editor, Author at Mediastreet

In News

How to Train ChatGPT to Write Like You

September 29, 2023 No Comments

ChatGPT is useful for some tasks, but what if it sounded more like you?

ChatGPT generates remarkably human-like write-ups but lacks something important: a unique personal voice. While ChatGPT can compose thoughtful prose on any topic, the phrasing often rings hollow. To make ChatGPT truly your writing companion, you need to train it to write with your style, pacing, word choices, and tone.

Fortunately, with a few prompting techniques, you can train ChatGPT to adopt a unique writing style that matches yours.

2 Ways to Teach ChatGPT to Write Like You

To get started, we’ll assume the persona of a detail-oriented author who uses a lively, engaging tone, provides detailed, accessible explanations, make liberal use of analogies, and address the reader directly throughout their text. The author also has a knack for using analogies to explain key concepts. Here’s a sample of the author’s work.

The task is to get ChatGPT to adopt the author’s writing style. Here we have three options. We can ask ChatGPT to write in a “detail-oriented, conversational manner using a lively, engaging tone, providing detailed, accessible explanations, making liberal use of analogies, and addressing the reader directly throughout their text”—much like the author. ChatGPT will oblige, but this approach will produce unpredictable results for several reasons. For example, how frequently does the author use analogies in each write-up? How informal does the author get? Does the author use light-hearted humor?

Trying to describe your writing style to ChatGPT will make the instruction way too broad. There are ways too many details that this approach wouldn’t be able to capture, resulting in a style that might not be in tune with that of the author; creating a ChatGPT prompt to deliver this information would be a challenge.

To teach ChatGPT to write like you, you can:

Train ChatGPT with several samples of text you’ve written
Use a Personal Preference Map (PPM)

Both options require a different approach, which you can check out below.

1. Training ChatGPT With Samples of Your Work

To train ChatGPT with samples of your work, head over to ChatGPT and use the prompt below, immediately followed by a sample of your written work that best captures your writing style.

Extract the writing style in the text provided below. Please study the tone, word choice, mannerism, sentence structure, pacing, explanation style, and other stylistic elements in order to mimic this author's unique voice: [Paste the sample here]

After using the prompt above, you should get a result similar to this:

Of course, one sample might not be enough to thoroughly capture every aspect of your writing style. So, you can repeat the prompt above with three to five more samples within the same ChatGPT conversation. After iterating through the number of samples you wish to use, you can then use the prompt below to unify the extracted styles.

Unify all the extracted writing styles and present them in a clear detailed form. 
Use the tone, word choice, sentence structure, pacing, explanations, and other 
stylistic elements you have extracted from the different samples provided to 
mimic this author's unique voice. Your instruction is to write an article 
on the topic: "Topic to write goes here." Maintain the author's perspective 
and attitudes while covering new subject. Write smoothly and convincingly 
in the author's distinctive voice.

The prompt above should immediately apply a combination of all the writing styles extracted from all the samples to write whichever topic you provided in the prompt. It doesn’t have to be an article, it can be an email, a speech, an essay, jokes, or even a song.

When working with normal write-ups like blogs or articles, if you want ChatGPT to stick to the structure and style of a writing sample as much as possible, using one sample (and, to a lesser extent, two samples) seems to be much more effective. To do this, use the prompt below:

Pay attention to the tone, word choice, mannerisms, sentence structure, pacing, explanation style, and other stylistic elements in order to mimic the unique style of the author of the text below. Use the same stylistic elements to write an article on the topic: "Some article topic goes here." [Paste the sample here]

Also, for the best results, we recommend using GPT-4 and, specifically, the GPT-4 Code Interpreter plugin for the task. You’ll be able to work with more text or even, ideally, stack several articles in a text or word file and ask ChatGPT to analyze the content for its writing style.

2. Training ChatGPT Using a Personal Preference Map (PPM)

A Personal Preference Map (PPM) is a key-value list of preferences ChatGPT can use to produce responses that better align with your preference. In this case, ChatGPT can extract a PPM from written samples to learn about your writing preferences and use it to replicate your writing style on demand. If you are unfamiliar with PPM, we’ve discussed it extensively in MakeUseOf’s eBook on Unlocking the Potential of ChatGPT. It is lightweight and easy to read, so do check it out.

To use a PPM, you’ll need to first extract it before using it as a prompt whenever you have something to write. To extract a PPM from samples of your work, use the prompt below:

I want you to extract a Personal Preference Map (PPM) from the data I provide in the next prompt. Now, a PPM is a key => value pair of conditions mapped to preferences. Below are examples of key => value pairs:

Tone => sarcastic, sassy, and loving

Word choice => formal, complex

Sentence structure => mixed of short and long, mostly short

Explanation style => imagery, vivid, relatable

Only reply affirmatively if you understand the task and do nothing else. When I provide the next prompt, extract the PPM using the same logic and formatting used above. The key => value pairs should be separated using “=>” Apart from the tone, word choice, and explanation style, I want you to include 10 other stylistic elements that better capture a writing style.

Using the prompt above on this article about how Auto-GPT is different from ChatGPT, we captured several stylistic elements the author uses in the article.

Although the PPM approach is slightly more complex, it offers enormous attention to detail. While our previous method takes a more generalist approach to describing and applying an author’s style, PPM can get as detailed as possible, far more than anyone can easily discern at first glance.

Another advantage of using a PPM is the flexibility and portability it offers. You can easily tweak the writing style with precision by hanging a few words. You can also use the PPM in a different AI chatbot like Claude AI or Google Bard. We used the PPM above on the Claude AI chatbot and asked it to give it a topic to write. It was able to replicate as many of the stylistic elements used by the target author as possible.

Make ChatGPT Work for You

The beauty of ChatGPT is its versatility—with the right guidance, the AI chatbot can be taught to write in practically any style you want. If you’re tired of ChatGPT’s soulless writing style, you don’t have to settle for it. ChatGPT can do better than bland, generic outputs. With the right mix of training data, prompts, and feedback, you can transform this AI chatbot into your own writing doppelganger. Go for it.

By Maxwell Timothy

Sourced from MUO

In News

Steve Jobs Said 1 Choice We All Ignore Made All the Difference in His Life (and Led to His Success)

September 29, 2023 No Comments

By Marcel Schwantes

This one approach to life never let the icon down.

In the realm of life’s uncertainties and ever-changing paths, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, once shared a profound insight that is worth re-exploring today.

