Categories
technical

Use Webhook from Mailpoet when a new subscriber is added

Took a bit of trial and error to get this code to work. Definitely not perfect, as I am using the subscriber id to get the subscriber email and then sending it…

Basically, just replace the URL for $webhook_url.

You can put this within a plugin or functions.php in order to work. However, it may get overwritten when wp or a plugin updates so better to create one on your own.

 

<?
function send_webhook_on_new_subscriber($subscriber_id) {
// The URL of your webhook receiver
$webhook_url = ‘Put URL Here’;

// Check if MailPoet API class exists
if (!class_exists(\MailPoet\API\API::class)) {
error_log(‘MailPoet API class does not exist.’);
return;
}

// Get MailPoet API instance
$mailpoet_api = \MailPoet\API\API::MP(‘v1’);

// Try to fetch subscriber details using the API
try {
// Now, we’ll fetch subscriber data using the subscriber ID
$subscriber_data = $mailpoet_api->getSubscriber($subscriber_id);

// Send the entire subscriber data to the webhook
wp_remote_post($webhook_url, array(
‘body’ => json_encode($subscriber_data),
‘headers’ => array(‘Content-Type’ => ‘application/json’),
));

} catch (\Exception $e) {
error_log(‘Failed to fetch subscriber details using MailPoet API: ‘ . $e->getMessage());
}
}

add_action(‘mailpoet_subscriber_created’, ‘send_webhook_on_new_subscriber’);

?>

Categories
technical

[Fix] Google Search Console: Page isn’t usable on mobile

 

Error message telling me my page is not usable on mobile.

If you have spent the last few hours/day/weeks/months trying to fix the Google Search Console message that your WordPress page isn’t usable on mobile, then you have hopefully come to the correct place to fix it.

The classic message says:

Why it’s not usable

Content wider than screen

Clickable elements too close together

Text too small to read

And when you know that this just isn’t true, it’s extremely frustrating.

There are many on the internet who say just to ignore it, if you know that your page is showing, but I’m not in that school as I don’t like to give Google even a chance to reduce my rankings and if mobile usability has an effect on my rankings then that is not a good thing.

At the end of the day, the message isn’t appearing there for no reason. So why doesn’t Google see the page as usable even if it looks fine to me and every single mobile and screen-tester that I look at. Even on the screenshot that Google shows you of your site, it still looks good!

So, realize that if there is any chance that what Google says is true then fix that first. Hopefully that goes without saying.

The next thing to do and this is BIG is to see if you are getting javascript errors according to the Google Search Console.

When you click on View Crawled page, or View Tested page it should show you.

Especially look at the Javascript console messages and page resources. If things aren’t being loaded, then this could change the way that Google is looking at your page. The fix for this is to turn off javascript in your browser and see if you can find the error.

How I Fixed It

So, here is how I fixed it. Quite possibly not the reason why you have the error but definitely worth it as it fixed it for me. I am using Elementor which may or may not have something to do with it. I also have created some pages in the Classic editor rather than the block editor.

What I did, was to convert the post to be edited with Gutenberg rather than Elementor or Classic Editor.

The way to do this is simply open the post in block editor and find a setting where you can convert it to blocks. Mine was on the left hand side. Make sure that you save it after. If this doesn’t work then try opening it in block editor and then saving it after. Make sure that you clear your cache and test again.

If you are trying to do multiple pages, or can’t find out how to do the above, then you can use a plugin called Bulk Block Converter. I was able to convert 100s of posts at a time without having to open each post.

If for any reason, this still doesn’t work, but you feel you are upon the right track (ie. you didn’t use block editor to create the post), then make sure that the cache is cleared so that Google is seeing the latest version of your site. One way to achieve this may be just to make a small edit on the post itself and update it.

Categories
Artifical Intelligence

Why You Shouldn’t Adopt Ai In Your Work Too Quickly

Are you considering the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in your workplace?

It’s natural for businesses to be drawn to the promise of increased efficiency, cost savings, and predictive analytics offered by AI. But before taking this leap forward into a new era of technology-driven work processes, there are some downsides worth exploring.

It can be difficult to know when is too soon or late to adopt AI in your business operations. There are compelling arguments both for and against implementation at any given time. You don’t want to jump on the latest trend just because everyone else is doing it — but you also don’t want to miss out on an opportunity that could give you a competitive edge over your rivals.

The truth is that implementing AI comes with risks as well as rewards — so it pays to go slow if you’re uncertain about how best to proceed. In this article we’ll look at why it’s important not to rush headlong into adopting AI without first assessing the potential implications for yourself, your employees, and customers. We’ll explore what may happen if you do make a mistake and find yourself stuck between two worlds: ready for change but unable or unwilling to take advantage of modern technology advancements. Finally, we’ll see how understanding these dangers can help shape better decisions around using AI in ways that will benefit all involved parties.

