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Automation: A good idea for online marketing?

by Loknath Das April 5, 2024

written by Loknath Das

Automation online can be a wonderful thing. It can help us to speed up processes that otherwise take time. For example, I created an email series using a company called ConvertKit.

I wrote 15 emails that walk the reader through a step-by-step process to find a new job or launch a side business. The email series automatically delivers a new message every few days. This method is a wonderful way to automate the process of email marketing campaigns.

More: How to get a job (or network) with a cup of coffee

More: The secret to a successful career: a side hustle

A few weeks ago, I experimented with sending automated direct (private) messages to my new Twitter followers using Crowdfire. This has commonly been considered a no-no in the minds of Twitter’s original users, but Twitter has changed since 2007 when I began using it. As a marketer, it’s my job to test how new tactics perform so I can relay this information to my clients.

I sent a simple automated tweet to each new follower, “Thanks for the follow. What are you working on today? — via @crowdfire.”

The last part was automatically affixed to the tweet using the service. I felt it helped to relay that the message was automatically generated. To my surprise, I began to get replies.

I ended up having a brief chat with several people who replied to my question. I even got into a debate in a Twitter #mediachat about using automated direct messages. I have always disliked them in the past but I felt it was worth testing for myself.

I don’t always have time to review each new follower, so I had hoped this would work to speed up those connections and get to know them a little faster.

My ultimate decision was to disable the service. Not enough people responded and I feared annoying others who received my message.

I sometimes see people trying to automate high-priced services via email automation. This makes me cringe because it takes time to build a relationship and earn trust to do business together.

In the case of my free email series, my intention is to help people find jobs. And it’s working. I’ve already heard from some of them directly. And no, I did not reply with automated messages. Each message was original and sent straight from little ol’ me.

It’s important to understand why you want to use automation in your marketing efforts. Always put yourself in the recipient’s shoes to consider whether this process is right for them. Test different methods to see what works best for you.

Dave Delaney is a digital marketing consultant and founder of FutureForth. He is a professional speaker, author of New Business Networking, and dedicated to helping you improve your networking at networkingfornicepeople.com.

[“Source-tennessean”]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

Gadgets News

Intex Launches ‘Good Air’ Air Purifier Priced at Rs. 11,999 Onwards

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Intex Launches 'Good Air' Air Purifier Priced at Rs. 11,999 Onwards

