Mediaboss Marketing

AirChat, a social media app that was launched Friday (April 12), became the 23rd most popular in the U.S. on Apples App Store Monday (April 15).

The app has seen thousands of downloads as well as online requests for access to it, because AirChat is currently offered on an invite-only basis, ReutersreportedMonday.

AirChat is centered on voice, with messages being delivered through voice notes and simultaneous transcriptions of those notes, according to the report.

The apps design is similar to that of other social media apps in that users can post, scroll through feeds and message other users privately, the report said.

However, it features voice notes that play automatically and can be paused, per the report.

AirChat was founded by venture capitalistNaval Ravikantand former Tinder product chiefBrian Norgard, according to the report.

It aims to differentiate itself from other social media apps by using voice, the report said.

Ravikant posted on the platform, Humans are all meant to get along with other humans, it just requires the natural voice, per the report.

PYMNTS Intelligence has found thatvoiceis the next interface set to revolutionize consumers lives.

Connected devices are rapidly entering a modern hands-free, voice-driven era, as next-generation advances are made in voice recognition technology and increasingly being brought to market across a wide variety of conversational commerce use cases, according to How Consumers Want to Live in the Voice Economy.

The report also found that 58% of consumers would use voice because it is easier and more convenient and 54% because it is faster than typing or using a touchscreen.

In another recent deployment of voice technology,Volkswagensaid in January that it integratedOpenAIs artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, into the automakers IDAvoice assistant.

With this integration, Volkswagen customers can access an expanding AI database and have researched content read out to them while driving.

Voice assistantshave also made significant strides in areas such as smart home integration, educational settings and business applications. With advancements in AI paving the way, voice assistants will be able to complete increasingly complex tasks.

Read more:
AirChat Uses Voice Technology to Stand Out in Social Media Market - PYMNTS.com

By Venugopal Ganganna

Gen Z, the generation born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, is a digital native force unlike any other. Theyve never known a world without the internet, and social media platforms are their primary stomping grounds. This presents a unique challenge for marketers traditional methods simply dont resonate with this discerning and tech-savvy generation. As the CEO of an AI-powered marketing agency, I see Gen Z as a game-changer, and heres why:

Gone are the days of flipping through magazines or watching prime-time commercials. Gen Z gets its information, entertainment, and even shopping done through social media. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are not just for connecting with friends theyre curated feeds showcasing the latest trends, brands, and influencers. This shift in behavior demands a complete overhaul of marketing strategies.

Gen Z craves authenticity. They can spot a disingenuous marketing campaign a mile away. They connect with brands that have a clear purpose, strong values, and a commitment to social responsibility. Gone are the days of heavily produced commercials with unrealistic portrayals. Gen Z responds to user-generated content, influencer partnerships, and brands that take a stand on issues they care about.

Forget celebrity endorsements. Gen Z trusts the opinions of their peers more than A-list stars. Micro-influencers with smaller, highly engaged followings are the new marketing heroes. They create relatable content that resonates with their audience and feels less like advertising and more like a genuine recommendation from a friend.

UGC is the lifeblood of social media. Gen Z trusts content created by real people more than anything a brand can produce. Savvy marketers are leveraging this by encouraging user-generated content through interactive campaigns, contests, and challenges. This UGC not only promotes the brand but also fosters a sense of community and belonging.

The rise of platforms like Snapchat and Instagram Stories highlights Gen Zs preference for short-form, disappearing content. This presents a unique opportunity for marketers to create engaging, bite-sized content that captures attention in the fleeting moments of a social media scroll.

AI marketing tools can be a game-changer for reaching Gen Z. Heres how:

The Future of Marketing: A Conversation, Not a Broadcast

Marketing to Gen Z is about building a conversation, not just broadcasting a message. Heres what this means:

Gen Z is a generation that demands more from brands. They are the informed consumers of the future, and marketers who embrace social media, prioritize authenticity, and leverage AI tools will be the ones who win their hearts (and wallets). By understanding their preferences and creating engaging experiences within the social media ecosystem, brands can redefine marketing for a new era. Its not just about selling products anymore; its about building genuine connections and becoming a trusted part of the Gen Z social experience.