What Do We Mean By Ai?

When we talk about AI, it’s easy to think of something sci-fi, but in practice, what does this really mean? AI stands for Artificial Intelligence and is a broad term that covers any technology which is capable of performing tasks typically associated with human intelligence. This includes things like recognizing images, understanding language or making decisions based on data. It sounds pretty cool, right?

But before you rush out to adopt the latest AI solutions into your work environment, there are some key considerations to bear in mind. For one thing, while many companies promise they can offer fast results from their AI solutions, it’s important to remember that these systems require proper training and maintenance if they’re going to be successful over time. They also need a great deal of computing power – meaning that budget needs to be taken into account when looking into adopting them within an organization.

Furthermore, although artificial intelligence has been around for several decades now, its applications remain largely untested in many industries. As such, it’s essential to do thorough research and testing with any potential solution before committing fully to implementation – particularly as the cost of failure could be significant for businesses who don’t understand how AI works. Plus, ethical questions may arise depending on where and how the technology will be used – whether it be related to customer privacy or other matters.

It should go without saying then: don’t take on too much risk by jumping straight onto the bandwagon without first taking time to analyze the situation carefully; consider not just the technical aspects but also all relevant legal and moral issues involved so you can make sure you get things right from the start!

Why Adopting Ai Too Quickly Can Be Problematic

As technology advances, there is a growing temptation for businesses to quickly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations. While AI can certainly offer valuable insights that enhance productivity and decision-making, rushing into it without proper preparation can be disastrous. Here’s why you shouldn’t jump onto the AI bandwagon too quickly.

First of all, when implementing any kind of new technology, it’s important to understand how it works and what its limitations are – this is especially true with AI. Without sufficient research on the capabilities and pitfalls of whichever platform or algorithm you choose to use, your organization could end up wasting precious time and resources dealing with unexpected surprises later down the line.

Another issue to consider when adopting AI is data security. Many organizations aren’t aware of the potential risks associated with collecting large amounts of sensitive information which will no doubt be involved in any type of AI implementation project. Companies must ensure they have adequate measures in place before embarking on such initiatives – otherwise, they may find themselves exposed to malicious cyberattacks or other forms of data breaches.

Finally, don’t forget about ethical issues as well. As powerful as modern AI algorithms are becoming, we still need humans in order to make sure these technologies are not misused or abused. People should always remain responsible for ensuring that whatever decisions are made using AI systems adhere to moral standards – if not monitored properly, organizations could face serious legal repercussions due to unethical behavior stemming from their own automated processes.

With so much at stake whenever introducing new technology into an organization’s operations, companies must take extra care when deciding whether or not they want to adopt AI solutions – jumping headfirst into something like this could prove costly both financially and reputationally if not done correctly!

The Cost Of Implementing Ai

Adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace is quickly becoming a reality for many industries, but it’s important to consider the cost of implementation. The financial and human resources required to move from traditional systems to AI can be considerable. It’s wise to understand the potential risks before taking on such an investment.

The upfront costs associated with implementing AI are often significant. Organizations must purchase or build software platforms and hardware infrastructure that allow them to process data and make decisions based on insights gleaned from algorithms. Additionally, they’ll need personnel who understand how these technologies work and can develop effective strategies for leveraging their capabilities. In some cases, businesses may also face regulatory hurdles that require additional paperwork or fees. All this adds up quickly, making it difficult for smaller companies without deep pockets to take advantage of all the benefits AI has to offer.

Fortunately, there are ways organizations can reduce their upfront costs while still getting access to powerful AI tools. For example, cloud-based solutions provide scalable computing power at much lower prices than local servers or private networks would typically require—and they don’t come with any extra overhead expenses like hiring IT staff or providing office space for engineers and programmers. Cloud services also enable organizations to pay only for what they use when needed—a great way to minimize risk if you’re not sure whether investing in new technology will actually deliver results over time.

Of course, even after accounting for initial setup costs, long-term maintenance of an AI system can still be expensive; ongoing fee structures depend largely on usage levels and desired features within the platform itself. But by properly assessing the situation beforehand and weighing both short- and long-term considerations carefully against available budgets, businesses can better ensure success when exploring opportunities presented by modern machine learning techniques. Taking a measured approach gives you greater control over your investments—so you won’t have any regrets down the line!

The Impact Of Ai On Job Security

We are living in a time of unprecedented technological change, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more prominent than ever. But this new wave of technology can also have serious implications for job security – something that could be cause for concern to many workers. So what exactly is the impact of AI on employment?

