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How will AI-driven solutions affect the business landscape?

Post By Science And Technology

BearingPoint Ireland and Kreoh discuss the major considerations that organisations need to keep in mind when integrating AI-driven business solutions.

Last month, tech management and consultancy firm BearingPoint announced a new strategic collaboration with Kreoh, a Dublin-based AI agency and development lab. The partnership will enable the two companies to provide their clients with generative AI capabilities as well as access to the latest research in the area and guidance on how to maximise its impact.

With plans to provide improved AI services to clients in a variety of sectors, we spoke to representatives from both BearingPoint and Kreoh about the benefits and challenges of AI-driven business solutions.

AI in business processes

When it comes to AI adoption in the business sector, reports over the last year indicated that businesses in Ireland are increasing their focus on AI, with increased budget considerations to integrate the technology as well as its overall influence on long-term strategies.

In regard to the ways businesses are utilising the innovative tech, Kreoh’s Garry Tiscovschi highlighted how the company’s report generator has seen a lot of use by R&D tax credit specialists.

“R&D reports win billions in savings for Irish and UK companies and promote much-needed R&D in our ecosystem, but require the diligent, detail-oriented work of experts,” he says. “[Generative AI] systems really excel when it comes to detail and following the well-defined writing structures you would expect when reporting to the state.”

BearingPoint Ireland’s Stephen Redmond described how his company helped global NGO Plan International implement an AI system to help compile reports for stakeholders, which normally consists of a “mammoth task” of collating text reports from all of its worldwide projects.

“The volume of data made it a challenge to structure into the briefs that were necessary to create,” he says. “We implemented a gen AI system, including a human-in-the-loop validation, to free up time for their staff from reporting and focus on their humanitarian work.”

Both Tiscovschi and Redmond have a background in data, which led to a transition into AI. Tiscovschi, who is managing director and co-founder of Kreoh, taught analytics labs to biomedical students at Trinity College Dublin, before working in release management at Mastercard. While in the latter role – which preceded the release of Chat-GPT – he says he would work away on early generative AI freelance projects with his future Kreoh co-founders.

Meanwhile, Redmond used to work in business intelligence and reporting, particularly with Qlik products, on which he published three books. After obtaining a master’s degree in data analytics, he spent more than six years working with AI at Accenture, before taking on his current role as director and head of data analytics and AI at BearingPoint Ireland.

Careful considerations

Redmond believes that one of the key benefits that generative AI offers to businesses is the ability to “better mine your own IP”.

“You have a ton of data throughout your business that can be usefully mined and sometimes rediscovered,” he explains. “Being better able to bring your own IP to solve business problems is a key competitive advantage.”

However, there are some things that businesses also need to be mindful of when using this technology, as pointed out by Tiscovschi. “Malicious actors can map out unprotected systems and manipulate the AI agent within to ‘mine’ data, expose sensitive prompts, spawn inappropriate responses on an organisation’s behalf or cause havoc with the databases/tools that a company may have connected to their AI agents to make them more useful in the first place.”

Along with spotlighting other “sources of mischief” like prompt injections and jailbreaking, Tiscovschi described specific examples of AI pitfalls, such as a blunder where Air Canada’s AI assistant misrepresented the company’s policies (which resulted in a lawsuit), as well as an early incident experienced by Kreoh.

“When starting development of a more advanced chatbot for a new customer, during prototyping the AI agent looked to offer the products of our client’s competitors. Not optimal.”

Redmond adds that in instances where companies release AI agents that are not fully tested and result in bad responses, they can experience reputational damage. He stresses that companies can avoid this by following best practices and ensuring that the AI is effectively tested.

“Your own employees can be a great ‘Red Team’ to try and break things, so releasing internally first is a good strategy. But always make sure that people know that they are dealing with an AI and not a human.”

With various risks and concerns following the implementation of AI business solutions, it’s important that businesses keep some key considerations in mind when diving into this area.

Redmond emphasises that businesses need to think about the source data that they’re feeding into their AI systems, as well as what they ultimately want out of it.

“You can use Microsoft 365 Copilot to search across all of your documents in SharePoint, then that could be useful for discovery, but you could also be worried that people have ‘overshared’ documents in the past and then take a more curation-based approach and only index specific SharePoint stores,” he says. “The same if you have a helpful chatbot that answers questions on a particular topic – you need to make sure that it only has access to the most up-to-date sources and that old versions are removed.”

Moving forward

With the integration of generative AI in business culture still in its early stages, what does the future have in store?

Redmond believes that the tech will quickly become embedded in normal business practice. “We won’t even think about asking gen AI to draft emails or documents or to generate images for our presentations.”

He’s also looking forward to seeing how AI-driven video technology plays out, particularly OpenAI’s Sora. “I know that a lot of people in content generation are nervous about these tools replacing them, but I don’t think we hire an artist for their ability to draw, we hire them for their ability to draw what is in their imagination, and that is where their genius lies,” he says.

“I am not sure that artists will ever stop creating wonderful works, and these technologies will just enhance that.”

Tiscovschi agrees with Redmond’s outlook, stating that “this is just the beginning”.

“We will continuously see more teams of humans and their AI agents or tools working together to achieve tasks,” he says. “A human quickly mining their organisation’s IP, automating repetitive tasks and then collaborating with their AI copilot on a report or piece of code will have a constantly growing multiplier on their productivity.”

However, he adds that humans will always need to “program or provide instruction for the technology that serves us”.

“We will still need to coordinate our organisations and then produce and interpret instructions that we’ve chosen to agree upon,” he says. “And if we’re not producing media as much via digital pens and recording studios, we will still need to design, curate, envision and deliver art, culture and knowledge for those around us.

“Now, more of the repetitive parts will be automated and the friction reduced. This help is fortunate as there’s still a near infinite amount of work left for us to do!”

Find out how emerging tech trends are transforming tomorrow with our new podcast, Future Human: The Series. Listen now on Spotify, on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.

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What Happened to Mr. & Mrs. Smith?

Post By Entertainment

Pop quiz hot shot: What’s the best action movie of the past 20 or 30 years that never received a cinematic sequel? Nope, it’s not Speed. Is it Wanted? Nobody? The Accountant? How about Knight and Day or American Made? While the latter comes from director Doug Liman, we’d argue that the correct answer is Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Liman’s eminently watchable assassin thriller that continues to shine thanks to the explosive chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, two luminous movie stars who met and fell in love during production. Although the movie earned decent reviews and grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide, Mr. & Mrs. Smith never received an official sequel or cinematic spinoff and is often remembered for the juicy tabloid gossip surrounding its two superstars. 

Yet, in 2024, a small-screen adaptation of Liman’s hit action flick has been produced by Amazon Prime Video, introducing a whole new generation of viewers to the romantic spy drama. As such, it’s only fitting to take a look back at the production history of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. After all, the script began as a student project and was later accused of plagiarism, several different endings were filmed, a super steamy sex scene was removed to avoid an R-rating, and perhaps most fascinating, Pitt and Jolie nearly did not star in the movie together. Have we got your attention? Darn right, it’s time to find out What The F*ck Happened to Mr. & Mrs. Smith!

The first thing about Mr. and Mrs. Smith worth knowing is that, despite popular belief, it is not based on the 1996 TV show of the same name. Nor is it a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1941 movie of the same name. Believe it or not, Scott Bakula and Mario Bello starred as unmarried couple Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the short-lived crime drama that aired on CBS from September to November 1996. The show marked the acting debut of Timothy Olyphant but was canceled after nine episodes. While Doug Liman’s movie officially has nothing to do with the 1996 TV show beyond its similar premise, the new Prime Video adaptation does take cues from the show as well as the 2005 action hit. It’s also worth noting that, while Mr. & Mrs. Smith is not a loose remake of True Lies, the tango scene in the film pays direct homage to James Cameron’s similar spy thriller. 

With reportedly no knowledge of the preexisting TV show, MFA student Simon Kinberg began writing the screenplay for Mr. & Mrs. Smith for his graduate school thesis while attending Columbia University. According to Kinberg, he was inspired to write the script after hearing friends describe their time in couples therapy, which he noted was “Aggressive and mercenary” and figured “It would make an interesting template for a relationship inside of an action film.”

In July 2000, Summit Entertainment purchased Kinberg’s spec script rights for Mr. & Mrs. Smith and partnered with Weed Road Pictures to produce the project. At the time, the producers were able to secure Brad Pitt to star in the lead role of John Smith. The same producers had their eye on casting Nicole Kidman as Jane Smith. Doug Liman was hired as the director with Pitt and Kidman in line to star. When Kidman had to leave the project due to her commitments to The Stepford Wives, Brad Pitt also abandoned the project while producers scrambled to find Kidman’s replacement. 

