Copywriting is hard. Whether you’re writing product descriptions or PPC ads, there’s a huge volume of work involved, and the repetitive nature of the tasks can drain your creativity.

Could you give a machine a few instructions and let it generate engaging copy while you focused on more pressing tasks?

Well, now it’s possible, thanks to AI copywriting tools powered by machine learning. Let me introduce you to how it works and how it could transform your marketing strategy.

What Is AI Copywriting and How Does It Work?

AI copywriting is essentially computer-generated writing created using natural language processing tools.

First, you decide what you want to write about and the type of content you need. This could be anything from a blog post to a short ad. Then, you set certain parameters for the AI tool to follow. For example, maybe you decide you want a social media post advertising a new yoga class.

Once the machine receives the instructions, it generates content based on these parameters by analyzing similar preexisting content from around the web and processing it into something new and plagiarism-free.

How are companies using AI copywriting? I’ll give you an example.

JPMorgan Chase used an AI copywriting tool to improve its CTAs and online ad copy for home equity lines of credit. They asked human copywriters to perform a similar task, and then they compared the results.

The findings? While the “human” copy generated 25 home equity applications, the AI copy generated 47. With the help of AI, JPMorgan Chase generated more potential customers than before. Impressive, right?

Why Should You Use an AI Copywriting Tool?

There are a few reasons why marketers and copywriters might check out AI copywriting tools.

First, AI copywriting saves you time. These tools can analyze data much quicker than humans can, so they can instantly generate full articles. They work 24/7, too, so you can literally craft content in your sleep!

Also, just think about how convenient AI copywriting is. If you need bulk content, such as product descriptions, AI copywriting handles these jobs for you, so you’re free to focus on more demanding marketing tasks like lead generation and KPI tracking.

Finally, AI copywriting tools can save you from the dreaded “writer’s block” that every writer experiences at some point. Whether you need help brainstorming ideas or generating some content, an AI tool can help you get going again.

If you’re a busy content creator with multiple deadlines or dreams of scaling your content production, it’s worth exploring how AI copywriting may help you.

AI Copywriting Limitations

Like any digital marketing tool, AI copywriting has its limitations.

First, although AI tech is impressive, AI copywriting tools don’t write anything truly original. Remember, we’re talking about a machine. They’re “fed” articles and content written by human copywriters and essentially mix them up to create something new.

AI tools produce great copy, but just because it’s “new” copy doesn’t mean it’s original.

What’s more, AI tools can’t replicate human emotion. Why is this a drawback? Well, emotion matters in marketing. In fact, when it comes to consumer buying behavior, feelings are more influential than any other variable, so you should try to invoke emotion through your content.

In short, while it’s great for bulk projects, you might not find AI copywriting helpful for crafting those more emotive posts that need a personal touch and true creative thought.

Finally, the AI tools we have right now aren’t great at picking up “awkward” phrasing. Although the writing (usually) makes grammatical sense, you’ll still need to proofread the copy to identify any incorrect phrases and awkward wording.

The takeaway? AI copywriting tools can support your marketing efforts, sure, but they’re not a complete substitute for human content creation. Just think of them as another highly useful tool in your toolbox.

5 AI Copywriting Tools for Content Creation

Ready to try out some AI copywriting tools? There are plenty out there, but here are the five I suggest you try first.

1. CopyAI

Got writer’s block? CopyAI is here to help. From brainstorming topics to crafting social media posts, CopyAI can help you go from stuck to inspired within minutes.

How does it work? It’s a simple enough concept. CopyAI uses a highly advanced machine language model, GPT-3, to produce authentic, human-like copy almost instantly. You just select a copy type, provide some words, phrases, and descriptions to base content around, and watch CopyAI do the rest.

Key Features

One thing that’s great about CopyAI is how simple it is to get going. You only need to provide a few words to generate copy including Instagram captions, product descriptions, and even product value propositions in seconds.

What makes CopyAI stand out, though, is its suite of idea generation tools. Whether you need a viral post idea or you’re just stuck on what to write about next, CopyAI gets you moving again.

Pricing

You can choose from two packages. The “Solo” package costs $420 a year (billed monthly at $35) or $49 for rolling monthly subscriptions, and it gives you access to all CopyAI tools, unlimited runs, and around-the-clock support.

The “Multiple Seats” package is better for larger businesses because it includes collaboration tools to support multiple teams. Prices are on request.

Not sure if CopyAI is right for you? You can try it free for seven days.

2. Wordtune

Do you have trouble saying exactly what you mean? Wordtune can help you get the words right. This AI copywriting companion works alongside you in real-time, helping you rephrase and reword your content without sacrificing flow, tone, or meaning.

Since it’s not a fully-fledged article generator like CopyAI, it’s best for marketers who want to write copy and need help shaping it. It could save you time spent agonizing over word choice and sentence structure while giving you the creative freedom to write your content.

Key Features

Designed with the discerning content writer in mind, Wordtune can assist with everything from sentence length to full-length article rewrites. This could be great for marketers looking to repurpose content across different platforms who want help condensing and rewording their copy.

Once you add the Chrome extension, you can instantly use it across popular websites such as Twitter, Grammarly, and LinkedIn, making it one of the most efficient AI copywriting and grammar-assistance tools out there.

Pricing

If you just want help rewording a sentence or two, there’s a free plan.

However, if you want access to features like sentence length controllers, tone controllers, and word searches, sign up for Premium. You can either pay $24.99 a month or save money and pay $119 for the year. You’ll get access to all features other than team billing.

Do you have a larger business or multiple teams working together? Check out the Premium for Teams tier. The prices vary depending on the scope of the services you require.

3. Copysmith

Need help scaling your marketing and driving growth through copy? Check out Copysmith.

Whether you’re a freelancer or you’re managing an in-house marketing team, Copysmith gives you the tools you need to actually accelerate your growth through tailored marketing, not just create great copy.