Jobs said we can’t predict how things will work out in the future; we can only understand how things fit together when we look back on our past. So, he suggested, we should trust that all our experiences will somehow lead us to good things in the end. Here’s Jobs’s original quote:

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

With this astute observation, Jobs brought us back to a fundamental truth about the unpredictability of our journey. As we navigate the twists and turns of life, we often find ourselves unsure of how to navigate the moment, challenged by ambiguity, and compelled to make decisions with no clear roadmap ahead. However, in these moments of doubt, Jobs calls us to place our trust in something greater than ourselves.

Here are some useful lessons you can take away from the tech mogul’s profound insight:

Trust your intuition (or higher power)

Sometimes our instincts lead us down paths we never knew existed, bringing us to the most unexpected yet rewarding destinations. This trust in the unseen forces of life, Jobs suggests, can lead us to a remarkable revelation — that the events of our past can form our purpose and fulfilment in the future.

Hindsight leads to better choices

Jobs emphasizes the importance of looking backward to understand how events and decisions are interconnected. By reflecting on our past experiences, we gain insights into the consequences of our actions, allowing us to make better choices in the future.

Embrace failure as a part of success

Jobs’ quote also conveys the significance of embracing failure as an integral part of success. Many times, the dots we connect are not the successes alone, but also the lessons we learn from our failures. Every setback provides an opportunity to grow and refine our approach.

Be open to the small things

Every decision, every experience, no matter how small, creates ripples that extend throughout our lives. Jobs reminds us that these seemingly insignificant dots can lead to life-altering moments and opportunities that shape our journey.

Find your why

By trusting in something, Jobs encourages us to find our why–our purpose and meaning in our lives. Whether it’s through following our passions, helping others, or pursuing a higher calling, believing in something beyond ourselves gives life a sense of direction.

Overcome fear and doubt

Often, fear and doubt can hold us back from taking risks and exploring new paths. Jobs’ advice encourages us to let go of these inhibitions, to have faith in ourselves, and to step into the unknown with confidence.

Learn resilience

Life may not always unfold as we expect, but having faith that things will work out instills resilience within us. Trusting the dots, even in difficult times, empowers us to overcome challenges and keep moving forward.

In conclusion, Steve Jobs’ insight about connecting the dots by looking backward serves as a guiding light for living a purposeful and fulfilling life. In the end, embracing trust in the face of uncertainty will play an active role in your own extraordinary life journey, leaving an indelible mark on your pursuit of success and happiness.

Feature Image Credit: Getty Images

By Marcel Schwantes

Sourced from Inc.

In News

18 Key Strategies To Design Landing Pages That Work

September 28, 2023 No Comments

Sourced from Forbes

Having a well-designed landing page is crucial for businesses to achieve their key performance indicators (KPIs) and boost their bottom line. An effective landing page can captivate visitors, convert them into leads or customers and ultimately drive revenue. However, creating an effective landing page is not merely about aesthetics; it requires a strategic approach.

Below, 18 Forbes Business Development Council members explore proven strategies to create landing pages that not only meet KPIs but also maximize conversions and contribute to the overall growth of your business.

1. Focus On Your CTA

A single, clear call-to-action (CTA) is a vital strategy for an effective landing page. This simple, direct proposition guides visitors towards conversion, improving KPIs and the bottom line. Ensure your CTA is compelling and distinct, making the next step unambiguous for maximum impact. – Tomer Warschauer Nuni, Pink Moon Studio Ltd

2. Be Consistent

Consistency is key. A landing page must have a clear call to action that aligns with the primary goal of the landing page. The “hook” has to be relevant to the goal and call to action. – Mark Clark, Modern Optical International

3. Demonstrate The Benefits To Customers

To effectively meet KPIs and increase the bottom line, your landing page needs to gain a prospect’s attention and lead them to action. Catch their attention with interactive graphics and video, but also deliver a “what’s-in-it-for-them” message—highlighting ROI, customer successes and testimonials. – Julie Thomas, ValueSelling Associates

4. Be Strategic When Choosing Your URL

An effective landing page starts with an effective, easy-to-remember URL. Think about vanity phone numbers—this would be a vanity landing page URL. Then, leverage the key pain points needed on that page so that people fill out the form or do your CTA. An easily-remembered URL, along with addressing pain points, is a win-win for all. – David Strausser, SEIDOR USA

5. Conduct A/B Testing

Create one to two landing page templates with content tailored to the audience. It’s critical to establish consistent layouts to properly A/B test which specific elements perform the best for each audience. Create messaging and value proposition “hooks” around keywords your audience searches for at each phase: education, consideration and decision. – Janet Waring, ArtForm Business Solutions, Inc.

6. Tailor Your Landing Page Strategically

We customize our landing page for some of our most strategic accounts. This means that when an individual from a strategic account visits our website, the content that they see is personalized for their company and industry. Web personalization helps create customized and unique experiences for customers and prospects rather than providing a single broad experience, helping to increase conversion. – Rakhi Voria, Procore Technologies

7. Optimize The Page For Conversions

Leveraging social proof helps alleviate visitors’ doubts or hesitations and increases the likelihood of conversion. Place these elements strategically, close to the CTA, or near critical benefits. – Lomit Patel, Tynker

8. Create Unique Pages For Adverts

Many businesses use the same landing page for all adverts. A landing page must be unique to the advert. The advert is the hook, the landing page must instantly reinforce the consumer’s decision to click on the hook by displaying the product, price and delivery, and then clearly outlining the CTA. The effectiveness of the landing page’s success hinges on its ability to match the advert. – Peter Schravemade, REACH ASEA

9. Use A ‘How To’ Headline

We lose more than half of the people who visit a landing page. The most effective way to keep them is to offer a benefit. The headline is going to be crucial. It doesn’t have to cost money, although a “get 10% off” headline works well. The “how to” headline works just as well because you are teaching customers how to solve an issue. Of course, pair the headline with a good CTA. – Bryce Welker, Crush The LSAT

10. Address Audience Pain Points

Create a single, clear and compelling CTA that is aligned with the audience and marketing messages that drive the traffic to the page. We showcase relevant and persuasive content offers that resonate with our target audience and build trust by telling their story, using their words in the copy and describing their pain point and desired outcomes as accurately as possible. – David Mattson, Sandler

11. Offer A Seamless Experience Across Devices

Combining clarity, simplicity and a seamless experience is the formula for an impactful landing page. Drive visitors to one desired action through a straightforward yet compelling page optimized for every device. But never stop testing, improving and refining to maximize results. Success comes from constant optimization through experimentation. – Abdulaziz Alnaghmoosh, Manga Productions

12. Keep It Simple

Adhere to the “keep it simple, stupid” principle, as effective landing pages should employ a good storytelling approach that includes real examples relevant to your target audience. Additionally, a clear CTA is crucial. Provide something valuable to your visitors without immediately requesting customer data, and aim to pique their curiosity enough to encourage them to take the next step. – Gregory Lipich, InfoSec Global

