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My co-host Ken Suzan and I are welcoming you the episode 176 of the IP Fridays Podcast. Today's interview guest is returning guest Franklin Graves, who is a senior counsel at Linkedin and teaching IP law at Emerson College. With my co-host Ken Suzan he is discussing how the law for creators has dramatically changed in the past years. Franklin Graves is expressing his personal views and not the views of Linkedin or Microsoft. He is talking about the paper “Upload Complete” before he joined Linkedin. Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklingraves/ Paper: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5271442 Website: https://creatoreconomylaw.com/ But before we jump into this interview, I have news for you! Richard Meade, a judge on the UK High Court and one of the most prominent figures in European patent law, was appointed Lord Justice of Appeal at the British Court of Appeal on June 12, 2026. Meade played a key role in numerous landmark British patent decisions, particularly in the area of standard-essential patents (SEPs) and FRAND licenses. In Insulet Corp. v. EOFlow Co., No. 2025-1807, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit completely overturned the original $452 million judgment (which had already been reduced by the District Court to $59.4 million) in favor of Insulet. In its decision of June 2, 2026, in the case of Fujifilm v. Kodak, the UPC Board of Appeal provided comprehensive clarifications regarding so-called “long-arm jurisdiction”—that is, the question of whether the UPC can also rule on national patent claims outside the UPC territory (such as in the United Kingdom). In 14 guiding principles, the judges established specific procedural rules for various categories of cases. There is no automatic UPC jurisdiction over national patent claims outside the UPC territory. The Munich Regional Court has issued an arrest warrant against the managing director of Polytech Health & Aesthetics GmbH because he is alleged to have continued to exploit the Brazilian company Silimed's patent for breast implants despite a preliminary injunction. A number of IT and automotive industry associations—which are among the most frequent users of Inter Partes Reviews (IPR) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office—have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, urging the Court to grant Google's certiorari petition. An attorney for a Las Vegas performer has asked a California federal judge to temporarily prohibit Taylor Swift from using “The Life of a Showgirl” as a trademark while the trademark lawsuit is pending. Swift's attorney called the lawsuit baseless. And now let's hear Ken discuss creator law with Franklin! AI, Platform Law, and the Creator Economy: What Businesses Need to Know Now Franklin Graves has spent his entire career watching digital content move through systems that most people never see. He started in marketing at a major music label right out of law school, then represented individual creators on YouTube in a pro bono capacity, then moved to the platform side at Eventbrite, and today works as Senior Product Counsel at LinkedIn, where he focuses on AI, data, and the regulatory questions that come with both. His recently published law review article, Upload Complete: An Introduction to Creator Economy Law, is the first academic paper to address the creator economy as a distinct legal field. In a recent episode of the IP Fridays podcast, he spoke with host Kenneth Suzan about responsible AI development, platform regulation, and what it actually means to own your audience in a world where the rules keep changing overnight. From Content Creator to Platform Lawyer The through-line in Graves’ career is a genuine understanding of how content moves from an idea in someone’s head to an audience on a screen. That experience, he argues, is precisely what in-house counsel needs right now. Lawyers working on AI and product development cannot afford to sit at a distance from the technology they are advising on. They need to use the tools, experience them as a creator or end user would, and understand the nuances of how a product actually operates before it reaches the public. Understanding the product first is the precondition for everything else. That philosophy translates directly into how he approaches responsible AI implementation. The landscape of AI standards is crowded: NIST frameworks, the EU AI Act, sector-specific guidance, and a growing body of industry-adopted best practices. The challenge for in-house counsel is not knowing that these standards exist. It is making them actionable for the engineering and product teams they support. Abstract principles need to become concrete controls and workflows. Graves offers one practical shortcut: most companies already have open source software review processes that involve the right stakeholders, the right sign-off levels, and the right security checks. Layering the specifics of generative AI or large language models onto those existing processes is far more efficient than building something new from scratch. A Fragmented Regulatory World The geopolitical dimension of AI regulation is something Graves thinks about constantly in his role at LinkedIn. The EU AI Act, shifting US executive orders, and country-specific approaches to data privacy have created a regulatory environment that can change the rules of the game without warning. His analogy is instructive: creators have long understood what it means to build a community on a platform they do not own. An algorithm change, a policy update, or a government ban can wipe out years of audience-building overnight. Businesses deploying AI tools globally now face a structurally similar problem. The response, for creators and for platforms alike, is to build resilience rather than rely on stability that may not last. TikTok is the clearest recent example. When the platform faced the prospect of being shut down in the United States on national security grounds, it triggered a broader conversation about platform dependence that had been building for years. Creators who had invested their entire business in one platform suddenly confronted the possibility that their audience could simply disappear. The lesson is not that platforms are bad. It is that concentration of any kind, whether it is your audience, your data pipeline, or your regulatory compliance strategy, creates fragility. What Is a Creator, Legally Speaking? One of the central contributions of Graves’ law review article is definitional. The terminology matters more than it might seem. When courts and regulators talk about creators without a shared understanding of what that word means, the resulting legal analysis tends to miss the mark. Graves draws a distinction between users who post content, creators who post with the intent to build an audience and eventually monetize it, and influencers, a subset of creators who are actively running a small business through their content. The difference is intent. A parent posting family photos on Facebook is a user. Someone building a subscription community around their professional expertise is running a business, and the legal framework that applies to them should reflect that. That distinction matters practically when it comes to liability. As more creators build their own platforms, whether through custom membership sites, open source tools like Ghost, or federated social networks, they take on obligations that previously fell to large platforms: content moderation policies, privacy notices, terms of service, and compliance with data regulations across multiple jurisdictions. A creator in Tennessee running a membership platform with subscribers in Germany is operating a global business, whether they think of themselves that way or not. Protecting Children Online: A Question Without a Clean Answer The tension between age verification and privacy is one of the more difficult problems in platform law right now. Australia, several European countries, and a growing number of US states have introduced or passed minimum age requirements for social media accounts. The technical challenge is real: verifying age online requires collecting identifying information, and collecting identifying information creates privacy risk, particularly for the young people the laws are designed to protect. Who should bear the responsibility for that verification is also unresolved. Is it the platform? The app store? The mobile operating system? Graves does not pretend there is a clean answer, but he points to the mobile layer as an underexplored option. The Apple App Store and Google Play Store already have significant leverage over which apps reach users on their devices. Whether that leverage should extend to age verification is a question that deserves more attention than it currently receives. The Right of Publicity in the Age of AI Voice cloning, digital replicas, and AI-generated synthetic media have pushed the right of publicity into territory that traditional IP law was not designed to cover. Trademark law, copyright law, and existing publicity rights each capture part of the problem but none of them covers it completely. The result, as Graves describes it, is a period of experimentation: lawyers filing trademarks on vocal sounds and phrases, states updating their publicity statutes to explicitly mention artificial intelligence, and entertainment unions negotiating over who controls a performance and any AI-generated iterations of it. Tennessee’s Elvis Act is a concrete example of the legislative response: the state updated its right of publicity law to include voice and to reference AI directly. Similar efforts are underway elsewhere. The underlying challenge is calibrating protection so that it gives creators and performers meaningful control over their likeness and voice without foreclosing the development of generative AI systems that depend on broad rights to process and learn from content. Somewhere between those two interests, a workable legal framework needs to emerge. The brand deal context may be where the issue becomes most immediately practical. When a brand partners with an influencer and the campaign involves generative AI in any form, the contract needs to address control explicitly. Who has final approval over how the influencer’s likeness or voice is used in AI-generated deliverables? What happens to those assets after the campaign ends? These are not hypothetical questions. They are contract drafting problems that any brand counsel or creator attorney should be addressing today. What Comes Next Graves is cautious about predictions, but his sense of direction is clear. The regulatory environment will continue to fragment before it converges. The right of publicity will be updated, imperfectly, in more jurisdictions. Creators will continue to move toward owning more of their infrastructure. And the lawyers who do this work best will be the ones who understand the technology well enough to translate it into practical, defensible decisions for the people they advise. Full Transcript: Ken Suzan: Thank you, Rolf. Our returning guest today is Franklin Graves. Franklin is the founder and editor of Creator Economy Law, a website and newsletter that educates creator economy professionals on the intersection of law and policy with the world of creators, brands, and platforms. Franklin also published the first law review article focused on the creator economy, Upload Complete, an introduction to creator economy law. He regularly appears across news and media outlets as a commentator and contributor with a focus on educating creators and raising awareness of all legal aspects of the creator economy. Franklin is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Ken Suzan: Franklin was invited to participate as one of the creators and creator economy professionals in the first ever White House creator economy conference. Franklin works full time as a product counsel at LinkedIn Corporation. As a member of the product and data team, he focuses on emerging issues in AI and data. Franklin previously held roles on the technology law group at HCA Healthcare, the commercial legal team at Eventbrite, and the business and legal affairs team at Naxos Music Group. Welcome back Franklin to the IP Fridays podcast. Franklin Graves: Thank you so much for having me. It is exciting to be back and reflecting over the last decade since I last joined and also the paper that I wrote that dives into this in more detail. So I really appreciate it. And yes, full disclosure, I currently work for LinkedIn, which is a subsidiary of Microsoft. I’m here in my personal capacity to talk about this, the paper I wrote before joining LinkedIn and all of that. So thank you so much for having me back. Ken Suzan: Excellent. So Franklin, since your last appearance on IP Fridays in 2017, your career has evolved significantly. You are now senior product counsel at LinkedIn focusing on AI and data. How has working inside a major tech platform changed your perspective on the legal frameworks governing digital content compared to when you were viewing it purely from the creator side? Franklin Graves: I appreciate that question because when I wrote the article, I did not work for LinkedIn. And I had been coming from a history in my career where I, right out of law school, worked for a record label like we talked about almost 10 years ago. And I was on the content creation side. I’ve represented a major distributor of classical music digitally at the time. And that was my first exposure to understanding how content was taken from the initial inception stage from creators and routed through all the various digital platforms that were at the time still evolving and even arguably still today continue to evolve. The early days of YouTube Music launching and then Apple Music launching, and then going through all the phases of high-res audio and everything that came after that. So that was an interesting perspective to start my career with. And then I went to Eventbrite, which is a ticketing platform, but was also focused on elevating event creators. They kind of took on that moniker of “Hey, we are event creators that we support.” And that was arguably my first exposure to the platform side, the tech platform side of it, because Eventbrite is a platform. And so then I evolved from there in my personal capacity, in a pro bono capacity representing individual creators across the YouTube space. And that’s what we talked about a little bit back when I first came on the podcast. Franklin Graves: Over the last decade, it’s been a chance to grow my own understanding of the creator economy. The terminology “creator economy” came around. And then now on the other side of it, having written the article and all that, and now being fully in-house at LinkedIn, I truly am experiencing a social media platform. LinkedIn is of course arguably way more than just the platform itself. There are so many different avenues to it, but it is a chance for me to understand what it is like working for a company that is operating the platform that people are distributing content on. There’s a user journey to content and all of that. So it’s definitely enhanced and given me a different perspective from a major tech platform side. And part of my role at LinkedIn is really heavily focused on understanding regulation and how that from an AI and data perspective impacts the company. And so I’ve been really leveling up my game over the last year and a half that I’ve been here, understanding mostly EU regulations, but also US regulations that are still in their infancy when it comes to AI. But really when it comes to privacy and data, those are pretty well established across the board. It’s been kind of a combination of what I learned at Eventbrite, because I went to Eventbrite when GDPR was going into effect. And so that was an eyes-wide-open moment of getting in the weeds with negotiating data processing agreements, understanding data transfers and cross-border data transfers and the like. So it’s been kind of an evolution as the laws and regulations have evolved. So has my career, so has my own understanding, so have the platforms’ responses to those laws and regulations. And I’m sure that probably resonates with a lot of your listeners who have also been growing their practice and their understanding as the laws and regulations in this realm have been evolving too. Ken Suzan: Yes, indeed. Now let’s switch gears and talk about AI. You advise on AI and data daily. As platforms integrate generative AI tools into their tech stacks, what are the most critical best practices in-house counsel should be adopting right now to embed responsible AI principles into product development? Franklin Graves: So as an attorney, one of my key roles is to understand the technology. Even representing creators and working for creator platforms, that’s something I’m constantly trying to do: put myself in the shoes of being a creator. And I think I talked about this last time I was on, but I come from a background where I was working for a major label doing marketing, video editing, social media work. And I was creating content. I understood the whole life cycle from the inception point of an idea to execution and then to the final delivery and distribution of that content to an audience within a major music label. And so part of that is the same thing that I think attorneys, especially in-house, should be doing: using the tools that the product and engineering teams are either developing in-house or partnering with third parties to develop, or a combination of the two. Using them, understanding them, using them as a creator would, using them as an end user or a client or customer would. And making sure that if you understand the product and understand the nuances of how it operates, and being a part of the iterations of that internally before it fully ramps, that really gives you a chance to understand: okay, we have a lot of responsible AI principles and standards and protocols that are in existence right now, whether it’s NIST, whether it’s based on the EU AI Act or anything and everything in between. It’s understanding how to apply those and bring those into a product and an engineering environment in a way that is practical and actionable for the people that you’re supporting, the stakeholders you’re supporting. So I think one of the critical best practices is, number one, understand the product or features that you’re supporting. Franklin Graves: And then understand how you as an attorney can use your expertise and understanding of responsible AI practices, whether it’s a regulatory standard or an industry-adopted standard or a hybrid of the two, to leverage those and implement those, break those down and make them into actionable controls and processes and flows that work within your existing infrastructure. That’s a lot of high-level talk, but that’s the general idea. One concrete example we talk about frequently is with open source AI. If you’re working with a product team or an engineering team that is taking an off-the-shelf open source model and bringing that in-house, a lot of times companies have pre-existing open source processes that cover the use of open source software or code. Piggyback on that. That’s the easiest quick win for attorneys: leveraging your existing open source processes to just build on top of that the AI flavor and layering. It’s not very much that you have to do, but the underlying process of the key stakeholders that need to be involved in the review, whether it’s security, whether it’s executive sign-off if it gets to that point, even export control considerations should already be part of your existing open source software process. So layering in on those existing processes the specifics of generative AI or large language models that you’re trying to bring in is a great way to put this into practice. Ken Suzan: Now looking at the geopolitical landscape that we currently have, we have the EU AI Act setting strict standards and shifting US executive orders. How should platforms and brands prepare for this fragmented regulatory environment when deploying AI tools to a global user base? Franklin Graves: It’s a great question. It’s something that is still evolving, I think is fair to say. I would equate it, as I do in the paper that I wrote, to how creators and arguably brands don’t own the platforms that they’re building their communities on. That spawned this concept of de-platforming or going into building your own platform, a decentralized platform of sorts, and owning your community. That gives you that control and takes away the level of instability that can come for creators trying to build a business on a platform they don’t own, they don’t control when certain updates happen, when algorithms change, when tools and functionalities either become available or go away completely. So it’s very similar to what we’ve been experiencing in a regulatory environment where we have geopolitical complexities, for lack of a better term, that can overnight seemingly disrupt the way in which a platform or even a multinational brand is able to connect and reach an audience or continue to leverage the user base that they’ve built. I think TikTok is a great example of that, where it became a national security concern and suddenly it was facing an executive order that required it to be effectively disabled in the US or completely owned and operated by a US entity. All the mechanics and technicalities of whether it’s actually possible and still have a global platform with a global user base is a whole different discussion. But that’s an example of very similar considerations that are now not just a discussion point at the creator level or the individual brand level, but also in a much broader context at a platform level as well. Ken Suzan: Franklin, let’s now shift gears and talk about your article. In your recently published journal article, Upload Complete, which we will have linked in our show notes, you advocate for a shift in terminology from internet creator law, a term used during our first podcast almost a decade ago, to creator economy law. Why is this distinction important and how does it change the way legal practitioners should view the ecosystem of creators, brands, and platforms? Franklin Graves: Oh yes, this is part of the reason why I wanted to write the article: to lay this foundation of understanding. Because at the time I’d written the article, the term creator economy and creator had really not appeared but for maybe once in an actual court decision. And it was kind of focused on influencers and this concept, and it was just not getting it right. And so it was also, as you mentioned, when we first spoke I was even using the term internet creators. And I think that was something that was common at the time. The “internet” portion as a qualifier has since dropped off. And now for purposes of the creator economy, the term creators refers to individuals, it can be small businesses, which is what we’ve seen from a regulatory standpoint, how these small businesses are being impacted by regulations. But essentially creators in the article I pin in the context of intent. What is the intent behind the person or the small business that is posting content, trying to build a community and form a community in a virtual environment? And then that can even spill over into real physical world environments. And so the intent is kind of what I look at. Franklin Graves: And I have a chart in the article that has a diagram showcasing the overlap of what I refer to as “users generating content.” It’s a play on the concept of user-generated content, UGC. Users generating content is that large bucket of anyone posting on a platform of some kind. And within that large bucket, that large circle, are smaller subsets. You have creators, you have brands. Those are really the two buckets you can put people into. Otherwise it’s like your grandmother or your parents posting content on Facebook or Instagram, and those are everyday users of a platform. The distinction to get into that subcategory of being a creator more so has been analyzing the intent behind the posting. Are you posting content to build an audience, to build a community, to eventually have a chance to monetize the following that you’re bringing in or sell services or something like that? Brands are posting for that reason. Creators are maybe posting for that same reason. But even within the creator category, there’s a subcategory of influencers that are trying to sell something, that are trying to build more than just an awareness of who they are, their influence. They are trying to do brand deals, partnership deals, upsells and all that, and start an actual small business aside from just the content itself that they’re creating. So that’s kind of the distinctions that I make in the paper. And that’s why it’s important to understand and lay that foundation, that anyone can post content online, but the intent, the why behind their posting that content, really does ultimately matter, especially when you’re looking at it from a court case or from a regulatory standpoint. Ken Suzan: Now, Franklin, we’re seeing unprecedented geopolitical activity around platform ownership. For example, the US legislation targeting TikTok and Brazil’s recent temporary ban of X. How do these macro-level battles impact the day-to-day livelihood of creators? And how can they legally and operationally protect themselves? Franklin Graves: So the shift that we’re seeing, and I alluded to this earlier in our conversation, is this concept of Web 3. And that term may or may not be really popular anymore, but that’s essentially what we’re looking at: a shift into a federated, decentralized operation of a platform. So instead of one owner, one company, one entity owning and operating the platform, it’s decentralized. Anyone can start up a server, and it’s interoperable, meaning anyone can plug and play and connect to that larger network. And it creates this unified social network experience. Within each operating node of that network, there can be your own decisions around content moderation, your own decisions around the hosting providers you use, where you’re operating out of, the terms and conditions that apply to that. But the flip side is that instead of creators posting and sharing in a closed environment run and controlled by a singular entity, you’re now experiencing a peer-to-peer type operation where your experience can change based on which server, which node, which user you’re engaging with. You might have content that’s acceptable in one area but not acceptable in another, and maybe it just doesn’t even show up in that other area. Franklin Graves: But from a liability standpoint, as creators start to build their own networks and communities, even outside of a concept like the fediverse, it’s even down to creators building their own communities through online courses, subscription membership-based platforms that they run on their own website. There’s open source software out there, even something called Ghost, where you have memberships. And that is a creator or a small business in the creator economy that is now taking on the obligations that would typically fall upon a platform. They need to take into consideration terms and conditions, privacy policies, legal aspects, and regulatory considerations for running a platform, especially in a global world. So it’s a lot of liability that then shifts over to those small businesses and even brands sometimes that are doing the same thing. Whether it is something as simple or complex as content moderation or all the way up to monetizing an audience, this new world where creators can spin up and run a platform all dovetails back to the concept of creators not feeling like they have control in reaching the audience and the community that they’re building on an individual platform. And so this really became more mainstream conversation with TikTok and the issues around it potentially being shut down in the US. That was kind of the mindset shift and eyes opening for many creators, especially within the influencer subset, of realizing: we need to make sure that we have a way to reach the audience we’ve built if the individual platform that we’ve committed to over the last year or three years or so is no longer available. We need a way to continue that relationship outside of that one platform controlling it. Ken Suzan: Franklin, we have a few minutes left and a number of topics. So I’m going to switch gears and talk about a few issues. First, a major emerging topic in your paper is the evolution of protecting kids online. With state-level age-gating laws like the CAADCA and the recent FTC updates to COPPA, how should platforms navigate the significant tension between strict age verification mandates and the privacy and First Amendment rights of their users? Franklin Graves: Man, that is a whole discussion to unravel. It is a consideration that we’re seeing happen again, going back to the geopolitical nature of everything. Countries like Australia and certain countries in Europe and now even individual states in the US are trying to look at ways, and some of them have already put into place minimum age requirements before you can even sign up for an account with a social media platform. One of the things I’d just highlight quickly here is that one of the tensions is around how you verify someone’s age online and still maintain the ability to be at least pseudonymous. How do you still have a level of privacy, autonomy, and protection when it comes to having to provide something like a driver’s license or have parental consent tied and connected to an account managed by a parent in a situation where maybe it’s not appropriate or not beneficial to the child in that manner? But then maybe there are counterbalancing factors that outweigh that. All of that comes down to the technicalities of how it’s actually implemented and maintaining the sense of openness and freedom that we’ve had on the internet to date. And then the other element there is, since a lot of the internet that we think of today is more so through mobile applications, is it something that the mobile operating system providers and app store providers should be thinking about? So whether that’s the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, where does that initial age verification need to fall? Is it at the platform level? Is it the app store or mobile device management level or something else? Yeah, there’s a lot to discuss there. And a lot of the issues we’re seeing with how the internet is changing in terms of being able to browse a website without disclosing personal information that might not have been required before is largely stemming from a focus on protecting children online. Ken Suzan: It sounds like, Franklin, we could have another episode covering lots of issues connected with that one topic alone. Franklin Graves: I would absolutely agree with that. There’s a lot going on there. And again, it’s different across the world. And so I know you all have a global listener base. And so there’s a lot of nuances to that whole discussion too, that are worth exploring. Ken Suzan: Last question for today’s episode is regarding the right of publicity. With the explosion of AI-generated synthetic media, digital replicas, and voice cloning, the right of publicity is taking center stage. What are the biggest legal risks for brands partnering with influencers right now? And how can creators protect their most valuable asset, their likeness? Franklin Graves: That’s a great question. I think we’re seeing kind of a throwing-spaghetti-against-the-wall-to-see-what-sticks approach right now by a lot of different parties, whether it’s trademark attorneys, whether it’s general entertainment attorneys or whoever. For example, we’ve seen Taylor Swift filing trademarks to protect certain sounds of her voice and phrasing that she uses. It’s a difficult area because in the realm of generative AI with deep fakes and virtual avatars, that is where it gets tricky, because traditional IP laws are just not able to fully cover that spectrum. It’s a piecemeal approach, but even then it doesn’t fully cover it. So for example, I’m based in Tennessee and a couple of years ago we had the Elvis Act that updated our right of publicity law to add voice and to explicitly reference artificial intelligence. And so that’s the kind of effort we’re probably going to continue to see: efforts to develop some framework around protecting what is essentially a privacy right, in a manner that doesn’t restrict generative AI systems from continuing to develop and operate the way they’re operating now, while layering in those protections so that in the US at least a First Amendment right doesn’t necessarily get squashed, and those traditional well-recognized efforts to not overregulate a technology in its early stages are respected. Franklin Graves: And so I think a lot of what we’re seeing is just a need to update laws. The SAG-AFTRA debate and the strikes that happened around maintaining control of your performance and any iterations of that, or building upon that by a media company that might come later, it’s all on the table right now and still being discussed, still being worked out. I think in the short run, a lot of times if it’s in a brand deal, the key question is: if you are using generative AI to enhance in some way the final deliverable for the campaign, who has control over that? Who has final say and sign-off on how that likeness or that digital replica or that person’s voice is represented? And even outside of the brand space, we’ve seen actors like James Earl Jones signing over certain aspects like their voice and allowing it to continue to be used in these manners powered by generative AI as Darth Vader. And I think I saw something that Boy George was even starting up an AI company that allows musicians, the original recording artist, to rerecord new versions of their masters so that they don’t miss out on that revenue. It’s powered by generative AI, by taking their voice now, which is significantly different than it was back in the 80s, and using generative AI to make it sound closer to the original, but all based on their current performance. So I think it’s still an evolving area. And what’s interesting too is on the platform side, we’re seeing the early stages of platforms like Google starting to acknowledge and rely on the license grant contained in their terms of service for YouTube, which grants them broad rights to use the content to run their platform. So all that to be said, it’s still early stages. I’m very interested to see where we go from here in the future, especially from a global perspective as well. Ken Suzan: Franklin, I could spend hours talking to you about this. You’re such a knowledgeable person on these topics. Maybe in a few years, will we connect again and talk further on AI and all the things that are yet to be developed? Franklin Graves: Thank you. Yeah, it doesn’t have to be another decade. Maybe we can cut it to half a decade, given the pace at which technology is going now. Ken Suzan: Sounds good, Franklin. Thanks again for being on the IP Fridays podcast.

