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khaled-red-blog · 1 year
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The $385,000 Netflix Private Jet Flight Attendant: 'Where Can I Apply?'
wanted one Netflix Inc. nflx -3.23% flight attendant to work on the company’s private jet. Requested Salary: Up to $385,000. in a reduction time At many major tech companies, Netflix sent the internet buzzing this week with what some described as an unusual job offer. The streaming company wants a trained flight attendant to be in charge of the trips on its super-midsize jet, according to the…
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gbhbl · 1 year
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Christmas Horror Movie Review: Silent Night (2021)
A group of family & friends reunite for one final Christmas right before an impending apocalypse will wipe all out all of humanity.
Silent Night is a horror-black comedy film that was written & directed by Camille Griffin, releasing in 2021. The film focuses on a group of family & friends who reunite for one final Christmas right before an impending apocalypse will wipe all of humanity out. Married couple Nell (Keira Knightley) and Simon (Matthew Goode) host a yearly Christmas dinner at their country estate for their former…
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merdesigner · 19 days
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I think when somebody calls stories ‘content,’ when somebody says ‘pipeline,’ they’re using sewage language.
Guillermo del Toro apud Animation Obsessive
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justprintoholics · 2 months
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Unlocking the Power of Contract Publishing Services with Just Printoholics
In the dynamic world of modern business, effective communication and branding are paramount for success. Enter contract publishing services, the strategic solution for businesses seeking professional-grade publications without the overhead of in-house resources. Among the pioneers in this field is "Just Printoholics," a leading firm dedicated to transforming visions into tangible, high-quality print materials.
Contract publishing services offered by Just Printoholics encompass a wide array of solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses across diverse industries. From corporate magazines and newsletters to marketing collateral and annual reports, Just Printoholics excels in delivering bespoke publications that resonate with audiences and elevate brand image.
At the heart of Just Printoholics' approach lies a commitment to excellence in every aspect of the publishing process. With a team of seasoned professionals skilled in content creation, graphic design, printing, and distribution, clients can rest assured that their projects are in capable hands from concept to completion. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and industry best practices, Just Printoholics ensures that each publication meets the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.
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One of the key advantages of partnering with Just Printoholics is the flexibility and scalability offered by their contract publishing services. Whether clients require a one-time publication or ongoing support for a series of projects, Just Printoholics adapts to their needs with agility and efficiency. This flexibility not only streamlines the publishing process but also enables businesses to focus on their core operations while leaving the intricacies of publication management to the experts.
Moreover, Just Printoholics understands the importance of cost-effectiveness in today's competitive landscape. By offering competitive pricing and transparent billing practices, they strive to maximize the value proposition for their clients without compromising on quality. This commitment to affordability makes contract publishing services accessible to businesses of all sizes, empowering them to harness the power of print media as a strategic marketing tool.
In conclusion, Just Printoholics stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of contract publishing services. With their unwavering dedication to quality, innovation, and client satisfaction, they continue to redefine the standards of professional publishing, one project at a time.
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ventesb2b · 8 months
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Content Amplification Tactics: Boosting Visibility Through Distribution
Introduction
In today's digital age, where information is abundant and attention spans are fleeting, creating high-quality content is just the beginning. To truly succeed in the online realm, mastering content distribution is essential. It's not enough to create compelling articles, videos, or infographics; you must also strategically disseminate them to your target audience for maximum reach and engagement. In this blog, we will delve into effective strategies that can help you master content distribution and achieve unparalleled visibility.
1.  Understand Your Audience
Before embarking on any content distribution journey, you must have a deep understanding of your target audience. Who are they? What problems do they face? What interests them? This knowledge will guide your distribution strategy, ensuring your content reaches the right people at the right time. By creating buyer personas and segmenting your audience, you can tailor your distribution channels and messages accordingly.