13. Improve The Guest Experience

In the hospitality space, a property’s website is often the first place consumers look for information. To drive bookings, meet KPIs and boost ROI, it’s important to center your webpage design around improving the guest experience. Mobile-friendliness, simple navigation, prominent CTAs and user-generated content are all important components to consider. – Frederic Dominioni, Solonis

14. Add Interactive Storytelling

Instead of presenting your site pages as usual, you can add things like animations, interactive graphics, videos and even mini-games. By doing interactive storytelling, you stand out and become memorable to your visitors. In the process, you drive higher engagement and conversions. However, always keep it simple. Don’t add clutter. – Wayne Elsey, The Funds2Orgs Group

15. Highlight Customer Testimonials

By incorporating compelling testimonials and positive reviews on your landing page, you can leverage the power of social proof to establish trust and credibility with your audience. This trust increases the likelihood of conversions and helps you meet your KPIs, ultimately driving the desired bottom-line results. – Kane Carpenter, Daggerfinn

16. Be Clear

A successful strategy for designing an effective landing page is to focus on clarity and simplicity. The headline should immediately communicate the value proposition, and the design should guide visitors toward a single, clear CTA. Engaging visuals, concise copy and social proof can build trust. This keeps users engaged, leads to higher conversion rates and increases the bottom line. – James Mull, htmull

17. Demonstrate Your Value

A key strategy is to spotlight how your solution tackles the visitor’s challenges. Back this with testimonials and case studies. Clearly articulate your value proposition and how it solves their problem. A precise CTA invites engagement with the solution, drives conversions and boosts the bottom line. – Michael Fritsch, UST Xpanxion

18. Intrigue Your Audience

Effective landing pages really are an art. It takes constant testing and changes even if they are ever so slight and based on engagement. It should begin with best practices such as ensuring it is a simple read that intrigues the reader and incorporates multiple CTAs that allow for conversion. If you use visuals, make sure they are pertinent to the offer and don’t overwhelm the reader. – Richard Lindhorn, VivoAquatics Inc.

Feature Image Credit: getty

Sourced from Forbes

In News

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough for Three Well-known Brands Elevating Their Marketing

September 28, 2023 No Comments

By Rosemary Feitelberg

Innovative marketing is no easy task, but Vuarnet, Fire + Ice and The North Face are inhaling some mountain air to get there.

The health benefits of forest bathing have been detailed in recent years. But three outdoors-friendly brands are focusing on the greater heights of mountains to entice consumers and authenticate their marketing.

Vuarnet, Fire + Ice and The North Face have used some ingenuity and extreme adventurers to portray their respective brands in new lights and welcome new customers. Connecting with little-known mountain ranchers, outfitting a K2 climber and his team and creating AI-generated reasons to explore nature are among the ways these three companies are reinforcing their respective messages.

With a French alpine heritage that has been stretched to other mountainous regions of the world, Vuarnet presented more than climbers, hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts in its spring 2024 campaign. For the latest Vuarnet Fellowship Expedition, creative director Boramy Viguier was keen to meet mountain guides, farmers, shepherds, ranchers, forest rangers, rescuers, biologists and vulcanologists.

“Those laborers of the mountains fully belong to this community and more globally to the outdoor culture. They surely deserve, as any athlete or alpinist, to be equipped with the best protection. They spend most of their time in nature, sometimes in the most remote and exposed places.” he said via email.

The spring 2024 look book features images of not just the athletic people that Vuarnet equips, but also forest patrol officers, biologists and scientists. ”I feel they are high level mountaineers too. By working in the mountains. They are very much in the environment,” the creative director said.

Another outdoors-oriented brand, Fire + Ice, has been going to new heights — literally. The snowboard and skiwear label that is owned by Bogner has supported Willi Steindl on a K2 expedition, providing the accomplished climber with high-performance Fire + Ice attire and tracking his progress on the brand’s site. Steindl’s Instagram also gives followers play-by-play lessons about the challenge of trekking up 8,611 meters.

Rather than magnify the products side of his apparel choices, Fire + Ice breaks down some of the challenges that such achievements take. More than halfway done at Camp 2 at 6,700 meters, Steindl said his first impression of the mountain of mountains, which is called “The Savage Mountain,” was that this nickname is not without reason. “The mountain shows you that you’re not welcome.”

Online visitors learn how the altitude induces headaches, loss of appetite, freezing, coughing and heart palpitations. “You have every symptom that you don’t want to have, but the body has to adapt to the conditions,” he explained online, adding that the 1,800-meter descent from Camp 2 to K2 basecamp — an acclimation rotation — enables the body to recover.

Steindl has ascended 8,000-meter mountains before, having hiked up Mount Everest last year. He is plugging Fire + Ice on his Instagram and has been posting footage of the icy wonders that he has been encountering.

He and his team are pioneering a new route from Base Camp 4 to the summit for this year’s expedition to try to avoid what is known as “The Bottleneck.” That arduous 100-meter stretch in the final approach has a 90 percent sloping overhang surrounded by glacier towers that can collapse at any time. The new route is considerably more demanding technically to master, but it eliminates The Bottleneck.

The North Face also developed an industrious marketing effort with the independent creative agency Fred & Farid Shanghai to create an AI-generated campaign titled “TNF 1,000 Reasons to Get Back to Trail.” The campaign showed the potential of AI to transform 100 reasons into 10,000 motivations to get back to nature.

This spring the campaign debuted on social media in mainland China, and then it appeared during the TNF100 Ultra Marathon that was held at Mount Mogan or Moganshan, a mountain that is located in Deqing County, which is about 200 kilometers from Shanghai. The ultramarathon winner Shēn jiā sheng covered the 100 kilometer distance in 11 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds. The film is still accessible on Weibo and WeChat. The North Face plans to use it soon in a few other activations,, according to a spokeswoman, who did not specify what those will entail.

Feature Image Credit: The North Face. Ultramarathoners at the start of a 100km trail race sponsored by The North Face at Mount Mogan in China.

By Rosemary Feitelberg

Sourced from WWD

In News

How To Work With Your Media Buying Agency On A Performance-Based Model

September 27, 2023 No Comments

By Mustafa Saeed

There’s a hidden back door in the agency world that allows you to avoid retainer fees for a completely performance-based model. Imagine only having to pay your agency for every sale they generate for your business. This is called media buying arbitrage.

Explaining Media Buying Arbitrage

Let’s say you can afford to pay $75 to acquire a customer for your business. This factors in the value you expect to receive from each customer acquired, minus your costs. Whether you’re running ads on Meta, TikTok, Google, Pinterest or elsewhere, the money you pay for every customer acquired will depend on your agency’s performance, your ability to provide them with what is needed to perform, and external factors.

