I work in private events and the answer is definitely Facebook. Facebook ads have been better for quite some time. Targeting is a harder but also the CPCs are a lot lower so you can spray and pray a bit more.

Thanks, we tried them before but many years have passed and things have changed. Our new Instagram campaign just bore fruit in the first hour (4 WhatsApp enquiries with $1.50 spent!), will be looking at FB also

I was intrigued to see this trending, because it seems to contradict what Google has been saying on earnings calls.

It also made me wonder if this reflects conditions for individuals / SMEs rather than large corporate accounts. And I didn’t expect the story to come out of Durban - I would’ve guessed the US.

I haven't been to Durban lately, but my understanding is that the broader SA economy has been under pressure (high unemployment, etc.), and that can hit smaller/local businesses first. So it could simply be a rough patch for your market right now.

That said, if you’re seeing campaigns picking up on other platforms, you might be onto something, at least for your niche.

Looking at your website/content: you’re selling an experience, and this seems like a product that really benefits from strong visual marketing. Make it easy for someone new to "get it" in the first 10 seconds.

Three ideas: 1) Ride local trends: build demos around what’s currently hot in SA/Durban and showcase that with the Magicpods in short, punchy videos. 2) Consider adjacent use cases: beyond magic shows, this could be compelling for advertising, especially at conventions (e.g., ICC). That might be a natural expansion path if event bookings are slowing. 3) Try Airbnb Experiences, or local platforms, like daddysdeals.co.za :-)

I think they’re really hating on ads in general, not this specific person.

I hate ads too, I understand. Currently running pi-hole and ublock simultaneously. Have to use a burner phone to see my own ads

For sure, it’s just a common conspiracy theory boogeyman from people who don’t know how ETFs work.

BlackRock Investment Stewardship (BIS) team votes even in the name of ETF holders who don't specify their preferences. There are plenty of controversies after reviews of their voting like "voted against a record 91% of all shareholder proposals — and against 93% of those focused on environmental and social issues" (2023). That's from the 2nd result in a simple web search.

Why is that controversial? Is it expected that the majority of shareholder proposals would be things that you would be criticized for not voting for? It's a bit like saying that someone voted against 91% of bills in congress. That could be good if they were bad bills!

They shouldnt be voting at all

It’s probably more likely AI will become sentient and kill us than it is desalination and clean energy are cheaper than this.

This was only a 60 year project because of politics.

They will when supplies eventually dwindle. We were saved from peak oil only by the invention/cheapening of fracking followed by the advent of horizontal drilling and unlocking of oil in shales. It's unlikely any such windfall will occur again, and even if it does that merely kicks the can down the road.

I don’t think it’s planned (car companies have been competing heavily on lifespan for decades with results) but battery lifetimes seem to already be such that it can last basically forever.

But most people replace their ICE looong before the battery dies. I’d assume the same would happen for EVs too.

Ok but then that would seem to absolve the manufacturer of liability. If you sell someone a hammer and they try to eat it the manufacturer isn’t liable for the damage.

Cool, let's ban the product and kill thousands more people than they save.

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good when good is increasing lifespans and reducing bad outcomes.

I mean, you don't ban the product, we don't do this generally. But you do make the manufacturer change their language or advertisment.

Have you ever read the book of papers that come with a CGM?

Is it defective if it tells you it may make mistakes and must be verified and then it makes a mistake?

Science is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.

Okay, but why?

Lots of nerds go to regular colleges so perhaps he’s saying he’s extra nerdy. (Though I think at this point we’re overanalyzing, the worst thing you can do to any joke.)

Yeah but if you keep analyzing it hard enough, the funniness underflows and then it's maximum funny.

I guess my question is: why is this better for me the customer than just buying them at my local supermarket? The shipping must make them very expensive, relative to my store. Are they that much better onions?

most grocers don't carry Vidalias. If they do, they sometimes mislabel them, so you don't know whether you're receiving an authentic Vidalia. Also, grocers often charge more than we do - we had a customer from California one year mention that they found some out there for $8-$10 a pound (our 10# box is $50, and that includes shipping to lower 48 usa).

Interesting. Maybe I’m just lucky, I’m in northeast Ohio and we have them regularly.

But $5/lb including shipping is not bad at all for something from the internet.