Intex Technologies, one of the major consumer durables brand, expanded its Consumer Durables portfolio today with the launch of environment and health friendly Air Purifiers. Christened Good Air, these air purifiers will not only keep a control on the harmful particulate matter especially PM2.5 that causes fatal respiratory disorders, but also remove bacteria and viruses from the surrounding. This is the fourth product category to be launched by Intex in the Consumer Durables segment after LED TVs, Washing Machines and Refrigerators. They will be available exclusively on Amazon at a competitive price range of Rs. 11,999 to Rs 25,999. Key features include UV Sterilization technology that eliminates bacteria and viruses, removes up to 99.99% of Pollen, Allergens, Fine Dust and clinging odors and purifies polluted air. The purifier comes with a Pre-Filter, which stops larger particles along with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor) dust collection technology and an in-built ionizer. In the high-end models, consumers can view real-time PM2.5 digital display to gauge pollutants levels in the room. “Entering into the air purifier segment is driven by current environmental situation and consumer demand to live smart and breathe fresh. At Intex, we are always on the lookout for growth opportunities in the market which can be complemented with our consumer demand. We have been aggressively expanding our consumer durables portfolio and Good Air is one of the unique additions to this segment. Happy to partner with Amazon for bringing Intex Air Purifier exclusively to consumers and are sure of expanding our online reach,” said Ms. Nidhi Markanday, Director & Business Head, Consumer Durable & IT Peripherals, Intex Technologies. For convenience, Intex Air Purifiers are pre-equipped with filter replacement indicators. Good Air, with four models, will cater to room sizes from up to 250 sq.ft. to 500 sq.ft. and can be operated through a remote control for convenience. With air pollution levels in India touching alarming heights, Air purifiers are not a luxury anymore but rather have become a necessity. Air Pollution is the fifth largest killer in the world and due to leaks in windows and doors, the air in our homes is replaced by the hazardous outside air every few hours. Intex Technologies, one of the major consumer durables brand, expanded its Consumer Durables portfolio today with the launch of environment and health friendly Air Purifiers. Christened Good Air, these air purifiers will not only keep a control on the harmful particulate matter especially PM2.5 that causes fatal respiratory disorders, but also remove bacteria and viruses from the surrounding. This is the fourth product category to be launched by Intex in the Consumer Durables segment after LED TVs, Washing Machines and Refrigerators. They will be available exclusively on Amazon at a competitive price range of Rs. 11,999 to Rs 25,999. Key features include UV Sterilization technology that eliminates bacteria and viruses, removes up to 99.99% of Pollen, Allergens, Fine Dust and clinging odors and purifies polluted air. The purifier comes with a Pre-Filter, which stops larger particles along with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor) dust collection technology and an in-built ionizer. In the high-end models, consumers can view real-time PM2.5 digital display to gauge pollutants levels in the room. “Entering into the air purifier segment is driven by current environmental situation and consumer demand to live smart and breathe fresh. At Intex, we are always on the lookout for growth opportunities in the market which can be complemented with our consumer demand. We have been aggressively expanding our consumer durables portfolio and Good Air is one of the unique additions to this segment. Happy to partner with Amazon for bringing Intex Air Purifier exclusively to consumers and are sure of expanding our online reach,” said Ms. Nidhi Markanday, Director & Business Head, Consumer Durable & IT Peripherals, Intex Technologies. For convenience, Intex Air Purifiers are pre-equipped with filter replacement indicators. Good Air, with four models, will cater to room sizes from up to 250 sq.ft. to 500 sq.ft. and can be operated through a remote control for convenience. With air pollution levels in India touching alarming heights, Air purifiers are not a luxury anymore but rather have become a necessity. Air Pollution is the fifth largest killer in the world and due to leaks in windows and doors, the air in our homes is replaced by the hazardous outside air every few hours. Calls Will Remain Free for Life This exposure causes problems such as aggravation of asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory symptoms. Air Purifiers are the perfect solution to fighting this menace and saving precious lives.

[Source:- gizbot]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

3 Reasons Why Online Schools Are Good For Students

by admin April 4, 2024

written by admin

The education system in India has seen immense changes in the last decade, especially after the introduction of online courses.Distance education has revolutionised the way people pursue their academic goals, thanks to the development of superior-quality internet and advanced technology. What are the reasons that have brought about this change and persuaded students to steer their interest towards distance education? Let’s take a look.

Credibility Of Online Degrees

There was a time when online degrees were not considered valuable by employers, but now, recruiters are open to both full and part-time students. Web-based programs are tailored to meet the requirement of employers and they are well aware of it. These courses are conceived and designed by experienced professionals who ensure you learn concepts and acquire skills that can be applied in a real, working environment.

For instance, as an MBA systems grad, you’ll be aware of the latest software inventions and their troubleshooting techniques. This skill will automatically give you a leverage over your peers.

Flexibility In Learning

Distance learning gives you a level of flexibility that traditional education doesn’t. Here are some of the ways in which online schools make studying easier for you.

You don’t have to worry about missed-out lectures as all study material and assignments will be available online.
The time you spend on attending regular classes can, instead, be spent in studying at home. This will help you save conveyance expenses as well.
No matter where you are, you can easily access your online school’s web-portal and go through recent lectures and notes to keep up with your course.

