By Barry Schwartz

Google added QR codes that you can give your customers to quickly leave you a review for your business on Google Search and Google Maps. This can be accessed in your Google Business Profiles under the reviews section.

You can access this on desktop by searching for your business, then clicking on “Ask for reviews” or by going to your reviews and clicking on “Get more reviews.”

Here is what it looks like:

It says, “Give customers a link to review your business on Google, Reviews build trust and help your Business Profile stand out to customers on Search and Maps. Get your own Google QR to receive customer reviews.”

This was shared by Lisa Landsman from Google on LinkedIn who wrote:

[Just Launched] Create QR codes for reviews directly within your GBP 

We all know how critical reviews are for your business’ reputation. Now you can create easy-to-scan QR codes that take customers directly to your Google Business Profile, encouraging them to leave more reviews. Rather than having to take the link from GBP and put them into a QR code generator, you can do this all in one place!

Here’s how: On your desktop, go to your Business profile and click on “ask for reviews”. Follow the instructions to generate a link or a QR code. Voila!

This is kinda of new, I mean, it is new here. But Google had QR codes since 2009, I embedded a video of how slow it was to scan a QR code back then. Then in 2010, Google let you print your own QR code and then 2011 Google removed it.

Anyway – we have had Google re-up its QR code game recently.

More here:

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

By Barry Schwartz

Sourced from Search Engine Roundtable

By Chad S. White

Social media is unravelling. Brands betting on platforms they own will be the ones left standing.

The Gist

• Social shift ahead. The decline of big social media platforms is accelerating, and this is reshaping how brands should approach customer engagement.
• Trust on trial. Consumers trust user-generated content far more than influencer promotions, which signals a shift in what drives brand credibility.
• Own your channels. Brands must invest in direct channels like websites, apps and email to regain control over customer relationships.

A few years from now, we may look back on 2025 as the beginning of the end of two long-standing mega pillars of the internet.

The first is Google’s domination of the search engine marketplace, which is being disrupted by generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity, with Google’s market share falling below 90% for the first time since 2015. Antitrust issues aside, there are plenty of reasons to believe it will never be that high ever again.

The second is the end of the era of big social media platforms.

Let’s look at the crumbling that’s already started, where things are likely headed and why the momentum isn’t likely to let up.

Table of Contents

• The Canary in the Coal Mine
• Meta Doubles Down on the Wrong Lessons
• Social Media as a Black Box
• Influencer Fatigue
• Bots Are Taking Over — and Everyone Knows It
• Take Back What You Can Control
• Core Questions About the Decline of Big Social Media

The Canary in the Coal Mine

Before its acquisition by Elon Musk, Twitter was widely viewed as the world’s digital town square. Since its transformation into X, it’s become a shadow of its former self, more of a ghost town than the world’s town square.

Since Musk purchased the platform in 2022 for $44 billion, X’s valuation has plunged. According to Fidelity’s valuation of its investment in X, the platform’s worth has fallen by 79% to just $9.4 billion. Brand Finance is even less generous, valuing it at just $498 million earlier this year.

This change of fortune was driven by an 80% reduction in staff, which notably included all of its content moderation staff and partners. That change directly led to a marked decline in content quality and negative shift in tone. This caused millions of active users to leave the platform, and it raised brand safety concerns among advertisers, many of which reduced or ended their advertising. As a result, X is “barely breaking even” and has sued its former advertisers, claiming conspiracy.

That chain of events is important because of what happened next.

Meta Doubles Down on the Wrong Lessons

On Jan. 7, a couple of weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration, Facebook founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would be “restoring free expression on our platforms” by getting rid of fact-checkers, removing restrictions on controversial topics like immigration and gender, dialling back other content filters, increasing recommendations of political content and “going to work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world going after American companies and pushing to censor more.”

Zuckerberg explicitly says they’re going to be doing things “similar to X” and rolling those changes out across Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

Based on what’s happened at X, there’s every reason to believe that these changes will cause many unintended consequences.

• Many Meta users may spend less time on its platforms or depart for other platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, which have benefited tremendously from X’s similar policy shifts.
• Advertisers may pull back or depart out of concern for brand safety.
• Foreign governments may levy additional fines or further restrict Meta’s activities in their nations, worsening its already poor relations.

One of Meta’s early attempts at rolling back content moderation resulted in Instagram users seeing violent and graphic content recommended in their Reels feeds, which led to a flood of user complaints.

Social Media as a Black Box

The double-whammy of lower user engagement and advertiser pullbacks is likely to be devastating, just as it’s been at X. Making matters worse is the fact that social networks have gradually restricted organic brand reach to near zero over the years.

What little organic traffic that exists is often obscured by these platforms, according to SparkToro. And cookie consent is further complicating attribution, suppressing conversion tracking by up to 20%, according to Orbit Media. All of that has further discouraged brands from investing much in an organic presence on social media platforms.

