A few months back I published a book titled "Dream Big, Move Forward Inch By Inch"
You can consider this book for giving as a Gift, especially Birthday Gift, to your friends and family members. For knowing the content of this book, you can freely listen to the audio recording of this book, or buy the ebook version and then order the paperback version from Amazon for giving as a Gift.
In this book, I have included hundreds of motivational quotes from great people, shared my own thoughts about various things, and shared the key things from various TED talks. It short, this book will be really useful for improving our career and quality of life.
If you have already listened or read to this book, remember to share your reviews through the comment section of this video.
In this post, I am going to write about issues related to Google's monopoly, especially in the Search and Ad industry.
Initially, I tried taking the help of Gemini to write this post. But it refused to write against Google. So, I used chatGPT to write this blog post. It is another concern, I will write about it later.
First of all, let me tell you the reason behind coming up with this blog post. Basically, I am not that much interested in writing any public awareness posts. I am writing this post because of my personal bad experience with Google. So, it may be slightly biased. Do your own research/analysis to get the overall neutral picture. A few months back, my 14-year-old Google Adsense account was disabled without giving any warnings or specific reason. The only message provided was "Invalid traffic". My appeal explaining myself not being involved in any invalid traffic was blindly rejected without giving any clarifications. When I contacted YouTube support, they were also not helpful. This bad incident made me realize many things that I will explain in this post.
Though I am very angry with Google for ill-treating me in recovering my Google Adsense account, I am really thankful to Google for making payments without any issues in the past 14 years. Thankful to Google for providing me with Gmail, YouTube channel, Docs, and other services. Even I am writing this post from Google's Blogger. By keeping these things in mind, I am trying to write this post in a balanced manner.
In the vast digital landscape, few entities wield as much influence and control as Google. From search and advertising to email and cloud storage, Google's reach extends far and wide, making it an integral part of our online experiences. However, as Google's dominance grows, so too do concerns about the implications of its monopoly power.
Google's monopolistic tendencies have become increasingly apparent in recent years, raising alarms among consumers, regulators, and competitors alike. One of the most significant areas of concern is Google's stranglehold on the search engine market. With an estimated market share of over 90% globally, Google effectively dictates what information users encounter online. This level of control over access to information raises questions about censorship, bias, and the manipulation of search results for commercial or political gain.
Moreover, Google's dominance in online advertising is equally troubling. Through its advertising platform, Google Ads, the tech giant commands a lion's share of the digital advertising market. This dominance not only stifles competition but also raises privacy concerns, as Google collects vast amounts of user data to target ads with pinpoint accuracy. The sheer volume of data Google collects gives it unprecedented insights into consumer behavior, further solidifying its position at the top of the advertising food chain.
But Google's monopoly extends beyond search and advertising. The company's suite of products and services, including Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Drive, among others, enjoys widespread adoption and integration into daily life. While these services may offer convenience and utility, they also contribute to Google's overarching dominance and raise concerns about data privacy, security, and anticompetitive behavior.
Critics argue that Google's monopoly stifles innovation, as smaller competitors struggle to compete with the tech giant's vast resources and entrenched market position. This lack of competition could ultimately harm consumers by limiting choice, suppressing innovation, and driving up prices.
In response to mounting concerns, regulators around the world have taken aim at Google's monopoly power. Antitrust investigations and lawsuits have been launched, alleging various anti-competitive practices, including favoring its own services in search results, imposing restrictive contracts on device manufacturers, and stifling competition in digital advertising.
While Google has faced regulatory scrutiny in the past, the outcome of these latest investigations remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the growing chorus of voices calling for greater scrutiny and regulation of Google's monopoly power underscores the need for a concerted effort to promote competition, safeguard consumer choice, and protect the integrity of the digital marketplace.
In conclusion, Google's monopoly power poses significant challenges to competition, innovation, and consumer welfare. As the tech giant continues to expand its reach and influence, it is imperative that regulators, policymakers, and consumers remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the risks posed by Google's dominance. Only through concerted action can we ensure a fair, competitive, and vibrant digital ecosystem for all.
