By Rhett Power

Consumers today don’t just want to buy a product or service—they want to feel something. The most successful brands and businesses are responding by immersing customers in experiences that are engaging, memorable, and emotionally resonant. Whether it’s a futuristic art installation, an interactive retail space, or a high-tech event venue, immersive experiences are redefining how businesses attract and retain customers.

From urban landmarks to cutting-edge retail environments, companies that invest in immersive design, storytelling, and technology are setting themselves apart while driving significant growth. By creating spaces that engage multiple senses and encourage participation, businesses can inspire deeper connections, boost brand loyalty, and unlock new revenue streams.

Creating lasting impressions with multi-sensory engagement

In a world where attention is fragmented, businesses that engage customers on multiple sensory levels create more memorable and meaningful experiences. Multi-sensory engagement—blending visuals, sound, touch, and even scent—can deepen emotional connections, making customers more likely to return and spread the word.

A striking example of this is Kenzo Digital’s AIR at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, an immersive art experience that transforms a New York City observation deck into a dreamlike, interactive landscape. Visitors don’t simply observe the skyline—they step into a surreal, reflective world that changes with their movement, making the experience deeply personal. As a SUMMIT representative told me: “A truly memorable landmark doesn’t just showcase the city—it invites guests to engage with it in new and unexpected ways.”

The same principles apply across industries. Hospitality brands are designing hotels that feel like curated experiences rather than just places to stay. Retailers are integrating interactive showrooms that encourage customers to explore and engage with products in innovative ways. The entertainment industry, from theatres to theme parks, is turning passive audiences into active participants.

By crafting immersive environments that appeal to multiple senses, businesses create experiences that linger in customers’ minds, driving repeat visits and organic marketing through word-of-mouth.

The business case for immersive experiences

Beyond their artistic and experiential appeal, immersive venues have a powerful impact on business metrics. They attract new audiences, encourage longer visits, and increase spending—three essential drivers of growth.

The rise of experience-driven venues like Meow Wolf and AREA15 underscores the business potential of immersive spaces. These venues merge art, storytelling, and technology to create fantastical, interactive worlds that captivate visitors. The result? Millions of dollars in annual revenue, consistent customer demand, and an ever-growing reputation as must-visit destinations.

Retailers are also recognizing the value of experience over transaction. Brands that integrate immersive elements—such as pop-up activations, interactive showrooms, or augmented reality (AR) shopping—see higher foot traffic, increased dwell time, and stronger customer engagement. These experiences transform shopping from a mundane task into an adventure, making customers more likely to make a purchase and return in the future.

By blurring the lines between entertainment, retail, and art, businesses can create environments where customers want to spend time—and money.

The role of data analytics in personalizing immersive experiences

Creating an immersive space is just the beginning. The businesses that truly maximize their impact are the ones that leverage data analytics to refine and personalize their experiences.

A prime example is the Nike House of Innovation, where digital touchpoints throughout the store track customer behaviour in real time. This allows Nike to adjust product displays, tailor recommendations, and even create personalized shopping journeys—all based on how customers are interacting with the space.

For businesses looking to optimize their immersive environments, key strategies include:

• Tracking engagement metrics to understand which elements captivate customers most.
• Using data-driven personalization to tailor content, recommendations, or offers to individual visitors.
• Continuously iterating based on customer interactions to keep experiences fresh and engaging.

By integrating smart analytics, businesses can ensure their immersive experiences remain dynamic, relevant, and deeply personalized—enhancing both customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty.

The future of immersive business strategies

Immersive experiences are more than a passing trend; they are the future of how businesses engage, connect, and grow. Whether through interactive design, multi-sensory storytelling, or data-driven personalization, companies that invest in immersive strategies stand to gain a competitive edge in an increasingly experience-driven economy.

For businesses looking to differentiate themselves, the key question is: How can you create an experience that customers don’t just remember—but actively seek out and share? The answer lies in crafting spaces that don’t just sell a product or service but invite customers into something unforgettable.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Rhett Power

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work.

Rhett is a DC based executive coach who covers entrepreneurship.

Sourced from Forbes

By STEVE STRAUSS

By Lester Mapp

2025 is packed with opportunities, and these ideas are practical, proven, and ready for you right now.

When I was a young whippersnapper, I used to fantasize about being born in 1970. I would’ve bought all the properties in downtown Manhattan. Or if I were born in 1990, I would’ve put all my money into Bitcoin and never sold.

Instead, I was busy wasting my early years being potty trained and figuring out basic stuff like learning how to walk and talk.

Obviously, I’m being facetious!

But!!! I’ve spent much of my adult life searching for the next big thing, my generation’s “dot com” revolution, if you will.

And I think I’ve finally found it!

If you feel stuck and have been waiting for that one big opportunity, 2025 is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

In today’s article, I’ll share:

• Three big ideas that anyone can jump into, even if you’re starting from scratch
• My criteria for selecting these ideas and why they’re worth your time
• How you can get started today even if you’ve never done anything like this before

Sure, inventing a time machine would’ve been ideal, but these three ideas are the next best thing, and trust me, the last one will surprise you.

Quick intro 

Where are my manners? I didn’t introduce myself!

If you’re new to my work, my name is Lester, but feel free to call me Les

I’m a founder with a successful exit, currently serving as the executive chairman of a group of ecom brands. But I’m an award-winning performance marketer at my core, and spotting trends is my thing.

