Betty White, the legendary Golden Women actor and comic, handed away on New 12 months’s Eve on the age of 99. In the present day, Jan. 17, would have marked her 100th birthday.

Marking the date, followers took to social media to pay tribute to White, sharing messages and pictures and collaborating within the #BettyWhiteChallenge to lift cash for animals in honour of her advocacy work. Cincinnati Zoo named a penguin in honour of her Golden Women character, and Monterey Bay Aquarium named a giving program after her.

Google, in the meantime, had its personal tribute — an Easter egg for anybody typing the actor’s title into the search bar.

Typing “Betty White” into Google prompts animated rose petals to fall from the highest of the display screen, earlier than the message “Thanks for being a buddy” seems on the backside.

“Thank You For Being A Buddy,” recorded by Andrew Gold, is the theme music for The Golden Women.

White performed Rose Nylund, one in every of 4 characters sharing a home in Miami, for seven years from 1985 to 1992. The position received her an Emmy for Excellent Actress in a Comedy Sequence.

Followers and pals have been remembering White in an outpouring of on-line grief and tales.

Okay, so that you’re all able to launch your creator web page on Patreon. You’ve checked the launch day guidelines (twice), created tiers and advantages, and made an intro video that you understand your followers will love. You may’t wait to share your creator web page with the world and to get your followers as enthusiastic about your launch as you’re.

However in case you actually need to get your followers pumped concerning the launching of your creator web page, and to hurry up the expansion of your membership enterprise, our Particular Affords function could also be simply the instrument you’re in search of.

What’s a Particular Supply?

A Particular Supply is a advertising and marketing and enterprise instrument you need to use to spice up fan engagement, and improve your earnings on Patreon. With a Particular Supply, you may create and promote a profit — a digital reward, insider entry, merch — that’s solely obtainable for a restricted time.

Should you run a Particular Supply with the launch of your creator web page, you may place this limited-time profit as one thing further particular, a super-exclusive reward on your followers who develop into your patrons earlier than anybody else.

Particular Affords might be something you need; you select what the profit is, based mostly on what you assume will get your first followers probably the most excited. Perhaps a celebratory “I used to be one of many first patrons” pin or sticker would entice your viewers. Maybe a particular dedication or a private ‘thanks’ video would go over properly for the parents who need to be acknowledged by you. When you have followers who would possibly go for an higher tier, you may even supply a one-on-one session with you, both by way of a telephone name or a livestream.

How lengthy ought to I run a Particular Supply to spice up my launch?

The size of a Particular Supply actually depends upon your objectives.

Nonetheless, when working a Particular Supply as a part of your launch, it’s best to maintain the period brief, between a couple of days to per week lengthy, to generate a extra rapid buzz.

Should you’re getting near the top of your Particular Supply, and also you need to lengthen it, you may extend your Particular Supply interval. However in case you resolve to do that, watch out. You don’t need followers who jumped on the probability to develop into your patron to get aggravated understanding they might have waited. To keep away from blow again, it’s necessary to correctly talk with patrons and followers why you selected to increase your limited-time profit.

Particular Affords work.

Should you’re in search of a little bit extra proof within the Particular Supply pudding, take a look at the tales of those three creators who have been all in a position to enhance their earnings (and to develop their audiences) due to Particular Affords.

1. In her two-week Particular Supply, singer/songwriter Rebecca Loebe created distinctive enamel pins and noticed a 23% improve in month-to-month earnings, garnering 38 model new patrons and up-leveling about the identical variety of current patrons. Be taught extra right here!

2. Paul M. Sutter, a legit astrophysicist, launched a Particular Supply marketing campaign for 2 weeks, and dedicated to sending patrons signed copies of his model new ebook. By the top of the marketing campaign, he had 40 new patrons and an earnings improve of $553. That’s 553 extra {dollars} each month. Test it out!

3. Marshall Quick, the artist behind PrintableHeroes, discovered an genuine approach to leverage a Particular Supply marketing campaign and have enjoyable creating contemporary patron-selected content material, too. In two weeks he noticed his patron rely improve by 6%, translating to a month-to-month earnings improve of $648. Learn his story!