As a result, when brands pull back from social media advertising, they’re often left with a minimal direct presence. That said, some may have an indirect presence via influencers, but even that is on shaky ground.

Influencer Fatigue

Plenty of consumers feel a kinship with their favourite influencers. That’s particularly true of younger consumers in Gen Z.

However, in general, trust is slipping. A common consumer belief today is that most influencers only endorse and promote products because they’re paid to, not because they use or even like the product.

According to a survey by EnTribe, 81% of consumers said a brand’s use of influencers has either no impact or a negative impact on their perception of that brand. Fifty-one percent said they scroll right past influencer posts, in much the same way that consumers ignore ads. When asked if their purchases were ever impacted by an influencer, 62% said they’ve never purchased an influencer-promoted product, while 42% of those who had purchased an influencer-promoted product said they regretted doing so.

The most shocking evidence that the influencer market has peaked is that 86% said they’re more likely to trust a brand that publishes user-generated content, compared to just 12% who said they’re inclined to purchase a product promoted by an influencer.

Bots Are Taking Over — and Everyone Knows It

Authenticity and trust are being further undermined by AI bots, which in some cases are being directly created and enabled by social media platforms. For instance, Meta created Facebook and Instagram AI bots for living celebrities, dead famous people and others. Meta also allows Instagram users to create AI versions of themselves to interact with their followers (seemingly to save them from having to waste their time doing so).

These programs aren’t fringe. They’re core to social media’s future. Meta has even told The Financial Times that it envisages social media filled with AI-generated users.

To their credit, these AI bots are clearly labelled. But it conjures up a dystopian future where we all create AI versions of ourselves that chat with one another and periodically update us about the fake conversations our fake selves are having with all the other fake people. That’s a far cry from the original promise of social media. In fact, we probably won’t call it “social” media at that point.

Of course, all of that is on top of the enduring problem of run-of-the-mill fake accounts. Facebook alone removes around 1 billion fake accounts each quarter.

Take Back What You Can Control

If you throw in the uncertainty swirling around TikTok, social media has never looked more shaky. Still huge, but shaky.

The natural response from brands should be to counterbalance that uncertainty by investing more in channels they have much more control over, including websites, apps, customer loyalty programs, email, SMS (RCS), mobile and browser push, and podcasts.

In addition to building up first-party audiences, which give you much more direct and unmediated relationships with your customers and prospects, investing in these channels also gives you many opportunities to collect first-party data. This data is vital for driving message targeting, ad targeting and analytics that get us closer to our customers.

The internet is undergoing massive changes. And if Twitter’s transformation into X demonstrates anything, it’s that big changes can happen faster than you think. Every brand should be watching carefully and coming up with contingency plans before they realize they’re a few years too late.

Core Questions About the Decline of Big Social Media

Editor’s note: Key questions surrounding the decline of major social media platforms and how brands should adapt their customer engagement strategies.

How is the collapse of big social media changing customer engagement?

As trust in major social media platforms declines, brands are shifting their focus toward direct engagement strategies such as email marketing, owned communities and first-party data collection. Consumers are looking for more meaningful interactions, prompting businesses to invest in personalized customer experiences outside of traditional social media channels.

What role does user-generated content (UGC) play in brand credibility?

With consumers increasingly sceptical of paid influencer promotions, authentic user-generated content has become a powerful trust-building tool. Brands that encourage customers to share real experiences—through testimonials, reviews, and organic social posts—see stronger engagement and credibility compared to those relying on traditional advertising.

Why should brands invest in owned channels over social media?

Brands that rely heavily on platforms like X and Meta face risks due to algorithm changes, declining organic reach and shifting audience behaviours. Investing in owned channels such as company websites, email newsletters and brand communities provides greater control over customer relationships and reduces dependence on unpredictable third-party platforms.

How can brands mitigate the risks of AI-generated content and fake engagement?

AI-generated interactions and fake engagement on social media are eroding trust. To counter this, brands are prioritizing authenticity by fostering real customer conversations, leveraging human-led content creation, and verifying the credibility of online interactions. Transparency about AI usage in customer engagement is also key to maintaining consumer trust.

What are the long-term implications of social media’s decline for digital marketing?

The decline of traditional social media is pushing marketers toward more diversified digital strategies. SEO-driven content, community-based marketing and personalized experiences are becoming more effective than broad social media outreach. Businesses that focus on building loyal audiences through multiple touchpoints will be better positioned for long-term success.

By Chad S. White

Chad S. White is the author of four editions of Email Marketing Rules and Head of Research for Oracle Digital Experience Agency, a global full-service digital marketing agency inside of Oracle.

