John Douglas Steuart is a venture capitalist and successful entrepreneur, but he didn’t become one overnight. He attributes much of his success to his education and experience through decades of hard work.
Countless hours building teams and perfecting his business strategies led him to become an expert on entrepreneurship. He recently discussed seven habits he believes helped him succeed and can help others too.
1. Research, Research, Research
When interviewers asked Steuart how he brings ideas to life, he commented that research is an absolute must. He explained that all entrepreneurs already have passion and knowledge, but they must research extensively to support their ideas also. Research leads to well-thought-out decisions.
2. Create a Passionate and Collaborative Team
Steuart explained that his team is one of his greatest assets. He emphasized the importance of ensuring everyone has space to contribute and nobody is afraid to share ideas. Partnering with fellow great minds can quickly turn ideas into reality.
“There’s nothing more exciting than when my team comes up with a new solution to improve healthcare services and technologies,” he said. “They create real answers to problems and make people’s lives easier when they are most vulnerable.”
He stated that a great leader should know and collaborate with everyone on the team. All team members have different skill sets, and a combination of everyone’s best assets creates an unstoppable force. Entrepreneurs can never do everything independently, and acknowledging that is a significant step toward success.
3. Always Stay Up-to-Date
Steuart keeps himself updated on the latest technologies, business trends, and what’s happening in other parts of the world. He encourages entrepreneurs to commit themselves to lifelong learning and constantly bettering themselves. He added that it doesn’t always have to be through schooling, but improving oneself can be as simple as reading a book about leadership or productivity.
4. Believe in Oneself
There is a solution to every problem, and Steuart believes solutions are in every individual. He expressed the importance of not giving up on oneself even when the hurdles of entrepreneurship seem too large.
“Never be afraid to go for a goal that you think is worth the risk,” he said. “You never know the difference a single leap of faith can make on your future.”
5. Persevere With Passion
John Douglas Steuart helps entrepreneurs reach their business and personal goals. He believes he couldn’t have achieved his current level of success without steadfast perseverance and continuous passion.
He explained that being smart, a great leader and an excellent communicator are traits that help individuals create successful businesses, but passion and perseverance are even more important than book smarts.
6. Be Okay With Failure
All entrepreneurs will face some failure, but all setbacks can be less catastrophic with an excellent support system. Steuart emphasized the importance of an entrepreneur ensuring they have enough knowledge, resources, and support to deal with setbacks like failed products or even bankruptcy.
One of his most significant failures was in 1993 when he filed for bankruptcy for a healthcare product that never took off. He explained that he learned an important lesson about researching the potential market and creating products or services that appeal to a large class of consumers. His support system, knowledge, and extensive research allowed him to pull through the setback and onto bigger and better business options.
7. Always Prioritize Health
John Steuart explained that a person could not successfully run a business if they’re not in good health. He wakes up early each day to exercise and eat a healthy breakfast before sitting down to work. He firmly believes that health is wealth, and a healthy lifestyle with sufficient rest is a critical factor in success.
John Steuart and Entrepreneurial Success
Steuart co-founded his first company, Savvy Properties, after graduating college in 1988. What started as a small company providing affordable housing options to students grew into a major real estate company serving Berkeley, Albany, North Oakland, Pinole, East Bay, and Emeryville.
He then moved on to invest in the Alafi Capital Company, leading the company into profitable investments as the Chief Finance Officer. Following Alafi, he helped co-found Cybergold, then Claremont Creek Ventures.
Steuart remains a part of Savvy Properties and is now enjoying life as a semi-retired businessman, overseeing the work of his well-established teams. He prides himself on providing hundreds of job opportunities for the community of Berkeley, California, and far beyond.
When it comes to the entrepreneurial journey, learning is the pathway to success. That learning usually comes from failure. No entrepreneur likes to fail, but the fact is most do.
Some very successful entrepreneurs of yesterday and today experienced failure and learned from it on their way to success:
American inventor Thomas Edison tried thousands and thousands of times to invent the electric light bulb before eventually succeeding.
Walt Disney’s first animation company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, went bankrupt, but Disney went on from there to create an entertainment empire.
Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple, was fired from the company in the mid-1980s but was hired back in 1997 and led the company to meteoric growth.
Author J.K. Rowling submitted Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to 12 publishing houses, which all declined to publish it—now more than 120 million copies of this book have been sold.
These are just a few examples of famous entrepreneurs who experienced failure on their way to success.
Statistics bear out that failure and setbacks are common on the road to business success. Consider that data collected by the SBA from 1994 to 2019 shows that approximately 68% of new enterprises survived at least two years, and after five years the new business survival rate dropped to less than 50%.
While failures may be a given in the entrepreneurial journey, failure is not fatal. Successful entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and apply these learnings to the pursuit of their dreams. Some of the most important things these and other entrepreneurs learned from failure in business include how to be resilient, fearless, and adaptable.
