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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.

Until now, the somewhat disjointed state of blockchain data has not been an issue given a market dominated by retail flows. But if the market is to ultimately become institutionalized (that is, garner the involvement of serious allocators like pensions, endowments, and insurance), it needs to evolve.

To improve, the digital asset space can learn from traditional market approaches. Tokens are expected to accrue value in line with a project’s success. Thus, key performance indicators (KPIs) should be readily accessible, acting like “investor relations” pages for token holders. It’s unrealistic for start-up crypto projects to disclose information like public corporations do, but interim steps can improve the situation.

For example, there are data points that could be relevant for almost all projects to disclose, including: supply schedules (with details of inflation and burn mechanisms, as well as unlocks), fees, active users and daily transactions. Naturally, projects will not have all the same indicators — for example, KPIs for a smart contract platform will look different than those for an application or DeFi protocol. Smart contract platforms may want to show how many apps are deployed in the ecosystem. DeFi protocols may want to showcase TVL or volumes. Regardless of utility, each project should make an effort to disclose as many data points as possible.

Critically, this data should have detailed definitions and methodologies, along with reproducible code for how the information is derived from the blockchain. It should also be available with complete histories through time, and be easily downloadable or accessible via APIs.

Efforts by projects to systematically disseminate key information should reduce uncertainty (and thereby volatility) and aid capital inflows into the crypto space. Investors should expect this level of transparency and reward projects that prioritize showcasing KPIs, while pushing for improvement at portfolio companies that do not.
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, noted in a recent earnings call that more transparency and analytics could broaden digital asset investment, akin to the evolution of markets like mortgages and high-yield bonds. There are already strong players like Artemis that are providing blockchain data and analytics and setting standards for digital finance. Such providers will be essential, just as platforms like Bloomberg and S&P’s Capital IQ are in the traditional markets. However, each project building digital assets should do their part to enhance data availability for investors. As the crypto market matures in transparency and analytics, as many other nascent markets did before it, the scope for investment in the space should expand materially.
Note: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinDesk, Inc. or its owners and affiliates.

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

Planning a successful event goes far beyond logistics and schedules. It’s about creating buzz, drawing the right audience and ensuring the event leaves a lasting impact. This is where public relations for events comes into play by strategically crafting and sharing your message to amplify your efforts and transform your event into a must-attend occasion.

Whether it’s a product launch, conference or community fundraiser, PR serves as the bridge between your vision and your audience. Through effective event management and content marketing, you can generate media attention, engage key stakeholders and elevate brand awareness.

Setting the stage: Public relations as a foundation

Every great event starts with a clear purpose, and public relations ensures that purpose resonates with your audience. From the outset, PR professionals help define the event’s core message and align it with your brand story by asking critical questions like “Who is the target audience?” and “What’s the goal — brand awareness, networking or sales?” The answers shape everything from promotional materials to event marketing strategies.

Integrating public relations for events early in the planning process sets a strong foundation for success. PR teams craft narratives that make your event compelling, ensuring it stands out in a crowded calendar. Strong event management combined with PR ensures that your efforts are cohesive and aligned with your organizational objectives.

Generating pre-event buzz

Press releases, media pitches and social media campaigns are essential for spreading the word and building excitement before the big event. When PR professionals craft targeted messaging tailored to journalists, influencers and stakeholders, they help secure valuable media attention that drives attendance and establishes credibility for your event.

Another key element of public relations for events is audience segmentation. For instance, an exclusive pre-event story shared with local media or a behind-the-scenes Instagram series can make your event feel special before it even begins. Such initiatives are powerful components of a broader event marketing strategy.

Engaging during the event

Public relations doesn’t stop once the doors open. A successful event relies on real-time media engagement and communication, including live social media updates, press interviews and managing media representatives attending the event.

From scripting speeches to coordinating interviews, public relations professionals ensure your brand message is consistent throughout the event and that every detail aligns with your goals. By highlighting key moments — such as a product reveal or a celebrity appearance — PR teams amplify your event’s impact so guests remember it long after they leave. Real-time content marketing during the event can also boost online visibility and keep digital audiences engaged.

Post-event follow-up: Keeping the buzz alive

The role of public relations for events extends well beyond the final applause. Post-event PR — including creating press kits with high-quality photos and videos from the event to share with media outlets, attendees and stakeholders — is crucial for maintaining momentum and leveraging the success of your event.

