Latest news with #GianlucaFerruggia
Forbes
07-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Going Viral On Social Media: Lessons For Other Brands
Gianluca Ferruggia is the General Manager at DesignRush, a B2B marketplace that connects agencies to businesses. Virality online is often treated as pure luck. But after spending years growing our digital presence, I've learned that virality doesn't scale without a repeatable system. Over the past three months, our team fine-tuned our strategy, identifying patterns that consistently drive engagement. In the past 30 days, this approach led to viral success: In June, we had tens of millions of YouTube views and Instagram "likes" and thousands of new followers and subscribers across platforms. These outcomes are the result of organic reach only. No ads or shortcuts. Through trial and error, we distilled some key lessons I'd like to share here so you can create a scalable content system that delivers consistent results. Moreover, I hope to help you tailor your content to two platforms' strengths. The Breakthrough: Focus On What Resonates, Not Niche Ideas Our current success stems from recognizing that we do not need to reinvent the wheel. In other words, we shouldn't focus our time on creating something entirely new or overly innovative. Instead, start by conducting research to determine what performs well on social media, as well as what your audience truly wants; then do it better than anyone else in your industry. As for my organization's approach to content and strategy, we started out by: • Clipping Cultural Context: Repurposing trending moments with new messages. • Big Brand Narratives: Highlighting stories of failure or turnaround from well-known brands. • Bold Visuals: Making use of oversized text, sharp highlights and attention-grabbing layouts. • Posting Frequency: Consistently publishing fresh content to beat the algorithm. By getting clear on your angles, presentation and posting process, you can get to work testing right away. Platform-Specific Lessons With Real Results Initially, we thought Instagram Reels would outperform carousels. We were wrong. In the last month, our top three most viral Instagram posts were carousels, not reels. In June, we posted a carousel about Gap's $100 million logo rebrand. This Gap rebrand happened in 2010, so it's clearly not news. That said, the post still went viral, offering a few useful lessons on what can drive engagement: • Evoking nostalgia by reframing a familiar topic to spark conversation. • Triggering engagement by presenting a cautionary tale about a major brand's misstep. • Appearing to an ideal customer profile with relevant topical elements, which in this case was design and branding. Importantly, the carousel post also drove user engagement, with users replying and reacting to each other's comments. On YouTube, Shorts were the clear winners; our most viewed Short outperformed every long-form video we've published within the same time frame. In May, we posted a YouTube Short of a clever pricing trick by a car salesman. It featured a humorous scenario where a car salesman misheard a price, leading to a profit, all while the customer thought they got a huge discount. Not only was this Short a success, but it outperformed all long-form content posted in the same timeframe. Why it worked and some lessons: • Choose a timely and relatable topic. In our case, we used a humorous real-world scenario of a sales psychology trick that causes strong user reactions. • Take advantage of bold visuals. Prominent text overlays, again in the bold yellow font color, can capture a user's attention and keep it. • Use clear calls to action. A clear call to action encourages viewers to follow for more insights. • Focus on engagement-style storytelling. Use educational content that still entertains. My concluding advice? With YouTube Shorts, go for attention-grabbing hooks, strong call to actions and enticing topics that resonate with your audience. Then, package them to fit the platform. Our Replicable Strategy: Borrow The Format, Make It Yours Every viral post we've had shares the same foundation: relevant content, adapted for quick consumption and meaningful insight. Here is a summary on how you can ensure consistency: • Trend Scouting: Keep an eye on the top-performing short-form content on TikTok and YouTube using keywords like "marketing" and "business growth," focusing on audience interests. • Clipping With Context: Repurpose existing content, giving it new meaning with fresh messaging. • Visual Structure: Every piece should follow a set format: a strong hook, bold yellow highlights, fast pacing and a clear call to action. • Toolchain: Use tools like CapCut, Canva and vidIQ for editing, templating and optimization without needing a big budget. • Publishing Rhythm: Post daily, sometimes more than once, to increase visibility and learn quickly what works. By mastering these parts of the process, you'll realize that sustained growth comes from a strategy built for consistency, not just viral moments. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Dover, Del., Named 2025's Most Profitable U.S. City for Solopreneurs by DesignRush