Able to launch your creator web page with a Particular Supply?

If you wish to launch your Patreon web page with a Particular Supply, head over to the Particular Affords assist web page, and scroll right down to the part titled, “Methods to schedule a Particular Supply earlier than launching my web page.”

And, if you’d like extra suggestions and methods as you propose your launch and rapid subsequent steps, Patreon U has a bunch of content material to be sure you’re able to rock that launch.

Love or hate it, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to place proper the gift-giving wrongs of Christmas. Hey, we have all faltered over the festive season.

Have been you certain your husband would love that faux-vintage, Bluetooth-compatible turntable, solely to seek out out later that what he actually needed was a Lego set? Did you misread his months of hint-dropping a couple of soccer shirt, solely to seek out he was truly after a duplicate of FIFA 22?

In addition to being a chance to fulfil leftover festive needs, Valentine’s Day can be a good time to make your companion really feel each cherished and understood. In any case, nailing the excellent reward means not solely exhibiting that you simply’ve been listening, however that you simply’re actually studying between the strains. The perfect items are sometimes objects the recipient wouldn’t essentially purchase for themselves, and even higher — issues they didn’t know they needed within the first place.

Clearly, it’s tougher to buy somebody who’s at all times shopping for precisely what they need, the second the urge strikes. Is there something worse than eagerly speeding to purchase him the most recent trainers, then seeing your husband fortunately stroll in with the identical pair on the very subsequent day?

Fortunately, we’ve provide you with a record of reward concepts that even essentially the most compulsive customers may not have thought of. Some are luxe variations of on a regular basis objects, whereas others are pure recreation. We’ve additionally included stuff at a spread of worth factors, since you don’t want to interrupt the financial institution to get your husband the proper Valentine’s Day reward. And hey, if a few of these issues profit you too, what’s the hurt in that? Relationships are all about sharing, in any case.

These are the perfect Valentine’s Day items on your husband in 2022.

Creators, do you wish to give your earnings a lift? We’ve acquired some excellent news…

Final 12 months, we launched the Particular Supply characteristic at Patreon. In case you don’t know what a Particular Supply is, don’t fear. We’ll get into that later.

What you do must know is that this:

To date, on common, creators who ran a Particular Supply noticed a 200 % improve in new pledges when in comparison with new pledges acquired within the earlier month.

What’s a Particular Supply on Patreon?

We people are hardwired to worth shortage and restricted availability. Perhaps it comes from our hunter/gatherer previous, or maybe it was an invention created by the Don Drapers of the world.

For no matter purpose, customers love limited-time presents — and so do patrons.

A Particular Supply lets you use the facility of a limited-time supply on Patreon.

Listed below are some occasions that work effectively with a Particular Supply (however be happy to invent your personal):

• Launching your creator web page
• Celebrating a brand new undertaking (guide, album, and many others)
• Revamping your Tiers and Advantages or returning to Patreon after a hiatus

Now that you understand what a Particular Supply is, what must you supply along with your Particular Supply?

Supply an opportunity to hang around with you digitally

You might have heard the phrase, “your time is efficacious.” However your time isn’t simply useful to you. It’s useful to your followers, as effectively.

In case you’re undecided what to supply to your Particular Supply, supply them an opportunity to get to know you higher.

RPG Inclusion advocate and very long time curler of cube Tanya C. DePass provided her followers the prospect to play Dungeons and Dragons together with her as dungeon grasp.

Tanya C. DePass is a vital determine within the RPG world. She’s a member of the favored Dungeons and Dragons dwell stream present, Rivals of Waterdeep (her paladin character loves baths and naps as a lot as slaying monsters). Along with her dwell talks, movies on Twitch and Youtube, and her non-profit, I Want Numerous Video games, Tanya merges her ardour for gaming with advocacy for range and inclusion in RPG areas.

As a Particular Supply profit, Tanya gave a restricted variety of her followers the chance to play in a web based Dungeons & Dragons sport together with her as dungeon grasp.

Embedded content material: https://twitter.com/cypheroftyr/standing/1105811648147800064/picture/1

What made her Particular Supply so profitable?

Tanya’s Particular Supply was genuine, distinctive, and enjoyable.

