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Sourced from The Drum

Kicking off our Creative Technology for Drummies guide, our glossary helps navigate the tools, trends and terminology shaping the future of creativity.

From smart templates to scene detection, AI assistants to virtual production sets, creative tech is rewriting the rules of how brands make and scale ideas. But with new terms landing faster than you can say ‘generative fill,’ it’s easy to lose track of what’s worth your time (and what’s just buzz).

As marketing budgets tighten and expectations climb, creative teams are being asked to do more: more assets, more formats, more personalization – all while keeping it on brand and on budget. That’s where creative technology steps in.

Whether you’re experimenting with automation or re-platforming your entire production pipeline, this guide breaks down the tools, trends and terminology shaping the next wave of creative work.

10 creative tech terms you actually need to know

If your inbox is a blur of demos, decks and ‘new creative platforms,’ you’re probably not alone. Creative technology is booming, but in a world of hype, which terms should marketers actually know? Here are 10 essential concepts powering the next wave of brand storytelling, reshaping how ideas are made, scaled and personalized.

1. Generative AI

Why it matters: The engine behind text-to-image tools, creative assistants and AI-powered ad scripts. From concepting to content creation, it’s the biggest creative shift since the MacBook Pro.

2. Creative automation

Why it matters: Think hundreds of assets in every shape, size and language – all generated from one master visual. It’s what makes personalization profitable (and your design team less burnt out).

3. Prompt engineering

Why it matters: If generative AI is the paintbrush, prompts are the artist’s hand. Knowing how to write prompts that yield brand-right, on-brief output is quickly becoming a must-have skill.

4. Virtual production

Why it matters: Film anything, anywhere – no plane ticket required. Used in everything from Marvel to Ikea, it merges real actors with digital backdrops via LED walls and game engines.

5. Volumetric video

Why it matters: This is what makes holograms happen. Volumetric video captures motion in 3D, unlocking immersive brand experiences, digital twins and next-gen retail try-ons.

6. Modular content systems

Why it matters: Say goodbye to one-size-fits-all creative. Modular systems let you mix, match and adapt content across regions, platforms, and formats – without breaking your brand.

7. Scene detection

Why it matters: AI that scans videos to automatically cut, crop or tag content for reuse. A huge time-saver for brands producing at scale or remixing existing footage for new channels.

8. Dynamic creative optimization (DCO)

Why it matters: Real-time ad personalization, powered by data. Whether it’s weather-based offers or location-triggered messaging, DCO delivers bespoke creative at media speed.

9. Interactive storytelling

Why it matters: Ads aren’t just for watching – they’re for playing. Whether it’s a swipe-to-choose adventure or tap-to-style video, interactive formats give users skin in the game.

10. Style transfer

Why it matters: Want to apply your brand’s signature look to any visual? Style transfer uses AI to copy aesthetics across assets, turning moodboards into mass production.

The full creative tech A–Z

A

Augmented reality (AR): Tech that overlays digital content on the real world via smartphones or glasses.

AI-generated design: Visuals created or co-created by AI based on prompts or training data.

B

Brand asset management: Systems that organize and distribute creative assets across teams.

Behavioral data: Insights into how users engage with your content online.

C

Creative automation: Automatically generating and adapting creative content at scale.

Computer vision: AI that interprets visuals to enable things like image recognition or shoppable video.

Content supply chain: The workflow and tech stack that gets creative from idea to execution.

D

Dynamic creative optimization (DCO): Personalized ads built in real-time using data signals.

Digital twins: Virtual replicas of physical spaces, people or products for simulation or design.

E

Experiential tech: Interactive technology that enhances brand activations with digital layers.

Edge computing: Local data processing for faster, responsive experiences.

F

First-party creative data: Brand-owned insights from user interaction with content.

Facial recognition: Tech that detects and analyses facial features to trigger responses or personalization.

G

Generative AI: The one that everyone is talking about. AI that creates new content – visual, audio, or copy – from input prompts.

Gesture control: Interaction powered by physical movements rather than touchscreens.

H

Headless CMS: A backend system that delivers content flexibly across different front ends.

Human-in-the-loop (HITL): AI systems that rely on human approval or oversight for outputs.

I

Interactive storytelling: Campaign formats that change based on user choices or inputs.

Immersive commerce: Shopping experiences enhanced by AR, 3D or live interactivity.

J

Journey orchestration: Real-time customization of user journeys across channels.

Javascript animation: Lightweight web-based animations built using scripting.

K

Kinetic typography: Moving text that adds emotion or emphasis in video or digital formats.

L

Localization tech: Tools that adapt creative across languages and cultural contexts.

Live rendering: Tech that generates visuals on the fly for personalized or immersive experiences.

M

Modular content systems: Creative assets broken into reusable blocks for fast recombination.

Motion capture: Capturing human movement to animate virtual characters or avatars.

N

Neural rendering: AI-driven technique that simulates realistic visual effects.

O

Omnichannel creative: Campaigns designed to adapt seamlessly across all media environments.

