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The Reasons Behind The Rise And Fall – And Rise Again Of Subscription Models

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In April, Netflix lost more subscribers than it gained for the first time in a decade. This surprised investors who actively supported the subscription model over the pandemic. It caused the video streaming company’s shares to plunge almost 40 percent. But it’s not only Netflix. Data from Lloyds Bank found over 1.2 million subscription payments have been canceled since 2021. Half a million of which are because of consumers feeling the financial pinch. Take a closer look at the rise and fall of subscription models. 

“As we’re approaching post-pandemic, we’re seeing everybody’s scaling back. “There has been an upsurge of cancellations recently that’s been affected by several external factors and dominance of the streaming industry.” – said Erica Katsambis, VP from Minna Technologies. 

The Rise and Fall of Subscription Models

The Rise

Data from Motion Picture Association say that worldwide streaming subscriptions surpassed one billion during the pandemic. The trend is attributed to people wanting at-home entertainment while locked inside their homes. 

Similar growth was seen across other subscription services, from productivity software to razor blades and meal kits. ING research found that the average European household spends €130 a month on subscription-based products and services. 

The Fall

However, the cost of living has increased. Alexander Engels of fintech Anyfin says this has allowed consumers to evaluate how many subscriptions they’ve acquired over the years.

“We’ve noticed users have accumulated a number of different subscriptions during the coronavirus outbreak. For the majority, it’s a wake-up call when they get to see what they’re paying for each month without even noticing.” – Alexander Engels. 

Katsambis agrees that rising inflation and energy prices have impacted the nature of the cancellations. For example, many have been canceling their subscription to the so-called luxury entertainment.  

Now, consumers have gotten smarter with how they manage their money. Katsambis assumes that 50 percent of people will limit themselves to one streaming subscription service at a time. In addition, managing subscriptions well is one way of reducing spending habit-related stress. 

The Future

The increase in cancellations doesn’t always seem that way, says Katsambis. She attributes Netflix’s sudden flip to price hikes due to trying to keep up with production costs. This likely caused spontaneous customer decisions, Katsambis said.

She considers them the lost, the confused, and the angry. Katsambis believes that the angry group has canceled immediately as soon as they’ve seen the price increase. But a few days later, they are calling back to re-subscribe to their service because they realize they want to watch the newly-launched series release.

Engels says consumers are pickier but predicts that subscriptions will continue to rise. Meanwhile, Alexandre Louisy, co-founder and CEO of Upflow, says that subscriptions will remain. 

Louisy says subscriptions are undoubtedly the future,” says Louisy. “When you think you would buy a CD in the past to listen to some music that costs them $20, they will reconsider paying for Spotify instead.  

However, to help big and small subscription companies survive, Katsambis says they need to focus on customer retention and stay in the industry. 

For instance, Minn offers other opportunities and actions to users, like comparing offers, changing plans, and canceling subscription plans.

“We provide a retention plan that’s been well received by merchants,” she says. It changes the script from” making cancellations as frictionless as possible” to “offering consumers choice and flexibility” in managing their recurring spending.

And for other stories, read more here at Owner’s Mag!

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Best Workflow Mapping Tools for Smarter Business Processes

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Workflow or process mapping remains a vital strategy for managing and optimizing daily operations in any organization. By using symbols and shapes to illustrate tasks, decisions, and processes, workflow maps help teams visualize their work and identify areas for improvement.

Today, a wide range of workflow mapping tools are available, many of them free or affordable, offering smart, fast, and collaborative ways to streamline your business. Below are the top nine workflow mapping tools to help you stay organized, efficient, and ahead of the curve.

1. MindMeister 

midmeister

MindMeister is a collaborative workflow mapping tool ideal for brainstorming and process planning. It allows real-time collaboration with customizable diagrams. However, the free version limits you to three mind maps. Upgrading unlocks unlimited maps, export options, and team features.

Key Features

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Auto-generated mind map layouts
  • Customizable themes and structure

Pricing

  • Basic – Free
  • Personal – $3.50/month
  • Pro – $5.50/month
  • Business – $8.50/month

2. GitMind

gitmind

Here’s another workflow mapping software that you can use for free. GitMind is a powerful workflow mapping tool for teams and individuals. It comes with dozens of templates and customization options for creating mind maps, flowcharts, and more. It’s compatible with browsers, Windows, and Mac, and now includes improved team collaboration options.