One potential issue with AI-driven automation is that it could lead to certain types of jobs being replaced by machines or algorithms. This means fewer opportunities available to those looking for work, as employers opt to use automated solutions instead of human labor. At present, roles such as customer service representatives and telemarketers are among those most vulnerable to displacement – although other positions may follow suit if AI continues its rapid development.

On the flip side, however, there’s also an argument that AI might create new kinds of jobs too. After all, somebody needs to develop these technologies and maintain them when they’re up and running. What’s more, greater efficiency brought about by automation could free up resources which employers may then reinvest into areas like research & development or training staff in new skillsets – potentially providing even better job prospects down the line.

The question then becomes: how should we manage the transition from traditional roles being superseded by robots? It’s likely going to require careful planning and consideration from both businesses and governments alike to ensure that people aren’t left behind during this process of digital transformation; finding ways to retrain current employees while also creating viable career paths for future generations will be key if we are to successfully navigate this uncharted territory without leaving our workforce in peril.

Understanding The Risks Of AI

It’s true that AI has the potential to revolutionize how we work, but it’s important to understand the risks associated with its adoption. If a company takes on AI too quickly, they may find themselves in an untenable situation when things don’t go according to plan. That’s why taking a measured approach is essential.

Before diving into any new technology, it’s wise to consider what could go wrong and decide if it’s worth the risk. With AI solutions comes complexity, which can be difficult for organizations to manage due to staffing constraints or other factors. It also requires frequent maintenance and upkeep – something that many companies simply aren’t prepared for.

In addition, there are concerns around job security when adopting AI technologies. Automation has the potential to make certain roles obsolete as machines take over human responsibilities. Companies need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of automation before making decisions about implementation; otherwise, employees might find themselves out of luck once those changes have been made.

The key takeaway here is this: although AI offers incredible opportunities for businesses, it also brings unique challenges that must be addressed before making any major commitments. Don’t rush headlong into your next big project without understanding all the implications involved – there’s too much at stake! Make sure you slow down and assess every angle thoroughly so you can maximize success while avoiding unnecessary pitfalls along the way.

Legal And Ethical Considerations

AI has the potential to revolutionize how we work, but it’s important to consider the legal and ethical implications of using this technology. As AI becomes increasingly pervasive in our lives, questions about its impact on human rights, privacy laws, and social norms are being raised more often.

From a legal perspective, companies need to be aware of their obligations under data protection regulations when collecting personal information from customers or employees with AI technologies. Additionally, they must ensure compliance with labor laws around record-keeping, minimum wage requirements, and working hours. Companies should also consider any applicable intellectual property restrictions that may arise from using third-party algorithms or content generated by AI tools.

Ethically speaking, organizations have a responsibility to use AI responsibly and ethically—particularly considering its potential for bias against certain demographic groups or exclusionary practices like automated job applications. Organizations need to make sure they understand how their AI systems will interact with people before deploying them into production environments. This includes conducting user research studies to identify potential issues as well as developing clear policies to guide responsible usage of AI products over time.

Beyond these considerations lies another question: What is the role of humans in an age where machines can take on so many tasks? Should we trust machine learning models completely or intervene at some point? With great power comes great responsibility; society needs to grapple with the implications of handing off decision-making authority en masse to autonomous agents without full understanding of the consequences involved. It’s up to us as individuals and organizations alike to do our part in ensuring that these powerful new technologies are used safely and responsibly going forward.

Addressing Data Privacy Concerns

AI is a powerful tool that can help organizations and individuals make decisions more quickly, efficiently, and accurately. However, before you adopt AI into your workflow too quickly, it’s important to consider the legal and ethical implications of doing so. One such issue worth considering is data privacy concerns.

Data privacy has become an increasingly important consideration in today’s digital world. With AI systems collecting large amounts of personal information from users—such as their age, gender, location, browsing history, etc.—data privacy must be addressed if we want these technologies to remain secure and trustworthy.

Organizations need to ensure they have strong measures in place to protect user data from unauthorized access or misuse. This includes using encryption technologies for storing sensitive information and creating clear policies regarding how this data may be used. Additionally, companies should provide users with the ability to opt-out or delete any collected information upon request.

These measures will go a long way towards helping people feel safe when engaging with AI technology. But there are also other considerations which must be taken into account: including training algorithms on biased datasets; avoiding automation bias; designing systems with built-in ethical standards; and protecting against adversarial attacks by malicious actors looking to exploit weaknesses in AI models. Taking all of these factors into account will help ensure that AI remains a beneficial addition to our lives rather than a potential source of harm or exploitation.