Object recognition: AI that identifies products or elements within images or videos.

P

Personalization engines: Platforms that tailor content delivery based on user data.

Programmatic creative: Automated delivery of ads that adapt in real time.

Q

QR codes: Scannable codes that link real-world objects to digital content.

Quality score (creative): Platform-based rating of creative engagement potential.

R

Real-time rendering: Instantly generating visual assets during an interaction or session.

Responsive design: Layouts that automatically adjust to different screens or devices.

S

Spatial computing: Systems that understand the physical environment for immersive interaction.

Synthetic media: AI-created or altered audio, video or imagery.

Scene detection: AI that analyses and breaks down video into usable parts.

Style transfer: Applying the visual style of one image to another using AI.

Shader effects: Visual enhancements applied to 3D graphics for realism or flair.

T

Templates (smart): Pre-designed, customizable frameworks for content creation.

Text-to-video: AI that turns written prompts into animated or real-world video.

U

User interface/user experience (UI/UX): The design and usability of digital interfaces.

V

Virtual production: Shooting in digital environments with real actors and virtual backdrops.

Voice AI: Synthetic voice tools used for narration, assistants or custom audio.

Volumetric video: 3D video capture for holographic or spatial content.

W

WebAR/WebXR: AR/VR experiences that run in mobile browsers with no app needed.

Workflow orchestration: Tech that manages tasks and timelines in content production.

X

Extended Reality (XR): The umbrella term for AR, VR and mixed-reality experiences.

Y

Yield optimization (creative): Adjusting creative elements to improve performance.

Z

Zero-party data: Data shared directly by users for tailored experiences.

Feature Image Credit: Polina Kondrashova on Unsplash

Sourced from The Drum

By Jodie Cook

Scroll down the feed of any social media platform and you see the problem. Everyone’s content is starting to look the same. As people get scared of oversharing or alienating people, or using AI to generate terrible posts, they start writing the same vanilla messaging and hiding their true colours. Their strong beliefs don’t come out. They pretend to be like everyone else. They blend in. But there’s another way: your weirdness could be your superpower.

You weren’t put here to go through the motions with posting online. It’s time to get real. It’s time to stand out. ChatGPT can help. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Stand out from the crowd: ChatGPT prompts for memorable content

Understand fears, desires and motivations

Get inside your audience’s head so they wonder how you got there. They have specific dreams keeping them up at night and fears that stop them from taking action. Average creators guess what their audience wants. Winners know for sure. They speak directly to the pain points that matter. When you understand someone’s deepest motivations, your content resonates on a whole new level.

“Based on what you know about my target audience from our previous conversations, analyse their deepest fears and desires. Create 5 specific pain points they face daily, then match each with a hidden desire they might not even admit to themselves. For each pairing, write a single sentence that would make them think ‘how did you know that about me?’ Make the language direct and use their exact words where possible. Ask for more detail if required.”

Rework the hook

You only have a few seconds to hook someone on any platform. Your first line determines whether they keep reading or keep scrolling. Everyone writes their hook once and calls it done. But the first version is rarely the best version. Your hook needs to create an information gap, make a bold claim, or challenge a common belief. Get alternatives and see which one stands out the most. Test different angles until you find the one that grabs attention.

“Take this opening line from my content: [paste your opening line]. Based on what you know about my writing style and target audience, create 7 alternative hooks. Make each one completely different – vary the structure, angle, and emotional trigger. Include options that are bold statements, create information gaps, challenge common beliefs, or use unexpected contrasts. Great hooks are not questions. They are hard-hitting statements. Rank them from safest to most attention-grabbing. Make each hook 10 words or fewer.”

Be more weird

Your first draft is safe. It’s normal, it’s conservative. It doesn’t turn heads. It doesn’t shock anyone into action. The majority water down their message to avoid offending anyone. They end up offending no one and inspiring no one either. Crank up the shock factor. Say what others are thinking but won’t say. Take a stance that makes people choose sides. Your weird is someone else’s refreshing honesty.

“Review this piece of content I’ve written: [paste your content]. Based on what you know about my brand and communication style, make it dramatically weirder and more memorable. Push every vanilla statement to its extreme. Replace generic observations with specific, standout angles. Add unconventional examples or analogies. Include at least one line that would make someone gasp or laugh out loud. Keep my authentic voice but remove all the boring parts.”

Get a critique from a cynical naysayer

Nobody learns from yes-men. You need someone to poke holes in your content before your audience does. Safe players surround themselves with supporters who tell them everything is great. Real growth comes from harsh feedback. Let ChatGPT channel your biggest sceptic. Face the criticism head-on and make your content bulletproof. Every objection you address makes your message stronger.

“Based on what you know about my content and target audience, become my harshest critic. Review this content: [paste your content]. Channel a cynical industry veteran who’s seen it all. Point out every weakness, cliché, and place where I’m playing it too safe. Question my assumptions and credentials. Be brutal but specific – for each criticism, explain exactly why it weakens my message. End with 3 specific changes that would make even a sceptic pay attention.”

