Author: zittrexstore

Trump, Harris Prepare to Square Off in High-Stakes Debate

Post By Politics

Donald Trump will square off Tuesday night against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia in what could be the only debate between the two major parties’ presidential nominees.

The stakes of the Harris-Trump debate couldn’t be higher.

For Harris, the current vice president, it could be her best chance to put the Trump era in the rearview mirror.

For Trump, the former president, it could be his only chance to personally and effectively brand the elusive Harris on key issues and point out where Harris has flip-flopped.

Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., seems to believe it shouldn’t be all that difficult, given Harris is President Joe Biden’s sitting vice president.

“Any opportunity President Trump has to contrast secure borders, the Trump economy, and $2 gas with Kamala Harris’ disastrous record is going to help him on Election Day,” Banks told The Daily Signal. “The more voters are reminded of the Harris-Biden administration, the less they like it, which is why the vice president has only given one softball CNN interview since she announced her campaign.”

Harris spent the five days leading up to the debate with Trump in rigorous preparation inside a hotel in Pittsburgh. Her campaign brought in a full stage and TV lighting to give the vice president a feel for what being on stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the debate venue, would be like.

Harris was accompanied in her lockdown by lawyer and Democratic debate whisperer Karen Dunn, political consultant Sean Clegg, domestic policy adviser Rohini Kosoglu, Democratic National Convention chair Minyon Moore, and her campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond. The group worked around the clock, attempting to help Harris hone answers to follow ABC News’ debate guidelines.

That’s not all: Harris had a sparring partner. Philippe Reines, former deputy assistant secretary of state, reportedly was in full method-actor mode while playing Trump—even to the point of dressing like the former president.

Trump prepared a little differently. As he did before meeting Biden in June on the debate stage, Trump hosted policy roundtables with allies to prepare for the debate with Harris.

These roundtables featured commonplace figures in the Trump campaign such as campaign co-manager Susie Wiles, senior advisor Jason Miller, and policy adviser Stephen Miller. This time around, however, Trump was joined by former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii (who made a splash in the 2020 Democratic primary by attacking Harris) and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R.-Fla., who is peppered the former president with tough questions.

Last time Trump was onstage in a presidential debate he was opposite Biden, whose performance was so abysmal it triggered a chain reaction that ultimately ended with him dropping out of the race. Now Trump faces Biden’s current understudy and chosen successor.

Nevertheless, Harris isn’t to be underestimated. In less than a decade, she has gone from being the attorney general of California to spitting distance of the presidency. Since entering the race July 21, Harris has enjoyed what election observers called a “honeymoon” phase—high poll numbers and enthusiasm in response to her unpopular boss’ unceremoniously exiting the race.

The honeymoon, however, could be at an end. Harris surged ahead of Trump in the weeks after she took the top spot on the Democratic ticket. However, polls now have Trump and Harris in a dead heat, with some predictive models giving Trump a substantial edge in the Electoral College.

Harris’s regression in the polls could be because her campaign seems to have bungled aspects of its launch. It took nearly 40 days for Harris to sit down for an interview with a major news outlet. It took nearly 50 days for her to put an “issues” page on her campaign website.

Media figures on the Right and Left, much less the Trump campaign, were starting to make a stink about Harris’ evasiveness.

Alternatively, Harris’s honeymoon could be at an end precisely because American voters are catching wind of her policy proposals and aren’t impressed.

On the Harris campaign website’s new policy page, the Democratic nominee claims that she will be the candidate to enact “tough, smart solutions to secure the border, keep communities safe, and reform our broken immigration system.”

The question, then, is why she has not done so as Biden’s vice president and appointed border czar. Nevertheless, Harris’ website adds, “as president, she will bring back the bipartisan border security bill and sign it into law.”

“At the same time,” the campaign website adds, “she knows that our immigration system is broken and needs comprehensive reform that includes strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship.”

Lora Ries, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, says she isn’t buying Harris’ about-face on border security.

“No one believes Kamala Harris suddenly supports a secure border or wants to keep communities safe because, as vice president (really, as the acting president, given Joe Biden’s incapacity), she could change policies today to secure the border and keep criminals off the street. But she doesn’t,” Ries told The Daily Signal. “Remember, Harris repeatedly said during her CNN joint interview that her ‘values have not changed.’ With that, she was telling her base: ‘Don’t worry, I still believe what I did and said before July 2024.’”

“The failed Senate border bill,” Ries continued, “failed for a reason.”

The reason being that it wouldn’t have closed the southern border to illegal aliens.

Instead, “it would expand and codify the very open border tools the Biden-Harris administration has used to implement its mass migration agenda,” Ries told The Daily Signal. “The House-passed bill, HR 2, the Secure the Border Act, would, in fact, secure the border. The campaign’s final words are the buried lede–mass amnesty is Harris’ ultimate goal.”

Another key issue is the economy and inflation. Although inflation has slowed from its 9.1% peak in June 2022, it remains far above the 1.9% average during the Trump years.

The Harris-Walz campaign website claims that as president Harris would beat back inflation by “crack[ing] down on anti-competitive practices that let big corporations jack up prices and undermine the competition that allows all businesses to thrive while keeping prices low for consumers” and instituting “the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging on food and groceries.”

American Compass’ Duncan Braid told The Daily Signal that Harris’ proposed ban on price gouging is “a price control premised on gouging that isn’t happening.”

“Harris is targeting one of the lowest margin, most competitive markets out there,” Braid said. “Maybe instead she could propose some controls on Washington’s out-of-control spending.”

It seems like it was a catch-22 for Harris and her campaign: Either get attacked Tuesday night for not having a list of policies on her website, or list her policies and get attacked for those.

The campaign seems to have opted for the latter, but the risk Harris runs by releasing these policy proposals so close to the debate is having an incomplete mastery of her proposals when she goes onstage and contradicting herself yet again.

“We’re curious which Kamala Harris is going to show up to the debate,” Sen. Rick Scott, R. Fla., told The Daily Signal.

“Will it be the one who was the most liberal senator, more liberal than Bernie Sanders? Will it be Comrade Kamala who supported the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and amnesty and citizenship for illegal aliens? Or will it be the Kamala who has flipped on everything she believes via quotes from anonymous staffers?”

Whichever Harris shows up Tuesday night, the continuing positive media coverage likely will give Harris a tailwind.

“The media is trying to help package Kamala as new and the future,” Scott said. “She is not the future, she represents one of the oldest failed ideas in human history: socialism. That’s why she’s doing what most politicians like her do … lying about it.”

Scott said he believes—like Banks—that if Trump can keep it to the two candidates’ records and priors, Trump will be in the driver’s seat.

“The American people know Trump; they know how great our economy was and how safe our communities were when he was president,” Scott said. “Kamala is going to focus on viral gotcha moments, Trump is going to focus on real solutions to make our country great again. The American people want nothing to do with California socialism. That’s why he’s going to win the debate and on Nov. 5.”



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#Trump #Harris #Prepare #Square #HighStakes #Debate

How to Protect Yourself from Social Media Addiction 2024

Post By Digital Marketing

With social media becoming a constant in our lives, it’s important to be aware of the risks it poses.

Social media addiction is real, and it can negatively affect your mental health, productivity, and relationships.

Fortunately, there are several ways you can protect yourself from falling into the trap of social media addiction.

 

Ways to Protect Yourself from Social Media Addiction

Protect yourself from social media addiction by setting daily time limits.

Turning off non-essential notifications, taking regular breaks, and focusing on offline hobbies and activities to maintain balance.

Here are ways to protect yourself from social media addiction.

 

1. Understand the Warning Signs of Addiction

The first step in protecting yourself from social media addiction is recognizing the warning signs.

Addiction to social media is often characterized by an inability to limit time spent on platforms.

Also anxiety when offline, and neglect of real-life responsibilities in favor of scrolling through feeds.

What to watch for:

  • Constantly checking your phone or refreshing social media platforms.
  • Feeling anxious, stressed, or irritable when not able to access social media.
  • Spending hours scrolling through social media without realizing how much time has passed.
  • Neglecting important tasks or activities because of your time spent online.

 

2. Limit Screen Time to Protect Yourself

One of the best ways to protect yourself from social media addiction is by limiting your screen time.