Media buying arbitrage allows you to pay a flat performance fee of $75 for every customer they acquire for you. If the agency isn’t successful in acquiring customers, you pay nothing. If they are successful in achieving profitability—say you’re paying them $75 for every customer acquired, but they’re acquiring customers at $55—they’re able to arbitrage the difference to make their profit and scale volume with the campaign.

Compared To Traditional Agencies

Not having to pay a retainer means having the flexibility to work with multiple agencies at a time. No agency is best at everything—there are so many traffic sources to advertise on—and it’s more common for agencies to have a few core areas of expertise. Being able to work with multiple channel experts as opposed to one that proclaims to be an expert in everything can be a massive advantage.

This lets you test much quicker, allowing you to gain learnings about what messaging, creative, landing pages and traffic sources resonate with your customers and most cost-effectively generate revenue. Being able to rely on multiple traffic sources is another advantage in itself, making you less risk-prone. If one channel goes down, you’ll have multiple others to rely on for consistent revenue.

The static nature of the performance fee can make your business less susceptible to seasonal fluctuations and provide cost consistency related to customer acquisition.

Benefits To The Agency

The agency isn’t necessarily getting the short end of the stick in this arrangement either. Many agencies actually prefer performance-based relationships. For one, they can work with a much larger number of brands. Since they’re only being paid to perform, these agencies test campaigns quickly and often to find their next profitable campaign.

There’s also a mutual responsibility between the brand and agency that’s created with performance-based partnerships. Building a successful agency relationship is a collaborative effort. Your agency will need your help to provide product knowledge, category insights, historical data, decision-making authority and more. When you’re paying several thousand a month in retainer fees, it may feel like the agency is winning in this arrangement no matter how they perform. Accordingly, more of the onus tends to be put on the agency. When it’s performance-based, everyone is incentivized with the goal to generate new customer acquisition.

Limitations To Consider

As quickly as a media buyer can start a campaign, they can end it just as fast, especially if they don’t see a quick path to profitability. Finding partners that will take the time to learn, iterate and test until they reach their winner are hard to come by. Without the cushion of a monthly retainer paying the bills, they can only lose so much of their own money to make your business work.

Test budgets and loss pools are popular ways of mitigating large upfront losses. This consists of paying the agency to cover advertising budgets for initial testing or covering losses up to a pre-agreed-upon amount. This is especially important for traffic sources, landing pages or products that are new or untested. This gives the agency the ability to gather initial data to identify opportunities to optimize and scale the campaign.

Although your agency may be incentivized to generate sales for your business, the quality of those sales should also be taken into account. It’s important to set traffic quality expectations before activating a new agency. This includes continuous monitoring of average order values, order cancellations and adverse customer responses.

How To Leverage Arbitrage Relationships

You can find agencies and media buyers to work with on performance-based networks. Many of these networks are segmented by vertical, with health and wellness, consumer tech and subscription services being popular categories. Some of the more popular networks include Squaredance, Madrivo and GiddyUp.

There are also agencies that will help you to find performance-based partnerships and manage these relationships for you. These often come with a monthly retainer. Nevertheless, working with one of these agencies can allow you to gain access to multiple partners, each with individual channel expertise.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to an agency directly that sparks your interest. You’d be surprised that some agencies would rather take a larger performance fee than a cushy retainer with a percentage of ad spend. If they’re a true channel expert and are confident in your product, the only last piece of the equation is you being a good partner to them.

Feature Image Credit: getty

By Mustafa Saeed

Co-Founder & Growth Chief at Paul Street. Read Mustafa Saeed’s full executive profile here.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Sourced from Forbes

In News

Reimagining Rewards — Minimalistic Branding for Rewrd

September 27, 2023 No Comments

Sourced from abdz.do

Ganiyu Razak, recently unfolded a new branding odyssey for “Rewrd”. Commissioned between May to June 2023, the project’s compass pointed toward Visual Branding, Illustrations, Graphic Design, and Guidelines. Tunbosun Tobiloba chipped in with motion graphic marvels, amplifying the project’s vibrancy.

Rewrd isn’t just another platform; it’s a celebration of everyday purchases. It romances the idea that every purchase, big or small, deserves a pat on the back. By simply uploading a purchase receipt, Nigerians are ushered into a world of exciting rewards, all while championing their go-to stores and restaurants. Plus, in a world drowning in data, Rewrd offers brands an underwater telescope into the depths of user behaviour and buying patterns.

Diving into the logo, Razak’s ingenuity shines. After thorough research, the star and ribbon were chosen as visual mascots for Rewrd. The logo, thus, emerges as a beacon of exclusivity and exhilaration. The brand mantra, “Shop. Earn. Repeat.”, succinctly captures this essence, establishing a cyclical dance of buying and earning.

Typography has been wielded with precision. The header font, Familjen Grotesk, oozes reliability and modern flair. Meanwhile, the body text finds its voice in General Sans. The colour palette is a vibrant nod to Gen Z, mirroring the brand’s youthful, energetic aura.

Illustratively, Razak opted for simplistic perspective illustrations, fortifying Rewrd’s visual lexicon. More than just design elements, these illustrations are emotive conduits, weaving deeper connections with the audience. Furthermore, the photographic choices, a collage of youthful zest, beautifully complement the brand’s ethos.

Razak’s creation for Rewrd isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s an experience. An experience that hopes to resonate, foster trust, and firmly place Rewrd on a pedestal in the industry. Once again, his 20-year journey in minimalist design has given birth to a brand identity that is as profound as it is beautiful. And for those who engage with Rewrd, it promises to be a delightful ride.

Branding and visual identity artefacts

For more information make sure to check out Ganiyu Razak on Behance.

Sourced from abdz.do

In News

How buyer profiles present in a service-based business

September 27, 2023 No Comments

By Rachel Klaver

Rachel Klaver is a marketing strategist, specialising in lead generation and content marketing.

OPINION: I’ve used buyer profiles in retail businesses before, but they have just as much merit when applied to a service-based business. I’m not sure why we seem to think humans will be any different depending on whether they are buying a vacuum cleaner or contracting a cleaner. In the end, your services are still products that humans are choosing to spend their money on.

There are nine key buyer profiles we can intentionally (and unintentionally) attract. No one is better than the other, but you and your business will fit some more than others. It’s a matter of being aware of who you’re attracting, who you are ignoring that you could attract, and who you have consciously decided to repel with your marketing and sales style.