Features

  • Flexible shape, font, and color customization
  • Template library for quick design
  • Project sharing via link
  • Exports to multiple formats

Pricing

  • Basic – $4.08/month billed annually
  • Pro – $5.75/month billed annually
  • Ultra – $11.58/month, billed annually
  • Business – $170.00/month, billed annually (10 seats)

3. Creately

Workflow Mapping Tool creately

Creately remains a favorite workflow mapping tool for remote teams. It supports business process modeling with real-time collaboration and dozens of industry-specific templates. It works across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

Features

  • Remote collaboration and commenting
  • Industry-specific templates (marketing, engineering, etc.)
  • Works online and offline
  • Real-time syncing

Pricing

  • Personal – $5/month
  • Team – $5/month
  • Business – $89 /month
  • Enterprise – custom pricing

4. Gliffy

gliffy

Gliffy is a beginner-friendly workflow mapping tool known for its intuitive interface. It’s ideal for users who want to quickly design flowcharts and diagrams with minimal learning curve.

Features

  • Drag-and-drop design with themes
  • Version control and undo history
  • Easy sharing for social media or team collaboration

Pricing

Gliffy Diagrams for Confluence

  • Up to 10 Users – Free
  • 11-100 Users – $3.80/month per user, billed annually

Gliffy Diagrams for Jira

  • Up to 10 Users – Free
  • 11-100 Users – 3.80/month per user, billed annually

5. Visual Paradigm

Workflow Mapping Tool visual paradigm

Unlike other workflow mapping tools in our list, Visual Paradigm helps users to visualize organizational processes while enjoying IT development features. It’s a robust workflow mapping tool for IT and software development teams. It supports UML, BPMN, and SysML diagrams and includes animation features for dynamic presentations.

Features

  • Tools for Agile and enterprise modeling
  • Supports UML, BPMN, SysML
  • Diagram animations for presentations

Pricing

Subscription:

  • Modeler – $6/month
  • Standard – $19/month
  • Professional – $35/month
  • Enterprise – $89/month

Perpetual:

  • Modeler – $99/month
  • Standard – $349/month
  • Professional – $799/month
  • Enterprise – $1999/month

6. Google Drawings 

Workflow Mapping Tool google drawings

Google Drawings is a free and easy-to-use workflow mapping tool that integrates seamlessly with Google Drive. It’s ideal for basic flowcharts and diagrams without advanced features.

Features

  • Cloud-based with autosave
  • Basic shapes and connectors
  • Unlimited storage via Google Drive

Pricing

Free

7. Canva

Workflow Mapping Tool canva

Canva has evolved into a comprehensive workflow mapping tool with stunning visuals and drag-and-drop simplicity. It includes a growing collection of flowchart templates and AI design tools. Though there are a number of Canva alternatives out there, it continues to be one of the top graphic design platforms online.

Features

  • Beautiful templates for process maps
  • Upload and embed attachments
  • Team collaboration and brand kits

Pricing

  • Canva Free – $0
  • Canva Pro – $120 per year 
  • Canva for Teams –$300 per year for 3 persons

8. Cacoo

Workflow Mapping Tool cacoo

Cacoo is a real-time collaborative workflow mapping tool designed for teams. It includes multi-user editing, cloud storage, and integration with popular project management platforms.

Features

  • Simultaneous editing
  • Activity tracking
  • Exports to PNG, PDF, etc.

Pricing

  • Free 
  • Pro  – $6.00 per month 
  • Team – $6.00 per user per month, up to 1,000 users

9. Visme 

visme

Visme is a versatile workflow mapping tool that blends design and data. It allows users to build animated diagrams, infographics, and presentations with interactivity and branded design.

Features

  • Create animated and interactive process maps
  • Public, private, or password-protected content
  • Online and offline support

Pricing

  • Basic – Free 
  • Starter -$12.25/month, billed yearly
  • Pro – $24.75/month, billed yearly
  • Visme for Teams – contact sales

Final Thoughts 

Workflow mapping tools are your key to successful work management. It enables you to spot flaws quickly and, as a result, enhance your workflow processes. Also, they let you avoid mistakes, design workflows or procedures faster, and provide quality products and services. The majority of these tools can be used for free.

