Same time while maximizing output

By Amanda Caswell.

Sourced from tom’s guide

By Michael Crider.

YouTube’s ads are horrible, and so is its treatment of both viewers and creators. I’m not paying for Premium, ever.

I block every single ad on YouTube. And I’m a hypocrite for doing it. But I’m not ashamed. Because through a series of blunders and malicious decisions, Google has systematically made YouTube a worse and worse viewing experience, abusing its monopoly position as the de facto home of video on the web.

I’m a hypocrite for blocking ads

Let’s start off this rant with a little context. As a web writer, I should never block advertising on the internet. The majority of the money I’ve been paid over the last 13 years has come from web ads, like the ones you’re probably seeing above, below, and around these words. A modern writer for a free-to-read site blocking advertising is kind of like a vegan butcher: problematic at best.

Advertising is how the majority of content on the internet is sustainable. Google, Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, TikTok, the social media service formerly known as Twitter — if you’re accessing information for free, it’s almost always being paid for by ads. Google isn’t a search company, it’s the biggest advertising company on the planet. And yes, that includes Google’s subsidiary services like Gmail, Google Docs, and YouTube.

But the fact that advertising is literally vital to the web doesn’t take away its problems. Modern web ads are targeted towards people with a shocking degree of specificity. Your advertising profile, curated and updated via tracking cookies, probably includes far more data than you’d feel comfortable with if you saw it.

Ads clutter up pages and obscure the content they’re supposed to be supporting, bogging down performance with unnecessary videos and animations. And that’s when they’re not being actively malicious, spreading malware or targeted disinformation, or just plain selling scams. Google officially tries to police what gets advertised with its systems, as do other advertising giants, but this largely automated system has built-in holes that are constantly leaking the stuff of nightmares.

So yeah, I use an ad blocker in my browser, hypocritical as it is for me. And I don’t blame anyone else for doing it, either. It’s become an essential tool for any user of modern technology.

To hold on to a shred of dignity, I don’t block all ads. I use a “reverse allowlist,” only manually blocking ads on websites that bog down my PC with a glut of performance-sapping videos and animations, and only when I don’t have an alternative. As someone who works online and keeps dozens of tabs and windows open concurrently, I really don’t have an option not to block a lot of ads, even on my beefy desktop with 32GB of memory. The reverse allowlist feature is one of the reasons I recommend AdGuard over more popular alternatives like AdBlock Plus.

Based on that criteria, I shouldn’t block ads on YouTube. They don’t sap performance (much), and as annoying as they are, they pay for the content I watch for free. Open and shut case, right?

Google makes YouTube worse so you’ll pay to undo it

Wrong. Over the last few years Google has abused YouTube, its viewers, and its creators at every opportunity, and I’m sick of it. And since YouTube is an effective monopoly on the web (and hardly the only one Google is abusing), I feel zero shame about skirting around its attempts to make me pay for it with either dollars or attention. Vive la resistance.

Years ago I watched ads on YouTube, patiently waiting for the “skip” button to appear, gritting my teeth as that took longer and longer. I first considered blocking them when I started getting unskippable 30-second advertisements in front of movie trailers posted by Hollywood studios — ads to watch ads, in a twisted mirror of bloated theatre previews. But the final straw was when Google began showing two ads at once before pretty much every video.

As it happens, I started seeing double the advertising at exactly the same time that YouTube Premium became an option in 2018. Of course that wasn’t a coincidence. Google decided to make the experience of YouTube materially worse at the same time that it introduced a paid option to make it better.

We’ve seen the same thing happen with most of the mainstream video platforms: a cheap, ad-supported tier appears, and suddenly the ad-free experience is “premium.” Amazon didn’t even try to hide it — they simply made everything on Prime Video ad-supported, and told everyone to pay up if they didn’t like it. Pay more, I should say, since Prime was already a paid service.

Arbitrarily making your service worse so you can pay to undo the malfeasance really gets my goat. I resolved to begin blocking every YouTube ad I could and never pay for it, simply out of spite. And I succeeded.

How I block every YouTube ad — even the ones YouTube doesn’t pay for

On the desktop the easiest way to go about this is with a standard ad-blocker. Again, I prefer AdGuard, which has generally been reliable for this purpose. And it works in pretty much every browser, including my new bestie Vivaldi.

Once you’ve made that jump, there are other ways to enhance your experience that Google probably wouldn’t appreciate. You can skip past repetitive channel intros and outros, even automatically jump past the paid sponsorships that channels are forced to use when YouTube doesn’t pay them enough (the ads upon ads upon ads). The promo page for SponsorBlock says the extension has auto-skipped over thousands of years of integrated ads for its users.