I’m a big fan of using the marketing and sales process to help find your ideal clients, by showing them at the outset what your own business values and boundaries are for. A simple example of this is choosing to only email your prospects during work hours, if that’s what you have as a core way of working with your clients. For me, we do the vast majority of work via Zoom. This is why we also do our sales calls via Zoom too. If the person is uncomfortable with this, they may also be uncomfortable with working with us, too.

When I went through the nine buyer profiles I found several I don’t want to attract, and a few I’d like to do better in drawing in. Use this list, and mentally check against it what you could do in your marketing to help these types of people want to buy from your service-based business.

The Browser

For me, my whole marketing approach is to help the browser. I’ve got people on my email list who’ve been there for three years or more before becoming a client.

These curious individuals stumble upon our content, and while they may not be ready to make a purchase right away, we can capture their interest by infusing our content with personality and emotion.

It’s essential to let them get a real sense of who we are, to truly understand our voice and the way we do things. When they resonate with us, they’re more likely to choose us over our competitors who don’t evoke the same connection. These people will choose us because we consistently resonate with them. They didn’t find us when they were ready to buy. But as soon as they are, they’re coming to us (I often get people emailing me saying: “Love your content. Not ready for you yet, but I’m going to be one day!”).

The Bargain Hunter

In writing this I realised this was me. I’m definitely always sniffing around for a good deal. This is an issue because I also don’t believe we should be discounting our products and services to get the sale.

However, we can cater to these types of buyers without discount. We just need to provide great deals.

To grab their attention, we can offer them lower-cost options or limited-time promotions. For me, I’ve learned that by providing resources, workshops, or even my book, that they can engage with at a lower price point, they can get a taste of what we have to offer and develop a stronger connection with us.

I also use free content. I provide that with things like this column, my podcast, my email newsletter and my blogs. They get value, and then it’s my job to show them that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to working with me.

Showroomers

Showroomers are one type of buyer I’m starting to work harder to attract. I’m weirdly reluctant to share testimonials (of which I have hundreds) and feedback. I literally have to force myself to do it.

What I’ve learned is these types of buyers can take a while to make a decision but they are locked in once they decide, and they become incredible word-of-mouth referrers to others. For me, they are worth connecting with.

These savvy buyers are thorough researchers who want to know all the details before making a decision. Testimonials and feedback from other customers become crucial in gaining their trust.

Sharing testimonials that highlight the benefits and outcomes others have experienced can be a powerful tool in showcasing the value of our services. Testimonials help potential customers understand the benefits they can receive by working with us, and they serve as social proof of our expertise and credibility.

The “I’m on a mission”

These are also great clients, and again a section I’ve ignored in my marketing without realising it. Again this comes down to a reluctance to “show off” in my content. I’m working on this as I’m teaching my clients to become better at it, and I don’t like being a hypocrite as I do!

These individuals come prepared with a detailed checklist of requirements. To cater to their needs, we must clearly outline the features and benefits of our services.

It’s important to highlight what sets us apart and the specific outcomes they can expect to achieve.

Testimonials play a vital role here as well. They help potential customers envision the results they can achieve by working with us.

However, we don’t need to give them everything they want. It’s ok to have boundaries. I’ve encountered mission shoppers who requested to see strategies I’ve created for other clients. That’s a no from me, as it’s sharing someone else’s document, and also my intellectual property. It’s also often showing them the wrong part of the process, which is the completed document. The strength in my work is in the conversations we have to create it (which again is why I prefer to get them on a Zoom instead).

The Impulse Buyer

This might be a perfect fit for your business, but not for me, unless it’s a lower-cost product like a webinar, my book or a small course.

I often recommend service-based business owners don’t target this type of customer unless you’ve got one that solves a pain point that’s easily resolved, and you aren’t necessarily looking for a repeat purchase.

Impulse buyers make quick decisions based on their gut instincts or limited-time offers. To capture their attention, we can create enticing, low-cost options that allow them to experience a taste of what we offer.

If you’re going to target these buyers, having a chat on your website and being quick to respond to social media questions is key. These buyers want it right now.

The Chatties

I’ve got nothing against this type of buyer, but they aren’t a fit for my personality and business style. It’s not a “them” problem. It’s a me issue. I’ve got ADHD and love to talk. I can easily overshare, and add too much value in a sales call. I’ve had to learn to be pretty strong about moving people off phone calls and on to zooms that we’ve scheduled to prevent my entire week to be filled with chats with potential clients that often lead to nowhere. Boundaries are needed when it comes to me, clients and time.

Chatties are enthusiastic individuals who often seek free advice or consultations without genuine intentions of becoming paying customers. It’s crucial to set clear boundaries and protect our time and expertise.

This is also why I teach my clients to ditch the “discovery call” and rename it a “check the fit” call which has a higher sales intent. You may get less of them, but your conversion rate will go up.

Rather than offering endless free consultations, transitioning to structured sales meetings can guide them towards a more committed decision-making process. It’s an area where I’ve struggled in the past, as I genuinely enjoy helping people and can sometimes give away too much for free.

I’ve learned the importance of creating boundaries and directing these individuals to group interactions where others can benefit as well.

The Indecisive Shopper

Indecisive shoppers take their time when making purchasing decisions. They often have specific obstacles or objections that need addressing.

Patience, providing necessary information, and offering support are key in navigating the indecisiveness. It’s important to stay true to our values and clearly communicate the benefits of our services.

Addressing their objections and concerns while giving them the space they need to reach a decision is crucial.

I’ve learned that when faced with a money objection, it’s not merely about the cost but about the perceived value and trust that need to be established. Giving them time and ensuring they have all the information they need is incredibly important

I personally can find the key is to not over push, and allow them to take the time they need. Follow-up is key, but be wary of converting them before they are ready. It will cause you no end of pain as they stay indecisive as you work with them.

***Unsplash***

***Indecisive shoppers take their time when making purchasing decisions. They often have specific obstacles or objections that need addressing. (file photo)***

The Fully Educated

These buyers are slow to act, but when they do they come in hot. Educated buyers are well-informed individuals who have followed our content for years. They have done their research and have a deep understanding of what we offer.

Nurturing these relationships requires consistently providing valuable content through various channels. Our website should be clear and informative, while regular promotions and offers can keep them engaged and interested.

It’s important to provide actionable opportunities for them to take the next step in their journey with us. I normally recommend dedicating 10% to 20% of our content to serve these educated buyers is essential. They have invested time in us, and we should reciprocate by offering content that caters specifically to their needs.

The Loyal Customer

Service-based businesses can build a highly successful business by harnessing the magic of these types of buyers. They book and rebook with us, they tell others about us, and they always remember to pay.