Many smartphones and apps offer features to track how much time you spend on social media.

Set limits on your daily usage, and make sure you stick to them.

How to limit your screen time:

  • Use apps like Screen Time (for iPhone) or Digital Wellbeing (for Android) to monitor and reduce your social media usage.
  • Set time limits for each social media platform—whether it’s 30 minutes or an hour—and log out once you reach the limit.
  • Turn off notifications for social media apps so you aren’t tempted to check your phone constantly.

 

3. Set Specific Times for Social Media Use

Setting designated times for social media usage can protect you from falling into the habit of constantly checking your feeds.

Allocating specific periods in your day, such as during lunch breaks or after work, helps you stay disciplined while still allowing you to stay connected.

How to set specific social media times:

  • Establish social media-free times, like when you wake up, during meals, or before bed.
  • Schedule social media usage during designated breaks or downtime.
  • Avoid using social media during work hours or important real-life engagements.

 

4. Engage in Real-Life Activities

To protect yourself from social media addiction, it’s crucial to immerse yourself in real-life activities that don’t involve technology.

Whether it’s picking up a new hobby, spending time with family and friends, or simply going for a walk.

These activities can help you disconnect and find fulfillment outside of social media.

How to engage in real-life activities:

  • Develop hobbies such as reading, cooking, exercising, or playing a musical instrument.
  • Schedule time with friends and family for activities that don’t involve phones.
  • Try outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, or sports that require you to be away from screens.

 

5. Take Regular Social Media Breaks

Taking regular breaks from social media is an effective way to protect yourself from becoming overly reliant on it.

Whether you’re detoxing for a weekend or planning a week-long hiatus, social media breaks allow you to reset and refocus on real-world priorities.

How to implement social media breaks:

  • Plan regular social media detoxes, ranging from a few hours to a few days.
  • Inform your contacts about your planned break to manage expectations.
  • Use your break time to indulge in activities that refresh your mind and body.

 

6. Practice Mindful Social Media Use

Being mindful about how and why you use social media can protect you from addiction.

Instead of mindlessly scrolling, focus on intentional use that adds value to your life.

Ask yourself why you are logging in and how your time on the platform is benefiting you.

How to practice mindful use:

  • Set a goal for your time online before opening social media apps.
  • Avoid using social media as a distraction when bored or stressed.
  • Reflect on whether your social media usage is positively or negatively impacting your well-being.

 

7. Curate Your Feed to Avoid Overstimulation

An overstimulating social media feed filled with endless content can contribute to addiction.

Protect yourself by curating your feed so that it only shows content that is meaningful, relevant, and aligned with your goals.

How to curate your social media feed:

  • Unfollow or mute accounts that post content that triggers negative emotions or overstimulation.
  • Follow accounts that align with your interests and values.
  • Regularly audit your feed to ensure that the content is positive and engaging.

 

8. Seek Support if Needed

If you find that your social media usage is out of control.

And you’re struggling to regain balance, seeking help from a professional or joining support groups may be necessary.

Therapy and counseling can provide the tools needed to combat addiction, and support groups can offer a community to share experiences and tips.

How to seek support:

  • Reach out to a mental health professional for guidance on managing social media addiction.
  • Join online or local support groups focused on reducing screen time and promoting real-life interactions.
  • Share your struggles with trusted friends or family members who can help you stay accountable.

 

FAQs on How to Protect Yourself from Social Media Addiction

 

How can I tell if I’m addicted to social media?

If you constantly check social media, feel anxious when you’re offline, or neglect real-life activities in favor of being online, these are potential signs of social media addiction.

 

How long should I spend on social media each day?

It’s recommended to limit your social media usage to no more than 30 minutes to an hour per day to maintain a healthy balance.

 

Is it possible to quit social media completely?

Yes, some people choose to quit social media entirely to protect their mental health and well-being.

However, for most, setting boundaries and limiting usage is more realistic.

 

Can taking breaks from social media really help?

Yes, taking breaks from social media allows you to reconnect with real life, reduce stress, and gain control over your online habits.

 

What should I do during a social media detox? 

During a detox, focus on engaging in offline activities, such as spending time with loved ones, exercising, or pursuing a hobby.

 

Conclusion

Social media addiction is a growing concern, but by implementing these strategies, you can protect yourself and maintain a healthy balance.

Being mindful of your habits, setting boundaries, and engaging in real-life activities will help you stay connected without falling into the trap of addiction.

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#Protect #Social #Media #Addiction

Corporate Communications Supervisor

Post By Jobs

Job title: Corporate Communications Supervisor

Company: Calgon Carbon

Job description: applications, WordPress, and Canva is required 5-7 years of experience in Communications roles within a corporate or agency…

Expected salary:

Location: Pennsylvania

Job date: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:19:27 GMT

Apply for the job now!

The late Dr. Ruth had a final message about fighting loneliness. Her friend is making sure to spread it far and wide

Post By Business

When journalist Allison Gilbert first interviewed Dr. Ruth Westheimer in August 2023, she felt an overwhelming sense of awe. Gilbert, 54, who recalls listening to the famed sex therapist’s talk show growing up, was enamored by “Dr. Ruth’s” wisdom, mindset, and tough love as a then 95-year-old. 

“Once the reporting was over, we just wanted to stay in each other’s lives, and to me, that is the most unexpected joy,” Gilbert tells Fortune. “We had a very fast and deep friendship.” 

Gilbert interviewed Westheimer about her transition from America’s most celebrated sex therapist to New York State’s honorary Ambassador to Loneliness, but their story became much more than the one that went to press.

“Dr. Ruth had this incredible ability that she worked on with great purpose to create a family out of friends,” Gilbert says of the self-described “orphan of the Holocaust,” who survived after her mother put her, at age 10, on a train to Switzerland. After their first interview, Gilbert began spending practically every week with Westheimer. “Little did I know, because it was imperceptible at the time, she was keeping me around.” 

Westheimer, widely known as the famed “Dr. Ruth,” died in July at 96.

“The secret to her success is that she has always been approachable. She’s always been welcoming. She’s always made people feel like their needs and questions are valuable and valued,” Gilbert says. 

That proved to be the case even after Gilbert’s profile was published in the New York Times in November, and Westheimer asked when they would see each other again. “She cultivated friends and nurtured them and put energy into them,” Gilbert says. “I got caught up in that warmth and glow.” 

Shortly after that, Westheimer asked Gilbert to co-author what would become her final message to the public, in book form: The Joy of Connections: 100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life. They began working on it together at the end of last year, and then, following Westheimer’s death, Gilbert worked with publicist and third coauthor Pierre Lehu to complete the book, which was published this month. 

“Dr. Ruth would say that loneliness is curable, and you have the power. You have the agency to do what it takes to build meaningful, worthwhile, fulfilling relationships,” Gilbert says. “She did not beat around the bush. She did not mince words, and that is the approach that she wanted to take with The Joy of Connections.”

Now, Gilbert is carrying on Westheimer’s legacy by amplifying the lessons she held most dear, as shared in The Joy of Connections. Here are four key takeaways.

Gilbert sits in Westheimer’s home, working on the book, “The Joy of Connections.”

Allison Gilbert

Don’t let yourself off the hook 

The book features an illustration called “Dr. Ruth’s menu for connection,” with portions of a plate labeled “family,” “friends and lovers,” and “community.” But the largest pie of the chart? It’s labeled “self.” 

The message is simple: You play the most significant role in your ability to foster meaningful connections. 

Think about how you behave in the workplace, for example. “Are you offering to help? Are you lending advice or guidance or a professional connection that you know could be of value to a colleague?” Gilbert asks. “That authentic way of showing up, proactively, without being asked, demonstrates that you are invested, that you are interested, that you see your colleague. That is the building block of a relationship.” 

All of our behaviors send a message about our willingness to connect, and being self-reliant can help us build confidence and self-worth to engage with those around us. 

In addition, “We need to look at our own behaviors that might be inadvertently pushing people away,” she says. “If we are not open and being authentic, especially at work, [Westheimer] would say that is potentially building walls around you that might be so high that even with your best intentions, your colleagues and your co-workers can’t scale them.” 

