,plr planner,work from home,sell on…

[three-dee-ess]

hi! what are your thoughts on the etsy pre-modded 3ds market? do they pose any security risks?

I wouldn't say they pose any security risks, but it's basically one step removed from the people who sell spoof amiibo cards. The only difference is that spoof amiibo cards are a bit more difficult to make and people also generally add custom art and printing techniques to make it worthwhile. (It requires specialized tools that not everyone will have access to) On top of that, they are cheaper than actual amiibos (for obvious reasons)

A 3DS however is really easy to mod, doesn't require any special tools (other than a computer with an SD card slot, something that you can access at most public libraries- and depending on the model, a screwdriver) and an etsy modded 3DS will be more expensive than just buying a regular one off of ebay.

On top of that, you don't know what version of hacks they use or have the backup files incase something goes wrong- so if you brick it by accident then it's going to be 20x harder to bring it back.

Never buy a modded 3ds for more than $200. A good price range for a 3DS is $150~$70. Modded 3ds's should be on the lower end.

TL;DR- it's a scam more than anything and it's better to hack it yourself so that you know exactly what you are messing with. if you are buying a pre-modded 3DS they should go for less than a non-modded one.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT SEO & MARKETING NEWS FOR ECOMMERCE, March 2024

Welcome to my roundup of SEO and marketing news and useful resources for ecommerce businesses, March edition. There is a lot going on with Google, and some really strong marketing pieces this time around, so let's get right to it.

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Google launched both a core algorithm update and spam updates on March 5, with the spam update ending on the 20th. Core updates now include the Helpful Content algorithm. In early observations, Etsy and Reddit both picked up visibility in the UK. 

The Helpful Content algorithm updates late last year destroyed a lot of sites’ Google traffic. Avoid the things they had in common.  You can read the full study here. 

Ecommerce sites were some of the biggest losers in Google visibility in 2023, with Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, Target and Best Buy in the top 10 of sites whose Google appearances slipped. 

New to Google SEO? They’ve revamped their SEO starter guide for people like you. And if you are more advanced and want to learn how to optimize your website product pages, this is a good overview. 

This lengthy article on backlinks for ecommerce websites covers pretty much all the angles, including the really difficult ones. 

Reminder that if you want to rank on Google for a search term, you need to look at what is already ranking, and make decisions based on that content. [video and transcript] This works for most search engines, not just Google. 

Yes, Google crawls “high quality” content more often. I used to refer to this as Google thinking the page is “interesting”, so I guess I will need to change my wording...

While Google sends the most traffic to websites, people spend a lot more of their online time elsewhere. Market where people are, not just where your stats say they came from. 

Sadly, Google has stopped providing caches of website pages in its search results. While you can still see the caches of some pages by using the Google search Cache:[page link] as in cache:https://cindylouwho-2.tumblr.com that will eventually stop working as well. Bing still provides caches, but unfortunately both it and the Wayback Machine do not crawl often enough to give really recent results most of the time. 

Missed Google news in February? Here’s your update. And just in case you are really behind, here is January. 

Not Google

Unsure if your website has enough good backlinks? Bing Webmaster Tools will now tell you if you don’t. 

Yandex - the top search engine in Russia - was sold by its Dutch ownership group to a consortium in Russia. 

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

General

A US study of social media use found that the most popular site was YouTube, with 83% of adults using it. Two-thirds of American adults use Facebook, while TikTok is up to ⅓ of the US population. 

Because they do change periodically, here are the latest image and video sizes recommended for the top social media platforms. [infographic]

Bluesky is now open to everyone - it was previously invite-only. 

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

Meta has introduced several changes to its Ad options, applying to Facebook and Instagram. 

Meta had a great 4th quarter in 2023, with revenue, users, and earnings per share up. “Fast-growing upstarts Temu and Shein, which originated in China, have been pouring money into ads on Facebook and Instagram. Li said on Thursday that revenue from China-based advertisers accounted for 10% of sales for the year and 5 percentage points of growth.”

Instagram

An updated post on Instagram's algorithm and how it works. 

Instagram is still beta testing longer Reels for some users. 

If your account is a brand account, you can now run ads on Instagram with coupon codes right in them. (Some Facebook users can already do this.)

LinkedIn

Among other recent changes on LinkedIn, the algorithm is now looking to boost important content longer than just the first day or two after publication. 

Pinterest

Pinterest has its own stats package, called Pinterest Analytics, but only for “Business” accounts. They show how many people clicked on the outgoing links, how many people saw your pin on their screen, and much more. Here’s everything you need to know. 

Reddit

Reddit successfully launched on the stock market this past week, but questions remain about how this will change the site. 

Google is paying Reddit to scrape its content through the API instead of from the web. 

Snapchat

Snap was a little later than most tech companies doing layoffs recently, waiting until February 5 to let 10% off staff go. 

Threads

Threads is so new that the algorithm is bound to change a lot in the next year, but for right now, here is how it works. 

TikTok

There is an overwhelming amount of info out there on the US attempt to either ban TikTok or force its sale, and much of it is incomplete, so I will let you Google to your heart’s content if you want to learn more. If you are relying on TikTok to drive sales, this would be a good time to make sure you diversify your promotional strategy. 

You can now track trending terms on TikTok through the Creator Search Insights section. “Creator Search Insights will highlight frequently searched topics, which creators can organize by category (for example, tourism, sports, science) or tailor to their content type with the “For You” option. Additionally, creators can filter for “content gap” topics, which are highly searched but have relatively few videos on TikTok covering them.“

TikTok may be testing a photo app, which would obviously compete with Instagram. 

Twitter

What? Twitter may have lied about its Super Bowl ad performance? I’m so not shocked. 

Tumblr

Tumblr will be selling data access to AI companies. 

YouTube

This is a pretty decent article on YouTube SEO. 

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

Small and micro-businesses need an email list. An email list is:  

portable (unlike most social media followers or marketplace buyers) 

is available to almost everyone, as we all need at least one email address if we are online

less susceptible to the whims of algorithms (unlike SEO, marketplaces, social etc.)  

I keep seeing people argue that no one opens emails, but the chart in the article above is proof that is still wrong. (My blog email list averages close to a 70% open rate, depending on the topic and the time I send it. My jewellery email list - which I hardly ever send to - still has an over 30% open rate. My click rates are well above the industry averages, usually 30 to 40% of all recipients for the blog list. These are much better numbers than social, and astronomically better than my clickthrough rate on Google and other search engines.)

Gmail and Yahoo both changed how they handle bulk emails such as newsletters in February. Here’s what you need to know on the basics, including authenticating yourself so your email gets through. 

Find out how to get people to read all the way to the end of your content. 

Get ready for April marketing with 5 topical ideas. National Handmade Day is April 6. 

We should all think twice before deciding to use AI to create content. “Circa 2024, generative AI does not produce new ideas or even develop its own conclusions. Rather, it regurgitates information that it has indexed.” Not convinced? Here’s another article. “AI-generated content represents the literal “average of everything online.”

ONLINE ADVERTISING (EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND ECOMMERCE SITES) 

Google Ads can now be tracked in Google Analytics 4. 