Once Pitt left, Liman and the producers considered pairing Will Smith and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. When that idea fizzled, they entertained the idea of Johnny Depp starring opposite Cate Blanchett in the two title roles. Depp was offered the part but declined due to his overworked schedule at the time. Meanwhile, Gwen Stefani auditioned to play Jane Smith. Eva Green and Gwyneth Paltrow were also briefly considered. Finally, Liman was able to secure Angelina Jolie to play the part. As soon as Jolie was cast, Pitt actively returned to the project with newfound enthusiasm. Once more – when Jolie was cast as Jane Smith, Pitt quickly returned to play John Smith. Both movie stars were paid $20 million apiece for their services, perhaps a mere pittance compared to the invaluable love forged between the two stars on set that eventually led to a marriage and six children. 

After the cast was set and the movie entered production, roughly 50 drafts of Kinberg’s script were reportedly written. Several different writers contributed to the rewrites, including Carrie Fisher, Terence Winter, Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, Akiva Goldsman, Ted Griffin, and Kieran and Michelle Mulroney. Despite the countless rewrites, Kinberg receives the final screenplay credit and also makes a cameo appearance as an investment banker in the movie. 

mr and mrs smith 2005

Strapped with a pricey $110 million budget, principal photography for Mr. & Mrs. Smith was divided into three segments. The first took place between January 5 and April 22, 2004. The second took place between August 12 and October 31, 2004. The final portion was filmed between March 14 and March 18, 2005. One of the reasons for the schedule breaks was to accommodate Pitt’s schedule for Ocean’s Twelve, requiring the actor to leave Mr. & Mrs. Smith for three months to finish his obligations to the Soderbergh heist sequel. 

Filming locations for Mr. & Mrs. Smith were mostly divided between Los Angeles and New York. The exterior shots of the Smith residence were filmed at 1565 San Pasqual Street in Pasadena, California, while the restaurant and dance club scenes were filmed at the Cicada Restaurant and Club on Olive Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The exteriors of the construction site in the movie were filmed at Caltrans District 7 Headquarters Building in Downtown L.A.’s Main Street. Additional scenes were filmed at the Quality Coffee Shop on 7th Street in downtown L.A. and Vincent Saint Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, California. The same coffee shop was used for Old School, which also stars Vince Vaughn, as well as Gone in 60 Seconds, which also stars Angelina Jolie. Elsewhere, Jane Smith’s office at I-Temp was filmed at 570 Lexington Avenue in New York City. The 50-floor skyscraper genuinely exists and was not built for the movie. Outside of Los Angeles and New York, additional photography took place in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and Rome, Lazio, Italy.

One of the first scenes that take place in the movie involves a flashback to John and Jane’s time meeting each other in Bogota, Colombia. Rather than filming in South America, stock aerial footage of Bogota was lifted from the 1994 Harrison Ford action thriller Clear and Present Danger. The raw footage was enhanced with CGI to add burning buildings and a passenger in the helicopter. However, the original footage for Clear and Present Danger was filmed in rural Mexico as a stand-in for Colombia. When the shot was recycled for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the Colombian government publicly criticized the production for falsely representing Bogota as a tiny undeveloped village. In reality, the high-altitude city in the Andes Mountains is and was a booming metropolis filled with towering skyscrapers.  

Another early scene that takes place in the movie entails Jane traveling to kill her first mark in a sick and twisted sadomasochistic ruse. While going through the house, Jane casually answers a correct answer on the Jeopardy game show playing on the TV in the background. According to reports, Jolie completely improvised the Jeopardy response on the spot, and her comedic timing was so perfect that Liman kept it in the movie. Meanwhile, Pitt also added his unique ad-libs during the scene that takes place after John and Jane discover each other’s true identities as assassins. When Jane drives away in a car and John chases after, Pitt accidentally tripped and crashed through the fence in an unscripted moment. Rolling with the punches, Pitt uttered the line “Oh dear God,” as a natural impromptu response while the cameras were rolling. Apart from the blistering rapport Pitt and Jolie share onscreen, it’s the small improvisational flourishes that make the movie so entertaining nearly 20 years later.

Yet for all the memorable moments in the movie, it’s easy to overlook parts of the story that did not make the final cut. Indeed, one of the most infamous cut scenes in Mr. & Mrs. Smith involved a torrid love scene between Pitt and Jolie that was so racy that it had to be removed from the film entirely to retain a PG-13 rating. Not to traffic in the juicy tabloid gossip surrounding the Brangelina phenomenon, but it’s difficult to imagine a steamy simulated sex scene between two attractive movie stars having no bearing on their off-screen relationship. Although Pitt and Jolie were both married to other people while making Mr. & Mrs. Smith and wouldn’t marry each other for another decade or so, in the immortal words of Tears for Fears, how could they not be sowing the seeds of love while making the movie? 

One of the most shocking deleted scenes from the movie involves the action-packed finale. Originally, producers felt that Mr. & Mrs. Smith needed one final showdown with the villains in the movie to give viewers a satisfying conclusion. Believe it or not, legendary European actors Terence Stamp and Jaqueline Bisset were cast as the villains and filmed a designated ending that was never used. Once the ending with Stamp and Bisset was discarded, another ending was filmed. This time, Keith David and Angela Basset are revealed to be the villains fighting against John and Jane. While David has a prominent role as The Father in the film, Bassett is uncredited as Mother, the voice of John Smith’s boss in Atlanta. After both of these filmed endings were deemed superfluous and a final confrontation was not necessary, the scenes were left on the cutting room floor. 

Beyond the discarded showdowns with the high-ranking enemies, another alternate ending was filmed for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The version involves Jane and John returning to Bogota as a happy couple. When their vacation is interrupted by what appears to be an intense assassination mission, Mr. & Mrs. Smith begin chasing an unknown person through the crowd. Just as John reaches into his bag to pull out what viewers assume will be a gun, he retrieves a camera, and their so-called mark is revealed to be their adorable daughter shooting a dart gun at a toy doll with remarkable accuracy. “Not bad,” John proudly states as the family wanders off into the South American sunset to their residence nearby. 

As for other notable Easter eggs, eagle-eyed gamers might appreciate a suit hanging in John’s office that resembles the iconic outfit worn by Agent 47 in the popular video game Hit Man. The black suit, white shirt, and red tie appear prominently throughout the scene, and John speaks with his boss on Channel Number 47. Given Liman’s penchant for gaming, it’s hard to write this off as a mere coincidence. 

A much easier one to spot, Adam Brody’s character Benjamin “The Tank” Danz can be seen wearing a Fight Club T-shirt while being questioned by Mr. Smith, an obvious shout-out to one of Brad Pitt’s most famous movies. There is also a Director’s Cut of the film that runs six minutes longer than the theatrical version.

mr ans mrs smith movie

Speaking of the theatrical version, Mr. & Mrs. Smith opened on June 10, 2005, and immediately became a commercial hit. The film ultimately grossed over $487 million worldwide, ranking as the 7th highest-grossing movie of the year. The film also fared pretty well among critics, currently boasting a 60 Rotten Tomatoes. While the success of the movie is fairly well-known, fans may not be aware of the producers being accused of plagiarism after the movie came out. In 2006, a New Zealand author named Gavin Bishop claimed the moviemakers stole his idea from his 1997 scholastic book “The Secret Lives of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” The book also follows a married husband and wife living boring suburban lives who secretly work as spies under each other’s noses. Bishop threatened to sue the producers but never found a lawyer willing to take the case. 

Fans may also be completely unaware of the potential TV spin-off that was produced for ABC in 2007. Indeed, a pilot episode for a Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV show was written by Simon Kinberg and directed by Doug Liman. The story took place six months after the events depicted in the film and was described by Kinberg as being akin to “Married with Children with Guns.” Martin Henderson and Jordana Brewster were cast as John and Jane Smith, respectively. However, ABC did not order the pilot-to-series after the chemistry between Henderson and Brewster was deemed non-existent. So much of the movie’s appeal relies on the crackling on-screen rapport between Pitt and Jolie. Without it, there wasn’t much value in making a TV spin-off on basic cable in 2007.

In 2010, Jolie stated that she and Pitt had sought to make a sequel to Mr. & Mrs. Smith but were never able to come up with a worthwhile story. Jolie told Vanity Fair at the time:

“We did ask somebody to look into Mr. & Mrs. to see if they could crack a sequel, but there wasn’t anything original. It was just, ‘Well, they’re going to get married, or they’ve got kids, or they get separated.’ Never great.”