Experiment with formats

Same message, alternative delivery, can mean the difference between minimal engagement and going viral. It’s tempting to stick to one format because it’s comfortable. But comfort doesn’t create breakthroughs. Your best-performing content might be in a format you haven’t tried yet. Keep going until you find the one that works. Test everything. Measure results. Then do more of what connects.

“Based on what you know about my content goals and target audience, transform this piece of content into 5 completely different formats for [social platform]: [paste your content]. Create versions for: a personal story format, a contrarian hot take, a step-by-step guide, a behind-the-scenes confession, and a predictive/future-focused piece. For each format, write the first 3 lines to show how the tone and structure would change. Identify which format best serves my message.”

Create content worth remembering: make your mark with bold choices

Playing safe guarantees mediocrity. But these prompts transform your content from forgettable to unforgettable. Get inside your audience’s head until you know them better than they know themselves. Rework your hooks until they’re impossible to ignore. Own your weirdness and let sceptics make you stronger. Experiment with formats until you find your winner.

Your content should make people feel something. Make them think differently. Make them take action. Make them cry, if you like. The world has enough generic content. Stop hiding your true colours and create something only you could write.

Access all my best ChatGPT content prompts.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Jodie Cook

Find Jodie Cook on LinkedIn. Visit Jodie’s website.

Sourced from Forbes

By 

I utterly despise Google’s AI summaries. I dislike how they’re placed right at the top of the page, I dislike how prone to hallucinating the answers I’m searching for are, and I dislike that when it does offer something vaguely helpful, it’s almost definitely scraped from another human that actually did the legwork. Thankfully, the Bye Bye, Google AI browser extension means I no longer have to glower at them—if only I could do the same for similar eyesores, like bus stop ads and marketing billboards, in real life.

Software engineer Stijn Spanhove is currently tinkering with an AR project that does just that. Using Snapchat’s Spectacles and Google’s Gemini, he’s built an XR app that deploys the power of ad block via the lightweight frame of a wearable (via Tom’s Hardware). Unfortunately, as an experimental project that Spanhove is still tinkering with, ads are currently being replaced by glaring red boxes.

That quirk aside, the demo video Spanhove shared on X is no less neat. The app’s positional consistency is impressive, and is seen ‘blocking’ out billboards, newspaper ads, and even branded food packaging once activated. This is thanks to the use of Snap’s Depth Cache library shared via GitHub, but this also makes the project a Spectacles exclusive for the time being.

Besides the Snap exclusivity, the biggest hurdles to my mind are those garish red boxes that are arguably more distracting than the ads themselves. Perhaps developer Stijn Spanhove will in future add the option for users to replace ads with something of their choice—like an AR mural to Miku Hatsune…hypothetically, I mean.

More broadly speaking, big tech keeps trying to make smart specs happen, despite even Meta admitting earlier this year they’d yet to crack a killer use case for their in-development Orion AR glasses. Speaking of Meta, the fact that what you snap or record with the company’s Ray-Ban smart glasses may be used to train AI models also turns me off from the whole tech wearables fad.

That’s all before even mentioning this student project out of Harvard that uses Meta’s smart glasses to instantly dox anyone the wearer claps eyes upon. Okay, I admit that’s a lot of doom and gloom about wearables—but you’re no longer thinking about my AR Miku Hatsune mural, are you?

Feature Image credit: Stijn Spanhove

By 

Jess has been writing about games for over ten years, spending the last seven working on print publications PLAY and Official PlayStation Magazine. When she’s not writing about all things hardware here, she’s getting cosy with a horror classic, ranting about a cult hit to a captive audience, or tinkering with some tabletop nonsense.

Sourced from PC Gamer

Sourced from OM

The decades-old doctrine of “Web traffic in exchange for permission to crawl” is over, writes Fred Vogelstein in his latest feature for our newsletter, Crazy StupidTech, and as a result, the Internet in the age of AI will be filled with much-needed “tolls.” This change has come quickly.

“Google essentially invented the business of crawling in exchange for monetizable traffic a generation ago with Adwords,” writes Fred. “It remains the source of its dominance today. And it has been an essential fuel for the growth of the $16 trillion global internet economy.

The writing’s been on the wall since ChatGPT launched, but nobody wanted to read it. We’re watching the great traffic heist in real-time. “Not only are more and more searches going through AI chatbots that generate zero traffic for publishers,” Fred writes, “Google itself is now sending publishers less traffic. Instead, Google is increasingly choosing to use its own AI product Gemini to respond to queries as a way of competing with the chatbots.”

In other words, AI chatbots are swallowing searches whole, while Google is playing both sides with Gemini. Don’t ignore the fact that this is a big challenge to how Google makes money. But it has deep pockets. Established media is living on fumes. One man’s crisis is another man’s opportunity.

Tollbit is the first to capitalize on this. But as Fred points out, Cloudflare and Matthew Prince are cooking up something new and will give @TollbitOfficial some competition and a boost.