To stay ahead in the competitive ecom space, my team and I built internal tools and processes to spot trends faster than anyone else. We operate more like a data company than a traditional ecom brand.

If you’re into data-driven business and marketing insights and strategies, check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what’s working in the business world, along with marketing insights and trends I’m seeing.

But that’s enough about me. Let’s get to the three big opportunities I see coming in 2025.

My criteria for ‘big opportunities’

Let me share my criteria for a “big opportunity.”

First, it can’t be generic, like “sustainability and green business.” Sure, that’s a real trend, but if I’m honest, what will I do with that information, lobby the government for a solar farm? Launch an EV startup?

I’m all for sustainability innovations, but the way my bank account is set up, I don’t have hundreds of millions (let alone billions) to splash on a project like that, nor do I intend to raise money for this venture.

With that in mind, here’s exactly what I look for:

• It has to be a simple idea.
• It must solve a specific problem for a clearly defined group of people. Think niche, but a big niche.
• It shouldn’t require a ton of money to get started.
• It must have the potential for repeat customers.
• I have to be able to do a lot with a little. (Minimal investment, maximum leverage.)
• It needs to be easy to start without special or technical skills.
• It should be fully operational online or remotely, providing location freedom.
• It has to benefit from strong tailwinds driven by market and technology trends.
• I need to test quickly and easily adjust based on feedback.
• It must have a clear path to profitability in a short timeframe (think months and not decades)

Finally, I should be able to automate or outsource easily, giving me freedom once established; I need an opportunity to make moolah and not a job, ya feel me?

#1 – AI agents 

I’m bullish on AI agents because they allow you to do more with less.

I don’t think these agents are replacements for humans (at least not yet) but tools that supplement our workflow. They can automate tasks like email marketing or data entry. 🤖

Here is why I’m bullish…

The global AI agents market is projected to reach $7.60 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 45.8% from 2024 to 2030. By 2025, 75% of businesses are expected to integrate AI agents, enabling more intelligent decision-making and enhanced productivity.

The big opportunity here is to niche down into very specific functions.

For example, I’m a big fan of AI agents doing the legwork to find prospects and putting humans in the best position to close deals. (I’m not a fan of AI fully handling sales)

You can use this trend by incorporating AI agents into your workflow or offering services that help others integrate these agents.

Think of your service as “AI temp staff” for specific roles.

If you’re technical, you could build a business solving specialized problems using AI agents in areas like sales development or data analysis.

The key is to go deep on one solution, and having domain expertise is a huge advantage.

#2 – Building a personal brand

You didn’t see this one coming, did you? I bet you thought I would hit you with something generic like quantum computing.

Trolling aside, I’m incredibly bullish on personal brands, especially heading into 2025.

This opportunity is twofold: it benefits your business and you as an individual.

On the business side:

82% of consumers are more likely to trust a company when its senior executives are active on social media.

On the personal side:

Personal brands offer benefits beyond direct revenue. They help attract your ideal clients. Believe it or not, with a strong personal brand, prospects come to you and beg you to work with them.

Look, I’m not saying you need to become Mr.Beast, but think about Jeff, Elon, Steve, or Warren. These are all powerful personal brands. I don’t need to say their last names, and you still know who I’m talking about.

It’s a weird phenomenon, but it’s true.

An often overlooked benefit is how your online presence helps recruit top talent. I’m not even famous, but it is unreal how many high-quality resumes hit my inbox because people see me online.

So here’s what you do. Start telling your story. Show the behind the scenes of what you’re building: the good, the bad, the ugly. And if you’re uncomfortable in front of a camera, that’s cool. Do what I did and start a newsletter.

But whatever you do, start putting yourself out there.

In a few years, I wholeheartedly believe the only way to build a direct connection with an audience and grow a business will be through a personal brand, similar to a creator or influencer. Otherwise, you will be stuck spending ridiculous amounts of money to acquire customers through traditional channels.

#3 – I saved the best for last

The best opportunity is combining AI agents and building a personal brand around what you’re already doing.

If you’re already seeing traction with your current idea, doubling down on it by mixing these two strategies is likely your best bet rather than jumping into something new.

I’m not saying this as a blanket statement for any idea because, let’s face it, if your current idea is terrible, AI can’t magically fix that for you. (Promise I’m not being mean.)

But assuming you’re onto something, AI can amplify your results by automating tedious tasks and freeing your time to build your brand and audience.

You don’t have to guess if you’re unsure whether your current idea has potential. Just ask an AI to evaluate it for you objectively.

That said, the combination of personal branding and AI-driven leverage isn’t just smart. It’s the future.

My two cents

Not gonna lie, it would’ve been amazing to know about Bitcoin back in 2010 and throw in $1000 to become a gazillionaire today.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and my time machine progress isn’t good. That’s the bad news.

But here’s the good news!
What a time to be alive right now! With AI, the internet, and a friend named Les, who’s got your back.

I think we’ll look back at this exact moment and wish we had leaned in even harder. Information and powerful tools are at your fingertips in ways they’ve never been before.

But don’t lose sight of what truly matters because the basics never change, no matter how advanced things get. It always comes back to solving real problems, knowing precisely who your customer is, and building genuine connections that go deeper than transactions.