The Need For Robust Testing

AI may seem like a godsend in the workplace, but it’s important to remember that adopting AI too quickly can be dangerous. That’s why robust testing is so crucial when integrating new artificial intelligence technologies into your operations.

When incorporating AI into your business model, you should always consider the potential risks and rewards associated with each decision. By thoroughly assessing any potential vulnerabilities or system failures before implementation, businesses can protect themselves from future damage caused by untested technology. It’s also important to determine whether an AI solution will enable better customer experience or provide more efficient processes for existing tasks.

Testing is especially necessary when implementing sensitive data-driven applications such as facial recognition software or biometric authentication systems. Companies must make sure their products are secure enough to protect against malicious attacks and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Additionally, organizations need to run simulations using real-world scenarios in order to properly assess how well these solutions perform under various conditions. This helps minimize disruption of service during deployment and ensures proper functioning throughout the system’s life cycle.

Despite its promise, deploying AI requires careful consideration of ethical implications as well as effective risk management strategies – both of which require rigorous testing beforehand. Without sufficient testing, companies could find themselves facing costly legal battles down the line due to privacy violations or negligence on their part. To ensure success without sacrificing safety, it’s essential to conduct thorough tests before committing to any kind of artificial intelligence project.

The Potential For Unintended Consequences

When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, many organizations are keen to adopt this new technology and reap its potential benefits. But moving too quickly can lead to unintended consequences that could be detrimental for businesses and employees alike.

Before embracing AI in the workplace, companies must understand what is at stake when introducing such a powerful tool into their operations. While AI has been touted as an invaluable asset due to its ability to automate tedious tasks, sift through vast amounts of data, and make accurate predictions about customer behavior, it also carries with it certain risks associated with using automated decision-making systems.

The most pressing risk posed by AI adoption is that of unintentional bias. If not tested thoroughly enough or updated on a regular basis, algorithms may end up unfairly favoring one group over another based upon pre-existing biases embedded within the system’s code. This could result in unfair outcomes affecting job applicants based on race or gender—or even worse, decisions regarding who gets approved for medical treatments or insurance coverage!

To avoid these pitfalls, organizations should take extra care before incorporating AI into their workflows. Thorough testing should always be done first to ensure accuracy and fairness across all groups affected by the software’s decisions. Companies should also consider regularly auditing their algorithms for any signs of bias—and if necessary, adjust them accordingly so everyone is treated fairly in accordance with applicable regulations and laws. By taking proper precautions now, organizations will protect themselves from potentially costly mistakes while reaping all the rewards that come along with adopting AI technology.

Recognizing AI’s Limitations

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology continues to develop and evolve, it’s important to consider the potential for unintended consequences. But also critical is recognizing AI’s limitations before deciding whether or not to adopt it in your work. Here we’ll look at why understanding those limitations is so vital.

First off, there are ethical considerations when working with AI that must be taken into account – these range from algorithmic bias to data privacy concerns. Understanding these issues can help you ensure that any use of AI aligns with your business objectives while respecting legal requirements such as GDPR regulations.

In addition, although machine learning algorithms have become increasingly sophisticated over recent years, they still cannot match human intuition and creativity when making decisions on complex problems. This means tasks which require more subtlety than simple pattern recognition may need a human touch if accuracy and quality of output are key goals. While machines can process large amounts of information quickly, their lack of emotion makes them ill-suited for certain scenarios where sensitivity could be required.

Finally, introducing an AI system into an existing workflow requires time and resources – both financial and personnel – meaning it may not always represent the most efficient solution available. It’s possible that manual processes or simpler tools would yield better results without the overhead associated with setting up a full AI implementation.

For all these reasons, taking care to recognize the advantages and drawbacks of using AI in your work should be central to any decision about adoption; weighing up the pros against the cons will enable you to make informed choices about how best to move forward.

The Need For Skilled Technical Staff

When it comes to adopting AI in the workplace, it’s essential that you don’t rush into it. One of the key considerations is the need for skilled technical staff.

The complexity and speed of technology advancements mean that even experienced professionals may struggle with properly integrating AI solutions into a business environment. Without the right technical expertise, organizations can be left vulnerable to costly errors or security issues due to incomplete integration. So if your team isn’t prepared for this level of complexity, then investing in AI might not be worth the hassle.

Organizations also need to consider how their existing IT infrastructure will interact with new technologies before adoption takes place. Not all systems are created equal, so there could be compatibility issues between different pieces of software or hardware which require specialist knowledge to resolve them quickly and effectively. It’s important to remember that many businesses already have limited budgets when it comes to IT investment and resources – any additional costs associated with resolving these types of problems needs to be factored in too.