Jacques Spitzer is a 4x Emmy® award-winning creative agency founder who was named to AdWeek's Agency Vanguard as one of the top 20 leaders shaping the future of advertising. His agency, Raindrop, has generated billions in campaign sales for powerhouse brands like Dr. Squatch, Native and Grüns and insurgent brands like Good Culture, Hello Panda, Magic Spoon and more. Raindrop's creative force has been showcased by their work on three Super Bowl campaigns and their recent execution of the largest brand launch in Procter & Gamble history for Spruce. As a champion for the next generation of disruptive companies, Jacques serves as a strategic advisor to high-growth CPG brands that Raindrop Ventures has uniquely helped launch and invested in, including Grüns, Laundry Sauce, ForAll, VitaWild, Maeva and Magic Mind. With a trophy case boasting over 50 advertising awards, Jacques' work is consistently recognized for its rare blend of viral creativity and massive ROI. His insights have been featured in Forbes, AdAge, and Entrepreneur Magazine.  He was recently named one of the “most influential people in San Diego” by the San Diego Business Journal and one of “California's most visionary CEOs” by the Los Angeles Times, who noted: “Raindrop's creative success and results have put San Diego on the map for creative work across the country.” In addition to his work in advertising, Spitzer helped produce the full-length documentary Wampler's Ascent, which won over 38 international film festival awards. In This Conversation We Discuss:  [00:00] Intro [02:43] Scaling Ecommerce through storytelling  [04:41] Maximizing current growth channels first  [08:14] Managing multiple priorities as a founder [10:11] Shifting from product to customer worth [15:26] Callouts [15:36] Overcoming a leader's limiting beliefs  [24:03] Taking balanced risks to protect equity  [25:17] Combining math with strategic stories Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Marketing that people love raindrop.agency/    Follow Jacques Spitzer linkedin.com/in/jspitzer5/    If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