The winners in this new era won’t just master tech; they’ll master empathy, storytelling, and human connection. That’s your biggest opportunity.

Feature Image Credit: Eoneren/Getty Images

By Lester Mapp

Sourced from ZD NET

By Rebecca Bellan

If you spend any amount of time online, you probably noticed that your user experience keeps getting worse.

Websites are waterlogged with autoplay ads, pop-ups, and tracking scripts. Customer service chatbots are useless, despite the promises of generative AI. Social media algorithms boost rage-bait to keep you scrolling and engaged. Dating apps hide all the good ones behind a paywall. Your printer won’t work without a monthly subscription. Oh, and good luck cancelling that subscription in three clicks or less.

This is the backwash of the internet’s shift from a user-first experience to one designed to maximize engagement, ad revenue, and subscriptions.

Ed Zitron, CEO of EZPR and host of the Better Offline podcast, calls it the “rot economy,” the result of “a tech industry that has become so obsessed with growth that you, the paying customer, are a nuisance to be mitigated far more than a participant in an exchange of value.”

In a recent episode of the Equity podcast, I spoke to Zitron — who is writing a book called “Why Everything Stopped Working” — about why the stagnation of major companies creates the perfect opportunity for startups to challenge incumbents across various industries.

Zitron didn’t hold back when describing Big Tech’s decline, criticizing its obsession with quarter-to-quarter growth that leads to subpar products: “They’re ugly, they’re expensive, they don’t work very well, you don’t like using them.” He argued that many of these dominant players have grown “fat and lazy” and “overconfident,” their business models based on the idea that “it’s just easier to stay with us.”

“You can beat that,” Zitron said. “Anything you see on the web that sucks right now is at threat.”

Social media

As Zitron sees it, there are numerous areas that are ripe for disruption. One of the most obvious is social media, where he notes that “to use Instagram right now is to fight Meta to get to the things you want” and get past what Meta wants you to see. “And Facebook is even worse,” he laments.

This crummy user experience, combined with the political manoeuvrings on Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, is why we’re seeing people defect from X and Meta and sign up for platforms on the decentralized web, which is a system of independent, privately owned servers that work together to provide private and secure access to information and services.

Bluesky and Mastodon have emerged as popular alternatives to X, and many startups are throwing their hats in the ring to challenge Instagram and TikTok. In the decentralized space, Bluesky is launching a photo-sharing app called Flashes, and Pixelfed is already attracting users. Many TikTok users have downloaded RedNote as the ByteDance-owned app remains in limbo.

Enterprise and productivity software

Zitron similarly sees massive opportunities when it comes to enterprise and productivity offerings like Microsoft 365 that aren’t “great.”

Zitron said of Microsoft broadly, “They don’t make great products. They haven’t in some time.” Here, he added that he would “maybe put the gaming [division] aside” from this complaint. “I quite like the Xbox division,” he said. Then he added: “But they love laying people off and I’m sure that that place is going to slop soon.”

But it’s not just Microsoft. Zitron argued that many once-beloved Silicon Valley darlings — like Microsoft, Salesforce, Dropbox, and Zoom — lost their way after going public. The pressure to deliver quarter-over-quarter growth to appease shareholders invariably forces companies to prioritize short-term gains over long-term product quality.

He pointed to Google Docs as an example of growing corporate overreach designed to benefit a company at its users’ expense.

“Google Docs was beloved for being this really clean, easy-to-use thing,” Zitron said. “The problem is now it’s telling me that it needs AI. I must use Gemini in it now.”

Zitron called Adobe “the weakest company in tech” at the moment, calling them “desperate” and calling for a replacement. Some potential challengers we’ve seen include Figma, Affinity, and Blender.

Generally, Zitron thinks consumers will have a role to play in this shift as they cotton onto the self-serving “laziness” of incumbents.

“I believe in the next year, we’re going to see a real shift in consumers, both business and otherwise, away from these shitty companies. And when I say shitty companies, I mean most of Big Tech.”

Search

Google in particular is already facing an assault by numerous startups, and deservedly so in Zitron’s mind. Google Search used to surface the best links for your query. Now it surfaces a page of sponsored links that don’t answer your question.

“Google search is bad now,” he said, noting that DuckDuckGo “apparently makes money” and may be able to rise if the judge in Google’s search antitrust trial forces the company to share its datasets with competitors.

Zitron didn’t list all the other search competitors, but it’s worth mentioning a few. Perplexity, for example, is competing with chatbot-style search that answers questions directly in a conversational way while citing resources. Diem is a female-focused social search engine with an AI chatbot that’s fighting against data bias in a world designed for men. In the decentralized space, Marginalia Search boosts obscure, non-commercial sites rather than SEO-optimized junk, while OpenSearch is an independent, crawler-based engine.

For users who prioritize not just a better search experience but also a more privacy-focused search, there’s Kagi, a paid, private search engine with a focus on high-quality results and no ads.

There’s also Brave Search, a fully independent search index that doesn’t rely on Google or Bing. Brave also has a privacy-focused browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.

Email 

Zitron believes email is another area that a startup could “take on.” While email is one of the dominant communication tools, most of our inboxes are cluttered with spam and disorganized due to clunky UX from giants like Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo. The same is true for enterprise email, like Microsoft Exchange and Google Workspace.

