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autisticlancemcclain · 4 months

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Keith presses the heels of his palms to his eyes and exhales deeply. He lets all the air trickle out of his lungs until his chest feels concave, until spots dance behind his closed eyelids, until his lips start to go numb. Then he lets go and lets the air get sucked back into him like a vacuum.

“One more try,” he whispers to himself, conscious of Lance sleeping — finally — beside him. “One, and then we move on.”

He swipes the touchpad on his computer to wake it back up, dragging the blinking curser over the rarely-used blue ‘10’ under the Google logo. The page loads, and loads, and loads, and finally spits out the next few results.

Most of them he’s already seen before. Dozens of times. BARGAIN BALLET TICKET SUBSCRIPTION, reads one link, CLICK HERE FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH. Another reads, Rush Ticket Prices — Buy Now!

He’s been there. Clicked that. Priced it out. Looked at the worst possible, next-to-the-washrooms, garbage seats. Nothing. Not a single ticket within their limited budget — or even close to it.

Completely out of the realm of possibility even if they hadn’t agreed on a price limit for their Christmas gifts.

He keeps scrolling down a few pages that all advertise the same thing — a disgustingly costly subscription here, bargain-but-not-really tickets there, more scammy resell ads than one would believe possible. Even, notably, a still-active link from 1997 that Keith peruses for clicks and does not actually count towards his one-more-try limit. (It even tries to accept his Paypal, which is crazy and means that someone updated the site to accept modern payment for a show that is no longer running. Keith is so amused by the pure audacity that he has to fight the urge to buy one. Wild thing, ADHD.)

Just as he’s about to give up and buy his boyfriend yet another plant this year, a link catches his attention. It’s the very last result on page 13, with no description, no punctuation, hell, hardly even a sentence of text. Nutcracker ticket sales, it reads, for a website called ‘FeuillesBrillantAcademie.org’.

Keith shrugs. Might as well. Not like anything else has been promising.

He clicks the link and immediately wishes he hadn’t. The ugliest website he’s ever seen literally assaults his eyes — a bright blue and a neon purple, clashing in the worst possible way. It takes at least four solid seconds for his eyes to unblur enough to recognise the screen in front of him as having words rather than a solid wall of Bright And Bad. Even then, he has to squint, glasses practically touching his eyeballs.

Feuilles Brillant Academy is pleased to present the final performance of the hard-working dancers this season, is what he can finally make out. The show begins at 7 p.m. on December 23rd, tickets for $20 per person. In-person payment not accepted. Please pay via e-transfer using the link below. Call out administrative office if there are any difficulties.

Keith stares at the page for as long as his eyes can handle, then he looks up at the ceiling. (Where, he may add, he can still see the screen perfectly, because the damn thing has been burnt onto his retinae. He will never mock Matt for his web design degree again. Well, probably.)

This seems…too good to be true.

It’s outrageously cheap, for one. Keith has been looking for literal days and the cheapest he’s managed to find is $50 per person, for bad rush tickets. $20 is bonkers. For two, this is a perfect time, and nearby, as well. And there are still tickets left. Somehow.

Something is amiss.

Keith’s first thought is that it’s a prank page. But the page is buried so deeply — page thirteen of Google. The hidden archives, basically. If this is someone’s prank, it’s garbage. His second thought is that the link is a virus, which, while possible, is still kind of unlikely for the same reasons. Why on Earth would someone post something nefarious so obscurely? It doesn’t make sense. This might be one of those rare times when something isn’t too good to be true, it’s just good.

Then again. Keith just got his laptop back from the last time he fucked around and well and truly Found Out.

Time to get a second opinion.

Despite the disgustingly late hour, the phone picks up on the second ring.

“Hey, stinky,” says Pidge. Keith can hear the smile in her voice as clearly as the explosions and gunfire of Call of Duty in the background.

“Asshole.”

“Turd for brains.”

“Skidmark.”

“Rotting splatter of parking lot vomit at three in the afternoon in Arizona during high summer.”

“…Pidge, that’s disgusting.”

She snickers. “I win.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Keith freezes as Lance stirs next to him, curling his arm around Keith’s bent leg and muttering something in Spanish too fast for him to understand. Keith smiles, tucking a stray curl back under his fluffy frog-eye hairband, lingering over the scar on his temple from a skateboarding accident when they were fifteen. “I need your help.”

“Well, obviously. You’re calling me at three thirty four in the morning. Usually you’re in bed by nine because secretly you look up to Adam and emulate his habits.”

Keith flushes. “I don’t remember ordering a psych analysis, fucker.”

“Consider it a bonus! Tell Auntie Pidge about your troubles.” He can practically see the face she makes immediately after, and snorts. “Ignore that. My mouth is not attached to my brain. Carry on.”

“I need you to check out a link,” Keith says, choosing to be merciful. “It’s pretty buried and obscure, but honestly I think it’s fine —”

“Yeah, last time you thought a link was fine you fucked your shit up so bad I had to download another virus to cancel it out. I’ve never had to do that before. You fucked your laptop up so bad I’d actually never seen that kind of damage before, Kogane. And I do this for a living.”

Keith pouts. “No, you commit cyber crimes for a living.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m an angel and have never gotten so much as a speeding ticket. I am a law abiding citizen. Send over the link.”

Switching his phone to rest between his ear and shoulder, Keith does. “I need to know if the link does what it says it does.”

Pidge hums. He can hear the ding of her laptop as his e-mail goes through, and then the sounds of her clicking as she inspects the website, running it through her various programs that Keith cannot fathom for the life of him.

“What did you say you were looking for, again?”

Keith closes his eyes and tips his head back, letting it thunk gently on the thin wall under the big window, in the corner of the apartment where they’ve shoved their bed. He lets his eyes go blurry, lets the stars they stuck on the ceiling before they did anything else turn into bright green dots. They’re real constellations. The two of them spent hours on them; Lance on Keith’s shoulders, tripping and shouting and laughing.

“I need tickets,” Keith says quietly. He turns his gaze slowly to Lance, who is sleeping soundly again, who has bags under his eyes, whose hands twitch every few seconds, who frowns deeply. “And we can’t — these are the only ones I could find. That I can even pretend to afford. I need it to be —” He swallows. “I need you to tell me they’re real.”

Pidge is quiet for a moment. The only sound is her breathing, her nail tapping slowly on the edge of her screen.

“The link is exactly what it says it is.”

Keith sits up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, man.”

Keith bites back a cheer so he doesn’t wake Lance up. Hell yeah! This is perfect! Exactly what they needed! Just — a little bit of luck. A little bit.

“Thank you, Pidge,” he gushes, hurrying to punch in his information. “Seriously.”

Pidge huffs fondly. “Okay, dweebus. Gross. Go be all affectionate somewhere else.” She pauses. “Take a picture when you tell him.”

Keith smiles. “I will.”

———

It takes every inch of Keith’s willpower to keep his mouth shut for a whole three weeks.

“I Know you are hiding something, Kogane,” Lance says while walking home from classes, while curling up into him as they watch TV, while cooking, while showering. “I see it in your face.”

“It’s nearly Christmas, you dweebus,” Keith says every time, and every time he softens it with an exaggerated kiss to Lance’s cheek, one to make him laugh despite himself and shove Keith’s face away. “Of course I’m hiding something.”

But it’s eating at them both. Lance’s blatant curiously makes it that much harder for Keith to keep things hidden, to stash the tickets between the pages of his corniest romance novel that Lance won’t touch with a ten foot pole. To wait, and wait, and wait, as they set up the three-foot high discounted Christmas tree and Lance changes their sheets to the flannel ones his mother gave them.

But the days pass. Finals come and go and so does the time. And finally, finally, it comes time to crawl onto the creaky mattress, knees on either side of Lance, nose kisses down his neck, and murmur, “We’ve got plans today.”

Lance groans. “No we do not.”

Keith smiles widely. He knows Lance can feel it, because he scowls harder, trying to hide his own fondness even as he melts into Keith’s affections.

“Yes, we do. I know. I planned them.”

“Well, then, un-plan them,” Lance grouches. He turns over so he’s facing Keith, now, trying hard to glare up at him, but late afternoon sunlight bleeds into his dark brown eyes and makes them shine golden, and they are as warm and bright as the rest of him, and his hands slide up Keith’s chest, over his shoulders, brushing through his hair, to rest on his cheeks. “Come nap with me.”

Keith turns his head to press a kiss to Lance’s palm, keeping his mouth there. Lance rolls his eyes, and can no longer hide his smile. “Later. I made plans. Dress up, I’m gonna pick us up some food for the way. We’ll leave in forty minutes.”

“Ugh.”

“I don’t know who you think you’re fooling, baby. I can see you eyeing the closet.”

“Shut up and get me a burrito.” He soothes the bite of his words by pulling Keith’s face closer to his, pressing their lips together softly. “Please.”

“Whatever you want.”

God, he’s whipped, and Lance knows it, because he grins, pleased, and pulls Keith even closer, kisses him stronger. It takes Keith a good five minutes to muster up the willpower to pull away, and Lance knows it, smirking.