5 things I wish someone had told me before I became a social media manager — the stuff nobody talks about because it's easier to sell the dream than prepare you for the reality. From dealing with trolls and negative comments on your content, to losing clients you love, to the hiring nightmares nobody warns you about — this is the honest version. In this video: ✨ Why negative comments hit different when you're creating UGC and client content ✨ The hard truth about clients leaving (and outgrowing the ones who stay) ✨ Why hiring and outsourcing is never as simple as business coaches make it sound ✨ The 9-to-5 guilt that follows you into self-employment ✨ How social media drains your nervous system — even when you love the work xx Ellen _______________________________________________ //

Send us Fan MailDirect to consumer strategy for Amazon sellers helps protect customer data, margins, and brand control before account risk hits. This video covers Amazon to Shopify strategy, ecommerce paid media, UGC ads, email SMS retention, website conversion rate, and fulfillment. Learn how Amazon sellers can use customer data, Meta ads, TikTok ads, Google Shopping, MCF, and ecommerce funnels for brand growth.Stop letting Amazon own the customer relationship, get a growth plan built before one policy change hits your brand: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#AmazonSellers #EcommerceGrowth #ShopifyStrategy #AmazonFBA #BrandGrowthWant free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Amazon Receiving Delay Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04cdD4c0Amazon Catalog Spring Cleaning: https://hubs.ly/Q046BVfp0Amazon Proft Margin Defense 2026: https://hubs.ly/Q042trRH0Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTAmazon Seller Strategy Report 2026: https://bit.ly/3YN1RME2026 Ecommerce Website & SEO Readiness Checklist: https://hubs.ly/Q04btghf0Amazon 2026 PPC guide: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXTimestamps00:00 - Why Amazon Sellers Need Brand Control00:31 - Customer Data and Margin Problems on Amazon02:13 - Amazon and Website Pricing Strategy03:32 - Creative Refresh for Ecommerce Ads06:47 - Paid Media Funnel for Brand Growth10:41 - Using Amazon AMC for Lookalike Audiences11:50 - Email and SMS System for Retention14:00 - Website Optimization for More Sales18:32 - Amazon Pages vs Ecommerce Websites19:59 - Inventory and Fulfillment Setup21:29 - Tracking, Pixels, UTM Tags, and Attribution24:17 - Retention and Customer Lifetime Value25:45 - Customer Experience That Can Beat Amazon27:02 - Common Ecommerce Growth Mistakes-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

Join my free UGC masterclass:https://ugcmasteryacademy.com/webinarsignup?funnel=Podcast♠️ Got questions?DM me on Instagram:@sydneymohniOn this channel we talk about:

How Ankit Nayal scaled organic TikTok to 50 million views with an AI content factory, and why half of them were wasted until conversion came first.Most founders who burn through their paid ad budget pivot to organic with one or two accounts and hope something works.Ankit Nayal pivoted to organic and went to 150 to 200 TikToks a day.He runs this for his app Flamme. He has crossed 50 million views. He told me more than half of those views were wasted, because conversion was not in his framework yet. The episode is about what he built once that became obvious.The path there started in a cave. After losing his ad budget in 2025, Ankit scrolled TikTok for four hours a day for two months. He compared it to having McDonald's every meal. Out of that came the VSC framework. Viral: an under-5,000-follower account with a 100K-view post that is still picking up trend score. Scalable: a format that replicates cleanly across accounts. Convertible: a video that actually pulls downloads. Memes pulled 0.1% conversion. A girl reacting to a hook pulled 0.5%. A 100K-view reaction beat a 2M-view meme on bang for buck.The system around the framework is more cumbersome than most posts about it admit. He started by filming himself and concluded that a brown man with an Indian accent was not the best fit for the American market. He moved to Russian creators sourced through Kwork.ru at one dollar a minute and twenty-five cents per ten-to-fifteen-second reaction. ChatGPT translation overhead killed that workflow. He moved to Sora 2, then to Seedance. Every clip gets broken into five-second blocks because the model starts hallucinating past five seconds. A CapCut filter layer with ten effects scrubs the plastic skin off AI faces. Phones get lined up on physical farms because the TikTok API gets content flagged.The funnel sequence he ends on is the part that stuck with me. Organic first, then UGC, then paid. Most founders run it backwards.Video Chapters: 00:00 Introduction03:00 Losing the paid ad budget on a dating app06:00 Four hours of TikTok a day for two months11:00 The VSC framework14:00 Why memes converted nothing18:00 Russian creators on Kwork20:00 Moving to Sora 2 and Seedance22:00 The CapCut plastic-skin filter23:00 The five-second hallucination limit26:00 Why lip sync breaks scale31:00 The phone farm38:00 Which products should not run organic TikTok39:00 Organic, then UGC, then paidTopics covered:- Organic TikTok at scale for consumer apps- The VSC framework: viral, scalable, convertible- AI UGC production with Sora, Seedance, and CapCut- Creator sourcing on Kwork and the limits of real UGC- Phone farms and TikTok content flagging- Why B2B founders should not run organic TikTokLearn more:https://mobileuseracquisitionshow.com/episode/[slug]/ - Episode page https://www.linkedin.com/in/annayal/ - Connect with Ankit on LinkedIn https://www.annayal.com/ - Ankit's website https://intelligentartifice.kit.com - Newsletter

