Posts Tagged ‘Internet marketing’

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3 tricks for repurposing content

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

I generate a ton of content!

Michael Angelo Caruso's info productsYou may know that I produce a bi-monthly newsletter, post three blogs a week, and maintain multiple accounts on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.

I also conduct monthly teleseminars, post tons of video on my YouTube and Vimeo channels and have created over 75 information products.

People often ask me how I get it all done.  Sometimes I wonder, too!


My favorite magic trick

One of my “tricks” involves repurposing content.  It’s a useful technique for anyone who works as a leader or supervisor, salesperson, customer service rep or whatever.

When you repurpose your great content, your information becomes accessible to more people in more convenient ways.  When your relevant content shows up in multiple places, YOU become more familiar, and people start thinking of you as an industry expert.  Pretty cool!

Do you ever give presentations?  Here are three easy ways to make your talk available in different modalities:

1) Record your live presentation with a digital recorder like those sold at Radio Shack. Then, import the sound file to a free audio editing program such as “Audacity” and burn audio CDs to giveaway or sell.

2) Record a three-minute highlight of your speech with a Flip video camera and post the clip on YouTube. Be sure to display your Web site on the “bottom third” of the screen to drive traffic to your Web site.

3) Publish an e-book version of your speech. Use voice recognition software to create a transcript or keystroke the speech into a Word doc (if you use a PC) and convert the document into a .pdf.

Oh, and congratulations! When you do #3, you’ll officially be a published author!


Churn out your own info products

For dozens of more tips on this subject and to generate a passive revenue stream for yourself, listen to my 60-minute audio CD, How to Create Info Products.  It comes with a 30-page e-book, too!

Thanks for your interest in self-improvement.  Now go repurpose some of your great content!

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

5 reasons to blog–even if nobody reads it

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso blogging Internet marketingMost people haven’t figured out blogging, yet. That’s because blogging, that is writing, is a discipline like playing the trumpet or flying an airplane.  Or juggling.  It takes time and effort to make it worthwhile.  It also helps to be motivated, which usually happens when one is a little knowledgeable about the discipline.

Here are 5 reasons to blog, even if nobody reads it, followed by a chance for you to learn more from a soccer mom I interviewed who now gets paid to blog for other people.

1.  Search perks. Internet search engines love fresh content.  Since blogs, especially WordPress blogs, are easily updated your company is more likely to be found even if you create a blog post once per week.   Blogs are the new Web sites.

2.  Perpetual value. Time and again, I am contacted by people who tell me they read an old blog post and liked what I had to say.  Some of these folks turn into customers.  Your blog content keeps working for you year after year!

3.  Drip marketing. Periodic blog posts are a great way to keep in touch.  People will never forget about you because they are always being reminded.  Rig your social media sites to automatically post blog articles.

4.  Virtual salesperson. SAP advertises training services in a sidebar on its blog.  Wegmans grocery store blogs about recipes that use their food products.

5.  Massive public relations reach. If your blog is consistently good, you may get picked up by an aggregation service.  When this happens, your lil’ ol’ blog could be read by hundreds of thousands of people!

________

Paula Parisot

Soccer mom and paid blogger, Paula Parisot

A while back, I interviewed Paula Parisot, a soccer mom who now gets paid for blogging.  A non-techie by her own admission, Paula talks about how she does it and shares valuable tips on how you can get started doing the same.  That is, unless you can’t use the money.  Learn more Blogging for Profit by listening to this fun CD.

It was fun interviewing Paula.  She takes a “real-world” approach to things and I think you’ll like her!

-Michael Angelo Caruso

Royal Oak, Michigan

Facebook is not Internet marketing

Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso Internet marketing facebook, linked, twitter, social mediaSo you’re spending hours on Facebook (FB) building a “brand” so you can earn “extra revenue” that will allow you to “retire.”

Let’s be serious.

If you’re marketing on Facebook but not on Twitter (TW), you’re wasting your time.  Why?  Because the Internet works in the aggregate, that’s why.

A healthy Facebook following means little compared to a healthy following on the Big Three social media platforms–FB, TW, and Linkedin (LI), with a YouTube presence added to the mix.

