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Want to 'train your brain'? Forget apps, learn a musical instrument

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Want to 'train your brain'? Forget apps, learn a musical instrument

Musical training can have a dramatic impact on your brain’s structure, enhancing your memory, spatial reasoning and speech skills

The multimillion dollar brain training industry is under attack. In October 2014, groupings of over 100 eminent neuroscientists and psychologists wrote an open letter warns that “claims promoting brain games are frequently exaggerated and at times misleading”. Earlier this year, industry giant Lumosity was fined$ 2m, and ordered to refund thousands of customers who were deceived by false claims that the company’s products improve general mental abilities and slow the progression of age-related decline in mental abilities. And a recent review examining studies purporting to show the benefits of such products found “little evidence … that develop improves improves everyday cognitive performance”.

While brain training games and apps may not live up to their hype, it is well established that certain other activities and lifestyle choices can have neurological benefits that promote overall brain health and may help to keep the mind sharp as we get older. One of these is musical develop. Research shows that learning to play a musical instrument is beneficial for children and adults alike, and may even be helpful to patients recovering from brain injuries.

Continue reading …

Read more: theguardian.com

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Essential oils – Are essential oils safe to use in the mouth?

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Essential oils – Are essential oils safe to use in the mouth?

Recently, there’s been a lot of online discussion about whether or not essential oils are safe be applied in the mouth.

And for good reason.

If the oral microbiome gets imbalanced, the health of the whole body can be compromised.

The primary concern seems to center around whether or not using essential petroleums in the mouth can damage the oral microbiome, and some broad statements that have been built might run the risk of misleading people who could actually benefit from essential oil-based product solutions.

And while we’ve addressed questions like this in the FAQs “Are essential petroleums bad for the oral microbiome ?” and “Does the HealThy Mouth Blend damage the’ good bugs’ in my mouth ?”, we thought it may help you if we circled on this specific question again.

Our posture …

Ok, so here’s an overview of our stance: we believe that properly diluted essential oil-based products( like our HealThy Mouth Blend) do not harm and actually help balance the oral microbiome. And, as you’ll see, we base our posture on scientific literature rather than what’s trending.

Of course, we’re biased. We offer products that contain certified organic essential petroleums. But beyond our bias lies plenty of research explaining and validating why we’ve included essential petroleums in our products.

So, in an attempt to raise the bar of understanding on this subject, let’s take a deep dive into what the literature actually says regarding the safety of essential oils in the mouth, and specifically whether essential oil-based oral health products harm the’ good bugs’ in our mouth.

From there, rather than adopt our( or any other expert’s) opinions as your own, you’ll be empowered to decide for yourself whether or not essential oil-based oral health products are a good fit for your family.

Full transparency

As you know, we aren’t dentists or medical professionals.

However, we do have a passion for researching both recently published and’ more seasoned’ dental literature, and we’ve been doing so for nearly 30 years. Susan and I have a background in the Chinese longevity arts and we’ve always shared a love of both learning and holistic live. If you’d like to check out how we began our journey into researching oral health, feel free to check out Susan’s narrative.

In addition to’ geeking out’ on research, we love sharing information with you.

Clinical practice in medicine( and dentistry) tends to be at least 10 years behind the research. So, our hope is that by continuing to dig through the scientific literature and by sharing the information we find with you, we can help you stay on the leading edge on your journey toward optimal oral health.

Our simple research strategy

One of our main research strategies when excavating into any subject is to find who is providing the most consistent, evidence-based research and learn lessons from them.

Specific to the discussion of the field of the oral microbiome, we find one person to have a highly researched and unbiased position. So, our stance and much of this article will draw from the work of Dr. Phillip D Marsh, prof of oral microbiology at the University of Leeds in the UK and author of the book, Oral Microbiology.( While an excellent read for geeks like us, be forewarned, it’s a post graduate textbook.)

Understanding symbiosis and dysbiosis

Let’s start by laying down some foundations.

In the spirit of clarity, we use the terms’ oral flora’ and’ oral microbiome’ interchangeably. And we call the’ residents’ in the oral microbiome community’ microbes” probiotic’ species or’ thug bugs’.

Evidence continues to mount that suggests that there’s a symbiotic relationship between us( the host) and the resident microbes in the mouth. In a healthy state of symbiotic balance, we support the microbes and the microbes support us.

However, at times, this health-giving relationship between the host( us) and our oral vegetation are able to interrupted and imbalanced. This country of imbalance is called dysbiosis.

Rather than the win/ win,’ you help me/ I help you’ scenario that occurs in healthy symbiotic environments, in an imbalanced mouth, certain species of microbes start to overrun the mouth and actively seek to undermine our health, creating a’ win’ for the microbes and a’ lose’ for our health.

These microbes are classified as’ pathogenic’, entailing they can cause disease.

Thug glitches …

At OraWellness, we tend to refer to pathogenic microbes as ’thug bugs’ because while they’re not truly’ bad’, cancer nearly always follows when thug glitches increase their populations.

And regrettably, research has shown that various species of thug bugs actively seek to team up with other species of thug glitches. Think of it as a kind of’ microbial Mafia’ where the kingpin bugs recruit others to help them do their dirty work.

( As an interesting side note, if you’re curious to understand another way how our HealThy Mouth Blend assistances, read about how our combination disrupts the communications between different thug glitches working together, called’ quorum sensing’ in this article,” What’s in the HealThy Mouth Blend and why is it so effective ? “)

So the path to greater oral health as we see it is to :P TAGEND

optimize the environment that fosters the health-supporting species of oral microbes and prevent the thug bugs from gaining the upper hand.

Science refers to this path as the’ ecological plaque hypothesis’.

Understanding the ecological plaque hypothesis

The litmus test we use to determine if an expert genuinely knows what they are talking about is whether they ever admit that there are things they don’t know.

Notice that the term we’re going to discuss is the’ ecological plaque hypothesis’.

In other words, our group understanding of how to navigate the path to optimal oral health is a hypothesis, a functioning model.

We( all) don’t know everything there is to know on the subject.

We use the information at hand to build a model that is provided by consistent results. Meanwhile, we continue to seek more information to improve that model, even if we may wind up challenging or disproving original aspects of it. This is the cycle of continual improvement, which ultimately leads us to better and better models.

The’ local/ global’ principle …

Ok, so getting to the hypothesis: if you’ve been following our blog entries and videos, you probably already understand the ecological plaque hypothesis. So far, our best article on this has been’ How to balance your oral flora‘.

It’s what we talk about all the time: basically, to optimize oral health, we must support both the’ local’, or’ in the mouth’, environment AND we must also offer’ global’, or’ whole body’, immune supporting. And just to make sure we’re all on the same page here, the global supporting is primary in the long term.

We discuss this’ local/ global’ principle more deeply in the article,” 4 Steps to Help Your Kids Live a Cavity Free Life”

However, local support is important, too. According to Dr. Marsh, the ecological plaque hypothesis states, “… a substantial change in local environmental conditions can alter the competitiveness of plaque bacteria leading to the enrichment of organisms most suited to the new environment.”

In other terms, we must support a shift in the terrain to make long-term changes to our oral health.

Regarding tooth decay, helpful steps like reducing sugar and avoiding acidic foods and beverages come from the ecological plaque hypothesis. And for those of you who are more concerned about gum disease, strategies like habitually disrupting the thug glitches in gum pockets and increasing oxygen in gum pockets are born from this same hypothesis.

It’s all about maintaining plaque thin

Like we’ve shared in other articles and video tutorials, a major part of optimizing our oral health is being a’ good conductor’ of the symphony of microbes in the mouth.

One major strategy of being a good conductor is to keep plaque biofilms thin.

Not surprising, this strategy is a big part of the ecological plaque hypothesis because as plaque thickens, the environment in the plaque alters( it becomes less oxygen-rich ), and thug bugs proliferate more easily in that low-oxygen environment.

Depending on their ingredients, some essential oil-based oral health products( like our HealThy Mouth Blend) can help prevent this from occurring.

For example, manuka petroleum is particularly effective at helping to achieve adhesion inhibition. In other words, manuka petroleum builds it more difficult for thug bugs and the plaque that they generate to stick to the teeth and gums, which assists prevent plaque biofilms from thickening.

And, as we state in,” Can some plaques actually help our teeth remain healthy ?“, essential petroleums can play a role in penetrate even thick biofilms to help establish thinner( aka healthier) plaque on our teeth. Adhesion inhibition is part of mechanical plaque control, which entails it plays a big part in being a good conductor of the symphony in your mouth.

What role do essential oils play in the ecological plaque hypothesis?

A big part of Dr. Marsh’s hypothesis is called,’ control without killing’.

This concept of’ control without killing’ is critically important to understand.

What we’re looking to do is use plant botanicals and evidence-based hygiene techniques( like Bass brushing and conscious flossing) to prevent plaque from thickening and provide an environment in which we deter the thug glitches without disturbing the probiotic communities.

But since some essential petroleums have antimicrobial properties, wouldn’t the products that contain them make huge imbalances in our oral microbiome?

Not necessarily.

In fact, quite the opposite according to research.

“Long-term use of an EO[ essential petroleum] mouthwash is microbiologically safe, with no changes observed in the bacterial composition of supragingival plaque, and no evidence of antimicrobial resistance.” Dr PD Marsh, writer of Oral Microbiology

One study found that, “Long-term use of an EO[ essential petroleum] mouthwash is microbiologically safe, with no changes observed in the bacterial composition of supragingival plaque, and no evidence of antimicrobial resistance.”

Another study found that,” Successful antimicrobial agents are able to meet the apparently contradictory requirements of maintaining the oral biofilm at levels compatible with oral health but without disrupting the natural and beneficial properties of the resident oral microflora .”

And what about Dr. Marsh?

He found that,” Antimicrobial agents in oral care products may have a more selective mode of action in which they mainly inhibit the growth and metabolism of organisms implicated in disease while leaving those associated with oral health relatively unaffected .”[ Marsh, 2012]

Control without killing continued …

How is it possible to disrupt disease-causing microbes while leaving the health-supporting ones intact?

In Marsh’s own terms,

” A delicate balance is needed, however, to control the oral microbiota at levels compatible with health, without killing beneficial bacteria and losing the key benefits delivered by these resident microbes. These antimicrobial agents may achieve this by virtue of their recommended twice daily topical use, which results in pharmacokinetic profiles indicating that they are retained in the mouth for relatively long periods at sub-lethal levels. At these concentrations they are still able to inhibit bacterial traits implicated in disease( e.g. sugar transport/ acid production; protease activity) and retard growth without eliminating beneficial species .”

This is why it’s so important to have the right balance and dilution of plant botanicals.

We explore this as well as the specifics on why our HealThy Mouth Blend is so effective in this article. If the formula is too concentrated, it can damage the microbial balance in the mouth. If it’s not strong enough, we won’t benefit from the supportive qualities these plant botanicals offer us.

The balance needs to be just right, and when it is, it can help us to be a good conductor by encouraging the beneficial microbes and overthrowing the efforts of the thug glitches that are trying to build their populations.

Supportive strategies …

Another component of using products like our HealThy Mouth Blend is being able to place the supportive compounds where they are needed most.

Using the Bass Brushing Technique with the HealThy Mouth Blend helps us to do simply that.

The rounded bristle tips-off of the Bass toothbrush along with the unique brushing technique help the organic essential oils to get into the gum pockets, which is where the thug glitches associated with gum disease thrive. The same runs for other strategies like conscious flossing.

These kinds of strategies are why we get so many testimonials from happy clients. And we especially love the ‘after the dentist’ testimonials, because professional feedback can really help confirm that we’re on the right track with our efforts.

Final believes

Let’s close with one more quote from Dr. Marsh regarding utilizing essential petroleums for oral health :P TAGEND

” Although these agents are often described as having a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, it has been argued that, under the conditions of use in the mouth, they may also function effectively at sub-lethal concentrations by interfering with bacterial traits associated with disease. This type of’ controlled’ antimicrobial approach would maintain the beneficial activities that the host derives from the presence and metabolism of the resident oral microbiome, while reducing the activity of the microbial factors( e.g. acid production; proteolysis) that drive the changes in the balance in the biofilm that lead to dysbiosis( control without killing ).”

We hope you’ve gleaned some helpful information from our research-based contribution to the discussion about using essential oil-based products in the mouth.

We encourage each of us to continue to question the narratives that we’re told and challenge our existing models so we can keep growing and improving along our path.

What about you-what has been your experience employing products like our HealThy Mouth Blend? Have you determined be entitled? Have you received it to be a positive or negative experience?

Please share in the comments below so we can all continue to learn from our group experience.

Helpful, Related Resource:

Articles

” Are essential petroleums bad for the oral microbiome ?”[ FAQ] ” Does the HealThy Mouth Blend damage the’ good bugs’ in my mouth ?”[ FAQ] What’s in the HealThy Mouth Blend and why is it so efficient ?[ article] How to balance your oral vegetation[ article] 4 steps to help your kids live a cavity-free life[ article] OraWellness HealThy Mouth Blend [[ product answer ]] Can some plaques actually help our teeth bide healthy ?[ article]

Video tutorials

How to brush your teeth to stop tooth decay[ video tutorial] How to brush your teeth to reduce gum disease[ video tutorial] How to floss and NOT damage your gums[ video tutorial]

SOURCES :P TAGEND

Oral Microbiology, Marsh, PD[ amazon connect] Evidence-based control of plaque and gingivitis– Pubmed Ecological Approaches to Oral Biofilms- Control without Killing 2015, Marsh, PD Penetrating the plaque biofilm- essential petroleums[ Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2003]

The post Essential petroleums- Are essential petroleums safe to use in the mouth ? seemed first on OraWellness.

Read more: orawellness.com

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Tips for Shopping for a Plus Size Wedding Dress

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Tips for Shopping for a Plus Size Wedding Dress

Shopping for a wedding dress should be fun! Even if you’ve not been into that whole” fairytale wedding” thing your entire life, you still want the shopping experience to be fun, and to have that bridal moment where you realise you’ve determined THE dress. The reality for many plus size brides, however, is really different.

Why is it so hard for boutiques to offer plus size wedding dresses? What can a plus bride anticipate at a bridal appointment? What if I’m self-conscious? Keep reading for answers to these questions, straight from the mouths of boutique owners.

All photos by Love Hunters

One of the biggest worries about planning my bridal was being able to find a wedding dress that fit, flattered, and conveyed my personal style. Traditional bridal samples are in smaller sizes. This means as a size 26, I couldn’t simply walk into a store and try on garments. Even if a store had brands that were available in plus sizes, the likelihood of having a sample in-store that I could squeeze into was small. There was not feasible I was going to buy a gown by staring at it on a hanger. The excitement of going dress shopping can turn to dread for many curvy brides.

It’s difficult when many marriage blogs, vendor social media accounts, and websites show very few plus sizing brides. I wrote about this annoyance a while back as I was scheming my October wedding. I did find a good selection of samples in my size at David’s Bridal( read about my experience here ), but I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for there. Right before I started dress shopping, I gratify two women who own The Couture Closet Boutique in La Grange, KY( about 15 miles outside of Louisville) who said they had plus samples. I was a little leery: would the selection be tiny? Would the garbs look like every other dress I’ve seen already? Did they consider a “plus” sample to be a size 14? Not only did they demonstrate my skepticism entirely unwarranted, but they have also continued to blow me away with their commitment to their brides of all sizes :P TAGEND

They had gorgeous samples of all sizes in store, and I received my garment within 45 minutesThey have continued to expand their plus samples over the past yearThey have consistently posted brides of all sizes on their social channels( their Instagram is swoon-worthy) They put together a styled shoot with several of their curvy brides from the past year, so they would have more beautiful images to share with people. This is no small accomplishment and requires a lot of coordination, time, and money to execute. All of the images in this post are from the styled shoot- vendor credits at the end.When they went to see the collect of the designer of my dress, Ashley& Justin, I had asked if they’d pass along the message that they needed plus size brides on their social channels. When I bought my dress, there wasn’t a single plus bride on their site or social channels, despite offering garbs up to a sizing 30. Part of me was frustrated for not supporting a designer that embraced plus more, but I loved the dress so much. Guess what? They passed along the message, and Ashley& Justin have since featured 3 of my photos. Not that the goal was to get my photos in particular shared, but having never seen a visibly plus person on their feed, I am thankful and hopeful they’ll feature even more! 2 weeks ago, they told me they’ve updated their styled shoot guidelines. If a vendor requests more than 1 dress for a shoot, they have to also include a plus sizing dress and model! Talk about a way to push the industry as a whole forward, at the least locally!

Me in my dress by Ashley& Justin from The Couture Closet Boutique

I found my garment in under 45 minutes and knew it was the right decision. I didn’t feel stressed during the shopping experience and didn’t compromise on exactly what I wanted. Unfortunately for many brides-to-be that have reached out since I started sharing my experience, this isn’t the example. I asked Lauren and Tera, owners of The Couture Closet Boutique if they’d answer some questions for me about plus gowns in particular: what do brides-to-be need to know about shopping? Why don’t more stores have plus samples? What can a bride anticipate at an appointment?

Q: Tell us a brief history of The Couture Closet– when did you all open, why wedding dresses, what do you like most about the bridal business?

A: We opened our doorways January 2, 2007. At first, we did it all….wedding dresses, bridesmaids, mamas, prom, shoes, and accessories. It took us years to determine that specializing in one thing was the way to go. So STEP 1 we eliminated the prom and mothers, deciding to focus on bridal, bridesmaid, and accessories. Then, once the internet became the go-to for bridesmaids gowns, and the trend started gravitating toward letting maids wear “non-traditional bridesmaid” dresses, it didn’t make sense for us to pour our resources into something that wasn’t making money for the shop. So then, STEP 2, we decided to part styles with bridesmaids and take those funds and floorspace and use them at something that had been pulling at our heart strings, Plus Size Bridal Gowns. It took over a year to build our collecting but we finally debuted our Plus Size Bridal Collection in October 2017. It took a decade to get to this point, but we are so thrilled to specialize in only the Bride, of every shape and size!

Lauren and Tera of The Couture Closet Bridal Boutique

We opened our doorways wanting to provide exceptional customer service, in a space that is exceptionally beautiful and comfortable. We want to give a high-end experience without a high-end price tag. We are advocates for body positivity, a judgement free boutique, we respect all love, and enjoy having a role in supporting or promoting the brides gut feeling and her inner voice. NOT the voice of her entourage, but HER inner voice.

Tera: What I love is being a place our brides can trust and know we are going to taken care of them. From the start of an appointment we may have no clear idea of what will work, and then by the end find a dress that illuminates the bride up. Sometimes, we listen and watch the body language of a bride, and then sometimes it’s obvious. Each narrative is different, every bride is unique in her own way. Being a part of this occasion definitely builds this a rewarding job.

Lauren: What I love is the ability to create memories for the bride and her family. When the bride supposes back to her time planning her wedding I want her to remember picking out her dress and feeling are consistent with our staff, being heard by us, and being loved by us throughout this season in her life.

Q: So many bridal salons still have limited plus sizing samples. What built you all decide to bring plus samples in?

A: We always had a handful of plus sizing samples, but when we decided to ” go all in” and invest in the collect, it was late 2015. What constructed us take the leap was opening up retail floor space and finances when we let go of the bridesmaid garments. We could add 50 -7 5 more bridal gowns so we decided that those gowns should be Plus Size because it had been on our hearts for so long. After years of having Plus Size brides in our store we felt sad, disappointed and, sometimes, down right flustered because we knew we didn’t have that many alternatives. Yet, even with a handful of Plus Size gowns, the Curvy brides would cry HAPPY tears and share their previous shopping experience and how our boutique was so different, caring, and induced them feel good about themselves. Even with their positive feedback, we still felt we were not providing an ideal appointment for them, it only wasn’t up to our expectations. If we felt disillusioned, how were they feeling ?!

Choosing to pick up any designer has a large price tag no matter the size of the samples. Deciding to invest in new lines cost thousands and thousands of dollars. We want to see that season after season the designer renders styles we want, so as store proprietors, we feel confident investing and expanding in our purchases. That entails buying beyond the minimum and/ or purchasing two sizes in certain garments. We do not get these gowns free from designers, so of course there is a risk on our end. If the designer is a flop, we can take a huge financial hitting. Deciding to invest in the any line is a big gamble. So over a year we amassed enough gowns that we finally felt confident to announce that” we carried plus size gowns “. In our occurrence our magic number was about 30 garments in sizings 18 -3 0. In October of 2017, we debuted the collecting and made it official! To date we have about 50 plus sizing garments and the number keeps growing!

Q: I suppose many brides assume it’s easy to have samples of all sizes in a store, which is why it’s frustrating. Why don’t more stores have plus samples?

A: You are totally right, it seems like it should be simple but it is not an easy accomplishment, especially being a small business. We have to buy each and every dress that is shown on the floor with no discounts at all. They are not on loan from the designer.

AWARENESS+ COST plays a big role: One thing that’s a struggle for small boutiques is actually getting enough Plus Size brides through the door to justify the cost. Throughout the course of bridal boutique history, the Plus Size brides have learned to stay away from small boutiques. In the past, smaller boutiques devote the great experiences, but they didn’t carry their size. A safe guess is that boutiques can’t afford to add Plus Size and if they can, it’s still hard to get the word out. Even with the recent addition, debut, and ad of Plus Size Wedding Gowns at our shop, it took almost a year before we insured a( somewhat) consistent flowing of brides over a sizing 18 make appointments. So for a year we’ve seen increase in sales, but not where we wish. But of course, we weren’t giving up! We known to would take time to get the word out and get photos from real brides weddings to share on our social media to bring more awareness that we are a place to shop! The very real and unfortunate portion that looms over us, is that without the steady traffic of brides over a sizing 18 in the shop, it’s hard to see why we use our floor space and/ or investment. Over these past few years we have considered an increase. We are sure the internet searches and social media have contributed to. We still are working on get the word out and are devoted to it! So we would love it if you’d please help spread the word !!!! Special thank you to Emily for helping us with that !!! You’ve been a leader in this for us and we greatly appreciate it!

On one hand we have to be aware of what the returns on our investment are. On the other( emotional) hand, we want to be able to help every bride zip up in a dress and give them many alternatives! The hard truth+ vulnerable truth is, we are in business, and we have to let go of things that do not work and invest in what does. Right now, “we ii” remaining committed to building this collection and hope that within the next year we see that it runs and that this is a great match for us! There are a lot of factors and a lot of the unknown. As of now, we have honed in on Bridal ONLY and hope that for many years to come we have brides of ALL shapes and sizes walking into our doors.

Q: How do you choose which samples you bring into the store?

In the bridal industry you are not able to carry a decorator only because you love it. It has to be available in your “territory” and/ or make sense financially for the store. We could have a designer that requires us to purchase 18 new sample gowns a year, while another one may require 10. That could be a several thousand dollar difference between those two designers! We need to have words that fit us, because in the end we want to stay in business so we can continue serving our brides. We have to look for decorators that are consistent on their style throughout the seasons. We can’t opt designers that have beautiful garments one season and horrible garments the next. Once we invest in a decorator it isn’t smart business to get the gowns in the shop only to part styles with them the next season because the line isn’t strong.

We attend bridal market twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Each time we buying the minimums from our designers, or if we are head over heels with a season, we will purchase more than the minima !!! We pick styles that we know ” fits a need” or know our brides love. Sometimes we are more focused on specific necklines, or maybe its a skirt or a material we are lacking in the shop. The most important thing is, we are shopping for the type of bride that come to Couture Closet, and that is the bride we build our inventory around. Sometimes our bride alters but for the most proportion we are shopping for the romantic, whimsical, modern, and boho bride.

Sometimes we come across a gown we ordered in traditional bridal sizing and learn pretty quickly that a certain bust line would be great for our plus size ladies. A certain fabric would be great for our curvy clients or a certain cut would be helpful for a fuller waist, or hip. Then we might purchase that dress( again, because we already bought it in a sample size 12) for our plus size collect.

Q: I know one thing you all have worked on a lot, and we’ve talked about extensively, is lack of representation of plus brides across the industry: from vendor websites to styled shoots. Why do you think representation is important, and what are you doing to help with that?

A: The absence of representation is very real and honestly we didn’t know it was a concern until we started talking to brides and doing our research. It’s a vulnerable topic and necessitates some real talk and the right questions. For YEARS our “average” sizing brides haven’t even been able to relate to the 00 sizing models in the wedding publications and designer websites. So the plus size brides were Extremely left out. Now that social media is the best way to reach new brides, we email every single one of our #ccbrides after their wedding, checking in and letting them know we would love to share their wedding images on our website and social media accounts( if that interests them ). We have noticed slowly but surely our Plus Size brides will share these with us, where our non-Plus Size brides will almost always share their photos. Maybe they are sharing because they are actively seeing us strive for positive body talk and representation. We want to help change the face of the industry and it takes all of us, shop owneds and brides alike, to construct steps to do this! We love sharing and representing all sizes of our amazing and confident #ccbrides. Emily, YOU have helped with this this sooooooo much! With your bridal pictures and the styled shoot you participles in, YOU have been a major player in making this change! THANK YOU !!!

Thankfully it seems that 2018 was the year that we have noticed decorators hearing the comments and starting their plan of action on how to address this for their models, gown options, and offerings. We have watched high profile designers like Hayley Paige adding Plus Size models to her social media and tweaking her designs to fit a fuller figure. We have find decorators like Lillian West add on Plus Size packages to make it less expensive for boutiques to add Plus Size gowns to their inventory( and Lillian West doesn’t charge an UP SIZE charges to ANY of their gowns !!!!!). We have seen Plus Size designers popping up who Merely cater to brides size 12 -3 2 instead of size 0-20. We are seeing more and more brides owning their curves and espousing them! 2018 looks like it was a pivotal point and we hope the momentum doesn’t stop !!!

Q: For the nervous curvy bride-to-be, can you describe what an appointment looks like?

A: First of all brides of EVERY size are nervous about trying on wedding gowns. And for every Plus Size bride that is worried about her curves, there is a teeny tiny thin bride who is worried about not filling out a dress properly. Most brides are worried and nervous about some part of their body being uncovered, or on display. As a bridal consultant, we are here to LISTEN and HEAR what you are worried about OR heck listen and hear what you LOVE about yourself and want to showoff! We have your back and want to help you find the dress that flatters, highlightings, or conceals all the parts you are worried about or love. When you first walk into OUR shop you are greeted by your consultant, taken to your semi-private area( you won’t be sharing seating or mirror space with anyone else in our store ). You will chat with your bridal consultant about styles, what you want to cover, what you want to show off, your likes and detests in fashion, and budget. Then we will get down to shopping. We will help you select about 5 gowns( so you don’t get too overwhelmed) and once we have seen you in a few and listened to your feedback about each one, we will feel confident in selecting a few more for you to try on. We Never pressure you in our store. Your gown might not be here. We will NEVER try and convince you that you look great in strapless when you feel uncomfortable in strapless, or that you should wear a mermaid if you dislike your hips. We don’t talk about loosing weight unless you want to, and we typically don’t even suggest shape-wear unless you want it. We want to celebrate you as you are!

Q: To expand on the question above, what should a bride wear, or bring to her appointment? What if she’s self conscious about get undressed with others- any tips or words of wisdom for her?

A: We always foster brides to wear what they are comfy wearing. So if that entails full shape wear, that is fine. If she wants to wear a bra that’s fine too. Of course, underwear is required, but if she wants to go bra-less, we are fine with that as well. There will not be any judging. Promise! There will be a consultant in the fitting room helping you into the gowns but we have been doing this a long time and NOTHING surprises us. We have a fan in our fitting rooms in case you get too warm, and chances are we will turn it on( but if we don’t feel free to turn it on yourself) ….. it’s a little workout trying on garments !!! All of our brides nerves fade away within the first garments or two. We promise. You can do this! You deserve an incredible experience, and you don’t need to change or be anything else than what you are.

