So I got a hamster and i love her very much!! I do not have a name for her yet, so if anyone has got any recs 👀👀 send them my way. I've thought about Penelope, Mousse, Duchess, and the latest, Moo.

She really loves her wheel and she's starting to take food out of my hand.

Put It On the List

3283 words, rated PG. Clint/Laura, Laura & Natasha, Natasha & Clint.

A few months before the events of Captain America: Winter Soldier, the spy life interrupts the Barton family on a normal errand. Perhaps bringing the scary ex-Russian spy was a mistake. She thinks so, at any rate.

A/N: I wrote this as something of a prelude to an Endgame fix-it fic in progress. It predates everything in that fic and it's cute, so I'm tossing it up here for now.

“Everybody’s allowed one fun item, too. House rules.”

“Not sure they sell anything I consider fun here,” Natasha said, glancing up at the rafters dubiously, “but I’ll take it under consideration.”

“Dirty,” Clint said, walking by with a green bunch of bananas.

“Sorry we can’t provide more excitement than grocery shopping,” Laura said as she pulled out the stash of reusable bags from the trunk.

“It’s fine.”

Laura was of the opinion that a vacation should be taken somewhere exotic, or at least filled with bottomless alcoholic beverages, especially given as young and unfettered as Natasha was. But the woman who had recently become Captain America’s partner at SHIELD had apparently decided a week off merited a trip to Iowa and she had been absolutely content to tag along on family outings with no apparently sign of boredom at all.

“It’s okay,” Clint said, hopping out from the driver’s seat as Natasha unhooked Lila from her car seat. “Nat’s secretly boring at heart. It’s the best kept secret at SHIELD.”

Natasha gave him a puzzled look. “Now, that can’t be true if even you’ve figured it out.”

“Excellent burn,” Laura said, laughing. “You really should come stay more often.”

“Somebody needs to keep Cap in line, otherwise I would.” Nat easily swung Lila onto her hip, following the other three as Cooper grabbed onto his father’s hand.

Laura had already spent the entire dinner the night before peppering her with questions about working with Steve Rogers, the Captain America from the comments. Clint had mentioned him a few times after that kerfuffle in New York with the Chitauri (“Nice guy, wears khakis.”), but Natasha had the inside scoop. And more willingness to share if he was as attractive in person as he looked on TV in that ridiculous star-striped uniform (“If you like that square-jawed All-American sort of thing, sure.”). Laura had even pointed out that, hey, if he was single...

“Yes, the ex-Russian spy and the American war hero. It sounds too much like a bad eighties movie.” Natasha had helped herself to more creamed corn. “I think I’ll have to find him a girlfriend to avoid ever having to answer that question again.”

“Hey,” Laura had said, protesting.

“Fair,” Clint had agreed.

And now here was the ex-Russian spy herself tagging along at the grocery store, carrying Lila and looking like there wasn’t anyplace else she’d rather be than the big chain grocery store a few towns over because they had a better selection of gluten free snacks than the Shop A Lot back home. She trailed along as Clint took over the cart, Lila kicking her legs happily from the child’s seat atop.

“You’ve got the list?” Laura asked.

“I thought you had it?”

“Clint, I said you need to grab it off the fridge before we left. Weren’t you listening?”

“I always listen to you. But it wasn’t on the fridge, so I thought you had it.”

“That’s ridiculous, I put it there last night and—” Laura turned to see Natasha silently holding it out, eyebrows high. “Oh, that works. Thanks, Natasha.”

A half-shrug. “He would’ve forgotten it.”

“They’re impugning my honor,” Clint told Lila and Cooper, the former of whom giggled back at him. “What’s first? Edible or not edible?”

“Food first. Oh, hey, did you remember to put the popsicle sticks on here? Cooper’s day camp was asking people to donate supplies, and I put us down for those.”

“Yes, I absolutely did that. For no reason whatsoever, may I see the list?” Clint grabbed it away and underhandedly passed it to Natasha. Since Laura caught the move, she figured they weren’t actually trying to hide it.

When the list returned to her, “popsicle sticks” was written on the appropriate line in slightly loopy handwriting. “Cute,” Laura said. “Also, if there’s food you want that we don’t have at the house, make sure you put it in, Nat.”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay. Just keep it in mind.” Laura smirked. “Everybody’s allowed one fun item, too. House rules.”

“Not sure they sell anything I consider fun here,” Natasha said, glancing up at the rafters dubiously, “but I’ll take it under consideration.”

“Dirty,” Clint said, walking by with a green bunch of bananas.

Natasha rolled her eyes at him, but a small smile broke out when Laura laughed. Later, Laura noticed that a small bag of nectarines had been added to the cart.

Normally she did this errand without two spies in tow, which was a matter of getting the groceries as quickly as possible and especially speeding through the aisles with the brightly colored boxes that would make Cooper and now Lila whine. Clint’s paycheck was more than generous enough to cover their expenses, but she liked to keep the sugar down at least a little. Grocery trips could be a nightmare from that alone. But now she could send one of them down the danger aisles, while the other distracted the children.

She could get used to this.

Of course, she could have just sent Clint or even Natasha to do the shopping—or gone herself—and she imagined they’d have it done in less than a fifth of the time it took them to wander the aisles now. But Clint had been called on so many SHIELD missions lately that it was nice to just have some family time together.

She was about to suggest they hit up the putt putt course on the way home when Clint’s body language snapped into readiness. On the other side of the cart, Natasha turned away in what most people would deem a casual fashion, but Laura was surprised to see tension running across the line of her shoulders as well.

Instantly, she began to turn her head, to see what had set them both off.

“Don’t look,” Natasha said, Clint echoing her a split-second later.

Cold panic sprang up, but Laura froze in place. The air conditioning turned abruptly frigid. In the basket, Lila had conked out, wheezing a little, and Laura had never been so grateful for her daughter’s ability to fall asleep anywhere.

“This way,” Clint said in a murmur, scooping up Cooper. To strangers, it would never look out of the ordinary, but Laura knew her husband too well to be fooled. And his partner, too, apparently, for she could sense something amiss as Natasha fell in step behind her. At the end of the aisle, away from the registers and most of the store, Clint began shoving aside various things in the cart to deposit Cooper in there. He glanced at Laura. “It’ll be okay, honey. Nat, are they here for you or me?”

“Me.” The word was flat. “They’re scoping out women.”

“Who? Who’s here for what?”

She’d seen Clint and Natasha’s silent conversations before, usually at holiday dinners, but those were always warm and amused. Now, Laura was treated to the fact that they seemingly had their own entire language—and the ability to hold arguments with little more than a few nods and pointed looks.

“Mom, what’s going on?” Cooper asked. “Dad put the stuff back wrong.”

“I know. It’s okay, though. The store employees will know where to put it back properly.” Her pulse had begun to hammer, but Laura did her best to keep her hands steady as she petted Lila’s bent head.

“Fine, you win,” Natasha said, the first words she’d spoken aloud. “Where?”

“Northeast corner, break room.” Clint collected an oversized bucket of licorice, and as Laura and Cooper gawked at him, popped it open and dumped the individually wrapped candies into the cart.

Natasha dropped her phone into it and grabbed Laura’s purse.

“What? Hey, don’t—”

Natasha pulled out a few items, including Laura’s phone. This she dumped in the bucket. An unfamiliar black box, she tossed to Clint. Laura stared mournfully at the shimmery blue phone case bought off of Etsy only last week as the entire bucket was hidden on a shelf behind a case of gum. Clint tossed his hooded jacket to Natasha, gave Laura one brief, heart-stopping look, tousled Cooper’s hair, kissed Lila on the head, and strode off without looking back.

“We were followed,” Natasha said in an undertone, pulling the hood over her distinctive hair.

Followed could mean anything from evil assassins to space aliens at this point, and both of those options led to nauseating conclusions. But Natasha shot her a look, so Laura nodded and swallowed back any panic. And then she changed again, quicksilver just like Clint, so that she was bright and happy Auntie Natasha once more. She picked up Cooper out of the basket and held onto his hand, swinging it cheerfully. “Time to play a new fun game. It’s called ‘Let’s be invisible.’”

“How do you play?”

“Our job,” and Natasha actually hunkered down so that she was on eye level with Cooper, “is to get all the way there,” she pointed to the back of the store, “as fast as we can without running. Because if we run, we won’t be invisible anymore.”

“This is a silly game, Auntie Nat.”

“That’s half the fun, isn’t it? Shh, come with me.” Natasha rose and made brief eye contact with Laura, then headed down the aisle in the opposite direction from Clint. She walked briskly, but not fast enough to draw attention, and Laura had to follow. “Clint’s scoping things out,” she said in a low voice as Laura caught up with the sleeping Lila. “He’ll be fine. I’m taking you and the kids to hide.”

“Are you going to stay with us?”

“You’ll be safe.”

So that was a no. Because she knew her friend well enough, she knew Natasha was tense and watchful, but not a single thing about her betrayed that fact. Natasha didn’t lead them straight to wherever they were going, either. They crossed the store through random aisles, first through the art department and then sporting goods, and Laura’s heart sank as she noticed they were approaching the toy department. They were never escaping without at least one meltdown.

But Natasha surprised her by leaning down and whispering something to Cooper that had him giggling. And right on through they went without a single problem.