A well-crafted post-event press release can summarize highlights, showcase achievements and build anticipation for future events. PR teams also monitor coverage, track media attention and gather feedback to evaluate the event’s overall success.

Public relations helps turn a one-day event into a long-term asset for your brand. By keeping the conversation going through content marketing and event marketing, you extend the value of your event and strengthen your reputation.

Actionable tips for a successful PR event

Executing a successful PR event requires more than good intentions — it demands clear actions and thoughtful preparation. Whether you’re managing everything in-house or working with a PR agency, here are actionable steps to ensure your efforts pay off, both during and after the event:

  • Create a comprehensive event planning checklist: A thorough checklist helps organize every detail, from scheduling press briefings to finalizing speaker notes. This ensures that your PR strategies align with the event’s goals.
  • Secure media coverage early: Reach out to journalists and influencers beforehand to guarantee their attendance and interest. Building strong relationships before the event is crucial for generating meaningful media coverage.
  • Engage a reputable PR agency if needed: If the scope feels overwhelming, consider enlisting a PR agency like Revert PR to handle outreach, coordination and public relations event logistics. Their expertise can help ensure a seamless experience.
  • Develop targeted promotional materials: To promote the event effectively, use customized invites, press kits and digital assets. Tailor these materials to resonate with your target audience, as well as the media and event planners involved in the execution.
  • Incorporate real-time engagement strategies: During the event, use live social media updates, email newsletters, or video content to keep your audience engaged and maximize visibility. This makes your PR for events dynamic and interactive.
  • Monitor feedback for future PR events: Collect attendee feedback and analyse media mentions to refine your approach. Use this data as a guide to planning future PR events, ensuring each one builds on the success of the last.
  • Celebrate success while building anticipation: Use post-event content, such as a recap video or blog post, to celebrate achievements. Highlight how the event can help your brand while creating excitement for upcoming initiatives.

By following these steps, your PR event planning efforts can translate into a well-executed event that delivers on its promises. Incorporating these actionable tips into your guide to PR ensures not just a one-time success but a foundation for ongoing excellence in public relations events.

Effective event planning isn’t just about logistics; it’s about storytelling, strategy and connection. Public relations is the key to creating buzz and ensuring your event stands out. From building pre-event excitement to managing real-time media engagement and post-event follow-up, PR plays a central role in delivering impactful results.

When public relations is at the heart of your event management strategy, you don’t just host an event — you create an experience that people talk about, remember and look forward to attending again. By leveraging PR to build brand awareness, attract stakeholders and secure media attention, your event can achieve lasting success.

By Scott Bartnick, Edited by Micah Zimmerman

COO at Otter PR. Scott Bartnick has been nationally recognized for his business acumen. He is a nationally renowned author, ecommerce specialist and media expert. As co-founder of Otter PR, a multi-million dollar media agency, he works with top thought leaders and brands to break into mainstream media.

Sourced from Entrepreneur

By Sabrina Ortiz, 

Data and analytics leaders should take these nine trends into consideration in their strategies for the upcoming year.

Data is at the heart of most organizations, fuelling everyday business functions. To help digital leaders better prepare their data and analytics (D&A) strategies, Gartner has identified the top D&A trends for 2025.

“D&A is going from the domain of the few, to ubiquity. At the same time D&A leaders are under pressure not to do more with less, but to do a lot more with a lot more, and that can be even more challenging because the stakes are being raised,” said Gareth Herschel, VP analyst at Gartner. “There are certain trends that will help D&A leaders meet the pressures, expectations and demands they are facing.”

Out of the nine trends Gartner identified, unsurprisingly, AI-related technologies made up more than half of the list, including the biggest AI trend of the time — agents. Agentic AI has begun permeating every business sector, with organizations finding ways to implement the autonomous assistance that AI agents offer.

Gartner advised D&A leaders to use agents to access and share their organization’s data across applications. The analyst also recommended that D&A leaders use AI agents to automate closed-loop business outcomes, where data-driven insights continuously inform and optimize decisions.

When generative AI first became mainstream, the focus for many D&A leaders and their organizations was developing and implementing large language models (LLMs).

However, greater emphasis has since been placed on the value of small language models (SLMs). These small models are lightweight, tailored, cheaper, and faster to train, which is better for specific use cases. As a result, Gartner advised D&A leaders to consider SLMs for more accurate and contextually appropriate AI outputs.