There are plenty of opportunities for disruption here, notes Zitron. He says an offering from the end-to-end encrypted email service Proton “isn’t as usable as it needs to be,” but it’s not the only game in town (rival services include Tutanota and Skiff). At the same time, increasingly popular alternatives Superhuman, Hey, and Shortwave are trying to rethink user experience in email.

Build products that don’t suck

Zitron sees opportunities for disruption everywhere, and not just in a purely digital sense. He also sees an opportunity for startups to take on Amazon’s shipping and logistics business by “creating a coalition of other companies with smaller businesses — a Shopify for the delivery side.”

Whether it’s coming up with a new real estate technology to replace the “fat and happy” Zillows of the world, or a better version of Canva that’s not bloated with AI offerings, Zitron has called for a fresh take on the venture capital model. He says VC has too long focused on growth at all costs, which has created a stranded generation of startups that raised too much money — and have nowhere to go as a result.

Zitron’s PR business is to draw attention to startups, so it’s in his interests to underscore the many shortcomings of Big Tech in comparison. Still, it was an inspiring chat.

If you’re hankering for a better user experience, or you’re working on something to take down the bigs, you’ll definitely enjoy it. Check out our chat here.

Feature Image Credits: Getty Images

By Rebecca Bellan

Sourced from TechCrunch

By Megan Poinski

Plus: Trust In Generative AI Grows, Study Says Bots Make Up 80% Of Internet Traffic, Brands Highlight Stunt Performers At The Oscars, Washington Nationals Negotiate Sponsorship Rights

For many consumers, trust in generative AI is increasing as they’ve had a chance to use it. A new study from consumer research platform Attest shows that about two-thirds of Americans have used generative AI tools, and nearly seven in 10 trust the information it gives them. In fact, they trust AI results just about as much as traditional search engine results—both organic and paid.

Generative AI is seen as a sort of personal assistant, with 49% of Americans likely to use it as a tool to research purchases. Two out of five look to AI to answer questions or explain complex topics, while close to a third use it as a study aid. More than a quarter use AI to help generate ideas, and to help write letters or emails.

As a personal tool, AI is here to stay. More than half—57.4%—expect to be using these tools more in the next six months. Just 5.1% say they will use it less. And a total of 35% of consumers—an increase of 4% over last year—trust AI companies with the data they collect.

The study also bodes well for marketing. Attest asked consumers a variety of questions about brands’ use of AI technology. Opinions on campaigns and AI-generated models remained largely unchanged since last year, though recognition of benefits increased by a couple percentage points across the board. The biggest jump came from consumers recognizing that AI can help with more creative advertising, a sentiment shared by 38% this year as opposed to 34% in 2024.

If you’re not fully making the AI transition yet, there’s also good news for you in this study: 56.6% of consumers said they’re going to use traditional search engines the same amount in the next six months. And more than a quarter—27.4%—plan to use them more.

The fate of TikTok is still pending, but its brief blackout in the U.S. in January was a wake-up call to many creators and influencers who rely on the platform. Jonathan Goodman, an entrepreneur behind online fitness-based apps and author of The Obvious Choice: Timeless Lessons on Success, Profit and Finding Your Way, built his brands without an overreliance on social media. I talked to him about how to build brands in today’s atmosphere without leaning too heavily on social apps. An excerpt from our conversation is later in this newsletter.

And a reminder that we’re seeking feedback from leaders to help compile Forbes’ next installment of the New Ivies—the public and private colleges that are graduating the most prepared and competitive young talent. Please share your experience in this survey.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

While AI might be good for consumer research, it’s terrible for publishers. Forbes’ Rashi Shrivastava and Richard Nieva report that AI search engines send 96% less referral traffic to news sites and blogs than traditional search, according to a report from content licensing platform TollBit. The report showed that OpenAI, Perplexity, Meta and other AI companies scraped websites 2 million times on average in the fourth quarter of 2024, with each page being scraped an average of seven times. This seems to show Gartner’s prediction last year—that traditional search traffic would drop by 25% by 2026 due to AI chatbots and agents—is coming true. (Forbes has taken action against two AI companies for accusations of republishing and training models on its content without permission. Forbes sent a cease-and-desist notice to Perplexity, and is part of a group of publishers suing Cohere.)

But AI bots aren’t just a problem for publishers. A report from B2B marketing agency and media connection hub DesignRush finds that 80% of all web traffic is made up of bots. While bots’ share of web traffic has been increasing, DesignRush says it increased by 7% in just one year. This massive increase means that most digital ad spend is likely being wasted on bot traffic, DesignRush says, as well as increasing business server and security costs.

IN THE NEWS

Hollywood’s brightest stars came out on Sunday for the Oscars. At the 97th Academy Awards, 19.69 million viewers tuned in on ABC and Hulu—a five-year high for the awards show, writes Forbes senior contributor Marc Berman—to watch Conan O’Brien host as Oscars were handed out for actors and producers of films including best picture winner Anora, while Adrien Brody won his second career Oscar for his performance in The Brutalist.

