Paul Petrone

Dear Gen Z, Your colleagues, though seamlessly virtual, are still human beings. Treat them with respect, addressing them adequately. "Waste" those 30 seconds of small talk. Weather, life in general, and then shoot forward. It's hard to advocate for that fantastic team spirit you long for and all that, while believeing you don't have to put anything in the pot. You do. A great team starts and ends with the little things. So remember lesson #1 is: #Respect 😎 You're welcome; now try and not make this about you, if you can. I still love you lots. _________________________ I write about #iGaming, #crypto and #contenmanagement in a #remotework universe. Follow me for a crying shoulder - you're not alone!

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My own tool turned against me 💀 Okay, not really. It just reminded me that writing for my own ear doesn't mean that others will have a positive experience with my copy. Like the Flowpoint team pointed out today, "good writing is easy for everyone to understand." You can test the reading comprehension level of your own writing using our newest free tool: https://lnkd.in/ead687S4

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Amazon Prime members just got an improved perk: free membership in Grubhub+, the delivery service's subscription tier, which usually costs $9.99 monthly. That means Prime members can get Grubhub deliveries of $12 or more for free, pay lower service fees and get other benefits. Amazon customers can also now make Grubhub+ orders directly on Amazon.com and the Amazon Shopping app. You can still use the Grubhub app, too, but connect your Prime account to it. And through June 2, Prime members can save $5 on a Grubhub+ delivery of $25 or more. Learn more in my story: https://lnkd.in/ezXeKtTE

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Rough day for Snap. When the social media company reported second-quarter earnings on Thursday, it provided third-quarter revenue guidance between $1.335 billion and $1.375 billion, or $1.355 billion in the middle of the range. Analysts were expecting $1.36 billion. Snap had the tough challenge of following Meta, which reported its latest earnings on Wednesday and revealed a better-than-expected forecast for the current period. Investors cheered and Meta shares jumped over 5%. With companies like Meta, Snap, Google and Pinterest all reporting their quarterly earnings over the past two weeks, we now wait to see how Reddit will perform next week to help us better understand the current online advertising market. So far, the digital advertising year-over-year growth rates for the second quarter look like this: Meta: 22% Amazon: 20% Google Advertising: 11% YouTube ads: 13% Microsoft: 19% Snap: 16% Pinterest: 21% Spotify: 20% https://lnkd.in/gSuzvVsE

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This morning, as I was leaving the VA hospital, I held the elevator door for an older veteran, who was walking with the assistance of two canes, I felt a wave of empathy. When I asked how he was doing, his response was, "Today sucks." However, after responding to his similar query, I shared that I'm scheduled for my third cancer surgery, he remarked, "Sorry to hear that, now I'm feeling better about my day!" It was a humbling moment, reminding me that there's always someone facing greater challenges, and it boils down to being grateful for what we have. Our shared experience ended with mutual encouragement, allowing us both to shift our perspectives and carry on with renewed optimism for a better day ahead. Success truly starts with the right attitude. As an AI Automator and cancer survivor, my journey has been marked by challenges and both failures and triumphs. Despite the uncertainties that lie ahead, I remain optimistic and excited about the future. The world of technology is rapidly evolving, and I'm passionate about exploring new ways to implement AI solutions for businesses. By automating processes and optimizing workflows, I aim to empower entrepreneurs and organizations to focus their time and energy on what truly matters – growth, innovation, and creating value. One of the ways I'm staying at the forefront of AI is by attending Google's I/O 2024, where I'll have the opportunity to learn about the latest developer tools and how they can fuel innovation and enhance my workflow. This conference promises to be a hub of cutting-edge ideas and collaborations, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. As I embark on this next chapter, I'm reminded that the future is uncertain, but our ability to stay positive, learn, and grow is what propels us forward. I invite you to join me on this journey, embracing the challenges that come our way and leveraging the power of technology to create a better world. Let's stay resilient, stay curious, and stay committed to making a positive impact.

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Today Mark Zuckerberg announced a major change to Meta's content moderation philosophy. Take note of how: a Facebook video. Not only did Zuck release the news in a video on his own social platform, but he also took direct shots at "legacy media" in the video, arguing that there's been an overcorrection toward censorship over free speech. Whatever you think of the substance of the policy change, as a marketing hack, I want to emphasize the communications strategy. Zuck: 1. Announced the change himself, not via lieutenants or a comms person, acting as the chief evangelist for Meta. 2. Used a video on social platforms, not an interview with the press. 3. Filmed the video wearing a loose black shirt without a collar and his now-signature gold chain. He essentially looks like a regular dude posting a video to IG, not a corporate suit. Corporate comms is changing. It's the era of the executive evangelist and direct communications between a company's CEO and the company's audience. Posting on social isn't beneath your CEO. On the contrary, the biggest CEOs and corporations in the world are realizing that they can make a bigger impact by communicating directly with their customers and other stakeholders.