I have been talking about this for a very long time, but the establishment media is always the last to realize their own existential threats. Just as they were slow to recognize the emergence of blogs, social media, and how Facebook was a chimera, they have been slow to realize that the old “destination internet” as a behavioural construct is over.

The addiction to traffic and impressions-based advertising has been an Achilles’ heel of the media establishment. It is hard for them to look at the world through the lens of engagement. The rise of “chat-based” informational interfaces is yet another victory for engagement-trumps-all doctrine.

To get a better understanding of this, feel free to dig into the archives of our CrazyStupidTech newsletter. If you like what you read, please subscribe. It is free. But before you do all that, read Fred’s piece. It is very good.

Sourced from OM

By Madeline Duley

With AI’s ability to generate art, content, codes and video, understand and respond to multiple languages, identify objects and even make decisions, the potential uses of this technology are practically limitless. Though no system is flawless, there are ways you can use this powerful tool at your fingertips to help you make money.

To learn how, GOBankingRates spoke with a self-made millionaire who has mastered the art of using ChatGPT to drive cash flow. You’ll be surprised at just how simple — and fun — it can be to let AI work for you. Here are six money-making tips you should follow.

Streamlining Processes

For Mason Jones, a self-made millionaire and managing director with over 20 high-earning affiliate websites at NDR, integrating ChatGPT into his business was a no-brainer.

“As my affiliate sites grew, I was spending too much time on repetitive tasks — like keyword research, content generation and social posting,” Jones said. “I needed a way to streamline my processes without sacrificing quality. That’s when I dove into AI, and, once I saw how much more efficient it made me, I was hooked.”

Generating Content Ideas

For website owners like Jones, staying relevant and engaging can be both time-consuming and creatively draining.

“One of the biggest challenges in affiliate marketing is constantly creating fresh, relevant content that resonates with your audience,” Jones said. “AI stepped in big time here. I use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm blog post ideas and even map out article structures. If I’m working in a niche, I can quickly generate content ideas tailored to what people are actually searching for. What used to take hours of research, ChatGPT can now handle in minutes.”

While Jones doesn’t use ChatGPT to write content, he leverages it to generate topics, plan PR campaigns and suggest stock ideas, saving both time and energy without sacrificing quality.

“ChatGPT has been an absolute game changer for me,” Jones said. “I use the paid version almost daily, and it saves me around 20% of my time when creating affiliate campaigns, which is huge for revenue generation. The data and insights it provides are much more reliable than the free version, and it’s been essential in shaping my overall strategy. It’s really become an integral tool in my business.”

Identifying Keywords and Google Ranking Opportunities

Creating engaging content is just the start. Optimizing it for search engines is the key to driving traffic and boosting revenue.

“This was probably the most exciting part for me,” Jones said. “Using AI-driven tools, I’ve been able to identify profitable keywords and opportunities that I might’ve missed on my own.”

Instead of making educated guesses, AI offers data-driven insights.

“AI tools like SurferSEO analyse search trends and help me optimize my posts to rank higher on Google,” Jones said. “The cool thing is that these tools also suggest what’s missing in my content compared to the top-ranking articles, which gives me a real edge in the game. SEO is no longer guesswork; AI pretty much does the heavy lifting.”

Automating Social Content

To drive traffic to his sites, Jones relies heavily on social media. However, creating effective posts, hashtags and captions is time-consuming — and a task that AI can handle with ease.

“I don’t have time to manually craft social media posts every day, and that’s where AI has saved me countless hours,” Jones said. “I use ChatGPT to automate social media content — everything from post ideas to captions. Once I’ve written a blog post or created a piece of content, AI helps break it down into smaller, shareable chunks for Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.”

By keeping his social presence consistent without being tied to a computer all day, Jones has been able to use AI’s capabilities to free up time and energy.

Sorting and Analysing Data

For Jones, being able to identify top-performing content and make sense of all the data from his websites is crucial. Thanks to ChatGPT, it has never been easier.

“Tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush are great, but they can be overwhelming with the amount of data they provide,” Jones said. “AI tools help me sort through that noise and focus on what really matters, like which pages are converting best and where my traffic is coming from. This data-driven approach has been crucial in scaling up my ventures.”

Upfront Costs & Profit Timeline

Beyond saving time and reducing the mental strain of repetitive tasks, ChatGPT also offers low upfront costs and a quick path to profits. For Jones, the small investment was well worth it.

“AI tools are surprisingly affordable,” Jones said. “Most of the tools I use are subscription-based, and I probably spend around $100 to $200 a month on AI-driven tools like Jasper for writing, SEMrush for SEO, ChatGPT Plus and a few social media automation platforms. Within about three to four months of fully integrating AI into my workflow, I hit profit. My first $1,000 came much quicker than with traditional methods, and from there things have just snowballed.”

At just $20 per month, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus is a bargain investment, offering higher-quality data and more strategic insights than the free version.