Q: Can you give me some names of decorators that you have plus samples of? Best way to make an appointment?

A: We carry Callista Bridal that is exclusively Plus Size, and we have Plus Size gowns from Lillian West, Jasmine, Lis Simon, Ashley and Justin, and a Private Label that is exclusive to our store. Hayley Paige only launched her size inclusive line so you may start ensure a few of those in the coming the next months as well! The best and easiest was to make an appointment is online via this connection .After you submit your appointment you will get a confirmation. One thing we added to the bottom of that confirmation email is a” Wedding Dress Details” tab. There you can let us know anything you want. Anything that is helpful! Tell us you are Plus Size, or Curvy, or Full Figured. Or just use the check boxes to describe what you like. You can also include your Pinterest page so we can see what styles you gravitate to. We can’t wait to hear from you soon !!

Thank you so much better to Lauren& Tera for answering all of my questions about this. I think it’s important for brides to remember that they have a choice where they take their business, and also for everyone to understand why it’s not so simple for boutiques to simply add more plus sizes.

The 411: The Couture Closet Boutique1 23 East Main StreetLa Grange, Kentucky 40031 Phone: [phone] Email: info @coutureclosetboutique. comInstagram: @couturecloset_kyFacebookPinterest

Styled Shoot Credits :D resses: The Couture Closet BoutiquePhotography: Susan with Love HuntersFloral: Rose& HoneyHair and Makeup: Sara Drury

Tips for Shopping for a Plus Size Wedding Dress originally appeared on Authentically Emmie on February 6, 2019. If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Authentically Emmie, it has been taken without permission.

The post Tips for Shopping for a Plus Size Wedding Dress appeared first on Authentically Emmie.

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The best movies on Netflix Australia: great films you can watch right now

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The best movies on Netflix Australia: great films you can watch right now

If you& apos; re new to Netflix and want to find the best movies to watch, or you& apos; re tired of browsing the app for 30 minutes before finding something to watch, you& apos; ve come to the right place. With thousands of movies at your disposal, it& apos; s easy to get stuck in binge-watching mode, but detecting the honest-to-goodness best films can be a bit of a hassle.

The best VPN for Netflix 2019 Top trending movies on Netflix Australia( May 2019)

In an effort to determine the best of the best, we& apos; ve put together a listing of the greatest possible movies you can watch- curated by TechRadar editors and backed up with ratings from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes- so that you don& apos; t have to sift through the muck. We& apos; ll keep this best-of list up to date with the latest movies that are must-watch, so you waste zero screen period searching.

Below, you& apos; ll also find a hand-selected list of the top trending newly added movies on Netflix Australia at the moment. Here& apos; s what we think you should be watching this month. Alternatively, you could also skip immediately to your choice genre via the drop down menu above!

1. The Perfection

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A deliriously twisty and sinister horror movie, The Perfection follows the demented relationship between musical prodigy Charlotte( Allison Williams) and rising star Lizzie( Logan Browning ), who threatens to upstage Charlotte at her former school. Without giving too much away, The Perfection is absolutely unpredictable- not even the trailer above can truly give you an idea of what the movie has in store for unsuspecting viewers. Only know that The Perfection isn& apos; t afraid to get gross or venture into shocking and uncomfortable territory.

IMDB Rating: 6.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

Watch The Perfection on Netflix right now

2. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

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Netflix& apos; s highly-anticipated new cinema Highly Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is finally here, and while it doesn& apos; t quite live up to the hype it generated from its show at Sundance, it does feature an utterly magnetic performance from Zac Efron, who plays the depraved serial murderer Ted Bundy. Told from the perspective of Bundy& apos; s former girlfriend Liz( Lily Collins ), Extremely Wicked attempts to explain how any rational human could have fallen for the horrific murderer& apos; s innocence asserts. Leaning heavily into Bundy& apos; s reported eloquence and charm, the film occasionally makes the killer of over 30 young women looks a lot like an underdog, which may rub some the wrong way. Of course, that approach does serve the film& apos; s ultimate goal, which is to provide the viewer with an understanding of how someone as evil as Bundy could emotionally infiltrate a person& apos; s life to such a degree.

IMDB Rating: 6.8/ 10, Rotten Tomatoes: 58%

Watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile on Netflix right now

3. Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce

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Netflix nabbed a huge exclusive when it locked down the rights to Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce- an in depth documentary showcasing the megastar& apos; s awe-inspiring performances at Coachella 2018, intercut with extensive behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage. More than an unbelievably entertaining concert movie, Homecoming also acts as a rallying cry for women of colour the world over. A powerful and politically-charged statement that just happens to be filled with absolute bangers, Homecoming is surely to please Beyonce fans.

IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Watch Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce on Netflix right now

4. The Highwaymen

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Famous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde have been immortalised in popular culture thanks in big portion to the classic 1967 movie about their exploits, but what about the lawmen responsible for terminate their killing spree? Netflix& apos; s new original film The Highwaymen aims to tell their story once and for all. Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson star as Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, two real-life Texas Rangers who are brought out of retirement with one goal in mind- to find Bonnie and Clyde and put them down for good. Despite being divisive amongst critics, The Highwaymen features terrific performances, assured direction and beautiful cinematography, devoting this story the prestige cinema therapy it deserves.

IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 53%

Watch The Highwaymen on Netflix right now

5. Triple Frontier

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After years of service to their country with little to show for it, groupings of soldiers( Oscar Isaac, Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal and Garrett Hedlund) sets out to rob one of the wealthiest and most dangerous cartels in South America. Of course, things precisely don& apos; t go to plan, and now the team is on the run with upwards of $ 250 million in drug fund. Can they escape with the money and their own lives? Directed by J. C. Chandor( A Most Violent Year ), Triple Frontier is an edge-of-your-seat thriller with terrific performances and fantastic cinematography( believe us, the film appears spectacular in 4K HDR ).

IMDB Rating: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Watch Triple Frontier on Netflix right now

6. Hereditary

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An instant classic of the horror genre, Hereditary tells the terrifying story of a family haunted by the dark secrets of its own ancestry. Toni Collette devotes a career best performance as Annie, a mother who& apos; s driven to uncover her family& apos; s cryptic past after an immensely tragic occurrence leaves them devastated. The route that Hereditary unfolds is truly unpredictable, with a number of shocking moments which are guaranteed to leave spectators speechless. While it can be a tough watch at times, Hereditary is a rewarding and immaculately-crafted horror experience that& apos; s well worth taking.

IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Watch Hereditary on Netflix right now

7. The Dirt

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If Bohemian Rhapsody was a little too sanitised for your liking, you may want to check out The Dirt, an unflinching music biopic about glam metal outfit Motley Crue that revels in the debauchery of the band& apos; s sex, narcotics and rock& apos; n& apos; roll lifestyle in the 1980 s. Never shying away from Motley Crue& apos; s more outrageous( and utterly disgusting) antics, The Dirt explores the highs and lows of being a rock star with no sense of ego control in regards to partying, women and hard drugs( the film& apos; s Ozzy Osborne scene is particularly revolting ). Be alerted, the cinema contenders The Wolf of Wall Street when it comes to sex, nudity and drug use, often feeling seedy and exploitative in its portrayal of women( almost every female character in the film is a disposable groupie or horrible person ). That said, when viewed as a period capsule of a particularly crazy moment in music history, The Dirt is immensely watchable.

IMDB Rating: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 42%

Watch The Dirt on Netflix right now

8. La La Land

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Though it& apos; ll always be remembered as the film that was accidentally read out as Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2017, La La Land would still have been a deserving winner regardless. Written and directed by wunderkind filmmaker Damien Chazelle( Whiplash, First Man ), the film is an all-singing, all-dancing love story about a jazz pianist( Ryan Gosling) and an aspire actress( Emma Stone) who fight to stay together as their dreams pull them apart. Equal proportions joyous and heartbreaking, and featuring two megastars at their most charming, La La Land is one of the best romantic musicals in recent years.

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Watch La La Land on Netflix right now

9. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

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It was promised to be the most high-end, luxurious island-set music festival experience known to man, with supermodels, yachts, five-star accommodation and dining all set to provide an experience unlike any other. Unfortunately, festivalgoers were in for a rude shock when they arrived at their supposed paradise, instead determining a define that looked more like an internment camp than Club Med. Netflix& apos; s original documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened tells the story of how this event unraveled, going from party of the century to Hell on Earth.

IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Watch Fyre on Netflix right now

Got a Stan account too? These are the best movies on Stan: a listing of the top cinemas streaming in Australia nowWant some more prime entertainment? These are the best movies on Amazon Prime Video: top films to watch in Australia right now

As tech enthusiasts, it& apos; s perhaps unsurprising that we& apos; re obsessed with science fiction here at TechRadar. From glorious space operas to mind-bending cinemas that make you think, there& apos; s something for everyone on our list of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix Australia.

Child of Men

Image credit: Universal

Long before Brexit, celebrated director Alfonso Cuaron( Gravity, Roma) offered a dystopian vision of a near-future Britain turned anti-immigration police state. The world has plunged into chaos as it awaits imminent extinction following an unexplained epidemic that& apos; s attained everyone infertile. Though it& apos; s been decades since the last human was born, a pregnant refugee named Kee( Clare-Hope Ashitey) suddenly appears, resulting a desperate hurry to deliver the expectant mother to the safety of The Human Project- groupings of scientists working to cure the world& apos; s infertility. Reluctant ex-activist turned government flunky Theo( Clive Owen) is initially called upon to get much-needed transit newspapers, but it quickly becomes apparent that he& apos; s the only hope Kee and her newborn have of building it to their destination alive. A filmmaking triumph, Children of Men is at once unbelievably poignant and unbelievably intense. Keep an eye out for the heart-pounding single-take scene which ensure Theo and Kee venture into a war zone in order to make it to the coast.

Watch Children of Men on Netflix IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Annihilation

Credit: Netflix

If you& apos; ve watched writer-director Alex Garland& apos; s previous sci-fi masterpiece, Ex Machina, you& apos; ll know to expect a wild ride with his follow-up, Annihilation. Based on the highly regarded novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation follows a group of women who set off on an expedition into an environmental disaster zone where the laws of nature don& apos; t apply. Natalie Portman results the pack as a biologist searching for her missing husband, and she& apos; s joined by Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and more. Though the film has only just been released in theatres in the US, Australia is lucky enough to be one of the countries getting the cinema on Netflix right away. Equally brainy and frightening, Annihilation has all the makings of a modern science fiction classic.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Minority Report

Credit: 20 th Century Fox

What if you could prevent murders before they& apos; ve resulted? More importantly, what would you do if you were due to be sentenced over a assassination you haven& apos; t committed yet? That is the premise of Steven Spielberg& apos; s spectacular sci-fi film, Minority Report. Loosely based on the Philip K. Dick story of the same name, the film watches Tom Cruise play the is chairman of a futuristic& apos ;P recrime& apos; Division tasked with stopping assassins from carrying out their violent actions. They can do this thanks to the clairvoyant abilities of three siblings known as& apos ;P recogs& apos ;. But what happens when this trio of soothsayers predicts a slaying carried about by Cruise himself? Spoiler alert, he runs! A visually stunning film that& apos; s filled with ingenious and forward-thinking technological ideas that will likely become a reality in years to come, Minority Report is intense and action-packed.

IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Interstellar

Credit: Warner Bros.

One of Christopher Nolan& apos; s most ambitious movies, Interstellar imagines a future where Earth is on its way out, and humanity must venture out beyond our galaxy to find a suitable new planet to call home. Among these cosmonauts are Cooper( Matthew McConaughey ), who must leave his children behind, despite the journey possibly lasting several decades, and Brand( Anne Hathaway ), who is on a mission to track down her partner in the far-off reaches of space. Simultaneously thought-provoking and mind-bending, Interstellar is a true science fiction spectacle- one that rewards multiple viewings.

IMDB Rating: 8.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

We all love a good scare( so long as we& apos; re safe and sound at the end of it ), so with that in intellect, we& apos; ve taken the liberty of shining a spotlight on some of the best horror movies currently streaming on Netflix Australia. These freaky flicks are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine!

Get Out

Image credit: Universal

Before you check out Jordan Peele& apos; s latest film Us, it might be worth watching( or rewatching) the writer-director& apos; s debut feature, Get Out, which is an absolutely brilliant horror film dealing with race relations in America. Upon meeting his girlfriend& apos; s white parents for the first time, African American man Chris( Daniel Kaluuya) begins to feel a growing sense of malaise- particularly in the presence of the family& apos; s all-black faculty. Before too long, the seemingly-progressive family& apos; s all-too-accommodating demeanour starts to unravel, eventually uncovering a horrible truth that will show Chris just how much danger he& apos; s actually in. Insightful and suspenseful in equal measure, Get Out is one of the most socially-relevant horror movies ever built. It& apos; s no wonder Peele won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay on his time out of the gate.

IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Watch Get Out on Netflix right now

Dawn of the Dead

Image credit: Universal

George A. Romero& apos; s 1978 original may be king, but Zack Snyder& apos; s fast-paced Dawn of the Dead remake is still a terrific zombie film in its own right! Thanks to an excellent script by James Gunn( Guardians of the Galaxy ), Snyder& apos; s directorial debut is still one of the best in his entire filmography, with fleshed out( and fleshy) characters to root for as all hell breaks loose. Holed up in a suburban shopping center, a group of people from various walks of life come together to fight for survival during an all-out zombie insurgency. Scary and action-packed, the 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead is one of the best horror remakes around. And, with the recent announcement that Snyder will return to the zombie sub-genre once more( for the Netflix& apos; s Army of the Dead ), now& apos; s the perfect time to revisit this positively ghoulish flick.

IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

Velvet Buzzsaw

Credit: Netflix

Writer-Director Dan Gilroy( Nightcrawler) delivered a movie that& apos; s a whole lot crazier than we were expecting with Velvet Buzzsaw. The supernatural/ satirical horror cinema is set in the art world, where a series of paints by an unknown deceased artist begin to take revenge on those who worship money. The film stars Nightcrawler alums Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo, along with John Malkovich, Daveed Diggs, Natalia Dyer, Tom Sturridge, Billy Magnussen and Zawe Ashton. It won& apos; t be everyone& apos; s cup of tea, but if you like your movies left of centre, you merely might appreciate Velvet Buzzsaw.

IMDB Rating: 5.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

Apostle

Credit: Netflix

In the grim tradition of The Wicker Man and The Witch comes Apostle, a gory new folk horror narrative from Gareth Evans, director of The Raid films. Set in 1905, Apostle sees Thomas Richardson( Dan Stevens) infiltrate an island-based cult which is holding his sister Jennifer( Elen Rhys) for ransom. Led by Prophet Malcolm( Michael Sheen ), the cult is entering a particularly dark time — its harvests and livestock are rotting from within, as if the people are being penalized by their deity. With the community in dire straits, Malcolm and his adherents have become murderous monsters, resorting to horrific, medieval practices in a vain attempt to restore life to their home. In other words, a terrible time to be discovered as an invader! With Apostle, Evans has not lost his knack for bodily destruction, with several scenes of torture and violence that may be too much for some spectators. Those with strong stomachs, however, will be rewarded with a nail-biting horror story with unbelievably production design and cinematography that& apos; s willing to go to some truly dark places. It& apos; s nerve-jangling score is also worth keeping an ear out for.

IMDB Rating: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 77%

It

Credit: Warner Bros.

Get ready, fright fans — the highest-grossing horror movie of all time has induced its route onto Netflix and is bound to build you scared of buffoons all over again. Based on Stephen King& apos; s classic fiction of the same name, It follows a group of tightly-knit adolescent misfits known as The Losers Club as they analyse an evil force-out that& apos; s been stealing and murdering children in their small town for decades. With its late& apos; 80 s defining and talented cast of young musicians, It is bound to appeal to fans of Netflix& apos; s brilliant series Stranger Things( and not just because Finn Wolfhard stars in both ). As far as Stephen King adaptations go, it& apos; s one of the very best, managing to strike the right balance between horror and heart. Simply set, It is the kind of crowd-pleasing scare film we& apos ;d like to see more of. We recommend watching It before the upcoming sequel, which takes place 27 years later and ensure the kids all grown up and terrorised by Pennywise the Dancing Clown all over again.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Jaws

Credit: Universal

The film that defined the word& apos; blockbuster& apos ;, Steven Spielberg& apos; s classic fright cinema Jaws has swam its route onto the the service and is hungry for more viewers to chomp on. When an aggressive great white shark starts feeing swimmers in the lead up to Fourth of July weekend, the mayor of a popular tourist destination decides a bounty for the shark& apos; s head. The township& apos; s sheriff( Roy Scheider ), an oceanographer( Richard Dreyfuss) and a shark hunter with a rancour( Robert Shaw) set out on the seas to take it down for good. They& apos; re gonna need a bigger boat…

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

It Follows

Credit: Rialto Distribution

Considered a modern horror classic by many, It Follows finds a young girl( Maika Monroe) terrorised by a sexually-transmitted demon. This terrifying apparition looks different every time and will chase you relentlessly until you either pass it on by sleeping with someone else, or until it catches up to you and finishes you off for good. To construct matters worse, if the person you pass it on to dies, it will turn its attention back to you again. Did we mention that it can only be seen by the people that have been& apos; infected& apos ;, so your friends won& apos; t be able to help as much as they& apos ;d are ready to? Yeah, it kinda sucks. Stylish, atmospheric and with a terrific John Carpenter-inspired synth score, It Follows in an effective horror movie which may suffer a little from a few odd decisions by its characters, but is still well worth watching.

IMDB Rating: 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

The Babysitter

Credit: Netflix

One for the horror slapstick fans, the Netflix Original film The Babysitter, from director McG( Charlie& apos; s Angels ), is an energetic and fun flick with some killer one-liners and a star-making performance from Aussie actress Samara Weaving( yes, she& apos; s related to Hugo ), whom horror fans may recollect from her role in the first season of Ash vs Evil Dead. The plot is simple: kid develops a crush on his incredibly cool babysitter, merely to find out that she& apos; s sadistic, devil-worshipping killer with groupings of equally psychotic friends, all of whom are planning to kill him. Though he& apos; s a total wimp, he must now fight back in order to survive. Gory and funny in equal measure, The Babysitter is a hell of a time.

IMDB Rating: 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

Documentaries offer unprecedented insight into the lives of real people and the extraordinary events that surround them. Fiction is great, but fact genuinely has the power to move and inspire people like nothing else. With that said, here are some of the best documentaries currently available to stream on Netflix Australia.

Get Me Roger Stone

Credit: Netflix

The Trump presidency has been stimulating headlines for all the wrong reasons, and has been a source of entertainment for late-night demonstrates and comedians across the US. There are volumes aplenty already published on the Trump White House, yet the world is yet to meet the President-maker,” the trickster”, behind the scenes. Get Me Roger Stone is about the man who puts a Republican in the White House, use every( underhanded) technique he possibly can to get his man the top job. And he does so unashamedly. The documentary follows this self-acclaimed ” agent provocateur”- reminiscent of a dapper character right out of a James Bond novel or movie- as he reveals everything he’s done during his long career, from Nixon to Trump. The documentary not only sets the subject, and his Nixon tattoo, centre-stage, it also reveals how the American democracy works in its current form.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Amanda Knox

Credit: Netflix

Following the enormous success of its original docu-series Making a Murderer, Netflix has once again returned to the ever-popular& apos; true crime& apos; well with Amanda Knox. The Netflix Original documentary tells the harrowing story of an American exchange student who spend four years in an Italian prison after being convicted for the killing of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Forced to endure the prosecution& apos; s various character assassination tactics, including public slut-shaming, Knox maintains her innocence at all period, with her appeals eventually reaching Italy& apos; s Supreme Court. Amanda Knox is an effective and genuinely eye-opening documentary that is not to be missed.

IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

We love a good thriller, which is why we& apos; ve constricted down some of the best ones that are now available to watch on Netflix Australia. These films will have you on the edge of your seat in suspense, so sit back, try to relax, and enjoy.

Zodiac

Image credit: Paramount Pictures

Director David Fincher revolutionised the modern-day serial killer thriller with his masterpiece, Se7en, so when it came time to revisit the genre with Zodiac, the visionary director opted to tear it back up again( in a good way, that is ). Eschewing the grim flashiness of the aforementioned film, Zodiac follows the true( and still unsolved) Zodiac assassination spree that occurred across the US during the 1960 s-7 0s. Fincher approaches the morbid material with the various kinds of journalistic attention to detail and intense investigation that would become incredibly popular several years later( just imagine how celebrated Zodiac would be if it were released now, in the time of total true crime obsession ). Jake Gyllenhaal plays Robert Graysmith, the real-life newspaper cartoonist that would eventually dedicate decades of his life in the endeavours of the Zodiac killer& apos; s true identity. The rest of the cast ain& apos; t shabby, either- Robert Downey Jr( not playing Iron Man ), Mark Ruffalo( not playing Hulk ), Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox and Chloe Sevigny star in supporting roles. A gripping true story, Zodiac is a must for dedicated true crime fanatics. It also attains for a terrific companion to Fincher& apos; s serial killed-themed Netflix Original series, Mindhunter.

IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

The Villainess

Credit: Madman Entertainment

Equal parts Oldboy and La Femme Nikita, The Villainess is a female-driven Korean revenge thriller with the most incredible and original action sequences this side of The Raid — seriously, the first-person knife fights and shootouts in this set Hollywood action movies to shame. Sook-hee( Ok-bin Kim) is apprehended after carrying out a killing spree that leaves dozens of gangsters dead. She& apos; s given a choice: develop to become a ruthless assassin and receive liberty after ten years, or expend the rest of her life in jail. Obviously, she prefers the former, and before long it becomes clear to her that her rampage was spurned on under false pretences. Now, it& apos; s time to make everyone pay for what they did to her.

IMDB Rating: 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Gerald's Game

Credit: Netflix

2017 has been a great year for Stephen King adaptations( ahem, The Dark Tower aside ), and the new Netflix Original film Gerald& apos; s Game joins It and 1922 in the upper echelon. In an attempt to rekindle their wedding, Gerald( Bruce Greenwood) and Jessie( Carla Gugino) retreat to a remote lake home. When a sexuality game goes awry, Jessie is left alone and handcuffed to the bed and must overcome her mounting paranoia and deep, personal demons. Though the cinema mostly takes place within the one room, Gerald& apos; s Game remains thrilling from start to finish. It also features one of very good performances of Gugino& apos; s career.

IMDB Rating: 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Drive

Credit: Pinnacle Films

Drive is the film that induced it cool to love Ryan Gosling. Based on the novel of the same name by James Sallis, this pulpy thriller is one of the most stylish films of the last decade, having almost single-handedly revived the neon& apos; 80 s synth-pop scene. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn( Bronson, Only God Forgives ), Drive assures Gosling play a nameless stunt driver who works as a shady wheelman by night. When a chore runs horribly wrong, this& apos ;d river& apos; must dispense violent justice to induce things right for those working he cares for. The movie& apos; s immense influence is also available felt across all forms of media- the video game Hotline Miami, in particular, owes a large debt of gratitude to Drive. A caring ode to the early tough-guy crime movies of Michael Mann, Drive is essential viewing.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

We& apos; re serious cinephiles here at at TechRadar. It& apos; s not all about Star Wars around here- we enjoy a good tear-jerker, too. There are many sensitive drama films streaming on Netflix Australia right, and these are some of the best ones. So grab a hanky and get ready for a heavy night in.

Roma

Credit: Netflix

An astonishing ode to motherhood in all forms, Roma is the most personal film to date from visionary director Alfonso Cuaron( Children of Men, Gravity ). On newspaper, Roma is not the easiest sell- a subtitled black and white film about a live-in housekeeper spoken almost entirely in Spanish and the indigenous Mixtec language, Cuaron& apos; s latest is nonetheless riveting from a cinematic standpoint. More a series of vignettes than a traditional three-act narrative, Roma examines the life of a Mexico City family in the early 1970 s during a time of great social upheaval. Described by Cuaron as 90% autobiographical, the movie offer some insight into the famous director& apos; s early life, although the story is witnessed primarily through the eyes of his caretaker, Cleo( Yalitza Aparicio ), who would become a loved member of the family. One of the most gorgeously photographed cinemas of the year, Roma deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible. Shot altogether in 65 mm, Roma would make for an ideal theatrical experience. However, if that isn& apos; t an option, you won& apos; t be disappointed by the Roma& apos; s breathtaking 4K Ultra HD presentation on Netflix- just make sure you keep tissues on hand, because it& apos; s quite likely you& apos; ll shed a few tears during the film.

IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

American Graffiti

Credit: Universal

George Lucas took the world by blizzard with his phenomenal blockbuster Star Wars in 1977, but it wasn& apos; t the first masterpiece the filmmaker had helmed- American Graffiti was released merely four years earlier in 1973, marking the arrival of one of the most exciting voices in cinema. A nostalgic coming-of-age narrative, the 1962 -set American Graffiti follows a group of friends on their last night in township before heading off to college and the rest of their lives. Naturally, these kids spend the night cruising the strip in their amazing era-specific hot rods, saying their goodbyes to friends and girlfriends and getting up to some mischief before they have to grow up and face the real world. Released merely 11 years after the time in which it& apos; s define, the cinema presents just how much American life would change in such a short time, predating not only the Kennedy assassination and the Flower Generation, but also the Vietnam War. While American Graffiti is undoubtedly a feel-good film with an incredible rock& apos; n& apos; roll and doo-wop soundtrack, it& apos; s also a bittersweet reminder of innocence lost, with the cinema& apos; s ending hurling some cold water on an audience lulled into remembering& apos; the good old times& apos ;. Superstars Ron& apos; Ronny& apos; Howard, Richard Dreyfus and Harrison Ford.

IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Dunkirk

Credit: Warner Bros.

A harrowing tale of grand-scale survival against all odds, Christopher Nolan& apos; s film Dunkirk re-enacts one of the most significant events in World War II — namely, the evacuation of over 300,000 Allied soldiers who were trapped in the French port township of Dunkirk with no supplyings and barely any ammo while surrounded by heavily armed German forces-out. Codenamed Operation Dynamo, Winston Churchill& apos; s decision to enlist every available civilian ship capable of reaching Dunkirk resulted in the vast majority of stranded troops being rescued. Had the scenario gone another way, the Allied forces may have lost the war. Following the events by land, air and sea, Nolan offers a amazingly intimate look at the evacuation, despite being targeted against an epic backdrop. One of Nolan& apos; s best cinemas to date, Dunkirk is a must-see war film the explores human gallantry in the face of almost certain death.

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 9.2

Your Name

Credit: Madman Entertainment

A worldwide phenomenon, Your Name is the highest-grossing anime film of all time — that& apos; s right, bigger than any Studio Ghibli film or science fiction blockbuster. That a simple story about a young girl from a rural township switching bodies with a young man from bustling Tokyo hit such a cord with audiences is a testament to the heartfelt writing that helps bring these animated characters to life. Makoto Shinkai& apos; s film is the kind that will have you laughing one moment, then crying the next. A joyful and beautiful love story told in a unique and cerebral style, Your Name is one of the true anime masterpieces, sitting alongside the likes of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away and the legendary Akira.