But a lot of the action—quite literally—took place during the commercial breaks. L’Oréal Paris, Carnival Cruise Line, Kiehl’s, MNTN and Samsung teamed up to run six ads highlighting stunt performers. The lineup was the largest multi-brand ad stunt in Oscars history, and featured more than 75 stunt performers in starring roles, according to a press release about the campaign. Forbes senior contributor Celia Shatzman focuses on the L’Oréal ad, in which stunt performer Samantha Win repeatedly crashes through a plate glass window in a slinky red gown—and her makeup still looks perfect, thanks to L’Oréal’s Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist. L’Oréal Paris USA President Laura Branik told Shatzman the spray is a top seller—one sells every 23 seconds—and the ad shows that it can help makeup stay put in any condition.

RIGHTS + SPONSORSHIP

Baseball’s last team without stadium naming rights or jersey patch sponsorships is likely to get one or both this year. The Washington Nationals hired marketing and talent representation agency Excel Sports Management to take both of these partnership deals to market, and initial conversations started in January, writes Forbes’ Brett Knight. Forbes estimates the sponsorships could be worth more than $20 million annually. Nats Chief Revenue Officer Mike Carney told Knight that any announcement would be likely to come at the height of baseball season in the summer. The Nationals are pursuing a stadium naming deal that would last at least 20 years, while a jersey patch deal would have a minimum three-year term.

Although the 2019 World Series champion Nationals have only had two winning seasons since then, Excel Senior VP for Properties and Corporate Partnerships Preetam Sen told Knight that the stadium’s waterfront location—in the up-and-coming Navy Yard neighbourhood in Washington, D.C.—makes it extremely visible to tourists visiting the nation’s capital. So even if it takes some time for the Nats to draw viewers outside the D.C. area, the stadium is guaranteed to get exposure.

ON MESSAGE

How To Market Effectively When You Don’t Own The Social Media Platform

The fate of TikTok is still up in the air, and many marketers and influencers who depend on the platform were shocked when it went dark for part of a day in January. But should so many marketers really be dependent on one social platform? Jonathan Goodman, a fitness entrepreneur who has built business without overreliance on social media, says there’s a better way to use social media tools for marketing. His recent book, The Obvious Choice: Timeless Lessons on Success, Profit and Finding Your Way, addresses the issue. I talked to him about using the tools more effectively. This conversation has been edited for length, clarity and continuity.

The TikTok sell-or-ban bill was passed by Congress last spring, so those who depended on the social network for marketing presumably had time to prepare. Would you say that the brief shutdown of the app in January took them by surprise?

Goodman: I think anybody who’s done business online for any period of time knows that these things come and go, but the reality of it is it’s become so loud and so in your face in the last couple of years. Not just TikTok—Instagram, what’s been going on with X and how insane that community has gotten. It’s like if you’re not famous where you exist, you don’t matter. Ignoring the fact that there’s an entire world outside of that, of course.

I think we all intuitively understand this thing, but our world that we’ve decided to silo ourselves within is so insulated that it’s all that we see, and therefore it’s all that matters to us. So yes, I think people were probably very surprised by it, and I think people probably feel like they were blindsided by it.

TikTok went back up like three hours after it went down, but I think it showed people [that] maybe you don’t have control here. Maybe you don’t own this platform. The general sentiment is pretty clear, which is: What are we even doing here? But the [answer] that always results is: I don’t know another way. That’s because these platforms have been engineered to become addictive to the producer of the content.

Social media seems to be getting more fragmented by the day. How should a brand that has been building a strategy on social media for the last decade re-evaluate what they’re doing?

Try to figure out what’s the 1% that’s different about you, not the 99% that’s the same. What’s the uncommon commonality that you have in common with your best customer? Can you work backwards from that? What’s weird and different? What’s that kind of geek flag? Where are these people hanging out in these tiny little pockets online?

Instead of just creating content that you hope is going to get as many likes as possible, would you prefer to have 15 or 50 [from] people who are influential in that space that you have really tight connections with, or have 5,000 people who tangentially are interested in fitness follow your post because you were able to articulate something that frustrates them?

How can a brand authentically connect with new potential customers outside of the generic social media strategy that many have used?

I’ve got four stages of social media growth that I think every company goes through. Stage one is you create content for yourself. Stage two is for your customers. Stage three is for your industry. Stage four for the world.

I believe that the vast majority of businesses should actually stay at stage two for their entire business life cycle. Which means that you view your social media accounts, you view your online platforms—it might be your email list, you might decide to have a podcast—as a place to nurture your existing customers and to answer common questions. You don’t view it as a place to generate leads. You view it as a place to nurture, retain leads and generate referrals from your existing customers.

When doing that, you actually build it out kind of like a sales page. You create content genuinely to help the people that you’re already serving, and, of course, that’s probably going to resonate.

Now, will that go viral? Maybe, but this really is a call for you deciding to play your own game with your content platform, and also figuring out what metrics you need to measure in order to be successful on the platform. The metrics that the social media platform is going to give you are the metrics that are going to reinforce their goals, which are for you to become a famous entertainer. That’s probably not your goal in using social media.

For my mentorship company, we measure the amount of inbound DM inquiries that we get as a result of our content. We’ve become more sophisticated now: we measure the amount that turn into customers that retain. What we’ve found out is that there’s almost an inverse correlation between engagement and the type of content that actually generates customers. Whatever you’re doing, figure out what tangible business outcome you need as a result of your content. Measure that and look past the amount of engagement that you get. Engagement perhaps is an instrumental step, but it’s not the final goal. Goodhart’s Law states that when a measure becomes the goal, it ceases to be a good measure.