Take social connections into account when making big decisions

When we get a job offer in another city, for example, we may often only consider salary and title. But Westheimer would add one more critical pillar: “Mental wealth.” So, while moving away could increase your financial wealth, it’s important to also ask if your mental health could suffer from a lack of social connections. If you get a chronic illness, would you have people you could lean on? Would there be a community you could join? 

If the answer is no, then making the decision to leave anyway could possibly “cut off these tethers that are so important to our physical and mental well-being,” Gilbert says.  

Be like a turtle and stick your neck out

Westheimer had hundreds of miniature turtle figurines in her home, as she loved the metaphor they delivered: If a turtle wants to survive, it must stick its neck out. 

“We all need to take that risk,” Gilbert says Westheimer believed. “We need to create our own tailwind to get out. Our desire for social connection, for friendships, for romantic relationships, has to be more powerful than that magnet that attaches you to the couch.”

Asking for help, being curious about a project’s underlying process, and seeking guidance can help you feel more connected and empowered. Rejection as a part of life was another central talking point for Westheimer, who would much rather stay “meaningfully busy” sticking her neck out than remain home out of fear, Gilbert says. 

Get past the context in which you meet people

It’s easy to confuse the number of hours you spend around someone as evidence of a deep connection, says Gilbert. But the hidden secret of a deepening friendship is to pay attention to context—and be able to get past it. Despite being around your coworker for eight hours a day, for example, you likely don’t know their hobbies or children’s names. Why don’t we ask more people we are interested in for coffee? A walk? A meal? 

“If we do nothing to make that connection stronger, we will continue just to be colleagues and potentially not friends. Get out of the circumstances to which you met,” Gilbert says. Being able to do so “is an indication to that other person that they have now become somewhat more important in your life,” she explains.

That’s a lesson Gilbert learned directly from the source—becoming friends with Westheimer when they had started off simply as interviewer and interviewee. She admired and responded to Westheimer’s ability to stay open to new possibilities. Now, it’s something she hopes to emulate in her own evolving story. 

“I may have been the newest member of her family. I may have been her newest friend,” she says. “I miss my friend.”

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#late #Ruth #final #message #fighting #loneliness #friend #making #spread #wide

How to Use Negative Keywords for Paid Ads

Post By Digital Marketing

Negative keywords are essential for optimizing Google Ads campaigns. They’re the mechanism that stops your ads from appearing in irrelevant searches on Google, saving your budget from unqualifed clicks and improving your targeting.

This article covers exactly what negative keywords are, the different types you can use, how to identify them, and how to incorporate them into your campaigns.

Let’s jump in.

What Are Negative Keywords?

Negative keywords are critical yet often overlooked elements of Google Ads campaigns. These specific terms help avoid showing your advertisements during searches that don’t align with the intended audience, thus ensuring only potential customers interested in what you offer see your ads.

For instance, if you’re promoting high-end watches and individuals seeking inexpensive options trigger your ads, it can lead to frustration and unnecessary spending. Negative keywords step in to prevent such mismatches by filtering out these non-relevant queries, thereby maintaining a focused and efficient use of your ad budget.

Using negative keywords substantially enhances how targeted each ad is. It eliminates irrelevant search traffic from seeing the ad, which not only bolsters its relevance but also cuts down on extraneous expenses associated with uninterested parties clicking through—positively influencing both Click Through Rate (CTR) and Return On Ad Spend (ROAS).

This filter leads to cleaner, more precise campaign targeting that harnesses more suitable audience segments while improving overall return on investment (ROI).

Here’s a quick view of how they would look in an ad account:

broad match negative keyword list at the campaign level

Integrating negative keywords isn’t only about avoiding unsuitable search phrases. It’s crucial for honing who sees your online advertisements so that they pinpoint precisely those audiences most relevant to what’s being offered. And they can be applied at the account level, campaign level, and even ad group level.

In doing so, you’ll sharpen your campaign’s relevancy and cut down on wasted spending—a move that directly controls the effectiveness of your advertising efforts.

Key Takeaway:

Negative keywords are essential for improving ad targeting and saving budget. They help ensure your ads reach the right audience and avoid wasting money on irrelevant clicks.

Types of Negative Keywords

Alright, we’ve covered the basics of negative keywords. Now let’s look a little closer at the different types currently available.

There are three main types of negative keywords: negative broad match, negative phrase match, and negative exact match.

Knowing the differences between them is key to fine-tuning your ad campaigns. Figuring out which type to use in specific situations helps you easily decide which search queries will trigger your ads and which won’t.

table of keyword match types and how they will trigger for different queries.

  • Negative Broad Match: This type stops your ads from showing up when every term from your keyword appears in a user’s search query, no matter the order. For example, if you set “free trial software” as a negative broad match keyword, then any search containing “free,” “trial,” and “software” — in any order — won’t trigger your ad. It’s a great way to filter out a bunch of irrelevant searches.
  • Negative Phrase Match: Your ads won’t show up when the search includes your exact keyword phrase, plus any extra words at the start or end. So, if “cheap hotels” is your negative phrase match keyword, searches like “cheap hotels in New York” won’t trigger your ad. But something like “affordable hotels” might still show your ad.
  • Negative Exact Match: This is the most precise option. Your ads won’t show up for searches that exactly match your keyword phrase, without any extra words. It’s super useful for cutting out very specific searches that aren’t relevant to what you’re offering.

Getting a handle on how each of these types each work is crucial for making your ad campaigns as effective as possible.

Key Takeaway:

Understanding the different negative keyword match types (broad, phrase, exact) is crucial for effective ad targeting. This knowledge allows you to tailor your negative keyword strategy to your specific needs and goals.

How to Identify Negative Keywords

Optimizing your Google Ads campaigns includes the crucial process of finding negative keywords. This helps you filter out search queries that don’t match your target audience, letting you use your ad budget more efficiently.

Here are are the best ways to spot negative keywords:

1) Use Your Intuition

Trusting your intuition can be a surprisingly effective method for identifying negative keywords. Often, you have a good sense of what terms might attract the wrong audience or don’t align with your campaign goals.

For example, if you’re advertising luxury watches, terms like “cheap” or “discount” might not align with your brand’s image and could attract users looking for budget options, which aren’t your target audience.

example of negative search terms for luxury watch, discount watch, and cheap watch.

Adding these intuitive negative keywords to your list can save your budget from unqualified clicks and improve your ad relevance. It’s a simple yet powerful way to ensure that your ads are seen by the most suitable audience.

While it might seem less scientific, your gut feelings are often based on your experience and understanding of your market, making them a valuable tool in your keyword strategy.

A good way to get started with this is to brainstorm all of the things your brand and offer is not. From there, you can start to built out a list of terms and phrases you wouldn’t want an ad of your to appear for if someone searched for it.

2) Use Keyword Research Tools

In the early phases of conducting keyword research for paid search campaigns, it is essential to pinpoint negative keywords.

This helps eliminate terms that do not align with your campaign’s goals right off the bat, sharpening your focus on the intended target audience and increasing the likelihood that suitable individuals see your advertisements.

A keyword research tool, like Google’s Keyword Planner, can help in uncovering specific search queries that might be inappropriate or unrelated to what you aim to promote. This is, of course, a more preliminary, manual approach, but can be very helpful in revealing audience trends surrounding terms that aren’t quite on the mark with your offer.

Google keyword planner: discover new keywords, get search volume and forecasts, and organize keywords into ad groups.

Let’s go back to the watch example real fast and assume you’re selling your own brand of smartwatches. For the sake of example, we’ll say the watches you’re selling aren’t Apple or Samsung watches.

You’re curious to see the behavior behind the keyword “watches.” Let’s see what turns up in Keyword Planner:

Keyword planner results for

Ruling out these irrelevant queries for terms like “apple watch,” “samsung watch” and others of that ilk will allow you to refine your paid search efforts and boost their overall effectiveness (avoiding wasted spend on product searches not relevant to you).

3) Use Google Ads’ Search Terms Report

Using the search terms report in Google Ads is super helpful for finding negative keywords. This report shows you the exact search queries that triggered your ads, helping you spot any irrelevant keywords that might be wasting your budget. Regularly analyzing this report can improve your targeting and save you money.

example of the search terms report in Google Ads and how to add a negative keyword.

However, it’s important to note that advertisers are only able to view ~50-70% of the search terms that trigger ads. This limitation means that some irrelevant searches may still slip through unnoticed, potentially affecting your ad performance.