He finally manages to yank himself away, stumbling backwards towards the kitchenette of their studio. Lance pouts at him.

“Menace,” Keith says sternly, deliberately turning away as he pulls on his boots and coat. He ignores his boyfriend’s grumbling and finally makes it out the door, hustling to their favourite bodega and hoping it isn’t too crowded.

Thirty-seven minutes later, burritos secured, Keith is shoving his frozen fingers around the door handle to jimmy it open. The bodega was indeed crowded and they are indeed late. The show starts in an hour. From what Keith remembers from Lance’s recitals — and he has been to many — people who are late are people who miss the show. The ballet does not fuck around with tardiness and disruptions; if you’re late, that’s tough shit for you. Plan better.

“You’re going to eat shit,” Lance says, amused, the fourth time Keith power walks right over black ice and nearly actually dies. “Slow down, babe.”

Keith does not.

“Can’t,” he huffs, keeping a half-eye on the pavement. A tourist walks into him, shoving him into Lance, who takes the opportunity to slide his hand into Keith’s back pocket and wink at him when his cheeks colour.

“Why can’t we slow down? Where are we going?”

“It’s like you don’t know what surprise means.”

“I do know. I also know that if I annoy anyone long enough they’ll snap so I’ll shut up.”

“Nah. I like it when you talk.”

He’d meant it as somewhat of a comeback, as a jab back to Lance’s teasing. But suddenly Lance stops, spine going rigid, something like shock flirting across his face for half a millisecond before he blinks it away and moves again. It happens so fast that Keith would almost be convinced he’d imagined it, except Lance’s cheeks are crimson.

Keith smiles. “Lance.”

“Shut up.”

“Babydoll.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m barely sayin’ anything, baby.”

“You are so fuckin — gay, you know that? God. Who fuckin — who says shit like that? Who on this Earth?”

Keith laughs, bending down to kiss right below Lance’s ear, to feel his flushed skin warm to frozen tip of his nose.

“You are so easily flattered.”

“Easily flatter this dick. How about that. Fuckin. Jerk.”

He lets Lance grouch at him, pleased and embarrassed about it, as he pulls them along the overcrowded streets. He checks his watch. Fifteen minutes ‘til the show starts, thirteen minutes ‘til they get there. Hopefully.

“Are we almost there? It’s cold and these shoes are pinchy.”

“I told you to wear comfortable shoes!”

“You told me to dress up! I can do one of those things, Akira!”

At the seven minute mark Keith starts running. Lance, surprisingly, doesn’t complain — a grin pulls at his sharp features, actually, and he wraps their hands together and runs faster, despite not knowing where they’re going. Every time they bump into someone in a suit he laughs. He laughs harder when they curse at him. Keith has to fight to keep his head in the game, to keep running, to not stop where he’s standing and watch Lance laugh for hours and hours and hours. It’s been too long.

He nearly pulls Lance’s arm out of his socket when he stops then abruptly, shouting “Here! Here! We’re here!” and pulling him inside a well-kept brownstone.

“Where’s…here?” Lance wonders, taking in the well-salted walkway and pretty red-and-green decorations all over the aged brick.

Keith doesn’t answer. “Close your eyes.”

Lance narrows his eyes. Keith makes his expression as wide and pleading as possible, and in seconds Lance caves, much to Keith’s satisfaction.

“You’re a pain in my neck.”

Keith kisses him quickly and chastely. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t let me walk into anything.”

Satisfied that Lance won’t peek, Keith shuffles them over to the box office, holding out their tickets. The stewardess smiles at him, scanning them, eyes twinkling at Keith wordless plea for her to keep the secret, and gestures towards a grand set of doors.

“Up the stairs, to your left, seat and row on your ticket,” she murmurs. “Enjoy the show.”

Keith nods his thanks and rushes them off.

“This sounds very fancy,” Lance observes as their shoes click on the — literally marble, how the hell were these tickets $20 — floors. “Dangerously so.”

Keith shrugs. “Perhaps.”

“…Not to be. A bummer. But please tell me you remembered our budget, Keith.”

“I did, Lance. I swear.”

Lance relaxes into him, and Keith realises for the first time how tense he was. He winces to himself. He probably could have made things a tad less stressful and still kept the surprise. He’ll remember that for next year.

“Okay, good. I trust you.”

They barely make it to their seats in time. Keith’s butt barely makes contact with the cushioned chair before the lights dim and the orchestra starts tuning, the rest of the audience lapsing into almost immediate silence.

Lance inhales sharply. “Keith…?”

“Open your eyes, sweetheart.”

Lance does, and they’re wide, and his mouth drops open, slightly, and for a moment he just stares, frozen, at the stage and the lights and the set, the familiar set, as the dim light casts shadows onto his face. The orchestra’s tuning note reaches its satisfying peak, harmonizing as one sound, and Keith’s full attention is on the lines of Lance’s face, the set of his jaw, the curves of his cheekbones.

“Merry Christmas,” he says quietly.

Before he can say anything else, before Lance can say anything else, the familiar sound of pointe shoes tapping delicately across the stage steals Keith’s attention. He turns his eyes to the stage, watching the dancers strut on the stage, and — stops.

He leans forward, squinting.

What?

Keith is…very familiar with the Nutcracker. He’s grown up alongside Lance’s family since he was eight years old. He’s been to more recitals than he can count. He’s been dragged to more performances than he can ever remember. Lance has lived and breathed and loved ballet his whole damn life, for the entire time Keith has known him, and that love bled well outside of the studio, has lasted even after he aged out of the program last year. Keith knows how the Nutcracker begins, and nothing about the program said this one was supposed to be any different.

Half of the dancers walking onstage are significantly shorter than they should be.

Now he knows damn well that there are kids in the Nutcracker. The main character is a kid. That’s the whole deal.

But there is not one adult on that stage right now. Hell, not even a teenager.

Keith looks down at the ticket — Feuilles Brillant Academy. He looks back at the stage. He looks at the other audience members — lots and lots of people with camcorders. And other small children.

Keith sinks into his chair, head in his hands.

His dumb ass bough a ticket to a children’s ballet recital.

Lord above.

“Lance, I am so sorry,” he whispers, “I was so caught up in the ticket being in budget I didn’t bother actually, like, looking deeper into things, this is totally — Lance?”

Keith leans forward in alarm, hands immediately falling on Lance’s knee, on his back. His shoulders shake and his hands are pressed to his eyes.

“Shit, babe, I’m sorry,” Keith says desperately, embarrassment replaced with panic. Everything feels like it’s crashing down around him, as dramatic as that is. He’d been so excited for this. Now it’s a whole mess. “I didn’t mean to — fuck things up, shit, we can leave.”

Lance shakes his head. Blindly, he reaches over the grasps Keith’s hand, holding tightly. His own hand is damp from his tears.

“No, no, it’s — perfect,” he whispers, voice hoarse. “I —”

His chin trembles, and more tears spill over his cheeks. As the music swells along to the climax of the first dance, Lance lifts the armrest separating their seats, half crawling over Keith until his head is tucked in the crook of Keith’s neck, arms folded between their chests, hands clutching at the fabric of his sweater. His voice is wet with tears and soaked in an emotion Keith can’t quite name, an almost — relief.

“It’s been so long. I didn’t want to — I thought I wouldn’t be able to do this again. I wouldn’t let myself think about it.”

Keith lets a huge, relieved exhale, sagging forward. He wraps himself more comfortably around Lance’s frame, squeezing him back, pressing a lingering kiss to his temple.

Growing up has been…hard. For the both of them.

They’d been told by everyone who knew them that they were being stupid and reckless. Keith has been promised that they won’t last more than two years by almost every grownup he’s ever known. Even his own brother had sighed his trepidation when Keith told him, stubborn and bold-faced, that he was moving in with Lance, that they were going to start their lives together the second they pulled off their caps and gowns, that they were ready for the next step. That they were eighteen and ready to face the world.

“Sacrifices,” Shiro had warned, “are going to be half your life now. It’s not that I think you can’t, Keith. I just. There’s a reason people don’t move in with their highschool sweetheart they summer after they graduate. Katy Perry wrote a whole song about it. It’s a banger.”

Keith hates it when his brother is right, and this time he was right about so many things in consecutive order. Living on your own is hard. Learning to live with someone else is harder. Doing it in a city far away from home, while balancing school and work and rent and groceries, is the hardest.

“I miss dance,” Lance croaks, and Keith closes his eyes and breathes deeply and holds Lance tighter.

He knows Lance misses dance. He knows that he hasn’t so much as listened to a ballet since they moved to New York, unless it’s in the dead of night, and he thinks Keith is asleep, and he puts in his headphones and moves their furniture as silently as he can to the edges of their tiny ass studio apartment and laces up his falling-to-pieces pointe shoes and dances like the very act of it is tearing him apart, and cries the whole time. And then stashes his shoes in the bottom of his gym bag and crawls back into bed and pretends again in the morning that he left his pointes back in Arizona. And Keith looks away and lets him because school is already twenty thousand a year and in no shape or form can they afford that and money to rent a studio.