Once you’re brainstorming your Particular Supply, ask your self this: what sort of hang around would make your followers soar for pleasure?

If you’re a musician, possibly your followers want to see an unique, dwell stream live performance, by means of GetVokl, or Crowdcast. Or, in case you are a gamer like Tanya, maybe your patrons want to play in a sport with you. By providing a hang around that’s hand-selected to your viewers, you’ll be giving your Particular Supply a greater likelihood at being profitable.

Supply unique, limited-edition merch

With all of the monumental adjustments media has gone by means of over the previous decade, one factor stays the identical: promoting merch is nonetheless basic to artists getting paid for his or her craft.

On Patreon, merch is, and has all the time been, an effective way to entice followers to change into patrons. It’s one of the well-known transactions between followers and artists, and, since followers perceive this transaction — and see the worth in it — it turns into a forceful instrument in a creator’s pitch for membership.

In case you don’t assume a bumble bee is cute, you haven’t seen the above video by Deep Look — when you watch it, you’ll perceive why they refer to those bugs as “tiny, flying teddy bears.”

Deep Look is a science and nature video sequence created by KQED, a PBS station primarily based in San Francisco. They make stunning mini-documentaries, and we do imply mini. In beautiful 4K decision, their movies seize the nuances of animal life which can be unattainable to note with the bare eye.

Whereas a lot of their movies zoom in on bug life, like this terrifying one about bedbugs, they go deep on different kinds of animals, as effectively. Listed below are a few our favorites:

• Ever surprise why kittens are so foolish and friskey? This lovely video on the mind growth of kittens could have you taking a look at your cat in a completely completely different means.
• Everyone knows that elephants have big ears. However do you know they will hear with their toes? We didn’t!
• Crow funerals — it’s a factor. This thoughts blowing Deep Look video about crows will provide you with a complete new respect for these clever, usually misunderstood birds.

As a Particular Supply, Deep Look went all out by providing their followers a limited-edition t-shirt.

However in addition to creating merch that their followers wished, Deep Look did one thing else that made their Particular Supply profitable.

Deep Look’s t-shirt was engaging by itself. However the story they informed made it much more profitable.

On their creator web page, Deep Look printed a publish explaining what they’d do with the Particular Supply pledges: they’d go to Oaxaca, Mexico to make some thrilling, new movies. They even informed their followers about a few of the fascinating creatures, just like the superbly patterned MacDougall’s Spiny Lizards, they’d be filming on location in Mexico.

What do you wish to obtain along with your Particular Supply? Make a compelling case to your followers and patrons about what you’d do with the brand new Particular Supply pledges. They’ll be excited to study that your Particular Supply will result in extra content material (and that they helped make it occur).

Be aware: Providing objects like t-shirts and tote luggage may be costly and time-consuming. When providing high-resource objects as a Particular Supply, be certain the tier worth is excessive sufficient to precisely mirror your manufacturing prices (and to get your self a elevate).

In case you don’t have the time or the assets to create (and ship) a t-shirt, listed here are another objects to think about:

• Supply them a thanks postcard
• Supply them stickers or buttons along with your emblem

Each time a patron engages along with your content material, they get the superb feeling of realizing that their assist helped make these creations potential.

So, why not supply your followers a shout-out as a Particular Supply? That means, your new patrons will know simply how important they’re to your content material.

Listed below are a pair shout-out concepts to supply to your Particular Supply:

• Supply them a shout-out in your present: If you’re a podcaster or a video creator, you may supply your followers the prospect to obtain a shout-out in your present.

• Supply them a thanks: A thanks is low-resource/high-impact, which suggests your patrons will likely be pleased (and also you’ll have the ability to rapidly get again to creating). Get inventive with it. If you’re a author, supply your patrons the prospect to have their names within the jacket of a future guide. Or, in case you are a musician, you may supply a shout-out to your patrons within the liner notes of your upcoming album.

For detailed directions on how you can arrange a Particular Supply, head over to this assist web page. Additionally, try the Particular Supply Handbook, which has concepts for each stage of a Particular Supply, from promotion to launch.

Then, if you’re prepared to leap in, click on this hyperlink and launch a Particular Supply as we speak.