2.  Leverage Multichannel Distribution
To cast a wide net and maximize your content's exposure, embrace multichannel distribution. This means distributing your content across various platforms, such as social media, email marketing, industry forums, and relevant websites. Each channel has its own unique audience, and by diversifying your distribution, you increase the likelihood of reaching a broader spectrum of potential readers or viewers.
3.  Create a Distribution Calendar
When it comes to content dissemination, consistency is essential. Establish a distribution calendar that outlines when and where you will share your content. This helps maintain a steady flow of information, keeping your audience engaged and informed. Furthermore, a distribution calendar allows you to align your content with important industry events, holidays, and trends for maximum relevance.
lets connect for more insight:  https://ventesb2b.com/contact-2/
4.  Personalize Your Approach
Personalization is a powerful tool in content distribution. Tailor your content to resonate with different segments of your audience. Use data-driven insights to craft personalized messages and recommendations based on your audience's preferences, behaviors, and demographics. Personalized content is more likely to capture attention and foster engagement.
5.  Optimize for SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in content distribution. When your content is optimized for search engines, it becomes more discoverable by those actively seeking relevant information. Conduct keyword research to identify the terms your audience uses to search for content in your niche. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your content and metadata to enhance your content's visibility on search engine results pages.
6.  Embrace Social Media
Platforms for social media dissemination are a veritable mine of content. Choose the platforms where your target audience is most active, and then adjust your content to fit the requirements of each platform's audience and platform's format. Engage with your audience through comments, shares, and direct interactions, fostering a sense of community and building brand loyalty.
7.  Collaborate and Guest Post
Collaboration is a potent tool for expanding the audience for your material. Partner with influencers, industry experts, or complementary brands to co-create or share each other's content. Additionally, guest posting on reputable websites in your industry not only expands your content's reach but also positions you as an authority in your field.
8.  Leverage Email Marketing
Email marketing remains one of the most effective distribution methods. Send newsletters or content updates to your subscriber list, providing them with valuable insights, updates, and resources. Segment your email list to deliver content that aligns with each subscriber's interests, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
9.  Measure and Iterate
To continuously improve your content distribution strategy, you need to measure its effectiveness. Use analytics tools to track key metrics such as website traffic, engagement rates, click-through rates, and social media shares. Analyze this data to identify which distribution channels and strategies are delivering the best results. Adjust your approach accordingly to optimize your content distribution efforts.
Conclusion
Mastering content distribution is a dynamic process that requires a deep understanding of your audience, strategic planning, and ongoing optimization. By leveraging multichannel distribution, personalization, SEO, social media, collaboration, and more, you can ensure your content reaches its intended audience and achieves the maximum reach and impact it deserves. Remember, content distribution is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it requires constant adaptation and refinement to keep
up with changing trends and audience preferences. So, embrace these strategies, measure your results, and continue refining your approach for content distribution success.
Aniket Deshpanade
Sr.Digital Marketink Associate
www.ventesb2b.com/ New York, USA
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billa-billa007 · 8 months
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Content Creation NEVER ENDS.#contentcreation
Content creation refers to the process of generating valuable and engaging material for various mediums such as websites, social media platforms, blogs, videos, podcasts, and more. The goal of content creation is to provide information, entertainment, or value to a target audience while aligning with the creator's objectives, whether that's building a brand, educating, entertaining, or promoting a product or service.
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pillowfort-social · 3 months
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Generative AI Policy (February 9, 2024)
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As of February 9, 2024, we are updating our Terms of Service to prohibit the following content:
Images created through the use of generative AI programs such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and Dall-E.
This post explains what that means for you. We know it’s impossible to remove all images created by Generative AI on Pillowfort. The goal of this new policy, however, is to send a clear message that we are against the normalization of commercializing and distributing images created by Generative AI. Pillowfort stands in full support of all creatives who make Pillowfort their home. Disclaimer: The following policy was shaped in collaboration with Pillowfort Staff and international university researchers. We are aware that Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly evolving environment. This policy may require revisions in the future to adapt to the changing landscape of Generative AI. 
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Why is Generative AI Banned on Pillowfort?