Both Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising were up in the 4th quarter of 2023. 

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Google Analytics 4 tracks organic traffic differently than the previous version. Here’s how to figure it out. 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

I’ve probably posted this specific article before, but it is worth another read: how to communicate with customers.  For example, “Mirroring your customer’s tone lets them know you’re on their side. If a customer is formal, for example, hold back on the LOLs. If they’re more casual, relax your tone.”

According to a US study, Generation Z is skewing the traditional marketing funnel. “Per Archrival’s data, 77 per cent of Gen Zs and 79 per cent of millennials in the US are actively seeking style inspiration at least monthly, with almost half of those looking for style inspiration on social media. When asked where they learn about new brands, products and experiences, video reigns supreme: YouTube is the most popular platform with Gen Zs, followed by TikTok, then Instagram.”

Trend alert: bag charms are back. 

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Almost all of these 12 video tools are free, and some can be used on your phone. 

MISCELLANEOUS

This is an older piece, but it checks out: IKEA Hacks for Craft Show Displays. A few of these could be done with non-IKEA items. 

Want to stay up-to-date on a nearly daily basis? Follow me on Bluesky or on LinkedIn, or become a member of my Patreon.

[l3x01d]

98' Furby Battery Contact Replacement/Repair Guide

What you'll need:

soldering iron, flux, 60/40 leaded solder, related safety equipment

size 1 bit Phillips-head screwdriver

needlenose pliers

new battery contacts (the little metal parts inside the battery compartment that touch the batteries) for AAs (the ones i ended up using i got on ebay and were called "Battery Spring Plate AA Battery Contact Nickel Plate 28mmx12mm for DIY 20 Pcs")

q-tips and very very thin/small disposable make up brushes (i found some marketed as stirrers for drinks or resin)

very thin/sharp pry tool or xacto (depends on how corroded the contacts are! you might not need this)

**If you're using this guide for other electronics: Pay attention to what each contact looks like and where it's placed. Take many pictures both close up and far away to help you later! The point is to try and recreate the contacts as exactly as possible. The most important part is that the batteries "contact" (touch) the metal. If there's multiple parts to the compartment (like on this furby) there should be metal connecting all the parts. This will become easier to understand as you read this guide.

This is xXToh-Loo the VoideaterXx! They've been hanging out on my work table while I worked up to changing their heavily corroded battery contacts.

I'm not gonna go over skinning them since there's so many guides/videos already online. I didnt think of doing this guide until after i finished so the pictures are of new/clean contacts. Sorry for any confusion this causes! step 1. open the battery compartment

step 2. clean whatever you can. i have no pictures of this but i used a combination of scraping the corrosion off with my xacto and cleaning it up with isopropyl soaked q-tips. ive heard white vinegar works really well but ive never used it. if you use white vinegar be careful not to get it inside the rest of the furby! also wipe it down after with water. (making sure its VERY dry before putting batteries inside. use distilled if at all possible. your water may have sediments or metals that could interfere with the batteries)

step 3. bend up the metal that connects the top right side of the contacts. wiggle them until they detach from the compartment. used an exacto or something similar to help with this if they're really stuck. be patient! this might take a while. ****If they really won't budge dont give up! You might need to scrape along the inside edge of the metal [or where you think the metal should be if theyre really rusted/corroded] with your exacto until you dig out a lot of the rust/corrosion. Then try and stab it repeatedly almost like slicing a bagel along the whole side inbetween the metal and plastic. Be careful not to hurt the plastic. Wiggle the exacto side to side all along the edge to break it free.*** Remove and dispose of the old contacts.

step 4. using the xacto and pliers do a similar thing to the other side. there are no metal flaps on this side so it requires more patience but keep going! i promise you'll get it out just be careful. once you get it detached from the back grip the spring with your pliers and pull it out that way.

Step 5. Do the same for the inner right side of the battery compartments. These are unique in that they have a long metal part coming off of the contacts. Remember this for later. You may have to open the casing to remove this part? I cant exactly remember. Just be careful and slow. I go over taking the casing off later on.

Ignore the rest of the contacts for now! Clean everything again to the best of your ability. It's time to take off the casing. There's six screws, two halves of the casing, and one back sensor button. Be careful taking the halves apart! There are speaker wires and I will detail how to do so.

Step 6. Take all six screws and the sensor button out. Keep them together!! They're small and rolly.

Step 7. Take off the casing. Start with the "pet" sensor facing you. Take off the Left casing completely. Crack the Right side a bit until you see the speaker. Grip both wires firmly. Tug it a little to get it out. It shouldn't take much pressure at all. Let the speaker hang and take off the Right casing.

If you tilt your furby up you'll see this spring. be carful with it! mine fell out so you might want to consider taking it out and putting it with your screws.

Pretty much the whole rest of this guide involves soldering. It's annoying but not something that will risk any electronics being destroyed so it's actually a pretty good beginner project.

Step 8. Turn on your soldering iron. Get your safety gear on.

Step 9. Desolder the wires on the side of the contacts and remove the contacts. You might have to really work at these ones! These were the worst ones in mine in terms of corrosion. Make sure there's no corrosion left on the wires. Be careful not to damage the wires with the iron.

Step 10. Clean the compartment again and make sure to get any corrosion on the internals (if there is any! mine didnt have any)

Step 11. Cut the tab off of one of the sets of contacts you have. Keep it and put it aside. Put this in the top Left slot in the compartment. Make sure to put the spring in the - slot and the dome in the + slot.

Step 12. Cut one of the contacts in half along the tab. Keep the tab on the spring side. Put it in the top Right slot in the - side. Bend the tab to secure it.

Step 13. Put the dome from the contacts you cut in half in the Left + slot. Put the tab BEHIND it and bend it to secure them. The domes on the contacts I got don't go out very far so I have to get creative.

Step 14. Cut two more contact sets in half. Cut a strip alll the way down the middle including the tab. Keep these strips for the next step.

Step 15. Solder one strip to the spring side a tabs width inside of the square. The strip should line up with the indent when placed into the compartment.

Step 16. Solder the second strip to the middle of the dome square. Solder another dome ontop of that to ensure the battery makes contact.

Step 17. Place these new contacts into the bottom right of the compartment.

Step 18. Cut another contact in half. Cut another strip off the bottom of a full contact set and THEN cut that contact in half. Solder the strips into the middle of the full spring and dome squares. Place them into the bottom Left of the compartment making sure the strips are through the hole that goes to the internals of the furby.

Step 19. Bend and trim both strips on the inside of the furby. Solder the wires to the bent strips. (Step 9 has a good pic of what its supposed to look like) Shove the second cut dome square behind the soldered in one in the compartment to ensure battery contact.

Make sure the metal contacts touches all the batteries and both long metal ends in the bottom right touches both top right bent tabs when the compartment is closed. It should now work perfectly! Put some batteries in and have fun. : ]

[scotianostra]

March 2nd 1838, an advert was placed for a new joint stock banking firm in Glasgow: marking the founding of the Clydesdale Banking Company.