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"One for them, one for us." If there's a tried and true method on getting many subs and viewers for your social media platform, 90% of people would have done it already. Not many of us are fortunate enough to be in the 10%. Please don't feel discouraged by your current views. Just know that you've put in the work and effort into making your video or post, getting yourself heard amidst the algorithm nonsense. And if all else fails, there is no harm in taking a long break and trying again after a sabbatical. Most of the time, your 300 view-only passion project is better than the 100k views s***post you put up just to surpass "invisible" goalposts. I should know; I've done both. As a valued content creator who knows the gaming industry, I've experienced the dopamine of hitting a million+ views a good amount of times and the anguish of seeing your 1-week project not getting the attention it truly deserves. It's a rollercoaster ride, and not for everyone. "One for them, one for us."

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Meta’s new content moderation policy could force digital brands and creators to rethink their future game plan. ↪️ Read on in my latest article for SUCCESS Magazine.

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UPDATE: The PublicRadioNYC Google Group is back up and running after 24+ hours of suspension! (Still no word from Google about what the supposed violation was or how to avoid it in the future.) It's disheartening the group owners/managers never received any sort of warning before service was suspended. Please revise this, Google!

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Company Culture: baked in; not an afterthought When I founded Bizblip, one of my primary goals was to create a decentralized, virtual newsroom. This vision, born from my experiences in traditional media and early forays into digital journalism, has shaped our company culture from day one. Today, our team includes two remote employees in other countries and a local contractor. This distributed structure demands a culture built on clear communication, independence, and accountability. Our team members must be adept at reporting results, flagging problems, and seeking help when needed. Building this culture hasn't been without challenges. As I learned during my time at LocalBusiness.com, technology can sometimes be a hindrance rather than a help. However, with modern collaboration tools and reliable payment processing systems, we've been able to create a seamless virtual work environment. Our company culture emphasizes trust, flexibility, and results-oriented work. We've found that this approach not only increases productivity but also enhances job satisfaction and work-life balance for our team members. A crucial aspect of our culture is our commitment to journalistic integrity and accountability. To this end, we've taken the extraordinary step of contracting with an outside journalist and businessperson to serve as our ombudsman. This individual has the authority to override my editorial decisions in response to public complaints about any Bizblip news content. This safeguard protects the integrity of our news and information, even from actions at the highest level of the editorial decision-making process, while also ensuring we remain accountable to the public we serve. As we scale, maintaining this culture of transparency, integrity, and independence will be crucial. It's not just about having a distributed team, but about fostering an environment where everyone feels connected to our mission and empowered to contribute their best work, regardless of their location. In the end, our company culture is our competitive advantage. It allows us to attract top talent globally, adapt quickly to market changes, and deliver high-quality, niche news content to our audience, all while upholding the highest standards of journalistic ethics and public trust.

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I burned a few (Facebook) 🔥🔥 bridges🔥🔥 this weekend. No, not with the company, but with folks in a local FB group. I committed a cardinal social media etiquette sin. PREPARE TO CLUTCH YOUR DIGITAL PEARLS. I criticized the hypocrisy of someone's post in a comment ON THAT POST. I had the UNMITIGATED GALL (yes, that's a JC Grinch shout out) to critique that person's public post *GASP* IN PUBLIC. I was also blunt. I didn't use a million qualifiers or honeyed words. I didn't prioritize tact. I called it what it was and then showed how it was what it was. And then I was chastised. 😥 I was chastised for saying my piece in public instead of private messaging. I was told I should have messaged in private to give the author a chance to modify the post if she so chose. I was also reminded that the author isn't perfect and meant well. If you're reading this and thinking, "This HAS to have been a liberal white lady," DING, DING, DING! And as a liberal (though I like to claim the progressive label more) white lady myself, I was thinking, "We really do have a damn playbook, don't we?" So what did I do? I did what any liberal white lady would do, I doubled TF down. Because while I will use "proper"ish etiquette on LinkedIn and other (semi)professional forums, I refuse to use that treacly southern/Texan politeness and "manners" on effing FACEBOOK. Especially with folks I don't know personally. So I pointed out the importance of transparency and that when I say things in public, I'm also considering the folks too afraid or insecure or confused or conflicted to say something themselves. Some folks don't do well with feeling like they're alone, like they're the only ones. You may have noticed I don't have that problem. (I fixed that issue back around 2017. I have no problem being the first or only dissenting voice. Because a) I know who I am and what I think, and b) if I'm wrong, I know how to admit I'm wrong and apologize.) I also pointed out how her response only further confirmed my initial criticism. Honestly? She got off light. The things I could have said about her wanting the opportunity to change her post and needing to actually think about her words before hitting post . . . But I was on my phone, and I HATE writing anything of length on my phone--even with voice-to-text. (A full-sized keyboard, a full-sized keyboard, my kingdom for a full-sized keyboard!) So I was forced into concision. Maybe I should start writing everything on my phone . . . Yep, there's the LinkedIn connection for the post. Writers, to ensure concision, use the writing tool you HATE to use most. #SocialMedia #Facebook #BurnedBridges #WritingTips #EtiquetteIsJustWhiteSupremacy