Key Features

Copysmith boasts a really impressive range of tools for busy marketing teams and copywriters.

For example, if you run an online store, Copysmith can generate a whole FAQ section for you plus unlimited product descriptions. Need taglines to boost your brand profile? Copysmith can turn your brand vision into engaging, memorable ad copy, and you can store all your client copy in one place.

Pricing

Unfortunately, there’s no free option, but if you’re happy paying for AI copywriting support, you have three choices.

First, we’ve got the Starter package. For an annual subscription, it’s $192 which works out at $16 per month. However, you can instead opt for a monthly subscription, which is $19 per month. For your money, you’ll get 20 plagiarism checks per month, Google Ad integrations and Chrome extensions so you can access copywriting support within your browser.

Next, there’s the Professional tier, which costs $600 per year (working out at $50 per month) or $59 for a monthly subscription. You’ll get everything in the Starter package, plus extra plagiarism checks and 100 generated blog posts to get your creative juices flowing.

Finally, there’s the Enterprise package, which comes in at $5,088 annually or $499 if you pay monthly instead. It comes with unlimited plagiarism checks and blog ideas, plus a suite of integrations including Shopify, so you’ll never be stuck for a product description again!

4. Wordsmith

Do you rely heavily on data for your day-to-day decision-making? If so, check out Wordsmith. This platform generates natural-sounding content based on analyzing large data sets, so you can use it for everything from journalism to financial reporting.

Key Features

Like Copysmith, Wordsmith is all about scale. All you need to do is create one template, set up a few variables, and Wordsmith will generate multiple alternative scripts. For example, you can write chatbot scripts for responding to various complex customer requests or write a video game script.

Wordsmith is also great for presenting financial data in understandable English to help you with your financial reporting and tracking needs: The AP uses it to publish more than 3,000 financial reports every quarter!

Pricing

The pricing structure isn’t public, so you’ll need to request a free demo and tell Wordsmith a little more about your business and content needs to get a quote.

5. Writesonic

Looking for an AI tool you can scale as your business grows? Writesonic might be for you.

“Trained” on successful copy from popular brands, Writesonic can help you generate everything from landing pages to Facebook ads, and it’s designed to maximize your chances of ranking well on search engines. Simply select a template and supply a few lines of description, and Writesonic will provide multiple copy samples for you to choose from.

Key Features

Writesonic is great for marketers who want to automate their more mundane writing tasks like welcome emails and SEO meta descriptions. The billing structure is really flexible, too, so you can scale your package to suit your evolving business needs.

However, one of the standout features is the landing page generator. By supplying just a few key details, you can instantly generate an optimized, engaging landing page. Check out an example of a landing page for Monday.com.

Pricing

There are three pricing tiers.

• Starter: It’s $29 per month (or $25 per month if you pay for an annual subscription) to get 75 credits and access to basic features like SEO tags and the content rephraser.
• Professional: You can pay $99 for monthly rolling subscriptions, but it’s cheaper to buy an annual subscription and pay $89 per month. However, you’re capped at 150 credits per month for features such as blog outlines.
• Business: Coming in at $449 per month for annual subscriptions or $499 for a single month, you get everything in the Professional package plus 1200 credits for advanced features like full article writing.

Writesonic offers 10 free credits so you can check out the functionality before committing to a paid package. You can also pay-as-you-go rather than buy a monthly subscription if your content needs vary from month to month.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a digital marketer or a busy copywriter, AI copywriting tools can help you scale your content creation and achieve your business goals. They’re easy to learn and fun to use, and best of all, they produce natural, engaging copy to support your content needs.

Since every AI copywriting tool is slightly different, it’s best to check out a free trial or two before you commit to a purchase. This way, you’ll get a sense of how the tools work and which one best supports your business strategy.

Have you tried AI copywriting tools yet?

And what I mean by that is Google has figured out how to automate a lot of the technical SEO things we used to take for granted as the domain of the technical SEO practitioner.

That metaphor makes sense right? Zombies are kind of like automated fixes to technical SEO problems?

Let’s just pretend it makes sense. I needed a catchy headline.

I bring this up today because two weeks ago one of our clients decided to redirect all of their blog post URLs from domain.com/post-headline to domain.com/blog/post-headline. They 301’d all the post URLs to their /blog/ versions and thought everything was fine.

Of course they didn’t tell the SEO peeps they were doing this and we quickly identified that they had neglected to redirect the typical WordPress blog folders like /category/, /tag/, and /author/, all of which were now 404ing.

Organic traffic behaved kind of like you would expect it to:

In SEO Speak what happened is whatever “authority” (can we come up with a better word?) these URLs have got toasted as soon as Google hit the 404s, which led to a decline in rankings for the URLs that used to be linked to from those URLs. Or something like that.

But the team had other priorities and left the folders 404ing. In fact, they are still 404ing as of this morning.

Remember that scene towards the end of the Matrix where Neo gets pummeled by Agent Smith, then somehow realizes he is one with the Matrix and can pick bullets out of the air as if they were grapes on a plate?

Well, that’s what happened to this site’s SEO this week:

In fact, organic traffic over the past two days is at its highest level since the end of March. That’s pretty good for blowing a bunch of redirects and 404ing them.

So what happened?

Seems like Google figured out all those 404ing folders were pretty useless anyways and the site was small enough that it could recrawl the whole thing several times over the past week, figure out the new configuration, and see that the structure was basically the same as it previously was.

Of course, if the site had been considerably larger, I am not so sure Google would have figured this out so quickly, or that Google would have figured it out at all. But then again if it can figure it out for a few thousand URLs, why couldn’t it figure it out for a few million URLs?

I am really struggling to wrap this up with a zombie analogy.

Instead, here’s a short video (~2 min) I posted on LinkedIN a few weeks ago about this very subject and how technical SEO has been changing.

Apologies for the video quality. As Mike Blumenthal told me,

If you know anything about my experience with synagogues as a boy, you know this is all the motivation I need.