I personally realized the real danger of monopoly when I tried to find Adsense alternatives and YouTube alternatives. I put in a lot of effort and spent a lot of time searching for them. But my experience was horrible. In the case of Adsense alternatives, I shortlisted around 10 products and I implemented them one by one. Their ad quality is very poor or payment period is very long and payment methods not supported. It raised a question like "Why we are not able to find a decent AdSense alternative?" I did more analysis to get the answer to this question. I couldn't find any valid answer. So, obviously, Google's monopoly should be the answer. If you could think of any other answer, tell them through the comments. We know Google's hunger to swallow potential competitors in the name of acquisition. Another fact is, even if I could find some good ad network, it can not be used with my YouTube channel in which I have uploaded more than four thousand videos since 2009. In those days YouTube team used to personally ask me about video uploading and even encouraged me to monetize my channel with AdSense, even they sent me emails asking me whether I needed a camera or any other gadgets to improve video quality. But now YouTube support is not ready to help me to sort out the AdSense issue. This much changed in the 14 years. I couldn't imagine what will happen in the coming days if Google's monopoly continues to expand. All these things made me realize the fact that I was affected by the Monopoly power of Google/YouTube without any fault from my side. I do not see it as a simple AdSense account recovery issue. It is an indication of a monopoly issue, even we can see it as a step toward slavery. Blocking all other opportunities will lead to slavery. Let me know if my understanding is wrong. The obvious evidence is, just search for "How to fill Google AdSense appeal form", and you will come to know about a large number of articles/discussions/videos that explain to you how they got their appeal approved. Mostly everyone is saying that they got their appeal approved by saying that they corrected their mistakes even if they haven't made any mistakes knowingly. Can you explain why they are saying that Google expected them to say they made some mistakes when they haven't actually made any mistakes?
I know that writing this post is not going to correct the Monopoly issue immediately. Anyway, I am writing it as sometimes a small fire from a simple stick is enough to burn a big forest.
Actually, I directly recommended YouTube to many people, even through writing a book. Now, I feel guilty because I fear that these recommendations may have led them to face harsh treatment from Google, and they might blame me. When I contacted YouTube about my concerns, their response was dismissive and seemed arrogant. They simply stated that they wouldn't be affected as long as the users follow the terms and conditions. This offended me because it implied that I had intentionally violated the guidelines. However, they didn't provide any specific details about the alleged violation, only stating "invalid traffic," which could potentially be generated by anyone with malicious intent.
This experience has led me to believe that their behavior might be driven by a monopolistic attitude. If Google and YouTube were truly separate entities, I wouldn't need to appeal my Google AdSense account termination. If YouTube were independent, it would offer options to monetize with other ad networks besides Google AdSense. I don't know whether breaking up Google is realistic or not, but atleast forcing regulators to address its potential monopolistic practices could prove beneficial in resolving many issues. Let me know if you have any suggestions to do it.
I have created a Change.Org petition to create awareness about Google's monopoly. You can sign the petition here and share it with others to create awareness.
Time is money. That's especially true in business, where efficient time management can directly impact your bottom line. But accurately tracking employee hours, project progress, and billable time can be a complex and time-consuming task. That's where timesheet software comes in.
With a vast array of options available, choosing the right timesheet software for your business can feel overwhelming. This guide aims to simplify the process by providing you with a comprehensive framework for making an informed decision.
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
Before diving into features and pricing, take a step back and understand your specific needs. Ask yourself:
How many employees will be using the software?
Do you need basic time tracking or advanced features like project management and invoicing?
Do your employees work remotely or in an office environment?
What is your budget?
Do you have specific integrations you need, like payroll or accounting software?
Step 2: Explore the Features
Now that you understand your needs, let's explore the key features to consider:
Time tracking: This is the core functionality, ensuring accurate and effortless recording of hours worked. Look for features like automatic timers, project/task allocation, and offline functionality.
Reporting: Generate detailed reports to analyze employee performance, project progress, and billable time. Ensure the reports are customizable and exportable for further analysis.
Project management: If you manage projects, consider software with features like task management, budgeting, and collaboration tools.
Invoicing: Streamline your billing process by generating invoices directly from timesheet data. Look for integration with popular payment gateways.
Security and data privacy: Ensure the software offers robust security measures to protect sensitive employee data.
Step 3: Consider the User Experience
Remember, your employees will be using this software daily. Choose a solution with a user-friendly interface, intuitive navigation, and mobile accessibility for on-the-go tracking.