Sourced from CMSWIRE

facebook user, generated content, social media, marketing, digital marketing,artificial intelligence

By Michael Thompson

Introduction

Did you know that 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine? If your business isn’t ranking on Google, you’re missing out on valuable traffic and potential customers. Whether you’re a local business or an e-commerce store, implementing the right Frisco SEO strategies can significantly impact your visibility and revenue. With over 90% of online experiences starting with a search engine, optimizing your website is crucial to ranking higher on Google and attracting more customers. At Fast Hippo Media, we specialize in helping businesses achieve top rankings and drive consistent organic traffic. In this blog, we’ll explore expert tips to improve your Google rankings with the help of a trusted Frisco SEO company.

1. Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

Google prioritizes local search results for users searching for businesses in their area. To improve your rankings in SEO Frisco, ensure your website is optimized for local SEO by:

• Claiming and verifying your Google My Business listing.
• Adding accurate Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) across all directories.
• Using Frisco SEO services to optimize your content with location-based keywords.

2. Focus on High-Quality Content

Content is king in the digital world, and Google rewards websites that provide valuable and relevant information. To enhance your rankings:

• Publish blog posts, case studies, and guides related to your industry.
• Use SEO company Frisco experts to conduct keyword research and target the right audience.
• Ensure your content is original, engaging, and solves user problems.

3. Improve Your Website’s Technical SEO

Technical SEO is crucial for better indexing and rankings. Trusted SEO agency Frisco will help you optimize:

• Website Speed: A slow-loading site can reduce your rankings and increase bounce rates.
• Mobile Friendliness: Over 60% of searches now come from mobile devices.
• Secure HTTPS Protocol: Google favours secure websites over non-secure ones.

4. Build High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks from authoritative websites signal to Google that your content is trustworthy. To strengthen your backlink profile:

• Guest posts on reputable industry websites.
• Partner with a Frisco SEO consultant to build quality links naturally.
• Avoid spammy, low-quality links that can harm your rankings.

5. Leverage On-Page SEO Best Practices

Optimizing individual pages is key to improving rankings. Your Frisco SEO agency should help with:

• Title Tags & Meta Descriptions: Ensure they include your target keywords.
• Internal Linking: Helps Google understand site structure and improves user experience.
• Alt Text for Images: Helps with accessibility and image search rankings.

6. Utilize Social Media for SEO Benefits

While social media doesn’t directly impact rankings, it can drive traffic and engagement. Consider:

• Sharing blog posts and website links across social platforms.
• Engaging with local communities to increase brand awareness.
• Encouraging user-generated content and reviews to boost credibility.

7. Monitor & Analyse Your SEO Performance

SEO is an ongoing process. Regular tracking and adjustments are necessary to maintain rankings. Use tools like:

• Google Analytics to track visitor behaviour and website performance.
• Google Search Console to monitor keyword rankings and technical issues.
• Hire the best SEO company in Frisco to conduct regular SEO audits and improvements.

Conclusion

Improving your Google rankings requires a combination of technical expertise, high-quality content, and strategic optimization. By implementing these Frisco SEO tips, you can improve your online presence and attract more customers. If you’re looking for expert guidance, Fast Hippo Media is a trusted Frisco SEO company dedicated to helping businesses achieve long-term success. Start optimizing today and watch your rankings soar!

By Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is a highly skilled SEO expert at Fast Hippo Media, specializing in Frisco SEO services. With many years of experience in digital marketing, Michael helps businesses enhance their online visibility, drive organic traffic, and achieve top search engine rankings. View more posts

Sourced from https://digitalmarketingblogtx.wordpress.com/

Posted by

By Chris McNeil

Strategic Thought Leadership offers a robust Content Marketing Strategy that can move the mind of a marketplace.

Ever read, “Be a thought leader!” and wonder What exactly do they mean by that?

Let’s consider a more empowering model of Thought Leadership Marketing.

Strategic Thought Leadership offers a better definition.

Strategic Thought Leadership is more about the leadership itself. It isn’t sensitive to how big a name you are or how well known your company is. If you, your company, or you client influences just one person’s thinking, then you are doing thought leadership.

Instead of being a thought leader, Strategic Thought Leadership focuses on building and promoting a robust Thought Leadership Model.

It’s not just about how much you know, it’s more about how well you use what you know to

• Empower your audience to get more value,
• Help them make smarter buying decisions,
• Elevate customer experience (CX), or
• Set their criteria to expectations that only your company meets.

Strategic Thought Leadership Marketing is a structured Content Marketing Strategy organized to move marketplace thinking to embrace the unique attributes of your offering.

There are many advantages to building your content this way. Here are 10:

1. Strategic Thought Leadership brings a focus on quality content as opposed to the all-too-prevalent mass fluff production.

And, speaking of respecting your prospects’ time and attention, …

2. Putting your audience’s learning needs first leads to long term customer relationships built on trust.

Trust comes naturally with Strategic Thought Leadership Marketing, which aims to serve prospects’ learning needs. This contrasts especially with targeted online advertising.