Each of these platforms offers something special to the branding process, more colors, if you will.  You wouldn’t fill your wardrobe with only navy blue shirts and pants, would you?

Twitter, for example, is more important than Facebook and Linkedin combined, for example, because search engines such as Google crawl individual tweets.  This is extremely important to driving traffic to your Web site!

Essentially, we’re talking about doing things that drive traffic to your Web site and money to your bank account.  This is done by systematically developing your brand using important, albeit inexpensive web online platforms, so beware of “social media experts”  who only want to help you with Facebook because “that’s all you need.”

Here are two training options that I offer clients–

Package #1:  Substantial Social Media Platform within 90 days

Facebook is the New White Pages

Facebook tutuorialSocial media can help your biz when you use it as a system; how FB, LI and TW are alike and different; growing your lists; how to protect your name online; valuable photo tips; the best ways to draw people in; add 100 qualified friends in a flash; arrange for your FB posts to go to Twitter at the same time; use the “Notes” tab to provide more content; use Michael’s proven strategies for micro-blogging; improve dialog with your FB connections; answers to your questions, unlimited e-mail access to Michael for 90 days

Linkedin is the New Yellow Pages

How to maximize cyber-introductions; LI’s best (hidden) feature; beef up your presence on Linkedin by adding 75 qualified connections within 30 days; arrange five more key Recommendations on Linkedin; clever ways to re-purpose those testimonials; the power of LI groups; how to use LI polls to test-market ideas; answers to your questions, unlimited e-mail access to Michael for 90 days

Twitter, Video Marketing and How They Work Together

Using Twitter as “defensive marketing;” connect your social media platforms; employ the awesome power of video marketing; why Twitter is more important than FB and LI combined; establish a Twitter presence right away by adding 100 additional connections; improve your Twitter page background and readability; integrate your social media marketing with your regular distribution list; answers to your questions, unlimited e-mail access to Michael for 90 days

You’ll receive an occasional easy “homework” assignment from me to ensure gradual progress and success.

Bonuses

Package #1 includes all the above content, plus . . .

-  Four of my audio CDs on this subject ($99 value)

-  I’ll spend time with you to explain things

-  Unlimited e-mails with Michael for 90 days

Investment for Package #1

$ 975.00 if I teach you do it;   $ 1,750.00 if I help you do it;    $2,500 if I do it all; (designed to pay for itself in 90 days)

As with all of my products and services, you will get much more than you pay for.

Package #2:  Comprehensive Internet Marketing Campaign

Including, Social Media Platform within 90 days, video marketing, establish an e-newsletter and a blog

-  All of the content in consulting Package #1, plus . . .

Social Media strategies redux

-  Create one or two videos for YouTube

-  Set up Twitter to automatically post to Facebook

-  Set up your blog to automatically post to Facebook

-  Show how to re-purpose content on Facebook

-  Arrange five more key Recommendations on Linkedin

-  Integrate your social media marketing with your regular distribution list

E-mail marketing tutorial

- Strengthen your distribution list

- Get best practices for sending bulk e-mail

- Create the perfect e-mail

- Publish an e-newsletter, quickly and easily

- Improve deliverability, open rate, read rate of your bulk e-mails

- Improve your Click-Thru-Rate (CTR)

- Avoid spam filters

Web site tips and efficiency tricks

- Site evaluation and suggestions for easy changes that yield big results

- Re-identify your most important keywords

- Recommend a new vendor, if necessary

- Use your Web site to collect e-mail addresses

Video marketing thrust

- Explain the concept and Michael’s easy, non-technical methodology

- Create one or two videos for YouTube

- Upload videos to Vimeo, Facebook

- Send video links in e-mails and e-newsletters

Blogging power

- Blogs are better than Web sites; post twice a week

- How to never run out of content

- Set up your blog to automatically post to Facebook

- Show how to re-purpose content through article marketing

- Use blog to establish external links (Google LOVES external links)

Bonuses

Package #2 includes all of the above, plus . . .