But Keith can give him this. For a little bit, maybe, even if it’s little kids with handmade costumes pirouetting across a stage.

“I know, bluebell.”

Lance exhales, shaky, breath ghosting across Keith’s collarbones, and finally turns back towards the stage, keeping tucked under Keith’s chin. The kids dancing as the Snow Queen’s ladies-in-waiting are — three years old, maybe. At most four. They keep twirling right into each other like clumsy little bumblebees. It’s maybe the cutest thing Keith has ever seen in his entire life, and what’s better is the tiny smile that graces Lance’s face, despite the tears, growing bigger every time one of them wobbles back up to their feet and prances on, oblivious.

They watch the rest of the play in silence, Lance hands entwining with his sometime around the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy and holding fast. They stand and clap as loudly as the gathered parents, louder even, at curtain call, as each kid jumps and twirls across the stage to thrown roses and cheering. It’s adorable.

They’re among the first to walk out, because the majority of the crowd surges towards backstage to collect their kid, so the walk is blessedly unrushed. They take their time, observing the pictures of grinning ballerinas that line the walls and numerous awards on endless shelves. Keith is filled with a deep and strong longing, a strange feeling of coming home — years of waiting on plastic chairs for Lance to finish solo practice when they were thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. Of taking his boots off at the door and quietly sneaking in the back of the studio, ducking away from other dancers’ boring stares, to watch Lance shine under the studio lights, reflected a thousand times by mirrored walls. Of the smell of lemon cleaner and polished hardwood floors and satin.

He notices a poster on the wall, among dozens of drawings and pictures of intricate sets, and freezes.

“Lance,” he says, tilting his head, “look.”

At the end of a hallway, right next to a door, is a hand-painted banner, reading: WE’LL MISS YOU, MISS RAULA! HAPPY RETIREMENT!

He squeezes Lance’s hand. “I bet they’re looking for a replacement.”

Lance stares at the poster for a long time. “You think?”

“I think it wouldn’t hurt to shoot them an e-mail.”

Smiling, Lance stops them in the hallway, puts his hands on Keith’s shoulders, stands on his tiptoes, and kisses him, long and sweet and loving.

“I’m already in a pretty tight spot now,” he murmurs, still standing so close to Keith and smelling so sweet that he has trouble focusing on his words, “‘cause this is already kind of the best Christmas gift ever. If that ends up being true I’m never topping you again.”

Keith laughs, suddenly, not expecting the turn, and Lance grins, pulling Keith down to him and kissing him again. It’s less of a kiss and more of a press of smiles, a clack of teeth, a shared laugh.

“I love you, Lance. Merry Christmas. I will be the Gift Giving King forever.”

“Shut up, goober.” He lifts Keith’s arm, tucking himself under it as they walk back out into the snowy December night. “I love you too.”

———

based on this post (third slide)

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strugglingwriterwattpad · 7 months

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Walter Deville teaser

As she tightly gripped the entrance door, her heart skipped a beat as the melodious sound of her mobile ringtone echoed in her ear. With a sense of intrigue, she glanced at the screen to find an unfamiliar number glowing brightly. Without hesitation, she swiftly answered the call, her voice filled with a hint of curiosity. "Miss Stoker speaking," she uttered, her hands instinctively seeking warmth within the comforting embrace of her coat. “good evening, Miss Stoker. I am calling on behalf of my employee Lord Deville. The Lord has taken quite a liking to your recent paintings and would request to purchase every single one of them.” As she received the quick and emotionless request, a chill ran down her spine, sending shivers of anticipation through her entire being. It was a request that held the power to ignite her creative soul. Each and every painting from her recent collection flashed before her eyes, their gothic designs and dark colours dancing in her mind's eye. The numbers representing their worth swirled around in her head, filling her with a sense of exhilaration and joy. “Sir apologize for the silence. But I you sure you have the right artist. My pieces aren’t exactly the most popular pieces on the market.” She stuttered finally having the strength to enter the gallery and head to her office.

“ I am very sure mam. Lord Deville has been captivated by the pieces for some time now and has sent over a contract to your public email address.” (Y/N) eagerly unlocked her laptop and dove into her overflowing inbox, her heart pounding with anticipation. And there it was, like a beacon of hope, the subject line that caught her attention, illuminating the screen with its splendour. As her eyes met the dazzling digits of the price, a surge of excitement coursed through her veins, causing her sparkling eyes to widen in sheer delight. “this all seems too good to be true sir. I will have a read through the email and get back to the lord as soon as I'm done.”

“very well mam. We hope to hear from you soon.” As the old butler hung up the old-fashioned phone he looked back at his master with a poised nod. “it is done, my lord. Miss Stoker will read over the contract now.” In the dimly lit confines of Carfax Abbey's office, a solitary candle cast eerie shadows upon the vintage desks. The lord of the manor, an enigmatic figure, sat upright and impassive, poring over the printouts of (Y/N)'s website. “is it really here sir? Has our lady finally returned to us?” the butler spoke still keeping his emotions locked away. “it would seem so Mr. Fields.” the lord muttered. Finally, his old laptop flashed with a new email from the woman he had longed to see for centuries. “dear lord Deville. I am very pleased with the proposal sent to me. Unfortunately, the pieces have one more day in my personal gallery, but I can assure you after tonight’s event, I will have them sent of to your manor as soon as possible. I will send you over delivery reports once sent over. Warm regards Miss Stoker.” As Lord Deville's eyes scanned the message, a sly smile crept across his face. His heart, once as cold as ice, began to thaw with excitement. However, he knew better than to reveal his emotions just yet. He would keep his composure until he had his beloved back in his arms, where she belonged. As he sat in the dark, his fingers gracefully twirled the golden ring, its presence on his long finger a testament to his patience. With each rotation, the jewel embedded in the ring shimmered, mirroring the sparkle that once danced in her eyes, a memory etched in his heart.

#walter deville x reader #walter deville #the invitation #horror films #fanfiction #fanfic #thomas doherty x reader #thomas doherty #vampire #wattpadwriter

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tj99er · 2 months

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I'm sick and tired of social media, but I can't stop myself from logging in to Twitter and looking at toxic discourse. I still don't know what's wrong with me...

When it comes to curbing a social media obsession, will-power alone often isn't enough and there is nothing wrong with you for struggling with that.

As much as I love the internet and the social media found amongst it, most social media websites are intentionally designed to be addictive.

But IMO social media is still worth engaging with as long as the media that keeps you coming back is something that makes you happy.

But with Twitter in particular, I've noticed that, more and more, that is no longer the case. When it reaches that point, you should

0. Identify when it reaches the point of obsession. Of realizing that a hub of your free time has gone from something you enjoy engaging with to one that is involuntarily stealing your attention and making you unhappy.

When you do inevitably notice this, there are a number of steps you should take, either short term just to redirect your focus or long-term if you're committing to a full exitus like I have been.

1. Uninstall the app from your phone. No good can come from having the source of your problems in your pocket and 1 button press away. AT BARE MINIMUM remove the shortcut from your phone's background. It is more confrontational to delegate your primary Twitter access as something you can only see on your main computer.

At least there, any time you spend on Twitter is directly proportional to the time you could spend doing literally anything else. This should automatically make you care less about it since now competes with everything else you could possibly want/need to so and it can no longer permeate the between-spaces of your day as much.

If you're like me and the main reason you keep your Twitter account at all is to keep up with notifications...

1b. Stop ALL forms of non-essential posting INCLUDING RETWEETS of things you like. After being conditioned for years as the guy who retweets every Orin post he sees, this has been a slow unlearning process, but for every single post you make - even if it's just sharing someone else's art - is an open prompt that gives you more reason to return.

Copy a link and share it in a discord server if you MUST, but any time you open the website and see a number next to the notification tab, it is a validation that you have reason to keep coming back.

If limiting it to your main computer isn't enough...

2. Completely log out. You know what's even more confrontational than needing to already be in your recreational space? A big ass screen plastered with the website's branding that requires you to manually enter your information.

If your browser has your login info saved, remove that shit. Your mission is to make signing into your account as inconvenient as possible.

Doing this much has historically been enough to keep me away most of the time, but some people may need to go farther...

3. Change your password. Create a completely incomprehensible and string of characters and store it somewhere inconvenient, but in a place you will never lose it. This is where things can get a bit risky, but if you truly and utterly misplace your password, you got a recovery email and 2FA for a reason.

And if forcing yourself to jump through all of these hoops isn't enough, you may just have to face that it's time to

4. Delete your account. Look, if you are struggling to control yourself to a point where you can STILL notice your usage habits are out of your own control - even after jumping through every single one of these hoops - this is an extreme problem and the time for cautious self-created barriers is probably over.

If you truly and utterly can't fight off the urge to return to a platform that you can confidently recognize as being harmful to your well-being, then the only thing left to do is to give yourself nowhere to return to.

