Welcome to the world of Artificial Intelligence! AI is a rapidly growing field of technology, with more and more applications being found in our everyday lives.
AI uses advanced algorithms and automated processes to study and interpret data, enabling machines, devices and software to perform complex tasks that have traditionally been carried out by humans.
Artificial Intelligence will never replace human intelligence.
AI is about solving problems and making decisions. It eases the burden of data collection and analysis, especially in highly complex tasks. AI-powered software and machines can now recognize patterns, understand natural language, learn as they go and evolve over time, making them useful in a wide range of applications. From self-driving cars, to virtual assistants, to automated customer support systems. An AI-powered solution cannot match the skill of a human.
AI is programmed by an algorithm created by human beings. AI cannot think, it can only pull from a programmed database, and information already existing on the web.
Writing copy as a copywriter has a technique. Writing content begins with research about the topic. Then comes the compilation and arrangement of the content. This takes time it’s a fact. But if you want to reach an audience you will need to take the time to write personally.
The artificially generated writing style is without substance. The whole ‘voice’ behind the text is missing. When this kind of content is generated it is dismissed by the intelligent human reading it. The problem is simple; human beings are lazy and want something else to do the work for them.
The Chat GPT artificial intelligent content generator. The bot can generate the content in a shorter time than a human would to take the time to do the research for that content. Providing you ask the right questions, Chat GPT will produce a desired result. The content then needs to be edited and placed into the writing. This is where the artificial content needs to be integrated into the content. This content is written by a human. The content is based on the initial content delivered by the aritfical intelligence could be described as preliminary research.
By now everyone has heard of Chat GPT. The current version of Chat GPT 2.0 is in beta and will soon launch another version that gives more current information. The problem with Chat GPT; the content generated is generic.
Generic content does not emulate content written by a human being. The content will need to be rewritten and edited. The main use of Chat GPT is the generation of initial research.
You can go onto a website and ask the Chat Bot questions. The answers will be links and articles that are usually not relevant to the question. This is because the Chat Bot cannot think. It can only pull from a programmed database of frequently asked questions. After giving generic answers to the question, the bot may have an algorithm that gives an option to chat with a live person to get the question answered.
If there is a human being that is online to answer questions then you do save time to get the information you need specific to the question you asked.
Ai can help automate tasks that are repetitive. It can analyze large amounts of data and provide predictions that will assist people to make decisions. For example, in healthcare, finance, and transportation. AI does contribute to the accuracy and it can help personalize experience for users with ecommerce, advertising, and entertainment. It’s main function is analyzing data. Ai also assists services and technology to be more accessible to people with disabilities.
But it still requires a human being to process the information. One of the other main issues with AI is the manner in which it is produced. It has to be ethical.
The development of AI must include transparency. The AI should be transparent and explainable. The AI should avoid bias and discrimination. AI should be developed in compliance with privacy laws and regulation. An organization that developes an AI system should be accountable for its effect on people. And it should be prepared to address any negative consequences that might arise.
AI systems should be designed not to replace humans. We should be able to override and intervene in any AI system if neessary.
Some of the content in this article was generated using Divi Copy an AI plugin for the Divi Theme, and Chat GPT. As a writer, the content was repurposed. The process of writing this blog post was a lot faster with the assistance of both AI systems.
My preference is Chat GPT. Currently I am using the free version, and I find it perfectly adequate. The Divi Copy free version only allows 3,000 words per month. As a writer this means I cannot write more than two or three blog posts per month as they would add up to more than 3,000 words.
Chat GPT is an excellent way to curate information but be prepared to repurpose and edit the content for it to be relevant to the reader.
With the help of Chat GPT this article was written in a shorter amount of time that it would ordinarily take.
You’ve watched tutorials. YouTube Videos. Clicked on links to how-to articles. Joined Facebook groups. Memberships. Every resource you can think of is available. Then how come you still have the problem?
Your website isn’t working.
Exclusive help specific to your need. You ask the questions and get the answers in real time. Specific to your need. It’s a unique concept today. Someone to show you how it’s done.
We have believed the advertising copy.
It’s convincing. You’re persuaded. Creating a website using a ready made template is easy. After attempting to use it, the truth comes out. It’s not easy to use. Edits and content creation slows to grinding halt. And, the template has a license to renew each year.
When you can have a website that doesn’t dissappoint.
Keeps pace with technology changes and upgrades.
Doesn’t have an annual license.