Step 4: Evaluate the Support
Reliable customer support is crucial for troubleshooting and maximizing your software's potential. Look for responsive support options like live chat, email, and phone support.
Step 5: Free Trials and Demos
Don't buy before you try! Many vendors offer free trials or demos so you can test the software with your team and ensure it fits your workflow.
Bonus Tip: Consider the Future
Think beyond your current needs. Choose a solution that can scale with your business and adapt to future changes in technology and workflow.
If you want to have your own timesheet software for an affordable price check our timesheet here.
Watch the below video to know about developing timesheet software.
I asked Google Gemini to suggest career opportunities for PHP developer. Find below its response.
As a PHP developer, there are many exciting avenues you can explore to further your skills and career. The best direction for you depends on your current skillset, interests, and career aspirations. Here are some potential paths you could consider, along with suggestions for what to learn:
Deepen your PHP expertise:
Master modern PHP features: Dive into features like namespaces, closures, generators, and asynchronous programming.
Learn a popular PHP framework: Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter are widely used and offer different strengths. Choose one based on your interests and project needs.
Become a security expert: Security is crucial in web development. Learn secure coding practices, penetration testing, and vulnerability management.
Learn JavaScript frameworks: React, Angular, and Vue.js are in high demand for building interactive web applications.
Explore cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, and GCP offer cloud computing services that can enhance your development workflow.
Learn DevOps practices: Continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) and infrastructure automation are valuable skills for modern developers.
Master databases: Understand database optimization, replication, and advanced SQL queries.
Focus on a specific area:
E-commerce development: Learn WooCommerce or Magento, popular e-commerce platforms built with PHP.
API development: Build RESTful APIs and understand API design principles.
CMS development: Master WordPress or Drupal, popular content management systems built with PHP.
Data science: Combine your PHP skills with data science libraries to analyze and visualize data.
Remember:
Practice regularly: The best way to learn is by doing. Build projects, contribute to open-source software, and participate in coding challenges.
Stay updated: The technology landscape is constantly evolving. Keep up-to-date with new trends and best practices through blogs, conferences, and online courses.
Network with other developers: Connect with other PHP developers through online communities, meetups, and conferences. They can be a valuable source of knowledge and support.
Ultimately, the best way to decide what to learn is to reflect on your career goals and interests. Talk to other developers, research job postings, and choose a path that excites you!
Read below Google Gemini's response to my prompt about Branding, Marketing, and Sales
While often used interchangeably, branding, marketing, and sales are distinct but interconnected aspects of a business's success. Here's a breakdown of their differences and how they work together:
Branding:
Focus: Creating a unique identity for your company, product, or service.
Goal: Establishing a strong, positive association in the minds of your target audience.
Effective marketing generates leads for sales teams.
Successful sales contribute to positive brand perception.
Think of them as a three-legged stool:
Branding is the foundation: It defines who you are and what you stand for.
Marketing is the legs: It helps you reach your target audience and generate interest.
Sales is the seat: It's where you convert that interest into paying customers.
For a business to thrive, all three legs need to be strong and work together seamlessly.
Interesting Facts and Tips: Branding, Marketing, and Sales
Branding:
Fact: It takes consumers only 10 seconds to form a first impression of a brand, based primarily on visuals. (Source: University of Minnesota)
Tip: Craft a brand story that resonates with your target audience and connects them to your values.
Fact: Consistent brand messaging across all touchpoints can increase revenue by 23%. (Source: The Sale Cycle)
Tip: Invest in high-quality design elements like your logo, website, and packaging to build trust and professionalism.
Marketing:
Fact: Video content is 50 times more likely to drive organic traffic than plain text content. (Source: HubSpot)
Tip: Leverage data and analytics to understand your audience and tailor your marketing campaigns for better engagement.
Fact: User-generated content (UGC) can be 9 times more effective than branded content in influencing purchase decisions. (Source: Stackla)
Tip: Encourage customer reviews, testimonials, and social media engagement to build brand trust and authenticity.
Sales:
Fact: The average salesperson spends only 34% of their time actually selling. (Source: CSO Insights)
Tip: Focus on building relationships and understanding customer needs instead of just pitching your product.