Take a day to archive any personal favorite posts or bookmarks, and wipe the slate clean. Twitter may very well continue existing but you can at least ensure your own space within it does not.

Just as your addiction can be fed by the press of a single button, so too can it be cut off. Social media is given value through the connections you make over it. Although you technically CAN just create a new account, it will never be the same as your old one and that gives way you less to return to.

#tjytcomments #social media #addiction #obsession

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ernmark · 2 years

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I was asked privately about the process of publishing a book, but I thought I'd repeat the answer in public in case it's useful for anyone else.

There are two main routes to publishing fiction. Both require that the manuscript be completely finished and polished to a shine before you do anything else, so I'd recommend getting at least three or four beta editors looking at it and getting it as refined as possible.

Route 1: Traditional publishing:

Once the work itself is completely finished, the first (and most important step) is to get yourself an agent. Precious few publishing houses will accept submissions from an unagented writer.

In order to snag an agent, you have to write (and then refine) a query letter and synopsis of your work, and submit it to an agent. Submitting a query is more or less like submitting an application to a potential place of employment, with the hopes that the person will give you an interview, with the hopes that that person will okay you to get a second interview, with the hopes that that person will actually give you the job. Each step weeds out people who aren't quite the right fit for one reason or another.

You can find lists of agents online, but the websites I used while querying were https://www.agentquery.com, querytracker, and I learned a ton reading through the archives at QueryShark.

When submitting to an agent, read each agent's profile carefully. If you submit a genre or vibe that they don't represent, or you don't address the email as instructed, you're disqualifying yourself out of hand. A very small percentage of agents will actually send rejection emails, an even smaller percentage will request a follow-up (a synopsis, the first couple of chapters of your manuscript, etc). Don't get discouraged if it takes a long time. Some agents will offer feedback on your submission. Often this is good advice, but it isn't always, so read it carefully and think on it before doing anything with it.

This is the only part of the process that's actually in your control. From that point forward, your agent will submit your work to publishing houses and negotiate a contract, and they'll guide you from there.

Route 2: Self Publishing

Some books don't work in a traditional market for one reason or another, or their authors just prefer to have more control over the process. Keep in mind, while the bar to entry for self publishing is very low, doing it well can be significantly more difficult and expensive.

Among the things that a self-published author will need to shell out for that a publisher usually pays for:

Editing. An editor to make sure that the quality of the book is up to par. These can be both for content and for line edits, and it's important to check.

Formatting. This is how the text looks on the page, and it's a lot more complicated than you would assume. I actually recommend using draft2digital to do the formatting for your digital files, because otherwise it is a nightmare. For print files, I'm told Scribus is solid free software, but I haven't yet used it myself. But trust me, a badly formatted file is a quick way to turn off readers.

Cover art. You can search cover artists online, or if you have a story that it works for, you can buy premade cover art at places like The Book Cover Designer and. Pay careful attention to how they look as thumbnails-- keep in mind that ebooks are frequently purchased through a phone or tablet, so the cover has to look good when it's tiny as well as in large scale. Another tip: pay close attention to the fonts, too. If a book cover looks slightly off and you can't quite place why, it's probably the font. You can frequently request that a premade cover change the font for free if you don't like it. A bad book cover is also a quick way to turn off potential readers.

Advertising. Yes, absolutely all the advertising is on your shoulders with this one. It takes a lot to figure out what works for you, your skillset, and your book. For me, I've found that I sell best at nerd-centered events like comic conventions and such, because I sell fantasy books. I don't recommend "all genre book events" unless you're selling cozy mystery or romance.

Printing and distribution. I use Ingram for printing, and I use Amazon and Draft2Digital for my digital sales. Draft2Digital allows you to sell to a variety of online markets, Amazon only allows you to sell to its own, but it's the biggest one out there. The latter two are free, while Ingram requires that you pay per file you upload. Ingram is also less user friendly, but I like the quality better, and it allows the books to be purchased by bookstores if somebody makes the request.

ISBNs. Amazon provides its own for free, but you can only use that in limited markets (namely, theirs and a small number of others). Depending on what platform you use to sell, you'll have to purchase an ISBN. DO NOT DO IT BY YOURSELF IF YOU CAN HELP IT. Because the way it's structured (to advantage Big Publishers and disadvantage self-pubbed writers), a single ISBN costs $125, buying 10 at once costs just under $30 each, and buying 100 costs just under $6 each. Yes, it is bullshit. I joined a writing group in my area, and we pooled our money and bought 100 ISBNs in bulk.

I hope that this is helpful to you, and I wish you luck with your writing!

#writing life #publishing

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webdesigninmississauga · 2 months

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Web Design Mississauga Ontario: Elevating Your Online Presence

Introduction

In today's digital age, having an impactful online presence is crucial for businesses in Mississauga, Ontario. A well-crafted website not only enhances your brand image but also attracts potential customers. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of web design Mississauga Ontario, offering insights and tips to help you establish a formidable online presence for your business.

Understanding Web Design

Web design encompasses more than just aesthetics; it's about creating a seamless user experience that captivates visitors. The importance of web design cannot be overstated. It serves as the virtual storefront for your business, shaping the first impression that visitors have. Elements such as layout, navigation, and visual appeal play a pivotal role in engaging users and encouraging them to explore further.

Finding the Right Agency

Choosing the right web design Mississauga Ontario agency is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your online venture. Start by conducting thorough research to identify reputable agencies in Mississauga, Ontario. Evaluate their portfolios to assess the quality of their work and ensure that their design style aligns with your brand's vision. Additionally, seek out client testimonials to gauge customer satisfaction and overall experience.

Designing a Responsive Site

In an era where mobile usage is ubiquitous, having a responsive website is imperative. A responsive design ensures that your site adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes, providing an optimal viewing experience for users across devices. Employ techniques such as fluid grids and flexible images to achieve responsiveness and enhance user engagement.

SEO Integration

Incorporating search engine optimization (SEO) into your web design strategy is essential for improving visibility and driving organic traffic to your site. Implementing SEO best practices, such as optimizing meta tags, enhancing site speed, and creating high-quality content, can significantly boost your search engine rankings. Additionally, leverage local SEO techniques to target potential customers in the Mississauga area and enhance your online presence within the local community.

E-commerce Considerations

For businesses in Mississauga, Ontario, with e-commerce aspirations, designing an effective online store is paramount. Stay abreast of e-commerce trends and integrate features such as product catalogs, secure payment gateways, and intuitive checkout processes to streamline the buying journey for customers. Providing a seamless shopping experience not only fosters customer satisfaction but also drives conversions and boosts revenue.

Maintenance and Updates

The work doesn't end once your website goes live. Regular maintenance and updates are essential to ensure optimal performance and security. Implement security measures such as SSL encryption and routine backups to safeguard sensitive data and protect against cyber threats. Furthermore, regularly update your content to keep it fresh and relevant, demonstrating your commitment to providing value to your audience.

Future of Web Design

As technology continues to evolve, so too does the field of web design. Stay ahead of the curve by embracing emerging trends and technologies that have the potential to reshape the digital landscape. From AI and machine learning to virtual reality and immersive experiences, the future of web design holds exciting possibilities for businesses in Mississauga, Ontario, looking to stay ahead of the competition.

FAQs

How long does it take to design a website?

Design timelines can vary depending on the complexity of the project and the agency's workload. On average, expect the design process to take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

What should I look for in a web design portfolio?

When evaluating a web design portfolio, pay attention to factors such as visual appeal, usability, and variety of projects. Look for examples that resonate with your brand's aesthetic and objectives.

Do I need a mobile-friendly website?

Absolutely! With mobile usage on the rise, having a mobile-friendly website is essential for reaching and engaging a wider audience. A responsive design ensures optimal user experience across all devices.

How can I improve my website's search engine rankings?

Enhancing your website's search engine rankings requires a multifaceted approach, including keyword optimization, content creation, link building, and technical SEO improvements.

What security measures should I implement on my website?

To safeguard your website against cyber threats, implement measures such as SSL encryption, regular security audits, strong password policies, and software updates.

What are the benefits of integrating e-commerce functionality into my website?

Integrating e-commerce functionality allows you to expand your reach, attract new customers, and capitalize on the growing trend of online shopping. It also provides convenience for your existing customer base and opens up new revenue streams.

Conclusion

Elevate your online presence with expert web design Mississauga Ontario services tailored to your business needs. From responsive design to SEO integration and future-proofing strategies, empower your brand to stand out in the digital landscape. With the right approach and a trusted partner, your journey to online success begins here.

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varunshrimediasolutions · 9 months

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The 12 Most Important SEO Steps for Solving Low Visibility

Introduction

A strong online presence is critical for the success of any organization in the digital age, where online competition is tough. Even with a well-designed website and great content, many businesses struggle with their search engine presence. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) enters the picture. Businesses may improve their website's rating on search engine results pages (SERPs) and increase their online visibility by applying the correct methods. In this blog post, we'll look at the 12 most crucial SEO procedures for resolving low visibility concerns and putting your website back on the map.

