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Parker Beck on the Future of Social Media and Cannabis Marketing

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How did you get into the social media business?

While in high school, I noticed fellow students blowing up their personal Instagram accounts to over 100k followers using unique growth tactics. I was fascinated by how they were able to grow their pages to such massive followings so quickly. In my freshman year of college, one of my baseball teammates explained how he was making money running largely followed Twitter accounts. Soon after, I purchased my first account called Every Day Baseball. From there, I bought many more Twitter accounts, created some from zero followers and eventually in 2016 got into running Instagram accounts.

Being in the social media business seems like an ideal lifestyle to many people. What advice you would give to those looking to get into the industry?

Like most things in life, if it was easy, everyone would do it. Being in the social media business, especially in the cannabis niche, there is a lot of stress that comes with the job. Social media isn’t a 9-5 job and it doesn’t take a day off. You should be prepared to work on holidays and weekends. You need to post every day and constantly create new content that fits the current trends and what your followers want to see. Being in the cannabis niche on social media, there is the persistent fear in the back of your mind that you will wake up one day and find your accounts have been suspended. At any point, your largest and most profitable account can be taken away from you by Instagram or Twitter for violating their terms of service. My advice is to never get comfortable in the social media business and don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Push yourself to learn new skills and be prepared to adapt to any changes the social platforms put out. Put yourself in a position to be a valuable asset if one day you suddenly do lose your accounts.

When it comes to marketing cannabis companies and their products, what restrictions do you face and how are you able to legally promote them?

Marketing cannabis companies has proven to be a very difficult challenge. Despite many states having both legal recreational and medical marijuana, it is still a federally controlled substance labeled as a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA along with heroin in the same category. Companies are not allowed to pay Facebook to run ads so that is where I come in. I use subtle marketing techniques to promote these companies products on social platforms without violating their terms of service. One example of this: if a company is looking to promote a smoking device such as a water pipe or vape, I will incorporate their product into a picture, trending meme format or use a general meme format to work the brands name into the punchline. When it comes to a company that sells the flower directly, that is when the marketing becomes increasingly difficult because it can quickly violate the terms of service of posting an illegal substance and get your account suspended.

Where do you see social media heading in the next few years? What platforms do you see fading out with others thriving?

From my experience, I think there is going to be a shakeup in the meme pages and formats currently being used. I feel at a certain point, people are going to get tired of seeing the same old format of a picture with a caption above it. A new format will start to emerge and page owners who adapt and adjust will be the ones who continue to thrive. Social media is so fast paced now, something can be trending for a few days and just as quickly become a dead format. Although Facebook is not the preferred social media of millennials, I don’t see the platform going anywhere. Twitter is the biggest platform in danger of losing its relevancy in the coming years. It has remained a popular platform because information is relayed in real time. But as someone who has been on the platform for 9 years and seen the changes they have made, I don’t have confidence in the people running the platform to keep up with the other major companies like Facebook. They will still be a very popular platform because it’s the most convient platform to quickly convey a message to the masses. TikTok will be the biggest platform to continue to blow up. It is still in its early stages when it comes to a social platform but it’s the platform that Vine should have become with options of long and short form videos, as well as tailored feeds to the viewers interests.

What do you see for the future of cannabis marketing on social media?

I anticipate within the next 5 years, states will continue to pass bills for legalization and decriminalization of marijuana both on the state and federal levels. With states and the federal government both struggling with the lasting effects of the coronavirus, the taxation of cannabis will become increasingly appealing. It is very important for those who want to push for legalization to contact their elected officials and do their research on provisions that will be on their ballots in the 2020 election cycle. With legalization, cannabis should be treated like alcohol when it comes to promotion on social platforms. There should be restrictions on how you can market the product and what age groups you are allowed to target. This will also open up the flood gates for influencers to be able to safely promote their favorite cannabis brands without the fear of getting suspended.

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Lifestyle

How To Combine Astrology With Self-Care Rituals To Enhance Daily Living

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Self-care looks different for everyone. And it could look different day by day. Sometimes you just need meditation or journaling or a grounding ritual. Sometimes you need movement. Sometimes you need more rest. Have you ever wondered why it’s different day-by-day and why you can’t seem to “stick” to something?

Most of us know something about Western astrology, but have you ever heard of Vedic astrology (Jyotish)? Vedic astrology focuses on your moon sign (which may differ from your Western astrological chart), planetary transits, and Dasha period. These three areas shape how you feel, act, and process emotions every day. 

The time management app align27 doesn’t just focus on your typical horoscope. It gives you a personalized Vedic birth chart and a daily favorability forecast based on planetary influences. It uses a simple yet powerful stoplight system — green for favorable times, yellow for neutral, and red for moments when it’s best to slow down — to help you navigate each day with intention.

Why Vedic astrology and self-care go hand in hand

Ever have days where everything flows effortlessly and others where nothing seems to go right? That’s not random — it’s the influence of the planets at play. Vedic astrology teaches that planetary transits and periods, and the Moon’s placement each day all impact your energy. 

By understanding these influences, align27 customizes your self-care rituals to work with the planetary energies rather than against them. The result? A self-care routine that feels more natural, restorative, and in harmony with your personal astrology. 

How to align self-care with align27

1. Follow your moon sign for emotional well-being

In Vedic astrology, your Moon sign reveals how you process emotions, handle stress, and recharge. The align27 app provides real-time insights into your Moon sign’s current state, helping you plan self-care that supports your well-being.

  • Fire Moons (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): align27 will highlight action-oriented times, which are perfect for movement-based self-care like yoga, walking, or a workout.
  • Earth Moons (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Your best self-care moments often fall during grounding planetary periods. The align27 app helps you time activities like cooking, gardening, or Ayurvedic oil massages.
  • Air Moons (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Mental stimulation is key for you. Use align27’s favorable green time slots to plan journaling, reading, or creative work.
  • Water Moons (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional balance is crucial; align27 suggests introspective yellow periods during which self-care like meditation, breathwork, or music therapy can help you reset.

By checking your daily Moon sign insights in align27, you can sync your self-care with your emotional energy instead of forcing routines that don’t feel right.

2. Sync with planetary transits for daily rituals

Planetary movements in Vedic astrology directly influence your daily energy. Instead of following the same self-care routine every day, use the align27 app to check which planets are strongest and which ones need balancing.

  • Green periods: Ideal for action — schedule workouts, deep work, or personal projects. 
  • Yellow periods: Best for reflection — meditation, light reading, or connecting with loved ones.
  • Red periods: Time to pause — prioritize self-care, avoid big decisions, and rest.

For example:

  • If align27 shows a red period under Mercury’s influence, it’s a sign to unplug from tech and practice silence (Mauna) instead.
  • A green period during a Moon transit suggests a great time for emotional processing through journaling or spiritual rituals.
  • If Saturn is active, align27 might recommend structured self-care, like a disciplined yoga practice or fasting.

The daily timing feature of align27 takes the guesswork out of self-care, helping you plan around when the universe is actually working with you, not against you.

3. Use your Venus sign for beauty and self-love rituals

In Vedic astrology, Venus (Shukra) represents luxury, pleasure, and how you experience beauty. But your Venus sign in your birth chart tells you what kind of self-care truly nourishes your soul.

  • Venus in Fire Signs: You love bold, energizing self-care. Ayurvedic herbal treatments, bright colors, and invigorating scents like sandalwood or saffron uplift your energy.
  • Venus in Earth Signs: You prefer high-quality, natural self-care. Organic skincare, silk bedding, and nourishing food rituals align with your Venus energy.
  • Venus in Air Signs: You thrive on social and intellectual beauty. Try mantra recitation, decorating your space with art, or engaging in deep conversations.
  • Venus in Water Signs: You need emotionally fulfilling self-care. Essential oil baths, soft textures, and music therapy create a calming atmosphere.

4. Strengthen your planetary weaknesses through rituals

Each planet in your birth chart has strengths and weaknesses based on its placement. You can balance planetary imbalances through specific self-care rituals:

  • Weakened moon? Drink warm milk with cardamom, wear white, and meditate under the full Moon.
  • Struggling with Rahu energy? Reduce digital distractions, light camphor, and chant “Om Rahave Namah.”
  • Mars overactivity? Avoid spicy food, practice slow yoga, and wear cool colors like blue or white.

The align27 app personalizes these remedies based on your birth chart and daily planetary shifts.

Align your self-care with the stars

When you integrate Vedic astrology into your self-care routine, you’re not just following trends but tuning into the ancient wisdom of timing and energy alignment. Instead of forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all self-care plan, you can create rituals that genuinely support you based on the cosmic influences at play.

With tools like align27, you can easily track your best days for rest, action, and reflection — making self-care effortless and aligned with the universe. Because taking care of yourself isn’t just about doing more — it’s about doing what’s right for you, at the right time. 

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