Two months later, the Clydesdale Banking Company opened for business in Glasgow - and Edinburgh - in May 1838. The history of the bank recalls that it was to be ‘chiefly a local bank - having few branches - but correspondents everywhere’. The bank was initially viewed as the brainchild of a collective of Glasgow businessmen, described as ‘liberal radicals … who were active in the government and charities of the city’. James Lumsden was the lynchpin behind the bank’s formation, a councillor who would later hold the role of Lord Provost of Glasgow.

Throughout the 19th century, Clydesdale hoovered up smaller banks, and was purchased by the Midland Bank in 1920, before merging with the North of Scotland Bank in 1950.

Mergers across the banking industry reduced the number of Scottish banks and by 1969, Clydesdale was the smallest after the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The bank were the first of our banks to start issuing a “polymer” notes in March 2015, and saw them immediately being put on auction site Ebay fetching up yo £100!! Since then the novelty has worn off.

It was eventually sold to the National Bank of Australia in 1987 but has now been separated again and was sold off last year again becoming an independent. In 2018 it was announced that Clydesdale Bank’s holding company CYBG would acquire Virgin money for £1.7 billion in an all-stock deal, and that the Clydesdale Bank will be getting phased out as a brand with Virgin Money being the new name of all the brands they own.

As more and more banks are disappearing from the High Streets, Clydesdale/ Virgin have recently closed 31 branches in locations across the UK, Airdrie, Banchory, Broughty Ferry, Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Galashiels, Milngavie, Musselburgh, Oban, Portree, Stenhousemuir and Wick have all been lost in the last 6 moths.

While Clydesdale are still issuing notes the brand's owner, is retreating from its contracts to supply cash machines run by rival lenders. No longer will you get a crisp Clydesdale polymer note when drawing cash out of other ATM’s on the link system, the contract to supply them is being taken over by the other issuers of notes, Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Scotland. The move to infection-free contactless card payments during the Covid crisis has accelerated the reduced use of readies. With Clydesdale Bank no longer being a trading brand the name will continue to appear on the notes you get out of Virgin Money cash machines, but not any others.

The idea of issuing a Virgin Money banknote must have appealed to Richard Branson, particularly if his cheerful physog appeared on it with an airliner or balloon. But that's not happening. Virgin Money is not saying how much cash it's retiring as notes are returned, but it will be a big reduction from the £2.3bn which I'm understand is now in circulation - around 47% of the Scottish banknote total.

You wouldn't bet on it continuing indefinitely, because it's an odd and expensive advertising and marketing tool to support a brand being consigned to history, so in my opinion the notes will be gone from the Scottish scene before to long so anyone out there who still might have the old paper ones hang onto them, they might just be worth a bob or two in the not too distant future

[gaykarstaagforever]

As an amateur marketing wizard, let me tell you why Tumblr isn't growing into the social media juggernaut Auttomatic wants it to be:

1. That isn't a thing anymore. Get with the times, Pappy. If you're not TikTok or YouTube, or the angry resthome that is Facebook, you aren't going to make money from this. Things have coalesced. You are either making all of the money or you don't get any. This is the market.

2. Their Big Idea was Live, a streaming thing they contracted another company to run for them. The Meet Group is doing good as a streaming provider. ...Tumblr is not a streaming platform. You can't just graft an unrelated thing onto another thing and ???, profit. They might as well have tried to turn it into Ebay.

They picked streaming because streaming is hip with the kids. ...On platforms that exclusively do streaming, and have robust tools to do that and promote streamers. Like Meet Group websites. People aren't looking for a cheap imitation of that, they just go to those to do that.

Sure, it could, theoretically, be a fun bonus thing. But it isn't, it is a weird thing most of us don't like or want here. Neither outcome was ever going to turn Tumblr around. Because, again, we can all do better streaming elsewhere. Why didn't anyone know this?

3. Ever since the Pornocalypse, the Tumblr base (it seems to me) trends young and rather disengaged from the platform. Teenagers drop in every week or so, look around, and move on. How were you going to generate revenue from these people with pay options? They don't have money, and what they have, they ain't spending here.

Even those of us who are here an unhealthy amount to do gay fandom stuff are in a groove with this platform where it is no-obligation. I pay for it to kill most ads, but I am an old man with a job who is bad with my money. I'm the exception. If the core demographic is people with no money, who see little benefit in paying for a thing that is bearable as a free product...they aren't going to give you money. That's the market. What was supposed to happen to change any of that? They didn't bring in older people, and they didn't offer any vital paid benefits. What...what was the plan?

4. We are known internet-wide as the sad gay website of sad gays and their sad gay blorbos. We are mined by them occasionally for our funnest stupidity, but that is this site's brand at this point. Trying to make Tumblr cool and profitable is like trying to turn your drag bar into a competator of Chick-fil-A. It isn't going to happen unless you radically alter your legacy brand. And when you do that, you immediately drive off the core patrons you have. I don't know how you fix that.

Conservatives and moms already have Facebook. They don't need Tumblr. And Tumblr is too Tumblr to be anything else. That is all it is.

Perhaps this platform is just inherently doomed to be exactly what it is, a giant queer money pit. Yahoo certainly thought so -- that's why they dumped us.

It sucks that Auttomatic can't make us profitable. And they're under no obligation to keep trying. But they shouldn't be surprised. We're fun at parties. But you can't take us home.

[mil-doo]

First Film Camera Quick Guide!

I was putting together a list for a partner who's been interested in buying a film camera that can do a little more than his point and shoot and it was recommended to me that I share the picks I sent him!

This is by no means comprehensive but these are the four that come to mind for me. I've kept the options $200 and below (with lens, based on ebay listings) with the idea being if this is your first film camera, or first film SLR, you probably don't want to spend much more than that.

For anyone who's been shooting for a while who has some other options to share please feel free to mention them so nothing gets overlooked!

Nikon F4 ($200)

Pros: It was Nikon's first professional auto focus camera and also has multiple auto exposure modes from full auto, to aperture and shutter speed priority! It has great build quality, Nikons are known to be indestructible. It has advanced metering to help make sure everything in the frame is exposed properly. The F mount has been around for 70 years and counting and has the largest library of lenses available, many of which are fairly inexpensive. It also has the best viewfinder on this list for glasses wearers due to its size!

Cons: It's a tank! It's big and chunky and much like many other auto focus film cameras of the era it has that ugly DSLR look. It has a Swiss army knife worth of features many of which you may never use!

Canon EOS Rebel GII (>$100)

Pros: You can get the body and a lens for under $100 making it the cheapest option on this list! It's capable of auto focus and a number of different exposure modes that let you learn various settings or take pictures with the ease of a point and shoot. The EOS mount lasted for 30+ years so there's a wide variety of lenses across a wide spectrum of prices.

Cons: It's an enthusiast grade camera with consumer grade build quality and a somewhat limited feature set for a late era film SLR --but all the right features are included. It's big, chunky, kinda ugly.

Olympus OM-2 ($150)

Pros: It's really small for a professional camera! It has that classic film SLR look, and it was in FLCL! It's manual focus, but does have some auto exposure tools to assist you. You'll have to dial in aperture to your liking but shutter speed can be determined for you. You can grab one of these with a lens for around $150.