IMDB Rating: 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Good Time

Credit: Madman Entertainment

Good Time stars Robert Pattinson in the type of performance that will make you forget all about his involvement in the Twilight saga. We& apos; re talking young De Niro good, here. When his mentally-challenged brother is snatched by the police after a bank robbery, Connie( Pattinson) sets out to do anything he can to free his brother before getting sent to the brutal Rikers Island jail complex. This sets off a night that spiralings out of control extremely fast. There& apos; s pretty much no way of predicting what will happen next. Gritty and grimy, Good Time is an intense film with an incredible soundtrack and fantastic cinematography. One of the best cinemas of 2017.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Beasts of No Nation

Credit: Netflix

As Netflix& apos; s first original movie, Beasts of No Nation had a lot to prove. The VOD scene had traditionally been associated with low budget indies and D-grade horror movies, but with Beasts of No Nation, Netflix managed to convince people that high quality( dare I say, Oscar-calibre) films is likely to be streamed at home and shown in theatres at the same time. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga( True Detective season 1 ), Beasts follows the loss of a child soldier& apos; s innocence as he& apos; s been necessary to do unspeakable things. The movie reaches like a sledgehammer, never shying away from the brutality and horror experienced by this young boy( played masterfully by newcomer Abraham Attah ). Equally powerful is Idris Elba& apos; s portrayal as the son& apos; s remorseless and despicable commander. Though not what you& apos ;d call a crowd-pleaser, we hope that Netflix continues to bring us brilliant films like this.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Blue is the Warmest Color

Credit: Universal/ Sony Pictures

As soulful as it is erotically-charged, it& apos; s not hard to see why Blue is the Warmest Color won the highest prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival- its portrayal of two women who fall in love and allow each other to discover their true egoes is truly special. Though Emma( Lea Seydoux) is a blue-haired free spirit, Adele( Adele Exarchopoulos) doesn& apos; t feel comfortable in her own scalp. While Adele& apos; s friends initially shun Emma due to her sexuality, she soon realises that Emma is the only person with whom she can express herself openly and bare her spirit to. Together, the pair experience the ups and downs of a mature relationship, while also exploring social adoption and their sexuality. A beautiful masterpiece that will take you on an emotional roller-coaster throughout its lengthy 3-hour running period, Blue is the Warmest Color is a film you won& apos; t soon forget.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Okja

Credit: Netflix

Korean director Bong Joon-ho( The Host, Snowpiercer) is an eclectic filmmaker, and his latest work, Okja, is in a genre all of its own. Is it an adventure film? Is it science fiction? Is it a drama? Is it a fairy tale? Is it satire? The answer is … all of the above. With a style that& apos; s somewhere between Spielberg and Miyazaki, the movie follows a young Korean girl& apos; s quest to rescue her best friend Okja, a super-pig that was created by the multi-national conglomerate Mirando Corporation for the purposes of consumption. Flipping between heartbreaking and joyful at the drop of a hat, Okja is an emotional roller coaster of a film that may well have you reconsidering your dietary options.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Need a good giggle? Netflix Australia is home to some terrific comedies, with a number of hilarious movies ready to stream in an instant. Some are light-hearted, while others are pitch black. With that in intellect, there& apos; s a comedy for everyone below.

Game Night

Credit: Roadshow

Max( Jason Bateman) and Annie( Rachel McAdams) are well known for hosting awesome weekly board game nights for their friends. On this particular evening however, Max& apos; s shady brother( Kyle Chandler) gets the group involved in his real life abduct, which leadings them to guess the whole thing is a game night mystery. Before long, the group finds itself in real danger with some murderous gangsters, and they& apos; ll need to use their board game problem solving abilities to get themselves out of this hairy situation! Stylishly directed and cleverly written, Game Night is head and shoulders above most other American comedies released in recent years.

IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

The 40 -Year-Old Virgin

Credit: Universal

Unlucky in love, nice guy Andy( Steve Carrell) has yet to go all the way with a woman despite being 40 years old. While he has quietly resounded himself to the possibility that he may never lose his virginity, his rambunctious co-workers( Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Romany Malco) have constructed it their mission to get Andy laid , no matter what. And, just when you think you have the movie figured out, it uncovers itself to be a amazingly sweet narrative about relationship and moving into the next stage of life. Featuring more gut-busting one-liners and sex mishaps than you can poke a … stray … you get where we& apos; re going with this, Judd Apatow& apos; s The 40 -Year-Old Virgin is one of the most hilarious comedies of the 21 st century.

IMDB Rating: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Coming to America

Credit: Universal/ Sony Pictures

Perhaps the most charming and endlessly entertaining comedy of Eddie Murphy& apos; s career, Coming to America takes the standard& apos; fish out of water& apos; notion and weaves pure magic with it. Unhappy with the arranged wedding set up by royal parents, Prince Akeem of the wealthy( and fictitious) African nation of Zamunda sets off for America in search of love with help from his squire, Semmi( Arsenio Hall ). Before long, Akeem falls for the smart and independent Lisa( Shari Headley ), heir to the McDowell& apos; s fast food restaurant empire. Insistent that he win her affections with his personality and not his wealth, Akeem and Semmi pretend to be poor and acquire chores at McDowell& apos; s. Now, the pair must contend with Lisa& apos; s over-protective father( John Amos) and her dork boyfriend( Eriq La Salle ). Full of heart and bloody hilarious, Coming to America is a comedy classic.

IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

Hot Fuzz

Credit: Universal

Following the success of their classic rom-zom-com, Shaun of the Dead, director Edgar Wright, starring and writer Simon Pegg and co-star Nick Frost teamed up once again to bring their hilarious sensibilities to the buddy-cop movie genre with Hot Fuzz. London super-cop Nicholas Angel( Pegg) is involuntarily transferred to a village in the English countryside for inducing his superiors look bad by comparison. There, he teams up with dim-witted( but well-meaning) policeman Danny Butterman( Nick Frost) and together, the pair uncover a assassination conspiracy. If films like Point Break and Bad Boys II are in constant rotation at your place, you absolutely owe it to yourself to grab a Cornetto and watch Hot Fuzz.

IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Though they live on the other side of the law, we as people tend to be fascinated by offenders. Whether it& apos; s the proscribe lifestyles they result, or the fact that they live those lives on the edge and do things most of us wouldn& apos; t dream of, something about their narratives induces them cinematic gold. Here are some of the best crime movies now streaming on Netflix Australia.

The Wolf of Wall street

Credit: Roadshow

The characters in the fact-based film The Wolf of Wall Street may very be completely reprehensible with little-to-no redeeming qualities, but damn if they aren& apos; t freakin& apos; hilarious. An adults-only tour through the real-life antics of white collar criminal Jordan Belfort( Leonardo DiCaprio at his most unhinged ), the cinema revels in the excess and debauchery of Wall street in the 1980 s, where thieving yuppies spend millions of dollars on medications, hookers and extravagant lifestyles they did not earn. While the cinema& apos; s three hour runtime might scare off potential spectators, Martin Scorsese& apos; s energetic direction keeps the action moving at a lightning-fast pace. The cinema was also stars Margot Robbie& apos; s in her breakout role, playing Belfort& apos; s ever-suffering wife, Naomi. Jonah Hill is also incredibly funny as Belfort& apos; s partner in crime, Donnie. If you love Scorsese& apos; s classic cinema Goodfellas, opportunities are you& apos; ll enjoy this just as much.

IMDB Rating: 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 78%

Snatch

Credit: Sony Pictures

A rollicking crime caper movie from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels writer and director Guy Ritchie, Snatch takes everything great about that movie and dials it up to 11. Featuring a large cast of colourful cockney thiefs, including Jason Statham, Stephen Graham, Dennis Farina, Benicio Del Toro, Vinnie Jones and Brad Pitt( especially memorable as an unintelligible Gypsy boxer ), Snatch flies thick and fast with hilarious quotable lines and energetic performances. Whether they& apos; re chasing after a diamond the size of a fist, or betting on illegal bare-knuckle brawls, you can expect these characters to end up get into all kinds of mischief.

IMDB Rating: 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 73%

Casino

Credit: Universal/ Sony Pictures

Re-teaming with their Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci once again play violent gangsters in this 1970 s-set crime movie based on real-life tales from the glory days of Las Vegas. The two play former best friends who not only compete over a gambling empire, but a woman( Sharon Stone ). If you can stomach the eye-popping violence on show here( this really does attain Goodfellas look tamed by comparison ), Casino is one of the best crime movies in Scorsese& apos; s amazing filmography.

IMDB Rating: 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Buckle up for some heart-pounding entertainment with some of the most kick-ass action movies now streaming on Netflix Australia. Adrenaline junkies will get a kick out of every one of the brawny movies listed below.

The Nice Guys

Image credit: Warner Bros.

Shane Black, writer and director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, returns to the world of gumshoe detectives with The Nice Guys, a smart and funny mystery that establishes Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a comedic match induced in heaven. Set in the late& apos; 70 s, Crowe& apos; s tough guy enforcer squads up with Gosling& apos; s bumbling private eye to solve the mystery of a dead porn star. Filled with hilarious one-liners and terrific action sequences, The Nice Guys is the kind of movie they truly don& apos; t make anymore, which attains its very existence something of a miracle, wouldn& apos; t “youre telling”?

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Watch The Nice Guys on Netflix right now

The Night Comes For Us

Credit: Netflix

One of the most incredibly violent action cinemas ever induced, The Night Comes For Us is a martial arts gangster epic( featuring several actors from The Raid series) where blood and body parts are offered up by the barrel. A fierce murderer( Joe Taslim) betrays his Triad gang members to protect an orphaned little girl. Now, the entire Triad is out to claim his head, including his former best friend( Iko Uwais ). What ensues is an unrelenting bloodbath of martial arts mayhem that never slows down for the rest of the cinema. We& apos; re not kidding when we say that this film might be too violent for many action junkies- heads are smashed in, throats are slashed, fingers are chopped off, bodies are blown apart and guts are ripped out with alarming frequency. If you thought The Raid was violent, you ain& apos; t considered nothin& apos; yet!

IMDB Rating: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

John Wick: Chapter Two

Credit: Universal/ Sony Pictures

In the first John Wick, they killed his dog, sending this boogeyman-like professional killer( played by a never-better Keanu Reeves) on a howl rampage of retaliation where no noggin remained bullet-free. In John Wick: Chapter Two, our favourite head-shooting hitman is on the defensive, as he is betrayed by an old associate and left to fight off every trigger happy assassin in New York and abroad. With even more insane stunt work and mythology house than the original cinema, John Wick 2 is an action-packed middle chapter which promises to end in an almighty massacre for the upcoming trilogy-closer, John Wick 3: Parabellum.

IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol

Credit: Paramount Pictures

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to watch Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol on Netflix before the latest film in the tale, Mission: Impossible — Fallout, makes theatres. Why should you do that? Because the fourth entry in the M: I series, which is directed by animation legend Brad Bird( The Incredibles, The Iron Giant) is not only very good Mission to date — it& apos; s one of the best spy movies of all time, period. Ethan Hunt( Tom Cruise) and his squad( which includes Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton) must stop a crazed madman( the late Michael Nyqvist) who believes the only way to save the world is to destroy it. Featuring brilliant spy antics, clever gadgets and the best stunts of Cruise& apos; s death-defying career( seriously, one particular sequence which takes place on the world& apos; s tallest constructing is positively vertigo-inducing ), Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol is as close to perfection as these various kinds of films get.

IMDB rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

The Warriors

Credit: Universal/ Sony Pictures

Set in a heightened version of New York in the dirty 1970 s, where the streets are ruled by violent gangs in crazy costumes, The Warriors follows one particular gang( we& apos; ll give you one guess as to what they& apos; re called) that& apos; s framed for the murder of a visionary gang leader during a city-wide midnight summit. Originally meant as a peaceful event, The Warriors must now make it back to their home turf at the other side of the city with every other gang in township out for their blood. Will they survive long enough to prove their innocence? And will the real perpetrators get what& apos; s coming to them? A fantastic piece of& apos; 70 s pulp, The Warriors is a guaranteed great time. And while its vision of colorful gangs lording over the slums of NYC seems outlandish, it& apos; s a lot closer to the reality of the time than most people realise. To learn more about this bygone era, check out the documentary Rubble Kings, which is also streaming on Netflix( read more about it on Page 3 ).

IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Wonder Woman

Credit: Warner Bros.

The DC Cinematic Universe has had a bit of a rough start in its attempts to catch up to competitor Marvel, with cinemas like Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad unable to adequately please both fans and critics. That all changed with Wonder Woman, the first DCU movie to receive universal praise across the board. Perfectly cast as Wonder Woman a.k.a. Diana Prince, Gal Gadot breathes warmth and love into the world& apos; s most famous female superhero. Diana is swept into the wars of man when charming pilot Steve Trevor( Chris Pine) crash land near the concealed island of Themyscira, home of the Amazons. Sensing that WWI is the doing of Ares, the God of War, Diana sets off with Steve into the world of man to objective the war( and Ares) once and for all. One of the greatest superhero movies of all time, Wonder Woman is a victory. Now let& apos; s hope we get more DC movies like this…

IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Credit: Disney

The sequel to Marvel& apos; s 2014 phenomenon, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 finds the intergalactic heroes thrust into another escapade, one that could disclose the identity of Peter Quill& apos; s father. Even more spectacular than the first film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 constantly aims to surprise the audience, with simultaneously maintaining its action and slapstick levels high.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Mad Max: Fury Road

Credit: Roadshow

The world has gone to hell following a cataclysmic event, plunging headfirst into madness and chaos. All that remains is a wasteland governed by tyrannical men, inhabited by downtrodden hordes, and hopefully, rescued by mythical heroes. Immortan Joe( Hugh Keays-Byrne) regulations with an iron fist, doling out meagre amounts of water to the masses, while keeping a stable of wives for himself to breed future warlords. His most trusted Imperator Furiosa( Charlize Theron) has betrayed him and freed these women from their lives of sex bondage. Now, the chase is on, as Immortan Joe and his party of warboys set out to retrieve their “property”. If Furiosa and co. are to succeed, they’ll need the help of Max Rockatansky( Tom Hardy ), a wandering road warrior in search of a cause. Director George Miller has crafted the most dynamic, vibrant and sensational action blockbuster of the decade with Fury Road. it’s an inventive, high-octane kick in the guts to a film industry that play around it safe for far too long. The chases and stunts in this film are unparalleled. Best of all, the film& apos; s cut-to-the-chase plot manages to sneak in a powerful and extremely timely rebuttal to patriarchy.

IMDB Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Need some kid-friendly entertainment that will stimulate the whole family happy? We& apos; ve selected some of the best family movies that Netflix Australia has to offer. Each one of these films is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

How to Train Your Dragon

Credit: DreamWorks Animation

One of the best animated cinemas of the last decade, How to Train Your Dragon astounded everyone with its tale of a young Viking boy who defies his village& apos; s dragon hunting ways to become the very first dragon rider. When Hiccup( Jay Baruchel) stumbles upon an injured Night Fury, the rarest and most-feared dragon in existence, he manages to befriend the animal( which he adorably names& apos; Toothless& apos ;), eventually teaching his family a valuable lesson in the process. Packed with unbelievable action and adventure, How to Train Your Dragon is a classic that can be enjoyed by both young and old.

IMDB Rating: 81%, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Beauty and the Beast

Credit: Disney

An utterly enchanting and entirely magnificent live-action adaptation of one of Disney& apos; s most celebrated animated classics, Beauty and the Beast utterly nails the source material — maybe even betters it in some considers. Much of the kudo can be bestowed upon Emma Watson, who plays Belle with grace and warmth. The same can be said about Dan Stevens, who spends the movie injecting life into the computer-generated Beast. Luke Evans comes close to stealing the depict, though as the vicious and vain Gaston. We& apos; re also pleased to report that all of the original cinema& apos; s songs are present and accounted for, so gather the whole family and settle in for a wonderful night singing, chuckling and crying.

IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

The Lego Batman Movie

Credit: Warner Bros.

If you loved Will Arnett& apos; s hilarious take over the Caped Crusader in The Lego Movie, you& apos; re going to be over the moon to see him take centre stage in his very own block-filled blockbuster! In The Lego Batman Movie, all of the Dark Knight& apos; s villains are teaming up to take over Gotham City, and it& apos; s up to Batman and his newly adopted sidekick Robin( Michael Cera) to stop them! With an incredible cast of comedic hotshots in tow, including Zach Galifianakis as the Joker, Conan O& apos; Brien as The Riddler and Riki Lindhome as Poison Ivy, The Lego Batman Movie keeps the laughs coming for its entire runtime. Quite frankly, it& apos; s the best Batman film since The Dark Knight.

IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Credit: 20 th Century Fox

Wes Anderson( The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom) is a novelist/ director know for his whimsical and inimitable style, with characters who are fleshed out( irrespective of whether they& apos; re actually people) and have warmth and heart to spare. With his first foray into family-fare, Fantastic Mr. Fox, the visionary filmmaker succeeded in creating his most accessible film to date. Based on the classic story by Roald Dahl, the film follows a wily fox( played with unbelievable charm and terrific comedic timing by George Clooney) who bandies together with his family( voiced by Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzman) and friends( including voice work from regular Wes Anderson collaborator, Bill Murray) to fight off the mean farmers that plan to destroy their homes. Featuring wonderful stop-motion animation, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a heartfelt and hilarious film that& apos; s destined to become a family favourite.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

The Iron Giant

Credit: Warner Bros.

Criminally overlooked by audiences upon initial release, The Iron Giant is an animated cinema that has steadily grown in appreciation over the years, to the point where many traditional animation purists now consider it an undisputed classic. The feature-length debut of director Brad Bird( The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol ), and Set during the 1950 s at the height of the& apos; Red Scare& apos; period of America& apos; s history, The Iron Giant tells the story of a lonely boy named Hogarth( Eli Marienthal) who makes a new best friend in an enormous amnesiac robot( Vin Diesel ). The robot eventually realises that he was actually constructed as a weapon, and before long, the authorities find out about him and set out on a quest to destroy the gentle giant. Now the boy and his metallic friend have to protect each other at all costs. A touching movie in the tradition of E.T. the Extra-terrestrial, The Iron Giant deserves to be considered as not just a terrific animated film, but as one the greatest films of the& apos; 90 s, period.

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Back to the Future

Credit: Universal/ Sony Pictures

A time-travelling classic from director Robert Zemeckis( Forrest Gump) and producer Steven Spielberg( Raiders of the Lost Ark ), Back to the Future find 1980 s teenager Marty McFly( Michael J. Fox) race back to the 1950 s to ensure that his mothers fulfill during high school and fall in love- he better succeed, because if he fails, he& apos; ll be wiped from existence in his current timeline! To do this, he& apos; ll need help from Doc Brown( Christopher Lloyd)- an eccentric scientist who& apos; s constructed a functioning day machine in the form of a DeLorean sports car. A fantastic fish-out-of-water tale that leans heavily on 1950 s nostalgia, great performances and terrific visual impacts, Back to the Future can be considered a high-watermark from everyone involved.

IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Read more: techradar.com

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21 Best Welcome Email Examples to Engage Customers

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21 Best Welcome Email Examples to Engage Customers

The success of your customer onboarding flow relies heavily on the first few touches, and it starts with your welcome email.

What is a welcome email

A welcome email is one of the first impressions your brand constructs. A friendly hello to connect with new customers and encourage them to interact with your product or service.

Your welcome email should be informative, clear and actionable. The instances in this post cover a range of approaches. Some might work great for your business, and others might not. Testing, as always, is highly encouraged.

Why welcome emails are important

One important thing to remember, open and click rates do not measure the success of your welcome email.

Of course, you’ll want to tweak subject lines and body transcript to optimize conversion. But the real purpose of the welcome email is to move users through your onboarding process.

Welcome email statistics The average open rate for a welcome email is 50 %. That makes it 86% more effective than standard newsletters. 76% of people expect to receive a welcome email immediately after subscribing to your listing. User who receive a welcome email indicate 33% more engagement with the brand

Source: invesp

The next step, depending on your software, blog or store could be to encourage readers to :P TAGEND complete their profile download content read a help doc or guide login to their account make a purchase complete a undertaking/ action

Whatever that step is, it is important to deliver value.

The metric to measure is the conversion rate. How many people took the step you asked them to take?

With this in mind, let’s dive into some of the best welcome email examples.

Jump to :P TAGEND Airbnb Allbirds Asana Away Casper Eve sleep Evernote Grammarly Headspace Helloprint Invision Marvel Medium Mode Moo Pipedrive Starbucks Tripit Turo UGMonk Unsplash Welcome Email Examples Airbnb

Subject line: How does Airbnb work?

Uncertainty is a conversion killer. New users usually want to know how your product or service works before diving in. Airbnb’s welcome email alleviates anxiety by providing clear guidelines on how things work.

It provides you with a clear introduction to their features :P TAGEND find a home explore experiences travel with confidence become a host

All segments are visual, demonstrating people having a good time. Descriptions are concise and actionable, with relevant CTAs.

Instead of using a CTA asking people to “Book Now, ” the CTA inspires them to “Explore.” It’s non-committal and friction-free.

Allbirds

Subject line: Welcome to the Flock

Allbirds, the world’s most comfortable shoe brand, creates a special feel that’s visible at every point.

Allbird’s welcome email :P TAGEND employ colorful language to convey values includes subtle animated GIFs that are consistent with the overall welcome email layout starts with an outstanding topic line: Welcome to the Flock that builds on the brand’s playful, friendly tone-of-voice, while attaining you feel part of something

Together, all these elements make for an authentic and memorable brand identity.

Well done, Allbirds!

Asana

Subject line: Welcome to Asana

Asana’s welcome email design aligns with their product, which is great for their overall brand recognition.

Messaging is tight and focused, building the next steps clear for the subscriber.

“Three things to try out now” induces it easy for the customer to get started, and quickly gain value from the product. Also, they have actionable headlines that are short, but to the point.

Plus, a vibrant purple CTA button looks awesome and beautifully contrasts the overall layout.

Pro tip: The 1-2-3 formula is great for welcome emails as it stimulates it simple for readers to digest. When done well, it even reduces anxiety about use a new product.

Away travel

Subject line: We’re Away. Let’s meet up.

Away, the first-class luggage brand uses a welcome email to describe and share their values and authentic passion for traveling. And right from the start, they demonstrate customer-first approach by talking to travelers about what they needed on the road.

Away’s welcome email gives you five strong benefits and reasons to choose their product, reducing anxiety by offering a 100 -day trial. Also, the narrative attains Away’s luggage feel thoughtful and bulletproof.

This welcome email lines up with the company’s brand image and inspires you to the next trip.

Excellent storytelling!

Pro tip-off: Not all your recipients are already customers. For the above reasons, they might need a little more background about your brand to start trusting you. Casper

Subject line: Welcome to Casper!

Casper welcomes us with a beautifully designed email. Perfectly matched night colors and sleepy speech makes a relaxing aura around the brand.

They use awards to prove the quality of their products and earn your trust.

Casper’s welcome email indicates the involvement of some high-tech stuff and that they take your sleep super seriously.

Also, the 100 -night trial reduces the barriers to purchase, it feels lower levels of a commitment, and they can change their intellect, so the decision to buy is easier.

“Let’s get sleepy” is a hilarious CTA that aligns with the transcript, connotes action and it’s always great to see something fresh!

Eve sleep

Subject line: You’re part of the family now

While this subject line induces it immediately feel like you belong here, the opening statement assistances establish the brand as human and caring, with a greater good and purpose.

We believe everyone should wake up happy. It’s why we create outrageously comfortable mattresses for an epic night’s sleep.

After a statement like that , nothing else matters; you know you’re at the best place to get your perfect mattress!

Eve goes straight to the most significant benefits their products bring: waking up happy, accompanied by an epic night’s sleep. That’s a great emotional hooking!

The introductory paragraph is crowned with a classic CTA, “shop now.”

With such an awesome and creative paragraph, it’s okay to keep your call to actions simple.

The second part of the welcome email offers perks that help bring the reader closer to making a buy :P TAGEND Free delivery 100-night trial 10 -year warranty

Eve not only offers a quality shipping package but they also make it super comfy.

Your experience is going to be nice and smooth.

No frustrations , no trouble.

Evernote

Subject line: Welcome to Evernote!

The opening statement in Evernote’s welcome email caught my eye :P TAGEND

“You’re going places. Your notes should too. Install Evernote on your telephone today”

It’s concise, clear and tells you the action you’ll need to take to enjoy the benefits of this excellent note-taking app.

Evernote keeps its copy short, light and to the point, telling new subscribers :P TAGEND How to download the app. How to use it to improve productivity efficiently.

It’s the right thing to do since email attention spans are short- about 11 seconds, according to Litmus research.

Pro tip: Optimize your emails for short attention spans. Use heads, subheads, bullets, and other tactics to communicate quickly.

Grammarly

Subject line: You+ Grammarly= Ready for Action

View web version

Grammarly, a free writing assistant, has been nailing their online communication.

They know exactly how to use online channels to make you fall in love with their personality. And with witty, playful speech, Grammarly gets right to the point.

Write the Future. This is how their welcome email begins.

“better writing opens you up to better dialogues, remarkable accomplishments, and healthier relationships”.

That’s a broad perspective, but when you think about it- there’s a lot of truth to it. That’s an excellent analogy.

The three following sections guide you through Grammarly’s basic features to assist you in get started and gain value quickly.

Pro tip: Develop a friendly consistent tone-of-voice across all your communications to attain your brand engaging and memorable.

Headspace

Subject line: Ready to meditate?

Headspace, a guided meditation app, generated not only a great product for a happier, healthier life but also mastered mindful storytelling.

And their animations rock!

Headspace’s welcome email template is something to see because of its cartoonish brand style. They use illustrations to provide interesting meditation lessons and define their brand identity.

This welcome email instance :P TAGEND tells you exactly how the trial works uses a strong lead magnet( free 10 -day beginner course) explains what happens when you want to go beyond the basics of meditation

One thing that’s missing here is a second CTA button located at the bottom of this welcome email- So you don’t required to scroll back to start meditating.

Helloprint

Subject line: Hi Kasia, let’s get you started.

Helloprint’s welcome email is a beautiful example of stimulating the brand feel human, warm and welcoming through an introduction to their support team members.

Helloprint stops being anonymous and you know precisely that it’s Mary, Martha, and Danny taking great care of you.

It’s a simple move to immediately put a face to your brand, building it friendly and personal from the start.

Pro tip: Introduce your team to your users to stimulate your brand more friendly and trustworthy. Invision

Subject line: Welcome to Invision

Invision’s welcome email is all about demonstrate , not telling. They provide three handy videos to help you understand and induce the most of your Invision experience.

Highlighting that their clients include well-known brands and experts who are admired for their design and client experience, helps to establish trust and credibility with the reader rapidly. This, in turn, promotes the customer to use the product.

Clear and actionable copywriting drives your attention towards Invision’s value propositions and benefits, demonstrating the customer what they can achieve with the product.

This simplistic and visual approach aligns with the narrative and the essence of the overall product.

Marvel

Subject line: Kasia, let’s get you designing in Marvel

Marvel’s welcome email combines illustrations with short, informative video tutorials and simple, personalized transcript to drive you towards useful resources.

This welcome email maintains you focused with a minimalistic and clean design.

Medium

Subject line: Welcome to Medium, Kasia Perzynska

Medium greets new members with a light, clean welcome email design and pastel colors.

The conversation opens with a simple, yet powerful statement :P TAGEND

“Welcome to Medium, where words matter”

This works to convey Medium’s central idea from the start. Next, you are served Medium’s fundamentals :P TAGEND who the platform was created for the primary idea behind it- to provide users with hyper-personalized content how you can get unlimited access-$ 5/ mo

Messaging is concise and tells subscribers how the modern content platform works.