However, you’ll need to purchase premium subscriptions to gain full access to some of these tools. It might be best to test them out first and see if it works for your needs (check if they offer free trials) before committing to a subscrption.

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Top White Label Marketing Tools for Agencies: Our 10 Best Picks

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White labeling can be an invaluable asset to any modern business. It allows companies to save time and money while building their brand and increasing their reach. Finding the right tools to help manage your white-label marketing tasks is essential. 

Whether you’re a growing startup or a large-scale agency, these tools can help you elevate your marketing game. From building custom landing pages and automating email campaigns to tracking performance metrics in real time, the right platforms will help you streamline workflows and boost ROI with ease.

What is White Label Marketing?

White labeling is a marketing strategy that allows companies to rebrand and resell products created by other companies. These products could be software, SaaS solutions, or other digital products. White labeling is a great way to create additional revenue streams, but it can also be used to help build your brand. 

Within the context of white labeling, a “white label” product or service has been created and branded by one company but then resold (usually in a slightly modified form) by another company to look as if it had created the product itself.

Now that we’re all on the same page, here are ten white-label marketing tools you may want to explore as you build your brand.

1. OptinMonster

If you’re looking for a platform that will allow you to convert and monetize website traffic, try OptinMonster. This powerful popup tool offers websites to display pops triggered by factors such as time spent on a page, inactivity, and even how far the visitor has scrolled through. They also offer visually stunning offers that allow for customization.

Pricing: Plans range from $7 to $49 per month, billed annually.

2. ActiveCampaign 

Next on our list is ActiveCampaign – a platform that offers customer experience automation. Active Campaign provides CRM and marketing tools that allow ventures to reach prospects, nurture audiences, convert leads, and grow their market. That said, their tools make it easier to run marketing campaigns, and the automation part allows clients to save money. 

Pricing: ActiveCampaign plans range from $15 to $145 per month. 

3. DashThis

DashThis is one of the white-label marketing tools that offer automated marketing in the blink of an eye. This tool allows entrepreneurs, ventures, agencies, and freelancers to bring all the data they need into one dashboard. That said, you can connect the platform to over 34 integrations and have a custom data manager.

Pricing: The platform’s plans range from $42 to $409 per month.

4. SEMrush

SEMrush is one of the white-label marketing tools that provide marketers with capabilities to improve off-site and on-site web optimization. In addition to that, they also help clients with competitor analysis and perform keyword research, which is crucial in SEO. Though learning how to navigate the platform can take some time, it provides detailed website audits and platform requires clients.

Pricing: A pro account costs $117.33 per month, billed annually, which includes up to five projects and 500 keywords to track.

5. Whatagraph

If you’re looking for a tool to allow your marketing agency to create and send superb marketing reports in minutes, check out Whatagraph. This app builds reports from various platforms (such as Hubspot and Semrush), social networks (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), as well as Google services (Ads, Analytics, and Sheets. In addition, it allows users to plug in marketing data with over 40 native integrations.

Pricing: Their rates are not published on their website, but you can request a quote tailored to fit your needs.

6. Page One Power 

Page One Power is an awesome tool for firms looking for link-building and content services. They take pride in building links that drive search engine rankings and creating search-focused and strategic content to earn keyword rankings. In addition, clients get a project manager with whom they can consult.

Pricing: Rates for high-quality links can vary depending on the client’s niche, needs, and time period. You can access up-to-date pricing from their website. 

7. Awario

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a fly on the wall every time people talk about your business? Awario is a white-label marketing software and platform that allows clients to track the conversations about your venture. These convos include those from reviews, forums, blogs, news, videos, and of course – social media. This platform crawls more than 13 billion web pages every day, allowing you to keep track of what people are saying about your business.

Pricing: Awario’s plans range from $29 to $249 per month, billed annually. 

8. Mention

Mention allows clients to listen to their audience, monitor the web, and manage social media. With this platform, you can pinpoint important convos about your brand, including press articles, forums, review sites, and more. It also allows you to easily create, schedule, and publish social media posts in various channels.

