Sam Gerdt’s Post

Ever since I started researching the topic of child influencers for an upcoming episode of Road Work Ahead, my desire/ability to mindlessly scroll social media is GONE. Videos of kids being funny used to be . . . funny. Now it makes me feel at least a little sick. 1. Recognize that A LOT of the kids you see on SM are being mined for content. Just look at the channel size and frequency of child posts for proof. 2. Consider the wellness implications on that child's life before you like that next video. Influencer kids who are now coming of age are NOT OK. 3. Protect your own children. Once it's online, you can't easily take it back. That video will follow them into high school, university, jobs, relationships - forever. Kids are tiny, vulnerable people - not revenue streams. If you catch a cute photo or video, send it to your friends - not the world.

There are going to be canned AI solutions - like Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT - and there are going to be specialized, customized, jailbroken solutions. The same goes for humans. There are going to be canned humans, who take and use what they're given, and there are going to be artists, hackers, and subverters, who question everything and break outside of the boundaries they're given. There's a lot to unpack here, but let's start with how canned humans using canned AIs are only going to do boring things. It seems exciting now because we're in early adoption, but your advantage dries up a little more with every new user.

Is artificial intelligence creative? My answer is a resounding "NO", but more from the gut. So I went out in search of someone else to help me answer the question thoughtfully. This interview with artist Matt Saunders is FANTASTIC. I loved every minute of it, and I'm really proud of this episode. If you consider yourself an artist or otherwise creative, listen. https://lnkd.in/e5rNh4sb

Tier List ranking my initial reactions to Linkedin posts based on the image/media used in the post: S Tier (Best - will engage) Data / Charts / Infographics Designed CTA (attractive design) Screen Capture A Tier Branded Media (featuring a brand I like) Video (talking head/webcam) Unique or Interesting Photo B Tier Video (high production value) Video (low production value) Group or Event Photo C Tier Branded Media (featuring a brand I don’t know) Selfie or Profile Photo Designed CTA (average to poor design) Generic or Stock Photo D Tier (Worst - instant scroll) Apparent AI-Generated Media Branded Media (featuring a brand I dislike) This sample size is on crotchety old fart, but it’s interesting to see the themes: 1. I value what is valuable, not what is glittery. 2. Branded only works if I already like your brand. Liking your brand != liking your logo/identity. 3. Authenticity gets rewarded over production value. 4. AI-generated garbage is garbage, and it makes your post look like garbage.

How is paid advertising changing in 2024? This was the discussion I had in this latest interview. The biggest change that everyone will notice is that costs are going way up. You can blame it on increased competition and a "potentially unscrupulous" lack of transparency from Google. AI is also having an impact on both ads creation and ads management. At this point, it's likely to only benefit those who would struggle to manage ad campaigns otherwise. Don't fire your human PPC specialist any time soon! The most intriguing change is the way we target and serve ads. Our interfaces with the internet are changing in ways that we can't predict, and it won't be a straightforward or smooth ride into the future. There are some serious discussions to be had about privacy and ethics in digital advertising. Google Grandpas like me are struggling to stay positive about the whole thing!

The way to successfully market to ME would be 95% ineffective in reaching someone 20 years younger than me. The way to successfully market to that college student would be 95% ineffective in reaching me. It goes without saying, but failing to serve both of us at this point in time poses a serious threat to your business. . . 1. If you only market to me, you have little-to-no brand recognition among your future customers and employees. 2. If you only market to me, you aren't gaining any insight or experience with your future audience. 20-year-olds may not be your target audience now, but they will be soon, and they're bringing their version of the world with them. ^^This is what scares me. I'm an old dog who doesn't like learning new tricks!

The SEC's X (Twitter) account was hacked and the BTC market was manipulated as a result. From WIRED: "X said an 'unidentified individual' had used a phone number tied to the SEC’s account to seize control. The account 'did not have two-factor authentication enabled' at the time of the hack, X said." What I see from this is further proof that there is a significant overlap between marketing and IT. This does not get enough attention. Would you fire the marketing director for this, or would you fire the IT director for this? I'd fire the guy responsible for putting the two directors at the same table.

The recent push for a higher standard when it comes to email authentication is an excellent development. This is a consumer-focused initiative that will make end users safer and happier. Less spam. Less scamming. ALSO. . . Maybe it will light a fire under HubSpot's butt to bring their email infrastructure into the current decade! Please, HubSpot, give us a way to pass SPF authentication without a $300/mo dedicated IP addon. You have to give ALL your customers the ability to define a custom Return-Path for their email headers. Without this: 1. Our emails are less secure. 2. Our deliverability rates are lower. 3. BIMI is impossible. Your competitors are SMOKING you when it comes to email. Amazon SES, SendGrid, Mailgun, and SparkPost all allow for SPF alignment OUT. OF. THE. BOX.

My goal in 2024 is to de-prioritize learning. I'm addicted to learning. Part of it is the way my brain is wired, but a lot of it is a lack of discipline. I impulsively learn, obsess, equip, and practice. Personal examples of impulsive learning: - tree climbing & removal (photo evidence provided) - pre-20th century butchery - homebrewing - lock picking - fine woodworking My priority for 2024 (and beyond) is relationship-building with the people I love, and getting better at the handful of things that I'm actually expected to know.

This month I'm celebrating 15 years of full-time at Waypost Marketing. I started as an intern while I finished my degree back in 2008 and haven't looked back. So far, they're the only name on my resume. In that time I was a web designer & developer, then creative director. Eventually I landed in the role that I hold today. They call me the "director of business technology", but frankly the title has changed so many times - I've lost count. I don't care what the title is. I don't even care all that much about the job description. I've stayed in one place for 15+ years because deeper roots are healthier and more productive. Whatever work I end up doing, it's always been more rewarding to focus on building the legacy - not the resume. By the way, there aren't very many digital agencies that hit drinking age, and that's what Waypost will do this year. Fun facts! When I joined Waypost: 1. MySpace was still 2x bigger than Facebook. 2. Apple launched the app store and the iPhone 3G. No such thing as iPads. 3. Mobile web browsing? Nobody wants to look at the internet on their phone. 4. The average internet speed was 4 Mbps. 5. The (in)famous "Dinner Party" episode of The Office first aired on NBC. Enjoy baby Sam. This guy knew NOTHING.