And that brings us to the new TV adaptation of Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime Video. The small-screen reboot was released on February 2, 2024, and stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as Jane and John Smith, a married couple who have no clue that the other works for the same espionage ring. The show takes inspiration from the original 1996 TV series and the 2005 movie and has received even better reviews than previous iterations of the story. Unlike the failed 2007 TV spin-off, the new reboot has been praised for restoring the palpable chemistry between the two leads while leaning more into the domestic strife among the married couple. While nobody will ever confuse Glover and Erskine for the star power of Pitt and Jolie, the fate of Mr. & Mrs. Smith has been quite a circuitous journey over the past few decades. Until the next time, that’s What the F*ck Happened to this Movie!

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Netflix’s Strategic Use of Social Media Clips to Drive More Traffic

Post By Digital Marketing

Content may be king — but context is the kingdom. As companies vie for consumer attention across various platforms, the strategic use of social media clips has emerged as a powerful tool to boost engagement and drive traffic.

Netflix’s recent strategy of posting clips on social media platforms exemplifies this trend, revealing a sophisticated approach to content marketing that leverages snippets of their extensive catalog to captivate an online audience.

This blog post explores the impact of posting clips on social media, how it enhances viewer engagement, and the broader implications for content strategy in the streaming era.

Kim Cooper

Director of Marketing, Amazon Alexa

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The Power of Clips in Social Media Marketing

Social media clips, ranging from short teasers to longer segments, serve as an effective tool for capturing the limited attention span of digital audiences. These clips are designed to be easily consumable, shareable and enticing enough to drive traffic from social media platforms back to the company’s main service — in this case, Netflix’s streaming platform.

Netflix’s strategy involves a calculated selection of clips from their popular shows and movies, which are then posted across various social media platforms including YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

For instance, for the popular show Grace and Frankie, Netflix posts trailers, bloopers, behind the scenes, and fun shorts like “Top Things I Learned From Grace & Frankie” on YouTube:

Netflix's Social Media Clips strategy includes posting clips of Grace and Frankie on YouTube

This approach helps maintain top-of-mind awareness and, with the right social media clips, gets viewers excited about going to the streaming platform to watch the full episode/season/series.

And, of course, Netflix wouldn’t be Netflix if they didn’t know how to meticulously select clips that highlight the most intriguing, funny or dramatic moments of their shows and movies.

Netflix’s strategic content curation turns clips into mini advertisements, packed with appeal — and a CTA back to their platform.

Cross-Platform Engagement

By distributing these clips across multiple social media platforms, Netflix takes advantage of the unique features and audiences of each one. For instance:

  • On YouTube, longer clips can delve deeper into storylines, appealing to users who are seeking more comprehensive previews.
  • Instagram, with its visual focus, is ideal for eye-catching moments and behind-the-scenes content that cater to a visually-oriented audience.
  • TikTok, known for its viral nature, suits quick, catchy clips that are likely to be shared and recreated by users.

Each platform thereby serves as a conduit that funnels viewers with varying preferences and behaviors towards Netflix’s streaming service.

Netflix’s clip strategy is not an isolated tactic. It’s part of a broader cross-promotional campaign that includes advertisements on other media platforms. For instance, while Netflix posts content on YouTube (both full movies and clips), it also engages in reciprocal advertising, where platforms like YouTube can place their ads on Netflix, creating a synergistic relationship that benefits both entities.

Benefits of Posting Clips on Social Media

Netflix uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze viewer preferences and social media trends, allowing them to tailor their clip selections to the tastes of diverse demographic groups. By highlighting the most engaging scenes — be it thrilling sequences, funny moments or poignant dialogues — Netflix effectively uses clips as teasers that entice viewers to discover more.

Here are a few benefits of a social media clip strategy:

Enhanced Discoverability and SEO

Social media clips help improve discoverability through SEO tactics. When these clips go viral, they generate substantial online conversations and sharing, which boosts the visibility of Netflix’s content in search results.

Plus, the use of targeted hashtags and trending topics related to the clip can enhance visibility on the platforms themselves, connecting with audiences who may not be direct followers of Netflix but have shown interest in similar content.

Building Community and Viewer Loyalty

Clips help encourage a sense of community among viewers because when they comment, share and interact with these video clips, they feel part of a larger fan base.

Netflix’s strategy also extends to the creation of superfan pages and show-specific accounts on platforms like YouTube and Facebook, such as:

  • Stranger Things
  • Bridgerton
  • Squid Game
  • The Witcher
  • Cobra Kai

Squid Games fan page on Facebook -- Netflix's smart Social Media Clips strategy

These pages focus on deeper engagement with dedicated fan bases that can “nerd out” on their favorite shows and movies, and who doesn’t love doing that? And Netflix can further engage with this community by responding to comments, creating polls and encouraging viewer participation in promotional events, deepening the viewer’s connection to the brand.

By nurturing these communities, Netflix creates a viral loop where fans are more likely to share content within their networks and, thus, the streaming platform increases the reach and impact of their marketing efforts.

Analytics and Feedback for Future Productions

Netflix can use the analytics from the performance of different social media clips to gather insights into audience preferences and trends. This feedback is invaluable for shaping future marketing campaigns and content creation. If certain types of clips generate more engagement or viewership, Netflix might consider exploring similar themes or storytelling techniques in their upcoming projects.

Cost-Effective Marketing

Finally, the use of clips is just, plain and simple, a cost-effective marketing strategy. Instead of creating entirely new content for advertisements, Netflix just uses existing content to engage potential subscribers. This approach not only reduces production costs but also maximizes the return on investment from already produced shows and movies by extending their utility and exposure beyond traditional viewing on the platform.

The Role of Social Media Clips in Driving Traffic

The primary goal of posting clips on social media is, of course, to drive traffic back to Netflix’s main platform. Each clip serves as a gateway, offering potential subscribers a glimpse of the high-quality video content available behind the paywall. The strategic use of call-to-action elements, such as direct links to watch the full movie or series, simplifies the transition from casual viewer to subscriber.

In the description section of each clip, Netflix explains who they are, why you should sign up – “Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen…, all without commercials or commitments.” – and provides a link to their website:

Netflix's Social Media Clips strategy includes links back to their platform for every video posted on social media

Also, by analyzing the performance of these clips — including view counts, engagement rates, and follow-through rates on CTAs — Netflix can fine-tune its marketing campaigns in real time, allocating resources more efficiently and maximizing return on investment.

Here’s how these clips encourage users to move from YouTube to Netflix’s site, instead of just staying on YouTube to watch free clips:

  • Teaser Effect and Content Sampling. Netflix uses social media clips as teasers – kind of like movie trailers. These short segments give audiences a taste of the full product without satisfying their curiosity entirely. By design, these clips include compelling scenes that leave viewers wanting more, which can only be fulfilled by watching the full episode or film on Netflix.
  • Incremental Content Revelation. The clips posted on platforms like YouTube are often carefully selected to reveal just enough to intrigue viewers but not enough to provide full closure. This incremental content revelation creates a narrative gap or an “information gap” that viewers feel compelled to close by visiting Netflix to watch the entire content. This is particularly effective with serialized content, where clips from a series can lead to binge-watching entire seasons.
  • Exclusivity and Time-Limited Content. Sometimes Netflix might release exclusive or time-limited content on social media. Viewers are aware that to access these shows or movies in their entirety, and often in a higher quality or without interruptions, they would need to switch to Netflix. This limited availability on social media platforms enhances the value of having access to the full content library on Netflix.
  • Leveraging FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Netflix clips often play on the social phenomenon of FOMO. When viewers see clips of trending shows or movies, and these clips are widely discussed online, potential viewers don’t want to feel left out of the cultural conversation. This social pressure can drive people to subscribe to Netflix to be part of the ongoing social discourse.
  • Quality and Uninterrupted Viewing Experience. YouTube provides a platform for watching video clips (and some full movies or shows, but often with ads or only a limited number of episodes). But Netflix offers a superior viewing experience for full-length content with better video quality, no ads (for most subscription plans), and a more user-friendly interface for binge-watching, which they remind you of in the description of each video clip. For viewers seeking a more immersive and uninterrupted experience, migrating from YouTube to Netflix is a logical step.

Netflix basically uses social media clips as a funnel to convert viewers into subscribers, using both the content and the platform’s features to drive traffic from free viewing environments like YouTube to their paid service.

Challenges and Considerations

The benefits of using social media clips are fairly obvious, but there are also a few challenges that companies must be aware of.

The primary concern is the balance between promotional content and user experience. Overloading social media feeds with promotional clips can lead to viewer fatigue and potentially dilute the perceived value of the content:

Graph showing where Ad Fatigue sets in

Another concern are copyright and intellectual property issues, especially as clips are shared and potentially modified by users across platforms. Ensuring that content distribution complies with legal standards while still engaging viewers is a delicate balance that requires ongoing attention and adaptation.