What we can learn from failing in business
Resiliency
Failure teaches entrepreneurs the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, which is the definition of resiliency. With every failure, entrepreneurs can learn tenacity and perseverance (think Thomas Edison), two key characteristics of resiliency that are critical for pushing through missteps and fighting the urge to quit.
Research shows how important resiliency is to business success. A study conducted by researchers at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University followed first-time entrepreneurs over a period of two years as they developed, launched, and operated new enterprises. The study found that resilient entrepreneurs viewed business setbacks as puzzles they were fully able to solve and tackle. The researchers noted that entrepreneurs who had this “challenge appraisal” mindset “were more motivated and able to be proactive in identifying ways to improve business processes and outcomes, and to adjust them on the fly.”
The study also found that resilience was a crucial skill that helped entrepreneurs respond to unexpected challenges and that businesses owned by resilient entrepreneurs were more likely to survive than other businesses.
Fearlessness
Embarking on a journey of entrepreneurship is a risky proposition and is full of uncertainties that often elevate fear of failure and rejection. These fears can stop aspiring entrepreneurs from facing risk and pursuing their dreams.
A Zapier-commissioned Harris Poll survey found that approximately three in five Americans (61%) have had an idea for starting a business, and about a third (34%) have had more than one. The survey revealed that an overwhelming majority of those people—92%—did not turn their ideas into a business. For 33% of survey respondents, fear of failure is what stopped them from pursuing their dream of entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs who have failed learn first-hand what Winston Churchill meant when he said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” With this perspective, entrepreneurs no longer allow fear to stop them in their tracks. Instead, they view failure as an opportunity to learn from mistakes and use what they learned from failure in business to move forward despite their fears.
Learning from adversity is what helps take the fear out of failure. Devoting time to analysing what happened, why it happened, what worked, and what didn’t provides the clarity and insight required to determine what changes need to be made to achieve success. The knowledge and practical experience that comes from failure inspires a fearlessness and confidence in entrepreneurs that drives them to try again and again.
Additionally, the fear of rejection often prevents entrepreneurs from even trying. Jia Jang’s 100 Days of Rejection Therapy challenge truly puts this into perspective. Without even trying, many will simply write something off as impossible because they’re scared of being told “no.” However, Jang’s experiment showed that the worst thing that an entrepreneur can do isn’t asking for something they might not get—it’s not trying at all.
Adaptability
Failure is also a lesson in adaptability. When one idea or approach fails, entrepreneurs must be able to adjust to new conditions and be willing to experiment and test new ideas. Embracing change, staying nimble, and pivoting are part of the adaptability that helps entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, learn, and innovate. When industries, markets, and customer preferences change, this adaptability also helps entrepreneurs navigate these new situations and problem-solve to make an idea work or come up with a new one.
Netflix is a good example of a company that adapted its way to success. Founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in 1997, the company’s first business model centred on allowing consumers to rent and buy physical DVD movies. In 1999, the company added a subscription offering that allowed people to rent as many DVDs as they wanted, receiving rentals in the mail. The company adapted its business model again in 2007, moving away from physical media to take advantage of new technology that made it possible to stream content instantaneously via the internet.
Sometimes you need to fail in order to succeed
Of the more than 31 million entrepreneurs in the United States, many have experienced failure on their road to success. They have tried and failed, and likely failed a few more times during their journey. These failures are far from fatal. Entrepreneurs who learn the lessons of resiliency, fearlessness, and adaptability from failure in business are able to conquer obstacles and setbacks to achieve success.
Michael Jordan captured this idea well when he said: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Feature Image Credit: getty
By Jesse James
Jesse James is Director of Strategic Partnerships and Solutions at VizyPay. He is 15-year veteran of sales, sales leadership, and entrepreneurship. He was previously Director, Recruitment Services at DHI Group, Inc and Chief Revenue Officer at FiQore Technologies, Inc. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Can you imagine starting a blog and having no one read your articles?
Maybe you’ve already written some, but you’re unsure how people will find them.
In this post, I’ll show you all the places people can find your blog and what you can do to improve your blog’s exposure.
You’ll learn:
How to get seen on social media including YouTube and LinkedIn
Increase your visibility on search engines like Google
Get more traffic from other blogs
Get visitors from forums and Q&A sites like Reddit and Quora
The best part?
You’ll know exactly how people can find your blog AND how to keep them coming back, convince them to join your email list, and transform them into loyal followers.
Let’s dive right in.
How Do People Find Your Blog on Google?
People will find your blog on Google in two ways:
Organic results
Paid results
Paid results are shown at the top of the page, like this:
And organic results show below:
Paid Results
To get your blog to show up under a paid search result, you’ll need to join the Google Ads platform.
It works by listing keywords you want your blog to show up for and paying Google each time someone clicks on your ad.
The cost of clicks will depend on your niche and the competition of the keywords you choose.
On average, ads get clicked 19% of the time compared to the rest of the page.
Organic Results
If you want Google to display your blog posts in the organic search results, then you need to optimise your blog for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Organic results are free, but will take longer to show up.
An ad with the goal of sending people to your blog will cost money each time someone clicks on the URL.