Operates without added expense and the endless search for answers.
You get the help you need to show you how. I did it with my websites and I do it for my clients’ websites.
One-on-one tuition. Learn first hand how it works so you can work it. Then your website will work and you’ll know how to operate it.
There will always be problems to solve with website technology and updates. But if you know how to address the problem; change a setting, add or delete a plugin, create content, style and organize the blog.
You will be able to manage your business because your website works.
All these things are just a matter being shown how.
The real problem with having no time isn’t time. It’s that websites and technology are intimidating. And, we don’t want anyone to know that we don’t know.
But, the fact is you need a professional website. One that works. And, you need the website now.
Setting up a website is overwehleming. Even if you have someone do it for you. You still have to manage the website.
This is why it’s a best practice to have someone show you how.
Your alternative is to hire someone to build the website for you with a maintenance plan. If you’re too involved in managing your business.
As a business owner you’re still responsible for what you publish on the web on your website. You need to be hands on with your website so you know how it works. Even if someone manages it for you.
Restricted use. Upgrade to use additional features.
Difficult to manage. Limited tech support. Annual licence fee.
Hosting sever insufficient. Cannot upgrade software. Website malfunctions.
If you have the time and want to learn. Not enough tech support.
The truth about websites is this. There is a learning curve. There’s no way around this.
If you work in a website daily, then it’s no problem.
But not everyone works daily on their website. This is what I do. If you want a website we can build it together, or I can build it for you.
Contact Me and let’s get your website built, and live on the web.
Use a 3rd party email service and create a personal email. Never let the person know they’re one of many on a list. Always personalize the email.
We hear about this all the time. So what’s the deal with email? It’s a chore to go through the volume of emails. They’re all the same asking you to do something. Sign up or get the latest deal. Nothing of real value. Time is wasted reading them.
Why on earth did you subscribe to this in the first place?
At first email was manageable and interesting, now it’s too much information and it never seems to relate to you and what you’re doing. Unsubscribe immediately. Anything to stop the constant emails. No sooner have you cleared your inbox then another bunch of emails arrive. All day every day.
If this describes how you feel about email then how will you send an email to someone who won’t have the same reaction. Think about the emails you do open. Why do you open them? Because they are relevant to what you want to know about their product or service.
When you compose an email write to a person as you would if you were having an in-person conversation. Always give your emails that personal touch.
People want to know that you acknowledge them.
If you address the email to their first and last name this immeditaely signals they’re one of many on one of your lists.
No one likes to be addressed as; Hi Newsletter Readers, or Hello Listies, or Hello First and Last name, this is a turn off. And no, it isn’t the new way to do it for 2020.
Email isn’t dead. The “Dead” idea is a clickbait trick to get you to read an article thinking you’ve been doing something and you shouldn’t be doing it now because it’s supposedly ‘dead’.
In fact email is the one way to communicate directly that does get results if you do it right with a personal touch. There’s a human being on the receiving end of your email.
Which one do you use? There are so many to choose from. Each one with different configurations and set up. It would take all day to list them but how to find the right one will depend on the kind of emails you want to send.
In 2003 Congress enacted the CAN SPAM Act implemented a law covering all commercial messages. Email is an electronic commercial advertisement promoting a product or service.
Anytime you send an email to someone to solicit your business or service, and this includes a single email, the email must conform to the specific requirements. Otherwise it’s spam.
Your “From,” “To,” “Reply-To,” and routing information – including the originating domain name and email address – must be accurate and identify the person or business who initiated the message.
The subject line must accurately reflect the content of the message.
The law gives you a lot of leeway in how to do this, but you must disclose clearly and conspicuously that your message is an advertisement.
Your message must include your valid physical postal address. This can be your current street address, a post office box you’ve registered with the U.S. Postal Service, or a private mailbox you’ve registered with a commercial mail receiving agency established under Postal Service regulations.
Your message must include a clear and conspicuous explanation of how the recipient can opt out of getting email from you in the future. Craft the notice in a way that’s easy for an ordinary person to recognize, read, and understand. Creative use of type size, color, and location can improve clarity.
Give a return email address or another easy Internet-based way to allow people to communicate their choice to you. You may create a menu to allow a recipient to opt out of certain types of messages, but you must include the option to stop all commercial messages from you.
Make sure your spam filter doesn’t block these opt-out requests.
Any opt-out mechanism you offer must be able to process opt-out requests for at least 30 days after you send your message. You must honor a recipient’s opt-out request within 10 business days.