Cons: It will have a steeper learning curve than the auto focus cameras on this list. The OM mount library is pretty limited and while the 50mm lens you probably get with it will be cheap most other focal lengths get a little more pricey due to availability.

Nikon FE ($200)

Pros: Another small manual focus camera with auto exposure features! It uses the F mount so it's an easy system camera to grow into if you think you'll want to experiment with different focal lengths along the way! It's a Nikon so it'll probably outlast us all.

Cons: It's pricier up front than the OM-2 and if you don't think you'll want to experiment with different focal lengths down the line it probably isn't worth it!

Point & Shoot!

If you're looking for a point and shoot my main recommendation is to buy anything that's $50 or less. They all more or less work the same and they're all ticking time bombs of 90s consumer electronic goodness.

Facebook market place is a sadly a great place to find them, and where I got my beloved little Olympus MJU for $20 three years back!

Final Frame

Like I said up top, none of this is definitive! If you find something you think you can grow into that gets you excited to get out and shoot that's the camera for you! The most important thing is to have fun and make some art! Enjoy <3

[dorematrix1]

Unlocking Opportunities: How to Win Cash Online

In today’s digital age, the internet offers a plethora of opportunities to win cash online. Whether you're looking to supplement your income, fund a hobby, or just enjoy a bit of extra spending money, the online world provides numerous avenues to earn cash prizes. From participating in online contests to engaging in skill-based games, the possibilities are vast and varied. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to win cash online, along with tips to maximize your earnings.

1. Online Contests and Competitions

Many websites and social media platforms host contests and competitions that offer cash prizes. These can range from photography contests to writing competitions, gaming tournaments, and more. Websites like Contest Girl and The Balance Everyday list various contests that you can enter to win cash and other prizes.

Tip: Enter contests that match your skills and interests to increase your chances of winning.

2. Cashback and Reward Programs

Cashback and reward programs offer another way to win cash online. Websites and apps like Rakuten, Honey, and Ibotta provide cashback for online purchases, essentially paying you to shop. Additionally, some credit cards offer cashback rewards for every dollar spent, which can be a great way to earn extra cash if you manage your spending wisely.

Tip: Combine multiple cashback programs to maximize your earnings on every purchase.

3. Skill-Based Gaming

If you have a knack for gaming, there are several platforms where you can win cash prizes by playing skill-based games. Websites like Skillz, WorldWinner, and Lucktastic offer tournaments and competitions in various games, allowing you to win cash based on your performance.

Tip: Practice regularly and start with smaller competitions to hone your skills before entering higher-stakes tournaments.

4. Investing and Trading

For those with some knowledge of the financial markets, investing in stocks, cryptocurrencies, or forex can be a lucrative way to win cash online. Platforms like Robinhood, E*TRADE, and Coinbase make it easy to start investing with minimal initial capital. However, it’s important to educate yourself and understand the risks involved.

Tip: Start with a small amount of money and use tools like virtual trading simulators to practice before investing real money.

5. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for every sale made through your referral link. Websites like Amazon Associates, ClickBank, and ShareASale offer affiliate programs where you can win cash online by driving traffic to their products.

Tip: Focus on promoting products that align with your niche or interests to build trust with your audience and increase conversion rates.

6. Online Auctions and Selling

Selling items you no longer need or creating handmade goods to sell online can also help you win cash. Platforms like eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace make it easy to reach a large audience of potential buyers.

Tip: Take high-quality photos and write detailed descriptions to attract more buyers and command higher prices.

Conclusion

Winning cash online is not only possible but can be a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you prefer taking surveys, entering contests, freelancing, or investing, there are numerous opportunities to suit different skills and interests. By diversifying your efforts and staying persistent, you can increase your chances of earning extra cash and achieving your financial goals. Happy earning!

[salesoperator1234]

In today's fast-paced digital marketplace, multi-channel eCommerce stands as a beacon for businesses seeking to broaden their horizons and connect with customers across diverse platforms. This approach encapsulates the integration of various selling channels—ranging from online marketplaces and social media to brand websites—into a cohesive strategy that amplifies reach and enriches customer engagement.

[abigail]

hai idk if this has been asked before but where do you get your clothes??? and what stores do you recommend? i want to dress like you do but have no idea where to start...

hiiii !! aaaa i’ve been asked this a few times and i always feel a lil bad because the majority of my wardrobe is secondhand that i get from vintage stores i go to irl or from sites like depop/vinted/ebay etc - i’m sorry, i know it’s not very helpful ! :-(

i suggest the best thing to do is check out any vintage/charity shops near you, even antique markets/centres sometimes have a few clothing items (i recently found some pure silk vintage knickers/pyjamas at an antique centre that i plan to wear as regular shorts in the summer hehe) also keep an eye out for any travelling secondhand pop ups, in the uk there’s quite a few (my favourite being ‘preloved kilo’ !)

also use sites like vinted/depop/ebay etc and really think about the items you’re wanting when searching for them and use the tool bars to help, so basically instead of just searching ‘white mini skirt’ you can search something more detailed like ‘white lace rara skirt’ and then use the tool bar to help narrow it down even further so it’s your size and within your price range etc etc !

if you’re unsure of what to even look for to begin with though, start really looking at peoples outfits you like online and pick an item they’re wearing and try your best to describe it, google is your best friend here because if you don’t know the right terms for things you can always look it up ! you might not always find the exact kind of thing you’re looking for but you might find similar things and you can always search again another time to see if there’s any more listings (and if it’s something you really really want you can set up notifications for when things are listed with that description ! i have this for a few things lol)

the only site i regularly (ish) shop at that isn’t second hand is asos ! i don’t ever use it though to just browse for things, i’ll only go on there when wanting something specific and again, i’ll search it and use the tool bar to help narrow it down (asos have loads of stuff and a million different options on the tool bar so you can really narrow things down well !)

there’s absolutely other online stores i like too but i haven’t really shopped at them to suggest them (i don’t want to recommend a site i haven’t personally purchased anything from lol but if you want a list of them regardless just let me know)

and of course if i ever post an outfit you can always ask me where i got the stuff i’m wearing from :-) it’ll likely be secondhand but not always and even if it is secondhand, if there’s any labels inside i can let you know so you can try and search for it or something similar !! hope this was helpful in some way for you ♡

[odiyi]

Online Entrepreneurship: Mastering the Art of Digital Success

Entrepreneurship is a field that has gained significant attention in recent years. With the advent of the internet, there has been a growing demand for online courses and educational resources related to entrepreneurship. This document aims to provide an overview of entrepreneurship online, highlighting its benefits, popular platforms, and key factors to consider before embarking on an online entrepreneurial journey. Benefits of Online Entrepreneurship 1. Flexibility: One of the main advantages of online entrepreneurship is the ability to work from anywhere. With an internet connection, entrepreneurs can conduct business remotely, eliminating the constraints of traditional brick-and-mortar offices. 2. Global Reach: The internet acts as a global platform, allowing entrepreneurs to connect with customers, business partners, and suppliers from all over the world. This opens up new opportunities for expansion, market penetration, and cross-cultural collaborations. 3. Reduced Overheads: Online businesses often have a lower startup cost compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Entrepreneurs can avoid the physical infrastructure expenses, such as rent, utilities, and employees. Additionally, digital products and services often have lower production and distribution costs. 4. 24/7 Accessibility: The internet provides entrepreneurs with round-the-clock access to their business. Whether it's managing administrative tasks, communicating with customers, or promoting products or services, entrepreneurs have the freedom to work whenever it suits them.