Again, the costs will vary depending on a multitude of factors, but you are in complete control by setting a daily budget.
Facebook Search
Another way people can find your blog on Facebook is through the search feature.
If someone is searching for a topic relevant to a blog post you have shared on your Facebook page, they can be shown in the results.
Like this one here about growing tomatoes:
The more Facebook posts you share on your page and the more you optimize the post with the relevant keywords, eye-catching images, and engaging copy, the more traffic you’ll get from Facebook search.
Facebook Pages
Facebook pages are another excellent way to help people find your blog, build a social media following on Facebook, and drive more traffic.
Once you have a Facebook page, follow these tips to grow your engagement and drive tons of traffic to your site.
Post high-quality posts that grab your followers’ attention. The more engagement, the better.
Video has been on the rise in recent years, so why not turn your blog posts into videos and share those on your feed?
Recycle your best-performing posts.
You can also boost posts with an ad to kick-start your engagement.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are great for building a loyal community on Facebook and getting your blog seen by more people.
The best way to grow your reach in a Facebook group is to share a ton of value without always posting links to your blog. This will get the conversation going with other members and they will soon start promoting your stuff for you.
Then every so often, let them know about new articles to get more eyes on your blog.
There are quite a few ways people can discover your blog on YouTube.Here are the most effective places to link to your blog content:
In the video description:
Links in video cards:
In a pinned comment:
The end screen (you can place YouTube videos and other links here):
Your channel profile banner:
Your channel about page:
It’s a good idea to add a link to your blog and specific articles in these areas whenever you have the opportunity.
Then, you can focus on posting videos on your channel and using the YouTube algorithm in your favor to grow your engagement and reach.
Here are some ways to get the algorithm on your side to grow your channel:
Check Other Content to See What’s Already Performing Well
This helps your videos show up in the suggested sidebar when people watch videos similar to yours.
To find out what’s already performed well, go to a similar channel to yours and look at their videos with the most views.
Then open up a few of them and see which videos show up in the suggested section.
Creating videos like the ones suggested will help your own videos show up there.
Optimize Every Video
To increase the chance of your videos showing in search results, optimize your videos.
You can do that by talking about topics that people are searching for, including the keyword in the title, and saying the keyword and related terms in the video itself.
Also, make sure you add relevant keywords to the tags box under the advanced option of every video.
Keep People Engaged Throughout the Video
This is possibly the most effective way to grow your channel quickly because YouTube wants people to stay on the platform for as long as possible.
You can do this by starting your video with a pattern interrupt, a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) technique that shifts a person out of their current state and helps them focus on what you’re saying.
Tell the viewer exactly what they’ll learn in the video early on and give them an incentive to stick around to the end.
That could be a gift you want to offer them or something insightful they will find interesting.
How Do People Find Your Blog on TikTok?
Did you know people can find your blog through your TikTok account?
It’s true.
Unfortunately, the only place you can put a link to your blog is in your bio. Not only that, but you need a business account and 1,000 followers.
There are just two places to link to your blog on Pinterest.
Standard Pins:
And your profile page:
But how do people find your blog when using Pinterest?
Like all social networks, the Pinterest algorithm determines the best content to show its users.
If you want to increase blog traffic with Pinterest, then you can improve your reach by optimizing your Pins and posting regularly.
To add your blog URL to your profile, edit your profile and enter it under the website option.
Then, linking to a blog post happens automatically when you or someone else shares your content on Pinterest.
Alternatively, you can include your blog post link when creating Pinterest Pins manually.
How Do People Find Your Blog on Twitter?
On Twitter, people can find your blog through the Tweets you post and from the link on your profile page.
Your profile:
In a Tweet:
It’s important to remember that people who use Twitter or any social network will need to grow their following to help people find their blog more frequently.
To grow your following on Twitter, follow other bloggers or influencers who are in your niche and comment on their posts with valuable insights.
The people who follow these accounts will soon start following you and find your blog that way.
People can also find your blog posts when searching for topics on Twitter.
The more you post relevant content that is well optimized, the more you’ll show up in the results.
How Do People Find Your Blog on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the social media site for B2B professionals and business owners.
You can send traffic to your blog by placing a link on your profile page and in posts you share.
Also, make sure you create a company page for your blog because you can add a link here as well.
Then, you’ll need to grow your reach and engagement by posting content on the platform.
You can do this from your personal and company profiles. Provide original content that your connections will find useful and you’ll generate a steady flow of blog traffic.
How Do People Find Your Blog on Forums and Q&A Sites?
Want to get more traffic with Reddit or Quora?
These are also great sites where people can find your blog.
Reddit is like a modern day forum where people can discuss almost every topic under the sun.
You can create an account, add your blog URL in your bio, and join subreddits in your niche. Then share things that the users will appreciate. Some people can get thousands of visitors using Reddit.
Quora is a question-and-answer site that has become extremely popular in recent years. Instead of people having discussions on Quora, users ask questions, and bloggers, experts, and thought leaders answer them.
