Latest news with #videoMarketing
TechCrunch
4 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Former DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg co-leads $15.5M Series A for AI video ad platform
In Brief DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg's venture fund WndrCo co-led a $15.5 million Series A round for Creatify, an AI video ad platform. Creatify's AdMax platform uses AI to quickly generate dozens of video advertisements, which are geared toward social media marketing — AdMax analyzes high-performing social video campaigns on apps like TikTok and Instagram to shape its output. Tech industry titans have been bullish on AI advertising. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently spoke about his ambitions to automate all of advertising with an AI ad tool, which would test thousands of ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads users. This degree of automation may seem drastic, but it is not a foregone conclusion. While Katzenberg has been an entertainment industry executive since before DVDs were invented, his bets are not always correct — he was also the founder of Quibi, the short video platform that infamously raised $1.75 billion and shut down six months later.
Entrepreneur
7 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
6 Reasons Every Business Needs to Start a YouTube Channel Today
By creating engaging video content, you can showcase the human side of your brand, share your expertise and provide stellar customer service in a way that written content simply can't replicate. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Okay, I get it. The idea of creating videos for your business can feel intimidating, maybe even overwhelming or just plain "not my thing." But trust me on this one — not only do you need to be on YouTube, but it's also one of the smartest decisions you'll make for growing your business. YouTube isn't just a platform; it's a marketing powerhouse that helps you connect with customers, build trust and drive sales in a way nothing else can. Today, I'm walking you through six reasons why getting on YouTube is a total game-changer for your business. From building authentic connections to boosting your SEO game, this list has something for everyone. And don't worry, we'll have some fun along the way. By the end of this, you'll be ready to hit record and start growing your business like never before. Related: I Made $389,822 In One Year On YouTube. Here's How I Did It 1. Your business becomes more than a name People want to do business with, well, people. YouTube gives your audience the opportunity to see the human side of your brand. Whether it's behind-the-scenes videos, team introductions or your workspace, these videos bring your brand to life. When I created Tonia in Vegas, I only used YouTube to launch my brand, and I grew to over 500 members in under one year. Here's another example. Take, for instance, the booming world of TCGs (that's trading card games, for those who have never been to one of these unbelievably busy conventions). Pokémon is a TCG and is not just a card game; it's an empire. And newer TCG games like TMeck are catching eyes, too. Entrepreneurs in this space are riding the waves of the industry's massive popularity by using YouTube as their primary marketing tool. Card shows with lines of excited collectors are everywhere, but the smart sellers know the power of video. Streaming a live box break, showing the process of grading rare cards or even posting an unboxing video is so much more engaging than just listing products for sale. The connection formed makes viewers feel like insiders to your world. And here's a great example from a real entrepreneur who is growing immensely online. Dylan from The Bulba Store has grown to over 100k subscribers in less than 18 months. YouTube has been a total game-changer for his business. With the success of his channel, he has been able to connect with collectors all over the world who are just as passionate about Pokémon cards as he is. Sharing videos of real deals, market trends and the day-to-day grind of running the business has built a level of trust and transparency that you just can't achieve through a website alone. People don't just want to buy cards — they want to buy from someone they feel connected to. YouTube gave him that platform and it's played a huge role in growing thebulbastore into what it is today. 2. Showcase your expertise When it comes to positioning yourself as an authority in your industry, YouTube is a stage like no other. Whether you're a fitness coach, a tech enthusiast or a TCG entrepreneur, video allows you to educate your audience and prove why you're the go-to expert. Would you rather scroll through paragraphs about someone's expertise, or actually see them in action? If you're a fitness trainer, guide your audience through a killer workout. If you're a real estate agent, give a virtual walkthrough of your properties. And if you sell TCGs, flex your expertise with tutorials on deck-building strategies or even discussions on current market trends. The possibilities are endless. 3. Shine bright in customer service You can talk about great customer service all day, but showing it makes all the difference. YouTube is an awesome place to answer FAQs, demo products or even showcase how you handle orders. And yes, that content doubles as amazing marketing. Imagine a customer debating between two businesses. One has an engaging YouTube channel filled with helpful tips and tutorials, while the other has crickets. Guess where that customer is headed? Exactly. Be the business that stands out and shines. Related: 9 Ways Brands Can Explode Their Sales With YouTube 4. Connect authentically with your audience Here's the deal: YouTube videos feel real. Unlike slick ad campaigns or polished brochures, they show the relatable, human side of your business. And guess what? People crave that authenticity. Your audience doesn't care if your video quality is on par with a Hollywood production. They care about you. Be yourself, stumbles and all. Take time to interact in the comments and build relationships with your viewers. That authenticity builds trust, and trust is priceless in business. 5. Boost your SEO and website traffic This one's a little technical, but super important. YouTube is owned by Google (a.k.a. the king of search engines), and videos often show up on the first page of search results. A well-optimized YouTube video is basically a direct ticket to driving traffic to your website. Say you own a bakery in Newport Beach, and you upload a video called "5 Must-Try Desserts at [Your Bakery Name]." The next time someone Googles "best desserts in Newport Beach," there's your video, sitting pretty on the results page. Simple but powerful, right? 6. It's fun Yes, YouTube is a fantastic tool for growing your business, but it's also a blast! Once you shake off those first-time-on-camera jitters, you'll discover how fun it is to create content that resonates with your audience. Experiment with creative ideas, show off your personality and connect in the comments. The more you practice, the better your videos (and confidence) will get. Before you know it, you might even look forward to hitting "record" each week. Related: 8 Ways I Grew My Company's YouTube From Inactive to 1 Million Subscribers — and Counting Final thoughts Your audience is out there, ready to click "play." All you need to do is show up and share your story. Don't overthink it; hit record and have fun. You've got this, and who knows? Your next video could be the one that takes your business to the next level.