In 2020, Apple launched CarKey, a characteristic that allows you to add a digital key on your automobile to your iPhone or Apple Watch. The characteristic, nevertheless, was solely made obtainable to house owners of latest BMWs. In keeping with a brand new report, this could change pretty quickly.

Within the newest version of his Energy On e-newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple is wanting into increasing CarKey to work with automobiles from different producers. Gurman says the subsequent automobiles to get CarKey assist will probably be fashions from Hyundai and Hyundai’s luxurious Genesis line of autos. He says the brand new characteristic will roll out by the summer season, and cites current findings in iOS 15’s code, which level to enlargement of CarKey.

Hyundai and Apple made headlines collectively in January 2021, when it was reported that the 2 corporations are speaking about collectively growing an autonomous automobile. A month later, Hyundai stated it was not in talks with Apple about that deal, although reviews stated Apple had additionally been speaking to different automobile producers.

In his e-newsletter, Gurman additionally shared some particulars about Apple’s rumored upcoming augmented/digital actuality headset. In keeping with Gurman, the headset will possible price greater than $2,000. The headset will probably be costly not solely be because of Apple’s historically excessive margins, but in addition as a result of it’s going to pack some significantly highly effective tech, Gurman says — together with a number of 8K shows and two chips, considered one of which will probably be “on par” with the M1 Professional, the chip that powers the brand new MacBook Professional computer systems.

Gurman says the headset will primarily be supposed for gaming, media consumption, and communication.

It’s summer time! Faculty’s out, trip’s in. Individuals are touring, heading out on adventures, and making the most of longer days by spending extra time within the solar. Nevertheless, for those who personal a artistic enterprise you’ll be able to finish be so immersed in your work that you simply really feel unable to take a break. Many enterprise homeowners and get no paid trip and no paid day off, so any time away from work can really feel like taking a loss. Then again, your pastime, ardour, or function can really feel so enjoyable and thrilling that you simply’d want working than taking a break. This is the reason creators so usually overlook to recharge and run the chance of burnout.

“Burnout manifests in my life as full disenchantment and despair,” shared Krystal of Energy Femme Tarot. “To fight burnout, I not solely take breaks but additionally present myself my very own choices. Tarot isn’t just a aspect hustle for me, it’s a key part of my each day and non secular follow that I must constantly prioritize.”

Taking breaks like Krystal does, will help you clear your psychological palette and mean you can channel new concepts.

“For me, burnout appears like an absence of focus,” Kristen Allison from Over the Moon wrote. “It occurs once I’m juggling too many issues with out a sense of course or function. I can all the time resolve burnout by asking the query why? Motion with out course or function is exhausting. So taking day out to determine why you’re pursuing some artistic exercise is important for readability and vitality.”

When requested about them about their very own expertise with burnout, author and translator Nita Tyndall shared, “For me, it’s an absence of curiosity in my very own work, not desirous to even sit at a pc or attempt to write something in any respect.”

It’s truly essential on your creativity to recharge, rejuvenate, and get re-inspired by taking part in out on the earth. In case you push too arduous, ultimately you’ll run out of fuel, opening the potential to really feel like you don’t have anything left to present, and even resenting your group for what you understand to be your expectations on you.

The truth is, there are a number of research that show taking a break has a constructive influence in your work and creativity. “Taking day off from work, or life generally, is important to make room for modern pondering and artistic breakthroughs,” writes Rick Peterson in Thrive World. �“Disconnecting and taking day off — gives the framework to nurture the curiosity and fervour that retains concepts contemporary and aggressive.”

Research like this one shared on Psychology Right now, have proven that breaks from work truly assist our mind fight choice fatigue, restore motivation, and enhance productiveness.

Okay, now that you understand you want a trip, listed below are our ideas for making one potential:

1. Depart your gadgets at dwelling: Perhaps even your smartphone (gasp). Taking a one-day break out of your gadgets may rejuvenate you much more than taking a week-long trip whereas nonetheless plugged in. In case you can’t go with out your telephone, take into account eradicating your social media and work apps out of your it. You possibly can all the time obtain them once more when you’re effectively rested.