It’s not about the clicks on a targeted ad, it’s about the higher profits that come from developing long-term relationships based on trust by putting prospective customers first. Instead of targeting them, you target what they want.

Some say data drives results but data also can drive detachment and can cost empathy for the customer perspective resulting in a negative brand impression. Data measured from their point of view, though, as Strategic Thought Leadership encourages, gives the numbers greater meaning and power.

And, even if you are already working from the more customer-centered inbound marketing model, …

3. Strategic Thought Leadership avoids the Parrot Content Trap.

Nearly every company is pumping out web content. Most is fluff.

Joe Pullizi of the Content Marketing Institute¹ says “(repetition is the) one thing … killing content marketing and everyone is ignoring it”.

91% of B2B companies are using content marketing² and 60% of marketers are creating at least one piece of content a day³. With web content piling up at such an alarming rate, build content based on new thinking rather than adding to the huge, steaming pile of sameness that is the current state of most inbound marketing. And, fortunately, …

4. Leading the market to new thinking can be easier than trying to outwork the competition in content production.

A shark continues moving or dies.

The thinking of the marketplace is moving also and you can either participate in guiding the movement or it’s likely you’ll sink as well.

Simply working harder to create more parrot content can be like trying to chop down the mightiest tree in the forest with a specimen of clupea harengus. It can create fatigue and frustration if it doesn’t resonate with your audience. And repli-content smells a little fishy.

Conversely, strategically leading the marketplace to new territory brings the relief of saving wasted effort and the excitement of faster results. It feels good because every step helps empower the prospect. And if you feel that’s going out on a limb, consider …

6. It brings a stronger sense of purpose to your content marketing strategy.

When taking in a broader perspective that includes how people use what you offer, it’s their experience of getting more out of using what you sell that comes into clearer focus as the real purpose of your content marketing. That comes from a content marketing strategy based on Strategic Thought Leadership.

Doesn’t approaching content development, production, and promotion as Creative Leadership as a Service (CLaaS) bring greater satisfaction than less purpose-driven marketing?

And if you aren’t yet confident enough that your ideas can influence your prospects, consider that …

7. Even the best content ideas need building out to be robust enough to truly influence the marketplace.

A great idea is like an engine in a formula 1 car- it needs all the other elements- like tires, suspension, the driver, aerodynamics – built around it in order to win the race, no matter how powerful the engine is.

If you bring a great idea to market without the full structure of Strategic Thought Leadership, it can fall flat on its face and leave you discouraged. By building that structure, you can have confidence in the power of the idea taking hold and moving people. Because …

8. A message that simply stands out is not enough.

A storefront splashed with the graffiti of last night’s vandalism stands out but isn’t attracting new customers.

Well-designed Strategic Thought Leadership, though, leads your market to embrace your way as the way. It brings growth and profits.

Building a robust thought leadership model is like building a house where the foundation – the structure – needs to be complete. Just showing you are knowledgeable is like the paint on the house. It doesn’t go deep.

When building that structure, consider that …

9. Having a Support Point Library clarifies and speeds up content production.

In order to move the mind of the marketplace to embrace your Thought Leadership, you need a critical mass of well-promoted content based on language patterns of persuasion.

This calls for a library of high-impact Support Points such as those Thaut builds with neuro-linguistics. These potent talking points undermine the old thinking, reinforce the new thinking and fuel ongoing content, sales, and publicity.

The Support Point Library that is integral to the Thaut Process of Strategic Thought Leadership makes multiple phases of content marketing easier and more effective:

• Your Content Marketing Strategy is supported with a path for market-influencing ideas to flow into content.
• Content Calendar Planning is easier with a set of Thautfully constructed ideas visually plotted and building influence over time.
• Content Outlines for web copy, blog posts, press pitches, and infographics fall right into place.
• Content Producers like designers, content writers, and copywriters are better supported with more fully-formed content assignments.
• The Connection of marketing strategy to tactics is more coherent.
• Content Ideas are abundant with a never-ending flow of high-impact, distinctive content angles always at hand.
• The Purpose of every content piece is clear- to move market thinking in a specific direction that serves the prospect and favours the featured product.
• Analytics can expand to include how well the marketplace is embracing the new ideas.

The end result is that …

10. By getting them to embrace your model, you get lock on your market segment.

By Chris McNeil

Sourced from THAUT

By Lloyd Coombes

Fed up with Google’s results? Perplexity could be just what you’re looking for

There’s no denying that Google has been a core part of the internet for decades (for better or for worse), but it’s also fair to say its search product is hardly at the peak of its powers anymore.

Clunky AI overviews that are often incorrect, too many sponsored results, and giving low-quality sites more of the limelight has left many scrambling for an alternative. Where it often felt like one would never come, now Perplexity AI offers a genuine rival.