Our loyal customers deserve our utmost appreciation. They have stuck with us through thick and thin, and they become our biggest advocates. Offering exclusive discounts, early access to new offerings, and free resources is a way to reward their loyalty.

These loyal customers often refer others to our business, and their support is invaluable. Recognising their loyalty and showing gratitude helps solidify our relationship and build long-lasting partnerships.

Understanding these nine buyer profiles allows us to tailor our marketing approach and connect with potential customers on a deeper level. By recognising the specific profiles that resonate with our business, we can identify areas where adjustments can be made in our marketing strategies to help talk to the best buyer types for our business model. It’s important to remember that patience, value, and consistency are key when engaging with different buyer profiles.

It’s absolutely fine to have several types that you don’t cater to. The key is to take the time to really think about which types work best for your business, then create content in your marketing that helps them get ready to buy. This can grow your business, without significantly changing what you are selling.

Feature Image Credit: Mark Taylor/Stuff

By Rachel Klaver

Rachel Klaver is a marketing strategist, specialising in lead generation and content marketing.

Sourced from STUFF

In News

Talent management firm Collective Artists Network launches app to expand creator economy

September 26, 2023 No Comments

Sourced from moneycontrol

Talent management firm Collective Artists Network, which represents Bollywood stars like Ranveer Singh, is focusing on the creator economy and has launched an app called Big Bang Social to expand creator economy.

The app will enable commerce, brand collaboration, upskilling and a peer-to-peer network for building a creator community. It has launched three e-commerce platforms on the app and plans to launch more such brands by creators going forward.

The app, which is made for creators, will let them build communities, connect with brand partners and also offer online training for better content creation. Through this, they expect creators to increase their earnings.

“Creator economy in the country has always been considered for marketing but there is more to it. Also, there are not many creators who are able to monetise their content,” said Vijay Subramaniam, Founder and Group CEO of Collective Artists Network.

He is looking to increase the revenue contribution coming from the creator economy segment from the current 35 percent to 50 percent in the next three years and create job opportunities for 100,000 creators in the country.

“We do not have two-three million creators who are making money. The number of creators being able to monetise their content in the country is small. The app will help us with strong distribution and reach,” Subramaniam added.

Globally, there are over 200 million creators and India is set to have the largest base of social media content creators with the figure crossing 100 million this year, according to a report by influencer marketing firm Zefmo. The report predicts that the ‘organised influencer marketing’ sector is expected to reach Rs 3,000 crore by 2024 and the revenue share of micro influencers is set to rise from 9 percent to 14 percent by 2024.

Big Bang Social that looks at creator economy is expected to scale Collective Artists Network’s overall business. “This business was over Rs 110 crore last year and we have a double digit market share in the influencer marketing space. We are looking at doubling that number to Rs 200-250 crore this year,” Subramaniam said.

Sourced from moneycontrol

In News

Looking For a Good AI Character Generator? Here’s the Best I’ve Found So Far

September 26, 2023 No Comments

By Jeff Bullas

AI character generators are AI tools that use artificial intelligence to create fictional characters for all kinds of different purposes.

They help to streamline the creative processes by rapidly producing diverse and detailed characters, benefiting writers, game developers, and artists. Beyond character creation, AI‘s role in creative industries is expanding, from generating music and art to aiding story writing.

On top of that, AI-driven human-computer interaction is growing, evident in virtual assistants and AI chatbots. As AI continues to evolve, it becomes an indispensable collaborator, enhancing creativity and interaction across multiple domains, reshaping how humans engage with technology.

What is an AI character generator?

Put simply, an AI character generator is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence to create fictional characters.

It employs algorithms and data to design characters’ appearances, personalities, backgrounds, and even stories. By analysing vast amounts of existing character data, AI generates new and unique characters, saving time for writers, game developers, and other creators.

These tools streamline the creative process by offering a variety of options and details that can inspire and enhance storytelling, game design, and other creative endeavours. They are a testament to AI’s ability to assist and augment human creativity in various industries.

3 of the most popular AI character generators today

Now that we know what an AI character generator is, let’s explore some of the most popular tools available in 2023.

Toolsaday

Toolsaday’s AI character generator is a cutting-edge tool designed for writers, game developers, and creative enthusiasts seeking to craft compelling characters for their projects.

The generator streamlines character creation through an intuitive interface and unique features, including seamless character generation, in-depth character profiles, dynamic personalities, interactive plot integration, and AI-generated images from text.

The latter feature, the AI-Character Image Generator, produces lifelike visuals based on character descriptions, enhancing visual storytelling across various mediums. Toolsaday empowers users to unleash their creativity by providing a comprehensive platform for character development and visualization.

Pros:

Streamlines character creation for writers, game developers, and creative enthusiasts.
Offers seamless character generation with customizable traits and backstories.
Creates intricate and lifelike personalities using advanced algorithms.
Facilitates interactive plot integration, suggesting plot twists and character arcs.
User-friendly interface for easy navigation and efficient workflow.
AI-Character Image Generator produces detailed and realistic visuals for characters.
Vast customization options for character images, enhancing visual representation.
Integration of generated images into storyboards, proposals, and marketing materials.
Sparks new ideas through visualizing characters, inspiring unexpected plot developments.
Sign-up provides access to both character generation and AI-generated images.

Cons:

May have limitations in generating highly specific or unique character traits.
AI-generated character images might not always perfectly match the envisioned appearance.
Potential dependence on the tool for character creation, limiting personal creative exploration.

VEED.io

Discover limitless creative potential with VEED.io’s AI character generator, a groundbreaking tool for professionals and content creators.

By inputting simple text, users can harness the power of AI to craft customized characters that cater to branding, marketing, and various creative endeavours. From crafting cartoon personas to designing gaming avatars and 3D models, VEED’s AI technology produces captivating characters that resonate with audiences.

Elevate storytelling videos, marketing campaigns, and social media content through distinct and attention-grabbing characters. Further enhance your creations with VEED’s AI video editing tools, enabling the production of engaging teasers, explainer videos, and more. VEED.io empowers creativity while simplifying the character generation process.

Pros:

Empowers professionals and content creators to generate unique characters.
Utilizes AI technology to transform simple text into captivating characters.
Versatile application for branding, marketing, storytelling, and social media content.
Extensive creative possibilities for cartoon characters, gaming avatars, and 3D models.
Enhances content with distinctive characters that stand out.
AI video editing tools offer the potential to create animated text, sound effects, and more.
Allows the incorporation of generated characters into videos and other content.
Offers an intuitive process: type a prompt, generate images, and enhance with video editing.
Simplifies the character creation process for those with varying levels of creative experience.
Provides a convenient platform for elevating brand identity and engagement.