You can be one of those people who answer questions, sharing your perspective on topics related to your blog.
Then add a link to blog posts you’ve published that expand on the topics.
How Do People Find Your Blog Through Other Blogs?
So far, we’ve looked at all the ways people can find your blog through social media and Google search results.
But how do you get a steady flow of traffic from other blogs?
There are several ways to increase your visibility and traffic through blog marketing.
Blog marketing involves getting other bloggers to link to your content. When their readers see a link to your article, they will click through to your blog.
Here’s how you can do it.
Other Bloggers Linking to Your Content Organically
This is the most organic way to get consistent traffic from other bloggers.
The best way to accomplish this is to focus on creating quality content on your own blog.
Then, link to other bloggers’ blog posts and reach out to them, letting them know you linked to them. Some will soon return the favor and link back to your blog.
Guest Post
Another way to get links from other blogs to your blog is through guest posting.
This is where you create an article for another blogger in your niche for a link back to your blog.
Podcasts and Interviews
A little known strategy for getting links back to your blog is by being a guest on another blogger’s podcast.
They will usually link to your website, which can help grow your blog readership.
How to Get People to Read Your Blog Posts?
You can ask people to read your blog in direct ways without being pushy. The key is to write influential words that develop trust and motivate people to take action.
Here are three tips for getting people to notice your blog and read your content.
1. Focus on Great Content with Tons of Value
Learn how to create blog content and develop a consistent publishing strategy.
Make your articles as valuable as possible so your audience will read for longer and want to join your email list.
2. Hook Them with Your Titles
No matter where people see a link to your blog, you’ll need to grab their attention. To do that, use catchy headlines on social media and in email subject lines. Also, optimize your SEO titles to get more traffic from Google search results.
3. Ask Them with a Call to Action
Most people are busy and easily distracted, that’s why it’s important to prompt them to take action at every opportunity including in your social media posts, in your bios, in your blog post introductions, and in your emails.
People have doubts and need motivation to take action, so tell them what you want them to do. They will appreciate the confidence in you and see you as a leader they can trust.
Conclusion
How do people find your blog? Well, this post provided you with tons of ways – through social media, Google search results, and even places like Reddit.
Ideally, because you want people to find your blog, the most effective way to get seen in the long run is by publishing quality articles and increasing organic traffic.
Then you can focus on other means of traffic when search traffic is steady.
Ducktail, a known phishing campaign that hijacks Facebook accounts running advertising campaigns for businesses, is now distributing a brand new infostealer malware.
According to researchers at according to Zscaler (opens in new tab), Ducktail previously used LinkedIn to distribute a piece of malware written in .NET Core that would steal Facebook Business account data stored in a web browser and exfiltrate it into a private Telegram channel which acted as the malware’s command & control server (C2), communicating with target systems to coordinate cyberattacks.
Now, however, Ducktail has been spotted distributing a new malware variant that can not only steal Facebook-adjacent data, but also other sensitive data stored in browsers, such as data related to cryptocurrency wallets, account information, and basic system data.
Stealing browser data
The C2 has also been changed – the data no longer goes to a Telegram channel, but rather to a JSON website that also stores account tokens and other data needed for on-device fraud.
Zscaler also claimed that the malware is being shared as an archive file uploaded to a legitimate file hosting service. The attackers, they say, made sure that the malware doesn’t get flagged by antivirus software by only loading in memory.
Users can mitigate the damage caused by Ducktail and other malware by switching to an anonymous browser, or simply making sure not to save sensitive information in their browser of choice.
This is especially important because, if malware compromises an endpoint with a Facebook Business account, they may search for additional sensitive financial details such as PayPal data. This includes amounts spent on certain purchases, verification statuses, and more.
In most cases, attackers using malware try to trick people into downloading it by presenting it as movie subtitle files, adult content, or cracks for illegitimate software.
While it’s true that Ducktail’s new infostealer could be evading antivirus software, software that comes with in-built web protection could still be of help against it by blocking access to suspicious sites that may be carrying it.
Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career, spanning more than a decade, he’s written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans. He’s also held several modules on content writing for Represent Communications.
TikTok doesn’t have as many trackers out there as Google and Facebook, but its ad platform is young
A hot potato: Data collection has become so ubiquitous that most people just assume that any website or app they use is tracking them. Indeed, even after Apple’s recent privacy crackdown, Meta has been caught in the act of scraping personal data via a loophole. However, even the savviest users might be surprised that TikTok is tracking them even though they have never used the company’s website or app.
According to a Consumer Reports (CR) investigation published last week, TikTok has been planting trackers called “pixels” on hundreds of websites. Partnering with security firm Disconnect, CR looked into about 20,000 websites searching for TikTok’s pixels specifically. The pool included the top 1,000 most visited websites and many of the biggest, .org, .edu, and .gov domains since those tend to have more sensitive user data.
The study found that hundreds of companies share data with TikTok. Some prime examples of websites allowing TikTok to embed pixels include the United Methodist Church, Weight Watchers, and Planned Parenthood. Perhaps most disturbing is the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s sharing of user data regarding visits to its domestic violence and food assistance pages. By the way, none of these groups would respond to CR’s requests for comment. Big surprise.