As there are so many different tools that D&A leaders can use, Gartner also recommended composite AIwhich is the process of leveraging multiple AI techniques to increase technological effectiveness. This approach means exploring technology beyond generative AI and LLMs to take a deeper look at related disciplines, such as machine learning and data science.

Some of the trends that Gartner identified are indirectly related to AI. For example, the analyst encouraged using synthetic data to supplement areas where insight is missing or incomplete. This approach is especially valuable when using data for AI initiatives, as these projects require organized, complete data foundations for training and deployment. Another advantage of synthetic data is that it can replace sensitive data, prioritizing privacy, which is especially important for AI.

Building on this conception, Gartner identified metadata management solutions as an imperative trend, advising organizations to implement tools that automate finding and analysing metadata. The analyst said various metadata types, including technical and business metadata, can then be used for data catalogues, data lineage, and AI-driven use cases. In its multimodal data fabric trend, Gartner advised collecting and analysing information at the metadata stage of the data pipeline.

Other key trends highlighted by Gartner include decision intelligence platforms, which help organizations shift from simply using data to making smarter, decision-focused strategies. The analyst said this shift is critical to success.

Gartner also pointed to highly consumable data products as a trend, emphasizing the need for organizations to create useful, reusable data products that different teams can access to optimize and improve business-critical use cases over time.

Feature Image Credit: Getty Images/Eugene Mymrin

By Sabrina Ortiz, 

Sourced from ZDNET

By Jeff Beer

The Brandtech Group CEO David Jones explains how GenAI is revolutionizing advertising and brand building right now.

Last summer, The Brandtech Group CEO David Jones and creative director James Dow went to Cannes Lions to convince the industry of the power in their company’s GenAI tools. To show off what the tools could do, Jones and Dow declared they could create a brand in 59 minutes.

The Brandtech Group made a spree of AI acquisitions over the past few years. The company’s crown jewel is Pencil, which it acquired in 2023. Pencil uses AI to create static and video ad creative, and as of December, it had generated more than 2.35 million ads for more than 5,000 brands, and processed $2.65 billion in media spend since 2018. Soon after the acquisition, the company launched a premium platform, called Pencil Pro, with Unilever and Bayer as launch partners. Midway through last year, Brandtech claimed it had already produced an average 48% drop in an ad’s cost-per-action and a 78% boost in return on ad spend compared to a brand’s baseline.

In episode two of Brand New World, I decided to interrogate the claims of Jones and Dow with my own idea for a toothpaste brand as a way to get a peek under the hood of how these tools are significantly changing the advertising we see. What should the toothpaste brand look like? What should it be called? What’s the market analysis and growth strategy? Their answers were . . . impressive.

I also spoke to Omnicom Advertising Group’s chief operating officer Deepthi Prakash about TBWA’s CollectiveAI platform. The Omnicom-owned agency launched the platform last summer. It’s a collection of tools trained on the company’s past work to do everything from create social content and brand materials for clients, run ideas by synthetic audiences of any and every desired demographic, and use the company’s DE&I values to create more diverse casting, programs, and partnerships.

This episode is about how ad agencies and other brand partners are retooling their services and business using AI, and how that is already impacting brand culture. And, of course, toothpaste.

David Jones on the fears of GenAI’s impact on creativity:

“One of the big fears people have is like, everything’s going to look the same. And my first answer to that is just go look at a reel of banking ads and car ads. And they all look the same. This isn’t an AI problem. This is a human problem. But actually you’re going to be able to do so much more to ensure that you can push your brands into different spaces.”

Omnicom’s Deepthi Prakash on the value of ideas in the AI era:

As creative becomes more automated, the volume of it is going to grow to an extent where it will be really hard to stand out. And brands are going to have to work a lot harder. And that means you can’t get away with just making campaigns anymore. You actually have to figure out what you stand for, and have a strong and differentiated position if you’re going to survive and not be diminished in your margins, your costs, and even the quality of your product. The content is not going to break through as easily when everybody else can also make it really fast and really cheaply. Feeding the model what the model has created will no longer be useful.

Listen to the full episode for more. And if you missed Episode One last week, check it out here.

Feature Image Credit: Andres Garces/iStock/Getty Images Plus]

By Jeff Beer

Jeff Beer is a senior staff editor at Fast Company, and has been covering marketing, advertising, and how brands impact culture since 2006. . His coverage varies from in-depth features and interviews, to industry analysis and cultural commentary More

Sourced from FastCompany

By Griffin Kelly

Firms are building up their tech stacks with AI, according to a survey from Advisor360. They’re also expanding the C-suites.