Needless to say, I am working on some upgrades. Watch out for zombies.

The post Technical SEO Isn’t Dead, It’s More Like Walking Dead appeared first on Local SEO Guide.

What is the difference between wedding makeup and everyday makeup?

Makeup is makeup, right?

You wear it nearly every day so to enhance your appearance.

Makeup artists who deal with bridal makeup always get asked this question.

Bridal makeup is entirely different from the daytime makeup we usually do.

We can achieve a polished result with regular makeup that looks good in real life, but does it photograph well?

Will it last longer than 8 hours and still look fresh?

Do you really want to wear the same makeup style on your wedding day as you do at work or when you go out night clubbing.

Most girls get ready every day by having a quick makeup routine that they have adapted over the years. They get accustomed to always looking the same.

Let’s Explain The Differences Between Bridal Makeup And Everyday Makeup.

But what if a skilled artist can make your features stand out even more?

A trained eye will quickly know what colours suit your complexion.

What techniques will highlight your best features and tone down the ones you don’t like.

 A skilled makeup artist can minimise dark circles under your eyes.

Alter the shape of your nose, the shape of your eyes and your define your jawline.

The main difference is the extra time it takes to execute the final look.

It takes skill to know which are the best products for the end result.

The proper product selection is crucial; makeup for a wedding should last at least 12 hours.

It also needs to look beautiful in real life and photograph well.

Why a wedding makeup artist is necessary for wedding makeup.

Every bride dreams of beautiful makeup, flawless skin and a classic look for her wedding day.

She has had an image in her mind of how beautiful and elegant she should look on her wedding day.

On the day of the wedding, the brides’ makeup takes more time than the other bridal party members.

The makeup artist will spend more time with the bride; this process should not be rushed. There must be enough time set aside on the wedding day morning.

The makeup look is planned very carefully, and each makeup product is chosen to last and give the best results.

Usually, the bride has decided on a particular look for her big day.

The final look should accentuate her best facial features.

Every bride is different in terms of her makeup look and experience, so the makeup artist usually has to determine the bride’s vision.

Often the bride will have a celebrity in mind as a reference for the end result.

If the bride’s facial features are not the same as the celebrities, adjustments will need to be made.

Glamour Look Or Natural Look

Some brides want a smokey eye makeup look, but many brides will ask for a more natural look.

However, they will produce a photo of a red carpet look that is not minimal in the execution or in the number of products needed.

Many brides want a natural lip colour and natural-looking false lashes. Individual lashes are always a popular choice to give you the natural lash look.

Because it is such a special day, the bride will usually arrange a bridal trial where the makeup and hairstyle will be discussed and a practice run done.

The bride’s makeup vision is discussed, and the artist creates a look based on what was discussed.

A trial run is essential as this allows any adjustments to be made for the big day.

(It is not uncommon for a bride to have additional requests for her makeup on the wedding day).

This trial run will ensure that the look she has chosen will suit her overall look and ensure that she is comfortable wearing it.

Professional Makeup Brands

The makeup artist will usually apply a combination of professional and long-lasting products, such as:

The foundation is correctly matched to her skin tone and skin type.

Translucent powder

Setting spray

Waterproof mascara

Long-lasting lipstick 

Eyeshadow either powder or a cream-based eyeshadow 

Eyeliner can be a smudge-proof pencil or a gel eyeliner

Eyebrows will need either a brow pencil or a brow powder

Blush will add warmth and dimension. Often Brides fear blush because they think that too much blush will make them look like a clown.

Bronzer adds extra contouring and warmth to the face.

High definition makeup can be used to avoid flash in photos. Still, it must be applied correctly to get the perfect skin look in photos. If it is not applied correctly, this will show in the images.

Many brides buy their own lip products, or some artists provide the bride with a lipstick or lip gloss that they recommend and sell.

You need to have a lip product with you to freshen up your lips, and your bridal party will need lipsticks for them too. 

Lipsticks are always a lovely gift for the bride to give to her bridesmaids on the wedding day.

Hire A Makeup Artist For The Day

Brides with bigger budgets secure their makeup artist at the day rate and have them do touch-ups. This is why celebrities always look flawless.

They have an artist on call, so hair and makeup can be touched up or even wholly reapplied when they are at events.

If a bride has very oily skin, this may be the only way to ensure her makeup looks fresh.

Remove the makeup from her skin and apply a new foundation.

Often eye makeup still looks good and just needs a little touch up without reapplying the whole look.

Take The Stress Out Of Your Wedding Day. 

Using a mobile service ensures that your schedule is kept and you don’t have to run to a hair salon to get your hair done.

They have the best quality products to give you a glamorous bridal transformation or let your natural beauty shine through with a skilful minimalist makeup look.

When you hire a professional service, such as a mobile hair and makeup service. You can now relax knowing that you are in good hands.

They know what they are doing.

Original post was featured here https://limitsofstrategy.com/wedding-makeup-artist/

The Article The Difference Between Wedding Makeup And Everyday Makeup. First Appeared ON
: https://gqcentral.co.uk

When it comes to the final days before vacation, people tend to fall into one of two camps: 1) those who watch the clock incessantly, and 2) those who are so busy before they leave, they might even forget to put up an out-of-office (OOO) email message.

If you’re anything like I am, you probably fall into team two. That doesn’t leave a lot of time to get creative. But if you plan ahead, you might be able to craft some hilarity.

In this post, I’ll go over what an OOO message is and share some of the best examples I’ve found on Google, as well as a few from my coworkers).

Also known as “autoresponder emails,” out-of-office messages run the gamut. From funny, to clever, to snarky, this message can both show your personality and let senders know that, well, you’re out of office.

While you can keep it simple, you can also have some fun with it.

What should I put on my out-of-office message?

First things first: let’s go over the basics of an OOO email. In your away message, you typically include the following:

• A quick “I’m out of the office” phrase.
• The date or time range you’ll be out.
• Who to reach out to in case the sender needs immediate attention.
• A sign-off.