“I was genuinely surprised that TikTok’s trackers are already this widespread,” said Disconnect’s Chief Technology Officer Patrick Jackson. “I think people are conditioned to think, ‘Facebook is everywhere, and whatever, they’re going to get my data.’ I don’t think people connect that with TikTok yet.”
“The only reason this works is because it’s a secret operation. It shouldn’t be happening in the shadows.” — Disconnect
Consumer Reports says that the number of Meta and Google pixels it found dwarfs TikTok’s by a long shot. However, it pointed out that TikTok’s advertising platform is just getting started, whereas Google and Facebook/Meta have been at it for years.
Consumer Reports was mainly concerned with personal data from organizations with which users would likely have an issue, like hospitals or advocacy groups. Analysts looked closely at the identified TikTok pixels to see what information they shared. TikTok pixels regularly transmit visitor IP addresses, unique ID numbers, pages users view, and what they click and type. It also has access to search requests. All of this is regardless of whether or not the user has a TikTok account.
When asked for comment, TikTok spokeswoman Melanie Bosselait said, “Like other platforms, the data we receive from advertisers is used to improve the effectiveness of our advertising services.”
Bosselait added that her company does not create profiles to sell to advertisers. She also claims that data from non-TikTok users is only used for “aggregated reports that they send to advertisers about their websites.”
“We continuously work with our partners to avoid inadvertent transmission of [certain sensitive] data,” TikTok claims. This type of information would include anything about health conditions, personal finances, or children.
However, CR states that previous investigations have shown that even though sites like Meta and Goole have policies barring transmitting sensitive data, trackers often send it regardless. TikTok’s pixels are no different.
For example, CR looked at the national Girl Scouts domain and found that TikTok has a pixel on every page of the website that can transmit personal information if a child is visiting. The analysts also found that searching for “erectile dysfunction” on WebMD resulted in the tracker reporting the query back to TikTok.
Those are just a couple of examples that returned sensitive information to the company despite its privacy statements and rules. If users knew a website they do not even visit had access to this data, they’d likely be outraged.
“The only reason this works is because it’s a secret operation,” said Jackson. “Some people might not care, but people should have a choice. It shouldn’t be happening in the shadows.”
Some company executives were unaware of what data their firm was sharing or to whom. Consumer Reports informed the Mayo Clinic that its public website (not the patient portal) was sharing data with TikTok. Disconnect checked later to find that the clinic had removed the TikTok tracker but that the site still used a “considerable number” of other pixels, including those from Microsoft, Google, and others.
Currently, there is not much that consumers can do about this situation. However, CR notes that switching to more privacy-friendly browsers such as Firefox or Brave and strengthening security settings can reduce a lot of tracking. Privacy-protecting extensions are helpful too.
Advertisers are notorious for watching what you do and where you go online. That’s valuable and very profitable information. Here’s one way to stop some of the spying:
The bad kind of cookies
Think of cookies as the trail you leave behind when you’re online. A first-party cookie is created and stored in your browser when you visit a website. It keeps things like your login info and shopping cart, so you don’t have to fill them in again each time. First-party cookies also preserve options and settings.
That’s useful, but cookies can be invasive too. Companies use cookies to track where you go and what you do online. They’ll even do it on a website other than the one you’re visiting. Advertisers love cookies because they help customize the ads you see. If the ads appeal to you, you’re more likely to click them, which yields a higher return on investment.
Blocking third-party cookies and tracking is one thing, but how about not being subject to tracking methods, to begin with? That’s where AdChoices and WebChoices come in.
AdChoices is a program from the Digital Advertising Alliance, a group of advertising and marketing companies that self-regulate to offer you choices for targeted advertising. Why would they self-regulate? So, no one else steps in to do it, of course.
Try it out next time you see an ad online. Look for the small AdChoices icon. It looks like a blue triangle with a lowercase “i” in the middle.
Click that to get information about the ad, change its settings and block it. Not all advertisers participate in the program, but you’ll know it when you see the symbol.
Within AdChoices is a tool called WebChoices. You can use this tool to opt out of many companies in one step. As with AdChoices, it only works for companies that participate in the program.
Get this: I used it to kick out 144 different tracking cookies!
Here’s how to use WebChoices:
• Go to https://optout.aboutads.info. WebChoices will scan your browser and computer to find out whether first-party and third-party cookies are enabled, along with a list of companies creating targeted ads for you. You’ll also see which companies you have already opted out of if you’ve used the tool.
• After the status check is complete, click Continue.
• Look at the Customizing Ads on your Browser column to see which companies use targeted ads. If it says Yes, you can opt out of that company by checking the box under the Opt-Out column.
• Or you can select everything by clicking Opt Out of All.
• After making your selection, click Submit Your Choices. (You can skip those steps by clicking Opt Out Of All as a first step.)
• The website will process your selection, and you click View Updated Results to see how it turned out.