Moreover, Google has started providing search categories for most campaigns instead of detailed search terms. This change can make it more challenging to pinpoint specific irrelevant queries, as the broader categories might include a range of search terms—some of which may not be relevant to your campaign. As a result, you might be matching to more irrelevant searches without even realizing it.

Using filters within the Search Terms interface makes it easier to find negative keywords quickly. Keeping an eye on these reports is key to maintaining the relevance of your ad campaigns and making sure you’re spending your advertising budget wisely.

4) Use Scripts to See Performance Max Search Terms Reports

While Google Ads doesn’t directly provide search term data for Performance Max campaigns, you can use a script to extract this information. These scripts interact with the Google Ads API to retrieve the search terms that triggered your ads. This can be especially useful for understanding the effectiveness of your campaigns and identifying negative keywords.

Here’s a brief overview of how to use scripts:

  1. Access the Google Ads Script Editor: Log into your Google Ads account and navigate to the Tools & Settings menu. From there, select “Scripts”Google ads Scripts button
  2. Create a New Script: Click on “+” > “New” to create a new script.New script button in Google Ads
  3. Paste the Script Code: Copy and paste the relevant script code into the editor. You can find many publicly available scripts online that are designed to extract search term data from Performance Max campaigns.performance max search terms report script sample
  4. Run the Script: Once you’ve pasted the code, click on “Run” to execute the script. The script will typically output the search term data in a spreadsheet or other format.

If you’d rather have someone do it for you, the paid media team at Single Grain are experts in handling custom scripts in Google ad campaigns. We’d love to help you out.

Work With Us

Note: While scripts can provide valuable insights, they may have limitations due to Google’s restrictions on accessing search term data. The amount of data you can retrieve may vary, and there’s a possibility that some search terms might not be accessible.

Developing Your Negative Keyword Strategy

Creating a solid negative keyword strategy is key to making your Google Ads campaigns work better.

A quick word of warning: be careful not to overdo it. Too many negative keywords can limit your ad’s reach. You want to trike the balance of controlling irrelevant search terms while also allowing enough space to attract a variety of relevant queries.

Let’s go through the two main actions you should consider when approaching your Negative Keywords.

1) Group Negative Keywords

Categorizing negative keywords into themes or categories fine-tunes Google Ad campaign management and increases the accuracy of targeting. Structuring these keywords according to product type or the intent of the customer sharpens their applicability, leading to more refined ad group oversight.

Employing this strategy permits better judgment on keyword exclusion choices, guaranteeing that your advertisements reach an audience with higher relevance. The skillful assembly of negative keywords is instrumental in achieving more precisely focused and streamlined ad campaigns.

2) Regularly Review and Update Lists

Consistently monitor and refresh your negative keyword lists, adapting them in response to fluctuating market conditions and variations in search patterns. Keeping pace with the dynamic nature of search trends maintains the relevance as well as effectiveness of your advertisements.

Regularly overhauling your negative keyword lists ensures that your ads are seen by a targeted audience while also fine-tuning your campaigns for improved outcomes. Such diligence is key in responding to ongoing changes within the marketplace and sustaining successful advertising strategies.

A Note on Broad Keywords and Smart Bidding

Broad keywords and smart bidding are the only way to really tap into Google’s AI bidding. But here’s the catch: without having negatives in place, you’re giving Google way too much control over your account. Remember that DOJ investigation where Google admitted to bumping up the floor price of bids by 10%? It’s yet another signal that Google doesn’t exactly have your best interests at heart.

google ads automated bidding strategies

Source: WordStream

Understanding the importance of each negative keyword match type is key to fine-tuning your ad performance. Using negative broad match keywords is a basic yet crucial strategy for refining your ad campaigns.

Stopping your ads from showing up in any search query that includes all the terms of your negative keyword, no matter the order, filters out a lot of irrelevant searches. This broad exclusion helps save your ad budget and boosts the overall targeting precision of your campaigns.

Last Thoughts on Negative Keywords

Negative keywords are one the key components of optimizing any Google Ads campaigns. And with how much more Google is loosening the bounds by which it pairs advertisers’ keywords with user queries, negative keywords are your best bet at maintaining any semblance of control. Invest the time early in cultivating your negative keyword list. But don’t stop at that either. Your negative keywords list should be a living, breathing thing that you constantly revisit and modify.

If you keep a watchful eye on your search terms report, and frequently update your negative keywords, you’ll have much healthier ad account in the long-run.

If you’re ready to start optimizing your negative keywords, Single Grain’s paid media experts can help!👇

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For more insights and lessons about marketing, check out our Marketing School podcast on YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions


  • What are negative keywords, and why are they important for Google Ads?

    Negative keywords are specific terms that prevent your ads from showing up in irrelevant search results. By adding negative keywords to your campaign, you can stop your ads from appearing for search queries that don’t match your business, saving your budget and improving the relevancy of your ads.


  • How do negative keywords improve my ad performance?

    Negative keywords help filter out irrelevant search traffic, reducing wasted clicks and improving the precision of your ad targeting. This leads to a higher Click Through Rate (CTR) and Return On Ad Spend (ROAS), as your ads are shown to a more relevant audience.


  • What are the different types of negative keywords, and when should I use each?

    The three types of negative keywords are:

    • Negative Broad Match: Excludes search queries containing your keyword terms in any order. Use this for broad filtering.
    • Negative Phrase Match: Excludes searches containing your exact keyword phrase plus additional words before or after. Ideal for specific filtering.
    • Negative Exact Match: Excludes searches that match your exact keyword phrase without additional words. Best for precise targeting.

  • How can I identify negative keywords for my campaigns?

    You can identify negative keywords by using keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, reviewing your Google Ads search terms report, and performing manual searches to find irrelevant phrases. This process ensures you’re adding the right negative keywords to improve targeting.


  • What’s the best way to add negative keywords to my Google Ads account?

    You can add negative keywords either at the ad group level or the campaign level. The easiest way is through the search terms report or directly via the Google Ads dashboard. This allows you to create a new negative keyword list or update an existing negative keyword list as needed.


  • Should I add negative keywords to both the campaign and ad group levels?

    Yes, adding negative keywords at both the campaign and ad group levels can provide more granular control over where your ads appear. Use campaign-level negative keywords for broader exclusions and ad group-level negative keywords for more specific filtering.


  • How often should I update my negative keyword list?

    Regularly reviewing and updating your negative keyword list is crucial. As search trends change, new irrelevant keywords may appear. Checking your search terms report frequently will help you find negative keywords that can be added to maintain the relevance and efficiency of your campaigns.


  • Can too many negative keywords hurt my campaign performance?

    Yes, using too many negative keywords can limit your ad reach, reducing visibility and potential conversions. It’s essential to find a balance by adding only those negative keywords that help you avoid irrelevant searches without cutting off valuable traffic.

If you were unable to find the answer you’ve been looking for, do not hesitate to get in touch and ask us directly.

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‘The Glassworker’ interview: Usman Riaz on bringing Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature to life

Post By Entertainment , , , , , ,

Usman Riaz never set out to make history; he simply wanted to sketch. His venture began a decade ago, not with grandiose dreams but with a simple foundation — a moment of inspiration that set in motion a project of unprecedented scope for Pakistan. Now, a decade after that first sketch, he’s done more than just fill a few sketchbooks. He’s crafted Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature film, The Glassworker, a stunning ode to the art that is drawing comparisons to Studio Ghibli’s finest.

Starting out as a musician, Usman had a childhood obsession with animated cinema. Little did he know that it was the very same fascination with these hand-drawn worlds that would eventually propel him to Annecy — his debut featurepremiering at the International Animation Film Festival this year, before charming Pakistani audiences back home with its theatrical release in July.

Set in a fantastical world that nonetheless feels grounded in reality, The Glassworker tells the story of Vincent, a young glassblower, and Alliz, a violinist, whose friendship is tested by the worlds they come from. The narrative, replete with tensions of nationalism, class struggles, and the pursuit of art in the face of adversity, rings sonorous with the challenges Usman faced growing up in post-9/11 Pakistan.