Cost-Effective Education

With academic institutions hiking course fees every now and then, getting a college degree has become financially challenging. This is where distance education can help you out as it offers the same courses at much lower fees. This has proven to be a boon for students who cannot afford an expensive education. And since you won’t be paying any accommodation fees and travel expenses, you’ll save even more money.

Whether you’re a working professional or a student, distance education gives you enough exposure to manoeuvre your way through this competitive job market. And with so many advantages to its credit, distance education is here to stay.

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Internet

Forced to Log Off: Why the Global Internet Shutdown Score is Not Good News for Kashmir

by Loknath Das March 25, 2019

written by Loknath Das

Srinagar: Internet shutdowns in Kashmir, perhaps, remain the missing pages in the narrative of a Digital India. A country attempting a digital revolution, while also globally leading the internet shutdown track record, undisputedly, reflects the irony in the world’s largest democracy.

According to a study at the Stanford University (Of Blackouts and Bandhs: The Strategy and Structure of Disconnected Protest in India), India has witnessed 134 network shutdowns in 2018 alone and more than 100 in 2016-17. Most of these blackouts happened in the volatile Kashmir region.

The aim of the internet shutdowns is to control the spread of rumours, misinformation and restore law and order. However, the study suggests that the shutdowns do not seem to be meeting their intention.

The study found that approximately half of the world’s known network shutdowns have happened in India alone, mostly in Kashmir. “A cursory look at the trajectory of shutdowns in India shows that the northern border states have acted as ‘innovators’ and shutdown contagion has advanced south with time,” read the research.

It also points out that these shutdowns are neither executed on the national level nor concentrated in a single state. Internet shutdowns are as decentralised as state power, it then comes to appear. The study also found a correlation between the co-occurrence of violence with a shutdown and non-violent action. An internet shutdown seems to encourage violent action.

“Information blackouts compel participants in collective action in India to substitute non-violent tactics for violent ones that are less reliant on effective communication and coordination,” it reads.

These shutdowns are measures of deliberate action by the authorities and are imposed by the state governments who find it “useful in pacifying or preventing protest”, the study says, supporting its arguments with strong empirical evidence.

The 2016 unrest in Kashmir gave the state its longest internet shutdown, which lasted for 203 days. In India, the number and diversity of both protests and network shutdowns affect life and livelihood deeply.

The study, hence, maintains that “widespread institutional support makes India the most shutdown-prone sovereign state in the world by several orders of magnitude”.

State governments and judicial entities ordered approximately 100 blackouts and disrupted several communication networks, which stands more than all other countries combined, the study says.

As per different estimates used in the study, the total duration of shutdowns in India between 2012 and 2017 remains 16, 315 hours (680 days), which has generated an economic loss of approximately $3.04 billion.

“Despite the prolific use of network shutdowns across the country,” the study points, “neither India nor any other national government has conducted publicly acknowledged studies on the effectiveness of shutdowns as a means of suppressing unrest”.

Nearly 23 deadly violent incidents, the study has found, and at least as many that did not prove fatal were linked to WhatsApp between mid-2017 and November 2018.

The majority of blackouts in the country occur in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), with the state alone comprising about 47% of the total shutdowns.

“Of 36 states and union territories, these four regions account for more than 75% of all recorded shutdown events in India (2012-17), while Jammu and Kashmir alone comprises about 47%,” it reads.

The author of the study, Jan Rydzak, has found that a large proportion of these shutdowns are implemented with the explicit goals of ensuring or restoring public order, as against the known practice maintaining security “during peaceful mass events such as festivals and processions”. However, it finds that “in most instances, this has been tantamount to preventing or quashing protests, riots, or collective violence”.

In India, the institutional variables, the study reads, play a significant role in the expansion of network shutdowns as a form of information control. “Before August 2017, shutdowns were executed primarily under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure — a legal provision with roots in the British Raj which grants states broad powers to prevent or disperse unlawful assemblies during curfews,” it reads.