Advisors are warming up to generative AI.

Some 85% of advisors said artificial intelligence has helped their practices, up from just 64% last year, according to a new survey from Advisor360. Around three-fourths of respondents said the benefits of generative AI tools were immediately noticeable. In fact, researchers found a “clear shift” in advisors’ attitudes toward AI compared with just a year ago. “Advisors are hungry for Gen AI-enabled tools that can boost their business,” Advisor360 President Darren Tedesco said in a statement.

And, wealth managers aren’t just dabbling with the tech to tighten up the occasional email, either. Some of the top use cases for generative AI include predictive analytics, marketing strategies, and administrative tasks, the survey found. It’s a major opportunity for advisors that can find ways to add the new tools into their workflows.

A Whole New World

Even with all the adoption, it’s still an understatement to call AI tools — like note-takers, copy-writing programs, and data analytics software —  game-changers. Today, only 8% of advisors see AI as a threat to their livelihood, quite the drop from 21% a year ago, the survey found. Meanwhile, just 9% said they don’t use AI tools at all.

Advisors’ enthusiasm for AI is only growing. Firms and organizations are expanding their C-suites to get ahead of the new technology and adapt to a changing landscape:

  • Last week, Raymond James promoted Stuart Feld to the newly created role of chief AI officer.
  • The position will be in charge of automating advisory tasks and providing advisors with better analytics tools.
  • The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, investment firm AllianceBernstein, and even the Federal Reserve Board also appointed their own CAIOs.

There may come a day when humans are subservient to their AI overlords, but for now, advisors are using the tools to cut down time on grunt work and increase the time they spend with their clients.

Feature Image Credit: Markus Spiskevia Unsplash

By Griffin Kelly

Sourced from The Daily Upside

By Chance Townsend

Ads for the controversial gambling company are appearing on memes all across X.

As Elon Musk’s X continues its transformation into a right-wing fever dream, the platform’s dwindling population of irony-poisoned meme enjoyers has found a new reason to be annoyed: an onslaught of Stake gambling ads.

 

No matter where you lurk on X, it’s impossible to escape the flood of viral posts stamped with the Stake logo in the bottom right corner. Some of the biggest meme accounts, shamelessly recycling stolen content or churning out their own, have turned into walking billboards for the crypto-backed casino.

What is Stake?

Stake is an online sports betting and casino platform that lets users gamble with cryptocurrency. Founded in Australia in 2017 by Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani, the company now operates out of Curaçao, a jurisdiction known for its lenient gaming regulations. But if you’ve heard of Stake, it’s probably not because of its product — it’s because of its relentless marketing machine.

The company has embedded itself deep in internet culture, striking lucrative deals with former Twitch stars like xQC and Adin Ross who now stream exclusively on Kick, the Stake-owned streaming platform. Beyond the gaming world, Stake is an official partner with the UFC, the main sponsor of Sauber Motorsport’s Formula One cars, and even has a deal with Drake, who’s responsible for this recent Stake ad.

In 2022, the company took its ambitions to the Premier League, slapping its name on Everton’s jerseys. That partnership didn’t last — by February 2025, according to The Athletic, Stake had pulled out of the UK entirely after the Gambling Commission launched an investigation into its advertising tactics.

The investigation was sparked by a Stake ad appearing on a video featuring English pornstar Bonnie Blue. A complaint filed with the Advertising Standards Authority argued that the placement violated UK regulations prohibiting gambling ads from being associated with “seduction” or designed to appeal to young audiences.

 

Why is its logo on all these memes?

First reported in late 2024 by 404 Media and Slate, Stake had struck deals with various content aggregators on X — paying them to slap its logo on all their posts. Thus, it’s created a low-effort, high-visibility advertising campaign for the crypto casino as X’s algorithm prioritizes content posted by subscribed users.

Making matters worse, Stake managed to squeeze even more free advertising out of X’s Community Notes system. Users attempting to call out the brand inadvertently boosted its visibility, as Notes explaining what Stake is — sometimes even linking directly to its website — spread across the platform.

The entire scheme appears to be a workaround for X’s own content policies, which explicitly ban undisclosed gambling ads and prohibit promotions for offshore casinos.