But that’s just the desktop. What about mobile, where most of the world is actually watching YouTube? On Android this is fairly easy, if not straightforward. You can use a tool like ReVanced to patch the official app, baking those ad-blocking tools right into a customized version. In addition to blocking ads and skipping sponsored segments, it can even unlock the features that Google has placed behind the Premium adwall, like the ability to play audio in the background while you use other apps or have your phone off entirely.

In the interest of total transparency: This is something Google would probably call stealing, and it’s definitely against YouTube’s terms of service. Which is why they fight so hard against these apps.

Are you using an iPhone instead of Android, or aren’t keen on the slightly daunting task of messing with the official app? Then there are other options. You can view YouTube through a mobile browser like DuckDuckGo for easy access to ad-blocking and background audio. There are even a few apps like PopTube that are essentially third-party YouTube clients, doing their best to get around Google’s restrictions.

If all else fails, you can use a VPN to pretend you’re in a country where Google doesn’t think it’s worth it to run ads. And because I still need to earn a pay check, here are some VPNs you might consider. As it happens, the VPN service I pay for every month is cheaper every month than a YouTube Premium subscription.

Playing cat and mouse with Google

Google is doing its best to get around these methods as they become more popular. The keeper of the keys has been experimenting with a lot of ways to make sure you’re either paying or watching ads — the original “Vanced” app had to shut down for fear of legal repercussions. Google has slowed down the performance of YouTube for users who are blocking ads, trying to make it as frustrating as possible. And every time, the ad blockers have won out. Because YouTube might be powered by money, but ad-blocking developers are powered by spite.

Google’s next attempt to out-fox ad-blockers is baking advertising right into the base of the video stream, encoding the ads into the same file as the video itself. This is a huge technical overhead, something that will put some serious strain on YouTube’s data centers. And I don’t think it’ll work, even if they get it functional. The ability to bypass sponsored ads hard-coded into the videos already exists, and shows up within a few hours of a new video being posted on a popular channel.

If all this seems like a lot just to skip out on $15 a month, well, I suppose it is. Especially since I watch far more YouTube than I do any streaming service I actually pay for. But I’m not the only one who’s fed up with the platform, and sadly has no real alternative. YouTube’s own creators are sick of it too.

Even YouTube creators are sick of YouTube

You can’t watch any professional YouTube channel for long without hearing about videos getting taken down for overzealous and questionably legal copyright claims, as the automated systems leave the actual enforcement of fair use to humans. There are also elaborate methods of flagging videos with copyright notices and, instead of removing the video, simply leaving it in place and taking (or stealing) the revenue it creates. This is a system designed to end YouTube’s freewheeling pre-Google days as an open haven for piracy, but now it’s been weaponized as a way for gigantic corporations to fleece genuine creators out of the fruits of their labour.

And that’s assuming that advertisers are willing to pay for it in the first place. YouTube’s demonetization system, by which Google simply refuses to pay a creator because advertisers don’t want to be associated with controversial topics, is just as big a menace for anyone actually trying to make a living on the platform. You’ll see creators censor their own speech to avoid swearing too early, or using ridiculous euphemisms like “unalive” for kill or “self-delete” for suicide, topics that appear next to highly paid advertising on television every single day.

The following (demonetized) video has lots and lots of swearing. Fair warning. See how easy that was?

Try to make a video about true crime without saying “murder,” and you’ll see why YouTube creators are always begging you to subscribe to them on Patreon. Because it’s becoming harder and harder to actually make money on YouTube…and there’s no one to blame for that, except YouTube.

And for what? When I use YouTube in another browser or with extensions disabled, I still see some of the same trash ads I used to. Blatant “training methods” for get-rich-quick scams, the same kind of garbage that was stealing people’s money on late night TV thirty years ago. Mobile game ripoffs straight-up lying about what their actual gameplay looks like. “Dating ads” with Photoshopped models that seem like they’re either fake or victims of human trafficking. And just recently, endless, endless political ads with zero standards for either production or truth.

I even get advertising for ad blockers. So Google is accepting money to advertise products on YouTube…that it absolutely forbids you to use on YouTube, according to its Terms of Service. YouTube seems to have much lower standards for the people buying ads it than for the people who make the content that enables those ads to function.

Dropout.tv

To try and alleviate my conscience, I do pay for some of the content I watch. Indeed, I use Patreon to support some of my favourite channels like Drawfee and Second Wind. The YouTube monopoly is the only way they can actually get their content seen and I don’t want them to disappear. I’ve bought D&D merchandise from creators like Pointy Hat when they advertise their own stuff, just as a means of showing my appreciation. And I’m subscribed to the comedy channel Dropout, which evolved out of College Humour, and has become possibly the only self-sustaining streaming service that’s actually worth what it charges.