Beneath, you’ll find some personalized tales based on the topic selection, plus top-performing stories to capture your attention and get you reading straight away.

Pro-tip: Make your welcome email as personal as possible to deliver content your users will value. Track your event data to add dynamic content to your emails.

Mode

Subject line: Welcome to Mode!

Mode’s welcome email starts with a clean hero image, presenting coders around a desk, with a personalized greeting on top.

Next, you’re given two practical ways to get started with Mode along with an explanation of the analytics platform and a 2-minute video walkthrough.

Even though you can find three different CTAs, they are all strategically selected to showcase the product’s core value.

This welcome email message is super clear and focused.

Moo

Subject line: Fantastic. You are in!

A creative welcome email design by Moo grabs your attention with a fun image and a fresh color combination: green, blue and yellow.

MOO makes great designs and publish for customers worldwide, reinforced with this beautiful, creative welcome email.

After the greeting, they grab your attention with their significant promise, a funny painting( probably presenting some of their prints) and a fresh color combination.

Moo swears that if you use their print products, you’ll impress everyone, and“if you’re not over the moon, they’ll move mountains to make it right.”

Well-said! And it sounds like a strong warranty to me.

‘Award-winning customer service’ sweetens up the deal- when you treat yourself to Moo’s products, you’ll be served by over-achievers and trust you’ll receive an experience above expectations.

Pipedrive

Subject line: Get Started With Pipedrive

View online

Pipedrive employs several welcome email best-practices to engage readers and encourages them to take the next step in the journey. They bet on social proof, and they have good reasons to do it because it reduces anxiety and quickly builds trust.

But, Pipedrive doesn’t stop there. They take persuasion to another level by using their ratings [# 1 CRM Software] to show off the high quality of their product and quickly establish trust and credibility.

Next, they share an explainer video that depicts everything you need to know about the product.

According to Wistia, videos up to two minutes long get tons of engagement. After that, the drop-off in participation is significant, so it’s worth ensuring your videos are short and packed with value to keep your viewers engaged.

This will ensure the majority of spectators also reach your CTA at the end of the video.

Pipedrive finishes up the welcome email with quick links to helpful resources and stats that will ensure it’s the right tool for you.

Well done!

Pro tip: Check this 4-Step Formula for More Persuasive Emails.

Starbucks

Subject line: You’re in. Welcome to Starbucks Rewards

View online

Starbucks is well-known for its creative marketing communication. So when I review the best welcome email examples, it’s my job to cover Starbucks.

And Starbucks nailed it, as expected. This welcome email is( nearly) perfect :P TAGEND It promptly jumps into the perks you’ll get from the Starbucks Reward program. It includes clear and focused transcript that’s interlaced with beautiful visuals and illustrations. All these components suit each other for a smooth welcome email.

But wait, there’s one thing missing! There are no clear CTAs. Although this welcome email instance is informative, CTAs could be added to each section. After all, your emails should always be targeted towards a specific action.

Pro tip: Think strategically about the call to action in your welcome email. Also, when your email gets lengthy, don’t hesitate to sprinkle several CTAs at strategic places. The best alternative is to tie one CTA to each section.

TripIt

Subject line: Welcome to TripIt, Kasia

View online

TripIt’s welcome email takes on a similar approach that’s used by Asana. They use the 1-2-3 formula that attains it easy for the reader to process and take action. Simple and actionable.

Turo

Subject line: Welcome to Turo

Turo’s welcome email starts with a visual of a van on the road in the middle of nowhere, probably somewhere in Utah or Arizona. It brings to my intellect the idea of # vanlife, which is in fashion recently.

A hero image along with the introductory statement

“Your escapade starts here”

encourages you to hit the road. And your imagination takes you there.

ALMOST. All you have to do to get there is to click to find your perfect vehicle.

Turo’s visuals and content flow smoothly together and compliment each other. It’s natural.

Although this welcome email is brief, all the elements are in place. Turo’s marketers are great storytellers!

Pro tip-off: Keep your message concise, but make sure to press the right buttons and inspire the user’s imagination. UGmonk

Subject line: Welcome to Ugmonk!

The first thing to catch my attention in Ugmonk’s welcome email is its form.

UGmonk welcomes you with a short note from the founder, Jeff Sheldon, and an interview-style video that feels personal.

This story introduces you to the everyday life of a committed decorator who came up with the idea and then had his idea to become something else.

Jeff shares an inspiring narrative that dives deep into the details, values, and reasons for starting a design brand.

A key thing here is that you can relate to Jeff and the tale behind the brand, so it builds a connection and likeness for the user.

Fueled with a passion for design and creativity, this welcome email will surely win the hearts of inventors, artistic souls, and tastemakers with its authentic feel.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to reveal the heart and soul of your brand: that’s what will ultimately get people’s attention. Unsplash

Subject line: Welcome to Unsplash

Unsplash’s welcome email begins with a short story about the brand, explaining how it began and how the app runs. Storytelling can induce your brand more authentic and relatable, so don’t shy away from employing real-life narratives.

The opening statement captures all the necessary details to gain your trust and inspire you to get you started. The second portion encourages you to join the community and get you thinking about the photos you already have, so you can start sharing right away.

Unsplash uses clear value propositions and wraps their welcome email content around it. It’s a great practice that helps you keep your messaging tight and craft actionable CTAs.

How to write a great welcome email

We’ve reviewed hundreds of welcome emails from different industries to provide you with this welcome email collection. With such extensive research behind you, it’s easy to identify what it takes to craft the perfect welcome email.

Let’s summarize some of the best welcome email practices

Personalize your welcome email to deliver content your users will value. Track customer properties and event data to add dynamic content to your emails and push notifications. Make an automated workflow to easily visualize and design your welcome email and the following steps in your customer journey. This style you can monitor the performance of your campaign and quickly identify opportunities for improvement. Ensure your welcome email is displayed in the local speech of your reader to increase engagement rates. The easiest way to do so is by using Vero’s multi-language campaigns. Play with speech and keep it fresh when writing content for your emails. Introduce your personality and ensure it’s consistent with your brand tone-of-voice. Stick to the point and always refer to one thing at a time. Think strategically about the call to action in your welcome emails. Consider your overall objective. What action do you want people to take? If your email gets lengthy don’t hesitate to sprinkle additional CTAs at strategic places. Utilize clear value propositions and wrap your welcome email content around them. Hold your message concise. Make sure to press the right buttons and inspire your user’s imagination. Optimize your emails for short attention spans. Use headings, subheadings, bullets, and other tactics to communicate promptly. Construct your welcome email simple, clean and visual. Create an authentic and memorable brand identity. Utilize the 1-2-3 formula to build every step clear for the subscriber. Be helpful and make it easy to get started. Storytelling builds your brand more authentic and relatable, so don’t shy away from using some real facts. Introduce your squad with real photos to construct your brand more human, friendly An excellent topic helps you boost your open rates and reach even more people, so make it compelling.

The post 21 Best Welcome Email Examples to Engage Customers seemed first on Vero.

Read more: getvero.com

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How to Create a Global SEO Strategy

New Post has been published on https://languageguideto.com/awesome/how-to-create-a-global-seo-strategy/

How to Create a Global SEO Strategy

As a child, I did everything that most kids did. I played outside with friends, I watched a lot of TV, I loved eating cereal for breakfast, and I went to school.

My childhood wasn’t too much different than yours. But there was one thing that was a bit unique.

I grew up watching Bloomberg before I went to school.

Now, I don’t want you to think I was some infant prodigy because I wasn’t. The only reason I watched Bloomberg in the morning is that my papa dabbled in the stock market and wanted to know if his stocks were going up or down.

Plus, we only had one TV … so I didn’t genuinely have a choice.

But from all of those years of watching Bloomberg, it wasn’t too hard for me to spot tendencies. And one of the big ones is globalization.

See, as a kid, most of the financial news channels discussed how things move forward in America.

But now, due to technological advances, companies no longer find themselves as regional or even national. Things like headquarters no longer matter.

Companies look at themselves from a global perspective. And every big company out there has done well because they focus on attracting clients from all over the world as it’s a much bigger pool and opens up more potential revenue.

And it’s not just industries, it’s people too. When infants attending school these days, their parents think about how they are going to stack up against kids in other countries versus children just from their own classroom.

So, with everyone believing from a global perspective, why do you think of your SEO from a national or regional perspective?

Don’t beat yourself up just yet, I used to think about SEO from a national perspective until a Google employee opened up my eyes.

And once I cracked the nut of international SEO, my traffic exploded…

So how much traffic do I get?

Here’s how many guests NeilPatel.com received over the last 7 days.

In the last 7 days, there were 972,026 sessions on my site that generated 1,501, 672 pageviews. And of those visitors, 584,294 where unique people. Hopefully, you were one of those unique people.

But this is where it gets interesting…

The United Country merely constructs up 22.35% of my traffic.

The rest is coming from other countries and, in many of them, English isn’t their primary language. Just look at the chart above … Brazil, India, Germany, Spain, and France are all examples where I am making a lot of traffic.

Of course, there are people from all over the world that speak English, but the big reason for the growth is that I started to expand internationally by doing things like translating my content.

Just click on the language selector next to my logo and you’ll insure some of the regions I “ve gotta go” after.

So how does one go after organic traffic from different countries?

The simple answer is to translate your content. If you translate your content into different languages, in theory, you should get more traffic.

Just look at the most popular speeches all across the globe :P TAGEND

Mandarin Chinese( 1.1 billion speakers) English( 983 million speakers) Hindi( 544 million speakers) Spanish( 527 million speakers) Arabic( 422 million speakers) Malay( 281 million speakers) Russian( 267 million speakers) Bengali( 261 million speakers) Portuguese( 229 million speakers) French( 229 million speakers)

But what most people won’t tell you( because they haven’t done it enough times) is that translating your content isn’t enough. Even if you translate it and adapted it to a specific country, it doesn’t guaranty success.

I had to learn this the hard way.

Case in phase, here are the traffic stats during the last 7 days for the Portuguese version of my blog :P TAGEND

And here are my traffic stats during the last 7 days for Spanish :P TAGEND

I get a whopping 238% more traffic on the Portuguese version of NeilPatel.com than I do on the Spanish version.

Here’s what’s interesting…

There are 298 million more Spanish speakers than Portuguese speakers. My team doesn’t only translate articles for both of those regions, we optimize them and make sure they are adapted to the local markets. We do keyword research to make sure we are going after popular terms. And I have more backlinks to the Spanish version of the site than I do to the Portuguese version.

Here’s the backlink profile to the Spanish version :P TAGEND

And here is the backlink profile of the Portuguese version :P TAGEND

As you can see, the Spanish version has 52% more backlinks.

Are you puzzled why the Spanish version of my blog isn’t as popular? There is a reason and I’ll give you a hint. Here’s a quote from Eric Schmidt who used to be the CEO of Google :P TAGEND

Brands are the solution , not the problem. Brand are how you sort out the cesspool.

Need another clue?

Here’s how many people land on my site from branded queries( people sought for my domain name or differences of it) in Spanish speaking countries :P TAGEND

And here’s how many people land on my site from brand queries in Portuguese speaking nations :P TAGEND

That’s why I get so much more traffic from Portuguese speaking regions like Brazil. I have 104% more brand queries.

It’s something Google values so much that most people ignore.

And it’s not just me. I have analytics access to 18 other companies that have a global strategy due to my ad agency. I plainly can’t share their stats, but it just shows the power of brand queries from a global perspective.

So, what’s the real secret to ranking well globally?

Based on my site and helping 18 other sites go global, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Sadly, I built one too many mistakes, but you won’t as long as you follow the advice below.

Localizing

You have to translate and adjust your content to each region you want to target. You can do so by hire translators on sites like Upwork, but the quality may be low.

Now, this doesn’t mean Upwork is bad, more so you should consider getting an editor who knows the local marketplace, speaks the local speech and speaks English, and understands the niche you are working in.

This way they’ll understand your goals, your original content, and the market you are going after.

And similar to finding translators on Upwork, you can also find editors there too. Just interview a few and ideally look for people with experience in your field.

The last thing you want to do is translate 100 articles to find out that they were all low quality and you have to do it all over again.

Keyword research

Popular keywords in one language aren’t always popular in other languages.

Read this article to get an overview of how I rank for 477,000 keywords. It teaches you the concept of key expansion and it’s important for your translators and editors to understand the process. You’ll want them to use it.

In addition to that, have them use free keyword research tools like Ubersuggest as it will give them more ideas. I would also have them check out this tutorial as it will teach them how to get the most out of Ubersuggest.

By understanding which keywords to go after in new marketplaces, you can start creating new content( beyond merely translating) to target keywords that were applicable and have high search volume. By understanding where there are gaps in the quality of the competition’s posts, you’ll be able to produce new, high-quality content that can rank quickly.

The article on my Portuguese blog, for example, that gets the most organic traffic from Google is an article that only exists in Brazil. We detected a keyword to go after that had low competition but high search volume and were able to rank very quickly for it. In the last 30 days, that article has had 17,197 visits.

Build links

Building connections in English may be hard, but internationally it’s easy.

No one really sends those cold outreach emails imploring for connects, so when you do this for countries like Brazil, you’ll find that it is fishing with dynamite.

Again, you’ll want someone who knows the language to do the outreach … this can be your editor or someone you hire from Upwork.

Once you have the person who is going to be in charge of your connection build, have them start with this. It will break down what they need to do step-by-step.

Make sure you let them know to avoid spam sites, paying for connects, and even building rich anchor text links.

Remember in these markets SEO isn’t as competitive, so it won’t be too hard to get rankings.

Hreflang

Google doesn’t penalize for duplication content … especially when it is in a different language.

If you translate your content, it isn’t as simple as popping it up on landing pages. You have to tell Google which version to show for each country/ language. You would use hreflang for that.

Here’s a video that explains how it runs :P TAGEND

And here is a tool that’ll help you make the hreflang code may be required for your site.

Subdomains over subdirectories

On NeilPatel.com, you’ll notice that I use subdirectories for each language/ nation over subdomains.

They say subdirectories are better because more authority and juice flowings through your site versus using subdomains.

But here’s what I learned the hard way, you are much better off using subdomains from everything that I tested than subdirectories.

Not merely is it easier to rank as it is treated as a separate site, but it ranks faster from my experience. And if you don’t mind spending the extra money, I would even consider registering the international fluctuation of each domain and forwarding it to the respective subdomain.

Browser redirects

Similar to how Google Analytics shows you the browsers people are employing and countries and languages people come to your site from … your server is also getting that data.

What you’ll want to do is redirect users once you’ve translated your content and set up your hreflang tags.

For example, if you were to visit this site kind Brazil and your browser told us that your favor speech is Portuguese, we were able to automatically forward you to the Portuguese version of the site. Not only to the homepage, but to the correct page you were originally browsing, merely the translated version.

Now if you were visiting this blog from India and your browser used to say that your preferred language was English, we wouldn’t forward you to the Hindi version of the blog. We would maintain you on the English version as that’s what you prefer.

If you don’t forward people, you’ll find that it takes search engines much longer to realize that they should be ranking the language and country-specific sections of your site instead of the English version.

Construct a community

As I had mentioned, international SEO isn’t just about backlinks or content, it’s about building a brand.

I pay in each country to respond to my blog comments as I don’t speak Spanish and Portuguese so I can’t personally respond to them.

I show them how I respond to comments in English so they can replicate me.

I also spend money on boosting posts on Facebook within those regions as it helps me attract new potential readers and get my brand out there.

And most importantly, I hire people on the ground in each country to help build up my brand. That’s why I do so well in places like Brazil over the Spanish market.

I have more people on the ground in Brazil focusing on brand building. From attending meetings to representing my brand on webinars … they put in the effort to truly help people out when it comes to anything marketing related.

That’s how you build a brand. Just look at my Instagram channel, the content is in English, but a lot of my adherents are from Brazil due to the localized brand house efforts.

AMP

Do you remember Accelerated Mobile Pages( AMP )? No one talks about AMP anymore, but it does help increase traffic.

What we’ve found through testing is that in regions like the United Nation, AMP doesn’t do much, if anything, for your traffic.

But for regions like Brazil and India, where their infrastructure is still developing, we found that leveraging AMP boosts mobile search traffic by anywhere from 9 to 32%.

If you don’t want to use AMP that’s fine too. Only make sure you optimize your load velocity periods. Not only does it boost traffic, but it also boosts conversions.

Time

Similar to how it takes forever for you to get Google rankings in English speaking markets, it does take time internationally. Typically , not as long as it does for the United State or United Kingdom markets, but it does take time.

Typically, if you are doing everything above, you’ll assure some results within period of three months. Things has certainly taken away from at the 9-month mark and after a year you should be crush it.

Now as your traffic and rankings come up, this doesn’t mean you should slow down. Just like how you can lose rankings on your English site, the same can easily happen for any other region.

What countries should I target first?

You got everything done when it comes to international SEO … all that’s left is tackling the right regions.

It would be great to go after every language and country at once, but it’s going to be too resource intensive and costly.

You could try tactics like automatically translating your content through machine learning, but the translations won’t be great and your user metrics such as bounce rates will go through the roof. This typically will result your whole site’s rankings to tank.

You don’t want to do that.

Another approach people take is to go after the markets with the highest GDP … such as the USA, China, Japan, UK, Germany, etc…

But going after markets that have money doesn’t guarantee success either because culturally each region is different. Some may not care for your products or services.

What I like doing is to look at your Google Analytics and watch where your traffic is coming from. Are you getting traffic from countries where English isn’t their main speech? And, if so, are people from those countries buying your products and services?

If they are , now you have a list of potential countries to go after.

Then what you’ll want to do is look at your rivalry and see if they are going after any regions by translating their sites. Chances are if a region that isn’t predominantly English speaking is driving you sales, and your challenger is translating their content for that region, then you should be going after it as well.

Conclusion

SEO is no longer about ranking your site in one country or even just English-speaking countries.

You have no choice but to think of it from a global perspective. Not merely is it more affordable, but there is less competition and you can see results faster.

Sure, the total market of some of these international nations may only be a fraction of the United Country, but there won’t be much competitor, which means you can gobble up the market share.

So what nations are you focused on with your SEO?

The post How to Create a Global SEO Strategy seemed first on Neil Patel.

Read more: neilpatel.com

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How to draw a face

New Post has been published on https://languageguideto.com/awesome/how-to-draw-a-face/

How to draw a face

Knowing how to draw a face and head accurately and realistically is key to developing effective characters. When it comes to drawing heads , nothing is set in stone; different characters have vastly different features. However, a basic understanding of how to draw and a anchor in head anatomy will enable you to experiment confidently, and these skills will certainly improve your drawings.

On this page I’ll depict you how to draw a face, moving from initial drawings to using references, and sharing my personal techniques. Once you& apos; ve mastered that, flip to page two to learn how to further your abilities. I’ll offer some advice on how to draw a face with personality and how to show different expressions. Right, grab a sketchbook or your Cintiq and let’s get cracking!

Click on the icon at the top-right of the image to enlarge it.

01. Start with two circles

Two circles form the basis of the head

I start off by depict two overlapping circles. Where they intersect is the eye level. From there, set a centre line down the two circles. This devotes the basis of the human head.

02. Add construction lines

Use the guidelines to position the features

Draw two lines somewhat in from either side of your circles. These will indicate where the forehead and cheekbones sit. From the centre intersection, place a triangle for the nose and mark out where you want the mouth to go. Then add two triangles for the eyes- these will also help you situate the eyebrows and eye sockets.

03. Explore different proportions

Different sized circles will create different effects

You can experiment with different sized circles to give different head dimensions. The more squashed the circles, the wider and heavy the face, while the more elongated the circles, the longer the head shape.

04. Line up the features

Imagine the features are wrap around a cylinder

Always remember that the eyes , nose and mouth disease are on the same aircraft on the face, otherwise things start to go a bit lopsided and weird! Imagine the facial features are wrap around a cylinder, so they have a natural curve.

Position the top of the eyebrow and bottom of the snout so that they’re lined up with the height of the ear. This helps the face seem more natural; dedicating it a flow, and stopping it from feeling flat.

05. Start with the eyes

A light source assists eyes appear more alive

Your character’s eyes are crucial to conveying the right emotion. Try to keep them focused and tell a story with them. Give the top eye a thicker line to indicate a shadow from the eyelid, and add a light source to give them life. Longer and thicker eyelashes create a more feminine look.

06. Add in the snout

The tip of the snout is roughly diamond shaped

Noses can be pretty difficult to get right. I initially create a triangle with a diamond shape for the tip-off of the nose. From there I draw nostrils, remembering to add line weight and darknes to the bottom of the nose. I keep the details light, adding only what’s needed.

07. Try different lip shapes

Look at your own mouth to explore different lip shapes

I keep a little sketchbook to practise different lip shapes. Study films and TV programmes to see how actors exaggerate their mouths. Experiment and explore different mouth shapes. Try to convey’ oh ‘,’ ah’ and’ esss ‘: this will help when you want figures to look like they’re having a conversation.

08. Consider differences between male and female faces

Male faces tend to be more angular- although this isn’t a hard and fast rule

The male face is a harder, angular shape. The female face is softer and rounder in general. For women, try to depict fuller lips, larger eyes and rounder cheeks. These are not hard and fast rules, though- just a guide.

09. Finish with some hair

Remember, the hair is bigger than the scalp

When drawing a character’s hair, I first make the basic hair shape , noting that the hair is bigger than the scalp. I then add direction to the hair, recollecting to draw strokes from the crown of the head. To dedicate hair a more natural appearance, I introduce a sense of weight to the bottom of the shape. Trying drawing the hair shape with a thicker outline and thinner internal lines. This gives it direction.

Next page: more advanced techniques for drawing a face

10. Exaggerate feelings

Make your characters over-act

Once you’ve got the basics it’s time to have some fun with your figures! As a general rule, try to stimulate the character over-act, to really convey the emotion in your describe. I usually start with a super-quick gesture drawing to capture the feeling I’m after. Look in the mirror and exaggerate your facial features. Try to put feeling into the drawing.

11. Use photo references

Try out different expressions in a mirror

When drawing characters, try to get into their mindset: how they’re impression and where they’re coming from emotionally. Then act out the expression, utilizing a mirror or photo reference to capture the feeling. Always try to get that perfect snapshot moment, and make it look as dynamic as possible.

12. Add pleats

Remember to consider the character’s age when adding facial lines

Adding facial lines to characters can emphasise an expression, but it’s important to bear in mind the age of the person. The more character lines and emotion lines you illustrate on a face, the older a character will seem. Men usually have harsher lines and females have fewer. Younger characters will have also have fewer lines around the eyes, forehead and mouth disease. This is a good excuse to put together a reference library of faces young and old.

13. Make subtle tweaks

A creased eyebrow can instantly make a character look anxious

Sometimes, though, subtlety is required. A slightly raised eyebrow or grin can be very effective. Adding only a touch of emotion or quirkiness to the character can induce them feel natural and lifelike.

14. Try new facial expressions

Push the boundaries with your characters’ expressions

Grab every opportunity to experiment with the expressions. Try to push what you’re used to drawing, and look at yourself in the mirror to see how the face can move. Try and be whacky with the differences between facial expressions, but be careful not to hold your breath for too long!

15. Explore feature close-ups

You don’t need to show the whole face to convey emotion

Both the eyes and mouth are expressive. A powerful technique when describing a comic page is to use a close-up of one of them. Consider illustrating an open mouth, snarling teeth or stern lips. Utilizing only one area of the face will really push you to convey the emotion and sell the drawing.

16. Remember body language

It can help to draw outside the panel

While drawing heads you also have to think of the figure’s body language, which will show in the close-up. A tilt of the head or shrug of the shoulders can emphasise an feeling. I depict beyond the panel to check that the body language is working and is anatomically correct. Remember to have fun and try using new things!

This article was originally published in ImagineFX, the world& apos; s best-selling magazine for digital artists. Buy issue 160 or subscribe.

Related articles :P TAGEND Best practice advice for capturing human anatomy20 best iPad art apps for painting and sketchingDrawing techniques: 7 fundamental principles of pencil drawing

Read more: creativebloq.com

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Instant Pot Cauliflower and Butternut Thai Curry

New Post has been published on https://languageguideto.com/awesome/instant-pot-cauliflower-and-butternut-thai-curry/

Instant Pot Cauliflower and Butternut Thai Curry

My very first vegan Instant Pot recipe is here! I finally took the plunge and purchased an Instant Pot after being on the fence about whether I wanted a new appliance to take up real estate on my counter( it would have to fight for space next to the kids’ pilings of artwork, after all ). Thanks again for the Ask Angela weigh-in back in February. I’m usually suspicious of new trends and like to wait a good while before I take the plunge, but I’m loooving it so far. I had totally underestimated how nice it is to put the lid on a recipe and walk away! But this same convenient feature also constructs it challenging to develop recipes because you have ONE SHOT to get the cook time/ pressure correct. No big deal. This curry took over 10 trials to get perfect…I altered up the flavours, cook day( 6 minutes, 5 minutes, 1 minute, 4 minutes … ahh !), liquids-to-solids ratios…you name it, I tweaked it! Nicole and I love a challenge, though, so it’s been fun figuring it out and I do think we’ll get quicker as we go.

I had a stovetop pressure cooker back in the day and that thing used to scare the bejesus out of me with all of its rattling and clanking around. So the first two times I cooked with my new Instant Pot, I handed Eric a wooden spoonful and informed him to release the steam while I concealed. I’m not proud, but hey, at least I’m now doing it myself! It’s genuinely not that bad at all, and it feels so much safer than my old stovetop pressure cooker ever did.

Don’t worry if you don’t have an Instant Pot, though! I get yo’ back. We’ve tested this curry on the stovetop as well because I want everyone to be able to make these easy recipes at home! I haven’t had a chance to test this curry in a slow cooker yet, but if any of you do, could you please leave a comment and let us know how it goes? The beauty of this curry is that you literally throw everything( except the greens) into a pot, stir it, and cook. It couldn’t be easier! Of course, I wouldn’t call this an authentic Thai curry by any means, but it’s delicious and comes together speedily on those busy weeknights.

Anyway, if you have any questions about this recipe or the Instant Pot in general, please fire away below! If I can’t answer your question, maybe someone else can help by chiming in with their experience.

4.9 from 65 reviews

Instant Pot Cauliflower Thai Curry

Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free

I love the soft, stew-like texture of this spicy curry and how serving it over a beaker of fluffy rice lends just the right amount of chewiness! This dish is one of those crave-worthy comfort foods that I reach for again and again. I made this recipe out of a need for more go-to pantry dinner alternatives that take advantage of my speedy new Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. Not to worry if you don’t have one, though–follow my directions in the tip below to make this curry on the stovetop instead. It’s important to follow the Instant Pot directions carefully to avoid overcooking the veggies. This recipe’s directions( steps 1 and 2) have been lightly edited as of January 10, 2018 to avoid some machines get a burn notice. This recipe is adapted from my 8-Minute Pantry Dal.