Final Take To GO: Your AI Income Stream

With such a low upfront cost, there’s little downside to leveraging AI to streamline your processes and make earning money easier than ever. Just ask Jones.

“Over the past year, AI has helped me significantly increase my affiliate marketing earnings,” Jones said. “Without getting too deep into specifics, let’s just say AI has contributed to a steady five-figure monthly income stream. The best part? I’m working fewer hours than ever before.”

Feature Image Credit: Robert Way / Getty Images

By Madeline Duley

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

Sourced from AOL

By Lovely Marshall

As of 2025, there are more than 207 million global content creators who build digital influence through platforms like YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn and Instagram. Creators are more than content makers; they’re economic engines. But while the creator economy is booming, the bridge between influence and infrastructure remains fragile.

According to Goldman Sachs via MBO Partners, the U.S. creator economy alone contributes over $250 billion to GDP. Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, shared in Business Insider: “We believe creators are becoming more and more relevant over time. We are just seeing more and more power shift from institutions to individuals across the industry.”

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) estimates there are 34.8 million small businesses nationwide, yet few policies formally recognize creators as part of that group. This is the untapped gap: Creators don’t always see themselves as entrepreneurs, and as a result, they often miss out on resources specifically designed to support business growth.

Influencers produce content daily, yet miss out on tools that could help them monetize, scale and build long-term wealth. To prevent what I call “Creator-to-CEO Failure to Launch,” here’s how creators can start using existing free partnerships right now to turn their visibility into viable ventures.

7 Essential Partnerships And Resources To Help You Build A Business In 2025

1. SCORE (Service Corps Of Retired Executives)

Why It Matters: With 10,000+ volunteer mentors, SCORE offers free one-on-one guidance to entrepreneurs across industries.

Action Step: Book a mentor at SCORE.org who understands digital marketing, pricing or scaling to review your business model, even if you’re just starting out.

2. Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA)

Why It Matters: Backed by the SBA and Business Forward, this organization curates digital tools, templates and educational materials.

Action Step: Use their free business planning and legal resources to turn your content operation into a structured, scale-ready venture.

3. Local Chambers Of Commerce + Women’s Business Centres

Why It Matters: These groups provide hands-on workshops and funding guidance often overlooked by online-first creators.

Action Step: Attend a local business centre event. Even a one-time mixer can connect you to a lawyer, lender or advisor who can help formalize your brand.

4. University Innovation Centres (U Of H, Community Colleges, HBCUs)

Why It Matters: Community colleges and HBCUs now house innovation labs where non-enrolled creators can join pitch competitions, incubators or workshops.

Action Step: Search your city + “University Innovation Centre” and inquire about available small business or entrepreneurship resources.

5. Google Reviews + Business Tools

Why It Matters: A buyer’s decision is often driven by trust and validation, but many creators still lack visibility because they haven’t claimed or optimized a Google Business Profile.

Action Step: Create your Google Business Profile and start collecting reviews from collaborators, clients or brand deals.

6. Hello Alice

Why It Matters: With over $40 million in grants distributed, Hello Alice supports early-stage founders and women, veterans and creators of colour.

Action Step: Apply for funding, access business education and join their creator cohorts if you’re ready to scale beyond brand deals.

7. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready

Why It Matters: With over 1 million users, this platform offers courses, mentorship and $10,000 grant competitions.

Action Step: Enrol in courses and track your progress. Creators who complete modules qualify for mentorship and funding.

Real Voices, Real Impact

Gone are the days when we only viewed creators as entertainment. They’re digital founders. With the right partnerships, they won’t just gain influence. They’ll gain infrastructure.

Powerhouse Thought: Creators Don’t Just Need Platforms; They Need Partnerships

Entrepreneurs aren’t made when you hit six figures. They’re made when you set up your backend like it matters. If you’re already creating content, building an audience or selling a service, you’re not an influencer. You’re a business.

These tools are your blueprint to prove it.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Lovely Marshall

Lovely Marshall, Ex-Facebook Strategist & Eventbrite Entrepreneur helps creators & businesses turn platforms into profit via innovation hubs. Read Lovely Marshall’s full executive profile here. Find Lovely Marshall on LinkedIn. Visit Lovely’s website.

Sourced from Forbes

By Chris Suchánek

Let’s not sugar-coat it. Most companies? They’re winging it. They’re throwing digital spaghetti at the wall— running ads, posting content and hoping something sticks. But if we’re being honest, something always feels a little off. The message is muddy. The brand vibe is all over the place. They’re spending money, sure, but the results? Inconsistent at best.

Here’s the not-so-fun truth: Marketing without brand strategy is noise. And the world is full of it.

We live in a broken business culture where activity is often mistaken for progress. You hear things like, “Look at our likes!” and “We got 10,000 impressions!” But none of that matters if you can’t explain what your brand stands for. It feels like progress, but it’s not. It’s a treadmill. So let’s hit pause and call out what most people get completely wrong.

Brand strategy isn’t optional. It’s the starting point. It’s not something you slap on after your website goes live. It’s not something you retrofit after the Facebook ads flop. It should come first, always.