According to Slate, X user @FearedBuck was “ground zero” for Stake’s latest ad blitz. Once a Milwaukee Bucks fan page, the account pivoted to reposting clips from Kick, before abruptly stopping when it started drawing scrutiny for potential FTC violations. Now, meme accounts still slapping the Stake watermark on their posts have added a thin layer of plausible deniability, tacking on disclaimers like “Gamble Responsibly” or #AD.

In December, Musk took a brief stand, warning and suspending several accounts accused of manipulating the platform to push Stake ads. But the crackdown was more of a speed bump than a deterrent, as new accounts continue to surface, keeping the cycle alive.

 

And now, it’s getting even worse. Meme pages that first flooded X with Stake-branded content are taking their hustle cross-platform, reposting the same viral images — watermark and all — onto Instagram Reels and Facebook, spreading the crypto casino’s reach far beyond Musk’s already compromised platform.

Feature Image Credit: Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

By Chance Townsend

Currently residing in Chicago, Illinois, Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master’s in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones. In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and finds great enjoyment in Detroit sports.

Sourced from Mashable

Sourced from WATC

I hope you don’t feel like your brand presentations are falling flat and you are not struggling to capture the essence of a brand in a way that’s both informative and visually appealing.

But if so, believe me, you’re not alone! Crafting a compelling brand guidelines presentation can be a challenge. However, with the right tools and approach, you can transform your presentations from dull to dazzling. Therefore, let us explore how to effectively use this super clean and stylish brand guidelines presentation template from PixWork for Adobe InDesign. Are you ready to learn how to captivate your audience and solidify your brand’s identity? Let’s get into it!

By the way, with an Adobe Stock trial subscription, you can download this template for free. Sounds great, right?!

Please note that this template requires Adobe InDesign installed on your computer. Whether Mac or PC, the latest version is available on the Adobe Creative Cloud website—take a look here.

Super Clean and Stylish Brand Guidelines Presentation Template by PixWork in 1920 x 1080 pixels for Adobe InDesign.
Super Clean and Stylish Brand Guidelines Presentation Template by PixWork in 1920 x 1080 pixels for Adobe InDesign.

This is How You Unleash Your Brand’s Potential with a Stunning Presentation

A brand guidelines presentation is more than just a collection of logos and colour palettes. It’s a story! It’s the visual representation of a brand’s values, personality, and promise. And, of course, a well-designed presentation template can make all the difference in how that story is told. Think of it as the stage upon which your brand performs.

Moreover, a great brand guidelines presentation template provides a framework. Also, it allows you to showcase your brand’s elements in a cohesive and engaging way. It ensures consistency and clarity. And finally, it empowers your team and stakeholders to understand and implement the brand correctly.

Why Choose the PixWork Brand Guidelines Presentation Template?

The PixWork template offers a unique blend of elegance and functionality. But what sets it apart from other templates? Well, for starters, its super clean and stylish design instantly elevates your presentation’s visual appeal. Besides, the template’s modern aesthetic communicates professionalism and attention to detail.

In addition to its visual appeal, the template is designed for optimal usability. Furthermore, it has 16 pre-designed pages, providing a comprehensive structure for your brand guidelines. And the best part? Every element is fully customizable. That means you can tailor the template to perfectly match your brand’s unique identity.

Key Features & Benefits of the Brand Guidelines Presentation Template

So, let’s take a closer look at what this template offers and how it can benefit your design workflow:

  • Optimized for Screen Presentations: Designed in 1920 x 1080 pixels, the template is perfectly sized for screen presentations. This ensures your presentation looks sharp and professional on any display.
  • 16 Pre-Designed Pages: With 16 pre-designed pages, the template provides a comprehensive structure for your brand guidelines presentation template. In fact, it covers all the essential elements, from logo usage to typography and colour palettes.
  • Fully Customizable: Every element in the template is fully customizable. That means you can easily change colours, fonts, images, and layouts to match your brand’s specific requirements.
  • Adobe InDesign Compatibility: The template is designed for Adobe InDesign. That offers a seamless editing experience and access to powerful design tools.
  • Placeholder Content: All images and texts are placeholders. This simplifies the customization process, allowing you to quickly add your own content.

Crafting a Killer Brand Presentation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you know the benefits of using the PixWork template, let’s explore how to use it effectively to create a truly impactful presentation.