Putting it all together, your autoresponder would read something like:

“Hi there,

Thanks for your email. I’m currently out of office until mm/dd/yyyy. If you need help, email my colleague at [email protected].

Best,

[Name]”

But that sounds boring, right? Luckily, there are ways to spice up your OOO message by adding humor in just the right places.

If you’re feeling stuck, try our free OOO email generator to draft a message that perfectly captures who you are and where you’re going.

Featured Resource: OOO Email Generator

Create your OOO email by clicking here.

Out-of-Office Messages for Vacation

1. “I’ll email you back once I’ve defrosted.”

Most times, when people go on vacation, they travel to a warm, tropical place…

But some of us just aren’t as lucky. Or if we’re traveling during the winter and heading up north — well, we’re going to run into some snow, aren’t we?

While this may not prove so fortunate for us, we can use the poor weather for comedic relief. You can even include a screenshot of the weather forecast for a sense of realism. Not only will it give senders a chuckle, but it’ll also generate a certain amount of empathy — which is often the key to good content.

Example

Thanks for your message! I’m currently buried in snow and will get back to you once I’ve defrosted on January 2nd.

And if you think I’m lying…

Image Source

Gotta go, my fingers are frostbitten. If you really need me, either get a shovel and dig me out of here, or reach out to my colleague Anna — who’s not frozen under snow with frostbitten fingers — at [email protected]

2. “If found, contact someone other than me.”

If your email client allows it, you could always just use an image to express your out-office sentiment, like this one. After all, they say that a picture is worth a thousand words — and visual content is still essential to successful marketing.

In this image, you’re letting people know you’re OOO with a “Missing” notice on a milk carton. Genius. Just be careful — this sort of autoresponder is best for internal emails, not for autoresponders that get sent to prospects and clients.

3. “I’ll get back to you when I return to civilization.”

If you’re traveling to a remote, mountainous area, why not jab some fun at your lack of WiFi in your autoresponder? Plus, that makes it less likely that people will expect an immediate response or continue to email you after the first try.

Example

Hi there,

Sorry I missed you — I’m unable to get to my email right this second. Why? I’m on a backpacking trip, surviving on Spam, really good water, and trail mix. You should see the stars out here.

I’ll get back to you when I return to civilization. Or to an area with WiFi. Or to the office on May 10th. Whichever comes first.

If you need help right now, email my team at [email protected].

4. “If you need to reach me, travel to my homeland of Florida.”

When one of my colleagues went on vacation, he sent an out-of-office message that was both clever and smart. First, he sent the recipient on an imaginary scavenger hunt to “the highest peak of the tallest mountain.” He used humorous absurdity to make it clear that he would not be checking email while he was away.

Plus, he incorporated a delightful technique to let people know that if they really wanted him to read their emails, they should probably send them again after his return. Not only does that keep the sender accountable by saying, “If this is really important, you know when to reach me,” but it also helps him truly vacate his work while he’s away. And that’s hard to do.

Below is an example you can use for yourself.

Example

Hey!

I’m on vacation until July 18th. If you need to reach me, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• First, travel to my homeland of Florida.
• Climb to the highest peak of the tallest mountain.
• Find a rare flower (no specifics, of course… It’d be cheating).
• Put the flower back, because as the old hiking rule goes, “Leave everything as you found it.”

When you understand that flower, you’ll know to reach me. Trust me. You’ll know.

If your message requires a response faster than that, please email my manager at [email protected].

If you want to make sure your message gets a response ASAP when I return, please send it on July 18th. I recommend using one of our sales automation tools to schedule it now, while you’re thinking about it.

5. “I know I’m supposed to say that I’ll have limited access to email, but…”

Josh Kopelman’s vacation email is a classic example of taking a blunt approach at OOO messages.

Not only did Kopelman manage to turn his out-of-office message into an epic poem of sorts, but also, he actually went through the trouble of creating a delightfully snarky, vacation-specific email address for his recipients.

Giving the option to contact an email address containing “interruptyourvacation” provides two things — 1) A dose of humor, and 2) discouragement from actually doing what the name suggests. Plus, he prefaces it with a request for empathy, by explaining that he promised quality time to his family.

Sure, Kopelman is truthful about the fact that he’s on vacation, but he also lets the recipient know that he or she would be interrupting important family time if the first option is chosen. It states a point simply and uses humor to avoid making it sound like he wants the reader to feel guilty.

Below is an example you can use for yourself.

Example

Hi there,

You got this email immediately (classic autoresponder behavior), which means I’m out of office on vacation.

While I hypothetically could reach my email, while I hypothetically do have my phone on hand, and while I hypothetically do have access to WiFi, I’d rather enjoy time with my family. My kids are growing up at the speed of a supersonic jet, and if I blink one more time, they’ll be 35. And I’ll be 73. And I don’t want that.

If you still need to reach me, you can email [email protected]. Or you can email my assistant at [email protected]. They can point you in the right direction.

Looking forward to reconnecting once I’m back.

6. “Hi, I’m Troy McClure.”

When one of my colleagues is out of the office, he doesn’t mess around. In fact, he’s turned his auto-responses into a running series of commentary from fictional cartoon character Troy McClure.

Each time McClure makes an appearance in these out-of-office messages, he “speaks” on behalf of my colleague and alludes to the previous auto-responses in which he starred. It’s a mild form of self-deprecating humor — as if to say, “I know, I’m out of the office again” — made only funnier by the made-up teaser title included in the last line.

Don’t be afraid to use a pop cultural reference that the audience would recognize. Instead of bemoaning your absence, they’ll have something fun and familiar to laugh at.

Example

Image Source

Hi, I’m Troy McClure. You might remember me from such out-of-office messages as Avenge My Death if I Don’t Return from DMEXCO and Bye Now, I’m on an Absurdly Long Cycling Trip.

I’m here to talk to you about someone you know. Catalina Wong is out of office until September 27. She wanted me to let you know that she’ll get back to you after her return.