But pay for YouTube directly? Not a chance. I’ve given Google too much money for phones and tablets in the past, I paid for Google Play Music for years before they once again scrapped it for a worse and more expensive service. Until Google starts respecting both the users that it serves and the creators that it depends upon, it doesn’t get any more of my cash.

Feature Image Credit: NiP STUDIO/Shutterstock.com

By Michael Crider.

Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.

Sourced from PCWorld

Enter the Websites You Want to Search

Now, fill out the What to search box. It will give you examples of how to enter the websites you’d like to include. For example, entering www.makeuseof.com/* will include the entire makeuseof.com website, and entering *.bbc.co.uk will search the entire BBC domain, including television, radio, news, etc. You can add as many sites as you like here and always add more or remove some later.

 

Next, fill in your search settings. There are just two boxes here. Turn Image Search on if you want to include images in your search, and turn Safe Search on if you want it to block adult content from your searches.

Now, confirm that you are not a robot and click Create; your search engine is ready. There is a small code snippet on this page, but you only need it if you want to add it to your website.

Bookmark Your Custom Search Engine

Click Back to all engines in the top left of the page. Here, you will see a link to your search engine and any others you’ve created. Click the search engine’s name to edit, add or remove sites, or change settings.

Click on the link symbol under Public URL to open your search engine in a new window. You can bookmark this page to use your new search engine whenever needed—press CTRL + D on Google Chrome to bookmark the current page.

Programmable search engines can be a great way to get higher quality Google search results faster and with less combing through ads and bad results. They narrow your news search to trusted sites, focus work searches on industry publications, restrict study searches to professor-approved sources, create one for job searching, one for shopping to search only retailers you know and trust, or help you make sure kids search only kid-friendly, educational sites.

Because custom programmable search engines are so fast and easy to create, you can even make one to speed you through a particular project faster and delete it when finished. Experiment and get your search the way you want, without all the clutter.

Feature Image Credit: Gavin Phillips/MakeUseOf

Sourced from MUO

By Jose Enrico

A staggering $15.5 million for just a URL.

In a savvy business move, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman kept attention this week with a single, innocuous tweet: chat.com. Clickers were neatly redirected to OpenAI’s much-touted AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT.

Far from simply a redirect, the acquisition of this domain speaks to the continued effort of OpenAI to consolidate its branding and expand its influence within the conversational AI space. It’s just a URL, but its price is enough to give you the shock value you need for a week.

How Much is Chat.com Domain?

Feature Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

By Jose Enrico

Sourced from TECH TiMES

By Tom May

We speak to the great and the good to get the temperature of the industry as we head into the halfway point of the 2020s.

As we approach 2025, the creative industry stands at a fascinating crossroads. The rapid evolution of AI is reshaping how we think about design. To gauge the industry’s mood, we’ve spoken to leading creative directors, agency founders, and industry visionaries about the trends they believe will define 2025.

Their insights reveal a complex landscape where technology and humanity intersect in unexpected ways. And in these changing times, they’re very much worth paying attention to, even if you’re the sort of person who generally ignores trends.

Because it’s no exaggeration to say that this moment feels like it’s going to be pretty pivotal in design history.

That’s how Jan Eumann, executive creative director at Wolff Olins, is feeling right now, anyway. “Generally, we try not to worry too much about the big trends in graphic design,” he begins. “Instead, we focus on where society is headed and how we can have a meaningful impact where it matters. That said, in terms of what work looks and feels like, we’re clearly in one of the most transformational shifts in technology since the introduction of the computer.

“AI has been central to many, if not most, conversations about technology over the last few years,” he continues. “But considering the increasing maturity of tools and applications, there’s no point watching from the sidelines any more.”

Yet, although AI might be the biggest story, it’s not the only one. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and the rise of AI has also produced a number of counter-trends that designers also need to know about. Plus, of course, there’s plenty of other stuff going on in the design world beyond that. So read on as we outline the 10 biggest design trends that are captivating design leaders’ minds right now.

1. AI moves to the final output

The conversation around AI has shifted dramatically. Whether you love it or hate it, one thing’s for sure: you can no longer ignore it.

Some, like creative director Michael Freimuth, are giving it a cautious welcome. “As a relatively early adopter, I’ve enjoyed seeing creatives become less intimidated by AI and more experimental with it,” he says. “Using it in more practical applications as a tool has been a nice antidote to the ‘deer in headlights’ vibe from last year. Understanding its limits and strengths, as well as when it’s creatively soul-sucking and awful versus experience enhancing, feels like progress.”