-  Four of my audio CDs on this subject ($99 value)

-  I’ll spend time with you to explain things

-  Unlimited e-mails with Michael for 180 days

Triple Your Income, 6 CDs on how to get paid for speaking, writing, and consulting ($250 value)

-  I will comp you to as many of my speaking events as I can (priceless)

Investment for Package #2

$2,900 if I teach you do it;  $3,500 if I help you do it;  $4,900 if I do it all; (designed to pay for itself in 180 days)

As with all of my products and services, you will get much more than you pay for.

Testimonials

Dr. steven ringler“Michael Angelo Caruso helped improve my business’s Internet presence in a very short time.   I highly recommend him for your online marketing needs.  This guy really delivers!”       -Dr. Steven Ringler, Plastic Surgeon, Grand Rapids, Michigan, www.stevenringlermd.com

“Michael Angelo Caruso is a wonderful teacher!  He is currently working with me to build my business through Internet marketing.  He’s also a patient man; I’ve needed my hand held on more than one occasion.  Along with his integrity comes humor.”   –Joni Johnson, Co-owner, www.instafirmbodywrap.com, Troy, Michigan


Summary

Michael Angelo Caruso internet marketing So, however you decide to handle social media marketing, be sure to be involved with
The Big Three and not just Facebook.

If you’d like my help, choose from one of the above two training options and let me know what you decide. Call me right away and I will personally congratulate you before we set up our first official call.

Take your company or organization to new heights using my proven techniques for systematic, online branding by using inexpensive social media instead of expensive advertising campaigns!

What do you think?

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan  248-224-9667

I can finally recommend a credit card processor!

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

I just interviewed Bill Pirtle, my new bff, on how to save money with credit card processing.

He’s my new best friend because he showed me how to save a bunch of money on my monthly credit card processing statement.

Let’s review:  Bill Pirtle showed me how to save money on my MONTHLY statement, which I receive every 30 days, 12 MONTHS per year, EVERY YEAR that I own a business (the rest of my life).  That’s a lotta green.

Consider that I sell over 75 information products and have people all over the country register for my live training events via credit card payment.

Bill first got my attention when he pointed out that I didn’t need to pay a $175 annual PCI fee.  His company doesn’t charge anything for this!

Then I read his terrific book, Navigating Through the Risks of Credit Card Processing.

You can reach Bill Pirtle via most social media platforms and at 734-272-6177.

Here are some highlights from the interview, which will soon be available on audio CD through www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com.

Q:  What is one of the biggest mistake business owners make when signing with a credit card processor?
A:  When they focus on the rate alone.

Q:  What’s wrong with focusing on the rate?
A:  Many processing agents use a “teaser” rate to get you to sign while placing up to 40 other fee types into the contract. These fees include transaction fees, authorization fees, batch fees, AVS fees, statement fees, annual fees, PCI Fees and some are even adding something called an “IRS Reporting fee”.

Q:  How can merchants tell if they need a review of their processing?
A:  There are several signs including:  unexplained fees and surcharges on most of your transactions.

Add all of your fees from each section of your statement divide total by net sales and then multiply by 100. This gives the effective rate, the percentage of your sales that you pay in fees. If fees higher than you thought you should be paying, you need a review.

Q:  True or false, reductions in rate are always best way to save money?
A:  False!  Reviewing a contract is more than reviewing rates. It is to review the policies and procedures of processing credit cards. Finding cause of non-qualified transactions and correcting can reduce fees several times more than just changing rates.

Q:  Besides rates, what is something business owners need to know?
A:  There is no such thing as a free terminal. A “free” terminal will result in added fees somewhere in the contract.

Bill’s special offer

If you share your complicated, hard-to-read credit card processing statement with him, he will show you how to save money within 6 minutes.  This valuable assessment normally costs $99, but it’s available to you at no charge if you mention my name to Bill when you call him at 734-272-6177.

Finally, I can heartily and enthusiastically recommend a credit card processing vendor!

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

How to rework content for your blog

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

Blogging articlesWhen posting an article to your blog or creating other content for your company’s Internet presence, it’s best to do your own writing.