“I’d a lot slightly take a break and refill my energetic reserves in order that I can produce substantive and soulful choices slightly than preserve churning out posts for the sake of it,” Krystal added.

2. Arrange some automation: Ask your viewers for visitor posts submissions, join Coschedule, or pre-schedule your articles to publish when you’re out. Automation can prevent time and mean you can take a break with out having to fret about dropping engagement out of your Patrons. Don’t overlook, even your Patreon web page lets you mechanically schedule posts.

3. Give your artistic thoughts some area: Observing the phrase, taking time to meditate, making connections, and even letting your thoughts wander may not make you’re feeling productive however they’re important for creation. It could appear counterintuitive however our greatest artistic work usually comes from strolling away from the pc and taking time for ourselves.

“One factor I do to maintain my artistic work is incorporate an equal quantity of artistic play—creativity that’s only for enjoyable,” Kristen added.

4. Learn, Play, and Pay attention: Typically sitting down with an indulgent e-book, turning on a brand new online game, or getting out your coloring books can recharge your batteries and get you impressed.

“I’ve discovered one of the simplest ways to fight burnout is by refilling the artistic effectively,” Nita shared. “Whether or not that’s studying fanfic or taking part in video video games, consuming media that I take pleasure in is a very useful means for me to get out of a artistic droop. That and reminding myself I’ve been right here earlier than and I can get by it.”

Keep in mind, your group desires you to create your greatest work and to be one of the best model of your self. They don’t thoughts you taking a break, in reality, they welcome it. Plus, you’ll be main by instance, displaying how necessary it’s to make room for your self and step again to reassess and revitalize your work.

The tech requirements for a contemporary office are continuously evolving. Whereas the cloud has made storage issues considerably a factor of the previous, the most recent enterprise software program and working programs demand higher and extra environment friendly {hardware} . Whereas most enterprise could be performed utilizing commonplace shopper PCs (and even tablets and smartphones nowadays), devoted workstations present the best safety and comfort for any skilled office. 

On prime of this, underperforming {hardware} causes an enormous hit to productiveness. Sitting round for minutes ready for a spreadsheet (or 19th chrome tab) to load will not be an efficient use of firm time, however is one thing that’s all too frequent (and infrequently unavoidable within the second). The answer: Spend money on good tech. 

Right here’s why the most recent enterprise tech options from international {hardware} big MSI, the PRO DP130 PC and Trendy MD271QP Monitor, are good in your workplace or dwelling workplace.

PRO DP130

MSI’s newest providing for a custom-made and simple to improve compact workplace PC is the MSI PRO DP130, out there with an Intel Core i5-11400 or Intel Core i7-11700, and which may pack an unassuming punch with the proper construct.

Impartial of your spec selections, all of them come ready-to-use out of the field (with Home windows 10 put in) together with mouse and keyboard and embrace TPM (Trusted Platform Module) assist to offer superior encryption and safety. There are a number of storage choices out there to fit your wants and funds, in addition to graphical choices together with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1030 GPU. All of those {hardware} selections are simply upgraded, with the graphics card, RAM, M.2 SSD, and three.5” HDD slots accessed by disassembling the facet covers.

For those who’re in search of one thing a bit extra modern, you’ll want to additionally take a look at the MSI PRO AP241, which is a slim all-in-one PC that can be scaled as much as an i7-11700, or the DP21 11MA, a tiny however highly effective all-in-one. For extra data in your choices surrounding the DP130, take a look at the MSI web site right here. 

Key Specs

• Compact Dimension (97 x 430.2 x 340mm, 13L)

• 11th Era Intel Processor (As much as Intel® Core™ i7-11700)

• MSI GeForce GTX 1030 Graphics 

• Helps UHD 4K at 60Hz (3840 x 2160)

• Wi-Fi 6E (As much as 2.4Gbps)

Entrance Ports

Rear Ports

Trendy MD271QP

Credit score: MSI

The decision is out, a very good workplace monitor could make all of the distinction in productiveness. Not solely are fashionable screens a better decision (to allow them to match extra stuff on them and keep readable), however additionally they present a bunch of different productiveness and quality-of-life options to make them a worthwhile improve. MSI’s newest enterprise monitor is the MSI Trendy MD271QP. 