Yield5 1/2 cups( 1.3 L) or 4 servings

Prep time1 0 Minutes

Cook time2 0 Minutes

Total time3 0 Minutes

Ingredients:

For the curry: 1 tablespoon( 15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil1( 14 -ounce/ 398 mL) can illuminate coconut milk1( 14 -ounce/ 398 mL) can diced tomatoes, with juices* 2 beakers( 260 g) chopped cauliflower florets( 1-inch pieces) 2 beakers( 340 g) peeled and cubed( 3/4 -inch) butternut squash2 tablespoons( 30 mL) red curry paste ** 1 teaspoon( 7.5 mL) dried flaked onion *** 1/2 teaspoon( 2.5 mL) garlic powder3/ 4 teaspoon fine ocean salt, or to taste1/ 4 teaspoon cayenne pepperLots of freshly ground black pepper, to taste1/ 2 cup( 100 g) uncooked red lentils2 cups( 75 g) packed stemmed and finely chopped kale or chardServing suggestions: Cooked jasmine rice or grain of choiceFresh chopped cilantro leavesFresh lime juice

Directions:

Add all of the curry ingredients( except the red lentils and kale/ chard) to the Instant Pot and stir until blended. Add the red lentils on top of the concoction and gently press them into the liquid( do not stir the lentils into the mixture as this can result in a burn notification in some machines ). Secure lid in the lock position and check that the Steam Release Handle is pointing to the “Sealing” position. Press the “Pressure Cook” button( or “Manual”, on some machines) and situated the cook time to 5 minutes on high pressure. After five seconds you’ll hear a couple beeps and the screen will say “on”. The cook process has begun! You can now run do something fun for about 10 to 15 minutes while the curry cooks. You’ll hear a few beeps when the timer is up. Immediately do a “Quick Pressure Release” to avoid overcooking the curry. I stand back and use a wooden spoon handle( never my hands !) to shift the Steam Release Handle to the “Venting” position to release the pressure. Once all of the pressure has been released, the float valve will sink and you won’t hear steam anymore. Carefully open the lid and stir the curry. To achieve a thicker texture, I like to mash a bit of the curry with a potato masher, simply pulsing about 4 or 5 times around the pot. You can also blitz it for a second or two with an submersion blender. Stir in the chopped greens until exhaustively blended and secure the eyelid. Set the Instant Pot to the “Keep Warm” set and allow the greens to wilt for about 5 minutes in the curry. Press “Cancel” to turn the hot off and release the steam again, if there is reason, before removing the lid. Serve over rice or grain of option, if desired, and garnish with cilantro and lime. The lime juice dedicates it a lovely brightness, but avoid utilizing too much as it can overpower. I always add a sprinkle of salt and pepper before serving too.

Tips:

* The canned diced tomatoes that I use are quite “soupy” and liquid-y. If your can seems to be on the low end of the liquid content, I would recommend adding a 1/2 beaker of water to this recipe before cooking.

** I love this Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste–it’s shelf stable and comes in a small glass jar. You can often find it in the international cuisine aisle of grocery chains.

*** Dried flaked onion is less concentrated than onion powder. Onion powder will work as a substitute if that’s what you have on hand, but I would suggest utilizing a smaller amount( around 1/2 teaspoon) as it’s more flavourful.

STOVETOP OPTION: Not to worry if you don’t have an Instant Pot as this recipe runs great on the stovetop too. Simply add all of the ingredients except the kale( or chard, if utilizing) to a large pot, stir, and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the hot to medium-low and simmer, encompassed, for 25 to 35 minutes( adding the kale/ chard during the last 10 minutes ), until the veggies and lentils are tender. Stir the curry every 5 minutes while cook, and reduce the hot if necessary to prevent it sticking to the pot. Follow directions# 5 and# 7.

Note: Cauliflower amount has been changed from 2 1/2 beakers to 2 cups as of Sept. 25/18.

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5 Powerful Mindset Shifts to Stop Worrying About What Other People Think

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5 Powerful Mindset Shifts to Stop Worrying About What Other People Think

“Care about what other people guess and “you il always be” their prisoner.”~ Lao Tzu

We carefully pick out what we wear to the gym to make sure we appear good in the eyes of the other gym goers.

We beat ourselves up after meetings running through everything we said( or didn’t say ), worried that coworkers will think we aren’t smart or talented enough.

We post merely the best picture out of the twenty-seven selfies we took and add a flattering filter to get the most likes to prove to ourselves that we are pretty and likable.

We live in other people’s heads.

And all it does is build us judge ourselves more harshly. It attains us uncomfortable in our own bodies. It constructs us feel apologetic for being ourselves. It induces us live according to our perception of other people’s standards.

It makes us feel inauthentic. Anxious. Judgmental. Not good enough. Not likable enough. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough.

F that sh* t.

The truth is, other people’s opinions of us are none of our business. Their opinions have nothing to do with us and everything to do with them, their past, their judgments, their expectations, their likes, and their dislikes.

I could stand in front of twenty strangers and be talking about any topic. Some of them will dislike what I’m wearing, some will love it. Some will suppose I’m a buffoon, and others will love what I have to say. Some will forget me as soon as they leave, others will recollect me for years.

Some will hate me because I remind them of their annoying sister-in-law. Others will feel compassionate toward me because I remind them of their daughter. Some will wholly is aware that I have to say, and others will misinterpret my words.

Each of them will get the exact same me. I will do my best and be the best I can be in that moment. But their opinions of me will differ. And that has nothing to do with me and everything to do with them.

No matter what I do some people will never like me. No matter what I do some people will always like me. Either way, it has nothing to do with me. And it’s none of my business.

Ok,” that’s all well and good” you may be thinking. “But how do I stop caring what other people should be considered me? ”

1. Know your values.

Knowing your top core values is like having a brighter flashlight to got to get through the woods. A duller illuminate may still get you where you need to go, but you’ll stumble more or be led astray.

With a brighter lighting the decisions you make–left or right, up or down, yes or no–become clearer and easier to make.

For years I had no idea what I genuinely valued, and I felt lost in life as a result. I never felt confident in my decisions, and I questioned everything I said and did.

Doing core values work on myself has made a huge impact on my life. I came to realize that “compassion” is my top core value. Now when I find myself questioning my career decisions because I’m worried about disappointing my parents( a huge trigger for me ), I remind myself that “compassion” also means “self-compassion, ” and I’m able to cut myself some slack.

If you value fortitude and perseverance and you show up at the gym even though you are nervous and have “lame” gym clothes, you don’t have to dwell on what the other gym goers think about you.

If you value inner peace and you need to say “no” to someone who is asking for your time, and your plate is already full to the max, you can do so without feeling like they will judge you for being a selfish person.

If you value authenticity and you share your opinion in a mob, you can do so with confidence knowing that you are living your values and being yourself.

Know your core values, and which ones you value the most. Your flashlight will be brighter for it.

2. Know to stay in your own business.

Another way to stop caring about what other people think is to understand that there are three types of business in the world. This is a lesson I learned from Byron Katie, and I love it.

The first is God’s business. If the word “God” isn’t to your penchant, you can use another term here that works for you, like the Universe or “nature.” I suppose I like “nature” better, so I’ll use that.

The weather is nature’s business. Who dies and who is born is nature’s business. The body and genes you were given are nature’s business. You have no place in nature’s business. You can’t control it.

The second type of business is other people’s business. What they do is their business. What your neighbour guess of you is his business. What period your coworker comes into work is her business. If the driver in the other car doesn’t run when the illumination turns green, it’s their business.

The third type of business is your business.

If you get angry with the other driver because you now have to wait at another red light, that’s your business.

If you get irritated because your coworker is late again, that’s your business.

If you are worried about what your neighbor guess of you that’s your business.

What they think is their business. What you think( and in turn, feel) is your business.

Whose business are you in when you’re worried about what you’re wearing? Whose business are you in when you dwell on how your joke was received at the party?

You merely have one business to concern yourself with–yours. What you think and what you do are the only things you can control in life. That’s it.

3. Know that you have full ownership over your impressions.

When we base our feelings on other people’s sentiments, we are allowing them to control our lives. We’re basically allowing them to be our marionette master, and when they pull the strings just right, we either feel better or bad.

If someone dismiss you, you feel bad. You may think “she made me feel this way by ignore me.” But the truth is, she has no control over how you feel.

She dismissed you and you assigned meaning to that action. To you, that meant that you are not worth her period, or “youre not” likable enough, smart-alecky enough, or cool enough.

Then you felt sad or mad because of the meaning you applied. You had an emotional reaction to your own thought.

When we devote ownership of our impressions over to others, we give up control over our emotions. The fact of the matter is, the only person that can hurt your feelings is you.

To change how other people’s actions stimulate you feel, you only need to change a suppose. This step sometimes takes a bit of work because our thoughts are usually automatic or even on the unconscious level, so it may take some digging to figure out what believed is causing your emotion.

But once you do, challenge it, question it, or accept it. Your emotions will follow.

4. Know that you are doing your best.

One of the annoying things my mom would say growing up( and she still says) is “You did the best you could with what you had at the time.”

I detested that saying.

I had high standards of myself and I always thought that I could have done better. So when I didn’t meet those expectations my inner bully would come out and beat the crap out of me.

How much of your life have you spent kicking yourself because you thought you said something dumb? Or because you showed up late? Or that you seemed weird?

Every time, you did the best you could. Every. Single. Time.

That’s because everything we do has a positive intent. It may not be obvious, but it’s there.

Literally as I’m writing this post sitting in a tea shop in Portland, Maine, another patron went to the counter and asked what types of tea he could blend with his smoky Lapsang Souchong tea( a favorite of mine as well ).

He hadn’t asked me, but I chimed in that maybe chaga mushroom would go well because of its earthy flavor. He seemed unimpressed with the unsolicited advice and turned back to the counter.

The old me would have taken that response to heart and felt terrible the rest of the afternoon thinking how this guy must think I’m a dope and riling for jumping into the conversation uninvited.

But let’s take a look at what I had in that moment :P TAGEND

I had an urge to try to be helpful and a core value of kindness and compassion I had an interest in those discussions I had an impression that my feedback might be well received I had a desire to connect with a new person on a shared interest

I did the best I could with what I had.

Because I know that, I have no unhappiness. I also know that his opinion of me is none of my business and I was living in tune with my values trying to be helpful!

Though, I is also able to see how from another perspective that forcing my style into a dialogue and pushing my notions on someone who did not ask may have been perceived as rude. And rudeness goes against my core value of compassion.

That results me to the next lesson.

5. Know that everyone attains missteps.

We live in a culture where we don’t often talk about how we feel. It is about to change we all experience the same feelings, and we all make blunders. Go figure!

Even if you are living in tune with your values, even if you are staying in your own business, even if you are doing your best, you are able to make mistakes. Without question.

So what? We all do. We all have. Having compassion for yourself comes easier when you understand that everyone has felt that way. Everyone has gone through it.

The only productive thing you can do with your blunders is to learn from them. Once you figure out the lesson you can take from the experience, rumination is not at all necessary and it’s time to move on.

In the case of tea patron-interjection-debacle, I could have done a better chore of read his body language and noticed that he wanted to connect with the tea sommelier and not a random stranger.

Lesson learned. No self-bullying required.

At my last company I accidentally caused a company-wide upset. A friend and coworker of mine, who had been at the company for a few years, had been asking to get a better parking spot. One came available as someone left the company, but he still was passed over.

He’s such a nice guy, and as my department is fraught with sarcastics, I thought it would be funny to create a pun-filled petition for him to get the better spot.

I had no idea that it was going to be taken so poorly by some people. It went up the chain of command and was like our department was full of unappreciative, needy whiners.

And our boss thought it was like I utilized my position to coerce people into signing it. He brought the whole department together and painfully and uncomfortably called out the whole terrible situation and demanded it never happen again.

I. Was. MORTIFIED.

He hadn’t named me, but most people knew I made it. I was so embarrassed and ashamed.

But here’s what I did :P TAGEND

I reminded myself of my values. I value compassion and humor. I supposed I was doing a kind but funny act for a friend. When I determined myself fretting what other people must now think of me, I told myself that if they thought poorly of me( of which I had no evidence) all I could do was to continue to be my best me. When flashbacks of that nasty meeting came back to mind, flushing my face full of hot and disgrace, I remembered to take ownership over how I felt and not let the memory of the event or what other people suppose dictate how I feel now. I reminded myself that I did very good I could with what I had at the time. I had a desire to help a friend and an idea I thought was funny and presumed would go over well. I been recognized that I made a mistake. The lesson I learned was to be more considerate of how others may receive my sense of humor. Not everyone finds me as funny as my husband does. I can make better decisions now because of it.

And after a short time the whole incident was forgotten.

Stop worrying about what other people believe. It will change your life.

Get in those discussions! Click here to leave a comment on the site .

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How To Optimize Your Product Page For Voice Search

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How To Optimize Your Product Page For Voice Search

Voice search is taking the search industry by cyclone…

While we are watching the breath-taking adoption of smart voice assistance and subsequent growth of searching-by-voice popularity, marketers still don’t have the fundamental issue figured out :P TAGEND

With half of search queries predicted to soon be spoken( and hence half of the search results being spoken ), where will the clicks come from?

In other words, does voice search entail the death of search referral traffic?

To some extent, it is likely to … but this is by no means going to cause the deaths among digital marketing.

What is voice search?

Voice search, or Conversational Search, is the state-of-the-art human/ machine interaction wherein voice search-enabled devices can answer talk search queries.

Conversational search platforms investigate spoken words and reply with responses in a computerized voice that resembles natural language. Voice search is currently integrated into a plethora of devices including mobile phones, tablets, streaming device remotes, and home assistants.

Speaking of the latter, currently, the four main voice search platforms are :P TAGEND

Platform Name of the assistant Search engine being used

Amazon Alexa Bing

Apple Siri Google

Google Google Google

Windows Cortana Bing

To sum up :P TAGEND

Amazon: Amazon’s Alexa Voice Search uses the Bing search engine to pull information. Apple: Apple developed Siri in 2011 and initially use Bing but has now transitioned to Google. Google: Google Voice Search relies on Google search engine algorithms. Windows: With Windows 10 came the built-in assistant, Cortana, who uses Bing.

To give you a bit of background before we get into tactics here, here’s how the search algorithms are changing to accommodate the growing voice searching trend :P TAGEND How the search players are maintaining up

With the rise of voice search came changes to old-school search engine platforms. Search engines like Bing and Google are slowly moving from a keyword-centric format to analyzing semantics and natural language processing which produces search results more on par with voice search.

In the Fall of 2003, the Google Hummingbird algorithm made an environment where SERPs are inhabited more with search results that use context clues like the type of device use, geolocation of the search, time of day, and previous searches of the user. To maximize the search result potential, Google utilizes a machine learning technology called RankBrain.

RankBrain is mainly used as a middle-man, interpreting the search to identify web pages that match the search criteria but don’t necessarily use the exact words of the search phrase. RankBrain relies heavily on semantics, going beyond keywords and diving into the contextual meaning of the search phrase. Voice search is a new reason for content inventors to focus on the structure of their content and investigate each web page and article to answer specific personas.

Voice search ranking factors

In February 2018, Backlinko, a go-to source for SEO and content marketing advice, published a research study where they gathered and investigated 10,000 Google Home( a voice search enabled virtual assistant device) search results. Backlinko examined 11 ranking factors and six content-focused factors.

Length: Google Voice Search favors shorter answers equaling an average of 29 terms per outcome. Readability: Easy-to-read content can help with voice search SEO. Average results are written at the 9th-grade level. Term count: Google tends to extract voice search results from long-form content with an average page word count of 2,312. Featured snippet: Web pages that appear in Google’s featured snippets are more likely to be sourced for voice searches. 40.7% of results come from featured snippets. org: 36.4% of results originate from pages that use Schema.org.

How to optimize your product pages for voice search

Now that we all generally understand where we are coming from, let’s get to tactics here :P TAGEND 1. Optimize product description for related the requirements and ideas

Remember how I mentioned above that search engines understand context much better now. No keyword is isolated: Google employs machine learning and semantic analysis to understand what each typed or spoken query actually means.

Well, there are tools that can help you think like Google. TextOptimizer use Google’s search snippets for your query to extract the context( pertained terms and notions) use semantic analysis. What you need now is to select those that apply to your product and naturally cover them in your product description.

Keep working on your product description until TextOptimizer scores it at the least at 80 or higher.

2. Add product Q& A

Another voice search SEO practice is optimizing content for the 5W+ H questions, or who, what, when, where, why and how.

Isolating a single snippet of information allows Google and Intelligent Agents to answer the 5W+ H questions quickly and succinctly. Becoming a quick answer to a problem is a massive boon to your web page.

Use tools like Answer The Public and, again, TextOptimizer( its Topic Ideas section) to research related questions and cover them on your product page :P TAGEND

Adding an on-site glossary( internally linking to your product pages) is another good idea to generate some visibility from information-intent-based searching and still getting some marketings by providing your product as a answer. Here’s a good example of a glossary that is well structured and well-optimized.

3. Use HTML headings

Use H2 and H3 headings to point search engines to your page structure and hierarchy. This also helps the page to get featured more, even if you are currently ranking below the top 5 organic search postures :P TAGEND

Image Source: digitaleagles.com.au

Getting featured is your best bet to rank for voice search queries and the smart-alecky keyword-optimized use of subheadings is your best bet to get featured.

Serpstat Text Analytics is one of the best ways to create your optimization strategy that is geared towards content structuring. Provide your query and Serpstat will analyze your competitors’ title and heading utilization and return the clear optimization steps for you to do an even better undertaking than them :P TAGEND

Image Source: SEW

4. Use lists and tables

Finally, if you organize your page with bullet points, tables, and highlights, voice search platforms will better understand your content.

An added benefit is that clean organization increases readability and devotes an incentive to scan through before leaving, so you may see more people willing to engage with your product page instead of leaving it immediately.

5. Add product schema

While keeping SEO simple is still a good idea, search engines could always use some help in understanding your pages better.

Schema.org generally helps search engines better understand and faster construe your page. When it comes to voice search optimization, the committee is also assistances them pick up important numbers, like costs, deals, and the review score. If these are read to a voice search user, they will be more likely to add your product to the shopping cart.

Schema App is a nice( paid) tool to integrate schema.org with your eCommerce website. If you use WordPress for your eCommerce site content management, there’s a variety of plugins to choose from.

6. Monitor your mobile rankings closely

Voice search results are tightly connected to mobile search results: Whatever you are seeing ranking# 1 or being featured on mobile will likely be read to a user in response to a voice search query. This builds mobile rankings even more important.

Rankedy is one of the few SEO platforms recognizing the importance of mobile position tracking and giving a clear report combining both the desktop and mobile search :P TAGEND

With its Rank Journal feature it’s also easy to spot some important correlations as to what influenced ranking alteration :P TAGEND

So where will the clicks be coming from?

While I understand why many years of focusing on traffic may impact the overall SEO mindset, this is not the question to ask.

If there’s voice searching, there will be voice buying( Hint: it already exists ). Don’t go after clicks: Aim at inducing your products easier to discover and possible to buy without ever use the screen, and you’ll stay( or become) ahead of your competition.

All in all, as Microsoft’s @PurnaVirji set it, the core principle remains the same :P TAGEND

” The best way to be considered what to d, is to find ways to best serve your audience. What are pain phases that conversation can make easier? Start with that. Then leverage voice search for the discoverability it can help provide .”

Wrap

Voice search is an ever-growing technology that more and more users are adopting. Marketers have the chance to utilize a new SEO format to advance their page further. In a voice search, the first outcome is the only one that matters.

For best voice search SEO, you have to develop a conversational format and take a guess at what search engine users will ask to land on your page.

Guest author: Jessy Troy is co-owner of Hire Bloggers, a blog dedicated to helping bloggers find paid gigs or even full-time tasks. You can catch up with me on Twitter as @JessyTroy

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31 Call-to-Action Examples You Can't Help But Click

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31 Call-to-Action Examples You Can't Help But Click

Think about all the times you’ve signed up for things in your life. Did you once download Evernote? Dropbox? Spotify? Maybe you’ve even taken a class on General Assembly.

Each one of these signups is likely a result of an effective call-to-action( CTA ).

It’s really important to guide your guests through the buying journey utilizing strategic CTAs.

Think about it: If you hadn’t been drawn in by the copy or design of the CTA, or been guided so eloquently through your sign-up process, you would probably use a lot fewer apps and websites than you do now.

Here are a few different actions an audience can get called to carry out :P TAGEND Sign up.

In this type of CTA, the audience might be invited to sign up for a free trial, an online course, a future event, or even a software product. It all depends on the CTAs context on an ad or website.

Subscribe.

This CTA doesn’t commit a person to a buy. Instead, it invites them to receive updates from the company. “Subscribe” CTAs are common to company blogs, for which the business wants to develop a readership.

Try for free.

Nearly every company website has a free trial offer today. Each of them are CTAs of this range, and they allow people to demo a product before deciding if it’s worth the cost to them.

Get started.

This CTA can drive a variety of behaviours for a company, from a free trial to virtual reality experience.

Learn more.

Sometimes, all you want is to give your potential clients a little more information so they’re prepared to buy something. That’s what this CTA is for.

Join us.

Do you manage an online community. Is your product built on collaboration between users? You might find yourself placing “join us” CTA somewhere on your website.

Learn more about the purposes CTAs can serve in this blog post.

The above types of CTA all serve a designated intent, but keep in mind the language they use can differ. And today, marketers everywhere have put some creative spins on their calls to action to generate the leads their businesses depend on.

To help you identify what’s effective and what’s not, we’ve listed out 31 examples of CTAs that wholly boulder. These call-to-action instances are broken out into three categories :P TAGEND

Simple and efficient CTAs

CTAs with great call-to-action phrases

CTAs that balance multiple buttons on one page

Simple& Effective Call-to-Action Examples 1. Evernote CTA Button: Sign Up

“Remember Everything.” Visitors can immediately understand that message the moment they land on this page. The design on Evernote’s website makes it super simple for users to see quick benefits of using the app and how to actually sign up to use it. Plus, the green color of the main and secondary CTA buttons is the same green as the headline and the Evernote logo, all of which jump off the page.

2. Dropbox CTA Button: Sign up for free

Dropbox has always embraced simple design with a lot of negative space. Even the graphics on their homepage are subtle and simple.

Thanks to that simple design and negative space, the blue “Sign up for free” call-to-action button stands out from everything else on the page. Since the CTA and the Dropbox logo are the same color, it’s easy for the visitor to construe this CTA as “Sign up for Dropbox.” That’s one effective call-to-action.

3. OfficeVibe CTA Button: Subscribe

Here’s a slide-in call-to-action that catch my attention from OfficeVibe. While scrolling through a post on their blog, a banner slid in from the bottom of the page with a call-to-action to subscribe to their blog. The best part? The copy on the slide-in told me I’d be get tips about how to become a better manager — and the post it appeared on was a post about how to become a better manager. In other words, the offer was something I was already interested in.

Plus, I like how unobtrusive slide-in CTAs are — as opposed to what my colleague Rachel Sprung calls the “stop-everything-and-click-here-pop-up-CTA.” I find these CTAs offer a more lovable experience because they provide more information while still allowing me to continue reading the blog post.

4. Netflix CTA Button: Join Free for a Month

One big anxiety users have before committing to sign up for something? That it’ll be a pain to cancel their subscription if they end up not liking it. Netflix nips that dread in the bud with the “Cancel anytime” copy right above the “Join Free for a Month” CTA. I’d venture a guess that reassurance alone has boosted signups. Also, you’ll notice again that the red color of the primary and secondary CTAs here match Netflix’s logo color.

5. Square CTA Button: Get Started

To achieve effective CTA design, you need to consider more than simply the button itself. It’s also super important to consider elements like background colour, surrounding images, and surrounding text.

Mindful of these additional design components, the folks at Square used a single image to showcase the simplicity of using their product, where the hover “Get Started” CTA awaits your click. If you look closely, the color of the credit card in the image and the color of the CTA button match, which assists the viewer connect the dots of what to expect if/ when they click.

6. Prezi CTA Button: Give Prezi a try

The folks at Prezi are also into the minimalist design look on their website. Other than the green dinosaur and the dark brown coffee, the only other coloring accompanying the predominantly black-and-white design is a bright blue — the same blue from their main logo. That bright blue is strategically placed on the homepage: the main “Give Prezi a try” CTA, and the secondary “Get Started” CTA, both of which take users to the same pricing page.

7. Full Bundle CTA Button: Our Work

Full Bundle is another company that uses negative space to make their primary CTA pop. The white “Our Work” call-to-action stands out against the dark greys of the background. Their choice of CTA is strategic, too. Given that they primarily exist to build out clients’ online presences, it’s important for them to showcase their work — and that’s what most folks are going to their website for.

8. Panthera CTA Button: Join

The folks at Panthera are looking for users who really care about wild cats around the world and want to join a group of people who feel the same way. To target those people in particular, we love how they use language that would speak to big cat-lovers: “Join the pride today.” The page itself is super simple: an on-page form with two, simple fields, and a button asking folks to( again) “Join.”

CTAs With Creative Call to Action Phrases 9. EPIC CTA Phrase: ‘Let’s start a new project together’

The folks at the agency EPIC use their homepage primarily to showcase their work. When you arrive on the page, you’re greeted with animated videos depicting some of the work they’ve done for clients, which rotate on a carousel. While there plenty of other places users might click on their site — including their clients’ websites — the main call-to-action stands out and always contrasts with the video that’s playing in the background.

I love that it features friendly, all-inclusive speech — “Let’s start a new project together” — which dedicates a clue to users looking for a creative partner that they’re an especially great team to work for.

10. Aquaspresso CTA Phrase: ‘Send Me Specials Now! ‘

The whole point of a call-to-action is to direct your site visitors to a desired course of action — and the best CTAs do so in a way that’s helpful to their guests. The folks at coffee company Aquaspresso truly nailed that balance here with the pop-up CTA on their main blog page.

Here, the desired course of action is for their blog readers to check out what they’re actually selling( and hopefully buy from them ). There are many styles they could have done this, including putting out a CTA that urges people to “Check out our most popular products! ” or something very direct. But we love what they’ve done instead: Their CTA offers blog readers something much more helpful and subtle — an offer for “today’s specials” in exchange for the reader’s email address.

Adding that the specials are for today only is a great example of a psychological tactic called scarcity, which causes us to designate more value to things we think are scarce. The fear that today’s specials are better than tomorrow’s might induce people want to fill it out and assert their offer while they can.

( The call-to-action above was created using HubSpot’s free conversion tool, Leadin. Click here to learn how to easily create CTAs like this one using Leadin .)

11. QuickSprout CTA Phrase: ‘Are you doing your SEO incorrect? Enter your URL to find out’

No one wants to be wrong. That’s why a call-to-action button like QuickSprout’s slide-in CTA on their blog is so clickworthy. It asks the reader, “Are you doing your SEO incorrect? ” Well, am I? All I have to do is enter my URL to find out — seems easy enough. It’s language like that that can really entice visitors to click through.

Plus, having the CTA slide in mid-blog post is a great tactic for catch readers before they bounce off the page. Traditionally, many blogs have CTAs at the very bottom of each blog post, but research proves most readers merely get 60% of the style through an article.( Click here to learn how to add slide-in CTAs to your blog posts .)

12. Grey Goose CTA Phrase: ‘Discover a cocktail tailored to your taste’

Here’s a fun, unique call-to-action that can get people clicking. Whereas site visitors might have expected to be directed to product pages or press releases from the homepage, a CTA to “Discover a Cocktail Tailored to Your Taste” is a agreeably amazing ask. People love personalization, and this CTA kind of feels like an seducing game. The play button icon next to the copy dedicates a hint that guests will be taken to a video so they have a better idea of what to expect when they click.

13. Treehouse CTA Phrase: ‘Claim Your Free Trial’

A lot of company websites out there offer users the opportunity to start a free trial. But the CTA on Treehouse’s website doesn’t just say “Start a Free Trial”; it says “Claim Your Free Trial.”