Online Entrepreneurship: Mastering the Art of Digital Success

Photo by Content Pixie Popular Platforms for Online Entrepreneurship 1. Websites: Building a professional website is essential for online entrepreneurship. It allows entrepreneurs to showcase their products or services, engage with customers, and establish a strong online presence. 2. Social Media: Social media platforms have become powerful tools for entrepreneurs. By leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, entrepreneurs can reach a wide audience, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to their websites. 3. E-commerce: Selling products or services online through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy provides entrepreneurs with a convenient and efficient way to reach customers. 4. Online Course Platforms: Entrepreneurs can leverage online course platforms to share their knowledge, skills, and experiences. platforms such as Udemy, Teachable, and Coursera offer a platform for creating and monetizing online courses. Key Factors to Consider 1. Market Demand: Before embarking on an online entrepreneurial journey, it is crucial to conduct market research to identify if there is a genuine demand for your product or service. Understanding your target audience's needs and preferences will help you create a successful online venture. 2. Competitiveness: Evaluate the level of competition in the chosen niche or industry. Identify unique selling points and differentiate your business to stand out in the market. 3. Digital Marketing Strategy: Develop a well-crafted digital marketing strategy to promote your products or services. This includes SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, and other online channels to reach your target audience effectively. 4. Financial Projections: Have a clear understanding of your financial projections and projected revenue streams. This will help you make informed decisions and manage your business finances effectively. 5. Continuous Learning: Entrepreneurship is a journey that requires continuous learning and adaptation. Stay updated with the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. Conclusion Online entrepreneurship offers numerous benefits, including flexibility, global reach, and reduced overheads. Popular platforms include websites, social media, e-commerce, and online course platforms. To ensure success, entrepreneurs should consider market demand, competitiveness, digital marketing strategy, and financial projections. Continuous learning and staying updated is crucial for long-term success in the online world. Read the full article

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS (INCLUDING ETSY), LATE JULY 2024

Things have been hectic so this is a long one update - all the Etsy and other ecommerce news from the past month, broken down for your convenience!

Next week could be a big Etsy news week, with the 2nd quarter report being released, and the mature items ban kicking in. I'm also working on analysis of the new Creativity Standards, but we may not have more substantial information on those until Etsy makes another move. Right now the categories are a mess, but that could change.

A reminder that you can receive more timely updates plus exclusive content - including live chats with me on select topics such as Etsy's new Creativity Standards - by supporting my Patreon: patreon.com/CindyLouWho2

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

The European Union is considering making packages valued under 150 euros subject to customs duties when entering the EU. This is widely seen as a way to reduce Shein and Temu orders. 

The Etsy Creativity Standards announced on July 9th have a lot going on; here is my short summary so far. [post by me on Patreon] While I would not worry too much about this just yet, I expect them to be more important in the near future.  Etsy adding "Made by", "Handpicked by" to every listing is currently full of errors, but more disturbingly, even when a seller points out these errors with arguments from the written policy, Etsy Support is sometimes insisting that the designations are correct. For example, original paintings are lumped in with AI designs and digital downloads. [Post by me on LinkedIn] 

Amazon is imposing new rules regarding on-time delivery rates (OTDR); sellers that do not meet the standard of 90% on time delivery will not be able to continue selling. Businesses are exempted if they use the following tools: Shipping Settings Automation, Automated handling time, and Amazon Buy Shipping. Amazon is allowing only 5 days after shipment for products to arrive within the US. You can read the announcement and vigorous forum discussion here, and EcommerceBytes did a summary of the changes and some complaints.

ETSY NEWS 

As Etsy's widespread ban on many adult-themed products is about to take effect on Monday, I considered why Etsy felt the need to take far more drastic steps than Amazon & eBay has in the same markets. [post by me on Tumblr] The upcoming ban started by getting media attention from Mashable, and quickly escalated to the New York Times [not a gift link; soft paywall]. Etsy is still not commenting on why they are doing this. From the NYT article: "Even before the ban, it was getting harder to run his business, Mr. Goldstein said. So, he thought, “Why don’t we just make our own marketplace?” This year, he started the website Spicerack as an independent alternative to Etsy. The online boutique already has about 75 sellers, which are vetted to make sure they’re not “dropshippers” or simultaneously listing products on e-commerce behemoths like AliExpress or Amazon. Mr. Goldstein said that Spicerack is in the process of adding about 100 more sellers, half of whom signed up when the Etsy ban was announced." From the BBC: “In many countries there is pressure on platforms, sometimes backed by new legislation, to do more to prevent under-18s from encountering explicit content, and to remove illegal or "harmful" content from their platforms. Payment processors are also increasingly wary of working with platforms that enable sex based commerce....those concerns could be addressed by more clearly labelling and separating adult product listings..." The Guardian interviewed a few sellers who are affected.

While Etsy previously stated that the new shop set-up fee would be $15 USD, they quietly changed that, to whatever they feel like charging. [post by me on Patreon]

In case you missed it, the new listing form seems to be triggering Etsy Ads campaigns to start without the seller’s knowledge. [post by me on LinkedIn] Since my post, there are still more reports of this happening, and even more. 

I regret to inform you that Etsy’s Search Analytics are going to disappear after August 14 [post by me on LinkedIn], per a banner on the page.

Canadian sellers will have to pay a 1.15% “Regulatory Operating Fee” on all of their sales income (including shipping and gift wrap) starting August 15. This is likely due to a new law taxing large ecommerce platforms 3% of their Canadian income, which came into effect June 28. The tax applies retroactively back to the beginning of 2022, so Etsy is likely overcharging us to cover those earlier amounts. 

Sellers having difficulties with the domestic pricing tool not working correctly may want to try these tips from an Etsy forum thread: Set the domestic price to the global price amount, save, and then go back in and change the domestic price to your preferred amount, then save again. This apparently works for both new and existing listings, but there are 3 drawbacks: 1) it is time-consuming, 2) it needs to be done any time a listing is changed/edited (including renewals), and 3) it doesn’t seem to work for France. (I don’t ship to France so I cannot test the last point.) Remember, if you have a sale go through for the wrong price, contact Etsy and demand to be compensated the difference. 

Still don’t believe that Etsy is serious about shipping on time? See this Reddit thread by a seller who ignored a 30-day warning, so all of their items were removed from search. From this screenshot, it appears their average order value was fairly high, but that doesn’t mean Etsy will tolerate late shipping from shops with cheaper items, so beware. 

Etsy is testing filtering out digital items from search results unless the terms match a digital item search. See Etsy forum threads here and also here. 

A new academic study calls out Etsy and other online marketplaces for allowing illegally-killed bats to be sold on their sites. “We refute any assertion that the online bat trade is ethical. Again, statements that bats were captive-bred are absurd—bat farms are nonexistent—and it would be impossible for suppliers to find bats that have died naturally in the kind of condition and numbers needed to supply an ornamental trade. These bats were hunted.” The New York Times has also now covered this story [soft paywall]. 