Cons:

Generated characters might not perfectly match the user’s envisioned appearance or style.
Limited to the capabilities and variations provided by the AI technology.
Users may require additional editing or refinement to achieve precise character representation.

Fotor

Experience the transformative capabilities of Fotor’s AI Character Generator, a powerful tool backed by advanced character creation technology. This generator brings your character ideas to life based on descriptions you provide.

By processing your input through AI algorithms, the generator swiftly produces characters that match your vision. Fotor’s online character creator allows simultaneous creation of multiple characters, adjustable via a convenient number bar.

The tool offers a Random Character Generator mode, providing endless possibilities for AI-generated characters across various styles, from realistic and fairy tale to cartoon and fictional characters. Discover Fotor’s exceptional AI Character Generator, enabling artists to explore diverse concept art styles and bring their creative visions to life effortlessly.

Pros:

Utilizes advanced character creation models to transform descriptions into characters.
Efficiently generates characters based on user-provided input.
Allows for the creation of multiple characters simultaneously through a slider.
Offers a Random Character Generator mode for exploring diverse AI-generated options.
Supports a wide range of character styles, including realistic, fairy tale, cartoon, and fictional.
Provides artists and creators with an array of concept art character design possibilities.
Enables customization to match envisioned character designs and styles.
Expands creative freedom by facilitating swift and hassle-free character creation.
Ideal for artists, writers, and creatives seeking inspiration and versatile character options.

Cons:

AI-generated characters might not always align perfectly with the user’s creative intent.
The range of customization might be limited to the capabilities of the AI model.
Users may require additional editing or refinement to achieve precise character representation.

FAQs about AI character generators

What is the best AI to generate characters?

Determining the “best” AI for generating characters depends on various factors such as your specific needs, the type of characters you want to create, and your personal preferences. Try out the tools we’ve suggested in this article and see which one you prefer!

How can I create my own AI character?

Creating your own AI character involves a combination of creative input and leveraging AI tools. Here’s a general process you can follow:

Define Your Character:

Start by outlining your character’s traits, personality, backstory, appearance, and any other relevant details. This will provide the foundation for the AI to work with.

Choose an AI Tool:

Research and choose an AI character generation tool that aligns with your needs. Some tools specialize in text-based character generation, while others can also produce visual representations.

Input Descriptions:

If the tool you’ve chosen works with text input, provide detailed descriptions of your character’s attributes and personality. This could include physical appearance, personality traits, motivations, and background.

Customize Parameters:

Depending on the tool, you might be able to customize certain parameters like age, gender, profession, and more. Adjust these settings to match your character concept.

Generate Character:

Use the AI tool to generate your character based on the input you’ve provided. The AI will use its algorithms to interpret your descriptions and create a character accordingly.

Review and Refine:

Once the AI generates the character, review the results. If needed, make adjustments to the generated character to ensure it matches your creative vision.

Iterate and Experiment:

Don’t be afraid to experiment and generate multiple versions of your character. AI tools can offer a range of options, and trying different inputs might lead to unexpected and inspiring results.

What other kinds of AI generators are there?

AI generators come in various forms, catering to different creative needs and industries. Here are some types of AI generators:

Text Generators

AI-powered text generators can create written content such as essays, stories, poems, and even code. They use natural language processing to produce coherent and contextually relevant text.

Image Generators

AI image generators create visuals, drawings, and paintings based on textual descriptions or prompts. They are used in graphic design, art, and creative projects.

Music Generators

AI-driven music generators create original compositions or modify existing music based on patterns, styles, and genres. They are utilized by musicians and composers to aid in music creation.

Video Generators

AI video generators assist in automating video editing tasks like trimming, enhancing, and adding effects. They save time and streamline the video production process.

Storyboard and Concept Art

AI generators can turn textual descriptions into visual storyboards or concept art, aiding filmmakers, game developers, and other visual storytellers.

Code Generation

AI can generate code snippets, templates, or even entire programs based on requirements. This accelerates software development and coding tasks.

Language Translation

AI-powered translation generators offer accurate and context-aware translations between languages, enabling communication on a global scale.

Data Synthesis

AI generators can synthesize realistic data sets for training machine learning models, helping to create diverse and representative training data.

Character Dialogues

AI can generate dialogues and interactions between characters, useful for scriptwriting, game development, and interactive storytelling.

Fashion Design

AI generators assist fashion designers in creating new designs, patterns, and clothing styles based on existing trends and inputs.

Poetry and Stories

Specialized AI story generators focus on generating poetry, short stories, and literature that mimic specific styles or authors.

Chatbots

AI can create chatbots or user profiles based on demographics, behaviors, and interests, aiding marketing and user experience design.

Logo and Branding

AI logo generators help businesses and individuals create logos and branding assets quickly based on design preferences.

These are just a few examples, and AI generators are continually evolving to serve various creative and practical purposes across different industries.

By Jeff Bullas

He is the owner of jeffbullas.com. Forbes calls him a top influencer of Chief Marketing Officers and the world’s top social marketing talent. Entrepreneur lists him among 50 online marketing influencers to watch. Inc.com has him on the list of 20 digital marketing experts to follow on Twitter. Oanalytica named him #1 Global Content Marketing Influencer. BizHUMM ranks him as the world’s #1 business blogger. Learn More

Sourced from jeffbullas.com

In News

Do ads have to be real? Marketing execs weigh in on viral tricks and fakes

September 26, 2023 No Comments

By Sam Anderson

First Maybelline’s ‘fake’ giant mascara wand, then Orange’s World Cup AI fake-out. Not-quite-real ads are here, and deepfakes aren’t far behind. Should advertisers be wary? We asked The Drum Network.

Sarah Jenkins, partner and executive vice president, The Romans New York: “As creative marketers, we’re in the business of imagination. We develop brand campaigns based on insights that strike a chord with aspects of consumers’ personalities (often a playful side): ideas that push us to think beyond what’s possible. We should never, ever limit ourselves to traditional reality, because that would stifle the curiosity that’s critical for creative evolution.

“When you’re working on a campaign that has potential negative impact, you have a responsibility to disclose when things are generated by AI. But let’s not hold back from exploring the what-ifs. Consumers of all ages are craving levity; often, that comes from the powerful escapism of make-believe. Just proceed with caution, consider negative impact, and act in a way that doesn’t pose risk to individuals or groups.”

Henry Challender, associate creative director, Bray Leino: “Realness is blurry. Neither physicist nor philosopher can tell you what reality ‘really’ is. Some people (hey Elon) even contend it’s all a big simulation. But before we get into a metaphysical pickle, let’s agree on the everyday distinction between ‘real’ (genuine, authentic, true) and ‘fake’ (false, deceitful, artificial). On those terms, it’s hard to claim marketing’s ever real. Artifice is almost always baked into the deal. Are we being ‘real’ when pricing something 99p rather than £1? When we retouch that burger?