1. Start with a Clear Structure

Before you even open Adobe InDesign, take some time to outline your presentation’s structure. What are the key elements you want to showcase? How will you organize the information?

A typical brand guidelines presentation might include the following sections:

  • Introduction: Introduce the brand and its core values.
  • Logo Usage: Showcase the different logo variations and guidelines for their use.
  • Colour Palette: Present the brand’s primary and secondary colours, along with their corresponding codes.
  • Typography: Define the brand’s fonts and guidelines for their use in different contexts.
  • Imagery: Provide examples of approved imagery and guidelines for photography style.
  • Voice & Tone: Define the brand’s communication style and tone of voice.
  • Do’s and Don’ts: Highlight common mistakes to avoid when using the brand elements.

2. Customize the Template with Your Brand Elements

Once you have a clear structure, it’s time to customize the template with your brand’s unique elements. This involves replacing the placeholder content with your own logos, colours, fonts, and images.

3. Tell Your Brand Story Through Imagery

Visuals are crucial for capturing your audience’s attention and conveying your brand’s personality. Use high-quality images that reflect your brand’s values and resonate with your target audience. This includes lifestyle shots, product photos, and even abstract graphics.

4. Use Typography to Create Visual Hierarchy

Typography plays a significant role in creating visual hierarchy and conveying your brand’s tone. Choose fonts that are legible, visually appealing, and consistent with your brand’s personality. Use different font sizes and weights to emphasize key information and guide the reader’s eye.

5. Keep it Concise and Engaging

Remember, your audience’s attention span is limited. Keep your presentation concise and engaging by using clear language, compelling visuals, and a logical flow. Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information. Instead, focus on the most essential elements of your brand guidelines.

6. Ensure Consistency Throughout the Presentation

Consistency is key to creating a professional and cohesive brand guidelines presentation. Make sure that all elements, from colours and fonts to imagery and tone of voice, are consistent throughout the presentation. This will reinforce your brand’s identity and create a lasting impression.

Mastering the Art of Visual Storytelling for Brand Identity

One of the most powerful aspects of the PixWork template is its ability to facilitate visual storytelling. Each page is designed to tell a piece of your brand’s story, from its origins and values to its future aspirations.
But how do you use visual storytelling effectively?

  • Start with a Compelling Narrative: Develop a clear narrative that outlines your brand’s purpose, mission, and values. Use this narrative to guide your visual choices and create a cohesive story.
  • Use Emotionally Resonant Imagery: Choose images that evoke emotion and connect with your target audience on a deeper level. This will make your brand more relatable and memorable.
  • Create a Visual Journey: Design each page of your presentation to flow seamlessly into the next, creating a visual journey that captivates your audience and keeps them engaged.
  • Use Visual Metaphors: Use visual metaphors to communicate complex ideas in a simple and memorable way. For example, you might use an image of a bridge to represent connection and collaboration.

So, This is How You Elevate a Brand with a Professional Presentation

In conclusion, the PixWork brand guidelines presentation template for Adobe InDesign is a powerful tool for creating visually stunning and informative presentations. Its clean design, customizable features, and focus on visual storytelling make it an excellent choice for designers looking to elevate their brand’s identity. So, use the above tips and start crafting a presentation that will wow your clients and strengthen your brand!

Check out other amazing graphic design templates for different creative needs on WE AND THE COLOR.

Sourced from WATC

BY ROBIN LANDA,

Here’s what makes a great marketing stunt—and how to turn a moment into momentum.

Duolingo has perfected the art of social-first storytelling, transforming its iconic green owl mascot, Duo, into a pop-culture sensation. In a bold move that took its marketing stunts to new heights, Duolingo “killed off” its beloved mascot, igniting a frenzy across the internet and media outlets—only to later reveal that Duo had faked his death. While stunt marketing isn’t new, it remains highly effective when it breaks category conventions, delivering something unexpected and fun that generates interest and sparks curiosity about the brand.

There’s no advertising more potent than earned media. From NBC News to NPR, the media buzz about Duo was everywhere, even The New Yorker joining the fun. In one article, Julien Darmoni humorously speculated about the recently departed Duo’s final wishes for his funeral and the distribution of his estate. Word of mouth, earned media, and viral sharing—all sparked by a sassy stunt.