Our Terms of Service already prohibits copyright violations, which includes reposting other people’s artwork to Pillowfort without the artist’s permission; and because of how Generative AI draws on a database of images and text that were taken without consent from artists or writers, all Generative AI content can be considered in violation of this rule. We also had an overwhelming response from our user base urging us to take action on prohibiting Generative AI on our platform.  
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How does Pillowfort define Generative AI?
As of February 9, 2024 we define Generative AI as online tools for producing material based on large data collection that is often gathered without consent or notification from the original creators.
Generative AI tools do not require skill on behalf of the user and effectively replace them in the creative process (ie - little direction or decision making taken directly from the user). Tools that assist creativity don't replace the user. This means the user can still improve their skills and refine over time. 
For example: If you ask a Generative AI tool to add a lighthouse to an image, the image of a lighthouse appears in a completed state. Whereas if you used an assistive drawing tool to add a lighthouse to an image, the user decides the tools used to contribute to the creation process and how to apply them. 
Examples of Tools Not Allowed on Pillowfort: Adobe Firefly* Dall-E GPT-4 Jasper Chat Lensa Midjourney Stable Diffusion Synthesia
Example of Tools Still Allowed on Pillowfort: 
AI Assistant Tools (ie: Google Translate, Grammarly) VTuber Tools (ie: Live3D, Restream, VRChat) Digital Audio Editors (ie: Audacity, Garage Band) Poser & Reference Tools (ie: Poser, Blender) Graphic & Image Editors (ie: Canva, Adobe Photoshop*, Procreate, Medibang, automatic filters from phone cameras)
*While Adobe software such as Adobe Photoshop is not considered Generative AI, Adobe Firefly is fully integrated in various Adobe software and falls under our definition of Generative AI. The use of Adobe Photoshop is allowed on Pillowfort. The creation of an image in Adobe Photoshop using Adobe Firefly would be prohibited on Pillowfort. 
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Can I use ethical generators? 
Due to the evolving nature of Generative AI, ethical generators are not an exception.
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Can I still talk about AI? 
Yes! Posts, Comments, and User Communities discussing AI are still allowed on Pillowfort.
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Can I link to or embed websites, articles, or social media posts containing Generative AI? 
Yes. We do ask that you properly tag your post as “AI” and “Artificial Intelligence.”
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Can I advertise the sale of digital or virtual goods containing Generative AI?
No. Offsite Advertising of the sale of goods (digital and physical) containing Generative AI on Pillowfort is prohibited.
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How can I tell if a software I use contains Generative AI?
A general rule of thumb as a first step is you can try testing the software by turning off internet access and seeing if the tool still works. If the software says it needs to be online there’s a chance it’s using Generative AI and needs to be explored further. 
You are also always welcome to contact us at [email protected] if you’re still unsure.
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How will this policy be enforced/detected?
Our Team has decided we are NOT using AI-based automated detection tools due to how often they provide false positives and other issues. We are applying a suite of methods sourced from international universities responding to moderating material potentially sourced from Generative AI instead.
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How do I report content containing Generative AI Material?
If you are concerned about post(s) featuring Generative AI material, please flag the post for our Site Moderation Team to conduct a thorough investigation. As a reminder, Pillowfort’s existing policy regarding callout posts applies here and harassment / brigading / etc will not be tolerated. 
Any questions or clarifications regarding our Generative AI Policy can be sent to [email protected].
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leidensygdom · 2 months
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Something I really don't understand about AI companies buying the rights to steal content from social media to feed their data training sets is, well. It's illegal as hell.
That content does not belong to the social media companies to start with. Personal data is a bit nebulous as it is, and some countries have better protection about it than others, but posting a picture on tumblr doesn't mean that Automatic automatically has the right to use, distribute and sell it as it sees fit.
I mean. Official accounts for big companies like Disney use social media for advertising. But posting a picture of Elsa on Twitter doesn't mean they're giving Twitter the right to use and sell that picture. But suddenly Twitter sells the nebulous ability to "scrape content from Twitter for AI training", so now Midjourney owns that picture of Elsa? What's the fucking ruling there?