You can’t charge a fee, require the recipient to give you any personally identifying information beyond an email address, or make the recipient take any step other than sending a reply email or visiting a single page on an Internet website as a condition for honoring an opt-out request.
Once people have told you they don’t want to receive more messages from you, you can’t sell or transfer their email addresses, even in the form of a mailing list.
The only exception is that you may transfer the addresses to a company you’ve hired to help you comply with the CAN-SPAM Act.
The law makes clear that even if you hire another company to handle your email marketing, you can’t contract away your legal responsibility to comply with the law.
Both the company whose product is promoted in the message and the company that actually sends the message may be held legally responsible.
Never abuse the privelege granted to you by someone when they give you their email address.
Not an easy setup.
Out of all the services to choose this is my choice.
Using a 3rd Party Email Client is a good idea when you want to grow an email list to existing customers, or new customers.
Email Marketing is cost effective.
Your customers do want communication. Especially if they subscribe to your services.
If you have a daily or monthly Newsletter this is a powerful information tool to keep your customer informed.
There is a long list of 3rd party email services.
Before jumping into the deal look carefully at the cost factor. How often will you send out an email? How large is your list?
You can start a Newsletter with only 5 people in your list.
Most of the 3rd party email services have a free plan based on the amount of emails you send on a monthly basis.
We’ve heard this before how you need to organize information so you can get it out at the right time to the right people about the right information. This sounds really good but it is easier said than done.
Your first campaign is going to take some work on your part. First you need to start out with a plan. Not a calendar with proposed dates but a plan that starts with how you are going to deal with the subscribers, now that you have integrated your website with email.
To communicate and engage with an existing customer base.
To promote information about a product.
Provide training.
Welcome new customers.
What you are doing is called Digital Marketing. This is a combination of setting up an email newsletter and then managing the campaign that corresponds with the above list.
Here’s an excellent workbook about the process; The Digital Acquisition Cycle by Scott Winterroth. The book takes you through the necessary thought structure based on the author’s real time experience.
“The key ingredient to almost any digital marketing campaign is commitment. You need to sustain your online marketing strategy, even when it is difficult.” Scott Winterroth.
The inbox is where you have an opportunity to speak directly to the person. Now it’s time to stop and figure out why you want to send emails. Is it because it’s what you’re supposed to do? If it is this won’t work.
The person you’re emailing is intelligent and they can figure it out from the subject line of the email, to the greeting, and the first sentence.
Integrating your website with Email Marketing will require effort. It’s no use outsourcing the project, you’ll never be satisfied with how it’s done by someone else. Only you can do it because you’re the person behind the email offering your service or product.
Always remember, there is an intelligent human being on the receiving end of your email.
Welcome to the world of Artificial Intelligence! AI is a rapidly growing field of technology, with more and more applications being found in our everyday lives. AI uses advanced algorithms and automated processes to study and interpret data, enabling machines,...
Why don't we do it right the first time? Because we don't have the right information. The right information only comes from someone who has made the mistakes themselves and is willing to share their experience so you can do it right the first time.The First Mistake...
Yes! How so? The Divi Theme Builder will come out October 17, 2019. Something we always associated with a designer or a developer is now going to be available for us users. The long awaited Divi 4.0 is about to launch. It will change the way you think about...
Build a Style Guide
Change the color scheme
Set the color palette
Chose the font pairing
Deal with Accessibility
The Style Guide should be the first consideration when you’re going to redo a website. Even if you’re not redoing a website and you’re starting from scratch, you should create a Style Guide. This takes into consideration all the elements that will give you the effect you wish to have for the website. There is no perfect style, there’s only the style based on preference. As you start the process you’ll be able to figure out what you like and what you don’t like.
There isn’t one that is better than another. Styles come and go. What doesn’t change is the way the style should not interfere with the content. In the Design section of every module in the Divi Theme there are options to create good styles. It’s a matter of balance when it comes to styles. If there’s too much style it’s a distraction. With all the design elements built into the Divi Theme, and other Themes, you can overdo styling.
Colors have meaning and when they’re combined with other colors they either clash or match. Colors also bring an emotional response. Think about how some colors are soothing and other colors provoke action.