Feature Image Credit: Illustration by Fernando Capeto for Forbes; Graphics by Cherezoff/Getty Images

By Megan Poinski

Sourced from Forbes

This is the published version of Forbes’ CMO newsletter, which offers the latest news for chief marketing officers and other messaging-focused leaders. Click here to get it delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

By Slava Bogdan, Edited by Micah Zimmerman

These ecommerce trends are set to reshape the industry, offering insights into the future of online shopping and business strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Social shopping, voice tech and AI are shaping ecommerce’s future.
• Sustainability and hyperlocal marketing drive consumer loyalty and engagement.
• Immersive experiences and personalization enhance online shopping convenience and conversion.

By Slava Bogdan Edited by Micah Zimmerman

Sourced from Entrepreneur

By Bilal Javed

Are you tired of getting mediocre responses from ChatGPT while others create magic with it? The frustration of writing prompts that lead to vague, off-target answers can be overwhelming.

Many users give up, thinking they’ll never master this powerful AI tool. But here’s the good news: With our genius prompting techniques, you’ll unlock ChatGPT’s full potential and transform your interactions into consistently amazing results.

We’ve gathered the most effective tricks and strategies that will elevate your prompting game from basic to brilliant. Let’s unlock the secrets to getting exactly what you want from ChatGPT.

1. AI CHIP TIME-SHARING NETWORKS

An innovative approach to democratizing AI computing power through collaborative resource sharing. This system would establish regional AI processing hubs where multiple businesses could schedule and utilize high-performance AI chips on a time-shared basis.

Small and medium enterprises could access expensive AI infrastructure without massive upfront investments. The network could implement dynamic pricing based on demand and processing requirements. Companies could trade or auction their unused time slots, creating a secondary market for AI computing resources.

This model could particularly benefit seasonal businesses with varying AI processing needs. The system could include redundancy across multiple locations to ensure reliability and failover capabilities. Advanced scheduling algorithms would optimize chip utilization and minimize downtime. Quality of service agreements would ensure fair access and performance standards for all participants.

2. EDGE AI WILDLIFE MONITORING

A distributed network of autonomous monitoring stations powered by renewable energy, utilizing edge AI for real-time wildlife protection. These stations would operate independently using advanced computer vision and acoustic analysis to identify species and detect unusual activities.

The system would use local processing to analyse animal behaviour patterns and identify potential threats without requiring constant connectivity. Solar-powered units would be equipped with long-term storage capabilities and efficient power management systems.

Machine learning models would be periodically updated during low-power periods to improve detection accuracy. The network could communicate with neighboring units to track animal movements across larger areas. Emergency alerts could be triggered for immediate response to critical situations like poaching attempts.

3. SLM-POWERED MEDICAL DEVICES

Integration of Small Language Models into medical devices for enhanced autonomous operation and patient care. These devices would process patient data locally, making immediate adjustments to treatment parameters based on real-time physiological changes.

The system would maintain a rolling analysis of patient patterns to predict and prevent potential health issues. Security measures would ensure data privacy while still allowing medical professionals to access critical information. The devices would use minimal power while maintaining continuous monitoring and adjustment capabilities.

Emergency protocols would be built in to handle critical situations without requiring external input. Regular model updates could be performed during routine medical checkups to improve performance. The system would maintain detailed logs of all adjustments and patient responses for medical review.

4. AGENTIC AI CITY PLANNING

Autonomous urban management systems that continuously optimize city operations through real-time data analysis and adjustment. The system would integrate data from multiple sources including traffic cameras, weather stations, and utility monitors to make informed decisions. Machine learning models would predict and respond to changing patterns in city usage throughout the day.

The platform would coordinate multiple city systems including traffic lights, public transportation, and power distribution. Emergency response protocols would be integrated to handle unexpected situations efficiently.

The system would learn from historical data to improve future planning and resource allocation. Environmental impact would be continuously monitored and factored into all decisions. Regular reports would be generated for city officials to review and adjust overall policies.

5. CROSS-COMPANY ENTERPRISE SEARCH SYNDICATES

A collaborative knowledge-sharing system that maintains privacy while leveraging collective intelligence across organizations. The platform would use advanced anonymization techniques to share valuable insights without exposing sensitive information.

Companies would define specific knowledge domains they’re willing to share and receive access to similar domains from other participants. AI algorithms would identify valuable patterns and insights across the combined knowledge base. The system would maintain strict access controls and audit trails for all information exchanges.

Regular value assessments would help companies understand the benefits of their participation. The platform would facilitate knowledge exchange while preventing competitive intelligence gathering. Automated content classification would ensure appropriate sharing boundaries are maintained.

6. AI CYBERSECURITY HONEYPOTS

Advanced decoy systems that actively engage with and analyse cyber threats using artificial intelligence. The honeypots would simulate realistic company environments to attract and study attack patterns. AI models would adapt the simulated environment based on attacker behavior to maintain believability.

The system would generate detailed threat intelligence reports for sharing with security communities. Real-time analysis would help identify new attack vectors and exploitation techniques. The platform would maintain a database of attack signatures and behavioral patterns.

Automated response systems would engage with attackers to gather maximum intelligence. The collected data would be used to improve security measures across participating organizations.

7. EDGE AI MENTAL HEALTH MONITORING

Personal devices that provide continuous, private mental health support through local AI processing. The system would analyze multiple data points including voice patterns, sleep quality, and activity levels. Privacy-focused design would ensure all sensitive data remains on the device.