(The author is Venugopal Ganganna, CEO, Langoor Digital, and the views expressed in this article are his own)

View post:
Gen Z is turning traditional marketing on its head, making social media their primary marketplace, entertainment hub ... - CXOToday.com

Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a Kim Kardashian moment.

Dicer.ai, an AI-driven advertising performance analytics company, andFameFlow.ai, the worlds first celebrity and influencer AI likeness rights licensing platform, announced apartnershipon Wednesday (April 10) to boost the influencer marketing landscape. The move is part of a broader trend of influencers increasingly using AI.

AI can streamline what used to be a tedious influencer discovery and relationship-building process by creating instant filters, screening for influencer fraud, engagement metrics and the forecasting of campaign results based on past data,Sara Saffari, a fitness influencer with over 2 million followers onInstagram, told PYMNTS. This means campaigns that can be better targeted, evaluated and eventually run at scale.

Theinfluencer economyis growing. A2023 studyby the influencer marketing platformLTKshowed that Generation Z and millennials trust content creators more than traditional ads and celebrities.

The study also noted that people of all ages are buying more products online via creators affiliate links, particularly Gen Z and millennials, at 75% and 67%, respectively. Additionally, the findings confirmed that social media significantly influences consumer shopping behaviors.

The Dicer collaboration provides brands and digital agencies with access to celebrity and influencer endorsements, coupled with real-time data on ad performance, aiming to boost engagement and improve ad profits.

By combining Dicers analytical capabilities with FameFlows influencer reach, were offering a never-before-seen approach to digital marketing, saidMarco Bianco, CEO of Dicer, in anews release. Our joint solution not only simplifies the process of launching mega-influencer-endorsed likeness campaigns but also ensures they are optimized for peak performance.

Saffari is also the CEO ofInfluencerNexus, an agency for influencers. She said AI now allows brands and agencies to streamline influencer marketing more rapidly and without guessing the potential performance of campaign results. It also allows for forecasting key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout the campaign process.

This means a far more robust influencer economy that is less wild west, which ultimately drives far better results for influencers, Saffari said.

As a fitness influencer who posts pictures of her workouts and lifestyle, Saffari uses AI to streamline influencer campaigns for brands by sourcing, auditing and creating campaigns.

I also use it to streamline content creation across my audience, she added. Content that once took days now takes 1-2 hours maximum for 30 days of content.

Artificial intelligence can also streamline the process of integrating sponsor advertisements into popular influencer videos. By using AI, companies can more efficiently identify suitable influencers, match their content themes with relevant ads, and automate parts of the negotiation and placement process.

This technology not only simplifies the logistics but also enhances the precision of targeting audiences, ensuring that the right ads reach the most receptive viewers based on their viewing habits and preferences.

We see AI as a tool to open up a new channel for enabling influencers and creators to work with companies by embedding Attention Media elements, such as branded objects, into the videos,Cory Treffiletti, CMO ofRembrand, told PYMNTS.

Using AI, you can do so in a post-production process, allowing creators to create and monetize later. This scales more broadly than sponsored posts, and our proprietary technology enables this in a more realistic, constrained manner than you get with a horizontal approach to a generative AI model, he added.

AI is helping ad companies find influencers and predict trends. Previously, advertisers would scour TikTok or Instagram to find influencers,Logan Welbaum, founder ofPlai, an AI-powered marketing tool, told PYMNTS.

AI is also helping algorithms on social media platforms put more content towards a more relevant audience, Welbaum added. How do you get people to stay on the platform longer? Place the right content at the right place at the right time and with the help of AI, social media platforms are getting much better at this. This is helping create more influencers faster than ever.

One of the more surprising trends impacting the influencer economy is the use ofAI deepfakes that pose as influencers or become influencers in their own right. These AI-generated figures can create content, interact with followers, and endorse products like human influencers. The technology behind these deepfakes allows them to mimic human behaviors and appearances with stunning accuracy, making them almost indistinguishable from real people.