Ultimately, organisations should only adopt AI once they are absolutely sure they have the right people on board who can manage implementation correctly – otherwise they risk introducing more difficulties than solutions. Investing in internal training and development initiatives is often an attractive option here, but careful consideration needs to go into exactly what skillsets are required after assessing both current and future opportunities within your organisation first.

The Need For Human Oversight

Humans have been using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their work for years, but there is a need to proceed with caution when it comes to implementing AI into the workplace. One essential factor that shouldn’t be overlooked is the need for human oversight.

For starters, humans can apply critical thinking and judgement while machines are limited by programming – something that often needs to be adjusted as new scenarios arise. Machines lack intuition and creativity, which makes them unable to identify subtle nuances or make connections between ideas that could benefit your business. So if you’re going to adopt AI too quickly, you may miss out on opportunities created through thoughtful analysis of data.

At the same time, AI systems require constant monitoring and maintenance from experienced professionals, who can troubleshoot issues and adjust settings as needed so they continue performing optimally. The cost associated with having an expert manage these tasks can add up fast; however, not having someone available to do this might result in system malfunctions or security breaches – both of which could leave your company vulnerable to damage or losses.

On top of all this, reliance on automated processes can lead people to become complacent about decision-making and risk taking. It’s important for leaders to encourage their staff members to think outside the box so they don’t get stuck relying solely upon algorithms rather than making decisions based on rationale and understanding how those choices could impact outcomes in the long-term.

In short, adopting AI into your workflow requires thoughtfulness and attention from people who understand its capabilities and limitations. Without proper management and oversight from skilled professionals, AI adoption can backfire–leading instead of helping businesses reach success.

Examining Ai’s Algorithmic Biases

AI is increasingly being adopted to make decisions in many industries, but it’s important to remember that AI has its flaws. One of the biggest areas of concern when it comes to using AI is algorithmic bias. To understand why this can be a problem, let’s take a closer look at what an algorithmic bias actually is and how it affects decision-making processes.

An algorithmic bias occurs when an algorithm or machine learning system forms an opinion based on incomplete data or incorrect assumptions. This could lead to inaccurate results which could then have serious consequences if used in decision-making processes such as loan applications, job interviews and more. For example, if an algorithm was trained using biased data about gender roles for certain jobs, it may end up recommending only male candidates for those positions – even if there were qualified female applicants available too.

It’s clear from these examples why examining AI’s algorithms for potential biases should be a priority before adopting them into your work process. Without close oversight of how the algorithm works, you risk replicating existing societal inequalities and creating unfair outcomes for individuals who don’t fit the algorithms’ criteria.

To guard against this kind of discrimination, organizations must strive to create unbiased datasets and use responsible methods like human-in-the-loop systems (HITL) or fairness audit frameworks that check every step of the decision process to ensure no one group is unfairly treated due to their race or gender. Only by taking steps like these can companies avoid making decisions that are discriminatory and instead create truly fair opportunities for everyone involved.

The Possibility Of AI Backlash

As AI continues to permeate all aspects of our lives, it’s important that we consider the potential for an ‘AI backlash.’ We must be aware of the risks associated with adopting these technologies too quickly, and take steps to mitigate them.

It’s essential to understand how algorithms may contain biases or flaws which can lead to negative outcomes. If underlying data sets are incomplete or biased, then AI will propagate those errors and potentially cause serious harm. For example, if a facial recognition system is trained on only white faces, its accuracy in recognizing non-white faces would decrease drastically – leading to incorrect judgments about people based on their skin color or ethnicity.

The consequences of such algorithmic bias could include false arrests, wrongful convictions and other serious violations of civil liberties. It’s clear that AI technology should not be rushed into use without proper oversight and safeguards in place.

We need to ensure that any decision made by an algorithm is fully transparent and accountable; otherwise there’s a risk of exacerbating existing societal divides between rich and poor, young and old – as well as racial inequalities. By understanding the implications before implementing AI solutions, businesses can reduce the likelihood of damaging public trust in their products or services. Our approach needs to be slow and deliberate so we don’t repeat mistakes from the past.

Preparing For The Future With AI

As AI technology continues to develop, businesses are increasingly being encouraged to adopt it quickly. However, there are potential risks and consequences that come with any new technology – including AI. Preparing for the future with AI requires a careful approach: one that takes into account both its advantages as well as possible drawbacks.

AI can be an extremely powerful tool when used correctly but jumping on board too soon can have many negative implications. Businesses need to consider how they plan to use AI ethically and responsibly while also addressing their own organizational needs. This means taking into account potential issues such as bias in data sets, privacy concerns, and ensuring workers’ rights remain protected.