Interesting Fact:
“Research reveals people make a subconscious judgment about a person, environment, or product within 90 seconds of initial viewing and that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. “Source: CCICOLOR – Institute for Color Research
Color communicates and is an important element throughout the style of the website. If there is an existing color incorporate the same logo colors. Unless you want to redesign the logo. Depending on how well your company is known by it’s logo will help you make this decision. If you do decide to change the brand colors and logo it will be an opportunity to email to your existing clients the new changes in a logo and a website.
Color helps to focus our attention as does being able to easily read the content. The color of something can make it look pleasant or unpleasant. There is no perfect color that will be good for everything. Using only one color is uninteresting and the content will be ignored.
Most useful tool to use when making sure you get just the right kind of color tone and hue. The software used for this process is Affinity Designer. All of the softwares have the color wheel tool.
What I like about the color wheel is when you can drag the small circle and you will see the color change in the selected image or shape.
As you do this you’ll get the color that resonates with the color scheme you have in mind.
The Divi Theme comes with the ability to change the Default Color Palette and is located in the Theme Options area. Here you can set the colors. When you set this Color Palette those colors will be used throughout the site.
All colors come with a specific RGB, or CYMK, or #and a number setting. You can put your curser anywhere in the square and the color setting will change giving you the number of that color.
Expriment with the Color Palette. There is no right way to do this. But what you’re looking for is a uniform color for your website.
Which font is the right font? Again, there isn’t one. There are six-hundred Google Fonts to choose from so how do you know which one you should use. Fonts are tricky. They need to be readable. Sounds obvious, but when you look at the many styles of Fonts available you find some are much easier to read than others. For a website, you want to chose an easy to read Font. You do not want to give the person visiting your website eye fatigue.
You want to be sure you have clean open spaces and readable content. We do so much more reading than we used to do.Have you noticed how many people wear eye glasses, myself included. It’s not confined to older people it’s a phenomenon of using the eyes constantly to read text on different sized screens.
Here’s a very good website that you can see an example of font pairing with the colors. The Ultimate Collection of Google Font Pairing. You do not have to use those exact font pairings. The choice of fonts is a matter of preference. You will find some fonts appeal to you and others don’t.
Your website must be accessible to someone with a disability. We don’t always remember that there are people in the world that are color blind, or handicapped in some way. Their online interaction is going to be different and it’s necessary to take into consideration accessibility. In the blog post Quickly Build a Website in Divi that I wrote on RealTime Paradigm Blog. I show an example of how using a flip module is a great effect, but it’s not obvious that you need to mouse over the text to see the other side.
This could be faulted as being inaccessible. You do want to watch for that kind of use. Animation and moving parts on a web page is now the “in style.” Just because you think it looks cool doesn’t mean you should use these effects. The best practice on this one is to use it very sparingly. You want to eliminate any barriers to prevent interaction. The World Wide Web Consortium has an Introduction to Web Accessibility article for further reading.
One common error is an overly complicated navigation system with too many items in a menu that folds out into a sub menu. This can cause confusion as to where you are in the website. People have visual disabilities, this is why you should always make sure your text size is not too small. It’s the perfect way to get someone off your website if they can’t read the text.
The whole purpose of a website has to be functional, accessible, operable, and this takes thinking through how you are going to redo the website. You don’t have to have the website done by a designer. In fact, the best person to design a website is you. Of course you might need some help to do this as website software is now more sophisticated. The Divi Theme is a robust theme with all the options available.
Build a Style Guide
Change the Color Scheme
Set the Color Palette
Choose the Font Pairing
Deal with Accessibility
All of these steps will take you on a journey to redo your website. The context of a website is complex but when you approach it from this angle you’ll get the results you want when you redo a website in Divi.
The times we are facing will change everything in our lives, no matter where you live. Life as you once knew it will have to be revised. There’s no getting around it. We are now dependent on the Internet to stay connected. It was something we didn’t anticipate. But here it is.
Schools may not open. People will work from home instead of in an office. Conventions and events will stream online. Universities and Schools will have to use online tuition. I have been working from home for the last ten years, by choice. When I started an online Web Consulting and Design business I found many people were not willing to pay attention to any of the things that would indeed connect them in business. Those that did pay attention to the vast resources the Internet could bring their online businesses benefitted.
The most successful business is one that can survive through the problems. The problem of a global quarantine is disastrous, and definitely shouldn’t be around. This business that will survive is Amazon. No matter how much criticism is leveled at this company, let’s look at the real picture. It’s the number one sought after service because the idea behind it serves the need.