As our special report earlier in the year shows, many agencies have already incorporated AI into processes such as idea generation, prototyping and mock-ups. But even if you’re not keen, OMSE founder James Kape points out that this emerging tech will still find you, somehow or other.

“AI has deeply embedded itself into everyday design tools, even when you’re not actively seeking it out,” he explains. “In Photoshop, for example, you can use the Generative Fill feature to remove, fix, or generate content with just a few clicks. Beyond that, new AI platforms like Exactly.ai enable users to generate illustrated assets from simple sketches, offering a new level of accessibility to design.”

And things seem to be moving faster and faster as we approach 2025. AI is now firmly embedded in search for Google, generative images are getting better and better, while numerous platforms are showcasing generative video tools that are shockingly convincing.

Could the coming year see AI become ready for prime time rather than just a handy ideation tool? Kiser Barnes, partner and CCO at Red Antler, believes so. He predicts that next year: “AI will transition from being a behind-the-scenes tool for processes and sketches to an actual execution tool, creating brand assets and content in real-time. AI’s role in design will become more direct, moving beyond ideation to final output.”

Even so, though, the elephant in the room is that AI will probably put many designers out of work. In an article we published in May, Simon Case predicted that AI will destroy jobs and create a movement towards one-person design agencies. As the capabilities of the technology continue to advance, that scenario does seem to be getting more and more likely by the day.

2. The return to physical experiences

As AI accelerates, though, our experts believe there will also be a powerful movement in the opposite direction. “The faster technology moves, the more we’ll see a counter-trend emerge: a return to handcrafted, human-centred design,” says Barnes.

Graeme McGowan, co-founder of Jamhot, agrees. “As the world of AI develops, we’re leaning into creating more human connectedness through our work,” he says. “That’s something that I think will be more important to brands going forward.”

Miro LaFlaga, co-founder of Six Cinquième, takes a similar view. “More and more, I see younger generations coming full circle, with the pendulum swinging back to a time where real life, genuine, intimate, in-person connection is king,” he says. “What will that look like? We know the digital world isn’t going anywhere, but I believe brands that can play both sides well and connect the two experiences to create meaningful engagements will win.”

This trend is particularly evident in retail, where Tom Munckton, executive creative director at Fold7Design reports “there’s a rebalancing happening of the ‘virtual’ to ‘physical’ showings for brands, with big retail marketplaces exploring more and more IRL [in real life] experiences combined with pure e-commerce. This is in line with broader trends around human-made design. With the world wearying of AI, we’re seeing more of the human details, nuance and imperfections creep back in.”

Andy Harvey, founder and executive creative director at Communion Studio, adds: “In 2025, I think we’ll see a reaction to the screen-saturated world of recent years. This could manifest in two significant ways: hyper-personalised nutrition, driven by a deeper understanding of the power of natural health, and a desire for more IRL gatherings, driven by a return to face-to-face connection. And perhaps a little more hedonism.”

3. The craft renaissance

As another element to the backlash against AI, along with a broader rejection of mass production and digital saturation, there’s a growing appreciation for craft and heritage in design. Luigi Carnovale, founder and creative director at Design LSC, outlines several key factors driving this trend.

“The first is personalisation,” he begins. “Consumers want unique, handmade items with personal meaning, moving away from mass-produced products. The second is sustainability. This focus on eco-friendly and ethical consumption aligns with the craft’s slow, intentional production. Thirdly, advances in technology will blend with traditional craftsmanship, creating innovative yet authentic designs.”

4. More experimentation

As design tools become more accessible, the industry faces an interesting dichotomy. As Mike Perry, founder and chief creative officer of Tavern points out: “Inexpensive Adobe competitors such as Canva means everyone’s a designer, or thinks they are. As a result, a wealth of content is being created. But since these programs rely so heavily on templates, everything coming out of them looks the same. It’s becoming harder to find new ideas and aesthetics in this sea of copies-of-a-copy-of-a-copy. With AI being trained on all this content, we can expect to see even more of the same in the future.”

At the same time, though, he sees opportunity in this challenge: “Less gatekeeping means more room for experimentation at the fringes. We expect to see continued iterations on the ‘undesigned’ trend, more chaos, more maximalism to counter the crisp, clean, blandness the algorithm will inevitably continue to serve us.”

5. The rise of design writing

If we reach a stage when AI can create images, videos, and other final outputs just by reading text prompts alone, it stands to reason that writing text will be an increasingly important design skill in 2025 and beyond.

As Perniclas Bedow, creative director at Bedow, puts it: “The industry is now ready to embrace the written word. Articulate what you do before you do it. Craft sentences and use the words as a guide rather than visual references. It’s time-consuming and challenging, but it opens up new worlds and shifts the outcome away from the formulaic.