Also, clips might reveal too much information and lead to spoilers, ruin viewers’ experience and deter them from watching the full content. And if the clips do not resonate well with people or if they misrepresent the tone or quality of the show or movie, they may generate negative feedback and discourage viewership.

Last Word on Social Media Clips as a Strategy

Netflix’s strategy of using social media clips as a tool for engagement and traffic generation illustrates how to do marketing in the streaming age. By effectively using social media clips, Netflix not only enhances their visibility and subscriber base but also sets a benchmark for content marketing that other companies can aspire to.

As the online ecosystem becomes more intertwined, the strategic use of social media clips will play an increasingly important role in the marketing strategies of content-driven businesses, particularly if it continues driving engagement and growth in a competitive market.

If you’re ready to level up your content’s reach, Single Grain’s content marketing experts can help!👇

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For more insights and lessons about marketing, check out our Marketing School podcast on YouTube.



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Karol Markowicz BURIES Morning Mika’s Florida Gaslighting With a Single Photograph

Post By Politics

Today the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Moyle v. United States. At issue is the Idaho law that bans nearly all abortions, with some notable exceptions. The Biden administration claims that this ban will violate a federal emergency healthcare law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). However, Republican legislators are arguing that the administration is using EMTALA as a trojan horse to codify abortion rights and that the law does not apply here, since Idaho’s abortion restrictions not only include exceptions for rape and incest, but also an exception to perform abortions when it will prevent the death of the mother. 

The Supreme Court — which allowed Idaho to continue enforcing its law back in January when it agreed to take the case — is expected to rule on Moyle v. United States in June. Between now and then, expect a LOT of gaslighting from pro-abortion advocates. 

Enter Mika Brzezinski this morning, who bizarrely took the opportunity of SCOTUS hearing a case about Idaho to go on a rant about how ‘dangerous’ Florida now is for women (and also bizarrely to blame it all on Donald Trump). Watch:  

Oh, the dramatics. (We especially like her flustered ‘uhhh … in a bind’ performance.) Brzezinski should get nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar later this year. 

Of course, none of this is true. But Brzezinski and her kept husband, Joe Scarborough, have an even bigger problem when it comes to decrying Florida as ‘Gilead for women’ (as we know, the left only reads one book and watches one television show). 

Columnist Karol Markowicz was quick to point out that problem and demolish Brzezinski’s playacting with a single, devastating photo: 

Oops. BIG oops, Mika and Joe. 

Gosh, it seems shocking that Brzezinski and Scarborough would choose to live in such a repressive state. They are not without means. They own several other homes in other states. So, what are they doing in Florida, where you CAN’T EVEN SAY ‘GAY’?

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They look downright TERRIFIED. 

Maybe their $6.5 million Jupiter, Florida, luxury home eases the tension. 

The hardship is real. 

Oh, but it gets even better. Not only do the Morning Joe hosts live in Florida, but they built a home studio there, so they could broadcast their MSNBC gaslighting program from behind enemy lines and not have to trek up to the socialist paradise of New York or Connecticut to send out their daily signal. 

That’s courage, folks. That’s Medal of Honor-level courage. 

But if they should ever fall, at least we know what their tombstones will look like. 

HA. 

That can’t be possible. 

Perhaps none of this is about ‘women in danger’ at all, and it is really about the leftist cult obsession with killing babies whenever they want to, for any reason. 

Maybe they’re too petrified to attempt a daring escape? 

You are not alone there, friend. 

Everything about them is fake. From Brzezinski’s pose to Scarborough’s highlights to his careful placement of a Hemingway book that he almost certainly has not read. 

The cameras just happened to catch them like that, don’t you know? 

Yeah, right. We’re pretty sure LeBron James has read as many books as Scarborough has. 

Don’t expect her to respond. Instead, just mock her. 

This is the correct response. 

Meanwhile, back in the world of reality, where Governor DeSantis enacts Florida laws (not Trump), Florida is far safer for women, men, and children than ANY blue state in the country. 

This does not come as a surprise. 

They are not leaving because Brzezinski’s gaslighting simply does not work. People — including women — have eyes and ears. And that is why Florida is increasing in population. 

People like Brzezinski will never stop lying. They don’t know how to engage an issue honestly. But it is fun when one simple photo can show the world what hypocrites they are. 

There’s a reason a picture is worth 1,000 words.  



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#Karol #Markowicz #BURIES #Morning #Mikas #Florida #Gaslighting #Single #Photograph

Columbia University cites progress with Gaza war protesters following encampment arrests

Post By World , , , ,

NYPD officers from the Strategic Response Group form a wall of protection around Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kay Daughtry, not in the picture, during a press conference regarding the ongoing pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University in New York on April 22, 2024. 

| Photo Credit: AP

Columbia University said early on April 24 that it was making “important progress” with pro-Palestinian student protesters who set up a tent encampment and that it was extending a deadline to clear out, yet standoffs remained tense on the Ivy League campus in upper Manhattan.

Student protesters “have committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents,” the university said in a statement. A smaller encampment remained on campus Wednesday morning.

Also Read | After mass arrests at Columbia University, pro-Palestinian protests sweep U.S. college campuses

Across the country, protesters at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, some 480 kilometres north of San Francisco, started using furniture, tents, chains and zip ties to block the building’s entrances Monday evening.

Both campuses are part of intensifying demonstrations over Israel’s war with Hamas by university students demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies that are enabling its monthslong conflict. Dozens have been arrested on charges of trespassing or disorderly conduct.

Columbia President Minouche Shafik in a statement Tuesday set a midnight deadline to reach an agreement with students to clear the encampment, or “we will have to consider alternative options.” By around 3 a.m., the university said that there was “constructive dialogue” and that it will continue conversations for 48 hours.

The statement said student protesters “will ensure that those not affiliated with Columbia will leave. Only Columbia University students will be participating in the protest.”

Student protesters also will comply with city fire department requirements and “have taken steps to make the encampment welcome to all and have prohibited discriminatory or harassing language,” the statement said.

The university’s statement was released hours before U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s trip to Columbia to visit with Jewish students and address antisemitism on college campuses.

Earlier Tuesday night, police arrested more than 200 protesters blocking traffic during a non-college demonstration demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, near the home of Sen. Chuck Schumer. The protest was organised by Jewish Voice for Peace on the second night of Passover, and protesters lay down a large circular banner depicting the food on a Seder plate.

At Cal Poly Humboldt, protesters chanted, “We are not afraid of you!” before officers in riot gear pushed into them at the building’s entrance, video shows. Student Peyton McKinzie said she was walking on campus Monday when she saw police grabbing one woman by the hair, and another student having their head bandaged for an injury.

“I think a lot of students are in shock about it,” she said.

Three students have been arrested, according to a statement from the school, which down the campus until Wednesday. Students had occupied a second campus building Tuesday.

Another encampment was set up Tuesday at the University of Rochester in upstate New York. Omar Darwesh, a Palestinian senior, said he has lost relatives to the war.

“We’re not calling for the destruction of Israel, we’re never talking about threatening Jews – the focus is on us and what we need, and that’s being treated like a human. We have to find a way to coexist,” he told TV station WHEC.

University of Rochester officials said in a statement that the protesters must follow ground rules, including presenting university identification if asked.

The upwelling of demonstrations has left universities struggling to balance campus safety with free speech rights. Many long tolerated the protests, which largely demanded that schools condemn Israel’s assault on Gaza and divest from companies that sell weapons to Israel.

Now, universities are doling out more heavy-handed discipline, citing safety concerns as some Jewish students say criticism of Israel has veered into antisemitism.

Protests had been bubbling for months but kicked into a higher gear after more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had camped out at Columbia were arrested Thursday.

By late Monday at New York University, police said 133 protesters were taken into custody and all had been released with summonses to appear in court on disorderly conduct charges.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the University of Sydney to protest the Israel-Gaza war on April 24, 2024.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the University of Sydney to protest the Israel-Gaza war on April 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AP

In Connecticut, police arrested 60 protesters, including 47 students, at Yale after they refused to leave an encampment on a plaza at the center of campus.

Yale President Peter Salovey said protesters had declined an offer to end the demonstration and meet with trustees. After several warnings, school officials determined “the situation was no longer safe,” so police cleared the encampment and made arrests.

A demonstration Tuesday at the University of Michigan grew to nearly 40 tents, and nine war protesters at the University of Minnesota were arrested after police took down an encampment in front of the library. Hundreds rallied in the afternoon to demand their release.