What if the biggest reason your marketing isn't working has nothing to do with your content quality and everything to do with your consistency? In this episode, Emma shares a behind-the-scenes look into a Client case study featuring a brand who has worked with Ninety Five Media for 3.5 years. She shares the significant growth in reach, engagement, and audience size they've experienced thanks to their partnership with Ninety Five Media and how these wins have impacted their brand growth as a whole. Emma breaks down the exact initiatives that drove results, including creating a UGC engine, prioritizing video content, and layering paid media on top of a strong organic foundation. This episode offers practical insights into building a marketing strategy that compounds over time, strengthens trust with your audience, and creates meaningful business growth beyond vanity metrics.   Listen in as Emma explains: Why virality is not the goal when it comes to social media strategy How user-generated content builds trust while building your audience Why video will always dramatically increase your reach and opportunities   And much, much more!   Connect with Ninety Five Media: Check out our website: ninetyfivemedia.co  Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/ninety.five.media   Grow your brand's social media presence with us:  Tell us about your business goals and explore how our social media management services can help you reach them! ninetyfivemedia.co/stop-scrolling-start-scaling-inquiry  FREE AUDIT What if I told you your content isn't converting, your audience isn't engaging, and it feels like too much work - not because you're failing, but because your social media needs a check-up? Take our FREE Social Media Health Check today to: ✅ See where your social media stands today ✅ Identify your growth stage ✅ Discover the next step to level up your results Just because you haven't seen results yet doesn't mean it has to stay that way. We're here to help. Ready to find out how you're doing? Take our free Social Media Health Check: https://courses.ninetyfivemedia.co/social-media-health-check   

Brad Ploch is the host of the Scalability School podcast and performance marketer and agency leader. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/brad_ploch and visit https://www.scalabilityschool.com/ to find the Scalability School podcast on your platform of choice.FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREWX: https://x.com/andrewjfarisEmail: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.comREFUNNELTrack every UGC post, secure usage rights, and unlock 1-click whitelisting so you can run partnership ads in seconds at https://refunnel.com/.BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIOWork with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.

You know it better than us — the era of experimenting with AI is over. The question isn't whether to use it anymore. It's whether it's actually moving the numbers. In 2026, the winners aren't the teams running clever pilots. They're the ones who've wired AI into the core of their growth engine — into how they find users, activate them, and figure out what those users really want. In this special episode, we're syndicating the Business of Apps London 2026 panel AI in Action: Real-World Use Cases. It's a no-hype look at what's working right now — told through live examples from three people scaling it in practice: Steve Young of App Masters Anton Volovyk of Reface Nathan Hudson of Perceptycs. The panel's topics include: The AI tools actually driving results right now (Claude, n8n) — and where they fit Case study: how Bite Pal's AI creatives were built and scaled Deep dive: producing a 100% AI-generated video ad, start to finish When AI is not the right answer — and the biggest mistakes teams make AI vs. UGC and the changing role of marketing teams in the AI era

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Healthcare marketing is leaving the glossy, corporate-ad era behind. What patients actually respond to now is real faces, real stories, and real expertise — and that's reshaping who gets a microphone in your marketing strategy.This week, we're breaking down a framework for healthcare influencer marketing built around three distinct buckets, each serving a different purpose: reach, trust, and content fuel.1. External Social Media Influencers (Buying the Audience): This is about borrowing an existing audience. You partner with established creators (lifestyle, parenting, wellness, or condition-specific) to break into demographics you haven't reached yet. The healthcare wrinkle: the FTC and FDA don't play around with disclosure, so #Ad labeling is mandatory, and you'll want to vet a creator's history to make sure nothing in their past content conflicts with your brand. CreatorIQ or Sprout Social both help with exactly this kind of audience and brand-safety vetting before you sign anything.2. Internal Brand Experts (The "OG Medfluencers"): Your own doctors, nurses, researchers, and therapists who are already building an audience bring something no outside partnership can buy: built-in clinical credibility and hyper-local trust. Because they're still employees, they need clear boundaries between personal opinion and your organization's official position, along with genuine support like studio time and compliance help. Tools like EveryoneSocial or DSMN8 make it easy to push pre-approved, legally cleared content straight to your internal team so they can share with confidence.3. User-Generated Content (UGC): Rather than paying for someone's following, UGC means sourcing the raw, unscripted content patients are already creating (recovery journeys, clinic walkthroughs, unboxings) and putting it to work across your owned and paid channels. The one rule you can't skip: a HIPAA-compliant release form before any patient face or story touches paid media. Archive.com automatically captures organic content your brand gets tagged in, while Bounty and Skeepers help you run micro-campaigns for content that's pre-licensed and ready for ads from the start.The takeaway: external influencers expand your reach, internal experts close the trust gap, and UGC delivers the content that actually performs!For more on this topic, check out episode 107: Influencer Marketing in Healthcare.Connect with Jenny:Email: jenny@hedyandhopp.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennybristow/If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love to hear your feedback! Please consider leaving us a review on your preferred listening platform and sharing it with others.

If you've been wondering why brand deals feel harder to land lately, you're not imagining it, but it's not because influencer marketing is dying. In this episode, Nina Zadeh from Sidewalker Daily breaks down how the creator economy has evolved, what brands are actually looking for today, and the biggest mistakes creators make when pitching themselves for sponsorship opportunities. You'll learn how to adapt your strategy, position your value, and continue securing paid partnerships even as the industry changes. Whether you're a content creator, influencer, UGC creator, or aspiring brand partner, this episode will help you understand where the opportunities are right now and how to stay competitive in today's creator economy.

In Road to PMRE #5, Reed sits down with Kelsey Kurtis for a conversation about burnout, reinvention, and finding the courage to pivot when something no longer feels right. Kelsey shares her journey from branding photography and content creation to building a business and life more aligned with what truly excites her. They talk about authenticity, failure, UGC, women's empowerment, and the challenge of balancing passion with profitability. The conversation also explores what it means to redefine success and why so many entrepreneurs struggle to answer a simple question: are you actually happy? This is an honest discussion about choosing the path that sets your soul on fire, even when it doesn't make sense on paper.It's time to start thinking about PMRE 2026! Go to pmreconference.com for all the details on PMRE 2026, which is November 17-19th at Palms Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The Photography and Media for Real Estate conference will be better than ever this year! Upmarket is proud to be the official podcast of PMRE!Upmarket Pod is once again, beyond excited to partner with iGUIDE to bring you our exclusive Road to PMRE 2026 series of Upmarket episodes. SWEEPSTAKES ALERT - iGUIDE and their Tour to PMRE is giving away THREE (!!!!!!) ALL-EXPENSES PAID TRIPS TO PMRE 2026!!!!! That's right, one lucky winner will be drawn in June, one in August and one in September to win a PMRE ticket, travel and accommodation, all compliments of the fine folks at iGUIDE. To enter, all you need to do is follow @go_iguide and @upmarketpod on Instagram. Then, go to goiguide.com/pmre and enter your email address and you'll be entered in the drawing.NOTE If you have already bought a ticket and/or booked travel to PMRE and win the sweepstakes, iGUIDE will reimburse you for money spent.Follow the pod on Instagram at @upmarketpod.The Presenting Sponsor of Upmarket is AutoHDR, helping real estate media professionals deliver high-quality edited photos faster and more efficiently. As a special offer for Upmarket listeners, get one month of free photo editing with your purchase. To learn more and claim the offer, visit autohdr.com/upmarket.Another amazing sponsor is iGUIDE, which helps real estate professionals capture spaces fast and with industry-leading accuracy. Their PLANIX Pro camera delivers trusted measurements, with no subscriptions and priced per project. Options like iGUIDE Instant provide a clean 3D tour and interactive floor plan in minutes, starting at $7.99. Learn more at goiguide.com or @go_iguide.Another sponsor is HDPhotoHub, the all-in-one platform for ordering, scheduling, and delivering complete marketing kits, from video reels to print. With pay-per-listing pricing, transparent terms, and industry-leading integrations, HDPhotoHub helps you build the workflow you actually want. Visit HDPhotoHub.com and use code Upmarket to get your first 15 full deliveries free.Another amazing sponsor of Upmarket is SecondFloor, the fastest way to create a finished floor plan. It's so fast that you can deliver the finished floor plan while you are still on-site! Not only that, but you can get UNLIMITED floor plans for one low monthly fee. We love SecondFloor and you can go to secondfloorapp.com/upmarket and any new subscriber will get a one-month free trial.Our Action Items are sponsored by PixlCRM, where you can scale your real estate photography business through automation. It's an all-in-one business and marketing platform that complements your current delivery app. If you go to pixlcrm.com/upmarket you can get a 30-day risk-free trial!