6. Sound becomes a key design element

Another trend emerging for 2025 is the increased importance of audio in digital design. Simon Carr, design director at DesignUps, provides some detailed insight into this.

“As audio becomes more accessible and more popular with web tools, it makes sense that there will be more creative ways to utilise sound files on websites,” he explains. “This could be implemented in many ways: from soundtracks to UI sounds as a user navigates and makes choices.”

And here’s something else that may be changing. “It’s long been felt that auto-play audio on a website should be avoided,” says Simon. “But going forward, I expect websites with a focus on sound will implement options to play audio or not, based on stored user preferences.”

7. Sustainability takes centre stage

Environmental consciousness continues to significantly influence design decisions, with positive results being seen in areas such as packaging. Brands are recognising that this will get them much further with the public than anything that might be perceived as ‘greenwashing’.

“Brands are looking to wear their ethics proudly, like a fine suit,” says Simon Manchipp, founding partner at SomeOne. “In 2025, expect a visual language that whispers of environmental stewardship: natural textures, earthy palettes. But brands will not only look sustainable but ensure they’re rooted in ecological mindfulness. Packaging may move to be as minimal as a haiku, made of materials that leave barely a footprint, and designs will exude a sense of calm, as though the planet itself had taken a deep, contented breath.”

8. Minimalist maximalism

So what impact will all this have on what designs actually look like? “I’ve heard a lot of talk about ‘Minimalist Maximalism’,” says Cat How, founder and executive creative director of How Studio. “Minimalism has been a dominant design trend for many years, but in 2025, this trend, I think, will 10x itself and blend the simplicity of minimalism with the boldness of maximalism. So, we are still embracing the clean lines and white space of minimalism with more expressive and unexpected elements, such as vibey colours, massive type, and other eclectic elements.”

9. Health becomes the new luxury

The wellness sector is experiencing unprecedented innovation and investment right now, and that’s having an impact on design. Because health is becoming inextricably linked with wearables and tech, but someone has to make sense of all that data, or it’s next to useless.

“Visualising health data is becoming the ‘new luxury,'” stresses Sarah Williams, co-CEO of Beardwood&Co. “Apple is doubling down on Health in their latest Apple Watch release, and everyone from Spotify CEO Daniel Ek to health platform Equinox to motivational speaker Tony Robbins is getting in on the opportunity to offer high-end, data-driven health services at a premium. The key focus? Making the unseen visible and the future predictable.”

This trend extends beyond personal technology into physical spaces, notes Roly Grant, creative director at Without Studio. “The biggest trend we’re experiencing is investment and innovation in being active and staying well,” he reports. That includes: “specialist hot/cold studios; luxury martial arts clubs; more accessible family health clubs… expect energy from this space, as new concepts compete to stand out in 2025.”

Another notable development is the emergence of women’s health brands. “Start-up brands are winning big with women by creating effective products for our bodies and communicating with refreshing honesty about our journey through periods, pimples, mood management, vaginal health and menopause,” explains Julia Beardwood, founder of Beardwood&Co. “Brands such as Modibodi, Starface, p-HD, Winged, MixHERS, Womaness and MenoWell, all founded and led by women. No one cares better for women than other women.”

10. Inclusivity becomes non-negotiable

The push for authentic representation is certain to gain continuing momentum in 2025. “Brands will go beyond tokenism to embrace authentic representation,” predicts Simon, “ensuring that every facet of human experience is not only acknowledged but welcomed into the fold. Expect to see designs catering to every ability, culture, and shade of human life. It could be a glorious symphony of inclusivity, visually expressed with grace and humanity.”

When it comes to inclusivity, one aspect that’s often overlooked is age. As Oscar Mason, creative strategist at Outlaw, points out: “In an industry distracted by ‘magpie trinket trends’ it’s easy to lose sight of where the real opportunity lies. One thing bubbling in my view is the shift in marketers, designers, and brand managers placing emphasis on those who have the greatest spending power: those who are in their over 50s.

“In the UK, people over 50 make up 40% of the population but control a massive 80% of the wealth. Yet, we are washed with Gen Z insight reports and briefs that request us to target those who happened to be born between the years of 1997 and 2013. Sometimes it feels like we are reflecting marketers’ tastes rather than those of consumers.”

Looking ahead

As we move towards 2025, the design industry appears to be embracing seemingly contradictory forces: technology vs humanity, minimalism vs maximalism, digital vs physical, and youth vs experience. In the second half of this decade, successful designers and brands will be those who can navigate these dualities, creating work that resonates on both emotional and practical levels.