Why Do So Many Brands Get This Backward?

It’s the speed trap: Companies race to get seen fast. They want visibility, reach and buzz. “Let’s get the word out!” they say. But here’s the kicker: They skip the step where they figure out what that “word” even is.

So what do we end up with? A pile of brands that look shiny but feel hollow, campaigns that scream but say nothing, and messaging that changes every other week. It all looks impressive until you look beneath the surface.

When your brand isn’t rooted in anything real, every ad, post and pitch feels a little disconnected. The customer notices it too, even if they can’t quite put their finger on why. It’s like starting a conversation that sounds exciting at first but ends up going nowhere. There’s no spark. No soul.

Build A Brand, Not A Billboard

The strongest brands don’t start with marketing. They start with meaning. They ask the real, sometimes uncomfortable questions: Why do we even exist? What do we believe in? What can we offer that no one else can, at least not the way we do?

That’s what brand strategy is all about. And no, it’s not about logos or colour palettes. It’s about your brand’s core. It’s about your worldview—the stuff that drives every decision and shapes how you show up in the world.

If you want your marketing to stick, and to mean something, this is where it begins.

Brand Strategy: Know Who You Are

This is your foundation. Don’t skip it.

• Define your vision, mission and values in a way that influences real decisions.

• Understand what you believe and why it matters to your audience.

• Nail your positioning. This is the space you want to own in your customer’s mind.

A brand isn’t a product or a clever tagline. It’s a gut feeling people get when they think about you. Brand strategy helps shape that feeling so it’s consistent, honest and memorable.

Market Strategy: Know The Game You’re Playing

Once you know who you are, it’s time to figure out where you belong.

• What are you offering, and why should people care?

• How are you pricing, packaging and delivering it?

• Who’s your customer, and how will you reach them clearly and meaningfully?

This is the bridge between your identity and your actions. It keeps you from wandering in circles.

Execution: Show Up With Purpose

Now, finally, you can talk about branding and marketing. Branding is how you present yourself visually, verbally and experientially. Marketing is how you get your message out through campaigns, content, ads and stories. You need both. Marketing gets you noticed, but branding keeps people coming back. One creates interest, while the other builds trust.

Just remember, this is the last phase. If you start here, you’re building on sand.

Stop Chasing Vanity Metrics, And Start Building Real ROI

Metrics can be addictive. They’re flashy, easy to measure and look great in reports. But if they become your only focus, you’re losing the bigger picture.

Click-throughs and impressions don’t build businesses. Decisions do. Purpose does. Real growth starts when you slow down, ask better questions and build something with substance.

So here’s your challenge: Stop launching just to launch. Stop marketing without meaning. Stop throwing messages into the void and hoping they land.

Start with the brand. Build something solid. Say something real. Make your message impossible to ignore. Put brand strategy first, always.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Chris Suchánek

COUNCIL POST | Membership (fee-based)

Chris Suchánek: Founder and CSO of Firm Media, pioneering marketing excellence in the specialty medical sector with award-winning brands. Read Chris Suchánek’s full executive profile here. Find Chris Suchánek on LinkedIn. Visit Chris’ website.

Sourced from Forbes

By Slava Bogdan, Edited by Micah Zimmerman

The classic sales funnel is outdated for Gen Z, as their shopping journey is now non-linear. It involves platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, focusing on viral videos, user-generated content and influencer recommendations rather than traditional ads.

Landing pages have been replaced by in-app storefronts that turn moments of inspiration into instant purchases. In 2024, more than 53% of Gen Z ordered directly through social media, and 58% of all US users said they made a decision to buy once they saw a product in their feed. Social platforms are no longer just communication channels — they are the marketplaces where discovery, inspiration and purchase go together.

1. Social commerce as the default discovery channel

In 2024, 68% of Gen Z consumers discovered new products on social media, up from 60% in 2023. Nearly 60% went on and made an order, nearly doubling from the previous year. Gen Z buys while scrolling TikTok, Instagram and other social media, mixing their leisure time with shopping with no need to turn to search engines and, moreover, physical shops.

Take Luxe Collective, a luxury resale brand that has generated £2 million through TikTok Shop since April 2024 by combining live shopping events with influencer collaborations. Or YOZY, a UK-based women’s wear brand that sold nearly 400,000 items in just three months through affiliate partnerships and shoppable content.

How brands should act: Invest in your social platforms to make a perfect mix of entertainment and advertising: from short videos to live demos, from real reviews to shoppable storefronts. Be part of the scroll and turn inspiration into action with clickable, shoppable content.

2. Influence of peer reviews and content creators

Gen Z trusts people, not polished ads. Around 80% say they rely on influencers who share real experiences, and more than 60% say reviews and content from beloved bloggers are the most influential factors in their purchasing decisions. This data only proves we’ve all been facing for a while: this generation wants authentic, ongoing endorsement, not a one-off exposure to an ad.