Fact: Personalizing sales pitches to individual customers can increase conversion rates by 50%. (Source: McKinsey & Company)
Tip: Utilize customer data and insights to personalize your sales approach and offer solutions tailored to their needs.
Bonus:
Fact: Companies with strong brand loyalty see a 10x increase in customer value compared to those with weak loyalty. (Source: Temkin Group)
Tip: Foster customer loyalty by going beyond transactions and providing exceptional customer service experiences.
Remember, these are just a few examples. The world of branding, marketing, and sales is constantly evolving, so stay curious, experiment, and adapt your strategies to achieve your business goals.
Top 10 suggestions for aspiring entrepreneurs:
1. Find a problem that needs solving: Don't just chase trends, identify a genuine gap in the market where your product or service can make a real difference.
2. Know your target audience: Research and understand your ideal customer, their needs, desires, and pain points.
3. Validate your idea: Before diving in, test your concept with potential customers through surveys, prototypes, or pilot programs.
4. Craft a solid business plan: This document should outline your vision, strategy, marketing plan, financial projections, and operational roadmap.
5. Build a strong brand: Develop a unique identity that resonates with your target audience and differentiates you from competitors.
6. Leverage technology: Utilize digital tools and platforms to streamline operations, reach customers, and automate tasks.
7. Network and build relationships: Connect with other entrepreneurs, mentors, and potential partners for support and collaboration.
8. Be prepared for challenges: Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. Embrace adaptability, resilience, and a learning mindset.
9. Focus on customer experience: Prioritize excellent customer service and build strong relationships with your clientele.
10. Don't be afraid to pivot: Be open to changing your approach based on market feedback and new opportunities.
Bonus Tip: Seek professional help when needed. Consider consulting with legal, financial, or marketing experts for guidance.
Remember, these are just starting points. The most important ingredient for success is passion, dedication, and a willingness to learn and grow as an entrepreneur. Good luck on your journey!
Over the years, I have released many books that are useful for career improvement and for improving quality of life. Generally, I use the PayPal button for selling my ebooks from this blog. But that button won't work for Indian buyers.
After exploring various India-based payment gateways, finally I decided to use Instamojo for selling my ebooks in India.
Currently, I set huge discounts for my ebooks there. Use this offer and inform your friends also. Let me know if you find any difficulty in buying my ebooks from there. You can find ebooks that are very useful for improving your career and life quality.
If you are not in India, you can buy my ebooks from here
Some of my ebooks are locked with Amazon's "KDP Select" exclusive program. I have decided to release them from there and include them here. So, once after the end of the locking period, I will add a few more ebooks and I am planning to write more ebooks. Join my WhatsApp group to get the updates.
Let me (rajamanickam.a@gmail.com) know if you have any questions.
This inspiring ebook provides a practical roadmap for achieving your goals, one small step at a time. Discover powerful strategies for staying motivated, overcoming obstacles, and celebrating your wins along the way. Apart from sharing my own thoughts, I prepared this ebook by including the wisdom of great people. Surely this ebook will help you to keep a positive mind which is the foundation for achieving happiness, success, and peace in your life.
This ebook is your key to unlocking the hidden potential of cutting-edge tech. It is designed for everyone, whether you're just starting out or looking to stay ahead of the curve. With 14 years of experience exploring emerging technologies for running my tech news channel, I've packed this ebook with insights and strategies to help you thrive in the ever-changing tech world.
This new ebook is useful for leveraging the AI tools ChatGPT and Bard to our advantage. Experts say that AI itself won't take your job; it's someone using AI effectively that might. Therefore, being familiar with these tools is crucial for safeguarding your job and business. This simple ebook empowers anyone to use AI tools effectively, making it suitable for both beginners and those seeking advanced techniques for using ChatGPT and Bard. It includes numerous sample prompts tailored to various fields and professions. Learn how to ask the right questions, extract valuable insights, and build productive relationships with your AI companions.
This ebook was published long back (in 2010). Though the Software Testing section of this ebook is still relevant and valid, the QTP section may not be very useful now. Buy this ebook only if you want to read the software testing section.
This ebook will be useful for gaining an overview of the ways to earn money from YouTube. People who are interested in working from home can utilize the opportunities that YouTube provides for earning money.