People own the rights of what they have created even without officially registering it for trademarking (which is expensive as hell, by the way). Social media selling content means that they are selling copyrighted material created by its users- Some of it coming from big companies that have trademarked the shit out of everything, some of it coming from small creators who STILL have the rights to what they've created even without a trademark.
Curently, what you produce through AI generators is not actually copyrighted, since it was not made by a human, but what gets fed into the data training sets is often copyrighted material from unconsenting people. It basically is a copyright laundering scheme.
I do wholeheartedly hope that some regulations will be put in place, and hoping that big companies will, at least, do their best to help this case even if its just to protect their own IPs and property. Given how overprotective have Disney, Nintendo and other big names been about their content, I can't expect they'll be happy having it being sold to Midjourney, OpenAI and other crap for free, without their consent.
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cool-wilson-david · 1 year
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SocialAgency360 Agency by Godswill Okoyomon Review
SocialAgency360 Agency by Godswill Okoyomon Review
SocialAgency360 Agency by Godswill Okoyomon – SocialAgency360 is an All-in-One cloud-based Social Media Agency App that creates everything for you to Start, Grow, Deliver and Manage a full-blown Social Media Agency in just minutes. SocialAgency360 Agency by Godswill Okoyomon. Find Clients on-demand using with Robust Lead-Gen engine simple search plus close clients in minutes using our tested…
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formulatrash · 7 days
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sorry to like, keep going on about this but as a (former?) media professional: seeing so many comments on @wearewatcher's video saying "I would fire people so I didn't have to charge for content" and accusing WATCHER of being capitalist about it is actually insane.
you used to have to pay for content. you had to pay like £16 to watch one whole movie on DVD. this is because it cost money to make and people were supposed to be paid for it. remember the writers' strike because streaming now only benefits executives with no equanimous income distribution model for the people who create the stuff you love?
you are meant to root for the independent creators. you are not meant to want all content to be beholden to an algorithmic nightmare that ransoms what creators can make or monetise for its own arbitrary censorship. you are not meant to root for a platform that works to silence and limit people under oppressive regimes. you are not meant to demand that you get content only on something that platforms and promotes right wing prejudice.
employing people is good!!!!!!! you are meant to want people to be fairly paid for their work even and especially when that work goes into creating things you love and get enrichment from
yes you are also meant to share your subscription with your friends. OUR login details. THAT'S fucking socialism.
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abstractoronto · 2 years
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ondotmediallp · 2 years
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The Physics of Future-ready B2B Content
It’s entirely possible to get stunned by the term ‘physics’ used with content, but it will be a surprise to see how many of its core attributes relate to the content.
Schrödinger's Cat Experiment:
A cat is put in a box and subjected to life-threatening situations and will be considered both dead and alive until the box is opened. This can be applied to content in terms of engagement. It is said to occur only when the content is seen by the target audience. 
Information Constructs Reality:
Scientists have proved that reality is built on information and in the digital space, content (knowledge) is the basis of reality. Therefore, the content acts as information and also creates data. This metadata helps design effective customer experience data models where it’s easy to know what consumers want, need, and do throughout their buying journey. 
The Many Worlds of Content:
Quantum mechanics has suggested the concept of a multiverse, and this analogy can be used for B2B content activation, which helps clients during the sales process. The engagement should be achieved diversely as the buyer lifecycle is never linear. The content must be produced with technology, skills, and processes that make it discoverable, relevant, adaptive, and actionable to facilitate the concept of the 'multiverse.' Such B2B content can then be actually future-ready.
If businesses want to be future-ready then they must follow the below-given things:
Increasing their metadata and classification proficiency to enable effective personalization
Utilize delicate data plus insights to optimize customer experience
Train AI engines for specific and independent decision-making ability
If you’re looking for lead generation, demand generation, content marketing, and brand enhancement services then contact us. With our global-scale experience, we at OnDot Media can help to deliver the desired results.