The virtual seller education event Etsy Up is scheduled for September 10. You can register here, but there is no program yet. Usually this event has almost nothing worthwhile for experienced shops, and Etsy generally uses it to push their paid services and integrations along with basic info. 

Etsy is looking for sellers to join their Advocacy program and “share your story”. Beware that sometimes Etsy’s “advocacy” is as much for Etsy as for its sellers, so they are looking for stories that fit Etsy’s own goals. 

The Etsy Design Awards have opened; the final date for submissions is August 8. 

Etsy’s second quarter results for 2024 will be released July 31.

ECOMMERCE NEWS (minus social media)

General

Shein and Temu are facing investigations under the EU’s Digital Services Act. “In a press release, the EU said it’s asking Shein and Temu for more information about measures they’ve taken to meet DSA obligations related to what’s known as “Notice and Action” mechanisms, which should allow users to notify the marketplaces of illegal products.It has also requested info related to the design of their online interfaces, which the pan-EU law mandates must not deceive or manipulate users, such as via so-called “dark patterns”.” Temu is also being sued by Arkansas for having an invasive app that is accused of harvesting data without user permissions. “According to the complaint, Temu is allegedly obscuring its unauthorized access to data through misleading terms of use and privacy policies that do not alert users to the full scope of data that the app can potentially collect. That includes not telling users about tracking granular locations for no defined purpose and collecting "even biometric information such as users’ fingerprints."

Amazon

Amazon now has an AI shopping “assistant” on its US app, called Rufus. “Customers can ask questions about products, comparisons and buying considerations. The AI can provide suggestions for specific tasks or projects.” As per usual with AI, “tests show Rufus doesn’t always provide accurate information.” A review from Marketplace Pulse notes that “Amazon’s AI assistant fails to help shoppers find the best product among the millions in the catalog. It transforms broad questions like “What are the best cycling gloves for winter?” into a few links to product searches — the same searches a shopper could have typed themselves. It refuses to make product recommendations, show specific products, or suggest from the thousands of options. It can’t directly answer the question, “What are the cheapest batteries for my TV remote?”

Any sellers who had items removed for being plants or seeds when they actually aren’t should follow the instructions linked to here to get the situation resolved. An Amazon employee warned sellers: “Please do not acknowledge the violations as these will result in the deactivation of your listings.” Affected businesses should instead appeal the flags.  

Amazon is planning a discount drop shipping from China section, widely seen to be competition to Temu and Shein. However, “[i]t is not clear if these shipments will be made using a U.S. trade provision that exempts individual packages worth less than $800 from U.S. customs duties.”

The European Commission has asked Amazon for more information on “recommender systems, ads transparency provisions and risk assessment measures.” 

Only 1% of US Amazon sellers also offer their items outside of North America. “Due to its proximity to the U.S., Canada has more successful sellers from the U.S. than Canada.” If you have a unique product, this could be an opportunity.  Amazon returns are creating huge workloads for UPS stores and other retailers that accept them. “Amazon “makes up about one-tenth of our profits, but it takes up about 90 percent of the working day,” said Jeremy Walker, a store associate who worked at a UPS Store near Dallas that received between 300 and 600 returns per day.”

Depop

After trying it out in the UK, Depop is removing selling fees for the United States, starting July 15. Payment processing fees still apply. “[B]buyers will now be charged a "marketplace fee" of up to 5% plus a fixed amount up to $1.”

An interview with Depop CEO Kruti Patel Goyal reveals they plan “to bring Depop to a bigger and broader audience over time.” 

eBay

eBay is slowly rolling out changes to the Active Listings page. 

eBay sellers can now get cash advance loans through Liberis, the balance of which gets paid as a percentage of the seller's sales. 

New sellers in the UK might see “automated feedback” on some of their orders, to "help [users] buy and sell with confidence". It will say "This seller successfully completed an order", and is removed once the actual buyer leaves feedback. 

Michaels MakerPlace

Abby Glassenberg reviews Michaels’ MakerPlace popups inside their retail stores. Results seem mixed.

Shopify

A few hundred thousand Shopify users may have had their names, addresses and other data put up for sale on July 3 after a breach. Shopify denies it had any security issues and claims the data came from a third-party app. There was a known data breach at Evolve Bank and Trust in June; that institution is a supporting partner for Shopify Balance. It does appear that Shopify is notifying the affected individuals.

Walmart Walmart is adding pre-owned collectibles to its marketplace. “Eligible categories include Toys (Figures, Dolls, Trains, Plushies, Games, LEGO, Funko, Diecast Cars & Hot Wheels); Media & Music (Movies, Vinyl, Music, SteelBooks, Musical Instruments & Entertainment Replicas); Trading Cards; Comic Books & Books; Sports Memorabilia; and Coins.”

All Other Marketplaces

Indiegogo is opening an ecommerce website for items created through crowdfunding campaigns on the platform, called IndieShop. 

Etsy-owned Reverb now has an “outlet” page, where businesses can sell off their overstock, seconds and out-of-date models for 20% off and free shipping. Most products sold through the main portion of Reverb are used, not new, so this competes with regular sellers. 

Not sure if selling on Faire is right for your business? Here’s a handmade-focussed review of the wholesale site.

Payment Processing

Klarna is now available through Adobe Commerce (previously Magento). 

Shipping

USPS rates for labels on most platforms went up July 1, ahead of the previously-announced July 14th increases. Ina Steiner re-posted the numbers from eBay and Pirate Ship. 

USPS released the addresses and other data of logged-in Informed Delivery users to Meta, LinkedIn and Snap. The company claims it didn’t know the data transfer was happening. 

The free USPS Priority medium shipping tubes are no longer being made, but you can still order existing stock. 

Royal Mail’s Tracked 28 & 48 are now available at post offices. 

UPS’s holiday surcharge rates for the US have been released; the lower surcharges start September 29th.

Shippo has new Canada Post rates from now until January, and the Tracked Packet rates to everywhere but the United States are cheaper than Etsy’s (which are based on Level 4 of Solutions for Small Business). Remember that Shippo makes you pay for a higher tier of service if you use over 30 labels per month.

[quickscaleup]

Best Ecommerce Website Designing Company in Patna

The website design is a really important tool for creating an appealing website that attracts users and customers. These ecommerce website designs represent your product, and what you are selling.

Thus, you need to make sure your website is relevant to the services you’re providing and can make a lasting impression.

Now, being said that, are you looking for some inspiration for your website designs? If yes, you’ve stumbled into the perfect solution, the website designing company in Patna, Quick Scaleup is your one-way stop. 

Ecommerce website designs 

The best ecommerce website design examples are those that can benefit you in boosting your sales and communicating with the brand and products. Some of the ecommerce website examples are the following,

Theseus is an online shoe store that promises customers the best online shopping experience. It has options such as shopping and return policy and even gives the users the opportunity to pay in installments.

Welly is a band aid campaign and website supplying catchy, funky, and aesthetic band aids. Children die for such cute band-aids and it comes with cute packaging too.  