Unleash your creative and productive genius with Google Bard! This beginner's guide unlocks hidden potentials: write captivating content, code smarter, research effortlessly, spark innovation, collaborate seamlessly, and future-proof your skills. Master the revolutionary AI, conquer any project, and soar above the rest. Don't wait, unlock your genius today!
Freely download this ebook to read my experiences of earning money online. Feel free to share this ebook with others.
Apart from these ebooks, I am planning to include a few more ebooks in the coming days. Join my WhatsApp group to get the updates. Earn significant money by getting a 50% commission for promoting my ebooks. For details read my blog post here.
Find below the Top 10 Tips for Using Google's AI tool Bard/Gemini Effectively.
Be specific: The more specific your question or request, the better Gemini can understand and respond. Avoid vague prompts like "Tell me something interesting." Instead, ask "Summarize the latest research on climate change."
Break down complex tasks: If you have a large project, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks for Gemini to tackle. This will help it focus and provide more accurate results.
Provide context: If you're asking a question about a specific topic, provide relevant context. This could include links, articles, or keywords related to the subject.
Use different prompts: Experiment with different ways of phrasing your questions and requests. Gemini can understand and respond to a variety of prompts, so find what works best for you.
Refine your results: Don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions or provide additional information to refine your results. Gemini learns from your interactions and can adjust its responses accordingly.
Explore different features: Gemini offers a variety of features beyond just answering questions. Try generating text formats like poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, email, letters, etc., or translating languages.
Use the feedback mechanism: If you find a response unhelpful or inaccurate, use the feedback mechanism to let Gemini know. This will help it improve its responses in the future.
Be patient: Gemini is still under development, and it may not always get things right. Be patient and understanding as it continues to learn and grow.
Have fun! Don't be afraid to experiment and explore all the different things Gemini can do. You might be surprised at what you discover.
Stay up-to-date: Gemini is constantly being updated with new features and capabilities. Check back regularly to see what's new and how you can use it to your advantage.
By following these tips, you can unlock the full potential of Bard/Gemini and use it to boost your productivity, creativity, and knowledge.
To learn more about Gemini and to start using it, you can check my ebook "Unlocking Google Bard"
If you are in India, you can use the Huge discount offer from my new ebook store.
I have published a new ebook titled "Unlocking Google Bard: A Beginner's Guide to Unleashing Your Creativity and Productivity." I hope it will be useful for anyone who wants to effectively use Bard (Gemini) to improve their career and their creativity. Personally, I believe Bard will play an important role in our lives in the coming days. Therefore, it is better to be familiar with it now.
I used Bard (now known as Gemini) itself to come up with this ebook. A few days ago, I also used Bard to create this quiz, as explained in this video. Obviously, Bard has begun to play an important role in the AI world. However, when I talked to many people, most of them were unaware of Bard's capabilities. So, I decided to write this ebook to guide beginners, even though I have already released a detailed book about prompt engineering.
Find below the chapters of this ebook. Watch the book preview video here.
Introduction
What is Bard and What Can It Do for You?
Getting Started with Bard: Setting Up and Basic Navigation
Understanding Bard's Capabilities: Language, Text Generation, and Beyond
Writing with Bard: Different Modes and Techniques
Generating Creative Text Formats: Poems, Scripts, Musical Pieces, etc.
Using Bard for Coding
Using Bard for Research and Information Gathering
Optimizing Your Workflow with Bard
Boosting Your Creativity with Bard's Brainstorming and Idea Generation Tools
Using Bard for Learning and Skill Development
Collaborating with Bard: Working in Teams and Sharing Results
Exploring Advanced Bard Features and Customization
Understanding the Ethics and Responsible Use of Bard
Troubleshooting Common Bard Issues and Getting Help
Staying Up-to-Date with Bard's Development and New Features
The Future of Bard: Looking Ahead and Exploring Possibilities
Conclusion
Are you ready to unlock the hidden potential of Google Bard (Gemini), the powerful AI tool that can transform your writing, coding, research, and more?
Number of pages = 48
Download formats= Docx, PDF, and epub
In India, people can buy this ebook from this Instamojo page by making Rs.99 during this offer period.
Others can buy this ebook by making a $2.99 payment using the below Paypal button. If you face any difficulty in using the PayPal button, you can buy from this Gumroad page.