Discover the five Facebook ad formats crushing it for dropshippers in 2026—from UGC videos to dynamic retargeting—and learn how AI-powered platforms are transforming creative production and ROI. Plus, actionable tips you can test today at https://www.gethookd.ai/learn/5-best-dropshipping-facebook-ad-examples/ GetHookd LLC City: Miami Address: 40 SW 13th street Website: https://www.gethookd.ai/

Join my free UGC masterclass:https://ugcmasteryacademy.com/webinarsignup?funnel=Podcast♠️ Got questions?DM me on Instagram: @sydneymohniOn this channel we talk about: How to start a UGC businessHow to get paid brand dealsHow to land UGC clientsHow to make money with UGCUGC pricing strategiesUGC portfolio tipsHow to pitch brands as a UGC creatorUGC negotiation tipsHow to scale UGC to full-time incomeBest platforms to find UGC brand dealsHow to get UGC clients without experienceUGC content creation tips UGC vs influencer marketingHow to get consistent UGC deals

“The digital deliverables have outpaced production company knowledge.” How do you build a repeatable content creation process without hiring a full agency? Connor MacDonald (CMO, Ridge), Cody Plofker (CEO, Jones Road Beauty), and Connor Rolain (Head of Growth, HexClad) break down how they approach content production across every budget level; ranging from $50k brand shoot days to $100 iPhone clips that outperform everything else in the ad account.  The episode covers the full content production stack: multi-team shoot briefing, on-set creative strategy, and the in-house studio advantage. The trio also gets into clipping, AI-generated UGC, and whether dead internet theory is already shaping how products go viral. Powered By Motion Creative Benchmarks 2026 https://motionapp.com/thumbstop-pulse/creative-benchmarks-2026?utm_campaign=marketing-operators&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_content=creative-benchmarks-2026&utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast Haus https://www.haus.io/operators Richpanel https://9ops.co/richpanel Aftersell https://9ops.co/aftersell-mops Operators Newsletter https://9operators.com/

Epic spent five years and over $100M breaking the platforms' 30% tax — then cut V-Bucks by 20% to "pay the bills." If the company that won the fee war still gets squeezed, what does that say about everyone else?The answer isn't about fees. When AI makes content infinite and attention stays finite, the only asset that appreciates is the direct relationship with your players — the one distribution channel that gets cheaper the stronger it gets. And a nearly invisible economy of community-run game servers has been proving its dollar value for fifteen years.I sit down with Liam Wiltshire, GM of Tebex — the merchant-of-record platform behind direct payments for Rockstar, Take-Two, Hytale, and FiveM — to unpack it.In this episode:Why "is 30% dead?" is the wrong questionCreator codes: how trust drives 50–227% more spendThe BNPL and crypto data that surprised even TebexWhy 35% of desktop game purchases happen on a phoneHow Hytale launched off Steam and secured two years of runway from pre-orders aloneThe £20, 16-year-old origin story behind a company that's processed $1.5BRead the full breakdown and subscribe at gamemakers.com.Chapters00:00 — Epic cut V-Bucks: why it's really a margin story03:47 — When content is infinite, what's actually scarce?07:38 — The shadow games industry: Hypixel, FiveM & a $1.5B economy10:13 — The data: creator codes, BNPL & buying on a second screen13:33 — Liam Wiltshire joins: the state of the industry16:35 — Why every player purchase is a "CapEx decision"18:50 — Is the 30% platform fee dead?21:00 — Who really owns the player relationship?23:27 — D2C across mobile, web, PC & console34:59 — Treating the platform as an acquisition channel42:57 — UGC servers & what a "merchant of record" actually does1:00:40 — Creator codes: how trust drives more spend1:19:04 — BNPL & crypto: the numbers that surprised Tebex1:31:20 — Payment optimization & one-click checkout1:40:43 — The £20 origin story & the $29M exit

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREWX: https://x.com/andrewjfarisEmail: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.comMORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.REFUNNELTrack every UGC post, secure usage rights, and unlock 1-click whitelisting so you can run partnership ads in seconds at https://refunnel.com/.

Magic Hour PodcastSeason 2 Episode 1: The Future of Work for Women: Freedom, Family & AIEpisode DescriptionWhat if the future of work wasn't about working harder—but working differently?In this inaugural episode of Magic Hour, Anasha explores the evolving relationship between freedom, family, creativity, and artificial intelligence. As women, many of us have spent years balancing careers, caregiving, household responsibilities, and our own personal dreams. But what happens when technology begins creating new possibilities for how we earn, create, and live?This episode is a thoughtful conversation about the future of work for women, how AI can support rather than replace our humanity, and why now may be the greatest opportunity in history for women to monetize their knowledge, express their creativity, and build lives aligned with their values.Whether you're a working mom, entrepreneur, creator, side hustler, or simply someone wondering what's next, this episode will inspire you to think differently about what's possible.✨ Why so many women feel burned out by traditional models of work✨ The difference between working harder and creating leverage✨ How AI can support women in business, content creation, and everyday life✨ Why your lived experiences may be more valuable than you realize✨ Building systems that create freedom instead of overwhelm✨ The role of creativity in healing, self-expression, and entrepreneurship✨ Digital products, content creation, UGC, and knowledge-based businesses✨ Why the future belongs to women who are willing to learn, adapt, and create✨ Creating a life that honors both family and personal fulfillment✨ The future vision behind the Digital Alchemy movementThe future of work isn't just about technology.It's about options.It's about women creating lives where they no longer have to choose between family and freedom, purpose and profitability, creativity and income.AI is simply a tool.The magic has always been you.• Digital Products• AI Tools for Creators• UGC (User-Generated Content)• TikTok Shop• Content Creation• Personal Branding• Monetizing Your Knowledge• Online Business SystemsIf today's episode inspired you, I'd love to invite you into the free Digital Alchemy Community.Inside, you'll find free resources, trainings, discussions, and tools focused on:• AI for everyday women• Digital products• TikTok Shop• UGC creation• Content creation• Personal branding• Building multiple income streams• Creating systems that support freedom and flexibilityJoin the Digital Alchemy Community HereFollow us on InstagramWebsite: https://blog.alchemycoach.orgLoved This Episode?If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another woman who may need the reminder that there are more possibilities available to her than she's been led to believe.

The Sandbox announces its AI creation and distribution platform The Sandbox Studio.[02:05] The Sandbox announces The Sandbox Studio, its AI-powered creator tools. [03:00] Roblox as the obvious benchmark for AI-powered UGC in games[04:20] Did The Sandbox waste time in H2 2025 on Corners, its memecoin experiment?[06:40] What The Sandbox Studio actually is, and why it is still only in alpha[07:25] Why Sandbox's old creator tools were already good, but never solved distribution[08:35] Roblox vs Sandbox: the importance of instant publishing and social concurrency[10:10] AI harnesses vs AI models[11:47] Will such specialist frameworks matter once foundation models get much better?[13:10] The big strategic question: do creators need The Sandbox Studio if AI can make games directly?[14:00] Sandbox's plan to help creators publish to web, Telegram, Steam and app stores[15:30] Roblox's massive advantage: creators publish inside an existing audience[16:40] Why The Sandbox's lack of player concurrency remains its core problem[18:10] The missed opportunity of The Sandbox land as a connected world/map[20:15] Jon's launched his own AI game - Soccerverse Showdown[21:10] How the World Cup leaderboard idea evolved from a Soccerverse internal concept[22:35] Comparing Soccerverse Showdown with a more traditional fantasy-football game[24:48] How player influence in Soccerverse generates World Cup points[25:59] Why ROI may be more interesting than total points on the leaderboard[27:15] Claude Fable “did two weeks of work in three hours”[28:45] The feeling of publishing a first game after 25 years covering games[30:00] Nexpace as a strong example of blockchain and AI execution[30:45] MapleStory Universe revenue, Avalanche chain and ecosystem strategy[31:20] Verse8, Vibe Camp and AI-generated MapleStory experiences[32:05] First AI-built MapleStory-based games are now live on Verse8

Join my free UGC masterclass:https://ugcmasteryacademy.com/webinarsignup?funnel=Podcast♠️ Got questions?DM me on Instagram:@sydneymohniOn this channel we talk about:

Most brands assume customers decide based on product features, benefits, and marketing messages. But before consumers buy, they're often asking five trust questions that determine whether they move forward—or walk away. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the hidden trust test customers run before every purchase decision and why unanswered trust questions are often the real reason customers don't buy. You'll learn: • The 5 trust questions customers need answered before they buy• Why consumers increasingly trust reviews, creators, communities, and word-of-mouth over brand messaging• How customer trust influences purchase decisions and consumer behavior• Why representation alone doesn't build trust• How brands like Cooper's Hawk create experiences that make trust visible• The role of customer experience, creator marketing, UGC, reviews, and community in modern buying decisions• Why customers don't buy—and where hidden trust friction may be costing your brand growth Whether you're a CMO, marketing leader, customer experience professional, founder, or business owner, this episode will help you better understand how consumers evaluate risk, build trust, and decide which brands deserve their business. Because customers aren't just looking for themselves. They're looking for evidence. Friction Finder Growth Audit: https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Email Sonia: sonia@soniaethompson.com

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Tori Gill was still cutting hair on weekends when she sold her first 20,000 sunscreens. A former hairdresser with two kids, no e-commerce background, and a product that took two years to develop, she launched Sun & Daughter on Boxing Day 2024 and hasn't really stopped since. This is the follow-up episode - and a lot has happened. In this episode, Tori gets real about what scaling from $100K to a million-dollar brand actually looks like from the inside: the stockouts, the 54-hour Facebook ad account lockout, the $20,000 orders she had to back herself on, and the retail decision she's made that could either be her smartest move yet - or, in her own words, "the biggest mistake of my life." What you'll learn in this interview: How a consumer watchdog report on failing sunscreen SPF tests became an unexpected growth moment - and how Tori moved fast enough to capitalise on it Why she packed every order from her spare room for a full year, alongside two kids and two days a week in the barber shop, before finally moving into a warehouse the week before Christmas The exact moment a Choice magazine article turned into a sales spike, and how having your formula independently tested can become your most credible marketing asset How Tori used a trending audio format - kids in hats, waiting for SPF results - to make an ad that outperformed every polished campaign she'd ever run Why she treats her Instagram like a reality TV show, and what that means for how she handles UGC, consistent visuals, and the decision never to post other people's faces on her brand page The average order value lesson she learned from Founder that led her to build out hats, brushes, wet bags, and bundles - and push her AOV from $75 to over $111 Why she skipped Black Friday, never ran a sale in year one, and then sold 1,000 sunscreens in 24 hours the first time she did - and why she hasn't done it since Lessons from adding 5 to 10 new ad creatives every single week, and why she's changed her entire campaign structure three times in 15 months How she uses Instagram Stories polls to let her community choose product colours, hat designs, and packaging - and why it's as much about solving her own indecisiveness as it is about building loyalty What she's learned about going into major retail - the upfront stock commitments, the hidden marketing costs, and why she still doesn't know if it was the right call If you're building a product brand and starting to feel like you're holding multiple plates in the air at once - ads, content, stock, manufacturing, team, retail - this episode is worth your time. Tori doesn't have it all figured out, and she says so. But the way she thinks through each decision, tests before she scales, and keeps backing herself anyway is exactly the kind of thinking that turns a spare-room operation into something real. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS? Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH BY TORI GILL Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/sunanddaughter_/ Tori's ⁠⁠⁠Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/@torigill__/ Tori's Barber ⁠Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/torigill_barber/ Website → ⁠⁠https://www.sunanddaughter.com.au/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, Joey sits down with 20-year-old filmmaker Will Latham of LumaWorks Video. Will graduated high school two years ago, skipped college, and has been building his video business full time ever since. In the six weeks of the Creativ Rise Mastermind alone, Will closed $73,000 in contracts, including his first five-figure deal and a 12-month retainer, going from charging $500 for product videos to landing $25,000 months before his 21st birthday.This episode is a masterclass in what actually separates creatives who stay stuck at low rates from those who break through to high-ticket work, and it has nothing to do with your camera, your age, or your city.Here's what's covered:Why video is worth more than $500 and how to position it that way by shifting from selling a deliverable to solving a business problemValue stacking and what it actually means — the pre-production meetings, brand deep dives, and multi-asset offers Will uses to charge 10x what he used toHow to identify higher-leverage clients who have real problems, real budgets, and real reasons to say yesCold outreach, follow-up, and the mindset around rejection — why Will treats every no as motivation and keeps swinging for the fencesHow age becomes an asset, not a liability and how young creatives can use their perspective to educate and win clientsWhen to hire an editor and how to get over the financial and control hurdles that keep most creatives stuck doing everything themselvesWhy the Creativ Rise Mastermind gave Will a 24X ROI and what the single biggest mindset shift was that changed everythingWhether you're a photographer, filmmaker, UGC creator, or social media manager who's tired of undercharging and overworking, this conversation will challenge how you think about your pricing, your clients, and what your creative business could actually become.P.S. If you're ready to make the same kind of shift Will did, the 6 Week Creativ Rise Mastermind is where that foundation gets built. Get on the waitlist for Round 16 at www.creativrise.com.FREE TOOLS & TRAININGS→ Pricing Calculator: https://www.creativrise.com/pricingcalculator→ Pitching Masterclass Course: https://www.creativrise.com/pitchingmasterclass→ Sales Call Formula Course: https://www.creativrise.com/offers/RM2ZPtZx/checkout→ Productivity Course: https://www.creativrise.com/productivity→ Money Management Training: https://www.creativrise.com/moneytraining→ Fix Your Inquiry Form: https://www.creativrise.com/inquiryformLISTEN & SUBSCRIBE→ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/creativrise→ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/creativriseFOLLOW ALONG→ Instagram: @creativrise | @joeyspeers | @christyjspeers