Conduct a Thorough Website Assessment:

Conducting a thorough website assessment is the first step in resolving poor visibility concerns. To find areas for improvement, use technologies such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Examine the overall performance of the site, look for broken links, guarantee correct indexing, and evaluate loading speed.

Conduct Keyword Research:

The core of SEO is keywords. Investigate relevant keywords and phrases used by your target audience to look for items or services in your niche. Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to uncover high-volume, low-competition keywords for your content.

Optimize On-Page Content:

After you've found your target keywords, optimize your on-page content. Create high-quality, entertaining, and instructive material that naturally incorporates the chosen keywords. To make your material more search engine friendly, pay attention to meta titles, meta descriptions, heading tags, and URL structures.

Improve the User Experience (UX):

Google places a high value on the user experience. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, easy to use, and visually appealing. A good user experience encourages visitors to stay on your site longer, lowering bounce rates and enhancing search rankings.

Build High-Quality Backlinks:

Earning backlinks from respectable and relevant websites can dramatically increase the authority and visibility of your website. Concentrate on producing useful content that other websites will want to link to. Build a solid backlink profile by collaborating with influencers, partners, and industry leaders.

Local SEO should be optimised:

Local SEO is critical if your company services a specific geographical area. Claim your Google My Business listing and give the correct business information, such as your address, phone number, and hours of operation. Encourage customers to post favourable reviews, as they can help you rank higher in local searches.

Utilize the Power of Social Media:

Social media platforms influence SEO in addition to engagement. Share your material on multiple social media platforms to boost your reach and the possibility of obtaining backlinks. Engage your audience and cultivate a loyal following, which can help you rank higher in search results.

Increase the speed with which your website loads:

A website that takes too long to load can result in higher bounce rates and lower search rankings. To improve the speed of your website, optimize images, employ browser caching, and use content delivery networks (CDNs).

Optimizing for Voice Search:

With the rise of voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa, optimizing for voice search has become critical. Long-tail keywords and natural language phrases should be used in your content to match how visitors express their queries.

Apply Schema Markup:

Schema markup assists search engines in better understanding your content and displaying rich snippets in search results. This can result in increased click-through rates and visibility. To successfully deploy schema markup, use Google's Structured Data Markup Helper.

Update and refresh the content on a regular basis:

Keep your website fresh and current by periodically updating and revising your content. Add new blog posts, modify old ones, and make sure your content is relevant and up to date.

Evaluate and Analyze Performance:

SEO is an ongoing activity, and it is critical to routinely evaluate the performance of your website. Track your search rankings, organic traffic, and other important metrics using analytics tools. Adjust your SEO strategy as necessary to maintain your visibility.

Conclusion:

Solving low visibility concerns with SEO is a comprehensive process that demands commitment, perseverance, and a well-rounded strategy. You can overcome low visibility challenges and establish a strong online presence by conducting a website audit, performing keyword research, optimizing content, and focusing on user experience, backlinks, local SEO, social media, loading speed, voice search, schema markup, content updates, and performance analysis.

#SEO #Search Engine Optimization #Video Marketing #corporate video maker

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tittyinfinity · 5 months

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I know it's been said before, but even with how dangerous the internet is, a lot of kids would be in even more danger if their parents went through their phone or browser history. Either way, it's an invasion of privacy, and it doesn't stop them from doing anything - they only learn that they need to get better at hiding things from their parent(s).

If you want to keep your child safe on the internet, you have to take preventative measures.

As soon as they're old enough to understand, you need to regularly have conversations with them about how the internet works and how to keep themselves safe.

Talk to them about:

how a lot of content on the internet is made to grab your attention so they get more clicks and track your info.

how an algorithm-based internet is designed to constantly stimulate dopamine and other emotional responses and keep you online as long as possible.

Setting both time limits AND emotional limits - if something is making them so angry that it's ruining their whole day, then it's time to step away.

How to tell if a story is made up/exaggerated, or if a picture is ai/photoshopped. Have them ask themselves why they think it's fake, what kind of agenda the OP/ad/website might have, and how to double-check sources and do backwards image results. And on that note —

HOW TO SPOT HATE & PROPAGANDA. This is probably the most important. Talk about how algorithms can start showing them things that push them towards certain beliefs. Teach them about how hate groups and whole governments use the internet to spread their agenda by manipulating information and tugging at a person's emotional response. Teach them how to critically consume their media and when they should back away from

How to use ad blockers and other anti-tracking software.

How to safely pirate things. Don't feel bad about it. Almost everything is subscription-based now, shows are always getting canceled, video games cost $60-80 with additional in-game purchases. The multi-billion dollar companies are still making record profits anyway.

Not to steal content from others and post it as their own.

What kind of information isn't safe for them to reveal online.

How to speak to others kindly online.

Find websites for them that aren't social media or youtube!

When it comes to youtube - don't rely on Youtube Kids to filter out harmful content by itself.

I'm sure there's more. You can't always be watching over your kid's shoulder wherever they go. They won't trust or respect you if you watch their every move. And once your kid knows how to safely navigate the internet, they can teach their friends, too!

#.bdo #.bdi

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inkoftheprimordialquill · 9 months

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Introducing the Hottest Additions to Diverse Wears: Embrace Comfort and Style!

Date: [2023/07/25]

Attention all fashion enthusiasts and comfort seekers! Diverse Wears, your favorite online store, is back at it again with an exciting lineup of new products that are sure to elevate your wardrobe game. Whether you're looking to relax at home in style or make a fashion statement on the go, our latest additions have got you covered.

1. Mens Indoor Slippers - Embrace Cozy Vibes:

There's nothing quite like slipping your feet into a pair of luxuriously comfortable slippers after a long day. At Diverse Wears, we understand the importance of relaxation, and that's why we are thrilled to introduce our brand new collection of Men's Indoor Slippers. Crafted from high-quality materials, these slippers offer a perfect blend of comfort and style.

Featuring a plush interior and a durable sole, these slippers provide ultimate support for your feet. Whether you're lounging around the house or running a quick errand, our indoor slippers will keep your feet happy and cozy. With a variety of designs and colors to choose from, you can express your unique personality while enjoying the utmost comfort.

2. Cool-Design Fanny Pack - Where Fashion Meets Function:

Who said fanny packs had to be boring? Diverse Wears has reimagined this classic accessory with a cool and trendy twist. Our new Fanny Pack collection boasts an array of eye-catching designs that will turn heads wherever you go. Say goodbye to lugging around a heavy bag; our fanny packs are here to simplify your life without compromising on style.

Designed with functionality in mind, these fanny packs feature multiple compartments, allowing you to carry your essentials in an organized manner. Whether you're heading to a festival, exploring the outdoors, or just strolling through the city, this accessory is a must-have addition to your wardrobe.

3. Unisex Crew Neck Sweatshirt - Where Versatility Meets Fashion:

Comfortable, cozy, and effortlessly stylish - our Unisex Crew Neck Sweatshirt is the perfect addition to your casual wear collection. Made from soft and breathable fabric, this sweatshirt is suitable for all seasons. It's a versatile piece that can be easily dressed up or down to suit any occasion.

With a unisex design, this crew neck sweatshirt is suitable for all genders, offering a relaxed and comfortable fit for everyone. Whether you prefer a minimalistic look or a bold statement piece, our sweatshirt collection has a range of designs and colors to match your style.

Why Shop at Diverse Wears?

At Diverse Wears, we take pride in offering the latest fashion trends without compromising on quality. With our new product additions, we continue to uphold our commitment to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible. Here's what you can expect when shopping with us:

High-Quality Materials: We believe that comfort and quality go hand in hand. That's why all our products are crafted from the finest materials to ensure durability and longevity.

Trendsetting Designs: Our design team is constantly working to create unique and fashionable pieces that cater to all tastes and preferences.

Affordable Prices: We believe that fashion should be accessible to all. That's why we offer competitive prices without sacrificing quality.

Exceptional Customer Service: Your satisfaction is our top priority. Our dedicated customer service team is here to assist you with any queries or concerns you may have.

In Conclusion:

From cozy Men's Indoor Slippers to stylish Fanny Packs and versatile Unisex Crew Neck Sweatshirts, Diverse Wears has got your fashion needs covered. Embrace comfort and style simultaneously with our latest additions, and make a statement wherever you go. Shop at Diverse Wears today and elevate your wardrobe game to new heights!

Visit our website [https://611884.myshopify.com/] to explore our latest collections and follow us on social media for updates on new arrivals and exclusive offers.

Happy shopping!

The Diverse Wears Team

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oneworldcable · 11 months

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Shine Bright in the Kitchen: Aluminum Foil's Essential Role in Food Packaging

Introducing Shine Bright in the Kitchen's Aluminum Foil for Food Packaging – the ultimate solution for all your culinary needs. With its exceptional quality and versatile applications, our aluminum foil is here to revolutionize the way you store, cook, and serve food. From preserving freshness to enhancing flavor, our product is a must-have in every kitchen.