Harvard University in Massachusetts has tried to stay a step ahead of protests by locking most gates into its famous Harvard Yard and limiting access to those with school identification. The school has also posted signs that warn against setting up tents or tables on campus without permission.

The New York Civil Liberties Union cautioned universities against being too quick to call in law enforcement in a statement Tuesday.

“Officials should not conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism or use hate incidents as a pretext to silence political views they oppose,” said Donna Lieberman, the group’s executive director.

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Why Use a Learning Management System for Remote Workforce Training

Post By Digital Marketing

They say learning opportunities never really stop while you’re alive. And nothing holds truer in adulthood—especially in the workplace. Whether you’re working 9 to 5 or running a business, training is integral to growth. But why use a learning management system to expand knowledge? Isn’t it better to learn through experience? 

The truth is that online learning provides more opportunities for upskilling; it’s perfect for companies that offer hybrid and remote working arrangements. The UK, for instance, is Europe’s ‘work-from-home capital’—with team members working 1.5 days weekly versus the global average of 0.9 days. 

Ensuring you have capable teams in these scenarios is crucial—making a learning management system indispensable for companies with remote workers. Learn why in this article. 

Better Accessibility and Learning On-The-Go 

If your team members work in different time zones and geographical locations, organizing on-site training can be time-consuming and costly. You’d need to schedule based on your team members’ availability and pay for travel and accommodation costs, which could consume a huge portion of your business budget.

Let’s say you’re a London-based digital marketing agency with a marketing team in the US, preparing to launch a new product line. To make your team more effective in pitching your services, they need to learn how your new offer works. Instead of disrupting work schedules, you can provide access to cloud-based platforms like Totara LMS so they can use it anytime, anywhere. Because these tools are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, your staff could easily complete their training modules during lunch breaks or long periods. This accessibility offers convenience in a cost-effective package. 

LMS Empowers and Engages Your Staff

While in-house upskilling is necessary for career development, some workers may feel ‘forced’ to take e-learning courses. Sometimes, non-mandatory online training will result in low course completion rates, as your staff may not be as engaged and motivated as they should be. This holds especially true if you’re a fast-paced organization where every minute counts and results are paramount.

A learning management system addresses these by providing flexibility. Participants can learn at their own pace and time, allowing them to choose personalized learning paths. Another good thing about LMS systems is that they allow you to create comprehensive and specialized content that aligns with the topic you want to pursue. For example, your sales and digital marketing team can choose online courses and other knowledge tools to boost skills and give your conversion rates a nudge: 

  • Email marketing 
  • Social media marketing
  • Search engine optimization (SEO) 
  • Sales enablement
  • Operate business tools and software (i.e., content management system) 

A learning management software can also accommodate mandatory training materials for industry-specific standards. For instance, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) training for financial and health institutions in the UK and US, respectively. In short, targeted training materials allow you to cater to your team’s needs, whether onboarding new hires or upskilling existing talents. 

It Caters to Diverse Learning Styles 

Not everyone learns the same way. Experts have a name for it—the VARK system—an acronym for a person’s preferred learning modes. These include: 

  • Visual
  • Auditory
  • Reading 
  • Kinesthetic or tactile 

Unlike traditional learning methods, which focus only on one or two of these, the best learning management systems combine all of these elements in one platform. As such, they foster better knowledge absorption and processing. 

For instance, visual and auditory learners could benefit from interactive quizzes or video tutorials, while readers can find in-depth ebooks more helpful. You can test a kinesthetic learner’s knowledge by letting them solve real-life problems. 

Besides offering an enhanced learning experience, LMS encourages better learning retention. Research suggests that only about a tenth of the training information will stick on average. A digital learning experience platform addresses this challenge, as trainees can revisit training content anytime or as they see fit. All available learning content is searchable and organized neatly, thanks to artificial intelligence.  

LMS Provides Centralized and High-Quality Training 

Continuous learning can only be achieved with consistency, more so if you have a remote workforce. Unlike traditional training methods, which may be organized in different folders in the database, a learning management system acts as a central repository of your content. Everything can be found under one roof. 

lms-provides-high-quality-training

Beyond acting as a comprehensive learning hub, the best learning management system ensures everyone receives the same high-quality training, regardless of location and time zone. For example, training content for data security can be uploaded and updated anytime to explain emerging threats and the latest company policies to address them. 

You can also ask participants for feedback immediately to craft more informative and engaging content that resonates with your diverse remote workforce.

You Can Track Progress and Measure Results 

A centralized training approach streamlines the process, making it easier for administrators to monitor learner progress, identify areas for improvement, and update content as needed. Compared to traditional training methods, an LMS has built-in tracking and reporting features, which can help measure the effectiveness of training programs. 

These metrics provide valuable insights into your staff’s engagement with the training material: 

  • Completion rates 
  • Quiz scores 
  • Participation levels
  • Time spent on training 

LMS also prompts timely intervention as needed. For example, if an employee takes too long to complete a module, the administrator can provide supplementary information to clarify challenging concepts.

Executives can also determine whether their training system is driving the desired outcomes, further personalize the training experience, and constantly fine-tune the training system or content to maximize impact.

Remote team members can sometimes feel isolated. But online learning doesn’t have to be. An LMS can help bridge this gap by fostering a sense of community and collaborative learning through features such as: 

  • Discussion forums and other communication tools 
  • Peer-to-peer mentoring 
  • Group projects

These channels connect your team members with their colleagues, ask questions, share insights and best practices, and learn from each other by sharing their knowledge and experiences. Collaborative assignments and team-based challenges encourage teamwork and foster a culture of continuous learning within the organization, too.

Imagine a team of remote customer service representatives brainstorming solutions for complex customer queries on an LMS discussion forum. This fosters community and shared learning, leading to a more knowledgeable and engaged workforce.

Essentially. an LMS enhances the overall training experience by facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration. The result? Increased team member engagement, completion rates, and satisfaction and retention.

The Key to Engaged and Skilled Talents 

In this dynamic workforce where remote systems continue becoming the norm, keeping a pool of motivated, engaged, and skilled teams can make or break your business. Enter learning management system. Whether you are a small business or an industry giant, LMS revolutionizes how you train your team. By offering flexible and high-quality e-learning sessions, you can empower your team, providing personalized learning experiences to maximize potential and strengthen weaknesses. 

Ultimately, LMS drives staff engagement, productivity, and organizational success. 

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#Learning #Management #System #Remote #Workforce #Training

Swimming News: WADA’s Wrong Turn Fires Chinese Doping Controversy as Legendary Coach Joins Michael Phelps and Others in ‘Unfair’ Rant

Post By Sports

The swimming world is on fire at the moment, involving the WADA controversy. Apparently, a total of 23 swimmers from China were allegedly cleared by the WADA despite having TMZ in their system. Quite surprisingly, several of the doubted athletes also went on to win gold medals in the Tokyo Olympics three years back. Things came to light when the New York Times, Daily Telegraph(Australia), and German broadcaster ARD exposed the 23 athletes. 

Following a Chinese report back in September, these 23 athletes were said to have tested positive for banned substances at a competition in Shijiazhuang in 2021. Although WADA denied finding any conclusive evidence for the same, backlashes ensued soon after the news was spilled. Adding to the threads of protest, American former swimmer Rowdy Gaines has hit back at the World Anti-Doping Agency. 

Rowdy Gaines, Michael Phelps, and others question the authenticity of WADA 

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In a recent Instagram post, Rowdy Gaines went all out to question WADA’s authenticity. He stated that athletes who stay clean all year round endure unimaginable sacrifices. Thus, it is of paramount importance for WADA to ensure fairness in the game. He wrote, “A fundamental condition of having fairness in sports is having faith in the anti-doping system. We have to do everything we can to make sure it’s a fair playing field. We owe it to the clean athletes around the world to have their back, and also the fans who love our sport and want to know what they are watching is real.” 

Gaines further asked the governing body to investigate the matter deeply and prevent such mishaps before the Paris Olympics. However, Gaines was not the only one to show dissent towards WADA. Renowned names like Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, and Allison Schmitt gave their reactions to the matter. 

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Allison Schmitt shared about her sad state of mind after hearing the news. She also accused WADA of tampering with the purity of the sports in exchange for “money and politics.” Aligning with her statement, 23x Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps shared Schmitt’s story, citing his support. Likewise, Katie Ledecky also joined the bandwagon, sharing a story by USA Swimming stressing the hard work done by the US swimmers to keep themselves well-conditioned and away from doping. 