Ekaterina Gamsriegler, former Head of Growth and Marketing at MyGroove and longtime advisor across music, education, and health apps, joins Apptivate to discuss why sustainable growth depends on systems rather than isolated wins. The conversation explores the nature of modern growth funnels, how creative strategy impacts retention and churn downstream, and why many teams optimize acquisition while misunderstanding activation and long-term value. Ekaterina and Taylor also discuss localization as a full-funnel growth lever, pricing strategy during high-intent seasonal periods, the realities of founder-led and offline growth channels, and how mapping the complete user journey can uncover hidden bottlenecks that data alone often misses. Questions addressed in this episode Why does Ekaterina compare growth systems to a house of cards? How do creative strategies affect retention and subscriber churn? What mistakes do apps make during seasonal growth periods like Q5? How should marketers evaluate long-term value instead of short-term ROAS? Why can localization improve the entire growth funnel? How did MyGroove grow paying subscribers 10x in one year? What role should brand, PR, and offline channels play in app growth? How should teams define activation properly? What should marketers focus on during their first 90 days at a company? How can apps balance credibility with accessibility for beginners? Timestamps 0:12 — Introduction to Ekaterina Gamsriegler and MyGroove 0:52 — MyGroove's global launch and mission 1:41 — Growth as a "house of cards" rather than a puzzle 3:18 — Diagnosing funnels and identifying hidden bottlenecks 4:42 — How creatives shape retention and churn downstream 6:56 — Credibility, UGC, and "fake podcast" creative concepts 7:51 — Why acquisition mistakes appear 60–90 days later 9:43 — Planning for Q5 and evaluating long-term value 11:25 — Pricing strategy, willingness to pay, and cancellations 12:52 — Localization as a full-funnel growth lever 15:23 — Founder-led growth, PR, and offline channels at MyGroove 18:23 — The biggest unlock behind 10x subscriber growth 20:38 — Mapping the user journey and identifying bottlenecks 23:08 — Activation metrics and offline user behavior 25:56 — Personalization and contextual onboarding examples 29:48 — Rapid-fire questions begin 31:08 — Norway, Iceland, and travel recommendations 31:33 — Vienna recommendations and closing remarks Quotes (2:22)  “Growth feels more like a house of cards because just one little change can completely ruin the whole system.” (4:59) “What I see happening sometimes is a mismatch between the product, the user experience and the people who are being targeted with creatives.” (22:38) “Build a user journey by mapping every single step from ad impression to renewal to purchase. This allows you to see where the bottlenecks are in your journey.” Mentioned in this episode MyGroove Ekaterina on Linkedin

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Dans ce nouvel épisode d'Insight, nous recevons Jérôme Dejean, Business Development Director Western Europe chez Territory Influence. Avec lui, on décrypte un paradoxe qui bouscule les codes du marketing : pourquoi un contenu brut, mal cadré et techniquement imparfait génère-t-il plus d'engagement qu'un asset produit par l'IA ? Quand un consommateur recommande une marque à ses proches, sur quoi repose vraiment cette confiance, et pourquoi pèse-t-elle plus qu'une pub léchée ou même qu'un macro-influenceur ? Et alors que l'IA peut désormais générer de faux témoignages convaincants en quelques secondes, comment les marques et les audiences tracent-elles encore la frontière entre vrai et faux UGC ? Jérôme nous partage son expertise sur le sujet.Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Most authors treat the book launch as the finish line, instead of the starting one. As we celebrate The Miracle Hour landing on the USA Today bestsellers list, this episode breaks down exactly how she's continuing to monetize the book and use it to grow the business (and why a book is one of the only standing assets that keeps paying you back for years: speaking, licensing, corporate contracts, program sales, and more book deals).  Kelly walks through the strategy she calls "engineering the system as the celebrity," the post-launch monetization roadmap, and long term strategies for increased community-led growth.  In this episode: Why the book launch is actually the beginning of your growth strategy Why live streaming is making a massive comeback The full post-launch monetization roadmap (reviews, community teaching, UGC, ads, licensing) Strategies for relaunching a book you already have The street team and community-led growth model What's next for Kelly's books Timestamps 03:15 — Books as standing assets 04:30 — Engineering the celebrity of the system: the Live Launch book story 06:30 — Understanding the trust recession and moving Live Launch to low-ticket 10:15 — Running the Miracle Hour Experience as a one-day live launch 11:30 — 2,100 live, lowest spend, and VIP upgrades covering ad spend: the behind-the-scenes strategy 13:00 — Why live streaming is back 14:30 — The June 24th live experience 20:15 — Relaunching a book you already have 21:00 — Street team and community-led growth strategy 21:45 — Why books are worth it RESOURCES: Grab your copy of the USA Today best-selling book The Miracle Hour: https://a.co/d/02zSyw1N  Register for The Miracle Hour Experience on June 24th: https://accelerator.virtualbusinessschool.com/miracle-hour-june-24-experience-social  Subscribe to Kelly's Substack for behind-the-scenes content from The Sacred Art of Selling: https://kellyroachofficial.substack.com/subscribe  Join Kelly's Virtual Business School membership: https://www.virtualbusinessschool.com   

UGC, or user-generated content, has quickly become a popular income stream. It allows you to create content for dream brands without having the large audience of an influencer.But as it grows in popularity, the skills needed have grown too. Old advice doesn't work anymore, and becoming a successful UGC creator in 2026 takes a different approach.So what does it ACTUALLY take to make $10k/month as a UGC creator in 2026?In this week's episode, we brought on Olivia Larsen, a full-time UGC creator and creative strategist to talk all things UGC, including:Why UGC isn't ACTUALLY getting more competitiveWhat you need to be a successful UGC creatorLittle-known tactics to make your UGC content more engaging and higher-convertingWhat makes a UGC creator stand out, from the perspective of the creative strategist sourcing themWhat makes a UGC portfolio stand outWhat to charge as a UGC creatorThe income potential for UGC creatorsFollow Olivia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larsen.creatives/Follow Olivia on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@larsen.creatives?lang=enBook a Call with Olivia: https://shop.beacons.ai/larsenugc/67a7c024-4f9b-4182-9b84-1c96e5166132?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fbeacons.ai%2Flarsenugc&show_back_button=trueIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the podcast. We appreciate your support!

Britt recently did a bonus episode on UGC creators, but we've had so many questions about them since she's going even deeper into the subject. Today's episode, she's getting to the tea of UGC. This is everything you need to know if you're looking to become a UGC creator or if you're a brand that is looking to work with them. LINKS Follow Britt on: Instagram - @brittney_saunders Instagram - @bigbusiness_podcast TikTok - @brittney_saunders YouTube - Brittney Saunders - Fayt The Label Check out FAYT The Label HERE. Purchase my book "Just Getting Started" HERE CREDITSHost: Brittney Saunders. Executive Producer: Xander CrossManaging Producer: Ricardo Bardon Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au and follow Nova Podcast's Instagram @novapodcastsofficialSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join my free UGC masterclass:https://ugcmasteryacademy.com/webinarsignup?funnel=PodcastBento sign up: Use code SYDNEY for 10% offhttps://app.onbento.com/?acode=sydney♠️ Got questions?DM me on Instagram:@sydneymohniOn this channel we talk about:

If you're creating UGC content but not getting consistent brand deal offers, this episode is for you.Sidewalker Daily has worked on both sides of the influencer industry, consulting for brands and helping creators build sustainable businesses, so Nina knows exactly what brands are looking for when they choose (and re-hire) UGC creators.In this episode, Nina breaks down the key differences between UGC creators who get hired repeatedly and those who get passed over — from how you present your work to the quality signals brands actually evaluate to the professional behaviors that make brands want to work with you long-term.