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I’ve messed up podcast interview prep 🤦‍♀️ but I like what we’re doing with Attribution Nation much better. Here’s what I’m doing differently… 📝 Guest Bios In the past (heretofore symbolized by this old house🏚️) I’d phone this in by copying and pasting the guest’s almost always boring professional bio and then reading it, boringly, at the start of the show. What’s wrong with this approach ❌ It is PAINFULLY obvious how critical the first SECONDS of a show are to set tone. Unless your show is long and boring, don’t set this tone. Instead… 🏡 (new approach) Keep this short and sweet. One sentence and then say, “We’ll get into more details during the interview, welcome to the show!” And get into the meat and potatoes. ❓Question Ideation 🏚️ I’d let the person’s background and passions guide the questions ❌ This makes interviews go all over the place where some might be interesting to an individual listener and others won’t at all. And due to this shotgun guest topic approach, people will only return to the show if they really like the host. And it’s REALLY challenging to be a Howard Stern-level host that talks to B2B people (who are not celebrities with media training) that folks will listen to for months or years. 🏡 Take an opinionated approach based on AUDIENCE questions in a themed mini-series release schedule. We knew we wanted to answer fundamental questions about attribution: Why does attribution technology even exist? Why have so many people come to hate it? How do YOU as a CEO think about investing in marketing? Those questions answer what people are asking. And every question acts in service to highlighting the guest’s unique perspective on these fundamental topics that we already know are interesting to our audience because they’re engaging in conversation about them on social. ———- I have more, but I’m running out of space. If this is interesting lemme know and I’ll create a carousel or something with all my thoughts. ✌️

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You’d think Google search results would be accurate… When I initially looked up how to register an LLC, it seemed impossible to do manually. So many forms to fill, so many contacts to find, so many unknowns; it’s a huge headache. Naturally, I thought, “there must be a better way”. And there it was: every article, video, and review presented me with this golden solution. “Just pay a few hundred dollars and let us take care of it!” they said. ”Take my money,” I replied. These companies portrayed themselves as the lifesavers for those who don’t want to waste ridiculous amounts of time registering a company. Only after consulting with my parents did I realize how these companies had taken over all the top Google results to promote themselves. After digging into Reddit, I realized not only were most of these companies severely exaggerating the work involved in registering a company, some of them were even complete scams. So, I bit the bullet and decided to see how hard it truly was to register a company. It took 5 minutes to fill out the initial form. 1 week for them to process it. 2 minutes on the second form. 20 minutes to write up an operating agreement. Done. Together with Ali, we registered a company for $90 and within 1/2 hour. This doesn’t mean starting and running a company is easy. But don’t let a few search results dissuade you from taking the first step.

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Leveraging Strategic Approaches for Short-Form Content Creation: Recently, I stumbled upon a captivating video—one that promised uniqueness and engagement. The outcome? Our typical monthly views were surpassed within 24 hours, and we gained over 10.5K new subscribers. 🚀🎥 #ContentSuccess Even though producing long-format content is the majority of what I do for a living, While long-format content constitutes the bulk of my work, I find immense joy in experimenting with short-format content. it's my specialty, and the outcomes just inspire me more. My intuition about viral content and my techniques have always been validated by the results. After we posted our first YouTube short, I began experimenting with them over the following several days, led to a +16.8K subscriber in under 30 days and a 470% boost in watch time for our long-form content.” 🚀 Although short-format content doesn't yield large profits, it's shrewd to know how to take use of a feature that might help you expand your reach by connecting with more people. Building a devoted following involves getting your work in front of as many people as possible. Reels are prioritised on YouTube and Instagram, so there's a good reason why more people are being creative. In the coming month, we aim to surpass current and past performance figures. THIS is why experimentation at work is crucial — Not only is it fulfilling but it also aids in skill development and strategic planning for the firm, allowing you to grow with it. 🚀🌟 . . . #contentcreation #success #production #instagram #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing #motivation #motivationalthoughts #motivationalquotes #growthmarketing #growthmindset #marketing #contentwriter #contentcreation #contentcreationtips #socialmediamarketing #prettylittlevirtuoso #organicgrowth #organicmarketing #simranbharti #linkedinmarketing #linkedingrowth #linkedintips #burnout #worklifebalance

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The Spotify Wrapped trend is getting weird. It's not just for music now, but coffee, groceries, dating, and more, as more companies gather data on customers and generate year-in-review reports back to them. I wrote about how 'wrap-ification' is taking over our lives. Companies want us to share the results, almost celebrating how much of our data they have, giving them free advertising. https://lnkd.in/eJg2gjEF

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Great #AI insights from Das & N2 Communications’ AI team on why human creatives are essential “to turn technological capabilities into real-world value.”

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Creators and writers are at the core of everything we do and it's one of the reasons why I feel so good about being a part of what we're building here. "I spend a lot of time telling people that Substack’s real product is its business model. It is a model that is, by careful design, friendly to creators. On Substack, the creators own their relationship with their audience—captured in a mailing list that they control—and all their content, which they can export anytime they want. The creator holds onto the vast majority of the financial value generated on the platform: Substack gets 10%, and the creator gets 90%. We only make money when they make money. Imagine how much money creators could have made in the past couple of decades if the work they did on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok resulted in their getting 90% of the advertising revenue that those platforms instead keep for themselves." - Hamish McKenzie

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