That includes a surprising 27” WQHD (2560 x 1440) 75Hz IPS show, the MD271QP has the entire bells and whistles of an incredible workplace monitor. The extremely adjustable stand permits for fast, {custom} setup, there’s a handy USB Sort C charging port, and anti-glare coating retains the display helpful in all lighting circumstances. IPS displays enable for extremely adjustable brightness, and MSI anti-flicker expertise together with native blue gentle discount present safety for the eyes throughout long run use. There are additionally built-in audio system to mean you can merely play audio with out the necessity to arrange exterior audio system.

Key Specs

• 27” IPS Panel

• 75Hz Refresh Charge

• TÜV Licensed Anti-Flicker Know-how

• Low-Blue Gentle Know-how

• Rotatable stand so display and could be tilted and/or height-adjusted to choice

• Sort C, DP and HDMI Show Assist

• VESA Mount Assist

Rear Ports

Whether or not you’re seeking to improve a complete fleet of workplace PCs, and even simply the house workplace, MSI’s vary of enterprise options proceed to supply an incredible worth choice with some improbable efficiency and reliability which can be certain to enhance the productiveness of your online business. 

This text initially appeared on PCMag Australia. Learn the authentic article.

Welcome to Patreon U — our new creator college.

When you’re a creator on Patreon (or serious about changing into one), you will have come to the fitting place. At Patreon U, you’ll be taught all the mandatory steps to get you heading in the right direction to incomes a sustainable earnings on Patreon.   Been a creator on Patreon for some time now? Yay — we’re joyful to have you ever, too. Be at liberty to skip round to completely different sections to search out invaluable suggestions and sources that can assist you maximize your earnings on Patreon and hold you and your patrons excited. Bought this far and nonetheless undecided why Patreon exists? Put together to be impressed by our CEO, Jack Conte within the video under. Nice — now that we’re all on the identical web page, let’s take you thru a pair steps to make sure you have the whole lot you might want to develop your artistic profession with Patreon.

What’s Patreon? Patreon powers membership companies for creators of all types with established followings, and we love doing it.  Within the Patreon U part, you’ll discover all the data you might want to determine if Patreon is the fitting match to your artistic profession and enterprise. From monetary instruments to function how-tos, Patreon 101 is a good place to begin, earlier than you get began.

Right here at Patreon, we come to work daily excited to assist creators such as you obtain their objectives. We’ve constructed a platform that can empower you to show your most passionate followers into patrons, and whereas we attempt to make the method straightforward, it could possibly take some time to get it good. Head over to the Constructing Your Web page part for the whole lot you might want to know so you’ll be able to arrange your web page efficiently earlier than publishing and launching it to the general public.

Whenever you’re prepared to begin spreading the information and debut your new membership enterprise to the world, we’ll be right here each step of the best way. Prepared to begin shouting from the proverbial rooftops? Try the Launching Your Web page part of Patreon U for finest practices on selling your web page.

There are over 100,000 creators utilizing Patreon to develop their artistic companies, and you may be certainly one of them. It takes greater than merely establishing your web page, although. Within the Rising Your Membership Enterprise part of Patreon U, we stroll you thru all of the sources we now have — and the information and methods we’ve discovered in 5 years of enterprise — that can assist you achieve success.

We all know creating your artwork is the place your coronary heart is — that’s the place your energies and focus are most wanted. If we needed to guess, we’d assume your ardour thrives in artistic moments, not whenever you’re engaged on the enterprise methods to advertise your tasks. It’s a stability, and it may be a tough one. Patreon U is making a nook of our group the place creators can come collectively and discuss store, get encouragement and motivation, and work by among the tougher features of Life As A Creator. We all know it may be a grind — and a protracted one. Go to this part whenever you want a lift out of your friends and us Patreon people who consider in you.

When you’re ever uncertain of the method, options, or instruments we provide right here at Patreon, bear in mind you’ll be able to all the time ask for assist. We’ve actually obtained a staff of very nice, educated folks ready to listen to from you. Feeling excited? Us too. Go forth and make some kick-ass artistic goodness.