If we can all strike this balance and harness a thoughtful approach to design, the creative industry should have an exciting and transformative year ahead. Keep reading Creative Boom to stay abreast of developments, and we’ll keep sharing the best stuff to inspire you.

Feature Image Credit: Adobe Stock

By Tom May

Sourced from Creative Boom

Sourced from what’s trending

Instagram’s unpredictable algorithm and 2.11 billion monthly active users make growing followers harder. Our 7 tried-and-true strategies for Instagram growth have helped social media marketers thrive in this competitive environment. These tactics can help you succeed on the platform, whether your goal is to increase your exposure or to get actual followers.

Pro Tip: You can use special programs to connect with followers. For example, Path Social is an Instagram growth tool that will help you get as many real followers as you need.

• Create Content First and First Only

Inbound marketing relies heavily on content production. Making content for your company or brand is like giving out free, helpful information to your followers. Attracting visitors to your site or other platforms and keeping them engaged with high-quality content is the goal. Instagram followers will increase when your material is well-received since viewers will be eager to see more from you in the future. Posting relatable, relevant, and entertaining material is essential for attracting your audience’s attention and, eventually, growing your Instagram following, regardless of whether you’re making the content yourself or obtaining user-generated content.

Techniques for Unleashing Imagination

To engage your audience, upload behind-the-scenes photos, real-life tales, tutorials, and interactive Q&As on Instagram. Post inspirational quotations to boost your followers, poll and survey your audience, and reflect on the past to improve your material. Highlight your offerings by promoting user-generated content and showcasing products. Join forces with other producers or businesses to broaden your audience reach and exposure. You can feel certain that your feed will be engaging and diverse if you do this.

How might well-received information benefit you?

When your material is popular and people desire more, your Instagram following will expand. Whether you produce or utilize user-generated material, posting relatable, relevant, and entertaining content will improve your Instagram following and viewership.

We sought an insider’s take on why marketers need content creators and whether Instagram users would be posting less often in light of the new algorithm.

• Make a Broad Social Media Plan

A social media plan lays out the specific steps your company will take to reach its marketing objectives by using best practices in social media. It seems to be a reason that your social media channels would follow the same established approach as any other company. You need a plan if you want your Instagram accounts to develop as much as possible.

• Make Smart Use of Hashtags

Is gaining actual followers on Instagram something you’re interested in learning more about? You likely already know how effective hashtags are for increasing interaction and growth on Instagram if you work in social media management or for a company.

• Take Advantage of Influencer Marketing

Among the many social media marketing strategies, influencers rank high. In contrast to more conventional forms of advertising, they are able to captivate viewers and provide credibility to branded content. By enlisting the help of influential users who already have a large and dedicated fan base, marketers may increase the visibility of their products and services while simultaneously attracting new Instagram followers.

• Master the Art of Instagram Ads

A great strategy to increase your Instagram following is to make use of the Ads option. Among the many advantages of advertising on Instagram, one should stand out: the platform has greater engagement rates than others, boosting the possibility of an increase in Instagram followers.

• Instagram Stories

The basic idea behind Instagram stories is to provide people a way to more casually and rapidly express their everyday lives than they would with a well-crafted post in their feed. There is no need to worry about algorithm crazy since this feature has increased in popularity since its launch and appears at the top of the stream.

Instagram stories are well-known to be the platform’s most effective tool for fostering relationships. Am I correct? The majority of people are unaware that Instagram stories may also be used to increase followers.

To begin, write a story every day. Each article should then include the location tag in addition to two or three hashtags. Doing so will increase the likelihood that others will find your tales and read them.

The next step is to encourage others to follow you and explain why they should. For example, do you consistently post the most delicious vegan recipes? Do you happen to know of any great local real estate deals?

After that, team up with other experts in your field to host story takeovers. If you want to increase your Instagram following, this is another great way to reach new people.

As a last step, increase your following count using Instagram story advertisements. Take a look; it’s the most cost-effective ad spot in the Facebook + Instagram network. The story ads may take you wherever you want to go, but if you want more Instagram followers quickly, utilize the link to your profile.

• Selling on Instagram

As a last topic, let’s talk about Instagram sales, one of the app’s latest features. Instagram growth is going to do wonders for your business if you want to generate money by selling products or services.

Customer experience is a connection, which is something that many small company owners fail to remember. Revenue and relationships might take a hit when service providers aren’t upfront about prices for their extensive offerings. Foster trust and foster progress by prioritizing openness.

Your solution should be only given to your clients.

Keep all parts of Instagram consistent, such as feed content, Stories, direct messages, the booking process, website text, and online forms, to guarantee a smooth mobile experience. Most Instagram users access it on their phones. Maintain consistency and usability across the user experience.