The difference in wording may seem subtle, but to be considered how much more personal “Claim Your Free Trial” is. Plus, the word “claim” indicates it may not be available for long, devoting users a sense of urgency to get that free trial while they can.

14. OKCupid CTA Phrase: ‘Continue’

OKCupid’s CTA doesn’t seem that impressive at first glance, but its magnificence is in the small details.

The call-to-action button, which is bright green and stands out well on a dark blue background, says, “Continue.” The simplicity of this term dedicates hope that the signup process is short and casual. To me, this CTA feels more like I’m playing a fun game than filling out a boring kind or committing to something that might construct me nervous. And it’s all due to the copy.

15. Blogging.org CTA Phrase: Countdown Clock

Nothing like a ticking timer to make someone want to take action. After spending a short amount of hour on blogging.org’s homepage, new visitors are greeted with a pop-up CTA with a “limited time offer, ” accompanied by a timer that counts down from two minutes.

As with Aquaspresso’s example in #10, this is a classic utilize of the psychological tactic called scarcity, which causes us to assign more value to things we think are scarce. Limiting the time someone has to fill out a sort makes people want to fill it out and assert their offer while they can.

Curious, what happens when time runs out? So was I. Hilariously , nothing happens. The pop-up CTA remains on the page when the timer gets to zero.

16. IMPACT Branding& Design CTA Phrase: ‘What We Do’

CTAs can feel really pushy and salesy if the incorrect language is utilized. I like IMPACT‘s educational approach, where they challenge visitors to learn what the company does before pushing them to take any further action. This call-to-action is especially intriguing to me because they don’t even use an action verb, yet they still manage to entice people to click.

17. Huemor CTA Phrase: ‘Launch( Do Not Press) ‘

If you went to a website and considered a “Launch” CTA accompanied by the copy “Do Not Press” … what would you do? Let’s be honest: You’d be dying to press it. The utilize of harmless reversal psychology here is playful, which is very much in keeping with Huemor’s brand voice.

18. Brooks Running CTA Phrase: ‘Find out when we have more’

How many times have you hotly sought a product you love, merely to discover it’s sold out? Well, as you might know, it’s no picnic for the vendor either. But simply because you’ve run out of an item doesn’t mean you should stop promoting it.

Brooks Running uses a clever call to action to ensure their customers don’t bounce from their website only because their favorite shoe is out of stock. In the screenshot below, you can see Brooks touting an awesome-looking shoe with the CTA, “Find out when we have more.” I love how this button turns bad news into an opportunity to retain clients. Without it, Brooks’ clients would likely forget about the shoe and seem elsewhere.

When you click on the blue CTA button depicted below, Brooks directs you to a page with a simple code you can text the company. This code inspires Brooks to automatically alert the visitor when the shoe they want is available again.

19. Humboldt County CTA Phrase: ‘Follow the Magic’

Humboldt County’s website is gorgeous on its own: It greets you with a full-screen video of shockingly beautiful footage. But what I actually love is the unconventional call-to-action button placed in the bottom centre, which features a bunny icon and the words “Follow the Magic.”

It improves the kind of fantastical feel of the footage, making you feel like you’re about to step into a fairytale.

What’s more, once you click into that CTA, the website turns into a sort of choose-your-own-adventure game, which is a fun call-to-action path for users and encourages them to spend more day on the site.

Balancing Multiple Call-to-Action Buttons 20. Uber CTA Buttons: Sign up to drive | Start riding with Uber

Uber’s looking for two, very distinct the different types of people to sign up on their website: riders and drivers. Both personas are looking for totally different things, and yet, the website ties them together really well with the large video playing in the background showing Uber riders and drivers having a good time in locations all over the world.

I love the copy of the driver CTA at the top, too: It doesn’t get much more straightforward than, “Make money driving your car.” Now that’s speaking people’s language.

21. Spotify CTA Buttons: Go Premium | Play Free

As soon as you reach Spotify’s homepage, it’s pretty clear that their main goal is to attract customers who are willing to pay for a premium account, while the CTA for users to sign up for free is exactly secondary.

It’s not just the headline that dedicates this away; it’s also the colour of their CTA buttons. The “Go Premium” CTA is lime green, stimulating it pop off the page, while the “Play Free” CTA is plain white and blends in with the rest of the copy on the page. This contrast ensures that visitors are drawn to the premium CTA.

22. Ugmonk CTA Buttons: Send me the coupons | I’m not interested

Exit CTAs, also known as exit intent pop-ups, are different than normal pop-ups. They detect your users’ behavior and only appear when it seems as though they’re about to leave your site. By intervening in a timely way, these pop-ups serve as a fantastic route of get your reader’s attention while offering them a reason to stay.

Ugmonk has a great exit CTA, offering two options for users as a final plea before they leave the site. First, they offer a 15% discount on their products, be accompanied by two alternatives: “Yes Please: Send me the coupon” and “No Thanks: I’m not interested.” It’s super helpful that each CTA clarifies what “Yes” and “No” actually mean, and I also like that they didn’t use guilt-tripping language like “No Thanks: I dislike nature” like I’ve seen on other websites. Finally , notice that the “Yes Please” button is much brighter and inviting in coloring than the other option.

23. Pinterest CTA Buttons: Continue with Facebook | Sign Up

Want to sign up for Pinterest? You have a couple of options: sign up via Facebook or via email. If you have a Facebook account, Pinterest wants you to do that first. How do I know? Aesthetically, I know because the blue Facebook CTA comes first and is much more prominent, colorful, and recognizable due to the branded logo and color. Logically, I know because if you log in through Facebook, Pinterest can pull in Facebook’s API data and get more information about you than if you log in through your email address.

Although this homepage is optimized to bring in new members, you’ll notice a very subtle CTA for folks with Pinterest accounts to log in on the top right.

24. Madewell CTA Buttons: Take me there | What’s next?

Madewell( owned by J.Crew) “ve always been” standout website design, taking what could be a typical ecommerce website to the next level. Their use of CTAs on their homepage is no exception.

When you first arrive on the page, you’re greeted with the headline “I’m Looking For … ” followed by a category, like “Clothes That’ll Travel Anywhere.” Below this copy are two options: “Yes, Take Me There” or “Hmm … What’s Next? ” The user can choose between the two CTAs to either browsing clothes that are good for travel, or be taken to the next type of clothing, where they can play again.

This gamification is a great way to make your site more interesting for users who come across it without having a specific idea of where they want to look.

25. Instagram CTA Buttons: Download on the App Store | Get it on Google Play

Since Instagram is a chiefly mobile app, you’ll watch two black CTAs of equal sizing: one to download Instagram in Apple’s App Store, and another to download it on Google Play. The reason these CTAs are of equal caliber is because it doesn’t matter if someone downloads the app in the App Store or on Google Play … a download is a download, which is exactly what Instagram is optimizing for. If you already have Instagram, you can also click the CTA to “Log In” if you’d prefer that option, too.

26. Barkbox CTA Buttons: Get Started | Give a Gift

The two CTAs on Barkbox’s homepage show that the team there knows their clients: While many people visiting their site are signing up for themselves, there are a lot of people out there who want to give Barkbox as a gift. To give those people an easy route to purchase, there are two, equally sized CTAs on the page: “Get Started” and “Give a Gift.”

As an added bonus, there’s an adorable, pop-up call-to-action on the right-hand side of the screen inspiring users to leave a message if they’d like. Click into it, and a small dialogue box pops up that reads, “Woof! I’m afraid our pack is not online. Please leave us a message and we’ll bark at you as soon as pawsible.” Talk about delightful copy.

27. t.c. pharma CTA Buttons: Find out more | View products

Turns out Red Bull isn’t its own parent company: It’s owned by Thailand-based t.c. pharma, a company that builds popular energy drinks, electrolyte beverages, and functional drinks and snacks.

Its homepage features two call-to-action buttons of equal sizing: “Find out more” and “View products” — but it’s clear by the bright yellow color of the first button that they’d rather direct folks to “Find out more.”

28. General Assembly CTA Buttons: View Full-Time Courses | Subscribe

As you scroll through the General Assembly website, you’ll ensure CTAs for various courses you may or may not want to sign up for. I’d like to point your attention to the CTA that slides in from the bottom of the page as you’re scrolling, though, which suggests that you subscribe to email updates.

Although this feels like a secondary CTA due to its locating and manner, I actually think they try to sneak this in to become more of a primary CTA because it’s so much more colorful and noticeable than the CTAs for individual classes. When you generate your own CTAs, try using bolder colorings — even ones that clash with your regular stylings — to see if it’s effective at getting people’s attention.( Click here for a tutorial on how to add slide-in CTAs to your webpages .)

29. charity: water CTA Buttons: Give by Credit Card | Give by PayPal

Charity: water’s main goal is to get people to donate fund for clean water — but they can’t assume that everyone wants to pay the same way.

The CTAs featured on their homepage take a really unique approach to offering up different payment methods by pre-filling $ 60 into a single line kind and including 2 equally important CTAs to pay via credit card or PayPal. Notice how both CTAs are the same size and design — this is because charity: water likely doesn’t care how you donate, as long as you’re donating.

30. Hipmunk CTA Buttons: Flights | Hotels | Vehicles | Packages

When you land on the Hipmunk site, your main option is to search flights. But notice there are four tabs you can flip through: flights, hotels, vehicles, and packages.

When you click into one of these options, the kind changes so you can fill out more information. To be 100% sure you know what you’re searching for, Hipmunk placed a bright orange CTA at the far right-hand side of the sort. On this CTA, you’ll insure a recognizable icon of a plane next to the word “Search, ” so you know for sure that you’re searching for flights , not hotels. When you’re on the hotels tab, that icon an amendment of a hotel icon. Same goes with autoes and packages.

31. MakeMyPersona CTA Buttons: Grab the template! | No thanks

Here’s another example of a great pop-up with multiple calls-to-action — except in this case, you’ll notice the sizing, color, and design of the users’ two alternatives are very different from one another. In this case, the folks at MakeMyPersona are stimulating the “Grab the template! ” CTA much more attractive and clickable than the “No, I’m OK for now, thanks” CTA — which doesn’t even looks just like a clickable button.

I also like how the “no” option uses polite language. I find brands that don’t guilt-trip users who don’t want to take action to be much, much more lovable.

There you have it. By now, we hope you can see just how important little CTA tweaks can be.

Full Disclosure: We don’t have data to know if these are all scientifically successful, but these instances all follow our best practises. If you made the decision to recreate these CTAs on your site, please remember to test to see if they work for your audience.

Want more CTA design inspiration? Check out some of our favorite HubSpot call-to-action instances.

Read more: blog.hubspot.com

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Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2019

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Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2019

What’s the best ultralight backpack? We interviewed thru-hikers and set several models to the test to find some of the top lightweight hiking backpacks.

First things first: Ultralight hiking is not for everyone. If you like creature comforts like cushy sleeping pads, multiple alters of clothing, complex meals with fresh ingredients, or a full-size toothbrush, you may want to reevaluate your knapsack needs.

Best Ultralight Backpacks Granite Gear Crown2 — Women’s& Men’s: $200

The Granite Gear Crown2 weighs only 2 pounds 3 ounces and has a 60 L capacity. And even at such a low weight, it can transform from a” weekend heavy-hauler to a lightweight container for a long thru-hike ,” according to Seth Orme. He carried the stalwart knapsack on the Pacific Crest Trail while hauling out heaps of junk for 5 months during the 2016 Packing It Out hike.

The Crown2 is made from 210 -denier, high-tenacity nylon. Orme employed it for more than 2,000 miles, and received the fabric” plenty durable .”

He reported that, at merely over 2 pounds, the Crown2 can comfortably carry 35 pounds or more. It does this with its innovative hip belt, improved back panel, and thoughtfully placed 10 mm load-cinching straps. The combining gives users a pack that fits well and remains comfy all day.

See the women’s Granite Gear Crown2See the men’s Granite Gear Crown2

Read full GearJunkie review

Osprey Levity( Men’s)& Lumina( Women’s ): $250

A much-anticipated backpack coupling from Osprey, the Levity and Lumina reached the market this spring. These are remarkably light packs from a mainstream producer, weighing under 2 pounds.

While there are other packs in this weight range, Osprey brings some excellent suspension engineering into play. The pack definitely rides like it’s on a trampoline, suspended away from the back. Depending on your predilection, you may love or hate this feeling.

Osprey utilizes high-molecular-weight polyethylene( HMWPE) fibers in the external facing for durability. But the pack also uses very light silnylon in the interior pouch, creating questions of durability among critics.

We’ve put this to some early testing and like it so far.

See the men’s Osprey LevitySee the women’s Osprey Lumina

Read full GearJunkie review

Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60: $225

Gossamer Gear induces superlight backpacks that hit a similar weight and cost point. The Mariposa 60, for example, weighs 2 pounds and has a removable internal frame and load lifters. This pack has been around a lot longer than the Osprey, with a lot of fans in the ultralight hiking world.

The Gossamer excels with ROBIC high-tensile nylon, which is remarkably durable for its weight. It also hits a modest price phase ($ 225) compared to packs built with more expensive Dyneema fabrics.

A standout of the Gossamer is its organization, with seven extra pockets outside the main storage. There’s a mesh pocket for wet items and three large side pockets.

Its biggest downfall compared to the similarly priced Osprey is back ventilation. This pack utilizes a foam sheet to give some breathability, but it’s hard to compete with Osprey on that front.

See the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60

Zpacks Arc Blast: $325

Zpacks offers one of the lightest backpacks in its sizing scope. It’s also tough as fingernails. But you’ll pay a hefty price for this brand’s exceptional Dyneema offerings.

The Arc Blast weighs just 21 ounces but is built to carry up to 35 pounds, with super-durable Dyneema fabric. It will also give you a nice suspended frame for ventilation. The only downside? A $325 price tag.

This pack is a favorite of hikers who putting in place massive miles. For instance, Dan ” Knotts ” Binde, who has intersected the United Country seven times in the last 3 years, swears by this pack.

“I haven’t switched up my packs a lot, but once I got used to it, it was solid, actually durable — which I was worried about, ” he said.

See the Zpacks Arc Blast

Thru-Hiker Dan ‘Knotts’ Binde’s Favorite Gear

Thru-hikers set gear through next-level testing, crossing thousands of miles on foot. We spoke with Dan “Knotts” Binde, who has completed some of America’s longest roads multiple times, to get his take on the top gear for hiking. Read more …

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider: $345

Hyperlite Moutain Gear makes a wide range of ultralight equipment, including a dozen backpacks for everything from mountaineering to ice climbing. For backpackers and hikers, several selections satisfy ultralight demands.

The 3400 Windrider is a bomber Dyneema pack built in Maine. It has removable aluminum bides and weighs about 32 ounces.

The pack is basic. It has one main compartment with a bladder holder, a large mesh area with three separate compartments, two side pouches, and an ice axe loop-the-loop. It keeps water out through the roll-top closure and compresses down with a strap.

Again, it’s expensive at $345. But, dang, is this brand durable! In our testing, despite climbing, rolling and unrolling the top closure hundreds of period, placing sharp objects in the main compartment, sitting on them in rafts, and getting brushed and harassed by thorny wilderness on miles-long treks, there was not a single pit or tear.

See the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider

Read full GearJunkie review

Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor: $200 The author testing the Flex Capacitor; photo credit: Andrew Skurka

The Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor is a remarkably versatile pack. I carried it on a speedy high road in Colorado with explorer Andrew Skurka, who helped design it.

While not the lightest on the list, the Flex Capacitor is a great choice for those who want a pack that can literally expand for various jobs.

It quickly and easily adjusts from 40 L of capacity with tight straps up to 60 L with the quick release of a couple buckles. It weighs 2.5 pounds, which feels illuminated for a pack with a beefy frame. Still, it handles bigger loads better than the rest on this list.

In short, I really liked this pack in quick testing. It seems like a great choice for those who want a single backpack that will stretch into various employs yet still weigh in well under 3 pounds.

See the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor

Read full GearJunkie review

Mountainsmith Scream 55( Men’s)& Scream 50( Women’s ): $160

The Mountainsmith Scream 55 is a heck of a deal for a light backpack. At a retail price of only $160( and can be had for a lot less ), it’s by far the least expensive on this list. I’ve utilized this pack on a few big hikes and was really impressed.

Redesigned for 2018, the Scream 55 is a top-loader with roll close. This isn’t my favorite style, as it tends to minimize the useful space at the top of the pack. But dedicated its 55 L size, it should have plenty of space for any illumination packer.

Two large external pockets help with gear organization. This is nice, as the style had not yet been top lid, and thus needs other places to put small, frequently needed items. In use, I was impressed at how well the minimal EVA framesheet distributed weight through my back, hips, and shoulders.

On the negative side, the vertical rear pockets are a little to tight to fit tent poles. The side pockets are also pretty snug, even though we saw they work well for water bottles.

The Scream 55 weighs in at 2 pounds 13 ounces. While certainly on the high end of the scale for lightweight packing, it has durable ROBIC fabric and is a good choice for those on a budget.

See the men’s Mountainsmith Scream 55See the women’s Mountainsmith Scream 50 Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 L: $235

Serious ultralight backpackers heap kudo on the Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 L, and for good reason. The frameless pack carries a loading of 20-25 pounds and weighs in at a scant 18 ounces. The brand calls it the” lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack stimulated .”

It’s a popular design for thru-hikers or others doing big, lightweight miles who are able carrying a bear bin to protect their food from bruins. At 12 inches wide, 7 inches thick, and 35 inches high, it will accommodate a small bin with room to spare for other gear.

This design comes in two fabric choices. The Exodus 55 L employs Dyneema X Fabric, which has a ripstop pattern of HMWPE to stop tears. It costs $235. To run full-blown Dyneema, upgrade to the Exodus DCF 55 L for $290. The extra $ 55 saves you merely one ounce. But the upgrade in materials means it will last forever as well as be largely waterproof( it is seam-taped ).

The Exodus has a very supportive, cushioned hip belt, especially for an 18 -ounce pack. The SuperWick Mesh-lined waist belt wings with 1.5 -inch webbing and buckle adjust from about 28 -4 5 inches. It’s a simple design that serves the needs of ultralight hikers with not much extra. Clients can add a lid or hip belt and shoulder pockets if they so desire.

See the Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 L

Ultralight Backpacks: Pros& Cons The Good

Ultralight backpacking entails keeping your entire load low. Your base weight, including all your gear — except consumables like food, water, and ga — should be under 10 pounds.

And that’s where these packs shine. They are light themselves, thus adding very little weight to your back. But they also carry light loadings comfortably and can stand up to reasonable on-trail use.

The Bad

You really need to keep your weight down with these packs( Flex Capacitor omitted ). Most of them won’t serve you well if you load them heavy, so they’re a little less versatile than more robust backpacks.

Where does this matter? If you own simply one knapsack and plan to use it for hiking, ski mountaineering, and rock climbing, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Some of these packs are not super durable for off-trail hiking. Be sure to scrutinize materials closely if you plan to use them bushwhacking.

Ultimately, you will have to decide if you want to trade weight savings for creature comforts. For those who’ve made the leap, the above are some of the best packs on the market.

Have a favorite we didn’t include? Let us know for future updates to this article.

The post Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2019 seemed first on GearJunkie.

Read more: gearjunkie.com

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77 Artists Pay Their Respects To The Iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral With Their Work

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77 Artists Pay Their Respects To The Iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral With Their Work

On 15 April 2019 around 6:50 p.m., a fire broke out in the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. One of the most famous historical buildings, it has a strong value to Parisian and French culture and is one of the most famous buildings in the world with around 13 million tourists every year. After the tragic news about the iconic cathedral burning went viral, many artists showed their respect to the monument by drawing it.

Scroll down to see the list of these beautiful tributes to the beloved cathedral.

#notredame

Image credits: alexfierrw

Somos milhões de Quasímodos, com os olhos disformes pelas lágrimas, mas, sem o consolo de um sineiro! Ao revés da história, meu caro Victor Hugo, hoje a beleza sucumbiu!

#bomdia #livros #book #notredame #escritor #foto #art #artist #frança #instabook #leitura #writer #luto #arte

Image credits: patiqmarques

my heart broke today…my thoughts and prayers to the world….as I watched the news my heart decided to paint…. . . . #notredame #paris #prayersforparis #artist #artistsofinstagram #illustrationgram #cathederal #love #watercolor #watercolorpainting #france #illustratorsofinstagram #worldartday #parislove #heart #thoughts #world #prayfornotredame #womenwhodraw #notredameart #artistssupportartists #traveladdict #architecture #beauty # #prayfornotredame

Image credits: dianaevansillustration

Dear France and dear París, I’m sorry for your loss. As a European and as an Architect I can feel it too, but I’m sure that, thanks to the hard work of the firefighters, who fought like heroes, the Dame of París will rise againg from the ashes and will keep on being an icon of our history. #notredame #paris

Image credits: yamionpaper

#notredame #france #fire #lol #oilpainting #silviozatti #tragedy #painting

Image credits: silviozatti

“JE T’AIME NOTRE DAME” Y ME DESINTEGRO CONTIGO Maloy Model by Jaime Sánchez #music #model #art #artwork #vscocam #style #sky #cool #motivation #yoga #dance #igersitalia #fitness #magic #gym #fitfam #healthy #tattoo #spring #artistic #streetstyle #drawing #cute #igers #fashion #streetphotography #ballet #blackandwhite #notredame #muscle

Image credits: maloy_actor

Notre Dame de Paris / when i first heard about the fire at Notre Dame, i didn’t think that’s hurts me but it did. I don’t enjoy especially churches but this one is part of our history and culture… / sketch done with pencil ink micron pen and photoshop #notredame #paris #blackandwhite #ink #inkdrawing #pencil #pencildrawing #pen #pendrawing #micron #photoshop #wacom #art #artwork #artist #conceptart #draw #drawing #drawingoftheday #sketch #sketching #sketches #sketchbook #instaart #instaartist #instaartwork #instadraw #instadrawing #drawingart #dessin

Image credits: jonathanterrasse

“It’s in our nature to mourn when we see history lost – but it’s also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can.” Barak Obama #notredame #rebuilding #mantraformyownlife

Image credits: personalgrowthondemand

#notredame #quasimodo #notredamedeparis

Image credits: joelthuering

2 siècles pour la bâtir, 856 ans pour l’entretenir, quelques heures aux flammes pour la rendre en cendres mais une partie sauvée grâce aux @pompiers_paris. Merci. Bravo @fernandobarbaart pour cette superbe illustration

#paris #notredame #notredamedeparis #cathedrale #symbole #monument #capitale #patrimoine #architecture #victorhugo #illustration #pompiers #fire #art #france #visitparis #parismonamour #parisgram #parisfrance #french #travel #visitfrance #tragedie #sad

Image credits: rapporteuse2paris

Con quale cuore prego ancora Notre Dame C’è… Qualcuno che le scaglierà la prima pietra? Sia cancellato dalla faccia della terra! #notredamedeparis #disney #quasimodo

Image credits: sirenettadimare

#notredame #notredameparis #notredamefire #fire #tears #graphicdesign #flatdesign #drawing #illustration

Image credits: a.i.r.design

Art by: @apurvpednekar Notre Dame

#notredame #prayforparis #prayfornotredame

Image credits: prayfornotredam

#notredame #fire #firefighter #quasimodo #merci #photo

Image credits: tuzoltohumor

I’ve come to accept that verbal language is not my first, most accessible mode of communication…I am often times overwhelmed with/by emotion, as many are and I feel a lack of verbalizing this morass of feelings…I feel blessed that I allow myself to express through painting… I have no words for the extraordinary loss that this fire has wrought…I felt I had to process the flood of grief (felt around the world) for not a building but a concept of immortality or the fragility of our collective creations…alas I cannot really say it, so I painted, and although I wish I’d used a different paper to achieve some of the flow I was looking for, I really do feel more at peace with the impermanence of ALL things. This will probably not be the only painting on the grand cathedral in flames but for today it healed a fragment of my heart. #notredamecathedral #watercolor #painting #expression #heartspace #paris #artworkliving #determined #empathic #empath #grief #griefandloss #notredame #notredameparis #notredamedeparisfire #instaart #watercolorpainting #artist #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram

Image credits: susanehansen

. . #notredame

Image credits: dibujosdecristina

#notredame #patrimoniodelahumanidad #arte #france #paris #newyorkers #newyorkermag #arte #historia #art

Image credits: javicrespoestudio

Art.Blule #notredame #blule

Image credits: jannannannaj

#notredame #safenotredame #paris #help #fire #notredameparis #notredame #safe

Image credits: safe_notredame

“Notre Dame”, oil on canvas, 14”x14” #notredame #paris #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #studiovisit #artstudio #contemporaryart #notredameburning #notredamecathedral #notredamedeparis

Image credits: noahsats

Notre-Dame de notre cœur #notredamedeparis #notredame #paris #aquarelleart #aquarelle #watercolor #watercoloring #watercolors #watercolorart #rotring #pencilsketch #scketchbook #scketch #encredechine #artist #artoftheday #artoninstagram #artofinstagram #arts #artinstagram #art #sennelieraquarelle #sennelier #artinspiration

Image credits: samebullebien

The tower

#notredame

Image credits: trile23

#notredame #safenotredame #paris #help #fire #notredameparis #notredame #safe

Image credits: safe_notredame

Oh! Quina pena més gran! Ànims, París! #notredame #paris #feu #sennelier1887 #sena #seine #doodlesketch #doodle #sketch #literature #foc #bookstagram #victorhugo #quasimodo

Image credits: tonigalmesdibuixos

#notredamedeparis#notredame#preyfornotredamedeparis#notredamecathedralparis#notredamecathedral#christainlife #christian #biblical #church #blessed #followerofchrist #prayer #grace #faith #jesuschrist #sad #sad #nothappy #cry #crying #tears #instasad #sadness #depressed #alone #crappyday #hope#mood

Image credits: fe_fe12

#notredame #paris

Image credits: ellenabi

Le coeur en cendres #notredame #notredamedeparis #paris

Image credits: keratill

The Notre Dame fire happened nearly 5000 miles away. But the pain of seeing a work of art get destroyed can be felt all over the world. . #aTulipsArt

Image credits: sillytulip

Notre dame croquis de dernière minute #illustration #croquis #notredame #notredamedeparis #notredameparis #victorhugo #hommage #hommagenotredame #hommagenotredamedeparis #info #france #parisfrance #home #art #artwork #children #feuille #actualité #actualitéfrance #sketchbook #workinprogress

Image credits: little_ernest_

Q is for #Quasimodo #TheHunchbackOfNotreDame #NotreDame #Quasimodo #Esmeralda #Paris #LaCathedraleNotreDame

Image credits: sith_mom

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Pinterest Update April 2019 (Latest Pinterest Changes for Bloggers and Business)

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Pinterest Update April 2019 (Latest Pinterest Changes for Bloggers and Business)

I think I know why you are on this page … A new Pinterest update 2019 just happened, some algorithm or interface alters believe that this is occurring as we speak, and your traffic is either going down or up( luck you if it’s the latter !). I created this page because I get tired of replying over and over to similar questions I receive from my students about the latest Pinterest update( s ).

I plan to update this page reasonably often- as soon as something significant happens on Pinterest, you’ll be the first one to know about it from this post. So SAVE THIS PIN to your Pinterest Marketing board for later.

If you use Pinterest for marketing your products or you are a blogger and drive traffic from this platform, you probably know by now that algorithm updates and major interface alters happen on Pinterest so often that people are getting confused by what is the most recent or new update, what happened just a month ago.

I want to make-up your life easy! Here, on this page, Pinterest updates are presented in chronological order and also are explained as per what is an actual alter, what is a rumor, and how you are able to react to these changes.