The internet blackouts are perceived as a logical extension of curfews and measures whose purpose is to inhibit public gatherings. The study concludes to position India “as an extreme case in several respects”.

“India’s contribution to their total count has never been smaller than 23 percent, with a clear increasing trend,” the study has found. Globally, India is “one of the few democracies to have exercised the power to shut down communication networks”.

With the increasing number of internet blackouts, the study has found that the “public dissent in India has also been on a steady upward trajectory, with every previous year surpassing the number of events in the previous”.

“In many ways, India is a Petri dish of information control in the developing world,” the study says in its concluding remarks.

[“source=news18”]

March 25, 2019 0 comment

Blogging

Good Blogging Delivers On Its Promise

by Loknath Das March 6, 2019

written by Loknath Das

A hand on a laptop computer. Something got me thinking. We are constantly bombarded with titles like How To Be A Professional Writer and 5 Ways to Make Money Writing Online This Month, but a lot of those pieces are missing the mark. What they tell you is how to do what everyone else does. Or to do what they do.

But that’s representational. And what you really want is aspirational. And possibly inspirational. When it comes to blogging, which is what we are doing here, there is really only one thing that you must do in order to be consistently successful. You have to deliver on what you promise to.

When it comes to blogging about blogging or writing about writing, it can be even harder to deliver. Because it’s so patently obvious that half the people writing these articles are doing it for clicks, claps, followers, hearts, or whatever small sprinkles of technologically simple love that makes them feel good.

But if you want to be a good blogger. One that readers trust. One that develops a fan base. You have to deliver on the promise you make in your headline. Because if you don’t, you’re just smoke and mirrors. And the smoke fades away and when it does, it’s just you in that mirror. Only you.

“Good storytelling delivers on its promise.”
— Neil Gaiman, from his MasterClass, The Art of Storytelling

Why Your Headline is a Promise

A headline is really a title, but because of the way the Internet promotional cycle works, our titles often appear more like a headline. An introduction to something, slathered in between 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Cast of Full House and If You Liked This, You Will Definitely Like This.

Your headline isn’t just a way to get people to click on your story. It’s the way you set up your story. It’s an introduction to you as a person. Because your headline is a promise to the reader that the forthcoming article will deliver.

You can’t control whether they enjoy reading the piece or not, but a reader will notice right away if the headline was a ruse and the story a fallacy. And every reader will take note of that writer and blacklist them in their mind.

Because if we choose to blog, we should have complete respect for anyone who chooses to read something we send out. The digital landscape is vast. Having someone, anyone, click on anything we write is fantastic. If we think we are too deserving of e-love from strangers, we may spend more time on our headline than the accompanying story. And if we do that, we have failed our readers. And ourselves.

Your headline is a promise because the only way to succeed as a creative is to get people to trust you. Not like with their wallet or babysitting their kids, but in your process. That your process is true. And you. That you are your process and you take pride in what you do. When you create a title, it’s because it serves a bite-size morsel of what’s to come.

How To Make Sure the Proof is in the Pudding

The proof is your writing, but also how your writing develops naturally from the title. And it’s not really about how you think they are connected. It’s about how a reader will flow effortlessly from the title to the text. The seamless transition from headline to story is all you can hope for. That is if you are concerned with this type of thing.

There is a reason that headlines were coined clickbait. The goal was a click because the click generated revenue. But on most of the sites we blog on, a click doesn’t generate anything for us. It doesn’t get us a fan. It doesn’t get us a clap. It doesn’t get us paid. So why is everyone talking about clickbait headlines online when the click is wholly irrelevant?

More so than other avenues on the Internet, here is where you definitely need to make sure the proof is in the pudding. That you can back up your boast with skill. If you tell us you have 5 Ways To Change Your Life Today, you better really have them. Because if not, we will never read anything you write again.

Because we can’t trust you. You didn’t deliver on your headline. And therefore, you didn’t deliver on your implied promise. You don’t have the proof, in your writing, that can gracefully follow the way you introduced us to the piece. So you don’t have anything. You just have pudding.