Naturally, an AI search engine comes with the usual caveats: it’ll get some things wrong, but with the state of Google at the moment, there’s perhaps never been a better way to try something new.

With that in mind, here’s why Perplexity AI might be your next search engine of choice, and how to change it.

Why Perplexity AI could be your next search engine

The big draw of Perplexity AI as a search engine is that it’s not just a search engine. Let me explain — Google has piled more and more on top of its existing search product, and while some of it has undoubtedly been useful, it’s started to feel as though the whole thing is creaking.

In many ways, Perplexity AI’s search function is just a bonus to a very good LLM that’s pretty great at research.

You can Google when, say, the iPhone 17 is launching, but that’s it. After that, you start a fresh query, and the process begins again, whereas Perplexity lets you ask a follow-up question like “How many models will there be?” or “How many days is that?”.

It’s also great at doing, well, LLM things. Ask it for a summary of the news today, and it’ll condense it for you. Ask for a recipe for banana bread, and it’ll put its digital apron on, and even let you ask for potential replacements for ingredients you may not have in the house.

The whole thing is more conversational, and it’s remarkably easy to set up — even in Chrome, which has long been Google’s home turf.

How to make Perplexity AI your default search engine

The following instructions work on any Chromium browser, and some will let you log in on multiple profiles so you can flick between Google and Perplexity based on your context.

• Open Chrome on your device
• Click the three dots in the top-right corner, then click Settings.
• On the left-hand sidebar, click Search engine, and then Manage search engines and site search
• To add Perplexity to the browser, use the following information:
  • Name: Perplexity
  • Shortcut: perp
  • URL: https://www.perplexity.ai/?q=%s
• Click Add, then return to the list.
• Typing the ‘perp’ shortcut will trigger Perplexity, but you can also set it as Default if you’d prefer.

Using Firefox? It’s just as simple.

• Open Firefox on your device
• Open the Firefox Add-Ons storefront and add the Search Engines Helper Extension
• Open the extension, and then enter https://www.perplexity.ai/?q=%s for the Search URL, which will auto populate the rest of the list.
• Right-click the address bar in your browser and click Add “perplexity.ai” and you’re done.

How to use Perplexity on your phone

Switching to Perplexity on your phone is as easy as installing the Perplexity Ask app.

Doing so gives you a sort of ‘live ticker’ of news before you even get started.

Perhaps my favourite thing about Perplexity is that it attempts to put sources front-and-center. Asking “what’s in the news today?” will give a series of stories, as well as tappable citations so you can expand a story.

There’s also a handy set of ‘Related’ options you can tap, with each expanding the context of the day’s biggest stories.

Paid subscribers can even get the news (or any other searches) delivered via audio recording.

Finally, I particularly appreciate the way you can quickly share a screenshot via a built-in share sheet — ideal for sharing fun or surprising results.

Will you be switching to Perplexity AI as your browser? Let us know, and don’t forget you can always switch back to Google if you’d prefer.

Feature Image credit: Perplexity

By Lloyd Coombes

Sourced from techradar

By Kurt Allen

The way we communicate has evolved dramatically over the last decade, with the technological advancements of smartphones, social media and instant messaging changing the global landscape.

However, one of the most transformative shifts in communication today is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). From personalized chatbots to speech recognition systems, AI is fundamentally altering how we interact with both machines and other people. This article delves into the impact of AI on communication, offering a statistical view of its influence and potential future.

1. The Rise Of AI-Driven Communication Tools

AI-powered communication tools are proliferating across both personal and professional spaces. Businesses are integrating AI into their customer service, while individuals are adopting tools like voice assistants, predictive text and even AI-generated content. According to a report by Statista, the global market for AI-based chatbots alone is expected to reach $1.34 billion by 2024, up from $190 million in 2016. This growth indicates not only the popularity of AI solutions but also how rapidly they are being adopted across industries.

AI-driven tools such as natural language processing (NLP) allow machines to understand, interpret and generate human language. For instance, Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri rely heavily on NLP to respond to verbal queries. The increasing sophistication of these systems has led to a surge in voice-based interactions. A 2021 survey from Voicebot.ai found that 58% of U.S. adults reported using voice assistants on smartphones, smart speakers and other devices, highlighting the shift toward voice as a primary mode of communication.

2. AI’s Role In Real-Time Communication

One of the most powerful applications of AI in communication is its ability to facilitate real-time interactions. AI can assist in translating languages instantly, helping bridge communication gaps between people who speak different languages. Google Translate, which employs machine learning techniques, has drastically improved over the years. The introduction of neural machine translation in 2016 allowed for more accurate translations by understanding context and sentence structure.

Moreover, AI-driven transcription services are making meetings, interviews and educational sessions more efficient. A 2021 report by PwC highlighted that 86% of executives believe AI will play a major role in the way their companies conduct meetings, with many relying on AI to transcribe, summarize and analyse discussions.