That’s all for now. Watch for me in the upcoming out-of-office message, It’s Not a Hangover, It’s Food Poisoning — I Swear! And be safe out there.

7. “The bad news is that I’m out of office. The good news is that I’m out of office.”

You can show just how thrilled you are about your vacation while still providing an apology (of sorts… not really).

Example

Hey there — I’ve got good and bad news for you. Let’s go with the bad first.

The bad news is that I’m out of office. The good news is that I’m out of office and enjoying elotes in Cancún.

If you can’t wait for a response, my colleague will be happy to take care of you. Just email them at [email protected].

I’ll be back on February 7th.

8. “I am currently out of the office and probably chilling on the beach. Enjoy your work week.”

That’s it. That’s all. Simple and to the point, this message will let people know that you can’t respond to messages.

That said, be careful with messages that are this curt. Make sure you’re familiar enough with your audience — and your boss, for that matter — to know that this sort of out-of-office message will be met with a snicker, and not with annoyance.

9. “Can you guess where I am?”

There’s a term that we like to use around here called “snowbirds,” which is used to describe those who once resided in the northern part of the U.S., only to flee to warmer parts of the country during the winter.

And although my colleague had mixed feelings about her own parents joining that population in Florida, she couldn’t be too upset when her dad suggested flying down from Boston for a Red Sox spring training game.

Naturally, she had to take the day off — and couldn’t let folks know with any old generic auto-response. Instead, she made a guessing game of it in her out-of-office email, which you can use for yourself, below.

Example

Hello there,

I’m currently out of the office, enjoying some peanuts and Cracker Jacks with my family. Can you guess where I am? That’s okay, you’re busy.

If your message is urgent, fear not — we’ll get it addressed. Try doing one of two things:

1. Send me an email at [email protected].
1. Just kidding. That’s not a real email address.
2. Reach out to my manager at [email protected] in my absence.

I’ll be back in the office on 7/19 and will happily respond then. Have a great weekend!

Holiday Out-of-Office Messages

10. “Holiday revelry and debauchery ahead. Proceed with caution (if you dare).”

When you’re out for the holidays, how can you express your thrill for the season without sounding, well, cheesy?

How about warning people of what’s to come? Take a look at an example you can use below.

Example

Hey there,

Careful. Holiday revelry and debauchery ahead. Proceed with caution (if you dare).

By which I mean to say: I’m on holiday, I’m definitely sunburnt, and I’m sorry I missed your email.

Don’t you worry: while I pretend to be Santa in front of my kids, my colleague, Hannah, will cover for me. Just email her at [email protected] if you need urgent assistance.

Take care, and don’t get too carried away with the sunbathing!

11. “Thank you so much for your email. I love it already.”

This holiday out-of-office email is definitely on theme, if not a little passive aggressive. If you’re getting emails during the holidays, why not treat everything you receive that season like the present it is, and send a thank you note?

My snarky colleague sure did in his out-of-office message below. We send thank-you letters in response to holiday gifts, so it’s only natural to expect the same gesture in our work inboxes …

Example

Hey there,

Thank you so much for your email. I love it already. It’s wrapped so nicely in its charming subject line that I just knew this message was going to be something special. Gifts like these just don’t come around every day.

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to return your message. As it’s the holiday season, I’m currently away from the office. When I return, I’ll give your email a good solid read and find that your request is exactly what I needed after all! But until then, I’m going to keep it in the inbox so it doesn’t get damaged and revisit it after the holidays are over.

Happy holidays!

12. “Die Hard Quiz.”

Check out this message from a HubSpot employee that certainly turns the tables on the email sender. Right when you thought you were the one requesting action, the recipient sent back an assignment — a fun one, at least.

While the sender waits for your response to their email, take the sting out of your absence by involving them in a holiday survey, like the one below.

Example

Sorry I missed you. I’ll be out of the office and slow to respond until after the break. While I have you, though, help settle an argument among my colleagues and me:

Die Hard Quiz

What was the best Die Hard movie?

• Die Hard 1: The Office Christmas Party Gone Wrong.
• Die Hard 2: Airport Conspiracy.
• Die Hard 3: Samuel L. Jackson. Enough said.
• Die Hard 4: Cyberthreat.
• Die Hard 5: You should probably not pick this one.
• Impossible! It’s like choosing a favorite child!

Submit

13. “Here are 10 things I’m thankful for.”

This email comes from another one of my colleagues. The purpose of this email is to intercept messages during Thanksgiving, and the way in which it does so is, well, with thankfulness.

The funny and charming email template below keeps the confidence of your colleagues with a list of things anyone who works in an office is thankful for. Of course, feel free to customize this list according to the quirks of your own workplace. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reveal them.

Example

Since I’m out of the office for the Thanksgiving weekend, I’ll respond to your email with a list of 10 things I’m thankful for:

1. Copiers that collate
2. Co-workers that brew more coffee when they empty the pot
3. Donuts on Mondays AND Fridays
4. When IT surprised me with a new laptop AND remembered to transfer my files
5. When You-Know-Who died at the end of book 7
6. Dry-erase boards that actually erase
7. The brave soul who cleaned out the refrigerator
8. When I’m early to an all-staff meeting and score a table near the door
9. HR finally sent a memo telling people to STOP clipping their nails at their desk
10. OOO autoresponders

Have a great Thanksgiving, and I’ll get back to you Monday.

14. “I’m busy watching Christmas movies. Catch ya later.”

There’s no shame in using Christmas to indulge in your childhood movie tastes, but there is shame in not sharing that adorable side of yourself when people are trying to reach you during the holidays.

So, take a lesson from @courtwhip, editor at PEDESTRIAN.TV, who wrote the above hilarious out-of-office email, fully stocked with mentions of the best movies from the 1990s. (By the way, “Splinter” is from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as we all know, he loves pizza.)

Below is an example you could use for yourself. Well, it’s the same email.