“Shh,” Natasha said to Cooper as she pushed open the door to a break room. She peeked inside, then jerked her head for Laura to follow.

“What are we doing, Auntie Nat?” Cooper asked as Natasha immediately climbed onto a table and reached for the ceiling.

“New part of the game,” Natasha said.

Laura looked at the human-sized trap door she’d opened and thought Oh no.

“You get to go up there,” Natasha said. “And it’ll be like hide and seek.”

Cooper’s expression suddenly shouted that he found the prospect of invisibility much less enchanting now. “It looks scary.”

“I’ll be with you,” Laura said. “The whole time. We’ll be invisible together, okay?”

“You first, and I’ll hand them up,” Natasha said.

Laura clambered gingerly onto the table, wishing she’d worn better shoes for this. She put her foot into Natasha’s cupped hands and hauled herself into a very, very dusty vent. Darkness surrounded her and she thought Oh, no. Cooper needed a nightlight on the best of nights. Her son was far cleverer than most; even with Natasha’s easy cheer, he could clearly tell something was off. And if he began crying, Lila was bound to wake as well. Keeping them both quiet would be beyond impossible.

Natasha passed Lila up first, and the toddler barely even stirred. Before she could lift Cooper, she hopped off the table and down to his level. Laura couldn’t hear what she said, but she saw Cooper nod and hold his arms up, completely trusting.

When Natasha lifted him up into the vent, he had his chubby little fist wrapped around a little flashlight. Laura hadn’t even seen Natasha pull that from the shelf, though she recognized it as being from sporting goods. Cooper waved it about, wildly.

“I couldn’t grab much,” Natasha said, hauling herself up so that she hung half off the trap door. Laura would kill for that kind of core strength. She slid over two coloring books and crayons. “Sorry about that. Stay here until Clint or I come to get you. If somebody comes in, we’re invisible, right?”

“Invisible,” Cooper agreed, scrambling for the coloring books.

“Good man.” Natasha reached up to ruffle his hair like Clint had done. She glanced about the air vent in a distinctly sardonic way. “Cozy.”

“Stay safe.”

“Will do.” She raised an eyebrow at Laura, and disappeared down the hatch. A few seconds later, the trapdoor slid back into place, leaving Laura in a dark vent with her children and no cell phone to keep them company.

She had to remind herself that they were lucky something like this hadn’t happened before, though that felt like cold comfort when everything smelled like dust. She shifted the sleeping Lila in her arms. “Here, set it here,” she said, helping Cooper open the coloring book. “What shall we color first, huh?”

* * * *

Nearly eleven minutes later, Natasha knelt down next to the man she’d cornered in Home and Garden and resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Coincidence.”

“Yup.” Clint sounded close to laughter, the traitor.

“The whole thing. Coincidence.”

“Looks that way.”

Natasha sat down hard on the bottom shelf, which held giant sacks of birdseed. Slamming his head into those rather than the concrete floor was probably the only reason the thug was even still breathing. She’d need to hide the body soon, and alert SHIELD, but she had a few minutes to recover. The cell phone she’d stolen out of his pocket after their fight didn’t show an image of her, as she’d expected, but a completely random woman who looked nothing like Natasha outside of being the same height.

It had definitely been a hit, but she hadn’t been the target.

At least they’d saved some random woman, so there was that.

“We should’ve known they weren’t here for you when there were only two of them,” Clint said over the earpiece. He’d teased her about stashing them in Laura’s purse before they left, the traitor. And look who’d been correct to do so. It had kept them in contact as he’d stalked his own target back to the clearance section in the back. “Mine’s taken care of. You?”

“One minute.” She hauled the man bodily onto the shelf and tossed sacks of birdseed over him.

“I’ll get the phones and swing by to steal the surveillance. You fetch Laura and the kids.”

Natasha winced. The last thing she wanted to do was face Laura after ruining this outing for everybody. “I think they’d rather see their daddy after being stuffed in a dark place out of nowhere.”

“Nah, Auntie Nat is just as good,” Clint said. “Face it, you’re part of the family now, god help you.”

“Yeah, part of the family that can’t even let us go grocery shopping without disaster striking.”

There was a warm laugh from the other side of the comms. “Disaster? This is nothing compared to getting two small children through the cereal aisle without a tantrum, Romanoff.”

Natasha, reaching up to fix the braids that had become disordered during the scuffle, wrinkled her nose. She debated whether or not to swing by the staff restrooms on the way and clean up the lucky hit the thug had landed, but decided it was more important to get la familia Barton out of the vents quickly. The less time the children spent in a dark, scary place, the better.

She resolutely did not think of the absolute darkness of thatshipping container, which unfortunately brought the thoughts closer to the surface than she liked.

But she also didn’t want to scare the children, so she grabbed a hand towel off an endcap as she passed, and dabbed at her face.

Mercifully, the break room remained empty when she stepped in. “All clear,” she said, moving the table back under the trap door. “Invisible game’s over.”

From inside, she heard thumping. “Auntie Nat!”

“Cooper, wait—” was the only warning she had before the trap door opened and Cooper launched himself at her.

She snatched him out of the air, and absolutely did not think about what could have happened if she’d been slower to react. “Whoa, okay. Excited to get out of there, huh?” Laura’s white face appeared over the edge, eyes wide. Natasha mouthed he’s fine back at her. “Here, climb down, let me help your mom and your sister out.”

“I stayed so-o-o-o quiet,” Cooper said. “We colored in a dinosaur for you, but we didn’t know your favorite color so I picked red like your hair. What is your favorite color? There’s another dinosaur on the page, so if it’s not red, I can use that color instead.”

“I do like red a lot.” Natasha thought about it. “Purple, too, maybe.”

“You can’t have purple, that’s Dad’s favorite color.”

“Coop, more than one person can have purple as their favorite color,” Laura said, transferring Lila down to Natasha. Mercifully the baby had slept through all of it. “I like purple, too, remember?”

Cooper wrinkled his nose at that. “Okay, fine. I’ll make it purple.”

“I can’t wait to see it,” Natasha promised. Once the entire family had been retrieved, she pushed the trap door back into place. Of course Clint had scouted this spot months ago. His paranoia remained legendary. “Family’s secure, Barton.”

“Got it,” Clint said. “Heading to the front.”

“Meet you there,” Natasha said. To the others with her, she tilted her head toward the door. “Ready to get out of here?”

Laura looked more or less composed, which Natasha had to credit her for. Civilians rarely handled those kinds of curveballs well, but she’d been married to Clint for a decade. It stood to reason this might not even be the first time something like this had happened. Her grip on the sleeping Lila remained tight. “Coop, hold Auntie Nat’s hand, okay? Humor me.”

“All right, I guess.”

“Everything good?” Laura asked.

“False alarm,” Natasha said.

One eyebrow went up. “A false alarm gave you a split lip?”

Natasha worked at it with her tongue, scrunching her nose at the brief spark of pain. “Just another exciting day in our line of work. It all turned out okay, if you ignore that we were unsuccessful in our primary objective.”

Laura looked blank, so Natasha prompted: “Getting the groceries, Barton.”

“Pfft, whatever. We’ll get takeout. We’ll consider it an adventure, and it won’t even be the first one today. Hopefully there will be less dust this time.” Laura leaned over, conspiratorially. “I am getting my phone back, right? I really like the case, and it’ll take forever to get another one like it.”

Years of espionage training kept Natasha from staring at her like she’d sprouted a second head. Clint had told her years before that his wife was far more pragmatic than either of them, but she’d never had a chance to witness it in action before. She almost wanted to ask if this was some kind of backwoods Midwestern thing, but it seemed better not to do that.

So she settled into a helpless laugh. “Yes, we’ll get your phone back. The case is really cute.”

“Good. I knew you’d agree.” Laura squeezed her shoulder with her free hand, and it felt more like a thank you than Natasha had ever received after years and years on the job.

“One point,” Natasha said, feeling a tiny bit shy as as she pulled out a package she’d swiped on their trip through the store earlier. “We should probably pay for the coloring books. And these.”

Laura looked down at the bag of popsicle sticks and laughed. “You really are a hero.”

FIN

(the target was a leaked witsec hit. Bad timing all around)

Hello, I've noticed you own an axolotl and would like to ask for some advice to taking care of it?

Sure, did you have any specific questions?

The important points are that they need cold, clean water, have a tank with a large footprint all to themselves (or another axolotl of the same size), and that you shouldn't put anything smaller than their head in the aquarium unless you're okay with them swallowing it.

So, let's go over what those things actually mean.

Axolotls are native to lakes in Mexico, which they prefer to live at the bottoms of. Because of this, they're adapted to cold water without much light... so you'll need a special setup for them. You can buy an aquarium cooling system, but it's a lot easier to just set up a small fan and point it at the surface of the water. This causes the water to evaporate, cooling it. You'll need to add new water more often than you would with other aquariums, but it's by far the simplest solution. When I decided to move my axolotl tank last week, I bought an old desk to serve as an aquarium stand, because it had a convenient place for attaching the fan.

Being bottom-dwellers is also why you want a tank with a large footprint. While fish swim around a lot, axolotls spend most of their time lounging on the bottom, so don't get much use out of vertical space. A ten gallon aquarium is okay for a baby, but once they're bigger, a twenty gallon long is ideal. If you've got a forty or fifty-five, even better.