3. The Explosion Of Chatbots And Virtual Assistants

Another area where AI is profoundly changing communication is the widespread use of chatbots and virtual assistants. These tools are reshaping customer service, marketing and even internal communication. AI-powered chatbots are not only capable of handling simple queries but are also becoming increasingly sophisticated through machine learning, offering personalized responses and even emotional intelligence. For example, IBM’s Watson can process natural language, understand context and engage in complex conversations, which is a step forward from traditional scripted responses. This increased capability is encouraging businesses to integrate AI chatbots into their customer support systems.

The growing reliance on AI for communication is not limited to businesses; it’s also impacting social interactions, suggesting that AI’s influence extends beyond formal communication to casual, day-to-day exchanges.

4. Ethical And Privacy Concerns In AI Communication

While AI is revolutionizing communication, it also raises concerns regarding privacy, data security and ethical considerations. AI systems require vast amounts of data to function effectively, often pulling from personal conversations, email exchanges and social media interactions. This raises the question of how this data is stored, accessed and used.

According to a 2022 survey by Pew Research, 81% of Americans feel that the potential risks of AI—particularly regarding privacy and data misuse—outweigh its benefits. Furthermore, 72% of survey respondents expressed concern about AI systems that could manipulate public opinion or spread misinformation, particularly in social media settings.

As AI continues to play a role in communication, it will be crucial for governments and businesses to develop guidelines and policies to ensure responsible usage. For example, Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has set a precedent by establishing strict rules around data collection and usage, especially for AI applications. However, as AI’s influence expands, more robust global regulations may be required.

5. The Future Of AI In Communication

Looking ahead, the future of AI in communication holds exciting possibilities. From real-time language processing to deep learning algorithms that can predict the nuances of human conversation, AI is poised to continue changing the way we interact. As AI becomes more advanced, its applications will likely expand into even more personal areas, such as health communication, education and entertainment.

The key to understanding AI’s future in communication is recognizing its role not as a replacement for human interaction, but as a supplement to it. By automating routine tasks and offering real-time insights, AI can free up humans to engage in more meaningful, creative and emotional exchanges.

AI is reshaping the way we communicate in profound and far-reaching ways. From voice assistants to chatbots, language translation tools and workplace collaboration platforms, AI is enhancing the efficiency, speed and accessibility of communication. However, as we embrace these innovations, it is essential to address the ethical, privacy and data concerns that come with this technology. With the right balance of regulation and innovation, AI has the potential to make communication more inclusive, seamless and impactful than ever before.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Kurt Allen

Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Kurt Allen, CLSSBB, Vice President, Marketing & Communications at Notre Dame de Numur University. Read Kurt Allen’s full executive profile here.

Sourced from Forbes

By Mike Smith,

3D advertising is erupting in the OOH space. Mike Smith, CEO of Open Media, the nationwide OOH advertising provider, explains the significance of the technology and the power it offers to brands.

The future is now

3D advertising was, initially, an extravagant approach for brands with high-end budgets. But today, 3D OOH is an exciting and affordable medium with endless capabilities, including interactive options and real-time data activations. Moreover, brands capture huge social media and word-of-mouth attention by harnessing the power of 3D.

According to the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) analysis, advertisements generating an above-average emotional response can lead to a 23% increase in sales. 3D OOH, blending the physical and digital worlds, offers countless creative possibilities to capture imaginations and ensure consumer attention is both gained and retained.

Another study by BCN Visuals found that 55% of people were likely to film a 3D advertisement to share with friends, combining the influence of mobile and OOH. Research conducted by Outsmart, meanwhile, showed a 17% uplift in smartphone brand actions when consumers are first exposed to an OOH advertisement. Furthermore, 68% viewed the brand as more premium after seeing their 3D OOH and 66% were more likely to purchase the advertised product.

Overall, 3D was found to be 3.5 times more effective than its 2D counterpart, with unique data elevations available including personalized content in real-time – influenced by things such as nearby events, location, or even the weather to ensure consistently relevant messaging.

By using programmatic buying in 3D OOH, brands can utilize audience data, proprietary insights, and analytics to measure outcomes in-flight, while post-campaign, a further range of hyper-specific insight is available to assess the impact of creative on audiences. This allows brands to seamlessly correlate the impact of their 3D activations with campaign KPIs and maximize ROI.

The science of 3D

3D OOH leverages our deep creative understanding of 3D content to captivate audiences. Our brains are wired to perceive the world around us in a certain way, and when something disrupts that perception, our attention is occupied.

This science is based on human biology. Our eyes don’t perceive things identically, with a slight difference in the angle of our view called binocular disparity. This allows us to perceive depth and the distance between ourselves and other objects. 3D OOH is an illusion that affects this depth perception.

In a 3D billboard, the display combines two pieces of footage from different angles into a single clip. This creates the 3D illusion, known as forced perspective, as our brain perceives the depth as entering our physical world.