To ensure successful implementation of AI for the long-term, companies should focus on creating an ethical framework from which all decisions about using the technology will flow from. Additionally, organizations must make sure they understand exactly what type of information or data is involved in their operations before implementing any artificial intelligence systems. The organization should also create clear strategies for managing changes related to the introduction of AI so employees feel secure about their jobs and positions within the company.

By introducing thoughtful policies and procedures around adopting AI now, companies can better prepare themselves for a more automated future — one where humans still maintain control over decision making processes rather than blindly trusting algorithmic recommendations. Taking these steps today could mean huge dividends tomorrow; allowing businesses to reap the rewards of advanced technologies without sacrificing important values like trustworthiness and fairness along the way.

Conclusion

AI offers businesses the potential to transform their operations, but it’s important not to rush into adoption. Taking time to understand the risks of AI, such as algorithmic bias and job security concerns, is essential. Companies should also consider the cost implications of implementing AI solutions and ensure they have proper human oversight in place.

Ultimately, adopting AI safely requires careful thought and preparation. Businesses must take a strategic approach that takes into account both the benefits and drawbacks of using this technology. By doing so, they can ensure they are able to tap into its full potential without facing any unintended consequences.

The future of business lies with AI – but only if we use it responsibly. Adopting an informed strategy now will help organizations reap the rewards of this technology while avoiding some of its pitfalls down the line.

Categories
Uncategorized

Foolproof Way to cancel Zoho Account

Writing this, as it took me an hour to find out how to cancel my Zoho account, so that I wasn’t charged my subscription.

The subscription was only $12 a year so it wasn’t worth the time really, but I also knew that if I didn’t do it now, then it could go on for many years more.

Do NOT follow the help center as their instructions refer to areas of the screen that don’t exist.

A cynic may say that they purposefully make it hard to cancel.

Anyway, here is a way which is working:

  1. Go to: https://mailadmin.zoho.com/cpanel/home.do#dashboard
  2. Click on subscriptions on the left menu:
  3. Click on Manage Subscription
  4. Click on Change Plan
  5. This gets weird, because sometimes the correct screen will now come up and sometimes it wont. Try clicking on the words rather than the icon and vice-versa.
  6. Eventually this screen should show up with the words cancel your subscription on the bottom left:
  7. A screen will then popup to ask why downgrading.
  8. IMPORTANT: Another screen will then come up confirming that you do really want to cancel. It may not cancel if you don’t confirm. So be careful to follow through on this.

 

…and there is the big secret on canceling your Zoho Workspace and Email subscription!

Categories
technical

Using Aweber and Zapier Errors

Sometimes the most simple of tasks can also be the most annoying and tedious. Something that should take about a minute can go into hours.

A previous boss, Charlie, told me that if you are having a technical problem, then someone else has already had the same problem and you will find a solution using Google.

He was wrong in this case, but after I write about it here, he will be correct…see what I did there?!

Here is what I wanted to do:

When someone subscribes to a list on aWeber, Zapier will then be used to connect to Clearout. Clearout will check if it is a valid email and if so, will do nothing. If it is not, then Clearout will tell aWeber to unsubscribe.

How the zap looks. Note that I used only continue if the result contains the text invalid.

Nothing particularly complicated, but didn’t work 🙁 and got an error message that meant very little. After a search, it seemed to mean that you can not add a lead to AWeber unless the settings on that list allow someone to be subscribed without confirming.

That shouldn’t be the case here, because I wasn’t trying to subscribe someone, but unsubscribe someone.

Also, shouldn’t have been a problem because I already enabled single-optin to this least.

Make sure that API double confirmation is also switched off.

There was a suggestion on a forum to search by id rather than email address. Same error.

Final solution was to change a setting under list settings so that double optin was disabled both for the form and admin AND also for the API.

ON another note, it really should be so hard to achieve what I was trying to and a direct integration really would make far more sense. Would also mean that I could actually ‘clearout’ a whole list in aweber that already exists rather than just when a new subscriber is added.

And for this to take 3 tasks in Zapier also seems a bit of an overkill…

Categories
domain names

Day 25 – Update on domain names after a break from blogging

I feel that a case-study needs to have enough interest to keep you reading, but on the other hand posting almost the same every single day is not only boring but probably not so useful either.

I have unfortunately not been able to keep up with bidding every single day, but have definitely still been bidding and mostly losing. Here are all of the auctions that I have lost recently:

I think that some of them are really great domain names. If I had to pick my top 5:

  1. MaybeMe.com
  2. CloudHD.com
  3. Option5.com
  4. Weebler.com
  5. RanchKings.com

Have to admit, I was upset not to win MaybeMe.com and did continue bidding way past the $1k mark to buy it for my main portfolio. Had I been in an acquiring and compulsive, instantaneous mood I probably would have carried on bidding to win it. Incredibly brandable. Easy to pronounce and spell. And similar enough, yet also different enough not to be sued to Maybelline which gives it a nice beauty feel to it.