Axolotls are pretty sensitive to water quality, and poop A LOT, so you'll need to clean up after them in a way that's not really necessary with most aquatic pets. You will, of course, need to nitrogen cycle their tank before putting them in... but the problem with that is aquarium plants, which I'll get to in a minute. Once your tank is set up with the proper bacteria (which you can buy in bottles, actually), the best way to maintain it is to actually remove the axolotl poop as soon as you see it. Just keep an eye out for what looks like a brown Tic Tac, and suck it out with a turkey baster. If the water gets too dirty, either from poop being left in for too long or the nitrogen cycle not functioning as intended, axolotls can suffer ammonia burns to their skin and gills. They'll recover from it (that's kinda what axolotls do), but I mean... don't mistreat your pets, kids.

Planting an axolotl tank can be tricky, because being bottom-dwelling amphibians, they're not particularly bright or good at identifying things by sight. If they encounter something that can fit in their mouth, there's a good chance it WILL end up in their mouth, on the off-chance that it's edible. This is a problem because most aquarium plants are sold with the expectation that you'll root them in gravel, and an axolotl eating gravel is... well, it's not ideal. You really need those plants as part of the nitrogen cycle though, so you gotta put them in somehow.

I don't know what the ideal solution is, but here are mine: I happened to have a couple small plant pots (two to three inches tall), so just made some miniature potted plants. These are some kind of anubias (anubias nana, I think?), which I chose because they don't need much light, planted in gravel within the pots. I also have another plant in an aquarium log, which you can find at most pet stores, though I'd advise putting it in its own tank for a week or so before introducing it to an aquarium: even if the store claims the logs don't have any snail eggs in them, they probably have snail eggs in them. Finally, on the right of the photo above, you can see my third type of plant, a marimo. These moss balls just kinda roll around underwater, so don't actually need to be planted in anything.

Tank mates of other species don't really work for axolotls. If it's a fish too big for an axolotl to eat, it'll try to eat the axolotl's external gills. If it's anything else, the axolotl will try to eat it. Axolotls will even eat the gills and limbs of smaller axolotls, so if you don't want your axolotl to be lonely, get another axolotl of about the same size. Axolotl axolotl axolotl axolotl.

Those were the main points I wanted to touch on. What else... well, substrate is important. You can't use gravel, and being bottom dwellers, axolotls like to crawl around just as much as swim, so will get kinda stressed out if the bottom of their habitat is smooth glass. Most people use sand, since if the axolotl swallows it, it should come out the other end no issue... just make sure that you get natural quartz sand and clean it well. If you want to get colored sand, do your research: a lot of black sand sold for aquariums is coated with plastic to give it that color, and you don't want your axolotl eating that.

You could also do what I did, and just buy a big piece of natural, untreated slate. It looks really cool, and gives your axolotl plenty of traction for crawling. I bought mine from BlankSlateCrafts on Etsy, who if asked nicely might even be willing to custom cut you a piece to fit the inner dimensions of your tank.

Hmm... I guess the last thing I should touch on is feeding. My axolotl, Woop, eats earthworms almost exclusively. Specifically, red wigglers and other small European nightcrawlers, which I feed her every other day. Ideally you'd have a composting setup that just continually breeds worms for you, but you can get them anywhere that sells bait. Just make sure to read the label: some, like the ones dyed weird colors to attract fish, will specifically say they're not intended as pet food. I also give her bloodworms, which you can find frozen into ice cubes at pet stores, though these aren't the kind of thing you should feed them every day. Think of them like french fries. I feed Woop earthworms with a pair of long aquarium tweezers, and have a dish in her aquarium for the bloodworms. It might be worth making a post going over all the equipment I use...

Alright, that's about it! If you (or anyone else) have any other questions about axolotl care, feel free to ask!

9 Tips for Audience Segmentation in Ecommerce Email Marketing

Audience segmentation should be a no-brainer, whether you're running another Amazon or shipping colorful bracelets from your garage. Ecommerce audiences are diverse, and knowing how to capitalize on that can pay off big time.

Email segmentation is a technique of splitting your email subscribers into smaller, more focused groups. These can be based on typical demographics (age, gender, education, etc.) and a lot more than that. The result is a more personalized experience and more relevant content delivered to your leads' inboxes.

This, as a result, can bring tangible benefits to your business. According to research, segmented campaigns lead to 14.31% more open and 100.95% higher clickthrough rates than their non-segmented peers. What's more, personalized emails can result in even a 760% increase in revenue.

Audience segmentation isn't a difficult topic. It can often be done with a simple Excel spreadsheet or with the basic functionalities of ecommerce marketing automation tools. The key is doing it in the first place and capitalizing on the knowledge that's already at your fingertips.

Let's talk about how to do it right.

1. Start By Getting the Data You Need

Any interaction with a potential customer can be an opportunity to get to know them a bit better. This can be a simple survey at the end of a welcome email. It can be a few questions that pop up when they browse your site, letting them customize their experience. Opportunities are plenty.

The key thing on your side is to decide what's relevant for your business. Gender and age will play a significant role in nearly any fashion retailer. Will it matter much for those of you selling car accessories?

Probably not much. You're much more interested in the brand of the car they own and their income level.

Try to figure out what's going to be meaningful from the marketing standpoint. At the same time, please don't overdo it with questions. Statistics show that the more questions you ask, likely the lower the conversion. Just because a visitor agreed to click through a few questions doesn't mean they're up for a few dozens.

Try to find a sweet spot that will get you just the right data and won't scare the users off. Barkbox offers a gift (who wouldn’t want that) with its subscription if you agree to share a few details about your dog - its name, size, breed, and others.

It’s a fun thing to click through, personalized (the dog's name you insert on the first page shows up throughout the form), and it’s quick to complete. And best of all, most clients will genuinely want to share all these details so they can receive the right gift for their pet. Win-win for all.

2. Explain Why You Want to Know More

The increasing numbers of internet users are hesitant about sharing anything about them that's not necessary. And with the various privacy scandals unfolding almost regularly, it's certainly not a surprise.

At the same time, you don't have bad intentions. You don't plan to sell this data. You're not making any money off it. If that's the case, it often pays off to be straightforward about what you need the information for. After all, shoppers will care about receiving just about the deals they care about.

For example, I'm an avid cyclist. I will gladly shop at Dick's or Decathlon whenever I have a chance. I will be reasonably happy to receive the deals on cycling outfits or accessories I actively shop for.

But as much as I admire gymnasts, I'm not likely to be shopping for the brand new model of a pommel horse, no matter how discounted it is. And I will gladly share where my interests lie, if only they ask (or figure out in some other way).

I'd avoid the general "improve your experience" or "enhance your shopping" phrases. Try to be honest about why you want to know someone's demographics or interests. Or, take a different approach and offer a small reward for sharing a few details, as HermanMiller does in this email:

For more check out these guides to getting the data you need without being sleazy and using it to help increase your sales: *10 Brilliant Ways to Collect Customer Testimonials with Instagram Marketing *How to Leverage eCommerce Consumer Reviews For Higher Conversions in 2020 *7 Easy & Effective Ways to Drive Customer Reviews

3. Use the Data From Your Emails

Analyzing such basic things as email open rates or link click throughs can give you lots of data about your audience's preferences.

With virtually any ecommerce email automation tool, you can see opens and clicks for each recipient. If you're sending a weekly newsletter with the latest discounted products and they never care even to open it, there's a meager chance they'll open it again.

But if they suddenly get active when a significant seasonal offer lands in their inbox, moving them to a different basket may be worth an effort. You could, for example, halt the regular well-designed newsletter for them but, instead, intensify the campaigns around the big shopping sprees such as Black Friday.

And better yet, ask them about their preferences on the next occasion.

Analyzing clicks can be even more powerful, mainly if you include multiple CTAs in your mailings. This is very straightforward. If specific followers click only on items related to children's toys or clothing but ignore everything else, you can safely assume this is where their interest lies. If a lot more readers show similar patterns, it might be worth moving them together to a basket more focused on this particular segment of your assortment.

If a bunch of readers clicks on any links leading to the latest promo you have in store, it may be worth following up on them a few days later. At the same time, you may not necessarily do the same for those that repeatedly ignored such offers.

Followup email from Forever 21, referencing the products a reader has viewed and those that may be relevant to them.

Maximize your ads for email marketing with Wishpond's all-in-one marketing tools. Click here to get started.

4. Find More Data Points Than Just Emails

Analyzing emails is helpful but won't always give you the full picture. You'll get it if you start analyzing multiple channels and use this data to segment the audience.

The most critical data for an eCommerce store is knowing how users interact with this very store. Whether it's a web portal, a mobile app, or both, you can record thousands of data points related to customers' behavior. You can then use them to segment users.

Here are some patterns that tell a lot about visitors preferences or decisions they're planning to take:

Visits the same category of products on multiple occasions

Adds certain products but abandons the cart

Starts browsing related products to the one they recently bought

Adds items from specific categories to their wish lists or asks to be notified when they're back in stock

When you spot such patterns, it's worth tagging visitors with certain tags and treating them a bit differently than the general public. For example, if a visitor wishlists several popular wedding gifts on Etsy, my inner Sherlock Holmes will immediately tell me they're onto something. Pushing a top10 selection of unique wedding gifts to them right after the weekend will be my top priority.