Unmatched Quality and Durability:

At Shine Bright in the Kitchen, we take pride in delivering only the highest quality products to our customers. Our aluminum foil is crafted with precision and attention to detail, ensuring its exceptional durability. Made from premium-grade aluminum, it offers superior strength, tear resistance, and heat retention capabilities. Whether you're wrapping leftovers, baking, or grilling, our aluminum foil will withstand the rigors of everyday kitchen use, providing you with reliable performance.

Preserve Freshness and Flavor:

One of the key benefits of using aluminum foil for food packaging is its ability to preserve freshness. Our foil acts as a protective barrier, shielding your food from moisture, oxygen, and light, which are the primary culprits behind food spoilage. By securely sealing your meals and ingredients in our foil, you can extend their shelf life and keep them tasting as delicious as the day they were prepared. Say goodbye to wasted food and hello to long-lasting freshness.

Versatile Applications:

The versatility of our aluminum foil knows no bounds. Whether you're storing leftovers, wrapping sandwiches for a picnic, or marinating meat for a barbecue, our foil can handle it all. Its pliable nature allows it to conform to any shape, ensuring a snug fit around your food items. Moreover, our foil is oven-safe, making it ideal for cooking and baking. From tender roasts to perfectly baked potatoes, our foil helps you achieve culinary excellence with ease.

Effortless Convenience:

We understand the importance of convenience in the kitchen. That's why our aluminum foil is designed for effortless use. The roll design allows for easy dispensing and tearing, ensuring hassle-free handling. Whether you need a small piece or a large sheet, our foil provides the flexibility you need. The convenient packaging ensures that our foil remains neatly organized and protected, ready for whenever you need it.

Eco-Friendly Choice:

As champions of sustainability, Shine Bright in the Kitchen is committed to offering eco-friendly solutions. Our aluminum foil is 100% recyclable, making it an environmentally responsible choice. By choosing our foil, you contribute to reducing waste and promoting a greener future.

Trust and Confidence:

When it comes to your kitchen, we understand the importance of trust and confidence in the products you use. Shine Bright in the Kitchen has a longstanding reputation for delivering excellence, and our aluminum foil for food packaging is no exception. We prioritize your satisfaction and strive to exceed your expectations with every purchase. With our foil in your kitchen, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have chosen the best.

Experience the Difference:

Say goodbye to subpar food packaging solutions and embrace the brilliance of Shine Bright in the Kitchen's Aluminum Foil for Food Packaging. With its unmatched quality, versatile applications, and dedication to sustainability, our foil is a game-changer in the world of culinary preservation. Elevate your cooking experience and discover the countless possibilities our foil brings to your kitchen. Visit our website Owcable at to learn more and experience the difference for yourself.

#AluminumFoil #FoodPackaging #KitchenEssentials #FoodStorage #FoodPreservation #FoodSafety #CookingConvenience #VersatileMaterial #HeatConduction #BarrierProtection #EcoFriendlyChoice #RecyclableMaterial

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androsky-lugo · 1 year

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Advice for Prospective Architecture and Design Students

There are a few things to remember if you're a new design or architecture student. These pointers will assist you in enduring the challenging work and gaining as much knowledge as possible about this astounding profession!

Find something you're engaged in and concentrate on that first. Your studies and tasks will be much more enjoyable and enjoyable as a result.

This will save you time and help you stay current with business trends and innovations. It will also assist you in acquiring the abilities required in this area.

Take the time to research the background of your field if you are pursuing design or architecture. You will better comprehend how the design and architectural businesses operate. You will also benefit from better grasping the various equipment and supplies used in this industry.

Design and architecture majors treat their studies much more seriously than most high school students, who are more likely to procrastinate without any structure. Even though many are still picking up the basics, they are already experimenting with new tools and methods to advance their art. Because of this, they are also searching for the best location for work and living where their education will be beneficial in the long run.

There is no particular recipe for becoming a prosperous builder or designer. Still, the following advice will help you start well: 1. By adhering to the most recent academic trends and best practices, be a disciplined cadet. This entails taking notes, requesting feedback, and ensuring your reading materials are ready before submitting the task. Finding one or more accountability partners, such as a study companion, is also a good idea, so you can periodically check in with them to see if they're doing the same for you.

When so many items are vying for your attention, discipline can be challenging to maintain. Instead of studying for a test, you could text a friend or watch a video.

Being an apprentice means staying current with new software advancements. To accomplish this, read journals and the news on well-known websites like GeeksforGeeks, Reddit, Hacker News, Medium, and freeCodeCamp.

But there are many methods to discipline yourself and learn more efficiently. Here are 25 tips to improve your academic performance:

When attempting to complete more tasks in less time, it is essential to establish specific limits and boundaries for yourself. This can assist you in setting priorities for the work that is crucial to your success and removing the diversions.

Good study habits help students stay motivated and concentrated on their job. They also possess the discipline to constantly keep up with their studies, which aids in learning retention and helps them accomplish their objectives.

Our ideas and beliefs about asking to tend to get in the way, making us afraid to ask for assistance.

For instance, requesting assistance is viewed as being weak or egotistical. Or you might think that others are unwilling to assist you.

Thankfully, these assumptions typically need to be more correct and beneficial. So, be conscious of them and attempt to refute them with facts.

A few things can help you get off to the best start if you're new to design and building. Being true to yourself means accepting challenges as they arise and being willing to push your limits when necessary.

Be willing to upskill in this field and acquire new skills; take advantage of opportunities on campus and at regional events. Along with helping you develop various personal and professional skills, these activities will also introduce you to various people in the field, which may open up possibilities for future employment.

Ask your peers and teachers for feedback on your work, as architecture is a very individualized profession. They'll have a variety of opinions and ideas that you might not concur with, but this can be a great source of creativity for your subsequent endeavor.

No matter how talented or experienced you are, you will occasionally need assistance. Asking for it is not a sign of weakness because it is a specific learning aspect.

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karenflorence · 1 year

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Tips on Choosing the Right Landscaper

Introduction

When you're ready to hire a landscaper, it can take time to know where to begin. So many people are offering services, and you want to avoid ending up with a contractor who doesn't know what she's doing. Finding the right person for your job takes time, research, and patience. This post offers helpful advice on what questions you should ask when hiring someone for landscape design or installation projects.

Ask for Recommendations and Do Your Research.

It would help if you also asked for recommendations from people you trust. If they have been happy with the services of a landscaper, they're probably going to recommend that one too. Check online reviews and look at their social media presence as well—the contractor with the best reputation is likely the contractor who cares about their customers and will give them good advice on choosing your ideal landscape designer. You can also look at the website of your potential vendors to check out what kind of work they offer (or don't) before agreeing on an appointment time or price range so that you know what's expected when it comes time for installation or maintenance services this fall! Visit Landscaping Bowmanville to learn more about the services they offer.

Ask Questions About the Contractor's Design Approach, and Make Sure You Feel Comfortable With It.

Ask questions about the contractor's design approach, and make sure you feel comfortable with it.

Ask how long they have been in business, how many projects they have completed, and what kind of feedback they get from clients.

If there are any design elements that you don't like or think will take too much time to install (such as stone pavers), ask if that can be done later in the project or if another option is available.

Ask the Contractor to See Before-and-After Photos from Previous Projects.

Before you start a project, ask the contractor to send you before-and-after photos of their work. You want to see their capabilities and how they can help you achieve your goals.

Before: This is where the landscaper will show you the area in its current state (meaning before they started their project). Take note if any issues need fixing or removing—this could be important later on when choosing who will do your job!

In Progress: The moment the work starts! Look at this photo closely and see how well they're doing; ensure all materials are being used so nothing ends up damaged during installation or removal later down the line (which could incur extra costs). If possible, ask for after pictures so there aren't any surprises once everything's finished up later this week/next month/next year."

You Should Pay Attention to the Cleanliness of the Contractor's Workspace and Vehicles If You See them During the Initial Visit or Conversation.

You should also consider how clean your contractor's workspace and vehicles are. This is a sign of professionalism, safety, and efficiency in their business. In addition, it shows you that they take pride in their work and will not be sloppy with it.

It's also important to note that many people prefer hiring contractors who keep their offices clean so they can focus on their customers instead of cleaning up after them. This makes sense if you ask yourself why anyone would want to do something like that. The answer is simple: because it helps them get better results!

Ask for Referrals and Contact Previous Clients, Asking About Whether They Would Recommend the Contractor for Similar Jobs.

Ask for referrals, contact previous clients, and ask whether they would recommend the contractor for similar jobs.

Get references from the contractor's current clients.

Listen Carefully to What Prospective Contractors Say About How They Approach Their Work, Interact With Suppliers, and How They Contribute to a Positive Climate on Their Crews.

Ask about how the contractor works with his suppliers. What types of materials do they use, and how much time does it take for them to arrive at your home?

Ask about how the contractor works with his crew. Does he have more than one employee on each project, or are there just two people working together? Are they reliable and trustworthy, or are they prone to showing up late or leaving early without notice (or worse)?