But The Glassworker is also a love letter — to the hand-drawn animations of yesteryears and to the masterful storytelling of seasoned anime legends. Having founded Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation studio — Mano Animation Studios — Usman’s approach to his craft has been deeply personal and painstakingly meticulous. He has previously likened the film to a “moving painting,” speaking to the hand-drawn process that distinguishes it from computer-generated fare.

A still from ‘The Glassworker’

A still from ‘The Glassworker’
| Photo Credit:
Mano Animation Studio

Creating such a film in a country where the animation industry is still in its infancy was no small feat. With no government support and little infrastructure, Usman’s journey was a labor of love, and a bit of madness. After all, who else would spend ten years hand-drawing a feature film in a country almost entirely devoid of the craft?  

Yet, despite the turbulence, Usman seems to have crafted something truly special. Here, we talk about his remarkable journey behind The Glassworker, exploring the triumphs and tribulations of putting Pakistan on the map and bringing his vision to life.

Excerpts from an interview:

Ten years ago, you began sketching what would become Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature. Can you take us back to that moment? What was it about that initial sketch that made you believe it could evolve into something so historic?

Usman: I never set out to do anything historic. Initially, I just wanted to make a beautiful film like the ones my heroes made and that inspired me as a child. Over time, I realised no one had ever attempted to make a hand-drawn film like this in Pakistan. The historical significance hit me years into the process, but my goal remained the same: to create something that could move people.

You’ve previously described the film as a love letter to Studio Ghibli, and you’ve cited anime legends like Miyazaki, Shinkai, and Satoshi Kon as inspirations. How did you strike that balance between paying homage to your inspirations while creating something distinct?

Usman: I knew we could depict things in this animation style that hadn’t been seen before, especially within a Pakistani context. The character designs and the overall aesthetic leaned heavily into my inspirations, but it wasn’t just that. Of course, I wear my inspirations on my sleeve; I love Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, Mamoru Hosoda, Satoshi Kon, and Makoto Shinkai.

Shinkai, in particular, has been a huge influence on me. I’ve been following his work since I saw Voices of a Distant Star, which blew my mind as a kid. His work is much more of a cerebral experience than just a typical mecha fight anime. I’ve been following his career closely, and I’m glad his work gained widespread recognition with Your Name. But for me, his early works like The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters per Second were hugely influential.

Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises was the biggest inspiration for The Glassworker. His work transcends borders, and I wanted to stay true to what I enjoy watching. We put that into the film without trying too hard to make a statement about our influences. It was about expressing my love for these creators and contributing to the world of animated films.

From the early footage of the film, it seems to be set in a fantastical world while tackling very real and personal themes. How did your experiences growing up in Pakistan influence these themes?

Usman: The most impactful event in my childhood was 9/11. The world changed after that. There was always this underlying sense of anxiety and tension about what was happening in the world around us — especially in our region, with the tension between India and Pakistan and the broader conflicts involving America and the Middle East. It was troubling growing up, knowing that war could break out at any moment.

A still from ‘The Glassworker’

A still from ‘The Glassworker’
| Photo Credit:
Mano Animation Studio

As a child, you don’t fully understand these things; you just keep doing what you’re doing and find reasons to keep moving forward. But it does affect you. As I got older, I wanted to capture that feeling in this film — what it means to be a creative person, an artist, in tumultuous times. That’s primarily what The Glassworker is about. The messaging in the film is heavily anti-war. I believe war is not the answer to anything. Ultimately, it’s the people caught in the conflict who suffer, regardless of who the victor is. Capturing that sentiment was important to me, and I wanted to show the brutality of war. Having never experienced war myself but witnessing it around me, I felt compelled to comment on it.

Apart from the animation itself, it seems like the music also plays an integral part in the film. I’ve had the chance to listen to the album, and your work with Carmine DeFlorio is impressive. How did your background in music, particularly as a violinist, influence the composition of the score?

Usman: Because I’ve been drawing, painting, and writing music since I was young, the way I approached The Glassworker was a lot of fun. I would storyboard the movie, and then I’d get an idea for a musical motif or cue for a scene. My piano was right behind my sketching table, so I’d draw, then turn around and write something, then turn back and draw again. Sometimes, the music would guide the visuals rather than the other way around. It was an interesting experience, coming up with the narrative while drawing and writing simultaneously. 

Music played a huge part in the creation process. The film is about art — Vincent is a glassblower, and Alize is a musician — so music is deeply intertwined with the story. Both characters are aspects of my personality, and exploring what it means to be both types of people in the setting of the film was fascinating.

It’s interesting how Miyazaki has influenced your craft in terms of visuals. Did Joe Hisaishi’s music also influence your creative process while writing the score?

Usman: Joe Hisaishi’s influence is present in my earlier work, but for The Glassworker, I aimed for something different. While we share a love for piano, I drew more from Philip Glass and classical Hollywood composers, particularly from the 1930s to 1950s. One of the biggest influences on the score and the story was Dr. Zhivago, especially Lara’s Theme. 

‘The Glassworker’ has been a decade-long passion project. What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced in bringing this vision to life, and how did you keep pushing forward when the odds seemed stacked against you?

Usman: The hardest part was convincing people that this project was worth their time and money. My family and some investors from California helped finance the film, but keeping everyone motivated was challenging. My wife, Mariam, who is the co-founder of the studio, and my cousin, Khizer, the CEO, were a huge help, but the responsibility ultimately rested on my shoulders.

We had the usual movie-making headaches, but we also faced the added difficulty of making the film in Pakistan, where there’s no industry or infrastructure for hand-drawn animation. The animation culture here is more geared towards CG and video games, so doing something like this for the first time was challenging. We built the studio from scratch, trained the team, and launched a Kickstarter campaign to get things rolling. It took years of dedication, and by 2019, when we finally started making the movie, I had to find new strength to push forward. It was incredibly difficult, but we made it.

The film just screened at Annecy. What was the reception like? And are there any future festivals or events where you hope the film will be showcased?

Usman: Our world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival was a huge honour, especially since no Pakistani film had ever been part of the official competition. Annecy was amazing because it’s the most educated animation audience that will ever see the movie. Everyone in the audience was an animator or an artist who understood how much work went into creating it. I also just got back from the Hiroshima Animation Festival in Japan, where the film was again part of the official competition, and I got to show it to some of my heroes, which was amazing. 

Are you in touch with the anime scene in Pakistan? In India, there’s been a marked increase in anime consumption and a very overt love for animation over the past decade. How do you see ‘The Glassworker’ influencing the future of animation and anime in Pakistan?

Usman: Honestly, I don’t see it changing the industry much because projects like this are difficult to execute. The main hurdle is financing. However, I hope the film inspires others to pursue their passions with dedication. There’s a great Walt Disney quote I like to paraphrase: “We don’t make movies to make money; we make money to make more movies.”

I just wanted to do good work, and if this allows me to make more, I’d love to do that. Right now, I’m exhausted. I was 23 when I started this; I’m 33 now. It’s been a very long journey, so I want to take it easy for a bit and focus on releasing the film in more territories. I have a lot of ideas I want to explore for future projects, and I hope I get the opportunity to do so.

Would you ever consider a cross-border collaboration with more South Asian voices to bring more South Asian stories to life?

Usman: Definitely, I’d love to. If an opportunity presents itself, that would be amazing. One thing that shocked me about the English trailer is that, when I checked the YouTube analytics, I found that most of the views — 1. 1 million so far — are from the United States. The second most views are from India, with Pakistan coming in third. The support this film has received from India has been humbling, and I would love to release the film there. I know the political situation between the two countries makes it difficult, but if there’s any way to release the film in India, if there’s a way to get the film to the people who want to see it, I’ll do whatever it takes.

Published – September 10, 2024 06:22 pm IST

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Everything you missed about the iPhone 16, AirPods 4 and the Apple Watch 10 – Egypt Independent

Post By World

CNN  — 

Apple on Monday unveiled a host of new technology, including the iPhone 16, which features some impressive updates the company hopes will convince customers – many of whom have been holding onto their older gadgets – to upgrade.

Since the 2020 launch of the iPhone 12, which was the first Apple smartphone with 5G connectivity, the company has given customers few reasons to buy the latest generation. Phone cameras have largely advanced to the point where they’re sufficient for most people’s day-to-day needs without major hardware changes, and at some point the human eye isn’t even capable of perceiving higher screen resolutions.