Zawya
12-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EToro partners with Google to debut Veo 2 brand campaign
eToro, the trading and investing platform, has partnered with Google to launch one of the first TV and YouTube advertising campaigns fully created using Veo 2, the advanced video generation technology from Google DeepMind. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the use of generative AI for large-scale brand storytelling. Veo 2, which was recently released to the public, enables cinematic-quality video generation guided by text and visual prompts. This one-of-a-kind technology uses artificial intelligence to simulate real-world physics and produce human-like expressions and performances. The eToro campaign is among the first in the advertising world to be executed entirely using Veo 2. At the creative helm alongside eToro's marketing and creative team was world-class AI video creation expert László Gaál, known for his groundbreaking work in AI-generated video. László brought a distinctive blend of artistic vision and technical expertise, helping to redefine the boundaries of visual storytelling through AI and bringing eToro's vision to life in two 30-second videos. Yannay Politi, VP of Brand Marketing at eToro, said: 'Innovation is in eToro's DNA – not only in how we build our product, but in how we bring our brand to life. With this campaign, we've fully embraced the power of generative AI to tell our story in a bold and dynamic way. Veo 2 proved to be the perfect fit for eToro's brand strategy, offering a next-level solution to produce compelling localized videos, providing realistic motion and high-quality output at a remarkable speed. Partnering with a pioneer like Google and collaborating with leading AI creators has allowed us to move beyond traditional advertising and explore what's possible at the intersection of technology and creativity. This is more than a media campaign; it's a statement about the future of marketing.' The campaign was first developed to resonate with the Italian market with the support of marketing agency Marketing Arena. According to a survey by ACRI, 28% of Italians under 44 save primarily for travel and leisure, and 20% for purchasing durable goods, highlighting a focus on short-term lifestyle goals. Only 10% report saving to build long-term wealth. Reflecting this mindset, the campaign's AI-generated ads depict milestone moments like cruising through Tuscany in a sports car or hosting a lavish wedding on Lake Como, dreams that align with these near-term aspirations. The result is a powerful combination of cultural storytelling and cutting-edge technology, all reinforcing the campaign's central message: Invest in your future. The campaign is now live in Italy across multiple online and traditional platforms, including YouTube, television, CTV, and outdoor channels, with plans to expand into additional markets where eToro operates. Contacts: pr@ About eToro: eToro is the trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have 40 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we've created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledge and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media centre here for our latest news. Disclaimer: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. This communication is for information and education purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice, a personal recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation to buy or sell, any financial instruments. This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient's investment objectives or financial situation, and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements to promote independent research. Any references to past or future performance of a financial instrument, index or a packaged investment product are not, and should not be taken as, a reliable indicator of future results. eToro makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication. Regulation and License numbers Middle East eToro (ME) Limited, is licensed and regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market ('ADGM')'s Financial Services Regulatory Authority ('FSRA') as an Authorised Person to conduct the Regulated Activities of (a) Dealing in Investments as Principal (Matched), (b) Arranging Deals in Investments, (c) Providing Custody, (d) Arranging Custody and (e) Managing Assets (under Financial Services Permission Number 220073) under the Financial Services and Market Regulations 2015 ('FSMR'). Registered Office and its principal place of business: Office 26 and 27, 25th floor, Al Sila Tower, ADGM Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LinkedIn Announces New Video Ad Options at NewFronts
This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. LinkedIn hosted its first-ever presentation at NewFronts yesterday, where it primarily focused on the growth of video in the app, and new offerings that it's introduced to help brands tap into this to maximize their marketing efforts. And video is indeed on the rise in the LinkedIn feed. LinkedIn recently reported that time spent watching video posts in the app has increased by 36% year-over-year, while video content generates 1.4x more engagement than other post types. On video promotions specifically, LinkedIn says that in-stream Video Ads are seeing 2x the average video completion rate. Clearly, there's potential there, and LinkedIn has outlined some new options to help brands tap into that rising video interest. First off, Linkedin has announced 'First Impression Ads,' which will enable marketers to ensure that theirs is the first video promotion their target audience sees in-stream. LinkedIn says that this will help advertisers capture attention, by delivering 'a bold, broadcast-like presence in the LinkedIn feed and beyond.' On that 'beyond' element, LinkedIn also highlighted its improving Connected TV placement options, which have been available since last year, and enable the expansion of your LinkedIn video promotions to placements via Paramount, Roku, Samsung ads, among others. LinkedIn has also highlighted its recently renamed 'BrandLink' option, which enables marketers to place their video ads alongside approved publisher and creator content. And finally, LinkedIn also highlighted the potential of Event Ads, which are getting expanded promotion options to squeeze more value out of your LinkedIn events. Most of these options have been available for some time, so nothing major was announced at the event, with LinkedIn more looking to enhance its existing video ad offerings to align with usage trends. But even so, these are interesting, and potentially significant additions, which will provide more ways to get more out of your video marketing efforts in the app. Some expanded options to think about either way. LinkedIn's looking to roll out these new elements over the coming months. Recommended Reading LinkedIn Provides Tips on How To Promote Live Events [Infographic] Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