Also read: 
How Effective Content Marketing Strengthens B2B Marketing Strategies
Best Formats B2B Marketers Use to Distribute Content
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sirfrogsworth · 7 months
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I'm not upset that blu-rays are being phased out. Formats all become obsolete and then die out.
My worry is there is not an adequate replacement for physical media. If you stream a 4K movie, it is usually over compressed and has a lossy audio track. Usually the quality *improves* when you move on to the next thing. But in this case, only the convenience is improved.
And there is no way to truly own the media you buy online. Even on Amazon when you "buy" something, that just means you have indefinite access to the file on their server. But if they lose the rights to that content or decide to delete it for tax purposes, you lose it too.
There is a service called Kaleidescape. It allows you to download blu-ray quality movie files onto local storage. Unfortunately the service has way too many caveats. You can only play the movies on their proprietary equipment. If they go out of business you will lose all of your movie purchases. And while they have a lot of mainstream, big budget movies, their selection is far from vast.
Oh, and their hardware starts at $8,000 and each movie is between $10 and $30 to purchase. And if you want to save more than 125 movies, the cost balloons to nearly $20K for the hardware.
The quality issue will eventually solve itself. New codecs like AV1 and H.266 will allow files to be compressed without losing any quality.
But I have no idea what to do about being unable to truly own your media. No studio will agree to DRM-free downloads that you can store anywhere and play with any device.
Maybe they can create a system where you can register any device you own and be allowed to play the file on those registered devices. So you get a file you can download, but the DRM requires verification you own the device it is being played on.
Perhaps they could designate a few cloud storage services as approved download platforms. You are free to shift your media from cloud to cloud, but it must always stay on the cloud and be registered to you. That way if a cloud storage company bites the dust, you still have the option to move your media to another place.
It's not as good as DRM-free local storage, but I don't see studios agreeing to anything else.
In truth, people are probably never going to buy movies in the future. If you have the option to rent for $3 or buy for $20, people probably aren't going to see the value in spending that much to own a movie.
Maybe the solution lies in some kind of law. If a platform no longer wishes to host a show or movie and they can't sell it to another streaming service, then they must give up the rights and allow the Library of Congress to save and distribute it.
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orcboxer · 25 days
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It's kind of interesting how activism online has been rebranded as an individualist thing, as if it's about your personal moral character. "Post about X and signal boost Y or you don't really care!!" Anything fun or good that happens is a Distraction, the real focus always needs to be on all the bad things happening, you need to always be angry and afraid.
Like of course all these issues matter, but activism only really works when it's an organized group effort. Awareness campaigns are planned and funded, somebody has to print out all the flyers, somebody has to find a strategic place to distribute the flyers, and so forth. Not everyone does every part of the work, and nobody is on call 24/7. Posting more political content on your personal social media accounts is generally not one of the tactics used, because it's not really effective? Like at all?
In fact one of the biggest red flags for clickbait is when someone is trying to make you angry or afraid. People with basic social media literacy know this, and will distrust posts that resemble clickbait. This is why guilt trip additions to posts are largely seen as post-ruiners. You done poisoned the well.
This isn't all to say that posting about politics is bad, but keep in mind how much energy you're spending on it, and allow yourself time to not be political, because like, okay imagine the most popular tumblr blog. How much impact does that blog actually have on politics irl? Virtually none. So if you're stressing yourself to the point of fatigue over posting politics, maybe consider more effective forms of activism. Volunteer locally, join a union, attend protests, vote, etc. All of those are vastly more efficient uses of your energy. Post politics if you want to, but just don't tire yourself out over it. It'll work better as an organized group effort.
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ventesb2b · 8 months
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Beyond Borders: Exploring Syndicated Content Through Examples
Introduction
In the dynamic world of digital marketing and content distribution, syndicated content has emerged as a potent strategy to amplify reach, enhance brand visibility, and foster engagement. This blog explores the concept of syndicated content and provides diverse examples of how businesses and content creators are effectively utilizing it to achieve their goals.