Athletes, governments, and governing bodies join hands in the anti-doping battle

Other prominent faces who took a dig at WADA include Annie Lazor, James Guy, Adam Peaty, and Paige Madden. They have all expressed their concerns about the alleged cover-up. Noticeable among these athletes was Lazor, who particularly had significantly strong words for the World Anti-doping Agency. Lazor stated in her Instagram story, “Shame on you @wada_ama. You’ve stripped clean athletes of their moment on the podium. Your window of opportunity to do right is gone. No delayed punishment replaces this.”

The waters have run so much deeper that the Australian government has gotten involved in the matter. In a recently issued statement, the government of Australia expressed its full support towards the anti-doping crusade to ensure fair play at the Paris Olympics. Similarly, the national governing body for water sports in Great Britain, Aquatics GB, extended its support towards clean athletes. Aquatics GB stated, “Aquatics GB believes that every athlete is entitled to compete on a level playing field — and that means a commitment to clean sport.” 

Well, amidst the raging controversies, USADA and WADA are currently at war. While the USADA is throwing hard punches, WADA has come up with justifications of its own. 

USADA lambasts WADA 

It was USADA who initially drew the first blood on the existing controversy. In a recently released statement, USADA has demanded a complete overhaul of WADA. They stated that this was utterly necessary for reinstating the faith of the athletes in the anti-doping system ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics. The presser issued by the USADA on Tuesday said, “Athletes and the public desperately need and deserve confidence in the global anti-doping system headed into these [Paris] Games.” They also asked to set up an independent and neutral investigating body to go deep into the case of the 23 Chinese athletes. 

Accusing WADA of a cover-up, the CEO, Travis Tygart, felt that WADA swept the actual results “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.”  The USADA also went to the extent of saying that such a letdown is equivalent to stabbing clean athletes in their back. Tygart believes that time is still there for a detailed analysis of the case. He stated that the swimmers might still have a chance of getting justice by following the correct procedures to obtain the same. 

Raising doubts about the integrity of the doping tests conducted for Paris. Tygart advocated for more strict measures. According to him, “The effort to achieve whatever justice possible at this time must happen before the 2024 Paris Games, as it is unfair for all athletes competing in these Games to possibly compete against those who tested positive and whose results were kept secret until now.” However, amidst all the backlashes, WADA has also conducted a press meeting recently to clarify its stance on the matter. 

WADA clarifies its stance with justification of its own

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WADA made it clear that the reports suggested that the athletes ingested the banned substances through contaminated food. While the Chinese anti-doping agency carried out a thorough investigation, the results were inconclusive for WADA to charge the athletes. 

President Witold Banka stated that the organization did not miss a trick in evaluating the case. He stood by his decisions and stressed that WADA would repeat its judgment if given a second opportunity. Banka said, “In this particular case we followed the process and we don’t see room for improvement when it comes to this particular process what we decided.” 

Olivier Rabin, the senior director of science and medicine at WADA stated, “Ultimately, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the asserted contamination.” WADA further emphasized on Monday that external inputs opined that the case would have no merit in the Court of Arbitration. 

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Speaking to Reuters, representatives of WADA said, “WADA was advised by external counsel that it would lose any appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport based on such a challenge.” Justifying their actions further, WADA cited the example of World Aquatics. 

The international governing body for swimming, too, studied the case thoroughly and reached an identical conclusion like WADA. Thus, it is evident that tensions are rising between USADA and WADA with the passing of each day. Now, it will be interesting to see how the entire debacle concludes. 

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#Swimming #News #WADAs #Wrong #Turn #Fires #Chinese #Doping #Controversy #Legendary #Coach #Joins #Michael #Phelps #Unfair #Rant

Easy Strategies to Increase YouTube Subscribers (Including Play Buttons)

Post By Digital Marketing

YouTube’s play buttons are more than just shiny objects. They symbolize the hard work and success of content creators. Increasing YouTube subscribers is crucial for any channel looking to grow, as more subscribers mean more reach and opportunities.

This post will explore effective strategies to increase YouTube subscribers and unlock the potential of play buttons for your channel.

Yaniv Masjedi

CMO, Nextiva

Their expertise has helped Nextiva grow its brand and overall business

Help Me Increase My YouTube Subscribers

Quality Video Content Is King for YouTube Success

Making content that connects with your audience is key to any successful YouTube channel. The quality of your videos directly influences viewer engagement and, thus, how many subscribers you get. It’s about giving value in a way that entertains, educates or inspires your viewers.

Posting consistently not only keeps your current audience interested, but also attracts new subscribers. Regular content can build a loyal audience that eagerly awaits your next video, which is invaluable for boosting your channel’s growth.

Consistency is key for increasing youtube subscribers

Knowing your audience and following trends are important for making content that stands out. Here are some tips to improve your video content strategy:

  • Use a decent camera and microphone to make sure your videos have clear visuals and audio. Consider basic lighting setups to improve video aesthetics.
  • Tight, engaging editing can significantly enhance viewer retention. Use tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro to cut unnecessary parts, add transitions and insert relevant graphics to keep the content dynamic.
  • Each video should offer something valuable — be it humor, knowledge or inspiration. Clearly define what each video aims to deliver before you start production.
  • Regular video updates create anticipation among viewers. Aim for at least one video per week to keep your audience engaged and interested in your channel.
  • Plan your posting schedule for at least a month in advance. This helps in maintaining a regular content flow and managing production timelines efficiently.
  • Regularly review YouTube analytics to understand what your audience likes, peak viewing times and content performance, and then use this data to make your content suit their preferences.
  • Stay updated with trends within your niche, but make sure to add your own twist to stand out from countless similar content pieces.

Key Takeaway: Producing high-quality, consistent content that is tailored to the preferences of your audience is crucial for boosting your subscriber count on YouTube.

Community Engagement Is Vital to Increase YouTube Subscribers

Engaging with your audience is about more than just posting videos. It’s about creating a strong connection with your viewers. This sense of belonging encourages viewers to subscribe and actively participate, promoting higher engagement and visibility which, in turn, attracts new subscribers through enhanced platform algorithms and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Interacting with the community also provides creators with invaluable insights into their audience’s preferences, enabling more targeted and effective content that drives further growth. Answering comments, asking for their opinions and including them in your content creation can greatly boost subscriber growth.

Working with other creators can expose your channel to new viewers. In fact, this partnership is beneficial for both channels as they each get to share their subscribers. This approach not only makes your content more varied but also helps build a community among creators and viewers.

Here are some effective ways to connect with your community and encourage growth:

  • Organize Q&A sessions or live streams to directly answer your audience’s questions and interact with them live.
  • Use community posts to share news, behind-the-scenes content or just chat casually with your viewers.
  • Invite viewer participation by asking for video suggestions or feedback, which makes people feel involved in your channel’s journey.

Key Takeaway: Actively connecting with your audience and working with other creators can greatly help your YouTube channel grow.

Optimization and Promotion Is Key for YouTube Growth

Making your videos easy to find with search engine optimization is key to getting them seen by more people. Choosing the right keywords for your video titles, descriptions and tags can make a big difference in how easily people can find your videos on YouTube and other search engines. This helps viewers who are looking for content like yours find you.

Along with YouTube, sharing your channel on other platforms can help you reach a broader audience. Posting your videos on social media like Facebook or Instagram, including them in blog posts or talking about them on podcasts can bring more viewers to your channel.

Using several platforms to share your content not only makes your channel more visible but also helps you get more subscribers.

Here are some steps you can take to make your YouTube channel better known and more popular:

  • Look for keywords related to your content and use them in your video titles, descriptions, and tags.
  • Post your videos on social media and interact with your audience there to attract more viewers to YouTube.
  • Think about using YouTube ads to reach more people beyond your current audience.
  • Work with bloggers or podcasters to share your content, helping you connect with new groups of people.
  • Make engaging thumbnails and titles that grab attention to increase the number of people who watch your videos.

Marketing School video thumbnails are helpful to increase youtube subscribers

Key Takeaway: Using the right SEO techniques and sharing your channel on various platforms are crucial for growing your YouTube subscribers.

Increase Subs with YouTube Play Buttons

YouTube play buttons are awards given to YouTube channel creators based on their subscriber count to recognize major subscriber milestones:

YouTube play buttons

They are part of YouTube’s Creator Rewards program and come in five levels:

  • Silver Play Button: Awarded to channels that reach or surpass 100,000 subscribers. It’s a significant first milestone that recognizes a growing audience.
  • Gold Play Button: Given to channels that achieve 1 million subscribers. This button celebrates larger channels that have had a significant impact on their audience.
  • Diamond Play Button: Awarded to channels that reach 10 million subscribers. This tier honors very large and influential channels in the YouTube community.
  • Custom Play Button: When a channel hits 50 million subscribers, they receive a Custom Play Button. This award is tailored to the channel’s branding and personality, making it unique.
  • Red Diamond Play Button: This is given to channels that reach an astounding 100 million subscribers. It’s the highest award and signifies a massive, global influence.