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2025) - Dover, Del. has officially been named the most profitable city in the United States for solo founders, according to new research from B2B platform DesignRush. In 2025, a record 30.4 million Americans are running one-person businesses - from freelancers and consultants to solo agency owners and creators. But while the solopreneur economy is booming, where a founder lives plays a major role in how much income they actually keep after covering essential costs. DesignRush's new city rankings are based on post-expense profit - the amount solopreneurs retain after accounting for housing, food, healthcare, utilities and transportation. Why Dover Ranks #1 for Solopreneurs in 2025 That profit figure is nearly four times the national average post-expense profit of $18,508, making Dover the best city in America for solopreneur take-home income. 'Dover isn't just affordable - it's financially empowering for solopreneurs,' said Gianluca Ferruggia, General Manager at DesignRush. 'With no sales tax, strong internet infrastructure, and pro-business policies, it's a model city for solo success in 2025.' About the Data DesignRush's ranking analyzed dozens of U.S. cities using average solopreneur revenue data cross-referenced with standard cost-of-living benchmarks. Bigger Trend: Geography as Profit Strategy The rise of solopreneurs, especially in digital services, consulting and creative sectors, are reshaping business maps. Discover why Delaware ranks #1 among all U.S. states for solo founder profitability - and why Dover is now the top city to launch or grow a one-person business. About DesignRush DesignRush is a B2B platform based in Miami, Florida, that connects brands with top digital agencies. It also provides research and insights on emerging trends in technology and business. Media Contact: Anonta Khan [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Globe and Mail
08-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Dover, Del., Named 2025's Most Profitable U.S. City for Solopreneurs by DesignRush
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2025) - Dover, Del. has officially been named the most profitable city in the United States for solo founders, according to new research from B2B platform DesignRush. In 2025, a record 30.4 million Americans are running one-person businesses - from freelancers and consultants to solo agency owners and creators. But while the solopreneur economy is booming, where a founder lives plays a major role in how much income they actually keep after covering essential costs. DesignRush's new city rankings are based on post-expense profit - the amount solopreneurs retain after accounting for housing, food, healthcare, utilities and transportation. Why Dover Ranks #1 for Solopreneurs in 2025 Average Solopreneur Revenue: $110,652 Cost of Living: $44,389 Annual Profit: $66,263 That profit figure is nearly four times the national average post-expense profit of $18,508, making Dover the best city in America for solopreneur take-home income. "Dover isn't just affordable - it's financially empowering for solopreneurs," said Gianluca Ferruggia, General Manager at DesignRush. "With no sales tax, strong internet infrastructure, and pro-business policies, it's a model city for solo success in 2025." About the Data DesignRush's ranking analyzed dozens of U.S. cities using average solopreneur revenue data cross-referenced with standard cost-of-living benchmarks. Bigger Trend: Geography as Profit Strategy The rise of solopreneurs, especially in digital services, consulting and creative sectors, are reshaping business maps. Discover why Delaware ranks #1 among all U.S. states for solo founder profitability - and why Dover is now the top city to launch or grow a one-person business. About DesignRush DesignRush is a B2B platform based in Miami, Florida, that connects brands with top digital agencies. It also provides research and insights on emerging trends in technology and business.
Associated Press
07-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Top 10 U.S. States & Cities for Solopreneurs to Maximize Profits in 2025, According to DesignRush
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 7, 2025) - As solo entrepreneurship surges to a record 30.4 million Americans in 2025, where you live has become a key factor in determining not just revenue, but sustainable profit. A new study from B2B marketplace DesignRush reveals the best places in the U.S. for solopreneurs to retain the highest profit after expenses. To uncover where solo business owners keep the most money after rent, food, and healthcare, DesignRush analyzed solopreneur revenue and cost-of-living data across all 50 states and major metro areas. Key Findings: Why It Matters The report reflects a growing trend: Founders aren't just chasing clients, they're chasing margins. The difference between success and burnout may be the ZIP code. In places like Delaware, and especially Dover, DE, solopreneurs are keeping more of what they earn due to lower costs, no sales tax, and a business-friendly environment. 'Profit, not just revenue, is what really determines how sustainable a solo business can be,' said Gianluca Ferruggia, General Manager at DesignRush. 'This report shows where founders can keep more of what they earn, and build a life while building a business.' About DesignRush DesignRush is a B2B platform based in Miami, Florida, that connects brands with top digital agencies. It also provides research and insights on emerging trends in technology and business. Media Contact: Anonta Khan [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Seven Tactics For Ranking In AI Search Results And Building Your Brand