 Understanding Syndicated Content
Syndicated content refers to the practice of republishing or sharing existing content on external platforms beyond the original source. The goal is to expose the content to a broader audience by leveraging the distribution capabilities of other websites, publishers, or platforms. This approach offers several advantages, including increased visibility, wider reach, and the potential to tap into new and engaged audiences.
 Syndicated Content Examples
 1. Guest Blogging
A common form of syndicated content is guest blogging. In this scenario, a content creator writes an article or blog post for another website or blog within their industry niche. The host website benefits from fresh and valuable content, while the contributor gains exposure to a new audience and the opportunity to establish themselves as an industry expert.
 2. Content Aggregator Websites
Content aggregator websites curate and share content from various sources on a particular topic. These platforms gather relevant articles, news, and insights from different publishers and present them to their audience. Businesses can benefit from syndicating their content to these platforms, as it positions them in front of readers actively seeking information within their industry.
 3. Social Media Sharing
Social media platforms provide an ideal environment for syndicating content. Businesses can share their articles, videos, infographics, and other resources on their social profiles to reach their existing followers. Additionally, if the content resonates with the audience, followers may further share it, amplifying its reach and potentially attracting new followers.
 4. Online Publications and Industry Portals
Many online publications and industry-specific portals accept syndicated content submissions. Contributing articles to these platforms can establish a brand's authority within a particular niche, as they reach a concentrated audience of professionals seeking specialized insights.
 5. Podcast and Webinar Collaborations
Syndicated content isn't limited to written materials. Podcasts and webinars are excellent mediums for collaboration. By participating as a guest on another podcast or webinar, content creators can share their expertise with a new audience, while the host benefits from valuable insights to share with their listeners.
 6. Content Partnerships
Content partnerships involve collaborating with other businesses or organizations to co-create and distribute content. This approach can include joint blog posts, eBooks, videos, or other resources that provide a holistic perspective and draw from the expertise of multiple parties.
 7. Press Releases
Syndicating press releases on platforms that specialize in disseminating news can amplify the reach of important announcements. This approach ensures that your news reaches relevant journalists, bloggers, and industry professionals.
 8. Email Newsletters
Email newsletters are an effective way to syndicate content directly to your subscribers. By sharing curated articles, updates, and resources, businesses can nurture their audience and keep them engaged with valuable insights.
 9. YouTube Collaboration Videos
YouTube collaborations involve content creators from different channels working together on a video project. This cross-promotion can expose both channels to new subscribers and viewers, expanding their reach within the platform.
 10. Influencer Partnerships
Influencer partnerships enable marketers to reach their existing audiences. Influencers can create content, such as product reviews that features your offerings and promotes them to their followers.
Let’s connect for more insight:  https://ventesb2b.com/contact-2/
 Benefits of Syndicated Content
The examples above highlight the diverse applications of syndicated content and the benefits it offers:
- Expanded Reach: Syndicated content extends your reach beyond your own platform.
- Increased Visibility: Sharing content on external platforms enhances brand visibility.
- Audience Growth: Exposure to new audiences can lead to increased followers and subscribers.
- Authority Building: Syndication positions you as an industry expert.
- Engagement Boost: Engaging content can foster discussions and interactions.
- Lead Generation: Syndicated content can drive traffic and potential leads.
- SEO Enhancement: Backlinks from syndicated content can improve your search ranking.
 Best Practices for Syndicated Content
To make the most of syndicated content, consider these best practices:
1. Quality Matters: Ensure your content is high-quality, valuable, and relevant to the target audience.
2. Choose Platforms Wisely: Select platforms that align with your target audience and industry niche.
3. Maintain Consistency: Keep your brand messaging and voice consistent across all syndicated content.
4. Backlink Strategy: Ensure that syndicated content includes proper attribution and backlinks to your original content.
5. Engage with Audience: Respond to comments and engage with readers to foster conversations.
6. Measure Performance: Monitor analytics to track the performance of syndicated content and refine your strategy.
 Conclusion
Syndicated content presents a powerful opportunity for businesses and content creators to amplify their reach and impact. By strategically leveraging platforms and partnerships, organizations can extend their influence, establish authority, and foster engagement within their target audience. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the concept of syndicated content remains a versatile and effective tool in the arsenal of modern content marketers.