5. Beware of Loopholes

You notice someone is very interested in a particular topic, so you immediately retarget your campaigns to convert a lead. More often than not, it will benefit you greatly. Keep looking at the data, though, because your assumptions won't always turn out to be accurate.

Suppose someone (a male) is looking for a gift for a female friend. They'll explore your store, checking several categories their friend has a keen interest on. They may end up buying something as well. Unless they're very much into this friend, they're not likely to be buying her gifts anytime soon.

The data, though, would suggest sending them a lot about women apparel and purses. Not only will they probably never open these emails but are likely to unsubscribe rather quickly or report your emails as spam.

Prevent such situations by analyzing the data of newly formed segments with the necessary diligence. If someone doesn't open the first two or three emails with your newly-formed campaign, it may be worth moving them back to a general basket. Again, consider asking them about their preferences in one of the emails or via a popup on a website.

6. Don’t Get Overwhelmed with Segmentations

Because of the above, if you haven't been segmenting your audience before, I highly recommend that you start slowly. Building a few segments, and seeing how they perform first is the way to go.

Sure, you may have lots of data already. You may be anxious to set up 50 custom segments and push to customers precisely what (you think) they need right now. Unless you get the whole team involved, you'll likely have problems tracking each segment's performance.

You may miss a vital detail and send a wrong campaign to the wrong audience. You may miss the loopholes and quickly lose the audience that has zero interest in their new campaigns.

Start with 3-5 segments based on basic demographics. Then, expand them into behavior-based campaigns, adding more and more data points and, at the same time, keeping in check how the existing campaigns perform.

7. Benefit from Refills & Subscriptions

There are certain products that its users need to buy with some, at least, regularity. Think about dog food, contact lenses, medicines, electric toothbrush's heads, or virtually any kitchen or bathroom supplies.

Unless the clients changed their habits, they'd be inclined to buy those again and again. And if they purchased from you before, why not make it easier to re-purchase?

With most products, you'll be able to estimate the lifetime of a product sold. If you're selling a pack of three monthly contact lenses, an email sent 2,5 months after initial purchase will likely be met with a favorable reception.

Rather than sending them a broad selection of contact lenses every month, consider such timely notifications. They're almost guaranteed to give you much better results.

8. Use Past Purchases to Help Drive Sales

Past purchases can give you precise insight into customers' interests. They also can tell a lot about the person's income level or just the amount of money they're willing to spend on certain products.

If you're selling jewelry, you're likely to have a wide range of prices across your products. It makes sense – some will spend $10 or $30 and will be entirely happy with their purchase. Others won't even look at the sub-$1000 items.

If someone only bought the inexpensive, discounted products in the past, sending them a luxury item isn't likely to get them to convert. Same way, sending cheap necklaces to the more (seemingly) affluent customers could even cost you a quick unsubscribe. Use the data wisely.

Oh, a protip – don't name your segment "Poor People" or something similar. Some email sending providers include the list name on emails confirming a subscription or an unsubscribe.

9. Find the Right Time to Send

Much research has been done on the perfect times and days for sending emails. Different times work for typical 9-to-5 office workers and different for the stay-at-home tribe.

Something else will also work for students or teenagers. What works best differs also based on industry and type of product on offer. You'll need to figure it out.

The bottom line is that people are more likely to open emails and interact with them at certain times. If you drop them the latest promotion at 9 am right when they're starting a busy day at work, they likely won't even recall it when they're out of their focus zone. Delivering some fantastic deals right when they set off for a lunch break might do the job, however.

Many email marketing automation services will determine the client's timezone for you with high accuracy. You can also double-check it against their purchase history if there's any.

Needless to say, it's worth checking what works for this particular audience. Sadly, there's no ideal time that will work for all, but the amount of data on this subject is abundant.

Wrapping up

Email segmentation is a vast topic that requires deep thought but can yield some fantastic results. No matter the type of business you run, I believe it's worth your time.

There are many factors you should take into consideration. First of all, figure out the type of data that defines your customers well and explain why you need it in the first place. Then, gather insights from past emails and website behavior. Often, the audience will let you segment itself nicely if only you ask, and this should make the job easier for you.

And when you have what you need, start building segments one by one. Analyze the performance of each before you proceed with more. Beware of loopholes that can derail your segmentation outcome and take advantage of some of the tips I mentioned - individual sending time, financial criteria, or the need to refill certain products.

If you did the homework, you'd soon start seeing the improved engagement, and the boost in sales and retention will shortly follow. Best of luck!

About the Author

Piotr Malek is a Technical Content Writer at Mailtrap, a product that helps people inspect and debug emails before sending them to real users. Piotr is also a traveler, an avid cyclist, and a runner.

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Hi :) I'm pretty new to rats I kept one when I was a child poor rat, my main questions are what bedding and food people use for their rats I'm really concerned about bedding because of their respiratory issues. What fun activities you can do with them and whether to get 2 or 3 and make or female for a beginner. I have a local breeder who desexes, vet checks and everything before they go, and what size cage I currently have a 2 story but will upgrade as they grow but not sure to what :)

@notalltreellamas I want to preface thisentire reply by saying that The Rat Gugu on Youtube is one of my favorite resources for rat care! TheRatGuru hasa playlist called “Rattiepedia | The Ultimate Guide to Pet Rats” and it coversall of the questions you asked PLUS a ton more stuff! :) I highly recommendchecking out the channel!! Also, Ratblr exists so I’m sure there are a ton of blogs that you could peruse or send asks to if you have any other questions or want to know about specific setups or ideas they’ve posted on their blogs :DThere’s also an INSANE amount of DIY enrichment, hammocks, and other cage decor on pinterest. Rattie toys don’t have to be expensive, either, since there’s a ton of “Dollar Store DIY” toys and enrichment ideas out there! Google is your best friend when doing research so don’t be afraid to ask questions or dig a little deeper to find an answer! more under the cut

HOUSING

[ Source: julieszoo74 ]I’m not sure what cage you have, but I highly recommend looking into whether or not your specific cage is a good fit for ratties :) Some cages that are labeled as rat appropriate by pet stores are not (same goes for hamsters, birds, bettas, etc.) so it’s a good idea to check that out or upgrade asap! :)The rule I’ve heard mostoften is 2 sq ft/rat but bigger is always better! Also keep in mind that ratslove to climb so make sure your cage has some vertical space to hang shelves, hammocks,tunnels, etc. The Critter Nation is personally my favorite rat cage. You canbuy a single or double critter nation and a single will comfortably house 2-3adult male or female rats! I definitely recommend using no-pill fleece bedding (shelfcovers + ladder covers + litter box) with this cage, since it makes cagecleanup a breeze. You can buy the shelf/ladder covers (usually on ebay or etsy) or sew them yourself! This cage has plenty ofspace to hang toys, hammocks, shelves, perches, baskets, and whatever else youcan think of :)

(note: you can buy a single critter nation, which has the shelfunderneath and the rolie feet, or the “add-on” which has no shelf or roliefeet. The add-on is usually a little cheaper, but the single critter nation’s shelf and roliefeet are handy dandy)

Martin’s Cages areanother popular choice among rat owners! :) Lastly, you can even DIY a cage!

[ source: reachthestars ]

I’ve seen C&C cages,cages made out of old cabinets or book shelves, and even custom-build ones!

Bedding

My twofavorite types of bedding are the Carefresh paper bedding (nonscented andnoncolored) and no-pill fleece bedding! Rats have sensitive upper respiratorysystems, so they shouldn’t ever be kept on any type of bedding that gives offdust (like cedar or pine shavings). You can use Carefresh if the cage has adeep enough litter pan at the bottom. You can also use fleece strips since they’rewashable/reuseable :) Whenever you use fleece bedding (whether it be asshelving covers or as strips) I’d recommend using a litter box (Yes! It’s possible to litter-train rats!) as well to helpkeep the fleece clean longer and to minimize having to shake out thefleece/pick poop out of the fleece strips before washing.

Food

Blocks arebetter than mixes when it comes to feeding your rats! If you use a mix, therats will probably just pick out what they like and leave the rest of the fooduntouched, which can be an issue since they wouldn’t be getting propernutrition! I love Oxbow and Mazuri for rattie staple diets! :D Now, youngratties and older ratties have different protein requirements and it’s veryimportant to make sure those needs are met! After I discovered this, I changedmy rats’ diet so I wanted to mention it to you since it might not be listed inarticles you find online! The Rat Guru covers this issue more in this video: 

Treats

Rats can eat a TON of different “people-foods” so varying a rattie diet is pretty easy! The video above lists some treats and foods to avoid, and this list is also pretty extensive! :) (dark chocolate seems to be debated and I don’t have any personal experience with feeding it to my rats, so if anyone has some resources or opinions about feeding rats dark chocolate, leave a comment or reblog!)