Pricing: Plans range from $41 to $149 per month.

9. SEO PowerSuite

Last but not least on our list of white-label marketing tools is SEO PowerSuite. This is one of those tools for entrepreneurs that offers an all-in-one easy SEO toolkit that integrates backlinks, rankings, on-page SEO, and more. It also features tools for keyword research, content editing, PPC ads optimization, and backlink checkers. As a bonus, it also features an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate, even for newbies.

Pricing: You can download the app for free, but you’ll need a subscription to access premium features, starting at $29.10 per month.

10. Metrics Watch

First on our list of tools is Metrics Watch. This tool allows you to create awesome marketing reports quickly without requiring your clients to download PDF files or log into a third-party dashboard to access data. So, how do they get their reports? Simple – they receive them by email, allowing them to view the info they need straight from the email body.

This tool can integrate data from Adwords, Google Analytics, Instagram, Facebook, and more, making it an efficient way to check comprehensive data.

Pricing: Their packages range from $29 to $300 per month, with a free trial included. 

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Virtual Reality Exhibit Carne Y Arena: The Refugees’ Plight

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carne y arena

In some ways, we are all familiar with the human plight of refugees and immigrants. Still, sometimes, it’s easy to turn a blind eye when we’re all preoccupied with our daily lives.

Carne y Arena, an immersive virtual reality experience about the human condition of immigrants and refugees, was available at KANEKO on Sept. 10, 2022. Kaneko collaborated with Emerson Collective, PHI Studio, and Legendary Entertainment to bring CARNE y ARENA to Nebraska after several sold-out runs in the United States and abroad. The exhibit pays tribute to the migrant’s border crossing in a way that emphasizes the value of being mindful of your surroundings and paying attention to what is happening around you.

It is the brainchild of Academy Award-winning author and director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Carne y Arena was the first VR experience chosen as part of the festival’s Official Selection when it debuted at the 70th Festival de Cannes in 2017. 

Iárritu said that his conversations with numerous immigrants from Latin America who managed to cross the border served as the foundation for Carne y Arena. 

“During the making of this project, I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing many Mexican and Central American refugees,” Iñárritu said in an interview shared by the Nasher Sculpture Center

The director said the refugees’ life stories “haunted” him, and so he invited some of them to collaborate with him on the project. Iñárritu says he intended to experiment with VR technology to explore the human condition and, in doing so, break the dictatorship of the frame—or the perspective within which things are observed. He wanted to claim the space to allow the observer to go through a “direct experience walking in the immigrants’ feet, under their skin, and into their hearts.”

The Interactive Experience at Carne Y Arena

carne y arena virtual reality
Image Credit: Bradley Hook on Pexels

Carne y Arena is an interactive experience so that visitors can use their hands to feel the migration process and learn about critical moments that led up to that point in a migrant’s journey.

According to the Nasher Sculpture Center, the immersive experience was a 20-minute solo journey that focuses on a multi-narrative virtual reality sequence. In fact, it’s based on true accounts as reenacted by Central American and Mexican refugees. That said, the lines between subject and bystander are blurred and are bound together through the state-of-the-art immersive tech. Just as visitors walk through a vast, sand-filled space, they witness a fragment of a refugee’s personal journey.

Docubase also described the virtual experience in detail. According to their account, there were three sections available during the experience. Participants left their shoes and other things in a locker in the “detention room”. After donning a headset, headphones, and a backpack device, participants entered a sand-filled, dark, and spacious area where they experienced a 6.5-minute virtual reality scenario that took them to the Chihuahuan Desert. Participants in the VR experience joined a group of migrants escorted by a coyote across the border into the US. In a different chamber, a video art installation reflected the experiences of migrants and refugees who fled El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, making up the third part of the experience.

Throughout the run of Carne y Arena, virtual and live programming took place, with additional community partners presenting content and events related to their exhibitions and programs. The exhibit areas were designed to allow only one person at a time to move through them, limiting encounters and respecting distances safely and comfortably.

Kaneko also mentioned that the exhibit was unsuitable for minors under 13.

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