That’s why roughly 300 million iPhones worldwide have not been upgraded in more than four years, according to a research note from analyst Dan Ives of investment firm Wedbush last month. As a result, iPhone sales, which make up half of the company’s revenue, have been sluggish.

Similarly, the Apple Watch and AirPods have seen mostly incremental upgrades in recent years that haven’t persuaded customers to shell out hundreds of dollars for slightly better devices.

On Monday, Apple made several announcements it believes could promote a new major sales cycle.

Apple announced that the iPhone 16 would be the first model purpose-built for generative artificial intelligence, which would allow users to create text and images with a natural-language prompt. Both the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro will be available for pre-order on Friday and in stores on September 20, Apple announced.

Camera control button: A new camera control feature, accessed with a button on the side of the phone, which will give users access to “visual intelligence,” Craig Federighi, the senior vice president of software engineering, said on Monday. For example, after clicking the camera control, a user can point the camera at a restaurant and the iPhone 16 will pull up information like reviews, the menu and how to make a reservation. It can also be used to identify things like dog breeds or landmarks and to add things to your calendar.

Siri enhancements: Siri will now be able to pull from users’ text messages, meaning it can remind you of TV and music recommendations sent by friends, said Federighi. For example, you can say, “Send Erica the photos from Saturday’s barbecue,” and Siri will understand which photos to send and automatically text them to the right person.

New colors: The new phones come in white, black, teal, “ultramarine” and pink. They’re also available in two sizes: 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for iPhone 16 Plus. The 16 line also comes packed with buttons, including the customizable Action Button from the previous generation. It also adds a new camera control slider, which is a small flush area on the side of the phone that works by capacitative touch, just like the phone’s screen responds to a finger. Users can slide a finger along it to access and use different camera features, like the depth of field.

Faster processor: The iPhone 16 comes with 17 percent more system memory bandwidth to better support Apple Intelligence, a glass-ceramic screen that promises to be 50 percent tougher and 40 percent faster GPU than the previous model.

Same price: The new iPhone 16 will start at $799, the company said. The iPhone 16 Plus will start at $899.

The iPhone 16 Pro, Apple’s higher-end iPhone, features even more AI features than the iPhone 16.

Bigger screens: The iPhone 16 Pro line is bigger by 0.2 inches than last year’s models: the entry-level Pro is 6.3 inches and the Pro Max is 6.9 inches, allowing users to see and do more on the display. Apple said the devices include the thinnest borders yet.

Better battery, new colors: The iPhone 16 Pro also features the longest-lasting battery life on any of its iPhones, and comes in four colors: white titanium, darker titanium, natural titanium and a brown-colored desert titanium.

4K video: The new high-end iPhone 16 also lets you shoot in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, with the ability to make the video slow-motion after recording a clip, rather than trying to grab the right setting as the action is happening. The Pro line is also getting an audio recording boost, including spatial audio with reduced background noise, enabling videos to pick conversations from the people centered in the video out from the ambient noise around them.

Price: The new Apple iPhone 16 Pro will cost $999 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be $1,199, the company announced Monday.

Apple unveiled the latest version of its AirPods line that the company calls its “most comfortable” set yet. And its AirPods Pro gained a hearing aid feature that is awaiting regulatory approval.

New shape: Apple said the AirPods 4 were redesigned with advanced modeling tools to make the earbuds fit better into user ears.

New features: The AirPods 4 also come with more control to play and pause music, start and end calls, and now include USB-C via the charging case. They also come with a handful of features that are typically found on its higher-end Pro model, including active noise cancellation and “transparency mode,” which enables users to hear the outside ambient environment.

Two prices: The new AirPods 4 will cost $129 and AirPods 4 with the active noise cancellation feature will be slightly more expensive at $179, the company announced on Monday.

Hearing aid feature: Apple’s new AirPods Pro model will come with a clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aid feature, the company said, as well as a clinical hearing test that users can access on their iPhones. Apple said it expects to receive clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulators soon, but the feature will be available in over 100 countries and regions, including the US, this month.

The new Apple Watch 10 is the thinnest smartwatch Apple has made yet – and it has the Apple Watch’s largest-ever screen display – 30 percent larger than previous Apple Watches.

New look: The watch comes in a new polished titanium finish in jet black, along with rose gold and silver.

Tracks sleep apnea: Apple’s la

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Bankroll Management In Sports Betting: A Beginner’s Guide

Post By Sports

Sports betting should be both fun and profitable, but that often isn’t the case. According to statistics, most bettors lose more money than they gain. While sports outcomes are inherently unpredictable and wins are not guaranteed, one major error that causes the downfall of many punters is the lack of proper bankroll management. Many bettors, especially beginners, wager recklessly without considering their budget or readjusting their bet sizes to minimize losses.

If you want to bet on sports sustainably—and profitably—over the long term, you must learn to implement responsible bankroll management practices. This beginner guide breaks down the basics of bankroll management, ensuring you bet responsibly while maximizing your chances of profitability. But before we get to it, you can click here for a rewarding betting experience on your favorite sports events or other exciting real-money games.

What is Bankroll in Sports Betting?

A bankroll is the specific amount of money set aside exclusively for betting, serving as both your financial foundation and the limit of what you’re comfortable wagering at any given time. Simply put, a bankroll in sports betting is the money you invest in your account to wager with. Note that this amount should be money you can afford to lose and not meant for essential expenses like rent, bills, or savings.

Effective bankroll management, therefore, refers to wisely allocating and managing your bankroll to ensure you can bet for as long as possible while avoiding significant losses. It is arguably the most essential element of a successful betting strategy.

Experts suggest that bettors who limit their wagers to 1-5% of their total bankroll per bet are more likely to sustain their betting activities over time, reducing the risk of depleting their funds during losing streaks.

Why is Bankroll Management Important in Sports Betting?

Bankroll management is crucial in sports betting because it prevents customers from losing their entire betting budget. Without it, placing large wagers or betting for a long time may yield short-term wins but carry a high risk of total loss.

Proper bankroll management enables bettors to make informed, calculated wagers that minimize huge losses. This approach allows for steady, long-term profits and reduces the emotional stress of betting. By managing their bankroll carefully, bettors can maintain a balanced perspective, avoiding the emotional rollercoaster that comes with reckless betting.

Return on Investment (ROI) is the best indicator of success, as it measures the relationship between how much you bet and how much profit you earned.

ROI = (Profit/amount wagered) x 100

7 Common Bankroll Management Mistakes

As the popular saying goes, “When you fail to plan, you’ve essentially planned to fail.”Simply wagering on games as they come up without considering how much you’re betting or what your overall bankroll is isn’t a smart move.

Let’s see some of the most common bankroll management mistakes beginners make.

1.    Betting Too Much at Once

Wagering a large percentage of your bankroll on a single bet is a risky move. It can lead to significant losses, especially during a losing streak.

2.    Chasing Losses

After a loss, some bettors increase their bets in an attempt to recover quickly. This impulsive behavior often results in even greater losses.

3.    Ignoring a Betting Plan

Failing to set and stick to a clear betting plan can lead to inconsistent and emotional decision-making.

4.    Not Keeping Track

Many bettors don’t track their wins and losses, making it difficult to analyze performance and adjust strategies and bet sizes.

5.    Lack of Discipline

Deviating from a predetermined betting strategy due to overconfidence or frustration can quickly drain your bankroll.

6.    Overestimating Success

Bettors may become overconfident after a few wins, leading them to increase bet sizes recklessly.

7.    Neglecting to Adjust

As your bankroll changes, it’s crucial to adjust bet sizes accordingly. Failing to do so can either expose you to unnecessary risk or limit potential gains.

Read Also: Man United Interested In Brighton Captain Dunk

Popular Betting Bankroll Management Strategies

Having examined the common mistakes, let’s explore some popular bankroll management to avoid going bankrupt when betting.

Unit Betting Plan

In the unit betting system, the bettor stakes a fixed amount of money, referred to as a “unit” on each wager. The unit size is determined by the bettor’s bankroll and their betting strategy. For instance, if a bettor has a $1,000 bankroll and chooses to set their unit at $10, each bet would represent 1 unit. Let’s say the bankroll grows to $1,200, the unit stake on each wager then becomes $12.