Water

Waterbottles work better than water bowls imo :) I like to have at least 2 waterbottles in the cage, usually one near the food bowl and one somewhere else inthe cage (like, one on the ground floor and one on another level). You can use water bowls, however, for enrichment! I’ve seen people give their rats a bowl for bobbing-for-frozen-peas! :p

Pairs vsTrios vs Groups

I had pairsgrowing up! However, my mom adopted a trio (and then a pair, for a total of 5ratties) so I feel like how many rats you own depends on how much time you haveto devote to them :) I don’t think I could have 5 rats out at a time unlessthey had their own room or tall large pen, and when I interacted with her rats,I’d take them out one or two at a time since that’s what I felt mostcomfortable with :) If you feel like 3+ rats would be overwhelming or if youwant to start with just a pair, that’s perfectly OK :) As long as they’re notkept alone, you should be good!

Males vsFemales

I’ve alwaysheard that males are a lot more laid back and relaxed than females. I’ve onlyhad 1 pair of male rats growing up, and they were older from what I canremember so that may have also played a part in their activity level. Youngfemale rats are super energetic for sure though! :D Adult males are also alarger than adult females, so if you want big fat ratties, go for males! If youwant energetic playful ratties, go for females! I should also mention, though,that not all ratties will conform to this gender stereotype, and this doesn’tmean that male rats aren’t playful or fun or that female rats won’t cuddle withyou! If you’re picking up ratties from a breeder, talk with them about whatpersonalities you’re looking for and I’m sure they can set you up with rattiesthat are a good fit for you! :)

I feel like it’s also important to address The Rat Fan Club and Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun. She’s a heavily debated figure in the rat community and I have my own personal feelings about her, as do many others.The Rat Fan Club facebook group andwebsite are good sources for questions that might have hard-to-findanswers, however, I would not suggest these sources for *actually treating* medicalissues. Both the group and website are good resources and have aninsane amount of information on the nuances of rat care and ownership and recognizing certain illnesses.

However, Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun is NOTA REGISTERED OR LISCENCED VETERINARIAN as far as I know (she has a degree in animal behavior and has worked as a vet tech, though)and is a proponent of at-home care and/or homeopathy and I do NOT agree with at-home surgeries of ANY kind unless they are performed by a veterinarian who has the proper and necessary equipment + environment to do so.

I’m not exactly sure if she’s pro-vet or pro-owner treatment, as she seems to feel like vets overcharge and can be a waste of money and details a TON of treatments for different illnesses and injuries on her webiste, but also provides a list of veterinarians and prefaces some of her pages with the suggestion that you should seek veterinary care if the situation warrants it. I would advise you to take her medical advice with a few grains of salt and consult a veterinarian as to whether a treatment can be given with otc meds or if a treatment needs to be performed by a licenced veterinarian!

There are some issues that can be fixed athome (i.e. if your rat is itching you might need to usehypoallergenic/non-colored/non-scented detergent to wash their fleece beddingor hammocks. However, your rat might be itching because s/he has mites and thatrequires medical treatment and you should consult a vet) but it’s never a bad idea to get your vet’sopinion! :)

Please, please, please consult a local veterinarian! You said thebreeder has a vet, so talk to the breeder about vets that they would recommendto you! :)

If anyone has anything else to add about rat ownership, rat care, enrichment suggestions, or anything else concerning ratties, please feel free to add on to this post! :)

The 24 Things I Always Recommend to Anyone Adopting a Cat

Photo: Courtesy of the retailer Although cats are generally considered lower-maintenance pets than dogs, there’s still a lot of gear — including food bowls, litter boxes, toys, carriers, and more — you’ll need when adopting a new kitten or an adult cat. Since adopting two cats eight years ago (one of which has sadly passed away), I’ve tried out a lot of cat gear, and have pretty strong opinions on the items worth buying. Of course, all cats have their own preferences and personalities, but my picks below should be more than enough to get you started. Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Entree Grain-Free Canned Cat Food You should always consult your vet about any dietary needs specific to your cat, but in my experience, Wellness wet food is my cat’s favorite — so much that I’ve recommended it to other cat owners who’ve also become fans. Wellness wet food doesn’t contain unhealthy grains or fillers found in other cheaper brands, but it’s still affordable enough to buy in bulk. Most vets I’ve spoken with prefer wet over dry food because it has a higher moisture content, which can help prevent urinary tract problems, diabetes, or kidney disease. And no matter what type of food you ultimately choose, I’d advise setting up a subscription for regular food delivery like those offered on Amazon or Chewy. You’ll usually get a little discount for subscribing, and it beats lugging a pack of two dozen cans (or a five-pound bag of dry food) home from the store. Greenies Feline Oven Roasted Chicken Flavor Dental Cat Treats When I’m giving my cat the occasional treat, I like these crunchy ones because chewing on them helps keep her teeth clean. They must taste great, too, because my cat devours them. Treats can also serve as positive reinforcement if you’re training your cat to stay off the furniture, or only scratch her scratching post. OurPets Durapet Premium Stainless Steel Cat Bowl Since they’re more durable than plastic, I’ve always used stainless steel bowls for my cat’s food and water. Get ones that you can throw in the dishwasher or easily hand wash, as bowls often harbor bacteria — which can leave your cat with painful chin acne in addition to other health issues. Bowls should be wide enough that your kitten’s whiskers don’t brush up against the sides. Because whiskers are full of nerve endings, too much contact with a bowl can cause sensory overload or “whisker fatigue.” Pawfect Pets Premium Elevated Dog & Cat Diner You definitely don’t need a fancy wooden stand like this for your cat’s food and water bowls, but it sure makes them look classier. I have a similar one from a now-defunct Etsy store, and I find it makes my cat’s feeding area look that much more put together. Plus, you don’t have to deal with cats pushing around or knocking over their bowls. ORE Pet Kitty Cat Cafe Placemat Cats, especially kittens, can be messy eaters (see the above bit about knocking around their bowls). I’ve also been guilty of dripping some chicken gravy on the floor during a bleary-eyed, early-morning feeding. An easy-to-wipe mat helps with controlling spills, no matter who causes them. I have this one, which I think is appropriately silly. PetFusion Waterproof Pet Food Mat If you want a heftier mat, this one has great reviews on Amazon, and its anti-slip bumps help keep bowls in place even when feeding the most enthusiastic kittens. Van Ness Cat Litter Pan By the time kittens are ready to be adopted (usually around eight weeks old), they’ve typically already figured out how to use a litter box, which is a boon for their new owners. A basic, easy-to-clean litter box will work for most newly adopted cats, and this one has a little dip on one side so small kittens can easily climb in. But if you have more than one cat, you should also have a litter box for each one. Maison La Queue Compact Designer Cat Litter Scoop & Base You’re going to be doing a lot of litter scooping, so I think it’s worth investing in a scooper that’s durable, cleans up quickly, and comes with a holder so it’s hidden when not in use. I’ve had this one for several years and it still looks great. It has a streamlined minimal style that doesn’t scream “poop scooper.” PrettyLitter Back in December, I called this litter my favorite purchase of 2018, and six months later I’m standing by that. Nearly everything about PrettyLitter is perfect. The crystals absorb liquid waste instead of clumping — so there aren’t any huge clumps to scoop — and the only thing you have to remove is solid waste, which is flushable. It’s as close to odorless as cat litter can get, and I find that it only starts to get dusty and a little smelly at the end of the month, when it’s time to swap in a new bag anyway. Photo: Adelson, Karen Curio Craft Modern Litter Box Enclosure Like the food-bowl stand, this attractive litter-box storage isn’t a necessary purchase. But it’s a huge aesthetic improvement over most plastic litter boxes. I keep mine in the bathroom with a tray on top to hold the litter scooper and some candles for odor-masking, and it really just looks like a nice piece of furniture. The brand sells a separate, removable inner liner for the box that fits inside perfectly and makes cleaning it very easy. I wouldn’t buy this for a kitten, though, as the entrance might be too high for a little one to reach. Gorilla Grip Original Premium Durable Cat Litter Mat Even the neatest cats will leave the litter box with some bits of litter trailing behind them. A mat designed to catch stray litter can keep it from getting all over your home. I have a plastic mat that I like but don’t love (the crevices that catch litter pieces are hard to get into and clean), so I’m eyeing one like this, which is supposedly very easy to vacuum. Yeowww! Catnip Toy Whether your cat loves toys or is generally indifferent to them, I can almost guarantee she will freak out over this catnip-filled banana. As she’s gotten older, my cat has become less interested in playing, but she still can’t resist the banana. When I was researching the best gifts for cat lovers, Nora Wood, adoption event coordinator for Anjellicle Cats, a New York–based all-volunteer cat rescue and nonprofit, explained its universal appeal, calling the banana the “best catnip toy” because it’s the “perfect shape” for cats to sniff, snuggle, and kick, and it’s better than “lots of crap catnip out there.” Cat Dancer Cat Charmer Toy A wand to chase around is another surefire hit for most cats. I’ve seen cats leap high into the air to try to “catch” this toy and then drag it around in their mouths. Playful kittens will chase it until they’ve tired themselves out, and it’s also a great way for older (and lazier) cats to get some exercise, while enjoying your company. Photo: Courtesy of the retailer SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Cat Toy I’m always picking up little mice toys for my cat because they’re a playtime favorite and often go missing under the furniture due to their size (thankfully, they’re also often cheap). Let your cat sniff the toy to get a whiff of catnip and then toss it across the room and watch her bolt off to “hunt” it. SmartCat the Ultimate Scratching Post Cats instinctually need to scratch something (both to leave their scent behind and sharpen their claws). If you’d rather it not be your couch, invest in a scratching post, something just as attractive to kittens as it is to mature cats. Since they’re vertical, posts help cats get in a good stretch, just like they would on a chair leg. This one is made from sisal (not cardboard), so it lasts a long time and won’t leave cardboard scrapings all over the floor. Plus, the wooden top and base give it an almost elegant-looking quality, like a fancy pedestal or column. PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge Cats also like to scratch on horizontal surfaces, and although this scratching board is cardboard, I’ve had one for a few years and it has held up pretty well. I keep mine by a windowsill, where it can double as a little perch for my cat to sit on and look outside. Vesper V-High Base Cat Tree My cat’s favorite place to perch, though, is her giant cat tree. Since cats love to climb and survey their surroundings from above, buying a cat tree is a very smart idea (trees also keep cats off furniture, if that’s something you’re trying to do). They range from basic to elaborate, and I recommend getting one with several levels that cats can grow into. Kittens might only be able to reach the lower tiers at first, but they’ll quickly (after several adorable failed attempts) make it to the top. I personally own a stupid-expensive tree that’s handmade from real bark, but I think this one is very good, too. It’s got sisal scratching posts, a hanging toy for cats to bat at, a little hideaway nook, and soft padding on each level for napping. Frisco 48-in Cat Tree, Large Base Here’s a less-expensive tree that has lots of the same features. Yeowww! Organic Catnip It’s always good to have some loose catnip around to sprinkle on new toys, scratching posts, or trees to get your cat’s attention as you introduce her to new gear. This is the same irresistible blend as the one in the banana toy. FURminator Long Hair deShedding Edge For Cats We’ve written about this cult-favorite pet brush before, and there really isn’t anything better for grooming cats — especially ones with longer hair like mine. Regular brushing cuts down on shedding and regurgitated hairballs, which cat owners know are always an unpleasant surprise. As long as I’m gentle with it, my cat enjoys being brushed, and it’s a nice way to bond. Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Dog & Cat Poultry Flavor Toothpaste Cats are vulnerable to tooth decay and will usually need a professional teeth cleaning once or twice in their lives (my cat just had hers done last year). I’d like to avoid another pricey procedure, so along with the dental treats, I’ll use a bit of this toothpaste on my finger to give her teeth a little polish. Try to start at-home brushing when kittens are young so they get used to the feeling and don’t put up a struggle. Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier You’re definitely going to need a carrier for annual vet visits and any travel you plan on doing with your cat. Most cat owners I know, myself included, use the Sherpa, which is popular for a handful of reasons: It unzips on the sides and top so you can wrangle your kitty into it whatever way works best for her; it’s lightweight and easy to carry, thanks to the shoulder strap; and the mesh windows give cats plenty of room to breathe and see. It’s also approved by most airlines for in-cabin travel. Pet Odor Exterminator Candle, Orange Lemon Splash I discovered this candle at my vet’s office, and although it’s decidedly not a status candle (way too goofy-looking), it’s exceptional at eliminating odors. It doesn’t mask pet smells — burning it actually releases a blend of natural enzymes that apparently destroy airborne animal odors at a molecular level. I cannot speak to this destruction, but I will say my home smells less like cats whenever I burn it. My favorite scents are the citrusy “Orange Lemon Splash” and subtle “Clothesline Fresh.” Red Dingo Reflective Cat Collar I feel guilty admitting this, but my cat doesn’t wear a collar. I’ve attempted to put one on her, but she freaks out and manages to wriggle out of it every time (thankfully I live on the fourth floor of an apartment building, so she’d have to navigate through three doors and an elevator before hitting the streets collarless). Using a collar is generally a good idea, though, and an elastic one with a quick-release breakaway like this is the safest option, since it’ll snap open if it gets snagged on anything to prevent choking. This one’s also reflective, making kitty easy to spot if she gets out at night. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. The 24 Things I Recommend to Anyone Adopting a Cat Read More Read the full article