But, if your writing skills aren’t the best, you can also rework articles that have already been published.  When doing so, make every effort to avoid two things:

1) Plagiarism, which is unethical. It’s just plain wrong to use claim credit for someone else’s work.  This includes the despicable act of  anonymously posting articles–as if the pieces wrote themselves!

2)  Duplicate content. Google and other search engines notice when you post duplicate content and will penalize you with lower search rankings.

Here are some guidelines for reworking articles written by others.

Be sure to change the other writer’s article at least 70%.  You can do this by rearranging the paragraphs and sentences and changing the order of the bullet points.  Delete some of the material and maybe add a bit of your own.  You can also incorporate content from two or three sources.

Perhaps the best way to go about reworking an article is to put the words in your own voice.  For example, don’t keep words you would never use in conversation.

A second way to rewrite is to simply delete awkward phrasing, sentence fragments, convoluted sentences, and other nonsense.  Most people tend to overwrite, so it will be easier to make your revised article shorter, just by
taking out the weakest parts.

Speaking of length, you only need about 500 words for a substantial blog post.  I recently rewrote a cool article I found online, by using all the above techniques and busting the article into four blog posts.

When finished, include your favorite keywords in three places: the title, first paragraph and last paragraph before posting.

Be sure to add your contact information and attribution for the writer–you, if you followed these directions and when rewriting content.

-Michael Angelo Caruso

P.S.  Learn how a soccer Mom named, Paula Parisot, now gets paid for blogging.  Michael interviews her on the CD, Blogging for Profit.

More great Internet marketing info (mostly original articles!) at  http://www.michaelangelocaruso.com/michael-angelo-caruso-blog/

Have a Linkedin business page, yet?

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Linkedin logoReaders always write . .  .

Here’s a great Linkedin question from  a clever guy who’s figured out how to put his business phone number into his “Name” field.  Very smart!

Michael,

Great presentation on Jan 14 in Macomb County!

Question: Even though Google doesn’t crawl LinkedIn, does a corporate website listed on a LinkedIn page still count toward adding external links to a site?

Dan Wolan, Director of Sales, Productions Plus – The Talent Shop

Dear Dan,

Hi, Dan and thanks for your kind compliment about my social media class.

Your personal LI page ranks on Google when you search your name and it will recognize your business page, as well.

However, Google does not crawl DEEP into Linkedin (LI) or, for that matter, Facebook.

Google, for example, may recognize the TITLE of the .pdf you post on Linkedin, but not the content.

Think of religion, as a metaphor.  People believe in God, but not enough to go to church every Sunday.  :-)

Class has ended, go in peace.

-Michael Angelo Caruso

P.S.  Do you have a business page on Linkedin, yet?

Article marketing – selling without selling

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

5 Cool Ideas for Article Marketing – Selling Without Selling
From www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

Here’s a great way to sell without seeming like a salesperson.  It’s called “article marketing.”

Article marketing tips with Michael Angelo CarusoThe first syllable of “article” is “art” and there is an art to creating useful content.  Article marketing is certainly more time consuming than posting a status update on your Facebook business page, but the payback can be huge.

If you can write, it’s best to create original content, but here’s how you can reconstitute info from articles written by others.

Copy/paste the content from one or two well-written articles into Notepad on your PC.  You can open the Notepad program by clicking Start/Programs/Accessories.  Notepad will strip out all the hidden code.

Copy/paste the content from Notepad into a fresh Word document.   Then, start rewriting by moving paragraphs around, reversing sentence order, and doing word substitution.  You want to change about 75% of the article to make the article your own and avoid plagiarizing.

Sometimes, it’s a good idea to retain some brilliant quote or well-turned phrase from the article you have not written.  It’s okay to do this if you provide attribution by including the author’s name, title and company or location.

Finally, it’s important to identify and include your favorite key words in in the article.  Key words, of course, will help people find your article when they search the Internet.  Make sure these key words are in three places:

a)    The title of the article
b)    The first paragraph—ideally the first sentence—of the article.
c)    The last paragraph—ideally the last sentence—of the article.