Hebe’s website is mind blowing in terms of beauty. Its photography stands out compared to other websites. The high-quality photos ensure grabbing the customer’s attention and increasing the sales. 

Now, the ecommerce website examples in India are 

Amazon tops the ecommerce website list considering it is one of the country’s best ecommerce players since it rolled out in 2013. It has grown its market by covering everything from groceries to toys to furniture. 

Flipkart comes second on the list, always competing with Amazon in terms of quality and prices. It was founded in 2007, and is now acquired by Walmart. 

Meesho is a social commerce platform wherein the small business or merchants can deal with the users directly showcasing their products. 

Myntra is the one-stop online fashion destination that supplies with all the brands like Mango, H&M, Chemistry, Allen Solly etc. Myntra was acquired by Walmart making it a live commerce site with a lot of Indians depending on the site. 

OLX has products from cars to electronic goods and even real estate. People can buy or sell on this website according to their preferences. 

Snapdeal was a sinking company ready to be acquired by Flipkart in 2017. But, they did the needful surviving the takeover, and now focuses on products for fashion and home and personal care. 

Jio Mart is an online player that launched in 2020. It became known quickly in over 200 cities in India. 

Shopsy is a social commerce platform launched by flipkart. It’s a marketplace selling jewelry, grocery and home goods. 

Realme store is an online shopping site of the chinese smartphone brand realme. It even sells other electronic accessories.  

Mi store is another chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi selling mobile phones and other products. 

FirstCry is India’s shopping platform for baby products such as diapers, tous, cribs etc. Everything that can be termed a baby is being sold by them. 

Top 10 ecommerce websites 

The best ecommerce website design 2023 comprises of the following ecommerce website list and companies like 

Amazon tops as the world's best retailer and website designs. 

Ebay is the best marketplace with all the best features and products available. 

Aliexpress is the site offering the funkiest and catchy products with cheap prices. 

Walmart consists of an unlimited supply of organic products.

Wildberries is a popular Russian site known for clothes and household products. 

Ozon is like Russia’s Amazon, offering all kinds of products. 

Flipkart is an Indian ecommerce site dealing with all products like clothes, furniture, electronic devices. 

Samsung is the world's leader when it comes to electronics.

Etsy is another one of the popular sites specializing in handmade, vintage and unique goods. 

Rakuten is another one of the ecommerce sites dealing with cashback programmes.

The ecommerce website design templates that work well with any kind of website design such as apparel, fashion, jewelry or other ecommerce products. These templates create responsive, flexible and retainable online stores. Following is the list of best ecommerce website templates 

Pillowmart can be used for business purposes.

Capitalshop for fashion and accessories.

Fashi’s templates are available for fashion 

The Coza store is for business and ecommerce. 

eCommerce websites are the people’s go to sites for business and online shopping. People don’t like going around comparing products from shop to shop.

For such individuals, these websites are a piece of heaven.

To make sure that your website designs and products are appealing enough to the customers, you can take help from the website designing company, Quick Scaleup.

They have one of the best services available tailored to your customer’s needs.

[pbandjesse]

I'm having kind of a hard time right now. I'm coughing again after not coughing all day and I'm really upset. I just want to sleep. I could barely sleep last night and it was horrible. I felt like I was choking but it wasn't just once or twice it was almost bear constant. I tried the lidocaine multiple times and it was just making me feel worse and worse. It was t even numbing anymore. I tried to have a rice krispie and a mouthful of yogurt and that seemed to help a little. But it was not a good night.

I'm actually shocked how good I felt this morning though. Even after barely sleeping I was doing really good and I would actually continue to feel good for most of the morning.

James has made me a little sandwich for breakfast and packed me a hotdog for lunch. Which didn't end up being enough food but it was fine. We would leave together and things were good.

It is going to be interesting getting used to my new commute. It's really hard different in the begining. 4 extra miles give or take. But I left 10 minutes later then I really should have and got stuck in traffic from a one car accident. Ah well. No one was waiting for me at camp and I would still beat everyone else.

I spent the first part of the hour printing my guides for my workshop tomorrow. And working on my daily drawing. Elizabeth surprised me by coming in early but she was planning on leaving early. Alexi would also leave early today. And Heather. Everyone would have plans today.

It was not a bad day. I felt great. I went up to the arts building and collected some materials for tomorrow and some other things I had been holding there that I need. Mainly jewelery tools and my wagon.

Sarah was making this origami things and asked me to bring her some paper. So I brought down a nice new pack of construction paper so she could go crazy.

I would get to work on some research for grants we could apply to. Which ended up being a lot more different then I expected. Sarah was having better luck getting more specific ones. But I would find a few as well and it was mostly just nice having something to do.

While I was having lunch Joe came in and he wanted to hear about my trip but also why I was gone the last couple days. Got to tell him about how scary being sick was. It was very kind of him to ask.

I would work on a housewarming registry for a bit. And look into some valentine's day things. And I went for a walk.

It was beautiful out but I was starting to cough again. I was still okay for another couple hours but I was starting to lose it again. And that was really upsetting.

Alexi was very concerned with my cough. But my rhumatologist called me and she said that she was worried about me when she got my email, I really appreciated her reaching out, but she mostly just reassured me that the cough would be the longest part but that it sounded like I was doing better. So I was able to reassure Alexi, but also be realistic that if I need to go it was okay.

I would stay til 330 though. After I lost motivation for looking at grants. And didn't have anything else to research. And was just looking at little stained glass ornaments on eBay and decided I could spend my time better running my errands.

So that is what I did. I said goodbye to Sarah and Elizabeth, Alexi had already left and Heather had gone to pick up Sophie. And I was off.

I went to Michael's first and got the last paints I needed. They were on sale to do that was nice. And then drove down the road to go to the Amish market but it was wildly packed. So I just got my soap and headed out. Didn't even get a pretzel the line was so long!

Honestly though I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it because my sense of taste has been weird all day. I think I had overdone it with the lidocaine last night. Everything was off and overly salty. The pretzel probably just wouldn't have been nice.

I continued down the street and went to target. Which was also to busy. Couldn't even get a basket. But I got everything in my list. Stayed pretty close to the list. Even had a coupon that made it so the two things I got that weren't on my list were basically free.

I had planning on going to the apartment to pick up some stuff but I was out of energy. I wanted to go home.

And that is what I did. The drive back was a little long but I got a good parking space. Which allowed me to meet our neighbor from down the road. She's lived here for 30+ years! She seems incredibly kind and smart. She worked in the neurology department at Johns Hopkins! She also said that this is a great block with really nice people and so far that has been my experience too.

We chatted for a bit and eventually James came out to help carry things in. They talked to our neighbor too and it was just really nice.

James wouldn't stay home long though. They would take the car to go get a few groceries we missed and get paper towels, and go and feed the aquatics and get some stuff since so could not.

While James was gone I mostly just chilled. I had a roll. I moved things in the studio from one side of the room to the other so we would have room later when we would finally put up the curtains. I would move two of the hooks in the bathroom so we have somewhere to put the towels. And I measured out where the tiles I am going to put on the wall will go. I just love seeing everything coming together.