49 (Lit) Ways to Make Money as a Teenager

Is making money as a teenager easy as it used to be? After all, that old standby – the newspaper route – has mostly gone into the dustbin of history. I mean…who reads newspapers anymore? smh…. Meanwhile, child labor laws have cut down on the number of jobs that young people can hold. How to make money as a teenager has become something of a matrix. You have to look for moneymaking opportunities from non-traditional sources. But that’s not a problem, because there are more of them than ever before. We’ve come up with 49! And the only reason we stopped is because the possibilities are almost unlimited! So here are the ways to make money as a teenager that we thought were the best. We left off the usual teen job situations, like fast food restaurants, grocery stores and big-box retailers. You don’t need us to tell you about ordinary jobs. Oh, and even though the opportunities are numbered, they’re not in any special order. It’s mostly a matter of picking which one (or ones) will work best for you. We only numbered them so you could pick them out more easily. Let’s get started…

1. Banging on Doors

This is a true story – if you can indulge a proud papa for a moment… My seven-year-old son, Bentley, needed to make extra money. Now when you’re seven, the options are pretty limited. But Bentley never got that memo. Thoroughly unaware of the limits a kid his age should have, he saw one of our neighbors doing yard work, and approached her with a question he had rehearsed many times over:

”Hi. My name is Bentley. I’m trying to earn some extra money to buy some books because I really like to read. Is there anything I can help you with?”

He got the job, worked for an hour and a half, and earned $20. All because he asked a question! It’s my son, and I’m incredibly proud of him, but it’s also an excellent example of how to make money.

Sometimes, all you have to do is identify need, and ask a question. Please keep this in mind as you read about the other 48 opportunities to make money as a teenager.

You can read the full story here: Bentley’s First Job. Let’s move on.

2. Babysitting

Babysitters are getting $10 an hour and up, often working in conditions that are much better than a typical part-time job. You have to love kids, and it will really help if you complete a CPR course. It’s often as easy as just letting people in your neighborhood know that you’re available to sit. Once the word gets around, you may have more babysitting gigs than you can handle.

3. InboxDollars

InboxDollars allows you to earn cash by watching TV, taking surveys, and even searching the web. Got that – cash, not rewards. You won’t make a fortune on this site, but it’s a way to earn some extra money by doing the things you normally do. As you do, the dollars and cents will add up.

4. Tutoring

If you’re good in any subjects, you can offer your services out as a tutor. Almost any academic subject can qualify, but math, science and English are usually the most in-demand. You can charge $20 an hour and up. Market your services by providing flyers to local schools. You can even do it online, through platforms such as Enroll.com. You can earn between 60% and 80% of the tutoring fees charged by the website.

5. Become a Language Tutor

This is a very specific kind of tutoring. With the huge influx of immigrants into the US, there’s a big market for people learning to speak English. This is especially true of the children of immigrants.

You can provide this service directly to clients, or you can join a website like SameSpeak. You can earn $10 for every 30-minute session on the site.

6. Sell Your Computer and Internet Skills

Teenagers are often more fluent with computers and the Internet than adults. If you have specific skills, you may be able to sell them to paying clients. It could be as simple as helping people to manage their computers or download apps. Many adults are willing to pay other people to do these services for them.

7. Buying & Selling…Stuff

This is the age-old practice of buy low, sell high. If you’ve got an eye for a bargain, it can be a way to make money on a regular basis. There are different ways you can do this. For example, buy gently used clothing at garage sales and thrift stores, and sell them at consignment stores. You can buy just about anything you can think of at the same sources, and then sell them on Craigslist and eBay.

8. Pet Sitting

People routinely pay adults to take care of their pets while they are away on vacation. But you may be able to create your own book of business by charging a little bit less than the going rate for adults. You can find customers by advertising in your own neighborhood, and surrounding neighborhoods. You have to love pets, and the work is usually very casual.

9. Dog Walking

This is a variation on pet sitting, but it tends to be more consistent. That’s because a dog needs to be walked every day, often several times. While people are at work all day, they may need someone who will walk their dogs. You can make a steady income walking the dogs of several customers. Since you can do this in your own neighborhood, you won’t even need a car.

10. Garage Sale Prepper

Practically every homeowner has a garage sale sooner or later. It’s not the garage sale itself that involves all the work. It’s the preparation. Items have to be taken out of storage, cleaned, priced, and placed for sale. It’s a very time-consuming process, that any would-be garage saler would love to have help with. Volunteer your services in your neighborhood, particularly in the spring and fall when garage sales are most frequent.

11. Taking Online Surveys

This isn’t an opportunity that I’m terribly enthusiastic about, because most sites pay rewards, rather than cash. But if being paid in rewards is okay for you, then you can try sites like MySurvey.com, PaidViewpoint and SurveyConsensus. They have surveys on topics related to teens, and you usually have to be at least 13 or 14 to participate.

12. Session Musician

Are you particularly good with a musical instrument, especially one that would lend itself well to performing artists? If you can, you might be able to work as a session musician. These are people who play in a music group, but aren’t necessarily part of the group. You get paid on a per gig basis.

13. Camp Counselor

These are usually temporary arrangements, most often in the summer months. You’re generally working with younger kids. It floats somewhere between freelance work and a traditional job. You might have set hours, but there’s a lot of flexibility as to how you do the job.