The trend raises questions about authenticity and trust in the digital influencer space, as observers say that viewers may only sometimes be aware that they are interacting with a machine. Additionally, this phenomenon could reshape the marketing landscape by allowing brands to craft perfect influencer representations tailored to their exact specifications, potentially altering how products are promoted and who is considered influential in the digital realm.

This is raising important discussions around the use of identity that all companies and marketers should follow,Abby Rose, associate director at829 Studios, a digital agency and marketing consultancy, told PYMNTS. When embracing AI and its many benefits, we all must keep in mind that the goal of these partnerships is to center authenticity and humanity. We cant let AI take us too far away from the personal appeal that makes influencers relevant to so many.

See original here:
Influencers Harness AI to Boost Fame and Fortune - PYMNTS.com

Donald Trump is returning to the stock market.Shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded shell company, approved a deal to merge with the former presidents media business in a Friday vote. That means Trump Media & Technology Group, whose flagship product is social networking site Truth Social, will soon begin trading on the Nasdaq stock market.Related video above: Trump has days to pay $464 million bond before assets seizedTrump could receive a sizeable payout in the process. He would own most of the combined company or nearly 79 million shares. Multiply that by Digital Worlds closing stock price Thursday of $42.81, and the total value of Trump's stake could surpass $3 billion. The shares did fall 5% after the merger approval was announced.The deal's greenlight arrives at a time the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is facing his most costly legal battle to date: a $454 million judgment in a fraud lawsuit.But Trump won't be able to cash out the Friday deal's windfall immediately, unless some things change, due to a lock-up provision that prevents company insiders from selling newly issued shares for six months.Trump's presidential campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.Trumps earlier foray into the stock market didnt end well. Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts went public in 1995 under the symbol DJT the same symbol Trump Media will trade under. By 2004, Trumps casino company had filed for bankruptcy protection and was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.Ahead of the merger's approval, Digital World's regulatory filings listed many of the risks its investors face, as well as those of the Truth Social owner once Trump Media also goes public.One risk, the company said, is that Trump would be entitled to vote in his own interest as a controlling stockholder which may not always be in the interests of all shareholders. Digital World also cited the high rate of failure for new social media platforms, as well as Trump Media's expectation that it would lose money on its operations for the foreseeable future.Trump Media lost $49 million in the first nine months of last year, when it brought in just $3.4 million in revenue and had to pay $37.7 million in interest expenses.Trump Media and Digital World first announced their merger plans in October 2021. In addition to a federal probe, the deal has faced a series of lawsuits leading up to Friday's vote.Truth Social launched in February 2022, one year after Trump was banned from major social platforms including Facebook and Twitter, the platform now known as X, following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He's since been reinstated to both but has stuck with Truth Social as a megaphone for his message.Trump promoted Truth Social in a post on the social media network Thursday evening, saying: TRUTH SOCIAL IS MY VOICE, AND THE REAL VOICE OF AMERICA!!! MAGA2024!!!Trump Media hasn't so far disclose Truth Social's user numbers. But research firm Similarweb estimates that it had roughly 5 million active mobile and web users in February. That's far below TikTok's more than 2 billion and Facebook's 3 billion but still higher than rivals like Parler, which has been offline for nearly a year but is planning a comeback, or Gettr, which had less than 2 million visitors in February.

Donald Trump is returning to the stock market.

Shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded shell company, approved a deal to merge with the former presidents media business in a Friday vote. That means Trump Media & Technology Group, whose flagship product is social networking site Truth Social, will soon begin trading on the Nasdaq stock market.

Related video above: Trump has days to pay $464 million bond before assets seized

Trump could receive a sizeable payout in the process. He would own most of the combined company or nearly 79 million shares. Multiply that by Digital Worlds closing stock price Thursday of $42.81, and the total value of Trump's stake could surpass $3 billion. The shares did fall 5% after the merger approval was announced.

The deal's greenlight arrives at a time the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is facing his most costly legal battle to date: a $454 million judgment in a fraud lawsuit.