Aniket Deshpanade
Sr.Digital Marketink Associate
www.ventesb2b.com/
New York, USA
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fans4wga · 9 months
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Writers Guild West Official: Era of Hollywood Mergers Hastened the Strike
August 10, 2023
Laura Blum-Smith, the Writers Guild of America West’s director of research and public policy, considers the strike a result of a tsunami of Hollywood mergers that has handed studios and streamers the power to its exploit workers.
“Harmful mergers and attempts to monopolize markets are a recurring theme in the history of media and entertainment, and they are a key part of what led 11,500 writers to go on strike more than 100 days ago against their employers,” Blum-Smith said on Thursday at an event with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice over new merger guidelines unveiled in July.
She pointed to Disney, Amazon and Netflix as companies that “gained power through anticompetitive consolidation and vertical integration,” allowing them to impose “more and more precarious working conditions, increasingly short term employment and lower pay for writers and other workers across the industry.” But she sees revisions to the merger guidelines that address labor concerns a key part of the solution to prevent further mergers in the entertainment industry moving forward.
“The FTC and DOJ’s new draft merger guidelines are part of a deeply necessary effort to revive antitrust enforcement,” she added. “Compared with earlier guidelines, the new ones are much more skeptical of the idea that mergers are the natural way for companies to grow. And they focus more on the various ways mergers hurt competition, including how mergers impact workers.”
In July, the FTC and DOJ jointly released a new road map for regulatory review of mergers. They require companies to consider the impact of proposed transactions on labor, signaling that the agencies intend to review whether mergers could negatively impact wages and working conditions. FTC commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who was joined by agency chair Lina Khan, said in a statement about the guidelines that “a merger that may substantially lessen competition for workers will not be immunized by a prediction that predicted savings from a merger will be passed on to consumers.” Historically, transactions have been considered mostly through the lens of benefits to consumers.
The guidelines lack the force of law but influence the way in which judges consider lawsuits to block proposed transactions. They also tell the public how competition enforcers will assess the potential for a merger’s harm to competition.
Antitrust enforcers have steadily been taking notice of negative impacts to labor as a result of industry consolidation. “We’ve heard concerns that a handful of companies may now again be controlling the bulk of the entertainment supply chain from content creation to distribution,” Khan said last year during a listening forum over revisions to the guidelines, in a nod to anticompetitive conduct by studios that led to the Paramount Decrees. “We’ve heard concerns that this type of consolidation and integration can enable firms to exert market power over creators and workers alike.”
Adam Conover, writer and WGA board member, said in that April 2022 forum that his show Adam Ruins Everything was killed by AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner in 2018 when TruTV’s parent company forced the network to cut costs. He stressed that a handful of companies “now control the production and distribution of almost all entertainment content available to the American public,” allowing them to “more easily hold down our wages and set onerous terms for our employment.” It’s not just writers that are impacted by an overly consolidated Hollywood either, he explained. After Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, he said that the studios pushed the industry into ending backend participation and trapping actors in exclusive contracts preventing them from pursuing other work.
Blum-Smith said that aggressive competition enforcement is necessary as “Wall Street continues to push for more consolidation among our employers despite the industry’s history of mergers that failed to deliver any of the consumer benefits they’ve claimed that left writers and audiences worse off with less diversity of content and fewer choices.”
“More mergers will leave writers with even fewer places to sell their work and tell their stories and the remaining companies will have even more power to lower pay and worsen working conditions,” she warned. “Strong enforcement against mergers is essential to protect workers in media and workers across the country and these guidelines are an important step in the right direction.”
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