The AI would learn individual baseline patterns to identify meaningful deviations. Regular wellness reports would be generated for personal review or sharing with healthcare providers.

The system would include proactive intervention suggestions based on detected patterns. Emergency support protocols would be activated if critical situations are detected. The platform would adapt to individual preferences and response patterns over time.

8. SLM-ENHANCED INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

Manufacturing equipment with integrated Small Language Models for natural interaction and diagnostics. The systems would enable voice-controlled operation and maintenance procedures. Real-time problem diagnosis would reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

The equipment would maintain detailed operational logs with natural language descriptions. Integration with existing industrial systems would enhance overall factory intelligence. The models would learn from operational patterns to predict potential issues.

Voice interfaces would support multiple languages for international deployment. The system would include safety protocols and emergency voice commands.

9. AGENTIC AI LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Autonomous systems for maintaining regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions and industries. The platform would continuously monitor regulatory changes and assess their impact on operations. AI agents would suggest and implement compliance adjustments in real-time.

The system would maintain comprehensive audit trails of all compliance-related changes. Risk assessment algorithms would prioritize compliance actions based on potential impact. Regular compliance reports would be generated for management review.

The platform would integrate with existing business systems to ensure comprehensive coverage. Predictive analytics would help anticipate future regulatory changes.

10. HYBRID SEARCH ECOSYSTEMS

Integrated search platforms combining multiple data sources and AI models for comprehensive information retrieval. The system would automatically select the most appropriate search method based on query type. Different AI models would be deployed based on the specific requirements of each search domain.

The platform would maintain context awareness across multiple search sessions. Results would be presented in a unified interface while maintaining source attribution. The system would learn from user interactions to improve future search relevance.

Privacy controls would manage access to different information sources. Integration capabilities would allow for easy addition of new data sources.

TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION:

Start with small-scale pilot programs to test concepts
Focus on data privacy and security from the beginning
Ensure scalability in system design
Maintain human oversight and intervention capabilities
Regularly assess and update AI models
Document all processes and decisions thoroughly
Build in robust error handling and failover systems
Establish clear metrics for success measurement

FINAL THOUGHTS

These AI innovations represent a significant shift in how we approach complex problems across various industries. Success in implementing these systems will require careful balance between automation and human oversight. Organizations should focus on building foundational capabilities while maintaining flexibility for future adaptations.

The key to successful implementation lies in understanding both the technical capabilities and practical limitations of these systems. Regular assessment and adjustment of these systems will be crucial for long-term success. It’s important to maintain ethical considerations throughout the development and deployment process.

These technologies will continue to evolve, requiring organizations to stay adaptable and forward-thinking. The future of AI implementation will likely involve combinations of these approaches to create more comprehensive solutions.

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By Bilal Javed

Sourced from Corex Gaming

By Nicholas Leighton Edited by Chelsea Brown

Want to go viral and boost your brand’s visibility? Learn how to spot emerging trends early, create original content that resonates and master the art of trendjacking to drive massive engagement on social media.

By Nicholas Leighton 

Edited by Chelsea Brown

Sourced from Entrepreneur

By Jodie Cook

Leading a team means making tough calls. But if you’re prioritizing being liked over being respected, you’re doing everyone a disservice. When you avoid conflict and bend over backwards to keep people happy, you create bigger problems down the line. Your star players get frustrated and your business stalls. Your clients walk all over you.

Stop trying to make everyone happy. It’s not possible if you’re serious about success. Dora Vanourek, founder, executive coach and number one LinkedIn creator in Canada, shared powerful insights about people-pleasing in leadership. She spotted the patterns so we can learn

Here’s how to see if you’re guilty of being too nice in business, and what to do instead.

Leadership isn’t a popularity contest

Your job isn’t to be your team member’s friend or your client’s therapist. Your role is to build something meaningful and guide your people to success. When you focus on being liked, you create a weak culture where standards slip and top performers leave.

Too many founders fall into this trap. They sugar coat feedback, avoid tough conversations, and let small issues grow into big problems. They make concessions to avoid rocking the boat. But real leadership means doing what’s right, not what’s easy.

How to spot if you’re too focused on being liked

You never protect your team’s boundaries

You might be too accommodating with your clients. When every request is “urgent” and every favour “just this once,” you’re teaching others to ignore your team’s processes. A sign you’re making this mistake? “You accept every urgent request, overwhelming your team,” says Vanourek. Your people need you to defend their time and energy.

Stop letting other leaders bypass your systems. Make them follow proper channels. Your team will respect you more for protecting their workflow.

You reward the squeaky wheels

Playing favourites to keep complainers happy is a recipe for disaster. You end up overloading your reliable people while placating the difficult ones. Vanourek notes this means “rewarding complainers while overloading reliable people.”

Make decisions based on performance, not who might get upset. Your best people notice when you give special treatment to those who don’t deserve it.

You avoid sharing bad news

Think you’re being kind by holding back tough updates? Think again. “Share news promptly with empathy – they need time to plan,” Vanourek advises. Your team needs to know what’s happening, good or bad. Those situations that directly affect their work. The less-than-ideal calls you had to make. They’d rather know the score than be left anxiously waiting.