Example

Oh hey, it’s Christmas, what are you doing emailing me?

I’m extremely busy watching Home Alone, Die Hard, and the 1994 Ninja Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Christmas Special on repeat until the new year.

I might stop for food and toilet breaks, I also might not.

Regardless of my general health and hygiene over the silly season, I’ll be back in the office on January 2.

Catch ya then, don’t forget to buy a pepperoni pizza for Splinter.

15. “Thank you for your consideration during this festive or not-festive time.”

Scared of offending a coworker who may or may not celebrate the holidays? Worry not — I’ve got the perfect email for you. If this OOO message does anything particularly well, it’s that it respects the differing views, religions, traditions, and opinions of your coworkers — while amusing so many others.

It’s also a great impersonation of a robot. So if that’s up your alley…

Example

Hello,

You’ve reached Michael Abioye’s inbox. This is a general notice informing you of Michael Abioye’s absence until January 2nd, 20XX. He is currently partaking in the traditions of a certain holiday, which may or may not be denominational or non-denominational. Example Company is in no way endorsing or not endorsing said holiday, nor encouraging or discouraging employees of all demographics to engage in celebratory activities. Thank you for your consideration during this festive or not-festive time.

Sincerely,

Management

Out-of-Office Messages When Working from Home

Working from home? Try these OOO messages to let people know you’re taking a break.

16. “I’ll get back to you once I’m back from my long-awaited trip to the fridge.”

If you’re taking a vacation and staying home, your clients or coworkers may still expect you to pop into the office and answer their email. Use this autoresponder to let them know you’re really not available — even if you’re bumming around on the couch.

Example

Hey,

Thanks for your email. I’m on vacation. On the couch. Eating chips. And bingeing Stranger Things for the eighth time (don’t tell anyone).

Unfortunately, I can’t answer your email (even though my office is three feet away). I’ll get back to you once I’m back from my long-awaited trip to the fridge. Bought tickets on TripAdvisor and everything.

I’ll be back in the office on the third and will get back to you then.

17. “Alexa, play Vacation by Dirty Heads.”

Do you own an Alexa? This might be the email for you.

Example

“Alexa, play Vacation by Dirty Heads.”

And… it’s playing in the background as I write this email. Guess what? I’m on vacation! And I do love my occupation.

Your email has been received and I’ll get back to you as soon as I get back to my home office. Now, how do I turn off this Alexa thing?

18. “The doorbell just rang. It’s the UPS driver. He’s loading me onto the truck.”

In this email, you’re a UPS package getting delivered to your vacation destination. Ah, I wish UPS offered this service.

Example

Hey — you’ve reached my inbox, but hold on, the doorbell just rang. It’s the UPS driver. He’s loading me onto the truck. Dang, it’s stuffy in this truck with all these boxes. He’s taking me down to… Oh! Florida! And now I’m on the beach. Thanks, UPS driver!

The UPS driver is scheduled to pick me back up on the eighth. He should deliver me back to the office by the ninth (assuming he’s not late like he was this time).

Don’t worry — I’ll wrap myself in bubble wrap so nothing breaks.

Funny OOO Messages Never Fail

Are you fully inspired by the creative out-of-office messages above? It’s time to write your own — your upcoming vacation depends on it. Try HubSpot’s OOO Email Generator if you’re feeling stuck, and remember, an out-of-office email doesn’t need to be boring. On the contrary, it should inform and entertain. You don’t want people hating on you because you took a much-needed break.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

BEST SUGGESTIONS AND PRACTICES

The most important thing to remember when stone floor cleaning is to stop using cleaners that are too alkaline or acidic. Both will strip the floor’s finish or shine. When working with natural stone, do use a neutral cleaner. A pH of 7 is considered neutral. Anything less than a pH of 7 is acidic, eating away at the sealant and cause etching. A pH level above 7 is alkaline, perfect for removing grease and dirt but can leave a toxic residue if not properly rinsed and neutralized.

Second, mainly if you work with marble, you should take simple steps to maintain your floors daily. This will make cleaning your stone floor much more effective and efficient, as well as prevent scratches.

Marble flooring is one of the most delicate stones and is easily destroyed. As a result, clean the high traffic areas regularly and use mats to keep dirt on the pad rather than the floor. Dirt behaves like sandpaper under shoes.

Do you want a mop to clean your stone floors?

Both forms of flooring can be cleaned using one of two methods. The first method is to use a floor cleaner spray bottle and a dry microfiber mop. Spray the cleaner gently on your floor and wait a minute for the solution to absorb the dirt. Then keep mopping. This approach reduces the amount of dirty liquid that can enter stone floor joints or holes.

The second approach is to fill a bucket of floor cleaner and dip your microfiber mop into it, wring it out thoroughly, and mop. Since the extra water easily eliminates any stuck-on food, this method is suitable for kitchens. When using this method, work in small areas and clean your mop pad frequently.

You must also take care not to leave too much water behind. To do so, make sure your microfiber mop pad is thoroughly wrung out. When you mop, look for dirt on the pad. Replace the pad if it becomes dirty; never allow it to become too dirty.

It would be best if you always held clean mop pads in a bucket of solution. Since it is aggressive without being abrasive, the microfibre scrub mop pad is ideal for stone floors! Before removing carpets, allow the floor to dry completely to avoid the formation of mould.

Stone Floor Cleaning – TILE LINES AND CREVICES

Unless sanded, most stone floors will have indentations and crevices where dirt will accumulate. If these are not handled regularly, no amount of mopping can eradicate them. This is particularly true when cleaning stone tile floors because dirt can get trapped in the grout lines.

In this scenario, you’ll need a scrubber with a brush that can get into the crevices and remove the embedded dirt. Since it is made of rubber, the “Lil Chizzler” would not scratch the flooring. If the stains and debris are too severe, contacting a tile and grout cleaning specialist is the easiest way to clean natural stone tiles.