I want to talk about UGC from both sides today, because this is where things can get weird fast. If you're the creator, what are you actually agreeing to? And if you're the business owner making the ask, what are you actually asking for? We're getting into usage, deliverables, compensation, consent, and why "just make it authentic" is not a strategy. Because clear does not mean controlling – and casual does not mean free. RESOURCES MENTIONED NOTE: Some links below contain affiliate/referral links. It is a way for this site to earn advertising fees by advertising or linking to certain products and/or services. DISCOUNT: Code for 30+ free days of Podcast Audio Hosting through Libsyn: bossgirl RESOURCE: Need a Podcast Editor? Hire mine & tell him I referred you…The Podcast Man WORK WITH ME: Back Pocket VIP Coaching YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Subscribe >> The House of Sugar Creek MY BOOK: Snag a copy! Pillars & Purpose: How to Build a Business That Works for You RESOURCE: Contract Templates for your Business YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Subscribe to the BGC YouTube Channel and listen to my episodes via YouTube! MY 90-DAY UNDATED PLANNER: Buy it here! RESOURCE: Receive 20% off your first month or your first year with Dubsado RESOURCE: Receive 50% off your first full year with FloDesk (+ a 14-day free trial) LEAVE A MESSAGE: Click Here UNHINGED COMMENTS: Starts at 2:50 SEARCH BAR CONFESSIONS: Starts at 5:26 BUSINESS NUGGET: Starts at 12:12 RESOURCE: Try Manychat for 2 weeks for free RESOURCE: Check out Hilma products – $10 off for ya! RESOURCE: The Clarity Catch-Up Mini Workbook (FREEBIE) RESOURCE: The Clarity Code (reflection deck) RESOURCE: The Clarity Shot RESOURCE: Influencer Rate Calculator from Soulcial Society EPISODES YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY... EPISODE 572 – ARE YOU GETTING TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES? EPISODE 563 – STOP GUESSING WHAT TO POST  EPISODE 523 – WHAT AN OLYMPIAN TAUGHT ME ABOUT BUSINESS GRIT EPISODE 473 – CANDID BUSINESS CONVERSATIONS (+ CELEBRATING 9 YRS) EPISODE 423 – POWERFUL TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS EPISODE 373 – LEGAL PGES YOU MUST HAVE ON YOUR WEBSITE EPISODE 323 – WHY YOU SHOULD PERFORM A WEBSITE AUDIT EPISODE 273 – SO YOU WANT TO LAUNCH SOMETHING? EPISODE 173 – THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RUNNING A BLOG FIND TAYLOR ONLINE... Blog – Sugar Creek Farm Instagram – @taylorlbradford Facebook – bossgirlcreative Pinterest – thehouseofsugarcreek TikTok – @taylorlbradford YouTube – The House of Sugar Creek YouTube – Boss Girl Creative

Influencer marketing is one of the most talked-about strategies in the business world right now — but how does it actually work, and is it really accessible for small brands and everyday creators? In this episode of the Redefine Business Podcast, host Brittni Schroeder sits down with Chelsea Clark, founder and CEO of Momfluence, to find out. Chelsea breaks down how her agency works as a managed middleman between brands and a network of 9,000+ mom creators, handling everything from campaign strategy to creator coordination and final delivery. She shares her unconventional path from restaurant owner to remote entrepreneur in Costa Rica to agency founder, and explains why she built Momfluence to solve a real gap she kept running into with her own clients. The conversation covers what UGC (user generated content) actually means and why brands are investing in it more than ever, why you don't need a large following to start making money as a creator, and Chelsea's honest take on which platform she'd focus on if she were starting from scratch today. Chelsea and Brittni also dig into the role of AI in marketing and business, the importance of maintaining your authentic brand voice, and why building an email list should always be part of the strategy. Whether you're a brand exploring creator partnerships or a mom curious about breaking into content creation, this episode is packed with practical, no-fluff advice. Find Chelsea and the Momfluence team on Instagram or connect with her directly on LinkedIn.   Resources: The Meeting Place Membership Rock The Reels 1:1 Coaching Free Client Welcome Guide Additional Trainings and Resources Connect with Brittni: Follow me on the Gram - @brittni.schroeder Join my Facebook Group  Visit my website Subscribe to my Youtube You can find the complete show notes here: https://brittnischroeder.com/podcast/momfluencers-with-chelsea-clark  

C'est une tribune qui a beaucoup fait parler d'elle tout au long du dernier Festival de Cannes, qui s'est tenu du 12 au 23 mai. Dans ce texte paru dans la presse le jour de l'ouverture, 600 professionnels du septième art s'inquiètent de la mainmise grandissante du milliardaire Vincent Bolloré sur le cinéma français… Vincent Bolloré, premier actionnaire du plus gros financeur privé de films, le groupe Canal+, est en passe d'acquérir le groupe UGC, l'un des principaux réseaux de salles de cinéma en France. Les signataires de la tribune « Zapper Bolloré » y voient une menace pour la liberté de créer.On retrace cette séquence avec les deux journalistes qui ont couvert le Festival de Cannes, Catherine Balle et Renaud Baronian. Écoutez Code source sur toutes les plates-formes audio : Apple Podcast (iPhone, iPad), Amazon Music, Podcast Addict ou Castbox, Deezer, Spotify.Crédits. Direction de la rédaction : Pierre Chausse - Rédacteur en chef : Jules Lavie - Reporter : Judith Perret - Production : Clara Garnier-Amouroux et Thibault Lambert - Réalisation et mixage : Julien Montcouquiol - Photo : LP/Fred Dugit - Musiques : François Clos, Audio Network - Archive : Le Figaro, France TV. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

In this episode we break down 17 things every brand gets wrong about marketing to millennials, from the skinny-jeans myth to why "this will change your life" is the fastest way to lose us. We get into why millennials aren't in their "prime spending years" the way marketers assume, how the sandwich generation actually makes buying decisions, and why peace — not aspiration — is the emotion that's quietly winning in DTC ad creative right now. If you're building a brand that needs to sell to the biggest consumer group in the country for the next 10-15 years, this is the consumer psychology you can't afford to skip. ⚡ IN THIS EPISODE → Why "millennials are 25" is costing brands money (the oldest is 45) → The peace angle that's outperforming aspiration in ad copy right now → How to say "we get it" without the disingenuous "we're tired too" → Why nostalgia is a cheat code — but only if you get weirdly specific → The price-transparency move that turns a $350 sticker shock into a yes → Why the ripped-guy supplement ad and the "skincare girly" UGC both backfire ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The accidental "Nate is a co-host" mixup that started it all 01:50 Rule #1: Stop putting millennials in skinny jeans — we're not 25 03:00 The myth of "prime spending years" (we own 3% of the wealth boomers had) 03:50 The most undertaught generation — and how to educate without condescending 05:20 Midlife reinvention, not crisis: the Aston Martin that got returned 07:20 What we actually want isn't the convertible — it's a three-day weekend 08:50 The "make me feel comfortable buying" shift that's working in copy 09:30 "It's okay that you're tired" — and the one line that ruins it 12:00 The built-in millennial BS detector and why "are you struggling with X?" dies on arrival 14:30 The makeup-ad take: stop making the women too hot 16:50 Nostalgia done right — Tamagotchis, Lego Batman, and baked-in references 18:10 The 3 ingredients every real community needs 19:00 Price transparency and the hidden-fee move that closes the tab instantly 20:30 Why Nike keeps chasing Gen Z and losing loyal millennials 21:30 The performative-everything problem (and why nobody wants to be Bryan Johnson) 23:30 Mega-influencers are dead — give us the 8K-follower creator instead 24:30 Rule #17: Your salad is not "the sigh of relief I needed today" 26:50 Why millennials will carry your business for the next decade

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Keeping players playing is getting harder as player attention fragments and expectations rise, so understanding churn has become a core live-ops competency. Host Devin Becker sits down with Elad Levy, Founder & CTO of Dive, to break down how churn is defined (and when it's actually “permanent”), the behavioral signals that players are drifting toward the exit, and the underlying causes teams can often address before it's too late. They dig into practical interventions from in-session nudges, to win-back campaigns as well as what reacquisition can realistically accomplish. The conversation wraps with the dumbest reason players quit, the single most important retention move, and a game Elad thinks nails it.We'd like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website

Oleg Lee started with a simple request: he asked his dad to print a custom-shaped pillow of his late childhood dog, Izzy. When he posted a photo of the lifelike pillow on Facebook, the internet lost its mind. Today, that single viral moment has evolved into a $20 million-a-year manufacturing empire producing 400,000 custom pillows annually.In this episode of the UpFlip Podcast, Oleg breaks down his unbelievable entrepreneurial journey—from stuffing 20,000 pillows by hand in his dad's garage while working full-time in construction, to becoming the silent manufacturer behind massive brands like Netflix, Paramount, and Chewy.Oleg shares exactly why he walked away from a massive retail deal with 2,000 Walmart stores to focus on direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, how a $100,000 investment in a custom software tool doubled his revenue in a year, and the exact Instagram DM strategy he uses to land celebrity endorsements from David Dobrik, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian.