Here are 5 ways to repurpose the content of your new article and get the most from your online marketing efforts:

1)    Post the article on your Web site.
2)    Post a version of the article as a Facebook Note.
3)    Use a 140 character excerpt of the article as a status update or Tweet.
4)    Post the article on a free article depot site, such as www.EzineArticle.com
5)    Create a .pdf of the article and post it on your Linkedin page.

Articles that are written in an “evergreen” format can be reposted and reshared, if they don’t contain dated information.

Article marketing is a fantastic way to sell without selling.

_______________
Get more great marketing tips by subscribing to Michael’s free 5 Cool Ideas newsletter at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com.  You can also learn more about article marketing from Jeff Herring, who I met through the great Alex Mandossian.

This article is available for reprinting and republishing.  Simply go to http://www.michaelangelocaruso.com/contact-me/ and state your intentions.  Be sure to provide a link to Michael’s Web site when you use his content.

Social media tip from Jan 14 class, tickets still available

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Facebook fWe’re just into the New Year and everyone is thinking about ways to make 2011 even better than 2o1o.

Here’s a free Facebook tip to help you improve online marketing efforts, followed by a special invitation to a low-dough training event I’m doing with Russ Cuthrell on January 14, 2011.  (As of today, there are only 20 seats left!)

The Facebook tip involves your Info page.  The average FB user posts long, frequent messages on her wall, but skimps when posting content on her Info page.

She thinks that sending “salesy” messages and posts to FB friends will carry the day and often worries about putting too much “personal” information on her Info page.  This type of thinking is counter-intuitive and will harm Facebook marketing efforts.  Here’s why . . .

Facebook, like all pages on the Internet, functions on the existence of keywords.  The Info page is a terrific place to place keywords, but this only occurs, if you type long answers into the template!

Remember that FB uses the content on your Info page to connect you with like-minded people–the very same people who are likely to be interested in what you’re selling.  FB can do this best when you list your favorite quotations, music, books, location, etc.

You’re not giving up anything valuable like your social security or driver’s license number.  Facebook has over 40 privacy buttons to filter out any troublemakers.


If you are doing business, you need to be found online

You or your marketing person need meet with me January 14!

My friend Russ Cuthrell and I are hosting a very inexpensive event where you can learn about social media and how to get more traffic for your Web site.  This is NOT a technical program.

Mark your calendar to attend a Social Media/SEO Seminar the morning of Friday, January 14 in Clinton Township, Michigan.  It’s sponsored by the Macomb County Chamber.

Get info and register here> http://bit.ly/SocialMediaSearchJan14

Social media is simply the biggest communication breakthrough since the invention of e-mail.  Learn the inside secrets so both you and your business rock in 2011.   I will teach you valuable tricks for doing biz on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and You Tube.   My good friend, Russ, will teach you more about Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

These two strategies will bring you more tons more prospects and clients as you make more money in 2011!

This event is super inexpensive! Tickets are only $25 online or $30 at the door.  Bring/send your entire marketing team!

For info/registration, go to >   http://bit.ly/SocialMediaSearchJan14

See you on Friday, the 14th!

Happy New You,
Michael Angelo Caruso
Communication Consultant, Speaker, Author       248-224-9667

P.S.  Share this e-mail with your favorite, local, marketing person.  They will thank you!

www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com    432S. Washington, #1105   Royal Oak, MI  48067

Let’s connect on  Facebook.

Marketing must be as good as the message, Part 1 of 2

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Here’s the story of how a crappy version of a song is getting way too much attention.

Part 1 of this post covers the message, a beautiful song composed and recorded by the late Dan Fogelberg.

Part 2 of the post shows how the marketing of a message is as important as the message itself.  We’ll learn a little about Internet marketing along the way.


Marketing must be as good as the message, Part 1 of 2

Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg

Years ago, Dan Fogelberg wrote a beautiful tune about Christmas Eve and the bittersweet experience of running into an ex-lover.  The song seeps with emotion and resonates with anyone who celebrates the holidays or anyone who’s ever loved.