Give people time to process changes and adapt their plans. Share the right information with the right people at the right time. Hiding details can create uncertainty and kill trust.

You let problems fester

Small issues become big headaches when you’re scared to rock the boat. “Be transparent and share any problem within a day,” says Vanourek. Worrying about upsetting your team means problems multiply unchecked. What began as an issue with one team member infects the entire team.

Face challenges head-on when they appear. Your quick action prevents bigger explosions later, and stops you losing sleep worrying what to say.

You make decisions by committee

If you’re constantly seeking consensus and trying to keep everyone happy, you’re not leading. “Prioritize business needs, not who might get upset,” Vanourek emphasizes. Your role is to chart the course, not take a vote.

Make clear calls based on what’s right for the business. People respect decisive leadership more than endless consultation. Not everything is up for discussion.

You tolerate poor behaviour from top performers

When star players break rules without consequences, your culture crumbles. “Have the hard conversation now, before good people leave,” warns Vanourek. Watching top performers get away with toxic behaviour drives away your other awesome team members.

Set clear standards and enforce them equally. No one should be above the rules, no matter their results. Make your business a no diva zone.

Your feedback lacks punch

Having serious conversations in casual settings sends the wrong message. Stop diluting tough feedback to make it more palatable. Your team needs clear direction, not vague suggestions.

Give specific examples and concrete action steps. Don’t be afraid to share honest feedback. Speak with love but be firm. Take your delivery seriously to make your message heard.

Lead with purpose not popularity

Strong leadership means doing what’s necessary, even when it’s uncomfortable. Your business needs you to make tough decisions, have hard conversations, and maintain high standards. Stop worrying about being liked and start focusing on being respected.

The best leaders build strong teams through clear boundaries and consistent expectations. Make decisions that serve your business, not your need for approval.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Jodie Cook

Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Sourced from Forbes

By Marisa Cramer

In the last few years, there’s been a noticeable shift in the way that people interact with their online persona. I think this comes as a side effect of more people sharing more of their lives online as social media becomes more ingrained in our daily lives. Just last week, I found myself following in the footsteps of my friend from high school and making a second account just for friends, a sort of call back to the Finsta phenomenon of the 2010s.

For those who aren’t familiar with the idea of a finsta, it was a second account that was typically private and inevitably messier than your main account. It consisted of things like “Comment a number and I’ll post that photo from my camera roll” or pictures with Snapchat filters on from a girly sleepover. Ultimately, it was pretty wholesome and cute, but as we got older, I remember second accounts used in ways that ranged from online bullying to records of people doing things they didn’t really want in their digital footprint. In high school, teenagers usually try to hide things from their parents. Overall, it was a pretty strange moment in time that coincided with Gen Z’s most awkward years. We were the first iPad baby generation, giving us technological literacy that interacted with the already intense social dynamics of our teens and tweens. The relic of Finsta resembles the desire in young adults to experience autonomy on the internet and have interactions sheltered from parents and teachers.

In the years since this era, influencers were elevated to the forefront of social media by users who wanted relatable content. Our feeds slowly shifted away from plain corporate ads to corporate ads disguised as advice from your favourite influencer. Thanks to many unfortunate circumstances of false advertising and influencer scams, there are Instagram policies about disclosing sponsored content. However, in the last few years, there’s been a shift toward the micro-influencer. Someone on a smaller scale of a few thousand to even tens of thousands of followers if their content is sort of niche. Not necessarily specialized but catered towards a certain demographic of Instagram and TikTok users. I’m sure we all have people we follow who aren’t necessarily famous but have a rich online community surrounding their content.

This past weekend, I created an account sort of resembling a finsta. When I told my roommate I’d created a second account to post whatever I wanted on, she referred to it as a Finsta. For me, a Finsta is isolated in that period, but maybe I’m being too picky. A few people I know use their main or secondary accounts to reconnect with the people they know. I’m not on TikTok, so I can’t attest to how users on that platform are engaging on a micro level. I like Instagram’s format for connecting with those in my real life more than TikTok’s, but that’s also a personal preference. I’m feeling this shift towards using Instagram for two separate things: bathing information from the outside and interacting with those you know in real life. On my second account, I can post whatever I’m up to daily and keep those in my life updated in a way. But also, I can go on reels and see people I’d never see in real life teach me a new craft. I think Instagram’s prior attempt to isolate these things isn’t what users want. And by making secondary accounts or utilizing Close Friends on the platform, you can use it in a more personal way that facilitates connection more than parasocial online relationships. I kind of wish everyone on my feed would start posting like a micro-influencer, like making a vlog of your day or posting a recipe. It’s so fun connecting with people in the community when I share snippets of my life online. It’s beautiful to connect on that small scale, and it balances out the cognitive dissonance from watching more famous people’s content. Because as we’ve come to see, a lot of people are completely fabricating their lives. Beyond that, even the person with a few thousand followers and who lives 300 miles away is diluting their real experience for privacy. Which we all do, even on a personal level. But it’s more real than anyone you don’t know, and balancing out your online diet is important! I encourage you to try out posting like you have free will, even if you have to narrow the audience down. Or better yet, make a big group chat with your friends where you all do it. There are so many ways to use these platforms to facilitate connection with people you know, not just people far away!

Feature Image Credit: Instagram / @emmachamberlain

By Marisa Cramer

Sourced from Her Campus