SAFEGUARD NATURAL STONE FLOORS

Sealing is a critical step in ensuring that your natural stone floor lasts a lifetime. Floors made of natural stone are porous. This means they have holes in them, making them prone to spills, cooking oil, dirt, and grime. These substances enter natural stone that has not been correctly sealed, creating stains and making cleaning and maintenance difficult.

Sealers impregnate the stone; that is, they seal the holes so that liquids and oils do not reach the stone surface but stay on the stone to make cleaning easier. Acidic cleaners degrade the seal over time, allowing your floors to become porous again.

An alkaline detergent mixed with mopping water is the most widely used floor cleaner. The soapy water collects some of the debris and cleans the tile in the short term. If the filthy soapy water is not fully extracted, it may become stuck in the grout lines or holes in the porous stone. The dirt and soap are left behind as the water evaporates.

Since soap is on the alkaline side of the pH scale, it dries with a slightly sticky residue. As a result, even more, soil adheres to the earth. These deposits, which can harbour bacteria, contribute to dirty grout and stones over time. Aside from being unsightly, bacteria build-up may also produce odours.

As a result, the best natural stone floor cleaner has a neutral PH. When shopping for floor cleaning items, look for the words “neutral,” “residue-free,” and “pH 7” on the product labels. You won’t leave behind acidic or alkaline traces that could ruin your floors if you use a residue-free neutral cleaner. Dishwashing detergent is a low-cost cleaner with a neutral PH (check the label).

Questions and Answers about Cleaning Natural Stone Surfaces

What is the most effective natural stone cleaner?

The best natural stone cleaner, in our opinion, is a Kleanstone floor cleaning unit. When it comes to cleaning stone surfaces, our machines provide unrivalled efficiency, and when paired with our purpose-built cleaning tools, they provide stone floor care and maintenance that you won’t find anywhere else.

How will hard water stains be removed from natural stone?

Since stone is naturally porous, water seeps into the surface’s tiny holes over time. This water accumulates over time, forming a hard water stain. Although regular cleaning will prevent most of these stains, not everyone has the time to clean their stone every day!

If you use a special cleaner, removing hard water stains from natural stone surfaces is easy. Scrub the infected region in just a few minutes with a scratch-resistant pad or a soft cloth and a little elbow grease. If the stain is on the floor, you can clear it with one of our stone floor cleaning machines in a single pass.

What is the best way to remove stains from natural stone surfaces?

A wide variety of stains can attack natural stone. To remove them, you must first identify the type of stain.

Oil-based stains: Grease, tar, milk, cooking oil – This stain appears as a dark discoloration on the stone’s surface. In most cases, you would need to dissolve the source of the stain to extract it chemically. Clean with a soft liquid cleaner containing a few drops of ammonia or bleach.

Organic stains: coffee, tea, paper, food, tobacco – This stain appears pinkish-brown. Clean it with a solvent containing 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia.

Metal-based stains: rust, copper, bronze, iron – This stain typically appears as a brown colour, although this varies greatly depending on the type of metal involved. A poultice must be used to cure metal stains. A poultice is a paste made by combining a liquid cleaner or a chemical with an absorbent substrate. This paste is then added to the stain and allowed to dry for 24 hours.

Is CLR safe to use on natural stone?

CLR is an abbreviation for Calcium Lime & Rust Remover. This cleaner is excellent for removing stains from the toilet or sink, but it should not be used to clean natural stone, such as granite, limestone, marble, travertine, or any other form of stone.

Is it possible to steam clean natural stone tiles?

Steam cleaning natural stone tiles are not recommended. The hot steam has the power to melt the stone sealant, which is why it is used. If the bond is removed, there is a greater risk of mould and mildew growing on the stone floor, and it is impossible to avoid stains if there is no sealant.

Another reason not to steam clean your limestone, granite, marble, travertine, or other stone floor is that repetitive steam cleaning will cause the floor to spall. When water penetrates the stone, it causes the surface to peel, pop out, or flake off entirely. Spalling is referred to as flaking in limestone.

Can vinegar be used to clean natural stone?

It is essential not to use vinegar, lemon juice, or other acidic cleaners on granite, limestone, travertine, or slate.

Stone Floor Cleaning: Why a stone survey is recommended.

Stone floors have always been trendy. Their popularity has not waned over the decades, and they remain one of the most sought-after flooring alternatives in residential and commercial properties. As with other flooring alternatives, over time, both tiles and grout lines will inevitably become clogged with dirt. 

Essentially, dirt and grime are introduced from the outside. Even the cleanest home will notice a deterioration in the appearance of their stone floor. Dirt generated inside the house also contributes to the problem. Even routine cleaning can contribute to this problem.

Here’s why. When cleaning, dirt is pushed from the surface of the tiles into the grout lines. The stone sealers that are applied during installation also deteriorate. This means that the ability of the tiles to protect against dirt build-up is also reduced. These factors combined mean that, over time, the tiles look dull and dirty.

This is the time when you want to enlist the help and assistance of a professional stone cleaning and restoration specialist. It is recommended that an inspection or assessment be conducted at this time. The following information has been compiled to demonstrate why a stone inspection is needed and how it will ensure the smooth operation of the entire project.

It is important to note that stone floor cleaning services usually offer a preliminary inspection as standard. It is imperative, for many reasons, to take stock and clean an area of the client’s choice, if possible.

It is suitable for the client to know who they are dealing with. It also allows the contractor to see the customer’s requirements and manage expectations regarding what to expect. The information gained from a cleaning demonstration of a small area gives a good idea of what the finished floor will look like. A cleaning demonstration is essential to the whole process, and here is why.

1. Define the type of surface material by checking whether it is an artificial material or natural stone. This will inform which processes can be used and which products are best for restoration.

2. The demonstration process will identify any unforeseen problems or difficulties. These may not be so obvious during the pre-assessment visit. Time will allow the chosen professionals to familiarise themselves, which is incredibly important in identifying or anticipating problems and difficulties.