Think Glossier. This beauty brand collaborates a lot with micro- and nano-influencers who create simple, authentic content that feels personal, not promotional. Over 70% of Glossier’s sales are driven by peer recommendations rather than traditional marketing.

How brands should act: Work with smaller influencers who speak in a relatable, honest voice and share the vibe of the audience you want to engage with. Encourage real customers to share reviews, unboxings and video reactions. Reward user-generated content through loyalty programmes and special campaigns.

3. Mobile-first experiences and in-app community building

Smartphones reign supreme in Gen Z’s world, also defining their shopping habits. Over half of Gen Z shoppers have made in-app purchases, and 75% say that a convenient brand’s mobile app or site can make a whole difference when choosing what brands to support. Yet, a clear interface and digital checkout are not enough — focus on community-building.

Nike understands this well, thus transforming their mobile app into a whole lifestyle space rather than an online shop. With personalised workout plans, live trainer chats and social sharing tools, Nike’s app blurs the line between fitness and commerce, and reap the benefits with over 75% of Gen Z users saying this whole ecosystem is vital to their relationship with the brand.

How brands should act: Turn your mobile experience into a hub of interaction. Add features like live chats, ratings, user forums and social feeds. Offer app-only exclusives and create content-based challenges or rewards to encourage ongoing engagement.

4. Path from inspiration to engagement

Gen Z rarely goes straight from awareness to action. Instead, they might discover a product on Instagram, research real-life reviews on YouTube, compare prices on diverse sites and then buy it (or not).

How brands should act: Support every stage – discovery, validation, purchase, re-engagement – with relevant content. Share behind-the-scenes videos, customer stories, comparisons and FAQs. Create events or experiences that blend online and offline touchpoints.

5. Two-way engagement and active conversation

Around 80% of Gen Z use social media for inspiration but seek validation through peer comments and real conversations. Transparency and co-creation become paramount, and brands that act more like communities than corporations are more likely to win. This trend only intensifies with the rise of AI.

Spotify Wrapped is a brilliant case in point. It transforms individual user data into shareable content that feels personal and celebratory. Gen Z isn’t just consuming the campaign – they’re sharing it and sparking conversations.

How brands should act: Build communities, not campaigns. Let your audience co-create product lines, vote on designs or share ideas, and spark dialogues in comments. Be transparent about changes and even mistakes so your audience is more likely to trust the brand.

6. Viral speed means instant adaptation

91% of Gen Z are on Instagram; 86% use TikTok, and these are the platforms that keep changing daily. Over half of Gen Z made a purchase after seeing a product in a review or viral video in 2024. Brands must adapt if they want to stay relevant.

How brands should act: Monitor trends in real time and always be ready to respond, even if it means sacrificing perfection for speed. Find your perfect creators who can creatively interpret your product in a fun, ironic and culturally relevant way, yet maintain your tone of voice.

Gen Z’s shopping behaviour is shaped not by impulse, but by identity and the desire to express. For brands, this means adaptation to new rules: the agile and authentic ones. And brands that want to thrive need to meet Gen Z not where they are, but where Gen Z lives.

By Slava Bogdan, Edited by Micah Zimmerman

СEO & co-founder of Flowwow, tech-entrepreneur with a 10-year leadership experience in e-commerce business. Building a glocal (global + local) marketplace that brings ultimate joy to your loved ones around the world.

Sourced from Entrepreneur

By Katie Jewett

Consumers today aren’t just consuming content—they’re scrutinizing it. In an era where personalization is expected and values matter more than ever, brands must go beyond simply being informative or entertaining. To truly connect, content must be relevant, trustworthy and reflective of the brand’s role in society. And that means rethinking not only what the content says but also how it’s created, delivered and perceived.

Staying Relevant In The Content Economy

Below are three essential shifts brands must make to stay relevant in today’s content economy.

1. Think beyond product-centric messaging.

Modern consumers expect more than just promotional messaging—they want brands to stand for something meaningful and worthwhile. In an April 2024 Direct Digital Holdings study, 81% of Gen Z consumers said that diversity and multiculturalism significantly influence the brands they support. This highlights the significance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in influencing purchasing decisions among this generation. Furthermore, a 2019 study by Sprout Social reveals that “70% of consumers say it’s important for brands to take a stand on public issues.” This reflects a growing expectation for brands to engage actively in societal conversations.

That doesn’t mean abandoning performance-driven content. However, it does mean rebalancing content strategies to include storytelling that reflects the audience’s values. Brands that sustain their commitment to meaningful causes—not just through one-off campaigns but with consistent content across channels—build deeper consumer trust and long-term loyalty.

2. Prioritize privacy in distribution.

Even the most resonant message can fall flat if it’s delivered in a way that feels intrusive. As privacy concerns escalate and third-party cookies are phased out, brands must evolve their approach to targeting and reaching their audiences.