14. Mother’s Helper

This can be a welcome service for either a new mother or for one who has several young children. It’s less about babysitting (though that can be one possible outcome), and more about providing assistance. A mom might ask you to perform certain services, such as preparing meals, organizing laundry, or feeding very young children. The arrangement can be either temporary or permanent.

15. Make and Sell Crafts on Etsy

If you have a talent for making crafts, you can start making some extra money selling them on Etsy. It’s a site dedicated to those who create and sell handmade crafts.

16. Pool Lifeguard

This is usually a seasonal opportunity. But if you like being at the pool, and you have lifeguard training, this is definitely a way to pick up money during the summer months.

17. Skate Guard

Even though most skating rinks are indoor, this tends to be more of a winter opportunity. If you’re an above-average skater, you may qualify.

This could be a good match if you can also lifeguard. You can be a skate guard during the winter months, and a lifeguard during the summer.

18. Work in an Amusement Park

Amusement parks often prefer hiring teenagers. That’s because you’re a natural fit with the common clientele, which is largely teenagers. There can be some good fringe benefits as well, with some parks providing season passes.

19. Personal Assistant

Do you know an adult whose unusually busy? That person may need help with a wide variety of small jobs. That can be anything from running errands to doing work in his or her business or profession. If you have good organizational and administrative skills, this can be a serious moneymaking opportunity. It can also be excellent training for a future full-time job.

20. Making YouTube Videos

If you’ve ever made a video on YouTube, you may be able to turn this into a steady revenue stream. There are even videos that teach you how to make videos. You create videos, set them up with Google AdSense, then earn income as people view your video, and click on the ads displayed. You can even create videos that can provide you with affiliate income from various service providers.

The videos can be on any subject you can think of. It can be some sort of how-to video, or it can be about specific topics, like movie and music reviews. You can even create a portfolio of videos, each earning you a little bit of revenue every month.

21. Teach Computer Basics to Older Folks

Despite the rapid spread of computer, there are a lot of people who still don’t know much about them. This is particularly true of people over 60, who came up in the world before computers were a thing. Many are only discovering the joys of computers now. But they don’t know how to use them well. You can offer your services teaching them. Speak with local senior citizens groups or even senior living centers, and see what you can work out. Just like my son Bentley, sometimes all you need to do is ask!

22. Create and Sell Art

I once ran into a teenager who was creating and selling his own artwork at a fair. That is, he was creating the artwork at the fair, and selling it. He was creating dazzling artwork with spray paint. It was exciting stuff, and he was actually selling it – at about $20 each. If you have an artistic streak, selling directly at fairs and craft shows can be a serious moneymaking opportunity.

23. Become an Event Photographer

I’m not talking about becoming a wedding photographer. People like to have photos taken at lesser events, like family gatherings and birthday parties. If you know of such events taking place, volunteer your services as a photographer. You might charge a flat fee to attend the event, like $30 or $40. But it’s light work, and you’ll probably get free food as a fringe benefit.

24. Work in a Movie Theater

Yes, this is a job, but one with a lot of perks. Not only does the pay tend to be above minimum wage, but you get to watch plenty of free movies. You’ll also get to enjoy the benefits of air-conditioning on those hot summer days. And since movie theaters tend to draw teenagers, you’ll be in familiar company.

25. Housecleaning Assistant

Adults don’t typically hire teenagers to clean their homes. But they might hire them as housecleaning help. If someone has a specific housecleaning day, they may appreciate your services in getting the job done. This is another service that you can offer to people in your neighborhood.

26. Give Music Lessons

If you play a musical instrument, and you’re pretty good at it, offer your services as a private music teacher. Kids often respond better to other kids, especially teenagers, when it comes to learning anything. If you have the patience to teach, and a musical skills too, this can be a real opportunity. You might approach this by speaking with school music teachers in your area, and offering your services to work with students.

27. Washing Cars

While it’s true that you can usually go to a car wash and get the job done for a few dollars, a lot of people still like the personal touch. This is particularly true if you make house calls, and will wash cars in the customer’s own driveway.

28. Fiverr and Upwork

if you have certain skills, usually computer-related, you can make money doing micro tasks. These are small jobs, like graphic design, voiceovers and social media work, that pay a few dollars per gig. The idea is to do multiple jobs, from the comfort of your home, and earn some extra money. You can do this through platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.

29. Create Tumblr Themes

Tumblr has become one of the most popular social media sites for teenagers. If you spend a lot of time there, and you know how to design themes, you can earn some money creating them for other people. Everybody wants a winning theme, so it’s a niche you might be able to fill.

30. Putting Up/Taking Down Christmas Decorations

Almost everyone loves Christmas decorations. But putting them up can be a challenge, and taking them down can be a hassle. Offer your services around your neighborhood, especially if you have a flair for putting up decorations. The work will only be seasonal of course, but it will give you a chance to make some extra money around the holidays.

31. Light Hauling

Naturally, this opportunity only applies if you have a driver’s license, and a vehicle that can be used for hauling. But if you do, you might be able to help people with moving a few pieces of furniture, or in cleaning out junk from a basement or garage. You can charge a flat fee for the haul, and an hourly fee for loading and unloading.

32. Start Your Own Blog

This one is hit or miss, since there are literally millions of blogs out there. But many do become moneymakers. And if you’re only looking to make some extra money on the side, blogging can get the job done.

Set up a blog that centers on just about any topic that you like. You have to add content regularly, including articles, podcasts and videos. Make money by adding Google Adsense to your blog, and by participating in affiliate programs that offer services related to your blog.

Bonus: A blog started when you are a teenager, can turn into a serious moneymaker by the time you’re an adult. You may be building your future career without even realizing it.

33. Amateur Referee

If you’ve ever played recreational sports then you know that every event has one or more referees. As a teenager, you may qualify as one of those referees. I know of at least one teen was earning between $25 and $60 to referee one hour games for kids between the ages of four and 12. Check with the recreational leagues in your community. If you can referee multiple sports, you can work year-round.

34. MusicXRay

If you like listening to music – all kinds of music – this can be a way to make some extra money in your spare time. MusicXRay will pay you 10 cents per song, to listen to and rate whether or not you like the music of aspiring new artists. You only have to listen to a song for a minimum of 30 seconds to get paid.

35. Running Errands

If you have a car or a bicycle, this is a possibility. It can be a valuable service to someone who either doesn’t have a car, doesn’t like to drive, or simply can’t get out and about. You can earn money for each errand you run. Once again, advertise your services in your local neighborhood, and see who needs help.

36. Write Web Content

WriterAccess.com provides an opportunity to write content for websites. You’re eligible if you’re a teenager. The pay ranges between 1.4 cents and 7 cents per word, which means you can earn anywhere from $14 – $70 for 1,000 words. Pay is twice a month. Get good at this and you can try your hand at freelance writing.

37. Assisting the Elderly

Many elderly people prefer to live in their own homes, rather than going to a senior facility. But there are many aspects of home maintenance and basic living that they have difficulty managing.

You may be able to help elderly people in your community with basic jobs like housecleaning, shopping, or organizing personal effects. In many cases, the person may just want camaraderie.

38. Selling Designs on CafePress

This is another of the more entrepreneurial money-making methods. CaféPress is a way that you can sell your designs and earn some money. You can create designs for T-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, tote bags and even pillows. Just create an account on the site, and then upload your designs. The site will display your designs, which will be purchased by customers on the site. CafePress advertises, but you can also promote your work on the site through the social media.

39. ThredUP

ThredUp is a web platform where you can sell gently used upscale clothing. You can be paid anywhere from two dollars up to $25 per item. The items have to be name brand, like J.Crew, L.L. Bean and Banana Republic. But if you have a closet full of name brand garments, or you know where to get them, this can be a steady stream of extra income.

40. Yard Maintenance

This can be anything from cutting lawns on a regular basis, to shoveling snow, to one-off property management projects, like raking leaves or trimming hedges. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can provide these services for people in your neighborhood. Your competitive advantage is that you can work for less money than professional landscapers charge.

41. Golf Caddy

A lot of young people get their first job on a golf course. If you’re already a golfer, this can be a natural outlet. Not only is the work fairly easy, but you have an opportunity to connect with people who may be able to help you later in life, with everything from getting into a certain college, to landing a job on graduation.

42. Find Odd-jobs on Craigslist

Craigslist has rapidly grown to become what local newspaper classified ads used to be. You can find just about anything on the site, including odd jobs. Some of them involve ongoing work, while others are single jobs. You can scan the offers, and take only those assignments that are good fit for you.

43. Collect and Recycle Metals

I know a young guy with a pickup truck who did this for several years, and made good money. Metals – steel, aluminum, and especially copper – can easily be recycled. Contact companies in your area who buy scrap metal, then go around your community and collect any metal left out for garbage pickup.

44. Snagajob

Snagajob is actually a job board, but one where you can find the kinds of jobs that are not available in the local newspaper or the mall. All kinds of employers in every industry advertise for jobs on the site. It may be a chance for you to find that unusual job you’ve been hoping to find.

45. Video Editing

If you know how to create videos, you can probably edit them as well. If you’ve created some professional quality videos, or have performed editing work on other people’s videos, you already have a portfolio of work. Offer your services out on Craigslist and other sites. You can charge either an hourly fee, or a flat fee depending on the job.