Ask about how the contractor works with his clients. Do they take care of their customers well—responding when called upon by someone who needs help getting a problem resolved—or do they seem like an easy target for complaints due to their unresponsiveness?

Landscaping Can be a Big Job, but There are Ways to Find the Right Person for this Important Task.

Landscaping can be a big job, but there are ways to find the right person for this important task.

First, ask for recommendations from friends and family who have landscaping experience. If you don't know anyone who has worked with a contractor before, look online for reviews on different companies in your area. You may also want to visit their website and see if any photos or videos show you what they do best (and worst). Finally, make sure the company has adequate insurance coverage in case something goes wrong during construction or after installation.

Once you've found some potential candidates, ask questions about their design approach: What kind of plants do they use? How many types of grass seeds do they sell? What kind of mulch products does each company offer? Is there anything special about their soil preparation process that distinguishes them from other contractors' methods (e.g., no chemical pesticides)?

Conclusion

We hope you have found these tips helpful. If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences, please leave us a comment below!

#landscaper #landscaping

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thefloralhouses · 18 hours

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curtains window curtains

Elevate Your Home Décor with High-Quality Curtains from

Are you looking to add a touch of elegance and functionality to your living space? Look no further! At Edithome, we offer a stunning selection of curtains designed to enhance the ambiance of any room while providing superior blackout and thermal insulation properties. Whether you're in the USA or anywhere else, our curtains are tailored to meet your needs and elevate your home décor to the next level.

1. **Premium Quality:** Our curtains are crafted with meticulous attention to detail using high-quality materials, ensuring durability and long-lasting beauty. From luxurious fabrics to exquisite finishes, each curtain is designed to exude sophistication and style.

2. **Blackout Technology:** Say goodbye to unwanted light and enjoy uninterrupted sleep with our blackout curtains. Engineered to block out sunlight and streetlights, our curtains create the perfect environment for relaxation and privacy, making them ideal for bedrooms, home theaters, or any space where light control is essential.

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#curtains window curtains

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romanguy25 · 1 day

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Internet Marketing Advice That Can Change Your Business Forever

With terms like SEO, URLs, backlinks, mass mailers and do-follow, the world of internet marketing can be very confusing to people just starting out. In fact, most people quit before they ever really get started. This does not have to be your experience. Read this useful information and then decide how you can make Internet marketing work for you. In internet marketing, visibility is key to getting the most customers. If you put key words in your hyperlinks, you will get more visibility. When you put keywords that people will search for in your hyperlinks, your search engine visibility increases dramatically, which gives you the opportunity to market to a wider audience. Video marketing is a good way to get your business Internet exposure. Use keywords in the descriptions and captions to increase the visibility of your website. A unique picture with an interesting title can help grab a person's attention and help make a sale. Use a simple URL for your business website to achieve Internet marketing success. You do not want a long complicated name for your site. People need something that is easy to remember so they can find you again. Even if they cannot remember the exact domain name, they will search for the main keywords they can remember. Make sure those words are a part of your URL. Using a double opt-in method for your email marketing lists ensures that you are reaching those customers who are truly interested in your produt. While a double opt-in procedure seems like a barrier to creating a marketing list, it does mean that everyone on your list was willing to follow at least one link back to your site. Take advantage of the many difference ways of communication easily, and sometimes freely, available on the internet. This is a great way to get your name out there and get people to know you and what you are wanting to achieve. Getting a following through these internet social sites can really boost the amount of people who know about you. In important tip regarding Internet marketing is to spread yourself around as much as possible, while still retaining a sense of legitimacy. This is important because the more information about your company that there is, the more potential business you will have available. Be sure to not overdue it, as you can easily lose your credibility. Visit competitor sites to keep your own site in the competition. Search around for keywords related to your business to see how others are carving out their place on the Internet and learn from them. Get fresh ideas for revitalizing your own strategy and design. See how others are doing it and simply put, do it better. Anticipate holidays in your internet marketing plan. Plan to do something special for each holiday, especially the winter holidays when people are more likely to spend money. Think of tie-ins that align your product or service with an upcoming holiday and even consider changing the site a bit or adding holiday graphics. People will appreciate that you're creating dynamic and current content. As Google Photos Tsukaikata of your internet marketing strategy, make sure that you give the same attention to your email signature that you do to your articles and advertisements. All of your business emails should have a signature, and that signature should contain a link to your website. For maximum effect, make this link something more enticing and interesting than a plain homepage URL - include your most important keywords. Every business needs to have a presence on the internet. Designing a website that accurately represents your company is very important. You want to be sure that your site not only represents your business in image but also content. Often a website is the first introduction a person has to a business. Offering a wide variety of payment options to your customer is important; they need the flexibility to choose. The success of your site will depend on how easy the customer finds the site to use, and how flexible you can be in order to best meet their needs. The more payment options you can offer - the easier and more direct you make the payment process "� then better it is for you and your business. Hopefully you have discerned from this information that marketing doesn't have to be as difficult as you once thought. With the right info, and the will to succeed, you can go from a new start-up to a profitable business in no time at all.

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apcseo · 6 days

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Unlocking the Power of Content Marketing: How a Specialized Agency Can Drive Results

Content marketing has emerged as a powerful strategy for businesses to connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive meaningful results. However, executing an effective content marketing campaign requires expertise, time, and resources. This is where a specialized content marketing agency can play a pivotal role.

Explore the advantages of partnering with a specialized agency and how they can unlock the power of content marketing to drive tangible results for your business-

Expertise in Content Strategy and Planning: In-depth knowledge and expertise in creating successful content strategies are brought by a specialized content marketing agency. They are aware of the challenges involved in producing content that connects with your target audience and supports your corporate objectives. They may detect content gaps, create a complete content plan, and maintain a consistent and unified brand message across all platforms by doing in-depth research and analysis. Their knowledge enables the production and distribution of strategic content that maximizes engagement and conversions.

Professional Content Creation and Optimization: A crucial component of effective content marketing is producing high-quality and interesting content. A team of talented content creators, including authors, editors, designers, and multimedia specialists, is employed by a specialised firm. According to the preferences of your audience, they can create a variety of engaging content types, including blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, and podcasts. Additionally, these companies keep up with SEO best practises, ensuring that your material is optimised for search engines and increasing visibility and organic traffic.

Targeted Audience Research and Segmentation: To create material that appeals to your target audience, you must first understand them. To determine their needs, preferences, pain areas, and behaviour patterns, a specialised firm conducts in-depth audience research. They may individually design material to each category by segmenting your audience based on demographics, interests, and online behaviour, assuring optimum relevance and engagement. The likelihood that your message will grab your audience's attention and result in conversions increases with this tailored strategy.

Amplification and Distribution Strategies: Only half the battle is won when great content is produced; the other half is making sure it gets seen and heard. A specialised firm has the skills and resources needed to effectively amplify and spread your material. To reach your target audience across many touchpoints, they utilise a variety of channels, including social media, email marketing, influencer collaborations, and guest posting. Their proficiency in content promotion aids in maximising the reach of your material, raising brand awareness, and drawing qualified prospects to your company.

Continuous Optimization and Performance Tracking: A specialized agency is aware of the value of data-driven judgement. They continuously monitor the effectiveness of your content marketing efforts using analytics tools and approaches. They may learn a lot about the success of your campaign by keeping an eye on key performance indicators (KPIs) including website traffic, engagement metrics, conversion rates, and social media interactions. They may revise strategies, allocate resources where they will produce the best outcomes, and make educated optimization decisions using this data-driven approach, resulting in continual improvement and the highest possible return on investment.

Keeping up with Industry Trends and Innovations:The digital world is always changing, with new technologies and trends appearing frequently. Your content marketing techniques will remain current and effective as long as you work with a specialized firm that keeps up with industry trends. They are knowledgeable about the most recent content platforms, technologies, and formats that can take your campaigns to the next level. They make sure that your company maintains its competitiveness, attracts customers, and takes advantage of new opportunities by staying one step ahead of the curve.

Content marketing has become a cornerstone for businesses to engage with their target audience and drive meaningful results. By partnering with a specialized content marketing agency, you unlock a range of advantages, including expertise in content strategy, professional content creation, targeted audience research, effective distribution strategies, continuous optimization, and staying updated with industry trends. These agencies bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, empowering your business to unleash the full potential of content marketing and achieve tangible and sustainable results.

Leading content marketing agency Apppl Combine focuses on helping companies succeed online. They provide a wide range of services with a team of qualified experts to assist businesses in thriving in the digital environment. They provide specialized solutions that are catered to the particular requirements of each customer, ranging from strategy planning and content production to search engine optimization, social media marketing, and performance tracking. They stand apart thanks to their unwavering focus on innovation, data-driven tactics, and top-notch customer service. Join together with Apppl Combine to harness the potential of marketing for your company's amazing growth and success. Visit https://apppl.com/ to learn more.

This post was originally published on: Apppl Combine

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evisionmediasusanfriesen · 9 days

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What You Can Do to Create an Online Store People Trust

If you own an online store, you’ve probably worked really hard to get everything up and running.