When It All Comes Together

It all comes together when writers think of the headline and the story as one entity. Just like how good movie previews make you want to see the movie, a good headline makes you want to read the story. But if the preview is good and then the movie sucks, you will always remember that it didn’t live up to the billing. When it all comes together, we live up to our own billing.

Think of your relationship with your readers as an implied contract. You, the writer, cast your words off into the void and onto the screen in hopes that someone reads them. And in so doing, you open yourself up to potential criticism and applause. But it’s not a one-way contract.

They, the readers, agree to read your writing, but only when the proof is in the pudding. And if it’s not, they are entitled to revoke their choice to read you and end the contract between reader and (failed) writer forever.

It all comes together when our readers know that we care because we took the time to build an effortless transition from what we told them we were going to write and what we wrote. This is good blogging.

[“source=thriveglobal”]

March 6, 2019 0 comment

Gadgets News

Nokia 9 Leak-Based Concept Video Offers a Good Look at Its Design

by Loknath Das October 25, 2017

written by Loknath Das

Nokia 9 Leak-Based Concept Video Offers a Good Look at Its Design

Nokia 9, the company’s anticipated next flagship smartphone, is likely to make its way to the market early next year, and has been subjected to multiple leaks so far. Now, a leak-based concept video has surfaced showing the design of the handset from all angles. Nokia 9 is widely expected to belong to the premium price segment, and probably take on flagships from the likes of Apple, Samsung, and LG. The new video based on leaked images again stress on a curved display design.

The new video has been posted by Youtuber Concept Creator and it shows the alleged Nokia 9. Notably, the video includes leaked images of the handset we have seen before and essentially offers a cleaner view of the already leaked images in a video. Corroborating previous leaks, the Nokia 9 video indicates it will sport glass finish design at the back, much like the new iPhone 8 series.

The new video also claims that the Nokia 9 may be the next premium smartphone to ditch the 3.5mm audio jack. There’s a fingerprint scanner at the back panel which was seen in a previous leak. The renders also show the antenna bands on the side panels instead of the back of the device. The right panel is seen housing both power and volume controls on the alleged Nokia 9.

The leaks so far have suggested that the Nokia 9 will come in 6GB and 8GB RAM options. Other rumoured specifications include IP68 certification and 128GB inbuilt storage. The leaks have also hinted that the Nokia 9 may be the company’s first to sport an iris scanner.

[“source=gadgets.ndtv”]

October 25, 2017 0 comment

Internet

Alibaba’s Jack Ma: PH internet ‘no good’

by Loknath Das October 25, 2017

written by Loknath Das

LOADING. Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma weighs in on a number of topics, including Philippine internet, in a forum at De Le Salle University on October 25, 2017. Photo by Alecs Ongcal/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ slow internet had even the ever-optimistic Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of global tech giant Alibaba Group, frustrated.

“I arrived late last night and I tried to test the speed of Philippine internet… It’s no good,” the Chinese tycoon said in a forum at De La Salle University on Wednesday, October 25, after having been awarded an honorary degree in Technopreneurship.

The remark drew laughter from the audience, which happened to include Globe Telecom chief executive officer Ernest Cu and PLDT chief revenue officer Eric Alberto. Later on, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion once again drew attention to both firms when discussing the slow internet in the country.

Last May, Akamai Technologies’ Global State of the Internet Report showed that the Philippines has the slowest average internet speed in Asia Pacific.

Its average connection speed is just 5.5 mbps, falling short of the global average internet connection speed of 7.2 mbps.

Search for more competition

Many observers blame the situation on the duopoly in the Philippine telco sector between Globe and PLDT.