Rafael is the Founder and CEO of Share It Studio, a leading creative agency that helps Amazon and Walmart sellers turn data into powerful visual storytelling. Under his leadership, Share It Studio has worked with hundreds of top-performing e-commerce brands, blending creativity with analytics to craft product images, videos, and A+ content that actually convert.Before founding Share It Studio, Rafael built a career in film and marketing, becoming a 3-time Telly Award–winning entrepreneur. He's passionate about helping brands optimize their listings, understand their buyers, and stand out in competitive marketplaces. Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Ben Leonard's entrepreneurial journey with Beast Gear, from initial investment to seven-figure exit.Challenges faced after selling Beast Gear to Thrasio, including mismanagement and loss of brand identity.Importance of effective inventory management and the consequences of overleveraging.The significance of building a genuine consumer brand beyond basic Amazon tactics.The role of intellectual property protection and the impact of neglecting it.Insights on the operational difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on e-commerce.Strategies for diversifying sales channels and avoiding dependency on a single platform.The importance of quality in products and overall business operations.Marketing strategies for brand awareness, including the use of influencers and social media.Lessons learned from reacquiring and reviving a brand in a competitive market.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with Rafael Veloz, founder of ShareIt Studio, about optimizing Amazon product listings through visual storytelling. Rafael discusses the nuanced impact of AI-generated images, emphasizing that authenticity often outperforms polished visuals — demonstrated by a shoe cleaner brand scaling from $400K to $12M monthly. He advocates for a full-funnel marketing approach beyond PPC, continuous image testing, and integrating AI tools strategically. Rafaell also highlights the importance of emotional connection in content creation and recommends building strong internal creative teams to drive sustainable e-commerce growth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Prioritize authenticity over polish Test raw, real-looking visuals (UGC-style, iPhone shots)—they often convert better than high-end production. Systematize testing with data Validate images using tools and customer feedback before scaling; continuously test and iterate based on performance. Build a dedicated creative strategy team Don't rely on freelancers—invest in a creative lead and team to consistently produce, test, and optimize high-converting content.Timestamps:00:00:01 Authenticity vs. Professionalism in AdsOrganic, real-feeling content can perform twice as well as high-end professional videos, depending on the product's industry.00:00:50 Podcast and Guest IntroductionHost Josh Hadley introduces the topic of AI images on Amazon and welcomes guest Rafael Veloz from ShareIt Studio.00:02:27 Are AI Images Hurting Amazon Listings?AI images can hurt sales if used incorrectly, as they can lower the "perceived value" for emotionally-driven products.00:04:01 The Shoe Cleaner Case StudyA shoe cleaner brand grew from $400K to $1.2M a month by focusing on authentic, emotional content.00:06:26 How to Test and Update Main ImagesAnalyze competitor reviews for emotional triggers, create multiple main images, and test them both off and on Amazon regularly.00:12:01 Building a System for Creative ContentInstead of "hacks," build a system. Constantly track competitors' rankings, reviews, and image changes to stay ahead.00:14:33 Optimizing Creatives for PPC CampaignsCreate different ad creatives for different PPC campaigns and keywords to reduce wasted ad spend and improve conversions.00:16:55 Driving External Traffic to AmazonAmazon now rewards external traffic. Don't just focus on TikTok; create content that connects to specific buying intentions.00:19:34 Connecting Creative and Media Buying TeamsYour creative team and PPC (media buying) team must work together to create a cohesive and effective marketing strategy.00:22:28 Using AI to Build a CommunityCreate AI-generated personas and avatars on social media to build a community and drive traffic to your product listings.00:25:44 The Process for Creating Viral ContentA strategist analyzes the market, a script is developed, and a mix of organic and AI video is used.00:27:36 Final Advice: Embrace AIDon't fear AI. Hire team members dedicated to exploring and implementing new AI tools to stay competitive.00:28:40 Actionable Takeaway 1: Marketing Efficiency RatioStop focusing only on ACoS. Adopt the Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER) to measure your total marketing spend against revenue.00:31:03 Actionable Takeaway 2: Systemize Image TestingCreate a consistent system for testing main images on Amazon, using real customer data to make decisions.00:31:45 Actionable Takeaway 3: Hire a Creative LeadInvest in a high-level creative team member to lead your marketing, as this is the most important aspect of your brand.00:33:56 Rafael's Favorite AI ToolRafael recommends Claude for its data gathering and Open-Claude's "Coworker" feature for automating executive assistant tasks.00:36:30 Connecting with RafaelFind Rafael at ShareIt Studio's website or email, and mention the podcast for a free 30-minute consultation.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Amazon Experiments": "00:08:54""Pixel": "00:08:54""Productpinion": "00:08:54""Fiverr": "00:08:06""Social Media Platforms (TikTok, In...

Most studios still treat influencer marketing as an experiment. Match Masters, a top 150 grossing game globally, has run it as a permanent growth pillar for 8 years. Jen Donahoe sits down with Candivore's Aviv Vidro and consultant Marion Balinoff to break down the playbook behind one of mobile gaming's most disciplined influencer programs.Studios that treat influencer as a permanent pillar see compounding returns. The ones that test once and cut the channel watch their installs decline 2.7x faster. Aviv walks through Candivore's 8 year always on model, the blitz approach where 20 creators go live on the same day, and the product marketing funnel his three person team built around creators. Dedicated welcome pop ups, skill based leaderboard giveaways with tangible prizes, and retargeting mechanics that drive 6x higher in app purchases from returning players.Marion breaks down why the standard 24 hour click window is broken for influencer content, why 7 days is the floor, and why day 365 installs run 75% higher than day 30. The two also tackle vertical testing (true crime crushed it for Match Masters with female audiences aged 30 to 55, tech reviewers flopped), country penetration strategy, why TikTok still doesn't work for performance, and where influencer marketing ends and UGC begins.If you've ever been told influencer marketing doesn't work after a single test campaign, send this episode to your CMO.

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONIn this episode, I sit down with Vaibhav from Astranova, the AI-driven entertainment IP studio that has been quietly building one of the most ambitious ecosystems in Web3. Vaibhav walks me through everything from their half a million ecosystem users, their high-profile partnerships with brands like Shiba Inu, Simon's Cat, and Mansory, to how they have raised $48.6 million and what they are doing with it. We dig into the RVV token buybacks, the real utility being built across gaming, comics, and social platforms, and why Vaibhav believes the market is massively underestimating this project. He also drops a teaser about a major RVV utility announcement coming very soon, so you will want to tune in and follow their socials closely after this one. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/CONNECTAstranova Website:https://astranova.world/Twitter/X - Astranova: https://twitter.com/AstranovalPTelegram - : https://t.me/AstraNovaPortalWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS• [00:00] Sam introduces Vaibhav from Astranova and outlines what the episode will cover• [01:08] Vaibhav shares his background in crypto, including time at CoinStore, Unix Gaming, and two years building Astranova• [02:35] Astranova explained: an AI-driven entertainment IP studio with comics, gaming, UGC, and community platforms• [04:39] Adoption metrics revealed: close to half a million ecosystem users, over 250K on their social platform• [06:21] The reasoning behind $6-7 million in on-chain RVV token buybacks and what it signals to the community• [08:02] High-profile partnerships with Shiba Inu, Simon's Cat, Mansory, and Imaginary Ones and how they were built• [10:40] Why Vaibhav believes the market is undervaluing Astranova by a huge margin• [12:02] RVV utility today and where it is heading: hotels, flights, gift cards, staking, and more• [13:45] Why the intersection of AI, entertainment, gaming, and community is such a powerful long-term position• [15:04] $48.6 million raised and how it is being deployed across the ecosystem• [16:14] What is coming in Phase 3: eSports with RVV prize pools, Creator Economy, NovaToonz IP expansion, and Blacklist Season 3• [17:25] A teaser dropped: a major RVV utility and adoption announcement is coming soon• [19:45] Future vision: RVV as the connective layer of the whole ecosystem, BNB integration, and massive growth ahead

In this episode, Mike and Ben break down May as the first full month after the latest Amazon changes and are joined by guest Mike Dancy to talk through what the shift is looking like in real time.Ben shares how May ended up being a volatile month, falling from an early projection of around $12K to closer to $10K, while Mike talks through how he still expects to land around $11K for the month despite dealing with two hospitalizations and serious health issues. A big part of the conversation centers around why higher-quality, more intentional videos are becoming even more important as the program continues to shift.Guest Mike Dancy shares how his Amazon earnings dropped significantly despite having hundreds of videos live, while his UK, Canada, and Australia storefronts improved and his off-site efforts continued to create opportunities. He explains how he is using YouTube and other social platforms to drive traffic, build UGC income, and create new brand relationships outside of relying only on Amazon.The episode also covers UGC pricing, finding clients, niche advantages, tools like Wovo, comparison videos, search-based content, Creator Connections, and why creators need to diversify income beyond Amazon if they want more stability going forward.If you are an Amazon Influencer, content creator, or product reviewer trying to understand the latest changes, grow off-site, and build a more durable creator business, this episode is packed with real-world strategy and perspective.____________________JOIN THE COMMUNITYIf you are looking for deeper strategy, accountability, & honest conversations with other serious content creators, the Creator's Leverage Guild was built for exactly thatLearn more and join here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator's Leverage Guild⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠_____________________CHECK OUT OUR 2 NEW EBOOKS THAT JUST LAUNCHED!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The AIP Master Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Stop guessing your way through AIP. The AIP Master Guide is your go-to resource for setup, backend navigation, Store IDs, payments, uploads, & more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leveraging Brand Deals Playbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Stop leaving money on the table. The Leveraging Brand Deals Playbook helps you pitch smarter, negotiate better, & turn free product offers into real paid opportunities._____________________WORK 1-ON-1 WITH MIKE AND BENGet personalized guidance on content strategy, monetization, brand deals, & scaling your creator business.• Book a 1-hour coaching call• Save with a 4-session coaching package⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign Me Up!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠_________________________JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK COMMUNITYConnect with other Amazon Influencers & content creators, ask questions, & stay up to date on what is working right now.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Influencer Success Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠_________________________TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR CREATORSViral VueMake smarter content decisions & grow faster.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Viral Vue here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code STRAHL10 for 10% off for lifeOinkTrack earnings & performance across platforms.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Oink here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code STRAHL10 for 10% off for lifeDescriptEdit podcasts & videos faster and easier.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Descript here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geniuslinks: Our #1 Deeplinking Pick!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Geniuslinks!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VidiQ: Our #1 pick for YouTube channel Insights!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try VidIQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Keepa: Makes advanced product research for AIP a breeze!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Keepa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lasso: Deeplinking for Blogs & YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Lasso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kadence WP: Great amazing websites for blogs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Kadence⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.__________________________CONTACTHave a question, collaboration opportunity, or topic request?Email: mike@creatorsleverageguild.com

Join my free UGC masterclasshttps://ugcmasteryacademy.com/webinarsignup?from=Podcast♠️ Got questions? DM me on IG:instagram.com/sydneymohniOn this channel we talk about:

In this episode, I’m recording live from Shopify HQ in New York City after attending the Merchant Mastery event with my co-host Toni. We cover a wide range of topics including why unpolished UGC content is outperforming produced ads, how to build a brand story that ties all your marketing together, and why generic products are slowly dying. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn What’s driving real sales on Shopify today Low-effort tactics that boost conversions with AI Practical ways to scale without blowing your ad budget Sponsors SellersSummit.com – The Sellers Summit is the ecommerce conference that I’ve run for the […] The post 640: I Just Spoke at Shopify HQ. Here’s What’s Actually Working in Ecommerce Right Now appeared first on MyWifeQuitHerJob.com.

On the podcast: why authentic founder-led content outperforms, tapping into HSA payments to unlock a whole new audience, and the growth lever no dashboard can measure.Top Takeaways:

If you've ever felt like you were leaving money on the table because you're too busy, too scattered, or just too over it to spend your days pitching brands — this episode is for you. Kayla is pulling back the curtain on exactly how she used one single UGC app to generate over $45,000, and spoiler: it wasn't by grinding 40 hours a week or chasing down brands like it's a second job. In this episode, she breaks down the specific strategy she stumbled into — one that's built for people who are multi-passionate, time-strapped, and done with the hustle-your-face-off approach to creator income. The whole framework is designed so you're not pitching constantly, not chasing work, and not trading all your time for a paycheck — but still pulling in full-time money on a very part-time schedule. If you've been skeptical that UGC could actually work without becoming your whole personality, this one's going to change your mind. Follow me on Instagram - www.instagram.com/imkaylaybanez #contentcreator #ugc

Join my free UGC masterclasshttps://ugcmasteryacademy.com/webinarsignup?from=Podcast♠️ Got questions? DM me on IG:instagram.com/sydneymohniOn this channel we talk about: