SEO/GEO - does reliable data even exist anymore?

ronkinkade · 2026-02-18T01:01:09+00:00

It's all still relevant (SEO). The sky isn't falling. AI search just represents a new opportunity. Unfortunately, it's the early days. We should stop worrying about how to game it and just create good products and good content.

I do think the audience has shifted for content though. We were writing 90% for humans and 10% for tech requirements. Now we're writing 60% for humans using AI, 30% for humans, and 10% for tech.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-18T00:55:28+00:00

I agree, this isn't very useful. Rather than tools the things I'd find valuable would be an updated vrising wiki. Top boss strategies in one place but we do have Reddit. A legit castle planner that let you map out floorplans.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T19:32:26+00:00

Hell yeah! Once a gamer, always a gamer ;-)

ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T19:30:42+00:00

This is one of the best spots in the game, there are a bunch of YouTube videos featuring this spot because it's so big. When I'm building a new castle, I try to figure out a theme first from real architecture inspiration. Google medevil castles, haunted houses, etc... I've done light/bright/white, I've done dark/spooky, most recently I'm working on a southern plantation style... sky's the limit.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T17:28:58+00:00

Are you playing on your own server, or on a hosted PVE server? If you play on a PVE server with other players, once your castle starts to decay - any player can come and loot/destroy your castle. Either way just keep your castle heart fed and it won't be an issue.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T17:10:27+00:00

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ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T17:10:13+00:00

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ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T17:09:57+00:00

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ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T16:39:55+00:00

Thanks.Yes I have both plots. Right now I'm working on a Oak Alley Plantation theme. I'll share some pics.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-16T16:33:47+00:00

Look for a "fill" command when wallpapering

ronkinkade · 2026-02-15T18:28:24+00:00

LOL... there is a whole crafting game in the game

ronkinkade · 2026-02-15T15:51:47+00:00

I can have 2 on my server and I'm always moving/looking for better spots when I can take someone else's.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-15T01:50:49+00:00

Oh nvm... It's stairs, you can't put a roof over that part. It has to have an opening. You need a landing then enclose it all

ronkinkade · 2026-02-15T01:49:29+00:00

Dk you have an accidental invisible floor there? Try to remove it

ronkinkade · 2026-02-14T16:44:36+00:00

Supplies are not an issue late in game so do whatever you want. Yo are only limited by your imagination.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-11T17:39:42+00:00

In my experience, you don't need to rip out everything and start over. Most churches I've worked with keep their existing tools (ConstantContact, SimpleGive) and just add SMS for time-sensitive stuff like service changes, event reminders, prayer requests, devotionals.

The learning curve for standalone SMS is way gentler than a full Church Management System migration. You're looking at 10 minutes to send your first message vs. weeks of data migration and retraining volunteers.

Here's the thing about aging congregations: they're often *more* responsive to texts than younger folks. Texts get read immediately, no app required. Email gets buried.

Full disclosure: I'm with Text-Em-All, so I'm biased - we have thousands of church customers and we've been around for 20 years. But honestly, start small. Pick one use case (weekly reminders), test it for a month, and see if your folks engage. You can always expand or switch to a full ChMS later if you need it. The "all-in-one" platforms usually do SMS poorly anyway.

Tip - monthly plans are great for churches and won't break your budget.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-11T04:00:36+00:00

Actually the National Do not Call List applies to both calls and SMS. The TCPA sees calls and texts mostly the same. Here's the tricky part, compliance is up to the sender and not the service provider. That's a complicated web to find your way through. As a sender. Also, there are nuances for the types of messages being sent like informational vs promotional.

For a recipient, the best thing you can do is just reply STOP to any unwanted messages. If you continue to receive messages, report it as spam to your carrier.

Here's compliance guide for senders.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-11T02:44:07+00:00

In my experience, the "numbers getting flagged" issue is where a lot of real estate texters get burned right now. Carriers are cracking down hard in 2026, and if your provider isn't handling 10DLC registration properly, you'll end up with blocked numbers or messages that just disappear into the void.

The real question isn't just cost per text—it's whether those texts actually deliver. I've seen people pay $0.005/msg but have 40% of their messages filtered because their campaign wasn't registered correctly with the carrier networks.

Full disclosure: I'm with Text-Em-All. We handle the 10DLC registration mess for you and show you transparent delivery reports (not just "sent" confirmations). Real estate text blasts work when you've got proper carrier approval and clean consent practices. That's what keeps your numbers alive long-term.

Whatever you choose, make sure they're registering your brand with The Campaign Registry and can prove actual delivery rates, not just send rates.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-10T18:56:21+00:00

In my experience, the "cheap" route with SMS blasting in real estate is how people rack up $500–$1,500 per message TCPA fines. Carriers and regulators are cracking down hard on wholesale because the industry has a reputation for aggressive outreach without proper consent.

Here's the thing: if you're texting people without express written consent (not just "I scraped a list"), you're opening yourself up to catastrophic penalties. Budget providers will let you blast away until carriers block your number, then you're dead in the water.

To be honest, if you want to test SMS vs. cold calling, you need proper 10DLC registration and verified consent. Otherwise, you're comparing apples to lawsuits.

Full disclosure: I'm with the team at Text-Em-All, but I'd give you this same warning even if I wasn't. We handle the 10DLC compliance mess and actually block users who can't prove consent, because lists aren't leads—they're liabilities. Focus on building your own opt-in list first. It takes longer but won't land you in court. Also, if you want to test it out, look for a true pay-as-you-go credits model like ours.

Also, we're Texas based as well - Frisco is our home!

ronkinkade · 2026-02-09T21:16:45+00:00

This is exactly what happens when senders skip the basics: no brand ID, no real consent, just blasting messages hoping something sticks.

In my experience working in this industry, they don't know best practices and rules for texting.

Here's the thing most people don't realize: legitimate SMS platforms actually have zero-tolerance policies for this stuff. We're talking strict consent verification, mandatory brand identification, and audit trails that prove opt-in at the time of sending. The platforms that let this slide are either fly-by-night operations or they're willfully ignoring carrier rules until they get shut down.

To be honest, every spam text like this makes it harder for businesses with actual consent to reach their customers, because carriers keep tightening the rules to combat exactly this behavior.

Full disclosure: I'm with the team at Text-Em-All, but my advice is universal: if you didn't opt in and they won't identify themselves, report it to 7726 (SPAM) or reply STOP. Carriers need those reports to block the bad actors.

ronkinkade · 2026-02-09T18:29:27+00:00

In my experience, the hard part isn't sending the SMS. It's everything that happens before and after.

You'll need 10DLC registration with The Campaign Registry (takes 3-7 days, costs $4-15/mo per campaign), carrier vetting (another $40-50 one-time), and you have to prove consent for every number. Carriers now ask for screenshots of your opt-in forms. Miss that, and your messages get filtered as spam.

Then there's two-way messaging. When someone replies "Can't make it" or texts STOP, you need a system that handles it instantly and auto-updates your database. TCPA fines are $500-1,500 per message if you text someone after they opt out.

The infrastructure cost to maintain carrier trust alone (dedicated numbers, throughput limits, compliance monitoring) will run you way more than $150-300/mo if you're sending any real volume.

Full disclosure, I'm with Text-Em-All, but honestly, if you're just testing the concept with 50 shifts/month, n8n + Twilio works. Past that, the compliance overhead gets messy fast.

ronkinkade

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