Expand Your Instagram Audience

Following these professional tactics will help you grow your Instagram following, even if it seems impossible. Patience, effort, and attention are needed to achieve these goals.

Feature Image Credit: Pexels

Sourced from what’s trending

Keep them short and sweet with a reason to open the message

By Justin Owen

Modern digital Illustration using vector-based drawing software makes possible the vast array of graphics and artwork we see on a daily basis. With vector-based drawing, illustrations can be created and manipulated using lines, points, and shapes rather than colouring individual pixels. This makes it infinitely scalable and precise, and vector art software transforms sets of mathematical instructions into visual elements.

Created in 1986, Adobe Illustrator is one of the most powerful and popular programs available for digital illustrations. Its widespread adoption across industries such as fashion, advertising, web design and more makes it ubiquitous in creative departments everywhere. Furthermore, regular software updates since its introduction have added increasingly sophisticated tools to create increasingly complex art over the years.

Adobe has continued to update and add to its software while raising the cost with each generation. In 2013, a subscription-based model was introduced, which is now the only way to access the software. With its minimum $263.88 annual fee, many designers, including independents and amateurs in particular, need a more affordable way to create vector-based graphics. Others may be simply wary of recent changes to Adobe’s terms of service.

Fortunately, other software exists but with varying degrees of competency and compatibility. With a semi-professional background in graphic design and 25 years of experience using Adobe Illustrator, I have looked at some alternatives, and here are how 10 of them compare.

Inkscape

Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics program developed in 2003 as an alternative to the dominant proprietary software of the time and continues to serve in that capacity today. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems –- it even comes pre-installed on some distros -– Inkscape is distributed free of charge with a GNU general public license allowing the user to change or distribute it as they see fit.

The interface and toolset available from Inkscape are surprisingly robust and advanced for a free program, and its complex capabilities are well-suited for the advanced user and could take years of study to master, just like Adobe Illustrator. Users will find a vast array of options and tools, and many will feel familiar to Illustrator users, although there will be some distinct differences, which can add to a learning curve. Regardless, it remains full-featured with a professional feel and could be adapted to full-time professional use for those looking to avoid Adobe altogether.

Some potential pitfalls do exist within the Inkscape ecosystem. It can have compatibility issues when used on a Mac, the industry standard for digital graphics. Certain common copy and paste functions between programs are also lacking. While Inkscape may not see the industry open up to it widely anytime soon, it is still one of the closest facsimiles of Illustrator available and its low barriers to entry make it an attractive alternative.

Affinity Designer

A relative newcomer to the design field is Affinity Designer, which was first released in 2014 for macOS. Now available for Windows and iOS, Affinity Designer offers a full complement of vector tools for professional design. Its Editors’ Choice award from PCMag – which was also given to Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw — means it stands in good company.

The layout for Affinity Designer is clean and uncluttered, and users have the ability to make broad customizations and changes to the on-screen tools and interface. However, anyone accustomed to using Illustrator will have some acclimating to do as its layout is unique. Regardless, most functions are straightforward and easy to find, making it quick for most users to pick and run with it.

Many recently added tools lag behind Illustrator to some degree, but Affinity also offers a few unique features that are not just novel, but almost indispensable. Its x-ray view allows for a slider to peel back layers and let the designer see what’s under the hood and make changes without switching between windows, for example. Perhaps the best thing about Affinity Designer is the cost. A single purchase price of $69.99 covers it and gives you a fully capable and robust vector design program without bleeding your bank account once a month.

CorelDraw

Perhaps the only vector drawing program with as much longevity as Illustrator is CorelDraw. Created in 1987, it was initially developed for Windows and added a macOS version in 2001. However, that was soon discontinued and remained Windows-only until 2019. It is now available to both Windows and macOS along with a web-based version that anyone with a browser can use. Nonetheless, it is a fully developed graphics program with many industry adherents, although it still trails far behind Illustrator in overall usage.

For Illustrator users, a lot of what you will find with CorelDRAW will feel familiar. There are some distinct differences and CorelDRAW offers a few things that Illustrator does not. For example, CorelDraw is a full-featured vector art program that also functions for page layout, something handed off to Adobe InDesign when using Illustrator. In addition, CorelDraw is popular in the fashion industry, so aspiring designers may prefer to get acquainted with it over Illustrator. Furthermore, CorelDraw is more user friendly and easier to learn.

If you do not work in the textile or garment industry, there are still other reasons to choose CorelDraw. Price may not be one of them. It is expensive, but offers at least one advantage over Illustrator — a subscription is not required. You can, of course, opt for a subscription package for $22.42 per month, but a one-time purchase price of $549.00 for the complete graphics suite of programs, which also includes an alternative to Adobe Photoshop, is available. Alternatively, the web-based app subscription is just $69.99 per year.