I think that CloudHD.com went for a bargain amount and wouldn’t be surprised if this sells on pretty quickly. I probably should have carried on bidding. HD could be HardDrive or HighDefinition. Both which go really well with Cloud.

So, which domain names did I buy?

summerbreakoutxxx.com $48
zallowxxx.com $277
21mgxxx.com $30

In retrospect, not sure if summer…. was a great buy. But could be good for a movie release.

I really like zallowxxx as it is very brandable and solid and memorable. I was a bit unsure of how this auction was going to go and whether it would go into my case-study or main portfolio, but ended up cheap enough to make sure that the price worked out so that the average would be less than $100 per domain.

21mgxxx was a bit of a punt. But I have actually sold quite a few of these kind of names, so if the right person comes along then could make a pretty good profit.

I am pretty much listing all of these domain names now for $1k. However zaxxx, I’ll put on for $1,500 and see what happens.

So, if you are following along, this is where I now stand:

9 domain names bought for $628

9 domains registered for a total of 9*$19.17= $172.53

Total Spent: $800.53

Total Earnt: $0

Total left from budget: $9,199.47

 

Categories
domain names

fiscal.com – Worth over $30k?

I am well past due to update my case study, but this has caught my interest over the last few days.

The domain name sale for fiscal.com is on Godaddy Domain Auctions. It currently has 128 bids and the price stands at $30,500. There are still over 5 days to go until the auction finishes.

This is one of those auctions where I fail to understand the value and why 8 different bidders have so far bid over $20k for this domain name.

The Positives:

  • It is memorable
  • There is a clear spelling that can’t be confused
  • It is financial
  • It is a one-word dictionary word and short

The Negatives:

  • There is very little traffic
  • The domain name has very little authority
  • There are very few links of SEO value
  • Not at all valuable
  • It seems that it was previously used as a Spanish site

As with many auctions, there may be something that I am totally missing. However, it seems that fiscal is mainly an english word and even in other languages, its translation is also fiscal.

So, what does fiscal mean?

According to Google, it means:

“relating to government revenue, especially taxes.”

The top 3 searches on Google according to ahrefs are:

Fiscal

Fiscal Policy

Fiscal Year

With 40k, 39k, and 32k searches respectively.

It’s not a small number of searches, but nowhere near:

finance – 7.5m

business – 375k after 3 other phrases containing the word

policy – 51k after 5 other phrases containing the word

I also realize that the present bid of $30k is nowhere near the amount which finance.com or business.com would reach.

When I think of the value of a domain, I try and take into account what the business use may be and who may buy it as an end-user. I am generally not buying as an end-user, so also know that when I buy a domain I need to estimate what multiple I would need to sell it at to reach the right profit balance.

I can’t see how any business would be able to use fiscal.com effectively. The closest link could be an accountancy or law company that is closely related to government work. But even that, is a bit of a stretch as the keyword is very closely related to government. Perhaps a think-tank or lobbyists? But in both cases, would it really be realistic to spend $30k on a keyword domain that would not add that much.

I’m very interested to see where the auction goes, but if it is being bought by a domain reseller then I have a feeling that they may be buying a domain name for their portfolio that can never be sold at a decent price.

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Day 6: A Plethora of Domains

I have been having doubts over the last couple of days about the tactics I have been using in order to buy domain names. Firstly, whether the $100 price point is giving me enough access to domains that I will be able to resell. Secondly, whether I should tighten up a bit on the search and (also) look for domain names that don’t currently have any bids.

One of my other worries is that I am bidding too far in advance and therefore encouraging further bids. A better tactic would be to always bid in the last few minutes. This is not a foolproof tactic but does give less time for more bidders to become involved.

So, here are the domain names that I have bidded on and lost over the last couple of days:

The domain that ended selling for the most was hbstc.com . I can’t personally see that value there, but perhaps I am missing something.

It is hard to choose my favorites as there were quite a few of them, but I did like:

omgkids.com – highly brandable
surfdudes.com – brandable and easily memorable.
earninbitcoin.com – good name for a startup?
juicepowder.com – if someone is selling powdered juice then this is THE domain to have. Easily memorable.

So, the good news is, that I did win some auctions!

Actually won 4 auctions, all from yesterday. The domains are (without yyy):

cryptobidderyyy.com $128
mobilityactionyyy.com $70
virtualjewyyy.com $23
extremeenglishyyy.com $17

Would it surprise you to know, that I actually rate them in value in the order that I paid.