But if you want to continue to reap the rewards of that hard work, and keep your store going long into the future, you have to create an online store people trust.

Because regardless of how good your offerings are, if you’re not seen as trustworthy, it’s going to be difficult to convince anyone to do business with you.

Luckily, there’s evidence to show that consumers already have a considerable amount of trust in eCommerce.

In fact, in a survey from Chubb, most consumers said they trust companies’ digital storefronts.

But even though most consumers seem to have trust in eCommerce stores, digital storefronts and eCommerce platforms are still at the bottom of this list.

That being said, some consumers will still be on the fence about whether or not they can trust you, no matter what kind of eCommerce shop you run, so you need to do whatever you can to show them your store can be trusted.

Looking at things from a demographic perspective, it’s also important to note that 18-26-year-olds seem to have the lowest trust in eCommerce and digital storefronts, while nearly 90 per cent of them have trust in social media shopping.

What’s more, those 59-68 years of age appear to have no trust in social media shopping and believe it or not, their most trusted place for shopping is actually digital storefronts, as opposed to brick-and-mortar.

I wanted to draw attention to this because if you want to create an online store people trust, then you’ve got to consider the needs, wants, and expectations of your target market and ensure you’re selling on the right platform(s).

But regardless of your target market’s age, or where they choose to shop, there’s a lot you can do to gain customer trust in eCommerce.

So, if you’re looking to build a trustworthy online store, then this is an article you’re not going to want to miss.

Read: Our Top 10 Tips to Enhance Your Online Store and Increase eCommerce Sales

If you want to boost online sales, it’s going to require a heck of a lot more than trust.

From optimizing your website and enhancing the user experience to leveraging technology and tools, if you want to increase eCommerce sales, you’ve got to offer consumers the best possible experience.

With that in mind, this article offers our top 10 tips on what you can do to improve your eCommerce store and sell more online.

Keep reading here.

How to Create an Online Store People Trust

Trust forms the bedrock of any successful business venture, and this is especially true in an online environment where customers often hesitate to divulge personal and financial information.

So, if you want to create an online store people trust, you’re going to need a multifaceted approach that encompasses various elements, including everything from website aesthetics to customer service and security protocols.

Here’s what you can do to craft an online store that instills confidence in your visitors and fosters long-term trust:

Professional Website Design

A professionally designed website is akin to a well-tailored suit – it exudes confidence, competence, and professionalism.

Having said that, you should invest in a visually appealing layout for your website that reflects your brand’s identity while prioritizing user experience.

Among other things, this requires a clutter-free interface with intuitive navigation, clear categories, and easy-to-find product listings.

Secure Payment Gateway

Another crucial aspect of creating a trustworthy online store is ensuring you’re using a secure payment gateway, as customers must feel assured that their information is safeguarded against potential threats.

So, make sure to partner with a reputable payment gateway provider to make sure you’re able to process transactions securely.

You should also implement Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to encrypt data transmitted between the customer’s browser and your server, which further enhances the security of online transactions.

Transparent Pricing and Policies

Transparency breeds trust, so make sure to display product prices, shipping fees, and any additional charges upfront to prevent unpleasant surprises during checkout.

In addition, you should make sure to clearly articulate your return, refund, and exchange policies, so you can set clear expectations for customers and alleviate any concerns they may have about post-purchase support.

High-Quality Product Images and Descriptions

Visual appeal plays a pivotal role in online shopping, and this is also true if you want to create an online store people trust.

People don’t want to see dark, blurry, out-of-focus, or pixelated photos, or products with descriptions that are missing pertinent information, as this makes it harder for them to make a purchase decision and also makes it look like you’re running a Mickey Mouse operation.

So, make sure to provide high-resolution images of your products from multiple angles to offer customers a comprehensive view, and you should accompany those product images with detailed descriptions that include things like key features, dimensions, and materials used.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Whenever you can, you should leverage the power of social proof by prominently showcasing customer reviews and testimonials on your product pages.

Genuine feedback from satisfied customers serves as a testament to the quality and reliability of your offerings and this can significantly boost consumers’ trust in your online store.

Moreover, you should make sure to encourage customers to leave reviews and ratings after making a purchase, and you should also promptly address any negative feedback to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

Contact Information and Support

Accessibility breeds confidence, so you should do whatever you can to make it effortless for customers to reach out to you.

This includes prominently displaying contact information, including email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses, if applicable.

You should also offer multiple channels for customer support, such as live chat, email correspondence, and telephone assistance, as timely and helpful responses to inquiries can help instill trust and foster positive relationships with customers.

Get in Front of the Right Audience

Getting in front of the right audience by making use of things like podcasts can significantly enhance trust in your online store, so long as you say the right things.

Podcasts, in particular, offer a unique opportunity to connect with potential customers on a personal level, allowing you to share your knowledge, showcase your products, and engage in authentic conversations.

This gives you the ability to position yourself as a knowledgeable authority and establish trust by demonstrating your expertise and fostering genuine connections with your target audience.

Trust Badges and Security Seals

Another great way to inspire trust in your online store is to display trust badges and security seals from renowned third-party organizations, such as SSL certificates and payment processor logos, as this can help reassure consumers about the integrity of your website.

These visual cues serve as tangible evidence of your commitment to safeguarding customer data and mitigating online security risks.

Mobile Optimization

It seems that everyone and their dog has a smartphone today, and as a result, optimizing your online store for mobile users is imperative.

Having said that, you’ve got to ensure that your website is responsive, which means that it seamlessly adapts to various screen sizes and resolutions.

Mobile optimization enhances the user experience, keeps people on your site for longer, and builds trust by showing that you understand the needs of modern consumers.

Social Proof and Social Media Presence

Cultivating a robust social media presence across relevant platforms can help you engage with your audience, amplify your brand’s visibility, and in turn, build trust.

One great way to do this is by showcasing user-generated content, such as customer photos and testimonials, to provide tangible evidence of the quality and popularity of your products.

These kinds of authentic interactions on social media platforms can help foster a sense of community and trust among your audience.

Secure and Streamlined Checkout Process

Shopping cart abandonment is one of the biggest issues for eCommerce stores, and this often happens because the checkout process seems insecure or is too convoluted.

That being said, you should do whatever you can to streamline your checkout process to minimize friction and facilitate seamless transactions.

For instance, implementing user-friendly features such as guest checkout options and saved payment information can help expedite the purchasing process.

What’s more, you should employ stringent security measures, such as CAPTCHA verification and address validation, to help mitigate fraudulent activities and safeguard customer data during online transactions.

Clear Privacy Policy

Transparency regarding data privacy is paramount if you want to create an online store people trust, as this instills confidence and reinforces your commitment to ethical business practices.

With that in mind, you should publish a comprehensive privacy policy that fully explains how you collect, utilize, and protect customers’ information.

Within this privacy policy, you should assure customers that their data will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and will not be shared with third parties without explicit consent.

Consistent and Distinctive Brand Identity

Establishing a distinctive brand identity is pivotal if you want to build trust in your online store.

This involves crafting a compelling brand narrative that resonates with your target audience and reflects your core values.

You should also make a point of consistently reinforcing your brand identity across all touchpoints, including your website, product packaging, and marketing efforts, as a cohesive brand presence fosters familiarity and trust in consumers.

Fast and Reliable Shipping

Timely delivery is a hallmark of exceptional customer service.

Having said that, you should offer expedited shipping options to cater to customers with urgent needs, while also providing standard shipping methods for cost-conscious shoppers.

In addition, make sure to provide shipment tracking information to keep customers informed about the status of their orders and alleviate any anxiety over delivery timelines.

This kind of transparent communication regarding shipping updates helps to enhance trust and fosters a positive post-purchase experience.

Hassle-Free Returns and Exchanges

A hassle-free policy for returns and exchanges signals confidence in the quality of your products and builds trust with your audience.

So, you should do whatever you can to simplify your return and exchange process to reassure customers and alleviate concerns about potential buyer’s remorse.

In any case, make sure to clearly articulate your return policy, including any eligibility criteria and associated procedures.

You can also offer free returns or exchanges whenever feasible to incentivize purchases and mitigate perceived risks for potential customers.

Continuous Improvement and Feedback

Another thing you can do to create an online store people trust is embrace a culture of continuous improvement by asking your customers for feedback through things like surveys and reviews.

These insights can help you identify areas for improvement across various aspects of your online store, including product offerings, website functionality, and customer service practices.

Moreover, demonstrating responsiveness to customer feedback underscores your commitment to delivering exceptional experiences, which helps foster trust and loyalty.

Looking to create an online store people trust? Why not set up a free 30-minute consultation with me to find out what we can do for you?

To your business success, Susan Friesen

P.S. If you liked the article, you might want to subscribe to our newsletter. We publish tons of valuable content to help you learn more about marketing, and subscribing is the best way to ensure you don’t miss out. Additionally, if you’d like to learn more about building a search engine optimized website, click here for our free website guide.

#online shopping experience #build an online store #ecommerce strategy #ecommerce websites you can trust #online store website

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