46. Digitalizing Photos

This is basically a process of scanning and saving photos to your computer. If you have a good quality scanner, you can offer your services to people who are looking to convert their photos from paper to digital.

47. Window Cleaning

If it’s a job that an adult either is unlikely to do, or doesn’t want to do, it’s a chance to make money as a teenager.

Window cleaning is one of those jobs. It’s not that it’s particularly hard, it’s just that most people forget to do it. All you need is a squeegee and a large bottle of Windex, and you’ll be in business.

48. Cleaning Out Basements or Garages

Most people hate these jobs, because they can be huge projects. That’s especially true if it’s been years since either space has been cleaned out. A person in your circle of friends or neighborhood may welcome your assistance, and pay you generously. In fact, a knock at the door or a flyer from you could create the incentive for the jobs to happen at all.

49. Become a Party DJ

This is an opportunity to release your inner entertainer. If you’re into popular music, and you know how to arrange it and present it, you can be a natural for this one. You can start by acting as a DJ within your own social circle. But if you’re any good at it, word will get around, and you’ll have a full-fledged business.

Final Thoughts on How to Make Money as a Teenager

So, there you have it – 49 ways to make money as a teenager. Even better, you don’t have to pick just one way. You can choose two or three, or even more. You can even choose to do one for a while, then move on to the next. There’s always another way to make money and you never have to get bored.

The post 49 (Lit) Ways to Make Money as a Teenager appeared first on Good Financial Cents.

from All About Insurance https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/make-money-teenager/

Frerard Fics - Pt. One

🌟 Aquarium

- | NC-17 | As a marine specialist at one of New Jersey’s aquariums, Frank’s faced with somebody that fears everything he loves. When he finds Gerard in one of the shark walk-through tunnels hyperventilating, he knows that for some reason he has to help. Through a series of lunch dates at the aquarium and pet fish named Jack and Ianto, Gerard opens up about his irrational fears as the other man listens patiently. Frank’s aim was to conquer Gerard’s fears but instead, finds himself conquering his heart. | Four Chapters, Epilogue

- Favorite Frerard fic. It’s well written and extremely immersive. 

No Experience Necessary

- | R | Gerard accidentally lands a job at a pizza store and even though the pay is shit, the guys he works with are pretty cool. Soon he’s made all the friends he missed out on in high school and he actually has something to do on a Friday night. Everything's great until he realizes he’s got a hard-on for his cute punk workmate Frank, who is, in all likelihood, straight. | Three Chapters

- Kinda weird - but I loved it so, so much. Frank is a cute punk, let's be real.

Hand Tools and Hellos

- | R |  Gerard just needs someone to finish building his house. Enter Frank, the young, handsome contractor that Gerard certainly doesn't mind keeping an eye on as plumbing goes in and carpets are installed. | One Chapter

This Is Us

- | NC-17 |  Two bestfriends loose their virginity to each other. In a little sweet, a little awkward way. | One Chapter

The Neighbor

- | NC-17 |  Frank’s been living in this run down but fairly priced apartment barely six months when he moves in. He saunters in to the elevator one Sunday afternoon carrying a torn paint splattered box and smiles at Frank through dark sunglasses. | One Chapter

🌟 Buy Handmade

- | Adult |  He knows something else is going to happen; his life isn't always going to be this. He just doesn't know what has to happen for that change to come, for him to wake up and become an artist with an Etsy page and a home studio, and to never have to see a cubicle again. | Two Chapters

Take a Picture, It'll Last Longer

- | R |  A classic tale of boy meets boy, boy photographs boy naked, boy and boy hook up afterward. | One Chapter

🌟 Falling For You

- | NC-17 |  It’s those little things that suggest to Gerard he is well and truly fallen in love with his colleague, Frank. | One Chapter

Of Star Wars and Highschool

- | NC-17 |  Mikey pushes his glasses up on his nose. “And you haven’t asked him out yet because…?” he says while tipping his lunch out on to the grass. Gerard picks up an apple and rubs it against his trousers, shrugging before handing it back to his younger brother. “You’re an idiot? Yes, I think that’s it.” Mikey answers for him. | One Chapter

🌟 By The Book

- | NC-17 | Frank Iero, the new English teacher, starts a teachers' book club. Wackiness (and dubious literary analysis) ensues. | One Chapter

🌟 On the Midtown Direct

- | Explicit | Gerard Way has a system: a system for managing his life as a city architect, a system for being a single man living in a house in Jersey he still thinks of as his grandmother's and not his own, a system for finding one of the four solo seats in each car on the train into Manhattan every morning. He likes his system. It works. | One Chapter and an epilogue.

On Measuring Life With Coffee Spoons

- | R |  “Venti mocha frappuccino, no whipped cream,” Frank said with a grin. Gerard noticed he was wearing the nametag with the little blue vampire drawn next to the K. It was Gerard’s favorite. Barista!AU featuring socially awkward! Gerard and trying-too-hard! Frank. | One Chapter

Sting

- | R |  Gerard hates when Mrs. James asks him to tutor other (worse) kids in art, but if he wants to keep his sanctuary, he'll have to. Hopefully this Frank kid isn't as stupid as he seems. | Three Chapters

🌟 F is for Frank

- | R |  Frank can't even cook mac and cheese. How can he possibly live up to being a father? Maybe the new preschool teacher can help. | Three Chapters

Something Better

- | NC-17 |  "We all have to take jobs we don't like sometimes, you know?" | Two Chapters

Skeleton Records

- | M | Gerard has a crush on the hot guy at the record store. | One Chapter. Short.

Strange Steps

- | NC-17 | Gerard wanted nothing more than to make it through the rest of the senior year of high school unscathed. He was fine with being invisible. Really. The only real highlights of his life were hanging out with Ray, working on the comic book with Mikey, and weekly dance lessons with his grandma and all of her crazy old friends. But then Frank Iero (popular, pretty Frank Iero with his stupid hair and stupid sunglasses who didn't even remember that they had gym class together Freshman year when they were both awkward losers) showed up at the studio one day. And then wouldn't leave him alone. Apparently there was one thing Frank Iero wasn't good at - dancing. And he wanted Gerard to teach him. Gerard wasn't sure his life could get any worse, but, well, this was coming pretty damn close. | Four Chapters

🌟 Black Market Blood

- | Explicit | Frank's so fucking freaky he's potentially wigging out a fucking vampire. Vampire!Gee and Human!Frank | One Chapter

🌟 Conclusions

- | NC-17 | The fic in which Frank is looking for a housemate and Gerard's possibly the coolest person to live with. As the title goes, both men have a few incorrect conclusions. | One Chapter

Food for Thought

- | PG-13 | So, okay, Gerard has a crush on the hot guy who works at Subway. No big deal. | One Chapter

🌟 In A Pretty How Town

- | Explicit | Single dad Frank Iero moves with his son to a new town. Everyone is nice, but the mayor, Gerard Way, is positively too good to be true. | One Chapter

  Cover to Cover

- | Explicit |  You've Got Mail AU. Frank owns The Shop Around The Corner, which specializes in classic and rare books, and Gerard is opening up a large branch of Way Books & Café down the street. They meet online and fall in love. | Four Chapters

- Ayy I didn't even finish this one :^)))

The Knitting Kind

| PG-13 | An AU in which Gerard is afraid of knitting needles instead of the regular kind and has the hots for a tiny, tattooed art store employee with a fondness for knitting. | 2,756 words

Snap A Shot With The Lens

| PG-13 | Frank looked up from the wooden table, eyes wide as he caught sight of a dark haired, pale skinned man; a pretty dark haired, pale skinned man with warm hazel eyes and a small pixie nose; it couldn’t be the model, it just couldn’t, his luck wasn’t that good and Frank was certain that somebody would have snapped this guy up straight away if he was. | 3,032 words

And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

| PG-13 | The Twelve Days of Christmas done the way a budding photojournalist with a crush on his high school art teacher would. | 2,101 words

🌟 Affairs of the Pocket

| PG-13 | Frank gets in a fight and has to work at a thrift store doing community service. There, he meets his co-worker Elena's elusive grandson, Gerard Way. | 18,370 words

If I Cut Off Your Arms...

| R | It’s stormy outside. The house is cold and empty, Gerard’s drowsy and confused and it’s all Frank Iero’s fault. | One Chapter

It's Not Easy Being Green

| R | Frank lives 1.5 miles away from Saint Peter’s High School for Catholic boys. He can walk that distance in just under twenty five minutes, and run it in just over fifteen – ten if he cuts through fields and gardens without stopping or getting caught. | One Chapter

Late Bloomer

| R | Fresh out of high school, Gerard has spent the last four years trying to crush his inconvenient boy-liking issues. He isn't expecting a family wedding, and the hot punk kid he's forced into rooming with, to pop his bubble of denial, but Frank knows what he wants. What will it take for Gerard to admit that he does, too? | 24,553 words

🌟 Is This It

| NC-17 | While taking a semester off from SVA, Gerard checks Frank's twitter and jumps to the conclusion that Frank's cheating. Gerard's logical reaction to this is to hole up in his mom's basement. | ~4,500 words

;; i’ll have a part two out eventually :^)))