Me and Sweetp played for a little while on the stairs. But he kept putting up like he was freaked out. And then when James got back I had to pick Sweetp up to bring him upstairs and he looked terrified when I went to him and he puffed up so bad??? I have no idea why he keeps getting upset. I know it's the move but I really would love for him to be comfortable.

James would make us dinner. I had requested the vegan fish sticks and a Caeser salad and they made themselves a little pizza. I would hang out in the living room and we just talked and did our own things but were together.

Eventually we would start figuring out the curtains. This did not go amazing. First the long black rod didn't look right in the living room. And I was frustrated.

And then we went to the studio to hang the fancy swing out curtains and those were going great until they didn't. And I am now sure they need to move over. But we don't have any more anchors so we will have to wait until James make a stop at ace tomorrow.

The other issue is I wasn't paying attention when James was measuring the second one and it's like 2 inches higher then the first and looks terrible. I was pretty upset but mostly I was just frustrated that James was being so down in themselves. Like well fix it tomorrow. It's fine. You are stressing me out.

Like at one point they were taking down the curtains that the last owners left behind and I was like hey what if we moved these brackets to the living room. And they kept saying the pole would fit. And I'm like what are you talking about we take down the other one and put these ones there? But they just kept saying that the pole wouldn't fit and I am just like why are we focusing on the other pole??? What are you talking about about?? And I got pretty frustrated with them which wasn't fair but I was mad that they weren't understanding what should have been straight forward.

They finally got me but I was really upset. I know a lot of it was the coughing has started up in earnest. I felt unsettled and couldn't get comfortable in my body. I also just felt mad that people keep saying something about how I'm going to have James building this and that when I talk about my home plans. But I am the one building things!! James is doing things because I can't reach them! I'm the handy one! I hate that people act like I'm not capable. I'm just short! And if my ladder was here I would have just done it by myself.

I would calm down. And we were able to get the curtains up in the living room from the front windows and they look great. But I was still not in a good head space.

I stayed downstairs for a while. But when I came back I was feeling worse. Coughing. Uncomfortable. Annoyed about everything.

I took a shower but the lukewarm water was not helping. I hope we can figure that out soon.

I am in bed now. I am coughing and upset about it but I am hoping I can fall asleep and feel good again tomorrow. Because I have a workshop and I'm looking forward to it even if I'm very nervous! I hope I have everything I need. But it's not until noon so I have time to double check.

I am hoping that the morning I can chill and do some more organizing here. I also just don't want to push it and make myself feel worse. And I am hoping that sleep makes it easier to have a good day.

I hope you are all sleep good. I love you all. Goodnight.

[sentientburrito]

The Utter Serene Madness That Is tfwiki.net

Or: Why I'm thoroughly convinced liking robots that are also cars makes you a stickler for detail.

In my time as a hobbyist visual designer, I've come upon a lot of websites and graphics that convinces me tearing my skin off is a final solution to my problems. I could say the god-given combo of Firefox and UBlock Origin makes things more palpable, but if you rip out all the disgusting bits of a cockroach, you don't have a cockroach anymore. Just the world's saddest plate. This isn't about strictly advertisements either. The issue with ads on the internet is that they're counterproductive with the user experience. You don't get pissed at an ad because it exists, you get pissed because its in the way more than it should be and ruining the page. They are a necessary evil for products to get sold and hosts to stay online. UX is blatantly important beyond ad usage - clicks to get to a certain page, visual leylines, color composition, readability, etc. is important to make sure your website isn't a pain in the ass to feather through. UX is like a janitor's job; You're only going to get noticed if yours is obscenely bad.

Unless you're tfwiki.net.

One hallowed evening, @cabbagesenpai dragged me into the (what I assume) is the main wiki for Transformers. This is also after dragging me to an opening night of a recent movie. I'm not explicitly a fan of Transformers. I have nothing against it, it's just not my thing. My only knowledge is that at some point Sloptimus Brine has said "eBay." None of that is important, but it is. After being grabbed by the forehead like a gourd and smeared across a wiki entry, I decided to zoom out and just look at the landing page.

At this point, I need to mention that I like Warframe an obscene amount. Warframe is also a game where you practically NEED the wiki on the second monitor. Also, Warframe's wiki, and by extension Fandom, makes me need a cigarette. So when I was greeted with THIS:

I cried, for I had seen God.

The design of this landing page is so maddeningly good that whoever the webmasters are for @tfwiki , I would let them spit on me, and I would apologize to them. Right okay, most important things first: A core understanding of why somebody would come to this wiki. Extremely visible, Easy-to-read, one click puts you to the pages for any recent release that may or may not have led you here, maybe because you think Airazor is fucking megacool and you haven't had enough but THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT.

Below that are base concepts that are essential to understanding the world that has unfolded from an americanized marketing scheme, like mushrooms from a felled tree. It's also just a good "branching off" point for if you're looking for something via category. To the left of that is a Featured Article, which is standard for wikis that are proud of themselves. Below that is a unique "Holy Grail" segment, which I'm awarding bonus points for. A layperson (me) can easily get a grasp on how utterly psychotic the average Transformers fan is (allegedly @cabbagesenpai) , and is also extremely useful, because maybe somebody coming here for the first time DOES have an ancient VHS of some obscure cartoon! Further left we get your useful tools for navigation, and... My god, a snake in the garden, an ad! But wait, this showing up has some major implications. Because I'm not partial for masochism, I use UBlock. But this banner about a figurine trading/selling website is still here. This ad getting through means AT LEAST one of the following: A: This is likely put here by the webmaster/host themselves as part of a deal directly with the sponsor instead of through a third party ad service. UBlock's element blocking is a communal list of ad hosts, so this one isn't on their list OR its part of the website itself. B: If the following above is true, this also means anybody else who visits this website hasn't flagged that element enough times to get put in UBlock's general list, which means A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO VISIT THIS WEBSITE DO NOT FIND IT ANNOYING AS PISS, BECAUSE IT IS RESPECTFUL TO UX AND IS ALSO RELEVANT TO THE CONTENT AND/OR USER. Okay, alright, I need to cool down by moving onto my final, and subjectively, what I enjoy the most about this website. Pages themselves are organized extremely well in spite of the mess of canons/timelines/comics that characters can show up in. And these are punctuated by extremely helpful annotations for images!

Right, okay, so after I had finished up my wheezing fit of a header image being annotated just with "Prick," I went back to my friend and had them explain to me why he is a prick. Now, without making this post too long, yes he is indeed a prick. Infact, half of the images in this character's page is annotated by how much of a prick this bloke is. This means that the entire wiki and its users/editors are in agreement that Prowl is a prick. And that this wiki has CHARACTER to leave that in. I've been hitting random here and there just to read the annotations for fun since then. Right, so, in summary: -TFwiki is, in a sea of horrible, slow, clogged websites, clean and extremely easy to navigate and use. -Monetization respects the user's time and I suspect is tightly controlled by those in charge. It's evident there is an ad for SERVER COSTS, not PROFIT. -The character of the utter controlled madness of Transformers fans, (which I can only assume is bred through figurines that NEED meticulous detail and quality to work and a universe that is BATSHIT INSANE,) comes through extremely well and enhances the experience without getting in the way. -robits r cool