It starts with a simple idea and a website. The website is the publishing platform, the communication tool to connect with people. But because of the way we live we are now paying for it in the most unexpected way, disease. Viruses and disease is not new on our planet. What is new is blatant ignorance about the subject.
It’s essential to know the difference between fake news and real news. The problem is we’re saturated with information and we don’t pay attention to what we are doing. Sign up, register, login, subscribe are now reflex actions.
Manipulated information is part of the problem. It spreads panic and fear. What is even more alarming is those who claim to be intelligent, pretend there is no virus and they are too young to get the virus.
Well, the virus doesn’t know your age. Children, teens, adults, young and old will get the virus, unless they take the proper precautions and social distance themselves from contact. It’s just that simple. If you don’t make yourself available to contacting the virus you won’t get it. Going through childhood I contracted a variety of viruses. We were quarantined and that was that. The virus eventually stops mutating because there are no more hosts to feed from.
This is common sense. When you were sick you stayed at home. You didn’t go to work and you didn’t loose your job because you were sick. An employee was a valued person, not a commodity to be replaced by another hourly employee because the business owner didn’t want any loss in revenue.
One of the most problematic situations to cope with when you use the Internet. We are all using the Internet now more so than ever. You will also find the scammers. Websites are springing up with all sorts of offerings. Courses, information, asking for donations to help people, setting up funds. And if you’re not careful your funds could go to someone who pretends to be an organization that is legitimately going to help those in need .
Never donate to a cause because it’s convenient or because it looks like it’s a worthy cause. Do the research to make sure the organization is legitimate. The dark side of human nature is ever present in the most unlikely places. People will take advantage of you no matter how intelligent we might think we are.
Anyone can say anything about anything on the web. There is no filter. I can tell you the most outrageous lie if I want to. How do you know I am giving you the correct information.
The lazy way is to just accept what people say without any kind of filter. For example; did you know that WordPress is going to be discontinued tomorrow. That is ridiculous since 60.5% of websites are powered by WordPress. The red flag should go up instantly after reading the statememnt. It’s usually made by someone to discredit WordPress so they can persuade you another software is better.
If this is an option, take it. I have been working from home for a number of years. My work as a Website Consultant and Designer building websites is done online. Online interaction is one-on-one with discussions and instructions when necessary. This way of working is cost effective and happens in real time. You get to see how your website comes together and how it works.
Change is inevitable. If things don’t change we’d still be living in the Dark Ages or as they did in antiquity. Thank goodness we aren’t. What doesn’t change is our social interaction. In this time with the Coronavirus we have to know it is not going to last forever. A temporary ban on social interaction won’t collapse anything. The whole situation will bring new innovation as to how we as a worldwide community have to alter some of the things we do.
Eventually a vacine will be developed for this virus and it will be contained as it is a more serious virus than seasonal flu. I’m not an expert on viruses, but I know enough to realize this is a mutative virus and the body will develop immunity. Just as the Polio vaccine did and the worldwide epidemic was stopped. Some people did get the disease because the vacine wasn’t available.
Vaccines used to be enforced for travel. When you went overseas you could not board the plane without proper vaccination documentation anywhere in the world. What happened? This was relaxed some years ago it should return.
When you travel you are subject to pick up viruses and germs. When you eat you ingest bacteria. The body has a built in system to kill unhealthy bacteria. The compromised immune system comes from bad eating habits and a totally unhealthy lifestyle. We all think we are so healthy! Think again. We have tampered with the food we eat and we’re paying for it.
True story: I contracted small pox traveling from South Africa to the United States in 1983. This is a contagious disease. There was no vaccination requirement at that time. I was quarantined at home for a few months. The health official was my primary care physician who visited me at my home. Fortunately the fever was lowered and I did not have to transfer to hospital.
An airplane is a confined space. People travel when they’re not well. In my opinion, the ventilation system in an airplane is not cleaned. The inside of the airplane is, after the passengers have left the plane. Airlines have too many flights and no time to clean the ventilation system of an airplane in between flights. This is how viruses spread when people travel.
Without the Internet we would be completely isolated, thank goodness for the web. It’s a remarkable invention. Technology has propelled us forward not backwards. Eventually life will return to what it was but we’ll have learned through this experience. Keep vigilant, in order to function you need a healthy body. Look after it well, it’s the only one you have for the duration of this lifetime. Remember a virus doesn’t know how to tell the difference between a child and an older person. Everyone is vulnerable.
We Are Connected.