I’m going to also mention here some news related to the Pinterest-approved scheduler Tailwind and their new features as this might be directly related to your activity on Pinterest.

Pinterest October- November 2018 New Features Carousel Pins

All business accounts on Pinterest can now create Carousel Pins- this is a new type of pins which permits up to 5 different images published as a slider under the same pin URL.

These images can be linked to different page URLs on your website, they can also have different titles and descriptions!

Pinterest initially introduced Carousel pins as an additional tool for businesses to make their ads most attractive. However, right now you can create Carousel pins without starting an ad campaign.

Just go to your Pinterest account on a desktop and click on the “plus” button next to your profile name. From the drop-down, select Create Carousel.

There is a chance that as early adopters of the new pin format, we could gain some additional benefits. First, at the start , not many users will create these Carousel pins( they plainly take more period than the regular pins ). Plus, Pinterest should probably dedicate an additional initial boost to the new pins so that more content inventors get interested in saving these Carousel pins.

Pinterest Update July 2018( And Some Other Changes) Pinterest Glitch Blocked Many Legit Bloggers Domains on 7/24/ 2018

This day many bloggers and Pinterest marketers woke up to see their domains marked as spam on Pinterest. This very blog you are reading now was also blocked and you can’t imagine how I was worried about it- all my Pinterest traffic was gone for nearly 24 hours.

Want to know how I drive over 300,000 pageviews/ mo to my blog from Pinterest? And how organic( free) Pinterest traffic allowed me to build $6000/ mo with my blogs? Learn how I do it with a Free Pinterest Masterclass >>

Each and every pin on affected accounts was not resulting users to the websites anymore- they were sending users to a break page with a ruthless message :P TAGEND

As far as I was able to follow up the situation in multiple blogging communities on Facebook, the majority of the affected accounts were working fine within 24 hours since the issue was known about. Pinterest didn’t make any official statements, didn’t reply to anyone’s emails, merely fixed the issue and feigned that nothing happened.

In case you ever get caught by a similar issue in the future, here are a few tips-off on how you can try to help your domain get unmarked as soon as possible. When you write an email to them , no matter how pissed you are by the situation, make sure you use respectful speech because after all, the person reading your message, is just a person. You don’t know how that person who is not personally responsible for the algorithms on Pinterest, might feel about your message, and how this could influence his or her decision about your account.

Email creators-support@ pinterest.com- this address was shared by Pinterest on their seminar for content inventors. Visit the page https :// help.pinterest.com/ en/ contact, select “Business Account” and then choose the option well placed to your petition. One more tip that might not be applicable to every situation, but I thought it’s worth mentioning this insider tip. You insure, some companies have a privilege of talking to Pinterest reps directly and when a large-scale glitch is causing some difficulty for bloggers or content inventors, they do their best to help us. During the latest instances of mass accounts blocking, Tailwind( officially endorse Pinterest scheduler ), Mediavine and Adthrive( advertising network for bloggers) created listings of affected accounts in their FB communities and then sent listings to Pinterest to manually look into each blog.

Pinterest Analytics Glitches in July 2018

If you noticed that your Pinterest Analytics indicate nearly 0 views on some days in July 2018, that’s just a glitch and you can verify in your Google Analytics that you were get traffic from Pinterest on those days normally.

Tailwind releasing SmartLoop tool

Tailwind made an announcement about their long-awaited SmartLoop tool. They promised to roll it out on all accounts within 8-12 weeks.

If you are following Pinterest updates and changes closely, you probably noticed that 2018 is the year when Pinterest started truly opening up a little more info to marketers, bloggers, content inventors. Yes, Pinterest even organized the first-ever conference for content creators.

Out of all the information that was presented to the blogging community lately , not all “news” genuinely new or part of a Pinterest update. They just never spoke so openly about the ways you should promote your content on their platform.

However, a lot of stuff that was discussed during the conferences worked on Pinterest for years this route, and Pinterest just never spoke about it so openly.

On this page, I do my best to separate what Pinterest reps claim, what Pinterest Best practices dictate, from what actually works to drive traffic to your website. I’m also going to put away all the rumors based on some popular interpretations of Pinterest’s statements.

I spend a lot of time( more than I hope I had to !) monitoring blogging communities on Facebook where people share their experience on Pinterest. I spend this much period doing it because among the numerous Facebook threads and commentaries sometimes I can see a pattern and it helps to figure out how Pinterest works for people in different niches, following different strategies.

Also, I do it to save time for my students and to be able to provide the most recent and comprehensive info in my Pinterest SEO Traffic Secrets Course .

Pinterest disapproved BoardBooster scheduler

If you don’t know what BoardBooster was, then probably you can just skip this paragraph. Before you do it, just take one thing with you: from June 2018, Pinterest is not a place to mess around using any schedulers or tools which are not shown on their official Pinterest’spartners page.

Now, getting back to BoardBooster. It was one of the two most popular Pinterest schedulers for about 4 years and offered automation tools at an affordable cost. Pinterest didn’t like that BoardBooster was operating without employing Pinterest API. This was ok for a few years, but at some phase, all big social media platforms crash upon unapproved apps or tools. Unfortunately, there was no way Pinterest would allow BoardBooster become an approved partner and the tool was closed for good.

Several tools are shown on the Partner’s page but the leader is Tailwind. If you want to start using it efficiently and save yourself the time from learning it by trial and error, you could make a jump start with my very affordable video course dedicated to Tailwind.

Ongoing Pinterest Update- Algorithm 2018

Group Boards will be losing distribution power

This one is quite a fundamental statement made by two Pinterest reps in an interview for Pinterest scheduler Buffer( check the video below ).

It’s so important because building powerful Pinterest account by reaching audiences of multiple group boards was the main strategy that has been working great for the last 2-3 years.

However, it seems like from now on, Pinterest will be working on reducing the distribution of pins saved to group boards.

Why Pinterest decided to do that? They said group boards became over time something different from what they were created for. Have you consider group boards with thousands of contributors? I bet you have because they are usually the ones that are too easy to be accepted to.

Now, 1000 -4 000 contributors( the max I’ve seen, but I’m sure there are even bigger group boards) and no pinning restrictions can’t end up in a good way. Spam eventually takes over these committees and the board is losing the focus on one topic.

As a repercussion, even legit pinners on those boards get low engagement scores for their pins and a confusing keyword context based on all the spam saved to the board previously.

Pinterest reps explained that group boards should be only used only for collaborations on “projects”. For me, it means that group boards have to be as focused on one topic or keyword, as standard committees are. And shouldn’t involve large numbers of contributors.

What should you do now?

If you are still relatively new and don’t have many big group boards on your profile, you have two options. First, forget about group boards and work on your own boards. Second, if you still want to try to reach additional audiences with group boards, you might want to create or join only small group boards, very specifically targeted to a keyword or topic. If you already joined many big group boards, especially generic boards which allow people from all niches to pin, it’s time to evaluate how efficient these committees are for your account. Learn how I do it from this post .

2. Build strong boards on your own account

Since Pinterest takes distribution away from the big group boards, I can tell that you naturally will redirect the majority of your efforts to building your own boards.

You might not even realize that, but a lot of established bloggers consider their Pinterest traffic tanking for a while. Their accounts are packed with group boards they joined while their own boards are the minority.

If this is your case, period for a change “re coming”. Did you notice that in their Best practises, Pinterest recommends creating at least 5 committees for each topic we cover in the blog or website? By doing this, you can target several keyword differences on each board.

3. The” Most Relevant Boards First” Rule for a New Pin

To help your new pin succeed on Pinterest, you have to pin it to a relevant committee first. Or several relevant committees. And there is a requirement to boards on your account. By saving the pin to a relevant board, you give this new image the right keyword context. By saving first to your own board, you help Pinterest boost your pin, because they claim to give priority to the pins saved by content creators.

4. Tall pins pessimization

If you’ve been on Pinterest long enough, you probably have an idea that long pins get more involvement and space in the feeds, and in general are more successful. That’s why about 2 years ago Pinterest search results were jam-packed with infographics. Some marketing sites received a great traffic influx from Pinterest in those times.

I’m not too sad about it because I hated insuring those long pins utilizing Pinterest on my phone. They used to occupy space or 3-7 normal sized pins and I didn’t find this fair.

Currently, Pinterest is cutting off the long pins at 2:4.2 ratio and in general, they recommend sticking to the 2:3 ratio in the future as longer pins will not only be cut but also pessimized by the Pinterest algorithm.

5. Be a true Content Creator and save “Fresh” pins regularly

Several Pinterest reps talked a lot about the freshness of pins. Why would they touch on this subject?

Apparently, too many bloggers were repinning their own exactly the same pins too many times to multiple boards.

If you even upload the same exact image from the same exact post URL, Pinterest will recognize the image as an existent pin and in the majority of cases will immediately present you the summed up stats for that pin.

The conclusion is – you need to create a lot more new pins- new image, new text overlay, new colors- anything at all has been different on the image to be considered a new pin. They started saying content inventors should save new pins weekly, but I lately hear voices saying we should do it daily. Who promised Pinterest marketing is going to get easier?

All platforms get more complicated algorithms over day as the competition between content creators promoting on these platforms grows. So if you are still on the fence about Pinterest traffic and think you can start later, I can’t recommend you highly enough to start working on your Pinterest account strategically NOW. The longer you wait, the harder it gets for a beginner.

I recently find an additional way to make your pins more “fresh” for Pinterest while saving new pin versions for your old posts.

When you just save new images immediately from your web pages, Pinterest Rich Pins automatically attach to them your SEO titles and SEO descriptions( if you use Article Rich Pins ). This entail, all your new pins from the same page are targeting exactly the same keywords.

Pinterest recommends you to create new pins and alteration keywords to give another perspective on your image and attract an additional audience. Changing pin description when you save a new pin does its positive task in this sense, but your SEO title and keywords in it remain the same.

So what’s the new solution?

When you save a new pin for an old post, don’t save the pin from your page. Instead, go to Pinterest Homepage and click on Create Pin in the right top corner :P TAGEND

Then you can upload the new image or if you saved it on the page, you can also retrieve the image from your site( insert the link to your page under the image upload ). The most important part here is changing your Rich Pin’s title and description. Try to think of some new keywords you haven’t used in your SEO title for this post or page.

This way, you will overwrite the Rich Pins’s title that comes from your web page. The SEO description remains the same, but you can and should also use new keywords in the pin description( find the screenshot below ):

6. It’s Ok to have Multiple pins per page URL

Pinterest reps corroborated what was added to their Best Practices page – you can and you should create multiple pins per post to target different keywords or audiences in each pin version.

7. Pinterest Analytics Work Faster

Pinterest used to have a 36 -hour delay in stats depict for each specific pin. Lately, they depict analytics on a pin basis almost in real time. Pinterest claims they have a 2-hour delay in reporting the data.

A side note here. The stats you are seeing on a pin basis are summed up counts for all repins, impressions and saves of all versions of this pin. Imagine a user B repinned your original pin to a bigger board and that repin got a lot more impressions and clicks. This means, your own pin will be showing a summed up stats from your pin and the repin of user B Stats.

Another note. When you look at the pin stats in a window like on a screenshot below don’t forget these are stats merely for the last 30 days. It’s not all the repins/ saves/ impressions from the working day the pin was initially saved.

8. Followers Quality over Quantity

Pinterest reps mentioned on a few events that the algorithm is showing your new pins first to your follower base. The algorithm evaluates the early participation to see if your pin should be shown to bigger audiences.

This means that practices which involve mass following or buying adherents are not helping you get traffic from your pin. In fact, they are doing the opposite. You get followers which are not going to engage with your pins. This dedicates negative signals to Pinterest about your content. This will limit your pins distribution.

They used the term” early engagement”, which is also well-known in regards to the Instagram algorithm. If your content gets good participation soon after publication, opportunities are this content might get an additional boost from the platform’s algorithm.

To quote Sarah from Pinterest( the interview video above ): “When you save a new Pin to Pinterest, it will be distributed it to your followers first. That’s the testing ground and it gets your content out much faster than Pinterest could ever do before. This is your most loyal audience- they love your content.”

Pinterest Alters 2018- New Features and New Interface Easy Saving to Suggested Boards( for the Web, June 2018)

Like most Pinterest alters, this new feature is rolled to the user base step by step. So if you don’t see the same when you try to save a pin on your desktop, probably you will see it pretty soon.

The change builds saving pins it much easier. You don’t need to click on the Save button before choosing a board. Now Pinterest indicates a relevant board on your account and you can save the pin right on the same page.

Public Stats of Monthly Reach

Not everyone was happy with this one. Because a lot of established bloggers who started on Pinterest years ago were pretty happy with their high following numbers. Since they didn’t invest as much time and efforts in Pinterest anymore, the reach often lessened a lot over period. Now their low reach became public, and it doesn’t look so great when you have a sponsored post opportunity.

The reach number in your profile shows how many Pinterest users interacted with your Pins in the last 30 days. This number is rounded.

New Pinterest Profile Cover

You might have noticed on lots of Pinterest profiles a collecting of the latest pins as a profile covering. You can customize which pins will appear there and choose one of the options to show :P TAGEND

All Recent Pins Recent Pins from a specific board, Recent Pins made from your site( includes pins saved by other users from your domain ).

New Activity Tab

Activity tab is pretty cool- it shows you all the pins which were saved from your site. Not only saved by you( employing Tailwind scheduler for example ), but also by any other users. You can look at the most popular pins that get lots of saves from your site. Then make your conclusions about which pins or content works the best.

You have an option to keep this tab private if you wish.

Following Feed on Pinterest( March 2018)

I believe that by the time you are reading this post, this feature was working on all Pinterest accounts. It’s the second mode of using Pinterest after the Smart Home feed – your “Following” feed.

It’s a feed of pins only from the people follow and these pins are shown in chronological order.

I also wrote a post earlier from which you can find out everything about Pinterest alterations that happened in 2017 and earlier.

If you observed this post useful, you might want to save THIS PIN below to your Pinterest Marketing board to check the post later when new updates are announced.

The post Pinterest Update April 2019( Latest Pinterest Changes for Bloggers and Business ) appeared first on Anastasia Blogger: How to Start a Blog, Blogging Tips, Make Money Online, Work from Home.

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13 of the Best Facebook Ad Examples That Actually Work (And Why)

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13 of the Best Facebook Ad Examples That Actually Work (And Why)

On average, Facebook is home to 1. 45 billion daily active users — from CEOs, to students, to companies. And while the community is clearly there, connect with them from a marketing standpoint isn’t always easy.

For brands, posting on Facebook alone isn’t enough anymore — especially for ones just starting out. Sure, you can throw money at your efforts to drive people to your Facebook Page and send them to your website, but that only works if you’re smart about it.

One style to do just that is to create optimized Facebook Ads targeted at the right audience. Optimized ads can help you spend your PPC budget wisely and watch a positive return on your investment.

So, what does optimized Facebook advertising actually look like? If you’re looking for some great instances, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll quickly go over the following things about the best Facebook ads. Click a link below to jump to that section of the article :P TAGEND

Facebook Ads Best Practices

How do Facebook Ads work ?

Facebook Ad Templates

Examples of the Best, Most Effective Facebook Ads We’ve Ever Seen( with some insights to apply to your own Facebook marketing)

Before we get to the Facebook ad instances outlined above, let’s discuss what makes a great Facebook Ad — regardless of the format and template the ad is using.

4 Facebook Ads Best Practices 1. It’s visual.

Visual content is not only treated more favorably in the Facebook algorithm, but it’s also more likely to be shared and recollected than written content. The lesson for Facebook marketers? No matter what type of ad you generate, your image needs to be visually appealing.

Check out this blog post for a detailed guide to image sizings for various ad units on Facebook along with some tips-off on posting visual content.

2. It’s relevant.

Relevance is critical for success when using Facebook advertising. Remember, you are spending money when someone positions or clicks on your ad( depending on the defines you use ). If you’re demonstrate ads that aren’t relevant to your target audience, you’re wasting your time and fund and will likely not watch success with any kind of advertising.

Back in February 2015, Facebook launched a feature in the Facebook advertising platform that rates your ads and gives you a relevance score, similar to Ad Rank in Google AdWords. The more relevant your ad image, ad transcript, and destination page is to your audience, the higher your rating is — and the more favorably Facebook will treat your ads.

3. It includes an enticing value proposition.

A value proposition tells the reader why they should click on your ad to learn more about your product. How is your product or service different from any other? Why should the viewer click on your ad to see your website?

Your value proposition should be believable. For example, saying you have the greatest sandwiches in the world will not stimulate people come to your business’s Page, but maybe offering 20% off will. Or, perhaps adding social proof will help — something like, “Sandwiches loved by over one million people every year! Come try yours today and get 20% off your order with this coupon.”

4. It has a clear call-to-action.

A beautiful and relevant ad is great, but without a call-to-action( CTA ), your viewer might not know what to do next. Add a CTA like “Buy now and save X %, ” or “Offer ends soon” and add a sense of urgency to your viewer. Your CTA should encourage people to click on your ad now.

To invest in Facebook Ads effectively, you first need to know whom your ads are directed toward. When creating a new ad on Facebook, you can create a new audience that includes many customizable characteristics. Among them are :P TAGEND

Location.

Age.

Sex.

Languages spoken.

Interests and behaviors.

Their connections to your other business-related pages on Facebook.

You can also create what’s called a Lookalike Audience, which permits Facebook to create an audience for you that best resembles a particular “source.” This source can include some or all the factors listed above.

After customizing your ad’s audience, you need to consider how the ad will look on both desktop and mobile. This ensures you design your ad for easy viewing no matter where it appears on Facebook. Here are three different places you can see your Facebook Ads show up :P TAGEND Facebook Ad Placements Placement 1: Right Column

Image via Facebook

This type of ad is the most traditional on Facebook, it appears on the right side of a user’s Facebook News Feed. This is the first type of advertising Facebook had, and it still exists today.

Although ads in the News Feed are likely to get higher participation metrics due to its native advertising features, right column ads shouldn’t be forgotten. We often consider less expensive clicks and conversions when using these ads. In order for a right column ad to be successful, it needs to be relevant, have a value proposition, a good visual, and have a call-to-action.

Placement 2: Desktop News Feed

Image via Facebook

This type of ad appears directly in a user’s News Feed when they access Facebook on a desktop computer, and it looks more like native advertising. In our experience, these ads have a higher engagement rate than right column ads, but they can also be more expensive. These ads must follow organic Facebook posts best practises and be both engaging and visual.

Placement 3: Mobile News Feed

Image via Facebook

Like the desktop News Feed ad, this type of ad appears in the user’s mobile News Feed and displays like an organic post from the people and Pages they follow.

Facebook Ad Formats

Next, you’ll choose a format for your Facebook Ad, and there are eight alternatives to choose from :P TAGEND Format 1: Photo Ad

Photo Ads are still images that can help to promote a product or event you want to specifically call attention to. If you have a special promotion going on, for example, this ad format sets a crisp snapshot of your product or venue at the center of your ad.

For ads shown in a Facebook News Feed, the recommended image resolution is at least 1080 x 1080.

Format 2: Video Ad

Video Ads have a GIF or video as the centerpiece of the advertising, and can be used to demonstrate a product or event. Video Ads help you form deeper connections with your audience by aligning your brand with a type of content online users are quickly eating more of( virtually 80% of all data consumed on mobile devices will be in video form by 2021, according to a Facebook study ).

There are six types of video ads you can invest in on Facebook :P TAGEND

Short Videos and GIFs

Vertical Videos

Instagram Stories

Video Carousels

Video Collections

In-stream Videos

Format 3: Stories Ad

Stories Ads are a part of Facebook Stories, one of the newest content types rolled out by Facebook that allows users to post temporary clips and images of their day for their friends to see. This type of ad is fitted to the dimensions of a mobile device, and can be played on both mobile and desktop.

As users browse their friends’ Stories, these ads can appear in the same format inside a creek of Stories. For this reason, it’s best to create Stories Ads that reflect the same candid and entertaining looking and feel that people see from their friends. Stories Ads can be placed on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.

Format 4: Messenger Ad

A Messenger Ad seems as a direct message in a user’s message list when they’re inside Facebook’s Messenger app. These ads allow you to interact with your audience, showing them offers you think they would like and listening to their responses so you can better tailor your next message to their interests.

Let’s say your ad’s first message is “What product might you be interested in? ” The user can then select from three different responses, triggering your ad to produce a more specific product offer immediately in the message thread.

Format 5: Carousel Ad

Carousel Ads contain a series of images or videos that users can rotate through, all of them helping to describe a single product, service, or event the ad is promoting. Each Carousel Ad can contain to 10 images or videos at a time and link to their own individual webpages. Because these ads carry so much media, according to Facebook, they’re ideal for :P TAGEND

Endorsing multiple products.

Promoting multiple features of the same product.

Telling a narrative or sequence of events that unfolds over the course of multiple paintings or videos.

Explaining a process to potential customers.

Format 6: Slideshow Ad

Similar to Carousel Ads, explained above, Slideshow Ads segment your ad into individual images that users view one after another. The difference between these two ad formats is that Slideshow Ads only play images( not videos ), and the ad compiles these images into a slideshow that plays automatically in the form of a video. According to Facebook, Carousel Ads are ideal for :P TAGEND

Creating a video-like experience for users quickly and with a small budget.

Advertisers who want to choose from a library of pre-created images and music( a unique perk of Facebook’s Slideshow Ad ).

Simplifying an otherwise complicated theory or process for potential customers.

Reaching people who have slower internet connects( Slideshow Ads use five times less data than video ads on Facebook ).

Format 7: Collection Ad

A Collection Ad permits advertisers to bring the buying process directly into Facebook, so potential clients can move from “discovery” to “purchase” more easily when they assure a product they like. This ad format features a central image or video promoting a product, with a collect of four smaller images below it that spectators can click on to learn more about the product. There are four different types of Collection Ads you can invest in :P TAGEND

Instant Storefront: This ad is ideal for displaying multiple products as part of the same ad campaign, and driving traffic to each product’s respective product page.

Instant Lookbook: This ad is ideal for demonstrating or modeling a product in various contexts for your audience.

Instant Customer Acquisition: This ad is ideal for driving traffic to, and a specific action on, a product’s landing page.

Instant Storytelling: This ad is ideal for telling a story about your brand or helping your audience learn more about the business.

Format 8: Playables

Playables cater specifically to app developers. This ad format allows your audience to watch, preview, and even play an abbreviated version of your new app directly from inside the ad.

8 Facebook Ad Templates

Facebook Ads can be used to accomplish a number of different objectives for your business. Here are a few real ads that you can use as templates of inspiration when creating an ad that targets the same goal :P TAGEND Template 1: Video Product Demo Ad

Image via Facebook

Video ads appear fairly large in the user’s New Feed and offer more engaging content than static posts. And with 8 billion videos being watched on Facebook every day, it serves as an interesting — and potentially profitable — ad type for marketers to try out.

How can you create your own video ad? First, understand Facebook video ad requirements including length and video sizing. We indicate keeping your video as short as possible, even though Facebook allows you to upload a much larger video. Create a video that displays your product or service, and upload directly to the Facebook ads manager by following these instructions.

Template 2: Photo Model Ad

Image via Facebook

Another type of rich media advertising on Facebook is a post of an image. This is one of the most popular types of ads ever since Facebook began favoring visual content. The optimal size for News Feed photo ads is at least 1080 x 1080 pixels, otherwise your image will get cropped. Adjust your image based on the target audience’s needs and by what will appeal to them the most.

Template 3: Multi-product Ad

Image via Facebook

Multi-product ads allow advertisers to showcase multiple products within one ad. Viewers can scroll through the images and click on individual links to each product. You can promote multiple of anything , not just products — like different blog posts, ebooks, or webinars. These ads can be created in the Facebook Power Editor .

Template 4: Reach Ad

Image via Facebook

Reach ads on Facebook are designed for to grow your local awareness. They only work if your business has a physical location to which you’re trying to drive real foot traffic. If you fall into this category, locally targeted Facebook ads might be a great fit for you, as you can hyper-target on Facebook down to the mile.

If your business has an offer or event going on at your store, set up a few Facebook Reach ads that appear only to people within a short distance of your store. Have these ads seem a few days prior to the event and on mobile devices while the event is happening. You may want to reach some people the day of the event who happen to be in the area and checking their Facebook account on their smartphones.

Template 5: Special Offer Ad

Image via Facebook

An offer ad is a form of Facebook advertising wherein a business can promote a discount on a product or service that can be redeemed on Facebook. The benefit of this? It eliminates one step in the buyer’s journey, which ultimately increases sales.

The offer ad has many benefits. First, it drives the user directly to the offer. The user claims it immediately on Facebook, removing any added friction of needing to go to your website for the offer. You also can reach any type of audience that you want, as all the Facebook targeting options are possible.

Finally, you can include all the information needed for the user to decide if they want it or not, including the time period it is usable, the number of people who has already claimed it, and the exact amount the offer is. This will eliminate any unqualified clicks, which cost you money.

Template 6: Event Ad

Event ads promote a specific event. The CTA on these ads usually send users immediately to the ticket purchase page, wherever that happens to be hosted.

Using this type of ad will help drive a targeted group of people to attend your event. These will be displayed in the News Feed of the specific audience you’ve chosen. Events are a big part of most businesses, but getting people to attend even a small event, can be tricky. Promoting your event to a targeted specific audience on Facebook can help drive the right kind of attendees.

A good ad in this format will clearly show the benefit of attending the event: the cost, dates, and a clear CTA to purchase a ticket.

Template 7: Boosted Ad

Image via Stealth Seminar

A boosted post is an organic Facebook post that was originally on the homepage of a company’s Facebook, and that later was boosted with advertising money.

This is different from the above ads because it’s not created in the Facebook Ads Manager. You can include more in the description, as there is no limit to word count on boosted posts like there is in ads. You can also have a link in the copy.

The cons? Boosted posts leave you fewer options for bidding, targeting, and pricing. You also cannot operated any the different types of A/ B exams because you’re promoting a post that has already been created; you’re not creating one from scratch.

Template 8: Retargeting Ad

A retargeting ad promotes an ad to a specific list of previously identified people. Have you ever seen ads follow you across the internet after visiting a certain website? Then you’ve seen a retargeting ad.

Facebook has the same capability. An advertiser can advertise to a list of results or clients by uploading a list of email addresses it already has into the Power Editor to make a custom audience. A good retargeting ad acknowledges that the brand knows you’re already interested in its product.( Because, let’s face it … retargeting can be a little creepy .)

Now that we’ve encompassed the main ad best practises, formats, and templates, let’s dig into a sampling of the best Facebook ads that espouse the above guidelines.

1. Kay Jewelers Video Ad

This Facebook video ad from Kay Jewelers tells a quick but moving story — something Kay Jewelers is well-known for — employing simply a few seconds of your time. You don’t even need the voice on in the video above to know what’s happening and the message Kay is sending.

If you’re advertising a product with sentimental value, like Kay Jewelers, video ads are the way to go. Just be sure your video has a clear( and happy) objective — people position videos more passively on Facebook than they are able to on YouTube, and don’t have time to interpret your ad if it’s too long or complex.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. Even though this is a video, I have a general idea of what I will be watching, thanks to the screen capture it started with. Additionally, I can understand the gist of this ad without playing with the audio on, which is important given that 85% of videos on Facebook are now viewed without sound.

It’s relevant. It’s relevant to me because I was recently scouring jewelry websites, specifically for necklaces like the one in the ad.

It’s valuable. Kay demonstrates potential clients the value of purchasing with the help of the happy reaction from the woman receiving the gift in the ad. Plus, who doesn’t love dogs?