Early on in his presidency, President Rodrigo Duterte even warned both telcos to beef up their services or he would open up the sector to foreign competition. (READ: PLDT, Globe, Meralco: Yes to foreign players)

For a time last year, it seemed that more competition would come from the domestic front in the form of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and its would-be partner, Australian firm Telstra Corporation.

But that deal fell through and the saga of the search for a 3rd major player to provide more competition to the two established firms took another turn earlier this week when the Court of Appeals affirmed Globe and PLDT’s P69.1-billion deal to split SMC’s telco assets.

Ma, however, took a diplomatic approach to the situation, pointing out that the business sector should simply focus on solving the problem.

“Honestly, it’s unfair to blame anyone for slow internet. Opportunity exists in areas most people complain about. If you can solve a complaint, you have a chance,” he said.

Ma also offered some hope, recounting how when he started Alibaba in 1995, “the internet speed in China was terrible, much worse than the speed of the internet in the Philippines today.”

“So that’s not an excuse for the telcos but it’s a great opportunity for telcos to invest [in providing more bandwidth to users]. This is an investment where I guarantee you will get your return back,” Ma said.

“Faster internet, be it 4G or the future 5G, is an opportunity for everybody.”

Source:-rappler

October 25, 2017 0 comment

Online Marketing

Are digital communities a good fit for online marketers?

by Loknath Das September 23, 2017

written by Loknath Das

Digital communities are a growing space for consumers, who are looking for like-minded people to talk about topics of interest to them. And, as these communities are filled with like-minded people, they may seem like a way to highly target campaigns, offers, and even test new products. The question is, are these good spaces for brands to enter?

by Kristina Knight

Kristina: Should marketers look to digital communities, looking for engagement for their campaigns?

Phil Ahad, Senior Vice President, Digital Proucts, Toluna: Digital communities help companies go beyond the transaction and learn the “why” behind consumer sentiment and action. Marketers can use them to engage directly with a target audience, and send surveys, collect ongoing feedback and ask follow-up questions.

Our recent QuickCommunities launch, marketers now have a ground-breaking, do-it-yourself tool to develop a custom community experience that can engage people in real time, often on the heels of a survey to probe deeper into consumer feedback. Marketers can now create an instant brand advisory board to gather consumer feedback, and brainstorm new products and concepts. QuickCommunities eliminates budget and time-to-launch barriers that companies often face in adding the richness of qualitative insights to research programs.

Kristina: What are some of the ways marketers can effectively interact with communities?

Phil: Content is king in digital communities. Marketers need to use a variety of content types to keep things lively and fresh for members. Users can provide participants with media, concepts and other forms of media to test, in addition to on-site activities. Community members may also post and respond to questions with by submitting images and videos as their responses, keeping the interaction highly engaging. From there, a marketer may want to use the community to conduct one-on-one qualitative chat sessions to get deeper insight into consumer perceptions.

Kristina: What are best practices to drive community engagement?

Phil: In a digital community, engaged community members are interested and involved. Keeping members engaged is actually quite simple, keep topics and tasks relevant and reward them accordingly for their time and effort. Every community task, such as a newsletter, survey, member profile or discussion, should be related to your engagement goals. Marketers need to use a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards to achieve those objectives. For instance, an article that includes members’ opinions may provide the social incentive needed for participation. While survey participation may require a monetary or other prize reward.

Kristina: How can marketers measure the effectiveness of digital communities?

Phil: The ROI of a community can be measured by the success of messaging and marketing campaigns influenced by the insights collected from the community. Where to find your target customers, what messaging most resonates with them and avoiding any barriers to conversion or purchase are all insights that can be collected from an engaging community.

Also, it is essential to monitor and measure community success. Keep a close eye on participation and response rates. If one or both are low, that’s a flag that something is not working and you need to course correct. An effective community provides an environment for quickly and easily testing concepts, fueling new ideas and spotting trends. It also drives a better understanding of target consumers which will improve marketing effectiveness.

[“Source-bizreport”]

September 23, 2017 0 comment