Fixed Percentage Plan

In a simple percentage-based staking system, each wager represents a fixed percentage of your total bankroll. Most beginners find stability and safety by using 1-5% stakes as they learn the ropes. Conservative bets of 1-3% help minimize risk exposure while allowing you to explore different sports leagues, bet types, and strategies.

Kelly Criterion

The Kelly Criterion is a more sophisticated bankroll management strategy that takes into account the expected value of a bet, the odds of winning, and the size of a bettor’s bankroll. It calculates the optimal bet size by considering these factors, enabling larger bets when the odds are favorable and smaller bets when they are less favorable.

Confidence-Based Model

Here, the size of your bet is adjusted according to how confident you are in a particular outcome. The more confident you are, the larger your stake. This method allows for a flexible and personalized betting strategy, where wagers are scaled based on the perceived likelihood of success.

Martingale System

The Martingale System is a traditional betting strategy where you double your bet after each loss, aiming to eventually win and recover all previous losses, plus a profit equal to your initial bet. While theoretically sound, this approach carries significant risk, as a long series of losses can result in substantial financial damage.

Proportional Betting

This involves placing a wager that represents a percentage of your bankroll, with the percentage varying based on your confidence level or the odds. This method is more conservative than flat betting and aims to balance risk and reward by adjusting the bet size according to changes in your bankroll.

Conclusion

Effective bankroll management is the cornerstone of success in sports betting. When you stick to a set percentage, avoid emotional betting, and track your results, you’re setting yourself up for long-term profitability. Think of your bankroll as your business capital, protect it at all costs, and let discipline guide your decisions. Remember, like in business, success in sports betting is a gradual process that is achieved in the long run.

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3 Ways to Increase Video Conversion Rate

Post By Digital Marketing

This article outlines five practical tips to enhance your agency’s video approach and improve conversion rates.

Increasing your video conversion rate can significantly impact your overall marketing campaign performance. Even when a video is well-produced and has a solid audience, conversions sometimes fall short. 

For example, imagine launching a product video that drives tons of traffic to your client’s website, but only a small percentage of their viewers actually sign up for the free trial at the end. 

What’s missing? 

While video content might engage users, there are often overlooked elements that prevent them from taking that next step. 

In this article, we’ll explore three straightforward ways to fine-tune your agency’s video strategy and optimize for better conversions. 

Whether you’re focusing on CTAs, user experience, or timing, these tactics will help you bridge the gap between views and conversions.

Let’s dive in.

In this article:

  • Benefits of Video Marketing
  • How To Create a Video Marketing Strategy 
  • How To Use Video Marketing To Increase Conversions
  • Best Practices for Video Ads Marketing
  • Measuring Video Ad Results
  • Summary & Key Takeaways

Benefits of Video Marketing

Video marketing has become one of the most effective tools for digital marketers. And it’s not just about aesthetics or keeping up with trends. Video advertising drives real results that help brands connect with their audience on a deeper level. 

Here are nine key benefits of incorporating a well-executed video strategy into your agency’s marketing efforts.

1. Expanded Audience Reach

Videos have an unmatched ability to attract attention and connect with a wide variety of viewers. Compared to other content formats, videos are shared more frequently and have a greater chance of going viral.

2. Higher Engagement

Video content encourages viewers to engage more by liking, sharing, and commenting. Its immersive format keeps viewers invested in the message, making it easier to foster a connection with the audience.

3. Boosted SEO Performance

Search engines, particularly Google, favor websites that incorporate video. Adding videos to your client’s site improves their ranking and makes it more likely for the content to land on the first page of search results.

4. Increased Conversion Rates

Videos play an important role in driving conversions. Whether it’s a product demo on your client’s website or a testimonial in their email campaigns, video content tends to generate higher click-through and conversion rates.

5. Improved Retention

People are more likely to remember video content than text or static images. Using videos strengthens brand messaging, leading to greater recall among audiences.

6. Building Trust

Videos provide a platform for authenticity, allowing brands to create personal, relatable content. This builds trust and helps establish stronger relationships with viewers.

7. Clearer Product Explanations

For complex products or services, video offers an opportunity to explain details more effectively. Demonstrations and overviews clarify usage, making it easier for customers to understand the value.

8. Enhanced Social Media Presence

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok prioritize video content, giving brands a better opportunity to reach and engage their target audience.

9. Better Storytelling

Videos allow for more dynamic and emotive storytelling. Brands connect with viewers emotionally and explain complex ideas in a way that’s more digestible and engaging than text-based content.

Capitalizing on these benefits helps marketing agencies improve their clients’ online presence and achieve better results.

How to Create a Video Marketing Strategy 

Creating a solid video marketing strategy requires careful planning and understanding of your goals. Below you’ll find a strategy that drives real results:

Set Clear Goals Aligned With the Buyer’s Journey

To start, define specific goals for your video campaign based on where the audience is in the buying process. 

Videos for the awareness stage should focus on introducing the brand, while those in the consideration phase should offer more in-depth information. Decision-stage videos should guide viewers toward taking action, such as making a purchase or signing up.

Know the Target Audience

Understanding who the audience is will shape every aspect of your video. Consider factors like demographics, interests, and behaviors to create content that resonates with the right people and addresses their specific needs.

Agency Tip: Have an in-depth discussion with your clients beforehand. They might think their target audience is someone completely different which may cause their video ad results to suffer. Try using checklists or surveys to gain a better understanding. 

Tailor the Message With Engaging Storytelling

Effective storytelling is at the heart of any successful video. Make sure the message is clear, compelling, and tailored to the audience’s pain points or interests. A well-crafted narrative will keep viewers engaged and more likely to respond to the call to action.

Choose the Best Platforms for Video Placement

Where a video ad is placed is just as important as the content itself. Whether you choose YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, select platforms that align with the audience’s habits and preferences to maximize reach and impact.

Decide on the Right Video Format

Different types of videos work for different campaign goals. Product demos, testimonials, explainer videos, and short social media clips all have their place, so choose the format that best suits the client’s objectives and target audience.

Launch the Campaign With a Clear Plan

Once the video is ready, launch it with a clear strategy in place. This includes setting up tracking tools, scheduling the release, and ensuring everything runs smoothly across all platforms.

Evaluate the Results

After the video ad has been live for a while, assess its performance by reviewing key metrics like views, engagement, and conversions. Use this data to refine future video marketing efforts, ensuring continuous improvement and success.

How to Increase Video Conversion Rate for Clients

According to the AgencyAnalytics Marketing Agency Benchmarks Survey, the metrics that matter most to agency clients are those that demonstrate conversions. 

2024-agency-benchmarks-agencyanalytics

Agencies always want to show a good return on ad spend (ROAS) and the best way to do this is by focusing on the video metrics that clients care most about. 

Here are a few tips for optimizing your clients’ video ads to boost conversions:

1. Improve Video Viewability

Ads with a viewability of 70% or more perform better. If the viewability of your client’s online video ads falls below this mark:

  • Identify where users spend their time and move video players to those positions on the page.
  • Configure a video player to autoplay only when it is in viewport.
  • Ensure your video ads are well-positioned:
    • For above-the-fold placements, place ads near the bottom of the screen (right above the fold).
    • For below-the-fold placements, place ads on the left or right side of the screen and if possible, in a separate column from the page content.
    • The logic of ad placement is simple: If people can’t find your videos, they can’t become viewers of it. If they aren’t viewers, your metrics stop there.
  • Increase the size of the video player. The larger the video player, the more viewable the video content.
  • Address the load speed. Slow-loading ads are less likely to be viewed.
  • Optimize websites for:
    • Speed and Responsiveness
    • Mobile Devices

2. Improve Video Completion Rate

Bear in mind that only 53% of viewers will watch a video to the end. But, there are still options for improving the completion rate of your clients’ online video ads:

  • Improve viewability (as above).
  • Shorten the length of the videos. The less there is to watch, the faster completion is reached. 
  • Include subtitles in the videos. Most people opt for silent viewing on mobile devices, so tailoring your clients’ videos to the preferred viewer experience is a good move. 