What began as a simple app icon change—featuring X’s over Duo’s eyes—quickly escalated into an elaborate digital spectacle, culminating in the owl’s dramatic demise by Cybertruck collision. According to Zaria Parvez, Duolingo’s senior global social media manager, the idea stemmed from the company’s routine biannual app icon updates, typically resulting in a spike in new users. However, this time, the team seized the opportunity to build a full-fledged narrative arc, proving that brand storytelling—especially in social media—thrives on unexpected, interactive, and culturally relevant moments.

So, what makes a great marketing stunt?

Relevance

The stunt must resonate with people’s behaviours or align with a cultural moment, subculture, or trend—whether it’s a nanotrend (extremely short-lived) or a microtrend (lasting months to a few years). It taps into memes, conversations, and cultural moments that capture people’s attention. Take Duolingo’s stunt, which echoes Planters’ 2020 Super Bowl campaign, where they dramatically ‘killed off’ and later resurrected Mr. Peanut. Mike Pierantozzi, former ECD of Vayner New York, offered an insightful take on the phenomenon of people mourning the deaths of fictional characters—like Iron Man—and he’s spot on. The emotional impact of such stunts taps into a shared connection with pop culture.

Never underestimate shared cultural connections on social media.

Disruption

Yes, you’ve heard it a million times, but it works. Breaking patterns is key to standing out and capturing attention in a crowded landscape.

Fresh

Something different, ideally original. It’s not just a remix or slight variation of what’s already been done but something that feels unexpected, differentiated, and memorable. Fresh ideas break conventions, offering a new perspective or a surprising twist that captures attention. While Planters killed off and resurrected Mr. Peanut, Duolingo took the concept further. They crafted an elaborate narrative arc around its mascot, Duo, building intrigue and engagement over time, culminating in a dramatic, Cybertruck-fueled demise. The difference? A fresh execution that didn’t just grab attention—it sustained it with an evolving, zany story.

Narrative arc

Duolingo’s stunt of “faking” Duo the Owl’s death and subsequent resurrection aligns with the product and brand’s larger narrative arc. The stunt wasn’t just a marketing ploy—it was an extension of Duolingo’s unique voice and storytelling approach. In a post on X, Duolingo captured the moment perfectly: “Faking my death was the test, and you all passed,” accompanied by a montage implying that Duolingo users had brought Duo back to life by diligently completing their daily language lessons.

This stunt was humorous and organic to the brand’s emphasis on user engagement and transformed a potentially singular act into a culturally significant event. Duo’s death and revival directly correlate to the app’s core proposition—users regularly use the platform to practice their language skills. In this way, Duolingo cleverly integrated product interaction into its marketing narrative, creating a sense of involvement that felt personal and rewarding to users.

Duolingo has long used offbeat, humorous marketing tactics to differentiate itself in the crowded language learning space. These stunts, like the death of Duo, are more than just quirky brainrot—they are part of an evolving brand story that enhances its relatability, fosters a strong emotional connection, and keeps the brand salient. As a result, Duolingo not only entertains but also reinforces the central message: consistency and engagement lead to success.

This narrative approach has undoubtedly worked in Duolingo’s favour. According to Duolingo’s Q4 earnings report, the brand reached its highest-ever quarterly bookings, revenue, daily active users (DAUs), and net new subscribers by the end of 2024. Luis von Ahn, Duolingo’s co-founder and CEO, highlighted that the company’s success was driven by its product-led strategy and continued emphasis on user engagement.

The brand’s ability to generate media buzz and stay in the cultural conversation through stunts like these demonstrates Duolingo’s savvy in creating marketing moments deeply connected to its product and its experiences. Duolingo’s approach ensures it stands out on social media, where consumers are bombarded with countless messages, drawing users into its playful, meaningful, and profoundly integrated world.

And very significantly—so crucial that Greg Braun, retired Dp. Global Chief Creative Officer of Commonwealth/McCann, and I wrote a book about it—a campaign or stunt should be “shareworthy.” It must be bold enough to inspire sharing and generate buzz. Audiences are drawn to entertainment with unexpected twists or outrageous behaviour—whether in films, novels, reality TV or live-action stunts.

This demand drives brands to take risks, challenge expectations, and create memorable experiences. The excitement and unpredictability of these marketing stunts tap into the same impulses that fuel engagement with unconventional entertainment. This approach sparks conversation and sustains lasting buzz by leveraging shock value, surprise, and emotional connection.

Feature Image Credit: Illustration: Inc; Photo: Courtesy Duolingo, Getty Images

BY ROBIN LANDA,

Sourced from Inc.