But Trump won't be able to cash out the Friday deal's windfall immediately, unless some things change, due to a lock-up provision that prevents company insiders from selling newly issued shares for six months.

Trump's presidential campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Trumps earlier foray into the stock market didnt end well. Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts went public in 1995 under the symbol DJT the same symbol Trump Media will trade under. By 2004, Trumps casino company had filed for bankruptcy protection and was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

Ahead of the merger's approval, Digital World's regulatory filings listed many of the risks its investors face, as well as those of the Truth Social owner once Trump Media also goes public.

One risk, the company said, is that Trump would be entitled to vote in his own interest as a controlling stockholder which may not always be in the interests of all shareholders. Digital World also cited the high rate of failure for new social media platforms, as well as Trump Media's expectation that it would lose money on its operations for the foreseeable future.

Trump Media lost $49 million in the first nine months of last year, when it brought in just $3.4 million in revenue and had to pay $37.7 million in interest expenses.

Trump Media and Digital World first announced their merger plans in October 2021. In addition to a federal probe, the deal has faced a series of lawsuits leading up to Friday's vote.

Truth Social launched in February 2022, one year after Trump was banned from major social platforms including Facebook and Twitter, the platform now known as X, following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He's since been reinstated to both but has stuck with Truth Social as a megaphone for his message.

Trump promoted Truth Social in a post on the social media network Thursday evening, saying: TRUTH SOCIAL IS MY VOICE, AND THE REAL VOICE OF AMERICA!!! MAGA2024!!!

Trump Media hasn't so far disclose Truth Social's user numbers. But research firm Similarweb estimates that it had roughly 5 million active mobile and web users in February. That's far below TikTok's more than 2 billion and Facebook's 3 billion but still higher than rivals like Parler, which has been offline for nearly a year but is planning a comeback, or Gettr, which had less than 2 million visitors in February.

View original post here:
Trump's social media company will go public after merger with shell company is approved - WDSU New Orleans

In a landscape where digital marketing reigns supreme and social media platforms serve as the new frontier, Kurt Benkert, a former NFL quarterback turned media personality at NFL Media, offers his insights into the ever-evolving world of social media marketing in an Interactive Advertising Bureau video.

Benkert, known for his football prowess, has seamlessly transitioned into digital media, leveraging his expertise to navigate the complex terrain of social media marketing. In a recent interview, he highlighted the challenges and opportunities inherent in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Reflecting on the dynamic nature of social media marketing, Benkert emphasized the need for adaptability and innovation. There are a lot of stories out there that need to be told, he remarked, acknowledging social medias vast potential as a platform for storytelling and engagement.

Drawing from his experiences, Benkert highlighted the importance of capitalizing on viral moments and staying attuned to emerging trends. I capitalize on potential viral moments by being in tune with the moment as it happens, he explained, underscoring the significance of timeliness and relevance in content creation.

Looking ahead, Benkert expressed optimism about the future of social media marketing, particularly in building passive income streams around digital content. Ive been building digital products around the content that I make that are living as passive sources of income, he revealed, hinting at the potential for sustainable revenue generation beyond traditional sponsorship deals.

However, Benkert also acknowledged the challenges of monetization in the digital space, particularly those related to securing sponsorships and delivering value to brands. The biggest challenge is probably just financially for sponsorships, he admitted, highlighting the need for brands to see a return on their investment in sponsored content.

Despite these challenges, Benkert remains committed to pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo in social media marketing. Its changing a little bit with the narrative, he noted, alluding to the evolving landscape of sponsored content and influencer marketing.

In navigating the uncharted territory of social media marketing, Kurt Benkert stands as a beacon of innovation and resilience, offering valuable insights into the ever-changing world of digital media. As brands and creators alike continue to adapt to the shifting tides of social media, Benkerts story serves as a reminder of the boundless opportunities that await those willing to embrace change and seize upon emerging trends.

Read the rest here:
Navigating the Uncharted Territory of Social Media Marketing - WebProNews