These Creator Awards are given to “creators that have played by the rules,” which means YouTubers that “keep their accounts in good standing without copyright strikes, community guideline violations or artificially increased subscriber counts, among other criteria.” Once you’ve been notified of your award and submitted all the information asked of you, you will receive your handcrafted Creator Award in the mail:

increase youtube subscribers with play buttons, including the Silver and Gold Creator Awards

How to Increase YouTube Subscribers with Play Buttons

Although the play buttons do not directly increase subscribers, they do serve as motivational milestones that can indirectly help you increase subscribers for your YouTube channel in several ways:

  • Enhanced Credibility and Prestige: Receiving a YouTube play button acts as a badge of legitimacy and achievement. It shows potential subscribers that your content is trusted and valued by a large audience, which can encourage new viewers to subscribe.
  • Visibility and Promotion: Achieving a play button often leads to additional promotion and visibility within YouTube’s algorithm. The recognition can boost your channel’s appearance in search results and recommended video feeds, attracting new subscribers.
  • Community Engagement and Celebration: Unboxing and celebrating the receipt of a play button can be a significant event on your channel. Such content typically generates higher engagement and viewer interaction, which can attract new subscribers.
  • Motivation to Improve Content: The pursuit of the next play button milestone can motivate creators to improve their content quality and consistency. Better content leads to increased viewer satisfaction and retention, drawing in more subscribers.
  • Marketing Tool: Play buttons can be used as a powerful marketing tool in your promotional activities and collaborations. They add to your brand’s appeal, making collaborations more likely and effective, which can extend your reach and draw in subscribers from new demographics.

Key Takeaway: Although there’s no direct action here, earning one or more YouTube play buttons can certainly help boost subscriber growth by enhancing your channel’s credibility and increasing visibility.

Final Word on Unlocking YouTube Growth

To succeed on YouTube, you need to be dedicated and use smart strategies. It’s important to make high-quality, interesting videos, interact with your viewers and make sure your channel is easy to find. These are three simple but key steps to get those prestigious play buttons.

Keep working hard and use all the strategies we talked about, from understanding the value of YouTube’s play buttons to using effective ways to grow your channel. Your hard work, creativity, and how you connect with your viewers are the true keys to growing on YouTube and achieving lasting success.

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For more insights and lessons about marketing, check out our Marketing School podcast on YouTube.

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Top Digital Agency Logo Ideas for Designers

Post By Digital Marketing

Treated as an afterthought but is a priority, you call it logo and we call it “Your Brand’s Identity.” Every day, you come across thousands of logos, but how many do you remember?

If the logos don’t have the wow factor or they are too cluttered, they can’t be remembered by your neurons.

There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.

-Milton Glaser

The purpose of a great logo design is to instill a feeling of immense creativity, imagination, and wit. All these factors come together to provide a sense of brilliance. They are helping companies etch their brand names well into the minds of their users, ultimately making them memorable.

Do you know that brands have witnessed an 80% increase in brand recognition with a colored logo design?

However, coming up with a creative and brilliant logo design is far from simple. There is a lot of research and time that needs to be put in, and hundreds of drafts need to be made. Moreover, it is also important to understand that while a logo carries a lot of weight in terms of attracting the right users, it is also true that in the coming years, both logo design and branding will experience a massive shift in trend.

Why?

Well, that is simple.

Ever since mobile browsing topped desktop
searches back in 2016, the world of digital marketing has experienced a
360-degree turn. Today, companies prioritize making things look gorgeous and
infinitely creative on smaller screens, instantly captivating users. 

Designers are now in a constant pursuit to implement streamlined logo design trends, magnificently aligning everything to fit the current digital landscape. These designers take full advantage of numerous technological innovations in the digital stratosphere, propelling themselves well into the future.

Why Are Agency Logos Critical for Success?

Agency logos are the silent ambassadors of your brand. They are the first touchpoint, the visual hook that can engage potential clients in the bustling digital arena. 

Think about a logo as the face of your digital marketing agency: It’s what people remember, share, and relate to. (This is why, having a distinct and memorable logo is crucial.) 

Effective digital marketing agency logo ideas should communicate your brand’s innovative spirit and core values at a glance, making a strong case for why you stand out from the crowd. Moreover, a powerful logo is the linchpin in your marketing efforts, seamlessly integrating with all your digital assets and promotions to create a cohesive and compelling brand narrative. This visual consistency across platforms magnifies your brand’s voice and aids in crafting a reliable and recognizable presence in the digital world.

How to Design a Digital Marketing Agency Logo

When it comes to designing a logo for a digital marketing agency, think bold, think unique, but above all, think smart. The process should start with a clear understanding of what your brand stands for and the impression you want to leave in your audience’s mind. It’s about blending simplicity with creativity to create a logo that not only stands out but sticks in the memory.

A great digital marketing agency logo acts as a cornerstone of your brand’s identity, so it’s crucial to use colors, fonts, and symbols that reflect your agency’s personality and ethos. Also, keep in mind that a well-designed logo is a way to speak to the heart of your audience without saying a word—it’s your brand’s silent yet incredibly loud ambassador to the world.

When designing, you should also consider the functionality of your logo across various media. A great logo must be versatile, which means to be equally effective on a website header, a mobile app, or a promotional t-shirt.

Inspiring Digital Agency Logo Ideas for Designers

Now, you know that your logo will make a great difference in how your customers know and remember your brand. So if you need to get inspired before starting to design a logo for your business, and see how effective a good logo design can be, you should take a look at these creative logos of these remarkable digital marketing agencies!

Favoured

Favoured’s logo immediately catches the eye with its vibrant use of colors, with each letter painted in a different hue. This colorful design helps the logo stand out while reflecting Favoured’s dynamic and creative approach to marketing. The colors within each letter blend where they meet, creating new tones and adding depth, which can be understood as a reflection of Favoured’s ability to work on diverse projects and marketing ideas.

Flightpath

A digital marketing agency based in New York City, Flightpath has brilliantly incorporated the use of negative space in their logo, making it look clever; it describes the company’s name and testifies to the agency’s brilliance and creativity. That automatically translates into how creative and professional they are going to be in providing different services.

Crowd

top-digital-agency-logo-ideas-for-designers-crowd

Crowd is a creative agency, and it is easy to see why they can truly help businesses create excellent logos. The Crowd logo design is simple and pristine – right to the point. It goes to show that you don’t have to wrack your brain trying to come up with a decent logo – try being simple at first, and it will fall in place.  

Major Tom

Major Tom’s logo brilliantly encapsulates their motto, “Find clarity in chaos.” This digital agency logo features incomplete “O”s, creating a visual representation of “chaos”. Yet, the overall clarity of the typeface ensures that the logo remains crisp and easy to read, mirroring the agency’s skill in navigating the complex world of digital marketing with precision and simplicity. 

Mimosa Agency

Mimosa calls itself the digital matchmaker. They are the providers of marketing solutions and web design services. Their logo is pretty simple and that’s the real beauty. Using nothing but a creative font to form the name of the company, it is also indicative of the company’s constant effort to provide digital solutions with ease.

Bellman Brand Agency

Bellman’s logo is a truly sophisticated and chic example because of its font and gold color. It is clear that this logo has a romantic state of mind and conveys a strong brand feeling. Bellman is a successful branding agency based in Melbourne, Australia, providing all sorts of branding services for its customers.

Bleech

We love the power of blue! Bleech’s logo design is one of our favorites as it has a simple yet characteristic look. We love the way the team presents themselves, combining the colors as well as the font.

Search&Gather

Search and Gather is a digital agency based in Canada. Their logo design is another example of minimalism combined with the creative use of geometry. One look at their logo and you will start imagining how true they are at what they do: adding value to your brand.

The Charles

The logo for The Charles uses a clean and elegant typeface that reflects the agency’s sophisticated approach to digital creativity and strategy. Its minimalist design is both modern and versatile, which gives a hint about The Charles’ focus on design, media, and technology. Also, the logo’s simplicity allows it to be easily recognizable and effective across various media.

Baunfire

Baunfire’s logo is characterized by sharp, clean lines and bold, uppercase typography, showing that they value clarity and precision. The logo reflects the agency’s focus on high-end digital solutions and cutting-edge design. The rising effect of the logo design tells potential clients that the agency is always achieving the best results and locating themselves and their clients at the top.