Gianluca Ferruggia is the General Manager at DesignRush, a B2B marketplace that connects agencies to businesses. It's easy to assume that showing up in traditional search results is the finish line, but how people search today is changing, with many now using AI chatbots. This means adapting—and building trust—is essential for brands today. After all, if no one trusts what they find, what's the point? At my company, a business-to-business marketplace connecting businesses and agencies, our goal has never been just about clicks. We've aimed to build meaningful partnerships and publish content that solves business problems. We first appeared as a top result in a popular generative AI chatbot in 2024, and traffic steadily increased, eventually reaching around 20,000 additional organic visits per month. Earned visibility results from building trust with clients, partners and readers. And we've found that generative search favors brands that are clearly positioned, frequently referenced and genuinely useful. If you want to rank in search results on generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, here are seven ways to better position your business. 1. Anticipate where buyers are searching. Gartner predicted that by next year, traditional search engine volume will decline by 25%, "with search marketing losing market share to AI chatbots and other virtual agents." This shows the importance of becoming discoverable during key decision moments when buyers research options and approach conversion, rather than chasing short-term wins. Key actions that helped us were getting earned organic mentions from respected sources, improving content clarity and crawlability, and cleaning up our site structure to enhance AI understanding. For other brands looking to do something similar, my advice would be to start with an audit of your external presence, and ensure your high-performing content answers specific, high-intent questions. 2. Let credibility work in your favor. Brands cited in platforms like ChatGPT are seeing consistent referral gains as user behavior shifts toward generative search over traditional engines, according to Search Engine Land. While earning rankings in AI results generated traffic for us, this traction didn't just benefit our company. It also bolstered the agencies listed on our platform, which shows how trust can be earned when others speak on your behalf. What we've found can make the difference is highlighting success stories and letting third-party validation support your credibility. These factors speak louder than any tagline. To get started, set up brand-monitoring tools, and repurpose earned media in your outbound strategy. This means taking positive press mentions or third-party validation (like interviews, features or awards) and weaving them into email campaigns, sales decks or social posts to build trust with new audiences. 3. Join the right conversations. We prioritized being part of industry discussions by showing up in expert-curated lists, relevant blog posts and partner mentions. A few practical steps you can take include: • Develop content others want to reference. • Build media relationships that support editorial mentions. • Create a monthly 'mention pitch list,' and submit data-backed insights to niche publishers. To get started, try pitching value-based content to trusted outlets in your niche, and encourage brand mentions that naturally link to your expertise. One effective way is to collaborate with partners or creators in your space, providing them with insights, data or quotes they'll want to cite. This naturally brings your brand into relevant conversations. 4. Reflect on how buyers search. Buyers today ask specific, problem-solving questions—not vague keywords. We reshaped our content to reflect that shift. Focus on addressing business needs through use-case content and making listings more informative and outcome-oriented. As you're updating content, I also recommend leading with clarity and intent, not just volume. Ask yourself: Would this answer my question if I were the reader? To test and adapt, run prompts in ChatGPT and similar chatbots with your target queries. If your brand isn't showing, adjust the messaging or content structure. 5. Show results, not just claims. We've learned that visibility means little without proof of value. The strongest signal is doing good work and making it easy for others to recognize that. Some tactics that paid off for us were showcasing real results through client stories and prioritizing authentic testimonials over polished taglines. To showcase your achievements: • Use case studies to tell compelling success stories. • Let your customers validate your claims. • Add a 'results at a glance' box to case studies with return on investment, growth metrics or conversion data. 6. Extend visibility to partners. Our content strategy wasn't just about our company; we focused on creating value for those listed on our platform, too. That shared exposure drove trust and traffic across the board. What we learned is the value of building systems that benefit both your business and your ecosystem, as well as making visibility collaborative, not competitive. One tip you can try is including a "featured partner" block or link module on key pages of your website to boost ecosystem exposure in AI results. 7. Look beyond a single channel. As I mentioned above, traditional search traffic is declining. Meanwhile, Google's searches in Safari declined for the first time in years, according to Search Engine Land. As our recognition of AI platforms grew, it reminded us to diversify how and where people discover our company. I recommend diversifying your traffic by: • Tracking shifts in your traffic sources over time • Reinvesting in visibility strategies that offer more control and credibility Consider using Urchin Tracking Module, or UTM, parameters for AI-friendly content to better attribute LLM-driven traffic. Visibility That's Earned, Not Bought Ultimately, we've found that consistent brand mentions, clear content and topical authority outperform outdated keyword tactics in modern discovery models. For us, success with AI rankings validated the fact that consistency and credibility pay off. The results reflected work that had been quietly building in the background. If your strategy is still focused on quick wins, now is the time to refocus. Build for trust, and the visibility will follow. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