3. The process will probably indicate the duration of the work. Some clients want to know how long the process will take and need this information to take time off work. Some problems may not be identified until the actual process is tested. This means that a company can provide accurate information, not just expected results.

4. If diamond grinding is necessary, the measurement process will help the customer decide whether he prefers a ground or polished finish. As he sees the results, he can make an informed decision.

5. The inspection process allows the person to decide which equipment, sealants, waterproofing, and cleaning products to use. With such a wide variety of products available, these are important information to ensure the best results. Being on-site also allows the necessary protective measures to be planned before work begins.

Finally, the surveying process allows for a more objective approach to job pricing. Essentially, all elements can be considered before a quotation is prepared. Employees have the advantage of being informed, which allows them to ensure that the work is not overly expensive.

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Home Remedies for Earwax Removal – Ear Health-: While there are many natural and safe ways to remove earwax at home, you may need a doctor or other medical professional. There are several over-the-counter products and tools available to treat and remove excess earwax, such as irrigation kits that often include an onion syringe. Most kits cost less than $20. (We DO NOT RECOMMEND EAR RINSE). Removing excess wax usually only takes a few minutes.

Found On Original Article

Home remedy to remove ear wax – Ear health

Home remedies to remove earwax

Normally, black earwax should not be a cause for concern. However, if you feel it is becoming a problem, there are many ways to address the issue with safe home remedies.

Remember, just use home remedies to remove earwax if you don’t have any other symptoms including dizziness or ear pain. If you have symptoms, see a doctor right away because it may be a sign of something more serious.

As you can see, the current evidence is conflicting. Olive oil may help remove earwax, but it is unlikely to relieve earaches or treat infections. In addition, sweet oil – marketed as a natural emollient and moisturiser – may contain several different ingredients, not just olive oil.

According to the University of Texas McGovern Medical School, sweet oil and other home remedies can do more harm than good. These alternative treatments can cause fungal ear infections and worsen your symptoms. Earwax removal drops are also no safer.

One of the causes of earwax build-up is when the glands produce more earwax than necessary. This can cause the wax to build up faster than it can drain out of the ear, eventually leading to a blockage. However, the most common reason for earwax blockage is trying to remove earwax at home.

When cotton buds, rolled-up napkins, bobby pins, or other objects are inserted into the ears. Sometimes they cause earwax to go deeper into the ear, causing a blockage.

Inserting objects into the ears can lead to infection, eardrum damage, and hearing loss. Excessive earwax production or improper cleaning are the most common causes of earwax blockage. Surprisingly, unnecessary earwax removal at home is the most common source of earwax blockage.

Instead of being absorbed, earwax is often forced back into the ear. The use of earphones and earplugs can also cause earwax blockage since earphones can prevent earwax from draining from the ear canal.

Ear wax removal by a doctor

To diagnose a build-up of earwax, your doctor will need to look inside your ear with a special magnifying instrument called an otoscope. Once diagnosed, the doctor can remove the earwax build-up in several ways: with a small curved instrument called a curette, by suction with a small curved instrument called a curette, with other micro-instruments, or with a small suction.

If this remains a problem, medication may be recommended to remove the earwax. The physician may remove excess earwax with a small curved instrument called a curette or by suction while inspecting the ear. The doctor may also remove earwax with water tweezers or a rubber bulb syringe filled with warm water.

If earwax build-up is a recurring problem, your doctor may recommend using an earwax removal medication such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox earwax removal kit, Murine earwax removal system). Since these drops can irritate the sensitive skin of the eardrum and ear canal, use them only as directed.

A removal kit with softening drops is typically the best choice for moderate earwax buildup. The drops work by softening the hardened wax in the ear canal, allowing it to drain naturally. Mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, and/or carbamide peroxide are common ingredients in-ear softening drops.

To soften wax, some drops use a combination of natural extracts such as garlic, St. John’s wort, mullein, and calendula. Carbamide peroxide-containing formulas are extremely safe and are often prescribed by physicians and pharmacists.

While you can treat earwax blockage at home, as mentioned above, your eardrum and ear canal are sensitive, so it is safest to have earwax removal performed by your Houston physician. You should also consult your doctor if you have drainage or bleeding from your ear or if you have significant pain, as another problem could be causing these symptoms.

Do you have a full ear? Here are some tips for removing earwax.

Some earwax removal kits include hand tools to help remove earwax. Although the tools are designed to pull the wax out of the ear and not push it further in, they can cause injury if not used carefully and gently.

Components: These kits contain three to eight tools, including specially designed curettes to remove earwax without damaging the eardrum. Most tools have a barrier on the handle that prevents the curette from being pushed too far into the ear.

In addition, some kits have tools with LED lights so you can better see what you are doing while removing wax from your child’s ears. Earwax removal may be necessary if it is causing the symptoms mentioned above or if it is obstructing the doctor’s view of the eardrum. Ear wax removal is a task that can be completed at home. Softening the earwax may be the first move.

Some common earwax softening remedies include: Read The Whole Story Here

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Whether you’re a full-time blogger or a social media marketer who’s occasionally tasked with writing social media copy, I’m willing to bet you’ve experienced the temptation to procrastinate in the middle of your writing process.

Maybe you type your introductory sentence and then open Pinterest. Perhaps you finish a section of your post and then, losing steam, decide to wash your dishes, instead.

Whatever it is, we’ve all been there. Writing is a tough and tedious process, and there are plenty of moments where procrastination is much more tempting than writing one more sentence.

But if you’re on a tight deadline, it’s critical you’re able to stay focused. Here, Henneke Duistermaat, founder of Enchanting Marketing, dives into strategies writers can use to avoid procrastination the next time they’re on a tight deadline and can’t afford to spend any more time refreshing their Pinterest feeds.

Let’s dive into the strategies you can use to stop procrastinating during your writing process — and how to become a more joyful writer, instead.

Inquiries About Ear Wax Removal in Hinckley

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