It has a solid call-to-action. This ad is set up to drive Page Likes, which is an easy, one-click way for me to get more relevant content served up to me.

2. Monday.com Photo Ad

Monday.com is a task-management tool that caters to multiple operating system, both desktop and mobile. But in the photo ad above, the company use its compatibility with Mac computers to remix its own logo in the original rainbow colours of the Apple brand.

For growing businesses like Monday.com, it’s a smart-alecky notion to pivot off the brand awareness of household names. By filling the Monday logo with Apple’s famous rainbow color-way, the ad above captures the attention of Mac users who’d recognize those vintage rainbow stripes anywhere( and could use a new task-management tool that works on their computer ).

Why This Ad Work

It’s visual. The rainbow colors filling the Monday logo are both eye-catching against the black background and familiar to any Mac user.

It’s relevant. For Mac users, and those who need to organize their tasks on a regular basis, this ad is relevant to their lifestyle in more ways than one.

It’s valuable. The ad calls attention to Monday’s compatibility with Mac computers, making the product’s user experience more valuable to Mac users as a result.

It has a clear call-to-action. The “Learn More” CTA on the bottom-right of the ad is a clear invitation to find out more about this product’s usage on Apple hardware.

3. Amazon Event Ad

This is how an event ad from Amazon looks in the News Feed on a desktop. This ad works well on a few different levels: A sample product is clearly displayed, the ad indicates an impressive( but honest) rating of that product, and you know which event Amazon is promoting right away — Black Friday.

Ecommerce companies like Amazon use event ads to boost marketings at particular point during the year, and Facebook event ads make this easy. When investing in event advertising, build a list of the holidays, indicates, seminars, and awareness months your business cares about. That way, you know exactly which marketing campaigns line up with these instances and when to promote it on your Facebook Business Page.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. Not merely is this image larger than the right column ad display, but it also uses warm colours, white space, and directional lines, which described my eye towards the featured product.

It’s relevant. As a cat mom, this offer is clearly tailored to my consumer needs.

It includes an tempting value prop. Amazon has advertised a self-cleaning litter box here, which is of tremendous value for any cat owner. Additionally, it shared the strong customer ratings below an image of the product.( Social proof, anyone ?)

It has a clear call-to-action. Amazon informs me to click on its ad today, after which point the bargain for the litter box will presumably disappear. “Now” is strong CTA language that compels clicks.

4. NatureBox Photo Ad

This photo ad by NatureBox features a creative point-of-view shot that is perfect for the angle at which you’d dive into the company’s various health snacks. The ad constructs you imagine your next house party … I guessed the peanuts spilling out onto the table was a nice touch.

In your next Facebook photo ad, play around with live-action photography and digital design in the same image. As you can see in the ad above, NatureBox was able to design a vibrant “free trial” icon right on top of an image that would’ve worked just as well on its own.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The image shows you exactly what you’re get, and it calls out the “free trial” CTA well.

It’s relevant. Everyone likes to snack. In all seriousness, the person who saw this is a fan of several lifestyle subscription companies, which is what NatureBox is.

It’s valuable. This ad is full of value. First, the “free trial” callout is the first thing your eyes go to when looking at the image. Second, it clearly mentions the healthy aspects of the goodies in its product.

It has a clear call-to-action. NatureBox is asking you to try its free sample. It couldn’t be easier to know your next step.

5. Winc Retargeting Ad

Here’s an example of a short and sweet( literally) retargeting ad from Winc( formerly known as Club W ). This ad is displayed on the right column of Facebook specifically for users who browsing wine-related content online. When your ad caters to people who you know would be interested, modeling the product the route Winc does above can be a home run for your brand.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The visual is clear, simple, and appealing to all types of wine-lovers.

It’s relevant. This came up in my wine-obsessed colleague’s News Feed. Need I say more? Two thumbs up on relevance.

It includes an tempting value prop. Three bottles for $19? What a steal. They also pull the spectator in with an additional value: a discount on their first order of wine.

It has a strong call-to-action. The word “get” is strong call-to-action language, and it’s employed twice here. A time limit on this offer would have attained it even stronger.

6. Shutterfly Multi-Product Ad

Here’s an example of a multi-product ad from Shutterfly, along with the additional images that are used in the ad. Each image has a different offer, to appeal to many different demographics in one ad.

In each image, the product being promoted is consistent in the looking and feel of the Shutterfly brand — this an important quality of ads that showcase more than one item and picture.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. This series of images tilts on a consistent color palette, building it feel both cohesive and on brand.( Having a cute cat doesn’t hurt either .)

It’s relevant. The person who saw this loves taking photos and creating sentimental gifts. Spot on, right?

It’s valuable. There is a very clear value for the user, 40% off each of the products being advertised. The code and sale end date are also clear in the ad description. This ad also has an added level of value, it is showing the many different ways people can use Shutterfly, in ways many may not be aware of.

It has a clear call-to-action. I know I need to use this before February 17 th when this deal expires, so I would be encouraged to take action right away.

7. MU Campus Dining Reach Ad

This Facebook reach ad from Mizzou Campus Dining promotes amenities at the University of Missouri, using two familiar logoes and a marketplace that anyone on campus might recognize.

The ad copy beneath the image invites clients in “after the game” — a reference to campus life that helps Facebook users imagine when they might want to stop in for a sandwich.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. This image has college pride, a variety of salty and sweet treats, and a well-known logo to attract hungry college students.

It’s relevant. This ad is likely only being demonstrated to students on campus who are in its target audience. It also mentions the sports game that was going on at the time, and plays to the student’s current needs: snacks and Subway sandwiches.

It’s valuable. Mizzou Market is telling hungry college students that it has everything students need for the big game.

It has a clear call-to-action. This ad has the option to show directions, building it extremely easy for a college student on the go to follow the walking directions to this market.

8. Boston Sports Clubs Offer Ad

All customers actually need to see is the boxer pictured above to know what this ad by Boston Sports Clubs( BSC) is offering. The girl in the photo even looks like she’s staring at the text to her left, get spectators to shift their attention to the promotion right away.

This Facebook offer ad builds it obvious what customers would be signing up for when they click the “Sign Up” CTA button below the picture. Offer ads can easily mislead spectators into pressing their CTA only to get them to click on it, but it ultimately doesn’t convert spectators into clients. BSC’s approach above is clear and upfront about what it’s offering throughout its conversion path.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The featured photo uses bold colourings and clear typography to draw my attention to the details of the offer, and the woman exercising gives me an idea of what I could gain from purchasing the offer.

It’s relevant. I recently moved to Boston and have been searching for gyms in my area online, so this ad is highly relevant to my recent Facebook and search activity.

It’s valuable. Paying$ 5 for a monthly gym membership is a great deal. Even though the price may increase in the future, the low price definitely attains me want to click.

It has a clear call-to-action. The CTA emphasizes that the discount offer is limited and should be claimed speedily using the word “hurry” and telling me when the offer expires.

9. Allbirds Video Ad

This video ad by Allbirds, a shoe manufacturer, uses simplicity and whitespace to its advantage. The video only lasts nine seconds, but Allbirds demonstrates the product in a way that catches your attention and resonates with the individual wearer.

There’s a lot of ad content on Facebook, and when Facebook users scroll through their News Feeds, that content start to blend together. Sometimes your best chance at sticking out on Facebook is by using subtle movements and details — like Allbirds did, above. Let every other video on Facebook be quick and flashy, and yours will be a breath of fresh air to your audience.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The video has a clear focus on a subject, and that subject is engaging in a movement that entails something: These shoes are comfy. I subconsciously started wiggling my own toes as I saw this ad for the first time.

It’s relevant. I’m always interested in finding new shoes — I probably search or click on something related to footwear once a week. This ad feeds that interest in a unique style.

It’s valuable. The opening quote above the video is reason enough for me to want to learn more about why these shoes are so comfy. Allbirds also sweetens the deal with “free shipping, ” “free returns, ” and a note below the video that the product is “machine washable” — all without taking the focus away from the video itself.

It has a clear call-to-action. If I want these shoes, there’s a “Shop Now” CTA button to the bottom-right of the ad, waiting for me take a closer look at them.

10. The New York Times Photo Ad

This photo ad by the The New York Times is driving traffic to a written article with an intriguing illustration. The drawing literally depicts the article’s ideal audience — millennials. For young readers who are even a little interested in health and fitness, this cartoon( along with the entice headline) pokes just enough fun at them to get their attention.

When publishers advertise on Facebook, they need to be especially creative with their featured images — if their main product is a reading experience, the photo they choose has to complement their written content perfectly. The New York Times’ ad above is an example of photo ads done right.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The quirky cartoon drew my eye as I scrolled on my mobile News Feed through lots of text and photography. The nontraditional illustration pulled me in for a closer look at the content.

It’s relevant. I’m a person in my 20 s, and I used to write about health care. This is an article I would definitely be interested in reading, and it helps that the ad appears like a native post promoting an article in my New Feed.

It includes an seducing value prop. The ad indicates me which of my Facebook friends also like, and presumably read, The New York Times. This social proof constructs me more likely to click and read the article.

It has a clear call-to-action. This ad is dedicated to increasing the page’s Likes, and by asking a question in the ad, the call-to-action builds me want to click the article to learn more.

11. Tortuga Music Festival Event Ad

Successful event ads have at least two important qualities: the event’s schedule and something to justify why people should attend. The event ad above for the Tortuga Music Festival achieves both of those things — it displays the date and period and the bands playing, and shows you a picture of the amazing period you’ll have if you come.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The image alone is worth a thousand words about how much fun this concert would be. Not merely is it on the beach, it was also taken on a gorgeous day and the stage looks amazing. Also, it clearly represents what to expect during the event, and it catches the eye as someone scrolls through their News Feed.( The beautiful ocean water definitely helps .)

It’s relevant. The person who saw this ad is a fan of Kenny Chesney and has been to his concerts before. They’re also originally from Florida, which is where this event takes place.

It’s valuable. Since the image was taken on a beautiful day, it looks like an ideal place to be — especially to those of us viewing it from our office desks. It also clearly tells you the cost of the ticket so you know before you click.( This is also good for the advertiser: By including the price, the ad allows users to self-select based on whether they can afford the ticket. If they can’t afford it, they won’t click through, thus saving the advertiser fund on unqualified clicks .)

It has a clear call-to-action. The CTA is clear: “Buy.” The advertisers also add urgent wording with the title “Time is running out! ”, encouraging you to purchase your ticket now before it’s too late.

12. Adrianna Papell Retargeting Ad

Last week, I started shopping around for a bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding I’ll be in. Today, the ad above appeared in my News Feed.

Retargeting ads enable you to get in front of those spectators who are already looking for what you’re offering. This retargeting ad by Adrianna Papell doesn’t merely is demonstrated by what I’m on the market for — it arouses me about how beautiful our own wedding party images will look on my friend’s big day.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. The image gives me a good notion of what to expect from the designer’s website, and it definitely helps that the garments are both unique and stunning. Talk about a showstopper.

It’s relevant. The ad called out that I was already shopping for bridesmaid garments, and what’s more, I had previously looked at dress on this exact website, so this ad is highly relevant to my search.

It’s valuable. The variety of dresses in the ad’s image and in the description make this website worth a visit for someone trying to find the perfect gown out of thousands of options.

It has a clear call-to-action. The CTA is “Shop Now, ” which encourages me to click to purchase the beautiful garbs in the ad’s image.

13. Bustle Boosted Post

Here’s an example of a boosted post from Bustle, who promoted one of its articles on Facebook. Paying to “boost” a post you already posted organically to your Facebook Business Page can greatly benefit content that has mass appeal — versus a post that targets a specific segment of your audience. Bustle’s choice of boosted post here falls into that first category.

From Amazon’s vibrant neon sign in the photo, to the high number of examples included in the article( 42, to be exact ), Bustle’s boosted ad is sure to pique the interest of many Amazon and Bustle followers.

Why This Ad Works

It’s visual. Lots of people are familiar with the Amazon Prime logo, but not in neon lights in a window display. It constructed me do a double-take while scrolling through Facebook.

It’s relevant. As we’ve already earned from earlier examples, I like shopping on Amazon and also read Bustle, so this article is a combination of those two behaviors.

It’s valuable. “Brilliant” is a strong adjective to describe products, which constructs me curious to learn more about purchasing them.

It has a clear call-to-action. The ad tempts me with information about useful and “brilliant” contraptions I can get rendered to my doorway within two days, which I’m happy to click to learn more about.

There you have it: A list of all the different types of Facebook posts and a few examples of awesome ones from all different brands. The Facebook Ads Manager platform will walk you through how to set these up with simple, step-by-step instructions — so don’t feel overwhelmed. Or, watch this short video for tips on creating and optimizing Facebook ads.

Note for HubSpot customers:

You can

integrate Facebook Ads

reporting into the

HubSpot Ads

App to stimulate reporting and analyzing your advertising ROI easier. You’ll be able to easily assure which Facebook Ads generate results and increase your ROI without having to analyze the data yourself. You can also use this integration to edit Facebook Ads from directly within your HubSpot portal. Customers can sign up to

test this integration here

.

Now, stop reading and start creating.

Want to see how HubSpot employs Facebook? Like our Facebook Page here.

Read more: blog.hubspot.com

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20 Inspiring Writing Podcasts to Subscribe to Right Now

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20 Inspiring Writing Podcasts to Subscribe to Right Now

In the last decade, podcasts have exploded in worldwide popularity.

From celebrities like Dax Shepard to your 15 -year-old nephew, everyone seems to have a podcast.

Still, there’s a reason podcasts are so popular. Their versatility, accessibility and ability to transport, educate and empower is hard to beat.

For writers looking to bust writer’s block, sharpen their craft or spice up a boring commute, there’s no deficit of podcasts from amateurs and experts alike. Here, we’ve compiled 20 writing-related podcasts worth subscribing to.

But writer beware: You might find yourself binge-listening for hours.

1. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Every writer looking to improve their knowledge of the English language should bookmark this podcast. With helpful and insightful tips on grammar and storytelling, Mignon Fogarty’s widely popular podcast is sure to assist you in improve your penning skills.

A great place to start: A popular episode from this podcast is “I.e. Versus E.g.” Take a listen to an intriguing recent podcast titled “Fascinating Words for Colorings( and the Battle of Magenta”

2. The Writer Files

Hosted by Kelton Reid, The Writer Files is a long-running podcast that delves deep into habits and habitats of famed writers. Reid interviews novelists from a broad spectrum, devoting each listener a chance to see into the mind of an accomplished wordsmith within their genre or interest.

A great place to start: One of Reid’s biggest interviews was with best-selling author Douglas Coupland, titled “How Bestselling Author Douglas Coupland Writes.” Take a listen to Reid’s recent and helpful podcast episodes titled “The Writer’s Brain on Productivity Part 1 and Part 2”

3. A Way With Words

This National Public Radio( NPR) program discusses language examined through the lens of history, culture and family. The podcast is rich with detail and exciting storytelling, and typically operates for about an hour.

A great place to start: A fun episode from October 2013, “Writerly Insults” looks at some poorly written query letters, and much more. In a more recent episode “Howling Fantods” examines our understanding of vocabulary and its relation to class.

4. Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses is hosted by four novelists who offer quick tips-off for writing techniques. This fast-paced podcast runs about 15 minutes per episode, with the fun tagline “Fifteen minutes long, because you’re in a hurry, and we’re not that smart”.

A great place to start: A relevant episode for all novelists, “Breaking In” talks about the concept of breaking into the industry, how to do it and what happens if you have a hard time. In a recent and relevant episode titled “Writing The Other- Bisexual Characters”, novelist TJ Berry is interviewed on the topic of writing characters that are unlike you.

5. I Should Be Writing

This award-winning podcast is hosted by the always honest Mur Lafferty. Length varies, but episodes typically feature an interview with an writer who has a new book. The episodes often offer encouragement to “would-be” novelists to believe in themselves and get writing.

A great place to start: An honest and vulnerable episode titled “Crippling Fear” is one all novelists should take a listen to: Lafferty opens up about her own dreads and failures. In “NaNoWriMo Primer” Mur talks about National Novel Writing Month.

6. Dead Robots’ Society

Dead Robots’ Society is a fun podcast by aspire novelists, for aspire novelists. Inspired by Mur Lafferty’s podcast, the hosts share writing insights typically related to writing novels.

A great place to start: The hosts talk about writing excellent short fiction in the episode, “Write Short Fiction Like a Boss.” In a more recent episode titled “Setting The Stage” Terry and Paul talk about setting a stage that pops and creating characters that come alive.

7. Portfolio Life by Jeff Goins

Well-known author Jeff Goins hosts this podcast about life, collective work and artistry. Goins is known for his inspirational messages, and his podcast is no different. This podcast is all about finding what you were born to do, and getting started creating a portfolio of your dreams.

A great place to start: In an inspirational episode, Goins talks about “Getting Paid to Pursue Your Passion in 48 Hours or Less.” Goins discusses his own passion-focused experiment and how it worked out for him. In a more recent episode, Goins offers insight on creating a daily writing habit in “Three Steps to Start a Daily Writing Habit.”

8. The Creative Penn Podcast

Author Joanna Penn cover-ups many topics related to writing, including publishing, developing your craft and where to find inspiration. Penn also interviews many professionals in the field.

A great place to start: Steal publishing secrets from Penn’s interview with successful indie author Dean Crawford, “Pros and Cons of Indie and Traditional Publishing.” A recent episode titled “Author Email List and Newsletter Tips with Tammi Labrecque” offers practical tips on a fundamental topic in book and author marketing.

9. The Story Grid Podcast

This podcast is hosted by two novelists, veteran writer Shawn Coyne and self-proclaimed struggling writer Tim Grahl. Their goal? Help novelists generate great tales. The twisting? These hosts put their own work up for criticism. Coyne also offers many practical tools to help writers craft a narrative that works.

A great place to start: “Shawn Rips it Apart, ” where Coyne critiques the first scene in Grahl’s novel. They also discuss some literary greats, including Ernest Hemingway and Agatha Christie. In “How to Refine a Manuscript” Shawn walks Tim through the process of refining a final manuscript.

10. Beautiful Writers Podcast

Beautiful Writers Podcast features a discussion with some of the most well-recognized writers in the world. Host and novelist Linda Sivertsen interviews best-selling writers Elizabeth Gilbert, Rob Bell, Glennon Doyle Melton, and Brene Brown. Episodes are typically in-depth and include personal anecdotes from creatives in the business.

A great place to start: The interview with Gretchen Rubin, where she chats about habits that spark creativity. In a more recent interview titled “Ann Patchett: Unplugged”, talks straight about her incredible writing career.

11. StoryCorps

In this NPR podcast, hosts gather stories from Americans across the country. Even if they are not a traditional podcast for novelists, this podcast offers inspiration for excellent storytelling.

A great place to start: Two people share their experiences with two separate hostage situations that had very different terminates, in the episode “Hostage.” In “Second Chances” listeners hear two narratives about bumpy starts and second chances.

12. The Literary Salon

In host Damian Barr’s The Literary Salon, writers read an extract from their books — all in front of a live audience in glamorous locations.

A great place to start: In a popular episode, JoJo Moyes reads from her bestselling book, Me After You. In “Rose McGowan” famous actress McGowan reads from her memoir Brave, and offers an honest and revealing interview..

13. Helping Writers Become Authors

Award-winning author K.M. Weiland hosts this podcast that offers mentorship and advice to aspire novelists hoping to publish their own novel someday. Weiland offers practical advice on many topics related to storytelling and narrative structure.

A great place to start: “How to Calculate Your Book’s Length Before Writing” is a practical podcast chock-full of helpful advice. Weiland shares how to identify your brain’s natural write process in “How To Create The Perfect Writing Process for You”. ”

14. Writing Class Radio

This podcast offers an invitation into a writing class. Hosts Allison and Andrea love say stories, and through their write class listeners get the chance to learn and grow in their own storytelling.

A great place to start: In “Get Out of Your Way and Write” Allison and Andrea talk about the power of truth-telling in finding your voice. In a more recent episode titled “The Mean Letter You Always Wanted to Write, ” Andrea pens a letter, a powerful way for writers to get their point across.

15. Happier by Gretchen Rubin

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin hosts a podcast on ways to practice happiness and how to find a more fulfilling everyday life. Although this podcast isn’t specifically for writers, it features many well-known bestsellers who share helpful habits that have stimulated them successful. It also includes co-host Elizabeth Craft, Gretchen’s sister, a Tv novelist living in Los Angeles.

A great place to start: A fun and light-hearted episode with bestseller A.J. Jacobs is offbeat and amusing. In “There’s Such Joy in Giving Delight, ” Gretchen shares a mini-podcast on the exhilaration of introducing someone to a delightful experience.

16. Ditch Diggers

In this Hugo Award Finalist, veteran podcaster Mur Lafferty and co-host Matt Wallace offer advice to writers with deadlines. The purpose of Ditch Diggers isn’t to offer information on honing the writer’s craft, but on pressing through tough deadlines and helping novelists pay their bills through writing. This is an explicit show, you’ve been warned.

A great place to start: Spend an afternoon with “Hot Button Topics.” In this movie-length podcast, Mur and Matt discuss many hot button topics related to writing and earning an income from your craft, and major “no-nos” in the writing industry. In a fun interview with award-winning writer Brooke Bolander titled “Always a Bridesmaid with Brooke Bolander” the hosts and Brooke cover many topics, including un-taught abilities writers often require.

17. Mythcreants Podcast

A weekly podcast for writers to geek out over science fiction and fantasy penning. Podcast hosts are Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock.

A great place to start: In a podcast episode titled “Adverbs, Why All The Hate? ” hosts discuss why adverbs don’t get the necessary positive attention they deserve. In “Political Theory in Star Trek”, hosts invite professor Kathy Ferguson to discuss a topic she educators a class on.

18. The Copywriter Club Podcast

In this vibrant community for copywriters and would-be copywriters, experts in the field offer inspiration, encouragement, and concrete advice on advancing in this ever-growing writing niche. Copywriters Kira Hug and Rob Marsh host the show and offer many resources on their site.

A great place to start: In the episode titled “Copywriting Mastery” an expert copywriter offers insight in mastering your skills. In recent episode “Achieving a Big Dream, ” best-selling author Bryna Haynes offers insight on setting objectives and reaching those big dreams.

19. The Drunken Odyssey with John King

A podcast about creative writing and literature, hosted by novelist and literary reviewer John King. The purpose of this podcast is to discuss the penning life and foster a sense of community amongst writers.

A great place to start: ” Take a listen to the episode “We Drink, ” where John sits down with some literary friends to drink and discuss writing and literature. Recent episode “Elliot Ackerman” features an interview with war veteran, journalist, and novelist Elliot Ackerman. Topics covered include composition, revise strategies, and more.

20. Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Hosted by penning coach-and-four Ann Kroeker, this podcast is designed to help writers hone their talent through practical tips-off and inspiring insight. Episodes are typically under fifteen minutes, and are meant to offer quick solutions to many different topics.

A great place to start: In “Write to Discover Your Reason for Writing” Ann shares why she writes, and promotes writers to put pen to paper to discover their own identity as a writer. In a practical episode titled “How to Use Listing to Transform Your Writing( and your life ), ” Ann talks about the power of list-making.

Your turn: What are your favorite podcasts for inspiration or writing tips-off?

This post was updated in February 2019 so it’s more useful and relevant for our readers!

The post 20 Inspiring Writing Podcasts to Subscribe to Right Now appeared first on The Write Life.

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11 Graduation Party Ideas To Celebrate The Big Day

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11 Graduation Party Ideas To Celebrate The Big Day

Flip through our list of 11 Best Graduation Party Ideas to help you honor the grad in your life.

RELATED: 11 Personalized Adult Party Favor Ideas | DIY Party Favors !

In this article :P TAGENDGraduation Party Ideas To Celebrate The Big DayGraduation Party InvitationsDecorate Your Entrance with BalloonsAdd a Wooden Sign Graduation PartySet up a Buffet TablePrintable Graduation Banner& Cupcake ToppersPhoto Display IdeaGraduation Party Sweet TreatsSet Up a Fruity Drink Display TableGraduation Photo Booth Party PropsGive out Graduation Party FavorsArrange Your Own Blooms1 1 Best Graduation Party IdeasGraduation Party Ideas To Celebrate The Big Day

Looking for graduation party ideas to honor your loved one? Having difficulty deciding what foods and decor ideas to throw at your grad’s party? We’re here to help you put in the best graduation party activities for your loved one!

Graduating is a huge accomplishment, and your graduating senior deserves to have the most epic graduation party ever! Get inspired for your graduation bash with these 11 best graduation party ideas to construct your party a success. Get ready to celebrate.

1. Graduation Party Invitations

| Get a bit more creative with your invitations and customize it. Choice an invite that features a photo and school colors of the graduate.

There are a lot of graduation party ideas on Pinterest. You can get inspiration from there for your invitations.

2. Decorate Your Entryway with Balloons

| Set up posies of bright polka-dotted balloons and make a great first impression for your guests! Balloons are a festive way to decorate on a budget.

Whether you’re looking at college graduation party ideas for adults or high school students, balloons will definitely induce the event more festive.

3. Add a Wooden Sign Graduation Party

| Direct your guests with this cute DIY wooden sign to your entryway. You don’t need to spend too much for only one party.

There are a lot of graduation decoration notions with homemade touches that look amazing!

4. Set up a Buffet Table

| Confused with the graduation party food notions you should have at the party? Why not set up a buffet?

It is important that you have a wide variety of foods available to feed your guests!

Introducing GRILLED CHEESE TACOS. https :// t.co/ loshfsDblA pic.twitter.com/ Il77l1EGaF

— Homemade Recipes (@ BestHomeRecipes) May 12, 2016

5. Printable Graduation Banner& Cupcake Toppers

| Some college graduation party notions don’t have to be so grand. Graduation celebration can still be simple with this printable graduation flag and cupcake toppers .

RELATED: Dinner Party Decor Ideas

6. Photo Display Idea

| Consider placing photos on the table, as a tribute to the years as a kid.

7. Graduation Party Sweet Treats

| Celebrate the graduate’s achievement with something sweet! Being able to graduate is a sweet victory after all.

8. Set Up a Fruity Drink Display Table

| Make it easy for your guests to swing by and refill their glass, without pressing through the buffet line. Guests will appreciate a shortcut to their favorite drinks.

9. Graduation Photo Booth Party Props

| Make the party more memorable with a photobooth! Fill a basket with a couple of fun messages, sunglasses, silly masks, crazy wigs, and of course, lips and mustaches.

Guests can bring home fun photos of their friends to recollect the event.

1 0. Give out Graduation Party Favors

| Go with something that fits with your graduate. Anything with a cap on it is so cute and clever!

1 1. Arrange Your Own Flowers

| It’s not a party without some fresh flowers! Follow this guide so you can build your own corsages at home.

Need more graduation party ideas? Check this video as Shutterfly shares ideas for planning the perfect graduation party :P TAGEND

As graduates celebrate this huge milestone in their lives, hurling a party will make it more special. If you’re planning yourself, get started with these graduation party notions!

Did you enjoy our list of graduation party ideas? Let us know below in the comments section!

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19 Awesome Birthday Party Craft Ideas To Construct Your Kid’s Day SpecialDIY Beach Party Ideas For Your Beach-Themed CelebrationTop Medicinal Herbs To Grow At Home

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on May 17, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

The post 11 Graduation Party Ideas To Celebrate The Big Day seemed first on DIY Projects Craft Ideas& How To’s for Home Decor with Videos.

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