VectorStyler

Another recent addition to the list of programs seeking to peel away users from Illustrator’s dominant position, VectorStyler appears promising but remains relatively unknown. Available for macOS and Windows, it offers a wide range of tools for creating vector art using many familiar elements in a familiar interface.

Users of VectorStyler will immediately recognize most of its functions and layout and find a few unique features when digging into the program a bit. It can import, edit, and export native Illustrator files, has a powerful shape builder tool, and a large selection of warp functions. The range of functions is large and, although it packs the workspace, it remains relatively easy to use.

Whether this is a feasible alternative is yet to be seen. It appears to be a surprisingly well-developed program with a short history. The price is great at just $95, but with the better-known Affinity Designer available for less, widespread adoption may not happen anytime soon. However, for early adopters, a forum maintained on the website is closely monitored, and the developer is responsive to feedback, clearing up bugs quickly. It definitely has a good start to what could be a genuine competitor.

sK1

The sK1 vector drawing program is an open-source application available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It was developed in Ukraine beginning in 2003 and continues in development today. Distribution is free of charge through an open-source software license.

sK1 is well-suited to beginners who are just learning how to use vector drawing programs or amateurs needing only basic functions for a project. It does offer most of the common tools such as Bezier curves, shapes, gradients, and the ability to fill shapes, change stroke styles, and add layers, but more advanced filters, shapes, distortions, and paths are absent. The program functions as advertised, but serious designers will likely find it lacking. Still, it might work well for laying out simple flyers or business cards for a small business.

With the overwhelming number of functions of something like Illustrator, the complete novice might find this a good choice. Since it is free, it is probably worth a shot.

Boxy SVG

The web-based Boxy SVG is deceptively simple but remarkably effective. It is accessed from the Boxy SVG website, where you will initially encounter a simple menu with a button to launch the app. The menu includes a blog with information about the app including feature announcements, a place for user ideas, a place to post questions, and tutorials. The tutorials are embedded YouTube videos that are incredibly useful for new users.

The Boxy SVG interface is sparse but laid out well. It is an incredibly user-friendly app that is easy to learn. Despite this, it is more powerful than you would expect, and the various functions to manipulate elements are remarkably straightforward. After using it for just a few minutes drawing shapes using the Bezier curve tool, I found the various functions to colour and distort them work well. Many of the functions that require some advanced knowledge to use properly with Illustrator just work right on screen in a point-and-click manner that is easy to understand. Typing along a path or merging objects randomly takes little effort and even less training.

Boxy SVG is a delightfully simple yet robust little app that could be useful to amateurs and pros alike. It works as a web app and says on the home page that it costs just $9.99 per year after a 15-day free trial, making it a bargain compared to alternatives with more expensive monthly subscriptions.

Drawtify

More jobs than ever require a constant stream of graphics and art to be produced for a variety of purposes. Social media management is a must for any venture large or small, and keeping it looking fresh is paramount. For those who need continuous updates with fresh imagery, Drawtify might be the perfect choice.

Drawtify is a web-based app for creating graphics of any kind, and it takes no experience to get going with it. However, those with advanced knowledge or training in vector graphics can also find it useful and robust. For the novice, Drawtify includes hundreds of templates for everything from logos to business cards as well as properly sized templates for LinkedIn headers or Facebook posts. Using a template is as simple as inserting your own copy and tweaking colours or altering the design with user-friendly tools, and in minutes a new graphic can be posted.

There is a free version of the app with limited functionality. Full functionality costs $14.99 monthly or $9.99 with reduced features. You can also save by paying annually $99.99 up front. For the busy blogger, reseller, or individual proprietor, this is a good value.

Canva

A popular web-based app with AI integrated tools for creating designs today is Canva. While it is not specifically a vector art program, it is worth a mention as it is popular at the moment and may be a good choice for certain applications.

Canva offers dozens of useful features but only basic design tools. It also has an incredible array of templates available to use. Users do not need to know anything about dimensions, resolution, pixel count, or process colors. For example, to build a business card, you can choose from what seems like an endless list of design templates. Once it is loaded, all you have to do is highlight the sample text and replace it with your own. Additional tweaks can be made but are not required. When satisfied, the design can be sent directly to a printing service from the app or saved for use elsewhere. It is as easy it could possibly be.

Canva is not for experienced designers with training to create everything from scratch. Still, it is useful, and millions of users can keep their brand updated without the cost of having a designer for every Instagram post or sale announcement on Facebook. So it has a genuine purpose that it fulfills well. A limited version of Canva is available to individual users for free, while the pro version costs just $120 annually.

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