The melody is simple and quite repetitive, but the tune is haunting.  The arrangement features a plaintive oboe and a shimmery saxophone solo.

The song is titled, Same Auld Lang Syne.  Pretty good marketing to out the word “same” in front of the title of the annual New Year’s eve chestnut, eh?

The lyrics are special and what make the song a classic.  The story recounts love and time lost, the innocence of youth, and the throbbing emptiness of what might have been.  Just when you can’t stand it any longer, the snow  . . . turns into rain, and the sax solo buries your heart.


Same Auld Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg

Met my old lover in a grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
Stole behind her in the frozen foods
and I touched her on the sleeve

She didn’t recognize the face at first
but then her eyes flew open wide
Tried to hug me and she spilled her purse
and we laughed until we cried

Took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totaled up and bagged
stood there lost in our embarrassment
as the conversation dragged

Went to have ourselves a drink or two
but couldn’t find an open bar
Bought a six-pack at the liquor store
and we drank it in the car

We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
Tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how

She said she’d married her an architect
Kept her warm and safe and dry
She said she’d like to say she loved the man
but she didn’t want to lie

I said the years had been a friend to her
and that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn’t sure if I
Saw doubt or gratitude

She said she saw me in the record store
and that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
but the traveling was hell

We drank a toast to innocence we drank a toast to time
We’re living in our eloquence, another old lang syne

The beers were empty and our tongues grew tired
and running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
and I watched her drive away

Just for a moment I was back in school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
the snow turned into rain

The song is a great success story.  Not only was it a big hit for Fogelberg, but the tune comes back to life every holiday season. It’s a beautiful message that deserves to be heard over and over again.

In Part 2, we’ll learn how a lousy version of the song is getting tons of hits on YouTube–because it’s being marketed better than the other versions.

-Michael Angelo Caruso

Marketing must be as good as the message, Part 2 of 2

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

Dan Fogelberg has been dead for years, but Another Auld Lang Syne–his great song about New Year’s Eve and lost love–still resonates.  The lyric articulates a common sentiment for anyone who’s ever run into an former boyfriend or girlfriend.  Heck, the song resonates for anyone who’s ever experienced a lonely Christmas.

You Tube logo resized disproportionedBut in the social media age, special messages need special marketing, if they are to get attention.  Let me relate a quick story that illustrates this point.

On New Year’s Eve, I had a hankering wanted to watch a good video of the song, so I typed “dan fogelberg same auld lang syne” into the YouTube search bar and a URL like this one came up:  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dan+fogelberg+same+old+lang+syne&aq=2.

Mr. Fogelberg recorded this song many times before his death in 2007 and many of these versions have been posted on YouTube.  It’s not easy to tell what vids contain before sampling them, so I started watching.  Soon, I was paying particular attention to two clips that had a drastically different number of views, even thought they both had been posted about three years ago.

The third ranking on the search page was a live video of Dan performing Same Auld Lang Syne to a sold-out stadium.  The graphic was a low-resolution photo of Fogelberg playing the piano.  The crowd was immense and the excitement of the recording was strong, but the quality of the video was very poor.

The video had logged 859,243 views–not bad.  It received another 25,000 views as I was writing this blog post!  Here’s the #3 ranked video from the search:

The sixth ranking in the search showed a low-resolution closeup of hands on a piano.  This video had only 65,822 views, but was a much higher quality video and much more enjoyable to watch. This video had received about 5,000 more views during the time it took me to write this article.

There is a vast difference in quality, right? I think you’d agree that the second video is not the same Same Auld Lang Syne!  Yet, the crappy #3 ranked video had received over ten times as many views, mostly because rankings  at the top of searches get more attention.

Which brings us to the value of marketing.  The inferior video at the top of the search will continue to get more plays because of its title, tags, and the link is being circulated.

The better quality video will get much less attention over time, unless whoever posted the vid does a better job marketing it.

There are millions of messages out there like yours.  How you market that message will determine who sees it.  The marketing of the message is as important as the message itself.

______________

Author, Michael Angelo Caruso teaches Internet marketing at seminars and online.  More information at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

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