3. Improve Video Engagement

If the engagement rate of your clients’ online video ads is lower than 1-5%: 

  • Change the video thumbnails to be more eye-catching. Since it’s the first thing to be seen, it’s important that it captures the viewer’s attention. 
  • Start videos off strong. Include a compelling hook in the first three seconds that will draw viewers in.
  • Make the videos interactive. Include gamified, shoppable, or virtual reality elements to elicit viewer engagement.
  • Ensure that all video ads include a strong CTA to increase the likelihood of viewers clicking through.
youtube-report-template-agencyanalytics

Save your agency’s billable hours every month by using a YouTube report template. This report combines PPC video metrics with a variety of other marketing platforms to give clients a complete picture of your agency’s efforts. 

Best Practices for Video Ads Marketing

To get the best results from video ads, it’s important to follow a few proven strategies. Focusing on concise messaging, mobile optimization, and consistent branding will help maximize engagement and conversions. 

Here are the best practices to keep your client’s video ads on track:

Highlight Benefits and Solutions, but Keep It Brief

The most successful video ads are concise and focus on delivering clear benefits to the viewer. For example, YouTube ads under 10 seconds see the highest completion rates, with engagement staying strong up to about 30 seconds. Keep the messaging direct and impactful.

Optimize for Mobile and Use Closed Captions

A large portion of video content is viewed on mobile devices, so make sure the ads are optimized for smaller screens. As mentioned above, adding captions is essential to ensure the message is understood, even when muted.

Tell a Story and Stay On-Brand

Building an emotional connection with viewers is key to encouraging action. While storytelling can create engagement, it’s just as important to ensure your client’s brand is visible and consistent throughout the ad. Striking a balance between engagement and brand recognition will improve both awareness and conversions.

Test and Optimize for SEO and Visibility

Experimenting with different versions of a video ad will reveal what resonates best with the audience. Vary elements like the length, messaging, music, or visuals, and monitor which versions perform better in terms of engagement and conversions.

By following these best practices, you’ll ensure your clients’ video ads are optimized for success, driving both engagement and meaningful results.

Measuring Video Ad Results

After spending so much time crafting the perfect video ad campaign, you want to show off your agency’s results in a report that looks just as good. 

It can be difficult to determine the success of video ad campaigns without proper tracking and measurement tools. For agencies, having these tools that scale with their growth is key to continually optimizing and tracking multiple client campaigns at the same time. 

Key Video Advertising Metrics

Agencies need to measure the success of their video marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions to maximize their clients’ return on investment. So what are the most important video advertising metrics to track? 

Here are the top six video ad metrics:

  • Engagement
  • Conversion Rate
  • Impressions (View count) 
  • Click-Through Rate (CTR)
  • Follower/Subscriber Growth 
  • Average View Duration 

But how do you prove to your clients that their ROI is worth it for all these video ad campaigns?

This is where a strong client reporting platform makes a difference—consolidating all your clients’ important metrics in one place, saving your team valuable billable hours so they can concentrate on the creative side of marketing. 

With AgencyAnalytics, you’ll:

  • Put all your clients’ PPC metrics under one roof–without logging in and out of multiple platforms 
  • Instantly combine over 80 platforms into a crisp marketing reporting dashboard that updates in real-time
  • Drag and drop the most important sections you want to showcase to clients
  • Have a historical view of your campaign results at your fingertips
  • Flip your client data into easy-to-read client reports in minutes
key-video-advertising-metrics

Track and report on your clients’ video ad metrics with their other marketing platforms in a single report. Get started with your 14-day free trial of AgencyAnalytics.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Video marketing is a powerful tool that drives meaningful results for your agency’s clients, but optimizing for conversions requires a strategic approach. 

By focusing on clear CTAs, concise messaging, and mobile optimization, you will significantly improve engagement and conversion rates. It’s also essential to continually test different video elements, such as length and placement, to see what resonates best with the target audience.

The benefits of video marketing go beyond vanity metrics such as views. Video ads increase audience reach, build trust, and improve SEO. When combined with the right strategy, video content becomes a key driver for both brand awareness and conversions.

Reporting on video conversion metrics doesn’t need to be complicated. Use AgencyAnalytics to track, report, and analyze key conversion metrics in no time. 

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They’re Desperate: CBS News Tries to Gin Up the ‘Joy’ With Poll About Kamala’s ‘Excitement Factor’

Post By Politics

After a month or more of media fluff, things are not panning out for Kamala Harris the way Barack Obama had hoped. Hey, don’t look at us that way. We all know that a Harris first term would be an Obama fourth term, just like Biden’s first term was Obama’s third term. 

Unfortunately, those pesky American voters aren’t buying the ‘joy.’

Yesterday, statistician Nate Silver released a new election odds prediction and it is all bad news for the Harris campaign. 

Yikes. Sound the alarms. 

Of course, elections aren’t decided on polls or predictions, so anything could still happen, but we are not surprised to see the Democrats in full panic mode. We have seen it from Aaron Rupar and David Hogg in recent days. (Have we mentioned how hilarious it is to see Hogg talking about masculinity? Because we would like to mention that again.) 

But with all of this dismay from Democrat influencers, who can Harris rely on to try to gin up some more fake joy? This sounds like a job for the mainstream media. Last night, CBS News tried to quell the fear with a new ‘excitement poll,’ showing Harris doing very well among Democrats in swing states. 

LOL. ‘Excitement factor.’ 

The first thing to know about excitement polls is that they are completely meaningless. The second thing to know about excitement polls is that they are completely meaningless. 

Basically, all those polls do is measure how enthusiastic people each candidate’s own party is about voting for their nominee. The breaking news here? Both Harris voters and Trump voters are pretty revved up to vote for their guy (or girl). 

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Eighty-nine percent of Democrats in Michigan, 82% in Pennsylvania and 87% in Wisconsin say they’re excited by Harris campaign. By comparison, among Republicans, 78% said the same of Trump in Michigan, 75% in Pennsylvania and 76% in Wisconsin. 

Now, Democrats in the three battleground states are also just as likely as Republicans to say they will definitely vote, as Harris has consolidated the votes among the party’s base. But Trump leads in the states among some key issues, including the economy and inflation.

Oh, that pesky economy and inflation. 

Here is all this poll tells anyone: Democrats were dead in the water with Joe Biden, probably heading for a defeat of gigantic proportions in November, unseen since George McGovern in 1972 or maybe Walter Mondale in 1984. Now, they actually have a living, breathing human being they can vote for.

Yippee. She has a pulse. Can you feel the joyous energy?

There will be no zoo animals to hunt down because the illegal Haitian immigrants may have eaten them all already. 

HAHAHAHAHA. 

By the way, the side-by-side is made up, obviously, but that is a real Harris quote, talking about lipstick on coffee lids for some unimaginable reason. 

This was before her handlers forced her to tone down her insane cackle. 

That is why ‘excitement polls’ are useless. Yes, Democrats will get out their vote for Harris, even to their own detriment. But that group cannot win statewide or nationwide elections. They need independents for that. Independents vote based on their wallets more than anything else, and certainly not on their ‘joy.’

Like we said, completely irrelevant. Especially when it is this close. It might be news if there was a large gap, for instance when Biden’s shuffling corpse was running for president and Trump had a HUGE (maybe even ‘YUGE’) lead in voter enthusiasm. But that’s about it.

This is the correct reaction to the CBS poll. 

Even CBS was forced to admit in its article that Trump still leads on all of these important issues where swing votes are decided. 

We checked with the grocery store, the gas station, and the gas company. Sadly for Harris, none of them accept ‘joy’ as a form of payment. 

You can be very sure that if Trump had a slight lead in this polling category, that would have been meaningless as well, but CBS would have never published this article.

Technically, ‘Democrat Party controlled media,’ but we’ll accept it. 

It is nauseating, but they are really bad at it, so that makes it kind of funny too. 

Tonight is the first (and likely only) presidential debate. No matter what kind of agitprop CBS News tries to push about excitement, this debate is do or die for Kamala Harris. If she does well, this will be a close race until November. If not, Harris may continue to sink for the next two months (unless the Democrats pull another switcheroo and don’t think there aren’t operatives contemplating that very thing).

No matter how she does, we’re sure the usual suspects — CBS, CNN, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, etc. — will praise her performance. They probably have their post-debate spin already written. The problem is, Americans don’t believe or trust them anymore. 

And if they’d like to know why not, all they have to do is look at this ‘excitement poll’ from CBS. 



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