“Even the worthiest purpose-led campaign may be tinged with an ulterior motive. AI brings new toys for tricksters, making it easier to be wilfully deceptive. As the line between the real and the fake gets blurrier, perhaps transparency will set the good actors apart from the bad. But maybe the fun is in not being quite sure.”

Jordan Dale, creative director, Amplify: “Did people think that John Lewis actually sent a man to the moon in 2015? Is Tom Holland actually living as Spiderman in New York City? Does a TikTok face filter actually change my face?

“The question is: why is this Maybelline ad being judged any differently to the thousands of ‘artificial’ entertainment creations that we consume on a daily basis through our screens? That word, ‘artificial,’ has negative connotations that we should get rid of. The best stories in the world are, by definition, ‘artificial’.

“Being nowhere near the target demo of Maybelline and struggling to avoid the ad means one thing and one thing only: it’s a certified banger. The ownership from the brand on the creative process behind it (shoutout @origiful), and turning that into its own story, means they created a richer connection with their audience. Sure, there are watch-outs to consider around AI being used for malicious intent. But let’s not let that get in the way of killer creativity and storytelling.”

Alistair Robertson, creative partner, Nucco: “Fake news! Fake news!

“Authenticity in brand experiences is key, but executionally not essential. The fake lashes and similar ideas shouldn’t cause too much soul-searching. They’re the result of technology changing and good, opportunistic, creative storytelling.

“If we’re going to worry about fakes, let’s keep an eye on what really matters. Real work (digitally crafted or not) created with a brand’s endorsement that does a real-world job versus award-entry-only executions. We’re all under pressure from external creators who want the money and notoriety of not asking for permission, or caring about the negative effect fake work can have on a brand. We’ve got to protect brands and not allow our industry to worsen its self-obsessed reputation. While the wider economy remains perilous, we need to demonstrate our worth, not our egos.

“So let’s all go be beautifully, wonderfully creative, but a little less so when it comes to the truth.”

Julio Taylor, chief executive officer, Hallam: “Creativity has always been about pushing the boundaries of what is perceivably possible. From CGI to AI, we’ve been defying the limits of what’s possible for decades. But, with AI’s power to create seemingly impossible scenarios with ease, we’re about to enter an age of unprecedented scale and speed of production that will overshadow anything we’ve seen so far.

“As the world is flooded with fast, high-quality, AI-generated content, consumers will learn to tune it out, and seek authenticity and meaningful experiences in a world of neon satisfaction. Just as vinyl made a comeback during the streaming wars, human nature will drive people toward emotional fulfilment, authenticity and meaning.

Stella Thewes, account director, Disrupt: “I like the Maybelline ads because they’re obviously not real, allowing the brand to venture into new creative realms without misleading customers. However, there’s a grey area between real advertising and visibly fake ads. For example, mascara ads featuring retouched models with fake eyelashes, giving the consumer an illusion of what is possible to achieve with their product. The same goes for deep fakes. Marketers should question whether their work is ethical – either by being truthful with their claims and concepts, or by creating something that couldn’t be mistaken for reality, but still gets consumers talking.”

Joe Murgatroyd, partner and creative director, BrandNation: “Creatively, the Maybelline ad is brilliant. The magic lies in it looking real, blurring the lines between virtual and reality – and putting a new spin on DOOH.

“While the ad itself isn’t harmful, it does pose valid ethical questions on the approach amid a broader societal debate on AI and computer-generated imaging.

“Advertisers should be setting a precedent and using this technology responsibly, signposting where AI has been used. There needs to be accountability and industry policing, given that this technology can be harnessed for more unscrupulous ends (like cybercrime and disinformation). This doesn’t need to stifle creativity, but with new transformational technology, there’s a moral obligation to act with transparency.”

Diana Tran Chavez, senior vice president & group creative director, Evoke Mind+Matter: “We don’t control how technology develops around us, but as marketers we should be trying to find ways to use it to bring more creative, fantastical ideas to life – ideas that previously were discarded as ‘too difficult’ or ‘too expensive’.

“AI is transforming creativity and advertising, and in healthcare marketing and medical comms, the stakes are higher (and much more sensitive to misinformation). Without industry-wide regulation, the moral line is surely about intention. If it’s to misinform, that’s bad. But if it’s to inspire and delight, why not? If we create responsibly, and maintain our human judgment, intuition, and intelligence, we can still get the point across in an impactful and memorable way.”

Melissa Harvey, content marketer, Social Chain: “First Jacquemus, now Maybelline: brands are catching on to the appeal of synthetic out-of-home.

“As the digital world bleeds into our reality, brands’ playful embrace of digital art highlights the potential of the ‘fake out-of-home’ ad for brands, and the future of the PR stunt. Virtual activations like these more sustainable and low-cost than their real-world counterparts, and there’s no end to what you can create.

“Even if people are hoodwinked into thinking these ads are real, it doesn’t do any harm. Not directly. But conversations about the danger of deepfakes are worth having. As we increasingly rely on social media as a news source, independent research and fact-checking becomes crucial.”

Annie Shortland, digital PR executive, Builtvisible: “Deepfakes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, becoming sources of misinformation and potentially breaching consumer trust for those buying into the phenomenon. But the Maybelline advert is far from a deepfake. This inspired activation takes creativity to new heights, using AI to get more traction with a lower budget.

“Now, marketers can jump hoops to get their campaigns live and viral (mostly), without having to get buy-in from collaborators and external sources. The logistics of creating the ad ‘for real’ are not feasible, so digital activation encourages creative, inspired ideas at pace, without the roadblocks that usually come, allowing brands to reap measurable results much faster.

“Engaging in digital stunts is perfectly acceptable, provided the idea or concept isn’t harmful in its illusion. These stunts serve as a fun way for brands to flex personality and connect with audiences.”

Joe Veal, account manager, Rawnet: “As modern generations have become sceptical and unsympathetic toward overt selling, advertisers must step outside traditional boundaries to engage audiences effectively. This led to the emergence of these ‘fake’ ads using AR technology like Sony, LG, and Maybelline’s billboards in Times Square or Deutsche Telekom’s deepfake/AI work featuring manipulated images to demonstrate online misinformation.

“While this new landscape offers endless creative possibilities, an ethical question arises: just because we can, should we? Audiences are often aware of the fakeness, making it crucial for marketers to consider overall impact and avoid spreading misinformation. Failure to do so could result in harsh repercussions.”

By Sam Anderson

Sourced from The Drum