With the ability to combine this with interactive elements, from simple touch interaction to complex augmented reality experiences, brands can captivate consumers with science and showmanship.

Online and offline benefits

3D technology creates advertising experiences that transform the consumer experience. But there are also huge benefits for brands – both online and offline – to ensure marketing impact and spend is maximized.

Screens can be targeted in real-time, with creative triggers based on many factors including location, footfall, and unfolding events. For example, we worked with SkyBet on their first-ever 3D activation in 2022 for the Championship play-off final. Leveraging our iconic BOXPARK Wembley Way site, SkyBet was able to display a range of copy based on the result of the match. This resulted in a 15% uplift in average session time and a 16% rise in attention time – as well as being named Ad of the Day by The Drum!

There are other strong case study benefits emerging from 3D advertising. BMW launched their X1 model with the car driving off the screen and into major cities across the world. The campaign went viral and was eventually viewed by 17 million people. Burger King enjoyed similar success during the 65th anniversary of the Whopper, as consumers were able to assemble a 3D burger in real time. This led to 70,000 drops in several hours for the iconic product, proving anniversaries, milestones and special occasions can all be influenced by 3D.

The real value of 3D OOH for brands is building a long-term relationship with audiences. With increased metrics in retention and social shareability, research suggests consumers remember a 3D activation long after engagement – with the visuals triggering the emotional responses of our brain and enhancing brand loyalty.

Celebrity sparkle

Open Media was delighted to work with international cosmetics leader Maybelline on the spellbinding 3D launch of their first-ever digital avatar, named May, who starred in an awe-inspiring OOH campaign alongside global ambassador Gigi Hadid. The inclusion of Hadid added additional weight to an already mesmerizing campaign and opened a new door of unique creative possibilities by merging the real and virtual world. We also collaborated with Paramount on a ground-breaking 3D campaign to advertise their streaming platform Paramount+, bringing iconic shows, famous faces, and world-renowned locations to life in a mind-bending 3D experience.

3D is no longer an extravagant approach. Brands can utilize its endless power on high streets and shopping centres to amaze audiences. We provide an entire full-motion 3D portfolio across the UK, and with increasingly in-depth and real-time data tracking available, 2025 is almost certain to be the year of 3D advertising.

By Mike Smith,

CEO, Open Media Open Media Open Mic 

Sourced from The Drum

By Gary Drenik

It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has been leading the charge on the evolution of technology across the customer service space.

But as we continue to explore how AI can enhance customer experience (CX), it’s essential to examine how different generations, particularly Gen-Z, view these changes. The digital natives, who have grown up in an interconnected world, are not only comfortable with technology but they expect it to be an integral part of their daily lives – and especially in their customer service interactions.

In today’s digital landscape, brands must strike the right balance between automation and the human touch, understand Gen-Z’s expectations around AI-driven CX adopt strategies that allow them to keep pace with the rising consumer demand in an age of digital interaction.

Consumer Sentiment Towards AI-Driven CX

The sentiment toward AI in customer service is divided, and there’s a generational divide emerging as a key factor. A recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey revealed that Gen-Z expresses mixed feelings about AI, particularly in customer-facing applications.

While younger generations are generally open to AI, they still have concerns – and one significant issue is trust. According to the Prosper Insights & Analytics data, 21.2% of Gen-Z respondents said they didn’t trust AI to have their best interests in mind. Additionally, 32.1% were worried that AI might provide incorrect information, proving a need for transparency and reliability in AI-powered systems.

However, it’s not all negative. Gen-Z seeks the convenience AI offers in certain situations; for example, in online shopping or entertainment services, nearly 30% of Gen-Z consumers prefer AI chat programs, according to the Prosper Insights & Analytics survey. This indicates that while Gen-Z is cautious, they also see the value in AI, especially when it can enhance their experience by offering faster and more efficient solutions.

Gen-Z’s Preferences and Expectations of AI in Customer Service

Gen-Z expects personalization, speed, and convenience, but they also want to ensure that AI solutions don’t compromise the human experience. When it comes to customer service, Gen-Z is typically more likely to favour AI in certain scenarios where speed and convenience are prioritized, like booking a flight or resolving a quick problem with an order.

However, in more complex or sensitive matters like healthcare or banking, the majority of Gen-Z, like other generations, still prefer speaking directly with a human. A recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey shows that 81.4% of Gen-Z respondents prefer a live person for banking assistance, and 82.5% prefer human interaction when it comes to healthcare-related matters.

The desire for a seamless blend of AI and human support is crucial for businesses to understand. What this means: Gen-Z isn’t opposed to AI; they just want it to complement rather than replace the human touch.