Research conducted by the Harris Poll in 2023 shows that 70% of consumers have taken action to protect their online privacy, such as blocking cookies or using incognito browsers. And a 2022 study from Cisco shows that 37% have abandoned brands due to dissatisfaction with their data practices. In response, brands are exploring new privacy-first targeting methods. One example is “predictive audiences,” which use contextual signals, such as time of day, device type or content engagement behaviour, to identify audiences more likely to interact with branded content, all without relying on personal identifiers.

These strategies strike a balance between relevance and respect, allowing brands to maintain performance while honouring consumer preferences.

3. Use AI thoughtfully in content creation.

Generative AI has unlocked new possibilities for content marketers, including rapid idea generation, tone optimization and real-time iteration, to name a few. But with great power comes new scrutiny. Can consumers tell the difference between human- and AI-generated content? And does it matter?

In a 2023 study, most consumers were unable to reliably distinguish AI-written content from human-created articles. In fact, many found AI content to be more personable and enjoyable, possibly due to its simplicity and accessibility. However, human-written content still ranked higher in terms of educational value and attention retention.

The takeaway? AI can be a powerful co-creator, particularly for content that needs to be concise and digestible. But for messaging that requires depth, education or emotional nuance, human writers still lead. Transparency matters too. Brands must communicate how they’re using AI and ensure outputs are accurate, on-brand and ethical.

Actionable Steps For Marketers

To create brand content that connects, performs and lasts, marketers should align strategy and execution with today’s consumer expectations. Here are some practical ways to start:

• Lead with value-driven storytelling. Ensure your content reflects your brand’s stance on social issues and commitment to DEI—not just in mission statements but across campaigns, social posts and creative execution. Audiences can spot performative messaging, so aim for consistency and authenticity.

• Design for privacy-first performance. Move beyond third-party cookies by exploring contextual and predictive targeting methods. Use signals such as page context, device type and user behaviour to personalize content delivery while respecting privacy boundaries.

• Use AI as a co-creator, not a crutch. Let AI help with brainstorming, outlining or tone refinement, but reserve human input for strategic storytelling and emotional nuance. Be transparent about how AI is used in your content process, especially for brand-owned channels.

• Simplify complex content without losing substance. Whether through AI tools or human editing, clarity matters. Break down technical concepts, structure for skimmability and prioritize accessibility, especially when speaking to a diverse or global audience.

The Future Belongs To Thoughtful Brands

Content has never carried more weight—or more responsibility. As consumers become more discerning, brands must move beyond traditional tactics and embrace a holistic content strategy—one that integrates purpose-driven messaging, prioritizes privacy and uses emerging tools like AI to scale with care.

The brands that succeed will be those that create not just content but connection.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Katie Jewett

COUNCIL POST | Membership (fee-based)

Katie Jewett is a vice president at UPRAISE Marketing + Public Relations, helping B2B tech visionaries amplify their voices. Read Katie Jewett’s full executive profile here. Find Katie Jewett on LinkedIn. Visit Katie’s website.

Sourced from Forbes

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The nation of Romania has asked for Google and Meta to step in to banish black market advertising.

Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN), the nation’s regulatory body, has complained to both search providers to take responsibility for these illicit organisations that can hoodwink willing bettors.

ONJN submits official complaints to Google and Meta

The regulatory body conducted an audit in February 2025, which discovered that Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Google advertising all hosted avenues to illegal and black market providers of gambling.

The ONJN has questioned the Silicon Valley institutions, saying the regulator needs the data from Google and Meta to show the origins of these illegal adverts and to provide the root cause of the individuals who are continuing to make money from them.

Speaking at a conference titled “Fighting Financial Crime in Central Europe,” the President of the National Gambling Office, Vlad-Cristian Soare, was direct in addressing the threat that black market operators pose to the nation.

He said, “The black market in gambling is a social threat: players have no protection, and the state faces a significant risk to its economic and financial security.”

“It is estimated that, at EU level, of the total gambling revenues, over 70% go to the black market, and under 30% to the regulated (taxed) market,” Soare continued.

“The black market is extremely attractive to players: there is no taxation on winnings there, and the offers are often more tempting, as illegal organizers, not paying taxes, can present a much more attractive offer.”

This led to calls in the Romanian parliament to step up the pressure on Google and Meta for them to take responsibility for providing these illicit operators an opportunity to catch the eye of gamblers.

In the wake of the February audit, it was found that close to $1bn was lost in projected tax revenue between 2019 and 2023.

ONJN then faced criticism from members of the Save Romania Party (USR) who wanted their responsibilities for enacting regulations to be transferred to the Romanian national revenue office.

Feature Image Credit: Pixlr AI-generated.

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Paul McNally has been around consoles and computers since his parents bought him a Mattel Intellivision in 1980. He has been a prominent games journalist since the 1990s, spending over a decade as editor of popular print-based video games and computer magazines, including a market-leading PlayStation title published by IDG Media. Having spent time as Head of Communications at a professional sports club and working for high-profile charities such as the National Literacy Trust, he returned as Managing Editor in charge of large US-based technology websites in 2020. Paul has written high-end gaming content for GamePro, Official Australian PlayStation Magazine,…

Sourced from readwrite