The WebChoices tool works for the browser you’re currently using, so run it for each if you use more than one browser. If you didn’t catch every company the first time, try rerunning the scan.
If you delete cookies, you may not see the opt-out choices for the company, so run the scan now and then.
Keep your tech-know going
My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.
In this episode, Google updates Photos with redesigned Memories and a new collage editor, use your photos for a virtual clothing fit at Walmart, Keurig’s new smart brewer makes a mind-blowing amount of coffee and how to get your real signature on digital docs. Plus, a rescue helicopter nearly abandoned a stranded man by mistaking his distress call.
Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”
Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
Personal branding is essential for any entrepreneur, but it’s especially important in the world of Web3. With blockchain technology estimated to grow exponentially in the coming years, thought leadership in this space can offer a big advantage to founders and builders.
In my experience helping Web3 entrepreneurs build successful brands and creating my own niche presence, there is one common pattern I have found: People follow people. They don’t follow lifeless company logos and brands. Perhaps this is why more and more founders are spending significant time building their personal brands now.
Personal Branding Myths Busted
Personal branding is often seen as narcissistic and self-indulgent. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Personal branding is one of the most effective marketing tools available, and it’s a key driver of success for entrepreneurs.
A personal brand is not about having millions of followers. It’s about authority, trustworthiness and relatability. It’s about building a genuine fan base that appreciates your content and looks up to you as a thought leader in your space.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of personal branding for entrepreneurs in Web3.
My 5 Steps For Building A Personal Brand As A Web3 Founder
1. Define Your Niche
The first step to building a personal brand as a founder is getting clarity. Be precise about what you’re passionate about and what you want to be known for. This will help you attract the right followers and build a personal brand that is unique and authentic.
Remember, personal branding is a two-way road. Whether you want to talk about DeFi, or you are more excited to talk about cryptocurrency, it is important to choose a topic that you are interested in talking about and is something people want to hear about.
2. Choose Your Social Media Platform
Social media is a powerful tool for personal branding. In fact, most of the Web3 audience is hanging out either on LinkedIn or Twitter (also known as “crypto Twitter”). By being active on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn and Medium, you can reach a wider audience and share your ideas with the world.
3. Create Content That Educates And Entertains
Once you’ve defined your personal brand and chosen your platform, it’s time to start creating content—but not just any content. Make sure your content is engaging, informative and entertaining.
The best personal brands are built on a foundation of great content. If you can consistently produce high-quality content that educates and entertains your audience, you’ll be well on your way to building a personal brand that people know and trust.
4. Attend Web3-Specific Industry Events
Your personal branding journey doesn’t stop at content creation. To really take your personal brand to the next level, get out there and meet people face to face. And what better way to do that than by attending Web3-specific industry events?
By attending events and networking with key players in the space, you’ll not only gain valuable insights, but you’ll also make important connections that can help you further your personal brand.
5. Collaborate With Other Thought Leaders In The Industry
As you start building your personal brand, it can be helpful to collaborate with other thought leaders in the industry. You can do this through guest blogging, co-hosting events or even just engaging in thoughtful debates on social media.
Not only will collaborating with other thought leaders help you further refine your personal brand, but it will also help you reach a wider audience and solidify your position as a thought leader in the space.
Final Thoughts
For Web3 founders, there are big advantages to building a personal brand and providing thought leadership in the space. In fact, these are key factors in attracting the right investors, customers and followers when you are starting something new from scratch.
By following the steps outlined above, you can start building a personal brand that will help you attract your desired audience. So what are you waiting for? Get started today.
Himanshu Bisht is an experienced startup marketing expert. He helps entrepreneurs build impactful companies & powerful personal brands. Read Himanshu Bisht’s full executive profile here
“The slowdown should be well understood by investors as… Apple guidance indicated Services growth should decelerate further in the Sept-qtr.” — Analyst Amit Daryanani
From a note to clients that landed on my desktop Monday:
All You Need to Know: App Store revenue [fell] for the second straight month in September. Revenue declined 4% in the month, which brings the Sept-qtr revenue growth rate to -1.5%, the first quarterly decline in the history of the App Store.
The slowdown should be well understood by investors as the App Store grew only 5% in the Jun-qtr and Apple guidance indicated Services growth should decelerate further in the Sept-qtr.
Gaming was the main culprit for the decline as revenue from gaming apps was down 13% and the non-gaming part of the App Store grew 10%. Gaming revenue growth has been low single digit or negative since April-21 as we began to see a hangover effect from the significant pull forward driven by COVID. Declines began to accelerate in May-22, likely due to worse macro, especially in the critical Japanese and Chinese markets and the negative impact on the mobile gaming ecosystem from ATT.
The App Store remains the largest component of services revenue, but it has become less important to the overall services growth rate and Apple was able to post 12% Services growth in June-qtr despite App Store growth of just 5%. New opportunities (payments, advertising) are becoming more significant drivers of growth…
Net/net: Consensus is calling for 11% Services growth which is slightly above our +9% estimate, but should still be achievable despite a 1.5% decline in App Store revenue. We would caution investors against making a call on Services purely on the App Store data as it is only ~30% of revenue and it is difficult to forecast the other components.