Striking the Balance Between AI-Driven Solutions and the Human Touch

As businesses look to integrate AI into their customer service offerings, they must carefully strike a balance between automation and human interaction. According to Niki Hall, Chief Marketing Officer at Intelligent CX Platform Provider Five9, “AI is an incredibly valuable tool for businesses, but it should never replace the nuance that only a human agent can provide. A seamless integration of AI and human service is key to providing an exceptional customer experience. AI can handle the repetitive tasks, but when a customer faces an issue that requires understanding, there’s just no substitute for a live agent.”

While AI is excellent for handling routine inquiries, triaging requests, and delivering speedy solutions, there are moments when customers need a personalized and human touch to feel heard and understood. Recent research from Five9 emphasized that 75% of consumers crave talking to a human, underscoring that the use of AI as a first line of defence, followed by escalation to human agents as necessary, has emerged as a successful strategy for many organizations.

By freeing up human agents from mundane tasks, businesses can ensure that their employees are focused on delivering high-quality, personalized service to customers who truly need it.

Strategies for Managing Increased Demand During Consumer-Driven Moments

A major challenge in customer service is managing the surge in demand during peak moments, from product launches to special promotions or even crises. This is where AI shines. By deploying AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants, companies can manage large volumes of customer inquiries at scale, offering instant answers to common questions.

“AI allows us to scale our customer service without sacrificing on the quality of those interactions,” says Hall. “During high-demand periods, we can rely on AI to handle basic questions, while ensuring that our live agents are available to resolve more complex or priority issues.”

Furthermore, businesses can leverage AI’s data-driven insights to anticipate peak demand times and prepare for them accordingly. By understanding consumer behaviour patterns, AI can help predict when demand will surge, allowing businesses to optimize their workforce and infrastructure in advance.

Adapting CX Strategies to Meet Evolving Consumer Expectations

To remain competitive, companies must continuously refine their customer experience strategies to meet shifting consumer expectations. As technology and customer behaviour evolve, the brand’s approach to customer service should as well.

We know Gen-Z’s expectations are high; they want fast and efficient service, but they also demand personalization and transparency. According to the Prosper Insights & Analytics data, 31.3% of Gen-Z consumers believe that AI needs human oversight, and 26% believe that AI should provide more transparency on the data it uses. Brands that can integrate ethical AI practices and provide clear information about data usage will earn the trust of this influential demographic.

As Hall emphasizes, “The key to adapting CX strategies is understanding what Gen-Z values, and that’s authenticity and personalization. They expect brands to use AI in ways that are transparent, responsible, and enhance their overall experience.”

Finding the Right Balance

In today’s digital-driven world, AI is reshaping customer service and adapting to meet the needs of Gen-Z and are shedding light on the future of CX. However, businesses must remember that while AI can improve efficiency and handle routine tasks, human agents still remain essential for addressing complex or sensitive issues. By finding the right balance between AI and human interactions, brands can deliver exceptional customer service experiences that meet the evolving needs of Gen-Z and beyond.

Check out my website.

Feature Image Credit: AdobeStock_159764616

By Gary Drenik

Gary Drenik is a writer covering AI, analytics and innovation.

Sourced from Forbes

By Felician Stratmann|Edited by Alexandra Levis

While digital asset markets are awash in data, they lack structure and standardization, deterring the entrance of institutional capital, says Outerlands Capital’s Felician Stratmann.

Data is an essential element of an efficient market. If market efficiency is the degree to which prices reflect all available information, having quality information is crucial. And to get to information, you need data. Traditional financial markets are data-rich and have high levels of standardization and accessibility, giving market participants abundant avenues for analysis. Digital asset markets are awash in data, but this data has less structure and little standardization, complicating many aspects of fundamental and quantitative analysis.

It’s somewhat ironic that data is a sticking point for digital assets since a much-lauded aspect of public blockchains is their transparency. Transactions and data on the blockchain are available essentially immediately to anyone with access to the system. But transparency does not equal accessibility and, much less so usability. Without prioritizing accessibility, dissemination and context, masses of raw blockchain data won’t automatically improve crypto market efficiency. And while blockchain data complexity may create alpha for savvy analysts, the lack of consistent data likely contributes to volatility, deterring institutional capital.

Feature Image Credit: Lerone Pieters/Unsplash

By Felician Stratmann

Felix Stratmann is the head of research at Outerlands Capital, a data-driven digital asset manager pioneering factor investing in Web3. He focuses on the Firm’s investment strategy and factor research and is the primary researcher

Edited by Alexandra Levis

Sourced from Coin Desk

By Scott Bartnick, Edited by Micah Zimmerman

A strong PR strategy creates buzz, attracts the right audience and ensures your event leaves a lasting impact.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic PR amplifies events, attracting audiences and securing lasting brand impact.
• Pre-event buzz, live engagement and follow-up maximize PR event success.
• Effective storytelling and media outreach turn events into memorable experiences.

By Scott Bartnick, Edited by Micah Zimmerman

Sourced from Entrepreneur