I really like cryptobidderyyy.com as crypto is a hot market for domain names. And there is plenty of hype and excitement around bots and bidding. Also, NFT auctions. Although I paid more than my $100 average, I’m still pleased with the price that I got.

On the other end, I’m not really sure why I bought extremeenglishyyy.com . Not quite sure who would buy it. Was probably too much of an impulse buy.

Love virtualjewyyy.com as I think will be desirable to the right person. Or possibly someone writing a book.

And mobilityactionyyy.com is also a solid domain name. The main worry is that a potential buyer would probably be a charity who could use the .org and may not want to spend the extra premium to get this particular name.

If you remember, I already have otcinvestmentsyyy.com ($20), so I now have 5 domain names in my portfolio. None of them have been transferred yet, so no sales and not listed.

$258 for domains

$19.17 * 5 = $95.85 for the registration

=$353.85 spent

Leaving a budget left:

$10,000

– $353.85

= $9646.15

Categories
case study domain names

Day 4 – Sadly Impressed At My Loss

In short, I haven’t won any more auctions even though I have bid on a load:

I’m actually impressed with how many auctions I am able to bid on and not win.

I was surprised that virtualtutorials.com and miniwebs.com sold for so much. I’m really not sure who would be buying miniwebs.com as an end-user to make the $1,500 sale price justifiable. Perhaps I am missing something, but neither even has SEO history.

What is surprising me, is just how many domain names I am bidding on without winning. Many of them finish at $106, meaning that there was only 1 other person who bid above me – I think that is significant, although not really sure why.

There were also 2 domains that I only bid $51 for.

One thing, that this exercise is teaching me is about discipline. We all get caught up in auctions and perhaps pay more than we should. However, by being strict about my upper price, it means that I am not getting caught in the emotional aspect of it. At this low price, the majority of the domain names are not greatly valuable and if I lose, it really doesn’t matter so much.

From this selection, my favorite domain name was kingofcrabs.com, which under normal circumstances I probably would have spent much more than it sold for.

Since my last post, it has been the weekend. This means that there are far fewer domain names being sold. It probably also means that there are fewer people bidding or watching the auction. In my case, I don’t work on Friday or Saturday night (I am on Europe Time), which means that I place my bids up to 30 hours ahead of time. I think this could affect the number of auctions that I don’t win and also the number of auctions that I don’t bid on. The reason for this is that an auction would not appear on my search if there was not already a bid more than 24 hours before. I don’t have a great solution for this, but am just accepting as something that happens.

One thing that I could do that would probably improve my chances of winning more auctions, is to go through the list of auctions that haven’t had any bids on. I am currently loathed to do that, as even looking through the number of domains that I have to just to get those that do have a bid is large enough…and to be honest mostly boring.

So, still, just 1 domain bought and zero sold.

Categories
case study domain names

Day 2: A Result! Domain Name Bought

So, here are the domains that I bid on and lost:

You can see with Sprezi.com that I bid less than $50 as I was quite unsure about it, but thought at $50 it was a good punt. croots.com was not part of this case study, but a domain that I wanted for my main portfolio. I think it’s a great domain name and that someone got a good deal. It just wasn’t my focus to bid high enough to win it and I didn’t do any proper research before bidding. My highest bid was $750.

My favorite domains out of the ones I bid for were:

obesitymatters.com, cutetopshop.com, bassfishingworld.com (in that order)

In retrospect, I was pleased that I didn’t win kahunaproperties.com, startupgovernment and especially iheartyourcoffee.com . I think that I misread the last one as iheartcoffee.com which I why I bid on it.

The Good News!

So, the good news is, that I didn’t actually win 1 auction which was for….

(Drumroll)

otcinvestmentsxxx.com (remove the xxx).

I won the auction for $20. Taking into account the registration fee, it cost me $39.17 in all.

Why do I like the domain?

OTC is a well-known shortened form of Over The Counter which is a term used with investments. It is both a good keyword domain and also a good branding name with around 5-10 companies in the US called OTC Investments.

With the way that expired domain works, it will take a few days to clear and push to my Godaddy account at which point I will put it on Afternic and a couple of other marketplaces and hope for the best.

One thing that has become very clear to me already, is that it is much more difficult to buy a sub $100 domain name than I had thought. I have bid on 15-20 domains at $100 and only won 1 auction. There are several obvious reasons for this.

Many people see that there is more than 1 bid on a domain name and that therefore becomes more attractive to bid on. Especially, if the original bidder auto bid against me.

There are probably more people who are prepared to bid on a $100 domain than a $3k domain.

I assume that there are certain bots out there who are programmed to immediately bid on signals that I am setting off when bidding on a sub-100 domain name.

So, I now have $9,960.83 left to buy domains. And I also have 1 domain with zero domains sold.