Maintains Outperform rating and $190 target.
Cue the bar chart:
My take: If those other Service components include advertising, they may be a mixed blessing.
If you’re running a business that has a website, you need analytics. Knowing how people are finding and engaging with your website is golden information that you can build on. Understanding which pages resonate the most and the least with your target audience and finding new pockets of potential customers can scale a business far faster than anecdotal evidence and trial and error.
Julian Juenemann knows about Google Analytics, one of the most popular web analytics tools. He learned about digital marketing through various startups he cofounded, and quickly became fascinated by a data-driven world. Launching JJAnalytics in 2013 saw him helping other business adopt his methods, to grow their businesses to new heights. He has since launched the MeasureSchool YouTube channel to teach this way of marketing to others. With over 150,000 subscribers, it’s become the leading source for marketers to learn data-driven analysis.
The new update of Google Analytics, GA4, has created exiting potential for entrepreneurs to improve how well their website converts and, therefore, the profitability of their business. Juenemann shares how the data can be applied to grow your business.
1.Visualize your funnel with GA4
“A funnel is a series of pages or actions your user takes to reach your goal,” explained Juenemann. “Not everyone will enter or even complete all steps.” With GA4 it’s possible to visualize your funnel and gain insights to improve it. Having an understanding of how customers are progressing through your site and converting to sale is valuable information to see laid out.
“In the Exploration section of GA4, select to create a new funnel exploration report,” instructed Juenemann. He explained that a pre-configured report will show by default, but “the magic lies in customizing it.” Customize your report by changing the steps on the left-hand side. Select the pages you want users to go through, to reach the desired conversion. For example, downloading your ebook, visiting a series of checkout pages, or reading a product page before putting it in the cart.
Once you have selected the steps of your funnel, it’s time to study it.
2. Understand and reduce drop off to increase sales
Before figuring out how to improve your funnel, it’s important to understand drop off. No website in the world has a 100% conversion rate because, “not every user will end up buying your product or submitting your form.” With the funnel visualization you have just created, you can now see the percentage of your website users that are dropping off on each step and understand which steps need improving.
GA4 portrays your funnel as a series of blue bars, each of which represent people who have visited that page. “Underneath each blue bar, you can see the percentage of users that dropped off on that step.” From here you can understand your most significant drop-off pages. This should involve looking at the page yourself and perhaps getting a second opinion from someone in your target audience, then reworking the page or making small tweaks. Edit the copy, add an explainer video, refresh the colour palette or add some images or diagrams that better explain a concept.
Improving your funnel’s pages will help more users travel through to sale. A tiny percentage improvement at each stage will make a dramatic difference to your overall conversion rate.
3. Retarget abandoned users
By now, you have identified which group of users haven’t progressed through your funnel to the end, and figured out where they are dropping off. You have your plan to improve your conversions. Next, it’s time to retarget those users who did drop off to entice them back in.
“GA4 has a great way of bringing abandoned users back to your site, made possible by the connection to Google Ads.” Connect the dots as follows. “Right click on the abandonment number and you’ll see an option to create a segment from these users.” A segment is a portion of people you can group together. “In the menu that opens next, you can mark this segment of people who dropped off as an audience.” Next, connect your Google Ads account to GA4 (if it’s not already) and upload this audience to your advertising account.
You can now set up a remarketing campaign to show ads to these people, meaning you have another chance to get them back.
5 gamechanging Google Analytics 4 (GA4) insights for entrepreneurs
Julian Juenemann
4. Figure out where users come from
Getting in the heads of your website’s users means understanding where they have come from. GA4 tells you this information, so you can work out which traffic channels you should optimize or turn off. For example, if you’re spending to advertise on a certain website but not seeing the traffic, that budget might be spent elsewhere. Similarly, if you’re seeing a high proportion of traffic from Instagram or TikTok, you want to make sure your website matches the visual, short-form layout of those platforms.
“In the Breakdown section of your funnel exploration report created in the first step, add the user’s session medium.” Once you have done this, the table underneath will populate with the traffic sources by which your users entered your funnel. “This data is broken down by the different steps they took and gives you information about how different user groups find you.”
Knowing where users come from brings insight into what they expect to find when they arrive, so you can make sure they see what they want.
5. Improve your funnel
“Making any kind of changes to your funnel will impact the data,” said Juenemann. “An improved site layout might lead to more people entering step two of your funnel from step one.” Keeping a log of the changes you make will enable you to see which have likely been effective and which perhaps had the opposite effect.
“In order to see the effect of your changes in GA4, switch your funnel visualization to a ‘trended funnel’ to see the steps in a timeline chart.” GA4 presents the results of your tweaks and shows you the impact since the changes were made. You can then work out which to optimize further and which didn’t move the needle.
Keep making small edits until your drop-off rates decrease and you’re making more money or attracting more enquiries through your site.