Damteq

Damteq’s logo features clean, straightforward typography that reflects the agency’s no-nonsense approach to digital marketing. The logo’s sans-serif font is easy to read and professional, making the brand approachable and dependable. Also, the simplicity of the logo ensures that it works well on any platform, helping the brand maintain a consistent identity wherever it appears. 

KOTA

KOTA’s logo grabs attention with the very bold letters constituting the logo itself. This example of a digital agency logo design showcases how an agency can tell their prospective clients that they are where dull designs come to be reinvented, transforming everyday ideas into art with their true reactive sense.

Zest Digital

Zest Digital’s logo captures attention with its unique and modern design. The “S” grasps attention immediately as it is formed by two half-circles set diagonally, creating a memorable visual. The use of white on a black background gives the logo a stark, impactful appearance and makes it a timeless piece.

Straight North

Straight North’s logo, with its stylized compass pointing north, captures the essence of their approach: straightforward, focused, and aimed at growth. It’s smart and professional, yet simple enough to be instantly recognizable. This clever use of the compass not only ties back to their name but also symbolizes their commitment to guiding clients towards better digital marketing outcomes. The digital agency logo design is clean and friendly, suggesting that while they’re serious about business, they’re also approachable and ready to help your brand climb higher.

Impression

Impression’s logo is visually striking, composed of a colorful cubic form that reflects the agency’s dynamic and innovative approach to digital marketing. The use of vibrant colors in the cube symbolizes their creativity and energy, portraying a blend of analytical precision and innovative thinking. This geometric design not only signifies their structured, strategic methodologies but also highlights their commitment to bringing fresh, impactful ideas to digital campaigns. 

So there you go—some of the best digital marketing companies that you can take inspiration from when developing and designing your logo. We also listed the inspirational digital marketing agency taglines.

Of course, it is a mammoth task, but with these examples, you will quickly see how you can transform the logo ideas and drafts you have generated into real, exceptional logo designs.

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How a gag order showdown explains everything about Trump – Egypt Independent

Post By World

CNN  — 

Prosecutor Chris Conroy captured the quintessential Donald Trump in a single sentence at the ex-president’s hush money trial on Tuesday.

“He knows what he’s not allowed to do, and he does it anyway.”

Conroy was referring to Trump’s incessant testing of a gag order protecting witnesses, court staff and the jury. But there’s rarely been a better description of the presumptive GOP nominee’s entire approach to business and politics – or the way he’s promised to behave if voters send him back to the White House.

The New York lawyer coined his phrase during a tense hearing on whether Trump violated the terms of the gag order in social media blasts, reposts and comments claiming the jury was full of biased liberals and targeting two potential key witnesses, his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels.

And in remarks in an interview recorded before Tuesday’s hearing but that was broadcast as Judge Juan Merchan considers whether to punish Trump, the ex-president was at it again. “Michael Cohen is a convicted liar and he’s got no credibility whatsoever,” Trump said in an interview with WPVI Philadelphia.

Only six days into the trial, Trump is doing what he always does, pushing the rules and conventions of the law and accepted behavior to service his own narrative of victimization he’s placed at the core of his 2024 campaign.

Prosecutors now want Merchan to fine Trump $1,000 for each of 10 alleged violations of the gag order and to warn that imprisonment could be an option if he continues to flout restrictions. CNN’s John Miller reported Tuesday that the Secret Service, court officers and the New York City Department of Corrections have quietly consulted on what to do if Trump ends up being jailed for contempt of court. That remedy remains a distant one for now, but any eventual step in that direction cannot be ruled out since no judge can allow a defendant to mock his authority in what is in essence a show of contempt for the rule of law.

“Judge Merchan has to have control of his courtroom,” former judge and current Cooley Law School professor Jeffrey Swartz told Jim Sciutto on CNN Max. “He cannot allow someone who is under a gag order to basically say, ‘I don’t care what you think, judge, I am going to do what I want to do.’”

It’s almost inconceivable that any other criminal defendant would get away with lacerating the judge and his court in the way that Trump has done on his Truth Social network, in interviews and in his remarks to cameras outside the court. Trump claims the gag order stifles his right to free speech and to campaign as a presumptive party nominee. But that is blatantly false: the order is narrow — even if it was extended by the judge to cover his family following social media attacks by the former president on Merchan’s daughter.

On Tuesday, Merchan grew visibly frustrated with Trump’s lawyers when they insisted that their client was trying hard to comply with the order, without offering any evidence. At one point, in what quickly turned into a disastrous hearing for Trump’s team, Merchan warned Trump’s attorneys they were “losing all credibility with the court.” Legal sketch artist Elizabeth Williams described the extraordinary moment when the judge clashed with Trump’s counsel Todd Blanche. “Merchan is a pretty cool character, he doesn’t get easily riled up,” she told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “They were going at it.”

Trying, and failing, to hold Trump to account

Merchan, like most judges, may not be used to such affronts. But he’s the latest in a long line of judges, public officials, political aides and business associates — not to mention US laws and the Constitution — to try to constrain the former president. And while a dispute over one partial gag order might seem like a small wrinkle in an individual case, it conveys a wider truth about Trump’s impact on American life.

There’s a common theme in all Trump’s four criminal cases, other legal quagmires and the single presidential term that produced two impeachments: He constantly refuses to comply with laws that apply to every other American.

The implicit underpinning of all Trump’s pending trials – including two over his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, one over his hoarding of classified documents and other civil and fraud cases – is the same. It’s that every American is equal in the eyes of the law – a principle that even applies to ex-presidents.

But Trump constantly infringes this bedrock value that is the pillar of the legal system. And he will do so in the most audacious of ways on the biggest stage later this week when the US Supreme Court hears his sweeping claim that ex-presidents are immune from prosecution for acts they committed in office. The argument is an attempt to derail special counsel Jack Smith’s stalled federal election interference case against Trump. The former president posted on Truth Social on Sunday: “Without Presidential Immunity, a President will not be able to properly function, or make decisions.”

But Trump is reaching for protections that would absolve the executive office of the presidency of legal accountability for criminal acts — a privilege that no other commander in chief in nearly two-and-a-half centuries has enjoyed and which appears to contradict the founding principles of a nation that rebelled against a monarch who was above the law. Most legal scholars believe there’s no merit to his claims — a stance validated by a court of appeals ruling against Trump in Washington, DC. But any decision by the Supreme Court to suggest even some limited areas of presidential immunity could end up changing the scope of the office itself.

This sense that Trump feels he’s not covered by the same rules as everyone else shines through all of his legal cases – in which he’s pleaded not guilty – as well as his other escapades.

• He’s the first president in history to lose an election but insist that he won based on false and debunked claims of mass fraud.

• He saw nothing wrong, as president, with phoning officials in Georgia and asking them to “find” votes that did not exist so he could try to overturn President Joe Biden’s win in the critical swing state in 2020. The ex-president insisted the call was “perfect” — the same phrase he used to describe his attempt to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into announcing an investigation into the Biden family in a conversation that led to his first impeachment.

• The impulse to ignore gag orders and most accepted understandings of the limits of presidential power seems to spring from the same contempt for the rule of law that led Trump to allegedly mishandle troves of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and to claim they belonged to him and not the country. He’s also awaiting trial in this case in which he’s pleaded not guilty.

• A sense that the law only applies to other people may have also informed the ex-president’s overvaluing of his properties to secure preferential treatment from banks and insurance firms — an assumption countermanded by his loss in a near half-a-billion dollar civil fraud trial judgement against him, the Trump Organization and his adult sons earlier this year.

While Trump’s obliviousness to constraints horrifies his opponents, his willingness to tear down legal and political institutions is the key to his appeal to millions of supporters.

In his bid to win back the White House, Trump is appealing to Americans who distrust governing elites in politics, the law, the medical establishment and the media. He’s posing as a champion who is enduring persecution so that they won’t have to. “I am your justice … and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution,” Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March 2023, reviving his bond with his populist base voters.

But Trump’s willingness to trample the law and the principles of a democratic, constitutional system has severed his links with more traditional conservatives. George Conway, a conservative lawyer who before 2020 always voted for Republicans for president, will headline a fundraiser for Biden on Wednesday and will give nearly a million dollars to a joint fundraising committee to try to reelect him because he’s worried about Trump’s pledge to devote his possible second term to retribution. He warned Trump “doesn’t care a whit about the Constitution, about the rule of law. He wants to undermine the country and its rule of law for his own political purposes.”

Conway, who was in court for the Trump trial on Tuesday, became emotional as he explained his decision to donate the maximum amount possible in an interview with CNN’s Burnett.

“Yeah, it’s going to come out of my kids’ inheritance, but the most important thing they can inherit is living in a constitutional democracy,” Conway said.

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