Seeing and understanding data is a powerful tool, not to be dismissed by marketers and entrepreneurs. Knowing what is going on means making small, incremental changes that could vastly affect the popularity and success of a website. Understand these game changing features of GA4 to take control of your site and steer the ship accordingly.
Feature Image Credit: 5 gamechanging Google Analytics 4 (GA4) insights for entrepreneurs. Julian Juenemann
Author of Ten Year Career: Reimagine business, design your life, fast track to freedom. I founded a digital agency in 2011 that was acquired in 2021 and write books and articles on entrepreneurship. Forbes’ 30 under 30 social entrepreneurs in Europe 2017.
Rational thinking might be overrated – especially during a recession, argues Collette Eccleston, senior vice-president of Material.
For many businesses, it can be difficult to resist that gut instinct to “batten down the hatches” at the first sign of trouble. But playing it safe isn’t what makes a brand recession-proof. The truth is that times of uncertainty can offer one of the best opportunities for your brand to make new connections with customers – that is, if you’re willing to think outside of the box.
If you’re a car rental company in bankruptcy, would buying 100,000 Teslas make any sense? Anyone would find it to be completely irrational and totally reckless. Yet Hertz made this decision as part of its bigger vision, which in turn led to a remarkable turnaround for the company in just over a year.
Like something straight out of a science fiction movie, Hertz now owns the largest fleet of autonomous vehicles. Thanks to a $4.2bn investment, Hertz has managed to propel itself ahead of the pack in a race to transform the car rental industry.
Hertz’s recent move shows that decisions that may seem irrational on the surface can often pay off. So, why do the rest of us judge irrationality as a flaw in human behavior? Irrationality in our professional lives is often exactly what’s needed to unlock the next million-dollar idea.
To be irrational is to be human
Running your business on rationality alone assumes that the people you serve are also rational. Humans make tens of thousands of decisions each day – most of which are not driven by logic at all. It’s our gut instinct that gives us the ability to quickly assess how we feel about the many choices that cross our paths.
That’s not to say rational considerations such as affordability don’t matter. For example, if someone needs a pair of shoes, they might select the $24.99 pair over the $25.99 one. It’s only a dollar less, but they could rationalize cost savings as the motivator. What about choosing a pair of shoes priced at $100 more? Emotion becomes the motivating factor in making that purchase. This is where behavioral science and psychology shed some light.
The four fundamental human needs – belonging, appeal, security and exploration – are a helpful lens for interpreting the motivation behind certain behaviors. When seen through this perspective, splurging $100+ on a pair of shoes starts to make sense; it just follows a different set of motivations. For example, this pair of shoes might unlock a consumer’s need to be a part of a community (belonging) or improve their confidence (appeal). Perhaps they find security in paying a little more for a brand they trust (security). Maybe they’re drawn to an innovative design that promises to boost performance (exploration). This is where an otherwise thrifty customer might be tempted to replace a functional need with a pair of high-end kicks.
Humans simply are not rational beings, so it makes little sense to appeal to consumers through rational means alone. It takes tapping into unconscious and emotional needs – irrational needs – to change behavior and benefit brands. By embracing irrational thinking, we expand what is possible in the process of designing products, services and experiences for our customers and employees.
Irrationality belongs in business – especially during a recession
Some of today’s most successful brands were built on once irrational concepts. And in fact, we’ve seen how times of uncertainty can provide the best opportunity to take that calculated leap. Airbnb is one such success story.
During the Great Recession of 2008, the brand got its start by tactically driving consumers to do something we’ve all grown up being told not to – enter a stranger’s home. Since then, Airbnb has not only been successful in effectively changing the industry and our cities, but also consumer minds and habits.
Behavioral science and psychology help brands, such as Airbnb and Hertz, decode ‘irrational’ consumer behaviors and provide context for the human experience: why we say one thing and do another is irrational, but when applied to business, it expands innovative thinking.
Here’s a formula for escaping this rut and bringing structure to the process:
See the world devoid of constants. Get into the required headspace for irrational thinking. Set aside all assumptions about ‘absolute truths’ and give yourself room to play in a world without limits
Create an irrational vision statement. Create a vision to be your North Star. Identify your role and purpose and what you want to achieve in this ideal and limitless world. If a decision doesn’t move you in the desired direction, then don’t do it
Stay the course with one-degree decisions. This is how you complete the equation, taking the small steps that will get you closer to making your irrational vision a reality
Returning to the example of Airbnb, we could imagine a world where it’s possible for people to truly feel at home everywhere. Through this perspective, we can see how Airbnb’s vision of belonging was born. It’s simple, compelling and deliciously irrational (you can’t really belong everywhere, can you?). But it comes to life through a series of one-degree decisions: services and features executed through design and technology that deliver on one of the most fundamental of human needs – community.
Reaping the benefits of irrationality will require more than an exercise in creative thinking. Brands need to commit to embracing irrationality before they have proof of what can be achieved. When brands move past the status quo and champion deep human understanding, they’ll find themselves among the most influential companies of tomorrow.
